Chemical Spray Research Articles

RNA sequencing of Beauveria bassiana JEF-350-infected Thrips palmi reveals change of host defense and homeostasis.

Melon thrips, Thrips palmi, represent a significant threat to plants, inducing necrosis and acting as vectors for numerous plant viruses. Entomopathogenic fungi present a promising avenue for the management of melon thrips populations resistant to conventional chemical treatments. In this work, an adult colony of melon thrips was exposed to Beauveria bassiana strain JEF-350, and the ensuing transcriptional response of the infected thrips was scrutinized to elucidate their reactions during fungal pathogenesis. Utilizing Illumina sequencing, RNA samples were extracted from untreated thrips as well as from thrips continuously infected for 2 and 4days, each with three biological replicates. While no notable alterations in gene expression were observed between the untreated control and thrips infected for 2days, those infected for 4days exhibited a plethora of differentially expressed genes. Specifically, in the thrips infected for the extended period, pathways associated with lysosomal function and insect hormone biosynthesis were notably repressed, while others such as serine and glycine metabolism, Toll and Imd, and circadian rhythm pathways displayed heightened activity. Noteworthy downregulation was observed in numerous lysosomal hydrolase genes encoding glycosidases, sulfatases, and lipases, particularly glycosidases. Furthermore, certain genes related to hydrolase precursors within the Golgi apparatus exhibited heightened expression levels but failed to progress toward hydrolase biosynthesis. Upstream regulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis was augmented, yet downstream genes were significantly downregulated, leading to a disruption in juvenile hormone production. Similarly, while cytochrome P450 genes in the downstream of ecdysone biosynthesis were upregulated, expressions of cholesterol desaturase and cytochrome P450 genes in the upstream were inhibited, consequently dampening ecdysone biosynthesis. The observed differential targeting of organs or pathways by B. bassiana JEF-350, in contrast to conventional chemicals primarily affecting neurotransmission and energy production, suggests its potential efficacy in managing resistant thrips populations. Consequently, integrating JEF-350 into the chemical spray regimen or incorporating it into tank-mix formulations with chemical insecticides emerges as a pragmatic approach within the realm of integrated pest management strategies. KEY POINTS: • Beauveria treatment inhibited lysosomal function and hormone synthesis in thrips. • Thrips serine/glycine metabolism, Toll and Imd, and circadian rhythm pathways were activated. • Upstream functions of thrips hormone biosynthesis increased, while downstream functions were suppressed. • Regarding biosynthesis of metabolites, this fungus targets other pathways with resistance management.

Synthesis and characterization of p-CuO/n-ZnO heterostructured composite thin films for the detection of formaldehyde gas.

We report the synthesis and characterization of pure CuO and CuO-ZnO nanostructured composite thin films sprayed on particle-free glass substrates using chemical spray pyrolysis method. The films were systematically analyzed through microstructural, morphological, chemical, and gas-sensing studies. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the films, with a predominant monoclinic phase along the (002) direction. Key structural parameters, such as crystallite size, dislocation density, strain, and the number of crystallites per unit area, were reported from XRD analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed a bundled-like morphology with uniform particle distribution, enhancing the surface area for effective gas interaction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that Cu and Zn ions existed predominantly in the 2+ oxidation state, contributing to the films' reactivity. Significantly, the gas sensing studies were investigated with static liquid distribution method, highlighting the remarkable performance of the 30 wt.% CuO-ZnO composite thin film. This composite exhibited a substantial response to 5 ppm formaldehyde at ambient conditions, showing a recovery time of 22 seconds and a response time of 15 seconds. These findings underscore the potential of CuO-ZnO composites for efficient formaldehyde gas sensing applications, marking a notable advancement in the field of environmental monitoring.

