1
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Wang Y, Cui BB, Zhao Y, Lin T, Li J. Investigation of perovskite materials for solar cells using scanning tunneling microscopy. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024. [PMID: 39387127 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp02010c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
The issue of energy scarcity has become more prominent due to the recent scientific and technological advancements. Consequently, there is an urgent need for research on sustainable and renewable resources. Solar energy, in particular, has emerged as a highly promising option because of its pollution-free and environment-friendly characteristics. Among the various solar energy technologies, perovskite solar cells have attracted much attention due to their lower cost and higher photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE). However, the inherent instability of perovskite materials hinders the commercialization of such devices. The utilization of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) can provide valuable insights into the fundamental properties of different perovskite materials at the atomic scale, which is crucial for addressing this challenge. In this review, we present the recent research progress of STM/STS analysis applied to various perovskites for solar cells, including halide perovskites, two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites, and oxide perovskites. This comprehensive overview aims to inspire new ideas and strategies for optimizing solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yule Wang
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Bin-Bin Cui
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yiming Zhao
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Tao Lin
- College of New Materials and New Energies, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China.
| | - Juan Li
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
- Beijing Institute of Technology (Zhuhai), Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai 519088, China
- Department of Materials Science, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China
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2
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Mallada B, Villalobos F, Donoso B, Casares R, Longhi G, Mendieta-Moreno JI, Jiménez-Martín A, Haïdour A, Seepersaud R, Rajagopal L, de la Torre B, Millán A, Cuerva JM. Single-Molecule Identification of the Isomers of a Lipidic Antibody Activator. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:6935-6942. [PMID: 38935930 PMCID: PMC11247479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Molecular structural elucidation can be accomplished by different techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance or X-ray diffraction. However, the former does not give information about the three-dimensional atomic arrangement, and the latter needs crystallizable solid samples. An alternative is direct, real-space visualization of the molecules by cryogenic scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). This technique is usually limited to thermally robust molecules because an annealing step is required for sample deposition. A landmark development has been the coupling of STM with electrospray deposition (ESD), which smooths the process and widens the scope of the visualization technique. In this work, we present the on-surface characterization of air-, light-, and temperature-sensitive rhamnopolyene with relevance in molecular biology. Supported by theoretical calculations, we characterize two isomers of this flexible molecule, confirming the potential of the technique to inspect labile, non-crystallizable compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Mallada
- Institute
of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16200 Prague, Czech Republic
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology
and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký
University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Federico Villalobos
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Beatriz Donoso
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Raquel Casares
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Giovanna Longhi
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale, Universitá di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Jesús I. Mendieta-Moreno
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Jiménez-Martín
- Institute
of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16200 Prague, Czech Republic
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology
and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký
University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Faculty
of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, 11519 Prague, Czech
Republic
| | - Ali Haïdour
- Unidad
de Resonancia Magnética Nuclear, Centro de Instrumentación
Científica, Universidad de Granada, Paseo Juan Osorio s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Ravin Seepersaud
- Center
for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Center
for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Department
of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States
| | - Bruno de la Torre
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology
and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký
University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Alba Millán
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan M. Cuerva
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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3
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Seibel J, Anggara K, Delbianco M, Rauschenbach S. Scanning Probe Microscopy Characterization of Biomolecules enabled by Mass-Selective, Soft-landing Electrospray Ion Beam Deposition. Chemphyschem 2024:e202400419. [PMID: 38945838 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202400419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Scanning probe microscopy (SPM), in particular at low temperature (LT) under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions, offers the possibility of real-space imaging with resolution reaching the atomic level. However, its potential for the analysis of complex biological molecules has been hampered by requirements imposed by sample preparation. Transferring molecules onto surfaces in UHV is typically accomplished by thermal sublimation in vacuum. This approach however is limited by the thermal stability of the molecules, i. e. not possible for biological molecules with low vapour pressure. Bypassing this limitation, electrospray ionisation offers an alternative method to transfer molecules from solution to the gas-phase as intact molecular ions. In soft-landing electrospray ion beam deposition (ESIBD), these molecular ions are subsequently mass-selected and gently landed on surfaces which permits large and thermally fragile molecules to be analyzed by LT-UHV SPM. In this concept, we discuss how ESIBD+SPM prepares samples of complex biological molecules at a surface, offering controls of the molecular structural integrity, three-dimensional shape, and purity. These achievements unlock the analytical potential of SPM which is showcased by imaging proteins, peptides, DNA, glycans, and conjugates of these molecules, revealing details of their connectivity, conformation, and interaction that could not be accessed by any other technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Seibel
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber Weg 2, D-76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Kelvin Anggara
- Nanoscale Science Department, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstr. 1, D-70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Martina Delbianco
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
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4
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Wu X, Borca B, Sen S, Koslowski S, Abb S, Rosenblatt DP, Gallardo A, Mendieta-Moreno JI, Nachtigall M, Jelinek P, Rauschenbach S, Kern K, Schlickum U. Molecular sensitised probe for amino acid recognition within peptide sequences. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8335. [PMID: 38097575 PMCID: PMC10721870 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43844-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy with a mass-selective electro-spray ion-beam deposition established the investigation of large biomolecules at nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. Due to complex architecture and conformational freedom, however, the chemical identification of building blocks of these biopolymers often relies on the presence of markers, extensive simulations, or is not possible at all. Here, we present a molecular probe-sensitisation approach addressing the identification of a specific amino acid within different peptides. A selective intermolecular interaction between the sensitiser attached at the tip-apex and the target amino acid on the surface induces an enhanced tunnelling conductance of one specific spectral feature, which can be mapped in spectroscopic imaging. Density functional theory calculations suggest a mechanism that relies on conformational changes of the sensitiser that are accompanied by local charge redistributions in the tunnelling junction, which, in turn, lower the tunnelling barrier at that specific part of the peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wu
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
- School of Integrated Circuits and Electronics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Bogdana Borca
- Institute of Applied Physics and Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany
- National Institute of Materials Physics, 077125, Magurele, Romania
| | - Suman Sen
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Sabine Abb
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Aurelio Gallardo
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Matyas Nachtigall
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Jelinek
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Stephan Rauschenbach
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Klaus Kern
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Uta Schlickum
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Applied Physics and Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany.
