Disordering of ultra thin WO3 films by high-energy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsunami, N.; Kato, M.; Sataka, M.; Okayasu, S.

2017-10-01

We have studied disordering or atomic structure modification of ultra thin WO3 films under impact of high-energy ions with non-equilibrium and equilibrium charge incidence, by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). WO3 films were prepared by thermal oxidation of W deposited on MgO substrate. Film thickness obtained by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) is as low as 2 nm. Smoothness of film surface was observed by atomic force microscopy. It is found that the ratio of XRD intensity degradation per 90 MeV Ni+10 ion (the incident charge is lower than the equilibrium charge) to that per 90 MeV Ni ion with the equilibrium charge depends on the film thickness. Also, film thickness dependence is observed for 100 MeV Xe+14. By comparison of the experimental result with a simple model calculation based on the assumption that the mean charge of ions along the depth follows a saturation curve with power-law approximation to the charge dependent electronic stopping power, the characteristic length attaining the equilibrium charge is obtained to be ∼7 nm for 90 MeV Ni+10 ion incidence or the electron loss cross section of ∼1016 cm2, demonstrating that disordering of ultra WO3 films has been observed and a fundamental quantity can be derived through material modification.

Enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activity of WO3-surface modified TiO2 thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qamar, Mohammad; Drmosh, Qasem; Ahmed, Muhammad I.; Qamaruddin, Muhammad; Yamani, Zain H.

2015-02-01

Development of nanostructured photocatalysts for harnessing solar energy in energy-efficient and environmentally benign way remains an important area of research. Pure and WO3-surface modified thin films of TiO2 were prepared by magnetron sputtering on indium tin oxide glass, and photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activities of these films were studied. TiO2 particles were <50 nm, while deposited WO3 particles were <20 nm in size. An enhancement in the photocurrent was observed when the TiO2 surface was modified WO3 nanoparticles. Effect of potential, WO3 amount, and radiations of different wavelengths on the photoelectrochemical activity of TiO2 electrodes was investigated. Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and WO3-modified TiO2 for the decolorization of methyl orange was tested.

Symmetry driven control of optical properties in WO 3 films

DOE PAGES

Herklotz, A.; Rus, S. F.; KC, S.; ...

2017-06-23

Optical band gap control of semiconducting thin films is critical for the optimization of photoelectronic and photochemical applications. In this work, we demonstrate that the optical band gap of WO 3 films can be continuously controlled through uniaxial strain induced by low-energy helium implantation. We show that the implantation of He into epitaxially grown and coherently strained WO 3 films can be used to induce single axis out-of-plane lattice expansion of up to 2%. Ellipsometric spectroscopy reveals that this lattice expansion shifts the absorption spectrum to lower energies and effectively reduces the optical band gap by about 0.18 eV permore » percent expansion of the out-of-plane unit cell length. Furthermore, density functional calculations show that this response is a direct result of changes in orbital degeneracy driven by changes in the octahedral rotations and tilts.« less

Spectroscopic analysis of temperature dependent growth of WO3 and W0.95Ti0.05O3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yun, Young; Manciu, Felicia; William, Durrer; Howard, James; Ramana, Chintalapalle

2011-10-01

We present a comparative spectroscopic study of the morphology and composition of tungsten oxide WO3 and W0.95Ti0.05O3 thin films, grown by radio frequency magnetron reactive sputtering at substrate temperatures varied from room temperature (RT) to 500 ^oC, using Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Raman results demonstrate the occurrence of a phase transformation from a monoclinic WO3 structure to an orthorhombic or tetragonal configuration in the W0.95Ti0.05O3 thin films. This remark is based on the observed shifting, with Ti doping, to lower frequencies of the Raman peaks corresponding to W-O-W stretching modes of WO3 at 806 and 711 cm-1, to 793 and 690 cm-1, respectively. Also, higher growth temperatures are required to obtain crystalline microstructure for Ti-doped WO3 films than for WO3 films. XPS data indicate that the doped material has a reduced WO3-x stoichiometry at the surface, with the presence of W^+6 and W^+5 tungsten oxidation states; this observation could also be related to the existence of a different structural phase of this material, corroborating with the Raman measurements.

Effect of Pt Nanoparticles on the Optical Gas Sensing Properties of WO3 Thin Films

PubMed Central

Qadri, Muhammad U.; Diaz Diaz, Alex Fabian; Cittadini, Michaela; Martucci, Alessandro; Pujol, Maria Cinta; Ferré-Borrull, Josep; Llobet, Eduard; Aguiló, Magdalena; Díaz, Francesc

2014-01-01

Thin films of tungsten trioxide were deposited on quartz substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. Different annealing temperatures in the range from 423 to 973 K were used under ambient atmosphere. The influence of the annealing temperature on the structure and optical properties of the resulting WO3 thin films were studied. The surface morphology of the films is composed of grains with an average size near 70 nm for the films annealed between 773 and 973 K. Some of the WO3 thin films were also coated with Pt nanoparticles of about 45 nm in size. Spectrometric measurements of transmittance were carried out for both types of WO3 samples in the wavelength range from 200–900 nm, to determine the effect of the exposure to two different gases namely H2 and CO. Films showed fast response and recovery times, in the range of few seconds. The addition of Pt nanoparticles enables reducing the operation temperature to room temperature. PMID:24977386

Degradation of organic dyes using spray deposited nanocrystalline stratified WO3/TiO2 photoelectrodes under sunlight illumination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunge, Y. M.; Yadav, A. A.; Mahadik, M. A.; Bulakhe, R. N.; Shim, J. J.; Mathe, V. L.; Bhosale, C. H.

2018-02-01

The need to utilize TiO2 based metal oxide hetero nanostructures for the degradation of environmental pollutants like Rhodamine B and reactive red 152 from the wastewater using stratified WO3/TiO2 catalyst under sunlight illumination. WO3, TiO2 and stratified WO3/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by a spray pyrolysis method. It was found that the stratified WO3/TiO2 heterostructure has high crystallinity, no mixed phase formation occurs, strong optical absorption in the visible region of the solar spectrum, and large surface area. The photocatalytic activity was tested for degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh B) and reactive red 152 in an aqueous medium. TiO2 layer in stratified WO3/TiO2 catalyst helps to extend its absorption spectrum in the solar light region. Rh B and Reactive red 152is eliminated up to 98 and 94% within the 30 and 40 min respectively at optimum experimental condition by stratified WO3/TiO2. Moreover, stratified WO3/TiO2 photoelectrode has good stability and reusability than individual TiO2 and WO3 thin film in the degradation of Rh B and reactive red 152. The photoelectrocatalytic experimental results indicate that stratified WO3/TiO2 photoelectrode is a promising material for dye removal.

Surface Functionalization of WO3 Thin Films with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and Succinic Anhydride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ta, Thi Kieu Hanh; Tran, Thi Nhu Hoa; Tran, Quang Minh Nhat; Pham, Duy Phong; Pham, Kim Ngoc; Cao, Thi Thanh; Kim, Yong Soo; Tran, Dai Lam; Ju, Heongkyu; Phan, Bach Thang

2017-06-01

We report effects of oxygen plasma treatment on the surface functionalization of WO3 thin films with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and succinic anhydride (SA). X-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate the existence of the WO3 phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurement shows clear bands at 1040 cm-1 (Si-O-Si), 1556 cm-1 (N-H), 1655 cm-1 (C=O), 2937 cm-1 (C-H) and 3298 cm-1 (N-H), confirming the surface functionalization efficiency enhanced by prior treatment of oxygen plasma. It thus follows that the prior oxygen plasma treatment activates hydroxylation with more -OH groups on the WO3 surface, which can pave a highly efficient way to the surface functionalization by APTES and SA.

Enhanced electrochromic and energy storage performance in mesoporous WO3 film and its application in a bi-functional smart window.

PubMed

Wang, Wei-Qi; Wang, Xiu-Li; Xia, Xin-Hui; Yao, Zhu-Jun; Zhong, Yu; Tu, Jiang-Ping

2018-05-03

Construction of multifunctional photoelectrochemical energy devices is of great importance to energy saving. In this study, we have successfully prepared a mesoporous WO3 film on FTO glass via a facile dip-coating sol-gel method; the designed mesoporous WO3 film exhibited advantages including high transparency, good adhesion and high porosity. Also, multifunctional integrated energy storage and optical modulation ability are simultaneously achieved by the mesoporous WO3 film. Impressively, the mesoporous WO3 film exhibits a noticeable electrochromic energy storage performance with a large optical modulation up to 75.6% at 633 nm, accompanied by energy storage with a specific capacity of 75.3 mA h g-1. Furthermore, a full electrochromic energy storage window assembled with the mesoporous WO3 anode and PANI nanoparticle cathode is demonstrated with large optical modulation and good long-term stability. Our research provides a new route to realize the coincident utilization of optical-electrochemical energy.

Facile Preparation of Porous WO3 Film for Photoelectrochemical Splitting of Natural Seawater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Yonghong; Li, Yuangang; Wei, Xiaoliang; Feng, Juan; Li, Huajing; Zhou, Wanyi

2017-12-01

Sunlight-driven natural seawater splitting provides a promising way for large-scale conversion and storage of solar energy. Here, we develop a facile and low-cost method via a deposition-annealing technique to fabricate porous WO3 film and demonstrate its application as a photoanode for natural seawater splitting. The WO3 film yields a photocurrent density of 1.95 mA cm-2 and possesses excellent stability at 1.23 V (versus RHE), under the illumination of 100 mW cm-2 (AM 1.5G). The photoelectrochemical performance is ascribed to the large surface area and good permeation of the electrolyte into the porous film. Furthermore, the photocurrent density remains almost the same during 3 h continuous light irradiation. The evolution of chlorine gas from seawater splitting was determined with qualitative and quantitative analyses, with a Faradic efficiency of about 56%.

Influence of metal work function and incorporation of Sr atom on WO3 thin films for MIS and MIM structured SBDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marnadu, R.; Chandrasekaran, J.; Raja, M.; Balaji, M.; Maruthamuthu, S.; Balraju, P.

2018-07-01

In this work, two different structure of Cu/Sr-WO3/p-Si metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) and Cu/Sr-WO3/FTO metal-insulator-metal (MIM) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) fabricated with an insulating layer of pure tungsten trioxide (WO3) and Sr-WO3 thin films have been reported. The Sr-WO3 layer was coated separately, with different concentrations (0, 4, 8 and 12 wt %) of strontium (Sr) via jet nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique (JNSP) on the p-type silica wafer (p-Si) and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates which are been optimized at 400 °C. The XRD analysis reveals the multiphase crystalline structures for 12 wt % of Sr-WO3 film with higher average crystallite size. FE-SEM images show the randomly oriented sub-microsized slab and seashell like structures. Higher surface roughness with improved grain size for 12 wt % of Sr-WO3 film. The presence of W, O and Sr atoms was confirmed by EDX spectra. In optical studies, Maximum absorption with minimum optical band gap was observed for 12 wt % of Sr-WO3 composite film. There was a linear increase in the electrical conductivity of the films with higher wt. % of Sr. Evidently the activation energy decreased with Sr concentration which is in accordance with the bandgap values. The fitting results of the measured I-V, reveal that MIS (SBDs) under illumination condition have minimum ideality factor (n = 2.39) and maximum barrier height (Φb = 0.57) values for higher concentration (12 wt %) of Sr film compared to MIM SBDs.

Optical Properties and Aging of Gasochromic WO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Rudresh; Baker, Matthew B.; Lopez, Rene

2009-03-01

WO3 as a possible optical gas sensor has gained increasing importance with H2 becoming a major fuel of the future. This has led to efforts to understand the theoretical and practical aspects of the gasochromic behavior of WO3. WO3 films were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Morphological and stoichiometric ratios of films obtained were observed as functions of deposition parameters. We present the optical constants induced by 2% H2:Ar in WO3 films. This allows us to obtain the limits of the gasochromic change in comparison to ion injection. It was found using Langmuir's adsorption equation that at low H2 concentrations a high sensitivity is predicted but the coloration could saturate at 57.9 % of the material's maximum ion adsorption. Poisoning of the films was also addressed by coating with a permeable polydimethylsiloxane layer. It is shown that gasochromic degradation is prevented thus eliminating common atmospheric gases as possible contaminants. Our studies suggest WO3 thin films as highly sensitive and stable optical hydrogen sensors. .

Optical Properties and Aging of Gasochromic WO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Rudresh; Baker, Matthew B.; Lopez, Rene

2008-10-01

WO3 as a possible optical gas sensor has gained increasing importance with H2 becoming a major fuel of the future. This has led to efforts to understand the theoretical and practical aspects of the gasochromic behavior of WO3. WO3 films were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Morphological and stoichiometric ratios of films obtained were observed as functions of deposition parameters. We present the optical constants induced by 2% H2:Ar in WO3 films. This allows us to obtain the limits of the gasochromic change in comparison to ion injection. It was found using Langmuir's adsorption equation that at low H2 concentrations a high sensitivity is predicted but the coloration could saturate at 57.9 % of the material's maximum ion adsorption. Poisoning of the films was also addressed by coating with a permeable polydimethylsiloxane layer. It is shown that gasochromic degradation is prevented thus eliminating common atmospheric gases as possible contaminants. Our studies suggest WO3 thin films as highly sensitive and stable optical hydrogen sensors.

Studies on RF sputtered (WO3)1-x (V2O5)x thin films for smart window applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meenakshi, M.; Sivakumar, R.; Perumal, P.; Sanjeeviraja, C.

2016-05-01

V2O5 doped WO3 targets for RF sputtering thin film deposition were prepared for various compositions. Thin films of (WO3)1-x (V2O5)x were deposited on to glass substrates using these targets. Structural characteristics of the prepared targets and thin films were studied using X-ray diffraction. Laser Raman studies were carried out on the thin films to confirm the compound formation.

Optical recording characteristics of WO3 films grown by pulsed laser deposition method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoki, Takanori; Matsushita, Tatsuhiko; Suzuki, Akio; Tanabe, Kenji; Okuda, Masahiro

2005-09-01

WO3 films were deposited on the glass substrate (Corning No. 7059 with an area of 26×38 mm) by the pulsed laser deposition method using an ArF excimer laser. It was found that after annealing at 500 °C for 10 min, the film thickness became 1.8 times compared with that (approximately 40 nm) in the as deposited state. At this time, the difference in the transmittance, ΔT, between the annealed state and the as deposited state was about 40% at the wavelength of 400 nm. From x-ray diffraction spectra and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra, it was considered that the ratio of the peak values of W6+ 4f5/2 (tungsten oxide) versus W 4f5/2 (metal tungsten) increased steeply after the annealing process. From this, it was considered that oxygen was absorbed into the WO3 films through the annealing process. From the revolution test for the sample without the protection layer in which the WO3 films were deposited upon the digital versatile disk disk substrate, a write peak-power dependence of carrier to noise ratio (CNR) (at λ=406 nm, NA=0.65) of 3T signal (58.5 MHz) was measured at a linear velocity of 5 m/s and a read power of 0.6 mW. It was confirmed that the values of CNR obtained at the write peak-power 5-6 mW were near 50 dB (the region A) and the ones obtained at the write power 7-10 mW were more than 60 dB (the region B). From scanning electron microscopy observation, it was recognized that bits with 0.16-0.25 μm size, having the fine-shaped dots with clear-cut edge, were made in the region A. This corresponded to the maximal storage capacity of 25 GB in the ``Blu-ray disk'' specification. However, it was also identified that holes were formed in the region B and the film materials were scattered by receiving a train of high write power impulses. Next, it was found that the write power corresponding to region A for the structures with the WO3 layer sandwiched between a Al2O3 or ZnS-SiO2 protection layer increased or decreased, respectively. Larger values of

Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of nanocrystalline NZO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aryanto, D.; Hastuti, E.; Husniya, N.; Sudiro, T.; Nuryadin, B. W.

2018-03-01

Nanocrystalline Ni-doped ZnO (NZO) thin films were synthesized on glass substrate using sol-gel spin coating methods. The effect of annealing on the structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline thin film was studied using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-VIS spectrophotometry, and photoluminescence (PL). The results showed that the annealing temperature strongly influenced the physical properties of nanocrystalline NZO thin films. The photocatalytic properties of nanocrystalline NZO thin films were evaluated using an aqueous solution of Rhodamine-B. The photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline NZO thin films increased with the increase of annealing temperature. The results indicated that the structure, morphology, and band gap energy of nanocrystalline NZO thin films played an important role in photocatalytic activity.

A Nanocrystalline Fe2O3 Film Anode Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition for Lithium-Ion Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teng, Xiaoling; Qin, Youzhi; Wang, Xia; Li, Hongsen; Shang, Xiantao; Fan, Shuting; Li, Qiang; Xu, Jie; Cao, Derang; Li, Shandong

2018-02-01

Nanocrystalline Fe2O3 thin films are deposited directly on the conduct substrates by pulsed laser deposition as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. We demonstrate the well-designed Fe2O3 film electrodes are capable of excellent high-rate performance (510 mAh g- 1 at high current density of 15,000 mA g- 1) and superior cycling stability (905 mAh g- 1 at 100 mA g- 1 after 200 cycles), which are among the best reported state-of-the-art Fe2O3 anode materials. The outstanding lithium storage performances of the as-synthesized nanocrystalline Fe2O3 film are attributed to the advanced nanostructured architecture, which not only provides fast kinetics by the shortened lithium-ion diffusion lengths but also prolongs cycling life by preventing nanosized Fe2O3 particle agglomeration. The electrochemical performance results suggest that this novel Fe2O3 thin film is a promising anode material for all-solid-state thin film batteries.

Pulsing frequency induced change in optical constants and dispersion energy parameters of WO3 films grown by pulsed direct current magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Punitha, K.; Sivakumar, R.; Sanjeeviraja, C.

2014-03-01

In this work, we present the pulsing frequency induced change in the structural, optical, vibrational, and luminescence properties of tungsten oxide (WO3) thin films deposited on microscopic glass and fluorine doped tin oxide (SnO2:F) coated glass substrates by pulsed dc magnetron sputtering technique. The WO3 films deposited on SnO2:F substrate belongs to monoclinic phase. The pulsing frequency has a significant influence on the preferred orientation and crystallinity of WO3 film. The maximum optical transmittance of 85% was observed for the film and the slight shift in transmission threshold towards higher wavelength region with increasing pulsing frequency revealed the systematic reduction in optical energy band gap (3.78 to 3.13 eV) of the films. The refractive index (n) of films are found to decrease (1.832 to 1.333 at 550 nm) with increasing pulsing frequency and the average value of extinction coefficient (k) is in the order of 10-3. It was observed that the dispersion data obeyed the single oscillator of the Wemple-Didomenico model, from which the dispersion energy (Ed) parameters, dielectric constants, plasma frequency, oscillator strength, and oscillator energy (Eo) of WO3 films were calculated and reported for the first time due to variation in pulsing frequency during deposition by pulsed dc magnetron sputtering. The Eo is change between 6.30 and 3.88 eV, while the Ed varies from 25.81 to 7.88 eV, with pulsing frequency. The Raman peak observed at 1095 cm-1 attributes the presence of W-O symmetric stretching vibration. The slight shift in photoluminescence band is attributed to the difference in excitons transition. We have made an attempt to discuss and correlate these results with the light of possible mechanisms underlying the phenomena.

Pronounced effects of the nominal concentrations of WO3 and Ag: WO3 nano-plates (obtained by a co-precipitation method) on their structural, morphological and optical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajendran, V.; Deepa, B.

2018-03-01

Tungsten oxide and different concentration of silver (Ag)-doped tungsten oxide nano material were synthesized by co-precipitation technique. The functional vibrations, structure, and morphology of as-prepared nano material were studied by Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) techniques. The SEM and HR-TEM analysis revealed the formation of nano-plate/nano rods with an average diameter of 40-80 nm diameter and 1-1.5 mm length. Fluorescence (PL) and UV-visible absorption techniques have been used to study the optical properties of the prepared nanoparticles. The observed red shift in the visible absorption spectra confirmed the promoted electron-phonon interaction in WO3 and Ag: WO3 nanoparticles compared to bulk structures. The photoluminescence of nanocrystalline Ag2+ doped WO3 exhibited a strong violet-blue, blue-green emission. Concentration dependence of the emission intensity of Ag2+ in WO3 was studied, and the significant concentration was found to be 0.5% of Ag: WO3. The effluent dye degradation executed for the 0.5% of Ag: WO3 sample under the visible light which reveals the highest degradation efficiency in appropriate time.

Photoelectrochemical Properties and Behavior of α-SnWO4 Photoanodes Synthesized by Hydrothermal Conversion of WO3 Films.

PubMed

Zhu, Zhehao; Sarker, Pranab; Zhao, Chenqi; Zhou, Lite; Grimm, Ronald L; Huda, Muhammad N; Rao, Pratap M

2017-01-18

Metal oxides with moderate band gaps are desired for efficient production of hydrogen from sunlight and water via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Here, we report an α-SnWO 4 photoanode synthesized by hydrothermal conversion of WO 3 films that achieves photon to current conversion at wavelengths up to 700 nm (1.78 eV). This photoanode is promising for overall PEC water-splitting because the flat-band potential and voltage of photocurrent onset are more negative than the potential of hydrogen evolution. Furthermore, the photoanode utilizes a large portion of the solar spectrum. However, the photocurrent density reaches only a small fraction of that which is theoretically possible. Density functional theory based thermodynamic and electronic structure calculations were performed to elucidate the nature and impact of defects in α-SnWO 4 prepared by this synthetic route, from which hole localization at Sn-at-W antisite defects was determined to be a likely cause for the poor photocurrent. Measurements further showed that the photocurrent decreases over time due to surface oxidation, which was suppressed by improving the kinetics of hole transfer at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. Alternative synthetic methods and the addition of protective coatings and/or oxygen evolution catalysts are suggested to improve the PEC performance and stability of this promising α-SnWO 4 material.

Studies on RF sputtered (WO{sub 3}){sub 1-x} (V{sub 2}O{sub 5}){sub x} thin films for smart window applications

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

Meenakshi, M.; Perumal, P.; Sivakumar, R.

2016-05-23

V{sub 2}O{sub 5} doped WO{sub 3} targets for RF sputtering thin film deposition were prepared for various compositions. Thin films of (WO{sub 3}){sub 1-x} (V{sub 2}O{sub 5}){sub x} were deposited on to glass substrates using these targets. Structural characteristics of the prepared targets and thin films were studied using X-ray diffraction. Laser Raman studies were carried out on the thin films to confirm the compound formation.

Ga2O3 and GaN nanocrystalline film: reverse micelle assisted solvothermal synthesis and characterization.

PubMed

Sinha, Godhuli; Ganguli, Dibyendu; Chaudhuri, Subhadra

2008-03-01

Gallium oxide (beta-Ga2O3) nanoparticles were successfully deposited on quartz glass substrates using sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT)/n-hexane/ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) reverse micelle-mediated solvothermal process with different omega values. The mean diameter of Ga2O3 particles was approximately 2-3 nm and found to be approximately independent of omega values of the reverse micelles. However, when the Ga2O3 nanocrystalline films were nitrided at 900 degrees C under flowing NH3 atmosphere for 1 h, the mean diameter of the resulted gallium nitride (wurtzite-GaN) nanoparticles varied from 3-9 nm. Both nanocrystalline films of Ga2O3 and GaN were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence in order to study their chemical and physical properties explicitly.

Nanocrystalline copper films are never flat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiaopu; Han, Jian; Plombon, John J.; Sutton, Adrian P.; Srolovitz, David J.; Boland, John J.

2017-07-01

We used scanning tunneling microscopy to study low-angle grain boundaries at the surface of nearly planar copper nanocrystalline (111) films. The presence of grain boundaries and their emergence at the film surface create valleys composed of dissociated edge dislocations and ridges where partial dislocations have recombined. Geometric analysis and simulations indicated that valleys and ridges were created by an out-of-plane grain rotation driven by reduction of grain boundary energy. These results suggest that in general, it is impossible to form flat two-dimensional nanocrystalline films of copper and other metals exhibiting small stacking fault energies and/or large elastic anisotropy, which induce a large anisotropy in the dislocation-line energy.

A comparative study of heterostructured CuO/CuWO4 nanowires and thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyakov, Boris; Kuzmin, Alexei; Vlassov, Sergei; Butanovs, Edgars; Zideluns, Janis; Butikova, Jelena; Kalendarev, Robert; Zubkins, Martins

2017-12-01

A comparative study of heterostructured CuO/CuWO4 core/shell nanowires and double-layer thin films was performed through X-ray diffraction, confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy and electron (SEM and TEM) microscopies. The heterostructures were produced using a two-step process, starting from a deposition of amorphous WO3 layer on top of CuO nanowires and thin films by reactive DC magnetron sputtering and followed by annealing at 650 °C in air. The second step induced a solid-state reaction between CuO and WO3 oxides through a thermal diffusion process, revealed by SEM-EDX analysis. Morphology evolution of core/shell nanowires and double-layer thin films upon heating was studied by electron (SEM and TEM) microscopies. A formation of CuWO4 phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy.

Self-assembled micro-/nanostructured WO3 thin films by aqueous chemical growth and their applications in H2 and CO2 sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sone, B. T.; Nkosi, S. S.; Nkosi, M. M.; Coetsee-Hugo, E.; Swart, H. C.; Maaza, M.

2018-05-01

Application of thin film technology is increasing in many areas such as energy production, energy saving, telecommunications, protective and smart coatings, etc. This increased application creates a need for simple, cost-effective methods for the synthesis of highly multifunctional metal oxide thin films. The technique of Aqueous Chemical Growth is presented in this paper as a simple inexpensive means of producing WO3 thin films that find applications in gas sensing, electrochromism and photocatalysis. We demonstrate, through this technique, that heterogeneous nucleation and growth of WO3 thin films on plain glass substrates takes place at low pHs and low temperatures (75-95 °C) without the use of surfactants and template directing methods. The substrates used needed no surface-modification. On the plain glass substrates (soda lime silicates) a variety of micro-nanostructures could be observed most important of which were nanoplatelets that acted as a basic building block for the self-assembly of more hierarchical 3-d microspheres and thin films. The dominant crystallographic structure observed through X-ray diffraction analysis was found to be hexagonal-WO3 and monoclinic WO3. The thin films produced showed a fair degree of porosity. Some of the thin films on glass showed ability to sense, unaided, H2 at 250 °C. Sensor responses were observed to be 1 - 2 orders of magnitude. The films also demonstrated potential to sense CO2 even though this could only be achieved using high concentrations of CO2 gas at temperatures of 300 °C and above. The sensor responses at 300 °C were estimated to be less than 1 order of magnitude.

Deposition and characterization of ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Temel, Sinan; Gökmen, F. Özge; Yaman, Elif; Nebi, Murat

2018-02-01

ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films were deposited at different deposition times by using the Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique. Effects of deposition time on structural, morphological and optical properties of the obtained thin films were characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to study the structural properties of ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films. It was found that ZnSe thin films have a cubic structure with a preferentially orientation of (111). The calculated average grain size value was about 28-30 nm. The surface morphology of these films was studied by the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). The surfaces of the thin films were occurred from small stacks and nano-sized particles. The band gap values of the ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films were determined by UV-Visible absorption spectrum and the band gap values were found to be between 2.65-2.86 eV.

WO{sub 3} thin film based multiple sensor array for electronic nose application

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

Ramgir, Niranjan S., E-mail: niranjanpr@yahoo.com, E-mail: deepakcct1991@gmail.com; Goyal, C. P.; Datta, N.

2015-06-24

Multiple sensor array comprising 16 x 2 sensing elements were realized using RF sputtered WO{sub 3} thin films. The sensor films were modified with a thin layer of sensitizers namely Au, Ni, Cu, Al, Pd, Ti, Pt. The resulting sensor array were tested for their response towards different gases namely H{sub 2}S, NH{sub 3}, NO and C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OH. The sensor response values measured from the response curves indicates that the sensor array generates a unique signature pattern (bar chart) for the gases. The sensor response values can be used to get both qualitative and quantitative information about the gas.

Pulsing frequency induced change in optical constants and dispersion energy parameters of WO{sub 3} films grown by pulsed direct current magnetron sputtering

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

Punitha, K.; Sivakumar, R., E-mail: krsivakumar1979@yahoo.com; Sanjeeviraja, C.

2014-03-21

In this work, we present the pulsing frequency induced change in the structural, optical, vibrational, and luminescence properties of tungsten oxide (WO{sub 3}) thin films deposited on microscopic glass and fluorine doped tin oxide (SnO{sub 2}:F) coated glass substrates by pulsed dc magnetron sputtering technique. The WO{sub 3} films deposited on SnO{sub 2}:F substrate belongs to monoclinic phase. The pulsing frequency has a significant influence on the preferred orientation and crystallinity of WO{sub 3} film. The maximum optical transmittance of 85% was observed for the film and the slight shift in transmission threshold towards higher wavelength region with increasing pulsingmore » frequency revealed the systematic reduction in optical energy band gap (3.78 to 3.13 eV) of the films. The refractive index (n) of films are found to decrease (1.832 to 1.333 at 550 nm) with increasing pulsing frequency and the average value of extinction coefficient (k) is in the order of 10{sup −3}. It was observed that the dispersion data obeyed the single oscillator of the Wemple-Didomenico model, from which the dispersion energy (E{sub d}) parameters, dielectric constants, plasma frequency, oscillator strength, and oscillator energy (E{sub o}) of WO{sub 3} films were calculated and reported for the first time due to variation in pulsing frequency during deposition by pulsed dc magnetron sputtering. The E{sub o} is change between 6.30 and 3.88 eV, while the E{sub d} varies from 25.81 to 7.88 eV, with pulsing frequency. The Raman peak observed at 1095 cm{sup −1} attributes the presence of W-O symmetric stretching vibration. The slight shift in photoluminescence band is attributed to the difference in excitons transition. We have made an attempt to discuss and correlate these results with the light of possible mechanisms underlying the phenomena.« less

Nanoporous TiO2 and WO3 films by anodization of titanium and tungsten substrates: influence of process variables on morphology and photoelectrochemical response.

PubMed

de Tacconi, N R; Chenthamarakshan, C R; Yogeeswaran, G; Watcharenwong, A; de Zoysa, R S; Basit, N A; Rajeshwar, K

2006-12-21

The photoelectrochemical response of nanoporous films, obtained by anodization of Ti and W substrates in a variety of corrosive media and at preselected voltages in the range from 10 to 60 V, was studied. The as-deposited films were subjected to thermal anneal and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Along with the anodization media developed by previous authors, the effect of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 400) or D-mannitol as a modifier to the NH4F electrolyte and glycerol addition to the oxalic acid electrolyte was studied for TiO2 and WO3, respectively. In general, intermediate anodization voltages and film growth times yielded excellent-quality photoelectrochemical response for both TiO2 and WO3 as assessed by linear-sweep photovoltammetry and photoaction spectra. The photooxidation of water and formate species was used as reaction probes to assess the photoresponse quality of the nanoporous oxide semiconductor films. In the presence of formate as an electron donor, the incident photon to electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) ranged from approximately 130% to approximately 200% for both TiO2 and WO3 depending on the film preparation protocol. The best photoactive films were obtained from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 400) containing NH4F for TiO2 and from aqueous NaF for WO3.

Some aspects of pulsed laser deposition of Si nanocrystalline films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyakov, B.; Petruhins, A.; Butikova, J.; Kuzmin, A.; Tale, I.

2009-11-01

Nanocrystalline silicon films were deposited by a picosecond laser ablation on different substrates in vacuum at room temperature. A nanocrystalline structure of the films was evidenced by atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical and Raman spectroscopies. A blue shift of the absorption edge was observed in optical absorption spectra, and a decrease of the optical phonon energy at the Brillouin zone centre was detected by Raman scattering. Early stages of nanocrystalline film formation on mica and HOPG substrates were studied by AFM. Mechanism of nanocrystal growth on substrate is discussed. in here

Charge doping and large lattice expansion in oxygen-deficient heteroepitaxial WO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattoni, Giordano; Filippetti, Alessio; Manca, Nicola; Zubko, Pavlo; Caviglia, Andrea D.

2018-05-01

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) is a versatile material with widespread applications ranging from electrochromics and optoelectronics to water splitting and catalysis of chemical reactions. For technological applications, thin films of WO3 are particularly appealing, taking advantage from a high surface-to-volume ratio and tunable physical properties. However, the growth of stoichiometric crystalline thin films is challenging because the deposition conditions are very sensitive to the formation of oxygen vacancies. In this paper, we show how background oxygen pressure during pulsed laser deposition can be used to tune the structural and electronic properties of WO3 thin films. By performing x-ray diffraction and low-temperature electrical transport measurements, we find changes in the WO3 lattice volume of up to 10% concomitantly with a resistivity drop of more than five orders of magnitude at room temperature as a function of increased oxygen deficiency. We use advanced ab initio calculations to describe in detail the properties of the oxygen vacancy defect states and their evolution in terms of excess charge concentration. Our results depict an intriguing scenario where structural, electronic, optical, and transport properties of WO3 single-crystal thin films can all be purposely tuned by controlling the oxygen vacancy formation during growth.

Super-Nernstian pH sensors based on WO3 nanosheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Chao-Yin; Wang, Shui-Jinn; Ko, Rong-Ming; Tseng, Hung-Hao

2018-04-01

The effects of the surface morphology of hydrothermally grown WO3 nanosheets (NSs) and sputtering WO3 film on the performance of pH sensing electrodes are presented and compared in the pH range of 2–12. Using a separated electrode of an extended-gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) configuration, the WO3 nanosheet (NS) pH sensor shows a sensitivity of 63.37 mV/pH, a good linearity of 0.9973, a low voltage hysteresis of 4.79 mV, and a low drift rate of 3.18 mV/h. In contrast, the film-type one shows a typical sensitivity of only 50.08 mV/pH and a linearity of 0.9932. The super-Nernstian response could be attributed to the significant increase in the number of surface ion adsorption sites of the NS structure and the occurrence of local electric field enhancement over the sharp edges and corners of WO3 NSs.

Synthesis of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films by electron beam evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondkar, V.; Rukade, D.; Bhattacharyya, V.

2018-05-01

Nanocrystalline ZnO thin films have potential for applications in variety of optoelectronic devices. In the present study, nanocrystalline thin films of ZnO are grown on fused silica substrate using electron beam (e-beam) evaporation technique. Phase identification is carried out using Glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopic analysis is carried out to calculate energy band gap of the ZnO film. Surface morphology of the film is investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Highly quality nanocrystalline thin films of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO are synthesized using e-beam evaporation technique.

Covalent attachment and growth of nanocrystalline films of photocatalytic TiOF2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jian; Lv, Fujian; Xiao, Shengxiong; Bian, Zhenfeng; Buntkowsky, Gerd; Nuckolls, Colin; Li, Hexing

2014-11-01

This manuscript describes a synthesis of nanocrystalline TiOF2 film. The nanocrystalline TiOF2 becomes chemically attached to the surface of the glass slide. These films are robust and can be recycled as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes and solvents. These films also have significant antibacterial properties upon irradiation.This manuscript describes a synthesis of nanocrystalline TiOF2 film. The nanocrystalline TiOF2 becomes chemically attached to the surface of the glass slide. These films are robust and can be recycled as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes and solvents. These films also have significant antibacterial properties upon irradiation. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Methods for sample preparation, characterization and Fig. S1-S8. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05598e

Nanocrystalline copper films are never flat.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaopu; Han, Jian; Plombon, John J; Sutton, Adrian P; Srolovitz, David J; Boland, John J

2017-07-28

We used scanning tunneling microscopy to study low-angle grain boundaries at the surface of nearly planar copper nanocrystalline (111) films. The presence of grain boundaries and their emergence at the film surface create valleys composed of dissociated edge dislocations and ridges where partial dislocations have recombined. Geometric analysis and simulations indicated that valleys and ridges were created by an out-of-plane grain rotation driven by reduction of grain boundary energy. These results suggest that in general, it is impossible to form flat two-dimensional nanocrystalline films of copper and other metals exhibiting small stacking fault energies and/or large elastic anisotropy, which induce a large anisotropy in the dislocation-line energy. Copyright © 2017 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Silver film on nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} support: Photocatalytic and antimicrobial ability

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

Vukoje, Ivana D., E-mail: ivanav@vinca.rs; Tomašević-Ilić, Tijana D., E-mail: tommashev@gmail.com; Zarubica, Aleksandra R., E-mail: zarubica2000@yahoo.com

Highlights: • Simple photocatalytic rout for deposition of Ag on nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} films. • High antibactericidal efficiency of deposited Ag on TiO{sub 2} support. • Improved photocatalytic performance of TiO{sub 2} films in the presence of deposited Ag. - Abstract: Nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} films were prepared on glass slides by the dip coating technique using colloidal solutions consisting of 4.5 nm particles as a precursor. Photoirradiation of nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} film modified with alanine that covalently binds to the surface of TiO{sub 2} and at the same time chelate silver ions induced formation of metallic silver film. Optical andmore » morphological properties of thin silver films on nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} support were studied by absorption spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Improvement of photocatalytic performance of nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} films after deposition of silver was observed in degradation reaction of crystal violet. Antimicrobial ability of deposited silver films on nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} support was tested in dark as a function of time against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The silver films ensured maximum cells reduction of both bacteria, while the fungi reduction reached satisfactory 98.45% after 24 h of contact.« less

In situ synthesis of Bi2S3 sensitized WO3 nanoplate arrays with less interfacial defects and enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Canjun; Yang, Yahui; Li, Wenzhang; Li, Jie; Li, Yaomin; Chen, Qiyuan

2016-03-01

In this study, Bi2S3 sensitive layer has been grown on the surface of WO3 nanoplate arrays via an in situ approach. The characterization of samples were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis). The results show that the Bi2S3 layer is uniformly formed on the surface of WO3 nanoplates and less interfacial defects were observed in the interface between the Bi2S3 and WO3. More importantly, the Bi2S3/WO3 films as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells display the enhanced PEC performance compared with the Bi2S3/WO3 films prepared by a sequential ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) method. In order to understand the reason for the enhanced PEC properties, the electron transport properties of the photoelectrodes were studied by using the transient photocurrent spectroscopy and intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS). The Bi2S3/WO3 films prepared via an in situ approach have a greater transient time constant and higher electron transit rate. This is most likely due to less interfacial defects for the Bi2S3/WO3 films prepared via an in situ approach, resulting in a lower resistance and faster carrier transport in the interface between WO3 and Bi2S3.

Effect of Post-annealing on the Electrochromic Properties of Layer-by-Layer Arrangement FTO-WO3-Ag-WO3-Ag

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoseinzadeh, S.; Ghasemiasl, R.; Bahari, A.; Ramezani, A. H.

2018-03-01

In the current study, composites of tungsten trioxide (W03) and silver (Ag) are deposited in a layer-by-layer electrochromic (EC) arrangement onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass substrate. Tungsten oxide nanoparticles are an n-type semiconductor that can be used as EC cathode material. Nano-sized silver is a metal that can serve as an electron trap center that facilitates charge departure. In this method, the WO3 and Ag nanoparticle powder were deposited by physical vapor deposition onto the glass substrate. The fabricated electrochromic devices (ECD) were post-annealed to examine the effect of temperature on their EC properties. The morphology of the thin film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Structural analysis showed that the addition of silver dopant increased the size of the aggregation of the film. The film had an average approximate roughness of about 17.8 nm. The electro-optical properties of the thin film were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible spectroscopy to compare the effects of different post-annealing temperatures. The ECD showed that annealing at 200°C provided better conductivity (maximum current of about 90 mA in the oxidation state) and change of transmittance (ΔT = 90% at the continuous switching step) than did the other thin films. The optical band gaps of the thin film showed that it allowed direct transition at 3.85 eV. The EC properties of these combinations of coloration efficiency and response time indicate that the WO3-Ag-WO3-Ag arrangement is a promising candidate for use in such ECDs.

Photoinduced deposition of gold nanoparticles on TiO2-WO3 nanotube films as efficient photoanodes for solar water splitting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momeni, Mohamad Mohsen; Ghayeb, Yousef

2016-06-01

Gold-modified TiO2-WO3 nanotubes with different amounts of gold were obtained by two methods; photoassisted deposition and one-step electrochemical anodizing method. The morphology, crystallinity and elemental composition were studied by FE-SEM, XRD and EDX. The photoelectrochemical performance was examined under Xe light illumination in 1 M NaOH electrolyte. Characterization of the as-prepared TiO2-WO3 samples indicated that sodium tungstate concentration in anodizing solution significantly influenced the morphology and photoelectrochemical activity of fabricated films. Also, photoelectrochemical characterizations show that the photocatalytic activity of Au/TiO2-WO3 nanotubes was improved as compared with that of bare TiO2-WO3 nanotubes. The experimental results showed that the photocatalytic activities of Au/TiO2-WO3 were significantly affected by the amount of Au nanoparticles. The amount of gold nanoparticles was effectively controlled by time of photoreduction of the chloroauric acid solution. These new photoanodes showed enhanced high photocurrent density with good stability and are a highly promising photoanodes for photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Strain Accommodation By Facile WO6 Octahedral Distortion and Tilting During WO3 Heteroepitaxy on SrTiO3(001)

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

Du, Yingge; Gu, Meng; Varga, Tamas

2014-08-27

In this paper, we show that compared to other BO6 octahedra in ABO3 structured perovskite oxides, the WO6 octahedra in tungsten trioxide (WO3) can withstand a much larger degree of distortion and tilting to accommodate interfacial strain, which in turn strongly impact the nucleation, structure, and defect formation during the epitaxial growth of WO3 on SrTiO3(001). A meta-stable tetragonal phase can be stabilized by epitaxy and a thickness dependent phase transition (tetragonal to monoclinic) is observed. In contrast to misfit dislocations to accommodate the interfacial stain, the facial WO6 octahedral distortion and tilting give rise to three types of planarmore » defects that affect more than 15 monolayers from the interface. These atomically resolved, unusual interfacial defects may significantly alter the electronic, electrochromic, and mechanical properties of the epitaxial films.« less

Structural, morphological, gas sensing and photocatalytic characterization of MoO3 and WO3 thin films prepared by the thermal vacuum evaporation technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arfaoui, A.; Touihri, S.; Mhamdi, A.; Labidi, A.; Manoubi, T.

