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At least 181 records · Page 10

Preparation and characteristics of superconducting cuprate thin films: Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO4 and substituted Bi-system

Characteristics of the electron-doped-type Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO4 systems and substituted Bi2(Sr,Ln)3Cu2Oy system were systematically studied using the high quality thin-film samples. The Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO4 thin films with various Ce concentrations, x, were prepared by RF magnetron sputtering on SrTiO3 heated at around 500 C. After subsequent annealing at 1100 C in air, the films showed the c-axis orientation normal to the substrates. By means of the reducing treatment (annealing in a vacuum), superconductivity was induced for the films with 0.14 is less than or equal to x is less than or equal to 0.18. The superconductivity and transport properties of the films were strongly affected by the reducing treatment. The x = 0.15 film exhibited a sharp superconducting transition with zero resistivity at 22 K, in consistent with the diamagnetic properties. The resistivity of the films was fairly low with metallic characteristics, and the sight of the Hall coefficient was negative in the normal state. On the other hand, the normal-state optical measurements showed that the undoped Nd2CuO4 is a semiconductor with a charge transfer gap of 1.3 eV, and that, when Ce ions were doped, a plasma reflection due to the free-carriers came to be seen with the plasma frequency of 1.07 eV for 0.14 is less than or equal to x is less than or equal to 0.18. Moreover, x ray photoemission study revealed that the Cu valence of the film decreased for 2(+) for x = 0 to 1(+) for x = 0.15. These physical properties are in contrast with those of hole-doped-type cuprate superconductors. Bi2(Sr,Ln)3Cu2Oy thin films were also prepared on MgO substrates heated at 600 to 700 C by similar methods. It was found that the growth conditions for Bi-systems with two CuO2 planes were different for each composition and species of lanthanoid in the films. Moreover, preparation of Bi-system with three CuO2 planes was very difficult when lanthanoid atoms were doped in the system. Their electric transport properties and x ray photoemission spectroscopy were investigated. Carrier concentration and Cu valence were discussed with regard to the superconductivity.

Adachi, H.↗

A review of properties and potential aerospace applications of electrically conducting polymers

An overview of current research in conducting polymers is presented. Emphasis is placed on development of materials useful for aeronautic and space applications. Research on organic conducting polymers began in the early 1970s with the discovery of polyacetylene. Since then, many polymers which share structural characteristics with polyacetylene have been prepared which conduct electricity, especially when they are doped with suitable agents. Problems with environmental instability, difficult processing, poor mechanical properties and high cost have slowed the development of conducting polymers. However, practical use of these materials is imminent, based on recent refinements in understanding how polymers conduct, more systematic approaches to the development of new materials, and significant improvements in both the processing and properties.

Meador, Mary Ann B.↗

Quantum state transfer in double-quantum-well devices

A Monte Carlo simulation of double-quantum-well (DQW) devices is presented in view of analyzing the quantum state transfer (QST) effect. Different structures, based on the AlGaAs/GaAs system, were simulated at 77 and 300 K and optimized in terms of electron transfer and device speed. The analysis revealed the dominant role of the impurity scattering for the QST. Different approaches were used for the optimization of QST devices and basic physical limitations were found in the electron transfer between the QWs. The maximum transfer of electrons from a high to a low mobility well was at best 20%. Negative differential resistance is hampered by the almost linear rather than threshold dependent relation of electron transfer on electric field. By optimizing the doping profile the operation frequency limit could be extended to 260 GHz.

Jakumeit, Jurgen↗

Growth of CdZnTe Crystals the Bridgman Technique with Controlled Overpressures of Cd

Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te crystals with x = 0.15 and 0.20, were grown in this study by closed-ampoule directional solidification (Bridgman) technique with a controlled Cd overpressure. The growth ampoule was made of quartz with inner diameter from 20 to 40 mm and a tapered length of 2.5 cm at the growth tip. Both unseeded and seeded growths were performed with total material charges up to 400 g. After the loading of starting CdZnTe material, a typical amount of 2 g of Cd was also loaded inside a Cd reservoir basket, which was attached beneath the seal-off cup. The ampoule was sealed off under a vacuum below lxl0(exp -5) Torr. The sealed ampoule was placed inside a 4-zone Bridgman furnace - a Cd reservoir zone with a heat-pipe furnace liner on the top, followed by a hot zone, a booster heating zone and a cold zone at the bottom. The Cd zone was typically 300 to 400 C below the hot zone setting. High resistivity material has been obtained without any intentional dopants but has been reproducibly obtained with In doping. The crystalline and the electrical properties of the crystals will be reported.