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5
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Fremdling P, Esser TK, Saha B, Makarov AA, Fort KL, Reinhardt-Szyba M, Gault J, Rauschenbach S. A Preparative Mass Spectrometer to Deposit Intact Large Native Protein Complexes. ACS NANO 2022; 16:14443-14455. [PMID: 36037396 PMCID: PMC9527803 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c04831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Electrospray ion-beam deposition (ES-IBD) is a versatile tool to study the structure and reactivity of molecules from small metal clusters to large protein assemblies. It brings molecules gently into the gas phase, where they can be accurately manipulated and purified, followed by controlled deposition onto various substrates. In combination with imaging techniques, direct structural information on well-defined molecules can be obtained, which is essential to test and interpret results from indirect mass spectrometry techniques. To date, ion-beam deposition experiments are limited to a small number of custom instruments worldwide, and there are no commercial alternatives. Here we present a module that adds ion-beam deposition capabilities to a popular commercial MS platform (Thermo Scientific Q Exactive UHMR mass spectrometer). This combination significantly reduces the overhead associated with custom instruments, while benefiting from established high performance and reliability. We present current performance characteristics including beam intensity, landing-energy control, and deposition spot size for a broad range of molecules. In combination with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we distinguish near-native from unfolded proteins and show retention of the native shape of protein assemblies after dehydration and deposition. Further, we use an enzymatic assay to quantify the activity of a noncovalent protein complex after deposition on a dry surface. Together, these results not only indicate a great potential of ES-IBD for applications in structural biology, but also outline the challenges that need to be solved for it to reach its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Fremdling
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Tim K. Esser
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Bodhisattwa Saha
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander A. Makarov
- Thermo
Fisher Scientific, Bremen 28199, Germany
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular
Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3584
CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Joseph Gault
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Stephan Rauschenbach
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
- Max
Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstrasse 1, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
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6
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Farah YR, Krummel AT. The N3/TiO2 Interfacial Structure is Dependent on the pH Conditions During Sensitization. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:044702. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0099543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The electronic structure of the N3/TiO2 interface can directly influence the performance of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Therefore, it is crucial to understand the parameters that control the dye's orientation on the semiconductor's surface. A typical step in DSSC fabrication is to submerge the nanoparticulate semiconductor film in a solution containing the dye, the sensitizing solution. The pH of the N3 sensitizing solution determines the distribution of the N3 protonation states that exist in solution. Altering the pH of the sensitizing solution changes the N3 protonation states that exist in solution and, subsequently, the N3 protonation states that anchor to the TiO2 substrate. We utilize the surface specific technique of heterodyne detected vibrational sum frequency generation (HD-VSFG) to determine the binding geometry of N3 on a TiO2 surface as a function of the sensitizing solution pH conditions. It is determined that significant reorientation of the dye occurs in pH 2.0 conditions due to lack of N3-dye carboxylate anchoring groups participating in adsorption to the TiO2 substrate. Consequently, the change in molecular geometry is met with a change in interfacial electronic structure that can hinder electron transfer in DSSC architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amber T. Krummel
- Chemistry, Colorado State University Department of Chemistry, United States of America
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7
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Schneider P, Verloh F, Dürr M. Cluster-Induced Desorption/Ionization of Polystyrene: Desorption Mechanism and Effect of Polymer Chain Length on Desorption Probability. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2022; 33:832-839. [PMID: 35426303 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.2c00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Soft cluster-induced desorption/ionization of polystyrene oligomers was investigated with respect to application in mass spectrometry. Clear peak progressions corresponding to intact polystyrene molecules were observed in the mass spectra, and no fragmentation was detected; efficient desorption was deduced from quartz crystal microbalance measurements. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the process revealed that even in the case of the nonpolar polystyrene molecules cluster-induced desorption proceeds via dissolvation in the polar clusters. Experimentally, a significantly lower desorption efficiency was observed for polystyrene molecules with larger chain length. Taking into account MD simulations and further experiments with mixed samples consisting of long- and short-chain polystyrene oligomers, the reduced desorption efficiency for longer chain polystyrene molecules was attributed to a stronger entanglement of the larger polystyrene molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Schneider
- Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Felix Verloh
- Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael Dürr
- Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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8
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Cole JM, Mayer UFJ. Characterizing Interfacial Structures of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Working Electrodes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:871-890. [PMID: 35014533 PMCID: PMC11386434 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this feature article, we discuss the fundamental use of materials-characterization methods that directly determine structural information on the dye···TiO2 interface in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). This interface is usually buried within the DSC and submerged in solvent and electrolyte, which renders such metrological work nontrivial. We will show how ex-situ X-ray reflectometry (XRR), atomic-force microscopy (AFM), grazing-incidence X-ray scattering (GIXS), pair-distribution-function analysis of X-ray diffraction data (gaPDF), and in-situ neutron reflectometry (NR) can be used to deliver specific structural information on the dye···TiO2 interface regarding dye anchoring, dye aggregation, molecular dye orientation, intermolecular spacing between dye molecules, interactions between the dye molecules and the TiO2 surface, and interactions between the dye molecules and the electrolyte components and precursors. Some of these materials-characterization techniques have been developed specifically for this purpose. We will demonstrate how the direct acquisition of such information from materials-characterization experiments is crucial for assembling a holistic structural picture of this interface, which in turn can be used to develop DSC design guidelines. Moreover, we will show how these methodologies can be used in the experimental-validation process of "design-to-device" pipelines for big-data- and machine-learning-based materials discovery. We conclude with an outlook on further developments of this design-to-device approach as well as the materials characterization of more dye···TiO2 interfacial structures that involve known DSC dyes using the methods described herein. In addition, we propose to combine these formally disparate metrologies so that their complementary merits can be exploited simultaneously. New metrologies of this kind could serve as a "one-stop-shop" for the materials characterization of surfaces, interfaces, and bulk structures in DSCs and other devices with layered architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Cole
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrich F J Mayer
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
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9
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Rinke G, Harnau L, Rauschenbach S. Material and Charge Transport of Large Organic Salt Clusters and Nanoparticles in Electrospray Ion Beam Deposition. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2021; 32:1648-1658. [PMID: 33656859 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.0c00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Electrospray ion beam deposition (ES-IBD) or ion soft landing has been demonstrated as a technique suitable for processing nonvolatile molecules in vacuum under perfectly controlled conditions, an approach also desirable for the deposition of nanoparticles. Here, we present results from several approaches to generate, characterize, and deposit nanoparticle ion beams in vacuum for deposition. We focus on cluster ion beams generated by ESI of organic salt solutions. Small cluster ions of the salts appear in the mass spectra as defined peaks. In addition, we find nanoparticle-sized aggregates, appearing as a low intensity background at high m/z-ratio, and show by IBD experiments that these clusters carry the major amount of material in the ion beam. This transition from clusters to nanoparticles, and their successful deposition, shows that ES-IBD can in principle handle ion beams of very heavy and highly charged nanoparticles. In related experiments, however, we found the deposition of nanoparticles from dispersions to be of low reproducibility, due to the lack of control by mass spectrometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Rinke
