Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117940
Ali Abouais , Amina Laouid , Mohammed Boumhamdi , Amine Alaoui Belghiti , Karol Strzałkowski , Diksha Singh , Anna Zawadzka , Daniel Kamiński , Grzegorz Trykowski , Abdelowahed Hajjaji
Zinc manganese selenide, a type II-VI semiconductor with a tunable bandgap, is attracting considerable interest due to its diverse applications, including light-emitting diodes and spintronics. In this work, the growth of Zn1-xMnxSe semiconductor materials was achieved using the vertical Bridgman method at high temperatures and pressures with varying Mn concentrations in the range of x = 0–0.42. The real chemical composition was measured using EDS spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction was used to determine the crystallographic parameters and the structure of the grown crystals. We report the temperature-dependent photoluminescence studies of Mn2+ in ZnSe crystals over a 10–300K temperature range using a Helium cryostat. The band gap energy of the samples is blue-shifted with increasing Mn content. The exciton energy was followed by the temperature, and a Varshni fitting was determined. Decay time-resolved dependence on the composition and the temperature was examined and discussed. Non-radiative recombination is more prevalent in Mn2+-rich crystals.
{"title":"Excitonic and Mn2+ d–d emission dynamics in Zn1-xMnxSe alloys (x ≤ 0.42): influence of composition and temperature","authors":"Ali Abouais , Amina Laouid , Mohammed Boumhamdi , Amine Alaoui Belghiti , Karol Strzałkowski , Diksha Singh , Anna Zawadzka , Daniel Kamiński , Grzegorz Trykowski , Abdelowahed Hajjaji","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Zinc manganese selenide, a type II-VI semiconductor with a tunable bandgap, is attracting considerable interest due to its diverse applications, including light-emitting diodes and spintronics. In this work, the growth of Zn<sub>1-x</sub>Mn<sub>x</sub>Se semiconductor materials was achieved using the vertical Bridgman method at high temperatures and pressures with varying Mn concentrations in the range of x = 0–0.42. The real chemical composition was measured using EDS spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction was used to determine the crystallographic parameters and the structure of the grown crystals. We report the temperature-dependent photoluminescence studies of Mn<sup>2+</sup> in ZnSe crystals over a 10–300K temperature range using a Helium cryostat. The band gap energy of the samples is blue-shifted with increasing Mn content. The exciton energy was followed by the temperature, and a Varshni fitting was determined. Decay time-resolved dependence on the composition and the temperature was examined and discussed. Non-radiative recombination is more prevalent in Mn<sup>2+</sup>-rich crystals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117940"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147384783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-03-04DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.118012
Wenlong Zhang , Mingyang Sang , Chencheng Liu , Yi Zhu , Zhong-Xiang Xie , Wenping Zhou , Xiangdong Yang , Nan Jiang , Yuezhong Wang
This work investigates the fabrication of single crystal diamond (SCD) with high quality via a mosaic growth approach through the interface controlling, followed by surface processing. Before mosaic growth, we optimized the methane (CH4) concentration and temperature to balance the surface crystalline quality and growth rate. During mosaic growth, the effects of crystallographic orientations along the X, Y, and Z axes of the seeds on the joint interfaces were carefully studied. The well-matched orientation with the deviation angle (θ) less than 1° was achieved through X-ray orientation goniometer and etch-pit matching, followed by surficial step-flow modulation treatment. This approach achieves high junction quality approaching seamless coalescence. It shows a full width at half maximum (FWHM) value ∼2.83 cm−1 and low stress (∼0.10 GPa). After sequential surface processing including laser planarization, plasma etching and polishing, the obtained mosaic SCD exhibits high transmittance (∼71.6 %@8–12 μm), high thermal conductivity (>2100 W/mK), and low surface roughness (∼2.5 nm@50 × 50 μm2). The enhanced properties benefit from high qualities of interface and surface of the mosaic samples. The present work could offer a valuable reference for the fabrication of high-quality, large-sized single crystal diamonds towards functional applications for optical and thermal devices.
