Journal of Electronic Materials最新文献

In this work, undoped ZnO and ZnO:Ag nanostructures were produced using spray pyrolysis (SP). X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the predominant peak was (101). The grain size of pure ZnO increased from 15.18 nm to 18.03 nm with doping, while strain decreased from 2.28 to 1.92. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images provided detailed surface topography information, revealing a reduction in root-mean-square roughness values from 6.86 nm for pure ZnO to 5.13 nm and 3.36 nm for ZnO:1% Ag and ZnO:3% Ag, respectively. The AFM images also identified particle sizes ranging from 80.96 nm for ZnO to 58.23 nm for ZnO:3% Ag. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of Ag-doped ZnO films showed enhanced grain growth, indicating an improved crystalline structure. In all cases, the samples exhibited optical transmittance exceeding 90%, and the energy bandgap narrowed from 3.35 eV to 3.25 eV upon Ag introduction, as evidenced by ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectra. Furthermore, the absorption coefficient and refractive index decreased as a consequence of Ag content. The variation in the Ag-doping ratios on ZnO nanostructures led to an enhancement in conversion efficiency from 0.787% to 1.004%, depending on the crystallite size. This indicates that both undoped and Ag-doped ZnO nanostructures exhibit high efficiency, making them suitable for use in sustainable dye-sensitized solar cells.

This study investigates the band alignment, charge carrier dynamics, and performance optimization of an n-ZnO/MAPbI₃/p-NiO perovskite solar cell. The band alignment diagram reveals efficient charge separation and transport, with n-ZnO (electron transport layer) extracting electrons and p-NiO (hole transport layer) extracting holes, which minimizes recombination loss. Simulation study of carrier generation and recombination confirms higher photocarrier generation (~10²¹) and lower recombination (~10¹⁵) in the MAPbI₃ perovskite absorbing layer, leading to efficient photocurrent extraction (~18 mA/cm²). The device achieves a short-circuit current density (J_sc) of ~18.63 mA/cm², open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of ~1.1 V, fill factor (FF) of 83%, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ~17.23%. The key factors responsible for the performance of the device are also investigated. Optimization of the active-layer thickness improves efficiency up to ~23.6% at 1.2 µm due to enhanced light absorption. Series resistance and temperature variations significantly affect FF and PCE, with higher resistance and elevated temperatures reducing efficiency. Wavelength-dependent studies show that shorter wavelengths yield stronger absorption, higher photocurrent, and improved performance, while longer wavelengths reduce efficiency. The results demonstrate that careful control of band alignment, active-layer thickness, resistance, and stability is crucial for achieving high-performance and low-cost perovskite solar cells capable of harnessing solar energy with enhanced efficiency while supporting environmental sustainability.

Starting from natural molybdenite concentrate, this study addresses the challenges of impurity content, compact layer stacking, and poor conductivity that hinder its use as a lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode. Impurities such as Si and Fe were effectively removed through a simple hydrothermal alkali leaching combined with acid leaching process. Few-layer MoS₂ was then obtained via liquid-phase exfoliation using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and isopropanol solvents. To enhance interfacial interaction and conductivity, MoS₂–Graphene oxide (GO) composites were synthesized through a solvothermal route. The effects of solvent ratio and GO content on the structure and electrochemical performance were systematically investigated. The optimal water/ethanol (1:5) solvent enabled uniform nanosheet exfoliation with a low charge-transfer resistance (R_ct = 45.1 Ω). The composite with 20 wt% GO delivered a high reversible capacity of 940.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹, maintained 555.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 2.0 A g⁻¹, and retained 610 mAh g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at 0.5 A g⁻¹. The synergistic interaction between few-layer MoS₂ and the conductive GO network accelerates electron/ion transport and enhances structural stability, providing a sustainable route to upgrade natural molybdenite for high-performance LIB anodes.

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Nanoparticles (NPs) with metal@dielectric core@shell, nano-sized dimensions, and local surface plasmon resonance peaks (LSPR) have to play a vital role owing to their optical interaction and comprehensive array of applications in several fields, including information transmission, biomedicine, and other advanced technologies. This work examines the optical characteristics of core/shell nanoparticle structures that can be regulated via aggregation. These structures have Au nanoparticles (NP) measuring 16.6 nm in diameter, while the shell thickness ranges from (24.6 pm 3.6) to (9.0 pm 1.7) nm. The absorption spectra of the Au core-Cu₂O shell nanoparticles were analyzed using the boundary element method (BEM). The absorption cross-sections over various wavelengths of light were determined by solving the Maxwell equations. Both Ox- and Oz-axis polarizations of an incident plane wave are used to determine the core-shell Au@Cu₂O nanoparticles’ field enhancement. Factors such as the core-shell ratio, the particle’s morphologies, and the spacing between the particles are taken into consideration to evaluate how particle structures influence their optical properties. The particle system’s distribution and organization were also considered, along with an analysis of the impact of the particle arrangement and distribution within the particle system. The similarity between the calculation and experimental results underscores the accuracy of our simulation model.