2015-12-01

Thin films of molybdenum trioxide and tungsten trioxide were deposited on glass substrates using a simplified thermal evaporation under vacuum method monitored by heat treatment in flowing oxygen at 500 °C for 1 h. The structural and morphological properties of the films were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the films of MoO3 and WO3 were well crystallized in orthorhombic and monoclinic phase respectively with the crystallites preferentially oriented toward (2 0 0) direction parallel a-axis for both samples. In literature, we have shown in previous papers that structural and surface morphology of metal thin films play an important role in the gas detection mechanism. In this article, we have studied the response evolution of MoO3 and WO3 thin films sensors ethanol versus time, working temperature and the concentration of the ethanol. It was found that these films had high sensitivity to ethanol, which made them as a good candidate for the ethanol sensor. Finally, the photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated with respect to the degradation reaction of a wastewater containing methylene blue (MB) under UV-visible light irradiation. The molybdenum trioxide exhibits a higher degradation rate than the tungsten trioxide thin films under similar experimental conditions.

Thermal conductivity of amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon films prepared by hot-wire chemical-vapor deposition

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

Jugdersuren, B.; Kearney, B. T.; Queen, D. R.

We report 3..omega.. thermal conductivity measurements of amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin films from 85 to 300 K prepared by hot-wire chemical-vapor deposition, where the crystallinity of the films is controlled by the hydrogen dilution during growth. The thermal conductivity of the amorphous silicon film is in agreement with several previous reports of amorphous silicon prepared by a variety of deposition techniques. The thermal conductivity of the as-grown nanocrystalline silicon film is 70% higher and increases 35% more after an anneal at 600 degrees C. They all have similarly weak temperature dependence. Structural analysis shows that the as-grown nanocrystalline siliconmore » is approximately 60% crystalline, nanograins and grain boundaries included. The nanograins, averaging 9.1 nm in diameter in the as-grown film, are embedded in an amorphous matrix. The grain size increases to 9.7 nm upon annealing, accompanied by the disappearance of the amorphous phase. We extend the models of grain boundary scattering of phonons with two different non-Debye dispersion relations to explain our result of nanocrystalline silicon, confirming the strong grain size dependence of heat transport for nanocrystalline materials. However, the similarity in thermal conductivity between amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon suggests the heat transport mechanisms in both structures may not be as dissimilar as we currently understand.« less

Switching electrochromic performance improvement enabled by highly developed mesopores and oxygen vacancy defects of Fe-doped WO3 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koo, Bon-Ryul; Kim, Kue-Ho; Ahn, Hyo-Jin

2018-09-01

In recent years, owing to the capability to reversibly adjust transparency, reflection, and color by the low electric field, electrochromic devices (ECDs) have received an extensive attention for their potential use in optoelectronic applications. However, considering that the performances of the ECDs, including coloration efficiency (CE, <30.0 cm2/C) and switching speed (>10.0 s), are still low for an effective applied use, critical efforts are needed to push the development of a unique nanostructure film to improve electrochromic (EC) performances. Specifically, as the large-scale applications (e.g. refrigerators, vehicles, and airplanes) of the ECDs have been recently developed, the study for improving switching speed is urgently needed for commercialization of the devices. In this context, the present study reports a novel nanostructure film of Fe-doped WO3 films with highly developed mesopores and oxygen vacancy defects, fabricated using the Fe agent and the camphene-assisted sol-gel method. Fe-doped WO3 films with highly developed mesopores and oxygen vacancy defects show remarkable EC performances with both fast switching speed (2.8 s for the coloration speed and 0.3 s for the bleaching speed) and high CE (71.1 cm2/C). These two aspects contribute to the synergistic effects of optimized Fe doping and camphene on the films and have outstanding values as compared to previously reported results of WO3-based materials. Specifically, the fast switching speed is attributed to the shortened Li+ diffusion pathway of the highly developed mesopores; and the other is the improved electrical conductivity of the highly increased oxygen vacancy defects. In addition, the high CE value is due to an efficient charge transport as the result of a more effective electroactive contact of the morphology with highly developed mesopores, resulting in a large transmittance modulation with a small intercalated charge density.

Dehydration, Dehydrogenation, and Condensation of Alcohols on Supported Oxide Catalysts Based on Cyclic (WO3)3 and (MoO3)3 Clusters

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

Rousseau, Roger J.; Dixon, David A.; Kay, Bruce D.

2014-01-01

Supported early transition metal oxides have important applications in numerous catalytic reactions. In this article we review preparation and activity of well-defined model WO3 and MoO3 catalysts prepared via deposition of cyclic gas-phase (WO3)3 and (MoO3)3 clusters generated by sublimation of WO3 and MoO3 powders. Conversion of small aliphatic alcohols to alkenes, aldehydes/ketons, and ethers is employed to probe the structure-activity relationships on model WO3 and MoO3 catalysts ranging from unsupported (WO3)3 and (MoO3)3 clusters embedded in alcohol matrices, to (WO3)3 clusters supported on surfaces of other oxides, and epitaxial and nanoporous WO3 films. Detailed theoretical calculations reveal the underlyingmore » reaction mechanisms and provide insight into the origin of the differences in the WO3 and MoO3 reactivity. For the range of interrogated (WO3)3 they further shed light into the role structure and binding of (WO3)3 clusters with the support play in determining their catalytic activity.« less

Reactivity of Hydrogen and Methanol on (001) Surfaces of WO3, ReO3, WO3/ReO3 and ReO3/WO3

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

Ling, Sanliang; Mei, Donghai; Gutowski, Maciej S.

2011-05-16

Bulk tungsten trioxide (WO3) and rhenium trioxide (ReO3) share very similar structures but display different electronic properties. WO3 is a wide bandgap semiconductor while ReO3 is an electronic conductor. With the advanced molecular beam epitaxy techniques, it is possible to make heterostructures comprised of layers of WO3 and ReO3. These heterostructures might display reactivity different than pure WO3 and ReO3. The interactions of two probe molecules (hydrogen and methanol) with the (001) surfaces of WO3, ReO3, and two heterostructures ReO3/WO3 and WO3/ReO3 were investigated at the density functional theory level. Atomic hydrogen prefers to adsorb at the terminal O1C sitesmore » forming a surface hydroxyl on four surfaces. Dissociative adsorption of a hydrogen molecule at the O1C site leads to formation of a water molecule adsorbed at the surface M5C site. This is thermodynamically the most stable state. A thermodynamically less stable dissociative state involves two surface hydroxyl groups O1CH and O2CH. The interaction of molecular hydrogen and methanol with pure ReO3 is stronger than with pure WO3 and the strength of the interaction substantially changes on the WO3/ReO3 and ReO3/WO3 heterostructures. The reaction barriers for decomposition and recombination reactions are sensitive to the nature of heterostructure. The calculated adsorption energy of methanol on WO3(001) of -65.6 kJ/mol is consistent with the previous experimental estimation of -67 kJ/mol. This material is based upon work supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.« less

The optical and electrochemical properties of electrochromic films: WO3+xV2O5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhuying; Liu, Hui; Liu, Ye; Yang, Shaohong; Liu, Yan; Wang, Chong

2010-05-01

Since Deb's experiment in 1973 on the electrochromic effect, transmissive electrochromic films exhibit outstanding potential as energy efficient window controls which allow dynamic control of the solar energy transmission. These films with non-volatile memory, once in the coloured state, remain in the same state even after removal of the field. The optical and electrochemical properties of electrochromic films using magnetron sputter deposition tungsten oxide thin films and vanadium oxide doped tungsten-vanadium oxide thin films on ITO coated glass were investigated. From the UV region of the transmittance spectra, the optical band gap energy from the fundamental absorption edge can be determined. And the Cyclic voltammograms of these thin films in 1 mol LiClO4 propylene carbonate electrolyte (LIPC) were measured and analysed. The anode electrochromic V2O5 doped cathode electrochromic WO3 could make films colour changing while the transmittance of films keeped invariance. These performance characteristics make tungstenvanadium oxide colour changeably thin films are suitable for electrochromic windows applications.

Characteristics of W Doped Nanocrystalline Carbon Films Prepared by Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering.

PubMed

Park, Yong Seob; Park, Chul Min; Kim, Nam-Hoon; Kim, Jae-Moon

2016-05-01

Nanocrystalline tungsten doped carbon (WC) films were prepared by unbalanced magnetron sputtering. Tungsten was used as the doping material in carbon thin films with the aim of application as a contact strip in an electric railway. The structural, physical, and electrical properties of the fabricated WC films with various DC bias voltages were investigated. The films had a uniform and smooth surface. Hardness and frication characteristics of the films were improved, and the resistivity and sheet resistance decreased with increasing negative DC bias voltage. These results are associated with the nanocrystalline WC phase and sp(2) clusters in carbon networks increased by ion bombardment enhanced with increasing DC bias voltage. Consequently, the increase of sp(2) clusters containing WC nanocrystalline in the carbon films is attributed to the improvement in the physical and electrical properties.

Characterization of nanocrystalline ZnO:Al films by sol-gel spin coating method

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

Gareso, P. L., E-mail: pgareso@gmail.com; Rauf, N., E-mail: pgareso@gmail.com; Juarlin, E., E-mail: pgareso@gmail.com

2014-09-25

Nanocrystalline ZnO films doped with aluminium by sol-gel spin coating method have been investigated using optical transmittance UV-Vis and X-ray diffraction (X-RD) measurements. ZnO films were prepared using zinc acetate dehydrate (Zn(CH{sub 3}COO){sub 2}@@‡2H{sub 2}O), ethanol, and diethanolamine (DEA) as a starting material, solvent, and stabilizer, respectively. For doped films, AlCl{sub 3} was added to the mixture. The ZnO:Al films were deposited on a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) substrate using spin coating technique at room temperature with a rate of 3000 rpm in 30 sec. The deposited films were annealed at various temperatures from 400°C to 600°C during 60 minutes.more » The transmittance UV-Vis measurement results showed that after annealing at 400°C, the energy band gap profile of nanocrystalline ZnO:Al film was a blue shift. This indicated that the band gap of ZnO:Al increased after annealing due to the increase of crystalline size. As the annealing temperature increased the bandgap energy was a constant. In addition to this, there was a small oscillation occurring after annealing compared to the as–grown samples. In the case of X-RD measurements, the crystalinity of the films were amorphous before annealing, and after annealing the crystalinity became enhance. Also, X-RD results showed that structure of nanocrystalline ZnO:Al films were hexagonal polycrystalline with lattice parameters are a = 3.290 Å and c = 5.2531 Å.« less

Investigation of resistive switching behaviours in WO3-based RRAM devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ying-Tao; Long, Shi-Bing; Lü, Hang-Bing; Liu, Qi; Wang, Qin; Wang, Yan; Zhang, Sen; Lian, Wen-Tai; Liu, Su; Liu, Ming

2011-01-01

In this paper, a WO3-based resistive random access memory device composed of a thin film of WO3 sandwiched between a copper top and a platinum bottom electrodes is fabricated by electron beam evaporation at room temperature. The reproducible resistive switching, low power consumption, multilevel storage possibility, and good data retention characteristics demonstrate that the Cu/WO3/Pt memory device is very promising for future nonvolatile memory applications. The formation and rupture of localised conductive filaments is suggested to be responsible for the observed resistive switching behaviours.

Effect of chromium underlayer on the properties of nano-crystalline diamond films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garratt, E.; AlFaify, S.; Yoshitake, T.; Katamune, Y.; Bowden, M.; Nandasiri, M.; Ghantasala, M.; Mancini, D. C.; Thevuthasan, S.; Kayani, A.

2013-01-01

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 single crystal silicon substrate with a thin film of chromium as an underlayer. Characterization of the film was implemented 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 graphitic phases of the films evaluated by x-ray and optical spectroscopic analyses determined consistency between the 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.

Microstructured FBG hydrogen sensor based on Pt-loaded WO₃.

PubMed

Zhou, Xian; Dai, Yutang; Karanja, Joseph Muna; Liu, Fufei; Yang, Minghong

2017-04-17

Hydrogen gas sensing properties of Pt-WO₃ films on spiral microstructured fiber Bragg grating (FBG) has been demonstrated. Pt-WO₃ film was prepared by hydrothermal method. The spiral microsturctured FBG was fabricated using femtosecond laser. Spiral microstructure FBG hydrogen sensor can detect hydrogen concentration from 0.02% H₂ to 4% H₂ at room temperature, and the response time is shortened from a few minutes to 10~30 s. Double spiral microstructure at pitch 60 μm and sputtered with 2 μm Pt-WO₃ film recorded hydrogen sensitivity of 522 pm/%(v/v) H₂ responding to hydrogen gas in air. This translated to approximately 2~4 times higher than the unprocessed standard FBG. The humidity has little effect on the sensing property. The sensor has fast response time, good stability, large detection range and has the good prospect of practical application for hydrogen leak detection.

Ultra-large optical modulation of electrochromic porous WO3 film and the local monitoring of redox activity† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5sc03727a

PubMed Central

Cai, Guofa; Cui, Mengqi; Kumar, Vipin; Darmawan, Peter; Wang, Jiangxin; Wang, Xu; Lee-Sie Eh, Alice; Qian, Kai

2016-01-01

Porous WO3 films with ultra-high transmittance modulation were successfully fabricated on different substrates by a novel, facile and economical pulsed electrochemical deposited method with 1.1 s interval time between each pulse. The near ideal optical modulation (97.7% at 633 nm), fast switching speed (6 and 2.7 s), high coloration efficiency (118.3 cm2 C–1), and excellent cycling stability are achieved by the porous WO3 on ITO-coated glass. The outstanding electrochromic performances of the porous WO3 film were mainly attributed to the porous structure, which facilitates the charge-transfer, promotes the electrolyte infiltration and alleviates the expansion of the WO3 during H+ insertion compared to that of the compact structure. In addition, the relationships between the structural and electrochemical activity of the electrochromic WO3 films were further explored by the scanning electrochemical microscopy. These results testify that the porous structure can promote the infiltration of electrolyte and reduce the diffusion path, which consequently enhance the electrochemical activity. PMID:29910894

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

Nanocrystalline Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} particles: Effects of N{sub 2} annealing on microstructure and near-infrared shielding characteristics

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

Liu, Jing-Xiao, E-mail: drliu-shi@dlpu.edu.cn; Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Material, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577,Japan; Shi, Fei

2013-10-15

In order to further improve the near-infrared shielding properties of cesium tungsten bronze (Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3}) for solar filter applications, Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} particles were prepared by solvothermal reaction method and the effects of nitrogen annealing on the microstructure and near-infrared shielding properties of Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} were investigated. The obtained Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and spectrophotometer. The results indicate that nanosheet-like Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} particles with hexagonal structure began to transform into nanorods after annealed at temperature higher than 600 °C. The near-infrared shielding propertiesmore » of Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} particles could be further improved by N{sub 2} annealing at 500–700 °C. Particularly, the 500 °C-annealed Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} samples in the N{sub 2} atmosphere showed best near-infrared shielding properties. It was suggested that the excellent near-infrared shielding ability of the 500 °C-annealed Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} samples is correlated with its minimum O/W atomic ratio and most oxygen vacancies. Highlights: • N{sub 2} annealing could further improve the near-infrared (NIR) shielding of Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3}. • Effects of N{sub 2} annealing on microstructure and NIR shielding of Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} were studied. • The 500 °C-N{sub 2}-annealed Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} exhibited minimum O/W ratio and most oxygen vacancies. • The 500 °C-N{sub 2}-annealed Cs{sub x}WO{sub 3} particles exhibited best NIR shielding properties.« less

Microstructure evolution determined by the crystalline phases competition in self-assembled WO3-BiVO4 hetero nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Haili; Li, Chao; Nguyen Van, Chien; Dong, Wenxia; Qi, Ruijuan; Zhang, Yuanyuan; Huang, Rong; Chu, Ying-Hao; Duan, Chun-Gang

2018-02-01

A series of self-assembled WO3-BiVO4 nanostructured thin films were grown on the (001) yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrate at the substrate temperatures of 400 °C, 500 °C, 550 °C, 600 °C, 650 °C and 700 °C by a pulsed laser deposition method. The microstructures including crystalline phases, epitaxial relationships, surface morphologies and interface structures were investigated by a combination of x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The sample grown at 400 °C was amorphous due to the low driving forces for nucleation and diffusion. For the samples made at 500 °C, 550 °C and 600 °C, the monoclinic BiVO4 matrix epitaxially grew on YSZ, forming the matrix, where the WO3 nanopillars were embedded in with a specific orientation relationship among BiVO4, WO3 and YSZ. However, in thin films deposited at 650 °C and 700 °C, the WO3 grains randomly grew on the YSZ substrate, which dominated the microstructures of the resultant thin films. Quantitative analyses of the microstructures revealed that the lateral grain sizes of BiVO4 and WO3 increased and the volume fraction of BiVO4 in the thin films decreased with the increase of the deposition temperature. A three-regime growth mechanism of the WO3-BiVO4 composite thin film was proposed based on the growth dynamics determined by the competition between BiVO4 and WO3.

Composite WO 3/TiO 2 nanostructures for high electrochromic activity

DOE PAGES

Reyes-Gil, Karla R.; Stephens, Zachary D.; Stavila, Vitalie; ...

2015-01-06

A composite material consisting of TiO 2 nanotubes (NT) with WO 3 electrodeposited on its surface has been fabricated, detached from its Ti substrate, and attached to a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) film on glass for application to electrochromic (EC) reactions. Several adhesion layers were tested, finding that a paste of TiO 2 made from commercially available TiO 2 nanoparticles creates an interface for the TiO 2 NT film to attach to the FTO glass, which is conductive and does not cause solution-phase ions in an electrolyte to bind irreversibly with the material. The effect of NT length and WOmore » 3 concentration on the EC performance were studied. As a result, the composite WO 3/TiO 2 nanostructures showed higher ion storage capacity, better stability, enhanced EC contrast, and longer memory time compared with the pure WO 3 and TiO 2 materials« less

Fabrication of luminescent SrWO{sub 4} thin films by a novel electrochemical method

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

Chen Lianping; Gao Yuanhong

2007-10-02

Highly crystallized SrWO{sub 4} thin films with single scheelite structure were prepared within 60 min by a cell electrochemical method. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that SrWO{sub 4} thin films have a tetragonal structure. Scanning electron microscopy examinations reveal that SrWO{sub 4} grains grow well in tetragonal tapers and grains like flowers or bunches, which can usually form by using the electrolysis electrochemical method, have disappeared under cell electrochemical conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectra and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis examinations demonstrate that the composition of the film is consistent with its stoichiometry. These SrWO{sub 4} films show a single blue emission peakmore » (located at 460 nm) using an excitation wave of 230 nm. The speed of cell electrochemical method can be controlled by changing temperature. The optimum treatment temperature is about 50-60 deg. C.« less

ZnO and MgZnO Nanocrystalline Flexible Films: Optical and Material Properties

DOE PAGES

Huso, Jesse; Morrison, John L.; Che, Hui; ...

2011-01-01

An emore » merging material for flexible UV applications is Mg x Zn 1 − x O which is capable of tunable bandgap and luminescence in the UV range of ~3.4 eV–7.4 eV depending on the composition x . Studies on the optical and material characteristics of ZnO and Mg 0.3 Zn 0.7 O nanocrystalline flexible films are presented. The analysis indicates that the ZnO and Mg 0.3 Zn 0.7 O have bandgaps of 3.34 eV and 4.02 eV, respectively. The photoluminescence (PL) of the ZnO film was found to exhibit a structural defect-related emission at ~3.316 eV inherent to the nanocrystalline morphology. The PL of the Mg 0.3 Zn 0.7 O film exhibits two broad peaks at 3.38 eV and at 3.95 eV that are discussed in terms of the solubility limit of the ZnO-MgO alloy system. Additionally, external deformation of the film did not have a significant impact on its properties as indicated by the Raman LO-mode behavior, making these films attractive for UV flexible applications.« less

Composite WO3/TiO2 nanostructures for high electrochromic activity.

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

Reyes, Karla Rosa; Stephens, Zachary Dan.; Robinson, David B.

2013-05-01

A composite material consisting of TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) with WO3 electrodeposited homogeneously on its surface has been fabricated, detached from its substrate, and attached to a fluorine-doped tin oxide film on glass for application to electrochromic (EC) reactions. A paste of TiO2 made from commercially available TiO2 nanoparticles creates an interface for the TiO2 NT film to attach to the FTO glass, which is conductive and does not cause solution-phase ions in an electrolyte to bind irreversibly with the material. The effect of NT length on the current density and the EC contrast of the material were studied. The ECmore » redox reaction seen in this material is diffusion- limited, having relatively fast reaction rates at the electrode surface. The composite WO3/TiO2 nanostructures showed higher ion storage capacity, better stability, enhanced EC contrast and longer memory time compared with the pure WO3 and TiO2.« less

Effect of V2O5 concentration on structural and optical properties of WO3 thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meenakshi, M.; Gowthami, V.; Perumal, P.; Sanjeeviraja, C.

2014-10-01

Thin films of WO3 and V2O5 doped WO3 were coated on glass substrates using sputtering targets of diameter 50mm and thickness 5mm with RF power of 100 W and source to substrate distance of 60mm at room temperature for various V2O5 compositions (1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 %). XRD studies revealed that as deposited films were amorphous for all compositions. Morphological studies like Laser Raman and SEM too confirmed this amorphous nature of films. Refractive index (n) and the extinction coefficient (k) were calculated from the optical spectra such as transmittance and absorbance measured over the wavelength range of 200 to 2500nm. The films exhibited transmittance in the range of 80 to 90% in the UV-Vis-NIR region. Optical band gaps were calculated for both direct and indirect transitions. The optical parameters such as optical dispersion energies Eo and Ed, the average dielectric constant (ɛ), average values of the oscillator strength (So), wavelength of single oscillator (λo), and plasma frequency (ωp) were also calculated.

Fabrication and characterization of WO3/Ag/WO3 multilayer transparent anode with solution-processed WO3 for polymer light-emitting diodes.

PubMed

Jeon, Kangmin; Youn, Hongseok; Kim, Seongbeom; Shin, Seongbeom; Yang, Minyang

2012-05-15

The dielectric/metal/dielectric multilayer is suitable for a transparent electrode because of its high-optical and high-electrical properties; however, it is fabricated by an expensive and inefficient multistep vacuum process. We present a WO3/Ag/WO3 (WAW) multilayer transparent anode with solution-processed WO3 for polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). This WAW multilayer not only has high transmittance and low resistance but also can be easily and rapidly fabricated. We devised a novel method to deposit a thin WO3 layer by a solution process in an air environment. A tungstic acid solution was prepared from an aqueous solution of Na2WO4 and then converted to WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) by a thermal treatment. Thin WO3 NP layers form WAW multilayer with a thermal-evaporated Ag layer, and they improve the transmittance of the WAW multilayer because of its high transmittance and refractive index. Moreover, the surface of the WO3 layer is homogeneous and flat with low roughness because of the WO3 NP generation from the tungstic acid solution without aggregation. We performed optical simulation and experiments, and the optimized WAW multilayer had a high transmittance of 85% with a sheet resistance of 4 Ω/sq. Finally, PLEDs based on the WAW multilayer anode achieved a maximum luminance of 35,550 cd/m2 at 8 V, and this result implies that the solution-processed WAW multilayer is appropriate for use as a transparent anode in PLEDs.

Synthesis of Nanocrystalline CaWO4 as Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic Material: Processing, Structural and Physical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vidya, S.; Solomon, Sam; Thomas, J. K.

2013-01-01

Nanocrystalline scheelite CaWO4, a promising material for low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) applications, has been successfully synthesized through a single-step autoignition combustion route. Structural analysis of the sample was performed by powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD analysis revealed that the as-prepared sample was single phase with scheelite tetragonal structure. The basic optical properties and optical constants of the CaWO4 nanopowder were studied using ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption spectroscopy, which showed that the material was a wide-bandgap semiconductor with bandgap of 4.7 eV at room temperature. The sample showed poor transmittance in the ultraviolet region but maximum transmission in the visible/near-infrared regions. The photoluminescence spectra recorded at different temperatures showed intense emission in the green region. The particle size estimated from transmission electron microscopy was 23 nm. The feasibility of CaWO4 for LTCC applications was studied from its sintering behavior. The sample was sintered at a relatively low temperature of 810°C to high density, without using any sintering aid. The surface morphology of the sintered sample was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The dielectric constant and loss factor of the sample measured at 5 MHz were found to be 10.50 and 1.56 × 10-3 at room temperature. The temperature coefficient of the dielectric constant was -88.71 ppm/°C. The experimental results obtained in this work demonstrate the potential of nano-CaWO4 as a low-temperature co-fired ceramic as well as an excellent luminescent material.

Understanding the conductive channel evolution in Na:WO3-x-based planar devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, Dashan; Li, Peining; Wang, Tao; Carria, Egidio; Sun, Jirong; Shen, Baogen; Taubner, Thomas; Valov, Ilia; Waser, Rainer; Wuttig, Matthias

2015-03-01

An ion migration process in a solid electrolyte is important for ion-based functional devices, such as fuel cells, batteries, electrochromics, gas sensors, and resistive switching systems. In this study, a planar sandwich structure is prepared by depositing tungsten oxide (WO3-x) films on a soda-lime glass substrate, from which Na+ diffuses into the WO3-x films during the deposition. The entire process of Na+ migration driven by an alternating electric field is visualized in the Na-doped WO3-x films in the form of conductive channel by in situ optical imaging combined with infrared spectroscopy and near-field imaging techniques. A reversible change of geometry between a parabolic and a bar channel is observed with the resistance change of the devices. The peculiar channel evolution is interpreted by a thermal-stress-induced mechanical deformation of the films and an asymmetric Na+ mobility between the parabolic and the bar channels. These results exemplify a typical ion migration process driven by an alternating electric field in a solid electrolyte with a low ion mobility and are expected to be beneficial to improve the controllability of the ion migration in ion-based functional devices, such as resistive switching devices.An ion migration process in a solid electrolyte is important for ion-based functional devices, such as fuel cells, batteries, electrochromics, gas sensors, and resistive switching systems. In this study, a planar sandwich structure is prepared by depositing tungsten oxide (WO3-x) films on a soda-lime glass substrate, from which Na+ diffuses into the WO3-x films during the deposition. The entire process of Na+ migration driven by an alternating electric field is visualized in the Na-doped WO3-x films in the form of conductive channel by in situ optical imaging combined with infrared spectroscopy and near-field imaging techniques. A reversible change of geometry between a parabolic and a bar channel is observed with the resistance change of the

Cuc(s) 0.33WO3 compound nanomaterial-incorporated thin film enhances output of thermoelectric conversion in ambient temperature environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Chih-Yi; Chen, Guan-Lin; Hu, Po-Sheng

2018-03-01

Cs0.33WO3 nanomaterial absorbs a range of near-infrared (NIR) wavelength spanning 900-2400 nm, of which the main contributor of heat energy may be utilized for electrical generation. In this research, the capability of Cs0.33WO3 nanomaterial in enhancing the output of a thermoelectric (TE) device by trapping the absorbed heat at the hot-side surface of the device is investigated. The material is synthesized through a combination of the processes of co-precipitation and wet nano-grinding, and the characterization of its structural and optical properties was carried out using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and visible-near-infrared absorption spectroscopy. Likewise, the photothermal property of Cs0.33WO3 nanomaterial, in the form of solution or solid film, is assessed to gain better insight into its effects on the electrical output of the TE device, utilizing a laser with wavelength of 808 nm, a solar simulator, and sunlight in ambient environment. Moreover, the photoelectric property of the Cs0.33WO3 nanomaterial-incorporated TE device was evaluated in four different types of weather condition, sunny, sunny with partly cloudy, cloudy, and rainy; and our results indicate that Cs0.33WO3 nanomaterial is capable of enhancing the output of thermoelectric conversion in an ambient environment. In a complete sunny day, when compared with a bare thermoelectric device, the coating of Cs0.33WO3 nanomaterial with concentration of 0.66 wt% demonstrated a rise of 13.1% in the maximal attainable temperature and a corresponding increase of 291% in maximal output voltage.

Structure, optical and phonon properties of bulk and nanocrystalline Al2-xScx(WO4)3 solid solutions doped with Cr3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mączka, M.; Hermanowicz, K.; Pietraszko, A.; Yordanova, A.; Koseva, I.

2014-01-01

Pure and Cr3+ doped nanosized Al2-xScx(WO4)3 solid solutions were prepared by co-precipitation method as well as Al2-xScx(WO4)3 single crystals were grown by high-temperature flux method. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray, Raman, IR, absorption and luminescence methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction showed that AlSc(WO4)3 is orthorhombic at room temperature with space group Pnca and trivalent cations are statistically distributed. Raman and IR studies showed that Al2-xScx(WO4)3 solid solutions show "two mode" behavior. They also showed that vibrational properties of nanosized samples have been weakly modified in comparison with the bulk materials. The luminescence and absorption spectra revealed that chromium ions occupy two sites of weak and strong crystal field strength.

Evidence of extended cation solubility in atomic layer deposited nanocrystalline BaTiO3 thin films and its strong impact on the electrical properties.

PubMed

Falmbigl, Matthias; Karateev, Igor A; Golovina, Iryna S; Plokhikh, Aleksandr V; Parker, Thomas C; Vasiliev, Alexander L; Spanier, Jonathan E

2018-06-22

Thin films of ≈50 nm thickness with Ba/Ti-ratios ranging from 0.8 to 1.06 were prepared by depositing alternating layers of Ba(OH)2 and TiO2. Annealing at 750 °C promoted the solid-solid transformation into polycrystalline BaTiO3 films containing a mixture of the perovskite and the hexagonal polymorphs with average crystallite sizes smaller than 14 nm and without impurity phases. This, together with an increase of the cubic lattice parameters for Ba-rich films, suggests an extended metastable solubility range for the perovskite-phase in these nanocrystalline thin films on both sides of the stoichiometric composition. Mapping of the cation distribution utilizing energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy corroborates defect accommodation within the BaTiO3 grains. While the cation off-stoichiometry in thermodynamic equilibrium is negligible for BaTiO3, the metastable extended solubility range in the thin films can be directly correlated to the low annealing temperature and nanocrystalline nature. The leakage current behavior can be explained by the formation of Schottky defects for nonstoichiometric films, and the cation ratio has a distinct impact on the dielectric properties: while excess-BaO has a marginal detrimental effect on the permittivity, the dielectric constant declines rapidly by more than 50% towards the Ti-rich side. The present findings highlight the importance of compositional control for the synthesis of nanocrystalline BaTiO3 thin films, in particular for low annealing and/or deposition temperatures. Our synthesis approach using alternating layers of Ba(OH)2 and TiO2 provides a route to precisely control the cation stoichiometry.

A MEMS-based Benzene Gas Sensor with a Self-heating WO3 Sensing Layer

PubMed Central

Ke, Ming-Tsun; Lee, Mu-Tsun; Lee, Chia-Yen; Fu, Lung-Ming

2009-01-01

In the study, a MEMS-based benzene gas sensor is presented, consisting of a quartz substrate, a thin-film WO3 sensing layer, an integrated Pt micro-heater, and Pt interdigitated electrodes (IDEs). When benzene is present in the atmosphere, oxidation occurs on the heated WO3 sensing layer. This causes a change in the electrical conductivity of the WO3 film, and hence changes the resistance between the IDEs. The benzene concentration is then computed from the change in the measured resistance. A specific orientation of the WO3 layer is obtained by optimizing the sputtering process parameters. It is found that the sensitivity of the gas sensor is optimized at a working temperature of 300 °C. At the optimal working temperature, the experimental results show that the sensor has a high degree of sensitivity (1.0 KΩ ppm−1), a low detection limit (0.2 ppm) and a rapid response time (35 s). PMID:22574052

One-Step Formation of WO3-Loaded TiO2 Nanotubes Composite Film for High Photocatalytic Performance

PubMed Central

Lee, Wai Hong; Lai, Chin Wei; Abd Hamid, Sharifah Bee

2015-01-01

High aspect ratio of WO3-loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays have been successfully synthesized using the electrochemical anodization method in an ethylene glycol electrolyte containing 0.5 wt% ammonium fluoride in a range of applied voltage of 10–40 V for 30 min. The novelty of this research works in the one-step formation of WO3-loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays composite film by using tungsten as the cathode material instead of the conventionally used platinum electrode. As compared with platinum, tungsten metal has lower stability, forming dissolved ions (W6+) in the electrolyte. The W6+ ions then move towards the titanium foil and form a coherent deposit on titanium foil. By controlling the oxidation rate and chemical dissolution rate of TiO2 during the electrochemical anodization, the nanotubular structure of TiO2 film could be achieved. In the present study, nanotube arrays were characterized using FESEM, EDAX, XRD, as well as Raman spectroscopy. Based on the results obtained, nanotube arrays with average pore diameter of up to 74 nm and length of 1.6 µm were produced. EDAX confirmed the presence of tungsten element within the nanotube arrays which varied in content from 1.06 at% to 3.29 at%. The photocatalytic activity of the nanotube arrays was then investigated using methyl orange degradation under TUV 96W UV-B Germicidal light irradiation. The nanotube with the highest aspect ratio, geometric surface area factor and at% of tungsten exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity due to more photo-induced electron-hole pairs generated by the larger surface area and because WO3 improves charge separation, reduces charge carrier recombination and increases charge carrier lifetime via accumulation of electrons and holes in the two different metal oxide semiconductor components.

Structural, optical and photo-catalytic activity of nanocrystalline NiO thin films

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

Al-Ghamdi, Attieh A.; Abdel-wahab, M. Sh., E-mail: mshabaan90@yahoo.com; Materials Science and Nanotechnology Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef

2016-03-15

Highlights: • Synthesis of nanocrystalline NiO thin films with different thicknesses using DC magnetron sputtering technique. • Effect of film thickness and particle size on photo-catalytic degradation of methyl green dye under UV light was studied. • The deposited NiO thin films are efficient, stable and possess high photo-catalytic activity upon reuse. - Abstract: Physical deposition of nanocrystalline nickel oxide (NiO) thin films with different thickness 30, 50 and 80 nm have been done on glass substrate by DC magnetron sputtering technique and varying the deposition time from 600, 900 to 1200 s. The results of surface morphology and opticalmore » characterization of these films obtained using different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) and UV–vis spectrophotometry provide important information like formation of distinct nanostructures in different films and its effect on their optical band gap which has decreased from 3.74 to 3.37 eV as the film thickness increases. Most importantly these films have shown very high stability and a specialty to be recycled without much loss of their photo-catalytic activity, when tested as photo-catalysts for the degradation of methyl green dye (MG) from the wastewater under the exposure of 18 W energy of UV lamp.« less

Films prepared from electrosterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose.

PubMed

Yang, Han; Tejado, Alvaro; Alam, Nur; Antal, Miro; van de Ven, Theo G M

2012-05-22

Electrosterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose (ENCC) was modified in three ways: (1) the hydroxyl groups on C2 and C3 of glucose repeat units of ENCC were converted to aldehyde groups by periodate oxidation to various extents; (2) the carboxyl groups in the sodium form on ENCC were converted to the acid form by treating them with an acid-type ion-exchange resin; and (3) ENCC was cross-linked in two different ways by employing adipic dihydrazide as a cross-linker and water-soluble 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylaminopropyl)] carbodiimide as a carboxyl-activating agent. Films were prepared from these modified ENCC suspensions by vacuum filtration. The effects of these three modifications on the properties of films were investigated by a variety of techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, a tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and contact angle (CA) studies. On the basis of the results from UV spectra, the transmittance of these films was as high as 87%, which shows them to be highly transparent. The tensile strength of these films was increased with increasing aldehyde content. From TGA and WVTR experiments, cross-linked films showed much higher thermal stability and lower water permeability. Furthermore, although the original cellulose is hydrophilic, these films also exhibited a certain hydrophobic behavior. Films treated by trichloromethylsilane become superhydrophobic. The unique characteristics of these transparent films are very promising for potential applications in flexible packaging and other high-technology products.

Fabrication and characterization of WO3/Ag/WO3 multilayer transparent anode with solution-processed WO3 for polymer light-emitting diodes

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

The dielectric/metal/dielectric multilayer is suitable for a transparent electrode because of its high-optical and high-electrical properties; however, it is fabricated by an expensive and inefficient multistep vacuum process. We present a WO3/Ag/WO3 (WAW) multilayer transparent anode with solution-processed WO3 for polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). This WAW multilayer not only has high transmittance and low resistance but also can be easily and rapidly fabricated. We devised a novel method to deposit a thin WO3 layer by a solution process in an air environment. A tungstic acid solution was prepared from an aqueous solution of Na2WO4 and then converted to WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) by a thermal treatment. Thin WO3 NP layers form WAW multilayer with a thermal-evaporated Ag layer, and they improve the transmittance of the WAW multilayer because of its high transmittance and refractive index. Moreover, the surface of the WO3 layer is homogeneous and flat with low roughness because of the WO3 NP generation from the tungstic acid solution without aggregation. We performed optical simulation and experiments, and the optimized WAW multilayer had a high transmittance of 85% with a sheet resistance of 4 Ω/sq. Finally, PLEDs based on the WAW multilayer anode achieved a maximum luminance of 35,550 cd/m2 at 8 V, and this result implies that the solution-processed WAW multilayer is appropriate for use as a transparent anode in PLEDs. PMID:22587669

Oxidant effect of La(NO3)3·6H2O solution on the crystalline characteristics of nanocrystalline ZrO2 films grown by atomic layer deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Nam Khen; Kim, Jin-Tae; Kang, Goru; An, Jong-Ki; Nam, Minwoo; Kim, So Yeon; Park, In-Sung; Yun, Ju-Young

2017-02-01

Nanocrystalline ZrO2 films were synthesized by atomic layer deposition method using CpZr[N(CH3)2]3 (Cp = C5H5) as the metal precursor and La(NO3)3·6H2O solution as the oxygen source. La element in the deposited ZrO2 films could not be detected as its content was below the resolution limit of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The alternative introduction of La(NO3)3·6H2O solution to conventionally used H2O as the oxidant effectively altered the crystalline structure, grain size, and surface roughness of the grown ZrO2 films. Specifically, the crystalline structure of the ZrO2 film changed from a mixture of tetragonal and monoclinic phases to monoclinic phase. The average grain size also increased, and the resulting film surface became rougher. The average grain sizes of the ZrO2 films prepared from La(NO3)3·6H2O solution at concentrations of 10, 20, 30, and 40% were 280, 256, 208, and 200 nm, respectively, whereas that prepared using H2O oxidant was 142 nm. However, the concentration of La(NO3)3·6H2O solution minimally influenced the crystalline characteristics of the nanocrystalline ZrO2 films i.e., the crystalline structure, grain size, and surface roughness except for crystallite size.

Exciton-polariton state in nanocrystalline SiC films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semenov, A. V.; Lopin, A. V.

2016-05-01

We studied the features of optical absorption in the films of nanocrystalline SiC (nc-SiC) obtained on the sapphire substrates by the method of direct ion deposition. The optical absorption spectra of the films with a thickness less than ~500 nm contain a maximum which position and intensity depend on the structure and thickness of the nc-SiC films. The most intense peak at 2.36 eV is observed in the nc-SiC film with predominant 3C-SiC polytype structure and a thickness of 392 nm. Proposed is a resonance absorption model based on excitation of exciton polaritons in a microcavity. In the latter, under the conditions of resonance, there occurs strong interaction between photon modes of light with λph=521 nm and exciton of the 3С polytype with an excitation energy of 2.36 eV that results in the formation of polariton. A mismatch of the frequencies of photon modes of the cavity and exciton explains the dependence of the maximum of the optical absorption on the film thickness.

Voltammetric and impedance behaviours of surface-treated nano-crystalline diamond film electrodes

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

Liu, F. B.; Jing, B.; Cui, Y.

2015-04-15

The electrochemical performances of hydrogen- and oxygen-terminated nano-crystalline diamond film electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance spectroscopy. In addition, the surface morphologies, phase structures, and chemical states of the two diamond films were analysed by scanning probe microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicated that the potential window is narrower for the hydrogen-terminated nano-crystalline diamond film than for the oxygen-terminated one. The diamond film resistance and capacitance of oxygen-terminated diamond film are much larger than those of the hydrogen-terminated diamond film, and the polarization resistances and double-layer capacitance corresponding to oxygen-terminated diamond filmmore » are both one order of magnitude larger than those corresponding to the hydrogen-terminated diamond film. The electrochemical behaviours of the two diamond film electrodes are discussed.« less

Substrate patterning with NiOx nanoparticles and hot-wire chemical vapour deposition of WO3x and carbon nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houweling, Z. S.