Su, Ching-Hu↗

FETs Based on Doped Polyaniline/Polyethylene Oxide Fibers

A family of experimental highly miniaturized field-effect transistors (FETs) is based on exploitation of the electrical properties of nanofibers of polyaniline/ polyethylene oxide (PANi/PEO) doped with camphorsulfonic acid. These polymer-based FETs have the potential for becoming building blocks of relatively inexpensive, low-voltage, highspeed logic circuits that could supplant complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) logic circuits. The development of these polymerbased FETs offers advantages over the competing development of FETs based on carbon nanotubes. Whereas it is difficult to control the molecular structures and, hence, the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes, it is easy to tailor the electrical properties of these polymerbased FETs, throughout the range from insulating through semiconducting to metallic, through choices of doping levels and chemical manipulation of polymer side chains. A further advantage of doped PANi/PEO nanofibers is that they can be made to draw very small currents and operate at low voltage levels, and thus are promising for applications in which there are requirements to use many FETs to obtain large computational capabilities while minimizing power demands. Fabrication of an experimental FET in this family begins with the preparation of a substrate as follows: A layer of silicon dioxide between 50 and 200 nm thick is deposited on a highly doped (resistivity 0.01 W.cm) silicon substrate, then gold electrodes/contact stripes are deposited on the oxide. Next, one or more fibers of camphorsulphonic acid-doped PANi/PEO having diameters of the order of 100 nm are electrospun onto the substrate so as to span the gap between the gold electrodes (see Figure 1). Figure 2 depicts measured current-versus-voltage characteristics of the device of Figure 1, showing that saturation channel currents occur at source-todrain potentials that are surprisingly low, relative to those of CMOS FETs. The hole mobility in the depletion regime in this transistor was found to be 1.4 10(exp -4) sq cm/(V.s), while the one-dimensional charge density at zero gate bias was estimated to be approximately one hole per 50 two-ring repeat units of polyaniline, consistent with the rather high channel conductivity (approx. 10(exp -3) S/cm). Reducing or eliminating the PEO content of the fibers is expected to enhance the properties of future versions of this transistor.

Theofylaktos, Noulie↗

Elucidating Design Rules toward Enhanced Solid-State Charge Transport in Oligoether-Functionalized Dioxythiophene-Based Alternating Copolymers

This study investigates the solid-state charge transport properties of the oxidized forms of dioxythiophene-based alternating copolymers consisting of an oligoether-functionalized 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) copolymerized with different aryl groups, dimethyl ProDOT (DMP), 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), and 3,4-phenylenedioxythiophene (PheDOT), respectively, to yield copolymers P(OE3)-D, P(OE3)-E, and P(OE3)-Ph. At a dopant concentration of 5 mM FeTos 3 , the electrical conductivities of these copolymers vary significantly (ranging between 9 and 195 S cm –1 ) with the EDOT copolymer, P(OE3)-E, achieving the highest electrical conductivity. UV–vis–NIR and X-ray spectroscopies show differences in both susceptibility to oxidative doping and extent of oxidation for the P(OE3) series, with P(OE3)-E being the most doped. Wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements indicate that P(OE3)-E generally demonstrates the lowest paracrystallinity values in the series, as well as relatively small π–π stacking distances. The significant (i.e., order of magnitude) increase in electrical conductivity of doped P(OE3)-E films versus doped P(OE3)-D or P(OE3)-Ph films can therefore be attributed to P(OE3)-E exhibiting both the highest carrier ratios in the P(OE3) series, along with good π–π overlap and local ordering (low paracrystallinity values). Furthermore, these trends in the extent of doping and paracrystallinity are consistent with the reduced Fermi energy level and transport function prefactor parameters calculated using the semilocalized transport (SLoT) model. Observed differences in carrier ratios at the transport edge (c t ) and reduced Fermi energies [η(c)] suggest a broader electronic band (better overlap and more delocalization) for the EDOT-incorporating P(OE3)-E polymer relative to P(OE3)-D and P(OE3)-Ph. Ultimately, we rationalize improvements in electrical conductivity due to microstructural and doping enhancements caused by EDOT incorporation, a structure–property relationship worth considering in the future design of highly electrically conductive systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Oligomers and Chains of Poly(benzodifurandione) (PBDF), A Highly Conducting n-Type Polymer

