Target Composition Research Articles

On Thermoelastic Impact Modelling of Frozen Composite Target During Pre – Heated Projectile Penetration Starts of Motion

This study investigates a composite double-layer structure for improved thermal shock resistance. A modified Hugoniot elastic limit model is presented for the composite, followed by a 2D thermo-elastic impact simulation using commercial software. The simulation focuses on a composite material under initial extreme low temperature conditions with alternating metallic (Steel, Aluminum) and non-metallic layers (Kevlar 49, Graphite). The frozen target is subjected to pre- heated projectile. The objective is to optimize the composite's durability by strategically placing reinforcement particles within specific layers. The analysis explores the effect of different particle types (oil, water, Aluminum, Steel) and sizes (0.3mm, 0.5mm, 1mm) on the composite's stress response. It was found that aluminum and steel particles significantly reduce stress compared to fluid/gas particles, confirmed qualitatively by literature. Kevlar particles within the SiCp layer enhance its resistance, while Aluminum particles within the Kevlar layer offer weight reduction benefits. Moreover, for Kevlar, larger particles improve resistance, and vice versa for the SiCp case. Considering weight, a particle size of 0.5mm is chosen for both layers. Moreover, a finite element analysis of the optimized composite model subjected to thermoelastic impact loading demonstrates its superior performance compared to the non-reinforced composite. Specific layer combinations (SiCp with Kevlar particles, Graphite or Kevlar with Aluminum particles) show the most significant stress reduction. Finally, separate 3D ballistic analysis was performed for Tungsten having 600m/sec projectile into 5 layered target with thickness of 2.8mm each layer and appropriate interaction friction (SiCp - Steel 304 - Al 7075-T651 - Kevlar 49 - Graphite Crystalline) during penetration time of 0.006sec at 300K. The dynamic explicit transient analysis was confirmed with the predecessors' analytic calculations.

Multicore@shell nanoparticle synthesis from a single multicomponent target by gas aggregation source

Synthesis of multifunctional nanomaterials is known as a critical challenge in advanced nanoscience. Multicore@shell nanostructures are generated here via a gas phase synthesis approach. To achieve this objective, we used a conventional DC magnetron sputtering in conjunction with a gas aggregation chamber. We employed a customized Au-Ti target to produce metal-metal oxide multicore@shell nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable properties. The deposited NPs were characterized with regard to their chemical composition, morphology, structural status, NP size distribution and optical properties. The obtained data clearly confirms that the crystalline Au cores are encapsulated in a TiOx matrix in each individual NP. Furthermore, the chemical composition and size distribution of the NPs can be affected by the operating pressure. Our approach provides a versatile route with many different possibilities to synthesize multicore@shell NPs from a variety of composite targets for well-desired applications including environmental, optical/plasmonic, and energy.

Effects of Different Elastic Number and Thickness Ratios on Damage Mechanism of Aramid /UHMWPE Composite Target Plate

Effects of Different Elastic Number and Thickness Ratios on Damage Mechanism of Aramid /UHMWPE Composite Target Plate

Efficient Exploratory Synthesis of Quaternary Cesium Chlorides Guided by In Silico Predictions.

Exploratory synthesis of solids is essential for the advancement of materials science but is also highly time- and resource-intensive. Here, we demonstrate an efficient strategy to explore solid-state synthesis of quaternary cesium chlorides in the search space of CsnAIBCl6 (n = 2 or 3, A = Li, Na or K, and B = d or p-block metal), where the target compositions are selected from a pool of candidates based on computationally predicted stabilities and availability of viable precursor powders. Synthesizability of the targets is assessed by observing the evolution of starting phases upon heating under in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Laboratory synthesis is attempted for promising targets, and resulting materials are characterized by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction and subsequent Rietveld refinement. We focus on how computational predictions can be bridged to experimental characterizations in exploratory synthesis and report on successful and failed synthesis attempts for compounds of type Cs2AIBIIICl6, revealing underexplored variants including new polymorphs of Cs2LiCrCl6 and Cs2LiRuCl6, and a new compound Cs2LiIrCl6.

