The pyro-phototronic effect is based on the coupling among photoexcitation, pyroelectricity, and semiconductor charge transport in pyroelectric materials, which can be utilized to modulate photoexcited carriers to enhance the output performance of solar cells. Herein, we have demonstrated the largely enhanced output performance of a P3HT/ZnO nanowire array photovoltaic cell (PVC) by using the pyro-phototronic effect under weak light illuminations. By applying an external cooling temperature variation, the output current and voltage of the PVC can be dramatically enhanced by 18% and 152% under indoor light illumination, respectively. This study realizes the performance enhancement of pyroelectric semiconductor materials-based solar cells via a temperature-variation-induced pyro-phototronic effect, which may have potential applications in solar energy scavenging and self-powered sensor systems.
Abstract The electrical double layer (EDL) between solids and liquids serves as the primary interface for ionic‐electronic coupling and is pivotal in nanoscale phenomena, governing electric field effects, ion transport, surface interactions, etc. Dynamically regulating the EDL through mechanical or electrostatic methods can influence charge carrier behavior, thereby impacting energy scavenging and storage processes. This regulation enabled efficient energy scavenging by governing ionic migration and optimizing charge carrier concentration at the interface, presenting a novel avenue to achieve efficient energy and information flow. Here, various scavenging energy and information devices through dynamically regulating the EDL are systematically reviewed. They are classified into three groups by regulating the distribution and movement of charge carriers throughout the entire EDL, diffuse layer, and Debye length range. The review provided a comprehensive overview of the operating principles, influencing factors, output characteristics, and typical applications, along with a discussion on future challenges. This holistic examination offers researchers valuable insights for evaluating their applicability in various scenarios.
Abstract Contact electrification (CE or triboelectrification) is a common phenomenon, which can occur for almost all types of materials. In previous studies, the CE between insulators and metals has been widely discussed, while CE involving semiconductors is only recently. Here, a tribo‐current is generated by sliding an N‐type diamond coated tip on a P‐type or N‐type Si wafers. The density of surface states of the Si wafer is changed by introducing different densities of doping. It is found that the tribo‐current between two sliding semiconductors increases with increasing density of surface states of the semiconductor and the sliding load. The results suggest that the tribo‐current is induced by the tribovoltaic effect, in which the electron–hole pairs at the sliding interface are excited by the energy release during friction, which may be due to the transition of electrons between the surface states during contact, or bond formation across the sliding interface. The electron–hole pairs at the sliding interface are subsequently separated by the built‐in electric field at the PN or NN heterojunctions, which results in a tribo‐current, in analogy to that which occurs in the photovoltaic effect.
To study the effect of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) on the growth and metabolism of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g).After adding different concentrations of PABA into the medium, anaerobic technique was applied to culture P.g. The products' A value and action of TLP was assayed, and P.g grew in the medium was observed by a scanning electron microscope.PABA promoted the growth of P.g and action of TLP, which would reach the highest level when PABA was 1 mg/L, and would decrease with the increasing of concentration of PABA. When the concentration arrived at 100 mg/L, PABA had no effect on them. In the mean time, PABA had effect on the form and adherence of P.g. When the concentration was 1 mg/L and 100 mg/L, this effect was strong, but as the concentration was 10 mg/L, the effect disappeared.PABA influences the growth and metabolism of P.g, which indicate that Streptococcus sanguis has regulative effect on the microecology of subgingival plaque.
