Crystalline Morphology Research Articles

Reduced phonon coupling via controlled defect levels in blue emitting CsPbBr3 nanoplatelets

Metal-halide perovskites (MHPs) are promising materials for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) because of their high color purity, wide gamut, and low-cost processing. However, blue-emitting MHP LEDs exhibit low external quantum efficiencies because they are more susceptible to defect states with a larger energy bandgap compared to their green and red counterparts. Current strategies for achieving blue-emitting MHP LEDs involve compositional engineering; however, the ion migration of mixed halides imposes significant challenges related to abundant trap states. Therefore, in this study, we systematically investigated the effects of short organic and inorganic ligands with characteristic molecular structures and adjacent moieties on the optoelectronic characteristics of low-dimensional CsPbBr3 nanoplatelets (NPLs) used as blue emitters in PeLEDs. Inorganic ligand (i.e., hydrazine monohydrobromide; HZBr) treatment achieved the most significant photoluminescence enhancement (∼10 fold) while preserving crystalline morphology and colloidal stability. Temperature-dependent photophysical properties reveal that HZBr treatment eliminates band tail states arising from lower defect levels in highly confined CsPbBr3 NPLs. Therefore, it suppresses defect trapping and electron–phonon coupling, thereby reducing thermal quenching properties. The HZBr-treated NPLs were integrated into blue perovskite LEDs and demonstrated a narrow emission peak at 471 nm.

Synergic regulation of crystalline phase, composition and morphology of SAPO-34 via metal assistance and in situ etching strategy

SAPO-34 with low silica content and good mass transfer property is highly desired catalytic material for syngas-to-olefins and methanol-to-olefins (MTO) reactions. However, the synthesis of low-silica SAPO-34 by common low-cost template remains a challenge as the product is always bothered by impurity contamination or CHA/AEI intergrowth. Here, a metal assistance (Me = Zn, Mg, Co, Mn) and in situ etching strategy was developed to allow the construction of hollow low-silica SAPO-34, which exhibited long catalytic lifespan and ultra-high ethylene plus propylene selectivity (86.9 wt%) in MTO reaction. The crystallization process was studied by monitoring the evolution of a Zn-containing low-silica gel with triethylamine (TEA) as the template. It was revealed that Zn atoms were more active than Si atoms to participate in the nucleation of ZnAPSO-34, which effectively inhibited the CHA/AEI intergrowth. ZnAPSO-34@SAPO-34 was obtained with further crystallization. The selective etching of Zn-containing components occurred in subsequent cooling stage owing to inhomogeneous distribution of framework T atoms, leading to the hollow low-silica SAPO (Si/(Si + Al + P) ≈ 0.07 in mole) with pure CHA phase. This work provides a facile approach for the synergic regulation of crystal phase, composition and morphology of SAPO materials.

Polyurea/Aminopropyl Isobutyl Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane-Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelet Nanocomposites for Force Protection Applications.

Herein, the development of new nanocomposite systems is reported based on one-part polyurea (PU) and aminopropyl isobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (GNP-POSS) as compatible nanoreinforcements with the PU resin. GNP-POSS was effectively synthesized via a two-step synthesis protocol, including ultrasonication-assisted reaction and precipitation, and carefully characterized with respect to its chemical and crystalline structure, morphology, and thermal stability. FTIR and XPS spectroscopy analyses revealed that POSS interacts with the residual oxygen moieties of the GNPs through both covalent and noncovalent bonding. The X-ray diffraction pattern of GNP-POSS further revealed that the crystallinity of the GNPs was not altered after their functionalization with POSS. GNP-POSS was successfully incorporated in PU at contents of 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt % to yield PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films. An ATR-FTIR analysis of these films confirmed the presence of strong interfacial interactions between the urea groups of PU and the GNP-POSS functionalities. Moreover, the PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films exhibited enhanced thermal stability and mechanical properties compared to those of the neat PU film. The quasi-static tensile testing of the PU/GNP-POSS samples revealed remarkable enhancements in the tensile strength (from 7.9 for the neat PU to 25.1 MPa for PU/GNP-POSS) and Young's modulus (238-617 MPa), while elongation at break and toughness also showed 14 and 125% improvements, respectively. Finally, the effects of GNP-POSS content on the morphological, quasistatic tensile, and high-strain-rate dynamic behavior of the PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films were also investigated. Overall, the tests performed using a split-Hopkinson pressure bar setup revealed a large increase in the film strength (from 147.6 for the neat PU film to 199 MPa for the PU/GNP-POSS film) and a marginal increase in the energy density of the film (38.1-40.8 kJ/m3). These findings support the suitability of the PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films for force protection applications.

