Optical Characterizations of annealed TiO2 thin films have been discussed. Samples have prepared by sputtering technique at different reactive oxygen gas rates, R ( 1.00 % ≤ R ≤ 30.00 % ) . The pressure within the sputtering room was fixed at 7.5 × 10−7 Pa by controlling the rate of introducing pure Ar and O2 gases. All film-samples were annealed in vacuum at 500 °C for 2 h. X-ray diffractograms revealed that annealed samples have polycrystalline nature of tetragonal anatase phase. Optical transmission and reflection were employed to study optical properties. Optical energy-gap values decrease from 3.38 eV to 2.91 eV for direct transition and from 3.12 eV to 2.10 eV for indirect transition, respectively. While, Urbach's energy values increase from 686 meV to 884 meV as R-value increased. Wemplee Di-Domenico model and Sellemeier postulate were utilized to study the refractive index dispersion and oscillator parameters. All estimated optical parameters are strongly dependent upon the flow rate of oxygen.

Optical characterizations and refractive index dispersion parameters of annealed TiO2 thin films synthesized by RF-sputtering technique at different flow rates of the reactive oxygen gas

Transparent photovoltaic cells and self-powered photodetectors by TiO2/NiO heterojunction

Direct and inverse photoemission spectroscopies are used to determine materials electronic structure and energy level alignment in hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite layers grown on TiO2. The results provide a quantitative basis for the analysis of perovskite-based solar cell performance and choice of an optimal hole-extraction layer.

http://absimage.aps.org/image/MAR15/MWS_MAR15-2014-020244.pdf

Interface Energetics in Organo-Metallic Halide Perovskite-based Photovoltaic Cells

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, and Kelvin probe measurements on various TiO2 single-crystal surfaces show that the position of the Fermi level and the conductio...

Work Function of TiO2 (Anatase, Rutile, and Brookite) Single Crystals: Effects of the Environment

In view of their inimitable characteristics and properties, SnO2 nanomaterials and nanocomposites have been used not only in the field of diverse advanced catalytic technologies and sensors but also in the field of energy storage such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, and in the field of energy production such as solar cells and water splitting. This review discusses the various synthesis techniques such as traditional methods, including processes like thermal decomposition, chemical vapor deposition, electrospinning, sol-gel, hydrothermal, solvothermal, and template-mediated methods and green methods, which include synthesis through plant-mediated, microbe-mediated, and biomolecule-mediated processes. Moreover, the advantages and limitations of these synthesis procedures and how to overcome them that would lead to future research are also discussed. This literature also focuses on various applications such as environmental remediation, energy production, energy storage, and removal of biological contaminants. Therefore, the rise and journey of SnO2-based nanocomposites will motivate the modern generation of chemists to modify and design robust nanoparticles and nanocomposites that can effectively tackle significant environmental challenges. This overview concludes by providing future perspectives on research into tin oxide in synthesis and its various applications.

Tin oxide based nanostructured materials: synthesis and potential applications.

Titanium dioxide (anatase, rutile) and quasi-amorphous tin dioxide are prepared on F-doped SnO2 in the form of dense thin films, which can serve as electron-selective layers in perovskite solar cel...

Electron-Selective Layers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on TiO2 and SnO2

Rutile TiO2 thin film electrodes with excellent blocking function and optical transparency

The growth of two-dimensional (2D) materials directly on the substrates that are relevant to device fabrication is crucial for their large-area production and application. This is because their pro...

Chemical Vapor Deposition of MoS2 for Energy Harvesting: Evolution of the Interfacial Oxide Layer

Monitoring of important sulfhydryl-containing compounds has risen to importance as their crucial functions in different tissues have been reported. While hydrogen sulfide is the most recent endogenous gasotransmitter in human tissues, low-molecular weight endogenous thiols cysteine, glutathione, and homocysteine are biomarkers for numerous clinical conditions. As the result of environmental, biochemical, clinical, and pharmacological importance of the sulfhydryl compounds, an accurate determination has gained significant attention within the analytical community. In the recent half-decade, many new approaches of sulfhydryl determination have been reported; majority of them consists in new working electrode system fabrication. Electrochemical detection offers simple, inexpensive, rapid, and highly sensitive analytical methods. The review summarizes up-to-date approaches in research on the electrochemical detection of sulfhydryl-containing compounds reported in the recent half-decade. In this field, a significant trend of using nanocomposite materials with suitable electron transfer mediator is evident.

Magda Zlamalova

Papers

Work Function of TiO2 (Anatase, Rutile, and Brookite) Single Crystals: Effects of the Environment

Electron-Selective Layers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on TiO2 and SnO2

Rutile TiO2 thin film electrodes with excellent blocking function and optical transparency

Chemical Vapor Deposition of MoS2 for Energy Harvesting: Evolution of the Interfacial Oxide Layer

Recent advances in electrochemical detection of important sulfhydryl-containing compounds