Beyond Conventional Enhancements: Self-Organization of a Buffer Material on Tin Oxide as a Game-Changer for Improving the Performance of Inverted Organic Solar Cells.

Inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) have garnered significant interest due to their remarkable stability. In this study, the efficiency and stability of inverted OSCs are enhanced via the in situ self-organization (SO) of an interfacial modification material Phen-NaDPO onto tin oxide (SnO2). During the device fabrication, Phen-NaDPO is spin-coated with the active materials all together on SnO2. Driven by the interactions with SnO2 and the thermodynamic forces due to its high surface energy and the convection flow, Phen-NaDPO spontaneously migrates to the SnO2 interface, resulting in the formation of an in situ modification layer on SnO2. This self-organization of Phen-NaDPO not only effectively reduces the work function of SnO2, but also enhances the ordered molecular stacking and manipulates the vertical morphology of the active layer, which suppress the surface trap-assisted recombination and minimize the charge extraction. As a result, the SO devices based on PM6:Y6 exhibit significantly improved photovoltaic performance with an enhanced power conversion efficiency of 17.62%. Moreover, the stability of the SO device is also improved. Furthermore, the SO ternary devices based on PM6:D18:L8-BO achieved an impressive PCE of 18.87%, standing as one of the highest values for single-junction inverted organic solar cells to date.

Nano-antennas with decoupled transparent leads for optoelectronic studies.

Performing electrical measurements on single plasmonic nanostructures presents a challenging task due to the limitations in contacting the structure without disturbing its optical properties. In this work, we show two ways to overcome this problem by fabricating bow-tie nano-antennas with indium tin oxide leads. Indium tin oxide is transparent in the visible range and electrically conducting, but non-conducting at optical frequencies. The structures are prepared by electron beam lithography. Further definition, such as introducing small gaps, is achieved by focused helium ion beam milling. Dark-field reflection spectroscopy characterization of the dimer antennas shows typical unperturbed plasmonic spectra with multiple resonance peaks from mode hybridization.

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition of Sn-doped indium oxide semiconductor nano-films for thin-film transistors.

Sn-doped indium oxide (ITO) semiconductor nano-films are fabricated by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition using trimethylindium (TMIn), tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin (TDMASn), and O2plasma as the sources of In, Sn and O, respectively. A shared temperature window of 150 °C- 200 °C is observed for the deposition of ITO nano-films. The introduction of Sn into indium oxide is found to increase the concentration of oxygen into the ITO films and inhibit crystallization. Furthermore, two oxidation states are observed for In and Sn, respectively. With the increment of interfaces of In-O/Sn-O in the ITO films, the relative percentage of In3+ions increases and that of Sn4+decreases, which is generated by interfacial competing reactions. By optimizing the channel component, the In0.77Sn0.23O1.11thin-film transistors (TFTs) demonstrate high performance, includingµFEof 52.7 cm2V-1s-1, and a highION/IOFFof ∼5 × 109. Moreover, the devices show excellent positive bias temperature stress stability at 3 MV cm-1and 85 °C, i.e. a minimalVthshift of 0.017 V after 4 ks stress. This work highlights the successful application of ITO semiconductor nano-films by ALD for TFTs.

Pure and Antimony-doped Tin Oxide Nanoparticles for Fluorescence Sensing and Dye Degradation Applications.

Luminescent antimony doped tin oxide nanoparticles have drawn tremendous attention from researchers due to its low cost, chemical inertness and stability. Herein, a quick, facile and economic hydrothermal/solvothermal method was utilized for the preparation of antimony doped (1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 10%) tin oxide nanoparticles. The antimony doping in a reasonable range can change the properties of SnO2. As such, a lattice distortion increases with increase in doping, which is evidenced through crystallographic studies. It was found that the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of malachite green (MG) dye of about 80.86% was achieved with 10% Sb-doped SnO2 in aqueous media due to small particle size. Moreover, 10% Sb-doped SnO2 also showed the highest fluorescence quenching efficiency of about 27% for Cd2+ of concentration 0.11 µg/ml in the drinking water. The limit of detection (LOD) comes out as 0.0152 µg/ml. This sample selectively detected the cadmium ion even in the presence of other heavy metal ions. Notably, 10% Sb-doped SnO2 could appeared as a promising sensor for fast analysis of Cd2+ ions in real samples.

