Autor Mario Kotlár

Cobalt-doped WSe2@conducting polymer nanostructures as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

Sadik Cogal, Gamze Celik Cogal, Matej Mičušík, Mário Kotlár, Maria Omastová

In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.09.002

Abstract

Designing of high-performance, low-cost, and nonprecious metal-based bifunctional electrocatalysts is highly significant for the development of water splitting process and expanding the practical application of green hydrogen production. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with intrinsic physical and chemical properties have been considered potential catalytic materials for electrode fabrication. However, it has remained challenging to develop TMD catalysts that have bifunctional properties for overall water splitting. Herein, WSe2, as a typical representative of TMDs, was utilized to design electrocatalysts using polypyrrole (PPy) or polyaniline (PANI) as a conducting polymer (CP) and cobalt doping. A facile hydrothermal preparation of WSe2 in the presence of CP enabled the construction of cobalt-doped WSe2@CP electrocatalysts. Morphological analysis indicated that the CP played an important role as a conductive template to enhance the distribution of WSe2 nanosheets, leading to higher surface area. In addition, cobalt doping led to the formation of defect structures and boosted the electrocatalytic activities of the catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Tailoring the electronic properties of the SnO2 nanoparticle layer for n-i-p perovskite solar cells by Ti3C2TX MXene

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

Muhammad Faraz Ud Din, Shima Sousani, Mário Kotlár, Sami Ullah, Maros Gregor, Tomas Scepka, Yaryna Soyka, Anastasiia Stepura, Ashin Shaji, Femi Igbari, Karol Vegso, Vojtech Nadazdy, Peter Siffalovic, Matej Jergel, Maria Omastova, Eva Majkova

In: Materials Today Communications, Volume 36, (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.106700

Abstract

The effect of the Ti3C2Tx MXene modification of the SnO2 electron transport layer (ETL) was studied for the concentration range 0–7.4 wt% MXene. The electronic properties of the MXene-modified ETL were studied by the electrical conductivity measurements, density of states mapping by the energy-resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. The structure and morphology of the MXene-modified ETL and the top perovskite layer were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy, grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and in situ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS). The increased electrical conductivity and electron selectivity for the MXene-modified SnO2 ETL was confirmed up to 1 wt% MXene. For 7.4 wt% MXene, significant suppression of the hole blocking property of the ETL was found. The in situ GIWAXS was performed during the post-deposition annealing of the perovskite layer. The increased perovskite grain size on the SnO2 ETL modified by MXene compared to the pure SnO2 ETL visible by SEM was confirmed. The uniaxial texture of the perovskite crystals was revealed in both cases with an increased misorientation angle for the MXene-modified ETL. The grain size and misorientation angle do not exhibit any systematic temporal changes during the post-deposition annealing. The increasing number of the grains during the annealing was observed. These results are explained using the nucleation and growth model. The increased power conversion efficiency from 17.4% to 18.3% of the archetypal methylammonium-lead-iodide perovskite solar cell after the modification of the SnO2 ETL with 0.1 wt% MXene is the effect of two contributions – increased electrical conductivity of the ETL and improved crystallinity and larger grain size compared to the pure SnO2 ETL, which lowers the total boundary area and charge recombination at trap states typically formed at grain boundaries.

Thermoplastic starch/bentonite clay nanocomposite reinforced with vitamin B2: Physicochemical characteristics and release behavior

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

Abolfazl Heydari, Milad KhajeHassani, Haniyeh Daneshafruz, Sepideh Hamedi, Faeze Dorchei, Mário Kotlár, Fahimeh Kazeminava, Samahe Sadjadi, Farideh Doostan, Ivan Chodak, Hassan Sheibani

In: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. Vol. 242, (2023)

