Room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free nano-composite for the flexible transparent bottom electrode of perovskite solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Haifei; Sun, Jingsong; Zhang, Hong; Lu, Shunmian; Choy, Wallace C. H.

2016-03-01

The exploration of low-temperature and solution-processed charge transporting and collecting layers can promote the development of low-cost and large-scale perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) through an all solution process. Here, we propose a room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free nano-composite composed of a silver nano-network and graphene oxide (GO) flawless film for the transparent bottom electrode of a PVSC. Our experimental results show that the amount of GO flakes play a critical role in forming the flawless anti-corrosive barrier in the silver nano-network through a self-assembly approach under ambient atmosphere, which can effectively prevent the penetration of liquid or gaseous halides and their corrosion against the silver nano-network underneath. Importantly, we simultaneously achieve good work function alignment and surface wetting properties for a practical bottom electrode by controlling the degree of reduction of GO flakes. Finally, flexible PVSC adopting the room-temperature and solution-processed nano-composite as the flexible transparent bottom electrode has been demonstrated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. As a consequence, the demonstration of our room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free flexible transparent bottom electrode will contribute to the emerging large-area flexible PVSC technologies.The exploration of low-temperature and solution-processed charge transporting and collecting layers can promote the development of low-cost and large-scale perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) through an all solution process. Here, we propose a room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free nano-composite composed of a silver nano-network and graphene oxide (GO) flawless film for the transparent bottom electrode of a PVSC. Our experimental results show that the amount of GO flakes play a critical role in forming the flawless anti-corrosive barrier in the silver nano-network through a self

Reactive oxygen species-related activities of nano-iron metal and nano-iron oxides.

PubMed

Wu, Haohao; Yin, Jun-Jie; Wamer, Wayne G; Zeng, Mingyong; Lo, Y Martin

2014-03-01

Nano-iron metal and nano-iron oxides are among the most widely used engineered and naturally occurring nanostructures, and the increasing incidence of biological exposure to these nanostructures has raised concerns about their biotoxicity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress is one of the most accepted toxic mechanisms and, in the past decades, considerable efforts have been made to investigate the ROS-related activities of iron nanostructures. In this review, we summarize activities of nano-iron metal and nano-iron oxides in ROS-related redox processes, addressing in detail the known homogeneous and heterogeneous redox mechanisms involved in these processes, intrinsic ROS-related properties of iron nanostructures (chemical composition, particle size, and crystalline phase), and ROS-related bio-microenvironmental factors, including physiological pH and buffers, biogenic reducing agents, and other organic substances. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Pulsed—Laser Deposition Of Oxide Thin Films And Laser—Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Of Multi—Element Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedarnig, Johannes D.

2010-10-01

New results of the Linz group on pulsed—laser deposition (PLD) of oxide thin films and on laser—induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) of multi-element materials are reported. High-Tc superconducting (HTS) films with enhanced critical current density Jc are produced by laser ablation of novel nano-composite ceramic targets. The targets contain insulating nano-particles that are embedded into the YBa2Cu3O7 matrix. Epitaxial double-layers of lithium-doped and aluminum-doped ZnO are deposited on r-cut sapphire substrates. Acoustic over-modes in the GHz range are excited by piezoelectric actuation of layers. Smooth films of rare-earth doped glass are produced by F2—laser ablation. The transport properties of HTS thin films are modified by light—ion irradiation. Thin film nano—patterning is achieved by masked ion beam irradiation. LIBS is employed to analyze trace elements in industrial iron oxide powder and reference polymer materials. Various trace elements of ppm concentration are measured in the UV/VIS and vacuum-UV spectral range. Quantitative LIBS analysis of major components in oxide materials is performed by calibration-free methods.

Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides.

PubMed

Sivakumar, Sai; Zwier, Elizabeth; Meisenheimer, Peter Benjamin; Heron, John T

2018-05-29

Here, we present a procedure for the synthesis of bulk and thin film multicomponent (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O (Co variant) and (Mg0.25(1-x)Co0.25(1-x)Ni0.25(1-x)CuxZn0.25(1-x))O (Cu variant) entropy-stabilized oxides. Phase pure and chemically homogeneous (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O (x = 0.20, 0.27, 0.33) and (Mg0.25(1-x)Co0.25(1-x)Ni0.25(1-x)CuxZn0.25(1-x))O (x = 0.11, 0.27) ceramic pellets are synthesized and used in the deposition of ultra-high quality, phase pure, single crystalline thin films of the target stoichiometry. A detailed methodology for the deposition of smooth, chemically homogeneous, entropy-stabilized oxide thin films by pulsed laser deposition on (001)-oriented MgO substrates is described. The phase and crystallinity of bulk and thin film materials are confirmed using X-ray diffraction. Composition and chemical homogeneity are confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The surface topography of thin films is measured with scanning probe microscopy. The synthesis of high quality, single crystalline, entropy-stabilized oxide thin films enables the study of interface, size, strain, and disorder effects on the properties in this new class of highly disordered oxide materials.

Nano CaCO₃ imprinted starch hybrid polyethylhexylacrylate\\polyvinylalcohol nanocomposite thin films.

PubMed

Prusty, Kalyani; Swain, Sarat K

2016-03-30

Starch hybrid polyethylhexylacrylate (PEHA)/polyvinylalcohol (PVA) nanocomposite thin films are prepared by different composition of nano CaCO3 in aqueous medium. The chemical interaction of nano CaCO3 with PEHA in presence of starch and PVA is investigated by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used in order to study the change in crystallite size and d-spacing during the formation of nanocomposite thin film. The surface morphology of nanofilms is studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The topology and surface roughness of the films is noticed by atomic force microscope (AFM). The tensile strength, thermal stability and thermal conductivity of films are increased with increase in concentrations of CaCO3 nanopowder. The chemical resistance and biodegradable properties of the nanocomposite thin films are also investigated. The growth of bacteria and fungi in starch hybrid PEHA film is reduced substantially with imprint of nano CaCO3. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO:TiO2 nano composites thin films deposited on glass substrate by sol-gel spray coating technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutanto, Heri; Nurhasanah, Iis; Hidayanto, Eko; Wibowo, Singgih; Hadiyanto

2015-12-01

In this work, (ZnO)x:(TiO2)1-x nano composites thin films, with x = 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, and 0, have been prepared by sol-gel spray coating technique onto glass substrate. Pure TiO2 and ZnO thin films were synthesized from titanium isopropoxide-based and zinc acetate-based precursor solutions, respectively, whereas the composite films were obtained from the mixture of these solutions at the specific % vol ratios. The properties and performance of nano composite ZnO, TiO2 and ZnO:TiO2 thin films at different composition have been investigated. Ultraviolet - Visible (UV-Vis) Spectrophotometer and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed in order to get morphology and transmittance of thin films. Testing the ability of photocatalytic activity of obtained films was conducted on photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye and organic pollutants of wastewater under a 30 watt UV light irradiation, then testing BOD, COD and TPC were conducted. Using the Tauc model, the band-gap energy decreased from 3.12 eV to 3.02 eV for the sample with x = 1 and 0, respectively. This decrease occured along with the replacement of percentage of ZnO by TiO2 on the films. This decrease also reduced the minimum energy that required for electron excitation. Obtained thin films had nanoscale roughness level with range 3.64 to 17.30 nm. The film with x= 0 has the biggest removal percentage on BOD, COD and TPC mesurements with percentage 54.82%, 62.73% and 99.88%, respectively.

Fabrication of resonant patterns using thermal nano-imprint lithography for thin-film photovoltaic applications.

PubMed

Khaleque, Tanzina; Svavarsson, Halldor Gudfinnur; Magnusson, Robert

2013-07-01

A single-step, low-cost fabrication method to generate resonant nano-grating patterns on poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA; plexiglas) substrates using thermal nano-imprint lithography is reported. A guided-mode resonant structure is obtained by subsequent deposition of thin films of transparent conductive oxide and amorphous silicon on the imprinted area. Referenced to equivalent planar structures, around 25% and 45% integrated optical absorbance enhancement is observed over the 450-nm to 900-nm wavelength range in one- and two-dimensional patterned samples, respectively. The fabricated elements provided have 300-nm periods. Thermally imprinted thermoplastic substrates hold potential for low-cost fabrication of nano-patterned thin-film solar cells for efficient light management.

Assisted deposition of nano-hydroxyapatite onto exfoliated carbon nanotube oxide scaffolds.

PubMed

Zanin, H; Rosa, C M R; Eliaz, N; May, P W; Marciano, F R; Lobo, A O

2015-06-14

Electrodeposited nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) is more similar to biological apatite in terms of microstructure and dimension than apatites prepared by other processes. Reinforcement with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enhances its mechanical properties and increases adhesion of osteoblasts. Here, we carefully studied nHAp deposited onto vertically aligned multi-walled CNT (VAMWCNT) scaffolds by electrodeposition and soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF). VAMWCNTs are porous biocompatible scaffolds with nanometric porosity and exceptional mechanical and chemical properties. The VAMWCNT films were prepared on a Ti substrate by a microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition method, and then oxidized and exfoliated by oxygen plasma etching (OPE) to produce graphene oxide (GO) at the VAMWCNT tips. The attachment of oxygen functional groups was found to be crucial for nHAp nucleation during electrodeposition. A thin layer of plate-like and needle-like nHAp with high crystallinity was formed without any need for thermal treatment. This composite (henceforth referred to as nHAp-VAMWCNT-GO) served as the scaffold for in vitro biomineralization when soaked in the SBF, resulting in the formation of both carbonate-rich and carbonate-poor globular-like nHAp. Different steps in the deposition of biological apatite onto VAMWCNT-GO and during the short-term biomineralization process were analysed. Due to their unique structure and properties, such nano-bio-composites may become useful in accelerating in vivo bone regeneration processes.

Assisted deposition of nano-hydroxyapatite onto exfoliated carbon nanotube oxide scaffolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanin, H.; Rosa, C. M. R.; Eliaz, N.; May, P. W.; Marciano, F. R.; Lobo, A. O.

2015-05-01

Electrodeposited nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) is more similar to biological apatite in terms of microstructure and dimension than apatites prepared by other processes. Reinforcement with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enhances its mechanical properties and increases adhesion of osteoblasts. Here, we carefully studied nHAp deposited onto vertically aligned multi-walled CNT (VAMWCNT) scaffolds by electrodeposition and soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF). VAMWCNTs are porous biocompatible scaffolds with nanometric porosity and exceptional mechanical and chemical properties. The VAMWCNT films were prepared on a Ti substrate by a microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition method, and then oxidized and exfoliated by oxygen plasma etching (OPE) to produce graphene oxide (GO) at the VAMWCNT tips. The attachment of oxygen functional groups was found to be crucial for nHAp nucleation during electrodeposition. A thin layer of plate-like and needle-like nHAp with high crystallinity was formed without any need for thermal treatment. This composite (henceforth referred to as nHAp-VAMWCNT-GO) served as the scaffold for in vitro biomineralization when soaked in the SBF, resulting in the formation of both carbonate-rich and carbonate-poor globular-like nHAp. Different steps in the deposition of biological apatite onto VAMWCNT-GO and during the short-term biomineralization process were analysed. Due to their unique structure and properties, such nano-bio-composites may become useful in accelerating in vivo bone regeneration processes.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO:TiO{sub 2} nano composites thin films deposited on glass substrate by sol-gel spray coating technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sutanto, Heri, E-mail: herisutanto@undip.ac.id; Nurhasanah, Iis; Hidayanto, Eko

In this work, (ZnO){sub x}:(TiO{sub 2}){sub 1-x} nano composites thin films, with x = 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, and 0, have been prepared by sol–gel spray coating technique onto glass substrate. Pure TiO{sub 2} and ZnO thin films were synthesized from titanium isopropoxide-based and zinc acetate-based precursor solutions, respectively, whereas the composite films were obtained from the mixture of these solutions at the specific % vol ratios. The properties and performance of nano composite ZnO, TiO{sub 2} and ZnO:TiO{sub 2} thin films at different composition have been investigated. Ultraviolet – Visible (UV-Vis) Spectrophotometer and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employedmore » in order to get morphology and transmittance of thin films. Testing the ability of photocatalytic activity of obtained films was conducted on photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye and organic pollutants of wastewater under a 30 watt UV light irradiation, then testing BOD, COD and TPC were conducted. Using the Tauc model, the band-gap energy decreased from 3.12 eV to 3.02 eV for the sample with x = 1 and 0, respectively. This decrease occured along with the replacement of percentage of ZnO by TiO{sub 2} on the films. This decrease also reduced the minimum energy that required for electron excitation. Obtained thin films had nanoscale roughness level with range 3.64 to 17.30 nm. The film with x= 0 has the biggest removal percentage on BOD, COD and TPC mesurements with percentage 54.82%, 62.73% and 99.88%, respectively.« less

Application of nano-TiO2/LDPE composite film on photocatalytic oxidation degradation of dichloromethane.

PubMed

Suwannahong, Kowit; Liengcharernsit, Winai; Sanongraj, Wipada; Kruenate, Jittiporn

2012-09-01

This study focused on the photocatalytic destruction of dichloromethane (DCM) in indoor air using the nano-TiO2/LDPE composite film as an economical photocatalyst. The nano-TiO2 was dispersed in a polyethylene matrix to form composite film. The photocatalytic activity of the nano-TiO2/LDPE composite films was evaluated through the degradation of dichloromethane(DCM) under UV-C irradiance at specific wavelength of 254 nm. The percentage of nano-TiO2 contents varied from 0, 5, and 10% (wt cat./wt LDPE composite film). The results derived from the kinetic model revealed that the photocatalytic rates of 5 and 10 wt.% nano-TiO2/ LDPE composite films follow the first order reaction while the rate of the film without TiO2 followed the zero order reaction. At low concentration of DCM, the rate of photocatalytic degradation of the DCM was slower than that at high DCM concentration. The 10 wt.% of TiO2 content of the nano-TiO2/LDPE composite film yielded the highest degradation efficiency of 78%, followed by the removal efficiency of 55% for the 5 wt.% of TiO2 content of the nano-TiO2/LDPE composite film. In contrast with the composite film containing nano-TiO2, the LDPE film without adding nano-TiO2 expressed the degradation efficiency of 28%.

Metal Doped Manganese Oxide Thin Films for Supercapacitor Application.

PubMed

Tung, Mai Thanh; Thuy, Hoang Thi Bich; Hang, Le Thi Thu

2015-09-01

Co and Fe doped manganese oxide thin films were prepared by anodic deposition at current density of 50 mA cm(-2) using the electrolyte containing manganese sulfate and either cobalt sulfate or ferrous sulfate. Surface morphology and crystal structure of oxides were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Chemical composition of materials was analyzed by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS), iodometric titration method and complexometric titration method, respectively. Supercapacitive behavior of Co and Fe doped manganese oxide films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the doped manganese oxides are composed of nano fiber-like structure with radius of 5-20 nm and remain amorphous structure after heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 2 hours. The average valence of manganese increases from +3.808 to +3.867 after doping Co and from +3.808 to +3.846 after doping Fe. The doped manganese oxide film electrodes exhibited preferably ideal pseudo-capacitive behavior. The specific capacitance value of deposited manganese oxide reaches a maximum of 175.3 F/g for doping Co and 244.6 F/g for doping Fe. The thin films retained about 84% of the initial capacity even after 500 cycles of charge-discharge test. Doping Co and Fe decreases diffusion and charge transfer resistance of the films. The electric double layer capacitance and capacitor response frequency are increased after doping.

Research on the Dielectric Properties of Nano-ZnO/Silicone Rubber Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fei-feng; Yan, Dan-dan; Su, Yi; Lu, Yu-feng; Xia, Xiao-fei; Huang, Hui-min

2017-09-01

The samples of 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nano-composite silicone rubber were prepared by mechanical method. The dielectric properties of each sample were measured by dielectric spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the dielectric constant of the silicone rubber composite increases with the increase of the content of nano-ZnO. The breakdown test results showed that with the increase of the content of nano-ZnO, the breakdown strength of silicone rubber composites increased first and then decreased. The breakdown test results indicate that the nano-ZnO can reduce the breakdown strength of silicone rubber. The hydrophobic test results showed that nano-ZnO will reduce the hydrophobic of silicone rubber.

Nano-composite materials

DOEpatents

Lee, Se-Hee; Tracy, C. Edwin; Pitts, J. Roland

2010-05-25

Nano-composite materials are disclosed. An exemplary method of producing a nano-composite material may comprise co-sputtering a transition metal and a refractory metal in a reactive atmosphere. The method may also comprise co-depositing a transition metal and a refractory metal composite structure on a substrate. The method may further comprise thermally annealing the deposited transition metal and refractory metal composite structure in a reactive atmosphere.

Multifunctional carbon nano-paper composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhichun; Chu, Hetao; Wang, Kuiwen; Liu, Yanjv; Leng, Jinsong

2013-08-01

Carbon Nanotube (CNT), for its excellent mechanical, electrical properties and nano size, large special surface physical property, become the most promising material. But carbon nanotube can still fabricated in micro dimension, and can't be made into macro size, so to the carbon nanotube filled composite can't explore the properties of the CNT. Carbon nano-paper is made of pure CNT, with micro pore, and it turn micro sized CNT into macro shaped membrane. Based on the piezo-resistivity and electrical conductivity of the carbon nano-paper, we used the carbon nano-paper as functional layers fabricate functional composite, and studies its strain sensing, composite material deicing and shape memory polymer (SMP) material electric actuation performance. The results shown that the resin can pregnant the nano paper, and there was good bond for nano paper and composite. The functional composite can monitoring the strain with high sensitivity comparing to foil strain gauge. The functional composite can be heated via the carbon nano paper with low power supply and high heating rate. The composite has good deicing and heat actuation performance to composite material. For the good strain sensing, electric conductivity and self-heating character of the carbon nano-paper composite, it can be used for self sensing, anti lightning strike and deicing of composite materials in aircrafts and wind turbine blades.

Synthesis of Au microwires by selective oxidation of Au–W thin-film composition spreads

PubMed Central

Hamann, Sven; Brunken, Hayo; Salomon, Steffen; Meyer, Robert; Savan, Alan; Ludwig, Alfred

2013-01-01

We report on the stress-induced growth of Au microwires out of a surrounding Au–W matrix by selective oxidation, in view of a possible application as ‘micro-Velcro’. The Au wires are extruded due to the high compressive stress in the tungsten oxide formed by oxidation of elemental W. The samples were fabricated as a thin-film materials library using combinatorial sputter deposition followed by thermal oxidation. Sizes and shapes of the Au microwires were investigated as a function of the W to Au ratio. The coherence length and stress state of the Au microwires were related to their shape and plastic deformation. Depending on the composition of the Au–W precursor, the oxidized samples showed regions with differently shaped Au microwires. The Au48W52 composition yielded wires with the maximum length to diameter ratio due to the high compressive stress in the tungsten oxide matrix. The values of wire length (35 μm) and diameter (2 μm) achieved at the Au48W52 composition are suitable for micro-Velcro applications. PMID:27877561

Nanostructured manganese oxide/carbon nanotubes, graphene and graphene oxide as water-oxidizing composites in artificial photosynthesis.

PubMed

Najafpour, Mohammad Mahdi; Rahimi, Fahime; Fathollahzadeh, Maryam; Haghighi, Behzad; Hołyńska, Małgorzata; Tomo, Tatsuya; Allakhverdiev, Suleyman I

2014-07-28

Herein, we report on nano-sized Mn oxide/carbon nanotubes, graphene and graphene oxide as water-oxidizing compounds in artificial photosynthesis. The composites are synthesized by different and simple procedures and characterized by a number of methods. The water-oxidizing activities of these composites are also considered in the presence of cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate. Some composites are efficient Mn-based catalysts with TOF (mmol O2 per mol Mn per second) ~ 2.6.

Effect of thin oxide layers incorporated in spin valve structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillies, M. F.; Kuiper, A. E. T.; Leibbrandt, G. W. R.

2001-06-01

The enhancement of the magnetoresistance effect, induced by incorporating nano-oxide layers (NOLs) in a bottom-type spin valve, was studied for various preparation conditions. The effect of a NOL in the Co90Fe10 pinned layer was found to depend critically on the oxygen pressure applied to form the thin oxide film. Pressures over 10-3 Torr O2 yield oxides thicker than about 0.7 nm, which apparently deteriorate the biasing field which exists over the oxide. The magnetoresistance values can further be raised by forming a specular reflecting oxide on top of the sense layer. Promising results were obtained with an Al2O3 capping layer formed in a solid-state oxidation reaction that occurs spontaneously when a thin Al layer is deposited on the oxidized surface of the Co90Fe10 sense layer.

Investigating effects of nano cerium oxide reinforcement on mechanical properties of composite based on natural rubber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Le Quoc; Phan, Vu Hoang Giang; Khuyen, Nguyen Quang

2018-04-01

Polymer nanocomposites that based on combination of nanomaterials (such as nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanorods, nanofibers, and nanosheets) and polymeric matrices are receiving great attention in research and application. However, separate and homogenous dispersion rather than aggregates of nanoparticles into matrices meet big difficulty due to large interaction between nanoparticles. The poor dispersion leads to low properties of nanocomposites. In this study, we find out the appropriate method to separately disperse cerium oxides (CeO2) nanoparticles into natural rubber, aiming to increase mechanical properties of natural rubber. The SEM images were used to evaluate the dispersion of nano CeO2 in natural rubber matrix. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were measured after vulcanization to investigate effects of nano CeO2 amount on prepared composite. The findings exhibited that the addition of CeO2 by dispersion of nano CeO2 in water via ultrasonication before mixing with rubber latex, significantly increase modulus, tear and wear resistance of natural rubber.

Chemically designed Pt/PPy nano-composite for effective LPG gas sensor.

PubMed

Gaikwad, Namrata; Bhanoth, Sreenu; More, Priyesh V; Jain, G H; Khanna, P K

2014-03-07

Simultaneous in situ reduction of hexachloroplatinic acid by the amine group in the pyrrole monomer and oxidation of pyrrole to form polypyrrole (PPy) was examined. The reactions were performed at various temperatures to understand the degree of reduction of platinum precursor as well as doping of polypyrrole with Pt(II) chloro-complex. Spectroscopic images revealed different morphologies for the Pt/PPy nano-composite prepared at various temperatures. The as-prepared Pt/PPy nano-composite samples were tested for their ability to sense liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which resulted in excellent sensing at relatively low temperature. The porous nature and ohmic contact between the PPy and platinum nanoparticles makes the as-prepared Pt/PPy nano-composite highly useful for sensors as well as electronic applications.

Nano-zinc oxide incorporated graphene oxide/nanocellulose composite for the adsorption and photo catalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride from aqueous solutions.

PubMed

Anirudhan, T S; Deepa, J R

2017-03-15

Purpose of this study is to report the synthetic procedure of a novel photo catalyst, nano zinc oxide incorporated graphene oxide/nanocellulose (ZnO-GO/NC) for the effective adsorption and subsequent photo degradation of ciprofloxacin (CF), an antibiotic widely used in the poultry. Self cleaning property in cellulose was achieved by introducing a nano zinc oxide incorporated graphene oxide into nanocellulose (NC) matrix. By incorporating nano zinc oxide (ZnO) in graphene oxide (GO), band gap could be tuned to 2.4eV and after the composite formation with NC, the band gap was enhanced to 2.8eV which is in the visible region. Thus the degradation of the CF was achieved under the visible light. Photo degradation was due to electron hole interaction. The step wise modification in the synthesis ZnO-GO/NC was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, AFM, DRS-UV and BET N 2 adsorption isotherm techniques. The values of surface area, pore volume and pore radius were found to be 12.68m 2 /g, 0.026mL/g and 12.5nm, respectively. Efficiency in the adsorption process of CF onto ZnO-GO/NC was verified by batch adsorption technique. The optimum pH was found to be 5.5 and dose of the ZnO-GO/NC was optimized as 2.0g/L. Equilibrium was attained at 120min and the adsorption of drug followed second-order kinetics. Sips isotherm was the best fitted model and could explain the nature of interaction of CF with ZnO-GO/NC. The studies revealed that the degradation followed first-order kinetics and the optimum pH for the degradation process was found to be 6.0 and achieved a maximum degradation efficiency of 98.0%. The reusability of ZnO-GO/NC after five consecutive cycles indicated it to be a potential candidate for the removal and degradation of CF from aquatic environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of temperature on optical properties of PMMA/SiO2 composite thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soni, Gyanesh; Srivastava, Subodh; Soni, Purushottam; Kalotra, Pankaj; Vijay, Y. K.

2018-05-01

Effect of temperature on PMMA/SiO2 composites thin films were investigated. Nanocomposite flexible thin films of 60 µm thicknesses with different loading of SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared using solution casting method. SEM images show that SiO2 nanoparticles are distributed uniformly in PMMA matrix without any lumps on the surface, and PMMA/SiO2 nano composite thin films had a smoother and regular morphology. UV-Vis and optical band gap measurements revealed that both the concentration of SiO2 nanoparticles and temperature affect the optical properties of the composite thin film in comparison to the pure PMMA film.

Chemical Dynamics of nano-Aluminum and Iodine Based Oxidizers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Little, Brian; Ridge, Claron; Overdeep, Kyle; Slizewski, Dylan; Lindsay, Michael

2017-06-01

As observed in previous studies of nanoenergetic powder composites, micro/nano-structural features such as particle morphology and/or reactant spatial distance are expected to strongly influence properties that govern the combustion behavior of energetic materials (EM). In this study, highly reactive composites containing crystalline iodine (V) oxide or iodate salts with nano-sized aluminum (nAl) were blended by two different processing techniques and then collected as a powder for characterization. Physiochemical techniques such as thermal gravimetric analysis, calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, high speed photography, pressure profile analysis, temperature programmed reactions, and spectroscopy were employed to characterize these EM with emphasis on correlating the chemical reactivity with inherent structural features and variations in stoichiometry. This work is a continuation of efforts to probe the chemical dynamics of nAl-iodine based composites.

Effect of Pre-Oxidation Treatment of Nano-SiC Particulates on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of SiC/Mg-8Al-1Sn Composites Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy Combined with Hot Extrusion.

PubMed

Li, Chuan-Peng; Wang, Zhi-Guo; Zha, Min; Wang, Cheng; Yu, Hong-Chen; Wang, Hui-Yuan; Jiang, Qi-Chuan

2016-11-26

Nano-SiC particulates (n-SiC p ) reinforced Mg-8Al-1Sn (AT81) composites with different pre-oxidation parameters were fabricated by powder metallurgy (P/M) process combined with hot extrusion. The effects of pre-oxidization treatment of n-SiC p on the microstructure and tensile properties of 0.5 vol % n-SiC p /AT81 composites were investigated accordingly. The distribution of n-SiC p with different pre-oxidation parameters was homogeneous in the composites. Moreover, it was found that a thin MgAl₂O₄ layer formed at the interface when the n-SiC p were pre-oxidized at 1073 K for 2 h, while the MgAl₂O₄ layer became much thicker with pre-oxidization temperature increasing to 1273 K for 2 h. After an appropriate pre-oxidization treatment of n-SiC p at 1073 K for 2 h, the as-extruded 0.5 vol % n-SiC p /AT81 composites exhibited an enhanced strength. It was found that the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased from 168 MPa and 311 MPa to 255 MPa and 393 MPa compared with the as-extruded AT81 alloy, reflecting 51.8% and 26.4% increments, respectively. The improvement of mechanical properties should be mainly attributed to the grain refinement and homogeneous distribution of n-SiC p in the composites. Moreover, a well-bonded interface and the formation of an appropriate amount of interfacial product (MgAl₂O₄) benefited the material's mechanical properties.

Effect of Pre-Oxidation Treatment of Nano-SiC Particulates on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of SiC/Mg-8Al-1Sn Composites Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy Combined with Hot Extrusion

PubMed Central

Li, Chuan-Peng; Wang, Zhi-Guo; Zha, Min; Wang, Cheng; Yu, Hong-Chen; Wang, Hui-Yuan; Jiang, Qi-Chuan

2016-01-01

Nano-SiC particulates (n-SiCp) reinforced Mg-8Al-1Sn (AT81) composites with different pre-oxidation parameters were fabricated by powder metallurgy (P/M) process combined with hot extrusion. The effects of pre-oxidization treatment of n-SiCp on the microstructure and tensile properties of 0.5 vol % n-SiCp/AT81 composites were investigated accordingly. The distribution of n-SiCp with different pre-oxidation parameters was homogeneous in the composites. Moreover, it was found that a thin MgAl2O4 layer formed at the interface when the n-SiCp were pre-oxidized at 1073 K for 2 h, while the MgAl2O4 layer became much thicker with pre-oxidization temperature increasing to 1273 K for 2 h. After an appropriate pre-oxidization treatment of n-SiCp at 1073 K for 2 h, the as-extruded 0.5 vol % n-SiCp/AT81 composites exhibited an enhanced strength. It was found that the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased from 168 MPa and 311 MPa to 255 MPa and 393 MPa compared with the as-extruded AT81 alloy, reflecting 51.8% and 26.4% increments, respectively. The improvement of mechanical properties should be mainly attributed to the grain refinement and homogeneous distribution of n-SiCp in the composites. Moreover, a well-bonded interface and the formation of an appropriate amount of interfacial product (MgAl2O4) benefited the material’s mechanical properties. PMID:28774083

Preparation methodologies and nano/microstructural evaluation of metal/semiconductor thin films.

PubMed

Chen, Zhiwen; Jiao, Zheng; Wu, Minghong; Shek, Chan-Hung; Wu, C M Lawrence; Lai, Joseph K L

2012-01-01

Metal/semiconductor thin films are a class of unique materials that are widespread technological applications, particularly in the field of microelectronic devices. Assessment strategies of fractal and tures are of fundamental importance in the development of nano/microdevices. This review presents the preparation methodologies and nano/microstructural evaluation of metal/semiconductor thin films including Au/Ge bilayer films and Pd-Ge alloy thin films, which show in the form of fractals and nanocrystals. Firstly, the extended version of Au/Ge thin films for the fractal crystallization of amorphous Ge and the formation of nanocrystals developed with improved micro- and nanostructured features are described in Section 2. Secondly, the nano/microstructural characteristics of Pd/Ge alloy thin films during annealing have been investigated in detail and described in Section 3. Finally, we will draw the conclusions from the present work as shown in Section 4. It is expected that the preparation methodologies developed and the knowledge of nano/microstructural evolution gained in metal/semiconductor thin films, including Au/Ge bilayer films and Pd-Ge alloy thin films, will provide an important fundamental basis underpinning further interdisciplinary research in these fields such as physics, chemistry, materials science, and nanoscience and nanotechnology, leading to promising exciting opportunities for future technological applications involving these thin films.

Tribological behavior of Al-WC nano-composites fabricated by ultrasonic cavitation assisted stir-cast method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pal, Arpan; Poria, Suswagata; Sutradhar, Goutam; Sahoo, Prasanta

2018-03-01

In the present study, the effects of WC nano-particles content on the microstructure, hardness, wear, and friction behavior of aluminum matrix composites are investigated. Al-WC nano composites with varying wt% of WC (0, 1, 1.5, and 2) are fabricated using ultrasonic cavitation assisted stir-cast method. The microstructure of the nano-composite samples is analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Elemental composition is determined by energy dispersive x-ray analysis. Vicker’s microhardness test is performed in different locations on the composite sample surface with a load of 50 gf and 10s dwell time. Wear and friction of the composites under dry sliding is studied using a pin-on-disk tribotester for varying normal load (10–40 N) and sliding speed (0.1–0.4 m/s). Uniform distribution of nano-WC is observed over composite surface without noticeable clustering. Reinforcement of nano-WC particles improves wear resistance and frictional behavior of the composite. Hardness is seen to increase with increase in wt% of nano-particles. Wear behavior of composites depends on formation of layers over the surface mixed with oxidized debris and counter-face particles. Wear mechanism changes from adhesion to abrasion with increase in wt% of hard nano particles.

Gas sensing performance of nano zinc oxide sensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sharma, Shiva, E-mail: shivasharmaau@gmail.com; Chauhan, Pratima, E-mail: mangu167@yahoo.co.in

We report nano Zinc Oxide (ZnO) synthesized by sol-gel method possessing the crystallite size which varies from 25.17 nm to 47.27 nm. The Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image confirms the uniform distribution of nanograins with high porosity. The Energy dispersion X-ray (EDAX) spectrum gives the atomic composition of Zn and O in ZnO powders and confirms the formation of nano ZnO particles. These factors reveals that Nano ZnO based gas sensors are highly sensitive to Ammonia gas (NH{sub 3}) at room temperature, indicating the maximum response 86.8% at 800 ppm with fast response time and recovery time of 36 sec and 23 secmore » respectively.« less

Effective reduction of p-nitrophenol by silver nanoparticle loaded on magnetic Fe3O4/ATO nano-composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karki, Hem Prakash; Ojha, Devi Prashad; Joshi, Mahesh Kumar; Kim, Han Joo

2018-03-01

A silver loaded hematite (Fe3O4) and antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) magnetic nano-composite (Ag-Fe3O4/ATO) was successfully synthesized by in situ one pot green and facile hydrothermal process. The formation of nano-composite, its structure, morphology, and stability were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction spectroscopy (EDS), elemental mapping by high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). UV-vis spectroscopy was used to monitor the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (PNP) into p-aminophenol (PAP) in presence of Ag-Fe3O4/ATO nano-composite with excess of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The pseudo-first order kinetic equation could describe the reduction of p-nitrophenol with excess of NaBH4. For the first time, ATO surface was used for hydrothermal growth of silver and iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. The in situ growth of these nanoparticles provided an effective bonding of components of the nano-composite over the surface of ATO nanoparticles. This nano-composite exhibited easy synthesis, high stability, cost effective and rapid separation using external magnet. The excellent catalytic and anti-bacterial activity of as-synthesized silver nano-composite makes it potential nano-catalyst for waste water treatment as well as biomedical application.

Manganese oxides-based composite electrodes for supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Dongyun; Ma, Jun; Huang, Mingyu; Liu, Feng; Chen, Taizhou; Liu, Chao; Ni, Hongjun

2017-06-01

In recent, nanostructured transition metal oxides as a new class of energy storage materials have widely attracted attention due to its excellent electrochemical performance for supercapacitors. The MnO2 based transition metal oxides and their composite electrode materials were focused in the review for supercapacitor applications. The researches on different nanostructures of manganese oxides such as Nano rods, Nano sheets, nanowires, nanotubes and so on have been discovered in recent years, together with brief explanations of their properties. Research on enhancing materials’ properties by designing combination of different materials on the micron or Nano scale is too limited, and therefore we discuss the effects of different components’ sizes and their synergy on the performance. Moreover, the low-cost and large-scale fabrication of flexible supercapacitors with high performance (high energy density and cycle stability) have been pointed out and studied.

The study of structural properties of carbon nanotubes decorated with NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and application of nano-composite thin film as H₂S gas sensor.

PubMed

Hajihashemi, R; Rashidi, Ali M; Alaie, M; Mohammadzadeh, R; Izadi, N

2014-11-01

Nano-composite of multiwall carbon nanotube, decorated with NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (NiFe2O4-MWCNT), was synthesized using the sol-gel method. NiFe2O4-MWCNTs were characterized using different methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The average size of the crystallites is 23.93 nm. The values of the saturation magnetization (MS), coercivity (HC) and retentivity (MR) of NiFe2O4-MWCNTs are obtained as 15 emu g(-1), 21Oe and 5 emu g(-1), respectively. In this research, NiFe2O4-MWCNT thin films were prepared with the spin-coating method. These thin films were used as the H2S gas sensor. The results suggest the possibility of the utilization of NiFe2O4-MWCNT nano-composite, as the H2S detector. The sensor shows appropriate response towards 100 ppm of H2S at 300°C. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Scalable Preparation of Ternary Hierarchical Silicon Oxide-Nickel-Graphite Composites for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Bao, Wurigumula; Ma, Lu; Tan, Guoqiang; Su, Yuefeng; Chen, Shi; Wu, Feng; Lu, Jun; Amine, Khalil

2015-12-07

Silicon monoxide is a promising anode candidate because of its high theoretical capacity and good cycle performance. To solve the problems associated with this material, including large volume changes during charge-discharge processes, we report a ternary hierarchical silicon oxide-nickel-graphite composite prepared by a facile two-step ball-milling method. The composite consists of nano-Si dispersed silicon oxides embedded in nano-Ni/graphite matrices (Si@SiOx /Ni/graphite). In the composite, crystalline nano-Si particles are generated by the mechanochemical reduction of SiO by ball milling with Ni. These nano-Si dispersed oxides have abundant electrochemical activity and can provide high Li-ion storage capacity. Furthermore, the milled nano-Ni/graphite matrices stick well to active materials and interconnect to form a crosslinked framework, which functions as an electrical highway and a mechanical backbone so that all silicon oxide particles become electrochemically active. Owing to these advanced structural and electrochemical characteristics, the composite enhances the utilization efficiency of SiO, accommodates its large volume expansion upon cycling, and has good ionic and electronic conductivity. The composite electrodes thus exhibit substantial improvements in electrochemical performance. This ternary hierarchical Si@SiOx /Ni/graphite composite is a promising candidate anode material for high-energy lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, the mechanochemical ball-milling method is low cost and easy to reproduce, indicating potential for the commercial production of the composite materials. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Novel Preparation of Nano-Composite CuO-Cr2O3 Using Ctab-Template Method and Efficient for Hydrogenation of Biomass-Derived Furfural

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Kai; Wu, Xu; An, Xia; Xie, Xianmei

2013-02-01

A simple route to fabricate nano-composite oxides CuO-Cr2O3 using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-templated Cu-Cr hydrotalcite as the precursor is presented. This novel method is based on CTAB-templating effect for mesostructure directing and using the cheap metal nitrate, followed by removal of CTAB. It was indicated that the nano-composite CuO-Cr2O3 was formed during the removal of CTAB. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transitional electronic microscopy (TEM) revealed nice nano-composite oxides CuO-Cr2O3 were formed with high crystallinity. N2 adsorption and desorption indicated that a high surface area of 170.5 m2/g with a pore size of 2.7 nm of the nano-composite CuO-Cr2O3 was facilely resulted. The as-synthesized nano-composite oxides CuO-Cr2O3 display good catalytic activities for hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, whereas 86% selectivity was achieved at 75% conversion of furfural.

Are nano-composites and nano-ionomers suitable for orthodontic bracket bonding?

PubMed

Uysal, Tancan; Yagci, Ahmet; Uysal, Banu; Akdogan, Gülsen

2010-02-01

The aim of this study was to test nano-composite (Filtek Supreme Plus Universal) and a newly introduced nano-ionomer (Ketac N100 Light Curing Nano-Ionomer) restorative to determine their shear bond strength (SBS) and failure site locations in comparison with a conventional light-cure orthodontic bonding adhesive (Transbond XT). Sixty freshly extracted human maxillary premolar teeth were arbitrarily divided into three equal groups. The brackets were bonded to the teeth in each group with different composites, according to the manufacturers' instructions. The SBS values of the brackets were recorded in Megapascals (MPa) using a universal testing machine. Adhesive remnant index scores were determined after failure of the brackets. The data were analysed using analysis of variance, Tukey honestly significant difference, and chi-square tests. The results demonstrated that group 1 (Transbond XT, mean: 12.60 +/- 4.48 MPa) had a higher SBS than that of group 2 (nano-composite, mean: 8.33 +/- 5.16 MPa; P < 0.05) and group 3 (nano-ionomer, mean: 6.14 +/- 2.12 MPa; P < 0.001). No significant differences in debond locations were found among the three groups. Nano-composites and nano-ionomers may be suitable for bonding since they fulfil the previously suggested SBS ranges for clinical acceptability, but they are inferior to a conventional orthodontic composite.

Sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation of nano and micron-sized aluminum oxide.

PubMed

Stanley, Jacob K; Coleman, Jessica G; Weiss, Charles A; Steevens, Jeffery A

2010-02-01

Nano-aluminum oxide (Al(2)O(3)) is used commercially in coatings and abrasives. Nano-Al(2)O(3) can also be generated through the oxidation of nano-aluminum in military propellants and energetics. The purpose of the present study was to assess toxicity and bioaccumulation of nano-Al(2)O(3) to a variety of sediment organisms (Tubifex tubifex, Hyalella azteca, Lumbriculus variegatus, and Corbicula fluminea). The bioaccumulation and toxicity of nano-Al(2)O(3) was compared with that of micron-sized Al(2)O(3) to investigate potential size-related effects. Results of the present study show species-specific differences in relative bioaccumulation of nano and micron-sized Al(2)O(3). Significant toxic effects (survival and growth) were observed in H. azteca testing, but only at high concentrations unlikely to be found in the environment. Nano-Al(2)O(3) was found to be more toxic than micron-sized Al(2)O(3) to H. azteca survival in a 14-d study in which organisms were in direct contact with a thin layer of 625 or 2,500 mg of Al(2)O(3) dispersed on the surface of either sediment or sand. A significant growth effect was also observed for nano but not micron-sized Al(2)O(3) at the highest treatment level tested (100 g/kg Al(2)O(3)) in a 10-d H. azteca bioassay in which Al(2)O(3) was homogenized with sediment. However, differences in measured sediment Al concentrations (micron-sized = 55.1 [+/-0.6] g/kg Al; nano-sized = 66.2 [+/-0.6] g/kg Al) in the nano and micron-sized Al(2)O(3) preclude direct comparison of the toxicity of these two treatments based on particle size. Copyright 2009 SETAC.

In-Situ Observation of Nano-Oxide Formation in Magnetic Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCallum, Andrew; Russek, Stephen

2004-03-01

Exposure of a metal surface in a spin valve structure to oxygen creates a nano-oxide layer, or NOL, on that surface. Inclusion of NOLs into spin valve structures has been shown by many researchers to lower the resistance and increase the giant magnetoresistance effect. Four point in-situ conductance measurements were made during the deposition and oxidation of Co layers. These measurements show an initial decrease in conductance followed by an increase in conductance, due to a specularity increase of at least 0.10. RHEED measurements taken simultaneously with conductance measurements show the formation an amorphous oxide while the specularity increases. With further exposure of oxygen to the surface a CoO structure with a (111) texture forms. Magnetoconductance measurements during the oxidation of the free layer of bottom pinned spin valves show increases in the GMR of the spin valves. Estimates of the change in specularity and Co layer thickness were determined from the change in conductance and the change in magnetoconductance. Also determined from the magnetoconductance measurements was an increase in the coercivity of the free layer with oxidation. Adding Co onto the oxide had a strong effect on the coercivity and coupling between free and pinned layers.

Surface morphology and electrochemical studies on polyaniline/CuO nano composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashokkumar, S. P.; Vijeth, H.; Yesappa, L.; Niranjana, M.; Vandana, M.; Basappa, M.; Devendrappa, H.

2018-05-01

An electrochemically synthesized Polyaniline (PANI) and Polyaniline/copper oxide (PCN) nano composite have studied the morphology and electrochemical properties. The composite is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and surface morphology was studied using FESEM and electrochemical behavior is studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The CV curves shows rectangular shaped curve and they have contribution to electrical double layer capacitance (EDCL).

Self-aligned periodic Ni nano dots embedded in nano-oxide layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doi, M.; Izumi, M.; Kawasaki, S.; Miyake, K.; Sahashi, M.

The Ni nano constriction dots embedded in the Ta-nano-oxide layer (NOL) was prepared by the ion beam sputtering (IBS) method. After the various conditions of the oxidations, the structural analyses of the NOL were performed by RHEED, AES and in situ STM/AFM observations. From the current image of the conductive AFM for NOL, the periodically aligned metallic dots with the size around 5-10 nm were successfully observed. The mechanism of the formation of the self-organized aligned Ni nano constriction dots is discussed from the standpoint of the grain size, the crystal orientation, the preferred oxidation of Ta at the diffused interface.

Properties of anodic oxides grown on a hafnium–tantalum–titanium thin film library

PubMed Central

Mardare, Andrei Ionut; Ludwig, Alfred; Savan, Alan; Hassel, Achim Walter

2014-01-01

A ternary thin film combinatorial materials library of the valve metal system Hf–Ta–Ti obtained by co-sputtering was studied. The microstructural and crystallographic analysis of the obtained compositions revealed a crystalline and textured surface, with the exception of compositions with Ta concentration above 48 at.% which are amorphous and show a flat surface. Electrochemical anodization of the composition spread thin films was used for analysing the growth of the mixed surface oxides. Oxide formation factors, obtained from the potentiodynamic anodization curves, as well as the dielectric constants and electrical resistances, obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, were mapped along two dimensions of the library using a scanning droplet cell microscope. The semiconducting properties of the anodic oxides were mapped using Mott–Schottky analysis. The degree of oxide mixing was analysed qualitatively using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling. A quantitative analysis of the surface oxides was performed and correlated to the as-deposited metal thin film compositions. In the concurrent transport of the three metal cations during oxide growth a clear speed order of Ti > Hf > Ta was proven. PMID:27877648

Mechanical Behavior of Polymer Nano Bio Composite for Orthopedic Implants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marimuthu, K., Dr.; Rajan, Sankar

2018-04-01

The bio-based polymer composites have been the focus of many scientific and research projects, as well as many commercial programs. In recent years, scientists and engineers have been working together to use the inherent strength and performance of the new class of bio-based composites which is compactable with human body and can act as a substitute for living cells. In this stage the polymer composites also stepped into human bone implants as a replacement for metallic implants which was problems like corrosion resistance and high cost. The polymer composite have the advantage that it can be molded to the required shape, the polymers have high corrosion resistance, less weight and low cost. The aim of this research is to develop and analyze the suitable bio compactable polymer composite for human implants. The nano particles reinforced polymer composites provides good mechanical properties and shows good tribological properties especially in the total hip and knee replacements. The graphene oxide powders are bio compactable and acts as anti biotic. GO nano powder where reinforced into High-density polyethylene in various weight percentage of 0.5% to 2%. The performance of GO nano powder shows better tribological properties. The material produced does not cause any pollution to the environment and at the same time it can be bio compactable and sustainable. The product will act environmentally friendly.

Scalable Preparation of Ternary Hierarchical Silicon Oxide-Nickel-Graphite Composites for Lithium-Ion Batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang , Jing; Bao, Wurigumula; Ma, Lu

2015-11-09

Silicon monoxide is a promising anode candidate because of its high theoretical capacity and good cycle performance. To solve the problems associated with this material, including large volume changes during charge-discharge processes, we report a ternary hierarchical silicon oxide–nickel–graphite composite prepared by a facile two-step ball-milling method. The composite consists of nano-Si dispersed silicon oxides embedded in nano-Ni/graphite matrices (Si@SiOx/Ni/graphite). In the composite, crystalline nano-Si particles are generated by the mechanochemical reduction of SiO by ball milling with Ni. These nano-Si dispersed oxides have abundant electrochemical activity and can provide high Li-ion storage capacity. Furthermore, the milled nano-Ni/graphite matrices stickmore » well to active materials and interconnect to form a crosslinked framework, which functions as an electrical highway and a mechanical backbone so that all silicon oxide particles become electrochemically active. Owing to these advanced structural and electrochemical characteristics, the composite enhances the utilization efficiency of SiO, accommodates its large volume expansion upon cycling, and has good ionic and electronic conductivity. The composite electrodes thus exhibit substantial improvements in electrochemical performance. This ternary hierarchical Si@SiOx/Ni/graphite composite is a promising candidate anode material for high-energy lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, the mechanochemical ball-milling method is low cost and easy to reproduce, indicating potential for the commercial production of the composite materials.« less

Modeling Thin Film Oxide Growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherman, Quentin

Thin film oxidation is investigated using two modeling techniques in the interest of better understanding the roles of space charge and non-equilibrium effects. An electrochemical phase-field model of an oxide-metal interface is formulated in one dimension and studied at equilibrium and during growth. An analogous sharp interface model is developed to validate the phase-field model in the thick film limit. Electrochemical profiles across the oxide are shown to deviate from the sharp interface prediction when the oxide film is thin compared to the Debye length, however no effect on the oxidation kinetics is found. This is attributed to the simple thermodynamic and kinetic models used therein. The phase-field model provides a framework onto to which additional physics can be added to better model thin film oxidation. A model for solute trapping during the oxidation of binary alloys is developed to study non-equilibrium effects during the early stages of oxide growth. The model is applied to NiCr alloys, and steady-state interfacial composition maps are presented for the growth of an oxide with the rock salt structure. No detailed experimental data is available to verify the predictions of the solute trapping model, however it is shown to be consistent with the trends observed during the early stages of NiCr oxidation. Lastly, experimental studies of the wet infiltration technique for decorating solid oxide fuel cell anodes with nickel nanoparticles are presented. The effect of nickel nitrate calcination parameters on the resulting nickel oxide microstructures are studied on both porous and planar substrates. Decreasing the calcination temperature and dwell time, as well as a dehydration step after nickel nitrate infiltration, are all shown to decrease the initial nickel oxide particle size, but other factors such as geometry and nickel loading per unit area also affected the final nickel particle size and morphology upon reduction.

Surface morphology and improved electrical conductivity of camphorsulfonic acid surfactant based PANI nano composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niranjana, M.; Yesappa, L.; Ashokkumar, S. P.; Vijeth, H.; Devendrappa, H.

2018-05-01

Polyaniline and its composites at different wt. % of Copper oxide nano (PCC1 and PCC5) were prepared by in-situ chemical reaction method. The composites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and the impedance measurement was carried out at different temperature. FTIR and SEM image reveals the presence of copper metal ions uniformly embedded into PANI. The dc electrical conductivity increases with increasing nano concentration in PANI and achieved high conductivity for PCC5. These results are suggesting PCC composite is a prominent candidate for supercapacitor properties and optoelectronics devices applications.

Dynamic studies of nano-confined polymer thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, Kun

Polymer thin films with the film thickness (h0 ) below 100 nm often exhibit physical properties different from the bulk counterparts. In order to make the best use of polymer thin films in applications, it is important to understand the physical origins of these deviations. In this dissertation, I will investigate how different factors influence dynamic properties of polymer thin films upon nano-confinement, including glass transition temperature (Tg), effective viscosity (etaeff) and self-diffusion coefficient (D ). The first part of this dissertation concerns the impacts of the molecular weight (MW) and tacticity on the Tg's of nano-confined polymer films. Previous experiments showed that the Tg of polymer films could be depressed or increased as h0 decreases. While these observations are usually attributed to the effects of the interfaces, some experiments suggested that MW's and tacticities might also play a role. To understand the effects of these factors, the Tg's of silica-based poly(alpha-methyl styrene) (PalphaMS/SiOx) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA/SiOx) thin films were studied, and the results suggested that MW's and tacticities influence Tg in nontrivial ways. The second part concerns an effort to resolve the long-standing controversy about the correlation between different dynamics of polymer thin films upon nano-confinement. Firstly, I discuss the experimental results of Tg, D and etaeff of poly(isobutyl methacrylate) films supported by silica (PiBMA/SiOx). Both T g and D were found to be independent of h 0, but etaeff decreased with decreasing h 0. Since both D and etaeff describe transport phenomena known to depend on the local friction coefficient or equivalently the local viscosity, it is questionable why D and etaeff displayed seemingly inconsistent h 0 dependencies. We envisage the different h0 dependencies to be caused by Tg, D and etaeff being different functions of the local T g's (Tg,i) or viscosities (eta i). By assuming a three

Effect of native oxide layers on copper thin-film tensile properties: A reactive molecular dynamics study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Skarlinski, Michael D., E-mail: michael.skarlinski@rochester.edu; Quesnel, David J.; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627

2015-12-21

Metal-oxide layers are likely to be present on metallic nano-structures due to either environmental exposure during use, or high temperature processing techniques such as annealing. It is well known that nano-structured metals have vastly different mechanical properties from bulk metals; however, difficulties in modeling the transition between metallic and ionic bonding have prevented the computational investigation of the effects of oxide surface layers. Newly developed charge-optimized many body [Liang et al., Mater. Sci. Eng., R 74, 255 (2013)] potentials are used to perform fully reactive molecular dynamics simulations which elucidate the effects that metal-oxide layers have on the mechanical propertiesmore » of a copper thin-film. Simulated tensile tests are performed on thin-films while using different strain-rates, temperatures, and oxide thicknesses to evaluate changes in yield stress, modulus, and failure mechanisms. Findings indicate that copper-thin film mechanical properties are strongly affected by native oxide layers. The formed oxide layers have an amorphous structure with lower Cu-O bond-densities than bulk CuO, and a mixture of Cu{sub 2}O and CuO charge character. It is found that oxidation will cause modifications to the strain response of the elastic modulii, producing a stiffened modulii at low temperatures (<75 K) and low strain values (<5%), and a softened modulii at higher temperatures. While under strain, structural reorganization within the oxide layers facilitates brittle yielding through nucleation of defects across the oxide/metal interface. The oxide-free copper thin-film yielding mechanism is found to be a tensile-axis reorientation and grain creation. The oxide layers change the observed yielding mechanism, allowing for the inner copper thin-film to sustain an FCC-to-BCC transition during yielding. The mechanical properties are fit to a thermodynamic model based on classical nucleation theory. The fit implies that the oxidation of

Nano-Fiber Reinforced Enhancements in Composite Polymer Matrices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, Christos C.

