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The performance improvement of solid-state triplet-triplet annihilation-based photon upconversion (TTA-UC) systems is required for the application to various solar devices. The performance can be improved by making use of the local strong electric field generated through the excitation of localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance of metal nanostructures. However, since the improvement is effective only within the limited nanospace around nanoparticles (i.e., the near-field effect), a methodology for improving the performance over a wider spatial region is desirable. In this study, a significant improvement in the threshold light excitation intensity (Ith) (77% decrease) as the figure of merit and the upconverted emission intensity (6.3 times enhancement) in a solid-state TTA-UC film with a thickness of 3 μm was achieved by stacking the film with periodic Ag half-shell arrays. The highest-enhanced upconverted emission was obtained by tuning the diffuse reflectance peak, which results from the excitation of LSP resonance of the Ag half-shell arrays, to overlap well with the photoexcitation peak of the sensitizer in the TTA-UC film. The intensity of the enhanced upconverted emission was independent of the distance between the lower edge of the TTA-UC film and the surface of half-shell arrays in the nanometer order. These results suggest that the performance improvement was attributed to the photoexcitation enhancement of the sensitizer by elongating the excitation light path length inside the TTA-UC film, which was achieved through a strong backward scattering of the incident light based on the LSP resonance excitation (i.e., the far-field effect). In addition, the upconverted emission was improved using half-shell arrays comprising low-cost Al, although the enhancement factor was 3.5, which was lower than that of Ag half-shell arrays. The lower enhancement may be attributed to a decrease in the backward scattering of the excitation light owing to the intrinsic strong interband transition of Al at long visible wavelengths.

When light impinges on metallic nanostructures, the free electrons oscillate in resonance with the incident light, producing intense scattering and absorption, which is called the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The electromagnetic field in the immediate vicinity within several nanometres from the surface of the nanostructure can be greatly enhanced. As the LSPR is sensitive to a variety of parameters of and around the nanostructures, the changes in one or more of the parameters can be exploited for sensing purposes. Au and Ag triangular nanoprisms have a number of advantages as LSPR-based sensor materials. This review article outlines the physics behind LSPR sensors, properties of nanoprisms, chemical and photochemical preparation of Au and Ag nanoprisms as well as nanosphere lithography, and finally, research studies on sensor applications. The sensor applications are categorized according to sensing mechanisms: (i) sensors based on refractive index changes, (ii) sensors based on etching, (iii) sensors based on aggregation, (iv) sensors utilizing luminescence enhancement effects and (v) sensors utilizing photothermal conversion. Finally, the review is concluded with outlooks and challenges.

A novel hole-transport material (HTM) based on an anthradithiophene central bridge named BTPA-7 is developed. In comparison to spiro-OMeTAD (2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9′-spirobifluorene), the synthetic steps of BTPA-7 are greatly reduced from 6 to 3 and the synthetic cost of BTPA-7 is nearly a half that of spiro-OMeTAD. Moreover, BTPA-7 exhibits a relatively lower conductivity but higher hole mobility and higher glass transition temperature (Tg) than spiro-OMeTAD. Compared with the photovolatic performance for spiro-OMeTAD, FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 and MAPbI3 PSC devices based on BTPA-7 exhibit slightly lower PCEs with the values of 17.58% (18.88% for spiro-OMeTAD) and 11.90% (13.25% for spiro-OMeTAD), respectively. Nevertheless, a dramatically higher Jsc of PSC based on BTPA-7 is achieved, which arises from the higher hole mobility of BTPA-7. In addition, the relatively hydrophobic character of BTPA-7 eventually enhances the PSC device stability. Lower cost, higher hole mobility, higher Tg, satisfactory photovoltaic performance, and superior device stability of BTPA-7 can be utilized as a substitute for spiro-OMeTAD in PSCs.

Synthesis of anisotropic Ag nanoprisms (AgPRs) contributes to the development of high performance plasmonic devices. The localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength of AgPRs was successfully tun...

Low-energy visible light was converted into heat energy through the excitation of the localized surface plasmon resonance of gold nanospheres excited by upconverted emission based on triplet–triplet annihilation of organic molecules. This system allows easy tuning of absorption/emission wavelengths, which is difficult with conventional photothermal conversion using rare-earth elements.

