RF-Sputtered β-Ga2O3 Thin Films for Solar-Blind UV Detection: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives Pramod Mandal, Shagolsem Romeo Meitei, Anand Pandey Materials, 2026 This review presents a comprehensive and thorough evaluation of recent developments in physical vapour deposition (PVD) radiofrequency (RF)-sputtered β-Ga2O3 thin-film-based solar-blind ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (SB-UVPDs), emphasizing their potential for next-generation optoelectronic applications. The review highlights different photodetector architectures, the performance characteristics of SB-UVPDs, and an overview of the attributes of β-Ga2O3 that make it a promising wide-bandgap semiconductor for next-generation devices. Additionally, the working principle of the PVD RF magnetron sputtering technique is discussed briefly, with a particular focus on the influence of deposition parameters, including sputtering power, gas pressure, deposition time, target-to-substrate distance, and substrate temperature, on the resulting film’s crystallinity and morphology and the optical quality of SB-UVPDs. Moreover, the impact of post-deposition treatments, such as post-annealing and elemental doping, is also discussed here for SB-UVPDs. And finally, the electrical performance characteristics of SB-UVPDs are discussed categorically based on deposition parameters. Overall, this review establishes that PVD RF magnetron sputtering is a highly versatile and controllable technique for fabricating high-quality β-Ga2O3 thin film-based SB-UVPDs. By carefully optimizing deposition and post-processing parameters, the optoelectronic performance of β-Ga2O3-based SB-UVPDs can be effectively tuned, enabling their integration into next-generation high-performance optoelectronic and photonic systems.
Progress and perspectives on accelerated degradation modeling of perovskite solar cells Anand Pandey, Ankush Bag Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2026 Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as an alternative to commercially available silicon photovoltaic technology due to their comparable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 26 %, low cost, and easy-to-scale synthesis process. To commercialize PSCs, they must operate effectively under extreme conditions as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Summit on Organic PV Stability (ISOS). Recent research on PSCs has centered on enhancing PCE and performing accelerated degradation tests, which involve a comprehensive analysis and precise quantification of device degradation, utilizing standard protocols and diverse degradation schemes. Understanding PSCs' reliability requires fitting their PCE's degradation kinetics using several existing degradation models. This review highlights the need to adapt multiple degradation models for PSCs to accurately model the degradation kinetics of their PCE under extreme conditions such as temperature, humidity, light, and bias. Further, relevant degradation models are discussed, illustrating the potential effects of the accelerated factors on PSCs, and can be used to model and simulate the degradation kinetics of PSCs. For instance, the Arrhenius and Eyring models are employed to predict temperature-induced degradation. In contrast, Hallberg-Peck and Eyring models may be used for humidity-induced degradation. The article underscores the necessity of comprehensive models that consider multiple factors simultaneously to accurately predict PSC stability under real-world conditions. Additionally, it addresses the remaining challenges in modeling PSC degradation and identifies the figures of merit that can be derived from device degradation data. Future research should prioritize developing comprehensive degradation models and standardized protocols to further advance PSC technology for sustainable development. • Recent progress in understanding accelerated degradation modeling for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been overviewed. • In-depth and critical analyses have been presented to understand the accelerated degradation modeling of PSCs. • Perspectives for modeling combined degradation with more than one variable have been provided. • State-of-the-art issues of various degradation factors for PSCs have been discussed. • A future perspective for degradation modeling has been suggested.
Next-Generation Devices Enabled by RF Sputtered Wide Bandgap Semiconductors Pramod Mandal, Anand Pandey Engineering Advanced Materials for Manufacturing Energy and Smart Systems, 2026 RF-sputtered wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors demonstrate significant potential for next-generation electronics, optoelectronics, and power electronics devices due to their exceptional physical, thermal, and chemical stability. This review comprehensively explores their capabilities, the challenges associated with their synthesis and integration, as well as the critical process parameters that influence film quality. Additionally, it provides targeted optimization strategies and practical recommendations aimed at improving the structural and functional performance of RF-sputtered WBG semiconductor thin films, thereby enhancing their applicability in next-generation device technologies.
Tuning the physical properties of SnO2 quantum dots via Ag-doping for fabricating efficient photodetectors Rahul Sonkar, Bitopan Boro, Anand Pandey, Mritunjoy Prasad Ghosh, Devasish Chowdhury Rsc Advances, 2025 Ag-doped SnO2 QDs have been successfully synthesized, their semiconducting nature has been investigated thoroughly for fabricating efficient photodetectors with the doped QD samples showed comparatively better performance than the pristine one.
