Diffuse Reflectance Measurements Research Articles

Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Electronic Structures of Quaternary Group IV-Selenide Semiconductors.

Early transition-metal chalcogenides have garnered recent attention for their optoelectronic properties for solar energy conversion. Herein, the first Zr-/Hf-chalcogenides with a main group cation, Ba9Hf3Sn2Se19 (1) and Ba8Zr2SnSe13(Se2) (2), have been synthesized. The structure of 1 is formed from isolated SnSe44- tetrahedra and distorted HfSe6 octahedra. The latter condense via face-sharing trimeric motifs that are further vertex-bridged into chains of 1∞[Hf(1)2Hf(2)Se11]10-. The structure of 2 is comprised of SnSe44- tetrahedra, Se22- dimers, and face-sharing dimers of distorted ZrSe6 octahedra. These represent the first reported examples of Hf-/Zr-chalcogenides exhibiting face-sharing octahedra with relatively short Hf-Hf and Zr-Zr distances. Their preparation in high purity is inhibited by their low thermodynamic stability, with calculations showing small calculated ΔUdec values of +7 and +9 meV atom-1 for 1 and 2, respectively. Diffuse reflectance measurements confirm the semiconducting nature of 1 with an indirect band gap of ∼1.4(1) eV. Electronic structure calculations show that the band gap absorptions arise from transitions between predominantly Se-4p valence bands and mixed Hf-5d/Sn-5p or Zr-4d/Sn-5p conduction bands. Optical absorption coefficients were calculated to be more than ∼105 cm-1 at greater than 1.8 eV. Thus, promising optical properties are demonstrated for solar energy conversion within these synthetically challenging chemical systems.

The Effect of an Er:YAG Laser Combined with a 755 nm Picosecond Laser on Tattoo Removal in a Rat Model

Laser tattoo removal is an effective technique, but multiple rounds of treatment are required to eliminate tattoos, which can be a challenge for patients who do not have the time. Additionally, there is relatively limited research on the mechanisms of laser tattoo removal, necessitating further in-depth studies. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of an Er:YAG laser combined with a 755-picosecond laser for tattoo removal and the changes in skin diffuse reflection, pigment particle size, macrophage recruitment, and inflammatory factor levels during combined laser treatment. Our experiments used three sets of lasers—an Er:YAG laser, a 755 nm picosecond laser, and an Er:YAG laser combined with a 755 nm picosecond laser—for tattoo removal. The effects of tattoo removal at different time points were evaluated. Moreover, the mechanisms were explored using HE staining, immunohistochemistry, diffuse reflectance measurements, in vitro gel tests, mass spectrometry, and ELISA experiments. The combined treatment was more effective for tattoo removal in rats. The combined laser treatment effectively reduced diffuse reflection from the skin, thereby increasing the effective laser power, reducing the size of the pigment particles, allowing for easier removal of the pigment, and increasing the recruitment of dermal macrophages and the release of inflammatory factors, thus increasing the rate of tattoo removal in vivo.

Advancing energy storage and supercapacitor applications through the development of Li+-doped MgTiO3 perovskite nano-ceramics.

Perovskite oxide materials, specifically MgTiO3 (MT) and Li-doped MgTiO3 (MTxLi), were synthesized via a sol-gel method and calcination at 800°C. This study explores the impact of varying Li doping levels (x = 0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1) on the crystalline structure and properties of MgTiO3. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a well-defined rhombohedral MgTiO3 phase. Optical diffuse reflectance measurements provided insights into energy gap values, refractive index, and dielectric constant. Li+ doping enhanced the electrical properties of MgTiO3, with a notable phase transition observed at 50°C. The study investigated impedance and AC conductivity under varying temperature and frequency conditions (25-120°C, 4 Hz to 8 MHz). Electrochemical analysis through cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed highly electrocatalytic properties for MTxLi, particularly when modified onto screen-printed electrodes. This work not only advances the understanding of Li-doped MgTiO3 nanostructures but also highlights their significant potential for direct electrochemical applications, particularly in the realm of energy storage.

