Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Arelis Ledesma-Juarez, A. M. Fernandez
Summary: Cu(In, Ga)Se-2 thin films have desirable optoelectronic properties for applications in solar cells. Commercialization has been limited by costly vacuum deposition methods, but electrodeposition offers a cost-effective alternative. This study investigates the use of different metal salts and voltages to produce CIGS thin films by co-electrodeposition technique, aiming to optimize the stoichiometry for efficient thin film solar cells.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Deewakar Poudel, Benjamin Belfore, Tasnuva Ashrafee, Shankar Karki, Grace Rajan, Angus Rockett, Sylvain Marsillac
Summary: Post-deposition treatments with indium bromide vapor at 400 and 500 degrees Celsius lead to larger grains and higher conductivity in Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 thin films compared to simple annealing under selenium. These properties are attributed to a modification of elemental profiles, particularly for gallium and sodium.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jiachen Sun, Nestor Guijarro, Peihang Li, Udayabhaskararao Thumu, Jun-Ho Yum, Kevin Sivula, Zhiming M. M. Wang
Summary: Photoelectrochemical water splitting and CO2 reduction reaction is a promising method for addressing energy and environment issues. Research has shown that a modified solution process can enhance crystal size and improve performance and output current by reducing surface ligands. Deposition of gold nanoparticles on CIGS surface can achieve a Faradic efficiency of 12.93% in aqueous electrolytes and 25% in nonaqueous electrolytes for CO2-to-CO conversion. Further investigation reveals that the CIGS photocathode displays stable photocurrent density within a certain applied potential range, but significant current degradation occurs at higher applied bias. Coupling catalysts with CIGS enhances selectivity towards CO and reduces competitive hydrogen evolution reaction.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fabrizio Guzzetta, Cameron W. Jellett, Jalal Azadmanjiri, Pradip Kumar Roy, Saeed Ashtiani, Karel Friess, Zdenek Sofer
Summary: The attention in recent decades has been focused on the optoelectronic properties of indium and gallium chalcogenides, leading to advancements in fundamental and applied science. Group III-VI compounds have laminated structures that can be exfoliated to monolayers. Besides indium and gallium chalcogenides, there are other uncommon compounds in the family of group III-VI compounds, which have various crystal lattices, including layered structures. Aluminum chalcogenides show potential as anodes in batteries and semiconductors. Studies on thallium-based compounds are still exploring their semiconducting and thermoelectric properties. This review aims to summarize the significant features of these unusual materials and propose new studies to revive their potential in future technology.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Owen Kendall, Lesly Melendez, Jiawen Ren, Samantha Prabath Ratnayake, Billy J. Murdoch, Edwin L. H. Mayes, Joel van Embden, Daniel E. Gomez, Arrigo Calzolari, Enrico Della Gaspera
Summary: In this study, spinel copper gallate (CuGa2O4) nanocrystals with an average size of 3.7 nm were synthesized and characterized via a heat-up colloidal reaction. The CuGa2O4 nanocrystals have a band gap of -2.5 eV and exhibit p-type character, which is consistent with ab initio simulations. When deposited as thin films, these novel nanocrystals are shown to be photoactive, generating a clear and reproducible photocurrent under blue light irradiation. The ability to adjust the Cu/Ga ratio within the nanocrystals and its effect on their optical and electronic properties was also demonstrated. These findings position CuGa2O4 nanocrystals as a promising material for optoelectronic applications, including hole transport and light harvesting.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chuanliang Wang, Jinyang Cai, Xiaoqi Liu, Chunfeng Chen, Xiaoke Chen, Khadga Jung Karki
Summary: This study presents a simple and sensitive method based on the phase modulation of femtosecond pulses to quantify single-, two-, and three-photon absorptions in GaP and InGaN photodetectors. The results show that only three-photon absorption contributes to the photocurrent in the InGaN device when excited by femtosecond pulses at 1030 nm. On the other hand, single-, two-, and three-photon absorptions have comparable contributions in the GaP detector. Additionally, the method can be used to image the heterogeneity of multiphoton photocurrent in devices.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Adam B. Phillips, Jared D. Friedl, Philip Ottinger, Steven L. Carter, Zhaoning Song, Abasi Abudulimu, Ebin Bastola, Deng-Bing Li, Yanfa Yan, Randy J. Ellingson, Michael J. Heben
