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Park HKB, Kebaili I, Boukhris I, Joo YH, Sung TH, Kumar A. Multifunctional carbon nanotubes coated stainless steel mesh for electrowetting, hydrophobic, and dye absorption behavior. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7738. [PMID: 38565893 PMCID: PMC10987552 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55087-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrowetting behaviour for carbon nanotubes (CNT) grown on stainless steel mesh was investigated. The effect of temperature, time, and applied bias voltage on the contact angle of water droplets was studied. The impact of temperature variation on contact angle was also performed for the temperature ranging from 25 to 70 °C. A decrement of contact angle by 68% was observed for the mentioned range indicating a transition from a hydrophobic to hydrophilic nature. A similar trend was observed on the application of electric potential to the CNT-modified stainless-steel mesh ranging from 0 to 8 V with a transition of contact angle from 146 to 30 deg respectively. A comparative analysis for the contact angle variation with time for CNT-coated mesh and uncoated mesh was performed for 180 min. It is observed that uncoated mesh shows a reduction in contact angle to 0 deg with time while the CNT coated mesh shows surplus hydrophobicity with a 2 deg decrement in the extent of time. CNT-modified mesh successfully absorbs 95% of rhodamine B (RB) dye and detergent from water in 10 cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Imen Kebaili
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imed Boukhris
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yun Hwan Joo
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Tae Hyun Sung
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Anuruddh Kumar
- Center for Creative Convergence Education, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
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Santinacci L. Atomic layer deposition: an efficient tool for corrosion protection. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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3
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Influence of Efficient Thickness of Antireflection Coating Layer of HfO2 for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell. INORGANICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/inorganics10100171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-reflective coating (ARC) layers on silicon (Si) solar cells usually play a vital role in the amount of light absorbed into the cell and protect the device from environmental degradation. This paper reports on the thickness optimization of hafnium oxide (HfO2) as an ARC layer for high-performance Si solar cells with PC1D simulation analysis. The deposition of the HfO2 ARC layer on Si cells was carried out with a low-cost sol-gel process followed by spin coating. The thickness of the ARC layer was controlled by varying the spinning speed. The HfO2 ARC with a thickness of 70 nm possessed the lowest average reflectance of 6.33% by covering wavelengths ranging from 400–1000 nm. The different thicknesses of HfO2 ARC layers were used as input parameters in a simulation study to explore the photovoltaic characteristics of Si solar cells. The simulation findings showed that, at 70 nm thickness, Si solar cells had an exceptional external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 98% and a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.15%. The thicknesses of HfO2 ARC considerably impacted the photovoltaic (PV) characteristics of Si solar cells, leading to achieving high-performance solar cells.
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Yurkevich O, Modin E, Šarić I, Petravić M, Knez M. Entropy-Driven Self-Healing of Metal Oxides Assisted by Polymer-Inorganic Hybrid Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2202989. [PMID: 35641441 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202202989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Enabling self-healing of materials is crucially important for saving resources and energy in numerous emerging applications. While strategies for the self-healing of polymers are advanced, mechanisms for semiconducting inorganic materials are scarce due to the lack of suitable healing agents. Here a concept for the self-healing of metal oxides is developed. This concept consists of metal oxide nanoparticle growth inside the bulk of halogenated polymers and their subsequent entropy-driven migration to externally induced defect sites, leading to recovery of the defect. Herein, it is demonstrated that the pool of self-healing materials is expanded to include semiconductors, thereby increasing the reliability and sustainability of functional materials through the use of metal oxides. It is revealed that electrical properties of tin-doped indium oxide can be partially restored upon healing. Such properties are of immediate interest for the further development of transparent flexible electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Yurkevich
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Tolosa Hiribidea 76, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
| | - Evgeny Modin
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Tolosa Hiribidea 76, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
| | - Iva Šarić
- Faculty of Physics and Centre for Micro- and Nanosciences and Technologies, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 2, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Mladen Petravić
- Faculty of Physics and Centre for Micro- and Nanosciences and Technologies, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 2, Rijeka, 51000, Croatia
| | - Mato Knez
- CIC nanoGUNE BRTA, Tolosa Hiribidea 76, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 3, Bilbao, E-48009, Spain
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Jalalah M, Rudra S, Aljafari B, Irfan M, Almasabi SS, Alsuwian T, Patil AA, Nayak AK, Harraz FA. Novel porous heteroatom-doped biomass activated carbon nanoflakes for efficient solid-state symmetric supercapacitor devices. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2021.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Zhou J, Tian X, Wang B, Zhang S, Liu Z, Chen W. Application of Low Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition Packaging Technology in OLED and Its Implications for Organic and Perovskite Solar Cell Packaging. ACTA CHIMICA SINICA 2022. [DOI: 10.6023/a21110513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Abstract
The thin-film organic solar cells (OSCs) are currently one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies to effectively harvest the solar energy due to their attractive features of mechanical flexibility, light weight, low-cost manufacturing, and solution-processed large-scale fabrication, etc. However, the relative insufficient light absorption, short exciton diffusion distance, and low carrier mobility of the OSCs determine the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices are relatively lower than their inorganic photovoltaic counterparts. To conquer the challenges, the two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, which have excellent photoelectric properties, tunable energy band structure, and solvent compatibility etc., exhibit the great potential to enhance the performance of the OSCs. In this review, we summarize the most recent successful applications of the 2D materials, including graphene, black phosphorus, transition metal dichalcogenides, and g-C3N4, etc., adapted in the charge transporting layer, the active layer, and the electrode of the OSCs, respectively, for boosting the PCE and stability of the devices. The strengths and weaknesses of the 2D materials in the application of OSCs are also reviewed in details. Additionally, the challenges, commercialization potentials, and prospects for the further development of 2D materials-based OSCs are outlined in the end.
