Search Results (327)

Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) have become essential components in a broad range of modern devices, including smartphones, flat-panel displays, and photovoltaic cells. Currently, indium tin oxide (ITO) is used in approximately 90% of these devices. However, ITO prices continue to rise due to the limited supply of indium (In), making the development of alternative materials for TCOs indispensable. Therefore, this study highlights the latest advances in creating new, affordable materials, with a focus on aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO). Over the last few decades, this material has been widely studied to improve its physical properties, particularly its low electrical resistivity, which can affect the performance of various devices. Now, it is close to replacing ITO due to several advantages including cost-effectiveness, stability under hydrogen plasma, low processing temperatures, and lack of toxicity. Besides that, in comparison to other TCOs such as IZO, IGZO, or IZrO, AZO achieved a low electrical resistivity (10⁻⁵ ohm cm) while maintaining a high transparency across the visible spectrum (over 85%). Additionally, due to the increasing development of technologies utilizing such materials, it is essential to develop more effective techniques for producing TCOs on a larger scale. Additionally, due to the increasing development of technologies utilizing such materials, it is essential to develop more effective techniques for producing TCOs on a larger scale. This review emphasizes the potential of AZO as a cost-effective and scalable alternative to ITO, highlighting key advancements in deposition techniques such as pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Full article

Aircraft, as electromagnetically complex targets, have radar cross-sections (RCSs) that are influenced by various factors, with the inlet duct being a critical component that often serves as a primary source of electromagnetic scattering, significantly impacting the scattering characteristics. In light of the conflict between aerodynamic performance and electromagnetic characteristics in the design of aircraft engine inlet grilles, this paper proposes a metasurface radar-absorbing inlet grille (RIG) solution based on a NACA symmetric airfoil. The RIG adopts a sandwich structure consisting of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dielectric substrate, a copper zigzag metal strip array, and an indium tin oxide (ITO) resistive film. By leveraging the principles of surface plasmon polaritons, electromagnetic wave absorption can be achieved. To enhance the design efficiency, a multi-objective Bayesian optimization framework driven by the expected hypervolume improvement (EHVI) is constructed. The results show that, compared with a conventional rectangular cross-section grille, an airfoil-shaped grille under the same constraints will reduce both aerodynamic losses and the absorption bandwidth. After 100-step EHVI–Bayesian optimization, the optimized balanced model attains a 57.79% reduction in aerodynamic loss relative to the rectangular-shaped grille, while its absorption bandwidth increases by 111.99%. The RCS exhibits a reduction of over 8.77 dBsm in the high-frequency band. These results confirm that the proposed optimization design process can effectively balance the conflict between aerodynamic performance and stealth performance for RIGs, reducing the signal strength of aircraft engine inlets. Full article

Transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) are essential components in modern optoelectronic devices, including organic light-emitting diodes and solar cells, sensors, and flexible displays. Indium tin oxide has been the dominant material for TCEs due to its high transparency and conductivity. However, its brittleness, high cost, and increasingly limited availability pose significant challenges for electronics. Crack-template (CT)-assisted fabrication has emerged as a promising technique to develop metal mesh-based TCEs with superior mechanical flexibility, high conductivity, and excellent optical transmittance. This technique leverages the spontaneous formation of random and continuous microcrack networks in sacrificial templates, followed by metal deposition (e.g., Cu, Ag, Al, etc.), to produce highly conductive, scalable, and low-cost electrodes. Various crack formation strategies, including controlled drying of polymer suspensions, mechanical strain engineering, and thermal processing, have been explored to tailor electrode properties. Recent studies have demonstrated that crack-templated TCEs can achieve transmittance values exceeding 85% and sheet resistances below 10 Ω/sq, with mesh line widths as low as ~40 nm. Moreover, these electrodes exhibit enhanced stretchability and robustness under mechanical deformation, outperforming ITO in bend and fatigue tests. This review aims to explore recent advancements in CT engineering, highlighting key fabrication methods, performance metrics across different metals and substrates, and presenting examples of its applications in optoelectronic devices. Additionally, it will examine current challenges and future prospects for the widespread adoption of this emerging technology. Full article

