Low Surface Resistance Research Articles

Cooperative Use of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and Thiols on a Silver Surface: A Synergetic Approach to Surface Modification.

Surface modification through the formation of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) can effectively engineer the physicochemical properties of the surface/material. However, the precise design of multifunctional SAMs at the molecular level is still a major challenge. Here, we jointly use N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and thiols to form multifunctional hetero-SAM systems that demonstrate excellent chemical stability, electrical conductivity, and, in silico, catalytic activity. This synergistic effect is facilitated by the high surface mobility and electron-rich nature of NHCs, combined with the strong binding strength of thiols. Scanning tunneling microscopy, electrical conductivity, and scanning electron microscope measurements, as well as density functional theory calculations, were employed to explore the synergistic interactions in the supramolecular SAMs. The van der Waals integration of ballbot-type NHCs and thiols enables the SAMs to exhibit both superior surface anticorrosion properties (attributing to the shift in the d-band center) and low surface resistance originating from the band alignment. Moreover, we find that the deposition sequence of flat-lying NHCs and thiols results in SAMs with different configurations, which can further tune the mechanistic pathway in silico in the acetylene hydrogenation process. Our results provide essential molecular insights into the local electronic control of the new SAM/metal interface and the high stability of the emergent multifunctionality (NHC/thiol)-SAMs forming self-assembled lamellae structures in the nanometer regime.

The Effect of Varying Compaction Levels on Soil Dynamic Properties and the Growth of Canola (Brassica napus L.)

Extremely low field emergence rates for canola are primarily attributed to soil compaction from field traffic during and after planting. This study aimed to determine the critical compaction level for canola emergence across different soil types. A laboratory experiment was conducted using sandy loam, silt clay, and clay soils, compacted to five levels (zero to four) using Proctor hammer drops after sowing canola (Brassica napus L.). The lab results were validated through two years of field experiments in sandy loam, applying four compaction levels (zero to three) using a tractor. Soil properties (bulk density and surface resistance) and canola growth parameters (plant emergence rate, count, height, and above-ground biomass) were measured. Zero compaction resulted in lower bulk density and surface resistance across all soil types. Laboratory results showed maximum emergence rates of 95% for sandy loam, 100% for silt clay, and 60% for clay, while field emergence rates were 63% and 87.59% in the first and second years, respectively, both at zero compaction. Recommendations include light or no compaction for sandy loam, and zero compaction for silt clay, while clay soil did not achieve the 80% emergence target at any compaction level. These results can assist agricultural producers in optimizing their seeding equipment setup and managing field traffic for canola production.

Structural, Mechanical and Thermal Behaviour of MWCNT-PCS Hybrid Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites: An Extension Study of Graphene-Epoxy Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites

This study extends previous research on graphene-epoxy nanocomposites by investigating the thermal, mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced polycarbosilane (PCS) hybrid polymer matrix nanocomposites. Building on the foundational work that demonstrated the enhanced performance of graphene-epoxy nanocomposites, this research explores the potential of MWCNTs as a superior reinforcing agent within the PCS matrix. The MWCNT-PCS nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized using a comprehensive suite of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, specific gravity analysis and surface resistance measurements. The results indicate that MWCNT-PCS nanocomposites exhibit improved thermal stability, higher degradation temperatures, and enhanced thermal conductivity, along with significant improvements in mechanical strength and lower surface resistance, indicating superior electrical conductivity. Additionally, the chemical interactions between MWCNTs and the PCS matrix were analyzed to assess the dispersion and bonding quality, contributing to the overall performance of the nanocomposites. These findings suggest that MWCNT-PCS nanocomposites are promising candidates for high-performance applications in aerospace, where thermal stability, mechanical strength, electrical conductivity and chemical stability are critical. This paper not only confirms the benefits of MWCNT reinforcement but also provides a direct comparison with graphene-epoxy nanocomposites, underscoring the advancements made in this ongoing research.

Study on the suppression of secondary electron emission characteristics based on TiN

Abstract With the continuous development of satellite communications, the problem of high-frequency high-power multipactor caused by the miniaturization of microwave passive components in the aerospace field has become more and more serious. In this paper, for the problem of multipactor suppression of load passive devices, we carried out research on the preparation of TiN thin films based on PEALD and put forward a new method for suppressing SEE with good suppression effect, high consistency, low surface resistance, and other aspects of the unity of the multipactor effect. The use of 20nm TiN coating can make the silver-plated surface secondary electron emission coefficient down to 1.59. The RF surface resistance change rate is less than 3%. In the field of communication, satellite and navigation and other fields have a wide range of application prospects.

