Search Results (32)

The study aimed to form thin Bi₂S₃ films simultaneously on various textile materials using the environmentally friendly, low-cost successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at ambient temperature, and to evaluate the influence of the textile’s composition on the resulting composites’ surface phase composition, morphology, and optical properties. The deposited films were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. This paper discusses how the structure and composition of the textiles affect the phase and elemental composition, crystallinity, morphology and optical properties of the formed films. The properties of the films are then compared. Depending on the textiles used, the formed films can be amorphous or polycrystalline, and can be rich in sulphur or near stoichiometric. Accordingly, the normalised atomic percentages of Bi in the films range from 3.62% to 33.87%, and those of S range from 96.38% to 66.13%. The optical energy gap value of the composites also varies depending on the textile substrate, ranging from E_g = 1.58 eV to E_g = 1.8 eV. These properties directly impact the films’ applications. We have obtained a rather low value of the optical energy gap in a simpler way. Full article

Despite significant progress in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, high fabrication costs and limited efficiency of photoanodes hinder practical applications. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄), with its low cost, non-toxicity, and suitable band structure, is a promising photoanode material but suffers from poor charge transport, sluggish surface kinetics, and photocorrosion. In this study, porous monoclinic BiVO₄ films are fabricated via a simplified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, followed by borate treatment and PEC deposition of NiFeO_x. The resulting B/BiVO₄/NiFeO_x photoanode exhibits a significantly enhanced photocurrent density of 2.45 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE—5.3 times higher than pristine BiVO₄. It also achieves an ABPE of 0.77% and a charge transfer efficiency of 79.5%. These results demonstrate that dual surface modification via borate and NiFeO_x is a cost-effective strategy to improve BiVO₄-based PEC water splitting performance. This work provides a promising pathway for the scalable development of efficient and economically viable photoanodes for solar hydrogen production. Full article

In this work, we present the development and validation of an automated system for the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method, aimed at depositing Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) thin films. The system is based on a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller programmed in Micro-Python (Thonny 4.0.2), allowing precise control over immersion sequences, timing intervals, and substrate positioning along two degrees of freedom. Automation enhances reproducibility, safety, and reduces human error compared with manual operation. CZTS films were deposited on borosilicate glass and optically and structurally characterized. A gradual darkening of the films with increasing deposition cycles indicates controlled material accumulation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CZTS phases, although with a partially amorphous structure. The estimated optical bandgap of ~1.34 eV is consistent with photovoltaic applications. These results validate the functionality of the automated SILAR platform for repeatable and scalable thin-film fabrication, offering a low-cost alternative for producing semiconductor absorber layers in solar energy technologies. Full article

The textile industry encounters serious environmental challenges from wastewater with persistent organic pollutants, demanding sustainable solutions for remediation. Herein, we report a novel green synthesis of flexible BiOBr@PZT nanocomposite membranes via electrospinning and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation. The hierarchical structure integrates leaf-like BiOBr nanosheets with PAN/ZnO/TiO₂ (PZT) nanofibers, forming a Z-scheme heterojunction. This enhances the separation of photogenerated carriers while preserving mechanical integrity. SILAR-enabled low temperature deposition ensures eco-friendly fabrication by avoiding toxic precursors and cutting energy use. Optimized BiOBr@PZT-5 shows exceptional photocatalytic performance, achieving 97.6% tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation under visible light in 120 min. It also has strong tensile strength (4.29 MPa) and cycling stability. Mechanistic studies show efficient generation of O₂⁻ and OH radicals through synergistic light absorption, charge transfer, and turbulence-enhanced mass diffusion. The material’s flexibility allows reusable turbulent flow applications, overcoming rigid catalyst limitations. Aligning with green chemistry and UN SDGs, this work advances multifunctional photocatalytic systems for scalable, energy-efficient wastewater treatment, offering a paradigm that integrates environmental remediation with industrial adaptability. Full article

