Co-reporter:Rui-Ting Chen;Sheng-Jun Zhou;Jian-Mei Li;Qiao He;Lei Zhang;Hua Liang;Zhuo-Zhen Qian;Yuan-Zhi Tan;Rong-Bin Huang;Xiao Han;Wei-Zheng Weng;Zhao-Jiang Liao;Lan-Sun Zheng
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C October 1, 2009 Volume 113(Issue 39) pp:16901-16905
Publication Date(Web):2017-2-22
DOI:10.1021/jp902325w
Pure non-IPR (isolated-pentagon-rule) C60 isomer has rarely been investigated experimentally. The recently reported availability of #1809C60Cl8 opens an avenue for experimental investigation of #1809C60, a C2v-symmetric C60 isomer having two pairs of fused pentagons. Herein, the experiments on #1809C60 were performed on the basis of thermal dechlorination of #1809C60Cl8 in the solid state and gas phase. #1812C60Cl6 was employed for comparative study. As determined by Raman and other methods, #1809C60 from thermal decomposition of #1809C60Cl8 crystals readily coalesces to form carbon solid with a collapsed crystal lattice. In contrast, dechlorination via thermal spray of #1809C60Cl8 in the gas phase is feasible for investigation of monodispersed all-carbon C60 isomer, because the existence of #1809C60 in the gas phase has been confirmed by experimental evidence from mass spectrometry and high-performance-liquid-chromatography.
Co-reporter:Xin Wang;Lin-Long Deng;Lu-Yao Wang;Si-Min Dai;Zhou Xing;Xin-Xing Zhan;Xu-Zhai Lu;Rong-Bin Huang;Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2017 vol. 5(Issue 4) pp:1706-1712
Publication Date(Web):2017/01/24
DOI:10.1039/C6TA07541J
In high performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the electron transport layer (ETL) has overwhelmingly been dominated by compact titanium oxide (TiO2), which typically requires sintering at around 500 °C. Such a high-temperature sintering procedure prevents TiO2-based PSCs from matching well with plastic substrates and low-cost manufacturing. Here we report cerium oxide (CeOx, x = 1.87), that was prepared facilely through a simple sol–gel method at low temperature (∼150 °C), as an alternative to high-temperature sintering processed TiO2 in the regular architecture of PSCs. With a PCE of 14.32% from the involvement of an optimized CeOx ETL through adjusting the precursor solution, and a higher PCE of 17.04% through introducing a [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) interfacial layer between the CeOx ETL and the perovskite layer, the present work about CeOx-based PSCs renders low-temperature solution-processed CeOx an excellent ETL for high performance perovskite solar cells with improved stability.
Co-reporter:Xue-Huan Song;Lan Feng;Shun-Liu Deng;Lan-Sun Zheng
Advanced Materials Interfaces 2017 Volume 4(Issue 15) pp:
Publication Date(Web):2017/08/01
DOI:10.1002/admi.201700339
This study demonstrates the simultaneous exfoliation and modification of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) via reductive alkylation. Our results reveal that the method is feasible and highly efficient in producing 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets which greatly overcome the drawbacks of bulk g-C3N4 photocatalyst. The reduced band gap caused by the covalent functionalization of alkyl chains on g-C3N4 lattice improves the photoresponse and the visible-light harvesting ability, indicating more charge carriers will generate under visible-light irradiation. In addition, the significantly enlarged surface area and the nanosheet structural benefits are favorable for the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The photocatalytic activity of AGCNNs under visible-light irradiation is highly enhanced because of the synergistic effects of these favorable factors. The RhB photodegradation rate and the photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of AGCNNs are 3.9 and 1.9 times as fast as that of g-C3N4, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of AGCNNs is further improved when combined with a minority of graphene sheets which are employed as electron acceptors promoting the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The RhB photodegradation rate and the photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of AGCNNs are further improved to 9.1 and 3.3 times as fast as that of g-C3N4, respectively.
Co-reporter:Si-Min Dai, Han-Rui Tian, Mei-Lin Zhang, Zhou Xing, Lu-Yao Wang, Xin Wang, Tan Wang, Lin-Long Deng, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang, Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Power Sources 2017 Volume 339(Volume 339) pp:
Publication Date(Web):30 January 2017
DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.11.047
•Pristine fullerene was used as electron transport layer for perovskite solar cells.•The PC61BM was replaced by C60 and C70 mixtures using vacuum-free solution process.•The aggregation of pristine fullerenes film was mitigated by mixing them.Discovery of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites ignites the dream of next-generation solar cells fabricated by low-cost solution processing. To date, fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61- butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM), is the most prevalently used electron transport layer for high efficiency p-i-n planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Compared with PC61BM, pristine fullerenes, such as C60 and C70, have shown superiority of higher electron mobility and much lower costs. Due to the poor solubility and strong tendency to crystallize for pristine fullerenes in solution process, it is still a challenge to deposit compact and continuous film of pristine fullerenes for p-i-n type perovskite solar cells by solution processing. Herein, solution processed pristine fullerenes (C60 and C70) were used as electron transport layers to replace PC61BM in perovskite solar cells with high performance and enhanced stability. Power conversion efficiency of 14.04% was obtained by using mixture of C60 and C70 as electron transport layer, which is comparable to that of PC61BM based device (13.74%). We demonstrated that the strong tendency of pristine fullerenes to crystallize during solvent removal can be largely mitigated by mixing different kinds of pristine fullerenes. These findings implicate pristine fullerenes as promising electron transport layers for high performance perovskite solar cells.Download high-res image (309KB)Download full-size image
Co-reporter:Min-Song Lin, Rui-Ting Chen, Nan-Yi Yu, Li-Chao Sun, Yuxiu Liu, Cun-Hao Cui, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang, Lan-Sun Zheng
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 2017 Volume 159(Volume 159) pp:
