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Nanomaterials
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Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting
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Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 20758

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Daniela Dragoman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, București, Romania
Interests: charge and spin transport in nanostructures; physics of nanodevices; architectures for computing, including quantum computing; plasmonics; metamaterials and metasurfaces; characterization and propagation of structured light beams, including optical vortices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy harvesting is a major research topic with huge applications for humanity. Nanomaterials have enhanced the performance of many energy-harvesting devices due to the increase in strength of physical effects such as photovoltaics, thermophotovoltaics, piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity, thermoelectricity, or magneto-mechanical effects. These phenomena, commonly involved in energy harvesting, are often denoted as giant or colossal in connection with nanomaterials and nanosystems. The reason is that at this scale interfaces and surfaces play an increasing role in light and phonon scattering, while quantum effects such as tunneling and ballistic transport of charge carriers and heat often inspire new architectures for energy harvesting and demand nanomaterials and nanostructures with precisely controlled properties.

Therefore, this Special Issue will be focused on specially designed nanosystems for energy-harvesting applications, including their theoretical modeling, fabrication, and characterization, as well as on specific configurations and devices that could efficiently harvest energy in a certain wavelength/frequency band. Such devices include but are not limited to photovoltaic cells, supercapacitors, rectennas, and pyroelectric and thermoelectric devices. Besides the aforementioned nanostructures, this Special Issue welcomes any research focused on new physical effects and advanced nanomaterials and architectures for energy harvesting.

Dr. Daniela Dragoman
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanoparticles and quantum structures for energy harvesting
  • graphene and other 2D materials for energy harvesting
  • ferroelectric energy harvesting
  • piezoelectric energy harvesting
  • pyroelectric energy harvesting
  • magnetic materials and configurations for energy harvesting
  • thermoelectric materials
  • photovoltaic cells and thermophotovoltaic devices
  • rectennas
  • supercapacitors

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 191 KiB  
Editorial
Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting
by Daniela Dragoman
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1154; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071154 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1058
Abstract
Energy harvesting is no longer simply an academic issue; it has grown into a problem with real industrial and even social significance [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)