The present study employed the spin-coating method for the preparation of nanostructured crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films on FTO glass substrates. Subsequently, cadmium selenide (CdSe) layers were deposited on the surfaces using two distinct chemical methods: successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and chemical bath deposition (CBD). The obtained films were then characterized by a variety of analytical methods, including XRD, SEM, AFM, EDX spectroscopy, UV–vis spectrophotometry, and linear sweep voltammetry. The XRD and SEM studies demonstrated that all of the films exhibited a polycrystalline nature, with the crystallinity of the cadmium selenide thin films prepared using the SILAR method exceeding that obtained by the CBD method. The SEM and AFM images revealed the uniformity of the cadmium selenide films on the FTO substrates, with no visible cracks or pores. The EDX spectra confirmed the presence of the expected elements in the thin films. The optical band gaps (E_g) for CdSe prepared with the SILAR or CBD method were determined to be 1.85 and 1.97 eV, respectively. Full article

Thin films of gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) nanoparticles were fabricated as electrolytes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) by combining electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction-air spray plus (SILAR-A+) method. The Ce_1−xGd_xO_2−x/2 solid solution was synthesized using hydrothermal (HY) and solid-state (SS) procedures to produce high-quality GDC nanoparticles suitable for EPD fabrication. The crystalline structure, cell parameters, and phases of the GDC products were analyzed using X-ray diffraction. Variations in oxygen vacancy concentrations in the GDC samples were achieved through the two synthetic methods. The ionic conductivities of pressed pellets from the HY, SS, and commercial G_0.2DC samples, measured at 150 °C, were 0.6 × 10⁻⁶, 2.6 × 10⁻⁶, and 2.9 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm, respectively. These values were determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with a simplified equivalent circuit method. The morphologies of G_0.2DC thin films prepared via EPD and SILAR-A+ processes were characterized, with particular attention to surface cracking. Crack-free GDC thin films, approximately 730–1200 nm thick, were successfully fabricated on conductive substrates through the hybridization of EPD and SILAR-A+, followed by hydrothermal annealing. EIS and ionic conductivity (1.39 × 10⁻⁹ S/cm) measurements of the G_0.2DC thin films with thicknesses of 733 nm were performed at 300 °C. Full article

This study provides a comprehensive structural, chemical, and optical characterization of CZTS thin films deposited on flexible Kapton substrates via the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method. The investigation explored the effects of varying deposition cycles (40, 60, 70, and 80) and annealing treatments on the films. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated enhanced crystallinity and phase purity, particularly in films deposited with 70 cycles. These films exhibited a notable reduction in secondary phases in the as-deposited state, with further improvements observed after annealing at 400 °C and 450 °C in a sulfur atmosphere. A pole figure analysis indicates a decrease in texture disorder with annealing, suggesting improved crystalline orientation at higher temperatures. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed enhancements in surface morphology, with increased grain size and uniformity post-annealing. Chemical uniformity was confirmed through Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). XPS revealed the presence of CZTS phases alongside oxidized phases. Annealing effectively reduced secondary phases, such as ZnO, SnO₂, CuO, and SO₂, enhancing the CZTS phase. An optical analysis demonstrated that annealing at 200 °C in an air atmosphere reduced the band gap from 1.53 eV to 1.38 eV. In contrast, annealing at 400 °C and 450 °C in a sulfur atmosphere increased the band gap to 1.59 eV and 1.63 eV, respectively. The films exhibited p-type conductivity, as inferred from a valence band structure analysis. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the observed band gap variations, further substantiating the findings. Full article

The development of eco-friendly, cost-effective, and naturally abundant electrode materials for supercapacitors is gaining critical importance in current energy storage research. This study focuses on the synthesis of tin sulfide (SnSx) films via the eco-friendly successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, employing varying quantities of L-ascorbic acid (0.8 and 1.0 g) as a reducing agent. Tin sulfide films were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates and subsequently annealed in an inert atmosphere at temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 °C, resulting in thin films of varying thicknesses (100–420 nm). The structural and compositional characteristics of the films were thoroughly analyzed using Raman spectroscopy to confirm the purity and spectroscopic signatures of the sulfides. Further characterization was performed to assess the films’ morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), phase composition (X-ray diffraction, XRD), surface chemical states (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS), optical properties (UV–Vis spectroscopy), and electrical properties (Hall measurements). The gathered data were then used to evaluate the potential of tin sulfide films as electrode materials in supercapacitors, highlighting their suitability for sustainable energy storage applications. Full article

