Remarkably high specific capacitance of 4486 F/g has been achieved by defect engineering in CuCoO2 delafossite via controlled annealing. The superior energy storage performance (which is nearly 10 times higher than that of its pristine counterpart) of this lesser-known delafossite is attributed to the optimum oxygen vacancy concentration and Cu+/Co3+ balance, and higher density of state of the delafossite nano particles. The EIS study confirms the favourable adsorption-controlled redox behaviour, while a Schottky device made with optimally cured CuCoO2 nano-powder showed higher carrier mobility. A Density Functional theory calculation implemented using the Vienna ab-initio simulation package shows that the incorporation of oxygen vacancies significantly improves the electrical conductivity of CuCoO2 by optimising the density of states. A liquid-state symmetric coin-cell supercapacitor fabricated using the optimised material as the electrodes achieved an energy density of 58.13 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 1300 W kg−1 with 75% retention after 5000 cycles and can power commercial LEDs and digital watches, verifying its real-life application.

In recent research trends, the progression of dielectric properties of nanomaterials in application towards frequency selective signal-transport-network devices are becoming a challenging aspect. In this report, the advancement in dielectric behaviour of hydrothermally derived TiO2 nanomaterials by means of hydrofluoric (HF) acid treatment and its potential applicability towards microelectronic devices were explored aptly. The optical conductivity and electrical conductivity of both these HF treated and untreated samples had been recorded and analysed theoretically. The optical dielectric behaviour was examined by data analysis of absorbance, reflectance and transmittance spectra. The analysis of surface-energy-loss-factor (SELF) and volume-energy-loss-factor (VELF) revealed that the carrier transport dynamics for TiO2 at high energies dominated by surface effect, whereas for HF treated TiO2, volume or bulk effect dominates. The electrical dielectric behaviour of TiO2 pallet and HF treated TiO2 pallet were analysed from Impedance spectroscopy technique. Not only the improvement in DC conductivity (sigma DC) from 1.07 x 10-4 Sm-1 to 1.25 x 10-4 Sm-1 was noticed, but also the frequency dependent AC conductivity (sigma AC) for the pallet, make of HF treated sample, was also found improved. The art of work was the realization of the equivalent circuit derived from Nyquist plot along with components: resistance of electrode, charge transfer resistance, Warburg impedance, and layer capacitance. In approach towards the application of these materials in signal transport network, the charge transfer resistance and Warburg impedance has significantly reduced for the device make of HF treated TiO2, which influenced upon the carrier transport dynamics. The energy dissipation and the relaxation time showed the quick recovery of the material from its deformed state, which exhibits qualitative improvement of material after HF treatment. The above features pronounced its potential applicability of the HF treated material towards application within frequency response portable devices for signal processing. In prior to their application, the material characterizations of the synthesized samples were analysed by PXRD and HR-TEM.

Three trinuclear Cd(II) complexes bearing NO3- (1), I- (2), and SCN- (3) as counter anions are synthesized using a salane-type N2O2 Schiff base ligand (H2L). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals structural similarities, with the terminal Cd(II) ions adopting octahedral geometry in 1 and trigonal bipyramidal geometry in 2 and 3, while the central Cd(II) consistently exhibited a rare dodecahedral geometry, irrespective of the anion. Band gap analyses and current-voltage measurements demonstrate that the anionic residues strongly influence the electronic properties. Among them, complex 1 shows superior Schottky diode performance, attributed to both its lower band gap and additional weak interactions from the NO3- group, highlighting its promise for electronic device applications.

