Self-assembled microtubes of mixed charge-transfer (CT) complexes comprising TCNB and naphthalene can be constructed with pyrene as dopant by an etching-assisted CT-induced interaction. Highly efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the excited naphthalene-TCNB to pyrene-TCNB molecules is obtained in mixed CT complex microtubes. White-light emissive CT complex microtubes can be formed by adjusting the dopant concentration and serve as an active optical waveguide.

Silica coated magnetite (Fe3O4@SiO2) core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) with controlled silica shell thicknesses were prepared by a modified Stöber method using 20 nm hydrophilic Fe3O4 NPs as seeds. The core-shell NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and UV-Vis adsorption spectra (UV-Vis). The results imply that NPs consist of a crystalline magnetite core and an amorphous silica shell. The silica shell thickness can be controlled from 12.5 nm to 45 nm by varying the experimental parameters. The reaction time, the ratio of TEOS/Fe3O4, and the concentration of hydrophilic Fe3O4 seeds were found to be very influential in the control of silica shell thickness. These well-dispersed core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs show superparamagnetic properties at room temperature.

PSS based device.

To synthesize monodisperse palladium nanoparticles dispersed on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets, we have developed an easy and scalable solvothermal reduction method from an organic solution system. The RGO-supported palladium nanoparticles with a diameter of 3.8 nm are synthesized in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and in the presence of oleylamine and trioctylphosphine, which facilitates simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide and formation of Pd nanocrystals. So-produced Pd/RGO was tested for potential use as electrocatalyst for the electro-oxidation of formic acid. Pd/RGO catalyzes formic acid oxidation very well compared to Pd/Vulcan XC-72 catalyst. This synthesis method is a new way to prepare excellent electrocatalysts, which is of great significance in energy-related catalysis.

Ag NPs and Bphen modified anode and cathode interfaces result in a PCE of 15.75% in perovskite solar cells.

Monodisperse iron oxide nanocrystals were synthesized by a simplified method using iron chloride as precursor. In the presence of Cl ions, the as-produced iron oxide nanocrystals preferred a cubic shape with {100} facets exposed. The function of halogens including Cl and Br ions on stabilizing {100} facets of spinel structured iron oxides, rather than the regulation of thermolysis kinetics and surfactants, was found influential on the shape control of nanocubes in this organic phase approach. The synthesis can be also extended for cobalt ferrite nanocubes and cobalt oxide polyhedrons.

This paper investigates the effects of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in an inverted polymer/fullerene solar cell by incorporating Au and/or Ag nanoparticles (NPs) into the TiO2 buffer layer. Enhanced light harvesting via plasmonic resonance of metal NPs has been observed. It results in improved short-circuit current density (Jsc) while the corresponding open-circuit voltage (Voc) is maintained. A maximum power conversion efficiency of 7.52% is obtained in the case of introducing 30% Ag NPs into the TiO2, corresponding to a 20.7% enhancement compared with the reference device without the metal NPs. The device photovoltaic characteristics, photocurrent properties, steady-state and dynamic photoluminescences of active layer on metal NP-doped TiO2, and electric field profile in metal NP-doped TiO2 layers are systematically investigated to explore how the plasmonic effects of Au and/or Ag NPs influence the OSC performance.

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