The seminal development of highly electrically conducting polyacetylene via oxidative or reductive treatment (“doping”) has continuously inspired the search for other conducting π-conjugated polymers. Recently, poly(benzodifurandione), PBDF, was reported to have unexpected solubility given the absence of side chains and to exhibit an unprecedented, high electrical conductivity upon reduction (“n-doping”), with protons acting as counterions. Here, we theoretically investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of PBDF by taking long oligomers and one-dimensional (1D) periodic chains as model systems. With the oligomer models, we characterize the formation of polarons and bipolarons in n-doped PBDF. Our results indicate that singlet bipolarons tend to be the energetically most favorable species when protons bind to two closely located carbonyl groups in nearest-neighbor benzodifurandione moieties. The calculations on the 1D periodic chain models show that the positions of the protonated carbonyl groups determine the metallic, semiconducting, or insulating nature of a PBDF chain. When the protonated carbonyl groups are all situated on the same side of a PBDF chain, a stable helical chain configuration is found that exhibits ferromagnetic behavior. Our findings elucidate the mechanism of polaron and bipolaron formation in long oligomers of n-doped PBDF and highlight the fascinating electronic and magnetic properties of periodic 1D chains. Furthermore, these studies also provide a stepping stone for investigations of PBDF thin films, for which two- and three-dimensional structures must be considered.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Changes in the superconducting properties of high-T(sub c) ceramics produced by applied electric fields

Effect of an electrostatic field in the electrode-insulator-superconductor system on the current-voltage characteristics of high-T(sub c) ceramics with various composition and different preparation technology has been studied at 77 K. Ceramics of Y-Ba-Cu-O (123) and Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (2223) systems and also ones doped by Ag have been used. Electric field strength has been up to 140 MV/m. It has been shown that there are reversible changes in the critical current I(sub c) and in the conductivity in electric field at the currents somewhat more than I(sub c) at T is less than T(sub c), while at T is greater than T(sub c) the noticeable electric field effect has not been found. These effects are qualitatively similar in both ceramic systems. High negative and positive gate voltages result in an increase of the conductivity. The electric field effect is modified by magnetic field H. The field effect decreases with increasing magnetic field and disappears at H is greater than 30 Oe. In Y-Ba-Cu-O/Ag (10 wt. percent) ceramics the field effect is practically absent. It may be supposed that in the ceramics the field-induced effect is consistent with weak links at grain boundaries.

Smirnov, B. I.↗

Deciphering Catalyst–Support Interaction via Doping for Highly Active and Durable Oxygen Evolution Catalysis

The design of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts demands a delicate balance between activity and stability. Here, in this study, we present a rational design approach that leverages catalyst-support interactions to enhance both the intrinsic activity and durability of Ir-based catalysts. Our study reveals that while Mo doping energetically promotes the formation of high-valent Ir species, enhancing intrinsic catalytic activity, it also leads to a reduction in electrical conductivity. These findings emphasize that supporting doping can introduce both beneficial and limiting effects, highlighting the need for a carefully balanced design strategy to optimize the overall OER performance. Simultaneously, in situ analytical techniques and comparative evaluation reveal the crucial role of oxide supports in stabilizing the catalyst. These findings highlight the pivotal role of interface engineering in maintaining catalyst integrity and the need for support materials that balance dopant-driven electronic promotion with structural and electrochemical robustness. These interconnected degradation pathways highlight the need to move beyond a catalyst-centric view and instead adopt a system-level understanding of the stability. Our approach offers a strong foundation for the rational design and evaluation of high-performance OER electrocatalysts for electrochemical energy applications.

Kim, Jinyeop [Korea Advanced Inst. Science and Tec↗

Predicting Li-ion Battery Performance for Impurity-doped NMC Cathodes Using Deep Learning

With the electric vehicle (EV) market expansion and the energy sector's shift towards electrification, the demand for battery metals, including lithium (Li), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni), is set to surpass supply. A critical knowledge gap exists in the purity standards for battery precursors and the impact of impurities on battery performance. Addressing this, our study employs a Deep Machine Learning (DL) based multi-objective optimization approach to interpret the relationship between metal impurities in domestic battery resources and their effects on battery performance. We analyze experimental data from Li-ion batteries with NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt oxide) cathodes over 1000 cycles, representing approximately ~6-8 months of operation, to establish a baseline of performance without impurities. Leveraging this data, we develop a Physics-Informed Deep Learning (PIDL) framework to extend our findings to cases that include metal impurities (e.g., Fe, Cu, Al) ranging from (0.001 - 0.01) %, respectively. By incorporating physics-based features, our PIDL model can accurately estimate the performance of NMC cathodes doped with various metal impurities to provide rapid design decisions. This research paves the way for informed decisions in Li-ion battery material design and optimization, ensuring the sustainable growth of the EV market and the broader energy sector.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Study of Doped ZnO Films Synthesized by Combining Vapor Gases and Pulsed Laser Deposition