Publication Date(Web):1 November 2017
DOI:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.08.007
•Designed and synthesized amphiphilic fullerene-based amino acid ester chlorides.•Self-assembled hollow bilayer vesicles as carriers for drug delayed release.•Analyzed the correlation between drug loading amount and the size of vesicles.•Exhibited the influence of polarity of fullerene derivatives on the release amount.•Proposed the regulation of loading amount, release rate and amount by substituents.Fullerenes with novel structures find numerous potential applications, particularly in the fields of biology and pharmaceutics. Among various fullerene derivatives, those exhibiting amphiphilic character and capable of self-assembly into vesicles are particularly interesting, being suitable for delayed drug release. Herein, we report the synthesis and self-assembly of biocompatible hollow nanovesicles with bilayer shells from amphiphilic functionalized fullerenes C60R5Cl (R = methyl ester of 4-aminobutyric/glutamic acid or phenylalanine). The thus prepared vesicles exhibit sizes of 80–135 nm (depending on R) and can be used as delayed-release carriers of anti-cancer drugs such as 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatin, with the time of 5-fluorouracil release from drug-containing vesicles exceeding that of non-encapsulated forms by a factor of three. We further reveal the effect of R on the loading amount and release rate/amount of vesicle-encapsulated drugs, demonstrating a potential pharmaceutical application of the prepared nanovesicles depending on the nature of R.Download high-res image (207KB)Download full-size image
Co-reporter:Lu-Yao Wang;Lin-Long Deng;Xin Wang;Tan Wang;Hao-Ran Liu;Si-Min Dai;Zhou Xing;Rong-Bin Huang;Lan-Sun Zheng
Nanoscale (2009-Present) 2017 vol. 9(Issue 45) pp:17893-17901
Publication Date(Web):2017/11/23
DOI:10.1039/C7NR06410A
Organic–inorganic perovskite solar cells have emerged as a promising photovoltaic technology because of their advantages such as low cost, high efficiency, and solution processability. The performance of perovskite solar cells is highly dependent on the crystallinity and morphology of the perovskite films. Herein, we report a simple, one-step anti-solvent deposition process using di-isopropyl ether as a dripping solvent to obtain extremely uniform and highly crystalline CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite films. Compared to toluene, chlorobenzene, chloroform, or diethyl ether, di-isopropyl ether has proven to be a more suitable solvent for an anti-solvent deposition process. The perovskite solar cells fabricated by the anti-solvent deposition process using di-isopropyl ether treatment exhibit an average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.67 ± 0.54% and the highest PCE of 19.07%. Moreover, the higher boiling point of di-isopropyl ether makes the anti-solvent deposition process more tolerant to elevated ambient temperature, which can be carried out at ambient temperatures up to 40 °C. Our results demonstrate that di-isopropyl ether is an excellent dripping solvent in the anti-solvent deposition process for efficient and reproducible perovskite solar cells.
Co-reporter:Si-Min Dai, Lin-Long Deng, Mei-Lin Zhang, Wei-Yi Chen, Pei Zhu, Xin Wang, Cong Li, Zhan'ao Tan, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang, Lan-Sun Zheng
Inorganica Chimica Acta 2017 Volume 468(Volume 468) pp:
Publication Date(Web):1 November 2017
DOI:10.1016/j.ica.2017.05.056
•Two cyclohexanofullerene derivatives are synthesized and firstly introduced into perovskite solar cells.•Electron mobility and surface morphology are critical to influence the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cell.•Exemplified C60 derivatives are helpful for future functionalization of fullerenes as electron transport materials.Two fullerene C60 derivatives, 2-(3-ethoxycarbonylpropyloxy)-(5,8)-dihydronaphthyl-(6,7)-[6,6]-C60 (EDNC) and 2-benzyloxy-(5,8)-dihydronaphthyl-(6,7)-[6,6]-C60 (BDNC), are introduced into p-i-n type planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells as electron transport materials (ETMs) to investigate electrochemical, charge-transporting, and film-forming properties of fullerene ETMs and the resulting photovoltaic performance in comparison with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM). Due to better surface morphology, the EDNC-involving device shows better performance (12.64%) than that of BDNC-based device (7.36%) despite of their similar LUMO energy level, electron mobility, optical properties, and electrochemical properties. Higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.04% is achieved using PC61BM as the ETM, the electronic mobility of PC61BM is approximately one order of magnitude higher than that of EDNC, which leads to slightly higher short-circuit current density and fill factor for PC61BM-based device. This work demonstrates that factors such as electron mobility and surface morphology should be envisaged in searching for fullerene derivatives as efficient ETM in perovskite solar cells.Download high-res image (82KB)Download full-size image
Co-reporter:Fupin Liu, Cong-Li Gao, Qingming Deng, Xianjun Zhu, Aram Kostanyan, Rasmus Westerström, Song Wang, Yuan-Zhi Tan, Jun Tao, Su-Yuan Xie, Alexey A. Popov, Thomas Greber, and Shangfeng Yang
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2016 Volume 138(Issue 44) pp:14764-14771
Publication Date(Web):October 18, 2016
DOI:10.1021/jacs.6b09329
Clusterfullerenes are capable of entrapping a variety of metal clusters within carbon cage, for which the entrapped metal cluster generally keeps its geometric structure (e.g., bond distance and angle) upon changing the isomeric structure of fullerene cage, and whether the properties of the entrapped metal cluster is geometry-dependent remains unclear. Herein we report an unusual triangular monometallic cluster entrapped in fullerene cage by isolating several novel terbium cyanide clusterfullerenes (TbNC@C82) with different cage isomeric structures. Upon varying the isomeric structure of C82 cage from C2(5) to Cs(6) and to C2v(9), the entrapped triangular TbNC cluster exhibits significant distortions as evidenced by the changes of Tb–C(N) and C–N bond distances and variation of the Tb–C(N)–N(C) angle by up to 20°, revealing that the geometric structure of the entrapped triangular TbNC cluster is variable. All three TbNC@C82 molecules are found to be single-ion magnets, and the change of the geometric structure of TbNC cluster directly leads to the alternation of the magnetic relaxation time of the corresponding TbNC@C82 clusterfullerene.
