Abstract: A method of producing a silica-based superhydrophilic film. A coating formulation is provided, where the coating formulation includes an alkali metal silicate having a substantial portion of water removed therefrom, where the alkali metal silicate has a formula of M2O·nSiO2, and where M represents an alkali metal and n is a positive real number greater than zero. Furthermore, the coating formulation and an alcohol including a curing agent are mixed, where the curing agent includes an acid or an alkaline earth metal halide. Additionally, the coating formulation is dried to form the silica-based superhydrophilic film. Furthermore, a silica-based superhydrophilic film is produced according to such a method, where the silica-based superhydrophilic film includes an amine stabilizer.

Abstract: A method of forming a transition metal dichalcogenide layer on a substrate is provided. The method may include providing a transition metal oxide, a chalcogen source, a non-gaseous chalcogen scavenger, and a substrate, wherein the substrate is disposed downstream of the transition metal oxide and the chalcogen source, and wherein the non-gaseous chalcogen scavenger is disposed in proximity to the transition metal oxide; generating vapors of the transition metal oxide and vapors of the chalcogen source, wherein the non-gaseous chalcogen scavenger reacts preferentially with the vapors of the chalcogen source; disposing the vapors generated from the transition metal oxide and the chalcogen source on the substrate; and reacting the vapors of the transition metal oxide and the chalcogen source on the substrate to obtain the transition metal dichalcogenide layer on the substrate.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a photo-sensor comprising: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode pair; and a photoactive film with electrical polarization located between the optically transparent substrate and the electrode pair, wherein the optically transparent substrate is configured to transmit incident radiation received by the optically transparent substrate to the photoactive film and wherein the electrode pair is configured to receive charge carriers generated by the photoactive film in response to the transmitted incident radiation.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a photo-sensor comprising: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode pair; and a photoactive film with electrical polarization located between the optically transparent substrate and the electrode pair, wherein the optically transparent substrate is configured to transmit incident radiation received by the optically transparent substrate to the photoactive film and wherein the electrode pair is configured to receive charge carriers generated by the photoactive film in response to the transmitted incident radiation.