The practical application of aqueous zinc (Zn) ion batteries (ZIBs) is limited due to challenges such as severe dendrite formation and undesired side reactions during cycling. In this study, we present zinc oxide nanowire (ZnO NW) decorated Zn anodes that enhance the electrochemical stability and performance of the aqueous ZIBs. ZnO NWs were directly grown on Zn foil in a controlled manner using the hydrothermal method. Various structural and electrochemical characterization techniques demonstrated that the vertically aligned ZnO NWs on Zn (ZnO/Zn) anodes provide remarkable electrochemical stability and significantly boost the battery performance during cycling. The ZnO NW decorated Zn anodes in symmetrical cells demonstrate remarkable stability for 1200 hat 2.0 mA cm-2 (2.0 mAh cm-2) and 800 hat 5.0 mA cm-2 (5.0 mAh cm-2). The Tafel and LSV curves show that the surface-modified anodes successfully impede side reactions such as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anode corrosion. Moreover, the fabricated ZnO/Zn//V2O5 full cell delivers a high specific capacity of 325.1 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, which is significantly higher than that of the bare Zn//V2O5 cell (283.2 mAh g-1) and also has a capacity retention of 78 % at 1.0 A g-1 after 1000 cycles. This work provides a practical fabrication method and paves a new route for aqueous Zn-ion batteries.

A sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) detection was developed by modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with a composite film of conjugated polymer nanoparticles, namely poly(benzenediamine-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzodithiophene) (p(BDBT) NPs), and Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets. The composite film was fabricated via drop-casting and characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The fabricated sensor showed a linear response to 5-HT over the concentration range of 0.10–15.0 μM, with a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.096 μM. The sensor demonstrated good selectivity for 5-HT in the presence of common interfering species and satisfactory recovery in spiked serum samples. Overall, the p(BDBT) NPs/MXene composite provides an effective platform for rapid and selective electrochemical determination of 5-HT.

The dilemma of optically transparent antennas, regardless of what material they are made from, has been the tradeoff between transparency and antenna efficiency. This study examines the fundamental parameters that govern the two contradicting properties and presents optimized antenna designs for the two most basic antenna geometries: monopole and patch. For validation, monopoles and patches were fabricated using silver nanowires (AgNWs) that have a lower cost and an ease of preparation compared to transparent conductive oxides. The main reason for the gain reduction is ohmic loss on the transparent conductor. Therefore, the gain improvement for the monopole antenna is to widen the geometry, and for the patch antenna, it is to raise the frequency, together with choosing an appropriate substrate. The gain is shown to be further enhanced by applying conductive strips at locations where the radiating current is concentrated and by stacking transparent conductors. The two methods can be combined for further improvement. The prototyped AgNWs monopole antenna demonstrates a wide band operation from 3.5 to 5.9 GHz, with an efficiency of 50.4% and an improvement to 76.3% with the addition of the conductive strips while keeping the optical transparency higher than 80%. The fully transparent patch antenna with both the patch and ground plane made of AgNWs is recorded to have a gain and efficiency of 3.58 dBi and 44% at 8.9 GHz. These designs outperform the existing studies in the transparency-gain tradeoffs at relatively low frequency (<10 GHz), as most prior designs rely on raising the frequency to improve gain.

