Fabrication of a novel low-cost triple layer system (TaZO/Ag/TaZO) with an enhanced quality factor for transparent electrode applications

A triple layer system (TaZO/Ag/TaZO), consisting of tantalum doped zinc oxide (TaZO) as the top and bottom layers and metallic silver (Ag) as the intermediate layer, was deposited onto glass substrates.

Download Full-text

Transparent Conductive Electrode of Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide Prepared by Inkjet Printing Technique

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.663-665.694 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 663-665 ◽

pp. 694-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Wan Zurina Samad ◽

Muhamad Mat Salleh ◽

Ashkan Shafiee ◽

Mohd Ambar Yarmo

Keyword(s):

Thin Films ◽

Tin Oxide ◽

Inkjet Printing ◽

Low Cost ◽

Optical Transmittance ◽

Transparent Electrode ◽

Optical And Electrical Properties ◽

Transparent Conductive Electrode ◽

Glass Substrates ◽

Printing Technique

Fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) thin films have been developed as alternatives to ITO for thin film transparent electrode applications. In this works, the FTO thin films were deposited using inkjet printing technique since the technique is a promising deposition method to fabricate low-cost devices. The FTO precursor was prepared by reacting SnCl4•5H2O and NH4F at 60oC in a sealed container. The thin films were deposited on glass substrates at 40oC with variations of printing layers. The optical and electrical properties of the films were affected by the number of printed layers. It was observed the four layers film has the optimum optical transmittance and sheet resistance which were 96 %T and 16.4 Ω/□ respectively.

Download Full-text

Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of (Bi0.48Sb1.52)Te3 Thick Films Prepared with Tape Casting Method

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics10020140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 140

Author(s):

Lichen Liu ◽

Ziping Cao ◽

Min Chen ◽

Jun Jiang

Keyword(s):

Thermoelectric Properties ◽

Low Cost ◽

Thick Films ◽

Tape Casting ◽

Casting Process ◽

Casting Method ◽

Glass Substrates ◽

Conductive Films ◽

Casting Technology

This paper reports the fabrication and characterization of (Bi0.48Sb1.52)Te3 thick films using a tape casting process on glass substrates. A slurry of thermoelectric (Bi0.48Sb1.52)Te3 was developed and cured thick films were annealed in a vacuum chamber at 500–600 °C. The microstructure of these films was analyzed, and the Seebeck coefficient and electric conductivity were tested. It was found that the subsequent annealing process must be carefully designed to achieve good thermoelectric properties of these samples. Conductive films were obtained after annealing and led to acceptable thermoelectric performance. While the properties of these initial materials are not at the level of bulk materials, this work demonstrates that the low-cost tape casting technology is promising for fabricating thermoelectric modules for energy conversion.

Download Full-text

Graphene oxide-based rechargeable respiratory masks

Oxford Open Materials Science ◽

10.1093/oxfmat/itab003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Stelbin Peter Figerez ◽

Sudeshna Patra ◽

G Rajalakshmi ◽

Tharangattu N Narayanan

Keyword(s):

Graphene Oxide ◽

Polyvinylidene Fluoride ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Low Cost ◽

Triboelectric Nanogenerator ◽

Layer System ◽

Retention Capacity ◽

Simple Modification ◽

Nonwoven Fabrics ◽

Mask Design

Abstract Respiratory masks having similar standards of ‘N95’, defined by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will be highly sought after, post the current COVID-19 pandemic. Here, such a low-cost (∼$1/mask) mask design having electrostatic rechargeability and filtration efficiency of >95% with a quality factor of ∼20 kPa−1 is demonstrated. This filtration efficacy is for particles of size 300 nm. The tri-layer mask, named PPDFGO tri, contains nylon, modified polypropylene (PPY), and cotton nonwoven fabrics as three layers. The melt-spun PPY, available in a conventional N95 mask, modified with graphene oxide and polyvinylidene fluoride mixture containing paste using a simple solution casting method acts as active filtration layer. The efficacy of this tri-layer system toward triboelectric rechargeability using small mechanical agitations is demonstrated here. These triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-assisted membranes have high electrostatic charge retention capacity (∼1 nC/cm2 after 5 days in ambient condition) and high rechargeability even in very humid conditions (>80% RH). A simple but robust permeability measurement set up is also constructed to test these TENG-based membranes, where a flow rate of 30–35 L/min is maintained during the testing. Such a simple modification to the existing mask designs enabling their rechargeability via external mechanical disturbances, with enhanced usability for single use as well as for reuse with decontantamination, will be highly beneficial in the realm of indispensable personal protective equipment.

