Leon Bowen's Outputs (72)

A Tailored Graphene Supramolecular Gel for Pharmaceutical Crystallization (2025)
Journal Article
Zhang, Q., Screen, M. A., Bowen, L., Xu, Y., Zhang, X., & Steed, J. W. (online). A Tailored Graphene Supramolecular Gel for Pharmaceutical Crystallization. Chemical Science, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4sc08087d

A graphene-based supramolecular gel was designed and prepared to control the crystallization process and polymorphism of pharmaceuticals. The gelators were modified at the end segments with pyrene moieties, which spontaneously interact with the graph... Read More about A Tailored Graphene Supramolecular Gel for Pharmaceutical Crystallization.

Control Strategies for Solution‐Processed ZTO‐Based Thin‐Film Transistors Tailored Toward Volatile Organic Compound Detection (2025)
Journal Article
Miller, L. R., Miller, L. R., Galán‐González, A., Galán-González, A., Nicholson, B., Bowen, L., Monier, G., Borthwick, R. J., Borthwick, R. J., White, F., Saeed, M., Thompson, R. L., Thompson, R. L., Robert‐Goumet, C., Robert-Goumet, C., Atkinson, D., Zeze, D. A., Chaudhry, M. U., Souop, M., & Bideux, L. (online). Control Strategies for Solution‐Processed ZTO‐Based Thin‐Film Transistors Tailored Toward Volatile Organic Compound Detection. Advanced Electronic Materials, Article 2400810. https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400810

A breakthrough in the fabrication of amorphous Zn‐Sn‐O (ZTO)‐based thin‐film transistors (TFTs) is presented for volatile organic compound (VOC) detection. The incorporation of highly abundant materials offers substantial economic and environmental b... Read More about Control Strategies for Solution‐Processed ZTO‐Based Thin‐Film Transistors Tailored Toward Volatile Organic Compound Detection.

Reinforcement of GO composites using rigid and flexible crosslinkers (2025)
Journal Article
Kaur, P., Bowen, L., Hutchings, L. R., Chaudhry, M. U., Pugh, T., & Thompson, R. L. (2025). Reinforcement of GO composites using rigid and flexible crosslinkers. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 709, Article 136156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.136156

Crosslinkers are important for graphene oxide (GO) plates in filtration applications because they help to define and maintain the integrity of the nanoscale structure. GO platelets were dispersed in aqueous solution and crosslinked using a simple “on... Read More about Reinforcement of GO composites using rigid and flexible crosslinkers.

Investigating the effect of hydrothermal carbonisation reaction times on the photoluminescence of bio-oil-derived carbon polymer dots (2024)
Journal Article
Bruce, L. A., Desmond, L., Seddon, A. A., Bowen, L., Mutch, G. A., Phan, A. N., & Gibson, E. A. (online). Investigating the effect of hydrothermal carbonisation reaction times on the photoluminescence of bio-oil-derived carbon polymer dots. Journal of Materials Chemistry C Materials for optical and electronic devices, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4tc03858d

Carbon dots (CDs) have favourable properties such as broad spectral absorption, strong photoluminescence, low toxicity, and high specific surface area. Here, carbon polymer dots (CPDs), which are CDs with a carbon core and polymeric surface, were syn... Read More about Investigating the effect of hydrothermal carbonisation reaction times on the photoluminescence of bio-oil-derived carbon polymer dots.

Understanding the Role of Organic Hole Transport Layers on Pinhole Blocking and Performance Improvement in Sb 2 Se 3 Solar Cells (2024)
Journal Article
Shalvey, T. P., Don, C. H., Bowen, L., Veal, T. D., & Major, J. D. (online). Understanding the Role of Organic Hole Transport Layers on Pinhole Blocking and Performance Improvement in Sb 2 Se 3 Solar Cells. Advanced Materials Interfaces, Article 2400394. https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400394

Sb2Se3 is an emerging semiconductor which has shown promise for low‐cost photovoltaic applications. After successive record‐efficiencies using a range of device structures, spiro‐OMeTAD has emerged as the default hole transport material (HTM), howeve... Read More about Understanding the Role of Organic Hole Transport Layers on Pinhole Blocking and Performance Improvement in Sb 2 Se 3 Solar Cells.