Co-reporter:Xin-Zhou Wu; Yang-Rong Yao; Miao-Miao Chen; Han-Rui Tian; Jun Xiao; Yun-Yan Xu; Min-Song Lin; Laura Abella; Cheng-Bo Tian; Cong-Li Gao; Qianyan Zhang; Su-Yuan Xie; Rong-Bin Huang;Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2016 Volume 138(Issue 30) pp:9629-9633
Publication Date(Web):July 5, 2016
DOI:10.1021/jacs.6b04898
Curvature prevalently exists in the world of carbon materials (e.g., fullerenes, buckyl bowls, carbon nanotubes, and onions), but traditional C2-addition mechanisms fail to elucidate the mechanism responsible for the formation of carbon curvature starting from a pentagonal carbon ring in currently available chemical-physical processes such as combustion. Here, we show a complete series of nascent pentagon-incorporating C5–C18 that are online produced in the flame of acetylene–cyclopentadiene–oxygen and in situ captured by C60 or trapped as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for clarifying the growth of the curved subunit of C20H10. A mechanism regarding C1-substitution and C2-addition has been proposed for understanding the formation of curvature in carbon materials, as exemplified by the typical curved molecule containing a single pentagon completely surrounded by five hexagons. The present mechanism, supported by the intermediates characterized by X-ray crystallography as well as NMR, has been experimentally validated for the rational synthesis of curved molecule in the commercially useful combustion process.
Co-reporter:Xin Li, Si-Min Dai, Pei Zhu, Lin-Long Deng, Su-Yuan Xie, Qian Cui, Hong Chen, Ning Wang, and Hong Lin
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2016 Volume 8(Issue 33) pp:21358
Publication Date(Web):August 2, 2016
DOI:10.1021/acsami.6b05971
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with TiO2 materials have attracted much attention due to their high photovoltaic performance. Aligned TiO2 nanorods have long been used for potential application in highly efficient perovskite solar cells, but the previously reported efficiencies of perovskite solar cells based on TiO2 nanorod arrays were underrated. Here we show a solvothermal method based on a modified ketone–HCl system with the addition of organic acids suitable for modulation of the TiO2 nanorod array films to fabricate highly efficient perovskite solar cells. Photovoltaic measurements indicated that efficient nanorod-structured perovskite solar cells can be achieved with the length of the nanorods as long as approximately 200 nm. A record efficiency of 18.22% under the reverse scan direction has been optimized by avoiding direct contact between the TiO2 nanorods and the hole transport materials, eliminating the organic residues on the nanorod surfaces using UV–ozone treatment and tuning the nanorod array morphologies through addition of different organic acids in the solvothermal process.Keywords: nanorod array; one-dimensional material; organic lead halide perovskite; solar cell; TiO2
Co-reporter:Cong-li Gao, Laura Abella, Yuan-Zhi Tan, Xin-Zhou Wu, Antonio Rodríguez-Fortea, Josep M. Poblet, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang, and Lan-Sun Zheng
Inorganic Chemistry 2016 Volume 55(Issue 14) pp:6861-6865
Publication Date(Web):June 24, 2016
DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b02824
As a bridge to connect medium-sized fullerenes, fused-pentagon C74 is still missing heretofore. Of 14 246 possible isomers, the first fused-pentagon C74 with the Fowler–Manolopoulos code of 14 049 was stabilized as C74Cl10 in the chlorine-involving carbon arc. The structure of C74Cl10 was identified by X-ray crystallography. The stabilization of pristine fused-pentagon C74 by stepwise chlorination was clarified in both theoretical simulation with density functional theory calculations and experimental fragmentation with multistage mass spectrometry.
Co-reporter:Zhen-Qiang Zhang; Shu-Fen Chen; Cong-Li Gao; Ting Zhou; Gui-Juan Shan; Yuan-Zhi Tan; Su-Yuan Xie; Rong-Bin Huang;Lan-Sun Zheng
Inorganic Chemistry 2016 Volume 55(Issue 2) pp:543-545
Publication Date(Web):January 4, 2016
DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b02239
Two monoxides of typical smaller chlorofullerenes, #271C50Cl10O and #913C56Cl10O, featured with double-fused-pentagons, were synthesized to demonstrate further regioselective functionalization of non-IPR (IPR = isolated pentagon rule) chlorofullerenes. Both non-IPR chlorofullerene oxides exhibit an epoxy structure at the ortho-site of fused pentagons. In terms of the geometrical analysis and theoretical calculations, the principles for regioselective epoxy oxidation of non-IPR chlorofullerenes are revealed to follow both “fused-pentagon ortho-site” and “olefinic bond” rules, which are valuable for prediction of oxidation of non-IPR chlorofullerenes.
Co-reporter:Lin-Long Deng;Xiang Li;Shuai Wang;Wen-Peng Wu;Si-Min Dai
Science Bulletin 2016 Volume 61( Issue 2) pp:132-138
Publication Date(Web):2016 January
DOI:10.1007/s11434-015-0979-5
Two stereomers of bisadduct analogues of [6, 6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (bisPC71BM) were synthesized and their geometrical structures with cis- or trans-configuration were identified by X-ray crystallography. Although both of the bisPC71BM have similar spectrometric and electrochemical properties, the spatial orientation of the two addition groups on C70 has impact on crystal packing and molecular assembly of bisPC71BM isomers and, in turn, photovoltaic performance in polymer solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) (with power conversion efficiency of 1.72 % and 1.84 % for the solar cells involving cis- and trans-bisPC71BM, respectively). Although the power conversion efficiency remains to be improved, this work exemplifies that the photovoltaic properties of fullerene-based electron acceptors are influenced by aggregation of the stereomeric molecules and thus extends the guidelines for rational design of efficient fullerene acceptor.
Co-reporter:Wei-Yi Chen, Lin-Long Deng, Si-Min Dai, Xin Wang, Cheng-Bo Tian, Xin-Xing Zhan, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2015 vol. 3(Issue 38) pp:19353-19359
Publication Date(Web):18 Aug 2015
DOI:10.1039/C5TA05286F
Inverted planar heterojunction (PHJ) perovskite solar cells have attracted great attention due to their advantage of low-temperature fabrication on flexible substrates by solution processing with high efficiency. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is the most widely used hole transport layer (HTL) in inverted PHJ perovskite solar cells; however, the acidic and hygroscopic nature of PEDOT:PSS can cause degradation and reduce the device stability. In this work, we demonstrated that low-cost solution-processed hydrophobic copper iodide (CuI) can serve as a HTL to replace PEDOT:PSS in inverted PHJ perovskite solar cells with high performance and enhanced device stability. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.58% was achieved by employing CuI as the HTL, slightly exceeding the PEDOT:PSS based device with a PCE of 13.28% under the same experimental conditions. Furthermore, the CuI based devices exhibited better air stability than PEDOT:PSS based devices. The results indicate that low-cost solution-processed CuI is a promising alternative to the PEDOT:PSS HTL and could be widely used in inverted PHJ perovskite solar cells.