Evolution of TiAlSi thin film coatings under varying target power in DC magnetron sputtering

This study, for the first time, presents the growth, nucleation, and characteristics of TiAlSi thin films sputtered from a partially sintered Ti30Al16Si10 (at. %) composite target under controlled conditions of target power. The TiAlSi thin films were grown on soda-lime glass substrates through Direct Current (DC) sputtering at varying levels of the target power: 73.2 W, 151.2 W, and 269.5 W. The other deposition parameters: the deposition temperature, time, argon mass flow rate, substrate rotation, and deposition pressure, were kept constant at 23 °C, 150 min, 25 sccm, 5 rpm, and 10−3 mbar, respectively. The pre-sputter power, argon flow rate, and time were also kept constant at 73.2 W, 20 sccm, and 5 min, respectively. The physical properties, microstructure, crystal structure, topography, and mechanical properties of the thin film coatings were analysed. The thickness and rate of deposition of the TiAlSi thin films increased with an increase in the target power (73.2 W – 269.5 W) from 414.6 nm and 0.046 nm/s to 1358.8 nm and 0.151 nm/s, respectively. The chemical composition of all the thin films remained constant, with the formation of a uniform TiAlSi alloy with no segregation of elements. However, a thin (wetting) interlayer consisting of Si and O elements was observed between the TiAlSi layer and the glass substrate. Further, the structure sizes and roughness values of the TiAlSi thin films increased with an increase in the target power, with a maximum of 75.4 nm for the size and 4.78 nm for the RMS roughness of thin films deposited at the maximum target power (269.5 W). Lastly, mechanical analysis of the TiAlSi thin films depicted an increase in the hardness as the target power increased, with the highest hardness at maximum power (269.5 W) obtained as 4.76 GPa. Despite having the lowest elastic modulus (50.5 GPa), the coating deposited at the highest power exhibited the highest plasticity index (H/E) and plastic deformation factor (H3/E2) of 0.094 and 0.042 GPa, respectively, which indicated the high resistance to abrasive wear, cracking, and deformation, compared to thin films deposited at the lowest target power (H/E = 0.066 and H3/E2 = 0.015 GPa). This study demonstrates that target power is a significant factor in determining the growth of TiAlSi thin films during the sputtering process and can be used for better control of their physical, structural, and mechanical properties.

8553 GDF-15 Levels In Patients With Prostate Cancer On Androgen Deprivation Therapy

Abstract Disclosure: S.D. Jaramillo-Quiroz: Other; Self; VAPSHCS: Director Fund Research Fellowship/UW Abrass Family Fellowship Fund. CDMRP (PC170059).. L. Caeiro: None. L.J. Anderson: None. J.M. Garcia: None. Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) is a stress-induced cytokine known to induce anorexia and cachexia and a biomarker of biological aging, mitochondrial dysfunction, and worse hand grip strength and poor survival in different settings. Also, GDF-15 has pleiotropic functions at all stages of tumorigenicity and is suggested as a marker to differentiate BPH from PCa. Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) is the standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer (PCa), but it also decreases muscle mass and function and Quality of life (QOL). The role and effects of GDF-15 in prostate cancer patients undergoing ADT are not well characterized and was explored in this longitudinal, 6-month, observational study that recruited men with (PCa) starting ADT (n=60, mean age 69). Body composition [dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), body weight history], physical performance [handgrip strength (HGS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry and actigraphy)], were assessed before, at 3 and 6 months after starting ADT. QoL was assessed by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30). GDF-15 was measured by ELISA. Mean differences performed with standard error of the mean, repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey’s Post Hoc test. Correlations were assessed by Spearman’s. After 6 months of ADT, fat mass was increased (mean difference: 1.14 ±0.38, p=0.0029), and lean muscle mass (mean difference: -1.214 ± 0.38, p=0.005), appendicular lean mass (ALM, mean difference: -0.879 ± 0.19, p=<0.0001). HGS (mean difference: -2.927 ± 0.59, p=<0.0001), and VO2 max decreased (mean difference -3.31 ± 0.83, p=0.0007). Baseline GDF-15 (mean 1456.59 ± 1022.80) was correlated with the changes in weight (r: -0.38, p=0.01), BMI (r: -0.33, p=0.01), ALM (r: -0.29, p=0.04), and fatigue (r: -0.38, p=0.004). As shown, baseline GDF-15 was inversely correlated with changes in weight, appendicular lean mass, and fatigue in subjects undergoing ADT, highlighting the possibility of its role as a biomarker and therapeutic target of body composition and patient-reported outcomes in this setting. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Development of a 7000 series aluminium alloy suitable for laser-based Additive Manufacturing