Effect of solutions acidity on Haacke’s Figure of Merit of ZnO and ZnO:F thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Fluorine-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:F) thin films are valued for their potential as transparent conductive materials, particularly in optoelectronic applications. In this work, the deposition of highly conductive and transparent fluorine-doped ZnO thin films, deposited by chemical spray on glass substrates is reported. The effect of acetic (AcAc) in the initial fresh solution on Haacke’s Figure of Merit (Φ) of both zinc oxide (ZnO) and fluorine-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:F) thin films was studied. The substrate temperature was fixed to 450°C, and two deposition times (8 and 14 min) were tested. Accordingly, the optical and transport properties, as well as the structural and morphological characteristics of the films were measured. The results indicate that the samples are polycrystalline in all cases and exhibit a wurtzite-type structure of ZnO. The variation of AcAc in the starting solution causes a switch in preferential growth from (002) to (001). As the AcAc content increases, the surface morphology of the films reveals the formation of well-defined hexagonal grains, and the grain size increases. Conversely, the transmittance decreases as the acetic acid increases, which can attributed to carbon incorporation into the film. In addition, the band gap values of the films varied from 3.2 to 3.4 eV. Also, as the acetic acid concentration increased, a drop in the electrical resistivity of ZnO thin films on the order of 0.016 Ω⋅ cm was found for the ZnO:F films deposited with fresh solution for 14 min. This can be ascribed to a dense acetic cloud formed during the synthesis process, trapping volatile F species that incorporate into the ZnO lattice. This enhances Haacke’s Figure of Merit of ZnO:F films deposited with a fresh solution, demonstrating their potential use for application as transparent conductive films. This contrasts with other synthesis methods that require longer aging time in the precursor solution, making these findings useful for large-scale and more efficient production of transparent conductive films.

Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructured ITO Thin Films by Spray Pyrolysis Technique: Dependence on Annealing Temperature

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) like Indium tin oxide (ITO) have wide attention from all scientists which have low resistance and high visible light transmittance, used as transparent electrodes in many optoelectronic devices such as liquid crystal displays, touch screens, light emitting diodes, and solar cells. In this research, the relationship between the crystallization, optical transmittance, and surface roughness of nanostructured ITO thin films and the change in annealing temperature was investigated. To enhance the efficiency of this material in optoelectronic applications, both the optical transmittance in the visible region and the crystallite size must be increased. These results can be obtained by the heat treatment of the films. Nanostructured ITO thin layer films have been successfully prepared at a substrate temperature equal to (350)℃ by chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique. The physical characterizations of nanostructured ITO thin layer films were investigated at different annealing temperatures (400,450 and 500)℃. The presence of diffraction peaks indicates that the as-deposited and post annealed films are polycrystalline cubic structure and the peak (400) is a preferred growth orientation. For all samples the value of intensity of diffraction peaks increases with increasing substrate temperature. The crystallite size of nanostructured ITO thin films is strongly related to the annealing temperature. The crystallite size estimated from XRD was found to rise with rising annealing temperature. The surface roughness of nanostructured ITO thin layer films increases with rising annealing temperature. High values of transmittance have been measured in the visible region 550 nm equal to (70, 82, 84 and 88)% corresponding to annealing temperature (350,400,450 and 500)℃ respectively.

Chemical spray pyrolysis deposited ZnO/ZIF-8 and cobalt doped ZnO/ZIF-8 composite thin films for highly sensitive and selective ammonia sensing at room temperature

ZnO is a widely studied metal oxide for gas sensor applications concerning its biocompatibility and physio-chemical properties. However, the high operating temperature and low response are drawbacks. ZIF-8, the metal-organic framework of Zinc and imidazolate, is renowned for its gas adsorption property. The poor stability of ZIF-8 also limits its application as an effective gas sensor. Thus, a composite thin film of ZnO and ZIF-8 is deposited on a glass substrate using the chemical spray pyrolysis technique to detect ammonia at room temperature (300 K). The composite thin film is stable, has a good response, and is repeatable. Further, to enhance the sensor response at room temperature, Co is doped to the ZnO/ZIF-8 composite thin films. The sensor response for 1 ppm of ammonia for the Co doped ZnO/ZIF-8 is 301 at room temperature. Along with the gas adsorption capability of ZIF-8 providing more active sites, the change in morphology from flakes to spherical grains on doping with Co provided higher active surface area and free electrons and all together instigated fast redox reaction and conduction mechanism in ZnO. Hence, the Co doped ZnO/ZIF-8 composite thin films have an enhanced response of 117,285 to 50 ppm of ammonia.

