Strong Absorption Research Articles

Exploration of two-dimensional XPY3 (X = Zn, Cd; Y[dbnd]S, Se) for photocatalytic water splitting

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are attracting much attention as emerging photocatalytic water splitting candidates in green and clean energy applications. In this work, we designed four 2D materials, ZnPS3, ZnPSe3, CdPS3 and CdPSe3, which possess high stability, moderate band-gaps (2.24–3.29 eV), and anisotropic carrier mobilities of 192.26 ─ 676.04 cm2/Vs. Besides, they also have suitable band edges of REDOX at PH = 0, which can simultaneously drive photocatalytic water splitting to produce H2 and O2, and show acceptable free energy for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of 0.89–1.20 eV. Moreover, monolayer ZnPSe3 and CdPSe3 can deliver strong absorption coefficients (∼105 cm−1) from visible to ultraviolet light. As a result, they have excellent solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 18.39% and 19.70%, suggesting they are promising photocatalytic candidates for overall water splitting.

Polyethylene glycol/melamine foam composite phase change materials modified by CdS/Ag exhibits high photothermal conversion performance

CdS has been shown to be an excellent photon trap with strong absorption of light at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. The use of CdS for phase change material (PCM) modification can significantly improve its photothermal conversion performance. However, due to the unique energy band structure of CdS, the difficulty in electron conduction leads to poor thermal conductivity. This problem can be improved by introducing high thermal conductivity nanometals for modification, however, the effective combination of CdS and nanometals has been challenging. In this study, a new preparation strategy is demonstrated, in which Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with similar lattice parameters and crystalline coordination to CdS is first introduced on the surface of carbonized melamine foam (CMF), followed by the introduction of CdS NPs. This similar structure helps to form a better interfacial bond between CdS and Ag. The resulting stabilized structure enables the composite phase change material (CPCM) to achieve 96.1 % PEG loading with an ultra-high photothermal conversion efficiency of 94.6 %, thermal conductivity of 0.61 W/m∙K, and excellent antimicrobial activity. This study provides valuable guidance for the engineering design of CPCM with high photothermal conversion performance and suggests its practical application value in seawater evaporation and thermal management of medical devices.

Thermal lensing and photoacoustics as potential tools for nanomaterial characterization: a review

AbstractThis comprehensive review highlights the versatile applications of photothermal techniques, particularly thermal lens spectrometry (TLS) and photoacoustic spectrometry (PAS), in the field of nanomaterials characterization. TLS is an effective technique in the trace detection of different compounds in liquid samples, photodegradation studies, and analysis of photocatalytic reaction rate, as well as the study of molecular dynamics, impacting both environmental and catalytical research. It enables the optimization of thermal diffusivity in soot nanofluids and offers insights into seed germination and plant yield enhancement in nanobiophotonics. The review also explores the thermal and elastic characterization of Fe2O3 polymorphs by photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS). Investigating the metal mirror demonstrates PAS’s efficacy in determining its reflection coefficient and thermal diffusivity. ZnO nanoparticles’ strong absorption on diatomite surfaces is revealed through PAS, emphasizing their effectiveness in light absorption enhancement. Furthermore, PA techniques address working frequency limitations in studying silicon-based nanomaterials. Thus, thermal lens and photoacoustic spectroscopy assume pivotal roles in unveiling the nuanced attributes of various nanostructured materials, thereby propelling advancements in the realms of science and technology.

Strong damped Lyman-α absorption in young star-forming galaxies at redshifts 9 to 11.

Primordial neutral atomic gas, mostly composed of hydrogen, is the raw material for star formation in galaxies. However, there are few direct constraints on the amount of neutral atomic hydrogen (Hi) in galaxies at early cosmic times. We analyzed James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near-infrared spectroscopy of distant galaxies, at redshifts ≳8. From a sample of 12 galaxies, we identified three that show strong damped Lyman-α absorption due to Hi in their local surroundings. The galaxies are located at spectroscopic redshifts of 8.8, 10.2, and 11.4, corresponding to 400 to 600 million years after the Big Bang. They have Hi column densities ≳1022 cm-2, which is an order of magnitude higher than expected for a fully neutral intergalactic medium, and constitute a gas-rich population of young star-forming galaxies.