Preparation of C@CuNi/TiO2 with a local surface plasmon resonance for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and antibiotics under visible light irradiation

A composite photocatalyst with carbon-coated CuNi nanoparticles-loaded TiO2 nanotubes (C@CuNi/TiO2) was synthesized via a microwave hydrothermal alkali stripping method combined with subsequent in-situ carbothermal reduction. The structure, morphology, and surface chemical composition were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The findings demonstrate that the microwave hydrothermal alkali peeling enables the formation of a three-dimensional C@CuNi/TiO2 composite structure. The results of transient photocurrent response (i-t) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under visible light demonstrate that C@CuNi/TiO2 exhibits a reduced rate of electron-hole recombination and lower surface resistance compared to C@TiO2, C@Cu/TiO2, and C@Ni/TiO2. After a two-hour exposure to visible light, the composite photocatalyst C@CuNi/TiO2, featuring a molar ratio of 2 % CuNi nanoparticles to TiO2 nanotubes, exhibited remarkable degradation activity towards organic dyes (Rhodamine B (RhB), Methylene Blue (MB), Methyl Orange (MO)), as well as antibiotics (tetracycline (TC) and levofloxacin (LVFX)). After 5 cycles of photocatalytic reaction, the photodegradation activity of RhB remained above 79 %. It is indicated that CuNi nanoparticles effectively trap and enrich photoelectrons through the photoexcitation of TiO2 nanotubes. Additionally, the local surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect of CuNi nanoparticles reduces the recombination rate of photogenerated electron/hole and the electron transport resistance in the composite photocatalyst, thereby enhancing its overall photocatalytic activity.

Precisely regulated crystalline phase of TiO2@composite G doped with Al3+: For the preparation of highly conductive, corrosion resistant conductive coatings

The development of conductive materials is crucial to the upgrading of modern science and technology industries. In recent years, the research on conductive materials synthesized based on TiO2 has mainly focused on improving the conductivity and stability of the materials. And this study, based on the high conductivity of the material, innovatively proposes a method to precisely regulate the crystal phase and morphology of TiO2 by CH3COOH and temperature together. Meanwhile, the heterostructure was successfully built by doping Al3+ into the TiO2 lattice, and a new conductive pathway (Al-O-C) was constructed. Finally, the composite G was prepared as an Al3+-doped TiO2 composite G (Al-T/G) functional material, and it was verified by first-principles calculations (DFT). The experimental results show that the Al-T/G material not only has the low surface resistance and high whiteness of TiO2, but also is endowed with more excellent resistivity (0.203 Ω·cm) and protection efficiency (92.45 %). Meanwhile, compared with the conventional antimony-doped tin dioxide (ATO) conductive materials, the Al-T/G functional materials prepared in this paper are basically harmless to the environment in the experimental process while ensuring high conductivity. Most importantly, this paper explores the bonding mechanism of Al3+-doped TiO2 conductive materials, which provides new insights and ideas in the field of dopant-modified TiO2 conductive materials.

Silane modified Cr2O3/polyimide nanocomposite films with excellent surface insulation performance for space applications

The exploration of deep space significantly increases the probability of spacecraft failures due to surface electrostatic discharge, which imposes higher vacuum insulation protection requirements on polyimide (PI), the external insulation material of spacecrafts. To address this challenge, this study proposes using silane coupling agent KH550 for organic grafting treatment of Cr2O3nanoparticles, which are then used to dope and modify PI to enhance the vacuum surface insulation of PI films. The KH550 grafting improves the interface strength between the fillers and the matrix, allowing the fillers to be uniformly dispersed in the matrix. Compared to pure PI films, the prepared PI-Cr2O3@KH550 composite films exhibit significantly enhanced vacuum surface flashover voltage, improved surface/volume resistivity, and dielectric properties. The results demonstrate that PI composite films with 0.8% by mass of Cr2O3@KH550 show the most notable performance improvement, with the DC flashover voltage and impulse flashover voltage in vacuum increasing by 20.7% and 27.8%, respectively. The doping of chromium oxide nanoparticles introduces more deep traps into the PI films and reduce the surface resistivity. The higher deep trap density inhibits charge migration, thereby alleviating secondary electron emission and surface electric field distortion. Simultaneously, the lower surface resistivity facilitates dissipating surface charges and improves the surface insulation. These findings are of significant reference value for promoting the enhancement of aerospace insulation performance.