Optical limiting materials are essential for the innovation of optoelectronic devices and human eyes in defense industry. The two most important parameters for an ideal optical limiter are the optical limiting spectral range and a low optical limiting threshold value. Herein, silver nanowires (Ag NWs) were examined in both colloidal dispersion and as thin films embedded within a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix to evaluate their optical limiting performance across an ultrabroad wavelength range. PMMA polymer, which does not exhibit nonlinear absorption, was used to reveal the nonlinear optical property of Ag NWs. For this purpose, the nonlinear optical response of colloidal and thin film Ag NWs was investigated using the open aperture Z-scan technique, under varying excitation wavelengths and input intensities using a femtosecond pulsed laser system. To gain deeper insight into the underlying mechanism of nonlinear optical behavior, ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy measurements were conducted. Open aperture Z-scan experiments revealed that both colloidal and thin-film AgNWs exhibit similar nonlinear optical behavior under excitation wavelengths ranging from 400 to 800 nm with increments of 100 nm. Moreover, to analyze nonlinear absorption properties in near infrared region, experiments were also carried out using pulsed laser excitation at 1200 and 1600 nm. Among the excitation wavelengths studied, 1600 nm located in the longitudinal mode of surface plasmon resonance of Ag NWs produced the highest beta eff value. This enhancement was attributed to multiphoton absorption and plasmon-enhanced excited-state absorption (ESA) processes. Under 1200 and 1600 nm excitation, the colloidal Ag NW dispersion exhibited reverse saturable absorption (RSA) signals superimposed on saturable absorption (SA) behavior, in contrast to the thin-film form, where only RSA was observed. Across the ultrabroadband excitation range of 4001600 nm, the optical limiting performance exhibited threshold values ranging from 0.02 to 0.33 J/cm2, indicating wavelength-dependent nonlinear absorption behavior. This work is among the first to systematically investigate Ag NW based optical limiters over an ultrabroad excitation range extending from the visible to the near-infrared (400-1600 nm). Overall, Ag NWs in both colloidal and thin-film forms exhibited ultrabroadband optical limiting responses, highlighting their potential for photonic and optoelectronic applications.

In this study, we investigated the nonlinear optical response of TiS2 nanosheet-based thin films prepared by the ultrasonic spray deposition method, with particular emphasis on their saturable absorption (SA) behavior, which plays a key role in ultrafast photonic applications. Z-scan measurements under interband excitation revealed that the interplay between SA and excited-state absorption (ESA) strongly depends on the film thickness. To more accurately describe the observed behavior, a comprehensive model incorporating one photon absorption (OPA), two photon absorption (TPA), and ESA mechanisms was employed alongside the traditional SA model. The findings show that TiS2 films can be tailored to operate efficiently across a broad range of optical intensity regimes, from low to high, through precise control of film thickness. This versatility makes them promising candidates for Q-switching and mode-locking in ultrafast photonic devices.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant burden on healthcare systems due to its high treatment costs and elevated mortality rates, particularly in advanced stages. Early diagnosis and continuous monitoring are critical for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare expenditures. Herein, we report the development of a portable, rapid, and user-friendly electrochemical immunosensor for point-of-care (POC) applications, enabling early-stage detection and monitoring of CKD. The sensor was constructed using mesoporous hollow carbon nanospheres (MHCNSs) with an average diameter of 442 +/- 28 nm and a nanoscale shell thickness of approximately 25 nm, featuring nanoscale pores within the mesoporous shell, together with a spiro-based conjugated polymer (P-SFXAlFlu). Subsequently, biofunctional and selective recognition surfaces were fabricated by bioconjugation of specific antibodies of CKD biomarkers, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), onto the polymer matrix. Then, the developed immunosensor was integrated with an NFC-based potentiostat, enabling wireless and portable detection of KIM-1 and NGAL for POC use. The biosensor platform was characterized using analytical techniques to assess its structure and electrochemical performance. The P-SFXAlFlu/MHCNSs/Anti-KIM-1 and P-SFXAlFlu/MHCNSs/Anti-NGAL immunosensors exhibited high sensitivity, stability, and selectivity. The sensors displayed a broad detection range of 10-150 ng/mL for KIM-1 and 20-200 ng/mL for NGAL, with low limits of detection (LOD) of 3.09 and 13.02 ng/mL, respectively. Furthermore, excellent specificity toward target biomarkers was demonstrated. These findings highlight the potential of carbon-based electrochemical immunosensors as reliable, sensitive, and portable platforms for accurate and rapid CKD detection in clinical settings.

