Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucas Cuadra, Sancho Salcedo-Sanz, Jose Carlos Nieto-Borge
Summary: This paper presents a network model for studying the transport behavior of electrons and holes in IB solar cells, and proposes a design constraint of reducing carrier effective mass and inter-dot distance to increase transport efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rebeca V. H. Hahn, Salvador Rodriguez-Bolivar, Panagiotis Rodosthenous, Erik S. Skibinsky-Gitlin, Marco Califano, Francisco M. Gomez-Campos
Summary: We present a theoretical atomistic study of the optical properties of non-toxic InX (X = P, As, Sb) colloidal quantum dot arrays for application in photovoltaics. Our results shed light on the optical behaviour of these novel multi-dimensional nanomaterials and identify some of them as ideal building blocks for intermediate band solar cells.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaopeng Bai, Shiu Hei Lam, Jingtian Hu, Ka Kit Chui, Xiao-Ming Zhu, Lei Shao, Tsz Him Chow, Jianfang Wang
Summary: This study reports the gram-scale production of cost-effective TiN nanoparticles with strong plasmonic properties and their application in solar seawater desalination. The TiN nanoparticles achieved high evaporation rates and excellent removal percentages of organic compounds.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lei Jin, Jiabin Liu, Xin Liu, Daniele Benetti, Gurpreet Singh Selopal, Xin Tong, Ehsan Hamzehpoor, Faying Li, Dmytro F. Perepichka, Zhiming M. Wang, Federico Rosei
Summary: Thick-shell colloidal quantum dots (QDs) with size/composition/shape-tunable properties are promising for solar technologies. However, the commonly used toxic metal elements and wide bandgap of the shell limit their performance. This study develops eco-friendly AgInSe2/AgInS2 core/shell QDs, which are optically active in the NIR region and suitable for solar energy conversion. By using a template-assisted cation exchange method, gradient AgInSeS shell layers are incorporated, resulting in improved charge transfer and higher current density in the photoelectrochemical cells.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lijing Yu, Pin Tian, Libin Tang, Qun Hao, Kar Seng Teng, Hefu Zhong, Wenbin Zuo, Yulong Ji, Hongfu Li, Zhihua Li, Qi Ma, Min Yang, Lianjie Yu
Summary: In this paper, a novel broadband photodetector based on small size PbS CQDs and Bi2Te3 was developed and studied. The device showed excellent band alignment and achieved wavelength extension through the synergistic effect of these materials, thus demonstrating broadband photodetection with high sensitivity. The heterostructure photodetector exhibited good performance in the visible and near infrared ranges, and laid a good foundation for the construction of the next generation of highly sensitive broadband CQDs photodetectors.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Arun Ashokan, Paul Mulvaney
Summary: Solution-phase spectroelectrochemistry was used to study electron injection into colloidal CdSe quantum dots in THF. The results showed reversible optical changes on a time-scale of minutes, with the injection of electrons leading to quenching of photoluminescence. The number of electrons injected into the QDs depended on the electrode potential and QD size, with most injection occurring below the band edge.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zheming Liu, Roberta Pascazio, Luca Goldoni, Daniela Maggioni, Dongxu Zhu, Yurii P. P. Ivanov, Giorgio Divitini, Jordi Llusar Camarelles, Houman Bahmani Jalali, Ivan Infante, Luca De Trizio, Liberato Manna
Summary: We successfully synthesized colloidal InAs nanocrystals (NCs) using amino-As and ligands different from the commonly employed oleylamine (OA). The combination of TOA and OA allowed for good control over the size distribution of the InAs NCs, with a volume ratio of 4:1 generating InAs tetrapods with arm lengths of 5-6 nm. These NCs are entirely zinc-blende and have a narrow excitonic peak at 950 nm in absorption. The use of mixtures of ligands improves control over the size and size distribution of InAs NCs.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andrew Kim, Alireza Hosseinmardi, Pratheep K. Annamalai, Pawan Kumar, Rajkumar Patel
Summary: Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) combined with solar cells can increase solar energy conversion efficiency at a lower cost. Quantum dots (QDs) are extensively studied as luminophores for LSCs due to their high quantum yields, controllable spectra, and ease of synthesis.
