Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics最新文献

The growing demand for clean green and renewable energy highlights the urgent need for sustainable and cost-efficient energy material in photovoltaic technologies. The scalability and reliability of any material make its cost-effective. At the same time, vast quantities of agricultural and food-related bio-derived waste remain non-utilized specifically in urban areas. Despite their potential to be transform into valuable functional material for energy applications, to bridge the gap between waste transition to energy conversion is a critical scientific challenge. In this work, a novel synergistic material was developed by integrating a citrus-derived biowaste precursors rich in light harvesting. Carbonaceous frameworks-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were incorporated into a functional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix with titanium oxide (TiO₂) having high charge career movements. Optical, electrical, and structural analysis demonstrates strong light absorptions and efficient charge transfer behaviors. PVDF polymer framework contributed to stability and processability and enhanced career dynamics. This is an optimal method to utilize waste for energy conversion. The results established a proof of concept for transforming bio-derived waste into a high-value hybrid system for solar energy harvesting. The addition of natural precursor with functional polymers advanced this work in the field of green photovoltaic material, offering the scalable strategy that aligns environmental responsibility with technological innovation. The study contributes to the broader scientific dialogue on sustainable materials for encouraging future exploration of bio-derived waste, which makes perfect viable material for next-generation solar cells.

This study investigates the structural properties and humidity-dependent dielectric performance of Cerium-doped Zinc Cobaltite ZnCo_2-xCe_xO₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed Zn²⁺, mixed Co²⁺/Co³⁺, and integrated Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ states. Surface morphology transformed from particles to flaky structures with cerium addition, increasing surface area and porosity. Raman spectroscopy revealed spinel characteristic peaks, and higher cerium levels led to significant lattice distortion. HRTEM of the undoped sample showed a nearly ordered structure with distributed nanoparticles, while the Cerium-doped samples showed a more complex and less ordered structure. SAED confirmed the polycrystalline nature in all samples. Ce-doping increased the BET surface area from 25.9 to 102.6 m²/g, creating refined mesoporosity that enhances water adsorption. Dielectric properties showed strong humidity dependence. Both permittivity (ε′) and loss (ε″) increased with RH and Ce content, decreasing with frequency in two stages. The real impedance (Zre) dropped sharply at low frequency and then fell steadily, while the imaginary impedance (Z_im) shifted from a single peak in the undoped sample to multiple peaks in the doped samples. The ε′ ratio (RH 97%/11%) at 1 kHz increased from 4.11 (undoped) to 73.4 (ZC-Ce1). Humidity sensitivity (Δε′/ΔRH) improved dramatically from 1.1 (undoped) to 52.5 (ZC-Ce1), indicating a strong Ce-dependent enhancement in moisture responsiveness. The flaky, porous morphology in doped samples enhanced interfacial polarization and dispersion. These results indicate strong potential for sustainable humidity sensing applications in environmental monitoring, with additional promise for catalyst support and energy storage in supercapacitors.

AgBiS(_{2}) (ABS) is a promising material for thin-film photovoltaics due to its suitable optoelectronic properties and the abundance of non-toxic constituent elements. However, most reported synthesis methods of nanocrystalline/quantum dot ABS solar cells are complex, limiting its practical application. In this work, we developed a simple and efficient seed-layer-assisted chemical bath deposition (SL-CBD) approach for fabricating nanocrystalline ABS thin films. ABS was deposited on both bare FTO and Sb(_{2})S(_{3}) seed-layer (SL)-coated FTO substrates using an Ag–Bi–S precursor solution at 60 (^{circ })C. Compared to films grown directly on bare FTO, the SL-grown ABS films exhibited greater thickness, improved crystallinity, and enhanced grain growth. Post-deposition annealing at 300 (^{circ })C further improved crystallinity in the SL-grown films relative to those on bare FTO. Elemental analysis also confirmed improved stoichiometry for the SL-grown films. Furthermore, SL-grown ABS films were annealed at 250–400 (^{circ })C, revealing enhanced crystallinity and grain size with increasing annealing temperature, although Ag(_{2})S secondary phases emerged at 350–400 (^{circ })C. These results demonstrate the critical role of seed-layer growth and optimized annealing in tailoring the structural quality of ABS thin films for photovoltaic integration.

