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The full electronic band structure of the Al doped ZnO films have been characterized using the TNL-FB™ (full band) simulator from Tech Next Lab. The bandgaps obtained through simulation studies were matched against the experimental bandgap and compared with the results obtained through DFT-based techniques. It was observed that the bandgap value at the Γ-valley increases with the increase in the Al dopant content from 0 at% to 5 at%. The extracted cut-off absorption wavelength was shifted to a shorter wavelength by increasing the Al content, and justifies the Burstein–Moss shift effect. In the present study, the dependency of the topology of the shape of the nanostructure films was taken care of through the lattice disorder effect. The influence of thickness and plane orientation on the various features has been carefully studied. The full electronic band structures of ZnO and AZO samples predicted that the bandgap value is strongly dependent on the internal structure parameter, u. The value of u is significantly affected by lattice disorder generated due to bond angle or length alteration dependent on the topology of the structure and impurity addition. Good agreement was found between the reported and experimental optical bandgap results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride is a semiconducting material of a graphite-like 2D layered structure. It is well known for its photocatalytic properties, which can be exploited for solar-light-driven water splitting and degradation of organic pollutants. Here, we report its capabilities of catalyzing the reduction of the azo bond by hydrazine to two amines under visible light. This photocatalytic reaction provides a novel, appealing way to reduce azo dye wastes as pollutants other than degradation. With this method, the azo dye wastes can be photochemically converted to amines, which can be used as precursors for new azo dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide community is paying close attention to environmental pollution and energy issues. For instance, hydrazine, a hazardous substance that can harm human health and the environment, is widely utilized in a variety of sectors and may be the cause of multiple disorders. As a result, precise hydrazine determination is crucial. In accordance with this, a lossy mode resonance based (LMR) fiber-optic hydrazine sensor utilizing aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin film coated over an uncladded fiber has been reported. AZO thin film was grown using RF sputtering technique, and material properties have been studied. The physicochemical interaction of hydrazine concentration with the AZO layer alters the AZO layer's effective refractive index and changes the peak intensity. The sensor performance has been validated within the concentration range of 2–14 µL/mL. The sensor possesses maximum sensitivity of about 10.71%, and better response and recovery times of 20 s and 23 s, respectively. Thus, the remarkable sensing property advocates that AZO is a propitious candidate for hydrazine sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum‐doped ZnO (AZO) were successfully prepared on polyimide (PI) film using electrochemical deposition. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis revealed that as the aluminum concentration increased, the morphology of AZO nanostructures changed from pellets to nanorods. X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) was employed to study the chemical states of undoped and Al‐doped ZnO on a polyimide substrate. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the PI/AZO nanostructures showed a polycrystalline wurtzite structure with a crystallographic orientation along the (002) plane. The XRD analysis also indicated that the average crystallite size decreased from 50.5 nm to 31.0 nm with increasing aluminum concentration (from 0.05 mM to 10 mM). Transmittance analysis revealed that with increasing aluminum concentration, the average optical transmittance in the visible region decreased from 90 % to 75 %. The aluminum concentration has a significant effect on the electrical properties of the samples, as shown by current‐voltage (I–V) and Hall measurements. Among the samples, the AZO/PI film prepared with 5 mM aluminum concentration exhibited the minimum electrical resistivity (4.14×10−2 Ω.cm), the highest carrier density (1.10×1021 cm−3) and the Hall mobility (5.40 cm2 V−1 s−1). We also discuss the possible mechanisms underlying these results compared to undoped ZnO films. This study contributes to the potential applications in flexible electronics and optoelectronics by demonstrating the tunability of AZO nanostructures on a flexible polyimide substrate through controlled aluminum doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural uniqueness of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) has brought great potential for their applications in photocatalysis. Two novel azo‐linked COFs AZO‐B‐COF and AZO‐T‐COF were successfully constructed by the monomer exchange method. Significantly, two as‐synthesized azo COFs presented a much higher photodegradation rate of 96 % and 51 % for AZO‐T‐COF and AZO‐B‐COF, respectively, which was in sharp contrast to the almost 0 degradation rate of imine COFs. And as expected, AZO‐T‐COF could be cycled at least 5 runs without a significant decrease in catalytic efficiency. Systematical experiments and theoretical calculations showed that comparing with imine COFs, conjugated structure of azo COFs broadened the visible‐light absorption range and improved the transfer efficiency of the photocarriers. The N‐rich azo bonds acted as an electron acceptor and made the materials better planarity. This work not only enriches COFs family but also demonstrated the superiority of azo‐linked COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudocapacitors (PSCs) have attracted researcher's attention due to their potential electrochemical performance as the power source for electronic devices. However, to maintain the high electrochemical properties of pseudocapacitive materials becomes critical. Therefore, the active electrode materials design and synthesis is a challenging task. To tackle these problems, herein, we rationally designed new polymer based on benzoquinone with azo linker. The polymer AZO‐BQ‐P was synthesized and tested for their energy storage applications in combination with graphite foil (GF). In three‐electrode supercapacitor (SC) device, the AZO‐BQ‐P/GF electrode