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Mezzi A, Bolli E, Kaciulis S, Bellucci A, Paci B, Generosi A, Mastellone M, Serpente V, Trucchi DM. Multi-Technique Approach for Work Function Exploration of Sc 2O 3 Thin Films. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:1430. [PMID: 37111015 PMCID: PMC10142770 DOI: 10.3390/nano13081430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Thin films based on scandium oxide (Sc2O3) were deposited on silicon substrates to investigate the thickness effect on the reduction of work function. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray reflectivity (EDXR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) measurements were performed on the films deposited by electron-beam evaporation with different nominal thicknesses (in the range of 2-50 nm) and in multi-layered mixed structures with barium fluoride (BaF2) films. The obtained results indicate that non-continuous films are required to minimize the work function (down to 2.7 eV at room temperature), thanks to the formation of surface dipole effects between crystalline islands and substrates, even if the stoichiometry is far from the ideal one (Sc/O = 0.38). Finally, the presence of BaF2 in multi-layered films is not beneficial for a further reduction in the work function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Mezzi
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN-CNR, Montelibretti, 00010 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Bolli
- Institute of Structure of Matter, DiaTHEMA Lab, ISM-CNR, Montelibretti, 00010 Rome, Italy
| | - Saulius Kaciulis
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN-CNR, Montelibretti, 00010 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bellucci
- Institute of Structure of Matter, DiaTHEMA Lab, ISM-CNR, Montelibretti, 00010 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Paci
- Institute of Structure of Matter, ISM-CNR, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Amanda Generosi
- Institute of Structure of Matter, ISM-CNR, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Mastellone
- Institute of Structure of Matter, DiaTHEMA Lab, ISM-CNR, Montelibretti, 00010 Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Serpente
- Institute of Structure of Matter, DiaTHEMA Lab, ISM-CNR, Montelibretti, 00010 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Maria Trucchi
- Institute of Structure of Matter, DiaTHEMA Lab, ISM-CNR, Montelibretti, 00010 Rome, Italy
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Bolli E, Mezzi A, Kaciulis S, Serpente V, Bellucci A, Trucchi DM. Temperature dependence of the work function in barium fluoride ultra‐thin films on semiconductors for hybrid thermionic converters studied by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. SURF INTERFACE ANAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/sia.7182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Bolli
- Department of Industrial Engineering University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome Italy
- Institute of Structure of Matter, DiaTHEMA Lab ISM‐CNR Rome Italy
| | - Alessio Mezzi
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials ISMN‐CNR Rome Italy
| | - Saulius Kaciulis
- Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials ISMN‐CNR Rome Italy
| | - Valerio Serpente
- Institute of Structure of Matter, DiaTHEMA Lab ISM‐CNR Rome Italy
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Bellucci A, Girolami M, Mastellone M, Orlando S, Polini R, Santagata A, Serpente V, Valentini V, Trucchi DM. Novel concepts and nanostructured materials for thermionic-based solar and thermal energy converters. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 32:024002. [PMID: 32957094 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/abba57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Thermal and concentrated solar solid-state converters are devices with no moving parts, corresponding to long lifetimes, limited necessity of maintenance, and scalability. Among the solid-state converters, the thermionic-based devices are attracting an increasing interest in the specific growing sector of energy conversion performed at high-temperature. During the last 10 years, hybrid thermionic-based concepts, conceived to cover operating temperatures up to 2000 °C, have been intensively developed. In this review, the thermionic-thermoelectric, photon-enhanced thermionic emission, thermionic-photovoltaic energy converters are extensively discussed. The design and development processes as well as the tailoring of the properties of nanostructured materials performed by the authors are comprehensively described and compared with the advances achieved by the international scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bellucci
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), DiaTHEMA Lab, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
| | - M Girolami
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), DiaTHEMA Lab, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
| | - M Mastellone
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), DiaTHEMA Lab, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Base ed Applicate per l'Ingegneria, Univ. of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - S Orlando
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), FemtoLab, Tito Scalo (PZ), Italy
| | - R Polini
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), DiaTHEMA Lab, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
| | - A Santagata
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), FemtoLab, Tito Scalo (PZ), Italy
| | - V Serpente
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), DiaTHEMA Lab, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
| | - V Valentini
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), DiaTHEMA Lab, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
| | - D M Trucchi
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), DiaTHEMA Lab, Monterotondo Scalo (RM), Italy
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