Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Truffle mediated preparation of bacterial culture medium and mycosynthesis of titanium oxide nanoparticles loaded with polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate aerogel beads for antibacterial activity","authors":"Layth L. Hamid,&nbsp;Hanan Hamed,&nbsp;Abdulbaset Mohammed Al-Fahdawi,&nbsp;Saja L. Hamid,&nbsp;Thamer Y. Mutter,&nbsp;Hameed Hussein Ali","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06541-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06541-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>By understanding the nutritional requirements for pathogenic bacteria, researchers can effectively cultivate and study them as well as explore potential antimicrobial agents that may combat them. A new bacterial culture medium was prepared using a cost-effective and available type of fungus, <i>Terfezia spp</i>. At the same time and using the green method, titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) were mycosynthesized using the same fungus. In a novel manner, the TiO₂ NPs were loaded into polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate (PVA/SA/TiO₂ NPs) aerogel beads, which were prepared using the sol-gel method and freeze-drying cycle. These nanocomposite aerogel beads were characterized using several techniques such as UV-vis, FTIR, SEM, and XRD. Bacterial growth analysis showed successful growth of all pathogenic bacterial samples on the <i>Terfezia spp</i>. culture medium. The UV-vis analysis for PVA/SA/TiO₂ NPs exhibiting a characteristic peak within 260–290 nm. FTIR characterization demonstrated the successful mycosynthesis of TiO₂ NPs using <i>Terfezia spp</i>. and interaction between the TiO₂ NPs and polymer. SEM revealed the TiO₂ NPs had spherical morphology with an average size around 38 nm while the aerogel bead surface showed a uniform nanoporous structure. XRD analysis indicated the TiO₂ NPs was incorporated into the PVA/SA matrix. The mycosynthesized TiO₂ NPs exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacterial strains, with zones of inhibition ranging between 24–34 mm, while the antimicrobial activity of the PVA/SA/TiO₂ NPs aerogel beads ranged between 12–20 mm, as indicated by the well diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the TiO₂ NPs was found to range between 16–64 μg/mL, while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined to be between 8–32 μg/mL for the tested pathogenic bacterial strains. Growth kinetics testing showed that the PVA/SA/TiO₂ NPs aerogel beads exhibited complete inhibition against all pathogenic bacterial strains, in contrast to the pure PVA/SA aerogel beads. The antibacterial performance was directly related to the loading of the TiO₂ NPs in the polymer matrix. Finally, the enhanced antibacterial activity of these nanocomposite aerogel beads suggests they could be utilized for antibacterial materials and biomedical applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 2","pages":"512 - 523"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142256240","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":"Multifunctional zinc oxide nanoparticles: investigating antifungal, cytotoxic, and oxidative properties","authors":"Hossein Javid,&nbsp;Hamed Amiri,&nbsp;Seyedeh Fatemeh Hashemi,&nbsp;Amirali Reihani,&nbsp;Ali Mehri,&nbsp;Seyed Isaac Hashemy","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06531-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06531-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this research endeavor, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized employing a sol–gel process, using a zinc nitrate salt, followed by calcination at 600 °C, to yield a final product in the form of a white powder. Characterization of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was accomplished using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern analysis, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles against the SW480 colorectal cancer cell line was investigated using the Resazurin cell viability assay. Oxidative activity assessment involved reactive oxygen species measurement, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) tests. Additionally, the antifungal effects against <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> were evaluated, and minimum inhibitory concentration values at 50% and 90% inhibition were determined.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 2","pages":"524 - 532"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142256308","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":"A brief history and prospects of sodium silicate-based aerogel - a review","authors":"Askwar Hamanjida Hilonga","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06543-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06543-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This review paper, <i>A Brief History and Prospects of Sodium Silicate-Based Aerogel</i>, aims to attract junior researchers and/or students interested in investing time and other resources to harness the overriding potential of silica aerogel. It will also invigorate the field experts for quick reference and areas of growth. This review provides solid evidence that