La₂O₂MQ₂ phases: stability and synthetic challenges (2024)
Journal Article
Hebberd, G. R., Mendis, B., Bowen, L., Clark, S. J., & Mccabe, E. E. (2024). La₂O₂MQ₂ phases: stability and synthetic challenges. Solid State Sciences, 157, Article 107719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2024.107719

Oxychalcogenides containing transition metal or p block cations have potential for thermoelectric, photocatalytic and magnetic applications but the synthetic pathways to these quaternary phases are not fully understood. This presents a challenge to t... Read More about La₂O₂MQ₂ phases: stability and synthetic challenges.

Precision depth-controlled isolated silver nanoparticle-doped diamond-like carbon coatings with enhanced ion release, biocompatibility, and mechanical performance (2024)
Journal Article
Zia, A. W., Anestopoulos, I., Bowen, L., Panayiotidis, M. I., & Birkett, M. (2024). Precision depth-controlled isolated silver nanoparticle-doped diamond-like carbon coatings with enhanced ion release, biocompatibility, and mechanical performance. Surface and Coatings Technology, 493, Part 2, Article 131281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2024.131281

Silver doped diamond-like carbon (Ag/DLC) coatings are in high demand for biomedical applications such as artificial implants, surgical instruments, and medical devices. However, recent reports indicate that the excess Ag concentration required in ty... Read More about Precision depth-controlled isolated silver nanoparticle-doped diamond-like carbon coatings with enhanced ion release, biocompatibility, and mechanical performance.

Reactive DC Sputtered TiO 2 Electron Transport Layers for Cadmium‐Free Sb 2 Se 3 Solar Cells (2024)
Journal Article
Don, C. H., Shalvey, T. P., Sindi, D. A., Lewis, B., Swallow, J. E. N., Bowen, L., Fernandes, D. F., Kubart, T., Biswas, D., Thakur, P. K., Lee, T., & Major, J. D. (2024). Reactive DC Sputtered TiO 2 Electron Transport Layers for Cadmium‐Free Sb 2 Se 3 Solar Cells. Advanced Energy Materials, 14(34), Article 2401077. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202401077

The evolution of Sb2Se3 heterojunction devices away from CdS electron transport layers (ETL) to wide bandgap metal oxide alternatives is a critical target in the development of this emerging photovoltaic material. Metal oxide ETL/Sb2Se3 device perfor... Read More about Reactive DC Sputtered TiO 2 Electron Transport Layers for Cadmium‐Free Sb 2 Se 3 Solar Cells.

The Impact of Hot Injection Reaction Temperature on the Properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystal Thin Films for PV Devices (2023)
Journal Article
Alluhaybi, A., Halliday, D., Szablewski, M., & Bowen, L. (2024). The Impact of Hot Injection Reaction Temperature on the Properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystal Thin Films for PV Devices. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 14(2), 240-245. https://doi.org/10.1109/jphotov.2023.3338859

Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) is a p-type absorber layer semiconductor, which is a promising candidate material for advanced solar cell devices. CZTS nanoparticle thin films were synthesized via the hot-injection spin-coating method. Nanoparticle inks were dep... Read More about The Impact of Hot Injection Reaction Temperature on the Properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystal Thin Films for PV Devices.

Nanostructured Channel for Improving Emission Efficiency of Hybrid Light-Emitting Field-Effect Transistors (2023)
Journal Article
Galán-González, A., Pander, P., MacKenzie, R. C. I., Bowen, L., Zeze, D. A., Borthwick, R. J., …Chaudhry, M. U. (2023). Nanostructured Channel for Improving Emission Efficiency of Hybrid Light-Emitting Field-Effect Transistors. ACS Photonics, 10(12), 4315-4321. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.3c01080

We report on the mechanism of enhancing the luminance and external quantum efficiency (EQE) by developing nanostructured channels in hybrid (organic/inorganic) light-emitting transistors (HLETs) that combine a solution-processed oxide and a polymer h... Read More about Nanostructured Channel for Improving Emission Efficiency of Hybrid Light-Emitting Field-Effect Transistors.

