Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ersan Y. Muslih, Khan Sobayel Bin Rafiq, Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Md Shahiduzzaman, Mohammad Junaebur Rashid, Tasmiat Rahman, Badrul Munir, Khaled Althubeiti, Hend Alkhammash, Huda Abdullah, K. Techato, Md Akhtaruzzaman, Kim Kyoo Ho
Summary: This study demonstrates the preparation of high-quality CZTSe thin films through an environmentally friendly low-cost solution process, avoiding the use of toxic chemicals. The deposited films exhibit high crystallinity and no carbon residues, showing potential as a photovoltaic absorber. Realistic power conversion efficiency of CZTSe solar cells is estimated to reach 18.5% with a short-circuit current density of 30 mA/cm(2).
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Muhammad Rehan, Ara Cho, Awet Mana Amare, Kihwan Kim, Jae Ho Yun, Jun-Sik Cho, Joo Hyung Park, Jihye Gwak, Donghyeop Shin
Summary: Sodium alkali doping is an effective way to improve the performance of CZTSe devices by passivating native defects. Various methods have been considered to incorporate sodium in CZTSe films, leading to a significant increase in sodium content regardless of the incorporation method.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yikun Fang, Xiaohui Tan, Wuzhi Zhu, Jiaming Hu, Xiuxun Han
Summary: Most precursor solutions for Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films use sulfur containing groups, which are toxic and release harmful gases during drying. An alternative stable molecular precursor solution without sulfur based complexing agent was developed using ethanolamine. The resulting Cu-Sn alloy phase in the precursor film enables similar phase evolution during selenization, leading to a Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 7.53%.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Siyu Wang, Zhan Shen, Yue Liu, Yi Zhang
Summary: The quality of absorber layer in thin-film solar cells is crucial, and the stacking order of metal elements affects the growth mechanism and nanoscale morphology of the films. This study investigates the growth mechanism of kesterite-structured thin-film solar cells with two different stacking sequences. The results show that the location of Zn layers in the precursor films plays a significant role in the nanoscale morphology and growth mechanism of the CZTSe films. Solar cells fabricated with the selenized Mo/Zn/Cu/Sn/Cu films achieve the highest efficiency of 10.28%.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yunfeng Liang, Chunhong Zeng, Longlong Zeng, Genghua Yan, Ye Yuan, Xianzhong Lin, Hai Zhu, Yaohua Mai, Ruijiang Hong
Summary: By controlling the proportion and distribution of metal precursors, a self-seed inducing effect can be achieved during soft selenization, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced open circuit voltage deficit for CZTSe solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yikun Fang, Xiaohui Tan, Wuzhi Zhu, Jiaming Hu, Xiuxun Han
Summary: A novel sulfur/selenium-free solution method using ethanolamine-dimethyl formamide as solvent was developed for the preparation of Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin films. Cu-Sn alloy phases were formed in the precursor during drying process, and the formation and phase transition mechanisms were illustrated. The Cu2ZnSnSe4 films with drying time of 6 min showed larger grain size, longer carrier life time, higher external quantum efficiency and better average photovoltaic performance.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
S. Levcenko, B. Teymur, D. B. Mitzi, T. Unold