Summary: Numerical modeling is used to investigate the performance of bifacial thin film solar cells under front, back, and simultaneous illumination through both interfaces. It is found that downward band bending near the back interface is reduced under low carrier concentration conditions, but still affects minority carrier distribution at relatively high doping conditions. The power generated under bifacial illumination exceeds the sum of power from solely front or back illumination, and the performance is independent of the angle of light entering the back interface. However, under real-world albedo conditions, significant loss in frontside power generation is difficult to overcome with back illumination.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zheng Luo, Xiaoping Zhou
Summary: This study proposes an efficient strategy for the fast preparation of liquid metal patches and investigates the performance of LMIE large strain sensors. The sensors exhibit high sensitivity, linearity, wide strain range of detection and breaking elongation, fast response time, and excellent repeatability and stability. The study demonstrates the excellent potential of multifunctional liquid metal composites in wearable electronics and prediction devices of structural collapse.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Dongseok Kwon, Eun Chan Park, Wonjun Shin, Ryun-Han Koo, Joon Hwang, Jong-Ho Bae, Daewoong Kwon, Jong-Ho Lee
Summary: This study reports a synaptic device based on a ferroelectric thin-film transistor (FeTFT) with an indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) channel and a metal-ferroelectric-metal-insulator-semiconductor (MFMIS) structure. The fabricated FeTFT exhibits a highly linear conductance response, large dynamic range, and low cycle-to-cycle variation, verifying the feasibility of FeTFT-based neuromorphic systems.
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Philipp Storm, Susanne Selle, Holger von Wenckstern, Marius Grundmann, Michael Lorenz
Summary: Transparent, p-type semiconductor copper iodide (CuI) thin films were grown via pulsed laser deposition on SrF2(111) using water soluble sacrificial layers of sodium bromide (NaBr). The resulting CuI thin films are single crystalline with reduced surface roughness compared to epitaxial CuI grown with rotational domains on other templates. The CuI thin films were subsequently transferred onto glass using epoxy/glue and dissolution of NaBr in a water-vapor atmosphere.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Michel Piliougine, Paula Sanchez-Firera, Giovanni Petrone, Francisco Jose Sanchez-Pacheco, Giovanni Spagnuolo, Mariano Sidrach-de-Cardona
Summary: The performance of four thin-film photovoltaic modules is analyzed after an initial stabilization period and an outdoor exposition, and their seasonal variations and degradation rates are examined and correlated to spectral changes. The results show that the a-Si:H module has the highest annual degradation rate, while the degradation of the CIGS module is relatively low.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Hyeong Jin Park, Taikyu Kim, Min Jae Kim, Hojae Lee, Jun Hyung Lim, Jae Kyeong Jeong
Summary: In this study, high-performance polycrystalline IGO TFTs were successfully fabricated at a low temperature with outstanding electrical characteristics and high stability. The density of oxygen plasma plays a crucial role in the crystalline quality of the IGO thin film.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hyun-Jong Lee, Ji-Hyun Cha, Duk-Young Jung
Summary: Heterometallic Cu-In and Cu-Ga complex salts, [Cu(III)(dedtc)2][In(III)Cl4] and [Cu(III)(dedtc)2][Ga(III)Cl4], were synthesized through oxidation reactions of Cu(II)(dedtc)2, In(III)Cl3, and Ga(III)I3. The crystal structures of Cu-In and Cu-Ga complexes were confirmed and exhibited distorted octahedral structures with Cu-S chains surrounded by dimeric [M(III)Cl4]- and benzene.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Deewakar Poudel, Benjamin Belfore, Tasnuva Ashrafee, Elizabeth Palmiotti, Shankar Karki, Grace Rajan, Thomas Lepetit, Angus Rockett, Sylvain Marsillac
Summary: Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 thin films and devices were fabricated using a modified three-stage process, with a copper chloride vapor treatment introduced to enhance film properties. After recrystallization, films showed larger grains, but not all parameters of the solar cells were enhanced, resulting in only a 15% increase in device efficiency.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Armel Ignace N. 'guessan, Amal Bouich, Donalfologo Soro, Bernabe Mari Soucase
Summary: In this study, copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2) thin films were deposited on ITO coated glass substrates by electrochemical deposition with different potential and pH solutions. The effects of potential and pH on the structural and optical properties of CuInSe thin films were investigated. The film deposited at -0.8 V potential in the pH 2.4 solution showed the highest power conversion efficiency.
