Advanced energy conversion and storage (ECS) devices (including fuel cells, photoelectrochemical water splitting cells, solar cells, Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors) are expected to play a major role in the development of sustainable technologies that alleviate the energy and environmental challenges we are currently facing. The successful utilization of ECS devices depends critically on synthesizing new nanomaterials with merits of low cost, high efficiency, and outstanding properties. Recent progress has demonstrated that nanostructured metal chalcogenides (MCs) are very promising candidates for efficient ECS systems based on their unique physical and chemical properties, such as conductivity, mechanical and thermal stability and cyclability. In this review, we aim to provide a summary on the liquid-phase synthesis, modifications, and energy-related applications of nanostructured metal chalcogenide (MC) materials. The liquid-phase syntheses of various MC nanomaterials are primarily categorized with the preparation method (mainly 15 kinds of methods). To obtain optimized, enhanced or even new properties, the nanostructured MC materials can be modified by other functional nanomaterials such as carbon-based materials, noble metals, metal oxides, or MCs themselves. Thus, this review will then be focused on the recent strategies used to realize the modifications of MC nanomaterials. After that, the ECS applications of the MC/modified-MC nanomaterials have been systematically summarized based on a great number of successful cases. Moreover, remarks on the challenges and perspectives for future MC research are proposed (403 references).

Nanostructured metal chalcogenides: synthesis, modification, and applications in energy conversion and storage devices

Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) have been studied extensively for over two decades for their novel electronic, photonic, thermal, electrochemical and mechanical properties. This comprehensive review article summarizes major advances in the synthesis, characterization, and application of these materials in the past decade. Developments in the understanding of the fundamental principles of "bottom-up" growth mechanisms are presented, with an emphasis on rational control of the morphology, stoichiometry, and crystal structure of the materials. This is followed by a discussion of the application of nanowires in i) electronic, ii) sensor, iii) photonic, iv) thermoelectric, v) photovoltaic, vi) photoelectrochemical, vii) battery, viii) mechanical, and ix) biological applications. Throughout the discussion, a detailed explanation of the unique properties associated with the one-dimensional nanowire geometry will be presented, and the benefits of these properties for the various applications will be highlighted. The review concludes with a brief perspective on future research directions, and remaining barriers which must be overcome for the successful commercial application of these technologies.

/pdf/25th-anniversary-article-semiconductor-nanowires-synthesis-4ccslz11ke.pdf

25th Anniversary Article: Semiconductor Nanowires – Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

GeTe with rhombohedral-to-cubic phase transition is a promising lead-free thermoelectric candidate. Herein, theoretical studies reveal that cubic GeTe has superior thermoelectric behavior, which is linked to (1) the two valence bands to enhance the electronic transport coefficients and (2) stronger enharmonic phonon-phonon interactions to ensure a lower intrinsic thermal conductivity. Experimentally, based on Ge1-x Sbx Te with optimized carrier concentration, a record-high figure-of-merit of 2.3 is achieved via further doping with In, which induces the distortion of the density of states near the Fermi level. Moreover, Sb and In codoping reduces the phase-transition temperature to extend the better thermoelectric behavior of cubic GeTe to low temperature. Additionally, electronic microscopy characterization demonstrates grain boundaries, a high-density of stacking faults, and nanoscale precipitates, which together with the inevitable point defects result in a dramatically decreased thermal conductivity. The fundamental investigation and experimental demonstration provide an important direction for the development of high-performance Pb-free thermoelectric materials.

Realizing zT of 2.3 in Ge1-x-y Sbx Iny Te via Reducing the Phase-Transition Temperature and Introducing Resonant Energy Doping.

This review provides an overview of recent developments in “chemical virology.” Viruses, as materials, provide unique nanoscale scaffolds that have relevance in chemical biology and nanotechnology, with diverse areas of applications. Some fundamental advantages of viruses, compared to synthetically programmed materials, include the highly precise spatial arrangement of their subunits into a diverse array of shapes and sizes and many available avenues for easy and reproducible modification. Here, we will first survey the broad distribution of viruses and various methods for producing virus-based nanoparticles, as well as engineering principles used to impart new functionalities. We will then examine the broad range of applications and implications of virus-based materials, focusing on the medical, biotechnology, and energy sectors. We anticipate that this field will continue to evolve and grow, with exciting new possibilities stemming from advancements in the rational design of virus-based nanomaterials.

