CdS/CdSe/TiO2多级空心微球光阳极中量子点覆盖度的提高

TiO₂多级空心微球(THHSs)具有高的比表面积、强的光散射效应以及良好的电子传输性质,以此作为光阳极材料,可以显著提升CdS/CdSe敏化太阳能电池(QDSSCs)的性能。但基于化学浴沉积方法获得的这一类电池中量子点在光阳极表面的覆盖度通常不高(50%左右),本文发展了一种基于表面选择性吸附原理的多步沉积方法,选取特定分子(正十二硫醇)限制已有量子点的生长,通过二次沉积成功提高了CdS/CdSe在TiO₂多级空壳微球表面的覆盖度。使用此方法最终得到高达85.4%的覆盖度。结果表明,量子点覆盖度的增加有效提高了电池对太阳光的利用率,使得光电流获得了明显的增加。同时,二氧化钛空白表面积的减小还可以抑制电子和空穴的复合。优化后的电池光电流密度为15.69 mA·cm^-2,填充因子为0.583,电压为0.605 V,最高光电转换效率为5.30%。     

二氧化钛在钙钛矿太阳电池中的应用

纳米TiO₂由于具有合适的禁带宽度、良好的光电化学稳定性、制作工艺简单等特点,目前广泛应用于染料敏化、量子点和钙钛矿等太阳电池中。作为电池的重要组成部分之一,纳米TiO₂晶体尺寸、颗粒大小和制备方法等明显影响电池的光伏性能,相关研究工作一直是染料敏化、量子点和钙钛矿等太阳电池方面的重点。本文综述了纳米TiO₂作为致密层和骨架层在钙钛矿太阳电池中的应用研究进展,主要讨论了纳米TiO₂的不同形貌、制备方法以及结构等对电池光电性能的影响,并针对纳米TiO₂在后续对电池性能提升方面进行了展望。     

量子点敏化太阳电池

基于量子限域效应的新型太阳电池——量子点敏化太阳电池(QD-SSCs),由于其最大理论转化效率超过了传统的Shockley-Queisser极限效率,已经成为目前最具研究潜力的太阳电池之一。本文综述了近几年来QD-SSCs领域的研究进展,主要从半导体氧化物纳米材料,特别是其低维纳米结构下的特殊性能;金属硫族化合物纳米晶;电解质;对电极等几个方面评述了电池材料的研究进展。另外,从量子点材料的制备和组装方面简述了目前电池光阳极的研究情况,并介绍了提高量子点光敏化性能的几个新途径。最后,从开路电压和短路电流角度分析了影响电池性能的几个关键因素,并对QD-SSCs今后的发展进行了展望。     

ZnS/SiO2协同包覆光阳极制备高效率Zn-Cu-In-Se量子点敏化太阳能电池

通过光阳极协同包覆的策略抑制Zn-Cu-In-Se(ZCISe)量子点敏化太阳能电池(QDSC)中光阳极/电解液界面上的电荷复合过程,提高电荷收集效率和电池光伏性能。采用溶液法在ZCISe量子点敏化的光阳极表面依次沉积包覆ZnS和SiO₂双钝化层,实现较单一ZnS包覆层更有效的界面电荷复合抑制作用,从而提高QDSC的性能。在包覆ZnS/SiO₂双钝化层后,所组装的ZCISe QDSC光电转换效率由传统单一ZnS包覆的12.17%提高到13.23%,这归因于双钝化层对光阳极/电解液界面电荷复合过程的有效抑制,电荷收集效率得到相应提升。     

