Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin Degradation
Synthesis and characterization of undoped and samarium-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F thin films using the spray pyrolysis technique are presented. The effect of the samarium doping level on the physical properties of these films was thoroughly analyzed. X-ray diffraction patterns proved th...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Ghofrane Charrada Bechir Yahmadi Badriyah Alhalaili Moez Hajji Sarra Gam Derouich Ruxandra Vidu Najoua Turki Kamoun |
| author_facet | Ghofrane Charrada Bechir Yahmadi Badriyah Alhalaili Moez Hajji Sarra Gam Derouich Ruxandra Vidu Najoua Turki Kamoun |
| author_sort | Ghofrane Charrada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Synthesis and characterization of undoped and samarium-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F thin films using the spray pyrolysis technique are presented. The effect of the samarium doping level on the physical properties of these films was thoroughly analyzed. X-ray diffraction patterns proved the successful synthesis of pure CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F thin films, free from detectable impurities. The smallest crystallite size was observed in 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F thin films. The 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>films demonstrated an increasedsurface area of 40.6 m<sup>2</sup>/g, highlighting improved textural properties, which was further validated by XPS analysis.The bandgap energy was found to increase from 1.90 eV for undoped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F to 2.52 eV for 4% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F, before decreasing to 2.03 eV for 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO2:F thin films. Photoluminescence spectra revealed various emission peaks, suggesting a quenching effect. A numerical simulation of a new solar cell based on FTO/ZnO/Sm–CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F/X/Mo was carried out using Silvaco Atlas software, where X represented the absorber layer CIGS, CdTe, and CZTS. The results showed that the solar cell with CIGS as the absorber layer achieved the highest efficiency of 15.98. Additionally, the thin films demonstrated strong photocatalytic performance, with 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F showing 86% degradation of ampicillin after two hours. This comprehensive investigation provided valuable insights into the synthesis, properties, and potential applications of Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub> thin films, particularly for solar energy and pharmaceutical applications. |
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| id | doaj-art-dc58fabdbfef4433a300ab3d277dc164 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-7080 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dc58fabdbfef4433a300ab3d277dc1642025-08-20T02:33:55ZengMDPI AGTechnologies2227-70802025-05-0113519710.3390/technologies13050197Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin DegradationGhofrane Charrada0Bechir Yahmadi1Badriyah Alhalaili2Moez Hajji3Sarra Gam Derouich4Ruxandra Vidu5Najoua Turki Kamoun6LR99ES13 Laboratoire de Physique de La Matière Condensée (LPMC), Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 2092, TunisiaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computers, Al-Lith, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi ArabiaNanotechnology and Advanced Materials Program, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat 13109, KuwaitLR99ES13 Laboratoire de Physique de La Matière Condensée (LPMC), Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 2092, TunisiaITODYS, Paris Université, CNRS UMR-7086, 75205 Paris, FranceFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaLR99ES13 Laboratoire de Physique de La Matière Condensée (LPMC), Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 2092, TunisiaSynthesis and characterization of undoped and samarium-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F thin films using the spray pyrolysis technique are presented. The effect of the samarium doping level on the physical properties of these films was thoroughly analyzed. X-ray diffraction patterns proved the successful synthesis of pure CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F thin films, free from detectable impurities. The smallest crystallite size was observed in 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F thin films. The 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>films demonstrated an increasedsurface area of 40.6 m<sup>2</sup>/g, highlighting improved textural properties, which was further validated by XPS analysis.The bandgap energy was found to increase from 1.90 eV for undoped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F to 2.52 eV for 4% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F, before decreasing to 2.03 eV for 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO2:F thin films. Photoluminescence spectra revealed various emission peaks, suggesting a quenching effect. A numerical simulation of a new solar cell based on FTO/ZnO/Sm–CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F/X/Mo was carried out using Silvaco Atlas software, where X represented the absorber layer CIGS, CdTe, and CZTS. The results showed that the solar cell with CIGS as the absorber layer achieved the highest efficiency of 15.98. Additionally, the thin films demonstrated strong photocatalytic performance, with 6% Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:F showing 86% degradation of ampicillin after two hours. This comprehensive investigation provided valuable insights into the synthesis, properties, and potential applications of Sm-doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub> thin films, particularly for solar energy and pharmaceutical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/5/197solar cellphotocatalysisantibiotic degradationdoping effectthin filmsspray pyrolysis technology |
| spellingShingle | Ghofrane Charrada Bechir Yahmadi Badriyah Alhalaili Moez Hajji Sarra Gam Derouich Ruxandra Vidu Najoua Turki Kamoun Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin Degradation Technologies solar cell photocatalysis antibiotic degradation doping effect thin films spray pyrolysis technology |
| title | Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin Degradation |
| title_full | Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin Degradation |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin Degradation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin Degradation |
| title_short | Synthesis of Sm-Doped CuO–SnO<sub>2</sub>:FSprayed Thin Film: An Eco-Friendly Dual-Function Solution for the Buffer Layer and an Effective Photocatalyst for Ampicillin Degradation |
| title_sort | synthesis of sm doped cuo sno sub 2 sub fsprayed thin film an eco friendly dual function solution for the buffer layer and an effective photocatalyst for ampicillin degradation |
| topic | solar cell photocatalysis antibiotic degradation doping effect thin films spray pyrolysis technology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/5/197 |
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