the prospects for aerogel-based water treatment solutions and other potential applications are very optimistic than ever before. Early reports from the 1930s are reflected on, and current efforts are critically examined. Aerogel is a highly porous nanomaterial with more than 90% of its pores filled with air and can be assembled into nano-scale structures suitable for various applications. Current efforts in 2023 and 2024 include improving optical transmission through ambient pressure treatment to produce aerogels using a two-step sole-gel procedure and enable large scale industrial production/application. Historically, efforts have been made to improve the following aspects: (i) precursor preparation, (ii) gelation, (iii) aging, and (iv) drying. This brief review article intends to demonstrate the efforts made to: (i) synthesize a unique material (aerogels) with interesting properties using supercritical drying method; (ii) overcome the challenges caused by supercritical drying; (iii) modify the surface of a wet silica film prior to ambient pressure drying; (iv) regenerate the ion-exchange resin; (v) develop a single step sole-gel process to form a gel; (vi) synthesize optically transparent silica aerogels; (vii) prepare silica aerogel with the largest surface area by methods that are versatile, cost-effective, and not time consuming; (viii) investigate the recyclability of aerogels and manipulate their hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity and; and (ix) design aerogel-based water treatment system. This review article highlights the brief history and prospects of sodium silicate-based aerogels and its potential applications, particularly in water treatment. Critical issues affecting the large scale production of aerogels are also pointed out.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>A brief history of aerogel development and its prospects</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 2","pages":"311 - 321"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142268962","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":"Enhancing solar cell efficiency: lead-free double perovskite solar cells Cs2AgBiBr6 with magnesium-doped and Zn2SnO4 electron transport layer","authors":"Ihtisham-ul-haq,&nbsp;M. I. Khan,&nbsp;lamia ben farhat","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06529-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06529-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The lead-free halide double perovskite solar cell (LFHDPs) <span>(C{s}_{2}AgBiB{r}_{6})</span> has emerged as a compelling alternative to conventional lead-based perovskites (LBPs) owing to its notable advantages in chemical stability and non-toxicity. However, due to their large indirect bandgap (E_g), <span>(C{s}_{2}AgBiB{r}_{6})</span> solar cells exhibit low efficiency (η). To address these challenges, this study explores the doping of <span>(C{s}_{2}AgBiB{r}_{6})</span> double perovskite with Magnesium (Mg), resulting in a reduced E_g and improved η. Mg doping not only mitigates recombination losses but also enhances charge carrier mobility and stability. Additionally, the incorporation of a <span>(Z{n}_{2}Sn{O}_{4})</span> (ZTO) electron transport layer (ETL) enhances η and stability by facilitating rapid charge injection and electron diffusion. Excellent optical and electrical characteristics of the ZTO-based ETL make it suitable for improving the η of charge collection and light harvesting in solar cells. Importantly, the <span>(C{s}_{2}A{g}_{0.95}M{g}_{0.05}BiB{r}_{6})</span> solar cell exhibits enhanced performance, significantly, the fabricated solar cells exhibit improved performance. The measured values include an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.9 V, a short circuit current density (J_sc) of 5.77 mA-cm⁻², a fill factor of 0.76, and a η of 3.98%. This study not only helps to overcome film formation issues but also validates stable <span>(C{s}_{2}A{g}_{0.95}M{g}_{0.05}BiB{r}_{6})</span> as an efficient material for solar applications. Overall, our study improves solar technologies that are friendly to the environment.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><img></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 2","pages":"468 - 479"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195891","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":"Hybrid organic-inorganic gels that are melting gels","authors":"L. C. Klein, Andrei Jitianu","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06524-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-024-06524-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ever since the observation in 2001 that some organic-inorganic silica hybrid gels are rigid at room temperature but soften and flow around 100 °C, there has been interest in so-called melting gels. Following heating to 150 °C or higher, the gels no longer soften and are considered consolidated hybrid glasses. The catalog of melting gels has grown over the past 20 years. Longer chain substitutions and other functional groups have been attached to the ≡Si-O-Si≡ molecular species. The substitutions make it possible to adjust the glass transition, the viscosity, and the temperature range of their usefulness.