Encapsulation of Cu-modified SnO2 yolk-shell in V2O5-amalgamated wrinkled g-C3N4 lamella for boosting antibiotic photodegradation.

The remarkable application of tin oxide in various domains is indebted to its photoelectronic merits. However, significant efforts to discover its photocatalytic potential were restricted through arduous challenges, which were the amelioration of light-harvesting and -utilizing. In fact, the uncommon light absorption energy has drawn veil over the brilliance of astounding oxidation potential, which is much more than that of TiO2. Herein, our attention was focused on the taking advantages of self-template structure for simultaneously enjoying the two sides of photoelectronic justification as well as the S-step system for eminent charge dissociation. In this regard, the optimized Cu-modified SnO2 yolk-shell ((5)YS-CuSnO) spheres were engineered through the copper modulation into glycerate-assisted metal-organic structure. As a result, the exceptional light-harvesting was achieved through desirable defects and oxygen vacancy resulted from Cu-doping, and also efficient light-utilization was obtained by the multi-scattering/reflection effect resulted from multi-shell configuration. After the effectual incorporation (40 wt⁒) of (5)YS-CuSnO was encapsulated into the V2O5-decorated wrinkled g-C3N4 lamella (VO-WCN), the dual S-step VO-WCN@(5)YS-CuSnO introduced unprecedented levofloxacin (LFC) decontamination performance, which was kinetically 5.2 and 30.2-times greater than of the (5)YS-CuSnO and bare SnO2 yolk-shell. The conspicuous fulfillment of nanocomposite was manifested in the LFC mineralization, pharmaceutical effluent treatment within 360 min, and successive cycling reactions. The fusion of the extraordinary architecture of YS-CuSnO with S-Step system not only initiates the facile and practical photocatalytic exploitation, but shade light on some undeveloped side of tin oxide.

Investigation of antimicrobial and anti-cancer activity of thermally sensitive SnO2 nanostructures with green-synthesized cauliflower morphology at ambient weather conditions.

A tin oxide (SnO2) nanostructure was prepared using Matricaria recutita leaf extract to investigate its anticancer activity against SK-MEL-28 cells. The tetragonal crystal structure of tin oxide nanoparticles with an average crystal size of 27 nm was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The tetragonal crystal structure of the tin oxide nanoparticles, with an average crystallite size of 27 nm, was confirmed by XRD an absorbance peak at 365 nm was identified by UV-visible spectroscopy analysis as belonging to the bio-mediated synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles. The SnO2 NPs are capped and stabilized with diverse functional groups derived from bioactive molecules, including aldehydes, benzene rings, amines, alcohols, and carbonyl stretch protein molecules. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis validated the presence of these capping and stabilizing chemical bonds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed the cauliflower-shaped morphology of the SnO2 nanoparticles with an average particle size of 28 nm. The antimicrobial activity of both prepared and encapsulated samples confirmed their biological activities. Furthermore, both prepared and encapsulated tin oxide samples exhibited excellent anticancer activity against SK-MEL-28 human cancer cells. The present study introduces a reliable and uncomplicated approach to produce SnO2 nanoparticles and demonstrates their effectiveness in various applications, including cancer therapy, drug administration, and disinfectant.

Acidic Gas Determination Using Indium Tin Oxide-Based Gas Sensors.

