Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanophotonics Materials and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 25148

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Institute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Science, Kreutzwaldi 56/1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
Interests: nanoparticles; thin films; carbon-based hybrid materials; photovoltaics; LED; photocatalysis; electron microscopy; water purification
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Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Estonian University of Life Science, Kreutzwaldi 62, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Interests: metal-oxide thin-film deposition; atomic layer deposition; nanomaterial synthesis; metal nanoparticles; metal-oxide nanoparticles; water purification; nanomedicine; photovoltaics; hybrid nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy efficient devices are the need of the hour. In this regard, functional and energy efficient nanomaterials with high-end applications such as optoelectronic devices, which encompass diode lasers, light emitting diode (LED) and photovoltaics (PV), have gained much attention. In addition, semiconducting nanomaterials also find applications in photocatalysis. In such nanomaterials, surface states as well as quantum effects influence their optoelectronic as well as photocatalytic activities. Metal nanoparticles exhibiting surface plasmon resonance (SPR) such as Ag, Cu and Au, further enhance their properties. Nanomaterial-based devices present several advantages such as ease of fabrications and low cost. Moreover, conformal coating of nanomaterials on flexible substrates produce more versatile and lightweight devices.

This Special Issue invites all researchers in the field to submit relevant publications in optoelectronics and photocatalysis. These include organic, inorganic, and hybrid (organic-inorganic) nanomaterials. Additionally, publications that report on device fabrication using these nanomaterials are also actively sought.

Prof. Dr. Protima Rauwel
Prof. Dr. Erwan Rauwel
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • thin films
  • nanoparticles
  • polymers
  • hybrid nanomaterials
  • carbon based nanomaterials
  • quantum effect
  • surface plasmon resonance
  • photovoltaics
  • laser diodes
  • light emitting diodes
  • photocatalysis and device fabrication

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 179 KiB  
Editorial
Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis
by Protima Rauwel and Erwan Rauwel
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2694; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192694 - 03 Oct 2023
Viewed by 688
Abstract
The present energy crisis has encouraged the use of energy-efficient devices and green energy sources [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

19 pages, 3571 KiB  
Article
Revealing the Dependency of Dye Adsorption and Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles on Their Morphology and Defect States
by Yuri Hendrix, Erwan Rauwel, Keshav Nagpal, Ryma Haddad, Elias Estephan, Cédric Boissière and Protima Rauwel
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1998; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131998 - 03 Jul 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1384
Abstract
ZnO is an effective photocatalyst applied to the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous media. In this study, the UV-light and sunlight-driven photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanoparticles are evaluated. A handheld Lovibond photometer was purposefully calibrated in order to monitor the dye removal [...] Read more.
ZnO is an effective photocatalyst applied to the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous media. In this study, the UV-light and sunlight-driven photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanoparticles are evaluated. A handheld Lovibond photometer was purposefully calibrated in order to monitor the dye removal in outdoor conditions. The effect of ZnO defect states, i.e., the presence of zinc and oxygen defects on the photocatalytic activity was probed for two types of dyes: fuchsin and methylene blue. Three morphologies of ZnO nanoparticles were deliberately selected, i.e., spherical, facetted and a mix of spherical and facetted, ascertained via transmission electron microscopy. Aqueous and non-aqueous sol-gel routes were applied to their synthesis in order to tailor their size, morphology and defect states. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that the spherical nanoparticles contained a high amount of oxygen vacancies and zinc interstitials. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed that the facetted nanoparticles harbored zinc vacancies in addition to oxygen vacancies. A mechanism for dye degradation based on the possible surface defects in facetted nanoparticles is proposed in this work. The reusability of these nanoparticles for five cycles of dye degradation was also analyzed. More specifically, facetted ZnO nanoparticles tend to exhibit higher efficiencies and reusability than spherical nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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18 pages, 2896 KiB  
Article
Sunlight-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue with Facile One-Step Synthesized Cu-Cu2O-Cu3N Nanoparticle Mixtures
by Patricio Paredes, Erwan Rauwel, David S. Wragg, Laetitia Rapenne, Elias Estephan, Olga Volobujeva and Protima Rauwel
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1311; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081311 - 08 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2480
Abstract
Sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation is an effective and eco-friendly technology for the removal of organic pollutants from contaminated water. Herein, we describe the one-step synthesis of Cu-Cu2O-Cu3N nanoparticle mixtures using a novel non-aqueous, sol-gel route and their application in the [...] Read more.
Sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation is an effective and eco-friendly technology for the removal of organic pollutants from contaminated water. Herein, we describe the one-step synthesis of Cu-Cu2O-Cu3N nanoparticle mixtures using a novel non-aqueous, sol-gel route and their application in the solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The crystalline structure and morphology were investigated with XRD, SEM and TEM. The optical properties of the as-prepared photocatalysts were investigated with Raman, FTIR, UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The influence of the phase proportions of Cu, Cu2O and Cu3N in the nanoparticle mixtures on the photocatalytic activity was also investigated. Overall, the sample containing the highest quantity of Cu3N exhibits the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency (95%). This enhancement is attributed to factors such as absorption range broadening, increased specific surface of the photocatalysts and the downward band bending in the p-type semiconductors, i.e., Cu3N and Cu2O. Two different catalytic dosages were studied, i.e., 5 mg and 10 mg. The higher catalytic dosage exhibited lower photocatalytic degradation efficiency owing to the increase in the turbidity of the solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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13 pages, 3286 KiB  
Article
Significance of Hydroxyl Groups on the Optical Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Combined with CNT and PEDOT:PSS
by Keshav Nagpal, Erwan Rauwel, Elias Estephan, Maria Rosario Soares and Protima Rauwel
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(19), 3546; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12193546 - 10 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2148
Abstract
We report on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and their hybrids consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). A non-aqueous sol–gel route along with hydrated and anhydrous acetate precursors were selected for their syntheses. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed their [...] Read more.
We report on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and their hybrids consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). A non-aqueous sol–gel route along with hydrated and anhydrous acetate precursors were selected for their syntheses. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed their spherical shape with an average size of 5 nm. TEM also confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO-CNT and ZnO-PEDOT:PSS hybrid nanocomposites. In fact, the choice of precursors has a direct influence on the chemical and optical properties of the ZnO-based nanomaterials. The ZnO nanoparticles prepared with anhydrous acetate precursor contained a high amount of oxygen vacancies, which tend to degrade the polymer macromolecule, as confirmed from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, a relative increase in hydroxyl functional groups in the ZnO-CNT samples was observed. These functional groups were instrumental in the successful decoration of CNT and in producing the defect-related photoluminescence emission in ZnO-CNT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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15 pages, 4311 KiB  
Article
Numerical Study to Enhance the Sensitivity of a Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor with BlueP/WS2-Covered Al2O3-Nickel Nanofilms
by Shivangani, Maged F. Alotaibi, Yas Al-Hadeethi, Pooja Lohia, Sachin Singh, D. K. Dwivedi, Ahmad Umar, Hamdah M. Alzayed, Hassan Algadi and Sotirios Baskoutas
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(13), 2205; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12132205 - 27 Jun 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2063
Abstract
In the traditional surface plasmon resonance sensor, the sensitivity is calculated by the usage of angular interrogation. The proposed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor uses a diamagnetic material (Al2O3), nickel (Ni), and two-dimensional (2D) BlueP/WS2 (blue phosphorous-tungsten di-sulfide). [...] Read more.
In the traditional surface plasmon resonance sensor, the sensitivity is calculated by the usage of angular interrogation. The proposed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor uses a diamagnetic material (Al2O3), nickel (Ni), and two-dimensional (2D) BlueP/WS2 (blue phosphorous-tungsten di-sulfide). The Al2O3 sheet is sandwiched between silver (Ag) and nickel (Ni) films in the Kretschmann configuration. A mathematical simulation is performed to improve the sensitivity of an SPR sensor in the visible region at a frequency of 633 nm. The simulation results show that an upgraded sensitivity of 332°/RIU is achieved for the metallic arrangement consisting of 17 nm of Al2O3 and 4 nm of Ni in thickness for analyte refractive indices ranging from 1.330 to 1.335. The thickness variation of the layers plays a curial role in enhancing the performance of the SPR sensor. The thickness variation of the proposed configuration containing 20 nm of Al2O3 and 1 nm of Ni with a monolayer of 2D material BlueP/WS2 enhances the sensitivity to as high as 374°/RIU. Furthermore, it is found that the sensitivity can be altered and managed by means of altering the film portions of Ni and Al2O3 Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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12 pages, 3736 KiB  
Article
Construction of Chemically Bonded Interface of Organic/Inorganic g-C3N4/LDH Heterojunction for Z-Schematic Photocatalytic H2 Generation
by Yuzhou Xia, Ruowen Liang, Min-Quan Yang, Shuying Zhu and Guiyang Yan
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2762; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102762 - 18 Oct 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
The design and synthesis of a Z-schematic photocatalytic heterostructure with an intimate interface is of great significance for the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers, but still remains a challenge. Here, we developed an efficient Z-scheme organic/inorganic g-C3N4/LDH [...] Read more.
