Nanostructures for sensors, electronics, energy and environment
Nanoscale science is growing evermore important on a global scale and is widely seen as playing an integral part in the growth of future world economies. The daunting energy crisis we are facing could be solved not only by new and improved ways of getting energy directly from the sun, but also by saving power thanks to advancements in electronics and sensors. Cheap sensors based on nanomaterials can make a fundamental contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, allowing the creation of large sensor networks to monitor countries and cities, improving our quality of life. Nanowires and nano-platelets of metal oxides are at the forefront of the research to improve sensitivity and reduce the power consumption in gas sensors. Nanoelectronics is the next step in the electronic roadmap, with many devices currently in production already containing components smaller than 100 nm.
See also the Thematic Series:
Nanostructures for sensors, electronics, energy and environment III
Nanostructures for sensors, electronics, energy and environment II
Functional materials for environmental sensors and energy systems
- Letter
- Published 02 May 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: (a) An optical photograph of a strap-shaped ZnO nanowire film; (b) SEM image of the nanowire film; ...
-
![]()
Figure 2: Room-temperature PL spectrum of the ZnO nanowire film. The insert is a PLE spectrum.
-
![]()
Figure 3: I–V curves of ZnO nanowire films under UV illumination and in the dark. (a) The device in PDMS with...
-
![]()
Figure 4: (a,b) UV photoresponse characteristics of ZnO nanowire sheets in air and in PDMS, respectively. The...
-
![]()
Figure 5: (a) Illustration of a ZnO nanowire in cross-linked PDMS. The blue lines represent PDMS molecule cha...
-
![]()
Figure 6: Illustration for the device fabrication process.
-
- Full Research Paper
- Published 02 May 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: (a) Photograph of the chemical vapour deposition chamber used to synthesize MWCNTs. The reactor com...
-
![]()
Figure 2: SEM image of the MWCNTs after growth on a stainless-steel substrate. The MWCNTs are randomly orient...
-
![]()
Figure 3: (a) Low-resolution TEM image assessing the multiwalled nature of the carbon nanotubes synthesized o...
-
![]()
Figure 4: Core-valence-valence (CVV) Auger spectra of MWCNTs (red curve) and HOPG (black curve). An electron ...
-
![]()
Figure 5: Energy-loss spectra of MWCNTs (red curve) and HOPG (black curve). In the case of MWCNTs, the σ+π-pl...
-
![]()
Figure 6: Comparison of the π-plasmon peak (0–12 eV) for MWCNTs (red curve) and HOPG (black curve). It is wor...
-
![]()
Figure 7: AFM 10 × 10 μm2 topography image of the as-exfoliated HOPG sample. The surface appears clean and se...
-
![]()
Figure 8: Scheme of the photovoltaic device. The Schottky junction between the Si and the MWCNT film is the p...
-
![]()
Figure 9: External quantum efficiency (EQE) spectra obtained in the top-down (dotted curve) and in-plane (fil...
-
![]()
Figure 10: J–V characteristics acquired in the dark and under illumination by white light. (a) In the in-plane...
-
![]()
Figure 11: Schematic depiction of the airbrush deposition process. A solution of MWCNTs in isopropyl alcohol w...
-
- Full Research Paper
- Published 02 May 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: Scanning electron microscopy images of (a) the drop-cast ZnO nanoparticle sensor surface; (b) the p...
-
![]()
Figure 2: Transmission electron microscopy images and size-distribution analyses of ZnO nanocrystals after he...
-
![]()
Figure 3: FTIR spectra of (a) pure ZnO nanowire sensor; (b) dodecanethiol-coated ZnO nanowire sensor; and (c)...
-
![]()
Figure 4: XPS spectra of (a) the sulfur peak of DT-functionalised ZnO NW sensor surface and (b) the amide pea...
-
![]()
Figure 5: TG and DTG of (a) DT-coated and (b) THMA-coated ZnO obtained in air at 5 °C·min−1.
-
![]()
Figure 6: Dynamic response of the same ZnO nanowire sensor, (a) before and after THMA functionalization and (...
-
![]()
Figure 7: Dynamic response of the same ZnO nanowire sensor, (a) before and after coating with ZnO nanoparticl...
-
- Full Research Paper
- Published 07 May 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: Images of TiO2 particles by SEM (a) and by TEM (b, c) as well as XRD pattern of the TiO2 particles ...
-
![]()
Figure 2: J–V characteristics of the dye-sensitized solar cells made from paste A containing 13 wt % TiO2 sph...
-
![]()
Figure 3: Equivalent circuit (a) and the Nyquist plot (b) and Bode plot (c) of the impedance spectrum of a dy...
-
![]()
Figure 4: Comparison of the effective electron lifetime, τn, (a) and effective electron diffusion coefficient...
-
![]()
Figure 5: Comparison of dye-sensitized solar cells based on hierarchically structured TiO2 spheres with and w...
-
- Full Research Paper
- Published 10 May 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: Typical CV and SWV voltammograms (left) at a bare GCE, 2 mmol/L AA in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 3.7)...
-
![]()
Figure 2: SWV of 1 mmol/L AA (in 0.1M acetate buffer, pH 3.7), scan rate = 75 mV/s: influence of varying the ...