2009-01-01

Nano-fibers are used to reinforce polymer matrices to enhance the matrix dependent properties that are subsequently used in conventional structural composites. A quasi isotropic configuration is used in arranging like nano-fibers through the thickness to ascertain equiaxial enhanced matrix behavior. The nano-fiber volume ratios are used to obtain the enhanced matrix strength properties for 0.01,0.03, and 0.05 nano-fiber volume rates. These enhanced nano-fiber matrices are used with conventional fiber volume ratios of 0.3 and 0.5 to obtain the composite properties. Results show that nano-fiber enhanced matrices of higher than 0.3 nano-fiber volume ratio are degrading the composite properties.

Mechanical and tribological property of single layer graphene oxide reinforced titanium matrix composite coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Zengrong; Li, Yue; Fan, Xueliang; Chen, Feng; Xu, Jiale

2018-04-01

Single layer grapheme oxide Nano sheets and Nano titanium powder were dispersed in deionized water by ultrasonic dispersion. Then the mixed solution was pre-coating on AISI4140 substrate. Using laser sintering process to fabricated grapheme oxide and Ti composite coating. Microstructures and composition of the composite coating was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffract meter (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectrum, XRD pattern and SEM results proved that grapheme oxide sheets were dispersed in the composite coating. The composite coating had much higher average Vickers hardness values than that of pure Ti coating. The tribological performance of the composite coatings became better while the suitable GO content was selected. For the 2.5wt. % GO content coating, the friction coefficient was reduced to near 0.1.

Nano-composites for water remediation: a review.

PubMed

Tesh, Sarah J; Scott, Thomas B

2014-09-17

As global populations continue to increase, the pressure on water supplies will inevitably intensify. Consequently the international need for more efficient and cost effective water remediation technologies will also rise. The introduction of nano-technology into the industry may represent a significant advancement and zero-valent iron nano-particles (INPs) have been thoroughly studied for potential remediation applications. However, the application of water dispersed INP suspensions is limited and somewhat contentious on the grounds of safety, whilst INP reaction mechanisms, transport properties and ecotoxicity are areas still under investigation. Theoretically, the development of nano-composites containing INPs to overcome these issues provides the logical next step for developing nano-materials that are better suited to wide application across the water industry. This review provides an overview of the range of static, bulk nano-composites containing INPs being developed, whilst highlighting the limitations of individual solutions, overall classes of technology, and lack of comparative testing for nano-composites. The review discusses what further developments are needed to optimize nano-composite water remediation systems to subsequently achieve commercial maturity. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Ultra-thin Oxide Membranes: Synthesis and Carrier Transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sim, Jai Sung

focused ion beam milling, thin membranes of Ti xOy of 100-300 nm thickness have been created. TEM studies indicated polycrystallinity and presence of twins in the FIB-milled nanowalls. Compositional analysis in the transmission electron microscope also showed reduced content of oxygen, confirming non-stoichiometry. Temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of the nanowall showed semiconducting behavior with an activation energy different from that of TiO2 single crystals and was attributed to formation of TinO2n-1 phases after FIB processing. The CeO2 study involved high temperature conductivity studies on substrate-free self-supported nano-crystalline ceria membranes up to 800 K. Increasing conductivity with oxygen partial pressure directly opposing the behavior of thin film devices 'clamped' by substrate has been observed. This illustrate that the relaxed nature of free standing membranes, and increased surface to volume ratio enables more sensitive electrical response to oxygen adsorption which could have implications for their use in oxygen storage devices, solid oxide fuel cells, and chemical sensors. The work in this thesis advances the understanding of materials in freestanding membrane form and advances fabrication techniques that have not been explored before, having implications for sensors, actuators, SOFC, memristors, and physics of quasi-2D materials.

Mechanical Properties of Polymer Nano-composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Iti

Thermoset polymer composites are increasingly important in high-performance engineering industries due to their light-weight and high specific strength, finding cutting-edge applications such as aircraft fuselage material and automobile parts. Epoxy is the most widely employed thermoset polymer, but is brittle due to extensive cross-linking and notch sensitivity, necessitating mechanical property studies especially fracture toughness and fatigue resistance, to ameliorate the low crack resistance. Towards this end, various nano and micro fillers have been used with epoxy to form composite materials. Particularly for nano-fillers, the 1-100 nm scale dimensions lead to fascinating mechanical properties, oftentimes proving superior to the epoxy matrix. The chemical nature, topology, mechanical properties and geometry of the nano-fillers have a profound influence on nano-composite behavior and hence are studied in the context of enhancing properties and understanding reinforcement mechanisms in polymer matrix nano-composites. Using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as polymer filler, uniquely results in both increased stiffness as well as toughness, leading to extensive research on their applications. Though CNTs-polymer nano-composites offer better mechanical properties, at high stress amplitude their fatigue resistance is lost. In this work covalent functionalization of CNTs has been found to have a profound impact on mechanical properties of the CNT-epoxy nano-composite. Amine treated CNTs were found to give rise to effective fatigue resistance throughout the whole range of stress intensity factor, in addition to significantly enhancing fracture toughness, ductility, Young's modulus and average hardness of the nano-composite by factors of 57%, 60%, 30% and 45% respectively over the matrix as a result of diminished localized cross-linking. Graphene, a one-atom-thick sheet of atoms is a carbon allotrope, which has garnered significant attention of the scientific community and is

Green chemistry synthesis of nano-cuprous oxide.

PubMed

Ceja-Romero, L R; Ortega-Arroyo, L; Ortega Rueda de León, J M; López-Andrade, X; Narayanan, J; Aguilar-Méndez, M A; Castaño, V M

2016-04-01

Green chemistry and a central composite design, to evaluate the effect of reducing agent, temperature and pH of the reaction, were employed to produce controlled cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles. Response surface method of the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is allowed to determine the most relevant factors for the size distribution of the nanoCu2O. X-ray diffraction reflections correspond to a cubic structure, with sizes from 31.9 to 104.3 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that the different shapes depend strongly on the conditions of the green synthesis.

Finite Element Model Characterization Of Nano-Composite Thermal And Environmental Barrier Coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yamada, Yoshiki; Zhu, Dongming

2011-01-01

Thermal and environmental barrier coatings have been applied for protecting Si based ceramic matrix composite components from high temperature environment in advanced gas turbine engines. It has been found that the delamination and lifetime of T/EBC systems generally depend on the initiation and propagation of surface cracks induced by the axial mechanical load in addition to severe thermal loads. In order to prevent T/EBC systems from surface cracking and subsequent delamination due to mechanical and thermal stresses, T/EBC systems reinforced with nano-composite architectures have showed promise to improve mechanical properties and provide a potential crack shielding mechanism such as crack bridging. In this study, a finite element model (FEM) was established to understand the potential beneficial effects of nano-composites systems such as SiC nanotube-reinforced oxide T/EBC systems.

Gold-carbon composite thin films for electrochemical gas sensor prepared by reactive plasma sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okamoto, A.; Suzuki, Y.; Yoshitake, M.; Ogawa, S.; Nakano, N.

1997-01-01

We have investigated the properties of gold-carbon composite thin films prepared by a plasma sputtering deposition using argon and methane mixture gas. These composite films have an uneven surface in submicron scale or consist of nano-scale particles of gold polycrystalline. Such morphological properties can be controlled by the sputtering voltage and the partial pressure of methane gas. The working electrode of electrochemical gas sensor has needed a stable gas sensitivity and a good gas selectivity. Our composite film is one of the excellent candidates for a thin film working electrode of electrochemical gas sensor. It is described that the output current of sensor is related to the preparation conditions of the thin films and increase linearly as the concentration of PH 3 gas ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 ppm is increasing.

[Study on preparation of composite nano-scale Fe3O4 for phosphorus control].

PubMed

Li, Lei; Pan, Gang; Chen, Hao

2010-03-01

Composite nano-scale Fe3O4 particles were prepared in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution by the oxidation deposition method. The adsorptions of phosphorus by micro-scale Fe3O4 and composite nano-scale Fe3O4 were investigated in water and soil, and the role of cellulase in the adsorption of composite nano-scale Fe3O4 was studied. Kinetic tests indicated that the equilibrium adsorption capacity of phosphorous on the composite nano-scale Fe3O4 (2.1 mg/g) was less than that of micro-scale Fe3O4 (3.2 mg/g). When cellulase was added to the solution of composite nano-scale Fe3O4 to degrade CMC, the removal rate of P by the nanoparticles (86%) was enhanced to the same level as the microparticles (90%). In the column tests, when the composite nano-scale Fe3O4 suspension was introduced in the downflow mode through the soil column, 72% of Fe3O4 penetrated through the soil bed under gravity. In contrast, the micro-scale Fe3O4 failed to pass through the soil column. The retention rate of P was 45% in the soil column when treated by the CMC-stabilized nanoparticles, in comparison with only 30% for the untreated soil column, however it could be improved to 74% in the soil column when treated by both the CMC-stabilized nanoparticles and cellulase, which degraded CMC after the nanoparticles were delivered into the soil.

Self-Assembled Formation of Well-Aligned Cu-Te Nano-Rods on Heavily Cu-Doped ZnTe Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Jing; Cheng, Man Kit; Lai, Ying Hoi; Wei, Guanglu; Yang, Sean Derman; Wang, Gan; Ho, Sut Kam; Tam, Kam Weng; Sou, Iam Keong

2016-11-01

Cu doping of ZnTe, which is an important semiconductor for various optoelectronic applications, has been successfully achieved previously by several techniques. However, besides its electrical transport characteristics, other physical and chemical properties of heavily Cu-doped ZnTe have not been reported. We found an interesting self-assembled formation of crystalline well-aligned Cu-Te nano-rods near the surface of heavily Cu-doped ZnTe thin films grown via the molecular beam epitaxy technique. A phenomenological growth model is presented based on the observed crystallographic morphology and measured chemical composition of the nano-rods using various imaging and chemical analysis techniques. When substitutional doping reaches its limit, the extra Cu atoms favor an up-migration toward the surface, leading to a one-dimensional surface modulation and formation of Cu-Te nano-rods, which explain unusual observations on the reflection high energy electron diffraction patterns and apparent resistivity of these thin films. This study provides an insight into some unexpected chemical reactions involved in the heavily Cu-doped ZnTe thin films, which may be applied to other material systems that contain a dopant having strong reactivity with the host matrix.

The dependence of nano-contact magnetoresistance on the bulk scattering spin asymmetry in CoFe alloys with oxidation impurities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiokawa, Yohei; Jung, JinWon; Otsuka, Takahiko; Sahashi, Masashi

2015-08-01

Nano-contact magnetoresistance (NCMR) spin-valves (SVs) using an AlOx nano-oxide-layer (NOL) have numerous nanocontacts in the thin AlOx oxide layer. The NCMR theoretically depends on the bulk scattering spin asymmetry ( β) of the ferromagnetic material in the nanocontacts. To determine the relationship between NCMR and β, we investigated the dependence of NCMR on the composition of the ferromagnetic material Co1-xFex. The samples were annealed at 270 °C and 380 °C to enhance the MR ratio. For both annealing temperatures, the magnetorsistance ratio in the low-resistance area product region at less than 1 Ω μm2 was maximized for Co0.5Fe0.5. To evaluate β exactly, we fabricated current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance SVs with Co1-xFex/Cu/Co1-xFex layers and used Valet and Fert's theory to solve the diffusion equation of the spin accumulation for a ferromagnetic layer/non-ferromagnetic layer of five layers with a finite diffusion length. The evaluated β for Co1-xFex was also maximized for Co0.5Fe0.5. Additionally, to determine the difference between the experimental MR ratio of NCMR SVs and the theoretical MR ratio, we fabricated Co0.5Fe0.5 with oxygen impurities and estimated the decrease in β with increasing oxygen impurity concentration. Our Co0.5Fe0.5 nano-contacts fabricated using ion-assisted oxidation may contain oxygen impurities, and the oxygen impurities might cause a decrease in β and the MR ratio.

Millimeter wave complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor on-chip hexagonal nano-ferrite circulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chao, Liu; Oukacha, Hassan; Fu, Enjin; Koomson, Valencia Joyner; Afsar, Mohammed N.

2015-05-01

Hexagonal ferrites such as M-type BaFe12O19 and SrFe12O19 have strong uniaxial anisotropic magnetic field and remanent magnetism. The nano-sized ferrite powder exhibits high compatibility and processability in composite material. New magnetic devices using the M-type ferrite materials can work in the tens of GHz frequency range from microwave to millimeter wave without the application of strong external magnetic field. The micro- and nano-sized hexagonal ferrite can be conveniently utilized to fabricate magnetic components integrated in CMOS integrated circuits as thin as several micrometers. The micro-fabrication method of such nano ferrite device is presented in this paper. A circulator working at 60 GHz is designed and integrated into the commercial CMOS process. The circulator exhibits distinct circulation properties in the frequency range from 56 GHz to 58 GHz.

Nano-crystalline porous tin oxide film for carbon monoxide sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Chung-Chiun (Inventor); Savinell, Robert F. (Inventor); Jin, Zhihong (Inventor)

2000-01-01

A tin oxide sol is deposited on platinum electrodes (12) of a sensor (10). The sol is calcined at a temperature of 500 to 800.degree. C. to produce a thin film of tin oxide with a thickness of about 150 nm to 2 .mu. and having a nano-crystalline structure with good stability. The sensor rapidly detects reducing gases, such as carbon monoxide, or hydrocarbons and organic vapors. Sensors using films calcined at around 700.degree. C. have high carbon monoxide selectivity with a response time of around 4 minutes and a recovery time of 1 minute, and therefore provide good detection systems for detection of trace amounts of pollutants such as toxic and flammable gases in homes, industrial settings, and hospitals.

Fiber-Reinforced Reactive Nano-Epoxy Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhong, Wei-Hong

2011-01-01

An ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene/ matrix interface based on the fabrication of a reactive nano-epoxy matrix with lower surface energy has been improved. Enhanced mechanical properties versus pure epoxy on a three-point bend test include: strength (25 percent), modulus (20 percent), and toughness (30 percent). Increased thermal properties include higher Tg (glass transition temperature) and stable CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion). Improved processability for manufacturing composites includes faster wetting rates on macro-fiber surfaces, lower viscosity, better resin infusion rates, and improved rheological properties. Improved interfacial adhesion properties with Spectra fibers by pullout tests include initial debonding force of 35 percent, a maximum pullout force of 25 percent, and energy to debond at 65 percent. Improved mechanical properties of Spectra fiber composites (tensile) aging resistance properties include hygrothermal effects. With this innovation, high-performance composites have been created, including carbon fibers/nano-epoxy, glass fibers/nano-epoxy, aramid fibers/ nano-epoxy, and ultra-high-molecularweight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE).

The Optical Properties of Thin Film Reduced Graphene Oxide/Poly (3,4 Ethylenedioxtriophene):Poly (Styrene Sulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) Fabricated by Spin Coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rokmana, Arinta W.; Asriani, A.; Suhendar, H.; Triyana, K.; Kusumaatmaja, A.; Santoso, I.

2018-04-01

Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) has been successfully synthesized from Graphite powder through chemical process using modified Hummers method by removing NaNO3 from reaction formula. Hydrazine hydrate 80 wt% has been chosen as reductor to eliminate the epoxy group in GO. FTIR and Uv-Vis spectroscopy result showed that Graphene Oxide (GO) and rGO were formed. Our produced rGO then used to fabricated the composite thin film rGO/PEDOT:PSS by spin coating at room temperature. The optical constant of thin film rGO/PEDOT:PSS were calculated from the absorbance spectrum of Uv-Visible spectra. The result showed that the value of coefficient absorbance of rGO dropped from 4.7×106 m-1 to 1.3×106 m-1 after doped with 0.02 mL PEDOT:PSS, then increase with the addition volume concentration of PEDOT:PSS. The value of extinction coefficient decrease from 0.31 to 0.08 after rGO doped with 0.02 ml PEDOT:PSS and then increase with the addition concentration of PEDOT:PSS. Our result show that thin film rGO/PEDOT:PSS was more transparent than that of thin film rGO.

Temperature-Driven Structural and Morphological Evolution of Zinc Oxide Nano-Coalesced Microstructures and Its Defect-Related Photoluminescence Properties

PubMed Central

Lim, Karkeng; Abdul Hamid, Muhammad Azmi; Shamsudin, Roslinda; Al-Hardan, N.H.; Mansor, Ishak; Chiu, Weesiong

2016-01-01

In this paper, we address the synthesis of nano-coalesced microstructured zinc oxide thin films via a simple thermal evaporation process. The role of synthesis temperature on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the prepared zinc oxide samples was deeply investigated. The obtained photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy outcomes will be used to discuss the surface structure defects of the prepared samples. The results indicated that the prepared samples are polycrystalline in nature, and the sample prepared at 700 °C revealed a tremendously c-axis oriented zinc oxide. The temperature-driven morphological evolution of the zinc oxide nano-coalesced microstructures was perceived, resulting in transformation of quasi-mountain chain-like to pyramidal textured zinc oxide with increasing the synthesis temperature. The results also impart that the sample prepared at 500 °C shows a higher percentage of the zinc interstitial and oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, the intensity of the photoluminescence emission in the ultraviolet region was enhanced as the heating temperature increased from 500 °C to 700 °C. Lastly, the growth mechanism of the zinc oxide nano-coalesced microstructures is discussed according to the reaction conditions. PMID:28773425

Superconducting properties of Nb-Cu nano-composites and nano-alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parab, Pradnya, E-mail: pradnyaprb@gmail.com; Kumar, Sanjeev; Bhui, Prabhjyot

The evolution of the superconducting transition temperature (T{sub c}) in nano-composite and nano-alloys of Nb-Cu, grown by DC magnetron co-sputtering are investigated. Microstructure of these films depends less strongly on the ratio of Nb:Cu but more on the growth temperature. At higher growth temperature, phase separated granular films of Nb and Cu were formed which showed superconducting transition temperatures (T{sub c}) of ~ 7.2±0.5 K, irrespective of the composition. Our results show that this is primarily influenced by the microstructure of the films determined during growth which rules out the superconducting proximity effect expected in these systems. At room temperaturemore » growth, films with nano-scale alloying were obtained at the optimal compositional range of 45-70 atomic% (At%) of Nb. These were also superconducting with a T{sub c} of 3.2 K.« less

Fabrication and Characterization of Fully Transparent ZnO Thin-Film Transistors and Self-Switching Nano-Diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Y.; Ashida, K.; Sasaki, S.; Koyama, M.; Maemoto, T.; Sasa, S.; Kasai, S.; Iñiguez-de-la-Torre, I.; González, T.

2015-10-01

Fully transparent zinc oxide (ZnO) based thin-film transistors (TFTs) and a new type of rectifiers calls self-switching nano-diodes (SSDs) were fabricated on glass substrates at room temperature by using low resistivity and transparent conducting Al- doped ZnO (AZO) thin-films. The deposition conditions of AZO thin-films were optimized with pulsed laser deposition (PLD). AZO thin-films on glass substrates were characterized and the transparency of 80% and resistivity with 1.6*10-3 Ωcm were obtained of 50 nm thickness. Transparent ZnO-TFTs were fabricated on glass substrates by using AZO thin-films as electrodes. A ZnO-TFT with 2 μm long gate device exhibits a transconductance of 400 μS/mm and an ON/OFF ratio of 2.8*107. Transparent ZnO-SSDs were also fabricated by using ZnO based materials and clear diode-like characteristics were observed.

Nano-crystalline thin and nano-particulate thick TiO{sub 2} layer: Cost effective sequential deposition and study on dye sensitized solar cell characteristics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Das, P.; Sengupta, D.; CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research

Highlights: • Thin TiO{sub 2} layer is deposited on conducting substrate using sol–gel based dip coating. • TiO{sub 2} nano-particles are synthesized using hydrothermal route. • Thick TiO{sub 2} particulate layer is deposited on prepared thin layer. • Dye sensitized solar cells are made using thin and thick layer based photo-anode. • Introduction of thin layer in particulate photo-anode improves the cell efficiency. - Abstract: A compact thin TiO{sub 2} passivation layer is introduced between the mesoporous TiO{sub 2} nano-particulate layer and the conducting glass substrate to prepare photo-anode for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). In order to understand the effectmore » of passivation layer, other two DSSCs are also developed separately using TiO{sub 2} nano-particulate and compact thin film based photo-anodes. Nano-particles are prepared using hydrothermal synthesis route and the compact passivation layer is prepared by simply dip coating the precursor sol prepared through wet chemical route. The TiO{sub 2} compact layer and the nano-particles are characterised in terms of their micro-structural features and phase formation behavior. It is found that introduction of a compact TiO{sub 2} layer in between the mesoporous TiO{sub 2} nano-particulate layer and the conducting substrate improves the solar to electric conversion efficiency of the fabricated cell. The dense thin passivation layer is supposed to enhance the photo-excited electron transfer and prevent the recombination of photo-excited electrons.« less

[The photoluminescence and absorption properties of Co/AAO nano-array composites].

PubMed

Li, Shou-Yi; Wang, Cheng-Wei; Li, Yan; Wang, Jian; Ma, Bao-Hong

2008-03-01

Ordered Co/AAO nano-array structures were fabricated by alternating current (AC) electrodeposition method within the cylindrical pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template prepared in oxalic acid electrolyte. The photoluminescence (PL) emission and photoabsorption of AAO templates and Co/AAO nano-array structures were investigated respectively. The results show that a marked photoluminescence band of AAO membranes occurs in the wavelength range of 350-550 nm and their PL peak position is at 395 nm. And with the increase in the deposition amount of Co nanoparticles, the PL intensity of Co/AAO nano-array structures decreases gradually, and their peak positions of the PL are invariable (395 nm). Meanwhile the absorption edges of Co/AAO show a larger redshift, and the largest shift from the near ultraviolet to the infrared exceeds 380 nm. The above phenomena caused by Co nano-particles in Co/AAO composite were analyzed.

Indium-tin-oxide nanowhiskers crystalline silicon photovoltaics combining micro- and nano-scale surface textures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, C. H.; Hsu, M. H.; Chang, W. L.; Sun, W. C.; Yu, Peichen

2011-02-01

In this work, we present a solution that employs combined micro- and nano-scale surface textures to increase light harvesting in the near infrared for crystalline silicon photovoltaics, and discuss the associated antireflection and scattering mechanisms. The combined surface textures are achieved by uniformly depositing a layer of indium-tin-oxide nanowhiskers on passivated, micro-grooved silicon solar cells using electron-beam evaporation. The nanowhiskers facilitate optical transmission in the near-infrared, which is optically equivalent to a stack of two dielectric thin-films with step- and graded- refractive index profiles. The ITO nanowhiskers provide broadband anti-reflective properties (R<5%) in the wavelength range of 350-1100nm. In comparison with conventional Si solar cell, the combined surface texture solar cell shows higher external quantum efficiency (EQE) in the range of 700-1100nm. Moreover, the ITO nano-whisker coating Si solar cell shows a high total efficiency increase of 1.1% (from 16.08% to17.18%). Furthermore, the nano-whiskers also provide strong forward scattering for ultraviolet and visible light, favorable in thin-wafer silicon photovoltaics to increase the optical absorption path.

Nanostructured carbon-metal oxide composite electrodes for supercapacitors: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhi, Mingjia; Xiang, Chengcheng; Li, Jiangtian; Li, Ming; Wu, Nianqiang

2012-12-01

This paper presents a review of the research progress in the carbon-metal oxide composites for supercapacitor electrodes. In the past decade, various carbon-metal oxide composite electrodes have been developed by integrating metal oxides into different carbon nanostructures including zero-dimensional carbon nanoparticles, one-dimensional nanostructures (carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers), two-dimensional nanosheets (graphene and reduced graphene oxides) as well as three-dimensional porous carbon nano-architectures. This paper has described the constituent, the structure and the properties of the carbon-metal oxide composites. An emphasis is placed on the synergistic effects of the composite on the performance of supercapacitors in terms of specific capacitance, energy density, power density, rate capability and cyclic stability. This paper has also discussed the physico-chemical processes such as charge transport, ion diffusion and redox reactions involved in supercapacitors.

Nanostructured carbon-metal oxide composite electrodes for supercapacitors: a review.

PubMed

Zhi, Mingjia; Xiang, Chengcheng; Li, Jiangtian; Li, Ming; Wu, Nianqiang

2013-01-07

This paper presents a review of the research progress in the carbon-metal oxide composites for supercapacitor electrodes. In the past decade, various carbon-metal oxide composite electrodes have been developed by integrating metal oxides into different carbon nanostructures including zero-dimensional carbon nanoparticles, one-dimensional nanostructures (carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers), two-dimensional nanosheets (graphene and reduced graphene oxides) as well as three-dimensional porous carbon nano-architectures. This paper has described the constituent, the structure and the properties of the carbon-metal oxide composites. An emphasis is placed on the synergistic effects of the composite on the performance of supercapacitors in terms of specific capacitance, energy density, power density, rate capability and cyclic stability. This paper has also discussed the physico-chemical processes such as charge transport, ion diffusion and redox reactions involved in supercapacitors.

Preparation of Diatomite Supported Nano Zinc Oxide Composite Photocatalytic Material and Study on its Formaldehyde Degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Liguang; Pang, Bo

2017-09-01

This experiment used zinc nitrate as precursor, ethanol as solvent and polyethylene glycol as dispersant, diatomite as carrier, diatomite loaded nano Zinc Oxide was prepared by sol-gel method, in addition, the formaldehyde degradation was studied by two kinds of experimental methods: preparation and loading, preparation and post loading, The samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET and IR. Experimental results showed that: Diatomite based nano Zinc Oxide had a continuous adsorption and degradation of formaldehyde, formaldehyde gas with initial concentration was 0.7mg/m3, after 36h degradation, the concentration reached 0.238mg/m3, the degradation rate reached to 66%.

Graphene Nano-Composites for Hypervelocity Impact Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manasrah, Alharith

The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is a harsh environment cluttered with natural meteoroids and man-made debris, which can travel at velocities approaching 15 km/s. Most space activities within the LEO will encounter this environment. Thus, the spacecraft and its hardware must be designed to survive debris impact. This research introduces new procedures to produce a nano-composite material with mortar-brick nano-structure inspired from nacre. Nacre-like composites were successfully manufactured, based on three host polymers, with a wide range of graphene concentrations. The manufactured exfoliated graphene nano-platelet, embedded in a host polymer, provided good potential for enhancement of the hypervelocity impact (HVI) shield resistance. The nano-composites are suggested for use as a coating. Moreover, explicit dynamic finite element studies were conducted for further investigation of the hypervelocity impact of the graphene-based coatings in order to understand the effect of the coating on the crater formation and the exit velocity. This dissertation presents the results of the characterization and numerical sensitivity study of the developed material parameters. The numerical simulations were performed by implementing Autodyn smooth particle hydrodynamics. This study provides innovative, low-weight shielding enhancements for spacecraft, as well as other promising applications for the manufactured nano-composites.

Preparation of RuO2-TiO2/Nano-graphite composite anode for electrochemical degradation of ceftriaxone sodium.

PubMed

Li, Dong; Guo, Xiaolei; Song, Haoran; Sun, Tianyi; Wan, Jiafeng

2018-06-05

Graphite-like material is widely used for preparing various electrodes for wastewater treatment. To enhance the electrochemical degradation efficiency of Nano-graphite (Nano-G) anode, RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Nano-G composite anode was prepared through the sol-gel method and hot-press technology. RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Nano-G composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and N 2 adsorption-desorption. Results showed that RuO 2 , TiO 2 and Nano-G were composited successfully, and RuO 2 and TiO 2 nanoparticles were distributed uniformly on the surface of Nano-G sheet. Specific surface area of RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Nano-G composite was higher than that of TiO 2 /Nano-G composite and Nano-G. Electrochemical performances of RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Nano-G anode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Nano-G anode was applied to electrochemical degradation of ceftriaxone. The generation of hydroxyl radical (OH) was measured. Results demonstrated that RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Nano-G anode displayed enhanced electrochemical degradation efficiency towards ceftriaxone and yield of OH, which is derived from the synergetic effect between RuO 2 , TiO 2 and Nano-G, which enhance the specific surface area, improve the electrochemical oxidation activity and lower the charge transfer resistance. Besides, the possible degradation intermediates and pathways of ceftriaxone sodium were identified. This study may provide a viable and promising prospect for RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Nano-G anode towards effective electrochemical degradation of antibiotics from wastewater. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pulse I-V characterization of a nano-crystalline oxide device with sub-gap density of states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Taeho; Hur, Ji-Hyun; Jeon, Sanghun

2016-05-01

Understanding the charge trapping nature of nano-crystalline oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (TFTs) is one of the most important requirements for their successful application. In our investigation, we employed a fast-pulsed I-V technique for understanding the charge trapping phenomenon and for characterizing the intrinsic device performance of an amorphous/nano-crystalline indium-hafnium-zinc-oxide semiconductor TFT with varying density of states in the bulk. Because of the negligible transient charging effect with a very short pulse, the source-to-drain current obtained with the fast-pulsed I-V measurement was higher than that measured by the direct-current characterization method. This is because the fast-pulsed I-V technique provides a charge-trap free environment, suggesting that it is a representative device characterization methodology of TFTs. In addition, a pulsed source-to-drain current versus time plot was used to quantify the dynamic trapping behavior. We found that the charge trapping phenomenon in amorphous/nano-crystalline indium-hafnium-zinc-oxide TFTs is attributable to the charging/discharging of sub-gap density of states in the bulk and is dictated by multiple trap-to-trap processes.

Pulse I-V characterization of a nano-crystalline oxide device with sub-gap density of states.

PubMed

Kim, Taeho; Hur, Ji-Hyun; Jeon, Sanghun

2016-05-27

Understanding the charge trapping nature of nano-crystalline oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (TFTs) is one of the most important requirements for their successful application. In our investigation, we employed a fast-pulsed I-V technique for understanding the charge trapping phenomenon and for characterizing the intrinsic device performance of an amorphous/nano-crystalline indium-hafnium-zinc-oxide semiconductor TFT with varying density of states in the bulk. Because of the negligible transient charging effect with a very short pulse, the source-to-drain current obtained with the fast-pulsed I-V measurement was higher than that measured by the direct-current characterization method. This is because the fast-pulsed I-V technique provides a charge-trap free environment, suggesting that it is a representative device characterization methodology of TFTs. In addition, a pulsed source-to-drain current versus time plot was used to quantify the dynamic trapping behavior. We found that the charge trapping phenomenon in amorphous/nano-crystalline indium-hafnium-zinc-oxide TFTs is attributable to the charging/discharging of sub-gap density of states in the bulk and is dictated by multiple trap-to-trap processes.

Effect of negative bias on the composition and structure of the tungsten oxide thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Meihan; Lei, Hao; Wen, Jiaxing; Long, Haibo; Sawada, Yutaka; Hoshi, Yoichi; Uchida, Takayuki; Hou, Zhaoxia

2015-12-01

Tungsten oxide thin films were deposited at room temperature under different negative bias voltages (Vb, 0 to -500 V) by DC reactive magnetron sputtering, and then the as-deposited films were annealed at 500 °C in air atmosphere. The crystal structure, surface morphology, chemical composition and transmittance of the tungsten oxide thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The XRD analysis reveals that the tungsten oxide films deposited at different negative bias voltages present a partly crystallized amorphous structure. All the films transfer from amorphous to crystalline (monoclinic + hexagonal) after annealing 3 h at 500 °C. Furthermore, the crystallized tungsten oxide films show different preferred orientation. The morphology of the tungsten oxide films deposited at different negative bias voltages is consisted of fine nanoscale grains. The grains grow up and conjunct with each other after annealing. The tungsten oxide films deposited at higher negative bias voltages after annealing show non-uniform special morphology. Substoichiometric tungsten oxide films were formed as evidenced by XPS spectra of W4f and O1s. As a result, semi-transparent films were obtained in the visible range for all films deposited at different negative bias voltages.

Growth control of carbon nanotubes using by anodic aluminum oxide nano templates.

PubMed

Park, Yong Seob; Choi, Won Seek; Yi, Junsin; Lee, Jaehyeong

2014-05-01

Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) template prepared in acid electrolyte possess regular and highly anisotropic porous structure with pore diameter range from five to several hundred nanometers, and with a density of pores ranging from 10(9) to 10(11) cm(-2). AAO can be used as microfilters and templates for the growth of CNTs and metal or semiconductor nanowires. Varying anodizing conditions such as temperature, electrolyte, applied voltage, anodizing and widening time, one can control the diameter, the length, and the density of pores. In this work, we deposited Al thin film by radio frequency magnetron sputtering method to fabricate AAO nano template and synthesized multi-well carbon nanotubes on a glass substrate by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD). AAO nano-porous templates with various pore sizes and depths were introduced to control the dimension and density of CNT arrays. The AAO nano template was synthesize on glass by two-step anodization technique. The average diameter and interpore distance of AAO nano template are about 65 nm and 82 nm. The pore density and AAO nano template thickness are about 2.1 x 10(10) pores/cm2 and 1 microm, respectively. Aligned CNTs on the AAO nano template were synthesized by MPECVD at 650 degrees C with the Ni catalyst layer. The length and diameter of CNTs were grown 2 microm and 50 nm, respectively.

Synthesis, characterization and magnetic behavior of Co/MCM-41 nano-composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cuello, N.; Elías, V.; CONICET

2013-09-15

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of Co/MCM-41 as magnetic nano-composites have been investigated. Mesoporous materials with different degrees of metal loading were prepared by wet impregnation and characterized by ICP, XRD, N{sub 2} adsorption, UV–vis DRS, TPR and EPMA-EDS. Cobalt oxide clusters and Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nano-particles could be confined inside the mesopores of MCM-41, being this fact favored by the Co loading increasing. In addition, larger crystals of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} detectable by XRD also grow on the surface when the Co loading is enhanced. The magnetic characterization was performed in a SQUID magnetometer using a maximum magnetic appliedmore » field µ{sub 0}Ha=1 T. While the samples with the higher Co loadings showed a behavior typically paramagnetic, a superparamagnetic contribution is more notorious for lower loadings, suggesting high Co species dispersion. - Graphical abstract: Room temperature hysteresis loops as a function of the Co content. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Co species as isolated Co{sup 2+}, oxide clusters and Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} nano-particles were detected. • For higher Co loads were detected, by XRD, Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} particles on the external surface. • The confining of Co species inside the mesopores was achieved by increasing Co load. • Paramagnetism from oxide clusters/nano-particles becomes dominant for higher Co loads. • Superparamagnetism can be assigned to Co species of small size and finely dispersed.« less

Study of composite thin films for applications in high density data storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Hua

Granular Co-alloy + oxide thin films are currently used as the magnetic recording layer of perpendicular media in hard disk drives. The microstructure of these films is composed mainly of fine (7--10 nm) magnetic grains physically surrounded by oxide phases, which produce magnetic isolation of the grains. As a result, the magnetic switching volume is maintained as small as the physical grain size. Consequently, ample number of magnetic switching units can be obtained in one recording bit, in other words, higher signal to noise ratios (SNR) can be achieved. Therefore, a good understanding and control of the microstructure of the films is very important for high areal density magnetic recording media. Interlayers and seedlayers play important roles in controlling the microstructure in terms of grain size, grain size distribution, oxide segregation and orientation dispersion of the crystallographic texture. Developing novel interlayers or seedlayers with smaller grain size is a key approach to produce smaller grain size in the recording layer. This study focuses on how to achieve smaller grain sizes in the recording layer through novel interlayer/seedlayer materials and processes. It also discusses the resulting microstructure in smaller-grain-size thin films. Metal + oxide (e.g. Ru + SiO2) composite thin films were chosen as interlayer and seedlayer materials due to their unique segregated microstructure. Such layers can be grown epitaxially on top of fcc metal seedlayers with good orientation. It can also provide an epitaxial growth template for the subsequent magnetic layer (recording layer). The metal and oxide phases in the composite thin films are immiscible. The final microstructure of the interlayer depends on factors, such as, sputtering pressure, oxide species, oxide volume fraction, thickness, alloy composition, temperature etc. Moreover, it has been found that the microstructure of the composite thin films is affected mostly by two important factors---oxide

Nano-enabled tribological thin film coatings: global patent scenario.

PubMed

Sivudu, Kurva S; Mahajan, Yashwant R; Joshi, Shrikant V

2014-01-01

The aim of this paper is to present current status and future prospects of nano-enabled tribological thin film coatings based on worldwide patent landscape analysis. The study also presents an overview of technological trends by carrying out state-of-the-art literature analysis, including survey of corporate websites. Nanostructured tribological coatings encompass a wide spectrum of nanoscale microstructures, including nanocrystalline, nanolayered, nano-multilayered, nanocomposite, nanogradient structures or their unique combinations, which are composed of single or multi-component phases. The distinct microstructural features of the coatings impart outstanding tribological properties combined with multifunctional attributes to the coated components. Their unique combination of remarkable properties make them ideal candidates for a wide range of applications in diverse fields such as cutting and metalworking tools, biomedical devices, automotive engine components, wear parts, hard disc drives etc. The patent landscape analysis has revealed that nano-enabled tribological thin film coatings have significant potential for commercial applications in view of the lion's share of corporate industry in patenting activity. The largest patent portfolio is held by Japan followed by USA, Germany, Sweden and China. The prominent players involved in this field are Mitsubishi Materials Corp., Sandvik Aktiebolag, Hitachi Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., OC Oerlikon Corp., and so on. The outstanding potential of nanostructured thin film tribological coatings is yet to be fully unravelled and, therefore, immense opportunities are available in future for microstructurally engineered novel coatings to enhance their performance and functionality by many folds.

Polyelectrolyte/Graphene Oxide Barrier Film for Flexible OLED.

PubMed

Yang, Seung-Yeol; Park, Jongwhan; Kim, Yong-Seog

2015-10-01

Ultra-thin flexible nano-composite barrier layer consists of graphene oxide and polyelectrolyte was prepared using the layer-by-layer processing method. Microstructures of the barrier layer was optimized via modifying coating conditions and inducing chemical reactions. Although the barrier layer consists of hydrophilic polyelectrolyte was not effective in blocking the water vapor permeation, the chemical reduction of graphene oxide as well as conversion of polyelectrolyte to hydrophobic nature were very effective in reducing the permeation.

Asphaltenes-based polymer nano-composites

DOEpatents

Bowen, III, Daniel E

2013-12-17

Inventive composite materials are provided. The composite is preferably a nano-composite, and comprises an asphaltene, or a mixture of asphaltenes, blended with a polymer. The polymer can be any polymer in need of altered properties, including those selected from the group consisting of epoxies, acrylics, urethanes, silicones, cyanoacrylates, vulcanized rubber, phenol-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, imides, esters, cyanate esters, allyl resins.

Biochar-based nano-composites for the decontamination of wastewater: A review.

PubMed

Tan, Xiao-Fei; Liu, Yun-Guo; Gu, Yan-Ling; Xu, Yan; Zeng, Guang-Ming; Hu, Xin-Jiang; Liu, Shao-Bo; Wang, Xin; Liu, Si-Mian; Li, Jiang

2016-07-01

Synthesizing biochar-based nano-composites can obtain new composites and combine the advantages of biochar with nano-materials. The resulting composites usually exhibit great improvement in functional groups, pore properties, surface active sites, catalytic degradation ability and easy to separation. These composites have excellent abilities to adsorb a range of contaminants from aqueous solutions. Particularly, catalytic material-coated biochar can exert simultaneous adsorption and catalytic degradation function for organic contaminants removal. Synthesizing biochar-based nano-composites has become an important practice for expanding the environmental applications of biochar and nanotechnology. This paper aims to review and summarize the various synthesis techniques for biochar-based nano-composites and their effects on the decontamination of wastewater. The characteristic and advantages of existing synthesis methods are summarized and discussed. Application of biochar-based nano-composites for different contaminants removal and the underlying mechanisms are reviewed. Furthermore, knowledge gaps that exist in the fabrication and application of biochar-based nano-composites are also identified. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of band gap engineered nanostructured tri-metallic (Mn-Co-Ti) oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansoor, Muhammad Adil; Yusof, Farazila Binti; Nay-Ming, Huang

2018-04-01

In continuation of our previous studies on photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of titanium based composite oxide thin films, an effort is made to develop thin films of 1:1:2 manganese-cobalt-titanium oxide composite, Mn2O3-Co2O3-4TiO2 (MCT), using Co(OAc)2 and a bimetallic manganese-titanium complex, [Mn2Ti4(TFA)8(THF)6(OH)4(O)2].0.4THF (1), where OAc = acetato, TFA = trifluoroacetato and THF = tetrahydrofuran, via aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopic analyses confirmed formation of thin film of Mn2O3-Co2O3-4TiO2 composite material with uniformly distributed agglomerated particles. The average size of 39.5 nm, of the particles embedded inside agglomerates, was estimated by Scherer's equation. Further, UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to estimate the band gap of 2.62 eV for MCT composite thin film.

Extremely fine structured cathode for solid oxide fuel cells using Sr-doped LaMnO3 and Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 nano-composite powder synthesized by spray pyrolysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimada, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Toshiaki; Sumi, Hirofumi; Nomura, Katsuhiro; Yamaguchi, Yuki; Fujishiro, Yoshinobu

2017-02-01

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for high power density operation was developed with a microstructure-controlled cathode using a nano-composite powder of Sr-doped LaMnO3 (LSM) and Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) synthesized by spray pyrolysis. The individual LSM-YSZ nano-composite particles, formed by crystalline and amorphous nano-size LSM and YSZ particles, showed spherical morphology with uniform particle size. The use of this powder for cathode material led to an extremely fine microstructure, in which all the LSM and YSZ grains (approximately 100-200 nm) were highly dispersed and formed their own network structures. This microstructure was due to the two phase electrode structure control using the powder, namely, nano-order level in each particle and micro-order level between particles. An anode-supported SOFC with the LSM-YSZ cathode using humidified H2 as fuel and ambient air as oxidant exhibited high power densities, such as 1.29 W cm-2 under a voltage of 0.75 V and a maximum power density of 2.65 W cm-2 at 800 °C. Also, the SOFC could be stably operated for 250 h with no degradation, even at a high temperature of 800 °C.

Omega-3 PUFA concentration by a novel PVDF nano-composite membrane filled with nano-porous silica particles.

PubMed

Ghasemian, Samaneh; Sahari, Mohammad Ali; Barzegar, Mohsen; Ahmadi Gavlighi, Hasan

2017-09-01

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nano-porous silica particle were used to fabricate an asymmetric nano-composite membrane. Silica particles enhanced the thermal stability of PVDF/SiO 2 membranes; increasing the decomposition temperature from 371°C to 408°C. Cross sectional morphology showed that silica particles were dispersed in polymer matrix uniformly. However, particle agglomeration was found at higher loading of silica (i.e., 20 by weight%). The separation performance of nano-composite membranes was also evaluated using the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentration at a temperature and pressure of 30°C and 4bar, respectively. Silica particle increased the omega-3PUFA concentration from 34.8 by weight% in neat PVDF to 53.9 by weight% in PVDF with 15 by weight% of silica. Moreover, PVDF/SiO 2 nano-composite membranes exhibited enhanced anti-fouling property compared to neat PVDF membrane. Fouling mechanism analysis revealed that complete pore blocking was the predominant mechanism occurring in oil filtration. The concentration of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important in the oil industries. While the current methods demand high energy consumptions in concentrating the omega-3, membrane separation technology offers noticeable advantages in producing pure omega-3 PUFA. Moreover, concentrating omega-3 via membrane separation produces products in the triacylglycerol form which possess better oxidative stability. In this work, the detailed mechanisms of fouling which limits the performance of membrane separation were investigated. Incorporating silica particles to polymeric membrane resulted in the formation of mixed matrix membrane with improved anti-fouling behaviour compared to the neat polymeric membrane. Hence, the industrial potential of membrane processing to concentrate omega-3 fatty acids is enhanced. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Investigating NO2 gas sensing behavior of flower-like MoS2 and rGO based nano-composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanaujiya, Neha; Anupam, Golimar, Kapil; Pandey, Prateek Chandra; Jyoti, Varma, G. D.

2018-05-01

In the present work, MoS2 nano-sheets with flower-like morphology have been synthesized by facile hydrothermal method. The nano-composite of MoS2 and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nano-sheets has been synthesized to study the gas sensing behavior. The structural and morphological characteristics of the as prepared samples are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) respectively. The gas sensing behavior of the as synthesized MoS2 and composite samples have been studied for different concentrations of NO2 at different temperatures. Improvement in sensing response of composite sample as compared to bare MoS2 sample has been observed. Percentage response of ˜ 23% has been observed at room temperature for 40ppm NO2. The detail correlation between gas sensing behavior and structural characteristics of the composite sample will be described and discussed in this paper.

Graphene-silica composite thin films as transparent conductors.

PubMed

Watcharotone, Supinda; Dikin, Dmitriy A; Stankovich, Sasha; Piner, Richard; Jung, Inhwa; Dommett, Geoffrey H B; Evmenenko, Guennadi; Wu, Shang-En; Chen, Shu-Fang; Liu, Chuan-Pu; Nguyen, SonBinh T; Ruoff, Rodney S

2007-07-01

Transparent and electrically conductive composite silica films were fabricated on glass and hydrophilic SiOx/silicon substrates by incorporation of individual graphene oxide sheets into silica sols followed by spin-coating, chemical reduction, and thermal curing. The resulting films were characterized by SEM, AFM, TEM, low-angle X-ray reflectivity, XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements. The electrical conductivity of the films compared favorably to those of composite thin films of carbon nanotubes in silica.

Graphene-silica Composite Thin Films as Transparent Conductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Watcharotone,S.; Dikin, D.; Stankovich, S.

2007-01-01

Transparent and electrically conductive composite silica films were fabricated on glass and hydrophilic SiO{sub x}/silicon substrates by incorporation of individual graphene oxide sheets into silica sols followed by spin-coating, chemical reduction, and thermal curing. The resulting films were characterized by SEM, AFM, TEM, low-angle X-ray reflectivity, XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements. The electrical conductivity of the films compared favorably to those of composite thin films of carbon nanotubes in silica.

Carbon nanofibers wrapped with zinc oxide nano-flakes as promising electrode material for supercapacitors.

PubMed

Pant, Bishweshwar; Park, Mira; Ojha, Gunendra Prasad; Park, Juhyeong; Kuk, Yun-Su; Lee, Eun-Jung; Kim, Hak-Yong; Park, Soo-Jin

2018-07-15

A combination of electrospinning technique and hydrothermal process was carried out to fabricate zinc oxide nano-flakes wrapped carbon nanofibers (ZnO/CNFs) composite as an effective electrode material for supercapacitor. The morphology of the as-synthesized composite clearly revealed that the carbon nanofibers were successfully wrapped with ZnO nano-flakes. The electrochemical performance of the as-synthesized nanocomposite electrode was evaluated by the cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GDC), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and compared with the pristine ZnO nanofibers. It was found that the composite exhibited a higher specific capacitance (260 F/g) as compared to pristine ZnO NFs (118 F/g) at the scan rate of 5 mV/s. Furthermore, the ZnO/CNFs composite also exhibited good capacity retention (73.33%). The obtained results indicated great potential applications of ZnO/CNFs composite in developing energy storage devices with high energy and power densities. The present work might provide a new route for utilizing ZnO based composites for energy storage applications. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Plasma assisted facile synthesis of vanadium oxide (V3O7) nanostructured thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Megha; Saini, Sujit K.; Kumar, Prabhat; Sharma, Rabindar K.; Reddy, G. B.

2018-05-01

Vanadium oxides nanostructured thin films are synthesized using plasma assisted sublimation process. The effect of temperatures on growth of V2O5 and V3O7 thin films is studied. Scanning electron micrographs shows different morphologies are obtained at different temperatures i.e. at 450 °C nano cubes-like structures are obtained, whereas at 550 °C and 650 °C nanorods are obtained. Sample deposited at 450 °C is entirely composed of V2O5 and sample at higher temperatures are composed of mixed phase of vanadium oxides i.e. V2O5 and V3O7. As temperature increased, so the content of V3O7 in the sample is increased as confirmed by XRD and Raman analyses.

Spatially resolved variations in reflectivity across iron oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, Chris S.; Thompson, Sarah M.; Gilks, Daniel; Sizeland, James; Lari, Leonardo; Lazarov, Vlado K.; Matsuzaki, Kosuke; LeFrançois, Stéphane; Cinque, Gianfelice; Dumas, Paul

2017-11-01

The spin polarising properties of the iron oxide magnetite (Fe3O4) make it attractive for use in spintronic devices, but its sensitivity to compositional and structural variations make it challenging to prepare reliably. Infrared microspectroscopy and modelling are used to determine the spatial variation in the chemical composition of three thin films of iron oxide; one prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), one by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) deposition of iron whilst simultaneously flowing oxygen into the chamber and one by flowing oxygen only once deposition is complete. The technique is easily able to distinguish between films which contain metallic iron and different iron oxide phases as well as spatial variations in composition across the films. The film grown by post-oxidising iron is spatially uniform but not fully oxidised, the film grown by simultaneously oxidising iron showed spatial variation in oxide composition while the film grown by PLD was spatially uniform magnetite.

Surface modification of thin film composite reverse osmosis membrane by glycerol assisted oxidation with sodium hypochlorite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raval, Hiren D.; Samnani, Mohit D.; Gauswami, Maulik V.

2018-01-01

Need for improvement in water flux of thin film composite (TFC) RO membrane has been appreciated by researchers world over and surface modification approach is found promising to achieve higher water flux and solute rejection. Thin film composite RO membrane was exposed to 2000 mg/l sodium hypochlorite solution with varying concentrations of glycerol ranging from 1 to 10%. It was found that there was a drop in concentration of sodium hypochlorite after the addition of glycerol because of a new compound resulted from the oxidation of glycerol with sodium hypochlorite. The water flux of the membrane treated with 1% glycerol with 2000 mg/l sodium hypochlorite for 1 h was about 22% more and salt rejection was 1.36% greater than that of only sodium hypochlorite treated membrane for the same concentration and time. There was an increase in salt rejection of membrane with increase in concentration of glycerol from 1% to 5%, however, increasing glycerol concentration further up to 10%, the salt rejection declined. The water flux was found declining from 1% glycerol solution to 10% glycerol solution. The membrane samples were characterized to understand the change in chemical structure and morphology of the membrane.

[Study on anti-coagulant property of radio frequency sputtering nano-sized TiO2 thin films].