Enhanced Carrier Collection in Cd/In-Based Dual Buffers in Kesterite Thin-Film Solar Cells from Nanoparticle Inks (2023)
Journal Article
Campbell, S., Zoppi, G., Bowen, L., Maiello, P., Barrioz, V., Beattie, N. S., & Qu, Y. (2023). Enhanced Carrier Collection in Cd/In-Based Dual Buffers in Kesterite Thin-Film Solar Cells from Nanoparticle Inks. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 6(21), 10883-10896. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.3c01622

Increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of kesterite Cu2ZnSn­(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells has remained challenging over the past decade, in part due to open-circuit voltage (V OC)-limiting defect states at the absorber/buffer interface. Prev... Read More about Enhanced Carrier Collection in Cd/In-Based Dual Buffers in Kesterite Thin-Film Solar Cells from Nanoparticle Inks.

Biocompatible Ti3Au–Ag/Cu thin film coatings with enhanced mechanical and antimicrobial functionality (2023)
Journal Article
Lukose, C. C., Anestopoulos, I., Panagiotidis, I., Zoppi, G., Black, A. M., Dover, L. G., …Birkett, M. (2023). Biocompatible Ti3Au–Ag/Cu thin film coatings with enhanced mechanical and antimicrobial functionality. Biomaterials Research, 27(1), Article 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40824-023-00435-1

Background
Biofilm formation on medical device surfaces is a persistent problem that shelters bacteria and encourages infections and implant rejection. One promising approach to tackle this problem is to coat the medical device with an antimicrobial... Read More about Biocompatible Ti3Au–Ag/Cu thin film coatings with enhanced mechanical and antimicrobial functionality.

Multi‐Phase Sputtered TiO2‐Induced Current–Voltage Distortion in Sb2Se3 Solar Cells (2023)
Journal Article
Don, C. H., Shalvey, T. P., Smiles, M. J., Thomas, L., Phillips, L. J., Hobson, T. D. C., …Major, J. D. (2023). Multi‐Phase Sputtered TiO2‐Induced Current–Voltage Distortion in Sb2Se3 Solar Cells. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 10(20), https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202300238

Despite the recent success of CdS/Sb2Se3 heterojunction devices, cadmium toxicity, parasitic absorption from the relatively narrow CdS band gap (2.4 eV) and multiple reports of inter-diffusion at the interface forming Cd(S,Se) and Sb2(S,Se)3 phases,... Read More about Multi‐Phase Sputtered TiO2‐Induced Current–Voltage Distortion in Sb2Se3 Solar Cells.

Adatom controlled emergence of high hardness in biocompatible beta-Ti3Au intermetallic thin film surfaces (2023)
Journal Article
Lukose, C. C., Anestopoulos, I., Bowen, L., Panayiotidis, M. I., & Birkett, M. (2023). Adatom controlled emergence of high hardness in biocompatible beta-Ti3Au intermetallic thin film surfaces. Surfaces and Interfaces, 40, Article 103034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2023.103034

There is growing international interest in hard biocompatible thin film surface coatings to extend the lifetime of medical implants. Parameters of the physical vapour deposition technique can be utilized to fine tune the microstructure and resulting... Read More about Adatom controlled emergence of high hardness in biocompatible beta-Ti3Au intermetallic thin film surfaces.

Biomechanical characteristics of silver enriched diamond-like carbon coatings for medical applications (2023)
Journal Article
Zia, A. W., Anestopoulos, I., Panayiotidis, M. I., Bowen, L., & Birkett, M. (2023). Biomechanical characteristics of silver enriched diamond-like carbon coatings for medical applications. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 958, Article 170473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.170473

Silver enriched diamond-like carbon (Ag/DLC) coatings are gaining a reputation for medical applications as Ag doping improves the intrinsic biocompatibility and antimicrobial features of DLC, and higher Ag amounts improve its hemocompatibility and gr... Read More about Biomechanical characteristics of silver enriched diamond-like carbon coatings for medical applications.