Article
Spectroscopy
Yi-De Chuang, Xuefei Feng, Alejandro Cruz, Kelly Hanzel, Adam Brown, Adrian Spucces, Alex Frano, Wei-Sheng Lee, Jaemyung Kim, Yu-Jen Chen, Brian Smith, John S. Pepper, Yu-Cheng Shao, Shih-Wen Huang, L. Andrew Wray, E. Gullikson, Zhi-Xun Shen, Thomas P. Devereaux, Anton Tremsin, Wanli Yang, Jinghua Guo, Robert Duarte, Zahid Hussain
Summary: A momentum resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (qRIXS) experimental station with continuously rotatable spectrometers and parallel detection is designed to operate at different beamlines at synchrotron and free electron laser (FEL) facilities. The components of this endstation are described in details, and the preliminary RIXS measurements on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) reveal the low energy vibronic excitations from the strong electron-phonon coupling at C K edge around sigma* band.
JOURNAL OF ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY AND RELATED PHENOMENA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xu Zhang, Jingteng Zhao, Gi-Hyeok Lee, Yuan Liang, Boya Wang, Shiqi Liu, Errui Wang, Wanli Yang, Haijun Yu
Summary: This study successfully improves the capacity retention and suppresses voltage decay of Li-rich layered oxides by regulating the surface of the material. The enhanced performance is attributed to the thin, uniform, robust, and compact cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) which suppresses surface degradation and stabilizes bulk oxygen reactions.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gi-Hyeok Lee, Jungwoo Lim, Jeongyim Shin, Laurence J. J. Hardwick, Wanli Yang
Summary: Cation-disordered rock-salt cathodes (DRX) show potential for high capacity and power density, but face challenges in material deterioration and scalability. Fluorination has been explored to improve performance, but further development is needed to address these issues and enable practical applications.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tianyu Zhu, Hadas Sternlicht, Yang Ha, Chen Fang, Dongye Liu, Benjamin H. H. Savitzky, Xiao Zhao, Yanying Lu, Yanbao Fu, Colin Ophus, Chenhui Zhu, Wanli Yang, Andrew M. M. Minor, Gao Liu
Summary: Electrically conductive polymers with hierarchically ordered structures (HOS) show significant enhancement in charge transport properties and mechanical robustness, making them critical for practical lithium-ion batteries. The conventional design of conductive polymers using bottom-up synthetic approaches and functional group modification has limitations that restrict their scaled synthesis and broad applications. By using simple primary building blocks and thermal processing, we developed conductive polymers with HOS, enabling exceptional cycling performance in lithium-ion batteries.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lothar Weinhardt, Dirk Hauschild, Oliver Fuchs, Ralph Steininger, Nan Jiang, Monika Blum, Jonathan D. Denlinger, Wanli Yang, Eberhard Umbach, Clemens Heske
Summary: The sulfur L2,3 X-ray emission spectra of alkaline earth metal sulfides have been investigated. The results show distinct spectral shapes for different compounds, and the spectral calculations based on density functional theory provide an accurate description of the spectral shapes in the upper valence band region. Semi-Auger decays involving configuration interaction produce strong satellites on the low energy side of sulfur 3s-*2p transition, which become more intense as the bonding character becomes more ionic. These satellites can be used as a specific spectral fingerprint for speciation analysis.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoning Li, Liangbing Ge, Yumeng Du, Haoliang Huang, Yang Ha, Zhengping Fu, Yalin Lu, Wanli Yang, Xiaolin Wang, Zhenxiang Cheng
Summary: The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical step for sustainable fuel production. This study demonstrates the development of a surface termination similar to oxyhydroxide in an oxide, which enhances the intrinsic activity of the nanocatalyst and breaks the scaling relationship limit.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ji Qian, Yang Ha, Krishna Prasad Koirala, Di Huang, Zhi Huang, Vincent S. S. Battaglia, Chongmin Wang, Wanli Yang, Wei Tong
Summary: This study reports the synthesis of a highly fluorinated Li-excess cation-disordered rock salts (DRX) cathode, Li1.2Mn0.6Ti0.2O1.8F0.2, based on cost-effective and earth-abundant transition metals via a solid-state reaction. The fluorinated DRX cathode using an ammonium fluoride precursor exhibits uniform particle size, delivering a specific discharge capacity of 233 mAh g(-1) and specific energy of 754 Wh kg(-1), with 206 mAh g(-1) retained after 200 cycles. The study demonstrates the potential to develop next-generation cost-effective DRX cathodes with enhanced capacity retention for high-energy Li-ion batteries.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Clemens Heske, James C. Carter, Dirk Hauschild, Lothar Weinhardt, Kimberly Horsley, Dimitrios Hariskos, Nicolas Gaillard