This study investigates the impact of isomeric ligands on the structural and electronic properties of square-planar nickel(ii) complexes with salen-type Schiff base ligands. Two isomeric complexes, [Ni(L1)]H2O (1) and [Ni(L2)]H2O (2), were synthesized using trans- and cis-N,N '-bis(3-methoxy-5-methylsalicylidene)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine ligands. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of their structures reveals distinct packing arrangements resulting from differences in ligand geometry. Complex 1 features extended pi-stacking interactions along the crystallographic b-axis, whereas complex 2 forms discrete pi-stacked dimers. SEM and TEM images revealed rod-shaped and plate-shaped morphologies for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. Additionally, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images demonstrated that complex 2 exhibits a higher degree of crystallinity compared to complex 1. Optical band gap analyses show values of 4.35 eV for 1 and 3.68 eV for 2, reflecting the electronic influence of ligand isomerism. The semiconducting behavior of these complexes was further investigated through current-voltage measurements and theoretical DFT studies, highlighting a stronger electrical conductivity and charge transport in 2. Furthermore, theoretical and Hirshfeld surface analysis provided valuable insights into various intermolecular interactions. These findings demonstrate the potential of isomeric ligands in tuning the properties of nickel-based semiconducting materials for advanced electronic applications.

Hazardous waste management is a major global issue, with ongoing efforts to reduce it hindered by continuous production from rapid population growth and industrialization. Inadequate technology has hindered the simultaneous collection of hazardous waste from water and vapor phases for sustainable energy applications in the material sector. Here, we present a novel, affordable method for developing a robust MOF (Cu-TPA-BPE IP-MOF) for the sequestration of iodine from the environment. The substantial free void space and 1D-porous channels in its crystal lattice enable the selective absorption of nearly 90% of trace amounts of I3- from water. An exceptional distribution coefficient (Kd∼103 mL/g) indicates a strong affinity for iodine. The accompanying mechanistic insights stem from the ultrahigh iodine selectivity found through extensive experimentally driven computational studies. Iodine absorption as a dopant enhances the conductivity of the hybrid material. Notably, when tested against aluminum metal, the I2 and I3--captured MOF exhibited a moderately high optical-dependent conductivity of 2.89 × 10-3 S/m with a significant rectification ratio of 20.56, making it a viable candidate for diode fabrication. Additionally, the I3--loaded MOF demonstrates high ionic conductivity of 1.14 × 10-3 S/cm. Conductivity analysis, dependent on concentration, positions the hybrid material to function as a sensor for detecting the iodine concentration in water.

In this study, composites of polyaniline (PANI) integrated stoichiometric composition (CuS) and nonstoichiometric composition (Cu1.8S) of copper sulfides were synthesized through in situ chemical oxidative polymerization methodology, and their potential applicability was compared for energy storage devices. The powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, and Raman analyses support the presence of polyaniline and copper sulfides in the as-prepared composite material. The UV-vis spectroscopy performed shows a shift in the absorbance band, confirming the interaction between the constituents of composites and ruling out the possibility of aggregation of individual entities in the as-prepared material. The electrochemical studies of as-prepared composites were analyzed, and it was concluded that the Cu1.8S/PANI composite exhibits a superior specific capacitance of 270 Fg-1, significantly higher than the 162 Fg-1 observed for the CuS/PANI composite, at a current density of 0.1 Ag-1 in a weakly acidic electrolyte. The results of the electrochemical analysis indicate that different polymorphs of copper sulfide exhibit distinct interactions with the polymers and, hence, affect their potential applicability. A symmetric device is fabricated with both the positive and negative electrodes using the Cu1.8S/PANI composite and found to demonstrate remarkable stability, maintaining its excellent cyclic performance over 6000 cycles. The synergic effect between the polyaniline and nonstoichiometric Cu1.8S leads to enhanced specific capacitance, cyclic stability, and energy density. This study presents a facile approach to fabricating an effective and robust Cu1.8S/PANI composite, significantly improving the supercapacitive properties of polyaniline. This work expands the potential applications of copper sulfide/PANI composites as electrode materials in supercapacitors, leading to the broadening of the polyaniline composite material spectrum for sustainable development. The key findings provide critical insights into the influence of stoichiometric variations within the composite structure.

