Understanding the correlation between energy-state mismatching and open-circuit voltage loss in bulk heterojunction solar cells

Photoinduced intermolecular charge transfer(PICT)determines the voltage loss in bulk heterojunction(BHJ)organic photovoltaics(OPVs),and this voltage loss can be minimized by inducing efficient PICT,which requires energy-state matching between the donor and acceptor at the BHJ interfaces.Thus,both geometrically and energetically accessible delocalized state matching at the hot energy level is crucial for achieving efficient PICT.In this study,an effective method for quantifying the hot state matching of OPVs was developed.The degree of energy-state matching between the electron donor and acceptor at BHJ interfaces was quantified using a mismatching factor(MF)calculated from the modified optical density of the BHJ.Furthermore,the correlation between the open-circuit voltage(Voc)of the OPV device and energy-state matching at the BHJ interface was investigated using the calculated MF.The OPVs with small absolute MF values exhibited high Voc values.This result clearly indicates that the energy-state matching between the donor and acceptor is crucial for achieving a high Voc in OPVs.Because the MF indicates the degree of energy-state matching,which is a critical factor for suppressing energy loss,it can be used to estimate the Voc loss in OPVs.

Rational construction of CuFe_(2)O_(4)@C/Cd_(0.9)Zn_(0.1)S S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for extraordinary photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H_(2) evolution

Rational design of photocatalyst to maximize the use of sunlight is one of the issues to be solved in photocatalysis technology.In this study,the CuFe_(2)O_(4)@C/Cd_(0.9)Zn_(0.1)S(CFO@C/CZS)S-scheme photocatalyst with photothermal effect was synthesized by ultrasonic self-assembly combined with calcination.The dark CFO@C absorbed visible light and partly converted into heat to promote the hydrogen evolution reaction.The presence of heterojunctions inhibited the photogenerated electron-hole recombination.The graphite-carbon layer provided a stable channel for electron transfer,and the presence of magnetic CFO made recycle easier.Under the action of photothermal assistance and heterojunction,the hydrogen evolution rate of the optimal CFO@C/CZS was 80.79 mmol g^(-1) h^(-1),which was 2.55 times and 260.61 times of that of pure CZS and CFO@C,respectively.Notably,the composite samples also exhibit excellent stability and a wide range of environmental adaptability.Through experimental tests and first-principles simulation calculation methods,the plausible mechanism of photoactivity enhancement was proposed.This work provided a feasible strategy of photothermal assistance for the development of heterojunction photocatalysts with distinctive hydrogen evolution.

Amplified internal electric field of Cs_(2)CuBr_(4)@WO_(3-x)S-scheme heterojunction for efficient CO_(2)photoreduction

Heterojunction construction,especially S-scheme heterojunction,represents an efficient universal strategy to achieve high-performance photocatalytic materials.For further performance stimulation of these well-designed heterojunctions,modulating the interfacial internal electric field(IEF)to steer dynamic charge transfer represents a promising approach.Herein,we realized the precise regulation of Fermi level(E_(F))of the oxidation semiconductor(mesoporous WO_(3-x))by tailoring the concentration of oxygen vacancies(V_(O)),maximizing the IEF intensity in Cs_(2)CuBr_(4)@WO_(3-x)(CCB@WO_(3-x))S-scheme heterojunction.The augmented IEF affords a robust driving force for directional electron delivery,leading to boosted charge separation.Hence,the developed CCB@WO_(3-x)S-scheme heterojunction demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction performance,with the electron consumption rate(Relectron)up to 390.34μmol g^(-1)h^(-1),which is 3.28 folds higher than that of pure CCB.An in-depth analysis of the S-scheme electron transfer mode was presented via theoretical investigations,electron spin resonance(ESR),photo-irradiated Kelvin probe force microscopy(KPFM),and in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).Finally,the CO_(2)photoconversion route was explored in detail using in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS)and DFT theoretical calculations.