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Ratnayake SP, Ren J, Colusso E, Guglielmi M, Martucci A, Della Gaspera E. SILAR Deposition of Metal Oxide Nanostructured Films. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2101666. [PMID: 34309208 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202101666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Methods for the fabrication of thin films with well controlled structure and properties are of great importance for the development of functional devices for a large range of applications. SILAR, the acronym for Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction, is an evolution and combination of two other deposition methods, the Atomic Layer Deposition and Chemical Bath Deposition. Due to a relative simplicity and low cost, this method has gained increasing interest in the scientific community. There are, however, several aspects related to the influence of the many parameters involved, which deserve further deepening. In this review article, the basis of the method, its application to the fabrication of thin films, the importance of experimental parameters, and some recent advances in the application of oxide films are reviewed. At first the fundamental theoretical bases and experimental concepts of SILAR are discussed. Then, the fabrication of chalcogenides and metal oxides is reviewed, with special emphasis to metal oxides, trying to extract general information on the effect of experimental parameters on structural, morphological and functional properties. Finally, recent advances in the application of oxide films prepared by SILAR are described, focusing on supercapacitors, transparent electrodes, solar cells, and photoelectrochemical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiawen Ren
- RMIT University, School of Science, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Elena Colusso
- Università di Padova and INSTM, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy
| | - Massimo Guglielmi
- Università di Padova and INSTM, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy
| | - Alessandro Martucci
- Università di Padova and INSTM, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy
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ZnO nucleation into trititanate nanotubes by ALD equipment techniques, a new way to functionalize layered metal oxides. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7698. [PMID: 33833249 PMCID: PMC8032785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86722-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this contribution, we explore the potential of atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques for developing new semiconductor metal oxide composites. Specifically, we investigate the functionalization of multi-wall trititanate nanotubes, H2Ti3O7 NTs (sample T1) with zinc oxide employing two different ALD approaches: vapor phase metalation (VPM) using diethylzinc (Zn(C2H5)2, DEZ) as a unique ALD precursor, and multiple pulsed vapor phase infiltration (MPI) using DEZ and water as precursors. We obtained two different types of tubular H2Ti3O7 species containing ZnO in their structures. Multi-wall trititanate nanotubes with ZnO intercalated inside the tube wall sheets were the main products from the VPM infiltration (sample T2). On the other hand, MPI (sample T3) principally leads to single-wall nanotubes with a ZnO hierarchical bi-modal functionalization, thin film coating, and surface decorated with ZnO particles. The products were mainly characterized by electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. An initial evaluation of the optical characteristics of the products demonstrated that they behaved as semiconductors. The IR study revealed the role of water, endogenous and/or exogenous, in determining the structure and properties of the products. The results confirm that ALD is a versatile tool, promising for developing tailor-made semiconductor materials.
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Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition of TiN Thin Films as an Effective Se Diffusion Barrier for CIGS Solar Cells. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11020370. [PMID: 33540729 PMCID: PMC7912980 DOI: 10.3390/nano11020370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) of TiN thin films were investigated as an effective Se diffusion barrier layer for Cu (In, Ga) Se2 (CIGS) solar cells. Before the deposition of TiN thin film on CIGS solar cells, a saturated growth rate of 0.67 Å/cycle was confirmed using tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium (TDMAT) and N2 plasma at 200 °C. Then, a Mo (≈30 nm)/PEALD-TiN (≈5 nm)/Mo (≈600 nm) back contact stack was fabricated to investigate the effects of PEALD-TiN thin films on the Se diffusion. After the selenization process, it was revealed that ≈5 nm-thick TiN thin films can effectively block Se diffusion and that only the top Mo layer prepared on the TiN thin films reacted with Se to form a MoSe2 layer. Without the TiN diffusion barrier layer, however, Se continuously diffused along the grain boundaries of the entire Mo back contact electrode. Finally, the adoption of a TiN diffusion barrier layer improved the photovoltaic efficiency of the CIGS solar cell by approximately 10%.