Trimeric and Tetrameric Cationic Styryl Dyes as Novel Fluorescence and CD Probes for ds-DNA and ds-RNA

The wide use of mono- or bis-styryl fluorophores in biomedical applications prompted the presented design and study of a series of trimeric and tetrameric homo-analogues, styryl moieties arranged around a central aromatic core. The interactions with the most common biorelevant targets, ds-DNA and ds-RNA, were studied by a set of spectrophotometric methods (UV-VIS, fluorescence, circular dichroism, thermal denaturation). All studied dyes showed strong light absorption in the 350–420 nm range and strongly Stokes-shifted (+100–160 nm) emission with quantum yields (Φf) up to 0.57, whereby the mentioned properties were finely tuned by the type of the terminal cationic substituent and number of styryl components (tetramers being red-shifted in respect to trimers). All studied dyes strongly interacted with ds-DNA and ds-RNA with 1–10 nM−1 affinity, with dye emission being strongly quenched. The tetrameric analogues did not show any particular selectivity between ds-DNA or ds-RNA due to large size and consequent partial, non-selective insertion into DNA/RNA grooves. However, smaller trimeric styryl series showed size-dependent selective stabilization of ds-DNA vs. ds-RNA against thermal denaturation and highly selective or even specific recognition of several particular ds-DNA or ds-RNA structures by induced circular dichroism (ICD) bands. The chiral (ICD) selectivity was controlled by the size of a terminal cationic substituent. All dyes entered efficiently live human cells with negligible cytotoxic activity. Further prospects in the transfer of ICD-based selectivity into fluorescence-chiral methods (FDCD and CPL) is proposed, along with the development of new analogues with red-shifted absorbance properties.

Detectability of Solar Panels as a Technosignature

In this work, we assess the potential detectability of solar panels made of silicon on an Earth-like exoplanet as a potential technosignature. Silicon-based photovoltaic cells have high reflectance in the ultraviolet-to-visible (UV-VIS) and in the near-infrared, within the wavelength range of a space-based flagship mission concept like the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). Assuming that only solar energy is used to provide the 2022 human energy needs with a land cover of ∼2.4%, and projecting the future energy demand assuming various growth-rate scenarios, we assess the detectability with an 8 m HWO-like telescope. Assuming the most favorable viewing orientation, and focusing on the strong absorption edge in the UV-VIS (0.34–0.52 μm), we find that several hundreds of hours of observation time are needed to reach a signal-to-noise ratio of 5 for an Earth-like planet around a Sun-like star at 10 pc, even with a solar panel coverage of ∼23% land coverage of a future Earth. We discuss the necessity of concepts like Kardeshev Type I/II civilizations and Dyson spheres, which would aim to harness vast amounts of energy. Even with much larger populations than today, the total energy use of human civilization would be orders of magnitude below the threshold for causing direct thermal heating or reaching the scale of a Kardashev Type I civilization. Any extraterrestrial civilization that likewise achieves sustainable population levels may also find a limit on its need to expand, which suggests that a galaxy-spanning civilization as imagined in the Fermi paradox may not exist.

Spray-lithography of hybrid graphene-perovskite paper-based photodetectors for sustainable electronics

Paper is an ideal substrate for the development of flexible and environmentally sustainable ubiquitous electronic systems. When combined with nanomaterial-based devices, it can be harnessed for various Internet-of-Things applications, ranging from wearable electronics to smart packaging. However, paper remains a challenging substrate for electronics due to its rough and porous nature. In addition, the absence of established fabrication methods is impeding its utilization in wearable applications. Unlike other paper-based electronics with added layers, in this study, we present a scalable spray-lithography on a commercial paper substrate. We present a non-vacuum spray-lithography of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) single-layer graphene (SLG), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and perovskite quantum dots (QDs) on a paper substrate. This approach combines the advantages of two large-area techniques: CVD and spray-coating. The first technique allows for the growth of SLG, while the second enables the spray coating of a mask to pattern CVD SLG, electrodes (CNTs), and photoactive (QDs) layers. We harness the advantages of perovskite QDs in photodetection, leveraging their strong absorption coefficients. Integrating them with the graphene enhances the photoconductive gain mechanism, leading to high external responsivity. The presented device shows high external responsivity of ∼520 A W−1 at 405 nm at <1 V bias due to the photoconductive gain mechanism. The prepared paper-based photodetectors (PDs) achieve an external responsivity of 520 A W−1 under 405 nm illumination at <1 V operating voltage. To the best of our knowledge, our devices have the highest external responsivity among paper-based PDs. By fabricating arrays of PDs on a paper substrate in the air, this work highlights the potential of this scalable approach for enabling ubiquitous electronics on paper.

