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A great deal of interest has been paid to the application of carbon-based nano- and microstructured materials as electrodes due to their relatively low-cost production, abundance, large surface area, high chemical stability, wide operating temperature range, and ease of processing including many more excellent features. The nanostructured carbon materials usually offer various micro-textures due to their varying degrees of graphitisation, a rich variety in terms of dimensionality as well as morphologies, extremely large surface accessibility and high electrical conductivity, etc. The possibilities of activating them by chemical and physical methods allow these materials to be produced with further higher surface area and controlled distribution of pores from nanoscale upto macroscopic dimensions, which actually play the most crucial role towards construction of the efficient electrode/electrolyte interfaces for capacitive processes in energy storage applications. Development of new carbon materials with extremely high surface areas could exhibit significant potential in this context and motivated by this in present work, we report for the first time the utilization of ultralight and extremely porous nano-microtubular Aerographite tetrapodal network as a functional interface to probe the electrochemical properties for capacitive energy storage. A simple and robust electrode fabrication strategy based on surface functionalized Aerographite with optimum porosity leads to significantly high specific capacitance (640 F/g) with high energy (14.2 Wh/kg) and power densities (9.67×103 W/kg) which has been discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short circuit current density of organic solar cells can be distinctly increased by using a 3D device geometry. The proposed device consists of an organic solar cell layer stack prepared on the surface of a metal oxide nanowire array. The interface morphologies of the individual organic layers are described by a 3D morphological algorithm. The optical wave propagation in the 3D solar cell is simulated by Finite Difference Time Domain simulations. By introducing the nanowire architecture the short circuit current density is increased by more than 45% resulting in an absolute increase of more than 5 mA/cm 2 compared to a solar cell on a smooth substrate with identical nominal thickness of the active layer. The increased short circuit current density is caused by the realization of a solar cell structure on a 3D surface which allows for the light trapping between the nanowires. The influence of the nanowire dimensions on the quantum efficiency and short circuit current density of the solar cells is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The short circuit current and conversion efficiency of silicon thin film solar cells can be increased by efficient light trapping. The short circuit current is maximized if the metal back contact of the solar cells efficiently scatters and diffracts the reflected light, while optical (plasmonic) losses in the back contact are minimized. The investigations show that the optical losses in the back contact are highest if nano features are present at the dielectric/metal interface. However, large back contact features with dimensions comparable to the optical wavelength efficiently scatter and diffract the reflected light. In this study the morphology of the back contact was controlled by inserting zinc oxide nano particles. The influence of the nano particles on the quantum efficiency, short circuit current and conversion efficiency is studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Polymeric semiconductors have attracted much attention because of their possible use as active materials in printed electronics. Thin-film transistors (TFTs) are a convenient tool for studying charge-transport physics in conjugated polymers. Two families of materials are reviewed here: fluorene copolymers and polythiophenes. Because charge transport is highly anisotropic in molecular conductors, the electrical properties of conjugated polymers are strongly dependent on microstructure. Molecular weight, polydispersity, and regioregularity all affect morphology and charge-transport in these materials. Charge transport models based on microstructure are instrumental in identifying the electrical bottlenecks in these materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present a universal model for the transient drain current response in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). Using equivalent circuits and charge injection physics, we are able to predict the drain current in OECT devices upon application of a gate voltage input. The model is applicable to both plain and membrane-functionalized devices, and allows us to extract useful physical quantities such as resistances and capacitances, which are related to functional properties of the system. We are also able to use the model to reconstruct the magnitude and shape in time of an applied voltage source based on the observed drain current response. This was experimentally demonstrated for drain current measurements under an applied action potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A metal-oxide pyramid texture is converted into the non-resonant optical metasurfaces. • Metasurfaces are realized through the templated growth electrodeposition of nanowires. • A J SC gain of 10-25% is achieved as compared to the planar device. • Energy conversion efficiencies of perovskite/perovskite TSCs can reach over 