High-performance aqueous organic redox flow battery enabled by sulfonated anthrone-containing poly(aryl ether ketone) membranes

Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) have become a promising electrochemical energy storage technology due to their low cost, high safety, and sustainability. As key components of emerging AORFBs, membranes face challenges such as scarcity of available membranes and high prices. Moreover, currently available membranes have low battery performance because these membranes are not optimized for specific AORFBs. In this work, a new cation exchange membrane sulfonated anthrone-containing poly(aryl ether ketone) (SAnPEK) membrane was prepared for the first time and achieved significantly improved performance in (SPr)2V/K4[Fe(CN)6] AORFBs. SAnPEK membrane has excellent selectivity and high mechanical strength (>50 MPa). SAnPEK membranes exhibit high conductivity in 1 M NH4Cl solution. For example, SAnPEK-4 membranes exhibit low surface resistance (0.176 Ωcm2) in 1 M NH4Cl solution, which is significantly better than Nafion117 (1.02 Ωcm2) and Nafion212 membranes (0.276 Ωcm2). SAnPEK membrane exhibtis impressive performance in (SPr)2V/K4[Fe(CN)6] AORFB. The SAnPEK-4 membrane exhibits high coulombic efficiency (CE) and excellent energy efficiency (EE) (CE = 99.1 %, EE = 83.4 % at 100 mAcm−2), and the EE for SAnPEK-4 membrane is significantly better than that for the Nafion117 membrane (CE = 99.3 %, EE = 62.4 %) and Nafion212 membrane (CE = 99.1 %, EE = 80.8 %, 100 mAcm−2). In addition, the SAnPEK-4 membrane exhibits excellent cycle stability over 3000 cycles in AORFB. As a high-performance, easy-to-prepare, low-cost cation exchange membrane, SAnPEK membranes have good application potential in AORFBs.

The preparation of permanent antistatic additive based on poly(ether-b-amide) copolymers and its modification effect on polyamide 6

Abstract Conventional polymers have typically been used in the packaging of various electronic devices; however, due to the inherent electrically insulating properties these materials fail to dissipate static charges. To address this issue, novel poly(ether-b-amide) (PEBA) segmented copolymers consisting of uniform rigid oxalamide and flexible polyethylene glycol (PEG) were synthesized via melt polycondensation. The influence of PEG molecular weight and the spacer length separating two oxalamide units on the condensed structure, mechanical performance, and antistatic properties was systematically investigated. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) demonstrated strongly hydrogen bonded and highly ordered oxalamide hard segments with the degree of ordering between 71 and 85 % even at low levels. Mechanical behavior results showed that segmented copolymers have an obvious yield point, an elastic modulus between 20 and 30 MPa, and strain at break exceeding 2000 %. Meanwhile, such copolymers possessed low surface resistivity, as low as 107 Ω, which is significantly less than that of commercial antistatic additives. The antistatic effect of PEBA on polyamide 6 (PA6) was also investigated, revealing that when the content reached 30 wt%, the surface resistivity of the alloys decreased from 1013 Ω to 1011 Ω and remained stable after 40 days, even after water washing treatment. Overall, these findings illustrate that the newly synthesized PEBA copolymers demonstrate outstanding long-term antistatic properties and provide valuable insights for the development of polyether-based multiblock copolymer antistatic agents.

The multifunctional flexible conductive viscose fabric prepared by thiol modification followed by copper plating

Based on the current rapid development of electronic products, the development of light-weight, processable, environmentally friendly, long-life, durable, less corrosive, and tunable conductive composite materials with multiple applications may be the development direction of next-generation electronic devices. In this work, for the first time, we employed 3-Mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-MT) to modify viscose nonwovens and enhance the copper plating process. The prepared samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscope + energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM + EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electrical resistivity, anti-corrosion, Joule heating, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Results showed that 3-MT was covalently bound to the viscose surface through hydrolysis and condensation reactions and introduced SH groups. WAXD confirmed that the thiol modification did not change the internal crystal structure of viscose and copper ions. TGA and surface morphology analysis confirmed that the modified viscose promoted the deposition of metal particles in the copper plating process due to the affinity of thiol to metal so that copper particles almost completely wrapped the viscose fibers. In addition, 3MT@Cu@Viscose exhibits extremely low surface and volume resistivity (346.6 and 333.2 mΩ·m), improved corrosion resistance (corrosion rate reduced by 58% compared to the unmodified sample), fast Joule heating response (within 10 s) in low voltage (1 V) and excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE > 50 dB). It showed great potential in future multi-functional electronic products such as electric heating sensors, smart clothing, and EMI shielding barrier.