Modeling Degradation Kinetics of FAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells: Impact of Microstructural and Optoelectronic Defects Anand Pandey, Ankush Bag IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability, 2025 The operational thermal stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is a critical issue hindering their commercialization. Therefore, besides achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE), understanding and quantifying the device degradation kinetics of PSCs is necessary for their reliability and to prevent failure under thermal stress. In this work, exponential and linear degradation models have been adopted to comprehend and quantify the degradation kinetics of FAPbI3 and multifunctional fluorinated molecule 3-fluoro-4-methoxy-4’,4"-bis((4-vinyl benzyl ether) methyl)) triphenylamine (FTPA)-modified FAPbI3 PSCs. Further, various figures of merit, such as acceleration factor, degradation factor, mean lifetime, transformational fraction, and activation energy, have been deduced by fitting the PCE degradation data into the Arrhenius equation and onto the Johnson– Mehl-Avrami (JMA) kinetic models. These figures of merit have been correlated with other defect-determining factors such as micro-strain and Urbach’s energy. The degradation factor and PbI2 residuals are reduced for controlled PSCs to FTPA-modified PSCs. Furthermore, the activation energy and operational thermal stability of FTPA-modified PSCs have increased due to the forming of a hydrogen-bonding polymer network, which enhances PSCs’ thermal stability and acceleration factor. Our findings reveal that the studied devices’ intrinsic stability, thermal stability, and mean lifetime strongly correlate with micro-structural and optoelectronic defects, which helps to improve the performance of photovoltaics.
Optimizing charge transport and band-offset in silicon heterojunction solar cells: impact of TiO2 contact deposition temperature Anand Pandey, Tarun Kumar, Arnab Mondal, Ankush Bag Journal of Physics D Applied Physics, 2024 Carrier selective contacts are a primary requirement for fabricating silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHSCs). TiO2 is a prominent carrier selective contact in SHSCs owing to its excellent optoelectronic features such as suitable band offset, work function, and cost-effectiveness. Herein, we fabricated simple SHSCs in an Al/TiO2/p-Si/Ti/Au device configuration. Ultrathin 3 nm TiO2 layers were deposited onto a p-type silicon substrate using the atomic layer deposition method. The deposition temperature of TiO2 layers varied from 100 °C to 250 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies suggest that deposition temperature highly affects the chemical states of TiO2 and reduces the formation of defective state densities at the Fermi energy. The optical band gap values of TiO2 layers are also altered from 3.13 eV to 3.27 eV when the deposition temperature increases. The work function tuning from −5.13 eV to −4.83 eV has also been observed in TiO2 layers, suggesting the variation in Fermi level tuning, which arises due to changes in carrier concentrations at higher temperatures. Several device parameters, such as ideality factor, trap density, reverse saturation current density, barrier height, etc, have been quantified to comprehend the effects of deposition temperature on photovoltaic device performance. The results suggest that the deposition temperature significantly influences the charge transport and device performance. At an optimum temperature, a significant reduction in charge carrier recombination and trap state density has been observed, which helps to improve power conversion efficiency.
Stabilization of Sn2+ in FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite thin films using an electron donor polymer, PCDTBT, and an improvement in the charge transport properties of perovskite solar cells Ashok Vishwakarma, Pankaj Kumar, Anand Pandey, Lokendra Kumar Journal of Physics D Applied Physics, 2024 Lead-free tin halide perovskites for the fabrication of perovskite solar cells have attracted considerable attention due to their outstanding optoelectronic and ecofriendly properties. These materials face severe issues, such as poor environmental stability, low formation energy and faster oxidation of tin from the Sn2+ to Sn4+ state, leading to poor film quality and self-doping. In this work, we have fabricated FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite thin films via a solution processing method and studied the conjugated polymer poly [N-9′-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadia-zole)] (PCDTBT)-induced effects in perovskite thin films. The micro-strain of PCDTBT-doped FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite reduced without any change in the crystal structure. Reductions in electron trap density have been observed due to improved film quality and enlarged perovskite grains. We have observed that the Sn4+ content in 0.050 wt% PCDTBT-doped FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite film gets reduced, as shown in the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results. The reduction in Sn4+ (cause of self-doping) content shows that PCDTBT doping maintains the stability of Sn2+ in FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite thin film. A decrement in hole density from 3.2 × 1018 cm−3 for pristine films to 1.3 × 1017cm−3 for 0.050 wt% PCDTBT-doped FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite has been observed from C–V measurement, which is consistent with the XPS results. Thus, PCDTBT doping in perovskite films can effectively tackle the severe issues of tin oxidation and defects in the lead-free tin halide perovskite photoactive layer for solar cell application.