Hydrogen-assisted chemical vapor deposition for heteroepitaxial growth of pure ε-Ga2O3 films

This study presents a novel approach to control the crystalline phase and surface morphology of substable ε-Ga2O3 thin films by regulating the hydrogen flow rate during chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The objective is to achieve high-quality and cost-effective heteroepitaxial pure-phase single-crystalline ε-Ga2O3 thin films on sapphire substrates. The crystalline phases and crystalline qualities of the thin films were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show that the surface of the ε-Ga2O3 films prepared by this method is flat and the minimum value of the surface roughness (RMS) is 4.130 nm. We explain the reason for the differences in the surface morphology of the films from the point of view of hydrogen passivation. Measurements by UV–Visible spectrophotometer, the UV cut-off edge is located at 250 nm and the optical band gap is about 4.9 eV. The experimental results show that with the increase of hydrogen flow rate, the content of β-Ga2O3 in the films and the surface roughness and maximum height of the contour (RZ) decreases, until a smooth surface of the pure-phase ε-Ga2O3 film is produced. The success of the chemical vapor deposition method for heterogeneous epitaxy of high-quality ε-Ga2O3 films on sapphire substrates greatly reduces the production cost and expensive investment in production equipment, which makes its application in high electron mobility transistors, piezoelectric resonators, and sun-blind detectors have great potential, and at the same time, this method provides ideas for the preparation of other metastable materials.

A novel La2MnTiO6 perovskite for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride

One of the majority of environmental pollution is caused by organic substances resulting from anthropogenic and industrial activities, such as dyes, antibiotics, and similar substances. Due to these pollutants’ strong stability, they are difficult to decompose, and their breakdown can only occur slowly through chemical or biological processes. Photocatalysis is a potential method for environmental clean-up with a significant oxidation capacity and a rapid response rate. Among them, double perovskite is an emerging alternative to single perovskite, which has recently shown comparable or even better performance for degrading organic pollutants. The first report on the synthesis of La2MnTiO6 (LMTO) double perovskite for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) degradation was made in this work. By using XRD, FE-SEM, BET, and EDX analysis, the crystalline structure morphology, and elemental composition of the samples were identified. According to the calcination temperature, only at temperatures greater than 700 °C could the LMTO material be successfully formed. The photocatalytic performances of the prepared samples were evaluated by degrading TC under a UV LED lamp at 365 nm. The 800 °C calcined sample exhibited the highest TC degradation performance, reaching around 62% in 120 min. Besides, the LMTO might eliminate another medicine such as Ciprofloxacin (CIP). Overall, these results offer a potential strategy for employing LMTO photocatalysts to remove various antibiotics.

Synchrotron-source micro-x-ray computed tomography for examining butterfly eyes.

Comparative anatomy is an important tool for investigating evolutionary relationships among species, but the lack of scalable imaging tools and stains for rapidly mapping the microscale anatomies of related species poses a major impediment to using comparative anatomy approaches for identifying evolutionary adaptations. We describe a method using synchrotron source micro-x-ray computed tomography (syn-μXCT) combined with machine learning algorithms for high-throughput imaging of Lepidoptera (i.e., butterfly and moth) eyes. Our pipeline allows for imaging at rates of ~15 min/mm3 at 600 nm3 resolution. Image contrast is generated using standard electron microscopy labeling approaches (e.g., osmium tetroxide) that unbiasedly labels all cellular membranes in a species-independent manner thus removing any barrier to imaging any species of interest. To demonstrate the power of the method, we analyzed the 3D morphologies of butterfly crystalline cones, a part of the visual system associated with acuity and sensitivity and found significant variation within six butterfly individuals. Despite this variation, a classic measure of optimization, the ratio of interommatidial angle to resolving power of ommatidia, largely agrees with early work on eye geometry across species. We show that this method can successfully be used to determine compound eye organization and crystalline cone morphology. Our novel pipeline provides for fast, scalable visualization and analysis of eye anatomies that can be applied to any arthropod species, enabling new questions about evolutionary adaptations of compound eyes and beyond.

