Strong interaction between plasmon and topological surface state in BiSe/CuS nanowires for solar-driven photothermal applications.

Developing high-performance photothermal materials and unraveling the underlying mechanism are essential for photothermal applications. Here, photothermal performance improved by strong interaction between plasmon and topological surface state (TSS) is demonstrated in BiSe/CuS nanowires. This hybrid, which CuS nanosheets were grown on BiSe nanowires, leverages the plasmon resonance and TSS-induced optical property, generating wide and efficient light absorption.

TiN/anatase/rutile phase junction obtained by in-situ thermal transformation for efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen generation.

Phase junctions exhibit great potential in photocatalytic energy conversion, yet the narrow light response region and inefficient charge transfer limit their photocatalytic performance. Herein, an anatase/rutile phase junction modified by plasmonic TiN and oxygen vacancies (TiN/(A-R-TiO-Ov)) is prepared through an in-situ thermal transformation from TiN for efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen production for the first time. The content of TiN, oxygen vacancies, and phase components in TiN/(A-R-TiO-Ov) hybrids can be well-adjusted by tuning the heating time.

Bifunctional Interface Passivation via Copper Acetylacetonate for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Manipulating interface defects can minimize interfacial nonradiative recombination, thus increasing the stability and performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, copper acetylacetonate [Cu(acac)] as a passivator is used to treat the interface between Spiro-OMeTAD and perovskite. Owing to the strong chelation, the uncoordinated Pb could react with -C═O/-COH functional groups, firmly anchoring acetylacetonate at this interface or the grain boundaries (GBs) of perovskite films to construct multiple ligand bridges, accompanied by the p-type copper iodide formation with copper substituting lead.

Ionic liquid enables high-performance, self-powered CsPbBr perovskite nanonet photodetector.

We fabricated high-quality CsPbBr perovskite nanonet films with the assistance of polystyrene spheres, and constructed self-powered photodetectors (PDs) with an ITO/SnO/CsPbBr/carbon structure. By passivating the nanonet with different concentrations of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (BMIMBr) ionic liquid, we found that as the concentration of BMIMBr increases, the dark current of the device first decreases and then gradually increases, while the photocurrent remains essentially unchanged. Finally, the PD with 1 mg mL BMIMBr ionic liquid exhibited the best performance with a switch ratio of about 1.

Plasmon-Mediated 2D/2D Phase Junction for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation Activity.

A phase junction fabricated by two crystalline phases of the same semiconductor is a promising photocatalyst with efficient charge transfer and separation. However, the weak light absorption and uncontrolled phase junction interface limit the generation and separation of photogenerated carriers. Herein, a two-dimensional (2D)/2D phase junction was prepared by growing orthorhombic WO ultrathin nanosheets on hexagonal WO nanosheets through a one-step hydrothermal method.

Structure-Adjustable Gold Nanoingots with Strong Plasmon Coupling and Magnetic Resonance for Improved Photocatalytic Activity and SERS.

Au nanoingots, on which an Au nanosphere is accurately placed in an open Au shell, are synthesized through a controllable hydrothermal method. The prepared Au nanoingots exhibit an adjustable cavity structure, strong plasmon coupling, tunable magnetic plasmon resonance, and prominent photocatalytic and SERS performances. Au nanoingots exhibit two resonance peaks in the extinction spectrum, one (around 550 nm) is ascribed to electric dipole resonance coming from the central Au, and the other one (650-800 nm) is ascribed to the magnetic dipole resonance originating from the open Au shell.

Multi-interfacial plasmon coupling in multigap (Au/AgAu)@CdS core-shell hybrids for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation.

Plasmon coupling induced intense light absorption and near-field enhancement have vast potential for high-efficiency photocatalytic applications. Herein, (Au/AgAu)@CdS core-shell hybrids with strong multi-interfacial plasmon coupling were prepared through a convenient strategy for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Bimetallic Au/AgAu cores with an adjustable number of nanogaps (from one to four) were primarily synthesized by well-controlled multi-cycle galvanic replacement and overgrowth processes.

A Cryogenic Process for Antisolvent-Free High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells.

A cryogenic process is introduced to control the crystallization of perovskite layers, eliminating the need for the use of environmentally harmful antisolvents. This process enables decoupling of the nucleation and the crystallization phases by inhibiting chemical reactions in as-cast precursor films rapidly cooled down by immersion in liquid nitrogen. The cooling is followed by blow-drying with nitrogen gas, which induces uniform precipitation of precursors due to the supersaturation of precursors in the residual solvents at very low temperature, while at the same time enhancing the evaporation of the residual solvents and preventing the ordered precursors/perovskite from redissolving into the residual solvents.

Effective Carrier-Concentration Tuning of SnO Quantum Dot Electron-Selective Layers for High-Performance Planar Perovskite Solar Cells.

The carrier concentration of the electron-selective layer (ESL) and hole-selective layer can significantly affect the performance of organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a facile yet effective two-step method, i.e.

Stable and Efficient Organo-Metal Halide Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells via π-Conjugated Lewis Base Polymer Induced Trap Passivation and Charge Extraction.

