Search

Bistable electrochromic devices (BECDs) with high energy efficiency have gained extensive attention, due to their great potential for application in the smart windows of buildings and vehicles, as well as in reflective displays. However, the current BECDs are commonly fabricated with liquid or gel electrolytes, which undermine reliability and safety during application. Herein, an all-solid-state BECD with a new structure was designed and developed. It was constructed using an amorphous nanostructured WO3−x film as the electrochromic layer, a Nafion film as the solid electrolyte, and a nanostructured NiO film as the ion storage layer. This device showed ideal performances with excellent bistability (>7 days for the colored state), a fast response (<10 s) and promising dual-band tunability, owing to its stable layered structure and high ionic conductivity. More importantly, applications of this BECD in smart windows and reflective displays have been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of substrate temperature (ST) during deposition and dopant amount of Mn (1,3,5, and 7 %) and Y(3 %), (Mn/Y), on the physical properties of copper oxide (CuO) the nanostructured film were analyzed using different diagnostic tools. The pure and (Mn, Y) co-doped CuO thin films were deposited by the spray pyrolysis method, which is effective and easy to apply for any substrate. Deposited pure and (Mn,Y) co-doped CuO nanostructured films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques to analyze the influence of ST and co-doping on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of prepared films. The FESEM is used to visualize nanostructures on the surface of the film. Also, it is observed that the surface morphology of CuO film changes from a spherical-like to a nanocloumnar-like structure with increasing substrate temperature. The XRD diffractograms confirm the monoclinic crystal structure of CuO, in polycrystalline nature for all deposited films. UV–Vis spectra suggest changing the optical absorbance and the band gap of the pure and Mn/Y co-doped CuO nanostructured films. In the first investigation of this study, the better substrate temperature was obtained as 400 °C according to results. In the second part, the effect of Y and Mn doping with different content was analyzed for the CuO film deposited at the chosen ST of 400 °C. There is no observable crystalline structure variation in the XRD pattern, but the size of nanostructure and dislocation density are varied with Mn/Y co-doping. FESEM micrographs confirm the impact of the co-doping concentration on the size, shape, and surface properties of CuO nanostructured film. In addition, the optical band gap increases with Mn doping up to 3 % of Mn content and it was determined as 2.69 eV for the sample 3Mn/Y@CuO nanostructured film. The obtained results suggest that the substrate temperature has an important impact on the physical properties of the spray deposited CuO nanostructured film, and the structural, optical, and surface properties of the CuO nanostructured films may be engineered by Mn/Y doping concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop predictive models in nanostructured films, there is an ongoing research to validate molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results with experimental data. The morphology and surface topography of polyaniline (PANI) nanostructured film coated on a TiO2 nanocrystalline surface were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. The atomistic model of the simulated PANI was generated using energy minimization with a condensed-phase optimized molecular potential for atomistic studies force field function to reach a thermodynamic equilibrium state. Various parameters of PANI such as density, energy, cavity size, and free volume distributions are calculated. MD simulation has also been used to obtain specific volume (V) as a function of temperature (T). It is demonstrated that this V-T curve can be used to determinate glass transition temperature Tg, reliably. Although experimental data available for the PANI film are very limited, simulation results such as density and Tg are in good agreement with the experimental values reported in the literature. Comparison of the surface topography of PANI demonstrates a reasonable trend between atomic force microscopy image analysis and the MD simulation results at various temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel hierarchical ZnO structure film was fabricated on a FTO substrate. [•] Hierarchical ZnO film is applied as the electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells. [•] The film possess high specific surface area and fast electron transport effect. [•] The light-scattering effect of the hierarchical film is pronounced. [•] The energy conversion efficiency of hierarchical ZnO electrode reaches to 5.16%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium Oxide (Ga 2 O 3) nanostructured film is deposited via a single step aqueous method by controlling the pH value of precursor solution. The uniformity, density and crystallite size varies when the pH of precursor solution changes from pH 6 to pH 9. The as-deposited nanostructured film is present in hydroxide crystalline phase which gets converted to a mixed phase ('α' and 'β') when heat treated at 600 ​°C. The densely packed Ga 2 O 3 nanostructured film (at pH 8) shows better electrical conductivity and stable current density of 10−8 A/cm2. The memristive measurement for densely packed nanostructured film results in R OFF /R ON ratio in order of 102, whereas the V set and V reset values are observed to be 2.7V and −3.1V respectively. This single step process is suitable for deposition of good quality, large crystallite, densely packed nanostructured Ga 2 O 3 films that can be utilized in various electronic and optoelectronic applications. Ga 2 O 3 nanostructured thin film for resistor based memory device (Memristors). [Display omitted] • Facile beaker chemistry synthesis at low temperature for deposition of Ga 2 O 3 nanostructure thin films. • Variations in Ga 2 O 3 nanostructured thin films due to change in pH of initial precursor solution. • Densely packed Ga 2 O 3 nanostructured thin films at pH 8 is obtained with enlarged crystals. • Ga 2 O 3 nanostructured films based memristors device showed resistance ratio of 102 with set and reset voltages at 2.7V and −3.1V respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanostructured film composed of the Co-ferrite embedded in the metal Co matrix was fabricated by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of Co-ferrite particles and electroplating of metal Co in combination. Metal Co as the soft magnetic material and Co-ferrite nanoparticle (10–40 nm) as the hard magnetic material were utilized. In this film, the small clusters of the Co-ferrite nanoparticles deposited by the EPD on the Cu sputtered substrate are embedded in electroplating the metal Co. The structure, like the granular, composed of Co-ferrite nanoparticles and metal Co was observed in the cross-section image of the nanostructured film. The nanostructured film barely exhibited the magnetic properties given the saturation magnetization from metal Co and the coercivity from Co-ferrite nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A nanostructured film electrode, a multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE), is