Colloidal nanocrystals are nanometer-sized, solution-grown inorganic particles stabilized by a layer of surfactants attached to their surface. The inorganic cores exhibit useful properties controlled by composition as well as size and shape, while the surfactant coating ensures that these structures are easy to fabricate and process. It is this combination of features that makes colloidal nanocrystals attractive and promising building blocks for advanced materials and devices. But their full potential can only be exploited if we achieve exquisite control over their composition, size, shape, crystal structure and surface properties. Here we review what is known about nanocrystal growth and outline strategies for controlling it.

Colloidal nanocrystal synthesis and the organic-inorganic interface

Herein, a coprecipitation method used to synthesize CuS nanostructures is reported. By varying the reaction time and temperature, the evolution of the CuS morphology between nanoparticles and nanoflakes was investigated. It was found that CuS easily crystallizes into sphere-/ellipsoid-like nanoparticles within a short reaction time (0.5 h) or at a high reaction temperature (120 °C), whereas CuS nanoflakes are readily formed at a low reaction temperature (20 °C) for a long time (12 h). Photodegradation experiments demonstrate that CuS nanoflakes exhibit a higher photodegradation performance than CuS nanoparticles for removing rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solution under simulated sunlight irradiation. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were further used to modify the photodegradation performance of a CuS photocatalyst. To achieve this aim, CNTs and CuS were integrated to form CNT/CuS hybrid composites via an in situ coprecipitation method. In the in situ constructed CNT/CuS composites, CuS is preferably formed as nanoparticles, but cannot be crystallized into nanoflakes. Compared to bare CuS, the CNT/CuS composites manifest an obviously enhanced photodegradation of RhB; notably, the 3% CNT/CuS composite with CNT content of 3% showed the highest photodegradation performance (η = 89.4% for 120 min reaction, kapp = 0.01782 min-1). To make a comparison, CuS nanoflakes and CNTs were mechanically mixed in absolute alcohol and then dried to obtain the 3% CNT/CuS-MD composite. It was observed that the 3% CNT/CuS-MD composite exhibited a slightly higher photodegradation performance (η = 92.4%, kapp = 0.0208 min-1) than the 3% CNT/CuS composite, which may be attributed to the fact that CuS maintains the morphology of nanoflakes in the 3% CNT/CuS-MD composite. The underlying enhanced photocatalytic mechanism of the CNT/CuS composites was systematically investigated and discussed.

In Situ Construction of CNT/CuS Hybrids and Their Application in Photodegradation for Removing Organic Dyes

Efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness are the prime challenges in research of materials for solar cells. Technologically as well as scientifically, attention gained by dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) stems from their low material and fabrication costs as well as high efficiency projections. The aim of this study is to explore the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based counter electrode (CE) materials for DSSCs and to reconnoiter the suitable alternative materials in place of noble metals such as Platinum (Pt), and Gold (Au).. Various classes of CE materials based on CNTs including pure single walled, double walled, and multiwalled CNTs, doped CNTs and their hybrid composites with various polymers, and transition metal compounds are discussed comprehensively in light of the research work started since the inspection of DSSCs and CNTs.The properties associated with such materials, including surface morphology, structural determination, thermal stability, and electrochemical activity, are also thoroughly analyzed and compared. This work provides a thorough insight into the possibility of exploiting CNTs as alternative CE materials. In addition to the above, this study also includes the working and brief overview of materials for other components of DSSCs such as photoanode, electrolyte, and sensitizer.. 

Counter electrode materials based on carbon nanotubes for dye-sensitized solar cells

In-situ growth of flower-like CuS microsphere on carbonized cotton for high-performance flexible supercapacitor

We report the effect of thermolysis time on the morphological and optical properties of CuS nanoparticles prepared from Cu(II) dithiocarbamate single-source precursor. The as-prepared copper sulfide nanoparticles were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of crystal violet (CV), methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB), and a ternary mixture of the three dyes (CV/MB/RhB). Powder XRD patterns confirmed the hexagonal covellite phase for the CuS nanoparticles. At the same time, HRTEM images revealed mixed shapes with a particle size of 31.47 nm for CuS1 prepared at 30 min while CuS2 prepared at 1 h consists of mixtures of hexagonal and nanorods shaped particles with an average size of 21.59 nm. Mixed hexagonal and spherically shaped particles with a size of 17.77 nm were obtained for CuS3 prepared at 2 h. The optical bandgaps of the nanoparticles are 3.00 eV for CuS1, 3.26 eV for CuS2 and 3.13 eV for CuS3. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency showed that CuS3 with the smallest particle size is the most efficient photocatalyst and degraded 85% of CV, 100% of MB, and 81% of RhB. The as-prepared CuS showed good stability and recyclability and also degraded ternary dyes mixture (CV/MB/RhB) effectively. The byproducts of the dye degradation were evaluated using ESI-mass spectrometry.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Ternary Dyes by Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles.