High-quality pinhole-free perovskite film with optimal crystalline morphology is critical for achieving high-efficiency and high-stability perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, a p-type π-conjugated polymer poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl) thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b'] dithiophene))-alt-(5,5-(1',3'-di-2-thienyl-5',7'-bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzo[1',2'-c:4',5'-c'] dithiophene-4,8-dione))] (PBDB-T) is introduced into chlorobenzene to form a facile and effective template-agent during the anti-solvent process of perovskite film formation. The π-conjugated polymer PBDB-T is found to trigger a heterogeneous nucleation over the perovskite precursor film and passivate the trap states of the mixed perovskite film through the formation of Lewis adducts between lead and oxygen atom in PBDB-T.

Reducing Hysteresis and Enhancing Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Low-Temperature Processed Y-Doped SnO Nanosheets as Electron Selective Layers.

Despite the rapid increase of efficiency, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) still face some challenges, one of which is the current-voltage hysteresis. Herein, it is reported that yttrium-doped tin dioxide (Y-SnO ) electron selective layer (ESL) synthesized by an in situ hydrothermal growth process at 95 °C can significantly reduce the hysteresis and improve the performance of PSCs. Comparison studies reveal two main effects of Y doping of SnO ESLs: (1) it promotes the formation of well-aligned and more homogeneous distribution of SnO nanosheet arrays (NSAs), which allows better perovskite infiltration, better contacts of perovskite with SnO nanosheets, and improves electron transfer from perovskite to ESL; (2) it enlarges the band gap and upshifts the band energy levels, resulting in better energy level alignment with perovskite and reduced charge recombination at NSA/perovskite interfaces.

Efficient planar Sb2S3 solar cells using a low-temperature solution-processed tin oxide electron conductor.

Efficient planar antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) heterojunction solar cells have been made using chemical bath deposited (CBD) Sb2S3 as the absorber, low-temperature solution-processed tin oxide (SnO2) as the electron conductor and poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as the hole conductor. A solar conversion efficiency of 2.8% was obtained at 1 sun illumination using a planar device consisting of F-doped SnO2 substrate/SnO2/CBD-Sb2S3/P3HT/Au, whereas the solar cells based on a titanium dioxide (TiO2) electron conductor exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 1.

Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Low-Temperature Processed Indium Oxide Electron Selective Layers.

Indium oxide (In2O3) as a promising n-type semiconductor material has been widely employed in optoelectronic applications. In this work, we applied low-temperature solution-processed In2O3 nanocrystalline film as an electron selective layer (ESL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for the first time. By taking advantages of good optical and electrical properties of In2O3 such as high mobility, wide band gap, and high transmittance, we obtained In2O3-based PSCs with a good efficiency exceeding 13% after optimizing the concentration of the precursor solution and the annealing temperature.

Low-temperature solution-processed tin oxide as an alternative electron transporting layer for efficient perovskite solar cells.

Lead halide perovskite solar cells with the high efficiencies typically use high-temperature processed TiO2 as the electron transporting layers (ETLs). Here, we demonstrate that low-temperature solution-processed nanocrystalline SnO2 can be an excellent alternative ETL material for efficient perovskite solar cells. Our best-performing planar cell using such a SnO2 ETL has achieved an average efficiency of 16.

Efficient hole-blocking layer-free planar halide perovskite thin-film solar cells.

Efficient lead halide perovskite solar cells use hole-blocking layers to help collection of photogenerated electrons and to achieve high open-circuit voltages. Here, we report the realization of efficient perovskite solar cells grown directly on fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated substrates without using any hole-blocking layers. With ultraviolet-ozone treatment of the substrates, a planar Au/hole-transporting material/CH₃NH₃PbI₃-xClx/substrate cell processed by a solution method has achieved a power conversion efficiency of over 14% and an open-circuit voltage of 1.

Perovskite solar cell with an efficient TiO₂ compact film.

A perovskite solar cell with a thin TiO2 compact film prepared by thermal oxidation of sputtered Ti film achieved a high efficiency of 15.07%. The thin TiO2 film prepared by thermal oxidation is very dense and inhibits the recombination process at the interface.

In situ synthesis of NiS nanowall networks on Ni foam as a TCO-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Nickel sulfide (NiS) nanowall networks have been prepared by a novel one-step hydrothermal method on a nickel (Ni) foam substrate. The Ni foam has a high conductivity and porous structure. To our knowledge, the Ni foam is used as a conductive substrate for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) for the first time.

Sulfur-doped molybdenum oxide anode interface layer for organic solar cell application.

Efficient organic solar cells (OSCs) based on regioregular of poly (3-hexylthiophene):fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61butyric acid methyl ester composites have been fabricated on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates by using a sputtered sulfur-doped molybdenum oxide (S-MoO3) film as anode interface layer (AIL). With the help of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that oxygen flow ratio control can modulate the amount of sulfur doping into MoO3, then further tune the Mo(+4)/Mo(+5)/Mo(+6) composition ratios, Fermi level, electron affinity, valence band ionization energy and band gap of MoO3. A partially occupied Mo 4d-bands of Mo(5+) and Mo(4+) states modulated by sulfur doping are the main factor which influences the valence electronic structure of S-MoO3.

Controllable synthesis of flake-like Al-doped ZnO nanostructures and its application in inverted organic solar cells.

Flake-like Al-doped ZnO (AZO) nanostructures including dense AZO nanorods were obtained via a low-temperature (100°C) hydrothermal process. By doping and varying Al concentrations, the electrical conductivity (σ) and morphology of the AZO nanostructures can be readily controlled. The effect of σ and morphology of the AZO nanostructures on the performance of the inverted organic solar cells (IOSCs) was studied.