Study the effect of nano NiCo2O4 doping on the optical and dielectric properties of PMMA/PEO/MWCNTs

In this study, NiCo2O4 nanoparticles were prepared using a hydrothermal process and examined by x-ray diffraction. After that, using the casting technique, blends of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were loaded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and different amounts (x) of NiCo2O4 nanoparticles. The obtained blends were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Utilizing diffuse reflectance measurements, various optical parameters, including energy gap, refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical dielectric constant, optical conductivity, and nonlinear optical parameters, were investigated. Following incorporation of MWCNTs/NiCo2O4 in the blend, the transmittance of the PMMA/PEO blend (90 %) displayed a drop reaching 21 %, the reflectivity and refractive index increased. The direct/indirect optical band gap values of PMMA/PEO (5.07/4.8 eV) decreased attaining 4.96/4.54 eV for the blend with 2.5 wt% NiCo2O4. The optical conductivity greatly enhanced, and the linear and nonlinear optical parameters increased as the amount of NiCo2O4 doping increased. The dispersion parameters for all blends were also calculated. Fluorescence spectra (FL) measurements revealed a reduction in the FL intensity with increasing the NiCo2O4 content (x). Through the dielectric measurements, the impact of increasing NiCo2O4 content on the ac conductivity, dielectric properties, energy density, and electric modulus was analyzed for all blends. Remarkably, a significant increase in AC conductivity was obtained upon loading with 1.5 wt% NiCo2O4. Overall, variation in the dielectric and optical features of the PMMA/PEO/MWCNTs/x wt.% NiCo2O4 blends makes them appropriate for optoelectronic and energy storage applications.

Effect of Ca substitution on crystal structure and band gap of solar cell material BaSi2

To ameliorate the potential of a promising solar cell material BaSi2, the effects of substituting Ba with Ca atoms on the crystal structure and band gap Eg of BaSi2, were investigated both experimentally and computationally. The solid-solution limit of the Ca atoms in BaSi2 was approximately 2.3 at.%. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of Ba1−xCaxSi2 (0.025 ≤ x ≤ 0.072) revealed that the unit cell volume decreases with Ca content x, and the Ba atoms at the A1 crystallographic site are preferentially substituted by Ca atoms. Diffuse reflectance measurements indicated that Eg decreases with x (1.24 eV at x = 0 and 1.17 eV at x = 0.07). The density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the experimentally observed decrease in Eg by Ca substitution can be explained qualitatively by the combination of the substitution of Ca atoms in the unit cell volume of BaSi2 and the volume reduction.

The pressure-stabilized polymorph of indium triiodide.

A layered rhombohedral polymorph of indium(III) triiodide is synthesized at high pressure and temperature. The unit cell symmetry and approximate dimensions are determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Its R3̄ crystal structure, with a = 7.214 Å, and c = 20.47 Å, is refined by the Rietveld method on powder X-ray diffraction data. The crystal structure is based on InI6 octahedra sharing edges to form honeycomb lattice layers, though with considerable stacking defects. Different from ambient pressure InI3, which has a monoclinic molecular structure and a light-yellow color, high pressure InI3 is layered and has an orange color. The band gaps of both the monoclinic and rhombohedral variants of InI3 are estimated from diffuse reflectance measurements.

The luminescent semiconductor Pb7I6(CN2)4.

The development of new compounds in the domain of metal dinitridocarbonates is most efficiently performed via solid-state metathesis or simply by addition reactions. Our discovery of Pb7I6(CN2)4 is the result of a solid-state reaction of PbCN2 with PbI2 at 420 °C. Its crystal structure was solved and refined from X-ray diffraction data based on a single crystal with the space group P63/mmc. The crystal structure is based on a network of lead tetrahedra, lead trigonal bipyramids and lead octahedra interconnected by [NCN]2- and iodide. Properties of the material were investigated by diffuse reflection measurement, photoluminescence measurements, and electronic band structure calculations demonstrating that this material is a semiconductor.

First-principles prediction of half metallic-ferromagnetism in La0.25Sr0.75Sn0.4In0.25Ru0.35O3 and enhanced experimental electrical and magnetic behaviours.

