Valentina Krylova

The synthesis of thin films in multilayer structures on different textiles is of interest due to their potential use in flexible solar absorber coatings and thin-film solar cells. The aim of the study was to deposit bismuth(III) sulphide and copper(II) sulphide thin films on various textiles at the same time. This was achieved using the sustainable and cost-effective successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The study examined how the elemental distribution, phase composition, crystallinity, surface morphology, and optical features of the resulting films are determined by the intrinsic structure and material makeup of structural textiles. The analysis used data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Depending on the textiles used, the formed films were polycrystalline and rich in copper. According to the findings, the normalised atomic percentages were as follows: Cu, 57.66–68.75%; Bi, 1.19–5.26%; S, 30.06–38.63%. The direct transition optical energy gap values varied from 1.3 to 2.88 eV, while the indirect varied from 0.9 to 2.25 eV, and the refractive index from 1.3 to 1.8. These properties were influenced by the composition of the textiles and the films themselves. These properties directly impact the films’ applications.

The study aimed to form thin Bi₂S₃ films simultaneously on various textile materials using the environmentally friendly, low-cost successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at ambient temperature, and to evaluate the influence of the textile’s composition on the resulting composites’ surface phase composition, morphology, and optical properties. The deposited films were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. This paper discusses how the structure and composition of the textiles affect the phase and elemental composition, crystallinity, morphology and optical properties of the formed films. The properties of the films are then compared. Depending on the textiles used, the formed films can be amorphous or polycrystalline, and can be rich in sulphur or near stoichiometric. Accordingly, the normalised atomic percentages of Bi in the films range from 3.62% to 33.87%, and those of S range from 96.38% to 66.13%. The optical energy gap value of the composites also varies depending on the textile substrate, ranging from E_g = 1.58 eV to E_g = 1.8 eV. These properties directly impact the films’ applications. We have obtained a rather low value of the optical energy gap in a simpler way.

The synthesis of bismuth(III) sulphide thin films on various textiles is of interest due to their potential applications in flexible solar absorber coatings and thin-film solar cells. These thin films were formed simultaneously on textiles of different compositions and morphologies using the environmentally friendly, low-cost successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at ambient temperature. The deposited films were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. This paper discusses how the structure and composition of the textiles affect the phase and elemental composition, crystallinity, morphology and optical properties of the formed films. The properties of the films are then compared. Depending on the textiles used, the formed films can be amorphous or semi-crystalline, and can be rich in sulphur or near to stoichiometric. Accordingly, the normalised atomic percentages of Bi in the films range from 3.62% to 33.87%, and those of S range from 96.38% to 66.13%. The energy band gap value of the composites also varies depending on the textile substrate, ranging from Eg = 1.58 eV to Eg = 1.8 eV. These properties directly impact the films' applications.

Thin films of Ag2S were deposited at room temperature on non-oriented isotactic polypropylene substrates immersed in a bath mixture containing aqueous solutions of silver nitrate, AgNO3, for silver ion source, sodium thiosulfate, Na2S2O3, for sulfide ion source and as a complexing agent, and nitric acid, HNO3, for pH adjustment. Film samples were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and chemical analysis. XPS analysis confirmed that a layer of Ag2S was formed on the surface of the polypropylene film. The films were studied for their electrical conductivity and the results showed that the measured electrical sheet resistance depended on Ag : S ratio. A non-destructive millimeter wave analysis showed that distribution of Ag2S particles according to resistivity distribution on the PP samples area is homogenous.

Increasing photon absorption by capturing light is an important way to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. In this regard, the small optical band gap (E_g) and high absorption coefficient of Se-containing thin nanofilms make them ideal for next generation photovoltaic devices based on selenides. Amorphous selenium was introduced into polyamide-6 (PA 6) via a chemical synthesis in a bath and the influence of the products of its reaction with Cd²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions on the film phase composition, topographic and optical properties were evaluated. AFM data have revealed that the surface roughness of the a-Se/PA 6 composite noticeably increases compared to that of unreacted PA 6. However, at later stages of film deposition, the roughness decreases, and the thin film becomes smoother and uniform. The incorporation of solid inorganic nanoparticles into flexible polyamide network causes chain stretching, which has been confirmed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy data. The data of X-ray diffraction analysis, depending on the stage of synthesis, showed the crystalline composition of the film with peaks of Se₈, CdSe, Ag₂Se and Ag, which may explain the observed optical properties. The optical properties of the composites indicate a shift in the band gap from 4.46 eV for PA 6 to 2.23–1.64 eV upon the stepwise deposition of amorphous Se, CdSe and Ag₂Se. E_g is conveniently located in the visible region of solar energy, making the obtained nanofilms ideal for solar energy harvesting.

