Single-source Precursor Research Articles

Calcium Sulfide Based Nanophosphors-A Review on Synthesis Techniques, Characterization and Applications.

Calcium sulfide (CaS) is a widely investigated alkaline earth sulfide nanophosphor with promising applications in optoelectronics and biomedical fields due to its excellent photoluminescence properties. The selection of the synthesis method is a crucial factor in determining the efficacy of nanophosphors for various applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the various synthesis techniques employed to develop CaS nanophosphors, including solvothermal, alkoxide, sol-gel, microwave, wet chemical co-precipitation, solid-state diffusion, and single-source precursor methods. The structural and optical properties of CaS nanophosphors are discussed in detail, highlighting the influence of different dopants on the emission color, which can be tuned from blue to red. The review also explores the potential applications of CaS nanophosphors in optoelectronics and biomedicine. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers interested in developing CaS nanophosphors for various optoelectronic and biomedical applications, providing insights into the latest advancements and future prospects in this field.

From molecular precursors to ultra-high temperature ceramics: A novel synthesis of hafnium carbonitride nanoceramics

Hafnium carbonitride (HfCxN1–x) ceramics have drawn considerable interest due to their exceptional mechanical and thermophysical properties. Herein, we report a novel single-source precursor with Hf–N bonds as the main chain and fabricate HfCxN1–x ceramics after pyrolysis of the precursor. The synthesis, ceramic conversion, and microstructural evolution of the single-source precursor as well as the derived HfCxN1–x ceramics treated under various atmospheres were investigated. The results indicate that in an argon atmosphere, the nitrogen content within HfCxN1–x decreases with rising temperature. While under a nitrogen atmosphere, the high concentration of N2 facilitates the rapid conversion of HfO2 to Hf7O8N4, which subsequently promotes the transformation of the HfCxN1–x solid solution ceramics. During this process, there is also an inhibitory effect of N2 on the tendency of HfN into HfC. Moreover, the desired chemical composition of HfCxN1–x can be regulated by adjusting the N2 concentration in the heat treatment atmosphere. The present work proposes a novel strategy for the single-source precursor-derived carbonitride ceramics and provides a deep understanding of the preparation and property modulation of HfCxN1–x ceramics.

Fabrication, Microstructural Evolution, and Mechanical Properties of SiC/(Hf0.25Ta0.25Zr0.25Nb0.25)C/C Nanocomposites.

A dense monolithic SiC/(Hf0.25Ta0.25Zr0.25Nb0.25)C/C high-entropy ceramic nanocomposite was prepared using a polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) method combined with spark plasma sintering (SPS). The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the obtained nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning-electron microscope (SEM), and nanoindentation. The results indicate that the phase composition of SiC/(Hf0.25Ta0.25Zr0.25Nb0.25)C/C can be adjusted by modifying the metal content of the single-source precursor (SSP) through molecular design. The resulting precursor exhibits an exceptionally high ceramic yield, with mass retention of over 90% at 1100 °C, which guarantees the densification of the final SiC/(Hf0.25Ta0.25Zr0.25Nb0.25)C/C composites. The PDC route facilitates the in situ formation of a high-entropy phase within the ceramic matrix under low temperature pyrolysis conditions. Combined with SPS, a dense monolithic SiC/(Hf0.25Ta0.25Zr0.25Nb0.25)C/C nanocomposite was obtained, exhibiting an open porosity of 0.41 vol%, nano-hardness of 27.47 ± 0.46 GPa, elastic modulus of 324.00 ± 13.60 GPa, and fracture toughness of 3.59 ± 0.24 MPa·m0.5, demonstrating excellent mechanical properties.

Facile one-pot synthesis of photoresponsive Cu1.8S and CuInS2 nanostructures aided by Cu-pyrimidylthiolate molecular precursor

Copper-based binary and ternary sulfides have attracted significant attention due to their excellent photo-physical properties, making them highly promising for high-performance energy harvesting and storage devices. This study focuses on the synthesis and structural characterization of an air-stable hexanuclear Cu-pyrimidylthiolate cluster complex which serves as an efficient single-source precursor for the preparation of Cu1.8S nanocrystals. Furthermore, coupling the molecular precursor with suitable indium source resulted in a facile one-pot pathway for the preparation of technologically important, copper-based ternary CuInS₂, nanocrystals. The crystal structure, phase purity, and compositions of the nanostructures were confirmed using PXRD, XPS, EDS, and area elemental mapping. Electron microscopic studies revealed the formation of polygonal and hexagonal morphology with varied size in Cu1.8S and CuInS₂ nanocrystals respectively. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed a slight blue shift in the band gap of the nanostructures compared to their bulk counterparts which can be attributed to quantum confinement or surface lattice distortion effects. The band gap of the pristine nanocrystals along with high photocurrent and stable photo-switching characteristics suggest that they can serve as suitable electrode material for optoelectronic and photodetector devices.

