Piezo inkjet formation of Ag nanoparticles from microdots arrays for surface plasmonic resonance.

The study aims to explore a novel approach for fabricating plasmonic nanostructures to enhance the optical properties and performance of various optoelectronic devices. The research begins by employing a piezo-inkjet printing technique to deposit drops containing Ag nanoparticles (NPs) onto a glass substrate at a predefined equidistance, with the goal of obtaining arrays of Ag microdots (Ag-µdots) on the glass substrate. This process is followed by a thermal annealing treatment.

An additive manufacturing approach based on electrohydrodynamic printing to fabricate P3HT:PCBM thin films.

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the production of high value and high performance components with applications from aerospace to biomedical fields. We report here on the fabrication of poly(3-hexylthiophene): phenyl-C-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) thin films through the electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) process and its integration as absorber layer for organic solar cells. Prior to the film fabrication, the optimization of the process was carried out by developing the operating envelope for the P3HT:PCBM ink to determine the optimal flow rate and the appropriate applied voltage to achieve a stable-cone deposition mode.

Metamaterials and Metasurfaces: A Review from the Perspectives of Materials, Mechanisms and Advanced Metadevices.

Throughout human history, the control of light, electricity and heat has evolved to become the cornerstone of various innovations and developments in electrical and electromagnetic technologies. Wireless communications, laser and computer technologies have all been achieved by altering the way light and other energy forms act naturally and how to manage them in a controlled manner. At the nanoscale, to control light and heat, matured nanostructure fabrication techniques have been developed in the last two decades, and a wide range of groundbreaking processes have been achieved.

Laser ablation fabrication of a-NiO/-Si heterojunction for broadband and self-powered UV-Visible-NIR photodetection.

We report on the optoelectronic characteristics of-NiO/-Si heterojunction photodiode for broadband photodetection, fabricated by depositing a-type NiO thin film onto a commercial-type silicon substrate using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The structural properties of the PLD-grown-NiO material were analysed by means of x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, confirming its crystalline nature and revealing the presence of Ni vacancies, respectively. Hall measurements confirmed the-type semiconducting nature of the NiO thin film having a carrier concentration of 8.

Research Progress of Plasmonic Nanostructure-Enhanced Photovoltaic Solar Cells.

Enhancement of the electromagnetic properties of metallic nanostructures constitute an extensive research field related to plasmonics. The latter term is derived from plasmons, which are quanta corresponding to longitudinal waves that are propagating in matter by the collective motion of electrons. Plasmonics are increasingly finding wide application in sensing, microscopy, optical communications, biophotonics, and light trapping enhancement for solar energy conversion.

Investigating the suitability of poly tetraarylphosphonium based anion exchange membranes for electrochemical applications.

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are becoming increasingly common in electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems around the world (EES). Proton-/cation-exchange membranes (which conduct positive charged ions such as H or Na) have historically been used in many devices such as fuel cells, electrolysers, and redox flow batteries. High capital costs and the use of noble metal catalysts are two of the current major disadvantages of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)-based systems.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Hydroquinone Sulfonate-Based Redox Active Ionic Liquid.

Introducing redox-active moieties into an ionic liquid (IL) structure is an exciting and attractive approach that has received increasing interest over recent years for a various range of energy applications. The so-called redox-active ionic liquids (RAILs) provide a highly versatile platform to potentially create multifunctional electroactive materials. Ionic liquids are molten salts consisting of ionic species, often having a melting point lower than 100 °C.

Hydrophilic Antireflection and Antidust Silica Coatings.

We report on the optical and morphological properties of silica thin layers deposited by reactive RF magnetron sputtering of a SiO target under different oxygen to total flow ratios [(O) = O/Ar, ranging from 0 to 25%]. The refractive index (), extinction coefficient, total transmission, and total reflectance were systematically investigated, while field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and three-dimensional (3D) average roughness data construction measurements were carried out to probe the surface morphology. Contact angle measurements were performed to assess the hydrophilicity of our coatings as a function of the oxygen content.

Single crystal structure, vibrational spectroscopy, gas sorption and antimicrobial properties of a new inorganic acidic diphosphates material (NH)Mg(HPO)•2HO.

We report on the successful synthesis of diammonium magnesium dihydrogendiphosphate (V) dihydrate compound (NH)Mg(HPO)•2HO using a wet chemical route. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and micro Raman spectroscopy are employed to characterize the compound. We demonstrate, using a multidisciplinary approach, that this compound is ideal for carbon dioxide (CO) capture in addition to other anthropogenic gasses.

Recovery of electro-mechanical properties inside self-healing composites through microencapsulation of carbon nanotubes.

We report the successful microencapsulation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes suspended in a 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (5E2N) self-healing monomer, into poly melamine urea formaldehyde shells through in situ polymerization. The average size of the microcapsules, their size-distribution, shell wall structural integrity and thickness are  characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) inside the core liquid content, as well as their release after breaking is confirmed by microscopy and spectroscopy analyses.

Effect of Synthesis on Performance of MXene/Iron Oxide Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Two-dimensional heterostructures, such as FeO/MXene nanoparticles, can be attractive anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the synergy between high lithium-storage capacity of FeO and stable cyclability and high conductivity provided by MXene. Here, we improved the storage performance of TiCT (MXene)/FeO nanocomposite by confining FeO nanoparticles into TiCT nanosheets with different mixing ratios using a facile and scalable dry ball-milling process. Composites of TiCT -25 wt % FeO and TiCT -50 wt % FeO synthesized by ball-milling resulted in uniform distribution of FeO nanoparticles on TiCT nanosheets with minimum oxidation of MXene as compared to composites prepared by hydrothermal or wet sonication.

Graphene nanoplatelet doping of P3HT:PCBM photoactive layer of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells for enhancing performance.

Hybrid organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells based on conjugated polymer photoactive materials are promising candidates for flexible, high-performance and low-cost energy sources owing to their inexpensive materials, cost-effective processing and ease of fabrication by simple solution processes. However, the modest PV performance obtained to date-in particular the low power conversion efficiency (PCE)-has impeded the large scale deployment of OPV cells. The low PCE in OPV solar cells is mainly attributed to the low carrier mobility, which is closely correlated to the transport diffusion length of the charge carriers within the photoactive layers.

Improved Self-cleaning Properties of an Efficient and Easy to Scale up TiO Thin Films Prepared by Adsorptive Self-Assembly.

Transparent titania coatings have self-cleaning and anti-reflection properties (AR) that are of great importance to minimize soiling effect on photovoltaic modules. In this work, TiO nanocolloids prepared by polyol reduction method were successfully used as coating thin films onto borosilicate glass substrates via adsorptive self-assembly process. The nanocolloids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction.

Structural and physical properties of the dust particles in Qatar and their influence on the PV panel performance.

Recently, extensive R&D has been conducted, both by industry and academia, to significantly raise the conversion efficiency of commercial photovoltaic (PV) modules. The installation of PV systems aimed at optimizing solar energy yield is primarily dictated by its geographic location and installation design to maximize solar exposure. However, even when these characteristics have been addressed appropriately, there are other factors that adversely affect the performance of PV systems, namely the temperature-induced voltage decrease leading to a PV power loss, and the dust accumulation (soiling).