We report the rational synthesis of nitrogen-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:N) nanowire arrays, and their implementation as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for hydrogen generation from water splitting. Dense and vertically aligned ZnO nanowires were first prepared from a hydrothermal method, followed by annealing in ammonia to incorporate N as a dopant. Nanowires with a controlled N concentration (atomic ratio of N to Zn) up to ∼4% were prepared by varying the annealing time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirm N substitution at O sites in ZnO nanowires up to ∼4%. Incident-photon-to-current-efficiency measurements carried out on PEC cell with ZnO:N nanowire arrays as photoanodes demonstrate a significant increase of photoresponse in the visible region compared to undoped ZnO nanowires prepared at similar conditions. Mott−Schottky measurements on a representative 3.7% ZnO:N sample give a flat-band potential of −0.58 V, a carrier density of ∼4.6 × 1018 cm−3, and a space-charge layer of ∼...

Nitrogen-Doped ZnO Nanowire Arrays for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

A novel PCBM-based n-type material, [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric styryl dendron ester (PCBSD), functionalized with a dendron containing two styryl groups as thermal cross-linkers, has been rationally designed and easily synthesized. In situ cross-linking of PCBSD was carried out by heating at a low temperature of 160 °C for 30 min to generate a robust, adhesive, and solvent-resistant thin film. This cross-linked network enables a sequential active layer to be successfully deposited on top of this interlayer to overcome the problem of interfacial erosion and realize a multilayer inverted device by all-solution processing. An inverted solar cell device based on an ITO/ZnO/C-PCBSD/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/Ag configuration not only achieves enhanced device characteristics, with an impressive PCE of 4.4%, but also exhibits an exceptional device lifetime without encapsulation; it greatly outperforms a reference device (PCE = 3.5%) based on an ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/Ag configuration without the interlayer. This C-PC...

https://ir.nctu.edu.tw:443/bitstream/11536/5525/1/000276553600074.pdf

Highly Efficient and Stable Inverted Polymer Solar Cells Integrated with a Cross-Linked Fullerene Material as an Interlayer

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are electrical conductive materials with comparably low absorption of electromagnetic waves within the visible region of the spectrum. They are usually prepared with thin film technologies and used in opto-electrical apparatus such as solar cells, displays, opto-electrical interfaces and circuitries. Here, based on a modern database-system, aspects of up-to-date material selections and applications for transparent conducting oxides are sketched, and references for detailed information are given. As n-type TCOs are of special importance for thin film solar cell production, indium-tin oxide (ITO) and the reasonably priced aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al), are discussed with view on preparation, characterization and special occurrences. For completion, the recently frequently mentioned typical p-type delafossite TCOs are described as well, providing a variety of references, as a detailed discussion is not reasonable within an overview publication.

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/4/661/pdf

Transparent Conducting Oxides—An Up-To-Date Overview

Electrical and optical properties of Al-doped ZnO thin films by sol–gel process

Towards Oxide Electronics: a Roadmap

Transparent and conductive high preferential c-axis oriented ZnO thin films doped with Al have been prepared by sol–gel method using zinc acetate and aluminium chloride as cations source, 2-methoxiethanol as solvent and monoethanolamine as sol stabilizer. Film deposition was performed by dip-coating technique at a withdrawal rate of 1.5 cm min−1 on Corning 1737 glass substrate. The effect of dopant concentration, heating treatment and annealing in reducing atmosphere on the microstructure as well as on the electrical and optical properties of the thin films is discussed. The optical transmittance spectra of the films showed a very good transmittance, between 85 and 95%, within the visible wavelength region. The minimum resistivity of 1.3×10−3 Ω cm was obtained for the film doped with 2 wt.% Al, preheated at 400 °C and post-heated at 600 °C, after annealing under a reduced atmosphere of forming gas.

Al-doped ZnO thin films by sol–gel method

ZnO and Ag:ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by hydrolysis of zinc acetate in the presence of lithium hydroxide (LiOH). In combination with binders based on hybrid polymer sols, these metal oxide materials were applied for textile treatment. Hybrid coatings based on ZnO, Ag:ZnO/CS, chitosan (CS), 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) prepared by sol–gel method were applied on cotton 100% and cotton/polyester (50/50%) textiles using “pad-dry-cure” technique. The obtained nanoparticles incorporated within chitosan matrix were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV-Vis spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The antimicrobial activity of Ag/CS, ZnO/CS and Ag:ZnO/CS composite coatings was investigated in comparison to that of the pure chitosan using the paper disc method on Mueller-Hinton agar, against the Gram-negative E. coli and the Gram-positive S. aureus bacteria. For the same composite coatings applied on textile, the antimicrobial activity was investigated by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy using TTC method, against the bacteria E. coli and M. luteus. The investigated nanocomposite materials showed good antimicrobial activity and are promising materials for use as medical applications.

Synthesis and characterization of antimicrobial textile finishing based on Ag:ZnO nanoparticles/chitosan biocomposites

Photocatalytic and antimicrobial Ag/ZnO nanocomposites for functionalization of textile fabrics

http://web.ist.utl.pt/amrego/Artigos/2008_A75.pdf

Viorica Musat

Papers

Al-doped ZnO thin films by sol–gel method

Synthesis and characterization of antimicrobial textile finishing based on Ag:ZnO nanoparticles/chitosan biocomposites

Photocatalytic and antimicrobial Ag/ZnO nanocomposites for functionalization of textile fabrics

Microstructure and gas-sensing properties of sol-gel ZnO thin films

Effect of post-heat treatment on the electrical and optical properties of ZnO:Al thin films