{"title":"Fabrication of seamless mosaic diamonds by precise controlling of the crystallographic orientations followed by surface polishing","authors":"Wenlong Zhang , Mingyang Sang , Chencheng Liu , Yi Zhu , Zhong-Xiang Xie , Wenping Zhou , Xiangdong Yang , Nan Jiang , Yuezhong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.118012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.118012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work investigates the fabrication of single crystal diamond (SCD) with high quality via a mosaic growth approach through the interface controlling, followed by surface processing. Before mosaic growth, we optimized the methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) concentration and temperature to balance the surface crystalline quality and growth rate. During mosaic growth, the effects of crystallographic orientations along the X, Y, and Z axes of the seeds on the joint interfaces were carefully studied. The well-matched orientation with the deviation angle (<em>θ</em>) less than 1° was achieved through X-ray orientation goniometer and etch-pit matching, followed by surficial step-flow modulation treatment. This approach achieves high junction quality approaching seamless coalescence. It shows a full width at half maximum (FWHM) value ∼2.83 cm<sup>−1</sup> and low stress (∼0.10 GPa). After sequential surface processing including laser planarization, plasma etching and polishing, the obtained mosaic SCD exhibits high transmittance (∼71.6 %@8–12 μm), high thermal conductivity (>2100 W/mK), and low surface roughness (∼2.5 nm@50 × 50 μm<sup>2</sup>). The enhanced properties benefit from high qualities of interface and surface of the mosaic samples. The present work could offer a valuable reference for the fabrication of high-quality, large-sized single crystal diamonds towards functional applications for optical and thermal devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 118012"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147384889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117978
Ibtisam Alali , Nada Alhathlaul , Magdy A. Ibrahim , N. Roushdy , Al-Shimaa Badran , A.A.M. Farag
The condensation reaction between 6-ethyl-4-hydroxy-2,5-dioxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline-3-carboxaldehyde (1) and 4-bromoaniline was anticipated to yield a Schiff base but instead resulted in the formation of bromophenyl-aminomethylidenepyrano[3,2-c]quinoline (BPAMPQ, 3). Comprehensive characterization using spectral techniques such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis confirmed the structure of compound 3. Theoretical calculations employing the DFT/B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) methodology were conducted to explore the frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and non-linear optical (NLO) characteristics. Vibrational frequencies and NMR chemical shifts were computed and demonstrated excellent agreement with experimental findings. Drug-likeness properties were assessed via ADME analysis. Crystallographic studies through X-ray diffraction revealed preferred orientations, with crystallographic parameters determined using Miller indices. The Williamson–Hall method indicated an average crystal size of 17.72 nm and a lattice strain of 1.7 × 10−4. Optical absorption spectra of BPAMPQ thin films showed absorption peaks at 296.37 and 368.1 nm, corresponding to direct energy gaps of 2.7 and 3.6 eV, respectively. Utilizing a single oscillator model, the oscillator energy, dispersion energy, and high-frequency dielectric constant were determined to be 15.33, 55.74, and 4.71 eV, respectively. Notably, BPAMPQ thin films exhibited remarkable photovoltaic properties when integrated with n-Si, with significant enhancements in rectification performance. The open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current (Isc) varied with illumination intensity, affirming the suitability of BPAMPQ thin films for photodiode applications. These findings highlight the potential of BPAMPQ as a promising material for advanced optoelectronic devices.