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstrasse 1, DE-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ludger Harnau
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstrasse 1, DE-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Stephan Rauschenbach
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstrasse 1, DE-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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10
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Deng K, Cole JM, Cooper JFK, Webster JRP, Haynes R, Al Bahri OK, Steinke NJ, Guan S, Stan L, Zhan X, Zhu T, Nye DW, Stenning GBG. Electrolyte/Dye/TiO 2 Interfacial Structures of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Revealed by In Situ Neutron Reflectometry with Contrast Matching. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:1970-1982. [PMID: 33492974 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The nature of an interfacial structure buried within a device assembly is often critical to its function. For example, the dye/TiO2 interfacial structure that comprises the working electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) governs its photovoltaic output. These structures have been determined outside of the DSC device, using ex situ characterization methods; yet, they really should be probed while held within a DSC since they are modulated by the device environment. Dye/TiO2 structures will be particularly influenced by a layer of electrolyte ions that lies above the dye self-assembly. We show that electrolyte/dye/TiO2 interfacial structures can be resolved using in situ neutron reflectometry with contrast matching. We find that electrolyte constituents ingress into the self-assembled monolayer of dye molecules that anchor onto TiO2. Some dye/TiO2 anchoring configurations are modulated by the formation of electrolyte/dye intermolecular interactions. These electrolyte-influencing structural changes will affect dye-regeneration and electron-injection DSC operational processes. This underpins the importance of this in situ structural determination of electrolyte/dye/TiO2 interfaces within representative DSC device environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Deng
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline M Cole
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
- Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Joshaniel F K Cooper
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - John R P Webster
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Haynes
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Othman K Al Bahri
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Nina-Juliane Steinke
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Shaoliang Guan
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
- Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Liliana Stan
- Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Xiaozhi Zhan
- Dongguan Neutron Science Center, Dongguan 523000, China
| | - Tao Zhu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Daniel W Nye
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin B G Stenning
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
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11
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Schneider P, Verloh F, Portz A, Aoyagi S, Rohnke M, Dürr M. Direct Analysis of Ion-Induced Peptide Fragmentation in Secondary-Ion Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2020; 92:15604-15610. [PMID: 33170642 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Primary-ion-induced fragmentation in organic molecules can strongly influence the results in secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) of organic and biomolecular samples. In order to characterize this ion-induced fragmentation, oligopeptide samples irradiated in SIMS experiments were investigated by means of desorption/ionization induced by neutral SO2 clusters (DINeC). The latter is a nondestructive desorption method for mass spectrometry of biomolecules, which gives direct access to the fragments induced in the sample. Comparison of TOF-SIMS and DINeC mass spectra revealed qualitative differences between the fragments, which remain in the sample and the fragments sputtered during ion bombardment. The fragmentation strength and its spatial distribution were found to be quantitatively different for Bi1+, Bi3+, and Ar1000+ primary ions, leading to different distributions of the degree of fragmentation in the samples as directly measured by means of DINeC depth profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Schneider
- Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - F Verloh
- Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.,Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - A Portz
- Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - S Aoyagi
- Department of Materials and Life Science, Seikei University, 3-3-1, Kichijyoji-kitamachi, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8633, Japan
| | - M Rohnke
- Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - M Dürr
- Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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12
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Xu F, Testoff TT, Wang L, Zhou X. Cause, Regulation and Utilization of Dye Aggregation in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:E4478. [PMID: 33003462 PMCID: PMC7582523 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
As an important member of third generation solar cell, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have the advantages of being low cost, having an easy fabrication process, utilizing rich raw materials and a high-power conversion efficiency (PCE), prompting nearly three decades as a research hotspot. Recently, increasing the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs has proven troublesome. Sensitizers, as the most important part, are no longer limited to molecular engineering, and the regulation of dye aggregation has become a widely held concern, especially in liquid DSSCs. This review first presents the operational mechanism of liquid and solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, including the influencing factors of various parameters on device efficiency. Secondly, the mechanism of dye aggregation was explained by molecular exciton theory, and the influence of various factors on dye aggregation was summarized. We focused on a review of several methods for regulating dye aggregation in liquid and solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, and the advantages and disadvantages of these methods were analyzed. In addition, the important application of quantum computational chemistry in the study of dye aggregation was introduced. Finally, an outlook was proposed that utilizing the advantages of dye aggregation by combining molecular engineering with dye aggregation regulation is a research direction to improve the performance of liquid DSSCs in the future. For solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSSCs), the effects of solid electrolytes also need to be taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300345, China; (F.X.); (L.W.)
| | - Thomas T. Testoff
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Materials Technology Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA;
| | - Lichang Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300345, China; (F.X.); (L.W.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Materials Technology Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA;
| | - Xueqin Zhou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300345, China; (F.X.); (L.W.)
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13
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Sahare S, Ghoderao P, Khan SB, Chan Y, Lee SL. Recent progress in hybrid perovskite solar cells through scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:15970-15992. [PMID: 32761037 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr03499a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Currently, sustainable renewable energy sources are urgently required to fulfill the cumulative energy needs of the world's 7.8 billion population, since the conventional coal and fossil fuels will be exhausted soon. Photovoltaic devices are a direct and efficient means to produce a huge amount of energy to meet these energy targets. In particular, hybrid-perovskite-based photovoltaic devices merit special attention not only due to their exceptional efficiency for generating appreciable energy but also their tunable band gaps and the ease of device fabrication. However, the commercialization of such devices suffers from the instability of the compositional materials. The cause of instability is the perovskite's structure and its morphology at the sub-molecular level; thereby revealing and eliminating these instabilities are a striking challenge. To address this issue, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) presents a comprehensive method to allow the visualization of the morphology and electronic structure of materials at atomic-level resolution. Here, we review the recent developments of perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs), the STM/STS analysis of photoactive halide/hybrid and oxide materials, and the real-time STM/STS investigation of electronic structures with defects and traps that are believed to mainly affect device performances. The detailed STM/STS analysis can facilitate a better understanding of the properties of materials at the nanoscale. This informative study may hold great promise to advance the development of stable PSCs under atmospheric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Sahare
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060 China. and Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronics Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060 China
| | - Prachi Ghoderao
- Department of Applied Physics, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune, 411025 India
| | - Sadaf Bashir Khan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060 China. and Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronics Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060 China
| | - Yue Chan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060 China.
| | - Shern-Long Lee
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060 China.
