Conductive Glass Research Articles

Biofunctional photoelectrochemical/electrochemical immunosensor based on BiVO4/BiOI-MWCNTs and Au@PdPt for alpha-fetoprotein detection

A biofunctional immunosensor combining photoelectrochemical (PEC) and electrochemical (EC) was proposed for the quantitative detection of the liver cancer marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in human blood. BiVO4/BiOI-MWCNTs photoactive materials were first prepared on conductive glass FTO, and the photoelectrode was functionalized by chitosan and glutaraldehyde. Then, the AFP capture antibody (Ab1) was successfully modified on the photoelectrode, and the label-free rapid detection of AFP antigen was achieved by PEC. In addition, Au@PdPt nanospheres were also used as a marker for binding to AFP detection antibody (Ab2). Due to the excellent catalytic properties of Au@PdPt in EC reaction, a signal increase in the EC response can be achieved when Ab2 binds to the AFP antigen, which ensures high sensitivity for the detection of AFP. The detection limits of PEC and EC are 0.050 pg/mL and 0.014 pg/mL, respectively. The sensor also possesses good specificity, stability and reproducibility, shows excellent performance in the detection of clinical samples and has good clinical applicability.

TiO2/ZnO-based composite thin films coated on FTO surface by screen printing method: increasing dye-sensitized solar cell performance

This study examined the impact of hydrothermally synthesized TiO2:ZnO composite-based nanopowders on the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Pure TiO2, 3TiO2:1ZnO, 1TiO2:1ZnO, 1TiO2:3ZnO, and pure ZnO thin films were coated on the conductive glass surface by the screen printing method. XRD and SEM were used to examine the thin film’s surface photographs and crystal structure, respectively. XRD analyses confirmed the formation of targeted crystal phases in the structure. It was understood from SEM studies that the TiO2:ZnO composite structure was formed successfully. I-V characterization results showed that the cell combined with the composite 3TiO2:1ZnO electrode had the highest power conversion efficiency (9.9%). In addition, it was determined from EIS analysis that interfacial charge transfer occurred more efficiently in cells with high TiO2 ratio.

Photoelectrochemical conversion for ion-selective electrodes based on CdS semiconductor film

BackgroundThis study presents a novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion method for ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) based on CdS semiconductor film. The motivation stems from the need to enhance the sensitivity and precision of ISEs for various analytical applications. ResultsWe synthesized CdS film on FTO conductive glass via a hydrothermal method and utilized this electrode as the working electrode. Under visible light irradiation, CdS generated photocurrent that is proportional to its applied voltage within a large potential window of ∼0.80 V. Ascorbic acid (AA) effectively inhibited electron-hole complexation, enhancing photocurrent stability. Potential modulation from ISEs acting as the reference electrode further regulated photocurrent generation, demonstrating excellent sensitivity and linearity for a wide range of ion concentrations. The method was validated by detecting serum calcium levels, showing agreement with traditional ISEs potentiometry and ICP-OES methods. SignificanceThis photoelectrochemical conversion strategy offers a promising approach for sensitive and accurate ion detection, with potential applications in clinical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.

Layered magnesium vanadate film electrodes as high-performance cathode materials for thin-film non-aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Thin-film non-aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are recognized as an alternative energy storage technology with large-scale application prospects. The use of organic electrolytes with a wide window of electrochemical stability to construct non-aqueous ZIBs results in high operating voltage and energy density. In this paper, magnesium vanadate (Mg0.01V2O5) films were in situ grown and annealed on indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass using low-temperature liquid-phase deposition, and directly assembled into thin-film ZIBs. The battery achieved a stable capacity of 137.5 mA h m−2 after 80 cycles at 167 mA m−2. In addition, it exhibited an initial capacity of 104.1 mA h m−2 at 250 mA m−2 and a capacity retention of 75.6 % after 200 cycles. Good rate performance feedback was also obtained. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the electrochemical reaction process of the Mg0.01V2O5 film electrode was analyzed and the insertion/extraction mechanism of Zn2+ was investigated. Due to the instability of the V2O5 structure, the pre-inserted layer of Mg2+ plays a role as a pillar between layers during preparation, supporting the vanadium–oxygen layer and improving structural stability and battery life. At the same time, thin-film ZIB directly composed of film, diaphragm, electrolyte and zinc sheet has good diffusion dynamics, simplicity and size controllability, making it more suitable for commercial applications. Therefore, the thin-film non-aqueous ZIBs in this work may provide new ideas for mobile novel micro power sources.