Research

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17 pages, 5013 KiB  
Article
Nanoparticle/Core-Shell Composite Structures with Superior Optical and Electrochemical Properties in a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell
by Siti Nur Azella Zaine, Norani Muti Mohamed, Mehboob Khatani and Muhammad Umair Shahid
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(18), 3128; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12183128 - 09 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1287
Abstract
The dynamics of competition between kinetic electron generation and recombination have restricted the development of a higher-performance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The key to minimizing the competition is optimizing the nanostructures and thickness of the photoelectrode film. It has been reported that the [...] Read more.
The dynamics of competition between kinetic electron generation and recombination have restricted the development of a higher-performance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The key to minimizing the competition is optimizing the nanostructures and thickness of the photoelectrode film. It has been reported that the optimum thickness of photoelectrode film to achieve high-performance efficiency is about 12–14 µm. In this study, a photoelectrode film, which is approximately 4 µm thinner compared with those previously reported and has improved performance efficiency, was successfully developed by using composite nanoparticles and core-shell structures. The fabricated DSSC shows an enhanced light scattering, improved dye absorption capability, and reduced electron recombination rate despite the thinner photoelectrode film. The synthesized elongated nanoparticle structure provides a larger surface area for anchoring more dye molecules. In addition, the micron-sized core-shell structures with different refractive indexes of the inner and outer material resulted in multiple refractions and closed-loop light confinement. The successful development of a high-performance thin photoelectrode film will lead to material and cost savings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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13 pages, 2992 KiB  
Article
High-Efficiency Crystalline Silicon-Based Solar Cells Using Textured TiO2 Layer and Plasmonic Nanoparticles
by Ali Elrashidi and Khaled Elleithy
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1589; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12091589 - 07 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1957
Abstract
A high-efficiency crystalline silicon-based solar cell in the visible and near-infrared regions is introduced in this paper. A textured TiO2 layer grown on top of the active silicon layer and a back reflector with gratings are used to enhance the solar cell [...] Read more.
A high-efficiency crystalline silicon-based solar cell in the visible and near-infrared regions is introduced in this paper. A textured TiO2 layer grown on top of the active silicon layer and a back reflector with gratings are used to enhance the solar cell performance. The given structure is simulated using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method to determine the solar cell’s performance. The simulation toolbox calculates the short circuit current density by solving Maxwell’s equation, and the open-circuit voltage will be calculated numerically according to the material parameters. Hence, each simulation process calculates the fill factor and power conversion efficiency numerically. The optimization of the crystalline silicon active layer thickness and the dimensions of the back reflector grating are given in this work. The grating period structure of the Al back reflector is covered with a graphene layer to improve the absorption of the solar cell, where the periodicity, height, and width of the gratings are optimized. Furthermore, the optimum height of the textured TiO2 layer is simulated to produce the maximum efficiency using light absorption and short circuit current density. In addition, plasmonic nanoparticles are distributed on the textured surface to enhance the light absorption, with different radii, with radius 50, 75, 100, and 125 nm. The absorbed light energy for different nanoparticle materials, Au, Ag, Al, and Cu, are simulated and compared to determine the best performance. The obtained short circuit current density is 61.9 ma/cm2, open-circuit voltage is 0.6 V, fill factor is 0.83, and the power conversion efficiency is 30.6%. The proposed crystalline silicon solar cell improves the short circuit current density by almost 89% and the power conversion efficiency by almost 34%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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19 pages, 10982 KiB  
Article
High-ICE and High-Capacity Retention Silicon-Based Anode for Lithium-Ion Battery
by Yonhua Tzeng, Cheng-Ying Jhan, Yi-Chen Wu, Guan-Yu Chen, Kuo-Ming Chiu and Stephen Yang-En Guu
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1387; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12091387 - 19 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3081
Abstract
Silicon-based anodes are promising to replace graphite-based anodes for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries (LIB). However, the charge–discharge cycling suffers from internal stresses created by large volume changes of silicon, which form silicon-lithium compounds, and excessive consumption of lithium by irreversible formation of lithium-containing compounds. [...] Read more.
Silicon-based anodes are promising to replace graphite-based anodes for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries (LIB). However, the charge–discharge cycling suffers from internal stresses created by large volume changes of silicon, which form silicon-lithium compounds, and excessive consumption of lithium by irreversible formation of lithium-containing compounds. Consumption of lithium by the initial conditioning of the anode, as indicated by low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), and subsequently continuous formation of solid-electrolyte-phase (SEI) on the freshly exposed silicon surface, are among the main issues. A high-performance, silicon-based, high-capacity anode exhibiting 88.8% ICE and the retention of 2 mAh/cm2 areal capacity after 200 discharge–charge cycles at the rate of 1 A/g is reported. The anode is made on a copper foil using a mixture of 70%:10%:20% by weight ratio of silicon flakes of 100 × 800 × 800 nm in size, Super P conductivity enhancement additive, and an equal-weight mixture of CMC and SBR binders. Pyrolysis of fabricated anodes at 700 °C in argon environment for 1 h was applied to convert the binders into a porous graphitic carbon structure that encapsulates individual silicon flakes. The porous anode has a mechanically strong and electrically conductive graphitic carbon structure formed by the pyrolyzed binders, which protect individual silicon flakes from excessive reactions with the electrolyte and help keep small pieces of broken silicon flakes together within the carbon structure. The selection and amount of conductivity enhancement additives are shown to be critical to the achievement of both high-ICE and high-capacity retention after long cycling. The Super P conductivity enhancement additive exhibits a smaller effective surface area where SEI forms compared to KB, and thus leads to the best combination of both high-ICE and high-capacity retention. A silicon-based anode exhibiting high capacity, high ICE, and a long cycling life has been achieved by the facile and promising one-step fabrication process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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10 pages, 2257 KiB  
Article
Effect of Nanostructuring on the Thermoelectric Properties of β-FeSi2
by Linda Abbassi, David Mesguich, David Berthebaud, Sylvain Le Tonquesse, Bhuvanesh Srinivasan, Takao Mori, Loïc Coulomb, Geoffroy Chevallier, Claude Estournès, Emmanuel Flahaut, Romain Viennois and Mickaël Beaudhuin
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2852; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112852 - 26 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2344
Abstract
Nanostructured β-FeSi2 and β-Fe0.95Co0.05Si2 specimens with a relative density of up to 95% were synthesized by combining a top-down approach and spark plasma sintering. The thermoelectric properties of a 50 nm crystallite size β-FeSi2 sample were [...] Read more.
Nanostructured β-FeSi2 and β-Fe0.95Co0.05Si2 specimens with a relative density of up to 95% were synthesized by combining a top-down approach and spark plasma sintering. The thermoelectric properties of a 50 nm crystallite size β-FeSi2 sample were compared to those of an annealed one, and for the former a strong decrease in lattice thermal conductivity and an upshift of the maximum Seebeck’s coefficient were shown, resulting in an improvement of the figure of merit by a factor of 1.7 at 670 K. For β-Fe0.95Co0.05Si2, one observes that the figure of merit is increased by a factor of 1.2 at 723 K between long time annealed and nanostructured samples mainly due to an increase in the phonon scattering and an increase in the point defects. This results in both a decrease in the thermal conductivity to 3.95 W/mK at 330 K and an increase in the power factor to 0.63 mW/mK2 at 723 K. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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9 pages, 1786 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Z-Shaped Graphene Geometric Diodes Using Particle-in-Cell Monte Carlo Method in the Quasi-Ballistic Regime
by John Stearns and Garret Moddel
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2361; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092361 - 11 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1900
Abstract
Geometric diodes are planar conductors patterned asymmetrically to provide electrical asymmetry, and they have exhibited high-frequency rectification in infrared rectennas. These devices function by ballistic or quasi-ballistic transport in which the transport characteristics are sensitive to the device geometry. Common methods for predicting [...] Read more.
Geometric diodes are planar conductors patterned asymmetrically to provide electrical asymmetry, and they have exhibited high-frequency rectification in infrared rectennas. These devices function by ballistic or quasi-ballistic transport in which the transport characteristics are sensitive to the device geometry. Common methods for predicting device performance rely on the assumption of totally ballistic transport and neglect the effects of electron momentum relaxation. We present a particle-in-cell Monte Carlo simulation method that allows the prediction of the current–voltage characteristics of geometric diodes operating quasi-ballistically, with the mean-free-path length shorter than the critical device dimensions. With this simulation method, we analyze a new diode geometry made from graphene that shows an improvement in rectification capability over previous geometries. We find that the current rectification capability of a given geometry is optimized for a specific mean-free-path length, such that arbitrarily large mean-free-path lengths are not desirable. These results present a new avenue for understanding geometric effects in the quasi-ballistic regime and show that the relationship between device dimensions and the carrier mean-free-path length can be adjusted to optimize device performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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10 pages, 3419 KiB  
Article
CVD-Grown Monolayer Graphene-Based Geometric Diode for THz Rectennas
by Heng Wang, Gaurav Jayaswal, Geetanjali Deokar, John Stearns, Pedro M. F. J. Costa, Garret Moddel and Atif Shamim
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1986; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11081986 - 02 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2644
Abstract
For THz rectennas, ultra-fast diodes are required. While the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) diode has been investigated in recent years, it suffers from large resistance and capacitance, as well as a low cut-off frequency. Alternatively, a geometric diode can be used, which is more suitable [...] Read more.
For THz rectennas, ultra-fast diodes are required. While the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) diode has been investigated in recent years, it suffers from large resistance and capacitance, as well as a low cut-off frequency. Alternatively, a geometric diode can be used, which is more suitable due to its planar structure. However, there is only one report of a THz geometric diode based on a monolayer graphene. It is based on exfoliated graphene, and thus, it is not suitable for mass production. In this work, we demonstrate chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown monolayer graphene based geometric diodes, which are mass-producible. The diode’s performance has been studied experimentally by varying the neck widths from 250–50 nm, the latter being the smallest reported neck width for a graphene geometric diode. It was observed that by decreasing the neck widths, the diode parameters such as asymmetry, nonlinearity, zero-bias resistance, and responsivity increased within the range studied. For the 50 nm neck width diode, the asymmetry ratio was 1.40 for an applied voltage ranging from −2 V to 2 V, and the zero-bias responsivity was 0.0628 A/W. The performance of the diode was also verified through particle-in-cell Monte Carlo simulations, which showed that the simulated current-voltage characteristics were consistent with our experimental results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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Review

