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Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical and Photonic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2024) | Viewed by 8546

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Prof. Dr. Haichang Zhang

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School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Interests: nanocomposite materials and their applications; nanoenergy; organic field-effect transistors; perovskite solar cells; organic synthesis; coating
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Dr. Zhifeng Deng

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School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China
Interests: organic-field effect transistors; solar cells; organic synthesis; coating
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Electronic and photonic materials are at the forefront of technological advancements, driving innovation in electronic and photonic devices that have become integral to our daily lives. In the field of electronic materials, there is a growing emphasis on the development of new semiconductor materials, such as organic and two-dimensional materials, to enable the next generation of high-speed, low-power electronic devices. Additionally, the integration of novel materials into electronic circuits and the exploration of new fabrication techniques are key trends in electronic materials research. Meanwhile, there is a rising interest in materials that can manipulate light at the nanoscale, enabling the development of compact and efficient photonic devices for communication, sensing, and imaging applications.

However, some problems prevent the development, like scalability, manufacturability, and sustainability. And researchers focus on overcoming fundamental material limitations to enable the development of new functionalities and applications.

This Special Issue will provide readers with up-to-date information on the recent progress and future challenges in the fields of electronic and photonic materials. All original research article or review papers are welcomed to contribute.

Prof. Dr. Haichang Zhang
Dr. Zhifeng Deng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

electronic materials
photonic materials
two-dimensional materials
semiconductors
insulators
optical and display materials
materials for transistors
quantum spintronics
nanotechnology
metallization
superconductivity

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.45Ta_0.5Mo_0.05O₁₂/PEO Composite Solid Electrolyte in High-Performance Lithium Batteries

by Chengjun Lin, Yaoyi Huang, Dingrong Deng, Haiji Xiong, Bin Lu, Jianchun Weng, Xiaohong Fan, Guifang Li, Ye Zeng, Yi Li and Qihui Wu

Materials 2024, 17(13), 3094; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133094 - 24 Jun 2024

Viewed by 350

Abstract

Replacing the flammable liquid electrolytes with solid ones has been considered to be the most effective way to improve the safety of the lithium batteries. However, the solid electrolytes often suffer from low ionic conductivity and poor rate capability due to their relatively stable molecular/atomic architectures. In this study, we report a composite solid electrolyte, in which polyethylene oxide (PEO) is the matrix and Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.45Ta_0.5Mo_0.05O₁₂ (LLZTMO) and Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.4Ta_0.6O₁₂ (LLZTO) are the fillers. Ta/Mo co-doping can further promote the ion transport capacity in the electrolyte. The synthesized composite electrolytes exhibit high thermal stability (up to 413 °C) and good ionic conductivity (LLZTMO–PEO 2.00 × 10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹, LLZTO–PEO 1.53 × 10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹) at 35 °C. Compared with a pure PEO electrolyte, whose ionic conductivity is in the range of 10⁻⁷~10⁻⁶ S·cm⁻¹, the ionic conductivity of composite solid electrolytes is greatly improved. The full cell assembled with LiFePO₄ as the positive electrode exhibits excellent rate performance and good cycling stability, indicating that prepared solid electrolytes have great potential applications in lithium batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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12 pages, 2693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of High-Entropy Perovskite Hydroxides as Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction and Oxygen Reduction Reaction

by Sangwoo Chae, Akihito Shio, Tomoya Kishida, Kosuke Furutono, Yumi Kojima, Gasidit Panomsuwan and Takahiro Ishizaki

Materials 2024, 17(12), 2963; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17122963 - 17 Jun 2024

Viewed by 310

Abstract

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolutionc reaction (OER) are important chemical reactions for a rechargeable lithium–oxygen battery (LOB). Recently, high-entropy alloys and oxides have attracted much attention because they showed good electrocatalytic performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and/or oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this study, we aimed to synthesize and characterize CoSn(OH)₆ and two types of high-entropy perovskite hydroxides, that is, (Co_0.2Cu_0.2Fe_0.2Mn_0.2Mg_0.2)Sn(OH)₆ (CCFMMSOH) and (Co_0.2Cu_0.2Fe_0.2Mn_0.2Ni_0.2)Sn(OH)₆ (CCFMNSOH). TEM observation and XRD measurements revealed that the high-entropy hydroxides CCFMMSOH and CCFMNSOH had cubic crystals with sides of approximately 150–200 nm and crystal structures similar to those of perovskite-type CSOH. LSV measurement results showed that the high-entropy hydroxides CCFMMSOH and CCFMNSOH showed bifunctional catalytic functions for the ORR and OER. CCFMNSOH showed better catalytic performance than CCFMMSOH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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14 pages, 2520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tuning the Optical and Electrical Properties of ALD-Grown ZnO Films by Germanium Doping

by Sylvester Sahayaraj, Rafał Knura, Katarzyna Skibińska, Zbigniew Starowicz, Wojciech Bulowski, Katarzyna Gawlińska-Nęcek, Piotr Panek, Marek Wojnicki, Sylwester Iwanek, Łukasz Majchrowicz and Robert Piotr Socha