In this work, a simple, cost-effective successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) deposition technique has been used to deposit a high-quality tin selenide (SnSe) thin film onto a glass substrate. Structural, morphologic, and thermoelectric properties have been characterized for the prepared thin film. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of the SnSe thin film reveal an orthorhombic structure phase. The morphological properties of the prepared thin films have been studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The stoichiometric composition of the deposited thin film and the elemental binding energies of the Sn and Se elements have been investigated with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectrum of the SnSe thin film displays vibrational modes of chalcogenides bonds. These results suggest that the developed thin film is crystalline, uniform, and without impurities and is appropriate for energy harvesting applications. The prepared thin film’s Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity were estimated through ZEM-3 from room temperature to 600 K. The power factor was evaluated. A substantially high electrical conductivity is observed, which decreases somewhat with temperature, suggesting a semimetal conducting transport—the absolute values of the Seebeck coefficient increase with temperature. The resulting power factor showed the highest values near room temperature and a somewhat decreasing trend as the temperature increased. Despite lower values of the Seebeck coefficient, the substantially enhanced power factor is due to the higher electrical conductivity of the thin film, superior to that reported previously. This precursor study demonstrates promising results for developing high-performance flexible thermoelectric devices via a simple and facile SILAR strategy. Full article

In this research, TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs) were produced by electrochemical anodization of a Ti substrate where different NH₄F wt.% in the electrolyte was added. NTs with diameter of 65–90 nm and 3.3–4.9 µm length were obtained and sensitized with binary cadmium chalcogenides nanoparticles, CdS and CdSe, by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method (SILAR). Additionally, both anions S and Se were deposited onto Cd, labeled as CdSSe and CdSeS, to evaluate the effect of the deposition order of the anion from the precursor solution to form cadmium chalcogenides. The structural, optical, and electrochemical performance were analyzed through the SEM, XRD, XPS, UV-VIS, lineal voltammetry and chronoamperometry characterizations. The increase of NH₄F wt.% from 1.5% to 4.5% produced a decrement of the diameter and length attributed to the fluoride ions concentration causing solubility of the NTs. XRD confirmed the TiO₂ anatase and hexagonal CdS structures. From the EDS and XPS results, the presence of small amount of Se in the sensitized samples demonstrated the doping effect of Se instead of forming ternary semiconductor. With the sensitization of the TiO₂ NTs with the nanoparticles, an improved hydrogen generation was observed (reaching 1.068 mL h⁻¹ cm⁻²) in the sample with CdSSe. The improvement was associated to a synergetic effect in the light absorption and higher cadmium chalcogenide amount deposited when sulfur ions were deposited before selenium. Full article

The acid etching mechanism of FTO film using zinc powders has been explored, and sulfuric and hydrochloric acid solutions of different concentrations were tested as etching agents. Compact and mesoporous films of titanium dioxide were prepared by spin-coating and doctor blade techniques on FTO glass. Tin sulfide films were formed through a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process using different numbers of deposition cycles, and TiO₂/SnS nanocomposites were synthesized. The thin films and the prepared composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses. In this study, the principal characteristics of deposited tin sulfide films on two different types of TiO₂ films are shown. Full article

Gas sensing is of significant importance in a wide range of disciplines, including industrial safety and environmental monitoring. In this work, a low-cost SILAR (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction) technique was employed to fabricate pure CuO, Zn-doped CuO, and Na-doped CuO nanotextured films to efficiently detect CO₂ gas. The structures, morphologies, chemical composition, and optical properties of all films are characterized using different tools. All films exhibit a crystalline monoclinic phase (tenorite) structure. The average crystallite size of pure CuO was 83.5 nm, whereas the values for CuO/Zn and CuO/Na were 73.15 nm and 63.08 nm, respectively. Subsequently, the gas-sensing capabilities of these films were evaluated for the detection of CO₂ in terms of sensor response, selectivity, recovery time, response time, and limits of detection and quantification. The CuO/Na film offered the most pronounced sensitivity towards CO₂ gas, as evidenced by a sensor response of 12.8% at room temperature and a low limit of detection (LoD) of 2.36 SCCM. The response of this sensor increased to 64.5% as the operating temperature increased to 150 °C. This study thus revealed a brand-new CuO/Na nanostructured film as a highly effective and economically viable sensor for the detection of CO₂. Full article

