Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) has been used as a representative transparent conductive oxide (TCO) in various optoelectronic applications, including light emitting diodes, solar cells, photo-detectors, and electrochromic devices. The FTO plays an important role in providing electron transfer between active layers and external circuits while maintaining high transmittance in the devices. Herein, we report the effects of substrate rotation speed on the electrical and optical properties of FTO films during ultrasonic spray pyrolysis deposition (USPD). The substrate rotation speeds were adjusted to 2, 6, 10, and 14 rpm. As the substrate rotation speed increased from 2 to 14 rpm, the FTO films exhibited different film morphologies, including crystallite size, surface roughness, crystal texture, and film thickness. This FTO film engineering can be attributed to the variable nucleation and growth behaviors of FTO crystallites according to substrate rotation speeds during USPD. Among the FTO films with different substrate rotation speeds, the FTO film fabricated at 6 rpm showed the best optimized TCO characteristics when considering both electrical (sheet resistance of 13.73 Ω/□) and optical (average transmittance of 86.76 % at 400~700 nm) properties with a figure of merit (0.018 Ω-1).

Lithium lanthanum titanium oxide (LLTO) is a promising ceramic electrolyte because of its high ionic conductivity at room temperature, low electrical conductivity, and outstanding physical properties. Several routes for the synthesis of bulk LLTO are known, in particular, solid-state synthesis and sol-gel method. However, the extremely low ionic conductivity of LLTO at grain boundaries is one of the major problems for practical applications. To diminish the grain boundary effect, the structure of LLTO is tuned to nanoscale morphology with structures of different dimensionalities (0D spheres, and 1D tubes and wires); this strategy has great potential to enhance the ion conduction by intensifying Li diffusion and minimizing the grain boundary resistance. Therefore, in this work, 0D spherical LLTO is synthesized using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP). The USP method primarily yields spherical particles from the droplets generated by ultrasonic waves passed through several heating zones. LLTO is synthesized using USP, and the effects of each precursor and their mechanisms as well as synthesis parameters are analyzed and discussed to optimize the synthesis. The phase structure of the obtained materials is analyzed using X-ray diffraction, and their morphology and particle size are analyzed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy.

This study demonstrates the effect of the compaction pressure on the microstructure and properties of pressureless-sintered W bodies. W powders are synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and hydrogen reduction using ammonium metatungstate hydrate as a precursor. Microstructural investigation reveals that a spherical powder in the form of agglomerated nanosized W particles is successfully synthesized. The W powder synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis exhibits a relative density of approximately 94% regardless of the compaction pressure, whereas the commercial powder exhibits a relative density of 64% under the same sintering conditions. This change in the relative density of the sintered compact can be explained by the difference in the sizes of the raw powder and the densities of the compacted green body. The grain size increases as the compaction pressure increases, and the sintered compact uniaxially pressed to 50 MPa and then isostatically pressed to 300 MPa exhibits a size of 0.71 m. The Vickers hardness of the sintered W exhibits a high value of 4.7 GPa, mainly due to grain refinement.

In this study, (GaN)1-x(ZnO)x solid solution nanoparticles with a high zinc content are prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and subsequent nitridation. The structure and morphology of the samples are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The characterization results show a phase transition from the Zn and Ga-based oxides (ZnO or ZnGa2O4) to a (GaN)1-x (ZnO)x solid solution under an NH3 atmosphere. The effect of the precursor solution concentration and nitridation temperature on the final products are systematically investigated to obtain (GaN)1-x(ZnO)x nanoparticles with a high Zn concentration. It is confirmed that the powder synthesized from the solution in which the ratio of Zn and Ga was set to 0.8:0.2, as the initial precursor composition was composed of about 0.8-mole fraction of Zn, similar to the initially set one, through nitriding treatment at 700oC. Besides, the synthesized nanoparticles exhibited the typical XRD pattern of (GaN)1-x(ZnO)x, and a strong absorption of visible light with a bandgap energy of approximately 2.78 eV, confirming their potential use as a hydrogen production photocatalyst.