Download Full-text

Sensing Performance of Al and Sn Doped ZnO for Hydrogen Detection

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019014039 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Zahira. El khalidi ◽

Maryam Siadat ◽

Elisabetta. Comini ◽

Salah. Fadili ◽

Philippe. Thevenin

Keyword(s):

Zinc Oxide ◽

Chemical Sensor ◽

Low Cost ◽

Zinc Powder ◽

Health Condition ◽

Vibration Modes ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Grain Sizes ◽

Pure Oxide ◽

Doped Zno

Chemical gas sensors were studied long ago and nowadays, for the advantageous role they provide to the environment, health condition monitoring and protection. The recent studies focus on the semiconductors sensing abilities, especially of non toxic and low cost compounds. The present work describes the steps to elaborate and perform a chemical sensor using intrinsic and doped semiconductor zinc oxide. First, we synthesized pure oxide using zinc powder, then, two other samples were established where we introduced the same doping percentage of Al and Sn respectively. Using low cost spray pyrolysis, and respecting the same conditions of preparation. The obtained samples were then characterized by X Ray Diffraction (XRD) that revealed the hexagonal wurzite structure and higher crystallite density towards the direction (002), besides the appearance of the vibration modes related to zinc oxide, confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. SEM spectroscopy showed that the surface morphology is ideal for oxidizing/reduction reactions, due to the porous structure and the low grain sizes, especially observed for the sample Sn doped ZnO. The gas testing confirms these predictions showing that the highest response is related to Sn doped ZnO compared to ZnO and followed by Al doped ZnO. The films exhibited responses towards: CO, acetone, methanol, H2, ammonia and NO2. The concentrations were varied from 10 to 500 ppm and the working temperatures from 250 to 500°C, the optimal working temperatures were 350 and 400 °C. Sn doped ZnO showed a high response towards H2 gas target, with a sensitivity reaching 200 at 500 ppm, for 400 °C.

Download Full-text

Thermal conversion of CBD grown ZnS thin films to ZnO

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A ◽

10.1515/zna-2020-0137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Kooliyankal Naseema ◽

Kaniyamkandy Ribin ◽

Nidiyanga Navya ◽

Prasoon Prasannan

Keyword(s):

Thin Films ◽

Low Cost ◽

Thermal Conversion ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Xrd Pattern ◽

Glass Substrates ◽

Anion Substitution ◽

Nano Crystalline ◽

Before And After ◽

Uv Visible

AbstractNano crystalline zinc sulfide thin films were deposited onto glass substrates by chemical bath deposition method. One of the samples was annealed at 300 °C for 2 h in air using a muffle furnace. The prepared thin films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy (FT-R) studies before and after annealing. The analysis confirmed the thermal-induced anion substitution and conversion of ZnS crystal to ZnO wurtzite crystal. XRD pattern showed that these films were phase pure and polycrystalline in nature. Optical band gap was found to be 3.86 eV for ZnS and 3.21 eV for ZnO. The films prepared by this simple, low-cost technique are suitable for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications.