High strength aluminium alloys are of significant interest for laser-based Additive Manufacturing as they can provide a high specific strength but have limited assembly possibilities due to poor weldability and the presence of large intermetallic particles challenging the conventional manufacturing route. Increasing the geometrical freedom by enabling their use with laser-based Additive Manufacturing would create new possibilities. This study investigates the possibilities of using an aluminium 7000 series alloy with Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) and secondly for comparison with Direct Energy Deposition (DED). The chemical composition targets 5.1–6.1 wt% Zn and 2.1–3.9 wt% Mg. The level of Zn and Mg in the powder was increased to 10 wt% Zn and 3 wt% Mg to compensate for the expected evaporation during the laser-based AM process and guarantee a sufficient Zn and Mg content for precipitation strengthening. Solidification cracking in the initial alloy composition was resolved by the addition of 1 wt% Zr and 1 wt% V. For L-PBF, a study of the impact of the laser spot size showed a larger spot size is beneficial to improve the process stability. A study of the capability of preheating and of slowing down the process showed both further improve the process stability as well which is required to manufacture successfully larger parts to characterise the quasi-static tensile properties. For optimal process parameters for a fast process, meaning a scan speed of 700 mm/s, a yield stress of 425 ± 7 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 442 ± 5 MPa was obtained after a homogenisation and ageing heat treatment. In the as built state, the strength was significantly lower. For optimal process parameters for a slow process, meaning a scan speed of 250 mm/s, a yield stress of 398 ± 11 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 440 ± 16 MPa were obtained in as built state. For DED the mechanical properties of the alloy showed to be significantly dependent on process parameters. An excessive energy input results in more Zn and Mg evaporation and decreased cooling rates. Such parameters also impact the process stability of DED throughout the build cycle. Limiting the energy input resulted in dense samples and stable build cycles which after a heat treatment to peak ageing reached a yield stress of around 400 MPa and an ultimate tensile stress of around 440 MPa in the X- and Z-direction.

Californium-252 production at the High Flux Isotope Reactor − I: Validation study using campaign data

This paper presents a series of 252Cf production validation and code-to-code comparison studies performed based on data from the production campaigns at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). These studies support efforts to convert HFIR from using highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. HFIR must maintain its world-class performance and missions following this conversion, and because 252Cf is a vital neutron-emitting radioisotope used for a variety of high-impact applications (e.g., reactor startup, cancer treatment), the ability to efficiently produce 252Cf must be preserved. In this work, the HFIRCON, Shift, ORIGEN, and TCOMP codes were deployed, and several sets of data libraries were investigated to better understand the calculation codes and the data biases. As-loaded target composition data, as-run irradiation history data, and post-irradiation measurements from recent multi-cycle irradiation campaigns of the HEU core were used to validate and determine methodology biases. The findings demonstrated a good agreement, with results falling within 3 standard deviations of measurements. This paper lays the ground work for the second paper, which evaluates and compares 252Cf production and safety metrics with the HEU core and a proposed LEU core.

12211 Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass And Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Showed Similar Efficacy In Achieving Cardiometabolic Composite Target In Subject With Type 2 Diabetes Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

12211 Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass And Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Showed Similar Efficacy In Achieving Cardiometabolic Composite Target In Subject With Type 2 Diabetes Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Accelerating the screening of high-entropy Co-Mn-Fe-Ni-Zn-O gradient films for highly stable NTC materials through co-sputtering combinatorial synthesis

High-entropy negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor thin films, renowned for their exceptional stability, represent a significant advancement in the field of temperature measurement, facilitating the miniaturization of next-generation information and electronic devices. However, “trial and error” approach to developing multi-component NTC oxides significantly constrains the efficiency of the design process. To accelerate development process, we prepared Co-Mn-Fe-Ni-Zn-O gradient films by co-sputtering combinatorial synthesis. The effects of stoichiometric ratios on the resistance (R25), material constant (B25/50) and stability (ΔR/R0) of gradient films were visually represented through color-coded maps for straightforward and intuitive analysis. Samples close to the MnCoFe target in gradient films showed a trend of decreasing resistance and increasing material constant, both reaching 1.71 MΩ and 4083 K, respectively. The high-entropy Co21Mn17Fe19Ni21Zn22O4±δ film exhibited the lowest resistance drift rate only 2.68 % after 500 h ageing at 125 ℃. Another delightful result was that the corresponding homogeneous films, achieved through sputtering with a composite target, had a relative deviation in resistance drift rate of merely 0.18 %. This showcased the successful translation from the screening outcome to the homogeneous film, significantly accelerating the development of NTC materials via the utilization of gradient films screening.

