Indium Tin Oxide Glass Research Articles

In‐Situ Growth Mirror‐Like Cobalt Sulfide Nanosheets on ITO for High Efficiency Counter Electrode of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells**

AbstractIn this work, mirror‐like Co9S8 nanosheets in‐situ grown on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate have been synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and used as a novel Pt‐free counter electrode (CE) for dye‐sensitized solar cells. Based on mirror effect of the Co9S8 CE, incident light has been efficiently utilization. As a result, the cell using Co9S8 nanosheets CE achieved a power conversion efficiency of 9.01 %, which is higher than that of Pt CE. This could be contributed to the fact that mirror‐like Co9S8 nanosheets exhibited an excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of I3−/I−.

3.3: Fabricating Self‐Powered E‐paper on Paper Substrates and Driven by Triboelectric Nanogenerator Module

The electronic paper (E‐paper) has the advantages of low power consumption, flexibility, small form factor, and eye‐friendliness. However, most E‐paper substrates are made by indium tin oxide (ITO) glasses or plastic substrates, which are hard to degrade in the natural environment. Our previous work introduced a self‐powered E‐paper (SPEP) integrated with triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Here, a paper‐based SPEP was further demonstrated, driven by a TENG module without any other power module. By combining the self‐powered driving mode and paper substrates, this work showed novel possibilities for E‐paper devices, which provided great potential in future Internet of things (IoT) displays.

Low-cost high- performance NO2 sensor based on nanoporous indium tin oxide (ITO) film

The electrochemical corrosion of commercial indium tin oxide (ITO) glasses enabled the preparation of a low-cost nanoporous ITO film-based sensor exhibiting a high NO2 response. The NO2 sensing characteristics of the nanoporous ITO films were studied at different processing voltages and test temperatures. Under the optimal test condition (10 V, 100 °C), the response of the sensor was 3.1 to 0.1 ppm NO2 and 180–500 ppm NO2. Compared with previous literature, the as-obtained sensor has a low working temperature (100 °C), wide detection range (0.1–500 ppm NO2), and high response (12.34 1 ppm NO2). Moreover, the sensor exhibited excellent repeatability and a high selectivity toward NO2. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller was employed to study the structural changes of the ITO film due to electrochemical corrosion and revealed a nanoporous structure with abundant surface hydroxyl groups. The influences of the nanoporous structure and surface hydroxyl groups on the response are discussed in detail. Finally, it was found that the Langmuir model provided a good fit to the working curve of the sensor, and thus explains the mechanism of the enhanced response based on the nanoporous structure. Overall, this study demonstrates that an electrochemically corroded ITO film is suitable for detecting NO2.

Plasma-surface interaction: dynamic evolution of interfacial pattern modes during transformation process from dielectric to metallic substrate

Plasma–surface interaction is a complex system involving the codependency between the plasma and the substrate, especially for substrate’s with different permittivities. Therefore, a better understanding of the dynamic evolution of interactions with different substrates is essential for optimizing the required changes of specific substrates. In this work, we report two modes of interfacial pattern formation by a pulsed helium plasma jet interacting with indium tin oxide (ITO) glass and a metal substrate, and we mainly focus on the dynamic evolution process for interfacial pattern modes during a transformation process from ITO glass to metal substrate. Pattern morphology, current–voltage characteristics, intensified charge coupled device images, and reactive species distribution are used to examine the evolution mechanism of the plasma-jet–substrate interaction. Results show that, for the ITO glass substrate, a circular interfacial pattern with plenty of streamer channels is generated while, for the metal substrate, a constricted solid spot interfacial pattern is formed; these two pattern mode transformations are realized from the glass dielectric to the metal substrate. Furthermore, during the transformation process from the dielectric to metal substrate, the pattern area is gradually decreased, while the discharge intensity, emission intensity, and local electric field gradually become stronger. Importantly, by observing the dynamic behavior of the interfacial pattern, the ionization wave on the substrate surface is stopped from spreading toward the metal direction and a bright touch point appears at the interface between the dielectric and the metal, while the surface ionization wave still spreads and has no influence on the other direction besides the metal direction. Additionally, the evolution mechanism of pattern mode transformation is discussed, which may be attributed to the difference in the substrate conductivity leading to the different distribution of the local electric field. This study is beneficial to deep insights into the nature of the plasma–surface interaction.