Adsorptive Removal of Methylene Blue Dye by Annealed Waste Foundry Sand

Under optimized experimental conditions, the efficient removal of methylene blue dye from annealed waste foundry sand as adsorbent was carried out. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and partical size analysis were used to confirm the crystalline structure, composition and morphology of the prepared sorbent. The sorbent achieved its highest adsorption capacity by interacting with an aqueous solution contaminated with methylene blue dye. A comparison was made between the sorbent and three annealed sands based on their dye removal efficiency adsorption data over time. By using Langmuir and pseudo second-order kinetic models to the sorption data, it is observed that both physical and chemical processes can influence the removal process. According to experimental data, annealed waste foundry sand (WFS-300) has a high adsorption efficiency and methylene blue adsorption follows.

Effects of the ZrO2 Crystalline Phase and Morphology on the Thermocatalytic Decomposition of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate.

Thermocatalytic decomposition is an efficient purification technology that is potentially applicable to degrading chemical warfare agents and industrial toxic gases. In particular, ZrO2 has attracted attention as a catalyst for the thermocatalytic decomposition of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), which is a simulant of the nerve gas sarin. However, the influence of the crystal phase and morphology on the catalytic performance of ZrO2 requires further exploration. In this study, monoclinic- and tetragonal-phase ZrO2 (m- and t-ZrO2, respectively) with nanoparticle, flower-like shape and hollow microsphere morphologies were prepared via hydrothermal and solvothermal methods, and their thermocatalytic decomposition of DMMP was systematically investigated. For a given morphology, m-ZrO2 performed better than t-ZrO2. For a given crystalline phase, the morphology of hollow microspheres resulted in the longest protection time. The exhaust gases generated by the thermocatalytic decomposition of DMMP mainly comprised H2, CO2, H2O and CH3OH, and the by-products were phosphorus oxide species. Thus, the deactivation of ZrO2 was attributed to the deposition of these phosphorous oxide species on the catalyst surface. These results are expected to help guide the development of catalysts for the safe disposal of chemical warfare agents.

Improved photocatalytic activities of TiO2/MoO3/Au nanocomposite prepared by hydrothermal method

The synthesis of TiO2/MoO3/Au nanocomposite has been carried out to study its photocatalysis activity. A hydrothermal technique was used to systematically incorporate titanium dioxide (TiO2), molybdenum trioxide (MoO3), and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to produce a synergistic nanostructured material. The analysis of prepared nanocomposite was performed using several characterization methods. UV-visible spectroscopy is used to examine the existence of materials and optical absorption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were among the methods used to study the crystalline phases and surface morphologies. Methylene blue organic pollutants were used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the resulting TiO2/MoO3/Au nanocomposites under visible light irradiation. The TiO2/MoO3/Au composite showed significant photocatalytic performance among the three composites.

CuO-ZnO nanocomposite for photocatalytic application

The rising levels of water pollution and climate change contribute to water shortages. These factors influence the loss of the environment’s biodiversity and threaten human health. Toxic dye pigments from industries are a significant source of pollution. In this article, we present the synthesis method, characteristics, and photocatalytic properties of the CuO-ZnO nanocomposite, which may affect the degree of decomposition of dyes found in water. The nanocomposite consisting of copper oxide nanowires with zinc oxide nanostructures (CuO-ZnO nanocomposite) was prepared by physical vapor deposition and thermal oxidation methods. The crystalline structure, surface topographies and morphologies, elemental composition, and optical properties of the obtained samples were studied with various techniques such as x-ray diffraction analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was measured by testing the degradation of methylene blue under visible irradiation. An increase in the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was observed compared to pure CuO and ZnO. The CuO-ZnO nanocomposite demonstrated a high dye degradation of about 94% during 120 min.