{"title":"Design and comprehensive characterization of a novel (3E)-3-{[(4-bromophenyl)amino]methylidene}-6-ethyl-2H-pyrano[3,2-c] quinoline-2,4,5(3H,6H)-trione (BPAMPQ) nanostructured for photosensor applications","authors":"Ibtisam Alali , Nada Alhathlaul , Magdy A. Ibrahim , N. Roushdy , Al-Shimaa Badran , A.A.M. Farag","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117978","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117978","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The condensation reaction between 6-ethyl-4-hydroxy-2,5-dioxo-5,6-dihydro-2<em>H</em>-pyrano[3,2-<em>c</em>]quinoline-3-carboxaldehyde (<strong>1</strong>) and 4-bromoaniline was anticipated to yield a Schiff base but instead resulted in the formation of bromophenyl-aminomethylidenepyrano[3,2-<em>c</em>]quinoline (<strong>BPAMPQ</strong>, <strong>3</strong>). Comprehensive characterization using spectral techniques such as IR, <sup>1</sup>H NMR, <sup>13</sup>C NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis confirmed the structure of compound <strong>3</strong>. Theoretical calculations employing the DFT/B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) methodology were conducted to explore the frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and non-linear optical (NLO) characteristics. Vibrational frequencies and NMR chemical shifts were computed and demonstrated excellent agreement with experimental findings. Drug-likeness properties were assessed <em>via</em> ADME analysis. Crystallographic studies through X-ray diffraction revealed preferred orientations, with crystallographic parameters determined using Miller indices. The Williamson–Hall method indicated an average crystal size of 17.72 nm and a lattice strain of 1.7 × 10<sup>−4</sup>. Optical absorption spectra of <strong>BPAMPQ</strong> thin films showed absorption peaks at 296.37 and 368.1 nm, corresponding to direct energy gaps of 2.7 and 3.6 eV, respectively. Utilizing a single oscillator model, the oscillator energy, dispersion energy, and high-frequency dielectric constant were determined to be 15.33, 55.74, and 4.71 eV, respectively. Notably, <strong>BPAMPQ</strong> thin films exhibited remarkable photovoltaic properties when integrated with n-Si, with significant enhancements in rectification performance. The open-circuit voltage (V<sub>oc</sub>) and short-circuit current (I<sub>sc</sub>) varied with illumination intensity, affirming the suitability of <strong>BPAMPQ</strong> thin films for photodiode applications. These findings highlight the potential of <strong>BPAMPQ</strong> as a promising material for advanced optoelectronic devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117978"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-18DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117970
Petr Písařík , Yuki Maruyama , Yugo Akabe , Kota Hibino , Michal Kohout , Zdeněk Hubička , Kosaku Kato , Makoto Nakajima , Nobuhiko Sarukura , Marilou Cadatal-Raduban , Shingo Ono , Kohei Yamanoi , Jiří Olejníček
Cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12:Ce, YAG:Ce) thin films were prepared by reactive co-sputtering from two separate elemental sources (Y3Al5 alloy and pure cerium) using a dual hollow cathode plasma-jet system in an Ar/O2 atmosphere. This plasma-based approach enabled spatial control of Ce incorporation through the geometric configuration of the sputtering sources and tailored power input. Film composition and structure were analyzed using LIBS, XRD, and optical methods, revealing a gradient in Ce content across the substrate array. Post-deposition annealing at 1000 °C was essential for crystallization and luminescence activation, resulting in the formation of single-phase YAG at low Ce concentrations and a gradual transition toward CeO2-rich films at high Ce loading. Photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence studies showed Ce3+ emission at moderate doping levels, while higher Ce content led to phase segregation, Ce4+ formation, and luminescence quenching. These results demonstrate that dual hollow cathode reactive sputtering provides a flexible approach for controlling the Ce distribution and for exploring the structural and optical behavior of YAG:Ce films under extreme Ce loading conditions.
{"title":"Reactive sputtering of luminescent YAG:Ce thin films by dual hollow cathode plasma-jet","authors":"Petr Písařík , Yuki Maruyama , Yugo Akabe , Kota Hibino , Michal Kohout , Zdeněk Hubička , Kosaku Kato , Makoto Nakajima , Nobuhiko Sarukura , Marilou Cadatal-Raduban , Shingo Ono , Kohei Yamanoi , Jiří Olejníček","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117970","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117970","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y<sub>3</sub>Al<sub>5</sub>O<sub>12</sub>:Ce, YAG:Ce) thin films were prepared by reactive co-sputtering from two separate elemental sources (Y<sub>3</sub>Al<sub>5</sub> alloy and pure cerium) using a dual hollow cathode plasma-jet system in an Ar/O<sub>2</sub> atmosphere. This plasma-based approach enabled spatial control of Ce incorporation through the geometric configuration of the sputtering sources and tailored power input. Film composition and structure were analyzed using LIBS, XRD, and optical methods, revealing a gradient in Ce content across the substrate array. Post-deposition annealing at 1000 °C was essential for crystallization and luminescence activation, resulting in the formation of single-phase YAG at low Ce concentrations and a gradual transition toward CeO<sub>2</sub>-rich films at high Ce loading. Photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence studies showed Ce<sup>3+</sup> emission at moderate doping levels, while higher Ce content led to phase segregation, Ce<sup>4+</sup> formation, and luminescence quenching. These results demonstrate that dual hollow cathode reactive sputtering provides a flexible approach for controlling the Ce distribution and for exploring the structural and optical behavior of YAG:Ce films under extreme Ce loading conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117970"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117993
Rihards Ruska, Paula Jankovska, Dace Nilova, Andris Antuzevics, Laima Trinkler, Baiba Berzina
Development of novel luminescent materials is crucial for advancing biomedical imaging and diagnostic techniques, particularly those requiring biocompatibility and red/NIR emission. A fundamental understanding of the underlying luminescence mechanisms is essential to optimize material performance and guide future design.