A straightforward label-free assay for detecting cardiac biomarker troponin T (cTnT) was developed using a smartphone-controlled electrochemical sensor fully controlled via Near Field Communication (NFC). The integrated system consisted of a smartphone, an electrode sensor modified with a cTnT aptamer, and a card-sized electrochemical NFC tag sensor. Screen-printed electrode (SPE) surfaces were modified by co-immobilizing liquid metal BiSn core-shell particles and gold nanoparticles. This modified surface was subsequently functionalized with cTnT aptamer using mercaptohexanol (MCH) as a linker. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to confirm the immobilization and alteration procedures. The performance of the developed biosensor was evaluated by detecting cTnT in human serum samples using an Android smartphone's data display and a small NFC reader, demonstrating its potential for clinical diagnostics. The electrochemical signal was quantified by chronoamperometric detection using the NFC-based electrochemical aptasensor, by measuring the current response of the (Fe (CN)6)3-/4- redox pair before and after target addition. The sensor exhibited a limit of detection of 1.27 ng/mL for cTnT, with a linear calibration range from 0.075 to 10 ng/mL. Using a low-cost, smartphone-controlled sensor system, this electrochemical aptasensor offers a portable, straightforward, sensitive, and selective platform capable of evaluating a wide range of health biomarkers.

Capacitors offer high power density, superior cycle stability, and fast charging, making them highly promising for energy storage. However, their energy density needs to be improved. Due to zinc’ s abundance, low cost, high capacity, and stability, aqueous zinc‐ion capacitors (ZnCs) have garnered significant attention. ZnCs face challenges such as rapid capacity decrease and reduced lifespan due to strong electrostatic interactions, electrode material dissolution, and sluggish ionic diffusion. Bulk titanium disulfide (TiS 2 ) has been investigated as an electrode material to overcome these disadvantages, but the effects of its two‐dimensional (2D) structure have yet to be discovered. With this work, bulk TiS 2 is exfoliated into semi‐metallic 2D‐TiS 2 nanosheets using organolithium chemistry, optimizing it as a cathode material for ZnCs to enhance energy density. The 2D‐TiS 2 exhibited a specific capacitance of 214.3 F g −1 at 0.1 mV s −1 scan rate and a specific capacity of 116.4 mAh g −1 at a current density of 0.1 A g −1 , while significantly outperforming bulk TiS 2 . This work highlights the potential of 2D‐TiS 2 to enhance the energy density of ZnCs through improved electrical conductivity and improved accessibility of ions through nanosheets, offering a new class of cathodes for enhanced energy storage.

Optical limiters are crucial for protecting optoelectronic devices and human eyes from harmful intense laser radiation. Herein, the nonlinear absorption (NA) and optical limiting (OL) properties of electrospun polyvinylprolidone (PVP) nanofibers filled with transition metal vanadate (TMV: Cu3V2O8, Mn2V2O7, FeVO4) nanoparticles were investigated. Microstructural analyses revealed a homogeneous cylindrical structure for the fabricated composite nanofibers. Filling PVP nanofibers with different TMVs altered their energy band gap. In addition, TMV filling decreased the diameter of the nanofibers and increased the number of defect states in their structure. Nonlinear absorption coefficient values of the nanofibers with Mn2V2O7 was found to be larger than that of other composite nanofibers. Analysis of the charge transfer states within the band gap showed that the NA behavior of the Cu3V2O8 and FeVO4 nanoparticle-filled PVP composite nanofibers was strongly affected by twophoton absorption (TPA) and excited state absorption (ESA). In contrast, the stronger contribution to nonlinear absorption came from one-photon absorption (OPA), TPA, and ESA in the case of Mn2V2O7 nanoparticle-filled PVP composite nanofibers. The smallest onset optical limiting threshold value among the TMV/PVP composite nanofibers was 1.46 x 10-4 J/cm2, observed in Mn2V2O7 nanoparticle-filled PVP composite nanofibers. Notably, the PVP/Mn2V2O7 composite nanofibers exhibited a lower onset limiting threshold and can be used as an effective optical limiter at 532 nm compared to most reported composite nanofibers.