PubMed

Tang, Xiaoshan; Li, Da

2010-12-01

Nano-TiO2 thin films were prepared by Radio frequency (RF) sputtering on pyrolytic carbon substrates. The influences of sputtering power on the structure and the surface morphology of TiO2 thin films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the TiO2 films change to anatase through the optimum of sputtering power. The mean diameter of nano-particle is about 30 nm. The anti-coagulant property of TiO2 thin films was observed through platelet adhesion in vitro. The result of experiment reveals the amount of thrombus on the TiO2 thin films being much less than that on the pyrolytic carbon. It also indicates that the RF sputtering Nano-sized TiO2 thin films will be a new kind of promising materials applied to artificial heart valve and endovascular stent.

Effect of annealing temperature on optical properties of binary zinc tin oxide nano-composite prepared by sol-gel route using simple precursors: structural and optical studies by DRS, FT-IR, XRD, FESEM investigations.

PubMed

Habibi, Mohammad Hossein; Mardani, Maryam

2015-02-25

Binary zinc tin oxide nano-composite was synthesized by a facile sol-gel method using simple precursors from the solutions consisting of zinc acetate, tin(IV) chloride and ethanol. Effect of annealing temperature on optical and structural properties was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD results revealed the existence of the ZnO and SnO2 phases. FESEM results showed that binary zinc tin oxide nano-composites ranges from 56 to 60 nm in diameter at 400°C and 500°C annealing temperatures respectively. The optical band gap was increased from 2.72 eV to 3.11 eV with the increasing of the annealing temperature. FTIR results confirmed the presence of zinc oxide and tin oxide and the broad absorption peaks at 3426 and 1602 cm(-1) can be ascribed to the vibration of absorptive water, and the absorption peaks at 546, 1038 and 1410 cm(-1) are due to the vibration of Zn-O or Sn-O groups in binary zinc tin oxide. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Performance of glucose/O2 enzymatic fuel cell based on supporting electrodes over-coated by polymer-nanogold particle composite with entrapped enzymes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huo, W. S.; Zeng, H.; Yang, Y.; Zhang, Y. H.

2017-03-01

Enzymatic electrodes over-coated by thin film of nano-composite made up of polymer and functionalized nano-gold particle was prepared. Glucose/O2 membrane-free enzymatic fuel cell based on nano-composite based electrodes with incorporated glucose oxidase and laccase was assembled. This enzymatic fuel cell exhibited high energy out-put density even when applied in human serum. Catalytic cycle involved in enzymatic fuel cell was limited by oxidation of glucose occurred on bioanode resulting from impact of sophisticated interaction between active site in glucose oxidase and nano-gold particle on configuration of redox center of enzyme molecule which crippled catalytic efficiency of redox protein.

Temperature dependence of gas sensing behaviour of TiO2 doped PANI composite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Subodh; Sharma, S. S.; Sharma, Preetam; Sharma, Vinay; Rajura, Rajveer Singh; Singh, M.; Vijay, Y. K.

2014-04-01

In the present work we have reported the effect of temperature on the gas sensing properties of TiO2 doped PANI composite thin film based chemiresistor type gas sensors for hydrogen gas sensing application. PANI and TiO2 doped PANI composite were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline at low temperature. The electrical properties of these composite thin films were characterized by I-V measurements as function of temperature. The I-V measurement revealed that conductivity of composite thin films increased as the temperature increased. The changes in resistance of the composite thin film sensor were utilized for detection of hydrogen gas. It was observed that at room temperature TiO2 doped PANI composite sensor shows higher response value and showed unstable behavior as the temperature increased. The surface morphology of these composite thin films has also been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurement.

Evaluating Weathering of Food Packaging Polyethylene-Nano-clay Composites: Release of Nanoparticles and their Impacts.

PubMed

Han, Changseok; Zhao, Amy; Varughese, Eunice; Sahle-Demessie, E

2018-01-01

Nano-fillers are increasingly incorporated into polymeric materials to improve the mechanical, barrier or other matrix properties of nanocomposites used for consumer and industrial applications. However, over the life cycle, these nanocomposites could degrade due to exposure to environmental conditions, resulting in the release of embedded nanomaterials from the polymer matrix into the environment. This paper presents a rigorous study on the degradation and the release of nanomaterials from food packaging composites. Films of nano-clay-loaded low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composite for food packaging applications were prepared with the spherilene technology and exposed to accelerated weathering of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation or low concentration of ozone at 40 °C. The changes in the structural, surface morphology, chemical and physical properties of the films during accelerated weathering were investigated. Qualitative and quantitative changes in properties of pristine and aged materials and the release of nano-clay proceeded slowly until 130 hr irradiation and then accelerated afterward resulting complete degradation. Although nano-clay increased the stability of LDPE and improved thermal and barrier properties, they accelerated the UV oxidation of LDPE. With increasing exposure to UV, the surface roughness, chemiluminescence index, and carbonyl index of the samples increased while decreasing the intensity of the wide-angle X-ray diffraction pattern. Nano-clay particles with sizes ranging from 2-8 nm were released from UV and ozone weathered composite. The concentrations of released nanoparticles increased with an increase in aging time. Various toxicity tests, including reactive oxygen species generation and cell activity/viability were also performed on the released nano-clay and clay polymer. The released nano-clays basically did not show toxicity. Our combined results demonstrated the degradation properties of nano-clay particle-embedded LDPE composites

Formation of ultra Si/Ti nano thin film for enhancing silicon solar cell efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adam, T.; Dhahi, T. S.; Mohammed, M.; Al-Hajj, A. M.; Hashim, U.

2017-10-01

An alternative electrical source has l has become the major quest of every researchers due to it numerous advantages and applications of power supply and as electronic devices are becoming more and more portable. A highly efficient power supply is become inevitable. Thus. in this study, present ultrasonic based assisted fabrication of electrochemical silicon-Titanium nano thin film by in-house simple technique, uniformly silicon Nano film was fabricated and etched with HF (40%): C2H5OH (99%):1:1, < 20 nm pore diameter of silicon was fabricated. The surface and morphology reveal that the method produce uniform nano silicon porous layer with smaller silicon pores with high etching efficiency. The silicon-Titanium integrated nano porous exhibited excellent observation properties with low reflection index ~ 1.1 compared to silicon alone thin film.

Interphase for ceramic matrix composites reinforced by non-oxide ceramic fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DiCarlo, James A. (Inventor); Bhatt, Ramakrishna (Inventor); Morscher, Gregory N. (Inventor); Yun, Hee-Mann (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A ceramic matrix composite material is disclosed having non-oxide ceramic fibers, which are formed in a complex fiber architecture by conventional textile processes; a thin mechanically weak interphase material, which is coated on the fibers; and a non-oxide or oxide ceramic matrix, which is formed within the interstices of the interphase-coated fiber architecture. During composite fabrication or post treatment, the interphase is allowed to debond from the matrix while still adhering to the fibers, thereby providing enhanced oxidative durability and damage tolerance to the fibers and the composite material.

Non-destructive evaluation of nano-sized structure of thin film devices by using small angle neutron scattering.

PubMed

Shin, E J; Seong, B S; Choi, Y; Lee, J K

2011-01-01

Nano-sized multi-layers copper-doped SrZrO3, platinum (Pt) and silicon oxide (SiO2) on silicon substrates were prepared by dense plasma focus (DPF) device with the high purity copper anode tip and analyzed by using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to establish a reliable method for the non-destructive evaluation of the under-layer structure. Thin film was well formed at the time-to-dip of 5 microsec with stable plasma of DPF. Several smooth intensity peaks were periodically observed when neutron beam penetrates the thin film with multi-layers perpendicularly. The platinum layer is dominant to intensity peaks, where the copper-doped SrZnO3 layer next to the platinum layer causes peak broadening. The silicon oxide layer has less effect on the SANS spectra due to its relative thick thickness. The SANS spectra shows thicknesses of platinum and copper-doped SrZnO3 layers as 53 and 25 nm, respectively, which are well agreement with microstructure observation.

Multi-layered zinc oxide-graphene composite thin films for selective nitrogen dioxide sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, A.; Bhowmick, T.; Majumder, S. B.

2018-02-01

In the present work, selective nitrogen dioxide (NO2) sensing characteristics of multi-layered graphene-zinc oxide (G-ZnO) thin films have been demonstrated at 150 °C. The response% of 5 ppm NO2 was measured to be 894% with response and recovery times estimated to be 150 s and 315 s, respectively. In these composite films, the interaction between graphene and zinc oxide is established through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with the analyses of photoluminescence spectra. Superior NO2 sensing of these films is due to simultaneous chemiadsorption of molecular oxygen and NO2 gases onto graphene and ZnO surfaces, resulting in an appreciable increase in the depletion layer width and thereby the sensor resistance. The sensor responses for other reducing gases (viz., CO, H2, and i-C4H10) are postulated to be due to their catalytic oxidation on the sensor surface, resulting in a decrease in the sensor resistance upon gas exposure. At lower operating temperature, due to the molecular nature of the chemiadsorbed oxygen, poor catalytic oxidation leads to a far lower sensor response for reducing gases as compared to NO2. For mixed NO2 and reducing gas sensing, we have reported that fast Fourier transformation of the resistance transients of all these gases in conjunction with principal component analyses forms a reasonably distinct cluster and, therefore, could easily be differentiated.

Mechanical and Morphological Study of Synthesized PMMA/CaCO3 Nano composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam Md., Azad; Arif, Sajjad; Ansari, Akhter H.

2017-08-01

In this study, Nano-composites have been synthesized in which PMMA is the matrix material and calcium carbonate nanoparticles as the filler by In-situ polymerization reaction. Nano-CaCO3 added during polymerization and the quantity of nano-CaCO3 varied as 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 wt. % of monomer quantity. The Nano-composites were prepared at three distinct stirring speeds 600, 800, 1000 rpm in order to observe the property with respect to stirring speeds. XRD gram depicts that the presence of nano-CaCO3 has given crystalline nature to Nano-composites. The effects of different concentrations of nano-CaCO3 loading on PMMA morphology were studied by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical property is increasing with the stirring speed and concentration. Relative to neat PMMA a 62% increase in impact strength were observed in PMMA based Nano-composites using 0.6 wt.% nano-CaCO3.

Mechanical characterization of scalable cellulose nano-fiber based composites made using liquid composite molding process

Treesearch

Bamdad Barari; Thomas K. Ellingham; Issam I. Ghamhia; Krishna M. Pillai; Rani El-Hajjar; Lih-Sheng Turng; Ronald Sabo

2016-01-01

Plant derived cellulose nano-fibers (CNF) are a material with remarkable mechanical properties compared to other natural fibers. However, efforts to produce nano-composites on a large scale using CNF have yet to be investigated. In this study, scalable CNF nano-composites were made from isotropically porous CNF preforms using a freeze drying process. An improvised...

Nanotechnologies for Composite Structures- From Nanocomposites to Multifunctional Nano-Enabled Fibre Reinforced Composites for Spacecrafts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostopoulos, Vassilis; Vavouliotis, Antonios; Baltopoulos, Athanasios; Sotiririadis, George; Masouras, Athanasios; Pambaguian, Laurent

2014-06-01

The past decade, extensive efforts have been invested in understanding the nano-scale and revealing the capabilities offered by nanotechnology products to structural materials. Nevertheless, a major issue faced lately more seriously due to the interest of industry is on how to incorporate these nano-species into the final composite structure through existing manufacturing processes and infrastructure. In this work, we present the experience obtained from the latest nanotechnology research activities supported by ESA. The paper focuses on prepreg composite manufacturing technology and addresses:- Approaches for nano-enabling of composites- Up-scaling strategies towards final structures- Latest results on performance of nano-enabledfiber reinforced compositesSeveral approaches for the utilization of nanotechnology products in structural composite structures have been proposed and are reviewed, in short along with respective achieved results. A variety of nano-fillers has been proposed and employed, individually or in combination in hybrid forms, to approach the desired performance. A major part of the work deals with the up-scaling routes of these technologies to reach final products and industrial scales and processes while meeting end-user performance.

Investigation of the Structural, Electrical, and Optical Properties of the Nano-Scale GZO Thin Films on Glass and Flexible Polyimide Substrates

PubMed Central

Wang, Fang-Hsing; Chen, Kun-Neng; Hsu, Chao-Ming; Liu, Min-Chu; Yang, Cheng-Fu

2016-01-01

In this study, Ga2O3-doped ZnO (GZO) thin films were deposited on glass and flexible polyimide (PI) substrates at room temperature (300 K), 373 K, and 473 K by the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method. After finding the deposition rate, all the GZO thin films with a nano-scale thickness of about 150 ± 10 nm were controlled by the deposition time. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the GZO thin films were not amorphous and all exhibited the (002) peak, and field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that only nano-scale particles were observed. The dependences of the structural, electrical, and optical properties of the GZO thin films on different deposition temperatures and substrates were investigated. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) was used to measure the elemental composition at the chemical and electronic states of the GZO thin films deposited on different substrates, which could be used to clarify the mechanism of difference in electrical properties of the GZO thin films. In this study, the XPS binding energy spectra of Ga2p3/2 and Ga2p1/2 peaks, Zn2p3/2 and Zn2p1/2 peaks, the Ga3d peak, and O1s peaks for GZO thin films on glass and PI substrates were well compared. PMID:28335216

PREFACE: Proceedings Symposium G of E-MRS Spring Meeting on Fundamentals and Technology of Multifunctional Oxide Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2010-07-01

Oxide materials exhibit a large variety of functional properties that are useful in a plethora of applications. Symposium G focused on oxide thin films that include dielectric or switching properties. Its program mirrored very well the strong worldwide search for high-K thin films for gate, memory, and on-chip capacitors, as well as the emerging field of functional thin films for MEMS. A complete session was devoted to the colossal effect of dielectric response in (Ca,Cu)TiO3, representing the major European research groups in this field. A comprehensive overview on this phenomenon was given by D Sinclair J Wolfman presented the latest results on CCTO thin films obtained by wafer scale pulsed laser deposition. A Loidl showed the analytical power of dielectric spectroscopy when covering the complete frequency range from 1-1012 Hz, i.e. from space charge to phonon contributions at the example of CCTO. Another session was devoted to applications in non-volatile memories, covering various effects including ferroelectric and resistive switching, the complex behavior of oxide tunnel junctions (H Kohlstedt), the possibility to manipulate the magnetic state of a 2d-electron gas by the polarization of an adjacent ferroelectric gate (I Stolitchnov). Latest advancements in ALD processing for high-K thin films in dynamic RAM were reported by S Ramanathan. The advancement of piezoelectric PZT thin film MEMS devices was well documented by outstanding talks on their developments in industry (M Klee, F Tyholdt), new possibilities in GHz filters (T Matshushima), advancements in sol-gel processing (B Tuttle, H Suzuki), and low temperature integration approaches by UV light curing (S Trolier-McKinstry). Recent advances in incipient ferroelectric thin films and nano composites for tunable capacitors in microwave applications were present by A Vorobiev and T Yamada. Integrated electro-optics is another field to be conquered by thin film structures. The impressive progress made in this

Depth resolved compositional analysis of aluminium oxide thin film using non-destructive soft x-ray reflectivity technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinha, Mangalika; Modi, Mohammed H.

2017-10-01

In-depth compositional analysis of 240 Å thick aluminium oxide thin film has been carried out using soft x-ray reflectivity (SXR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy technique (XPS). The compositional details of the film is estimated by modelling the optical index profile obtained from the SXR measurements over 60-200 Å wavelength region. The SXR measurements are carried out at Indus-1 reflectivity beamline. The method suggests that the principal film region is comprised of Al2O3 and AlOx (x = 1.6) phases whereas the interface region comprised of SiO2 and AlOx (x = 1.6) mixture. The soft x-ray reflectivity technique combined with XPS measurements explains the compositional details of principal layer. Since the interface region cannot be analyzed with the XPS technique in a non-destructive manner in such a case the SXR technique is a powerful tool for nondestructive compositional analysis of interface region.

Evaluating the Microshear Bond Strength and Microleakage of Flowable Composites Containing Zinc Oxide Nano-particles.

PubMed

Teymoornezhad, Koorosh; Alaghehmand, Homayoun; Daryakenari, Ghazaleh; Khafri, Soraya; Tabari, Mitra

2016-11-01

Preventive resin restorations (PRR) are the conservative choice for the most common carious lesions in children. Thus, new age flowable resin composites with higher filler content are readily used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microshear bond strength and microleakage of two flowable resin composites containing different percentages of nano zinc oxide (NZnO) particles, which have proven to have antimicrobial properties. This experimental in-vitro study was carried out in the Dental Material Research Center of Babol University of Medical Sciences in 2015. One nanohybrid and one nanofill flowable resin composite were chosen and modified with the incorporation of 1% and 3% Wt NZnO particles. Six groups (n=10, 0%, 1%, and 3%) of resin composite sticks on dental enamel (2×2mm) were prepared to be placed in the microtensile tester. The microshear bond strength magnitude (MPa) was recorded at the point of failure. A class I box (3×0.8×1 mm) was prepared on 60 premolars and filled using the resin composites (6 groups, n=10). The specimens were immersed in a 5% basic fuschin solution and sectioned bucco-lingually to view the microleakage using a stereomicroscope. One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests for microshear and Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests for microleakage were used to analyze the data in the IBM SPSS Statistics version 22 software. The bond strength of the 3% clearfill group significantly decreased while no significant change occurred in the bond strength in other groups. The Z-350 group had significantly lower microleakage as nanoparticles increased. No significant difference was observed in the clearfill group. Up to 3% Wt incorporation of NZnO particles will not diversely alter the bond strength, but it will be beneficial in providing antimicrobial effects with lower microleakage rates.

Nano-Sized Structurally Disordered Metal Oxide Composite Aerogels as High-Power Anodes in Hybrid Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Huang, Haijian; Wang, Xing; Tervoort, Elena; Zeng, Guobo; Liu, Tian; Chen, Xi; Sologubenko, Alla; Niederberger, Markus

2018-03-27

A general method for preparing nano-sized metal oxide nanoparticles with highly disordered crystal structure and their processing into stable aqueous dispersions is presented. With these nanoparticles as building blocks, a series of nanoparticles@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite aerogels are fabricated and directly used as high-power anodes for lithium-ion hybrid supercapacitors (Li-HSCs). To clarify the effect of the degree of disorder, control samples of crystalline nanoparticles with similar particle size are prepared. The results indicate that the structurally disordered samples show a significantly enhanced electrochemical performance compared to the crystalline counterparts. In particular, structurally disordered Ni x Fe y O z @rGO delivers a capacity of 388 mAh g -1 at 5 A g -1 , which is 6 times that of the crystalline sample. Disordered Ni x Fe y O z @rGO is taken as an example to study the reasons for the enhanced performance. Compared with the crystalline sample, density functional theory calculations reveal a smaller volume expansion during Li + insertion for the structurally disordered Ni x Fe y O z nanoparticles, and they are found to exhibit larger pseudocapacitive effects. Combined with an activated carbon (AC) cathode, full-cell tests of the lithium-ion hybrid supercapacitors are performed, demonstrating that the structurally disordered metal oxide nanoparticles@rGO||AC hybrid systems deliver high energy and power densities within the voltage range of 1.0-4.0 V. These results indicate that structurally disordered nanomaterials might be interesting candidates for exploring high-power anodes for Li-HSCs.

Thin coatings for protecting titanium aluminides in high-temperature oxidizing environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiedemann, K. E.; Taylor, P. J.; Clark, R. K.; Wallace, T. A.

1991-01-01

Titanium aluminides have high specific strengths at high temperatures but are susceptible to environmental attack. Their use in many aerospace applications would require that they be protected with coatings that, for structural efficiency, must be thin. It is conceivable that acceptable coatings might be found in several oxide systems, and consequently, oxide coatings of many compositions were prepared from sol-gels for study. Response-surface methodology was used to refine coating compositions and factorial experiments were used to develop coating strategies. Oxygen permeability diagrams of two-layer coatings for several oxide systems, an analysis of multiple-layer coatings on rough and polished surfaces, and modeling of the oxidation weight gain are presented.

Micro solid oxide fuel cell fabricated on porous stainless steel: a new strategy for enhanced thermal cycling ability

PubMed Central

Kim, Kun Joong; Park, Byung Hyun; Kim, Sun Jae; Lee, Younki; Bae, Hongyeul; Choi, Gyeong Man

2016-01-01

Miniaturized solid oxide fuel cells (micro-SOFCs) are being extensively studied as a promising alternative to Li batteries for next generation portable power. A new micro-SOFC is designed and fabricated which shows enhanced thermal robustness by employing oxide-based thin-film electrode and porous stainless steel (STS) substrate. To deposit gas-tight thin-film electrolyte on STS, nano-porous composite oxide is proposed and applied as a new contact layer on STS. The micro-SOFC fabricated on composite oxide- STS dual layer substrate shows the peak power density of 560 mW cm−2 at 550 °C and maintains this power density during rapid thermal cycles. This cell may be suitable for portable electronic device that requires high power-density and fast thermal cycling. PMID:26928921

Micro solid oxide fuel cell fabricated on porous stainless steel: a new strategy for enhanced thermal cycling ability.

PubMed

Kim, Kun Joong; Park, Byung Hyun; Kim, Sun Jae; Lee, Younki; Bae, Hongyeul; Choi, Gyeong Man

2016-03-01

Miniaturized solid oxide fuel cells (micro-SOFCs) are being extensively studied as a promising alternative to Li batteries for next generation portable power. A new micro-SOFC is designed and fabricated which shows enhanced thermal robustness by employing oxide-based thin-film electrode and porous stainless steel (STS) substrate. To deposit gas-tight thin-film electrolyte on STS, nano-porous composite oxide is proposed and applied as a new contact layer on STS. The micro-SOFC fabricated on composite oxide- STS dual layer substrate shows the peak power density of 560 mW cm(-2) at 550 °C and maintains this power density during rapid thermal cycles. This cell may be suitable for portable electronic device that requires high power-density and fast thermal cycling.

Weatherability and Leach Resistance of Wood Impregnated with Nano-Zinc Oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clausen, Carol A.; Green, Frederick; Nami Kartal, S.

2010-09-01

Southern pine specimens vacuum-treated with nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) dispersions were evaluated for leach resistance and UV protection. Virtually, no leaching occurred in any of the nano-ZnO-treated specimens in a laboratory leach test, even at the highest retention of 13 kg/m3. However, specimens treated with high concentrations of nano-ZnO showed 58-65% chemical depletion after 12 months of outdoor exposure. Protection from UV damage after 12 months exposure is visibly obvious on both exposed and unexposed surfaces compared to untreated controls. Graying was markedly diminished, although checking occurred in all specimens. Nano-zinc oxide treatment at a concentration of 2.5% or greater provided substantial resistance to water absorption following 12 months of outdoor exposure compared to untreated and unweathered southern pine. We conclude that nano-zinc oxide can be utilized in new wood preservative formulations to impart resistance to leaching, water absorption and UV damage of wood.

Atomic Layer-Deposited Titanium-Doped Vanadium Oxide Thin Films and Their Thermistor Applications

DOE PAGES

Wang, Shuyu; Yu, Shifeng; Lu, Ming; ...

2016-11-30

In this paper, we report the enhancement in the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of atomic layer-deposited vanadium oxide thin films through the doping of titanium oxide. The Hall effect measurement provides a potential explanation for the phenomenon. The composition and morphology of the thin films are investigated by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The high TCR, good uniformity, and low processing temperature of the material make it a good candidate for thermistor application.

Partial ablation of Ti/Al nano-layer thin film by single femtosecond laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaković, B.; Tsibidis, G. D.; Skoulas, E.; Petrović, S. M.; Vasić, B.; Stratakis, E.

2017-12-01

The interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with Titanium/Aluminium (Ti/Al) nano-layered thin film was investigated. The sample composed of alternating Ti and Al layers of a few nanometres thick was deposited by ion-sputtering. A single pulse irradiation experiment was conducted in an ambient air environment using focused and linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulses for the investigation of the ablation effects. The laser induced morphological changes and the composition were characterized using several microscopy techniques and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The following results were obtained: (i) at low values of pulse energy/fluence, ablation of the upper Ti layer only was observed; (ii) at higher laser fluence, a two-step ablation of Ti and Al layers takes place, followed by partial removal of the nano-layered film. The experimental observations were supported by a theoretical model accounting for the thermal response of the multiple layered structure upon irradiation with ultra-short laser pulses.

Development of high energy density supercapacitor through hydrothermal synthesis of RGO/nano-structured cobalt sulphide composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jana, Milan; Saha, Sanjit; Samanta, Pranab; Murmu, Naresh Chandra; Kim, Nam Hoon; Kuila, Tapas; Lee, Joong Hee

2015-02-01

Co9S8/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites were prepared on nickel foam substrate through hydrothermal reaction and used directly as supercapacitor electrode. The field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis of the composites showed the formation of Co9S8 nano-rods on the RGO surfaces. The average crystal size of the Co9S8 nano rods grown on the RGO sheets were ˜25-36 nm as calculated from x-ray diffraction analysis. The reduction of graphene oxide (GO) was confirmed by Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The electrical conductivity of the Co9S8/RGO composite was recorded as 1690 S m-1 at room temperature, which is much higher than that of pure GO further confirming the hydrothermal reduction of GO. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were investigated to check the electrochemical performances of the Co9S8/RGO composites. The Co9S8/RGO composites supported on nickel foam showed very high specific capacitance (Sc)(1349 F g-1 at a current density of 2.2 A g-1), energy density (68.6 W h kg-1) and power density (1319 W kg-1) in 6 M KOH electrolyte. The retention in Sc of the composite electrode was found to be ˜96% after 1000 charge-discharge cycles.

Effect of Al2O3 insulator thickness on the structural integrity of amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide based thin film transistors.

PubMed

Kim, Hak-Jun; Hwang, In-Ju; Kim, Youn-Jea

2014-12-01

The current transparent oxide semiconductors (TOSs) technology provides flexibility and high performance. In this study, multi-stack nano-layers of TOSs were designed for three-dimensional analysis of amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) based thin film transistors (TFTs). In particular, the effects of torsional and compressive stresses on the nano-sized active layers such as the a-IGZO layer were investigated. Numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the structural integrity of a-IGZO based TFTs with three different thicknesses of the aluminum oxide (Al2O3) insulator (δ = 10, 20, and 30 nm), respectively, using a commercial code, COMSOL Multiphysics. The results are graphically depicted for operating conditions.

Graphene and water-based elastomers thin-film composites by dip-moulding.

PubMed

Iliut, Maria; Silva, Claudio; Herrick, Scott; McGlothlin, Mark; Vijayaraghavan, Aravind

2016-09-01

Thin-film elastomers (elastic polymers) have a number of technologically significant applications ranging from sportswear to medical devices. In this work, we demonstrate that graphene can be used to reinforce 20 micron thin elastomer films, resulting in over 50% increase in elastic modulus at a very low loading of 0.1 wt%, while also increasing the elongation to failure. This loading is below the percolation threshold for electrical conductivity. We demonstrate composites with both graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, the reduction being undertaken in-situ or ex-situ using a biocompatible reducing agent in ascorbic acid. The ultrathin films were cast by dip moulding. The transparency of the elastomer films allows us to use optical microscopy image and confirm the uniform distribution as well as the conformation of the graphene flakes within the composite.

Development of functional nano-particle layer for highly efficient OLED

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jae-Hyun; Kim, Min-Hoi; Choi, Haechul; Choi, Yoonseuk

2015-12-01

Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are now widely commercialized in market due to many advantages such as possibility of making thin or flexible devices. Nevertheless there are still several things to obtain the high quality flexible OLEDs, one of the most important issues is the light extraction of the device. It is known that OLEDs have the typical light loss such as the waveguide loss, plasmon absorption loss and internal total reflection. In this paper, we demonstrate the one-step processed light scattering films with aluminum oxide nano-particles and polystyrene matrix composite to achieve highly efficient OLEDs. Optical characteristics and surface roughness of light scattering film was optimized by changing the mixing concentration of Al2O3 nano-particles and investigated with the atomic force microscopy and hazemeter, respectively.

Surface enrichment of Pt in stable Pt-Ir nano-alloy particles on MgAl 2O 4 spinel in oxidizing atmosphere

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Wei -Zhen; Nie, Lei; Cheng, Yingwen

With the capability of MgAl 2O 4 spinel {111} nano-facets in stabilizing small Rh, Ir and Pt particles, bimetallic Ir-Pt catalysts on the same support were investigated in this paper, aiming at further lowering the catalyst cost by substituting expensive Pt with cheaper Ir in the bulk. Small Pt-Ir nano-alloy particles (< 2 nm) were successfully stabilized on the spinel {111} nano-facets as expected. Interestingly, methanol oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) rate on the surface Pt atoms increases with oxidizing aging but decreases upon reducing treatment, where Ir is almost inactive under the same reaction conditions. Up to three times enhancement inmore » Pt exposure was achieved when the sample was oxidized at 800 °C in air for 1 week and subsequently reduced by H 2 for 2 h, demonstrating successful surface enrichment of Pt on Pt-Ir nano-alloy particles. Finally, a dynamic stabilization mechanism involving wetting/nucleation seems to be responsible for the evolution of surface compositions upon cyclic oxidizing and reducing thermal treatments.« less

Surface enrichment of Pt in stable Pt-Ir nano-alloy particles on MgAl 2O 4 spinel in oxidizing atmosphere

DOE PAGES

Li, Wei -Zhen; Nie, Lei; Cheng, Yingwen; ...

2017-01-13

With the capability of MgAl 2O 4 spinel {111} nano-facets in stabilizing small Rh, Ir and Pt particles, bimetallic Ir-Pt catalysts on the same support were investigated in this paper, aiming at further lowering the catalyst cost by substituting expensive Pt with cheaper Ir in the bulk. Small Pt-Ir nano-alloy particles (< 2 nm) were successfully stabilized on the spinel {111} nano-facets as expected. Interestingly, methanol oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) rate on the surface Pt atoms increases with oxidizing aging but decreases upon reducing treatment, where Ir is almost inactive under the same reaction conditions. Up to three times enhancement inmore » Pt exposure was achieved when the sample was oxidized at 800 °C in air for 1 week and subsequently reduced by H 2 for 2 h, demonstrating successful surface enrichment of Pt on Pt-Ir nano-alloy particles. Finally, a dynamic stabilization mechanism involving wetting/nucleation seems to be responsible for the evolution of surface compositions upon cyclic oxidizing and reducing thermal treatments.« less

Theory and Device Modeling for Nano-Structured Transistor Channels

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

zinc oxide ( ZnO ) thin film transistors ( TFTs ) that contain nanocrystalline grains on the order of ~20nm. The authors of ref. 1 present results...problem in order to determine the threshold voltage. 15. SUBJECT TERMS nano-structured transistor , mesoscopic, zinc oxide , ZnO , field-effect...and R. Neidhard, “Microwave ZnO Thin - Film Transistors ”, IEEE Electron Dev. Lett. 29, 1024 (2008); doi: 10.1109/LED.2008.2001635.

Nano-graphene oxide composite for in vivo imaging

PubMed Central

Oh, Seo Yeong; Vilian, AT Ezhil; Lee, Ilsong; Han, Young-Kyu; Park, Jeong Hoon; Roh, Changhyun; Huh, Yun Suk

2018-01-01

Introduction Positron emission tomography (PET) tracers has the potential to revolutionize cancer imaging and diagnosis. PET tracers offer non-invasive quantitative imaging in biotechnology and biomedical applications, but it requires radioisotopes as radioactive imaging tracers or radiopharmaceuticals. Method This paper reports the synthesis of 18F-nGO-PEG by covalently functionalizing PEG with nano-graphene oxide, and its excellent stability in physiological solutions. Using a green synthesis route, nGO is then functionalized with a biocompatible PEG polymer to acquire high stability in PBS and DMEM. Results and discussion The radiochemical safety of 18F-nGO-PEG was measured by a reactive oxygen species and cell viability test. The biodistribution of 18F-nGO-PEG could be observed easily by PET, which suggested the significantly high sensitivity tumor uptake of 18F-nGO-PEG and in a tumor bearing CT-26 mouse compared to the control. 18F-nGO-PEG was applied successfully as an efficient radiotracer or drug agent in vivo using PET imaging. This article is expected to assist many researchers in the fabrication of 18F-labeled graphene-based bio-conjugates with high reproducibility for applications in the biomedicine field. PMID:29379283

Engineering functionalized multi-phased silicon/silicon oxide nano-biomaterials to passivate the aggressive proliferation of cancer

PubMed Central

Premnath, P.; Tan, B.; Venkatakrishnan, K.

2015-01-01

Currently, the use of nano silicon in cancer therapy is limited as drug delivery vehicles and markers in imaging, not as manipulative/controlling agents. This is due to limited properties that native states of nano silicon and silicon oxides offers. We introduce nano-functionalized multi-phased silicon/silicon oxide biomaterials synthesized via ultrashort pulsed laser synthesis, with tunable properties that possess inherent cancer controlling properties that can passivate the progression of cancer. This nanostructured biomaterial is composed of individual functionalized nanoparticles made of a homogenous hybrid of multiple phases of silicon and silicon oxide in increasing concentration outwards from the core. The chemical properties of the proposed nanostructure such as number of phases, composition of phases and crystal orientation of each functionalized nanoparticle in the three dimensional nanostructure is defined based on precisely tuned ultrashort pulsed laser-material interaction mechanisms. The amorphous rich phased biomaterial shows a 30 fold (95%) reduction in number of cancer cells compared to bulk silicon in 48 hours. Further, the size of the cancer cells reduces by 76% from 24 to 48 hours. This method exposes untapped properties of combination of multiple phases of silicon oxides and its applications in cancer therapy. PMID:26190009

Amorphous Metal Oxide Thin Films from Aqueous Precursors: New Routes to High-kappa Dielectrics, Impact of Annealing Atmosphere Humidity, and Elucidation of Non-Uniform Composition Profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woods, Keenan N.

Metal oxide thin films serve as critical components in many modern technologies, including microelectronic devices. Industrial state-of-the-art production utilizes vapor-phase techniques to make high-quality (dense, smooth, uniform) thin film materials. However, vapor-phase techniques require large energy inputs and expensive equipment and precursors. Solution-phase routes to metal oxides have attracted great interest as cost-effective alternatives to vapor-phase methods and also offer the potential of large-area coverage, facile control of metal composition, and low-temperature processing. Solution deposition has previously been dominated by sol-gel routes, which utilize organic ligands, additives, and/or solvents. However, sol-gel films are often porous and contain residual carbon impurities, which can negatively impact device properties. All-inorganic aqueous routes produce dense, ultrasmooth films without carbon impurities, but the mechanisms involved in converting aqueous precursors to metal oxides are virtually unexplored. Understanding these mechanisms and the parameters that influence them is critical for widespread use of aqueous approaches to prepare microelectronic components. Additionally, understanding (and controlling) density and composition inhomogeneities is important for optimizing electronic properties. An overview of deposition approaches and the challenges facing aqueous routes are presented in Chapter I. A summary of thin film characterization techniques central to this work is given in Chapter II. This dissertation contributes to the field of solution-phase deposition by focusing on three areas. First, an all-inorganic aqueous route to high-kappa metal oxide dielectrics is developed for two ternary systems. Chapters III and IV detail the film formation chemistry and film properties of lanthanum zirconium oxide (LZO) and zirconium aluminum oxide (ZAO), respectively. The functionality of these dielectrics as device components is also

Pinholes and Nano-oxide Specular Layers in Spin Valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fry, R. A.; Egelhoff, W. F., Jr.; McMichael, R. D.; Chen, P. J.; Powell, C. J.; Beach, G.; Berkowitz, A. E.

2001-03-01

Recently, nano-oxide layers (NOL) in giant magnetoresistance (GMR) spin valves have attracted interest as a method of achieving increased GMR associated with specular reflection at Co/oxide interfaces. The NOL must be thin enough so that strong magnetic coupling across it exists; otherwise, the films separated by NOL could switch separately. We have investigated the structure NiO/2.5 nm Co/2.5 nm Cu/2 nm Co/NOL/2 nm Co/10 nm IrMn. The bottom Co is pinned by NiO more strongly than the top Co is pinned by IrMn; thus the top Co film can be switched to observe GMR loops. With no NOL, the GMR loop obtained by switching the 4 nm top Co film is shifted 300 Oe by the exchange bias of IrMn. Using CoO as a NOL, at thickness of 1 nm there is a sudden drop from 300 Oe to <10 Oe. It appears that pinhole coupling at CoO<1 nm forces the two Co films to switch together, but at CoO 1 nm the pinholes close up and the Co films switch separately. Such observations constitute a new approach to the study of pinholes, and we use it to investigate several oxides and metal spacer layers.

Synthesis of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide using volumetric method by a novel approach without NaNO2 or NaNO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunda, Rajitha; Madireddy, Buchi Suresh; Dash, Raj Kishora

2018-02-01

In the present work, graphite was processed to graphene oxide (GO) using modified Hummer's method by volumetric titration approach, without attaining zero temperature and the addition of toxic chemicals (NaNO2/NaNO3). The complete oxidation of graphite to graphene oxide was obtained by controlled addition (volumetric titration) of KMnO4. The addition of higher KMnO4 resulted in partial oxidation and 2-3 mono-layers with less defects/disordered structure of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets were achieved. Samples were analyzed by XRD, FT-IR, Raman analysis, and TEM analysis. X-ray diffraction displayed the oxidized peak of graphene oxide at 11.9° and reduced graphene oxide at 23.8°. The prolonged stability of the synthesized GO with lower mole ratios of oxidizing agent was confirmed from UV-visible spectroscopy. Based on the results, processed graphene oxide is found to be a candidate material for thermally stable capacitor application.

Preparation and Characterization of Pyrotechnics Binder-Coated Nano-Aluminum Composite Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Mingquan; Zhang, Shuting; Liu, Songsong; Han, Aijun; Chen, Xin

2017-07-01

The aim of this article is to protect the activity of nano-aluminum (Al) particles in solid rocket propellants and pyrotechnics. The morphology, structure, active aluminum content, and thermal and catalytic properties of the coated samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and oxidation-reduction titration methods. The results indicated that nano-Al particles could be effectively coated with phenolic resin (PF), fluororubber (Viton B), and shellac through a solvent/nonsolvent method. The energetic composite particles have core-shell structures and the thickness of the coating film is about 5-15 nm. Analysis of the active Al content revealed that Viton B coating had a much better protective effect. The TG-DSC results showed that the energy amount and energy release rate of PF-, Viton B-, and shellac-coated Al particles were larger than those of the raw nano-Al particles. The catalytic effects of coated Al particles on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) were better than those of raw nano-Al particles, and the effect of shellac-coated Al particles was significantly better than that of Viton B-coated Al particles.

Defect analysis and detection of micro nano structured optical thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Chang; Shi, Nuo; Zhou, Lang; Shi, Qinfeng; Yang, Yang; Li, Zhuo

2017-10-01

This paper focuses on developing an automated method for detecting defects on our wavelength conversion thin film. We analyzes the operating principle of our wavelength conversion Micro/Nano thin film which absorbing visible light and emitting infrared radiation, indicates the relationship between the pixel's pattern and the radiation of the thin film, and issues the principle of defining blind pixels and their categories due to the calculated and experimental results. An effective method is issued for the automated detection based on wavelet transform and template matching. The results reveal that this method has desired accuracy and processing speed.

Characterization of microwave assisted sintered graphene toughened alumina (GTA) nano composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vandana, K. I. Vishnu; Suman, K. N. S.; Viswabaskaran, V.

2017-07-01

The objective of the present work is to characterize different mechanical properties of a nano composite made out of a combination of nano alumina and nano graphene. The nano powders of alumina and Graphene were mixed using High Energy Ball Mill and weight ratio of Al:G-C was maintained in the range of 0 to 2wt%. The prepared alumoorganic nano Composite Powders were compacted by Uniaxial Pellet Press and Graphene Toughened alumina (GTA) based composites were sintered in inert atmosphere at 1600°C using Hybrid Microwave Furnace. XRD and SEM studies are conducted on these specimens. Density and hardness tests are also performed on these specimens. In addition, wear and fracture toughness tests will also be carried out. In order to strengthen the experimental observations obtained, theoretical interpretation will be given to enhance the present work.

Fabrication of polymeric nano-batteries array using anodic aluminum oxide templates.

PubMed

Zhao, Qiang; Cui, Xiaoli; Chen, Ling; Liu, Ling; Sun, Zhenkun; Jiang, Zhiyu

2009-02-01

Rechargeable nano-batteries were fabricated in the array pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, combining template method and electrochemical method. The battery consisted of electropolymerized PPy electrode, porous TiO2 separator, and chemically polymerized PAn electrode was fabricated in the array pores of two-step anodizing aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane, based on three-step assembling method. It performs typical electrochemical battery behavior with good charge-discharge ability, and presents a capacity of 25 nAs. AFM results show the hexagonal array of nano-batteries' top side. The nano-battery may be a promising device for the development of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), and Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems (NEMS).

Low-temperature growth and electronic structures of ambipolar Yb-doped zinc tin oxide transparent thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Seol Hee; Ferblantier, Gerald; Park, Young Sang; Schmerber, Guy; Dinia, Aziz; Slaoui, Abdelilah; Jo, William

2018-05-01

The compositional dependence of the crystal structure, optical transmittance, and surface electric properties of the zinc tin oxide (Zn-Sn-O, shortened ZTO) thin films were investigated. ZTO thin films with different compositional ratios were fabricated on glass and p-silicon wafers using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The binding energy of amorphous ZTO thin films was examined by a X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optical transmittance over 70% in the visible region for all the ZTO films was observed. The optical band gap of the ZTO films was changed as a result of the competition between the Burstein-Moss effect and renormalization. An electron concentration in the films and surface work function distribution were measured by a Hall measurement and Kelvin probe force microscopy, respectively. The mobility of the n- and p-type ZTO thin films have more than 130 cm2/V s and 15 cm2/V s, respectively. We finally constructed the band structure which contains band gap, work function, and band edges such as valence band maximum and conduction band minimum of ZTO thin films. The present study results suggest that the ZTO thin film is competitive compared with the indium tin oxide, which is a representative material of the transparent conducting oxides, regarding optoelectronic devices applications.

Effective mobility enhancement of amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors by holographically generated periodic conductor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jeong, Jaewook; Kim, Joonwoo; Jeong, Soon Moon

In this study, we demonstrate a mobility enhancement structure for fully transparent amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) by embedding a holographically generated periodic nano-conductor in the back-channel regions. The intrinsic field-effect mobility was enhanced up to 2 times compared to that of a reference sample. The enhancement originated from a decrease in the effective channel length due to the highly conductive nano-conductor region. By combining conventional and holographic lithography, the performance of the a-IGZO TFT can be effectively improved without varying the composition of the channel layer.

Effective mobility enhancement of amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors by holographically generated periodic conductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Jaewook; Kim, Joonwoo; Kim, Donghyun; Jeon, Heonsu; Jeong, Soon Moon; Hong, Yongtaek

2016-08-01

In this study, we demonstrate a mobility enhancement structure for fully transparent amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) by embedding a holographically generated periodic nano-conductor in the back-channel regions. The intrinsic field-effect mobility was enhanced up to 2 times compared to that of a reference sample. The enhancement originated from a decrease in the effective channel length due to the highly conductive nano-conductor region. By combining conventional and holographic lithography, the performance of the a-IGZO TFT can be effectively improved without varying the composition of the channel layer.

Atomic-scale visualization of oxide thin-film surfaces.

PubMed

Iwaya, Katsuya; Ohsawa, Takeo; Shimizu, Ryota; Okada, Yoshinori; Hitosugi, Taro

2018-01-01

The interfaces of complex oxide heterostructures exhibit intriguing phenomena not observed in their constituent materials. The oxide thin-film growth of such heterostructures has been successfully controlled with unit-cell precision; however, atomic-scale understandings of oxide thin-film surfaces and interfaces have remained insufficient. We examined, with atomic precision, the surface and electronic structures of oxide thin films and their growth processes using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. Our results reveal that oxide thin-film surface structures are complicated in contrast to the general perception and that atomically ordered surfaces can be achieved with careful attention to the surface preparation. Such atomically ordered oxide thin-film surfaces offer great opportunities not only for investigating the microscopic origins of interfacial phenomena but also for exploring new surface phenomena and for studying the electronic states of complex oxides that are inaccessible using bulk samples.

Zn1-xAlxO:Cu2O transparent metal oxide composite thin films by sol gel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AlHammad, M. S.

2017-05-01

We have synthesized undoped zinc oxide (ZnO) and Cu2O doped Zn1-XAlXO (AZO; Al/Zn = 1.5 at.%) metal oxide films by sol-gel spin coating method. Atomic force microscopy results indicate that the Zn1-xAlxO:Cu2O is are formed form the fibers. The surface morphology of the films is found to depend on the concentration of Cu2O. The optical constants such as band gap, Urbach energy, refractive index, extinction coefficient and dielectric constants of the films were determined. The transmittance spectra shows that all the films are highly transparent. The study revealed that undoped ZnO film has direct bang gap of 3.29 eV and the optical band gap of films is increased with doping content. The hot probe measurements indicate that Zn1-xAlxO:Cu2O transparent metal oxide composite thin films exhibited p-type electrical conductivity.

Conductive polymer/reduced graphene oxide/Au nano particles as efficient composite materials in electrochemical supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shabani Shayeh, J.; Ehsani, A.; Ganjali, M. R.; Norouzi, P.; Jaleh, B.

2015-10-01

Polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide/Au nano particles (PANI/rGO/AuNPs) as a hybrid supercapacitor were deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) method as ternary composites and their electrochemical performance was evaluated in acidic medium. Scanning electron micrographs clearly revealed the formation of nanocomposites on the surface of the working electrode. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) clearly revealed the formation of nanocomposites on the surface of working electrode. Different electrochemical methods including galvanostatic charge-discharge (CD) experiments, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were carried out in order to investigate the applicability of the system as a supercapacitor. Based on the cyclic voltammogram results obtained, PANI/rGO/AuNPs gave higher specific capacitance, power and energy values than PANI at a current density of 1 mA cm-2. Specific capacitance (SC) of PANI and PANI/rGO/AuNPs electrodes calculated using CV method are 190 and 303 F g-1, respectively. The present study introduces new nanocomposite materials for electrochemical redox capacitors with advantages including long life cycle and stability due to synergistic effects of each component.

Transparent megahertz circuits from solution-processed composite thin films.

PubMed

Liu, Xingqiang; Wan, Da; Wu, Yun; Xiao, Xiangheng; Guo, Shishang; Jiang, Changzhong; Li, Jinchai; Chen, Tangsheng; Duan, Xiangfeng; Fan, Zhiyong; Liao, Lei

2016-04-21

Solution-processed amorphous oxide semiconductors have attracted considerable interest in large-area transparent electronics. However, due to its relative low carrier mobility (∼10 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)), the demonstrated circuit performance has been limited to 800 kHz or less. Herein, we report solution-processed high-speed thin-film transistors (TFTs) and integrated circuits with an operation frequency beyond the megahertz region on 4 inch glass. The TFTs can be fabricated from an amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide/single-walled carbon nanotube (a-IGZO/SWNT) composite thin film with high yield and high carrier mobility of >70 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). On-chip microwave measurements demonstrate that these TFTs can deliver an unprecedented operation frequency in solution-processed semiconductors, including an extrinsic cut-off frequency (f(T) = 102 MHz) and a maximum oscillation frequency (f(max) = 122 MHz). Ring oscillators further demonstrated an oscillation frequency of 4.13 MHz, for the first time, realizing megahertz circuit operation from solution-processed semiconductors. Our studies represent an important step toward high-speed solution-processed thin film electronics.

Environmentally benign graphite intercalation compound composition for exfoliated graphite, flexible graphite, and nano-scaled graphene platelets

DOEpatents

Zhamu, Aruna; Jang, Bor Z.

2014-06-17

A carboxylic-intercalated graphite compound composition for the production of exfoliated graphite, flexible graphite, or nano-scaled graphene platelets. The composition comprises a layered graphite with interlayer spaces or interstices and a carboxylic acid residing in at least one of the interstices, wherein the composition is prepared by a chemical oxidation reaction which uses a combination of a carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide as an intercalate source. Alternatively, the composition may be prepared by an electrochemical reaction, which uses a carboxylic acid as both an electrolyte and an intercalate source. Exfoliation of the invented composition does not release undesirable chemical contaminants into air or drainage.

Nano-sized manganese oxides as biomimetic catalysts for water oxidation in artificial photosynthesis: a review

PubMed Central

Najafpour, Mohammad Mahdi; Rahimi, Fahimeh; Aro, Eva-Mari; Lee, Choon-Hwan; Allakhverdiev, Suleyman I.

2012-01-01

There has been a tremendous surge in research on the synthesis of various metal compounds aimed at simulating the water-oxidizing complex (WOC) of photosystem II (PSII). This is crucial because the water oxidation half reaction is overwhelmingly rate-limiting and needs high over-voltage (approx. 1 V), which results in low conversion efficiencies when working at current densities required for hydrogen production via water splitting. Particular attention has been given to the manganese compounds not only because manganese has been used by nature to oxidize water but also because manganese is cheap and environmentally friendly. The manganese–calcium cluster in PSII has a dimension of about approximately 0.5 nm. Thus, nano-sized manganese compounds might be good structural and functional models for the cluster. As in the nanometre-size of the synthetic models, most of the active sites are at the surface, these compounds could be more efficient catalysts than micrometre (or bigger) particles. In this paper, we focus on nano-sized manganese oxides as functional and structural models of the WOC of PSII for hydrogen production via water splitting and review nano-sized manganese oxides used in water oxidation by some research groups. PMID:22809849

Effect of lead ion concentration on the structural and optical properties of nano-crystalline PbS thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaman, S.; Mehmood, S. K.; Mansoor, M.; Asim, M. M.

2014-06-01

PbS thin films have received considerable attention because of their potential applications in opto-electronics applications. Spontaneous reaction of lead acetate and thiourea in aqueous hydrazine hydrate has been used for depositing PbS thin films on glass substrates. Structural and optical properties of PbS thin films are greatly influenced by the morality of the reactants and crystal defects in the lattice. Our work focuses on the variation in lead ion concentration and its effect on the structural and optical properties of PbS thin films. The deposited films were analyzed using XRD, SEM, spectrophotometer and dark resistance measurement. XRD patterns indicated the formation of major phase of nano crystalline PbS with minor presence of lead oxide phase. We also noticed that peak intensity ratio of I111/I200 varied by changing the Pb ion concentration. The film thickness and dark resistance increased whereas optical band gap decreased with the decreasing Pb ion concentration. SEM scans showed that the grain size is less than 100 nm and is not affected by varying Pb ion concentration.

Characterization of nano-sized oxides in Fe-12Cr oxide-dispersion-strengthened ferritic steel using small-angle neutron scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Young-Soo; Mao, Xiaodong; Jang, Jinsung; Kim, Tae-Kyu

2015-04-01

The ferritic ODS steel was manufactured by hot isostatic pressing and heat treatment. The nano-sized microstructures such as yttrium oxides and Cr oxides were quantitatively analyzed by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The effects of the fabrication conditions on the nano-sized microstructure were investigated in relation to the quantitative analysis results obtained by SANS. The ratio between magnetic and nuclear scattering components was calculated, and the characteristics of the nano-sized yttrium oxides are discussed based on the SANS analysis results.

Structural and electrical characteristics of gallium tin oxide thin films prepared by electron cyclotron resonance-metal organic chemical vapor deposition.

PubMed

Park, Ji Hun; Byun, Dongjin; Lee, Joong Kee

2011-08-01

Gallium tin oxide composite (GTO) thin films were prepared by electron cyclotron resonance-metal organic chemical vapor deposition (ECR-MOCVD). The organometallics of tetramethlytin and trimethylgallium were used for precursors of gallium and tin, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization indicated that the gallium tin oxide composite thin films show the nanopolycrystalline of tetragonal rutile structure. Hall measurement indicated that the Ga/[O+Sn] mole ratio play an important role to determine the electrical properties of gallium tin composite oxide thin films. n-type conducting film obtained Ga/[O+Sn] mole ratio of 0.05 exhibited the lowest electrical resistivity of 1.21 x 10(-3) ohms cm. In our experimental range, the optimized carrier concentration of 3.71 x 10(18) cm(-3) was prepared at the Ga/[O+Sn] mole ratio of 0.35.