In this study, Mn2+-doped calcite calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was synthesized via aqueous precipitation and characterized using X-ray luminescence (XRL), thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The optimal dopant concentration for integral TSL intensity and calcite phase purity was found to be approximately 0.10 mol%, yielding a material with stable red emission centred around 620 nm. TSL analysis revealed three distinct trap centres, while EPR confirmed the presence of defect-related recombination mechanisms contributing to persistent luminescence. These findings enabled the proposal of a recombination luminescence mechanism for CaCO3:Mn. Overall, the results highlight the potential of Mn2+-doped calcite as a red-emitting persistent luminophore for applications in bioimaging related research.
{"title":"Red emission and trap structure in Mn2+-doped calcite CaCO3","authors":"Rihards Ruska, Paula Jankovska, Dace Nilova, Andris Antuzevics, Laima Trinkler, Baiba Berzina","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Development of novel luminescent materials is crucial for advancing biomedical imaging and diagnostic techniques, particularly those requiring biocompatibility and red/NIR emission. A fundamental understanding of the underlying luminescence mechanisms is essential to optimize material performance and guide future design.</div><div>In this study, Mn<sup>2+</sup>-doped calcite calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) was synthesized via aqueous precipitation and characterized using X-ray luminescence (XRL), thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The optimal dopant concentration for integral TSL intensity and calcite phase purity was found to be approximately 0.10 mol%, yielding a material with stable red emission centred around 620 nm. TSL analysis revealed three distinct trap centres, while EPR confirmed the presence of defect-related recombination mechanisms contributing to persistent luminescence. These findings enabled the proposal of a recombination luminescence mechanism for CaCO<sub>3</sub>:Mn. Overall, the results highlight the potential of Mn<sup>2+</sup>-doped calcite as a red-emitting persistent luminophore for applications in bioimaging related research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117993"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117865
Omaymah Alaysuy
Industrial wastewater contamination with synthetic dyes poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating efficient and sustainable remediation technologies. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of SnO2 quantum dots (SnQs) and Zn-doped SnO2 quantum dots (SnQ-Zns) via hydrothermal and ultrasonic-chemical methods for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Brilliant Blue R dye and real industrial wastewater treatment. Structural characterization revealed quantum-confined crystallite sizes ranging from 7.47 to 9.63 nm for undoped samples, with homogeneous Zn incorporation confirmed by EDX mapping without phase segregation. Optical band gap analyses demonstrated tunable energies from 2.90 eV (SnQ1) to 3.47 eV (SnQ-Zn2), with moderate 2 % Zn doping creating beneficial mid-gap states that enhanced visible-light absorption and charge separation efficiency. SnQ-Zn1 exhibited exceptional photocatalytic performance with a rate constant of 21.74 × 10−3 s−1, representing a 322 % improvement over higher Zn-doped variants and surpassing undoped samples by 42 %. This enhancement correlated directly with preserved high BET surface areas (209 m2/g for SnQ-Zn1 versus 78 m2/g for SnQ-Zn2) and reduced particle aggregation. Mechanistic studies identified hydroxyl radicals as primary oxidative species, with fluorescence probe analysis confirming superior radical generation rates in optimally doped samples. Solar photocatalytic treatment of real textile wastewater reduced chemical oxygen demand from 5740 ppm to 565 ppm, maintaining compliance with environmental standards (COD <1000 ppm) across seven recycling cycles with >87 % activity retention. Additionally, phytotoxicity assessments revealed that SnQ-Zn1 treatment enhanced cucumber seed germination rates to 91 % under 100 mg/L cadmium stress and increased root length by 105.08 %, demonstrating dual functionality for both water remediation and agricultural stress mitigation. The ultrasonic-chemical synthesis strategy ensures scalable production while maintaining precise control over quantum dot dimensions and dopant distribution, bridging laboratory innovation with practical environmental applications.