Absorption enhancement based on interaction between the localized surface plasmon (LSP) and molecular exciton is one of the most important phenomena for the development of high-performance solar devices. In this study, hybrids of plasmonic metal nanoparticles and dye molecules have been developed, which exhibit enhanced absorption at precisely tuned wavelengths in a visible region. The hybrids consist of a porphyrin derivative, which has four absorption peaks (Q-bands) in a range of 500–700 nm, and triangular silver nanoprisms (AgPRs), which are developed by us to exhibit precisely tuned LSP resonance wavelengths. Absorption enhancement over the whole Q-band range is induced by the combined use of three kinds of AgPRs of different aspect ratios. Furthermore, the quantitative evaluation of absorption enhancement based on the LSP-based fluorescence enhancement phenomenon has demonstrated that efficient absorption enhancement can be effected at multiple wavelengths.

A tetrathiafulvalene derivative containing two amide units for intermolecular hydrogen bonds (Bis-amide-TTF) was found to form supramolecular assemblies, in which intermolecular TTF cores were stacked with each other. The electrical conductivity of Bis-amide-TTF-based film was 1.28 × 10 - 5 S c m - 1 , which was greater than that of spiro-OMeTAD doped with t-butylpyridine and bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt ( 8.37 × 10 - 6 S c m - 1 ). Bis-amide-TTF was applied as a hole transport material (HTM) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The Bis-amide-TTF film has a deeper HOMO level than that of spiro-OMeTAD, leading to an increased open-circuit voltage of the PSCs. The power conversion efficiency of 14.5% with a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 19.8 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.11 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 66% was achieved for PSCs fabricated with the dopant-free Bis-amide-TTF-based HTM, which was comparable to that obtained with spiro-OMeTAD with the dopants (15.5%).

FeS2 nanocrystals with the diameter of more than several dozen nanometers exhibit well-defined optical extinction peaks in a near-infrared region. These peaks, which are not exhibited from bulk FeS2, have been ascribed to the localized surface plasmon resonance without solid evidence. However, this interpretation could be doubtful considering the low carrier density of semiconducting FeS2. In this study, we theoretically demonstrated that the near-infrared extinction peaks from the FeS2 nanocubes are ascribed to Mie resonances, which act as a dielectric optical nanoantenna. Also, we experimentally demonstrated that the Mie resonances of FeS2 nanocubes have a large optical absorption component. Consequently, these nanocubes caused a larger temperature increase with a higher photothermal conversion efficiency by a near-infrared laser irradiation, as compared with small FeS2 nanoclusters not exhibiting Mie resonances. Such results suggest that the optical absorption originating from the indirect interband tr...

We have synthesized cobalt-doped NiOx nanoparticles containing 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mol% cobalt ions and have investigated their electronic properties, which can be processed into smooth and pinhole-free layers at low temperature (

Self-assembly of porphyrins is a fascinating topic, not only for mimicking chlorophyll assemblies in photosynthetic organisms, but also for the potential of creating molecular-level devices. Herein, zinc porphyrin derivatives bearing a meta-pyridyl group at the meso position were prepared and their assemblies studied in chloroform. Among the porphyrins studied, one with a carbamoylpyridyl moiety gave a distinct 1 H NMR spectrum in CDCl3 , which allowed the supramolecular structure in solution to be probed in detail. Ring-current-induced chemical-shift changes in the 1 H NMR spectrum, together with vapor-pressure osmometry and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy, among other evidence, suggested that the porphyrin molecules form a trimer with a triangular cone structure. Incorporation of a directly linked porphyrin-ferrocene dyad with the same assembling properties in the assemblies led to a rare example of a light-harvesting/charge-separation system in which an energy gradient is incorporated and reductive quenching occurs.

Concerning a series of naphthalimide-based fluorescence dyes in which the π-system is extended with oligothiophene units, it has been revealed that the absorption and fluorescence maxima can be tun...

