Analysis and modification of defective surface aggregates on PCDTBT:PCBM solar cell blends using combined Kelvin probe, conductive and bimodal atomic force microscopy

• Hanaul Noh,
• Alfredo J. Diaz and
• Santiago D. Solares

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 579–589, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.62

• derivatives are attractive for inexpensive energy harvesting. Extensive research on polymer solar cells has provided insight into the factors governing device-level efficiency and stability. However, the detailed investigation of nanoscale structures is still challenging. Here we demonstrate the analysis and

Template-controlled piezoactivity of ZnO thin films grown via a bioinspired approach

• Nina J. Blumenstein,
• Fabian Streb,
• Stefan Walheim,
• Thomas Schimmel,
• Zaklina Burghard and
• Joachim Bill

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 296–303, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.32

• , more recently, energy harvesting devices [8][9][10][11][12]. ZnO crystallizes in the wurtzite hexagonal crystal structure. Its [001] and [00−1] faces are polar, since they are terminated with Zn2+ or O2− ions, respectively. The presence of these polar lattice planes in addition to the non

Fundamental properties of high-quality carbon nanofoam: from low to high density

• Natalie Frese,
• Shelby Taylor Mitchell,
• Christof Neumann,
• Amanda Bowers,
• Armin Gölzhäuser and
• Klaus Sattler

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 2065–2073, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.197

• ]. Hydrogen thermoporometry was used to determine the pore architecture of gold and titania nanofoams [6]. Nanofoams from low-mass elements are interesting with respect to possible energy harvesting applications, e.g., high hydrogen storage capacity of 10 wt % in Be nanofoam has been predicted [7]. Besides

Photocurrent generation in carbon nanotube/cubic-phase HfO₂ nanoparticle hybrid nanocomposites

• Protima Rauwel,
• Augustinas Galeckas,
• Martin Salumaa,
• Frédérique Ducroquet and
• Erwan Rauwel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1075–1085, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.101

• recombination sites are rapidly dissipated. These preliminary results demonstrate the potential of the HfO2 NP/MWCNT nanocomposite for functional interactions in energy harvesting applications. Quantum efficiency measurements are under investigation in order to precisely evaluate the origin of the photocurrent

Functional fusion of living systems with synthetic electrode interfaces

• Oskar Staufer,
• Sebastian Weber,
• C. Peter Bengtson,
• Hilmar Bading,
• Joachim P. Spatz and
• Amin Rustom

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 296–301, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.27

• : biointerface; biosensor; energy harvesting; nanoelectrodes; Physarum polycephalum; Findings The formation process of nanoelectrode interfaces (NEIs) was based on track-etch template synthesis as schematically shown in Figure 1a. First, monocrystalline gold (Au) nanowires in parallel arrangement featuring

• summary, we have demonstrated functional access to the electrochemical machinery of a eukaryotic cell system that may open the door to innovative sensor and energy harvesting applications. By employing a cell’s intrinsic signal processing and amplifying strategies, based on receptors, ion channels and

• corresponds to a hypothetical electrical output of approximately 1.6 nW. To determine the maximal electrical output of this Physarum/NEI/PGE “battery”, measurements using defined resistors were performed. This experiment revealed a peak of 3.31 nW at 4 MΩ (Figure 2d), emphasizing its potential use for energy

Controlled graphene oxide assembly on silver nanocube monolayers for SERS detection: dependence on nanocube packing procedure

• Martina Banchelli,
• Bruno Tiribilli,
• Roberto Pini,
• Luigi Dei,
• Paolo Matteini and
• Gabriella Caminati

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 9–21, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.2

• ], optoelectronics [3], energy-harvesting applications [4], cancer imaging and therapy [5], sensing and biosensing applications [6][7]. In particular, sensors based on arrays of noble metal nanoparticles have become increasingly popular for the ultrasensitive detection of a variety of species ranging from small

Materials for sustainable energy production, storage, and conversion

• Maximilian Fichtner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1601–1602, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.163

• solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and water power. Hence, these factors have driven the intensified and ever-growing interest in the fields of energy harvesting and storage seen during the past two decades. The harvesting of light is still a challenge, and solutions are needed to achieve both high

• present recent results from the respective working groups. In the field of energy harvesting and photovoltaics, Benedikt Iffland and Christian Jooss [1] report on current–voltage characteristics of manganite–titanite perovskite junctions. State-of-the art and recent progress in energy conversion from

Self-assembly of nanostructures and nanomaterials

• Isabelle Berbezier and
• Maurizio De Crescenzi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1397–1398, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.144

