Pre Dongling Ma, INRS, Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications
1650, boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes (Québec) J3X 1S2, CANADA

I present our recent work on three types of nanomaterials, near-infrared (NIR) quantum dots (QDs), transition metal (or metal oxide) nanohybrids and plasmonic nanostructures developed for solar cell and catalytic applications.

Harvesting NIR photons represents an attractive approach to improve the energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaics. Herein I present some of our most recent development in NIR QDs (e.g., PbS and PbS@CdS core@shell QDs) and their application in photovoltaics. One example is about the controlled hybridization of PbS QDs with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their further integration into poly(3-hexylthiophene). The nanohybrid cells show considerably enhanced power conversion efficiency, which is attributed to the significantly extended absorption in NIR by PbS QDs and the effectively enhanced charge transportation due to the presence of CNTs.

Transition metal and transition metal oxide nanohybrids have also drawn a lot of attention during the past decade. They are extremely attractive for realizing high-efficiency, low-cost catalytic reactions. As an example, I present novel Ni-core@Ru-shell nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via a new organometallic approach. These core-shell NPs show remarkable performance in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane, in addition to showing interesting superparamagnetic properties. Other recently developed hybrid nanostructures such as binary oxide nanotubes will also be presented.

On the other hand, plasmonic nanostructures have recently been explored for improving solar photon utilization and enhancing the efficiency of solar cells and photocatalysis. Our recent work on some interesting plasmonic nanostructures (e.g., Ag nanocarrots) that have strong resonances in the NIR regime, and their application in solar cells and photocatalysis will be briefly highlighted

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2. Adv. Funct. Mater, 2015, 25, 2950 (Front Cover)
3. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2015, 42, 6650.
4. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2015, 6, 85 (Invited perspective on solar cells)
5. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2014, 24, 4042 (Inside Front Color)
6. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2012, 22, 3914 (Highlighted by MaterialsViews)
7. Adv. Mater., 2012, 24, 6289 (Frontispiece Cover)
8. Chem. Mater. 2012, 24, 2339.
9. Chem Commun., 2012, 48, 11510 (Back Cover)
10. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2011, 21, 4010

 

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Cette conférence est présentée par le RQMP Versant Nord du Département de physique de l'Université de Montréal et le Département de génie physique de Polytechnique Montréal.