Synthesized TiO2 Mesoporous by Addition of Acetylacetone and Graphene for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

This study mixed acetylacetone (Acac, 1, 2, and 3 mL) and graphene powder (GP, 0 wt.%, 0.001 wt.%, 0.003 wt.% and 0.005 wt.%) with TiO2 mesoporous (TiO2 powders: 20 g and particle size ~30 nm) to enhance the optoelectronic performances of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Sponge-like structure TiO2 mesoporous layers is a requirement for obtaining high efficiency DSSC, which ia synthesized by spin-coating techniques. The dense TiO2 blocking layer (using peroxo-titanium complex) has a uniform, dense structure and completely adheres to the substrates to avoid charge recombination. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses of the TiO2 films display the anatase type phase with preferred orientation along the (101) direction. After being ball milled, the TiO2 mesoporous particle size almost remains unchanged. For mixing the Acac with TiO2, the Raman intensity relatively increased, and the band gap energy (Eg) value decreased from 3.223 eV (for pure TiO2) to 3.076 eV (for 2 mL Acac). Raman spectroscopy is used to evaluate the GP elements. It can be seen the intensity ratio (ID/IG) and (I2D/IG) was enhanced when the GP concentration increased. Using mixed Acac 2 mL and GP 0.003 wt.% with a TiO2 mesoporous, led to increases in the open circuit voltage (VOC), short circuit current density (JSC) and fill factor (FF). If a fluorine-doped tin oxide is used instead of an indium tin oxide glass substrate, the photovoltaic efficiency of DSSC increases from 5.45% to 7.24%.

Selective Adsorption of Potassium in Seawater by CoHCF Thin Film Electrode and Its Electrochemical Desorption/Regeneration.

Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) was tested for the selective uptake of K from seawater and the electrochemical method was adopted for the desorption and regeneration of the material. Powder form CoHCF could adsorb about 6.5 mmol/g of K from the seawater. For the ease of the electrochemical desorption and regeneration, CoHCF thin film was coated onto the Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass to obtain a CoHCF electrode. K adsorption kinetics on CoHCF thin film was found to be well fitted with the intraparticle diffusion model, which was a two-step process. Five consecutive adsorption-desorption-regeneration cycles were carried out to know the gradual decrease in the adsorption capacity owing to changes in the redox states of two metals, Co and Fe, in the material. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) measurement results corresponded to the color change of CoHCF thin film, indicating the valence change of transition metals and the exchange of alkali metal cations happened on the CoHCF at different operation stages. In order to elucidate the reaction mechanism, composition of the material was analysis in the following steps: adsorption, desorption, and regeneration. It was proved that the system based on CoHCF thin film modified electrode had the potential of recovering potassium from seawater.

A Cathodic Electrochromic Material Based on Thick Perylene Bisimide Film with High Optical Contrast and High Stability

A Cathodic Electrochromic Material Based on Thick Perylene Bisimide Film with High Optical Contrast and High Stability

Indium Recovery from the Acid Elute of Waste Indium Tin Oxide Glass by Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid as a Chelating Agent

Indium Recovery from the Acid Elute of Waste Indium Tin Oxide Glass by Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid as a Chelating Agent

Preparation of Polyaniline/TiO2 Photovoltaic Solar Cell

Polyaniline (PANI) and Kronos C doped Titanium dioxide (TiO2) was fabricated as PANI/TiO2 solar cell and reported on its simple photovoltaic performance detected by using voltameter and tested for stability for 12 months. The PANI and TiO2 were coated onto different indium tin oxide (ITO) glass plates by using a drop-casting method and sandwich attached for simple solar cell preparation. PT4 sample was the optimum solar cell with 0.2: 0.2 g of PANI: TiO2 ratio under 2 cm2 surface area based on the highest voltage produces from 100 mW cm-1 of light intensity metal highlight lamp. No voltage was detected for PT7 where the single layer TiO2 coated without PANI attached for solar cell system using same fabrication. It shows that PANI has a significant role in functionalizing the photovoltaic system. The C-N stretching of aromatic amine and C-N stretching for the benzenoid at peaks of 1222 and 1166 cm-1 respectively in FTIR spectra has confirmed the PANI structure supported by an XRD pattern. TP4 has the highest photovoltaic performance compared to other types of TiO2 based on the electron lifetime (τe) and the voltage produced was sustained up to 12 months.

