Synthetic Control of Intrinsic Defect Formation in Metal Oxide Nanocrystals Using Dissociated Spectator Metal Salts.

Crystallographic defects are essential to the functional properties of semiconductors, controlling everything from conductivity to optical properties and catalytic activity. In nanocrystals, too, defect engineering with extrinsic dopants has been fruitful. Although intrinsic defects like vacancies can be equally useful, synthetic strategies for controlling their generation are comparatively underdeveloped.

Dynamics of Lithium Insertion in Electrochromic Titanium Dioxide Nanocrystal Ensembles.

Nanocrystalline anatase TiO is a robust model anode for Li insertion in batteries. The influence of nanocrystal size on the equilibrium potential and kinetics of Li insertion is investigated with in operando spectroelectrochemistry of thin film electrodes. Distinct visible and infrared responses correlate with Li insertion and electron accumulation, respectively, and these optical signals are used to deconvolute bulk Li insertion from other electrochemical responses, such as double-layer capacitance, pseudocapacitance, and electrolyte leakage.

Spectrally tunable infrared plasmonic F,Sn:InO nanocrystal cubes.

A synthetic challenge in faceted metal oxide nanocrystals (NCs) is realizing tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) near-field response in the infrared (IR). Cube-shaped nanoparticles of noble metals exhibit LSPR spectral tunability limited to visible spectral range. Here, we describe the colloidal synthesis of fluorine, tin codoped indium oxide (F,Sn:InO) NC cubes with tunable IR range LSPR for around 10 nm particle sizes.

Author Correction: Impacts of surface depletion on the plasmonic properties of doped semiconductor nanocrystals.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Deliquescent Chromism of Nickel(II) Iodide Thin Films.

Color-changing materials have a variety of applications, ranging from smart windows to sensors. Here, we report deliquescent chromism of thin, color neutral films of nickel(II) iodide (NiI) that are less than 10 μm thick. This behavior does not occur in the bulk material.

Impacts of surface depletion on the plasmonic properties of doped semiconductor nanocrystals.

Degenerately doped semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike metals, semiconductor NCs offer tunable LSPR characteristics enabled by doping, or via electrochemical or photochemical charging. Tuning plasmonic properties through carrier density modulation suggests potential applications in smart optoelectronics, catalysis and sensing.