2011-10-01

The first part of the thesis treats the formation of nickel catalyst nanoparticles. First, a patterning technique using colloids is employed to create ordered distributions of monodisperse nanoparticles. Second, nickel films are thermally dewetted, which produces mobile species that self-arrange in non-ordered distributions of polydisperse particles. Third, the mobility of the nickel species is successfully reduced by the addition of air during the dewetting and the use of a special anchoring layer. Thus, non-ordered distributions of self-arranged monodisperse nickel oxide nanoparticles (82±10 nm x 16±2 nm) are made. Studies on nickel thickness, dewetting time and dewetting temperature are conducted. With these particle templates, graphitic carbon nanotubes are synthesised using catalytic hot-wire chemical vapour deposition (HWCVD), demonstrating the high-temperature processability of the nanoparticles. The second part of this thesis treats the non-catalytic HWCVD of tungsten oxides (WO3-x). Resistively heated tungsten filaments exposed to an air flow at subatmospheric pressures, produce tungsten oxide vapour species, which are collected on substrates and are subsequently characterised. First, a complete study on the process conditions is conducted, whereby the effects of filament radiation, filament temperature, process gas pressure and substrate temperature, are investigated. The thus controlled growth of nanogranular smooth amorphous and crystalline WO3-x thin films is presented for the first time. Partially crystalline smooth hydrous WO3-x thin films consisting of 20 nm grains can be deposited at very high rates. The synthesis of ultrafine powders with particle sizes of about 7 nm and very high specific surface areas of 121.7±0.4 m2·g-1 at ultrahigh deposition rates of 36 µm·min-1, is presented. Using substrate heating to 600°C or more, while using air pressures of 3·10-5 mbar to 0.1 mbar, leads to pronounced crystal structures, from nanowires, to

Subtractive Plasma-Assisted-Etch Process for Developing High Performance Nanocrystalline Zinc-Oxide Thin-Film-Transistors

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-26

THIN - FILM - TRANSISTORS THESIS Thomas M. Donigan, First Lieutenant, USAF AFIT-ENG-MS-15-M-027 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE AIR UNIVERSITY AIR...DEVELOPING HIGH PERFORMANCE NANOCRYSTALLINE ZINC-OXIDE THIN - FILM - TRANSISTORS THESIS Presented to the Faculty Department of Electrical and...15-M-027 SUBTRACTIVE PLASMA-ASSISTED-ETCH PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING HIGH PERFORMANCE NANOCRYSTALLINE ZINC-OXIDE THIN - FILM - TRANSISTORS

TiO2/WO3 photoactive bilayers in the UV-Vis light region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasilaki, E.; Vernardou, D.; Kenanakis, G.; Vamvakaki, M.; Katsarakis, N.

2017-04-01

In this work, photoactive bilayered films consisting of anatase TiO2 and monoclinic WO3 were synthesized by a sol-gel route. Titanium isopropoxide and tungsten hexachloride were used as metal precursors and deposition was achieved by spin-coating on Corning glass substrates. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, UV-Vis, and Raman spectroscopy, as well as field emission scanning electron microscopy. The prepared immobilized catalysts were tested for their photocatalytic performance by the decolorization of methylene blue in aqueous matrices, under UV-Vis light irradiation. The annealing process influenced the crystallinity of the bilayered films, while the concentration of the tungsten precursor solution and the position of the tungsten trioxide layer further affected their photocatalytic performance. In particular, the photocatalytic performance of the bilayered films was optimized at a concentration of 0.1 M of the WO3 precursor solution, when deposited as an overlying layer on TiO2 by two annealing steps ( 76% methylene blue decolorization in 300 min of irradiation versus 59% in the case of a bare TiO2 film). In general, the coupled layer catalysts exhibited superior photoactivity compared to that of bare TiO2 films with WO3 acting as an electron trap, resulting, therefore, in a more efficient electron-hole separation and inhibiting their recombination.

Understanding the conductive channel evolution in Na:WO(3-x)-based planar devices.

PubMed

Shang, Dashan; Li, Peining; Wang, Tao; Carria, Egidio; Sun, Jirong; Shen, Baogen; Taubner, Thomas; Valov, Ilia; Waser, Rainer; Wuttig, Matthias

2015-04-14

An ion migration process in a solid electrolyte is important for ion-based functional devices, such as fuel cells, batteries, electrochromics, gas sensors, and resistive switching systems. In this study, a planar sandwich structure is prepared by depositing tungsten oxide (WO(3-x)) films on a soda-lime glass substrate, from which Na(+) diffuses into the WO(3-x) films during the deposition. The entire process of Na(+) migration driven by an alternating electric field is visualized in the Na-doped WO(3-x) films in the form of conductive channel by in situ optical imaging combined with infrared spectroscopy and near-field imaging techniques. A reversible change of geometry between a parabolic and a bar channel is observed with the resistance change of the devices. The peculiar channel evolution is interpreted by a thermal-stress-induced mechanical deformation of the films and an asymmetric Na(+) mobility between the parabolic and the bar channels. These results exemplify a typical ion migration process driven by an alternating electric field in a solid electrolyte with a low ion mobility and are expected to be beneficial to improve the controllability of the ion migration in ion-based functional devices, such as resistive switching devices.

Smart window coating based on F-TiO2-KxWO3 nanocomposites with heat shielding, ultraviolet isolating, hydrophilic and photocatalytic performance

PubMed Central

Liu, Tongyao; Liu, Bin; Wang, Jing; Yang, Linfen; Ma, Xinlong; Li, Hao; Zhang, Yihong; Yin, Shu; Sato, Tsugio; Sekino, Tohru; Wang, Yuhua

2016-01-01

A series of smart window coated multifunctional NIR shielding-photocatalytic films were fabricated successfully through KxWO3 and F-TiO2 in a low-cost and environmentally friendly process. Based on the synergistic effect of KxWO3 and F-TiO2, the optimal proportion of KxWO3 to F-TiO2 was investigated and the FT/2KWO nanocomposite film exhibited strong near-infrared, ultraviolet light shielding ability, good visible light transmittance, high photocatalytic activity and excellent hydrophilic capacity. This film exhibited better thermal insulation capacity than ITO and higher photocatalytic activity than P25. Meanwhile, the excellent stability of this film was examined by the cycle photocatalytic degradation and thermal insulation experiments. Overall, this work is expected to provide a possibility in integrating KxWO3 with F-TiO2, so as to obtain a multifunctional NIR shielding-photocatalytic nanocomposite film in helping solve the energy crisis and deteriorating environmental issues. PMID:27265778

Synthesis and characterization of F-doped Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles with improved near infrared shielding ability

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

Liu, Jingxiao; Luo, Jiayu; Shi, Fei, E-mail: shifei@dlpu.edu.cn

2015-01-15

F-doped Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles were successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method with hydrofluoric acid as fluorine source, and a new kind of heat insulating films were prepared from dispersion of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} nanoparticles in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous solution. The effects of F doping on the crystal structure and morphology of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles as well as the near-infrared (NIR) shielding ability and heat insulation properties of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} films were investigated. The results indicated that HF acid addition could promote the formation of rod-like Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles during hydrothermalmore » synthesis and increase the yield of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} powders. Moreover, the as-prepared films from dispersion solution of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles exhibited higher near-infrared (NIR) shielding ability and heat insulating properties than that of the undoped Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3} film. Particularly, the as-prepared Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} sample with F/W (molar ratio)=0.45 showed best NIR shielding ability and transparent heat insulating performance. The formation mechanism of nanorod-like particles and the effects of F doping on the properties of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} products were discussed. - Graphical abstract: F-doped Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles were successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method with hydrofluoric acid as fluorine source. HF acid addition in the precursor solution could increase the yield of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} powders and promote the formation of rod-like Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles. Moreover, the as-prepared Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} films from dispersion solution of Cs{sub 0.33}WO{sub 3−x}F{sub x} particles exhibited higher near-infrared (NIR) shielding ability and heat insulating properties than that of the

Role of indium tin oxide electrode on the microstructure of self-assembled WO3-BiVO4 hetero nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Haili; Li, Chao; Van, Chien Nguyen; Dong, Wenxia; Qi, Ruijuan; Zhang, Yuanyuan; Huang, Rong; Chu, Ying-Hao; Duan, Chun-Gang

2017-11-01

Self-assembled WO3-BiVO4 nanostructured thin films were grown on a (001) yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrate by the pulsed laser deposition method with and without the indium tin oxide (ITO) bottom electrode. Their microstructures including surface morphologies, crystalline phases, epitaxial relationships, interface structures, and composition distributions were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. In both samples, WO3 formed nanopillars embedded into the monoclinic BiVO4 matrix with specific orientation relationships. In the sample with the ITO bottom electrode, an atomically sharp BiVO4/ITO interface was formed and the orthorhombic WO3 nanopillars were grown on a relaxed BiVO4 buffer layer with a mixed orthorhombic and hexagonal WO3 transition layer. In contrast, a thin amorphous layer appears at the interfaces between the thin film and the YSZ substrate in the sample without the ITO electrode. In addition, orthorhombic Bi2WO6 lamellar nanopillars were formed between WO3 and BiVO4 due to interdiffusion. Such a WO3-Bi2WO6-BiVO4 double heterojunction photoanode may promote the photo-generated charge separation and further improve the photoelectrochemical water splitting properties.

Characterization of doped hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon films prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jin-Liang; Wu, Er-Xing

2007-03-01

The B- and P-doped hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon films (nc-Si:H) are prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). The microstructures of doped nc-Si:H films are carefully and systematically characterized by using high resolution electron microscopy (HREM), Raman scattering, x-ray diffraction (XRD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and resonant nucleus reaction (RNR). The results show that as the doping concentration of PH3 increases, the average grain size (d) tends to decrease and the crystalline volume percentage (Xc) increases simultaneously. For the B-doped samples, as the doping concentration of B2H6 increases, no obvious change in the value of d is observed, but the value of Xc is found to decrease. This is especially apparent in the case of heavy B2H6 doped samples, where the films change from nanocrystalline to amorphous.

Electrodeposition of WO3 nanoparticles into surface mounted metal-organic framework HKUST-1 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Hyeonseok; Welle, Alexander; Guo, Wei; Choi, Jinsub; Redel, Engelbert

2017-03-01

We describe a novel procedure to fabricate WO3@surface-mounted metal-organic framework (SURMOF) hybrid materials by electrodeposition of WO3 nanoparticles into HKUST-1, also termed Cu3(BTC)2 SURMOFs. These materials have been characterized using x-ray diffraction, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as linear sweep voltammetry. The WO3 semiconductor/SURMOF heterostructures were further tested as hybrid electrodes in their performance for hydrogen evolution reaction from water.

Direct synthesis and characterization of optically transparent conformal zinc oxide nanocrystalline thin films by rapid thermal plasma CVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedersen, Joachim D.; Esposito, Heather J.; Teh, Kwok Siong

2011-10-01

We report a rapid, self-catalyzed, solid precursor-based thermal plasma chemical vapor deposition process for depositing a conformal, nonporous, and optically transparent nanocrystalline ZnO thin film at 130 Torr (0.17 atm). Pure solid zinc is inductively heated and melted, followed by ionization by thermal induction argon/oxygen plasma to produce conformal, nonporous nanocrystalline ZnO films at a growth rate of up to 50 nm/min on amorphous and crystalline substrates including Si (100), fused quartz, glass, muscovite, c- and a-plane sapphire (Al2O3), gold, titanium, and polyimide. X-ray diffraction indicates the grains of as-deposited ZnO to be highly textured, with the fastest growth occurring along the c-axis. The individual grains are observed to be faceted by (103) planes which are the slowest growth planes. ZnO nanocrystalline films of nominal thicknesses of 200 nm are deposited at substrate temperatures of 330°C and 160°C on metal/ceramic substrates and polymer substrates, respectively. In addition, 20-nm- and 200-nm-thick films are also deposited on quartz substrates for optical characterization. At optical spectra above 375 nm, the measured optical transmittance of a 200-nm-thick ZnO film is greater than 80%, while that of a 20-nm-thick film is close to 100%. For a 200-nm-thick ZnO film with an average grain size of 100 nm, a four-point probe measurement shows electrical conductivity of up to 910 S/m. Annealing of 200-nm-thick ZnO films in 300 sccm pure argon at temperatures ranging from 750°C to 950°C (at homologous temperatures between 0.46 and 0.54) alters the textures and morphologies of the thin film. Based on scanning electron microscope images, higher annealing temperatures appear to restructure the ZnO nanocrystalline films to form nanorods of ZnO due to a combination of grain boundary diffusion and bulk diffusion. PACS: films and coatings, 81.15.-z; nanocrystalline materials, 81.07.Bc; II-VI semiconductors, 81.05.Dz.

Water-soluble nanocrystalline cellulose films with highly transparent and oxygen barrier properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Shaoling; Zhang, Yapei; Cha, Ruitao; Yang, Jinliang; Jiang, Xingyu

2015-12-01

By mixing a guar gum (GG) solution with a nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) dispersion using a novel circular casting technology, we manufactured biodegradable films as packaging materials with improved optical and mechanical properties. These films could act as barriers for oxygen and could completely dissolve in water within 5 h. We also compared the effect of nanocomposite films and commercial food packaging materials on the preservation of food.By mixing a guar gum (GG) solution with a nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) dispersion using a novel circular casting technology, we manufactured biodegradable films as packaging materials with improved optical and mechanical properties. These films could act as barriers for oxygen and could completely dissolve in water within 5 h. We also compared the effect of nanocomposite films and commercial food packaging materials on the preservation of food. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07647a

Electrodeposition of WO3 nanoparticles into surface mounted metal-organic framework HKUST-1 thin films.

PubMed

Yoo, Hyeonseok; Welle, Alexander; Guo, Wei; Choi, Jinsub; Redel, Engelbert

2017-03-17

We describe a novel procedure to fabricate WO 3 @surface-mounted metal-organic framework (SURMOF) hybrid materials by electrodeposition of WO 3 nanoparticles into HKUST-1, also termed Cu 3 (BTC) 2 SURMOFs. These materials have been characterized using x-ray diffraction, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as linear sweep voltammetry. The WO 3 semiconductor/SURMOF heterostructures were further tested as hybrid electrodes in their performance for hydrogen evolution reaction from water.

Effect of rapid thermal annealing on nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films synthesized by swift heavy ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakurdesai, Madhavi; Kanjilal, D.; Bhattacharyya, Varsha

2012-08-01

Irradiation by swift heavy ions (SHI) is unique tool to synthesize nanocrystalline thin films. We have reported transformation of 100 nm thick amorphous films into nanocrystalline film due to irradiation by 100 MeV Ag ion beam. Oblate shaped nanoparticles having anatase phase of TiO2 were formed on the surface of the irradiated films. In the present investigation, these films are annealed at 350 °C for 2 min in oxygen atmosphere by Rapid Thermal Annealing (RTA) method. During RTA processing, the temperature rises abruptly and this thermal instability is expected to alter surface morphology, structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films. Thus in the present work, effect of RTA on SHI induced nanocrystalline thin films of TiO2 is studied. The effect of RTA processing on the shape and size of TiO2 nanoparticles is studied by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Glancing Angle X-ray Diffraction (GAXRD) studies are carried to investigate structural changes induced by RTA processing. Optical characterization is carried out by UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The changes observed in structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films after RTA processing are attributed to the annihilation of SHI induced defects.

Growth characteristics of nanocrystalline silicon films fabricated by using chlorinated precursors at low temperatures.

PubMed

Huang, Rui; Ding, Honglin; Song, Jie; Guo, Yanqing; Wang, Xiang; Lin, Xuanying

2010-11-01

We employed plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique to fabricate nanocrystalline Si films at a low temperature of 250 degrees C by using SiCl4 and H2 as source gases. The evolution of microstructure of the films with deposition periods shows that nanocrystalline Si can be directly grown on amorphous substrate at the initial growth process, which is in contrast to the growth behavior observed in the SiH4/H2 system. Furthermore, it is interesting to find that the area density of nanocrystalline Si as well as grain size can be controlled by modulating the concentration of SiCl4. By decreasing the SiCl4 concentration, the area density of nanocrystalline Si can be enhanced up to 10(11) cm(-2), while the grain size is shown to decrease down to 10 nm. It is suggested that Cl plays an important role in the low-temperature growth of nanocrystalline Si.

WO3 and W Thermal Atomic Layer Etching Using "Conversion-Fluorination" and "Oxidation-Conversion-Fluorination" Mechanisms.

PubMed

Johnson, Nicholas R; George, Steven M

2017-10-04

The thermal atomic layer etching (ALE) of WO 3 and W was demonstrated with new "conversion-fluorination" and "oxidation-conversion-fluorination" etching mechanisms. Both of these mechanisms are based on sequential, self-limiting reactions. WO 3 ALE was achieved by a "conversion-fluorination" mechanism using an AB exposure sequence with boron trichloride (BCl 3 ) and hydrogen fluoride (HF). BCl 3 converts the WO 3 surface to a B 2 O 3 layer while forming volatile WO x Cl y products. Subsequently, HF spontaneously etches the B 2 O 3 layer producing volatile BF 3 and H 2 O products. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) studies determined that the BCl 3 and HF reactions were self-limiting versus exposure. The WO 3 ALE etch rates increased with temperature from 0.55 Å/cycle at 128 °C to 4.19 Å/cycle at 207 °C. W served as an etch stop because BCl 3 and HF could not etch the underlying W film. W ALE was performed using a three-step "oxidation-conversion-fluorination" mechanism. In this ABC exposure sequence, the W surface is first oxidized to a WO 3 layer using O 2 /O 3 . Subsequently, the WO 3 layer is etched with BCl 3 and HF. SE could simultaneously monitor the W and WO 3 thicknesses and conversion of W to WO 3 . SE measurements showed that the W film thickness decreased linearly with number of ABC reaction cycles. W ALE was shown to be self-limiting with respect to each reaction in the ABC process. The etch rate for W ALE was ∼2.5 Å/cycle at 207 °C. An oxide thickness of ∼20 Å remained after W ALE, but could be removed by sequential BCl 3 and HF exposures without affecting the W layer. These new etching mechanisms will enable the thermal ALE of a variety of additional metal materials including those that have volatile metal fluorides.

High oxygen nanocomposite barrier films based on xylan and nanocrystalline cellulose

Treesearch

Amit Saxena; Thomas J. Elder; Jeffrey Kenvin; Arthur J. Ragauskas

2010-01-01

The goal of this work is to produce nanocomposite film with low oxygen permeability by casting an aqueous solution containing xylan, sorbitol and nanocrystalline cellulose. The morphology of the resulting nanocomposite films was examined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy which showed that control films containing xylan and sorbitol had a more...

Nanocrystalline SiC film thermistors for cryogenic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitin, V. F.; Kholevchuk, V. V.; Semenov, A. V.; Kozlovskii, A. A.; Boltovets, N. S.; Krivutsa, V. A.; Slepova, A. S.; Novitskii, S. V.

2018-02-01

We developed a heat-sensitive material based on nanocrystalline SiC films obtained by direct deposition of carbon and silicon ions onto sapphire substrates. These SiC films can be used for resistance thermometers operating in the 2 K-300 K temperature range. Having high heat sensitivity, they are relatively low sensitive to the magnetic field. The designs of the sensors are presented together with a discussion of their thermometric characteristics and sensitivity to magnetic fields.

From amorphous to nanocrystalline: the effect of nanograins in amorphous matrix on the thermal conductivity of hot-wire chemical-vapor deposited silicon films

DOE PAGES

Kearney, B. T.; Jugdersuren, B.; Queen, D. R.; ...

2017-12-28

Here, we have measured the thermal conductivity of amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon films with varying crystalline content from 85K to room temperature. The films were prepared by the hot-wire chemical-vapor deposition, where the crystalline volume fraction is determined by the hydrogen (H2) dilution ratio to the processing silane gas (SiH4), R=H2/SiH4. We varied R from 1 to 10, where the films transform from amorphous for R < 3 to mostly nanocrystalline for larger R. Structural analyses show that the nanograins, averaging from 2 to 9nm in sizes with increasing R, are dispersed in the amorphous matrix. The crystalline volume fractionmore » increases from 0 to 65% as R increases from 1 to 10. The thermal conductivities of the two amorphous silicon films are similar and consistent with the most previous reports with thicknesses no larger than a few um deposited by a variety of techniques. The thermal conductivities of the three nanocrystalline silicon films are also similar, but are about 50-70% higher than those of their amorphous counterparts. The heat conduction in nanocrystalline silicon films can be understood as the combined contribution in both amorphous and nanocrystalline phases, where increased conduction through improved nanocrystalline percolation path outweighs increased interface scattering between silicon nanocrystals and the amorphous matrix.« less

From amorphous to nanocrystalline: the effect of nanograins in amorphous matrix on the thermal conductivity of hot-wire chemical-vapor deposited silicon films

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

Kearney, B. T.; Jugdersuren, B.; Queen, D. R.

Here, we have measured the thermal conductivity of amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon films with varying crystalline content from 85K to room temperature. The films were prepared by the hot-wire chemical-vapor deposition, where the crystalline volume fraction is determined by the hydrogen (H2) dilution ratio to the processing silane gas (SiH4), R=H2/SiH4. We varied R from 1 to 10, where the films transform from amorphous for R < 3 to mostly nanocrystalline for larger R. Structural analyses show that the nanograins, averaging from 2 to 9nm in sizes with increasing R, are dispersed in the amorphous matrix. The crystalline volume fractionmore » increases from 0 to 65% as R increases from 1 to 10. The thermal conductivities of the two amorphous silicon films are similar and consistent with the most previous reports with thicknesses no larger than a few um deposited by a variety of techniques. The thermal conductivities of the three nanocrystalline silicon films are also similar, but are about 50-70% higher than those of their amorphous counterparts. The heat conduction in nanocrystalline silicon films can be understood as the combined contribution in both amorphous and nanocrystalline phases, where increased conduction through improved nanocrystalline percolation path outweighs increased interface scattering between silicon nanocrystals and the amorphous matrix.« less

Insulator to metal transition in WO 3 induced by electrolyte gating

DOE PAGES

Leng, X.; Pereiro, J.; Strle, J.; ...

2017-07-03

Tungsten oxide and its associated bronzes (compounds of tungsten oxide and an alkali metal) are well known for their interesting optical and electrical characteristics. We have modified the transport properties of thin WO 3 films by electrolyte gating using both ionic liquids and polymer electrolytes. We are able to tune the resistivity of the gated film by more than five orders of magnitude, and a clear insulator-to-metal transition is observed. To clarify the doping mechanism, we have performed a series of incisive operando experiments, ruling out both a purely electronic effect (charge accumulation near the interface) and oxygen-related mechanisms. Wemore » propose instead that hydrogen intercalation is responsible for doping WO 3 into a highly conductive ground state and provide evidence that it can be described as a dense polaronic gas.« less

Stacking fault-mediated ultrastrong nanocrystalline Ti thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, K.; Zhang, J. Y.; Li, G.; Wang, Y. Q.; Cui, J. C.; Liu, G.; Sun, J.

2017-11-01

In this work, we prepared nanocrystalline (NC) Ti thin films with abundant stacking faults (SFs), which were created via partial dislocations emitted from grain boundaries and which were insensitive to grain sizes. By employing the nanoindentation test, we investigated the effects of SFs and grain sizes on the strength of NC Ti films at room temperature. The high density of SFs significantly strengthens NC Ti films, via dislocation-SF interactions associated with the reported highest Hall-Petch slope of ˜20 GPa nm1/2, to an ultrahigh strength of ˜4.4 GPa, approaching ˜50% of its ideal strength.

Electronic transport in mixed-phase hydrogenated amorphous/nanocrystalline silicon thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wienkes, Lee Raymond

Interest in mixed-phase silicon thin film materials, composed of an amorphous semiconductor matrix in which nanocrystalline inclusions are embedded, stems in part from potential technological applications, including photovoltaic and thin film transistor technologies. Conventional mixed-phase silicon films are produced in a single plasma reactor, where the conditions of the plasma must be precisely tuned, limiting the ability to adjust the film and nanoparticle parameters independently. The films presented in this thesis are deposited using a novel dual-plasma co-deposition approach in which the nanoparticles are produced separately in an upstream reactor and then injected into a secondary reactor where an amorphous silicon film is being grown. The degree of crystallinity and grain sizes of the films are evaluated using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction respectively. I describe detailed electronic measurements which reveal three distinct conduction mechanisms in n-type doped mixed-phase amorphous/nanocrystalline silicon thin films over a range of nanocrystallite concentrations and temperatures, covering the transition from fully amorphous to ~30% nanocrystalline. As the temperature is varied from 470 to 10 K, we observe activated conduction, multiphonon hopping (MPH) and Mott variable range hopping (VRH) as the nanocrystal content is increased. The transition from MPH to Mott-VRH hopping around 100K is ascribed to the freeze out of the phonon modes. A conduction model involving the parallel contributions of these three distinct conduction mechanisms is shown to describe both the conductivity and the reduced activation energy data to a high accuracy. Additional support is provided by measurements of thermal equilibration effects and noise spectroscopy, both done above room temperature (>300 K). This thesis provides a clear link between measurement and theory in these complex materials.

Physical Characterization of Orthorhombic AgInS2 Nanocrystalline Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Zawawi, I. K.; Mahdy, Manal A.

2017-11-01

Nanocrystalline thin films of AgInS2 were synthesized using an inert gas condensation technique. The grazing incident in-plane x-ray diffraction technique was used to detect the crystal structure of the deposited and annealed thin films. The results confirmed that the as-deposited film shows an amorphous behavior and that the annealed film has a single phase crystallized in an orthorhombic structure. The orthorhombic structure and particle size were detected using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The particle size ( P_{{s}}) estimated from micrograph images of the nanocrystalline films were increased from 6 nm to 12 nm as the film thickness increased from 11 nm to 110 nm. Accordingly, increasing the film thickness up to 110 nm reflects varying the optical band gap from 2.75 eV to 2.1 eV. The photocurrent measurements were studied where the fast rise and decay of the photocurrent are governed by the recombination mechanism. The electrical conductivity behavior was demonstrated by two transition mechanisms: extrinsic transition for a low-temperature range (300-400 K) and intrinsic transition for the high-temperature region above 400 K.

Facile fabrication of corrosion-resistant superhydrophobic and superoleophilic surfaces with MnWO(4):Dy(3+) microbouquets.

PubMed

Li, Taohai; Li, Quanguo; Yan, Jing; Li, Feng

2014-04-21

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic MnWO4:Dy(3+) microbouquets were successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal process. The surface morphologies and chemical composition were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The wettability of the as-synthesized MnWO4:Dy(3+) microbouquet film was studied by measuring the water contact angle (CA). A static CA for water of 165° and a very low sliding angle (SA) were observed, which were closely related to both the MnWO4:Dy(3+) microbouquet structure and chemical modification. Furthermore, the as-prepared MnWO4:Dy(3+) surface showed superhydrophobicity for some corrosive liquids such as aqueous basic and salt solutions.

Thermoelectric properties of nanocrystalline Sb2Te3 thin films: experimental evaluation and first-principles calculation, addressing effect of crystal grain size.

PubMed

Morikawa, Satoshi; Inamoto, Takuya; Takashiri, Masayuki

2018-02-16

The effect of crystal grain size on the thermoelectric properties of nanocrystalline antimony telluride (Sb 2 Te 3 ) thin films was investigated by experiments and first-principles studies using a developed relaxation time approximation. The Sb 2 Te 3 thin films were deposited on glass substrates using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. To change the crystal grain size of the Sb 2 Te 3 thin films, thermal annealing was performed at different temperatures. The crystal grain size, lattice parameter, and crystal orientation of the thin films were estimated using XRD patterns. The carrier concentration and in-plane thermoelectric properties of the thin films were measured at room temperature. A theoretical analysis was performed using a first-principles study based on density functional theory. The electronic band structures of Sb 2 Te 3 were calculated using different lattice parameters, and the thermoelectric properties were predicted based on the semi-classical Boltzmann transport equation in the relaxation time approximation. In particular, we introduced the effect of carrier scattering at the grain boundaries into the relaxation time approximation by estimating the group velocities from the electronic band structures. Finally, the experimentally measured thermoelectric properties were compared with those obtained by calculation. As a result, the calculated thermoelectric properties were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. Therefore, we can conclude that introducing the effect of carrier scattering at the grain boundaries into the relaxation time approximation contributes to enhance the accuracy of a first-principles calculation relating to nanocrystalline materials.

Thermoelectric properties of nanocrystalline Sb2Te3 thin films: experimental evaluation and first-principles calculation, addressing effect of crystal grain size

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morikawa, Satoshi; Inamoto, Takuya; Takashiri, Masayuki

2018-02-01

The effect of crystal grain size on the thermoelectric properties of nanocrystalline antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) thin films was investigated by experiments and first-principles studies using a developed relaxation time approximation. The Sb2Te3 thin films were deposited on glass substrates using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. To change the crystal grain size of the Sb2Te3 thin films, thermal annealing was performed at different temperatures. The crystal grain size, lattice parameter, and crystal orientation of the thin films were estimated using XRD patterns. The carrier concentration and in-plane thermoelectric properties of the thin films were measured at room temperature. A theoretical analysis was performed using a first-principles study based on density functional theory. The electronic band structures of Sb2Te3 were calculated using different lattice parameters, and the thermoelectric properties were predicted based on the semi-classical Boltzmann transport equation in the relaxation time approximation. In particular, we introduced the effect of carrier scattering at the grain boundaries into the relaxation time approximation by estimating the group velocities from the electronic band structures. Finally, the experimentally measured thermoelectric properties were compared with those obtained by calculation. As a result, the calculated thermoelectric properties were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. Therefore, we can conclude that introducing the effect of carrier scattering at the grain boundaries into the relaxation time approximation contributes to enhance the accuracy of a first-principles calculation relating to nanocrystalline materials.

Nanocrystalline SnO2 formation by oxygen ion implantation in tin thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondkar, Vidya; Rukade, Deepti; Kanjilal, Dinakar; Bhattacharyya, Varsha

2018-03-01

Metallic tin thin films of thickness 100 nm are deposited on fused silica substrates by thermal evaporation technique. These films are implanted with 45 keV oxygen ions at fluences ranging from 5 × 1015 to 5 × 1016 ions cm-2. The energy of the oxygen ions is calculated using SRIM in order to form embedded phases at the film-substrate interface. Post-implantation, films are annealed using a tube furnace for nanocrystalline tin oxide formation. These films are characterized using x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. XRD and Raman spectroscopy studies reveal the formation of single rutile phase of SnO2. The size of the nanocrystallites formed decreases with an increase in the ion fluence. The nanocrystalline SnO2 formation is also confirmed by UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Optical, structural and electrochromic behavior studies on nanocomposite thin film of aniline, o-toluidine and WO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najafi-Ashtiani, Hamed; Bahari, Ali

2016-08-01

In the field of materials for electrochromic (EC) applications much attention was paid to the derivatives of aniline. We report on the optical, structural and electrochromic properties of electrochromic thin film based on composite of WO3 nanoparticles and copolymer of aniline and o-toluidine prepared by electrochemical polymerization method on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass. The thin film was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The morphology of prepared thin film was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) as well. The optical spectra of nanocomposite thin film were characterized in the 200-900 nm wavelength range and EC properties of nanocomposite thin film were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The calculation of optical band gaps of thin film exhibited that the thin film has directly allowed transition with the values of 2.63 eV on first region and 3.80 eV on second region. Dispersion parameters were calculated based on the single oscillator model. Finally, important parameters such as dispersion energy, oscillator energy and lattice dielectric constant were determined and compared with the data from other researchers. The nonlinear optical properties such as nonlinear optical susceptibility, nonlinear absorption coefficient and nonlinear refractive index were extracted. The obtained results of nanocomposite thin film can be useful for the optoelectronic applications.

Simple route to (NH4)xWO3 nanorods for near infrared absorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Chongshen; Yin, Shu; Dong, Qiang; Sato, Tsugio

2012-05-01

Described here is how to synthesize one-dimensional ammonium tungsten bronze ((NH4)xWO3) by a facile solvothermal approach in which ethylene glycol and acetic acid were employed as solvents and ammonium paratungstate was used as a starting material, as well as how to develop the near infrared absorption properties of (NH4)xWO3 nanorods for application as a solar light control filter. The as-obtained product was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry (TG), atomic force microscope (AFM) and UV-Vis-NIR spectra. The SEM and TEM images clearly revealed that the obtained sample possessed rod/fiber-like morphologies with diameters around 120 nm. As determined by UV-Vis-NIR optical measurement, the thin film consisted of (NH4)xWO3 nanoparticles, which can selectively transmit most visible lights, but strongly absorb the near-infrared (NIR) lights and ultraviolet rays. These interesting optical properties make the (NH4)xWO3 nanorods suitable for the solar control windows.Described here is how to synthesize one-dimensional ammonium tungsten bronze ((NH4)xWO3) by a facile solvothermal approach in which ethylene glycol and acetic acid were employed as solvents and ammonium paratungstate was used as a starting material, as well as how to develop the near infrared absorption properties of (NH4)xWO3 nanorods for application as a solar light control filter. The as-obtained product was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry (TG), atomic force microscope (AFM) and UV-Vis-NIR spectra. The SEM and TEM images clearly revealed that the obtained sample possessed rod/fiber-like morphologies with diameters around 120 nm. As determined by UV-Vis-NIR optical measurement, the thin film

Photocatalytic properties of h-WO3 nanoparticles obtained by annealing and h-WO3 nanorods prepared by hydrothermal method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyadjiev, Stefan I.; Nagy-Kovács, Teodóra; Lukács, István; Szilágyi, Imre M.

2016-03-01

In the present study, two different methods for preparing hexagonal WO3 (h-WO3) photocatalysts were used - controlled thermal decomposition and hydrothermal synthesis. WO3 nanoparticles with hexagonal structure were obtained by annealing (NH4)xWO3-y at 500 °C in air. WO3 nanorods were prepared by a hydrothermal method using sodium tungstate Na2WO4, HCl, (COOH)2 and NaSO4 precursors at 200 °C. The formation, morphology, structure and composition of the as-prepared nanoparticles and nanorods were studied by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The photocatalytic activity of the h-WO3 nanoparticles and nanorods was studied by decomposing methyl orange in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation.

Sol-gel synthesis of Bi2WO6/graphene thin films with enhanced photocatalytic performance for nitric monoxide oxidation under visible light irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Chufeng; Wang, Yanbin; Su, Qiong

2018-06-01

Bi2WO6 and Bi2WO6/graphene thin films were fabricated by spin coating and post annealing at 600 °C for 2 h. In four different thin film samples, the graphene concentration was controlled as 0, 2, 4 and 6 wt%, respectively. The morphology, grain size and elemental distribution of the thin films were characterized by SEM and TEM. The crystallization and crystal phases were determined by XRD patterns, and the existence of graphene in Bi2WO6/graphene composite thin films were confirmed by Raman spectra. The photocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6 and Bi2WO6/graphene thin films was investigated by oxidizing NO under visible light irradiation. The results showed that Bi2WO6/graphene with 4 wt% of graphene showed the highest photocatalytic performance among all samples. This could be attributed to the increased electron conductivity with the presence of graphene. However, a further increased graphene concentration resulted in a decreased photocatalytic performance.

Method for the preparation of nanocrystalline diamond thin films

DOEpatents

Gruen, Dieter M.; Krauss, Alan R.

1998-01-01

A method and system for manufacturing nanocrystalline diamond film on a substrate such as field emission tips. The method involves forming a carbonaceous vapor, providing a gas stream of argon, hydrocarbon and possibly hydrogen, and combining the gas with the carbonaceous vapor, passing the combined carbonaceous vapor and gas carrier stream into a chamber, forming a plasma in the chamber causing fragmentation of the carbonaceous vapor and deposition of a diamond film on the field emission tip.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Nanocrystalline silicon film growth morphology control through RF waveform tailoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Erik V.; Verbeke, Thomas; Vanel, Jean-Charles; Booth, Jean-Paul

2010-10-01

We demonstrate the application of RF waveform tailoring to generate an electrical asymmetry in a capacitively coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition system, and its use to control the growth mode of hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin films deposited at low temperature (150 °C). A dramatic shift in the dc bias potential at the powered electrode is observed when simply inverting the voltage waveform from 'peaks' to 'troughs', indicating an asymmetric distribution of the sheath voltage. By enhancing or suppressing the ion bombardment energy at the substrate (situated on the grounded electrode), the growth of thin silicon films can be switched between amorphous and nanocrystalline modes, as observed using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. The effect is observed at pressures sufficiently low that the collisional reduction in average ion bombardment energy is not sufficient to allow nanocrystalline growth (<100 mTorr).

Electron transport in nanocrystalline SiC films obtained by direct ion deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozlovskyi, A.; Semenov, A.; Skorik, S.

2016-12-01

Electrical conductivity of nanocrystalline SiC films obtained by direct ion deposition was investigated within the temperature interval from 2 to 770 K. It were investigated the samples of films with 3С-SiC polytype structure and the heteropolytype films formed by layers of different polytypes SiC (3C-SiC/21R-SiC, 21R-SiC/27R-SiC, 3C-SiC/15R-SiC). The films had n-type conductivity that ensured a small excess of silicon ions. The thermally activated character of electron transport in the 3С-SiC polytype films was established. In the heteropolytype films the temperature dependence of the electrical resistance was described by the relation R(T) = R0 × exp[-kT/E0]. It was shown that the charge transport mechanism in the heteropolytype samples is electron tunneling through potential barriers formed by the conduction band offset in the contact region of the heterojunction. Tunnel charge transport occurs due to the presence of discrete energy states in the forbidden band caused the dimensional quantization.

Ultrahigh hardness and high electrical resistivity in nano-twinned, nanocrystalline high-entropy alloy films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huo, Wenyi; Liu, Xiaodong; Tan, Shuyong; Fang, Feng; Xie, Zonghan; Shang, Jianku; Jiang, Jianqing

2018-05-01

Nano-twinned, nanocrystalline CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy films were produced by magnetron sputtering. The films exhibit a high hardness of 8.5 GPa, the elastic modulus of 161.9 GPa and the resistivity as high as 135.1 μΩ·cm. The outstanding mechanical properties were found to result from the resistance of deformation created by nanocrystalline grains and nano-twins, while the electrical resistivity was attributed to the strong blockage effect induced by grain boundaries and lattice distortions. The results lay a solid foundation for the development of advanced films with structural and functional properties combined in micro-/nano-electronic devices.

Study of nanostructure and ethanol vapor sensing performance of WO3 thin films deposited by e-beam evaporation method under different deposition angles: application in breath analysis devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amani, E.; Khojier, K.; Zoriasatain, S.

2018-01-01

This paper studies the effect of deposition angle on the crystallographic structure, surface morphology, porosity and subsequently ethanol vapor sensing performance of e-beam-evaporated WO3 thin films. The WO3 thin films were deposited by e-beam evaporation technique on SiO2/Si substrates under different deposition angles (0°, 30°, and 60°) and then post-annealed at 500 °C with a flow of oxygen for 4 h. Crystallographic structure and surface morphology of the samples were checked using X-ray diffraction method and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Physical adsorption isotherm was also used to measure the porosity and effective surface area of the samples. The electrical response of the samples was studied to different concentrations of ethanol vapor (10-50 ppm) at the temperature range of 140-260 °C and relative humidity of 80%. The results reveal that the WO3 thin film deposited under 30° angle shows more sensitivity to ethanol vapor than the other samples prepared in this work due to the more crystallinity, porosity, and effective surface area. The investigations also show that the sample deposited at 30° can be a good candidate as a breath analysis device at the operating temperature of 240 °C because of its high response, low detection limit, and reliability at high relative humidity.

Ultraviolet emission enhancement in ZnO thin films modified by nanocrystalline TiO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Gaige; Lu, Xi; Qian, Liming; Xian, Fenglin

2017-05-01

In this study, nanocrystalline TiO2 modified ZnO thin films were prepared by electron beam evaporation. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The composition of the films was examined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The photoluminescent spectrum shows that the pure ZnO thin film exhibits an ultraviolet (UV) emission peak and a strong green emission band. Surface analysis indicates that the ZnO thin film contains many oxygen vacancy defects on the surface. After the ZnO thin film is modified by the nanocrystalline TiO2 layer, the UV emission of ZnO is largely enhanced and the green emission is greatly suppressed, which suggests that the surface defects such as oxygen vacancies are passivated by the TiO2 capping layer. As for the UV emission enhancement of the ZnO thin film, the optimized thickness of the TiO2 capping layer is ∼16 nm. When the thickness is larger than 16 nm, the UV emission of the ZnO thin film will decrease because the TiO2 capping layer absorbs most of the excitation energy. The UV emission enhancement in the nanocrystalline TiO2 modified ZnO thin film can be attributed to surface passivation and flat band effect.

Microwave plasma chemical synthesis of nanocrystalline carbon film structures and study their properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bushuev, N.; Yafarov, R.; Timoshenkov, V.; Orlov, S.; Starykh, D.

2015-08-01

The self-organization effect of diamond nanocrystals in polymer-graphite and carbon films is detected. The carbon materials deposition was carried from ethanol vapors out at low pressure using a highly non-equilibrium microwave plasma. Deposition processes of carbon film structures (diamond, graphite, graphene) is defined. Deposition processes of nanocrystalline structures containing diamond and graphite phases in different volume ratios is identified. The solid film was obtained under different conditions of microwave plasma chemical synthesis. We investigated the electrical properties of the nanocrystalline carbon films and identified it's from various factors. Influence of diamond-graphite film deposition mode in non-equilibrium microwave plasma at low pressure on emission characteristics was established. This effect is justified using the cluster model of the structure of amorphous carbon. It was shown that the reduction of bound hydrogen in carbon structures leads to a decrease in the threshold electric field of emission from 20-30 V/m to 5 V/m. Reducing the operating voltage field emission can improve mechanical stability of the synthesized film diamond-graphite emitters. Current density emission at least 20 A/cm2 was obtained. Nanocrystalline carbon film materials can be used to create a variety of functional elements in micro- and nanoelectronics and photonics such as cold electron source for emission in vacuum devices, photonic devices, cathodoluminescent flat display, highly efficient white light sources. The obtained graphene carbon net structure (with a net size about 6 μm) may be used for the manufacture of large-area transparent electrode for solar cells and cathodoluminescent light sources

Structure, Morphology, and Optical Properties of Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Gallium Oxide Thin Films

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

Kumar, S. Sampath; Rubio, E. J.; Noor-A-Alam, M.

Ga2O3 thin films were produced by sputter deposition by varying the substrate temperature (Ts) in a wide range (Ts=25-800 oC). The structural characteristics and optical properties of Ga2O3 films were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and spectrophotometric measurements. The effect of growth temperature is significant on the chemistry, crystal structure and morphology of Ga2O3 films. XRD and SEM analyses indicate that the Ga2O3 films grown at lower temperatures were amorphous while those grown at Ts≥500 oC were nanocrystalline. RBS measurements indicate the well-maintained stoichiometry of Ga2O3 films atmore » Ts=300-700 oC. The spectral transmission of the films increased with increasing temperature. The band gap of the films varied from 4.96 eV to 5.17 eV for a variation in Ts in the range 25-800 oC. A relationship between microstructure and optical property is discussed.« less

Method for the preparation of nanocrystalline diamond thin films

DOEpatents

Gruen, D.M.; Krauss, A.R.