In recent years, monodispersed magnetic nanoparticles with a core/shell structure are expected for their wide applications including magnetic fluid, recoverable catalysts, and biological analysis. However, their synthesis method needs numerous processes such as solvent substitution, exchange of protective agents, and centrifugation. A simple and rapid method for the synthesis of monodispersed core-shell nanoparticles makes it possible to accelerate their further applications. This paper describes a simple and rapid one-pot synthesis of core (CoFe2O4)-shell (Ag) nanoparticles with high monodispersity. The synthesized nanoparticles showed plasmonic light absorption owing to the Ag shell. Moreover, the magnetic property of the nanoparticles had a soft magnetic behavior at room temperature and a hard magnetic behavior at 5 K. In addition, the nanoparticles showed high monodispersity with a low polydispersity index (PDI) value of 0.083 in hexane.

We have fabricated hybrids of two-dimensional silica colloidal crystals and gold nanospheres for the development of platforms showing effective SERS phenomenon with a high spatial reproducibility. The SERS signal of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid immobilized on the hybrids was enhanced up to 10.4 times by optimizing the silica diameter, as compared with that on the gold nanospheres immobilized on a planar glass plate. We propose that the effective enhancement is induced by hot spots generated at the junction regions between the silica nanospheres.

Photosynthesis is one of the most important processes that supplies the energy required for the survival of all living things. The initial process is the absorption of sunlight by a supramolecular organization called a light-harvesting antenna. Sophisticated natural energy-conversion devices have inspired chemists to produce artificial counterparts. This review presents the status quo of research on artificial light-harvesting antenna based on noncovalent supramolecular assemblies of porphyrin and chlorophyll derivatives. The electronic structures of chlorophylls and porphyrins can be understood qualitatively on the basis of the four-orbital model. The electronic energy transfer (EET) processes are described by the Forster and Dexter theories and beyond. The light-harvesting antennas found in nature are sophisticated supramolecular organizations of chlorophyll molecules that achieve efficient light collection via EET processes. To artificially reproduce the antenna function, supramolecular self-assembled porphyrin/chlorophyll organizations have been constructed and studied, both for discrete assemblies and extended assemblies. Porphyrin and chlorophyll molecules have also been organized on biological and nonbiological scaffolds, such as peptides and clay, respectively. Proof-of-principle demonstrations of enhancing the performance of solar cells have also been made by incorporating light-harvesting antenna systems. This research enriches our understanding on the organization of molecules and the correlation with the photophysical processes therein, possibly leading to the realization of new types of solar power conversion devices incorporating an antenna function.

We have found that Cu(NO3)2 and 1,3-dione dioxime afford a variety of multicopper complexes under ambient conditions. Specifically, Cu(NO3)2 and cyclohexane-1,3-dione dioxime gave a trinuclear complex in which the central α-carbons of the three dioxime ligands are oxidized into carbonyl groups, two of which were further reacted with solvent MeOH to give a hemiacetal structure. On the other hand, Cu(NO3)2 and cyclopentane-1,3-dione dioxime gave a dinuclear complex in which Cu(II) was reduced to Cu(I) and two of the three ligands couple to give the fulvalene structure. Together with the previously reported reaction of Cu(NO3)2 and pentane-2,4-dione dioxime into a pentanuclear complex in which the four ligands were changed into trioximes, surprisingly rich chemistry has been discovered for combinations of Cu(NO3)2 and 1,3-dione dioximes.

We succeeded in fabricating Ag nanostructures by a galvanic reaction using nanostructured Al thin films as templates. The Al nanostructures were fabricated by a thermal deposition in a vacuum condi...

We investigated surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties of single-stranded DNA-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (ssDNA-SWCNTs) modified on densely-arranged two-dimensional Au nanoparticle assemblies. The ssDNA-SWCNTs was prepared by sonicating a mixture solution of the ssDNA and high-pressure carbon monoxide (Hipco) SWNTs. The Au nanoparticle assemblies were prepared by an organic solvent-mediated liquid-liquid interface assembly technique. The assemblies showed a strong longitudinal dipole coupling mode, which lead to the generation of hot spots at a near infrared region. The Raman signals characteristic of the SWCNTs were significantly enhanced (average enhancement factor: 199) by the coupling mode.

We succeeded in synthesizing Pt-modified Ag nanorods (Pt/AgNRs) by a galvanic free reaction. While by using a normal galvanic reaction, the Pt-doping process led to the morphological change of Ag n...

