Hierarchical Saw-like ZnO Nanobelt/ZnS Nanowire Heterostructures Induced by Polar Surfaces

Wearable Electrospun Piezoelectric Mats Based on a PVDF Nanofiber-ZnO@ZnS Core-Shell Nanoparticles Composite for Power Generation

This work adopted a strategy to use new functional high-performance piezoelectric materials for sustainable energy production in wearable self-powered electrical devices. An innovative modification in electrospinning was used to produce highly aligned nanofibers. In the nanogenerator, the flexible membrane constituents were tunefully combined. The novel composite nanofibers were made of Poly (vinylidene fluoride) PVDF, loaded with ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanoparticles to achieve a non-brittle performance of the hetero nanoparticles and piezoelectric polymer. A nanofiber mat was inserted between two thermoplastic sheets with conductive electrodes for application in wearable electronic devices. Complete spectroscopic analyses were performed to characterize the nanofiber's material composition. It is shown that the addition of 10 wt % ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanoparticles significantly improved the piezoelectric properties of the nanofibers and simultaneously kept them flexible due to the exceedingly resilient nature of the composite. The superior performance of the piezoelectric parameter of the nanofibrous mats was due to the crystallinity (polar β phase) and surface topography of the mat. The conversion sensitivity of the PVDF device recorded almost 0.091 V/N·mm3, while that of the PVDF-10 wt % ZnO@ZnS composite mat recorded a sensitivity of 0.153 V/N·mm3, which is higher than many flexible nano-generators. These nanogenerators provide a simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution to microelectronic wearable devices.

TiO2 NPs/h-BN: Preparation and catalytic activities of a novel AP catalyst

The thermal decomposition performance of an oxidizer directly determines the thrust and specific impulse properties of the solid propellant. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has the characteristics of high catalytic activity and good stability, which can improve the heat release and decomposition temperature of the oxidant, and then improve the energy performance of the propellant. In this study, a novel hybrid material TiO₂ NPs/h-BN was successfully prepared by in situ growth, and it was found that when 5 wt.% TiO₂ NPs/h-BN was added, the initial decomposition temperature of ammonium perchlorate (AP) decreased by 67.6°C. Due to the addition of TiO₂, the gap between the h-BN layers as well as the specific surface increased, which optimized its thermocatalytic performance, and it also proposed a catalytic mechanism for the thermal decomposition process of AP.

An investigation of the photovoltaic parameters of ZnS grown on ZnO(101̄1)

The selective growth of ZnS on ZnO (zinc nitrate versus acetate precursors) affects the photovoltaic parameters when the material is used as a photoanode in solar cells.

Hierarchical CuInS2-based heterostructure: Application for photocathodic bioanalysis of sarcosine

In this study, on the basis of hierarchical CuInS₂-based heterostructure, a novel cathodic photoelectrochemical (PEC) enzymatic bioanalysis of the sarcosine detection was reported. Specifically, heterostructured CuInS₂/NiO/ITO photocathode was prepared and sarcosine oxidases (SOx) were integrated for the construction of the enzymatic biosensor. In the bioanalysis, the O₂-dependent suppression of the cathodic photocurrent can be observed due to the competition between the as-fabricated O₂-sensitive photocathode and the SOx-catalytic event toward O₂ reduction. Based on the sarcosine-controlled O₂ concentration, a novel photocathodic enzymatic biosensor could be realized for the sensitive and specific sarcosine detection. This work manifested the great potential of CuInS₂-based heterostructure as a novel platform for future PEC bioanalytical development and also a PEC method for sarcosine detection, which could be easily extended to numerous other enzymatic systems and to our knowledge has not been reported. This work is expected to stimulate more interest in the design and implementation of numerous CuInS₂-based heterostructured photocathodic enzymatic sensing.

