Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

About: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia is a education organization based out in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Membrane & Adsorption. The organization has 21644 authors who have published 39500 publications receiving 520635 citations.

A review of semiconductor materials as sensitizers for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

Abstract: Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) are renowned energy devices known for their distinct qualities, including (i) the ability to harvest sunlight that generates multiple electron–hole pairs, (ii) simplicity in fabrication, and (iii) low cost. The power conversion efficiency (η) rates of many QDSSCs are lower than those of dye-sensitized solar cells, reaching a maximum of 12% as a result of narrow absorption ranges and of the charge recombination occurring at the QD– and TiO2–electrolyte interfaces. New types of sensitizers are necessary to be developed to further increase the η of QDSSCs. Semiconductor QDs are the most applicable material for photosensitization because of their high absorption and the obtained emission spectra that can be manipulated by varying dot sizes. This paper presents an overview of recent studies on QDSSC photosensitization and provides suggestions to improve QDSSCs by explicitly comparing different sensitizers. Particular focus is directed on the behavior of several important types of semiconductor nanomaterials (sensitizers such as CdS, Ag2S, CdSe, CdTe, CdHgTe, InAs, and PbS) and other nanomaterials that are TiO2, ZnO, and carbon-based species. These materials are developed to enhance the electron transfer efficiency of QDSSCs. Understanding the mechanism of various photosensitization processes can provide design guidelines for future successful applications.

A review on oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials

Abstract: Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials have emerged in a wide spectrum of area of the polymer science. The composite produced from these types of materials are low density, low cost, comparable specific properties, and most importantly they are environmental friendly. The composite materials produced from oil palm fibers and commercially available polymers have offered some specific properties that can be comparable to conventional synthetic fiber composite materials. However, these properties are greatly dependent on the compatibility of oil palm fibers and matrix phase with moisture absorption as one of the critical issues that becomes the drawbacks of the oil palm fiber polymer composite materials. Apparently, it greatly affects the physical as well as mechanical properties of the composite materials. The present review reports the work on oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber-reinforced polymer composites with some interest on the OPEFB physical structure, and chemical compositions. Finally, the incorporation of OPEFB into polymeric materials leads to several interesting consequences on the water absorption characteristics and the mechanical properties, which have been reviewed.