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14
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Wu X, Delbianco M, Anggara K, Michnowicz T, Pardo-Vargas A, Bharate P, Sen S, Pristl M, Rauschenbach S, Schlickum U, Abb S, Seeberger PH, Kern K. Imaging single glycans. Nature 2020; 582:375-378. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2362-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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15
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Ultra-fast charge transfer between fullerenes and a gold surface, as prepared by electrospray deposition. Chem Phys Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2020.137309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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16
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Heep J, Tuchecker PHK, Gebhardt CR, Dürr M. Combination of Thin-Layer Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry Using Cluster-Induced Desorption/Ionization. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:22426-22430. [PMID: 31909324 PMCID: PMC6941192 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Desorption/ionization induced by neutral clusters (DINeC) was employed for mass spectrometry (MS) of oligopeptides and lipids after separation by means of thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Clear and fragmentation-free spectra were obtained from the TLC plates without any further sample treatment. Mass-resolved chromatograms were deduced when scanning the TLC plates with the cluster beam along the direction of solvent movement. Using vancomycin and noncovalently bound complexes, the soft nature of DINeC was demonstrated also when used in combination with TLC. As a test application, TLC and DINeC-MS were employed to separate and detect different phospholipids obtained from egg yolk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Heep
- Institut
für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Paul H. K. Tuchecker
- Institut
für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Michael Dürr
- Institut
für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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17
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Schneider P, Dürr M. Cluster-induced desorption investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations-Microsolvation in clusters of polar and non-polar constituents. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:214301. [PMID: 31176317 DOI: 10.1063/1.5095512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The desorption of surface-adsorbed molecules induced by cluster-surface collisions of neutral molecular clusters, in particular, SO2 clusters, was investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The desorption efficiency was found to be in general much higher for clusters of polar molecules when compared to nonpolar cluster constituents, for both nonpolar and polar adsorbates. In all cases, desorption is shown to proceed via dissolvation of the analyte in the cluster. In systems with nonpolar cluster constituents, the process is mainly driven by the increase in the entropy of the dissolved analyte in a larger cluster fragment. The latter process is enhanced by polar cluster constituents since the respective clusters show lower fragmentation at comparable kinetic energy and thus provide in average larger cluster fragments for the analytes to be dissolved in. In systems with clusters of polar constituents and polar adsorbates, the process is most efficient due to the additional energetic stabilization of the desorbed molecule in the solvation shell formed in the cluster fragment.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Schneider
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - M Dürr
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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18
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Cole JM, Pepe G, Al Bahri OK, Cooper CB. Cosensitization in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Chem Rev 2019; 119:7279-7327. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M. Cole
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, West Cambridge Site, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
- Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Giulio Pepe
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Othman K. Al Bahri
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher B. Cooper
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, West Cambridge Site, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
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19
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Freund S, Hinaut A, Marinakis N, Constable EC, Meyer E, Housecroft CE, Glatzel T. Anchoring of a dye precursor on NiO(001) studied by non-contact atomic force microscopy. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 9:242-249. [PMID: 29441269 PMCID: PMC5789385 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.9.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The properties of metal oxides, such as charge-transport mechanisms or optoelectronic characteristics, can be modified by functionalization with organic molecules. This kind of organic/inorganic surface is nowadays highly regarded, in particular, for the design of hybrid devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells. However, a key parameter for optimized interfaces is not only the choice of the compounds but also the properties of adsorption. Here, we investigated the deposition of an organic dye precursor molecule on a NiO(001) single crystal surface by means of non-contact atomic force microscopy at room temperature. Depending on the coverage, single molecules, groups of adsorbates with random or recognizable shapes, or islands of closely packed molecules were identified. Single molecules and self assemblies are resolved with submolecular resolution showing that they are lying flat on the surface in a trans-conformation. Within the limits of our Kelvin probe microscopy setup a charge transfer from NiO to the molecular layer of 0.3 electrons per molecules was observed only in the areas where the molecules are closed packed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Freund
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Hinaut
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Marinakis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Edwin C Constable
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ernst Meyer
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Catherine E Housecroft
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thilo Glatzel
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
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20
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Hinaut A, Meier T, Pawlak R, Feund S, Jöhr R, Kawai S, Glatzel T, Decurtins S, Müllen K, Narita A, Liu SX, Meyer E. Electrospray deposition of structurally complex molecules revealed by atomic force microscopy. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:1337-1344. [PMID: 29296988 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr06261c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Advances in organic chemistry allow the synthesis of large, complex and highly functionalized organic molecules having potential applications in optoelectronics, molecular electronics and organic solar cells. Their integration into devices as individual components or highly ordered thin-films is of paramount importance to address these future prospects. However, conventional sublimation techniques in vacuum are usually not applicable since large organic compounds are often non-volatile and decompose upon heating. Here, we prove by atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy, the structural integrity of complex organic molecules deposited onto an Au(111) surface using electrospray ionisation deposition. High resolution AFM measurements with CO-terminated tips unambiguously reveal their successful transfer from solution to the gold surface in ultra-high vacuum without degradation of their chemical structures. Furthermore, the formation of molecular structures from small islands to large and highly-ordered self-assemblies of those fragile molecules is demonstrated, confirming the use of electrospray ionisation to promote also on-surface polymerization reactions of highly functionalized organic compounds, biological molecules or molecular magnets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Hinaut
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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21
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Portz A, Gebhardt CR, Dürr M. Real-Time Investigation of the H/D Exchange Kinetics of Porphyrins and Oligopeptides by Means of Neutral Cluster-Induced Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:11031-11036. [PMID: 29160071 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b06897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The kinetics of the H/D exchange reaction in angiotensin II, hexaglycine (Gly6), Co(II)tetra(3-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin, and tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin were followed in real time by mass spectrometry employing desorption/ionization induced by neutral SO2 clusters. The change of the isotope patterns with increasing degree of deuteration was recorded as a function of D2O exposure and the underlying H/D exchange kinetics, i.e., the dependence of the different degrees of deuteration on time, were deduced. The results were modeled by means of Monte Carlo simulations taking into account different reaction constants for the H/D exchange reaction at different functional groups. In the case of the investigated porphyrins, the rate constants were directly assigned to the functional groups involved; in the case of the peptides, reaction at the explicit functional groups and the backbone chain of the molecules could be discriminated.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Portz
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen , Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Michael Dürr
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen , Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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22
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McCree-Grey J, Cole JM, Holt SA, Evans PJ, Gong Y. DyeTiO 2 interfacial structure of dye-sensitised solar cell working electrodes buried under a solution of I -/I 3- redox electrolyte. NANOSCALE 2017; 9:11793-11805. [PMID: 28786471 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr03936k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Dye-sensitised solar cells (DSCs) have niche prospects for electricity-generating windows that could equip buildings for energy-sustainable future cities. However, this 'smart window' technology is being held back by a lack of understanding in how the dye interacts with its device environment at the molecular level. A better appreciation of the dyeTiO2 interfacial structure of the DSC working electrodes would be particularly valuable since associated structure-function relationships could be established; these rules would provide a 'toolkit' for the molecular engineering of more suitable DSC dyes via rational design. Previous materials characterisation efforts have been limited to determining this interfacial structure within an environment exposed to air or situated in a solvent medium. This study is the first to reveal the structure of this buried interface within the functional device environment, and represents the first application of in situ neutron reflectometry to DSC research. By incorporating the electrolyte into the structural model of this buried interface, we reveal how lithium cations from the electrolyte constituents influence the dyeTiO2 binding configuration of an organic sensitiser, MK-44, via Li+ complexation to the cyanoacrylate group. This dye is the molecular congener of the high-performance MK-2 DSC dye, whose hexa-alkyl chains appear to stabilise it from Li+ complexation. Our in situ neutron reflectometry findings are built up from auxiliary structural models derived from ex situ X-ray reflectometry and corroborated via density functional theory and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. Significant differences between the in situ and ex situ dyeTiO2 interfacial structures are found, highlighting the need to characterise the molecular structure of DSC working electrodes while in a fully assembled device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan McCree-Grey
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.