A donor–acceptor–donor molecule with a 2,1,3-benzooxadiazole moiety, named BTPA-3, was successfully synthesized and employed as a hole-transporting material (HTM) for Cs0.05(MA0.17FA0.83)0.95Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3- and CH3NH3PbBr3-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The best CH3NH3PbBr3-based PSC with BTPA-3 exhibited a superior efficiency (5.91%) compared to the cell with spiro-OMeTAD (5.61%), even an 80 mV higher open-circuit voltage (Voc) being recorded in the reverse scan (average Voc: 1.41 V for BTPA-3 and 1.33 V for spiro-OMeTAD). The higher Voc is attributed to larger recombination resistance and the resulting longer photovoltage lifetimes in the cells with BTPA-3. In the meantime, for the Cs0.05(MA0.17FA0.83)0.95Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3-based PSC, BTPA-3 exhibited a much lower conversion efficiency (9.81%) compared with the cell with spiro-OMeTAD (13.2%) due to a small driving force for the hole injection. The morphologies and conductivities of the hole-transport layers were also investigated, and the results ...

We describe efficient visible- and near-infrared (vis/NIR) light-driven photocatalytic properties of hybrids of Cu2O and plasmonic Cu arrays. The Cu2O/Cu arrays were prepared simply by allowing a Cu half-shell array to stand in an oxygen atmosphere for 3 h, which was prepared by depositing Cu on two-dimensional colloidal crystals with a diameter of 543 or 224 nm. The localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of the arrays were strongly excited at 866 and 626 nm, respectively, at which the imaginary part of the dielectric function of Cu is small. The rate of photodegradation of methyl orange was 27 and 84 times faster, respectively, than that with a Cu2O/nonplasmonic Cu plate. The photocatalytic activity was demonstrated to be dominated by Cu LSPR excitation. These results showed that the inexpensive Cu2O/Cu arrays can be excellent vis/NIR-light-driven photocatalysts based on the efficient excitation of Cu LSPR.

Plasmon-induced charge separation (PICS) at plasmonic metal-semiconductor interfaces has been used for photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and many other photofunctional materials and devices. In most of those cases, dispersed and disordered metal nanoparticle ensembles have been used. We prepared two-dimensionally ordered and interconnected Au halfshell arrays on SiO2@TiO2 core-shell nanosphere colloidal crystals and exploited them for PICS. The present system exhibits broad light absorption over the visible to near-infrared (NIR) range, leading to wide photoelectrochemical responses. Here we report that this system is characterized not only by localized and propagating surface plasmons but also by light propagation through the colloidal crystals, which enhances plasmonic light harvesting. Effects of the SiO2 core size were examined, and the middle-sized cores were found to be optimum for efficient PICS processes because of strong electric field at the photoelectrode.

Four new bistridentate Ru(II) complexes having a combination of ligands, 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′:6,2″-terpyridine or its 2-hexylthiophene-substituted derivative as the anchoring ligand on one hand and one of tetrazolylpyridine-based ligands having a NˆNˆN coordination pattern or C − ˆNˆN coordination pattern as the auxiliary ligand on the other are reported as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), along with their spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical characterizations. For the anchoring ligand, the introduction of 2-hexylthiophene unit leads to narrower spectral response and lower molar extinction coefficients and a smaller driving force for dye regeneration. For the ancillary ligand, the cyclometalating Ru C bond induces a red shift in absorption compared with a Ru N bond and thus affords a photocurrent generation at wavelengths of up to 950 nm. Further, the overall efficiencies of DSSCs are higher with the NˆNˆN complexes than with the C − ˆNˆN complexes, mainly due to higher open-circuit voltages ( V oc ). Overall, the DSSC based on the bistetrazolate dye without the hexylthiophene unit for the anchoring ligand and having the NˆNˆN coordination pattern for the auxiliary ligand exhibited the highest efficiency of 5.9% when employing 0.5 M t -butylpyridine in the electrolyte.

