Novel materials synthesis techniques were used to fabricate nanostructured and macroporous semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) films exhibiting exceptionally high sensitivity to reducing and oxidizing gases, as compared to conventionally prepared specimens. Increased sensitivity resulted from an elevated surface area and reduced specimen cross section. Several processing routes were pursued includ...

We compare the performance of luminescent solar concentrators LSCs fabricated with polymers and quantum dots to the behavior of laser dye LSCs. Previous research, centered around the use of small molecule laser dyes, was hindered by the lack of materials with small absorption/emission band overlap and longer lifetime. Materials such as semiconducting polymers and quantum dots present qualities ...

The different arrangements and combinations in which carbon can exist produce a wide variety of compounds that have unique physical, chemical and electrical properties. Some of these allotropes behave as conductors while others are classified as semiconducting. Our efforts focused on taking advantage of the carbon-based materials’ potential and optimally we employed them together to form an all...

Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are nanomaterials with sizes ranging from 2 to 6 nm, and they are emerging as one-dimensional organic semiconducting materials. Recently, hybridization of these materials with various metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles (NPs) to alter and improve their properties has been realized. This article provides an overview of the developments in the field of newly ...

Photosynthetic microorganisms, such as algae, are sources of bioproducts. Because they require only sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to grow, have potential for future mitigation CO2 emissions. However, inefficient growth these organisms remains an issue realizing emission reductions, primarily in terms photosynthetic efficiency, photoinhibition, photolimitation. Here, we show how use light ...

In the past decade, semiconducting carbon nanotube thin films have been recognized as contending materials for wide-ranging applications in electronics, energy, and sensing. In particular, improvements in large-area flexible electronics have been achieved through independent advances in postgrowth processing to resolve metallic versus semiconducting carbon nanotube heterogeneity, in improved ga...