Chemical Deposition Research Articles

Structural characterization and dosimetric response evaluation of (SnO<sub>2</sub>)<sub>0.3</sub>(TiO<sub>2</sub>)<sub>0.7</sub> thin film

This study investigates the effect of X-ray radiation on the I-V characteristics of (SnO2)0.3(TiO2)0.7 thin film in a voltage range of 0- 8 The thin film was developed using the aerosol assisted chemical deposition technique. The amorphous character of the films was shown by the XRD spectra, which showed peaks corresponding to SnO2 and TiO2. Smooth surface morphology with tiny poses was indicated by the FESEM picture, and 2.73 μm film thickness was identified in the cross-sectional investigation. The I-V characteristics result indicates that the electrical conductivity changes throughout a range of applied voltages, from 0 to 8 V. The I-V characteristic measurements obtained during irradiation with X-ray dosage (dose rate) ranging from 100 cGy (250 cGy/min) to 200 cGy (350 cGy/min) and a voltage range of 1.0V to 8.0 V indicate that the current increases linearly with X-ray doses and dose rate. The thin film’s ability to undergo structural changes due to X-ray radiation makes it a valuable dosimetric sensor.

Saturation Mobility of 100 cm2 V-1 s-1 in ZnO Thin-Film Transistors through Quantum Confinement by a Nanoscale In2O3 Interlayer Using Spray Pyrolysis.

In this study, we present a comprehensive study on the fabrication and characterization of heterojunction In2O3/ZnO thin-film transistors (TFTs) aimed at exploiting the quantum confinement effect to enhance device performance. By systematically optimizing the thickness of the crystalline In2O3 (c-In2O3) layer to create a narrow quantum well, we observed a significant increase in saturation mobility (μSAT) from 12.76 to 97.37 cm2 V-1 s-1. This enhancement, attributed to quantum confinement, was achieved through the deposition of a 3 nm c-In2O3 semiconductor via spray pyrolysis. Various In2O3 layer thicknesses (2-5 nm) were obtained by adjusting precursor solution concentration, flow rate, and number of spray cycles. Post annealing treatments were employed to reduce the defects at the interface and within the oxide film, enhancing device stability and performance. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the uniformity of the c-In2O3 film thickness, while variations in thickness significantly influenced TFT performance, particularly the turn-on voltage (VGS) due to changes in the carrier concentration. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) supported the formation of a potential well with a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The study of single and multiple superlattice structures of consecutive c-In2O3 and c-ZnO layers provided insights into the effects of multiple quantum wells on the TFT performance. This research presents an advanced approach to TFT optimization, highlighting high reliability, and environmental and bias stabilities. These lead to enhanced mobility and performance uniformity through the precise control of c-In2O3 layer thickness for the quantum confinement effect.

Strain-Engineered Ferroelectricity in 2H Bilayer MoS2.

The exploration of two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibiting out-of-plane ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties through interlayer twist/translation or strain, known as sliding ferroelectricity, has become a focal point in the quest for low-power electronic devices, capitalizing on weak van der Waals interactions. Herein, we delve into the behavior of strained bilayer molybdenum disulfide (2L-MoS2) transferred onto a nanocone-patterned substrate. An intriguing observation is the emergence of unexpected vertical ferroelectricity in MoS2, irrespective of whether it was prepared using chemical vapor deposition or mechanical exfoliation from the bulk crystal. Such an observation underscores the versatility and reproducibility of the emerging ferroelectricity across different preparation methods. Furthermore, the piezoelectric coefficients recorded are exceptionally high, with the values of 37.54 and 24.80 pm V-1 for monolayer and bilayer MoS2, respectively, outperforming most currently discovered 2D piezoelectrics. The presence of room-temperature out-of-plane ferroelectricity in strained 2L-MoS2 is confirmed through first-principles calculations and piezoresponse force microscopy. This ferroelectric behavior can be attributed to the symmetry breaking and interlayer sliding within the strained 2L-MoS2 structure. Our findings not only deepen the understanding of ferroelectricity in 2D materials but also offer insights for the design of 2D ferroelectrics, thereby enabling diverse functionalities and applications in ferroelectricity.