Co-reporter:Cong-Li Gao;Xiang Li;Dr. Yuan-Zhi Tan;Xin-Zhou Wu;Dr. Qianyan Zhang;Dr. Su-Yuan Xie; Rong-Bin Huang
Angewandte Chemie 2014 Volume 126( Issue 30) pp:7987-7989
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/ange.201402625
Abstract
Previously reported fused-pentagon fullerenes stabilized by exohedral derivatization do not share the same cage with those stabilized by endohedral encapsulation. Herein we report the crystallographic identification of #4348C66Cl10, which has the same cage as that of previously reported Sc2@C66. According to the geometrical data of #4348C66Cl10, both strain relief (at the fused pentagons) and local aromaticity (on the remaining sp2-hybrided carbon framework) contribute to the exohedral stabilization of this long-sought 66 carbon atom cage.
Co-reporter:Cong-Li Gao;Xiang Li;Dr. Yuan-Zhi Tan;Xin-Zhou Wu;Dr. Qianyan Zhang;Dr. Su-Yuan Xie; Rong-Bin Huang
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2014 Volume 53( Issue 30) pp:7853-7855
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/anie.201402625
Abstract
Previously reported fused-pentagon fullerenes stabilized by exohedral derivatization do not share the same cage with those stabilized by endohedral encapsulation. Herein we report the crystallographic identification of #4348C66Cl10, which has the same cage as that of previously reported Sc2@C66. According to the geometrical data of #4348C66Cl10, both strain relief (at the fused pentagons) and local aromaticity (on the remaining sp2-hybrided carbon framework) contribute to the exohedral stabilization of this long-sought 66 carbon atom cage.
Co-reporter:Ping Yan, Cheng-Bo Tian, Cong-Li Gao, Qianyan Zhang, Zhuang-Ping Zhan, Su-Yuan Xie, Min Lin, Rong-Bin Huang, Lan-Sun Zheng
Tetrahedron 2014 70(38) pp: 6776-6780
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2014.07.067
Co-reporter:Hai-Feng Su ; Lan Xue ; Yun-Hua Li ; Shui-Chao Lin ; Yi-Mei Wen ; Rong-Bin Huang ; Su-Yuan Xie ;Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2013 Volume 135(Issue 16) pp:6122-6129
Publication Date(Web):April 3, 2013
DOI:10.1021/ja312133k
Mass spectrometry with desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) is demonstrated to be useful for probing the strength of hydrogen bonding, exemplified by various complexes of benzothiazoles and carboxylic acids in the solid state. Efficiencies for fragmentation of the complexes, quantified by collision-induced dissociation (CID) technology, correspond well with energies of the hydrogen bonds of O–H···N and N–H···O bridging each pair of benzothiazole and carboxylic acid. Linear correlations (with correlation factors of 0.8953 and 0.9928) have been established for the calibration curves of normalized collision energy at 100% fragmentation rate vs the length between donor and acceptor (in the hydrogen bond of O–H···N) as well as the slope of the fragmentation efficiency curve vs the average length difference between O–H···N and N–H···O in the complex. The mechanism responsible for determination of the hydrogen bonds is proposed on the basis of the experiments starting from the mixtures of the complexes as well as labeling with deuterium. As a complement of previously available methods (e.g., X-ray diffraction analysis), expectably, the proposed mass spectrometric method seems to be versatile for probing hydrogen bond energies.
Co-reporter:Yuan-Zhi Tan, Jia Li, Ming-Yue Du, Shui-Chao Lin, Su-Yuan Xie, Xin Lu, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Chemical Science 2013 vol. 4(Issue 7) pp:2967-2970
Publication Date(Web):17 May 2013
DOI:10.1039/C3SC50141H
All C70 isomers other than the well-known D5h-symmetric C70 (#8149) are highly elusive due to their defiance of the isolated pentagon rule (IPR), and, in turn, have long been underrated for years. Here we show a non-IPR hollow C70 (#8064) with C2-symmetry stabilized by exohedral chlorination as #8064C70Cl10. Its connectivity with two pairs of fused pentagons was determined unambiguously by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Based on the geometric criterion in terms of the pyramidalization angle as well as theoretical computations on the Kekulé structure and the negative nucleus independent chemical shift, the exohedral stabilization of the labile #8064C70 is rationalized by releasing the local strain relevant to the fused pentagons and achieving the aromaticity of the remaining sp2-hybridized carbon framework in the exohedral derivative of #8064C70. This new entrant in the C70 family, in addition to two previously reported non-IPR isomers (by Yang, Dunsch et al. for Sc3N@#7854C70 and by Echegoyen et al. for Sc2S@#7892C70), provides valuable opportunities for experimental and theoretical research involving non-IPR isomers of C70 beyond the common D5h-C70.
Co-reporter:Lin-Long Deng, Su-Lan Xie, Chao Yuan, Rong-Fu Liu, Juan Feng, Li-Chao Sun, Xin Lu, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang, Lan-Sun Zheng
Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 2013 Volume 111() pp:193-199
Publication Date(Web):April 2013
DOI:10.1016/j.solmat.2012.12.026
Two regioselective C60(OCH3)4 derivatives, C60(OCH3)4-PCBM (a methanofullerene derivative of C60(OCH3)4, PCBM=[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) and C60(OCH3)4-APCBM (an aziridinofullerene derivative of C60(OCH3)4) were synthesized from C60Cl6 and used as acceptor for polymer solar cells. Revealed by cyclic voltammetry, the LUMO energy levels of C60(OCH3)4-APCBM and C60(OCH3)4-PCBM are 0.2 and 0.3 eV higher than that of PCBM, respectively. For the polymer photovoltaic cells with fullerene (PCBM, C60(OCH3)4-APCBM or C60(OCH3)4-PCBM) acceptor in combination with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) donor, the open-circuit voltage is increased from 0.58 V (for PCBM) to 0.63 V (for C60(OCH3)4-APCBM) and 0.72 V (for C60(OCH3)4-PCBM). The higher open-circuit voltages are reasonably attributed to the higher LUMO levels of the C60(OCH3)4 derivatives because of four electron-donating methoxy groups attached. The photovoltaic performance of C60(OCH3)4-PCBM-based device is higher than that involving C60(OCH3)4-APCBM, largely due to the structural changeability of C60(OCH3)4-APCBM resulting from the rotatable N–C bond bridge therein. This work demonstrates that fullerene derivatives with higher LUMO level can be functionalized from multi-addition of electron-donating groups, and exemplifies that photovoltaic performances of fullerene-based solar cells are sensitive even to trivial bridge between functional group and fullerene core.Graphical AbstractHighlights► Two novel fullerene multi-adducts with well-defined structure were synthesized. ► High LUMO energy level C60(OCH3)4 derivatives. ► High open-circuit voltages of P3HT/C60(OCH3)4-PCBM and C60(OCH3)4-APCBM devices.
