Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Guanguang Zhang, Kaiyue Guo, Xingxing Shen, Honglong Ning, Hongfu Liang, Jinyao Zhong, Wei Xu, Biao Tang, Rihui Yao, Junbiao Peng
Summary: In this study, an electrochromic physical simulation model of WO3 films was established to investigate the electrochromic mechanism. Through experimental and theoretical analysis, continuous electron-transfer process and Li+-ion diffusion process in WO3 were revealed. The model successfully validated experimental data and provided an accurate description of the electrochromic process.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jin-Long Wang, Jian-Wei Liu, Si-Zhe Sheng, Zhen He, Jie Gao, Shu-Hong Yu
Summary: By coassembling W18O49 and V2O5 nanowires, a novel multicolor electrochromic device is demonstrated, which shows dynamic color change upon application of different electrochemical biases. The transparency and color of the device can be easily controlled by manipulating the layers and ratios of coassembled nanowires, allowing for the fabrication of different patterns with corresponding masks. This solid electrochromic device assembled from nanowires has significant potentials in smart windows and multicolor electrochromic displays.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jyothi Gupta, Habibuddin Shaik, K. Naveen Kumar
Summary: This article explores how porosity enhances the electrochromic performance of WO3 films and discusses various methods to achieve optimal porosity for best electrochromic performance.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ziqiang Cheng, Yongkang Tang, Gang Li, Gang Xu, Yong Liu, Gaorong Han
Summary: This study proposes a new strategy to create inorganic multi-color transmissive-type electrochromic electrodes (MCTEEs) using an asymmetric Fabry-Perot interferometer structure. The optimized design of the prototype MCTEE achieved good cycle stability, fast response time, and color tunability.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wenjie Li, Xiang Zhang, Dukang Yan, Lebin Wang, Wenhai Sun, Zitong Li, Jianbo Deng, Jiupeng Zhao, Yao Li
Summary: Electrochromic devices (ECDs) have significant energy-saving effects in green buildings, but degradation induced by ion trapping limits their development. This study demonstrates that the degraded ECDs can be rejuvenated by heat treatment, extending their lifespan and promoting sustainable development.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wanjun Yan, Guanguang Zhang, Rihui Yao, Wei Xu, Muyun Li, Xinglin Li, Jinyao Zhong, Taijiang Liu, Xiaoqin Wei, Honglong Ning
Summary: The study investigated the electrochromic sticking image behaviors in WO3 films prepared from ammonium tungstate precursors, attributing it to residual ammonium ions and oxygen vacancy defects. For amorphous WO3 film, ammonium ions preferentially participate in the coloring process but leave ions behind in the film during bleaching, causing sticking image. In crystalline WO3 film, increasing oxygen vacancy concentration and film density inhibit Li+ ion extraction, leading to high charge transfer resistance and necessitating a prolonged bleaching bias to eliminate sticking images.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yingming Zhao, Xiang Zhang, Wenjie Li, Zitong Li, Hulin Zhang, Mingjun Chen, Wenhai Sun, Yingjun Xiao, Jiupeng Zhao, Yao Li
Summary: A controllable crystalline structure WO3 film was prepared by adjusting the power in a magnetron sputtering deposition process. The film combined the advantages of excellent cyclic stability from highly ordered structure WO3 and fast response and satisfactory coloration efficiency from highly disordered structure WO3. The adjusted WO3 sputtered film exhibited superior electrochromic properties, and an all-solid-state electrochromic device based on this film showed excellent performance.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
ChuiTao Zeng, KaiLing Zhou, Yuhong Jin, Qianqian Zhang, ChangBao Han, Jingbing Liu, RuZhi Wang, Hao Wang
Summary: In this study, a platinum modulated WOx on Ag nanowires catalyst was developed to realize real-time evaluation for hydrogen evolution performance. The color of the catalyst changed from transparent to deep blue with the increase of applied potential. The catalyst exhibited enhanced charge transfer and mass transport, which resulted in high-quality development of green hydrogen energy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jenelle Fortunato, Benjamin Z. Zydlewski, Ming Lei, Noah P. Holzapfel, Matthew Chagnot, James B. Mitchell, Hsin-Che Lu, De-en Jiang, Delia J. Milliron, Veronica Augustyn
Summary: The independent modulation of visible and near-infrared light by a single material, called dual-band electrochromism, is highly desirable for smart windows. Tungsten oxides exhibit reversible visible and near-infrared absorption when electrochemically reduced. The presence of structural water in tungsten oxides has been found to enhance the electrochromic switching speeds.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ahmar Mehmood, Azhar Ali Haidry, Xueyuan Long, Xiaogang Zhang
Summary: This research evaluated tungsten and vanadium oxide co-sputtered thin films under different applied cyclic voltages, revealing the appearance of new peaks and severely damaged morphologies after -1.3 V cycles. The current density reduction was significant for both bleaching and coloring, with the switching times of WO3-V2O5 thin films drastically reduced compared to WO3 films.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Marco P. Rodrigues, Camila M. Cholant, Luana U. Krueger, Lourenzo M. Rodrigues, Javier A. Gomez, Joao F. Prolo Filho, Wladimir H. Flores, Andre Guendel, Agnieszka Pawlicka, Cesar O. Avellaneda
Summary: This study investigates the physical and electrochemical properties of WO3 thin films and their electrochromic mechanism using experiments and a mathematical model. The results show high performance in electrochromic efficiency, optical modulation, charge density, and reversibility of color change. The relationship between electrochromic and electrochemical reactions is confirmed by analyzing the data from various characterization techniques.
JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zheyue Mei, Mengying Wang, Yilin Ding, Xungang Diao
Summary: A quantitative relationship between the optical and electrical properties of crystalline WO3 films during Li+ insertion is established in this study. The exponential relationship between the transmittance and resistivity of WO3 thin films in the visible and near-infrared wavebands is determined, and real-time characterization of the resistivity during the electrochromic process is achieved. The results contribute to the development of WO3 based optoelectronic bifunctional electrochromic devices.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jianyong Feng, Xin Zhao, Bowei Zhang, Zhong Chen, Zhaosheng Li, Yizhong Huang
Summary: Contrary to the prevailing understanding, the enhanced photoactivity of WO3 photoanode upon electrochemical treatment is attributed to surface trap passivation rather than increased charge carrier densities. In situ optical spectroscopy was used to analyze the associated mechanism and monitor the optical property changes of WO3 electrode during electrochemical treatment.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Gamze Atak, Ilknur Bayrak Pehlivan, Jose Montero, Claes G. Granqvist, Gunnar A. Niklasson
Summary: Thin films of W oxide were prepared by reactive DC magnetron sputtering, and the study focused on the influence of critical deposition parameters on electrochromic properties. The results showed that a judicious choice of deposition parameters could yield films with superior cycling durability, providing a pathway towards W oxide films with excellent EC properties.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Wu Qi, Cong Shan, Zhao Zhigang
Summary: The study demonstrates that the multi-color tungsten oxide film can achieve discrete and controllable adjustment of the visible and infrared spectral region in a wide spectrum, showing great potential in smart windows, thermal management, radiative cooling, and other fields. The colorful tungsten oxide films not only present diversified colors in the visible region, but also significantly modulate the infrared reflectance, achieving infrared modulation rates higher than 25.00% in the colored films.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jiangwei Wang, Anik H. M. Faisal, Xiyao Li, Youran Hong, Qi Zhu, Hongbin Bei, Ze Zhang, Scott X. Mao, Christopher R. Weinberger
Summary: This study investigates the atomistic level dynamics of twinning in BCC tungsten (W) nanowires using in situ nanomechanical testing. The results show that deformation twins in W nanowires have a minimum size of six-layers and grow in increments of approximately three-layers at a time, in contrast to the layer-by-layer growth of deformation twins in face-centred cubic metals. These findings reveal a strong competition between twinning and slip in W nanowires, with a transition size of around 40 nm. The insights provided by this work are important for understanding the plastic deformation in a broad class of BCC metals and alloys.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Michael Van Erdewyk, Justin B. Sambur
Summary: This study reveals the limiting effect of doping heterogeneity on the photoelectrochemical performance of TMD nanoflake and demonstrates the equal efficiency of n-type and p-type regions in natural MoS2 nanoflakes. The findings open up the possibility of synthesizing efficient TMD nanoflake photocatalysts with well-defined lateral p- and n-type domains.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Rofiques Salehin, Gregory B. Thompson, Christopher R. Weinberger
Summary: This work systematically investigates the trapping and storage capabilities of transition metal carbides using density functional theory. It reveals a strong correlation between trap energy and valence electrons in the transition metal, and demonstrates that a lower carbon concentration leads to more hydrogen storage in transition metal carbides.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Gabriel Plummer, Michel W. Barsoum, Christopher R. Weinberger, Garritt J. Tucker
Summary: MAX phases, layered ternary carbides and nitrides, deform plastically through basal slip systems. Basal dislocations play a crucial role in incipient plastic deformation and their core structures and mobilities have been studied using atomistic calculations. The weakly bonded A-layer significantly affects the core structure of dislocations, with some configurations exhibiting non-planar cores and lower mobility. Additionally, due to the unique stacking sequence and stacking faults, basal dislocations preferentially nucleate and glide as same-signed pairs on adjacent slip planes, dissociating into zonal dislocations over larger distances for increased mobility.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaochuan Tang, Gregory B. Thompson, Kaka Ma, Christopher R. Weinberger
Summary: The thermodynamic stability of equiatomic mixed carbides, known as high entropy carbides (HECs), is investigated. The enthalpy of mixing is found to be as important as configurational mixing entropy in these compounds. The formation of these carbides is controlled by the competition between entropy and enthalpy.
COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Steven Marquez, Travis Varra, Cami Christensen, Om Rajasekharan, Carter Dojan, Janelle Hobbs, Abigail Otten, Luke Salzer, Jennifer D. Schuttlefield Christus, Justin B. Sambur
Summary: Scanning probe-based microscopes (SPMs) are widely used in various scientific fields to manipulate and image matter on the nanoscale. However, due to the lack of availability and affordability of SPM tools, many students are unable to learn and contribute to this important imaging technique. In this study, we introduce an affordable scanning laser-based imaging system to educate students and enable them to conduct independent research in solar energy and other SPM techniques.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiang Wang, Sixue Zheng, Chuang Deng, Christopher R. Weinberger, Guofeng Wang, Scott X. Mao
Summary: By using in situ nanomechanical testing combined with atomistic simulations, the formation mechanisms of a 5-fold twin in nanostructured metals, such as gold, have been elucidated. Sequential twinning slip in varying slip systems and decomposition of high-energy grain boundaries play important roles in the formation process. The complex stress state in the neck area can also cause the breakdown of Schmid's law and result in 5-fold twin formation.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Michael Van Erdewyk, Dakota B. Lorenz, Justin B. Sambur
Summary: In the late 1970s and early 1980s, researchers found that smooth crystals were necessary for high-efficiency photoelectrochemical solar cells based on TMDS. However, anecdotal observations hinted at performance variation among apparently smooth crystals. This mini-review article explores how spatially resolved photoelectrochemical techniques are solving the mystery of performance variation.
CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luke D. Salzer, Brian Diamond, Kelly Nieto, R. Colby Evans, Amy L. Prieto, Justin B. Sambur
Summary: In this study, the influence of structure and composition on the performance of Niobium tungsten oxide, an anode material for Li-ion batteries, was systematically investigated. The results show that Li-ion diffusivity increases with block size, but capacity loss also increases. Additionally, the slope of the charge-discharge profile increases with increasing block size, which hinders the use of larger block sizes for constant power applications.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachelle Austin, Yusef R. Farah, Thomas Sayer, Bradley M. Luther, Andres Montoya-Castillo, Amber T. Krummel, Justin B. Sambur
Summary: We demonstrate ultrafast hot exciton and free carrier extraction in a proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical solar cell made from inexpensive monolayer MoS2. Our approach allows for ultrathin charge transport distances and has potential applications in thin photovoltaic and solar fuel systems. This work provides valuable insights for future design strategies of 2D semiconductors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Brennan R. Watkins, Jessica J. Lopez, Xiao-Xiang Yu, Gregory B. Thompson, Christopher R. Weinberger
Summary: In this paper, the phase stability and mechanical properties of alloying the carbide and nitride of a group IVB transition metal are studied using density functional theory. The emphasis is on elastic and dislocation properties, with the HfC-HfN system as an example. The results show that alloying reduces slip resistance, stabilizes dislocations, and different strategies have different effects between metal and non-metal alloying.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Physical
Justin Sambur, Jakoah Brgoch
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Anik H. M. Faisal, Christopher R. Weinberger
Summary: By using atomistic simulations, this study reveals that the thickness of deformation twin nuclei in BCC transition metals is two layers, contradicting the previously proposed three layers. The atomic structures of the twin nuclei also vary among different transition metals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLASTICITY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Danielle R. Lustig, Enes Buz, Justin T. Mulvey, Joseph P. Patterson, Kevin R. Kittilstved, Justin B. Sambur
Summary: Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) ligands can inhibit biomolecule adhesion to surfaces and are suitable for nanocrystal drug carriers. A FRET-based spectroscopy approach was used to assess the permeability of molecules through PEG-coated zinc oxide nanocrystals (NCs), revealing a porous or patchy morphology of the PEG ligand shell.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Steven Marquez, Travis Varra, Cami Christensen, Om Rajasekharan, Carter Dojan, Janelle Hobbs, Abigail Otten, Luke Salzer, Jennifer D. Schuttlefield Christus, Justin B. Sambur
Summary: Scanning probe-based microscopes (SPMs) are widely used in various fields to manipulate and image matter at the nanoscale. However, their availability in high schools and universities is limited, hindering students' education in this important technique. To address this issue, we present an affordable scanning laser-based imaging system to introduce students to the underlying image formation process of SPM. With this system, students can learn and apply their knowledge to research projects and other SPM techniques.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