-
![]()
Figure 3: SWV on MWCNT–GCE, 0.25 mmol/L AA in different pH media (phosphate buffer, pH 6.5 and 7.5; acetate b...
-
![]()
Figure 4: SWV in increasing AA concentrations (0.25–5.0 mmol/L in 0.1 M acetate buffer, pH 3.7); scan rate = ...
-
![]()
Figure 5: SWV voltammograms of four commercial orange juice samples (diluted by 1/5) in acetate buffer, pH 3....
-
![]()
Figure 6: Standard addition plot of SWV data for (1/5)-diluted juice 3.
-
![]()
Figure 7: Typical HPLC chromatograms of sample of (1/5)-diluted juice 1 and 0.5 mmol/L AA standard (inset).
-
- Full Research Paper
- Published 23 May 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: Effect of increasing concentration on (a) the viscosity and (b) the shear stress versus shear rate ...
-
![]()
Figure 2: (a–c) Storage (G΄, diamonds) and loss modulus (G˝, squares) of KC solutions at concentrations of 0....
-
![]()
Figure 3: Effect of increasing sonication time on the UV–visible absorption spectrum of a dispersion containi...
-
![]()
Figure 4: (a) UV–vis absorbance at 21 °C and at 660 nm wavelength for MWNT (diamonds) and SWNT (triangles) di...
-
![]()
Figure 5: (a) I–V characteristics for KC–CNT (channel length 2 cm) and (b) resistance as a function of length...
-
![]()
Figure 6: SEM image of (a) KC–CNT and (b) KC–CNT–G composite films prepared by the evaporative-casting method...
-
![]()
Figure 7: Stress–strain curves for films with and without glycerin prepared by (a) evaporative casting and (b...
-
![]()
Figure 8: Response of KC–MWNT and KC–SWNT composite films to humidity change, H2 and CH4 gases (100 ppm in ai...
-
![]()
Figure 9: Photographs of (a) KC solution and KC–CNT dispersion, (b) films prepared by evaporative casting and...
-
- Full Research Paper
- Published 03 Jul 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: Microscopically ordered structure of a mesoporous titania film observed by AFM analysis.
-
![]()
Figure 2: (a) FTIR spectrum of mesoporous titania thin films (solid line) and films functionalized with APTES...
-
![]()
Figure 3: Titania films before functionalization (yellow), after APTES treatment (pink) and after the linking...
-
![]()
Figure 4: Structure of the chemical linking, TiO2–APTES–GA–antibody.
-
![]()
Figure 5: (a) FTIR spectrum of mesoporous titania films before (solid line) and after the immobilization of p...
-
![]()
Figure 6: Colony counting method on a Petri plate with PCA and E. coli O157:H7 at a dilution of 10−6.
-
![]()
Figure 7: RT–PCR of DNA extracted from the nutrient broth. The blue line is the blank, the light green curve ...
-
![]()
Figure 8: FTIR spectra of titania films alone (solid line) and functionalized with APTES–GA–anti-E. coli O157...
-
![]()
Figure 9: Colony micrographs of E. coli O157:H7 immobilized on mesoporous titania films functionalized with A...
-
Low-temperature synthesis of carbon nanotubes on indium tin oxide electrodes for organic solar cells
- Full Research Paper
- Published 19 Jul 2012
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Figure 1: SEM images of MWCNTs grown on ITO-coated glass by CVD at: (a) 550 °C, (b) 525 °C, (c) 500 °C.
-
![]()
Figure 2: Transmittance spectra of the electrodes (left Y axis), compared to the absorption spectrum of the P...
-
![]()
Figure 3: (a) SEM image showing the surface of Sample C, on which a low density mat of MWCNTs is grown after ...
-
![]()
Figure 4: WF levels for cells with ITO (left) and ITO–CNT (right) electrode. (All reported values are in eV a...
-
![]()
Figure 5: Current–voltage characteristic and output power of P3HT:PCBM solar cells: (a) Cell C and cell C1, c...
-
![]()
Figure 6: Equivalent circuit of the ideal organic solar cell.
-
![]()
Figure 7: Schematics of the preparation of a P3HT:PCBM solar cell with CNT-enhanced ITO.
-
- Full Research Paper
- Published 10 Dec 2013
-
PDF -
Album-
![]()
Scheme 1: Reaction scheme of the ternary CuInSe2 compound obtained by the precursor synthesis method employin...
-
![]()
Figure 1: SEM micrographs of CuInSe2 nanorod arrays after the final conversion step at 450 °C.
-
![]()
Figure 2: EDX analysis of CuInSe2 nanorod arrays; Pt-signal originates from the sputtered Pt/Pd alloy.
-
![]()
Figure 3: Powder X-ray diffraction pattern of polycrystalline CuInSe2 nanorods after final conversion at 450 ...
-
![]()
Figure 4: TEM images and SAED micrograph of polycrystalline CuInSe2 nanorods.
-
![]()
Figure 5: Raman spectrum of CuInSe2 nanorod arrays.
-
![]()
Figure 6: The absorption spectrum of polycrystalline CuInSe2 nanorods.
-