Lattice strain relaxation and charge carrier dynamics in Si swift heavy ion irradiated GaN films for optoelectronics A Pandey, L Katariya, A Bag, F Singh, G Gupta, D Kanjilal, L Kumar Physica B: Condensed Matter 738 (30 September 2026), 418868 , 2026 2026
Electronic Coupling and Plasmonic–Catalytic Synergism of Ni–Au-Decorated SnO2 Nanorods: A Combined Approach to Improved Charge Transport and Optoelectronic Application R Sonkar, A Pandey, MP Ghosh, S Thakur, D Chowdhury Current Applied Physics 89 (September 2026), 35-48 , 2026 2026
RF-Sputtered β-Ga₂O₃ Thin Films for Solar-Blind UV Detection: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives P Mandal, SR Meitei, A Pandey Materials 19 (10), 2165 , 2026 2026
Structure-Property-Performance Correlation of Sol-Gel Derived ZnO Thin Films for High-Efficiency Solar Cell Applications: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study P Mandal, A Pandey, S Roy Journal of Ovonic Research 22 (2), 142-160 , 2026 2026
Next-Generation Devices Enabled by RF Sputtered Wide Bandgap Semiconductors P Mandal, A Pandey Engineering Solutions for Modern Challenges in Advanced Materials Science 1 … , 2026 2026
Progress and perspectives on accelerated degradation modeling of perovskite solar cells A Pandey, A Bag Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 225, 116173 , 2026 2026 Citations: 6
Engineering Zinc Oxide Electron Transport Layers for MAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells A Pandey Proceedings of the 68th DAE Solid State Physics Symposium 2025 (68), 610-612 , 2025 2025
Tuning the physical properties of SnO2 quantum dots via Ag-doping for fabricating efficient photodetectors R Sonkar, B Boro, A Pandey, MP Ghosh, D Chowdhury RSC Advances 15 (26), 20589–20604 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
Modeling Degradation Kinetics of FAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells: Impact of Microstructural and Optoelectronic Defects A Pandey, A Bag IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability 25 (2, June 2025), 288-295 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Investigating Role of Annealing in Shaping Morphological, Structural, Tribological, and Optical Characteristics of Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3): Insights from DFT Analysis P Mandal, A Mondal, A Pandey, SR Meitei, A Bag Journal of Alloys and Compounds 1011 (15 January 2025), 178367 , 2025 2025 Citations: 14
Optimizing Charge Transport and Band-Offset in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells: Impact of TiO2 Contact Deposition Temperature A Pandey, T Kumar, A Mondal, A Bag Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 57 (44), 445103 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Stabilization of Sn2+ in FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite thin films using electron doner polymer PCDTBT and an improvement in charge transport properties for perovskite solar cells A Vishwakarma, P Kumar, A Pandey, L Kumar Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 57 (43), 435102 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Exploring Phase and Bandgap Variations in Gallium Oxide Using Mist-based Chemical Vapor Deposition System S Kumar, A Mondal, A Pandey, S Das, A Bag 2024 8th IEEE Electron Devices Technology & Manufacturing Conference (EDTM), 1-3 , 2024 2024
Growth of MAPbI3 perovskite films on MWCNT-modified TiO2 thin films for solar cell applications V Kumar, A Pandey, A Vishwakarma, A Kumar, L Kumar, BP Singh Inorganic Chemistry Communications 163 (May 2024), 112360 , 2024 2024 Citations: 14
Unveiling structural and optical properties of Sn-doped β-Ga2O3: A correlation of experimental and theoretical observations P Mandal, S Kumar, A Pandey, L Katariya, A Mondal, A Bag Materials Science and Engineering: B 302 (May 2024), 117266 , 2024 2024 Citations: 24
Studies on Organometal Halide Perovskite Materials and Their Applications to Photovoltaic Devices A Pandey University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, India , 2023 2023
Light-induced micro-strain regulation and charge carrier dynamics of (FA0.83MA0.17)0.95Cs0.05Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3 hybrid perovskite films A Pandey, A Vishwakarma, SK Saini, M Kumar, L Kumar Optical Materials 146 (December 2023), 114564 , 2023 2023 Citations: 12
Work function modulation and charge transport studies of 100 MeV Au7+ ions irradiated TiO2 films for optoelectronic devices A Pandey, F Singh, A Garg, D Kanjilal, L Kumar Optical Materials 143, 114180 , 2023 2023 Citations: 11
Microstructural, Optical, and Work Function Tuning of Fullerene (C60) Modified Zinc Oxide Films for Optoelectronic Devices A Pandey, A Garg, L Kumar ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 11 (10), 104002 , 2022 2022 Citations: 6
Experimental and theoretical investigations on fullerene (C60) induced compact CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite thin films V Kumar, A Pandey, L Kumar, M Singh, A Kumar, S Kishor, K Jain, ... Physica Scripta 97 (7), 075809 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Unveiling structural and optical properties of Sn-doped β-Ga2O3: A correlation of experimental and theoretical observations P Mandal, S Kumar, A Pandey, L Katariya, A Mondal, A Bag Materials Science and Engineering: B 302 (May 2024), 117266 , 2024 2024 Citations: 24
