Applied Physics A最新文献

{"title":"Piezoresistive sensor with high sensitivity and wearable flexibility based on three-dimensional (3D) porous cavernous structure inspired by volcanic rock","authors":"Xinyue Cong,&nbsp;Yi Jiang,&nbsp;Hao Gu,&nbsp;Limei Zhang,&nbsp;Jiaming Wang,&nbsp;Xiqing Song,&nbsp;Yishan Yuan,&nbsp;Mingzhe Shan,&nbsp;Zhanqi Liu,&nbsp;Mengyang Shen","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09646-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09646-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>With the continuous advancement of Internet of Things(IoT) technology, flexible pressure sensors have been extensively researched as core components of wearable devices. However, achieving high sensitivity without compromising stability remains a challenge for most sensors. Inspired by volcanic stone, this paper reports a three-dimensional porous microstructural design termed \"volcanic stone\" and successfully fabricates a flexible porous piezoresistive sensor based on MWCNTs/PDMS using sugar cubes as a sacrificial template.The multi-layered structure formed by this method exhibits a large pore architecture on the scale of hundreds of micrometers. It features a hollow framework ranging from sub-micrometer to micrometer dimensions. Irregular pores are distributed across the skeleton, adding structural complexity at the microscale. ‌The arrangement of this structure is conducive to establishing a highly interconnected conductive network. The sensor can be used to monitor body motion and some subtle vital signs. Here, we demonstrate a flexible pressure sensor that has excellent stability and outstanding durability. Notably, it maintains a 95% cycle retention rate after 8,750 cycles and achieves ultrahigh sensitivity (up to 395.53 kPa⁻¹ at 0–9 kPa and 979.39 kPa⁻¹ at 9–14 kPa). The response and unloading times were both 200 ms. And it had excellent bending and torsion properties, with an elastic deformation of 400%. It significantly improves the monitoring performance and has broad application prospects in healthcare, human–computer interaction, and other fields.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of ablation rate and surface quality of in-air and underwater picosecond laser processing of tungsten carbide cobalt","authors":"Michał Ćwikła,&nbsp;Maurycy Kempa,&nbsp;Robert Dziedzic,&nbsp;Kacper Marciniak,&nbsp;Jacek Reiner,&nbsp;Adrian Zakrzewski","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09614-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09614-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the influence of the processing environment and laser parameters on the picosecond laser ablation of tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co), with a specific focus on underwater ultrafast laser processing. Experiments were conducted using 10 ps pulses to evaluate the effects of water layer thickness, focal plane position, laser fluence, and burst mode operation on ablation rate and surface morphology. Underwater processing significantly improved surface quality by suppressing plasma expansion, enhancing the ejection of molten material, and strongly reducing the formation of heat-affected zones (HAZ) and debris. A HAZ thickness was reduced by more than 85% compared to in-air processing for fluences up to 71.0 J/cm², and by 45–70% at higher fluences. The water layer thickness (1–5 mm) was found to have only a minor effect on the ablation rate. In contrast to in-air processing, underwater ablation produced smooth and more regular craters across all fluence levels, with no indications of thermal damage. Furthermore, underwater processing increased the ablation rate by up to ~ 75% compared with air processing, attributed to prolonged plasma confinement and enhanced plasma-assisted material removal. Burst mode operation exhibited opposite trends in the two environments: in air, increasing the number of sub-pulses improved the ablation rate due to heat accumulation and plasma reheating, whereas underwater, pulses in a burst interacted with the long-lived ablation plume and expanding cavitation bubble, reducing the effective fluence and thereby diminishing the ablation rate. Overall, the results provide new insights into ultrafast laser ablation mechanisms in liquids and demonstrate that underwater processing offers a superior balance between ablation performance and surface integrity for hard, refractory materials such as WC–Co.