Search Results (1,707)

Aniline (ANI) was electropolymerized on ITO substrates with different surface resistivities. The process was performed by cyclic voltammetry from an aqueous, homogeneous solution containing sulfuric acid and the aniline monomer using various numbers of cycles and scan rates. The resulting polymer films (PANI) were characterized by ATR-IR spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. The influence of ITO surface resistivity on the electropolymerization process, the quality of the obtained PANI layers, and their optical properties was evaluated. Homogeneous PANI films were produced on ITO substrates with surface resistivities of 15–25 Ω/sq, encompassing both emeraldine salt and emeraldine base forms. Although the film’s growth was rapid, it also led to adhesion issues. In contrast, for ITO substrates with surface resistivities of 70–100 Ω/sq and 80–100 Ω/sq, the resulting films showed improved adhesion but were less homogeneous. Nevertheless, the conductive emeraldine salt form of polyaniline was successfully obtained. The conductive form of polyaniline was obtained without any additional modifications to the electropolymerization procedure. Notably, the literature provides no systematic analysis of electropolymerization on ITO substrates with different surface resistivities, which opens up new research opportunities and provides a basis for the rational design and optimization of PANI-based electro-optical coatings for advanced sensing applications. Full article

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a lethal vascular disease characterized by intramural hemorrhage. This study delineates the signatures of heme and its metabolic imbalance related to progression and inflammation in AAA. Clinical analyses of patients undergoing open AAA surgery show that AAA patients exhibit vascular inflammation, with elevated serum CRP, IL-6, and heme levels correlating with the expression of heme-regulated gene Hmox1/HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) in the affected aortic wall. Oxidation of hemoglobin to ferri state leading to accumulation of methemoglobin readily releasing heme occurs in human AAA and in angiotensin II (AngII)-induced AAA in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Transcriptomic analysis for AngII-induced AAA identifies upregulated genes predominantly enriched in inflammatory signaling, extracellular matrix degradation, oxidative stress pathways, and altered expression of genes related to heme metabolism including Hmox1. Immunohistochemistry for IL1β and TNFα confirms inflammatory activation within AAA tissues. The signatures of heme-responsive gene inductions, enhanced expression of HO-1 and H-ferritin, are detected. Mechanistic studies employing endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells reveal that heme exposure of resident cells markedly enhances the expression of IL1β and ICAM1, as well as the inflammasome component NLRP3, and such inflammatory response is controlled by HO-1. Intervention with Normosang (heme arginate), an HO-1 inducer, attenuates aneurysm progression, whereas HO-1 inhibition by Tin protoporphyrin IX abolishes this protection. Induction of HO-1 accompanied by elevated H-ferritin level also mitigated aortic wall inflammation as reflected by lowering IL1β and TNFα. These findings highlight the heme-HO-1-H-ferritin axis as an element of AAA pathogenesis and a potential therapeutic target. Full article

Conductive polymers (CPs), such as polypyrrole (PPy), have shown promising properties for use as electro-responsive bioactive scaffolds for tissue regeneration. PPy can be synthesized by chemical electrosynthesis and doped with biomolecules such as hyaluronic acid (HA). Taking advantage of the electrochemical synthesis versatility, nanofibers for surface-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes can be used as templates to produce tridimensional HA-doped PPy scaffolds. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CTS) electrospun nanofibers deposited on ITO electrodes were used as a 3D template for the in situ electrosynthesis of HA-doped PPy to produce a bioactive scaffold for tissue engineering. The final material gathers the advantages of each biopolymer, the porous morphology of the nanofiber, and the conductivity of the electrosynthetized polymer. Furthermore, the biological activity of the NF-PVA/CTS@PPy:HA composite was evaluated in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts by MTT, resulting in a cell viability of 146 ± 40% and wound-healing capacity of 97 ± 1.9% at 24 h of culture. Full article

The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has increased the demand for low-cost nanostructured materials. Zinc tin oxide (ZTO) has been widely used as an alternative to current semiconductor technologies, but its production methods remain expensive. Combustion synthesis is a green, low-cost alternative that may allow us to reduce the complexity of ZTO production. In this work, zinc and tin-based nanostructures were produced through combustion synthesis using water and ethanol as solvents and different precursor solutions ratios (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1). The influence of ethylenediamine (EDA) on the crystallographic phase of 2:1 samples of both solvents and Ag doping on 2:1 ethanol samples was also studied. Samples produced with a 2:1 ratio presented a predominance of ZnO, while the 1:1 and 2:1 samples presented a mixture of ZnO, SnO₂, and ZnSnO₃. The use of EDA in the 2:1 ethanol and water samples led to the growth of ZnO after annealing at 600 °C. For the ZTO-Ag samples, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman analysis also revealed the presence of ZnO after annealing at 600 °C. This work showed it is possible to produce ZTO nanostructures through solution combustion synthesis. Full article

