Photonic/Electronic Materials Performance and Application Based on Nanocrystals and Nanostructures

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanophotonics Materials and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 14413

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, Gachon University, Gyeonggi 13120, Korea
Interests: perovskite solar cells; organic solar cells; DNA sensors; electrochemical sensors; density functional theory; electronic structure calculations; semiconductor devices; memory devices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Electronic, optoelectronic, and optical devices are widely used information-, energy-, bio-, environmental- and nano-technologies that greatly contribute to the convenience of modern life. To improve the performances of the devices that employ electrons and photons, it is important to investigate new optical and electronic materials properties for applications in the devices. Nanocrystals or nanostructures have attracted significant attention because they are easily integrated into the devices and have new physical properties that are not present in bulk materials. In particular, the quantum mechanical properties of nanocrystals or nanostructures are of great interest, and they are important for developing quantum computation and information technologies. Therefore, applying nanocrystals or nanostructures to various functional devices is particularly important for obtaining improved performances and new functions.

This Special Issue aims to publish the latest research and review papers using nanocrystals or nanostructures to obtain new electrical and optical materials properties. Nanostructures include nanoparticles, quantum dots, fullerenes, nanotubes, nanofilms, and 2D materials based on inorganic, organic, and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Since electrons have spins, the investigation of magnetism and spintronic materials properties is also of interest. Both experimental and theoretical studies are welcomed. For this Special Issue, we invite the contributions of leading research groups in the relevant field.

Prof. Dr. Eun-Cheol Lee
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanocrystals
  • nanostructures
  • photonic materials performance
  • electronic materials performance
  • electronic device
  • optical device
  • optoelectronic device
  • photovoltaic device

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 159 KiB  
Editorial
Photonic/Electronic Material Performance and Application Based on Nanocrystals and Nanostructures
by Eun-Cheol Lee
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(17), 2460; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13172460 - 30 Aug 2023
Viewed by 844
Abstract
Electronic, optoelectronic, and optical devices have become integral to the fabric of the modern life, underpinning critical advancements in information technology, energy utilization, biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and nanotechnology [...] Full article

Research

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17 pages, 5341 KiB  
Article
Influence of Ni and Sn Perovskite NiSn(OH)6 Nanoparticles on Energy Storage Applications
by G. Velmurugan, R. Ganapathi Raman, D. Prakash, Ikhyun Kim, Jhelai Sahadevan and P. Sivaprakash
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(9), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13091523 - 30 Apr 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2346
Abstract
New NiSn(OH)6 hexahydroxide nanoparticles were synthesised through a co-precipitation method using various concentrations of Ni2+ and Sn4+ ions (e.g., 1:0, 0:1, 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1; namely, N, S, NS-3, NS-2, and NS-1) with an ammonia solution. The perovskite NiSn(OH)6 [...] Read more.
New NiSn(OH)6 hexahydroxide nanoparticles were synthesised through a co-precipitation method using various concentrations of Ni2+ and Sn4+ ions (e.g., 1:0, 0:1, 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1; namely, N, S, NS-3, NS-2, and NS-1) with an ammonia solution. The perovskite NiSn(OH)6 was confirmed from powder X-ray diffraction and molecule interactions due to different binding environments of Ni, Sn, O, and water molecules observed from an FT-IR analysis. An electronic transition was detected from tin (Sn 3d) and nickel (Ni 2p) to oxygen (O 2p) from UV-Vis/IR spectroscopy. Photo luminescence spectroscopy (PL) identified that the emission observed at 400–800 nm in the visible region was caused by oxygen vacancies due to various oxidation states of Ni and Sn metals. A spherical nanoparticle morphology was observed from FE-SEM; this was due to the combination of Ni2+ and Sn4+ increasing the size and porosity of the nanoparticle. The elemental (Ni and Sn) distribution and binding energy of the nanoparticle were confirmed by EDAX and XPS analyses. Among the prepared various nanoparticles, NS-2 showed a maximum specific capacitance of 607 Fg−1 at 1 Ag−1 and 56% capacitance retention (338 Fg−1 and 5 Ag−1), even when increasing the current density five times, and excellent cycle stability due to combining Ni2+ with Sn4+, which improved the ionic and electrical conductivity. EIS provided evidence for NS-2’s low charge transfer resistance compared with other prepared samples. Moreover, the NS-2//AC (activated carbon) asymmetric supercapacitor exhibited the highest energy density and high-power density along with excellent cycle stability, making it the ideal material for real-time applications. Full article
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9 pages, 1062 KiB  
Article
Amplifying the Output of a Triboelectric Nanogenerator Using an Intermediary Layer of Gallium-Based Liquid Metal Particles
by Jong Hyeok Kim, Ju-Hyung Kim and Soonmin Seo
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071290 - 6 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1979
Abstract
The production of energy has become a major issue in today’s world. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are promising devices that can harvest mechanical energy and convert it into electrical energy. This study explored the use of Galinstan particles in the production of TENGs, which [...] Read more.
The production of energy has become a major issue in today’s world. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are promising devices that can harvest mechanical energy and convert it into electrical energy. This study explored the use of Galinstan particles in the production of TENGs, which convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. During the curing process, the evaporation of the hexane solvent resulted in a film with varying concentrations of Galinstan particles. The addition of n-hexane during ultrasonication reduced the viscosity of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) solution, allowing for the liquid metal (LM) particles to be physically pulverized into smaller pieces. The particle size distribution of the film with a Galinstan concentration of 23.08 wt.% was measured to be within a few micrometers through ultrasonic crushing. As the amount of LM particles in the PDMS film increased, the capacitance of the film also increased, with the LM/PDMS film with a 23.08% weight percentage exhibiting the highest capacitance value. TENGs were created using LM/PDMS films with different weight percentages and tested for open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and charge amount Q. The TENG with an LM/PDMS film with a 23.08% weight percentage had the highest relative permittivity, resulting in the greatest voltage, current, and charge amount. The use of Galinstan particles in PDMS films has potential applications in wearable devices, sensors, and biomedical fields. Full article
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7 pages, 1017 KiB  
Article
Changes in Mechanical Properties of Vesicles by Mucin in Aqueous Solution
by Gaeul Lee, Kunn Hadinoto and Jin-Won Park
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(20), 3683; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12203683 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1362
Abstract
The mechanical properties of vesicles were investigated as they were prepared, according to the ratio of mucin to dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), using an atomic force microscope (AFM). After the confirmation of the vesicle adsorption on a mica surface, an AFM-tip deflection, caused by the [...] Read more.
The mechanical properties of vesicles were investigated as they were prepared, according to the ratio of mucin to dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), using an atomic force microscope (AFM). After the confirmation of the vesicle adsorption on a mica surface, an AFM-tip deflection, caused by the interaction between the tip and the vesicle, was measured. The deflection showed that the tip broke through into the vesicle twice. Each break meant a tip-penetration into the upper and lower portion of the vesicle. Only the first penetration allowed the Hertzian model available to estimate the vesicle mechanical moduli. Two moduli reduced as the ratio of mucin to DPPC increased to 0.5, but the moduli were little changed above the 0.5 ratio. These results seem to be a platform for the effect of the mucin on the plasma-membrane anchoring and cellular signaling. Full article
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Review

