This Thematic Series on nanostructures for sensors, electronics, energy and environment is a continuation of the previously released seriesthree years ago and again presents articles of this highly dynamic field. The areas of nanoscale science and technology are rapidly emerging, with a focus on the design, fabrication, and characterization of functional objects. They can definitely help to improve our environment in several ways. The existing energy crisis could be solved not only by new and improved ways of getting sunlight energy, but also by saving resources thanks to developments in electronics and sensors.
See also the Thematic Series:
Nanostructures for sensors, electronics, energy and environment III
Functional materials for environmental sensors and energy systems
Figure 1: Experimental ARPES band structure for graphene grown on Ni(111) (left) and on Ir(111) (right), take...
Figure 2: Valence band photoemission data for the adsorption of FePc onto Gr/Ni (a) and onto Gr/Ir (b), as a ...
Figure 3: Valence band spectral density of states of clean Ni(111) (red line), of Gr/Ni(111) and of 0.2 SL Fe...
Figure 1: Temperature dependence of the signal of the mass spectrometer for m/z = 32 (left) and of the total ...
Figure 2: Infrared spectrum (normalized transmittance signal) of the nanowire sample (sample 2, red line), an...
Figure 3: SEM images of the Fe2O3 nanowires deposited on a Si surface before (left) and after (right) thermal...
Figure 4: XPS of the Fe 3p core levels as a function of the annealing temperature. Left panels: XPS rough dat...
Figure 1: Schematic view of the model GNHS-2.0%N2.0%B. Inset ‘A’ shows the boron and nitrogen atoms located a...
Figure 2: Simulation results for pristine GNHS: (a) Stress–strain curve; atomic configurations at the strain ...
Figure 3: Stress–strain curves of GNHS with different percentage of N-dopants between 1% and 4%.
Figure 4: Atomic configurations of GNHS-2%N at a strain of: (a) 0.097; (b) 0.098; (c) 0.099, inset highlights...
Figure 5: Stress–strain curves of GNHS with different percentage of B-dopant ranging from 0.5% to 4%.
Figure 6: Atomic configurations of GNHS-2.5%B at the strain of: (a) 0.094; (b) 0.102; (c) 0.103, inset reveal...
Figure 7: Stress–strain curves of GNHS with different densities of B- and N-dopant.
Figure 8: Atomic configurations of GNHS-0.75%N0.75%B at the strain of: (a) 0.097; (b) 0.101 (c) 0.102; (d) 0....
Figure 9: Yield strain, YP, and Young’s modulus, E, as a function of the concentration of N-, B-, and NB-dopa...
Figure 1: SEM images of the ECNFs (a) and the suface of laccase–Nafion–ECNFs/GCE (b). Insert: the diameter di...
Figure 2: Raman spectrum (a) and FTIR spectrum (b) of the ECNFs.
Figure 3: FTIR spectra of laccase (a), laccase–Nafion (b), and laccase–Nafion–ECNFs (c) thin films, respectiv...
Figure 4: Cyclic voltammograms of the laccase–Nafion–ECNFs/GCE in acetate buffer (pH 4.0) with different scan...
Figure 5: Cyclic voltammograms of of laccase–Nafion/GCE (a), laccase/GCE (b), laccase–Nafion–ECNFs/GCE (c) to...
Figure 6: Schematic representation of laccase-catalyzed oxidation of catechol with its subsequent electrochem...
Figure 7: Influences of solution pH (at 0.4 V) (a) and applied potential (pH 5.5) (b) on the steady-state cur...
Figure 8: Typical steady-state current response of the laccase–Nafion–ECNFs/GCE on the successive addition of...
Figure 9: Relative responses of the laccase–Nafion–ECNFs/GCE for different phenolic compounds (catechol, cate...
Figure 10: Storage stability of the laccase–Nafion–ECNFs/GCE in 0.2 M acetate buffer (pH 4.0) at 4 °C.
Figure 1: Sites for CO2 adsorption on BC59. The B and C atoms of HH B–C and HP B–C sites are represented as ‘...
