Responsive Nanomaterials for Sustainable Applications (eBook)

Preface 6
Contents 9
Contributors 14
1 Photon-Responsive Nanomaterials for Solar Cells 16
1.1 Introduction 16
1.2 Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells 18
1.2.1 DSSC Device Structure and Working Principle 18
1.2.2 Electron Transporting Materials in DSSCs 20
1.2.3 TiO2-Based Photoanodes 20
1.2.4 Effect of Morphology of TiO2 on DSSC Performance 22
1.2.5 TiO2-Based Light-Scattering Materials 24
1.2.6 ZnO-Based Photoanodes 26
1.2.7 Effect of ZnO Morphology on DSSC Performance 26
1.2.8 Effect of Light Scattering of ZnO 28
1.2.9 Other Metal Oxides Used as Photoanode in DSSCs 30
1.3 Semiconductor-Sensitised Solar Cells 30
1.4 Photo-Response Nanomaterials Used Quantum Dot-Sensitised Solar Cells (QDSCs) 30
1.4.1 Electron Transporting Materials 30
1.4.2 TiO2-Based Photoanodes for QDSCs 31
1.4.3 ZnO-Based Photoanodes in QDSCs 36
1.4.4 Other Types of ETMs Used in QDSCs 38
1.4.5 Semiconductor QD Light Absorbing Materials in QDSCs 39
1.4.6 Binary QD-Based Light Absorber 40
1.4.7 Ternary and Quaternary QD’s Light Absorbing Material System 43
1.4.8 Core/Shell QD-Based Light Absorber 44
1.4.9 Co-sensitised QDs 45
1.4.10 Organic–Inorganic Hybrid QDs Used in Solar Cells 46
1.5 Perovskite Solar Cells 48
1.5.1 n-Type Photonic-Responsive Materials 49
1.5.2 TiO2-Based Electron Transporting Materials 49
1.5.3 ZnO-Based Electron Transporting Materials for PSCs 52
1.5.4 SnO2-Based Electron Transporting Materials in PSCs 54
1.5.5 Other Metal-Oxide Scaffold Materials Used in PSCs 56
1.5.6 p-Type Semiconductor Nanomaterials in PSCs 57
1.5.7 Nickel Oxide 57
1.5.8 Copper-Based Inorganic Hole Transport Nanomaterials in PSCs 59
1.5.9 Vanadium Oxide 60
1.5.10 Molybdenum Oxide-Based HTM 61
1.5.11 Tungsten Oxide-Based HTM 61
1.6 Summary and Outlook 62
References 62
2 Microwave-Responsive Nanomaterials for Catalysis 79
2.1 Introduction 79
2.2 The Principle of Microwave Heating 80
2.2.1 Microwave Heating 80
2.2.2 The Mechanism of Microwave Heating 81
2.2.3 Microwave Heating in Catalytic Reactions 83
2.3 Microwave-Responsive Catalysts 84
2.3.1 The Principle of Microwave-Responsive Catalysts 84
2.3.2 Catalytic Performance Evaluation 87
2.3.3 Materials for Microwave-Responsive Catalysts 87
2.4 The State of Art of Microwave-Responsive Catalysts in Different Reactions 88
2.4.1 Liquid-Phase Organic Synthesis 88
2.4.2 Gas-Phase Reaction 91
2.4.3 Solid Biomass Pyrolysis 94
2.5 Strategies to Enhance the Microwave Thermal Effect 97
2.5.1 Integrating Magnetic Loss Materials 97
2.5.2 Morphology Control 98
2.5.3 Heteroatoms Doping 98
2.6 Summary and Future Perspectives 100
References 100
3 Self-responsive Nanomaterials for Flexible Supercapacitors 106
3.1 Introduction 107
3.2 Introduction of Supercapacitors 108
3.2.1 The Structure of Supercapacitors 108
3.2.2 The Energy Storage Mechanisms of Supercapacitors 109
3.2.3 The Categorization of Supercapacitors 111
3.2.4 Characteristics of Supercapacitors 112
3.3 Flexible Supercapacitors 113
3.3.1 Electrode Materials 114
3.3.2 Flexible Substrates 121
3.3.3 Electrolytes 123
3.4 Strategies for Flexible Supercapacitors Construction 125
