High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy Measurements Research Articles

Microstructural and mechanical properties of TiN/CrN and TiSiN/CrN multilayer coatings deposited in an industrial-scale HiPIMS system: Effect of the Si incorporation

Surface engineering through the deposition of advanced coatings, particularly multilayer coatings has gained significant interest for enhancing the performance of coated parts. The incorporation of Si into TiN coatings has shown promise for improving hardness, oxidation resistance, and thermal stability, while high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) has emerged as a technique to deposit coatings with exceptional properties. However, TiN/CrN and TiSiN/CrN coatings deposited by HiPIMS remain relatively unexplored. In this study, different TiN/CrN and TiSiN/CrN multilayer coatings with different bilayer periods from 5 to 85 nm were deposited using an industrial-scale HiPIMS reactor, and their microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated using advanced characterization techniques. Results revealed successful deposition of smooth and compact coatings with controlled bilayer periods. X-ray diffraction analysis showed separate crystalline phases for coatings with high bilayer periods, while those with smaller bilayer periods exhibited peak-overlapping and superlattice overtones, especially for the TiN/CrN coatings. Epitaxial grain growth was confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). HRTEM and electron energy-loss spectroscopy measurements confirmed Si incorporation into the TiN crystal lattice of TiSiN/CrN coatings reducing the crystallinity, especially for coatings with smaller bilayer periods. Nanoindentation tests revealed that coatings with a bilayer period of 15–20 nm displayed the highest hardness values regardless of the composition. The mechanical properties of the TiSiN/CrN coatings showed no improvement over those of the TiN/CrN coatings, attributed to the Si induced amorphization of the Ti(Si)N phase and the absence of SiNx phase segregation within the TiN nanocrystals in these coatings. These findings provide valuable insights into the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiN/CrN and TiSiN/CrN multilayer coatings deposited by HiPIMS in an industrial scale reactor, paving the way for their application in various industrial sectors.

Investigating Co and Fe Single-Atom (SA) Decorated NS-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide (Co SA/NS-rGO, Fe SA/NS-rGO) Catalysts for NOx - to NH3 Pulsed Electroreduction

Electrochemical NH3 production has attracted much attention due to its potential to compensate for and supplement the Haber-Bosch process that produces hundreds of billions of kg of NH3 annually.1 One of the proposed electrochemical pathways to produce NH3 is the N2 reduction reaction. However, this reaction suffers from a high bond dissociation energy of 945 kJ mol−1, low NH3 Faradaic efficiency (F.E.) at high overpotentials, and NH3 quantification problems, limiting the extent of its applications.2,3 On the other hand, other N-containing species, NO3 - and NO2 -, that are commonly found in sewages and agricultural water, hold great potential for electrochemical NH3 production owing to their high NH3 yield rate and F.E. as well as building a self-sustaining NH3 production cycle working tandem with denitrification processes.1,4 In this study, we investigated Co and Fe single-atom (SA) decorated NS-doped reduced graphene oxide (Co SA/NS-rGO and Fe SA/NS-rGO) catalysts for nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) and nitrite reduction reaction (NO2RR). Both materials have defect-rich properties owing to preserving the nature of doped graphene materials even after the metal incorporation. The presence of the layered structure of graphene and homogenous distribution of Fe and Co SAs in the doped graphene basal plane is shown through High-Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-STEM) measurements. In addition to the Co and Fe SAs on the NS-rGO planes, SEM and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) investigations demonstrated that CoS and FeS could be simultaneously formed.We performed NO3RR and NO2RR experiments in 0.1 M KOH + 0.1 M KNO3 and 0.1 M KOH + 0.1 M KNO2 electrolytes with constant Ar purging in a glass H-Cell with a Nafion proton exchange membrane. We obtained NH3 with 65% F.E. at -0.4 V and a maximum of 2 mol s-1 molM -1 yield rate using Co SA/NS-rGO catalyst while with 60% F.E. at -0.5 V and 2.3 mol s-1 molM -1 yield rate using Fe SA/NS-rGO catalyst for NO3RR. Furthermore, the ∼10% NO2 - F.E. that is obtained for NO3RR experiments at -0.3 V and a significant increase in NH3 F.E. after -0.3 V for NO2RR indicates that NO3 - to NO2 - reduction takes place at this potential and our catalysts follow a two-step electron transfer mechanism. Moreover, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) measurements indicated an onset potential of -0.4 V and -0.5 V for Co SA/NS-rGO and Fe SA/NS-rGO, respectively, for the NO3RR which are in excellent agreement with NO3RR F.E. results. We demonstrate that after prereduction at high negative potentials and with optimizations in experimental conditions, one can obtain >80% NH3 F.E. for NO3RR.To further increase the NH3 yield, three different pulsed electroreduction studies such as applying a potential at (1) the open circuit potential (OCP), (2) NO2 - reduction potential, (3) Co2+ or Fe2+ red-ox potentials and NH3 reduction potentials for 1-5 s intervals were performed. On Co SA/NS-rGO, an increased NH3 F.E. of ∼100% at -0.4 V was obtained under pulsed conditions. Also, by modulating NO3 - to NO2 - conversion to more negative potentials by pulsed electroreduction, significantly higher NH3 F.E. values were obtained for both catalysts. The higher NH3 F.E. and lower overpotential of Co SA/NS-rGO compared to Fe SA/NS-rGO could be attributed to the CoS formation that is more stable than FeS.

