The history of nano has been dotted with bursts of excitement around particular substances. In 1972 titanium dioxide was discovered to be a semi-conductor, water-splitter, and much else. Today it finds many uses, including self-cleaning glass and various bactericidal applications. In 1985 buckminsterfullerene, the C6o nano football, created a new branch of chemistry. In 1993 it was the carbon nanotube, which has only in the last year got as far as being the basis of a nanotube computer. The greatest of all, of course, is graphene, whose 10th anniversary falls this year. In the last few months perovskite has been the name on everyone’s lips, thanks to its especial promise in solar cells.
But, increasingly, it looks as if it is a magic combination of some of these nanomaterials that will finally make the big breakthroughs. Graphene seems to figure in many of these combinations, as in the “Big Mac” transistor, paired with boron nitride or molybdenum disulphide.
In terms of applications, solar cells are prime. A Spanish/Oxford team has recently reported very promising results from a combination of three of the iconic materials: a graphene/titanium dioxide/perovskite solar cell, with an efficiency of 15.6%. To put that in perspective, the record for silicon solar cells is 44.4%. But to enter the lists at 15.6% is impressive. What will the next magic combination be?
Nano Lett., Article ASAP
DOI: 10.1021/nl403997a
But, increasingly, it looks as if it is a magic combination of some of these nanomaterials that will finally make the big breakthroughs. Graphene seems to figure in many of these combinations, as in the “Big Mac” transistor, paired with boron nitride or molybdenum disulphide.
In terms of applications, solar cells are prime. A Spanish/Oxford team has recently reported very promising results from a combination of three of the iconic materials: a graphene/titanium dioxide/perovskite solar cell, with an efficiency of 15.6%. To put that in perspective, the record for silicon solar cells is 44.4%. But to enter the lists at 15.6% is impressive. What will the next magic combination be?
Nano Lett., Article ASAP
DOI: 10.1021/nl403997a
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