耦联剂辅助吸附法制备CuInS2量子点敏化太阳电池

分别以CuI 和InAc3 作为铜源和铟源, 十二硫醇(DDT)作为硫源, 采用直接加热法合成不同尺寸的CuInS₂ (CIS)量子点. 运用X射线衍射(XRD), 拉曼光谱(Raman), 高分辨率透射电镜(HRTEM), 紫外-可见(UVVis)吸收光谱表征其相结构、形貌及光学性能. 结果表明: 制备的CIS量子点为黄铜矿结构, 且随着时间的延长, 量子点逐渐长大, 吸收光谱的激子吸收峰逐渐红移, 表现出量子尺寸效应. 采用巯基乙酸为双功能耦联剂辅助吸附法制备CIS敏化的TiO₂薄膜. 通过衰减全反射红外光谱(ATR-FTIR)分析得出, 巯基乙酸上的羧基与TiO₂表面羟基连接, 另一端上的巯基代替长链的DDT与CIS 耦联, 将CIS 成功锚定在TiO₂表面. 该方法不仅操作简单, 而且容易实现CIS在TiO₂表面的吸附. 太阳电池光电性能测试表明, 粒径大小约为3.6 nm的CIS量子点表现出最优的吸附能力以及光电转换性能. 进一步采用连续离子吸附层法对CIS敏化的TiO₂薄膜进行CdS包覆, 光电转换性能大大提高, 其效率达到2.83%, 这主要源于CdS的包覆钝化了CIS 的表面缺陷, 有效地降低了电子复合.     

双层结构CeO2光阳极在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用

利用水热法合成核壳结构Au@SiO₂@CeO₂纳米微球,制备了一系列双层结构复合光阳极并应用于染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSC)。研究表明：当CeO₂纳米微球和核壳结构Au@SiO₂@CeO₂纳米微球应用于DSSC光阳极散射层时,电池的光电转化效率有了显著提高。相对于纯TiO₂(P25)光阳极,P25/CeO₂纳米球光阳极电池的DSSC光电性能提高了15.3%,P25/Au@SiO₂@CeO₂纳米球光阳极电池的光电性能提高了27.9%。DSSC光电性能的提高主要归因于2个方面：一方面,Au纳米粒子的表面等离子体共振效应有效提高了光阳极薄膜的光散射效应。另一方面,CeO₂具有较高的染料负载能力,核壳球形结构具有较高的比表面积,增强了光的散射效应,提高了电子传输能力。     

铜锌锡硫的合成及其光电应用

铜锌锡硫(CZTS)半导体常作为对电极材料被应用于量子点敏化太阳能电池(QDSCs)中,然而效率一直低于4%。本文采用热注入法合成出纳米尺寸的CZTS并制成对电极(CZTS/FTO),用其组装的CdSe QDSCs和CdSeTe QDSCs的效率(PCE)分别达到了5.75%和7.64%。电化学阻抗谱、塔菲尔极化等表征证明电池效率的提高与CZTS良好的导电性及催化活性联系密切。     

铜锌锡硫的合成及其光电应用

铜锌锡硫(CZTS)半导体常作为对电极材料被应用于量子点敏化太阳能电池(QDSCs)中,然而效率一直低于4%。本文采用热注入法合成出纳米尺寸的CZTS并制成对电极(CZTS/FTO),用其组装的Cd Se QDSCs和Cd Se Te QDSCs的效率(PCE)分别达到了5.75%和7.64%。电化学阻抗谱、塔菲尔极化等表征证明电池效率的提高与CZTS良好的导电性及催化活性联系密切。     