Two-dimensional materials draw considerable interest for energy storage. Semimetallic phases of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), notably titanium disulfide (TiS2), are extensively studied for their distinctive electronic, chemical, and optical traits. TiS2, initially proposed for Li-ion batteries, holds promise for super- capacitors, although its utilization faces stability challenges in aqueous environments. Herein, electrically conducting and surface-passivated 2D 1T-TiS2 flakes were fabricated and tailored for application as electrodes in supercapacitors with enhanced durability. For this purpose, self-standing and flexible 1T-TiS2 films were fabricated using vacuum filtration and treated with dopamine (DA) to obtain electrochemically stable supercapacitor electrodes in aqueous environments. During DA treatment, in-situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) leads to the formation of a thin titanium dioxide (TiO2) overlayer on TiS2, enhancing oxidation stability. At a scan rate of 10 mV s- 1 , a single electrode demonstrated a gravimetric specific capacitance of 128 F g- 1 , a volumetric specific capacitance of 122 F cm- 3 , and an areal specific capacitance of 244 mF cm- 2 . The symmetric super- capacitor device demonstrated an impressive capacity retention of 96.1 % after 10000 cycles and 85.5 % after 18000 cycles. These results pave the way for utilizing 2D 1T-TiS2 in aqueous environments, expanding its possible applications and holding promise for significant advancements in the field.

This study explores the development of innovative, environmentally friendly water-based electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) designed specifically for interconnecting shingled passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) solar cells. Formulated with silver (Ag) microflakes and optimized polymeric additives, these adhesives aim to enhance electrical conductivity, adhesion strength, and reliability under real-world operating conditions of solar cells. By reducing reliance on conventional solvent-based adhesives, the water-based ECAs offer significant environmental benefits, including reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and improved handling safety, aligning with sustainable manufacturing practices. Through systematic experimental analysis and detailed characterization, the water-based adhesives demonstrated a yield stress of 4.8 MPa and a low volume resistivity of 22 mu Ohm-cm at a film thickness of 25 mu m. A 0.4 % increase in power conversion efficiency is obtained compared to commercial counterparts. This efficiency improvement is attributed to the uniform dispersion and stabilization of Ag microflakes within the adhesive matrix, enabled by water-based dispersion techniques. These findings highlight the feasibility and effectiveness of water-based ECAs as a viable interconnection method, providing a balance of high conductivity and eco-friendliness. This research advances sustainable, cost-effective adhesive solutions in photovoltaic technology and beyond, aiding the industry's shift toward cleaner and more efficient solar cell production.

Precise control over the morphology and crystal structure of semiconductor-based optical materials is essential for optimizing their nonlinear optical properties. Morphological factors significantly affect the material's interaction with light, influencing nonlinear absorption, harmonic generation, and optical confinement. In this study, the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties and optical limiting (OL) performance of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) films depending on precursor solution pH condition, powder morphology and weight percentage of the BiVO4 powders in PMMA (10-30 wt.%) were investigated. The BiVO4 powders were synthesized via the hydrothermal method and the effect of precursor solution pH (pH of 1, 7.5 and 12) was investigated on the size and morphology of the BiVO4 powders. BiVO4 films were prepared using the spin coating method utilizing the BiVO4 powders and PMMA. The bandgap values of films were found to change from 3.39 to 3.56 eV depending on the BiVO4 growth solution pH. The nonlinear absorption coefficients (beta(eff)), saturation intensity thresholds (I-SAT) and optical limiting (OL) threshold were obtained using the open aperture (OA) Z-scan experiment. It has been observed that the nonlinear absorption and optical limitation performance of the BiVO4 films can be altered by changing the powder morphology and BiVO4 weight concentration. BiVO4 thin films fabricated using a precursor solution pH 12 and weight concentration of 30 wt.% showed the best performance among all fabricated films with the highest nonlinear absorption coefficient (beta eff), saturation density threshold (I-SAT) and lowest OL threshold value.

