Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nadia Shahzad, Lutfullah, Tahira Perveen, Diego Pugliese, Sirajul Haq, Nusrat Fatima, Syed Muhammad Salman, Alberto Tagliaferro, Muhammad Imran Shahzad
Summary: Efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness are the prime challenges in research of materials for solar cells. This study explores carbon nanotubes as alternative counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and discusses various classes of carbon nanotube-based counter electrode materials comprehensively. The properties associated with these materials are analyzed and compared. Additionally, this study includes a brief overview of materials for other components of DSSCs.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kirandeep Kaur, Meenakshi Patyal, Nidhi Gupta, Arun Kumar, Manika Khanuja
Summary: In this study, octaaza-bis-alpha-diimine ligand and its Yb complex grafted upon GO were synthesized and characterized. The composites with varying GO/Yb ratios were investigated as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells. The device fabricated with the highest ratio (1:10) exhibited the highest values in terms of Voc, Jsc, and PCE, showing promising potential to replace traditional Pt counter electrodes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
K. Silambarasan, S. Harish, K. Hara, J. Archana, M. Navaneethan
Summary: In this study, N-GQD@MoS2@rGO nanocomposite material was synthesized and its morphology, chemical composition, and electrochemical properties on dye-sensitized solar cells were investigated. The results from cyclic voltammetry analysis and photovoltaic power conversion efficiency measurement indicated that N-GQD@MoS2@rGO exhibited superior catalytic performance compared to other materials.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
U. A. Kamarulzaman, M. Y. A. Rahman, M. S. Su'ait, A. A. Umar
Summary: NiPd alloy-rGO prepared by LPD technique was studied as CE for DSSC, showing potential to replace Pt with comparable efficiency. Ni content and Ni:Pd ratio were found to significantly influence the device performance.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Aycan Atli, Abdullah Yildiz
Summary: An opaque platinum film as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells demonstrates enhanced reflectivity, smaller resistance, and excellent adhesion properties. As a result, the DSSC with the opaque platinum film achieves a higher electrical power conversion efficiency compared to the transparent platinum film under the same conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
C. Tamilselvi, P. Duraisamy, N. Subathra
Summary: The NiSe2/graphene hybrid material, in which NiSe2 nanocrystals are uniformly anchored on graphene nanosheets, exhibits remarkable catalytic activity in dye-sensitized solar cells. It shows higher power conversion efficiency and has the potential to replace Pt in such cells.
DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Yuki Kurokawa, Ajendra Kumar Vats, Takehito Kato, Suhaidi Shafie, Shyam S. Pandey
Summary: Researchers have found that conducting polymers based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have excellent catalytic activity and photovoltaic performance for low-cost counter electrodes. Among them, micelle-directed electropolymerized PEDOT:SDS exhibits superior catalytic activity to Pt and comparable photovoltaic performance.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
S. A. Salleh, M. Y. A. Rahman, T. H. T. Aziz
Summary: This study investigates the influence of thiourea concentration on the properties of nickel sulphide-reduced graphene oxide and its performance as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. The findings show that the sample prepared with 1.20 M thiourea exhibits the highest power conversion efficiency, making it a potential substitute for platinum in DSSCs.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shouzheng Jiao, Jinyue Wen, Yang Zhou, Zhicheng Sun, Yuanyuan Liu, Ruping Liu
Summary: In this study, a polyaniline film was synthesized on ITO-PET plastic substrate using cyclic voltammetry to create a transparent and flexible counter electrode. The electrochemical and photoelectric properties of the polyaniline electrode were analyzed and compared with Pt electrodes. The results showed that the porous structure and larger surface area of polyaniline contribute to its performance in DSSC, making it a cost-effective alternative to Pt electrodes.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Samar H. Bendary, Asmaa A. Abdelrahman
