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Check out the latest publication from CoCooN introducing a new plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) process for depositing high-quality gallium (III) sulfide (Ga2S3) sulfide thin films. Ga2S3 possesses immense potential in the context of energy storage and optoelectronic applications. The traditional thermal ALD processes for Ga2S3 have often yielded amorphous, nonstoichiometric films with unwanted contaminants. In stark contrast, the new PE-ALD process, employing the hexakis(dimethylamido)digallium precursor and H2S plasma co-reactant, produces crystalline Ga2S3 films at a low temperature of 125°C. These films are smooth, stoichiometric, and free from carbon and oxygen impurities. A detailed characterization reveals their cubic crystal structure with a preferred orientation, along with a bandgap of 3.2eV.

Daniely Reis Santos recently published in collaboration with dr. Sudhanshu Shukla and prof. Bart Vermang  a review on the crystal and energetic structure, optoelectronic properties, recent advances in synthesis methods, and experimental realization of devices based on CBS-based devices. the Cu₃BiS₃ compound exhibits excellent optical absorption characteristics and suitable bandgap for solar cell and photoelectrochemical applications. CBS offers new opportunities for both domains. Although photovoltage limitations have hampered the development of CBS-based solar cells, promising results on photoelectrochemical water splitting have opened new avenues. More complex photoelectrochemical reactions, such as CO₂ reduction can be targeted with modified interfaces and surfaces. Nevertheless, fundamental studies with innovative device designs are required to fully harness the potential of the CBS absorber. The development of an effective and stable visible light active photocatalyst is crucial to achieve high efficiency in (photo)electrochemical reactions.

Beatriz De La Fuente recently presented her work at the 13^th International Symposium on “Scientific Bases for the Preparation of Heterogeneous Catalysts” (PREPA13) in Louvain-La-Neuve held from the 9^th to the 13^th of July. She presented her poster on “The importance of physicochemical material characterization of catalytic materials for integrated photo- and electrochemical CO₂ conversion processes”. The presented work was multidisciplinary and involved the SURF, ELCAT and LADCA Groups from the SYNCAT project as well as the Photonics Department (BPHOT) from VUB. It proposes a valuable methodology for band diagram tracing from Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy spectra and provides new insights in the relationship between synthesis, electronic properties and visible light absorption of TiO₂/Cu₂O junctions for photocatalytic applications by a combination of surface sensitive techniques and optical absorption studies.

Divyansh Khurana, from the research group cMACS, presented his work at the 243rd ECS meeting on the ‘Reversible Redox Probes to Determine the Band Edge Locations for Nano-TiO2’ as part of the symposium on ‘Processes at the Semiconductor/Solution interface’. The work discusses an alternate strategy to the Mott-Schottky procedure for obtaining nano-semiconductor band edge positions in solutions. During this conference, Divyansh had the opportunity to co-chair the session with prof. Vidhya Chakrapani from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY,USA). Furthermore, he had the pleasure of being one of the student ambassadors at the conference.

Femi Mathew, from the research group CoCooN, presented her work at the EuroCVD/Baltic conference 2023 on the ‘Tin and Indium Sulfide by Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition for CO2 Electroreduction’ in Leuven, Belgium. This work was in collaboration with Nithin Poonkottil, Geert Rampelberg, Nick Daems, Jonas Hereijgers, Zeger Hens, Tom Breugelmans, Christophe Detavernier, and Jolien Dendooven.

Bjorn Joos and Nele Debusschere, from the research group DESINe, presented their posters at the MATSUS conference on ‘Materials for sustainable development’ in Valencia, Spain. The poster of Bjorn Joos was awarded for the best poster presentation in the category of ‘Advances in inorganic thin film semiconductors for solar energy conversion: From photovoltaics to solar fuels’. Thanks to their new insights, we now have new synthesis procedures  and insights for electrocatalysts and photocatalysts, which will be beneficial for further steps in the understanding of new photocatalysts for the SYN-CAT project.