In order to clarify the controversies of hardening mechanism for TiN/SiNx-based nanocomposite films, the microstructure and hardness for TiN/SiNx and TiAlN/SiNx nanocomposite films with different Si content were studied. With the increase of Si content, the crystallization degree for two series of films firstly increases and then decreases. The microstructural observations suggest that when SiN...

Tin-oxide and graphene (TG) composites were fabricated using the Electrostatic Spray Deposition (ESD) technique, and tested as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of the as-deposited TG composites were compared to heat-treated TG composites along with pure tin-oxide films. The heat-treated composites exhibited superior specific capacity and energy density than ...

The development of interfacial coherency stresses in TiN/AlN bilayer and multilayer films was investigated by finite element method (ABAQUS) using the four-node bilinear quadrilateral axisymmetric element CAX4R. The TiN and AlN layers are always in compression and tension at the interface, respectively, as may be expected from the fact TiN has larger lattice parameter than AlN. Both, the bi-lay...

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a well-known n-type degenerate semiconductor with a wide variety of electronic and optoelectronic applications. Herein ITO is utilized as a photocathode material in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells in place of the commonly applied and highly colored nickel oxide (NiO) semiconductor. The application of mesoporous ITO photocathodes, [Fe(acac)3] as a redox mediator and a...

We prepared of electrodes that consist of TiO2 with addition of tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) or fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) nanoparticles and the application of such electrodes on dye-sensitized solar cell. As compared to TiO2 alone, the addition of ITO and FTO nanoparticles resulted in an efficiency improvement of ~ 20% up to ~ 54% for the TiO2ITO and TiO2-FTO systems, respectively. This im...

The synthesis and characterization of trinuclear Ge and Sn chlorides and a trialuminum complex supported by a trinucleating tris(β-diketiminate) cyclophane ligand (L3−) are reported. The in situ deprotonation of H3L with benzylpotassium and subsequent reaction with GeCl2·dioxane or SnCl2 afforded (GeCl)3L (1) and (SnCl)3L (2) in 42 and 60% yields, respectively. Each Ge and Sn atom is three-coor...

For the first time, it has been observed that tin island films used in surface infrared experiments give rise to an electromagnetic enhancement of the infrared absorption spectrum. The surface enhancement of the infrared (SEIR) absorption by tin island films is shown for evaporated nanometric films of 5,14-pentacenedione (Q2) and naphthalic 1,8:4,5-dianhydride (NTCDA). The experiments and spect...

Due to its outstanding optoelectronic properties, halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) power conversion efficiency has rapidly grown 25.7%. Nonetheless, lead poisoning is a significant hurdle the deployment of (PSCs). Tin most alternative with potential due similar electric and electronic properties less hazardous nature. Yet, performance Sn-based PSCs lags significantly below that Pb-based Sn ...

The ruthenium complex bis-tetrabutylammonium cis-dithiocyanato-N,N9-bis-2,29-bipyridine-4-carboxylic acid, 49-carboxylate ruthenium(II), N-719, was found to block the dark current of dye sensitized solar cells (DSC), based on mesoporous TiO2 films deposited on a F-doped tin oxide electrode and the effect was compared to surface treatment by TiCl4 and the introduction of a compact TiO2 blocking ...