Synthesis and properties of CS x F y thin films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering in an Ar/SF6 discharge

Phosphorous- and Boron-Doped Graphene-Based Nanomaterials for Energy-Related Applications

Doping is a great strategy for tuning the characteristics of graphene-based nanomaterials. Phosphorous has a higher electronegativity as compared to carbon, whereas boron can induce p-type conductivity in graphene. This review provides insight into the different synthesis routes of phosphorous- and boron-doped graphene along with their applications in supercapacitors, lithium- ions batteries, and cells such as solar and fuel cells. The two major approaches for the synthesis, viz. direct and post-treatment methods, are discussed in detail. The former synthetic strategies include ball milling and chemical vapor discharge approaches, whereas self-assembly, thermal annealing, arc-discharge, wet chemical, and electrochemical erosion are representative post-treatment methods. The latter techniques keep the original graphene structure via more surface doping than substitutional doping. As a result, it is possible to preserve the features of the graphene while offering a straightforward handling technique that is more stable and controllable than direct techniques. This review also explains the latest progress in the prospective uses of graphene doped with phosphorous and boron for electronic devices, i.e., fuel and solar cells, supercapacitors, and batteries. Their novel energy-related applications will continue to be a promising area of study.

Patterned Metal/Polymer Composite Film with Good Mechanical Stability and Repeatability for Flexible Electronic Devices Using Nanoimprint Technology

Mechanical stability and repeatability are significant factors for the application of metal film flexible electronic devices. In this work, patterned metal/polymer composite films with good mechanical stability and repeatability were fabricated through nanoimprint technology. The mechanical properties characteristic of metal/polymer composite films were exhibited by resistance change (ΔR/R₀) after cyclic tension and bending loading. It was found that the ΔR/R₀ and error line of patterned metal/polymer composite film was far lower than the other control groups for repeated experiments, which indicates that patterned metal film has excellent mechanical properties and repeatability. The double cantilever beam method was employed to measure the interfacial adhesion properties of composite films. The average interfacial adhesion of patterned metal/polymer composite films is shown to be over 2.9 and 2.2 times higher than that of metal film deposited on bare polymer and metal nanowire-treated polymer substrates, respectively.