Schottky junction devices by using bio-molecule DNA template-based one dimensional CdS-nanostructures

Creating a well-defined nanostructure through de-oxyribo nucleic acid (DNA)-nanotechnology, and specifically the development of metal/inorganic semiconductor junctions on DNA-assembled nanostructures, is an emerging research area. Herein, we investigate the electrical properties of biomolecule DNA-template based one-dimensional nanowires (NWs)-CdS/Au and without-template based nanoparticles (NPs)-CdS/Au devices grown on the Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass substrates. More importantly, the NWs-CdS/Au device displays a dramatic augmentation of current flow and also a striking change in threshold voltage (~55 mV) in comparison to NPs (~190 mV) and reported bulk-CdS/Au (~680 mV) devices. Albeit the manifestation of non-linear/asymmetric current-voltage (I–V) characteristic establishes the CdS/Au junction as Schottky device, but captivatingly, the large ideality factor of about 24 found in NWs-CdS/Au device could be due to the DNA-assembled based organic process CdS-semiconductor. Capacitance-voltage (C–V) measurements of the NWs-CdS/Au divulge a remarkable hump-like feature at lower frequency owing to the frequency dispersion effect. In contrast, the effect appears to be enfeebled with increasing frequency. We conjecture that the density of surface/interface traps materialises at the interface of nanostructures-CdS/metal-Au results in the changes in underlying electrical properties. The observation of significant differences in the electrical properties of DNA-assembled NWs-based Schottky junctions could possibly be helpful for the fabrication of more sophisticated and higher multispecificity biosensors for medical applications.

Efficient photoelectrochemical overall water-splitting of MoS2/g-C3N4 n-n type heterojunction film.

The construction of heterojunctions has attracted considerable attention among the various strategies of water-splitting for hydrogen evolution due to their band structure advantages. In this research, we combined chemical vapor deposition and pulsed laser deposition to fabricate MoS2/g-C3N4 heterojunction films on indium-tin oxide glass substrates, and we studied the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. The x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope characterizations suggested the successful preparation of MoS2/g-C3N4 heterojunction films. In particular, the shifts of the peak positions in the XPS spectra indicated the formation of a strong interaction between the g-C3N4 and MoS2 films. After depositing MoS2 on the g-C3N4 film, the visible-light absorption was enhanced and broadened, the electrical conductivity improved, and the intensity of the photoluminescence peak decreased. As a result, the greater generation, faster transport, and lower recombination rate of electrons and holes caused the heterojunction films to show higher PEC performance. More importantly, the obtained MoS2/g-C3N4 film was confirmed to be an n-n type heterojunction and to have a typical type-II band structure, which could indeed suppress the recombination and promote the separation, transfer, and transport of photogenerated electron-holes. Finally, the obtained MoS2/g-C3N4 film successfully achieved the overall water-splitting and the H2 evolution rate when the visible-light radiation reached 252 µmol/h.

Black Phosphorus-Molybdenum Disulfide Hetero-Junctions Formed with Ink-Jet Printing for Potential Solar Cell Applications with Indium-Tin-Oxide

In this work, we implemented liquid exfoliation to inkjet-print two-dimensional (2D) black phosphorous (BP) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) p–n heterojunctions on a standard indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate in a vertical architecture. We also compared the optical and electrical properties of the inkjet-printed BP layer with that of the MoS2 and the electrical properties of the mechanically exfoliated MoS2 with that of the inkjet-printed MoS2. We found significant differences in the optical characteristics of the inkjet-printed BP and MoS2 layers attributed to the differences in their underlying crystal structure. The newly demonstrated liquid exfoliated and inkjet-printed BP–MoS2 2D p–n junction was also compared with previous reports where mechanically exfoliated BP–MoS2 2D p–n junction were used. The electronic transport properties of mechanically exfoliated MoS2 membranes are typically better compared to inkjet-printed structures but inkjet printing offers a cost-effective and quicker way to fabricate heterostructures easily. In the future, the performance of inkjet-printed structures can be further improved by employing suitable contact materials, amongst other factors such as modifying the solvent chemistries. The architecture reported in this work has potential applications towards building solar cells with solution processed 2D materials in the future.