修饰吡啶衍生物的染料敏化光阳极水氧化性能的研究

染料敏化光电化学电池(DSPECs)是构建人工光合作用体系的潜在方式,其优势在于可通过优化染料结构来拓展可见光吸收范围,从根本上提高太阳能利用效率.染料敏化光阳极在受激发产生电荷分离之后,激发电子注入TiO₂半导体导带,由于其导带位置比传统的可见光半导体,如BiVO4和Fe3O4等相比较负,因此理论上可以在较小的偏压下取得较大的光电转换效率,也更有利于和光阴极相耦合实现无偏压分解水.电荷传输动力学研究表明,注入到TiO₂导带的电子向氧化态光敏剂和催化剂的回传是造成体系能量损失的主要原因,集中体现在光电流密度和效率的降低.目前,已经报道了多种手段来减少DSPECs光阳极表面的电子回传,包括使用带有长烷基链的锚定基团对水氧化催化剂进行修饰,在半导体表面引入电子中介体以及使用核-壳结构的基底等.其中,SnO2/TiO₂基底被广泛应用在染料敏化光阳极中,这种基底可以提高光生电子的注入效率,同时两种金属氧化物之间的异质结有效抑制了电子回传,从而提高了DSPECs的光电活性.然而,核-壳结构基底需要使用原子层沉积技术来制备,所以操作相对复杂.本文基于Ru-bda(bda=2,2'-联吡啶-6,6'-二羧酸)结构的分子水氧化催化剂和带有磷酸修饰基团的三联吡啶钌通过共吸附的方式制备染料敏化光阳极,在不使用核-壳结构基底的情况下,利用吡啶衍生物对TiO₂电极表面的修饰来减少电子回传.本文利用一系列吡啶衍生物作修饰负载在TiO₂光阳极上(TiO₂|RuP,1;RuP=Ru(4,4'-(PO3H2)2-2,2'-联吡啶)(2,2'-联吡啶)2;1=Ru(bda)(L)2,bda=2,2'-联吡啶-6,6'-二羧酸,L=(10-吡啶-4-基氧基)癸基)膦酸.在100 mW/cm2的白光照射下(λ>400 nm),TiO₂|RuP,1,P1(P1=4-羟基吡啶)光阳极在0.4 V(vs.NHE)的外加偏压下获得了1 mA/cm2的光电流密度,其光电流比未修饰吡啶的光阳极增加了42%.同时,其入射光子-电流转化效率在470 nm波长的单色光光照下达到最大,为13.6%.经过吡啶衍生物所修饰的光阳极光电性能和文献中利用核-壳结构基底所制备的类似光阳极性能相当,且光电流密度随吡啶对位取代基供电性能的增强而增大.瞬态吸收光谱和电化学阻抗谱测试表明,吡啶吸附在光阳极上能有效地抑制界面上的电子回传,延长电荷分离寿命,是光电流增加的根本原因,这也表明有机小分子修饰是提高染料敏化光阳极性能的简单、有效的策略.     

基于量子点涂料的柔性光阳极及碳基对电极的制备和优化

首先制备出量子点(QDs)/TiO_2涂料,分别采用丝网印刷法与刀刮法将涂料涂覆于ITO/PET柔性基底上,结果表明刀刮法制备量子点敏化太阳电池(QDSCs)效果更佳,且具有普适性。基于铜片对电极所组装的ZnCuInSe,CdSe和CdSeTe量子点半柔性QDSCs最高效率分别达2.83%,2.46%和1.99%。另外,我们对石墨纸进行表面化学修饰以提高亲水性,再通过简单的连续离子交换吸附法(SILAR)在石墨纸上负载Cu_xS纳米粒子,制备出Cu_xS/GP柔性对电极,进一步组装成全柔性QDSCs,获得了2.13%光电转化效率。     

TiO2微球的合成及其作为散射层在量子点敏化太阳能电池中的应用

以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵（CTAB）为模板剂,通过TiCl₄在乙醇水溶液中的直接水解,制备了介孔TiO₂微球. X射线衍射（XRD）结果表明所制备的微球晶型为金红石,扫描电镜（SEM）结果显示微球的直径大约为700 nm,由粒径约为16 nm的小颗粒堆积而成. 通过刮涂法制备了在TiO₂小颗粒层上涂覆有作为散射层的TiO₂微球和未涂覆微球的薄膜. 并通过化学浴沉积（CBD）的方法在膜上生长CdS/CdSe量子点,得到了量子点敏化太阳能电池（QDSCs）. 紫外吸收和漫反射结果表明,这种微球结构有利于量子点的沉积,具有较强的光散射作用,有效地增加了光线的收集,从而提高了电池的光电流,最终得到了4.5%的光电转换效率,比不加散射层的电池的效率高27.7%,也比利用传统散射层（由20 nm TiO₂ 小颗粒和400 nm TiO₂ 固体颗粒组成）的电池效率高10.2%. 我们把电池效率的提升归因于较强的光散射作用和较长的电子寿命.     