Radiation-Induced Synthesis and Superparamagnetic Properties of Ferrite Fe3O4 Nanoparticles.

Ultra-small magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles are successfully synthesized in basic solutions by using the radiolytic method of the partial reduction in FeIII in the presence of poly-acrylate (PA), or by using the coprecipitation method of FeIII and FeII salts in the presence of PA. The optical, structural, and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were examined using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and SQUID magnetization measurements. The HRTEM and XRD analysis confirmed the formation of ultra-small magnetite nanoparticles in a spinel structure, with a smaller size for radiation-induced particles coated by PA (5.2 nm) than for coprecipitated PA-coated nanoparticles (11 nm). From magnetization measurements, it is shown that the nanoparticles are superparamagnetic at room temperature. The magnetization saturation value Ms = 50.1 A m2 kg-1 of radiation-induced nanoparticles at 60 kGy is higher than Ms = 18.2 A m2 kg-1 for coprecipitated nanoparticles. Both values are compared with nanoparticles coated with other stabilizers in the literature.

Simultaneous Li-Doping and Formation of SnO2-Based Composites with TiO2: Applications for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Tin oxide (SnO2) has been recognized as one of the beneficial components in the electron transport layer (ETL) of lead-halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its high electron mobility. The SnO2-based thin film serves for electron extraction and transport in the device, induced by light absorption at the perovskite layer. The focus of this paper is on the heat treatment of a nanoaggregate layer of single-nanometer-scale SnO2 particles in combination with another metal-dopant precursor to develop a new process for ETL in PSCs. The combined precursor solution of Li chloride and titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) was deposited onto the SnO2 layer. We varied the heat treatment conditions of the spin-coated films comprising double layers, i.e., an Li/TTIP precursor layer and SnO2 nanoparticle layer, to understand the effects of nanoparticle interconnection via sintering and the mixing ratio of the Li-dopant on the photovoltaic performance. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) measurements of the sintered nanoparticles suggested that an Li-doped solid solution of SnO2 with a small amount of TiO2 nanoparticles formed via heating. Interestingly, the bandgap of the Li-doped ETL samples was estimated to be 3.45 eV, indicating a narrower bandgap as compared to that of pure SnO2. This observation also supported the formation of an SnO2/TiO2 solid solution in the ETL. The utilization of such a nanoparticulate SnO2 film in combination with an Li/TTIP precursor could offer a new approach as an alternative to conventional SnO2 electron transport layers for optimizing the performance of lead-halide perovskite solar cells.