exhibits excellent specific capacitance (Csp) of about 306.27 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current density and higher cycling stability. The pseudocapacitive performance of SC cells result from synergistic effect of AZO‐BQ‐P and GF and due to faster electrolyte ion diffusion and increased availability at electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Furthermore, AZO‐BQ‐P/GF electrode was employed to fabricate two‐electrode AZO‐BQ‐P/GF//AZO‐BQ‐P/GF symmetric SC device. The optimal SSC device shows a Csp reaching 200 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, which is an impressive value. Also, it exhibits remarkable cycling stability with 86.18% Csp retention after 5000 galvanostatic charging–discharging (GCD) cycles at 3 A g−1. The SSC device applying AZO‐BQ‐P/GF electrode delivers an excellent energy density (ED) of 25.00 Wh kg−1 at 900.00 W kg−1 power density (PD). Thus, the novel polymer design offers efficient electrode materials to enhance the pseudocapacitive electrochemical performance of the SSC device. This concept can be extended for fabricating other electrochemical systems and accelerate its applications for modern electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural photoactive systems have evolved to harness broad‐spectrum light from solar radiation for critical functions such as light perception and photosynthetic energy conversion. Molecular photoswitches, which undergo structural changes upon light absorption, are artificial photoactive tools widely used for developing photoresponsive systems and converting light energy. However, photoswitches generally need to be activated by light of specific narrow wavelength ranges for effective photoconversion, which limits their ability to directly work under sunlight and to efficiently harvest solar energy. Here, focusing on azo‐switches—the most extensively studied photoswitches, we demonstrate effective solar E→Z photoisomerization with photoconversions exceeding 80 % under unfiltered sunlight. These sunlight‐driven azo‐switches are developed by rendering the absorption of E isomers overwhelmingly stronger than that of Z isomers across a broad ultraviolet to visible spectrum. This unusual type of spectral profile is realized by a simple yet highly adjustable molecular design strategy, enabling the fine‐tuning of spectral window that extends light absorption beyond 600 nm. Notably, back‐photoconversion can be achieved without impairing the forward solar isomerization, resulting in unique light‐reversible solar switches. Such exceptional solar chemistry of photoswitches provides unprecedented opportunities for developing sustainable light‐driven systems and efficient solar energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) adaptive intelligent antenna for vehicular communications is addressed in this article. It has a high degree of transparency that can be integrated with the windscreen for intelligent vehicular communications. The proposed diversity antenna has four monopole radiators oriented in orthogonal directions to obtain polarisation diversity. The optically transparent nature is realised using a soda-lime substratum of size 50 × 50 mm2 coated with Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCO). The Aluminium Zinc Oxide (AZO) is sputtered on top of a Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO) to enhance the material's conductivity with dual-conductive layer. The fabricated MIMO antenna has a bandwidth of 10 GHz and functions in the entire UWB range (2 to 12 GHz). By incorporating concentric circles into the ground, high confinement between nearly located antenna elements is achieved. The antenna has a peak gain of 2.9 dBi as measured. The Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC) of the antenna in the entire Ultra-wideband (UWB) region attributed to the TCO material shows a very low correlation among the antenna elements. Because of diversity gain of the proposed vehicular antenna is ˃ 9.8 dB, it can also operate with low transmission power. The findings indicate that the antenna is pertinent for current intelligent vehicles that require multiple communications without aesthetic hindrance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum‐doped zinc oxide Al:ZnO (AZO) is a non‐toxic material applied as a transparent conductive oxide film. In this study, we report on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of AZO films obtained by thermally oxidizing aluminum‐doped Zn films produced by a versatile and low‐cost method of doping using the magnetron sputtering technique deposition. We use aluminum wire above the zinc target to produce Al:Zn films. The influence of r.f. power and different Al wire lengths on the AZO film properties were studied. The resulting AZO films exhibited Al concentrations of up to 2.85% and an optical gap between 3.22 and 3.29 eV. The transmittance was greater than 80% for all samples, and the electrical resistivity decreased by two orders of magnitude with Al doping. As a result, the sample with an aluminum concentration of approximately 1% had the lowest resistivity. In this work, it was possible to relate the lower resistivity with larger grain size and smaller concentrations of defects or vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) present bright prospects in visible light photocatalysis with abundant active sites and exceptional stability. Tailoring an established COF with photoactive group is a prudent strategy to extend visible light absorption toward broad photocatalysis. Here, a β-ketoenamine COF, TpBD-COF, constructed with 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and 4,4′-biphenyldiamine (BD), is tailored with azo to validate this strategy. The insertion of azo into BD affords 4,4′-azodianiline (Azo); TpAzo-COF is successfully constructed with Tp and Azo. Intriguingly, the insertion of azo enhances π-conjugation, thereby facilitating visible light absorption and intramolecular electron transfer. Moreover, TpAzo-COF, with an appropriate electronic structure and impressive specific surface area of 1855 m2 g−1, offers substantial active sites conducive to the reduction of oxygen (O 2) to superoxide. Compared with TpBD-COF, TpAzo-COF exhibits superior performance for blue light-driven oxidation of amines with O 2. Superoxide controls the selective formation of product imines. This work foreshadows the remarkable capacity of tailoring COFs with photoactive group toward broad visible light photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel azo compounds were synthesized by diazotization of aniline and of 3-aminopyridine in the presence of NaNO2 and HCl, followed by coupling with 2-methylresorcinol in alkaline media. The structures were characterized using FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR analysis. The main purpose of the present study is to investigate coloration applications, and antibacterial and fastness properties of the new azo structures in textile industry. Exhaust dyeing processes were applied on cotton fabric. Color strength (K / S values), L, a *, and b * values were measured. The color fastness values (to rubbing, light, perspiration, washing) of azo compounds on cotton fabric were presented according to ISO standards for comparison. Antibacterial activity assessment of the colored fabrics was performed according to AATCC 147-2016 test method against two types of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The fabric dyed with 2-methyl-4-[pyridin-3-yldiazenyl]benzene-1,3-diol demonstrated acceptable antibacterial activity against S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the electromechanical characteristics of aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) films. The films were produced using the RF magnetron sputtering process with a consistent thickness of 150 nm on various polymer substrates. The study focuses on assessing the electro-mechanical failure processes of coated segments using flexible substrates, namely polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with a specific emphasis on typical cracking and delamination occurrences. This examination involves conducting twisting deformation together with using standardised electrical resistance measurements and optical microscope monitoring instruments. It was found that the crack initiation angle is mostly dependent on the mechanical mismatch between the coating and substrate. Higher critical twisting angle values are observed for the AZO/PEN film during twisting testing. Relative to the perpendicular plane of the untwisted sample, it was found that cracks initiated at a twist angle equal to 42° ± 2.1° and 38° ± 1.7° for AZO/PEN and AZO/PET, respectively, and propagated along the sample length. SEM images indicate that the twisting motion results in deformation in the thin film material, leading to the presence of both types of stress in the film structure. These discoveries emphasise the significance of studying the mechanical properties of thin films under different stress conditions, as it can impact their performance and reliability in real-world applications. The electromechanical stability of AZO was found to be similar on both substrates during fatigue testing. Studying the electromechanical properties of various material combinations is important for selecting polymer substrates and predicting the durability of flexible electronic devices made from polyester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azo compounds find use in many areas of science, displaying crucial properties for important applications as photoconductive organic pigments, fluorescent quenchers, paints, cosmetics, inks, and in the large and valuable dye industry. Due to the unstable intermediates, and the exothermic and fast reactions used in their synthesis, high value azo compounds are excellent candidates for continuous flow manufacturing. This comprehensive review covers the progress made to date on developing continuous flow systems for azo synthesis and reflects on the main challenges still to be addressed, including scale up, conversion, product purity, and environmental impact. The further development of integrated continuous flow processes has the potential to help tackle these challenges and deliver improved methods for azo compound generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiosemicarbazone metal complexes are intriguing molecules with a variety of applications in several fields, including the pharmaceutical sector, analytical chemistry, and textile industries. Here, we designed and synthesized 12 transition metal complexes based on thiosemicarbazone as a tridendate group and azo moiety as a chromophore part, in addition to evaluating their color strength and fastness properties. The tridentate ligand derivatives of 5-(m-tolyldiazenyl)salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone reacted with four transition metal salts (copper, cobalt, nickel, and iron salts) in refluxing alkaline ethanol to afford the corresponding thiosemicarbazone complexes. The ligands behaved as double-deprotonated tridentate ligands that connected to the transition metal ions through the deprotonation of phenolic-OH and thiol-SH, as well as the azomethine nitrogen atom, to generate fused five- and six-membered heterocycle rings. The obtained metal complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, atomic absorption, IR, and UV–Vis spectra. The color strength and fastness properties of the printed fabrics were tested, showing good to excellent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the current study, Azo-Thiohydantoins derivatives were synthesized and characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, elemental and HRMS analysis. The compounds were evaluated for alkaline phosphatase activity and it was observed that among all the synthesized compounds, derivative 7e exhibited substantial inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.308 ± 0.065 µM), surpassing the standard inhibitor (L–Phenyl alanine, IC50 = 80.2 ± 1.1 µM). Along with this, these derivatives were comprehensively examined regarding the electronic properties and reactivity of the synthesized compounds using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, where the results were found very promising and the synthesized compound were found stable. After that, SwissADME evaluations highlighted compounds for their favorable physicochemical properties, including solubility and drug-likeness. Molecular docking exhibited the strong binding affinities of 7f and 7e derivatives with intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), further supported by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. This comprehensive integration of experimental and computational approaches sheds the light on the potential therapeutic applications of the synthesized compounds. By providing a detailed investigation of these aspects, this research opens the avenues for the development of novel pharmacologically active compounds with diverse applications.

