The plasmon-optical effects have been utilized to optically enhance active layer absorption in organic solar cells (OSCs). The exploited plasmonic resonances of metal nanomaterials are typically from the fundamental dipole/high-order modes with narrow spectral widths for regional OSC absorption improvement. The conventional broadband absorption enhancement (using plasmonic effects) needs linear-superposition of plasmonic resonances. In this work, through strategic incorporation of gold nanostars (Au NSs) in between hole transport layer (HTL) and active layer, the excited plasmonic asymmetric modes offer a new approach toward broadband enhancement. Remarkably, the improvement is explained by energy transfer of plasmonic asymmetric modes of Au NS. In more detail, after incorporation of Au NSs, the optical power in electron transport layer transfers to active layer for improving OSC absorption, which otherwise will become dissipation or leakage as the role of carrier transport layer is not for photon-absorption induced carrier generation. Moreover, Au NSs simultaneously deliver plasmon-electrical effects which shorten transport path length of the typically low-mobility holes and lengthen that of high-mobility electrons for better balanced carrier collection. Meanwhile, the resistance of HTL is reduced by Au NSs. Consequently, power conversion efficiency of 10.5% has been achieved through cooperatively plasmon-optical and plasmon-electrical effects of Au NSs.

2D layered materials turn out to be the most attractive hotspot in materials for their unique physical and chemical properties. A special class of 2D layered material refers to materials exhibiting phase transition based on environment variables. Among these materials, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) act as a promising alternative for their unique combination of atomic-scale thickness, direct bandgap, significant spin-orbit coupling and prominent electronic and mechanical properties, enabling them to be applied for fundamental studies as catalyst materials. Metal phosphorous trichalcogenides (MPTs), as another potential catalytic 2D phase transition material, have been employed for their unusual intercalation behavior and electrochemical properties, which act as a secondary electrode in lithium batteries. The preparation of 2D TMD and MPT materials has been extensively conducted by engineering their intrinsic structures at the atomic scale. In this study, advanced synthesis methods of preparing 2D TMD and MPT materials are tested, and their properties are investigated, with stress placed on their phase transition. The surge of this type of report is associated with water-splitting catalysis and other catalytic purposes. This study aims to be a guideline to explore the mentioned 2D TMD and MPT materials for their catalytic applications.

Recently, metal nitrides (MNs) have received renewed attention these decades due to potential catalytic materials in energy transformations, with water spitting and CO2 reduction being the most studied reactions. The...

Electrochromic materials are vital to the development of dual-band smart windows, which enable the individual control of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light transmittance. In this paper, we propose a novel single-component MoO3−x nanowire fabricated using a simplified preparation method via a fluoride-assisted route. The incorporation of oxygen vacancies into MoO3−x nanowire in the presence of fluoride anions has not been attempted before. Spectroscopic measurements confirm enhanced ion mobility in the MoO3−x conduction band through the Mo6+ substitution of Mo5+ cations as the origin of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Oxygen vacancies greatly improve Li+ diffusion in the MoO3−x host while providing near-infrared selective modulation due to tunable LSPR absorbance in the NIR region. The MoO3−x nanowire demonstrates excellent dual-band electrochromic performance in terms of switching speed (12.4 s and 5.4 s for coloration and bleaching between 1.0 V and 3.5 V), coloration efficiency (232.8 cm2·C−1 at 1080 nm and 211.7 cm2·C−1 at 450 nm), and electrochemical stability (91.8% at 1080 nm after 1,000 cycles). This suggests that MoO3−x nanowire with oxygen vacancy is a promising new electrochromic material for dual-band smart windows.