2 research outputs found
Bioinspired study of energy and electron transfer in photovoltaic system
<p>This study focuses on understanding the fundamentals of energy transfer and electron transport in photovoltaic devices with uniquely designed nanostructures by analysing energy transfer in purple photosynthetic bacteria using dye-sensitised solar cell systems. Förster resonance energy transfer between the xanthene dye (donor of energy) and a new polymethine dye (acceptor of energy) was studied in dye-sensitised solar cells, which leads to a doubling of energy conversion efficiency in comparison to the cell with only the polymethine dye. The electron transport in the two different nanostructures of zinc oxide (nanorods and nanosheets) was investigated by spectroscopic methods (UV-vis spectrometer, time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy) and electrochemical potentiostat methods. The nanosheet structure of zinc oxide showed high short circuit current and long diffusion length. This fundamental study will lead to efficient artificial photosystem designs.</p
Controlled Synthesis of Polyaniline-Based Nanomaterials with Self-Assembly and Interface Manipulation
Versatile
nanostructures of conducting polymers are highly relevant
based on unique properties, including electrical, optical, and thermal,
with changes in morphology. This contribution reports a facile and
reproducible synthesis approach for the design of conducting polymer
nanostructures from zero- to three-dimensional composites. Two polymerization
steps, namely, self-assembly-directed and interface thin layer-templated
polymerizations in this synthesis, were kinetically controlled to
fabricate such nanostructures directly. The uniquely designed bicontinuous
nanoreactor offers an easy synthesis technique for fabricating 3D
multifunctional conducting polymer composites. Self-assembly-directed
polymerization could be controlled to form nanorods and further directed
to form nanobowl/hollow spherical structures. The interface thin layer
template process was tuned to produce hollow spherical and 2D film
nanostructures. Kinetic control of polymerization was able to provide
access to unprecedented nanostructures of the conducting polymers
ranging from DNA origami to gecko-inspired nanostructures, with potential
applications in drug delivery, energy storage, and adhesive materials.
For example, this is the first conducting polymer material that can
demonstrate similar adhesiveness (around 8 N/cm2) to gecko
finger hairs