The design and synthesis of a Z-schematic photocatalytic heterostructure with an intimate interface is of great significance for the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers, but still remains a challenge. Here, we developed an efficient Z-scheme organic/inorganic g-C3N4/LDH heterojunction by in situ growing of inorganic CoAl-LDH firmly on organic g-C3N4 nanosheet (NS). Benefiting from the two-dimensional (2D) morphology and the surface exposed pyridine-like nitrogen atoms, the g-C3N4 NS offers efficient trap sits to capture transition metal ions. As such, CoAl-LDH NS can be tightly attached onto the g-C3N4 NS, forming a strong interaction between CoAl-LDH and g-C3N4 via nitrogen–metal bonds. Moreover, the 2D/2D interface provides a high-speed channel for the interfacial charge transfer. As a result, the prepared heterojunction composite exhibits a greatly improved photocatalytic H2 evolution activity, as well as considerable stability. Under visible light irradiation of 4 h, the optimal H2 evolution rate reaches 1952.9 μmol g−1, which is 8.4 times of the bare g-C3N4 NS. The in situ construction of organic/inorganic heterojunction with a chemical-bonded interface may provide guidance for the designing of high-performance heterostructure photocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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15 pages, 3906 KiB  
Article
Unveiling Semiconductor Nanostructured Based Holmium-Doped ZnO: Structural, Luminescent and Room Temperature Ferromagnetic Properties
by Guy L. Kabongo, Gugu H. Mhlongo and Mokhotjwa S. Dhlamini
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2611; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102611 - 04 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2023
Abstract
This research work describes the synthesis of ZnO nanostructures doped with Ho3+ ions using a conventional sol–gel synthesis method. The nanostructured produced exhibited a wurtzite hexagonal structure in both ZnO and ZnO:Ho3+ (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 mol%) samples. The change in morphology [...] Read more.
This research work describes the synthesis of ZnO nanostructures doped with Ho3+ ions using a conventional sol–gel synthesis method. The nanostructured produced exhibited a wurtzite hexagonal structure in both ZnO and ZnO:Ho3+ (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 mol%) samples. The change in morphology with addition of Ho3+ dopants was observed, which was assigned to Ostwald ripening effect occurring during the nanoparticles’ growth. The photoluminescence emission properties of the doped samples revealed that Ho3+ was emitting through its electronic transitions. Moreover, reduced surface defects were observed in the Holmium doped samples whose analysis was undertaken using an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) technique. Finally, enhanced room temperature ferromagnetism (RT-FM) for Ho3+-doped ZnO (0.5 mol%) samples with a peak-to-peak line width of 452 G was detected and found to be highly correlated to the UV–VIS transmittance results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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13 pages, 2939 KiB  
Communication
Synthesis of Group II-VI Semiconductor Nanocrystals via Phosphine Free Method and Their Application in Solution Processed Photovoltaic Devices
by Mingyue Hou, Zhaohua Zhou, Ao Xu, Kening Xiao, Jiakun Li, Donghuan Qin, Wei Xu and Lintao Hou
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2071; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11082071 - 15 Aug 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2357
Abstract
Solution-processed CdTe semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have exhibited astonishing potential in fabricating low-cost, low materials consumption and highly efficient photovoltaic devices. However, most of the conventional CdTe NCs reported are synthesized through high temperature microemulsion method with high toxic trioctylphosphine tellurite (TOP-Te) or tributylphosphine [...] Read more.
Solution-processed CdTe semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have exhibited astonishing potential in fabricating low-cost, low materials consumption and highly efficient photovoltaic devices. However, most of the conventional CdTe NCs reported are synthesized through high temperature microemulsion method with high toxic trioctylphosphine tellurite (TOP-Te) or tributylphosphine tellurite (TBP-Te) as tellurium precursor. These hazardous substances used in the fabrication process of CdTe NCs are drawing them back from further application. Herein, we report a phosphine-free method for synthesizing group II-VI semiconductor NCs with alkyl amine and alkyl acid as ligands. Based on various characterizations like UV-vis absorption (UV), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), among others, the properties of the as-synthesized CdS, CdSe, and CdTe NCs are determined. High-quality semiconductor NCs with easily controlled size and morphology could be fabricated through this phosphine-free method. To further investigate its potential to industrial application, NCs solar cells with device configuration of ITO/ZnO/CdSe/CdTe/Au and ITO/ZnO/CdS/CdTe/Au are fabricated based on NCs synthesized by this method. By optimizing the device fabrication conditions, the champion device exhibited power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.28%. This research paves the way for industrial production of low-cost and environmentally friendly NCs photovoltaic devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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10 pages, 1911 KiB  
Article
Optimizing the PMMA Electron-Blocking Layer of Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes
by Mariya Zvaigzne, Alexei Alexandrov, Anastasia Tkach, Dmitriy Lypenko, Igor Nabiev and Pavel Samokhvalov
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2014; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11082014 - 06 Aug 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2966
Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for producing bright, color-pure, cost-efficient, and long-lasting QD-based light-emitting diodes (QDLEDs). However, one of the significant problems in achieving high efficiency of QDLEDs is the imbalance between the rates of charge-carrier injection into the emissive QD layer [...] Read more.
Quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for producing bright, color-pure, cost-efficient, and long-lasting QD-based light-emitting diodes (QDLEDs). However, one of the significant problems in achieving high efficiency of QDLEDs is the imbalance between the rates of charge-carrier injection into the emissive QD layer and their transport through the device components. Here we investigated the effect of the parameters of the deposition of a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) electron-blocking layer (EBL), such as PMMA solution concentration, on the characteristics of EBL-enhanced QDLEDs. A series of devices was fabricated with the PMMA layer formed from acetone solutions with concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 1.2 mg/mL. The addition of the PMMA layer allowed for an increase of the maximum luminance of QDLED by a factor of four compared to the control device without EBL, that is, to 18,671 cd/m2, with the current efficiency increased by an order of magnitude and the turn-on voltage decreased by ~1 V. At the same time, we have demonstrated that each particular QDLED characteristic has a maximum at a specific PMMA layer thickness; therefore, variation of the EBL deposition conditions could serve as an additional parameter space when other QDLED optimization approaches are being developed or implied in future solid-state lighting and display devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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11 pages, 4053 KiB  
Article
Enhancing the UV Emission in ZnO–CNT Hybrid Nanostructures via the Surface Plasmon Resonance of Ag Nanoparticles
by Protima Rauwel, Augustinas Galeckas and Erwan Rauwel
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(2), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020452 - 10 Feb 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2446
Abstract
The crystal quality and surface states are two major factors that determine optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through nonaqueous sol–gel routes, and both are strongly dependent on the growth conditions. In this work, we investigate the influence of the different growth [...] Read more.
The crystal quality and surface states are two major factors that determine optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through nonaqueous sol–gel routes, and both are strongly dependent on the growth conditions. In this work, we investigate the influence of the different growth temperatures (240 and 300 °C) on the morphology, structural and crystal properties of ZnO NP. The effects of conjoining ZnO NP with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and the role of surface states in such a hybrid nanostructure are studied by optical emission and absorption spectroscopy. We demonstrate that depending on the synthesis conditions, activation or passivation of certain surface states may occur. Next, silver nanoparticles are incorporated into ZnO–CNT nanostructures to explore the plasmon–exciton coupling effect. The observed enhanced excitonic and suppressed defect-related emissions along with blue-shifted optical band gap suggest an intricate interaction of Burstein–Moss, surface plasmon resonance and surface band-bending effects behind the optical phenomena in hybrid ZnO–CNT–Ag nanocomposites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

24 pages, 3870 KiB  
Review
Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu3N Nanomaterials
by Patricio Paredes, Erwan Rauwel and Protima Rauwel
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(13), 2218; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12132218 - 28 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2945
Abstract
This review addresses the most recent advances in the synthesis approaches, fundamental properties and photocatalytic activity of Cu3N nanostructures. Herein, the effect of synthesis conditions, such as solvent, temperature, time and precursor on the precipitation of Cu3N and the [...] Read more.
This review addresses the most recent advances in the synthesis approaches, fundamental properties and photocatalytic activity of Cu3N nanostructures. Herein, the effect of synthesis conditions, such as solvent, temperature, time and precursor on the precipitation of Cu3N and the formation of secondary phases of Cu and Cu2O are surveyed, with emphasis on shape and size control. Furthermore, Cu3N nanostructures possess excellent optical properties, including a narrow bandgap in the range of 0.2 eV–2 eV for visible light absorption. In that regard, understanding the effect of the electronic structure on the bandgap and on the optical properties of Cu3N is therefore of interest. In fact, the density of states in the d-band of Cu has an influence on the band gap of Cu3N. Moreover, the potential of Cu3N nanomaterials for photocatalytic dye-degradation originates from the presence of active sites, i.e., Cu and N vacancies on the surface of the nanoparticles. Plasmonic nanoparticles tend to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic dye degradation of Cu3N. Nevertheless, combining them with other potent photocatalysts, such as TiO2 and MoS2, augments the efficiency to 99%. Finally, the review concludes with perspectives and future research opportunities for Cu3N-based nanostructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis)
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