Germanium Quantum Dot Sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells

2010 ◽  
Vol 442 ◽  
pp. 404-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abbas ◽  
B. Ali ◽  
S.I. Shah ◽  
P. Akhter

The size of Germanium (Ge) Quantum Dots (GQD’s) in Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) can be tailored, using different techniques like sputtering, laser ablation and sol gel. Similarly the absorption range of Ge may also be broadened in visible and NIR range. We report the use of Ge QD’s to sensitize meso-porous TiO2 film to make quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSC) for the next generation photovoltaics. Ge -TiO2 nano-porous thin films were deposited using rf- planer magnetron sputtering using various ranges of rf-power, Argon pressure and substrate temperature. The fabricated films with various Ge concentrations were studied using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), High Angle Annular Dark Field Imaging (HAADF) and UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-VIS).In the thin film meso-structure the Ge dots were embedded in the TiO2 matrix. The average particle size of Ge quantum dots was determined by HAADF. The solar cell performance has been checked using sun simulator. Experimental ways to improve cell performance are discussed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 2950-2957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sopit Phetsang ◽  
Supeera Nootchanat ◽  
Chutiparn Lertvachirapaiboon ◽  
Ryousuke Ishikawa ◽  
Kazunari Shinbo ◽  
...  

The performance of organic solar cells was improved by the effect of a synergistic gold quantum dot/plasmonic grating system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kamruzzaman

ZnO nanorod (NR) based inorganic quantum dot sensitized solar cells have gained tremendous attention for use in next generation solar cells.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1057
Author(s):  
Jesús Hidalgo-Carrillo ◽  
Juan Martín-Gómez ◽  
M. Carmen Herrera-Beurnio ◽  
Rafael C. Estévez ◽  
Francisco J. Urbano ◽  
...  

Olive leaves (by-product from olive oil production in olive mills) were used as biotemplates to synthesize a titania-based artificial olive leaf (AOL). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of AOL showed the successful replication of trichomes and internal structure channels present in olive leaves. The BET surface area of AOL was 52 m2·g−1. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectra revealed that the resulting solid was in the predominantly-anatase crystalline form (7.5 nm average particle size). Moreover, the synthesis led to a red-shift in light absorption as compared to reference anatase (gap energies of 2.98 and 3.2 eV, respectively). The presence of surface defects (as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, EPR) and doping elements (e.g., 1% nitrogen, observed by elemental analysis and XPS) could account for that. AOL was preliminarily tested as a catalyst for hydrogen production through glycerol photoreforming and exhibited an activity 64% higher than reference material Evonik P25 under solar irradiation and 144% greater under ultraviolet radiation (UV).


2010 ◽  
Vol 152-153 ◽  
pp. 81-85
Author(s):  
Xiong Wang ◽  
Yin Lin ◽  
Jin Guo Jiang

The homogeneous multiferroic BiFeO3 nanoparticles with average particle size of 85 nm have been successfully synthesized by a simple sol-gel route. The prepared sample was characterized by a variety of techniques, such as X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimeter analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The obtained results shows that rapid sintering and subsequently quenching to room temperature are the two vital important factors for the preparation of pure BiFeO3. The magnetic phase transition (TN = 369 °C) and the ferroelectric phase transition (TC = 824.5 °C) were determined, revealing the antiferromagnetic and ferroelectric nature of the as-prepared BiFeO3 nanoparticles. The optical properties of the nanopowders were investigated. The strong band-gap absorption at 486 nm (2.55 eV) of the BiFeO3 nanoparticles may bring some novel applications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangrong Ma ◽  
Rui Dang ◽  
Jieying Liu ◽  
Fang Yang ◽  
Huigui Li ◽  
...  

In this paper, we report a novel and facile approach for the synthesis of spinel NiFe2O4 nanoparticles and studies of its photocatalytic activity for oxidation of alcohols. The as-synthesized catalyst was thoroughly characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm (BET) analysis. The TEM image reveals cubic shapes with an average particle size of 10–20 nm. The as-synthesized spinel NiFe2O4 has proved to be an excellent photocatalyst for oxidation of alcohol to the aldehyde with a conversion of 80% and selectivity of 99%. The catalyst has also proved to be noteworthy as it does not loss its catalytic activity even after five cycles of reuse.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. K. Jun ◽  
M. A. Careem ◽  
A. K. Arof