A highly effective peroxidase-mimic nanozyme of S, N-carbon dot-decorated cerium organic framework-based colorimetric detection of Hg2+ ion and thiophanate methyl.

In this study, we proposed a colorimetric probe as S, N-carbon dot-decorated Ce-MOF (S, N-CD@Ce-MOF) for the dual detection of mercury and thiophanate methyl (TM), which are simultaneously present pollutants in the environment and foodstuffs. These pollutants cause serious threats to human health, such as carcinogenicity and neurovirulence. Herein, we synthesized S, N-CD@Ce-MOF using the hydrothermal method and applied it to a "turn-off-on" probe to detect mercury and TM using the colorimetric method in water and food samples. S, N-CD@Ce-MOF shows excellent peroxidase activity by catalyzing the chromogenic substrate of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), resulting in deep blue-colored oxidized TMB product (ox TMB) in the presence of H2O2 with a UV absorption wavelength at 654 nm. However, the addition of Hg(II) ions prohibits the oxidation of TMB by an electron transfer effect and easily binds with -S, -N-containing sites on the surface of carbon dots, obstructing the catalytic active sites and decreasing catalytic efficiency with weak UV absorption at 654 nm as a "turn-off". Subsequently, the addition of TM to the above sensing solution as a "turn-on" was triggered by the TM-Hg complex formation and permitted TMB oxidation with a strong absorption peak at 654 nm. Furthermore, this proposed sensor demonstrates a superior linear response to mercury ions and TM in the ranges from 0 to 15 μM and 0 to 14 μM, respectively. The developed colorimetric assay exhibits good sensitivity and selectivity against various possible interferences. Furthermore, we found that the limits of detection for Hg2+ and TM were as low as 0.01 μM and 0.03 μM, respectively. The developed sensor provides various benefits, such as cost-effectiveness, simplicity without a complex detection process, and naked-eye detection. Consequently, our proposed colorimetric technique worked well for the detection of Hg2+ in real water samples and TM in real apple and tomato juice.

Nano-optogenetics for Disease Therapies.

Optogenetic, known as the method of 21 centuries, combines optic and genetic engineering to precisely control photosensitive proteins for manipulation of a broad range of cellular functions, such as flux of ions, protein oligomerization and dissociation, cellular intercommunication, and so on. In this technique, light is conventionally delivered to targeted cells through optical fibers or micro light-emitting diodes, always suffering from high invasiveness, wide-field illumination facula, strong absorption, and scattering by nontargeted endogenous substance. Light-transducing nanomaterials with advantages of high spatiotemporal resolution, abundant wireless-excitation manners, and easy functionalization for recognition of specific cells, recently have been widely explored in the field of optogenetics; however, there remain a few challenges to restrain its clinical applications. This review summarized recent progress on light-responsive genetically encoded proteins and the myriad of activation strategies by use of light-transducing nanomaterials and their disease-treatment applications, which is expected for sparking helpful thought to push forward its preclinical and translational uses.

Strain engineering of electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of orthorhombic III–V group monolayers by first principles calculations

Using first principles calculations, we systematically investigated the effects of strain engineering on the electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of two-dimensional (2D) orthorhombic III–V group materials, including BN, BP, BAs, AlN, AlP, and GaN. It is shown that all the III–V orthorhombic monolayers exhibit excellent mechanical anisotropy for Young’s modulus, Shear modulus, and Poisson’s ratio, especially for the AlN and GaN monolayers. AlN, AlP, and GaN are predicted to be indirect bandgap semiconductors, with their bandgap of 0.70, 0.15, and 0.53 eV, respectively. And BN is demonstrated to be a direct bandgap semiconductor (0.63 eV). Under uniaxial tensile strains, their electronic structures have non-monotonic anisotropic variations and these monolayers can be effectively modulated from metal to semiconductor, experiencing indirect–direct bandgap transitions. In addition, all the orthorhombic III–V materials exhibit highly anisotropic light-harvesting performances and the optical absorbance can be efficiently tailored with tensile strains applied along a- and b-directions. The strong optical absorptions in the visible light regions suggested that AlN, BN, and GaN may be optically tunable 2D materials for component absorbance layers for solar cell applications. The excellent anisotropic and tunable electronic, mechanical, and optical performances indicate that the orthorhombic III–V monolayers are promising candidates for potential applications of optoelectronics and photovoltaics.