In the current study, Azo-Thiohydantoins derivatives were synthesized and characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, elemental and HRMS analysis. The compounds were evaluated for alkaline phosphatase activity and it was observed that among all the synthesized compounds, derivative 7e exhibited substantial inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.308 ± 0.065 µM), surpassing the standard inhibitor (L–Phenyl alanine, IC50 = 80.2 ± 1.1 µM). Along with this, these derivatives were comprehensively examined regarding the electronic properties and reactivity of the synthesized compounds using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, where the results were found very promising and the synthesized compound were found stable. After that, SwissADME evaluations highlighted compounds for their favorable physicochemical properties, including solubility and drug-likeness. Molecular docking exhibited the strong binding affinities of 7f and 7e derivatives with intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), further supported by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. This comprehensive integration of experimental and computational approaches sheds the light on the potential therapeutic applications of the synthesized compounds. By providing a detailed investigation of these aspects, this research opens the avenues for the development of novel pharmacologically active compounds with diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterising synthetic dyes on heritage textiles represents a relatively recent research frontier, which aims to obtain new information about the evolution of textile manufacturing and industrial chemistry. Whilst spectral enhancement or amplification methods are often considered a requirement for the Raman analysis of textile dyes, this work highlights the potential of standard Raman spectroscopy for the non-invasive analysis of synthetically dyed fibres. In this research, Raman spectroscopy was used for the chemical characterisation of early 20th century synthetic dyes, in both powder form and on dyed fibres. The dyes were produced by the Italian company Azienda Coloranti Nazionali e Affini (ACNA) and housed in the Sapienza University Museum of Chemistry. The investigation first employed literature research into the ACNA's commercial nomenclature. This information was used to hypothesise likely molecular structures of the dyes, pointing towards the azo dye class. The application of Raman spectroscopy confirmed these hypotheses and the high-quality spectra collected provided structural information about the dye molecules. Spectral features of azo-groups, aromatic moieties, and substituents were observable in spectra. Comparison with a Raman spectrum of wool allowed confident dye signal attribution, and some spectra displayed features linked to changes in the fibre during the dyeing process. Combining literature research and Raman vibrational information proved a powerful non-invasive approach for the characterisation of synthetic dyes, allowing molecular identification of some colorants and structural information for most. Standard Raman spectroscopy may provide a widely applicable, non-invasive method for acquiring information about synthetically dyed historical and artistic textiles in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific paper presents two novel lanthanide metal complexes [Sm (III) and Ce (IV)] synthesized through a series of reactions involving organic ligand 8-[3- (pyrazoyl)azo]adenine (PAA). Ligand (PAA) and their complexes were characterized using various analytical techniques, including C.H.N.S elemental analysis, magnetic measurement, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, SEM, (TGA) UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and HNMR analysis. These techniques were employed to support the mode of binding and geometrical structure for ligand (PAA) and its Lanthanide (Ln) complexes. The FTIR and HNMR spectral results showed that (PAA) acts as neutral N,N-bidentate with [Sm (III) and Ce (IV)]. The geometric shape of the synthesized Ln-complexes is octahedral. Also, TGA was used to investigate the thermal behavior of ligand and its complex. The results showed that the ligand dissociated in three steps, while the complex dissociated in five steps. This indicates that the complex is more thermally stable than the ligand, likely due to the formation of strong coordination bonds between the ligand and the metal ions. These findings can contribute to the understanding of the thermal stability of metal complexes and inform the design of new metal-based materials with desirable properties. Finally, this paper examined the antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities of PAA and its complexes. The results indicated that all of these compounds exhibited significant activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, new compounds of amide derivatives (C1-C3) were synthesized through the conversion reaction of p-chloroaniline to diazonium salt (B1), which reacts with aniline to form a new azo-compound (B3). Synthesized of p-alkoxybenzoic acid (A1-A3) and reacts with SOCl2 to form A4-A6 compounds that react with B3 compound to form amide compounds (C1-C3). The synthesized derivatives were tested by docking analysis and characterized via FTIR, 1H-NMR spectra. In the docking study, the interaction diagram also displays many van der Waals interactions, which are used to estimate the synthetic compounds' activity as insecticides like anti-termites. Heptyl came in first on the binding score, followed by octyl and then nonyl. Due to the compounds' modified conformation in interacting with the enzyme's binding pocket, the length of the alkyl residue of the derivative adversely impacted their binding inhibition. The synthesized compounds (C1 and C3) give a good result as anti-E. coli and anti-Staphylococcus strains.

Graphitic carbon nitride is a semiconducting material of a graphite-like 2D layered structure. It is well known for its photocatalytic properties, which can be exploited for solar-light-driven water splitting and degradation of organic pollutants. Here, we report its capabilities of catalyzing the reduction of the azo bond by hydrazine to two amines under visible light. This photocatalytic reaction provides a novel, appealing way to reduce azo dye wastes as pollutants other than degradation. With this method, the azo dye wastes can be photochemically converted to amines, which can be used as precursors for new azo dyes.

This paper presents a detailed analysis of aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films and considers them a promising alternative to indium tin oxide in transparent electrodes. The study focusses on critical properties of AZO, including optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, with potential applications in displays, photovoltaic cells, and protective coatings. The deposited AZO thin films are characterised by excellent optical and electrical parameters, with transparency in the visible light range exceeding 80% and resistivity of 10−3 Ω·cm, which gives a high value of figure of merit of 63. Structural analysis confirms the nanocrystalline nature of as-deposited AZO thin films, featuring hexagonal ZnO, orthorhombic Al2O3, and cubic Al2ZnO4 phases. The study includes nanoindentation measurements, which reveal exceptional hardness (11.4 GPa) and reduced elastic modulus (98 GPa), exceeding typical values reported in the literature, highlighting their protective potential. Abrasion tests have shown extraordinary scratch resistance due to the lack of impact on topography and surface roughness up to 10,000 cycles. This comprehensive study demonstrated that as-deposited AZO thin films are multifunctional materials with exceptional optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. The findings open up possibilities for a variety of applications, especially in protective coatings, where the