In this study, we investigated the effect of annealing ultrathin silver (Ag) films of varying thicknesses (1–6 nm) on both their optical absorption and the performance of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) organic solar cells (OSCs). The Ag films were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes and annealed at 300 °C for 1–2 h to modify the anodic interface. The optical and electrical properties of the resulting devices were systematically characterized and optimized. The results revealed that a 1 nm AgO layer annealed for 2 h significantly enhanced the device performance, yielding a 6% increase in power conversion efficiency compared to the standard configuration. This improvement is attributed to two main factors: (i) a 25% increase in light absorption of the AgO/P3HT:PCBM film due to localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles and (ii) an 11% reduction in series resistance resulting from the favorable alignment of the Ag work function with the ITO anode and the polymer HOMO, which facilitates efficient hole extraction. These findings highlight the potential of ultrathin, annealed Ag/AgO interfacial layers as an effective strategy to enhance light absorption and charge transport in OSCs. Full article

Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs), such as indium tin oxide (ITO), are essential for flexible electronics; however, conventional vacuum-based deposition is costly and thermally aggressive for polymers. This study investigated the surface functionalization of PET substrates with ITO thin film-based forced hydrolysis as a low-cost, reproducible alternative. $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{n}{\mathrm{O}}_2$ nanoparticles were synthesized by forced hydrolysis at 180 °C for 3 h and 6 h, yielding crystalline nanoparticles with a cassiterite phase and an average crystallite size of 20.34 nm. The process showed high reproducibility, enabling consistent structural properties without complex equipment or high-temperature treatments. The $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{n}{\mathrm{O}}_2$ sample obtained at 3 h was incorporated into commercial ${\mathrm{I}\mathrm{n}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ to form a mixed In–Sn–O oxide, which was subsequently deposited onto PET substrates by spin coating onto UV-activated PET. The resulting 1.1 µm ITO films demonstrated good adhesion (4B according to ASTM D3359), a low resistivity of 1.27 × 10⁻⁶ Ω·m, and an average optical transmittance of 80% in the visible range. Although their resistivity is higher than vacuum-processed films, this route provides a superior balance of mechanical robustness, featuring a hardness of (H) of 3.8 GPa and an elastic modulus (E) of 110 GPa. These results highlight forced hydrolysis as a reproducible route for producing ITO/PET thin films. The thickness was strategically optimized to act as a structural buffer, preventing crack propagation during bending. Forced hydrolysis-driven PET sheet functionalization is an effective route for producing durable ITO/PET electrodes that are suitable for flexible sensors and solar cells. Full article

The increasing presence of pharmaceutical residues such as ibuprofen in aquatic environments represents a growing concern due to their persistence and limited biodegradability. In this study, selenium-doped tin oxide (SnO₂:Se) nanoparticles covered with glycerol were synthesized via a microwave-assisted method to evaluate their photocatalytic performance in the degradation of ibuprofen under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. Optimal synthesis parameters were determined at pH 7.5–8.0 and 130 °C, yielding stable, dark-brown colloidal suspensions. HRTEM analysis revealed a coexistence of one-dimensional (1D) nanowires and zero-dimensional (0D) quantum dots, confirming nanoscale morphology with crystallite sizes between 8 and 100 nm. EDS analysis confirmed the presence of Sn, O, and trace Se (0.1 wt%), indicating Se incorporation as a dopant. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed strong absorption near 324 nm and slight band-gap narrowing in the Se-doped samples, suggesting enhanced visible-light responsiveness. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated an ibuprofen degradation efficiency of ~60% under visible light and 80% under UV irradiation with aeration, compared to only 5% removal using commercial SnO₂. The enhanced performance was attributed to Se-induced band-gap modulation, effective charge-carrier separation, and singlet oxygen generation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ash made from juniper trees and added to cornmeal-based dishes may have provided calcium (Ca) to traditional Indigenous diets. Few studies have quantified the mineral content of juniper ash, including its Ca content. The objective of this study was to determine whether juniper ash could serve as a safe source of non-dairy Ca in an intervention study. Methods: Branches from two varieties of Juniper (Rocky Mountain Juniper, or Juniperus scopulorum and Eastern Red Cedar, or Juniperus virginiana) were harvested and burned to ash in a laboratory setting. Juniper ash from the southwestern U.S. available for retail purchase was used for comparison. All samples were tested for content of 10 nutritive elements (Ca, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc) and 20 potentially toxic elements (silver, aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, lithium, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony, tin, strontium, thallium, uranium, and vanadium) as well as n = 576 pesticide residues. Results: All samples contained both nutritive and potentially toxic elements. Each teaspoon of ash contained an average of 445 ± 141 mg Ca. However, the samples also contained lead in amounts ranging from 1.09 ppm to 15 ppm. Conclusions: Information on the nutritive and potentially toxic elemental content of juniper ash and how it may interact within a food matrix is insufficient to determine its safety as a Ca source. Further investigation is needed on the bioavailability of calcium oxide and its interaction with other dietary components to clarify the potential role of juniper ash in contemporary food patterns. Full article