合成染料污染工业废水对环境和健康构成重大威胁，需要高效和可持续的修复技术。本研究报道了水热法和超声化学法制备SnO2量子点（SnQs）和掺杂zn的SnO2量子点（SnQ-Zns）的合成和表征，用于增强光催化降解亮蓝R染料和实际工业废水的处理。结构表征表明，未掺杂样品的量子限制晶粒尺寸在7.47 ~ 9.63 nm之间，EDX作图证实了锌的均匀掺入，没有相偏析。光学带隙分析表明，在2.90 eV （SnQ1）到3.47 eV （SnQ-Zn2）之间可调能量，适量的2% Zn掺杂可以产生有益的中隙态，增强可见光吸收和电荷分离效率。SnQ-Zn1表现出优异的光催化性能，其速率常数为21.74 × 10−3 s−1，比高掺杂锌的变体提高了322%，比未掺杂的样品高出42%。这种增强与保持较高的BET表面积（SnQ-Zn1为209 m2/g， SnQ-Zn2为78 m2/g）和减少颗粒聚集直接相关。机制研究确定羟基自由基是主要的氧化物种，荧光探针分析证实了最佳掺杂样品中优越的自由基生成率。太阳能光催化处理的真实纺织废水将化学需氧量从5740 ppm降低到565 ppm，在七个循环中保持符合环境标准（COD <1000 ppm），并保持87%的活性。此外，植物毒性评估显示，在100 mg/L镉胁迫下，SnQ-Zn1处理使黄瓜种子发芽率提高到91%，根长增加105.08%，显示了水修复和农业胁迫缓解的双重功能。超声波化学合成策略确保了可扩展的生产，同时保持对量子点尺寸和掺杂剂分布的精确控制，将实验室创新与实际环境应用联系起来。
{"title":"Remarkable photocatalytic activity, industrial wastewater treatment, enhancement of root length and germination process of Cucumis sativus L seed, phytotoxicity, and recycling processes via SnO2 and Zn–SnO2 quantum dots oxides","authors":"Omaymah Alaysuy","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial wastewater contamination with synthetic dyes poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating efficient and sustainable remediation technologies. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of SnO<sub>2</sub> quantum dots (SnQs) and Zn-doped SnO<sub>2</sub> quantum dots (SnQ-Zns) via hydrothermal and ultrasonic-chemical methods for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Brilliant Blue R dye and real industrial wastewater treatment. Structural characterization revealed quantum-confined crystallite sizes ranging from 7.47 to 9.63 nm for undoped samples, with homogeneous Zn incorporation confirmed by EDX mapping without phase segregation. Optical band gap analyses demonstrated tunable energies from 2.90 eV (SnQ1) to 3.47 eV (SnQ-Zn2), with moderate 2 % Zn doping creating beneficial mid-gap states that enhanced visible-light absorption and charge separation efficiency. SnQ-Zn1 exhibited exceptional photocatalytic performance with a rate constant of 21.74 × 10<sup>−3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, representing a 322 % improvement over higher Zn-doped variants and surpassing undoped samples by 42 %. This enhancement correlated directly with preserved high BET surface areas (209 m<sup>2</sup>/g for SnQ-Zn1 versus 78 m<sup>2</sup>/g for SnQ-Zn2) and reduced particle aggregation. Mechanistic studies identified hydroxyl radicals as primary oxidative species, with fluorescence probe analysis confirming superior radical generation rates in optimally doped samples. Solar photocatalytic treatment of real textile wastewater reduced chemical oxygen demand from 5740 ppm to 565 ppm, maintaining compliance with environmental standards (COD <1000 ppm) across seven recycling cycles with >87 % activity retention. Additionally, phytotoxicity assessments revealed that SnQ-Zn1 treatment enhanced cucumber seed germination rates to 91 % under 100 mg/L cadmium stress and increased root length by 105.08 %, demonstrating dual functionality for both water remediation and agricultural stress mitigation. The ultrasonic-chemical synthesis strategy ensures scalable production while maintaining precise control over quantum dot dimensions and dopant distribution, bridging laboratory innovation with practical environmental applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117865"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This work presents a novel bimodal interferometric sensor design based on slanted waveguides operating in a low-index contrast regime. The sensor design features femtosecond laser micromachined slanted waveguides with bimodal output, precisely written at an optimized distance from the fused silica surface. Two new configurations are explored: one forming a single vertex point (inverted ‘V’) and the other creating a trapezoidal plateau. As a proof-of-concept, refractive index sensing of sodium chloride solution was demonstrated using a cost-effective webcam-based optical read-out. By employing a novel image-processing-based optimization of the region of interest (ROI), we achieved a limit of detection of and record bulk sensitivities of 32,251 π rad/RIU and 24,204 π rad/RIU for the inverted ‘V’ and plateau configurations, respectively.
