Browsing by Author "Huang, Michael H."

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Facet-Dependent Photocatalytic Behaviors of ZnS-Decorated Cu2O Polyhedra Arising from Tunable Interfacial Band Alignment
(2019-01-23)
Naresh, Gollapally
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Hsieh, Pei-Lun
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Meena, Vandana
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Lee, Shih-Kuang
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Chiu, Yi-Hsuan
ZnS particles were grown over Cu2O cubes, octahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra for examination of their facet-dependent photocatalytic behaviors. After ZnS growth, Cu2O cubes stay photocatalytically inactive. ZnS-decorated Cu2O octahedra show enhanced photocatalytic activity, resulting from better charge carrier separation upon photo excitation. Surprisingly, Cu2O rhombic dodecahedra give greatly suppressed photocatalytic activity after ZnS deposition. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra agree with these experimental observations. Time-resolved photoluminescence profiles provide charge-transfer insights. The decrease in the photocatalytic activity is attributed to an unfavorable band alignment caused by significant band bending within the Cu2O(110)/ZnS(200) plane interface. A modified Cu2O-ZnS band diagram is presented. Density functional theory calculations generating plane -specific band energy diagrams of Cu2O and ZnS match well with the experimental results, showing that charge transfer across the Cu2O(110)/ZnS(200) plane interface would not happen. This example further illustrates that the actual photocatalysis outcome for semiconductor heterojunctions cannot be assumed because interfacial charge transfer is strongly facet-dependent.
Facet-Specific Photocatalytic Activity Enhancement of Cu2O Polyhedra Functionalized with 4-Ethynylanaline Resulting from Band Structure Tuning
(2020-06-24)
Chen, Tzu-Ning
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Kao, Jui-Cheng
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Zhong, Xin-Yan
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Chan, Shang-Ju
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Patra, Anindya S.
Cu2O rhombic dodecahedra, octahedra, and cubes were densely modified with conjugated 4-ethynylaniline (4-EA) for facet-dependent photocatalytic activity examination. Infrared spectroscopy affirms bonding of the acetylenic group of 4-EA onto the surface copper atoms. The photocatalytically inactive Cu2O cubes showed surprisingly high activity toward methyl orange photodegradation after 4-EA modification, while the already active Cu2O rhombic dodecahedra and octahedra exhibited a photocatalytic activity enhancement. Electron, hole, and radical scavenger experiments prove that the photocatalytic charge transport processes have occurred in the functionalized Cu2O cubes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy also indicates reduced charge transfer resistance of the functionalized Cu2O crystals. A band diagram constructed from UV-vis spectral and Mott-Schottky measurements reveals significant band energy shifts in all Cu2O samples after decorating with 4-EA. From density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a new band has emerged slightly above the valence band maximum within the band gap of Cu2O, which has been found to originate from 4-EA through band-decomposed charge density analysis. The increased charge density localized on the 4-EA molecule and the smallest electron transition energy to reach the 4-EA-generated band are factors making {100}-bound Cu2O cubes photocatalytically active. Proper molecular decoration represents a powerful approach to improving the photocatalytic efficiency of semiconductors.
Germanium Possessing Facet-Specific Trap States and Carrier Lifetimes
(2020-06-18)
Tan, Chih-Shan
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Lu, Ming-Yen
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Peng, Wei-Hao
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Chen, Lih-Juann
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Huang, Michael H.
Previously, the notable differences in the band structure and changes in bond length and bond distortion between the semiconducting and metal-like planes of germanium have been used to understand the facet-dependent electrical conductivity properties of germanium wafers. To gain further insights into the appearance of electrical facet behaviors, impedance measurements were performed on the Ge{111}, {110}, and {100} wafers. Impedance data and several conductivity-related parameters were used to produce a diagram showing the amount of trap states and the trap state energies. The trap states are found within the germanium band gap with a facet-specific distribution of energies. Compared to the {100} and {110} wafers, the Ge{111} wafer has the lowest trap state density in the probed voltage range. This is consistent with its best conductivity property, as trap states hinder the direct excitation of electrons to the conduction band. Carrier lifetime can also be obtained from the impedance data. The {111} surface generally has the shortest carrier lifetime, which is related to its high electrical conductivity. Interestingly, diffuse reflectance and ultraviolet photoelectron spectral (UPS) measurements yield the smallest Schottky barrier between Ag and the most conductive Ge{111} surface, showing this approach to understanding electrical facet effects can still be useful despite its inadequacy to account for the facet-specific conductivity behaviors of Si wafers. However, one should not rely solely on the experimentally determined Schottky barriers to explain electrical facet effects.
Plasmonic-enhanced performance for polymer solar cells prepared with inverted structures
(2012-11-05)
Kao, Chuan-Sheng
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Chen, Fang-Chung
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Liao, Ching-Wen
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Huang, Michael H.