The properties and structure of the ZnO material are similar to those of the GaN. Since an excitonic binding energy of ZnO is about 60 meV, it has strong potential for excitonic lasing at the room temperature. This makes synthesizing ZnO films for applications attractive. However, there are several hurdles in fabricating electro-optical devices from ZnO. One of those is in growing doped p-type ZnO films. Although techniques have been developed for the doping of both p-type and n-type ZnO, this remains an area that can be improved. In this presentation, we will report the experimental results of using both thermal vapor and pulsed laser deposition to grow doped ZnO films. The films are deposited on (0001) sapphire, (001) Si and quartz substrates by ablating a ZnO target. The group III and V elements are introduced into the growth chamber using inner gases. Films are characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning probe microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and electrical measurements. The full width at half maximum of theta rocking curves for epitaxial films is less than 0.5 deg. In textured films, it rises to several degrees. Film surface morphology reveals an island growth pattern, but the size and density of these islands vary with the composition of the reactive gases. The electrical resistivity also changes with the doped elements. The relationship between the doping elements, gas composition, and film properties will be discussed.

Zhu, Shen↗

Insight into the Fast-Rechargeability of a Novel Mo 1.5 W 1.5 Nb 14 O 44 Anode Material for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Wadsley–Roth phased niobates are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, while their inherently low electrical conductivity still limits their rate-capability. Herein, a novel doped Mo 1.5 W 1.5 Nb 14 O 44 (MWNO) material is facilely prepared via an ionothermal-synthesis-assisted doping strategy. The detailed crystal structure of MWNO is characterized by neutron powder diffraction and aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscope, unveiling the full occupation of Mo 6+ -dopant at the t1 tetrahedral site. In half-cells, MWNO exhibits enhanced fast-rechargeability. In this work, the origin of the improved performance is investigated by ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT) computation, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, revealing that bandgap narrowing improves the electrical conductivity of MWNO. Furthermore, operando X-ray diffraction elucidates that MWNO exhibits a typical solid-solution phase conversion-based lithium-ion insertion/extraction mechanism with reversible structural evolution during the electrochemical reaction. The boosted lithium-ion diffusivity of MWNO, due to the Mo 6+ /W 6+ doping effect, is confirmed by a galvanostatic intermittent titration technique and DFT. With the simultaneously enhanced electrical conductivity and lithium-ion diffusivity, MWNO successfully demonstrates its fast-rechargeability and practicality in the LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 -coupled full-cells. Therefore, this work illustrates the potential of ionothermal synthesis in energy storage materials and provides a mechanistic understanding of the doping effect on improving material's electrochemical performance.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Quantifying Charge Carrier Localization in PBTTT Using Thermoelectric and Spectroscopic Techniques

Chemically doped poly[2,5-bis(3-alkylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2- b ]thiophene] (PBTTT) shows promise for many organic electronic applications, but rationalizing its charge transport properties is challenging because conjugated polymers are inhomogeneous, with convoluted optical and solid-state transport properties. Herein, we use the semilocalized transport (SLoT) model to quantify how the charge transport properties of PBTTT change as a function of iron(III) chloride (FeCl 3 ) doping level. We use the SLoT model to calculate fundamental transport parameters, including the carrier density needed for metal-like electrical conductivities and the position of the Fermi energy level with respect to the transport edge. We then contextualize these parameters with other polymer-dopant systems and previous PBTTT reports. Additionally, we use grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering and spectroscopic ellipsometry techniques to better characterize inhomogeneity in PBTTT. Our analyses indicate that PBTTT obtains high electrical conductivities due to its quickly rising reduced Fermi energy level, and this rise is afforded by its locally high carrier densities in highly ordered microdomains. Ultimately, this report sets a benchmark for comparing transport properties across polymer-dopant-processing systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Correlating conductivity and Seebeck coefficient to doping within crystalline and amorphous domains in poly(3-(methoxyethoxyethoxy)thiophene)