Quantum dot sensitized solar cell (QDSC) is assembled with CdS/ZnS cosensitized TiO2 photoanode, Pt counter electrode and the polysulfide electrolyte. Since the conduction band of ZnS is higher than that of CdS, ZnS can suppress reversed transformation of electrons and improve the efficiency of electron collection as the passivation layer. The morphology and composition of photoanodes are characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM, EDS and XPS analysis. Results show that CdS and ZnS QDs are covered on the surface of TiO2 porous photoanode successfully to degrade the surface roughness and TiO2 crystal structure has not changed with the introduction of QDs. The photoelectric property of assembled QDSC is analyzed by EIS and J–V curves. The charge recombination at photoanode/electrolyte interface is less likely to occur due to enhanced charge transfer resistance after coating ZnS, leading to a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of cells. However, PCE of cell decreases when excessive ZnS QDs are introduced. The photoelectric property of cells sensitized with CdS and ZnS QDs in different cycles is compared and the effect of ZnS incorporated amount on photoelectric property of QDSC is discussed emphatically. It is found that cells sensitized with CdS in seven cycles and ZnS QDs in five cycles exhibit the best photoelectric performance and PCE of which is much higher than that of bare CdS sensitized cell.

Optimization of the CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells with ZnS passivation layer

Innovative BVO@CuO design: a high-performance Vanadium-based anode material for Li-ion batteries

The High Performance of Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells Co-Sensitized with Mixed-Joint CdS and ZnS Quantum Dots

Graphic-carbon nitride (g-C3N4) microsheet loaded with CuS nanocrystals was coated on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glass to act as counter electrodes (CEs) in quantum dots sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) for the first time. The successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) method was employed to fabricate CuS nanocrystals in different amounts onto the surface of g-C3N4 microsheets through varying deposition cycle times (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7). From the results of SEM and TEM, it was found that the amount of CuS nanocrystals deposited on the surface of g-C3N4 increased gradually with the CuS deposition cycle times. According to the results of the electrical impedance spectrum, series resistance and charge transfer impedance exhibited a declining trend until CuS deposition cycle time was up to 5, which was proved through Tafel curves as well. According to current density–voltage curve results of all these cell samples, g-C3N4 with five cycle times QDSC yielded the highest power conversion efficiency and corresponding charge transfer resistance was the lowest, while the cell based on CuS/g-C3N4 CE of seven cycle times presented worse photovoltaic performance due to the aggregation of excessive CuS particles. The optimized CuS/g-C3N4 CEs possessed the fast electron transfer and superior electrocatalytic ability, which are critical in high-performance QDSCs.

CuS/g-C 3 N 4 Composite as High-Performance Counter Electrode Materials in QDSCs

CuS nanocrystalline particles are deposited into the acid-treated multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) film on the fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrate through the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction combined with spin-coating technology to form MWCNTs/CuS composite counter electrode (CE). The CuS adding amount is changed in different cycles to discuss its effect mechanism on the photoelectric properties of MWCNTs/CuS composite CE based quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). The TiO2 photoanodes are prepared by the electrospinning technique with CdS and ZnS as co-sensitizer. QDSCs are assembled with photoanodes, the polysulfide electrolyte and abovementioned CEs. The CEs are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and energy dispersed X-ray detector, which verifies CuS nanocrystalline particles are attached to MWCNTs successfully. The photoelectric properties are analyzed by Nyquist, Tafel and J–V curves. The results show that the introduction of CuS nanocrystalline particles can promote reduction rate of polysulfide species and the short circuit current density (Jsc) to improve catalytic activity, leading to a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE). The MWCNTs based CE with deposition CuS in eight cycles exhibits the best photoelectric performance within all CE samples and the electrical conductivity of MWCNTs/8CuS CE is superior to that of Pt CE according to Nyquist and Tafel curve analysis. PCE of QDSCs with MWCNTs/8CuS CE is up to 5.186%, which is a little lower than that of Pt CE (5.250%), but it possesses a higher Jsc value (18.028 mA cm−2) than that of Pt CE (16.057 mA cm−2). The low-cost MWCNTs/CuS composite CE with simple preparation is more suitable than Pt CE for commercial application of QDSCs.

Effect of CuS nanocrystalline particles on counter electrodes of multi-wall carbon nanotubes for QDSCs

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