{"title":"Ultrasensitive low-index contrast slanted waveguides for bimodal interferometric refractive index sensing","authors":"Prajal Chettri, Sumukh Nandan R., Krishna Chaitanya Vishnubhatla , Shailesh Srivastava","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117958","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117958","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work presents a novel bimodal interferometric sensor design based on slanted waveguides operating in a low-index contrast regime. The sensor design features femtosecond laser micromachined slanted waveguides with bimodal output, precisely written at an optimized distance from the fused silica surface. Two new configurations are explored: one forming a single vertex point (inverted ‘V’) and the other creating a trapezoidal plateau. As a proof-of-concept, refractive index sensing of sodium chloride solution was demonstrated using a cost-effective webcam-based optical read-out. By employing a novel image-processing-based optimization of the region of interest (ROI), we achieved a limit of detection of <span><math><mrow><mo>Δ</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>2.7</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>6</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> and record bulk sensitivities of 32,251 π rad/RIU and 24,204 π rad/RIU for the inverted ‘V’ and plateau configurations, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117958"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117892
Xiu Pei , Jinchuan Bai , Bo Lin , Wenting Guo
In this work, a novel three-dimensional Zn(II) metal-organic framework material (Zn-MOF) is successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method using the semi-rigid tetracarboxylic acid ligand (2,4-Dicarboxyphenyl) phthalic acid (H4L) and the N-donor auxiliary ligand 1,4-Di(1H-imidazole-1-yl) benzene (dib). The three-dimensional Zn-MOF exhibits excellent fluorescence stability even after being stored for 31 days. The fluorescence sensing experiments demonstrate that the Zn-MOF materials possess high selectivity and sensitivity towards Hg2+ and Cr2O72− ions, with detection limits (LOD) as low as 0.416 and 2.443 μM, respectively. The fluorescence quenching mechanism is systematically investigated via PXRD, UV–vis spectroscopy and XPS analyses. Specifically, the selectivity of fluorescence quenching induced by Hg2+ is primarily attributed to the interaction between the N atoms in Zn-MOF and Hg2+ ions. The inner filter effect (IFE) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) are the dominant causes of Zn-MOF fluorescence quenching triggered by Cr2O72−. Furthermore, Zn-MOF is employed for the detection of Hg2+ and Cr2O72− ions in tap water and Yellow River water samples, and achieves satisfactory recovery rates. This probe provides a reliable means for the detection and assessment of Hg2+ and Cr2O72− ions in water environments.