Summary: Due to their simplicity of manufacture, superior corrosion resistance, and low cost, carbon-based counter electrodes have gained unprecedented interest in dye-sensitized solar cells. However, issues such as poor surface adhesion and limited surface area of carbon counter electrodes have been a significant problem. To address these issues, researchers have used a hydrothermal technique to fabricate a novel carbon-based counter electrode. Through various tests, it has been found that the performance of this electrode is superior to traditional carbon-based electrodes.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Pooja A. Mithari, Avinash C. Mendhe, Swapnil S. Karade, Babasaheb R. Sankapal, Sujata R. Patrikar
Summary: The simple chemical bath deposition method successfully prepared MoS2 nanoflakes/MWCNTs thin-film composite material as the counter electrode in DSSCs, significantly increasing the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. The synergistic effect of the two materials resulted in improved electrocatalytic activity and lower charge transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Md. Mahbubur Rahman
Summary: The novel nickel nitroprusside (NNP) nanoparticles incorporated with graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) were successfully utilized as a low-cost and effective counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This nanohybrid CE showed significantly improved electrocatalytic behavior for redox reactions and achieved a comparable photovoltaic performance to the reference Pt-CE, demonstrating its potential as a suitable replacement for Pt-CE in DSSCs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
I. Ibrahim, H. N. Lim, N. W. K. Wan, N. M. Huang, S. P. Lim, W. Busayaporn, H. Nakajima
Summary: This study achieved significant enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cells' performance by constructing a special structured photoanode and incorporating a reflective layer, leading to improvements in power conversion efficiency and short-circuit current density.
Article
Polymer Science
Tansir Ahamad
Summary: In this study, CoSe2@N-doped graphene nanocomposite was successfully prepared and used as a counter electrode for DSSC. It was found to exhibit higher photoelectric conversion efficiency than the noble Pt electrode. This superior performance is attributed to the large surface area and active catalytic sites of the nanocomposite, which enhance the reduction of I-3(-) in DSSCs.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS AND MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lian Sun, Qian Zhang, Qijie Liang, Wenbo Li, Xiangguo Li, Shenghua Liu, Jing Shuai
Summary: This study developed a Pt-free counter electrode material, α-Fe2O3/RGO composite. Compared with pure α-Fe2O3 and RGO counter electrodes, α-Fe2O3/RGO composite has similar electrocatalytic performance to Pt counter electrode and significantly improves the power conversion efficiency of DSSCs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Seon Lee Kwak, Hea Jung Park, Jae-Ho Jang, Jeong Yong Park, Jong Mok Park, Jihoon Lee, Do-Hoon Hwang
Summary: In this study, a cross-linkable poly(iminoarylene) was synthesized as a hole injection layer for solution-processed OLEDs, and a red phosphorescent OLED device was fabricated. The crosslinked poly(iminoarylene) showed good film-forming properties and solvent resistance after heating, and the fabricated device exhibited low turn-on voltage, high current efficiency, and high external quantum efficiency, with a longer lifetime compared to the reference device.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tae Yun Ko, Daesin Kim, Seon Joon Kim, Hyerim Kim, Arun S. Nissimagoudar, Seung-Cheol Lee, Xiaobo Lin, Peter T. Cummings, Sehyun Doo, Seongmin Park, Tufail Hassan, Taegon Oh, Ari Chae, Jihoon Lee, Yury Gogotsi, Insik In, Chong Min Koo
Summary: The article introduces a novel ligand chemistry for MXenes using alkylated 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (ADOPA), which can functionalize MXene surfaces under mild reaction conditions. The ADOPA ligands form strong hydrogen-bonding and pi-electron interactions with the surface terminal groups of MXenes, while the hydrophobic fluorinated alkyl tail is compatible with organic solvents. This method produces stable colloidal solutions and liquid crystals of various MXenes in organic solvents, with excellent electrical conductivity, improved oxidation stability, and processability, enabling applications in flexible electrodes and electromagnetic interference shielding.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Heqing Ye, Eunji Park, Su Cheol Shin, G. Murali, Daehyun Kim, Jihoon Lee, In Ho Kim, Sung-Jin Kim, Se Hyun Kim, Yong Jin Jeong, Insik In