Co-reporter:Gui-Juan Shan;Yuan-Zhi Tan;Ting Zhou;Xian-Mei Zou;Bo-Wei Li;Cong Xue;Chen-Xu Chu; Su-Yuan Xie; Rong-Bin Huang ; Lan-Sun Zhen
Chemistry – An Asian Journal 2012 Volume 7( Issue 9) pp:2036-2039
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/asia.201200376
Co-reporter:Dr. Jian-Hua Chen;Dr. Zhi-Yong Gao;Qun-Hong Weng;Wen-Sheng Jiang;Qiao He;Dr. Hua Liang;Lin-Long Deng;Su-Lan Xie;Dr. Hui-Ying Huang; Xin Lu; Su-Yuan Xie; Kang Shi; Rong-Bin Huang; Lan-Sun Zheng
Chemistry - A European Journal 2012 Volume 18( Issue 11) pp:3408-3415
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/chem.201102330
Abstract
The hydrofullerene C50H10 is synthesized by low-pressure benzene–oxygen diffusion combustion. The structure of C50H10 is identified through NMR, mass spectrometry, and IR and Raman spectroscopy as a D5h symmetric closed-cage molecule with five pairs of fused pentagons stabilized by ten hydrogen atoms. UV/Vis and fluorescence spectrometric analyses disclose its optical properties as comparable with those of its chloride cousin (C50Cl10). Cyclic and square-wave voltammograms reveal that the first reduction potential of C50H10 is more negative than that of C50Cl10 as well as C60, with implications for the utilization of C50H10 as a promising electron acceptor for photovoltaic applications.
Co-reporter:Lin-Long Deng, Juan Feng, Li-Chao Sun, Shuai Wang, Su-Lan Xie, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang, Lan-Sun Zheng
Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 2012 104() pp: 113-120
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1016/j.solmat.2012.04.037
Co-reporter:Shuai Wang;Ping Yan;Hui-Ying Huang; Zhuang-Ping Zhan; Su-Yuan Xie; Rong-Bin Huang; Lan-Sun Zheng
Chemistry – An Asian Journal 2012 Volume 7( Issue 11) pp:2531-2533
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/asia.201200494
Co-reporter:Ting Zhou;Yuan-Zhi Tan;Gui-Juan Shan;Xian-Mei Zou;Cong-Li Gao;Xiang Li;Ke Li;Lin-Long Deng; Rong-Bin Huang;Dr. Lan-Sun Zheng ;Dr. Su-Yuan Xie
Chemistry - A European Journal 2011 Volume 17( Issue 31) pp:8529-8532
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/chem.201101250
Co-reporter:Qun-Hong Weng ; Qiao He ; Di Sun ; Hui-Ying Huang ; Su-Yuan Xie ; Xin Lu ; Rong-Bin Huang ;Lan-Sun Zheng
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2011 Volume 115(Issue 22) pp:11016-11022
Publication Date(Web):May 16, 2011
DOI:10.1021/jp202885y
Although derivatives of fullerenes are prevalent in the fullerene-producing flame, the chemistry of these derivatives has rarely been discussed in the previous literature. In this paper, two D5h-C70 derivatives, C70(C14H10) and C70(C5H6), were isolated from the soot of an acetylene–benzene combustion. On the basis of detailed MS, NMR, IR, and UV/vis analyses in combination with DFT calculations, the cycloadduct structures of C70(C14H10) and C70(C5H6) were identified. Both the anthracene (C14H10) and the cyclopentadiene (C5H6) adducts, supposed as the intermediate species produced during the combustion process, were characterized to bond at a [6,6] ring junction at the end of the olivary C70 cage. The present work exemplifies the capture of possible intermediates by the C70 fullerene from the flame and thus provides insight into the mechanism responsible for the formation of fullerene-containing soot.
Co-reporter:Dr. Chun-Yin Ma;Ye-Yong Meng;Gui-Juan Shan;Li-Chao Sun;Shui-Chao Lin; Su-Yuan Xie; Rong-Bin Huang ; Lan-Sun Zheng
Chemistry – An Asian Journal 2011 Volume 6( Issue 6) pp:1331-1334
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/asia.201000839
Co-reporter:Yuan-Zhi Tan, Jia Li, Ting Zhou, Yu-Qi Feng, Shui-Chao Lin, Xin Lu, Zhuang-Ping Zhan, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2010 Volume 132(Issue 36) pp:12648-12652
Publication Date(Web):August 19, 2010
DOI:10.1021/ja102887t
C78 is one of the most widely investigated higher fullerenes. Among its huge isomer family, only one non-IPR (IPR = isolated pentagon ring) cage, the C2-symmetric #22010C78, was previously stabilized by endohedral derivatization. Here we report a new C1-symmetric non-IPR hollow isomer, #23863C78, which was captured as #23863C78Cl8 and then subjected to a regioselective substitution reaction with benzyl hydroperoxide to form #23863C78(OOCH2C6H5)Cl7. The structural connectivity of #23863C78, which contains a pair of fused pentagons, was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the #23863C78(OOCH2C6H5)Cl7 molecule, which shares the same fullerene core with #23863C78Cl8; support for the structure is provided by comparable IR measurements and computation. Theoretical studies suggest that the differences in C−Cl bond length, intermediate stability, and steric effects of the involved molecules account for the chemical regioselectivity of the substitution reaction.
