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The structural inhomogeneity is inherited by residual strain in perovskite crystals. The residual strain affects an electronic band structure of the perovskite film and thus determines its optoelectronic properties. Therefore, the strain engineering can be a powerful tool to not only govern structural defects but also derive demanding properties with an ensured phase stability. In this review, the effect of lattice strain is broadly explored, coupled with relevant affecting parameters.
Metal organic frameworks are typically synthesized at the macroscale, into powders, films or as coatings generated across appropriate supporting materials. The downsizing of metal–organic frameworks offers opportunities to not only benefit from their properties at the nanoscale but also to enhance surface interactions and reactivities. The potential and challenges with current downsizing techniques are discussed in this review in light of materials properties and application performance.
2D materials’ thinness and environmental sensitivity induce novel surface forces which render fundamental 2D material–liquid interactions variable. 2D material wettability is perturbed by substrates and contaminants enabling templating, filtration, and actuation. Fluid structure at 2D material–liquid interfaces is similarly perturbed, partially explaining wettability modulation and enabling distinctive electro-fluidics applications including supercapacitors, energy harvesters, and sensors. Finally, nanoconfinement of molecules arising from perturbed liquid structure modified hydro-frictional behavior, influencing 2D materials’ use in microchannels. 2D material–liquid interactions will inform future fields of study, including modulation of 2D materials’ chemical reactivity, offering a rich area for research on tuned surface fluid interactions.
An emerging annelated thiophene of benzodithiophenedione (BDD) has exhibited its distinguished photovoltaic performance since its planar molecular structure, low-lying highest occupied molecular orbit (HOMO) level and well self-assembly property. In recent 7 years, BDD-based polymer donor have shown a rapid and incredible advancement by utilizing different acceptor materials. Considering the potentials of BDD-based materials, we summarize the most recent advances in the BDD-based photovoltaic materials and highlight the relations between BDD-based molecular structures and photovoltaic properties.
Metal halide perovskites are extraordinary defect-tolerant semiconductors. A unique structural aspect of perovskites is the octahedral coordination for (B-site) metal ions, unlike other semiconductors that exhibit tetrahedral coordination. This octahedral coordination helped to achieve lanthanide doping in halide perovskite nanocrystals in 2017. Fundamental understanding of material design, luminescence and quantum cutting phenomena in lanthanides (with focus on Yb3+) doped in CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) and Cs2AgInCl6 nanocrystals are reported. Subsequently, these doped systems are applied for solar energy harvesting and lighting in both visible and near infrared region. This perspective article summarizes everything important that has happened so far in field and discusses about the future research directions.
Over the last decade, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been verified to be an effective way of converting daily mechanical energy into electric power or detecting various stimuli in the external environment. To promote the material researches in TENG, we introduce recent progresses in materials and material designs to improve the power generation and sensing performance. Also, we discuss on the future challenges and suggest possible approaches to solve the challenges.
Zn battery family with a long research history in the human electrochemical power supply has been revived and reevaluated in recent years. However, Zn anode in rechargeable batteries still lacks mature and reliable solutions to support the satisfactory cyclability required for the current versatile applications. In this paper, novel functional electrolytes, modified electrode-electrolyte interfaces and advanced electrode structures for addressing the bottlenecks encountered in rechargeable Zn anodes are reviewed, highlighting the mechanisms and open questions in practical applications.
