Photoelectric Nanomaterials for Biochemical Sensing, Photon Detection, and Energy Conversion Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 14846

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
Interests: micro- and nano-optics; optoelectronic sensors and detectors; photoelectrochemical cells; visible light communication

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Guest Editor
Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: plasmonics; photodetectors; biosensors; on-chip spectrometers; electro-optic modulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Communication & Electronic Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Interests: solar cells; defects; semiconductor optoelectronics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Photoelectric devices are generally regarded as the cornerstones of the opto-electronic information industry. In recent decades, although significant progress has been made in the development of photoelectric devices for a variety of applications, the understanding and optimization design of high-performance photoelectric devices still requires improvement in various specific applications. Recently, the emerging use of nanostructures/nanomaterials in newly developed nanotechnology has provided opportunities to significantly promote the performance of devices by enhancing the efficiencies of optical absorption, carrier separation and transfer. On the other hand, numerous kinds of new materials and device configurations, such as perovskite materials, organic–inorganic heterojunctions, nanophotonics, and semiconductor-electrolyte junction, have been developed. The combination of nanostructures/nanomaterials and new (or traditional) materials and device configurations will surely lead to a much improved performance of photoelectric devices. One significant reason for this is that nanostructures/nanomaterials enable significantly enhanced light harvesting in a very small region, where the transport distance for photogenerated carrier extraction is very small and the active sites for photogenerated carrier transfer are relatively dense.

This Special Issue covers the most recent advances in photoelectric nanomaterials for the biochemical sensing, photon detection, and energy conversion applications. This includes the nanomaterial synthesis, fundamental physics, device design, nanostructure fabrication, characterizations of photoelectric responses, and related specific applications, as well as advanced analytical methods and techniques in photoelectric devices.

Prof. Dr. Shaolong Wu
Prof. Dr. Long Wen
Dr. Xiaobo Hu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • carrier transport
  • photoelectric sensing
  • photon detection
  • solar energy conversion
  • plasmonics
  • nanomaterial growth
  • Schottky junction
  • photoelectrochemical responses
  • solar cells