4H-SiC/SiO2 Interface Degradation in 1.2 kV 4H-SiC MOSFETs due to Power Cycling Tests

Power cycling tests (PCTs) assess the reliability of power devices by closely simulating their operating conditions. A PCT was performed on commercially available 1.2 kV 4H-SiC power metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors to observe its impact on the 4H-SiC/SiO2 interface. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements showed variations in the length of the 4H-SiC/SiO2 transition layer, depending on whether the device was power cycled. Moreover, the total resistance at Vg >> Vt in Rtot − (Vg-Vt)−1 graph increased to 16.5%, while it changed more radically to 47.3% at Vg ≈ Vt. The threshold voltage shifted negatively. These variations cannot be expected solely through the wearout of the package.

Spherical and porous Cu2O nanocages with Cu2O/Cu(OH)2 Surface: Synthesis and their promising selectivity for catalysing CO2 electroreduction to C2H4

In the production of C2H4, a vital raw material in the synthesis of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, Cu2O is a highly promising catalyst with excellent Faradaic efficiency and selectivity. We propose a method involving the partial reduction of Cu(OH)2 to Cu2O by sodium L-ascorbate for the synthesis of spherical and porous Cu2O nanocages (SPNCs) with a surface containing both Cu2O and Cu(OH)2. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction measurements revealed ∼ 3-nm pores and a (13¯2) high-index facet on the SPNC, respectively. As SPNCs have a porous structure, their specific surface area is greater (31.10 m2 g−1) than that (6.35 m2 g−1) of spherical Cu2O nanocrystals (SNCs) with solid interiors. Furthermore, SPNCs, when applied as electrocatalysts for catalysing the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), demonstrated remarkable mass activities (16.92 mA mg−1 at −1.15 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) for C2H4 production, with a Faraday efficiency reaching an impressive 55.3 %. Stability test data showed a consistent CO2RR current density over 6 h, owing to the porous structure and the presence of both Cu(OH)2 and Cu2O on the catalyst surface. Our proposed SPNC catalysts can be employed as effective CO2RR catalysts for producing C2H4, which may help in reducing the present reliance on petrochemical processes.

Elastic and inelastic strain in submicron-thick ZnO epilayers grown on r-sapphire substrates by metal-organic vapour phase deposition.

A significant part of the present and future of optoelectronic devices lies on thin multilayer heterostructures. Their optical properties depend strongly on strain, being essential to the knowledge of the stress level to optimize the growth process. Here the structural and microstructural characteristics of sub-micron a-ZnO epilayers (12 to 770 nm) grown on r-sapphire by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition are studied. Morphological and structural studies have been made using scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray diffraction. Plastic unit-cell distortion and corresponding strain have been determined as a function of film thickness. A critical thickness has been observed as separating the non-elastic/elastic states with an experimental value of 150-200 nm. This behaviour has been confirmed from ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. An equation that gives the balance of strains is proposed as an interesting method to experimentally determine this critical thickness. It is concluded that in the thinnest films an elongation of the Zn-O bond takes place and that the plastic strained ZnO films relax through nucleation of misfit dislocations, which is a consequence of three-dimensional surface morphology.

Iridium nanoparticles supported on polyaniline nanotubes for peroxidase mimicking towards total antioxidant capacity assay of fruits and vegetables

In this study, a straightforward approach is presented for the first time to anchor Ir nanoparticles on the surface of uniform polyaniline (PANi) nanotubes (NTs), which can be used as an efficient peroxidase (POD)-like catalyst. The morphology and chemical structure of the PANi-Ir nanocomposite are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. Owing to the strong interaction between Ir nanoparticles and PANi, a remarkable catalytic enhancement is achieved compared to the bare Ir black catalyst and individual PANi NTs, dominating withan electron transfer mechanism. Furthermore, an efficient colorimetric sensor for ascorbic acid (AA) is developed with a low detection limit of 1.0 μM (S/N = 3), and a total antioxidant capacity (TAC) sensing platform is also constructed for the rigorous detection and analysis of fruits and vegetables.