Summary: Characterization of radiative transitions in trigonal Cu2BaSnS4 was experimentally studied via temperature and excitation intensity dependent photoluminescence measurements, revealing the contributions of free exciton, bound exciton, donor-acceptor-pair recombination, and free-to-bound transition. The activation energies and temperature shift for the radiative transitions were determined, with optical phonons playing a significant role in the energy shift of free exciton recombination above 90 K.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
WooJun Seol, Gopinathan Anoop, Hyeonghun Park, Cheol Woong Shin, Jun Young Lee, Tae Yeon Kim, Wan Sik Kim, Hyunjin Joh, Shibnath Samanta, Ji Young Jo
Summary: In this study, V-doped ZnO thin films with high polarization values were successfully prepared by controlling crystallite size, morphology, and valence state of vanadium, opening up the possibility of utilizing ferroelectric VeZnO in particulate matter filtering devices. The study demonstrated the importance of crystalline properties and valence state of V in determining the ferroelectric and dielectric properties of VeZnO films, with potential applications in air filter coatings for efficient particulate matter filtration.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bingbing Yang, Linghua Jin, Renhuai Wei, Xianwu Tang, Ling Hu, Peng Tong, Jie Yang, Wenhai Song, Jianming Dai, Xuebin Zhu, Yuping Sun, Shujun Zhang, Xiaolin Wang, Zhenxiang Cheng
Summary: This paper summarizes the development of bismuth ferrite thin films in recent years, introduces the method and challenges of chemical solution route preparation. It also proposes an all-solution chemical-solution deposition (AS-CSD) method to prepare ferroelectric films with different orientations, and studies their growth, structure, and ferroelectric properties.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Alfredo Blazquez Martinez, Nicolas Godard, Naveen Aruchamy, Cosme Milesi-Brault, Oana Condurache, Andreja Bencan, Sebastjan Glinsek, Torsten Granzow
Summary: In this study, polycrystalline Mn and Ti co-doped BiFeO3 thin films were fabricated on platinized silicon substrates by a solution deposition method, with PbTiO3 nanocrystals used as a seed layer to induce a preferential (100) pseudocubic orientation. The introduction of a PbTiO3 seed layer significantly reduced the leakage current and resulted in excellent room-temperature ferroelectric properties in the thin films.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Almudena Aguinaco, Jose M. Manuel, Eduardo Blanco, Manuel Dominguez, Rocio Litran, Juan J. Delgado, Milagrosa Ramirez-del-Solar
Summary: The optical properties of 5wt% Fe3O4-TiO2 thin films were evaluated in detail in this study. The results showed that the incorporation of 5wt% Fe3O4 improved the optical properties and enhanced the separation efficiency of photoexcited electron-hole pairs in the photocatalyst. The study also proposed a mechanism for solar photocatalytic processes based on experimental results.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Svetlana Polivtseva, Julia Kois, Tatiana Kruzhilina, Reelika Kaupmees, Mihhail Klopov, Palanivel Molaiyan, Heleen van Gog, Marijn A. van Huis, Olga Volobujeva
Summary: New approaches to fabricating metal chalcogenide thin films offer controllability and adjustable properties, expanding their applications in optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Yuki Ohigashi, Amon Higuchi, Nataly Carolina Rosero-Navarro, Akira Miura, Kiyoharu Tadanaga
Summary: Thin films of Cu3N were successfully obtained by nitridation of CuO precursor films using urea as a nitrogen source. The formation of Cu3N was confirmed at 400 degrees C for 12 hours under nitrogen flow, with FT-IR spectra indicating the reaction between CuO and urea decomposition products.
JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ryo Nakayama, Yuto Kawaguchi, Ryota Shimizu, Kazunori Nishio, Hiroyuki Oguchi, Sangryun Kim, Shin-ichi Orimo, Taro Hitosugi
Summary: Complex hydrides are important reducing agents, hydrogen storage materials, and ionic conductors. However, it is challenging to fabricate epitaxial thin films of complex hydrides due to the difficulty in maintaining stable [BH4]- complex anions during deposition. This study successfully achieved the growth orientation control of NaBH4 thin films and discussed the influence of lattice mismatch and stacking sequence on the control. The findings provide a basis for advanced investigations of complex hydrides and their surface and interfacial phenomena.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Rajinder Singh Deol, Nitika Batra, Pranjal Rai, Henam Sylvia Devi, Madhusudan Singh
Summary: In this study, we investigated the impact of electric-field assisted densification on a low temperature solution processed piezoelectric inorganic film (KNN). The experimental results showed cracked morphology and densification in the post-processed film, along with a shift in the stoichiometric ratio. Using image processing and finite element simulation, we further confirmed these observations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingwei Li, Michael J. Cowan, Meng Zhou, Michael G. Taylor, He Wang, Yongbo Song, Giannis Mpourmpakis, Rongchao Jin
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rongchao Jin, Gao Li, Sachil Sharma, Yingwei Li, Xiangsha Du
Summary: Researchers have successfully synthesized atomically precise metal nanoclusters with well-defined structures, opening up new opportunities for catalysis research. These atomically precise nanoclusters combine the characteristics of homogeneous catalysts and enzymes, holding significant potential for practical applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yongbo Song, Yingwei Li, Meng Zhou, Xuan Liu, Hao Li, He Wang, Yuhua Shen, Manzhou Zhu, Rongchao Jin
Summary: This study reports a method to achieve high phosphorescence from metal nanoclusters in non-degassed solution, with a core-shell structure leading to efficient photoluminescence. Unlike other materials, this phosphorescence is less sensitive to air, which is important for lighting and biomedical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhongyu Liu, Yingwei Li, Wonyong Shin, Rongchao Jin
Summary: This study compared thin-film and solution-based measurements to reveal the existence of core phonons in Au-25 nanoclusters, as well as the suppression mechanism of staple-shell phonons in the solid state.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingwei Li, Meng Zhou, Rongchao Jin
Summary: Recent advances in atomically precise nanochemistry have allowed for programmable control over nanoparticle size and structure. Gold-thiolate nanoclusters exhibit strong quantum-confinement effects, with changes in the energy gap depending on the core structure.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yingwei Li, Rongchao Jin
Summary: The magnetic properties of gold nanoparticles in the quantum size regime have been a topic of interest in research, with recent progress in atomically precise gold nanoclusters providing insights into the origin of magnetism. The unique models of these nanoclusters help in understanding the delocalized spin and spin-spin exchange interaction, correlated to the atomic structures of the magnetic nanoclusters. The facile icosahedral kernel structures in gold-thiolate nanoclusters make them suitable for doping and controlling magnetism, showing promise for versatile applications.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingwei Li, Site Li, Anantha Nagarajan, Zhongyu Liu, Sarah Nevins, Yongbo Song, Giannis Mpourmpakis, Rongchao Jin
Summary: In this study, a thiolate (SR)-protected Au-36 Ag-2 (SR)(18) nanocluster with low ligand coverage and a core composed of three icosahedral (I-h) units is reported for efficient catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The Au-36 Ag-2 (SR)(18) exhibits high catalytic activity at lower overpotentials due to its low ligand-to-metal ratio, low-coordinated Au atoms and unfilled superatomic orbitals. This study provides a new strategy for constructing highly active catalysts from inert metals by pursuing atomically precise nanoclusters and controlling their geometrical and electronic structures.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yingwei Li, Meng Zhou, Yongbo Song, Tatsuya Higaki, He Wang, Rongchao Jin
Summary: DNA has long been used as a template for constructing helical assemblies of inorganic nanoparticles, but achieving helices without biological ligands is challenging. Atomically precise nanoclusters protected by ligands demonstrate hierarchical structural complexity, similar to biomolecules. The newly synthesized homodimeric and heterodimeric gold nanoclusters self-assemble into superstructures, with heterodimeric clusters forming more complex helical superstructures driven by van der Waals interactions. The surrounding ligands on the clusters contribute to the assembly through paired steric interactions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yongbo Song, Yingwei Li, Meng Zhou, Hao Li, Tingting Xu, Chuanjun Zhou, Feng Ke, Dayujia Huo, Yan Wan, Jialong Jie, Wen Wu Xu, Manzhou Zhu, Rongchao Jin