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23 pages, 3517 KiB  
Review
Advancements in Perovskite Nanocrystal Stability Enhancement: A Comprehensive Review
by Xuewen Liu and Eun-Cheol Lee
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(11), 1707; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13111707 - 23 May 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3851
Abstract
Over the past decade, perovskite technology has been increasingly applied in solar cells, nanocrystals, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have attracted significant interest in the field of optoelectronics owing to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Compared with other common nanocrystal materials, perovskite [...] Read more.
Over the past decade, perovskite technology has been increasingly applied in solar cells, nanocrystals, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have attracted significant interest in the field of optoelectronics owing to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Compared with other common nanocrystal materials, perovskite nanomaterials have many advantages, such as high absorption coefficients and tunable bandgaps. Owing to their rapid development in efficiency and huge potential, perovskite materials are considered the future of photovoltaics. Among different types of PNCs, CsPbBr3 perovskites exhibit several advantages. CsPbBr3 nanocrystals offer a combination of enhanced stability, high photoluminescence quantum yield, narrow emission bandwidth, tunable bandgap, and ease of synthesis, which distinguish them from other PNCs, and make them suitable for various applications in optoelectronics and photonics. However, PNCs also have some shortcomings: they are highly susceptible to degradation caused by environmental factors, such as moisture, oxygen, and light, which limits their long-term performance and hinders their practical applications. Recently, researchers have focused on improving the stability of PNCs, starting with the synthesis of nanocrystals and optimizing (i) the external encapsulation of crystals, (ii) ligands used for the separation and purification of nanocrystals, and (iii) initial synthesis methods or material doping. In this review, we discuss in detail the factors leading to instability in PNCs, introduce stability enhancement methods for mainly inorganic PNCs mentioned above, and provide a summary of these approaches. Full article
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27 pages, 6968 KiB  
Review
Optical Sensing of Toxic Cyanide Anions Using Noble Metal Nanomaterials
by Ramar Rajamanikandan, Kandasamy Sasikumar, Saikiran Kosame and Heongkyu Ju
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13020290 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3289
Abstract
Water toxicity, one of the major concerns for ecosystems and the health of humanity, is usually attributed to inorganic anions-induced contamination. Particularly, cyanide ions are considered one of the most harmful elements required to be monitored in water. The need for cyanide sensing [...] Read more.
Water toxicity, one of the major concerns for ecosystems and the health of humanity, is usually attributed to inorganic anions-induced contamination. Particularly, cyanide ions are considered one of the most harmful elements required to be monitored in water. The need for cyanide sensing and monitoring has tempted the development of sensing technologies without highly sophisticated instruments or highly skilled operations for the objective of in-situ monitoring. Recent decades have witnessed the growth of noble metal nanomaterials-based sensors for detecting cyanide ions quantitatively as nanoscience and nanotechnologies advance to allow nanoscale-inherent physicochemical properties to be exploited for sensing performance. Particularly, noble metal nanostructure e-based optical sensors have permitted cyanide ions of nanomolar levels, or even lower, to be detectable. This capability lends itself to analytical application in the quantitative detection of harmful elements in environmental water samples. This review covers the noble metal nanomaterials-based sensors for cyanide ions detection developed in a variety of approaches, such as those based on colorimetry, fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering (RS), and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Additionally, major challenges associated with these nano-platforms are also addressed, while future perspectives are given with directions towards resolving these issues. Full article
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