Study of nano mechanical properties polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/MWCNT composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murudkar, Vrishali; Gaonkar, Amita; Deshpande, V. D.; Mhaske, S. T.

2018-05-01

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a clear elastomer, is a common material used in many applications; but has poor mechanical properties. Carbon nano tubes (CNT) exhibit excellent mechanical properties & hence are used as filler in PDMS. It was found that the elastic modulus and strength of the PDMS/MWCNT nano composites were enhanced by adding MWCNT [1]. Through the nano indentation experiment, the hardness (H), the elastic modulus (E), and other mechanical properties can be determined from very small volumes of materials [2]; hence nano indentation is widely used to study mechanical properties. PDMS/MWCNT composites have enhanced mechanical properties over neat PDMS. FTIR analysis shows bonding between MWCNT and PDMS; which affects the mechanical properties. From AFM study it shows decreasing roughness for increasing MWCNT concentration. Surface morphology (SEM) study shows well dispersion of MWCNT into PDMS matrix.

Application Of Positron Beams For The Characterization Of Nano-scale Pores In Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirata, K.; Ito, K.; Kobayashi, Y.; Suzuki, R.; Ohdaira, T.; Eijt, S. W. H.; Schut, H.; van Veen, A.

2003-08-01

We applied three positron annihilation techniques, positron 3γ-annihilation spectroscopy, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, and angular correlation of annihilation radiation, to the characterization of nano-scale pores in thin films by combining them with variable-energy positron beams. Characterization of pores in thin films is an important part of the research on various thin films of industrial importance. The results of our recent studies on pore characterization of thin films by positron beams will be reported here.

Surface induced phonon decay rates in thin film nano-structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Photiadis, D. M.

2007-12-01

Nano-scale structure significantly impacts phonon transport and related phonon relaxation rates, with order of magnitude effects on the thermal conductivity of dielectric thin films and quantum wires, and even larger effects on the lifetimes of ultrasonic phonons of micro- (nano-) oscillators. In both cases, efforts to explain the data have been hampered by our lack of knowledge of the effects of confined dimensionality on phonon-phonon scattering rates. Using a phonon Boltzmann equation with appropriate boundary conditions on the free surfaces to take surface roughness into account, we have obtained an expression yielding phonon lifetimes in 2-D dielectric nanostructures(thin films) resulting from phonon-phonon scattering in conjunction with phonon-surface scattering. We present these theoretical results and, in the limit in which surface induced losses dominate, obtain explicit predictions for the phonon lifetimes. The predicted temperature dependence of the ultrason! ic loss does not explain the observed saturation of the loss at low temperatures(τ(T) → const), but does give results of the order of magnitude of measured ultrasonic lifetimes.

Weatherability and leach resistance of wood impregnated with nano-zinc oxide

Treesearch

Carol A. Clausen; Frederick Green; S. Nami Kartal

2010-01-01

Southern pine specimens vacuum-treated with nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) dispersions were evaluated for leach resistance and UV protection. Virtually, no leaching occurred in any of the nano-ZnO–treated specimens in a laboratory leach test, even at the highest retention of 13 kg/m3. However, specimens treated with high concentrations of nano-ZnO...

Photocatalytic properties of nano-structured TiO2-carbon films obtained by means of electrophoretic deposition.

PubMed

Peralta-Hernández, J M; Manríquez, J; Meas-Vong, Y; Rodríguez, Francisco J; Chapman, Thomas W; Maldonado, Manuel I; Godínez, Luis A

2007-08-17

Recent studies have shown that the light-absorption and photocatalytic efficiencies of TiO2 can be improved by coupling TiO2 nano-particles with nonmetallic dopants, such as carbon. In this paper, we describe the electrophoretic preparation of a novel TiO2-carbon nano-composite photocatalyst on a glass indium thin oxide (ITO) substrate. The objective is to take better advantage of the (e-/h+) pair generated by photoexcitation of semiconducting TiO2 particles. The transfer of electrons (e-) into adjacent carbon nano-particles promotes reduction of oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which, in the presence of iron ions, can subsequently form hydroxyl radicals (*OH) via the Fenton reaction. At the same time, *OH is formed from water by the (h+) holes in the TiO2. Thus, the *OH oxidant is produced by two routes. The efficiency of this photolytic-Fenton process was tested with a model organic compound, Orange-II (OG-II) azo dye, which is employed in the textile industry.

Single-layer nano-carbon film, diamond film, and diamond/nano-carbon composite film field emission performance comparison

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Xiaoping, E-mail: wxpchina64@aliyun.com, E-mail: wxpchina@sohu.com; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Modern Optical System, Shanghai 200093; Wang, Jinye

A series of single-layer nano-carbon (SNC) films, diamond films, and diamond/nano-carbon (D/NC) composite films have been prepared on the highly doped silicon substrate by using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition techniques. The films were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and field emission I-V measurements. The experimental results indicated that the field emission maximum current density of D/NC composite films is 11.8–17.8 times that of diamond films. And the field emission current density of D/NC composite films is 2.9–5 times that of SNC films at an electric field of 3.0 V/μm. At the same time, the D/NC composite film exhibitsmore » the advantage of improved reproducibility and long term stability (both of the nano-carbon film within the D/NC composite cathode and the SNC cathode were prepared under the same experimental conditions). And for the D/NC composite sample, a high current density of 10 mA/cm{sup 2} at an electric field of 3.0 V/μm was obtained. Diamond layer can effectively improve the field emission characteristics of nano-carbon film. The reason may be due to the diamond film acts as the electron acceleration layer.« less

Doped SnO₂ transparent conductive multilayer thin films explored by continuous composition spread.

PubMed

Lee, Jin Ju; Ha, Jong-Yoon; Choi, Won-Kook; Cho, Yong Soo; Choi, Ji-Won

2015-04-13

Mn-doped SnO₂ thin films were fabricated by a continuous composition spread (CCS) method on a glass substrate at room temperature to find optimized compositions. The fabricated materials were found to have a lower resistivity than pure SnO₂ thin films because of oxygen vacancies generated by Mn doping. As Mn content was increased, resistivity was found to decrease for limited doping concentrations. The minimum thin film resistivity was 0.29 Ω-cm for a composition of 2.59 wt % Mn-doped SnO₂. The Sn-O vibrational stretching frequency in FT-IR showed a blue shift, consistent with oxygen deficiency. Mn-doped SnO₂/Ag/Mn-doped SnO₂ multilayer structures were fabricated using this optimized composition deposited by an on-axis radio frequency (RF) sputter. The multilayer transparent conducting oxide film had a resistivity of 7.35 × 10⁻⁵ Ω-cm and an average transmittance above 86% in the 550 nm wavelength region.

Novel polyoxometalate silica nano-sized spheres: efficient catalysts for olefin oxidation and the deep desulfurization process.

PubMed

Nogueira, Lucie S; Ribeiro, Susana; Granadeiro, Carlos M; Pereira, Eulália; Feio, Gabriel; Cunha-Silva, Luís; Balula, Salete S

2014-07-07

A novel method to prepare silica nano-sized particles incorporating polyoxometalates was developed leading to a new efficient heterogeneous oxidative catalyst. Zinc-substituted polyoxotungstate [PW11Zn(H2O)O39](5-) (PW11Zn) was encapsulated into silica nanoparticles using a cross-linked organic-inorganic core, performed through successive spontaneous reactions in water. The potassium salt of PW11Zn and the composite formed, PW11Zn-APTES@SiO2, were characterized by a myriad of solid-state methods such as FT-IR, FT-Raman, (31)P and (13)C CP/MAS solid-state NMR, elemental analysis and SEM-EDS, confirming the integrity of the PW11Zn structure immobilized in the silica nanoparticles. The new composite has shown to be a versatile catalyst for the oxidation of olefins and also to catalyze the desulfurization of a model oil using H2O2 as the oxidant and acetonitrile as the solvent. The novel composite material was capable of being recycled without significant loss of activity and maintaining its structural stability for consecutive desulfurization and olefin oxidative cycles.

Oxide-based thin film transistors for flexible electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Yongli; Wang, Xiangyu; Gao, Ya; Hou, Yahui; Wan, Qing

2018-01-01

The continuous progress in thin film materials and devices has greatly promoted the development in the field of flexible electronics. As one of the most common thin film devices, thin film transistors (TFTs) are significant building blocks for flexible platforms. Flexible oxide-based TFTs are well compatible with flexible electronic systems due to low process temperature, high carrier mobility, and good uniformity. The present article is a review of the recent progress and major trends in the field of flexible oxide-based thin film transistors. First, an introduction of flexible electronics and flexible oxide-based thin film transistors is given. Next, we introduce oxide semiconductor materials and various flexible oxide-based TFTs classified by substrate materials including polymer plastics, paper sheets, metal foils, and flexible thin glass. Afterwards, applications of flexible oxide-based TFTs including bendable sensors, memories, circuits, and displays are presented. Finally, we give conclusions and a prospect for possible development trends. Project supported in part by the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (No. 61425020), in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11674162).

Defect Clustering and Nano-Phase Structure Characterization of Multi-Component Rare Earth Oxide Doped Zirconia-Yttria Thermal Barrier Coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, Dongming; Chen, Yuan L.; Miller, Robert A.

2003-01-01

Advanced oxide thermal barrier coatings have been developed by incorporating multi-component rare earth oxide dopants into zirconia-yttria to effectively promote the creation of the thermodynamically stable, immobile oxide defect clusters and/or nano-scale phases within the coating systems. The presence of these nano-sized defect clusters has found to significantly reduce the coating intrinsic thermal conductivity, improve sintering resistance, and maintain long-term high temperature stability. In this paper, the defect clusters and nano-structured phases, which were created by the addition of multi-component rare earth dopants to the plasma-sprayed and electron-beam physical vapor deposited thermal barrier coatings, were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The defect cluster size, distribution, crystallographic and compositional information were investigated using high-resolution TEM lattice imaging, selected area diffraction (SAD), electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis techniques. The results showed that substantial defect clusters were formed in the advanced multi-component rare earth oxide doped zirconia- yttria systems. The size of the oxide defect clusters and the cluster dopant segregation was typically ranging from 5 to 50 nm. These multi-component dopant induced defect clusters are an important factor for the coating long-term high temperature stability and excellent performance.

Defect Clustering and Nano-Phase Structure Characterization of Multi-Component Rare Earth Oxide Doped Zirconia-Yttria Thermal Barrier Coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, Dongming; Chen, Yuan L.; Miller, Robert A.

1990-01-01

Advanced oxide thermal barrier coatings have been developed by incorporating multi- component rare earth oxide dopants into zirconia-yttria to effectively promote the creation of the thermodynamically stable, immobile oxide defect clusters and/or nano-scale phases within the coating systems. The presence of these nano-sized defect clusters has found to significantly reduce the coating intrinsic thermal conductivity, improve sintering resistance, and maintain long-term high temperature stability. In this paper, the defect clusters and nano-structured phases, which were created by the addition of multi-component rare earth dopants to the plasma- sprayed and electron-beam physical vapor deposited thermal barrier coatings, were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The defect cluster size, distribution, crystallographic and compositional information were investigated using high-resolution TEM lattice imaging, selected area diffraction (SAD), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis techniques. The results showed that substantial defect clusters were formed in the advanced multi-component rare earth oxide doped zirconia-yttria systems. The size of the oxide defect clusters and the cluster dopant segregation was typically ranging fiom 5 to 50 nm. These multi-component dopant induced defect clusters are an important factor for the coating long-term high temperature stability and excellent performance.

Gas sensors based on carbon nanoflake/tin oxide composites for ammonia detection.

PubMed

Lee, Soo-Keun; Chang, Daeic; Kim, Sang Wook

2014-03-15

Carbon nanoflake (CNFL) was obtained from graphite pencil by using the electrochemical method and the CNFL/SnO2 composite material assessed its potential as an ammonia gas sensor. A thin film resistive gas sensor using the composite material was manufactured by the drop casting method, and the sensor was evaluated to test in various ammonia concentrations and operating temperatures. Physical and chemical characteristics of the composite material were assessed using SEM, TEM, SAED, EDS and Raman spectroscopy. The composite material having 10% of SnO2 showed 3 times higher sensor response and better repeatability than the gas sensor using pristine SnO2 nano-particle at the optimal temperature of 350°C. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication and Evaluation of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA Dental Resins/Composites Containing Nano Fibrillar Silicate

PubMed Central

Tian, Ming; Gao, Yi; Liu, Yi; Liao, Yiliang; Hedin, Nyle E.; Fong, Hao

2008-01-01

Objective To investigate the reinforcement of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resins (without conventional glass filler) and composites (with conventional glass filler) with various mass fractions of nano fibrillar silicate (FS). Methods Three dispersion methods were studied to separate the silanized FS as nano-scaled single crystals and uniformly distribute them into dental matrices. The photo-curing behaviors of the Bis-GMA/TEGDMA/FS resins were monitored in situ by RT-NIR to study the photopolymerization rate and the vinyl double bond conversion. Mechanical properties (flexural strength, elastic modulus and work of fracture) of the nano FS reinforced resins/composites were tested, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for the statistical analysis of the acquired data. The morphology of nano FS and the representative fracture surfaces of its reinforced resins/composites were examined by SEM/TEM. Results Impregnation of small mass fractions (1 % and 2.5 %) of nano FS into Bis-GMA/TEGDMA (50/50 mass ratio) dental resins/composites improved the mechanical properties substantially. Larger mass fraction of impregnation (7.5 %), however, did not further improve the mechanical properties (one way ANOVA, P > 0.05) and may even reduce the mechanical properties. The high degree of separation and uniform distribution of nano FS into dental resins/composites was a challenge. Impregnation of nano FS into dental resins/composites could result in two opposite effects: a reinforcing effect due to the highly separated and uniformly distributed nano FS single crystals, or a weakening effect due to the formation of FS agglomerates/particles. Significance Uniform distribution of highly separated nano FS single crystals into dental resins/composites could significantly improve the mechanical properties of the resins/composites. PMID:17572485

Fabrication and evaluation of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resins/composites containing nano fibrillar silicate.

PubMed

Tian, Ming; Gao, Yi; Liu, Yi; Liao, Yiliang; Hedin, Nyle E; Fong, Hao

2008-02-01

To investigate the reinforcement of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resins (without conventional glass filler) and composites (with conventional glass filler) with various mass fractions of nano fibrillar silicate (FS). Three dispersion methods were studied to separate the silanized FS as nano-scaled single crystals and uniformly distribute them into dental matrices. The photo-curing behaviors of the Bis-GMA/TEGDMA/FS resins were monitored in situ by RT-NIR to study the photopolymerization rate and the vinyl double bond conversion. Mechanical properties (flexural strength, elastic modulus and work-of-fracture) of the nano FS reinforced resins/composites were tested, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the statistical analysis of the acquired data. The morphology of nano FS and the representative fracture surfaces of its reinforced resins/composites were examined by SEM/TEM. Impregnation of small mass fractions (1% and 2.5%) of nano FS into Bis-GMA/TEGDMA (50/50 mass ratio) dental resins/composites improved the mechanical properties substantially. Larger mass fraction of impregnation (7.5%), however, did not further improve the mechanical properties (one way ANOVA, P>0.05) and may even reduce the mechanical properties. The high degree of separation and uniform distribution of nano FS into dental resins/composites was a challenge. Impregnation of nano FS into dental resins/composites could result in two opposite effects: a reinforcing effect due to the highly separated and uniformly distributed nano FS single crystals, or a weakening effect due to the formation of FS agglomerates/particles. Uniform distribution of highly separated nano FS single crystals into dental resins/composites could significantly improve the mechanical properties of the resins/composites.

A micro-nano porous oxide hybrid for efficient oxygen reduction in reduced-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

PubMed Central

Da Han; Liu, Xuejiao; Zeng, Fanrong; Qian, Jiqin; Wu, Tianzhi; Zhan, Zhongliang

2012-01-01

Tremendous efforts to develop high-efficiency reduced-temperature (≤ 600°C) solid oxide fuel cells are motivated by their potentials for reduced materials cost, less engineering challenge, and better performance durability. A key obstacle to such fuel cells arises from sluggish oxygen reduction reaction kinetics on the cathodes. Here we reported that an oxide hybrid, featuring a nanoporous Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3−δ (SSC) catalyst coating bonded onto the internal surface of a high-porosity La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3−δ (LSGM) backbone, exhibited superior catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reactions and thereby yielded low interfacial resistances in air, e.g., 0.021 Ω cm2 at 650°C and 0.043 Ω cm2 at 600°C. We further demonstrated that such a micro-nano porous hybrid, adopted as the cathode in a thin LSGM electrolyte fuel cell, produced impressive power densities of 2.02 W cm−2 at 650°C and 1.46 W cm−2 at 600°C when operated on humidified hydrogen fuel and air oxidant. PMID:22708057

Hierarchical Micro/Nano Structures by Combined Self-Organized Dewetting and Photopatterning of Photoresist Thin Films.

PubMed

Sachan, Priyanka; Kulkarni, Manish; Sharma, Ashutosh

2015-11-17

Photoresists are the materials of choice for micro/nanopatterning and device fabrication but are rarely used as a self-assembly material. We report for the first time a novel interplay of self-assembly and photolithography for fabrication of hierarchical and ordered micro/nano structures. We create self-organized structures by the intensified dewetting of unstable thin (∼10 nm to 1 μm) photoresist films by annealing them in an optimal solvent and nonsolvent liquid mixture that allows spontaneous dewetting to form micro/nano smooth dome-like structures. The density, size (∼100 nm to millimeters), and curvature/contact angle of the dome/droplet structures are controlled by the film thickness, composition of the dewetting liquid, and time of annealing. Ordered dewetted structures are obtained simply by creating spatial variation of viscosity by ultraviolet exposure or by photopatterning before dewetting. Further, the structures thus fabricated are readily photopatterned again on the finer length scales after dewetting. We illustrate the approach by fabricating several three-dimensional structures of varying complexity with secondary and tertiary features.

A comparative study of gelatin and starch-based nano-composite films modified by nano-cellulose and chitosan for food packaging applications.

PubMed

Noorbakhsh-Soltani, S M; Zerafat, M M; Sabbaghi, S

2018-06-01

Environmental concerns have led to extensive research for replacing polymer-based food packaging with bio-nano-composites. In this study, incorporation of nano-cellulose into gelatin and starch matrices is investigated for this purpose. Chitosan is used to improve mechanical, anti-fungal and waterproof properties. Experiments are designed and analyzed using response surface methodology. Nano-Cellulose is synthesized via acid hydrolysis and incorporated in base matrices through wet processing. Also, tensile strength test, food preservation, transparency in visible and UV and water contact angle are performed on the nano-composite films. DSC/TGA and air permeability tests are also performed on the optimal films. The results show that increasing nano-cellulose composition to 10% leads to increase the tensile strength at break to 8121 MN/m 2 and decrease the elongation at break. Also, increasing chitosan composition from 5% to 30% can enhance food preservation up to 15 days. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Solvent influence upon structure & throughput of poly vinyledene fluoride thin film nano-patterns by imprint lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sankar, M. S. Ravi; Gangineni, R. B.

2018-04-01

This work aims at understanding the solvent influence upon the throughput and structure of poly vinyledene fluoride (PVDF)nano-patterned films. The PVDF thin films are deposited by spin coating method using Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 2-butanone solvents. The nano-patterns are realized by imprinting SONY 700 MB CD aluminum constructions on PVDF thin filmsusing imprint lithography technique under ambient annealing temperature and pressure. Surface morphology &imprint pattern transfer quality is evaluated with Atomic force microscopy (AFM). Raman spectroscopy is used for evaluating the structural evolutions with respect to solvent & patterning.

Dye sensitized solar cell applications of CdTiO3-TiO2 composite thin films deposited from single molecular complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehsan, Muhammad Ali; Khaledi, Hamid; Pandikumar, Alagarsamy; Huang, Nay Ming; Arifin, Zainudin; Mazhar, Muhammad

2015-10-01

A heterobimetallic complex [Cd2Ti4(μ-O)6(TFA)8(THF)6]·1.5THF (1) (TFA=trifluoroacetato, THF=tetrahydrofuran) comprising of Cd:Ti (1:2) ratio was synthesized by a chemical reaction of cadmium (II) acetate with titanium (IV) isopropoxide and triflouroacetic acid in THF. The stoichiometry of (1) was recognized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic and elemental analyses. Thermal studies revealed that (1) neatly decomposes at 450 °C to furnish 1:1 ratio of cadmium titanate:titania composite oxides material. The thin films of CdTiO3-TiO2 composite oxides were deposited at 550 °C on fluorine doped tin oxide coated conducting glass substrate in air ambient. The micro-structure, crystallinity, phase identification and chemical composition of microspherical architectured CdTiO3-TiO2 composite thin film have been determined by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The scope of composite thin film having band gap of 3.1 eV was explored as photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell application.

Charge transport through exciton shelves in cadmium chalcogenide quantum dot-DNA nano-bioelectronic thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodman, Samuel M.; Noh, Hyunwoo; Singh, Vivek; Cha, Jennifer N.; Nagpal, Prashant

2015-02-01

Quantum dot (QD), or semiconductor nanocrystal, thin films are being explored for making solution-processable devices due to their size- and shape-tunable bandgap and discrete higher energy electronic states. While DNA has been extensively used for the self-assembly of nanocrystals, it has not been investigated for the simultaneous conduction of multiple energy charges or excitons via exciton shelves (ES) formed in QD-DNA nano-bioelectronic thin films. Here, we present studies on charge conduction through exciton shelves, which are formed via chemically coupled QDs and DNA, between electronic states of the QDs and the HOMO-LUMO levels in the complementary DNA nucleobases. While several challenges need to be addressed in optimizing the formation of devices using QD-DNA thin films, a higher charge collection efficiency for hot-carriers and our detailed investigations of charge transport mechanism in these thin films highlight their potential for applications in nano-bioelectronic devices and biological transducers.

Atomic-level study on mechanical properties and strengthening mechanisms of Al/SiC nano-composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huo, Shiyan; Xie, Lijing; Xiang, Junfeng; Pang, Siqin; Hu, Fang; Umer, Usama

2018-02-01

Molecular dynamics (MD) models for the study on the mechanical properties of β-SiC particles-reinforced aluminum matrix nano-composites (Al/SiC nano-composites) are established. The nano-composites in the model are fabricated by a powder metallurgy (P/M) process, followed by a hot isostatic pressing and then annealing to room temperature. The fabricated nano-composites have dense and even distributions of reinforced particles. Then representative volume elements (RVEs) of the fabricated nano-composites are built by adding periodic boundary conditions (PBCs). In this way, RVEs with different volume fractions and particle sizes of SiC are produced and put into the simulation of tension tests. The elasticity and strength in single axial tension obtained from MD analysis are in good agreement with those calculated according to the rule of mixture. It is found that the dispersion of SiC particles into the Al matrix leads to a significant enhancement in the strength of nano-composites compared to pure Al, which is also dramatically affected by both the volume fraction and particle size. Additionally, the Al/SiC nano-composites with finer SiC particles get greater enhancement in the mechanical behavior than those with coarser ones. MD analysis clearly shows the contributions of load-transfer effect, thermal mismatch strengthening and Orowan strengthening to the strengthening of Al/SiC nano-composites.

Resistivity and resistivity fluctuations of thin-film platinum-aluminum oxide granular metal-insulator composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mantese, J.V.

1986-01-01

Thin film metal-insulator composites were used to study how the resistivity and fluctuations in the resistivity were altered by changes in conduction mechanism so as to understand the source of the fluctuations and to better understand the conduction processes themselves. Metal-insulator composites were prepared by co-evaporation of platinum and aluminum oxide in a high vacuum system to create a series of films which had a range of metal volume fill fractions, p, from 23 to 100%. The samples were patterned using standard photolithographic techniques to form sample geometries of typical dimensions, length approx.40 ..mu..m, width approx.2 ..mu..m, and thickness approx.1500more » A. The resistivity rho, and power spectral density of the resistivity fluctuations, S/sub rho/(f), were measured as a function of p and temperature, T. Rho(p,T) was found to be a rapidly increasing function of decreasing p, rising monotonically by more than 7 orders of magnitude as p was decreased from 100% to 23%. For p greater than or equal to 59% the resistivity decreased linearly with decreasing temperature until limited by impurity scattering. The resistivities for the low metal fill fraction materials (P greater than or equal to 50%) increased as the temperature was reduced as expected of thermally assisted tunneling conduction in metal-insulator composites. The transition from metallic conduction to thermally assisted tunneling occurred at a critical value, p/sub c/, between 59% and 50% Pt.« less

Nano-hydroxyapatite-coated metal-ceramic composite of iron-tricalcium phosphate: Improving the surface wettability, adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

PubMed

Surmeneva, Maria A; Kleinhans, Claudia; Vacun, Gabriele; Kluger, Petra Juliane; Schönhaar, Veronika; Müller, Michaela; Hein, Sebastian Boris; Wittmar, Alexandra; Ulbricht, Mathias; Prymak, Oleg; Oehr, Christian; Surmenev, Roman A

2015-11-01

Thin radio-frequency magnetron sputter deposited nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) films were prepared on the surface of a Fe-tricalcium phosphate (Fe-TCP) bioceramic composite, which was obtained using a conventional powder injection moulding technique. The obtained nano-hydroxyapatite coated Fe-TCP biocomposites (nano-HA-Fe-TCP) were studied with respect to their chemical and phase composition, surface morphology, water contact angle, surface free energy and hysteresis. The deposition process resulted in a homogeneous, single-phase HA coating. The ability of the surface to support adhesion and the proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was studied using biological short-term tests in vitro. The surface of the uncoated Fe-TCP bioceramic composite showed an initial cell attachment after 24h of seeding, but adhesion, proliferation and growth did not persist during 14 days of culture. However, the HA-Fe-TCP surfaces allowed cell adhesion, and proliferation during 14 days. The deposition of the nano-HA films on the Fe-TCP surface resulted in higher surface energy, improved hydrophilicity and biocompatibility compared with the surface of the uncoated Fe-TCP. Furthermore, it is suggested that an increase in the polar component of the surface energy was responsible for the enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation in the case of the nano-HA-Fe-TCP biocomposites. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Graphene Oxide/Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposite Thin-Film Phototransistor for Logic Circuit Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansouri, S.; Coskun, B.; El Mir, L.; Al-Sehemi, Abdullah G.; Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed; Yakuphanoglu, F.

2018-04-01

Graphene is a sheet-structured material that lacks a forbidden band, being a good candidate for use in radiofrequency applications. We have elaborated graphene-oxide-doped poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanocomposite to increase the interlayer distance and thereby open a large bandgap for use in the field of logic circuits. Graphene oxide/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (GO/P3HT) nanocomposite thin-film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated on silicon oxide substrate by spin coating method. The current-voltage ( I- V) characteristics of TFTs with various P3HT compositions were studied in the dark and under light illumination. The photocurrent, charge carrier mobility, subthreshold voltage, density of interface states, density of occupied states, and I ON/ I OFF ratio of the devices strongly depended on the P3HT weight ratio in the composite. The effects of white-light illumination on the electrical parameters of the transistors were investigated. The results indicated that GO/P3HT nanocomposite thin-film transistors have high potential for use in radiofrequency applications, and their feasibility for use in digital applications has been demonstrated.

Ultra-thin solid oxide fuel cells: Materials and devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerman, Kian

Solid oxide fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices utilizing solid electrolytes transporting O2- that typically operate in the 800 -- 1000 °C temperature range due to the large activation barrier for ionic transport. Reducing electrolyte thickness or increasing ionic conductivity can enable lower temperature operation for both stationary and portable applications. This thesis is focused on the fabrication of free standing ultrathin (<100 nm) oxide membranes of prototypical O 2- conducting electrolytes, namely Y2O3-doped ZrO2 and Gd2O3-doped CeO2. Fabrication of such membranes requires an understanding of thin plate mechanics coupled with controllable thin film deposition processes. Integration of free standing membranes into proof-of-concept fuel cell devices necessitates ideal electrode assemblies as well as creative processing schemes to experimentally test devices in a high temperature dual environment chamber. We present a simple elastic model to determine stable buckling configurations for free standing oxide membranes. This guides the experimental methodology for Y 2O3-doped ZrO2 film processing, which enables tunable internal stress in the films. Using these criteria, we fabricate robust Y2O3-doped ZrO2 membranes on Si and composite polymeric substrates by semiconductor and micro-machining processes, respectively. Fuel cell devices integrating these membranes with metallic electrodes are demonstrated to operate in the 300 -- 500 °C range, exhibiting record performance at such temperatures. A model combining physical transport of electronic carriers in an insulating film and electrochemical aspects of transport is developed to determine the limits of performance enhancement expected via electrolyte thickness reduction. Free standing oxide heterostructures, i.e. electrolyte membrane and oxide electrodes, are demonstrated. Lastly, using Y2O3-doped ZrO2 and Gd2O 3-doped CeO2, novel electrolyte fabrication schemes are explored to develop oxide

Charge Transport in Low-Temperature Processed Thin-Film Transistors Based on Indium Oxide/Zinc Oxide Heterostructures.

PubMed

Krausmann, Jan; Sanctis, Shawn; Engstler, Jörg; Luysberg, Martina; Bruns, Michael; Schneider, Jörg J

2018-06-20

The influence of the composition within multilayered heterostructure oxide semiconductors has a critical impact on the performance of thin-film transistor (TFT) devices. The heterostructures, comprising alternating polycrystalline indium oxide and zinc oxide layers, are fabricated by a facile atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, enabling the tuning of its electrical properties by precisely controlling the thickness of the individual layers. This subsequently results in enhanced TFT performance for the optimized stacked architecture after mild thermal annealing at temperatures as low as 200 °C. Superior transistor characteristics, resulting in an average field-effect mobility (μ sat. ) of 9.3 cm 2 V -1 s -1 ( W/ L = 500), an on/off ratio ( I on / I off ) of 5.3 × 10 9 , and a subthreshold swing of 162 mV dec -1 , combined with excellent long-term and bias stress stability are thus demonstrated. Moreover, the inherent semiconducting mechanism in such multilayered heterostructures can be conveniently tuned by controlling the thickness of the individual layers. Herein, devices comprising a higher In 2 O 3 /ZnO ratio, based on individual layer thicknesses, are predominantly governed by percolation conduction with temperature-independent charge carrier mobility. Careful adjustment of the individual oxide layer thicknesses in devices composed of stacked layers plays a vital role in the reduction of trap states, both interfacial and bulk, which consequently deteriorates the overall device performance. The findings enable an improved understanding of the correlation between TFT performance and the respective thin-film composition in ALD-based heterostructure oxides.

Improvement of mechanical and thermal properties of high energy electron beam irradiated HDPE/hydroxyapatite nano-composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohammadi, M.; Ziaie, F.; Majdabadi, A.; Akhavan, A.; Shafaei, M.

2017-01-01

In this research work, the nano-composites of high density polyethylene/hydroxyapatite samples were manufactured via two methods: In the first method, the granules of high density polyethylene and nano-structure hydroxyapatite were processed in an internal mixer to prepare the nano-composite samples with a different weight percentage of the reinforcement phase. As for the second one, high density polyethylene was prepared in nano-powder form in boiling xylene. During this procedure, the hydroxyapatite nano-powder was added with different weight percentages to the solvent to obtain the nano-composite. In both of the procedures, the used hydroxyapatite nano-powder was synthesized via hydrolysis methods. The samples were irradiated under 10 MeV electron beam in 70-200 kGy of doses. Mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the samples were investigated and compared. The results demonstrate that the nano-composites which we have prepared using nano-polyethylene, show better mechanical and thermal properties than the composites prepared from normal polyethylene granules, due to the better dispersion of nano-particles in the polymer matrix.

Synthesis, Optical and Photoluminescence Properties of Cu-Doped Zno Nano-Fibers Thin Films: Nonlinear Optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganesh, V.; Salem, G. F.; Yahia, I. S.; Yakuphanoglu, F.

2018-03-01

Different concentrations of copper-doped zinc oxide thin films were coated on a glass substrate by sol-gel/spin-coating technique. The structural properties of pure and Cu-doped ZnO films were characterized by different techniques, i.e., atomic force microscopy (AFM), photoluminescence and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy. The AFM study revealed that pure and doped ZnO films are formed as nano-fibers with a granular structure. The photoluminescence spectra of these films showed a strong ultraviolet emission peak centered at 392 nm and a strong blue emission peak cantered at 450 nm. The optical band gap of the pure and copper-doped ZnO thin films calculated from optical transmission spectra (3.29-3.23 eV) were found to be increasing with increasing copper doping concentration. The refractive index dispersion curve of pure and Cu-doped ZnO film obeyed the single-oscillator model. The optical dispersion parameters such as E o , E d , and n_{∞}2 were calculated. Further, the nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear optical susceptibility were also calculated and interpreted.

Progress in Nano-Engineered Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membrane Development.

PubMed

Poinern, Gerrard Eddy Jai; Ali, Nurshahidah; Fawcett, Derek

2011-02-25

The anodization of aluminum is an electro-chemical process that changes the surface chemistry of the metal, via oxidation, to produce an anodic oxide layer. During this process a self organized, highly ordered array of cylindrical shaped pores can be produced with controllable pore diameters, periodicity and density distribution. This enables anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes to be used as templates in a variety of nanotechnology applications without the need for expensive lithographical techniques. This review article is an overview of the current state of research on AAO membranes and the various applications of nanotechnology that use them in the manufacture of nano-materials and devices or incorporate them into specific applications such as biological/chemical sensors, nano-electronic devices, filter membranes and medical scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Progress in Nano-Engineered Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membrane Development

PubMed Central

Poinern, Gerrard Eddy Jai; Ali, Nurshahidah; Fawcett, Derek

2011-01-01

The anodization of aluminum is an electro-chemical process that changes the surface chemistry of the metal, via oxidation, to produce an anodic oxide layer. During this process a self organized, highly ordered array of cylindrical shaped pores can be produced with controllable pore diameters, periodicity and density distribution. This enables anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes to be used as templates in a variety of nanotechnology applications without the need for expensive lithographical techniques. This review article is an overview of the current state of research on AAO membranes and the various applications of nanotechnology that use them in the manufacture of nano-materials and devices or incorporate them into specific applications such as biological/chemical sensors, nano-electronic devices, filter membranes and medical scaffolds for tissue engineering. PMID:28880002

On the thermal stability of physical vapor deposited oxide-hardened nanocrystalline gold thin films

DOE PAGES

Argibay, Nicolas; Mogonye, J. E.; Michael, Joseph R.; ...

2015-04-08

We describe a correlation between electrical resistivity and grain size for PVD synthesized polycrystalline oxide-hardened metal-matrix thin films in oxide-dilute (<5 vol. % oxide phase) compositions. The correlation is based on the Mayadas-Shatzkes (M-S) electron scattering model, predictive of grain size evolution as a function of composition in the oxide-dilute regime for 2 μm thick Au-ZnO films. We describe a technique to investigate grain boundary (GB) mobility and the thermal stability of GBs based on in situelectrical resistivity measurements during annealing experiments, interpreted using a combination of the M-S model and the Michels et al. model describing solute drag stabilizedmore » grain growth kinetics. Using this technique, activation energy and pre-exponential Arrhenius parameter values of E a = 21.6 kJ/mol and A o = 2.3 × 10 -17 m 2/s for Au-1 vol. % ZnO and E a =12.7 kJ/mol and A o = 3.1 × 10 -18 m 2/s for Au-2 vol.% ZnO were determined. In the oxide-dilute regime, the grain size reduction of the Au matrix yielded a maximum hardness of 2.6 GPa for 5 vol. % ZnO. A combined model including percolation behavior and grain refinement is presented that accurately describes the composition dependent change in electrical resistivity throughout the entire composition range for Au-ZnO thin films. As a result, the proposed correlations are supported by microstructural characterization using transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction mapping for grain size determination.« less

A nano lamella NbTi–NiTi composite with high strength

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, Jiang; Jiang, Daqiang; Hao, Shijie

A hypereutectic Nb60Ti24Ni16 (at%) alloy was prepared by vacuum induction melting, and a nano lamellae NbTi-NiTi composite was obtained by hot-forging and wire-drawing of the ingot Microscopic analysis showed that NbTi and NiTi nano lamellae distributed alternatively in the composite, and aligned along the wire axial direction, with a high volume fraction (similar to 70%) of NbTi nano lamellae. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that stress induced martensitic transformation occurred upon loading, which would effectively weaken the stress concentration at the interface and avoid the introduction of defects into the nano reinforced phase. Then the embedded NbTi nanomore » lamellae exhibited a high elastic strain up to 2.72%, 1.5 times as high as that of the Nb nanowires embedded in a conventional plastic matrix, and the corresponding stress carried by NbTi was evaluated as 2.53 GPa. The high volume fraction of NbTi nano lamellae improved the translation of high strength from the nano reinforced phase into bulk properties of the composite, with a platform stress of similar to 1.7 GPa and a fracture strength of similar to 1.9 GPa. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.« less

Solid oxide fuel cell cathode infiltrate particle size control and oxygen surface exchange resistance determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burye, Theodore E.

Over the past decade, nano-sized Mixed Ionic Electronic Conducting (MIEC) -- micro-sized Ionic Conducting (IC) composite cathodes produced by the infiltration method have received much attention in the literature due to their low polarization resistance (RP) at intermediate (500-700°C) operating temperatures. Small infiltrated MIEC oxide nano-particle size and low intrinsic MIEC oxygen surface exchange resistance (Rs) have been two critical factors allowing these Nano-Micro-Composite Cathodes (NMCCs) to achieve high performance and/or low temperature operation. Unfortunately, previous studies have not found a reliable method to control or reduce infiltrated nano-particle size. In addition, controversy exists on the best MIEC infiltrate composition because: 1) Rs measurements on infiltrated MIEC particles are presently unavailable in the literature, and 2) bulk and thin film Rs measurements on nominally identical MIEC compositions often vary by up to 3 orders of magnitude. Here, two processing techniques, precursor nitrate solution desiccation and ceria oxide pre-infiltration, were developed to systematically produce a reduction in the average La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe 0.2O3-delta (LSCF) infiltrated nano-particle size from 50 nm to 22 nm. This particle size reduction reduced the SOFC operating temperature, (defined as the temperature where RP=0.1 Ocm 2) from 650°C to 540°C. In addition, Rs values for infiltrated MIEC particles were determined for the first time through finite element modeling calculations on 3D Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM) reconstructions of electrochemically characterized infiltrated electrodes.

Structural, electronic and chemical properties of metal/oxide and oxide/oxide interfaces and thin film structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lad, Robert J.

1999-12-14

This project focused on three different aspects of oxide thin film systems: (1) Model metal/oxide and oxide/oxide interface studies were carried out by depositing ultra-thin metal (Al, K, Mg) and oxide (MgO, AlO{sub x}) films on TiO{sub 2}, NiO and {alpha}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} single crystal oxide substrates. (2) Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) oxygen plasma deposition was used to fabricate AlO{sub 3} and ZrO{sub 2} films on sapphire substrates, and film growth mechanisms and structural characteristics were investigated. (3) The friction and wear characteristics of ZrO{sub 2} films on sapphire substrates in unlubricated sliding contact were studied and correlated with filmmore » microstructure. In these studies, thin film and interfacial regions were characterized using diffraction (RHEED, LEED, XRD), electron spectroscopies (XPS, UPS, AES), microscopy (AFM) and tribology instruments (pin-on-disk, friction microprobe, and scratch tester). By precise control of thin film microstructure, an increased understanding of the structural and chemical stability of interface regions and tribological performance of ultra-thin oxide films was achieved in these important ceramic systems.« less

Physics-Based Simulation and Experiment on Blast Protection of Infill Walls and Sandwich Composites Using New Generation of Nano Particle Reinforced Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irshidat, Mohammad

A critical issue for the development of nanotechnology is our ability to understand, model, and simulate the behavior of small structures and to make the connection between nano structure properties and their macroscopic functions. Material modeling and simulation helps to understand the process, to set the objectives that could guide laboratory efforts, and to control material structures, properties, and processes at physical implementation. These capabilities are vital to engineering design at the component and systems level. In this research, experimental-computational-analytical program was employed to investigate the performance of the new generation of polymeric nano-composite materials, like nano-particle reinforced elastomeric materials (NPREM), for the protection of masonry structures against blast loads. New design tools for using these kinds of materials to protect Infill Walls (e.g. masonry walls) against blast loading were established. These tools were also extended to cover other type of panels like sandwich composites. This investigation revealed that polymeric nano composite materials are strain rate sensitive and have large amount of voids distributed randomly inside the materials. Results from blast experiments showed increase in ultimate flexural resistance achieved by both unreinforced and nano reinforced polyurea retrofit systems applied to infill masonry walls. It was also observed that a thin elastomeric coating on the interior face of the walls could be effective at minimizing the fragmentation resulting from blast. More conclusions are provided with recommended future research.

Effect of cadmium incorporation on the properties of zinc oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bharath, S. P.; Bangera, Kasturi V.; Shivakumar, G. K.

2018-02-01

Cd x Zn1- x O (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) thin films are deposited on soda lime glass substrates using spray pyrolysis technique. To check the thermal stability, Cd x Zn1- x O thin films are subjected to annealing. Both the as-deposited and annealed Cd x Zn1- x O thin films are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) to check the structural, surface morphological and compositional properties, respectively. XRD analysis reveals that the both as-deposited and annealed Cd x Zn1- x O thin films are (002) oriented with wurtzite structure. SEM studies confirm that as-deposited, as well as annealed Cd x Zn1- x O thin films are free from pinholes and cracks. Compositional analysis shows the deficiency in Cd content after annealing. Optical properties evaluated from UV-Vis spectroscopy shows red shift in the band gap for Cd x Zn1- x O thin films. Electrical property measured using two probe method shows a decrease in the resistance after Cd incorporation. The results indicate that cadmium can be successfully incorporated in zinc oxide thin films to achieve structural changes in the properties of films.

Ultra-low temperature curable nano-silver conductive adhesive for piezoelectric composite material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Chao; Liao, Qingwei; Zhou, Xingli; Wang, Likun; Zhong, Chao; Zhang, Di

2018-01-01

Limited by the low thermal resistance of composite material, ultra-low temperature curable conductive silver adhesive with curing temperature less than 100 °C needed urgently for the surface conduction treatment of piezoelectric composite material. An ultra-low temperature curable nano-silver conductive adhesive with high adhesion strength for the applications of piezoelectric composite material was investigated. The crystal structure of cured adhesive, SEM/EDS analysis, thermal analysis, adhesive properties and conductive properties of different content of nano-silver filler or micron-silver doping samples were studied. The results show that with 60 wt.% nano-silver filler the ultra-low temperature curable conductive silver adhesive had the relatively good conductivity as volume resistivity of 2.37 × 10-4 Ω cm, and good adhesion strength of 5.13 MPa. Minor micron-doping (below 15 wt.%) could improve conductivity, but would decrease other properties. The ultra-low temperature curable nano-silver conductive adhesive could successfully applied to piezoelectric composite material.

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt doped nickel oxide thin films by spray pyrolysis method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sathisha, D.; Naik, K. Gopalakrishna

2018-05-01

Cobalt (Co) doped nickel oxide (NiO) thin films were deposited on glass substrates at a temperature of about 400 °C by spray pyrolysis method. The effect of Co doping concentration on structural, optical and compositional properties of NiO thin films was investigated. X-ray diffraction result shows that the deposited thin films are polycrystalline in nature. Surface morphologies of the deposited thin films were observed by FESEM and AFM. EDS spectra showed the incorporation of Co dopants in NiO thin films. Optical properties of the grown thin films were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy. It was found that the optical band gap energy and transmittance of the films decrease with increasing Co doping concentration.

Microplasma-assisted hydrogel fabrication: A novel method for gelatin-graphene oxide nano composite hydrogel synthesis for biomedical application

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Toxicity issues and biocompatibility concerns with traditional classical chemical cross-linking processes prevent them from being universal approaches for hydrogel fabrication for tissue engineering. Physical cross-linking methods are non-toxic and widely used to obtain cross-linked polymers in a tunable manner. Therefore, in the current study, argon micro-plasma was introduced as a neutral energy source for cross-linking in fabrication of the desired gelatin-graphene oxide (gel-GO) nanocomposite hydrogel scaffolds. Argon microplasma was used to treat purified gelatin (8% w/v) containing 0.1∼1 wt% of high-functionality nano-graphene oxide (GO). Optimized plasma conditions (2,500 V and 8.7 mA) for 15 min with a gas flow rate of 100 standard cm3/min was found to be most suitable for producing the gel-GO nanocomposite hydrogels. The developed hydrogel was characterized by the degree of cross-linking, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, confocal microscopy, swelling behavior, contact angle measurement, and rheology. The cell viability was examined by an MTT assay and a live/dead assay. The pore size of the hydrogel was found to be 287 ± 27 µm with a contact angle of 78° ± 3.7°. Rheological data revealed improved storage as well as a loss modulus of up to 50% with tunable viscoelasticity, gel strength, and mechanical properties at 37 °C temperature in the microplasma-treated groups. The swelling behavior demonstrated a better water-holding capacity of the gel-GO hydrogels for cell growth and proliferation. Results of the MTT assay, microscopy, and live/dead assay exhibited better cell viability at 1% (w/w) of high-functionality GO in gelatin. The highlight of the present study is the first successful attempt of microplasma-assisted gelatin-GO nano composite hydrogel fabrication that offers great promise and optimism for further biomedical tissue engineering applications. PMID:28663938

Studies on Effective Elastic Properties of CNT/Nano-Clay Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakur, Arvind Kumar; Kumar, Puneet; Srinivas, J.

2016-02-01

This paper presents a computational approach to predict elastic propertiesof hybrid nanocomposite material prepared by adding nano-clayplatelets to conventional CNT-reinforced epoxy system. In comparison to polymers alone/single-fiber reinforced polymers, if an additional fiber is added to the composite structure, it was found a drastic improvement in resultant properties. In this regard, effective elastic moduli of a hybrid nano composite are determined by using finite element (FE) model with square representative volume element (RVE). Continuum mechanics based homogenization of the nano-filler reinforced composite is considered for evaluating the volumetric average of the stresses and the strains under different periodic boundary conditions.A three phase Halpin-Tsai approach is selected to obtain the analytical result based on micromechanical modeling. The effect of the volume fractions of CNTs and nano-clay platelets on the mechanical behavior is studied. Two different RVEs of nano-clay platelets were used to investigate the influence of nano-filler geometry on composite properties. The combination of high aspect ratio of CNTs and larger surface area of clay platelets contribute to the stiffening effect of the hybrid samples. Results of analysis are validated with Halpin-Tsai empirical formulae.

Production of Sn/SnO2/MWCNT composites by plasma oxidation after thermal evaporation from pure Sn targets onto buckypapers.

PubMed

Alaf, M; Gultekin, D; Akbulut, H

2012-12-01

In this study, tin/tinoxide/multi oxide/multi walled carbon nano tube (Sn/SnO2/MWCNT) composites were produced by thermal evaporation and then subsequent plasma oxidation. Buckypapers having controlled porosity were prepared by vacuum filtration from functionalized MWCNTs. Pure metallic tin was thermally evaporated on the buckypapers in argon atmosphere with different thicknesses. It was determined that the evaporated pure tin nano crystals were mechanically penetrated into pores of buckypaper to form a nanocomposite. The tin/MWCNT composites were subjected to plasma oxidation process at oxygen/argon gas mixture. Three different plasma oxidation times (30, 45 and 60 minutes) were used to investigate oxidation and physical and microstructural properties. The effect of coating thickness and oxidation time was investigated to understand the effect of process parameters on the Sn and SnO2 phases after plasma oxidation. Quantitative phase analysis was performed in order to determine the relative phase amounts. The structural properties were studied by field-emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Unidirectional oxide hetero-interface thin-film diode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Park, Youngmin; Lee, Eungkyu; Lee, Jinwon

2015-10-05

The unidirectional thin-film diode based on oxide hetero-interface, which is well compatible with conventional thin-film fabrication process, is presented. With the metal anode/electron-transporting oxide (ETO)/electron-injecting oxide (EIO)/metal cathode structure, it exhibits that electrical currents ohmically flow at the ETO/EIO hetero-interfaces for only positive voltages showing current density (J)-rectifying ratio of ∼10{sup 5} at 5 V. The electrical properties (ex, current levels, and working device yields) of the thin-film diode (TFD) are systematically controlled by changing oxide layer thickness. Moreover, we show that the oxide hetero-interface TFD clearly rectifies an AC input within frequency (f) range of 10{sup 2} Hz < f < 10{sup 6} Hz, providing amore » high feasibility for practical applications.« less

Nano-Graphene Oxide for Cellular Imaging and Drug Delivery

PubMed Central

Sun, Xiaoming; Liu, Zhuang; Welsher, Kevin; Robinson, Joshua Tucker; Goodwin, Andrew; Zaric, Sasa

2010-01-01

Two-dimensional graphene offers interesting electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties that are currently being explored for advanced electronics, membranes, and composites. Here we synthesize and explore the biological applications of nano-graphene oxide (NGO), i.e., single-layer graphene oxide sheets down to a few nanometers in lateral width. We develop functionalization chemistry in order to impart solubility and compatibility of NGO in biological environments. We obtain size separated pegylated NGO sheets that are soluble in buffers and serum without agglomeration. The NGO sheets are found to be photoluminescent in the visible and infrared regions. The intrinsic photoluminescence (PL) of NGO is used for live cell imaging in the near-infrared (NIR) with little background. We found that simple physisorption via π-stacking can be used for loading doxorubicin, a widely used cancer drug onto NGO functionalized with antibody for selective killing of cancer cells in vitro. Owing to its small size, intrinsic optical properties, large specific surface area, low cost, and useful non-covalent interactions with aromatic drug molecules, NGO is a promising new material for biological and medical applications. PMID:20216934

Wear Resistance Properties Reinforcement Using Nano-Al/Cu Composite Coating in Sliding Bearing Maintenance.

PubMed

Liu, Hongtao; Li, Zhixiong; Wang, Jianmei; Sheng, Chenxing; Liu, Wanli

2018-03-01

Sliding bearing maintenance is crucial for reducing the cost and extending the service life. An efficient and practical solution is to coat a restorative agent onto the worn/damaged bearings. Traditional pure-copper (Cu) coating results in a soft surface and poor abrasion resistance. To address this issue, this paper presents a nano-composite repairing coating method. A series of nano-Al/Cu coatings were prepared on the surface of 45 steel by composite electro-brush plating (EBP). Their micro-hardness was examined by a MHV-2000 Vickers hardness tester, and tribological properties by a UMT-2M Micro-friction tester, 3D profiler and SEM. Then, the influence of processing parameters such as nano-particle concentration and coating thickness on the micro-hardness of nano-Al/Cu coating was analyzed. The experimental analysis results demonstrate that, when the nano-Al particle concentration in electrolyte was 10 g/L, the micro-hardness of the composite coating was 1.1 times as much as that of pure-Cu coating. When the Al nano-particle concentration in electrolyte was 20 g/L, the micro-hardness of the composite coating reached its maximum value (i.e., 231.6 HV). Compared with the pure-Cu coating, the hardness and wear resistance of the nano-composite coating were increased, and the friction coefficient and wear volume were decreased, because of the grain strengthening and dispersion strengthening. The development in this work may provide a feasible and effective nano-composite EBP method for sliding bearing repair.

The photoelectrocatalytic activity, long term stability and corrosion performance of NiMo deposited titanium oxide nano-tubes for hydrogen production in alkaline medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mert, Mehmet Erman; Mert, Başak Doğru; Kardaş, Gülfeza; Yazıcı, Birgül

2017-11-01

In this study, titanium oxide nano-tubes are doped with Ni and Mo particles with various chemical compositions, in order to put forth the efficiency of single and binary coatings on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 1 M KOH. The characterization was achieved by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The water wettability characteristics of electrode surfaces were investigated using contact angle. The long-term catalyst stability and corrosion performance were determined by current-potential curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Furthermore, photoelectrochemical behavior was determined via linear sweep voltammetry. Results showed that, nano-structured Ni and Mo deposited titanium oxide nano-tubes decrease the hydrogen over potential and increase HER efficiency, it is stable over 168 h electrolysis and it exhibits higher corrosion performance.

