-En Cheng

Revealing the flexoelectricity in the mixed-phase regions of epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films

Understanding the elastic response on the nanoscale phase boundaries of multiferroics is an essential issue in order to explain their exotic behaviour. Mixed-phase BiFeO3 films, epitaxially grown on LaAlO3 (001) substrates, have been investigated by means of scanning probe microscopy to characterize the elastic and piezoelectric responses in the mixed-phase region of rhombohedral-like monoclinic (MI) and tilted tetragonal-like monoclinic (MII,tilt) phases. Ultrasonic force microscopy reveal that the regions with low/high stiffness values topologically coincide with the MI/MII,tilt phases. X-ray diffraction strain analysis confirms that the MI phase is more compliant than the MII,tilt one. Significantly, the correlation between elastic modulation and piezoresponse across the mixed-phase regions manifests that the flexoelectric effect results in the enhancement of the piezoresponse at the phase boundaries and in the MI regions. This accounts for the giant electromechanical effect in strained mixed-phase BiFeO3 films.

Platinum-graphene counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

This paper describes the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) containing graphene-incorporated counter electrodes (CEs). The location and thickness of graphene in CEs are optimized to improve the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs, compared with typical Pt CEs. The DSSC, with a Pt/few-layer graphene (FLG) CE, achieved 8% in short-circuit current density and 13% in power conversion efficiency (PCE). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that the DSSC, with a Pt/FLG CE, exhibits a series resistance lower than that with a Pt CE. The lower series resistance is attributed to the contact resistance at the interface of platinum and fluorine doped tin oxide. The contact resistance is reduced by the formation of the thin platinum-carbon composite layer. It is demonstrated that the consumption of Pt could be reduced with a Pt/FLG CE. However, graphene/Pt CEs resulted in a slow charge-transfer process and consequently a worse photovoltaic performance of DSSCs.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of graphene with photo-assisted-synthesized gold nanoparticles.

This paper presents a convenient and reliable method to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on graphene. Photo-assisted synthesis (PAS) was employed to grow AuNPs in AuCl(4)(-) electrolyte on graphene. The size of AuNPs could be as large as 130 nm. This optical method had a steady growth rate of AuNPs. The distribution of AuNPs was well controlled by focusing the laser for PAS. The minimum diameter of the distribution was approximately 1 μm. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of graphene due to AuNPs was observed. Electrical fields near AuNPs calculated by the finite-difference time-domain algorithm ensured that the Raman enhancement was attributed to the localized surface plasmons of AuNPs.

Influences of thermal annealing on P3HT/PCBM interfacial properties and charge dynamics in polymer solar cells

The effects of thermal annealing on the interfacial properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and on the charge dynamics in P3HT:PCBM polymer solar cells (PSCs) are investigated. This study determines that an effective phase separation of the P3HT and PCBM caused by thermal annealing achieves a larger interfacial area for efficient exciton dissociation and a well-defined pn junction with few defect levels at the P3HT/PCBM interface. Additionally, thermal annealing creates a compositional gradient across the P3HT:PCBM films, which enhances the charge transit ability significantly. These improved interfacial properties and efficiency in charge transit ability account for the better power conversion efficiency of P3HT:PCBM PSCs treated with thermal annealing.

Liquid crystal-doped liquid electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

We investigate the effects of liquid crystals (LCs) on the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic and electrochemical impedance spectra indicate that minute amounts of LC dopant decrease the short-current density of DSSCs because the doped LCs reduce the electrochemical reaction rate between DSSC counter electrode and electrolyte. The doped LCs delay the degradation rates of DSSCs because of the interaction between cyano groups of the doped LCs and organic solvent in the liquid electrolyte. Owing to the molecular interaction, the doped LCs increase the viscosity and stability, thereby inhibiting the evaporation rate of the liquid electrolyte.

UV-treated graphene oxide as anode interfacial layers for P3HT : PCBM solar cells

Solution-processable graphene oxide (GO) ultrathin films were introduced as anode interfacial layers (AILs) for polymer solar cells (PSCs). The photovoltaic performance of PSCs containing thermal- and UV-treated GO was comparable to that of PSCs with conventional poly(3,4-ethyledioxythiphene):poly(styrenesulfonate) AILs. UV treatment induced the surface activation of GO; an increase in the work function of UV-treated GO improved the energy band alignment at the GO/poly(3-hexylthiophene) interface, which accounted for the efficient hole collection and photovoltaic performance of PSCs with treated GO.

Impacts of high-electroactive-surface-area buckypaper counter electrodes on the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

In this paper we study the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with high-electroactive-surface-area buckypaper (BP) counter electrodes (CEs). BP is made of entangled multi-walled carbon nanotubes and has a high electroactive surface area, which is effectively 11.5 times higher than that of Pt. The high surface area of BP causes a high reduction rate at the CEs and suppresses the charge recombination at the anodes. Accordingly, the open-circuit voltage, the filling factor, and the power conversion efficiency of DSCs with BP CEs are enhanced, and these photovoltaic parameters exhibit a better trend with the increase of solar power compared with conventional DSCs with Pt CEs.

Pt crystalline ultrathin films as counter electrodes for bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells

This study is to develop the Pt crystalline ultrathin films as high-transparent, efficient, and low-Pt-loaded counter electrodes (CEs) for bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The 1-nm-thick Pt ultrathin films are sputtered on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates and thermal annealed at 400 °C. After annealing, as-prepared amorphous-nanocrystal-mixed Pt films become high-crystalline films with better optical transmittance and electrocatalytic ability to I3 − reduction for bifacial DSCs. The rear-to-front ratios of short-circuit current density and power conversion efficiency of DSCs with crystalline ultrathin Pt CEs are as high as 81 and 83%, respectively.