Evaluation the Efficacy of Botanical Insecticides in Controlling Tomato Boll Worm (Helicoverpa zea) and Leaf Minor (Tuta absoluta) in WesternTigray, Ethiopia

Aim of the study was to evaluate botanical insecticides to control tomato boll worm and leaf minor in western Tigray, Ethiopia. Field experiment was conducted during 2018/2020 in main crop growing season at Humera. A total of five treatments (Green miracle, Neembicidene, Melatonin, Gm+ Neembicidene and control no sprayed) were used in the field experiment. The experiment was laid out randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The mean yield had a significant difference at (p<0.001) among the botanical insecticides. The highest mean yield was obtained from Neembicidene (348.8) followed by green miracle (195.8) Malathion (183), Malathion+GM (162.8), and control (84.2) qtha-1 respectively. The highest severity recorded from control was 85.41% for leaf severity and 71.3% for fruit severity. However, lowest recorded severity 18.73% for leaves and 4.55% for fruits were calculated from Neembicidene. The highest percent population reduction after chemical spray was recorded from Neembicidene (85.07%). Therefore, Neembicidene botanical insecticide recommended and promoted to verification trial to control tomato bollworm and leaf minor.

Modeling of Spray Combustion and Heat Transfer of MMH/N2O4 in a Small Rocket Engine Using Different Mechanisms

Although various hypergolic propellants like MMH/N2O4 (monomethylhydrazine/dinitrogen tetroxide) are widely used in small rocket engines, there remains a lack of in-depth study conducted on their chemical reactions and spray combustion behaviors. To fill this research gap, a simplified chemical kinetic model that is suitable for three-dimensional simulation was proposed in this paper for MMH/N2O4. Then, numerical investigation was conducted using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model to explore the transient injection and atomization of MMH/N2O4 impinging jets in a small bipropellant thruster. Also, the instantaneous formation and evolution of the fan-shaped liquid film were analyzed. With the spray distribution determined, the proposed kinetic model and two existing mechanisms were applied to simulate spray combustion and heat transfer within the thruster, respectively, under the Euler–Lagrange framework. According to the research results, the liquid film covered nearly the entire chamber wall with a sawtooth pattern, which protected against the high temperatures of the engine wall. Notably, the two existing mechanisms showed significant errors in predicting temperature changes around the wall due to the excessively simplified reaction pathways. In contrast, the proposed model enabled the accurate prediction of the chamber pressure, wall temperature, and thrust with an error of less than 10%. Given the high accuracy achieved by the proposed numerical method, it provides a valuable reference for the development of advanced space engines.

Enhanced gas sensing performance of ZnO and Pt-doped ZnO nanostructured films by chemical spray pyrolysis

This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of zinc oxide (ZO) and platinum-doped zinc oxide (Pt-ZO) nanostructured thin films using the chemical spray pyrolysis technique. Structural and morphological properties of the films were investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). To understand the semiconducting nature and carrier dynamics, UV-Vis spectroscopy, electrical conductivity measurements, and a static gas sensing system were employed. The films exhibited crystallization in the hexagonal wurtzite structure with a preferred orientation along the (002) plane. FESEM images revealed the presence of small bright particles, particularly abundant in the 5 wt% Pt-doped ZO thin film, indicating the presence of platinum catalysts. Electrical conductivity measurements confirmed the semiconducting nature of the films. Optical parameters such as band gap and absorption index were obtained from UV-Vis spectroscopy. Gas sensing performance towards liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) showed that the 5 wt% Pt-doped ZO thin film exhibited a high response (69.9) to a 50 ppm concentration of LPG at 350 °C. The gas response and recovery times were observed to be 8 s and 12 s, respectively. These results are attributed to interactions between LPG molecules and adsorbed oxygen species on the sensor surface. Platinum atoms on the oxide surface facilitate the formation of oxygen vacancies and the dissociation of oxygen molecules at low temperatures, leading to increased adsorption and reaction with LPG molecules. This results in significant changes in the sensor's resistance, thereby amplifying the sensor response. The findings demonstrate the potential of Pt-doped ZO thin films for practical gas sensing applications.