Investigating Role of Annealing in Shaping Morphological, Structural, Tribological, and Optical Characteristics of Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3): Insights from DFT Analysis P Mandal, A Mondal, A Pandey, SR Meitei, A Bag Journal of Alloys and Compounds 1011 (15 January 2025), 178367 , 2025 2025 Citations: 14
Growth of MAPbI3 perovskite films on MWCNT-modified TiO2 thin films for solar cell applications V Kumar, A Pandey, A Vishwakarma, A Kumar, L Kumar, BP Singh Inorganic Chemistry Communications 163 (May 2024), 112360 , 2024 2024 Citations: 14
Temperature-induced strain management in MAPbI3-xClx hybrid perovskite films A Pandey, L Kumar Physica B : Condensed Matter 628 (1 March 2022), 413566 , 2022 2022 Citations: 14
Light-induced micro-strain regulation and charge carrier dynamics of (FA0.83MA0.17)0.95Cs0.05Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3 hybrid perovskite films A Pandey, A Vishwakarma, SK Saini, M Kumar, L Kumar Optical Materials 146 (December 2023), 114564 , 2023 2023 Citations: 12
Surface Morphological and Optical Evolution of RF Sputtered AZO Films for Optoelectronic Devices A Pandey, S Tyagi, BP Singh, L Kumar Physica B: Condensed Matter 647 (15 December 2022), 414393 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Work function modulation and charge transport studies of 100 MeV Au7+ ions irradiated TiO2 films for optoelectronic devices A Pandey, F Singh, A Garg, D Kanjilal, L Kumar Optical Materials 143, 114180 , 2023 2023 Citations: 11
Effects of 10 MeV Al4+ ions irradiation on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates for photovoltaic device applications A Pandey, MS Patel, DK Chaudhary, SP Patel, LS Pali, A Garg, L Kumar Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 54 (27), 275502 , 2021 2021 Citations: 10
Tuning the physical properties of SnO2 quantum dots via Ag-doping for fabricating efficient photodetectors R Sonkar, B Boro, A Pandey, MP Ghosh, D Chowdhury RSC Advances 15 (26), 20589–20604 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
Experimental and theoretical investigations on fullerene (C60) induced compact CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite thin films V Kumar, A Pandey, L Kumar, M Singh, A Kumar, S Kishor, K Jain, ... Physica Scripta 97 (7), 075809 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
Progress and perspectives on accelerated degradation modeling of perovskite solar cells A Pandey, A Bag Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 225, 116173 , 2026 2026 Citations: 6
Microstructural, Optical, and Work Function Tuning of Fullerene (C60) Modified Zinc Oxide Films for Optoelectronic Devices A Pandey, A Garg, L Kumar ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 11 (10), 104002 , 2022 2022 Citations: 6
Modeling Degradation Kinetics of FAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells: Impact of Microstructural and Optoelectronic Defects A Pandey, A Bag IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability 25 (2, June 2025), 288-295 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Stabilization of Sn2+ in FA0.75MA0.25SnI3 perovskite thin films using electron doner polymer PCDTBT and an improvement in charge transport properties for perovskite solar cells A Vishwakarma, P Kumar, A Pandey, L Kumar Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 57 (43), 435102 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Optimizing Charge Transport and Band-Offset in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells: Impact of TiO2 Contact Deposition Temperature A Pandey, T Kumar, A Mondal, A Bag Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 57 (44), 445103 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Lattice strain relaxation and charge carrier dynamics in Si swift heavy ion irradiated GaN films for optoelectronics A Pandey, L Katariya, A Bag, F Singh, G Gupta, D Kanjilal, L Kumar Physica B: Condensed Matter 738 (30 September 2026), 418868 , 2026 2026
Electronic Coupling and Plasmonic–Catalytic Synergism of Ni–Au-Decorated SnO2 Nanorods: A Combined Approach to Improved Charge Transport and Optoelectronic Application R Sonkar, A Pandey, MP Ghosh, S Thakur, D Chowdhury Current Applied Physics 89 (September 2026), 35-48 , 2026 2026
RF-Sputtered β-Ga₂O₃ Thin Films for Solar-Blind UV Detection: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives P Mandal, SR Meitei, A Pandey Materials 19 (10), 2165 , 2026 2026
Structure-Property-Performance Correlation of Sol-Gel Derived ZnO Thin Films for High-Efficiency Solar Cell Applications: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study P Mandal, A Pandey, S Roy Journal of Ovonic Research 22 (2), 142-160 , 2026 2026
Next-Generation Devices Enabled by RF Sputtered Wide Bandgap Semiconductors P Mandal, A Pandey Engineering Solutions for Modern Challenges in Advanced Materials Science 1 … , 2026 2026
