Mesoporous ZnO thin films obtained from molecular layer deposited "zincones".

Dalton Trans

Institute of Solid State Physics, NAWI Graz, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria.

Published: October 2019

The delivery of porous ZnO thin films represents a challenge due to the low porosity achievable by conventional thin film deposition methods. In this contribution, the synthesis of mesoporous ZnO thin films is demonstrated through calcination in air of hybrid Zn-based polymers (zincone) obtained by molecular layer deposition (MLD). The calcination process was followed as a function of temperature using X-ray reflectivity and diffraction, together with spectroscopic ellipsometry. Temperature ranges were identified for the removal of the organic ligands (120 °C) and ZnO crystallization (340 °C). The total porosity and open porosity were also determined by ellipsometric porosimetry (EP) and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). The calcination temperature was identified as a control parameter for obtaining different (open) porosity contents and pore size distributions (PSDs). Open porosity values of 12.6% and 19.6% were obtained by calcining the zincones up to 600 °C and 400 °C, respectively. Open PSDs with a mean value of 3.2 nm (400 °C) and 4.6 nm (600 °C) were obtained. The formation of larger slit-shaped pores was demonstrated at higher temperatures, due to the growth and coalescence of ZnO crystallites.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9dt02824bDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

zno thin
12
thin films
12
open porosity
12
mesoporous zno
8
molecular layer
8
600 °c
8
400 °c
8
°c
6
porosity
5
thin
4

Similar Publications

To advance off-grid energy solutions, developing flexible photobatteries capable of direct light charging is essential. This study presents an innovative photobattery architecture that incorporates zinc oxide (ZnO) as an electron-transporting and hole-blocking layer, combined with a hybrid methylammonium tin iodide composite with poly-triarylamine (MASnI/PTAA) for light absorption and hole transport. PTAA facilitates efficient hole transport to the anode, thereby enhancing charge separation and reducing recombination losses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The combination of ZnO with narrow bandgap materials such as CuO is now a common method to synthesize high-performance optoelectronic devices. This study focuses on optimizing the performance of p-CuO/n-ZnO heterojunction pyroelectric photodetectors, fabricated through magnetron sputtering, by leveraging the pyro-phototronic effect. The devices' photoresponse to UV (365 nm) and visible (405 nm) lasers is thoroughly examined.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Antimony selenide (SbSe) shows promise for photovoltaics due to its favorable properties and low toxicity. However, current SbSe solar cells exhibit efficiencies significantly below their theoretical limits, primarily due to interface recombination and non-optimal device architectures. This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of SbSe thin-film solar cells using SCAPS-1D simulation software, focusing on device architecture optimization and interface engineering.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Effect of H Fluence Irradiation on the Optical, Structural, and Morphological Properties of ZnO Thin Films.

Materials (Basel)

December 2024

Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico.

Polycrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on soda-lime glass substrates using the chemical spray pyrolysis method at 450 °C. The samples were irradiated with 8 keV H ions at three different fluences using a Colutron ion gun. The effects of the irradiation on the structural, morphological, and optical properties were studied with different techniques, including Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Ultraviolet and Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this work, the sensing ability and the underlying reaction pathways of HS adsorption on two nanomaterial systems, pristine zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) and gold functionalized zinc oxide nanowires (Au@ZnO NWs), were explored in a side-by-side comparison of optical and electrical gas sensing. The properties of optical sensing were analyzed by photoluminescence intensity-over-time measurements (-) of as-grown ZnO NW samples, and the electrical gas-sensing properties were analyzed by current-over-time measurements (-) of ZnO NW chemically sensitive field-effect transistor (ChemFET) structures with a gas-sensitive open gate. The ZnO NWs were grown by high-temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and thereafter surface-functionalized with a thin Au nanoparticle layer by magnetron sputtering.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!