Bidirectional rectifier with gate voltage control based on Bi_(2)O_(2)Se/WSe_(2)heterojunction

Two-dimensional(2D)WSe_(2)has received increasing attention due to its unique optical properties and bipolar behavior.Several WSe_(2)-based heterojunctions exhibit bidirectional rectification characteristics,but most devices have a lower rectification ratio.In this work,the Bi_(2)O_(2)Se/WSe_(2)heterojunction prepared by us has a typeⅡband alignment,which can vastly suppress the channel current through the interface barrier so that the Bi_(2)O_(2)Se/WSe_(2)heterojunction device has a large rectification ratio of about 10^(5).Meanwhile,under different gate voltage modulation,the current on/off ratio of the device changes by nearly five orders of magnitude,and the maximum current on/off ratio is expected to be achieved 106.The photocurrent measurement reveals the behavior of recombination and space charge confinement,further verifying the bidirectional rectification behavior of heterojunctions,and it also exhibits excellent performance in light response.In the future,Bi_(2)O_(2)Se/WSe_(2)heterojunction field-effect transistors have great potential to reduce the volume of integrated circuits as a bidirectional controlled switching device.

ZnSb/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene van der Waals heterojunction for flexible near-infrared photodetector arrays

Two-dimension(2D)van der Waals heterojunction holds essential promise in achieving high-performance flexible near-infrared(NIR)photodetector.Here,we report the successful fabrication of ZnSb/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene based flexible NIR photodetector array via a facile photolithography technology.The single ZnSb/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)photodetector exhibited a high light-to-dark current ratio of 4.98,fast response/recovery time(2.5/1.3 s)and excellent stability due to the tight connection between 2D ZnSb nanoplates and 2D Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene nanoflakes,and the formed 2D van der Waals heterojunction.Thin polyethylene terephthalate(PET)substrate enables the ZnSb/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)photodetector withstand bending such that stable photoelectrical properties with non-obvious change were maintained over 5000 bending cycles.Moreover,the ZnSb/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)photodetectors were integrated into a 26×5 device array,realizing a NIR image sensing application.

Optoelectronic Synapses Based on MXene/Violet Phosphorus van der Waals Heterojunctions for Visual‑Olfactory Crossmodal Perception

The crossmodal interaction of different senses,which is an important basis for learning and memory in the human brain,is highly desired to be mimicked at the device level for developing neuromorphic crossmodal perception,but related researches are scarce.Here,we demonstrate an optoelectronic synapse for vision-olfactory crossmodal perception based on MXene/violet phosphorus(VP)van der Waals heterojunctions.Benefiting from the efficient separation and transport of photogenerated carriers facilitated by conductive MXene,the photoelectric responsivity of VP is dramatically enhanced by 7 orders of magnitude,reaching up to 7.7 A W^(−1).Excited by ultraviolet light,multiple synaptic functions,including excitatory postsynaptic currents,pairedpulse facilitation,short/long-term plasticity and“learning-experience”behavior,were demonstrated with a low power consumption.Furthermore,the proposed optoelectronic synapse exhibits distinct synaptic behaviors in different gas environments,enabling it to simulate the interaction of visual and olfactory information for crossmodal perception.This work demonstrates the great potential of VP in optoelectronics and provides a promising platform for applications such as virtual reality and neurorobotics.

Magnetic proximity effect in the two-dimensional ε-Fe_(2)O_(3)/NbSe_(2)heterojunction

Two-dimensional(2D)magnet/superconductor heterostructures can promote the design of artificial materials for exploring 2D physics and device applications by exotic proximity effects.However,plagued by the low Curie temperature and instability in air,it is hard to realize practical applications for the reported layered magnetic materials at present.In this paper,we developed a space-confined chemical vapor deposition method to synthesize ultrathin air-stable ε-Fe_(2)O_(3) nanosheets with Curie temperature above 350 K.The ε-Fe_(2)O_(3)/NbSe_(2) heterojunction was constructed to study the magnetic proximity effect on the superconductivity of the NbSe_(2) multilayer.The electrical transport results show that the subtle proximity effect can modulate the interfacial spin–orbit interaction while undegrading the superconducting critical parameters.Our work paves the way to construct 2D heterojunctions with ultrathin nonlayered materials and layered van der Waals(vdW)materials for exploring new physical phenomena.

Interfacial built-in electric field and crosslinking pathways enabling WS_(2)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) heterojunction with robust sodium storage at low temperature

