Broadband Light Harvesting from Scalable Two-Dimensional Semiconductor Multi-Heterostructures.

Broadband absorption in the visible spectrum is essential in optoelectronic applications that involve power conversion such as photovoltaics and photocatalysis. Most ultrathin broadband absorbers use parasitic plasmonic structures that maximize absorption using surface plasmons and/or Fabry-Perot cavities, which limits the weight efficiency of the device. Here, we show the theoretical and experimental realization of an unpatterned/planar semiconductor thin-film absorber based on monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides.

Giant electrostriction-like response from defective non-ferroelectric epitaxial BaTiO integrated on Si (100).

Lead-free, silicon compatible materials showing large electromechanical responses comparable to, or better than conventional relaxor ferroelectrics, are desirable for various nanoelectromechanical devices and applications. Defect-engineered electrostriction has recently been gaining popularity to obtain enhanced electromechanical responses at sub 100 Hz frequencies. Here, we report record values of electrostrictive strain coefficients (M) at frequencies as large as 5 kHz (1.

Modulation-doping a correlated electron insulator.

Correlated electron materials (CEMs) host a rich variety of condensed matter phases. Vanadium dioxide (VO) is a prototypical CEM with a temperature-dependent metal-to-insulator (MIT) transition with a concomitant crystal symmetry change. External control of MIT in VO-especially without inducing structural changes-has been a long-standing challenge.

Zinc-Substituted Cobalt Phosphate [ZnCo(PO)] as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst.

Development of highly efficient, earth-abundant, and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts is pivotal for designing viable next-generation metal-air batteries. Cobalt-based phosphates provide a treasure house to design electrocatalysts, with a wide range of cation substitutions to further enhance their electrocatalytic activity. In particular, phosphates with distorted geometry show favorable binding efficiency toward water molecules with low overpotential.

Carbon Vacancies Steer the Activity in Dual Ni Carbon Nitride Photocatalysis.

The manipulation of carbon nitride (CN) structures is one main avenue to enhance the activity of CN-based photocatalysts. Increasing the efficiency of photocatalytic heterogeneous materials is a critical step toward the realistic implementation of sustainable schemes for organic synthesis. However, limited knowledge of the structure/activity relationship in relation to subtle structural variations prevents a fully rational design of new photocatalytic materials, limiting practical applications.

Morphology controlled synthesis of low bandgap SnSe with high photodetectivity.

Engineering the properties of layered metal dichalcogenides (LMDs) requires stringent control of their morphology. Herein, using a scalable one-step solvothermal technique, we report the synthesis of SnSe2 under two different conditions, leading to the formation of nanoflakes and nanoflowers. The use of oleic acid in the reaction leads to the formation of nanoflowers, and the presence of ethanol in the reaction medium leads to the formation of nanoflakes.