Four benzaldehyde derivatives [ALD-1: compound (1), ALD-2: compound (2), ALD-5: compound (3), ALD-6: compound (4)] were taken to investigate their optical band gap by UV-vis spectroscopy. Semiconducting devices were fabricated using these compounds to study their electrical properties. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics graph was obtained. Furthermore, the diode parameters were extracted by conventional methods to analyze the charge transport mechanism. From the dielectric study, a low dielectric constant was observed. Moreover, each compound's mobility and transit time were derived to compare the device performance of benzaldehyde derivatives. The optical and electrical behavior of four benzaldehyde derivatives have been carried out in order to investigate the most promising semiconducting material among them. Further the dielectric constants and the charge transport parameters are also calculated.+ image

A mixed-valence trinuclear cobalt(iii)-cobalt(ii)-cobalt(iii) complex, [(μ-1,3-N3)Co3L(N3)3]·MeOH has been synthesized using a tetradentate N2O2 donor ‘reduced Schiff base’ ligand, H2L {1,3-bis(2-hydroxybenzylamino)2,2-dimethylpropane} and azide as anionic co-ligand. The complex has been characterised by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies etc. The cobalt(iii)-cobalt(ii)-cobalt(iii) skeleton in the complex is non-linear and non-centrosymmetric. The redox behavior of the complex was studied by using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). The complex is found to be a semiconductor material as confirmed by determining the band gap of this complex by experimental as well as theoretical studies. The band gap in the solid state has been determined experimentally. The conductivity of the synthesized complex based device improves considerably in illumination conditions from the non-illuminated conditions. The complex has also been used to fabricate Schottky barrier diodes.

With the increase in demand of electronic devices in the modern civilization, research in material science is being projected to grow in faster rate. In this facet, coordination polymer (CP) based electronic device is one of the promising candidates to the material researchers. Herein, two new Zn(II) and Cd(II) based one-dimensional (1D) CPs, denoted as [Zn(4-avp)2(5-nip)] & sdot; (solvent)x (1) and [Cd(4-avp)(5-nip)(CH3OH)] (2) have been synthesized using relatively less explored highly conjugated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) based monodentate ligand, 4-[2-(9-anthryl)vinyl]pyridine (4-avp) and bidentate linker 5-nitroisophthalic acid (H25-nip). In this instance, the CP 1 creates 1D chain polymer, while CP 2 is made up with 1D ladder polymer. It is interesting to note that both the CPs exhibit semiconducting nature and generate metal-semiconductor (MS) junction Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). However, Cd-based CP 2 shows higher charge transport as compared to Zn-CP 1, which could be due to stronger pi & sdot;& sdot;& sdot;pi contacts as well as larger size of Cd metal in CP 2. The experimental results are well corroborated with theoretical density of states (DOS) calculations. This work emphasizes the comparison of charge transport and Schottky barrier diode behavior of 1D coordination polymers (CPs) of Zn(II) and Cd(II) based on highly conjugated ligand 4-[2-(9-anthryl)vinyl]pyridine and their applications in the fabrication of semiconducting devices. However, Cd-CP with 1D ribbon chain exhibits better charge transport as compared to 1D linear chain Zn-CP. image

Coordination polymers (CPs) with high electrical conductivity have potential applications in electronic devices, sensors and energy storage systems. Herein, we present a Cd(ii)-based two-dimensional (2D) CP [Cd2(adp)2(4-nvp)4(H2O)](H2O)7 [CP1; H2adp = adipic acid and 4-nvp = 4-(1-naphthylvinyl)pyridine] and a Zn(ii) based one-dimensional (1D) CP [Zn2(adp)(4-nvp)2(H2O)(mu 3-OH)](H2O)(NO3) (CP2) that exhibit electrical conductivity in the semiconducting regime and create a Schottky barrier diode (SBD) at the metal-semiconductor (MS) junction. However, CP1 shows higher conductivity as compared to CP2, which relates to the better orbital overlap of larger Cd(ii) ions in CP1, providing a conjugation pathway for potent charge transport. These results are well-validated by theoretical prediction via density functional theory (DFT) computation based on band gap calculation. Such materials with semiconducting properties may pave the way for the fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic devices.

