Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fengjuan Miao, Fuchen Chu, Bingcheng Sun, Bairui Tao, Peng Zhang, Yu Zang, Paul K. Chu
Summary: This study presents the design and fabrication of a photoanode composed of Au/SnS/TiO2 sensitized with natural dye for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By calcination, a layer of spherical nano-TiO2 is prepared, and a layer of nano-SnS is deposited on the TiO2 photoanode using the continuous ion layer adsorption reaction (SILAR). The sensitized Au nanoparticles exhibit enhanced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects and electron trapping ability, resulting in improved electron mobility and reduced electron recombination in the DSSC.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chun-Hao Chang, Chia-Han Chuang, De-Yang Zhong, Jun-Cheng Lin, Chia-Chi Sung, Chun-Yao Hsu
Summary: This study focused on enhancing the optoelectronic performances of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) by mixing acetylacetone, graphene powder and TiO2 mesoporous. The addition of graphene and optimization of parameters led to improvements in efficiency and performance of DSSCs. Using a different substrate material also resulted in increased photovoltaic efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dapeng Cao, Anchen Wang, Xiaohui Yu, Huiming Yin, Jingbo Zhang, Baoxiu Mi, Zhiqiang Gao
Summary: The study demonstrated that the use of compression and graphene incorporation in TiO2/graphene photoanodes for DSSCs significantly improves power conversion efficiency, transmittance, and resistance to cracking, making it suitable for use as the front unit in tandem solar cells.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Bandana Ranamagar, Isaac Abiye, Fasil Abebe
Summary: The Rhodamine-6G derivative Rhd and its metal complexes with aluminum and chromium ions were synthesized and characterized using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated with Rhd and the metal complexes, and their solar-to-electric power efficiencies were determined through current-density measurements and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The Rhd and Cr3+-sensitized solar cell showed the highest solar to electric power efficiency at 0.16%.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Haoran Yan, Minghan Chen, Wenbo Liu, Peiyun Wang, Menglin Liu, You Liu, Longqiang Ye, Mengmeng Gu
Summary: To enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), niobium oxide and Ti3C2 quantum dots were introduced into the photoanode, resulting in improved photocurrent and efficiency. The DSSC device with the composite photoanode achieved a remarkable PCE of 7.24%, surpassing the standard device's efficiency of 4.60%.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Abdullah Atilgan, Abdullah Yildiz
Summary: The development of novel bilayer photoanodes is crucial for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. In this study, a homojunction photoanode consisting of undoped and Ni-doped TiO2 layers was prepared. By tuning the location of the doped layer, the photoconversion efficiency was greatly improved. The bilayer structure enhanced light absorption, resulting in increased short circuit current and open-circuit voltage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fengjuan Miao, Bingcheng Sun, Bairui Tao, Yanchun Wang, Paul K. Chu
Summary: This paper demonstrates the application of a novel ternary nanocomposite MoS2/Ag/TiO2 photoanode in high efficiency plasma dye sensitive solar cell. The ternary nanocomposite MoS2/Ag/TiO2 was successfully synthesized without any hazardous substances. The addition of MoS2 improves the light absorption ability and electron transfer rate of the photoanode, leading to a significant enhancement in the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the dye sensitive solar cell.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hugo G. Lemos, Rodrigo M. Ronchi, Guilherme R. Portugal, Jessica H. H. Rossato, Gurpreet S. Selopal, David Barba, Everaldo C. Venancio, Federico Rosei, Jeverson T. Arantes, Sydney F. Santos
Summary: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising technology for clean energy conversion. This study focuses on enhancing the efficiency of DSSCs by optimizing charge transport and non-radiative carrier recombination. The introduction of Ti3C2Tx MXene into the photoanode improves electron transport and increases the energy-to-current conversion of DSSCs.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wen-Feng Lai, Pei-Ling Chao, Xin-Yu Lin, Yin-Pei Chen, Jih-Hsin Liu, Tz-Feng Lin, Wei-Chou Hsu, Chia-Yi Huang
Summary: In this study, a one-dimensional protrusive TiO2 strip array was fabricated using chemical and physical methods. A porous semiconductor layer was coated on the strip array. The results showed that the DSSC with the TiO2 strip array had a higher energy conversion efficiency, which can be attributed to the large surface area of the protrusive structure and its specific electron transport paths.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shanmuganathan Venkatesan, Yun-Yu Chen, Hsisheng Teng, Yuh-Lang Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates a quick dye adsorption process using electrochemical methods, reducing the fabrication time of dye-sensitized solar cells. The electrodes prepared using constant potential methods show high performance in DSSCs with high efficiencies and low dark current densities.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Alwani Imanah Rafieh, Piyasiri Ekanayake, Hideki Nakajima, Abdul Hanif Mahadi, Masanizan Abu, Muna Fathiah Don, Chee Ming Lim
Summary: Doping calcium and lanthanum into mesoporous TiO2 prevents particle nucleation and growth during high temperature synthesis and calcination, resulting in smaller particle sizes and a reduced band gap of TiO2. This enhances the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as anodes and increases dye adsorption concentration. Moreover, the presence of calcium and lanthanum dopants in TiO2 nanoparticles is confirmed, and doping with these elements improves overall device efficiency through increased surface area and oxygen vacancies.
JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dariusz Augustowski, Maciej Gala, Pawel Kwasnicki, Jakub Rysz
Summary: This study suggests that removing organic residues from the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles using UV ozone cleaning process can significantly reduce the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and boost the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the prepared devices, mainly due to the increase in short circuit current (Jsc) and slight improvement in open circuit voltage (Voc).
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yu-Chih Chiang, Chia-Rong Lee, Chia-Yi Huang
Summary: A 90-nm-thick TiO2 grid was fabricated using photolithography, sputtering, and lift-off process. A nanoporous film was deposited on the TiO2 grid, which induced a protrusive structure. Experimental results showed that introducing the TiO2 grid into a dye-sensitized solar cell increased its power conversion efficiency by 25%. This improvement can be attributed to the large surface area and directional electron transport channels of the protrusive structure.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jagriti Tyagi, Himanshu Gupta, L. P. Purohit
Summary: Different photoanodes were prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass substrate using the doctor blade method, with CdS quantum dots deposited by SILAR. The ZnO/TiO2 photoanode achieved higher efficiency compared to bare TiO2 in the QDSSC, with improved electron transport and overall performance. The IPCE for ZnO/TiO2 electrode was approximately 46%, showing enhanced capabilities for photon-to-current conversion.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
N. Mohsenzadegan, E. Nouri, M. R. Mohammadi
Summary: The improvement of photoconversion efficiency and operational stability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) under environmental conditions is a major challenge for commercialization. Two approaches, namely increasing light scattering via embedding mesoporous TiO2 beads and delaying electrolyte leakage using gel polymer electrolyte, were employed to address this challenge. The highest photoconversion efficiency of 9.8% was achieved for the photoanode based on mesoporous TiO2 beads in the presence of gel polymer electrolyte, demonstrating longer operational stability under realistic ambient conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaoxin Zhang, Zhen Yu, Hao Qu, Shuai Guo, Jiachen Yang, Songlin Zhang, Lin Yang, Shaoan Cheng, John Wang, Swee Ching Tan
Summary: The emerging moisture-driven energy generation (MEG) technology has potential in fields like information security, but this potential is currently untapped. This study reports an original MEG structure that uses selective coating of ionic hygroscopic hydrogels on a carbon black surface to convert moisture energy. By combining hydrogel patterns and encoding methods, a humidity-regulated information encryption and display platform is developed, providing a hierarchical solution for high-security encryption and display.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jiangmin Jiang, Zhenghui Pan, Jiaren Yuan, Jun Shan, Chenglong Chen, Shaopeng Li, Yaxin Chen, Quanchao Zhuang, Zhicheng Ju, Hui Dou, Xiaogang Zhang, John Wang, John Wang
Summary: By constructing a stable and robust g-C3N4 protective layer on the surface of zinc metal anodes, the performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries can be improved, inhibiting dendrite growth and enhancing Coulombic efficiency and lifespan.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Soren S. Sorensen, Xiangting Ren, Tao Du, Ayoub Traverson, Shibo Xi, Lars R. Jensen, Mathieu Bauchy, Satoshi Horike, John Wang, Morten M. Smedskjaer
Summary: This work demonstrates that water can depolymerize polyhedra with labile metal-ligand bonds in a cobalt-based coordination network, resulting in nonstoichiometric glasses. The addition of water molecules promotes the breakage of network bonds and coordination number changes, thereby lowering melting and glass transition temperatures. These structural changes alter the physical and chemical properties of the glass, similar to the concept of modifiers in oxides. This approach can be extended to other transition metal-based coordination networks, enabling diversification of hybrid glass chemistry.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lei Jiang, Mengrui Lu, Piaoyun Yang, Yijing Fan, Hao Huang, Juan Xiong, Zhao Wang, Haoshuang Gu, John Wang