An aptasensor for chloramphenicol determination based on dual signal output of photoelectrochemistry and colorimetry

In the present work, we developed an aptasensor to determine chloramphenicol (CAP) based on the dual signal output of photoelectrochemistry (PEC) and colorimetry. The Fe3+-doped porous tungsten trioxide was prepared by sol-gel method and coated on the ITO conductive glass to form ITO/p-W(Fe)O3. After assembling the captured DNA (cDNA) and the aptamer of CAP (apt) successively, the constructed ITO/p-W(Fe)O3-cDNA/apt aptasensor exhibited excellent photocurrent response under visible light irradiation in the presence of glucose, which provided the feasibility for PEC measurement with high sensitivity. In the presence of CAP, the apt left the ITO/p-W(Fe)O3 surface and AuNPs linked on the probe DNA would be assembled on it, which led to the decrease of photocurrent. Thanks to the oxidase-mimic catalytic performance of AuNPs and the recycling catalytic hydrolysis by exonuclease I, the measurement signal of the aptasensor could be amplified significantly, and the photocurrent decrease of the aptasensor was linearly related to the concentration of CAP in the range of 1.0 pM–10.0 nM and low detection limit was 0.36 pM. Meanwhile, the H2O2 produced from catalytic oxidation of glucose could oxidize TMB to blue oxTMB under HRP catalysis, which absorbance at 652 nm was linearly related to the concentration of CAP in the range of 5.0 pM–10.0 nM and low detection limit was 1.72 pM. Therefore, an aptasensor that determine CAP in real samples was successfully constructed with good precision of the relative standard deviation less than 5.7 % for PEC method and 7.3 % for colorimetric method, which can meet the analysis needs in different scenarios.

Simulation and experimental study on microgrinding mechanism and machining morphology of ITO conductive glass

Simulation and experimental study on microgrinding mechanism and machining morphology of ITO conductive glass

Experimental investigations into the effect of process parameters on the machining quality for ITO conductive glass by using microgroove grinding

Experimental investigations into the effect of process parameters on the machining quality for ITO conductive glass by using microgroove grinding

Study of the Optical and Structural Properties of Metal-Doped Titanium Dioxide Electrode Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

This study presents a strategy to increase the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by doping titanium dioxide (TiO2) with different magnesium (Mn) concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9%) generated by the sol-gel process and effectively employed as a photo-anode (the working electrode) for DSSCs. The Doctor Blade method coated the indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) glass with a thin film layer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to evaluate the characteristics of undoped and manganese-doped TiO2, and the results demonstrate that all of the thin films are anatase. The samples were examined using XRD to assess grain size before and after Mn doping. The spectrum of UV-Vis absorption changes; accordingly, as doping increases, the energy gap decreases. The smallest energy gap's value (2.4 eV) is 7% manganese doping. AFM pictures show the average roughness and root mean square of the weight percentage of films doped with 5%. Field effect scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) studies show that the particle size of thin films gets smaller as more Mn is added, which happens at least as much as 7% Mn doping. The optimal thickness for TiO2 paste over conductive glass is 15 μm, and the cell's power conversion efficiency increased to 0.604074% with an Imax of 4.965 mA, a Vmax of 0.488 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 68.45954%.

Theoretical Study and Analysis of CsSnX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) All-Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells with Different X-Site Elements.

In this research, SCAPS-1D simulation software (Version: 3.3.10) was employed to enhance the efficiency of CsSnX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. By fine-tuning essential parameters like the work function of the conductive glass, the back contact point, defect density, and the thickness of the light absorption layer, we effectively simulated the optimal performance of CsSnX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) all-inorganic perovskite solar cells under identical conditions. The effects of different X-site elements on the overall performance of the device were also explored. The theoretical photoelectric conversion efficiency of the device gradually increases with the successive substitution of halogen elements (Cl, Br, I), reaching 6.09%, 17.02%, and 26.74%, respectively. This trend is primarily attributed to the increasing size of the halogen atoms, which leads to better light absorption and charge transport properties, with iodine (I) yielding the highest theoretical conversion efficiency. These findings suggest that optimizing the halogen element in CsSnX3 can significantly enhance device performance, providing valuable theoretical guidance for the development of high-efficiency all-inorganic perovskite solar cells.