Revolutionizing energy storage and electro-catalysis: unleashing electrode power with novel BaS3:La2S3:Ho2S3 synthesized from single-source precursors for enhanced electrochemical functionality

Revolutionizing energy storage and electro-catalysis: unleashing electrode power with novel BaS3:La2S3:Ho2S3 synthesized from single-source precursors for enhanced electrochemical functionality

Single Source Precursor Path to 2D Materials: A Case Study of Solution‐Processed Molybdenum‐Rich MoSe2‐x Ultrathin Nanosheets

AbstractTwo‐dimensional Molybdenum diselenide is a versatile and promising material used for a wide range of applications and its synthesis in high quality and yield is currently the subject of intense research. Low temperature solution phase synthesis of nanomaterials using designed molecular precursors enjoys tremendous advantages over traditional high‐temperature solid‐state synthesis. However, molecular precursor chemistry of molybdenum selenide nanomaterials is almost non‐existent. We report here synthesis and structural characterization of new molybdenum molecular precursors with selenoether and selenourea ligands, which due to their easy synthesis, desired Mo/Se composition and moderate processing properties, are highly promising as single source precursors for the scale‐up production of 2D molybdenum diselenide materials. This is demonstrated by the solution‐phase decomposition of the Mo‐selenourea precursor which produced Mo‐rich MoSe2‐x ultrathin nanosheets (NSs) in good yield. These NSs were characterized by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP‐OES), Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies.

Optimization of parameters for the preparation of AlN powder/thin films by tris(N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine) al(III) chloride precursor

The single source precursor tris(N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine)Al(III)Cl3 has been synthesized by the reaction of N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) with AlCl3 in 3:1 molar ratio in ethanol. The precursor is stable for long periods of time and cleanly generated aluminum nitride upon pyrolysis. The pyrolysis process was optimized by varying parameters such as temperature, pressure, and the flow rate of gases (N2 and Ar). Thin films of AlN were prepared by spin coating the precursor onto Si(100) and quartz substrates followed by pyrolysis under optimized CVD conditions obtained from bulk pyrolysis. Pyrolyzed powders and films were characterized with a variety of techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed 8.5 nm grain size with a dominant 220 orientation. UV-Vis spectroscopy indicated a band gap for the AlN films of ∼5.7 eV, which is close to bulk AlN (6.1 eV). FESEM showed a smooth and homogeneous film surface and EDAX showed a 1.4:1 ratio of Al:N, respectively.

In Situ Single-phase Formation of LaCl(CN2) Mixed-Anion Compound Via Controlled Pyrolysis of La3+ Modified Melamine Precursor.

Nitride (N3-) or cyanamide (CN22-) based mixed-anion compounds stand as attractive materials due to their unique properties derived from the binary or multiple anions, although their synthesis remains challenging in incorporating the N3- or CN22- anions safely. This work highlights the first demonstration of in situ single phase formation of a LaCl(CN2) mixed-anion compound from a stable single source precursor, melamine modified with LaCl3 preparable under aqueous conditions. The in situ formation of LaCl(CN2) involves the chemical modification of melamine with LaCl3 to form a complex. Upon heating of the precursor under N2 flowing, this complex generates cyanamide species around 400 °C, which react with LaCl3 and nonsublimated melamine to afford a binary LaCl(CN2)/g-C3N4 composite. Further pyrolysis at 800 °C decomposes the g-C3N4 counterpart, resulting in the LaCl(CN2) single-phase formation. The electronic properties of the precursor-derived single phase LaCl(CN2) were studied by the density functional theory calculation and UV-vis spectroscopy combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses and characterized by measuring 4.7, 1.8, and -2.9 eV for the band gap energy, the valence band maximum, and the conduction band minimum relative to Fermi energy, respectively. This study paves the way for exploring various cyanamide-based mixed anion compounds, advancing their potential applications in various fields.