Assessing Cardiovascular Target Attainment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Tertiary Diabetes Center in Romania.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share a bidirectional link, and the innovative antidiabetic molecules GLP-1 Ras and SGLT-2is have proven cardiac and renal benefits, respectively. This study aimed to evaluate CV risk categories, along with lipid-lowering and antidiabetic treatments, in patients with T2DM from a real-life setting in Romania. A cross-sectional evaluation was conducted on 405 consecutively admitted patients with T2DM in an ambulatory setting, assessing them according to the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines for moderate, high, and very high CV risk categories. The average age of the group was 58 ± 9.96 years, with 38.5% being female. The mean HbA1C level was 7.2 ± 1.7%. Comorbidities included HBP in 88.1% of patients, with a mean SBP and DBP of 133.2 ± 13.7 mm Hg and 79.9 ± 9 mm Hg, respectively, and obesity in 66.41%, with a mean BMI of 33 ± 6.33 kg/m2. The mean LDL-C levels varied by CV risk category: 90.1 ± 34.22 mg/dL in very high risk, 98.63 ± 33.26 mg/dL in high risk, and 105 ± 37.1 mg/dL in moderate risk. Prescribed treatments included metformin (100%), statins (77.5%), GLP-1 Ras (29.4%), and SGLT-2is (29.4%). In Romania, patients with T2DM often achieve glycemic control targets but fail to meet composite targets that include glycemic, BP, and lipid control. Additionally, few patients benefit from innovative glucose-lowering therapies with proven cardio-renal benefits or from statins.

Controlling Bi/Fe ratio in bismuth iron garnet thin films deposited by confocal magnetron sputtering for enhanced Faraday rotation

We have successfully deposited high-quality bismuth-iron-garnet (BIG; Bi3Fe5O12) epitaxial thin films on single crystal gadolinium-gallium-garnet (GGG; Gd3Ga5O12) (111) substrates through Radio frequency (RF) confocal sputtering, utilizing separate bismuth and iron oxide sputtering targets and optimized thermal treatments. The Bi/Fe ratio in the deposited BIG thin films can be varied by controlling the sputter process parameters. These deposited thin films exhibit homogeneity and surface root mean square (rms) roughness of less than 2 nm. The epitaxial film quality is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the films demonstrate low optical loss and a magneto-optical Faraday rotation as high as −34o±1o /μm at a wavelength of 535 nm for a BIG thin film with a Bi/Fe ratio 0.7 and annealing temperature of 510oC. Additionally, the coercivity of the deposited films is lower than that of those deposited via RF sputtering using a single composite target. This co-sputtering approach provides real-time flexibility for the deposition of high-quality BIG films.

Navigation through high-dimensional chemical space: discovery of Ba5Y13[SiO4]8O8.5 and Ba3Y2[Si2O7]2.

Two compounds were discovered in the well-studied BaO-Y2O3-SiO2 phase field. Two different experimental routines were used for the exploration of this system due to the differences of synthetic conditions and competition with a glass field. The first phase Ba5Y13[SiO4]8O8.5 was isolated through a combination of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis and diffraction techniques which guided the exploration. The second phase Ba3Y2[Si2O7]2 was located using iterative algorithmic identification of target compositions. The structure solution of the new compounds was aided by continuous rotation electron diffraction, and the structures were refined against combined synchrotron and neutron time-of-flight powder diffraction. Ba5Y13[SiO4]8O8.5 crystallizes in I4̄2m, a = 18.92732(1), c = 5.357307(6) Å and represents its own structure type which combines elements of structures of known silicates embedded in columns of interconnected yttrium-centred polyhedra characteristic of high-pressure phases. Ba3Y2[Si2O7]2 has P21 symmetry with a pseudo-tetragonal cell (a = 16.47640(4), b = 9.04150(5), c = 9.04114(7) Å, β = 90.0122(9)°) and is a direct superstructure of the Ca3BaBi[P2O7]2 structure. Despite the lower symmetry, the structure of Ba3Y2[Si2O7]2 retains disorder in both Ba/Y sites and disilicate network, thus presenting a superposition of possible locally-ordered fragments. Ba5Y13[SiO4]8O8.5 has low thermal conductivity of 1.04(5) W m-1 K-1 at room temperature. The two discovered phases provide a rich structural platform for further functional material design. The interplay of automated unknown phase composition identification with multiple diffraction methods offers acceleration of the time-consuming exploration of high-dimensional chemical spaces for new structures.

