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In this study, we fabricated a bilayer hybrid organic solar cell with P3HT as the donor and ZnO as the acceptor (ITO/ZnO/P3HT/Au). We show that passivating a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) over the ITO electrode surface before fabricating the ZnO layer improves the crystallinity of the ZnO layer and of the P3HT layer spin-coated on top of the ZnO layer. The SAM modification resulted in improved charge mobility in the ZnO and P3HT layers. As a consequence, the short circuit current of the photovoltaic device were enhanced. The power conversion efficiency of the SAM-modified device was approximately 60% higher than that of the untreated device. Our findings suggest that the performance of metal oxide-based organic solar cells can be improved by SAM-assisted modulation of metal oxide crystallinity.

Inspired by geogrids commonly applied in construction engineering to reinforce side slopes and retaining walls, the use of a “nano‐geogrid” to reinforce a CuxZnySnzS (CZTS) nanowall electrode for application in electrochemical reactions is demonstrated. The CZTS nanowall electrode reinforced by the nano‐geogrid (denoted as NWD) shows not only remarkable mechanical and electrochemical stability but also considerable electrochemical performances. The NWD demonstrated as a counter electrode in a dye‐sensitized solar cell shows a power conversion efficiency of 7.44 ± 0.04%, comparable with the device using Pt as electrode, and also significantly improves device stability as compared with that afforded by an electrode comprising a CZTS nanowall without the nano‐geogrid (denoted as NOD). In addition, applying the NWD electrode as a cathode in photo‐electrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) yields a photocurrent density of −10 mA cm−2 at −0.162 V (vs RHE) under AM 1.5 illumination. Moreover, when HERs are conducted under extreme conditions, the NWD electrode remains intact, whereas the NOD electrode is completely peeled off after 10 min of reaction. Therefore, the concept of using a mimetic rational nanostructure could pave the way for the possibility of improving the performance and stability of various devices.