Hybrid devices morphologies

Figure 7.8 Centre Current density-voltage characteristics of hybrid poly-3-hexylthiophene ZnO devices with different morphology. The device based on a layer of vertically oriented ZnO nanorods outperforms the device based on ZnO nanoparticles of similar diameter, while both nanostructured films outperform the bilayer. Left Scanning electron microscope image of ZnO nanoparticle film. Right SEM image (side view) of ZnO nanorod film. The superior performance of the ZnO nanorod-based film is attributed to the paths for charge transport, which are directed towards the electrodes (Ravirajan et al, 2006).

There are some excellent review articles on different aspects of mesostructured materials, such as synthesis, properties, and applications. " Extensive research effort has been devoted to the exploitation of new phases (lamellar, cubic, hexagonal structures), expansion of the pore sizes (about 2-50 nm are accessible), and variable framework compositions (from pure silica, through mixed metal oxides to purely metal oxide-based frameworks, and inorganic-organic hybrid mesostructures). Another research focus is on the formation of mesostructured materials in other morphologies than powders, e.g. monolithic materials and films, which are required for a variety of applications including, but not limited to, sensors (based on piezoelectric mass balances or surface acoustic wave devices), catalyst supports, (size- and shape-selective) filtration membranes or (opto)electronic devices. The current article is focused... 

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