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23
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Cole JM, Blood-Forsythe MA, Lin TC, Pattison P, Gong Y, Vázquez-Mayagoitia Á, Waddell PG, Zhang L, Koumura N, Mori S. Discovery of S···C≡N Intramolecular Bonding in a Thiophenylcyanoacrylate-Based Dye: Realizing Charge Transfer Pathways and Dye···TiO 2 Anchoring Characteristics for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:25952-25961. [PMID: 28692246 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b03522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Donor-π-acceptor dyes containing thiophenyl π-conjugated units and cyanoacrylate acceptor groups are among the best-performing organic chromophores used in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) applications. Yet, the molecular origins of their high photovoltaic output have remained unclear until now. This synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction study elucidates these origins for the high-performance thiophenylcyanoacrylate-based dye MK-2 (7.7% DSC device efficiency) and its molecular building block, MK-44. The crystal structures of MK-2 and MK-44 are both determined, while a high-resolution charge-density mapping of the smaller molecule was also possible, enabling the nature of its bonding to be detailed. A strong S···C≡N intramolecular interaction is discovered, which bears a bond critical point, thus proving that this interaction should be formally classified as a chemical bond. A topological analysis of the π-conjugated portion of MK-44 shows that this S···C≡N bonding underpins the highly efficient intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in thiophenylcyanoacrylate dyes. This manifests as two bipartite ICT pathways bearing carboxylate and nitrile end points. In turn, these pathways dictate a preferred COO/CN anchoring mode for the dye as it adsorbs onto TiO2 surfaces, to form the dye···TiO2 interface that constitutes the DSC working electrode. These results corroborate a recent proposal that all cyanoacrylate groups anchor onto TiO2 in this COO/CN binding configuration. Conformational analysis of the MK-44 and MK-2 crystal structures reveals that this S···C≡N bonding will persist in MK-2. Accordingly, this newly discovered bond affords a rational explanation for the attractive photovoltaic properties of MK-2. More generally, this study provides the first unequivocal evidence for an S···C≡N interaction, confirming previous speculative assignments of such interactions in other compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Cole
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
- Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge , West Cambridge Site, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A Blood-Forsythe
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Tze-Chia Lin
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Pattison
- Swiss Norwegian Beamlines, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility , F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Yun Gong
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paul G Waddell
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Lei Zhang
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Nagatoshi Koumura
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology , 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Shogo Mori
- Division of Chemistry and Materials, Shinshu University, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology , Ueda, Nagano 3868567, Japan
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24
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Chen WC, Nachimuthu S, Jiang JC. Revealing the influence of Cyano in Anchoring Groups of Organic Dyes on Adsorption Stability and Photovoltaic Properties for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4979. [PMID: 28694516 PMCID: PMC5504066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05408-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining an ideal adsorption configuration for a dye on the semiconductor surface is an important task in improving the overall efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. Here, we present a detailed investigation of different adsorption configurations of designed model dyes on TiO2 anatase (101) surface using first principles methods. Particularly, we aimed to investigate the influence of cyano group in the anchoring part of dye on its adsorption stability and the overall photovoltaic properties such as open circuit voltage, electron injection ability to the surface. Our results indicate that the inclusion of cyano group increases the stability of adsorption only when it adsorbs via CN with the surface and it decreases the photovoltaic properties when it does not involve in binding. In addition, we also considered full dyes based on the results of model dyes and investigated the different strength of acceptor abilities on stability and electron injection ability. Among the various adsorption configurations considered here, the bidentate bridging mode (A3) is more appropriate one which has higher electron injection ability, larger VOC value and more importantly it has higher dye loading on the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chieh Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Santhanamoorthi Nachimuthu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Jyh-Chiang Jiang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC.
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25
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Portz A, Baur M, Gebhardt CR, Frank AJ, Neuderth P, Eickhoff M, Dürr M. Influence of the cluster constituents' reactivity on the desorption/ionization process induced by neutral SO 2 clusters. J Chem Phys 2017; 146:134705. [PMID: 28390387 DOI: 10.1063/1.4979488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of the chemical nature of the cluster constituents on the desorption/ionization process was investigated for desorption/ionization induced by neutral SO2 clusters (DINeC). The polar clusters act as a transient matrix in which the desorbed analyte molecules are dissolved during the desorption process. For drop-cast samples, the desorption/ionization efficiency was found to be largely independent of the pH value of the initial solution the samples were prepared from; positive ions were almost always dominant and no multiply charged negative ions were observed. The results were traced back to the interaction of SO2 with water present in the samples. Both H/D exchange experiments and surface charge measurements showed that SO2 from the cluster beam interacts with water on and in the sample forming sulfurous acid. The latter then acts as an efficient proton supply leading to an enhanced ionization efficiency. The results demonstrate the possibility to control the ionization efficiency when using reactive cluster constituents in desorption-based ionization methods such as DINeC and cluster-based secondary ion mass spectrometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Portz
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - M Baur
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - C R Gebhardt
- Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Fahrenheitstr. 4, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - A J Frank
- I. Physikalisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - P Neuderth
- I. Physikalisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - M Eickhoff
- I. Physikalisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - M Dürr
- Institut für Angewandte Physik, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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26
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Abstract
Imaging single proteins has been a long-standing ambition for advancing various fields in natural science, as for instance structural biology, biophysics, and molecular nanotechnology. In particular, revealing the distinct conformations of an individual protein is of utmost importance. Here, we show the imaging of individual proteins and protein complexes by low-energy electron holography. Samples of individual proteins and protein complexes on ultraclean freestanding graphene were prepared by soft-landing electrospray ion beam deposition, which allows chemical- and conformational-specific selection and gentle deposition. Low-energy electrons do not induce radiation damage, which enables acquiring subnanometer resolution images of individual proteins (cytochrome C and BSA) as well as of protein complexes (hemoglobin), which are not the result of an averaging process.
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Mass spectrometry of oligopeptides in the presence of large amounts of alkali halides using desorption/ionization induced by neutral cluster impact. Biointerphases 2016; 11:02A316. [PMID: 26825286 DOI: 10.1116/1.4940705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligopeptides in the presence of large amounts of salt were desorbed and ionized using desorption/ionization induced by neutral clusters (DINeC) for further analysis by means of mass spectrometry (MS). Using oligopeptides in alkali halide solutions as a model system, DINeC was shown to yield clear and fragmentation free mass spectra of the biomolecules even from environments with a large excess of salt. The results were traced back to a phase separation between salt and biomolecules during sample preparation. The ratio between alkali metal complexes [M+A](+) and bare biomolecules [M+H](+) was controlled using different preparation schemes. DINeC was applied to the products of a tryptic digest of bovine serum albumin in the presence of sodium chloride; the results of a mass fingerprint analysis did not show a major difference for the spectra with and without salt in the original solution. The metal-ion/peptide interaction was further investigated by means of tandem-MS.