Quantum‐Dot‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Quantum‐dot‐sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) are a promising low‐cost alternative to existing photovoltaic technologies such as crystalline silicon and thin inorganic films. The absorption spectrum of quantum dots (QDs) can be tailored by controlling their size, and QDs can be produced by low‐cost methods. Nanostructures such as mesoporous films, nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes and nanosheets with high microscopic surface area, redox electrolytes and solid‐state hole conductors are borrowed from standard dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) to fabricate electron conductor/QD monolayer/hole conductor junctions with high optical absorbance. Herein we focus on recent developments in the field of mono‐ and polydisperse QDSCs. Stability issues are adressed, coating methods are presented, performance is reviewed and special emphasis is given to the importance of energy‐level alignment to increase the light to electric power conversion efficiency.     

Self-Assembly of Semiconductor Quantum Dots using Organic Templates

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, known as quantum dots (QDs), are regarded as brightly photoluminescent nanomaterials possessing outstanding photophysical properties, such as high photodurability and tunable absorption and emission wavelengths. Therefore, QDs have great potential for a wide range of applications, such as in photoluminescent materials, biosensors and photovoltaic devices. Since the development of synthetic methods for accessing high-quality QDs with uniform morphology and size, various types of QDs have been designed and synthesized, and their photophysical properties dispersed in solutions and at the single QD level have been reported in detail. In contrast to dispersed QDs, the photophysical properties of assembled QDs have not been revealed, although the structures of the self-assemblies are closely related to the device performance of the solid-state QDs. Therefore, creating and controlling the self-assembly of QDs into well-defined nanostructures is crucial but remains challenging. In this Minireview, we discuss the notable examples of assembled QDs such as dimers, trimers and extended QD assemblies achieved using organic templates. This Minireview should facilitate future advancements in materials science related to the assembled QDs.     

Delivering quantum dots into cells: strategies,progress and remaining issues

The use of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) in biological sensing and labeling continues to grow with each year. Current and projected applications include use as fluorescent labels for cellular labeling, intracellular sensors, deep-tissue and tumor imaging agents, sensitizers for photodynamic therapy, and more recently interest has been sparked in using them as vectors for studying nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery. Many of these applications will ultimately require the QDs to undergo targeted intracellular delivery, not only to specific cells, but also to a variety of subcellular compartments and organelles. It is apparent that this issue will be critical in determining the efficacy of using QDs, and indeed a variety of other nanoparticles, for these types of applications. In this review, we provide an overview of the current methods for delivering QDs into cells. Methods that are covered include facilitated techniques such as those that utilize specific peptide sequences or polymer delivery reagents and active methods such as electroporation and microinjection. We critically examine the benefits and liabilities of each strategy and illustrate them with selected examples from the literature. Several important related issues such as QD size and surface coating, methods for QD biofunctionalization, cellular physiology and toxicity are also discussed. Finally, we conclude by providing a perspective of how this field can be expected to develop in the future.     

基于量子点涂料的柔性光阳极及碳基对电极的制备和优化

首先制备出量子点（QDs）/TiO₂涂料,分别采用丝网印刷法与刀刮法将涂料涂覆于ITO/PET柔性基底上,结果表明刀刮法制备量子点敏化太阳电池（QDSCs）效果更佳,且具有普适性。基于铜片对电极所组装的ZnCuInSe,CdSe和CdSeTe量子点半柔性QDSCs最高效率分别达2.83%,2.46%和1.99%。另外,我们对石墨纸进行表面化学修饰以提高亲水性,再通过简单的连续离子交换吸附法（SILAR）在石墨纸上负载Cu_xS纳米粒子,制备出Cu_xS/GP柔性对电极,进一步组装成全柔性QDSCs,获得了2.13%光电转化效率。     