Co-reporter:Yuan-Zhi Tan ; Ting Zhou ; Jian Bao ; Gui-Juan Shan ; Su-Yuan Xie ; Rong-Bin Huang ;Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2010 Volume 132(Issue 48) pp:17102-17104
Publication Date(Web):November 12, 2010
DOI:10.1021/ja108860y
A long-sought empty non-IPR fullerene, #11188C72, which is more stable than the sole IPR isomer in the fullerene[72] family, has been retrieved and crystallographically characterized as #11188C72Cl4. Mass spectrometric data support the facile dechlorination of #11188C72Cl4 and, in turn, the possible stability of pristine #11188C72.
Co-reporter:Qun-Hong Weng ; Qiao He ; Ting Liu ; Hui-Ying Huang ; Jian-Hua Chen ; Zhi-Yong Gao ; Su-Yuan Xie ; Xin Lu ; Rong-Bin Huang ;Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of the American Chemical Society 2010 Volume 132(Issue 43) pp:15093-15095
Publication Date(Web):October 8, 2010
DOI:10.1021/ja108316e
For the first time an easier, operable combustion method is employed for the synthesis of non-IPR fullerene, and an octahydro[60]fullerene with a non-IPR C60 cage (C60 isomer #1809C60) produced by combustion is isolated and characterized by MS, UV−vis, IR, and NMR spectroscopies in combination with DFT calculations. This finding shows that, in addition to chlorine, hydrogen can be an ample cataloreactant for the production of non-IPR fullerene derivatives under such conditions as arc-burning and diffusion combustion.
Co-reporter:Chun-Yin Ma, Ya-Wen Zhong, Jian Li, Cai-Kang Chen, Jian-Liang Gong, Su-Yuan Xie, Lei Li and Zhi Ma
Chemistry of Materials 2010 Volume 22(Issue 7) pp:2367
Publication Date(Web):February 16, 2010
DOI:10.1021/cm9036633
Patterning is of paramount importance in many areas of modern science and technology. As a valuable part in miniaturized devices, large-scale aligned CNTs with serial port configuration is highly desirable. Here, we reported that the synthesis of a pair of patterned carbon nanotubes with the shape of serial port by CVD starting from different breath figure templates, cross-linked polymer matrix and ferrous inorganic micropatterns. The growth mechanism of the isolated CNT bundles is attributed to the selectively interfacial aggregation of the ferrocene to the walls of the cavities, a so-called Pickering-emulsion effect, whereas the honeycomblike skeleton of the dense CNT arrays develop from the catalytically functionalized hexagonal edges. This synthesis strategy exemplifies a new possibility for making use of CNTs to fabricate functional carbons with unique geometry or specific properties in a controllable way. We expect that the methodology can be also applied onto the fabrication of patterned graphene.
Co-reporter:Hua Liang, Yuan-Zhi Tan, Ting Zhou, Zhen-Liang Chen, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Inorganic Chemistry 2010 Volume 49(Issue 7) pp:3089-3091
Publication Date(Web):March 11, 2010
DOI:10.1021/ic902442p
As the smallest chiral fullerene in conformity with the Isolated Pentagon Rule (IPR), D2-symmetric C76 has been chlorinated with iodine monochloride to form C76Cl34, a highly chlorinated derivative. Its structure with the chiral cage enwrapped by a helical chlorine pattern has been established using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The high chlorination and its implication for constructing novel chiral fullerene-based materials are discussed.
Co-reporter:Zhi-Yong Gao, Wen-Sheng Jiang, Di Sun, Ying Xie, Zhen-Liang Chen, La-Jia Yu, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang, Lan-Sun Zheng
Talanta 2010 Volume 81(1–2) pp:48-54
Publication Date(Web):15 April 2010
DOI:10.1016/j.talanta.2009.11.039
Utilizing liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) for identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has long been underrated, as the sensitivity for determination of PAHs directly by MS is very poor. In the present work a chlorination method for high-sensitive determination of PAHs by LC–MS is discussed. This method includes two steps: (1) chlorination of PAHs by the BMC method; (2) determination of the chlorinated PAHs by LC–MS. Interfaced by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in negative ion mode, five representative perchlorinated PAHs producing from the languidly detectable parent PAHs (naphthalene C10H8, acenaphthene C12H10, phenanthrene C14H10, pyrene C16H10 and fluoranthene C16H10) have been LC–MS characterized in high sensitivity with determination limits in 10−9 g/mL level. In addition, molecular compositions and polycyclic carbon-frameworks of unknown PAHs can be identified according to the isotopic pattern of the chloro-derivatives ions in the corresponding mass spectra. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed chlorination-involving LC–MS method is efficient for the PAHs analysis, for example, in soot and soil samples.
Co-reporter:Xiao-Liang Fang, Yue Li, Cheng Chen, Qin Kuang, Xiang-Zhi Gao, Zhao-Xiong Xie, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Langmuir 2010 Volume 26(Issue 4) pp:2745-2750
Publication Date(Web):December 3, 2009
DOI:10.1021/la902765p
Higher-ordered architectures self-assembly of nanomaterials have recently attracted increasing attention. In this work, we report a spontaneous and efficient route to simultaneous synthesis and self-assembly of 3D layered β-FeOOH nanorods depending on a pH-induced strategy, in which the continuous change of pH is achieved by hydrolysis of FeCl3·6H2O in the presence of urea under hydrothermal conditions. The electron microscopy observations reveal that the square-prismic β-FeOOH nanorods are self-assembled in a side-by-side fashion to form highly oriented 2D nanorod arrays, and the 2D nanorod arrays are further stacked in a face-to-face fashion to form the final 3D layered architectures. On the basis of time-dependent experiments, a multistage reaction mechanism for the formation of the 3D layered β-FeOOH nanorods architecture is presented, involving the fast growth and synchronous self-assembly of the nanorods toward 1D, 2D, and 3D spontaneously. The experimental evidence further demonstrates that the urea-decomposition-dependent pH continuously changing in the solution, spontaneously altering the driving force competition between the electrostatic repulsive force and the attractive van der Waals force among the nanorods building blocks, is the essential factor to influence the self-assembly of the β-FeOOH nanorods from 1D to 3D.