combination of hardness, scratch resistance, and transparency is both rare and valuable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halochromic azo dyes have versatile applications, including sensing and anti‐counterfeiting, due to their reversible color‐changing properties. In this work we investigated the structure‐dependent halochromism of azo compound (E)‐4‐((2‐hydroxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)diazenyl)benzenesulfonamide (HDBS) and explore its potential applications using experimental and theoretical approaches. Different spectroscopic techniques confirm the structural change in the dye as a consequence of tautomerism reaction upon changing pH (7 to 13). The stable form of hydrazone is isolated and characterized. Based on the spectroscopic characterization, it is concluded that the azo form exists at pH ≤ 9, whereas the hydrazone form at highly alkaline pH. To understand the origin of the absorption peaks, the stability, and tautomerism in water, DFT and TD‐DFT calculations are performed. A reasonable agreement between the theoretical and experimental observations enabled us to unravel the structure‐dependent halochromism. Further, we have shown that HDBS‐coated paper can be a real‐time visual sensor to monitor fish freshness and for anti‐counterfeiting ink. It changes colors with pH shifts, alerts consumers about the status of food. Additionally, erasable paper strip reduces paper waste and chemical pollution. The findings presented in this work provide a promising avenue for the development of halochromic azo compounds with potential applications in sensing and anti‐counterfeiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a series of novel liquid crystal units (ASE-n, n = 4, 6, 8) of azo Schiff bases with sulphonic acid (-SO3H) as terminal substituents and different alkyl chain lengths were designed and synthesised. Nine star-shaped liquid crystal macromolecules with different central groups (ASE-P-n, ASE-T-n, ASE-G-n, n = 4, 6, 8) were synthesised by esterification of three novel azo Schiff base liquid crystal units (ASE-n, n = 4, 6, 8) with phloroglucinol, pentaerythritol and glucose. The structure of the synthesised compounds were analysed by infrared spectroscopy and 1H NMR. The results showed that all the compounds were consistent with the molecular structure design. The properties of liquid crystal such as phase transition temperature and liquid crystal mesophase range were characterised by POM and DSC. The effects of alkyl chain length and branched degree on the properties of liquid crystal were studied. The maximum absorption spectrum of the compound was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The photoisomerisation reaction of the compound was also studied. Under ultraviolet light (λ = 365 nm) irradiation, the effect of different duration on the cis-absorption percentage of azo (-N=N-) bond in the compound was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prepared bio- ligand derived from chalcone -azo (E)-1-(4-(E)-4- methyl-derivative of di-nitrogen atoms-cycle. In view of the effect of the compensating groups on the effectiveness and uses of the five-cyclic heterogeneous compounds, in this research new substitutes for the aromatic azo and chalcon compounds were prepared from different raw materials and compounds that could have different biological effects and effects on the cell of the organism were prepared and their physical and spectral properties were studied. The importance of studying the spectral characterization of a number of prepared compounds containing different groups of compensators, which may have an impact in the inorganic chemistry field or the industrial field., In addition to anti-cancer study against cancer cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of λ-shaped azo materials with a cinnamate linkage group has been designed, synthesized, and well-characterized. Further, the liquid crystalline property has been studied by using POM and DSC analysis. Out of six derivatives, five compounds displayed liquid crystalline properties. The liquid crystalline property is observed in an enantiotropic manner. The structure–property relationship is further studied for the understanding of the exhibition of liquid crystalline properties. The results showed that their liquid crystalline phase behavior was closely related to the number of mesogenic units, rigidity, and flexibility of the molecular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: We comparatively investigate the properties of pure ZnO and 2 at. % Al doping concentration of ZnO, AZO, as potential candidates for specific applications. Methods: Calculations were carried out, using Wien2k package, to deduce structural, electronic, optical thermoelectric, and properties of both ZnO and AZO materials via the combination of GGA and mBJ approximations. Results: It is shown that Al doping of ZnO (AZO) improves its optical properties; the deduced direct fundamental gap is enhanced due to the Burstein–Moss effect. Moreover, the dielectric function, at lower energies, confirms the existence of an extra strong fluctuation in the dispersive real part ɛ1(ω) and a high peak for absorptive imaginary parts ɛ2(ω) which are due to a variation in specific molecular bonding and the transition between the occupied and the non-occupied states. The critical point, observed at 2.81 eV for pure ZnO, is shifted to 3.3 eV in 2 at. % AZO, confirming a larger optical band gap. The reflectivity values slightly decreased for 2% AZO. The investigation of thermoelectric parameters as a function of chemical potential at different temperatures ranging from 300 to 900°C showed that these structures can be considered for good thermoelectric devices with (i) high absolute values of Seebeck coefficient: ׀SZnO׀ = 1.16 mV/K and ׀SAZO׀ = 0.746 mV/K, (ii) no effect of temperature on electrical conductivity but a strong effect on thermal conductivity, (iii) a high value approaching unity for the figure of merit. Hence, these properties and their improvements, introduced by Al doping of ZnO, lead specific and more uses in optoelectronics, energy, and piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the electromechanical characteristics of aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) films. The films were produced using the RF magnetron sputtering process with a consistent thickness of 150 nm on various polymer substrates. The study focuses on assessing the electro-mechanical failure processes of coated segments using flexible substrates, namely polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with a specific emphasis on typical cracking and delamination occurrences. This examination involves conducting twisting deformation together with using standardised electrical resistance measurements and optical microscope monitoring instruments. It was found that the crack initiation angle is mostly dependent on the mechanical mismatch between the coating and substrate. Higher critical twisting angle values are observed for the AZO/PEN film during twisting testing. Relative to the perpendicular plane of the untwisted sample, it was found that cracks initiated at a twist angle equal to 42° ± 2.1° and 38° ± 1.7° for AZO/PEN and AZO/PET, respectively, and propagated along the sample length. SEM images indicate that the twisting motion results in deformation in the thin film material, leading to the presence of both types of stress in the film structure. These discoveries emphasise the significance of studying the mechanical properties of thin films under different stress conditions, as it can impact their performance and reliability in real-world applications. The electromechanical stability of AZO was found to be similar on both substrates during fatigue testing. Studying the electromechanical properties of various material combinations is important for selecting polymer substrates and predicting the durability of flexible electronic devices made from polyester.