Impacts of metal oxide crystalline structure on the decomposition of solid propellants under combustion heating rates

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) has been the oxidizer of choice for composite solid propellants for decades and has been the object of decomposition studies for safety monitoring. Typically, studies perform differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) or thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to show how metal oxides (MO) commonly incorporated into propellants alter AP decomposition rates and completeness of reaction. Most past decomposition work studies temperatures below the crystal phase transition (240°C) from orthorhombic phase to cubic, which impose internal stresses within the lattice of AP particles. Phase change induces a partial decomposition, which does not follow a shrinking core behavior; instead, it develops a network of pores up to a few microns in size throughout. During low-temperature decomposition, particles lose approximately 30-40 % of their mass. Simultaneous DSC/TGA (STA) use low heating rates for combustion environments but offer information on MO's catalytic and electron transport modifications. This work demonstrates how the crystalline morphology MO additives mechanistically alter the combustion properties of composite propellants by identifying modes for promoting decomposition in AP and HTPB. MO morphology determines the electron structure of the molecule, which sets the band gap properties of the particles. This study evaluated different morphologies and a range of MOs to identify the most active MO for decomposing A.P. Kissinger analysis was applied using STA data at heating rates of 10-, 20-, and 30-°C/min revealing significant shift in the high-temperature decomposition with a range of metal oxides. Higher heating rates were evaluated using CO2 laser ignition to identify the time to first gas using the MO that offers the best heat absorption, such as the aluminum oxides. This higher heating rate was found do more accurately represent the changes in the combustion rates in the final propellant mixture. Additionally, it was shown that electron transport additives like CuO show the most significant impact on combustion, and thermal absorbers offer the lowest impact on AP/HTPB combustion. This understanding offers a new approach to propellant design not previously presented and suggests future testing for tailoring the use of metal oxides in propellants.

Investigating the use of Er3+ doped β-Ca2SiO4 phosphors derived from agricultural waste for thermal sensing and forensic applications

Leveraging agricultural waste, Erbium (Er3+) doped β-Ca2SiO4 phosphors (β-CS:Er3+) with concentrations ranging from 1 to 9 mol % were developed using the solid-state reaction method. These β-CS:Er3+ samples underwent extensive characterization to examine their crystalline structure, surface morphology, photoluminescence (PL) properties, and thermal sensing capabilities. The PL emission, excited at 378 nm, prominently displayed a peak at 549 nm, indicative of the green emission primarily due to the 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 transition. An optimal concentration of Er3+ at 5 mol% (β-CS:5Er3+) is identified, showing peak luminescence intensity, whereas, higher concentrations led to a decrease in intensity because of concentration quenching (CQ) effects. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (TDPL) analysis revealed an increase in emission intensity at 523 nm, while the peak at 549 nm exhibited a decrease in intensity within the temperature range of 303–463 K. Nevertheless, the emission peak at 549 nm demonstrates remarkable thermal stability at elevated temperatures, maintaining 79.32% of its emission intensity at 423 K. The optimized β-CS:5Er3+ phosphor exhibited its chromaticity coordinates (0.3152, 0.6631) in the green region under 378 nm excitation, alongside promising temperature sensing capabilities with a relative sensitivity of 2.80 % K−1. The application of these phosphors in a powder dusting technique for revealing latent fingerprints (LFPs) and latent lip prints (LLPs) under 365 nm UV light uncovered detailed ridge and groove patterns on various substrates. This approach, highlighting the phosphor's exceptional fluorescence, dual adherence, and non-interfering background, showcased its potential for enhanced forensic analysis. The thorough examination of LFPs and LPs under various conditions, including aging, heat, and UV exposure, confirms the β-CS:Er3+ NPs' suitability for cutting-edge display technologies and forensic methodologies.

De Novo Design and Facile Synthesis of Highly Crystalline 2D Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks: A "Rotor-Stator" Strategy.

