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Mahjabin S, Haque MM, Sobayel K, Selvanathan V, Jamal MS, Bashar MS, Sultana M, Hossain MI, Shahiduzzaman M, Algethami M, Alharthi SS, Amin N, Sopian K, Akhtaruzzaman M. Investigation of Morphological, Optical, and Dielectric Properties of RF Sputtered WO x Thin Films for Optoelectronic Applications. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3467. [PMID: 36234594 PMCID: PMC9565653 DOI: 10.3390/nano12193467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Tungsten oxide (WOx) thin films were synthesized through the RF magnetron sputtering method by varying the sputtering power from 30 W to 80 W. Different investigations have been conducted to evaluate the variation in different morphological, optical, and dielectric properties with the sputtering power and prove the possibility of using WOx in optoelectronic applications. An Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), stylus profilometer, and atomic force microscope (AFM) have been used to investigate the dependency of morphological properties on sputtering power. Transmittance, absorbance, and reflectance of the films, investigated by Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, have allowed for further determination of some necessary parameters, such as absorption coefficient, penetration depth, optical band energy gap, refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric parameters, a few types of loss parameters, etc. Variations in these parameters with the incident light spectrum have been closely analyzed. Some important parameters such as transmittance (above 80%), optical band energy gap (~3.7 eV), and refractive index (~2) ensure that as-grown WOx films can be used in some optoelectronic applications, mainly in photovoltaic research. Furthermore, strong dependencies of all evaluated parameters on the sputtering power were found, which are to be of great use for developing the films with the required properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samiya Mahjabin
- Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - Md. Mahfuzul Haque
- Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - K. Sobayel
- Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - Vidhya Selvanathan
- Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - M. S. Jamal
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
| | - M. S. Bashar
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Munira Sultana
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Ismail Hossain
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Md. Shahiduzzaman
- Nanomaterials Research Institute (NanoMaRi), Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Merfat Algethami
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sami S. Alharthi
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nowshad Amin
- Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (The National Energy University), Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
| | - Kamaruzzaman Sopian
- Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - Md. Akhtaruzzaman
- Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), Bangi 43600, Malaysia
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8573, Ibaraki, Japan
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Jiang BC, Yang SH. Nickel-Doped ZnO Nanowalls with Enhanced Electron Transport Ability for Electrochemical Water Splitting. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1980. [PMID: 34443811 PMCID: PMC8398548 DOI: 10.3390/nano11081980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This article reports on the growth of 3 mol% nickel (Ni)-doped zinc oxide nanowalls (ZnO NWLs) using the hydrothermal method. Morphological investigation as well as electrical conductivity of the undoped and Ni-doped ZnO NWLs was also discussed. The surface roughness of the formed ZnO NWLs was reduced after Ni-doping. The pore size of Ni-doped ZnO NWLs can be controlled by changing the concentration of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT). As the HMT concentration increased, the pores became larger with increasing surface roughness. The electrical conductivity of the electron-only device based on the Ni-doped ZnO NWLs was higher than that of the undoped one, and it was decreased with increasing the HMT concentration. Our results reveal that Ni-doping and adjustment of the HMT concentration are two key approaches to tune the morphology and electrical properties of ZnO NWLs. Finally, the undoped and Ni-doped ZnO NWLs were used as the catalyst for electrochemical water splitting. The Ni-doped ZnO NWLs with the HMT concentration of 1 mM showed the highest electrochemical performance, which can be attributed to the increased surface area and electrical conductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sheng-Hsiung Yang
- Institute of Lighting and Energy Photonics, College of Photonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Tainan 71150, Taiwan;
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Wang B, Biesold GM, Zhang M, Lin Z. Amorphous inorganic semiconductors for the development of solar cell, photoelectrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:6914-6949. [PMID: 33904560 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01134g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Amorphous inorganic semiconductors have attracted growing interest due to their unique electrical and optical properties that arise from their intrinsic disordered structure and thermodynamic metastability. Recently, amorphous inorganic semiconductors have been applied in a variety of new technologies, including solar cells, photoelectrocatalysis, and photocatalysis. It has been reported that amorphous phases can improve both efficiency and stability in these applications. While these phenomena are well established, their mechanisms have long remained unclear. This review first introduces the general background of amorphous inorganic semiconductor properties and synthesis. Then, the recent successes and current challenges of amorphous inorganic semiconductor-based materials for applications in solar cells, photoelectrocatalysis, and photocatalysis are addressed. In particular, we discuss the mechanisms behind the remarkable performances of amorphous inorganic semiconductors in these fields. Finally, we provide insightful perspectives into further developments for applications of amorphous inorganic semiconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Masi S, Mastria R, Scarfiello R, Carallo S, Nobile C, Gambino S, Sibillano T, Giannini C, Colella S, Listorti A, Cozzoli PD, Rizzo A. Room-temperature processed films of colloidal carved rod-shaped nanocrystals of reduced tungsten oxide as interlayers for perovskite solar cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:11396-11404. [PMID: 29645032 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp00645h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Thanks to their high stability, good optoelectronic and extraordinary electrochromic properties, tungsten oxides are among the most valuable yet underexploited materials for energy conversion applications. Herein, colloidal one-dimensional carved nanocrystals of reduced tungsten trioxide (WO3-x) are successfully integrated, for the first time, as a hole-transporting layer (HTL) into CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells with a planar inverted device architecture. Importantly, the use of such preformed nanocrystals guarantees the facile solution-cast-only deposition of a homogeneous WO3-x thin film at room temperature, allowing achievement of the highest power conversion efficiency ever reported for perovskite solar cells incorporating raw and un-doped tungsten oxide based HTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Masi
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, Polo di Nanotecnologia, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
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Thakur UK, Kisslinger R, Shankar K. One-Dimensional Electron Transport Layers for Perovskite Solar Cells. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2017; 7:E95. [PMID: 28468280 PMCID: PMC5449976 DOI: 10.3390/nano7050095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The electron diffusion length (Ln) is smaller than the hole diffusion length (Lp) in many halide perovskite semiconductors meaning that the use of ordered one-dimensional (1D) structures such as nanowires (NWs) and nanotubes (NTs) as electron transport layers (ETLs) is a promising method of achieving high performance halide perovskite solar cells (HPSCs). ETLs consisting of oriented and aligned NWs and NTs offer the potential not merely for improved directional charge transport but also for the enhanced absorption of incoming light and thermodynamically efficient management of photogenerated carrier populations. The ordered architecture of NW/NT arrays affords superior infiltration of a deposited material making them ideal for use in HPSCs. Photoconversion efficiencies (PCEs) as high as 18% have been demonstrated for HPSCs using 1D ETLs. Despite the advantages of 1D ETLs, there are still challenges that need to be overcome to achieve even higher PCEs, such as better methods to eliminate or passivate surface traps, improved understanding of the hetero-interface and optimization of the morphology (i.e., length, diameter, and spacing of NWs/NTs). This review introduces the general considerations of ETLs for HPSCs, deposition techniques used, and the current research and challenges in the field of 1D ETLs for perovskite solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujwal K Thakur
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
| | - Ryan Kisslinger
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
- National Research Council, National Institute for Nanotechnology, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada.
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