This study investigates the development and sensing profile of synthetic melanin nanoparticle-coated electrodes for the electrochemical detection of heavy metals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe). Synthetic melanin films were prepared in situ by the deacetylation of diacetoxy indole (DAI) to dihydroxy indole (DHI), followed by the deposition of DHI monomers onto indium tin oxide (ITO) and glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) using cyclic voltammetry (CV), forming a thin layer of synthetic melanin film. The deposition process was characterized by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) in combination with linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and amperometry to determine the mass and thickness of the deposited film. Surface morphology and elemental composition were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). In contrast, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed the melanin’s chemical structure and its polyphenolic functional groups. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and amperometry were employed to evaluate the melanin films’ electrochemical activity and sensitivity for detecting heavy metal ions. Reproducibility and repeatability were rigorously assessed, showing consistent electrochemical performance across multiple electrodes and trials. A comparative analysis of ITO, GCE, and graphite electrodes was conducted to identify the most suitable substrate for melanin film preparation, focusing on stability, electrochemical response, and metal ion sensing efficiency. Finally, the applicability of melanin-coated electrodes was tested on in-house heavy metal water samples, exploring their potential for practical environmental monitoring of toxic heavy metals. The findings highlight synthetic melanin-coated electrodes as a promising platform for sensitive and reliable detection of iron with a sensitivity of 106 nA/ppm and a limit of quantification as low as 1 ppm. Full article

The primary challenge associated with stainless steel in fuel cell operation is its susceptibility to corrosion, which leads to increased contact resistance and subsequent degradation of electrochemical performance. In general, the protective layers have been loaded onto the metal surface by widely used traditional techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), or cathode arc ion plating. However, the above sputtering and evaporation ways require a high-vacuum condition, complicated experimental setups, higher costs, and an elevated temperature. Therefore, herein the achievement for uniform coatings over a large surface area has been realized by using a cost-effective strategy through a complete wet chemical process. The synergistic regulation of two conductive components and a plastic additive has been employed together with the entrapment of a surfactant to optimize the microstructure of the coating surface. The assembly of layered graphite and a polystyrene sphere could maintain both the high corrosion resistance feature and excellent electrical conductivity. In particular, the intrinsic vacant space in the above physical barriers has been filled with fine powders of indium tin oxide (ITO) due to its small size, and the interconnected conductive network with vertical/horizontal directions would be formed. All the key technical targets based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have been achieved under the simulated operating environments of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The corrosion current density has been measured as low as 0.52 μA/cm² (for the sample of graphite/mixed layer) over the applied potentials from −0.6 V to 1.2 V and its protective efficiency is evaluated to be 99.8%. The interfacial contact resistance between the sample and the carbon paper is much less than 10 mΩ·cm² (3.4 mΩ·cm²) under a contact pressure of 165 N/cm². The wettability has been investigated and its contact angle has been evolved from 48° (uncoated sample) to even 110°, providing superior hydrophobicity to prevent water penetration. Such an innovative approach opens up new possibilities for improving the durability and reducing the costs of carbon-based coatings. Full article

Copper antimony sulfide (CuSbS₂) is an affordable and eco-friendly solar absorber with an optimal bandgap and high absorption coefficient, and it stands out as a promising candidate for thin-film solar cells. This study investigates the effects of indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), and glass substrates on the microstructural, morphological, and optical properties of CuSbS₂ (CAS) layers synthesized via spray pyrolysis. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy analyses revealed that CAS phases formed on ITO and FTO substrates exhibited a phase composition without additional copper phases. However, the CAS layer on glass contained a copper sulfide (CuS) phase, which can be detrimental for solar cell applications. Furthermore, the influences of the substrate morphology and contact angle on the growth mechanisms of CAS layers was examined, highlighting the relationship between the substrate micromorphology and the resultant film characteristics. Advanced image processing techniques applied to Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images of the substrate surfaces facilitated a comprehensive comparison with the surface characteristics of the CAS films grown on those substrates. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) indicated that CAS layers on ITO possessed larger grains than FTO, whereas those on FTO exhibited lower roughness with a more uniform grain distribution. Notably, the optical properties of the CAS layers correlated strongly with their microstructural and morphological characteristics. This work highlights the critical influence of substrate choice on the growth and characteristics of CAS layers through a comparative analysis. Full article

We focus on solving stochastic differential equations driven by jump processes (SDEJs) with measurable drifts that may exhibit quadratic growth. Our approach leverages a space transformation and Itô-Krylov’s formula to effectively eliminate the singular component of the drift, allowing us to obtain a transformed SDEJ that satisfies classical solvability conditions. By applying the inverse transformation proven to be a one-to-one mapping, we retrieve the solution to the original equation. This methodology offers several key advantages. First, it extends the well-known result of Le Gall (1984) from Brownian-driven SDEs to the jump process setting, broadening the range of applicable stochastic models. Second, it provides a robust framework for handling singular drifts, enabling the resolution of equations that would otherwise be intractable. Third, the approach accommodates drifts with quadratic growth, making it particularly relevant for financial modeling, insurance risk assessment, and other applications where such growth behavior is common. Finally, the inclusion of multiple examples illustrates the practical effectiveness of our method, demonstrating its flexibility and applicability to real-world problems. Full article