This study proposes design and fabrication methods for an electromagnetic metasurface absorber (MA) that absorbs electromagnetic waves using a metasticker attached on a dielectric substrate blocked by a copper sheet. To guarantee a high design freedom as well as make the absorption bandwidth (BW) as broad as possible, a square-fractal ring is chosen as the metapattern, and its design is optimized using a genetic algorithm. To fabricate the square-fractal rings in a simple manner, an indium-tin-oxide film is cut by using a laser-cutting machine. Then, the metasticker is fabricated by assembling the metapatterns on a double-sided adhesive film which could be attached on the dielectric substrate using the opposite side of the film. From measured results of the finalized MA of which damaged regions caused by the laser-cutting process are compensated in the design process, a broad $-10$ dB reflectance BW is confirmed from 4.39 to 7.51 GHz of which the fractional BW is 52.44% for the normal incidence. Moreover, a fractional BW of 4.35% is measured in a wide incident angle range from $0°$ to $60°$ for both the transverse electric and the transverse magnetic polarizations simultaneously. Full article

The increasing impact of global warming is predominantly driven by the extensive use of fossil fuels, which release significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This has led to a critical need for alternative, sustainable energy sources that can mitigate environmental impacts. Photovoltaic technology has emerged as a promising solution by harnessing renewable energy from the sun, providing a clean and inexhaustible power source. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a class of hybrid organic–inorganic solar cells that have recently attracted significant scientific attention due to their low cost, relatively high efficiency, low–temperature processing routes, and longer carrier lifetimes. These characteristics make them a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, reducing the carbon footprint and contributing to the fight against global warming. In this study, the SCAPS–1D numerical simulator was used in the computational analysis of a PSC device with the configuration FTO/ETL/BaZr(S_0.6Se_0.4)₃/HTL/Ir. Different hole transport layer (HTL) and electron transport layer (ETL) material were proposed and tested. The HTL materials included copper (I) oxide (Cu₂O), 2,2′,7,7′–Tetrakis(N,N–di–p–methoxyphenylamine)9,9′–spirobifluorene (spiro–OMETAD), and poly(3–hexylthiophene) (P₃HT), while the ETLs included cadmium suphide (CdS), zinc oxide (ZnO), and [6,6]–phenyl–C₆₁–butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Finally, BaZr(S_0.6Se_0.4)₃ was proposed as an absorber, and a fluorine–doped tin oxide glass substrate (FTO) was proposed as an anode. The metal back contact used was iridium. Photovoltaic parameters such as short circuit density (I_sc), open circuit voltage (V_oc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) were used to evaluate the performance of the device. The initial simulated primary device with the configuration FTO/CdS/BaZr(S_0.6Se_0.4)₃/spiro–OMETAD/Ir gave a PCE of 5.75%. Upon testing different HTL materials, the best HTL was found to be Cu₂O, and the PCE improved to 9.91%. Thereafter, different ETLs were also inserted and tested, and the best ETL was established to be ZnO, with a PCE of 10.10%. Ultimately an optimized device with a configuration of FTO/ZnO/BaZr(S_0.6Se_0.4)₃/Cu₂O/Ir was achieved. The other photovoltaic parameters for the optimized device were as follows: FF = 31.93%, J_sc = 14.51 mA cm⁻², and V_oc = 2.18 V. The results of this study will promote the use of environmentally benign BaZr(S_0.6Se_0.4)₃–based absorber materials in PSCs for improved performance and commercialization. Full article

As a core candidate material for indium-free transparent conductive oxides, tin dioxide (SnO₂) thin films are gradually replacing indium tin oxide (ITO) and becoming a research focus in the field of optoelectronic devices, thanks to their excellent physicochemical stability, wide bandgap characteristics, and abundant tin resource reserves. This review focuses on SnO₂ thin films. Firstly, it elaborates on the tetragonal rutile crystal structure characteristics of SnO₂ and the transparent conductive mechanism based on oxygen vacancies and doping elements to regulate free electron concentration, while clarifying the key parameters for evaluating their transparent conductive properties. Subsequently, it systematically summarizes the research progress in preparing SnO₂ transparent conductive thin films via physical methods and chemical methods in recent years. It compares the microstructure and transparent conductive properties of thin films prepared by different methods, and analyzes the regulatory laws of preparation processes, doping types, and film thickness on their optoelectronic properties. Furthermore, this work supplements the current application status of SnO₂ thin films in devices. Meanwhile, the core performance differences between indium-free tin-based thin film devices and ITO-based devices are compared. Finally, we have summarized the advantages and challenges of physical and chemical methods in the preparation of SnO₂ thin films. It also forecasts the application potential of interdisciplinary integration of physical–chemical methods and the development of new doping systems in the preparation of high-performance SnO₂ transparent conductive thin films. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance and technical references for the selection and process optimization of SnO₂ transparent conductive thin films in fields such as photovoltaic devices and flexible optoelectronic equipment. Full article