Article
Crystallography
Laura M. Perez, Asmae El Aouami, Kawtar Feddi, Vittorianna Tasco, Abdellatif Ben Abdellah, Francis Dujardin, Maykel Courel, Javier A. Riquelme, David Laroze, E. L. Mustapha Feddi
Summary: This study focuses on improving the efficiency of photovoltaic cells by juxtaposing two different combinations of quantum dots in the I region of the PIN junction, aiming to determine the optimized parameters. By controlling the size and inter-dot distance of quantum dots, the intermediate band can be tailored to enhance solar cell efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cara E. Bradsher, Cayla D. Ontko, Alexandra C. Koziel, James R. McBride, Sandra J. Rosenthal
Summary: This research has found that ferroelectric behavior can be achieved in nanoparticles through ion exchange, with fluorescence retention achieved through CdS shelling before ion exchange, containing defects in the CdS shell rather than the fluorescent CdSe cores. The ferroelectric response remains constant with an increase in the number of CdS monolayers, while fluorescence retention also increases, reaching 99% at 8 monolayers, allowing for the addition of ferroelectric applications to the growing list of quantum dot applications.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Asmae El Aouami, Kawtar Feddi, Maykel Courel, Francis Dujardin, David Laroze, Laura M. Perez, Mimoun Zazoui, El Mustapha Feddi
Summary: The study examines the impact of quantum dot size on CdSe/ZnS and InP/ZnS quantum dot solar cells, emphasizing the critical importance of controlling quantum dot size for high efficiency. The results demonstrate that open-circuit voltage is weakly dependent on dot size for both systems, while short-circuit current density increases with dot size. Maximum efficiency values of 31.73% and 32.90% are achieved for CdSe/ZnS and InP/ZnS, respectively, under full concentrated light for a dot size of 2.3 nm, showcasing the potential of these proposed heterostructures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Linxiang Zhang, Long Chen, Junrui Yang, Jing Liu, Shuaicheng Lu, Xinyi Liang, Xuezhi Zhao, Yang Yang, Jun Hu, Long Hu, Xinzheng Lan, Jianbing Zhang, Liang Gao, Jiang Tang
Summary: This study presents a new top-illuminated structure for colloidal quantum dot (CQD) photodiodes by using atomic layer deposition to replace the sputtered ZnO layer with a SnO2 layer. With matched energy band alignment and improved heterogeneous interface, the top-illuminated CQD photodiodes achieve a broad-band response up to 1650 nm and demonstrate an ultralow dark current density of 3.5 nA cm(-2) at -10 mV at 220 K, reaching the noise limit for passive night vision.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xu Li, Yinglin Wang, Pengfei Cheng, Yanming Liu, Sitian Chen, Weian Du, Xin Zhou, Yue Hao
Summary: Surface modification of WO3 nanoplates with Co3O4 quantum dots significantly improves the gas sensing performance towards xylene due to the stronger oxygen-adsorbing capacity of grooved WO3, the formation of p-n junction between Co3O4 and WO3, and the preferential adsorption of oxygen vacancy-rich Co3O4 on xylene.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2023)
Review
Optics
Jian Zhang, Shaohui Zhang, Yule Zhang, Omar A. Al-Hartomy, Swelm Wageh, Abdullah G. Al-Sehemi, Yabin Hao, Lingfeng Gao, Hao Wang, Han Zhang
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the optoelectronic application levels of semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs), perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), and carbon quantum dots (CDs), as well as a detailed summary of photocatalysis. The article discusses the compositions and optoelectronic properties of the three types of quantum dots, compares their strengths and weaknesses, demonstrates their flourishing development in various optoelectronic applications, and identifies bottlenecks and opportunities for future breakthroughs.
LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Yanyan Qiu, Naiquan Yan, Haifeng Yao, Menglu Chen
Summary: This study investigates the plasmon-enhanced performance of short-wave infrared photodetectors by embedding silver nanoparticles. The enhanced photodetectors with silver nanoparticles show a significantly increased light-to-dark current ratio, specific detectivity, and responsivity.
INFRARED PHYSICS & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Elisa Antolin, Marius H. Zehender, Simon A. Svatek, Myles A. Steiner, Mario Martinez, Ivan Garcia, Pablo Garcia-Linares, Emily L. Warren, Adele C. Tamboli, Antonio Marti
Summary: Conventional solar cells use pn junctions as building blocks, while three-terminal heterojunction bipolar transistor solar cells utilize a bipolar transistor structure. The maximum efficiency of this solar cell is equivalent to that of a double-junction solar cell, but its minimal structure is simpler due to the absence of tunnel junctions.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alejandro Datas, Alicia Lopez-Ceballos, Esther Lopez, Alba Ramos, Carlos del Canizo
Summary: This study discusses the techno-economics of latent heat thermophotovoltaic (LHTPV) systems and compares their levelized cost of storage with Li-ion batteries in both long-duration storage and combined heat and power (CHP) applications. The results indicate that LHTPV systems have lower levelized cost of storage and are suitable for long-duration storage and CHP applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
A. Bellucci, P. G. Linares, J. Villa, A. Marti, A. Datas, D. M. Trucchi
Summary: This research demonstrates a thermionic-photovoltaic (TIPV) converter that utilizes both electrons and photons emitted by a hot cathode to generate electric power. By using a tungsten cathode and an In0.53Ga0.47As photovoltaic (PV) anode, the TIPV converter achieves a higher output voltage compared to a thermionic energy converter made of the same materials. Furthermore, by engineering the work function of the materials, a significant increase in output power has been achieved.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
A. Ramos, E. Lopez, C. del Canizo, A. Datas
Summary: This article discusses the potential of Ultra-High Temperature Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (UH-LHTES) as a cost-effective solution for storing intermittent renewable energies. The use of thermal energy storage systems, which store energy as heat instead of electricity, can provide a cheaper alternative to battery storage. The article emphasizes that not all the heat stored in a thermal energy storage system needs to be converted back into electricity, as heat represents a significant portion of global energy demand.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sirazul Haque, Miguel Alexandre, Clemens Baretzky, Daniele Rossi, Francesca De Rossi, Antonia T. Vicente, Francesca Brunetti, Hugo Aguas, Rute A. . S. Ferreira, Elvira Fortunato, Matthias Auf der Maur, Uli Wurfel, Rodrigo Martins, Manuel J. Mendes
Summary: Recent experimental advances in perovskite solar cell technology have brought about a new era in low-cost, flexible, and high-efficiency photovoltaics. However, the study of the detailed physical mechanisms governing the optoelectronic properties of these solar cells has not kept pace with experimental breakthroughs. This article aims to bridge this gap by using a coupled optical and electrical modeling approach to optimize and assess the transport properties of photonic-structured perovskite solar cells. The findings show that ultrathin perovskite absorbers can significantly enhance light coupling and photocurrent generation, leading to increased short circuit current, open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency.