Thin film hydrous metal oxide catalysts

DOEpatents

Dosch, Robert G.; Stephens, Howard P.

1995-01-01

Thin film (<100 nm) hydrous metal oxide catalysts are prepared by 1) synthesis of a hydrous metal oxide, 2) deposition of the hydrous metal oxide upon an inert support surface, 3) ion exchange with catalytically active metals, and 4) activating the hydrous metal oxide catalysts.

Physical properties of spin-valve films grown on naturally oxidized metal nano-oxide surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Ming; Cerjan, Charlie; Kools, Jacques

2002-05-01

The physical properties of spin-valve films NiFe 25 Å/CoFe 10 Å/Cu(tCu)/CoFe 30 Å/IrMn 70 Å/Ta 20 Å with graded Cu layer thickness (tCu=18-45 Å) grown on the surface of metal nano-oxide layers (NOLs) were studied. The NOLs were formed from ultrathin Al, Cr, Cu, Nb, Ta, CoFe, NiFe, and NiFeCr layers by natural oxidation. The growth of the spin-valve films on NOLs has led to an enhancement in giant magnetoresistance value by up to 48%. A corresponding reduction in minimum film resistance by over 10% confirms that this enhancement originates from an increase in the mean free path of spin-polarized electrons due to the resultant specular reflection at the nano-oxide surfaces. A wide spectrum of oscillatory interlayer exchange coupling dependence on tCu for these NOL-bearing films suggests that a specular nano-oxide surface does not necessarily result in a smoother multilayer structure. The observation of an enhanced exchange biasing among these spin-valve films appears in contradiction to the observed deterioration of their crystallographic quality. As an important application, TaOx, CrOx, and NbOx could be employed as an alternative to AlOx as the barrier layer for magnetic tunnel junctions.

Growth control of the oxidation state in vanadium oxide thin films

DOE PAGES

Lee, Shinbuhm; Meyer, Tricia L.; Park, Sungkyun; ...

2014-12-05

Precise control of the chemical valence or oxidation state of vanadium in vanadium oxide thin films is highly desirable for not only fundamental research, but also technological applications that utilize the subtle change in the physical properties originating from the metalinsulator transition (MIT) near room temperature. However, due to the multivalent nature of vanadium and the lack of a good understanding on growth control of the oxidation state, stabilization of phase pure vanadium oxides with a single oxidation state is extremely challenging. Here, we systematically varied the growth conditions to clearly map out the growth window for preparing phase puremore » epitaxial vanadium oxides by pulsed laser deposition for providing a guideline to grow high quality thin films with well-defined oxidation states of V₂⁺²O₃, V⁺⁴O₂, and V₂⁺⁵O₅. A well pronounced MIT was only observed in VO₂ films grown in a very narrow range of oxygen partial pressure P(O₂). The films grown either in lower (< 10 mTorr) or higher P(O₂) (> 25 mTorr) result in V₂O₃ and V₂O₅ phases, respectively, thereby suppressing the MIT for both cases. We have also found that the resistivity ratio before and after the MIT of VO₂ thin films can be further enhanced by one order of magnitude when the films are further oxidized by post-annealing at a well-controlled oxidizing ambient. This result indicates that stabilizing vanadium into a single valence state has to compromise with insufficient oxidation of an as grown thin film and, thereby, a subsequent oxidation is required for an 3 improved MIT behavior.« less

Growth control of the oxidation state in vanadium oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Shinbuhm; Meyer, Tricia L.; Park, Sungkyun; Egami, Takeshi; Lee, Ho Nyung

2014-12-01

Precise control of the chemical valence or oxidation state of vanadium in vanadium oxide thin films is highly desirable for not only fundamental research but also technological applications that utilize the subtle change in the physical properties originating from the metal-insulator transition (MIT) near room temperature. However, due to the multivalent nature of vanadium and the lack of a good understanding on growth control of the oxidation state, stabilization of phase pure vanadium oxides with a single oxidation state is extremely challenging. Here, we systematically varied the growth conditions to clearly map out the growth window for preparing phase pure epitaxial vanadium oxides by pulsed laser deposition for providing a guideline to grow high quality thin films with well-defined oxidation states of V2 + 3 O 3 , V + 4 O 2 , and V2 + 5 O 5 . A well pronounced MIT was only observed in VO2 films grown in a very narrow range of oxygen partial pressure P(O2). The films grown either in lower (<10 mTorr) or higher P(O2) (>25 mTorr) result in V2O3 and V2O5 phases, respectively, thereby suppressing the MIT for both cases. We have also found that the resistivity ratio before and after the MIT of VO2 thin films can be further enhanced by one order of magnitude when the films are further oxidized by post-annealing at a well-controlled oxidizing ambient. This result indicates that stabilizing vanadium into a single valence state has to compromise with insufficient oxidation of an as grown thin film and, thereby, a subsequent oxidation is required for an improved MIT behavior.

Thin-film nano-thermogravimetry applied to praseodymium-cerium oxide films at high temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schröder, Sebastian; Fritze, Holger; Bishop, Sean; Chen, Di; Tuller, Harry L.

2018-05-01

High precision measurements of oxygen nonstoichiometry δ in thin film metal oxides MaOb±δ at elevated temperatures and controlled oxygen partial pressures pO2 are reported with the aid of resonant microbalances. The resonant microbalances applied here consisted of y-cut langasite (La3Ga5SiO14) and CTGS (Ca3TaGa3Si2O14) piezoelectric resonators, operated in the thickness shear mode at ˜5 MHz. Measurements of variations in δ of Pr0.1Ce0.9O2-δ (PCO) films are reported for the oxygen partial pressure range from 10-8 bar to 0.2 bar at 700 °C, and these results were found to be in good agreement with previously reported oxygen nonstoichiometry δ data derived from chemical capacitance studies. The PCO thin-films were deposited via pulsed laser deposition on both sides of the resonators, whose series resonance frequency was tracked, converted into mass changes and, finally, into nonstoichiometry. The nonstoichiometry was observed to reach a plateau as the oxygen partial pressure dropped below about 10-5 bar, the behavior being attributed to the full reduction of Pr to the trivalent state. These resonators enable stable operation up to temperatures above 1000 °C, thereby maintaining high mass resolution suitable for determining oxygen nonstoichiometry variations in thin films deposited on such resonators. For the given experimental conditions, a mass resolution of ˜50 ng was achieved at 700 °C with the CTGS resonator.

[Study on spectroscopic characterization and property of PES/ micro-nano cellulose composite membrane material].

PubMed

Tang, Huan-Wei; Zhang, Li-Ping; Li, Shuai; Zhao, Guang-Jie; Qin, Zhu; Sun, Su-Qin

2010-03-01

In the present paper, the functional groups of PES/micro-nano cellulose composite membrane materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Also, changes in crystallinity in composite membrane materials were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of micro-nano cellulose content on hydrophilic property of composite membrane material were studied by measuring hydrophilic angle. The images of support layer structure of pure PES membrane material and composite membrane material were showed with scanning electron microscope (SEM). These results indicated that in the infrared spectrogram, the composite membrane material had characteristic peaks of both PES and micro-nano cellulose without appearance of other new characteristics peaks. It revealed that there were no new functional groups in the composite membrane material, and the level of molecular compatibility was achieved, which was based on the existence of inter-molecular hydrogen bond association between PES and micro-nano cellulose. Due to the existence of micro-nano cellulose, the crystallinity of composite membrane material was increased from 37.7% to 47.9%. The more the increase in micro-nano cellulose mass fraction, the better the van de Waal force and hydrogen bond force between composite membrane material and water were enhanced. The hydrophilic angle of composite membrane material was decreased from 55.8 degrees to 45.8 degrees and the surface energy was raised from 113.7 to 123.5 mN x m(-2). Consequently, the hydrophilic property of composite membrane material was improved. The number of pores in the support layer of composite membrane material was lager than that of pure PES membrane. Apparently, pores were more uniformly distributed.

Interface composition of InAs nanowires with Al2O3 and HfO2 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timm, R.; Hjort, M.; Fian, A.; Borg, B. M.; Thelander, C.; Andersen, J. N.; Wernersson, L.-E.; Mikkelsen, A.

2011-11-01

Vertical InAs nanowires (NWs) wrapped by a thin high-κ dielectric layer may be a key to the next generation of high-speed metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. Here, we have investigated the structure and chemical composition of the interface between InAs NWs and 2 nm thick Al2O3 and HfO2 films. The native oxide on the NWs is significantly reduced upon high-κ deposition, although less effective than for corresponding planar samples, resulting in a 0.8 nm thick interface layer with an In-/As-oxide composition of about 0.7/0.3. The exact oxide reduction and composition including As-suboxides and the role of the NW geometry are discussed in detail.

Effect of Ir-Mn composition on exchange bias and thermal stability of spin valves with nano-oxide layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y. F.; Cai, J. W.; Lai, W. Y.; Yu, G. H.

2008-05-01

The Ir-Mn bottom-pinned spin valves with nano-oxide layers (NOLs), Ta /Ni81Fe19/Ir-Mn/Co90Fe10/NOL/Co90Fe10/Cu/Co90Fe10/NOL/Ta, were fabricated by dc magnetron sputtering. The magnetoresistance (MR), magnetization, and exchange bias have been studied as a function of Ir-Mn composition and annealing temperature. It was observed that the spin valves with the Ir-Mn layer containing relatively low Mn content (58.9-72.4at.% Mn) show the best thermal endurance. For these samples, the Mn diffusion is effectively hampered by the NOL with a large MR value of about 12.5% even after annealing at 300°C. On the other hand, the exchange bias field of the pinned CoFe layer shows a maximum at Mn content of about 72.4at.%, which is different from the widely adopted composition, Ir-80at.% Mn, optimized from the top-pinned NiFe /Ir-Mn system. Moreover, the blocking temperature of the Ir -Mn/CoFe system with 72.4at.% Mn is higher than that with 80.6at.% Mn. The present results suggest that the Ir -Mn/CoFe pinning system with Mn content at about 72% renders the most favorable exchange bias and the best thermal stability for the bottom-pinned specular spin valves.

Micro/nano composited tungsten material and its high thermal loading behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Jinglian; Han, Yong; Li, Pengfei; Sun, Zhiyu; Zhou, Qiang

2014-12-01

Tungsten (W) is considered as promising candidate material for plasma facing components (PFCs) in future fusion reactors attributing to its many excellent properties. Current commercial pure tungsten material in accordance with the ITER specification can well fulfil the performance requirements, however, it has defects such as coarse grains, high ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) and relatively low recrystallization temperature compared with its using temperature, which cannot meet the harsh wall loading requirement of future fusion reactor. Grain refinement has been reported to be effective in improving the thermophysical and mechanical properties of W. In this work, rare earth oxide (Y2O3/La2O3) and carbides (TiC/ZrC) were used as dispersion phases to refine W grains, and micro/nano composite technology with a process of "sol gel - heterogeneous precipitation - spray drying - hydrogen reduction - ordinary consolidation sintering" was invented to introduce these second-phase particles uniformly dispersed into W grains and grain-boundaries. Via this technology, fine-grain W materials with near-full density and relatively high mechanical properties compared with traditional pure W material were manufactured. Preliminary transient high-heat flux tests were performed to evaluate the thermal response under plasma disruption conditions, and the results show that the W materials prepared by micro/nano composite technology can endure high-heat flux of 200 MW/m2 (5 ms).

Memristive Properties of Thin Film Cuprous Oxide

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

Equation Chapter 1 Section 1 MEMRISTIVE PROPERTIES OF THIN FILM CUPROUS OXIDE THESIS Brett C...Force Base, Ohio APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED The views expressed in this thesis are those of the...MEMRISTIVE PROPERTIES OF THIN FILM CUPROUS OXIDE THESIS Presented to the Faculty Department of Engineering Physics Graduate School of

Modification of electrical properties of silicon dioxide through intrinsic nano-patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majee, Subimal; Barshilia, Devesh; Banerjee, Debashree; Kumar, Sanjeev; Mishra, Prabhash; Akhtar, Jamil

2018-05-01

The inherent network of nanopores and voids in silicon dioxide (SiO2) is generally undesirable for aspects of film quality, electrical insulation and dielectric performance. However, if we view these pores as natural nano-patterns embedded in a dielectric matrix then that opens up new vistas for exploration. The nano-pattern platform can be used to tailor electrical, optical, magnetic and mechanical properties of the carrier film. In this article we report the tunable electrical properties of thermal SiO2 thin-film achieved through utilization of the metal-nanopore network where the pores are filled with metallic Titanium (Ti). Without any intentional chemical doping, we have shown that the electrical resistivity of the oxide film can be controlled through physical filling up of the intrinsic oxide nanopores with Ti. The electrical resistivity of the composite film remains constant even after complete removal of the metal from the film surface except the pores. Careful morphological, electrical and structural analyses are carried out to establish that the presence of Ti in the nanopores play a crucial role in the observed conductive nature of the nanoporous film.

Color stability of pigmented maxillofacial silicone elastomer: effects of nano-oxides as opacifiers.

PubMed

Han, Ying; Zhao, Yimin; Xie, Chao; Powers, John M; Kiat-amnuay, Sudarat

2010-01-01

This study evaluated the effects of nano-oxides on the color stability of pigmented silicone A-2186 maxillofacial prosthetic elastomers before and after artificial aging. Each of three widely used UV-shielding nano-sized particle oxides (TiO(2), ZnO, CeO(2)), based on recent survey of the industry at 1%, 2%, 2.5% concentrations were combined with each of five intrinsic silicone pigment types (no pigments, red, yellow, blue, and a mixture of the three pigments). Silicone A-2186 without nano-oxides or pigments served as control, for a total of 46 experimental groups of elastomers. In each group of the study, all specimens were aged in an artificial aging chamber for an energy exposure of 450kJ/m(2). CIE L*a*b* values were measured by a spectrophotometer. The 50:50% perceptibility (ΔE*=1.1) and acceptability threshold (ΔE*=3.0) were used in interpretation of recorded color differences. Color differences after aging were subjected to three-way analysis of variance. Means were compared by Fisher's PLSD intervals at the 0.05 level of significance. Yellow pigments mixed with all three nano-oxides at all intervals increased ΔE* values significantly from 3.7 up to 8.4. When mixed pigment groups were considered, TiO(2) at 2%, and 2.5% exhibited the smallest color changes, followed by ZnO and CeO(2), respectively (p<0.001). At 1%, CeO(2) exhibited the smallest color changes, followed by TiO(2) and ZnO, respectively (p<0.001). The smallest color differences, observed for nano-oxides groups, were recorded for CeO(2) at 1%, and TiO(2) at 2% and 2.5%. When the nano-oxides were tested at all concentrations, CeO(2) groups overall had the most color changes, and TiO(2) groups had the least. All ΔE* values of the mixed pigment groups were below the 50:50% acceptability threshold (ΔE*=1.2-2.3, below 3.0) except 2% CeO(2) (ΔE*=4.2). 1% nano-CeO(2) and 2% and 2.5% nano-TiO(2) used as opacifiers for silicone A-2186 maxillofacial prostheses with mixed pigments exhibited the least

Altering properties of cerium oxide thin films by Rh doping

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ševčíková, Klára, E-mail: klarak.sevcikova@seznam.cz; NIMS Beamline Station at SPring-8, National Institute for Materials Science, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148; Nehasil, Václav, E-mail: nehasil@mbox.troja.mff.cuni.cz

2015-07-15

Highlights: • Thin films of ceria doped by rhodium deposited by RF magnetron sputtering. • Concentration of rhodium has great impact on properties of Rh–CeO{sub x} thin films. • Intensive oxygen migration in films with low concentration of rhodium. • Oxygen migration suppressed in films with high amount of Rh dopants. - Abstract: Ceria containing highly dispersed ions of rhodium is a promising material for catalytic applications. The Rh–CeO{sub x} thin films with different concentrations of rhodium were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering and were studied by soft and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, Temperature programmed reaction and X-ray powder diffractionmore » techniques. The sputtered films consist of rhodium–cerium mixed oxide where cerium exhibits a mixed valency of Ce{sup 4+} and Ce{sup 3+} and rhodium occurs in two oxidation states, Rh{sup 3+} and Rh{sup n+}. We show that the concentration of rhodium has a great influence on the chemical composition, structure and reducibility of the Rh–CeO{sub x} thin films. The films with low concentrations of rhodium are polycrystalline, while the films with higher amount of Rh dopants are amorphous. The morphology of the films strongly influences the mobility of oxygen in the material. Therefore, varying the concentration of rhodium in Rh–CeO{sub x} thin films leads to preparing materials with different properties.« less

Novel green nano composites films fabricated by indigenously synthesized graphene oxide and chitosan.

PubMed

Khan, Younus H; Islam, Atif; Sarwar, Afsheen; Gull, Nafisa; Khan, Shahzad M; Munawar, Muhammad A; Zia, Saba; Sabir, Aneela; Shafiq, Muhammad; Jamil, Tahir

2016-08-01

Graphene oxide (GO) was indigenously synthesized from graphite using standard Hummers method. Chitosan-graphene oxide green composite films were fabricated by mixing aqueous solution of chitosan and GO using dilute acetic acid as a solvent for chitosan. Chitosan of different viscosity and calculated molecular weight was used keeping amount of GO constant in each composite film. The structural properties, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the composite films were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile test. FTIR studies revealed the successful synthesis of GO from graphite powder and it was confirmed that homogenous blending of chitosan and GO was promising due to oxygenated functional groups on the surface of GO. XRD indicated effective conversion of graphite to GO as its strong peak observed at 11.06° as compared to pristine graphite which appeared at 26°. Moreover, mechanical analysis confirmed the effect of molecular weight on the mechanical properties of chitosan-GO composites showing that higher molecular weight chitosan composite (GOCC-1000) showed best strength (higher than 3GPa) compared to other composite films. Thermal stability of GOCC-1000 was enhanced for which residual content increased up to 56% as compared to the thermal stability of GOCC-200 whose residue was restricted to only 24%. The morphological analysis of the composites sheets by SEM was smooth having dense structure and showed excellent interaction, miscibility, compatibility and dispersion of GO with chitosan. The prepared composite films find their applications as biomaterials in different biomedical fields. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Plasmonic excitation-assisted optical and electric enhancement in ultra-thin solar cells: the influence of nano-strip cross section

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sabaeian, Mohammad, E-mail: sabaiean@scu.ac.ir; Heydari, Mehdi; Ajamgard, Narges

The effects of Ag nano-strips with triangle, rectangular and trapezoid cross sections on the optical absorption, generation rate, and short-circuit current density of ultra-thin solar cells were investigated. By putting the nano-strips as a grating structure on the top of the solar cells, the waveguide, surface plasmon polariton (SPP), and localized surface plasmon (LSP) modes, which are excited with the assistance of nano-strips, were evaluated in TE and TM polarizations. The results show, firstly, the TM modes are more influential than TE modes in optical and electrical properties enhancement of solar cell, because of plasmonic excitations in TM mode. Secondly,more » the trapezoid nano-strips reveal noticeable impact on the optical absorption, generation rate, and short-circuit current density enhancement than triangle and rectangular ones. In particular, the absorption of long wavelengths which is a challenge in ultra-thin solar cells is significantly improved by using Ag trapezoid nano-strips.« less

Growth control of the oxidation state in vanadium oxide thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Shinbuhm; Meyer, Tricia L.; Lee, Ho Nyung, E-mail: hnlee@ornl.gov

2014-12-01

Precise control of the chemical valence or oxidation state of vanadium in vanadium oxide thin films is highly desirable for not only fundamental research but also technological applications that utilize the subtle change in the physical properties originating from the metal-insulator transition (MIT) near room temperature. However, due to the multivalent nature of vanadium and the lack of a good understanding on growth control of the oxidation state, stabilization of phase pure vanadium oxides with a single oxidation state is extremely challenging. Here, we systematically varied the growth conditions to clearly map out the growth window for preparing phase puremore » epitaxial vanadium oxides by pulsed laser deposition for providing a guideline to grow high quality thin films with well-defined oxidation states of V{sub 2}{sup +3}O{sub 3}, V{sup +4}O{sub 2}, and V{sub 2}{sup +5}O{sub 5}. A well pronounced MIT was only observed in VO{sub 2} films grown in a very narrow range of oxygen partial pressure P(O{sub 2}). The films grown either in lower (<10 mTorr) or higher P(O{sub 2}) (>25 mTorr) result in V{sub 2}O{sub 3} and V{sub 2}O{sub 5} phases, respectively, thereby suppressing the MIT for both cases. We have also found that the resistivity ratio before and after the MIT of VO{sub 2} thin films can be further enhanced by one order of magnitude when the films are further oxidized by post-annealing at a well-controlled oxidizing ambient. This result indicates that stabilizing vanadium into a single valence state has to compromise with insufficient oxidation of an as grown thin film and, thereby, a subsequent oxidation is required for an improved MIT behavior.« less

Processing and synthesis of multi-metallic nano oxide ceramics via liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azurdia, Jose Antonio

The liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis (LF-FSP) process aerosolizes metal-carboxylate precursors dissolved in alcohol with oxygen and combusts them at >1500°C. The products are quenched rapidly (˜10s msec) to < 400°C. By selecting the appropriate precursor mixtures, the compositions of the resulting oxide nanopowders can be tailored easily, which lends itself to combinatorial studies of systems facilitating material property optimization. The resulting nanopowders typically consist of single crystal particles with average particle sizes (APS) < 35 nm, specific surface areas (SSA) of 20-60 m2/g and spherical morphology. LF-FSP provides access to novel single phase nanopowders, known phases at compositions outside their published phase diagrams, intimate mixing at nanometer length scales in multi metallic oxide nanopowders, and control of stoichiometry to ppm levels. The materials produced may exhibit unusual properties including structural, catalytic, and photonic ones and lower sintering temperatures. Prior studies used LF-FSP to produce MgAl2O4 spinel for applications in transparent armor and IR radomes. In these studies, a stable spinel structure with a (MgO)0.1(Al2O3)0.9 composition well outside the known phase field was observed. The work reported here extends this observation to two other spinel systems: Al2O3-NiO, Al2O3-CoOx; followed by three series of transition metal binary oxides, NiO-CoO, NiO-MoO3, NiO-CuO. The impetus to study spinels derives both from the fact that a number of them are known transparent ceramics, but also others offer high SSAs coupled with unusual phases that suggest potentially novel catalytic materials. Because LF-FSP provides access to any composition, comprehensive studies of the entire tie-lines were conducted rather than just compositions of value for catalytic applications. Initial efforts established baseline properties for the nano aluminate spinels, then three binary transition metal oxide sets (Ni-Co, Ni-Mo and Ni

Direct imprinting of indium-tin-oxide precursor gel and simultaneous formation of channel and source/drain in thin-film transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haga, Ken-ichi; Kamiya, Yuusuke; Tokumitsu, Eisuke

2018-02-01

We report on a new fabrication process for thin-film transistors (TFTs) with a new structure and a new operation principle. In this process, both the channel and electrode (source/drain) are formed simultaneously, using the same oxide material, using a single nano-rheology printing (n-RP) process, without any conventional lithography process. N-RP is a direct thermal imprint technique and deforms oxide precursor gel. To reduce the source/drain resistance, the material common to the channel and electrode is conductive indium-tin-oxide (ITO). The gate insulator is made of a ferroelectric material, whose high charge density can deplete the channel of the thin ITO film, which realizes the proposed operation principle. First, we have examined the n-RP conditions required for the channel and source/drain patterning, and found that the patterning properties are strongly affected by the cooling rate before separating the mold. Second, we have fabricated the TFTs as proposed and confirmed their TFT operation.

Sub-micron phase coexistence in small-molecule organic thin films revealed by infrared nano-imaging

PubMed Central

Westermeier, Christian; Cernescu, Adrian; Amarie, Sergiu; Liewald, Clemens; Keilmann, Fritz; Nickel, Bert

2014-01-01

Controlling the domain size and degree of crystallization in organic films is highly important for electronic applications such as organic photovoltaics, but suitable nanoscale mapping is very difficult. Here we apply infrared-spectroscopic nano-imaging to directly determine the local crystallinity of organic thin films with 20-nm resolution. We find that state-of-the-art pentacene films (grown on SiO2 at elevated temperature) are structurally not homogeneous but exhibit two interpenetrating phases at sub-micrometre scale, documented by a shifted vibrational resonance. We observe bulk-phase nucleation of distinct ellipsoidal shape within the dominant pentacene thin-film phase and also further growth during storage. A faint topographical contrast as well as X-ray analysis corroborates our interpretation. As bulk-phase nucleation obstructs carrier percolation paths within the thin-film phase, hitherto uncontrolled structural inhomogeneity might have caused conflicting reports about pentacene carrier mobility. Infrared-spectroscopic nano-imaging of nanoscale polymorphism should have many applications ranging from organic nanocomposites to geologic minerals. PMID:24916130

High-voltage nano-oxidation in deionized water and atmospheric environments by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Huang, Jen-Ching; Chen, Chung-Ming

2012-01-01

This study used atomic force microscopy (AFM), metallic probes with a nanoscale tip, and high-voltage generators to investigate the feasibility of high-voltage nano-oxidation processing in deionized water (DI water) and atmospheric environments. Researchers used a combination of wire-cutting and electrochemical etching to transform a 20-μm-thick stainless steel sheet into a conductive metallic AFM probe with a tip radius of 60 nm, capable of withstanding high voltages. The combination of AFM, high-voltage generators, and nanoscale metallic probes enabled nano-oxidation processing at 200 V in DI water environments, producing oxides up to 66.6 nm in height and 467.03 nm in width. Oxides produced through high-voltage nano-oxidation in atmospheric environments were 117.29 nm in height and 551.28 nm in width, considerably exceeding the dimensions of those produced in DI water. An increase in the applied bias voltage led to an apparent logarithmic increase in the height of the oxide dots in the range of 200-400 V. The performance of the proposed high-voltage nano-oxidation technique was relatively high with seamless integration between the AFM machine and the metallic probe fabricated in this study. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gold surface supported spherical liposome-gold nano-particle nano-composite for label free DNA sensing.

PubMed

Bhuvana, M; Narayanan, J Shankara; Dharuman, V; Teng, W; Hahn, J H; Jayakumar, K

2013-03-15

Immobilization of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) liposome-gold nano-particle (DOPE-AuNP) nano-composite covalently on 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) on gold surface is demonstrated for the first time for electrochemical label free DNA sensing. Spherical nature of the DOPE on the MPA monolayer is confirmed by the appearance of sigmoidal voltammetric profile, characteristic behavior of linear diffusion, for the MPA-DOPE in presence of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) and [Ru(NH(3))(6)](3+) redox probes. The DOPE liposome vesicle fusion is prevented by electroless deposition of AuNP on the hydrophilic amine head groups of the DOPE. Immobilization of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) is made via simple gold-thiol linkage for DNA hybridization sensing in the presence of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-). The sensor discriminates the hybridized (complementary target hybridized), un-hybridized (non-complementary target hybridized) and single base mismatch target hybridized surfaces sensitively and selectively without signal amplification. The lowest target DNA concentration detected is 0.1×10(-12)M. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance (EIS), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) techniques are used for DNA sensing on DOPE-AuNP nano-composite. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV) spectroscopic techniques are used to understand the interactions between the DOPE, AuNP and ssDNA. The results indicate the presence of an intact and well defined spherical DOPE-AuNP nano-composite on the gold surface. The method could be applied for fabrication of the surface based liposome-AuNP-DNA composite for cell transfection studies at reduced reagents and costs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Density functional theory studies on the nano-scaled composites consisted of graphene and acyl hydrazone molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, J. L.; Zhou, L.; Lv, Z. C.; Ding, C. H.; Wu, Y. H.; Bai, H. C.

2016-07-01

Graphene, which is the first obtained single atomic layer 2D materials, has drawn a great of concern in nano biotechnology due to the unique property. On one hand, acyl hydrazone compounds belonging to the Schif bases have aroused considerable attention in medicine, pharmacy, and analytical reagent. However, few understanding about the interaction between graphene and acyl hydrazone molecules is now available. And such investigations are much crucial for the applications of these new nano-scaled composites. The current work revealed theoretical investigations on the nano-scaled composites built by acyl hydrazone molecules loaded on the surface of graphene. The relative energy, electronic property and the interaction between the counterparts of graphene/acyl hydrazone composites are investigated based on the density functional theory calculations. According to the obtained adsorption energy, the formation of the nano-scaled composite from the isolated graphene and acyl hydrazone molecule is exothermic, and thus it is energetically favorable to form these nano composites in viewpoint of total energy change. The frontier molecular orbital for the nano composite is mainly distributed at the graphene part, leading to that the energy levels of the frontier molecular orbital of the nano composites are very close to that of isolated graphene. Moreover, the counterpart interaction for the graphene/acyl hydrazone composites is also explored based on the discussions of orbital hybridization, charge redistribution and Van der Waals interaction.

High content reduced graphene oxide reinforced copper with a bioinspired nano-laminated structure and large recoverable deformation ability

PubMed Central

Xiong, Ding-Bang; Cao, Mu; Guo, Qiang; Tan, Zhanqiu; Fan, Genlian; Li, Zhiqiang; Zhang, Di

2016-01-01

By using CuO/graphene-oxide/CuO sandwich-like nanosheets as the building blocks, bulk nacre-inspired copper matrix nano-laminated composite reinforced by molecular-level dispersed and ordered reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with content as high as ∼45 vol% was fabricated via a combined process of assembly, reduction and consolidation. Thanks to nanoconfinement effect, reinforcing effect, as well as architecture effect, the nanocomposite shows increased specific strength and at least one order of magnitude greater recoverable deformation ability as compared with monolithic Cu matrix. PMID:27647264

In Vitro Wear Resistance of Nano-Hybrid Composite Denture Teeth.

PubMed

Munshi, Nabeel; Rosenblum, Marc; Jiang, Shuying; Flinton, Robert

2017-04-01

To evaluate the wear resistance of nano-hybrid composite denture teeth as compared to two commonly used denture teeth: interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) and double crosslinking polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) denture teeth. 18 styli and 18 disk specimens were prepared from the three denture tooth materials: nano-hybrid composite, IPN, and double crosslinking PMMA. The specimens were mounted in a two-body wear testing machine to simulate chewing in the complete denture. The amount of wear from the styli specimens were measured before and after using a digital micrometer, and the depth of the wear track from the disk specimens was measured using a noncontact 3D optical profilometer. The total wear from each denture tooth group was compared using one-way ANOVA with a 0.05 significance level. A Tukey post hoc test was used to determine differences between the three groups. The mean total wear in the nano-hybrid composite teeth group was 1.16 mm, SD = 0.5 mm, statistically significantly higher (p ≤ 0.0001) than the IPN (mean = 0.13 mm, SD = 0.05) and double crosslinking PMMA tooth groups (mean = 0.31 mm, SD = 0.19). There was no statistically significant difference between IPN denture teeth and double crosslinking PMMA denture teeth in the amount of wear. Nano-hybrid composite denture teeth exhibited statistically significantly more wear than the IPN and double crosslinking PMMA denture teeth. © 2015 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

Nano polypeptide particles reinforced polymer composite fibers.

PubMed

Li, Jiashen; Li, Yi; Zhang, Jing; Li, Gang; Liu, Xuan; Li, Zhi; Liu, Xuqing; Han, Yanxia; Zhao, Zheng

2015-02-25

Because of the intensified competition of land resources for growing food and natural textile fibers, there is an urgent need to reuse and recycle the consumed/wasted natural fibers as regenerated green materials. Although polypeptide was extracted from wool by alkaline hydrolysis, the size of the polypeptide fragments could be reduced to nanoscale. The wool polypeptide particles were fragile and could be crushed down to nano size again and dispersed evenly among polymer matrix under melt extrusion condition. The nano polypeptide particles could reinforce antiultraviolet capability, moisture regain, and mechanical properties of the polymer-polypeptide composite fibers.

Induced nano-scale self-formed metal-oxide interlayer in amorphous silicon tin oxide thin film transistors.

PubMed

Liu, Xianzhe; Xu, Hua; Ning, Honglong; Lu, Kuankuan; Zhang, Hongke; Zhang, Xiaochen; Yao, Rihui; Fang, Zhiqiang; Lu, Xubing; Peng, Junbiao

2018-03-07

Amorphous Silicon-Tin-Oxide thin film transistors (a-STO TFTs) with Mo source/drain electrodes were fabricated. The introduction of a ~8 nm MoO x interlayer between Mo electrodes and a-STO improved the electron injection in a-STO TFT. Mo adjacent to the a-STO semiconductor mainly gets oxygen atoms from the oxygen-rich surface of a-STO film to form MoO x interlayer. The self-formed MoO x interlayer acting as an efficient interface modification layer could conduce to the stepwise internal transport barrier formation while blocking Mo atoms diffuse into a-STO layer, which would contribute to the formation of ohmic contact between Mo and a-STO film. It can effectively improve device performance, reduce cost and save energy for the realization of large-area display with high resolution in future.

Nitrate removal by Fe0/Pd/Cu nano-composite in groundwater.

PubMed

Liu, Hongyuan; Guo, Min; Zhang, Yan

2014-01-01

Nitrate pollution in groundwater shows a great threat to the safety of drinking water. Chemical reduction by zero-valent iron is being considered as a promising technique for nitrate removal from contaminated groundwater. In this paper, Fe0/Pd/Cu nano-composites were prepared by the liquid-phase reduction method, and batch experiments of nitrate reduction by the prepared Fe0/Pd/Cu nano-composites under various operating conditions were carried out. It has been found that nano-Fe0/Pd/Cu composites processed dual functions: catalytic reduction and chemical reduction. The introduction of Pd and Cu not only improved nitrate removal rate, but also reduced the generation of ammonia. Nitrate removal rate was affected by the amount of Fe0/Pd/Cu, initial nitrate concentration, solution pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), reaction temperature, the presence of anions, and organic pollutant. Moreover, nitrate reduction by Fe0/Pd/Cu composites followed the pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. The removal rate of nitrate and total nitrogen were about 85% and 40.8%, respectively, under the reaction condition of Fe-6.0%Pd-3.0%Cu amount of 0.25 g/L, pH value of 7.1, DO of 0.42 mg/L, and initial nitrate concentration of 100 mg/L. Compared with the previous studies with Fe0 alone or Fe-Cu, nano-Fe-6%Pd-3%Cu composites showed a better selectivity to N2.

Polymer-Attached Functional Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Nano-Composite Aerogels

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

drugs. The chemistry to synthesize polyamino- siloxane based aerogel composite was discussed. In addition, two approaches to synthesize PHEMA aerogel... Composite Aerogels DISTRIBUTION: Approved for public release, distribution unlimited This paper is part of the following report: TITLE: Materials...Proc. Vol. 740 © 2003 Materials Research Society 112.24 Polymer-Attached Functional Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Nano- composite Aerogels Xipeng Liu, Mingzhe

Nano Engineered Energetic Materials (NEEM)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-12

Al nanoparticles, owing to the surface oxidation of the unpassivated particles. The major drawback with utilizing organic capping groups is the...increases seen with nano-sized aluminum are promising, there are certain drawbacks . A thin layer of alumina (Al2O3) usually forms on the exterior...rocket motor by lowering the active aluminum content of the particles. Because of these drawbacks , surface protection in the form of coatings is

Preparations, Properties, and Applications of Periodic Nano Arrays using Anodized Aluminum Oxide and Di-block Copolymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noh, Kunbae

2011-12-01

Self-ordered arrangements observed in various materials systems such as anodic aluminum oxide, polystyrene nanoparticles, and block copolymer are of great interest in terms of providing new opportunities in nanofabrication field where lithographic techniques are broadly used in general. Investigations on self-assembled nano arrays to understand how to obtain periodic nano arrays in an efficient yet inexpensive way, and how to realize advanced material and device systems thereof, can lead to significant impacts on science and technology for many forefront device applications. In this thesis, various aspects of periodic nano-arrays have been discussed including novel preparations, properties and applications of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) and PS-b-P4VP (S4VP) di-block copolymer self-assembly. First, long-range ordered AAO arrays have been demonstrated. Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) process allowed a faithful pattern transfer of the imprint mold pattern onto Al thin film, and interesting self-healing and pattern tripling phenomena were observed, which could be applicable towards fabrication of the NIL master mold having highly dense pattern over large area, useful for fabrication of a large-area substrate for predictable positioning of arrayed devices. Second, S4VP diblock copolymer self-assembly and S4VP directed AAO self-assembly have been demonstrated in the Al thin film on Si substrate. Such a novel combination of two dissimilar self-assembly techniques demonstrated a potential as a versatile tool for nanopatterning formation on a Si substrate, capable of being integrated into Si process technology. As exemplary applications, vertically aligned Ni nanowires have been synthesized into an S4VP-guided AAO membrane on a Si substrate in addition to anti-dot structured [Co/Pd]n magnetic multilayer using S4VP self assembly. Third, a highly hexagonally ordered, vertically parallel aluminum oxide nanotube array was successfully fabricated via hard anodization technique

Negative Thermal Expansion and Ferroelectric Oxides in Electronic Device Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trujillo, Joy Elizabeth

Electronic devices increasingly pervade our daily lives, driving the need to develop components which have material properties that can be designed to target a specific need. The principle motive of this thesis is to investigate the effects of particle size and composition on three oxides which possess electronic and thermal properties essential to designing improved ceramic composites for more efficient, high energy storage devices. A metal matrix composite project used the negative thermal expansion oxide, ZrW2O 8, to offset the high thermal expansion of the metal matrix without sacrificing high thermal conductivity. Composite preparation employed a powder mixing technique to achieve easy composition control and homogenous phase distribution in order to build composites which target a specific coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). A tailorable CTE material is desirable for overcoming thermomechanical failure in heat sinks or device casings. This thesis also considers the particle size effect on dielectric properties in a common ferroelectric perovskite, Ba1-xSrxTiO 3. By varying the Ba:Sr ratio, the Curie temperature can be adjusted and by reducing the particle size, the dielectric constant can be increased and hysteresis decreased. These conditions could yield anonymously large dielectric constants near room temperature. However, the ferroelectric behavior has been observed to cease below a minimum size of a few tens of nanometers in bulk or thin film materials. Using a new particle slurry approach, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy allows dielectric properties to be determined for nanoparticles, as opposed to conventional methods which measure only bulk or thin film dielectric properties. In this manner, Ba1-xSrxTiO3 was investigated in a new size regime, extending the theory on the ferroelectric behavior to < 10 nm diameter. This knowledge will improve the potential to incorporate high dielectric constant, low loss ferroelectric nanoparticles in many

Strain-induced phenomenon in complex oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haislmaier, Ryan

Complex oxide materials wield an immense spectrum of functional properties such as ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, magnetoelectricity, optoelectricity, optomechanical, magnetoresistance, superconductivity, etc. The rich coupling between charge, spin, strain, and orbital degrees of freedom makes this material class extremely desirable and relevant for next generation electronic devices and technologies which are trending towards nanoscale dimensions. Development of complex oxide thin film materials is essential for realizing their integration into nanoscale electronic devices, where theoretically predicted multifunctional capabilities of oxides could add tremendous value. Employing thin film growth strategies such as epitaxial strain and heterostructure interface engineering can greatly enhance and even unlock novel material properties in complex oxides, which will be the main focus of this work. However, physically incorporating oxide materials into devices remains a challenge. While advancements in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of thin film oxide materials has led to the ability to grow oxide materials with atomic layer precision, there are still major limitations such as controlling stoichiometric compositions during growth as well as creating abrupt interfaces in multi-component layered oxide structures. The work done in this thesis addresses ways to overcome these limitations in order to harness intrinsic material phenomena. The development of adsorption-controlled stoichiometric growth windows of CaTiO3 and SrTiO3 thin film materials grown by hybrid MBE where Ti is supplied using metal-organic titanium tetraisopropoxide material is thoroughly outlined. These growth windows enable superior epitaxial strain-induced ferroelectric and dielectric properties to be accessed as demonstrated by chemical, structural, electrical, and optical characterization techniques. For tensile strained CaTiO3 and compressive strained SrTiO 3 films, the critical effects of

Two-year clinical comparison of a flowable-type nano-hybrid composite and a paste-type composite in posterior restoration.

PubMed

Hirata-Tsuchiya, Shizu; Yoshii, Shinji; Ichimaru-Suematsu, Miki; Washio, Ayako; Saito, Noriko; Urata, Mariko; Hanada, Kaori; Morotomi, Takahiko; Kitamura, Chiaki

2017-08-01

The purpose of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy between a flowable-type nano-hybrid composite and a paste-type composite for posterior restoration. Of 62 posterior teeth in 33 patients (mean age: 34.1 years), 31 were filled with a paste-type composite (Heliomolar [HM] group), and another 31 with a flowable nano-hybrid composite (MI FIL [MI] group). Clinical efficacy was evaluated at 2 years after the restoration. There were no differences for retention, surface texture deterioration, anatomical form change, deterioration of marginal adaptation, and secondary caries, while a statistical difference was found for marginal discoloration, which was significantly greater in the HM group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, color matching in the MI group was superior to that in the HM group immediately after the restoration throughout the study period. The present 2-year clinical evaluation of different composites showed that the flowable nano-hybrid composite could be an effective esthetic material for posterior restoration. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Synthesis, characterization and oxidation of metallic cobalt (Co) thin film into semiconducting cobalt oxide (Co3O4)thin film using microwave plasma CVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman Ansari, Akhalakur; Hussain, Shahir; Imran, Mohd; Abdel-wahab, M. Sh; Alshahrie, Ahmed

2018-06-01

The pure cobalt thin film was deposited on the glass substrate by using DC magnetron sputtering and then exposed to microwave assist oxygen plasma generated in microwave plasma CVD. The oxidation process of Co thin film into Co3O4 thin films with different microwave power and temperature were studied. The influences of microwave power, temperature and irradiation time were investigated on the morphology and particle size of oxide thin films. The crystal structure, chemical conformation, morphologies and optical properties of oxidized Co thin films (Co3O4) were studied by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Raman Spectroscopy and UV–vis Spectroscopy. The data of these films showed complete oxidation pure metallic cobalt (Co) into cobalt oxide (Co3O4). The optical properties were studied for calculating the direct band gaps which ranges from 1.35 to 1.8 eV.

Novel antifouling nano-enhanced thin-film composite membrane containing cross-linkable acrylate-alumoxane nanoparticles for water softening.

PubMed

Ghaemi, Negin

2017-01-01

A novel thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membrane was prepared using polymerization of pyrrole monomers on the PES ultrafiltration membrane. To improve the characteristics of hydrophobic polypyrrole (PPy) thin-film layer, cross-linkable acrylate-functionalized alumoxane nanoparticles with different concentrations were embedded into the thin-film during polymerization process, and thin-film nanocomposite (TFNC) membranes were prepared. The characteristics and performance of TFC and TFNC membranes were assessed through the morphological analyses (SEM, AFM), measurement of hydrophilicity and solid-liquid interfacial free energy, water permeability and Mg 2+ removal tests. Addition of proper amount of nanoparticles into the polymerization mixture led to the preparation of membranes with more hydrophilic, thinner and smoother active layer as well as higher water permeability compared to TFC control membrane. TFNC membrane prepared with 0.025g of nanoparticles was the most efficient membrane since it exhibited the highest rejection of MgCl 2 and MgSO 4 salts. Antifouling capability of membranes, in terms of flux recovery and fouling parameters, demonstrated the high tolerance of TFNC against fouling. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of HAP nano rods and processing of nano-size ceramic reinforced poly(L)lactic acid composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flanigan, Kyle Yusef

2000-09-01

Bone is unique among the various connective tissues in that it is a composite of organic and inorganic components. Calcium phosphates occur principally in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals {Ca10(PO4) 6(OH)2}. Secreted apatite crystals are integral to the structural rigidity of the bone. When a bone breaks, there is often a need to implant an orthotic device to support the broken bone during remodeling. Current technologies use either metal pins and screws that need to be removed (by surgery) once the healing is complete or polymeric materials that either get resorbed or are porous enough to allow bone ingrowth. Poly(L)Lactic acid and copolymers of polyglycolic acid (PGA) are thermoplastics which show promise as the matrix material in biosorbable/load bearing implants. In service this material is hydrolyzed generating water and L-lactate. Orthoses composed of neat PLLA resins require greater than three years for complete resorbtion, however; 95% of strength is lost in 2 to 3 weeks in-vitro. This has limited the deployment of load bearing PLLA to screws, pins or short bracing spans. There exists a need for the development of an implantable and biosorbable orthotic device which will retain its structural integrity long enough for remodeling and healing process to generate new bone material, about 10 weeks. The scope of this dissertation is the development of HAP nano-whisker reinforcement and a HAP/PLLA thermoplastic composite. As proof of the feasibility of generating nano-reinforcement PLLA-composites, the surface of a galleried clay, montmorillonite, was modified and clay/PLLA composites processed and then characterized. Hydroxyapatite nano-whiskers were synthesized and functionalized using organosilanes and Menhaden fish-oil (common organic dispersant). The functionalized nano-fibers were used to process HAP/PLLA composites. Characterization techniques included thermal analysis, magnetic spectroscopy, XRD and ICP analysis and electron microscopy. The

Synthesis of Ag-TiO2 composite nano thin film for antimicrobial application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Binyu; Leung, Kar Man; Guo, Qiuquan; Lau, Woon Ming; Yang, Jun

2011-03-01

TiO2 photocatalysts have been found to kill cancer cells, bacteria and viruses under mild UV illumination, which offers numerous potential applications. On the other hand, Ag has long been proved as a good antibacterial material as well. The advantage of Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite is to expand the nanomaterial's antibacterial function to a broader range of working conditions. In this study neat TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 composite nanofilms were successfully prepared on silicon wafer via the sol-gel method by the spin-coating technique. The as-prepared composite Ag-TiO2 and TiO2 films with different silver content were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to determine the topologies, microstructures and chemical compositions, respectively. It was found that the silver nanoparticles were uniformly distributed and strongly attached to the mesoporous TiO2 matrix. The morphology of the composite film could be controlled by simply tuning the molar ratio of the silver nitrate aqueous solution. XPS results confirmed that the Ag was in the Ag0 state. The antimicrobial effect of the synthesized nanofilms was carried out against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 29425) by using an 8 W UV lamp with a constant relative intensity of 0.6 mW cm - 2 and in the dark respectively. The synthesized Ag-TiO2 thin films showed enhanced bactericidal activities compared to the neat TiO2 nanofilm both in the dark and under UV illumination.

Marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations.

PubMed

Park, So-Hyun; Yoo, Yeon-Jee; Shin, Yoo-Jin; Cho, Byeong-Hoon; Baek, Seung-Ho

2016-02-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD-CAM restorations. A full veneer crown and an mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) inlay cavity, which were prepared on extracted human molars, were used as templates of epoxy resin replicas. The prepared teeth were scanned and CAD-CAM restorations were milled using Lava Ultimate (LU) and experimental nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks (EB) under the same milling parameters. To assess the marginal and internal fit, the restorations were cemented to replicas and were embedded in an acrylic mold for sectioning at 0.5 mm intervals. The measured gap data were pooled according to the block types and measuring points for statistical analysis. Both the block type and measuring point significantly affected gap values, and their interaction was significant (p = 0.000). In crowns and inlays made from the two blocks, gap values were significantly larger in the occlusal area than in the axial area, while gap values in the marginal area were smallest (p < 0.001). Among the blocks, the restorations milled from EB had a significantly larger gap at all measuring points than those milled from LU (p = 0.000). The marginal and internal gaps of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks differed according to the measuring points. Among the internal area of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations, occlusal gap data were significantly larger than axial gap data. The EB crowns and inlays had significantly larger gaps than LU restorations.

Marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations

PubMed Central

Park, So-Hyun; Shin, Yoo-Jin

2016-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD-CAM restorations. Materials and Methods A full veneer crown and an mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) inlay cavity, which were prepared on extracted human molars, were used as templates of epoxy resin replicas. The prepared teeth were scanned and CAD-CAM restorations were milled using Lava Ultimate (LU) and experimental nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks (EB) under the same milling parameters. To assess the marginal and internal fit, the restorations were cemented to replicas and were embedded in an acrylic mold for sectioning at 0.5 mm intervals. The measured gap data were pooled according to the block types and measuring points for statistical analysis. Results Both the block type and measuring point significantly affected gap values, and their interaction was significant (p = 0.000). In crowns and inlays made from the two blocks, gap values were significantly larger in the occlusal area than in the axial area, while gap values in the marginal area were smallest (p < 0.001). Among the blocks, the restorations milled from EB had a significantly larger gap at all measuring points than those milled from LU (p = 0.000). Conclusions The marginal and internal gaps of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks differed according to the measuring points. Among the internal area of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations, occlusal gap data were significantly larger than axial gap data. The EB crowns and inlays had significantly larger gaps than LU restorations. PMID:26877989

Optical, structural and electrochromic properties of sputter- deposited W-Mo oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gesheva, K.; Arvizu, M. A.; Bodurov, G.; Ivanova, T.; Niklasson, G. A.; Iliev, M.; Vlakhov, T.; Terzijska, P.; Popkirov, G.; Abrashev, M.; Boyadjiev, S.; Jágerszki, G.; Szilágyi, I. M.; Marinov, Y.

2016-10-01

Thin metal oxide films were investigated by a series of characterization techniques including impedance spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy. Thin film deposition by reactive DC magnetron sputtering was performed at the Ångström Laboratory. W and Mo targets (5 cm diameter) and various oxygen gas flows were employed to prepare samples with different properties, whereas the gas pressure was kept constant at about 30 mTorr. The substrates were 5×5 cm2 plates of unheated glass pre-coated with ITO having a resistance of 40 ohm/sq. Film thicknesses were around 300 nm as determined by surface profilometry. Newly acquired equipment was used to study optical spectra, optoelectronic properties, and film structure. Films of WO3 and of mixed W- Mo oxide with three compositions showed coloring and bleaching under the application of a small voltage. Cyclic voltammograms were recorded with a scan rate of 5 mV s-1. Ellipsometric data for the optical constants show dependence on the amount of MoOx in the chemical composition. Single MoOx film, and the mixed one with only 8% MoOx have the highest value of refractive index, and similar dispersion in the visible spectral range. Raman spectra displayed strong lines at wavenumbers between 780 cm-1 and 950 cm-1 related to stretching vibrations of WO3, and MoO3. AFM gave evidence for domains of different composition in mixed W-Mo oxide films.

Atomic-Layer-Deposition of Indium Oxide Nano-films for Thin-Film Transistors.

PubMed

Ma, Qian; Zheng, He-Mei; Shao, Yan; Zhu, Bao; Liu, Wen-Jun; Ding, Shi-Jin; Zhang, David Wei

2018-01-09

Atomic-layer-deposition (ALD) of In 2 O 3 nano-films has been investigated using cyclopentadienyl indium (InCp) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) as precursors. The In 2 O 3 films can be deposited preferentially at relatively low temperatures of 160-200 °C, exhibiting a stable growth rate of 1.4-1.5 Å/cycle. The surface roughness of the deposited film increases gradually with deposition temperature, which is attributed to the enhanced crystallization of the film at a higher deposition temperature. As the deposition temperature increases from 150 to 200 °C, the optical band gap (E g ) of the deposited film rises from 3.42 to 3.75 eV. In addition, with the increase of deposition temperature, the atomic ratio of In to O in the as-deposited film gradually shifts towards that in the stoichiometric In 2 O 3 , and the carbon content also reduces by degrees. For 200 °C deposition temperature, the deposited film exhibits an In:O ratio of 1:1.36 and no carbon incorporation. Further, high-performance In 2 O 3 thin-film transistors with an Al 2 O 3 gate dielectric were achieved by post-annealing in air at 300 °C for appropriate time, demonstrating a field-effect mobility of 7.8 cm 2 /V⋅s, a subthreshold swing of 0.32 V/dec, and an on/off current ratio of 10 7 . This was ascribed to passivation of oxygen vacancies in the device channel.

van der Waals interaction between a moving nano-cylinder and a liquid thin film.

