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Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings
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Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2024) | Viewed by 8476

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Aomar Hadjadj

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unité de Recherche Matériaux & Ingénierie Mécanique, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CEDEX 2, 51687 Reims, France
Interests: applied/experimental physics; thin films; optoelectronics; semiconductor device physics; materials characterization; elaboration techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There are many areas of application in everyday life where a thin film (from a few nanometers to a few micrometers) of transparent semiconductor significantly modifies the chemical, optical, electrical, thermal, catalytic, mechanical, and surface properties of the substrate it covers. Several deposition techniques allow depositing this type of material in thin layers on substrates of different types (inorganic, organic, rigid or flexible) and different shapes. Different parameters, such as stoichiometry, doping, defects, thickness, or surface treatment, allow modulating their properties so that they can fulfill a variety of important functions, either as contact, antireflection coating, a catalyst, or a chemical barrier. All of these elements have paved the way for their extensive use, especially in electronic or optoelectronic device applications for a consumer market.

This Special Issue is dedicated to recent developments and advances in the field of conductive and semiconducting oxides in terms of elaboration methods, functionalization, and application fields. Without being restrictive, this Special Issue will focus on:

  • The new generation of transparent conducting oxides such as perovskite oxides;
  • The latest developments in applications involving wide band gap semiconducting oxides;
  • The latest innovations in the methods of elaboration of classical transparent conductive oxides, in particular to reduce their cost.

Prof. Dr. Aomar Hadjadj
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 1266 KiB  
Editorial
Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings
by Aomar Hadjadj and Mickaël Gilliot
Coatings 2023, 13(2), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13020307 - 29 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1104
Abstract
There are many areas of application in everyday life where a thin film (from a few nanometers to a few micrometers) of conductive or semiconductive oxide substantially modifies the chemical, optical, electrical, thermal, catalytic, mechanical and surface properties of the substrate it covers [...] Read more.
There are many areas of application in everyday life where a thin film (from a few nanometers to a few micrometers) of conductive or semiconductive oxide substantially modifies the chemical, optical, electrical, thermal, catalytic, mechanical and surface properties of the substrate it covers [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings)
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Research

