Preparation and Characterization of Thermoelectric PEDOT/Te Nanorod Array Composite Films.

In this study, we prepared Te nanorod arrays via a galvanic displacement reaction (GDR) on a Si wafer, and their composite with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) were successfully synthesized by electrochemical polymerization with lithium perchlorate (LiClO) as a counter ion. The thermoelectric performance of the composite film was optimized by adjusting the polymerization time. As a result, a maximum power factor (PF) of 235 µW/mK was obtained from a PEDOT/Te composite film electrochemically polymerized for 15 s at room temperature, which was 11.

Facial Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Ag/AgCl Chloride Ion Sensor Based on Gel-Type Electrolyte.

In this study, a novel chloride ion (Cl) sensor based on Ag wire coated with an AgCl layer was fabricated using a gel-type internal electrolyte and a diatomite ceramic membrane, which played an important role in preventing electrolyte leakage from the ion-selective electrode. The sensing performance, including reversibility, response, recovery time, low detection limit, and the long-term stability, was systemically investigated in electrolytes with different Cl contents. The as-fabricated Cl sensor could detect Cl from 1 to 500 mM KCl solution with good linearity.

Three-Dimensional Honeycomb-Like CuCoO Nanosheet Arrays Supported by Ni Foam and Their High Efficiency as Oxygen Evolution Electrodes.

We prepare three-dimensional honeycomb-like CuCoO nanosheet arrays supported by Ni foam via electrochemical codeposition of cobalt and copper hydroxides on Ni foam followed by thermal oxidation. The codeposition with Cu changes the morphology of the cobalt hydroxide deposit to form honeycomb-like nanostructures, significantly decreasing the onset potential for oxygen evolution. The CuCoO anode displays an exceptionally low overpotential of 290 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm in 1 M KOH, and an anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis cell employing the above anode achieves a current density of 100 mA cm at 1.

Characterization of opto-electrical enhancement of tandem photoelectrochemical cells by using photoconductive-AFM.

Solar-to-hydrogen conversion by water splitting in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) is a promising approach to alleviate problems associated with intermittency in solar energy supply and demand. Several interfacial resistances in photoelectrodes limit the performance of such cells, while the properties of interfaces are not easy to analyze in situ. We applied photoconductive-AFM to analyze the performance of WO/pn Si photoanodes, containing an ultra-thin metal interface of either Au or Pt.

Self-Supporting Ion Gels for Electrochemiluminescent Sticker-Type Optoelectronic Devices.

Nowadays, there has been an increasing demand to develop low-cost, disposable or reusable display devices to meet and maximize short-term user convenience. However, the disposable device has unfortunately not materialized yet due to the light-emitting materials and fabrication process issues. Here, we report sticker-type electrochemiluminescent (ECL) device using self-supporting, light-emitting gel electrolytes.

Continuous 1D-Metallic Microfibers Web for Flexible Organic Solar Cells.

We report the use of a continuous 1D-metallic microfibers web (MFW) as transparent electrode for organic solar cells (OSCs). The MFW electrode can be produced with a process that involves simple electrospinning and wet etching of metal thin film. Au MFW exhibits a maximum optical transmittance of 90.

Correction: Electrospun ion gel nanofibers for flexible triboelectric nanogenerator: electrochemical effect on output power.

Correction for 'Electrospun ion gel nanofibers for flexible triboelectric nanogenerator: electrochemical effect on output power' by Byeong Uk Ye et al., Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 16189-16194.

Electrospun ion gel nanofibers for flexible triboelectric nanogenerator: electrochemical effect on output power.

A simple fabrication route for ion gel nanofibers in a triboelectric nanogenerator was demonstrated. Using an electrospinning technique, we could fabricate a large-area ion gel nanofiber mat. The triboelectric nanogenerator was demonstrated by employing an ion gel nanofiber and the device exhibited an output power of 0.

Role of additional PCBM layer between ZnO and photoactive layers in inverted bulk-heterojunction solar cells.

In order to induce greater light absorption, nano-patterning is often applied to the metal-oxide buffer layer in inverted bulk-heterojunction(BHJ) solar cells. However, current homogeneity was significantly disturbed at the interface, leading to an efficiency that was not fully optimized. In this work, an additional PC61BM layer was inserted between the ZnO ripple and the photoactive layer to enhance the electron extraction.

Surface modification of a ZnO electron-collecting layer using atomic layer deposition to fabricate high-performing inverted organic photovoltaics.

A ripple-structured ZnO film as the electron-collecting layer (ECL) of an inverted organic photovoltaic (OPV) was modified by atomic layer deposition (ALD) to add a ZnO thin layer. Depositing a thin ZnO layer by ALD on wet-chemically prepared ZnO significantly increased the short-circuit current (Jsc) of the OPV. The highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.

Effects of organic additives on zinc electrodeposition at iron electrodes studied by EQCM and in situ STM.

Effects of organic additives, such as benzoic acid (BA) and poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs), on the initial stage of the zinc electrodeposition have been investigated at iron electrodes using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements and in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy in an acidic zinc chloride solution in efforts to gain a molecular-level understanding of their roles. BA is adsorbed strongly at the sites of more negative potentials on the electrode, although it is randomly adsorbed on the iron surface at around an open circuit potential. Its role seems to control the deposition rate at the dendritic sites by blocking the active surface via adsorption.