Hydrogenation effect on 2D ZnO single crystal/ZnO–SnO2 two phase ceramics and its enhanced mechanism in H2 gas sensing

In this work, a 1D/2D two-phase structure of ZnO single-crystal nanosheets/ZnO–SnO2 nanorods was constructed, and the hydrogen gas sensing properties including selectivity have been enhanced by this low-cost way without noble metal doping. It was proved that hydrogenation effect on ZnO (0001) single crystal facets was the key to forming the low resistance surface in hydrogen gas, leading significantly enhancement in response and selectivity. The response (Ra/Rg) to 200 ppm hydrogen gas exceeded 400 at a low operating temperature of 150 °C, response/recovery time in 100 ppm H2 was only 30 s/8 s. The sensor also has good selectivity for hydrogen detection. The enhancement in gas sensing properties due to dual mechanism of the hydrogenated low-resistance surface and the resistance modulation of ZnO/SnO2 heterojunctions, which proposed in this paper.

Gold nanowire mesh electrode for electromechanical device

Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators were prepared with Nafion film as the ionic polymer and gold nanowire (Au-NW) mesh film as the metal electrodes by hot-pressing, which shortened preparation time within 1 h. As a reference, IPMC actuator consisting of Nafion film and gold foil (Au-foil) was also prepared. Au-NW mesh film can be an electrode with thinner (about 150 nm) and lower surface resistivity (about 0.5 Ω sq−1) than the conventional electrode prepared by electroless plating. Larger contact area of the Au-NW mesh electrode than the Au-foil electrode resulted in better actuation performance (60% larger peak-to-peak displacement in actuation). It was confirmed that the transformation behavior of Au-NWs differed depending on the external stimuli condition. Namely Au-NWs transformed to Au nanoparticles in the case of the heat stimulus only. Meanwhile, Au-NWs transformed to plates in the case of the heat and pressure stimuli. While higher temperature improved the adhesion of Au-NW mesh electrode to the Nafion surface, it induced the transformation of nanowire to plates. The IPMC actuator that the Au-NW mesh electrodes were hot-pressed at 90 ºC exhibited the highest capacitance and the largest peak-to-peak displacement in actuation. This research expanded the application field of gold nanowires to the electromechanical devices.

RCS reduction effect based on transparent and flexible polarization conversion metasurface arrays

In recent years, radar cross section (RCS) reduction techniques based on electromagnetic absorption materials have become a hot research topic in the field of electromagnetic stealth. This paper proposes a transparent conformal encoded metasurface based on polarization rotation units. The metasurface array is optimized using the whale optimization algorithm to construct a 1-bit polarization rotation encoded unit array. The proposed metasurface array exhibits good RCS reduction and electromagnetic wave polarization conversion performance in the frequency range of 13.2–20.7 GHz. The RCS reduction effect of the metasurface array is effective at different angles and polarization states. The metasurface is composed of transparent and flexible materials, namely ITO, PET, and PVC plastic. It exhibits conformal properties while maintaining a high physical transmittance of up to 83.6%. The RCS reduction performance of the metasurface is studied under different curvatures and demonstrates good conformal scattering characteristics. The RCS variation of ITO material compared to traditional metallic materials was also analyzed. It was found that ITO with low surface resistance is an effective means to broaden the RCS bandwidth. This makes it suitable for theoretical research and the design of electromagnetic stealth for electronic devices such as radars and antennas with different curvatures.