Abstract

This study presents the development and characterization of a nanocomposite material, consisting of thermoplastic starch (TPS) reinforced with bentonite clay (BC) and encapsulated with vitamin B2 (VB). The research is motivated by the potential of TPS as a renewable and biodegradable substitute for petroleum-based materials in the biopolymer industry. The effects of VB on the physicochemical properties of TPS/BC films, including mechanical and thermal properties, water uptake, and weight loss in water, were investigated. In addition, the surface morphology and chemical composition of the TPS samples were analyzed using high-resolution SEM microscopy and EDS, providing insight into the structure-property relationship of the nanocomposites. The results showed that the addition of VB significantly increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of TPS/BC films, with the highest values observed for nanocomposites containing 5 php of VB and 3 php of BC. Furthermore, the release of VB was controlled by the BC content, with higher BC content leading to lower VB release. These findings demonstrate the potential of TPS/BC/VB nanocomposites as environmentally friendly materials with improved mechanical properties and controlled release of VB, which can have significant applications in the biopolymer industry.

Electrochemical modified Pt nanoflower @ rGO for non- enzymatic electrochemical sensing of glucose

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

Saravanan Gengan, R.M. Gnanamuthu, Sanjay Sankaranarayanan, Venumbaka Maneesh Reddy, Bhanu Chandra Marepally, Ravi Kumar Biroju

In: Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, Volume 353, (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2023.114232

Abstract

Since lower danger of biorecognition element degradation, enzymes-less glucose have the potential for more reliable in vivo activity, but it suffers due to lack of linear response and poor selectivity. We made attempt to improve selectivity, linear response and stability, environmentally benign electrochemical method adopted to fabricate Pt nanoflowers (PtNF) anchored on rGO modified GCE (PtNF-rGO/GCE). The PtNF-rGO/GCE electrode demonstrated good glucose electrooxidation in alkaline solution, with a linear range, sensitivity and detection limit are up to 3.5 mM, 335.5 μA mM−1 cm−1 and 53 μM (S/N = 3) respectively. The PtNF-rGO/GCE electrode is not only selective also inhibit interfering molecules like uric, dopamine, ascorbic acid. This allows for broadly sensitive, work at low-potential, stable, and quick glucose current detection, which is capable for the expansion of non-enzymatic glucose detectors.

Defective Graphene/Plasmonic Nanoparticle Hybrids for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensors

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

Biroju Ravi K., Marepally Bhanu Chandra, Malik Pariksha, Dhara Soumen, Gengan Saravanan, Maity Dipak, Narayanan Tharangattu N., Giri Pravat K.

ACS Omega 2023, 8, 4, 4344–4356, (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c07706

Abstract

Two-dimensional–zero-dimensional plasmonic hybrids involving defective graphene and transition metals (DGR-TM) have drawn significant interest due to their near-field plasmonic effects in the wide range of the UV–vis–NIR spectrum. In the present work, we carried out extensive investigations on resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) from the various DGR-TM hybrids (Au, Ag, and Cu) using micro-Raman, spatial Raman mapping analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and LSPR absorption measurements on defective CVD graphene layers. Further, electric field (E) mappings of samples were calculated using the finite domain time difference (FDTD) method to support the experimental findings. The spatial distribution of various in-plane and edge defects and defect-mediated interaction of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) with graphene were investigated on the basis of the RRS and LSPR and correlated with the quantitative analysis from HRTEM, excitation wavelength-dependent micro-Raman, and E-field enhancement features of defective graphene and defective graphene-Au hybrids before and after rapid thermal annealing (RTA). Excitation wavelength-dependent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and LSPR-induced broadband absorption from DGR-Au plasmonic hybrids reveal the electron and phonon interaction on the graphene surface, which leads to the charge transfer from TM NPs to graphene. This is believed to be responsible for the reduction in the SERS signal, which was observed from the wavelength-dependent Raman spectroscopy/mappings. We implemented defective graphene and DGR-Au plasmonic hybrids as efficient SERS sensors to detect the Fluorescein and Rhodamine 6G molecules with a detection limit down to 10–9 M. Defective graphene and Au plasmonic hybrids showed an impressive Raman enhancement in the order of 108, which is significant for its practical application.