Download Full-text

Mocvd SrS:Ce for Applications in Electroluminescent Devices

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-471-269 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 471 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

D. Endisch ◽

K. Barth ◽

J. Lau ◽

G. Peterson ◽

A. E. Kaloyeros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Process Development ◽

Process Integration ◽

Low Cost ◽

Chemical Vapor ◽

High Growth ◽

Film Structure ◽

High Growth Rate ◽

Organic Chemical ◽

Glass Substrates ◽

Full Color

ABSTRACTSrS:Ce is an important material for full color electroluminescent (EL) flat panel displays. Using a combination of SrS:Ce/ZnS:Mn and appropriate color filters high quality full color displays have been demonstrated [1]. Major issues for commercially viable process integration of SrS:Ce are the combination of high luminance, high growth rate, and process temperatures below 600°C for compatibility with low cost glass substrates. This work describes the process development and optimization of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of SrS:Ce. MOCVD is a promising candidate for deposition of SrS:Ce because it can provide the required growth rates and allows control of crystal structure and stoichiometry. Growth of SrS:Ce was performed in the temperature range from 400°C to 530°C using Sr(tmhd)2, Ce(tmhd)4, and H2S as precursors. The structure of the SrS:Ce was found to be strongly dependent on the H2S flow. A brightness of 15 fL and an efficiency of 0.22 lm/W has been achieved (40 V above threshold voltage, 60 Hz AC). Film analysis included Rutherford backscattering (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and EL measurements. Results on the correlation between process parameters, film structure, grain size and EL performance will be presented.

Download Full-text

Zinc Oxide Thin Film Morphology as Function of Substrate Position During Sputtering Process

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.900.103 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 900 ◽

pp. 103-111

Author(s):

Christelle Habis ◽

Jean Zaraket ◽

Michel Aillerie

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Zinc Oxide ◽

Low Cost ◽

Linear Increase ◽

Oxide Thin Film ◽

Central Position ◽

Zinc Oxide Thin Film ◽

Force Microscopy ◽

Atomic Force ◽

Great Transparency

Transparent conductive oxides are materials combining great transparency with high conductivity. In photovoltaic applications, they are developed under thin layer for the realization of upper electrodes of solar cells. Among transparent oxide materials, Zinc Oxide (ZnO) presents unique properties, starting with its first qualities to be abundant, low-cost and non-toxic oxide. Zinc Oxide thin film was deposited on rectangular glass substrate by magnetron sputtering. After an overview of the properties expected for good transparent conductive materials, the effect of distance from the center of the cell on the morphology of the film was investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The scanning was done on different area of the sample as function of the distance from the central position of the direct sputtering jet. As far as the distance increased, it has been noticed a quasi-linear increase in thickness of the ZnO deposited film and a change in the grain shape from spherical to pyramidal with an increase in the size of the particles. Controlling the sputtering distance allows the control of texture, thus of the Haze factor, the photo-generation of excitons, as well the optical transmission of the TCO layer and finally an improvement in the efficiency of the so-built photovoltaic cells.

Download Full-text

Direct Writing on Paper Substrate to Prepare Silver Electrode Structures for Flexible Sensors

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ◽

10.1166/jnn.2021.19523 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 6048-6053

Author(s):

Qi Wang ◽

Mingwei Li ◽

Yao Xie ◽

Yun Ou ◽

Weiping Zhou

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Silver Electrode ◽

Silver Nanostructures ◽

Direct Writing ◽

Paper Substrate ◽

Electronic Products ◽

Glass Substrates ◽

Different Temperatures ◽

Writing Technology

With the rapid development of the electronics industry, electronic products based on silicon and glass substrates electronic products will gradually be unable to meet the rising demand. Flexibility, environmental protection, and low costs are important for the development of electronic products. In this study, an efficient and low-cost method for preparing silver electrode structures by direct writing on paper has been demonstrated. Based on this method, a flexible paper-based sensor was prepared. The liquid printing ink used mainly comprises a precursor liquid without pre-prepared nanomaterials. The precursor liquid is transparent with good fluidity. Simple direct writing technology was used to write on the paper substrate using the precursor ink. When the direct-writing paper substrate was subsequently heated, silver nanostructures precipitated from the precursor liquid ink onto the paper substrate. The effect of different temperatures on the formation of the silver nanostructures and the influence of different direct writing processes on the structures were studied. Finally, a paper-based flexible sensor was prepared for finger-bending signal detection. The method is simple to operate and low in cost and can be used for the preparation of environment-friendly paper-based devices.

Download Full-text