One-step fabrication of single-crystalline ZnS nanotubes with a novel hollow structure and large surface area for photodetector devices

ZnS nanotubes (NTs) were successfully prepared via a one-step thermal evaporation process without using any templates. The resulting NTs were single crystalline and structurally uniform. Based on experimental analysis, a tube-growth vapor-liquid-solid process was proposed as the growth mechanism of ZnS NTs. A metal-semiconductor-metal full-nanostructured ultraviolet (UV) photodetector with ZnS NTs as the active layer, and Ag nanowires of low resistivity and high transmissivity as electrodes, was fabricated and characterized. The ZnS NT-based device displayed a high I _on/I _off ratio of up to ∼1.56 × 10⁵ with a high response to UV incident light at low operation voltage. This work is a meaningful exploration for preparing other one-dimensional semiconductor NTs, and developing a high-performance and power-saving UV sensor.

Defect-Induced Nucleation and Epitaxy: A New Strategy toward the Rational Synthesis of WZ-GaN/3C-SiC Core-Shell Heterostructures

In this work, we demonstrate a new strategy to create WZ-GaN/3C-SiC heterostructure nanowires, which feature controllable morphologies. The latter is realized by exploiting the stacking faults in 3C-SiC as preferential nucleation sites for the growth of WZ-GaN. Initially, cubic SiC nanowires with an average diameter of ∼100 nm, which display periodic stacking fault sections, are synthesized in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to serve as the core of the heterostructure. Subsequently, hexagonal wurtzite-type GaN shells with different shapes are grown on the surface of 3C-SiC wire core. In this context, it is possible to obtain two types of WZ-GaN/3C-SiC heterostructure nanowires by means of carefully controlling the corresponding CVD reactions. Here, the stacking faults, initially formed in 3C-SiC nanowires, play a key role in guiding the epitaxial growth of WZ-GaN as they represent surface areas of the 3C-SiC nanowires that feature a higher surface energy. A dedicated structural analysis of the interfacial region by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed that the disordering of the atom arrangements in the SiC defect area promotes a lattice-matching with respect to the WZ-GaN phase, which results in a preferential nucleation. All WZ-GaN crystal domains exhibit an epitaxial growth on 3C-SiC featuring a crystallographic relationship of [12̅10](WZ-GaN) //[011̅](3C-SiC), (0001)(WZ-GaN)//(111)(3C-SiC), and d(WZ-GaN(0001)) ≈ 2d(3C-SiC(111)). The approach to utilize structural defects of a nanowire core to induce a preferential nucleation of foreign shells generally opens up a number of opportunities for the epitaxial growth of a wide range of semiconductor nanostructures which are otherwise impossible to acquire. Consequently, this concept possesses tremendous potential for the applications of semiconductor heterostructures in various fields such as optics, electrics, electronics, and photocatalysis for energy harvesting and environment processing.

Band Gap Reduction in ZnO and ZnS by Creating Layered ZnO/ZnS Heterostructures

Wurtzite-type zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) have electronic band gaps that are too large for light-harvesting applications. Using screened hybrid density-functional methods, we show that the band gaps of ZnO and ZnS can be dramatically reduced by creating layered ZnO/ZnS bulk heterostructures in which m contiguous monolayers of ZnO alternate with n contiguous monolayers of ZnS. In particular, the band gap decreases by roughly 40% upon substitution of every tenth monolayer of ZnS with a monolayer of ZnO (and vice versa) and becomes as low as 1.5 eV for heterostructures with m = 3 to m = 9 contiguous monolayers of ZnO alternating with n = 10 - m monolayers of ZnS. The predicted band gaps of layered ZnO/ZnS heterostructures span the entire visible spectrum, which makes these materials suitable for photovoltaic device engineering.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a metal-free catalyst for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

g-C₃N₄ possesses a band gap of approximately 2.7 eV. The conduction-band electrons (e_cb⁻) and valence band holes (h⁺) could be generated when g-C₃N₄ was excited, which accelerate the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP).

One-step synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles-loaded graphitic carbon nitride and their application in thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

SnO₂NPs/g-C₃N₄ hybrids can effectively catalyze NH₄ClO₄ molecules by the aid of a synergistic reaction of SnO₂.

Fine control over the morphology and photocatalytic activity of 3D ZnO hierarchical nanostructures: capping vs. etching

ZnO 3D hierarchical structures with different morphologies can be selectively synthesized at room temperature by using potassium hydroxide and citric acid as an etchant and capping agent, respectively.

