Preparation of organic–inorganic hybridized dual-functional antifog/antireflection coatings on plastic substrates

Dual-functional antifog/antireflection coatings with a special bi-layer structure for plastic substrates were prepared. The superhydrophilic top layer was a crosslinked network of dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA), hydrophilic agent (synthesized from Tween 20, isophorone diisocyanate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), and organically modified silica. The high-refractive-index bottom layer was composed of TiO₂ nanoparticles and DPHA. The two layers were chemically bonded through a UV-curing process. By tuning the thicknesses of the two layers, a series of coatings were prepared. These coatings were highly transparent and able to reduce reflectance. In addition, they adhered well to the substrate, and demonstrated superb antifogging capability on steam tests. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48822.     

A review on growth optimization of spray pyrolyzed Cu2ZnSnS4 chalcogenide absorber thin film

The progress of solar cell technology in the development of clean and economic quaternary compound copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS)‐based absorber thin films using the spray pyrolysis technique are presented in this review. CZTS (Cu₂ZnSnS₄) is the only potential competitor for the existing solar thin film absorbing materials owing to its environment‐friendly Earth abundant constituents. Even though different nonvacuum thin film technologies have been developed for the large area fabrication of this nontoxic absorber material, spray pyrolysis technique offers more versatility in changing the process parameters which has a direct impact on the cell efficiency. It can be used for depositing a wide variety of materials even with complex composition with good crystallinity, and the method has the advantage of being flexible and straightforward to design and can be quickly adopted for extensive area deposition. A survey on the effects of experimental conditions as well as the nature of precursors on the structural, morphological, electrical, and optical properties on the spray pyrolyzed CZTS thin films is discussed in detail. This analysis certainly could provide a potential to obtain new insights in the fabrication of high‐efficiency CZTS‐based solar cells and to launch it into the commercial market to satisfy the ever‐growing future energy demand.     

Biocompatible Cubic Boron Nitride: A Noncytotoxic Ultrahard Material

Cubic boron nitride (c-BN) has an ultrahardness and a large bandgap energy like diamond. In the last 30 years, most of the attention has been directed towards the mechanical and electronic applications of c-BN, while its biological potential has been overlooked. The authors report in vitro biocompatibility of high-quality c-BN films prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using the chemistry of fluorine. c-BN films become superhydrophilic when chemical-treated in hydrogen and nitrogen plasmas with or without the impact of low-energy ions due to a marked increase in polar part of the surface free energy by removal of the fluorine atoms terminating c-BN surfaces. Satisfactory proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells comparable with a control sample and a superhydrophilic nanocrystalline diamond film, and the formation of mineral deposits by biomineralization are confirmed on the superhydrophilic c-BN films with negative values of zeta potential. The results demonstrate a high potential of c-BN as a noncytotoxic ultrahard coating material for biological and biomedical applications.     

Sol-gel processed highly (100)-textured (K,Na)NbO3-based lead-free thin films: Effect of pyrolysis temperature

Recently, lead-free piezoelectric thin films have received increasing attention due to the growing demands for mircoelectromechanical systems and the significant progress in lead-free piezoelectric research. Here, potassium sodium niobate [(K, Na)NbO₃ (KNN)]-based thin films were fabricated via a sol-gel method. The effects of pyrolysis temperature on the resulting microstructure and electrical properties of KNN-based films were investigated. The KNN-based film pyrolyzed at 550°C and annealed at 700°C shows a dominant (100) orientation with a high texturing degree of 91.7%. The microstructures, morphologies, piezo- and ferroelectric properties of the KNN-based films were discussed in association with different pyrolysis temperatures. The crystallization mechanism of the (100) textured KNN-based thin films was elaborated in detail.     