Exploring barium-titanium-peroxo-hydroxide as an excellent single-source precursor for crystallographically diverse barium titanate ceramics – parametric study

Barium-titanium-peroxo type amorphous materials gained importance with the advent of wet-chemical methods for the production of crystalline perovskite barium titanate (BaTiO3) electroceramics. In this paper, the chemical nature of the barium-titanium-peroxo precursor was determined by means of elemental (EPMA), spectroscopic (FT-IR and FT-Raman), XRD and thermal (DSC and TGA/DTA) analyses. Several synthesis parameters such as the barium source, the peroxide treatment time, the reaction temperature and the reaction time were investigated. The precursor was also thermally treated at varying temperatures between 30 °C and 1000 °C. Relatively high reaction temperatures are detrimental to the Ba∙O∙Ti structure, resulting in plain TiO2 formation. Though relatively low temperatures (ice bath) are needed to suppress unwanted TiOCl2, ambient synthesis conditions and short reaction time (2 h) resulted in the desired single-source properties, i.e. amorphous Ba∙O∙Ti-peroxo structure with Ba/Ti ratio of unity (1.04 ± 0.04). The addition of an extra stirring step during H2O2 addition lowered the chance of carbonate incorporation in the precursor. Thermal analysis under air and nitrogen atmosphere was performed and a stoichiometric formula of Ba2,08Ti2O(O2)1,9(OH)5,3∙3,1H2O was calculated, which was in very good agreement with literature data. The barium-titanium-peroxo-hydroxide material proved to be an excellent single-source precursor. Phase-pure, highly crystalline and facetted, stoichiometric BaTiO3 particles with differently crystallographically oriented facets were obtained via the molten-salt solid-state method ({100} or {111} oriented facets) as well as the hydrothermal route ({100} oriented facets).

Surface engineering of CuO-Cu2O heterojunction thin films for improved photoelectrochemical water splitting

The efficient production of green hydrogen poses a significant challenge that requires the development of active, low-cost, and stable catalysts. Copper oxide has emerged as a highly effective photocatalyst for water splitting, offering the advantages of being nontoxic, abundant, and inexpensive. Nonetheless, the photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC) process can be enhanced through surface modification. In this study, we utilized single-source precursors for aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) in order to deposit thin films of copper oxide (CuO-Cu2O) heterojunctions onto a substrate composed of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). The chosen precursor for this purpose was copper (II) nitrate hemi(pentahydrate). To further optimize the CuO-Cu2O films, a novel acid treatment involving the addition of varying quantities of acetic acid (AA) to the precursor solution was employed. Remarkably, this acid treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the photocurrent density of the CuO-Cu2O heterojunction. Notably, a 3 mL acid-treated CuO-Cu2O thin film exhibited an impressive photocurrent measure of −6.8 mA/cm2 at 0.0 V vs RHE in 0.5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte, compared to the performance of the untreated CuO-Cu2O thin film (−2.8 mA/cm2 at 0.0 V vs RHE). This catalyst demonstrated stability and a threefold increase in hydrogen production performance. The increase in photocurrent densities is closely linked to the influence of AA on two key factors: particle growth and structural defects, such as oxygen vacancies. This relationship has been confirmed through the examination of SEM, AFM, and PL spectra results. The findings of this study not only offer a novel approach to catalyst design but also propose a practical method for photoelectrochemical water splitting. This method holds great promise for achieving sustainable and renewable energy sources, as well as efficient green hydrogen production.

Nanostructured NiS2-based flexible smart sensors for human respiration monitoring.