Materials 2024, 17(12), 2906; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17122906 - 14 Jun 2024

Viewed by 331

Abstract

In this work, we report on the fabrication of ZnO thin films doped with Ge via the ALD method. With an optimized amount of Ge doping, there was an improvement in the conductivity of the films owing to an increase in the carrier concentration. The optical properties of the films doped with Ge show improved transmittance and reduced reflectance, making them more attractive for opto-electronic applications. The band gap of the films exhibits a blue shift with Ge doping due to the Burstein–Moss effect. The variations in the band gap and the work function of ZnO depend strongly on the carrier density of the films. From the surface studies carried out using XPS, we could confirm that Ge replaces some of the Zn in the wurtzite structure. In the films containing Ge, the concentration of oxygen vacancies is also high, which is somehow related to the poor electrical properties of the films at higher Ge concentrations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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13 pages, 2931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Electroluminescent Inhomogeneous Phase Addition on Enhancing MgB₂ Superconducting Performance and Magnetic Flux Pinning

by Yao Qi, Duo Chen, Chao Sun, Qingyu Hai and Xiaopeng Zhao

Materials 2024, 17(8), 1903; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081903 - 19 Apr 2024

Viewed by 547

Abstract

As a highly regarded superconducting material with a concise layered structure, MgB₂ has attracted significant scientific attention and holds vast potential for applications. However, its limited current-carrying capacity under high magnetic fields has greatly hindered its practical use. To address this issue, we have enhanced the superconducting performance of MgB₂ by incorporating inhomogeneous phase nanostructures of p-n junctions with electroluminescent properties. Through temperature-dependent measurements of magnetization, electronic specific heat, and Hall coefficient under various magnetic fields, we have confirmed the crucial role of inhomogeneous phase electroluminescent nanostructures in improving the properties of MgB₂. Experimental results demonstrate that the introduction of electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases effectively enhances the superconducting performance of MgB₂. Moreover, by controlling the size of the electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases and optimizing grain connectivity, density, and microstructural uniformity, we can further improve the critical temperature (T_C) and flux-pinning capability of MgB₂ superconducting materials. Comprehensive studies on the physical properties of MgB₂ superconducting structures added with p-n junction electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases also confirm the general effectiveness of electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases in enhancing the performance of superconducting materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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14 pages, 23949 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Layered Structure Formation in MgB₂ Wires Produced by the Internal Mg Coating Process under Low and High Isostatic Pressures

by Daniel Gajda, Michał Babij, Andrzej Zaleski, Doğan Avci, Fırat Karaboga, Hakan Yetis, Ibrahim Belenli and Tomasz Czujko

Materials 2024, 17(6), 1362; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061362 - 16 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 700

Abstract

Currently, MgB₂ wires made by the powder-in-tube (PIT) method are most often used in the construction and design of superconducting devices. In this work, we investigated the impact of heat treatment under both low and high isostatic pressures on the formation of a layered structure in PIT MgB₂ wires manufactured using the Mg coating method. The microstructure, chemical composition, and density of the obtained superconductive wires were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyzer and optical microscopy with Kameram CMOS software (version 2.11.5.6). Transport measurements of critical parameters were made by using the Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) for 100 mA and 19 Hz in a perpendicular magnetic field. We observed that the Mg coating method can significantly reduce the reactions of B with the Fe sheath. Moreover, the shape, uniformity, and continuity of the layered structure (cracks, gaps) depend on the homogeneity of the B layer before the synthesis reaction. Additionally, the formation of a layered structure depends on the annealing temperature (for Mg in the liquid or solid-state), isostatic pressure, type of boron, and density of layer B before the synthesis reaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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19 pages, 3872 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Derivatives of Phenyl Pyrimidine and of the Different Donor Moieties as Emitters for OLEDs

by Hryhorii Starykov, Oleksandr Bezvikonnyi, Karolis Leitonas, Jurate Simokaitiene, Dmytro Volyniuk, Eigirdas Skuodis, Rasa Keruckiene and Juozas Vidas Grazulevicius

Materials 2024, 17(6), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061357 - 15 Mar 2024

Viewed by 807

Abstract

Two derivatives of phenyl pyrimidine as acceptor unit and triphenylamino or 4,4′-dimethoxytriphenylamino donor groups were designed and synthesized as emitters for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) aiming to utilize triplet excitons in the electroluminescence. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed high thermal stability of the compounds with 5% weight loss temperatures of 397 and 438 °C. The theoretical estimations and photophysical data show the contributions of local excited and charge transfer states into emission. The addition of the methoxy groups led to the significant improvement of hole-transporting properties and the bathochromic shift of the emission from blue to green-blue spectral diapason. It is shown that mixing of the compounds with the organic host results in facilitation of the delayed emission. The singlet–triplet energy splitting was found to be too big for the thermally activated delayed fluorescence. No thermal activation of the long-lived emission was detected. No experimental evidence for triplet–triplet annihilation and room temperature phosphorescence were detected making the hot exciton mechanism the most probable one. The OLEDs based on the compounds reached the maximum external quantum efficiency of up to 10.6%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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Review