Cerium-based porous coordination polymers with hierarchical superstructures: fabrication, formation mechanism and their thermal conversion to hierarchical CeO2

Novel three-dimensional (3D) ceria hierarchical structures have been prepared via a thermolysis of the corresponding porous coordination polymer precursors.

ZnO nanorods/ZnS·(1,6-hexanediamine)(0.5) hybrid nanoplates hierarchical heteroarchitecture with improved electrochemical catalytic properties for hydrazine

Novel hierarchical heteronanostructures of ZnO nanorods/ZnS·(HDA)0.5 (HDA = 1,6-hexanediamine) hybrid nanoplates on a zinc substrate are successfully synthesized on a large scale by combining hydrothermal growth (for ZnO nanorods) and liquid chemical conversion (for ZnS·(HDA)0.5 nanoplates) techniques. The formation of ZnS·(HDA)0.5 hybrid nanoplates branches takes advantage of the preferential binding of 1,6-hexanediamine on specific facets of ZnS, which makes the thickening rate much lower than the lateral growth rate. The ZnS·(HDA)0.5 hybrid nanoplates have a layered structure with 1,6-hexanediamine inserted into interlayers of wurtzite ZnS through the bonding of nitrogen. The number density and thickness of the secondary ZnS·(HDA)0.5 nanoplates can be conveniently engineered by variation of the sulfur source and straightforward adjustment of reactant concentrations such as 1,6-hexanediamine and the sulfur source. The fabricated ZnO/ZnS·(HDA)0.5 heteronanostructures show improved electrochemical catalytic properties for hydrazine compared with the primary ZnO nanorods. Due to its simplicity and efficiency, this approach could be similarly used to fabricate varieties of hybrid heterostructures made of materials with an intrinsic large lattice mismatch.

Synthesis of tunable ZnS–CuS microspheres and visible-light photoactivity for rhodamine B

The heterostructure of obtained ZnS–CuS can timely transfer and separate photogenerated electrons and holes, which enhances their photocatalytic abilities.

Synthesizing tubular and trapezoidal shaped ZnO nanowires by an aqueous solution method

In this paper we present a novel bottom-up method suitable for developing vertically aligned hollow ZnO nanowires, ZnO nanotubes as well as longitudinally half ZnO nanowires. The procedures used for synthesizing such crystals combine chemical and electrochemical growth processes in aqueous solution at low temperatures (<90 °C), with a growth block process. A thin layer of gold, deposited when the nanowire growth process is at half way, has the crucial role of blocking the growth along the intended directions. The possibility of fabricating highly aligned crystals on a wide range of polymeric substrates, including flexible or transparent ones, is also illustrated. Our proposed methods hold potential for new developments in piezotronics and piezophotonics by allowing fabrication of nanodevices in the inner region of the hollow nanowires and nanotubes.

A regenerable oxide-based H2S adsorbent with nanofibrous morphology

Hydrogen sulphide is found in raw fuels such as natural gas and coal/biomass-derived syngas. It is poisonous to catalysts and corrosive to metals and therefore needs to be removed. This is often achieved using metal oxides as reactive adsorbents, but metal oxides perform poorly when subjected to repeated cycles of sulphidation and re-oxidation as a result of complex structural and chemical changes. Here, we show that Zn-Ti-O-based adsorbents with nanofibrous morphology can sustain their initial reactivity and sulphur removal capacity over multiple regeneration cycles. These nanostructured sorbents offer rapid reaction rates that overcome the gas-transport limitations of conventional pellet-based sorbents and allow all of the material to be used efficiently. Regeneration can be carried out at the same temperature as the sulphidation step because of the higher reactivity, which prevents sorbent deterioration and reduces energy use. The efficient regeneration of the adsorbent is also aided by structural features such as the growth of hierarchical nanostructures and preferential stabilization of a wurtzite phase in the sulphidation product.