Effect of Target Sintering Temperature on the Morphological and Optical Properties of Pulsed Laser Deposited TiO2 Thin Films

In this paper, we report on the effect of titanium dioxide (TiO2) target sintering temperature on the morphological and optical properties of amorphous titanium dioxide thin films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate and subsequently heat-treated in air at low temperature (150 °C). Three types of targets were used, unsintered (pressed at room temperature), sintered at 500 °C and sintered at 1000 °C. The surface morphology of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and profilometry was used for thickness measurements. The structural properties of the films were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while their optical properties were studied by UV‒vis spectroscopy. The obtained TiO2 thin films have an amorphous nature, as shown by XRD analysis. Profilometer showed that sintered target samples have more reliable thicknesses than unsintered ones. The SEM studies revealed the sufficient structural homogeneity of sintered target nanosized TiO2 films and agglomerates in the case of unsintered target film. The UV‒vis transmittance spectra showed high transparency in the visible range of PLD films, proportional to the target sintering temperature. The optical band gaps of the films deposited using the 500 °C and 1000 °C sintered targets are closer to those of anatase and rutile phases, respectively, which provides a promising approach to the challenges of amorphous TiO2-based nanostructures.

3D‐Printed Bioreactor with Integrated Impedance Spectroscopy for Cell Barrier Monitoring

AbstractCell culture experiments often suffer from limited commercial availability of laboratory‐scale bioreactors, which allow experiments to be conducted under flow conditions and additional online monitoring techniques. A novel 3D‐printed bioreactor with a homogeneously distributed flow field enabling epithelial cell culture experiments and online barrier monitoring by integrated electrodes through electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is presented. Transparent and conductive indium tin oxide glass as current‐injecting electrodes allows direct visualization of the cells, while measuring EIS simultaneously. The bioreactor's design considers the importance of a homogeneous electric field by placing the voltage pick‐up electrodes in the electrical field. The device's functionality is demonstrated by the cultivation of the epithelial cell line Caco‐2 under continuous flow and monitoring of the cell layer by online EIS. The collected EIS data were fitted by an equivalent electric circuit, resulting in the cell layer's resistance and capacitance. This data is used to monitor the cell layer's reaction to ethylene glycol‐bis‐(2‐aminoethyl ether)‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid and forskolin. These two model substances show the power of impedance spectroscopy as a non‐invasive way to characterize cell barriers. In addition, the bioreactor design is available as a print‐ready file in the Appendix, enabling its use for other scientific institutions.

Fabrication and assessment of an electrochromic and radar-absorbent dual device based on the new smart polythiophene-based/RGO/Fe3O4 ternary nanocomposite

Both polymeric electrochromic and radar absorption materials have been considered as science hotspots over the past few decades. However, integrating both properties (electrochromic and radar absorption) in a single device has not been addressed to fabricate a multifunctional device so far. Thus, here, we endeavor to shed light on this uncharted area by presenting a new smart ternary nanocomposite (polythiophene-based/RGO-Fe3O4) which can provide both electrochromic and microwave absorbent features simultaneously. In this regard, we synthesized the binary Fe3O4-RGO nanocomposites with different contents of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Then, this binary nanocomposite is utilized in combination with a polythiophene-based conductive polymer as a tricolor (RGB) organic electrochromic material to synthesize the smart ternary nanocomposite through both in-situ polymerization and physical mixing methods. The ternary nanocomposites containing different weight fractions of Fe3O4-RGO nanoparticles were used to assemble the rigid and flexible ECD devices using flat and fiber substrates such as glass-indium tin oxide (glass-ITO), polyethylene terephthalate-indium tin oxide (PET-ITO) and stainless steel wire (SSW). By applying a voltage of −2.1 to 2.1 v, a reversible color-switching ability was observed between green color (oxidized state), and red color (reduced state) for all ECDs. The average switching time and color memory for the SSW cell were determined to be about 3 s and 155 min, and for both glass-ITO and PET-ITO cells to be 2 s and 210 min, respectively. Additionally, the microwave absorption properties of the prepared ternary nanocomposites were characterized by measuring the electromagnetic parameters such as permittivity, permeability, and reflection loss. A ternary nanocomposite with 3 mm thickness filled with 50 wt% Fe3O4-RGO exhibited a maximum reflection loss as high as −30.2 dB (92% absorption) at 12.3 GHz (in the range of x-bond) with 1.1 GHz bandwidth.

