DJL

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising materials for novel light sources and solar energy conversion. However, trap states associated with the CQD surface can produce non-radiative charge recombination that significantly reduces device performance. Here a facile post-synthetic treatment of CdTe CQDs is demonstrated that uses chloride ions to achieve near-complete suppression of surface trapping, resulting in an increase of photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) from ca. 5% to up to 97.2 ± 2.5%. The effect of the treatment is characterised by absorption and PL spectroscopy, PL decay, scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This process also dramatically improves the air-stability of the CQDs: before treatment the PL is largely quenched after 1 hour of air-exposure, whilst the treated samples showed a PL QY of nearly 50% after more than 12 hours.

Photoluminescence with nearly 100% quantum yield is obtained from CdTe colloidal quantum dots by treating the surface with chloride ions. This process achieves near-complete passivation of the surface traps caused by dangling bonds, which otherwise cause significant non-radiative recombination, and also reduces the degradation of quantum yield with oxidation exposure.

An innovative wet-treatment with Na₂S transforms two indium metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into a series of porous inorganic sorbents. These MOF-templated materials display remarkable affinity for heavy metals with saturation occurring in less than 1 h. The saturation capacity for Hg(II) exceeds 2 g g^-1, more than doubling the best thiol-functionalized sorbents in the literature.

MoS₂ has become particularly popular for its catalytic properties towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It has been shown that the metallic 1T phase of MoS₂, obtained by chemical exfoliation after lithium intercalation, possesses enhanced catalytic activity over the semiconducting 2H phase due to the improved conductivity properties which facilitate charge-transfer kinetics. Here we demonstrate a simple electrochemical method to precisely tune the electron-transfer kinetics as well as the catalytic properties of both exfoliated and bulk MoS₂-based films. A controlled reductive or oxidative electrochemical treatment can alter the surface properties of the film with consequently improved or hampered electrochemical and catalytic properties compared to the untreated film. Density functional theory calculations were used to explain the electrochemical activation of MoS₂. The electrochemical tuning of electrocatalytic properties of MoS₂ opens the doors to scalable and facile tailoring of MoS₂-based electrochemical devices.

Electrochemistry turns MoS₂ on: The electrochemical tuning of electrocatalytic properties of MoS₂ opens the doors to scalable and facile tailoring of MoS₂-based electrochemical devices. Here a simple electrochemical method to precisely tune the electron-transfer kinetics as well as the catalytic properties of both exfoliated and bulk MoS₂-based films is demonstrated.

Recent years have witnessed great developments in inorganic 2D nanomaterials for their unique dimensional confinement and diverse electronic energy bands. Precisely regulating their intrinsic electrical behaviors would bring superior electrical conductivity, rendering 2D nanomaterials ideal candidates for active materials in electrochemical applications when combined with the excellent reaction activity from the inorganic lattice. This Concept focuses on highly conducting inorganic 2D nanomaterials, including intrinsic metallic 2D nanomaterials and artificial highly conductive 2D nanomaterials. The intrinsic metallicity of 2D nanomaterials is derived from their closely packed atomic structures that ensure maximum overlapping of electron orbitals, while artificial highly conductive 2D nanomaterials could be achieved by designed methodologies of surface modification, intralayer ion doping, and lattice strain, in which atomic-scale structural modulation plays a vital role in realizing conducting behaviors. Benefiting from fast electron transfer, high reaction activity, as well as large surface areas arising from the 2D inorganic lattice, highly conducting 2D nanomaterials open up prospects for enhancing performance in electrochemical catalysis and electrochemical capacitors. Conductive 2D inorganic nanomaterials promise higher efficiency for electrochemical applications of energy conversion and storage.

Synergetic advantages of superior electrical conductivity and excellent reaction activity from inorganic lattices render 2D nanomaterials ideal candidates for electrode active materials in electrochemical applications towards energy conversion and storage. In this concept article, recent progress on regulating the electrical behaviors of two-dimensional inorganic nanomaterials for energy applications are discussed.