Evaluation of in-plane architecture in a thermo-electrochemical cell with nanostructured and porous Sb:SnO2 electrodes

Thermo-electrochemical cells (TECs) are able to convert heat into electricity. They are formed by two electrodes (typically Pt) separated by a redox electrolyte (usually 0.4 M aqueous ferro/ferricyanide). The widely adopted architecture of TECs consists of the two electrodes separated by an electrolyte channel. To our knowledge, no studies have been reported exploring a different architecture. Here, we evaluate an alternative configuration, which comprises a substrate with the two electrodes at its ends and with the electrolyte added on the top contacting both electrodes, forming a planar configuration. We explore first the use of the standard Pt electrodes deposited on top of a conductive glass substrate. Then, we replace the Pt by nanostructured and porous Sb-doped SnO2. The planar configurations are compared with their corresponding typical architectures using the common ferro/ferricyanide electrolyte. It was found that the planar TEC with Sb:SnO2 reached a temperature coefficient of 1.76 mV/K, higher than the value obtained in the standard configuration with Sb:SnO2 (1.21 mV/K), and also higher than the planar architecture with Pt electrodes, which showed the typical value for the ferro/ferricyanide electrolyte (1.45 mV/K). As a consequence of this significantly larger value, a 29.7 % higher maximum power output than the planar TEC with Pt was observed. Our study identifies for the first time interesting new features when a planar architecture is employed, opening the door to explore in more detail this alternative configuration in TECs.

Structure and material designs of stretchable electrochromic devices

AbstractElectrochromic materials are a significant class of optoelectronic functional materials that can change colour by adjusting the voltage periodically. In recent years, there has been rapid development in electrochromic technology. However, current research predominantly focuses on traditional rigid electrochromic devices (ECDs), typically using conductive glass substrates such as indium tin oxide. These rigid colour‐changing devices face significant challenges, including large thickness, low mechanical strength, and high cost, which hinder the advancement and commercialisation of electrochromic technology. With the rise of wearable devices and electronic skins, among other future technologies, flexible ECDs have garnered much attention due to their foldability, wearability, and even embeddability. They have emerged as a research hotspot in the field of electrochromism. As a further development direction of flexible ECDs, achieving stretchability poses higher difficulties as it requires maintaining high performance under large strains and even distortions. This article provides an overview of the latest advances in stretchable electrochromic devices (SECDs) from the perspectives of structural and material design. Regarding structural design, the ‘island‐bridge’ structure, the ‘longitudinal wave’ structure, and core‐shell structures are discussed. In terms of material design, the design schemes of substrate, conductive layer, electrochromic layer and electrolyte layer are mainly introduced, with particular emphasis on the introduction of gel electrolyte. Finally, the challenges and difficulties faced by the development of SECDs are briefly analysed.

Surface strategy design concerning entrapment of chalcogenide onto ETFE substrate and extension to the assembly of memristor

Consideration of semi-conductor quantum dots as the suitable band-gap materials has been an effective way to replace the traditional emissive species such as phosphors, lanthanide edifices or organic building blocks. However, very few reports have been performed for the employment of such chalcogenide dots in brain-excitation devices such as memristors. In this work, the colloidal synthesis for the preparation of AgInS2 quantum dots as well as its optical characteristic has been recorded. Further exploration has been focused on the improvement of resistance switching behavior and a layer of manganese dioxide has been covered onto ITO conductive glass by electrochemical deposition. Following step concerns the incorporation of AgInS2 and the toluene solution of PMMA and the PMMA@AgInS2@MnO2 hybrid layer with optimized uniformity and stability has been afforded. Moreover, such functional device has been used to simulate biological synaptic behavior, which will provide an innovative and efficient route for the development of artificial synaptic functions.