Prediction of Temperature‐Dependent Stress in 4H‐SiC Using In Situ Nondestructive Raman Spectroscopy Characterization

Abstract4H‐SiC is widely used in power electronics owing to its superior physical properties. However, temperature‐induced stresses compromise the reliability of 4H‐SiC power devices in high‐temperature applications, warranting precise, and nondestructive stress characterization responsive to temperature variations. Herein, a temperature‐dependent predictive model is proposed for analyzing the Raman shift–stress in 4H‐SiC. The 4H‐SiC epitaxial samples prepared via chemical vapor deposition are characterized using in situ variable‐temperature Raman spectroscopy, resulting in a temperature correction factor of approximately −0.021 cm−1 K−1, which is integrated into the conventional Raman shift–stress relationship to assess stress variations induced by temperature variations. The elastic modulus tensor of 4H‐SiC at various temperatures determined using molecular dynamics simulations indicates a linear reduction in modulus with increasing temperature. This variable temperature modulus is incorporated into the Raman shift–stress relationship. Furthermore, a finite element method is used for model simplification to perform stress calculations in three axial directions. The experimental results confirm the consistency between calculated and experimental values with a 10% error range under the uniaxial stress condition. The study findings provide valuable insights into assessing stress evolution in 4H‐SiC under temperature variations based on Raman spectroscopy, thereby advancing the application of spectroscopic techniques in material stress detection.

Growth of zinc oxide nanowires by a hot water deposition method.

Recently, various methods have been developed for synthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures, including physical and chemical vapor deposition, as well as wet chemistry. These common methods require either high temperature, high vacuum, or toxic chemicals. In this study, we report the growth of zinc oxide ZnO nanowires by a new hot water deposition (HWD) method on various types of substrates, including copper plates, foams, and meshes, as well as on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glasses (ITO/glass). HWD is derived from the hot water treatment (HWT) method, which involves immersing piece(s) of metal and substrate(s) in hot deionized water and does not require any additives or catalysts. Metal acts as the source of metal oxide molecules that migrate in water and deposit on the substrate surface to form metal oxide nanostructures (MONSTRs). The morphological and crystallographic analyses of the source-metals and substrates revealed the presence of uniformly crystalline ZnO nanorods after the HWD. In addition, the growth mechanism of ZnO nanowires using HWD is discussed. This process is simple, inexpensive, low temperature, scalable, and eco-friendly. Moreover, HWD can be used to deposit a large variety of MONSTRs on almost any type of substrate material or geometry.

Mild polarization electric field in ultra-thin BN-Fe-graphene sandwich structure for efficient nitrogen reduction

The electrocatalytic N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is expected to supersede the traditional Haber-Bosch technology for NH3 production under ambient conditions. The activity and selectivity of electrochemical NRR are restricted to a strong polarized electric field induced by the catalyst, correct electron transfer direction, and electron tunneling distance between bare electrode and active sites. By coupling the chemical vapor deposition method with the poly(methyl methacylate)-transfer method, an ultrathin sandwich catalyst, i.e., Fe atoms (polarized electric field layer) sandwiched between ultrathin (within electron tunneling distance) BN (catalyst layer) and graphene film (conducting layer), is fabricated for electrocatalytic NRR. The sandwich catalyst not only controls the transfer of electrons to the BN surface in the correct direction under applied voltage but also suppresses hydrogen evolution reaction by constructing a neutral polarization electric field without metal exposure. The sandwich electrocatalyst NRR system achieve NH3 yield of 8.9 μg h−1 cm−2 and Faradaic Efficiency of 21.7%. The N2 adsorption, activation, and polarization electric field changes of three sandwich catalysts (BN-Fe-G, BN-Fe-BN, and G-Fe-G) during the electrocatalytic NRR are investigated by experiments and density functional theory simulations. Driven by applied voltage, the neutral polarized electric field induced by BN-Fe-G leads to the high activity of electrocatalytic NRR.

Effect of carbon-supported rare earth oxide catalysts on the microstructure, hydrogen storage kinetics, and thermodynamics of Mg-La-Ni alloys

In this study, using an improved chemical vapor deposition carbonization method, Eu2O3@C, PrO1.83@C, and La2O3@C composite catalysts were successfully synthesized and incorporated into Mg96La3Ni alloys via ball milling. These catalysts significantly enhanced the hydrogen storage properties of the alloys, particularly in terms of hydrogenation kinetics. Among the catalysts, PrO1.83@C demonstrated the most significant improvement. At 360 °C, the Mg96La3Ni alloy containing 3 wt% PrO1.83@C achieved a 75.1 % hydrogenation saturation ratio within 2 min and released 3 wt% H2 in 3.1 min. While the catalysts did not significantly alter the alloy's thermodynamics, they substantially reduced the dehydrogenation activation energy. The addition of 3 wt% Eu2O3@C, PrO1.83@C, and La2O3@C lowered the activation energy barriers to 116.6, 101.4, and 114.8 kJ/mol H2, respectively, compared to 121.67 kJ/mol H2 for the pristine Mg96La3Ni alloy. This enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effects of the "hydrogen pump" mechanism of rare earth hydrides and the abundant active sites provided by the carbon component, which collectively promote faster hydrogen diffusion and nucleation reactions.