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22 pages, 11167 KiB  
Review
Nanomaterials and Devices for Harvesting Ambient Electromagnetic Waves
by Mircea Dragoman, Martino Aldrigo, Adrian Dinescu, Dan Vasilache, Sergiu Iordanescu and Daniela Dragoman
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030595 - 02 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2261
Abstract
This manuscript presents an overview of the implications of nanomaterials in harvesting ambient electromagnetic waves. We show that the most advanced electromagnetic harvesting devices are based on oxides with a thickness of few nanometers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and molybdenum disulfide thanks to their [...] Read more.
This manuscript presents an overview of the implications of nanomaterials in harvesting ambient electromagnetic waves. We show that the most advanced electromagnetic harvesting devices are based on oxides with a thickness of few nanometers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and molybdenum disulfide thanks to their unique physical properties. These tiny objects can produce in the years to come a revolution in the harvesting of energy originating from the Sun, heat, or the Earth itself. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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36 pages, 7393 KiB  
Review
Progress in THz Rectifier Technology: Research and Perspectives
by Rocco Citroni, Franco Di Paolo and Patrizia Livreri
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2479; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12142479 - 19 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2087
Abstract
Schottky diode (SD) has seen great improvements in the past few decades and, for many THz applications, it is the most useful device. However, the use and recycling of forms of energy such as solar energy and the infrared thermal radiation that the [...] Read more.
Schottky diode (SD) has seen great improvements in the past few decades and, for many THz applications, it is the most useful device. However, the use and recycling of forms of energy such as solar energy and the infrared thermal radiation that the Earth continuously emits represent one of the most relevant and critical issues for this diode, which is unable to rectify signals above 5 THz. The goal is to develop highly efficient diodes capable of converting radiation from IR spectra to visible ones in direct current (DC). A set of performance criteria is investigated to select some of the most prominent materials required for developing innovative types of electrodes, but also a wide variety of insulator layers is required for the rectification process, which can affect the performance of the device. The current rectifying devices are here reviewed according to the defined performance criteria. The main aim of this review is to provide a wide overview of recent research progress, specific issues, performance, and future directions in THz rectifier technology based on quantum mechanical tunneling and asymmetric structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting)
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