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Rauschenbach S, Ternes M, Harnau L, Kern K. Mass Spectrometry as a Preparative Tool for the Surface Science of Large Molecules. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2016; 9:473-98. [PMID: 27089378 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-071015-041633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Measuring and understanding the complexity that arises when nanostructures interact with their environment are one of the major current challenges of nanoscale science and technology. High-resolution microscopy methods such as scanning probe microscopy have the capacity to investigate nanoscale systems with ultimate precision, for which, however, atomic scale precise preparation methods of surface science are a necessity. Preparative mass spectrometry (pMS), defined as the controlled deposition of m/z filtered ion beams, with soft ionization sources links the world of large, biological molecules and surface science, enabling atomic scale chemical control of molecular deposition in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Here we explore the application of high-resolution scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy to the characterization of structure and properties of large molecules. We introduce the fundamental principles of the combined experiments electrospray ion beam deposition and scanning tunneling microscopy. Examples for the deposition and investigation of single particles, for layer and film growth, and for the investigation of electronic properties of individual nonvolatile molecules show that state-of-the-art pMS technology provides a platform analog to thermal evaporation in conventional molecular beam epitaxy. Additionally, it offers additional, unique features due to the use of charged polyatomic particles. This new field is an enormous sandbox for novel molecular materials research and demands the development of advanced molecular ion beam technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Markus Ternes
- Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany;
| | | | - Klaus Kern
- Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany;
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Johnson GE, Gunaratne D, Laskin J. Soft- and reactive landing of ions onto surfaces: Concepts and applications. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2016; 35:439-479. [PMID: 25880894 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Soft- and reactive landing of mass-selected ions is gaining attention as a promising approach for the precisely-controlled preparation of materials on surfaces that are not amenable to deposition using conventional methods. A broad range of ionization sources and mass filters are available that make ion soft-landing a versatile tool for surface modification using beams of hyperthermal (<100 eV) ions. The ability to select the mass-to-charge ratio of the ion, its kinetic energy and charge state, along with precise control of the size, shape, and position of the ion beam on the deposition target distinguishes ion soft landing from other surface modification techniques. Soft- and reactive landing have been used to prepare interfaces for practical applications as well as precisely-defined model surfaces for fundamental investigations in chemistry, physics, and materials science. For instance, soft- and reactive landing have been applied to study the surface chemistry of ions isolated in the gas-phase, prepare arrays of proteins for high-throughput biological screening, produce novel carbon-based and polymer materials, enrich the secondary structure of peptides and the chirality of organic molecules, immobilize electrochemically-active proteins and organometallics on electrodes, create thin films of complex molecules, and immobilize catalytically active organometallics as well as ligated metal clusters. In addition, soft landing has enabled investigation of the size-dependent behavior of bare metal clusters in the critical subnanometer size regime where chemical and physical properties do not scale predictably with size. The morphology, aggregation, and immobilization of larger bare metal nanoparticles, which are directly relevant to the design of catalysts as well as improved memory and electronic devices, have also been studied using ion soft landing. This review article begins in section 1 with a brief introduction to the existing applications of ion soft- and reactive landing. Section 2 provides an overview of the ionization sources and mass filters that have been used to date for soft landing of mass-selected ions. A discussion of the competing processes that occur during ion deposition as well as the types of ions and surfaces that have been investigated follows in section 3. Section 4 discusses the physical phenomena that occur during and after ion soft landing, including retention and reduction of ionic charge along with factors that impact the efficiency of ion deposition. The influence of soft landing on the secondary structure and biological activity of complex ions is addressed in section 5. Lastly, an overview of the structure and mobility as well as the catalytic, optical, magnetic, and redox properties of bare ionic clusters and nanoparticles deposited onto surfaces is presented in section 6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant E Johnson
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-88, Richland, WA, 99352
| | - Don Gunaratne
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-88, Richland, WA, 99352
| | - Julia Laskin
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-88, Richland, WA, 99352
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Koshiya S, Yamashita S, Kimoto K. Microscopic observation of dye molecules for solar cells on a titania surface. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24616. [PMID: 27087005 PMCID: PMC4834531 DOI: 10.1038/srep24616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The lateral distribution and coverage of Ru-based dye molecules, which are used for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), were directly examined on a titania surface using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The clean surface of a free-standing titania nanosheet was first confirmed with atomic resolution, and then, the nanosheet was used as a substrate. A single dye molecule on the titania nanosheet was visualized for the first time. The quantitative STEM images revealed an inhomogeneous dye-molecule distribution at the early stage of its absorption, i.e., the aggregation of the dye molecules. The majority of the titania surface was not covered by dye molecules, suggesting that optimization of the dye molecule distribution could yield further improvement of the DSC conversion efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Koshiya
- Surface Physics and Structure Unit, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Yamashita
- Surface Physics and Structure Unit, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.,Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu University, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
| | - Koji Kimoto
- Surface Physics and Structure Unit, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.,Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu University, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
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31
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Cole JM, Low KS, Gong Y. Discovery of Black Dye Crystal Structure Polymorphs: Implications for Dye Conformational Variation in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:27646-27653. [PMID: 26599130 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b07364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We present the discovery of a new crystal structure polymorph (1) and pseudopolymorph (2) of the Black Dye, one of the world's leading dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells, DSSCs (10.4% device performance efficiency). This reveals that Black Dye molecules can adopt multiple low-energy conformers. This is significant since it challenges existing models of the Black Dye···TiO2 adsorption process that renders a DSSC working electrode; these have assumed a single molecular conformation that refers to the previously reported Black Dye crystal structure (3). The marked structural differences observed between 1, 2, and 3 make the need for modeling multiple conformations more acute. Additionally, the ordered form of the Black Dye (1) provides a more appropriate depiction of its anionic structure, especially regarding its anchoring group and NCS bonding descriptions. The tendency toward NCS ligand isomerism, evidenced via the disordered form 2, has consequences for electron injection and electron recombination in Black Dye embedded DSSC devices. Dyes 2 and 3 differ primarily by the absence or presence of a solvent of crystallization, respectively; solvent environment effects on the dye are thereby elucidated. This discovery of multiple Black Dye conformers from diffraction, with atomic-level definition, complements recently reported nanoscopic evidence for multiple dye conformations existing at a dye···TiO2 interface, for a chemically similar DSSC dye; those results emanated from imaging and spectroscopy, but were unresolved at the submolecular level. Taken together, these findings lead to the general notion that multiple dye conformations should be explicitly considered when modeling dye···TiO2 interfaces in DSSCs, at least for ruthenium-based dye complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Cole
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 S Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Kian Sing Low
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Yun Gong
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
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32
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Kern B, Greisch JF, Strelnikov D, Weis P, Böttcher A, Ruben M, Schäfer B, Schooss D, Kappes MM. Photoluminescence Spectroscopy of Mass-Selected Electrosprayed Ions Embedded in Cryogenic Rare-Gas Matrixes. Anal Chem 2015; 87:11901-6. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Kern
- Institute of Physical
Chemistry II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jean-François Greisch
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Dmitry Strelnikov
- Institute of Physical
Chemistry II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Patrick Weis
- Institute of Physical
Chemistry II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Artur Böttcher
- Institute of Physical
Chemistry II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Mario Ruben
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schäfer
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Detlef Schooss
