Abstract: A solar cell includes multiple organic materials (including at least one donor material and at least one acceptor material) and multiple inorganic materials. The organic and inorganic materials collectively form multiple hybrid heterojunction structures. Each hybrid heterojunction structure includes at least two organic materials and at least one inorganic material. A first of the inorganic materials could include nanowires and/or nanotubes, and a second of the inorganic materials could include nanoparticles and/or quantum dots. At least some of the nanoparticles or quantum dots could have different sizes, where the different sizes are associated with different absorption bandgaps. Excitons photo-generated in at least one of the organic materials may dissociate into holes and electrons. Also, electrons and holes photo-generated in at least one of the inorganic material may separate. Further, one or more of the inorganic materials may transport at least some of the electrons towards one of multiple electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices and methods for spectroscopic identification of molecules. One device includes a topological insulator layer oriented either above or below two metallic contacts and wherein the contacts are oriented such that a voltage can be applied across the contacts and a current-voltage characteristic can be measured.

Abstract: A fluorescence based oxygen sensor can be prepared comprising a polyaniline polymer doped with one or more pyrene carboxylic acids. The polyaniline has the formula: and the pyrene carboxylic acids have the formula: Pyrene-R—COOH??(II); wherein R is an aliphatic linking group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms, n represents half the degree of polymerization, x is about 0.5, and (1?x) is about 0.5. The sensor can be coated onto a support. Upon excitation with an appropriate wavelength, the polyaniline/pyrene coating fluoresces. Upon exposure to oxygen the fluorescence rapidly decays.

Abstract: A fluorescence quenching based oxygen sensor can be prepared comprising a polystyrene polymer linked to pyrene. The fluorescence based sensor has the formula (I), Polystyrene-Y—R-Pyrene??(I); wherein Y is fluorescence quenching and R is an aliphatic linking group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms. The sensor can be coated onto a support and integrated with an LED excitation source and fluorescence detector.

Abstract: A solar cell may include a light sensitive molecule such as a hyperpolarizable molecule. In one example, a solar cell may include a layer of hyperpolarizable molecules disposed between a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode. In some cases, at least some of the hyperpolarizable molecules may include an electron donating group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the n-type electrode as well as an electron accepting group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the p-type electrode. In some instances, at least some of the hyperpolarizable molecules may include an electron donating group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the p-type electrode as well as an electron accepting group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the n-type electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices and methods for spectroscopic identification of molecules. One device includes a topological insulator layer oriented either above or below two metallic contacts and wherein the contacts are oriented such that a voltage can be applied across the contacts and a current-voltage characteristic can be measured.

Abstract: A sulfur dioxide sensor comprising a first beam having a functionalized sensing surface capable of sensing sulfur dioxide, the first beam capable of producing a first resonant frequency; and a second beam having a functionalized reference surface not capable of sensing sulfur dioxide, the second beam capable of producing a second resonant frequency, wherein differential sensing of sulfur dioxide may be performed, further wherein the first beam is functionalized with a liquid phase of a first polymeric compound and the second beam is functionalized with a liquid phase of a second polymeric compound is provided. In one embodiment, the sensor is a nano-sensor capable of low drift accurately detecting sulfur dioxide levels at the zeptograms level. Methods of making and using a sulfur dioxide sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A nitrogen dioxide sensor comprising a first beam having a first functionalized sensing surface capable of sensing nitrogen dioxide, the first beam capable of producing a first resonant frequency; and a second beam having a second functionalized reference surface not capable of sensing nitrogen dioxide, the second beam capable of producing a second resonant frequency, wherein differential sensing of nitrogen dioxide may be performed, further wherein the first beam and the second beam are each functionalized with one or more soft bases having comparable viscoelastic properties is provided. In one embodiment, the sensor is a nano-sensor capable of low drift and accurate detection of nitrogen dioxide levels at the zeptogram level. Methods of making and using a nitrogen dioxide sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide sensor comprising a first beam that includes a functionalized surface and a second beam that includes a functionalized surface such that reduced-drift differential sensing of carbon dioxide may be performed by monitoring changes in the resonant frequency of the first beam relative to the resonant frequency of second beam.

