In situ polymerization monitoring of a diacrylate in an electrically conducting mesoporous nanoparticle scaffold

The properties of nanoparticle–polymer composites strongly depend on the network structure of the polymer matrix. By introducing nanoparticles into a monomer (solution) and subsequently polymerizing it, the formation of the polymer phase influences the mechanical and physicochemical properties of the composite. In this study, semi-conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles were prepared to form a rigid nanoparticle scaffold in which 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), together with an initiator for photo-polymerization, was infiltrated and subsequently polymerized by UV light. During this process, the polymerization reaction was characterized using rapid scan Kubelka–Munk FT-IR spectroscopy and compared to bulk HDDA. The conductivity change of the ITO nanoparticles was monitored and correlated with the polymerization process. It was revealed that the reaction rates of the radical initiation and chain propagation are reduced when cured inside the voids of the nanoparticle scaffold. The degree of conversion is lower for HDDA infiltrated into the mesoporous ITO nanoparticle scaffold compared to purely bulk-polymerized HDDA. Graphical abstract

Optimization Preparation of Indium Tin Oxide Nanoparticles via Microemulsion Method Using Orthogonal Experiment

Indium tin oxide (ITO), an experimentally friendly transparent conducting oxide (TCO), has attracted great attention in the photoelectric field due to its intrinsically low resistivity and high transparency. In this work, the experimental conditions of preparing ITO nanoparticles using the microemulsion method were optimized by an orthogonal experiment. The optimal experimental conditions were obtained: mass ratio of the surfactant (AEO-3, MOA-5), a co-surfactant (n-propyl alcohol) of 5:3, molar ratio of indium and ammonia of 1:20, calcination temperature of 700 °C and calcination time of 4 h. Subsequently, the influence from process variables on the resistivity was researched systematically. The results demonstrated that the calcination temperature had a great effect on the resistivity; the resistivity reduced from 11.28 to 2.72 Ω·cm with the increase in the calcination temperature from 500 to 700 °C. Ultimately, ITO nanoparticles were prepared and systematically characterized under the optimal experimental conditions. The particles with a size of 60 nm were attributed to the cubic ITO crystal phase and showed low resistivity of 0.3675 Ω·cm. Significantly, ITO nanoparticles with low resistivity were obtained using the microemulsion method, which has potential application in the field of ITO nanoparticle preparation.

Room-Temperature Solution-Processed 0D/1D Bilayer Electrodes for Translucent CsPbBr3 Perovskite Photovoltaics

Materials and processing of transparent electrodes (TEs) are key factors to creating high-performance translucent perovskite solar cells. To date, sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO) has been a general option for a rear TE of translucent solar cells. However, it requires a rather high cost due to vacuum process and also typically causes plasma damage to the underlying layer. Therefore, we introduced TE based on ITO nanoparticles (ITO-NPs) by solution processing in ambient air without any heat treatment. As it reveals insufficient conductivity, Ag nanowires (Ag-NWs) are additionally coated. The ITO-NPs/Ag-NW (0D/1D) bilayer TE exhibits a better figure of merit than sputtered ITO. After constructing CsPbBr3 perovskite solar cells, the device with 0D/1D TE offers similar average visible transmission with the cells with sputtered ITO. More interestingly, the power conversion efficiency of 0D/1D TE device was 5.64%, which outperforms the cell (4.14%) made with sputtered-ITO. These impressive findings could open up a new pathway for the development of low-cost, translucent solar cells with quick processing under ambient air at room temperature.

Infrared absorbing nanoparticle impregnated self-heating fabrics for significantly improved moisture management under ambient conditions

Propensity of a textile material to evaporate moisture from its surface, commonly referred to as the ‘moisture management’ ability, is an important characteristic that dictates the applicability of a given textile material in the activewear garment industry. Here, an infrared absorbing nanoparticle impregnated self-heating (IRANISH) fabric is developed by impregnating tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanoparticles into a polyester fabric through a facile high-pressure dyeing approach. It is observed that under simulated solar radiation, the impregnated ITO nanoparticles can absorb IR radiation, which is effectively transferred as thermal energy to any moisture present on the fabric. This transfer of thermal energy facilitates the enhanced evaporation of moisture from the IRANISH fabric surface and as per experimental findings, a 54 ± 9% increase in the intrinsic drying rate is observed for IRANISH fabrics compared with control polyester fabrics that are treated under identical conditions, but in the absence of nanoparticles. Approach developed here for improved moisture management via the incorporation of IR absorbing nanomaterials into a textile material is novel, facile, efficient and applicable at any stage of garment manufacture. Hence, it allows us to effectively overcome the limitations faced by existing yarn-level and structural strategies for improved moisture management.

Solution-processed ITO nanoparticles as hole-selective electrodes for mesoscopic lead-free perovskite solar cells

All-solution-processable ITO nanoparticulate electrodes were developed to replace carbon electrodes in mesoscopic hybrid tin-based PSCs to attain a record efficiency of 5.4%.

Effect of Coupling Indium Tin Oxide with the TiO2–NaYF4:(Gd, Si) Composite for Photocatalytic Properties

Indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles were coupled with NaYF4:(Gd, Si) using a TiO2-solution impregnation method. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that TiO2 and ITO nanoparticles were loaded on the surface of the NaYF4:(Gd, Si) upconversion phosphor. The ultraviolet/visible spectra of the 20 wt.% ITO-NaYF4:(Gd, Si)/TiO2 composites were extended at the absorption edges towards the UV-visible region. The 20 wt.% ITO-coupled NaYF4:(Gd, Si)/TiO2 composites exhibited superior photocatalytic efficiency compared to only NaYF4:(Gd, Si)/TiO2 under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Multi-wavelength NIR photons of γ > 760 nm from a Xe solar simulator source induced photo-activation through the NaYF4:(Gd, Si) activator centers. The three-cycle photocatalytic reusability performance of the 20 wt.% ITO-impregnated NaYF4:(Gd, Si)/TiO2 composite was positively enhanced by up to 20% more than that of NaYF4:(Gd, Si)/TiO2.