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Manfred M. Kappes
- Institute of Physical
Chemistry II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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33
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Hinaut A, Pawlak R, Meyer E, Glatzel T. Electrospray deposition of organic molecules on bulk insulator surfaces. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 6:1927-34. [PMID: 26665062 PMCID: PMC4660929 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.6.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Large organic molecules are of important interest for organic-based devices such as hybrid photovoltaics or molecular electronics. Knowing their adsorption geometries and electronic structures allows to design and predict macroscopic device properties. Fundamental investigations in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) are thus mandatory to analyze and engineer processes in this prospects. With increasing size, complexity or chemical reactivity, depositing molecules by thermal evaporation becomes challenging. A recent way to deposit molecules in clean conditions is Electrospray Ionization (ESI). ESI keeps the possibility to work with large molecules, to introduce them in vacuum, and to deposit them on a large variety of surfaces. Here, ESI has been successfully applied to deposit triply fused porphyrin molecules on an insulating KBr(001) surface in UHV environment. Different deposition coverages have been obtained and characterization of the surface by in-situ atomic force microscopy working in the non-contact mode shows details of the molecular structures adsorbed on the surface. We show that UHV-ESI, can be performed on insulating surfaces in the sub-monolayer regime and to single molecules which opens the possibility to study a variety of complex molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Hinaut
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rémy Pawlak
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ernst Meyer
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thilo Glatzel
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
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34
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McCree-Grey J, Cole JM, Evans PJ. Preferred Molecular Orientation of Coumarin 343 on TiO2 Surfaces: Application to Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:16404-16409. [PMID: 26159229 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b03572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The dye···TiO2 interfacial structure in working electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) is known to influence its photovoltaic device performance. Despite this, direct and quantitative reports of such structure remain sparse. This case study presents the application of X-ray reflectometry to determine the preferred structural orientation and molecular packing of the organic dye, Coumarin 343, adsorbed onto amorphous TiO2. Results show that the dye molecules are, on average, tilted by 61.1° relative to the TiO2 surface, and are separated from each other by 8.2 Å. These findings emulate the molecular packing arrangement of a monolayer of Coumarin 343 within its crystal structure. This suggests that the dye adsorbs onto TiO2 in one of its lowest energy configurations; that is, dye···TiO2 self-assembly is driven more by thermodynamic rather than kinetic means. Complementary DSC device tests illustrate that this interfacial structure compromises photovoltaic performance, unless a suitably sized coadsorbant is interdispersed between the Coumarin 343 chromophores on the TiO2 surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan McCree-Grey
- †Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- ‡Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, New South Wales 2234, Australia
| | - Jacqueline M Cole
- †Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- §Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Peter J Evans
- ‡Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, New South Wales 2234, Australia
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35
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Atomic species identification at the (101) anatase surface by simultaneous scanning tunnelling and atomic force microscopy. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7265. [PMID: 26118408 PMCID: PMC4491188 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Anatase is a pivotal material in devices for energy-harvesting applications and catalysis. Methods for the accurate characterization of this reducible oxide at the atomic scale are critical in the exploration of outstanding properties for technological developments. Here we combine atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), supported by first-principles calculations, for the simultaneous imaging and unambiguous identification of atomic species at the (101) anatase surface. We demonstrate that dynamic AFM-STM operation allows atomic resolution imaging within the material's band gap. Based on key distinguishing features extracted from calculations and experiments, we identify candidates for the most common surface defects. Our results pave the way for the understanding of surface processes, like adsorption of metal dopants and photoactive molecules, that are fundamental for the catalytic and photovoltaic applications of anatase, and demonstrate the potential of dynamic AFM-STM for the characterization of wide band gap materials.
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36
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Song IY, Kim M, Park T. Effect of ion-chelating chain lengths in thiophene-based monomers on in situ photoelectrochemical polymerization and photovoltaic performances. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:11482-11489. [PMID: 25977990 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b02411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We synthesized thiophene-based monomers (bis-EDOTs) with different ethylene glycol oligomer (EGO) lengths (TBO3, TBO4, and TBO5) and investigated their polymerization characteristics during photoelectrochemical polymerization (PEP) at the surfaces of dye (D205)-sensitized TiO2 nanocrystalline particles. During the PEP reaction, monomers were expected to diffuse toward neighboring dyes through the growing polymer layers to enable continuous chain growth. We found that the less bulky monomer (TBO3) formed a more compact polymer layer with a high molecular weight. Its diffusion to the active sites through the resulting growing polymer layer was, therefore, limited. We deployed layers of the polymers (PTBO3, PTBO4, and PTBO5) in iodine-free solid-state hybrid solar cells to investigate the lithium ion chelating properties of the polymers as a function of the number of oxygen atoms present in the EGOs. PTBO4 and PTBO5 were capable of chelating lithium ions, yielding a photovoltaic performance that was 142% of the performance obtained without the polymer layers (3.0→5.2%).
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Affiliation(s)
- In Young Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San31, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyoungbuk 790-780, Korea
| | - Minjun Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San31, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyoungbuk 790-780, Korea
| | - Taiho Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San31, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyoungbuk 790-780, Korea
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Voïtchovsky K, Ashari-Astani N, Tavernelli I, Tétreault N, Rothlisberger U, Stellacci F, Grätzel M, Harms HA. In Situ Mapping of the Molecular Arrangement of Amphiphilic Dye Molecules at the TiO₂ Surface of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:10834-42. [PMID: 25936429 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b01638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic sensitizers are central to the function of dye-sensitized solar cells. It is known that the cell's performance depends on the molecular arrangement and the density of the dye on the semiconductor surface, but a molecular-level picture of the cell-electrolyte interface is still lacking. Here, we present subnanometer in situ atomic force microscopy images of the Z907 dye at the surface of TiO2 in a relevant liquid. Our results reveal changes in the conformation and the lateral arrangement of the dye molecules, depending on their average packing density on the surface. Complementary quantitative measurements on the ensemble of the film are obtained by the quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation technique. An atomistic picture of the dye coverage-dependent packing, the effectiveness of the hydrophobic alkyl chains as blocking layer, and the solvent accessibility is obtained from molecular dynamics simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kislon Voïtchovsky
- †EPFL STI IMX SUNMIL, Station 12, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- ‡Physics Department, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hauke A Harms
- ∥EPFL SB ISIC LPI, Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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38
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Gibson AJ, Temperton RH, Handrup K, Weston M, Mayor LC, O'Shea JN. Charge transfer from an adsorbed ruthenium-based photosensitizer through an ultra-thin aluminium oxide layer and into a metallic substrate. J Chem Phys 2015; 140:234708. [PMID: 24952561 DOI: 10.1063/1.4882867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of the dye molecule N3 (cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarbo-xylato)-ruthenium(II)) with the ultra-thin oxide layer on a AlNi(110) substrate, has been studied using synchrotron radiation based photoelectron spectroscopy, resonant photoemission spectroscopy, and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Calibrated X-ray absorption and valence band spectra of the monolayer and multilayer coverages reveal that charge transfer is possible from the molecule to the AlNi(110) substrate via tunnelling through the ultra-thin oxide layer and into the conduction band edge of the substrate. This charge transfer mechanism is possible from the LUMO+2 and 3 in the excited state but not from the LUMO, therefore enabling core-hole clock analysis, which gives an upper limit of 6.0 ± 2.5 fs for the transfer time. This indicates that ultra-thin oxide layers are a viable material for use in dye-sensitized solar cells, which may lead to reduced recombination effects and improved efficiencies of future devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Gibson