PubMed

Ledesma-Alonso, René; Raphaël, Elie; Salez, Thomas; Tordjeman, Philippe; Legendre, Dominique

2017-05-24

We study the static and dynamic interaction between a horizontal cylindrical nano-probe and a thin liquid film. The effects of the physical and geometrical parameters, with a special focus on the film thickness, the probe speed, and the distance between the probe and the free surface are analyzed. Deformation profiles have been computed numerically from a Reynolds lubrication equation, coupled to a modified Young-Laplace equation, which takes into account the probe/liquid and the liquid/substrate non-retarded van der Waals interactions. We have found that the film thickness and the probe speed have a significant effect on the threshold separation distance below which the jump-to-contact instability is triggered. These results encourage the use of horizontal cylindrical nano-probes to scan thin liquid films, in order to determine either the physical or geometrical properties of the latter, through the measurement of interaction forces.

High Dielectric Performance of Solution-Processed Aluminum Oxide-Boron Nitride Composite Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Byoung-Soo; Ha, Tae-Jun

2018-04-01

The material compositions of oxide films have been extensively investigated in an effort to improve the electrical characteristics of dielectrics which have been utilized in various electronic devices such as field-effect transistors, and storage capacitors. Significantly, solution-based compositions have attracted considerable attention as a highly effective and practical technique to replace vacuum-based process in large-area. Here, we demonstrate solution-processed composite films consisting of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and boron nitride (BN), which exhibit remarkable dielectric properties through the optimization process. The leakage current of the optimized Al2O3-BN thin films was decreased by a factor of 100 at 3V, compared to pristine Al2O3 thin film without a loss of the dielectric constant or degradation of the morphological roughness. The characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed that the incorporation of BN with an optimized concentration into the Al2O3 dielectric film reduced the density of oxygen vacancies which act as defect states, thereby improving the dielectric characteristics.

Pulsed photonic fabrication of nanostructured metal oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourgeois, Briley B.; Luo, Sijun; Riggs, Brian C.; Adireddy, Shiva; Chrisey, Douglas B.

2017-09-01

Nanostructured metal oxide thin films with a large specific surface area are preferable for practical device applications in energy conversion and storage. Herein, we report instantaneous (milliseconds) photonic synthesis of three-dimensional (3-D) nanostructured metal oxide thin films through the pulsed photoinitiated pyrolysis of organometallic precursor films made by chemical solution deposition. High wall-plug efficiency-pulsed photonic irradiation (xenon flash lamp, pulse width of 1.93 ms, fluence of 7.7 J/cm2 and frequency of 1.2 Hz) is used for scalable photonic processing. The photothermal effect of subsequent pulses rapidly improves the crystalline quality of nanocrystalline metal oxide thin films in minutes. The following paper highlights pulsed photonic fabrication of 3-D nanostructured TiO2, Co3O4, and Fe2O3 thin films, exemplifying a promising new method for the low-cost and high-throughput manufacturing of nanostructured metal oxide thin films for energy applications.

Compositional and structural analysis of nitrogen incorporated and ion implanted diamond thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garratt, Elias James

Significant progress in area of nano-structured thin film systems has taken place in recent decades. In particular, diamond thin film systems are being widely studied for their wear resistant, optical and electronic properties. Of the various methods researchers use to modify the structure of such films, three techniques in particular are of interest due to their versatility: modification of the growth atmosphere, growth on metalized substrates, providing an interfacial layer, and modification through post-growth ion implantation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects each has to the structure and composition of elements. Different techniques are applied in each section; nitrogen gas dilution in a microwave plasma CVD system, diamond deposition on a metal interfacial layer and ion implantation in thin nanocrystalline diamond film. The forms of nanocrystalline diamond film resulting from such modifications are investigated using advanced spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, as well as mechanical testing and surface mapping. The impact of these characterizations will provide valuable perspective to researchers in materials science. Understanding the changes to the structure and properties of this class of thin films, which can be induced through various mechanisms, will allow future researchers to refine these films towards technological applications in areas of hard coatings, electronics and photonics.

Effect of morphology and solvent on two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kavitha, M.K.; Haripadmam, P.C.; Gopinath, Pramod

Highlights: ► ZnO nanospheres and triangular structures synthesis by novel precipitation technique. ► The effect of precursor concentration on the size and shape of nano ZnO. ► Open aperture Z-scan measurements of the ZnO nanoparticle dispersions. ► Nanospheres exhibit higher two photon absorption coefficient than triangular nanostructures. ► Nanospheres dispersed in water exhibit higher two photon absorption coefficient than its dispersion in 2-propanol. - Abstract: In this paper, we report the effect of morphology and solvent on the two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide. Zinc oxide nanoparticles in two different morphologies like nanospheres and triangular nanostructures are synthesized by novelmore » precipitation technique and their two-photon absorption coefficient is measured using open aperture Z-scan technique. Experimental results show that the zinc oxide nanospheres exhibit higher two-photon absorption coefficient than the zinc oxide triangular nanostructures. The zinc oxide nanospheres dispersed in water exhibit higher two-photon absorption coefficient than that of its dispersion in 2-propanol. The zinc oxide nanospheres dispersed in water shows a decrease in two-photon absorption coefficient with an increase in on-axis irradiance. The result confirms the dependence of shape and solvent on the two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide.« less

Environmental risk assessment of engineered nano-SiO2 , nano iron oxides, nano-CeO2 , nano-Al2 O3 , and quantum dots.

PubMed

Wang, Yan; Nowack, Bernd

2018-05-01

Many research studies have endeavored to investigate the ecotoxicological hazards of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). However, little is known regarding the actual environmental risks of ENMs, combining both hazard and exposure data. The aim of the present study was to quantify the environmental risks for nano-Al 2 O 3 , nano-SiO 2 , nano iron oxides, nano-CeO 2 , and quantum dots by comparing the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) with the predicted-no-effect concentrations (PNECs). The PEC values of these 5 ENMs in freshwaters in 2020 for northern Europe and southeastern Europe were taken from a published dynamic probabilistic material flow analysis model. The PNEC values were calculated using probabilistic species sensitivity distribution (SSD). The order of the PNEC values was quantum dots < nano-CeO 2  < nano iron oxides < nano-Al 2 O 3  < nano-SiO 2 . The risks posed by these 5 ENMs were demonstrated to be in the reverse order: nano-Al 2 O 3  > nano-SiO 2  > nano iron oxides > nano-CeO 2  > quantum dots. However, all risk characterization values are 4 to 8 orders of magnitude lower than 1, and no risk was therefore predicted for any of the investigated ENMs at the estimated release level in 2020. Compared to static models, the dynamic material flow model allowed us to use PEC values based on a more complex parameterization, considering a dynamic input over time and time-dependent release of ENMs. The probabilistic SSD approach makes it possible to include all available data to estimate hazards of ENMs by considering the whole range of variability between studies and material types. The risk-assessment approach is therefore able to handle the uncertainty and variability associated with the collected data. The results of the present study provide a scientific foundation for risk-based regulatory decisions of the investigated ENMs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1387-1395. © 2018 SETAC. © 2018 SETAC.

Binary metal oxide nanoparticle incorporated composite multilayer thin films for sono-photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gokul, Paramasivam; Vinoth, Ramalingam; Neppolian, Bernaurdshaw; Anandhakumar, Sundaramurthy

2017-10-01

We report reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supported binary metal oxide (CuO-TiO2/rGO) nanoparticle (NP) incorporated multilayer thin films based on Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly for enhanced sono-photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under exposure to UV radiation. Multilayer thin films were fabricated on glass and quartz slides, and investigated using scanning electron microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The loading of catalyst NPs on the film resulted in the change of morphology of the film from smooth to rough with uniformly distributed NPs on the surface. The growth of the control and NP incorporated films followed a linear regime as a function of number of layers. The%degradation of methyl orange as a function of time was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements. Complete degradation of methyl orange was achieved within 13 h. The amount of NP loading in the film significantly influenced the%degradation of methyl orange. Catalyst reusability studies revealed that the catalyst thin films could be repeatedly used for up to five times without any change in photocatalytic activity of the films. The findings of the present study support that the binary metal oxide catalyst films reported here are very useful for continuous systems, and thus, making it an option for scale up.

Structural, morphological and optical properties of PEDOT:PSS/QDs nano-composite films prepared by spin-casting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najeeb, Mansoor Ani; Abdullah, Shahino Mah; Aziz, Fakhra; Ahmad, Zubair; Rafique, Saqib; Wageh, S.; Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed A.; Sulaiman, Khaulah; Touati, Farid; Shakoor, R. A.; Al-Thani, N. J.

2016-09-01

This paper describes the structural, morphological and optical properties of the nano-composite of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and quantum dots (QDs). The ZnSe and CdSe QDs have been synthesized, with the aid of Mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), by a colloidal method with an average size of 5 to 7 nm. QDs have been embedded in PEDOT:PSS using a simple solution processing approach and has been deposited as thin films by spin coating technique. The QDs embedded PEDOT:PSS enhances the light absorption spectra of samples, prominently in terms of absorption intensity which may consequently improve sensitivity of the optoelectronic devices.

Thermoelectric properties of SrTiO3 nano-particles dispersed indium selenide bulk composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Min Ho; Rhyee, Jong-Soo; Vaseem, Mohammad; Hahn, Yoon-Bong; Park, Su-Dong; Jin Kim, Hee; Kim, Sung-Jin; Lee, Hyeung Jin; Kim, Chilsung

2013-06-01

We investigated the thermoelectric properties of the InSe, InSe/In4Se3 composite, and SrTiO3 (STO) nano-particles dispersed InSe/In4Se3 bulk composites. The electrical conductivity of the InSe/In4Se3 composite with self-assembled phase separation is significantly increased compared with those of InSe and In4Se3-δ implying the enhancement of surface conductivity between grain boundaries. The thermal conductivity of InSe/In4Se3 composite is decreased compared to those of InSe. When the STO nano-particle dispersion was employed in the InSe/In4Se3 composite, a coherent interface was observed between nano-particle precipitates and the InSe bulk matrix with a reduction of the thermal conductivity.

Understanding and Quantifying the Reactivity of Energetic NanoParticles and NanoComposites

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-05

Aerosol Synthesis and Reactivity of Thin Oxide Shell Aluminum Nanoparticles via Fluorocarboxylic Acid Functional Coating, Particle & Particle...Received Paper 3.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 X. Ma and M.R. Zachariah. " Oxidation Anisotropy and Size Dependent Reaction Kinetics of Zinc ...in the reaction. Experiments also conducted for neat Al, CuO, Fe2O3 and ZnO powders show that the oxygen are produced by decomposition of oxidizer

Combustion synthesized indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin film for source/drain electrodes in all solution-processed oxide thin-film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tue, Phan Trong; Inoue, Satoshi; Takamura, Yuzuru; Shimoda, Tatsuya

2016-06-01

We report combustion solution synthesized (SCS) indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin film, which is a well-known transparent conductive oxide, for source/drain (S/D) electrodes in solution-processed amorphous zirconium-indium-zinc-oxide TFT. A redox-based combustion synthetic approach is applied to ITO thin film using acetylacetone as a fuel and metal nitrate as oxidizer. The structural and electrical properties of SCS-ITO precursor solution and thin films were systematically investigated with changes in tin concentration, indium metal precursors, and annealing conditions such as temperature, time, and ambient. It was found that at optimal conditions the SCS-ITO thin film exhibited high crystalline quality, atomically smooth surface (RMS ~ 4.1 Å), and low electrical resistivity (4.2 × 10-4 Ω cm). The TFT using SCS-ITO film as the S/D electrodes showed excellent electrical properties with negligible hysteresis. The obtained "on/off" current ratio, subthreshold swing factor, subthreshold voltage, and field-effect mobility were 5 × 107, 0.43 V/decade, 0.7 V, and 2.1 cm2/V s, respectively. The performance and stability of the SCS-ITO TFT are comparable to those of the sputtered-ITO TFT, emphasizing that the SCS-ITO film is a promising candidate for totally solution-processed oxide TFTs.

Formation and anisotropic magnetoresistance of Co/Pt nano-contacts through aluminum oxide barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Mahdawi, Muftah; Sahashi, Masashi

2014-01-01

We report on the observation of anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in vertical asymmetric nano-contacts (NCs) made through AlOx nano-oxide layer (NOL) formed by ion-assisted oxidation method in the film stack of Co/AlOx-NOL/Pt. Analysis of NC formation was based on in situ conductive atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Depending on the purity of NCs from Al contamination, we observed up to 29% AMR ratio at room temperature.

Phase and electrical properties of PZT thin films embedded with CuO nano-particles by a hybrid sol-gel route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sreesattabud, Tharathip; Gibbons, Brady J.; Watcharapasorn, Anucha; Jiansirisomboon, Sukanda

2013-07-01

Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 or PZT thin films embedded with CuO nano-particles were successfully prepared by a hybrid sol-gel process. In this process, CuO (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 1 wt. %) nanopowder was suspended in an organometallic solution of PZT, and then coated on platinised silicon substrate using a spin-coating technique. The influence of CuO nano-particles' dispersion on the phase of PZT thin films was investigated. XRD results showed a perovskite phase in all films. At the CuO concentration of 0.4-1 wt. %, a second phase was observed. The addition of CuO nano-particles affected the orientation of PZT thin films. The addition was also found to reduce the ferroelectric properties of PZT thin films. However, at 0.2 wt. % CuO concentration, the film exhibited good ferroelectric properties similar to those of PZT films. In addition, the fatigue retention properties of the PZT/CuO system was observed, and it showed 14% fatigue at 108 switching bipolar pulse cycles while the fatigue in PZT thin films was found to be 17% at the same switching bipolar pulse cycles.

The Evolution of Fabricated Gold Thin Films to Nano-Micro Particles Under Thermal Annealing Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajivaliei, Mahdi; Nazari, Saeed

2016-06-01

Gold (Au) thin films with thickness of 35nm were prepared by electron beam deposition onto flat glass substrates under high vacuum (5.3×10-3Pa) condition and they were annealed in the range of 573-873 K for 1 and 2h in atmospheric pressure. The influence of the annealing temperature on the evolution of Au thin film to nano-micro particles was studied. Moreover, the basic properties of the films, namely morphological, structural and optical were investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the Au thin films were cubic structure phase with lattice parameter around a=4.0786Å. The most preferential orientation is along (111) planes for all Au films. The lattice parameter and grain size in the films were calculated by X-ray patterns and correlated with annealing temperatures. The obtained results of ultraviolet-visible spectrometry (UV-Vis) indicate that with increasing annealing temperature, the surface plasmon resonance peak of gold nanocrystallite will disappear which implies the size of particles are grown. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) results show that the prepared gold thin films have been converted to nano-micro gold particles in different annealing temperatures. These results lead to controlling the size of produced nanocrystallite.

Preparation and mechanical properties of photo-crosslinked poly(trimethylene carbonate) and nano-hydroxyapatite composites.

PubMed

Geven, Mike A; Barbieri, Davide; Yuan, Huipin; de Bruijn, Joost D; Grijpma, Dirk W

2015-01-01

Composite materials of photo-crosslinked poly(trimethylene carbonate) and nanoscale hydroxyapatite were prepared and their mechanical characteristics for application as orbital floor implants were assessed. The composites were prepared by solvent casting poly(trimethylene carbonate) macromers with varying amounts of nano-hydroxyapatite and subsequent photo-crosslinking. The incorporation of the nano-hydroxyapatite into the composites was examined by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and gel content measurements. The mechanical properties were investigated by tensile testing and trouser tearing experiments. Our results show that nano-hydroxyapatite particles can readily be incorporated into photo-crosslinked poly(trimethylene carbonate) networks. Compared to the networks without nano-hydroxyapatite, incorporation of 36.3 wt.% of the apatite resulted in an increase of the E modulus, yield strength and tensile strength from 2.2 MPa to 51 MPa, 0.5 to 1.4 N/mm2 and from 1.3 to 3.9 N/mm2, respectively. We found that composites containing 12.4 wt.% nano-hydroxyapatite had the highest values of strain at break, toughness and average tear propagation strength (376% , 777 N/mm2 and 3.1 N/mm2, respectively).

Initial stage oxidation on nano-trenched Si(1 0 0) surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yu; Liu, Yi-Lun; Izumi, Satoshi; Chen, Xue-Feng; Zhai, Zhi; Tian, Shao-Hua

2018-01-01

As the size of an electronic element shrinks to nanoscale, trench design of Si strongly influences the performance of related semiconductor devices. By reactive force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF MD) simulation, the initial stage oxidation on nano-trenched Si(1 0 0) angled 60°, 90°, 120°, 150° under temperatures from 300 K to 1200 K has been studied. Inhomogeneous oxidation at the convex-concave corners of the Si surface was observed. In general, the initial oxidation process on the Si surface was that, firstly, the O atoms ballistically transported into surface, then a high O concentration induced compressive stress at the surface layers, which prevented further oxidation. Compared to the concave corner, the convex one contacted a larger volume of oxygen at the very beginning stage, leading an anisotropic absorption of O atoms. Afterwards, a critical compression was produced at both the convex and concave corners to limit the oxidation. As a result, an inhomogeneous oxide film grew on nano-trenched Si. Meanwhile, due to enhanced O transport and compression relaxation by increasing temperature, the inhomogeneous oxidation was more obvious under 1200 K. These present results explained the observed experimental phenomena on the oxidation of non-planar Si and provided an aspect on the design of nano-trenched electronic components in the semiconductor field.

Amorphous Mixed-Metal Oxide Thin Films from Aqueous Solution Precursors with Near-Atomic Smoothness.

PubMed

Kast, Matthew G; Cochran, Elizabeth A; Enman, Lisa J; Mitchson, Gavin; Ditto, Jeffrey; Siefe, Chris; Plassmeyer, Paul N; Greenaway, Ann L; Johnson, David C; Page, Catherine J; Boettcher, Shannon W

2016-12-28

Thin films with tunable and homogeneous composition are required for many applications. We report the synthesis and characterization of a new class of compositionally homogeneous thin films that are amorphous solid solutions of Al 2 O 3 and transition metal oxides (TMO x ) including VO x , CrO x , MnO x , Fe 2 O 3 , CoO x , NiO, CuO x , and ZnO. The synthesis is enabled by the rapid decomposition of molecular transition-metal nitrates TM(NO 3 ) x at low temperature along with precondensed oligomeric Al(OH) x (NO 3 ) 3-x cluster species, both of which can be processed from aq solution. The films are dense, ultrasmooth (R rms < 1 nm, near 0.1 nm in many cases), and atomically mixed amorphous metal-oxide alloys over a large composition range. We assess the chemical principles that favor the formation of amorphous homogeneous films over rougher phase-segregated nanocrystalline films. The synthesis is easily extended to other compositions of transition and main-group metal oxides. To demonstrate versatility, we synthesized amorphous V 0.1 Cr 0.1 Mn 0.1 Fe 0.1 Zn 0.1 Al 0.5 O x and V 0.2 Cr 0.2 Fe 0.2 Al 0.4 O x with R rms ≈ 0.1 nm and uniform composition. The combination of ideal physical properties (dense, smooth, uniform) and broad composition tunability provides a platform for film synthesis that can be used to study fundamental phenomena when the effects of transition metal cation identity, solid-state concentration of d-electrons or d-states, and/or crystallinity need to be controlled. The new platform has broad potential use in controlling interfacial phenomena such as electron transfer in solar-cell contacts or surface reactivity in heterogeneous catalysis.

Evaluation of shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded with nano-filled composites.

PubMed

Chalipa, Javad; Akhondi, Mohammad Sadegh Ahmad; Arab, Sepideh; Kharrazifard, Mohammad Javad; Ahmadyar, Maryam

2013-09-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded with two types of nano-composites in comparison to a conventional orthodontic composite. Sixty extracted human first premolars were randomly divided into 3 groups each containing 20 teeth. In group I, a conventional orthodontic composite (Transbond XT) was used to bond the brackets, while two nano-composites (Filtek TM Supreme XT and AELITE Aesthetic Enamel) were used in groups II and III respectively. The teeth were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 hours, thermocycled in distilled water and debonded with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The adhesive remnant index (ARI) was also evaluated using a stereomicroscope. AELITE Aesthetic Enamel nano-composite revealed a SBS value of 8.44±2.09 MPa, which was higher than Transbond XT (6.91±2.13) and Filtek TM Supreme XT (6.04±2.01). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between groups II and III (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between groups I and III, and between groups I and II (P > 0.05). Evaluation of ARI showed that Transbond XT left fewer adhesive remains on teeth after debonding. Results of this study indicate that the aforementioned nano-composites can be successfully used for bonding orthodontic brackets.

Polyurethane/nano-hydroxyapatite composite films as osteogenic platforms.

PubMed

Jackson, Bailey K; Bow, Austin J; Kannarpady, Ganesh; Biris, Alexandru S; Anderson, David E; Dhar, Madhu; Bourdo, Shawn E

2018-08-01

A wide variety of biomaterials are utilized in tissue engineering to promote cell proliferations in vitro or tissue growth in vivo. The combination of cells, extracellular matrices, and biocompatible materials may make it possible to grow functional living tissues ranging from bone to nerve cells. In bone regeneration, polymeric scaffolds can be enhanced by the addition of bioactive materials. To this end, this study designed several ratios of polyurethane (PU) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) composites (PU-nHA ratios: 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40 w/w). The physical and mechanical properties of these composites and their relative cellular compatibility in vitro were determined. The chemical composition and crystallinity of the composites were confirmed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses. Atomic force microscopy, nano-indentation, and contact angle measurements were used to evaluate surface properties. The results showed a significant increase in surface roughness and a decrease in contact angle when the nHA concentration increased above 20%, resulting in a significant increase in hydrophilicity. These surface property changes influenced cellular behavior when MC 3T3-E1 cells were seeded on the composites. All composites were cytocompatible. There was a linear increase in cell proliferation on the 80/20 and 70/30 composites only, whereas subjective evaluation demonstrated noticeable clusters or nodules of cells (considered hallmarks of osteogenic differentiation) in the absence of any osteogenic inducers only on the 90/10 and 80/20 composites. Cellular data suggests that the 80/20 composite was an optimal environment for cell adhesion, proliferation, and, potentially, osteogenic differentiation in vitro.

Nanostructured tungsten trioxide thin films synthesized for photoelectrocatalytic water oxidation: a review.

PubMed

Zhu, Tao; Chong, Meng Nan; Chan, Eng Seng

2014-11-01

The recent developments of nanostructured WO3 thin films synthesized through the electrochemical route of electrochemical anodization and cathodic electrodeposition for the application in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting are reviewed. The key fundamental reaction mechanisms of electrochemical anodization and cathodic electrodeposition methods for synthesizing nanostructured WO3 thin films are explained. In addition, the effects of metal oxide precursors, electrode substrates, applied potentials and current densities, and annealing temperatures on size, composition, and thickness of the electrochemically synthesized nanostructured WO3 thin films are elucidated in detail. Finally, a summary is given for the general evaluation practices used to calculate the energy conversion efficiency of nanostructured WO3 thin films and a recommendation is provided to standardize the presentation of research results in the field to allow for easy comparison of reported PEC efficiencies in the near future. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A review on mechanical properties of magnesium based nano composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarafder, Nilanjan; Prasad, M. Lakshmi Vara

2018-04-01

A review was done on Magnesium (Mg) based composite materials reinforced with different nano particles such as TiO2, Cu, Y2O3, SiC, ZrO2 and Al2O3. TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles were synthesised by melt deposition process. Cu, Y2O3, SiC and ZrO2 nanoparticles were synthesised by powder metallurgy process. Composite microstructural characteristics shows that the nano-size reinforcements are uniformly distributed in the composite matrix and also minimum porosity with solid interfacial integrity. The mechanical properties showed yield strength improvement by 0.2 percentage and Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) was also improved for all the nano-particles. But UTS was adversely affected with TiO2 reinforcement while ductility was increased. With Cu reinforcement elastic modulus, hardness and fracture resistance increased and improved the co-efficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of Mg based matrix. By Y2O3 reinforcement hardness, fracture resistance was improved and ductility reached maximum by 0.22 volume percentage of Y2O3 and decreased with succeeding increase in Y2O3 reinforcement. The readings exposed that mechanical properties were gathered from the composite comprising 2.0 weight percentage of Y2O3. Ductility and fracture resistance increased with ZrO2 reinforcement in Mg matrix. Using Al2O3 as reinforcement in Mg composite matrix hardness, elastic modulus and ductility was increased but porosity reduced with well interfacial integrity. Dissipation of energy in the form of damping capacity was resolved by classical vibration theory. The result showed that an increasing up to 0.4 volume percentage alumina content increases the damping capacity up to 34 percent. In another sample, addition of 2 weight percentage nano-Al2O3 particles showed big possibility in reducing CTE from 27.9-25.9×10-6 K-1 in Magnesium, tensile and yield strength amplified by 40MPa. In another test, Mg/1.1Al2O3 nanocomposite was manufactured by solidification process followed by hot extrusion

Optical, thermal and morphological study of ZnS doped PVA polymer nano composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guruswamy, B.; Ravindrachary, V.; Shruthi, C.; Sagar, Rohan N.; Hegde, Shreedatta

2018-05-01

The effect of ZnS nano particle doping on optical, thermal properties and morphological study of the PVA polymer has been investigated using FTIR, UV-Visible and TGA, FESEM techniques. Nano sized ZnS particles were synthesized by a simple wet chemical route. Pure and ZnS/PVA nano composites were prepared using solution casting technique. The FTIR study confirms that the ZnS nano particles interacts with the OH group of PVA polymer and forms the complex. The formation of these complexes affects the optical and thermal properties of the composite. The changes in optical properties were studied using UV-Vis absorption method. The variation in thermal property was analysed using TGA results. The modified surface morphology analysis was carried out using FESEM.

Investigation of mechanical properties of hemp/glass fiber reinforced nano clay hybrid composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Unki, Hanamantappa Ningappa; Shivanand, H. K.; Vidyasagar, H. N.

2018-04-01

Over the last twenty to thirty years composite materials have been used in engineering field. Composite materials possess high strength, high strength to weight ratio due to these facts composite materials are becoming popular among researchers and scientists. The major proportion of engineering materials consists of composite materials. Composite materials are used in vast applications ranging from day-to-day household articles to highly sophisticated applications. In this paper an attempt is made to prepare three different composite materials using e-glass and Hemp. In this present investigation hybrid composite of Hemp, Glass fiber and Nano clay will be prepared by Hand-layup technique. The glass fiber used in this present investigation is E-glass fiber bi-directional: 90˚ orientation. The composite samples will be made in the form of a Laminates. The wt% of nanoclay added in the preparation of sample is 20 gm constant. The fabricated composite Laminate will be cut into corresponding profiles as per ASTM standards for Mechanical Testing. The effect of addition of Nano clay and variation of Hemp/glass fibers will be studied. In the present work, a new Hybrid composite is developed in which Hemp, E glass fibers is reinforced with epoxy resin and with Nano clay.

[Study on biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite/high density polyethylene (HA/HDPE) nano-composites artificial ossicle].

PubMed

Wang, Guohui; Zhu, Shaihong; Tan, Guolin; Zhou, Kechao; Huang, Suping; Zhao, Yanzhong; Li, Zhiyou; Huang, Boyun

2008-06-01

This study was aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility of Hydroxyapatite/High density polyethylene (HA/ HDPE) nano-composites artificial ossicle. The percentage of S-period cells were detected by flow cytometry after L929 cells being incubated with extraction of the HA/HDPE nano-composites; the titanium materials for clinical application served as the contrast. In addition, both materials were implanted in animals and the histopathological evaluations were conducted. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P >0.05). The results demonstrated that the HA/HDPE nano-composite artificial ossicle made by our laboratory is of a good biocompatibility and clinical application outlook.

Nano-structured polymer composites and process for preparing same

DOEpatents

Hillmyer, Marc; Chen, Liang

2013-04-16

A process for preparing a polymer composite that includes reacting (a) a multi-functional monomer and (b) a block copolymer comprising (i) a first block and (ii) a second block that includes a functional group capable of reacting with the multi-functional monomer, to form a crosslinked, nano-structured, bi-continuous composite. The composite includes a continuous matrix phase and a second continuous phase comprising the first block of the block copolymer.

Structure and corrosion behaviour of electrodeposited Co-Mo/TiO2 nano-composite coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krawiec, H.; Vignal, V.; Latkiewicz, M.; Herbst, F.

2018-01-01

The structure and the corrosion behaviour in the Ringer's solution of Co-Mo/TiO2 nano-composite coatings have been investigated. They consist of aggregates of TiO2 nanoparticles uniformly distributed in a Co-Mo alloy matrix (crystallite size of about 2 nm). Both nodular (thickness less than 20 μm) and globular structures (thickness greater than 20 μm) have been observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Under potentiostatic control (in Ringer's solution), oxidation of the coating first occurs followed by (with increasing applied potential) both oxidation and selective dissolution of Co. At the OCP value, Co is oxidized in the form of Co2+-based compounds (CoO, Co(OH)2 or α-CoMoO4) in the coating. This process only occurs in the outermost part of the coating. Therefore, the bulk properties of the coating are not affected after long-term ageing in the Ringer's solution at OCP.

Lightweight Aluminum/Nano composites for Automotive Drive Train Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chelluri, Bhanumathi; Knoth, Edward A.; Schumaker, Edward J.

2012-12-14

During Phase I, we successfully processed air atomized aluminum powders via Dynamic Magnetic Compaction (DMC) pressing and subsequent sintering to produce parts with properties similar to wrought aluminum. We have also showed for the first time that aluminum powders can be processed without lubes via press and sintering to 100 % density. This will preclude a delube cycle in sintering and promote environmentally friendly P/M processing. Processing aluminum powders via press and sintering with minimum shrinkage will enable net shape fabrication. Aluminum powders processed via a conventional powder metallurgy process produce too large a shrinkage. Because of this, sinter partsmore » have to be machined into specific net shape. This results in increased scrap and cost. Fully sintered aluminum alloy under this Phase I project has shown good particle-to-particle bonding and mechanical properties. We have also shown the feasibility of preparing nano composite powders and processing via pressing and sintering. This was accomplished by dispersing nano silicon carbide (SiC) powders into aluminum matrix comprising micron-sized powders (<100 microns) using a proprietary process. These composite powders of Al with nano SiC were processed using DMC press and sinter process to sinter density of 85-90%. The process optimization along with sintering needs to be carried out to produce full density composites.« less

An Insidious Mode of Oxidative Degradation in a SiC-SiC Composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ogbuji, Linus U. J. T.

1997-01-01

The oxidative durability of a SiC-SiC composite with Hi-Nicalon fiber and BN interphase was investigated at 800 C (where pesting is known to occur in SiC-SiC composites) for exposure durations of up to 500 hours and in a variety of oxidant mixes and flow rates, ranging from quasi-stagnant room air, through slow flowing O2 containing 30-90% H2O, to the high-velocity flame of a burner rig. Degradation of the composite was determined from residual strength and fracture strain in post-exposure mechanical tests and correlated with microstructural evidence of damage to fiber and interphase. The severest degradation of composite behavior was found to occur in the bumer rig, and is shown to be connected with the high oxidant velocity and substantial moisture content, as well as a thin sublayer of carbon indicated to form between fiber and interphase during composite processing.

Bandgap-Engineered Zinc-Tin-Oxide Thin Films for Ultraviolet Sensors.

PubMed

Cheng, Tien-Hung; Chang, Sheng-Po; Chang, Shoou-Jinn

2018-07-01

Zinc-tin-oxide thin-film transistors were prepared by radio frequency magnetron co-sputtering, while an identical zinc-tin-oxide thin film was deposited simultaneously on a clear glass substrate to facilitate measurements of the optical properties. When we adjusted the deposition power of ZnO and SnO2, the bandgap of the amorphous thin film was dominated by the deposition power of SnO2. Since the thin-film transistor has obvious absorption in the ultraviolet region owing to the wide bandgap, the drain current increases with the generation of electron-hole pairs. As part of these investigations, a zinc-tin-oxide thin-film transistor has been fabricated that appears to be very promising for ultraviolet applications.

PECVD based silicon oxynitride thin films for nano photonic on chip interconnects applications.

PubMed

Sharma, Satinder K; Barthwal, Sumit; Singh, Vikram; Kumar, Anuj; Dwivedi, Prabhat K; Prasad, B; Kumar, Dinesh

2013-01-01

Thin silicon oxynitride (SiO(x)N(y)) films were deposited by low temperature (~300°C) plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), using SiH(4), N(2)O, NH(3) precursor of the flow rate 25, 100, 30 sccm and subjected to the post deposition annealing (PDA) treatment at 400°C and 600°C for nano optical/photonics on chip interconnects applications. AFM result reveals the variation of roughness from 60.9 Å to 23.4 Å after PDA treatment with respect to the as-deposited films, favourable surface topography for integrated waveguide applications. A model of decrease in island height with the effect of PDA treatment is proposed in support of AFM results. Raman spectroscopy and FTIR measurements are performed in order to define the change in crystallite and chemical bonding of as-deposited as well as PDA treated samples. These outcomes endorsed to the densification of SiO(x)N(y) thin films, due to decrease in Si-N and Si-O bonds strain, as well the O-H, N-H bonds with in oxynitride network. The increase in refractive index and PL intensity of as deposited SiO(x)N(y) thin films to the PDA treated films at 400°C and 600°C are observed. The significant shift of PL spectra peak positions indicate the change in cluster size as the result of PDA treatment, which influence the optical properties of thin films. It might be due to out diffusion of hydrogen containing species from silicon oxynitride films after PDA treatment. In this way, the structural and optical, feasibility of SiO(x)N(y) films are demonstrated in order to obtain high quality thin films for nano optical/photonics on chip interconnects applications. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dispersion and interaction of graphene oxide in amorphous and semi-crystalline nano-composites: a PALS study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maurer, Frans H. J.; Arza, Carlos R.

2015-06-01

The influence of dispersion and interaction of Graphene Oxide (GO) in semicrystalline Polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) and glassy amorphous Poly(tBP-oda) is explored by Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS). The ortho-Positronium lifetimes which represent the main free volume hole size of both polymers are mainly affected by the large differences in internal stresses built up by the shrinkage of the polymers during their preparation, restricted by the platelet structure of GO. The ortho-Positronium intensities, which represent the ortho-Positronium formation probabilities, suggest a strong dependency of on the dispersion of the nano-particles and their aspect ratio.

Toughened and machinable glass matrix composites reinforced with graphene and graphene-oxide nano platelets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Porwal, Harshit; Tatarko, Peter; Grasso, Salvatore; Hu, Chunfeng; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Dlouhý, Ivo; Reece, Mike J.

2013-10-01

The processing conditions for preparing well dispersed silica-graphene nanoplatelets and silica-graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONP) composites were optimized using powder and colloidal processing routes. Fully dense silica-GONP composites with up to 2.5 vol% loading were consolidated using spark plasma sintering. The GONP aligned perpendicularly to the applied pressure during sintering. The fracture toughness of the composites increased linearly with increasing concentration of GONP and reached a value of ˜0.9 MPa m1/2 for 2.5 vol% loading. Various toughening mechanisms including GONP necking, GONP pull-out, crack bridging, crack deflection and crack branching were observed. GONP decreased the hardness and brittleness index (BI) of the composites by ˜30 and ˜50% respectively. The decrease in BI makes silica-GONP composites machinable compared to pure silica. When compared to silica-Carbon nanotube composites, silica-GONP composites show better process-ability and enhanced mechanical properties.

Protective effects of Nano-elemental selenium against chromium-vi-induced oxidative stress in broiler liver.

PubMed

Xueting, L; Rehman, M U; Zhang, H; Tian, X; Wu, X; Shixue; Mehmood, K; Zhou, D

2018-01-01

The valuable role of selenium in mitigation of oxidative stress and heavy metal toxicity is well-known. Thus, the aim of the current study on broiler chickens was to examine whether nano elemental selenium (Nano-Se) supplementation can reduce the effects of chromium VI (K2Cr2O7) toxicity. For this purpose, a total of 150, one-day-old broiler chickens were allotted to five groups with three replicates: control group (standard diet), poisoned group (K2Cr2O7 via drinking water), protection group (K2Cr2O7 + Nano- Se), cure group (K2Cr2O7 for initial 2 weeks and then Nano-Se), and prevention group (opposite to the cure group). The broilers were detected by the activities of marker enzymes and oxidative stress markers including, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), malondialdehyde (MDA), respectively. The (K2Cr2O7 administration caused histopathological damage in the liver of the chickens. Moreover, changes in serum biochemical indicators and oxidative stress parameters were also observed. Nano-Se supplementation increased the levels of GSH-px but reduced the activities of SOD, MDA, GGT, ALT and AST in the experimental groups (P less than 0.05). Our results showed that Nano-Se plays a protective role by preventing the oxidative stress induced by the chromium VI in broiler chickens.

Method of producing solution-derived metal oxide thin films

DOEpatents

Boyle, Timothy J.; Ingersoll, David

2000-01-01

A method of preparing metal oxide thin films by a solution method. A .beta.-metal .beta.-diketonate or carboxylate compound, where the metal is selected from groups 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Periodic Table, is solubilized in a strong Lewis base to form a homogeneous solution. This precursor solution forms within minutes and can be deposited on a substrate in a single layer or a multiple layers to form a metal oxide thin film. The substrate with the deposited thin film is heated to change the film from an amorphous phase to a ceramic metal oxide and cooled.

Synthesis of hierarchical Mg-doped Fe3O4 micro/nano materials for the decomposition of hexachlorobenzene.

PubMed

Su, Guijin; Liu, Yexuan; Huang, Linyan; Lu, Huijie; Liu, Sha; Li, Liewu; Zheng, Minghui

2014-03-01

An ethylene-glycol (EG) mediated self-assembly process was firstly developed to synthesize micrometer-sized nanostructured Mg-doped Fe3O4 composite oxides to decompose hexachlorobenzene (HCB) at 300°C. The synthesized samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The morphology and composition of the composite oxide precursor were regulated by the molar ratio of the magnesium acetate and ferric nitrate as the reactants. Calcination of the precursor particles, prepared with different molar ratio of the metal salts, under a reducing nitrogen atmosphere, generated three kinds of Mg doped Fe3O4 composite oxide micro/nano materials. Their reactivity toward HCB decomposition was likely influenced by the material morphology and content of Mg dopants. Ball-like MgFe2O4-Fe3O4 composite oxide micro/nano material showed superior HCB dechlorination efficiencies when compared with pure Fe3O4 micro/nano material, prepared under similar experimental conditions, thus highlighting the benefits of doping Mg into Fe3O4 matrices. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Corrosion, optical and magnetic properties of flexible iron nitride nano thin films deposited on polymer substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, W. Q.; Wang, Qun; Jin, Xin; Yasin, G.

2017-11-01

Iron nitride thin films of different compositions and thicknesses were deposited on flexible polymer substrate in Ar/N2 atmosphere by reactive magnetron sputtering under varying nitrogen flow rates. The nano structured films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectrophotometer, electrochemical impedance (EIS), atomic force (AFM) and transmission electron microscopies. The dependence of their functional properties on coating and growth conditions was studied in detail. It was found that the thin films show a uniform permeability in the frequency range of 200 MHz to 1 Ghz and can be used in this range without appreciable changes. Decrease of nitrogen flow rate resulted in the smoother surfaces which in turn increase transmittance quality and corrosion resistance. Functional properties are dependent of nature, relative concentration of the iron nitride phases and film thickness. Surface integrity is excellent for180 nm thick sample because the films appear to be very dense and free from open pores. By keeping sputtering power stable at 110 W, nitrogen flow rate of 10 sccm was ideal to develop the ferromagnetic γʹFe4N phase at room temperature.

Thiolated polyethylene oxide as a non-fouling element for nano-patterned bio-devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisboa, Patrícia; Valsesia, Andrea; Colpo, Pascal; Gilliland, Douglas; Ceccone, Giacomo; Papadopoulou-Bouraoui, Andri; Rauscher, Hubert; Reniero, Fabiano; Guillou, Claude; Rossi, François

2007-03-01

This work describes the synthesis of a thiolated polyethylene oxide that self-assembles on gold to create a non-fouling surface. Thiolated polyethylene oxide was synthesised by reacting 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid with polyethylene glycol mono methyl ether. The coverage of the thiolated polyethylene oxide on gold was studied by cyclic voltammetry, and the modified surfaces were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ellipsometry. Protein resistance was assessed using quartz crystal microbalance. Results showed a non-fouling character produced by the thiolated polyethylene oxide. The synthesised product was used as the passivation layer on nano-patterned surfaces consisting of arrayed nano-spots, fabricated by plasma based colloidal lithography. The specific adsorption of anti-bovine serum albumin in the mercaptohexadecanoic acid spots was verified by atomic force microscopy.

Carrier mobility enhancement of nano-crystalline semiconductor films: Incorporation of redox -relay species into the grain boundary interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desilva, L. A.; Bandara, T. M. W. J.; Hettiarachchi, B. H.; Kumara, G. R. A.; Perera, A. G. U.; Rajapaksa, R. M. G.; Tennakone, K.

Dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells and other nanostructured heterojunction electronic devices require securing intimate electronic contact between nanostructured surfaces. Generally, the strategy is solution phase coating of a hole -collector over a nano-crystalline high-band gap n-type oxide semiconductor film painted with a thin layer of the light harvesting material. The nano-crystallites of the hole - collector fills the pores of the painted oxide surface. Most ills of these devices are associated with imperfect contact and high resistance of the hole conducting layer constituted of nano-crystallites. Denaturing of the delicate light harvesting material forbid sintering at elevated temperatures to reduce the grain boundary resistance. It is found that the interfacial and grain boundary resistance can be significantly reduced via incorporation of redox species into the interfaces to form ultra-thin layers. Suitable redox moieties, preferably bonded to the surface, act as electron transfer relays greatly reducing the film resistance offerring a promising method of enhancing the effective hole mobility of nano-crystalline hole-collectors and developing hole conductor paints for application in nanostructured devices.

Chemical activation of commercial CNTs with simultaneous surface deposition of manganese oxide nano flakes for the creation of CNTs-graphene supported oxygen reduction ternary composite catalysts applied in air fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ling; Liu, Danxian

2018-07-01

To elevate power performance is crucial for commercally potential metal air fuel cells. Non-precious metal oxide-based oxygen reduction catalytic electrode is much desirable. Rational combination with low-dimension nanomaterials are greatly expected as the supports. Herein, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-graphene supported manganese oxides composite catalysts (CMnCs) were obtained through activating commercial CNTs, namely, immersing them in acidic KMnO4 solution at room condition. It avoided conventional hydrothermal process and template surfactants. CMnCs-based air cathodes were made via pilot manufacture technology and equipped in fuel cells. Through characterizations, CNTs was found structurally defective and their outer walls suffered cracking into graphene nano pieces during processing, which further enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Nano sized manganese oxide flakes were simulataneously grown on the CNTs-graphene surfaces, identified as the manganite. The areal distribution was found closely related to the additive amount of KMnO4 with regard to CNTs, somewhat influencing catalytic performance. The ORR activities of these CMnCs exceeded raw CNTs and referred manganese catalysts under identical conditions, and also the CMnCs air fuel cells were capable of outputting ∼15% more power at 100 mA/cm2. This reseach provided an inspiring pilot evidence for updating air fuel cell power from economical carbon as well as industrialization.

Evaluation of Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets Bonded with Nano-Filled Composites

PubMed Central

Chalipa, Javad; Akhondi, Mohammad Sadegh Ahmad; Arab, Sepideh; Kharrazifard, Mohammad Javad; Ahmadyar, Maryam

2013-01-01

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded with two types of nano-composites in comparison to a conventional orthodontic composite. Materials and Methods: Sixty extracted human first premolars were randomly divided into 3 groups each containing 20 teeth. In group I, a conventional orthodontic composite (Transbond XT) was used to bond the brackets, while two nano-composites (Filtek TM Supreme XT and AELITE Aesthetic Enamel) were used in groups II and III respectively. The teeth were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 hours, thermocycled in distilled water and debonded with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The adhesive remnant index (ARI) was also evaluated using a stereomicroscope. Results: AELITE Aesthetic Enamel nano-composite revealed a SBS value of 8.44±2.09 MPa, which was higher than Transbond XT (6.91±2.13) and Filtek TM Supreme XT (6.04±2.01). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between groups II and III (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between groups I and III, and between groups I and II (P > 0.05). Evaluation of ARI showed that Transbond XT left fewer adhesive remains on teeth after debonding. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that the aforementioned nano-composites can be successfully used for bonding orthodontic brackets. PMID:24910655

The Chemical Vapor Deposition of Thin Metal Oxide Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laurie, Angus Buchanan

1990-01-01

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is an important method of preparing thin films of materials. Copper (II) oxide is an important p-type semiconductor and a major component of high T_{rm c} superconducting oxides. By using a volatile copper (II) chelate precursor, copper (II) bishexafluoroacetylacetonate, it has been possible to prepare thin films of copper (II) oxide by low temperature normal pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. In the metalorganic CVD (MOCVD) production of oxide thin films, oxygen gas saturated with water vapor has been used mainly to reduce residual carbon and fluorine content. This research has investigated the influence of water-saturated oxygen on the morphology of thin films of CuO produced by low temperature chemical vapor deposition onto quartz, magnesium oxide and cubic zirconia substrates. ZnO is a useful n-type semiconductor material and is commonly prepared by the MOCVD method using organometallic precursors such as dimethyl or diethylzinc. These compounds are difficult to handle under atmospheric conditions. In this research, thin polycrystalline films of zinc oxide were grown on a variety of substrates by normal pressure CVD using a zinc chelate complex with zinc(II) bishexafluoroacetylacetonate dihydrate (Zn(hfa)_2.2H _2O) as the zinc source. Zn(hfa) _2.2H_2O is not moisture - or air-sensitive and is thus more easily handled. By operating under reduced-pressure conditions (20-500 torr) it is possible to substantially reduce deposition times and improve film quality. This research has investigated the reduced-pressure CVD of thin films of CuO and ZnO. Sub-micron films of tin(IV) oxide (SnO _2) have been grown by normal pressure CVD on quartz substrates by using tetraphenyltin (TPT) as the source of tin. All CVD films were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA).

Synthesis of nano-structure tungsten nitride thin films on silicon using Mather-type plasma focus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussnain, A.; Rawat, R. S.; Ahmad, R.; Umar, Z. A.; Hussain, T.; Lee, P.; Chen, Z.

2015-07-01

Nano-structure thin film of tungsten nitride was deposited onto Si-substrate at room temperature using Mather-type plasma focus (3.3 kJ) machine. Substrate was exposed against 10, 20, 30, and 40 deposition shots and its corresponding effect on structure, morphology, conductivity and nano-hardness has been systematically studied. The X-ray diffractormeter spectra of the exposed samples show the presence of various phases of WN and WN2 that depends on number of deposition shots. Surface morphological study revealed the uniform distribution of nano-sized grains on deposited film surface. Hardness and conductivity of exposed substrate improved with higher deposition shots. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy survey scan of 40 deposition shots confirmed the elemental presence of W and N on Si-substrate.

Evaluation of dose dependent antimicrobial activity of self-assembled chitosan, nano silver and chitosan-nano silver composite against several pathogens.

PubMed

Tareq, Foysal Kabir; Fayzunnesa, Mst; Kabir, Md Shahariar; Nuzat, Musrat

2018-01-01

The aim of this investigation to preparation of silver nanoparticles organized chitosan nano polymer, which effective against microbial and pathogens, when apply to liquid medium and edible food products surface, will rescue the growth of microbes. Self-assembly approach used to synthesis of silver nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles organized chitosan nano polymer. Silver nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles organized chitosan nano polymer and film characterized using Ultra-violate visible spectrometer (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction (X-ray), and Scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The crystalline structured protein capped nano silver successfully synthesized at range of 12 nm-29 nm and organized into chitosan nano polymer. Antimicrobial ingredient in liquid medium and food product surface provide to rescue oxidative change and growth of microorganism to provide higher safety. The silver nanoparticles organized chitosan nano polymer caused the death of microorganism. The materials in nano scale synthesized successfully using self-assembly method, which showed good antimicrobial properties. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nano-Composite Material Development for 3-D Printers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Satches, Michael Randolph

Graphene possesses excellent mechanical properties with a tensile strength that may exceed 130 GPa, excellent electrical conductivity, and good thermal properties. Future nano-composites can leverage many of these material properties in an attempt to build designer materials for a broad range of applications. 3-D printing has also seen vast improvements in recent years that have allowed many companies and individuals to realize rapid prototyping for relatively low capital investment. This research sought to create a graphene reinforced, polymer matrix nano-composite that is viable in commercial 3D printer technology, study the effects of ultra-high loading percentages of graphene in polymer matricesmore » and determine the functional upper limit for loading. Loadings varied from 5 wt. % to 50 wt. % graphene nanopowder loaded in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) matrices. Loaded sample were characterized for their mechanical properties using three point bending, tensile tests, as well as dynamic mechanical analysis.« less

Synthesis and Oxidation of Silver Nano-particles

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

solution (20%wt propyl alcohol, 5%wt hydrochloric acid and 5%wt stannous chloride in water). Scheme 1b and c illustrate the sensitization and silver... Synthesis and Oxidation of Silver Nano-particles Hua Qi*, D. A. Alexson, O.J. Glembocki and S. M. Prokes* Electronics Science and Technology...energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) techniques. The results Quantum Dots and Nanostructures: Synthesis , Characterization, and Modeling VIII, edited by Kurt

Toughened and machinable glass matrix composites reinforced with graphene and graphene-oxide nano platelets

PubMed Central

Porwal, Harshit; Tatarko, Peter; Grasso, Salvatore; Hu, Chunfeng; Boccaccini, Aldo R; Dlouhý, Ivo; Reece, Mike J

2013-01-01

The processing conditions for preparing well dispersed silica–graphene nanoplatelets and silica–graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONP) composites were optimized using powder and colloidal processing routes. Fully dense silica–GONP composites with up to 2.5 vol% loading were consolidated using spark plasma sintering. The GONP aligned perpendicularly to the applied pressure during sintering. The fracture toughness of the composites increased linearly with increasing concentration of GONP and reached a value of ∼0.9 MPa m1/2 for 2.5 vol% loading. Various toughening mechanisms including GONP necking, GONP pull-out, crack bridging, crack deflection and crack branching were observed. GONP decreased the hardness and brittleness index (BI) of the composites by ∼30 and ∼50% respectively. The decrease in BI makes silica–GONP composites machinable compared to pure silica. When compared to silica–Carbon nanotube composites, silica–GONP composites show better process-ability and enhanced mechanical properties. PMID:27877614

Preparation and characterization of PVP-PVA–ZnO blend polymer nano composite films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Divya, S., E-mail: divi.fysics@gmail.com; Saipriya, G.; Hemalatha, J., E-mail: hemalatha@nitt.edu

Flexible self-standing films of PVP-PVA blend composites are prepared by using ZnO as a nano filler at different concentrations. The structural, compositional, morphological and optical studies made with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectra are presented in this paper. The results of XRD indicate that ZnO nanoparticles are formed with hexagonal phase in the polymeric matrix. SEM images show the dispersion of ZnO nano filler in the polymer matrix. UV–vis spectra reveal that the absorption peak is centered around 235more » nm and 370 nm for the nano composite films. The blue shift is observed with decrease in the concentration of the nano filler. PL spectra shows the excitation wavelength is given at 320 nm.The emission peaks were observed at 383 nm ascribing to the electronic transitions between valence band and conduction band and the peak at 430 nm.« less

Validation of numerical simulations for nano-aluminum composite solid propellants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Allen H.