Summary: In this study, a pressure sensor matrix capable of two-dimensional pressure mapping was developed by using patterned piezoelectric (K,Na)NbO3 (KNN) nanorod arrays. The KNN nanorods exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility, elasticity, and piezoelectric performance, enabling a high sensitivity of up to 0.20 V N-1 and a detection limit as low as 20 g. The spatially separated micro sensor matrix allowed for accurate self-powered pressure mapping and precise analysis of mechanical stimulations.
SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tao Sun, Wenjie Zang, Jianguo Sun, Chenguang Li, Jun Fan, Enzhou Liu, John Wang
Summary: Non-carbon-supported single-atom electrocatalysts (SACs) have attracted great interest for water splitting due to their unique bond and coordination properties, as well as their superior and tunable catalytic performance compared to carbon-supported SACs and commercial catalysts. The structure, surficial chemical groups, vacancy defects of non-carbon host materials, as well as the properties and population of single atoms, play important roles in the electrocatalytic performance of these SACs. The wide range of host materials and single atom types present limitless possibilities for the design of SACs with tunable structures and electrocatalysis behaviors.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Saeid M. Elkatlawy, Abdelhamid A. Sakr, John Wang, Abdelnaby M. Elshahawy
Summary: In this study, an effective strategy was designed to combine transition metal sulfides with nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide hydrogels, improving the overall supercapattery properties.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS AND MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hayden A. Evans, Dan Zhao, Pieremanuele Canepa, Anthony K. Cheetham, Dinesh Mullangi, Taner Yildirim, Yuxiang Wang, Zeyu Deng, Zhaoqiang Zhang, Thuc T. Mai, Fengxia Wei, John Wang, Angela R. Hight Walker, Craig M. Brown
Summary: The process of separating oxygen from air to create oxygen-enriched gas streams is important in both industrial and medical fields. However, existing technologies for this process are energy-intensive and require infrastructure. This study demonstrates that a metal-organic framework, Al(HCOO)3 (ALF), can effectively adsorb oxygen at near-ice temperatures, with good time-dependent selectivity. ALF exhibits a high oxygen adsorption capacity of approximately 1.7 mmol/g at 190K and atmospheric pressure, and approximately 0.3 mmol/g at salt-ice temperatures of 250K. ALF shows potential as a low-cost option for oxygen separation applications.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhaoqiang Zhang, Zeyu Deng, Hayden A. Evans, Dinesh Mullangi, Chengjun Kang, Shing Bo Peh, Yuxiang Wang, Craig M. Brown, John Wang, Pieremanuele Canepa, Anthony K. Cheetham, Dan Zhao
Summary: The exclusive capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from hydrocarbon mixtures is crucial in the petrochemical industry. A new study introduces a ultramicroporous material, ALF, which can selectively capture CO2 from hydrocarbon mixtures with high capacity and efficiency. The material's unique pore chemistry allows for molecular recognition of CO2 by hydrogen bonding, while rejecting other hydrocarbons.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hongfei Cheng, Jun Zhou, Huiqing Xie, Songlin Zhang, Jintao Zhang, Shengnan Sun, Ping Luo, Ming Lin, Shijie Wang, Zhenghui Pan, John Wang, Xian Jun Loh, Zhaolin Liu
Summary: Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) are a promising energy source in the future low-carbon economy, but the lack of efficient electrocatalysts for anodic formic acid oxidation (FAO) hinders their scale-up and commercialization. The FAO performance of palladium hydrides (PdHx) has been found to be superior to pristine Pd, and this study explores the controlled synthesis and electrocatalytic behaviors of PdHx-based nanomaterials. The hydrogen intercalation-induced crystallization of PdNiP alloy nanoparticles is reported, and the obtained PdNiP-H nanoparticles exhibit excellent FAO performance, demonstrating their potential for DFAFC applications.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lu Mao, Xiaoyu Hao, Yu Zhang, Siew Yee Wong, Jiating He, Suxi Wang, Ximeng Liu, Xiaolei Huang, John Wang, Xu Li