The growing demand for wearable healthcare devices has led to an urgent need for cost-effective, wireless and portable breath monitoring systems. However, it is essential to explore novel nanomaterials that combine state-of-the-art flexible sensors with high performance and sensing capabilities along with scalability and industrially acceptable processing. In this study, we demonstrate a highly efficient NiS2-based flexible capacitive sensor fabricated via a solution-processible route using a novel single-source precursor [Ni{S2P(OPr)2}2]. The developed sensor could precisely detect the human respiration rate and exhibit rapid responsiveness, exceptional sensitivity and selectivity at ambient temperatures, with an ultra-fast response and recovery. The device effectively differentiates the exhaled breath patterns including slow, fast, oral and nasal breath, as well as post-exercise breath rates. Moreover, the sensor shows outstanding bending stability, repeatability, reliable and robust sensing performance and is capable of contactless sensing. The sensor was further employed with a user-friendly wireless interface to facilitate smartphone-enabled real-time breath monitoring systems. This work opens up numerous avenues for cost-effective, sustainable and versatile sensors with potential applications for Internet of Things-based flexible and wearable electronics.This article is part of the theme issue 'Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship'.

Surface-Engineered Ni2P: An Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Zinc-Air Battery.

The surface engineering of electrocatalysts is one of the promising strategies to increase the intrinsic activity of electrocatalysts. It generates anion/cation vacancy defects and increases the electrochemically active surface area. We describethe surface engineering of Ni2P to favorably tune the bifunctional oxygen electrocatalytic activity and the development of a rechargeable zinc-air battery (ZAB). Ni2P encapsulated with N and P-dual doped carbon (Ni2P@NPC) is synthesized using a single-source precursor complex tris-(2,2'-bipyridine)nickel(II) bis(hexafluorophosphate). The surface engineering of the as-synthesized Ni2P@NPC is achieved by the controlled acid treatment at room temperature. The surface engineering removes carbon debris and opens the pores, exfoliates the encapsulating carbon layer, increases the P-vacancy in the crystal lattice, and boosts the electrochemically active surface area. Thesurface-engineered catalyst exhibits enhanced bifunctional activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The electrocatalytically active sites of engineered catalysts are highly accessible for facilitated electron transfer kinetics. P-vacancy favors the facile formation of defect-rich OER active metal oxyhydroxide species. The rechargeable ZAB based on the engineered catalyst delivers a specific capacity of 770.25 mA h gZn-1, energy density of 692 Wh kgZn-1, and excellent charge-discharge cycling performance with negligible voltaic efficiency loss (0.6 %) after 100 h.

Synthesis of an Organotin S‐thiobenzoylthioglycolate Complex and its Application as a Single Source Precursor to SnS2 Thin Film

AbstractS‐thiobenzoylthioglycolic acid possessing two sulfur and two oxygen atoms was used to synthesize an oxoorganotin(IV) carboxylate molecule, [BuSn(O)(O2CCH2SC(S)Ph)]6. The molecule is a hexanuclear cluster that has been characterized structurally by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The complex was used as a single‐source precursor to prepare a thin film of SnS2 by the chemical vapor deposition technique. The distinct triangular formations of SnS2 were characterized by spectral and microscopic measurements. Well‐defined boundaries and considerable sizes of SnS2 structures have been identified.

Fabrication of Nanobioengineered Interfaces Utilizing Quaternary Nanocomposite for Highly Efficient and Selective Electrochemical Biosensing of Urea.

Nanobioengineered interfaces have gained attention owing to their small size and high surface area-to-volume ratio for utilization as a platform for highly selective and sensitive biosensing applications owing to the integration of biological molecules with engineered nanomaterials/nanocomposites. In this work, a novel Ag-complex, [(PPh3)2Ag(SCOf)]-based quaternary Ag-S-Zn-O nanocomposites (NCs), was synthesized through an environmentally-friendly process. The results revealed the formation of the NCs with an average crystallite size and particle size of 36.08 and 40.22 nm, respectively. In addition, this is the first study to utilize such NCs synthesized via a single-source precursor method, offering enhanced sensor performance due to their unique structural properties. Further, these NCs were used to fabricate a urease (Ur)/Ag-S-Zn-O NCs/ITO nanobioengineered electrode for precise and sensitive electrochemical biosensing of urea. The interfacial kinetic studies revealed quasi-reversible processes with high electron transfer rates and linear current responses, indicating efficient reaction dynamics. A high diffusion coefficient and low surface concentration suggested a fast diffusion-controlled process, affirming the electrode's potential for rapid and sensitive urea detection. The biosensor demonstrated notable sensing properties such as high sensitivity (12.56 μA mM-1 cm-2) and a low detection limit (0.54 mM). The fabricated bioelectrode was highly selective and reproducible and demonstrated stability for up to 60 days. These results validate the potential of this nanobioengineered interface for next-generation biosensing applications, paving the way for advanced point-of-care diagnostics and real-time health monitoring.