/pdf/design-of-virus-based-nanomaterials-for-medicine-pty0p4ubjj.pdf

Design of virus-based nanomaterials for medicine, biotechnology, and energy

Driven by the prospective applications of thermoelectric materials, massive efforts have been dedicated to enhancing the conversion efficiency. The latter is governed by the figure of merit (ZT), which is proportional to the power factor (S(2)σ) and inversely proportional to the thermal conductivity (κ). Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of high-quality ternary Bi2Te3-xSex nanoplates using a microwave-assisted surfactant-free solvothermal method. The obtained n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 nanostructures exhibit a high ZT of 1.23 at 480 K measured from the corresponding sintered pellets, in which a remarkably low κ and a shift of peak S(2)σ to high temperature are observed. By detailed electron microscopy investigations, coupled with theoretical analysis on phonon transports, we propose that the achieved κ reduction is attributed to the strong wide-frequency phonon scatterings. The shifting of peak S(2)σ to high temperature is due to the weakened temperature dependent transport properties governed by the synergistic carrier scatterings and the suppressed bipolar effects by enlarging the band gap.

n-Type Bi2Te3-xSex nanoplates with enhanced thermoelectric efficiency driven by wide-frequency phonon scatterings and synergistic carrier scatterings

A rational yet scalable solution phase method has been established, for the first time, to obtain n-type Bi2Te3 ultrathin nanowires with an average diameter of 8 nm in high yield (up to 93%). Thermoelectric properties of bulk pellets fabricated by compressing the nanowire powder through spark plasma sintering have been investigated. Compared to the current commercial n-type Bi2Te3-based bulk materials, our nanowire devices exhibit an enhanced ZT of 0.96 peaked at 380 K due to a significant reduction of thermal conductivity derived from phonon scattering at the nanoscale interfaces in the bulk pellets, which corresponds to a 13% enhancement compared to that of the best n-type commercial Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 single crystals (∼0.85) and is comparable to the best reported result of n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 sample (ZT = 1.04) fabricated by the hot pressing of ball-milled powder. The uniformity and high yield of the nanowires provide a promising route to make significant contributions to the manufacture of nanotechnology-...

/pdf/rational-synthesis-of-ultrathin-n-type-bi2te3-nanowires-with-i5b460f3nq.pdf

Rational synthesis of ultrathin n-type Bi2Te3 nanowires with enhanced thermoelectric properties.

Lanthanum strontium manganate (La0.67Sr0.33MnO3, i.e., LSMO)/lanthanum manganate (LaMnO3, i.e., LMO) perovskite oxide metal/semiconductor superlattices were investigated as a potential p-type thermoelectric material. Growth was performed using pulsed laser deposition to achieve epitaxial LSMO (metal)/LMO (p-type semiconductor) superlattices on (100)-strontium titanate (STO) substrates. The magnitude of the in-plane Seebeck coefficient of LSMO thin films (<20 μV/K) is consistent with metallic behavior, while LMO thin films were p-type with a room temperature Seebeck coefficient of 140 μV/K. Thermal conductivity measurements via the photo-acoustic (PA) technique showed that LSMO/LMO superlattices exhibit a room temperature cross-plane thermal conductivity (0.89 W/m·K) that is significantly lower than the thermal conductivity of individual thin films of either LSMO (1.60 W/m·K) or LMO (1.29 W/m·K). The lower thermal conductivity of LSMO/LMO superlattices may help overcome one of the major limitations of oxid...

/pdf/cross-plane-electronic-and-thermal-transport-properties-of-p-iz7d8yrb5f.pdf

Benjamin Kirk

Papers

Rational synthesis of ultrathin n-type Bi2Te3 nanowires with enhanced thermoelectric properties.

Cross-plane electronic and thermal transport properties of p-type La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/LaMnO3 perovskite oxide metal/semiconductor superlattices