This work has presented gas sensors based on indium tin oxide (ITO) for the detection of SO2 and NO2. The ITO gas-sensing material was deposited by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The properties of gas sensing could be improved by increasing the ratio of SnO2. The response characteristics of the gas sensor for detecting different concentrations of NO2 and SO2 were investigated. In the detection of NO2, the sensitivity was significantly improved by increasing the SnO2 ratio in ITO by 5%, and the response and recovery time were reduced significantly. However, the sensitivity of the sensor decreased with increasing SO2 concentration. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the gas-sensitive response mechanisms were different in the atmosphere of NO2 and SO2. The NO2 was adsorbed by ITO via physisorption but the SO2 had a chemical reaction with the ITO surface. The gas selectivity, temperature dependence, and environmental humidity of ITO-based gas sensors were systematically analyzed. The high detection sensitivity for acidic gas of the prepared sensor presented great potential for acid rain monitoring.

Enhance Ethanol Sensing Performance of Fe-Doped Tetragonal SnO2 Films on Glass Substrate with a Proposed Mathematical Model for Diffusion in Porous Media.

This research enhances ethanol sensing with Fe-doped tetragonal SnO2 films on glass, improving gas sensor reliability and sensitivity. The primary objective was to improve the sensitivity and operational efficiency of SnO2 sensors through Fe doping. The SnO2 sensors were synthesized using a flexible and adaptable method that allows for precise doping control, with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirming homogeneous Fe distribution within the SnO2 matrix. A morphological analysis showed a surface structure ideal for gas sensing. The results demonstrated significant improvement in ethanol response (1 to 20 ppm) and lower temperatures compared to undoped SnO2 sensors. The Fe-doped sensors exhibited higher sensitivity, enabling the detection of low ethanol concentrations and showing rapid response and recovery times. These findings suggest that Fe doping enhances the interaction between ethanol molecules and the sensor surface, improving performance. A mathematical model based on diffusion in porous media was employed to further analyze and optimize sensor performance. The model considers the diffusion of ethanol molecules through the porous SnO2 matrix, considering factors such as surface morphology and doping concentration. Additionally, the choice of electrode material plays a crucial role in extending the sensor's lifespan, highlighting the importance of material selection in sensor design.

Wireless Passive Ceramic Sensor for Far-Field Temperature Measurement at High Temperatures.

A passive wireless high-temperature sensor for far-field applications was developed for stable temperature sensing up to 1000 °C. The goal is to leverage the properties of electroceramic materials, including adequate electrical conductivity, high-temperature resilience, and chemical stability in harsh environments. Initial sensors were fabricated using Ag for operation to 600 °C to achieve a baseline understanding of temperature sensing principles using patch antenna designs. Fabrication then followed with higher temperature sensors made from (In, Sn) O2 (ITO) for evaluation up to 1000 °C. A patch antenna was modeled in ANSYS HFSS to operate in a high-frequency region (2.5-3.5 GHz) within a 50 × 50 mm2 confined geometric area using characteristic material properties. The sensor was fabricated on Al2O3 using screen printing methods and then sintered at 700 °C for Ag and 1200 °C for ITO in an ambient atmosphere. Sensors were evaluated at 600 °C for Ag and 1000 °C for ITO and analyzed at set interrogating distances up to 0.75 m using ultra-wideband slot antennas to collect scattering parameters. The sensitivity (average change in resonant frequency with respect to temperature) from 50 to 1000 °C was between 22 and 62 kHz/°C which decreased as interrogating distances reached 0.75 m.

Hierarchically Doped Plasmonic Nanocrystal Metamaterials.

Assembling plasmonic nanocrystals in regular superlattices can produce effective optical properties not found in homogeneous materials. However, the range of these metamaterial properties is limited when a single nanocrystal composition is selected for the constituent meta-atoms. Here, we show how continuously varying doping at two length scales, the atomic and nanocrystal scales, enables tuning of both the frequency and bandwidth of the collective plasmon resonance in nanocrystal-based metasurfaces, while these features are inextricably linked in single-component superlattices. Varying the mixing ratio of indium tin oxide nanocrystals with different dopant concentrations, we use large-scale simulations to predict the emergence of a broad infrared spectral region with near-zero permittivity. Experimentally, tunable reflectance and absorption bands are observed, owing to in- and out-of-plane collective resonances. These spectral features and the predicted strong near-field enhancement establish this multiscale doping strategy as a powerful new approach to designing metamaterials for optical applications.

