The performance of photovoltaic devices could be improved by using rationally designed nanocomposites with high electron mobility to efficiently collect photo-generated electrons. Single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit very high electron mobility, but the incorporation of such nanotubes into nanocomposites to create efficient photovoltaic devices is challenging. Here, we report the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotube-TiO(2) nanocrystal core-shell nanocomposites using a genetically engineered M13 virus as a template. By using the nanocomposites as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, we demonstrate that even small fractions of nanotubes improve the power conversion efficiency by increasing the electron collection efficiency. We also show that both the electronic type and degree of bundling of the nanotubes in the nanotube/TiO(2) complex are critical factors in determining device performance. With our approach, we achieve a power conversion efficiency in the dye-sensitized solar cells of 10.6%.

Synthesis of Atomically Thin WO 3 Sheets from Hydrated Tungsten Trioxide. -Nanosheets of atomically thin WO3 layers are prepared by mechanical exfoliation of WO3·2H2O (obtained from pieces of tungsten foil in HNO3 at 80°C for 6 h) using a piece of an adhesive tape, followed by annealing at 300°C. The samples are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and AFM. The sheets have thicknesses that are multiples of the unit cell height (about 1.4 nm). Raman spectroscopy demonstrates that thinning of WO3 significantly affects physical and chemical behavior. Li intercalation causes significant changes in the Raman spectra for thin samples. The prepared sheets may have great potential in developing two-dimensional electronic and photonic devices such as planar photodiodes and transistors. -(KALANTAR-ZADEH*, K.; VIJAYARAGHAVAN, A.; HAM, M.-H.; ZHENG, H.; BREEDON, M.; STRANO, M. S.; Chem.

Here, we demonstrate that niobium pentoxide (Nb(2)O(5)) is an ideal candidate for increasing the efficiencies of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The key lies in developing a Nb(2)O(5) crisscross nanoporous network, using our unique elevated temperature anodization process. For the same thicknesses of ∼4 μm, the DSSC based on the Nb(2)O(5) layer has a significantly higher efficiency (∼4.1%) when compared to that which incorporates a titanium dioxide nanotubular layer (∼2.7%). This is the highest efficiency among all of the reported photoanodes for such a thickness when utilizing back-side illumination. We ascribe this to a combination of reduced electron scattering, greater surface area, wider band gap, and higher conduction band edge, as well as longer effective electron lifetimes.

2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have emerged as promising candidates for post‐silicon nanoelectronics owing to their unique and outstanding semiconducting properties. However, contact engineering for these materials to create high‐performance devices while adapting for large‐area fabrication is still in its nascent stages. In this study, graphene/Ag contacts are introduced into MoS2 devices, for which a graphene film synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is inserted between a CVD‐grown MoS2 film and a Ag electrode as an interfacial layer. The MoS2 field‐effect transistors with graphene/Ag contacts show improved electrical and photoelectrical properties, achieving a field‐effect mobility of 35 cm2 V−1 s−1, an on/off current ratio of 4 × 108, and a photoresponsivity of 2160 A W−1, compared to those of devices with conventional Ti/Au contacts. These improvements are attributed to the low work function of Ag and the tunability of graphene Fermi level; the n‐doping of Ag in graphene decreases its Fermi level, thereby reducing the Schottky barrier height and contact resistance between the MoS2 and electrodes. This demonstration of contact interface engineering with CVD‐grown MoS2 and graphene is a key step toward the practical application of atomically thin TMDC‐based devices with low‐resistance contacts for high‐performance large‐area electronics and optoelectronics.

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Plants have evolved highly sophisticated light-harvesting mechanisms that allow for increased environmental tolerances and robustness, enhanced photo-efficiencies and prolonged lifetimes. These mechanisms incorporate the dynamic, cyclic self-assembly of proteins necessary for continual plant regeneration. Synthetic solar conversion devices, on the other hand, are designed to be static devices. Material and processing costs continue to be important constraints for commercial devices, and the earth abundance of requisite elements have become a recent concern. One potential solution to these problems lies in the development of biomimetic solar conversion devices that take advantage of the low material costs, negative carbon footprint, material abundance and dynamic self-assembly capabilities of photosynthetic proteins. Although research in this area is ongoing, this review is intended to give a brief overview of current biomimetic strategies incorporated into light-harvesting and energyconversion mechanisms of synthetic solar devices, as well as self-repair and regeneration mechanisms adapted from plant-based processes.

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Defect engineering of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is essential to modulate their optoelectrical functionalities, but there are only a few reports on defect‐engineered TMDC device arrays. Herein, the atomic vacancy control and elemental substitution in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD)‐grown molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) monolayer via mild photon irradiation under controlled atmospheres are reported. Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, X‐ray, and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy comprehensively demonstrate that the well‐controlled photoactivation delicately modulates the sulfur‐to‐molybdenum ratio as well as the work function of a MoS2 monolayer. Furthermore, the atomic‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy directly confirms that small portions (2–4 at% corresponding to the defect density of 4.6 × 1012 to 9.2 × 1013 cm−2) of sulfur vacancies and oxygen substituents are generated in the MoS2 while the overall atomic‐scale structural integrity is well preserved. Electronic and optoelectronic device arrays are also realized using the defect‐engineered CVD‐grown MoS2, and it is further confirmed that the well‐defined sulfur vacancies and oxygen substituents effectively give rise to the selective n‐ and p‐doping in the MoS2, respectively, without the trade‐off in device performance. In particular, low‐percentage oxygen‐doped MoS2 devices show outstanding optoelectrical performance, achieving a detectivity of ≈1013 Jones and rise/decay times of 0.62 and 2.94 s, respectively.