CdS and CdSe quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) were used for the study of determining the optimum preparation parameters that could yield the best solar cell performance. The quantum dots (QDs) were coated on the surface of mesoporous TiO2layer deposited on FTO substrate using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. In this method the QDs are allowed to grow on TiO2by dipping the TiO2electrode successively in two different solutions for predetermined times. This method allows the fabrication of QDs in a facile way. Three preparation parameters that control the QD fabrication were investigated: concentration of precursor solutions, number of dipping cycles (SILAR cycles), and dipping time in each solution. CdS based QDSSC showed optimum performance when the QDs were prepared from precursor solutions having the concentration of 0.10 M using 4 dipping cycles with the dipping time of 5 minutes in each solution. For CdSe QDSSC, the optimum performance was achieved with QDs prepared from 0.03 M precursor solutions using 7 dipping cycles with 30 s dipping time in each solution. The QDs deposited on TiO2surface were characterized using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, FESEM, and TEM imaging.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (06) ◽  
pp. 1951003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Yiyang Wang ◽  
Yalong Liao ◽  
Muyuan Guo ◽  
Gongchu Shi

Nano Pd-Ni/[Formula: see text]-Al2O3 bimetallic catalyst was prepared by chemical precipitation method enhanced with ultrasonic wave. The influence of dosage of dispersant, ultrasonic intensity and mass ratio of Pd to Ni on the dechlorination property of the catalyst obtained was investigated in detail. The appearance morphology, composition and structure of the catalysts prepared were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption, while the specific surface area was determined using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherm and the chemical composition of active gradients was tested with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Results indicate that the nano Pd-Ni/[Formula: see text]-Al2O3 bimetallic catalyst prepared has uniform distribution of active ingredients with an average particle size of 4.91[Formula: see text]nm, and the chlorine content of shellac dechlorinated with the catalyst obtained is 0.34[Formula: see text]wt.% which is lower than that reported in the literature, meaning the perfect dechlorination property of the catalyst.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
eid khalaf ◽  
E. K. Abdel-Khalek ◽  
Ahmed. A. Askar ◽  
M. A. Motawea ◽  
Mohamed A. Aboelnasr ◽  
...  

Abstract BaFeO3-δ perovskite nanomaterials have been synthesized by two different methods: co-precipitation (Cop) and sol-gel (Sol) methods. Rietveld analysis of the X-Ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the samples are crystallized in rhombohedral perovskite structure with space group R3c. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) of these samples showed the agglomerations of various particles. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed that the average particle size of BaFeO3-Cop sample is larger than that of BaFeO3-Sol sample. The amount of oxygen deficient (δ) and the valence states of Fe ions in these samples were determined from Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows the elemental compositions and surface electronic states of these samples. The thermal, optical and magnetic properties of these samples depend on the amount of oxygen deficient (δ) and the valence states of Fe ions. Furthermore, the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of these samples was systematically investigated. The present results suggest that BaFeO3-δ superparamagnetic perovskite can be used as antibacterial and antibiofilm agent.


Author(s):  
Alejandro Martiz ◽  
Zoltán Károly ◽  
Eszter Bódis ◽  
Péter Fazekas ◽  
Miklós Mohai ◽  
...  

Synthesis of zirconium carbide (ZrC) powder was investigated applying a non-conventional atmospheric radiofrequency (RF) thermal plasma process. In one case, zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) was reacted with solid carbon or with methane with varying molar ratio. In the other, zirconium-propoxide (NZP), containing both constituents, was thermally decomposed in the Ar plasma. Temperature-dependent thermodynamic analysis was performed in the 500-5500 K temperature range to estimate the formation of possible equilibrium products for each reaction stoichiometry. Broad temperature range exists for the stability of solid ZrC for each explored reaction system. In accordance with this prediction, X-ray diffraction studies detected the ZrC as the major phase in all the prepared powders. The yield of particular runs ranged from 39 % to 98 %. Practically, full conversion was typical for the case of NZP precursor, however only partial conversion could be detected in ZrO2 reactions. The average particle size of the powders falls between 10 nm and 100 nm depending on the type of the reaction systems (either calculated from the specific surface area or derived from broadening the XRD reflections). The transmission electron micrographs indicated mostly globular shape of the nanosize particles. Quantitative analysis of the surface of the powders by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the presence of oxygen and carbon. Evaluating the spectra of the powders prepared from NZP, and taking in the account its spherical shape, a ZrC core covered by a very thin (≈1.0 nm) ZrO2 layer may be accounted for the measured oxygen and a thicker carbonaceous layer.


Author(s):  
O.V. Bakina ◽  
◽  
N.V. Svarovskaya ◽  
A.V. Pervikov ◽  
V.R. Chzhou ◽  
...  

In present work, we have synthesized, for the first time, zinc titanate nanoparticles by electric explosion of titanium and zinc wires in an oxygen-containing atmosphere (argon - oxygen 20 vol. %). As-synthesized nanoparticles nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The particles have a spherical shape and an average particle size of 82 nm. The phase composition is presented by zinc titanate and a small amount of titanium oxide, which corresponds to the phase diagram of the TiO2-ZnO system. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was studied in the decomposition reaction of a model dye methylene blue and it was found that it was higher than that of titanium oxide nanoparticles obtained by electric explosion of a titanium wire in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. In addition, the synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated high antibacterial activity against MRSA bacteria.


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