Highly Responsive Plasmon Modulation in Dopant-Segregated Nanocrystals.

Electron transfer to and from metal oxide nanocrystals (NCs) modulates their infrared localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), revealing fundamental aspects of their photophysics and enabling dynamic optical applications. We synthesized and chemically reduced dopant-segregated Sn-doped In2O3 NCs, investigating the influence of radial dopant segregation on LSPR modulation and near-field enhancement (NFE). We found that core-doped NCs show large LSPR shifts and NFE change during chemical titration, enabling broadband modulation in LSPR energy of over 1000 cm-1 and of peak extinction over 300%. Simulations reveal that the evolution of the LSPR spectra during chemical reduction results from raising the surface Fermi level and increasing the donor defect density in the shell region. These results establish dopant segregation as a useful strategy to engineer the dynamic optical modulation in plasmonic semiconductor NC heterostructures going beyond what is possible with conventional plasmonic metals.

Indium Tin Oxide Induced Internal Positive Feedback and Indium Ion Transport in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Stability is the most pressing challenge hindering the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), and previous efforts focused more on enhancing the resistance of PSCs to external stimulus. Here, we found that the indium tin oxide (ITO) will deteriorate the photovoltaic performance of PSCs through positive feedback cycles. Specifically, the perovskite degradation products will cross the electron transport layer to chemically etch the electrode ITO to generate In3+, which will migrate upwards into the perovskite film. Then, the reaction that corrodes ITO consumes the decomposition products of perovskite and shifts the balance of the perovskite decomposition reaction, further promoting the degradation and thus falling into a positive feedback cycle. Moreover, the In3+ in the perovskite film was found to accumulate at the upper surface, which would lead to n-type doping of perovskite film to form the energy barrier for interface carrier extraction. Subsequently, the chelating molecule ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na) was introduced onto ITO to firmly chelate the In3+ and prevent it from migrating upward, thus breaking this internal positive feedback cycle and significantly enhancing the efficiency and stability of PSCs. This work provides new perspectives for understanding the mechanism of photovoltaic performance loss and ionic transport in PSCs.

Localized Oxidation Embellishing Strategy Enables High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells.

Perovskite solar cell (pero-SC) has attracted extensive studies as a promising photovoltaic technology, wherein the electron extraction and transfer exhibit pivotal effect to the device performance. The planar SnO2 electron transport layer (ETL) has contributed the recent record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the pero-SCs, yet still suffers from surface defects of SnO2 nanoparticles which brings energy loss and phase instability. Herein, we report a localized oxidation embellishing (LOE) strategy by applying (NH4 )2 CrO4 on the SnO2 ETL. The LOE strategy builds up plentiful nano-heterojunctions of p-Cr2 O3 /n-SnO2 and the nano-heterojunctions compensate the surface defects and realize benign energy alignment, which reduces surface non-radiative recombination and voltage loss of the pero-SCs. Meanwhile, the decrease of lattice mismatch released the lattice distortion and eliminated tensile stress, contributing to better stability of the devices. The pero-SCs based on α-FAPbI3 with the SnO2 ETL treated by the LOE strategy realized a PCE of 25.72 % (certified as 25.41 %), along with eminent stability performance of T90 >700 h. This work provides a brand-new view for defect modification of SnO2 electron transport layer.

Dispersible SnO2 :Sb and TiO2 Nanocrystals After Calcination at High Temperature.