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31 pages, 12899 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research Overview on the Electromigration Reliability of SnBi Solder Alloy

by Wenjie Li, Liwei Guo, Dan Li and Zhi-Quan Liu

Materials 2024, 17(12), 2848; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17122848 - 11 Jun 2024

Viewed by 373

Abstract

Due to the continuous miniaturization and high current-carrying demands in the field of integrated circuits, as well as the desire to save space and improve computational capabilities, there is a constant drive to reduce the size of integrated circuits. However, highly integrated circuits also bring about challenges such as high current density and excessive Joule heating, leading to a series of reliability issues caused by electromigration. Therefore, the service reliability of integrated circuits has always been a concern. Sn-based solders are widely recognized in the industry due to their availability, minimal technical issues during operation, and good compatibility with traditional solders. However, solders that are mostly Sn-based, such as SAC305 and SnZn, have a high melting point for sophisticated electronic circuits. When Bi is added, the melting point of the solder decreases but may also lead to problems related to electromigration reliability. This article reviews the general principles of electromigration in SnBi solder joints on Cu substrates with current flow, as well as the phenomena of whisker formation, voids/cracks, phase separation, and resistance increase caused by atomic migration due to electromigration. Furthermore, it explores methods to enhance the reliability of solder joint by additives including Fe, Ni, Ag, Zn, Co, RA (rare earth element), GNSs (graphene nanosheets), FNS (Fullerene) and Al₂O₃. Additionally, modifying the crystal orientation within the solder joint or introducing stress to the joint can also improve its reliability to some extent without changing the composition conditions. The corresponding mechanisms of reliability enhancement are also compared and discussed among the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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19 pages, 5656 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in Positive Photoresists: Mechanisms and Fabrication

by Muhammad Hassaan, Umama Saleem, Akash Singh, Abrar Jawad Haque and Kaiying Wang

Materials 2024, 17(11), 2552; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112552 - 25 May 2024

Viewed by 775

Abstract

Photoresists are fundamental materials in photolithography and are crucial for precise patterning in microelectronic devices, MEMS, and nanostructures. This paper provides an in-depth review of recent advancements in positive photoresist research and development, focusing on discussion regarding the underlying mechanisms governing their behavior, exploring innovative fabrication techniques, and highlighting the advantages of the photoresist classes discussed. The paper begins by discussing the need for the development of new photoresist technologies, highlighting issues associated with adopting extreme ultraviolet photolithography and addressing these challenges through the development of advanced positive-tone resist materials with improved patterning features, resolution, and sensitivity. Subsequently, it discusses the working mechanisms and synthesis methods of different types and subtypes of photoresists, starting from non-chemically amplified, organic, and inorganic–organic hybrid photoresists and progressing to dry film resists, with an emphasis on the upsides of each. The paper concludes by discussing how future research in the field of lithography—prioritizing concerns related to environmental impacts, improved photoresist material and properties, and utilization of advanced quantum technology—can assist with revolutionizing lithography techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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20 pages, 5223 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in Self-Powered Tactile Sensing for Wearable Electronics

by Ling-Feng Liu, Tong Li, Qin-Teng Lai, Guowu Tang and Qi-Jun Sun

Materials 2024, 17(11), 2493; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112493 - 22 May 2024

Viewed by 452

Abstract

With the arrival of the Internet of Things era, the demand for tactile sensors continues to grow. However, traditional sensors mostly require an external power supply to meet real-time monitoring, which brings many drawbacks such as short service life, environmental pollution, and difficulty in replacement, which greatly limits their practical applications. Therefore, the development of a passive self-power supply of tactile sensors has become a research hotspot in academia and the industry. In this review, the development of self-powered tactile sensors in the past several years is introduced and discussed. First, the sensing principle of self-powered tactile sensors is introduced. After that, the main performance parameters of the tactile sensors are briefly discussed. Finally, the potential application prospects of the tactile sensors are discussed in detail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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43 pages, 6012 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advancements in Photovoltaic Cell Materials: Silicon, Organic, and Perovskite Solar Cells

by Abniel Machín and Francisco Márquez

Materials 2024, 17(5), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051165 - 1 Mar 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3314

Abstract

The evolution of photovoltaic cells is intrinsically linked to advancements in the materials from which they are fabricated. This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in silicon-based, organic, and perovskite solar cells, which are at the forefront of photovoltaic research. We scrutinize the unique characteristics, advantages, and limitations of each material class, emphasizing their contributions to efficiency, stability, and commercial viability. Silicon-based cells are explored for their enduring relevance and recent innovations in crystalline structures. Organic photovoltaic cells are examined for their flexibility and potential for low-cost production, while perovskites are highlighted for their remarkable efficiency gains and ease of fabrication. The paper also addresses the challenges of material stability, scalability, and environmental impact, offering a balanced perspective on the current state and future potential of these material technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges of Electronic and Photonic Materials)

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