Developing efficient energy storage for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)by creating high-performance heterojunctions and understanding their interfacial interaction at the atomic/molecular level holds promise but is also challenging.Besides,sluggish reaction kinetics at low temperatures restrict the operation of SIBs in cold climates.Herein,cross-linking nanoarchitectonics of WS_(2)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) heterojunction,featuring built-in electric field(BIEF),have been developed,employing as a model to reveal the positive effect of heterojunction design and BIEF for modifying the reaction kinetics and electrochemical activity.Particularly,the theoretical analysis manifests the discrepancy in work functions leads to the electronic flow from the electron-rich Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) to layered WS_(2),spontaneously forming the BIEF and“ion reservoir”at the heterogeneous interface.Besides,the generation of cross-linking pathways further promotes the transportation of electrons/ions,which guarantees rapid diffusion kinetics and excellent structure coupling.Consequently,superior sodium storage performance is obtained for the WS_(2)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) heterojunction,with only 0.2%decay per cycle at 5.0 A g^(-1)(25℃)up to 1000 cycles and a high capacity of 293.5 mA h g^(-1)(0.1A g^(-1)after 100 cycles)even at-20℃.Importantly,the spontaneously formed BIEF,accompanied by“ion reservoir”,in heterojunction provides deep understandings of the correlation between structure fabricated and performance obtained.

Improvement of Ga_(2)O_(3)vertical Schottky barrier diode by constructing NiO/Ga_(2)O_(3)heterojunction

The high critical electric field strength of Ga_(2)O_(3)enables higher operating voltages and reduced switching losses in power electronic devices.Suitable Schottky metals and epitaxial films are essential for further enhancing device performance.In this work,the fabrication of vertical Ga_(2)O_(3)barrier diodes with three different barrier metals was carried out on an n--Ga_(2)O_(3)homogeneous epitaxial film deposited on an n+-β-Ga_(2)O_(3)substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition,excluding the use of edge terminals.The ideal factor,barrier height,specific on-resistance,and breakdown voltage characteristics of all devices were investigated at room temperature.In addition,the vertical Ga_(2)O_(3)barrier diodes achieve a higher breakdown volt-age and exhibit a reverse leakage as low as 4.82×10^(-8)A/cm^(2)by constructing a NiO/Ga_(2)O_(3)heterojunction.Therefore,Ga_(2)O_(3)power detailed investigations into Schottky barrier metal and NiO/Ga_(2)O_(3)heterojunction of Ga_(2)O_(3)homogeneous epitaxial films are of great research potential in high-efficiency,high-power,and high-reliability applications.

Modeling and Simulation of Heterojunction Solar Cell with Mono Crystalline Silicon

The monocrystalline silicon is a promising material that could be used in solar cells that convert light into electricity. Although the cost of ordinary silicon (Si) solar cells has decreased significantly over the past two decades, the conversion efficiency of these cells has remained relatively high. While solar cells have a great potential as a device of renewable energy, the high cost they incur per Watt continues to be a significant barrier to their widespread implementation. As a consequence, it is vital to conduct research into alternate materials that may be used in the construction of solar cells. The heterojunction solar cell (HJSC), which is based on n-type zinc oxide (n-ZnO) and p-type silicon (p-Si), is one of the numerous alternatives of the typical Si single homojunction solar cell. There are many deficiencies that can be found in the published research on n-ZnO/p-Si heterojunction solar cell. Inconsistencies in the stated value of open circuit voltage (Voc) of the solar cell are one example of deficiency. The absence of a full theoretical study to evaluate the potential of the solar cell structure is another deficiency that can be found in these researches. A lower value of experimentally obtained VOC in comparison to the theoretical prediction based on the band-gap between n-ZnO and p-Si. There needs to be more consensus among scientists regarding the optimal conditions for the growth of zinc oxide. Many software’s are available for simulating and optimizing the solar cells based on these parameters. For this purpose, in this dissertation, I provide computational results relevant to n-ZnO/p-Si HJSC to overcome deficiencies that have been identified. While modeling and simulating the potential of the solar cell structure with AFORS-HET, it is essential to consider the constraints that exist in the real world. AFORS-HET was explicitly designed to mimic the multilayer solar cell arrangement. In AFORS-HET, we can add up to seven layers for solar cell layout. By using this software, we can figure out the open circuit voltage (VOC), the short circuit current (JSC), the quantum efficiency (QE, %), the heterojunction energy band structure, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE).