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of femtosecond laser surface treatment on the interfacial adhesion between carbon fiber and epoxy resin","authors":"Yuan-Chi Fan,&nbsp;Chung-Wei Cheng,&nbsp;Jia-Lin Tsai","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09645-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09645-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study systematically investigated the effectiveness of femtosecond laser modification in enhancing the interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers and an epoxy matrix. Both sized and desized T700 carbon fibers were treated using a femtosecond laser at fluences of 0.34 J/cm² and 0.85 J/cm², enabling a clear assessment of the individual and combined effects of surface sizing and laser processing on fiber surface morphology, tensile properties, and interfacial shear strength. Surface morphology of the treated fibers was characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and interfacial adhesion was quantitatively evaluated through microdroplet tests. FESEM observations revealed that femtosecond laser processing generated ablation zones on the carbon fiber surfaces compared to the smooth surface of untreated fibers. The ablation length increases as the intensity of fluence increases. The microdroplet test results indicated that conventional sizing treatment alone increased the interfacial shear strength by approximately 10%. In contrast, femtosecond laser surface treatment resulted in a significant enhancement in interfacial shear strength of desized fiber up to 35.8%. Furthermore, when laser treatment was combined with fiber sizing, the interfacial shear strength improvement reached approximately 50%. These results demonstrate that femtosecond laser surface modification is an effective approach for enhancing interfacial adhesion between the carbon fiber and epoxy matrix.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00339-026-09645-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural, magnetic, and optical properties of (Ni + Fe)-Doped ZnO thin films for spintronic applications","authors":"M. Souissi,&nbsp;G. Schmerber","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09594-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09594-z","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;This work reports the synthesis and characterization of undoped ZnO and (Ni + Fe)-doped ZnO thin films deposited on glass substrates via the sol-gel method and spin coating technique. Zinc acetate dihydrate, ferric nitrate nonahydrate, and nickel(II) nitrate hexahydrate were used as precursors for Zn, Fe, and Ni, respectively, with monoethanolamine (MEA) acting as a stabilizing agent. The films were annealed at 550 °C to ensure crystallization. They were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry at 2 K and 300 K, ZFC-FC (zero field cooled – field cooled) measurements, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD results confirmed the formation of the hexagonal wurtzite structure for both undoped and (Ni + Fe)-doped ZnO films. No secondary crystalline phases were detected within the detection limit of the technique, suggesting that the dopant ions are largely incorporated into the ZnO lattice, although the presence of nanoscale secondary phases below the XRD detection threshold cannot be completely excluded. Doping led to an increase in the average crystallite size, from 25 nm in un-doped ZnO to 39 nm in the Zn&lt;sub&gt;0.94&lt;/sub&gt;Fe&lt;sub&gt;0.03&lt;/sub&gt;Ni&lt;sub&gt;0.03&lt;/sub&gt;O film. A corresponding decrease in lattice microstrain (ϵ) was also observed, suggesting reduced internal strain and enhanced crystallinity induced by Fe–Ni co-doping. SEM observations revealed a clear change in surface morphology, with larger and more densely packed grains observed upon doping, suggesting enhanced crystallite growth due to the presence of Ni and Fe. SQUID measurements revealed a weak but reproducible ferromagnetic-like hysteretic response at room temperature in the (Ni + Fe)-doped ZnO films, attributed to magnetic interactions between the dopant ions (Ni²⁺ and Fe³⁺) and the host matrix. At 300 K, the saturation magnetization (Ms) for x = 0.01 was approximately 5.97 emu/cm³, while for x = 0.03, Ms increased to 8.64 emu/cm³ under a maximum applied field of 7 T (70 kOe). The coercivity values derived from the hysteresis loops were relatively low (≈ 10 Oe), indicating soft ferromagnetic behavior. At 2 K, a significant increase in Ms was observed, with values reaching approximately 23.4 emu/cm³ (x = 0.01) and 26.7 emu/cm³ (x = 0.03), under similar field conditions. ZFC-FC curves showed no distinct separation, with analysis of irreversible magnetization revealing a freezing temperature near 20 K, suggesting the presence of complex magnetic interactions that may originate from disordered magnetic clusters or defect-mediated exchange interactions. PL spectra exhibited a strong near-band-edge (NBE) emission in the ultraviolet region, corresponding to the intrinsic bandgap of ZnO, along with visible emissions associated with defect states. Doping with (Ni + Fe) affected the intensity and position of these emissions, resulting in significant quenching","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tunneling control of horizontal and vertical photonic spin hall shifts in quantum dots","authors":"Abdul Majeed,&nbsp;Amir Ali,&nbsp;Zeeshan Ali,&nbsp;Zareen A. Khan","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09647-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09647-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Controlling the vertical and horizontal photonic spin Hall shift (PSHS) of right and left polarized beams