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical Abstract</h3>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195892","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":"Recent developments in MnNiO3@rGO nanohybrid for advanced energy storage devices","authors":"Najla AlMasoud,&nbsp;Mahmood Ali,&nbsp;Taghrid S. Alomar,&nbsp;Amal A. Al-wallan,&nbsp;Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Farid,&nbsp;Zeinhom M. El-Bahy","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06527-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06527-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The demand of reduced graphene oxide-based nanosheets decorated with metal oxides in electrochemical energy storage devices has increased in recent years. The hydrothermal preparation of MnNiO₃ and MnNiO₃@rGO nanohybrid has been described in the current work. The prepared samples were evaluated structurally, morphologically and electrochemically using a variety of analytical instruments. The MnNiO₃@rGO nanohybrid showed specific capacitance 1507 F/g calculated from the GCD plot with the exceptional cyclic stability of 5000th cycles at 1 A/g with a lower charge transfer resistance of 0.18 Ω. The exceptional performance of the MnNiO₃@rGO nanohybrid can be due to the hierarchical structure and improvement in charge transfer capability. During redox process MnNiO₃@rGO nanohybrid provides more active sites and a shorter channel for ion transport. As a result, the MnNiO₃@rGO nanohybrid electrochemical performance can be significantly improved and its potential in energy storage systems.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 2","pages":"480 - 493"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142256239","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":"Temperature annealing and aluminum atomic concentration effect on structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO-Al2O3 nanocomposites powders and photocatalytic performances","authors":"Ferial Benmammar,&nbsp;Aicha Ayadi,&nbsp;Lyes Maifi,&nbsp;Abdelhamid Chari,&nbsp;Kamel Agroui","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06514-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06514-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pure ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO-Al₂O₃ nanocomposites prepared with Al₂O₃ content of 10, 20 and 30 atomic ratios were synthetized via Sol–gel method and then calcined for 2 h at different temperature 450, 700 and 900 °C. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the powder as-synthetized are investigated. Photocatalytic activity was assessed using methylene blue degradation. In the present work, the high purity of the nanoparticles was confirmed by EDS spectra. The XRD results show that ZnO powder has a wurtzite structure. The aluminum in composite powders leads to the appearance of the ZnAl₂O₄ spinel phase and it shows that this phase is appeared in the ZnO-30% at Al (Z30A) nanocomposite from an annealing temperature 450 °C as well as increasing the annealing temperature reduces the crystallite size. The flower-like morphology was well defined in these nanocomposites with an average size in the nanometer range. Photoluminescence reveals the incorporation of aluminum into the as-synthetized nanocomposites compared with XRD results.The optical absorption spectra have been presented the relationship between the band gap, particle size, annealing temperature, Al concentration and Urbach energy. Our result suggests that the annealing temperature 700 °C can be considered as an order-disorder transition temperature. The photo-catalytic application of pure ZnO and their composites nanoparticles shows that the best photocatalytic activity is obtained for the Z30A nanocomposite in the presence of MB dye, under UV light. This sample has the smallest crystal size and a high content of the ZnAl₂O₄ phase. A small particle size ensures high photoactivity.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 3","pages":"870 - 884"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195893","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":"Facile construction of SnS2-MWCNTSs decorated nanoparticles for effective water splitting","authors":"Aboud Ahmed Awadh Bahajjaj,&nbsp;Abdul Ghafoor Abid,&nbsp;Zobia Siddique,&nbsp;Farah Sajjad,&nbsp;Iram Manzoor,&nbsp;Ome Parkash Kumar,&nbsp;Tauseef Munawar,&nbsp;Mika Sillanpää,&nbsp;Jafar Hussain Shah","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06532-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06532-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Electrochemical water splitting is a viable strategy to produce renewable fuels such as hydrogen. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode is getting more attention than hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) because of its higher overpotential and slower electron transfer process. Many advancements in the construction of an effective electrocatalyst have been made recently in an effort to boost OER activity. Additionally, the commercial RuO₂ and Pt-derived catalysts are the most fascinating and active electrocatalysts used in the OER and HER kinetics procedure. They show good activity but the massive price and insufficiency are the main obstacles to their widespread usage in the production of hydrogen and oxygen gas. In this case, SnS₂_multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTSs) are directly produced on nickel foam (NF) using hydrothermal synthesis. All the catalysts like SnS₂, MWCNTSs, and SnS₂_MWCNTSs have been developed, and then they are characterized for structural, morphological, compositional, and electrochemical characterization. The fabricated nanocomposite shows OER onset potential of 1.33 V, 116 mV overpotential at 10 mAcm^−2, and has a Tafel slope of 47 mVdec⁻¹. In contrast, its HER onset potential is −0.3 V having 209 mV overpotential at 10 mAcm⁻² current density and a Tafel slope of 135 mVdec⁻¹. The presence of more electroactive sites, the lowest charge transfer resistance at the electrode-electrolyte interface, the distinct and uniform nanocrystal-like morphology, and the synergistic interaction between SnS₂ and MWCNTS are some of the factors that contribute to the low value of overpotential of SnS₂_MWCNTSs. The resultant electrocatalyst worked well for the very effective oxidation of water and has a variety of possible applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 3","pages":"648 - 661"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195894","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":"Carbon dots’ unusual optoelectronic properties in silica aerogels","authors":"Andreas Tiron-Stathopoulos,&nbsp;Konstantinos Dimos","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06538-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06538-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The unique properties that aerogels exhibit have been the main reason for the intense research around new synthesis routes and new applications in various fields in recent years. Composite aerogels combine the properties of both the aerogel matrix and the inclusions, where the latter can be several materials in various forms. Carbon dots are suitable candidates to use as inclusion for the development of composite aerogels and that is due to their low-cost production, low toxicity, biocompatibility, and tunable fluorescence. Here we report the synthesis of a composite silica matrix aerogel with boron-doped carbon dots inclusions, and we focus on the optical response of the material. The method we use to prepare the composite aerogel is the classical sol-gel process using tetraethyl orthosilicate as silica precursor, followed by CO₂ supercritical drying. The resulting aerogel is crack-free, exhibiting a surface area of 518 m²/g and diverse optoelectronic properties compared to the pristine carbon dots in solution, as an excitation-dependent emission and an unusual blue-shift for excitation centered in the UVB region. The unfamiliar optoelectronic properties of the carbon dots in the aerogel are discussed and are attributed to the influence of the silica matrix. Hence, the induced carbon dots’ aggregation may lead to recombination de-excitation pathways, whereas the photoluminescence contribution by the core-related de-excitation pathway may shorten, as the penetration depth of radiation into the dots’ core may be affected by its intensity which drops drastically for high energies (for <i>λ</i>_exc. &lt; 300 nm) due to strong absorption by the silica matrix.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 2","pages":"456 - 467"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195924","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":"Production and development of ZnAlGeO semiconducting materials for thermoelectric generators in potential aerospace applications","authors":"Mucahit Abdullah Sari,&nbsp;Enes Kilinc,&nbsp;Fatih Uysal,&nbsp;Huseyin Kurt,&nbsp;Erdal Celik","doi":"10.1007/s10971-024-06526-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10971-024-06526-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This research aims to produce and develop semiconducting thermoelectric materials for thermoelectric generators in aerospace applications. In this context, ZnAlGeO powders were synthesized via the sol-gel method using precursor materials and a 20% toluene solution in ethanol as the solvent. Glacial acetic acid was added to accelerate gel formation. The pH and turbidity values of prepared solutions were measured using a pH meter and turbidimeter. After gelation, the obtained xerogel was dried at 200 °C for 9 h to remove moisture and undesired gases. Dried powders were calcined at 600 °C for 4 h in air, resulting in final ZnAlGeO materials. The pellets underwent thermal processing for 36 h at a temperature of 1350 °C, targeting the production of bulk samples within the n-type semiconductor category. Extensive characterization, including thermal, structural, microstructural, and thermoelectric properties, was conducted using various techniques such as DTA-TG, FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, and thermoelectric measurement devices. The study concludes that the produced semiconducting ceramic materials exhibit efficiency for thermoelectric generator production.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"112 2","pages":"403 - 418"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195895","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}