Materials Science and Engineering: B最新文献

{"title":"Vibrational and impedance analysis of the β-stannic acid doped by sulfuric acid","authors":"A.I. Karelin ,&nbsp;R.V. Pisarev ,&nbsp;N.N. Dremova ,&nbsp;S.E. Nadkhina ,&nbsp;G.V. Shilov ,&nbsp;A.V. Pisareva ,&nbsp;Y.A. Dobrovolsky","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glassy transparent gel electrolyte and powder non-transparent samples based on the hydrated tin dioxide (<em>β</em>–stannic acid) and sulfuric acid were obtained. Their structure was studied using ATR FTIR (Attenuated total reflection, Fourier transform infrared), Raman XRPD (X-ray powder diffraction) and SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and proton conductivity by Impedance spectroscopy. Vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction data showed that water molecules, hydrogen ions and HSO₄⁻ anions fill the pores of stannic acid. As a result, an adsorption-type compound of variable composition is formed. The DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) method showed that about ∼15 wt% of water is removed at ∼100 °C and then the removal of more tightly bound water begins. Dehydration of gel electrolytes occurs up to ∼600 °C; above this temperature, decomposition occurs with the release of sulfur oxides. The proton conductivity of gel electrolytes obtained depends on the sulfuric acid content and environmental humidity. The maximum value reaches 1 × 10⁻¹ S/cm and approaches the conductivity of an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119268"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crystal phase and morphology tuning of tungsten oxide nanomaterials for robust asymmetric supercapacitor and its temperature-dependent electrochemical investigations","authors":"Harishchandra S. Nishad ,&nbsp;Rajesh Jaiswar ,&nbsp;Bhushan J. Ajgaonkar ,&nbsp;Bhimarao M. Patil ,&nbsp;Pravin S. Walke","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing universal demand for rapid energy storage solutions is driven by the requirement of superior power capability and prolonged lifespan in enormous applications, such as electric vehicles, regenerative braking, memory devices, and grid stabilization. However, electrochemical supercapacitors based on tungsten trioxide (WO₃) nanomaterials, owing to their unique properties, effectively fulfil the demand of high-power output and longer life. Nevertheless, WO₃ based negative electrodes face challenges involving limited electrical conductivity and degradation of structure during cycling. To address above limitations, the performance of nanomaterial significantly influenced by tuning of the crystal structure and morphology via well controlled synthesis, without extra-modifications. Here, we have investigated the modification of crystal structure and crystallinity of WO₃ by regulating hydrothermal reaction times. We have prepared WO₃·H₂O and WO₃ by a single step hydrothermal process at 3 h and 6 h respectively. The three electrode measurements of WO₃·H₂O and WO₃ in 1 M H₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte exhibits the specific capacitance of 43 F g⁻¹ (WO₃·H₂O), and 74 F g⁻¹ (WO₃) at 2 A g⁻¹ respectively. Additionally, the temperature dependent electrochemical performed of WO₃ is estimated. Further, an asymmetric device using WO₃ as negative and activate carbon as positive electrode showed a specific capacitance value of 21 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹, maintaining 93% capacitance after 10,000 cycles at 100 mV s⁻¹. The study demonstrates that reaction time plays a crucial role in controlling the structure and morphology of WO₃ nanostructures for prospective energy storage applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119279"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of pin-to-plate plasma on the TENG properties of electrospun PCL-Ag/PA6,6 core-sheath yarns","authors":"Ryan Walden ,&nbsp;Syamini Jayadevan ,&nbsp;Akshaya Kumar Aliyana ,&nbsp;Irthasa Aazem ,&nbsp;Tatiana Perova ,&nbsp;Steven Hinder ,&nbsp;George K. Stylios ,&nbsp;Suresh C. Pillai","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the demand for self-powered wearable electronics and smart textiles accelerates, the development of high-performance, flexible, lightweight, energy harvesting materials with optimized electroactive surface properties has become a critical focus. Electrospun nanofibrous yarns became a promising candidate for such applications due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio and inherent flexibility. However, their surface chemistry and morphology often limit charge generation and transfer efficiency. For more efficient and responsive energy harvesting materials, surface modification of electrospun fibers is critical. Plasma treatment offers a solvent-free, tuneable, and scalable approach to modifying surface functionalities with nanoscale precision without compromising the bulk integrity of the fibers. In this study, we present a novel TENG architecture based on electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)-Ag/polyamide 6,6 (PA6,6) core-sheath yarns, with property enhanced through a pin-to-plate plasma (PTP) surface treatment applied for the first time to this material system. A modified funnel-based electrospinning technique (NanoTwist Spinning) was employed to fabricate core-sheath yarns, in which a conductive Ag/PA6,6 core was encapsulated within a dielectric sheath of PCL fibers. These yarns were subsequently plasma-treated systematically investigate the TENG performance varying voltage parameters and treatment time. Comprehensive surface characterisation <em>via</em> FE-SEM, Raman, ATR-FTIR, and XPS revealed increased surface roughness, oxidation, and polymer crystallinity with longer plasma exposure. This nanoscale modifications directly translated to improved TENG performance, with the PTP-15 sample achieving a peak output of 113.6 V at a force of frequency of 10 Hz and a force of 20 N, a substantial enhancement over untreated samples (65.9 V). Plasma treatments can also have a noticeable impact on current measurements depending on treatment times. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of plasma treatment in optimising the electrospun nanofiber materials for next-generation energy harvesting fabrics demonstrated by the lighting of LEDs. Beyond TENG applications, this approach opens new avenues for scalable, flexible, and eco-friendly power sources in wearable electronics and smart textile systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119258"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wearable cooling device with integrated contact cooling and thermoelectric energy harvesting","authors":"Junheon Lee,&nbsp;Jihoon Park,&nbsp;Taekyeong Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119267","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents the design and fabrication of a lightweight, flexible, and wearable cooling device that combines both active contact cooling and thermoelectric energy harvesting. Unlike conventional thermoelectric modules that are rigid and require bulky heat sinks or fans, the present work demonstrates a fully flexible TPU-embedded module in which heat dissipation is achieved by integrating phase change materials, enabling a compact and truly wearable architecture. A key originality of this study is that the structure–performance relationships of thermoelectric pellets are systematically established by independently controlling particle spacing, conductor–semiconductor junction area, distance between hot and cold sides, and applied current, providing practical design guidelines for high-performance wearable thermoelectric systems. Adopting the optimized parameters, a 3 × 3 pellet array was assembled within a thermoplastic polyurethane film and applied as a wearable module. The device weighed 11.66 g and was 2.35 mm thick, rendering it suitably lightweight and thin for wearable applications. It achieved a cooling capacity of approximately 4–5 °C at the cold side and generated a potential difference of up to 0.7 mV at skin temperature (33 °C), sustaining about 0.3 mV after 100 s. These results demonstrate that a single flexible module can coexistently deliver Peltier cooling and Seebeck energy harvesting, highlighting its potential for next-generation wearable thermal management systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119267"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146189933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the potential of BmImTFSI-functionalized poly (acrylic acid)-based ionogel polymer electrolyte for electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) application","authors":"Kar Kien Ong ,&nbsp;Yongqi Zhang ,&nbsp;Haiyang Liao ,&nbsp;H.K. Jun ,&nbsp;Chiam-Wen Liew","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ionogel polymer electrolytes (IGPEs) comprising of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) /lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI)/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (BmImTFSI) were prepared by solution casting technique. Upon addition of 35 wt% BmImTFSI, PAA-based IGPE exhibits the maximum ionic conductivity of (12.6 ± 0.01) mS/cm at ambient temperature and follows the Arrhenius theory. Incorporation of BmImTFSI into the PAA matrix decreases the glass transition temperature to −7.8 °C, as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study. XRD showed reduced degree of crystallinity of 47% upon addition of 35 wt% BmImTFSI. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was performed to study the morphological information of the IGPEs. Upon the incorporation of the ionic liquid into the PAA backbone, there is a slight increase in electrochemical stability window to 3.67 V and an improvement in thermal stability up to 200 °C, as proven by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. FTIR analysis proves the coordination interaction between PAA, LiTFSI and BmImTFSI in the IGPE. An electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) cell was thus fabricated using the highest conducting IGPE and two identical carbon-based electrodes. The resulting EDLC cell shows better electrochemical performance than that of BmImTFSI-free GPE. Upon the addition of BmImTFSI to the IGPEs, the EDLC shows an increase in specific capacitance to 67 F/g, as illustrated by cyclic voltammetry studies. The results obtained are in good agreement with GCD findings. The fabricated EDLC shows its specific discharge capacitance of 181 F/g, power density of 907 W/kg and energy density of 50 Wh/kg.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119230"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-perturbative method for spin-Hamiltonian parameters and its applications to Co2+ ions in CaF2 and CdTe","authors":"Jin Xin Lei","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To date, perturbation calculation remains the most commonly used method for calculations of the spin Hamiltonian parameters of 3d<span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup></math></span> ions in most cases. In this paper, the spin Hamiltonian parameters are studied in a non-perturbative scheme. This scheme does not depend on any interaction model and is applicable to all 3d<span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup></math></span> ions in C<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and higher symmetries. The method is applied to study the high order spin Hamiltonian parameters of Co<span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup></math></span> ions in CaF<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and CdTe within the framework of molecular orbit scheme and the complete energy diagonalization procedure. The local structure, the optical fine spectra and the high order spin Hamiltonian parameters of Co<span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup></math></span> ions embedded in CaF<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and CdTe are explained uniformly.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119211"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HA@UiO-66-NH2 hybrid composite: A water stable MOF for efficient CO2 uptake and antibiotic pollutant degradation","authors":"Linh Ho Thuy Nguyen ,&nbsp;Vinh Phuoc Nguyen ,&nbsp;Quyen Toan Pham ,&nbsp;Binh Thien Pham ,&nbsp;Thy Minh Ngoc Nguyen ,&nbsp;Tan Le Hoang Doan","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functionalization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with biopolymers provides an effective strategy to tailor interfacial chemistry while preserving framework integrity. In this study, UiO-66-NH₂ was successfully functionalized with hyaluronic acid (HA) to form a hybrid composite, HA@UiO-66-NH₂. Comprehensive structural, spectroscopic, and thermal analyses confirm that the crystalline framework of UiO-66-NH₂ remains intact after HA incorporation, while polymer anchoring increases particle size and introduces a characteristic HA-related thermal decomposition step. HA functionalization slightly narrows the optical band gap (from 3.65 to 3.55 eV), indicating a modified electronic environment. Although partial pore occupation leads to a reduced N₂ uptake, the CO₂ adsorption capacity increases markedly from 1.5 to 2.5 mmol g¹ at 273 K, accompanied by enhanced selectivity and more uniform adsorption energetics. In aqueous systems, HA@UiO-66-NH₂ exhibits improved hydrophilicity, structural stability, and significantly enhanced tetracycline removal through a synergistic combination of adsorption and H₂O₂ assisted catalytic degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119270"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effective visible-light-driven oxidative desulfurization of thiophene over Li2MnO3-doped Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst","authors":"Soad Z. Alsheheri ,&nbsp;Mohamed Mokhtar M. Mostafa ,&nbsp;Soliman I. El-Hout","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combustion of fuels containing sulfur can cause harmful consequences for human health, animal life, and ecosystems. To address this issue, desulfurization methods have been studied to produce fuels with extremely low sulfur content. Photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization, in particular, has gained significant interest due to its effectiveness and eco-friendly nature. However, this technique requires the use of high-performance nanostructured photocatalysts that possess an appropriate bandgap energy, a low rate of electron-hole recombination, and strong long-term stability. Bismuth molybdate (Bi₂MoO₆) shows excellent photocatalytic performance due to its visible-light response and good stability in water. In this work, mesoporous Bi₂MoO₆ nanostructures were prepared through a sol-gel/calcination method and modulated by adding narrow-bandgap Li₂MnO₃ nanoparticles (3.0–12.0 wt%). The photocatalytic activity under visible light was evaluated by performing oxidative desulfurization of thiophene as a model industrial sulfur