In an alkaline ethanolic solution, 2-[1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)azo]-4,5-dichloro imidazole (4-MPADI) was prepared by reacting a diazonium chloride salt solution of p-Anisidine with 4,5-Dichloroimidazole. Various metal ions, such as Cu(II), Pt(IV) and Au(III), were complexed with the synthesized ligand 4-MPADI. A variety of spectral techniques have been used to study the structures of the azo dye ligand (4-MPADI) and its chelate complexes, including elemental analysis (C.H.N), mass spectrum, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, UV–Vis, XRD, thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), and magnetic measurements. The molar conductivity indicates the complexes are electrolytes and contain conductive species except for the Cu(II)-Complex. Based on the results, the ligand (N, N) behaves as a didentate and coordinates to the metal ion via the nitrogen atom of the azomethine group (C = N) of heterocyclic imidazole molecule, as well as the nitrogen atom of the azo group (N = N). Additionally, DPPH radical scavenging assays were used to investigate the antioxidant activity of the ligand, Pt(IV), and Au(III). A DPPH radical scavenging assay measured the antioxidant activity of produced compounds in comparison with ascorbic acid, a known antioxidant. However, in vitro anticancer and toxicity test results were obtained against human oesophagal cancer (SK-GT4) cells using the ligand (4-MPADI), Pt(IV) and Au(III).

Low dimensional perovskite emerging as a highly promising class of functional materials for semiconductor optoelectronic applications have drawn great attention. Here, we report the nonlinear absorption of low-dimensional perovskite PEA2PbI4 and transparent conducting oxide material Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) with operating spectral window in telecommunications. Then we fabricate all-optical diodes with nonreciprocity factor of 10.1 dB based on the reverse saturable absorber (PEA2PbI4) and the saturable absorber (AZO). The results show the potential applications of perovskite-based materials in all-optical diode, and may pave way for the development of high-performance photonic devices.

Coupling reaction between the diazonium salt of 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline and 4-methyl imidazole used to create new Azoimidazole compound (4MCFD). Solid complexes of this ligand and series of transition metal ion were synthesized. The complexes and ligand were characterized by Mass Spectroscopy, 1H-NMR,13C-NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, Elemental Analysis, Molar Conductivity, and their inhibition ability against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, and S. aureus bacteria studied, according to the common chemical characterization methods. The values of stability constants were also calculated and showed high level of stability. All of the synthesized complexes have octahedral geometry with general formula [M(4MCFD)2Cl2], (4MCFD) ligand behave as a bidentate. New ligand and its complexes exhibited significant inhibitory efficacy against gram-negative bacteria as compared to positive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PN heterojunction diodes are very useful for solar cell, light-emitting diode, and photodiode applications. In this paper, PN heterojunction diodes were successfully fabricated using p-type silicon and zinc oxide (ZnO) grown by a nonconventional sol–gel technique. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the prepared diode were measured at room temperature. The significant parameters including static resistance, dynamic resistance, and rectifying behavior were estimated. In contrast to the conventional method, the ZnO powder precursor used in this work has extremely high thermal and chemical stability. Also, this method is cost-effective due to the use of laboratory-grade ZnO powder. The effect of doping on these characteristics and parameters was studied in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a case of acute intoxication in a cat that had ingested a tree fern - Asparagus virgatus that was known to be treated with a green synthetic azo dye. Clinical examination and paraclinical analyses revealed restlessness, tachycardia, tachypnea, cyanosis of mucous membranes, oxidative damage, and methemoglobinemia. Based on the history, the clinical signs and laboratory findings, indicative of azo dye intoxication and response to treatment, the diagnosis of acute synthetic azo dye intoxication was made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconducting metal oxide thin films of ZnO and NiO with different impurity of n-type and p-type conductivity were grown on a Si substrate by magnetic sputtering method. The structural characteristics, i.e. crystalline characteristics and crystalline order or amorphousness of layers, were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The PL spectrum of ZnO samples doped with N and Al had a peak at a wavelength of approximately 370 nm, which is close to band gap energy of ZnO, and the highest intensity was observed in the PL spectrum of AZO sample. The effect of nanoparticle size of grown layers and their effect on performance of joints were investigated. Evaluation of the performance of metal oxide structures with current and voltage diagrams of connections and their applications in electronic devices showed that the smallest ideal diode factor is related to the Si-n/NZO-p connection with a value of 1.23, which showed the best behavior of the diode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanorods (NRs) are piezoelectric materials used as nanogenerators because of their ease of synthesis, nontoxicity, low production costs, good electrical properties, and suitable flexibility for human movement as a source of mechanical energy. ZnO NRs are usually doped or composited with other materials to enhance their properties. Here we discuss the effect of the aluminum (Al) doping of ZnO using the hydrothermal method and subsequent coating with NiO to form a p–n junction in a nanogenerator application. According to XRD characterization, Al doping caused a shift in the ZnO NRs diffraction peaks toward a larger angle and a decrease in the diameter of the NRs. The doping of Al and NiO composites could also widen the bandgap. Moreover, current and voltage characterization results showed that the nanogenerator output power was 14.8 µW, which reached saturation (19.5 µW) at 4 % doping. Therefore, Al doping can improve the output power of the nanogenerator compared with pure ZnO.

