Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Muhammad Abdul Basit, Muhammad Aanish Ali, Zunair Masroor, Zeeshan Tariq, Jin Ho Bang
Summary: Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) have unique characteristics that make them a promising solution to the energy-economy-environment dilemma. Researchers have been strategically addressing the challenges faced by QDSSCs, such as back transfer of electrons, recombination, and photocorrosion, to improve their performance. Interfacial layers (ILs) have proved beneficial in addressing these challenges, providing surface passivation, seeding quantum dots, and controlling back electron transfer. This review discusses the multifunctional roles of ILs in QDSSCs, characterization techniques, and future prospects.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Di Zhang, Sidong Zhang, Yanyan Fang, Dongmei Xie, Xiaowen Zhou, Yuan Lin
Summary: Introducing bifunctional linkers between TiO2 electrodes and quantum dots was an effective approach for the preparation of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. Three types of linkers were studied, with phenyl MBA-TiO2 electrodes achieving the highest Cd content and PCE. The modified TiO2 electrodes showed lower electron recombination rates and higher efficiency, demonstrating the importance of linker selection for QDSCs design and optimization.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mingxuan Guo, Jun Bo, Xingtong Chen, Peng Wan, Mengyu Chen, Qinyi Li, Chengzhao Luo, Yu Chen, Song Chen
Summary: The study investigated carrier distribution in halide perovskite solar cells and successfully achieved a gradient structure using perovskite quantum dots, effectively reducing surface recombination without compromising photocurrent. The performance of normal structured hybrid PSCs and MAPbI(3) cells was found to be good, with open-circuit voltages exceeding their respective Shockley-Queisser limits and power conversion efficiencies reaching up to 22.36% and 20.53%, respectively.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. Arivarasan, S. Bharathi, D. Essakinaveen, S. Arunpandiyan, V. Shanmugapriya, B. Selvakumar, G. Sasikala, R. Jayavel
Summary: The effect of Sb doping on the structural, optical, and photovoltaic properties of CdTe quantum dots was investigated in this study. The prepared Sb-doped CdTe quantum dots were characterized for their structural, optical, and compositional properties, and the photovoltaic response was studied using a sandwich-type solar cell.
Article
Energy & Fuels
T. Archana, S. Sreelekshmi, G. Subashini, A. Nirmala Grace, M. Arivanandhan, R. Jayavel
Summary: The study investigated the use of graphene quantum dots as a passivating layer for cadmium sulfide quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, which significantly enhanced the photoconversion efficiency of the QDSSCs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Akash S. Rasal, Sudesh Yadav, Anil A. Kashale, Ali Altaee, Jia-Yaw Chang
Summary: This review discusses the factors influencing the performance stability of QDSSCs and provides insights into the mechanisms causing degraded performances. It also presents cutting-edge strategies for improving the overall performance stability of QDSSCs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jagriti Tyagi, Himanshu Gupta, L. P. Purohit
Summary: The tunable band CdS(1-x)Sex quantum dots prepared through controlling the ratios of S and Se exhibited variable photoresponse region and energy band. Addition of a ZnS layer helped suppress recombination rate and improve the efficiency of QDSSCs. The highest efficiency of TiO2/ZnS/CdS1-xSex/ZnS quantum dots-sensitized solar cells with CuS counter electrode reached 5.12%.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
D. Vinoth Pandi, V. Saraswathi, M. R. Venkatraman, N. Muthukumarasamy, S. Agilan, D. Velauthapillai, K. Brindhadevi, A. Pugazhendhi