Preparation and Properties of Attapulgite-Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Composite Poly (Acrylic Acid-co-2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic Acid) Concrete Internal Curing Material

Attapulgite-hydroxyethyl cellulose-poly (acrylic acid-co-2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (ATP-HEC-P(AA-co-AMPS)) in-concrete curing material was synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization using attapulgite (ATP) as an inorganic filler and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as a backbone. The effects of relevant factors such as ATP dosage, HEC dosage, degree of neutralization, initiator quality, and cross-linking agent quality on the water absorption characteristics of ATP-HEC-P (AA-co-AMPS) were investigated through expansion tests. The micro-morphology of ATP-HEC-P (AA-co-AMPS) was also comprehensively characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, a thermal analysis, and other applicable means. The results showed that the prepared ATP-HEC-P (AA-co-AMPS) had a strong water absorption and water retention capacity, with a water absorption multiplicity of 382 g/g in deionized water and 21.55% water retention capacity after being placed at room temperature for 7 d in a bare environment. Additionally, ATP-HEC-P (AA-co-AMPS) showed good performance for absorbing liquids within the pH range of 7–12. The material’s thermal stability and mechanical properties were also significantly improved after the addition of ATP. The preparation cost is low, the process is simple, and the material meets the requirements for concrete curing materials.

Substitution effects on the photoinduced excited state dynamics of perylenemonoimides in solution and thin films.

Perylene monoimide (PMI) derivatives are attracting significant attention due to their strong absorption in the visible range, thermal stability, and synthetic accessibility. These properties make them promising for application in various areas such as optoelectronic devices, photosensitizers, etc. In this work, the photophysical properties and excited state dynamics of four different PMI derivatives (PMIB, BrPMITB, PMITB, and APITB) were studied in solution and thin films utilizing steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Among the four PMI derivatives, APITB is designed as a donor-acceptor dyad, with thianthrene as a donor and PMI as an acceptor. The activation of the triplet state through the spin-orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) process in THF was observed upon substitution with the thianthrene group at the peri position of the PMI moiety. The SOCT-ISC process facilitates triplet formation in the APITB dyad within 423 ps. Meanwhile, other PMI derivatives showed fluorescence within the femtosecond timescale in THF. The PMI derivatives in thin films displayed different photo physical properties to those in THF. This discrepancy arises due to the effective intermolecular coupling between the PMI derivatives in thin films.

GeC/SnSe2 van der waals heterostructure: A promising direct Z-scheme photocatalyst for overall water splitting with strong optical absorption, high solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency and superior catalytic activity

To alleviate the energy crisis and achieve green energy conversion, the heterojunctions that can be applied to the photocatalytic decomposition of water have attracted attention. In this paper, we design a novel two-dimensional GeC/SnSe2 heterostructure and investigate in detail the structural stability, electronic characteristics, photocatalytic activity and optical behavior as well as the effects due to the applied strain based on the first-principles. Firstly, the most stable γ-stacking mode is determined by combining energy comparison, thermodynamic and dynamic studies. Second, the analysis of electronic properties demonstrates that the GeC/SnSe2 heterostructure exhibits a type-II energy band arrangement and a direct Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism. This pivotal aspect enhances the separation of photogenerated carriers at the interface and facilitates the active participation of the most proficient materials in oxidation-reduction processes during photocatalytic hydrolysis reactions. The hydrolysis reaction's Gibbs free energy shift demonstrates the GeC/SnSe2 heterostructure's superior photocatalytic activity in neutral and alkaline environments and can spontaneously carry out the overall hydrolysis reaction, and this outstanding ability is not affected by the −4% to 4% strain range. In addition, the GeC/SnSe2 heterostructure has outstanding solar-to-hydrogen efficiency (58.18%) and excellent light absorption capability (up to 4×105cm−1) within visible light. The implications of these discoveries point towards the direct Z-scheme GeC/SnSe2 heterostructure holds promise as an excellent candidate for photocatalytic water splitting applications.

