Metal Chalcogenide Nanostructures for Renewable Energy Applications

This first ever reference book that focuses on metal chalcogenide semiconductor nanostructures for renewable energy applications encapsulates the state-of-the-art in multidisciplinary research on the metal chalcogenide semiconductor nanostructures (nanocrystals, nanoparticles, nanorods, nanowires,  nanobelts, nanoflowers, nanoribbons and more). 

The properties and synthesis of a class of nanomaterials is essential to renewable energy manufacturing and this book focuses on the synthesis of metal chalcogendie nanostructures, their growth mechanism, optical, electrical, and other important properties and their applications in different diverging fields like photovoltaics, hydrogen production, theromelectrics, lithium battery, energy storage, photocatalysis, sensors.

An important reference source for students, scientists, engineers, researchers and industrialists working on nanomaterials-based energy aspects associated with chemistry, physics, materials science, electrical engineering, energy science and technology, and environmental science.

Preface xiii

Part 1: Renewable Energy Conversion Systems 1

1 Introduction: An Overview of Metal Chalcogenide Nanostructures for Renewable Energy Applications 3
Ahsanulhaq  Qurashi

1.1 Introduction 3

1.2 Metal Chalcogenide Nanostructures 7

1.3 Growth of Metal Chalcogenide Nanostructures 8

1.4 Applications of Metal Chalcogenide Nanostructures 16

1.5 Summary and Future Perspective 18

References 18

2 Renewable Energy and Materials 23
Muhammad Asif

2.1 Global Energy Scenario 23

2.2 Role of Renewable Energy in Sustainable Energy Future 25

2.3 Importance of Materials Role in Renewable Energy 27

References 30

3 Sustainable Feed Stock and Energy Futures 33
H. Idriss

3.1 Introduction 33

3.2 Discussion 34

References 41

Part 2: Synthesis of Metal Chalcogenide Nanostructures 43

4 Metal-Selenide Nanostructures: Growth and Properties 45
Ramin Yousefi

4.1 Introduction 45

4.2 Growth and Properties of Different Groups of Metal-Selenide Nanostructures 48

4.3 Metal Selenides from III?VI Semiconductors 57

4.4 Metal Selenides from IV?VI Semiconductors 61

4.5 Metal Selenides from V?VI Semiconductors 66

4.6 Metal Selenides from Transition Metal (TM) 69

4.7 Ternary Metal-Selenide Compounds 75

4.8 Summary and Future Outlook 78

Acknowledgment 79

References 79

5 Growth Mechanism and Surface Functionalizationof Metal Chalcogenides Nanostructures 83
Muhammad Nawaz Tahir, Jugal Kishore Sahoo, Faegheh Hoshyargar, and Wolfgang Tremel

5.1 Introduction 84

5.2 Synthetic Methods for Layered Metal Chalcogenides 89

5.3 Surface Functionalization of Layered Metal Dichalcogenide Nanostructures 102

5.4 Applications of Inorganic Nanotubes and Fullerenes 110

References 113

6 Optical and Structural Properties of Metal Chalcogenide Semiconductor  Nanostructures 123
Ihsan-ul-Haq Toor and Shafique Khan

6.1 Optical Properties of Metal Chalcogenides Semiconductor Nanostructures 124

6.2 Structural Properties and Defects of Metal Chalcogenide Semiconductor Nanostructures 133

References 142

7 Structural and Optical Properties of CdS Nanostructures 147
Y. Al-Douri, Abdulwahab S. Z. Lahewil, U. Hashim, and N. M. Ahmed

7.1 Introduction 147

7.2 Nanomaterials 150

7.3 II-VI Semiconductors 152

7.4 Sol-Gel Process 155

7.5 Structural and Surface Characterization of Nanostructured CdS 156

7.6 Optical Properties 159

7.7 Conclusion 161

Acknowledgments 162

References 162

Part 3: Applications of Metal Chalcogenides Nanostructures 165

8 Metal Sulfide Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Generation by Water Splitting under Illumination of Solar Light 167
Dr. Zhonghai Zhang

8.1 Introduction 167

8.2 Photocatalytic Water Splitting on Single Metal Sulfide 169

8.3 Photocatalytic Water Splitting on Multi-metal Sulfide 173

8.4 Metal Sulfides Solid-Solution Photocatalysts 180

8.5 Summary and Future Outlook 184

References 184

9 Metal Chalcogenide Hierarchical Nanostructures for Energy Conversion Devices 189
Ramin Yousefi, Farid Jamali-Sheini, and Ali Khorsand Zak

9.1 Introduction 190

9.2 Main Characteristics of Cd-Chalcogenide Nanocrystals (CdE; E = S, Se, Te) 192

9.3 Different Methods to Grow Cd-Chalcogenide Nanocrystals 192

9.4 Solar Energy Conversion 212

9.5 Cd-Chalcogenide Nanocrystals as Solar Energy Conversion 219

9.6 Summary and Future Outlook 230

References 230

10 Metal Chalcogenide Quantum Dots for Hybrid Solar Cell Applications 233
Mir Waqas Alam and Ahsanulhaq Qurashi

10.1 Introduction 233

10.2 Chemical Synthesis of Quantum Dots 235

10.3 Quantum Dots Solar cell 238

10.4 Summary and Future Prospects 243

References 243

11 Solar Cell Application of Metal Chalcogenide Semiconductor Nanostructures 247
Hongjun Wu

11.1 Introduction 247

11.2 Chalcogenide-Based Thin-Film Solar Cells 248

11.3 CdTe-Based Solar Cells 249

11.4 Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS)-Based Solar Cells 251

11.5 Metal Chalcogenides-Based Quantum-Dots-Sensitized Solar Cells (QDSSCs) 253

11.6 Hybrid Metal Chalcogenides Nanostructure-Conductive Polymer Composite Solar Cells 257

11.7 Conclusions 261

References 262

12 Chalcogenide-Based Nanodevices for Renewable Energy 269
Y. Al-Douri

12.1 Introduction 269

12.2 Renewable Energy 272

12.3 Nanodevices 274

12.4 Density Functional Theory 277

12.5 Analytical Studies 278

12.6 Conclusion 284

Acknowledgments 285

References 285

13 Metal Tellurides Nanostructures for ThermoelectricApplications 289
Salman B. Inayat

13.1 Introduction 290

13.2 Thermoelectric Microdevice Fabricated by a MEMS-Like Electrochemical Process 290

13.3 Bi2Te3-Based Flexible Micro Thermoelectric Generator 292

13.4 High-Thermoelectric Performance of Nanostructured  Bismuth Antimony Telluride Bulk Alloys 293

13.5 Nano-manufactured Thermoelectric Glass Windows for Energy Efficient Building Technologies 294

13.6 Conclusion 296

References 297

Editor Ahsanulhag Qurashi is of Department of Chemistry, Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology and Department of Chemistry King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.