Developing and reporting a healthcare-associated infection composite score for health system board review

Background One strategy for supporting a hospital or health system's board of directors (Board), with their quality oversight responsibility is to review the organization's performance on quality measures. But for large systems, the number of measures needing review is quite burdensome and makes priority setting difficult. Our goal was to develop a scoring method that summarizes multiple quality measures together, while still maintaining the Board's opportunity to examine individual measures where there are specific concerns. Methods We calculated an overall health system-level composite performance score using six publicly reported healthcare-associated infections reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on their Care Compare website [central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), surgical site infections (SSIs) for colon surgery and abdominal hysterectomy, hospital-onset Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MRSA), and hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile ( C. diff)], where relative weights assigned to each infection type reflect the severity of patient harm. We also calculated a health-system composite performance target. For individual infection types, we calculated system-wide scores and targets and categorized individual hospital performance into three performance categories. Results The health system's composite score between 2015 and 2019 ranged from a high of 1.10 to a low of 0.71. The health system's composite score in 2017–2019 was better than the composite target. Of the 34 measures used to calculate the 2019 composite score, 20 were better than internal standardized infection ratio (SIR) targets, seven were between internal targets and SIR of 1.0, and seven were worse than SIR of 1.0. Discussion The Board communicated they find this composite score reporting approach helpful for streamlining their understanding of HAI performance, as compared to traditional approaches of reporting out individual performance measures. Approaches that streamline Board review of quality and safety performance are important as we hold Board members accountable for overseeing quality, seek greater engagement from the Board, and work to minimize measure review overload.

Selecting a target for obtaining films of higher manganese silicide using magnetron sputtering

A film of manganese silicides on mica was obtained using a magnetron sputter from three types of targets. Microstructure and elemental composition of targets and films studied by scanning electron microscopy and electron reflection diffraction methods. The phase composition and texture of films by thickness (cross sections) were controlled by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It has been shown that when depositing films from a poly- and single-crystalline target of higher manganese silicide, in contrast to a target of sintered Mn and Si powders, after successive annealing at a temperature of 800 K and a temperature of 10–3 Pa for 1 hour, polycrystalline films of higher silicide can be obtained. manganese composition Mn4Si7.

Dopant compensation in component-dependent self-doped Cs2SnI6 thin films grown with PLD at room temperature

Tetravalent tin (Sn4+)-based inorganic perovskite semiconductors like Cs2SnI6 are expected to replace lead-based perovskite counterparts due to advantages such as structural stability and environmental friendliness. In this paper, we reported the dopant compensation effect in the component-dependent self-doped (111)-oriented Cs2SnI6 thin films grown with pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at room temperature. The films were grown on (100)-SrTiO3 (STO) substrates at room temperature by PLD. Hall results of the Cs2SnI6 films with different components realizing by controlling the ratio of SnI4/CsI in the targets demonstrate a clear change of conductivity type from N-type to P-type, while the carrier concentration decreases from 1018 to 1013 and accordingly the film resistivity increases significantly from 3.8 to 2506 Ω cm. The defect-related optical fingerprints of Cs2SnI6 films were also investigated with temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy. At low temperatures of 10 K, the Cs2SnI6 films exhibit donor-bound (D0X) and donor-acceptor pair (DAP) emission, respectively, due to the self-doping effect. These results indicate that controlling the composition of the PLD target is a powerful way to tune the electrical properties of Cs2SnI6 films for possible applications in solar cells or X-ray detectors.

Penetration resistance of Al2O3 ceramic-ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite armor: Experimental and numerical investigations

