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Photoelectric Properties of Amorphous Selenium Thin Films Deposited by Thermal Evaporation

Zhadyra Toreniyaz¹, Guzal Ismailova¹, Oleg Prikhodko¹, Zhasulan Nakysbekov¹, Tilek Kuanyshbekov², Nurkadam Tolep¹, Dmitry Terekhov³, Zhandos Tolepov^1,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.081101 - 02 June 2026
Abstract Amorphous selenium (a-Se) thin films were deposited by vacuum thermal evaporation and investigated in planar photoconductive structures to evaluate their optical and photoelectrical properties in the low-field regime. SEM analysis showed continuous film coverage with a thickness of about 250 nm. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the amorphous structure of the as-deposited films and the formation of trigonal crystalline selenium after annealing. Optical analysis based on transmission and reflectance spectra yielded an optical band gap E g = 1.96   eV and an Urbach energy E U = 0.083   eV ,… More >

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First-Principles Insights into the Structural and Physical Properties of AgSbS₂

Tianjing Li^1,*, Min Yao¹, Wei Li¹, Yue Yang¹, Luping Qu¹, Haijun Hou², Hongli Guo³

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.080386 - 02 June 2026
Abstract This study focuses on monoclinic system AgSbS₂, employing first-principles methods to calculate the structural, mechanical, optical, and thermodynamic properties. Specifically, geometry optimization yields a stable atomic structure with optimized lattice constants (a = 12.82 Å, b = 4.41 Å, and c = 13.19 Å). Furthermore, electronic structure analysis identifies AgSbS₂ as a direct bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.456 eV, where the valence and conduction bands primarily originate from Ag-4d, S-3s, and Sb-5p states. Regarding the elastic properties, the calculated elastic constants, combined with Pugh’s B/G criterion, reveal excellent ductility. As for the optical properties, the static More >

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Annealing-Induced Structural and Optical Modifications in SnS Thin Films and Their Impact on CO₂ Gas Sensing Performance

Seham Hassan Salman¹, Sarmad Mahdi Ali¹, Hawraa Hadi^2,*, Dhufr Hadi³

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.081302 - 02 June 2026
Abstract Films of (SnS) with a thickness of 400 nm were deposited by the thermal evaporation technique to investigate the influence of annealing temperature on their Physics and CO₂ gas-sensing characteristics. The deposited films were annealed at 200, 300, and 400°C. Structural characterization was performed using XRD, and the obtained results revealed that all samples possessed an orthorhombic crystal structure with a preferred orientation (301). The annealing treatment significantly improved the crystallinity of the films and reduced structural defects and lattice strain. Surface morphology investigations were performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), which revealed noticeable modifications in… More >

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Mixed Salt-Assisted Growth of Large-Size Ultrathin SnS₂ Nanosheets and Their Anisotropy Study

Yulong Lian¹, Ruiqiang Wang¹, Ziyan Ding¹, Jinyang Liu^1,2,3,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.083268 - 02 June 2026
Abstract The morphological regularity, thickness uniformity, and size controllability of two-dimensional materials play a crucial role in regulating their physicochemical properties. However, achieving a synergistic balance among these three factors remains a key challenge in the field. In this study, through a systematic investigation of 36 salt-assisted growth systems, we discovered that CsCl promotes the lateral growth of SnS₂, while KI optimizes the crystal morphology. Using a CsCl/KI mixed salt system, we successfully grew triangular, ultrathin, large-area SnS₂ nanosheets with a size exceeding 200 μm and a thickness of only 1.8 nm. Angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy (ARPRS)… More >

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Design and Optimization of a Novel Double-Heterojunction Lead-Free Cs₂BiAgI₆ Perovskite Solar Cell with PCBM/C₆₀ Bilayer ETL and CdTe HTL: Numerical Investigation

S. D. Al-Sahafi^*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.082364 - 02 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Chalcogenide Thin Films and Solar Cells for Optoelectronic Applications)
Abstract In this study, a lead-free double perovskite solar cell structure based on Cs₂BiAgI₆ was simulated and optimized to enhance photovoltaic performance. The device architecture follows the configuration: ITO/PCBM/C₆₀/Cs₂BiAgI₆/CdTe/Au. The thicknesses of the electron transport layer (ETL), absorber layer, and hole transport layer (HTL) are systematically optimized to evaluate their impact on key performance parameters. The results indicate that optimal performance is achieved with 600 nm thicknesses for all ETLs and HTL, and 2 μm for the Cs₂BiAgl₆ absorber. Under these conditions, the device exhibits a short-circuit current density of 23.23 mA/cm², an open-circuit voltage of 1.08 V, More >

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Zn Vacancy-Regulated Zn_0.4Cd_0.6S for Enhanced Charge Separation and Boosted Photocatalytic H₂O₂ Generation

