Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wei Zhang, Honglie Shen, Jingzhe Zhang, Jiafan Zhang, Linfeng Lu, Xiangrong Zhu, Dongdong Li
Summary: Researchers improved the energy band matching at the interface between nickel oxide and perovskite by controlling the thickness of the nickel oxide layer, leading to higher power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinyi Liu, Hong Wei Qiao, Mengjiong Chen, Bing Ge, Shuang Yang, Yu Hou, Hua Gui Yang
Summary: Potassium salt-modified nickel oxides as hole transport layers were found to improve the photovoltaic performance of inverted perovskite solar cells, achieving higher charge recombination impedance and reduced trap densities. The champion device with potassium iodide-modified NiOX film attained a PCE of 20.10% and an enhanced fill factor of 0.812, demonstrating potassium doping as an effective route for enhancing the performance of inverted planar PSCs.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jian Song, Qinyuan Qiu, Xingzhou Su, Yulong Zhao, Yinghuai Qiang
Summary: The study demonstrated that the double-layer NiO hole transport layer can improve charge transfer at the NiO/perovskite interface and reduce carrier recombination loss of the device. Devices based on the double-layer NiO hole transport layer achieved higher fill factor and lower hysteresis effect, resulting in an increased power conversion efficiency of 14.3%.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Haibin Wang, Zhiyin Qin, XinJian Li, Chun Zhao, Chao Liang
Summary: Nickel oxide (NiOX) has been proven to be an efficient hole-transporting layer (HTL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, current deposition methods for NiOX are limited and fail to address the energy level mismatch at the NiOX/perovskite interface, hindering the development of PSCs. In this study, a sol-gel process was utilized to create a hybrid HTL by pre-doping a NiOX film with Ag ions, forming a p/p(+) homojunction in the NiOX-based inverted PSCs. This innovative approach enhanced charge separation, energy level alignment, and charge transfer efficiency at the perovskite/HTL interface, resulting in a high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.25% and improved environmental stability.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Qiannan Yao, Liang Zhao, Xuewen Sun, Lei Zhu, Yulong Zhao, Yinghuai Qiang, Jian Song
Summary: This study introduces an operative Na2S treated NiOx HTL, which improves the conductivity of the NiOx layers and the crystallinity of perovskite, leading to enhanced performance of inverted planar perovskite solar cells. The Na2S-decorated NiOx HTL not only suppresses interface defects, but also enhances hole extraction, resulting in improved short-circuit density, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Qiaopeng Cui, Liang Zhao, Xuewen Sun, Qiannan Yao, Sheng Huang, Lei Zhu, Yulong Zhao, Jian Song, Yinghuai Qiang
Summary: Perovskite solar cells are the most promising commercial photoelectric conversion technology in the future and have advantages in stability and preparation. However, the non-radiative recombination in inverted planar PSCs is the main challenge in charge transfer and efficiency improvement. The bilayer hole transport layer used in this study enhances hole transfer by forming an electric field, resulting in improved device performance.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yi-Min Chang, Chia-Wei Li, Yu-Lin Lu, Meng-Shian Wu, Hsin Li, Ying-Sheng Lin, Chin-Wei Lu, Chih-Ping Chen, Yuan Jay Chang
Summary: In this study, a facile and low-cost synthesis of Spiro[fluorene-9,9-phenanthren-10-one]-based interfacial layer materials was achieved, leading to highly efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells. The dual-functional interfacial layer not only improved the surface morphology of NiOx but also enlarged the perovskite layer grain size, resulting in enhanced device performance and long-term stability. The superior perovskite morphologies of the NiOx/MSs led to outperformance compared to bare NiOx-based PSCs.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoyan Zhao, Wenxiao Zhang, Xiuxiu Feng, Xuemin Guo, Chunyan Lu, Xiaodong Li, Junfeng Fang
Summary: This study proposes a photoconductive NiOx-Pc hole transport layer in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by combining with phthalocyanine (Pc) to improve the conductivity of NiOx film. The experimental results show that the conductivity of NiOx-Pc film significantly increases, leading to improved efficiency and stability of PSCs.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin Yin, Jifeng Zhai, Providence Buregeya Ingabire, Pingfan Du, Wei-Hsiang Chen, Lixin Song, Jie Xiong, Frank Ko