Ni‐Alloyed Copper Iodide Thin Films: Microstructural Features and Functional Performance

To tailor electrical properties of often degenerate pristine CuI, Ni is introduced as alloy constituent. Cosputtering in a reactive, but also in an inert atmosphere as well as pulsed laser deposition (PLD), is used to grow thin films. The Ni content within the alloy thin films is systematically varied for different growth techniques and growth conditions. A solubility limit is evidenced by an additional phase for Ni contents , observed in X‐Ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy by a change in surface morphology. Furthermore, metallic, nanoscaled nickel clusters, revealed by X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), underpin a solubility limit of Ni in CuI. Although no reduction of charge carrier density is observed with increasing Ni content, a dilute magnetic behavior of the thin films is observed in vibrating sample magnetometry. Further, independent of the deposition technique, unique multilayer features are observed in HRTEM measurements for thin films of a cation composition of . Opposite to previous claims, no transition to n‐type behavior was observed, which was also confirmed by density functional theory calculations of the alloy system.

Swift heavy ion irradiation effects on tungsten carbide films

Tungsten carbide (WC) is an important material to study for various applications in extreme environments due to its radiation-resistant properties and high mechanical strength. Due to its excellent properties such as high hardness, strength, and wear resistance, it is also being considered lately as a plasma facing component in nuclear fusion reactors. To study the response of this material in extreme radiation environments, WC films prepared using RF sputtering technique were irradiated with 100 MeV Ag8+ ions in the present work. The irradiation was carried out at three different fluences: 3 × 1012, 1 × 1013, and 3 × 1013 ions/cm2. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) was performed to determine the stoichiometry and thickness of the pristine film. To study the irradiation-induced modifications, glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy were performed on the pristine and irradiated samples. GAXRD of the pristine and irradiated samples revealed grain size reduction accompanied with reduced crystallinity with increasing ion fluence which was further manifested in HRTEM measurements and Raman spectroscopy measurements. Change in surface morphology due to the ion irradiation was observed in FE-SEM. These modifications have been explained using thermal-spike and TRIM simulations which showed that although the swift heavy ions irradiation did not result in track formation in the WC films, it caused radiation damage which may be attributed to the synergistic effect of electronic and nuclear energy loss mechanisms. These results might be crucial for a fundamental understanding of the radiation resistance of WC thin films and its application in different radiation environments.

Sensing Mechanism and Characterization of NO2 Gas Sensors Using Gold-Black NP-Decorated Ga2O3 Nanorod Sensing Membranes.

In this work, a vapor cooling condensation system was utilized to deposit various amounts of p-type gold-black nanoparticles (NPs) onto the surface of n-type gallium oxide (Ga2O3) nanorods forming p-n heterojunction-structured sensing membranes of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas sensors. The role and the sensing mechanism of the various gold-black NP-decorated Ga2O3 nanorods in NO2 gas sensors were investigated. The coverage and atomic percentage of the sensing membranes were observed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurements and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. For the NO2 gas sensor using the sensing membrane of 60 s-deposited gold-black NP-decorated Ga2O3 nanorods under a NO2 concentration of 10 ppm, the highest responsivity of 5221.1% was obtained. This result was attributed to the spillover effect and the formation of the p-n heterojunction, which increased more ionized-oxygen adsorption sites and promoted the reaction between NO2 gas and Ga2O3 nanorods. Furthermore, the NO2 gas sensor could detect the low NO2 concentration of 100 ppb and achieved a responsivity of 56.9%. The resulting NO2 gas sensor also exhibited excellent selectivity for detecting NO2 gas, with higher responsivity at a NO2 concentration of 10 ppm compared with that of the C2H5OH and NH3 concentrations of 100 ppm.

