Novel nanoscale semiconductors for energy conversion and storage
Authors
Gupta, Tushar
ORCID
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Other Contributors
Koratkar, Nikhil A. A.
Lu, T.-M. (Toh-Ming), 1943-
Samuel, Johnson
Lian, Jie
Lu, T.-M. (Toh-Ming), 1943-
Samuel, Johnson
Lian, Jie
Issue Date
2020-05
Keywords
Mechanical engineering
Degree
PhD
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.
Full Citation
Abstract
Firstly, chalcogenide perovskite thin films of the material barium zirconium sulfide (BaZrS3) are presented as an alternative to environmentally unstable and toxic organic-inorganic halide perovskite materials for next-generation solar cells. A two-step process of synthesizing BaZrS3 thin films by chemical solution deposition and sulfurization is described. Detailed characterization of BaZrS3 is described to reveal the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the material. Environmental stability of BaZrS3 is also established with the help of temporal monitoring experiments. Environmentally stable photodetector devices of BaZrS3 are also exhibited to demonstrate the viability of the material for energy conversion in solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. Secondly, vertically oriented rhenium disulfide (ReS2) nanosheets grown by powder-based chemical vapor deposition are investigated as photocatalysts for solar-based disinfection of water. The substrate-independent vertical growth mechanism of ReS2 nanosheets is uncovered by using atomic-resolution electron microscopy. The material is then shown to be very effective at disinfecting water by killing water-borne bacteria upon exposure to visible white light by photogeneration of reactive oxygen species. Thirdly, red phosphorus nanoparticles are shown as a high-performance material for energy storage in lithium-ion battery anodes. Synthesis of red phosphorus nanoparticles anchored to a graphene nanosheet matrix by using electrospraying and subsequent far infrared reduction is described. The structural, morphological, chemical, and electrochemical characteristics of the phosphorus nanoparticle/reduced graphene oxide (P/rGO) composite are described.
Description
May 2020
School of Engineering
School of Engineering
Department
Dept. of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection
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