Summary: A unique NiOx/carbon heterostructure was designed as an efficient anode interlayer to improve the performance of inverted perovskite solar cells. This buffer interlayer significantly enhanced the hole conductivity and extraction efficiency at the HTL/perovskite interface, contributing to a high V-OC and efficiency of 19.51%.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhengyan Jiang, Deng Wang, Jiayun Sun, Bihua Hu, Luozheng Zhang, Xianyong Zhou, Jiawen Wu, Hang Hu, Jiyao Zhang, Wallace C. H. Choy, Baomin Xu
Summary: A multifunctional modification at the NiOx/perovskite interface is developed by introducing fluorinated ammonium salt ligand, which successfully solves the issues of unfavorable interfacial reactions and insufficient charge carrier extraction in NiOx-based inverted PSCs. The interface modification chemically converts detrimental Ni >= 3+ to lower oxidation state, eliminating interfacial redox reactions. Additionally, interfacial dipole is incorporated to optimize energy level alignment and promote charge carrier extraction. As a result, the modified NiOx-based inverted PSCs achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.93% and exhibit significantly enhanced long-term stability.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Jou Huang, Cheng-En Cai, Yen-Chung Feng, Bo-Tau Liu, Rong-Ho Lee
Summary: By using CPAM as an interfacial modification layer, the interface contact and crystal quality of the inverted perovskite solar cells were improved, leading to enhanced photoconversion efficiency.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu Fu, Xingchong Liu, Shuangshuang Zhao
Summary: The inferior interface feature of Nickel oxide (NiOx) inverted perovskite solar cells often causes poor device property and repeatability. In this study, Mandelic acid (MAD) is introduced to form a modified layer, which improves the interface properties and increases the hydrophobicity. The introduction of MAD molecule decreases the trap state density and significantly improves the power conversion efficiency of the solar cells.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jiaqi Zhang, Juan Long, Zengqi Huang, Jia Yang, Xiang Li, Runying Dai, Wangping Sheng, Licheng Tan, Yiwang Chen
Summary: In NiOx-based perovskite solar cells, the introduction of a modifier layer, SaC-100, was found to suppress the detrimental reaction between Ni3+ and MAI, improving conductivity, reducing interfacial defects, optimizing interfacial energy level alignment, and enhancing device stability and power conversion efficiency.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhang-Wei Huang, Sheng-Hsiung Yang, Zong-Yu Wu, Hsu-Cheng Hsu
Summary: This study successfully enhanced the performance of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by preparing a nanoporous nickel oxide (NiOx) layer as the hole transport layer, which maintained 80% of its initial efficiency after 50 days of storage.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ching-Ho Tien, Lung-Chien Chen, Kuan-Lin Lee
Summary: In this study, a low-cost, highly transparent, and ultra-thin Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) combined with NiOx film double-layered inorganic hole transporting layer (HTL) was presented for inverted CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells, aiming to enhance hole extraction and suppress electron transport. The double-layer HTL showed significant improvements in open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency of the solar cell, while also enhancing the stability of the device.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Enyi Hu, Jun Wang, Longqing Ma, Muhammad Yousaf, Faze Wang, Bin Zhu, Wenxiu Yang, Peter Lund
Summary: The effect of calcination temperature on the phase evolution and electrochemical properties of Sm2O3 was studied. The results show that a sample calcinated at 700 degrees C has a pure cubic phase and exhibits improved ionic conductivity and fuel cell performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chao Feng, Xianghua She, Yequan Xiao, Yanbo Li
Summary: In this study, the active center of NiFe-based catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was identified as Fe through the detection of highly-oxidized Fe-VI intermediates leached into the electrolyte. Furthermore, the incorporation of Co into NiFe-based catalyst was found to enhance the formation of Fe-VI active species and improve the OER activity of the catalyst. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms for sustainable generation of Fe-VI active species in NiFe-based catalysts and lay the foundation for the design of more efficient and stable OER catalysts.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Min Wang, Anna Loiudice, Valery Okatenko, Ian D. D. Sharp, Raffaella Buonsanti
