Publications by authors named "Zheng-Hong Lu"

Highly efficient single-layer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are demonstrated by using a pure Mg cathode that is seeded with a small amount of Ag nucleation sites. Bis(4-phenylthieno[3,2-]pyridinato-,C2')(acetylacetonate)iridium(III) (PO-01)-doped devices with three-, two-, and one-region doping configurations exhibit maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) values of 22.8%, 21.

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Obtaining micron-thick perovskite films of high quality is key to realizing efficient and stable positive (p)-intrinsic (i)-negative (n) perovskite solar cells, but it remains a challenge. Here we report an effective method for producing high-quality, micron-thick formamidinium-based perovskite films by forming coherent grain boundaries, in which high-Miller-index-oriented grains grow on the low-Miller-index-oriented grains in a stabilized atmosphere. The resulting micron-thick perovskite films, with enhanced grain boundaries and grains, showed stable material properties and outstanding optoelectronic performances.

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  • The study analyzed how ions move in p-type perovskite MAPbI films when an electric field is applied, highlighting the negative impact on device performance.
  • It found that ion migration could seriously hinder the efficiency of MAPbI-based devices.
  • To address this issue, the researchers suggested using additives to reduce ion migration, which could help create better-performing MAPbI-based devices.
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  • * The growth dynamics of these quantum wires are complex, making it difficult to study and manipulate their properties effectively.
  • * This research presents a method to control the length and width of CsPbBr quantum wires using temperature-dependent growth mechanisms, facilitating the synthesis of very small perovskite nanocrystals.
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  • Pb-Sn solar cells use a special layer called PEDOT:PSS to help move electricity, but it has some problems that make it less efficient.
  • A new molecule called 2-fluoro benzylammonium iodide (FBI) helps fix these problems and makes the solar cells work better.
  • With this new molecule, scientists were able to create solar cells that have a higher efficiency of 20.5% and can produce more energy.
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  • - The growth of colloidal lead halide perovskite nanomaterials, specifically CsPbBr nanowires, is complex and not well understood, but absorption spectra can be utilized to study their formation.
  • - Initially created within one minute through a hot injection method, the ultrathin nanowires grow and merge over time, depending on factors like acid concentration and ligand chain length.
  • - Understanding the growth kinetics shows that lower acidity leads to smaller critical nucleation sizes, while shorter ligand chains speed up merging, allowing for better control over the nanowire's size and shape during synthesis.
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Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) comprise a solid perovskite absorber sandwiched between several layers of different charge-selective materials, ensuring unidirectional current flow and high voltage output of the devices. A 'buffer material' between the electron-selective layer and the metal electrode in p-type/intrinsic/n-type (p-i-n) PSCs (also known as inverted PSCs) enables electrons to flow from the electron-selective layer to the electrode. Furthermore, it acts as a barrier inhibiting the inter-diffusion of harmful species into or degradation products out of the perovskite absorber.

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  • Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are gaining popularity for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to their ability to provide versatile, multiparameter measurements and signal amplification.
  • However, false readings can undermine their effectiveness and lead to output errors during gas-sensing.
  • This study clarifies how VOC adsorption affects OFET performance, highlighting the source-drain current as the key parameter for high responsivity and establishing guidelines for improved measurements in gas-sensing applications.
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Blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have shown external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of more than 10%; however, devices that emit in the true blue-those that accord with the emission wavelength required for Rec. 2100 primary blue-have so far been limited to EQEs of ~6%. We focused here on true blue emitting CsPbBr colloidal nanocrystals (c-NCs), finding in early studies that they suffer from a high charge injection barrier, a problem exacerbated in films containing multiple layers of nanocrystals.

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The limited conductivity of existing transparent conducting oxide (TCO) greatly restricts the further performance improvement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), especially for large-area devices. Herein, buried-metal-grid tin-doped indium oxide (BMG ITO) electrodes are developed to minimize the power loss caused by the undesirable high sheet resistance of TCOs. By burying 140-nm-thick metal grids into ITO using a photolithography technique, the sheet resistance of ITO is reduced from 15.

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  • Interest in halide perovskites for photovoltaics (PVs) has surged due to their excellent properties and potential for efficient production.
  • Formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI) is leading in commercialization efforts, but its stability issues hinder long-term use, especially under operational conditions.
  • The text reviews current understanding of these instabilities, discusses strategies for enhancement, and suggests future pathways for improving perovskite PV technology and exploring new applications.
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The tunable bandgaps and facile fabrication of perovskites make them attractive for multi-junction photovoltaics. However, light-induced phase segregation limits their efficiency and stability: this occurs in wide-bandgap (>1.65 electron volts) iodide/bromide mixed perovskite absorbers, and becomes even more acute in the top cells of triple-junction solar photovoltaics that require a fully 2.

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Pure organic phosphors capable of room-temperature phosphorescence show a great potential in organic light-emitting diodes, while it is limited by the big challenge to realize efficient electroluminescence under electric excitation. Herein, we develop a class of organic phosphors based on acridine as the electron donor, triazine as the electron acceptor and oxygen as the bridge between them. Benefitting from the characteristic donor-oxygen-acceptor geometry, these compounds are found to behave an exciting aggregation-induced organic room-temperature electrophosphorescence, and achieve a record-high external quantum efficiency of 15.