A successful mechanochemical synthesis of a new nanoscale semi-conductive perovskite, La0.25Sr0.75Sn0.4In0.25Ru0.35O3 (LSSIRuO) was achieved through co-doping of SrSnO3. XRD and IR analyses confirmed that the sample crystallized in a pure perovskite GdFeO3 type structure (Pnma space group). Diffuse reflectance measurements revealed a direct band gap of 1.3 eV, which was significantly narrowed compared to that of SrSnO3 (4.1 eV). The investigation of DFT calculations into the sextenary systems La0.25Sr0.75[Sn0.4Ru0.35]In0.25O3 and La0.25Sr0.75[Sn0.5Ru0.25]In0.25O3 has revealed semiconductor behavior, very close to a semiconductor-semi metal transition. Importantly, Arrhenius-type charge transport was confirmed through a temperature-dependent conductivity study of the sample, showing good electrical conductivity of 3.6 S m-1 at 513 K with an activation energy of Ea = 0.19 eV. Furthermore, the compound exhibited ferromagnetic ordering at temperatures lower than 155 K, contrasting the diamagnetic behavior of SrSnO3. The narrower band gap value (1.3 eV) and improved electrical properties of LSSIRuO, in addition to its ferromagnetic characteristics, distinguish it as a promising candidate for applications in optoelectronics, as well as in memory and spintronic devices.

Physical Properties Investigation on Sunscreens with Red Dragon Fruit Peel Extract

Red dragon fruit peel extract is reported as an active ingredient in sunscreen because of its ability to protect the skin. UV exposure to the skin can cause reddish skin to develop skin cancer. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of the cream made from ZnO and red dragon fruit peel extracts (Hylocereus costaricensis), such as sun protection factor (SPF), pH, stability, viscosity, spreadability, and adhesion. Red dragon fruit peel extract was obtained by maceration using methanol, and DPPH-scavenging activity resulted in an IC50 of 0.96 μg/mL. Measurement of diffuse UV-vis reflectance shows that ZnO has absorption at λex 385 nm, which correlates with a bandgap energy of 3.22 eV. F1 formulation cream (red dragon fruit peel extract and ZnO ratio of 0:1) has the highest SPF value of 17. The Kruskal-Wallis test shows that there is a significant difference in adhesion between the F1 formulation cream with F2 (p-value = 0.002) and F4 (p-value = 0.03).

Facile microwave synthesis of Zinc Ferrite@NCDs for photocatalytic degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics

Zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) composites have attracted growing interest in photocatalytic water purification. Herein, the hybrids of zinc ferrite and nitrogen-doped carbon dots (ZnF@x%NCDs) were synthesized via facile microwave synthesis. X-ray diffraction and Raman characterization confirm the formation of the spinel structure, and elemental composition has been analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of ZnF@x%NCDs was evaluated via the decomposition of ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin under visible light illumination. We noted that 20 % weight loading of NCDs led to the highest (∼79.2 %) ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation. Diffuse reflectance measurements demonstrate the reduction of the band gap in composites ZnF@20%NCDs (1.91 eV) compared with bare ZnF (2.03 eV); moreover, the hybridization of zinc ferrites with NCDs results in enhanced photocurrent density and surface area. The effect of experimental parameters, including the role of photocatalyst dosage, pH value, and initial concentration of pollutants on the degradation of CIP, have also been investigated.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Ceftriaxone Using TiO2 Coupled with ZnO Micronized by Supercritical Antisolvent Route.

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising technique for removing pollutants from water. In this work, supercritical antisolvent (SAS)-micronized ZnO (ZnOSAS) is coupled with commercial anatase TiO2 (PC50) to study the photocatalytic degradation of ceftriaxone under UV and visible light. Diffuse ultraviolet-visible reflectance (UV-vis DRS) measurement revealed that the presence of ZnO leads to a slight absorption in the visible region. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis showed the presence of both ZnO wurtzite and TiO2 anatase crystalline phases in the composite. Photocatalytic tests proved that the activity of the ZnOSAS/PC50 composite is higher than that of commercial ZnO, SAS-micronized ZnO, and PC50, allowing complete ceftriaxone degradation under UV light after only 2 min of irradiation time. In contrast, about 90% of ceftriaxone degradation is achieved after 180 min of visible-light irradiation. The photocatalytic results for an experiment carried out in the presence of probe scavenger molecules for reactive oxygen species show that hydroxyl radicals and positive holes are both reactive species involved in the ceftriaxone photocatalytic degradation mechanism. Finally, reuse cycles of the ZnOsas/PC50 composite are performed, demonstrating the stability and recyclability of the photocatalyst.