Figure 2: Configuration of physisorbed CO2 on neutral BC59. Atom colour code: grey, carbon; pink, boron; red,...
Figure 3: LUMO of neutral BC59. The orbitals are drawn at an isosurface value of 0.02. The colours of the orb...
Figure 4: Mulliken charge distribution of (a) neutral BC59 and (b) 1e−-BC59. The atoms are shaded based on th...
Figure 5: (a) CO2 chemisorption and (b) transition structure for CO2 chemisorption on 1e−-charged BC59. Atom ...
Figure 6: Intrinsic reaction pathway for CO2 chemisorption on 1e−-charged BC59 from the physisorbed configura...
Figure 1: (a) XRD patterns, (b) Raman spectra, (c) TEM image, (d) HRTEM image and (e) SAED pattern of CZTS na...
Figure 2: XPS spectra of CZTS nanocrystals synthesized at 240 °C for 24 h.
Figure 3: (a) XRD patterns and (b) Raman spectra of the hydrothermal products synthesized with different TGA ...
Figure 4: TEM images of CZTS nanocrystals synthesized using (a) 0, (b) 18 and (c) 180 μL of TGA at 240 °C for...
Figure 5: (a) XRD of the precipitate collected from the precursor solution prior to hydrothermal reaction and...
Figure 6: TEM images of (a, b, c) Cu7S4 and Cu1.8S nanocrystals collected prior to hydrothermal reaction and ...
Figure 7: XRD pattern of the precipitate collected from the precursor solution without TGA prior to hydrother...
Figure 8: Schematic illustrations of the formation process for kesterite CZTS nanoparticles.
Figure 9: UV–visible absorption spectra of the CZTS nanocrystals synthesized at different reaction duration a...
Figure 1: FE-SEM images showing the encapsulation of 10-nm-diameter NDs into ZnO nanorods and microrods. (a) ...
Figure 2: FE-SEM images showing the encapsulation of 40-nm-diameter NDs into ZnO nanorods. (a) ZnO nanorods c...
Figure 3: FE-SEM images showing the embedment of 200-nm-diameter polymer nanobeads in ZnO nanorods. (a) ZnO n...
Figure 4: FE-SEM Images showing the encapsulation of nanobeads into ZnO nano/microrods after different regrow...
Figure 5: (a) Illustration of the encapsulation process of a surface-attached nanoparticle into the growing c...
Figure 6: (a) Micro-PL spectra taken from a single ZnO nanorod containing NDs, a nanorod with NDs in the surf...
Figure 1: (a) A perfect GNR with 3% B-dopant. (b) A perfect GNR with 1.5% B- and 1.5% N-dopant. (c) Velocity ...
Figure 2: (a) Variation in time of the external energy obtained from a perfect GNR. (b) The corresponding fre...
Figure 3: Variation of history of the external energy over time for a perfect GNR with B-dopant densities of ...
Figure 4: Variation of the external energy over time for a perfect GNR with B- and N-dopants. The total densi...
Figure 5: (a) Variation of the external energy over time obtained for a pristine GNR with two vacancies. The ...
Figure 6: Variation of the external energy over time for a defective GNR (two vacancies) with B-dopant. The d...
Figure 7: Variation of the external energy over time for the defective GNR (two vacancies) with both B- and N...
Figure 8: (a) Time history of the external energy obtained from pristine defective GNR with four vacancies. T...
Figure 9: Variation over time of the external energy of the defective GNR with four vacancies and B-dopant de...
Figure 10: Variation over time of the external energy for the defective GNR (four vacancies) with both B- and ...
Figure 11: Results of the defective GNR (four vacancies) with 1.20% B- and 1.20% N-dopant. (a) Variation over ...
Figure 12: (a) Comparisons of the relative natural frequency among all studied samples. (b) Comparisons of the...
Figure 1: (a) Low magnification and (b) high magnification SEM images of graphite oxide flakes.
Figure 2: AFM and KPFM images of (a) and (b) a GO flake (2 × 2 μm); (c) and (d) a GO-Cs flake (1.4 × 1.4 μm).