This work presents the design of a novel electrochemical sensor for highly sensitive determination of LEV, utilizing a sensing platform based on a newly synthesized, high-purity manganese (III) porphyrin complex [5,10,15,20-tetrayltetrakis(2-methoxybenzene-4,1-diyl) tetraisonicotinateporphyrinato] manganese (III) porphyrin (MnTMIPP). The successful synthesis of the MnTMIPP complex was verified using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The sensing electrode was fabricated by depositing the synthesized material onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode via a drop-coating method. Under optimized experimental conditions, the proposed sensor demonstrated a wide dynamic range, from 10⁻⁹ M to 10⁻³ M, with a low calculated detection limit of 4.82 × 10⁻¹⁰ M. Furthermore, the MnTMIPP/ITO electrode displayed interesting metrological performance: high selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. Successful application in spiked river water and saliva samples with satisfactory recovery rates confirms the sensor’s potential as a reliable and cost-effective platform for monitoring LEV in real-world environments. Full article

Transparent conductive materials (TCMs) are essential for optoelectrical devices ranging from smart windows and defogging films to soft sensors, display technologies, and flexible electronics. Materials, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and silver nanowires (AgNWs), are commonly used and offer high optical transmittance and electrical conductivity, but suffer from brittleness, oxidation susceptibility, and require high-cost materials, greatly limiting their use. Carbon nanotube (CNT) networks provide a promising alternative, featuring mechanical compliance, chemical robustness, and scalable processing. This study reports an aqueous ink formulation composed of ultra-long mix-walled carbon nanotubes (UL-CNTs), compatible with the flow coating process, yielding uniform transparent conductive films (TCFs) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass, and polycarbonate (PC). The resulting films exhibit tunable transmittance (85%–88% for single layers; ~57% for three layers at 550 nm) and sheet resistance of 7.5 kΩ/□ to 1.5 kΩ/□ accordingly. These TCFs maintain stable sheet resistance for over 5000 bending cycles and show excellent mechanical durability with negligible effects on heating performance. Post-deposition treatments, including nitric acid vapor doping or flash photonic heating (FPH), further reduce sheet resistance by up to 80% (7.5 kΩ/□ to 1.2 kΩ/□). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results in reduced surface oxygen content after FPH. The photonic-treated heaters attain ~100 °C within 20 s at 100 V. This scalable, water-based process provides a pathway toward low-cost, flexible, and stretchable devices in a variety of fields, including printed electronics, optoelectronics, and thermal actuators. Full article

Transparent conductive films based on silver nanowire meshes have demonstrated significant potential as alternatives to conventional tin-doped indium oxide and fluorine-doped tin oxide thin films. However, these materials feature high junction resistance, poor damp heat (DH) stability, and weak mechanical adhesion to substrates, which are critical issues that must be addressed before any practical applications. In this paper, transparent conducting films composed of silver nanowire (AgNW) frameworks and amorphous indium zinc oxide (IZO) fillers were prepared by a spin-coating method. The AgNW-IZO composite films exhibited a higher conductivity and better DH stability and adhesion to substrates than that of their constituent parts alone. The lowest sheet resistance of the composite films was 3.3 ohm/sq with approximately 70% transparency in the visible spectrum. No degradation was observed after 8 months. The excellent DH stability and mechanical adhesion might facilitate applications of these AgNW-IZO composite films in optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, the composite electrode is shown to have potential as a transparent heater. Full article

With the rapid advancement of detection technologies, traditional static electromagnetic absorbers increasingly struggle to meet controllable stealth requirements across diverse dynamic environments. To achieve active and controllable modulation of electromagnetic reflection characteristics, this paper proposes a transparent reconfigurable metamaterial absorber based on an origami structure. By adjusting the folding angles of the indium tin oxide (ITO)-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, the structure achieves reversible deformation from the vertical state to the horizontal state. This enables continuous modulation of the reflectance from below −10 dB (absorbing state) to nearly 0 dB (reflecting state) within the 4–18.9 GHz frequency range, with a relative bandwidth exceeding 130% and excellent angular stability. The energy loss and current distribution under different states are analyzed, revealing the mechanisms behind broadband absorption and deep modulation. Experimental measurements of the fabricated metamaterial align well with simulation results. Leveraging its flexible structure, reversible modulation capability, and angular stability, this origami-inspired reconfigurable metamaterial demonstrates promising application potential in the fields of adaptive electromagnetic camouflage and stealth protection. Full article