Saturated optical absorption in a mesoporous film decorated with a plasmonic layer

Porous materials with a large surface to volume ratio have found broad applications in fields from energy to environment. Here, we examine the linear and nonlinear optical response of a mesoporous film with vertical pores decorated with a layer of plasmonic nanostructures. Our measurements show that the plasmonic resonance leads to strong linear absorption from visible to infrared regions, which dramatically boosts the saturable absorptive nonlinear optical response with a modulation depth approaching 30 %. The strong absorptive nonlinearity enables immediate application as an optical switch for pulse generation in a fiber laser.

Flexible, photoluminescent 0D Cs4PbX6 (X = Br, Br/I)–PMMA composite films for white LED via water-induced recrystallization

Abstract3D CsPbX3 inorganic perovskite materials have attracted much attention in optoelectronic devices because of their strong absorbance, high photoluminescent quantum yield, tunable band gap, and narrow emission bandwidth. However, their practical usefulness is limited due to their poor stability in ambient conditions. Here, we created photoluminescent 0D Cs4PbX6 (X = Br, Br/I) suspensions in toluene by adding a small amount of water. The photoluminescent 0D Cs4PbX6 perovskite was mixed with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) forming 0D Cs4PbX6/PMMA composite films with higher PL, stability, transparency, and transmittance than that of the 3D CsPbX3/PMMA composite films prepared separately. Moreover, the PL intensity maintains 90% of the initial value after 30 days in water, showing excellent water stability. The flexible white-light LED device prepared by the composite films illustrated good luminescence performance with color rendering index 74.77, chromaticity coordinates (0.32, 0.33), and color temperature 6997 K. Graphical abstract

Research on infrared spectroscopy detection of furfural content in transformer oil based on acetonitrile extraction

Abstract The stable operation of power transformers depends on the oil-paper insulation system, in which the aging degree of insulating paper is the key to evaluate the remaining life of the transformer. Currently, methanol extraction is widely used to detect the furfural content in oil to evaluate the aging state of insulating paper, but it ignores the influence of methanol produced during the operation of the transformer on the extraction results. To address this issue, this paper proposes a new method that can replace methanol extraction for detecting furfural in oil through simulation and experiment. Firstly, through simulation and experiment, it is proved that the strong vibration absorption peaks at 1677 cm-1 for furfural carbonyl and 2240 cm-1 for acetonitrile cyano can be used to establish a new method for extracting furfural content in oil using acetonitrile. A quantitative model between the concentration x of furfural in the furfural-acetonitrile mixed solution and the area y of the infrared absorption peak at 1677 cm-1 is established, with a goodness of fit of 0.9974. Secondly, a comparison between direct detection and acetonitrile extraction methods is conducted. The results show that direct detection is simple to operate, but the minimum detection concentration is 40mg/L, which is difficult to meet practical requirements. Acetonitrile extraction can reduce the minimum detection concentration to 0.1mg/L. At the same time, the extraction conditions are analyzed to determine the extraction ratio of 30, extraction times of 5, and extraction rate of 60%. Finally, the proposed detection method is applied to thermal aging tests on insulating paper of different types. The experimental results show that the proposed method has good repeatability and improves the detection resolution of furfural content. This paper combines infrared spectroscopy with acetonitrile extraction technology to open up a more efficient and practical new method for detecting furfural content in transformer oil.

Effects of Heavy p‐Block Elements on Photophysical Properties of π‐Conjugated Complexes and Organoelement Compounds

π‐Conjugated compounds exhibit remarkable photophysical properties, such as strong light absorption and emission, and are applicable to organic devices, bioimaging, and sensing systems. The introduction of p‐block elements into π‐conjugated systems is presumable as a critical strategy for modulating their properties. Nevertheless, the type of utilized elements has been limited to the second and third‐period ones because it is difficult to construct critical electronic interactions between heavier atoms and carbon‐based π‐conjugated scaffolds. On the other hand, it has been recently suggested that the heavier p‐block elements are able to induce significant changes in the optoelectronic properties of π‐conjugated systems thanks to their large size, high polarizability, and heavy atom effect. Although there are much room to explore effects of heavy‐atom substitution on physical and electronic properties of conjugated systems, various characters have been discovered. Hence, this review mainly focuses on the relationships between the types of p‐block elements and the optical properties of their representative complexes and organoelement compounds, particularly light absorption and emission.