In this paper, a MOD (Metal organic decomposition) Al doped ZnO (AZO) ink was directly used for inkjet printing transparent and conductive AZO films. The ink was synthesized by using zinc acetate dihydrate and aluminum nitrate nonahydrate as precursor, 1,2-diaminopropane as a complexing agent, ethyl alcohol as solution, ethyl cellulose as addition agent. The thermal decomposition behavior of the MOD ink was investigated. The various MOD AZO inks were inkjet printed and heated at different temperatures for different times. The films were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, resistivity measurements and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that 0.2 M AZO (2 at%) film heated at 250 °C for 120 min showed highly preferential growth along the c -axis, uniform microstructure with a resistivity of 0.03 Ω cm and high transmittance more than 90% in the visible range of the spectrum with an optical band gap at 3.326 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a numerical analysis of a lead-free Cs2SnI6-based perovskite solar cell employing ZnO as the electron transport layer (ETL), and NiO as the hole transport layer (HTL). These two materials gave a significant performance in front of other transport charge materials. After selecting the charge transport layers (ZnO, and NiO), we have optimized their thicknesses as well as their doping concentrations. We have also analyzed the impact of the absorber thickness, its defect density (Nt), the defect density at the interfaces (NiO/Cs2SnI6 and Cs2SnI6/ZnO), and the influence of temperature on the output parameters. Finally we have obtained a solar device based on Cs2SnI6 with a fully inorganic ITO/CuI/Cs2SnI6/ ZnO/AZO/Ag structure, with an efficiency of 14.65% at room temperature and 16.77% at 400 K. The results show that Cs2SnI6 can play an important role as an absorbing perovskite in the development of solar cell technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we investigated the applicability of thick film and bulk disk forms of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) for low-dose X-ray radiation dosimetry using the extended gate field effect transistor (EGFET) configuration. The samples were fabricated using the chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. A thick film of AZO was deposited on a glass substrate, while the bulk disk form was prepared by pressing the collected powders. The prepared samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) to determine the crystallinity and surface morphology. The analyses show that the samples are crystalline and comprise nanosheets of varying sizes. The EGFET devices were exposed to different X-ray radiation doses, then characterized by measuring the I–V characteristics pre- and post-irradiation. The measurements revealed an increase in the values of drain–source currents with radiation doses. To study the detection efficiency of the device, various bias voltages were also tested for the linear and saturation regimes. Performance parameters of the devices, such as sensitivity to X-radiation exposure and different gate bias voltage, were found to depend highly on the device geometry. The bulk disk type appears to be more radiation-sensitive than the AZO thick film. Furthermore, boosting the bias voltage increased the sensitivity of both devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new aromatic Schiff base with azo linkage has been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The new compound 2-(((5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)imino)methyl)-4-(p-tolyldiazenyl)phenol (5, denoted as AT) was tested as a carbon steel corrosion inhibitor in 1 M H2SO4. The presence of AT in 0.04 mM concentration at 303 K achieved excellent inhibition efficiency values, 96.6 and 97.4% by potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss measurements, respectively. The adsorption process of AT on carbon steel surface was found to obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm with the highest Kads value 476,190 M−1 at 313 K, and ΔG values −25.53, −26.49, −25.97, and −25.78) kJ mol−1 over the studied range of temperatures 303–333 K, indicating the spontaneous formation of stable protection film through a strong adsorption process. Density function theory (DFT) studies were employed for further investigations about the nature of the interaction between the molecules of AT (both of its tautomers) and metal surface. SEM and AFM analysis were used to confirm the inhibition by comparing the morphology of the corroded surface with the inhibited one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of aluminium (2 wt %) doped with zinc oxide (98 wt %) (AZO) on glass substrates showed structures and morphology in the nanoscale. The deposition of the AZO thin films was completed at chosen substrate temperatures and low partial pressure of 20 mTorr. The laser energy density fixed at 4 J/cm2 appeared suitable for the ablation of bulk AZO and reduced the probable arrival of droplets onto the substrates. Moreover, the AZO films were deposited at a target-to-substrate distance of 5.78 cm, and the calculated crystallite size ranged from 31.1 to 45.4 nm. The lowest film resistivity of 6.8 × 10−5 Ω cm at an average optical transmittance of 83 % in the UV–vis–NIR region confirms the effect and relevance of the preparation procedure. These observations confirm the AZO thin film crystallinity with an average bandgap energy of 3.36 eV extrapolated relative to the photon energy. Thus, the PLD technique ensures a more significant avenue toward the growth of crack-free and reliable thin films with improved electrical and optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of self-powered UV photodiode on green substrate is still a challenge. In this study, highly conductive Al doped ZnO (AZO) film was sputter-deposited on paper substrate at room temperature; subsequently, paper-based Schottky photodiodes were successfully fabricated by following Au-ZnO-Al and Au-ZnO-AZO-Al structure designs, respectively. These UV light-based devices operate successfully without external power. Au-ZnO-AZO-Al photodiode shows improved response and faster speed compared to Au-ZnO-Al photodiode. The one-dimensional Poisson simulation results demonstrate that the improvement is attributed to the strong electric field in the ZnO-AZO n-n+ high-low junction, thus, enhancing the collection rate and drifting speed of the photogenerated carriers. In addition, AZO can form favorable ohmic contact with the Al electrodes, further improving the device performance. The photo-response of the paper-based photodiode device shows high reproducibility and stability. Based on these outstanding results, we conclude that these paper-based electronic devices have great potential to replace conventional petroleum-based flexible electronic devices, thus, contributing to the green/sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed analysis of aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films and considers them a promising alternative to indium tin oxide in transparent electrodes. The study focusses on critical properties of AZO, including optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, with potential applications in displays, photovoltaic cells, and protective coatings. The deposited AZO thin films are characterised by excellent optical and electrical parameters, with transparency in the visible light range exceeding 80% and resistivity of 10−3 Ω·cm, which gives a high value of figure of merit of 63. Structural analysis confirms the nanocrystalline nature of as-deposited AZO thin films, featuring hexagonal ZnO, orthorhombic Al2O3, and cubic Al2ZnO4 phases. The study includes nanoindentation measurements, which reveal exceptional hardness (11.4 GPa) and reduced elastic modulus (98 GPa), exceeding typical values reported in the literature, highlighting their protective potential. Abrasion tests have shown extraordinary scratch resistance due to the lack of impact on topography and surface roughness up to 10,000 cycles. This comprehensive study demonstrated that as-deposited AZO thin films are multifunctional materials with exceptional optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. The findings open up possibilities for a variety of applications, especially in protective coatings, where the combination of hardness, scratch resistance, and transparency is both rare and valuable.