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The microstructure and mechanical performance of Sn-(x−y)Bi-yAg (x = 30, 50 wt.%, y = 0, 0.5 wt.%) were investigated regarding the strength of solder joints. This system comprises Bi-rich and β-Sn phases. The increase in Bi content transformed the microstructure from co-occurrence of isolated blocky Bi-rich precipitates and a continuous network in the Sn-30Bi alloy to a continuous network in the Sn-50Bi alloy. Concurrently, the elongation (EL) was significantly enhanced whereas the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) decreased with increasing Bi content in the alloy. The enhanced EL and decreased UTS can be partly attributed to the disappearance of isolated blocky Bi-rich precipitates which lead to stress concentration. The enhanced EL of Sn-Bi alloys improves the resistance to thermal fatigue crack propagation in solder joints, whereas the preserved UTS remains adequate for low-temperature packaging applications. Notably, the addition of trace amounts of Ag homogenized the β-Sn matrix of the Sn-xBi alloy, thereby effectively enhancing the UTS and EL. Furthermore, increasing the Bi content and Ag microalloying enhanced the shear strength of solder joints welded on Cu substrates. Cu₆Sn₅ layers were formed in all solder joints. After isothermal aging, increasing the Bi content and Ag microalloying inhibited Cu₆Sn₅ layer growth, potentially improving the solder joint reliability. With longer aging time, the fracture site of the solder joint was transferred from the solder matrix to the IMC layer, with a concomitant reduction in the shear strength.

In this study, we have synthesized novel β-BaB₂O₄:xCe³⁺ (x = 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 2 mol.%) phosphors using the solid-state reaction method. Upon confirming the formation of the crystalline phase through x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, phosphors were optically optimized by examining the excitation spectra at an emission wavelength of 425 nm. For the optimized phosphor, the optical, thermal, and structural properties were thoroughly examined. A comprehensive analysis of diffuse reflectance spectra demonstrated a direct bandgap of 3.19 eV. The temperature-dependent emission showed 100% emission intensity retention up to 483 K, with stable colour coordinates. Temperature-dependent dominant wavelength also showed very little variation between 432.6 nm and 432.8 nm, and the colour purity was found to be nearly 100%. Finally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the phosphor's exceptional thermal stability, with 98.9 wt.% of the sample remaining stable up to 500 K. In light of all these astonishing characteristics, the proposed phosphor can be further studied for multi-field applications.

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This article provides a thorough review of superconducting metamaterials, focusing on their theoretical foundations, fabrication methods, and areas of application. Although numerous studies have examined particular elements of superconducting devices or metamaterials independently, a comprehensive synthesis is absent. This paper provides a critical survey of key models, including effective-medium approaches, nonlinear circuit formulations, and quantum descriptions of SQUID-based (superconducting quantum interference device) meta-atoms, while evaluating their connections to experimental implementations. This study analyses advancements in fabrication techniques, including thin-film lithography and three-dimensional integration, while identifying scalability challenges and potential solutions. Applications are evaluated in the domains of quantum information, sensing, cloaking, and wireless power transfer. We conclude by identifying existing challenges and presenting a framework for future advancements. This review serves as a reference for established researchers and an accessible introduction for newcomers to the field of superconducting metamaterials.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have emerged as a cornerstone of next-generation energy storage technologies due to their high energy density. However, practical applications are hindered by lithium dendrite growth and volume expansion at the lithium metal anodes (LMAs). To address these challenges, this study develops a novel current collector (Cu₂O/etched brass [EB]) integrating a three-dimensional (3D) porous brass framework (EB) with a lithiophilic Cu₂O layer, achieving synergistic structural and interfacial regulation. The 3D porous architecture mitigates local current density and accommodates volume expansion, while the Cu₂O layer enables low nucleation overpotential for homogeneous lithium deposition, thereby lowering the charge transfer resistance and effectively suppressing the formation of lithium dendrites and dead lithium. The assembled Cu₂O/EB-300@Li||LiFePO₄ full cell demonstrates 95% capacity retention with 99.1% coulombic efficiency (CE) after 300 cycles, along with high-rate capability. This work provides an innovative strategy for achieving high-energy-density and long-cycling LMBs.

Metal halide perovskites exhibit remarkable properties for photovoltaic applications, yet their susceptibility to ion migration within perovskites is a critical phenomenon that profoundly impacts their functionality and stability. Past investigations have generally focused on indirect or destructive experimental techniques used for probing ion migration. In this perspective, we employed the nondestructive technique, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), to resolve the elemental composition in different layers of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and used it to disentangle the extrinsic and intrinsic ion migration. We demonstrate here the probing capacity of RBS for two different types of PSCs, including inorganic lead halide perovskites and mixed-cation lead halide perovskites, and a complete device. The study highlights RBS as a reliable analytical tool for tracking elemental redistribution in fresh or aged devices. Furthermore, we discusses the diverse methodologies employed to study extrinsic and intrinsic ion migration and interlayer diffusion between various layers of perovskite devices, ranging from experimental techniques to XRUMP and SIMNRA simulations.