Figure 3: (a) XPS survey spectrum of GO (blue line) and GO-Cs (red line); High resolution XPS C1s spectra of ...
Figure 4: Raman spectra of GO-Cs and GO, displaying intense D and G peaks at ≈1380 and ≈1600 cm−1, respective...
Figure 5: Response of the GO and GO-Cs based sensors as a function of NO2 concentration. The inset shows the ...
Figure 6: Response of (a) GO-Cs and GO based sensors towards NO2 with concentrations higher than 1 ppm; (b) G...
Figure 1: (a) SEM image of ZnSe nanowires. (b) XRD pattern of the ZnSe nanowires.
Figure 2: (a) Low-magnification TEM image of a typical ZnSe nanowire, (b) high-resolution TEM image of a typi...
Figure 3: Electrical responses of the gas sensors fabricated from ZnSe nanowires to 50 ppb, 100 ppb, 500 ppb,...
Figure 4: (a) Response, (b) response times and (c) recovery times of the multiple-networked ZnSe nanowire gas...
Figure 5: (a) Electrical response and (b) response and recovery times of ZnSe nanowire gas sensors under UV (...
Figure 1: Chemical formula of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid is shown in (a). Cross-linking among adjacent monom...
Figure 2: The surface tension–area isotherm of the PDA monolayer with and without in situ polarization in the...
Figure 3: Infrared spectrum of a 20 monolayer PDA sample with and without UV exposure. The inset shows a magn...
Figure 4: Cyclic voltammetry results with varying scan rates for a 20 monolayer PDA sample in 0.01 M HCl elec...
Figure 5: Current density vs voltage scan rate for a 20 monolayer PDA sample on an ITO substrate measured in ...
Figure 6: AFM micrograph of 30 monolayer of PDA deposited using the Langmuir–Blodgett technique showing a sur...
Figure 7: A schematic representation of the challenges in MIM device fabrication using LB monolayers. Typical...
Figure 8: Current density–voltage characteristics for Ni–20 and 30 PDA monolayers–Ni junctions.
Figure 1: (a) SEM surface morphology of an NCD-coated sensor substrate with IDEs with separation of 200 µm an...
Figure 2: (a) SEM surface morphology of an NCD-coated sensor substrate with IDEs with separation of 50 µm and...
Figure 3: (a) SEM surface morphology of an NCD-coated sensor substrate with IDEs with separation of 50 µm and...
Figure 4: SEM images of NCD-coated, fully-integrated sensor substrates on a micro-hotplate with IDEs (separat...
Figure 5: Time dependence of the impedance of fully-integrated sensor substrates coated with NCD; IDEs separa...
Figure 6: Raman spectrum of the NCD film. The sharp peak at 1330 cm−1 provides evidence of the diamond charac...
Figure 7: Current density profile for a single pair of IDEs covered by intrinsic diamond with a hydrogenated ...
Figure 8: Schematic drawing of the sensor assemblies with diamond coatings: (a) continuous NCD film on IDEs w...
Figure 1: Sketch of the cross-section of the Au-NP/ZnO/In2S3/CuInS2 solar cell (A), and of the ZnO/In2S3/CuInS...
Figure 2: External quantum efficiency (EQE) of a plasmonic solar cell employing Au-NPs on top of an ITO layer...
Figure 3: Left: External quantum efficiency (EQE) of ITO/ZnO/In2S3/CuInS2/Au-NP solar cells (red line) and EQ...
Figure 4: Spectra of the relative increase in ∆EQE for the ITO/ZnO/In2S3/CuInS2/Au-NP solar cells when compar...
Figure 5: SEM image and EBIC image of the cross-section of the ZnO/In2S3/CuInS2/Au-NP solar cell prepared by ...
Figure 1: Powder XRD pattern of Mn(II) glycolate particles synthesized for 7 h; literature assignments [35] (blac...
Figure 2: a) SEM and b) and c) TEM images of the Mn(II) glycolate particles. Particles with broken outer shel...
Figure 3: In situ XRD patterns recorded in a pure O2 flow while heating the Mn(II) glycolate precursor to 700...