To meet the demand for transducers operating reliably above 200 °C, this study focuses on high-temperature 1-3 PZT/epoxy piezoelectric composites. Finite-element analysis was employed to optimize the pillar width to balance thickness-mode purity with thermomechanical reliability. Based on a PZT-S35 ceramic and high-temperature epoxy system, the composite with a thickness of 3.2 mm and pillar width of 2.0 mm exhibited a resonant frequency of 506 kHz, an electromechanical coupling coefficient of 61%, and an acoustic impedance of 20.13 MRayl. After a 5-hr thermal hold at 230 °C, the resonant frequency drifted by only 2.2%, while dielectric and piezoelectric properties remained stable. A transducer assembled with this composite showed a center frequency of 475 kHz and maintained consistent echo amplitude and frequency stability under the same high-temperature conditions. These results demonstrate that simulation-guided structural optimization enables enhanced thermal stability and acoustic performance of PZT/epoxy 1-3 composites within defined material and dimensional constraints, providing a reliable design pathway for high-temperature ultrasonic transducers in deep-well acoustic logging applications.

The incorporation of rare-earth elements into metal oxide nanoparticles is an effective method for tuning their optical and electrical properties, enabling enhanced performance in next-generation photonic and electronic applications. Metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) are a class of nanomaterials that have received significant attention due to their wide range of applications. These nanoparticles possess physicochemical properties, such as increased surface area, variable bandgap energies, and improved optical and electrical properties. The use of eco-friendly synthesis methodologies addresses sustainability-related challenges. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are a subclass of metal oxide nanomaterials with distinctive properties such as a small bandgap, good thermal stability, and catalytic efficiency. The novelty of this research is the environmentally friendly synthesis of Ce-doped CuO NPs and the demonstration of tunable structural, optical, and electrical properties induced by cerium incorporation. Structural, morphological, optical, and dielectric characterizations were carried out to clarify the impact of cerium incorporation on CuO NPs. PXRD analysis verified the presence of a monoclinic CuO crystal structure, while SEM observations revealed nearly spherical nanoparticles with minor agglomeration, and EDX analysis verified successful cerium incorporation. UV–Vis spectroscopy indicated optical bandgap narrowing, and photoluminescence studies suggested defect-related emission behaviour. Dielectric measurements further demonstrated a high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which underscores the potential of the synthesized nanoparticles for dielectric and optoelectronic applications.

In this study, we examined the electrical and dielectric behaviors of cobalt-substituted perovskite ({La}_{0.8}{Ca}_{0.1}{Pb}_{0.1}{Fe}_{1-x}{Co}_{x}{O}_{3}) (left(x=0.00, 0.10, text{and} 0.20right)) materials synthesized via the sol–gel method using the citric acid process and subsequently heat-treated at 900 °C. The crystallographic analysis, carried out by X-ray diffraction, has confirmed an orthorhombic lattice belonging to the Pnma space group. Electrical impedance spectroscopy has been performed within the temperature interval of 150–300 K. The impedance fitting using an equivalent circuit, together with M” spectra analysis, has confirmed the presence of two relaxation mechanisms associated with the contributions of grains and grain boundaries, respectively. The investigation of dc electrical conductivity (({sigma }_{dc})) demonstrated that all samples follow the variable-range hopping ((VRH)) transport mechanism at lower temperatures and the Arrhenius-type behavior at elevated ones. The examination of conductivity, along with the temperature dependence of the Jonscher’s power-law exponent, has revealed the coexistence of both single and double Jonscher responses. For the reference composition ((x=0.00)), conductivity follows a single Jonscher’s law between 150 and190 K and a double Jonscher’s law within 200–300 K. In contrast, for (x=0.10) and (x=0.20), the conduction obeys a single Jonscher’s law throughout the whole investigated temperature range. The (ac) conductivity analysis indicated that the frequency-dependent variation of the exponent (S ({S}_{1}, {S}_{2})) suggests that conduction in LCPFCO can be interpreted through three mechanisms: the overlapping large-polaron tunneling ((OLPT)) model, the non-overlapping small-polaron tunneling ((NSPT)) model, and the correlated barrier hopping ((CBH)) model.

Finally, the extracted activation energies exhibited a decrease with increasing cobalt substitution. Importantly, ({La}_{0.8}{Ca}_{0.1}{Pb}_{0.1}{Fe}_{1-x}{Co}_{x}{O}_{3}) perovskites have also demonstrated promising applications in gas sensing, highlighting their potential for multifunctional electronic devices combining dielectric, electrical, and sensing properties.