Metal-Free 2D/2D van der Waals Heterojunction Based on Covalent Organic Frameworks for Highly Efficient Solar Energy Catalysis

Covalent organic frameworks(COFs)have emerged as a kind of rising star materials in photocatalysis.However,their photocatalytic activities are restricted by the high photogenerated electron-hole pairs recombination rate.Herein,a novel metal-free 2D/2D van der Waals heterojunction,composed of a two-dimensional(2D)COF with ketoenamine linkage(TpPa-1-COF)and 2D defective hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN),is successfully constructed through in situ solvothermal method.Benefitting from the presence of VDW heterojunction,larger contact area and intimate electronic coupling can be formed between the interface of TpPa-1-COF and defective h-BN,which make contributions to promoting charge car-riers separation.The introduced defects can also endow the h-BN with porous structure,thus providing more reactive sites.Moreover,the TpPa-1-COF will undergo a structural transformation after being integrated with defective h-BN,which can enlarge the gap between the conduction band position of the h-BN and TpPa-1-COF,and suppress electron backflow,corroborated by experimental and density functional theory calculations results.Accordingly,the resulting porous h-BN/TpPa-1-COF metal-free VDW heterojunction displays out-standing solar energy catalytic activity for water splitting without co-catalysts,and the H_(2) evolution rate can reach up to 3.15 mmol g^(−1) h^(−1),which is about 67 times greater than that of pristine TpPa-1-COF,also surpassing that of state-of-the-art metal-free-based photocatalysts reported to date.In particular,it is the first work for constructing COFs-based heterojunctions with the help of h-BN,which may provide new avenue for designing highly efficient metal-free-based photocatalysts for H_(2) evolution.

Dynamically-evolved surface heterojunction in iridium nanocrystals boosting acidic oxygen evolution and overall water splitting

Simultaneously realizing improved activity and stability of acidic oxygen evolution reaction(OER) electrocatalysts is highly promising for developing cost-effective sustainable energy in the splitting of water technique.Herein,we report iridium nanocrystals embedded into 3D conductive clothes(Ir-NCT/CC) as a low iridium electrocatalyst realizing ultrahigh acidic OER activity and robust stability.The well-designed Ir-NCT/CC requires a low overpotential of 202 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)with a high mass activity of 1754 A g^(-1).Importantly,in acidic overall water splitting,Ir-NCT/CC merely delivers a cell voltage of 1.469 V at a typical current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)and also maintains robust durability under continuous operation.We identify that a low working voltage drives the formation of a highly stable amorphous IrOxactive phase over the surface of Ir nanocrystals(surface heterojunction IrOx/Ir-NCT) during operating conditions,which contributes to an effective and durable OER process.

Facile one-pot synthesis of a BiOBr/Bi_(2)WO_(6) heterojunction with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation

Photocatalytic removal of tetracycline(TC)from the wastewater is of great value in the chemical and environmental engineering field.Here,we introduced a facile one-step method for the synthesis of BiOBr/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions by using cheap CTAB as the Br source.We showed the possibility of our method to fine-tune the content of BiOBr in the produced BiOBr/Bi2WO6 by simply changing the dosage of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB),providing a platform for the delicate tuning of the visiblelight absorbance ability of the composites.With a suitable heterojunction structure of BiOBr/Bi2WO6-0.2,it exhibited an ultrarapid photocatalytic activity towards TC(20 mg
L^(-1)),with a competitive removal efficiency of 88.1%within 60 min and an ultrahigh removal rate of 0.0349 min^(-1).It could also be robustly recycled for at least 5 cycles with slight removal efficiency loss.We demonstrated that this exciting photocatalytic performance was due to the highly decreased recombination of photoinduced electrons and holes on our composites by constructing this heterojunction structure,and the resulting
OH and
O^(-)_(2)contributed to the effective degradation of TC to CO_(2).

Construction of strong built-in electric field in binary metal sulfide heterojunction to propel high-loading lithium-sulfur batteries

The practical application of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries is greatly hindered by soluble polysulfides shuttling and sluggish sulfur redox kinetics.Rational design of multifunctional hybrid materials with superior electronic conductivity and high electrocatalytic activity,e.g.,heterostructures,is a promising strategy to solve the above obstacles.Herein,a binary metal sulfide MnS-MoS_(2) heterojunction electrocatalyst is first designed for the construction of high-sulfur-loaded and durable Li-S batteries.The MnS-MoS_(2) p-n heterojunction shows a unique structure of MoS_(2) nanosheets decorated with ample MnS nanodots,which contributes to the formation of a strong built-in electric field at the two-phase interface.The MnS-MoS_(2) hybrid host shows strong soluble polysulfide affinity,enhanced electronic conductivity,and exceptional catalytic effect on sulfur reduction.Benefiting from the synergistic effect,the as-derived S/MnS-MoS_(2) cathode delivers a superb rate capability(643 m A h g^(-1)at 6 C)and a durable cyclability(0.048%decay per cycle over 1000 cycles).More impressively,an areal capacity of 9.9 m A h cm^(-2)can be achieved even under an extremely high sulfur loading of 14.7 mg cm^(-2)and a low electrolyte to sulfur ratio of 2.9μL mg^(-1).This work provides an in-depth understanding of the interfacial catalytic effect of binary metal compound heterojunctions on sulfur reaction kinetics.