1998-06-30

A method and system are disclosed for manufacturing nanocrystalline diamond film on a substrate such as field emission tips. The method involves forming a carbonaceous vapor, providing a gas stream of argon, hydrocarbon and possibly hydrogen, and combining the gas with the carbonaceous vapor, passing the combined carbonaceous vapor and gas carrier stream into a chamber, forming a plasma in the chamber causing fragmentation of the carbonaceous vapor and deposition of a diamond film on the field emission tip. 40 figs.

Annealing effect of fluorine-doped SnO2/WO3 core-shell inverse opal nanoarchitecture for photoelectrochemical water splitting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Seo Yoon; Kang, Soon Hyung; Yun, Gun; Balamurugan, Maheswari; Ahn, Kwang-Soon

2017-01-01

Fluorine-doped SnO2 inverse opal (FTO IO) was developed on a polystyrene bead template with a size of 350 nm (± 20 nm) by using the sol-gel-assisted spin-coating method. The resulting FTO IO film exhibited a pore diameter of 270 nm (± 5 nm), and a WO3 layer was electrodeposited with a constant charge of 400 mC/cm2, followed by a high-temperature annealing process (400, 475, and 550 °C) to increase the crystallinity of the IO films. The annealing temperature affected the morphology and the overall resistance of the thin film, thus significantly affecting the photoelectrochemical performance. In particular, the FTO/WO3 IO film annealed at 475 °C exhibited a photocurrent density of 2.9 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus normal hydrogen electrode, showing more than a three times higher photocurrent density in comparison with the other samples (550 °C), which is attributed to the large surface area and low resistance for the charge transport. Therefore, the annealing temperature significantly affects the morphological and the photoelectrochemical features of the FTO/WO3 IO films.

Temperature and acidity effects on WO{sub 3} nanostructures and gas-sensing properties of WO{sub 3} nanoplates

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

Zhang, Huili; Liu, Zhifang; Yang, Jiaqin

2014-09-15

Graphical abstract: Generally, large acid quantity and high temperature are beneficial to the formation of anhydrous WO3, but the acidity effect on the crystal phase is weaker than that of temperature. Large acid quantity is found helpful to the oriented growth of tungsten oxides, forming a nanoplate-like product. - Highlights: • Large acid quantity is propitious to the oriented growth of a WO{sub 3} nanoplate. • Effect of acid quantity on crystal phases of products is weaker than that of temperature. • One step hydrothermal synthesis of WO{sub 3} is facile and can be easily scaled up. • A WO{submore » 3} nanoplate shows a fast response and distinct sensing selectivity to acetone gas. - Abstract: WO{sub 3} nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using Na{sub 2}WO{sub 4}·2H{sub 2}O and HNO{sub 3} as raw materials. They are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The specific surface area was obtained from N{sub 2} adsorption–desorption isotherm. The effects of the amount of HNO{sub 3}, hydrothermal temperature and reaction time on the crystal phases and morphologies of the WO{sub 3} nanostructures were investigated in detail, and the reaction mechanism was discussed. Large amount of acid is found for the first time to be helpful to the oriented growth of tungsten oxides, forming nanoplate-like products, while hydrothermal temperature has more influence on the crystal phase of the product. Gas-sensing properties of the series of as-prepared WO{sub 3} nanoplates were tested by means of acetone, ethanol, formaldehyde and ammonia. One of the WO{sub 3} nanoplates with high specific surface area and high crystallinity displays high sensitivity, fast response and distinct sensing selectivity to acetone gas.« less

A spontaneous change in the oxidation states of Pd/WO3 toward an active phase during catalytic cycles of CO oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeon, Byungwook; Kim, Ansoon; Lee, Young-Ahn; Seo, Hyungtak; Kim, Yu Kwon

2017-11-01

CO oxidation over Pd/WO3 films prepared on a glass substrate has been examined at the substrate temperature of 150 - 250 °C and pressures less than 1 Torr with a stoichiometric mixture of CO and O2. Under the given reaction condition, the chemical states of the Pd/WO3 film gradually change into the most catalytically active form with the highest saturation reaction rate regardless of the initial oxidation states. The measured CO oxidation rate over the Pd/WO3 is strongly dependent on the chemical states of Pd and W. Either metallic Pd or fully oxidized PdO phase is not as catalytically active as the active form with mixed metallic Pd and thin PdO layers supported on WO3 with partially reduced W5+ state which is spontaneously obtained during the catalytic reaction cycles. Our results indicate that the facile oxygen transfer between Pd and WO3 layers not only facilitate the spontaneous changes into the active form, but also act as a promotional role in CO oxidation over the Pd layer.

Microarray of neuroblastoma cells on the selectively functionalized nanocrystalline diamond thin film surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Young-Sang; Son, Hyeong-Guk; Kim, Dae-Hoon; Oh, Hong-Gi; Lee, Da-Som; Kim, Min-Hye; Lim, Ki-Moo; Song, Kwang-Soup

2016-01-01

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) film surfaces were modified with fluorine or oxygen by plasma treatment in an O2 or C3F8 gas environment in order to induce wettability. The oxygenated-NCD (O-NCD) film surface was hydrophilic and the fluorinated-NCD (F-NCD) surface was hydrophobic. The efficiency of early cell adhesion, which is dependent on the wettability of the cell culture plate and necessary for the growth and proliferation of cells, was 89.62 ± 3.92% on the O-NCD film and 7.78 ± 0.77% on the F-NCD film surface after 3 h of cell culture. The wettability of the NCD film surface was artificially modified using a metal mask and plasma treatment to fabricate a micro-pattern. Four types of micro-patterns were fabricated (line, circle, mesh, and word) on the NCD film surface. We precisely arrayed the neuroblastoma cells on the micro-patterned NCD film surfaces by controlling the surface wettability and cell seeding density. The neuroblastoma cells adhered and proliferated along the O-NCD film surface.

Water-soluble nanocrystalline cellulose films with highly transparent and oxygen barrier properties.

PubMed

Cheng, Shaoling; Zhang, Yapei; Cha, Ruitao; Yang, Jinliang; Jiang, Xingyu

2016-01-14

By mixing a guar gum (GG) solution with a nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) dispersion using a novel circular casting technology, we manufactured biodegradable films as packaging materials with improved optical and mechanical properties. These films could act as barriers for oxygen and could completely dissolve in water within 5 h. We also compared the effect of nanocomposite films and commercial food packaging materials on the preservation of food.

Creation and Ordering of Oxygen Vacancies at WO 3-δ and Perovskite Interfaces

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

Zhang, Kelvin H. L.; Li, Guoqiang; Spurgeon, Steven R.

Changes in structure and composition resulting from oxygen deficiency can strongly impact the physical and chemical properties of transition metal oxides, which may lead to new functionalities for novel electronic devices. Oxygen vacancies (V o) can be readily formed to accomodate the lattice mismatch during epitixial thin film growth. In this paper, the effects of substrate strain and oxidizing power on the creation and distribution of V o in WO 3-δ thin films are investigated in detail. An 18O 2 isotope labeled time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry study reveals that WO 3-δ films grown on SrTiO 3 substrates display amore » significantly larger oxygen vacancy gradient along the growth direction compared to those grown on LaAlO 3 substrates. This result is corroborated by scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging which reveals a large number of defects close to the interface to accommodate interfacial tensile strain, leading to the ordering of V o and the formation of semi-aligned Magnéli phases. The strain is gradually released and tetragonal phase with much better crystallinity is observed at the film/vacuum interface. The changes in structure resulting from oxygen defect creation are shown to have a direct impact on the electronic and optical properties of the films.« less

Enhanced luminescence in Eu-doped ZnO nanocrystalline films

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

Suzuki, Keigo, E-mail: ksuzuki@murata.com; Murayama, Koji; Tanaka, Nobuhiko

We found an enhancement of Eu{sup 3+} emissions in Eu-doped ZnO nanocrystalline films fabricated by microemulsion method. The Eu{sup 3+} emission intensities were increased by reducing annealing temperatures from 633 K to 533 K. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that the size reduction enhances the energy transfer from ZnO nanoparticles to Eu{sup 3+} ions. Also, the shift of the charge-transfer band into the low-energy side of the absorption edge is found to be crucial, which seems to expedite the energy transfer from O atoms to Eu{sup 3+} ions. These findings will be useful for the material design of Eu-doped ZnOmore » phosphors.« less

Thermoluminescent properties of nanocrystalline ZnTe thin films: Structural and morphological studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajpal, Shashikant; Kumar, S. R.

2018-04-01

Zinc Telluride (ZnTe) is a binary II-VI direct band gap semiconducting material with cubic structure and having potential applications in different opto-electronic devices. Here we investigated the effects of annealing on the thermoluminescence (TL) of ZnTe thin films. A nanocrystalline ZnTe thin film was successfully electrodeposited on nickel substrate and the effect of annealing on structural, morphological, and optical properties were studied. The TL emission spectrum of as deposited sample is weakly emissive in UV region at ∼328 nm. The variation in the annealing temperature results into sharp increase in emission intensity at ∼328 nm along with appearance of a new peak at ∼437 nm in visible region. Thus, the deposited nanocrystalline ZnTe thin films exhibited excellent thermoluminescent properties upon annealing. Furthermore, the influence of annealing (annealed at 400 °C) on the solid state of ZnTe were also studied by XRD, SEM, EDS, AFM. It is observed that ZnTe thin film annealed at 400 °C after deposition provide a smooth and flat texture suited for optoelectronic applications.

Nano-Crystalline Diamond Films with Pineapple-Like Morphology Grown by the DC Arcjet vapor Deposition Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bin; Zhang, Qin-Jian; Shi, Yan-Chao; Li, Jia-Jun; Li, Hong; Lu, Fan-Xiu; Chen, Guang-Chao

2014-08-01

A nano-crystlline diamond film is grown by the dc arcjet chemical vapor deposition method. The film is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectra, respectively. The nanocrystalline grains are averagely with 80 nm in the size measured by XRD, and further proven by Raman and HRTEM. The observed novel morphology of the growth surface, pineapple-like morphology, is constructed by cubo-octahedral growth zones with a smooth faceted top surface and coarse side surfaces. The as-grown film possesses (100) dominant surface containing a little amorphous sp2 component, which is far different from the nano-crystalline film with the usual cauliflower-like morphology.

Effect of film thickness on NO2 gas sensing properties of sprayed orthorhombic nanocrystalline V2O5 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mane, A. A.; Moholkar, A. V.

2017-09-01

The nanocrystalline V2O5 thin films with different thicknesses have been grown onto the glass substrates using chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) deposition method. The XRD study shows that the films exhibit an orthorhombic crystal structure. The narrow scan X-ray photoelectron spectrum of V-2p core level doublet gives the binding energy difference of 7.3 eV, indicating that the V5+ oxidation state of vanadium. The FE-SEM micrographs show the formation of nanorods-like morphology. The AFM micrographs show the high surface area to volume ratio of nanocrystalline V2O5 thin films. The optical study gives the band gap energy values of 2.41 eV, 2.44 eV, 2.47 eV and 2.38 eV for V2O5 thin films deposited with the thicknesses of 423 nm, 559 nm, 694 nm and 730 nm, respectively. The V2O5 film of thickness 559 nm shows the NO2 gas response of 41% for 100 ppm concentration at operating temperature of 200 °C with response and recovery times of 20 s and 150 s, respectively. Further, it shows the rapid response and reproducibility towards 10 ppm NO2 gas concentration at 200 °C. Finally, NO2 gas sensing mechanism based on chemisorption process is discussed.

Evolution of Structural and Electrical Properties of Carbon Films from Amorphous Carbon to Nanocrystalline Graphene on Quartz Glass by HFCVD.

PubMed

Zhai, Zihao; Shen, Honglie; Chen, Jieyi; Li, Xuemei; Jiang, Ye

2018-05-23

Direct growth of graphene films on glass is of great importance but has so far met with limited success. The noncatalytic property of glass results in the low decomposition ability of hydrocarbon precursors, especially at reduced temperatures (<1000 °C), and therefore amorphous carbon (a-C) films are more likely to be obtained. Here, we report the hydrogen influence on the structural and electrical properties of carbon films deposited on quartz glass at 850 °C by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). The results revealed that the obtained a-C films were all graphitelike carbon films. Structural transition of the deposited films from a-C to nanocrystalline graphene was achieved by raising the hydrogen dilution ratios from 10 to over 80%. On the basis of systematic structural and chemical characterizations, a schematic process with three steps including sp 2 chain aggregation, aromatic ring formation, and sp 3 bond etching was proposed to interpret the structural evolution. The nanocrystalline graphene films grown on glass by HFCVD exhibited good electrical performance with a carrier mobility of 36.76 cm 2 /(V s) and a resistivity of 5.24 × 10 -3 Ω cm over an area of 1 cm 2 . Temperature-dependent electrical characterizations revealed that the electronic transport in carbon films was dominated by defect, localized, and extended states, respectively, when increasing the temperature from 75 to 292 K. The nanocrystalline graphene films presented higher carrier mobility and lower carrier concentration than those of a-C films, which was mainly attributed to their smaller conductive activation energy. The present investigation provides an effective way for direct growth of graphene films on glass at reduced temperatures and also offers useful insights into the understanding of structural and electrical relationship between a-C and graphene.

Tuning the pure monoclinic phase of WO3 and WO3-Ag nanostructures for non-enzymatic glucose sensing application with theoretical insight from electronic structure simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponnusamy, Rajeswari; Gangan, Abhijeet; Chakraborty, Brahmananda; Sekhar Rout, Chandra

2018-01-01

Here, we report the controlled hydrothermal synthesis and tuning of the pure monoclinic phase of WO3 and WO3-Ag nanostructures. Comparative electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose sensing properties of WO3 and WO3-Ag were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric tests. We observed enhanced glucose sensing performance of WO3-Ag porous spheres as compared to bare WO3 nanoslabs. The sensitivity of the pure WO3 nanoslabs is 11.1 μA μM-1 cm-2 whereas WO3-Ag porous spheres exhibit sensitivity of 23.3 μA μM-1 cm-2. The WO3-Ag porous spheres exhibited a good linear range (5-375 μM) with excellent anti-interference property. Our experimental observations are qualitatively supported by density functional theory simulations through investigation of bonding and charge transfer mechanism of glucose on WO3 and Ag doped WO3. As the binding energy of glucose is more on the Ag doped WO3 (100) surface compared to the bare WO3 (100) surface and the Ag doped WO3 (100) surface becomes more conducting due to enhancement of density of states near the Fermi level, we can infer that Ag doped WO3 exhibits a better charge transfer media compared to bare WO3 resulting in enhanced glucose sensitivity in consistency with our experimental data.

Nanocrystalline silicon thin films and grating structures for solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juneja, Sucheta; Sudhakar, Selvakumar; Khonina, Svetlana N.; Skidanov, Roman V.; Porfirevb, Alexey P.; Moissev, Oleg Y.; Kazanskiy, Nikolay L.; Kumar, Sushil

2016-03-01

Enhancement of optical absorption for achieving high efficiencies in thin film silicon solar cells is a challenge task. Herein, we present the use of grating structure for the enhancement of optical absorption. We have made grating structures and same can be integrated in hydrogenated micro/nanocrystalline silicon (μc/nc-Si: H) thin films based p-i-n solar cells. μc/nc-Si: H thin films were grown using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. Grating structures integrated with μc/nc-Si: H thin film solar cells may enhance the optical path length and reduce the reflection losses and its characteristics can be probed by spectroscopic and microscopic technique with control design and experiment.

Cr2O3 nanoparticle-functionalized WO3 nanorods for ethanol gas sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Seungbok; Bonyani, Maryam; Sun, Gun-Joo; Lee, Jae Kyung; Hyun, Soong Keun; Lee, Chongmu

2018-02-01

Pristine WO3 nanorods and Cr2O3-functionalized WO3 nanorods were synthesized by the thermal evaporation of WO3 powder in an oxidizing atmosphere, followed by spin-coating of the nanowires with Cr2O3 nanoparticles and thermal annealing in an oxidizing atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphological features and X-ray diffraction was used to study the crystallinity and phase formation of the synthesized nanorods. Gas sensing tests were performed at different temperatures in the presence of test gases (ethanol, acetone, CO, benzene and toluene). The Cr2O3-functionalized WO3 nanorods sensor showed a stronger response to these gases relative to the pristine WO3 nanorod sensor. In particular, the response of the Cr2O3-functionalized WO3 nanorods sensor to 200 ppm ethanol gas was 5.58, which is approximately 4.4 times higher that of the pristine WO3 nanorods sensor. Furthermore, the Cr2O3-functionalized WO3 nanorods sensor had a shorter response and recovery time. The pristine WO3 nanorods had no selectivity toward ethanol gas, whereas the Cr2O3-functionalized WO3 nanorods sensor showed good selectivity toward ethanol. The gas sensing mechanism of the Cr2O3-functionalized WO3 nanorods sensor toward ethanol is discussed in detail.

Synthesis and properties of nanocrystalline copper indium oxide thin films deposited by Rf magnetron sputtering.

PubMed

Singh, Mandeep; Singh, V N; Mehta, B R

2008-08-01

Nanocrystalline copper indium oxide (CuInO2) thin films with particle size ranging from 25 nm to 71 nm have been synthesized from a composite target using reactive Rf magnetron sputtering technique. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) combined with glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD) analysis confirmed the presence of delafossite CuInO2 phase in these films. The optical absorption studies show the presence of two direct band gaps at 3.3 and 4.3 eV, respectively. The resistance versus temperature measurements show thermally activated hopping with activation energy of 0.84 eV to be the conduction mechanism.

Growth of boron doped hydrogenated nanocrystalline cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) films by Hot Wire-CVD

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

Pawbake, Amit; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005; Mayabadi, Azam

Highlights: • Boron doped nc-3C-SiC films prepared by HW-CVD using SiH{sub 4}/CH{sub 4}/B{sub 2}H{sub 6}. • 3C-Si-C films have preferred orientation in (1 1 1) direction. • Introduction of boron into SiC matrix retard the crystallanity in the film structure. • Film large number of SiC nanocrystallites embedded in the a-Si matrix. • Band gap values, E{sub Tauc} and E{sub 04} (E{sub 04} > E{sub Tauc}) decreases with increase in B{sub 2}H{sub 6} flow rate. - Abstract: Boron doped nanocrystalline cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) films have been prepared by HW-CVD using silane (SiH{sub 4})/methane (CH{sub 4})/diborane (B{sub 2}H{sub 6}) gasmore » mixture. The influence of boron doping on structural, optical, morphological and electrical properties have been investigated. The formation of 3C-SiC films have been confirmed by low angle XRD, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analysis whereas effective boron doping in nc-3C-SiC have been confirmed by conductivity, charge carrier activation energy, and Hall measurements. Raman spectroscopy and HR-TEM analysis revealed that introduction of boron into the SiC matrix retards the crystallanity in the film structure. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and non contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) results signify that 3C-SiC film contain well resolved, large number of silicon carbide (SiC) nanocrystallites embedded in the a-Si matrix having rms surface roughness ∼1.64 nm. Hydrogen content in doped films are found smaller than that of un-doped films. Optical band gap values, E{sub Tauc} and E{sub 04} decreases with increase in B{sub 2}H{sub 6} flow rate.« less

Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry study of chiral nanocrystalline cellulose films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendoza-Galván, Arturo; Muñoz-Pineda, Eloy; Ribeiro, Sidney J. L.; Santos, Moliria V.; Järrendahl, Kenneth; Arwin, Hans

2018-02-01

Chiral nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) free-standing films were prepared through slow evaporation of aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals in a nematic chiral liquid crystal phase. Mueller matrix (MM) spectroscopic ellipsometry is used to study the polarization and depolarization properties of the chiral films. In the reflection mode, the MM is similar to the matrices reported for the cuticle of some beetles reflecting near circular left-handed polarized light in the visible range. The polarization properties of light transmitted at normal incidence for different polarization states of incident light are discussed. By using a differential decomposition of the MM, the structural circular birefringence and dichroism of a NCC chiral film are evaluated.

Optical Properties of ZnO-Alloyed Nanocrystalline Films

DOE PAGES

Che, Hui; Huso, Jesse; Morrison, John L.; ...

2012-01-01

ZnO is emore » merging as one of the materials of choice for UV applications. It has a deep excitonic energy level and a direct bandgap of ~3.4 eV. Alloying ZnO with certain atomic constituents adds new optical and electronic functionalities to ZnO. This paper presents research on M g x Z n 1 − x O and Z n S 1 − x O x nanocrystalline flexible films, which enable tunable optical properties in the deep-UV and in the visible range. The ZnO and Mg 0 .3 Zn 0 .7 O films were found to have bandgaps at 3.35 and 4.02 eV, respectively. The photoluminescence of the Mg 0 .3 Zn 0 .7 O exhibited a bandedge emission at 3.95 eV, and at lower energy 3.38 eV due to the limited solubility inherent to these alloys. ZnS 0 .76 O 0 .24 and ZnS 0 .16 O 0 .84 were found to have bandgaps at 3.21 and 2.65 eV, respectively. The effect of nitrogen doping on ZnS 0 .16 O 0 .84 is discussed in terms of the highly lattice mismatched nature of these alloys and the resulting valence-band modification.« less

Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Properties of New Layered Tungsten(VI)-Containing Materials Based on the Hexagonal-WO 3 Structure: M2(WO 3) 3SeO 3 ( M = NH 4, Rb, Cs)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrison, William T. A.; Dussack, Laurie L.; Vogt, Thomas; Jacobson, Allan J.

1995-11-01

The hydrothermal syntheses and crystal structures of (NH4)2(WO3)3SeO3 and Cs2(WO3)3SeO3, two new noncentrosymmetric, layered tungsten(VI)-containing phases are reported. Infrared, Raman, and thermogravimetric data are also presented. (NH4)2(WO3)3SeO3 and Cs2(WO3)3SeO3 are isostructural phases built up from hexagonal-tungsten-oxide-like, anionic layers of vertex-sharing WO6 octahedra, capped on one side by Se atoms (as selenite groups). Interlayer NH+4 or Cs+ cations provide charge balance. The full H-bonding scheme in (NH4)2(WO3)3SeO3 has been elucidated from Rietveld refinement against neutron powder diffraction data. The WO6 octahedra display a 3 short + 3 long W-O bond-distance distribution within the WO6 unit in both these phases. (NH4)2(WO3)3SeO3 and Cs2(WO3)3SeO3 are isostructural with their molybdenum(VI)-containing analogues (NH4)2(MoO3)3SeO3 and Cs2 (MoO3)3SeO3. Crystal data: (NH4)2(WO3)3SeO3, Mr = 858.58, hexagonal, space group P63 (No. 173), a = 7.2291(2) Å, c = 12.1486(3) Å, V = 549.82(3) Å3, Z = 2, Rp = 1.81%, and Rwp = 2.29% (2938 neutron powder data). Cs2(WO3)3SeO3, Mr = 1088.31, hexagonal, space group P63 (no. 173), a = 7.2615(2) Å, c = 12.5426(3) Å, V = 572.75(3) Å3, Z = 2, Rp = 4.84%, and Rwp = 5.98% (2588 neutron powder data).

Field electron emission enhancement in lithium implanted and annealed nitrogen-incorporated nanocrystalline diamond films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sankaran, K. J.; Srinivasu, K.; Yeh, C. J.; Thomas, J. P.; Drijkoningen, S.; Pobedinskas, P.; Sundaravel, B.; Leou, K. C.; Leung, K. T.; Van Bael, M. K.; Schreck, M.; Lin, I. N.; Haenen, K.

2017-06-01

The field electron emission (FEE) properties of nitrogen-incorporated nanocrystalline diamond films were enhanced due to Li-ion implantation/annealing processes. Li-ion implantation mainly induced the formation of electron trap centers inside diamond grains, whereas post-annealing healed the defects and converted the a-C phase into nanographite, forming conduction channels for effective transport of electrons. This resulted in a high electrical conductivity of 11.0 S/cm and enhanced FEE performance with a low turn-on field of 10.6 V/μm, a high current density of 25.5 mA/cm2 (at 23.2 V/μm), and a high lifetime stability of 1,090 min for nitrogen incorporated nanocrystalline diamond films.

Hydrogen plasma treatment of very thin p-type nanocrystalline Si films grown by RF-PECVD in the presence of B(CH3)3

PubMed Central

Filonovich, Sergej Alexandrovich; Águas, Hugo; Busani, Tito; Vicente, António; Araújo, Andreia; Gaspar, Diana; Vilarigues, Marcia; Leitão, Joaquim; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo

2012-01-01

We have characterized the structure and electrical properties of p-type nanocrystalline silicon films prepared by radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and explored optimization methods of such layers for potential applications in thin-film solar cells. Particular attention was paid to the characterization of very thin (∼20 nm) films. The cross-sectional morphology of the layers was studied by fitting the ellipsometry spectra using a multilayer model. The results suggest that the crystallization process in a high-pressure growth regime is mostly realized through a subsurface mechanism in the absence of the incubation layer at the substrate-film interface. Hydrogen plasma treatment of a 22-nm-thick film improved its electrical properties (conductivity increased more than ten times) owing to hydrogen insertion and Si structure rearrangements throughout the entire thickness of the film. PMID:27877504

Initial stage corrosion of nanocrystalline copper particles and thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Weimin

1997-12-01

Corrosion behavior is an important issue in nanocrystalline materials research and development. A very fine grain size is expected to have significant effects on the corrosion resistance of these novel materials. However, both the macroscopic corrosion properties and the corresponding structure evolution during corrosion have not been fully studied. Under such circumstances, conducting fundamental research in this area is important and necessary. In this study, high purity nanocrystalline and coarse-grained copper were selected as our sample material, sodium nitrite aqueous solution at room temperature and air at a high temperature were employed as corrosive environments. The weight loss testing and electrochemical methods were used to obtain the macroscopic corrosion properties, whereas the high resolution transmission electron microscope was employed for the structure analysis. The weight loss tests indicate that the corrosion rate of nanocrystalline copper is about 5 times higher than that of coarse-grained copper at the initial stage of corrosion. The electrochemical measurements show that the corrosion potential of the nanocrystalline copper has a 230 mV negative shift in comparison with that of the coarse-grained copper. The nanocrystalline copper also exhibits a significantly higher exchange current density than the coarse-grained copper. High resolution TEM revealed that the surface structure changes at the initial stage of corrosion. It was found that the first copper oxide layer formed on the surface of nanocrystalline copper thin film contains a large density of high angle grain boundaries, whereas that formed on the surface of coarse-grained copper shows highly oriented oxide nuclei and appears to show a strong tendency for forming low angle grain boundaries. A correlation between the macroscopic corrosion properties and the structure characteristics is proposed for the nanocrystalline copper based on the concept of the "apparent" exchange current

Coexistence of colossal stress and texture gradients in sputter deposited nanocrystalline ultra-thin metal films

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

Kuru, Yener; Welzel, Udo; Mittemeijer, Eric J.

2014-12-01

This paper demonstrates experimentally that ultra-thin, nanocrystalline films can exhibit coexisting colossal stress and texture depth gradients. Their quantitative determination is possible by X-ray diffraction experiments. Whereas a uniform texture by itself is known to generally cause curvature in so-called sin{sup 2}ψ plots, it is shown that the combined action of texture and stress gradients provides a separate source of curvature in sin{sup 2}ψ plots (i.e., even in cases where a uniform texture does not induce such curvature). On this basis, the texture and stress depth profiles of a nanocrystalline, ultra-thin (50 nm) tungsten film could be determined.

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) reinforced alginate based biodegradable nanocomposite film.

PubMed

Huq, Tanzina; Salmieri, Stephane; Khan, Avik; Khan, Ruhul A; Le Tien, Canh; Riedl, Bernard; Fraschini, Carole; Bouchard, Jean; Uribe-Calderon, Jorge; Kamal, Musa R; Lacroix, Monique

2012-11-06

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) reinforced alginate-based nanocomposite film was prepared by solution casting. The NCC content in the matrix was varied from 1 to 8% ((w/w) % dry matrix). It was found that the nanocomposite reinforced with 5 wt% NCC content exhibits the highest tensile strength which was increased by 37% compared to the control. Incorporation of NCC also significantly improved water vapor permeability (WVP) of the nanocomposite showing a 31% decrease due to 5 wt% NCC loading. Molecular interactions between alginate and NCC were supported by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction studies also confirmed the appearance of crystalline peaks due to the presence of NCC inside the films. Thermal stability of alginate-based nanocomposite films was improved after incorporation of NCC. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole and methylene blue by PVA-assisted Bi2WO6-CdS nanocomposite film under visible light irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajendran, Ranjith; Varadharajan, Krishnakumar; Jayaraman, Venkatesan; Singaram, Boobas; Jeyaram, Jayaprakash

2018-02-01

The enhanced photocatalytic performance of nanocomposite is synthesized via the hydrothermal method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Under visible light irradiation, PVA assisted Bi2WO6-CdS nanocomposite film displayed enhanced photocatalytic efficiency and inhibition of photocorrosion as compared with pure CdS, pure Bi2WO6 and Bi2WO6-CdS composite. The PVA assisted Bi2WO6-CdS composite film catalyst showed stable catalytic performance until seven successive runs with 92% of methylene blue(MB) degradation, and easy to recover after degradation of organic pollutant. PVA assisted Bi2WO6-CdS nanocomposite film has optimal band edge position for superior photocatalytic degradation. Furthermore, the trapping experiment was carried out using different scavenger for active species. Among the active species, OH· are the most responsive species which play a vital role in the degradation of metronidazole and MB.

Wavelength-dependent ultrafast charge carrier separation in the WO 3/BiVO 4 coupled system

DOE PAGES

Grigioni, Ivan; Stamplecoskie, Kevin G.; Jara, Danilo H.; ...

2017-05-08

Due to its ~2.4 eV band gap, BiVO 4 is a very promising photoanode material for harvesting the blue portion of the solar light for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications. In WO 3/BiVO 4 heterojunction films, the electrons photoexcited in BiVO 4 are injected into WO 3, overcoming the lower charge carriers’ diffusion properties limiting the PEC performance of BiVO 4 photoanodes. Here, we investigate by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy the charge carrier interactions occurring at the interface between the two oxides in heterojunction systems to directly unveil their wavelength dependence. Under selective BiVO 4 excitation, a favorable electron transfermore » from photoexcited BiVO 4 to WO 3 occurs immediately after excitation and leads to an increase of the trapped holes’ lifetime in BiVO4. However, a recombination channel opens when both oxides are simultaneously excited, evidenced by a shorter lifetime of trapped holes in BiVO 4. As a result, PEC measurements reveal the implication of these wavelength-dependent ultrafast interactions on the performances of the WO 3/BiVO 4 heterojunction.« less

Wavelength-dependent ultrafast charge carrier separation in the WO 3/BiVO 4 coupled system

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

Grigioni, Ivan; Stamplecoskie, Kevin G.; Jara, Danilo H.

Due to its ~2.4 eV band gap, BiVO 4 is a very promising photoanode material for harvesting the blue portion of the solar light for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications. In WO 3/BiVO 4 heterojunction films, the electrons photoexcited in BiVO 4 are injected into WO 3, overcoming the lower charge carriers’ diffusion properties limiting the PEC performance of BiVO 4 photoanodes. Here, we investigate by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy the charge carrier interactions occurring at the interface between the two oxides in heterojunction systems to directly unveil their wavelength dependence. Under selective BiVO 4 excitation, a favorable electron transfermore » from photoexcited BiVO 4 to WO 3 occurs immediately after excitation and leads to an increase of the trapped holes’ lifetime in BiVO4. However, a recombination channel opens when both oxides are simultaneously excited, evidenced by a shorter lifetime of trapped holes in BiVO 4. As a result, PEC measurements reveal the implication of these wavelength-dependent ultrafast interactions on the performances of the WO 3/BiVO 4 heterojunction.« less

A study on the radiation resistance of CdWO4 thin-film scintillators deposited by using an electron-beam physical vapor deposition method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Seyong; Yoon, Young Soo

2016-09-01

In this paper, we report the first successful fabrication of CdWO4 thin film scintillators deposited on quartz glass substrates by using an electron-beam physical vapor deposition method. The films were dense, uniform, and crack-free. CdWO4 thin-film samples of varying thicknesses were investigated by using structural and optical characterization techniques. An optimized thickness for the CdWO4 thin-film scintillators was discovered. The scintillation and the optical properties were found to depend strongly on the annealing process. The annealing process resulted in thin films with a distinct crystal structure and with improved transparency and scintillation properties. For potential applications in gamma-ray energy storage systems, photoluminescence measurements were performed using gamma rays at a dose rate of 10 kGy h-1.

The high-temperature phases of WO{sub 3}

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

Vogt, T.; Woodward, P.M.; Hunter, B.A.

1999-04-01

High-temperature, high-resolution neutron powder diffraction experiments were performed to investigate the phases of WO{sub 3} between room temperature and 850 C. Two phases were found and characterized by Rietveld refinements: orthorhombic {beta}-WO{sub 3} (Pbcn, a = 7.3331(2), b = 7.5733(2), c = 7.7401(3) {angstrom} at 350 C, tilt system a{sup 0}b{sup +}c{sup {minus}}) and tetragonal {alpha}-WO{sub 3} (P4/ncc, a = 5.27659(1), b = 5.2759(1), c = 7.8462(3) {angstrom} at 800 C, tilt system a{sup 0}a{sup 0}c{sup {minus}}). The sequence of temperature-induced phase transitions in WO{sub 3} can be rationalized in terms of changes in the octahedral tilt systems and/or displacementsmore » of the tungsten out of the center of the WO{sub 6} octahedron. Above room temperature the two phase transitions are driven by successive softening of phonon modes, M{sub 3} at the {alpha}- to {beta}-transition and R{sub 25} at the {beta}- to {gamma}-transition.« less

Synthesis and comparative photocatalytic activity of Pt/WO 3 and Au/WO 3 nanocomposites under sunlight-type excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qamar, M.; Yamani, Z. H.; Gondal, M. A.; Alhooshani, K.

2011-09-01

The article deals with the synthesis of highly active visible-light-driven nanocomposite for the decontamination of water hazards under sunlight-type excitation. The surface of visible-light-active nanostructured photocatalyst tungsten oxide (WO 3) was modified with noble metals, such as platinum (Pt) and gold (Au) nanoparticles, and the resulting photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was investigated by studying the removal of Methyl Orange and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under sunlight-type excitation. The study revealed that the deposited noble metals are not always favorable for the enhancement of photocatalytic response of catalysts; the activity of WO 3 was enhanced manyfold (˜8 times) by depositing an optimum amount of Pt nanoparticles after certain photodeposition time whereas the presence of Au nanoparticles onto the WO 3 surface, under identical experimental conditions, affected the removal process negatively. The variation in the photocatalytic activity of nanocomposites was attributed to the size of the deposited metals; Pt nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed with narrow size distribution (2-4 nm) while the size distribution of Au nanoparticles was found to be 10-15 nm for similar preparation conditions. The effects of critical parameters, such as metal deposition time and metal contents, on the photocatalytic activity of WO 3 were investigated. Furthermore, Pt/WO 3 nanocomposites showed good stability and recyclability under the conditions studied.

Models of WO x films growth during pulsed laser deposition at elevated pressures of reactive gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnedovets, A. G.; Fominski, V. Y.; Nevolin, V. N.; Romanov, R. I.; Fominski, D. V.; Soloviev, A. A.

2017-12-01

The films of tungsten oxides were prepared by pulsed laser ablation of W target in a reactive gas atmosphere (air of laboratory humidity). Optical analysis and ion signal measurements for the laser plume allowed to recognise a threshold gas pressure that suppresses the deposition of non-scattered atomic flux from the plume. When the pressure exceeds about 40 Pa, the films grow due to the deposition of species that could be formed in collisions of W atoms with reactive molecules (e.g., O2). Kinetic Monte Carlo method was used for modelling film growth. Comparison of the model structures with the experimentally prepared films has shown that the growth mechanism of ballistic deposition at a pressure of 40 Pa could be changed on the diffusion limited aggregation at a pressure of ~100 Pa. Thus, a cauliflower structure of the film transformed to a web-like structure. For good correlation of experimental and model structures of WO x , a dimension of structural elements in the model should coincide with W-O cluster size.

Nanocrystalline SnO2:F thin films for liquid petroleum gas sensors.

PubMed

Chaisitsak, Sutichai

2011-01-01

This paper reports the improvement in the sensing performance of nanocrystalline SnO(2)-based liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensors by doping with fluorine (F). Un-doped and F-doped tin oxide films were prepared on glass substrates by the dip-coating technique using a layer-by-layer deposition cycle (alternating between dip-coating a thin layer followed by a drying in air after each new layer). The results showed that this technique is superior to the conventional technique for both improving the film thickness uniformity and film transparency. The effect of F concentration on the structural, surface morphological and LPG sensing properties of the SnO(2) films was investigated. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction pattern measurements showed that the obtained thin films are nanocrystalline SnO(2) with nanoscale-textured surfaces. Gas sensing characteristics (sensor response and response/recovery time) of the SnO(2):F sensors based on a planar interdigital structure were investigated at different operating temperatures and at different LPG concentrations. The addition of fluorine to SnO(2) was found to be advantageous for efficient detection of LPG gases, e.g., F-doped sensors are more stable at a low operating temperature (300 °C) with higher sensor response and faster response/recovery time, compared to un-doped sensor materials. The sensors based on SnO(2):F films could detect LPG even at a low level of 25% LEL, showing the possibility of using this transparent material for LPG leak detection.

Nanocrystalline SnO2:F Thin Films for Liquid Petroleum Gas Sensors

PubMed Central

Chaisitsak, Sutichai

2011-01-01

This paper reports the improvement in the sensing performance of nanocrystalline SnO2-based liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensors by doping with fluorine (F). Un-doped and F-doped tin oxide films were prepared on glass substrates by the dip-coating technique using a layer-by-layer deposition cycle (alternating between dip-coating a thin layer followed by a drying in air after each new layer). The results showed that this technique is superior to the conventional technique for both improving the film thickness uniformity and film transparency. The effect of F concentration on the structural, surface morphological and LPG sensing properties of the SnO2 films was investigated. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction pattern measurements showed that the obtained thin films are nanocrystalline SnO2 with nanoscale-textured surfaces. Gas sensing characteristics (sensor response and response/recovery time) of the SnO2:F sensors based on a planar interdigital structure were investigated at different operating temperatures and at different LPG concentrations. The addition of fluorine to SnO2 was found to be advantageous for efficient detection of LPG gases, e.g., F-doped sensors are more stable at a low operating temperature (300 °C) with higher sensor response and faster response/recovery time, compared to un-doped sensor materials. The sensors based on SnO2:F films could detect LPG even at a low level of 25% LEL, showing the possibility of using this transparent material for LPG leak detection. PMID:22164007

Enhanced Water Oxidation Photoactivity of Nano-Architectured α-Fe2O3-WO3 Composite Synthesized by Single-Step Hydrothermal Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, Gul; Joo, Oh-Shim; Chae, Sang Youn; Shah, Anwar-ul-Haq Ali; Mian, Shabeer Ahmad

2018-04-01

This study reports the one-step in situ synthesis of a hematite-tungsten oxide (α-Fe2O3-WO3) composite on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate via a simple hydrothermal method. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the addition of tungsten (W) precursor into the reaction mixture altered the surface morphology from nanorods to nanospindles. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of W content in the composite. From the ultraviolet-visible spectrum of α-Fe2O3-WO3, it was observed that absorption began at ˜ 600 nm which corresponded to the bandgap energy of ˜ 2.01 eV. The α-Fe2O3-WO3 electrode demonstrated superior performance, with water oxidation photocurrent density of 0.80 mA/cm2 (at 1.6 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode under standard illumination conditions; AM 1.5G, 100 mW/cm2) which is 2.4 times higher than α-Fe2O3 (0.34 mA/cm2). This enhanced water oxidation performance can be attributed to the better charge separation properties in addition to the large interfacial area of small-sized particles present in the α-Fe2O3-WO3 nanocomposite film.

Ferroelectric Polarization in Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite Thin Films on Silicon

PubMed Central

Lang, S. B.; Tofail, S. A. M.; Kholkin, A. L.; Wojtaś, M.; Gregor, M.; Gandhi, A. A.; Wang, Y.; Bauer, S.; Krause, M.; Plecenik, A.

2013-01-01

Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals in natural form are a major component of bone- a known piezoelectric material. Synthetic hydroxyapatite is widely used in bone grafts and prosthetic pyroelectric coatings as it binds strongly with natural bone. Nanocrystalline synthetic hydroxyapatite films have recently been found to exhibit strong piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity. While a spontaneous polarization in hydroxyapatite has been predicted since 2005, the reversibility of this polarization (i.e. ferroelectricity) requires experimental evidence. Here we use piezoresponse force microscopy to demonstrate that nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite indeed exhibits ferroelectricity: a reversal of polarization under an electrical field. This finding will strengthen investigations on the role of electrical polarization in biomineralization and bone-density related diseases. As hydroxyapatite is one of the most common biocompatible materials, our findings will also stimulate systematic exploration of lead and rare-metal free ferroelectric devices for potential applications in areas as diverse as in vivo and ex vivo energy harvesting, biosensing and electronics. PMID:23884324

Ferroelectric Polarization in Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite Thin Films on Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, S. B.; Tofail, S. A. M.; Kholkin, A. L.; Wojtaś, M.; Gregor, M.; Gandhi, A. A.; Wang, Y.; Bauer, S.; Krause, M.; Plecenik, A.