Optimization of trypan blue and brilliant green dyes photocatalytic degradation and adsorption of lead(II) and chromium (VI) heavy metal ions by copper sulfide nanoparticles

The use of nanoparticles for to remove organic pollutants and heavy metals is a rapidly expanding field in environmental sciences. However, process optimization for practical, real-world applications is still underexplored. In this work, copper sulfide nanoparticles prepared from a single-source precursor were characterized using SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The copper sulfide nanoparticles demonstrated high photocatalytic degradation efficiency of trypan blue (TB) and brilliant green (BG) dyes. The as-prepared nanoparticles efficiently removed lead(II) (Pb2+) and chromium(VI) (Cr6+) ions. Response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize reaction time, pH, and nanoparticle dosage. The optimal conditions for TB degradation were pH 10.91, 77.46 minutes, and 4.999 g/L, while for BG, they were pH 3, 70 minutes, and 5 g/L. For Pb2+ removal, optimal conditions were pH 7.06, 100.38 minutes, and 0.94 g/L, and for Cr6+ removal, pH 3.03, 168.20 minutes, and 0.98 g/L. Under these optimal conditions, CuS nanoparticles achieved up to 99.35% degradation for TB, 100% for BG, 100% removal for Pb2+, and 98.54% for Cr6+. ANOVA confirmed the models' significance, with high regression coefficients (R²: 0.9852 for BG, 0.9846 for TB, 0.9980 for Pb2+, and 0.9901 for Cr6+). The CuS photocatalyst remained stable over three reuse cycles, with minimal efficiency reduction (8.88% for TB and 19.01% for BG). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of copper sulfide nanoparticles in environmental remediation and highlights the practicality of using RSM to optimize nanoparticles as efficient materials to remove organic dyes and heavy metal-laden wastewater.

(Invited) 2D Semiconductors from Spin-on Molecular Chemistries for Direct Large-Scale Integration

In this talk, I will discuss our recent developments centered on a process to produce fully soluble solutions from a unique molecular chemistry. This enables the creation of wafer-scale monolayers of MoS2, a prominent 2D semiconductor for logic and memory devices. This molecule can be dissolved in common solvents and spin-coated onto various substrates, including crystalline substrates, printed electrodes, and polymers. It can also be integrated into gate-all-around (GAA) 3D transistor structures for logic devices. Our method of rapidly synthesizing large-area MoS2 films, particularly in monolayer form via spin-coating, represents a novelty, as it hasn't been demonstrated previously with a single-source chemistry. This advancement is a significant step toward scalable synthesis of wafer-scale 2D semiconductor thin films, eliminating the need for post-growth wafer transfer techniques, a requirement with films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. Our fabrication process highlights the potential of using a single-source chemical precursor to develop monolayer 2D semiconductors that exhibit commendable transport characteristics and optical properties, which enhance with rising crystallization temperatures. Consequently, it holds promise as a semiconductor for microelectronic transistor channels in both back-end-of-line (BEOL) and front-end-of-line (FEOL) architectures.

Catalytic and photocatalytic remediation of toxic dye on hexagonal CuS/Cu2S nanoplates derived from a single source precursor

Bis(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-carbodithioato)copper(II) was synthesized and decomposed to hexagonal copper sulfide (CuS/Cu2S) nanoplates (NPs) under ambient conditions using ethylenediamine as a decomposing agent and solvent. The optical property (UV–Vis) and structural analysis (XRD, HRTEM, TEM, SAED, and EDS) revealed the formation of visible light active (2.24 eV) hexagonal nanoplates of mixed composition (CuS/Cu2S) with size varying from 310 to 890 nm. CuS/Cu2S nanoplates possess both catalytic and photocatalytic properties and degrade Congo red entirely (100%) both in dark and light. However, in the presence of light (80 min) the degradation is faster than in the dark (120 min). The degradation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics in the presence and absence of light. The kinetics also explain that the dye first adsorb on the surface of CuS/Cu2S and then is mineralized. Furthermore, CuS/Cu2S nanoplates were photostable with good reusability. Additionally, the environmentally benign nature, catalyst photocatalytic properties, complete dye degradation, and no generation of secondary pollutants make CuS/Cu2S nanoplates an excellent material for environmental cleansing.