Summary: PbS quantum dots and PbS quantum dots-sensitized ZnO nanostructures with rod-like shape were successfully synthesized. The prepared PbS quantum dots exhibited significant visible light absorption, and the light absorption of PbS quantum dots-sensitized ZnO nanorods was higher than that of bare ZnO nanorods. The uniform development of rod-like ZnO nanostructures with deposition of PbS quantum dots on the surface was observed from electron microscope images. The solar cells made using PbS quantum dots-sensitized ZnO nanorods achieved a power conversion efficiency of 1.2%.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
T. A. Nirmal Peiris, Hasitha C. Weerasinghe, Manoj Sharma, Jueng-Eun Kim, Monika Michalska, Naresh Chandrasekaran, Dimuthu C. Senevirathna, Hanchen Li, Anthony S. R. Chesman, Doojin Vak, Jacek J. Jasieniak
Summary: This study presents a facile and scalable method for synthesizing SnO2 nanoparticles to be used as electron transport layer in roll-to-roll printing technology. The results demonstrate that the developed SnO2 ink can achieve high photo-conversion efficiency in optoelectronic devices.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Maryam Ostadebrahim, Hossein Dehghani
Summary: In this study, the influence of ZnS, ZnSe, and ZnSxSe1-x layers in CdSexS1-x quantum dot based solar cells was systematically investigated, with ZnS and ZnS0.2Se0.8 identified as the optimal choices. The designed QDSSCs with these layers showed a significantly higher efficiency compared to bare QDSSCs.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chang Yan, Daniel Weinberg, Dipti Jasrasaria, Matthew A. Kolaczkowski, Zi-jie Liu, John P. Philbin, Arunima D. Balan, Yi Liu, Adam M. Schwartzberg, Eran Rabani, A. Paul Alivisatos
Summary: Understanding electronic dynamics in multiexcitonic quantum dots is crucial for designing efficient systems in high power scenarios like solar concentrators and multielectron charge transfer. By synthesizing a phenothiazine derivative and using transient absorption spectroscopy, the competition between Auger recombination and hole transfer in CdSe, CdS, and CdSe/CdS QDs was investigated, revealing the beneficial role of hole-trapping states in enhancing hole transfer efficiency under multiexcitonic conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kiran P. Shejale, Arun Jaiswal, Aditya Kumar, Sumit Saxena, Shobha Shukla
Summary: The high-quality nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) synthesized using domestic microwave-assisted pyrolysis method exhibit excellent physiochemical and optical properties, and when incorporated into the DSSC structure, they lead to improved performance with high photoconversion efficiency and photocurrent density.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mei Xin Chen, Ya Qian Bai, Xin Na Guan, Jia Wei Chen, Jing Hui Zeng
Summary: The study demonstrates that the passivation layer formed by phosphate can significantly improve the photovoltaic performance of solar cells by inhibiting the internal charge recombination process, leading to a 33.5% efficiency enhancement compared to unpassivated reference cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
In-Rok Jo, Young-Hoon Lee, Hyunsoo Kim, Kwang-Soon Ahn
Summary: Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) play a crucial role in enhancing the performance of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by boosting light absorption, facilitating electron transportation, and suppressing charge recombination, leading to a significantly improved power conversion efficiency.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
G. Nagaraj, Mustafa K. A. Mohammed, Masoud Shekargoftar, P. Sasikumar, P. Sakthivel, G. Ravi, M. Dehghanipour, Seckin Akin, Ahmed Esmail Shalan
Summary: This study introduces a method of using graphene quantum dots to modify the SnO2/ZnO layer to enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells, significantly improving opto-electronic properties and increasing power conversion efficiency. Devices with the modified electron transport layer show higher open-circuit voltage and long-term stability.
MATERIALS TODAY ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaojie Li, Shiyong Zhao, Xiaoguang Duan, Huayang Zhang, Shi-ze Yang, Panpan Zhang, San Ping Jiang, Shaomin Liu, Hongqi Sun, Shaobin Wang
Summary: This article reports single-atom silver incorporated g-C3N4 as a low-cost and stable catalyst with higher activities in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and solar-heat assisted hydrogen evolution reaction. The excellent activity of SAAg-g-CN is attributed to the proper Gibbs free energy of the adsorbed hydrogen atom and robust structure of N-Ag bonding. The study demonstrates the ultrahigh photoactivity and photothermal stability of SAAg-g-CN, and its potential in facilitating the full exploitation of solar energy.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jiahua Zhao, Shize Yang, Pengfei Zhang, Sheng Dai
Summary: Researchers have proposed a new method to convert pitch into porous carbon material by using sulfur as a reaction medium, resulting in sulfur-doped carbon with excellent catalytic activity. This method is applicable to raw pitches from different sources and can be scaled up for mass production.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yi Cheng, Mengen Wang, Shanfu Lu, Chongjian Tang, Xing Wu, Jean-Pierre Veder, Bernt Johannessen, Lars Thomsen, Jin Zhang, Shi-ze Yang, Shuangyin Wang, San Ping Jiang
Summary: The study developed atomically dispersed bimetallic FeCu coordinated with nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (FeCu/N-CNTs) as Pt-free oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts, which showed similar performance to Pt/C but with better stability and enhanced activity in the presence of phosphate. DFT calculations revealed that the phosphate promotion effect was due to stronger binding of phosphate on Cu sites, leading to lower activation energy barrier for O-2 cleavage. FeCu/N-CNTs were also found to have better ORR activity compared to Fe single atom catalysts coordinated with nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes, Fe/N-CNTs. The results demonstrate the potential of FeCu/N-CNTs as true Pt-free, highly active and durable cathodes in high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells based on PA/PBI.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Rohit Berlia, Paul Rasmussen, Shize Yang, Jagannathan Rajagopalan
Summary: The mechanical response of Cu-Co nanolaminates under quasi-static, uniaxial tensile behavior was studied using a custom-made MEMS device. The experiments showed a peak in yield strength at a layer thickness of 4 nm, while the Young's modulus was independent of layer thickness. Surprisingly, the nanolaminates were able to recover a significant amount of inelastic deformation during and after unloading, with this recovery enhanced by an increase in temperature.
SCRIPTA MATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lukas Vlcek, Shize Yang, Yongji Gong, Pulickel Ajayan, Wu Zhou, Matthew F. Chisholm, Maxim Ziatdinov, Rama K. Vasudevan, Sergei V. Kalinin
Summary: By using atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy images to visualize complex structural correlations within materials and translating them into statistical mechanical models, improved predictions of material properties can be achieved. Additionally, combining model optimization techniques with the principles of statistical hypothesis testing can effectively handle uncertainties in the study of materials with strong correlations.
NPJ COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jiexiang Xia, Bin Wang, Jun Di, Yingjie Li, Shi-Ze Yang, Huaming Li, Shaojun Guo
Summary: This comprehensive review focuses on the significant breakthrough, remaining challenges, and perspectives on single-atom catalysts (SACs) in terms of catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. The emergence and development of SACs are introduced, followed by a summary of the recent advances in their synthesis and characterization techniques. The relationship between the mechanisms of electro-, photo-, and photoelectro-catalysis and the unique structures and coordination environment of the catalysts is also discussed. The challenges and opportunities of SACs in the field of photo-/electro-catalysis are highlighted.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Surabhi Nimbalkar, Rhea Montgomery-Walsh, James Bunnell, Sandra Lara Galindo, Brinda Kodira Cariappa, Abhivyakti Gautam, Rene Arvizu, Shize Yang, Sam Kassegne
