DJL

Solution-processed organic photovoltaic devices containing p-type and non-fullerene n-type small molecules obtain power conversion efficiencies as high as 2.4%. The optoelectronic properties of the n-type material BT(TTI-n12)₂ allow these devices to display high open-circuit voltages (>0.85 V) and generate significant charge carriers through hole transfer in addition to the electron-transfer pathway, which is common in fullerene-based devices.

“My motto is never give up! In a spare hour, I read a newspaper …” This and more about Graham J. Hutchings can be found on page 8550.

Three-photon pumped stimulated emission and coherent random lasing from colloidal CdSe/CdS/ZnS core–multishell quantum dots are achieved for the first time. These results can offer new possibilities in biology and photonics, as well as at their intersection of biophotonics.

A novel visible-light-absorbing dilute alloy, Ga(Sb_x)N_1−x is synthesized by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) for solar hydrogen production. Significant bandgap reduction of GaN, from 3.4 eV to 1.8 eV, is observed, with a low (2%) incorporation of antimonide, and the lattice expansion is in agreement with our first-principles calculations. The band edges of Ga(Sb_x)N_1−x are found to straddle the water redox potentials showing excellent suitability for solar water splitting.

Semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSCs) are emerging as promising devices for achieving efficient and low-cost solar-energy conversion. The recent progress in the development of ZnO-nanostructure-based SSCs is reviewed here, and the key issues for their efficiency improvement, such as enhancing light harvesting and increasing carrier generation, separation, and collection, are highlighted from aspects of surface-engineering techniques. The impact of other factors such as electrolyte and counter electrodes on the photovoltaic performance is also addressed. The current challenges and perspectives for the further advance of ZnO-based SSCs are discussed.

The recent developments regarding ZnO-nanostructure-based semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSCs) are reviewed. With the emphasis on surface-engineering techniques, a retrospective look at the extensive efforts in improving the energy conversion efficiency is taken, in particular, the approaches in enhancing light harvesting and increasing carrier generation, separation, and collection. It may offer a useful guide for the further advance of ZnO-based SSCs.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is the most popular material for applications in solar-energy conversion and photocatalysis, both of which rely on the creation, transport, and trapping of charges (holes and electrons). The nature and lifetime of electron traps at room temperature have so far not been elucidated. Herein, we use picosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ti K-edge and the Ru L₃-edge to address this issue for photoexcited bare and N719-dye-sensitized anatase and amorphous TiO₂ nanoparticles. Our results show that 100 ps after photoexcitation, the electrons are trapped deep in the defect-rich surface shell in the case of anatase TiO₂, whereas they are inside the bulk in the case of amorphous TiO₂. In the case of dye-sensitized anatase or amorphous TiO₂, the electrons are trapped at the outer surface. Only two traps were identified in all cases, with lifetimes in the range of nanoseconds to tens of nanoseconds.

Electrons in the trap: Picosecond Ti K-edge and Ru L₃-edge X-ray absorption spectra of photoexcited bare and dye-sensitized TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) showed that electrons are trapped deep in the defect-rich surface shell of bare anatase TiO₂, whereas injection from the dye on both anatase and amorphous NPs leads to surface trapping (see picture). In bare amorphous TiO₂, trapping occurs at preexisting defects within the NP.

Anionic bipyridyl ligands have interesting characteristics for applications in supramolecular coordination chemistry: 1) they are robust, rigid, and relatively long; 2) the lateral size and the solubility of the ligands can be modified by variation of the phenolatodioximato ligand; 3) the Zn-based clathrochelates are luminescent; and 4) it is possible to incorporate diamagnetic or paramagnetic metal ions. For more details see the Full Paper by K. Severin et al. on page 5592 ff.

Semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSCs) are emerging as promising devices for achieving efficient and low-cost solar-energy conversion. The recent progress in the development of ZnO-nanostructure-based SSCs is reviewed here, and the key issues for their efficiency improvement, such as enhancing light harvesting and increasing carrier generation, separation, and collection, are highlighted from aspects of surface-engineering techniques. The impact of other factors such as electrolyte and counter electrodes on the photovoltaic performance is also addressed. The current challenges and perspectives for the further advance of ZnO-based SSCs are discussed.

The recent developments regarding ZnO-nanostructure-based semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSCs) are reviewed. With the emphasis on surface-engineering techniques, a retrospective look at the extensive efforts in improving the energy conversion efficiency is taken, in particular, the approaches in enhancing light harvesting and increasing carrier generation, separation, and collection. It may offer a useful guide for the further advance of ZnO-based SSCs.

If I were not a scientist, I would be a businessman. I can never resist the taste of success.