This study outlines the synthesis of copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles and their composites with carbon nanotubes (T-CuS) via a solvothermal reaction. X-ray diffraction techniques were employed to characterize the crystal structure of the synthesized materials. Thin films of both CuS and T-CuS were deposited using vacuum coating techniques to construct Schottky devices. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were utilized to examine the topography and surface morphology of the deposited films, enabling analysis of metal–semiconductor (MS) junction formation. The interfacial characteristics of MS junctions in Al/CuS and T-CuS/ITO designs were investigated using AC impedance spectroscopy (IS) over a frequency range of 40 Hz to 10 MHz. Bias-dependent impedance spectroscopy within a ± 1.0 V range was conducted to determine the equivalent circuit for the MS junction Schottky diodes (SDs). Parameters such as on/off ratio, series resistance, ideality factor, and barrier height of the fabricated diodes were derived from current–voltage (I–V) characteristics. Additionally, characteristics related to charge transport, including photosensitivity and conductivity, were calculated. The results indicate an enhanced performance of carbon nanotube-based Schottky devices, likely attributed to the strong interaction and synergy between CNTs and CuS nanoparticles.

Abstract‘Pre‐sowing seed priming’ and ‘pre‐transplanting root priming’ are promising strategies to improve agriculture productivity. Farmers, seed production enterprises, and seedling producers constantly search for economic priming agents that help improve yield and crop health. Recently, several nanomaterials have emerged as economical seed and root priming agents, with nanoiron pyrite standing out as a particularly promising molecule. The observed enhancement in germination of nano‐pyrite treated seeds across various plant species indicate a shared underlying mechanism. We conducted evaluations of gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) content in red radish and soybean seeds subjected to nano‐pyrite priming revealing a notable increase in the GA: ABA ratio compared to the control group. In addition, mature red radishes cultivated from nano‐pyrite primed seeds exhibited elevated anthocyanin content and a remarkable 25.46% increase in yield. The aqueous pyrite suspension utilised in the process generates trace peroxide, and we propose that this trace peroxide plays a crucial role in orchestrating the increased GA: ABA ratio, anthocyanin content, and crop yield. These results position nano‐pyrite as a plant hormone regulator, effectively mimicking the seed hormo‐priming strategy. Considering the widespread presence of pyrite in the earth's crust, using pyrite as a commercial seed and root priming agent emerges as a potentially sustainable approach to enhance food production.

Under the gravity of future socio-economic development, the viability of water electrolysis still hinges on the accessibility of stable earth-abundant electrocatalysts and net energy efficiency. This work emphasizes the design and synthesis of two newly developed cobalt(II) complexes, [Co(HL)(2)(NCS)(2)] (Co-mono) and [Co-2(L)(3)(CH3OH)]ClO4 (Co-di), with a (N,O)-donor ligand, HL (2-methoxy-6-(((2-methoxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol). The study delves into understanding their structural, morphological, magnetic, and charge transport characteristics. Moreover, the study explores the potential of these complexes in catalyzing hydrogen production through heterogeneous electrocatalysis. The X-ray crystal structure of Co-mono reveals the octahedral geometry of the Co(II) ion, adopting two HL units and two NCS- units. The Co-di complex exhibits a doubly-phenoxo-O-bridged (mu(1,1)) dinuclear complex, forming a typical octahedral geometry for both the Co(II) centres in coupling with three units of L-. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that all of the Co(II) ion in Co-mono shows a typical paramagnetic behaviour for high spin octahedral Co(II) ions while the Co(II) centres in Co-di are coupled with doubly-phenoxo-bridges bearing weak ferromagnetic characteristics at low temperature. Electron transport properties of the Co(II) complex-mediated Schottky device address the superior carrier mobility (mu) for Co-di (9.21 x 10(-5)) over Co-mono (2.02 x 10(-5) m(2) v(-1) s(-1)) with respective transit times of 1.70 x 10(-9) and 7.77 x 10(-9) s. Additionally, electron impedance spectral analysis supports the lower electrical transport resistance of Co-di relative to Co-mono. The heterogeneous electrocatalytic HER activity of Co-di and Co-mono in 0.1 M KOH shows excellent electrocatalytic efficiency in terms of the various electrochemical parameters. Constant potential electrolysis, multi-cycle CVs, and post-HER analysis reveal the pre-catalytic nature of the complexes, which in turn delivers Co3O4 nanoparticles as the active catalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution.