N,N-dibenzyl dithiocarbamato silver(I) as precursor for silver sulfide nanophotocatalysts for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine 6G and trypan blue dyes

N,N-dibenzyl dithiocarbamate silver(I) was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in the trigonal space group P31 to form a one-dimensional, chain-like polymeric structure connected by Ag-Ag argentophilic and Ag-S interactions. The complex was used as single source precursor and thermolyzed at 120, 160 and 200 °C in 1-dodecanethiol to prepare silver sulfide nanoparticles (AgS-120, AgS-160 and AgS-200). TEM images showed quasi-spherical nanoparticles with average particle sizes of 4.0, 5.4 and 5.5 nm for nanoparticles prepared at 120, 160 and 200 °C, respectively, with optical band gaps of 3.76, 3.81 and 3.71 eV. The as-prepared silver sulfide nanoparticles potential as photocatalysts were evaluated using rhodamine 6G and trypan blue under irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 42.4% (k = 3.03 × 10−3), 41.9% (k = 2.73 × 10−3) and 56.7% (k = 4.16 × 10−3) for rhodamine 6G dye and 35.4% (2.94 × 10−3), 49.7% (3.87 × 10−3) and 16.9% (9.0 × 10−4) for trypan blue dye were obtained in the presence of AgS-120, AgS-160 and AgS-200, respectively. The kinetics and mechanism of photocatalytic reaction show that the dye degradation in the presence of the as-prepared nanoparticles follow pseudo-first order kinetics.

Sleuthing the performance of the sustainable mixed metal trichalogenide BaS:Sn2S3:LaS from single source route as an electrode material for charge storage

A novel ternary transition and lanthanide metal composite sulfide (Ba, Sn, and La) has been developed using a single-source precursor method with diethyldithiocarbamate ligand. The resulting BaS:Sn2S3:LaS chalcogenide exhibits a finely tuned band gap of 3.88 eV, reflecting its superior optical performance. This eco-friendly sulfide features an average crystalline size of 17.93 nm and displays a mix of phases. Vibrational analysis reveals distinct transmission peaks corresponding to metal-sulfur bonds. Morphologically, BaS:Sn2S3:LaS composite is characterized by irregularly shaped particles forming a randomly agglomerated mass. The electrochemical charge storage properties of the semiconducting trichalcogenide BaS:Sn2S3:LaS have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and impedance spectroscopy. BaS:Sn2S3:LaS electrode demonstrated impressive performance, storing electrical charge efficiently with a specific capacity of 659.6 F g⁻1 and achieving a power density of up to 3661.65 W kg⁻1. Additionally, the electrode exhibited low resistance, with an equivalent series resistance (Rs) of just 0.43 Ω, indicating efficient ion diffusion across the interface. Given its excellent redox activity and low resistance, BaS:Sn2S3:LaS shows strong potential as an electrode material for supercapacitors and batteries.

Energizing tomorrow with the dithiocarbamate complexes: Unveiling BaS3:La2S3:PrS1.7 tri-metallic chalcogenide semiconductor decorated electrode for supercapacitors and electro-catalysis

This study investigates the energy efficient and novel BaS3:La2S3:PrS1.7 nanocomposite chalcogenide system synthesized using a single source precursor technique. The prepared metallic sulphide was marked by narrow band gap of 3.6 eV and 17.39 nm average crystallite size. Functional group analysis indicated the presence of various bonds inclusive of the metal sulphide bond. Morphologically, these nano-composite chalcogenide was expressive of the irregular shaped particles arranged in the form of agglomerates. The decomposition pattern of this chalcogenide took place in two steps shown by the thermal gravimetric analysis recorded in the range of 0–800 °C. The electrochemical charge-storing behavior was evaluated. According to cyclic voltammetric results in 1 M KOH, the fabricated electrode demonstrated favorable charge storage capabilities with a specific capacitance of 776.36 F g−1. This implies that the electrode has a large amount of potential for storing energy. Additionally, the impedance studies showed that this electrode had a specific power density of 7417.69 W kg−1 and a Rs = 1.03 Ω. The OER overpotential and Tafel slope values are 457 mV and 78 mV/dec, respectively, while electrode produced a Tafel slope of 200 mV/dec and a HER overpotential value of 233 mV.