Co-reporter:Xiao-Liang Fang, Shun-Liu Deng, Jing Wang, Xiao-Feng Wang, Cheng Chen, Yue Li, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Chemistry of Materials 2009 Volume 21(Issue 24) pp:5763
Publication Date(Web):November 13, 2009
DOI:10.1021/cm901986k
The inability to controllably synthesize organic nanomaterials with desired morphologies and properties is a major barrier that prevents the scientific development of organic nanomaterials. A controllable method by means of adjusting the solubility of organic reactant has now been applied to construct sulfur-bridged fluoranthene-based materials with desired spherical or tubular morphologies, based on the Williamson type of reaction starting from perchlorinated fluoranthene and disodium salt of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadizaole. A disubstituted fluoranthene derivative is proved as the basic building block for the organic materials by the data of mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as crystallography. Through quenching the intermediates toward the fluoranthene-based microspheres or nanotubes, the routes of self-assembly via a vesicle pathway and self-template from perchlorinated fluoranthene rods are proposed for the growth of the microspheres and the nanotubes, respectively. The proposed routes can be extended for synthesis of other aromatic molecular materials with controllable morphologies. On the basis of the reaction with thiol groups retained on the surface of the as-synthesized materials, functional groups or noble metal nanoparticles have been facilely linked to the fluoranthene-based materials for potential applications. Morphology-dependent properties of the fluoranthene-based materials have been demonstrated, on the basis of the experimental evidence about strong near-infrared absorption exhibiting in the microspheres but lacking in the nanotubes.
Co-reporter:Xiao-Liang Fang, Cheng Chen, Ming-Shang Jin, Qin Kuang, Zhao-Xiong Xie, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2009 vol. 19(Issue 34) pp:6154-6160
Publication Date(Web):06 Jul 2009
DOI:10.1039/B905034E
A facile and efficient one-pot solvothermal synthetic route based on a simplified self-assembly is proposed to fabricate spherical hematite colloidal nanocrystal clusters (CNCs) of uniform shape and size. The as-prepared hematite CNCs are composed of numerous nanocrystals of approximately 20 nm in size, and present a single-crystal-like characteristic. A possible formation process based on the nucleation–oriented aggregation–recrystallization mechanism is proposed. Our experiments demonstrated that both the surfactant and the mixed solvent play very critical roles in controlling the size of primary nanocrystals and the final morphology of single-crystal-like spherical CNCs. Compared with other hematite nanostructures, the spherical hematite CNCs show outstanding performance in gas sensing, photocatalysis and water treatment due to their large surface area and porous structure. In addition, interesting tertiary CNCs formed by further assembly of secondary spherical CNCs were observed for the first time.
Co-reporter:Ying Xie;Li-Fang He;Shui-Chao Lin
Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2009 Volume 20( Issue 11) pp:2087-2092
Publication Date(Web):2009 November
DOI:10.1016/j.jasms.2009.07.010
Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) has been used for monitoring solid-state organic reaction in ambient air, specifically the Baeyer-Villiger (BV) type reaction involving the oxidation of ketones (benzophenone or deoxybenzoin) by m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) in solid-state. The DESI mass spectra obtained at regular intervals during the BV reaction processes are featured, with the amount of ester products increasing as those of ketone reactants decrease. Quantitative analyses of relative intensities of the product, made to quantify the reaction degree of typical solid-state organic reaction (SSOR), show a precision with RSDs of around 5% to 12%, though the RSDs for direct analysis of intensities of the reactant or the product in the solid-state are obviously larger. The kinetics of the Baeyer-Villiger type reactions in solid-state are shown to be dramatically different, in reaction rate, kinetic curve, as well as concentration dependence, from those of the same reactions taking place in solution.
Co-reporter:Xiao Han;Sheng-Jun Zhou;Yuan-Zhi Tan;Xin Wu;Fei Gao Dr.;Zhao-Jiang Liao Dr.;Rong-Bin Huang ;Yu-Qi Feng Dr.;Xin Lu Dr. Dr.;Lan-Sun Zheng Dr.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2008 Volume 47( Issue 29) pp:5340-5343
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/anie.200800338
Co-reporter:Xiao Han;Sheng-Jun Zhou;Yuan-Zhi Tan;Xin Wu;Fei Gao Dr.;Zhao-Jiang Liao Dr.;Rong-Bin Huang ;Yu-Qi Feng Dr.;Xin Lu Dr. Dr.;Lan-Sun Zheng Dr.
Angewandte Chemie 2008 Volume 120( Issue 29) pp:5420-5423
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/ange.200800338
Co-reporter:Lin-Long Deng, Xiang Li, Shuai Wang, Wen-Peng Wu, ... Lan-Sun Zheng
Science Bulletin (January 2016) Volume 61(Issue 2) pp:132-138
Publication Date(Web):1 January 2016
DOI:10.1007/s11434-015-0979-5
Two stereomers of bisadduct analogues of [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (bisPC71BM) were synthesized and their geometrical structures with cis- or trans-configuration were identified by X-ray crystallography. Although both of the bisPC71BM have similar spectrometric and electrochemical properties, the spatial orientation of the two addition groups on C70 has impact on crystal packing and molecular assembly of bisPC71BM isomers and, in turn, photovoltaic performance in polymer solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) (with power conversion efficiency of 1.72% and 1.84% for the solar cells involving cis- and trans-bisPC71BM, respectively). Although the power conversion efficiency remains to be improved, this work exemplifies that the photovoltaic properties of fullerene-based electron acceptors are influenced by aggregation of the stereomeric molecules and thus extends the guidelines for rational design of efficient fullerene acceptor.
Co-reporter:Si-Min Dai, Xin Zhang, Wei-Yi Chen, Xiang Li, Zhan'ao Tan, Cong Li, Lin-Long Deng, Xin-Xing Zhan, Min-Song Lin, Zhou Xing, Tao Wen, Rong-Ming Ho, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2016 - vol. 4(Issue 48) pp:NaN18782-18782
Publication Date(Web):2016/10/05
DOI:10.1039/C6TA07750A
As the most prevalently used fullerene-based electron acceptor in organic–inorganic solar cells, [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) was isolated into three typical isomers of α-, β1- and β2-PC71BM with comparable molecular orbital energy levels for exemplifying a formulation engineering based on blending the three isomers to improve photovoltaic performance. The power conversion efficiency (PCE), photocurrent hysteresis and stability of planar heterojunction perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) solar cells have been optimized by formulation engineering with mixed PC71BM (α:β1:β2 = 17:1:2), the specific mixture which represents the best electron acceptor superior to either each of the purified isomers or any other ternary isomers of PC71BM. Microscopic analyses support that molecular aggregation of the isomeric PC71BM was critical to influence the surface morphology and, in turn, the PCE in the range of 0.38–17.56% of the perovskite solar cells involved. This finding about isomer-dependent photovoltaic performance launches a heretofore unknown strategy of formulation engineering for making efficient electron acceptors by mixing various fullerene derivatives having isomeric structures or beyond.