{"title":"A novel three-dimensional Zn-based metal-organic framework fluorescent probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ and Cr2O72− ions","authors":"Xiu Pei , Jinchuan Bai , Bo Lin , Wenting Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, a novel three-dimensional Zn(II) metal-organic framework material (Zn-MOF) is successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method using the semi-rigid tetracarboxylic acid ligand (2,4-Dicarboxyphenyl) phthalic acid (H<sub>4</sub>L) and the N-donor auxiliary ligand 1,4-Di(1H-imidazole-1-yl) benzene (dib). The three-dimensional Zn-MOF exhibits excellent fluorescence stability even after being stored for 31 days. The fluorescence sensing experiments demonstrate that the Zn-MOF materials possess high selectivity and sensitivity towards Hg<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub><sup>2−</sup> ions, with detection limits (LOD) as low as 0.416 and 2.443 μM, respectively. The fluorescence quenching mechanism is systematically investigated via PXRD, UV–vis spectroscopy and XPS analyses. Specifically, the selectivity of fluorescence quenching induced by Hg<sup>2+</sup> is primarily attributed to the interaction between the N atoms in Zn-MOF and Hg<sup>2+</sup> ions. The inner filter effect (IFE) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) are the dominant causes of Zn-MOF fluorescence quenching triggered by Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub><sup>2−</sup>. Furthermore, Zn-MOF is employed for the detection of Hg<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub><sup>2−</sup> ions in tap water and Yellow River water samples, and achieves satisfactory recovery rates. This probe provides a reliable means for the detection and assessment of Hg<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub><sup>2−</sup> ions in water environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117892"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117884
Shan-Shan Kan, Yu-Xin Liu, Ming-Kun Jiang, Shi-Xuan Deng, Chun-Qiu You
Functional two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have garnered considerable attention due to their distinctive properties and wide-ranging applications, particularly in nonlinear optical (NLO) devices. This article investigates and synthesizes morphologically rich TMDs films (MX2: M = Mo, W; X = S, Se) through scalable and controllable magnetron sputtering technology, emphasizing the transition from horizontal to vertical orientation influenced by deposition parameters. By combining experimental data with numerical modeling, key growth parameters affecting the morphology of TMDs are identified. The transition from horizontal to vertical growth is achieved by carefully controlling sputtering time and power. The modulation effect of sputtering conditions and laser intensity on the nonlinear optical properties of TMDs was investigated by Z-scan technique. The optimization of substrate temperature and laser intensity can achieve the transition of TMDs from saturation absorption to anti-saturation absorption. In addition, TMDs exhibit stronger nonlinear effects under femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses. The generation, relaxation and recombination processes of excitons were investigated by using the pump-probe technique, revealing that the excitons are affected by the energy of the pump light and the exciton resonance conditions. It was demonstrated that higher energy pump light induces a stronger absorption signal. Through theoretical simulations researching transport behaviors alongside light absorption in TMDs, it becomes evident that low interfacial voltage coupled with a 90 % light absorption rate underscores their potential as exceptional field-transport devices. This study aims to provide strategic insights for enhancing NLO properties and optoelectronic efficiency, thereby supporting the application of TMDs in innovative optoelectronic devices.
功能二维过渡金属二硫族化物（TMDs）由于其独特的性质和广泛的应用，特别是在非线性光学（NLO）器件中得到了广泛的关注。本文通过可扩展可控磁控溅射技术研究并合成了形貌丰富的TMDs薄膜（MX2: M = Mo， W; X = S, Se），重点研究了沉积参数影响下从水平取向到垂直取向的转变。通过实验数据与数值模拟相结合，确定了影响tmd形貌的关键生长参数。从水平到垂直生长的过渡是通过仔细控制溅射时间和功率来实现的。利用z -扫描技术研究了溅射条件和激光强度对tmd非线性光学特性的调制效应。通过衬底温度和激光强度的优化，可以实现tmd从饱和吸收到反饱和吸收的转变。此外，tmd在飞秒和皮秒激光脉冲下表现出更强的非线性效应。利用泵浦探针技术研究了激子的产生、弛豫和复合过程，揭示了激子受泵浦光能量和激子共振条件的影响。结果表明，高能量的泵浦光产生较强的吸收信号。通过理论模拟研究tmd的输运行为和光吸收，很明显，低界面电压加上90%的光吸收率强调了它们作为特殊场输运器件的潜力。本研究旨在为提高NLO性能和光电子效率提供战略见解，从而支持tmd在创新光电器件中的应用。
{"title":"Controlled magnetron sputtering growth, nonlinear optical properties and ultrafast carrier dynamics of transition metal dichalcogenides","authors":"Shan-Shan Kan, Yu-Xin Liu, Ming-Kun Jiang, Shi-Xuan Deng, Chun-Qiu You","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117884","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117884","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functional two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have garnered considerable attention due to their distinctive properties and wide-ranging applications, particularly in nonlinear optical (NLO) devices. This article investigates and synthesizes morphologically rich TMDs films (MX<sub>2</sub>: M = Mo, W; X = S, Se) through scalable and controllable magnetron sputtering technology, emphasizing the transition from horizontal to vertical orientation influenced by deposition parameters. By combining