Selective Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction Through Plasmonic Z‐Scheme Ag‐Bi2O3‐ZnO Heterostructures

AbstractCombination of plasmonic noble metal with semiconductors offers a promising and potential solar energy harvesting and conversion route. Herein, plasmonic Z‐scheme Ag‐Bi2O3‐ZnO (AgBZ) heterostructure is designed and synthesized via solution combustion and photo‐deposition method. Metallic Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited over Bi2O3‐ZnO heterostructure; thus, they exhibit strong visible light absorption owing to surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized catalysts is investigated by the photocatalytic CO2 reduction to fuels under simulated solar light irradiation. The present system has shown an outstanding photocatalytic CO2 reduction and excellent selectivity of CO. The evolved rate of CO fuel, the amount of CO produced per unit time, over optimized Ag‐Bi2O3‐ZnO (3AgBZ) heterostructures was (96.74 μmol g−1/h) which was approximately 12 times larger than that of Bi2O3‐ZnO (0AgBZ) and 49‐fold than the quantity of evolved CO fuels over pure ZnO photocatalyst. The percentage of evolved CO to CH4 fuels over optimized Ag‐Bi2O3‐ZnO (3AgBZ) heterostructures was about 50 : 1compared to that of 2 : 3 over Bi2O3‐ZnO (0AgBZ). The great improvement and the high selectivity would be ascribed to the synergistic effect of metallic surface plasmon resonance and the Z‐scheme charges transfer system. This work would open a window to construct a single photocatalyst with different charge separation systems and excellent CO2 reduction selectivity. Finally, the mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic performance by the synergistic effect was described and discussed.

Sensitive Detection of OCS Using Thermal Conversion Combined with Spectral Reconstruction Filtering Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy.

Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) is a toxic gas produced during industrial processes that poses risks to both human health and industrial equipment. Therefore, detecting OCS concentrations plays a crucial role in early hazard warning. This paper presents an online system for detecting OCS at the ppb level using thermal conversion and spectral reconstruction filtering differential optical absorption spectroscopy (SRF-DOAS). First, OCS, which is not suitable for DOAS due to its weak absorption characteristics, is completely transformed into SO2 with strong absorption characteristics under high-temperature conditions. Then, the spectral reconstruction filtering method (SRF) is proposed to eliminate the noise and interference. The core idea of the method is to arrange the spectrum according to the spectral intensity from small to large rather than wavelength, reconstructing the spectrum into a new spectrum with linear characteristics. The reconstructed spectrum can remove noise and interference by linear fitting and retain the characteristic of SO2 oscillation absorption. Next, we demonstrate the ability of the reconstructed spectral method to remove noise and interference by comparing the spectra of the inverse-reconstructed gas mixture and SO2. The relative deviation of 0.88% at 100 ppb and detection limit of 7.26 ppb*m for OCS were obtained using the SRF-DOAS method. Finally, the reliability of the system was confirmed by measurements of OCS concentrations in mixture gas of OCS and air, as well as in human exhaled breath.

Synthesis and Properties of Halide Perovskites Nanocrystals Toward Solar Cells Application

Halide perovskite nanocrystals (HP NCs) based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted serious attention along with relatively unstable bulk HP‐based thin‐film solar cells aiming to make more efficient and stable PSCs. HP NCs have still limited employment in PSCs despite their inherent unique properties such as strong absorption and photoluminescence, controlled transport and charge‐carrier mobility, low defect density, solution processability, and compatibility with large‐scale deposition techniques suitable for PSCs. Nanostructuring of the perovskites offers other unique characteristics such as confinement effects. These exciting characteristics together with the exceptional tunability in their shape, composition, and functionalities make HP NCs promising for PVs applications. In order to develop efficient HP NCs PSCs, major focus lies on discussing the various synthesis approaches, optoelectrical behaviors of HP NCs, and optimized device architectures. In this context, this review article deals with various approaches to HP NCs synthesis, properties, current challenges, and factors affecting the performance of the NC‐based PSCs. Based on these discussions, perspectives on promising directions for effective utilization of HP NCs toward the improvement and commercialization of the exciting promising material‐based stable and efficient PSCs in the near future are provided.