Efficient Sodium-Ion Storage Using MoS2@rGO Nanocomposite Anode: Exploring Na-Ion Diffusion in Metallic Phase

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining attention as a better and more economical option than lithium-ion batteries, owing to the abundance and low cost of sodium in comparison to lithium. The anode component of rechargeable batteries plays a vital role in obtaining superior energy and power density. Consequently, the investigation of novel materials for SIBs with enhanced performance is imperative. Transition metal chalcogenides (TMDs) are found to be promising contenders for this purpose, particularly MoS2 due to their two-dimensional open framework, structural tunability, and high theoretical specific capacity as an anode material in sodium ion storage. In this regard, we conducted a facile strategy to synthesize MoS2 and aluminium-doped MoS2 incorporated into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using the hydrothermal method. The structural and morphological properties of the samples have been explored through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurements which revealed that the addition of aluminium increased the interlayer spacing of the (002) plane of MoS2 nanosheets and stabilized it in metallic 1T phase. The enhanced interlayer distance and improved conductivity of the electrode material displayed a significantly higher initial discharge specific capacity of around 750 mAhg−1 which is stabilized around 380 mAhg−1 at the current rate of 50 mAg−1 after 10 cycles as investigated through galvanostatic charge-discharge measurement. The long cycling test for 200 cycles revealed the capacity retention of ~65% and ~55 % at the current density of 100 and 300 mAg-1, respectively. The kinetic behavior of the Na-ion is studied employing cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the diffusion coefficient of Na-ion in the bulk of the electrode was found to be in the range of 10-10 to 10-12 cm2s-1. Additionally, in-situ EIS analysis demonstrates the electrode's electrochemical kinetics at different charge-discharge states by showing variations in charge transfer resistance. Ex-situ XRD and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrated the coexistence of 1T and 2H phases, and field-emission SEM validated the stable morphology after cycling. Keywords: Sodium-ion batteries, Transition metal chalcogenides (TMDs), Anode material, MoS2

Photocatalytic degradation performance of antibiotics by WO3/α-Fe2O3/zeolite type II heterojunction with core-shell structure.

The accumulation of antibiotics in the environment can be harmful to human health, and research on their disposal technologies is of increasing interest. In this study, WO3/α-Fe2O3/zeolite (WFZ) type II heterojunction composites with core-shell structures were prepared by coupling WO3 semiconductors with visible-light photocatalytic activity with α-Fe2O3 via hydrothermal synthesis using zeolite as a carrier for the adsorption of synergistic photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics in wastewater. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), specific surface, and porosity measurements were used to characterize the structure of WFZ type II heterojunction. The performance of WFZ heterojunction for the visible photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics (tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and levofloxacin hydrochloride (LVF)) was investigated. Through four photocatalytic cycles, the catalyst exhibited excellent durability and stability. This was attributed to the core-shell structure and type II heterojunction promoting the effective separation of photogenerated carriers and the extended visible light response range, which resulted in the best photocatalytic activity of the catalyst under visible light irradiation. Radical trapping experiments showed that superoxide radicals (•O2-) and hydroxyl radical (•OH) were the main active species that played a major role in the photocatalytic degradation. These findings show that the synthesized WFZ type-II heterojunction can be used as a reliable visible-light-responsive photocatalyst for the treatment of antibiotics in wastewater.

The beneficial role of nano-sized Fe3O4 entrapped in ultra-stable Y zeolite for the complete mineralization of phenol by heterogeneous photo-Fenton under solar light