Summary: This article presents the electronic surface level positions of different chalcopyrite [Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2] thin-film absorbers and discusses their suitability for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Suitable band edge energies (CBM and VBM) at the electrode surfaces are necessary for efficient PEC water splitting to enable hydrogen and oxygen evolution. Strategies to optimize chalcopyrite PEC devices for solar water splitting with respect to redox potentials are derived through studying various chalcopyrite variants in growth process, composition, stoichiometry, and surface treatment.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dirk Hauschild, Mary Blankenship, Amandee Hua, Ralph Steininger, Patrick Eraerds, Thomas Niesen, Thomas Dalibor, Wanli Yang, Clemens Heske, Lothar Weinhardt
Summary: The chemical and electronic structure of the interface between a sputter-deposited Zn(O,S) buffer layer and an industrial Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)(2) (CIGSSe) absorber for thin-film solar cells was investigated using various spectroscopic techniques. It was found that the CIGSSe absorber surface band gap significantly increased compared to bulk-sensitive methods. The measurements also showed the presence of S-Zn and S-O bonds in the Zn(O,S) layer, and an enhanced carrier separation at the interface.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Elizaveta Pyatenko, Dirk Hauschild, Vladyslav Mikhnych, Raju Edla, Ralph Steininger, Dimitrios Hariskos, Wolfram Witte, Michael Powalla, Clemens Heske, Lothar Weinhardt
Summary: In this study, the chemical structure of the Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGSe) thin-film solar cell absorber surfaces and their interface with a Ga2O3 buffer layer were investigated. The effects of different treatments on the chemical composition and impurities at the absorber surface were analyzed using various spectroscopic techniques. The results suggest that a specific rinsing step can effectively remove impurities and alter the chemical composition of the absorber layer.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. de la Torre, B. Zager, F. Bahrami, M. H. Upton, J. Kim, G. Fabbris, G. -H Lee, W. Yang, D. Haskel, F. Tafti, K. W. Plumb
Summary: The authors characterize the material candidate H3LiIr2O6 and find a broad continuum of collective excitations absent of a momentum dependence, suggesting a disordered topological spin liquid. Understanding the interaction between inherent disorder and the fluctuating-spin ground state is crucial for the search of quantum spin liquids.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marianne van der Merwe, Raul Garcia-Diez, Leopold Lahn, R. Enggar Wibowo, Johannes Frisch, Mihaela Gorgoi, Wanli Yang, Shigenori Ueda, Regan G. Wilks, Olga Kasian, Marcus Baer
Summary: This study investigates the correlation between the catalytic performance of mixed Ir-TiOx catalysts and the electronic structure of the surface layers. It is found that the degree of titanium oxidation strongly depends on the titanium content, with lower content leading to less oxidation. The addition of titanium stabilizes the catalyst while maintaining high OER activity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wei Yin, Judith Alvarado, Elyse A. Kedzie, Bryan D. McCloskey, Chaochao Dun, Jeffrey J. Urban, Zengqing Zhuo, Wanli Yang, Marca M. Doeff
Summary: An in-depth study of Li4Mn2O5 reveals that the anomalously high charge and discharge capacity in lithium cells is caused by the electrochemical decomposition of Li2O and the reduction of Mn. There is no evidence of reversible oxygen redox contributing to the capacities. The over-reduction is worsened by high charging limits, resulting in rapid capacity fading. Adding spinel LiMn2O4 improves the cycling behavior but decreases the discharge capacity.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jianping Huang, Peichen Zhong, Yang Ha, Zhengyan Lun, Yaosen Tian, Mahalingam Balasubramanian, Wanli Yang, Gerbrand Ceder
Summary: Substituting the labile oxygen with a vacancy in cation-disordered Li-rich rocksalt materials is an effective strategy to inhibit oxygen oxidation, leading to improved capacity and voltage retention in lithium-ion batteries.