Article
Optics
Carlos Bueno-Blanco, Simon A. Svatek, Elisa Antolin
Summary: Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are proposed as light absorber materials for ultrathin solar cells due to their strong light-matter interaction and the possibility of room temperature device assembly. Research shows that MoS2 absorbers as thin as 10 nm sandwiched between a h-BN top layer and an optically thick Ag reflector can absorb up to 87% of photons in the 300-700 nm range of the AM1.5G spectrum. The high broadband absorption is achieved through the amplification of the zeroth Fabry-Perot interference mode in the light-trapping structures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pedro Centeno, Miguel Alexandre, Filipe Neves, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins, Hugo Aguas, Manuel J. Mendes
Summary: The increasing energy demand and efficiency bottleneck of monocrystalline silicon solar cell technology are driving the research and development of alternative photovoltaic materials. Copper-arsenic-sulfide (CAS) compounds are promising p-type absorber candidates for solar cells due to their availability, suitable bandgap, and high absorption coefficient. This comprehensive study explores the structural and optoelectronic properties of CAS thin-films deposited via radio-frequency magnetron co-sputtering, using both a commercial Cu target and a Cu-As-S target with material sourced from local mines in Portugal. The results show the potential application of CAS films as wide-bandgap semiconductors in third-generation photovoltaic devices.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shrabani Panigrahi, Tomas Calmeiro, Manuel J. Mendes, Hugo Aguas, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins
Summary: This study demonstrates that the density of charge defects at grain boundaries can be reduced through anti-solvent treatment, thus improving the electronic quality and overall charge collection efficiency of hybrid perovskite thin films.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Esther Lopez, Irene Artacho, Alejandro Datas
Summary: A standardized method for measuring TPV efficiency has not been established yet, making it difficult to compare reported results. This study presents an experimental setup that can measure TPV efficiency at high view factors, allowing for more accurate measurements than previous works.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ana Pinheiro, Andreia Ruivo, Joao Rocha, Marta Ferro, Joana Vaz Pinto, Jonas Deuermeier, Tiago Mateus, Ana Santa, Manuel J. J. Mendes, Rodrigo Martins, Sandra Gago, Cesar A. T. Laia, Hugo Aguas
Summary: The present study aims to enhance the performance of solar cells by developing advanced luminescent down-shifting using encapsulated nanostructured perovskite materials. Thin films of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystal luminophores were synthesized and encapsulated with parylene type C to protect and stabilize the films. The results showed that this encapsulation technique significantly improved the current generation and spectral response of the photovoltaic cells.
Article
Physics, Applied
Antonio Marti, Elisa Antolin, Inigo Ramiro
Summary: The hot-carrier solar cell (HCSC) has the potential for high energy conversion efficiency, but requires specific energy-selective contacts for external load connection. This study models electron transport in nonideal contacts and explores their thermodynamic properties, finding that specific electron states are needed to maintain high efficiency and that higher temperatures are required for optimal efficiency as the contacts deviate from ideality.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
G. Ribeiro, G. Ferreira, U. D. Menda, M. Alexandre, M. J. Brites, M. A. Barreiros, S. Jana, H. Aguas, R. Martins, P. A. Fernandes, P. Salome, M. J. Mendes
Summary: By incorporating PbS quantum dots (QDs) with strong near-infrared absorption and electronic confinement into a MAPbI3 perovskite matrix, this study demonstrates the generation of sub-bandgap photocurrent, leading to solar cell efficiencies beyond classical limits. The introduction of QDs in different sizes and concentrations enhances the spectral window of photon absorption of the perovskite host film, resulting in pronounced sub-bandgap absorption and photocurrent generation below the bandgap. Despite the reduced crystallinity of the perovskite matrix, the nanostructured films exhibit significant enhancement in NIR absorption and photocurrent generation.