High-temperature treatment of functional nanomaterials, through postsynthesis calcination, often represents an important step to unlock their full potential. However, such calcination steps usually severely limit the preparation of colloidal solutions of the nanoparticles due to the formation of sintered agglomerates. Herein, a simple route is reported to obtain colloidal solutions of calcined n-conductive antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) as well as titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles without the need for additional sacrificial materials. This is achieved by making use of the reduced contact between individual nanoparticles when they are assembled into aerogels. Following the calcination of the aerogels at 500 °C, redispersion of the nanoparticles into stable colloidal solutions with various solvents can be achieved. Although a slight degree of sintering is inevitable, the size of the resulting aggregates in solution is still remarkably small with values below 30 nm.

Overcoming the Trade-Off between Optical Transmittance and Areal Capacitance of Transparent Supercapacitors for Practical Application.

It is substantially challenging for transition metal oxide nanoparticle (NP)-based electrodes for supercapacitors to achieve high transparency and large capacity simultaneously due to the inherent trade-off between optical transmittance (T) and areal capacitance (CA ). This study demonstrates how this trade-off limitation can be overcome by replacing some electrode NPs with transparent tin oxide (SnO2 ) NPs. Although SnO2 NPs are non-capacitive, they provide effective paths for charge transport, which simultaneously increase the CA and T550nm of the manganese oxide (Mn3 O4 ) NP electrode from 11.7 to 13.4 mF cm-2 and 82.1% to 87.4%, respectively, when 25 wt% of Mn3 O4 are replaced by SnO2 . The obtained CA values at a given T are higher than those of the transparent electrodes previously reported. An energy storage window fabricated using the mixed-NP electrodes exhibits the highest energy density among transparent supercapacitors previously reported. The improved energy density enables the window to operate various electronic devices for a considerable amount of time, demonstrating its applicability in constructing a reliable and space-efficient building-integrated power supply system.

γ-Ray Irradiation Enables Annealing- and Light-Soaking-Free Solution Processable SnO2 Electron Transport Layer for Inverted Organic Solar Cells.

The electrode buffer layer is crucial for high-performance and stable OSCs, optimizing charge transport and energy level alignment at the interface between the polymer active layer and electrode. Recently, SnO2 has emerged as a promising material for the cathode buffer layer due to its desirable properties, such as high electron mobility, transparency, and stability. Typically, SnO2 nanoparticle layers require a postannealing treatment above 150°C in an air environment to remove the surfactant ligands and obtain high-quality thin films. However, this poses challenges for flexible electronics as flexible substrates can't tolerate temperatures exceeding 100°C. This study presents solution-processable and annealing-free SnO2 nanoparticles by employing y-ray irradiation to disrupt the bonding between surfactant ligands and SnO2 nanoparticles. The SnO2 layer treated with y-ray irradiation is used as an electron transport layer in OSCs based on PTB7-Th:IEICO-4F. Compared to the conventional SnO2 nanoparticles that required high-temperature annealing, the y-SnO2 nanoparticle-based devices exhibit an 11% comparable efficiency without postannealing at a high temperature. Additionally, y-ray treatment has been observed to eliminate the light-soaking effect of SnO2 . By eliminating the high-temperature postannealing and light-soaking effect, y-SnO2 nanoparticles offer a promising, cost-effective solution for future flexible solar cells fabricated using roll-to-roll mass processing.

High-Throughput Deposition of Recyclable SnO2 Electrodes toward Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

Chemical bath deposited (CBD) SnO2 is one of the most prevailing electron transport layers for realizing high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) so far. However, the state-of-the-art CBD SnO2 process is time-consuming, contradictory to its prospect in industrialization. Herein, a simplified yet efficient method is developed for the fast deposition of SnO2 electrodes by incorporating a concentrated Sn source stabilized by the ethanol ligand with antimony (Sb) doping. The higher concentration of Sn source promotes the deposition rate, and Sb doping improves the hole-blocking capability of the CBD SnO2 layer so that its target thickness can be reduced to further save the deposition time. As a result, the deposition time can be appreciably reduced from 3-4 h to only 5 min while maintaining 95% of the maximum efficiency, indicating the power of the method toward high-throughput production of efficient PSCs. Additionally, the CBD SnO2 substrates are recyclable after removing the upper layers of complete PSCs, and the refurbished PSCs can maintain ≈98% of their initial efficiency after three recycling-and-fabrication processes.