In this present work, copper (II) sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via co-precipitation [CuS(copr)] and solvothermal [CuS(solv)] methods. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of these materials were analyzed and compared. It was observed that the particle size and crystallinity varied depending on the synthesis method employed. Further, two individual metal-semiconductor junction devices based on CuS(co-pr) and (CuS(solv) were fabricated. Then the current vs. voltage (I-V) measurements were performed. The comparative study of the electrical parameters like photo response, rectification ratio, barrier height and ideality factor were performed between the two synthesized CuS NPs based devices. Under no light condition, the rectification ratio for CuS(solv) increased by 28 % more than that of CuS(co-pr). The photo response for CuS (solv) also enhanced by 146 %. For a better understanding of junction and carrier transport properties space charge limited current (SCLC) theory is incorporated. The interfacial resistance of the devices was studied by Nyquist plots obtained from the impedance spectroscopy and were also fitted by equivalent circuit model and explained the mechanism of charge transport through the Schottky interface. The transit time and carrier mobility were improved for CuS(solv) than CuS(co-pr). Thus, the solvothermally synthesized CuS-based device could be assigned as it possesses lesser number of lattice defects, better crystallinity and larger particle size along with its better film properties leading to better performance.

Development of two Cd( ii )/Zn( ii ) complexes from mononuclear Cd( ii ) and their effectiveness in acting as a Schottky device.

In this study, we report the syntheses of two new coordination polymers (CPs) of Mn(II) and Co(II), [Mn(4-avp)(2)(adc)(H2O)](solvent)(x) (1) and [Co(4-avp)(2)(adc)(CH3OH)(2)] (2), respectively, using relatively less explored linear linker acetylenedicarboxylic acid (H(2)adc) and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-based monodentate N-donor ligand 4-[2-(9-anthryl)vinyl]pyridine (4-avp). CP1 creates a two-dimensional (2D) structure in this instance, while CP2 is made up of a 1D chain polymer. It is of interest that CP1 and CP2 exhibit semiconducting behavior and behave as Schottky barrier diodes. However, CP1 exhibits higher conductivity and better Schottky diode formation when compared to CP2, which relates to the charge transportation through space via pipi interactions present in CP1. The experimental results are well validated by theoretical density functional theory (DFT) prediction based on band gap and density-of-state (DOS) calculations. It is noteworthy that fabrication of Mn/Co-based Schottky devices appears to be inadequate in the literature. Thus, this work showcases a new direction for the development of electronic device fabrication.

Quasi-2-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites have recently attracted attention due to their higher operational stability as alternatives to 3-dimensional (3D) perovskites having exceptional optoelectronic and charge transport properties. To reduce the lead content, here following the double perovskite approach lead is substituted with silver and bismuth simultaneously, and three quasi-2D perovskites, with general formula (C7H10N)2Pb(1-2x)AgxBixBr4, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) were prepared. The optical studies show that the partially lead substituted sample has the lowest optical band gap, aptly supported by the theoretical calculations. The powder X-ray diffraction technique along with field-emission scanning electron microscopy suggests enhancement in crystallinity along with the decrease in grain boundaries with the substitution of lead. The improvement in crystallinity with concomitant reduction in grain boundaries has led to the decrease in point defects as identified from the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and coincidence Doppler broadening analysis. The tuned band gap, improved crystal quality along with lower defects jointly contributed to the enhancement in electrical properties of the perovskites with varying lead percentages. Finally, the photoresponse of all the materials was studied after fabricating metal (Al)-semiconductor (MS) junction thin film photodetector devices.

