Improvement of corrosion resistance is a main challenge in surface and corrosion engineering. Water is a main part of corrosion mechanism, and the omission of this part will be helpful. By mimicking from nature, superhydrophobicity is a helpful method to decrease corrosion and water presence on the surface. Superhydrophobic surface and coating is a new type of coating that extension in recent decade and increase application of this area every day. These type of coatings are using on widespread of applications such as solar panels, displays, windows, paints and fabrics to obtain water-proof, anticorrosive, self-cleaning and stain-resistant surfaces. Many different studies have been reported to produce superhydrophobic surfaces from many diverse materials (polymers, metals and other inorganic materials, composites, textiles, paper). In this chapter, recent developments in the application of superhydrophobic coatings for corrosion protection of aluminum and copper alloys will be discussed. This chapter includes new production methods, theoretical works, and the limitations of superhydrophobic coatings.
Part of the book: New Trends in Alloy Development, Characterization and Application
Perovskite solar cell (PSC) can be regarded as a continuation of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) in terms of the sensitization phenomena that occurred in the functioning molecules. In 2012, a breakthrough propose has been made for the sensitization of PSCs, in which a solid‐state structure is offered as an equivalent sensitizer used in DSSC. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of those solid‐state cells reached about twofold of its initial value during the past several years. Immediately after, the researchers followed this propose worldwide. They have introduced an improved efficiency of as much as 20%, which was originally started from its initial value of 4%, just in 4 years. Thus, the new concept, solid perovskite molecules, has eliminated the need for the liquid electrolyte in DSSC while still carrying the advantages of organic solar cells (OSCs). Therefore, the distinctive material of PSC—the organometallic halide molecules (also known as OMH or organic‐inorganic trihalides)—inclined an unexpected reputation for solar cell (SC) researches. Hence, it seems that we will witness a new age for solar conversion devices depending on the recent hopeful progresses on PSCs. The high rate of photovoltaic (PV) conversion capacity in PSC is generally expressed by the basic properties possessed by the organic‐inorganic perovskite crystal, such as better optical properties and well diffused charges along huge distances during the charge transport. In addition, a low temperature processing is applicable during its production. Moreover, the perovskite layer provides a tunable band gap. Therefore, depending on better developments on designed molecules, PSC may gain extreme performances compared to the other competitors, such as OSC or DSSC devices. This chapter starts with a general discussion on the need for an affordable clean energy conversion device that is urgent for the future of humanity, due to publicly well‐known global warming issue. In Section 2, basic properties of PSC are mentioned together with their structure and working principles. Section 3 continues with an overview on organometallic perovskite molecules after a brief introductory history is presented. The absorption and band gap properties are also discussed. Since most perovskite materials need a hole transporting material (HTMs) within the PSC, the kinds of HTMs that are designed for PSCs are described in Section 3. The rendering of long‐term stabilization has special importance for PSCs since the instability issue remained idle in spite of those recent increased efficiency values attained by various research groups. Therefore, the stability issues are discussed in a separate part in Section 4. We finally close the chapter discussing the challenges and opportunities relying on the chapter content. We note that the recent investigations on PSCs have special importance for its large‐scale realization in order to make them ready for the photovoltaic industry of the future. Hence, there are various announced meetings focusing on its mass production due to the unexpected sharp rise of the perovskite efficiency in the last 6 years. Hence, all the new cutting‐edge scientific findings are also dealt with commercialization issues now, in order to attain the desired low cost fabrication, including the yield of high purity and the formation of smooth films during the continual manufacture of perovskite layers.
Part of the book: Nanostructured Solar Cells
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are well-oriented molecular structures that are formed by the adsorption of an active site of a surfactant onto a substrate’s surface. Aromatic SAMs were used to modify anode/hole transport layer interface in order to achieve preferable barrier alignment and charge carrier injection from anode to an organic-based thin film material. Other functions of SAMs include current blocking layers or moisture penetration blocking layers, dipolar surface layers for enhanced charge injection, and modification of work function of a material such as graphene acting as a spacer to physically separate and electrically decouple it from the substrate. Additionally, SAM modification of graphene leads to its electronic passivation at layers’ edges, elimination of defects, and enhanced adhesion and stability. The surface modification with molecules capable of forming SAM is a fast, simple, low-cost, and effective technique for the development of novel materials especially for the production of electronic devices. The ability to modify its properties by SAM technique has opened up a wide range of applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Part of the book: Advances in Condensed-Matter and Materials Physics
2D perovskite nanoparticles have a great potential for using in optoelectronic devices such as Solar Cells and Light Emitting Diodes within their tuneable optic and structural properties. In this chapter, it is aimed to express “relation between chemical structures and photo-physical behaviours of perovskite nanoparticles and milestones for their electronic applications”. Initially, general synthesis methods of perovskite nanoparticles have been explained. Furthermore, advantages and disadvantages of the methods have been discussed. After the synthesis, formation of 2D perovskite crystal and effects on shape factor, particle size and uniformity of perovskite have been explained in detail. Beside these, optic properties of luminescent perovskite nanoparticles have been summarized a long with spectral band tuning via size and composition changes. In addition, since their different optical properties and relatively more stable chemical structure under ambient conditions, a comprehensive compilation of opto-electronic applications of 2D perovskite nanoparticles have been prepared.
Part of the book: Perovskite and Piezoelectric Materials