Effect of gamma and ultraviolet irradiation on the optical properties of copper oxide nanostructured thin films by chemical spray pyrolysis

Nanostructured copper oxide thin films were grown by the chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique. Utilizing a homemade spray pyrolysis method, thin films are created. This work investigates the role of gamma ray and ultraviolet ray irradiation on the optical properties of copper oxide thin films(CuO) prepared. In this framework, used different substrate temperatures 300 °C, 350 °C, and 400 °C for the layers were grown on glass for the prepared CuO thin films. UV–visible spectrometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction patterns(XRD) measurements were all used to characterize the samples. The UV–visible spectroscopy showed a decrease in the absorbance and the optical band gap of CuO thin films with the increase in the higher substrate temperatures before irradiation. Additionally, surface plasmon resonance peaks (λSPR) were observed at 329 nm. FE-SEM images revealed spherical-like shapes with an average diameter range of 48 nm,56 nm and 62 nm for 300 °C, 350 °C, and 400 °C, respectively. An analysis of X-rays revealed that CuO thin films contained the crystallographic planes of a monoclinic and an orthorhombic crystal system. Also, when samples were exposed to gamma and UVC radiation, the absorbance intensity of CuO thin films increased, but the optical band gap decreased.

Synthesis, optimization, electrochemical and electrochromic properties of Zr-doped NiO films by chemical spray pyrolysis

Zirconium (Zr)-doped NiO films with different contents were successfully synthesized via the chemical spray pyrolysis technique. The structure, morphology, optical and electrochemical behaviors of these films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), UV–Vis-NIR spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and chronoamperometry (CA). XRD results suggested that the synthesized samples have the cubic crystal structure and a preferred orientation along the plane (111). Raman spectra further confirmed the successful incorporation of zirconium ions into the NiO films. SEM images explained that the surfaces of the doped films were composed of uniform and dense nanoparticles. EDS analysis suggested that Zr, Ni and O elements were uniformly distributed on the films. The optical results showed that the band gap decreases from 3.53 eV to 3.47 eV as the increase of zirconium doping content. The electrochemical analysis suggested that zirconium doping improved the specific capacitance of the NiO films (the NiO film with the Zr amount of 7 %, 59 F/g at 6 mV/s). In addition, the NiO film with 5 % Zr doped amount exhibited the largest ΔOD (81 %), the largest CE (60.37 cm2/C), and the fastest coloring time (tc =2.1 s) and bleaching time (tb = 2.4 s). These results showed that this film had the excellent electrochromic properties, suggesting that the optimal Zr doped amount of NiO films is 5 %. As a novel kind of electrochromic material, the Zr-doped NiO film has broad application prospects in smart windows, green buildings and energy efficient utilization fields.

Properties study of pure titanium oxide and cadmium doped thin films using chemical spray pyrolysis method and their effect on solar cell

Properties study of pure titanium oxide and cadmium doped thin films using chemical spray pyrolysis method and their effect on solar cell

Investigate the Effect of Curing Methods for Different Types of Binder Concrete

Abstract Various curing techniques are typically used to achieve the required concrete strengths. The laboratory results of this study investigate the effects of curing techniques (namely water, air-dry, burlap, membrane, and chemical spray) on compressive strength (Fcu) and indirect tensile strength (Ft) using 200 specimens. To determine the optimum method for concrete curing, two different cement contents were used (350 kg/m3 450 kg/m3) with and without chemical admixture (superplasticizer, SP). Compressive and indirect tensile strengths were determined for the four different concrete mixes. Based on the experimental results, adding superplasticizer and increasing the cement content improved the mechanical properties of the concrete mix, as indicated by both compressive and tensile strength. Additionally, it was found that the longer the curing period of the concrete, the higher the Fcu. Furthermore, adding 1% SP has a more significant impact on Fcu than adding 100 kg of cement.

Modifications of some physical properties of nanostructured indium doped Co3O4 thin films

Using the chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique, nanostructured undoped and Co3O4:In thin films are deposited. The effect of indium doping content in Cobalt ranged from 1% to 3% on optical, structural, and topographical properties of Co3O4 nanostructured thin films. No new peaks belonging to the In phase were seen, according to X-ray diffraction research, which revealed that pure and Co3O4: In thin films are polycrystalline in and cubic phase with (111), (311), (400), and (511) preferable orientation for all filmsThe Scherrer formula computation of average crystallite size shows that the size of Nano crystallites grows when doping is enhanced. AFM micrographs demonstrated how the surface shape of the films was discovered to be influenced by the inclusion of indium in the Co3O4 location.SEM images of Undoped Co3O4 and Co3O4:In films (CSP technique), showing separate semi-spherical blocks (120-200 nm) of nanoparticles (<30 nm). Band gap values for pure and doped were 2.52 to 2.38 eV. Resistance increases with increases Indium-doping, indicating more charge carriers and potential surface roughness influence. Sensitivity decreases with higher Indium concentrations, attributing to enhanced crystallinity and nano-crystalline size.