The structural pressure-induced ionization process is implemented to produce Zn(III) complex for the first time and possible potential applications for technological advances are reported in this article. The inversion of the electron population observed at the ground state of the newly synthesized complex corroborates an unexplored material response property towards electrical and magnetic fields. The first-time report of a true transition metal behavior of zinc fetches new thoughts about zinc-based bio-enzymatic and bio-catalytic processes along with its material applications in untouched files like live cell imaging contrast agents, photocatalytic water splitting, etc. The methodology of the ‘ structural pressure-induced ionization process’ may be implemented for the synthesis of more unusual oxidation states of metals.

This letter reports the paramount fluorescence resonance energy transfer mechanism for photo induced charge transfer from P3HT to solvothermally derived CuInSe2. The HOMO (-4.85 eV) and LUMO (-3.38 eV) energy states of CuInSe2 (electrical conductivity = 1.1x 10(-7) Scm(-1)) are determined from cyclic voltammetry and optical study. This HOMO-LUMO position agrees to select P3HT polymer as possible donor of excitons. Steady-state luminescence study of composite (P3HT:CuInSe2) demonstrates possibility of successful charge transfer. Stern-Volmer analysis of absorption and emission spectroscopy ensures static energy quenching phenomena. The Forster distance (R-0) of critical energy transfer is estimated as 3.61 nm. The average distance between donor-acceptor (r(avg) = 4.71 nm) is<8 nm and within the range 0.5R(0) < r < 1.5R(0) (1.81 nm < r < 5.42 nm), which ensures energy transfer from P3HT to CuInSe2.

Introduction: Agriculture predominantly follows three farming systems: natural, organic (organic manures for soil nutrition), and agrochemical intensive. Agrochemical-intensive farming uses synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and weedicides. It holds the most prominent place in the modern agriculture business. Humankind realizes that over-reliance on synthetic agrochemicals has resulted in the declining health of the ecosystem's soil, water, and living species. It must explore strategies to reduce synthetic agrochemicals without compromising agricultural production to restore the ecological balance. Nano-formulations help lower dosages of agrochemicals, leading to the emergence of nano-agriculture. However, the critical challenge is how we could exploit nanomaterials' power to selectively improve crop plants' metabolic performance so that it has a better competitive edge in the field to withstand the nutrient-seeking pressure exerted by other plants. Methods: Here we have achieved the same by root treatment of the onion crop and then growing them in the presence of organic goat manure. Results: In a 2 years field trial with onion crops, we report an increase in yield through root treatment with nano-pyrite (FeS2) plus soil application of goat dropping (Test) as compared to the use of goat dropping alone (Control). In the first-year field trial (November 2018- April 2019), the total biomass (bulb + leaf) weight of the test sample was 4.75 kg (n = 86), while control samples weighed 3.5 kg (n = 83). The total bulb weight for the control and test was 2.6 and 3.6 kg, respectively. In the second-year field trial (December 2019- April 2020), the total biomass of the test sample was 2.65 kg (n = 64), while control samples weighed 2.30 kg (n = 64). We observed a yield-boosting effect of root treatment with nano-pyrite plus soil application of goat dropping in onion crops. As monitored by spectroscopic absorbance, there is a significant increase in the anthocyanin content in test bulbs (0.069) compared to control bulbs (0.02). Similarly, the relative flavanol content in test leaves (0.253) was significantly higher compared to the control samples (0.086). We have integrated nano-agriculture and organic farming, resulting in a hybrid form; nano-organic farming bolsters the metabolic fitness of the onion (Allium cepa) to achieve sustainable food production.