30%. • Optics of solar cells is investigated by FDTD optical simulations. The short-circuit current density and energy conversion efficiency of single-junction perovskite and perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cells can be increased by photon management. In this study, optical metasurfaces were investigated as potential light trapping structures oppose to commonly used pyramidal surface textures. Herein, metal oxide-based non-resonant metasurfaces were investigated as potential light-trapping structures in perovskite solar cells. The zinc oxide nanowire-based building blocks of the metasurface can be prepared by a templated electrodeposition through a mask of resist. The phase of the incident light can be controlled by the edge length of the subwavelength large zinc oxide nanowires. An array of zinc oxide nanowires was prepared and characterized in the current study. Three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) optical simulations were used to compare solar cells covered with non-resonant metasurfaces with commonly used light trapping structures. As compared to the solar cells covered with zinc oxide pyramid surface texture, solar cells with the integrated non-resonant metasurfaces exhibit almost identical quantum efficiencies and short-circuit current densities. Investigations of such metasurfaces will not only improve the photon absorption in perovskite solar cells but also reveal a pathway to make high-efficiency next-generation solar cells. Detailed guidelines for the realization of non-resonant metal oxide metasurfaces will be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review we focus on demonstrating how organic electronic materials can solve key problems in biosensing thanks to their unique material properties and implementation in innovative device configurations. We highlight specific examples where these materials solve multiple issues related to complex sensing environments, and we benchmark these examples by comparing them to state-of-the-art commercially available sensing using alternative technologies. We have categorized our examples by sample type, focusing on sensing from body fluids in vitro and on wearable sensors, which have attracted significant interest owing to their integration with everyday life activities. We finish by describing a future trend for in vivo , implantable sensors, which aims to build on current progress from sensing in biological fluids ex vivo . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electronic properties of organic semiconductors are often critically dependent upon their ability to order from the molecular level to the macro-scale, as is true for many other materials attributes of macromolecular matter such as mechanical characteristics. Therefore, understanding of the molecular assembly process and the resulting solid-state short- and long-range order is critical to further advance the field of organic electronics. Here, we will discuss the structure development as a function of molecular weight in thin films of a model conjugated polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), when processed from solution and the melt. While focus is on the microstructural manipulation and characterization, we also treat the influence of molecular arrangement and order on electronic processes such as charge transport and show, based on classical polymer science arguments, how accounting for the structural complexity of polymers can provide a basis for establishing relevant processing/structure/property-interrelationships to explain some of their electronic features. Such relationships can assist with the design of new materials and definition of processing protocols that account for the molecular length, chain rigidity and propensity to order of a given system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Innovative neurotechnology must be leveraged to experimentally answer the multitude of pressing questions in modern neuroscience. Driven by the desire to address the existing neuroscience problems with newly engineered tools, we discuss in this review the benefits of flexible electronics for neuroscience studies. We first introduce the concept and define the properties of flexible and stretchable electronics. We then categorize the four dimensions where flexible electronics meets the demands of modern neuroscience: chronic stability, interfacing multiple structures, multi-modal compatibility, and neuron-type-specific recording. Specifically, with the bending stiffness now approaching that of neural tissue, implanted flexible electronic devices produce little shear motion, minimizing chronic immune responses and enabling recording and stimulation for months, and even years. The unique mechanical properties of flexible electronics also allow for intimate conformation to the brain, the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and the retina. Moreover, flexible electronics enables optogenetic stimulation, microfluidic drug delivery, and neural activity imaging during electrical stimulation and recording. Finally, flexible electronics can enable neuron-type identification through analysis of high-fidelity recorded action potentials facilitated by its seamless integration with the neural circuitry. We argue that flexible electronics will play an increasingly important role in neuroscience studies and neurological therapies via the fabrication of neuromorphic devices on flexible substrates and the development of enhanced methods of neuronal interpenetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]