is of great importance for applications in precision sensing, all-optical information processing, and quantum plasmonic technologies. The spin-orbit interaction of light causes the PSHS, which manifests as polarization-dependent beam changes upon reflection at material interfaces. In this work, we develop a coherent control approach based on tunneling-induced transparency (TIT) in (In,Ga)As/GaAs double quantum dot (DQD) system coupled to a plasmonic interface. The reflection-coefficient ratios serve as key indicators of the underlying dynamics. The ratios <span>(r_s/r_p)</span>, and <span>(r_p/r_s)</span> are reported in the range as <span>(0le |r_{s,p}/r_{p,s}|le 400)</span>. The maximum right and left-handed polarized vertical and horizontal PSHS beam is reported as <span>(-45lambda le S_{h,v}^{(pm )}le +45lambda )</span>. The strong correlation between spin-dependent displacements and reflection ratios is demonstrated by these numerical measures. Furthermore, tunneling frequency has two functions: it broadens and stabilizes the response while suppressing acute oscillatory features, increasing the amplitude and robustness of the shifts over a large parameter space. It is observed that the PSHS of <span>(S_{h}^{(-)})</span> and <span>(S_{v}^{(+)})</span> decreases while <span>(S_{h}^{(+)})</span> and <span>(S_{v}^{(-)})</span> increases along Rabi frequency <span>(Omega _m)</span>. TIT-enabled DQDs provide a versatile and flexible platform for reconfigurable spin-orbit photonics by enabling coherent control of both horizontal and vertical PSHS through tunneling, detuning, and coherent driving. The obtained results may have important applications in photonic components, including ultrasensitive sensors, low-power modulators, next-generation nanoscale sensors, optical switches, quantum plasmonic devices and active quantum plasmonic circuits.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Composition dependent interfacial evaporation and heat transfer of HFE-7000/HFE-7200 mixtures on copper: a molecular dynamics study","authors":"Chunjie Yang,&nbsp;Xianfeng Zhu,&nbsp;Guangyi Zhang,&nbsp;Gui Pan,&nbsp;Xingchuan Wang","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09644-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09644-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The evaporation and boiling behaviors of zeotropic HFE-7000/HFE-7200 mixtures on a Cu surface were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the atomistic mechanisms of phase-change heat transfer. Five systems, including pure HFE-7000, pure HFE-7200, and three binary mixtures with molar ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2, were studied at 280, 330, 380, and 430 K. The results show that HFE-7000 evaporates faster than HFE-7200, whereas increasing the HFE-7200 fraction suppresses excessive evaporation and improves process stability. At 430 K, pure HFE-7000 exhibited film boiling after approximately 1000 ps, while the addition of HFE-7200 effectively alleviated this phenomenon. Two adsorption layers were identified near the Cu surface, and the first layer showed solid-like behavior with little change under different conditions. Energy analysis further indicated that HFE-7200 molecules generally possess higher total energy and stronger heat absorption capability than HFE-7000 molecules. Among all systems, the HFE-7000:HFE-7200 = 2:1 mixture achieved the best balance between evaporation rate and heat transfer stability. These findings provide molecular-level guidance for optimizing dielectric mixtures for two-phase immersion cooling.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of sintering temperature on the structural and luminescent properties of CaMoO4 phosphor","authors":"Santhanam B,&nbsp;Aravindh M,&nbsp;Saravanakumar S,&nbsp;Sivakumar V,&nbsp;Sangeetha L,&nbsp;Shashikant P. Patole","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09623-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09623-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Calcium molybdate (CaMoO₄) green-emitting phosphors were synthesized via the co-precipitation method, subsequently sintered at different temperatures (100–900 °C) in order to study the influence of sintering conditions on their structural, morphological, and luminescent properties. The phase-pure tetragonal scheelite-type structure is identified and confirmed using Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Green emission at ~ 500 nm is observed, which can be related to charge transfer transitions of the <span>(:{MoO}_{4}^{2-})</span> tetrahedral groups. The highest intensity of the emission peak is observed for the phosphor prepared by sintering at 800 °C for 2 h. The morphological and XPS analyses confirm the uniform growth of the phosphors and the elemental composition. Thus, it is elucidated that CaMoO₄ phosphors prepared and sintered at 800 °C for 2 h have good luminescent properties, which can be used for optoelectronic device applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface nanostructuring of SLM Ti6Al4V and Al10SiMg alloys with 10 