Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) received tremendous interest lately due to its unique structural, electronic, and optoelectronic properties. VO2 has been extensively used in electrochromic displays and memristors and its VO2 (B) polymorph is extensively utilized as electrode material in energy storage applications. More studies are focused on VO2 (B) nanostructures which displayed different energy storage behavior than the bulk VO2. The present review provides a systematic overview of the progress in VO2 nanostructures syntheses and its application in energy storage devices. Herein, a general introduction, discussion about crystal structure, and syntheses of a variety of nanostructures such as nanowires, nanorods, nanobelts, nanotubes, carambola shaped, etc. are summarized. The energy storage application of VO2 nanostructure and its composites are also described in detail and categorically, e.g. Li-ion battery, Na-ion battery, and supercapacitors. The current status and challenges associated with VO2 nanostructures are reported. Finally, light has been shed for the overall performance improvement of VO2 nanostructure as potential electrode material for future application.

The cover picture of this issue depicts indium composition fluctuations in InGaN/GaN multi quantum wells. The coded color strain distribution (left) was derived from finite element method calculations of the strain relaxation process and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image simulations, superimposed on the HRTEM image of the quantum wells. The possible corresponding shape and εxx strain profiles in the indium rich clusters (right) hint at a concentration close to pure InN in their core. The paper by Pierre Ruterana et al. [1] was presented at the 5th International Symposium on Blue Laser and Light Emitting Diodes (ISBLLED‐2004), held in Gyeongju, Korea, 15–19 March 2004.

HRTEM, quantum well, composition fluctuation, strain distribution

Following the need to accurately understand the In composition fluctuations and their role on the optical properties of the GaN based heterostructures, an investigation of MOCVD InGaN/GaN quantum wells is carried out. To this end, quantitative High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) is coupled with image simulation and Finite Element Method (FEM) for the thin foil relaxation modelling. The results show that the indium content can reach x = 1 in the clusters inside the core. In these MOCVD QWs, we attempt to connect the Quantum dot density, composition, and shape to the growth conditions, in order to help the engineering process of highly efficient devices.

Supercapacitors, Activated Carbon, Polymer gel electrolyte, Surface modification