Toward stable photoelectrochemical water splitting using NiOOH coated hierarchical nitrogen-doped ZnO-Si nanowires photoanodes

Photoelectrochemical(PEC)water splitting is regarded as the most promising method to generate“green hydrogen”,and zinc oxide(ZnO)has been identified as one of the promising candidates for PEC water splitting owing to its straddling band alignment with the water redox level.However,its PEC performance is limited due to its wide bandgap and anticipated by photocorrosion in an aqueous medium.In this work,we present strategic improvements in the PEC water splitting performance of ZnO nanowires(NWs)by nitrogen(N)-doping along with photostability by the core–shell deposition of a NiOOH cocatalyst.Highly crystalline hierarchical ZnO NWs were fabricated on Si NWs(ZnO-Si HNWs)using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition approach.The NWs were then N-doped by annealing in an NH_(3) atmosphere.The N-doped ZnO-Si HNWs(N:ZnO-Si HNWs)showed enhanced visible light absorption,and suppressed recombination of the photogenerated carriers.As compared to ZnO-Si HNWs(0.045 m A cm^(-2) at 1.23 V vs RHE),the N:ZnO-Si HNWs(0.34 m A cm^(-2) at 1.23 V vs RHE)annealed in NH^(3) ambient for 3 h at 600℃showed 7.5-fold enhancement in the photocurrent density.NiOOH-deposited N:ZnO-Si HNW photoanodes with a photostability of 82.21%over 20000 s showed 10.69-fold higher photocurrent density(0.48 m A cm^(-2) at 1.23 V vs RHE)than ZnO-Si HNWs.

Self-powered and flexible piezo-sensors based on conductivitycontrolled GaN nanowire-arrays for mimicking rapid-and slow-adapting mechanoreceptors

Human skin contains slowly adaptive(SA)and rapidly adaptive(RA)mechanoreceptors,which respond differently to external stimuli.Based on human tactile perception principles,the fabrication of a self-powered electronic skin(e-skin)that simultaneously mimics SA-and RA-mechanoreceptors is a prime need for robots and artificial prosthetics to interact with the surrounding environment.However,the complex process of merging multimode sensors to mimic SA-and RA-mechanoreceptors hinders their utilization in e-skins.We proposed SA-and RA-mechanoreceptors based on n-type and semi-insulating GaN nanowire arrays.The SA-and RA-mechanoreceptors demonstrated distinguished features such as grasping of objects and detection of their surface textures.Based on piezoelectric sensing principles,the proposed e-skin can simultaneously mimic static and dynamic pressure signals.Mechanoreceptors further detected several stimuli of various pressures with low and high frequencies.The response and reset times showed by SA-mechanoreceptors were 11 and 18 ms under 1-Hz frequency,which are rapid enough for practical e-skin applications.

High energy superstable hybrid capacitor with a self-regulated Zn/electrolyte interface and 3D graphene-like carbon cathode

Rechargeable aqueous zinc ion hybrid capacitors(ZIHCs),as an up-and-comer aqueous electrochemical energy storage system,endure in their infancy because of the substandard reversibility of Zn anodes,structural deterioration of cathode materials,and narrow electrochemical stability window.Herein,a scalable approach is described that addresses Zn-anode/electrolyte interface and cathode materials associated deficiencies and boosts the electrochemical properties of ZIHCs.The Zn-anode/electrolyte interface is self-regulated by alteration of the traditional Zn2+electrolyte with Na-based supporting salt without surrendering the cost,safety,and green features of the Zn-based system which further validates the excellent reversibility over 1100 h with suppressed hydrogen evolution.The deficits of cathode materials were overcome by using a high-mass loaded,oxygen-rich,3D,multiscaled graphene-like carbon(3D MGC)cathode.Due to the multiscaled texture,high electronic conductivity,and oxygen-rich functional groups of 3D MGC,reversible redox capacitance was obtained with a traditional adsorption/desorption mechanism.Prototype ZIHCs containing the modified electrolyte and an oxygen-rich 3D MGC cathode resulted in battery-like specific energy(203 Wh kg1 at 1.6 A g^(-1))and supercapacitor-type power capability(4.9 kW kg1 at 8 A g^(-1))with outstanding cycling durability(96.75%retention over 30000 cycles at 10 A g^(-1)).These findings pave the way toward the utilization of highly efficient ZIHCs for practical applications.