Transition metal chalcogenides for next-generation energy storage.

Transition-metal chalcogenide nanostructures provide a unique material platform to engineer next-generation energy storage devices such as lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and potassium-ion batteries and flexible supercapacitors. The transition-metal chalcogenide nanocrystals and thin films have enhanced electroactive sites for redox reactions and hierarchical flexibility of structure and electronic properties in the multinary compositions. They also consist of more earth-abundant elements.

Phytochemical Profiling, Biological Activities, and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of (L.) Mabb. & J.Wen Shoot.

(L.) Mabb. & J.

Colloidal Synthesis, Characterization, and Photoconductivity of Quasi-Layered CuCrS Nanosheets.

The current need to accelerate the adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased the need to explore new nanomaterials that can harvest and convert solar energy into electricity. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are good candidates because of their tunable physical and chemical properties. CuCrS has shown good electrical and thermoelectrical properties; however, its optical and photoconductivity properties remain unexplored.

Correction: Solvent-driven azide-induced mononuclear discrete one-dimensional polymeric aromatic Möbius cadmium(II) complexes of an N tetradentate helical ligand.

Correction for 'Solvent-driven azide-induced mononuclear discrete one-dimensional polymeric aromatic Möbius cadmium(II) complexes of an N tetradentate helical ligand' by Farhad Akbari Afkhami , , 2017, , 14888-14896, https://doi.org/10.1039/C7DT02952G.

Strain induced anisotropy in liquid phase epitaxy grown nickel ferrite on magnesium gallate substrates.

This work focuses on the nature of magnetic anisotropy in 2.5-16 micron thick films of nickel ferrite (NFO) grown by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). The technique, ideal for rapid growth of epitaxial oxide films, was utilized for films on (100) and (110) substrates of magnesium gallate (MGO).

Design, synthesis, in silico, and in vitro evaluation of 3-phenylpyrazole acetamide derivatives as antimycobacterial agents.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the most dangerous pathogens affecting immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients worldwide. Novel molecules, which are efficient and can reduce the duration of therapy against drug-resistant strains, are an urgent unmet need of the hour. In our current study, a series of new 2-(3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)acetamide and N'-benzylidene-2-(3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)acetohydrazide derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their antimycobacterial potential.

Elastic distortion determining conduction in BiFeO phase boundaries.

It is now well-established that boundaries separating tetragonal-like (T) and rhombohedral-like (R) phases in BiFeO thin films can show enhanced electrical conductivity. However, the origin of this conductivity remains elusive. Here, we study mixed-phase BiFeO thin films, where local populations of T and R can be readily altered using stress and electric fields.

Multinary copper-based chalcogenide nanocrystal systems from the perspective of device applications.

Multinary chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals are a unique class of materials as they offer flexibility in composition, structure, and morphology for controlled band gap and optical properties. They offer a vast selection of materials for energy conversion, storage, and harvesting applications. Among the multinary chalcogenides, Cu-based compounds are the most attractive in terms of sustainability as many of them consist of earth-abundant elements.

Correction: Giant resistive switching in mixed phase BiFeOvia phase population control.

Correction for 'Giant resistive switching in mixed phase BiFeOvia phase population control' by David Edwards et al., Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 17629-17637.

Nanocrystals of CuMSnS (M = In or Ga) for solar energy conversion applications.

Quaternary MIMIIIMIVXVI4 (I-III-IV-VI4) chalcogenides obtained by cross-substitution of binary and ternary compounds remain relatively unexplored. We have for the first-time synthesized wurtzite and defect chalcopyrite phases of CuMSnS4 (M = In or Ga) in the form of nanocrystals. Optical measurements show that the CuMSnS4 (M = In or Ga) nanocrystals exhibit strong visible light absorption with band gap values between 1.

Giant resistive switching in mixed phase BiFeOvia phase population control.

Highly-strained coherent interfaces, between rhombohedral-like (R) and tetragonal-like (T) phases in BiFeO3 thin films, often show enhanced electrical conductivity in comparison to non-interfacial regions. In principle, changing the population and distribution of these interfaces should therefore allow different resistance states to be created. However, doing this controllably has been challenging to date.

Synthesis of Wurtzite CuZnSnS Nanosheets with Exposed High-Energy (002) Facets for Fabrication of Efficient Pt-Free Solar Cell Counter Electrodes.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting nanomaterials have generated much interest both because of fundamental scientific interest and technological applications arising from the unique properties in two dimensions. However, the colloidal synthesis of 2D quaternary chalcogenide nanomaterials remains a great challenge owing to the lack of intrinsic driving force for its anisotropic growth. 2D wurtzite CuZnSnS nanosheets (CZTS-NS) with high-energy (002) facets have been obtained for the first time via a simple one-pot thermal decomposition method.

Solvent-driven azide-induced mononuclear discrete versus one-dimensional polymeric aromatic Möbius cadmium(ii) complexes of an N tetradentate helical ligand.

We report the synthesis and structural characterization of a heteroleptic mononuclear discrete complex [Cd(N)(L)(MeOH)]·MeOH (1·MeOH) and a one-dimensional coordination polymer of the composition [Cd(N)(L)] (2), fabricated from Cd(NO)·4HO and the helical organic ligand benzilbis((pyridin-2-yl)methylidenehydrazone) (L) in the presence of two equivalents of NaN. The formation of different structures is driven by the solvent. The former complex is formed in the presence of MeOH, while the latter complex is formed in EtOH.

Bulk Single Crystal-Like Structural and Magnetic Characteristics of Epitaxial Spinel Ferrite Thin Films with Elimination of Antiphase Boundaries.

Spinel ferrite NiFe O thin films have been grown on three isostructural substrates, MgAl O , MgGa O , and CoGa O using pulsed laser deposition. These substrates have lattice mismatches of 3.1%, 0.