Two-dimensional conductive metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs), which feature high electrical conductivity and large charge carrier mobility, hold great promise in electronics and optoelectronics. Nevertheless, the limited solubility of commonly used planar ligands inevitably brings challenges in synthesis and purification and causes laborious coordination conditions for screening. Moreover, most reported 2D c-MOFs are polycrystalline powders with relatively low crystallinity and irregular morphology, hindering the unveiling of the detailed structure-function relationship. Herein, we developed a "rotor-stator" molecular design strategy to construct 2D c-MOFs using a delicately designed nonplanar biscarbazole ligand (8OH-DCB). Benefiting from the special "rotor-stator" structure of the ligand, crystals of Cu-DCB-MOF were successfully prepared, allowing for the precise determination of their crystal structure. Interestingly, the crystals of Cu-DCB-MOF can be obtained in various organic solvents, indicating excellent solvent compatibility. The versatility of the "rotor-stator" molecular design strategy was further demonstrated by another two new ligands with a "rotor-stator" structure, and afford corresponding 2D c-MOF crystals (Cu-DCBT-MOF and Cu-DCBBT-MOF). The current work presents a facile approach toward the rational design and direct construction of highly crystalline 2D c-MOFs using nonplanar ligands.

Synthesis of MFe2O4 (M=Ni, Co) Nanoparticles by a Bicontinuous Microemulsion Method for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

AbstractDeveloping efficient and low‐cost electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production through water splitting. In this study, CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles as electrocatalysts were prepared via an inexpensive method involving the use of bicontinuous microemulsions as nanoreactors. The crystalline structure, morphology, and elemental composition of the electrocatalysts were characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, TEM, and EDS elemental mapping. The electronic structure and textural properties were examined using XPS and the nitrogen adsorption‐desorption method. The OER measurements were carried out in a standard three‐electrode system. CoFe2O4 demonstrated relatively higher OER catalytic activity than NiFe2O4 in 1 M KOH solution, with a smaller overpotential of 410 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a smaller Tafel slope of 80 mV dec−1. In contrast, NiFe2O4 offered a higher overpotential of 450 mV to reach the same current density. The superior performance of CoFe2O4 is ascribed to higher ECSA, better conductivity, and lower charge transfer resistance. However, both electrocatalysts showed stability up to more than three hours of continuous performance.

Low detection based on Pd Pt /In2O3 nanospheres for rapid hydrogen detection

Semiconductor gas sensors still have limitations in realizing rapid hydrogen measurement in lower hydrogen concentration environments. Therefore, in this paper, In2O3 cloud-like spherical hydrogen detection sensing materials with different Pd and Pt ratio loading were successfully prepared using the water bath method. The In2O3 sensing materials modified with noble metals Pd and Pt were designed for the rapid detection of hydrogen at 400 ppb with good selectivity under mixed gas components. The crystalline phase, morphology, and chemical composition of the prepared Pd and Pt-loaded In2O3 samples were analyzed using characterization techniques. The gas-sensing results showed that the In2O3 gas-sensing sensor with a Pd and Pt ratio loading of 1–2 had stronger H2 sensing performance at the optimum operating temperature (350°C). The response time and recovery time of In2O3 loaded with the opinion ratio at 350℃ and 400 ppb were 1 s and 15 s. The low detection limit was 400 ppb, with good repeatability and long-term stability. Finally, the enhanced gas sensitization mechanism of the In2O3 gas sensor loaded with Pd and Pt for H2 was discussed.

Epitaxial Growth of Two-Dimensional MWW Zeolite.

Two-dimensional (2D) zeolite, with a high aspect ratio, has more open skeletons and accessible active sites than its three-dimensional (3D) counterpart. However, traditional methods of obtaining 2D zeolites often cause structural damage and widespread skeleton defects, hindering efficient selectivity in molecular separation. In this study, we present, for the first time, a direct epitaxial synthesis of 2D zeolite (Epi-MWW) guided by hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with a coincidence matching of site lattices to MWW zeolite. The as-grown Epi-MWW zeolite possesses a high crystallinity and intact hexagonal 2D morphology, with an average thickness of 10 nm and an aspect ratio of over 50. Thanks to its excellent molecular accessibility, the diffusion time constants of o-xylene (OX) and p-xylene (PX) are as 12 and 133 times higher than those of conventional MCM-22, respectively; the PX/OX selectivity of Epi-MWW is 7.4 times better than MCM-22 as calculated by the ideal adsorbed solution theory.

