Quarantine

Translated, with introduction, by Madhu Singh, Department of English and Modern European Languages, University of Lucknow, India, E-mail: [email protected]://doi.org/10.33063/diva-415862</p

Optimized reduction of graphite oxide for highly exfoliated silver nanoparticles anchored graphene sheets for dye sensitized solar cell applications

In the present work, we have synthesized graphene sheets by optimizing reduction of graphite oxide (GO) by hydrazine hydrate (N2H4 center dot xH(2)O) reducing agent and anchored them with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Morphological and spectroscopic studies confirmed the formation of highly exfoliated graphene sheets separated by Ag NPs with improved C/O ratio. The highly electrocatalytic and exfoliated network of graphene sheets/Ag nanocoatings uniformly adhered to FTO substrate has been utilized as platinum (Pt) free counter electrode (CE) in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Fabricated DSSC with only 2.7 mu m thick TiO2 photoanode exhibited photo conversion efficiency (eta = 3.44%) and short circuit current density (J(sc) = 7.03 mA cm(-2)) comparable to DSSC containing Pt-CE without any loss of open circuit voltage (V-oc = 0.71 V) and fill factor (FF = 0.68)

Optimization of Ni2+ /Ni3+ ratio in reduced graphene oxide/nickel oxide nanohybrids for platinum free dye sensitized solar cells

A strategy has been explored to design a novel network of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/nickel oxide (NiO) nanohybrids with optimized Ni2+/Ni3+ ratio for the fabrication of compact, flexible, and large area Pt-free dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The rGO/NiO nanohybrids were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These studies demonstrate that the rGO/NiO nanohybrids with Ni2+ rich species show high catalytic activity toward the I/I-3(-) redox reaction. This led to the fabrication of improved DSSCs with power conversion efficiency as high as 3.69% with these nanohybrids as counter electrodes in comparison with DSSC devices containing counter electrodes based on rGO (1.71%) and NiO (0.75%)

Zinc Phthalocyanine Nanowires based Flexible Sensor For Room Temperature Cl-2 Detection

We have fabricated highly sensitive and Cl-2 selective flexible sensor by depositing solution processed zinc phthalocyanine nanowires onto the flexible PET substrate and studied its Cl-2 sensing characteristics in Cl-2 concentration range 5-1500 ppb. The flexible sensor has a minimum detection limit as low as 5 ppb of Cl, and response as high as 550% within 10 seconds. Interestingly, the sensor exhibited enhanced and faster response kinetics under bending conditions. The gas sensing mechanism of sensor has been discussed on the basis of XPS and Raman spectroscopic studies which revealed that zinc ions were the preferred sites for Cl-2 interactions