Improved solid-state lithium-ion battery on stainless steel substrate with graphene nanowalls by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Improved solid-state lithium-ion battery on stainless steel substrate with graphene nanowalls by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

The system of automatic control of the substrate temperature as part of the installation for the production of film material by spray pyrolysis

The system of automatic control of the substrate temperature as part of the installation for the production of film material by spray pyrolysis

First principles study of point defects and Li doping on the electronic structure and photovoltaic performance of single-layer GaN

The preparation of single-layer GaN by chemical vapor deposition inevitably generates H interstitials. In this study, the optical properties of single-layer Ga36N36, Ga34LiN36 and Ga34HiLiN36 (0 0 1) surfaces were investigated by using the first-principles method. In the presence of Li doping and H interstitial, the dielectric function and reflectivity red-shifted in the low-energy range and the dielectric function and reflectivity of the Ga36N36 improved. In the visible range of the absorption spectrum, the impurity-containing surfaces red-shifted, and the light absorption on the Ga36N36 improved. The Ga34HiLiN36 (0 0 1) surface performed better as a photovoltaic material than other surfaces.

Highly conductive and uniform PEDOT on poly(acrylic acid-vinylbenzyl chloride) functionalized surfaces

This study demonstrates increasing the uniformity and conductivity of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films synthesized by vapor phase polymerization (VPP) through the utilization of a thin interfacial prime layer on the substrate surface. The prime layer, which is a copolymer of acrylic acid (AA) and vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC), was coated on the substrate surface using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) method. FTIR and XPS were used to analyze the structure of as-deposited films. The use of P(AA-VBC) copolymer as a prime layer allowed uniform and complete coverage of the oxidant solution on the substrate surface due to the hydrophilic nature of the AA constituent. During the VPP, the existence of the chlorine ions originating from the VBC constituent allowed in-situ doping of the as-deposited polymer, which contributes to the increased uniformity and the conductivity. The experimental studies were carried out to show the increase in uniformity, conductivity and adherence of the as-deposited PEDOT film in the presence of the prime layer. There was nearly a 4-fold increase in the conductivity of as-deposited PEDOT in the presence of the prime layer, with measured conductivity uniformity as high as 96% over a 5×5 cm2 glass surface.

Impact of Flame Conditions on the Pd‐O Structure and Methane Oxidation Activity over Ceria Support

AbstractIn this work, we employed flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), a high‐temperature synthesis method, to control the formation of Pd structures on the CeO2 support. Multiple types of Pd structures deposited on CeO2 are observed on FSP‐made samples. Our results show that the oxidizing environment during FSP synthesis facilitates the formation of incorporated Pd2+ structures, along with highly dispersed Pd2+, Pd0 nanoparticles, and Pd° clusters formed under the reducing synthesis condition. Notably, these Pd2+ species remained stable at temperatures up to 400 °C. The catalysts containing both highly dispersed Pd2+ nanoparticles and incorporated Pd2+ species demonstrated superior methane oxidation activity, with higher turnover frequencies than those containing only one type of Pd2+ structure. However, hydrothermal pretreatment in the presence of water vapor led to partial deactivation, likely due to structural alterations in the Pd species or the interaction with the CeO2 support, which reduced the stability and effectiveness of the active sites. This study underscores the importance of both highly dispersed and incorporated Pd2+ species in enhancing catalytic performance and highlights the challenges posed by water‐induced deactivation in practical applications.

Electrochemical performance of cobalt-doped NiO thin films synthesized by spray pyrolysis

ABSTRACT In this work, various cobalt-doped NiO thin films have been synthesized via the spray pyrolysis. The cobalt-doped NiO thin films show a cubic phase with preferred orientation along the (111) plane. The scanning electron microscopy images of the cobalt-doped NiO thin films show interconnected flakes with small agglomerated particles. The optical bandgap decreases from 3.30 eV for the undoped NiO thin film to 2.90 eV for 20 mol% cobalt doping, with an increase in cobalt doping concentration in NiO. The electrochemical activities have been tested in 2M KOH electrolyte with cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The highest specific capacitance observed for the 10 mol% cobalt-doped NiO thin film electrode is 760 Fg−1 at a scan rate of 5 mVs−1. The 10 mol% cobalt-doped NiO thin film electrode shows 92% retention in capacitance after 1000 cycles and a low charge transfer resistance of 10 Ωcm2.