Jump to: Editorial

19 pages, 7590 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Properties of ZnO Nanostructure Decorated Coatings
by Souad Abou Zeid, Anne Perez, Stéphane Bastide, Marie Le Pivert, Stéphanie Rossano, Hynd Remita, Nicolas Hautière and Yamin Leprince-Wang
Coatings 2024, 14(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14010041 - 27 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1096
Abstract
Given the growing concern over antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need to explore alternative antibacterial strategies. Metal oxide nanostructures have emerged as a promising option, and in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have demonstrated strong antifungal and antibacterial properties. This study focuses [...] Read more.
Given the growing concern over antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need to explore alternative antibacterial strategies. Metal oxide nanostructures have emerged as a promising option, and in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have demonstrated strong antifungal and antibacterial properties. This study focuses on ZnO nanowires (ZnO NWs) and their potential as antibacterial agents against Pseudomonas putida, a Gram-negative bacterium. The objective is to investigate the antibacterial mechanisms and assess their efficiency. The unique shape of ZnO NWs, obtained through hydrothermal growth, may rupture bacterial cells and inhibit bacterial growth. In addition to their morphology, the release of Zn2+ ions from ZnO NWs may contribute to their antibacterial properties. These ions have the potential to disrupt the bacterial cell membrane, further impeding bacterial growth. Moreover, ZnO nanostructures exhibit excellent photocatalytic properties under UV light, enhancing their antibacterial effects. Overall, this study highlights the potential of hydrothermally synthesized ZnO NWs in inhibiting P. putida growth and provides valuable insights into their antibacterial mechanisms. The findings suggest that ZnO nanostructures have the potential to be effective antibacterial agents and could be utilized in various settings to fight microbial infections and maintain hygiene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings)
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28 pages, 6734 KiB  
Article
Optically Transparent TiO2 and ZnO Photocatalytic Thin Films via Salicylate-Based Sol Formulations
by Bozhidar I. Stefanov
Coatings 2023, 13(9), 1568; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13091568 - 07 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1475
Abstract
Sol compositions for transparent TiO2 and ZnO photocatalytic thin film deposition are of interest for the wet-chemical fabrication of self-cleaning coatings. The choice of stabilizing agent is crucial for the sol film-forming properties, with acetylacetone and monoethanolamine conventionally employed for TiO2 [...] Read more.
Sol compositions for transparent TiO2 and ZnO photocatalytic thin film deposition are of interest for the wet-chemical fabrication of self-cleaning coatings. The choice of stabilizing agent is crucial for the sol film-forming properties, with acetylacetone and monoethanolamine conventionally employed for TiO2 and ZnO deposition sols, respectively. Salicylic acid (SA), capable of chelating both Ti(IV) and Zn(II) precursors, remains underexplored. This study presents novel SA-based sol formulations for the deposition of both TiO2 and ZnO films, based on titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD) precursors, in a fixed 1:3 (TTIP:SA) and 1:2 (ZAD:SA) ratio, and isopropanol solvent, varied across the 1:10 to 1:20 precursor-to-solvent ratio range. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis and Density Functional Theory computations confirmed the formation of H2Ti[SA]3 and Zn[SA]2·2H2O complexes. Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy were employed to study the structural and optical properties of the dip-coated films, revealing dense TiO2 (86–205 nm) and ZnO (35–90 nm) layers of thickness proportional to the salicylate concentration and transmittance in the 70–90% range. Liquid-phase Methylene blue (MB) photooxidation experiments revealed that all films exhibit photocatalytic activity, with ZnO films being superior to TiO2, with 2.288 vs. 0.366 nm h−1 cm−2 MB removal rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings)
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12 pages, 1911 KiB  
Article
Cathodoluminescence Characterization of Point Defects Generated through Ion Implantations in 4H-SiC
by Enora Vuillermet, Nicolas Bercu, Florence Etienne and Mihai Lazar
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13060992 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1181
Abstract
The high quality of crystal growth and advanced fabrication technology of silicon carbide (SiC) in power electronics enables the control of optically active defects in SiC, such as silicon vacancies (VSi). In this paper, VSi are generated in hexagonal SiC [...] Read more.
The high quality of crystal growth and advanced fabrication technology of silicon carbide (SiC) in power electronics enables the control of optically active defects in SiC, such as silicon vacancies (VSi). In this paper, VSi are generated in hexagonal SiC (4H) samples through ion implantation of nitrogen or (and) aluminum, respectively the n- and p-type dopants for SiC. The presence of silicon vacancies within the samples is studied using cathodoluminescence at 80K. For 4H-SiC samples, the ZPL (zero phonon line) of the V1′ center of VSi is more intense than the one for the V1 center before annealing. The opposite is true after 900 °C annealing. ZPLs of the divacancy defect (VCVSi) are also visible after annealing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings)
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16 pages, 7942 KiB  
Article
Oxides Film Formed on Fe- and Ni-Based Alloys: An Ellipsometry Insight
by Noureddine Benaioun, Mickaël Gilliot, Florica Simescu Lazar, Jean-Luc Bubendorff and Aomar Hadjadj
Coatings 2023, 13(5), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13050882 - 08 May 2023
Viewed by 1346
Abstract
UV-visible spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to study the thickness and composition of the oxidized zone in Fe- and Ni-based alloys as a function of oxygen partial pressure. In the case of AISI 304 stainless steel, the weathered thickness increases with oxygen partial pressure, [...] Read more.
UV-visible spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to study the thickness and composition of the oxidized zone in Fe- and Ni-based alloys as a function of oxygen partial pressure. In the case of AISI 304 stainless steel, the weathered thickness increases with oxygen partial pressure, whereas in the case of Inconel 600, it appears to be independent of oxygen pressure. This trend is confirmed by the AFM measurements. For both materials studied, the oxygen-modified zone consists of two layers as confirmed by glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES) measurements. The thicknesses of these two layers vary differently on either side of an oxygen partial pressure of 0.1 Torr. In the case of AISI 304 stainless steel, the thickness of the Fe-rich outer layer decreases in favor of the Cr-rich inner layer. In the case of Inconel 600, the trend is reversed. The Ni-rich outer layer increases significantly above this critical pressure, while the Cr-rich inner layer decreases slightly. The composition of each layer in the oxidized zone is discussed in terms of its dielectric function in relation to reference material. The use of UV-visible ellipsometry as a non-destructive tool to study the structure and composition of the oxide bilayer of absorbing systems such as the alloys under investigation is a first. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings)
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17 pages, 6463 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO/Ag(NPs) Nanocomposite Thin Films under Natural Conditions
by Mouna Khiari, Michaël Lejeune, Mickaël Gilliot, Florica Lazar and Aomar Hadjadj
Coatings 2022, 12(11), 1782; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12111782 - 21 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1646
Abstract
The original technique developed for the direct incorporation and efficient dispersion of silver metal NPs into ZnO precursor solution allowed us to elaborate nanocomposite thin films with a large effective surface area for interaction with the external environment as well as a large [...] Read more.
The original technique developed for the direct incorporation and efficient dispersion of silver metal NPs into ZnO precursor solution allowed us to elaborate nanocomposite thin films with a large effective surface area for interaction with the external environment as well as a large surface area for metal–semiconductor interaction suitable for surface photocatalysis reactions. Such photocatalysts have the advantage of being in solid form, combining the benefits of the semiconductor material and the metallic nanoparticles embedded in it, while being eco-friendly. Their photocatalytic performance was analyzed under different operating conditions. The improved photocatalytic performance, stability, and reusability of the nanocomposite were demonstrated under both laboratory and natural conditions of use. The results of the present study provide interesting perspectives for the application of these photocatalysts in water treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Transparent Semiconductor Films and Coatings)
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