Facile process for the fabrication of multi-layer graphene thin film (MLGF) is reported here. Multi-layer graphene dispersion prepared by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite was sprayed on a glass substrate by spray pyrolysis method. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the deposited MLGF are investigated. The sheets of graphene are deposited uniformly on the substrate and distribution of small graphene sheets with size of 300–500 nm can be observed in SEM image. AFM and micro-Raman results ensured that the spray-coated graphene thin film is composed of multi-layer graphene sheets. Spray coated graphene thin film showed significant optical transparency of 57% in the visible region (400–550 nm). MLGF possessed the electrical conductivity in the order of 744 S/m with surface resistivity of 3.54 k Ω/sq. The prepared liquid-phase exfoliated graphene thin film showed superior photoelectric response. The results of this study provided a framework for fabricating an optimized MLGF using a spray pyrolysis route for optoelectronics devices.

The co-doping effect of aliovalent metal ions such as Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, and Zn2+ on the photoluminescence of the Y2O3:Eu3+ red phosphor, prepared by spray pyrolysis, is analyzed. Mg2+ metal doping is found to be helpful for enhancing the luminescence of Y2O3:Eu3+. When comparing the luminescence intensity at the optimum doping level of each Mg2+ ion, the emission enhancement shows the order of Zn2+ Ba2+ > Ca2+ > Sr3+> Mg2+. The highest emission occurs when doping approximately 1.3% Zn2+, which is approximately 127% of the luminescence intensity of pure Y2O3:Eu3+. The highest emission was about 127% of the luminescence intensity of pure Y2O3:Eu3+ when doping about 1.3% Zn2+. It is determined that the reason (Y, M)2O3:Eu3+ has improved luminescence compared to that of Y2O3:Eu3+ is because the crystallinity of the matrix is improved and the non-luminous defects are reduced, even though local lattice strain is formed by the doping of aliovalent metal. Further improvement of the luminescence is achieved while reducing the particle size by using Li2CO3 as a flux with organic additives.

In this study, ultrasonic spray pyrolysis combined with salt-assisted decomposition, a process that adds sodium nitrate (NaNO3) into a titanium precursor solution, is used to synthesize nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles. The added NaNO3 prevents the agglomeration of the primary nanoparticles in the pyrolysis process. The nanoparticles are obtained after a washing process, removing NaNO3 and NaF from the secondary particles, which consist of the salts and TiO2 nanoparticles. The effects of pyrolysis temperature on the size, crystallographic characteristics, and bandgap energy of the synthesized nanoparticles are systematically investigated. The synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles have a size of approximately 2–10 nm a bandgap energy of 3.1–3.25 eV, depending on the synthetic temperature. These differences in properties affect the photocatalytic activities of the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles.

Current synthesis processes for titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles require expensive precursors or templates as well as complex steps and long reaction times. In addition, these processes produce highly agglomerated nanoparticles. In this study, we demonstrate a simple and continuous approach to synthesize TiO2 nanoparticles by a salt-assisted ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. We also investigate the effect of salt content in a precursor solution on the morphology and size of synthesized products. The synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles are systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron micrograph, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. These nanoparticles appear to have a single anatase phase and a uniform particle-size distribution with an average particle size of approximately 10 nm. By extrapolating the plots of the transformed Kubelka-Munk function versus the absorbed light energy, we determine that the energy band gap of the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles is 3.25 eV

세리아 입자의 합성을 위하여 분무열분해 시 유기 첨가제인 EG(ethylene glycol)과 CA(citric acid)를 첨가하여 중공성 및 다공성을 갖는 CeO2 마이크로 크기의 입자를 제조하였으며 첨가량에 따른 특성을 비교하였다. 분무열분해과정, 후소성 및 볼밀링 과정을 적절히 조합하여 만든 6가지 경로에 의해 나노 크기의 세리아 입자를 합성하였다. 6가지 경로 중 EG 및 CA가 0.05M 첨가된 Ce(III)가 전구체 수용액을 이용하여 분무열분해→후소성→볼밀링→후소성의 경로에 의해 얻어진 CeO2 입자에 대해 TEM 분석으로 측정한 입자의 평균 크기 24 nm(편차=3.8 nm)는 Debye-Scherrer식에 의해 계산된 1차 입자의 크기(20 nm)와 가장 유사한 크기를 나타내었다. 제조된 나노입자분말의 형태적 및 구조적 특성을 알아보기 위하여 SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy), XRD(X-Ray Diffractometer) 및 TEM(Transmission Electron Microscopy)을 통하여 특성을 분석하였다.