To enhance the protective performance of ceramic composite armor, ballistic penetration experiments were conducted on Al2O3 ceramic-ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite armor with different thickness configurations. The damage and failure modes of hard projectiles and ceramic-fiber composite targets were analyzed. The recovered projectiles and ceramic fragments were sieved and weighed at multiple stages, revealing a positive correlation between the degree of fragmentation of the projectiles and ceramics and the overall ballistic resistance of the composite targets. Numerical simulations were performed using the LS-DYNA finite element software, and the simulation results showed high consistency with the experimental results, confirming the validity of the material parameters. The results indicate that the projectile heads primarily exhibited crushing and abrasive fragmentation. Larger projectile fragments mainly resulted from tensile and shear stress-induced failure. The failure modes of the composite targets included the formation of ceramic cones and radial cracks under high-velocity impacts. The UHMWPE laminated plates exhibited interlayer separation caused by tensile waves, permanent plastic deformation of the rear surface bulging, and perforation failure primarily due to shear forces.Through extended numerical simulations, while maintaining the same areal density and configuration of 9 mm Al2O3 ceramic + 12 mm UHMWPE laminated composite armor, the thickness configurations of the Al2O3 ceramic and UHMWPE laminated backplates were varied, and various thicknesses of UHMWPE laminates were simulated as the cover layer for the ceramic panels. The simulation results indicated that the composite armor configuration of 10 mm Al2O3 ceramic + 8 mm UHMWPE composite armor increased energy absorption by 13.48 %. When altering the cover layer thickness, a 4 mm UHMWPE + 9 mm Al2O3 + 8 mm UHMWPE composite armor demonstrated a 27.11 % improvement in energy absorption, showing a relatively significant enhancement.

Active Learning for Rapid Targeted Synthesis of Compositionally Complex Alloys.

The next generation of advanced materials is tending toward increasingly complex compositions. Synthesizing precise composition is time-consuming and becomes exponentially demanding with increasing compositional complexity. An experienced human operator does significantly better than a novice but still struggles to consistently achieve precision when synthesis parameters are coupled. The time to optimize synthesis becomes a barrier to exploring scientifically and technologically exciting compositionally complex materials. This investigation demonstrates an active learning (AL) approach for optimizing physical vapor deposition synthesis of thin-film alloys with up to five principal elements. We compared AL-based on Gaussian process (GP) and random forest (RF) models. The best performing models were able to discover synthesis parameters for a target quinary alloy in 14 iterations. We also demonstrate the capability of these models to be used in transfer learning tasks. RF and GP models trained on lower dimensional systems (i.e., ternary, quarternary) show an immediate improvement in prediction accuracy compared to models trained only on quinary samples. Furthermore, samples that only share a few elements in common with the target composition can be used for model pre-training. We believe that such AL approaches can be widely adapted to significantly accelerate the exploration of compositionally complex materials.

Impact of In-doping and post-annealing on the properties of SnO2 thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering

SnO2 is a transparent semiconductor that has shown versatile applications in various fields. This study investigates the impact of In-incorporation and post-annealing on the structural, optical and electronical properties of SnO2 thin films deposited via RF magnetron sputtering. Three SnO2 target compositions were employed, with one unintentionally doped (UID), one with 1.0 at% In, and the other with 18.2 at% In. UV–vis spectroscopy reveals the presence of band tails in the as-deposited films, which can be significantly suppressed through annealing, particularly in air. Oxygen vacancy-related defect states below the conduction band minimum are believed to be responsible. Further, film thicknesses, refractive indices, and absorption coefficients were estimated from the UV–vis spectra of the films, employing the irritative Swanepoel method. The resistivities of SnO2:In films exhibit parabolic trends with respect to annealing temperature with minima values at 300 °C, while that of UID-SnO2 increases monotonically. P-type conductivity was found in the 300 °C-annealed SnO2:18.2 at% In films both in air and N2, with the N2-annealing leading to higher mobility (162.7 cm2·V−1·s−1) and lower resistivity (0.57 Ω·cm). The Fermi levels of the SnO2:In films are found to locate deep inside the bandgap, which is beneficial to form homojunctions with SnO2 of shallow Fermi levels.

Laser Deposition of Metal Halide Perovskites.

Vacuum-based or vapor-phase deposition is the most mature and widely used method for thin-film growth in the semiconductor industry. Yet, the vapor-phase growth of halide perovskites remains relatively underexplored compared to solution process deposition. The intrinsically largely distinct volatilities of organic and inorganic components in halide perovskites challenge the standard physical vapor deposition techniques. Thermal coevaporation tackles this with independent thermally controlled sources per precursor. Alternatively, pulsed laser deposition uses the energy of a laser to eject material from a target via thermal and nonthermal processes. This provides high versatility in the target composition, enabling the deposition of complex (including hybrid) thin films from a single-source target. This Perspective presents an overview of recent advances in laser-based deposition of halide perovskites, discusses advantages and challenges, and motivates the development of physical vapor deposition methods for hybrid materials, especially for applications requiring dry, conformal, and multilayer deposition.