Wei Kang^1,*, Juan Jin²

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.077859 - 03 April 2026

Abstract A sulfate–chloride electrolyte was used to deposit alloy layers on AISI 1018 coupons while co-introducing ZnS nanoparticles (5–20 g/L) to tune microstructure and durability under combined saline exposure and dry sliding. Cross-sectional SEM confirmed continuous deposits of ~24–26 μm, and XRD indicated γ-phase dominance with pronounced grain refinement: crystallite size decreased from 42 ± 3 nm (particle-free) to 28 ± 2 nm at 15 g/L. In 3.5 wt% NaCl, polarization data showed a progressive ennoblement of E_corr from −1.032 to −0.981 V (vs. SCE) together with a reduction of i_corr from 8.47 to 1.82 μA/cm² at 15… More >

Soheib Dakhelullah Alsahafi^*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.077336 - 03 April 2026

Abstract In this study, a novel double-heterojunction perovskite solar cell (DHPSC) with the following structure: FTO/ZnO/CH₃NH₃PbI_3−xCl_x/CH₃NH₃SnI₃/p⁺⁺ZnTe/Au was designed. It was optimized using the wxAMPS simulation software. A systematic parametric analysis was performed to investigate the influence of electron transport layer (ETL) ZnO and hole transport layer (HTL) thicknesses on photovoltaic performance. That includes short-circuit current density (J_sc), open-circuit voltage (V_oc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (η). The results indicate that once a minimum ZnO thickness is achieved, further increases have a negligible effect on performance. Whereas variations in ZnTe thickness markedly influence V_oc and η. The optimal configuration More >

Preetha K. C.^1,2,*, Bini S.²

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076854 - 03 April 2026

Abstract The increasing depletion of fossil fuels and the escalation of global temperatures have intensified the need for sustainable energy sources such as solar power. Copper Zinc Sulphide (CuZnS) is a potential absorber for solar cells. This study reports the structure and composition of annealed CuZnS samples using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis technique. CuZnS thin films prepared using low-cost chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique are annealed at 100°C, 200°C, and 300°C. The samples are analysed using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV Visible NIR spectroscopy (UV-VIS) and Hall… More >

Naoual Houaidji¹, Kenza Kamli^2,*, Zakaria Hadef², Houssem Eddine Chouial³, Marwa Bendaia¹

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076383 - 03 April 2026

Abstract We present a systematic investigation of FeS₂ thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) at different deposition times (15–40 min), with the aim of understanding their structural, optical, and electrical evolution and their suitability for heterojunction device applications. Particular attention is given to the integration of the optimized FeS₂ layer with a Co-doped SnS₂ bottom layer to form a p–n heterojunction. Structural analysis by X-ray diffraction reveals a transition from an amorphous/oxidized phase at short deposition times toward well-crystallized pyrite after 25 min, while the 40-min film exhibits the most intense reflections and the largest crystallite… More >

M. A. Al-Maghrabi^*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.078794 - 28 February 2026

Abstract The present study investigates the influence of lead incorporation on the crystallization kinetics and thermal behavior of Se_87.5Te₁₀Pb_2.5 glass prepared by the melt-quenching technique and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry over heating rates of 5–99 K·min⁻¹. Nonisothermal kinetic parameters were evaluated using model-free isoconversional methods, namely the Friedman and Vyazovkin approaches, while the Matusita model was employed to gain insight into the crystallization dimensionality. Complementary isothermal simulations were used to support the kinetic interpretations. The apparent activation energy exhibits a systematic decrease with increasing temperature and crystallized fraction, suggesting a multi-stage crystallization process. At lower temperatures,… More >

Donghyeon Lee^#, Jiu Kim^#, Yong-Wook Jeong^#, Miso Shin, Yong Jin Jeong^*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.077885 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Silver tellurides (Ag–Te) are promising low-temperature thermoelectric materials because their transport properties can be tuned by subtle compositional variations and nanostructuring. Here, we report a stirring-assisted hydrothermal route that enables controlled synthesis of n-type and p-type Ag–Te nanostructures by adjusting the Ag:Te precursor ratio and hydrodynamic conditions. Samples with Ag:Te ratios of 2:1 (Ag2/Te1) and 1:2 (Ag1/Te2) were synthesized at 120°C for 12 h, varying the stirring speed from 0 to 2000 rpm. X-ray diffraction confirms Ag₂Te as the dominant phase for Ag2/Te1 across all conditions, while Te-rich Ag1/Te2 forms a composite mainly consisting of Te More >

Jun Zhang, Jiayi Song, Wangjian Fu, Jiren Yuan^*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.077226 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Tandem solar cells employing lead-free perovskite materials offer a compelling pathway to simultaneously achieve high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and improved environmental sustainability. In this work, we present a comprehensive numerical simulation study of monolithic and mechanically stacked tandem solar cells based on the chalcogenide perovskite BaZrS₃ as the top subcell and Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) as the bottom subcell. For the four-terminal (4-T) configuration, a systematic optimization workflow was implemented, encompassing the thickness of absorber and carrier-transport layers, doping concentrations, and the introduction of a LiF anti-reflection coating. This approach led to a marked reduction in parasitic… More >

Feifei Tong¹, Junliang Han¹, Chuansheng Tang^2,*, Jie Yang³, Shibo Luo³, Xinmeng Wu⁴

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076718 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Zearalenone (ZEA) contamination in cereal-based food products represents a significant threat to global food safety and public health. As a potent non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin, ZEA mimics 17β-estradiol and acts as an endocrine disruptor, leading to severe reproductive toxicity and pathologies such as hepatotoxicity and immunotoxicity. Its prevalence in staple crops like maize and wheat results in substantial economic losses and necessitates adherence to stringent regulatory limits (e.g., 50 μg/kg set by EFSA) to protect consumers from chronic low-dose exposure. This work reports the development of a novel electrochemical sensor based on a bismuth sulfide nanorod–carbon… More >

Khaled Lazar¹, Y. Megdoud^2,3,*, R. Meneceur¹, M. Laouamer¹, Y. Yahiaoui⁴, A. Achour⁵, Y. Benkrima^6,*, A. Boukhari¹

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076585 - 28 February 2026

Abstract This study reports a comprehensive first-principles investigation of the chalcopyrite semiconductors CdGeAs₂ and CdSnAs₂, with particular emphasis on their structural, electronic, optical, and elastic properties. The calculations were carried out within the density functional theory (DFT) framework using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The optimized equilibrium structural parameters, including lattice constants a and c as well as the internal coordinate u, show very good consistency with available experimental measurements and earlier theoretical predictions. Band structure calculations confirm that both compounds exhibit direct band gaps, which makes them attractive candidates for photovoltaic and optoelectronic More >

Hongli Guo^1,*, Huanyin Yang¹, Suihu Dang¹, Shunru Zhang², Haijun Hou³

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076290 - 28 February 2026

Abstract To gain deeper insights into the characteristics of orthorhombic NaCuZrS₃, this study investigates its mechanical, electronic and thermal properties using a theoretical approach grounded in density functional theory (DFT). The computed structural parameters align closely with experimental data. Additionally, its elastic constants and moduli show an increasing trend as pressure increases. It confirms that this material is brittle at 0 GPa, but as the pressure increases, it transforms into a ductile material after 10 GPa. Through computational analysis, the electronic properties for NaCuZrS₃ are determined. The material is an indirect bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of More >