Despite numerous advances in the preparation and use of GaN, and many leading-edge applications in lighting technologies, the preparation of high-quality GaN powder remains a challenge. Ammonolytic preparations of polycrystalline GaN have been studied using various precursors, but all were time-consuming and required high temperatures. In this study, an efficient and low-temperature method to synthesize high-purity hexagonal GaN powder is developed using sub-micron Ga2O3 powder as a starting material. The sub-micron Ga2O3 powder was prepared by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis process. The GaN powder is synthesized from the sub-micron Ga2O3 powder through a nitridation treatment in an NH3 flow at 800℃. The characteristics of the synthesized powder are systematically examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectrophotometer.

Copper oxide thin films are deposited using an ultrasonic-assisted spray pyrolysis deposition (SPD) system. To investigate the effect of substrate temperature and incorporation of a chelating agent on the growth of copper oxide thin films, the structural and optical properites of the copper oxide thin films are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emssion scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. At a temperature of less than 350 ℃, threedimensional structures consisting of cube-shaped Cu2O are formed, while spherical small particles of the CuO phase are formed at a temperature higher than 400 ℃ due to a Volmer-Weber growth mode on the silicon substrate. As a chelating agent was added to the source solutions, two-dimensional Cu2O thin films are preferentially deposited at a temperature less than 300 ℃, and the CuO thin film is formed even at a temperature less than 350 ℃. Therefore the structure and crystalline phase of the copper oxide is shown to be controllable.

Li-incorporated ZnO thin films were deposited by using ultrasonic-assisted spray pyrolysis deposition (SPD) system. To investigate the effect of Li-incorporation on the performance of ZnO thin films, the structural, electrical, and optical properites of the ZnO thin films were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emssion scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Hall effect measurement, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry with variation of the Li concentraion in the ZnO sources. Without incorporation of Li element, the ZnO surface showed large spiral domains. As the Li content increases, the size of spiral domains decreased gradually, and finally formed mixed small grain and one-dimensional nanorod-like structures on the surface. This morphological evolution was explained based on an anti-surfactant effect of Li atoms on the ZnO growth surface. In addition, the Li-incorporation changed the optical and electrical properties of the ZnO thin films by modifying the crystalline defect structures by doping effects.

We investigated a Leidenfrost effect in the growth of ZnO nanostructures on silicon substrates by ultrasonic-assisted spray pyrolysis deposition(SPD). Structural and optical properties of the ZnO nanostructures grown by varying the growth parameters, such as substrate temperature, source concentration, and suction rate of the mist in the chambers, were investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence spectrum analysis. Structural investigations of the ZnO nanostructures showed abnormal evolution of the morphologies with variation of the substrate temperatures. The shape of the ZnO nanostructures transformed from nanoplate, nanorod, nanopencil, and nanoprism shapes with increasing of the substrate temperature from 250 to 450 °C; these shapes were significantly different from those seen for the conventional growth mechanisms in SPD. The observed growth behavior showed that a Leidenfrost effect dominantly affected the growth mechanism of the ZnO nanostructures.

We investigated the effect of ZnO buffer layer on the formation of ZnO thin film by ultrasonic assisted spray pyrolysis deposition. ZnO buffer layer was formed by wet solution method, which was repeated several times. Structural and optical properties of the ZnO thin films deposited on the ZnO buffer layers with various cycles and at various temperatures were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence spectrum analysis. The structural investigations showed that three-dimensional island shaped ZnO was formed on the bare Si substrate without buffer layers, while two-dimensional ZnO thin film was deposited on the ZnO buffer layers. In addition, structural and optical investigations showed that the crystalline quality of ZnO thin film was improved by introducing the buffer layers. This improvement was attributed to the modulation of the surface energy of the Si surface by the ZnO buffer layer, which finally resulted in a modification of the growth mode from three to two-dimensional.

The structural formation of inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in polymer matrices is a key technology for producing advanced nanocomposites with a unique combination of optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. Barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles are attractive for increasing the refractive index and dielectric constant of polymer nanocomposites. Current synthesis processes for BaTiO3 nanoparticles require expensive precursors or organic solvents, complicated steps, and long reaction times. In this study, we demonstrate a simple and continuous approach for synthesizing BaTiO3 nanoparticles based on a salt-assisted ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. This process allows the synthesis of BaTiO3 nanoparticles with diameters of 20-50 nm and a highly crystalline tetragonal structure. The optical properties and photocatalytic activities of the nanoparticles show that they are suitable for use as fillers in various nanocomposites.

Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated NiCrAl alloy foam is fabricated using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis deposition (USPD). To confirm the influence of the FTO layer on the NiCrAl alloy foam, we investigated the structural, chemical, and morphological properties and chemical resistance by using USPD to adjust the FTO coating time (12, 18, and 24 min). As a result, when an FTO layer was coated for 24 min on NiCrAl alloy foam, it was found to have an enhanced chemical resistance compared to those of the other samples. This improvement in the chemical resistance of using USPD NiAlCr alloy foam can be the result of the existence of an FTO layer, which can act as a protection layer between the NiAlCr alloy foam and the electrolyte and also the result of the increased thickness of the FTO layer, which enhances the diffusion length of the metal ion.

Photoelectron-hole separation efficiency plays an important role in the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts towards the degradation of organic molecules. In this study, TiO2/TiOF2 heterostructured composite powders with suitable band structures, which structures are able to separate photoelectron-hole pairs, have been synthesized using a simple and versatile ultrasonic spray pyrolysis process. In addition, their phase volume fractions have been controlled by varying the pyrolysis temperature from 400 oC to 800 oC. The structural and optical properties of the synthesized powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The powder with a phase volume ratio close to 1, compared with single TiOF2 and other composite powders with different phase volume fractions, was found to have superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B. This result shows that the TiO2/TiOF2 heterostructure promotes the separation of the photoinduced electrons and holes and that this powder can be applicable to environmental cleaning applications.

The micron-sized indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO) particles were prepared by spray pyrolysis from aqueous precursor solution for indium, zinc, and tin and organic additives such as citric acid (CA) and ethylene glycol (EG) were added to aqueous precursor solution for indium, zinc, and tin. The obtained IZTO particles prepared by spray pyrolysis from the aqueous solution without organic additives had spherical and filled morphologies, whereas the IZTO particles obtained with organic additives had more hollow and porous morphologies. The micron-sized IZTO particles with organic additives were changed fully to nano-sized IZTO particles, whereas the micron-sized IZTO particles without organic additives were not changed fully to nano-sized IZTO particle after post-treatment at 700 °C for 2 hours and wet-ball milling for 24 hours. Surface resistances of micron-sized IZTO’s before post-heat treatment and wet-ball milling were much higher than those of nano-sized IZTO’s after post-heat treatment and wet-ball milling. From IZTO with composition of 80 wt. % In2O3, 10 wt. % ZnO, and 10 wt. % SnO2 which showed a smallest surface resistance IZTO after post-heat treatment and wet-ball milling, thin films were deposited on glass substrates by pulsed DC magnetron sputtering, and the electrical and optical properties were investigated.

In order to identify changes in the nature of the particles due to changes in the inflow rate of the raw material solution, the present study was intended to prepare nano-sized cobalt oxide (Co3O4) powder with an average particle size of 50 nm or less by spray pyrolysis reaction using raw cobalt chloride solution. As the inflow rate of the raw material solution increased, droplets formed by the pyrolysis reaction showed more divided form and the particle size distribution was more uneven. As the inflow rate of the solution increased from 2 to 10 ml/min, the average particle size of the formed particles increased from about 25 nm to 40 nm, while the average particle size did not show significant changes when the inflow rate increased from 10 to 50 ml/min. XRD analysis showed that the intensity of the XRD peaks increased remarkably when the inflow rate of the solution increased from 2 to 10 ml/min. On the other hand, the peak intensity stayed almost constant when the inflow rate increased from 10 to 50 ml/min. With the increase in the inflow rate from 2 to 10 ml/min, the specific surface area of the particles decreased by approximately 20 %. On the contrary, the specific surface area stayed constant when the inflow rate increased from 10 to 50 ml/min.

TiOF2, which has remarkable electrochemical and optical properties, is used in various applications such as Li-ion batteries, electrochemical displays, and photocatalysts. In addition, it is possible to utilize the template which is allowed to synthesize fluorine doped TiO2 powders with hollow or faceted structures. However, common synthesis methods of TiOF2 powders have some disadvantages such as the use of expensive and harmful precursors and batchtype processes with a limited production scale. In this study, we report a synthetic route for preparing TiOF2 powders by using an inexpensive and harmless precursor and a continuous ultrasonic spray pyrolysis process under a controlled atmosphere to address the aforementioned problems. The synthesized powder has an average size of 1 μm, a spherical shape, a pure TiOF2 phase, and exhibits a band-gap energy of 3.2 eV.