described for the simultaneous determination of guanine and adenine. The properties of the MWNT-modified GCE were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry. The oxidation peak currents of guanine and adenine increased significantly at the MWNT-modified GCE in contrast to those at the bare GCE. The experimental parameters were optimized and a direct electrochemical method for the simultaneous determination of guanine and adenine was proposed. Using the MWNT-modified GCE, a sensitive and direct electrochemical technique for the measurement of native DNA was also developed, and the value of (G+C)/(A+T) of HCl-digested DNA was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Rutile TiO2 film with exposed pyramid-shaped (111) surface is fabricated by VPH method. [•] High photoelectrocatalytic activity to water oxidation and RhB removal for rutile TiO2 film. [•] Lower inherent resistance leads to higher photoelectrocatalytic activity of rutile TiO2 film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Novel hetero-nanostructured multilayer films comprising negatively charged titania nanosheets (TNS) and positively charged natural antibacterial agent, lysozyme (LSZ), have been synthesized by the electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly technique. The resulting films have been characterized using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). UV–vis spectra show that absorbance values at characteristic wavelengths of multilayer films increase almost linearly with the number of TNS/LSZ bilayers. SEM and AFM images indicate that the surface of the multilayer film is rather smooth and dense. The antibacterial capabilities of multilayer films toward Micrococcus lysodeikticus growth are analyzed using a turbidmetric method. The investigation shows that TNS is a photoactivated antibacterial agent with high inhibition rate, which can help to enhance the antibacterial activity of the multilayer film under UV light irradiation. In the presence of UV light, significant high inhibition rate is observed when the multilayer film is present in turbid bacterial suspension. This hetero-nanostructured multilayer film may potentially be applied as antibacterial coatings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated the hydrophilicity of a large-area, transparent poly-(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film with a pillar-like nanostructure; the hydrophilicity of the nanostructure was maintained even when it was covered with a large amount of water (30g). The hydrophilicity was maintained for more than 60days, which was longer than that in the case of other hydrophilic materials. In addition, the PET film with the pillar-like nanostructure was fabricated by the cost-effective UV imprinting process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An approach to directly make controlled nanostructured films in situ with physical vapor thin film deposition is presented. Co films were formed into lines with 3.2±0.8 nm thickness and were regularly spaced 550±20 nm apart on a Si(100) surface. The line pattern results during pulsed laser deposition of Co simultaneous with two-beam laser interference irradiation of the Si surface. Preliminary results indicate that preferential evaporation is not the primary mechanism. This patterning is likely due to anisotropic diffusion modified growth of Co under thermal gradients. This one step patterning process, without need of any pre- or post-patterning of the substrate or film, is promising as an economical and simple nanostructured film fabrication approach. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper-doped cadmium sulfide (CdS:Cu) nanocrystalline thin films were coated on glass substrates with different Cu concentrations (0 wt.%, 3 wt.%, and 6 wt.%) using the sol–gel spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrometry, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were used to analyze the average crystallite size, surface morphology, and chemical analysis of prepared thin films in 3 and 6 wt.% of Cu concentrations. According to the XRD results and SEM micrographs, nanocrystalline grains of doped thin films have an almost regular geometric shape, which become slightly larger by increasing Cu concentration from 3 to 6 wt.%. The optical and electrical characteristics of all three films were examined by spectroscopy ellipsometry (SE) technique in the wavelength range between 300 and 900 nm. Based on the SE results, the thin film prepared with 0 wt.% Cu concentration showed a higher refractive index, extinction coefficient, and absorbance compared to the other Cu-doped thin films. The CdS:Cu thin films with 3 and 6 wt.% Cu concentrations demonstrated significantly higher transparency than pure ones (0 wt.% Cu doped), making them particularly suitable for different optoelectronic applications. Moreover, the optical band gap energy (Eg) values were evaluated. It can be concluded that the pure film has the largest band gap energy, and Cu doping reduces the Eg values. The spin-coated 6 wt.% CdS:Cu thin film showed high transparency (67.83%), good homogeneity, and a substantial Eg value (2.6 eV), making it ideal for photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work explored the impact of Mo-doping on the structural, optical, photophysical, and electrical characteristics of ZnO thin films and their potential application to the UV light detection properties was investigated. The hexagonal structure of the films without any impurities or extra phases was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The crystallite size reduced from 36 nm to 25 nm with the addition of 3 wt% of Mo in ZnO. The EDX/SEM e-mapping verified the elemental composition and uniform Mo doping throughout the films. The FESEM images revealed spherical nanoparticles with smaller grains size for higher Mo-doping levels. The absorption spectra were recorded from UV to NIR range, and the bandgap was observed to increase from 3.25 eV for pure ZnO to 3.42 for 3% Mo-doped ZnO sample. The Mo-doped ZnO film showed PL quenching, which indicates charge transfer and suppression of defect sates in the ZnO films via Mo-doping. The time-resolved fluorescence spectra (TRFS) of these films revealed that the carrier lifetime increased from 80 ps for pure ZnO to 144 ps for 3% Mo-doped ZnO thin film. The electrical parameters including resistivity, carrier mobility, concentrations, and sheet resistance of fabricated films were evaluated by Hall-effect measurement. The resistivity and mobility were observed to decrease from 9.33×104 Ω.cm, 55.1 cm2/V.s to 2.03×103 Ω.cm 15.4 cm2/V.s for 3% Mo-doped ZnO thin film, while carrier density increased. The photodetection study demonstrated that the responsivity, detectivity, external quantum efficiency and response time of devices were significantly enhanced with Mo idoping. • Mo-doped ZnO films have been developed by the cost-effective SILAR route. • The average decay time in 5 wt% Mo:ZnO is ∼ 2 times higher than pure ZnO. • Highest responsivity was found for 2 wt% Mo-doped sample with a value of 1.40 A/W • The external quantum efficiency is noticed to be 451% for 2MO film-based devices, which is more than 1000 times higher compared to pure ZnO. • The obtained results demonstrate the potential of Mo:ZnO films for optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new synthesis of carbon‐based nanostructured films