Summary: In this study, hierarchical NiFe hydroxide-Cu arrays are prepared as the electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) through solution etch and sequential electrolysis. The electrochemically reduced Cu nanoarrays serve as a conductive core, providing superior conductivity for electron transfer, while the unique hierarchical 3D structure offers a large active surface area, a short ion diffusion path, and open channels for efficient gas release. The resulting NiFe hydroxide-Cu arrays on copper foam exhibit outstanding catalytic performance with current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm(-2) achieved at 245 and 300 mV, respectively, in a 1 M KOH solution. Additionally, a small Tafel slope of 51 mV dec(-1) and excellent electrochemical durability of up to 100 h are demonstrated.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xianyang Zhang, Pengfei Chen, Siwuxie He, Bowen Jiang, Yong Wang, Yonghua Cheng, Jian Peng, Francis Verpoort, John Wang, Zongkui Kou
Summary: Biosensors featuring single molecule detection offer great opportunities in various fields, but face challenges due to the lack of activity, precision molecule selectivity, and understanding of the operating mechanism. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), particularly those that mimic the natural metalloenzyme structure, provide practical-use feasibilities for single molecule detections with high molecular selectivity and easy fabrication. This review discusses the history, advantages, and applications of SACs in molecule-scale biosensors, emphasizing their sensing modes and coordination-modulated signal amplifications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianguo Sun, Binbin Liu, Qi Zhao, Chin Ho Kirk, John Wang
Summary: This article provides an overview of the research progress on MXenes in energy and catalysis, with a specific focus on the potential of termination-free MXene in catalysis and redox reactions. The authors believe that MX has great potential in future catalysis and propose the extension towards high entropy and single-atom modifications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue Guo, Hanmei Jiang, Binbin Liu, Xingyang Wang, Yifu Zhang, Jianguo Sun, John Wang
Summary: Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are considered promising for large-scale grid energy storage due to their safety, low costs, and environmental friendliness. Vanadium oxides, particularly V2O5, have been widely used as cathode materials for ZIBs because of their high theoretical capacity and structural stability. However, there are challenges in achieving high capacity, long lifespan, and excellent rate performance with vanadium-based ZIBs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weihao Liu, Jing Yang, Yizhe Zhao, Ximeng Liu, Jian Heng, Minghui Hong, Yong-Wei Zhang, John Wang
Summary: This study introduces a novel laser-ironing approach to modulate the structural and compositional evolution of electrocatalysts during the reaction, enhancing their performance and stability. The laser-ironing capping layer (LICL) formed during the process sustains the leaf-like morphology and promotes the formation of highly active Co3O4 nanoclusters. The results provide new insights into facile and high-precision surface microstructure control.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu Liu, Junhui Wang, Jianguo Sun, Fangyu Xiong, Qin Liu, Yongkang An, Lei Shen, John Wang, Qinyou An, Liqiang Mai
Summary: This study reveals the role of Glu(-) in the construction of solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs), which enables impressive Zn2+ electrochemical kinetics and effectively prevents Zn dendrites and parasitic reactions. By establishing a protective SEI layer, long cycle lifespan, high reversibility, and outstanding stability are achieved in aqueous batteries. Additionally, a zinc ion battery with a MnO2 cathode shows higher specific capacity for practical applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)