2013-07-01

Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals in natural form are a major component of bone- a known piezoelectric material. Synthetic hydroxyapatite is widely used in bone grafts and prosthetic pyroelectric coatings as it binds strongly with natural bone. Nanocrystalline synthetic hydroxyapatite films have recently been found to exhibit strong piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity. While a spontaneous polarization in hydroxyapatite has been predicted since 2005, the reversibility of this polarization (i.e. ferroelectricity) requires experimental evidence. Here we use piezoresponse force microscopy to demonstrate that nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite indeed exhibits ferroelectricity: a reversal of polarization under an electrical field. This finding will strengthen investigations on the role of electrical polarization in biomineralization and bone-density related diseases. As hydroxyapatite is one of the most common biocompatible materials, our findings will also stimulate systematic exploration of lead and rare-metal free ferroelectric devices for potential applications in areas as diverse as in vivo and ex vivo energy harvesting, biosensing and electronics.

Ferroelectric polarization in nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite thin films on silicon.

PubMed

Lang, S B; Tofail, S A M; Kholkin, A L; Wojtaś, M; Gregor, M; Gandhi, A A; Wang, Y; Bauer, S; Krause, M; Plecenik, A

2013-01-01

Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals in natural form are a major component of bone--a known piezoelectric material. Synthetic hydroxyapatite is widely used in bone grafts and prosthetic pyroelectric coatings as it binds strongly with natural bone. Nanocrystalline synthetic hydroxyapatite films have recently been found to exhibit strong piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity. While a spontaneous polarization in hydroxyapatite has been predicted since 2005, the reversibility of this polarization (i.e. ferroelectricity) requires experimental evidence. Here we use piezoresponse force microscopy to demonstrate that nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite indeed exhibits ferroelectricity: a reversal of polarization under an electrical field. This finding will strengthen investigations on the role of electrical polarization in biomineralization and bone-density related diseases. As hydroxyapatite is one of the most common biocompatible materials, our findings will also stimulate systematic exploration of lead and rare-metal free ferroelectric devices for potential applications in areas as diverse as in vivo and ex vivo energy harvesting, biosensing and electronics.

Evaluate humidity sensing properties of novel TiO{sub 2}–WO{sub 3} composite material

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

Lin, Wang-De; Department of Center for General Education, St. Mary's Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Yilan 26644 Taiwan, ROC; Lai, De-Sheng

2013-10-15

Graphical abstract: TiO{sub 2}–WO{sub 3} (1:1) showed better humidity sensing properties than others within the range of 12–90% relative humidity (RH), the response and recovery time were about 20 s and 160 s, respectively. Compared to the previous studies, the prepared sensor exhibits higher sensitivity (S = 451) and the low hysteresis value was around 0.13% at 32% RH. - Highlights: • Novel TiO{sub 2}–WO{sub 3} composite material was prepared for humidity sensor. • The sensor exhibits higher sensitivity (S = 451). • Low hysteresis value was around 0.13% at 32% RH. - Abstract: A novel TiO{sub 2}–WO{sub 3} compositemore » material was prepared using a different proportion of TiO{sub 2} and WO{sub 3} to that investigated in previous studies. The obtained mesoporous material was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and N{sub 2} adsorption-desorption techniques. The humidity-sensing properties were measured using an inductance, capacitance and resistance analyzer. The results demonstrated that the TiO{sub 2}–WO{sub 3} sample with a ratio of 1:1 showed better humidity sensing properties. Compared to previous studies, the prepared sensor exhibited higher sensitivity (S = 451) and the lower hysteresis value was around 0.13% at 32% RH. Complex impedance analysis indicated that the enhanced humidity sensitivity was probably due to spherical Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and the hetero-junction between TiO{sub 2}–WO{sub 3} thin films, while the impedance varied about three orders of magnitude. Our results demonstrated the potential application of TiO{sub 2}–WO{sub 3} composite for fabricating high performance humidity sensors.« less

Doping of vanadium to nanocrystalline diamond films by hot filament chemical vapor deposition

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Doping an impure element with a larger atomic volume into crystalline structure of buck crystals is normally blocked because the rigid crystalline structure could not tolerate a larger distortion. However, this difficulty may be weakened for nanocrystalline structures. Diamonds, as well as many semiconductors, have a difficulty in effective doping. Theoretical calculations carried out by DFT indicate that vanadium (V) is a dopant element for the n-type diamond semiconductor, and their several donor state levels are distributed between the conduction band and middle bandgap position in the V-doped band structure of diamond. Experimental investigation of doping vanadium into nanocrystalline diamond films (NDFs) was first attempted by hot filament chemical vapor deposition technique. Acetone/H2 gas mixtures and vanadium oxytripropoxide (VO(OCH2CH2CH3)3) solutions of acetone with V and C elemental ratios of 1:5,000, 1:2,000, and 1:1,000 were used as carbon and vanadium sources, respectively. The resistivity of the V-doped NDFs decreased two orders with the increasing V/C ratios. PMID:22873631

Preparation of WO3/g-C3N4 composites and their application in oxidative desulfurization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Rongxiang; Li, Xiuping; Su, Jianxun; Gao, Xiaohan

2017-01-01

WO3/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composites were successfully synthesized through direct calcining of a mixture of WO3 and g-C3N4 at 400 °C for 2 h. The WO3 was prepared by calcination of phosphotungstic acid at 550 °C for 4 h, and the g-C3N4 was obtained by calcination of melamine at 520 °C for 4 h. The WO3/g-C3N4 composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Brunner-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET). The WO3/g-C3N4 composites exhibited stronger XRD peaks of WO3 and g-C3N4 than the WO3 and pure g-C3N4. In addition, two WO3 peaks at 25.7° and 26.6° emerged for the 36% -WO3/g-C3N4 composite. This finding indicated that WO3 was highly dispersed on the surface of the g-C3N4 nanosheets and interacted with the nanosheets, which resulted in the appearance of (012) and (022) planes of WO3. The WO3/g-C3N4 composite also exhibited a larger specific surface area and higher degree of crystallization than WO3 or pure g-C3N4, which resulted in high catalytic activity of the catalyst. Desulfurization experiments demonstrated that the desulfurization rate of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in model oil reached 91.2% under optimal conditions. Moreover, the activity of the catalyst was not significantly decreased after five recycles.

Direct growth of nano-crystalline graphite films using pulsed laser deposition with in-situ monitoring based on reflection high-energy electron diffraction technique

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

Kwak, Jeong Hun; Lee, Sung Su; Lee, Hyeon Jun

2016-03-21

We report an experimental method to overcome the long processing time required for fabricating graphite films by a transfer process from a catalytic layer to a substrate, as well as our study of the growth process of graphite films using a pulsed laser deposition combined with in-situ monitoring based on reflection high-energy electron diffraction technique. We monitored the structural evolution of nano-crystalline graphite films directly grown on AlN-coated Si substrates without any catalytic layer. We found that the carbon films grown for less than 600 s cannot manifest the graphite structure due to a high defect density arising from grain boundaries;more » however, the carbon film can gradually become a nano-crystalline graphite film with a thickness of approximately up to 5 nm. The Raman spectra and electrical properties of carbon films indicate that the nano-crystalline graphite films can be fabricated, even at the growth temperature as low as 850 °C within 600 s.« less

Fungus mediated biosynthesis of WO3 nanoparticles using Fusarium solani extract

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kavitha, N. S.; Venkatesh, K. S.; Palani, N. S.; Ilangovan, R.

2017-05-01

Currently nanoparticles were synthesized by emphasis bioremediation process due to less hazardous, eco-friendly and imperative applications on biogenic process. Fungus mediated biosynthesis strategy has been developed to prepare tungsten oxide nanoflakes (WO3, NFs) using the plant pathogenic fungus F.solani. The powder XRD pattern revealed the monoclinic crystal structure with improved crystalline nature of the synthesized WO3 nanoparticles. FESEM images showed the flake-like morphology of WO3, with average thickness and length around 40 nm and 300 nm respectively. The Raman spectrum of WO3 NFs showed their characteristic vibration modes that revealed the defect free nature of the WO3 NFs. Further, the elemental analysis indicated the stoichiometric composition of WO3 phase.

Size effect on the deformation mechanisms of nanocrystalline platinum thin films.

PubMed

Shu, Xinyu; Kong, Deli; Lu, Yan; Long, Haibo; Sun, Shiduo; Sha, Xuechao; Zhou, Hao; Chen, Yanhui; Mao, Shengcheng; Liu, Yinong

2017-10-16

This paper reports a study of time-resolved deformation process at the atomic scale of a nanocrystalline Pt thin film captured in situ under a transmission electron microscope. The main mechanism of plastic deformation was found to evolve from full dislocation activity-enabled plasticity in large grains (with grain size d > 10 nm), to partial dislocation plasticity in smaller grains (with grain size 10 nm < d < 6 nm), and grain boundary-mediated plasticity in the matrix with grain sizes d < 6 nm. The critical grain size for the transition from full dislocation activity to partial dislocation activity was estimated based on consideration of stacking fault energy. For grain boundary-mediated plasticity, the possible contributions to strain rate of grain creep, grain sliding and grain rotation to plastic deformation were estimated using established models. The contribution of grain creep is found to be negligible, the contribution of grain rotation is effective but limited in magnitude, and grain sliding is suggested to be the dominant deformation mechanism in nanocrystalline Pt thin films. This study provided the direct evidence of these deformation processes at the atomic scale.

Nanocrystalline CuNi alloys: improvement of mechanical properties and thermal stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nogues, Josep; Varea, A.; Pellicer, E.; Sivaraman, K. M.; Pane, S.; Nelson, B. J.; Surinach, S.; Baro, M. D.; Sort, J.

2014-03-01

Nanocrystalline metallic films are known to benefit from novel and enhanced physical and chemical properties. In spite of these outstanding properties, nanocrystalline metals typically show relatively poor thermal stability which leads to deterioration of the properties due to grain coarsening. We have studied nanocrystalline Cu1-xNix (0.56 < x < 1) thin films (3 μm-thick) electrodeposited galvanostatically onto Cu/Ti/Si (100) substrates. CuNi thin films exhibit large values of hardness (6.15 < H < 7.21 GPa), which can be tailored by varying the composition. However, pure Ni films (x = 1) suffer deterioration of their mechanical and magnetic properties after annealing during 3 h at relatively low temperatures (TANN > 475 K) due to significant grain growth. Interestingly, alloying Ni with Cu clearly improves the thermal stability of the material because grain coarsening is delayed due to segregation of a Cu-rich phase at grain boundaries, thus preserving both the mechanical and magnetic properties up to higher TANN.

Effect of Aluminum Doping on the Nanocrystalline ZnS:Al3+ Films Fabricated on Heavily-Doped p-type Si(100) Substrates by Chemical Bath Deposition Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, He-Jie; Liang, Yan; Gao, Xiao-Yong; Guo, Rui-Fang; Ji, Qiang-Min

2015-06-01

Intrinsic ZnS and aluminum-doped nanocrystalline ZnS (ZnS:Al3+) films with zinc-blende structure were fabricated on heavily-doped p-type Si(100) substrates by chemical bath deposition method. Influence of aluminum doping on the microstructure, and photoluminescent and electrical properties of the films, were intensively investigated. The average crystallite size of the films varying in the range of about 9.0 ˜ 35.0 nm initially increases and then decreases with aluminum doping contents, indicating that the crystallization of the films are initially enhanced and then weakened. The incorporation of Al3+ was confirmed from energy dispersive spectrometry and the induced microstrain in the films. Strong and stable visible emission band resulting from the defect-related light emission were observed for the intrinsic ZnS and ZnS:Al3+ films at room temperature. The photoluminescence related to the aluminum can annihilate due to the self-absorption of ZnS:Al3+ when the Al3+ content surpasses certain value. The variation of the resistivity of the films that initially reduces and then increases is mainly caused by the partial substitute for Zn2+ by Al3+ as well as the enhanced crystallization, and by the enhanced crystal boundary scattering, respectively.

Method to grow pure nanocrystalline diamond films at low temperatures and high deposition rates

DOEpatents

Carlisle, John A [Plainfield, IL; Gruen, Dieter M [Downers Grove, IL; Auciello, Orlando [Bolingbrook, IL; Xiao, Xingcheng [Woodridge, IL

2009-07-07

A method of depositing nanocrystalline diamond film on a substrate at a rate of not less than about 0.2 microns/hour at a substrate temperature less than about 500.degree. C. The method includes seeding the substrate surface with nanocrystalline diamond powder to an areal density of not less than about 10.sup.10sites/cm.sup.2, and contacting the seeded substrate surface with a gas of about 99% by volume of an inert gas other than helium and about 1% by volume of methane or hydrogen and one or more of acetylene, fullerene and anthracene in the presence of a microwave induced plasma while maintaining the substrate temperature less than about 500.degree. C. to deposit nanocrystalline diamond on the seeded substrate surface at a rate not less than about 0.2 microns/hour. Coatings of nanocrystalline diamond with average particle diameters of less than about 20 nanometers can be deposited with thermal budgets of 500.degree. C.-4 hours or less onto a variety of substrates such as MEMS devices.

Facile Solution Synthesis of Tungsten Trioxide Doped with Nanocrystalline Molybdenum Trioxide for Electrochromic Devices.

PubMed

Hasani, Amirhossein; Le, Quyet Van; Nguyen, Thang Phan; Choi, Kyoung Soon; Sohn, Woonbae; Kim, Jang-Kyo; Jang, Ho Won; Kim, Soo Young

2017-10-16

A facile, highly efficient approach to obtain molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 )-doped tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) is reported. An annealing process was used to transform ammonium tetrathiotungstate [(NH 4 ) 2 WS 4 ] to WO 3 in the presence of oxygen. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate [(NH 4 ) 2 MoS 4 ] was used as a dopant to improve the film for use in an electrochromic (EC) cell. (NH 4 ) 2 MoS 4 at different concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40 mM) was added to the (NH 4 ) 2 WS 4 precursor by sonication and the samples were annealed at 500 °C in air. Raman, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed that the (NH 4 ) 2 WS 4 precursor decomposed to WO 3 and the (NH 4 ) 2 MoS 4 -(NH 4 ) 2 WS 4 precursor was transformed to MoO 3 -doped WO 3 after annealing at 500 °C. It is shown that the MoO 3 -doped WO 3 film is more uniform and porous than pure WO 3 , confirming the doping quality and the privileges of the proposed method. The optimal MoO 3 -doped WO 3 used as an EC layer exhibited a high coloration efficiency of 128.1 cm 2 /C, which is larger than that of pure WO 3 (74.5 cm 2 /C). Therefore, MoO 3 -doped WO 3 synthesized by the reported method is a promising candidate for high-efficiency and low-cost smart windows.

WO{sub 3} nanoplates, hierarchical flower-like assemblies and their photocatalytic properties

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

Huang, Jianhua, E-mail: jhhuang@zstu.edu.cn; Xiao, Liang; Yang, Xiaolong

Graphical abstract: WO{sub 3} nanoplates, hierarchical flower-like assemblies and their visible light-driven photocatalytic properties for degradation of rhodamine B. - Highlights: • Preparation of monoclinic WO{sub 3} by a hydrothermal reaction of PbWO{sub 4} in the presence of HNO{sub 3}. • Single-crystalline WO{sub 3} nanoplates were formed when 4 M HNO{sub 3} solution was used. • WO{sub 3} flowers were assembled by nanoplates when 15 M HNO{sub 3} solution was used. • The products showed excellent visible light-driven photodegradation of rhodamine B. - Abstract: Monoclinic WO{sub 3} was prepared by a hydrothermal reaction of PbWO{sub 4} in the presence ofmore » HNO{sub 3}. WO{sub 3} rectangular nanoplates with a side length of 50–150 nm and a thickness of about 25 nm were obtained at 4 M HNO{sub 3} solution. And the single crystal nature was confirmed by the selected area electron diffraction. Whereas WO{sub 3} hierarchical flower-like assemblies with 3–5 μm in diameter were self-organized by nanoplates in the presence of 15 M HNO{sub 3} solution. Compared with commercial WO{sub 3} particles, our products showed an enhancement of photocatalytic properties for the degradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation.« less

Controlling Directional Liquid Motion on Micro- and Nanocrystalline Diamond/β-SiC Composite Gradient Films.

PubMed

Wang, Tao; Handschuh-Wang, Stephan; Huang, Lei; Zhang, Lei; Jiang, Xin; Kong, Tiantian; Zhang, Wenjun; Lee, Chun-Sing; Zhou, Xuechang; Tang, Yongbing

2018-01-30

In this Article, we report the synthesis of micro- and nanocrystalline diamond/β-SiC composite gradient films, using a hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique and its application as a robust and chemically inert means to actuate water and hazardous liquids. As revealed by scanning electron microscopy, the composition of the surface changed gradually from pure nanocrystalline diamond (hydrophobic) to a nanocrystalline β-SiC surface (hydrophilic). Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were employed to determine the presence of diamond, graphite, and β-SiC phases. The as-prepared gradient films were evaluated for their ability to actuate water. Indeed, water was transported via the gradient from the hydrophobic (hydrogen-terminated diamond) to the hydrophilic side (hydroxyl-terminated β-SiC) of the gradient surface. The driving distance and velocity of water is pivotally influenced by the surface roughness. The nanogradient surface showed significant promise as the lower roughness combined with the longer gradient yields in transport distances of up to 3.7 mm, with a maximum droplet velocity of nearly 250 mm/s measured by a high-speed camera. As diamond and β-SiC are chemically inert, the gradient surfaces can be used to drive hazardous liquids and reactive mixtures, which was signified by the actuation of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution. We envision that the diamond/β-SiC gradient surface has high potential as an actuator for water transport in microfluidic devices, DNA sensors, and implants, which induce guided cell growth.

Depth profiling of nitrogen within 15N-incorporated nano-crystalline diamond thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garratt, E.; AlFaify, S.; Cassidy, D. P.; Dissanayake, A.; Mancini, D. C.; Ghantasala, M. K.; Kayani, A.

2013-09-01

Nano-Crystalline Diamond (NCD) thin films are a topic of recent interest due to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties. The inclusion of nitrogen is a specific interest as its presence within NCD modifies its conductive properties. The methodology adopted for the characterization of nitrogen incorporated NCD films grown on a chromium underlayer determined a correlation between the chromium and nitrogen concentrations as well as a variation in the concentration profile of elements. Additionally, the concentration of nitrogen was found to be more than three times greater for these films versus those grown on a silicon substrate.

Visible-light activate Ag/WO3 films based on wood with enhanced negative oxygen ions production properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Likun; Gan, Wentao; Cao, Guoliang; Zhan, Xianxu; Qiang, Tiangang; Li, Jian

2017-12-01

The Ag/WO3-wood was fabricated through a hydrothermal method and a silver mirror reaction. The system of visible-light activate Ag/WO3-wood was used to produce negative oxygen ions, and the effect of Ag nanoparticles on negative oxygen ions production was investigated. From the results of negative oxygen ions production tests, it can be observed that the sample doped with Ag nanoparticles, the concentration of negative oxygen ions is up to 1660 ions/cm3 after 60 min visible light irradiation. Moreover, for the Ag/WO3-wood, even after 60 min without irradiation, the concentration of negative oxygen ions could keep more than 1000 ions/cm3, which is up to the standard of the fresh air. Moreover, due to the porous structure of wood, the wood acted as substrate could promote the nucleation of nanoparticles, prevent the agglomeration of the particles, and thus lead the improvement of photocatalytic properties. And such wood-based functional materials with the property of negative oxygen ions production could be one of the most promising materials in the application of indoor decoration materials, which would meet people's pursuit of healthy, environment-friendly life.

Ferromagnetism appears in nitrogen implanted nanocrystalline diamond films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remes, Zdenek; Sun, Shih-Jye; Varga, Marian; Chou, Hsiung; Hsu, Hua-Shu; Kromka, Alexander; Horak, Pavel

2015-11-01

The nanocrystalline diamond films turn to be ferromagnetic after implanting various nitrogen doses on them. Through this research, we confirm that the room-temperature ferromagnetism of the implanted samples is derived from the measurements of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Samples with larger crystalline grains as well as higher implanted doses present more robust ferromagnetic signals at room temperature. Raman spectra indicate that the small grain-sized samples are much more disordered than the large grain-sized ones. We propose that a slightly large saturated ferromagnetism could be observed at low temperature, because the increased localization effects have a significant impact on more disordered structure.

Effect of fluorine doping on highly transparent conductive spray deposited nanocrystalline tin oxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moholkar, A. V.; Pawar, S. M.; Rajpure, K. Y.; Bhosale, C. H.; Kim, J. H.

2009-09-01

The undoped and fluorine doped thin films are synthesized by using cost-effective spray pyrolysis technique. The dependence of optical, structural and electrical properties of SnO 2 films, on the concentration of fluorine is reported. Optical absorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Hall effect studies have been performed on SnO 2:F (FTO) films coated on glass substrates. The film thickness varies from 800 to 1572 nm. X-ray diffraction pattern reveals the presence of cassiterite structure with (2 0 0) preferential orientation for FTO films. The crystallite size varies from 35 to 66 nm. SEM and AFM study reveals the surface of FTO to be made of nanocrystalline particles. The electrical study reveals that the films are degenerate and exhibit n-type electrical conductivity. The 20 wt% F doped film has a minimum resistivity of 3.8 × 10 -4 Ω cm, carrier density of 24.9 × 10 20 cm -3 and mobility of 6.59 cm 2 V -1 s -1. The sprayed FTO film having minimum resistance of 3.42 Ω/cm 2, highest figure of merit of 6.18 × 10 -2 Ω -1 at 550 nm and 96% IR reflectivity suggest, these films are useful as conducting layers in electrochromic and photovoltaic devices and also as the passive counter electrode.

Multifunctionality in coating films including Nb-doped TiO2 and Cs x WO3: near infrared shielding and photocatalytic properties.

PubMed

Asakura, Yusuke; Anada, Yuto; Hamanaka, Ryo; Sato, Tsugio; Katsumata, Ken-Ichi; Wu, Xiaoyong; Yin, Shu

2018-06-01

Various types of coating films were obtained from hydrothermally synthesized Nb-doped TiO 2 (NTO) and Cs x WO 3 (CWO) nanoparticles. The coating films possessed multifunctionality including near infrared (NIR) absorption and photocatalysis abilities. The NTO and CWO nanoparticles were synthesized by a unique solvothermal reaction in which water induced by an esterification reaction between alcohol and carboxylic acid can act as a hydrolyzing agent for metal precursors. NTO was synthesized by the unique solvothermal reaction for the first time. The reaction accompanied by the reduction of Ti 4+ to Ti 3+ led to the formation of nanoparticles with both NIR absorption and photocatalytic properties. The effect of the ethanol-acetic acid ratio on the morphology of the obtained NTO was investigated, and the larger amount of acetic acid led to a larger nanoparticle size, indicating the size controllability. The two types of coating film, including CWO and NTO nanoparticles, were obtained for comparison: (1) coexistent coating film: one side of the quartz glass was coated with a dispersion, including both CWO and NTO nanoparticles, and (2) double-sided coating film: a quartz glass coated with a CWO dispersion on one side and an NTO dispersion on the other side. The double-sided coating led to higher multifunctionality. Furthermore, the optimized condition for the double-sided coating was investigated by using various NTO particles obtained using different ethanol-acetic acid ratios.

Multifunctionality in coating films including Nb-doped TiO2 and Cs x WO3: near infrared shielding and photocatalytic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asakura, Yusuke; Anada, Yuto; Hamanaka, Ryo; Sato, Tsugio; Katsumata, Ken-ichi; Wu, Xiaoyong; Yin, Shu

2018-06-01

Various types of coating films were obtained from hydrothermally synthesized Nb-doped TiO2 (NTO) and Cs x WO3 (CWO) nanoparticles. The coating films possessed multifunctionality including near infrared (NIR) absorption and photocatalysis abilities. The NTO and CWO nanoparticles were synthesized by a unique solvothermal reaction in which water induced by an esterification reaction between alcohol and carboxylic acid can act as a hydrolyzing agent for metal precursors. NTO was synthesized by the unique solvothermal reaction for the first time. The reaction accompanied by the reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+ led to the formation of nanoparticles with both NIR absorption and photocatalytic properties. The effect of the ethanol–acetic acid ratio on the morphology of the obtained NTO was investigated, and the larger amount of acetic acid led to a larger nanoparticle size, indicating the size controllability. The two types of coating film, including CWO and NTO nanoparticles, were obtained for comparison: (1) coexistent coating film: one side of the quartz glass was coated with a dispersion, including both CWO and NTO nanoparticles, and (2) double-sided coating film: a quartz glass coated with a CWO dispersion on one side and an NTO dispersion on the other side. The double-sided coating led to higher multifunctionality. Furthermore, the optimized condition for the double-sided coating was investigated by using various NTO particles obtained using different ethanol–acetic acid ratios.

Boron Doped Nanocrystalline Film with Improved Work Function as a Buffer Layer in Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells.

PubMed

Park, Jinjoo; Shin, Chonghoon; Park, Hyeongsik; Jung, Junhee; Lee, Youn-Jung; Bong, Sungjae; Dao, Vinh Ai; Balaji, Nagarajan; Yi, Junsin

2015-03-01

We investigated thin film silicon solar cells with boron doped hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon/ hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxide [p-type nc-Si:H/a-SiOx:H] layer. First, we researched the bandgap engineering of diborane (B2H6) doped wide bandgap hydrogenated nanocryslline silicon (p-type nc-Si:H) films, which have excellent electrical properties of high dark conductivity, and low activation energy. The films prepared with lower doping ratio and higher hydrogen dilution ratio had higher optical gap (Eg), with higher dark conductivity (σ(d)), and lower activation energy (Ea). We controlled Eg from 2.10 eV to 1.75 eV, with σ(d) from 1.1 S/cm to 7.59 x 10(-3) S/cm, and Ea from 0.040 eV to 0.128 eV. Next, we focused on the fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells. By inserting p-type nc-Si:H film into the thin film silicon solar cells, we achieved a remarkable increase in the built-in potential from 0.803 eV to 0.901 eV. By forming p-type nc-Si:H film between SnO2:F/ZnO:Al (30 nm) and p-type a-SiOx:H layer, the solar cell properties of open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current density (Jsc), and efficiency (η) were improved by 3.7%, 9.2%, and 9.8%, respectively.

Alcohol Dehydration on Monooxo W=O and Dioxo O=W=O Species

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

Li, Zhenjun; Smid, Bretislav; Kim, Yu Kwon

2012-08-16

The dehydration of 1-propanol on nanoporous WO3 films prepared via ballistic deposition at ~20 K has been investigated using temperature programmed desorption, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory. The as deposited films are extremely efficient in 1-propanol dehydration to propene. This activity is correlated with the presence of dioxo O=W=O groups while monooxo W=O species are shown to be inactive. Annealing of the film induces densification that results in the loss of catalytic activity due to annihilation O=W=O species.

Soft magnetic properties of nanocrystalline FeRuGaSi-Hf alloy films and head characteristics for the embedded thin film tape head

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohmori, H.; Shoji, M.; Kobayashi, T.; Yamamoto, T.; Sugiyama, Y.; Hayashi, K.; Hono, K.

1996-04-01

The Hf-added FeRuGaSi alloy film has an amorphous structure in the as-deposited state and becomes nanocrystalline after annealing. Due to this structure change from crystalline to amorphous by the addition of Hf, soft magnetic degradation of the film deposited on the slant grooved substrate, which is necessary for the sophisticated embedded thin film (ETF) head structure, is greatly suppressed and the undesirable film stress is relieved. The FeRuGaSi-Hf alloy film has higher resistivity and permeability at high frequencies than those of sendust film, and the read/write characteristics of this alloy film show better performance than sendust film.

Ultrasound assisted synthesis of WO3-ZnO nanocomposites for brilliant blue dye degradation.

PubMed

Hunge, Y M; Yadav, A A; Mathe, V L

2018-07-01

The present work deals with the preparation of WO 3 and WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites in presence of ultrasonic irradiation, and its use in the sonocatalytic degradation of brilliant blue dye. WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposite is prepared using one step in-situ ultrasound assisted method. The successfully prepared WO 3 and WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites were characterized using different characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman, BET, FE-SEM and EDS. The XRD pattern reveals that the formation of monoclinic and hexagonal crystal structures of WO 3 and ZnO respectively. BET study shows that WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposite have maximum surface area than that of the WO 3 . EDS study confirms the formation of WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites. Further the use of the prepared WO 3 and WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites as a sonocatalyst for the degradation of brilliant blue dye. The rate constant (k) was evaluated as a function of the initial concentration of brilliant blue dye. It is found that WO 3 -ZnO nanocomposites exhibits maximum sonocatalytic activity as compared to WO 3 photocatalyst. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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.

Tribochemistry of contact interfaces of nanocrystalline molybdenum carbide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, D. Dinesh; Kumar, N.; Panda, Kalpataru; Kamalan Kirubaharan, A. M.; Kuppusami, P.

2018-07-01

Transition metal carbides (TMC) are known for their improved tribological properties and are sensitive to the tribo-atmospheric environment. Nanocrystalline molybdenum carbide (MoC) thin films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering technique using reactive CH4 gas. The friction and wear resistance properties of MoC thin films were significantly improved in humid-atmospheric condition as compared to high-vacuum tribo-condition. A comprehensive chemical analysis of deformed contact interfaces was carried out by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Raman spectroscopy. XPS and Raman spectroscopy showed the formation of stable molybdenum-oxide (MoO), molybdenum carbide (MoC) and amorphous carbon (a-C) tribo-phases. Moreover, during the sliding in humid-atmospheric condition, these phases were extensively deposited on the sliding steel ball counter body which significantly protected against undesirable friction and wear.

Preparation and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose/Eucommia ulmoides gum nanocomposite film.

PubMed

Sun, Qianqian; Zhao, Xinkun; Wang, Dongmei; Dong, Juane; She, Diao; Peng, Pai

2018-02-01

The nanocomposite films were prepared using Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) matrix reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) at different concentrations. Subsequently, the obtained films were characterized by Raman spectra, AFM, XRD, TGA, and DSC. Meanwhile, the wettability, mechanical, and water vapor barrier properties of these films were analyzed. AFM noticed that the average sizes of NCC were 81.95×50.17×13.06nm, while the size of molecular chain for EUG was 2530×57.33×1.28nm. In comparison with control film, a certain amount of NCC obviously improved elongation at break and enhanced their crystallinity and ΔH m . More importantly, NCC/EUG nanocomposite films presented lower thermal stability, glass transition temperature (T g ), melting temperature (T m ), and water vapor permeability (WVP) values, especially the WVP values of 4% NCC film were the lowest as 0.28×10 -9 , 0.30×10 -9 , and 0.58×10 -9 g/m/h/Pa at RH 34%, 55%, and 76%, respectively. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flexible pressure sensor based on graphene aerogel microstructures functionalized with CdS nanocrystalline thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plesco, Irina; Dragoman, Mircea; Strobel, Julian; Ghimpu, Lidia; Schütt, Fabian; Dinescu, Adrian; Ursaki, Veaceslav; Kienle, Lorenz; Adelung, Rainer; Tiginyanu, Ion

2018-05-01

In this paper, we report on functionalization of graphene aerogel with a CdS thin film deposited by magnetron sputtering and on the development of flexible pressure sensors based on ultra-lightweight CdS-aerogel nanocomposite. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis disclose the uniform deposition of nanocrystalline CdS films with quasi-stoichiometric composition. The piezoresistive response of the aforementioned nanocomposite in the pressure range from 1 to 5 atm is found to be more than one order of magnitude higher than that inherent to suspended graphene membranes, leading to an average sensitivity as high as 3.2 × 10-4 kPa-1.

BiVO4/WO3/SnO2 Double-Heterojunction Photoanode with Enhanced Charge Separation and Visible-Transparency for Bias-Free Solar Water-Splitting with a Perovskite Solar Cell.

PubMed

Baek, Ji Hyun; Kim, Byeong Jo; Han, Gill Sang; Hwang, Sung Won; Kim, Dong Rip; Cho, In Sun; Jung, Hyun Suk

2017-01-18

Coupling dissimilar oxides in heterostructures allows the engineering of interfacial, optical, charge separation/transport and transfer properties of photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Here, we demonstrate a double-heterojunction concept based on a BiVO 4 /WO 3 /SnO 2 triple-layer planar heterojunction (TPH) photoanode, which shows simultaneous improvements in the charge transport (∼93% at 1.23 V vs RHE) and transmittance at longer wavelengths (>500 nm). The TPH photoanode was prepared by a facile solution method: a porous SnO 2 film was first deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/glass substrate followed by WO 3 deposition, leading to the formation of a double layer of dense WO 3 and a WO 3 /SnO 2 mixture at the bottom. Subsequently, a BiVO 4 nanoparticle film was deposited by spin coating. Importantly, the WO 3 /(WO 3 +SnO 2 ) composite bottom layer forms a disordered heterojunction, enabling intimate contact, lower interfacial resistance, and efficient charge transport/transfer. In addition, the top BiVO 4 /WO 3 heterojunction layer improves light absorption and charge separation. The resultant TPH photoanode shows greatly improved internal quantum efficiency (∼80%) and PEC water oxidation performance (∼3.1 mA/cm 2 at 1.23 V vs RHE) compared to the previously reported BiVO 4 /WO 3 photoanodes. The PEC performance was further improved by a reactive-ion etching treatment and CoO x electrocatalyst deposition. Finally, we demonstrated a bias-free and stable solar water-splitting by constructing a tandem PEC device with a perovskite solar cell (STH ∼3.5%).

Syntheses, crystal structures, and properties of new layered tungsten(VI)-containing materials based on the hexagonal-WO{sub 3} structure: M{sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} (M = NH{sub 4}, Rb, Cs)

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

Harrison, W.T.A.; Dussack, L.L.; Jacobson, A.J.

The hydrothermal syntheses and crystal structures of (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} and Cs{sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3}, two new noncentrosymmetric, layered tungsten(VI)-containing phases are reported. Infrared, Raman, and thermogravimetric data are also presented. (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} and Cs{sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} are isostructural phases built up from hexagonal-tungsten-oxide-like, anionic layers of vertex-sharing WO{sub 6} octahedra, capped on one side by Se atoms (as selenite groups). Interlayer NH{sub 4}{sup +} or Cs{sup +} cations provide charge balance. The full H-bonding scheme in (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} has been elucidated from Rietveld refinement againstmore » neutron powder diffraction data. The WO{sub 6} octahedra display a 3 short + 3 long W-O bond-distance distribution within the WO{sub 6} unit in both these phases. (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} and Cs{sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} are isostructural with their molybdenum(VI)-containing analogues (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}(MoO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3} and Cs{sub 2} (MoO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3}. Crystal data: (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3}, M{sub r} = 858.58, hexagonal, space group P6{sub 3} (No. 173), a = 7.2291(2) {angstrom}, c = 12.1486(3) {angstrom}, V = 549.82(3) {angstrom}{sup 3}, Z = 2, R{sub p} = 1.81%, and R{sub wp} = 2.29% (2938 neutron powder data). Cs{sub 2}(WO{sub 3}){sub 3}SeO{sub 3}, M{sub r} = 1088.31, hexagonal, space group P6{sub 3} (no. 173), a = 7.2615(2) {angstrom}, c = 12.5426(3) {angstrom}{sup 3}, Z = 2, R{sub p} = 4.84%, and R{sub wp} = 5.98% (2588 neutron powder data).« less

Novel p-Type Conductive Semiconductor Nanocrystalline Film as the Back Electrode for High-Performance Thin Film Solar Cells.

PubMed

Zhang, Ming-Jian; Lin, Qinxian; Yang, Xiaoyang; Mei, Zongwei; Liang, Jun; Lin, Yuan; Pan, Feng

2016-02-10

Thin film solar cells, due to the low cost, high efficiency, long-term stability, and consumer applications, have been widely applied for harvesting green energy. All of these thin film solar cells generally adopt various metal thin films as the back electrode, like Mo, Au, Ni, Ag, Al, graphite, and so forth. When they contact with p-type layer, it always produces a Schottky contact with a high contact potential barrier, which greatly affects the cell performance. In this work, we report for the first time to find an appropriate p-type conductive semiconductor film, digenite Cu9S5 nanocrystalline film, as the back electrode for CdTe solar cells as the model device. Its low sheet resistance (16.6 Ω/sq) could compare to that of the commercial TCO films (6-30 Ω/sq), like FTO, ITO, and AZO. Different from the traditonal metal back electrode, it produces a successive gradient-doping region by the controllable Cu diffusion, which greatly reduces the contact potential barrier. Remarkably, it achieved a comparable power conversion efficiency (PCE, 11.3%) with the traditional metal back electrode (Cu/Au thin films, 11.4%) in CdTe cells and a higher PCE (13.8%) with the help of the Au assistant film. We believe it could also act as the back electrode for other thin film solar cells (α-Si, CuInS2, CIGSe, CZTS, etc.), for their performance improvement.

CTAB-assisted ultrasonic synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties of WO{sub 3}

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

Sánchez-Martínez, D., E-mail: dansanm@gmail.com; Gomez-Solis, C.; Torres-Martinez, Leticia M.

2015-01-15

Highlights: • WO{sub 3} 2D nanostructures were synthesized by ultrasound method assisted with CTAB. • WO{sub 3} morphology was mainly of rectangular nanoplates with a thickness of ∼50 nm. • The highest surface area value of WO{sub 3} was obtained to lowest concentration of CTAB. • WO{sub 3} activity was attributed to morphology, surface area and the addition of CTAB. • WO{sub 3} nanoplates were able to causing almost complete mineralization of rhB and IC. - Abstract: WO{sub 3} 2D nanostructures have been prepared by ultrasound synthesis method assisted with CTAB using different molar ratios. The formation of monoclinic crystalmore » structure of WO{sub 3} was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The characterization of the WO{sub 3} samples was complemented by analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed morphology mainly of rectangular nanoplates with a thickness of around 50 nm and length of 100–500 nm. Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to confirm the elimination of the CTAB in the synthesized samples. The specific surface area was determinate by the BET method and by means of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) it was determinate the band-gap energy (E{sub g}) of the WO{sub 3} samples. The photocatalytic activity of the WO{sub 3} oxide was evaluated in the degradation reactions of rhodamine B (rhB) and indigo carmine (IC) under Xenon lamp irradiation. The highest photocatalytic activity was observed in the samples containing low concentration of CTAB with morphology of rectangular nanoplates and with higher surface area value than commercial WO{sub 3}. Photodegradation of rhB and IC were followed by means of UV–vis absorption spectra. The mineralization degree of organic dyes by WO{sub 3} photocatalyst was determined by total organic carbon analysis (TOC) reaching percentages of mineralization of 92% for rhB and 50% for IC after 96 h of lamp irradiation.« less

Photonic crystal fiber modal interferometer with Pd/WO3 coating for real-time monitoring of dissolved hydrogen concentration in transformer oil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ya-nan; Wu, Qilu; Peng, Huijie; Zhao, Yong

2016-12-01

A highly-sensitive and temperature-robust photonic crystal fiber (PCF) modal interferometer coated with Pd/WO3 film was fabricated and studied, aiming for real-time monitoring of dissolved hydrogen concentration in transformer oil. The sensor probe was fabricated by splicing two segments of a single mode fiber (SMF) with both ends of the PCF. Since the collapse of air holes in the PCF in the interfaces between SMF and PCF, a SMF-PCF-SMF interferometer structure was formed. The Pd/WO3 film was fabricated by sol-gel method and coated on the surface of the PCF by dip-coating method. When the Pd/WO3 film is exposed to hydrogen, both the length and cladding refractive index of the PCF would be changed, resulting in the resonant wavelength shift of the interferometer. Experimental results showed that the hydrogen measurement sensitivity of the proposed sensor can reach 0.109 pm/(μl/l) in the transformer oil, with the measurement range of 0-10 000 μl/l and response time less than 33 min. Besides, the proposed sensor was temperature-insensitive without any compensation process, easy to fabricate without any tapering, polishing, or etching process, low cost and quickly response without any oil-gas separation device. All these performances satisfy the actual need of real-time monitoring of dissolved hydrogen concentration in the transformer oil.

Photonic crystal fiber modal interferometer with Pd/WO3 coating for real-time monitoring of dissolved hydrogen concentration in transformer oil.

PubMed

Zhang, Ya-Nan; Wu, Qilu; Peng, Huijie; Zhao, Yong

2016-12-01

A highly-sensitive and temperature-robust photonic crystal fiber (PCF) modal interferometer coated with Pd/WO 3 film was fabricated and studied, aiming for real-time monitoring of dissolved hydrogen concentration in transformer oil. The sensor probe was fabricated by splicing two segments of a single mode fiber (SMF) with both ends of the PCF. Since the collapse of air holes in the PCF in the interfaces between SMF and PCF, a SMF-PCF-SMF interferometer structure was formed. The Pd/WO 3 film was fabricated by sol-gel method and coated on the surface of the PCF by dip-coating method. When the Pd/WO 3 film is exposed to hydrogen, both the length and cladding refractive index of the PCF would be changed, resulting in the resonant wavelength shift of the interferometer. Experimental results showed that the hydrogen measurement sensitivity of the proposed sensor can reach 0.109 pm/(μl/l) in the transformer oil, with the measurement range of 0-10 000 μl/l and response time less than 33 min. Besides, the proposed sensor was temperature-insensitive without any compensation process, easy to fabricate without any tapering, polishing, or etching process, low cost and quickly response without any oil-gas separation device. All these performances satisfy the actual need of real-time monitoring of dissolved hydrogen concentration in the transformer oil.