3D flower-like mesoporous Bi_(4)O_(5)I_(2)/MoS_(2)Z-scheme heterojunction with optimized photothermal-photocatalytic performance

3D flower-like hierarchical mesoporous Bi_(4)O_(5)I_(2)/MoS_(2)Z-scheme layered heterojunction photocatalyst was fabricated by oil bath and hydrothermal methods.The heterojunction with narrow band gap of~1.95 eV extended the photoresponse to near-infrared region,which showed obvious photothermal effect due to the introduction of MoS_(2) with broad spectrum response.MoS_(2) nanosheets were anchored onto the surface of flower-like hierarchical mesoporous Bi_(4)O_(5)I_(2) nanosheets,thereby forming efficient layered heterojunctions,the solar-driven photocatalytic efficiency in degradation of highly toxic dichlorophenol and reduction of hexavalent chromium was improved to 98.5%and 99.2%,which was~4 and 7 times higher than that of the pristine Bi_(4)O_(5)I_(2),respectively.In addition,the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate reached 496.78 μmol h^(-1)g^(-1),which was~6 times higher than that of the pristine Bi_(4)O_(5)I_(2).The excellent photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the promoted photothermal effect,as well as,the formation of compact Z-scheme layered heterojunctions.The 3D flower-like hierarchical mesoporous structure provided adequate surface active-sites,which was conducive to the mass transfer.Moreover,the high stability of the prepared photocatalyst further promoted its potential practical application.This strategy also provides new insights for fabricating layered Zscheme heterojunctions photocatalysts with highly photothermal-photocatalytic efficiency.

Recent advances in NiO/Ga_(2)O_(3) heterojunctions for power electronics

Beta gallium oxide(β-Ga_(2)O_(3)) has attracted significant attention for applications in power electronics due to its ultrawide bandgap of ~ 4.8 eV and the large critical electric field of 8 MV/cm. These properties yield a high Baliga's figures of merit(BFOM) of more than 3000. Though β-Ga_(2)O_(3) possesses superior material properties, the lack of p-type doping is the main obstacle that hinders the development of β-Ga_(2)O_(3)-based power devices for commercial use. Constructing heterojunctions by employing other p-type materials has been proven to be a feasible solution to this issue. Nickel oxide(NiO) is the most promising candidate due to its wide band gap of 3.6–4.0 eV. So far, remarkable progress has been made in NiO/β-Ga_(2)O_(3) heterojunction power devices. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the construction, characterization, and device performance of the NiO/β-Ga_(2)O_(3) heterojunction power devices. The crystallinity, band structure, and carrier transport property of the sputtered NiO/β-Ga_(2)O_(3) heterojunctions are discussed. Various device architectures, including the NiO/β-Ga_(2)O_(3) heterojunction pn diodes(HJDs), junction barrier Schottky(JBS) diodes, and junction field effect transistors(JFET), as well as the edge terminations and super-junctions based on the NiO/β-Ga_(2)O_(3) heterojunction, are described.

A self-powered ultraviolet photodetector based on a Ga_(2)O_(3)/Bi_(2)WO_(6)heterojunction with low noise and stable photoresponse

A self-powered solar-blind ultraviolet(UV)photodetector(PD)was successfully constructed on a Ga_(2)O_(3)/Bi_(2)WO_(6)heterojunction,which was fabricated by spin-coating the hydrothermally grown Bi_(2)WO_(6)onto MOCVD-grown Ga_(2)O_(3)film.The results show that a typical type-I heterojunction is formed at the interface of the Ga_(2)O_(3)film and clustered Bi_(2)WO_(6),which demonstrates a distinct photovoltaic effect with an open-circuit voltage of 0.18 V under the irradiation of 254 nm UV light.Moreover,the Ga_(2)O_(3)/Bi_(2)WO_(6)PD displays excellent photodetection performance with an ultra-low dark current of~6 fA,and a high light-to-dark current ratio(PDCR)of 3.5 x 10^(4)in self-powered mode(0 V),as well as a best responsivity result of 2.21 mA/W in power supply mode(5 V).Furthermore,the PD possesses a stable and fast response speed under different light intensities and voltages.At zero voltage,the PD exhibits a fast rise time of 132 ms and 162 ms,as well as a quick decay time of 69 ms and 522 ms,respectively.In general,the newly attempted Ga_(2)O_(3)/Bi_(2)WO_(6)heterojunction may become a potential candidate for the realization of self-powered and high-performance UV photodetectors.