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 3758 KiB  
Article
High-Performance Planar Broadband Hot-Electron Photodetection through Platinum–Dielectric Triple Junctions
by Xiaoyan Yang, Yongmei Wang, Yaoyao Li, Weihao Cui, Junhui Hu, Qingjia Zhou and Weijia Shao
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(19), 1552; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14191552 - 25 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 824
Abstract
Recently, planar and broadband hot-electron photodetectors (HE PDs) were established but exhibited degraded performances due to the adoptions of the single-junction configurations and the utilizations of absorbable films with thicknesses larger than the electronic mean free path. In this work, we present a [...] Read more.
Recently, planar and broadband hot-electron photodetectors (HE PDs) were established but exhibited degraded performances due to the adoptions of the single-junction configurations and the utilizations of absorbable films with thicknesses larger than the electronic mean free path. In this work, we present a five-layer design for planar HE PDs assisted by triple junctions in which an ultrathin Pt layer dominates the broadband and displays strong optical absorption (>0.9 from 900 nm to 1700 nm). Optical studies reveal that the optical admittance matching between optical admittances of designed device and air at all interested wavelengths is responsible for broadband light-trapping that induces prominent energy depositions in Pt layers. Electrical investigations show that, benefitting from suppressed hot-electron transport losses and increased hot-electron harvesting junctions, the predicted responsivity of the designed HE PD is up to 8.51 mA/W at 900 nm. Moreover, the high average absorption (responsivity) of 0.96 (3.66 mA/W) is substantially sustained over a broad incidence angle regardless of the polarizations of incident light. The comparison studies between five-layer and three-layer devices emphasize the superiority of five-layer design in strong optical absorption in Pt layers and efficient hot-electron extraction. Full article
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11 pages, 1553 KiB  
Article
Fast-Response Micro-Phototransistor Based on MoS2/Organic Molecule Heterojunction
by Shaista Andleeb, Xiaoyu Wang, Haiyun Dong, Sreeramulu Valligatla, Christian Niclaas Saggau, Libo Ma, Oliver G. Schmidt and Feng Zhu
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(9), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13091491 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2918
Abstract
Over the past years, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been the most extensively studied two-dimensional (2D) semiconductormaterial. With unique electrical and optical properties, 2DMoS2 is considered to be a promising candidate for future nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, charge trapping [...] Read more.
Over the past years, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been the most extensively studied two-dimensional (2D) semiconductormaterial. With unique electrical and optical properties, 2DMoS2 is considered to be a promising candidate for future nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, charge trapping leads to a persistent photoconductance (PPC), hindering its use for optoelectronic applications. To overcome these drawbacks and improve the optoelectronic performance, organic semiconductors (OSCs) are selected to passivate surface defects, tune the optical characteristics, and modify the doping polarity of 2D MoS2. Here, we demonstrate a fast photoresponse in multilayer (ML) MoS2 by addressing a heterojunction interface with vanadylphthalocyanine (VOPc) molecules. The MoS2/VOPc van der Waals interaction that has been established encourages the PPC effect in MoS2 by rapidly segregating photo-generated holes, which move away from the traps of MoS2 toward the VOPc molecules. The MoS2/VOPc phototransistor exhibits a fast photo response of less than 15 ms for decay and rise, which is enhanced by 3ordersof magnitude in comparison to that of a pristine MoS2-based phototransistor (seconds to tens of seconds). This work offers a means to realize high-performance transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD)-based photodetection with a fast response speed. Full article
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12 pages, 2268 KiB  
Article
Unbiased and Signal-Weakening Photoelectrochemical Hexavalent Chromium Sensing via a CuO Film Photocathode
by Wenxiang Lu, Lu Ma, Shengchen Ke, Rouxi Zhang, Weijian Zhu, Linling Qin and Shaolong Wu
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(9), 1479; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13091479 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1592
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors show great potential for the detection of heavy metal ions because of their low background noise, high sensitivity, and ease of integration. However, the detection limit is relatively high for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) monitoring in addition to the requirement of [...] Read more.
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors show great potential for the detection of heavy metal ions because of their low background noise, high sensitivity, and ease of integration. However, the detection limit is relatively high for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) monitoring in addition to the requirement of an external bias. Herein, a CuO film is readily synthesized as the photoactive material via reactive sputtering and thermal annealing in the construction of a PEC sensing photocathode for Cr(VI) monitoring. A different mechanism (i.e., Signal-Weakening PEC sensing) is confirmed by examining the electrochemical impedance and photocurrent response of different CuO film photoelectrodes prepared with the same conditions in contact with various solutions containing concentration-varying Cr(VI) for different durations. The detection of Cr(VI) is successfully achieved with the Signal-Weakening PEC response; a drop of photocathode signal with an increasing Cr(VI) concentration from the steric hindrance effect of the in situ formed Cr(OH)3 precipitates. The photocurrent of the optimized CuO film photocathode linearly declines as the concentration of Cr(VI) increases from 0.08 to 20 µM, with a detection limit down to 2.8 nM (Signal/Noise = 3) and a fitted sensitivity of 4.22 µA·μM−1. Moreover, this proposed sensing route shows operation simplicity, satisfactory selectivity, and reproducibility. Full article
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10 pages, 2139 KiB  
Article
Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy of Ultrathin Gold Films
by Dmitry I. Yakubovsky, Dmitry V. Grudinin, Georgy A. Ermolaev, Andrey A. Vyshnevyy, Mikhail S. Mironov, Sergey M. Novikov, Aleksey V. Arsenin and Valentyn S. Volkov
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1376; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081376 - 15 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2699
Abstract
Ultrathin metal films are an essential platform for two-dimensional (2D) material compatible and flexible optoelectronics. Characterization of thin and ultrathin film-based devices requires a thorough consideration of the crystalline structure and local optical and electrical properties of the metal-2D material interface since they [...] Read more.
Ultrathin metal films are an essential platform for two-dimensional (2D) material compatible and flexible optoelectronics. Characterization of thin and ultrathin film-based devices requires a thorough consideration of the crystalline structure and local optical and electrical properties of the metal-2D material interface since they could be dramatically different from the bulk material. Recently, it was demonstrated that the growth of gold on the chemical vapor deposited monolayer MoS2 leads to a continuous metal film that preserves plasmonic optical response and conductivity even at thicknesses below 10 nm. Here, we examined the optical response and morphology of ultrathin gold films deposited on exfoliated MoS2 crystal flakes on the SiO2/Si substrate via scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM). We demonstrate a direct relationship between the ability of thin film to support guided surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) and the s-SNOM signal intensity with a very high spatial resolution. Using this relationship, we observed the evolution of the structure of gold films grown on SiO2 and MoS2 with an increase in thickness. The continuous morphology and superior ability with respect to supporting SPPs of the ultrathin (≤10 nm) gold on MoS2 is further confirmed with scanning electron microscopy and direct observation of SPP fringes via s-SNOM. Our results establish s-SNOM as a tool for testing plasmonic films and motivate further theoretical research on the impact of the interplay between the guided modes and the local optical properties on the s-SNOM signal. Full article
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Review

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29 pages, 4343 KiB  
Review
Design Strategy and Application of Deep Eutectic Solvents for Green Synthesis of Nanomaterials
by Nguyen Nhat Nam, Hoang Dang Khoa Do, Kieu The Loan Trinh and Nae Yoon Lee
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1164; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071164 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 6024
Abstract
The first report of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was released in 2003 and was identified as a new member of ionic liquid (IL), involving innovative chemical and physical characteristics. Using green solvent technology concerning economical, practical, and environmental aspects, DESs open the window [...] Read more.
The first report of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was released in 2003 and was identified as a new member of ionic liquid (IL), involving innovative chemical and physical characteristics. Using green solvent technology concerning economical, practical, and environmental aspects, DESs open the window for sustainable development of nanomaterial fabrication. The DESs assist in different fabrication processes and design nanostructures with specific morphology and properties by tunable reaction conditions. Using DESs in synthesis reactions can reduce the required high temperature and pressure conditions for decreasing energy consumption and the risk of environmental contamination. This review paper provides the recent applications and advances in the design strategy of DESs for the green synthesis of nanomaterials. The strategy and application of DESs in wet-chemical processes, nanosize reticular material fabrication, electrodeposition/electrochemical synthesis of nanostructures, electroless deposition, DESs based nano-catalytic and nanofluidic systems are discussed and highlighted in this review. Full article
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