In situ growth, structure characterization, and enhanced photocatalysis of high-quality, single-crystalline ZnTe/ZnO branched nanoheterostructures

Single-crystalline, high-quality branched ZnTe-core/ZnO-branch nanoheterostructures were synthesized by an in situ strategy in an environmental scanning electron microscope. Composition and structure characterization confirmed that ZnO nanowires were perfectly epitaxially grown on ZnTe nanowires as branches. Noticeably, growth temperature plays a crucial role in determining the density and diameter of the ZnO nanobranches on ZnTe nanowires: a higher growth temperature leads to ZnO nanowires with higher density and smaller diameter. It was demonstrated that ZnO nanobranches exhibited a selective nucleation behavior on distinct side facets of ZnTe nanowires. Highly ordered ZnO nanobranches were found epitaxially grown on {211} facet of ZnTe nanowires, while there was no ZnO nanowire growth on {110} facet of ZnTe nanowires. Using first-principles calculation, we found that surface energy of distinct side facets has a strong impact on ZnO nucleation, and confirm that {211} facet of ZnTe nanowires is energetically more favorable for ZnO nanowire growth than {110} facet, which is in good agreement with our experimental findings. Remarkably, such unique ZnTe/ZnO 3D branched nanowire heterostructures exhibited improved photocatalytic abilities, superior to ZnO nanowires and ZnTe nanowires, due to the much enhanced effective surface area of their unique architecture and effective electron-hole separation at the ZnTe/ZnO interfaces.

One-dimensional nanostructures for electronic and optoelectronic devices

One-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures have been the focus of current researches due to their unique physical properties and potential applications in nanoscale electronics and optoelectronics. They address and overcome the physical and economic limits of current microelectronic industry and will lead to reduced power consumption and largely increased device speed in next generation electronics and optoelectronics. This paper reviews the recent development on the device applications of 1-D nanostructures in electronics and optoelectronics. First, typical 1-D nanostructure forms, including nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, nanobelts, and hetero-nanowires, synthesized from different methods are briefly discussed. Then, some nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices built on 1-D nanostructures are presented, including field-effect transistors (FETs), p-n diodes, ultraviolet (UV) detectors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), nanolasers, integrated nanodevices, single nanowire solar cells, chemical sensors, biosensors, and nanogenerators. We then finalize the paper with some perspectives and outlook towards the fast-growing topics.

Synthesis and Sensing Properties of ZnO/ZnS Nanocages

Large-scale uniform ZnO dumbbells and ZnO/ZnS hollow nanocages were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route combined with subsequent etching treatment. The nanocages were formed through preferential dissolution of the twinned (0001) plane of ZnO dumbbells. Due to their special morphology, the hollow nanocages show better sensing properties to ethanol than ZnO dumbbells. The gain in sensitivity is attributed to both the interface between ZnO and ZnS heterostructure and their hollow architecture that promotes analyte diffusion and increases the available active surface area.

Hydrothermally Grown ZnO Micro/Nanotube Arrays and Their Properties

We reported the optical and wettability properties of aligned zinc oxide micro/nanotube arrays, which were synthesized on zinc foil via a simple hydrothermal method. As-synthesized ZnO micro/nanotubes have uniform growth directions along the [0001] orientations with diameters in the range of 100-700 nm. These micro/nanotubes showed a strong emission peak at 387 nm and two weak emission peaks at 422 and 485 nm, respectively, and have the hydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 121°. Single ZnO micro/nanotube-based field-effect transistor was also fabricated, which shows typical n-type semiconducting behavior.

One-Dimensional Nanostructures and Devices of II-V Group Semiconductors

The II-V group semiconductors, with narrow band gaps, are important materials with many applications in infrared detectors, lasers, solar cells, ultrasonic multipliers, and Hall generators. Since the first report on trumpet-like Zn(3)P(2) nanowires, one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures of II-V group semiconductors have attracted great research attention recently because these special 1-D nanostructures may find applications in fabricating new electronic and optoelectronic nanoscale devices. This article covers the 1-D II-V semiconducting nanostructures that have been synthesized till now, focusing on nanotubes, nanowires, nanobelts, and special nanostructures like heterostructured nanowires. Novel electronic and optoelectronic devices built on 1-D II-V semiconducting nanostructures will also be discussed, which include metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors, metal-semiconductor field-effect transistors, and p-n heterojunction photodiode. We intent to provide the readers a brief account of these exciting research activities.