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Indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots have enabled light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are heavy-metal-free, narrow in emission linewidth, and physically flexible. However, ZnO/ZnMgO, the electron-transporting layer (ETL) in high-performance red InP/ZnSe/ZnS LEDs, suffers from high defect densities, quenches luminescence when deposited on InP, and induces performance degradation that arises due to trap migration from the ETL to the InP emitting layer. We posited that the formation of Zn traps on the outer ZnS shell, combined with sulfur and oxygen vacancy migration between ZnO/ZnMgO and InP, may account for this issue.

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  • A source-drain electrode using a MoO interfacial modification layer (IML) can improve organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) but risks device instability due to MoO diffusion into organic materials.
  • To mitigate this issue, a multilayered interface contact (MIC) design is proposed that includes an organic buffer layer (OBL) to prevent MoO diffusion while maintaining low contact resistance.
  • The study analyzes the effects of various organic compounds as buffer layers and establishes key parameters, like the Fick coefficient, to guide future material selection for more stable OTFTs.
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Inverted-structure metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attractive advantages like low-temperature processability and outstanding device stability. The two-step sequential deposition method shows the benefits of easy fabrication and decent performance repeatability. Nevertheless, it is still challenging to achieve high-performance inverted PSCs with similar or equal power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) compared to the regular-structure counterparts via this deposition method.

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  • Multifunctional solar cells have been developed that can harvest light during the day and emit light at night, showcasing versatile applications.
  • Researchers improved the performance of halide perovskite solar cells by refining the heterojunction interfaces, achieving stable and efficient operation.
  • The enhanced design allows these devices to function effectively as both solar cells and ultra-low-voltage LEDs, potentially benefiting multifunctional harvesting-storage-utilization systems.
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Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising materials for infrared (IR) light detection due to their tunable bandgap and their solution processing; however, to date, the time response of CQD IR photodiodes is inferior to that provided by Si and InGaAs. It is reasoned that the high permittivity of II-VI CQDs leads to slow charge extraction due to screening and capacitance, whereas III-Vs-if their surface chemistry can be mastered-offer a low permittivity and thus increase potential for high-speed operation. In initial studies, it is found that the covalent character in indium arsenide (InAs) leads to imbalanced charge transport, the result of unpassivated surfaces, and uncontrolled heavy doping.

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Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on perovskite quantum dots have shown external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of over 23% and narrowband emission, but suffer from limited operating stability. Reduced-dimensional perovskites (RDPs) consisting of quantum wells (QWs) separated by organic intercalating cations show high exciton binding energies and have the potential to increase the stability and the photoluminescence quantum yield. However, until now, RDP-based LEDs have exhibited lower EQEs and inferior colour purities.

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Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on metal halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have achieved impressive external quantum efficiencies; however, the lack of surface protection of QDs, combined with efficiency droop, decreases device operating lifetime at brightnesses of interest. The epitaxial incorporation of QDs within a semiconducting shell provides surface passivation and exciton confinement. Achieving this goal in the case of perovskite QDs remains an unsolved challenge in view of the materials' chemical instability.

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Halide perovskites are a compelling candidate for the next generation of clean-energy-harvesting technologies owing to their low cost, facile fabrication and outstanding semiconductor properties. However, photovoltaic device efficiencies are still below practical limits and long-term stability challenges hinder their practical application. Current evidence suggests that strain in halide perovskites is a key factor in dictating device efficiency and stability.

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  • Surfaces and interfaces in perovskite semiconductors significantly influence charge-carrier dynamics, which are essential for improving optoelectronic devices like solar cells and LEDs.
  • The report highlights various defects on common perovskite surfaces that create deep-level charge-carrier traps, negatively impacting device performance by disrupting band alignment.
  • Strategies to enhance surface and interface quality include using specific buffer layers, surface passivation, catalysts for microstructure improvements, and optimal heterojunction designs to reduce defects and optimize device efficiency.
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The all-inorganic nature of CsPbI perovskites allows to enhance stability in perovskite devices. Research efforts have led to improved stability of the black phase in CsPbI films; however, these strategies-including strain and doping-are based on organic-ligand-capped perovskites, which prevent perovskites from forming the close-packed quantum dot (QD) solids necessary to achieve high charge and thermal transport. We developed an inorganic ligand exchange that leads to CsPbI QD films with superior phase stability and increased thermal transport.

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  • A ternary heterostructured catalyst is developed using a combination of TiN nanotubes, TiO nanoparticulate layer, and InO(OH) nanoparticulate shell to enhance performance in the photocatalytic reverse water gas shift reaction.
  • * The arrangement of these three components significantly affects the catalyst's effectiveness in CO photocatalysis, with the TiN nanotubes acting as a scaffold and providing photothermal energy.
  • * The TiO layer contributes photogenerated electrons and holes that facilitate reactions on the InO(OH) nanoparticles, ultimately improving CO production rates.
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