Mesoporous SnO2 Nanoparticle-Based Electron Transport Layer for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

ULLAH, Sami – FARAZ, Muhammad Ud Din – KHAN, Kasi Jafar – KHAN, Kasi Ajab – VÉGSÖ, Karol – KOTLÁR, Mário – MIČUŠÍK, Matej – JERGEL, Matej – NÁDAŽDY, Vojtech – ŠIFFALOVIČ, Peter – MAJKOVÁ, Eva – FAKHARUDDIN, Azhar

In ACS Applied Nano Materials. Vol. 5, iss. 6 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.2c00840

Abstract

A perovskite solar cell (PSC) featuring a mesoporous architecture can facilitate perovskite layer formation over a large area via increasing the number of heterogeneous nucleation sites. The morphology of the electron transport layer (ETL) and its interface with the perovskite layer is one of the key factors to boost the performance of a PSC. Tin dioxide (SnO2) is considered as a promising ETL in PSCs owing to its high carrier mobility, good transmittance, deep conduction band level, and efficient photoelectron extraction. Generally, the mesoporous SnO2 (m-SnO2) ETL has a higher surface-to-volume ratio compared to a compact SnO2 layer. Herein, we report on an m-SnO2 ETL prepared by anodizing a metallic tin film on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate in NaOH solution under an ambient atmosphere. In particular, we developed a bilayer architecture of the m-SnO2 ETL based on the fabrication of two consecutive m-SnO2 layers. The morphology of each layer was controlled by varying the anodization voltage and time at a constant solution concentration during the growth process. This unique approach enabled the deposition of an m-SnO2 ETL with sufficient coverage of the FTO substrate, which is difficult to achieve with a single layer of m-SnO2. In particular, the scanning electron and atomic force microscopy analyses confirmed that the m-SnO2 layer covers completely the FTO substrate. The device fabricated with this bilayer m-SnO2 ETL achieved a 27% improvement in power conversion efficiency compared to that with a single layer of m-SnO2.

Combined in Situ Photoluminescence and X-ray Scattering Reveals Defect Formation in Lead-Halide Perovskite Films

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

Nada Mrkyvkova*, Vladimír Held, Peter Nádaždy, Riyas Subair, Eva Majkova, Matej Jergel, Aleš Vlk, Martin Ledinsky, Mário Kotlár, Jianjun Tian, Peter Siffalovic

J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2021, 12, 41, 10156–10162

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c02869

Abstract

Lead-halide perovskites have established a firm foothold in photovoltaics and optoelectronics due to their steadily increasing power conversion efficiencies approaching conventional inorganic single-crystal semiconductors. However, further performance improvement requires reducing defect-assisted, nonradiative recombination of charge carriers in the perovskite layers. A deeper understanding of perovskite formation and associated process control is a prerequisite for effective defect reduction. In this study, we analyze the crystallization kinetics of the lead-halide perovskite MAPbI3–xClx during thermal annealing, employing in situ photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy complemented by lab-based grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS). In situ GIWAXS measurements are used to quantify the transition from a crystalline precursor to the perovskite structure. We show that the nonmonotonous character of PL intensity development reflects the perovskite phase volume, as well as the occurrence of the defects states at the perovskite layer surface and grain boundaries. The combined characterization approach enables easy determination of defect kinetics during perovskite formation in real-time.

Formation of CuCrCoFeNiO high entropy alloy thin films by rapid thermal processing of Cu/CrNiO/FeCo multilayers

Formation of CuCrCoFeNiO high entropy alloy thin films by rapid thermal processing of Cu/CrNiO/FeCo multilayers

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

AnniWanga, Manuel OlivaRamireza, MariaCaplovicovab,ViliamVretenarb, JuliusBoettchera, MarcusHopfelda, ThomasKupsa, DominikFlocka, PeterSchaafa