The aim of the research was to modify the surface of construction textiles by means of the use of thin silver oxide films, investigate the structure and optical and mechanical properties, and determine the structure, optical and mechanical properties of the aged composites. Thin films of silver oxide (Ag₂O) were synthesized on a flexible PET/PVC construction textile (CT); the structural, optical, and physical properties, as well as the effect of artificial aging on these properties, were investigated. The SILAR method (successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction) was used to synthesize thin Ag₂O films on the CT surface. Before the thin films were deposited, the CT surface was mechanically roughened and pretreated with acidic and alkaline solutions at an elevated temperature. XRD analysis showed that the deposited films were a polycrystalline mixed phase material consisting of Ag₂O, AgO, and metallic Ag. Diffuse reflectance spectra in the ultraviolet and visible ranges (UV-Vis) were used to study the optical properties of the deposited thin films. The synthesized Ag₂O/CT composites were direct-gap semiconductors (the optical band gap (E_g) was 0.89 ± 0.02 eV). E_g and refractive indices (n) increased as the aging tests were carried out. Higher E_g and n meant that the composites were a good material for optoelectronic applications. The results showed that, after modification, the structural properties and tear strength of the PET/PVC fabric remained the same while the tensile strength decreased. The same tendencies remained after artificial aging.

Increasing photon absorption by capturing light is an important way to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. In this regard, the small optical band gap (Eg) and high absorption coefficient of Se-containing thin nanofilms make them ideal for next generation photovoltaic devices based on selenides. This study reports on chemical synthesis processes in a bath for the insertion of amorphous selenium into polyamide-6 (PA 6) matrix and the effect of incorporation of Cd2+ and Ag+ on the structural, morphological and optical properties. The resulting films had a pyramidal structure of single crystals, nanosized particles of nonspecific shape, agglomerated and indistinct grains. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed the interaction between PA 6 and inorganic components, which causes obvious conformational changes in PA 6 chains. The data of X-ray diffraction analysis, depending on the stage of synthesis, showed a mixture of various compounds: Se8, CdSe, Ag2Se and Ag. This may explain the observed optical properties. The optical properties of the composites indicate a shift in the band gap from 4.46 eV for PA 6 to 2.23-1.64 eV upon stepwise insertion of amorphous Se, Cd2+ and Ag+ ions. Eg is conveniently located in the visible region of solar energy, making the obtained nanofilms ideal for solar energy harvesting.

Ag–Se nanostructure films were deposited on a–Se/nylon templates by a template-engaged reaction. Firstly, amorphous selenium (a–Se) was deposited on nylon by employing the chemical bath deposition method while using H₂SeO₃ and Na₂SO₃ solutions with an increasing selenium deposition time. Then, these a–Se/nylon templates were exposed into AgNO₃ solution at ambient temperature and pressure. The Ag–Se/nylon nanocomposites surface morphology, elemental and phase composition, and optical properties were monitored depending on the selenium deposition time on nylon. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the development of a very complex surface composed of pyramidal-like sub-micron structures, agglomerates, and grid-like structures. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) proved the presence of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, selenium, and silver. SEM/EDS cross-sectional analysis confirmed the multilayer character with different individual elemental composition in each film layer. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a polycrystalline Ag₂Se phase with or without metallic Ag. The RMS value obtained from atomic force microscopy varies from 25.82 nm to 57.04 nm. From the UV-Vis spectrophotometry, the direct optical band gaps were found to be 1.68–1.86 eV. Ag–Se/nylon composites exhibit high refractive indices in the near infrared region.

The article presents the results of studies of changes in the microstructure of the meat system as a whole and its protein component during freezing, subsequent defrosting, and storage of canned meat. Microstructural analysis of the prototypes showed the presence of several types of destruction of muscle fibers, loosening of collagen fiber bundles, and the formation of multiple cavities due to the action of ice crystals. The main components of sterilized canned meat had new characteristics after thawing, such as decreased transverse striations of muscle tissue fibers, loosening of myofibrils, changes in the size and shape of sarcomeres, violation of sarcolemma integrity, and multiple fiber fragmentation with the formation of a fine-grained protein mass. Freezing did not lead to a decrease in the content of the high-molecular-weight protein fraction of the nitrogen system, the ratio of the peptide fraction content to the residual nitrogen remained equal to 5.2. However, the ratio of non-protein nitrogen to total nitrogen decreased by 1.8 times due to the destruction of low-molecular-weight nitrogen under the action of ice crystals. The dynamics of the eh values of control and experimental canned food samples during storage indicated the loss of oxidative stability of the protein system of the samples subjected to freezing. Based on the results, we would like to recommend that logistic organizations sort and confirm canned meat safety and quality requirements after thawing in the case of unforeseen circumstances.