for application as plasma facing materials during high‐intense laser‐matter interaction experiments is presented. The materials are produced using a Polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrix, nanostructured with multiwalled carbon nanotubes, or multi‐layer graphene flakes producing a 250 μm thick film. The films are deposited onto typical materials used in harsh environments such as plasma facing materials. These PEG reinforced materials are irradiated by laser‐accelerated particles and by an in‐air plasma, both are techniques that have shown to heavily stress and damage materials used in laser‐matter interaction experiments. The authors observe that the chemical structure of the PEG reinforced materials, when irradiated by both techniques, stays unchanged. However, one can see that the PEG layer adds considerable longevity to the underlying materials, making it more robust against erosion and ablation occurring during its operation. The authors present a new synthesis of carbon‐based nanostructured films for being employed on materials operating in harsh environments. The materials are produced using a Polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrix, nanostructured with multiwalled carbon nanotubes or graphene flakes and heavily stress tested by irradiation of laser‐accelerated particles and by an in‐air plasma. The authors see that the PEG layer adds considerable longevity to the underlying materials, making it more robust against erosion and ablation occurring during its operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A simple and cost-effective fabrication of the Zn-doped α-Fe 2 O 3 thin film as a photocathode for solar hydrogen generation was proposed in this study. Transparent Zn-doped α-Fe 2 O 3 films were prepared by a spin-coating process using nontoxic iron chloride as the iron precursor and zinc chloride as an acceptor dopant, and the thermal treatment at 550 °C in air subsequently followed up. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic characterizations suggest the α-phase to the Zn-doped hematite film, indicating that the incorporation of Zn into the Fe 2 O 3 host lattice is carried out in the absence of phase transition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study otherwise demonstrates the substitution of Fe3+ for Zn2+ in the Zn-doped α-Fe 2 O 3 specimens. Mott-Schottky analysis shows that the Zn dopant functions as the hole acceptor and the carrier density is dictated by the concentration of the zinc precursor. Significantly, a notable cathodic photocurrent of −0.1 mA cm−2 is delivered by the Zn-doped α-Fe 2 O 3 photocathode with a doping level of 10% in the photoelectrochemical measurement. Last but not least, the doping effect on the photo-activity of hematite is systematically investigated that in turn works as the blueprint for materials design in the solar application. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Zn-doped Fe 2 O 3 films were synthesized by a spin-coating process followed by annealing. • Substitution of Zn ions in the Fe 2 O 3 can be confirmed by XPS and Raman spectra. • High PEC activity of Zn-doped Fe 2 O 3 film was achieved the photocurrent of −0.1 mAcm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure In2O3 and mixed Mn2O3–In2O3 nanomaterials were synthesized via vapor transport method. The X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrated the cubic crystalline phase for pure In2O3 sample, whereas a combination of cubic In2O3 and orthorhombic Mn2O3 phases were observed for the mixed sample. The scanning electron microscopy images revealed the formation of randomly oriented nanorods for pure In2O3 sample, while assemblies of nanorods with different lengths and diameters were reported for the mixed sample. The transmittance spectrum of pure In2O3 was greater than 80% over the visible spectral range, while the transmittance of the mixed Mn2O3–In2O3 nanostructured film was 32%. The obtained band gap values for pure In2O3 and mixed Mn2O3–In2O3 nanostructured thin films were 3.92 and 3.37 eV, respectively. The mixed Mn2O3–In2O3 nanostructured thin film has higher refractive index, higher optical conductivity, and lower electrical resistivity than those for pure In2O3 film. Two obvious emission peaks were observed for the pure and the mixed samples. The photoluminescence intensity of the mixed Mn2O3–In2O3 nanostructured thin film is higher than that of pure In2O3 indicating its validity to be used in optoelectronic applications such as light-emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional flower-like ZnO nanostructured film decorated with the thin porous ‘petals’ is synthesized using an inexpensive sol–gel drop-casting method, and the NO2 detection characteristics of the nanostructured film are studied. The gas-sensing study shows higher sensitivity with selectivity toward NO2 gas, exhibiting good reproducibility and stability. The as-synthesized nanostructured 3D flower-like ZnO film shows excellent NO2 sensing performance, with a maximum gas response of 23.3 for 100 ppm NO2 gas at an operating temperature of 180 °C. A detailed gas-sensing study reveals that the enormous porous petals with various inter-connected pores fused on the flower-like ZnO nanostructure improve the adsorption of gas molecules; consequently, the synthesized ZnO nanostructure exhibits a superior level of NO2 gas-sensing activity. This study provides a promising path towards the development of a highly sensitive NO2 gas sensor and an easy way to fabricate the 3D morphology decorated with exceedingly porous ‘petals’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous nanostructured film of flame-formed carbon nanoparticles has been produced with a one-step procedure. The morphological and structural characteristics of the film have been characterized by atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The electrical resistance as a function of the temperature has been investigated in the range from ambient temperature to 120 °C. A nonmetallic behavior has been observed, with a monotonic decrease of the film resistance as temperature increases. Electrical conduction is explained in terms of charge carriers tunneling and percolation between the carbon grains and is not perfectly described by an Arrhenius behavior. A negative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the order of −100 × 10−4 K−1 has been measured. The high absolute TCR value, together with the ease of material microfabrication processing and biocompatibility of the carbon material make this film ideal for temperature sensing in many environments. A functional relationship between resistance and temperature, which is necessary for practical applications, has been finally derived. A very good agreement between experimental data and fit is obtained with a fifth order polynomial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuInS 2 nanostructured films were prepared by Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method. Variation of structural and optical properties of the CuInS 2 films including Cu and In in the precursor solution were investigated. The films were found to be p-type by using hot probe method. Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods have been chosen to study the structural properties of the films as Raman spectroscopy allows the investigation of the near surface region, while XRD is a bulk-sensitive method. Optical properties were obtained from UV–vis absorption, transmittance and reflectance spectra of the nanostructured CuInS 2 films. The films have polycrystalline structure with a preferential growth along the (112) plane. The grain size of all the films was found to be lower than 15 nm. The Raman peak at 296 cm −1 has been assigned to the A 1 mode of the CuInS 2 in CH-ordered. Absorption coefficient of the films have increased by increasing photon energy and decreasing wavelength. The optical constants of the films such as refractive index, extinction coefficient as well as the real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant have changed by increasing the In content of the precursor solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In computed radiography, scattering of the stimulation light by the storage phosphor crystals in the imaging plates negatively impacts spatial resolution. Storage phosphor plates with thinner phosphor layers have been developed to reduce scattering distance and increase spatial resolution, although at the expense of reduced x‐ray absorption. The authors hypothesize that a transparent or translucent nanostructured film, containing a much higher percentage of storage phosphor crystals than achievable in bulk glass‐ceramic materials made by conventional methods, may have acceptable photostimulated luminescence efficiency and imaging performance characteristics greater than commercial imaging plates. Films were produced via pulsed laser deposition by alternating target materials of the storage phosphor BaCl2:Eu2+ and either silica or silicon. X‐ray diffraction and photoluminescence characterization were conducted to confirm the presence of BaCl2:Eu2+ crystallites. The films were able to store optical data and be read out to produce x‐ray radiographs demonstrating 50‐µm spatial resolution. The performance of the experimental storage phosphor plates was compared to commercially available imaging plates. The authors demonstrate for the first time the synthesis of a glass‐ceramic imaging plate for computed radiography by pulsed laser deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of the deposition process parameters on the thickness of TiO2 nanostructured film were simulated using the molecular dynamics (MD) approach and modeled by the artificial neural network (ANN) and regression method. Accordingly, TiO2 nanostructured film was prepared experimentally with the sol-gel dip-coating method. Structural instabilities can be expected, due to short- and/or long-range intermolecular forces, leading to the surface inhomogeneities. In the MD simulation, the Morse potential function was used for the inter-atomic interactions, and equations of motion for atoms were solved by Verlet algorithm. The effect of the withdrawal velocity, drying temperature and number of deposited layers were studied in order to characterize the film thickness. The results of MD simulations are reasonably consistent with atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Dektak surface profiler. Finally, the outputs from experimental data were analyzed by using the ANN in order to investigate the effects of deposition process parameters on the film thickness. In this case, various architectures have been checked using 75% of experimental data for training of the ANN. Among the various architectures, feed-forward back-propagation network with trainer training algorithm was found as the best architecture. Based on the R-squared value, the ANN is better than the regression model in predicting the film thickness. The statistical analysis for those results was then used to verify the fitness of the complex process model. Based on the results, this modeling methodology can explain the characteristics of the TiO2 nanostructured thin film and growth mechanism varying with process conditions. © 2013 The Authors. Surface and Interface Analysis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a new synthesis method for multiple-walled nested thin-film nanostructures by combining hydrothermal growth methods with atomic layer deposition (ALD) thin-film technology and sacrificial films, thereby increasing the surface-to-volume ratio to improve the sensing performance of novel ZnO gas sensors. Single-crystal ZnO nanorods serve as the core of the nanostructure assembly and were synthesized hydrothermally on fine-grained ALD ZnO seed films. Subsequently, the ZnO core nanotubes were coated with alternating sacrificial coaxial 3D wrap-around ALD Al2O3 films and ALD ZnO films. Basically, the center nanorod was coated with an ALD 3D wrap-around Al2O3 sacrificial layer to realize a nested coaxial ZnO thin-film nanotube. To increase the surface-to-volume ratio of the nested multiple-film nanostructure, both the front and backside of the nested coaxial ZnO films must be exposed by selectively removing the intermittent Al2O3 sacrificial films. The selective removal of the sacrificial films exposes the front and backside of the free-standing ZnO films for interaction with target gases during sensing operation while steadily increasing the surface-to-volume ratio. The sensing response of the novel ZnO gas sensor architecture with nested nanotubes achieved a maximum 150% enhancement at low temperature compared to a conventional ZnO nanorod sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the first example of a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanostructured film at an oil–water interface is reported. This facile formation was conducted at room temperature, and the obtained film exhibited an excellent current density (32.7 mA cm−2) in the methanol oxidation process of fuel cells as compared to a Pt film (30.6 mA cm−2), Pd/ZIF (9.0 mA cm−2), Au-mercaptoacetic acid-HKUST-1 (0.3 mA cm−2), Ni/ZIF-8 (0.744 mA cm−2) and Co-MOF-71/graphene oxide (17.5 mA cm−2), where MOF indicates a metal–organic framework. The electrocatalytic activity of the ZIF-8 thin film was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear sweep voltammetry. Our results show that the long-term poisoning rate (δ) of the ZIF-8 film with δ = 0.1% is comparable to that of expensive catalysts and even that of the Pt metal in PtRuIr/C in the crystalline form or amorphous form with δ = 0.1% or δ = 0.13%, respectively. The as-synthesized ZIF-8 film exhibited the significantly high power of 15.4 mW cm−2 when compared with the membrane electrode assemblies/PtRu (6.8 mW cm−2) anode catalyst. Our result for the ZIF-8 film is comparable to the data reported for MOFs and also commercial Pt/C and Pt/C E-TEK; this suggests that the ZIF-8 film would be a good candidate as an electrocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen vacancies in indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films provide a direct route to effectively tune the free electron density and thereby, controlling the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) cut-off wavelength, the wavelength at which the real part of permittivity crosses zero of the permittivity axis. In this report, oxygen vacancies in pulsed laser deposited ITO thin films are systematically tuned using different background gases (O 2 , N 2 , Ar, and He). ENZ cut-offs are observed for the films deposited under He and Ar gases. In contrast, no such cut-offs are observed in the case of other two gases. An ITO thin film deposited under He gas exhibits deeper resonance signal than