Search

Summary: Factual realization of 2‐fold material mutualistic approach has been demonstrated as a state‐of‐art for the growth of copper phosphate (Cu2P2O7) microflowers on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) through simple, low cost, and industry‐scalable chemical route, namely, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction. Rationally designed unique surface architecture synergistically comprehends the merits of highly conductive electric double‐layer capacitance‐based MWCNT skeleton and pseudocapacitance enriched Cu2P2O7 enabling Cu2P2O7/MWCNT (CuCNT) composite. As‐synthesized CuCNT electrode exhibits reciprocity toward exceptionally enhanced electrochemically active surface area of 398.6 m2 g−1, high specific capacitance of 465 F g−1 at 13 A g−1, and extraordinary cyclic stability. Comparative accounting of charge storage in terms of surface‐capacitive and diffusion‐controlled mechanisms has been explored in depth to gain insight into internal electrochemical kinetics. Furthermore, symmetrically configured bendable solid‐state supercapacitor device using CuCNT delivers proficient specific energy of 25.4 Wh kg−1 together with high mechanical stability of 96% at 170° of bending. Also, the experimentally and theoretically evaluated series and parallel combination of two devices serve as a showcase toward potential candidature for applications of specific requirements. Furthermore, live demonstration through lightening of 21 red light‐emitting diodes authorizes the probable commercialization of the present CuCNT device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simple and cost-effective methods to achieve metal oxide/metal sulfide heterojunction. • The influence of process parameters over the synthesis of heterojunction is studied. • Highest photocurrent density was achieved through SILAR coated Bi 2 S 3 over BiVO 4. • The surface kinetics for different structures were distinguished. Photoelectrochemical water splitting is an environmentally benign way to store solar energy. Properties such as fast charge recombination and poor charge transport rate severely restrict the use of BiVO 4 as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting and many attempts were made to improve the current performance limit of the photoanode. To address these disadvantages, a highly efficient BiVO 4 /Bi 2 S 3 heterojunction was fabricated applying facial anion-exchange (AE) and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). The deposition of Bi 2 S 3 on BiVO 4 nanoworms by both AE and SILAR was confirmed through morphological, structural, and optical analyses. The morphological analysis indicated that Bi 2 S 3 grown through SILAR has relatively more crystalline-amorphous phase boundaries than Bi 2 S 3 generated using the anion-exchange method. The highest photocurrent density was observed for the SILAR-coated Bi 2 S 3 on BiVO 4 , which is three times the value of the pristine BiVO 4 measured under 1 sun illumination (100 mW cm−2 with Air mass (AM) 1.5 filter) in a 0.5 M Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte at 1.6 V vs. RHE. In addition, the deposition of Bi 2 S 3 through AE results in a twofold higher photocurrent density compared to uncoated BiVO 4. The comparison of the two cost-effective AE and SILAR methods to deposit Bi 2 S 3 on BiVO 4 showed a negative shift in the flat band Mott-Schottky values, which coincides with the drifted onset potential values of the current density-voltage (J–V) curve. Furthermore, photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS) analyses and band alignment studies revealed that SILAR-grown Bi 2 S 3 creates an effective heterojunction with BiVO 4 , which leads to an efficient charge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CdSe@PbS core-shell 1D nanonetwork synthesized by using three steps chemical routes. • CdSe@PbS core-shell electrode depicts maximum capacity of 82 mAh g-1. • Fabrication of CdSe@PbS based symmetric supercapacitor cell which exhibits high capacity of 32 mAh g-1. • Cell displays significant energy density 16.14 Wh kg-1 and long-term stability. Development of CdSe@PbS core-shell composite using facile three steps chemical process towards an efficient supercapacitor application [Display omitted] Simple, binder free, low-cost chemical route has been employed to design CdSe@PbS core-shell surface architecture in thin film form towards electrochemical supercapacitor application. Horizontal chemical bath deposition (H-CBD) was used to grow one-dimensional (1D) Cd(OH) 2 nanowires (NWs) template followed by ion exchange to get 1D CdSe NWs. Further, PbS nanoparticles were encapsulated on the surface of CdSe nanowires by using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Structural, compositional, and morphological studies have been used to confirm and investigate obtain surface architecture. Interestingly, design CdSe@PbS core-shell surface architecture not only offer maximum active sites but also provide smooth and fast electron transfer path exhibiting significant electrochemical performance with a specific capacity of 82 mAh g-1 and improved long-term stability. Additionally, symmetric electrochemical supercapacitor device of CdSe@PbS exhibits noticeable energy density of 16.14 Wh kg-1 at the power density of 288 W/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New tactic to develop β-Bi 2 O 3 nanoflakes by slow annealing of BiOI nanoflakes. • β-Bi 2 O 3 /PbS has been established to form an inverted p-n nanoheterojunction. • The charge transfer ability of β-Bi 2 O 3 /PbS in Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte is the highest. [Display omitted] The nanostructural β-Bi 2 O 3 /PbS n-p heterojunction is fabricated using a simple two-step process; electrodeposition of BiOI followed by annealing to form β-Bi 2 O 3 and then PbS deposition by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The β-Bi 2 O 3 nanoflakes are vertically grown on the substrate while PbS nanoparticles are deposited on Bi 2 O 3. The formation of β-Bi 2 O 3 /PbS heterojunction was confirmed by various physical and chemical characterizations. The formation of the np heterojunction at the interface of β-Bi 2 O 3 /PbS doubled the photoelectrochemical current density compared with that of the bare β-Bi 2 O 3 nanoflakes. The enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of the heterojunction photoanode structures are scrutinized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled growth of different sizes of cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles over well aligned ZnO nanorods have been performed using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique at room temperature (27 °C) in order to form nano heterostructure solar cells. Deposition of compact layer of zinc oxide (ZnO) by SILAR technique on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate followed by growth of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods array using chemical bath deposition (CBD) at low temperature (<100 °C). Different characterization techniques viz. X‐ray diffractometer, UV–Vis spectrophotometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to know the structural, optical, morphological and compositional properties of synthesized nano heterostructure. The photovoltaic performance of the cells with variation in SILAR cycles for CdSe and with use of different electrolytes have been recorded as J-V characteristics and the maximum conversion efficiency of 0.63% have been attained with ferro/ferri cyanide electrolyte for 12 cycles CdSe coating over 1-D ZnO nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional hierarchical CuS–CdS@TiO 2 multi-heterostructure has been fabricated as a highly promising photoanode for PEC water splitting. The CdS@TiO 2 structure was synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method, therein TiO 2 nanorods (TiO 2 NRs) were used as the template to grow the CdS branches (CdS BRs). Then the surface of the heterostructure was sequentially coated with a p-type CuS semiconductor via a simple SILAR method. The optimized CuS–CdS@TiO 2 photoelectrode exhibits a remarkably high photocurrent density of 12.6 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE under standard AM 1.5 light illumination. The enhancement in the PEC performance could attribute to the wide range of solar spectrum absorption in CdS BRs, which can generate more photo charge carriers. Meanwhile, the high conductivity of TiO 2 NRs serves as an efficient pathway to transfer photogenerated electrons from the CdS BRs to the FTO substrate. In addition, the p-n junction formed between CuS and CdS@TiO 2 heterostructure could improve the separation of electron-hole on the surface of the photoanode. This study demonstrates an efficient pathway to improve the photoelectrochemical performance of TiO 2 -based photoanodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]