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Hsu, Chain-Shu
We incorporated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in inverted organic photovoltaic devices to enhance the device performance. The photocurrent and fill factors were improved after the addition of Au NPs into the Cs2CO3 buffer layer. The photoluminescent measurements revealed a significant increase of light absorption of the photoactive layer. We attribute the improvement to local field enhancement induced by the localized surface plasmon resonance. Further, through the study of the morphologies of the cathode interfaces, we found that the rough surfaces might increase the device resistances. This drawback, however, was overwhelmed by the advantageous plasmonic effects. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4766736]
PLASMONIC-ENHANCED POLYMER PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCORPORATING AU NANOPARTICLES
(2010)
Wu, Jyh-Lih
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Lee, Chia-Lin
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Chen, Fang-Chung
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Kuo, Chun-Hong
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Huang, Michael H.
We have improved the device performance of polymer photovoltaic devices (OPVs) by blending Au nanoparticles (NPs) into the anodic buffer layer. The unique optical properties of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), triggered by Au NPs, was beneficial for improving the photocurrent of OPVs. The excitation of LSPR increased not only the exciton generation rate but also the exciton dissociation probability. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of OPVs has been significantly enhanced from 3.57 to 4.24%.
Plasmonic-enhanced polymer photovoltaic devices incorporating solution-processable metal nanoparticles
(2009-07-06)
Chen, Fang-Chung
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Wu, Jyh-Lih
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Lee, Chia-Ling
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Hong, Yi
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Kuo, Chun-Hong
We have explored the effect of gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-induced surface plasmons on the performance of organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs). The power conversion efficiency of these OPVs was improved after blending the Au NPs into the anodic buffer layer. The addition of Au NPs increased the rate of exciton generation and the probability of exciton dissociation, thereby enhancing the short-circuit current density and the fill factor. We attribute the improvement in device performance to the local enhancement in the electromagnetic field originating from the excitation of the localized surface plasmon resonance. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3174914]
Shape-Tunable SrTiO3 Crystals Revealing Facet-Dependent Optical and Photocatalytic Properties
(2019-06-06)
Hsieh, Pei-Lun
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Naresh, Gollapally
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Huang, Yu-Sheng
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Tsao, Chun-Wen
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Hsu, Yung-Jung
SrTiO3 cubes with tunable sizes of 160-290 nm have been synthesized by mixing TiCl4, SrCl2, and LiOH in pure ethanol or a water/ethanol mixed solution at just 70 degrees C for 3 h. Replacing water/ethanol with water/hexanol and water/ethylene glycol, and fine tuning the amounts of other reagents, resulted in the formation of edge-truncated cubes and {100}-truncated rhombic dodecahedra, respectively. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy characterization, supported by Rietveld refinement analysis, have revealed shape-dependent tuning in lattice parameters. The cubes display slight size-related optical band shifts, and they show clearly more blue-shifted light absorption than the other particles exposing significant {110} faces. The {100}-truncated rhombic dodecahedra are far more efficient than cubes at photodegradation of methylene blue and photocatalyzed hydrogen evolution from water in the presence of methanol. The photocatalytic activity variation should arise from different degrees of surface band bending for the {100} and {110} faces of SrTiO3, suggesting surface facet control as a strategy for enhancing photocatalyzed hydrogen production.
Surface Plasmonic Effects of Metallic Nanoparticles on the Performance of Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells
(2011-02-01)
Wu, Jyh-Lih
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Chen, Fang-Chung
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Hsiao, Yu-Sheng
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Chien, Fan-Ching
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Chen, Peilin
We have systematically explored how plasmonic effects influence the characteristics of polymer photovoltaic devices (OPVs) incorporating a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). We blended gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) into the anodic buffer layer to trigger localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), which enhanced the performance of the OPVs without dramatically sacrificing their electrical properties. Steady state photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed a significant increase in fluorescence intensity, which we attribute to the increased light absorption in P3HT Induced by the LSPR. As a result, the rate of generation of excitons was enhanced significantly. Furthermore, dynamic PL measurements revealed that the LSPR notably reduced the lifetime of photogenerated excitons In the active blend, suggesting that interplay between the surface plasmons and excitons facilitated the charge transfer process. This phenomenon reduced the recombination level of geminate excitons and, thereby, Increased the probability of exciton dissociation. Accordingly, both the photocurrents and fill factors of the OPV devices were enhanced significantly. The primary origin of this improved performance was local enhancement of the electromagnetic field surrounding the Au NPs. The power conversion efficiency of the OPV device incorporating the Au NPs improved to 4.24% from a value of 3.57% for the device fabricated without Au NPs.