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Large Scale Composite Nanowires and 3D Nanostructures for Energy Conversion and Storage

Research Authors
Ling Jin KIONG, Zinab Hassanien BAKR, Bhupender PAL, Bincy Lathakumary VIJAYAN, Shengyuan YANG, Mohd Yusoff MASHITAH, Jose RAJAN
Research Abstract

Composites of functional materials have long been synthesized for achieving enhanced physical and chemical properties such that they serve improved functions for a range of nanoelectronic devices and architectures. This is because many nanoelectronic devices demands materials of multiple functions including high conductivity and high surface area. In particular, these two functions are mutually competing in nanostructured materials–when the surface area increases as a result of nanostructuring processes, the increased surface fraction imposes surface states that lie within the bandgap of the material and subsequently the electrical conductivity is lowered.[1] Many attempts have been adopted in the past to have high surface area and highly conducting materials in the single material system; however, making a composite is the most simple one and could be industrially accepted. Composite properties are achieved through many methods such as physical mixing of its components, chemical methods such as core/shell, hierarchical structures, nanoparticle-decorated nanowires, and carbon-reinforced porous materials are few examples.[2, 3] However, preparing a composite in the form of a nanowire or a 3D nanoflower is relatively new. Given the paramount importance of energy, recently energy conversion and storage devices are researched globally with high intensity. Optical transparency and workability at low light conditions enable the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) as desirable choice as smart windows in modern buildings for adding aesthetics with diverse choice of colors while producing …

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