The aim of the research was to modify the surface of construction textiles by means of the use of thin silver oxide films, investigate the structure and optical and mechanical properties, and determine the structure, optical and mechanical properties of the aged composites. Thin films of silver oxide (Ag₂O) were synthesized on a flexible PET/PVC construction textile (CT); the structural, optical, and physical properties, as well as the effect of artificial aging on these properties, were investigated. The SILAR method (successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction) was used to synthesize thin Ag₂O films on the CT surface. Before the thin films were deposited, the CT surface was mechanically roughened and pretreated with acidic and alkaline solutions at an elevated temperature. XRD analysis showed that the deposited films were a polycrystalline mixed phase material consisting of Ag₂O, AgO, and metallic Ag. Diffuse reflectance spectra in the ultraviolet and visible ranges (UV-Vis) were used to study the optical properties of the deposited thin films. The synthesized Ag₂O/CT composites were direct-gap semiconductors (the optical band gap (E_g) was 0.89 ± 0.02 eV). E_g and refractive indices (n) increased as the aging tests were carried out. Higher E_g and n meant that the composites were a good material for optoelectronic applications. The results showed that, after modification, the structural properties and tear strength of the PET/PVC fabric remained the same while the tensile strength decreased. The same tendencies remained after artificial aging. Full article

Manganese oxide has been studied as a promising supercapacitor electrode due to its high theoretical capacitance, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Supercapacitor performance such as specific capacitance, resistance, and cycle life greatly depends on the morphology and crystal structure of manganese oxide. In this study, a Mn₃O₄ hybrid structure was successfully synthesized using electrodeposition and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) techniques which are simple, cost-effective, and low-temperature wet chemical processes. It was found that Mn₃O₄ morphology is different depending on manganese precursors and synthesis techniques. Sea-grape-like and bird nest-like morphologies were obtained via the electrodeposition technique, while flower-like and nanoparticle morphologies were formed via the SILAR technique using manganese acetate and manganese sulfate as precursors, respectively. The hybrid structure of the nanoparticle-decorated bird nest-like heterostructure was prepared using manganese sulfate electrodeposition and subsequent SILAR deposition of manganese acetate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the Mn₃O₄ formation. Electrochemical properties of manganese oxide hybrid structure were systematically studied with cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge, showing the highest areal capacitance of 390 mF cm⁻² at 0.1 mA cm⁻² with series and charge transfer resistances down to 4.55 and 4.91 Ω in 1 M sodium sulfate electrolyte. Full article

Compact MnCoS thin films on a nickel foam (NF) substrate were prepared by successive ionic layer adsorption and a reaction (SILAR) method, and two surfactants (SDS and CTAB) were used to improve the wettability of the NF. The MnCoS thin films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The supercapacitive properties were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that while the NF was first dipped in surfactant solution, followed by a mixture of Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ or a Na₂S solution, the load and density of the MnCoS on the NF’s surface significantly increased and delivered a much higher specific capacitance than that of the MnCoS thin film formed without the assistance of surfactants, which were 2029.8 F g⁻¹ (MnCoS-CTAB), 1500.3 F g⁻¹ (MnCoS-SDS), and 950.4 F g⁻¹ (MnCoS-H₂O) at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹ in 3 M KOH aqueous solution. When the current density increased to 10 A g⁻¹, the MnCoS-CTAB with the highest specific capacitance exhibited a capacitance of 1371.9 F g⁻¹, with a 71% capacity retention up to 1000 cycles, showing a good rate performance and cycle stability. Full article