Advanced hematite nanomaterials for newly emerging applications.

Because of the combined merits of rich physicochemical properties, abundance, low toxicity, , hematite (α-FeO), one of the most chemically stable compounds based on the transition metal element iron, is endowed with multifunctionalities and has steadily been a research hotspot for decades. Very recently, advanced α-FeO materials have also been developed for applications in some cutting-edge fields. To reflect this trend, the latest progress in developing α-FeO materials for newly emerging applications is reviewed with a particular focus on the relationship between composition/nanostructure-induced electronic structure modulation and practical performance.

Anion-enhanced excited state charge separation in a spiro-locked N-heterocycle-fused push-pull zinc porphyrin.

A new type of push-pull charge transfer complex, , a spiro-locked N-heterocycle-fused zinc porphyrin, , is shown to undergo excited state charge separation, which is enhanced by axial F binding to the Zn center. In this push-pull design, the spiro-quinone group acts as a 'lock' promoting charge transfer interactions by constraining mutual coplanarity of the -phenol-substituted electron-rich Zn(ii) porphyrin and an electron deficient N-heterocycle, as revealed by electrochemical and computational studies. Spectroelectrochemical studies have been used to identify the spectra of charge separated states, and charge separation upon photoexcitation of has been unequivocally established by using transient absorption spectroscopic techniques covering wide spatial and temporal regions.

Drastic power factor improvement by Te doping of rare earth-free CoSb-skutterudite thin films.

In the present study, we have focused on the elaboration of control of Te-doped CoSb thin films by RF magnetron sputtering which is an attractive technique for industrial development of thermoelectric (TE) thin films. We have successfully synthesized sputtering targets with a reliable approach in order to obtain high-quality films with controlled stoichiometry. TE properties were then probed and revealed a reliable n-type behavior characterized by poor electrical transport properties.

Co and Fe Codoped WO as Alkaline-Solution-Available Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyst to Construct Photovoltaic Water Splitting System with Solar-To-Hydrogen Efficiency of 16.9.

Oxygen evolution electrode is a crucial component of efficient photovoltaic-water electrolysis systems. Previous work focuses mainly on the effect of electronic structure modulation on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of 3d-transition-metal-based electrocatalyst. However, high-atomic-number W-based compound with complex electronic structure for versatile modulation is seldom explored because of its instability in OER-favorable alkaline solution.

Flaky nano-crystalline SnSe thin films for photoelectrochemical current generation.

We report chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and photoelectrochemical properties of large-area thin films of nano-crystalline SnSe on conducting FTO glass. We show that densely packed, randomly oriented SnSe nanoflakes can be grown by reacting vapors of tin monoselenide (SnSe) and selenium at 550 °C without compromising the electrical properties of FTO. We demonstrate that SnSe/FTO is photoelectrochemically active in visible to near-UV wavelengths (350-700 nm) and exhibits incident-photon-to-current-efficiency (IPCE) as high as 3.

Recent Advances in Designing High-Capacity Anode Nanomaterials for Li-Ion Batteries and Their Atomic-Scale Storage Mechanism Studies.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely applied in portable electronics (laptops, mobile phones, etc.) as one of the most popular energy storage devices. Currently, much effort has been devoted to exploring alternative high-capacity anode materials and thus potentially constructing high-performance LIBs with higher energy/power density.

Hexagonal-like Nb₂O₅ nanoplates-based photodetectors and photocatalyst with high performances.

Ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors are important tools in the fields of optical imaging, environmental monitoring, and air and water sterilization, as well as flame sensing and early rocket plume detection. Herein, hexagonal-like Nb₂O₅ nanoplates are synthesized using a facile solvothermal method. UV photodetectors based on single Nb₂O₅ nanoplates are constructed and the optoelectronic properties have been probed.

High-Performance Blue/Ultraviolet-Light-Sensitive ZnSe-Nanobelt Photodetectors.

Single-crystalline zinc selenide (ZnSe) nanobelts were fabricated via the ethylenediamine (en)-assisted ternary solution technique and subsequent thermal treatment. Individual ZnSe nanobelts were assembled into nanoscale devices, showing a high spectral selectivity and photocurrent/immediate-decay ratio and a fast time response, justifying effective utilization of the ZnSe nanobelts as blue/UV-light-sensitive photodetectors.