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High-Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition of GaN on 1D Nanostructures. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10122434. [PMID: 33291493 PMCID: PMC7762107 DOI: 10.3390/nano10122434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Silica nanosprings (NS) were coated with gallium nitride (GaN) by high-temperature atomic layer deposition. The deposition temperature was 800 °C using trimethylgallium (TMG) as the Ga source and ammonia (NH3) as the reactive nitrogen source. The growth of GaN on silica nanosprings was compared with deposition of GaN thin films to elucidate the growth properties. The effects of buffer layers of aluminum nitride (AlN) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) on the stoichiometry, chemical bonding, and morphology of GaN thin films were determined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of coated silica nanosprings were compared with corresponding data for the GaN thin films. As grown, GaN on NS is conformal and amorphous. Upon introducing buffer layers of Al2O3 or AlN or combinations thereof, GaN is nanocrystalline with an average crystallite size of 11.5 ± 0.5 nm. The electrical properties of the GaN coated NS depends on whether or not a buffer layer is present and the choice of the buffer layer. In addition, the IV curves of GaN coated NS and the thin films (TF) with corresponding buffer layers, or lack thereof, show similar characteristic features, which supports the conclusion that atomic layer deposition (ALD) of GaN thin films with and without buffer layers translates to 1D nanostructures.
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Air Annealing Effect on Oxygen Vacancy Defects in Al-doped ZnO Films Grown by High-Speed Atmospheric Atomic Layer Deposition. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25215043. [PMID: 33143026 PMCID: PMC7663192 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (Al:ZnO) thin films were grown by high-speed atmospheric atomic layer deposition (AALD), and the effects of air annealing on film properties are investigated. The experimental results show that the thermal annealing can significantly reduce the amount of oxygen vacancies defects as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra due to the in-diffusion of oxygen from air to the films. As shown by X-ray diffraction, the annealing repairs the crystalline structure and releases the stress. The absorption coefficient of the films increases with the annealing temperature due to the increased density. The annealing temperature reaching 600 °C leads to relatively significant changes in grain size and band gap. From the results of band gap and Hall-effect measurements, the annealing temperature lower than 600 °C reduces the oxygen vacancies defects acting as shallow donors, while it is suspected that the annealing temperature higher than 600 °C can further remove the oxygen defects introduced mid-gap states.
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Li J, Pan T, Wang J, Cao S, Lin Y, Hoex B, Ma Z, Lu L, Yang L, Sun B, Li D. Bilayer MoO X/CrO X Passivating Contact Targeting Highly Stable Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:36778-36786. [PMID: 32667771 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c09877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Molybdenum oxide (MoOX, X < 3) has been successfully demonstrated as an efficient passivating hole-selective contact in crystalline Si (c-Si) heterojunction solar cells because of its large bandgap (∼3.2 eV) and work function (∼6.9 eV). However, the severe performance degradation coming from the instability of the MoOX and its interfaces has not been well addressed. In this work, we started with a c-Si(p)/MoOX heterojunction solar cell that yielded a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.86%, in which the MoOX film was synthesized by industry-compatible atomic layer deposition (ALD). The initial PCE dropped to 10.20% after 2 days because of severe migration of O and Ag at the MoOX/Ag interface. We solved this by the insertion of a CrOX layer between the MoOX layer and the Ag electrode. The solar cell was found to be stable for more than 8 months in air because of the suppression of interface degradation. Our work demonstrates an effective way of improving the stability of silicon solar cells with transition metal oxide carrier selective contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingye Li
- CAS Key Lab of Low-Carbon Conversion Science and Engineering, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Tianyu Pan
- CAS Key Lab of Low-Carbon Conversion Science and Engineering, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jilei Wang
- Jinneng Clean Energy Technology Ltd., 533 Guang'an Street, Jinzhong 030600, China
| | - Shuangying Cao
- CAS Key Lab of Low-Carbon Conversion Science and Engineering, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yinyue Lin
- CAS Key Lab of Low-Carbon Conversion Science and Engineering, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Bram Hoex
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, Australia
| | - Zhongquan Ma
- Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Linfeng Lu
- CAS Key Lab of Low-Carbon Conversion Science and Engineering, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Liyou Yang
- Jinneng Clean Energy Technology Ltd., 533 Guang'an Street, Jinzhong 030600, China
| | - Baoquan Sun
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P.R. China
| | - Dongdong Li
- CAS Key Lab of Low-Carbon Conversion Science and Engineering, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Haike Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Microelectronics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
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