Interfacing perovskite strontium molybdate to molybdenum disulfide nanoplatelts for boosting HER from water

Due to low hydrogen adsorption free energy at the edges of 2D-MoS₂ layered sheets, nanostructured MoS₂ materials recently are assigned to prospective electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from water. However, the efficiency and stability of HER onto the MoS₂ designed on the conductive substrates are poor. To significantly increase the number of active sites and achieve a long-time working stability, the design of hybrid-type electrodes is crucial. Here, we report the synthesis of a new hybrid material composed of molybdenum disulfide and molybdenum oxides heterostructured with strontium molybdate. For this, a facile one-pot hydrothermal process was developed directly onto the TiO₂ nanotube carpet substrate. The interfacing of strontium molybdate at the electrode substrate verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Time of flight secondary ions mass spectrometry (ToF SIMS) techniques. Considerable higher catalytic activity at the surface of this hybrid film, with the onset potential of 190 mV vs RHE and a Tafel slope of 66 mV dec^?1 attaining ~80 mA cm^?2 at 0.35 V overvoltage was ascertained. Exciting HER stability in comparison with the pure synthetic MoS₂ was verified by a prolonged potential cycling from 0.05 to ?0.35 V versus RHE potential and 45 h continuous HER processing at a constant current density.     

Interface mixing and hydrogen absorption in Pd/Mg and Pd/Al/Mg thin films

Pd/Mg bilayers and Pd/Al/Mg trilayers were prepared onto glass substrates at room temperature (RT) by UHV magnetron sputtering. Mixing effects at the Pd–Mg and Al–Mg interfaces were studied in-situ, immediately after deposition, by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Additionally, the interfaces of the Pd/Al/Mg trilayer for the Al thickness equal to 1 nm were examined. Hydrogen absorption was monitored in-situ at RT by simultaneous resistivity and optical transmittance measurements. Formation of MgH₂ phase was confirmed by ex-situ X-ray diffraction measurements. The XPS studies revealed rather sharp interface between Al and Mg layers. On the other hand, a significant interface mixing for the Pd/Mg bilayers and Pd/1 nm – Al/Mg trilayers was observed. Further studies showed that an additional layer of Al, deposited between magnesium and palladium layers, can significantly improve the hydrogen absorption kinetics at RT. The optimal thickness of the Al layer was found to be 0.5 nm.     

Ultrathin perovskite based solar cells with the efficiency enhanced by charge transfer process

We report a new approach of improving the solar cells efficiency based on ultrathin perovskite films. We propose the addition of CuPc compound to perovskite active layer for enhanced charge generation and transfer process by charge transfer process between CuPc and perovskite. The performance of the devices with and without addition of CuPc was studied in respect to thickness of the active layer. The thickness was varied by the change of the spin coating speed in the range of 4000, 7000 and 10000 rpm, different concentration of CuPc also been studied. The process of charge carrier recombination, crystallinity and Raman characteristics of the obtained films was studied. The perovskite device with an active layer of MAPbI₃ mixed with CuPc spin coated with the speed of 10000 rpm with thickness of about 150 nm demonstrated the efficiency of 12.7%. The ultrathin mixed perovskite film (10000 rpm perovskite film of 15% CuPc) based device presents 33% thickness and 85% efficiency of common pure perovskite device (4000 rpm pure perovskite film).     

Enhanced voltage endurance capability of Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 thin films induced by atomic-layer-deposited Al2O3 intercalations and the application in electrostatic energy storage

Ultrathin Al₂O₃ insulating intercalations with different thicknesses and numbers, prepared by atomic layer deposition technology, were introduced into Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃ (BZT) relaxor ferroelectric films as the dielectric for electrostatic energy storage capacitors. The phase structure, microstructure and electrical properties were investigated in detail. Due to the insertion of insulating layers, the films show less leakage current and enhanced voltage endurance capability when the thickness of single Al₂O₃ intercalation exceeds a threshold (0.45–0.9 nm). The voltage endurance capability can be more enhanced by increasing the number of Al₂O₃ intercalations. For energy storage applications, the energy storage density and efficiency obtained from the polarization-electric field loops are significantly improved owing to the suppressed leakage and enhanced voltage endurance ability. The results promote the application of BZT-based films in electrostatic energy storage. It is demonstrated that the introduction of atomic-layer-deposited insulating intercalations with controllable thickness, such as those fabricated by ALD method, is an effective way to improve the electrical performance of devices based on composite materials.