- School of Physics and Astronomy and Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre (NNNC), University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Robert H Temperton
- School of Physics and Astronomy and Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre (NNNC), University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Karsten Handrup
- School of Physics and Astronomy and Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre (NNNC), University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Weston
- School of Physics and Astronomy and Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre (NNNC), University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Louise C Mayor
- School of Physics and Astronomy and Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre (NNNC), University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - James N O'Shea
- School of Physics and Astronomy and Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre (NNNC), University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
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39
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Zhang L, Cole JM. Anchoring groups for dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:3427-55. [PMID: 25594514 DOI: 10.1021/am507334m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 344] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) require one or more chemical substituents that can act as an anchor, enabling their adsorption onto a metal oxide substrate. This adsorption provides a means for electron injection, which is the process that initiates the electrical circuit in a DSSC. Understanding the structure of various DSSC anchors and the search for new anchors are critical factors for the development of improved DSSCs. Traditionally, carboxylic acid and cyanoacrylic acid groups are employed as dye anchors in DSSCs. In recent years, novel anchor groups have emerged, which make a larger pool of materials available for DSSC dyes, and their associated physical and chemical characteristics offer interesting effects at the interface between dye and metal oxide. This review focuses especially on the structural aspects of these novel dye anchors for TiO2-based DSSCs, including pyridine, phosphonic acid, tetracyanate, perylene dicarboxylic acid anhydride, 2-hydroxylbenzonitrile, 8-hydroxylquinoline, pyridine-N-oxide, hydroxylpyridium, catechol, hydroxamate, sulfonic acid, acetylacetanate, boronic acid, nitro, tetrazole, rhodanine, and salicylic acid substituents. We anticipate that further exploration and understanding of these new types of anchoring groups for TiO2 substrates will not only contribute to the development of advanced DSSCs, but also of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, water splitting systems, and other self-assembled monolayer-based technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge , J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
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40
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Yang H, Li J, Zhou G, Chiang SW, Du H, Gan L, Xu C, Kang F, Duan W. First principles study of ruthenium(ii) sensitizer adsorption on anatase TiO2 (001) surface. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra06743j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
We compared the photoelectrical performance of sensitized TiO2 (001) and (101) surfaces exposed in the photoanode of dye sensitized solar cells based on first-principles calculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Thermal Management Engineering and Materials
- Graduate School at Shenzhen
- Tsinghua University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Jia Li
- Key Laboratory of Thermal Management Engineering and Materials
- Graduate School at Shenzhen
- Tsinghua University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Gang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology
- Beijing
- China
| | - Sum Wai Chiang
- Key Laboratory of Thermal Management Engineering and Materials
- Graduate School at Shenzhen
- Tsinghua University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Hongda Du
- Key Laboratory of Thermal Management Engineering and Materials
- Graduate School at Shenzhen
- Tsinghua University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Lin Gan
- Key Laboratory of Thermal Management Engineering and Materials
- Graduate School at Shenzhen
- Tsinghua University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Chengjun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Thermal Management Engineering and Materials
- Graduate School at Shenzhen
- Tsinghua University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Feiyu Kang
- Key Laboratory of Thermal Management Engineering and Materials
- Graduate School at Shenzhen
- Tsinghua University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Wenhui Duan
- Department of Physics and State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physics
- Tsinghua University
- Beijing 100084
- China
- Institute for Advanced Study
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Zhang F, Ma W, Jiao Y, Wang J, Shan X, Li H, Lu X, Meng S. Precise identification and manipulation of adsorption geometry of donor-π-acceptor dye on nanocrystalline TiO₂ films for improved photovoltaics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2014; 6:22359-69. [PMID: 25418522 DOI: 10.1021/am506365a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Adsorption geometry of dye molecules on nanocrystalline TiO2 plays a central role in dye-sensitized solar cells, enabling effective sunlight absorption, fast electron injection, optimized interface band offsets, and stable photovoltaic performance. However, precise determination of dye binding geometry and proportion has been challenging due to complexity and sensitivity at interfaces. Here employing combined vibrational spectrometry and density functional calculations, we identify typical adsorption configurations of widely adopted cyanoacrylic donor-π bridge-acceptor dyes on nanocrystalline TiO2. Binding mode switching from bidentate bridging to hydrogen-bonded monodentate configuration with Ti-N bonding has been observed when dye-sensitizing solution becomes more basic. Raman and infrared spectroscopy measurements confirm this configuration switch and determine quantitatively the proportion of competing binding geometries, with vibration peaks assigned using density functional theory calculations. We further found that the proportion of dye-binding configurations can be manipulated by adjusting pH value of dye-sensitizing solutions. Controlling molecular adsorption density and configurations led to enhanced energy conversion efficiency from 2.4% to 6.1% for the fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells, providing a simple method to improve photovoltaic performance by suppressing unfavorable binding configurations in solar cell applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
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Dette C, Pérez-Osorio MA, Kley CS, Punke P, Patrick CE, Jacobson P, Giustino F, Jung SJ, Kern K. TiO2 anatase with a bandgap in the visible region. NANO LETTERS 2014; 14:6533-6538. [PMID: 25252265 DOI: 10.1021/nl503131s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
TiO2 anatase plays a central role in energy and environmental research. A major bottleneck toward developing artificial photosynthesis with TiO2 is that it only absorbs ultraviolet light, owing to its large bandgap of 3.2 eV. If one could reduce the bandgap of anatase to the visible region, TiO2-based photocatalysis could become a competitive clean energy source. Here, using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy in conjunction with density functional theory calculations, we report the discovery of a highly reactive titanium-terminated anatase surface with a reduced bandgap of less than 2 eV, stretching into the red portion of the solar spectrum. By tuning the surface preparation conditions, we can reversibly switch between the standard anatase surface and the newly discovered low bandgap surface phase. The identification of a TiO2 anatase surface phase with a bandgap in the visible and high chemical reactivity has important implications for solar energy conversion, photocatalysis, and artificial photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dette
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research , Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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Honda M, Yanagida M, Han L, Miyano K. Investigation of the influence of coadsorbent dye upon the interfacial structure of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Chem Phys 2014; 141:174709. [PMID: 25381539 DOI: 10.1063/1.4900640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interface between Ru(tcterpy)(NCS)3TBA2 [black dye (BD); tcterpy = 4,4',4″-tricarboxy-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, NCS = thiocyanato, TBA = tetrabutylammonium cation] and nanocrystalline TiO2, as found in dye-sensitized solar cells, is investigated by soft-X-ray synchrotron radiation and compared with the adsorption structure of cis-Ru(Hdcbpy)2(NCS)2TBA2 (N719; dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) on TiO2 to elucidate the relationship between the adsorption mode of BD and the photocurrent with and without coadsorbed indoline dye D131. The depth profile is characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and S K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure using synchrotron radiation. Both datasets indicate that one of the isothiocyanate groups of BD interacts with TiO2 via its S atom when the dye is adsorbed from a single-component solution. In contrast, the interaction is slightly suppressed when D131 is coadsorbed, indicated by the fact that the presence of D131 changes the adsorption mode of BD. Based upon these results, the number of BD dye molecules interacting with the substrate is shown to decrease by 10% when D131 is coadsorbed, and the dissociation is shown to be related to the short-circuit photocurrent in the 600-800 nm region. The design of a procedure to promote the preferential adsorption of D131 therefore leads to an improvement of the short-circuit current and conversion efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Honda
- Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN), National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - M Yanagida
- Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN), National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - L Han
- Photovoltaic Materials Unit, NIMS, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - K Miyano
- Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN), National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
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