Recent industrialization has led to a high demand for the use of fossil fuels. Therefore, the need for producing hydrogen and its utilization is essential for a sustainable society. For an eco-friendly future technology, photoelectrochemical water splitting using solar energy has proven promising amongst many other candidates. With this technique, semiconductors can be used as photocatalysts to generate electrons by light absorption, resulting in the reduction of hydrogen ions. The photocatalysts must be chemically stable, economically inexpensive and be able to utilize a wide range of light. From this perspective, cuprous oxide(Cu2O) is a promising p-type semiconductor because of its appropriate band gap. However, a major hindrance to the use of Cu2O is its instability at the potential in which hydrogen ion is reduced. In this study, gold is used as a bottom electrode during electrodeposition to obtain a preferential growth along the (111) plane of Cu2O while imperfections of the Cu2O thin films are removed. This study investigates the photoelectrochemical properties of Cu2O. However, severe photo-induced corrosion impedes the use of Cu2O as a photoelectrode. Two candidates, TiO2 and SnO2, are selected for the passivation layer on Cu2O by by considering the Pourbaix-diagram. TiO2 and SnO2 passivation layers are deposited by atomic layer deposition(ALD) and a sputtering process, respectively. The investigation of the photoelectrochemical properties confirmed that SnO2 is a good passivation layer for Cu2O.

Nickel oxide(NiO) thin films, nanorods, and carbon nanotube(CNT)/NiO core-shell nanorod structures are fabricated by sputtering Nickel at different deposition time on alumina substrates or single wall carbon nanotube templates followed by oxidation treatments at different temperatures, 400 and 700 oC. Structural analyses are carried out by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. NiO thinfilm, nanorod and CNT/NiO core-shell nanorod structurals of the gas sensor structures are tested for detection of H2S gas. The NiO structures exhibit the highest response at 200 oC and high selectivity to H2S among other gases of NO, NH3, H2, CO, etc. The nanorod structures have a higher sensing performance than the thin films and carbon nanotube/NiO core-shell structures. The gold catalyst deposited on NiO nanorods further improve the sensing performance, particularly the recovery kinetics.

Lithium-ion batteries have been considered the most important devices to power mobile or small-sized devices due to their high energy density. LixCoO2 has been studied as a cathode material for the Li-ion battery. However, the limitation of its capacity impedes the development of high capacity cathode materials with Ni, Mn, etc. in them. The substitution of Mn and Ni for Co leads to the formation of solid solution phase LiNixMnyCo1-x-yO2 (NMC, both x and y < 1), which shows better battery performance than unsubstituted LiCoO2. However, despite a high discharge capacity in the Ni-rich compound (Ni > 0.8 in the metal site), poor cycle retention capability still remains to be overcome. In this study, aiming to improve the stability of the physical and chemical bonding, we investigate the stabilization effect of Ca in the Ni-rich layered compound Li(Ni0.83Co0.12Mn0.05)O2, and then Ca is added to the modified secondary particles to lower the degree of cationic mixing of the final particles. For the optimization of the final grains added with Ca, the Ca content (x = 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 at.%) versus Li is analyzed.

Hydrothermal synthesis of highly crystalline TiO2 nanorods is a well-developed technique and the nanorods have been widely used as the template for growth of various core-shell nanorod structures. Magneli/CdS core-shell nanorod structures are fabricated for the photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) electrode to achieve enhanced carrier transport along the metallic magneli phase nanorod template. However, the long and thin TiO2 nanorods may form a high resistance path to the electrons transferred from the CdS layer. TiO2 nanorods synthesized are reduced to magneli phases, TixO2x-1, by heat treatment in a hydrogen environment. Two types of magneli phase nanorods of Ti4O7 and Ti3O5 are synthesized. Structural morphology and X-ray diffraction analyses are carried out. CdS nano-films are deposited on the magneli nanorods for the main light absorption layer to form a photoanode, and the PEC performance is measured under simulated sunlight irradiation and compared with the conventional TiO2/CdS core-shell nanorod electrode. A higher photocurrent is observed from the stand-alone Ti3O5/CdS coreshell nanorod structure in which the nanorods are grown on both sides of the seed layer.

We report on the fabrication and photoelectrochemical(PEC) properties of a Cu2O thin film/ZnO nanorod array oxide p-n heterojunction structure with ZnO nanorods embedded in Cu2O thin film as an efficient photoelectrode for solardriven water splitting. A vertically oriented n-type ZnO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method and then a p-type Cu2O thin film was directly electrodeposited onto the vertically oriented ZnO nanorods array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated Cu2O/ZnO p-n heterojunction photoelectrode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the Cu2O/ZnO photoelectrode was found to exhibit a negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g., 0.77 mA/cm2 at 0.5 V vs Hg/HgCl2 in a 1 mM Na2SO4 electrolyte, revealing an effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. In particular, a significant PEC performance was observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs Hg/ HgCl2, which made the device self-powered. The observed PEC performance was attributed to some synergistic effect of the p-n bilayer heterostructure on the formation of a built-in potential, including the light absorption and separation processes of photoinduced charge carriers.

We report on the efficient detection of NO gas by an all-oxide semiconductor p-n heterojunction diode structure comprised of n-type zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods embedded in p-type copper oxide (CuO) thin film. The CuO thin film/ZnO nanorod heterostructure was fabricated by directly sputtering CuO thin film onto a vertically aligned ZnO nanorod array synthesized via a hydrothemal method. The transport behavior and NO gas sensing properties of the fabricated CuO thin film/ ZnO nanorod heterostructure were charcterized and revealed that the oxide semiconductor heterojunction exhibited a definite rectifying diode-like behavior at various temperatures ranging from room temperature to 250 oC. The NO gas sensing experiment indicated that the CuO thin film/ZnO nanorod heterostructure had a good sensing performance for the efficient detection of NO gas in the range of 2-14 ppm under the conditions of an applied bias of 2 V and a comparatively low operating temperature of 150 oC. The NO gas sensing process in the CuO/ZnO p-n heterostructure is discussed in terms of the electronic band structure.