In-situ construction of plasma-pretreated CNT networks endow the LPDS dual-layer coating with advanced thermal management and anti-static properties

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for temperature regulation have been proven to be promising for passive radiative heat dissipation. However, it remains a considerable challenge to assemble a CNTs layer in situ while simultaneously achieving horizontal electrical conductivity, vertical electrical insulation, and radiative heat dissipation. Herein, plasma pretreatment was employed to functionalize CNTs in an aqueous solution, thus improving their dispersion capability. Subsequently, a liquid-plasma-assisted particle deposition and sintering (LPDS) technology was proposed to prepare a dual-layer coating with an Al2O3-P2O5-SiO2-In2O3 glass system embedded with crystalline indium tin oxide (ITO) as the porous bottom layer and ITO-CNTs as the top layer on the aluminum alloy surface. The results show that plasma pretreatment significantly increases the deposition amount of ITO nanoparticles and functionalized CNTs on the coating surface, resulting in the transition from a single-layer composite coating to a dual-layer coating. The surface micro-/nano hierarchical structure favors strong absorptance/emittance, exhibiting a high infrared emittance of 0.94 (3-20 μm) and high solar absorptance of 0.92 (0.2-2.5 μm). Meanwhile, the surface balance temperature of the dual-layer coating is about 392 K, which is 146 K lower than that of aluminum alloy. Furthermore, the top conductive ITO-CNTs layer contributes to the low surface resistivity of 3.46×102 Ω, while the glass phase of the bottom layer ensures vertical electrical insulation with a volume resistance of 4.20×107 Ω. The process provides a new path for preparing thermal control coatings with anti-static function.

Copper bonding silicon nitride substrate using atmosphere plasma spray

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) is an excellent engineering ceramic with high strength, fracture toughness, wear resistance, and good chemical and thermal stability. Recently, the enhanced thermal conductivity enables Si3N4 to have potential application prospects in the electronic and orthopedic fields. Metal bonding with Si3N4 is often the key to these applications. Here we report a facile approach for the titanium-activated Cu bonding on Si3N4 substrates using an atmosphere plasma spray (APS) process. With X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observation, it was shown that the interaction between the pre-bonded Ti (by APS) on Si3N4 promoted the adhesion and high bonding strength of APS Cu on Si3N4. The interfacial structure and phases were characterized, and tensile strength, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, and residual stress of Cu bonded Si3N4 were measured accordingly. The APS deposited Cu layer is dense, has a high purity, and is joined firmly with Ti pre-bonded Si3N4 substrate. The maximum tensile strength between Cu and Si3N4 is as high as 89.4 MPa. The Si3N4 substrate bonded with highly dense Cu demonstrates a low surface resistivity of 8.72 × 10−4 Ω∙mm, and high thermal conductivity of 98.12 W/m·K, which shows potential applications in electronic devices.

Crystal structure‐flashover performance correlation in polybutylene terephthalate: Insights into the mechanism

AbstractA deep understanding of the main factors affecting the insulating properties of polymers is essential for the progress of insulation components in various applications, including electric vehicles, electronic devices, and information technology. In this study, we used polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) samples with varying degrees of crystallinity as a model material to investigate the influence of aggregation structure on its electrical performance. The results revealed that increasing the crystallinity of PBT led to a simultaneous increase in the surface flashover voltage. We identified the amorphous region as the weak link in the aggregation structure of PBT. Compared to the amorphous region, the crystalline region exhibited superior resistance to charged ion bombardment, a higher degree of compactness, higher bulk resistivity, and lower surface resistivity. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the aggregation structure and electrical performance of polymers is fundamental for developing practical high‐performance insulation components. This study provides valuable guidance for controlling the electrical performance of polymers with high‐performance insulating properties, and is thus of great significance to the electrical aging field.

Construction of P-C3N4/C3N5 isotypic heterojunction for effective degradation of organic pollutants

BackgroundPhotocatalysis was an effective method for organic pollutant degradation, and graphitic carbon nitride g-C3N4 and g-C3N5 were famous two-dimensional semiconductors. Compared to the allotypic heterojunction, the band alignment and compatibility of isotypic heterojunction were superior. MethodsIn this work, an organic isotypic heterojunction was constructed via coupling phosphorus-doped C3N4 (P-C3N4) and g-C3N5. The characteristics were evaluated using transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectrum, ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) diffuse reflection spectrum, electronic spin resonance (ESR) analysis, photoluminescence spectrometer, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and photocurrent analysis. SignificantIsotypic heterojunction displayed high UV–vis light harvest, high separation efficiency of photo-induced charge carriers, and low surface resistance. Additionally, an internal-electric-field was established at the interface, which was beneficial for spatial separation of photo-induced charge carriers. As expected, the Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation efficiency was 7.3 and 12.3 times higher than that of the P-C3N4 and g-C3N5. Radical trapping experiment and ESR analysis indicated that •O2−, •OH, hole, 1O2, and electron played joint role in RhB degradation. In this work, a photocatalyst with excellent photocatalytic degradation properties was designed, and it provided a simple and novel strategy for environmental remediation.