Pathways for Gold Nucleation and Growth over Protein Cages.

Proteins are widely utilized as templates in biomimetic synthesis of gold nanocrystals. However, the role of proteins in mediating the pathways for gold nucleation and growth is not well understood, in part because of the lack of spatial resolution in probing the complicated biomimetic mineralization process. Self-assembled protein cages, with larger size and symmetry, can facilitate in the visualization of both biological and inorganic components.

A Facile Electrochemical Reduction Method for Improving Photocatalytic Performance of α-FeO Photoanode for Solar Water Splitting.

Electrochemical reduction method is used for the first time to significantly improve the photo-electrochemical performance of α-FeO photoanode prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates by spin-coating aqueous solution of Fe(NO) followed by thermal annealing in air. Photocurrent density of α-FeO thin film photoanode can be enhanced 25 times by partially reducing the oxide film to form more conductive FeO (magnetite). FeO helps facilitate efficient charge transport and collection from the top α-FeO layer upon light absorption and charge separation to yield enhanced photocurrent density.

Synthesis of Hierarchical Nanoporous Microstructures via the Kirkendall Effect in Chemical Reduction Process.

A series of novel hierarchical nanoporous microstructures have been synthesized through one-step chemical reduction of micron size Cu2O and Co3O4 particles. By controlling the reduction time, non-porous Cu2O microcubes sequentially transform to nanoporous Cu/Cu2O/Cu dented cubic composites and hollow eightling-like Cu microparticles. The mechanism involved in the complex structural evolution is explained based on oxygen diffusion and Kirkendall effect.

A new family of wurtzite-phase Cu2ZnAS4-x and CuZn2AS4 (A = Al, Ga, In) nanocrystals for solar energy conversion applications.

A new family of quaternary semiconductors Cu2ZnAS4-x and CuZn2AS4 (A = Al, Ga, In) has been synthesized in the form of wurtzite phase nanocrystals for the first time. The nanocrystals can be converted to the stannite phase via thermal annealing under a N2 atmosphere. A direct band gap in the visible wavelength region combined with a high absorption cross-section makes these materials promising for solar energy conversion applications.

Longitudinal spin Seebeck effect contribution in transverse spin Seebeck effect experiments in Pt/YIG and Pt/NFO.

The spin Seebeck effect, the generation of a spin current by a temperature gradient, has attracted great attention, but the interplay over a millimetre range along a thin ferromagnetic film as well as unintended side effects which hinder an unambiguous detection have evoked controversial discussions. Here, we investigate the inverse spin Hall voltage of a 10 nm thin Pt strip deposited on the magnetic insulators Y3Fe5O12 and NiFe2O4 with a temperature gradient in the film plane. We show characteristics typical of the spin Seebeck effect, although we do not observe the most striking features of the transverse spin Seebeck effect.

NanoCOT: Low-Cost Nanostructured Electrode Containing Carbon, Oxygen, and Titanium for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Developing high-efficiency, durable, and low-cost catalysts based on earth-abundant elements for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for renewable energy conversion and energy storage devices. In this study, we report a highly active nanostructured electrode, NanoCOT, which contains carbon, oxygen, and titanium, for efficient OER in alkaline solution. The NanoCOT electrode is synthesized from carbon transformation of TiO2 in an atmosphere of methane, hydrogen, and nitrogen at a high temperature.

P22 virus-like particles constructed Au/CdS plasmonic photocatalytic nanostructures for enhanced photoactivity.

Plasmonic photocatalytic nanostructures have been fabricated under mild conditions (room temperature aqueous solution) using genetically engineered bacteriophage P22 virus-like particles (VLP) as a nano-platform. The photodegradation of methylene blue by CdS photocatalyst confined inside VLP can be significantly enhanced by the controlled deposition of gold nanoparticles on the outer shell of VLP-CdS.

Visible light driven photoelectrochemical properties of Ti@TiO2 nanowire electrodes sensitized with core-shell Ag@Ag2S nanoparticles.

We present a model electrode system comprised of nanostructured Ti electrode sensitized with Ag@Ag2S core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) for visible light driven photoelectrochemistry studies. The nanostructured Ti electrode is coated with Ti@TiO2 nanowires (NW) to provide a high surface area for improved light absorption and efficient charge collection from the Ag@Ag2S NPs. Pronounced photoelectrochemical responses of Ag@Ag2S NPs under visible light were obtained and attributed to collective contributions of visible light sensitivity of Ag2S, the local field enhancement of Ag surface plasmon, enhanced charge collection by Ti@TiO2 NWs, and the high surface area of the nanostructured electrode system.

Efficient thermolysis route to monodisperse Cu₂ZnSnS₄ nanocrystals with controlled shape and structure.

Monodisperse Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanocrystals with tunable shape, crystalline phase, and composition are synthesized by efficient thermolysis of a single source precursor of mixed metal-oleate complexes in hot organic solvents with dissolved sulfur sources. Suitable tuning of the synthetic conditions and the Cu/(Zn + Sn) ratio of the precursor has enabled precise control of the crystalline phase in the form of kesterite, or a newly observed wurtzite structure. Nanocrystals with morphology in the form of spherical, rice-like, or rod-like shapes are obtained over a wide range of compositions (0.

Tungsten doped titanium dioxide nanowires for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells.

Metal oxide semiconductors offering simultaneously high specific surface area and high electron mobility are actively sought for fabricating high performance nanoelectronic devices. The present study deals with synthesis of tungsten doped TiO2 (W:TiO2) nanowires (diameter ∼50 nm) by electrospinning and evaluation of their performance in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Similarity in the ionic radii between W(6+) and Ti(4+) and availability of two free electrons per dopant are the rationale for the present study.