Effect of substrate and oxygen-argon ratio on photocatalytic CO2 reduction in ITO films prepared by magnetron sputtering

The internal electron transport capacity of the semiconductor directly affects whether there is a sufficient number of photogenerated electrons involved in the catalytic reaction process, thus determining the photocatalytic efficiency. Indium tin oxide (ITO), as an excellent conductive material, has convenient internal electron transport and can be used as a good photocatalyst directly. In this paper, ITO films on three different conductive substrates were prepared by DC sputtering method, and the crystallization and appearance of each sample were compared. Different substrates affect the energy band position of catalyst. The performance of photocatalytic CO2 reduction was tested. We found that ITO films grown on carbon cloth (CC) substrate have good photocatalytic properties. The atmosphere ratio in the preparation process also has a certain influence on the performance of the sample. Compared with ITO conductive glass widely used in the market, our improved ITO film has better photocatalytic properties and practicability. This work provides a certain reference for the application of ITO in the field of photocatalysis.

Structure and electrochromic properties of polypyrrole films synthesized by AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under different amplitude

Alternating current (AC) electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed to synthesize polypyrrole (PPy) electrochromic films on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) transparent conductive glasses. When depositing the PPy films, a fixed initial voltage was 700 mV and AC of different amplitudes was applied. The influence of AC voltage amplitude on the structure and electrochromic performance of PPy films was investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation reveals that the PPy films prepared under AC are composed of uniform-distributed nanospheres when the AC amplitude is below 400 mV, which is different from the submicron structure displayed by PPy films prepared under direct current (DC). This kind of nanospherical structure is helpful to ion transport, resulting in improved electrochromic properties of the PPy films prepared under AC compared with the PPy film prepared under DC. In particular, the PPy film prepared under 100 mV amplitude AC shows ideal electrochromic properties, with an ion diffusion coefficient of 8.13 × 10−10 cm2·s−1, a coloring efficiency of 137.4 cm2·C−1, quick coloration and bleaching switching times of 5.0 s and 6.5 s, respectively, and retains 65.7% of its optical modulation after 100 cycles.

Optical and structural properties of CZTS thin films produced by electrodeposition

Copper-zinc-tin sulfide (Cu2ZnSnS4 or CZTS), a quaternary compound, behaves as an intrinsic p-type semiconductor, making it an attractive, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative as an absorber layer in photovoltaic cells. In this study, we deposited CZTS onto ITO conductive glass substrates using a single-step co-electrodeposition technique known as Cu-Zn-Sn-S (Co-Ed). The deposition process occurred at room temperature in an aqueous citrate electrolyte bath containing copper (II), zinc (II), tin (II), and sulfur. The deposition process was assisted by cyclic voltammetry to study the influence of cycle numbers, in particular 5, 10 and 15, on the structural and optical characteristics of sulfidation-free films. Scans were carried out at a rate of 20 mV/s in the potential range from −1.6 to 0 eV. CZTS thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis). The XRD results indicate the formation of CZTS kesterite, as evidenced by characteristic peaks. Likewise, optical analysis reveals an optical gap energy closely aligned with the optimum gap for the CZTS absorber layer (1.5 eV), making it suitable for photovoltaic applications.

Sol-gel immobilization of lipase enzyme on FTO modified with silica-zirconia and gold nanoparticles films for design of triglyceride impedimetric biosensor

A novel electrochemical sensing platform was created using the formation of a sequence of films, over a conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide glass (FTO), obtained using the sol-gel method and the dip coating technique. Firstly, thin films of silica-zirconia mixed oxides were deposited, in sequence an ionic silsesquioxane film stabilizing and controlling the size of gold nanoparticles (6.5 ± 2.4 nm) was settled, and after the lipase enzyme, obtained from Candida rugosa, was entrapped into a silica film maintaining its operational stability. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDX, UV–Vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thickness of each film on the FTO glass was evaluated by optical profilometry. The presence of the enzyme on the platform was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry with the ρ-nitrophenyl palmitate method. This platform was applied successfully as a biosensor for tributyrin (TB) determination by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy EIS, showing low limit of detection (LD) of 1.86 μmol L−1 and high sensitivity of 5.37 μΩ μmol−1 L. The biosensor presented a low KMapp value of 22.69 μmol L− 1 and the Vmaxapp value of 85.57 μmol L−1 min−1 suggesting that the enzyme, immobilized with this method retained activity promoting a fast enzymatic reaction with the TB.