Synthesis of Few Layers Graphene Sheets from Graphite Rod via Electrochemical Exfoliation

Graphene has many excellent properties in mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, optical transparency and thermal conductivity. The basic unit of graphene is made of hexagonal ring of carbon shape. The production of graphene in large amounts can be done using conventional ways such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD). However, the cost production is very high due to high reaction temperature. Therefore, electrochemical exfoliation could become a promising method in future because of its simple, low cost and large-scale production. Electrochemical method is performed in the manner by connecting the graphite rod to the positive terminal (anode) while the copper sheet is connected to the negative terminal (cathode) and both of were immersed into electrolyte with a distance between them. Then, due to the potential difference, the exfoliation of graphite into graphene sheets occurs. X-Ray Diffraction revealed that high amount of exfoliated graphene sheets was synthesized successfully where the peak was seen at approximately 26.60°. Fourier Transform Infrared confirmed the synthesized of graphene oxide (GO) sheets (by using H2SO4 as electrolyte) shows the higher intensity of O-H band because of strongest oxidation behaviour of H2SO4 acid among all electrolytes used in experiment. Besides. SEM images show that the morphologies of the exfoliated graphene sheets have stacked, flaky-like, wrinkled and crumpled structures.

Facile fabrication of green and sustainable gelatin-based aerogels for marine oil spill recovery

Efficient and rapid cleanup of marine oil spills is crucial for environmental protection and resource recovery. Biomass aerogel has a broad application prospect in oil spill treatment, but is often limited by the complex preparation process and the use of toxic cross-linking agents. In this study, the hydrophobic gelatin-based aerogels (HGAs) were simply prepared for marine oil spill recovery based on self-crosslinking of gelatin, bubbles produced by surfactants and high-speed stirring, and chemical vapor deposition using methyl trichlorosilane (MTCS). The results showed that the HGAs exhibited a three-dimensional porous structure with a water contact angle of 131.6°. Their adsorption capacities for various oils and organic solvents ranged from 60.4 to 146.5 g/g, which was linearly related to the oil density and depended on the number of pores within the material. The oil adsorption by the HGAs reached equilibrium within 30 s, following the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the HGAs were highly stable in different temperature, pH, and salinity conditions. Simple squeezing can recover 80 % of the spilled oil, and retain 86 % of the initial adsorption capacity after 10 adsorption-squeeze cycles. Additionally, the HGAs had an excellent continuous oil-water separation performance, demonstrating significant potential and practicability in marine oil spill recovery.

Investigating the Impact of Hydrogen Bonding on Silicon Nitride (SiNx) Film

The deposition of amorphous hydrogenated silicon nitride (a‐SiNx:H) via plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition is critical for optimizing the performance of crystalline silicon (c‐Si) solar cells. This study investigates the impact of varying gas ratios (GR = NH3/SiH4) on the optical and physical properties of deposited SiNx films. Results show that the refractive index (RI) ranges from 1.8 to 2.3 with changing gas compositions. Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy reveals shifts in [SiNH] and [SiH] stretching modes, indicating changes in hydrogen passivation and nitrogen incorporation. Hydrogen bonding densities of [SiH] and [SiNH] correlate positively with the RI. For example, the hydrogen bonding density [NH] ranges from 4.53 × 1023 to 6.32 × 1023 cm−3 for [SiNH] bonds while [Si‐H] varies from 6.93 × 1023 to 1.06 × 1024 cm−3. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis shows stable hydrogen intensity, contrasting with a decrease in nitrogenhydrogen bonds. These findings highlight the key role of hydrogen bonding in determining SiNx film properties, with significant implications for semiconductor and photovoltaic applications.

Highly responsive gas sensors based on grain boundary–rich polycrystalline few-layer MoS2 films for NO2 detection

Abstract This study addresses the issues of insufficient sensitivity and poor reversibility for NO2 detection by successfully fabricating a sensor based on uniform and high-quality few-layer MoS2 polycrystalline material using chemical vapor deposition. This approach aims to improve the response of the sensor by exploiting the abundance of grain boundary (GB) defects in polycrystalline MoS2 membranes. Comprehensive surface morphology analysis of the few-layer MoS2 polycrystalline films was conducted using microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to characterize their chemical composition and properties. Subsequently, evaluation of 1–100-ppm NO2 was conducted at room temperature (25°C). The results show excellent performance of the sensor, with a response range of 11–82.24. Notably, under ultraviolet excitation at room temperature, this sensor exhibits a response time of only 41 s to 50 ppm of NO2 with complete recovery and improved sensitivity, maintaining reliable stability over eight weeks. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the sensor demonstrates high selectivity toward NO2 gas with limit of detection and limit of qualification values of 10 and 34 ppb, respectively. Owing to the abundant adsorption sites provided by GB defects in polycrystalline thin films, the response performance of the sensor is effectively enhanced. This study provides valuable insights into the future design and development of high-performance NO2 gas sensors.