Summary: This study reports the seed structure of Au-56 nanoprism and provides insights into the formation and surface protection mechanisms, which are important for understanding plasmonic nanoprism formation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingwei Li, Yongbo Song, Xinwen Zhang, Tongyu Liu, Tingting Xu, He Wang, De-en Jiang, Rongchao Jin
Summary: This study reports a metal-precise rod-shaped Au42(SCH2Ph)32 with a high aspect ratio of the hexagonal-close-packed Au20 kernel, which exhibits intense longitudinal absorption and effective photothermal conversion at low concentrations. The findings demonstrate that Au42 nanorods inherit the longitudinal excitation similar to metallic-state nanorods. This work highlights the potential applications of Au42 nanorods in photothermal converters, biomedical therapy, photoacoustic imaging, and photocatalysis.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhongyu Liu, Yingwei Li, Ellen Kahng, Shan Xue, Xiangsha Du, Site Li, Rongchao Jin
Summary: The study investigates the effects of ligands on the electron-phonon interactions in Au nanoclusters by synthesizing four Au25(SR)18- NCs protected by different -SR ligands and analyzing their temperature-dependent band-gap renormalization behavior. It is found that the high-frequency optical phonons are suppressed in aromatic-ligand-protected Au25 NCs, with a low-frequency breathing mode and quadrupolar mode identified as the main contributors to the phonon-assisted nonradiative relaxation pathway. This contrasts with non-aromatic-ligand-protected Au25 NCs, where tangential and radial modes play key roles. Additionally, the study shows that the suppression of optical phonons leads to higher quantum yields in aromatic-ligand-protected Au25 NCs, indicating potential for enhanced photoluminescence properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingwei Li, Hong Ki Kim, Ryan D. McGillicuddy, Shao-Liang Zheng, Kevin J. Anderton, Grant J. Stec, Jaehyeong Lee, Dongtao Cui, Jarad A. Mason
Summary: In this study, Au43(C-CtBu)20 and Au42Ag1(C-CtBu)20 metal nanoclusters with open electronic and geometric shells were reported, showing paramagnetism and enhanced catalytic activity from a single coordinatively unsaturated surface metal. These nanoclusters exhibit helical stripes around the inner Au12 kernel, giving them chirality and high thermal stability. Experimental and theoretical calculations showed minimal energy differences between the open-shelled nanoclusters and hypothetical closed-shell systems, and the open-shelled configuration resulted in the largest band gap, thus promoting cluster stability. Additionally, the coordinatively unsaturated surface metals were found to create active sites for catalytic oxidation, leading to high selectivity and conversion. This study provides a promising platform for investigating the magnetic and catalytic properties of noble metal nanoparticles.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Yingwei Li, Rongchao Jin
Summary: A new class of nanomaterials-metal nanoclusters of atomic precision-has become a popular research topic due to their unique properties. These ultrasmall nanoparticles have a molecularly uniform and pure structure, possess a quantized electronic structure, and can grow into single crystals. Correlating their properties with the precise atomic structures has provided insights into mysteries of conventional nanoparticles and opened up new opportunities in catalysis, assembly, and other applications. The anisotropic nanoclusters, including dimeric, rod-shaped, and oblate-shaped nanoclusters, have been achieved through kinetic control and offer exciting prospects for tailoring physicochemical properties and advancements in applications.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Zhang, Jie Kong, Yingwei Li, Zhuoran Kuang, He Wang, Meng Zhou
Summary: The coherent vibrational dynamics of gold nanoclusters provide important information on the coupling between vibrations and electrons as well as their mechanical properties. The study focuses on atomically precise Au-144(SR)(60) nanoclusters and reveals distinct vibrational modes at 1.5 THz and 2 THz, which help understand the physical properties of gold nanostructures between molecular-like nanoclusters and metallic-state nanoparticles.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Site Li, Anantha Venkataraman Nagarajan, Yingwei Li, Douglas R. Kauffman, Giannis Mpourmpakis, Rongchao Jin
Summary: This study investigates the effects of different protecting ligands on Au nanoclusters in the CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction, revealing that the sulfur site acts as the active site supporting CO selectivity, while the selenium site shows a higher tendency for hydrogen evolution. Energy calculations demonstrate that the sulfur-based Au nanocluster exhibits lower energy penalties for key reaction steps, leading to improved catalytic performance.