The utilization of solar energy for generating electricity using the photovoltaic technique has experienced a significant global expansion during the past two decades. Using antireflective coatings is a critical component that improves the productivity of solar panels by reducing reflection losses. The main objective of this investigation is to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) by applying tin oxide (SnO₂) as an antireflection coating on polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The SnO₂ coating on the Si solar cell was applied by electro-spraying technique. A variable deposition time was applied to four distinct samples, i.e., 45 (M1), 90 (M2), 135 (M3), and 180 (M4) minutes. The morphological, optical, electrical, and temperature characteristics of SnO₂-deposited solar cells were investigated. A maximum transmittance of 94% and an absorbance of 93% were observed in sample M3-coated solar cell. The sample M3 attained the highest PCE of 18.9% at open sunlight and 22.1% at controlled neodymium setup. Also, sample M3 achieves minimum cell temperature of 44.3 °C at closed-source environment and 36.1 °C at open-source environment. The application of a SnO₂ layer in photovoltaic cells greatly improves their performance by minimizing reflection losses and enhancing sunlight absorbance.

Bimetallic oxides have emerged as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their high specific capacitance and good electrical conductivity. In the present study nanostructured CoV₂O₆ was synthesized via a rheological phase reaction method. The synthesized material was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effect of electrolyte concentration on the electrochemical performance of CoV₂O₆ electrode was systematically investigated. The electrode retained 99.18% of its initial capacitance after 7000 charge–discharge cycles, demonstrating excellent cycling stability. Furthermore, it delivered a high specific capacitance of 436 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹, indicating its potential as a sustainable electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

Nd-substituted Bi(_{1-x})Nd(_x)FeO(_3) ceramics, ((x = 0.00)–0.10) were synthesized to investigate dielectric and impedance behavior at elevated temperatures (280–380 °C) in the frequency range of 100 Hz–1 MHz. The rhombohedral structure with space group of R3c is confirmed using XRD analysis, where the peak shifts toward higher (2(theta )) angles (lattice contraction) confirms the successful Nd substitution in BiFeO(_3). Rietveld refinement reveals the reduction in the c-lattice parameter from 13.8776 Å ((x=0.00)) to 13.8011 Å ((x=0.10)), consistent with the observed cell volume shrinkage. FE-SEM analysis shows the grain size reduction (11.54−4.52 µm), confirming the grain growth inhibition due to Nd-doping. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy show structural changes, with shifts in Fe–O bond vibrations indicating enhanced symmetry and structural stability. XPS analysis confirms the stabilization of Fe(^{3+}) states with an increased Fe(^{3+})/Fe(^{2+}) ratio (1.56–1.68), linked to reduced oxygen-vacancy conduction. Frequency and temperature-dependent investigations show that the variation in dielectric properties is attributed to reduced oxygen vacancies. The maximum dielectric constant of (approx )1300 at 380 °C with (tan delta approx 335) at 100 Hz is obtained for the (x=0.08) sample. AC conductivity follows Jonscher’s law, with activation energies ranging from 1.08 to 1.93 eV. Impedance and modulus analysis confirm an increase in thermally activated charge carrier mobility and relaxation. Overall, the conduction mechanism is mainly dominated by the short-range mobility of thermally activated charge carriers, resulting in BiFeO(_3) being lossy at low frequencies and elevated temperatures.

Developing mechanically robust, highly conductive electrolytes remains challenging for flexible ZABs. In this study, a bioinspired alkaline gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with a dual-network architecture was developed by integrating arabinoxylan-rich mucilage extracted from Plantago ovata husk with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). A dual-network GPE formed by covalent polysaccharide cross-linking and freeze-thawed PVA showed optimal performance at 20 wt% PVA, delivering high electrolyte uptake and retention (~ 90% over 32 days), low resistivity, short relaxation time, and high ionic conductivity (~ 0.0079 Scm⁻¹). Rheological analysis showed a 20% increase in shear stress and 32% higher viscosity, while dielectric, modulus, and structural and morphological studies (Raman, XRD, and SEM-EDX) confirmed enhanced polarization, faster relaxation, stronger hydrogen bonding, and uniform morphology. A flexible primary ZAB fabricated with the optimized GPE delivered an open-circuit voltage of ~ 1.4 V, stable discharge for ~ 2.8 h, a peak power density of 48.2 mWcm⁻², a specific capacity of 570.4 mAhg⁻¹, and an energy density of 173 Whkg⁻¹, while retaining over 95% of its operating voltage under bending at 45°, 90°, and 135°. Despite moderate reductions in peak power density (~ 5.5%) and specific capacity (~ 22.6%), the developed ZAB exhibits markedly enhanced mechanical flexibility and operational durability, and demonstrates a biodegradation efficiency exceeding 96% within 67 days. Furthermore, the greenness assessment substantiates its strong environmental compatibility, thereby confirming the suitability of the proposed ZAB for sustainable and wearable energy-storage applications.