CO2 plasma inducing steel-slag with active sites for efficient growth of carbon nanotubes for the high-performance microwave absorption

As a solid waste generated in the metallurgical process, the highly efficient catalysis of steel-slag for carbon nanotube (CNT) growth remains a huge challenge. Herein, a CO2 plasma-inducing approach for modifying the steel-slag catalyst with rich active sites was developed for CNT growth in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Furthermore, the high-energy CO2 plasma refines the particles on the steel-slag surface, reducing the particle size on the surface of steel-slag effectively increasing the active sites of the catalyst. In addition, the thermal effect generated by the gas molecule ionization process under CO2 increases the background temperature of the steel-slag, and the interaction between the oxygen-active substances produced and the iron oxide on the surface of steel-slag undergoes an oxidation reaction upon full contact with high-energy particles, which greatly improves the catalytic efficiency of the steel-slag as a catalyst for CNT, and increases the catalytic efficiency by 50 % compared with the non-plasma modified steel-slag as a catalyst for catalyzing CNTs. In addition, catalytically grown CNTs encapsulate magnetic steel-slag catalysts to form a three-dimensional CNT network structure, with high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption. The composite absorbing material with a thickness of only 3.55 mm has a minimum absorption rate of −64.08 dB for electromagnetic waves at a frequency of 7.9 GHz. The dielectric and the magnetic loss of steel-slag lead to enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption. Therefore, this study provides an inexpensive and environmentally friendly idea for the design of high-efficiency CNT growth and solid waste catalyst modification synthesized with high-performance absorbers.

A Review: Synthesis and Mechanism of Growth of the Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) – Graphene Hybrid Material and its Application as Electrodes

The CNTs–graphene hybrids have many advantages and potential for use in a wide range of electronic applications as electrodes. The CNTs–graphene hybrid structure outperforms the structure of each material in terms of characteristics and performance. There are several methods to grow CNTs. This paper reviews the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method used to synthesize CNTs–graphene hybrid material. This paper discusses the processes and growth parameters of the synthesis of the CNTs-graphene hybrid. This paper also discusses the growth mechanism and kinetics of CNTs. In addition, the potential and performance of CNTs–Graphene hybrid material as electrodes in batteries are also reviewed.

Solar Cells: Applications and Current Opinion

Due to the manufacturing process, silicon-based solar cells have conquered the marketplace, but their cost is not economic. As a result, thin-film manufacturing was done with low-cost, appealing materials generated using less expensive, scalable, and manufacturable procedures. The motivation behind this work is to develop low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells using chemical and electrochemical techniques. Thin film solar cell structure could be presented as glass, Cu structure, CdS window material, TCO, and CdTe absorber material. The absorber and window materials include layers such as CdS and CdTe, while Cu and TCO are the back and front contacts. By using CSS and chemical bath deposition (CBD), The usual method of making this structure is to grow window (CdS) and absorber (CdTe) materials. CBD is a batch method that generates enormous quantities of Cd-containing waste solutions each time, adding to the production process's high cost. Sputtering or PVD, including high vacuum conditions, is performed with back and front contacts. This research program focuses on developing an "all chemical-solar cell" structure. This study showed that CdS and CdTe materials may be employed and electrodeposited in thin-film solar cell systems, CBD and electroless techniques. Furthermore, the back and front contacts can be coated using the CdS electrolytic bath, which is utilized for seven months without being discarded, but the CBD bath lasts 2-3 days. The deposition rate of the thin films was about 50 - 100 times greater than reported values in the literature. The efficiency of the manufactured cells was between 1 and 6%, which was reduced by the duration of time. Twenty days after manufacturing a TCO, CdS, CdTe, the short-circuit current, Cu-Ag solar cell, and open-circuit voltage deposited by all chemical and electrochemical deposition techniques were 0.8 mA/cm2 and 8.8 mV, respectively. However, consistency and reproducibility remain unresolved. The growth of CdTe nanocrystalline thin film is one of the reasons it has been identified as having nanosized tracks. High-quality CdTe layers should be developed, or in cadmium solar cells, its layered structure is the form of a cadmium window and a zinc oxide buffer layer to increase the consistency of the solar cell efficiency.