Figure 4: Powder XRD patterns of the manganese oxide particles obtained after calcination of the Mn(II) glyco...
Figure 5: Powder XRD patterns of the Mn5O8 particles obtained by calcination of Mn(II) glycolate for 5 h at 4...
Figure 6: a) TGA measurements recorded while heating the Mn(II) glycolate precursor up to 700 °C at 2 K/min i...
Figure 7: TEM images of the a) Mn3O4, b) Mn5O8, and c) and d) α-Mn2O3 samples.
Figure 8: a) N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms (volume adsorbed versus relative pressure, P/P0) and b) the c...
Figure 9: Linear sweep voltammograms of pure carbon powder (grey), Mn3O4/C (black), Mn5O8/C (red) and α-Mn2O3...
Figure 1: (a) Global energy consumption growth from 1965 to 2013. (b) The share of different energy sources f...
Figure 2: (a) Carbon concentration in the energy mixture from 1890–2100 (projected), i.e., kilograms of carbo...
Figure 3: Hybridization states of carbon-based nanomaterials. Reprinted with permission from [19]. Copyright (200...
Figure 4: Structure of the most significant fullerenes, C60 and the C70. All fullerenes exhibit hexagonal and...
Figure 5: Schematic depiction of an auto-loading version of an arc-discharge apparatus used for fullerene pro...
Figure 6: Diffusion flame chamber for fullerene production. Reprinted with permission from [31]. Copyright (2000)...
Figure 7: Formation of C60 through dehydrogenation/dehydrochlorination. Reprinted with permission from [32]. Copy...
Figure 8: Synthesis of PC61BM by reaction between C60 and diazoalacane with subsequent refluxing with o-dichl...
Figure 9: Graphene and carbon nanotubes as a (a) single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and (b) multiwall carb...
Figure 10: Schematic models for SWCNTs with the nanotube axis normal to the chiral vector, which, in turn, is ...
Figure 11: Schematic representation of methods used for carbon nanotube synthesis: (a) arc discharge; (b) chem...
Figure 12: Honeycomb lattice of graphene. Graphene layers can be stacked into graphite or rolled up into carbo...
Figure 13: (a) Representation of the electronic band structure and Brillouin zone of graphene; (b) The two gra...
Figure 14: Several methods for the mass production of graphene that allow a wide choice in terms of size, qual...
Figure 15: Graphene-based display and electronic devices. Display applications are shown in green; electronic ...
Figure 16: (a) Schematic illustration and photo of the electrochemical exfoliation process for graphite. (b) P...
Figure 17: Chemical structure of graphene oxide with functional groups. A: Epoxy bridges, B: hydroxy groups, C...
Figure 18: Atomic resolution, aberration-corrected TEM image of a single layer, H-plasma-reduced GO membrane. ...
Figure 19: (a) Low magnification and (b) high magnification SEM images of graphite oxide flakes [112].
Figure 20: High resolution C 1s XPS spectra: deconvoluted peaks with increasing reduction temperature (Tr). (a...
Figure 21: Plot of sheet resistance against annealing temperature with a comparison to key carbon and oxygen r...
Figure 22: CVD graphene. (a) Schematic of the transfer of graphene produced on Cu using the roll-to-roll metho...
Figure 23: Millimeter-sized graphene grains produced on polished and annealed Cu foils. (a) Schematic of the c...
Figure 24: Millimeter-sized graphene grains produced on the inside of enclosure-like Cu structures. (a) Schema...
Figure 25: Millimeter-sized graphene grains made on resolidified Cu. (a) Schematic of the Cu resolidification ...
Figure 26: The characteristic tetrahedron building block of all SiC crystals. Four carbon atoms are covalently...
Figure 27: Schematic representation of the stacking sequence of hexagonal SiC bilayers for 2H, 3C, 4H and 6H p...
Figure 28: Number of graphene layers grown by annealing 3C-SiC for 10 h in UHV as a function of temperature. R...
