Lulu Chen

A facile method to prepare SnO2 nanotubes for use in efficient SnO2–TiO2 core–shell dye-sensitized solar cells

A high-efficiency photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) should combine the advantageous features of fast electron transport, slow interfacial electron recombination and large specific surface area. However, these three requirements usually cannot be achieved simultaneously in the present state-of-the-art research. Here we report a simple procedure to combine the three conflicting requirements by using porous SnO(2) nanotube-TiO(2) (SnO(2) NT-TiO(2)) core-shell structured photoanodes for DSSCs. The SnO(2) nanotubes are prepared by electrospinning of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/tin dichloride dihydrate (SnCl(2)·2H(2)O) solution followed by direct sintering of the as-spun nanofibers. A possible evolution mechanism is proposed. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of the SnO(2) NT-TiO(2) core-shell structured DSSCs (∼5.11%) is above five times higher than that of SnO(2) nanotube (SnO(2) NT) DSSCs (∼0.99%). This PCE value is also higher than that of TiO(2) nanoparticles (P25) DSSCs (∼4.82%), even though the amount of dye molecules adsorbed to the SnO(2) NT-TiO(2) photoanode is less than half of that in the P25 film. This simple procedure provides a new approach to achieve the three conflicting requirements simultaneously, which has been demonstrated as a promising strategy to obtain high-efficiency DSSCs.

High‐Performance Photoelectrochemical‐Type Self‐Powered UV Photodetector Using Epitaxial TiO2/SnO2 Branched Heterojunction Nanostructure

TiO₂/SnO₂ branched heterojunction nanostructure with TiO₂ branches on electrospun SnO2 nanofiber (B-SnO₂ NF) networks serves as a model architecture for efficient self-powered UV photodetector based on a photoelectrochemical cell (PECC). The nanostructure simultaneously offers a low degree of charge recombination and a direct pathway for electron transport. Without correcting 64.5% loss of incident photons through light absorption and scattering by the F-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass, the incident power conversion efficiency reaches 14.7% at 330 nm, more than twice as large as the nanocrystalline TiO₂ (TiO₂ NC, 6.4%)-film based PECC. By connecting a PECC to an ammeter, the intensity of UV light is quantified using the output short-circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) without a power source. Under UV irradiation, the self-powered UV photodetector exhibits a high responsivity of 0.6 A/W, a high on/off ratio of 4550, a rise time of 0.03 s and a decay time of 0.01 s for J(sc) signal. The excellent performance of the B-SnO₂ NF-based PECC type self-powered photodetector will enable significant advancements for next-generation photodetection and photosensing applications.

Highly Flexible Freestanding Porous Carbon Nanofibers for Electrodes Materials of High-Performance All-Carbon Supercapacitors

Highly flexible porous carbon nanofibers (P-CNFs) were fabricated by electrospining technique combining with metal ion-assistant acid corrosion process. The resultant fibers display high conductivity and outstanding mechanical flexibility, whereas little change in their resistance can be observed under repeatedly bending, even to 180°. Further results indicate that the improved flexibility of P-CNFs can be due to the high graphitization degree caused by Co ions. In view of electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors, this type of porous nanostructure and high graphitization degree could synergistically facilitate the electrolyte ion diffusion and electron transportation. In the three electrodes testing system, the resultant P-CNFs electrodes can exhibit a specific capacitance of 104.5 F g(-1) (0.2 A g(-1)), high rate capability (remain 56.5% at 10 A g(-1)), and capacitance retention of ∼94% after 2000 cycles. Furthermore, the assembled symmetric supercapacitors showed a high flexibility and can deliver an energy density of 3.22 Wh kg(-1) at power density of 600 W kg(-1). This work might open a way to improve the mechanical properties of carbon fibers and suggests that this type of freestanding P-CNFs be used as effective electrode materials for flexible all-carbon supercapacitors.