Summary: Using graphene and glassy carbon as building blocks, a hybrid material with superior electrical and electrochemical properties has been developed. The formation of the hybrid material is confirmed through synthesis, morphological and surface characterizations, and molecular dynamics simulation. The nanostructure of the hybrid material consists of predominantly sp2 hybridized bonds at the interface of graphene and glassy carbon, allowing it to form 3D and complex components with active functional groups. With its high charge storage capacity and low impedance, this hybrid material shows great potential in advanced semiconductor devices and ultra-sensitive biochemical sensors.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chen-Wei Zheng, Chen Zhou, Yi-Hao Luo, Min Long, Xiangxing Long, Dandan Zhou, Yuqiang Bi, Shize Yang, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: This paper presents a low-energy strategy for treating ammunition wastewater, involving catalytic denitration and microbial mineralization combined with oxyanion reduction. The results show that RDX can be rapidly denitrated in the presence of a suitable catalyst, while nitrate and perchlorate can be efficiently biodegraded.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuhang Cai, Yi-Hao Luo, Xiangxing Long, Manuel A. Roldan, Shize Yang, Chen Zhou, Dandan Zhou, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: More food production requires intensive use of herbicides, but the widespread application and persistence of herbicides pose environmental risks. This study demonstrates that palladium nanoparticles can catalyze the reductive dehalogenation of halogenated organic pollutants, including herbicides. The findings suggest a promising method for the removal and detoxification of halogenated herbicides in aqueous environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yi-Hao Luo, Xiangxing Long, Yuhang Cai, Chen-Wei Zheng, Manuel A. Roldan, Shize Yang, Dandan Zhou, Chen Zhou, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: In this study, a two-stage Reduction and Oxidation Synergistic Platform (ROSP) was evaluated for the removal of halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs). The ROSP successfully removed over 99% of 60 mg/L 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) by integrating catalytic reductive dehalogenation with biological co-oxidation. The ROSP used hydrogen as the sole electron donor, eliminating the need for extra carbon dioxide release.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zihao Zhang, Jinshu Tian, Yubing Lu, Shize Yang, Dong Jiang, Weixin Huang, Yixiao Li, Jiyun Hong, Adam S. Hoffman, Simon R. Bare, Mark H. Engelhard, Abhaya K. Datye, Yong Wang
Summary: The use of single atoms of platinum group metals on CeO2 is a promising approach to reduce precious metal requirements for automobile exhaust treatment catalysts. Here, the authors discovered that by manipulating the calcination temperatures, they could control the configuration of Pt1 on the CeO2 surface, leading to differences in CO oxidation activity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Meijia Li, Tianyu Zhang, Shi-Ze Yang, Yifan Sun, Junyan Zhang, Felipe Polo-Garzon, Kevin M. Siniard, Xinbin Yu, Zili Wu, Darren M. Driscoll, Alexander S. Ivanov, Hao Chen, Zhenzhen Yang, Sheng Dai
Summary: A mechanochemistry-driven approach was used to construct strong metal-support interactions (SMSIs) under neat and ambient conditions, resulting in enhanced catalysis. The encapsulation degree and overlayer structures could be customized, leading to improved hydrogenation activity.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yifan Wang, Shize Yang, Peter A. Crozier
Summary: By using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and finite-element methods, this study detected and characterized the photonic modes in ceria nanocubes at the nanoscale. The simulations allowed determining the electric and magnetic field distributions associated with different modes, while an analytical model estimated their energy. The work also highlighted the effect of the surrounding environment on the modes, demonstrating the advantage of EELS in characterizing optical phenomena locally.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Matthew J. Fox, Ashlee Aiello, Shize Yang, Paul C. Trulove, David P. Durkin, Elena Cimpoiasu
Summary: Biocomposites containing magnetic nanoparticles have the potential to combine the unique properties of nanoparticles with the strong mechanical and sustainable properties of natural fibers. This study investigates how the structural and magnetic properties of these biocomposite materials are affected by increasing metal loading, finding that higher metal loading enhances nanoparticle heterogeneity and agglomeration.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuhang Cai, Yi-Hao Luo, Xiangxing Long, Manuel A. Roldan, Shize Yang, Chen Zhou, Dandan Zhou, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: This study presents a promising method for the removal and detoxification of halogenated herbicides in aqueous environments by using elemental palladium nanoparticles (Pd0NPs) as catalysts. The reductive conversion of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was achieved with a high efficiency and catalyst specific activity. The study also identified the reaction mechanisms and pathways involved in the process.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)