Developed as electrode-active materials, nickel-cobalt bimetallic metal organic frameworks (MOFs) demonstrate impressive capacitive performance. In this study, highly porous Ni-Co MOFs were directly grown onto commercial cotton textiles (CTs) using a one-pot hydrothermal method. The MOF-decorated CTs underwent extensive electrochemical analysis, achieving a storage capacity of up to 132C g- 1, comparable to conventional wearable supercapacitors. These textile electrodes exhibited remarkable cyclic stability, retaining approximately 90.6 % of their initial capacity after 5000 continuous charge-discharge cycles. Additionally, N-rich pyrolyzed polypyrrole carbons (NPPC) were utilized as negative electrodes on commercially available carbon cloths (CCs). We successfully engineered wearable asymmetric supercapacitors (WASCs) with commendable capacitances of 76C g- 1, employing an alkaline polyvinyl alcohol gel electrolyte. The fabricated Ni-Co MOF@CT//NPPC@CC WASC devices demonstrated substantial energy storage capability (29.6 Wh kg- 1) while maintaining exceptional power density (428 W kg- 1) and long-term cycle stability, retaining 91 % of their initial capacitance after 5000 charge-discharge cycles. Given their remarkable capacitive behavior, these textile supercapacitors show great promise as high-performance wearable energy storage devices.

TTFHs require conductive thin-film materials with high transparency in the visible spectrum. Although, ITO is considered as the common material, and alternative materials, such as networks of carbon nanotubes, graphene, silver nanowires, hybrid structures and various oxide thin films, have been studied. Some of the application areas of TTFHs include touch screens and window defrosters. This study aims to demonstrate ALD grown simple binary compound ZnO as a cheap and simple to produce alternative material for TTFHs and compare ZnO and Al doped counterpart performances to each other. For the first time in literature, undoped ZnO thin films grown by ALD are successfully demonstrated as TTHF and record high performances are obtained for AZO TTFHs for 100 nm and below very thin films. The optimized ZnO and AZO thin films showed comparable input power density values in very small thicknesses ( 70-100 nm) with an average optical transmittance of 90 % in the visible spectra. At a 20 V bias, ZnO heaters reached 52 degrees C, while AZO heaters achieved 116 degrees C within 2 min. These temperatures were stabilized within 3 min, and the corresponding input power densities were calculated as 864 and 4276 W/m2, and the lowest resistivity values were achieved as 6.79 x 10-3 and 3.30 x 10-3 Omega cm for ZnO and AZO, respectively.

In this study, the optical limiting (OL) performance of polyvinylpyrrolidone composite nanofibers filled with silver nanowires (PVP/AgNWs), fabricated via electrospinning at varying concentrations, was investigated to achieve efficient OL performance with low optical limiting thresholds (OLT) across the visible spectrum. To reveal the effects of AgNWs on nonlinear absorption (NA), AgNW-filled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA/AgNW) composite nanofibers were also studied since NA was not present in PMMA. Open-aperture (OA) Z-scan experiments were performed at different wavelengths and intensities in the visible region under femtosecond (fs) and nanosecond (ns) pulsed laser excitation. Saturable absorption (SA) behavior was observed at excitation wavelengths between 400 and 600 nm, while a transition to NA behavior occurred at 800 nm for PMMA/AgNW composite nanofibers. This result confirmed the contribution of the surface plasmon resonance band (SPR) to NA. On the other hand, PVP/AgNW composite nanofibers exhibited NA behavior across the visible spectrum at 400, 500, 600 and 800 nm; this effect was enhanced by the incorporation of AgNWs at varying concentrations, resulting in a significant reduction in OLT values. Among the PVP/AgNW composite nanofibers, the strongest NA behavior and the lowest OLT value were obtained for PVP nanofibers with the highest AgNW loading at 800 nm. Under these conditions, in PVP nanofibers, the effective nonlinear absorption coefficient (βeff) value, which is proportional to the square of the light intensity in light-matter interactions, increased by 1.8 times, while the OLT value decreased by 2.9 times. These findings demonstrate that the incorporation of AgNWs effectively enhances the NA properties of PVP nanofibers and significantly improves their optical limiting performance, mainly due to the plasmonic response and high reflectivity of AgNWs in the visible region.