A cyclometalated ruthenium complex with 6-( ortho -methoxyphenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (MeO-L) and tricarboxyterpyridine (tpy(CO 2 H) 3 ) ( RuCC·PF 6 ) was prepared, characterized, and evaluated as a dye for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The first oxidation and reduction potentials are +0.99 V and −0.81 V vs NHE, respectively. This complex exhibits panchromatic absorption spectrum extending up to 800 nm. The transitions upon visible light excitation were mixtures of metal-to-ligand (Ru → tpy(CO 2 H) 3 ) and interligand (MeO-L → tpy(CO 2 H) 3 ) charge transfer transitions. Adsorption of the ruthenium complex on TiO 2 was carried out from solutions of RuCC·PF 6 in the free acid form or solutions of RuCC·(NBu 4 ) 2 in a deprotonated carboxylate form. The DSSC devices employing these complexes as the dye sensitizers generate electricity in response to light over the whole visible range and into the near infrared region over 900 nm. Remarkably, RuCC·(NBu 4 ) 2 recorded higher short-circuit current density than a benchmark N719, while the open-circuit voltage was lower, resulting in a modest overall photon-to-current conversion efficiency of 6.4%. The transient absorption and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been conducted to get insight into the mechanistic details of the DSSC cells, which suggested that the presence of NBu 4 cation was beneficial in retarding the unwanted recombination reaction. Considering the efficient charge injection and regeneration as manifested by the large short-circuit current, modification based on the present structure would be a promising strategy toward higher efficiency dyes for DSSCs.

We demonstrated the usefulness of Cu light-harvesting plasmonic nanoantennae for the development of inexpensive and efficient artificial organic photoelectric conversion systems. The systems consisted of the stacked structures of layers of porphyrin as a dye molecule, oxidation-suppressing layers, and plasmonic Cu arrayed electrodes. To accurately evaluate the effect of Cu nanoantenna on the porphyrin photocurrent, the production of Cu2O by the spontaneous oxidation of the electrode surfaces, which can act as a photoexcited species under visible light irradiation, was effectively suppressed by inserting the ultrathin linking layers consisting of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid, titanium oxide, and poly(vinyl alcohol) between the electrode surface and porphyrin molecules. The reflection spectra in an aqueous environment of the arrayed electrodes, which were prepared by thermally depositing Cu on two-dimensional colloidal crystals of silica with diameters of 160, 260, and 330 nm, showed clear reflection dips a...

A new series of thiocyanate-free bis-tridentate Ru(II) complexes containing azole ligands as well as an organometallic Ru–C bond are synthesized, characterized, and evaluated in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). CF3-substituted pyrazolyl, CF3-substituted triazolyl, and tetrazolyl derivatives are employed as ligands in the three neutral complexes PYZ, TRZ, and TEZ dyes, respectively. Despite their different structures, all the three complexes exhibit similar absorption features and panchromatic absorption covering the visible and near-IR regions. By switching from a pyrazolyl via triazolyl to tetrazolyl moiety in the ligand, the photocurrent value, open-circuit voltage, and overall efficiency are increased accordingly under the same conditions. Among them, photon-to-current conversion efficiency (ƞ) of TEZ dye reaches the maximum of 6.44% with a short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) of 17.8 mA cm−2, an open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) of 0.54 V and fill factor (FF) of 0.67 under illumination of an AM1.5G solar simulator. TEZ dye shows a good long term light soaking stability and maintains up to more than 90% of the initial power conversion efficiency after 1000 h.

We have succeeded in significantly enhancing fluorescence from intrinsically phosphorescent palladium octaethylporphyrin (Pd-porphyrin) that has an intersystem crossing efficiency of ∼1 by using silver nanoprisms (AgPRs). This was achieved by controlling the wavelength of the localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance of AgPRs and the distance between the Pd-porphyrin molecules and the AgPR surfaces. In addition to enhancing phosphorescence by spectrally overlapping the phosphorescence band with the LSP resonance band, tuning the LSP wavelength to approximately 520 nm led to the appearance of a new emission band around the wavelength corresponding to the fluorescent radiation. The appearance of fluorescence suggests that the nonradiative energy transfer from the singlet excited state of Pd-porphyrin to the LSP of AgPRs overcame the ultrafast intramolecular intersystem crossing to the triplet excited state, manifesting the spectral properties of the singlet excited state of Pd-porphyrin. The fluorescence nature of this radiation was strongly supported by lifetime measurements of the hybrids of Pd-porphyrin and AgPRs. Furthermore, the dependence of the emissive intensities on the distance between the Pd-porphyrin molecules and the AgPR surfaces showed interesting opposite trends. The fluorescence intensity was increased as the distance between the molecules and the AgPRs was decreased from 10.5 to 1 nm, while the phosphorescence intensity was decreased, which indicates that the LSP-induced fluorescence radiation process from Pd-porphyrin near the AgPRs outweighed the quenching by the AgPRs, even though the phosphorescence significantly suffered quenching.