Summary: The coupling of CO-generating molecular catalysts with copper electrodes in tandem schemes is a promising strategy to boost the formation of multi-carbon products in the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. The spatial distribution of the two components in molecular-based tandem systems has not been well explored. This study examines the importance of the relative spatial distribution of Co-phthalocyanine (CoPc) and Cu nanocubes (Cu-cub) on the performance of tandem catalysts. It is found that a direct contact between the CO-generating molecular catalyst and the Cu is crucial for promoting C-C coupling, indicating a surface transport mechanism between the two components of the tandem catalyst.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alex Henning, Johannes D. Bartl, Lukas Wolz, Maximilian Christis, Felix Rauh, Michele Bissolo, Theresa Grunleitner, Johanna Eichhorn, Patrick Zeller, Matteo Amati, Luca Gregoratti, Jonathan J. Finley, Bernhard Rieger, Martin Stutzmann, Ian D. Sharp
Summary: Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a crucial technique for scaling semiconductor devices, but achieving atomically-defined coatings and surface modifications is challenging. This study presents a method for depositing sub-nanometer thin and continuous aluminum oxide (AlOx) coatings on silicon substrates, allowing spatial control of surface charge density and interface energetics. Using trimethylaluminum and remote hydrogen plasma, silicon dioxide (SiO2) is transformed into alumina. The resulting patterned surfaces possess lateral AlOx/SiO2 interfaces with precise step heights and surface potential steps, enabling modulation of surface band bending.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andrii Shcherbakov, Kevin Synnatschke, Stanislav Bodnar, Jonathan Zerhoch, Lissa Eyre, Felix Rauh, Markus W. Heindl, Shangpu Liu, Jan Konecny, Ian D. Sharp, Zdenek Sofer, Claudia Backes, Felix Deschler
Summary: Layered van der Waals (vdW) antiferromagnets with low-dimensional excitonic properties and complex spin-structure are promising materials for future opto-spintronic applications. In this study, we successfully fabricated centimeter-scale thin films of the 2D antiferromagnetic material NiPS3 using liquid phase exfoliation. The films showed antiferromagnetic spin arrangement, spin-entangled Zhang-Rice multiplet excitons, and ultranarrow emission line widths, despite their disordered nature. These results demonstrate the scalable thin-film fabrication of high-quality NiPS3, which is crucial for utilizing this material in spintronic and nanoscale memory devices and exploring its complex spin-light coupled states.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pan Ding, Hongyu An, Philipp Zellner, Tianfu Guan, Jianyong Gao, Peter Mueller-Buschbaum, Bert M. Weckhuysen, Ward van der Stam, Ian D. Sharp
Summary: This study investigates the impact of catalyst ink formulation on CO2 electrolysis and finds that Nafion is essential for achieving stable product distributions. The content of Nafion and the solvent composition regulate the internal structure of Nafion coatings and the catalyst morphology, thus significantly impacting CO2 electrolysis performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alex Henning, Sergej Levashov, Chenjiang Qian, Theresa Gruenleitner, Julian Primbs, Jonathan J. Finley, Ian D. Sharp
Summary: It is demonstrated that in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a powerful method for optimizing film growth and opto(electronic) characteristics of 2D materials during atomic layer deposition (ALD). By utilizing in situ SE during ALD on monolayer MoS2, a low temperature process for encapsulating the 2D material with a nanometer-thin alumina (AlOx) layer is investigated, which results in a 2D/3D interface controlled by van der Waals interactions. The charge transfer doping of MoS2 by AlOx is found to be an interfacial phenomenon that initiates from the earliest stages of film formation.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Luigi Giacomazzi, Nikita S. Shcheblanov, Mikhail E. Povarnitsyn, Yanbo Li, Andraz Mavric, Barbara Zupancic, Joze Grdadolnik, Alfredo Pasquarello
Summary: We conducted a comprehensive study combining experimental measurements and first-principles calculations to investigate the infrared properties of amorphous alumina. Our analysis reveals the correlation between the imaginary part of the dielectric function and the motion of threefold-coordinated oxygen atoms. We also provide an alternative interpretation of the vibrational modes, based on the decomposition of the vibrational density of states and the 62(co) spectra.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiexuan Jiang, Ronghua Li, Dongliang Liu, Hongtao Xie, Qiugui Zeng, Yanbo Li