the one deposited under Ar gas. As expected, no such dip in the resonance spectra is observed for the films deposited under O 2 and N 2 gases. This observation is directly correlated to the change in the number of oxygen vacancies under different ambient gases. A modified transfer matrix method which incorporates surface roughness as an effective medium layer is developed to describe the experimentally observed resonance spectra numerically. Angular invariancy of ENZ plasmon resonance and the difference in absorption values for ITO films deposited under different gases is understood in terms of local field intensity enhancement factor. The study presented here will certainly be very useful in understanding the ENZ plasmon resonance phenomena as a whole. Additionally, ITO films deposited under an inert gas environment could be excellent material platforms for realizing several exotic ENZ applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and photochromic transformations of composite organometallic nanosystems composed of Ag nanoparticles covered with a layer of indoline-spiropyran (ISP) molecules from solutions were studied by spectrophotometry, surface Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) and quantum chemistry. Analysis of experimental data showed that studied nanostructured systems have photochromic properties, manifested in the reversible photo-induced changes both of the electronic-absorption spectra and of the relative intensity of the SERS bands. The open form of ISP, formed in the organometallic nanostructured film as a result of photochromic transformations, has an adsorption geometry, and, possibly, a conformation different from that formed as a result of chemisorption of ISP molecules on silver colloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of morphological, structural, and luminescence properties of InN nanostructures grown on [0001]-oriented GaN substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy is reported. By varying the growth temperature, Tgr, by only 100 °C, a dramatic change in the apparent growth mechanism and the resulting surface morphology and nanoscale structure is observed. At the same time, there is a 30-fold enhancement in the photoluminescence intensity and an order of magnitude reduction in electron concentration. These changes result from a transition from a continuous 2D planar nanostructured film for the lower temperature growth characterized by high densities of edge type threading dislocations to 3D multifaceted nanocrystals with few observed dislocations for the higher temperature growth. This transition is correlated with an enhancement of the In adatom surface diffusivity due to the increased growth temperature and consequently with the dimensionality of the resulting nanostructures. Finally, it is demonstrated that understanding and implementation of the kinetic factors that influence the nucleation, growth, and crystal facet evolution during the initial stages of growth are crucial for the growth of 3D InN nanostructures or continuous layers with controllable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochromic (EC) materials allow for dynamic tuning of optical properties via an applied electric field, presenting great potential in energy-efficient technologies, such as smart windows for effective light and temperature regulation. The precise control of precursor concentration has proven to be a powerful approach in tailoring the physicochemical properties of semiconducting metal oxides. In this study, we employed a one-step electrodeposition technique to fabricate tungsten oxide (WO3) thin films, systematically exploring how varying precursor concentrations influence the material's characteristics. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed significant changes in diffraction patterns, reflecting subtle structural modifications due to concentration variations. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy revealed significant changes in the microstructure, showing a progression from small nanogranules to larger agglomerations within the film matrix. The W-25 mM thin film delivered exceptional EC performance, efficiently accommodating lithium ions while showcasing superior EC properties. The optimized electrode, denoted as W-25 mM, showcased exceptional EC metrics, featuring the highest optical modulation at 82.66%, outstanding reversibility at 99%, and a notably high coloring efficiency of 83.01 cm2/C. These findings emphasize the importance of precursor concentration optimization in enhancing the EC properties of WO3 thin films, contributing to the advancement of high-performance, energy-efficient materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetone detection is of significant importance in various industries, from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, bioengineering, and paints. Sensor manufacturing involves the use of different semiconductor materials as well as different metals for doping and functionalization, allowing them to achieve advanced or unique properties in different sensor applications. In the healthcare field, these sensors play a crucial role in the non-invasive diagnosis of various diseases, offering a potential way to monitor metabolic conditions by analyzing respiration. This article presents the synthesis method, using chemical solutions and rapid thermal annealing technology, to obtain Al-functionalized and Ni-doped copper oxide (Al/CuO:Ni) nanostructured thin films for biosensors. The nanocrystalline thin films are subjected to a thorough characterization, with examination of the morphological properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results reveal notable changes in the surface morphology and structure following different treatments, providing insight into the mechanism of function and selectivity of these nanostructures for gases and volatile compounds. The study highlights the high selectivity of developed Al/CuO:Ni nanostructures towards acetone vapors at different concentrations from 1 ppm to 1000 ppm. Gas sensitivity is evaluated over a range of operating temperatures, indicating optimum performance at 300 °C and 350 °C with the maximum sensor signal (S) response obtained being 45% and 50%, respectively, to 50 ppm gas concentration. This work shows the high potential of developed technology for obtaining Al/CuO:Ni nanostructured thin films as next-generation materials for improving the sensitivity and selectivity of acetone sensors for practical applications as breath detectors in biomedical diagnostics, in particular for diabetes monitoring. It also emphasizes the importance of these sensors in ensuring industrial safety by preventing adverse health and environmental effects of exposure to acetone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial antireflective nanostructured surfaces, inspired by moth eyes, effectively reduce optical losses at interfaces, offering significant advantages in enhancing optical performance in various optoelectronic applications, including solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and cameras. However, their limited flexibility and low surface hardness constrain their broader use. In this study, we introduce a universal antireflective film by integrating nanostructures on both sides of a thin polycarbonate film. One side was thinly coated with Al2O3 for its high hardness, enhancing surface durability