2011-12-01

Nano-aluminum is of interest as an energetic additive in composite solid propellant formulations for its demonstrated ability to increase combustion efficiency and burning rate. However, due to the current cost of nano-aluminum and the associated safety risks associated with propellant testing, it may not always be practical to spend the time and effort to mix, cast, and thoroughly evaluate the burning rate of a new formulation. To provide an alternative method of determining this parameter, numerical methods have been developed to predict the performance of nano-aluminum composite propellants, but these codes still require thorough validation before application. For this purpose, six propellant compositions were formulated, fully characterized, and burn rates were measured at several pressures between 34.0 and 129.3 atmospheres at room temperature, 20°C, and at an elevated temperature of 71.1°C in order to test the code's ability to predict pressure dependent burn rate and temperature sensitivity. To ensure the most accurate model possible, special emphasis was placed on characterizing the size distribution of the constituent nano-aluminum and ammonium perchlorate powders through optical diffraction or optical imaging techniques. Experimental burn rate is compared to the propellant combustion model and shows excellent agreement within 5% for a range of formulations and pressures, however under other conditions the model deviates by as much as 21%. An analysis of the results suggests that the current framework of the numerical model is unable to accurately simulate all the combustion physics of high aluminum content propellants, and suggestions for improvements are identified.

Chitosan-Based Nano-Embedded Microparticles: Impact of Nanogel Composition on Physicochemical Properties

PubMed Central

Islam, Paromita; Water, Jorrit J.; Bohr, Adam; Rantanen, Jukka

2016-01-01

Chitosan-based nanogels have been widely applied as drug delivery vehicles. Spray-drying of said nanogels allows for the preparation of dry powder nano-embedded microparticles. In this work, chitosan-based nanogels composed of chitosan, alginate, and/or sodium tri-penta phosphate were investigated, particularly with respect to the impact of composition on the resulting physicochemical properties. Different compositions were obtained as nanogels with sizes ranging from 203 to 561 nm. The addition of alginate and exclusion of sodium tri-penta phosphate led to an increase in nanogel size. The nanogels were subsequently spray-dried to form nano-embedded microparticles with trehalose or mannitol as matrix excipient. The microparticles of different composition were mostly spherical with a smooth surface and a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 6–10 µm. Superior redispersibility was observed for microparticles containing amorphous trehalose. This study demonstrates the potential of nano-embedded microparticles for stabilization and delivery of nanogel-based delivery systems. PMID:28025505

Chitosan-Based Nano-Embedded Microparticles: Impact of Nanogel Composition on Physicochemical Properties.

PubMed

Islam, Paromita; Water, Jorrit J; Bohr, Adam; Rantanen, Jukka

2016-12-22

Chitosan-based nanogels have been widely applied as drug delivery vehicles. Spray-drying of said nanogels allows for the preparation of dry powder nano-embedded microparticles. In this work, chitosan-based nanogels composed of chitosan, alginate, and/or sodium tri-penta phosphate were investigated, particularly with respect to the impact of composition on the resulting physicochemical properties. Different compositions were obtained as nanogels with sizes ranging from 203 to 561 nm. The addition of alginate and exclusion of sodium tri-penta phosphate led to an increase in nanogel size. The nanogels were subsequently spray-dried to form nano-embedded microparticles with trehalose or mannitol as matrix excipient. The microparticles of different composition were mostly spherical with a smooth surface and a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 6-10 µm. Superior redispersibility was observed for microparticles containing amorphous trehalose. This study demonstrates the potential of nano-embedded microparticles for stabilization and delivery of nanogel-based delivery systems.

Effect of nanofiber content on bone regeneration of silk fibroin/poly(ε-caprolactone) nano/microfibrous composite scaffolds

PubMed Central

Kim, Beom Su; Park, Ko Eun; Kim, Min Hee; You, Hyung Keun; Lee, Jun; Park, Won Ho

2015-01-01

The broad application of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds in tissue engineering is limited by their small pore size, which has a negative influence on cell migration. This disadvantage could be significantly improved through the combination of nano- and microfibrous structure. To accomplish this, different nano/microfibrous scaffolds were produced by hybrid electrospinning, combining solution electrospinning with melt electrospinning, while varying the content of the nanofiber. The morphology of the silk fibroin (SF)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nano/microfibrous composite scaffolds was investigated with field-emission scanning electron microscopy, while the mechanical and pore properties were assessed by measurement of tensile strength and mercury porosimetry. To assay cell proliferation, cell viability, and infiltration ability, human mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on the SF/PCL nano/microfibrous composite scaffolds. From in vivo tests, it was found that the bone-regenerating ability of SF/PCL nano/microfibrous composite scaffolds was closely associated with the nanofiber content in the composite scaffolds. In conclusion, this approach of controlling the nanofiber content in SF/PCL nano/microfibrous composite scaffolds could be useful in the design of novel scaffolds for tissue engineering. PMID:25624762

Comparison of mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube and graphene nanosheet/polyethylene oxide composites plasticized with lithium triflate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jurkane, A.; Gaidukov, S.

2017-10-01

A strong engineering interest in nanostructured conducting polymers and its composite materials have been widely used to build various sensor devices, electronic interconnect devices, fuel cells and batteries. Preparation of polymeric nano-composites with finely controlled structure, especially, at nano-scale, is still one of the most perspective modification ways of the properties of polymeric composites. Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) and graphene nanosheets (GR)/PEO composites and composite of MWCNT/GR/PEO were prepared by solution casting and hot-pressing method. Composites were plasticized by 5% of Lithium triflate (LiTrifl), which play role of additional ion source in conducting polymer composite. Mechanical tensile tests were performed to evaluate nanoparticles influence on the mechanical strength of the conductive polymer composite materials. Difference of tensile tests of prepared composition can be seen from tensile tests data curves. The results of tensile tests indicated that the nanoparticles can provide PEO/5%LiTrifl composite with stiffening effects at rather low filler content (at least 0.05% by volume).

Uniting Superhydrophobic, Superoleophobic and Lubricant Infused Slippery Behavior on Copper Oxide Nano-structured Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ujjain, Sanjeev Kumar; Roy, Pritam Kumar; Kumar, Sumana; Singha, Subhash; Khare, Krishnacharya

2016-10-01

Alloys, specifically steel, are considered as the workhorse of our society and are inimitable engineering materials in the field of infrastructure, industry and possesses significant applications in our daily life. However, creating a robust synthetic metallic surface that repels various liquids has remained extremely challenging. The wettability of a solid surface is known to be governed by its geometric nano-/micro structure and the chemical composition. Here, we are demonstrating a facile and economical way to generate copper oxide micro-nano structures with spherical (0D), needle (1D) and hierarchical cauliflower (3D) morphologies on galvanized steel substrates using a simple chemical bath deposition method. These nano/micro textured steel surfaces, on subsequent coating of a low surface energy material display excellent superhydrophobic, superoleophobic and slippery behavior. Polydimethylsiloxane coated textured surfaces illustrate superhydrophobicity with water contact angle about 160°(2) and critical sliding angle ~2°. When functionalized with low-surface energy perfluoroalkylsilane, these surfaces display high repellency for low surface tension oils as well as hydrocarbons. Among them, the hierarchical cauliflower morphology exhibits re-entrant structure thereby showing the best superoleophobicity with contact angle 149° for dodecane. Once infused with a lubricant like silicone oil, they show excellent slippery behavior with low contact angle hysteresis (~ 2°) for water drops.

Organic-inorganic hybrid polyionic liquid based polyoxometalate as nano porous material for selective oxidation of sulfides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rafiee, Ezzat; Shahebrahimi, Shabnam

2017-07-01

Organic-inorganic hybrid nano porous materials based on poly(ionic liquid)-polyoxometalate (PIL-POM) were reported. These hybrid materials were synthesized by the reaction of 4-vinyl pyridine with 1,3-propanesultone, followed by the polymerization and also sulfonate-functionalized cross-linked poly(4-vinylpyridine) and combining these polymers with H5PMo10V2O40 (PMo10V2). Activity of prepared PIL-PMo10V2 hybrids were investigated as catalysts for oxidation of sulfides with H2O2 as oxidant. For understanding catalytic activities of the PIL-PMo10V2 hybrids in oxidation of sulfides, effect of catalyst composition, substrate, and reaction conditions were studied. The results show that the PIL-PMo10V2 hybrids are active as selective heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation of sulfides and can be recovered and reused. The catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, TGA-DSC, XRD, SEM/EDX, BET, CV and zeta potential measurement. Also, average molecular weight of prepared catalysts were measured.

Fluorescence analysis of 6-mercaptopurine with the use of a nano-composite consisting of BSA-capped Au nano-clusters and core-shell Fe3O4-SiO2 nanoparticles.

PubMed

Li, Zhuo; Wang, Yong; Ni, Yongnian; Kokot, Serge

2015-08-15

A magnetic and fluorescent nano-composite was prepared. It comprised of a core of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), a silica shell and satellitic Au nano-clusters (AuNCs) capped with bovine serum albumin (BSA). This nano-composite has many desirable properties, e.g. magnetism, red emission, high water solubility, and high resistance to photo-bleaching. On addition of the analyte, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) or indeed other similar thiols, AuNCs formed aggregates because the existing cross-links within the Fe3O4 NPs@SiO2 and AuNC structure were broken in favor of the gold-thiol bonds. On suitable irradiation of such aggregates, red fluorescence was emitted at 613 nm. It decreased significantly as a function of the added 6-MP concentration, and the quenching ratio (F0 - F) / F0 was related linearly to the concentration of 6-MP in the range of 0.01 to 0.5 μmol L(-1). The detection limit was 0.004 μmol L(-1) (S/N=3). The method was strongly selective for 6-MP in the presence of oxidants, phenols, heavy-metal ions, and especially bio-thiols. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dye sensitized solar cell applications of CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite thin films deposited from single molecular complex

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ehsan, Muhammad Ali; Khaledi, Hamid; Pandikumar, Alagarsamy

2015-10-15

A heterobimetallic complex [Cd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}(μ-O){sub 6}(TFA){sub 8}(THF){sub 6}]·1.5THF (1) (TFA=trifluoroacetato, THF=tetrahydrofuran) comprising of Cd:Ti (1:2) ratio was synthesized by a chemical reaction of cadmium (II) acetate with titanium (IV) isopropoxide and triflouroacetic acid in THF. The stoichiometry of (1) was recognized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic and elemental analyses. Thermal studies revealed that (1) neatly decomposes at 450 °C to furnish 1:1 ratio of cadmium titanate:titania composite oxides material. The thin films of CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite oxides were deposited at 550 °C on fluorine doped tin oxide coated conducting glass substrate in air ambient. The micro-structure, crystallinity,more » phase identification and chemical composition of microspherical architectured CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite thin film have been determined by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The scope of composite thin film having band gap of 3.1 eV was explored as photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell application. - Graphical abstarct: Microspherical designed CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite oxides photoanode film has been fabricated from single source precursor [Cd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}(μ-O){sub 6}(TFA){sub 8}(THF){sub 6}]·1.5THF via aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition technique for dye sensitized solar cell application. - Highlights: • Synthesis and characterization of a heterobimetallic Cd–Ti complex. • Fabrication of CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} thin film photoelectrode. • Application as dye sensitized photoanode for solar application.« less

[Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen composite for bone repair].

PubMed

Feng, Qing-ling; Cui, Fu-zhai; Zhang, Wei

2002-04-01

To develop nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen (NHAC) composite and test its ability in bone repairing. NHAC composite was developed by biomimetic method. The composite showed some features of natural bone in both composition and microstructure. The minerals could contribute to 50% by weight of the composites in sheet form. The inorganic phase in the composite was carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite (HA) with low crystallinity and nanometer size. HA precipitates were uniformly distributed on the type I collagen matrix without preferential orientation. The composite exhibited an isotropic mechanical behavior. However, the resistance of the composite to localized pressure could reach the lower limit of that of femur compacta. The tissue response to the NHAC composite implanted in marrow cavity was investigated. Knoop micro-hardness test was performed to compare the mechanical behavior of the composite and bone. At the interface of the implant and marrow tissue, solution-mediated dissolution and macrophage-mediated resorption led to the degradation of the composite, followed by interfacial bone formation by osteoblasts. The process of implant degradation and bone substitution was reminiscent of bone remodeling. The composite can be incorporated into bone metabolism instead of being a permanent implant.

Study on influence of Surface roughness of Ni-Al2O3 nano composite coating and evaluation of wear characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghavendra, C. R.; Basavarajappa, S.; Sogalad, Irappa

2018-02-01

Electrodeposition is one of the most technologically feasible and economically superior techniques for producing metallic coating. The advancement in the application of nano particles has grabbed the attention in all fields of engineering. In this present study an attempt has been made on the Ni-Al2O3nano particle composite coating on aluminium substrate by electrodeposition process. The aluminium surface requires a specific pre-treatment for better adherence of coating. In light of this a thin zinc layer is coated on the aluminium substrate by electroless process. In addition to this surface roughness is an important parameter for any coating method and material. In this work Ni-Al2O3 composite coating were successfully coated by varying the process parameters such as bath temperature, current density and particle loading. The experimentation was performed using central composite design based 20 trials of experiments. The effect of process parameters and surface roughness before and after coating is analyzed on wear rate and coating thickness. The results shown a better wear resistance of Ni-Al2O3 composite electrodeposited coating compared to Ni coating. The particle loading and interaction effect of current density with temperature has greater significant effect on wear rate. The surface roughness is significantly affected the wear behaviour and thickness of coating.

Precision Rolled-Ink Nano-Technology; Development of a Direct Write Technique for the Fabrication of Thin Films and Conductive Elements

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

Fabrication of Thin Films and Conductive Elements Larry R. Holmes, Jr. Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, ARL...polymer composites, glass, metals, ceramics , and others. Development of the PRINT system and future work are discussed. 15. SUBJECT TERMS direct write...7 Figure 5. PRINT deposition on (left) polished aluminum sheet metal, and (right) aluminum oxide ceramic tile

Characterization of Nano-scale Aluminum Oxide Transport through Porous Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norwood, S.; Reynolds, M.; Miao, Z.; Brusseau, M. L.; Johnson, G. R.

2011-12-01

Colloidal material (including that in the nanoparticle size range) is naturally present in most subsurface environments. Mobilization of these colloidal materials via particle disaggregation may occur through abrupt changes in flow rate and/or via chemical perturbations, such as rapid changes in ionic strength or solution pH. While concentrations of natural colloidal materials in the subsurface are typically small, those concentrations may be greatly increased at contaminated sites such as following the application of metal oxides for groundwater remediation efforts. Additionally, while land application of biosolids has become common practice in the United States as an alternative to industrial fertilizers, biosolids have been shown to contain a significant fraction of organic and inorganic nano-scale colloidal materials such as oxides of iron, titanium, and aluminum. Given their reactivity and small size, there are many questions concerning the potential migration of nano-scale colloidal materials through the soil column and their potential participation in the facilitated transport of contaminants, such as heavy metals and emerging pollutants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the transport behavior of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles through porous media. The impacts of pH, ionic strength, pore-water velocity (i.e., residence time), and aqueous-phase concentration on transport was investigated. All experiments were conducted with large injection pulses to fully characterize the impact of long-term retention and transport behavior relevant for natural systems wherein multiple retention processes may be operative. The results indicate that the observed nonideal transport behavior of the nano-scale colloids is influenced by multiple retention mechanisms/processes. Given the ubiquitous nature of these nano-scale colloids in the environment, a clear understanding of their transport and fate is necessary in further resolving the potential for

Recycling of iron and silicon from drinking water treatment sludge for synthesis of magnetic iron oxide@SiO₂ composites.

PubMed

Meng, Lingyou; Chan, Yingzi; Wang, Han; Dai, Ying; Wang, Xue; Zou, Jinlong

2016-03-01

More attention has been paid to the deterioration of water bodies polluted by drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) in recent years. It is important to develop methods to effectively treat DWTS by avoiding secondary pollution. We report herein a novel investigation for recovery of Si and Fe from DWTS, which are used for the synthesis of two iron oxide@SiO2 composites for adsorption of reactive red X-3B (RRX-3B) and NaNO2. The results show that Fe(3+) (acid-leaching) and Si(4+) (basic-leaching) can be successfully recovered from roasted DWTS. Whether to dissolve Fe(OH)3 precipitation is the key point for obtaining Fe3O4 or γ-Fe2O3 particles using the solvothermal method. The magnetic characteristics of Fe3O4@SiO2 (390.0 m(2) g(-1)) or Fe2O3@SiO2 (220.9 m(2) g(-1)) are slightly influenced by the coated porous SiO2 layer. Peaks of Fe-O stretching vibration (580 cm(-1)) and asymmetric Si-O-Si stretching vibrations (1080 cm(-1)) of Fe3O4@SiO2 indicate the successful coating of a thin silica layer (20-150 nm). The adsorption capacity of RRX-3B and NaNO2 by Fe3O4@SiO2 is better than that of Fe2O3@SiO2, and both composites can be recycled through an external magnetic field. This method is an efficient and environmentally friendly method for recycling DWTS.

Synthesis and characterization of Au-MWCNT/PEDOT: PSS composite film for optoelectronic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasna, M.; Anjana, R.; Jayaraj, M. K.

2017-08-01

Recently, flexible organic optoelectronics have got great attention because of their light weight, mechanical flexibility and cost effective fabrication process. Conjugated polymers like PEDOT: PSS are widely used for the transparent electrode applications due to its chemical stability, high conductivity, flexibility and optical transparency in the visible region. Conductivity of the PEDOT: PSS polymer can be enhanced by adding organic solvents or conducting nano fillers like CNT, graphene, etc. Carbon nanotubes are good nano fillers to enhance the conductivity and mechanical strength of PEDOT: PSS composite film. Inthe present work, the effect of gold nano particles in PEDOT: PSS/CNT composite is studied. The conductivity enhancement in PEDOT: PSS/CNT thin films can be attributed to the formation of CNT network in the polymer matrix and conformational change of the PEDOT from benzoid to quinoid structure. Even though the conductivity was enhanced, the transparency of the composite thin films decreased with increase in CNT concentration. To overcome this problem, gold nano particles were attached to CNT walls via chemical route. AuMWCNT/PEDOT: PSS composite films were prepared by spin coating method. TEM images confirmed the decoration of gold nano particles on CNT walls. Electrical and optical properties of the composite films were studied. This simple solution processed conducting films are suitable for optoelectronic applications

Effects of SiO2 nano-particles on tribological and mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites by different dispersion methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azadi, Mahboobeh; Zolfaghari, Mehrdad; Rezanezhad, Saeid; Azadi, Mohammad

2018-05-01

This study has been presented with mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites, reinforced by SiO2 nano-particles. The stir casting method was employed to produce various aluminum matrix composites. Different composites by varying the SiO2 nano-particle content (including 0.5 and 1 weight percents) and two dispersion methods (including ball-milling and pre-heating) were made. Then, the density, the hardness, the compression strength, the wear resistance and the microstructure of nano-composites have been studied in this research. Besides, the distribution of nano-particles in the aluminum matrix for all composites has been also evaluated by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Obtained results showed that the density, the elongation and the ultimate compressive strength of various nano-composites decreased by the presence of SiO2 nano-particles; however, the hardness, the wear resistance, the yield strength and the elastic modulus of composites increased by auditioning of nano-particles to the aluminum alloy. FESEM images indicated better wetting of the SiO2 reinforcement in the aluminum matrix, prepared by the pre-heating dispersion method, comparing to ball-milling. When SiO2 nano-particles were added to the aluminum alloy, the morphology of the Si phase and intermetallic phases changed, which enhanced mechanical properties. In addition, the wear mechanism plus the friction coefficient value were changed for various nano-composites with respect to the aluminum alloy.

The structural and optical properties of Y (Y  =  Al, B, Si and Ti)-doped ZnO nano thin films from the first principles calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wenshu; Hu, Huijun; Zhang, Caili; Li, Jianguo; Li, Yuping; Ling, Lixia; Han, Peide

2017-12-01

Based on the density functional theory, the structural stability and optical properties of undoped and Y (Y  =  Al, B, Si and Ti)-doped ZnO nano thin films are investigated. The good stability of the films based on the ZnO (0 0 0 1) can be obtained when the layer is larger than 12. Moreover, the dielectric function, refractive index, absorption, and reflectivity of doped ZnO nano thin films have been analyzed in detail. In the visible light range, the values of ZnO films from 12 to 24 layers are all smaller than those of the bulk. And with the augment of the layers, the values keep increasing. All the results signify that the nano film of 12 layers possesses the lowest reflectivity and weakest absorption. In addition, there is an evident impact of some doped element on the properties of nano films. The absorption and reflectivity of Ti, Si-doped ZnO nano thin films are higher than those of the clean films, while Al, B-doped are lower, especially B-doped. Moreover, the conductivity of the doped structure is better than that of the bulk. Thus, the B-doped ZnO nano thin films could be potential candidate materials of transparent conductive films.

Spin-filter spin valves with nano-oxide layers for high density recording heads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Jibouri, Abdul; Hoban, M.; Lu, Z.; Pan, G.

2002-05-01

A new spin-filter spin valve with nano-oxide specular layers with structure of Ta/NiFe/IrMn/CoFe/NOL1/CoFe/Cu/CoFetfl/CutCu/NOL2/Ta was deposited using a Nordiko 9606 physical vapor deposition system. The data clearly show that the magnetoresistive (MR) ratio has been significantly improved for spin valves with thinner free layers. The MR ratio remains larger than 12% even when the CoFe free layer is as thin as 1 nm. An optimized MR ratio of ˜15% was obtained when tfl was about 1.2 nm and tCu about 1.5 nm, and was a result of the balance between the increase in the electron mean free path difference and current shunting through the conducting layer. It is also found that the Cu enhancing layer can improve soft magnetic properties of the CoFe free layer due to the low atomic intermixing observed between Co and Cu. The CoFe free layer of 1-4 nm exhibited coercivity of ˜3 Oe after annealing in a static magnetic field. This kind of spin valve with a very thin soft CoFe free layer is particularly attractive for ultra high density read head applications.

Transparent Oxide Thin-Film Transistors: Production, Characterization and Integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barquinha, Pedro Miguel Candido

This dissertation is devoted to the study of the emerging area of transparent electronics, summarizing research work regarding the development of n-type thin-film transistors (TFTs) based on sputtered oxide semiconductors. All the materials are produced without intentional substrate heating, with annealing temperatures of only 150-200 °C being used to optimize transistor performance. The work is based on the study and optimization of active semiconductors from the gallium-indium-zinc oxide system, including both the binary compounds Ga2O3, In2O3 and ZnO, as well as ternary and quaternary oxides based on mixtures of those, such as IZO and GIZO with different atomic ratios. Several topics are explored, including the study and optimization of the oxide semiconductor thin films, their application as channel layers on TFTs and finally the implementation of the optimized processes to fabricate active matrix backplanes to be integrated in liquid crystal display (LCD) prototypes. Sputtered amorphous dielectrics with high dielectric constant (high-kappa) based on mixtures of tantalum-silicon or tantalum-aluminum oxides are also studied and used as the dielectric layers on fully transparent TFTs. These devices also include transparent and highly conducting IZO thin films as source, drain and gate electrodes. Given the flexibility of the sputtering technique, oxide semiconductors are analyzed regarding several deposition parameters, such as oxygen partial pressure and deposition pressure, as well as target composition. One of the most interesting features of multicomponent oxides such as IZO and GIZO is that, due to their unique electronic configuration and carrier transport mechanism, they allow to obtain amorphous structures with remarkable electrical properties, such as high hall-effect mobility that exceeds 60 cm2 V -1 s-1 for IZO. These properties can be easily tuned by changing the processing conditions and the atomic ratios of the multicomponent oxides, allowing to

Positron annihilation lifetime study of Nafion/titanium dioxide nano-composite membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, M.; Wang, Y. J.; Liang, C.; Huang, K.; Ye, C. X.; Wang, W. J.; Jin, S. F.; Zhang, R.; Fan, D. Y.; Yang, H. J.; Wang, Y. G.

2014-01-01

Positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) technique is applied for investigation of size and number density of free volumes in Nafion/TiO2-nanoparticles composite membrane. The proton transporting ability is correlated with the properties of free volume inside the membrane. It is revealed that composite membrane with 5 wt% of TiO2 nano-fillers exhibits good electrochemical performance under reduced humidity and it can be saturated with water at relative humidity of 50%, under which ionic clusters and proton transporting channels are formed, indicating that composite membranes with 5 wt% of TiO2 nano-fillers are effective electrolyte for fuel cells operated at reduced humidification levels. The results suggest that PAL can be a powerful tool for elucidating the relationship between microstructure and ion transport in polymer electrolyte membranes.

Investigation of nanoporous platinum thin films fabricated by reactive sputtering: Application as micro-SOFC electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, WooChul; Kim, Jae Jin; Tuller, Harry L.

2015-02-01

Highly porous Pt thin films, with nano-scale porosity, were fabricated by reactive sputtering. The strategy involved deposition of thin film PtOx at room temperature, followed by the subsequent decomposition of the oxide by rapid heat treatment. The resulting films exhibited percolating Pt networks infiltrated with interconnected nanosized pores, critical for superior solid oxide fuel cell cathode performance. This approach is particularly attractive for micro-fabricated solid oxide fuel cells, since it enables fabrication of the entire cell stack (anode/electrolyte/cathode) within the sputtering chamber, without breaking vacuum. In this work, the morphological, crystallographic and chemical properties of the porous electrode were systematically varied by control of deposition conditions. Oxygen reduction reaction kinetics were investigated by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, demonstrating the critical role of nano-pores in achieving satisfactory micro-SOFC cathode performance.

Thin film bismuth iron oxides useful for piezoelectric devices

DOEpatents

Zeches, Robert J.; Martin, Lane W.; Ramesh, Ramamoorthy

2016-05-31

The present invention provides for a composition comprising a thin film of BiFeO.sub.3 having a thickness ranging from 20 nm to 300 nm, a first electrode in contact with the BiFeO.sub.3 thin film, and a second electrode in contact with the BiFeO.sub.3 thin film; wherein the first and second electrodes are in electrical communication. The composition is free or essentially free of lead (Pb). The BFO thin film is has the piezoelectric property of changing its volume and/or shape when an electric field is applied to the BFO thin film.

In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment of an Orthodontic Composite Containing Titanium-dioxide Nano-particles

PubMed Central

Heravi, Farzin; Ramezani, Mohammad; Poosti, Maryam; Hosseini, Mohsen; Shajiei, Arezoo; Ahrari, Farzaneh

2013-01-01

Background and aims. Incorporation of nano-particles to orthodontic bonding systems has been considered to prevent enamel demineralization around appliances. This study investigated cytotoxicity of Transbond XT adhesive containing 1 wt% titanium dioxide (TiO2) nano-particles. Materials and methods. Ten composite disks were prepared from each of the conventional and TiO2-containg composites and aged for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM). The extracts were obtained and exposed to culture media of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and mouse L929 fibroblasts. Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results. Both adhesives were moderately toxic for HGF cells on the first day of the experiment, but the TiO2-containing adhesive produced significantly lower toxicity than the pure adhesive (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in cell viability percentages between the two groups on the other days (P>0.05). There was a significant reduction in cell toxicity with increasing pre-incubation time (P<0.001). L929 cells showed similar toxicity trends, but lower sensitivity to detect cytotoxicity of dental composites. Conclusion. The orthodontic adhesive containing TiO2 nano-particles indicated comparable or even lower toxicity than its nano-particle-free counterpart, indicating that incorporation of 1 wt% TiO2 nano-particles to the composite structure does not result in additional health hazards compared to that occurring with the pure adhesive. PMID:24578816

In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment of an Orthodontic Composite Containing Titanium-dioxide Nano-particles.

PubMed

Heravi, Farzin; Ramezani, Mohammad; Poosti, Maryam; Hosseini, Mohsen; Shajiei, Arezoo; Ahrari, Farzaneh

2013-01-01

Background and aims. Incorporation of nano-particles to orthodontic bonding systems has been considered to prevent enamel demineralization around appliances. This study investigated cytotoxicity of Transbond XT adhesive containing 1 wt% titanium dioxide (TiO2) nano-particles. Materials and methods. Ten composite disks were prepared from each of the conventional and TiO2-containg composites and aged for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM). The extracts were obtained and exposed to culture media of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and mouse L929 fibroblasts. Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results. Both adhesives were moderately toxic for HGF cells on the first day of the experiment, but the TiO2-containing adhesive produced significantly lower toxicity than the pure adhesive (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in cell viability percentages between the two groups on the other days (P>0.05). There was a significant reduction in cell toxicity with increasing pre-incubation time (P<0.001). L929 cells showed similar toxicity trends, but lower sensitivity to detect cytotoxicity of dental composites. Conclusion. The orthodontic adhesive containing TiO2 nano-particles indicated comparable or even lower toxicity than its nano-particle-free counterpart, indicating that incorporation of 1 wt% TiO2 nano-particles to the composite structure does not result in additional health hazards compared to that occurring with the pure adhesive.

Study on the repeatability of manufacturing nano-silica (SiO2) reinforced composite laminates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prince Jeya Lal, L.; Ramesh, S.; Natarajan, Elango

2018-04-01

Repeatability to manufacture nano-silica reinforced composite laminates with consistent mechanical properties is studied. In this study, composite laminates are manufactured by hand layup and there after mechanical properties of the laminates are evaluated under tensile and flexural loading conditions. Composite laminates are fabricated and tested under equivalent conditions. Plain weave E-Glass fabric and epoxy LY556 are used as reinforcement and matrix. Nano-silica of size 17nm is used as filler. To enhance the reliability of composite characterization, utmost care is taken to avoid defects like voids, surface defects and under-saturations. Homogeneous distribution of nano silica in matrix is analyzed using TEM study. Inconsistencies in mechanical properties are quantified by coefficient of variation. In this study, the coefficient of variation is estimated in terms of break load for tensile test is 4.45 and for flexural test is 2.27 and is well within the limits.

An engineered polypeptide around nano-sized manganese-calcium oxide: copying plants for water oxidation.

PubMed

Najafpour, Mohammad Mahdi; Ghobadi, Mohadeseh Zarei; Sarvi, Bahram; Haghighi, Behzad

2015-09-14

Synthesis of new efficient catalysts inspired by Nature is a key goal in the production of clean fuel. Different compounds based on manganese oxide have been investigated in order to find their water-oxidation activity. Herein, we introduce a novel engineered polypeptide containing tyrosine around nano-sized manganese-calcium oxide, which was shown to be a highly active catalyst toward water oxidation at low overpotential (240 mV), with high turnover frequency of 1.5 × 10(-2) s(-1) at pH = 6.3 in the Mn(III)/Mn(IV) oxidation range. The compound is a novel structural and efficient functional model for the water-oxidizing complex in Photosystem II. A new proposed clever strategy used by Nature in water oxidation is also discussed. The new model of the water-oxidizing complex opens a new perspective for synthesis of efficient water-oxidation catalysts.

AES study on the chemical composition of ferroelectric BaTiO3 thin films RF sputter-deposited on silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dharmadhikari, V. S.; Grannemann, W. W.

1983-01-01

AES depth profiling data are presented for thin films of BaTiO3 deposited on silicon by RF sputtering. By profiling the sputtered BaTiO3/silicon structures, it was possible to study the chemical composition and the interface characteristics of thin films deposited on silicon at different substrate temperatures. All the films showed that external surface layers were present, up to a few tens of angstroms thick, the chemical composition of which differed from that of the main layer. The main layer had stable composition, whereas the intermediate film-substrate interface consisted of reduced TiO(2-x) oxides. The thickness of this intermediate layer was a function of substrate temperature. All the films showed an excess of barium at the interface. These results are important in the context of ferroelectric phenomena observed in BaTiO3 thin films.

Design and fabrication of highly hydrophobic Mn nano-sculptured thin films and evaluation of surface properties on hydrophobicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hosseini, Somaye; Savaloni, Hadi; Gholipour-Shahraki, Mehran

2017-03-01

The wettability of solid surfaces is important from the aspects of both science and technology. The Mn nano-sculptured thin films were designed and fabricated by oblique angle deposition of Mn on glass substrates at room temperature. The obtained structure was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The wettability of thin films samples was investigated by water contact angle (WCA). The 4-pointed helical star-shaped structure exhibits hydrophobicity with static WCAs of more than 133° for a 10-mg distilled water droplet. This sample also shows the rose petal effect with the additional property of high adhesion. The Mn nano-sculptured thin films also act as a sticky surface which is confirmed by hysteresis of the contact angle obtained from advancing and receding contact angles measurements. Physicochemical property of liquid phase could effectively change the contact angle, and polar solvents in contact with hydrophobic solid surfaces do not necessarily show high contact angle value.

Cu@C nanoporous composites containing little copper oxides derived from dimethyl imidazole modified MOF199 as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Xuedong; Li, Na; Zhang, Xianming

2017-12-01

It remains a huge challenge to develop non precious electrocatalysts with high activity to substitute commercial Pt catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). Here, the C-Cu-DI and C-Cu materials with the copper based nanoporous carbon structures were synthesized by carbonizing MOF199 and DI-MOF199. The composite structure and HER electrocatalytic properties of the C-Cu-DI and C-Cu materials are studied. The results show that C-Cu-DI and C-Cu samples exhibit good catalytic activity. And C-Cu-DI sample through the addition of Dimethyl imidazole(DI) in the DI-MOF199 precursor has higher electrocatalytic activity than the C-Cu sample. The superior catalytic activity is attributed to the special composite structure of nanoscale deposition particles on the framework with plenty of nano pores and nano copper and few copper oxidation particles distributed or wrapped into the amorphous porous carbon phase. The nano copper and few copper oxidation particles in the C-Cu and C-Cu-DI catalysts maybe provide the more effective catalytic activity sites. The C-Cu-DI composite with large size spherical hollow deposition particles has higher conductivity, better BET surface area and reasonable micro-meso-macro porous distribution, so the overpotentials at the current density of 1 mA cm-2 and 10 mA cm-2 are respectively 270 mV and 390 mV vs. RHE. Although the HER activity has a big gap with commercial platinum catalyst, this study can provide an important experimental exploration for the design of copper based non noble metal/nano porous carbon composite HER electrocatalyst.

Size and composition-controlled fabrication of thermochromic metal oxide nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clavero, César; Slack, Jonathan L.; Anders, André

2013-09-01

Finding new methods for the fabrication of metal oxide nanocrystals with high control on their composition, size and crystallinity is paramount for making large-area and low-cost optical coatings. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of thermochromic VO2 nanocrystals using a physical vapour deposition-based route, with high control over their composition, size and crystallinity. This technique presents great potential to be scaled up and integrated with in-line coaters, commonly used for large-area deposition. Optimum crystallization of the VO2 nanoparticles is achieved after post-growth annealing at 350 °C, a temperature drastically lower than that required by chemical or implantation fabrication methods. The obtained nanoparticle thin films exhibit superior modulation of the transmittance in the visible and near IR portion of the spectrum as compared to conventional VO2 thin films due to plasmonic effects, opening up a new horizon in applications such as smarts windows.

Preparation and Investigation of Electrodeposited Ni-NANO-Cr2O3 Composite Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Jibo; Feng, Chenqi; Qian, Wei; Yu, Libin; Ye, Fengying; Zhong, Qingdong; Han, Sheng

2016-12-01

The electrodeposition of Ni-nano-Cr2O3 composite coatings was studied in electrolyte containing different contents of Cr2O3 nanoparticles (Cr2O3 NPs) on mild steel surfaces. Some techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microhardness, the potentiodynamic polarization curves (Tafel) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to compare pure Ni coatings and Ni-nano-Cr2O3 composite coatings. The results show that the incorporation of Cr2O3 NPs resulted in an increase of hardness and corrosion resistance, and the maximum microhardness of Ni-nano-Cr2O3 composite coatings reaches about 495 HV. The coatings exhibit an active-passive transition and relatively large impedance values. Moreover, the effect of Cr2O3 NPs on Ni electrocrystallization is also investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and EIS spectroscopy, which demonstrates that the nature of Ni-based composite coatings changes attributes to Cr2O3 NPs by offering more nucleation sites and less charge transfer resistance.

Thermal annealing behavior of nano-size metal-oxide particles synthesized by ion implantation in Fe-Cr alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, C.; Gentils, A.; Ribis, J.; Borodin, V. A.; Descoins, M.; Mangelinck, D.; Dalle, F.; Arnal, B.; Delauche, L.

2017-05-01

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels are promising structural materials for the next generation nuclear reactors, as well as fusion facilities. The detailed understanding of the mechanisms involved in the precipitation of nano-oxides during ODS steel production would strongly contribute to the improvement of the mechanical properties and the optimization of manufacturing of ODS steels, with a potentially strong economic impact for their industrialization. A useful tool for the experimental study of nano-oxide precipitation is ion implantation, a technique that is widely used to synthesize precipitate nanostructures in well-controlled conditions. Earlier, we have demonstrated the feasibility of synthesizing aluminum-oxide particles in the high purity Fe-10Cr alloy by consecutive implantation with Al and O ions at room temperature. This paper describes the effects of high-temperature annealing after the ion implantation stage on the development of the aluminum based oxide nanoparticle system. Using transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography experiments, we demonstrate that post-implantation heat treatment induces the growth of the nano-sized oxides in the implanted region and nucleation of new oxide precipitates behind the implantation zone as a result of the diffusion driven broadening of implant profiles. A tentative scenario for the development of metal-oxide nano-particles at both ion implantation and heat treatment stages is suggested based on the experimental observations.

Electrochemical water splitting using nano-zeolite Y supported tungsten oxide electrocatalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anis, Shaheen Fatima; Hashaikeh, Raed

2018-02-01

Zeolites are often used as supports for metals and metal oxides because of their well-defined microporous structure and high surface area. In this study, nano-zeolite Y (50-150 nm range) and micro-zeolite Y (500-800 nm range) were loaded with WO3, by impregnating the zeolite support with ammonium metatungstate and thermally decomposing the salt thereafter. Two different loadings of WO3 were studied, 3 wt.% and 5 wt.% with respect to the overall catalyst. The prepared catalysts were characterized for their morphology, structure, and surface areas through scanning electron microscope (SEM), XRD, and BET. They were further compared for their electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 0.5 M H2SO4. On comparing the bare micro-zeolite particles with the nano-form, the nano-zeolite Y showed higher currents with comparable overpotentials and lower Tafel slope of 62.36 mV/dec. WO3 loading brought about a change in the electrocatalytic properties of the catalyst. The overpotentials and Tafel slopes were observed to decrease with zeolite-3 wt.% WO3. The smallest overpotential of 60 mV and Tafel slope of 31.9 mV/dec was registered for nano-zeolite with 3 wt.% WO3, while the micro-zeolite gave an overpotential of 370 mV and a Tafel slope of 98.1 mV/dec. It was concluded that even with the same metal oxide loading, nano-zeolite showed superior performance, which is attributed to its size and hence easier escape of hydrogen bubbles from the catalyst.

Nano-crystallization in ZnO-doped In2O3 thin films via excimer laser annealing for thin-film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujii, Mami N.; Ishikawa, Yasuaki; Ishihara, Ryoichi; van der Cingel, Johan; Mofrad, Mohammad R. T.; Bermundo, Juan Paolo Soria; Kawashima, Emi; Tomai, Shigekazu; Yano, Koki; Uraoka, Yukiharu

2016-06-01

In a previous work, we reported the high field effect mobility of ZnO-doped In2O3 (IZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) irradiated by excimer laser annealing (ELA) [M. Fujii et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 122107 (2013)]. However, a deeper understanding of the effect of ELA on the IZO film characteristics based on crystallinity, carrier concentrations, and optical properties is needed to control localized carrier concentrations for fabricating self-aligned structures in the same oxide film and to adequately explain the physical characteristics. In the case of as-deposited IZO film used as the channel, a high carrier concentration due to a high density of oxygen vacancies was observed; such a film does not show the required TFT characteristics but can act as a conductive film. We achieved a decrease in the carrier concentration of IZO films by crystallization using ELA. This means that ELA can form localized conductive or semi-conductive areas on the IZO film. We confirmed that the reason for the carrier concentration decrease was the decrease of oxygen-deficient regions and film crystallization. The annealed IZO films showed nano-crystalline phase, and the temperature at the substrate was substantially less than the temperature limit for flexible films such as plastic, which is 50°C. This paves the way for the formation of self-aligned structures and separately formed conductive and semi-conductive regions in the same oxide film.

Relative biocompatibility of micro-hybrid and nano-hybrid light-activated composite resins.

PubMed

Olabisi Arigbede, Abiodun; Folasade Adeyemi, Bukola; Femi-Akinlosotu, Omowumi

2017-01-01

Background. In vitro studies have revealed a direct association between resin content and cytotoxicity of composite resins; however, implantation studies in this regard are sparse. This study investigates the relationship between filler content of composite resins and biocompatibility. Methods. This research employed twelve 180‒200-gr male Wistar rats, 1 nano-hybrid (Prime-Dent Inc.) and 1 micro-hybrid (Medental Inc.) composite resins containing 74% and 80‒90% filler content, respectively. The samples were assessed on the 2nd, 14th and 90th day of implantation. Four rats were allocated to each day in this experimental study. A section of 1.5mm long cured nano-hybrid and micro-hybrid materials were implanted into the right and left upper and lower limbs of the rats, respectively. Eight samples were generated on each day of observation. Inflammation was graded according to the criteria suggested by Orstavik and Major. Pearson's chi-squared test was employed to determine the relationship between the tissue responses of the two materials. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results . The average grade of inflammation for the nano-hybrid on the 2nd day of implantation was 3.3. The micro-hybrid resin had a score of 3.0 for cellular inflammation. On the 14th day, the micro-hybrid resin also exhibited a lower average grade for cellular inflammation. On the 90th day, the micro-hybrid resin had a higher grade of inflammation (0.9) compared to 0.3 recorded for nano-hybrid. The composite resins with higher filler content elicited a significantly lower grade of inflammation irrespective of the duration (χ=20.000, df=8, P=0.010) while the composite resins with lower filler content elicited a significantly lower inflammatory response on the 90th day (χ=4.000, df=1, P=0.046). Conclusion. The composite resins with higher filler content generally elicited significantly lower grades of inflammation, and the composite resins with lower filler content exhibited

Relative biocompatibility of micro-hybrid and nano-hybrid light-activated composite resins

PubMed Central

Olabisi Arigbede, Abiodun; Folasade Adeyemi, Bukola; Femi-Akinlosotu, Omowumi

2017-01-01

Background. In vitro studies have revealed a direct association between resin content and cytotoxicity of composite resins; however, implantation studies in this regard are sparse. This study investigates the relationship between filler content of composite resins and biocompatibility. Methods. This research employed twelve 180‒200-gr male Wistar rats, 1 nano-hybrid (Prime-Dent Inc.) and 1 micro-hybrid (Medental Inc.) composite resins containing 74% and 80‒90% filler content, respectively. The samples were assessed on the 2nd, 14th and 90th day of implantation. Four rats were allocated to each day in this experimental study. A section of 1.5mm long cured nano-hybrid and micro-hybrid materials were implanted into the right and left upper and lower limbs of the rats, respectively. Eight samples were generated on each day of observation. Inflammation was graded according to the criteria suggested by Orstavik and Major. Pearson’s chi-squared test was employed to determine the relationship between the tissue responses of the two materials. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results. The average grade of inflammation for the nano-hybrid on the 2nd day of implantation was 3.3. The micro-hybrid resin had a score of 3.0 for cellular inflammation. On the 14th day, the micro-hybrid resin also exhibited a lower average grade for cellular inflammation. On the 90th day, the micro-hybrid resin had a higher grade of inflammation (0.9) compared to 0.3 recorded for nano-hybrid. The composite resins with higher filler content elicited a significantly lower grade of inflammation irrespective of the duration (χ=20.000, df=8, P=0.010) while the composite resins with lower filler content elicited a significantly lower inflammatory response on the 90th day (χ=4.000, df=1, P=0.046). Conclusion. The composite resins with higher filler content generally elicited significantly lower grades of inflammation, and the composite resins with lower filler content exhibited

Nano SnO 2-Al 2O 3 mixed oxide and SnO 2-Al 2O 3-carbon composite oxides as new and novel electrodes for supercapacitor applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayalakshmi, M.; Venugopal, N.; Raja, K. Phani; Rao, M. Mohan

New nano-materials like SnO 2-Al 2O 3 and SnO 2-Al 2O 3-carbon were synthesized by a single step hydrothermal method in searching for novel mixed oxides with high electrochemical double layer capacitance. A SnO 2-Al 2O 3-carbon sample was calcined at 600 °C and tested for its performance. The source of carbon was tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide. The capacitive behavior of SnO 2 was compared to the performance of SnO 2-Al 2O 3, SnO 2-Al 2O 3-carbon and calcined SnO 2-Al 2O 3-carbon using the techniques of cyclic voltammetry, double potential step, chronopotentiometry and E-log I polarization. In 0.1 M NaCl solutions, SnO 2-Al 2O 3 gave the best performance with a value of 119 Fg -1 and cycled 1000 times. The nano-material mixed oxides were characterized by TEM, XRD, ICP-AES and SEM-EDAX.

Mechanical properties of cement concrete composites containing nano-metakaolin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Supit, Steve Wilben Macquarie; Rumbayan, Rilya; Ticoalu, Adriana

2017-11-01

The use of nano materials in building construction has been recognized because of its high specific surface area, very small particle sizes and more amorphous nature of particles. These characteristics lead to increase the mechanical properties and durability of cement concrete composites. Metakaolin is one of the supplementary cementitious materials that has been used to replace cement in concrete. Therefore, it is interesting to investigate the effectiveness of metakaolin (in nano scale) in improving the mechanical properties including compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength of cement concretes. In this experiment, metakaolin was pulverized by using High Energy Milling before adding to the concrete mixes. The pozzolan Portland cement was replaced with 5% and 10% nano-metakaolin (by wt.). The result shows that the optimum amount of nano-metakaolin in cement concrete mixes is 10% (by wt.). The improvement in compressive strength is approximately 123% at 3 days, 85% at 7 days and 53% at 28 days, respectively. The tensile and flexural strength results also showed the influence of adding 10% nano-metakaolin (NK-10) in improving the properties of cement concrete (NK-0). Furthermore, the Backscattered Electron images and X-Ray Diffraction analysis were evaluated to support the above findings. The results analysis confirm the pores modification due to nano-metakaolin addition, the consumption of calcium hydroxide (CH) and the formation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (CSH) gel as one of the beneficial effects of amorphous nano-metakaolin in improving the mechanical properties and densification of microstructure of mortar and concrete.

Effect of Nano-Al₂O₃ on the Toxicity and Oxidative Stress of Copper towards Scenedesmus obliquus.

PubMed

Li, Xiaomin; Zhou, Suyang; Fan, Wenhong

2016-06-09

Nano-Al₂O₃ has been widely used in various industries; unfortunately, it can be released into the aquatic environment. Although nano-Al₂O₃ is believed to be of low toxicity, it can interact with other pollutants in water, such as heavy metals. However, the interactions between nano-Al₂O₃ and heavy metals as well as the effect of nano-Al₂O₃ on the toxicity of the metals have been rarely investigated. The current study investigated copper toxicity in the presence of nano-Al₂O₃ towards Scenedesmus obliquus. Superoxide dismutase activity and concentration of glutathione and malondialdehyde in cells were determined in order to quantify oxidative stress in this study. Results showed that the presence of nano-Al₂O₃ reduced the toxicity of Cu towards S. obliquus. The existence of nano-Al₂O₃ decreased the growth inhibition of S. obliquus. The accumulation of copper and the level of oxidative stress in algae were reduced in the presence of nano-Al₂O₃. Furthermore, lower copper accumulation was the main factor that mitigated copper toxicity with the addition of nano-Al₂O₃. The decreased copper uptake could be attributed to the adsorption of copper onto nanoparticles and the subsequent decrease of available copper in water.

The effect of thin film morphology on the electrochemical performance of Cu-Sn anode for lithium rechargeable batteries.

PubMed

Polat, B D; Keleş, O

2014-05-01

We investigate the anode performance of non ordered and ordered nanostructured Cu-Sn thin films deposited via electron beam deposition technique. The ordered nanostructured Cu-Sn thin film having nano-porosities was fabricated using an oblique (co)deposition technique. Our results showed that the nano structured Cu-Sn thin film containing Cu-Sn nanorods had higher initial anodic capacity (790 mA h g(-)) than that of the non ordered thin film (330 mA h g(-)). But the capacity of the ordered nanostructured Cu-Sn thin film diminished after the first cycle and a steady state capacity value around 300 mA h g(-) is sustainable in following up to 80th cycle, which is attributed to the composition and morphology of the thin film. The presence of copper containing Sn nanorods leading to form nano-porosities as interstitial spaces among them, enhanced lithium ions movement within thin film and increased the thin film tolerance against the stress generated because of the drastic volume change occurred during lithiation-delithiation processes; hence, homogenously distributed porosities increased the cycle life of the thin film.

Compositional Dependence of Optical and Structural Properties of Nanogranular Mixed ZrO2/ZnO/SnO2 Thin Film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salari, S.; Ghodsi, F. E.

2018-06-01

A study on the optical properties and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ternary oxide nanogranular thin films comprising Zr, Zn, and Sn revealed that the change in component ratio could direct the roadmap to improve characteristics of the films. Grazing angle X-ray diffraction analysis showed that incorporation of Sn atoms into the tetragonal structure of Zn/Zr thin film resulted in an amorphous structure. The band gap of film was tunable by precisely controlling the concentration of components. The widening of band gap could correlate to the quantum confinement effect. PL spectra of the composite thin films under excitation at 365 nm showed a sharp red emission with relatively Gaussian line shape, which was intensified in the optimum percentage ratio of 50/30/20. This nearly red emission is attributed to the radiative emission of electrons captured at low-energy traps located near the valence band. An optimum red emission is strongly desirable for use in white LEDs. The comparative study on FTIR spectra of unary, binary, and ternary thin films confirmed successful composition of three different metal oxides in ternary thin films. Detailed investigation on FTIR spectra of ternary compounds revealed that the quenching in PL emission at higher percentage of Sn was originally due to the hydroxyl group.

Nano-structured Platinum-based Catalysts for the Complete Oxidation of Ethylene Glycol and Glycerol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falase, Akinbayowa

Direct alcohol fuel cells are a viable alternative to the traditional hydrogen PEM fuel cell. Fuel versatility, integration with existing distribution networks, and increased safety when handling these fuels increases their appeal for portable power applications. In order to maximize their utility, the liquid fuel must be fully oxidized to CO2 so as to harvest the full amount of energy. Methanol and ethanol are widely researched as potential fuels to power these devices, but methanol is a toxic substance, and ethanol has a much lower energy density than other liquids such as gasoline or glucose. Oxidation of complex fuels is difficult to realize, due to difficulty in breaking carbon-carbon bonding and poisoning of the catalysts by oxidative byproducts. In order to achieve the highest efficiency, an anode needs to be engineered in such a way as to maximize activity while minimizing poisoning effects of reaction byproducts. We have engineered an anode that uses platinum-based catalysts that is capable of completely oxidizing ethylene glycol and glycerol in neutral and alkaline media with little evidence of CO poisoning. We have constructed a hybrid anode consisting of a nano-structured PtRu electrocatayst with an NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase for improved oxidation of complex molecules. A nano-structured PtRu catalyst was used to oxidize ethylene glycol and glycerol in neutral media. In situ infrared spectroscopy was used to verify complete oxidation via CO2 generation. There was no evidence of poisoning by CO species. A pH study was performed to determine the effect of pH on oxidative current. The peak currents did not trend at 60 mV/pH unit as would be expected from the Nernst equation, suggesting that adsorption of fuel to the surface of the electrode is not an electron-transfer step. We synthesized nano-structured PtRu, PtSn, and PtRuSn catalysts for oxidation of ethylene glycol and glycerol in alkaline media. The PtRu electrocatalyst the highest oxidative

Enhanced antibacterial performance of hybrid semiconductor nanomaterials: ZnO/SnO 2 nanocomposite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talebian, Nasrin; Nilforoushan, Mohammad Reza; Zargar, Elahe Badri

2011-10-01

The nano-sized coupled oxides ZnO/SnO 2 thin films in a molar ratio of 2:1 (Z2S), 1:1 (ZS) and 1:2 (ZS2) were prepared using sol-gel dip coating method and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy. Escherichia coli ( E. coli, ATCC 25922) was selected as a model for the Gram-negative bacteria to evaluate antibacterial property of composite samples compared with single ZnO (Z) and single SnO 2 (S) films. The antibacterial activity has been studied applying the so-called antibacterial drop test under UV illumination. The bactericidal activity was estimated by relative number of bacteria survived calculated from the number of viable cells which form colonies on the nutrient agar plates. The influence of the SnO 2-ZnO nanocomposite composition on the structural features and on the antibacterial properties of the thin films are reported and discussed. It is found that all coatings exhibited a high antibacterial activity. The coupled oxide photocatalyst Z2S has better photocatalytic activity to bacteria inactivation than ZS, ZS2, Z and S films. Furthermore, nanostructured films were active even in the absence of irradiation.