Green route to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles using Moringa oleifera leaf extracts and their structural, optical and impedance spectral properties

This article investigates biosynthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Moringa oleifera leaves extract using an eco-friendly preparation method. The crystalline structure, optical properties, morphology and impedance characteristics of ZnO NPs were analyzed using impedance spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis). The powder XRD pattern confirmed the crystallinity of the prepared samples as well as enabled determining their crystallite size and pure phase portion. The FTIR study confirmed the presence of functional groups responsible for reduction metal ions into ZnO NPs. UV-vis absorption spectra contained the absorption peak corresponding to ZnO NPs. Impedance spectroscopy of the prepared ZnO NPs revealed the grain boundaries in them and confirmed their semiconducting nature.

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial study of silver nanoparticles using methanolic fraction of Artemisia vulgaris leaf

Rational selection of active biomolecules in the synthesis of nanoparticles for reducing the precursor and functionalizing the nanoparticles (NPs) can offer remarkable comeback of biocompatibility and biological applicability. This work aimed at the synthesis of a cost-effective, ecofriendly, and a facile approach of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using methanolic leaf extract of Artemisia vulgaris. The phytochemical constituents present in the methanolic extract were characterized by qualitative chemical tests and spectroscopic measurements and employed for the reduction of silver nitrate into silver nanoparticles. Formation of AgNPs was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopic measurement. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy reflected the presence of characteristic functional groups associated with the phytochemical constituents involved in the formation of nanoparticles. The crystalline phase and morphology of the NPs were assessed form X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. XRD pattern revealed the crystalline nature of nanoparticles with grain size of ∼ 28 nm based on the Debye Scherer formula. Study of antimicrobial activity of AgNPs against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtili, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and fungus Candida albicans exhibited good potential to control the bacterial and fungal growth.

Comparative study of chemical oxidation, nanopulsed plasma and calcination on the properties of carbon black

Ketjenblack EC-300J conductive carbon black (KJB) possesses a very intriguing structure providing a very high surface area, porosity and a continuous network of particles for electronic conduction. However, poor dispersion or lack of functionalities urge the need to oxidize and thus functionalize KJB. The current work is a comparative investigation of the effect of several treatments on the oxidation and properties of KJB. More specifically, chemical oxidation with nitric acid, atmospheric pressure nanopulsed-DBD cold plasma and calcination with O2 at 550 °C were studied, while the variations of the different KJB properties with treatment time were reported. The introduction of oxygen bearing moieties was confirmed and quantified. The surface chemistry is thoroughly discussed and compared between the treatment methods. Changes on surface area and pore structure were evaluated by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, while also crystalline structure and morphology were carefully investigated. Depending on the application, different modifications, chemistry or physicochemical properties are envisaged. In this context, the work herein is a benchmark on the usefulness of each process in view of the application.

Structure-Property Relationships in PVDF/SrTiO3/CNT Nanocomposites for Optoelectronic and Solar Cell Applications.

The optical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer nanocomposite films incorporating SrTiO3/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nanofillers are investigated. PVDF/SrTiO3/CNTs films were prepared by the solution casting technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses confirmed the incorporation of SrTiO3/CNTs into the PVDF matrix. The addition of nanofillers influenced the crystalline structure, morphology, and optical properties of the films. SEM images showed spherulite morphology, which is a spherical aggregate of crystalline polymer chains. The addition of a SrTiO3/CNTs nanofiller modified the polymer's electronic structure, causing a variation in the energy gap. The addition of SrTiO3/CNTs at 0.1 wt% increased the band gap, refractive index, and nonlinear optical properties of the PVDF films. These improvements indicate the potential of these nanocomposite films in optoelectronic applications such as solar cells, image sensors, and organic light-emitting diodes.