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Arrays of periodic one-dimensional nanomaterials offer tunable optical properties in terms of light–matter interaction which are attractive for designing efficient optoelectronic devices. This paper presents a fabrication of bottom-up grown nanopillar (NP) array solar cells based on n-i-p thin-film amorphous silicon using scaffolds of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) array. The effects of varying the CNT spacing over the range from 800 to 2000 nm on optical and electrical properties of the solar cells were investigated. The NP solar cell with CNT spacing of 800 nm exhibited ‘moth-eye’ broadband antireflection behavior, showing an average reflectance value lower than 10%. The enhanced optical absorption translated to significant enhancements in photocurrent and quantum efficiency compared to a conventional planar solar cell under low light condition. The open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the NP solar cell was found systematically correlated with the CNT spacing and the illumination condition. The results presented here is of importance for developing high efficiency one-dimensional nanostructured solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Thin-film electronics in its myriad forms has underpinned much of the technological innovation in the fields of displays, sensors, and energy conversion over the past four decades. This technology also forms the basis of flexible electronics. Here we review the current status of flexible electronics and attempt to predict the future promise of these pervading technologies in healthcare, environmental monitoring, displays and human–machine interactivity, energy conversion, management and storage, and communication and wireless networks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper reports on the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO nanostructures and examines the performance of nanocomposite thin-film transistors (TFTs fabricated using ZnO dispersed in both n- and p-type polymer host matrices. The ZnO nanostructures considered here comprise nanowires and tetrapods and were synthesized using vapor phase deposition techniques involving the carbothermal reduction of solid-phase zinc-containing compounds. Measurement results of nanocomposite TFTs based on dispersion of ZnO nanorods in an n-type organic semiconductor ([6, 6]-phenvl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) show electron field-effect mobilities in the range 03-0.6 cm²V-1s-1, representing an approximate enhancement by as much as a factor of 40 from the pristine state. The on/off current ratio of the nanocomposite TFTs approach 106 at saturation with off-currents on the order of 10 pA. The results presented here, although preliminary, show a highly promising enhancement for realization of high-performance solution-processable n-type organic TFTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report on the synthesis and applications of semiconducting nanostructures. Nanostructures of interest were zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires and tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanotubes where transistors/phototransistors and photo-voltaic (PV) energy conversion cells have been fabricated. ZnO nanowires were grown with both high- and low-temperature approaches, depending on the application. Individual ZnO nanowire side-gated transistors revealed excellent performance with a field- effect mobility of 928 cm² /V · s. ZnO networks were proposed for large-area macroelectronic devices as a less lithographically intense alternative to individual nanowire transistors where mobility values in excess of 20 cm² /V · s have been achieved. Flexible PV devices utilizing ZnO nanowires as electron acceptors and for photoinduced charge separation and transport have been presented. Phototransistors were fabricated using individual WS2 nanotubes, where clear sensitivity to visible light has been observed. The results presented here simply reveal the potential use of inorganic nanowires/tubes for various optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]