Bi2ZnTiO6 thin films for next-generation photovoltaics: Study of material properties characterization and deposition conditions optimization

The perovskite-like oxide Bi2ZnTiO6 (BZT) combines a narrow band gap with significant ferroelectric polarization, key parameters for the development of next-generation photovoltaic devices. Nevertheless, BZT remains a relatively unexplored material due to its difficult synthesis. The present experimental work unfolds and optimizes the deposition of BZT phase thin films by rf-sputtering method on standard Pt(111)/TiO2/SiO2/Si(001) substrates. The series of thin films explores different deposition conditions: Substrate temperature (350º-600ºC), RF power (50–80 W), exposure time (30–120 min), O2:Ar ratio (25–50%) and thermal treatments (air-O2). Thin films deposited between 350 and 475ºC are mainly amorphous. Above 490–550ºC the films show incipient crystallization. Depositions at temperatures above 600ºC and heat treatments resulted in partial recrystallization of spurious Bi- or Zn-rich oxides and aurivillius or pyrochlore-like phases. At 550 ºC, the films are dominated by a polycrystalline BZT phase in P4mm tetragonal structure, and the increase of the O2:Ar ratio contributes to improve the B-site order. Not least, no significant structural changes were observed after ∼3 years ageing. Diffuse reflectance measurements show relatively narrow optical band gaps between 1.4–1.9 eV within expected values for this system. Piezo-force microscopy revealed domains contrast and hysteresis loops correlated with the quality of the film crystallized BZT phase.

Depth-selective method for time-domain diffuse reflectance measurements: validation study of the dual subtraction technique.

Research on the spatial distribution of sensitivity of time-domain near infrared diffuse reflectance measurement is reported in this paper. The main objective of the investigation is to validate theoretically calculated sensitivity profiles for a measurement geometry with two detectors and two sources in which sensitivity profiles of statistical moments of distributions of time of flight of photons (DTOFs) are spatially restricted to a region underneath the detectors. For this dual subtraction method, smaller sensitivities to changes appearing in the superficial layer of the medium were observed compared to the single distance and single subtraction methods. Experimental validation of this approach is based on evaluation of changes in the statistical moments of DTOFs measured on a liquid phantom with local absorption perturbations. The spatial distributions of sensitivities, depth-related sensitivity and depth selectivities were obtained from the dual subtraction method and compared with those from single distance and single subtraction approaches. Also, the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was calculated for the dual subtraction technique and combined with depth selectivity in order to assess the overall performance (product of CNR and depth selectivity) of the method. Spatial sensitivity profiles from phantom experiments are in a good agreement with the results of theoretical studies and feature more locally restricted sensitivity volume with the point of maximal sensitivity located deeper. The highest value of overall performance was obtained experimentally for the second statistical moment in the dual subtraction method (∼10.8) surpassing that of the single distance method (∼8.7). This confirms the advantage of dual subtraction measurement geometries in the suppression of optical signals originated in the superficial layer of the medium.

Enhanced Diffuse Reflectance of Photons in Molybdenum Back Electrode Films Achieved via Surface Texturing for Thin Film Solar Cells

Molybdenum (Mo) thin film is widely used as the bottom electrode in substrate‐configured thin film solar cells due to its high conductivity and reflectivity. Mo grown onto microtextured substrates increases the diffuse reflection of incident photons via scattering/multiple reflections on the corner/edges, in addition to the contribution from increased surface area. Herein, bilayer Mo is grown using direct current magnetron sputtering onto plain and textured substrates. To texture the glass substrate surface, a periodic array of cross‐linked photoresist structures (SU‐8 2000.5 & SU‐8 2005) is introduced via UV‐lithography process. Characterizations are done using X‐ray diffractometer, optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and optical profilometer. Angle‐dependent specular reflectance, diffuse reflectance, and electrical measurements done on Mo grown on plain and textured substrates lead to a comprehensive understanding of the advantages of growing Mo films on textured substrates. The electrical resistivity of Mo grown on plain and textured substrates is of the same order, measuring 3.09 × 10−5 Ω cm, 3.25 × 10−5 Ω cm, and 3.87 × 10−5 Ω cm, respectively. A high‐diffuse reflectance of 62.7% is obtained for SU‐8 2005 textured Mo films. Investigations using COMSOL simulations support the optical reflectance analysis.

Integrating sphere port error in diffuse reflectance measurements.

The impact of a finite thickness integrating sphere port on the measurement of diffuse reflectance is addressed in a combined numerical and experimental study. It is shown that for a finite thickness port, additional light losses occur due to scattering between the sphere port wall and the test sample, causing the sample reflectance to be underestimated. Monte Carlo ray tracing is applied to obtain quantitative estimates of the resulting measurement error for the case of a diffusely reflecting sample. The effects of sample reflectance, port geometry, and illumination beam size on the measurement error are explored. Experimental data collected with a pair of integrating sphere reflectometers with different port geometries support the validity of the numerical results. It is argued that finite port thickness may be an important source of measurement error, even for a well-designed integrating sphere port, and a strategy for minimizing this error is discussed.