Bead-Based Optical Immunoassay Using Quantum-Dot Labeling and Immunocomplex Dissociation for Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7

An immunoassay for Escherichia coli O157:H7 using quantum-dot (QD) labeling and subsequent release of the QD labels from immunocomplexes has been developed. The assay principle is that anti-E. coli O157:H7 conjugated immunomagnetic beads are used to capture E. coli O157:H7; this is followed by the binding of QD labeled antibodies to form sandwich immunocomplexes (Bead-Cell-QD); a dissociation buffer then elutes QDs from immunocomplexes by denaturing antibody or lysing cell; the fluorescence signal of the eluted QDs is measured to quantify E. coli O157:H7. This proposed approach avoids the interference of bead autofluorescence in signal transduction and, thus, enhances the detection resolution, while keeping the fast magnetic separation and sandwich binding of two selective antibodies for high specificity.     

Synthesis of single‐core and multiple‐core core‐shell nanoparticles by RAFT emulsion polymerization: Lead sulfide‐copolymer nanocomposites

We report here a simple and direct route for the preparation of lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) embedded into polymeric nanospheres by emulsion polymerization. In this process, QDs are first dispersed in an aqueous solution containing a statistical oligomer constituted of five butyl acrylate and ten acrylic acid units prepared by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using a trithiocarbonate as RAFT agent. Then, the dispersion of PbS QDs is engaged into an emulsion polymerization process to form core‐shell nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy reveals the presence of single‐core core‐shell particles at low concentration of PbS QD, whereas multiple‐core core‐shell particles containing either well separated or aggregated PbS QDs are formed at high concentration of PbS QDs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

水相合成CdX (X＝Te, Te/CdS, Te/ZnS)红色量子点及毒性效应

分别以巯基乙酸(Mercaptoacetic Acid, MA)、还原型谷胱甘肽(Glutathione, GSH)为稳定剂在水相中直接合成了巯基乙酸CdTe (CdTe-MA)、红色巯基乙酸CdTe/CdS (CdTe/CdS-MA)、巯基乙酸CdTe/ZnS (CdTe/ZnS-MA)及谷胱甘肽CdTe (CdTe-GSH)量子点. 其中, CdTe-GSH量子点的量子产率可达47.3%. 体外溶血实验证实CdTe/ZnS-MA和CdTe-GSH量子点的溶血率较CdTe-MA和CdTe/CdS-MA低, 浓度为0.05 mmol/L的量子点溶血率＜5%, 达到了生物医用材料的要求. 活体实验证实: 通过尾静脉方式把量子点注入小鼠体内后, 荧光显微镜观察发现高剂量的量子点(0.4 mmol/10 g)在体内主要在心、肝、脾、肾组织中分布较多, 且引起不同程度的组织病变.     

Potential use of capillary zone electrophoresis in size characterization of quantum dots for environmental studies

Quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles (NPs) are of great interest to various researchers due to their wide range of applications, from photovoltaic sensitizers to in vivo fluorescent probes. There is a need to characterize environmental fate, degradation, and ecotoxicity of QDs because these NPs may be introduced into the environment upon disposal of waste products containing QDs following the anticipated increase in their production and use. Because the properties of QDs are defined primarily by their composition and size, it is imperative that QD size be measured accurately and quickly. Current methods for measuring the size of QDs tend to be relatively slow, require large amounts of sample and may not be suitable for environmental or biological samples. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), with its inherently high separation efficiency based on the size-to-charge ratio of analytes, holds promise for efficient size determination of NPs in aqueous samples.This review examines the potential use of CZE in characterizing and separating QDs compared to the conventional methods employed in determining size distribution of NPs. We briefly discuss the advantages and the limitations of commonly used techniques for size characterization.In addition to published literature, we present results from our laboratory using CZE with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to examine the effect of natural organic matter and buffer composition on the electrophoretic mobility of QDs. The use of CZE in environmental studies can provide insights into the degradation and the potential impacts of QDs upon exposure to environmental and biological matrices.