ABSTRACT
Highly structured interfaces are very desirable in organic photovoltaic solar cells (OPVs), in order to enhance power conversion efficiency (PCE) by decreasing of the transport path for excited charge carriers in the absorber and increasing the optical path length for photon absorption. Many complicated, high-cost lithographic methods have been attempted to modify the surface of the absorber or substrate. However, solution-based colloidal-lithography processes are scalable and cost-effective, but generally result in non-uniform structured surfaces. In this report, we demonstrated an optimized silica-templated colloidal lithographical approach to create a well-defined and controlled transparent ITO layer for enhancing power conversion efficiency (PCE). Additionally, morphological effects of the patterned ITO on optical properties and PCE were analyzed in detail.
ABSTRACT
Recent progress in thread-based microfluidic devices has provided portable and inexpensive field-based technologies enabling medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety analysis. However, capillary-driven liquid flow in a single thread, a crucial aspect of thread-based microfluidics, is difficult to control. Among potential materials, hydrophobic wool thread is an appropriate candidate for liquid flow control in thread-based microfluidics because its wettability can be readily tuned by the introduction of a natural color pigment, thereby manipulating flow. Thus, utilizing natural wool thread as a channel, we demonstrate here that liquid flow manipulations, such as microselecting and micromixing, can be achieved by coating the complex Al(III) (Alum) brazilein onto wool thread. In addition to enabling flow control, the coated wool channels consisting entirely of naturally occurring substances will be beneficial for biological sensing devices.
Subject(s)
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques , Rheology , Wettability , Wool/chemistry , Animals , Benzopyrans/chemistry , Benzopyrans/pharmacology , Capillary Action , Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemical synthesis , Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemistry , Cotton Fiber , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Indenes/chemistry , Indenes/pharmacology , Microfluidics , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
To date, organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) have obtained relatively low power conversion efficiency, mostly because of the low charge carrier mobility of the polymers to be used. This limits the optimal film thickness for efficient absorption of the solar spectrum. The capability of efficient charge carrier collections is a main factor for utilizing thick OPVs, consequently enhancing the power conversion efficiency. In this report, we demonstrate a facile approach for enhancing the hole carrier collection by possibly shortening the hole collection path via structuring poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PEDOT: PSS), which is widely used as a hole collecting intermediate layer in OPVs. For structuring the PEDOT: PSS, the nanosphere lithographic method was used. Furthermore, the effects of the structuring of PEDOT: PSS on optical properties were also investigated.
Subject(s)
Polystyrenes/chemistry , Thiophenes/chemistry , Microscopy, Atomic Force , Microscopy, Electron, ScanningABSTRACT
Metal/semiconductor core-shell coaxial nanocables are promising building blocks for nanoelectronic devices while in situ growth of these nanocables remains challenging due to the distinctly different synthesis temperature ranges required for metals and semiconductors. To overcome this difficulty, we have developed a vapor-liquid-solid and oxide-assisted bimodal competition growth strategy for in situ metal/semiconductor core-shell nanocable growth. Using this process, gold/boron core-shell nanocables were obtained. A core-shell Au-B/BO(x) eutectic droplet formed via hydrogen gas-assisted rapid cooling was found critical for initiation of the nanocable growth. In addition, the large difference in the boron nanowire growth rates in the vapor-liquid-solid and oxide-assisted mechanisms facilitates the layered growth in the nanocables. The compatibility of this method with the vapor-liquid-solid process applied widely for semiconductor nanowire growth allows in situ connection of metal/semiconductor nanocables with semiconductor nanowires.
ABSTRACT
In this work, we demonstrate that boron nanowire Y-junctions can be synthesized in a self-assembled manner by fusing two individual boron nanowires grown inclined toward each other. We show that the presence of a second liquid, in addition to the liquid Au catalyst, is critical to the inclination of the boron nanowire. The structure of the BNYJ arrays that we report here may allow construction of three- or multiple-terminal nanowire devices directly on Si-based readout circuits through controlled nanowire growth.