Two novel thiocyanate-free Ru(II) complexes have been synthesized, characterized and evaluated as dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Both complexes have two tridentate ligands: one is the tricarboxyterpyridine as an anchoring ligand and the other is one of the two bis(tetrazolyl)pyridine derivatives. One of the bis(tetrazolyl)pyridine ligand coordinates to the Ru(II) ion as a doubly deprotonated tetrazolate anion with a formal charge of −2 to form a neutral complex, which is coded as BTP dye, while the other bis(methyltetrazolyl)pyridine ligand coordinates to the Ru(II) ion as a neutral ligand forming a divalent cationic complex, coded as BMTP dye. Unexpectedly, the oxidation potentials for these two compounds are similar, implying similar electron-donating effects of the anionic tetrazolate ligand and the neutral methyltetrazole ligand to the Ru(II) ion. Despite similar HOMO/LUMO levels, BTP dye performs much better, recording 6.10% efficiency, than BMTP dye for DSSCs. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as well as nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy indicates that the differences in the electron injection and electron recombination processes, which may be the consequences of the difference in the localization of LUMO as suggested by DFT calculations, are the main causes for the differences in performance.

The first dendrimers consisting of self-assembled zinc chlorophyll derivatives are reported. Coordination-directed self-assembly of pyridine-appended zinc chlorophyll derivatives tethering a dendron moiety results in cyclic tetramers peripherally functionalized by dendrons via intermolecular axial coordination interaction between the nitrogen atom in the pyridine ring and the zinc atom in the chlorin ring. We characterized the formation of the cyclic tetramers by use of 1 H NMR measurements including diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY). Four different types of dendrons were introduced in the zinc chlorophyll component to investigate the tolerance of the self-assembly to the dendron structure. All dendrimers exhibited similar stabilities, which demonstrates that the dendron moiety does not interfere with the self-assembly, such that more than 90% of the molecules are in the assembly at concentrations >0.2 mM in benzene.

We demonstrate up to ∼630-fold enhancement of the photocurrent from a porphyrin monolayer on a plasmonic Ag-array electrode showing plasmon absorption in the Q-band region relative to that on a planar Ag electrode. The photocurrent obtained by the Q-band excitation in the plasmonic electrodes even exceeded that obtained by the Soret-band excitation in a normal, nonplasmonic electrode.

Hole-transporting materials (HTMs) play a vital role of transporting holes from the perovskite layer to the counter electrode in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A novel HTM BTPA-8 is feasibly synthesized by incorporating four dimethoxytriphenylamine leaflets and anthracene-based central bridge. BTPA-8 exhibits a suitable band alignment with MAPbI3 (MA = CH3NH3) or FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 (FA=HC(NH2)2), high hole mobility, and high thermal stability. The best FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 device based on BTPA-8 exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.99% in the reverse scan with an aperture area of 0.09 cm2. Under the same condition, a PCE of 18.92% is achieved by the solar cell based on the standard spiro-OMeTAD (2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9′-spirobifluorene). A comparable PCE of 12.31% is also obtained for BTPA-8 based MAPbI3 device compared with spiro-OMeTAD (13.25%) with an aperture area >1 cm2. BTPA-8 based PSCs exhibit better long-term stability than spiro-OMeTAD due to its high hydrophobicity. A lower synthesis cost of BTPA-8 than that of spiro-OMeTAD along with the elevated long-term stability makes it promising for application in PSCs.

A triphenylamine-based compound containing benzoyl[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene (BDT) derivative (BTPA-2) has been synthesized and employed in FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs) as the hole transporting material (HTM). The reference BTPA-1 containing thiophene bridge was also prepared for a comparative study. Compared to the thiophene unit in BTPA-1, the hexyloxy substituted BDT unit in BTPA-2 made the HOMO energy level lower. The more conjugated system with the BDT unit can improve the conductivity and hole mobility. The BTPA-1 and BTPA-2 based FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 PSCs showed the best power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 12.76 % and 13.97 %, respectively. Larger Voc and higher Jsc for the BTPA-2 based PSC were attributed to its reduced interfacial recombination and more conjugated system compared to the BTPA-1 based PSCs. More hydrophobic property of BTAP-2 made its PSC exhibit better environmental stability than BTPA-1.