Tailoring the index of refraction of nanocrystalline hafnium oxide thin films

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

Vargas, Mirella; Murphy, N. R.; Ramana, C. V., E-mail: rvchintalapalle@utep.edu

2014-03-10

Hafnium oxide (HfO{sub 2}) films were grown by sputter-deposition by varying the growth temperature (T{sub s} = 25–700 °C). HfO{sub 2} films grown at T{sub s} < 200 °C were amorphous, while those grown at T{sub s} ≥ 200 °C were monoclinic, nanocrystalline with (1{sup ¯}11) texturing. X-ray reflectivity (XRR) analyses indicate that the film-density (ρ) increases with increasing T{sub s}. The index of refraction (n) profiles derived from spectroscopic ellipsometry analyses follow the Cauchy dispersion relation. Lorentz-Lorenz analysis (n{sub (λ)} = 550 nm) and optical-model adopted agree well with the XRR data/analyses. A direct T{sub s}-ρ-n relationship suggests that tailoring the optical quality is possible by tuning T{sub s} and themore » microstructure of HfO{sub 2} films.« less

Electrochromic device based on electrospun WO{sub 3} nanofibers

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

Dulgerbaki, Cigdem; Maslakci, Neslihan Nohut; Komur, Ali Ihsan

2015-12-15

Highlights: • WO{sub 3} electrochromic nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning technique. • WO{sub 3} nanofibers switched reversibly from transparent to blue color. • Electrochromic device was assembled using ionic liquid based gel electrolyte. • Significant optical modulation and excellent cycling stability were achieved for ECD. - Abstract: The tungsten oxide (WO{sub 3}) nanofibers were grown directly onto an ITO-coated glass via an electrospinning method for electrochromic applications. The electrochromic properties of WO{sub 3} nanofibers were investigated in the presence of different electrolytes including a series of ionic liquids and classic LiClO{sub 4}-PC system. A significant optical modulation of 20.82% atmore » 760 nm, reversible coloration with efficiency of 64.58 cm{sup 2}/C and excellent cycling stability were achieved for the nanofiber electrochromic device (ECD) with ionic liquid based gel electrolyte.« less

Mechanical spectroscopy of nanocrystalline aluminum films: effects of frequency and grain size on internal friction.

PubMed

Sosale, Guruprasad; Almecija, Dorothée; Das, Kaushik; Vengallatore, Srikar

2012-04-20

Energy dissipation by internal friction is a property of fundamental interest for probing the effects of scale on mechanical behavior in nanocrystalline metallic films and for guiding the use of these materials in the design of high-Q micro/nanomechanical resonators. This paper describes an experimental study to measure the effects of frequency, annealing and grain size on internal friction at room temperature in sputter-deposited nanocrystalline aluminum films with thicknesses ranging from 60 to 120 nm. Internal friction was measured using a single-crystal silicon microcantilever platform that calibrates dissipation against the fundamental limits of thermoelastic damping. Internal friction was a weak function of frequency, reducing only by a factor of two over three decades of frequency (70 Hz to 44 kHz). Annealing led to significant grain growth and the average grain size of 100 nm thick films increased from 90 to 390 nm after annealing for 1 h at 450 (∘)C. This increase in grain size was accompanied by a decrease in internal friction from 0.05 to 0.02. Taken together, these results suggest that grain-boundary sliding, characterized by a spectrum of relaxation times, contributes to internal friction in these films. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd

Formation of nanocrystalline SiGe in Polycrystalline-Ge/Si thin film without any metal induced crystallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tah, Twisha; Singh, Ch. Kishan; Madapu, K. K.; Polaki, S. R.; Ilango, S.; David, C.; Dash, S.; Panigrahi, B. K.

2017-05-01

The formation of nanocrystalline SiGe without the aid of metal induced crystallization is reported. Re-crystallization of the as-deposited poly-Ge film (deposited at 450 °C) leads to development of regions with depleted Ge concentration upon annealing at 500 °C. Clusters with crystalline facet containing both nanocrystalline SiGe and crystalline Ge phase starts appearing at 600 °C. The structural phase characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The stoichiometry of the SiGe phase was estimated from the positions of the Raman spectral peaks.

Nanocrystalline films for gas-reactive applications

DOEpatents

Eastman, Jeffrey A.; Thompson, Loren J.

2004-02-17

A gas sensor for detection of oxidizing and reducing gases, including O.sub.2, CO.sub.2, CO, and H.sub.2, monitors the partial pressure of a gas to be detected by measuring the temperature rise of an oxide-thin-film-coated metallic line in response to an applied electrical current. For a fixed input power, the temperature rise of the metallic line is inversely proportional to the thermal conductivity of the oxide coating. The oxide coating contains multi-valent cation species that change their valence, and hence the oxygen stoichiometry of the coating, in response to changes in the partial pressure of the detected gas. Since the thermal conductivity of the coating is dependent on its oxygen stoichiometry, the temperature rise of the metallic line depends on the partial pressure of the detected gas. Nanocrystalline (<100 nm grain size) oxide coatings yield faster sensor response times than conventional larger-grained coatings due to faster oxygen diffusion along grain boundaries rather than through grain interiors.

Fabrication of Large Lateral Polycrystalline Silicon Film by Laser Dehydrogenation and Lateral Crystallization of Hydrogenated Nanocrystalline Silicon Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Tadashi; Yamamoto, Kenichi; Kambara, Junji; Kitahara, Kuninori; Hara, Akito

2009-12-01

Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin-film transistors (TFTs) have attracted attention for application to the operation of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The monolithic integration of nc-Si:H TFTs and polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) TFTs and the use of nc-Si:H TFTs for operating an OLED are candidate technologies to achieve OLED system-on-glass. To develop such a system, it is necessary to fabricate poly-Si films without employing thermal dehydrogenation because hydrogen needs to be maintained in the channel region of nc-Si:H TFTs. In this study, we optimized the laser dehydrogenation process as a substitute for thermal dehydrogenation by using a diode-pumped solid-state continuous-wave green laser (Nd:YVO4, 2ω=532 nm) to fabricate large lateral poly-Si films with grain sizes of 3×20 µm2. The performance of poly-Si TFTs is well known to be sensitive to the quality of poly-Si films. In order to evaluate the electrical properties of poly-Si films, TFTs were fabricated by conventional processes. The field-effect mobility, threshold voltage, and S-value of the poly-Si TFTs were 220 cm2 V-1 s-1, -1.0 V, and 0.45 V/dec, respectively. The quality of the poly-Si film fabricated in this experiment was sufficiently high for the integration of peripheral circuits.

Hydrothermal Fabrication of WO3 Hierarchical Architectures: Structure, Growth and Response

PubMed Central

Wu, Chuan-Sheng

2015-01-01

Recently hierarchical architectures, consisting of two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures, are of great interest for potential applications in energy and environmental. Here, novel rose-like WO3 hierarchical architectures were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. The as-prepared WO3 hierarchical architectures were in fact assembled by numerous nanosheets with an average thickness of ~30 nm. We found that the oxalic acid played a significant role in governing morphologies of WO3 during hydrothermal process. Based on comparative studies, a possible formation mechanism was also proposed in detail. Furthermore, gas-sensing measurement showed that the well-defined 3D WO3 hierarchical architectures exhibited the excellent gas sensing properties towards CO. PMID:28347062

Nonvolatile memory behavior of nanocrystalline cellulose/graphene oxide composite films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valentini, L.; Cardinali, M.; Fortunati, E.; Kenny, J. M.

2014-10-01

With the continuous advance of modern electronics, the demand for nonvolatile memory cells rapidly grows. In order to develop post-silicon electronic devices, it is necessary to find innovative solutions to the eco-sustainability problem of materials for nonvolatile memory cells. In this work, we realized a resistive memory device based on graphene oxide (GO) and GO/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) thin films. Aqueous solutions of GO and GO with CNC have been prepared and drop cast between two metal electrodes. Such thin-film based devices showed a transition between low and high conductivity states upon the forward and backward sweeping of an external electric field. This reversible current density transition behavior demonstrates a typical memory characteristic. The obtained results open an easy route for electronic information storage based on the integration of nanocrystalline cellulose onto graphene based devices.

Nonvolatile memory behavior of nanocrystalline cellulose/graphene oxide composite films

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

Valentini, L., E-mail: luca.valentini@unipg.it; Cardinali, M.; Fortunati, E.

2014-10-13

With the continuous advance of modern electronics, the demand for nonvolatile memory cells rapidly grows. In order to develop post-silicon electronic devices, it is necessary to find innovative solutions to the eco-sustainability problem of materials for nonvolatile memory cells. In this work, we realized a resistive memory device based on graphene oxide (GO) and GO/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) thin films. Aqueous solutions of GO and GO with CNC have been prepared and drop cast between two metal electrodes. Such thin-film based devices showed a transition between low and high conductivity states upon the forward and backward sweeping of an external electricmore » field. This reversible current density transition behavior demonstrates a typical memory characteristic. The obtained results open an easy route for electronic information storage based on the integration of nanocrystalline cellulose onto graphene based devices.« less

Phase Competition Induced Bio-Electrochemical Resistance and Bio-Compatibility Effect in Nanocrystalline Zr x -Cu100-x Thin Films.

PubMed

Badhirappan, Geetha Priyadarshini; Nallasivam, Vignesh; Varadarajan, Madhuri; Leobeemrao, Vasantha Priya; Bose, Sivakumar; Venugopal, Elakkiya; Rajendran, Selvakumar; Angleo, Peter Chrysologue

2018-07-01

Nano-crystalline Zrx-Cu100-x (x = 20-100 at.%) thin films with thickness ranging from 50 to 185 nm were deposited by magnetron co-sputtering with individual Zr and Cu targets. The as-sputtered thin films were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Glancing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) for structural and morphological properties. The crystallite size was found to decrease from 57 nm to 37 nm upon increasing the Zr content from 20 to 30 at.% with slight increase in the lattice strain from 0.17 to 0.33%. Further, increase in Zr content to 40 at.% leads to increase in the crystallite size to 57 nm due to stabilization of C10Zr7 phase along with the presence of nanocrystalline Cu-Zr phase. A bimodal distribution of grain size was observed from FE-SEM micrograph was attributed to the highest surface roughness in Zr30Cu70 thin films comprised of Cu10Zr7, Cu9Zr2, Cu-Zr intermetallic phases. In-vitro electrochemical behaviors of nano-crystalline Zrx-Cu100-x thin films in simulated body fluid (SBF) were investigated using potentiodynamic polarization studies. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data fitting by equivalent electrical circuit fit model suggests that inner bulk layer contributes to high bio-corrosion resistance in Zrx-Cu100-x thin films with increase in Zr content. The results of cyto-compatibility assay suggested that Zr-Cu thin film did not introduce cytotoxicity to osteoblast cells, indicating its suitability as a bio-coating for minimally invasive medical devices.

Electrochromic Properties of Tungsten Oxide Films Prepared by Reactive Sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Min Hong; Kang, Tai Young; Jung, Yu Sup; Kim, Kyung Hwan

2013-05-01

WO3-x thin films were deposited on induim tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates with various oxygen flow ratios from 0.55 to 0.7 by the reactive facing-target sputtering method, at a power density of 4 W/cm2 and room temperature. The structural properties of the WO3-x thin films were measured by X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectral analysis. As-deposited WO3-x thin films had an amorphous structure. In the Raman spectra, WO3-x thin films exhibited two strong peaks at 770 and 950 cm-1 attributed to the vibrations of W6+-O and W6+=O bonds, respectively. The electrochemical and optical properties of WO3-x thin films were measured by cyclic voltammetry and UV/vis spectrometry. The results showed the highest charge density at an oxygen flow ratio of 0.7 and the highest transmittance in the visible range. The maximum coloration efficiency was 30.82 cm2/C at an oxygen flow ratio of 0.7.

Functionalization of nanocrystalline diamond films with phthalocyanines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petkov, Christo; Reintanz, Philipp M.; Kulisch, Wilhelm; Degenhardt, Anna Katharina; Weidner, Tobias; Baio, Joe E.; Merz, Rolf; Kopnarski, Michael; Siemeling, Ulrich; Reithmaier, Johann Peter; Popov, Cyril

2016-08-01

Phthalocyanine (Pc) derivatives containing different central metal atoms (Mn, Cu, Ti) and different peripheral chains were synthesized and comprehensively characterized. Their interaction with nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films, as-grown by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition or after their modification with oxygen plasma to exchange the hydrogen termination with oxygen-containing groups, was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The elemental composition as determined by XPS showed that the Pc were grafted on both as-grown and O-terminated NCD. Mn, Cu and Ti were detected together with N stemming from the Pc ring and S in case of the Ti-Pc from the peripheral ligands. The results for the elemental surface composition and the detailed study of the N 1s, S 2p and O 1s core spectra revealed that Ti-Pc grafted better on as-grown NCD but Cu-Pc and Mn-Pc on O-terminated films. Samples of Mn-Pc on as-grown and O-terminated NCD were further investigated by NEXAFS spectroscopy. The results showed ordering of the grafted molecules, laying flat on the H-terminated NCD surface while only the macrocycles were oriented parallel to the O-terminated surface with the peripheral chains perpendicular to it.

Exploration on anion ordering, optical properties and electronic structure in K3WO3F3 elpasolite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atuchin, V. V.; Isaenko, L. I.; Kesler, V. G.; Lin, Z. S.; Molokeev, M. S.; Yelisseyev, A. P.; Zhurkov, S. A.

2012-03-01

Room-temperature modification of potassium oxyfluorotungstate, G2-K3WO3F3, has been prepared by low-temperature chemical route and single crystal growth. Wide optical transparency range of 0.3-9.4 μm and forbidden band gap Eg=4.32 eV have been obtained for G2-K3WO3F3 crystal. Meanwhile, its electronic structure has been calculated with the first-principles calculations. The good agreement between the theorectical and experimental results have been achieved. Furthermore, G2-K3WO3F3 is predicted to possess the relatively large nonlinear optical coefficients.

Fabrication of highly selective tungsten oxide ammonia sensors

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

Llobet, E.; Molas, G.; Molinas, P.

Tungsten oxide is shown to be a very promising material for the fabrication of highly selective ammonia sensors. Films of WO{sub 3} were deposited onto a silicon substrate by means of the drop-coating method. Then, the films were annealed in dry air at two different temperatures (300 and 400 C). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the composition of the films. Tungsten appeared both in WO{sub 2} and WO{sub 3} oxidation states, but the second state was clearly dominant. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the oxide was amorphous or nanocrystalline. The WO{sub 3}-based devices were sensitive to ammoniamore » vapors when operated between 250 and 350 C. The optimal operating temperature for the highest sensitivity to ammonia was 300 C. Furthermore, when the devices were operated at 300 C, their sensitivity to other reducing species such as ethanol, methane, toluene, and water vapor was significantly lower, and this resulted in a high selectivity to ammonia. A model for the sensing mechanisms of the fabricated sensors is proposed.« less

Effect of the cation size on the framework structures of magnesium tungstate, A4Mg(WO4)3 (A = Na, K), R2Mg2(WO4)3 (R = Rb, Cs).

PubMed

Han, Shujuan; Wang, Ying; Jing, Qun; Wu, Hongping; Pan, Shilie; Yang, Zhihua

2015-03-28

A series of alkali metal magnesium tungstates, A4Mg(WO4)3 (A = Na, K), R2Mg2(WO4)3 (R = Rb, Cs), were synthesized from a high temperature solution, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, Na4Mg(WO4)3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, while K4Mg(WO4)3 having an identical stoichiometry with Na4Mg(WO4)3, exhibits a different framework structure belonging to triclinic symmetry with the space group P1[combining macron]. Isostructural Rb2Mg2(WO4)3 and Cs2Mg2(WO4)3 crystallize in the space group P213 of cubic symmetry and reveal a three dimensional framework composed of isolated WO4 tetrahedra, MgO6 octahedra and RO12 (R = Rb, Cs) polyhedra. The effect of the alkali metal cation size on the framework structures of magnesium tungstate has been discussed in detail. In addition, the infrared spectra, as well as the UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy data, are reported. The first-principles theoretical studies are also carried out to aid the understanding of electronic structures and linear optical properties.

Design and synthesis of hierarchical mesoporous WO3-MnO2 composite nanostructures on carbon cloth for high-performance supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinde, Pragati A.; Lokhande, Vaibhav C.; Patil, Amar M.; Ji, Taeksoo; Lokhande, Chandrakant D.

2017-12-01

To enhance the energy density and power performance of supercapacitors, the rational design and synthesis of active electrode materials with hierarchical mesoporous structure is highly desired. In the present work, fabrication of high-performance hierarchical mesoporous WO3-MnO2 composite nanostructures on carbon cloth substrate via a facile hydrothermal method is reported. By varying the content of MnO2 in the composite, different WO3-MnO2 composite thin films are obtained. The formation of composite is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis reveals maximum specific surface area of 153 m2 g-1. The optimized WO3-MnO2 composite electrode demonstrates remarkable electrochemical performance with high specific capacitance of 657 F g-1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s-1 and superior longterm cycling stability (92% capacity retention over 2000 CV cycles). Furthermore, symmetric flexible solid-state supercapacitor based on WO3-MnO2 electrodes has been fabricated. The device exhibits good electrochemical performance with maximum specific capacitance of 78 F g-1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s-1 and specific energy of 10.8 Wh kg-1 at a specific power of 0.65 kW kg-1. The improved electrochemical performance could be ascribed to the unique combination of multivalence WO3 and MnO2 nanostructures and synergistic effect between them

[Raman studies of nanocrystalline BaTiO3 ceramics].

PubMed

Xiao, Chang-jiang; Jin, Chang-qing; Wang, Xiao-hui

2008-12-01

High pressure can significantly increase the densification. Further, during the high pressure assisted sintering, the nucleation rate is increased due to reduced energy barrier and the growth rate is suppressed due to the decreased diffusivity. Thus high pressure enables the specimen to be fabricated with relatively lower temperature and shorter sintering period that assures to obtain dense nanocrystalline ceramics. Dense nanocrystalline BaTiO3 ceramics with uniform grain sizes of 60 and 30 nm, respectively, were obtained by pressure assisted sintering. The crystal structure and phase transitions were investigated by Raman scattering at temperatures ranging from -190 to 200 degrees C. The Raman results indicated that the evolution of Raman spectrum with grain size is characterized by an intensity decrease, a broadening of the line width, a frequency shift, and the disappearance of the Raman mode. With increasing temperature, similar to 3 mm BaTiO3 normal ceramics, the successive phase transitions from rhombohedral to orthorhombic, orthorhombic to tetragonal, and tetragonal to cubic were also observed in nanocrystalline BaTiO3 ceramics. In addition, when particle size is reduced to the nanoscale, one will find some unusual physical properties in nanocrystalline ceramics, compared with those of coarse-grained BaTiO3 ceramics. The different coexistences of multiphase were found at different temperature. Especially, the ferroelectric tetragonal and orthorhombic phase can coexist at room temperature in nanocrystalline BaTiO3 ceramics. The phenomenon can be explained by the internal stress. The coexistences of different ferroelectric phases at room temperature indicate that the critical grain size for the disappearance of ferroelectricity in nanocrystalline BaTiO3 ceramics fabricated by pressure assisted sintering is below 30 nm.

Grain Growth in Nanocrystalline Mg-Al Thin Films

DOE PAGES

Kruska, Karen; Rohatgi, Aashish; Vemuri, Rama S.; ...

2017-10-05

We report that an improved understanding of grain growth kinetics in nanocrystalline materials, and in metals and alloys in general, is of continuing interest to the scientific community. In this study, Mg-Al thin films containing ~10 wt pct Al and with 14.5 nm average grain size were produced by magnetron sputtering and subjected to heat treatments. The grain growth evolution in the early stages of heat treatment at 423 K, 473 K, and 573 K (150 °C, 200 °C, and 300 °C) was observed with transmission electron microscopy and analyzed based upon the classical equation developed by Burke and Turnbull.more » The grain growth exponent was found to be 7 ± 2 and the activation energy for grain growth was 31.1 ± 13.4 kJ/mol, the latter being significantly lower than in bulk Mg-Al alloys. The observed grain growth kinetics are explained by the Al supersaturation in the matrix and the pinning effects of the rapidly forming beta precipitates and possibly shallow grain boundary grooves. In conclusion, the low activation energy is attributed to the rapid surface diffusion which is dominant in thin film systems.« less

Grain Growth in Nanocrystalline Mg-Al Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruska, Karen; Rohatgi, Aashish; Vemuri, Rama S.; Kovarik, Libor; Moser, Trevor H.; Evans, James E.; Browning, Nigel D.

2017-12-01

An improved understanding of grain growth kinetics in nanocrystalline materials, and in metals and alloys in general, is of continuing interest to the scientific community. In this study, Mg-Al thin films containing 10 wt pct Al and with 14.5 nm average grain size were produced by magnetron sputtering and subjected to heat treatments. The grain growth evolution in the early stages of heat treatment at 423 K, 473 K, and 573 K (150 °C, 200 °C, and 300 °C) was observed with transmission electron microscopy and analyzed based upon the classical equation developed by Burke and Turnbull. The grain growth exponent was found to be 7 ± 2 and the activation energy for grain growth was 31.1 ± 13.4 kJ/mol, the latter being significantly lower than in bulk Mg-Al alloys. The observed grain growth kinetics are explained by the Al supersaturation in the matrix and the pinning effects of the rapidly forming beta precipitates and possibly shallow grain boundary grooves. The low activation energy is attributed to the rapid surface diffusion which is dominant in thin film systems.

Optical properties of PVA capped nanocrystalline Cd1-xZnxS thin film synthesized by chemical bath deposition technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gogoi, Lipika; Chaliha, Sumbit; Saikia, Prasanta Kumar

2018-04-01

A simple cost effective Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique has been employed for the preparation of nanocrystalline Cd1-xZnxS thin films in an alkaline medium at 333K for 120 minutes in polymer matrix. Optical parameters such as transmittance, optical band gap, reflectance, refractive index and extinction coefficient of the films was made using UV-Visible spectrophotometer. UV-spectroscopy study shows a good transmittance of 80-88% in visible wavelength region for the deposited films. The direct band gap energy (Eg) for the deposited films ranged from 3.5 to 3.7 eV depending on attribution of Zn into CdS. It shows a blue shift with respect to bulk value. A increase in transmittance and band gap is found with the increase of volume of Zn content. Cd1-xZnxS thin films exhibit the least reflectance for all the wavelengths in the visible region. The refractive indices (n) of the Cd1-xZnxS films were found in the range 1.38 to 2.94 in the visible region.

Optical and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline ZrC thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition.

DOE PAGES

Craciun, D.; Socol, G.; Lambers, E.; ...

2015-01-17

Thin ZrC films (<500 nm) were grown on (100) Si substrates at a substrate temperature of 500 °C by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique using a KrF excimer laser under different CH 4 pressures. Glancing incidence X-ray diffraction showed that films were nanocrystalline, while X-ray reflectivity studies found out films were very dense and exhibited a smooth surface morphology. Optical spectroscopy data shows that the films have high reflectivity (>90%) in the infrared region, characteristic of metallic behavior. Nanoindentation results indicated that films deposited under lower CH 4 pressures exhibited slightly higher nanohardness and Young modulus values than filmsmore » deposited under higher pressures. As a result, tribological characterization revealed that these films exhibited relatively high wear resistance and steady-state friction coefficients on the order of μ = 0.4.« less

Red photoluminescent property and modification of WO3:Eu3+ inverse opal for blue light converted LEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruan, Jiufeng; Yang, Zhengwen; Huang, Anjun; Chai, Zhuangzhuang; Qiu, Jianbei; Song, Zhiguo

2018-01-01

Blue light converted light-emitting diodes is of great significance as a candidate for next generation lighting. In this work, the WO3:Eu3+ inverse opal photonic crystals were prepared and their luminescence properties were studied. The results demonstrated that the main excitation peak of WO3:Eu3+ inverse opals were located at 465 nm. The red luminescence peak at the 613 nm was observed in the WO3:Eu3+ inverse opal upon 465 nm excitation, exhibiting better red color purity. The influence of photonic band gap on the photoluminescence of WO3:Eu3+ inverse opal was obtained. When the red luminescence peak is in the regions of the photonic band gap and the edge of the band-gap, the red luminescence suppression and enhancement was observed respectively. The WO3:Eu3+ inverse opals may be a promising candidate for the blue light converted LEDs.

Kinetics and mechanism of dye adsorption on WO3 nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adhikari, Sangeeta; Mandal, Sandip; Sarkar, Debasish; Kim, Do-Heyoung; Madras, Giridhar

2017-10-01

Monoclinic WO3 nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple acid catalyzed co-precipitation reaction. Spherical particles with average size ∼55 nm were confirmed from electron microscopy followed by functional, structural and optical characterizations. The adsorption of methylene blue was examined by using WO3 nanoparticles and the capacity was higher than most of the reported studies. The effect of pH and material loading on adsorption was determined. The mechanism of adsorption was examined by XPS and a detailed explanation of surface phenomena was proposed. Regeneration study was carried and a high stability of heat treated WO3 towards adsorption of methylene blue was observed.

Low-temperature (120 °C) growth of nanocrystalline silicon films prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition from SiCl 4/H 2 gases: Microstructure characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, L.; Gao, J. H.; Xiao, J. Q.; Wen, L. S.; Gong, J.; Sun, C.

2012-01-01

Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) films were prepared using diluted tetrachlorosilane (SiCl4) with various hydrogen flow rates (Hf) by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at a constant substrate temperature (Ts) as low as 120 °C. Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectra (IR) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) were employed to investigate the microstructure and hydrogen bonding of the nc-Si:H films. Our results showed that the microstructure and hydrogen content of the films could be effectively tailored by the hydrogen flow rates, and a distinct transition from amorphous to nanocrystalline phase was observed with an increase of Hf. At an optimal preparation condition, a deposition rate was as high as 3.7 nm/min and the crystallinity reached up to 64.1%. In addition, the effect of hydrogen on the low-temperature growth of nc-Si:H film was proposed in relation to the surface reaction of radicals and the hydrogen diffusion in the surface growing region.

Preparation and evaluation of thin-film sodium tungsten bronzes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kautz, H. E.; Fielder, W. L.; Singer, J.; Fordyce, J. S.

1974-01-01

Thin films of sodium tungsten bronze (NaxWO3) were investigated as reversible sodium ion electrodes for solid electrolytes. The films were made by electron beam evaporation of the three phases, W metal, Na2WO4, and WO3, followed by sintering. The substrates were sodium beta alumina disks and glass slides. X-ray diffraction analyses of the films showed that sintering in dry nitrogen with prior exposure to air lead to mixed phases. Sintering in vacuum with no air exposure produced tetragonal I bronze with a nominal composition of Na0.31WO3, single phase within the limits of X-ray diffraction detectability. The films were uniform and adherent on sodium beta alumina substrates. The ac and dc conductivities of the beta alumina were measured with the sodium tungsten bronze films as electrodes. These experiments indicated that the tetragonal I bronze electrodes were not completely reversible. This may have resulted from sodium ion blocking within the bronze film or at the bronze beta alumina interface. Methods for attempting to make more completely reversible electrodes are suggested.

Optical, dielectric and morphological studies of sol-gel derived nanocrystalline TiO2 films.

PubMed

Vishwas, M; Sharma, Sudhir Kumar; Narasimha Rao, K; Mohan, S; Gowda, K V Arjuna; Chakradhar, R P S

2009-10-15

Nanocrystalline TiO(2) films have been synthesized on glass and silicon substrates by sol-gel technique. The films have been characterized with optical reflectance/transmittance in the wavelength range 300-1000 nm and the optical constants (n, k) were estimated by using envelope technique as well as spectroscopic ellipsometry. Morphological studies have been carried out using atomic force microscope (AFM). Metal-Oxide-Silicon (MOS) capacitor was fabricated using conducting coating on TiO(2) film deposited on silicon. The C-V measurements show that the film annealed at 300 degrees C has a dielectric constant of 19.80. The high percentage of transmittance, low surface roughness and high dielectric constant suggests that it can be used as an efficient anti-reflection coating on silicon and other optical coating applications and also as a MOS capacitor.

Thermal conductivity of self-ion irradiated nanocrystalline zirconium thin films

DOE PAGES

Pulavarthy, Raghu; Wang, Baoming; Hattar, Khalid; ...

2017-07-15

Thermomechanical stability and high thermal conductivity are important for nuclear cladding material performance and reliability, which degrade over time under irradiation. The literature suggests nanocrystalline materials as radiation tolerant, but little or no evidence is present from thermal transport perspective. In this study, we irradiated 10 nm grain size zirconium thin films with 800 keV Zr + beam from a 6 MV HVE Tandem accelerator to achieve various doses of 3 × 10 10 to 3.26 × 10 14 ions/cm 2, corresponding to displacement per atom (dpa) of 2.1 × 10 –4 to 2.28. Transmission electron microscopy showed significant grainmore » growth, texture evolution and oxidation in addition to the creation of displacement defects due to the irradiation. The specimens were co-fabricated with micro-heaters to establish thermal gradients that were mapped using infrared thermometry. An energy balance approach was used to estimate the thermal conductivity of the specimens, as function of irradiation dosage. As a result, up to 32% reduction of thermal conductivity was measured for the sample exposed to a dose of 2.1 dpa (3 × 10 14 ions/cm 2).« less

Thermal conductivity of self-ion irradiated nanocrystalline zirconium thin films

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

Pulavarthy, Raghu; Wang, Baoming; Hattar, Khalid

Thermomechanical stability and high thermal conductivity are important for nuclear cladding material performance and reliability, which degrade over time under irradiation. The literature suggests nanocrystalline materials as radiation tolerant, but little or no evidence is present from thermal transport perspective. In this study, we irradiated 10 nm grain size zirconium thin films with 800 keV Zr + beam from a 6 MV HVE Tandem accelerator to achieve various doses of 3 × 10 10 to 3.26 × 10 14 ions/cm 2, corresponding to displacement per atom (dpa) of 2.1 × 10 –4 to 2.28. Transmission electron microscopy showed significant grainmore » growth, texture evolution and oxidation in addition to the creation of displacement defects due to the irradiation. The specimens were co-fabricated with micro-heaters to establish thermal gradients that were mapped using infrared thermometry. An energy balance approach was used to estimate the thermal conductivity of the specimens, as function of irradiation dosage. As a result, up to 32% reduction of thermal conductivity was measured for the sample exposed to a dose of 2.1 dpa (3 × 10 14 ions/cm 2).« less

Porous three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide merged with WO3 for efficient removal of radioactive strontium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mu, Wanjun; Yu, Qianghong; Hu, rui; Li, Xingliang; Wei, Hongyuan; Jian, Yuan

2017-11-01

A simple hydrothermal method was used to prepare 3D nanostructured composite adsorbents of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and WO3 (RGO/WO3). The analysis results suggest that it possesses a mesoporous 3D structure, in which WO3 nanorods are uniformly loaded on the surface of the RGO. Combining the benefits of GO and WO3, the composites exhibit a higher adsorption capacity for removing Sr2+ from aqueous solutions over a wide pH range (4-11). Adsorption isotherms show that the data fit the Langmuir isotherms well (R > 0.99), and the maximum adsorption capacity of 149.56 mg g-1 was achieved, much higher than that for GO, WO3 and other similar adsorbents. Sr2+ adsorption on RGO/WO3 reached equilibrium within 200 min. The fast adsorption and high adsorption rate of RGO/WO3 are mostly attributable to the plentiful adsorption sites provided by the dispersed WO3 nanoparticles on the RGO surface. Furthermore, the existence of Na+ ions has no obvious effect on the removal of Sr2+ ions by RGO/WO3, and RGO/WO3 adsorbent can be repeated at least 5 times without significant loss of adsorption capacity by adsorption-desorption experiment. Thus, RGO/WO3 shows the potential ability for removal of 90Sr from radioactive wastewater.

Self-ion irradiation effects on mechanical properties of nanocrystalline zirconium films

DOE PAGES

Wang, Baoming; Haque, M. A.; Tomar, Vikas; ...

2017-07-13

Zirconium thin films were irradiated at room temperature with an 800 keV Zr + beam using a 6 MV HVE Tandem accelerator to 1.36 displacement per atom damage. Freestanding tensile specimens, 100 nm thick and 10 nm grain size, were tested in-situ inside a transmission electron microscope. Significant grain growth (>300%), texture evolution, and displacement damage defects were observed. Here, stress-strain profiles were mostly linear elastic below 20 nm grain size, but above this limit the samples demonstrated yielding and strain hardening. Experimental results support the hypothesis that grain boundaries in nanocrystalline metals act as very effective defect sinks.

Photocatalytic Removal of Microcystin-LR by Advanced WO3-Based Nanoparticles under Simulated Solar Light

PubMed Central

Zhao, Chao; Li, Dawei; Feng, Chuanping; Zhang, Zhenya; Sugiura, Norio; Yang, Yingnan

2015-01-01

A series of advanced WO3-based photocatalysts including CuO/WO3, Pd/WO3, and Pt/WO3 were synthesized for the photocatalytic removal of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) under simulated solar light. In the present study, Pt/WO3 exhibited the best performance for the photocatalytic degradation of MC-LR. The MC-LR degradation can be described by pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Chloride ion (Cl−) with proper concentration could enhance the MC-LR degradation. The presence of metal cations (Cu2+ and Fe3+) improved the photocatalytic degradation of MC-LR. This study suggests that Pt/WO3 photocatalytic oxidation under solar light is a promising option for the purification of water containing MC-LR. PMID:25884038

Nanocrystalline Pd:NiFe2O4 thin films: A selective ethanol gas sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Pratibha; Godbole, R. V.; Bhagwat, Sunita

2016-10-01

In this work, Pd:NiFe2O4 thin films were investigated for the detection of reducing gases. These films were fabricated using spray pyrolysis technique and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm the crystal structure. The surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Magnetization measurements were carried out using SQUID VSM, which shows ferrimagnetic behavior of the samples. These thin film sensors were tested against methanol, ethanol, hydrogen sulfide and liquid petroleum gas, where they were found to be more selective to ethanol. The fabricated thin film sensors exhibited linear response signal for all the gases with concentrations up to 5 w/o Pd. Reduction in optimum operating temperature and enhancement in response was also observed. Pd:NiFe2O4 thin films exhibited faster response and recovery characteristic. These sensors have potential for industrial applications because of their long-term stability, low power requirement and low production cost.

Ordered WO3-x nanorods: facile synthesis and their electrochemical properties for aluminum-ion batteries.

PubMed

Tu, Jiguo; Lei, Haiping; Yu, Zhijing; Jiao, Shuqiang

2018-02-01

In this work, we have synthesized ordered WO 3 nanorods via a facile hydrothermal process. And the series WO 3-x nanorods with oxygen vacancies are obtained via a subsequent thermal reduction process. The formation mechanisms of WO 3-x nanorods with different oxygen vacancies are proposed. And the electrochemical results reveal that the WO 3-x nanorods exhibit the improved specific capacity due to the oxygen vacancies caused by the thermal reduction. More importantly, the reaction mechanism of the WO 3-x nanorods as cathodes for aluminum-ion batteries has been proved.

Structure and Magnetism of Nanocrystalline and Epitaxial (Mn,Zn,Fe)3O4

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. a ...Park, NC 27709-2211 15. SUBJECT TERMS structure, magnetism, nanocrystalline, films F. J. Wong, A . J. Grutter, J. M. Iwata-Harms, V. V. Mehta, U. S...shifted by 200虠 Oe at low temperatures. No such effect is observed in the epitaxial films. We hypothesize that the presence of a more structurally

In situ etching WO{sub 3} nanoplates: Hydrothermal synthesis, photoluminescence and gas sensor properties

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

Su, Xintai, E-mail: suxintai827@163.com; Li, Yani; Jian, Jikang

2010-12-15

A novel hydrothermal process using p-nitrobenzoic acid as structure-directing agent has been employed to synthesize plate-shaped WO{sub 3} nanostructures containing holes. The p-nitrobenzoic acid plays a critical role in the synthesis of such novel WO{sub 3} nanoplates. The morphology, structure and optical property of the WO{sub 3} nanoplates have been characterized by transmission electron microcopy (TEM), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL). The lateral size of the nanoplates is 500-1000 nm, and the thickness is about 80 nm. The formation mechanism of WO{sub 3} nanoplates is discussed briefly. The gas sensitivity of WO{sub 3} nanoplates wasmore » studied to ethanol and acetone at different operation temperatures and concentrations. Furthermore, the WO{sub 3} nanoplate-based gas sensor exhibits high sensitivity for ethanol and acetone as well as quick response and recovery time at low temperature.« less

Metal oxide nanostructures for gas detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maziarz, Wojciech; Pisarkiewicz, Tadeusz; Rydosz, Artur; Wysocka, Kinga; Czyrnek, Grzegorz

2013-07-01

Currently, most of gas sensors on the market are produced in thin or thick film technologies with the use of ceramic substrates. It is expected that the miniature sensors needed in portable applications will be based on one-dimensional structures due to their low power consumption, fast and stable time response, small dimensions and possibility of embedding in integrated circuit together with signal conditioning electronics. The authors manufactured resistance type gas sensors based on ZnO and WO3 nanostructures. ZnO:Al nanorods with good cristallinity were obtained with electrodeposition method, while ZnO:Al nanofibres with varying diameters were obtained by electrospinning method. The sensors were built as a nanowire network. WO3 films with nanocrystalline surface were manufactured by deposition of a three layer WO3/W/WO3 structure by RF sputtering and successive annealing of the structure in appropriate temperature range. In effect a uniform nanostructurized metal oxide layer was formed. Investigation of sensors characteristics revealed good sensitivity to nitrogen dioxide at temperatures lower than these for conventional conductometric type sensors.

Synthesis, energy transfer and luminescence properties of Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+}, Bi{sup 3+} phosphor

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

Cao, Renping, E-mail: jxcrp@163.com; Xu, Haidong; Luo, Wenjie

Graphical abstract: PL spectra of Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+} and Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+}, Bi{sup 3+} phosphors with excitation at 407 nm, and the corresponding CIE chromaticity diagram and chromaticity coordinates. - Highlights: • Novel Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+}, Bi{sup 3+} phosphor is synthesized by solid-state reaction method in air. • Emission intensity of Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphor is enhanced ∼2 times after co-doped Bi{sup 3+} ion. • Charge compensation and energy transfer may be explained via luminescence properties. • Luminous mechanism is analyzed by energy level diagrams of WO{sub 6}{sup 6−} group, Sm{sup 3+} and Bi{sup 3+} ions.more » - Abstract: Novel Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+}, Bi{sup 3+} phosphor is synthesized by solid-state reaction method in air. Host Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6} with excitation 300 nm emits blue light. Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Bi{sup 3+} phosphor with excitation 300 and 338 nm emits yellow light. Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphor with excitation 300 nm exhibits tunable emission from blue to red light by increasing Sm{sup 3+} doping concentration from 0 to 8 mol%, however, only emits red light with excitation 407 nm. Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+}, Bi{sup 3+} phosphor with excitation 300 and 338 nm emits red light. The optimal Sm{sup 3+} doping concentration is ∼5 mol% in Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphor. After Bi{sup 3+} ion is co-doped, luminescence properties of Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphor can be improved obviously because of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} as fluxing agent role and energy transfer from Bi{sup 3+} to Sm{sup 3+} ions. The possible luminous mechanism of Ca{sub 2}MgWO{sub 6}:Sm{sup 3+}, Bi{sup 3+} phosphor is analyzed and explained by simplified energy level diagrams of WO{sub 6}{sup 6−} group, Bi{sup 3+} and Sm{sup 3+} ions.« less

Synthesis, characterization and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sensing properties of WO3 nano-particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Subhash; Majumder, S. B.

2018-05-01

Metal oxide sensors, such as ZnO, SnO2, and WO3 etc. have been utilized for several decades for low-costd etection of combustible and toxic gases. In the present work tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles have been prepared by using an economic wet chemical synthesis route. To understand the phase formation behavior of the synthesized powders, X-ray diffraction analysis has been performed. The microstructure evolution of the synthesized powders was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The calcined phase pure WO3 nanoparticles are investigated in terms of LPG gas sensing properties. The gas sensing measurements has been done in two different mode of operation (namely static and dynamic measurements). The degree of oxygen deficiency in the WO3 sensor also affected the sensor properties and the optimum oxygen content of WO3 was necessary to get high sensitivity for LPG. The WO3 sensor shows the excellent sensor properties for LPG at the operating temperature of 250°C.

Application of micro- and nanocrystalline cellulose

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sotnikova, Yu S.; Demina, T. S.; Istomin, A. V.; Goncharuk, G. P.; Grandfils, Ch; Akopova, T. A.; Zelenetskii, A. N.; Babayevsky, P. G.

2018-04-01

Micro- and nanocrystalline forms of cellulose were extracted from flax stalks and evaluated in terms of their applicability for various materials science tasks. It was revealed that both form of cellulose had anisometric morphology with length of 27.1 μm and 159 nm; diameter of 8.7 μm and 85 nm, respectively. They were used as reinforcing fillers for fabrication of composite films based on hydroxyethylcellulose. Film-forming and mechanical properties of the composite materials were significantly varied in dependence on filler content (0–10 wt.%) and size. As a second option of micro- and nanocrystalline cellulose application, a study of their effectiveness as stabilizing agents for oil/water Pickering emulsions was carried out. In contrast to micron-sized cellulose the nanocrystalline form appeared to be successful in the process of CH2Cl2/water interface stabilization and fabrication of polylactide microparticles via oil/water Pickering emulsion solvent evaporation technique.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of a mesoporous KxWO3 material having superior mechanical strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dey, Sonal; Anderson, Sean T.; Mayanovic, Robert A.; Sakidja, Ridwan; Landskron, Kai; Kokoszka, Berenika; Mandal, Manik; Wang, Zhongwu

2016-01-01

Mesoporous materials with tailored properties hold great promise for energy harvesting and industrial applications. We have synthesized a novel tungsten bronze mesoporous material (KxWO3; x ~ 0.07) having inverse FDU-12 type pore symmetry and a crystalline framework. In situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the mesoporous K0.07WO3 show persistence of a highly ordered meso-scale pore structure to high pressure conditions (~18.5 GPa) and a material with remarkable mechanical strength despite having ~35% porosity. Pressure dependent in situ SAXS measurements reveal a bulk modulus κ = 44 +/- 4 GPa for the mesoporous KxWO3 which is comparable to the corresponding value for the bulk monoclinic WO3 (γ-WO3). Evidence from middle angle (MAXS) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Raman spectroscopy shows that the presence of potassium leads to the formation of a K-bearing orthorhombic tungsten bronze (OTB) phase within a monoclinic WO3 host structure. Our ab initio molecular dynamics calculations show that the formation of the OTB phase provides superior strength to the mesoporous K0.07WO3.Mesoporous materials with tailored properties hold great promise for energy harvesting and industrial applications. We have synthesized a novel tungsten bronze mesoporous material (KxWO3; x ~ 0.07) having inverse FDU-12 type pore symmetry and a crystalline framework. In situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the mesoporous K0.07WO3 show persistence of a highly ordered meso-scale pore structure to high pressure conditions (~18.5 GPa) and a material with remarkable mechanical strength despite having ~35% porosity. Pressure dependent in situ SAXS measurements reveal a bulk modulus κ = 44 +/- 4 GPa for the mesoporous KxWO3 which is comparable to the corresponding value for the bulk monoclinic WO3 (γ-WO3). Evidence from middle angle (MAXS) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), high

Microstructure factor and mechanical and electronic properties of hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin-films for microelectromechanical systems applications

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

Mouro, J.; Gualdino, A.; Chu, V.