Determination of tissue oxygen saturation by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

Tissue oxygenation is a parameter that allows for determining the health status of human beings. In diabetic patients, it is particularly important to evaluate this parameter as an indicator of microcirculatory problems in the extremities. We aim to obtain tissue oxygen saturation from diffuse reflectance measurements. A computational algorithm to automate the methodology was implemented with the aim of establishing a medical diagnosis technique that is non-invasive and easy to apply and requires a short evaluation time. Tissue oxygen saturation measurements were performed on a group of volunteers to whom a vascular occlusion was applied. It was observed that, by increasing the applied pressure to the arm of each volunteer, the tissue oxygen saturation progressively decreased. The results indicate that the developed technique is an effective method for monitoring changes in blood hemodynamics in patients with some type of pathology in which tissue oxygenation is compromised. In addition, the expected behavior of tissue oxygen saturation during a vascular occlusion was obtained. A methodology to obtain tissue oxygen saturation from diffuse reflectance measurements was successfully developed. It meets the necessary characteristics to be considered a technique for obtaining because it can be applied in vivo and non-invasively and does not require a high computational cost; thus it is fast and capable of providing an objective and quantifiable evaluation.

Non-contact optical spectroscopy for tumor-sensitive diffuse reflectance and fluorescence measurements on murine subcutaneous tissue models: Monte Carlo modeling and experimental validations.

Fiber-optic probes are commonly used in biomedical optical spectroscopy platforms for light delivery and collection. At the same time, it was reported that the inconsistent probe-sample contact could induce significant distortions in measured optical signals, which consequently cause large analysis errors. To address this challenge, non-contact optical spectroscopy has been explored for tissue characterizations. However, existing non-contact optical spectroscopy platforms primarily focused on diffuse reflectance measurements and may still use a fiber probe in which the probe was imaged onto the tissue surface using a lens, which serves as a non-contact probe for the measurements. Here, we report a fiber-probe-free, dark-field-based, non-contact optical spectroscopy for both diffuse reflectance and fluorescence measurements on turbid medium and tissues. To optimize the system design, we developed a novel Monte Carlo method to simulate such a non-contact setup for both diffuse reflectance and fluorescence measurements on murine subcutaneous tissue models with a spherical tumor-like target. We performed Monte Carlo simulations to identify the most tumor-sensitive configurations, from which we found that both the depth of the light focal point in tissue and the lens numerical aperture would dramatically affect the system's tumor detection sensitivity. We then conducted tissue-mimicking phantom studies to solidify these findings. Our reported Monte Carlo technique can be a useful computational tool for designing non-contact optical spectroscopy systems. Our non-contact optical setup and experimental findings will potentially offer a new approach for sensitive optical monitoring of tumor physiology in biological models using a non-contact optical spectroscopy platform to advance cancer research.

Generic and Model-Based Calibration Method for Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging with Parameterized Frequency and Intensity Correction.

Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is well established in biology and medicine for non-contact, wide-field imaging of optical properties and 3D topography. Especially for turbid media with displaced, tilted or irregularly shaped surfaces, the reliable quantitative measurement of diffuse reflectance requires efficient calibration and correction methods. In this work, we present the implementation of a generic and hardware independent calibration routine for SFDI setups based on the so-called pinhole camera model for both projection and detection. Using a two-step geometric and intensity calibration, we obtain an imaging model that efficiently and accurately determines 3D topography and diffuse reflectance for subsequently measured samples, taking into account their relative distance and orientation to the camera and projector, as well as the distortions of the optical system. Derived correction procedures for position- and orientation-dependent changes in spatial frequency and intensity allow the determination of the effective scattering coefficient μs' and the absorption coefficient μa when measuring a spherical optical phantom at three different measurement positions and at nine wavelengths with an average error of 5% and 12%, respectively. Model-based calibration allows the characterization of the imaging properties of the entire SFDI system without prior knowledge, enabling the future development of a digital twin for synthetic data generation or more robust evaluation methods.