In recent years, monodispersed magnetic nanoparticles with a core/shell structure are expected for their wide applications including magnetic fluid, recoverable catalysts, and biological analysis. However, their synthesis method needs numerous processes such as solvent substitution, exchange of protective agents, and centrifugation. A simple and rapid method for the synthesis of monodispersed core-shell nanoparticles makes it possible to accelerate their further applications. This paper describes a simple and rapid one-pot synthesis of core (CoFe

We studied the elemental analysis, structural morphology, mechanical, and electrical properties of carbon nanoparticles synthesized from diesel. The spherical carbon particle size in the range of about 10 to 80 nm in diameter was observed in scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies that were identified by Atomic force microscopy (AFM) study as an aggregation of carbon particles of average size 2.5 nm. The surface rms of carbon nanoparticle thin film (CNTF) was measured directly by AFM and found 0.22 nm. The Derjaguin–Muller–Toporov (DMT) elastic modulus of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) was measured by PeakForce QNM mode of AFM. The minimum and maximum elastic modulus was measured of 0.40 GPa and 43.89 GPa, respectively. The resistivity, conductivity, magneto resistance, mobility, and average Hall co-efficient were measured by “Ecopia Hall-effect measurement system” by four-point Van der Pauw approach at ambient condition. We demonstrated I–V characteristic at the Indium/CNTF thin film interface, w...

We developed a new hybrid consisting of Ag nanoprisms, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm), and fluorophores via layer-by-layer assembly. The fluorescence intensity below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAm was 6.4 times stronger than that above the LCST, meaning that the hybrids can function as nanosized highly thermoresponsive fluorescent sensors.

We succeeded in controlling the wavelength range in which the photocurrent of porphyrin is enhanced by tuning as well as expanding the wavelength ranges in which the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) occurs. We fabricated photoelectric conversion systems consisting of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) and silver nanoprisms with small (SAgPRs) and large (LAgPRs) aspect ratios as plasmonic nano-antennae. Their photocurrents were much larger than those from TCPP-modified Ag planar electrodes at the specific wavelengths corresponding to their LSPR bands (SAgPRs: 460–610 nm; LAgPRs: 610–690 nm). The maximum enhancement factors (EFs) for the SAgPRs and the LAgPRs were 37 and 35, respectively. In order to enhance the photocurrents, we expanded the LSPR bands by the combined use of SAgPRs and LAgPRs. The system consisting of the mixture (MAgPRs) showed enhancement of the photocurrent over the entire Q-band region (480–690 nm). Finally, the total EFs of the photocurrents were evaluated by irradiation with AM1.5G sunlight through a long-pass filter of 480 nm and the results revealed that the EFs were in the order of MAgPRs > SAgPRs > LAgPRs. Furthermore, the system showed stability without loss of the enhancement property for at least 10 min under the solar irradiation.

We prepared novel cerium meso-tetrathienylporphyrin double-decker complexes with 2-thienyl and 3-thienyl substituents. The X-ray structures show that the porphyrin rings are distorted in a half-pipe fashion, which seems to be a common type of distortion for double-decker complexes of tetraarylporphyrins. The side-arm thienyl groups rotate more than two orders of magnitude faster than the phenyl groups of the corresponding double-decker complex of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin in solution at room temperature because of the lower rotational barriers.

We describe efficient visible- and near-infrared (vis/NIR) light-driven photocatalytic properties of hybrids of Cu

A novel organic small molecule bis-triphenylamine with spiro(fluorene-9,9′-xanthene) as the conjugated system, named BTPA-4, is successfully synthesized and employed as the hole-selective layer (HSL) in colloidal quantum dots solar cells (CQDSCs). The introduction of BTPA-4 layer can significantly prolong effective carrier lifetime (τeff), increase charge recombination resistance (Rrec), and thus diminish the interfacial charge recombination at the PbS-QDs/Au electrode interface. The effect of BTPA-4 as HSL in the device performance is especially significant for the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), with a ∼ 10% and 15% enhancement respectively, comparing with those of device without the HSL. Furthermore, the PbS CQDSCs with BTPA-4 possessed a noticeably stable property for over 100 days of storage under ambient atmosphere.