Coupling Agent Grafting Assisted Synthesis of C3N4-ZrO_(2) Heterojunction Composites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Heterojunction composites were prepared by silane coupling agent grafting from synthesized graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))and commercially available zirconia(ZrO_(2)).The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR)spectroscopy,UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy(DRS),photoluminescence(PL)spectroscopy,and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS).The photocatalytic activity of the composites was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue(MB)under visible light irradiation.The results showed that heterojunction composites of g-C_(3)N_(4) and ZrO_(2) could be successfully prepared by coupling agent grafting.The optimal mass ratio of g-C_(3)N_(4) and ZrO_(2) was 2:1,with an activity that was 3.8 times higher than g-C_(3)N_(4) and 15.3 times higher than ZrO_(2).This was ascribed to the stronger light absorption,faster interfacial charge transfer,and lower photogenerated carrier recombination of the heterojunction composites.

Improving the UV-light stability of silicon heterojunction solar cells through plasmon-enhanced luminescence downshifting of YVO_(4):Eu^(3+),Bi^(3+)nanophosphors decorated with Ag nanoparticles

The ultraviolet(UV)light stability of silicon heterojunction(SHJ)solar cells should be addressed before large-scale production and applications.Introducing downshifting(DS)nanophosphors on top of solar cells that can convert UV light to visible light may reduce UV-induced degradation(UVID)without sacrificing the power conversion efficiency(PCE).Herein,a novel composite DS nanomaterial composed of YVO_(4):Eu^(3+),Bi^(3+)nanoparticles(NPs)and AgNPs was synthesized and introduced onto the incident light side of industrial SHJ solar cells to achieve UV shielding.The YVO_(4):Eu^(3+),Bi^(3+)NPs and Ag NPs were synthesized via a sol-gel method and a wet chemical reduction method,respectively.Then,a composite structure of the YVO_(4):Eu^(3+),Bi^(3+)NPs decorated with Ag NPs was synthesized by an ultrasonic method.The emission intensities of the YVO_(4):Eu^(3+),Bi^(3+)nanophosphors were significantly enhanced upon decoration with an appropriate amount of~20 nm Ag NPs due to the localized surface plasmon resonance(LSPR)effect.Upon the introduction of LSPR-enhanced downshifting,the SHJ solar cells exhibited an~0.54%relative decrease in PCE degradation under UV irradiation with a cumulative dose of 45 k W h compared to their counterparts,suggesting excellent potential for application in UV-light stability enhancement of solar cells or modules.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of methylene blue using heterojunction Ag@TiO_(2)nanocomposite:Mechanistic and optimization study

The objective in this study is to investigate the adsorption-degradation of the methylene blue(MB)dye using a fabricated heterojunction Ag@TiO_(2)nanocomposite.The batch factors used in photo catalytic reactions were pH,UV-irradiation time,temperature,catalytic dosage,and concentration of MB.The results showed that 0.2×10^(3) g·ml^(-1))of the catalytic dose caused the Ag@TiO_(2)adsorption to degrade by 96.67%with darks and UV exposure.Using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model to determine the kinetic,the Ag@TiO_(2)displays a greater kinetic rate than TiO_(2)and silver nanoparticle(AgNPs).The photocatalytic degradation of MB,which is an endothermic reaction involving all catalysts,is shown by the thermodynamic parameter to have the positive value of enthalpy(ΔH°).The enthalpies observed were Ag@TiO_(2)(126.80 kJ·mol^(-1))<AgNPs(354.47 kJ·mol^(-1))<TiO_(2)(430.04 kJ·mol^(-1)).Ascorbic acid(·OH scavenger),2-propanol(·O_(2)scavenger),and ammonium oxalate(AO)(hole h+scavenger)were employed to conduct the scavenger effects.The Ag@TiO_(2)demonstrated a reduction in MB degradation when combined with 2-propanol,and this clearly demonstrated that,in contrast to hydroxyl radicals(·OH)and holeh scavengers,superoxide radical anion(O_(2)scavenger)plays a significant role in MB degradation.Utilizing density functional theory(DFT)to elucidate the mechanism and B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)level optimization,the degradation-adsorption process was explained.When the N-N,C-N or C-C bonds were severed,the Fukui faction was demonstrated for nucleophilic,electrophilic,and radical attack.