Modifications of some physical properties of nanostructured indium doped Co3O4 thin films

Using the chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique, nanostructured undoped and Co3O4:In thin films are deposited. The effect of indium doping content in Cobalt ranged from 1% to 3% on optical, structural, and topographical properties of Co3O4 nanostructured thin films. No new peaks belonging to the In phase were seen, according to X-ray diffraction research, which revealed that pure and Co3O4: In thin films are polycrystalline in and cubic phase with (111), (311), (400), and (511) preferable orientation for all filmsThe Scherrer formula computation of average crystallite size shows that the size of Nano crystallites grows when doping is enhanced. AFM micrographs demonstrated how the surface shape of the films was discovered to be influenced by the inclusion of indium in the Co3O4 location.SEM images of Undoped Co3O4 and Co3O4:In films (CSP technique), showing separate semi-spherical blocks (120-200 nm) of nanoparticles (<30 nm). Band gap values for pure and doped were 2.52 to 2.38 eV. Resistance increases with increases Indium-doping, indicating more charge carriers and potential surface roughness influence. Sensitivity decreases with higher Indium concentrations, attributing to enhanced crystallinity and nano-crystalline size.

The Effect of Aluminum Dopant on some physical Properties of Zinc Oxide Thin Films Via Chemical Spray Pyrolysis

تم حضرة أوكسيد الخارصين باستخدام طريقة التحلل الكيميائي الحراري وبتراكيز مختلف من شائبة الألمنيوم (0، 2، 4) %. كشفت أنماط حيود الاشعة السينية بان كافة الاغشية المحضرة كانت من النوع متعدد التبلور سداسي، متراض التركيب، تتراوح قيم الحجم الحبيبي من 13.30 نانومتر إلى 14.34 نانومتر مع زيادة تركيز الالمنيوم، أوضحت صور مجهر القوى الذرية بان الاغشية كانت منتظمة، خالية من التشققات ولها معدل حجم الجسميات في مدى (84.27 -72.18) نانومتر. وجد بان أطياف النفاذية لها معدل بحدود 85%. انحرفت قييم فجوة الطاقة باتجاه الطاقات الواطئة بزيادة شائبة الالمنيوم.

Elaboration of spinel Co3O4 via cost-effective chemical spray pyrolysis for enhanced photo-response

Co3O4 thin layers were produced through spray pyrolysis, varying the spray duration from 10 to 25 minutes. Various characterizations were employed to explore the impact of spray durations on the sprayed layers properties. They exhibited a cubic structure with strong preferred orientation along the (111) direction. Morphological analysis indicated a good morphology as the duration increased. Compositional analysis confirmed the predominant presence of Co and O in the growing layer. Optical properties revealed an augmentation in absorption with prolonged duration. The band-gap energy decreased from 1.45 to 1.40 eV for durations from 10 to 20 minutes. The optical and electrical properties were influenced by duration. Notably, Co3O4 (20 minutes) exhibited a significant variation in resistance between light ON and OFF. These findings highlight the ability to tailor the properties of Co3O4 compound by optimizing the spray duration for the effective fabrication of photo-sensors.

Morphological Characterization of Sb-Doped SnO2 Thin Films Developed by Spray Pyrolysis

In the present work, we have successfully deposited Sb antimony doped tin dioxide (SnO2) thin films with different concentrations (0 at%, 1 at%, 3 at% and 5 at%) from a stannous (II) chloride dihydrate solution (SnCl2.2H2O), by the pyrolysis chemical spray deposition technique on ordinary microscope glass substrates preheated to a fixed temperature of 350 °C. After deposition, the films were annealed at temperatures 400 °C for 4h. The aim of this work is on the one hand to study the morphological properties of pure and doped tin dioxide thin films and to determine the different morphological parameters such as: the roughness Ra, Rq and on the other hand to study the effect of Sb doping on the morphological properties of SnO2 thin films. To achieve this purpose, the thickness of all the films was estimated by profilometer with standard scan type. The morphology of the films was examined by atomic force microscope (AFM) in contact mode at room temperature to visualize the surface of our samples (the structure, size and morphology of crystallites ... etc). The 2D and 3D AFM images confirm the formation of nanostructures on the surface, with shapes and dimensions influenced by the amount of antimony doping. All the samples show a polycrystalline morphology, and the grain size progressively decreases with the increase of the Sb concentration (1% and 3%). On the other hand, for high antimony doping (5% Sb) the grains are larger than those observed at 3% doping. The root mean square (RMS) surface roughness values for samples with Sb concentrations (5%) were found to be 8.334 nm.

