Toward high performance nanoscale optoelectronic devices: super solar energy harvesting in single standing core-shell nanowire

AbstractOn the long road towards low-cost flexible hybrid electronics, integration and printable solar energy harvesting solutions, there is an urgent need for high-performance transparent conductive electrodes produced using manufacturing-ready techniques and equipment. In recent years, randomly-distributed metallic nanowire-based transparent mesh electrodes have proven highly-promising as they offer a superb compromise between high performances and low fabrication costs. Unfortunately, these high figure-of-merit transparent mesh electrodes usually rely heavily on extensive post-deposition processing. While conventional thermal annealing yields good performances, it is especially ill-suited for deposition on low-temperature substrates or for high-throughput manufacturing solutions. Similarly, laser-induced annealing severely limits the processing time for electrodes covering large surfaces. In this paper, we report the fabrication of ultra high-performance silver nanowires-based transparent conductive electrodes fabricated using optimized manufacturing-ready ultrafast photonic curing solutions. Using conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) as our benchmark for transparent electrodes, we demonstrate a 2.6–2.7 $$\times $$ × performance gain using two different figure-of-merit indicators. Based on these results, we believe this research provides an ideal manufacturing-ready approach for the large-scale and low-cost fabrication of ultra high-performance transparent electrodes for flexible hybrid electronics and solar-energy harvesting applications.

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(CdSe) ZnS core shell quantum dots decorated zinc oxide nanowires for solar energy harvesting applications

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2011.213 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1302 ◽

Author(s):

Abhishek Prasad ◽

Archana Pandey ◽

Karl Walczak ◽

Craig Friedrich ◽

Yoke Khin Yap

Keyword(s):

Quantum Dots ◽

Energy Harvesting ◽

Solar Energy ◽

Functional Materials ◽

Fast Response ◽

Photoelectrochemical Cell ◽

Core Shell ◽

Zno Nanostructures ◽

Solar Energy Harvesting ◽

Order Of Magnitude

ABSTRACTZnO nanostructures have proven to be versatile functional materials with promising electronic, piezoelectric and optical properties. Here, we report on the application of (CdSe) ZnS Core Shell quantum dots decorated ZnO Nanowires (ZnONWs) and Nanobelts (NBs) in solar energy harvesting. Results indicate that both as grown and decorated ZnO Nanostructures are photoactive, have a fast response time and generate photocurrent under excitation in a photoelectrochemical cell setup. An order of magnitude enhancement in the photocurrent response of (CdSe) ZnS Core Shell quantum dots decorated ZnONBs is seen as compared to response from as grown ZnONBs. Generated photocurrent decreases with time but stabilizes at higher value for (CdSe) ZnS Core Shell quantum dots coated ZnONBs. Detailed performances of these devices are discussed.

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Improving Photoelectrochemical Activity of ZnO/TiO2 Core–Shell Nanostructure through Ag Nanoparticle Integration

Catalysts ◽

10.3390/catal11080911 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 911

Author(s):

Zeli Wang ◽

Zhen Chen ◽

Jiadong Dan ◽

Weiqiang Chen ◽

Chenghang Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Harvesting ◽

Solar Energy ◽

Energy Conversion ◽

Carrier Lifetime ◽

Zno Nanorods ◽

Core Shell ◽

Major Step ◽

Photoelectrochemical Activity ◽

Solar Water Splitting ◽

Solar Energy Harvesting

In solar energy harvesting using solar cells and photocatalysts, the photoexcitation of electrons and holes in semiconductors is the first major step in the solar energy conversion. The lifetime of carriers, a key factor determining the energy conversion and photocatalysis efficiency, is shortened mainly by the recombination of photoexcited carriers. We prepared and tested a series of ZnO/TiO2-based heterostructures in search of designs which can extend the carrier lifetime. Time-resolved photoluminescence tests revealed that, in ZnO/TiO2 core–shell structure the carrier lifetime is extended by over 20 times comparing with the pure ZnO nanorods. The performance improved further when Ag nanoparticles were integrated at the ZnO/TiO2 interface to construct a Z-scheme structure. We utilized these samples as photoanodes in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell and analyzed their solar water splitting performances. Our data showed that these modifications significantly enhanced the PEC performance. Especially, under visible light, the Z-scheme structure generated a photocurrent density 100 times higher than from the original ZnO samples. These results reveal the potential of ZnO-Ag-TiO2 nanorod arrays as a long-carrier-lifetime structure for future solar energy harvesting applications.

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