2013-11-14

Thin-film silicon allows the fabrication of MEMS devices at low processing temperatures, compatible with monolithic integration in advanced electronic circuits, on large-area, low-cost, and flexible substrates. The most relevant thin-film properties for applications as MEMS structural layers are the deposition rate, electrical conductivity, and mechanical stress. In this work, n{sup +}-type doped hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin-films were deposited by RF-PECVD, and the influence of the hydrogen dilution in the reactive mixture, the RF-power coupled to the plasma, the substrate temperature, and the deposition pressure on the structural, electrical, and mechanical properties of the films was studied. Three differentmore » types of silicon films were identified, corresponding to three internal structures: (i) porous amorphous silicon, deposited at high rates and presenting tensile mechanical stress and low electrical conductivity, (ii) dense amorphous silicon, deposited at intermediate rates and presenting compressive mechanical stress and higher values of electrical conductivity, and (iii) nanocrystalline silicon, deposited at very low rates and presenting the highest compressive mechanical stress and electrical conductivity. These results show the combinations of electromechanical material properties available in silicon thin-films and thus allow the optimized selection of a thin silicon film for a given MEMS application. Four representative silicon thin-films were chosen to be used as structural material of electrostatically actuated MEMS microresonators fabricated by surface micromachining. The effect of the mechanical stress of the structural layer was observed to have a great impact on the device resonance frequency, quality factor, and actuation force.« less

Detailed Study of BSA Adsorption on Micro- and Nanocrystalline Diamond/β-SiC Composite Gradient Films by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy.

PubMed

Handschuh-Wang, Stephan; Wang, Tao; Druzhinin, Sergey I; Wesner, Daniel; Jiang, Xin; Schönherr, Holger

2017-01-24

The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on micro- and nanocrystalline diamond/β-SiC composite films synthesized using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique has been investigated by confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. BSA labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was employed as a probe. The BSA FITC conjugate was found to preferentially adsorb on both O-/OH-terminated microcrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond compared to the OH-terminated β-SiC, resulting in an increasing amount of BSA adsorbed to the gradient surfaces with an increasing diamond/β-SiC ratio. The different strength of adsorption (>30 times for diamond with a grain size of 570 nm) coincides with different surface energy parameters and differing conformational changes upon adsorption. Fluorescence data of the adsorbed BSA FITC on the gradient film with different diamond coverage show a four-exponential decay with decay times of 3.71, 2.54, 0.66, and 0.13 ns for a grain size of 570 nm. The different decay times are attributed to the fluorescence of thiourea fluorescein residuals of linked FITC distributed in BSA with different dye-dye and dye-surface distances. The longest decay time was found to correlate linearly with the diamond grain size. The fluorescence of BSA FITC undergoes external dynamic fluorescence quenching on the diamond surface by H- and/or sp 2 -defects and/or by amorphous carbon or graphite phases. An acceleration of the internal fluorescence concentration quenching in BSA FITC because of structural changes of albumin due to adsorption, is concluded to be a secondary contributor. These results suggest that the micro- and nanocrystalline diamond/β-SiC composite gradient films can be utilized to spatially control protein adsorption and diamond crystallite size, which facilitates systematic studies at these interesting (bio)interfaces.

Tungsten oxide-graphene oxide (WO3-GO) nanocomposite as an efficient photocatalyst, antibacterial and anticancer agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeevitha, G.; Abhinayaa, R.; Mangalaraj, D.; Ponpandian, N.

2018-05-01

Functioning of ultrasonically prepared tungsten oxide-graphene oxide (WO3-GO) nanocomposite as a photocatalyst, antibacterial and anticancer system was investigated and the obtained results were compared with that of pure WO3 nanoparticles. Structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of the prepared WO3 nanoparticles and WO3-GO nanocomposite were studied. Photocatalytic efficiency of the system on organic dyes such as methylene blue (MB, cationic) and indigo carmine (IC, anionic) was investigated. The enhanced efficiency of the WO3-GO nanocomposite system was evaluated under sunlight and compared with that of pure WO3. The degradation efficiency values for MB and IC were found to be 97.03% and 95.43% at 180 and 120 min respectively. Antibacterial activity of the WO3-GO nanocomposite under visible light was tested and improved inhibition results were observed for Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis after 6 h of light exposure. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency and antibacterial activity of the WO3-GO nanocomposite are attributed to the improved electron-hole pair separation rate. Investigation on anticancer activity of WO3-GO nanocomposite was tested on human lung cancer (A-549) cell line and the IC50 value was found to be 139.6 ± 4.53 μg/mL. The results obtained in this study may be used as a platform for the development of photocatalysis applications based on WO3-GO nanocomposite.

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.

Understanding the Potential of WO3 Based Sensors for Breath Analysis

PubMed Central

Staerz, Anna; Weimar, Udo; Barsan, Nicolae

2016-01-01

Tungsten trioxide is the second most commonly used semiconducting metal oxide in gas sensors. Semiconducting metal oxide (SMOX)-based sensors are small, robust, inexpensive and sensitive, making them highly attractive for handheld portable medical diagnostic detectors. WO3 is reported to show high sensor responses to several biomarkers found in breath, e.g., acetone, ammonia, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, toluene, and nitric oxide. Modern material science allows WO3 samples to be tailored to address certain sensing needs. Utilizing recent advances in breath sampling it will be possible in the future to test WO3-based sensors in application conditions and to compare the sensing results to those obtained using more expensive analytical methods. PMID:27801881

Syntheses of nanocrystalline BaTiO3 and their optical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, J.; Chu, J.; Zhang, M.

Stoichiometric and titanium-excess nanocrystalline barium titanates were synthesized using a hydrothermal process at various hydrothermal temperatures and with further heat treatment at 500 °C and 900 °C. Owing to the different process conditions, the excess titanium exists in different states and configurations within the nanocrystalline BaTiO3 matrix; this was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and photoluminescence. In these nanocrystalline BaTiO3, the 590, 571, 543 and 694 nm light emission bands were observed; mechanisms leading to such emissions were also discussed.

A study on the structural and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline CuS thin films grown by chemical bath deposition technique

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

Mukherjee, Nillohit; Sinha, Arijit; Khan, Gobinda Gopal

2011-01-15

We report a chemical route for the deposition of nanocrystalline thin films of CuS, using aqueous solutions of Cu(CH{sub 3}COO){sub 2}, SC(NH{sub 2}){sub 2} and N(CH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}OH){sub 3} [triethanolamine, i.e. TEA] in proper concentrations and ratios. The films were structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and optical analysis [both photo luminescence (PL) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis)]. Optical studies showed a large blue shift in the band gap energy of the films due to quantum confinement effect exerted by the nanocrystals. From both XRD and FESEM analyses, formation of CuS nanocrystals with sizes withinmore » 10-15 nm was evident. A study on the mechanical properties was carried out using nanoindentation and nanoscratch techniques, which showed good mechanical stability and high adherence of the films with the bottom substrate. Such study on the mechanical properties of the CuS thin films is being reported here for the first time. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements were also carried out for the films, which showed p-type conductivity.« less

Large Scale Synthesis of Colloidal Si Nanocrystals and their Helium Plasma Processing into Spin-On, Carbon-Free Nanocrystalline Si Films.

PubMed

Mohapatra, Pratyasha; Mendivelso-Perez, Deyny; Bobbitt, Jonathan M; Shaw, Santosh; Yuan, Bin; Tian, Xinchun; Smith, Emily A; Cademartiri, Ludovico

2018-05-30

This paper describes a simple approach to the large scale synthesis of colloidal Si nanocrystals and their processing by He plasma into spin-on carbon-free nanocrystalline Si films. We further show that the RIE etching rate in these films is 1.87 times faster than for single crystalline Si, consistent with a simple geometric argument that accounts for the nanoscale roughness caused by the nanoparticle shape.

Formation of nanocrystalline diamond in polymer like carbon films deposited by plasma CVD.

PubMed

Bhaduri, A; Chaudhuri, P

2009-09-01

Conventional plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) method is generally not suitable for the growth of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films. However, our study shows that conditions favourable for powder formation help to grow large amount of nanocrystallites in conventional PECVD. With CH4 as the carbon source gas, dilution with Ar and moderate (50 W) rf power enhances formations of powders (nanoparticles) and C2 dimers within the plasma. On the other hand, with pure CH4 or with hydrogen diluted CH4, powder formation as also NCD growth is hindered. It is proposed that the nanoparticles formed in the plasma act as the "islands" while the C2 dimers are the "seeds" for the NCD growth. The structure of the films deposited on the grounded anode under different conditions of dilution has been studied. It is observed that with high Ar dilution the films contain NCD embedded in polymer like carbon (PLC) matrix.

Effect of aging heat time and annealing temperature on the properties of nanocrystalline tin dioxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadhim, Imad H.; Abu Hassan, H.

2017-04-01

Nanocrystalline tin dioxide (SnO2) thin films have been successfully prepared by sol-gel spin-coating technique on p-type Si (100) substrates. A stable solution was prepared by mixing tin(II) chloride dihydrate, pure ethanol, and glycerin. Temperature affects the properties of SnO2 thin films, particularly the crystallite size where the crystallization of SnO2 with tetragonal rutile structure is achieved when thin films that prepared under different aging heat times are annealed at 400∘C. By increasing aging heat time in the presence of annealing temperatures the FESEM images indicated that the thickness of the fabricated film was directly proportional to solution viscosity, increasing from approximately 380 nm to 744 nm, as well as the crystallization of the thin films improved and reduced defects.

A study of structural and mechanical properties of nano-crystalline tungsten nitride film synthesis by plasma focus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussnain, Ali; Singh Rawat, Rajdeep; Ahmad, Riaz; Hussain, Tousif; Umar, Z. A.; Ikhlaq, Uzma; Chen, Zhong; Shen, Lu

2015-02-01

Nano-crystalline tungsten nitride thin films are synthesized on AISI-304 steel at room temperature using Mather-type plasma focus system. The surface properties of the exposed substrate against different deposition shots are examined for crystal structure, surface morphology and mechanical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope and nano-indenter. The XRD results show the growth of WN and WN2 phases and the development of strain/stress in the deposited films by varying the number of deposition shots. Morphology of deposited films shows the significant change in the surface structure with different ion energy doses (number of deposition shots). Due to the effect of different ion energy doses, the strain/stress developed in the deposited film leads to an improvement of hardness of deposited films.

Osteogenic cell differentiation on H-terminated and O-terminated nanocrystalline diamond films

PubMed Central

Liskova, Jana; Babchenko, Oleg; Varga, Marian; Kromka, Alexander; Hadraba, Daniel; Svindrych, Zdenek; Burdikova, Zuzana; Bacakova, Lucie

2015-01-01

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films are promising materials for bone implant coatings because of their biocompatibility, chemical resistance, and mechanical hardness. Moreover, NCD wettability can be tailored by grafting specific atoms. The NCD films used in this study were grown on silicon substrates by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and grafted by hydrogen atoms (H-termination) or oxygen atoms (O-termination). Human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells were used for biological studies on H-terminated and O-terminated NCD films. The adhesion, growth, and subsequent differentiation of the osteoblasts on NCD films were examined, and the extracellular matrix production and composition were quantified. The osteoblasts that had been cultivated on the O-terminated NCD films exhibited a higher growth rate than those grown on the H-terminated NCD films. The mature collagen fibers were detected in Saos-2 cells on both the H-terminated and O-terminated NCD films; however, the quantity of total collagen in the extracellular matrix was higher on the O-terminated NCD films, as were the amounts of calcium deposition and alkaline phosphatase activity. Nevertheless, the expression of genes for osteogenic markers – type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin – was either comparable on the H-terminated and O-terminated films or even lower on the O-terminated films. In conclusion, the higher wettability of the O-terminated NCD films is promising for adhesion and growth of osteoblasts. In addition, the O-terminated surface also seems to support the deposition of extracellular matrix proteins and extracellular matrix mineralization, and this is promising for better osteoconductivity of potential bone implant coatings. PMID:25670900

Light-Driven Au-WO3@C Janus Micromotors for Rapid Photodegradation of Dye Pollutants.

PubMed

Zhang, Qilu; Dong, Renfeng; Wu, Yefei; Gao, Wei; He, Zihan; Ren, Biye

2017-02-08

A novel light-driven Au-WO 3 @C Janus micromotor based on colloidal carbon WO 3 nanoparticle composite spheres (WO 3 @C) prepared by one-step hydrothermal treatment is described. The Janus micromotors can move in aqueous media at a speed of 16 μm/s under 40 mW/cm 2 UV light due to diffusiophoretic effects. The propulsion of such Au-WO 3 @C Janus micromotors (diameter ∼ 1.0 μm) can be generated by UV light in pure water without any external chemical fuels and readily modulated by light intensity. After depositing a paramagnetic Ni layer between the Au layer and WO 3 , the motion direction of the micromotor can be precisely controlled by an external magnetic field. Such magnetic micromotors not only facilitate recycling of motors but also promise more possibility of practical applications in the future. Moreover, the Au-WO 3 @C Janus micromotors show high sensitivity toward extremely low concentrations of sodium-2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCIP) and Rhodamine B (RhB). The moving speed of motors can be significantly accelerated to 26 and 29 μm/s in 5 × 10 -4 wt % DCIP and 5 × 10 -7 wt % RhB aqueous solutions, respectively, due to the enhanced diffusiophoretic effect, which results from the rapid photocatalytic degradation of DCIP and RhB by WO 3 . This photocatalytic acceleration of the Au-WO 3 @C Janus micromotors confirms the self-diffusiophoretic mechanism and opens an opportunity to tune the motility of the motors. This work also offers the light-driven micromotors a considerable potential for detection and rapid photodegradation of dye pollutants in water.

Effect of sputtered titanium interlayers on the properties of nanocrystalline diamond films

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

Li, Cuiping, E-mail: licp226@126.com, E-mail: limingji@163.com; Li, Mingji, E-mail: licp226@126.com, E-mail: limingji@163.com; Wu, Xiaoguo

2016-04-07

Ti interlayers with different thicknesses were sputtered on Si substrates and then ultrasonically seeded in a diamond powder suspension. Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films were deposited using a dc arc plasma jet chemical vapor deposition system on the seeded Ti/Si substrates. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy tests showed that the roughness of the prepared Ti interlayer increased with increasing thickness. The effects of Ti interlayers with various thicknesses on the properties of NCD films were investigated. The results show nucleation, growth, and microstructure of the NCD films are strongly influenced by the Ti interlayers. The addition of a Timore » interlayer between the Si substrate and the NCD films can significantly enhance the nucleation rate and reduce the surface roughness of the NCD. The NCD film on a 120 nm Ti interlayer possesses the fastest nucleation rate and the smoothest surface. Raman spectra of the NCD films show trans-polyacetylene relevant peaks reduce with increasing Ti interlayer thickness, which can owe to the improvement of crystalline at grain boundaries. Furthermore, nanoindentation measurement results show that the NCD film on a 120 nm Ti interlayer displays a higher hardness and elastic modulus. High resolution transmission electron microscopy images of a cross-section show that C atoms diffuse into the Ti layer and Si substrate and form TiC and SiC hard phases, which can explain the enhancement of mechanical properties of NCD.« less

Effect of WO3 on EPR, structure and electrical conductivity of vanadyl doped WO3·M2O·B2O3 (M=Li, Na) glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheoran, A.; Agarwal, A.; Sanghi, S.; Seth, V. P.; Gupta, S. K.; Arora, M.

2011-12-01

Glasses with composition xWO3·(30-x)M2O·70B2O3 (M=Li, Na; 0≤x≤15) doped with 2 mol% V2O5 have been prepared using the melt-quench technique. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra have been recorded in X-band (ν≈9.14 GHz) at room temperature (RT). The spin Hamiltonian parameters, dipolar hyperfine coupling parameter and Fermi contact interaction parameter have been calculated. It is observed that the resultant resonance spectra contain hyperfine structures (hfs) only due to V4+ ions, which exist as VO2+ ions in octahedral coordination with a tetragonal compression in the present glass system. The tetragonality increases with WO3:M2O ratio and also there is an expansion of 3dxy orbit of unpaired electron in the vanadium ion. The study of IR transmission spectra over a range 400-4000 cm-1 depicts the presence of WO6 group. The DC conductivity (σ) has been measured in the temperature range 423-623 K and is found to be predominantly ionic.

Preparation of ultra-thin and high-quality WO{sub 3} compact layers and comparision of WO{sub 3} and TiO{sub 2} compact layer thickness in planar perovskite solar cells

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

Zhang, Jincheng; Shi, Chengwu, E-mail: shicw506@foxmail.com; Chen, Junjun

2016-06-15

In this paper, the ultra-thin and high-quality WO{sub 3} compact layers were successfully prepared by spin-coating-pyrolysis method using the tungsten isopropoxide solution in isopropanol. The influence of WO{sub 3} and TiO{sub 2} compact layer thickness on the photovoltaic performance of planar perovskite solar cells was systematically compared, and the interface charge transfer and recombination in planar perovskite solar cells with TiO{sub 2} compact layer was analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results revealed that the optimum thickness of WO{sub 3} and TiO{sub 2} compact layer was 15 nm and 60 nm. The planar perovskite solar cell with 15 nm WO{submore » 3} compact layer gave a 9.69% average and 10.14% maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency, whereas the planar perovskite solar cell with 60 nm TiO{sub 2} compact layer achieved a 11.79% average and 12.64% maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency. - Graphical abstract: The planar perovskite solar cell with 15 nm WO{sub 3} compact layer gave a 9.69% average and 10.14% maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency, whereas the planar perovskite solar cell with 60 nm TiO{sub 2} compact layer achieved a 11.79% average and 12.64% maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Preparation of ultra-thin and high-quality WO{sub 3} compact layers. • Perovskite solar cell with 15 nm-thick WO{sub 3} compact layer achieved PCE of 10.14%. • Perovskite solar cell with 60 nm-thick TiO{sub 2} compact layer achieved PCE of 12.64%.« less

Electrical impedance spectroscopy of neutron-irradiated nanocrystalline silicon carbide (3C-SiC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huseynov, Elchin M.

2018-01-01

It the present work, impedance spectra of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles have been comparatively analyzed before and after neutron irradiation. Resonance states and shifts were observed at the impedance spectra of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles after neutron irradiation. Relaxation time has been calculated from interdependence of real and imaginary parts of impedance of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles. Calculated relaxation times have been investigated as a function of neutron irradiation period. Neutron transmutation (31P isotopes production) effects on the impedance spectra and relaxation times have been studied. Moreover, influence of agglomeration and amorphous transformation to the impedance spectra and relaxation times of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles have been investigated.

Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Orange-Red Phosphors Na Y (WO4)2: Eu3+, Sm3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Hong; Chen, Shanyong; Chen, Jinlei

2017-12-01

Orange-red phosphors NaY(WO4)2:Eu3+, Sm3+ were successfully synthesised by hydrothermal synthesis method. The photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated. The PL emission spectrum of Na Y (WO4)2: Eu3+ shows good luminous properties under 398 nm, which mainly located at 596 and 615 nm, with the additional of Sm3+ could broaden and increase emission intensity of Eu3+, which could be suitable for the excitation of UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) (∼400 nm). The PL results indicated that Na Y (WO4)2: Eu3+, Sm3+ may be a promising red phosphor candidate for use in white LEDs.

Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by NH 3 with WO 3-TiO 2 Catalysts: Influence of Catalyst Synthesis Method

DOE PAGES

He, Yuanyuan; Ford, Michael E.; Zhu, Minghui; ...

2016-02-02

A series of supported WO 3/TiO 2 catalysts was prepared by a new synthesis procedure involving co-precipitation of an aqueous TiO(OH) 2 and (NH 4) 10W 12O 41*5H 2O slurry under controlled pH conditions. The morphological properties, molecular structures, surface acidity and surface chemistry of the supported WO 3/TiO 2 catalysts were determined with BET, in situ Raman, in situ IR and temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) spectroscopy, respectively. Isotopic 18O- 16O exchange demonstrated that tungsten oxide was exclusively present as surface WO x species on the TiO 2 support with mono-oxo W=O coordination. In contrast to previous studies employing impregnationmore » synthesis that found only surface one mono-oxo O=WO 4 site on TiO 2, the co-precipitation procedure resulted in the formation of two distinct surface WO x species: mono-oxo O=WO 4 (~1010-1017 cm -1) on low defect density patches of TiO 2 and a second mono-oxo O=WO 4 (~983-986 cm -1) on high defect density patches of TiO 2. The concentration of the second WO x surface species increases as a function of solution pH. Both surface WOx sites, however, exhibited the same NO/NH 3 SCR reactivity. The co-precipitated WO 3-TiO 2 catalysts synthesized in alkaline solutions exhibited enhanced performance for the NO/NH 3 SCR reaction that is ascribed to the greater number of surface defects on the resulting TiO2 support. For the co-precipitated catalyst prepared at pH10, surface NH 4 + species on Br nsted acid sites were found to be more reactive than surface NH 3* species on Lewis acid sites for SCR of NO with NH 3.« less

Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic behavior of WO3-fullerene/TiO2 catalysts under visible light

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

WO3-treated fullerene/TiO2 composites (WO3-fullerene/TiO2) were prepared using a sol-gel method. The composite obtained was characterized by BET surface area measurements, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-vis analysis. A methyl orange (MO) solution under visible light irradiation was used to determine the photocatalytic activity. Excellent photocatalytic degradation of a MO solution was observed using the WO3-fullerene, fullerene-TiO2, and WO3-fullerene/TiO2 composites under visible light. An increase in photocatalytic activity was observed, and WO3-fullerene/TiO2 has the best photocatalytic activity; it may attribute to the increase of the photo-absorption effect by the fullerene and the cooperative effect of the WO3. PMID:21774800

Direct growth of nanocrystalline hexagonal boron nitride films on dielectric substrates

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

Tay, Roland Yingjie; Temasek Laboratories@NTU, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, Singapore 639798; Tsang, Siu Hon

Atomically thin hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) films are primarily synthesized through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on various catalytic transition metal substrates. In this work, a single-step metal-catalyst-free approach to obtain few- to multi-layer nanocrystalline h-BN (NCBN) directly on amorphous SiO{sub 2}/Si and quartz substrates is demonstrated. The as-grown thin films are continuous and smooth with no observable pinholes or wrinkles across the entire deposited substrate as inspected using optical and atomic force microscopy. The starting layers of NCBN orient itself parallel to the substrate, initiating the growth of the textured thin film. Formation of NCBN is due to the random andmore » uncontrolled nucleation of h-BN on the dielectric substrate surface with no epitaxial relation, unlike on metal surfaces. The crystallite size is ∼25 nm as determined by Raman spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the NCBN formed sheets of multi-stacked layers with controllable thickness from ∼2 to 25 nm. The absence of transfer process in this technique avoids any additional degradation, such as wrinkles, tears or folding and residues on the film which are detrimental to device performance. This work provides a wider perspective of CVD-grown h-BN and presents a viable route towards large-scale manufacturing of h-BN substrates and for coating applications.« less

Electronic polarizability and interaction parameter of gadolinium tungsten borate glasses with high WO{sub 3} content

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

Taki, Yukina; Shinozaki, Kenji; Honma, Tsuyoshi

2014-12-15

Glasses with the compositions of 25Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}–xWO{sub 3}–(75−x)B{sub 2}O{sub 3} with x=25–65 were prepared by using a conventional melt quenching method, and their electronic polarizabilities, optical basicities Λ(n{sub o}), and interaction parameters A(n{sub o}) were estimated from density and refractive index measurements in order to clarify the feature of electronic polarizability and bonding states in the glasses with high WO{sub 3} contents. The optical basicity of the glasses increases monotonously with the substitution of WO{sub 3} for B{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and contrary the interaction parameter decreases monotonously with increasing WO{sub 3} content. A good linear correlation was observed betweenmore » Λ(n{sub o}) and A(n{sub o}) and between the glass transition temperature and A(n{sub o}). It was proposed that Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} oxide belongs to the category of basic oxide with a value of A(n{sub o})=0.044 Å{sup −3} as similar to WO{sub 3}. The relationship between the glass formation and electronic polarizability in the glasses was discussed, and it was proposed that the glasses with high WO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} contents would be a floppy network system consisting of mainly basic oxides. - Graphical abstract: This figure shows the correlation between the optical basicity and interaction parameter in borate-based glasses. The data obtained in the present study for Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}–WO{sub 3}–B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses are locating in the correlation line for other borate glasses. These results shown in Fig. 8 clearly demonstrate that Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}–WO{sub 3}–B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses having a wide range of optical basicity and interaction parameter are regarded as glasses consisting of acidic and basic oxides. - Highlights: • Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}–WO{sub 3}–B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses with high WO{sub 3} contents were prepared. • Electronic polarizability and interaction parameter were estimated. • Optical basicity

Preparation of Er3+:Y3Al5O12/WO3-KNbO3 composite and application in treatment of methamphetamine under ultrasonic irradiation.

PubMed

Zhang, Hongbo; Huang, Yingying; Li, Guanshu; Wang, Guowei; Fang, Dawei; Song, Youtao; Wang, Jun

2017-03-01

Er 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12 /WO 3 -KNbO 3 composite powder as an effective sonocatalyst was prepared via collosol-gelling-hydrothermal and high-temperature calcination methods. The textures of materials were observed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In order to estimate the sonocatalytic activity of Er 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12 /WO 3 -KNbO 3 composite powder, the sonocatalytic degradation of methamphetamine (MAPA) was performed. Furthermore, the influences of mass ratio of WO 3 and KNbO 3 , ultrasonic irradiation time, catalyst addition amount, initial methamphetamine (MAPA) concentration and used times on the sonocatalytic degradation of methamphetamine (MAPA) caused by Er 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12 /WO 3 -KNbO 3 composite powder were investigated by using gas chromatography. Under optimal conditions of 1.00g/L Er 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12 /WO 3 -KNbO 3 addition amount and 10.00mg/L methamphetamine (MAPA) initial concentration, 68% of methamphetamine (MAPA) could be removed after 150min ultrasonic irradiation. The experimental results showed that the Er 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12 /WO 3 -KNbO 3 as sonocatalyst displayed an excellent sonocatalytic activity in degradation of methamphetamine (MAPA) under ultrasonic irradiation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of Substrate Types on Structure and Emission of ZnO Nanocrystalline Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballardo Rodriguez, I. Ch.; El Filali, B.; Díaz Cano, A. I.; Torchynska, T. V.

2018-02-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) films were simultaneously synthesized by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method on p-type Si (100), silicon carbide polytype [6H-SiC (0001)], porous 6H-SiC and amorphous glass substrates with the aim of studying the impact of substrate types on the structure and emission of ZnO nanocrystalline films. Porous silicon carbide (P-SiC) was prepared by the electrochemical anodization method at a constant potential of 20 V and etching time of 12 min. ZnO films grown on the SiC and P-SiC substrates are characterized by a wurtzite crystal structure with preferential growth along the (002) direction and with grain sizes of 90-180 and 70-160 nm, respectively. ZnO films grown on the Si substrate have just some small irregular hexagonal islands. The amorphous glass substrate did not promote the formation of any regular crystal forms. The obtained x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence (PL) results have shown that the better ZnO film crystallinity and high PL intensity of near-band edge emissions were achieved in the films grown on the porous SiC and SiC substrates. The preferential growth and crystalline nature of ZnO films on the SiC substrate have been discussed from the point of view of the lattice parameter compatibility between ZnO and SiC crystals.

Host-Sensitized and Tunable Luminescence of GdNbO4:Ln3+ (Ln3+ = Eu3+/Tb3+/Tm3+) Nanocrystalline Phosphors with Abundant Color.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaoming; Chen, Chen; Li, Shuailong; Dai, Yuhua; Guo, Huiqin; Tang, Xinghua; Xie, Yu; Yan, Liushui

2016-10-17

Up to now, GdNbO 4 has always been regarded as an essentially inert material in the visible region with excitation of UV light and electron beams. Nevertheless, here we demonstrate a new recreating blue emission of GdNbO 4 nanocrystalline phosphors with a quantum efficiency of 41.6% and host sensitized luminescence in GdNbO 4 :Ln 3+ (Ln 3+ = Eu 3+ /Tb 3+ /Tm 3+ ) nanocrystalline phosphors with abundant color in response to UV light and electron beams. The GdNbO 4 and GdNbO 4 :Ln 3+ (Ln 3+ = Eu 3+ /Tb 3+ /Tm 3+ ) nanocrystalline phosphors were synthesized by a Pechini-type sol-gel process. With excitation of UV light and low-voltage electron beams, the obtained GdNbO 4 nanocrystalline phosphor presents a strong blue luminescence from 280 to 650 nm centered around 440 nm, and the GdNbO 4 :Ln 3+ nanocrystalline phosphors show both host emission and respective emission lines derived from the characterize f-f transitions of the doping Eu 3+ , Tb 3+ , and Tm 3+ ions. The luminescence color of GdNbO 4 :Ln 3+ nanocrystalline phosphors can be tuned from blue to green, red, blue-green, orange, pinkish, white, etc. by varying the doping species, concentration, and relative ratio of the codoping rare earth ions in GdNbO 4 host lattice. A single-phase white-light-emission has been realized in Eu 3+ /Tb 3+ /Tm 3+ triply doped GdNbO 4 nanocrystalline phosphors. The luminescence properties and mechanisms of GdNbO 4 and GdNbO 4 :Ln 3+ (Ln 3+ = Eu 3+ /Tb 3+ /Tm 3+ ) are updated.

Direct Coating of Nanocrystalline Diamond on Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsugawa, Kazuo; Kawaki, Shyunsuke; Ishihara, Masatou; Hasegawa, Masataka

2012-09-01

Nanocrystalline diamond films have been successfully deposited on stainless steel substrates without any substrate pretreatments to promote diamond nucleation, including the formation of interlayers. A low-temperature growth technique, 400 °C or lower, in microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition using a surface-wave plasma has cleared up problems in diamond growth on ferrous materials, such as the surface graphitization, long incubation time, substrate softening, and poor adhesion. The deposited nanocrystalline diamond films on stainless steel exhibit good adhesion and tribological properties, such as a high wear resistance, a low friction coefficient, and a low aggression strength, at room temperature in air without lubrication.

Gas Sensor Based on 3-D WO3 Inverse Opal: Design and Applications

PubMed Central

Xing, Ruiqing; Du, Yang; Zhao, Xiaonan; Zhang, Xiu

2017-01-01

A three-dimensional inverse opal (3DIO) WO3 architecture has been synthesized via a simple sacrificial template method. Morphology features of the 3DIO were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and its structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The shrinking ratio of the PMMA spheres was ~28.2% through measuring the distribution of the PMMA spheres and 3DIO WO3 center-to-center distance between the spheres and macropores, respectively. Beyond that, the 3DIO gas sensing properties were investigated systematically and the sensing mechanism of 3DIO WO3 was proposed. The results indicated that the response of the 3DIO sensor possessed excellent sensitivity to acetone gas, especially at trace levels. The 3DIO gas sensor response was ~7 to 5 ppm of acetone and could detect acetone low to 0.2 ppm effectively, which was in close proximity to the theoretical low detection limit of 0.14 ppm when Ra/Rg ≥ 1.2 was used as the criterion for reliable gas sensing. All in all, the obvious satisfaction of the gas-sensing properties was ascribed to the structure of the 3DIO, and the sensor could be a promising novel device in the future. PMID:28353672

Bioinspired Cocatalysts Decorated WO3 Nanotube Toward Unparalleled Hydrogen Sulfide Chemiresistor.

PubMed

Kim, Dong-Ha; Jang, Ji-Soo; Koo, Won-Tae; Choi, Seon-Jin; Cho, Hee-Jin; Kim, Min-Hyeok; Kim, Sang-Joon; Kim, Il-Doo

2018-06-22

Herein, we incorporated dual biotemplates, i.e., cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and apoferritin, into electrospinning solution to achieve three distinct benefits, i.e., (i) facile synthesis of a WO 3 nanotube by utilizing the self-agglomerating nature of CNC in the core of as-spun nanofibers, (ii) effective sensitization by partial phase transition from WO 3 to Na 2 W 4 O 13 induced by interaction between sodium-doped CNC and WO 3 during calcination, and (iii) uniform functionalization with monodispersive apoferritin-derived Pt catalytic nanoparticles (2.22 ± 0.42 nm). Interestingly, the sensitization effect of Na 2 W 4 O 13 on WO 3 resulted in highly selective H 2 S sensing characteristics against seven different interfering molecules. Furthermore, synergistic effects with a bioinspired Pt catalyst induced a remarkably enhanced H 2 S response ( R air / R gas = 203.5), unparalleled selectivity ( R air / R gas < 1.3 for the interfering molecules), and rapid response (<10 s)/recovery (<30 s) time at 1 ppm of H 2 S under 95% relative humidity level. This work paves the way for a new class of cosensitization routes to overcome critical shortcomings of SMO-based chemical sensors, thus providing a potential platform for diagnosis of halitosis.

A light-trapping strategy for nanocrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells using three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures.

PubMed

Ha, Kyungyeon; Jang, Eunseok; Jang, Segeun; Lee, Jong-Kwon; Jang, Min Seok; Choi, Hoseop; Cho, Jun-Sik; Choi, Mansoo

2016-02-05

We report three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures inducing multiple plasmon resonances for broadband light harvesting in nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin-film solar cells. A three-dimensional multiscale (3DM) assembly of nanoparticles generated using a multi-pin spark discharge method has been accomplished over a large area under atmospheric conditions via ion-assisted aerosol lithography. The multiscale features of the sophisticated 3DM structures exhibit surface plasmon resonances at multiple frequencies, which increase light scattering and absorption efficiency over a wide spectral range from 350-1100 nm. The multiple plasmon resonances, together with the antireflection functionality arising from the conformally deposited top surface of the 3D solar cell, lead to a 22% and an 11% improvement in power conversion efficiency of the nc-Si:H thin-film solar cells compared to flat cells and cells employing nanoparticle clusters, respectively. Finite-difference time-domain simulations were also carried out to confirm that the improved device performance mainly originates from the multiple plasmon resonances generated from three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures.

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.

Effect of annealing on structure, morphology and optoelectronic properties of nanocrystalline CuO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jundale, D. M.; Pawar, S. G.; Patil, S. L.; Chougule, M. A.; Godse, P. R.; Patil, V. B.

2011-10-01

The nanocrystalline CuO thin films were prepared on glass substrates by the sol-gel method. The structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties of CuO thin films, submitted to an annealing treatment in the 400-700 °C ranges are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Four Probe Technique and UV-visible spectroscopic. XRD measurements show that all the films are crystallized in the monoclinic phase and present a random orientation. Four prominent peaks, corresponding to the (110) phase (2θ≈32.70°), (002) phase (2θ≈35.70°), (111) phase (2θ≈38.76°) and (202) phase (2θ≈49.06°) appear on the diffractograms. The crystallite size increases with increasing annealing temperature. These modifications influence the microstructure, electrical and optical properties. The optical band gap energy decreases with increasing annealing temperature. These mean that the optical quality of CuO films is improved by annealing.

Influence of film thickness and Fe doping on LPG sensing properties of Mn3O4 thin film grown by SILAR method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belkhedkar, M. R.; Ubale, A. U.

2018-05-01

Nanocrystalline Fe doped and undoped Mn3O4 thin films have been deposited by Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method onto glass substrates using MnCl2 and NaOH as cationic and anionic precursors. The grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)) have been carried out to analyze structural and surface morphological properties of the films. The LPG sensing performance of Mn3O4thin films have been studied by varying temperature, concentration of LPG, thickness of the film and doping percentage of Fe. The LPG response of the Mn3O4thin films were found to be enhances with film thickness and decreases with increased Fe doping (0 to 8 wt. %) at 573 K temperature.

Size-controlled synthesis of nanocrystalline CdSe thin films by inert gas condensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Jeewan; Singh, Randhir; Kumar, Akshay; Singh, Tejbir; Agrawal, Paras; Thakur, Anup

2018-02-01

Size, shape and structure are considered to have significant influence on various properties of semiconducting nanomaterials. Different properties of these materials can be tailored by controlling the size. Size-controlled CdSe crystallites ranging from ˜ 04 to 95 nm were deposited by inert gas-condensation technique (IGC). In IGC method, by controlling the inert gas pressure in the condensation chamber and the substrate temperature or both, it was possible to produce nanoparticles with desired size. Structure and crystallite size of CdSe thin films were determined from Hall-Williamson method using X-ray diffraction data. The composition of CdSe samples was estimated by X-ray microanalysis. It was confirmed that CdSe thin film with different nanometer range crystallite sizes were synthesized with this technique, depending upon the synthesis conditions. The phase of deposited CdSe thin films also depend upon deposition conditions and cubic to hexagonal phase transition was observed with increase in substrate temperature. The effect of crystallite size on optical and electrical properties of these films was also studied. The crystallite size affects the optical band gap, electrical conductivity and mobility activation of nanocrystalline CdSe thin films. Mobility activation study suggested that there is a quasi-continuous linear distribution of three different trap levels below the conduction band.

Optical Properties of Ar Ions Irradiated Nanocrystalline ZrC and ZrN Thin Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, C.; Miller, K. H.; Makino, H.; Craciun, D.; Simeone, D.; Craciun, V.

2017-01-01

Thin nanocrystalline ZrC and ZrN films (less than 400 nanometers), grown on (100) Si substrates at a substrate temperature of 500 degrees Centigrade by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique, were irradiated by 800 kiloelectronvolts Ar ion irradiation with fluences from 1 times 10(sup 14) atoms per square centimeter up to 2 times 10(sup 15) atoms per square centimeter. Optical reflectance data, acquired from as-deposited and irradiated films, in the range of 500-50000 per centimeter (0.06–6 electronvolts), was used to assess the effect of irradiation on the optical and electronic properties. Both in ZrC and ZrN films we observed that irradiation affects the optical properties of the films mostly at low frequencies, which is dominated by the free carriers response. In both materials, we found a significant reduction in the free carriers scattering rate, i.e. possible increase in mobility, at higher irradiation flux. This is consistent with our previous findings that irradiation affects the crystallite size and the micro-strain, but it does not induce major structural changes.

Ultrathin Nanocrystalline Diamond Films with Silicon Vacancy Color Centers via Seeding by 2 nm Detonation Nanodiamonds.

PubMed

Stehlik, Stepan; Varga, Marian; Stenclova, Pavla; Ondic, Lukas; Ledinsky, Martin; Pangrac, Jiri; Vanek, Ondrej; Lipov, Jan; Kromka, Alexander; Rezek, Bohuslav

2017-11-08

Color centers in diamonds have shown excellent potential for applications in quantum information processing, photonics, and biology. Here we report chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films as thin as 5-6 nm with photoluminescence (PL) from silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers at 739 nm. Instead of conventional 4-6 nm detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs), we prepared and employed hydrogenated 2 nm DNDs (zeta potential = +36 mV) to form extremely dense (∼1.3 × 10 13 cm -2 ), thin (2 ± 1 nm), and smooth (RMS roughness < 0.8 nm) nucleation layers on an Si/SiO x substrate, which enabled the CVD growth of such ultrathin NCD films in two different and complementary microwave (MW) CVD systems: (i) focused MW plasma with an ellipsoidal cavity resonator and (ii) pulsed MW plasma with a linear antenna arrangement. Analytical ultracentrifuge, infrared and Raman spectroscopies, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy are used for detailed characterization of the 2 nm H-DNDs and the nucleation layer as well as the ultrathin NCD films. We also demonstrate on/off switching of the SiV center PL in the NCD films thinner than 10 nm, which is achieved by changing their surface chemistry.

Low-temperature synthesis and structural properties of ferroelectric K 3WO 3F 3 elpasolite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atuchin, V. V.; Gavrilova, T. A.; Kesler, V. G.; Molokeev, M. S.; Aleksandrov, K. S.

2010-06-01

Low-temperature ferroelectric G2 polymorph of K 3WO 3F 3 has been prepared by chemical synthesis. Structural and chemical properties of the final product have been evaluated with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Structure parameters of G2-K 3WO 3F 3 are refined by the Rietveld method from XRD data measured at room temperature (space group Cm, Z = 2, a = 8.7350(3) Å, b = 8.6808(5) Å, c = 6.1581(3) Å, β = 135.124(3) Å, V = 329.46(3) Å 3; RB = 2.47%). Partial ordering of oxygen and fluorine atoms has been found over anion positions. Mechanism of ferroelectric phase transition in A 2BMO 3F 3 oxyfluorides is discussed.