3.4.1 1D Wire Supercapacitors 126
3.4.2 2D Flexible Planar Supercapacitors 133
3.5 Self-responsive Flexible Integrated System 139
3.5.1 Flexible Capacitor-Sensor Integrated System 139
3.5.2 Flexible Capacitor-Energy-Collection-Storage-Sensing System 141
3.6 Future Trends 143
References 145
4 Magnetic Responsive MnO2 Nanomaterials 152
4.1 Introduction 152
4.1.1 Background 152
4.1.2 The Phase of MnO2 153
4.1.3 Electronic Distribution and d-Orbit of Mn 154
4.2 Magnetism 156
4.2.1 Intrinsic Magnetism 157
4.2.2 Ions-Induced Magnetism 163
4.2.3 The Effect of Exposed Surfaces on Magnetism of MnO2 164
4.2.4 The Effect of Size and Shape on Magnetism of MnO2 165
4.3 The Applications of MnO2 Magnetism 166
4.4 Summary 171
References 172
5 Hydrogel Responsive Nanomaterials for Colorimetric Chemical Sensors 177
5.1 Introduction 177
5.2 Synthesis of Hydrogel 179
5.3 Sensitive Mechanism of Hydrogel 179
5.3.1 Immobilizing Ions on the Hydrogel 180
5.3.2 Changing the Crosslinking Density 182
5.3.3 Variation in the solubility of the Hydrogel Polymer 182
5.4 Chemical Sensors Based on Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel 183
5.4.1 pH Sensor 183
5.4.2 Ion Sensor 190
5.4.3 Surfactant Sensor 193
5.4.4 Solvent Sensor 195
5.4.5 Humidity Sensor 197
5.4.6 Glucose Sensor 198
5.4.7 Aldehydes Sensor 200
5.4.8 Hydrogel Sensor Based on Strong Polyelectrolytes 200
5.5 Conclusion and Outlook 202
References 202
6 Interfacial Responsive Functional Oxides for Nanoelectronics 209
6.1 Introduction 209
6.2 Morphotropic Phase Boundaries 210
6.2.1 Nanoscale Structural Transformations 211
6.2.2 Elasticity Mapping Across MPBs 213
6.2.3 Mechanical Injection of MPBs and Phase Transition Yield Strength 215
6.2.4 Elastic Anomalies During Phase Transitions 218
6.2.5 Critical MPB 222
6.3 Summary and Outlook 224
References 224
7 Heat and Electro-Responsive Nanomaterials for Smart Windows 227
7.1 Introduction 227
7.2 Responsive Nanomaterials for Thermochromic Smart Windows 230
7.2.1 Vanadium Dioxide-Based Thermochromic Nanomaterials 230
7.2.2 Polymer-Based Thermochromic Nanomaterials 235
7.2.3 Halide Perovskite-Based Thermochromic Nanomaterials 238
7.3 Responsive Nanomaterials for Electrochromic Smart Windows 241
7.3.1 Metal Oxides-Based Electrochromic Nanomaterials 242
7.3.2 2D Electrochromic Nanomaterials 246
7.4 Conclusion and Outlook 247
References 248
8 Proton-Responsive Nanomaterials for Fuel Cells 256
8.1 Proton Conduction in Oxides 256
8.2 Proton-Conducting Electrolytes 257
8.2.1 Reducing the Specific Grain Boundary Resistance 258
8.2.2 Reducing the Overall Grain Boundary Resistance 262
8.3 Anode Nanomaterials for Protonic SOFCs 263
8.4 Cathode Nanomaterials for Protonic SOFCs 266
8.5 Conclusions 273
References 275
9 Thermo-Responsive Nanomaterials for Thermoelectric Generation 279
9.1 Introduction 279
9.2 Recent Advances in Thermoelectric Materials 281
9.3 Electrical Performance Enhancement 283
9.4 Lattice Thermal Conductivity Suspension 285
9.5 Efficiency of Prototype Thermoelectric Modules 291
9.6 Devices and Applications 292
9.7 Conclusion and Outlook 298
References 299
Index 304