A. Bustamante Domínguez

Bio: A. Bustamante Domínguez is an academic researcher from National University of San Marcos. The author has contributed to research in topics: Materials science & Steelmaking. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 19 publications receiving 234 citations.

Thermal oxidation of amorphous germanium thin films on SiO2 substrates

Abstract: In this work we report the thermal oxidation of amorphous germanium (a-Ge) thin films (140 nm thickness) in air. Following fabrication by conventional thermal evaporation on SiO2 substrates, the samples were annealed in air at different temperatures ranging from 300 to 1000 °C. By means of x-ray diffraction, x-ray reflectivity, synchrotron grazing-incidence wide-angle x-ray scattering and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy analysis it is found that the a-Ge films abruptly crystallize at 475 °C, while simultaneously increasing the thickness of the oxide (GeO2) in a layer by layer fashion. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy reveals that the oxidation state of the Ge atoms in the GeO2 layer is 4+. However, a reaction at the GeO2/Ge interface occurs between 500 and 550 °C reducing the oxide layer to GeO x (x < 2) and containing Ge2+ and Ge+. The thickness of the oxide layer grows with the annealing temperature following an Arrhenius behavior with an activation energy of 0.82 ± 0.09 eV up to 500 °C. Remarkably, we observed simultaneous enhancement of the oxidation and crystallization of the a-Ge in the temperature interval 450 °C–500 °C, in which the oxidation rate reaches a maximum of around 0.8 nm °C−1 at around 500 °C.

Green Biosynthesis of Tin Oxide Nanomaterials Mediated by Agro-Waste Cotton Boll Peel Extracts for the Remediation of Environmental Pollutant Dyes

Abstract: The sustainable synthesis of metal oxide materials provides an ecofriendly and more exciting approach in the domain of a clean environment. Besides, plant extracts to synthesize nanoparticles have been considered one of the more superior ecofriendly methods. This paper describes the biosynthetic preparation route of three different sizes of tetragonal structure SnO2 nanoparticles (SNPs) from the agro-waste cotton boll peel aqueous extract at 200, 500, and 800 °C for 3 h and represents a low-cost and alternative preparation method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Surface area and porosity size distribution were identified by nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The photocatalytic properties of the SNP samples were studied against methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), and the degradation was evaluated with three different size nanomaterials of 3.97, 8.48, and 13.43 nm. Photocatalytic activities were carried out under a multilamp (125 W Hg lamps) photoreactor. The smallest size sample exhibited the highest MB degradation efficiency within 30 min than the most significant size sample, which lasted 80 min. Similarly, in the case of MO, the smallest sample showed a more superior degradation efficiency with a shorter period (40 min) than the large-size samples (100 min). Therefore, our studies suggested that the developed SNP nanomaterials could be potential, promising photocatalysts against the degradation of industrial effluents.

Nanostructured copper oxide semiconductors: a perspective on materials, synthesis methods and applications

Abstract: The oxides of copper (CuxO) are fascinating materials due to their remarkable optical, electrical, thermal and magnetic properties. Nanostructuring of CuxO can further enhance the performance of this important functional material and provide it with unique properties that do not exist in its bulk form. Three distinctly different phases of CuxO, mainly CuO, Cu2O and Cu4O3, can be prepared by numerous synthesis techniques including, vapour deposition and liquid phase chemical methods. In this article, we present a review of nanostructured CuxO focusing on their material properties, methods of synthesis and an overview of various applications that have been associated with nanostructured CuxO.

Nanostructured copper oxide semiconductors : a perspective on materials, synthesis methods and applications

Abstract: The oxides of copper (CuxO) are fascinating materials due to their remarkable optical, electrical, thermal and magnetic properties. Nanostructuring of CuxO can further enhance the performance of this important functional material and provide it with unique properties that do not exist in its bulk form. Three distinctly different phases of CuxO, mainly CuO, Cu2O and Cu4O3, can be prepared by numerous synthesis techniques including, vapour deposition and liquid phase chemical methods. In this article, we present a review of nanostructured CuxO focusing on their material properties, methods of synthesis and an overview of various applications that have been associated with nanostructured CuxO.

High-Resolution p-Type Metal Oxide Semiconductor Nanowire Array as an Ultrasensitive Sensor for Volatile Organic Compounds.

Abstract: The development of high-performance volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor based on a p-type metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) is one of the important topics in gas sensor research because of its unique sensing characteristics, namely, rapid recovery kinetics, low temperature dependence, high humidity or thermal stability, and high potential for p–n junction applications. Despite intensive efforts made in this area, the applications of such sensors are hindered because of drawbacks related to the low sensitivity and slow response or long recovery time of p-type MOSs. In this study, the VOC sensing performance of a p-type MOS was significantly enhanced by forming a patterned p-type polycrystalline MOS with an ultrathin, high-aspect-ratio (∼25) structure (∼14 nm thickness) composed of ultrasmall grains (∼5 nm size). A high-resolution polycrystalline p-type MOS nanowire array with a grain size of ∼5 nm was fabricated by secondary sputtering via Ar+ bombardment. Various p-type nanowire arrays of CuO, NiO, and C...

Current Status and Future Prospects of Copper Oxide Heterojunction Solar Cells

Abstract: The current state of thin film heterojunction solar cells based on cuprous oxide (Cu2O), cupric oxide (CuO) and copper (III) oxide (Cu4O3) is reviewed. These p-type semiconducting oxides prepared by Cu oxidation, sputtering or electrochemical deposition are non-toxic, sustainable photovoltaic materials with application potential for solar electricity. However, defects at the copper oxide heterojunction and film quality are still major constraining factors for achieving high power conversion efficiency, η. Amongst the Cu2O heterojunction devices, a maximum η of 6.1% has been obtained by using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of AlxGa1−xO onto thermal Cu2O doped with Na. The performance of CuO/n-Si heterojunction solar cells formed by magnetron sputtering of CuO is presently limited by both native oxide and Cu rich copper oxide layers at the heterointerface. These interfacial layers can be reduced by using a two-step sputtering process. A high η of 2.88% for CuO heterojunction solar cells has been achieved by incorporation of mixed phase CuO/Cu2O nanopowder. CuO/Cu2O heterojunction solar cells fabricated by electrodeposition and electrochemical doping has a maximum efficiency of 0.64% after surface defect passivation and annealing. Finally, early stage study of Cu4O3/GaN deposited on sapphire substrate has shown a photovoltaic effect and an η of ~10−2%.