Surface and coatings technology, ISSN 0257-8972, 405 (2021), 126563

doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2020.126563

Abstract

This study presents the synthesis of High Entropy Alloy (HEA) films starting from elemental Cu and binary alloy CoFe and CrNiO multilayers, followed by rapid thermal processing (RTP). By that, the HEA films (HEAFs) were formed by phase formation via short-range and fast diffusion processes. Multilayers with a total thickness of 760 nm consisting of 16 repetitions of a Cu (11 nm)/CrNiO (16.5 nm)/CoFe (20 nm) sequence were annealed at temperatures from 600 °C to 1000 °C for 5 min. The reaction products were then analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), in order to identify the phase transformations and elemental distributions. A duplex FCC structure containing CrCoFeNiO HEA and pure Cu phase was successfully synthesized at 600 °C and 800 °C by the solid-state reaction. CuCrCoFeNiO HEA formed within in a Cu nanocrystalline matrix. As the annealing temperature increased, the oxygen content in the films decreased, Both HEA and Cu possess significant 〈111〉 preferred orientation. The HEA phase demonstrated a typical microstructure of alloys with intensive nano-twins. Moreover, the grain growth kinetics of the HEA phase was evaluated, and the activation energy was found to be 185(10) kJ/mol. This is comparable to that of conventional stainless steel (~150 kJ/mol) and less than half of the value for CrCoFeNi bulk (434 kJ/mol). A surface energy-driven grain growth mechanism of the HEAFs via multilayer alloy formation is proposed in this study. The mechanical properties, hardness and Young’s modulus, were measured via nanoindentation, and the strengthening mechanism was proposed and compared with current literature.

Prestavba suterénu Nanocentra

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

V rámci projektu Accord bude zakúpený nový FIB-SEM mikroskop, ktorý bude inštalovaný v priestoroch Centra pre Nanodiagnostiku materiálov.

S nákupom je úzko spojená rozsiahla rekonštrukcia suterénu Centra pre Nanodiagnostiku materiálov, ktorá začala v Marci 2022.

Úprava priestorov sa začala odstránením priečok

Práce začali odstránením starých podláh, priečok a prácami na novej podlahe. Pre samotný mikroskop bude vytvorený samostatný betónový blok, ktorí bude oddelený od zvyšku miestnosti. Po zhotovení nových podláh, budú mať nové laboratóriá vyššiu svetlú výšku.

Miesto pre samostatný betónový blok pod FIB-SEM mikroskop.
Realizácia hydroizolácie
Miesto pre FIB-SEM mikroskop
Nové podlahy

Po ukončení rekonštrukcie vznikli z pôvodne zanedbaných priestorov nové atraktívne laboratóriá. Po inštalácii nového prístrojového vybavenia zlepšia tieto laboratóriá možnosti výskumných aktivít Slovenskej Technickej Univerzity. Týmto bola univerzita obohatená o nové reprezentatívne priestory.

Vstupná hala
Servisná miestnosť
Miesto pre inštaláciu nového FIB-SEM mikroskopu

Ag-modified LiMn2O4 cathode for lithium-ion batteries: Coating functionalization

Posted on by Mario Kotlár

ABBAS, Somia M. – HASHEM, Ahmed M. – ABDEL-GHANY, Ashraf E. – ISMAIL, Eman H. – KOTLÁR, Mário – WINTER, Martin – LI, Jie – JULIEN, Christian M.

In Energies [Open access]. Vol. 13, iss. 19 (2020)

https://doi.org/10.3390/en13195194

Abstract

In this work, the properties of silver-modified LiMn2O4 cathode materials are revisited. We study the influence of calcination atmosphere on the properties of the Ag-coated LiMn2O4 (Ag/LMO) and highlight the silver oxidation. The effect of the heat treatment in vacuum is compared with that in air by the characterization of the structure, specific surface area, Li transport properties and electrochemical performance of Ag/LMO composites. Surface analyses (XPS and Raman spectroscopy) show that the nature of the coating (~3 wt.%) differs with the calcination atmosphere: Ag/LMO(v) calcined in vacuum displays Ag nanospheres and minor AgO content on its surface (specific surface area of 4.1 m2 g−1), while Ag/LMO(a) treated in air is mainly covered by the AgO insulating phase (specific surface area of 0.6 m2 g−1). Electrochemical experiments emphasize that ~3 wt.% Ag coating is effective to minimize the drawbacks of the spinel LiMn2O4 (Mn dissolution, cycling instability, etc.). The Ag/LMO(v) electrode shows high capacity retention, good cyclability at C/2 rate and capacity fade of 0.06% per cycle (in 60 cycles).