Themed collection Emerging Investigators 2016: Novel design strategies for new functional materials

Journal of Materials Chemistry A profiles contributors to the Emerging Investigators issue.

This article provides an overview of recent developments in the fabrication of core–shell nanoparticles by one-step/pot methodologies as well as providing a summary and outlook of this emerging area.

State-of-the-art development of fabrication methods and surface engineering strategies of 1D TiO₂ nanostructures is reviewed, and an overview given of their potential applications including pollutant degradation/CO₂ photoreduction photocatalysts, water splitting, solar cells, lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors.

Herein we discuss catalysts for the water oxidation half-reaction of electrochemical water splitting that can be produced by electrodeposition and that are based on the comparatively plentiful and inexpensive first row transition metals.

This review focuses on the aspects of flexibility, stability and large scale, which are very essential for the future commercialization of PSCs, and many effective materials and fabrication strategies which have been reported to emphasize these three properties of PSCs will be introduced.

Nitride semiconductors have properties suitable for solar energy conversion and can be synthesized using high-energy precursors.

Shedding light on the design strategies used to make structurally photoactive metal–organic frameworks.

Vapor based methods provide a promising alternative way to fabricate organometal halide perovskite solar cells.

Heavy metal toxicity and device instability are prominent limitations in the push for commercialization of photovoltaics based on low-cost, solution-processed materials. Therefore, in this study a hybrid organic–inorganic material containing trivalent bismuth and dicationic 1,6-hexanediammonium was used as the photoactive layer in solution-processed photovoltaics.

Electrochemical generation of oxygen via the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key enabling step for many air-breathing electrochemical energy storage devices.

The direct laser writing method has emerged as a novel technique for fabricating MoS₂/carbon hybrid HER catalysts with low cost, high efficiency, and flexible designability.

We report the development of high-performance wearable supercapacitor fabrics based on flexible metallic fabrics and one-step electrospun carbon nanowebs.

Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate modified gold electrodes can easily tune the rate of electron transfer to the redox active species when the deposition time is varied.

The synthesis and surface modification of CMP thin films and nanomembranes was performed using orthogonal click chemistries. The surface modification can tune the nanomembrane properties for desired applications; the use of photo-initiated reactions provides the additional opportunity to photo-pattern the CMP materials.

Antimony sulfide nanocrystals of various shapes and different phases are synthesized using a colloidal hot-injection method, and the as-prepared nanocrystals are used as a light harvesting material in photovoltaic devices.

Using Ag–Ag₈GeS₆ as a model system, a novel strategy for the formation of Ag-based Janus nanostructures is presented.

This work reports the synergistic utility of ionic liquid-based, photo-assisted electrodeposition of MoS_x onto organic-functionalized silicon photolelectrodes for dihydrogen (H₂) evolution under 1-sun illumination.

EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations identify naphthalenium and anthracenium radicals in high temperature coke residue deposited on methanol fed H-MOR.

Gold nanostars as a photocatalyst perform better than rods and cubes.

The quest for higher energy densities of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and emerging sodium-ion analogues (SIBs) has motivated an intense research effort toward novel electrode materials.

FeCo bimetal decorated CNTs were synthesized as highly efficient and cost-effective non-noble metal catalysts for Li-O₂ batteries.

Hybrid materials by functionalization of fibrous nanosilica (KCC-1) were synthesized for efficient CO₂ capture, using various amine molecules by physisorption (ads.) as well as covalent attachment.

Olivine-type phosphates LiFePO₄ and NaFePO₄ are among the most widely studied cathode materials for rechargeable batteries. Here we show that tensile strain applied perpendicularly to the alkali-ion migration channels will improve their intercalation properties.

The photoelectrochemical performance of a-SiC photocathodes was enhanced by using a Ni/Ni-Mo dual-catalyst resulting in a significant increase of photocurrent density of −14 mA cm⁻² at 0 V vs. RHE.

We report our results of developing perovskite thin films with high coverage, improved uniformity and preserved crystalline continuity in a single pass deposition.

A photoactive Bi₂MoO₆/MoO₃ heterojunction electrode derived from a direct thin-film-route showed close to 100% faradic photocurrent-to-O₂ conversion efficiency.

The development of new frameworks for solid electrolytes exhibiting fast Li-ion diffusion is critical for enabling new energy storage technologies.

Addition of small quantities of amino acids to solvothermal and microwave syntheses of Zr and Hf MOFs drastically improves their crystallinity to the extent that single crystal structures can be obtained.

The nature and effects of rhodium and antimony doping in TiO₂ have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

Catalytic performance and bimetallic architecture are intertwined.

A facile bio-inspired, diaphragm-assisted method is demonstrated for effective synthesis of nanostructures on substrates.

A finite element modelling - experimental approach as a new resource efficient design strategy to improve the temperature stability of BaTiO₃ (BT)-based ceramic materials for MLCCs. Illustrated using rare earth-free NaNbO₃-doped BT and found to decrease the magnitude of the TCC.

A new method to exfoliate LiCoO₂ into nanosheets is presented and the structural and electrochemical properties of particles obtained from reassembled nanosheets are investigated.

We report on the fabrication of a robust and flexible transparent electrode to replace costly and fragile indium tin oxide used in flexible Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ solar cells.

Mussel-inspired copolymer P(DAA-co-AEMA) forms water-resistant coating upon pH increase by self-crosslinking reaction of catechols and amines.

Space- and time-resolved operando DRIFTS, XAFS, and XRD uncovered the involved surface chemical species and active sites, especially the unique functions of K and Cu, during the CO₂ capture-reduction process.

A binder-free graphene anode for Li-ion batteries showing a reversible specific capacity of ∼500 mA h g⁻¹ after 100 cycles is demonstrated.

We report the direct growth of metallic Co₉S₈ nanosheets on carbon cloth (CC), which can serve as efficient binder-free electrocatalysts for the HER in neutral media.

Two-dimensional nanopore arrays with adjustable re-entrant curvature are prepared from colloidal templating and used to pattern low-surface-tension liquids.

A new building block for organic semiconductors is synthesized, based on the ring fusion of two isoindigo groups across the 6 and 7 positions.

The rechargeable KOH responsive self-healing gel can be used as a safe fuel for indoor and outdoor heating without any special stove or burner.

Semiconductor nanostructures with specially exposed reactive crystal facets are promising to promote photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical reactions.