Iodide-based glass with combination of high transparency and conductivity: A novel promising candidate for transparent microwave absorption and radar stealth

The rapid development of the electronics industry has sparked widespread interest in transparent microwave-absorbing materials. Herein, iodide-based transparent conductive glass was used as a candidate material for transparent microwave absorption. AgI-AgPO3-WO3 glasses with varying AgI content were synthesized employing a quench-melting method. Their structures, optical and electrical properties, microwave absorption performance, and radar cross section (RCS) reduction were thoroughly investigated. The 45AgI-45AgPO3-10WO3 sample exhibited satisfactory microwave absorption, achieving a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of − 47.18 dB, effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 1.97 GHz, and RCS reduction of 31.46 dB m2 in the X band. This was attributed to the synergistic effects of dielectric and magnetic losses, and impedance matching and electromagnetic attenuation. It also manifested acceptable performance in the Ku band (RLmin = − 14.58 dB, EAB = 1.38 GHz, and RCS reduction = 13.37 dB m2), which was primarily attributed to dielectric loss and electromagnetic attenuation. The conductive glass exhibited an optical transmittance of ∼80 % in the range of 500–2000 nm. In summary, this study highlights the potential use of transparent conductive glasses as transparent microwave-absorbing media for electromagnetic interference shielding applications in optical windows and domes, and stealth applications in high-performance optical cameras and optical detection device systems.

Influence of different temperatures and pH on structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of Cu2O thin films by electrodeposition in acidic media

The present work describes the effect of deposition temperatures and pH values on structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin films deposited on the conductive SnO2 glass substrates by using electrodeposition technique in an acidic system. The chronoamperometry curve of the solution was tested on an electrochemical workstation. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the deposited films have better crystallinity which is deposited at the deposition temperature of 50 °C and pH value of 5–6. Scanning electron microscopy displays that surface morphology of the deposited films varied greatly with the deposition temperature and pH value rising. The results of quantitative study of the target product films by Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) show that they are all in line with the element content ratio of Cu2O. By measuring the resistivity and conductivity of the deposited films, it was found to be in the semiconductor range.

RGO doped MOFs derived α-Fe2O3 nanomaterials for self-supporting ppb-level NO2 gas sensor

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) with hierarchical and hollow porous structures can reduce detection limits and improve response of gas sensor. Hence, we synthesized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) doped nano-octahedral α-Fe2O3 nanomaterials on Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO) conductive glass as self-supporting NO2 gas sensors by using the solvothermal and calcination methods with MIL-88 as sacrificial templates. Compared to pure α-Fe2O3, the response of rGO/α-Fe2O3-3 sensor improved by more than 8 times and the theoretical detection limit 101 ppb. The improvement in gas response can be attributed to the formation of p-n heterostructure between rGO and α-Fe2O3, as well as the rGO providing more active sites for gas adsorption and special nano-octahedral α-Fe2O3. Consequently, this research provides insights for advancing self-supporting high-performance NO2 sensors based on MOFs derived MOSs.

A photoelectrochemical aptasensor for omethoate determination based on a photocatalysis of CeO2@MnO2 heterojunction for glucose oxidation

In the present work, we developed a photoelectrochemical aptasensor to determine omethoate (OMT) based on the dual signal amplification of CeO2@MnO2 photocatalysis for glucose oxidation and exonuclease I-assisted cyclic catalytic hydrolysis. CeO2@MnO2 heterojunction material prepared by hydrothermal method was linked with captured DNA (cDNA) and then assembled on the ITO conductive glass to form ITO/CeO2@MnO2-cDNA, which exhibited significant photocurrent response and good photocatalytic performance for glucose oxidation under visible light irradiation, providing the feasibility for sensitive determining OMT. After binding with the aptamer of OMT (apt), the formation of rigid double stranded cDNA/apt kept CeO2@MnO2 away from ITO surface, which ensured a low photocurrent background for the constructed ITO/CeO2@MnO2-cDNA/apt aptasensor. In the presence of target OMT, the restoration of the cDNA hairpin structure and the exonuclease I-assisted cyclic catalytic hydrolysis led to the generation and amplification of measurement photocurrent signals, and allowed the aptasensor to have an ideal quantitative range of 0.01–10.0 nM and low detection limit of 0.0027 nM. Moreover, the aptasensor has been applied for selective determination of OMT in real samples with good precision of the relative standard deviation less than 6.2 % and good accuracy of the recoveries from 93 % to 108 %. What's more, the aptasensor can be used for other target determination only by replacing the captured DNA and corresponding aptamer.