Summary: In this study, two types of UV curable high-k PSQs with different side chains were prepared. The structure of the side chains influenced the UV curing behavior and capacitance characteristics of the PSQ dielectrics. These findings demonstrate the potential of engineering PSQs for next generation integrated electronics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaustuv Roy, Dong-Hyun Lee, Benny Ryplida, Insik In, Suk Ho Bhang, Sung Young Park
Summary: This research proposes a cancer-selective self-reporting sensor based on a redox-responsive mineralized conductive hydrogel (M-Hydrogel), which possesses cancer-specific viscosity, adhesive strength, stretchability, tunable conductivity, and fluorescence. The self-reporting nature of the M-Hydrogel sensor is highlighted when in the vicinity of a high glutathione (GSH) level, confirming the dependence of self-recognizable behavior on the cancer microenvironment. The M-Hydrogel demonstrates excellent ex situ sensing with tumor ablation, enabling real-time analysis coupled with the upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers P53 and BAX in the tumor.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
C. Thota, G. Murali, R. Dhanalakshmi, M. Reddeppa, N. -H. Bak, G. Nagaraju, S. -G. Kim, J. K. R. Modigunta, Y. H. Park, Insik In, M. -D. Kim
Summary: In this study, 2D MXene nanosheets were spin-coated on 1D GaN nanorods to establish a van der Waals Schottky junction for efficient UV detection. The built-in electric field developed through this junction formation enhances the separation of electron-hole pairs, resulting in better UV detection performance compared to pristine GaN nanorods.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hyeong Jun Jo, Gwang-Bum Im, Akhmad Irhas Robby, Insik In, Suk Ho Bhang, Arnab Shit, Sung Young Park
Summary: The study introduces a cancer microenvironment-selective detection system using wireless pressure and strain sensing from a ROS-responsive carbon dot-embedded conductive hydrogel. The hydrogel's ROS scavenging activity and photothermal therapy eliminate tumor condition, and the hydrogel produces distinct electronic signals in the presence of cancer cells. The wireless sensor device allows for easy monitoring of conductivity and pressure on cellphones. Overall, this theragnostic sensor with direct anticancer activity via photothermal therapy is successfully constructed.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Young Ho Park, Dongyun Kim, Chaitanya B. Hiragond, Junho Lee, Jin-Woo Jung, Chang-Hee Cho, Insik In, Su-Il In
Summary: This study developed a highly stable photocatalyst for the reduction of CO2 to CO. By combining phase-controlled molybdenum sulfide with reduced titania, the obstacles of limited light absorption and poor charge separation were overcome, resulting in selective conversion of CO2.
JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ari Chae, G. Murali, Seul-Yi Lee, Jeonghwan Gwak, Seon Joon Kim, Yong Jin Jeong, Hansol Kang, Seongmin Park, Albert S. Lee, Dong-Yeun Koh, Insik In, Soo-Jin Park
Summary: Recently, MXene-based wearable hydrogels have become promising candidates for epidermal sensors due to their softness and unique properties. However, it is challenging to achieve reliable sensing performance and prolonged service life due to MXene oxidation in water-containing hydrogels. To address this issue, catechol-functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA-CA)-based hydrogels are proposed to inhibit MXene oxidation, resulting in rapid self-healing and superior strain sensing behaviors. The PVA-CA-MXene hydrogel demonstrates potential for real-time motion monitoring and accurate signal classification using deep learning models.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Tuzhi Xiong, Jingting Li, Jagadish Chandra Roy, Malcolm Koroma, Zhixiao Zhu, Hao Yang, Lei Zhang, Ting Ouyang, M. -Sadeeq Balogun, Mohammad Al-Mamun
Summary: This work develops a multifunctional electrode for electrochemical devices, which consists of nickel nitride and vanadium oxynitride on robust carbon fiber. The electrode exhibits excellent performances for hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and sodium ion batteries. This work is important for the development of efficient and cost-effective flexible integrated electrochemical energy devices.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Soyeon Kim, Canh Minh Vu, Suehyeun Kim, Insik In, Jihoon Lee