Herein, we report the direct growth of manganese-doped iron sulfide (pyrrhotite) nanoplatelets on the carbon cloth (CC) fibers by a one-step hydrothermal method without the need for organic binders. Manganese-doped iron sulfide nanoplatelets on CC (MFS-CC) revealed surface enrichment of polysulfide species over sulfites, exhibited a variety of Mn2+/3+/4+, Fe3+/4+ surface species as well as unique FexMnyOzSn surface domains resulting in a multitude of electroactive sites, enhancing ion transport and an exceptional electrochemical performance. As-prepared electrodes yielded a high specific capacitance of 206 F g-1 at a scan rate of 10 mVs-1. Moreover, once constructed, the electrodes were encapsulated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to ensure efficient operation for up to three months. As a result, the device demonstrated remarkable cyclic stability, enduring up to 11,000 cycles without degradation. Finally, the assembled electrodes were integrated to form an asymmetric wearable supercapacitor, and this device effectively illuminated a green light emitting diode (LED) integrated into a hoodie, showcasing its potential for powering wearable electronics.

Selective and sensitive detection of eIF3d (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 complex, subunit D), a protein biomarker, is of fundamental significance for the diagnosis of various cancers. Here, we report an electrochemical sensor based on MXene and aspartic acid-functionalized fullerenol (F-Asp) for the biosensing of eIF3d. To construct such an innovative sensing platform, MXene was first synthesized, followed by the convenient functionalization of fullerenol with aspartic acid groups (F-Asp) through hydroxylation and activation of fullerenes. Finally, a bioplatform was created for eIF3d sensing by modifying the graphite electrode (GE) surface with MXene and F-Asp, followed by surface functionalization with anti-eIF3d antibody via EDC/NHS chemistry. Detailed electrochemical and analytical material characterization methods were utilized after each surface modification step. Notably, the surface-engineered MXene:F-Asp showed superior electrochemical features. The sensor's response to eIF3d was achieved in the linear range of 10 to 250 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.14 ng/mL. The selectivity of the sensor was assessed by monitoring its response to eIF3d in the presence of a variety of interfering compounds. Analysis of eIF3d was effectively performed in synthetic serum samples. The promising electrochemical sensing properties of the designed sensor suggest great potential for various real-time health monitoring applications.

The challenge of Fermi-level pinning significantly complicates the establishment of Ohmic, low-resistance contacts for lightly doped n-type crystalline silicon (c-Si), a critical requirement for economically feasible device development. In this novel study, we present an innovative approach by introducing an ultra-thin zirconium oxide (ZrOx) film to achieve an Ohmic contact in n-type c-Si. The ZrOx films are deposited through e-beam evaporation at room temperature, and their properties are characterized using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and contact resistivity (rho c) measurements. Our investigation unveiled a pronounced dependence of the contact resistivity on the thickness of the ZrOx layer, with the lowest rho c value of 22 m Omega cm2 achieved with an ultrathin 1 nm ZrOx film. To demonstrate our study's feasibility, we applied ZrOx as an electron-selective rear-side contact layer in a lightly doped n-type c-Si solar cell with a boron-diffused emitter on the front side. This yielded a photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16% and a notable fill factor (FF) exceeding 79%. These findings clearly emphasized the significant promise of ZrOx as an emerging and highly effective electron-selective contact layer for lightly doped n-type c-Si devices.