Yuanyi Zhang, Yang Gu, Yuxin Lan, Zhenyu Wang, Wei Yan, Yingcong Wei, Jing Xu^*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.082986 - 02 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Chalcogenide Materials for Sustainable Environment)
Abstract Photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis from O₂ is a green and environmentally friendly route. However, due to the limitations of quick recombination of photogenerated electrons and limited O₂ activation ability, photocatalytic reactions often exhibit low efficiency. In this study, Zn vacancy-engineered Zn_0.4Cd_0.6S (Zn_V-ZCS) photocatalysts were successfully constructed via a hydrothermal strategy using L-cysteine as a coordination agent. The optimized Zn_V-ZCS-10 catalyst achieves an impressive H₂O₂ production rate of 44.39 mmol/g within 1 h under 425 nm irradiation, approximately 2.3 times higher than that of pristine Zn_0.4Cd_0.6S (ZCS). Structural characterization and cycling performance tests confirm that the introduction of Zn vacancies does More >

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Modeling and optimization of a CZT(S,Se)-based tandem solar cell

B. Yassine, B. Tahar^*, G. Fathi, B. Meriem, B. Ibtissem

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.7, pp. 637-648, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.227.637
Abstract In this paper, we designed a two-junction (tandem) solar cell model (tandem solar cell), consisting of an top and bottom subcell with absorber layers of Cu₂SnZnS₄ (CZTS) and Cu₂SnZnSe₄ (CZTSe) materials, respectively, for each subcell with a ZnS buffer layer and a ZnO window layer. This model was validated using the SCAPS-1D numerical simulation program. We also optimized the performance of the tandem cell as a whole using the simulation by studying the effect of the thickness of the absorber layer of the top subcell and the thickness of the absorber layer of the bottom subcell More >

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Spin-Coated Kesterite Based CZTS (Cu₂ZnSnS₄) Thin Films: Structural, Optical, and Compositional Analysis for Photovoltaic Applications

Md. Rakib Hasan¹, Afrina Sharmin², Mimi Mondal^1,3, Md. Ahasan Habib¹, Rinku Majumder¹, Muhammad Shahriar Bashar^2,*, Md. Salahuddin Mina^1,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.079270
Abstract In this work, spin-coated Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) thin films with systematically varied thicknesses were investigated to understand their influence on structural, compositional, and optical properties relevant to high-performance photovoltaic applications. CZTS absorber layers were fabricated using a sol-gel spin-coating technique, which offers simplicity, low cost, and excellent thickness control, followed by annealing at 450°C under a nitrogen atmosphere to promote crystallization and phase formation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that films with a thickness of approximately 608 nm exhibited the highest crystallinity and a preferred orientation along the (112) plane, indicating enhanced structural order and improved grain… More >

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404

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Cohesive energy model for the optical properties in nanostructured materials of zinc sulfide and cadmium selenide

A. Mustafa^*, S. Turki Al-Rashid

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.21, No.5, pp. 407-411, 2024, DOI:10.15251/CL.2024.215.407
Abstract Applying the cohesive energy model, this research theoretically studies how the size of nanoparticles affects their optical characteristics. The findings demonstrate that optical characteristics are size-dependent for nanoparticles, with an exponentially growing energy gap for nanoparticles on a scale of less than 4 nm. As the size of nanoparticles is reduced, the absorption wavelength also decreases. Compounds undergo a transition to a higher energy spectral area (blue shift) when their wavelength decreases; this change can make these compounds effective in certain optical nanodevices. More >

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299

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Influence of heat treatment on microwave dielectric properties of erbium doped borotellurite glass ceramics

S. Othman^a, Y. H. Lua^b, E. S. Sazali^a,, Y. S. Yap^b,, R. Hisam^c

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.5, pp. 451-459, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.225.451
Abstract High-performance glass-ceramics are increasingly explored for their suitability in high-frequency dielectric applications, presenting a significant challenge in materials science. A primary focus has been allocated to investigating borotellurite glasses operating at frequencies below 15 MHz. Borotellurite glasses with the composition 69TeO_₂-10B_₂O₃-10PbO-10ZnO-1Er_₂O₃ were fabricated via the melt-quenching method. This study examines the effects of heat treatment durations (1–24 hours) on these glasses. Variations in density, molar volume, structure, and dielectric properties were attributed to changes in non-bridging oxygen bonding resulting from the heat treatments. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the as-quenched glass. Morphological changes More >

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937

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341

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Advanced chalcogenide Ga_₂S₃ coatings for reducing reflective loss and boosting efficiency in silicon photovoltaics

R. M. Reddy^a, J. A. Prakash^b, A. Tonk^c, S. Karvendhan^d, G. Sivaraman^e, D. K. Patel^f, S. P. Dillibabu^g, S. Karthikeyan^h,*, T. Thirugnanasambandhamⁱ

