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A nanocomposite material (Si@MWCNT) with a core/sheath heterostructure consisting of silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) covalently bonded onto a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) is used as a new material for solar cells. The photovoltaic response of a poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/Si@MWCNT hybrid film is studied by I-V measurements under simulated one-sun AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm(-2)). In comparison with simple P3HT/Si-NPs and P3HT/MWCNT devices, the power conversion efficiency of the (P3HT)/Si@MWCNT nano-hybrid device is enhanced by 3 and 20 times, respectively. Photo-physical and energy diagram investigations suggest that the improved device performance is attributed to the combination of efficient charge generation by the P3HT/Si-NPs bulk heterojunction and efficient charge collection as a result of MWCNT template directed carrier transport.

By exploiting a simple solution approach, we bound ethoxy-terminated Si nanoparticles to surface functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via covalent bonds. Quenching of photoluminescence (PL) of the Si nanoparticles was observed once they were conjugated to the MWCNTs. Analysis of the time-resolved PL decay and calculation indicated that Föster resonance energy transfer from the Si nanoparticles to the MWCNTs may be responsible for the PL quenching. The results suggest novel potential applications of the unique Si/MWCNT nanocomposites in optoelectronic devices.

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Blockchain or distributed ledger technology has attracted great interest from companies in the energy industry. The combination of blockchain and energy is undoubtedly one of the most striking technological innovations in recent years. A typical application area of blockchain in the energy industry is trading and credit. Stakeholders use blockchain technology to promote distributed or wholesale energy transactions and create virtual grids. Consumers can trade between their own devices and resources, with their neighbors and with the grid. The whole process can be automated through smart contracts. In this article, we will discuss some use cases related to the application of blockchain in the energy field.