Figure 29: TEM images of MLG on the C-face. (a) A cross-sectional TEM image. (b) A low-magnification TEM image...
Figure 30: High frequency graphene transistor. (a) and (b) Structure of a graphene-based FET for an analogue r...
Figure 31: Record solar cell efficiencies, worldwide, as reported by NREL in 2014 [180].
Figure 32: Photocurrent generation steps in an organic solar cell. Step 1: photon absorption in the conducting...
Figure 33: (a) Electron transfer from P3HT to PCBM after generation of the exciton at the interface of the two...
Figure 34: (a) Schematic of a regular organic solar cell structure. (b) Schematic of an inverted organic solar...
Figure 35: Simple equivalent circuit for a solar cell.
Figure 36: I–V curves of a solar cell. IL indicates the current under illumination. Voc and Isc represent the ...
Figure 37: Detailed equivalent circuit for a solar cell.
Figure 38: UV–vis spectra of PC71BM and PC61BM, both in toluene. To illustrate the contribution of MDMO-PPV to...
Figure 39: (a) Molecular dynamics simulations of P3HT wrapped around a SWNT (15,0). Reprinted with permission ...
Figure 40: (a) and (b) TEM images of P3HT wrapping around a SWNT (7,6) (images taken at QUT, not yet published...
Figure 41: Schematic of an organic solar cell with a transparent graphene electrode. Reprinted with permission...
Figure 42: (a) Schematic of a photovoltaic device with a P3HT/GO–PITC thin film as the active layer and the st...
Figure 43: (a) Schematic illustration of a device structure with GO as the buffer layer. (b) Energy level diag...
Figure 44: Device structures (a) and energy level diagrams (b) of the normal device and the inverted device wi...
Figure 45: Addition of a small amount of SWCNTs into the GO buffer layer can increase the FF and JSC of device...
Figure 46: (a) Structure of carbon solar cells where TFB and PEDOT/PSS are the electron-blocking and hole-cond...
Figure 47: Schematic of the two basic all carbon nanomaterial-based solar cell device structures: (a) a typica...
Figure 48: Energy density vs power density (Ragone plot) for various energy storage devices [257].
Figure 49: Hierarchical classification of supercapacitors and related types [259].
Figure 50: Charge and discharge processes of an EDLC.
Figure 51: Models of the electrical double layer at a positively charged surface: (a) the Helmholtz model, (b)...
Figure 52: Simple equivalent circuit.
Figure 53: CV curve of an ideal supercapacitor.
Figure 54: Simulation of CV curves with increasing internal resistance (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 Ω) at 20 mV/s scan...
Figure 55: Simulation of the charge/discharge curves with increasing internal resistance (0, 1, 5, 10 and 25 Ω...
Figure 56: Schematic representation of the Nyquist impedance plot of an ideal capacitor (vertical thin line) a...
Figure 57: Schematic illustration of the space in a carbon nanotube bundle available for the storage of electr...
Figure 58: Comparison of conducting paths for electron and electrolyte ions in aligned carbon nanotubes and gr...
Figure 59: CV curves of the EDLC using the SWNT solid sheet (red) and as-grown forest (black) as electrodes, c...
Figure 60: SEM images of CNT–carbon aerogel nanocomposites. Reprinted with permission from [289]. Copyright (2008) ...
Figure 61: Graphene-based EDLCs utilizing chemically modified graphene as electrode materials. (a) Scanning el...
Figure 62: Morphology of graphene oxide and graphene-based materials. (a) Tapping-mode AFM image of graphene o...
Figure 63: (a–d) Schematic illustration of the process to make laser-scribed graphene-based electrochemical ca...
Figure 64: (a–c) Schematic diagram showing the fabrication process for a laser-scribed graphene micro-supercap...
Figure 65: (a) SEM image of the interior microstructure of a graphene hydrogel. (b) Photograph of the flexible...
Figure 66: (a) Schematic illustration of a supercapacitor cell fabricated from reduced graphite oxide (rGO) an...
Figure 67: (a) and (b) are schematic, equivalent circuit illustrations for a polymer solar cell and a supercap...