Two new copper(ii) complexes [CuL1] (1) and [CuL2] (2) derived from azo-based ligands 2-hydroxy-5-p-tolylazo-benzaldehyde (HL1) and 1-(2-hydroxy-5-p-tolylazo-phenyl)-ethan-one (HL2) were synthesized. These two ligands and their metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C), infrared, and UV/Vis spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy and other theoretical studies reveal the geometry of copper complexes, and their binding affinity towards nucleic acids are major groove binding.

Nanocomposites formed by aluminum-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (AZO–NP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) are proposed here as a promising material for UV light sensing applications, with the great advantage of operating in air, at room temperature, and at low voltage. Nanocomposite layers were prepared with different AZO:CNT weight ratios by a simple methodology at room temperature. They were characterized by means of UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The interaction between the two nanomaterials was demonstrated by comparing the properties of the nanocomposite with the ones shown by the AZO–NPs. Dense AZO–CNT nanocomposite layers were deposited between two metal electrodes on a SiO2/Si substrate, and the electrical properties were investigated in dark condition and under UV light irradiation. The electrical response to the UV light was a sudden current increase that reduced when the light was switched off. Several UV on/off cycles were performed, showing good repeatability and stability of the response. The mechanisms involved in the electrical response are discussed and compared to the ones previously reported for ZnO–CNT nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin film was introduced into the structure of Ag/ZnO schottky Photo detectors (PDs) prepared by magnetron sputtering method on glass substrates. Influences of AZO layer on characteristics of ZnO film and performances of Ag/ZnO schottky PDs were discussed in detail. Results investigated by means of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectra show that the introduction of an AZO buffer layer can effectively decrease the defects and improve the crystallization of the ZnO thin film. Compared with Ag/ZnO schottky PDs, the Ag/ZnO/AZO PDs possess more excellent rectifying characteristics, the photocurrent (I ph) to dark current (I d) ratio are improved from 6.4 to 100.7. Given the bias voltage at -2 V, the photoresponsivity R and detectivity D* are increased from 0.15 A W-1 to 4.08 × 1010 Jones to 0.69AW-1 and 3.78 × 1011 Jones, respectively. The response speed becomes faster, the response and delay times are decreased from 281 to 395 ms to 178 and 300 ms, respectively. The results provide a new idea for the preparation of high performance ZnO film UV PDs on low-cost glass substrates. • Proposed Ag/ZnO/AZO/Al structure for ZnO-based Schottky Ultraviolet (UV) Photodetectors (PDs) on low-cost glass substrates. • Investigated the effects of AZO buffer layer on characteristics of ZnO film and performances of Ag/ZnO schottky PDs. • Suggested a potential choice in the fabrication of ZnO-based PDs with high performance on the low-price glass substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how varying the thickness of the indium tin oxide (ITO) seed layer, ranging from 8 to 20 nm, impacts the optical, electrical, and structural properties of triple-layer transparent conductive oxide ITO/aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO)/ITO. ITO and AZO films were deposited by DC and RF magnetron sputtering, respectively. The thickness and density of each layer were measured by X-ray reflectometry (XRR). X-ray diffraction showed that as the thickness of the ITO seed layer increased, both the average size of the crystallites and the volume of the crystalline phase in the AZO film also increased. Measurements of the electrical characteristics indicated a decrease in resistivity as the thickness of the ITO seed layer increased. This reduction is attributed to enhanced charge mobility, resulting from improved crystallinity. It has been shown that a 20-nm-thick ITO seed layer is sufficient to achieve a charge mobility comparable to that of pure ITO films. The photoluminescence spectra have shown a decrease in the concentration of the oxygen vacancies with the introduction of both the cover and seed layers of ITO. The figure of merits (FOM) of the triple-layer coatings and the optical constants of the AZO and ITO films were calculated. The results of this paper indicate that the ITO20/AZO48/ITO12 triple-layer coating possesses optimal characteristics for use in high-efficiency silicon solar cells. [Display omitted] • ITO seed layer with a thickness >8 nm improves AZO layer crystallinity. • 20 nm ITO seed layer enough to increase mobility from 9.56 to 41.34 cm2V−1s−1. • Introduction of ITO layers decreases concentration of oxygen vacancies in AZO layer. • ITO12/AZO48/ITO20 layer has the best FOM equal to 9.13 10−4 □ Ω−1. • 60–76 % replacement of ITO by AZO improves transparency in the region of 350–1100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]