ZnO-ZnS heterojunction and ZnS nanowire arrays for electricity generation

Vertically aligned ZnO-ZnS heterojunction nanowire (NW) arrays were synthesized by thermal evaporation in a tube furnace under controlled conditions. Both ZnO and ZnS are of wurtzite structure, and the axial heterojunctions are formed by epitaxial growth of ZnO on ZnS with an orientation relationship of [0001](ZnO)//[0001](ZnS). Vertical ZnS NW arrays have been obtained by selectively etching ZnO-ZnS NW arrays. Cathodoluminescence measurements of ZnO-ZnS NW arrays and ZnS NW arrays show emissions at 509 and 547 nm, respectively. Both types of aligned NW arrays have been applied to convert mechanical energy into electricity when they are deflected by a conductive AFM tip in contact mode. The received results are explained by the mechanism proposed for nanogenerator.

Ag/ZnO Heterostructure Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalysis

A high yield of the dimer-type heterostructure of Ag/ZnO nanocrystals with different Ag contents is successfully prepared through a simple solvothermal method in the absence of surfactants. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy. The results show that all samples are composed of metallic Ag and ZnO; Ag nanoparticles locate on the surface of ZnO nanorods; the binding energy of Ag 3d(5/2) for the Ag/ZnO sample with a Ag content of 5.0 atom % shifts remarkably to the lower binding energy compared with the corresponding value of pure metallic Ag because of the interaction between Ag and ZnO nanocrystals; the concentration of oxygen vacancy for the as-synthesized samples varies with the increasing Ag content, and the Ag/ZnO sample with a Ag content of 5.0 atom % has the largest density of oxygen vacancy. In addition, the relationship between their structure and photocatalytic property is investigated in detail. It is found that the photocatalytic property is closely related to its structure, such as heterostructure, oxygen defect, and crystallinity. The presence of metallic Ag nanoparticles and oxygen vacancy on the surface of ZnO nanorods promotes the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and thus enhances the photocatalytic activity.

The synthesis and fabrication of one-dimensional nanoscale heterojunctions

There are a variety of methods for synthesizing or fabricating one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures containing heterojunctions between different materials. Here we review recent developments in the synthesis and fabrication of heterojunctions formed between different materials within the same 1D nanostructure or between different 1D nanostructures composed of different materials. Structures containing 1D nanoscale heterojunctions exhibit interesting chemistry as well as size, shape, and material-dependent properties that are unique when compared to single-component materials. This leads to new or enhanced properties or multifunctionality useful for a variety of applications in electronics, photonics, catalysis, and sensing, for example. This review separates the methods into vapor-phase synthesis, solution-phase synthesis, template-based synthesis, and other approaches, such as lithography, electrospinning, and assembly. These methods are used to form a variety of heterojunctions, including segmented, core/shell, branched, or crossed, from different combinations of semiconductor, metal, carbon, and polymeric materials.

Self-Assembly and Hierarchical Organization of Ga2O3/In2O3 Nanostructures

We report on the realization of novel 3-D hierarchical heterostructures with 6-and 4-fold symmetries by a transport and condensation technique. It was found that the major core nanowires or nanobelts are single-crystalline In2O3, and the secondary nanorods are single-crystalline monoclinic beta-Ga2O3 and grow either perpendicular on or slanted to all the facets of the core In2O3 nanobelts. Depending on the diameter of the core In2O3 nanostructures, the secondary Ga2O3 nanorods grow either as a single row or multiple rows. The one-step growth of the unique Ga2O3/In2O3 heteronanostructures is a spontaneous and self-organized process. The simultaneous control of nanocrystal size and shape together with the possibility of growing heterostructures on certain nanocrystal facets opens up novel routes to the synthesis of more sophisticated heterostructures as building blocks for opto- and nanoelectronics.