keV argon ions","authors":"D. S. Kireev,&nbsp;A. A. Tatarintsev,&nbsp;K. F. Minnebaev,&nbsp;D. R. Bessmertny,&nbsp;M. D. Buruto,&nbsp;R. Kh. Khisamov,&nbsp;A. E. Ieshkin","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09640-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09640-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Additive manufacturing (AM) provides a way for obtaining complex-shape products with reduced expenses, while the bulk and surface structure of AM alloys can drastically differ from traditional ones and require for additional tuning. The work was aimed to investigation of surface topography evolution on the surface of AM Ti6Al4V and AlSi10Mg alloys induced by 10 keV argon ions and compare it with conventionally prepared Ti6Al4V. Ar⁺ ions were directed along surface normal, at either 45° or 60°. The topography evolution up to 10¹⁸ ion/cm² was followed and matched with the samples microstructure determined by electron backscattered diffraction. The sputtering yields of AM alloys were found to align with those of pure Ti and Al, indicating minimal structural influence on sputtering efficiency. Surface analysis revealed distinct topography patterns: under normal incidence, Ti6Al4V developed porous networks evolving into conical structures, while AlSi10Mg exhibited a sponge-like morphology due to blistering and redeposition. Inclined irradiation produced terraces and spikes on Ti6Al4V, with orientations influenced by crystallographic directions, whereas AlSi10Mg displayed cell-like structures and silicon-enriched features. The topography evolution had the same pattern for AM and traditional Ti6Al4V within a grain (nanostructure), though the shape and size of the crystallites were different for the alloys (microstructure). On the contrary, the structure specific for an AM AlSi10Mg influenced the topography inside its grains.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perfect and pure spin-current in altermagnetic nanoribbons with impurity/defect","authors":"Yanling Yang,&nbsp;Chunxu Bai","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09570-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09570-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Altermagnets, a newly recognized magnetic phase, combine the advantages of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, exhibiting spin-split bands and time-reversal symmetry breaking without net magnetization. In this work, we investigate quantum transport in <i>d-</i>wave altermagnetic nanoribbons with impurities or defects using both analytical transfer matrix methods and numerical simulations via the Kwant package. We reveal that in the 45° orientation relative to the transport axis, the interplay between altermagnetic field and multiple impurities induces a strong spin-dependent interference, leading to a perfect and pure spin current—where the spin-up transmission approaches unity while spin-down transmission vanishes—without relying on spin–orbit coupling or external magnetic fields. This effect is tunable via impurity/defect geometry and nanoribbon width, offering a scalable route for all-electrical spin current generation and spin-logic applications in emerging altermagnetic materials.</p><p> <b>PACS numbers:</b> 75.50.Ee, 72.10.Fk, 72.25.−b</p></div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Band edge position engineering of WO₃ via Zr doping toward enhanced hydrogen evolution: a DFT and experimental study","authors":"Muhammad Sajjad,&nbsp;H. A. Qayyum,&nbsp;Tanvir Hussain,&nbsp;Joun Ali Faraz,&nbsp;Sana Zulfiqar","doi":"10.1007/s00339-026-09595-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00339-026-09595-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Tungsten trioxide (WO₃) is a chemically robust, visible light active semiconductor, but its conduction band minimum (CBM) lies below the H₂/H⁺ redox potential, which severely limits its capability for photocatalytic water splitting. In this work, we engineered the band gap and band edge positions of WO₃ by zirconium (Zr) doping and investigated them using a combined theoretical and experimental approach. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the HSE03 hybrid functional predict that 12.5% Zr-doping in WO₃ widens the band gap and shifts the CBM upward by 0.9 eV relative to the H₂/H⁺ potential, thereby improving the thermodynamic feasibility for hydrogen evolution. ZrₓW_1-xO₃ (x = 0.00–0.12) thin films synthesized via solgel spin coating exhibit a band gap increase from 2.84 to 3.40 eV with systematic band-edge shifts. XRD analysis confirms monoclinic WO₃ with systematic peak shifts toward higher angles, indicating successful Zr incorporation, while SEM reveals reduced grain size and improved surface morphology leading to enhanced anodic photocurrent response. Keywords: WO₃; Zr doping; band edge alignment; DFT; sol-gel; photoelectrochemical water splitting; hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":473,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics A","volume":"132 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}