Abstract: A differential resonant sensor apparatus and method for detecting relative humidity in an ambient air. The apparatus generally includes a sensing loop, a reference loop and a mixer. A hydrophilic sensing layer can be deposited on a sensing resonant beam and a corresponding hydrophobic reference layer can be deposited on a reference resonant beam for detecting water vapor concentration in the ambient air. The hydrophobic reference layer possesses similar visco-elastic properties as the hydrophilic sensing layer with no water absorption properties. A differential reading electronic circuit may be interconnected with each resonant beam for signal processing. The absorbed humidity with respect to the sensing resonant beam changes the mechanical resonance frequency, which can be detected as a change in the electric resonance frequency of the associated electronic circuit.

Abstract: A fluorescence quenching oxygen sensor (100) comprises a support (102) having coated thereon; a compound having hard or soft acid groups (104); and one or more pyrene compounds (106) represented by Y—R-Pyrene??(I) attached to the compound having hard or soft basic groups; wherein Y is a hard or soft basic group and R is an aliphatic linking group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms. The sensor can be used to prepare a fluorescence quenching oxygen detector.

Abstract: A solar cell is disclosed that includes an electron conductor layer and a quantum dot layer. The quantum dot layer may include a plurality of quantum dots. A bridge layer may be coupled to the electron conductor layer and to the quantum dot layer. The bridge layer may include an antibiotic, a sulfur-containing amino acid, a vitamin, and/or a vitamin analogue. In some cases, a hole conductor layer may be coupled to the quantum dot layer.

Abstract: A solar cell including a quantum dot and an electron conductor, with a bifunctional ligand disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bifunctional ligand molecule may include an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor and a first quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot. A hole conductor such as a conductive polymer may include a second quantum dot anchor. In some instances, the first quantum dot may include selenium.

Abstract: A solar cell may include a quantum dot and an electron conductor. A bifunctional ligand may be disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The ligand molecule may include an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor and a first quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot. A hole conductor such as a conductive polymer may include a second quantum dot anchor.

Abstract: A solar cell including a quantum dot and an electron conductor, and a bifunctional ligand disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bifunctional ligand molecule may include an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor and a first quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot. A hole conductor such as a conductive polymer may include a second quantum dot anchor.

Abstract: A resonant nanosensor apparatus associated with a functionalized monolayer for detecting carbon dioxide and a method of forming the same. A wafer including a sensing vibrating beam and a reference vibrating beam may be functionalized with a functional group in order to form a sensing self monolayer. The sensing self assembled monolayer may be configured by bridging oxygen or carbon atoms covalently bonded with respect to the vibrating beams. A liquid solution of hydrochloric acid may then be applied to the sensing self assembled monolayer at the surface of the reference beam by a direct printing process to obtain a reference monolayer. The liquid solution of HCl transforms the functional groups responsible for the carbon dioxide detection into protonated groups, which do not react with carbon dioxide, but possess visco-elastic properties similar to that of the sensing monolayer.

Abstract: A solar cell is disclosed that may include a quantum dot, an electron conductor, and a bifunctional ligand disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bifunctional ligand may include a first anchor group that bonds to the quantum dot and a second anchor group that bonds to the electron conductor. The solar cell may include a hole conductor that is configured to reduce the quantum dot once the quantum dot absorbs a photon and ejects an electron through the bifunctional ligand and into the electron conductor. The hole conductor may be a p-type polymer.

Abstract: A solar cell is disclosed that may include a quantum dot, an electron conductor, and a bifunctional ligand disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bifunctional ligand may include a first anchor group that bonds to the quantum dot and a second anchor group that bonds to the electron conductor. The solar cell may include a hole conductor that is configured to reduce the quantum dot once the quantum dot absorbs a photon and ejects an electron through the bifunctional ligand and into the electron conductor. The hole conductor may be a p-type polymer.

Abstract: A fluorescence quenching based oxygen sensor can be prepared comprising a polystyrene polymer linked to pyrene. The fluorescence based sensor has the formula (I), Polystyrene-Y—R-Pyrene??(I); wherein Y is fluorescence quenching and R is an aliphatic linking group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms. The sensor can be coated onto a support and integrated with an LED excitation source and fluorescence detector.

Abstract: A fluorescence based oxygen sensor can be prepared comprising a polyaniline polymer doped with one or more pyrene carboxylic acids. The polyaniline has the formula: and the pyrene carboxylic acids have the formula: Pyrene-R—COOH??(II); wherein R is an aliphatic linking group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms, n represents half the degree of polymerization, x is about 0.5, and (1?x) is about 0.5. The sensor can be coated onto a support. Upon excitation with an appropriate wavelength, the polyaniline/pyrene coating fluoresces. Upon exposure to oxygen the fluorescence rapidly decays.