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.9, pp. 797-806, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.229.797
Abstract The current situation necessitates advancements in renewable energy as an alternative for conventional energy sources. Reflection loss in solar cells is a contributing factor to diminish the power conversion efficiency, which can be reduced by employing antireflective coatings. The current investigation focuses on improvement in photocurrent generation of monocrystalline silicon solar cells by employing Gallium sulfide (Ga_₂S₃) as anti-reflective coatings (ARC). The RF sputter coating method has been used for Ga_₂S₃ deposition at different coating durations (10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes). The transmittance, reflectance, I-V characteristics, electrical properties, and thermal behaviour of the Ga2S3 coatings… More >

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933

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303

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The GGA-mBJ analysis of Ni modified SrS alloys for magnetic ordering and energy harvesting applications

I. Sajjad^a, U. Parveen¹, H. Al-Ghamdi^b,*, M. Yaseen^a, S. Saleem^a, Nasarullah^a

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.9, pp. 829-845, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.229.829
Abstract Herein, we employed modified Becke-Johson (mBJ) potential based first principles method to investigate the structural, optoelectronic, and magnetic properties of pure SrS and Ni doped Sr_1-xNi_xS alloys at varying doping concentrations. Formation enthalpy analysis predicts thermodynamical stability of resultant alloys. Geometry optimization was performed in order to optimize the super cells to obtain ground state energy state. After confirming their stability, we investigated their magnetic, electronic, and optical attributes. Pure SrS exhibits an indirect band gap of 3.53 eV (which is in good agreement with experiments), while nickel doping in SrS results in lowering the bandgap… More >

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885

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281

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Study of CdSe thin films using the spectroscopic ellipsometry method

L. N. Ibrahimova^a,b, Kh. N. Ahmadova^c,d,e, M. E. Aliyev^b, Y. I. Aliyev^f,g,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.21, No.12, pp. 1035-1039, 2024, DOI:10.15251/CL.2024.2112.1035
Abstract In this research, we investigated the optical properties of CdSe thin films on glass substrates using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The samples were analysed using an M-2000 rotation compensator spectroscopic ellipsometer at room temperature, covering a photon energy range of 1.5-7.0 eV. We used an appropriate dispersion model to obtain the spectral dispersion of the optical constants. We calculated the thickness, dielectric permittivity (real and imaginary parts), refraction, and extinction coefficients of the thin layers. The results showed high transparency that varied with the size of the CdSe thin films. Additionally, we determined the bandgap width for More >

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705

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Influence of neodymium doping on radiation shielding properties of yttrium lead borotellurite glass system

M. R. S. Nasuha^a,*, H. Azhan^b,c, L. Hasnimulyati^c, W. A. W. Razali^c, Y. Norihan^c

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.1, pp. 23-31, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.221.23
Abstract The need for effective shielding materials has grown as radiation-based technologies have been more widely used. Glasses doped with rare earth elements like neodymium oxide, are promising candidates due to their enhanced radiation attenuation properties. Using Phy-X software, this research examines how neodymium oxide doping affects the shielding properties of yttrium lead borotellurite glass. X-ray diffraction confirmed the amorphous structure, while density measurements showed increased density with neodymium oxide addition. The Phy-X software calculated radiation shielding parameters for gamma energies from 10^⁻³ to 10^⁵ MeV. The results demonstrate that neodymium oxide improves gamma irradiation attenuation and More >

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831

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552

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Raman and x-ray diffraction data analysis of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ films using gaussian approximation considering the temperature population factor

S. N. Garibova^a,b,*, А. I. Isayev^a, S. A. Rzayeva^a, F. N. Mammadov^c

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.1, pp. 1-9, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.221.1
Abstract The structure particulars of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 thermally evaporated on glass substrates, as well as films annealed at temperatures of 500 and 700 K have been studied by the considering of experimentally established facts obtained from X-ray analysis and Raman spectroscopy measurements. The Debye-Scherrer and Williams-Hall methods were applied to the X-ray diffraction data for estimate the size of crystallites, interatomic distances, dislocation density and structure distortion degree. The features of heat treatment effect on numerical values of the above quantities at a given temperatures have been established. The analysis of the spectral distribution of Raman… More >

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824

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477

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Thermal stability and crystallization kinetic of Se-Te-Ag glassy alloys and thick films for electronic devices

K. I. Hussain^a, A. Ashour^b, E. S. Yousef^c, E. R. Shaaban^b,d,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 65-80, 2024, DOI:10.15251/CL.2024.211.65
Abstract The present work has examined the thermal features of glassy chacogenide materials Se0.75-xTe0.25Agx (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 at %). The thermal stability of these compositions has been assessed under non-isothermal conditions using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), which has been used to find the glass transition temperature (Tg), the initial crystallization temperature (Tin), the temperature corresponding to the top of the crystallization rate (Tp), and the melting temperature (Tm). In addition, the kinetic parameter Kr(T) was given as an additional sign of thermal stability. Among these compositions, it was discovered that Se0.71Te0.25Ag0.04… More >

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