In this study, (3,4-epoxycyclohexane)methyl 3,4-epoxycyclohexylcarboxylate acrylate was synthesized by reacting (3,4-epoxycyclohexane)methyl 3,4-epoxycyclohexylcarboxylate with acrylic acid to minimize hardening shrinkage and to improve heat resistance, which are known as disadvantages of photopolymers for 3D printing application. Urethane acrylate was synthesized by reacting 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamino alcohol, 2-hexylethyl acrylate, and isophorone diisocyanate in order to improve the mechanical properties without deteriorating the heat resistance. The physical properties before and after the synthesis of the acrylate and the mechanical properties when the urethane acrylate was applied were investigated. The reaction progress of the composite was examined by FTIR and 13C NMR. The heat deflection temperature, flexural strength, and surface hardness of the molding were measured. The curing behavior by Photo-DSC ultraviolet irradiation was also examined.

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a novel Cu2O/CuO heterojunction structure with CuO nanorods embedded in Cu2O thin film as an efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting. A CuO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method; then, a Cu2O thin film was electrodeposited onto the CuO nanorod array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated Cu2O/CuO heterojunction photocathode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the Cu2O/CuO photocathode was found to exhibit negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g. −1.05 mA/cm2 at −0.6 V vs. Hg/HgCl2 in 1 mM Na2SO4 electrolyte, revealing the effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. The photocurrent conversion efficiency of the Cu2O/CuO photocathode was estimated to be 1.27% at −0.6 V vs. Hg/HgCl2. Moreover, the PEC current density versus time (J-T) profile measured at −0.5 V vs. Hg/HgCl2 on the Cu2O/CuO photocathode indicated a 3-fold increase in the photocurrent density compared to that of a simple Cu2O thin film photocathode. The improved PEC performance was attributed to a certain synergistic effect of the bilayer heterostructure on the light absorption and electron-hole recombination processes.

Fabrication of iron oxide/carbon nanotube composite structures for detection of ammonia gas at room temperature is reported. The iron oxide/carbon nanotube composite structures are fabricated by in situ co-arc-discharge method using a graphite source with varying numbers of iron wires inserted. The composite structures reveal higher response signals at room temperature than at high temperatures. As the number of iron wires inserted increased, the volume of carbon nanotubes and iron nanoparticles produced increased. The oxidation condition of the composite structures varied the carbon nanotube/iron oxide ratio in the structure and, consequently, the resistance of the structures and, finally, the ammonia gas sensing performance. The highest sensor performance was realized with 500 oC/2 h oxidation heat-treatment condition, in which most of the carbon nanotubes were removed from the composite and iron oxide played the main role of ammonia sensing. The response signal level was 62% at room temperature. We also found that UV irradiation enhances the sensing response with reduced recovery time.

We present an excellent detection for nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas using polycrystalline ZnO wire-like films synthesized via a simple method combined with sputtering of Zn metallic films and subsequent thermal oxidation of the sputtered Zn nanowire films in dry air. Structural and morphological characterization revealed that it would be possible to synthesize polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite ZnO films of a wire-like nanostructure with widths of 100-150 nm and lengths of several microns by controlling the sputtering conditions. It was found from the gas sensing measurements that the ZnO wirelike thin film gas sensor showed a significantly high response, with a maximum value of 29.2 for 2 ppm NO at 200 oC, as well as a reversible fast response to NO with a very low detection limit of 50 ppb. In addition, the ZnO wire-like thin film gas sensor also displayed an NO-selective sensing response for NO, O2, H2, NH3, and CO gases. Our results illustrate that polycrystalline ZnO wire-like thin films are potential sensing materials for the fabrication of NO-sensitive high-performance gas sensors.

H2S is a flammable toxic gas that can be produced in plants, mines, and industries and is especially fatal to humanbody. In this study, CuO nanowire structure with high porosity was fabricated by deposition of copper on highly porous single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) template followed by oxidation. The SWCNT template was formed on alumina substrates bythe arc-discharge method. The oxidation temperatures for Cu nanowires were varied from 400 to 800oC. The morphology andsensing properties of the CuO nanowire sensor were characterized by FESEM, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, XRD, and current-voltage examination. The H2S gas sensing properties were carried out at different operating temperatures using dry air as thecarrier gas. The CuO nanowire structure oxidized at 800oC showed the highest response at the lowest operating temperatureof150oC. The optimum operating temperature was shifted to higher temperature to 300oC as the oxidation temperature waslowered. The results were discussed based on the mechanisms of the reaction with ionosorbed oxygen and the CuS formationreaction on the surface.

We present the detection characteristics of nitrogen monoxide(NO) gas using p-type copper oxide(CuO) thin film gas sensors. The CuO thin films were fabricated on glass substrates by a sol-gel spin coating method using copper acetate hydrate and diethanolamine as precursors. Structural characterizations revealed that we prepared the pure CuO thin films having a monoclinic crystalline structure without any obvious formation of secondary phase. It was found from the NO gas sensin measurements that the p-type CuO thin film gas sensors exhibited a maximum sensitivity to NO gas in dry air at an operating temperature as low as 100 oC. Additionally, these CuO thin film gas sensors were found to show reversible and reliable electrical response to NO gas in a range of operating temperatures from 60 oC to 200 oC. It is supposed from these results that the ptype oxide semiconductor CuO thin film could have significant potential for use in future gas sensors and other oxide electronics applications using oxide p-n heterojunction structures.