Improvement of surface insulating performance for polytetrafluoroethylene film by atmospheric pressure plasma deposition

The surface flashover phenomenon across a vacuum-dielectric interface severely limits the service life and operational reliability of high voltage electrical equipment. Surface modification by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is a promising method to improve the surface insulating performance of polymers. In order to explore the mechanism of plasma processing on the vacuum flashover characteristics of polymer materials, atmospheric pressure plasma deposition was used to treat polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film. The surface parameters under different processing conditions, such as surface chemical composition, surface resistivity, surface charge decay and trap distribution, were tested and analyzed. The space charge distribution of PTFE and the flashover voltage in vacuum were measured. The results show that Si–O–Si and Si–OH groups are introduced on the surface of PTFE, and the characteristic peaks of PTFE are gradually weakened with the increase of processing time. The surface trap density increases and more traps with lower energy level arise with longer processing time. The plasma deposition changes the space charge distribution in PTFE body, and leads to positive charge accumulation inside the sample. The flashover field strength respectively increases by 15% and 70% in direct current (DC) voltage and microsecond pulse voltage after plasma deposition. The rapid dissipation of surface charge is the main reason for pulse flashover voltage enhancement, while the increase of surface leakage current due to lower surface resistivity and space charge accumulation in PTFE body make the DC flashover voltage reach the saturation point. Therefore the surface insulating and body performance of polymer materials after plasma modification processing should be considered comprehensively based on different applications.

Surface modification of jute fabrics by reduced graphene oxide-conducting polymer coatings for their application in low-cost and eco-friendly supercapacitors

In this study, flexible textile supercapacitors were obtained on jute fabrics. Insulating jute fibers were converted into electrically conducting using an optimized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) deposition method. Supercapacitors were made of jute fabric and polypyrrole (PPy) as conducting polymer. rGO improved the electrical behavior of PPy-jute supercapacitors obtained by chemical polymerization. These chemical PPy-jute supercapacitors presented a low surface resistivity (6 Ω/sq) suitable for subsequent electrochemical polymerization. The best results were obtained for rGO-PPy-jute supercapacitors synthesized by electrochemical polymerization, with capacitance values of 5127 mF cm−2 (117 F g−1) in a 3-electrode system; and1770 mF cm−2, 39.9 F g−1, 250 μW h cm−2 and 1100 μW cm−2 in a 2-electrode system. It is essential to highlight that the jute supercapacitors obtained are eco-friendly, low cost, flexible and with very competitive energy-storage values compared to recent investigations.

Enhanced conductivity of infrared transparent Bi2Se3 thin films as anti-interference coatings for infrared detectors

Infrared transparent conductive coatings are extensively utilized in both military and civilian infrared detectors due to their superior infrared transmission and electromagnetic shielding properties. It is a major scientific challenge to find a solution to the contradiction between high transmittance and low conductivity in the area of wide-band infrared transparent conductive film research. This study utilized new material systems and film preparation technologies to clarify the problem. A higher c-axis preferred orientation infrared transparent conducting Bi2Se3 thin film on a p-Si (111) substrate was developed using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technology. At room temperature, the film exhibited n-type conductivity, with high surface mobility of 2565 cm2/V·s and low surface resistivity of 2.6 × 10−5 Ω cm. In the mid-IR and far-IR regions, the produced Bi2Se3 thin film displayed transparency of 90% and 80%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this n-type conductive thin film created using chemical vapor deposition is the best IR-transparent thin film to date. Using this film, a Bi2Se3/p-Si heterojunction diode with a maximum voltage of 0.7 V was created. Young's modulus and hardness were determined to be 80 ± 5.5 GPa and 15 ± 2.2 GPa, respectively, for the film. It demonstrates the film's resistance to wear and deformation. The findings imply that Bi2Se3 film may be used as an anti-interference coating for infrared detectors and other optoelectronic devices throughout a wide wavelength range, from the mid-IR to the far-IR, due to its good optical transparency and electrical conductivity.