experimental data with numerical modeling, key growth parameters affecting the morphology of TMDs are identified. The transition from horizontal to vertical growth is achieved by carefully controlling sputtering time and power. The modulation effect of sputtering conditions and laser intensity on the nonlinear optical properties of TMDs was investigated by Z-scan technique. The optimization of substrate temperature and laser intensity can achieve the transition of TMDs from saturation absorption to anti-saturation absorption. In addition, TMDs exhibit stronger nonlinear effects under femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses. The generation, relaxation and recombination processes of excitons were investigated by using the pump-probe technique, revealing that the excitons are affected by the energy of the pump light and the exciton resonance conditions. It was demonstrated that higher energy pump light induces a stronger absorption signal. Through theoretical simulations researching transport behaviors alongside light absorption in TMDs, it becomes evident that low interfacial voltage coupled with a 90 % light absorption rate underscores their potential as exceptional field-transport devices. This study aims to provide strategic insights for enhancing NLO properties and optoelectronic efficiency, thereby supporting the application of TMDs in innovative optoelectronic devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117884"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117960
Muhammad Salik Qureshi , Nadia Shahzad , Ayesha Tabriz , Muhammad Ali Tariq , Muhammad Usman Nawaz , Salman Riaz , Hafiz T. Ali , Muhammad Imran Shahzad
With advancements in the field of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the research focus has shifted toward long-term stability and resistance to environmental factors. The MAPbI3-based perovskite absorber layer (MAI) often faces issues such as phase instability, moisture degradation, poor morphology, and defect-induced recombination losses. To address these challenges, this study explores the advantages of substituting cesium bromide (CsBr) into MAI. CsBr substitution results in a substantial enhancement of the absorber layer by improving film crystallinity and grain size, along with a reduction in grain boundaries, leading to decreased charge recombination. Consequently, light absorption is enhanced, accompanied by a slight increase in the bandgap. Photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal that the most effective charge transport occurs at the interface between the electron transport layer (ETL) and the CsBr-doped MAPbI3 absorber layer (Cs-MAI). Finally, the champion cell fabricated with Cs-MAI exhibited a photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.21%, representing a 26.95% improvement compared to its standard counterpart, which showed a PCE of only 10.38%. In addition to improved efficiency, stability testing indicates that the CsBr-based cell demonstrates superior stability, with only a 3.26% drop in PCE over a 30-day period, compared to an 11.80% PCE loss observed in MAI-based cells.
{"title":"Fabrication of HTL free perovskite solar cell using compositional engineering via cesium bromide for ambient fabrication","authors":"Muhammad Salik Qureshi , Nadia Shahzad , Ayesha Tabriz , Muhammad Ali Tariq , Muhammad Usman Nawaz , Salman Riaz , Hafiz T. Ali , Muhammad Imran Shahzad","doi":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117960","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.optmat.2026.117960","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With advancements in the field of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the research focus has shifted toward long-term stability and resistance to environmental factors. The MAPbI<sub>3</sub>-based perovskite absorber layer (MAI) often faces issues such as phase instability, moisture degradation, poor morphology, and defect-induced recombination losses. To address these challenges, this study explores the advantages of substituting cesium bromide (CsBr) into MAI. CsBr substitution results in a substantial enhancement of the absorber layer by improving film crystallinity and grain size, along with a reduction in grain boundaries, leading to decreased charge recombination. Consequently, light absorption is enhanced, accompanied by a slight increase in the bandgap. Photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal that the most effective charge transport occurs at the interface between the electron transport layer (ETL) and the CsBr-doped MAPbI<sub>3</sub> absorber layer (Cs-MAI). Finally, the champion cell fabricated with Cs-MAI exhibited a photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.21%, representing a 26.95% improvement compared to its standard counterpart, which showed a PCE of only 10.38%. In addition to improved efficiency, stability testing indicates that the CsBr-based cell demonstrates superior stability, with only a 3.26% drop in PCE over a 30-day period, compared to an 11.80% PCE loss observed in MAI-based cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19564,"journal":{"name":"Optical Materials","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 117960"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147384679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号