An overview on emerging photoelectrochemical self-powered ultraviolet photodetectors

In recent years, as a new member of ultraviolet photodetectors (UV-PDs), photoelectrochemical UV-PDs (PEC UV-PDs) have received great attention. Compared to conventional photoconductors, PEC UV-PDs exhibit a number of merits, including low cost, environmentally friendly nature, being self-powered, and fast response. This tutorial review provides a comprehensive introduction to this research field, covering from the basics of performance evaluation of PEC UV-PDs, the state-of-the-art advances in structural design, electrolyte matching, and electrode fabrication of PEC UV-PDs, to the integration of multiple functions into a PEC UV-PD. In the end, we present our perspectives on the future development of PEC UV-PDs and highlight the key technical challenges in aiming to stimulate further developments in this research field.

Light illuminated α-Fe2O3/Pt nanoparticles as water activation agent for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is hampered by strong bonds of H2O molecules and low ionic conductivity of pure water. The photocatalysts dispersed in pure water can serve as a water activation agent, which provides an alternative pathway to overcome such limitations. Here we report that the light illuminated α−Fe2O3/Pt nanoparticles may produce a reservoir of reactive intermediates including H2O2, ·OH, OH− and H+ capable of promoting the pure water reduction/oxidation half−reactions at cathode and highly photocatalytic−active TiO2/In2S3/AgInS2 photoanode, respectively. Remarkable photocurrent enhancement has been obtained with α−Fe2O3/Pt as water activation agent. The use of α−Fe2O3/Pt to promote the reactivity of pure water represents a new paradigm for reproducible hydrogen fuel provision by PEC water splitting, allowing efficient splitting of pure water without adding of corrosive chemicals or sacrificial agent.

Preparation of carbon–TiO2 nanocomposites by a hydrothermal method and their enhanced photocatalytic activity

Carbon–TiO2 nanocomposites were fabricated by a simple hydrothermal process, and the content of carbon in the composites was adjusted by etching in air at high temperature. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, UV-vis spectroscopy and PL spectroscopy. The nanocomposites, with an average size of 50 nm, are composed of well-defined crystallized TiO2 with the amorphous carbon either on the surface or among particles. And the TiO2 are the mixed phase system of both anatase and rutile. Measurements of the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B show that the photocatalytic activity of the carbon–TiO2 nanocomposites, especially after annealed at 400 °C, is higher than that of pure TiO2. Experimental results indicate that the existence of the carbon enhances the photocatalytic activity of C–TiO2 nanocomposites via the synergistic effect between carbon and TiO2, such as improving the adsorption, retarding the recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pairs and absorbing more light.

Synthesis of cadmium sulfide quantum dot-decorated barium stannate nanowires for photoelectrochemical water splitting

We report the fabrication of cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dot-decorated barium stannate (BaSnO3) nanowires and their application as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. First, polycrystalline BaSnO3 nanowires, which have a perovskite structure, were prepared by electrospinning their polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer precursors and calcining the resultant polymer fibres. Then, CdS quantum dots were decorated onto the BaSnO3 nanowires by a wet-chemical method. Our results show that the hybrid photoanode made of the CdS quantum dot-decorated BaSnO3 nanowires exhibits a high photocurrent density up to 4.8 mA cm−2 at 0 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode), which corresponds to a hydrogen generation rate of 71.8 μmol (h cm2)−1 with a faradaic efficiency of around 80%. Its favourable performance was attributed to the effective charge separation at the type II staggered gap heterojunction formed at the BaSnO3/CdS interface, and the low charge recombination in BaSnO3 nanowires during transport. Our findings indicate that the water splitting performance of photoelectrochemical cells can be highly improved by rationally building a type II band alignment heterojunction with sensitizing quantum dots and wide band gap semiconductor nanowires which have a low charge recombination rate during transport.

Controlled Synthesis on Ag Nanowires for Conductive Transparent Electrodes

One-dimensional silver nanomaterials, nanorods, and nanowires (NWs) were achieved by a solution-phase method. The geometry of the silver nanostructures was successfully tuned by adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) of different molecular weights. A possible mechanism, involving the suppression effect from PVP on the growth rates at different crystal facets, is used to explain the PVP-dependent morphology of the Ag nanowires achieved in this experiment. To evaluate its potential application in transparent electrodes, we also investigated the electrical conductance and optical transmittance after NWs were transferred to transparent polyethylene terephthalate substrates. Our findings indicated a possible and simple approach to control the morphology and then the functional properties of nanostructured silvers.