Summary: In this study, the thermal stability and moisture sensitivity of CsPbI2Br perovskite were improved by incorporating 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4) ionic liquids as a precursor additive and modifying the perovskite surface with CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs). The BMIMBF4/ILs-treated CsPbI2Br perovskite exhibited an improved carrier lifetime and reduced trap density, while the CsPbBr3 QDs further enhanced the efficiency and moisture stability of the perovskite solar cells. The BMIMBF4 IL and CsPbBr3 QD co-modified PSC achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 15.37% and retained 80% of its initial PCE after exposure to ambient air for 60 h.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Beibei Zhang, Zeyu Fan, Yutao Chen, Chao Feng, Shulong Li, Yanbo Li
Summary: In this study, a core-shell nanoarray photoanode of NbNx-nanorod@Ta3N5 ultrathin layer was constructed to enhance light harvesting and charge transfer, resulting in improved solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. An impressive photocurrent density of 7 mA cm(-2) at 1.23 V-RHE was achieved with an ultrathin Ta3N5 shell thickness of less than 30 nm, along with excellent stability and a low onset potential of 0.46 V-RHE. The enhanced performance was attributed to the high-conductivity NbNx core, high-crystalline Ta3N5 mono-grain shell, and intimate Ta-N-Nb interface bonds, which accelerated the charge-separation capability of the core-shell photoanode.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rui-Ting Gao, Lijia Liu, Yanbo Li, Yang Yang, Jinlu He, Xianhu Liu, Xueyuan Zhang, Lei Wang, Limin Wu
Summary: By dispersing Ru and P diatomic sites onto hematite, an efficient photoelectrode was constructed using the concept of correlated single-atom engineering, resulting in improved charge carrier transportation dynamics and increased efficiency for photoelectrochemical water splitting.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
F. Rauh, O. Bienek, I. D. Sharp, M. Stutzmann
Summary: The necessity for higher sample throughput has led to an increase in the use of robotic systems and automation in sample preparation processes. This study presents a low-cost alternative to commercial dip coaters by using a readily available 3D printer and compares the resulting films to those obtained from a commercial device. The 3D printer-based device allows for automated dip coating processes using multiple dipping solutions for a batch of samples, potentially saving time and cost compared to commercial systems. The film quality achieved by the home-built system is comparable, and sometimes even better in terms of uniformity and roughness, making it a viable alternative to commercial dip coating devices.
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Oliver Bienek, Benedikt Fuchs, Matthias Kuhl, Tim Rieth, Julius Kuhne, Laura I. Wagner, Lina M. Todenhagen, Lukas Wolz, Alex Henning, Ian D. Sharp
Summary: III-V compound semiconductors have optoelectronic properties suitable for solar energy conversion. This study investigates the impact of defects in atomic layer deposition of titanium oxide (TiOx) on junction formation, interfacial charge transport, and photocarrier recombination. The results show that defect concentrations in TiOx can be controlled to modulate optical constants, electrical conductivity, and interface chemistry, allowing for tuning of junction formation and achieving high photovoltage photocathodes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dan Zhu, Chao Feng, Zeyu Fan, Beibei Zhang, Xin Luo, Yanbo Li
Summary: A promising approach combining renewable solar energy with abundant water and air has been developed for scalable and economically beneficial H2O2 production.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Xiaojian Zhang, Chao Feng, Zeyu Fan, Beibei Zhang, Yequan Xiao, Andraz Mavric, Nadiia Pastukhova, Matjaz Valant, Yi-Fan Han, Yanbo Li
Summary: By suppressing competitive reactions and precipitating alkaline-earth metal ions through an alkaline treatment of seawater, a self-healing catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has been demonstrated. The self-healing catalyst showed stable seawater oxidation under highly-alkaline conditions, paving the way for large-scale seawater electrolysis.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)