Spectromicroscopy Studies of Silicon Nanowires Array Covered by Tin Oxide Layers.

The composition and atomic and electronic structure of a silicon nanowire (SiNW) array coated with tin oxide are studied at the spectromicroscopic level. SiNWs are covered from top to down with a wide bandgap tin oxide layer using a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition technique. Results obtained via scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction showed that tin-oxide nanocrystals, 20 nm in size, form a continuous and highly developed surface with a complex phase composition responsible for the observed electronic structure transformation. The "one spot" combination, containing a chemically sensitive morphology and spectroscopic data, is examined via photoemission electron microscopy in the X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) mode. The observed spectromicroscopy results showed that the entire SiNW surface is covered with a tin(IV) oxide layer and traces of tin(II) oxide and metallic tin phases. The deviation from stoichiometric SnO2 leads to the formation of the density of states sub-band in the atop tin oxide layer bandgap close to the bottom of the SnO2 conduction band. These observations open up the possibility of the precise surface electronic structures estimation using photo-electron microscopy in XANES mode.

Surface Oxygen Vacancy Inducing Li-Ion-Conducting Percolation Network in Composite Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) are newly emerging components for all-solid-state Li-metal batteries owing to their excellent processability and compatibility with the electrodes. Moreover, the ionic conductivity of the CSEs is one order of magnitude higher than the solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) by incorporation of inorganic fillers into SPEs. However, their advancement has come to a standstill owing to unclear Li-ion conduction mechanism and pathway. Herein, the dominating effect of the oxygen vacancy (Ovac ) in the inorganic filler on the ionic conductivity of CSEs is demonstrated via Li-ion-conducting percolation network model. Based on density functional theory, indium tin oxide nanoparticles (ITO NPs) are selected as inorganic filler to determine the effect of Ovac on the ionic conductivity of the CSEs. Owing to the fast Li-ion conduction through the Ovac inducing percolation network on ITO NP-polymer interface, LiFePO4 /CSE/Li cells using CSEs exhibit a remarkable capacity in long-term cycling (154 mAh g-1 at 0.5C after 700 cycles). Moreover, by modifying the Ovac concentration of ITO NPs via UV-ozone oxygen-vacancy modification, the ionic conductivity dependence of the CSEs on the surface Ovac from the inorganic filler is directly verified.

Near Infrared Light-to-Heat Conversion for Liquid-Phase Oxidation Reactions by Antimony-Doped Tin Oxide Nanocrystals.

Effective utilization of the sunlight for chemical reactions is pivotal for dealing with the growing energy and environmental issues. So far, much effort has been focused on the development of semiconductor photocatalysts responsive to UV and visible light. However, the near infrared and infrared (NIR-IR) light occupying ∼50 % of the solar energy has usually been wasted because of the low photon energy insufficient for the band gap excitation. Antimony doping into SnO2 (ATO) induces strong absorption due to the conduction band electrons in the NIR region. The absorbed light energy is eventually converted to heat via the interaction between hot electrons and phonons. This Concept highlights the photothermal effect of ATO nanocrystals (NCs) on liquid-phase oxidation reactions through the NIR light-to-heat conversion. Under NIR illumination even at an intensity of ∼0.5 sun, the reaction field temperature on the catalyst surface is raised 20-30 K above the bulk solution temperature, while the latter is maintained near the ambient temperature. In some reactions, this photothermal local heating engenders the enhancement of not only the catalytic activity and selectivity but also the regeneration of catalytically active sites. Further, the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors can be promoted. Finally, the conclusions and possible subjects in the future are summarized.