Summary: This study presents a facile strategy to improve the mechanical flexibility and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of MXene films. The MX@DC film, created by crosslinking mussel-inspired molecule DC with MXene nanosheets, exhibited significantly enhanced toughness and Young's modulus compared to bare MXene films. The DC-coated MXene film also demonstrated improved EMI shielding effectiveness, making it suitable for practical applications.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chandrasekaran Nithya, Jeevan Kumar Reddy Modigunta, Insik In, Soye Kim, Sukumaran Gopukumar
Summary: Hierarchical nanocomposites with surface active bonding features are efficient electrode materials for high-performance Li-/Na-/K-ion batteries. Tuning the physiochemical properties of these nanocomposites has a great impact on their electrochemical performance, attributed to the synergistic effect of different components. In this study, a hierarchical nanocomposite of bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanorod bonded to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) matrix was synthesized and investigated as an anode material for potassium-ion batteries. The nanocomposite exhibited high reversible capacity, long-term cycling stability, and outstanding rate capability. The excellent performance was attributed to the active sites in rGO nanosheets that enhance electrical conductivity of Bi2S3 nanorods and prevent shuttle effect of polysulfide. The proposed phase transformation mechanism and structural stability of Bi2S3 nanorods were confirmed by ex-situ X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis respectively. The surface dominated pseudocapacitive K-ion storage also played a major role in improving the electrochemical performance. A K-ion full cell was successfully assembled and showed stable cycling performance after 100 cycles at 1 C rate.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Heqing Ye, Ka Yeon Ryu, Hyeok-jin Kwon, Hyunji Lee, Rixuan Wang, Jisu Hong, Hyun Ho Choi, Sang Yong Nam, Jihoon Lee, Hoyoul Kong, Se Hyun Kim
Summary: New polymeric insulating materials called MBHCa-F, composed of acrylate and fluorinated functional groups, were synthesized and used as gate insulators for organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). These materials significantly reduce traps at the interface between the organic semiconductor and gate insulator, enhancing the operation stability and electrical performance of OTFTs.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Katerina Skopalova, Itana Nusa Bubanja, Dragomir Stanisavljev, Nikola Cvjeticanin, Vera Kasparkova, Eliska Dad'ova, Erika Pavlikova, Marek Koutny, Marija Gizdavic-Nikolaidis, Petr Humpolicek
Summary: This study compares the biological properties of PANI prepared by different synthesis methods and oxidizing agents, which improves its potential applications in the biomedical field.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hui-Ping Li, Cai-Yan Gao, Zhi-Ping Chen, Xin-Heng Fan, Lian-Ming Yang
Summary: In this study, a novel type of D-A non-fused-ring copolymers was designed and synthesized to overcome the trade-off relationship between electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient in organic semiconductors. The incorporation of fluorine atoms into the polymer backbone effectively increased the ordered degree of molecular stacking and improved both the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. The bimodal orientation of polymers played a crucial role in decoupling the correlation between electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mansour A. S. Salem, Amjad Mumtaz Khan, Hatem A. M. Saleh, Khalil M. A. Qasem, Mizna Ahmed, Aadil Shafi Bhat, Abdulaziz Abdullah Qasem Ali, Younes S. A. Ghanem, Ali Alrabie, Abdel-Basit Al-Odayni, Waseem Sharaf Saeed, Basheer Al-Anesi
Summary: This research focuses on the versatile substance, polyaniline/layered double hydroxide (PANI@Nd-Co/LDH), under solvothermal conditions. A thorough analysis of its structure and morphology was conducted using various analytical methods. The findings showed that PANI@Nd-Co/LDH exhibited highly sensitive and specific fluorescence detection of Pb(II) and Al(III), outperforming other heavy metal ions. The sensor demonstrated a turn-off fluorescence response for Pb(II) ions and a turn-on fluorescence response for Al(III) ions. The minimum detectable limits (MDL) were determined to be 9.6 nM for Pb(II) and 220 nM for Al(III). PANI@Nd-Co/LDH could be easily regenerated and reused for multiple cycles. The detection mechanisms involved the inner filter effect (IFE) for Pb(II) and the chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect for Al(III). These results highlight the excellent potential of PANI@Nd-Co/LDH in the detection and recognition of Pb(II) and Al(III) ions.