The thermal behavior of a three-layer structure—glass/ITO/TAPC/CBP/BPhen—in an OLED system was investigated using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry during controlled heating from room temperature to 120 °C over 60 min, simulating the ageing process and analyzing degradation kinetics. Variations in Ψ and Δ spectra were observed across the entire 0.7–5.9 eV spectral range, with five distinct anomalies, particularly in the UV region. An anomaly at approximately 66 °C was attributed to the glass transition temperature T_g of BPhen, while another two at around 82 °C and at around 112 °C corresponded to the first-order phase transition of TAPC and T_g of CBP, respectively. The origins of the remaining anomalies at 91 °C and 112 °C were explored in this study, with a focus on interphase layer formation and morphological changes that emerge during heating. These findings provide insights into the stability of OLEDs under thermal stress. Full article

Indium, widely used as indium-tin oxide (ITO), has been recognized as a strategical metal for audiovisual, optoelectronic systems, semiconductors and photovoltaic fields. An increasing shortage and unflexible mineral supply have led indium to be recovered from secondary sources, such as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The main step for indium hydrometallurgical recovery from WEEE is the electrowinning process using sulfate baths, giving lower environmental impact and improved workplace safety conditions. In this investigation, a titanium cathode has been employed for the study of the indium electrowinning process in a sulfate-based bath. This study was focused on analyzing current efficiency (CE), specific energy consumption (SEC) and deposit morphology and structure as the temperature, current density, pH and electrolyte composition were varied. Prior to conducting electrowinning tests, a conventional three-electrode cell was used to perform cyclic voltametric assessments of the electrodeposition reactions on the Ti electrode at room temperature. The indium electrowinning tests on Ti cathodes presented CE values higher than 90%, with low energy consumption at low current densities, showing a negligible influence of additive agents in the bath, different from results obtained with other cathodes in other works. Moreover, the increase of the current density beyond 75 A/m² produced significant effects by etching the electrode surface with 1M HF. In particular, at the conclusion of this investigation, good results are obtained without additives, by etching the titanium cathode and operating at higher current density between 100 and 200 A/m² at pH 2.3 and different temperatures (40 °C and 60 °C). Finally, indium deposits were analyzed by XRD and SEM in order to determine the influence of operative conditions on the structure and surface morphology. Full article

This study investigates the computation of fractional and higher integer-order moments for a stochastic process governed by a one-dimensional, non-homogeneous linear stochastic differential equation (SDE) driven by fractional Brownian motion (fBm). Unlike conventional approaches relying on moment-generating functions or Fokker–Planck equations, which often yield intractable expressions, we derive explicit closed-form formulas for these moments. Our methodology leverages the Wick–Itô calculus (fractional Itô formula) and the properties of Hermite polynomials to express moments efficiently. Additionally, we establish a recurrence relation for moment computation and propose an alternative approach based on generalized binomial expansions. To validate our findings, Monte Carlo simulations are performed, demonstrating a high degree of accuracy between theoretical and empirical results. The proposed framework provides novel insights into stochastic processes with long-memory properties, with potential applications in statistical inference, mathematical finance, and physical modeling of anomalous diffusion. Full article

In this study, we aimed to develop soy protein-derived edible porous hydrogel scaffolds for cultured meat based on mechanical anisotropy to mimic the physical and biochemical properties of muscle tissues. Based on the traditional Japanese Ito-Kanten (thread agar) freeze–thaw process, we used liquid nitrogen directional freezing combined with ion crosslinking to fabricate an aligned scaffold composed of soy protein isolate (SPI), carrageenan (CA), and sodium alginate (SA). SPI, CA, and SA were dissolved in water, heated, mixed, and subjected to directional freezing in liquid nitrogen. The frozen gel was immersed in Ca²⁺ and K⁺ solutions for low-temperature crosslinking, followed by a second freezing step and lyophilization to create the SPI/CA/SA cryogel scaffold with anisotropic pore structure. Furthermore, C2C12 myoblasts were seeded onto the scaffold. After 14 d of dynamic culture, the cells exhibited significant differentiation along the aligned structure of the scaffold. Overall, our developed anisotropic scaffold provided a biocompatible environment to promote directed cell differentiation, showing potential for cultured meat production and serving as a sustainable protein source. Full article

