Effect of In-Incorporation and Annealing on CuxSe Thin Films

A study of indium-incorporated copper selenide thin-film deposition on a glass substrate using the successive ionic adsorption and reaction method (SILAR) and the resulting properties is presented. The films were formed using these steps: selenization in the solution of diseleniumtetrathionate acid, treatment with copper(II/I) ions, incorporation of indium(III), and annealing in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. The elemental and phasal composition, as well as the morphological and optical properties of obtained films were determined. X-ray diffraction data showed a mixture of various compounds: Se, Cu0.87Se, In2Se3, and CuInSe2. The obtained films had a dendritic structure, agglomerated and not well-defined grains, and a film thickness of ~90 μm. The band gap values of copper selenide were 1.28–1.30 eV and increased after indium-incorporation and annealing. The optical properties of the formed films correspond to the optical properties of copper selenide and indium selenide semiconductors.

Explaining the physiological cationic distribution in erythrocytes: The murburn perspective

Living cells are characterized by the interesting disparity in the distribution of monovalent and divalent cations, as per the order: K+ > Na+ > Mg2+ >> Ca2+. Classical biologists attribute this to energy-expended and affinity-driven processes mediated by membrane-embedded proteins. Independent physicists had proposed ionic adsorption at various interfaces and/or differences in hydration shell characteristics of the ions as the reasons for the same Herein, human erythrocytes are considered as a simple ‘living cell’ model. Energy metabolism-based outcomes (murburn equilibriums) and the dissolved-phase proteins’ innate ability to bind/adsorb ions selectively are suggested as the integral rationale for the observed phenomenon.

Lithium and sodium intercalation in 2D NbSe2 bilayer-stacked homostructure: Comparative study of ionic adsorption and diffusion behavior

In this work, we probed lithium and sodium intercalation properties in monolayer-stacked NbSe2 bilayer homostructure configurations for potential application as anode material in lithium and sodium ion batteries. Similar to...

What are surfactants?

Surface active agents (surfactants) are molecules or ions with a dual nature. One or more moieties in a surfactant are ‘water-hating’ (hydrophobic) ‘tail’ groups and one or more are ‘water-liking’ (hydrophilic) ‘head’ groups. Surfactants adsorb from aqueous (or other) solution to various interfaces and in sufficiently concentrated solutions simultaneously aggregate into micelles or other structures. The tail(s) are frequently hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon groups and the head(s) can be polar or ionic. Adsorption and aggregation are often driven by removal of tails from water to an air/water or nonpolar oil/water interface, or to the interior of surfactant aggregates. The ability to adsorb and to aggregate in solution makes surfactants invaluable in industry, in nature, and in the home. Here a brief description is given of the classes of surfactant most commonly encountered, and their usefulness is mentioned. Forward reference is made to appropriate chapters where material is covered in more detail.