Professor Davide Mariotti has been ranked in the top 2% of World Scientists, and top UU expert in Applied physics, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (@UUEngineering).

The relationship between the crystallization process and opto-electronic properties of silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) synthesized by atmospheric pressure plasmas (APPs) is studied in this work. We measure the ultraviolet-visible optical properties and electronic properties through various techniques, build an energy level diagram for the valence electrons region as a function of the crystallinity of the QDs, and finally discuss the integration of these as active layers of all-inorganic solar cells (Faraday Discussions 222, 2020, 390).

Nanofluids comprised of nanoparticles in ethylene glycol have been prepared. The energy absorptive properties of the prepared nanofluids were investigated as a potential additive to the traditional working fluids used in solar thermal collectors. The application feasibility has been assessed by calculating a value of power which could be transferred to the thermal
fluid (Solar Energy 203, 2020, 37).

Strongly confined ligand-free, defect-free, hydroxy terminated ZnO quantum dots with a mean diameter of 1.9 nm were synthesized by radio frequency atmospheric pressure microplasma. Photoluminescence studies show strong confinement effect on emission with only ultraviolet (UV) emission without any defect-related visible emission. The mechanism responsible for this UV emission is also discussed and originates from OH-related surface terminations (Nanotechnology 31, 2020, 215707).

Highly stable zero-dimensional (CH3NH3)3Bi2I9 photovoltaic cells which demonstrate a 33% increase in performance after 2 years when hybridized with silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) (Nanoscale Advances 1, 2019, 4683).

Ultra-small NiO nanocrystals (2 nm mean diameter) with strong quantum confinement and superior material characteristics (Nanoscale Advances 1, 2019, 4915).

Advancing the knowledge of energy band levels is of paramount importance for exploiting novel properties of materials for many different applications (J Phys Chem Lett 11, 2020 1721).

Current progress in microplasma nanomaterials synthesis, spanning from high-throughput, printing technology-compatible synthesis of nanocrystalline particles of common materials types, to water purification and optoelectronic devices (Advanced Materials, 2019, 1905508)).

Current progress in nanoscale perovskites, such as low-dimensional perovskites,
perovskite quantum dots, and perovskite-nanocrystal hybrid solar cells are reviewed (Nanomaterials 9, 2019, 1481).

Microplasma-induced non-equlibrium electrochemistry is employed to prepare soluble and crystalline Mo species in a water-deficient and extraneous ionic-salt-free ethanol electrolyte. The anodization of Mo in absolute ethanol is found to produce Mo oxyethoxide in the liquid ethanol phase, along with a small montage of mixed hexagonal and orthorhombic MoO3 crystals. The evolution of Mo species in solid and liquid phases is characterized to study the crystallization of MoO3 crystal and the formation of blue spherical Mo polyoxometalates (POMs) after extended aging (Crystal Growth & Design 19, 2019, 5249).