Golden solar cells: Several positive effects arise from the addition of truncated octahedral Au nanoparticles (ca. 70 nm diameter) to bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic cells fabricated from a variety of donor polymers and PC70BM as acceptor (see picture). At the optimized blend ratio of Au nanoparticles (5 wt %) in the active layer, the power conversion efficiency increased for all polymer/PC70BM systems under study.

Goldene Solarzellen: Mehrere positive Effekte resultieren, wenn man Heterokontaktsolarzellen verschiedener Donorpolymere mit PC70BM‐Akzeptor gekappte oktaedrische Au‐Nanopartikel (70 nm) zusetzt (siehe Bild). Beim optimalen Gehalt der Au‐Nanopartikel (5 Gew.‐%) in der aktiven Schicht waren bei allen untersuchten Polymer/PC70BM‐Systemen die Wirkungsgrade erhöht.

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We report a facile method for the synthesis of Pd nanostructures with highly open structure and huge surface area by reducing Na₂PdCl₄ with ascorbic acid and using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a surfactant in an aqueous solution. The prepared Pd nanostructures had an average overall size of 70 nm and were composed of dozens of needle-like thin arms, originating from the same core, with an average thickness of 2.3 nm; the arms looked like chestnut-burs. Time evolution of Pd nanostructures implied that small Pd particles generated at the early stage of the reaction by fast reduction grew via the particle attachment growth mechanism. The morphology and size of the Pd nanostructures could be readily controlled by varying the concentration of CPC; depending on the amount of CPC, the reduction rates varied the morphology of the Pd nanostructures. Because of the huge surface area and possible catalytically active sites, the prepared chestnut-bur-like Pd nanostructures exhibited greater electrocatalytic activity toward ethanol electrooxidation compared to other Pd nanocatalysts, including cubic and octahedral Pd nanocrystals, and even commercial Pd/C.