Nanoindentation of Horn River Basin Shales: The Micromechanical Contrast Between Overburden and Reservoir Formations (2023)
Journal Article
Charlton, T., Rouainia, M., Aplin, A., Fisher, Q., & Bowen, L. (2023). Nanoindentation of Horn River Basin Shales: The Micromechanical Contrast Between Overburden and Reservoir Formations. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 128(3), Article e2022JB025957. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022jb025957

We present a micromechanical characterization of shales from the Horn River Basin, NW Canada. The shales have contrasting mineralogy and microstructures and play different geomechanical roles in the field: the sample set covers an unconventional gas... Read More about Nanoindentation of Horn River Basin Shales: The Micromechanical Contrast Between Overburden and Reservoir Formations.

Thermal activation of Ti(1-x)Au(x) thin films with enhanced hardness and biocompatibility (2022)
Journal Article
Lukose, C. C., Anestopoulos, I., Mantso, T., Bowen, L., Panayiotidis, M. I., & Birkett, M. (2022). Thermal activation of Ti(1-x)Au(x) thin films with enhanced hardness and biocompatibility. Bioactive Materials, 15, 426-445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.02.027

The lifetime of orthopaedic implants can be extended by coating the softer Ti6Al4V alloy with harder biocompatible thin films. In this work, thin films of Ti(1-x)Au(x) are grown on Ti6Al4V and glass substrates by magnetron sputtering in the entire x... Read More about Thermal activation of Ti(1-x)Au(x) thin films with enhanced hardness and biocompatibility.

A method for automatic shale porosity quantification using an Edge-Threshold Automatic Processing (ETAP) technique (2021)
Journal Article
Tian, S., Bowen, L., Liu, B., Zeng, F., Xue, H., Erastova, V., Greenwell, H. C., Dong, Z., Zhao, R., & Liu, J. (2021). A method for automatic shale porosity quantification using an Edge-Threshold Automatic Processing (ETAP) technique. Fuel, 304, Article 121319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121319

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is one of the most prevalent methods used to image and quantify the pore size distribution of shale rock, critical in understanding unconventional petroleum systems and production. Generally, digital greyscale SEM i... Read More about A method for automatic shale porosity quantification using an Edge-Threshold Automatic Processing (ETAP) technique.

Microstructure and pore systems of shallow-buried fluvial mudstone caprocks in Zhanhua Depression, east China inferred from SEM and MICP (2021)
Journal Article
Li, Y., Zha, M., Song, R., Aplin, A. C., Bowen, L., Wang, X., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Microstructure and pore systems of shallow-buried fluvial mudstone caprocks in Zhanhua Depression, east China inferred from SEM and MICP. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 132, Article 105189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105189

Shallow-buried fluvial mudstones are of great significance as potential top seals for natural gas accumulations in the Zhanhua depression. Four samples were chosen to represent the range of fine-grained microfacies, from clay-rich to silt-rich to cem... Read More about Microstructure and pore systems of shallow-buried fluvial mudstone caprocks in Zhanhua Depression, east China inferred from SEM and MICP.

Effect of Short-Term Low-Temperature Austempering on the Microstructure and Abrasive Wear of Medium-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel (2021)
Journal Article
Luo, Q., Mei, H., Kitchen, M., Gao, Y., & Bowen, L. (2021). Effect of Short-Term Low-Temperature Austempering on the Microstructure and Abrasive Wear of Medium-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel. Metals and Materials International, 27(9), 3115-3131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-020-00957-6

Nano-bainitic steels have attracted great attention for good wear resistance. In this research, a medium-carbon low-alloyed steel was austempered at a low temperature close to its martensite-start temperature for various times to obtain mixed microst... Read More about Effect of Short-Term Low-Temperature Austempering on the Microstructure and Abrasive Wear of Medium-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel.