AZO/Ag/AZO multilayer films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering for dye-sensitized solar cell application

Ag films were deposited on Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films and coated with AZO to fabricate AZO/Ag/AZO multilayer films by DC magnetron sputtering on glass substrates without heating of glass substrates. The best multilayer films have low sheet resistance of 19.8 Ω/Sq and average transmittance values of 61% in visible region. It was found that the highest figure of merit (F_TC) is 6.9 × 10⁻⁴ Ω⁻¹. For the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) application, the multilayer films were used as transparent conductive electrode (multilayer films/ZnO + Eosin-Y/LiI + I₂/Pt/FTO). The best DSSC based on the multilayer films showed that open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.47 V, short circuit current density (J_sc) of 2.24 mA/cm², fill factor (FF) of 0.58 and incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (η) of 0.61%. It was shown that the AZO/Ag/AZO multilayer films have potential for application in DSSC.     

Electrodeposition of Ag nanoparticles onto bamboo-type TiO2 nanotube arrays to improve their lithium-ion intercalation performance

Bamboo-type TiO₂ nanotube arrays prepared via anodic oxidation are modified with Ag nanoparticles by pulsed electrochemical deposition, for improved lithium-ion intercalation property as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries. Heat treatment converts as-formed nanotubes into anatase for Ag deposition. Bare and Ag-modified nanotubes are cycled at a current density of 800 μA?cm^?2 between 1.0 and 2.6 V (vs. Li/Li⁺). All Ag-modified nanotubes exhibit significantly improved or even doubled areal discharge capacities and better cycleability compared to bare nanotubes. Particularly, the nanotubes modified using 100 Ag deposition cycles deliver the highest initial discharge capacity of 199.6 μA?h cm^?2 and the largest final discharge capacity of 131.7 μA?h cm^?2 after 50 electrochemical cycles, while bare nanotubes exhibit an initial capacity of 93.5 μA?h cm^?2 and a final discharge capacity of 54.8 μA?h cm^?2. The former also exhibits 10 % higher capacity retention efficiency than the latter. In addition, an increase in the capacity of modified nanotubes is observed with more Ag deposition, but superfluous Ag content yields reduced capacities due to slower Li-ion transfer inside. Finally, kinetic characteristics of TiO₂ nanotubes are explored using cyclic voltammetry to understand the origin of improvements in electrochemical properties of Ag-modified nanotubes.     

纳米Ag颗粒表面等离子激元对上转换材料光致发光性能影响的研究

本文采用共烧结工艺将纳米Ag颗粒引入Yb³⁺, Er³⁺共掺的NaYF₄上转换材料中, 利用X射线衍射及扫描电子显微镜技术对制备的NaYF₄材料进行结构特性和表面形貌的表征, 通过吸收谱及荧光光谱测试技术对NaYF₄材料光吸收及光发射特性进行表征. 通过对纳米Ag颗粒引入量的优化, 获得了Yb³⁺, Er³⁺共掺的NaYF₄上转换材料荧光发射峰的增强, 300—800 nm全光谱范围内增益达28%, 在544 nm处获得最大增益55%, 具有显著的荧光增强效果. 同时分析了不同数量纳米Ag颗粒的引入对NaYF₄材料吸收谱及光致发光特性影响, 指出了表面等离子激元的光猝灭及共振吸收增强作用机理.     

Nonlinear optical response of Au and Ag nanoparticles doped polyvinylpyrrolidone thin films

Colloidal Au and colloidal Ag were prepared by chemical reaction method and the nonlinear optical properties of Au and Ag nanoparticles doped polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite films were investigated using Z-scan technique with 38 ps pulses at 532 nm. Open aperture Z-scan measurements indicated that both the Au/PVP and Ag/PVP composite films exhibited reverse saturable absorption. Nonlinear absorption coefficients and third-order nonlinear refractive indices were determined. The mechanisms accounting for the process of nonlinear refractions were analyzed and the figures of merit W and T of the Au/PVP and Ag/PVP composite films were evaluated.     

SERS study of Ag nanoparticles electrodeposited on patterned TiO2 nanotube films

In this work, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on patterned TiO₂ nanotube films through pulse‐current (PC) electrodeposition, and as a result patterned Ag NPs films were achieved. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were used, respectively, to study the morphology, uniformity, and phase structure of the patterned Ag NP films. The size and density of the as‐deposited Ag NPs could be controlled by changing the deposition charge density, and it was found that the patterned Ag NP films produced under a charge density of 2.0 C cm⁻² gave intense UV–vis and Raman peaks. Two‐dimensional surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) mapping of rhodamine 6G (R6G) on the patterned Ag NP films demonstrated a high‐throughput, localized molecular adsorption and micropatterned SERS effect. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

粉末靶制备的AZO/Ag/AZO透明导电薄膜的光电性能

室温下,采用射频磁控溅射AZO粉末靶和Ag靶在玻璃基底上制备Ag层厚度分别为12 nm和15 nm两组对称结构掺铝氧化锌/银/掺铝氧化锌(AZO/Ag/AZO)透明导电薄膜,研究了Ag层和AZO层厚度对薄膜光电性能的影响。结果表明:3层薄膜的可见光区平均透光率达到了80%,550 nm处的最高透过率达到了88%,方块电阻小于5 Ω/□。Ag层厚度是影响AZO/Ag/AZO薄膜光电性能的主要因素,AZO层的厚度对薄膜光学性能影响较大。     

Gas sensing behavior of SnO1.8:Ag films composed of size-selected nanoparticles

Size-selected SnO_1.8:Ag mixed nanoparticle films have been prepared using a gas phase condensation method. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the applied size-selection technique yields well-defined, monodisperse and spherical SnO_1.8 and Ag nanoparticles, both with a fixed diameter of 20 nm. The technique allows an independent variation of the particle size of both materials as well as the concentration of Ag. It allows to assess the influence of these parameters on the gas-sensing properties of the films, here for ethanol vapor in synthetic air. SnO_1.8:Ag nanoparticle films show optimal values of the sensor signal and response time at a Ag nanoparticle concentration of 5%. Due to the fact that the Ag nanoparticles are clearly distinct from the SnO_1.8 nanoparticles in the film, the most probable mechanism leading to improved sensor properties is chemical sensitization via a spill-over effect.     

Production and photofragmentation of Au nanoparticles by 355 nm picosecond radiation

Optics and Spectroscopy - Fifth generation ethylendiamine-core poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM G5)-capped-gold-nanoparticles were prepared by ps laser ablation in water, by using the third harmonic of a ps...     

Pump-dependent luminescence in the Ag nanoparticles doped by Erbium

A substantial spectral shift of the UV-laser induced luminescence in the Ag nanoparticles (NP) doped by Er³⁺ ions attached to ITO substrates was observed at T = 4.2 K. We have established high energy spectral shift of principal luminescent maxima (from wavelength equal to about 1.45 up to 1.15 μm) with increasing of the pumping nanosecond nitrogen laser power density up to 1.1 GW/cm² operating at λ = 337 nm. With increasing Erbium content with respect to Ag the spectral shift and spectral line broadening increase. It may be caused by specific features of trapping level occupation kinetics on interfaces NP/ITO substrate. The observed process is fully reversible. The luminescence is observed only during excitation by the 337 nm laser pulses and is absent for laser pulses operating at other wavelengths (like excimer laser at 218 nm and nitrogen laser at 371 nm).     

Tribological behavior of in situ Ag nanoparticles/polyelectrolyte composite molecular deposition films

Multilayer polyelectrolyte films containing silver ions were obtained by molecular deposition method on a glass plate or a quartz substrate. The in situ Ag nanoparticles were synthesized in the multilayer polyelectrolyte films which were put into fresh NaBH₄ aqueous solution. The structure and surface morphology of composite molecular deposition films were observed by UV-vis spectrophotometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Tribological characteristic was investigated by AFM and micro-tribometer. It was found that the in situ Ag nanoparticles/polyelectrolyte composite molecular deposition films have lower coefficient of friction and higher anti-wear life than pure polyelectrolyte molecular deposition films.     

Ta掺杂对ZnO光电材料性能影响的研究

采用基于密度泛函理论第一性原理的方法, 研究了Ta掺杂ZnO的电子结构和光学性质. 计算结果表明: 掺入Ta原子后, 费米能级进入导带, 随着掺杂浓度的增加, 带隙逐渐变窄, 介电函数虚部、吸收系数、反射率和折射率均发生明显变化, 介电函数虚部和反射率均向高能方向移动, 吸收边发生红移, 从理论上指出了光学性质和电子结构的内在联系.     

Optical property of nanocomposite of mesoporous silica thin films incorporated with gold nanoparticles

Amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films (MTFs) are produced using surface active agent F127,and then gold nanoparticles are introduced into the pore channels to prepare the Au/SiO 2 nanocomposite.After assembling the gold,the amino-functionalized MTF undergoes some shrinkage but remains a periodic structure as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns.The nanocomposite shows an acute characteristic diffraction peak assigned to (111) plane of the face-centered-cubic structure of gold,indicating that gold nanoparticles crystallize well and grow in a preferred orientation in the pore channels.The surface plasma resonance (SPR) absorption peak near 570 nm undergoes a red-shift accompanied by a strengthening of intensity when HAuCl 4 is used to react with the amino groups on the internal pore surfaces for 4,6,and 8 h.The simulative results are consistent with the experimental ones shows that the absorption property of the Au/SiO 2 nanocomposite is influenced by the dipping time,which affects the size and volume fraction of embedded gold nanoparticles.     

衬底温度对磁控溅射法制备的Ag/AZO绒面背反电极性能的影响

通过优化薄膜硅基太阳能电池的背反电极,使背反电极表面出现均匀的类金字塔结构,能够增大入射光在结区的有效光程,提高光子的捕获率,进而会提高薄膜硅基太阳能电池的光电转换效率.本文采用磁控溅射技术在载玻片上制得Ag/AZO(ZnO∶Al)导电薄膜.在控制其它溅射参量为最优化的情况下,研究了衬底温度对Ag/AZO导电薄膜光电性能及其表面形貌的影响.研究表明:随着衬底温度的增加,薄膜的雾度在可见光范围内先增大后减小;当衬底温度为500℃时,雾度取得最大值,在可见光范围内平均达到了95％以上;电阻率随着衬底温度的增加逐渐增大,且衬底温度超过500℃时电阻率急剧增大.在综合考虑其光电性能的情况下,实验得到当衬底温度为500℃时,所获得的叠层薄膜表面雾度值最好且电阻率很小,这将有助于改善太阳能电池的性能.     

一种改善损耗光纤中皮秒脉冲孤子效应压缩效果的方法

以常规光纤中的皮秒脉冲孤子效应压缩过程为基础,研究了在有无损耗的光纤中初始啁啾对脉冲压缩的影响。研究发现,在损耗光纤中引入初始啁啾能够抵消光纤损耗对孤子效应压缩的负面影响,从而大大改善了脉冲压缩的效果。如果所选取的啁啾值适当,则可以几乎完全抵消光纤损耗的作用,从而使光脉冲呈现出如同在无损耗的光纤中传输时一样。     

Preparation of SERS active Ag nanoparticles encapsulated by phospholipids

A cost‐effective way of fabricating lipid‐coated surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate having reproducible high SERS activity was proposed. Ag nanoparticle embedded in 1,2‐dioleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DOPC) and 1,2‐dioleoyl‐3‐trimethylammonium‐propane (DOTAP) membranes was produced by direct deposition of a 5‐nm‐thick layer of Ag onto the solid‐supported phospholipid membrane, and subsequent dissolution of the Ag nanoparticle‐embedded membrane in iso‐octane allowed easy one‐pot fabrication of DOPC‐ or DOTAP‐coated Ag nanoparticles. In particular, DOTAP produced nearly monodisperse lipid‐encapsulated Ag nanoparticles (9 nm in diameter) exhibiting reproducible high SERS activity (detecting up to 10 nM of rhodamine 6G and 0.5 μM of glutathione). In addition, the process was modified to incorporate variety of Raman active molecules (rhodamine 6G, malachite green, 4‐aminothiopheonol, 4‐mercaptopyridine) into the particle‐encapsulating lipid bilayer. The DOTAP/Raman dye‐coated Ag nanoparticles also generated high SERS activity to enable potential application of the DOTAP/Raman dye‐coated Ag nanoparticles feasible in different areas. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tailoring optical properties of TiO2 nanowires coated with Ag nanoparticles by plasmon coupling of Ag nanoparticles

TiO₂ nanowires were grown on titanium foil by an alkali hydrothermal growth method. The as-synthesized nanowires are structurally uniform with diameters of 50-100 nm and lengths of up to a few micrometers. The as-prepared TiO₂ nanowires were coated with Ag nanoparticles by reducing AgNO₃ in solution. The experimental results indicate that the Ag nanoparticles can aggregate together on the surfaces of TiO₂ nanowires by interconnection between nanoparticles. The degree of aggregation of Ag nanostructures can be controlled by changing the concentrations of Ag nanoparticles. The as-prepared nanostructures exhibit a wide optical absorption from 387 to 580 nm that can be easily tuned by controlling the degree of aggregation of Ag nanostructures. The results reveal that optical properties of the Ag-coated TiO₂ nanowires can be enhanced by plasmon coupling of Ag nanoparticles. The as-prepared nanostructures may find potential applications in the field of solar cells.     

Autoelectronic emission of metallic films induced by picosecond pulses of infrared laser radiation

The well-known defects of the surface of a solid, microscopic projections and spikes, play a decisive role in electron emission induced by an electric field. If there are mobile electrons of holes in the solid, then the electric field is enhanced by a factor of 10–100 at the tip of a microscopic projection. This effect was discovered in electrostatics more than a century ago. In turn, the probability of tunnel emission of an electron from a metal into a vacuum is an exponential function of the electric field strength. Correspondingly the electron emission current density at the tip of a microscopic spike can be larger than that on a smooth surface by an astronomical factor. This effect is particularly strikingly manifested when picosecond pulses of infrared laser radiation of moderate power are used to initiate autoelectronic emission. Relative to a smooth surface, the emission current density is enhanced by hundreds of orders of magnitude. These experimental conditions can be used to scan the surface of a conducting material with a laser beam and to detect all the microscopic projections, in order to male detailed observations with subpicosecond time resolution of the phase transition from autoelectronic emission to explosive emission. Polytechnic University, Tomsk. Institute of Electrophysics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. French National Scientific Center, Saclay, France. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchenbnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 42–44, November, 1997.     

双短脉冲驱动的瞬态电子碰撞激发类镍银13.9 nm X光激光

 研究了两个皮秒短脉冲驱动的瞬态电子碰撞激发类镍银13.9 nm X光激光,考察了脉宽分别为1,2,3 ps驱动的情况,分别给出了输出X光激光的角分布特性。模拟表明,(330 ps, 1 ps, 1 ps)驱动条件下,第二短脉冲延迟约500 ps,可以充分利用临界面附近的高增益。通过与相同长脉冲条件下单短脉冲驱动的结果相比较,分析了第一个短脉冲的作用及双脉冲驱动的优点。