Molecular doping of conjugated polymers (CPs) plays a vital role in optimizing organic electronic and energy applications. For the case of organic thermoelectrics, it is commonly believed that doping CPs with a strong dopant could result in higher conductivity (σ) and thus better power factor (PF). Herein, by investigating thermoelectric performance of a polar side-chain bearing CP, poly(3- (methoxyethoxyethoxy)thiophene) (P3MEET), vapor doped with fluorinatedderivative of tetracyanoquinodimethane FnTCNQ (n = 1, 2, 4), we show that using strong dopants can in fact have detrimental effects on the thermoelectric performance of CPs. Despite possessing higher electron affinity, doping P3MEET with F4TCNQ only results in a σ (27.0 S/cm) comparable to samples doped with other two weaker dopants F2TCNQ and F1TCNQ (26.4 and 20.1 S/cm). Interestingly, F4TCNQ-doped samples display a marked reduction in the Seebeck coefficient (α) compared to F1TCNQ- and F2TCNQ-doped samples from 42 to 13 μV/ K, leading to an undesirable suppression of the PF. Additionally, structural characterizations coupled with Kang-Snyder modeling of the α–σ relation show that the reduction of α in F4TCNQ-doped P3MEET samples originates from the generation of low mobility carrier within P3MEET's amorphous domain. Our results demonstrate that factors such as dopant distribution and doping efficiency within the crystalline and amorphous domains of CPs should play a crucial role in advancing rational design for organic thermoelectrics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dopant Optimization of Donors in Semiconductor Opening Switches to Eliminate Prepulse

Semiconductor opening switches are solid-state devices capable of delivering nanosecond, hundreds of kilovolts pulses by interrupting kiloamps of current. The interruption of the current occurs in a moderately doped p-region when a high electric field region (HFR) is formed. The HFR occurs because the reverse pumping current cannot be supported by the saturation velocity and majority carrier concentration of the doping level. However, the donor profile also significantly affects the pulse performance. A secondary prepulse occurs if a secondary HFR is formed at the interface of the background n-doping and N+ doping (X n ) . By moving the location of X n deeper into the diode, the effect of the prepulse is reduced. This article investigates the effect of the donor doping profile on the performance metrics of semiconductor opening switches through technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations and experimental results. Through a SILVACO TCAD optimization, we designed a P + /p/n - base/n/N + where the intersection of the moderate p-region and intrinsic n-base region (X p ) is at 160 μm and X n is at 220 μm. This profile is fabricated via silicon epitaxy. Experimentally, it is shown that a deep X n (220 μm) compared with a shallow X n (300 μm) reduces the rise time by >5× . In addition, the magnitude of current density during interruption affects the prepulse foot and pulse shape. At lower current densities without the graded donor profile, high peak voltages are not achieved. Comparing the experimental results to the TCAD simulations shows that the model is predictive under high-current densities in the semiconductor opening switch (SOS) regime.

nanosecond pulse power↗

All-Ceramic Passive Wireless Temperature Sensor Realized by Tin-Doped Indium Oxide (ITO) Electrodes for Harsh Environment Applications

In this work, an all-ceramic passive wireless inductor–capacitor (LC) resonator was presented for stable temperature sensing up to 1200 °C in air. Instead of using conventional metallic electrodes, the LC resonators are modeled and fabricated with thermally stable and highly electroconductive ceramic oxide. The LC resonator was modeled in ANSYS HFSS to operate in a low-frequency region (50 MHz) within 50 × 50 mm geometry using the actual material properties of the circuit elements. The LC resonator was composed of a parallel plate capacitor coupled with a planar inductor deposited on an Al2O3 substrate using screen-printing, and the ceramic pattern was sintered at 1250 °C for 4 h in an ambient atmosphere. The sensitivity (average change in resonant frequency with respect to temperature) from 200–1200 °C was ~170 kHz/°C. The temperature-dependent electrical conductivity of the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO, 10% SnO2 doping) on the quality factor showed an increase of Qf from 36 to 43 between 200 °C and 1200 °C. The proposed ITO electrodes displayed improved sensitivity and quality factor at elevated temperatures, proving them to be an excellent candidate for temperature sensing in harsh environments. The microstructural analysis of the co-sintered LC resonator was performed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) which showed that there are no cross-sectional and topographical defects after several thermal treatments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