Dye and activated carbon from Canarium ovatum Engl. as photosensitizer and counter electrode for Titania-based dye sensitized solar cell

Natural dye from exocarp and activated carbon from charred shells of Canarium ovatum Engl nut was used in the fabrication of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Anatase titania (titanium dioxide, TiO2) nanoparticles was used as semiconducting layer deposited on a transparent conductive indium tin oxide glass using doctor blade method. TiO2 film thickness and soaking time in dye were varied to show response in terms of fill factor (FF), short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit photovoltage (Voc), and conversion efficiency (η). In a 2.0 cm2 active surface area tested under solar irradiance, assembled DSSC at optimum conditions garnered 0.768 desirability with FF, Jsc, Voc and n values of 0.601, 6.293 mA/cm2, 0.446 V, and 1.792, respectively.

Investigation on structural, morphological, optical, and current-voltage characteristics of polyfluorene with dissimilar composition spin coated on ITO

Different weight composition of polyfluorene (PFO) ((0.625 mg, 1.250 mg, and 2.500 mg) have been prepared and dissolved in toluene before spin coating on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates. Post-deposition annealing was carried out to transform the wet film to solid film. High resolution X-ray diffraction analysis has detected the presence of broad diffraction peaks belonged to β-phase of PFO in all of the investigated samples. An onset of crystallization for the β-phase happened in the 2.500 mg PFO coated sample. Photoluminescence emission spectra of the β-phase was increased in intensity. Besides, a red shift happened due to an increase in energy transfer from glassy to β-phase, following an increase in conjugation length in the PFO backbone. The formation of crystalline β-phase and increased conjugation in the 2.500 mg PFO coated sample. Hence, the corresponding current-voltage characteristic showed that the highest current conduction has been perceived by the sample. A schematic diagram showing energy band diagram of the Al/PFO/ITO structure was presented and discussed in association with structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the PFO films.

Large-area uniform Ag nanostructure films prepared by a heat reduction method for SERS application

We prepared an active large-area uniform Ag nanostructure film by using the thermally reducing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/silver nitrate (AgNO3) composite film for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) application. The PVA/AgNO3 composite films were spin-coated on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, and then were heated to about 500 °C for 10 minutes, forming Ag nanostructure films with a thickness of 100 nm and a large area of 3.24 cm2. The results showed that single layer Ag nano-film had a network structure with a skeleton distribution. Moreover, the large ratio of Ag nanostructure to film area was about 63%. Using melamine molecules as a probe, the maximum enhancement factor of the SERS signal could reach 1149, and the SERS sensitivity and the minimum detection limit were respectively up to 76.91 and 3.85 ng/ml. This method of preparing SERS film can provide a new pathway for the application of low-cost and large-area SERS substrates.

10.18% PCE of organic solar cells with pyramid micron-structured PDMS

Since the light harvesting of the organic solar cells (OSCs) is limited by the ultra-thin active layer film due to the low carrier mobility of the organic materials. This study presents a tractable and cost-effective method for enhancement of the light capture of OSCs. A pyramid-shaped micron-structured polydimethylsiloxane (MST-PDMS) anti-reflection film was pasted on the back surface of the OSCs. The MST-PDMS film can reduce the reflectivity of incident light and enhance light capture. Comparing with that of the devices based on the normal indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates, the performance of the devices with MST-PDMS was significant improved. The size of the pyramid is an important factor to the performances of the devices. The short circuit current density could increase mostly without sacrificing the open circuit voltage and fill factor, when the width of the pyramid is 9 µm, and a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PTB7-Th: PC71BM-based OSCs reaches to 10.18%. Compared with that of the device without the anti-reflection film, PCE was increased by 17.96%. Further, the OSCs with the pyramid-shaped MST-PDMS exhibits a relatively high hydrophobic properties leading to a better stability of the devices at the ambient environment.

I-V Characteristics of Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots Diode Fabricated by Drop Casting Method

Current (I)-Voltage (V) characterizations of a CdTe quantum dot diode is discussed in this article. The quantum dot diode is fabricated by a simple drop casting method on an n-type Indium Tin Oxide glass substrate. The linear variation of current with respect to applied voltage can be attributed to reduced grain boundary defects and enriched crystallinity. It is also observed that quantum dots can show good current conduction than CdTe nano-rods.