compound. Adjustment of the weight content of Li₂MnO₃ and the catalyst loading, the complete oxidation of thiophene can be obtained with a kinetic rate constant of 0.02318 min⁻¹, which is about 4.4 times than of that pure Bi₂MoO₆ in 135 min of irradiation. Moreover, the nanocomposite was highly stable and reusable in repeated runs, indicating its potential for large-scale applications. This work offers a general platform for application to the treatment of sulfur-containing waste and the solar-driven production of fine chemicals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119277"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146189928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual modification of Fe/nickel foam by interface engineering and low-loading Pt for enhanced overall water splitting","authors":"Ruiling Hu ,&nbsp;Lingping Jiang ,&nbsp;Yaxin Wang ,&nbsp;Aoxing Zhao ,&nbsp;Min Zhao ,&nbsp;Congrong Wang ,&nbsp;Miao Zhang ,&nbsp;Lei Yang ,&nbsp;Wanbing Gong ,&nbsp;Jianguo Lv","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rational design and construction of inexpensive and efficient bi-functional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are crucial for overall water splitting (OWS). In this study, bifunctional electrocatalyst Pt-Fe₂O₃/FeO/NF-0.01 (Pt-Fe/NF-0.01) was prepared via the two-step electrodeposition method. The stacking of interlaced nanosheetson as well as Pt modification can increase the active sites and expose them, transfer matter and charge as well as reduce adsorption energy of different intermediates, thus enhancing HER and OER of Pt-Fe/NF-0.01, which just needs 122 and 172 mV to attain 100 mA cm⁻² in 1 M KOH solution. The assembled cell using Pt-Fe/NF-0.01 both as cathode and anode can achieve 10 and 100 mA cm⁻² at low voltage of 1.41 and 1.56 V, much lower than those of Pt/C//IrO₂:RuO₂ (1.54 @10 mA cm⁻² and 1.77 @100 mA cm⁻²). The electric potential decay of the Pt-Fe/NF-0.01/ Pt-Fe/NF-0.01 cell can be ignored after continuous reaction at 100 mA cm⁻² for 48 h. This study points out the direction for constructing inexpensive and efficient bi-functional electrocatalysts for OWS devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119220"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optoelectronic investigation of plasmon-enhanced silicon thin-film solar cells: effect of nanoparticles geometry, periodic density, embedding position, and dielectric environment on device performance","authors":"Arnab Panda ,&nbsp;Kanik Palodhi ,&nbsp;D.V. Prashant ,&nbsp;Sachchidanand ,&nbsp;Mukesh K. Sahu ,&nbsp;Yagyadatta Goswami","doi":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mseb.2026.119253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thin-film silicon solar cells are potential for cost-effective photovoltaics, but their application is significantly limited due to poor optical absorption and limited photogeneration rates at sub-micron active layers. To overcome this, advanced light-harvesting techniques are being studied, plasmonic light trapping via metal nanostructures has emerged as a promising technique to improve the optical absorption and carrier generation via coupling the incident spectrum into localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR). This phenomenon enhances the induced electromagnetic filed at the metal-semiconductor interface, leads to improved photon trapping in the absorber layer and overall photocurrent. The tuneability of plasmonic behaviour, through parametric optimization of nanoparticle diameter, shape, periodic distribution, and dielectric environment, provides a very essential degree of freedom for optimizing the overall performance of the solar cells. In this study, silver coated polystyrene (AgPs) core-shell metal nanoparticles are incorporated into a sub-micron crystalline silicon absorber layer, where their plasmonic properties ensures effective light trapping while maintaining reduced absorber layer thickness. By systematically tuning the nanoparticles size, orientation, periodic density, and their placement within the absorber layer, we have optimized the optoelectronic performance of the proposed design. In comparison to an untextured, ARC-free planar silicon solar cell, the proposed design has achieved 43.30% much higher PCE with an excellent short-circuit current density (<span><math><msub><mi>j</mi><msub><mi>SC</mi><mi>Prac</mi></msub></msub></math></span>) of 29.95 mA/cm², an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.61 V, and Fill factor (FF) of 82.16%, under AM 1.5G solar illumination. These findings highlight the effectiveness of plasmon engineered nanostructures for overcoming optical losses in sub-micron absorber layers, and also offers a scalable and material-efficient strategy for future next-generation solar cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18233,"journal":{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering: B","volume":"327 ","pages":"Article 119253"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}