Synthesis and Characterization of Calcium Copper Titanate (CaCu3Ti4O12) Powder as a Brown-Coloured Inorganic Pigment with High Infra-Red Reflectance

To mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect there is a stringent need to develop non-toxic and low cost Infra-red (IR) reflective pigments. Therefore, in present work the Calcium Copper Titanate (CaCu3Ti4O12) abbreviated as CCTO was prepared at different temperatures 800 °C, 850 °C, 875 °C, 900 °C, 925 °C, and 950 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance measurement in the Ultra Violet (UV), Visible (Vis) (295 nm to 700 nm), and Near Infra-Red (NIR) region (700 nm to 2500 nm), optical band gap and colour were measured to establish its use as IR reflective pigment. The chemical stability and cooling performance were also investigated. The XRD investigations showed the single-phase CCTO with cubic symmetry can be obtained by the calcination of reactants at an optimum temperature of 925 °C. The Diffuse reflectance data, within the heat-producing NIR band (700 nm to 1100 nm) varied from 46.23% to 53.34%. The optical band gap was observed to vary from 3.30 eV to 2.03 eV. No significant color degradation was observed upon treatment with 10% H2SO4 and 10% HNO3. Cooling performance assessment showed a significant difference of ∼5 °C between coated and uncoated red brick surfaces.

(Invited) Dilute Anion Alloyed III-Nitride Nanowires for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

The record efficiencies in photovoltaic devices and hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical water splitting have been achieved in both cases by employing complex architectures of III-V alloys 1, which has been enabled by the outstanding charge carrier transport properties, band gap and band edge engineering flexibility, as well as highly mismatch growth that can be achieved in III-V alloys by controlling their chemical composition.It has been extensively demonstrated that Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) and Metal-Organic Physical Vapor Deposition (MOPVD) techniques can produce III-V multinary alloys with compositions beyond miscibility gaps due to their “far from equilibrium” nature. And although great progress has been made towards improving the growth rate in these techniques, III-V device synthesis cost is still significantly higher (one order of magnitude) than Si solar cells manufacturing technologies 2. In this context, it is necessary to develop novel synthesis methods that yield high crystalline quality III-V alloys, higher throughput, and lower operational cost. For instance, Hydride/Halide Vapor Phase Epitaxy HVPE-grown GaAs top cell incorporated in a GaAs/Si tandem cell is an example of an optimized photovoltaic device with 31.4% efficiency, showcasing the uttermost potential of this growth method 2.More recently, Halide Vapor Phase Epitaxy growth of GaSbzP1-z polycrystalline free-standing films with up to 6.7% antimony incorporation and growth rates around 500 µm/h has been reported3. Linear sweep voltammetry measurements in 1M H2SO4 using GaSbzP1-z photoanodes showed lower onset potentials and higher fill factors compared to single crystal GaP. These results have been attributed to the visible light absorbing capabilities (direct band gaps between 2.2 and 2.5 eV), and lower charge transfer resistance at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface.On the other hand, a novel method for gallium nitridation involving plasma-activated nitrogen species dissolution into molten gallium has enabled the growth of single crystal GaN4. Furthermore, dilute anion Ga-Nitride alloys have been synthesized with the same technique but including other V-group species ions, i.e., Sb+ and Bi+, that can substitute nitrogen forming ternary GaSbxN1-x and GaBiyN1-y.In this presentation, we show the progress with dilute anion alloyed III-Nitride nanowires, GaSbxN1-x and GaBiyN1-y, synthesized by dissolving gallium, antimony or bismuth and plasma-activated nitrogen species into copper or gold droplets. Antimony and bismuth incorporation levels determined through x-ray diffraction c-plane peak shift, x and y, reached levels as high as 5.6 and 8.8 at%, respectively, resulting in direct band gap energies around 2.0 eV, determined through diffuse reflectance and photocurrent spectroscopy measurements. The visible light absorbing nanowire films exhibited photocurrent onset potentials around 0.0 V vs RHE when tested in 1 M sulfuric acid solution and 3-electrode setup with Ag/AgCl reference and Pt counter electrodes. 2-electrode chronoamperometry measurements with p-Si and n-type dilute alloys showed stable photocurrent densities up to 8.5 mA*cm-2 in 30 h. These results show the promising potential of dilute anion alloyed III-Nitrides as stable photoanodes for water splitting applications, and demonstrate the advantage of this novel synthesis technique over MOCVD that in previous studies has enabled the obtention of 0-D or 1-D GaSbxN1-x structures with up to 7% anion incorporation, while compromising crystalline quality.5