while maintaining flexibility. The opposite side was coated with SiO2 to optimize antireflective properties, making the film suitable for diverse environments (i.e., air, water, and adhesives). This dual-coating strategy resulted in a mechanically robust and flexible antireflective film with superior optical properties in various conditions. We demonstrated the universal capabilities of our antireflective film via optical simulations and experiments with the fabricated film in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanometer-scale thin film of Ni supported on glassy carbon (nm-Ni/GC) was prepared by electrochemical deposition through cyclic voltammetry (CV). The properties of nm-Ni/GC were studied by electrochemical in situ FTIR reflection spectroscopy using CO adsorption as probe reaction. It has revealed that the nm-Ni/GC exhibits abnormal infrared effects (AIREs). The study has extended the investigation of the AIREs that we have discovered initially on nanostructured film materials of platinum group metals and alloys to nanostructured film materials of iron group metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibacterial effect of a nanostructured film, known as “moth-eye film,” was investigated. The moth-eye film has artificially formed nano-pillars, consisting of hydrophilic resin with urethane acrylate and polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivatives, all over its surface that replicates a moth’s eye. Experiments were performed to compare the moth-eye film with a flat-surfaced film produced from the same materials. The JIS Z2801 film-covering method revealed that the two films produced a decrease in Staphylococcus aureus and Esherichia coli titers of over 5 and 3 logs, respectively. There was no marked difference in the antibacterial effects of the two surfaces. However, the antibacterial effects were reduced by immersion of the films in water. These results indicated that a soluble component(s) of the resin possessed the antibacterial activity, and this component was identified as PEG derivatives by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). When a small volume of bacterial suspension was dropped on the films as an airborne droplet model, both films showed antibacterial effects, but that of the moth-eye film was more potent. It was considered that the moth-eye structure allowed the bacteria-loaded droplet to spread and allow greater contact between the bacteria and the film surface, resulting in strong adherence of the bacteria to the film and synergistically enhanced bactericidal activity with chemical components. The antibacterial effect of the moth-eye film has been thus confirmed under a bacterial droplet model, and it appears attractive due to its antibacterial ability, which is considered to result not only from its chemical make-up but also from physical adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CrSi2 thin films with different thicknesses obtained on the Si(111) surface by magnetron sputtering method have been investigated using complex of electron spectroscopy and microscopy methods. The thin films' composition, surface morphology, and cross-section, as well as the resistivity's, Seebeck coefficient's, and power factor's temperature dependences have been studied for the first time. It has been established that, starting from a thickness of ~ 400 Å (deposition time ~ 60 sec), the SiO2/Si(111) surface is completely covered with an amorphous CrSi2 film. After heating the CrSi2/SiO2/Si(111) system at T ≈ 750 K, a homogeneous polycrystalline CrSi2/SiO2/Si(111) film is formed. It is shown that the resistivity ρ, the Seebeck coefficient S, and the power factor P of a CrSi2/SiO2/Si(111) film of different thicknesses (80 and 180 nm) change nonlinearly with increasing temperature. Their values for CrSi2 films of different thicknesses differ slightly from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technology was developed for manufacturing solid-state semiconductor sensor sensitive to hydrogen peroxide vapors. Gas sensitive nanostructured films made of doped metal oxide SnO2 were manufactured by the high-frequency magnetron sputtering method. The chemical composition of prepared SnO2 targets was analyzed and the thickness of the deposited doped metal oxide film was measured. The morphology of the deposited Co-doped SnO2 film was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The gas sensing characteristics to the different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapors at various operating temperatures were also studied. The Co-doped SnO2 sensor showed enough sensitivity to very low concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapors (875 ppb) at the operating temperature of 100 °C. The SnO2 based sensor can be successfully used in medical diagnostic apparatus for determining low concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapors in exhaled air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To make SOFC high efficiency energy generation devices, thin ceramic films are proposed as their main components. The rate of the oxygen reduction reaction is relevant for the overall performance of the SOFC, hence a lot of attention is given to the cathodes and their interfaces. The airbrushed solution combustion (ASC) method was used to fabricate an LSM thin film on a dense YSZ substrate. A single phase LSM perovskite was obtained with very thin and interconnected porosity, and a small average grain size (55 nm). The nanostructured LSM thin film electrode showed a low total activation energy (1.27 eV) at high temperatures, but a high area specific resistance at 850°C (55 Ω.cm2). The activation energy for the dissociative adsorption and diffusion of oxygen was significantly low (1.27 eV), while the charge transfer and oxygen ion migration activation energy at the LSM/YSZ interface (1.28 eV) was closer to those usually reported. • The novel Airbrushed Solution Combustion (ASC) deposition method was tested. • A thin LSM film with average grain size of 55 nm and 10 μm thick was obtained. • A very thin and interconnected porosity was observed in the nanostructured film. • Electrochemical phenomena were separately related with microstructural features. • O 2 reduction steps had low activation energies but high area specific resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β -Ga2O3 has been widely investigated for its stability and thermochemical properties. However, the preparation of β -Ga2O3 thin films requires complex growth techniques and high growth temperatures, and this has hindered the application of β -Ga2O3 thin films. In this study, β -Ga2O3 thin films with good crystalline quality were prepared using a green method, and an ultraviolet (UV) detector based on β -Ga2O3 with a photocurrent of 2.54 × 10–6 A and a dark current of 1.19 × 10–8 A has been developed. Two-dimensional materials have become premium materials for applications in optoelectronic devices due to their high conductivity. Here, we use the suitable energy band structure between Nb2C and Ga2O3 to create a high carrier migration barrier, which reduces the dark current of the device by an order of magnitude. In addition, the device exhibits solar-blind detection, high responsiveness (28 A W−1) and good stability. Thus, the Nb2C/ β -Ga2O3 heterojunction is expected to be one of the promising devices in the field of UV photoelectric detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A straightforward analytical approach is proposed for the design of minimally thin metal absorbers. Unlike traditional resonant design principles, where shape, size, and periodicity of a nanostructured film determine the absorption properties, this study uses only the thickness and permittivity (i.e., sheet conductivity) of the material at hand to demonstrate maximal absorption in the minimal possible thickness at any given wavelength in planar layers – guided by only the derived material‐agnostic equations. An alternative mechanism is further proposed and experimentally demonstrated to obtain precise control over the sheet conductivity of metal films necessary for such designs using metal dilution, enabling the tuning of both the amplitude and the phase of reflected waves. Finally, the concept of “phase doping” is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, wherein an ultrathin metal layer is placed within the spacer of the absorber cavity, which spectrally tunes the absorption feature without changing the spacer thickness or participating in the absorption. By judiciously combining the dilution of the absorbing and phase layers, a multifunctional ultrathin absorber architecture is demonstrated with customizable amplitude, spectral position, and selectivity, all leveraging the same vertical stack. These findings are promising for the design of ultrasensitive detectors, thermal emitters, and nonlinear optical components.

In this paper we report the development of a new method for the evaluation of thin films mass thickness and composition based on the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The method exploits the theoretical calculation of the in-depth characteristic X-ray generation distribution function (ϕ(ρz)) in multilayer samples, where ϕ(ρz) is obtained by the numerical solution of the electron transport equation. Once the substrate composition in known, this method gives reliable measurements without the need of a reference sample and/or multiple voltage acquisitions. The electron transport model is derived from the Boltzmann transport equation and it exploits the most updated and reliable physical parameters in order to obtain an accurate description of the phenomenon. The method for the calculation of film mass thickness and composition is validated with benchmarks from standard techniques. In addition, a model uncertainty and sensitivity analysis is carried out and it indicates that the mass thickness accuracy is of the order of 10 μg / cm 2, which is comparable to the nuclear standard techniques resolution. We show the technique peculiarities in one example model: two-dimensional mass thickness and composition profiles are obtained for a ultra-low density, high roughness, nanostructured film. Unlabelled Image • Theoretical model for the calculation of characteristic X-ray generation function • Fast and reference-free measurements of thin films mass thickness and composition • Capability of thin films mass thickness and composition mapping • Characterization of nanostructured, ultralow density and high-roughness film [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes the electropolymerization of 3-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AMTa) on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and the electrocatalytic activity of the resulting polymer film towards uric acid (UA) at physiological pH. The electropolymerization of AMTa was performed by potentiodynamic method in 0.1M H2SO4. The electropolymerized AMTa (p-AMTa) film was characterized by attenuated total reflectance FT-IR (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance spectroscopy. The p-AMT film showed a redox wave around 0.34V in the absence of monomer in 0.1M H2SO4. The surface coverage of the p-AMT film was estimated by integrating the area under the oxidation wave and it was found to be 6.1×10−10 molcm−2, suggesting the formation of nanostructured film on GCE. The impedance measurements indicate that the p-AMTa film deposited by 15 cycles showed higher conductivity than the films deposited by 30 and 50 cycles. The electrocatalytic activity of the p-AMTa film was examined by studying the oxidation of UA. It dramatically enhanced UA oxidation current and shifted its potential towards less positive potential when compared to bare GCE. In contrast to thiadiazole based polymer films, the triazole based p-AMT film showed higher oxidation current for UA. The current response of UA was increased linearly while increasing the concentration from 1μM to 10μM and a detection limit was found to be 3.57×10−8 M for UA (S/N=3) by DPV method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nanocrystalline BiTe films were deposited on (100) GaAs substrates using a modified metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system, and the effect of growth parameters on the structural properties were investigated. The modified MOCVD system employed a mixing room for the formation of nanoparticles of BiTe by gas-phase reaction and a graphite susceptor for growth of nanoparticles on the substrate. The grown films contained many crystallites of nanosize, and large crystallites consisted of small particles a few tens of nanometer in size. This nanostructured film approach can be an economical way of producing high-performance thermoelectric films with nanostructure compared with other top-down methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the thin-film formation process, it is generally accepted that thin film growth occurs via a reaction between the surface and atoms and/or molecules in the gas phase. The theory of charged clusters proposes instead that a thin film is a self-assembly of charged clusters that nucleate in the gas phase. It was demonstrated that similar-sized anatase clusters have quite different deposition behaviors depending on the RF power in the reaction chamber. At 180 W a highly crystalline nanostructured film was produced. However, at 90 W, a nanopowder was deposited instead. This can be explained by the theory of charged clusters, in that the clusters become charged at higher RF power, i.e. the charging efficiency of clusters increases with increasing RF power. Lower power (90 W) did not efficiently charge the anatase clusters. Cluster charging at 180 W resulted in Coulombic repulsion, which prevented the agglomeration observed at 90 W. The self-assembly characteristics of charged clusters is highlighted by the formation of a nanostructured film. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recently, transparent ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors have gained wide attention for their giant potential in integrated transparent electronics applications. SnO2 films as a common candidate for visible-blind transparent ultraviolet photodetectors have attracted increasing attention. In this work, high-performance visible-blind transparent UV photodetectors based on SnO2 thin film and a SiO2 passivation layer were successfully synthesized by the sol–gel spin coating method for the first time. The obtained SnO2/SiO2 hybrid device has a transmittance of nearly 80% in the visible band at 400–700 nm and demonstrates a high responsivity of 769 mA W−1 and a detection sensitivity of 1.24 × 1014 Jones under UV light illumination. The UV-C/UV-A rejection ratio is greater than 106, indicating that the device has good photo-selectivity. In addition, after the introdution of the SiO2 layer, the response speed is 2 times higher than that of pure SnO2. The presence of the SiO2 layer reduces the exposed area of SnO2, passivates the oxygen vacancies on the surface of SnO2 and inhibits the surface chemical adsorption. The above results provide a new perspective for improving the performance of SnO2 thin film for visible-blind transparent ultraviolet photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary chalcogenide Cu2CoSnS4 (CCTS) thin films were successfully prepared by spray pyrolysis on glass substrates in varying the precursor concentration and the thiourea volume. The effects of the precursor concentration and the thiourea volume on the formation of the CCTS phase were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. The electrical resistivity at room temperature has been measured by the four probes method. It is shown that the crystallization of the stannite CCTS phase depends on both the precursor concentration and thiourea volume. The minimum volume of thiourea required to crystallize the CCTS phase depends on the precursor concentration, i.e. the CCTS crystallization needs higher volume of thiourea at low precursor concentration. For higher precursor concentration, the CCTS is poorly crystallized with the presence of secondary phases such as CuS2, CoS2, and CuCo2S4, while the crystallization domain is relatively large. The CCTS well crystallizes only in a narrow range of precursor concentration and thiourea volume. The relatively poor crystallization combined with the presence of secondary phases are harmful for the optical and electrical features of the CCTS film. Besides, optical transmission measurements of the optimized film showed an optical gap of 1.7 eV (~ 730 nm) and an absorption coefficient included between 104 and 105 cm−1 in the visible solar range. Furthermore, the optimized stannite CCTS films are compact exhibiting a relatively rough and granular surface due to the formation of copper sulfide nodules. The electrical resistivity of the optimized CCTS film is about 0.4 10–2 Ω cm. These results suggest that the deposited films fit the requirements of absorbing layer in solar cells. The diode composed of Au/Cu2CoSnS4/SnO2 films was investigated with current–voltage (I–V) measurements performed under dark and bright conditions. The series resistance, saturation current and ideality factor of typical diode is estimated to be 689 Ω, 1.15 10–5 A and 3, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sol‐gel‐derived silica thin films generated onto electrode surfaces in the form of organic‐inorganic hybrid coatings or other composite layers have found tremendous interest for being used as platforms for the development of electrochemical sensors and biosensors. After a brief description of the strategies applied to prepare such materials, and their interest as electrode modifier, this review will summarize the major advances made so far with composite silica‐based films in electroanalysis. It will primarily focus on electrochemical sensors involving both non‐ordered composite films and vertically oriented mesoporous membranes, the biosensors exploiting the concept of sol‐gel bioencapsulation on electrode, the spectroelectrochemical sensors, and some others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical and electrical properties of cobalt oxide thin films obtained by ion-beam sputtering in argon atmosphere and argon with the addition of oxygen (PAr = 1.1 × 10–5 Torr) has been investigated in the work. Optical properties investigations showed that, for films of cobalt oxide obtained in argon atmosphere, the optical band gap is independent of the film thickness and is 3.24 eV, which is in the range of given in the literature for the CoO phase values. For cobalt oxide films obtained in mixed atmosphere of argon with the addition of oxygen, two direct optical transitions with energies of 1.45 and 2.1 eV were detected. The presence of two direct allowed optical transitions is associated with the variable valence of cobalt in the Co3O4 compound and the presence of two valence states Co2+ and Co3+. The dependences of specific electrical conductivity of the synthesized films on the magnitude of the electric field were studied. It was found that for all investigated samples, the electrical conductivity does not depend on the electric field strength up to the value of E = 106 V/m. The nonlinearity of the dependence of specific electrical conductivity of the synthesized films on electric field strength at E > 106 V/m is discussed in terms of the hopping conductivity model and the trap ionization model described by the Poole–Frenkel effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is a material of growing interest for power electronics, fabrication of sensors, micro-electromechanical systems, and piezoelectric generators. For the latter, the formation of nanowire arrays or nanostructured films is one of the emerging research directions. In the current work, nanostructured AlN films manufactured with normal and glancing angle magnetron sputter depositions have been investigated with scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and optical spectroscopy. Growth of the nanostructures was realized utilizing metal seed particles (Ag, Au, and Al), allowing the control of the nucleation and following growth of AlN. It was demonstrated how variations of seed particle material and size can be used to tune the parameters of nanostructures and morphology of the AlN films. Using normal angle deposition allowed the growth of bud-shaped structures, which consisted of pillars/lamellae with wurtzite-like crystalline structures. Deposition at a glancing angle of 85° led to a film of individual nanostructures located near each other and tilted at an angle of 33° relative to the surface normal. Such films maintained a high degree of wurtzite-like crystallinity but had a more open structure and higher roughness than the nanostructured films grown at normal incidence deposition. The developed production strategies and recipes for controlling parameters of nanostructured films pave the way for the formation of matrices to be used in piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a structuration approach to reach a high luminous transmittance (T l u m ) and solar modulation efficiency (Δ T s o l ) of thermochromic vanadium dioxide ( VO 2 ) thin films. Before starting optical simulations, we confirm that the optical properties of monoclinic VO 2 continuous films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering show a good correspondence with numerical results. Then, calculations on ordered VO 2 nanostripes demonstrate an enhanced transmittance due to the presence of vertical openings, leading to a variety of photonic effects. A series of optimizations by varying the column width, period, and film thickness establishes that 20 nm wide and 10 nm separated nanostripes have a Δ T s o l of 14.2% and a T l u m of 47.6% for a film thickness of 250 nm. In comparison to a dense film without nanostructuring, the film transparency (related to T l u m ) is significantly enhanced, while Δ T s o l remains unchanged. Furthermore, this also translates into a favorable, less opaque color, so the geometry could be useful for various thermochromic applications, such as smart windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]