• with potential to shape future scientific research, self-assembly is the most promising path to breakthroughs in nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, spintronics, molecular nanotechnology, biology, materials science, software, robotics, manufacturing, transportation, energy harvesting, infrastructure and

Hybrid spin-crossover nanostructures

• Carlos M. Quintero,
• Gautier Félix,
• Iurii Suleimanov,
• José Sánchez Costa,
• Gábor Molnár,
• Lionel Salmon,
• William Nicolazzi and
• Azzedine Bousseksou

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 2230–2239, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.232

• applications involving biological/chemical sensors, signal processing and solar energy harvesting. In particular, emerging, active, plasmonic devices employ hybrid nanostructures consisting of at least one metallic nanostructure and one dielectric compound with externally tunable dielectric properties. From

Review of nanostructured devices for thermoelectric applications

• Giovanni Pennelli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1268–1284, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.141

• conversion, aiming at efficiencies as high as possible. These devices are very attractive for many applications in the fields of energy recovery and green energy harvesting. In this paper, after a quick summary of the fundamental principles of thermoelectricity, the main characteristics of materials needed

• the fields of energy recovery and green energy harvesting. For example, they can be used as alternative to photovoltaic cells [1][2], or together with advanced photovoltaic cells [3][4], for the conversion of solar energy into electrical power. Several industrial processes need a large amount of heat

Integration of ZnO and CuO nanowires into a thermoelectric module

• Dario Zappa,
• Simone Dalola,
• Guido Faglia,
• Elisabetta Comini,
• Matteo Ferroni,
• Caterina Soldano,
• Vittorio Ferrari and
• Giorgio Sberveglieri

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 927–936, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.106

• automotive industry with fuel economy improvements, and more [16][17][18]. Further, these modules can have a significant impact on energy harvesting applications for powering low-power portable electronics and autonomous sensor systems [19][20][21], which intrinsically must be independent of durability of

DNA origami deposition on native and passivated molybdenum disulfide substrates

• Xiaoning Zhang,
• Masudur Rahman,
• David Neff and
• Michael L. Norton

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 501–506, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.58

• energy harvesting applications [17]. Compared to conventional semiconductor materials such as silicon, MoS2 is readily processed as a prototypical nanomaterial. MoS2 nanosheets, nanofibers, and nanorods have been prepared [15], which means the material could readily be used to construct electronic

Advances in nanomaterials

• Herbert Gleiter,
• Horst Hahn and
• Thomas Schimmel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 805–806, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.91

• , from energy harvesting to energy storage technologies and from biomimetic structures to medical technologies, to mention just a few examples. One recent development in the field of nanomaterials is the ability not only to tailor the properties of nanomaterials (to achieve custom-designed, “tailor-made

Photoresponse from single upright-standing ZnO nanorods explored by photoconductive AFM

• Igor Beinik,
• Markus Kratzer,
• Astrid Wachauer,
• Lin Wang,
• Yuri P. Piryatinski,
• Gerhard Brauer,
• Xin Yi Chen,
• Yuk Fan Hsu,
• Aleksandra B. Djurišić and
• Christian Teichert

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 208–217, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.21

• temperature) and high exciton binding energy (60 meV) and being piezoelectric, ZnO is one of the most promising semiconductor materials. Fields of application include solar cells [1][2][3][4], piezo-actuators [5], energy harvesting devices [6], and photosensors [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. A common

Characterization and properties of micro- and nanowires of controlled size, composition, and geometry fabricated by electrodeposition and ion-track technology

• Maria Eugenia Toimil-Molares

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 860–883, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.97

• and solid contact interface of the copper nanocones resulted in much higher emission current values as compared to all previously tested metallic cylindrical nanowires [115][117]. 3.3 Nanowire networks Implementation of nanowire cathodes in fields such as energy harvesting, sensing, or catalysis

Junction formation of Cu₃BiS₃ investigated by Kelvin probe force microscopy and surface photovoltage measurements

• Fredy Mesa,
• William Chamorro,
• William Vallejo,
• Robert Baier,
• Thomas Dittrich,
• Alexander Grimm,
• Martha C. Lux-Steiner and
• Sascha Sadewasser

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 277–284, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.31

• 10.3762/bjnano.3.31 Abstract Recently, the compound semiconductor Cu3BiS3 has been demonstrated to have a band gap of ~1.4 eV, well suited for photovoltaic energy harvesting. The preparation of polycrystalline thin films was successfully realized and now the junction formation to the n-type window needs