5GSOLAR: On track for effective project commercialisation

5GSOLAR: On track for effective project commercialisation Maciej Sibiński, Research Professor from Tallinn University of Technology, highlights the 5GSOLAR project, which is on track to commercialise solar cells. The development of the new Sb2(S,Se)3, (Sb,Bi)2Se3 solar cells is currently underway, but effective commercialisation is crucial for successful growth, and proper perspective and potential technology applications are vital for future advancement. Intense effort was recently put into the development of Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 structures in the Tallinn University of Technology’s Laboratory for Thin Film Energy Materials group, bringing about significant progress in both technology and efficiency levels. By using low-temperature and low-energy-consumption closed-spaced sublimation and chemical spray pyrolysis methods, the manufacturing technology was elaborated to achieve an industrial level.

The figure of merit improvement of (Sn, Co)–ZnO sprayed thin films for optoelectronic applications

Nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) has garnered significant attention from researchers and industries due to its superior properties as an optoelectronic material, particularly in solar cells as a transparent electrode. Doping, especially with tin (Sn) and co-doping with tin and cobalt (Co), can refine its optoelectronic properties. In this manuscript, we report on the optoelectronic properties of undoped ZnO thin films, as well as those doped with Sn and/or Co, elaborated using a simple chemical pneumatic spray pyrolysis method on glass substrates. A 1 % Sn doping concentration was used, with Co doping concentrations of 0 %, 0.5 %, and 1 %. The effects of Sn and/or Co doping concentration on the structure, morphology, optical, and electrical properties of nanocrystalline ZnO were studied using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy and Hall effect measurements. All the films studied exhibit wurtzite ZnO structures with a predominant (002) orientation and no secondary phase, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The Raman spectroscopy also reveals the presence of a wurtzite structure in all the films. The FESEM images reveal the kind and concentration of the dopants significantly influenced the surface morphology of the films. The elemental analysis with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) analysis successfully detected the doping of Sn and Co. The analysis of UV–Vis spectroscopy provide that the optical band gap for the undoped ZnO film is 3.25 eV. This band gap increases upon doping and co-doping, reaching a peak value of 3.30 eV for the Sn:Co (1 %:0.5 %) co-doped ZnO film. The ZnO film shows an improvement in the electrical resistivity upon doping and co-doping with low resistivity value of 1.95 × 10−2 Ω cm for the film (1%Sn, 0.5 % Co)–ZnO. The highest figure of merit (FOM) achieved is 1.41 × 10−4 Ω−1 for a ZnO thin film co-doped with (1 % Sn, 0.5 % Co). The existence of (1 % Sn, 0.5 % Co) film with improved optical gap, low electrical resistivity and high FOM supports its use in transparent conductive oxide applications.

Study of FZO thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray: influence of precursor milling

In this work, the results of the study of ZnO:F (FZO) films deposited on glass substrates using the ultrasonic chemical spray technique are reported. For the preparation of the films, starting solutions were used at a concentration of 0.2 M of zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH3COO)2.2H2O]) dissolved in a mixture of deionized water:methanol:acetic acid. The precursor was previously ground in a planetary ball mill at 500 rpm at different times. For the addition of the dopant, a 1.6 M solution of ammonium fluoride in deionized water was prepared NH4F. The atomic ratio of [F]/[F + Zn] remained constant at 30 at%. Structural characterizations by X-ray diffraction, morphological by scanning electron microscopy, optical by UV–Vis spectroscopy, and electrical by Hall effect were performed on all deposited films. From the analysis of results, the hexagonal wurtzite phase was confirmed, and a variation of the morphology was observed depending on the deposit conditions. In general, the films presented high optical transmittance in the visible region and the n-type conductivity was confirmed.