Zinc oxide, a wide-band-gap semiconductor, shows intriguing optoelectronic properties when coupled with Ag. Specifically, an absorbance band in the visible range that is not apparent in the separated materials emerges when the interface is formed. Interestingly, photoexcitation of this "interface band" or band-to-band results in a counterintuitive photovoltaic response when a supra/sub-band-gap light is shone. To investigate the origin of this absorbance band and photovoltaic response, we studied in detail the energy-band alignment of ultrathin layers of ZnO (3-60 nm) with Ag. Our analysis indicated that an 'electrostatic potential cliff' is formed within the first 1-2 nm of ZnO. In addition, oxygen vacancies, presumably generated by AgO-Zn bonds, form mid-gap acceptor states within these first few nm. Both effects facilitate a valence band-to-defect state optical transition that is confined to the interface region. The second type of defects-hole-trap states associated with zinc hydroxide-are spread throughout the ZnO layer and dominate the supra-band-gap photovoltaic response. These findings have potential implications in emerging technologies such as photocatalytic Ag/ZnO heterostructures that will utilize the long-lived charges for chemical work or other optoelectronic applications.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c11566 | DOI Listing |
Small Methods
January 2025
School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong, 266580, China.
Optoelectronic synapse devices (OESDs) inspired by human visual systems enable to integration of light sensing, memory, and computing functions, greatly promoting the development of in-sensor computing techniques. Herein, dual-mode integration of bipolar response photodetectors (PDs) and artificial optoelectronic synapses based on ZnO/SnSe heterojunctions are presented. The function of the fabricated device can be converted between the PDs and OESDs by modulating the light intensity.
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January 2025
Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia.
This research paper presents an advanced AI-driven hybrid power quality management system for electrical railways that addresses critical challenges in 25 kV AC traction networks through a novel integration of single-phase PV-UPQC with ANN-Lyapunov control architecture. The system effectively manages voltage unbalance exceeding 2%, high THD, voltage variations of ± 10%, and poor power factor through a dual-approach methodology combining ANN-based reference signal generation with Lyapunov optimization, enabling dynamic parameter tuning and real-time load adaptation. MATLAB/Simulink simulations validate the system's superior performance, demonstrating significant improvements, including voltage unbalance reduction from 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Department of Physics, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.
Two-dimensional (2D) materials with spontaneous polarization can exhibit large second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) effects. Here, we present a series of stable distorted monolayers by using first-principles calculations and lattice vibration analysis. The structural distortion leads to a lower polar symmetry, giving rise to intrinsic ferroelectricity with a Curie point up to room temperature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall
January 2025
Fujian Science & Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350108, China.
Narrowband photodetection with selective light detection in ultraviolet (UV) range is particularly pronounced in specialized such as targeted wavelength imaging and UV-phototherapy. In contrast to conventional strategies, ferroelectric materials with pronounced bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) provide a novel asymmetric carrier generation concept for achieving filterless spectrally selective photodetection. Herein, for the first time, the realization of self-powered filterless narrowband UV photodetection is demonstrated in bulk single crystals of a newly developed halide perovskite ferroelectric, 2FEAEAPbCl (2FEEPC), which exhibits a wide bandgap of 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNano Lett
January 2025
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China.
Two-dimensional ferroelectric materials can generate a bulk photovoltaic effect, making them highly promising for self-powered photodetectors. However, their practical application is limited by a weak photoresponse due to a weak transition strength and wide band gap. In this study, we construct a van der Waals heterojunction using NbOI, which has significant in-plane polarization, with a highly absorbing MoSe layer.
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