Iron oxide functionalized graphene nano-composite for dispersive solid phase extraction of chemical warfare agents from aqueous samples.

PubMed

Chinthakindi, Sridhar; Purohit, Ajay; Singh, Varoon; Tak, Vijay; Goud, D Raghavender; Dubey, D K; Pardasani, Deepak

2015-05-15

Present study deals with the preparation and evaluation of graphene based magnetic nano-composite for dispersive solid phase extraction of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) relevant chemicals from aqueous samples. Nano-composite, Fe3O4@SiO2-G was synthesized by covalently bonding silica coated Fe3O4 onto the graphene sheets. Nerve agents (NA), Sulfur mustard (SM) and their non-toxic environmental markers were the target analytes. Extraction parameters like amount of sorbent, extraction time and desorption conditions were optimized. Dispersion of 20 milligram of sorbent in 200mL of water sample for 20min. followed by methanol/chloroform extraction produced average to good recoveries (27-94%) of targeted analytes. Recoveries of real agents exhibited great dependency upon sample pH and ionic strength. Sarin produced maximum recovery under mild acidic conditions (56% at pH 5) while VX demanded alkaline media (83% at pH 9). Salts presence in the aqueous samples was found to be advantageous, raising the recoveries to as high as 94% for SM. Excellent limits of detection (LOD) for sulphur mustard and VX (0.11ngmL(-1) and 0.19ngmL(-1) respectively) proved the utility of the developed method for the off-site analysis of CWC relevant chemicals. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Uniting Superhydrophobic, Superoleophobic and Lubricant Infused Slippery Behavior on Copper Oxide Nano-structured Substrates

PubMed Central

Ujjain, Sanjeev Kumar; Roy, Pritam Kumar; Kumar, Sumana; Singha, Subhash; Khare, Krishnacharya

2016-01-01

Alloys, specifically steel, are considered as the workhorse of our society and are inimitable engineering materials in the field of infrastructure, industry and possesses significant applications in our daily life. However, creating a robust synthetic metallic surface that repels various liquids has remained extremely challenging. The wettability of a solid surface is known to be governed by its geometric nano-/micro structure and the chemical composition. Here, we are demonstrating a facile and economical way to generate copper oxide micro-nano structures with spherical (0D), needle (1D) and hierarchical cauliflower (3D) morphologies on galvanized steel substrates using a simple chemical bath deposition method. These nano/micro textured steel surfaces, on subsequent coating of a low surface energy material display excellent superhydrophobic, superoleophobic and slippery behavior. Polydimethylsiloxane coated textured surfaces illustrate superhydrophobicity with water contact angle about 160°(2) and critical sliding angle ~2°. When functionalized with low-surface energy perfluoroalkylsilane, these surfaces display high repellency for low surface tension oils as well as hydrocarbons. Among them, the hierarchical cauliflower morphology exhibits re-entrant structure thereby showing the best superoleophobicity with contact angle 149° for dodecane. Once infused with a lubricant like silicone oil, they show excellent slippery behavior with low contact angle hysteresis (~ 2°) for water drops. PMID:27752098

Effect Of Chromium Underlayer On The Properties Of Nano-Crystalline Diamond Films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garratt, Elias; AlFaify, Salem; Yoshitake, T.

2013-01-11

This paper investigated the effect of chromium underlayer on the structure, microstructure and composition of the nano-crystalline diamond films. Nano-crystalline diamond thin films were deposited at high temperature in microwave-induced plasma diluted with nitrogen, on silicon substrate with a thin film of chromium as an underlayer. The composition, structure and microstructure of the deposited layers were analyzed using non-Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry, Raman Spectroscopy, Near-Edge X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure, X-ray Diffraction and Atomic Force Microscopy. Nanoindentation studies showed that the films deposited on chromium underlayer have higher hardness values compared to those deposited on silicon without an underlayer. Diamond and graphiticmore » phases of the films evaluated by x-ray and optical spectroscopic analysis determined consistency between sp2 and sp3 phases of carbon in chromium sample to that of diamond grown on silicon. Diffusion of chromium was observed using ion beam analysis which was correlated with the formation of chromium complexes by x-ray diffraction.« less

Hydrogen storage properties of nano-structural carbon and metal hydrides composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyaoka, Hiroki; Ichikawa, Takayuki; Isobe, Shigehito; Fujii, Hironobu

2006-08-01

Thermodynamic and structural properties of some ball-milled mixtures composed of the hydrogenated nanostructural carbon (C nanoH x) and metal hydride (MH; M=Li, Na, Mg and Ca) were examined from thermal desoroption mass spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction, respectively. The results showed that the hydrogen desorption temperatures are significantly lowered from those of each hydride (C nanoH x, MH) in the composites. This indicates that a new type of interaction exists between C nanoH x and MH, which destabilizes C-H and/or M-H bonding as well. Therefore, the above Metal-C-H system would be recognized as a new family of hydrogen storage materials.

Structural properties of iron and nickel mixed oxide nano particles.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dehipawala, Sunil; Samarasekara, Pubudu; Gafney, Harry

Small scale magnets have very high technological importance today. Instead of traditional expensive methods, scientists are exploring new low cost methods to produce micro magnets. We synthesized thin film magnets containing iron and nickel oxides. Films will be synthesized using sol-gel method and spin coating technique. Several different precursor concentrations were tested to find out the ideal concentrations for stable thin films. Structural properties of iron and nickel oxide particles were investigated using X-ray absorption and Mossbauer spectroscopy. PSC-CUNY.

Carbon nanotube thin film strain sensor models assembled using nano- and micro-scale imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Bo Mi; Loh, Kenneth J.; Yang, Yuan-Sen

2017-07-01

Nanomaterial-based thin films, particularly those based on carbon nanotubes (CNT), have brought forth tremendous opportunities for designing next-generation strain sensors. However, their strain sensing properties can vary depending on fabrication method, post-processing treatment, and types of CNTs and polymers employed. The objective of this study was to derive a CNT-based thin film strain sensor model using inputs from nano-/micro-scale experimental measurements of nanotube physical properties. This study began with fabricating ultra-low-concentration CNT-polymer thin films, followed by imaging them using atomic force microscopy. Image processing was employed for characterizing CNT dispersed shapes, lengths, and other physical attributes, and results were used for building five different types of thin film percolation-based models. Numerical simulations were conducted to assess how the morphology of dispersed CNTs in its 2D matrix affected bulk film electrical and electromechanical (strain sensing) properties. The simulation results showed that CNT morphology had a significant impact on strain sensing performance.

High-volumetric performance aligned nano-porous microwave exfoliated graphite oxide-based electrochemical capacitors.

PubMed

Ghaffari, Mehdi; Zhou, Yue; Xu, Haiping; Lin, Minren; Kim, Tae Young; Ruoff, Rodney S; Zhang, Q M

2013-09-20

Ultra-high volumetric performance electrochemical double layer capacitors based on high density aligned nano-porous microwave exfoliated graphite oxide have been studied. Elimination of macro-, meso-, and larger micro-pores from electrodes and controlling the nano-morphology results in very high volumetric capacitance, energy, and power density values. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Nano-fibrin stabilized CaSO4 crystals incorporated injectable chitin composite hydrogel for enhanced angiogenesis & osteogenesis.

PubMed

Arun Kumar, R; Sivashanmugam, A; Deepthi, S; Bumgardner, Joel D; Nair, Shantikumar V; Jayakumar, R

2016-04-20

Calcium sulfate (CaSO4), an excellent biodegradable bone forming agent that is an ideal choice as additive in gels, however, its disadvantage being poor gel rheology and angiogenesis. Here, we have synthesized chitin-CaSO4-nano-fibrin based injectable gel system which shows improved rheology and angiogenic potential. Rheological studies showed that the composite gel was a shear thinning gel with elastic modulus of 15.4±0.275kPa; a 1.67 fold increase over chitin control. SEM and XRD analyses revealed the effect of nano-fibrin (nFibrin) in transforming CaSO4 crystal shape from needle to hexagonal. It also masked the retarding effect of CaSO4 towards in vitro early cell attachment and angiogenesis using rabbit adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (rASCs) and HUVECs, respectively. rASCs osteogenesis was confirmed by spectrophotometric endpoint assay, which showed 6-fold early increase in alkaline phosphatase levels and immuno-cytochemistry analysis. These in vitro results highlight the potential of injectable chitin-CaSO4-nFibrin gel for osteo-regeneration via enhanced angiogenesis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vitro toxicity test of nano-sized magnesium oxide synthesized via solid-phase transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Jun; Zhou, Wei

2018-04-01

Nano-sized magnesium oxide (MgO) has been a promising potential material for biomedical pharmaceuticals. In the present investigation, MgO nanoparticles synthesized through in-situ solid-phase transformation based on the previous work (nano-Mg(OH)2 prepared by precipitation technique) using magnesium nitrate and sodium hydroxide. The phase structure and morphology of the MgO nanoparticles are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), selected area electronic diffraction (SAED) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. In vitro hemolysis tests are adopted to evaluate the toxicity of the synthesized nano-MgO. The results evident that nano-MgO with lower concentration is slightly hemolytic, and with concentration increasing nano-MgO exhibit dose-responsive hemolysis.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nano Boron Nitride Reinforced Magnesium Composites Produced by the Microwave Sintering Method

PubMed Central

Seetharaman, Sankaranarayanan; Subramanian, Jayalakshmi; Tun, Khin Sandar; Hamouda, Abdelmagid S.; Gupta, Manoj

2013-01-01

In this study, magnesium composites with nano-size boron nitride (BN) particulates of varying contents were synthesized using the powder metallurgy (PM) technique incorporating microwave-assisted two-directional sintering followed by hot extrusion. The effect of nano-BN addition on the microstructural and the mechanical behavior of the developed Mg/BN composites were studied in comparison with pure Mg using the structure-property correlation. Microstructural characterization revealed uniform distribution of nano-BN particulates and marginal grain refinement. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) value of the magnesium matrix was improved with the addition of nano-sized BN particulates. The results of XRD studies indicate basal texture weakening with an increase in nano-BN addition. The composites showed improved mechanical properties measured under micro-indentation, tension and compression loading. While the tensile yield strength improvement was marginal, a significant increase in compressive yield strength was observed. This resulted in the reduction of tension-compression yield asymmetry and can be attributed to the weakening of the strong basal texture. PMID:28809252

Facile fabrication and characterization of poly(tetrafluoroethylene)@polypyrrole/nano-silver composite membranes with conducting and antibacterial property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Zhiquan; Zhou, Hui; Qing, Xutang; Dai, Tingyang; Lu, Yun

2012-06-01

Porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membranes play an important role in air purification and separation engineering. To achieve the bi-functionality of conducting and antibacterial property, two kinds of poly(tetrafluoroethylene)@ polypyrrole/nano-silver composite membranes have been prepared. One involves hydrophobic polypyrrole/nano-silver composite with hollow capsule nanostructures immobilized on the surface of the PTFE membranes. The other is a type of composite membranes with polypyrrole/nano-silver composite wholly packed on the fibrils of the expand PTFE membrane to form core/shell coaxial cable structures. The structure and morphology of the two kinds of composite membranes have been characterized by FTIR, UV-vis, XRD, TGA and SEM measurements. Possible formation mechanisms of the hollow capsules and the core/shell nanocable structures have been discussed in detail. The antibacterial effects of composite membranes are also briefly investigated.

An Ultra-Precise Method for the Nano Thin-Film Removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pa, P. S.

In this research an electrode-set is used to investigate via an ultra-precise method for the removal of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) thin-film microstructure from defective display panels to conquer the low yield rate in display panel production as to from imperfect Indium Tin Oxide layer deposition is well known. This process, which involves the removal of ITO layer substructure by means of an electrochemical removal (ECMR), is of major interest to the optoelectronics semiconductor industry. In this electro machining process a high current flow and high feed rate of the display (color filter) achieves complete and efficient removal of the ITO layer. The ITO thin-film can be removed completely by a proper combination of feed rate and electric power. A small gap between the diameter cathode virtual rotation circle and the diameter virtual rotation circle also corresponds to a higher removal rate. A small anode edge radius with a small cathode edge radius effectively improves dregs discharge and is an advantage when associated with a high workpiece feed rate. This precision method for the recycling of defective display screen color filters is presented as an effective tool for use in the screen manufacturing process. The defective Indium Tin Oxide thin-film can be removed easily and cleanly in a short time. The complete removal of the ITO layer makes it possible to put these panels back into the production line for reuse with a considerable reduction of both waste and production cost.

Synthesis and LPG sensing properties of nano-sized cadmium oxide.

PubMed

Waghulade, R B; Patil, P P; Pasricha, Renu

2007-04-30

This paper reports the synthesis and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensing properties of nano-sized cadmium oxide (CdO). The nano-sized CdO powder was successfully synthesized by using a chemical co-precipitation method using cadmium acetate and the ammonium hydroxide, as starting materials and water as a carrier. The resulting nano-sized powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The LPG sensing properties of the synthesized nano-sized CdO were investigated at different operating temperatures and LPG concentrations. It was found that the calcination temperature and the operating temperature significantly affect the sensitivity of the nano-sized CdO powder to the LPG. The sensitivity is found to be maximum when the calcination temperature was 400 degrees C. The sensitivity to 75ppm of LPG is maximum at an operating temperature 450 degrees C and it was found to be approximately 341%. The response and recovery times were found to be nearly 3-5s and 8-10s, respectively. The synthesized nano-sized CdO powder is able to detect up to 25ppm for LPG with reasonable sensitivity at an operating temperature 450 degrees C and it can be reliably used to monitor the concentration of LPG over the range (25-75ppm). The experimental results of the LPG sensing studies reveal that the nano-sized CdO powder synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method is a suitable material for the fabrication of the LPG sensor.

Few layered MoO3 nano sheets-SWCNT composite thin film as supercapacitor electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Shibsankar; Akther, Jasim; De, Sukanta

2017-05-01

The increasing demands for clean and renewable energy, the advantages of high power density, long lasting and high efficiency have made Supercapacitor as one of the major emerging energy storage device.The 2D layered metal oxide nanocomposite with SWCNT is the promising candidate for energy storage and conversion. In this work we exfoliate the crystalline bulk MoO3 by simple liquid phase exfoliation to give multi-layer MoO3 dispersed in a suitable solvent. As the electrical conductivity of MoO3 is very low so, the dispersion was used to make hybrid material with SWCNT dispersion by vacuum filtration. The SWCNT-MoO3 composite showed an areal capacitance value of 1290 µF/cm2 at 10 mV/s in PVA-H2 SO4 solid gel electrolyte. This composite based electrode provides an energy density of 0.092 µWh/cm2 and a power density of 9.54 µW/cm2 at 0.01 mA/cm2

In-situ synthesis of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticle-nanofibre composites using electrospinning.

PubMed

Burke, Luke; Mortimer, Chris J; Curtis, Daniel J; Lewis, Aled R; Williams, Rhodri; Hawkins, Karl; Maffeis, Thierry G G; Wright, Chris J

2017-01-01

We demonstrate a facile, one-step process to form polymer scaffolds composed of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) contained within electrospun nano- and micro-fibres of two biocompatible polymers, Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). This was achieved with both needle and free-surface electrospinning systems demonstrating the scalability of the composite fibre manufacture; a 228 fold increase in fibre fabrication was observed for the free-surface system. In all cases the nanoparticle-nanofibre composite scaffolds displayed morphological properties as good as or better than those previously described and fabricated using complex multi-stage techniques. Fibres produced had an average diameter (Needle-spun: 125±18nm (PEO) and 1.58±0.28μm (PVP); Free-surface electrospun: 155±31nm (PEO)) similar to that reported previously, were smooth with no bead defects. Nanoparticle-nanofibre composites were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS) (Nanoparticle average diameter ranging from 8±3nm to 27±5nm), XRD (Phase of iron oxide nanoparticles identified as magnetite) and nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation measurements (NMR) (T1/T2: 32.44 for PEO fibres containing MNPs) were used to verify the magnetic behaviour of MNPs. This study represents a significant step forward for production rates of magnetic nanoparticle-nanofibre composite scaffolds by the electrospinning technique. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemically deposited nano grain composed MoS(2) thin films for supercapacitor application.

PubMed

Pujari, R B; Lokhande, A C; Shelke, A R; Kim, J H; Lokhande, C D

2017-06-15

Low temperature soft chemical synthesis approach is employed towards MoS 2 thin film preparation on cost effective stainless steel substrate. 3-D semispherical nano-grain composed surface texture of MoS 2 film is observed through FE-SEM technique. Electrochemical supercapacitor performance of MoS 2 film is tested from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) techniques in 1M aqueous Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte. Specific capacitance (C s ) of 180Fg -1 with CV cycling stability of 82% for 1000 cycles is achieved. Equivalent series resistance (R s ) of 1.78Ωcm -2 observed through Nyquist plot shows usefulness of MoS 2 thin film for charge conduction in supercapacitor application. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Pyroelectricity of silicon-doped hafnium oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jachalke, Sven; Schenk, Tony; Park, Min Hyuk; Schroeder, Uwe; Mikolajick, Thomas; Stöcker, Hartmut; Mehner, Erik; Meyer, Dirk C.

2018-04-01

Ferroelectricity in hafnium oxide thin films is known to be induced by various doping elements and in solid-solution with zirconia. While a wealth of studies is focused on their basic ferroelectric properties and memory applications, thorough studies of the related pyroelectric properties and their application potential are only rarely found. This work investigates the impact of Si doping on the phase composition and ferro- as well as pyroelectric properties of thin film capacitors. Dynamic hysteresis measurements and the field-free Sharp-Garn method were used to correlate the reported orthorhombic phase fractions with the remanent polarization and pyroelectric coefficient. Maximum values of 8.21 µC cm-2 and -46.2 µC K-1 m-2 for remanent polarization and pyroelectric coefficient were found for a Si content of 2.0 at%, respectively. Moreover, temperature-dependent measurements reveal nearly constant values for the pyroelectric coefficient and remanent polarization over the temperature range of 0 ° C to 170 ° C , which make the material a promising candidate for IR sensor and energy conversion applications beyond the commonly discussed use in memory applications.

Amorphous semiconducting and conducting transparent metal oxide thin films and production thereof

DOEpatents

Perkins, John; Van Hest, Marinus Franciscus Antonius Maria; Ginley, David; Taylor, Matthew; Neuman, George A.; Luten, Henry A.; Forgette, Jeffrey A.; Anderson, John S.

2010-07-13

Metal oxide thin films and production thereof are disclosed. An exemplary method of producing a metal oxide thin film may comprise introducing at least two metallic elements and oxygen into a process chamber to form a metal oxide. The method may also comprise depositing the metal oxide on a substrate in the process chamber. The method may also comprise simultaneously controlling a ratio of the at least two metallic elements and a stoichiometry of the oxygen during deposition. Exemplary amorphous metal oxide thin films produced according to the methods herein may exhibit highly transparent properties, highly conductive properties, and/or other opto-electronic properties.

The fabrication of PLGA microvessel scaffolds with nano-patterned inner walls.

PubMed

Wang, Gou-Jen; Lin, Yan-Cheng; Hsu, Shan-Hui

2010-10-01

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most commonly used biodegradable, biocompatible materials. Nanostructured PLGA has immense potential for application in tissue engineering. In this article we discuss a novel approach for the fabrication of PLGA microvessel scaffolds with nanostructured inner walls. In this novel nano-patterning approach, the thermal reflow technique is first adapted to fabricate a semi-cylindrical photoresist master mold. A thin film of titanium and a thin film of aluminum are sputtered in sequence on the semi-cylindrical microvessel network. Aluminum foil anodization is then executed to transform the aluminum thin film into a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film. During the casting process a PLGA solution is cast on the AAO film to build up semi-cylindrical PLGA microstructures with nanostructured inner walls after which inductive coupled plasma (ICP) is implemented to assist bonding of the two PLGA structures. The result is the building of a network of microchannels with nano-patterned inner walls. Bovine endothelial cells (BECs) are carefully cultured in the scaffold via semi-dynamic seeding for 7 days. Observations show that the BECs grew more separately in a nano-patterned microvessel scaffold than they did in a smooth surface scaffold.

A Novel Approach of Using Ground CNTs as the Carbon Source to Fabricate Uniformly Distributed Nano-Sized TiCx/2009Al Composites

PubMed Central

Wang, Lei; Qiu, Feng; Ouyang, Licheng; Wang, Huiyuan; Zha, Min; Shu, Shili; Zhao, Qinglong; Jiang, Qichuan

2015-01-01

Nano-sized TiCx/2009Al composites (with 5, 7, and 9 vol% TiCx) were fabricated via the combustion synthesis of the 2009Al-Ti-CNTs system combined with vacuum hot pressing followed by hot extrusion. In the present study, CNTs were used as the carbon source to synthesize nano-sized TiCx particles. An attempt was made to correlate the effect of ground CNTs by milling and the distribution of synthesized nano-sized TiCx particles in 2009Al as well as the tensile properties of nano-sized TiCx/2009Al composites. Microstructure analysis showed that when ground CNTs were used, the synthesized nano-sized TiCx particles dispersed more uniformly in the 2009Al matrix. Moreover, when 2 h-milled CNTs were used, the 5, 7, and 9 vol% nano-sized TiCx/2009Al composites had the highest tensile properties, especially, the 9 vol% nano-sized TiCx/2009Al composites. The results offered a new approach to improve the distribution of in situ nano-sized TiCx particles and tensile properties of composites. PMID:28793749

Sb:SnO2 thin films-synthesis and characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhadrapriya B., C.; Varghese, Anitta Rose; Amarendra, G.; Hussain, Shamima

2018-04-01

Transparent thin films of antimony doped SnO2 have been synthesized and characterized using optical spectroscopy, XRD, RAMAN and FESEM. The band gap of Sb doped tin oxide thin film samples were found to vary from 3.26 eV to 3.7 eV. The XRD peaks showed prominent rutile SnO2 peaks with diminished intensity due to antimony doping. A wide band in the range 550-580 cm-1 was observed in raman spectra and is a feature of nano-sized SnO2. SEM images showed flower-like structures on thin film surface, a characteristic feature of antimony.

The effect of nano-SiC on characteristics of ADC12/nano-SiC composite with Sr and TiB addition produced by stir casting process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anne Zulfia, S.; Salshabia, Nadella; Dhaneswara, Donanta; Utomo, Budi Wahyu

2018-05-01

ADC12 reinforced nano SiC has been successfully produced by stir casting process. Nano SiC was added into ADC12 alloy varied from 0.05 to 0.3 vf-% while Al-5Ti-1B and Sr were kept constant at 0.04 and 0.02 wt-% respectively to all composites. Mg was added 10 wt% to improve reinforce's wettability. The addition of Al-5Ti-1B to the alloy was as grain refiner while Sr was added to modify Mg2Si. All composites were characterized both microstructures analysis and mechanical properties include tensile strength, hardness, wear rate, impact strength, and porosity. The highest properties of composites was obtained at 0.3 vf-% nano SiC addition with UTS of 155.4 MPa, hardness of 46.16 HRB, impact strength of 0.22 J/mm2, and wear rate of 1.71 × 10-5 mm3/m. Tensile strength and hardness increased as grain size and porosities decreased. The highest wear resistance was investigated on the composition with the highest hardness. Impact strength decreased due to increasing volume fraction of nano-SiC. The phases present in microsturucture was dominantly Mg2Si which also affected mechanical properties of these composites.

Fabrication, characterization and gamma rays shielding properties of nano and micro lead oxide-dispersed-high density polyethylene composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahmoud, Mohamed E.; El-Khatib, Ahmed M.; Badawi, Mohamed S.; Rashad, Amal R.; El-Sharkawy, Rehab M.; Thabet, Abouzeid A.

2018-04-01

Polymer composites of high-density polyethylene (HD-PE) filled with powdered lead oxide nanoparticles (PbO NPs) and bulk lead oxide (PbO Blk) were prepared with filler weight fraction [10% and 50%]. These polymer composites were investigated for radiation-shielding of gamma-rays emitted from radioactive point sources [241Am, 133Ba, 137Cs, and 60Co]. The polymer was found to decrease the heaviness of the shielding material and increase the flexibility while the metal oxide fillers acted as principle radiation attenuators in the polymer composite. The prepared composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (BET) and field emission transmission electron microscope (FE-TEM). The morphological analysis of the assembled composites showed that, PbO NPs and PbO Blk materials exhibited homogenous dispersion in the polymer-matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that the thermal-stability of HD-PE was enhanced in the presence of both PbO Blk and PbO NPs. The results declared that, the density of polymer composites was increase with the percentage of filler contents. The highest density value was identified as 1.652 g cm-3 for 50 wt% of PbO NPs. Linear attenuation coefficients (μ) have been estimated from the use of XCOM code and measured results. Reasonable agreement was attended between theoretical and experimental results. These composites were also found to display excellent percentage of heaviness with respect to other conventional materials.

Growth of textured thin Au coatings on iron oxide nanoparticles with near infrared absorbance

PubMed Central

Ma, L L; Borwankar, A U; Willsey, B W; Yoon, K Y; Tam, J O; Sokolov, K V; Feldman, M D; Milner, T E; Johnston, K P

2013-01-01

A homologous series of Au-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, with hydrodynamic diameters smaller than 60 nm was synthesized with very low Auto-iron mass ratios as low as 0.15. The hydrodynamic diameter was determined by dynamic light scattering and the composition by atomic absorption spectroscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Unusually low Au precursor supersaturation levels were utilized to nucleate and grow Au coatings on iron oxide relative to formation of pure Au nanoparticles. This approach produced unusually thin coatings, by lowering autocatalytic growth of Au on Au, as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nearly all of the nanoparticles were attracted by a magnet indicating a minimal amount of pure Au particles The coatings were sufficiently thin to shift the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to the near infrared (NIR), with large extinction coefficients., despite the small particle hydrodynamic diameters, observed from dynamic light scattering to be less than 60 nm. PMID:23238021

3-dimensional free standing micro-structures by proton beam writing of Su 8-silver nanoParticle polymeric composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Igbenehi, H.; Jiguet, S.

2012-09-01

Proton beam lithography a maskless direct-write lithographic technique (well suited for producing 3-Dimensional microstructures in a range of resist and semiconductor materials) is demonstrated as an effective tool in the creation of electrically conductive freestanding micro-structures in an Su 8 + Nano Silver polymer composite. The structures produced show non-ohmic conductivity and fit the percolation theory conduction model of tunneling of separated nanoparticles. Measurements show threshold switching and a change in conductivity of at least 4 orders of magnitude. The predictable range of protons in materials at a given energy is exploited in the creation of high aspect ratio, free standing micro-structures, made from a commercially available SU8 Silver nano-composite (GMC3060 form Gersteltec Inc. a negative tone photo-epoxy with added metallic nano-particles(Silver)) to create films with enhanced electrical properties when exposed and cured. Nano-composite films are directly written on with a finely focused MeV accelerated Proton particle beam. The energy loss of the incident proton beams in the target polymer nano- composite film is concentrated at the end of its range, where damage occurs; changing the chemistry of the nano-composite film via an acid initiated polymerization - creating conduction paths. Changing the energy of the incident beams provide exposed regions with different penetration and damage depth - exploited in the demonstrated cantilever microstructure.

Synthesis and characterization of nano TiO2-SiO2: PVA composite - a novel route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venckatesh, Rajendran; Balachandaran, Kartha; Sivaraj, Rajeshwari

2012-07-01

A novel, simple, less time consuming and cost-effective sol-gel method has been developed to synthesize nano titania-silica with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite relatively at low temperature in acidic pH. Titania sol is prepared by hydrolysis of titanium tetrachloride and was mixed with silicic acid and tetrahydrofuran mixture. The reaction was carried out under vigorous stirring for 6 h and dried at room temperature with the addition of PVA solution. The resulting powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-visible spectroscopy and thermal techniques. The grain size of the particles was calculated by X-ray diffraction; surface morphology and chemical composition were determined from scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy; metal oxide stretching was confirmed from FT-IR spectroscopy; bandgap was calculated using UV-visible spectroscopy, and thermal stability of the prepared composite was determined by thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis. Since TiO2 got agglomerated on the surface of SiO2, effective absorptive sites increase which in turn increase the photocatalytic efficiency of the resulting composite.

Nitrogen Dioxide-Sensing Properties at Room Temperature of Metal Oxide-Modified Graphene Composite via One-Step Hydrothermal Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dongzhi; Liu, Jingjing; Xia, Bokai

2016-08-01

A metal oxide/graphene composite film-based sensor toward room-temperature detection of ppm-level nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas has been demonstrated. The sensor prototype was constructed on a PCB substrate with microelectrodes, and a tin oxide-reduced graphene oxide (SnO2-rGO) composite as sensing film was prepared by one-step hydrothermal synthesis of tin tetrachloride pentahydrate solution in the presence of graphene oxide (GO). The SnO2-rGO hybrid composite was examined by scanning electron microscope and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The gas sensing properties of the SnO2-rGO composite were investigated at room temperature by exposing it to a wide concentration ranging from 1 ppm to 2000 ppm toward NO2 gas. The experiment results showed that the sensor exhibited a high response, superior selectivity, good repeatability, rapid response/recovery characteristics and low detection limit of 1 ppm, which exceeded that of a pure rGO sensor. The gas sensing mechanisms of the proposed sensor toward NO2 were possibly attributed to the nano-hybrid structures and n- p heterojunctions created at the interface of the SnO2 nanocrystals and rGO nanosheets.

Fire retardancy assessment of polypropylene composite filed with nano clay prepared from Iraqi bentonite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kareem Salih, Watheq

2018-05-01

Fire retardants have an extraordinary importance because of their role in saving the people, property and reducing the damages and minimizing the dangers resulting from fires and burning of polymeric composites which are used in different civil and industrial fields. The work in this paper can be divided into two main stages. In first one nano-clay was manufactured from Iraqi bentonite and it was characterized using AFM, XRD, XRF, SEM, and BET. The AFM test showed the particle size of prepared nano clay was about 99.25 nm. In the second stage, polypropylene/nano clay composites at three low loading percents (0%,2%,4%,6%) were formulated via twin screw extruder. The fire retardancy tests included burning rate according to ASTM:D-635 and maximum flame height of flame according to ASTM:D-3014. Besides, the mechanical tests and thermal behavior of prepared samples were investigated. The results showed that (4%) of nano-clay had the maximum fire retardancy and while at (2%) loading, the maximum value of tensile strength and Yong modulus were obtained. The maximum heat of fusion was recorded for 6% nano clay sample. The final results assessment confirmed on the possibility of using low loadings of prepared nano clay to improve the fire retardancy, mechanical and thermal properties successfully.

[Study on the antibacterial activity of four kinds of nano-hydroxyapatite composites against Enterococcus faecalis].

PubMed

Liu, Yi; Zhou, Rongjing; Wu, Hongkun

2015-06-01

This study aims to compare and determine a kind of nano-hydroxyapatite composite material with good antibacterial efficacy on Enterococcusfaecalis (E. faecalis) in vitro. We investigated the antimicrobial activity of four kinds of nano-hydroxyapatite composites, namely, silver/hydroxyapatite composite nanoparticles (Ag/nHA), yttrium/hydroxyapatite composite nanoparticles (Yi/nHA), cerium/hydroxyapatite composite nanoparticles (Ce/nHA), and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHA), against E. faecalis in vitro using the agar diffusion and broth dilution method by measuring the growth inhibition zone and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), respectively. The agar diffusion test results showed that Ag/nHA displayed an obvious growth inhibition zone, whereas Yi/nHA, Ce/nHA, and nHA showed no influence on E. faecalis. The MIC value of Ag/nHA was 1.0 g.L-1, and the three other materials had no effect on E.faecalis even at the high concentration of 32.0 g.L-1. Ag/nHA display a potential antimicrobial efficacy to planktonic E.faecalis. Whereas, the three other kinds of nano-hydroxyapatite composites (Yi/nHA, Ce/nHA, nHA) show no influence.

Stress development in particulate, nano-composite and polymeric coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jindal, Karan

2009-12-01

The main goal of this research is to study the stress, structural and mechanical property development during the drying of particulate coatings, nano-composite coatings and VOC compliant refinish clearcoats. The results obtained during this research establish the mechanism for the stress development during drying in various coating systems. Coating stress was measured using a controlled environment stress apparatus based on cantilever deflection principle. The stress evolution in alumina coatings made of 0.4 mum size alumina particles was studied and the effect of a lateral drying was investigated. The stress does not develop until the later stages of drying. A peak stress was observed during drying and the peak stress originates due to the formation of pendular rings between the particles. Silica nanocomposite coatings were fabricated from suspension of nano sized silicon dioxide particles (20 nm) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer. The stress in silica nano-composite goes through maximum as the amount of polymer in the coating increases. The highest final stress was found to be ˜ 110MPa at a PVA content of 60 wt%. Observations from SEM, nitrogen gas adsorption, camera imaging, and nano-indentation were also studied to correlate the coatings properties during drying to measured stress. A model VOC compliant two component (2K) acrylic-polyol refinish clearcoat was prepared to study the effects of a new additive on drying, curing, rheology and stress development at room temperature. Most of the drying of the low VOC coatings occurred before appreciable (20%) crosslinking. Tensile stress developed in the same timeframe as drying and then relaxed over a longer time scale. Model low VOC coatings prepared with the additive had higher peak stresses than those without the additive. In addition, rheological data showed that the additive resulted in greater viscosity buildup during drying.

3D Oxidized Graphene Frameworks for Efficient Nano Sieving

PubMed Central

Pawar, Pranav Bhagwan; Saxena, Sumit; Badhe, Dhanashree Kamlesh; Chaudhary, Raghvendra Pratap; Shukla, Shobha

2016-01-01

The small size of Na+ and Cl− ions provides a bottleneck in desalination and is a challenge in providing alternatives for continuously depleting fresh water resources. Graphene by virtue of its structural properties has the potential to address this issue. Studies have indicated that use of monolayer graphene can be used to filter micro volumes of saline solution. Unfortunately it is extremely difficult, resource intensive and almost impractical with current technology to fabricate operational devices using mono-layered graphene. Nevertheless, graphene based devices still hold the key to solve this problem due to its nano-sieving ability. Here we report synthesis of oxidized graphene frameworks and demonstrate a functional device to desalinate and purify seawater from contaminants including Na+ and Cl− ions, dyes and other microbial pollutants. Micro-channels in these frameworks help in immobilizing larger suspended solids including bacteria, while nano-sieving through graphene enables the removal of dissolved ions (e.g. Cl−). Nano-sieving incorporated with larger frameworks has been used in filtering Na+ and Cl− ions in functional devices. PMID:26892277

Solution-Processed Gallium–Tin-Based Oxide Semiconductors for Thin-Film Transistors

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xue; Lee, Hyeonju; Kim, Jungwon; Kim, Eui-Jik; Park, Jaehoon

2017-01-01

We investigated the effects of gallium (Ga) and tin (Sn) compositions on the structural and chemical properties of Ga–Sn-mixed (Ga:Sn) oxide films and the electrical properties of Ga:Sn oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs). The thermogravimetric analysis results indicate that solution-processed oxide films can be produced via thermal annealing at 500 °C. The oxygen deficiency ratio in the Ga:Sn oxide film increased from 0.18 (Ga oxide) and 0.30 (Sn oxide) to 0.36, while the X-ray diffraction peaks corresponding to Sn oxide significantly reduced. The Ga:Sn oxide film exhibited smaller grains compared to the nanocrystalline Sn oxide film, while the Ga oxide film exhibited an amorphous morphology. We found that the electrical properties of TFTs significantly improve by mixing Ga and Sn. Here, the optimum weight ratio of the constituents in the mixture of Ga and Sn precursor sols was determined to be 1.0:0.9 (Ga precursor sol:Sn precursor sol) for application in the solution-processed Ga:Sn oxide TFTs. In addition, when the Ga(1.0):Sn(0.9) oxide film was thermally annealed at 900 °C, the field-effect mobility of the TFT was notably enhanced from 0.02 to 1.03 cm2/Vs. Therefore, the mixing concentration ratio and annealing temperature are crucial for the chemical and morphological properties of solution-processed Ga:Sn oxide films and for the TFT performance. PMID:29283408

Growth of fullerene-like carbon nitride thin solid films consisting of cross-linked nano-onions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czigány, Zs.; Brunell, I. F.; Neidhardt, J.; Hultman, L.; Suenaga, K.

2001-10-01

Fullerene-like CNx (x≈0.12) thin solid films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering of graphite in a nitrogen and argon discharge on cleaved NaCl and Si(001) substrates at 450 °C. As-deposited films consist of 5 nm diam CNx nano-onions with shell sizes corresponding to Goldberg polyhedra determined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Electron energy loss spectroscopy revealed that N incorporation is higher in the core of the onions than at the perimeter. N incorporation promotes pentagon formation and provides reactive sites for interlinks between shells of the onions. A model is proposed for the formation of CNx nano-onions by continuous surface nucleation and growth of hemispherical shells.

Preparation of Pt Ag alloy nanoisland/graphene hybrid composites and its high stability and catalytic activity in methanol electro-oxidation

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

In this article, PtAg alloy nanoislands/graphene hybrid composites were prepared based on the self-organization of Au@PtAg nanorods on graphene sheets. Graphite oxides (GO) were prepared and separated to individual sheets using Hummer's method. Graphene nano-sheets were prepared by chemical reduction with hydrazine. The prepared PtAg alloy nanomaterial and the hybrid composites with graphene were characterized by SEM, TEM, and zeta potential measurements. It is confirmed that the prepared Au@PtAg alloy nanorods/graphene hybrid composites own good catalytic function for methanol electro-oxidation by cyclic voltammograms measurements, and exhibited higher catalytic activity and more stability than pure Au@Pt nanorods and Au@AgPt alloy nanorods. In conclusion, the prepared PtAg alloy nanoislands/graphene hybrid composites own high stability and catalytic activity in methanol electro-oxidation, so that it is one kind of high-performance catalyst, and has great potential in applications such as methanol fuel cells in near future. PMID:21982417

Study of rheological, viscoelastic and vulcanization behavior of sponge EPDM/NR blended nano- composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arshad Bashir, M.; Shahid, M.; Ahmed, Riaz; Yahya, A. G.

2014-06-01

In this research paper the effect of blending ratio of natural rubber (NR) with Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) were investigated. Different samples of EPDM/NR ratio were prepared to study the variation of NR in EPDM on rheology, curing characteristics, tangent δ, and viscosity variation during vulcanization of sponge nano composites.The main aim of present research is to develop elastomeric based sponge composites with the blending ratio of base elastomers along with the carbon nano particles for high energy absorbing and damping applications. The curing characteristics, rheology and viscoelastic nature of the composite is remarkably influenced with the progressive blending ratio of the base elastomeric matrix.

Thin-Film Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Xin; Wu, Nai-Juan; Ignatiev, Alex

2009-01-01

The development of thin-film solid oxide fuel cells (TFSOFCs) and a method of fabricating them have progressed to the prototype stage. This can result in the reduction of mass, volume, and the cost of materials for a given power level.

Compositionally Dependent Nonlinear Optical Bandgap Behavior of Mixed Anodic Oxides in Niobium-Titanium System.

PubMed

Bleckenwegner, Petra; Mardare, Cezarina Cela; Cobet, Christoph; Kollender, Jan Philipp; Hassel, Achim Walter; Mardare, Andrei Ionut

2017-02-13

Optical bandgap mapping of Nb-Ti mixed oxides anodically grown on a thin film parent metallic combinatorial library was performed via variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE). A wide Nb-Ti compositional spread ranging from Nb-90 at.% Ti to Nb-15 at.% Ti deposited by cosputtering was used for this purpose. The Nb-Ti library was stepwise anodized at potentials up to 10 V SHE, and the anodic oxides optical properties were mapped along the Nb-Ti library with 2 at.% resolution. The surface dissimilarities along the Nb-Ti compositional gradient were minimized by tuning the deposition parameters, thus allowing a description of the mixed Nb-Ti oxides based on a single Tauc-Lorentz oscillator for data fitting. Mapping of the Nb-Ti oxides optical bandgap along the entire compositional spread showed a clear deviation from the linear model based on mixing individual Nb and Ti electronegativities proportional to their atomic fractions. This is attributed to the strong amorphization and an in-depth compositional gradient of the mixed oxides. A systematic optical bandgap decrease toward values as low as 2.0 eV was identified at approximately 50 at.% Nb. Mixing of Nb 2 O 5 and TiO 2 with both amorphous and crystalline phases is concluded, whereas the possibility of complex Nb a Ti b O y oxide formation during anodization is unlikely.

Assessing the fate and effects of nano aluminum oxide in the terrestrial earthworm, Eisenia fetida.

PubMed

Coleman, Jessica G; Johnson, David R; Stanley, Jacob K; Bednar, Anthony J; Weiss, Charles A; Boyd, Robert E; Steevens, Jeffery A

2010-07-01

Nano-sized aluminum is currently being used by the military and commercial industries in many applications including coatings, thermites, and propellants. Due to the potential for wide dispersal in soil systems, we chose to investigate the fate and effects of nano-sized aluminum oxide (Al2O3), the oxidized form of nano aluminum, in a terrestrial organism. The toxicity and bioaccumulation potential of micron-sized (50-200 microm, nominal) and nano-sized (11 nm, nominal) Al2O3 was comparatively assessed through acute and subchronic bioassays using the terrestrial earthworm, Eisenia fetida. Subchronic (28-d) studies were performed exposing E. fetida to nano- and micron-sized Al2O3-spiked soils to assess the effects of long-term exposure. No mortality occurred in subchronic exposures, although reproduction decreased at >or=3,000 mg/kg nano-sized Al2O3 treatments, with higher aluminum body burdens observed at 100 and 300 mg/kg; no reproductive effects were observed in the micron-sized Al2O3 treatments. In addition to toxicity and bioaccumulation bioassays, an acute (48-h) behavioral bioassay was conducted utilizing a soil avoidance wheel in which E. fetida were given a choice of habitat between control, nano-, or micron-sized Al2O3 amended soils. In the soil avoidance bioassays, E. fetida exhibited avoidance behavior toward the highest concentrations of micron- and nano-sized Al2O3 (>5,000 mg/kg) relative to control soils. Results of the present study indicate that nano-sized Al2O3 may impact reproduction and behavior of E. fetida, although at high levels unlikely to be found in the environment. Copyright (c) 2010 SETAC.

Thermo-Oxidative Stability of Graphite/PMR-15 Composites: Effect of Fiber Surface Modification on Composite Shear Properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Madhukar, Madhu S.; Bowles, Kenneth J.; Papadopolous, Demetrios S.

1994-01-01

Experiments were conducted to establish a correlation between the weight loss of a polyimide (PMR- 15) matrix and graphite fibers and the in-plane shear properties of their unidirectional composites subjected to different isothermal aging times up to 1000 hr at 316 C. The role of fiber surface treatment on the composite degradation during the thermo-oxidative aging was investigated by using A4 graphite fibers with three surface modifications: untreated (AU-4), surface treated (AS-4), and surface treated and sized with an epoxy-compatible sizing (AS-4G). The weight loss of the matrix fibers, and composites was determined during the aging. The effect of thermal aging was seen in all the fiber samples in terms of weight loss and reduction in fiber diameter. Calculated values of weight loss fluxes for different surfaces of rectangular unidirectional composite plates showed that the largest weight loss occurred at those cut surfaces where fibers were perpendicular to the surface. Consequently, the largest amount of damage was also noted on these cut surfaces. Optical observation of the neat matrix and composite plates subjected to different aging times revealed that the degradation (such as matrix microcracking and void growth) occurred in a thin surface layer near the specimen edges. The in-plane shear modulus of the composites was unaffected by the fiber surface treatment and the thermal aging. The shear strength of the composites with the untreated fibers was the lowest and it decreased with aging. A fracture surface examination of the composites with untreated fibers suggested that the weak interface allowed the oxidation reaction to proceed along the interface and thus expose the inner material to further oxidation. The results indicated that the fiber-matrix interface affected the composite degradation process during its thermal aging and that the the weak interface accelerated the composite degradation.

A review on the application of inorganic nano-structured materials in the modification of textiles: focus on anti-microbial properties.

PubMed

Dastjerdi, Roya; Montazer, Majid

2010-08-01

Textiles can provide a suitable substrate to grow micro-organisms especially at appropriate humidity and temperature in contact to human body. Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many investigations for anti-microbial modification of textiles. However, using many anti-microbial agents has been avoided because of their possible harmful or toxic effects. Application of inorganic nano-particles and their nano-composites would be a good alternative. This review paper has focused on the properties and applications of inorganic nano-structured materials with good anti-microbial activity potential for textile modification. The discussed nano-structured anti-microbial agents include TiO(2) nano-particles, metallic and non-metallic TiO(2) nano-composites, titania nanotubes (TNTs), silver nano-particles, silver-based nano-structured materials, gold nano-particles, zinc oxide nano-particles and nano-rods, copper nano-particles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nano-clay and its modified forms, gallium, liposomes loaded nano-particles, metallic and inorganic dendrimers nano-composite, nano-capsules and cyclodextrins containing nano-particles. This review is also concerned with the application methods for the modification of textiles using nano-structured materials. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PREFACE: International Conference on Structural Nano Composites (NANOSTRUC 2012)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Njuguna, James

2012-09-01

Dear Colleagues It is a great pleasure to welcome you to NanoStruc2012 at Cranfield University. The purpose of the 2012 International Conference on Structural Nano Composites (NanoStruc2012) is to promote activities in various areas of materials and structures by providing a forum for exchange of ideas, presentation of technical achievements and discussion of future directions. NanoStruc brings together an international community of experts to discuss the state-of-the-art, new research results, perspectives of future developments, and innovative applications relevant to structural materials, engineering structures, nanocomposites, modelling and simulations, and their related application areas. The conference is split in 7 panel sessions, Metallic Nanocomposites and Coatings, Silica based Nanocomposites, safty of Nanomaterials, Carboin based Nanocomposites, Multscale Modelling, Bio materials and Application of Nanomaterials. All accepted Papers will be published in the IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), and included in the NanoStruc online digital library. The abstracts will be indexed in Scopus, Compedex, Inspec, INIS (International Nuclear Information System), Chemical Abstracts, NASA Astrophysics Data System and Polymer Library. Before ending this message, I would like to acknowledge the hard work, professional skills and efficiency of the team which ensured the general organisation. As a conclusion, I would like to Welcome you to the Nanostruc2012 and wish you a stimulating Conference and a wonderful time. On behalf of the scientific committee, Signature James Njuguna Conference Chair The PDF of this preface also contains committee listings and associates logos.

Compact chromium oxide thin film resistors for use in nanoscale quantum circuits

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nash, C. R.; Fenton, J. C.; Constantino, N. G. N.

We report on the electrical characterisation of a series of thin amorphous chromium oxide (CrO{sub x}) films, grown by dc sputtering, to evaluate their suitability for use as on-chip resistors in nanoelectronics. By increasing the level of oxygen doping, the room-temperature sheet resistance of the CrO{sub x} films was varied from 28 Ω/◻ to 32.6 kΩ/◻. The variation in resistance with cooling to 4.2 K in liquid helium was investigated; the sheet resistance at 4.2 K varied with composition from 65 Ω/◻ to above 20 GΩ/◻. All of the films measured displayed linear current–voltage characteristics at all measured temperatures. For on-chip devices for quantummore » phase-slip measurements using niobium–silicon nanowires, interfaces between niobium–silicon and chromium oxide are required. We also characterised the contact resistance for one CrO{sub x} composition at an interface with niobium–silicon. We found that a gold intermediate layer is favourable: the specific contact resistivity of chromium-oxide-to-gold interfaces was 0.14 mΩcm{sup 2}, much lower than the value for direct CrO{sub x} to niobium–silicon contact. We conclude that these chromium oxide films are suitable for use in nanoscale circuits as high-value resistors, with resistivity tunable by oxygen content.« less

A Novel Approach of Using Ground CNTs as the Carbon Source to Fabricate Uniformly Distributed Nano-Sized TiCx/2009Al Composites.

PubMed

Wang, Lei; Qiu, Feng; Ouyang, Licheng; Wang, Huiyuan; Zha, Min; Shu, Shili; Zhao, Qinglong; Jiang, Qichuan

2015-12-17

Nano-sized TiC x /2009Al composites (with 5, 7, and 9 vol% TiC x ) were fabricated via the combustion synthesis of the 2009Al-Ti-CNTs system combined with vacuum hot pressing followed by hot extrusion. In the present study, CNTs were used as the carbon source to synthesize nano-sized TiC x particles. An attempt was made to correlate the effect of ground CNTs by milling and the distribution of synthesized nano-sized TiC x particles in 2009Al as well as the tensile properties of nano-sized TiC x /2009Al composites. Microstructure analysis showed that when ground CNTs were used, the synthesized nano-sized TiC x particles dispersed more uniformly in the 2009Al matrix. Moreover, when 2 h-milled CNTs were used, the 5, 7, and 9 vol% nano-sized TiC x /2009Al composites had the highest tensile properties, especially, the 9 vol% nano-sized TiC x /2009Al composites. The results offered a new approach to improve the distribution of in situ nano-sized TiC x particles and tensile properties of composites.

Oleic acid-grafted chitosan/graphene oxide composite coating for corrosion protection of carbon steel.

PubMed

Fayyad, Eman M; Sadasivuni, Kishor Kumar; Ponnamma, Deepalekshmi; Al-Maadeed, Mariam Al Ali

2016-10-20

An anticorrosion coating film based on the formation of nanocomposite coating is reported in this study. The composite consisted of chitosan (green matrix), oleic acid, and graphene oxide (nano filler). The nanocomposite coating was arranged on the surface of carbon steel, and the corrosion resistance was monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PP). Compared to the pure chitosan (CS) coating, the corrosion resistance of oleic acid-modified chitosan/graphene oxide film (CS/GO-OA) is increased by 100 folds. Since the well-dispersed smart grafted nanolayers delayed the penetration rate of corrosive species and thus maintained long term anticorrosive stability which is correlated with hydrophobicity and permeability. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Consequence of oxidant concentration on XPS properties of chemically synthesized polythiophene thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamat, Sandip V.; Chhabra, Jasvinder; Patil, V. S.; Yadav, J. B.; Puri, R. K.; Puri, Vijaya

2018-05-01

The polythiophene thin films were prepared by a wellknown chemical bath deposition technique. The deposited thin films were characterized for structural morphological properties and the adhesion of these thin films were measured by direct pull off (DPO) method, the effect of oxidant concentration on these thin films also studied. The FTIR spectra of chemically deposited polythiophene thin films shows the absorption peak at 836 cm-1 which represents c-s stretching vibrations, shifts to 869 cm-1 as the oxidant concentration increases. The band at 666 cm-1 representing c-s-c ring deformation becomes sharper and appears with a shoulder peak due to increase in oxidant concentration.

Crosslinking hydroxylated reduced graphene oxide with RAFT-CTA: A nano-initiator for preparation of well-defined amino acid-based polymer nanohybrids.

PubMed