Highly efficient, separable, and stable magnetic iron-based-photocatalysts produced from ultra-stable Y (USY) zeolite were applied, for the first time, to the photo-Fenton removal of phenol under solar light. USY Zeolite with a Si/Al molar ratio of 385 was impregnated under vacuum with an aqueous solution of Fe2+ ions and thermally treated (500–750 °C) in a reducing atmosphere. Three catalysts, Fe-USY500°C-2h, Fe-USY600°C-2h and Fe-USY750°C-2h, containing different amounts of reduced iron species entrapped in the zeolitic matrix, were obtained. The catalysts were thoroughly characterized by absorption spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction with synchrotron source, followed by Rietveld analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption at −196 °C, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and magnetic measurements at room temperature.The catalytic activity was evaluated in a recirculating batch photoreactor irradiated by solar light with online analysis of evolved CO2. Photo-Fenton results showed that the catalyst obtained by thermal treatment at 500 °C for 2 h under a reducing atmosphere (FeUSY-500°C-2h) was able to completely mineralize phenol in 120 min of irradiation time at pH = 4 owing to the presence of a higher content of entrapped nano-sized magnetite particles. The latter promotes the generation of hydroxyl radicals in a more efficient way than the Fe-USY catalysts prepared at 600 and 750 °C because of the higher Fe3O4 content in ultra-stable Y zeolite treated at 500 °C. The FeUSY-500°C-2h catalyst was recovered from the treated water through magnetic separation and reused five times without any significant worsening of phenol mineralization performances. The characterization of the FeUSY-500°C-2h after the photo-Fenton process demonstrated that it was perfectly stable during the reaction. The optimized catalyst was also effective in the mineralization of phenol in tap water. Finally, a possible photo-Fenton mechanism for phenol mineralization was assessed based on experimental tests carried out in the presence of scavenger molecules, demonstrating that hydroxyl radicals play a major role.

Solution processable visible-light and color-selective image sensor with a ZnO/QDs/ZrO2 sandwich structure

Quantum dots (QDs) are emerging materials for optoelectronic devices because of their facile tunable bandgap and solution processability. However, overcoming inherent problems, such as vulnerability to atmospheric moisture and the persistence photoconductivity (PPC) effect originating from trap states, is necessary. We proposed a method to enhance the stability and reduce the PPC effect by adding a ZrO2 passivation layer above the QDs layer. The ZrO2 layer effectively reduced the trap state of the QDs, passivated the QDs from external environmental oxygen and moisture, and simultaneously acted as an additional channel. Interfacial analyses were conducted using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) measurements. Hence, the device showed enhanced photoresponsivity and photosensitivity of 2.6 × 103 A/W and 6.67 × 105, respectively. Additionally, the device showed a highly reduced PPC effect with a rate of current increase of 0.017 under periodic 635 nm wavelength light illumination. Moreover, it showed reliable long-term stability over 30 days under a relative humidity of ∼40%. Therefore, a color-selective image sensor was successfully demonstrated, and the device could recognize red/green/blue colors owing to its reduced PPC effect and high stability. Our results suggest a useful method for developing next-generation QD-based transparent optoelectronic devices.

Digital holographic nanoscopy for erythrocyte, nanoparticle and quantum dot characterization

Optical detection of biological cells and nanoparticles is a challenging task in optical physics due to the individual nanoparticles' low inherent scattering, size, and shape. High magnification is required for the study of such particles. In the present work, we have introduced a modified Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) for qualitative and quantitative optical characterization of biological cells, nanoparticles and quantum dots through phase measurement. The proposed system can measure a quantum dot of a minimum size of 6.8 nanometers with 1,53,284X magnification by placing two Microscope Objective (MO) lenses in the path of the object beam of the DHM. We have recorded digital holograms of the specimen for different combinations of MOs by varying distances between them. The system can characterize the specimen of micro to nanometer scales by varying its magnification as per requirements. The results are shown for human erythrocytes of diameter of 7.31 ± 0.08 µm & thickness of 2.3 ± 0.058 µm and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of different sizes (6.8 nm - 50 nm). The size of erythrocytes and AuNPs are determined experimentally using the DHM by mapping with USAF-1951 high-resolution microscope targets. The obtained results are verified by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) measurements.

1D Narrow-Bandgap Tin Oxide Materials: Systematic High-Resolution TEM and Raman Analysis.

We demonstrate for the first time the structure identification and narrow-bandgap property of 1D hybridized SnO/SnO2 nanoparticles derived from the calcination of a single-source precursor, i.e., tin(II) oxalate. Systematic Raman analysis together with high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM) measurements of the tin oxide samples were carried out by changing the calcination temperatures. These data revealed the simultaneous formation of 1D SnO/SnO2 in the rod particles that grew in air. It was also found that Sn(II) can be introduced by changing the concentration of Sn(II) salt in the precursor synthesis and the maximum temperature in calcination. Particles measuring 20~30 nm were sintered to produce tin oxide nanorods including tin monoxide, SnO. Photoabsorption properties associated with the formation of the SnO/SnO2 nanocomposites were also investigated. Tauc plots indicate that the obtained tin oxide samples had a lower bandgap of 2.9~3.0 eV originating from SnO in addition to a higher bandgap of around 3.5~3.7 eV commonly observed for SnO2. Such 1D SnOx/SnO2 hybrids via tin oxalate synthesis with this optical property would benefit new materials design for photoenergy conversion systems, such as photocatalysts.

Construction of 2D/2D Mesoporous WO3/CeO2 Laminated Heterojunctions for Optimized Photocatalytic Performance.

Photocatalytic elimination of antibiotics from the environment and drinking water is of great significance for human health. However, the efficiency of photoremoval of antibiotics such as tetracycline is severely limited by the prompt recombination of electron holes and slow charge migration efficacy. Fabrication of low-dimensional heterojunction composites is an efficient method for shortening charge carrier migration distance and enhancing charge transfer efficiency. Herein, 2D/2D mesoporous WO3/CeO2 laminated Z-scheme heterojunctions were successfully prepared using a two-step hydrothermal process. The mesoporous structure of the composites was proved by nitrogen sorption isotherms, in which sorption-desorption hysteresis was observed. The intimate contact and charge transfer mechanism between WO3 nanoplates and CeO2 nanosheets was investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, respectively. Photocatalytic tetracycline degradation efficiency was noticeably promoted by the formation of 2D/2D laminated heterojunctions. The improved photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the formation of Z-scheme laminated heterostructure and 2D morphology favoring spatial charge separation, confirmed by various characterizations. The optimized 5WO3/CeO2 (5 wt.% WO3) composites can degrade more than 99% of tetracycline in 80 min, achieving a peak TC photodegradation efficiency of 0.0482 min-1, which is approximately 3.4 times that of pristine CeO2. A Z-scheme mechanism is proposed for photocatalytic tetracycline by from WO3/CeO2 Z-scheme laminated heterojunctions based on the experimental results.

Atomic Structure of Mn-Doped CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles for Metal–Air Battery Applications

We discuss the atomic structure of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles doped with Mn via an analysis based on combining atomic pair distribution functions with high energy X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles are promising materials for metal–air battery applications. Cobalt ferrites, however, generally show poor electronic conductivity at ambient temperatures, which limits their bifunctional catalytic performance in oxygen electrocatalysis. Our study reveals how the introduction of Mn ions promotes the conductivity of the cobalt ferrite electrode.

Cathodoluminescence and structural properties of ZnTe nanocrystals synthesized from Te/ZnO thin films

Highly mismatched alloys are of substantial interest for composition-dependent bandgap tunability for solar cell applications. Using low-energy ion implantation and subsequent thermal treatment, we have synthesized ZnTe nanocrystals from Te/ZnO bilayer thin films. However, only thermal treatment without ion implantation does not show any ZnTe nanocrystal characteristics that demonstrate the role of defects via ion implantation in nucleation growth. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements confirmed the nanocrystalline growth of ZnTe and ZnTeO3 inside the mixed layer of ZnO and Te. From X-ray diffraction, it has been observed that a critical fluence of ions is required to produce a certain quantity of defects to assist in stoichiometric ZnTe formation. The absorption spectroscopy illustrates dual bandgap in the mixed alloys. Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy confirms two visible emission bands at 2.1 eV and 2.35 eV corresponding to the ZnTe and ZnO defect band along with the near band UV emission of ZnO at 3.26 eV. Such composition-dependent bandgap and light emission tunability from a mixed alloy are suitable for semiconductor device technology and energy harvesting.