We describe a fast, simple and low temperature electrochemical technique for the preparation of zinc oxide layers on rigid and flexible substrates. The layers, prepared from a zinc nitrate precursor, are of high structural and optical quality. They have been optimized to be applied as efficient electron transport layers in CH₃NH₃PbI₃-sensitized perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We show that an electrodeposition time of only two minutes and a low processing temperature are sufficient to fabricate solar cells with a power conversion efficiency close to 11%, with a high short circuit current and a small J–V curve hysteresis. The key parameters of the cell functioning have been analyzed over a large applied voltage range by the impedance spectroscopy technique. The solar cell characteristic changes with the ZnO layer deposition time are explained by the variation of the recombination and charge transfer resistances.

The photo-response nature of two novel mixed-ligand MOF complexes depends on their framework conformations. It demonstrates for the first time that photochromic material can be produced with the suitable combination of two non-photoactive ligands on a MOF structure.

A new hybrid organic zinc phosphate–phosphite with a tris (4-pyridyl) triazine molecule embedded in the cavity of an extra-large 24-ring channel has been synthesized and characterized. A strong luminescence emission is observed, which is due to the close packed array of organic ligands. The covalent coupling of fluorescent and photochromic components builds a novel phosphate-based photoactive dyad system.