With the increasing demand for alternatives to traditional indium tin oxide (ITO), copper nanowires (Cu NWs) have gained significant attention due to their excellent conductivity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of synthesis. However, challenges such as wire–wire contact resistance and oxidation susceptibility hinder their practical applications. This review discusses the development and challenges associated with Cu NW-based flexible transparent conductors (FTCs). Cu NWs are considered a promising alternative to traditional materials like ITO, thanks to their high electrical conductivity and low cost. This paper explores various synthesis methods for Cu NWs, including template-assisted synthesis, hydrazine reduction, and hydrothermal processes, while highlighting the advantages and limitations of each approach. The key challenges, such as contact resistance, oxidation, and the need for protective coatings, are also addressed. Several strategies to enhance the conductivity and stability of Cu NW-based FTCs are proposed, including thermal sintering, laser sintering, acid treatment, and photonic sintering. Additionally, protective coatings like noble metal core–shell layers, electroplated layers, and conductive polymers like PEDOT:PSS are discussed as effective solutions. The integration of graphene with Cu NWs is explored as a promising method to improve oxidation resistance and overall performance. The review concludes with an outlook on the future of Cu NWs in flexible electronics, emphasizing the need for scalable, cost-effective solutions to overcome current challenges and improve the practical application of Cu NW-based FTCs in advanced technologies such as displays, solar cells, and flexible electronics. Full article

Modeling the evolution of a system using stochastic dynamics typically implies increasing subjective uncertainty in the adopted state of the system and its environment as time progresses, and stochastic entropy production has been developed as a measure of this change. In some situations, the evolution of stochastic entropy production can be described using an Itô process, but mathematical difficulties can emerge if diffusion in the system phase space happens to be restricted to a subspace of a lower dimension. This situation can arise if there are constants of the motion, for example, or more generally when there are functions of the coordinates that evolve without noise. More simply, difficulties can emerge if there are more coordinates than there are independent noises. We show how the problem of computing the stochastic entropy production in such a situation can be overcome. We illustrate the approach using a simple case of diffusion on an ellipse. We go on to consider an open three-level quantum system modeled within a framework of Markovian quantum state diffusion. We show how a nonequilibrium stationary state of the system, with a constant mean rate of stochastic entropy production, can be established under suitable environmental couplings. Full article

Today, flexible and lightweight electronics are regarded as a viable alternative to conventional rigid and heavy devices in various application fields. In the optoelectronic area, organic semiconductors offer advantages such as high absorption coefficients, low processing temperatures, mechanical flexibility and compatibility with plastic substrates, while inorganic nanostructures provide good electronic properties and high thermal stability. Thus, composite films with enhanced properties can be achieved by inserting inorganic nanostructures within organic layers. In this research work, CuS nanoparticles were prepared by wet chemical precipitation and then added to an organic mixture containing poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and N,N-bis-(1-dodecyl)perylene-3,4,9,10 tetracarboxylic diimide (AMC14), a chemically synthesized semiconductor, for fabricating hybrid composite films by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) on indium tin oxide/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (ITO/PET) flexible substrates. A comparative assessment of the morphological, compositional, optical and electrical properties of the composite (P3HT:AMC14:CuS) and organic (P3HT:AMC14) layers was performed to evaluate their applicability in the photovoltaic cells. The transmission and emission spectra of the composite films are dominated by the optical features of AMC14, a perylene diimide derivative compound used as acceptor. In the case of devices based on MAPLE deposited composite layer fabricated on ITO/PET substrates, the electrical measurements carried under illumination revealed an improvement in the open circuit voltage parameter emphasizing their potential applications in the flexible device area. Full article

We investigate diffusion models generating synthetic samples from the probability distribution represented by the ground truth (GT) samples. We focus on how GT sample information is encoded in the score function (SF), computed (not simulated) from the Wiener–Ito linear forward process in the artificial time $t\in [0\to \infty ]$, and then used as a nonlinear drift in the simulated Wiener–Ito reverse process with $t\in [\infty \to 0]$. We propose U-Turn diffusion, an augmentation of a pre-trained diffusion model, which shortens the forward and reverse processes to $t\in [0\to T_u]$ and $t\in [T_u\to 0]$. The U-Turn reverse process is initialized at $T_u$ with a sample from the probability distribution of the forward process (initialized at $t=0$ with a GT sample) ensuring a detailed balance relation between the shortened forward and reverse processes. Our experiments on the class-conditioned SF of the ImageNet dataset and the multi-class, single SF of the CIFAR-10 dataset reveal a critical Memorization Time $T_m$, beyond which generated samples diverge from the GT sample used to initialize the U-Turn scheme, and a Speciation Time $T_s$, where for $T_u>T_s>T_m$, samples begin representing different classes. We further examine the role of SF nonlinearity through a Gaussian Test, comparing empirical and Gaussian-approximated U-Turn auto-correlation functions and showing that the SF becomes effectively affine for $t>T_s$ and approximately affine for $t\in [T_m,T_s]$. Full article