Papiya Nandy

Because of the superior optical and electrical properties, copper impregnated size tuneable high-temperature stable manganese dioxide semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) have been successfully synthesized by a modified chemical synthesis technique. Their size-dependent dielectric properties, semiconducting properties, and current-voltage (I-V) characteristics have been investigated. X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectra (RS) confirmed that the required phase is present. Due to the different sintering temperature tuneable size of SQDs has been found and confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The band gap energy of the material is found to be 1.25-1.67 eV, measured from Tauc plot using UV-vis absorbance spectrum and their semiconducting properties have been confirmed by the non linear current-voltage (I-V) behaviour. Most intense green emission peak of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy confirms the oxygen vacancy defect state. The stoke shifting of RS, UV absorption and PL emission are the footprint of quantum confinement effect. Incorporation of a little amount of Cu in tetragonal hollandite structure of α-MnO2 generates strain within that structure. This leads to create sufficient crystal defect state as well as rise in dielectric constant accompanied with low dielectric loss and higher ac conductivity. All these highly desirable properties make the SQDs a potential candidate for developing multifunctional photo-electronic devices. Owing to the tuneable bandgap and electronic transport of the SQDs, we realized that the controllable size paves the way for designing SQDs possessing unique properties for optical and electronic device applications. Using this material as a high dielectric separator, a high performance supercapacitor has been successfully fabricated which can able to light up 15 number of LEDs for 47 min 23 sec after charging it only for 30 seconds.

The synthesis, characterization, and application of engineered nanomaterials in different fields have opened up new aspects of nanotechnology. Using a simple chemical method, this study describes the synthesis of highly dispersed Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles with different concentrations of Cu (1, 3, and 5 mM). The nanoparticles thus synthesized were tested for their effect on photo-induced voltage generation, enhancement of storage capacity, and energy conversion efficiency in hybrid photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. Maximum photovoltage (~680 mV) with highest storage capacity (~53 h) and high energy conversion efficiency (~2.16%) was generated using these nanoparticles when the doping concentration of Cu was 3 mM.