Co-reporter:Xin Wang, Lin-Long Deng, Lu-Yao Wang, Si-Min Dai, Zhou Xing, Xin-Xing Zhan, Xu-Zhai Lu, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2017 - vol. 5(Issue 4) pp:NaN1712-1712
Publication Date(Web):2016/12/12
DOI:10.1039/C6TA07541J
In high performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the electron transport layer (ETL) has overwhelmingly been dominated by compact titanium oxide (TiO2), which typically requires sintering at around 500 °C. Such a high-temperature sintering procedure prevents TiO2-based PSCs from matching well with plastic substrates and low-cost manufacturing. Here we report cerium oxide (CeOx, x = 1.87), that was prepared facilely through a simple sol–gel method at low temperature (∼150 °C), as an alternative to high-temperature sintering processed TiO2 in the regular architecture of PSCs. With a PCE of 14.32% from the involvement of an optimized CeOx ETL through adjusting the precursor solution, and a higher PCE of 17.04% through introducing a [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) interfacial layer between the CeOx ETL and the perovskite layer, the present work about CeOx-based PSCs renders low-temperature solution-processed CeOx an excellent ETL for high performance perovskite solar cells with improved stability.
Co-reporter:Xiao-Liang Fang, Cheng Chen, Ming-Shang Jin, Qin Kuang, Zhao-Xiong Xie, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2009 - vol. 19(Issue 34) pp:NaN6160-6160
Publication Date(Web):2009/07/06
DOI:10.1039/B905034E
A facile and efficient one-pot solvothermal synthetic route based on a simplified self-assembly is proposed to fabricate spherical hematite colloidal nanocrystal clusters (CNCs) of uniform shape and size. The as-prepared hematite CNCs are composed of numerous nanocrystals of approximately 20 nm in size, and present a single-crystal-like characteristic. A possible formation process based on the nucleation–oriented aggregation–recrystallization mechanism is proposed. Our experiments demonstrated that both the surfactant and the mixed solvent play very critical roles in controlling the size of primary nanocrystals and the final morphology of single-crystal-like spherical CNCs. Compared with other hematite nanostructures, the spherical hematite CNCs show outstanding performance in gas sensing, photocatalysis and water treatment due to their large surface area and porous structure. In addition, interesting tertiary CNCs formed by further assembly of secondary spherical CNCs were observed for the first time.
Co-reporter:Wei-Yi Chen, Lin-Long Deng, Si-Min Dai, Xin Wang, Cheng-Bo Tian, Xin-Xing Zhan, Su-Yuan Xie, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2015 - vol. 3(Issue 38) pp:NaN19359-19359
Publication Date(Web):2015/08/18
DOI:10.1039/C5TA05286F
Inverted planar heterojunction (PHJ) perovskite solar cells have attracted great attention due to their advantage of low-temperature fabrication on flexible substrates by solution processing with high efficiency. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is the most widely used hole transport layer (HTL) in inverted PHJ perovskite solar cells; however, the acidic and hygroscopic nature of PEDOT:PSS can cause degradation and reduce the device stability. In this work, we demonstrated that low-cost solution-processed hydrophobic copper iodide (CuI) can serve as a HTL to replace PEDOT:PSS in inverted PHJ perovskite solar cells with high performance and enhanced device stability. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.58% was achieved by employing CuI as the HTL, slightly exceeding the PEDOT:PSS based device with a PCE of 13.28% under the same experimental conditions. Furthermore, the CuI based devices exhibited better air stability than PEDOT:PSS based devices. The results indicate that low-cost solution-processed CuI is a promising alternative to the PEDOT:PSS HTL and could be widely used in inverted PHJ perovskite solar cells.
Co-reporter:Yuan-Zhi Tan, Jia Li, Ming-Yue Du, Shui-Chao Lin, Su-Yuan Xie, Xin Lu, Rong-Bin Huang and Lan-Sun Zheng
Chemical Science (2010-Present) 2013 - vol. 4(Issue 7) pp:NaN2970-2970
Publication Date(Web):2013/05/17
DOI:10.1039/C3SC50141H
All C70 isomers other than the well-known D5h-symmetric C70 (#8149) are highly elusive due to their defiance of the isolated pentagon rule (IPR), and, in turn, have long been underrated for years. Here we show a non-IPR hollow C70 (#8064) with C2-symmetry stabilized by exohedral chlorination as #8064C70Cl10. Its connectivity with two pairs of fused pentagons was determined unambiguously by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Based on the geometric criterion in terms of the pyramidalization angle as well as theoretical computations on the Kekulé structure and the negative nucleus independent chemical shift, the exohedral stabilization of the labile #8064C70 is rationalized by releasing the local strain relevant to the fused pentagons and achieving the aromaticity of the remaining sp2-hybridized carbon framework in the exohedral derivative of #8064C70. This new entrant in the C70 family, in addition to two previously reported non-IPR isomers (by Yang, Dunsch et al. for Sc3N@#7854C70 and by Echegoyen et al. for Sc2S@#7892C70), provides valuable opportunities for experimental and theoretical research involving non-IPR isomers of C70 beyond the common D5h-C70.
![Butanoic acid, 4,4',4'',4''',4''''-[(8-chloro[5,6]fullerene-C60-Ih-1,7,11,24,27(8H)-pentayl)pentaimino]pentakis-, 1,1',1'',1''',1''''-pentamethyl ester](/data/chemimg/3785000/2036323-08-5.png)
![Butanoic acid, 4,4',4'',4''',4''''-[(8-chloro[5,6]fullerene-C60-Ih-1,7,11,24,27(8H)-pentayl)pentaimino]pentakis-, 1,1',1'',1''',1''''-pentamethyl ester](/data/chemimg/3785000/2036323-08-5_b.png)