Synthesis of WO 3 nanoparticles for superthermites by the template method from silica spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibot, Pierre; Comet, Marc; Vidal, Loic; Moitrier, Florence; Lacroix, Fabrice; Suma, Yves; Schnell, Fabien; Spitzer, Denis

2011-05-01

Nanosized WO 3 tungsten trioxide was prepared by calcination of H 3P 4W 12O 40· xH 2O phosphotungstic acid, previously dissolved in a silica colloidal solution. The influence of the silica spheres/tungsten precursor weight ratio ( x) was investigated. The pristine oxide powders were characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, SEM and TEM techniques. A specific surface area and a pore volume of 64.2 m 2 g -1 and 0.33 cm 3 g -1, respectively, were obtained for the well-crystallized WO 3 powder prepared with x = 2/3 and after the removal of the silica template. The WO 3 particles exhibit a sphere-shaped morphology with a particle size of 13 and 320 nm as function of the x ratio. The performance and the sensitivity levels of the thermites prepared from aluminium nanoparticles mixed with (i) the smallest tungsten (VI) oxide material and (ii) the microscale WO 3 were compared. The combustion of these energetic composites was investigated by time resolved cinematography (TRC). This unconventional experimental technique consists to ignite the dried compressed composites by using a CO 2 laser beam, in order to determine their ignition delay time (IDT) and their combustion rate. The downsizing WO 3 particles improves, without ambiguity, the energetic performances of the WO 3/Al thermite. For instance, the ignition delay time was greatly shortened from 54 ± 10 ms to 5.7 ± 0.2 ms and the combustion velocity was increased by a factor 50 to reach a value of 4.1 ± 0.3 m/s. In addition, the use of WO 3 nanoparticles sensitizes the mixture to mechanical stimuli but decreases the sensitivity to electrostatic discharge.

Temperature and field dependent magnetization studies on nano-crystalline ZnFe2O4 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahu, B. N.; Suresh, K. G.; Venkataramani, N.; Prasad, Shiva; Krishnan, R.

2018-05-01

Single phase nano-crystalline zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) thin films were deposited on fused quartz substrate using the pulsed laser deposition technique. The films were deposited at different substrate temperatures. The field dependence of magnetization at 10 K shows hysteresis loops for all the samples. Temperature dependence of the field cooled (FC) and zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetization indicated irreversible behavior between the FC and ZFC data, and the irreversibility depends on the measuring magnetic field. The thermo-magnetic irreversibility in the magnetization data is correlated with the magnitude of the applied field and the coercivity (HC) obtained from the M-H loops.

Nanocrystalline mesoporous SMO thin films prepared by sol gel process for MEMS-based hydrogen sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Jianwei; Fei, Weifeng; Seal, Sudipta; Chen, Quanfang

2004-01-01

MEMS based SnO2 gas sensor with sol gel synthesized mesoporous nanocrystalline (<10 nm) semiconductor thin (100~150 nm) film has been recently developed. The SnO2 nano film is fabricated with the combination of polymeric sol gel chemistry with block copolymers used for structure directing agents. The novel hydrogen sensor has a fast response time (1s) and quick recovery time (3s), as well as good sensitivity (about 90%), comparing to other hydrogen sensors developed. The improved capabilities are credited to the large surface to volume ratio of gas sensing thin film with nano sized porous surface topology, which can greatly increase the sensitivity even at relatively low working temperature. The gas sensing film is deposited onto a thin dielectric membrane of low thermal conductivity, which provides good thermal isolation between substrate and the gas-sensitive heated area on the membrane. In this way the power consumption can be kept very low. Since the fabrication process is completely compatible with IC industry, it makes mass production possible and greatly reduces the cost. The working temperature of the new sensor can be reduced as low as 100°C. The low working temperature posse advantages such as lower power consumption, lower thermal induced signal shift as well as safe detection in certain environments where temperature is strictly limited.

Structural and electronic engineering of 3DOM WO3 by alkali metal doping for improved NO2 sensing performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhihua; Fan, Xiaoxiao; Han, Dongmei; Gu, Fubo

2016-05-01

Novel alkali metal doped 3DOM WO3 materials were prepared using a simple colloidal crystal template method. Raman, XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, PL, Hall and UV-Vis techniques were used to characterize the structural and electronic properties of all the products, while the corresponding sensing performances targeting ppb level NO2 were determined at different working temperatures. For the overall goal of structural and electronic engineering, the co-effect of structural and electronic properties on the improved NO2 sensing performance of alkali metal doped 3DOM WO3 was studied. The test results showed that the gas sensing properties of 3DOM WO3/Li improved the most, with the fast response-recovery time and excellent selectivity. More importantly, the response of 3DOM WO3/Li to 500 ppb NO2 was up to 55 at room temperature (25 °C). The especially high response to ppb level NO2 at room temperature (25 °C) in this work has a very important practical significance. The best sensing performance of 3DOM WO3/Li could be ascribed to the most structure defects and the highest carrier mobility. And the possible gas sensing mechanism based on the model of the depletion layer was proposed to demonstrate that both structural and electronic properties are responsible for the NO2 sensing behavior.Novel alkali metal doped 3DOM WO3 materials were prepared using a simple colloidal crystal template method. Raman, XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, PL, Hall and UV-Vis techniques were used to characterize the structural and electronic properties of all the products, while the corresponding sensing performances targeting ppb level NO2 were determined at different working temperatures. For the overall goal of structural and electronic engineering, the co-effect of structural and electronic properties on the improved NO2 sensing performance of alkali metal doped 3DOM WO3 was studied. The test results showed that the gas sensing properties of 3DOM WO3/Li improved the most, with the fast response-recovery time and

Effect of Various Catalysts on the Stability of Characteristics of Acetone Sensors Based on Thin Nanocrystalline SnO2 Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevastyanov, E. Yu.; Maksimova, N. K.; Potekaev, A. I.; Khludkova, L. S.; Chernikov, E. V.; Davydova, T. A.

2018-02-01

The results of studies of electrical and gas sensitive characteristics of acetone sensors based on thin nanocrystalline SnO2 films with various catalysts deposited on the surface (Pt/Pd, Au) and introduced into the volume (Au, Ni, Co) are presented. Films containing impurities of gold and 3d-metals were obtained by the method of magnetron sputtering of mosaic targets. Particular attention was paid to the influence of the longterm tests and humidity level on the properties of sensors. It is shown that the sensors with the deposited dispersed gold layers with Au+Ni and, especially, Au+Co additives introduced into the volume are characterized by the increased stability in the process of testing under prolonged exposure to acetone and also under conditions of varying humidity.

Pd/WO3/C nanocomposite with APTMS-functionalized tungsten oxide nanosheet for formic acid electrooxidation enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yang; Li, Yun-Hua; Zhao, Ya-Fei; Li, Peng-Wei; Li, Qiao-Xia

2018-01-01

A Pd/WO3/C nanocomposite with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS)-functionalized tungsten oxide nanosheets (Pd/WO3/C-APTMS) was synthesized and applied as the efficient anode catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). The mechanism for synthesizing the nanocomposite is as follows: initially, [PdCl4]2- was assembled onto the tungsten oxide nanosheets modified with APTMS. Following this, Pd nanoparticles were reduced via traditional impregnation reduction of [PdCl4]2- with NaBH4. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images revealed that the Pd nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on WO3 nanosheets and were approximately 2.7 nm in size. The electrochemical test results showed that enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) was obtained on the Pd/WO3/C catalyst compared with Pd/C. The higher electrocatalytic activity might be attributed to the uniform distribution of Pd with smaller particles. Furthermore, it is likely that the improvement in catalytic stability for the Pd/WO3/C catalyst is due to the hydrogen spillover effect of WO3 particles. These results indicate that this novel Pd/WO3/C-APTMS nanocomposite exhibits promising potential for use as an anode electrocatalyst in DFAFCs.

Photo-electrochemical Oxidation of Organic C1 Molecules over WO3 Films in Aqueous Electrolyte: Competition Between Water Oxidation and C1 Oxidation.

PubMed

Reichert, Robert; Zambrzycki, Christian; Jusys, Zenonas; Behm, R Jürgen

2015-11-01

To better understand organic-molecule-assisted photo-electrochemical water splitting, photo-electrochemistry and on-line mass spectrometry measurements are used to investigate the photo-electrochemical oxidation of the C1 molecules methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid over WO3 film anodes in aqueous solution and its competition with O2 evolution from water oxidation O2 (+) and CO2 (+) ion currents show that water oxidation is strongly suppressed by the organic species. Photo-electro-oxidation of formic acid is dominated by formation of CO2 , whereas incomplete oxidation of formaldehyde and methanol prevails, with the selectivity for CO2 formation increasing with increasing potential and light intensity. The mechanistic implications for the photo-electro-oxidation of the organic molecules and its competition with water oxidation, which could be derived from this novel approach, are discussed. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Magnetostriction-polarization coupling in multiferroic Mn 2MnWO 6

DOE PAGES

Li, Man-Rong; McCabe, Emma E.; Stephens, Peter W.; ...

2017-12-11

Double corundum-related polar magnets are promising materials for multiferroic and magnetoelectric applications in spintronics. However, their design and synthesis is a challenge, and magnetoelectric coupling has only been observed in Ni 3TeO 6 among the known double corundum compounds to date. Here in this paper we address the high-pressure synthesis of a new polar and antiferromagnetic corundum derivative Mn 2MnWO 6, which adopts the Ni 3TeO 6-type structure with low temperature first-order field-induced metamagnetic phase transitions (T N = 58 K) and high spontaneous polarization (~ 63.3 μC·cm -2). The magnetostriction-polarization coupling in Mn 2MnWO 6 is evidenced by secondmore » harmonic generation effect, and corroborated by magnetic-field-dependent pyroresponse behavior, which together with the magnetic-field-dependent polarization and dielectric measurements, qualitatively indicate magnetoelectric coupling. Finally, piezoresponse force microscopy imaging and spectroscopy studies on Mn 2MnWO 6 show switchable polarization, which motivates further exploration on magnetoelectric effect in single crystal/thin film specimens.« less

Magnetostriction-polarization coupling in multiferroic Mn 2MnWO 6

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

Li, Man-Rong; McCabe, Emma E.; Stephens, Peter W.

Double corundum-related polar magnets are promising materials for multiferroic and magnetoelectric applications in spintronics. However, their design and synthesis is a challenge, and magnetoelectric coupling has only been observed in Ni 3TeO 6 among the known double corundum compounds to date. Here in this paper we address the high-pressure synthesis of a new polar and antiferromagnetic corundum derivative Mn 2MnWO 6, which adopts the Ni 3TeO 6-type structure with low temperature first-order field-induced metamagnetic phase transitions (T N = 58 K) and high spontaneous polarization (~ 63.3 μC·cm -2). The magnetostriction-polarization coupling in Mn 2MnWO 6 is evidenced by secondmore » harmonic generation effect, and corroborated by magnetic-field-dependent pyroresponse behavior, which together with the magnetic-field-dependent polarization and dielectric measurements, qualitatively indicate magnetoelectric coupling. Finally, piezoresponse force microscopy imaging and spectroscopy studies on Mn 2MnWO 6 show switchable polarization, which motivates further exploration on magnetoelectric effect in single crystal/thin film specimens.« less

Ultrasensitive ppb-level NO2 gas sensor based on WO3 hollow nanosphers doped with Fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ziyue; haq, Mahmood; Wen, Zhen; Ye, Zhizhen; Zhu, Liping

2018-03-01

WO3 mesoporous hollow nanospheres doped with Fe synthesized by a facile method have mesoporous hollow nanospherical like morphology, small grain size (10 nm), high crystalline quality and ultrahigh surface area (165 m2/g). XRD spectra and Raman spectra indicate the Fe doping leading to the smaller cell parameters as compared to pure WO3, and the slight distortion in the crystal lattice produces a number of defects, making it a better candidate for gas sensing. XPS analysis shows that Fe-doped WO3 mesoporous hollow nanospheres have more oxygen vacancies than pure WO3, which is beneficial to the adsorption of oxygen and NO2 and its surface reaction. The gas sensor based on Fe-WO3 exhibited excellent low ppb-level (10 ppb) NO2 detecting performance and outstanding selectivity.

Bright Lu2O3:Eu thin-film scintillators for high-resolution radioluminescence microscopy

PubMed Central

Sengupta, Debanti; Miller, Stuart; Marton, Zsolt; Chin, Frederick; Nagarkar, Vivek

2015-01-01

We investigate the performance of a new thin-film Lu2O3:Eu scintillator for single-cell radionuclide imaging. Imaging the metabolic properties of heterogeneous cell populations in real time is an important challenge with clinical implications. We have developed an innovative technique called radioluminescence microscopy, to quantitatively and sensitively measure radionuclide uptake in single cells. The most important component of this technique is the scintillator, which converts the energy released during radioactive decay into luminescent signals. The sensitivity and spatial resolution of the imaging system depend critically on the characteristics of the scintillator, i.e. the material used and its geometrical configuration. Scintillators fabricated using conventional methods are relatively thick, and therefore do not provide optimal spatial resolution. We compare a thin-film Lu2O3:Eu scintillator to a conventional 500 μm thick CdWO4 scintillator for radioluminescence imaging. Despite its thinness, the unique scintillation properties of the Lu2O3:Eu scintillator allow us to capture single positron decays with over fourfold higher sensitivity, a significant achievement. The thin-film Lu2O3:Eu scintillators also yield radioluminescence images where individual cells appear smaller and better resolved on average than with the CdWO4 scintillators. Coupled with the thin-film scintillator technology, radioluminescence microscopy can yield valuable and clinically relevant data on the metabolism of single cells. PMID:26183115

Nanocrystalline ferroelectric BaTiO3/Pt/fused silica for implants synthetized by pulsed laser deposition method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jelínek, Miroslav; Drahokoupil, Jan; Jurek, Karel; Kocourek, Tomáš; Vaněk, Přemysl

2017-09-01

The thin-films of BaTiO3 (BTO)/Pt were prepared to test their potential as coatings for titanium-alloy implants. The nanocrystalline BTO/Pt bi-layers were successfully synthesized using fused silica as substrates. The bi-layers were prepared using KrF excimer laser ablation at substrate temperatures (Ts) ranging from 650 °C to 750 °C. The microstructure and composition of the deposits were investigated by scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffraction and wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy methods. The electrical characterization of the Pt/BTO/Pt capacitors indicated ferroelectric-type response in BTO films containing (40-140) nm-sized grains. The technology, microstructure, and functional response of the layers are presented in detail.

Structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 thin film prepared by spray pyrolysis technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chavan, Apparao R.; Chilwar, R. R.; Shisode, M. V.; Hivrekar, Mahesh M.; Mande, V. K.; Jadhav, K. M.

2018-05-01

The nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 thin film has been prepared using a spray pyrolysis technique on glass substrate. The prepared thin film was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) characterization techniques for the structural and microstructural analysis. The magnetic property was measured using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature. X-ray diffraction studies show the formation of single phase spinel structure of the thin film. The octahedral and tetrahedral vibration in the sample was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. Magnetic hysteresis loop was recorded for thin film at room temperature. At 15 kOe, saturation magnetization (Ms) was found to increase while coercivity (Hc) decreases with thickness of the NiFe2O4 thin film.

Effect of substrate temperature on implantation doping of Co in CdS nanocrystalline thin films.

PubMed

Chandramohan, S; Kanjilal, A; Sarangi, S N; Majumder, S; Sathyamoorthy, R; Hong, C-H; Som, T

2010-07-01

We demonstrate doping of nanocrystalline CdS thin films with Co ions by ion implantation at an elevated temperature of 573 K. The modifications caused in structural and optical properties of these films are investigated. Co-doping does not lead to amorphization or formation of any secondary phase precipitate for dopant concentrations in the range of 0.34-10.8 at.% used in the present study. However, we observe a systematic reduction in the d-spacing with increasing cobalt concentration. Optical band gap of CdS does not show any obvious change upon Co-doping. In addition, implantation gives rise to grain growth and increase in the surface roughness. The results are discussed in the light of ion-matter interaction in the keV regime.

Electrical transport properties of nanoplates shaped tungsten oxide embedded poly(vinyl-alcohol) film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Amit Kumar; Chatterjee, Piyali; Meikap, Ajit Kumar

2018-04-01

Tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoplates have been synthesized via hydrothermal method. The average crystallite size of the nanoplates is 28.9 ± 0.5 nm. The direct and indirect band gap of WO3 is observed. The AC conductivity of PVA-WO3 composite film has been observed and carrier transport mechanism follows correlated barrier hopping model. The maximum barrier height of the composite film is 0.1 eV. The electric modulus reflects the non-Debye type behaviour of relaxation time which is simulated by Kohlrausch-Willims-Watts (KWW) function.

Cold sprayed WO3 and TiO2 electrodes for photoelectrochemical water and methanol oxidation in renewable energy applications.

PubMed

Haisch, Christoph; Schneider, Jenny; Fleisch, Manuel; Gutzmann, Henning; Klassen, Thomas; Bahnemann, Detlef W

2017-10-03

Films prepared by cold spray have potential applications as photoanodes in electrochemical water splitting and waste water purification. In the present study cold sprayed photoelectrodes produced with WO 3 (active under visible light illumination) and TiO 2 (active under UV illumination) on titanium metal substrates were investigated as photoanodes for the oxidation of water and methanol, respectively. Methanol was chosen as organic model pollutant in acidic electrolytes. Main advantages of the cold sprayed photoelectrodes are the improved metal-semiconductor junctions and the superior mechanical stability. Additionally, the cold spray method can be utilized as a large-scale electrode fabrication technique for photoelectrochemical applications. Incident photon to current efficiencies reveal that cold sprayed TiO 2 /WO 3 photoanodes exhibit the best photoelectrochemical properties with regard to the water and methanol oxidation reactions in comparison with the benchmark photocatalyst Aeroxide TiO 2 P25 due to more efficient harvesting of the total solar light irradiation related to their smaller band gap energies.

Visible-light-driven Bi 2 O 3 /WO 3 composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity

DOE PAGES

Adhikari, Shiba P.; Dean, Hunter; Hood, Zachary D.; ...

2015-10-19

Semiconductor heterojunctions (composites) have been shown to be effective photocatalytic materials to overcome the drawbacks of low photocatalytic efficiency that results from electron–hole recombination and narrow photo-response range. We prepared a novel visible-light-driven Bi 2O 3/WO 3 composite photocatalyst by hydrothermal synthesis. The composite was characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to better understand the structures, compositions, morphologies and optical properties. Bi 2O 3/WO 3 heterojunction was found to exhibit significantly higher photocatalyticmore » activity towards the decomposition of Rhodamine B (RhB) and 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) under visible light irradiation compared to that of Bi 2O 3 and WO 3. A tentative mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the heterostructured composite is discussed based on observed activity, band position calculations, photoluminescence, and electrochemical impedance data. Our study provides a new strategy for the design of composite materials with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance.« less

Properties of Nanocrystalline Cubic Silicon Carbide Thin Films Prepared by Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition Using SiH4/CH4/H2 at Various Substrate Temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabata, Akimori; Komura, Yusuke; Hoshide, Yoshiki; Narita, Tomoki; Kondo, Akihiro

2008-01-01

Silicon carbide (SiC) thin films were prepared by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition from SiH4/CH4/H2 gases, and the influence of substrate temperature, Ts (104 < Ts < 434 °C), on the properties of the SiC thin films was investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman scattering spectra revealed that nanocrystalline cubic SiC (nc-3C-SiC) films grew at Ts above 187 °C, while completely amorphous films grew at Ts = 104 °C. Fourier transform infrared absorption spectra revealed that the crystallinity of the nc-3C-SiC was improved with increasing Ts up to 282 °C and remained almost unchanged with a further increase in Ts from 282 to 434 °C. The spin density was reduced monotonically with increasing Ts.

Porous WO3/graphene/polyester textile electrode materials with enhanced electrochemical performance for flexible solid-state supercapacitors.

PubMed

Jin, Li-Na; Liu, Ping; Jin, Chun; Zhang, Jia-Nan; Bian, Shao-Wei

2018-01-15

In this work, a flexible and porous WO 3 /grapheme/polyester (WO 3 /G/PT) textile electrode was successfully prepared by in situ growing WO 3 on the fiber surface inside G/PT composite fabrics. The unique electrode structure facilitates to enhance the energy storage performance because the 3D conductive network constructed by the G/PT increase the electron transportation rate, nanotructured WO 3 exposed enhanced electrochemically active surface area and the hierarchically porous structure improved the electrolyte ion diffusion rate. The optimized WO 3 /G/PT textile electrode exhibited good electrochemical performance with a high areal capacitance of 308.2mFcm -2 at a scan rate of 2mVs -1 and excellent cycling stability. A flexible asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device was further fabricated by using the WO 3 /G/PT electrode and G/PT electrode, which exhibited a good specific capacitance of 167.6mFcm -3 and high energy density of 60μWhcm -3 at the power density of 2320 μWcm -3 . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Microstructural Evolution of Nanocrystalline Diamond Films Due to CH4/Ar/H2 Plasma Post-Treatment Process.

PubMed

Lin, Sheng-Chang; Yeh, Chien-Jui; Manoharan, Divinah; Leou, Keh-Chyang; Lin, I-Nan

2015-10-07

Plasma post-treatment process was observed to markedly enhance the electron field emission (EFE) properties of ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films. TEM examinations reveal that the prime factor which improves the EFE properties of these films is the coalescence of ultrasmall diamond grains (∼5 nm) forming large diamond grains about hundreds of nanometers accompanied by the formation of nanographitic clusters along the grain boundaries due to the plasma post-treatment process. OES studies reveal the presence of large proportion of atomic hydrogen and C2 (or CH) species, which are the main ingredients that altered the granular structure of the UNCD films. In the post-treatment process, the plasma interacts with the diamond films by a diffusion process. The recrystallization of diamond grains started at the surface region of the material, and the interaction zone increased with the post-treatment period. The entire diamond film can be converted into a nanocrystalline granular structure when post-treated for a sufficient length of time.

Copper(II) tungstate nanoflake array films: sacrificial template synthesis, hydrogen treatment, and their application as photoanodes in solar water splitting.

PubMed

Hu, Dianyi; Diao, Peng; Xu, Di; Xia, Mengyang; Gu, Yue; Wu, Qingyong; Li, Chao; Yang, Shubin

2016-03-21

We report the preparation of CuWO4 nanoflake (NF) array films by using a solid phase reaction method in which WO3 NFs were employed as sacrificial templates. The SEM, TEM and XRD results demonstrated that the obtained CuWO4 films possessed a network structure that was composed of single crystalline NFs intersected with each other. The CuWO4 NF films showed superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity to other CuWO4 photoanodes reported recently for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We attributed the high activity to the unique morphological and crystalline structure of the CuWO4 film, which enhanced the photoactivity by providing a large specific area, a short hole transport distance from the inside of CuWO4 to the CuWO4/solution interface, and a low grain boundary density. Hydrogen treatment by annealing the CuWO4 NF film in mixed gases of H2 and Ar could further enhance the photoactivity, as hydrogen treatment significantly increased the electron density of CuWO4 by generating oxygen vacancy in the lattice. The photocurrent density for OER obtained on the hydrogen-treated (H-treated) CuWO4 NF film is the largest ever reported on CuWO4 photoanodes in the literature. Moreover, the CuWO4 photoanodes exhibit good stability in weak alkaline solution, while the H-treated CuWO4 photoanodes exhibit acceptable stability. This work not only reveals the potential of CuWO4 as a photoanode material for solar water splitting but also shows that the construction of nanostructured CuWO4 photoanodes is a promising method to achieve high PEC activity toward OER.

Nanoplate-like tungsten trioxide (hydrate) films prepared by crystal-seed-assisted hydrothermal reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, P.; Yang, L.; Dai, B.; Yang, Z.; Guo, S.; Zhu, J.

2017-07-01

Vertically-aligned WO3 nanoplates on transparent conducting fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass were prepared by a facile template-free crystal-seed-assisted hydrothermal method. The effects of the hydrothermal temperature and reaction time on the crystal structure and morphology of the products were investigated by XRD and SEM. The XRD results showed that the as-prepared thin films obtained below 150∘C comprised orthorhombic WO3 ṡ H2O and completely converted to monoclinic WO3 at 180∘C. It was also noted that there was a phase transformation from orthorhombic to monoclinic by increasing the reaction time from 1 to 12 h. SEM analysis revealed that WO3 thin films are composed of plate-like nanostructures.

H.sub.2O doped WO.sub.3, ultra-fast, high-sensitivity hydrogen sensors

DOEpatents

Liu, Ping [Denver, CO; Tracy, C Edwin [Golden, CO; Pitts, J Roland [Lakewood, CO; Lee, Se-Hee [Lakewood, CO

2011-03-22

An ultra-fast response, high sensitivity structure for optical detection of low concentrations of hydrogen gas, comprising: a substrate; a water-doped WO.sub.3 layer coated on the substrate; and a palladium layer coated on the water-doped WO.sub.3 layer.

Effects of annealing temperature on the H2-sensing properties of Pd-decorated WO3 nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sangmin; Lee, Woo Seok; Lee, Jae Kyung; Hyun, Soong Keun; Lee, Chongmu; Choi, Seungbok

2018-03-01

The temperature of the post-annealing treatment carried out after noble metal deposition onto semiconducting metal oxides (SMOs) must be carefully optimized to maximize the sensing performance of the metal-decorated SMO sensors. WO3 nanorods were synthesized by thermal evaporation of WO3 powders and decorated with Pd nanoparticles using a sol-gel method, followed by an annealing process. The effects of the annealing temperature on the hydrogen gas-sensing properties of the Pd-decorated WO3 nanorods were then examined; the optimal annealing temperature, leading to the highest response of the WO3 nanorod sensor to H2, was determined to be 600 °C. Post-annealing at 600 °C resulted in nanorods with the highest surface area-to-volume ratio, as well as in the optimal size and the largest number of deposited Pd nanoparticles, leading to the highest response and the shortest response/recovery times toward H2. The improved H2-sensing performance of the Pd-decorated WO3 nanorod sensor, compared to a sensor based on pristine WO3 nanorods, is attributed to the enhanced catalytic activity, increased surface area-to-volume ratio, and higher amounts of surface defects.

Effect of annealing on the structural, optical and emissive properties of SrWO4:Ln3+ (Dy3+, Eu3+ and Sm3+) nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maheshwary; Singh, B. P.; Singh, R. A.

2016-01-01

Lanthanide ions, Ln3+ (Dy3+, Eu3+ and Sm3+) doped SrWO4 nanoparticles were synthesized using ethylene glycol (EG) as a capping agent as well as reaction medium. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) study reveals that all the Ln3+ (Dy3+, Eu3+ and Sm3+) doped samples are well crystalline in nature with a tetragonal scheelite structure of SrWO4 phase. TG study reveals that the nanophosphors are thermally stable. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy techniques were used to obtain the information about internal and external vibrational modes present in the SrWO4 structure. Optical properties were investigated using UV-vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The average crystallite size was calculated using Debye-Scherrer's for as-prepared and 800 °C annealed samples and is found to be in the range of ∼35-70 nm. The luminescence intensity of Eu3+ doped SrWO4 nanoparticles under 364 nm excitation wavelength reveals that 5D0 → 7F2 transition at ∼613 nm (red) is more prominent than that of 5D0 → 7F1 transition at ∼590 nm (orange). Also upon excitation by UV radiation, the SrWO4:Dy3+ phosphor shows the yellow and blue transition lines appearing at ∼572 and 484 nm which are the characteristic electronic transitions of 4F9/2-6H13/2 and 4F9/2-6H15/2 emission line of Dy3+, respectively. Also Sm3+ doped SrWO4 nanophosphor shows its characteristic emission lines in the range of 550-720 nm, corresponding to 4G5/2 → 6HJ (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2) transitions of Sm3+ ions. The predominant orange red color can be attributed to 4G5/2 → 6H9/2 located at ∼642 nm. This is related to the polarizing effect due to the energy transfer from WO42- to the Eu3+, Dy3+ and Sm3+ sites, respectively. Effect of annealing on the photoluminescence properties of samples has been studied and it was found that luminescence intensity increases up to ∼3 times on heating the samples at 800 °C. This may be due to reduction in non-radiative decay channels

Preparation and bioactive properties of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite thin films obtained by conversion of atomic layer deposited calcium carbonate.

PubMed

Holopainen, Jani; Kauppinen, Kyösti; Mizohata, Kenichiro; Santala, Eero; Mikkola, Esa; Heikkilä, Mikko; Kokkonen, Hanna; Leskelä, Markku; Lehenkari, Petri; Tuukkanen, Juha; Ritala, Mikko

2014-09-01

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite thin films were fabricated on silicon and titanium by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of CaCO3 and its subsequent conversion to hydroxyapatite by diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) solution. The effects of conversion process parameters to crystallinity and morphology of the films were examined. DAP concentration was found to be critical in controlling the crystal size and homogeneity of the films. The hydroxyapatite phase was identified by XRD. ToF-elastic recoil detection analysis studies revealed that the films are calcium deficient in relation to hydroxyapatite with a Ca/P ratio of 1.39 for films converted with 0.2 M DAP at 95 °C. The coatings prepared on titanium conformally follow the rough surface topography of the substrate, verifying that the good step coverage of the ALD method was maintained in the conversion process. The dissolution tests revealed that the coating was nondissolvable in the cell culture medium. Annealing the coated sample at 700 °C for 1 h seemed to enhance its bonding properties to the substrate. Also, the biocompatibility of the coatings was confirmed by human bone marrow derived cells in vitro. The developed method provides a new possibility to produce thin film coatings on titanium implants with bone-type hydroxyapatite that is biocompatible with human osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Crystallization and photoluminescence properties of α-RE2(WO4)3 (RE: Gd, Eu) in rare-earth tungsten borate glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yong; Honma, Tsuyoshi; Komatsu, Takayuki

2013-03-01

Glasses with the compositions of 22.5RE2O3-47.5WO3-30B2O3 (mol%) (RE: Gd, Eu) were prepared by a conventional melt quenching method, and α-Gd2(WO4)3 and α-Eu2(WO4)3 crystals were synthesized through their crystallization. The two types of WO4 tetrahedra present in α-RE2(WO4)3 provide the Raman bands at 931-934 cm-1 for WIIO4 tetrahrdra with much distortions and at 946-950 cm-1 for WIO4 tetrahedra with a near regular symmetry. The crystallized samples containing α-Eu2(WO4)3 exhibit strong red emissions under the excitation at 396 and 467 nm, although the base glass has no photoluminescence emission. α-Gd2(WO4)3 and α-Eu2(WO4)3 crystals were patterned on the glass surface by irradiations of a continuous wave Yb:YVO4 fiber laser (wavelength: 1080 nm).

Thermal conductivity of ultrathin nano-crystalline diamond films determined by Raman thermography assisted by silicon nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anaya, Julian; Rossi, Stefano; Alomari, Mohammed; Kohn, Erhard; Tóth, Lajos; Pécz, Béla; Kuball, Martin

2015-06-01

The thermal transport in polycrystalline diamond films near its nucleation region is still not well understood. Here, a steady-state technique to determine the thermal transport within the nano-crystalline diamond present at their nucleation site has been demonstrated. Taking advantage of silicon nanowires as surface temperature nano-sensors, and using Raman Thermography, the in-plane and cross-plane components of the thermal conductivity of ultra-thin diamond layers and their thermal barrier to the Si substrate were determined. Both components of the thermal conductivity of the nano-crystalline diamond were found to be well below the values of polycrystalline bulk diamond, with a cross-plane thermal conductivity larger than the in-plane thermal conductivity. Also a depth dependence of the lateral thermal conductivity through the diamond layer was determined. The results impact the design and integration of diamond for thermal management of AlGaN/GaN high power transistors and also show the usefulness of the nanowires as accurate nano-thermometers.

Bi3+ sensitized Y2WO6:Ln3+ (Ln=Dy, Eu, and Sm) phosphors for solar spectral conversion.

PubMed

Huang, M N; Ma, Y Y; Xiao, F; Zhang, Q Y

2014-01-01

The phosphors of Y2WO6:Bi3+, Ln3+ (Ln=Dy, Eu and Sm) were synthesized by solid-state reaction in this study. The crystal structure, photoluminescence properties and energy transfer mechanism were investigated. By introducing Bi3+ ions, the excitation band of the phosphors was broadened to be 250-380 nm, which could be absorbed by the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The overlap between excitation of W-O groups/Bi3+ and the emission of Ln3+ (Dy, Eu, and Sm) indicated that the probability of energy transfer from W-O groups and Bi3+ to Ln3+. The energy transfer efficiency from Bi3+ to Ln3+ (Ln=Dy, Eu and Sm) are calculated to be 16%, 20% and 58%. This work suggested that Y2WO6:Bi3+, Ln3+ (Ln=Dy, Eu and Sm) might be a promising ultraviolet-absorbing luminescent converter to enhance the photoelectrical conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhancement of oxidative electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanoparticles by supporting onto mixed WO3/ZrO2 matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rutkowska, Iwona A.; Wadas, Anna; Kulesza, Pawel J.

2016-12-01

Nanostructured mixed metal (W, Zr) oxide matrices (in a form of layered intercalated films of WO3 and ZrO2) are considered here for supporting and activating catalytic platinum nanoparticles toward electrooxidation of ethanol. Remarkable increases of electrocatalytic (voltammetric, chronoamperometric) currents measured in 0.5 mol dm-3 H2SO4 (containing 0.5 mol dm-3 ethanol) have been observed. Comparison has been made to the behavior of methanol and acetaldehyde under analogous conditions. The enhancement effects are interpreted in terms of specific interactions between platinum nanoparticles and the metal oxide species, high acidity of the mixed oxide sites, as well as high population of surface hydroxyl groups and high mobility of protons existing in close vicinity of Pt catalytic sites. The metal oxide nanostructures are expected to interact competitively (via the surface hydroxyl groups) with adsorbates of the undesirable reaction intermediates, including CO, facilitating their desorption ("third body effect"), or even oxidative removal (e.g., of CO to CO2). The fact that the partially reduced tungsten oxide (HxWO3) component is characterized by fast electron transfers coupled to proton displacements tends to improve the overall charge propagation at the electrocatalytic interface.

Properties of Hydrogen Sulfide Sensors Based on Thin Films of Tin Dioxide and Tungsten Trioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevastianov, E. Yu.; Maksimova, N. K.; Chernikov, E. V.; Sergeichenko, N. V.; Rudov, F. V.

2016-12-01

The effect of hydrogen sulfide in the concentration range of 0-100 ppm on the characteristics of thin films of tin dioxide and tungsten trioxide obtained by the methods of magnetron deposition and modified with gold in the bulk and on the surface is studied. The impurities of antimony and nickel have been additionally introduced into the SnO2 bulk. An optimal operating temperature of sensors 350°C was determined, at which there is a satisfactory correlation between the values of the response to H2S and the response time. Degradation of the sensor characteristics is investigated in the long-term ( 0.5-1.5 years) tests at operating temperature and periodic exposure to hydrogen sulfide, as well as after conservation of samples in the laboratory air. It is shown that for the fabrication of H2S sensors, the most promising are thin nanocrystalline Au/WO3:Au films characterized by a linear concentration dependence of the response and high stability of parameters during exploitation.

Synthesis and luminescent properties of spindle-like CaWO{sub 4}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphors

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

Tian, Yue; Department of Physics, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning 116026; Liu, Yu

2012-01-15

Graphical abstract: In this paper, spindle-like CaWO{sub 4}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphors were prepared via a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted sonochemical process. Dependence of emission intensity on Sm{sup 3+} ions concentration in the CaWO{sub 4}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphor were also calculated via a nonlinear fitting by using the formula y = ax/(1 + bx{sup c}). Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The samples were prepared via a PVP assisted sonochemical process. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The color coordinates for 1 mol% Sm{sup 3+} doped CaWO{sub 4} phosphor were calculated. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The D-D interaction is responsible for concentration quenching between Sm{sup 3+} ions. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The critical energy transfer distances (R{sub c}) were obtained.more » -- Abstract: Spindle-like CaWO{sub 4}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphors were prepared via a Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted sonochemical process, and characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The XRD results suggested that the prepared samples are single-phase. The FE-SEM images indicated that the prepared CaWO{sub 4}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphors are composed of many spindles with maximum average diameter of 150 nm and maximum average length of 500 nm. Under 404 nm excitation, the characteristic emissions corresponding to {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} {yields} {sup 6}H{sub J} (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2) transitions of Sm{sup 3+} in CaWO{sub 4} phosphors were observed. The color coordinates for 1 mol% Sm{sup 3+} doped CaWO{sub 4} phosphor were calculated to be (0.595, 0.404). The fluorescent concentration quenching of Sm{sup 3+} doped spindle-like phosphors was studied based on the Van Uitert's model, and it was found that the electric dipole-dipole (D-D) interaction is the dominant energy transfer mechanism between Sm{sup 3+} ions in the CaWO{sub 4}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphors. The critical energy transfer distance was

Improved WO3 photocatalytic efficiency using ZrO2 and Ru for the degradation of carbofuran and ampicillin.

PubMed

Gar Alalm, Mohamed; Ookawara, Shinichi; Fukushi, Daisuke; Sato, Akira; Tawfik, Ahmed

2016-01-25

The photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran (pesticide) and ampicillin (pharmaceutical) using synthesized WO3/ZrO2 nanoparticles under simulated solar light was investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectra analyses were used to characterize the prepared catalysts. The optimum ratio of WO3 to ZrO2 was determined to be 1:1 for the degradation of both contaminants. The degradation of carbofuran and ampicillin by WO3/ZrO2 after 240 min of irradiation was 100% and 96%, respectively. Ruthenium (Ru) was employed as an additive to WO3/ZrO2 to enhance the photocatalytic degradation rate. Ru/WO3/ZrO2 exhibited faster degradation rates than WO3/ZrO2. Furthermore, 100% and 97% degradation of carbofuran and ampicillin, respectively, was achieved using Ru/WO3/ZrO2 after 180 min of irradiation. The durability of the catalyst was investigated by reusing the same suspended catalyst, which achieved 92% of its initial efficiency. The photocatalytic degradation of ampicillin and carbofuran followed pseudo-first order kinetics according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

NO and NO2 Sensing Properties of WO3 and Co3O4 Based Gas Sensors

PubMed Central

Akamatsu, Takafumi; Itoh, Toshio; Izu, Noriya; Shin, Woosuck

2013-01-01

Semiconductor-based gas sensors that use n-type WO3 or p-type Co3O4 powder were fabricated and their gas sensing properties toward NO2 or NO (0.5–5 ppm in air) were investigated at 100 °C or 200 °C. The resistance of the WO3-based sensor increased on exposure to NO2 and NO. On the other hand, the resistance of the Co3O4-based sensor varied depending on the operating temperature and the gas species. The chemical states of the surface of WO3 or those of the Co3O4 powder on exposure to 1 ppm NO2 and NO were investigated by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. No clear differences between the chemical states of the metal oxide surface exposed to NO2 or NO could be detected from the DRIFT spectra. PMID:24048338

Micro and nanocrystalline diamond formation on reticulated vitreous carbon substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diniz, A. V.; Trava-Airoldi, V. J.; Corat, E. J.; Ferreira, N. G.

2005-10-01

High diamond nucleation and a three-dimensional growth on reticulated vitreous carbon substrate are obtained by chemical vapor deposition. Scanning electron microscopy images show continuous films covering the whole substrate including the center of 3.5 mm thick porous samples. It is evident the nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) film formation on deeper substrate regions. The grain size can vary from nano to micro scale for deposition time of 20 h. Raman spectra of sample regions closer to filaments exhibit well-defined diamond line. For central regions of sample (depth between 1.0 and 2.0 mm) Raman spectra also confirm NCD film.

A study of transition from n- to p-type based on hexagonal WO3 nanorods sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ya-Qiao; Hu, Ming; Wei, Xiao-Ying

2014-04-01

Hexagonal WO3 nanorods are fabricated by a facile hydrothermal process at 180 °C using sodium tungstate and sodium chloride as starting materials. The morphology, structure, and composition of the prepared nanorods are studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. It is found that the agglomeration of the nanorods is strongly dependent on the PH value of the reaction solution. Uniform and isolated WO3 nanorods with diameters ranging from 100 nm-150 nm and lengths up to several micrometers are obtained at PH = 2.5 and the nanorods are identified as being hexagonal in phase structure. The sensing characteristics of the WO3 nanorod sensor are obtained by measuring the dynamic response to NO2 with concentrations in the range 0.5 ppm-5 ppm and at working temperatures in the range 25 °C-250 °C. The obtained WO3 nanorods sensors are found to exhibit opposite sensing behaviors, depending on the working temperature. When being exposed to oxidizing NO2 gas, the WO3 nanorod sensor behaves as an n-type semiconductor as expected when the working temperature is higher than 50 °C, whereas, it behaves as a p-type semiconductor below 50 °C. The origin of the n- to p-type transition is correlated with the formation of an inversion layer at the surface of the WO3 nanorod at room temperature. This finding is useful for making new room temperature NO2 sensors based on hexagonal WO3 nanorods.

Properties of Resistive Hydrogen Sensors as a Function of Additives of 3 D-Metals Introduced in the Volume of Thin Nanocrystalline SnO2 Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevast'yanov, E. Yu.; Maksimova, N. K.; Potekaev, A. I.; Sergeichenko, N. V.; Chernikov, E. V.; Almaev, A. V.; Kushnarev, B. O.

2017-11-01

Analysis of the results of studying electrical and gas sensitive characteristics of the molecular hydrogen sensors based on thin nanocrystalline SnO2 films coated with dispersed Au layers and containing Au+Ni and Au+Co impurities in the bulk showed that the characteristics of these sensors are more stable under the prolonged exposure to hydrogen in comparison with Au/SnO2:Sb, Au films modified only with gold. It has been found that introduction of the nickel and cobalt additives increases the band bending at the grain boundaries of tin dioxide already in freshly prepared samples, which indicates an increase in the density Ni of the chemisorbed oxygen. It is important that during testing, the band bending eφs at the grain boundaries of tin dioxide additionally slightly increases. It can be assumed that during crystallization of films under thermal annealing, the 3d-metal atoms in the SnO2 volume partially segregate on the surface of microcrystals and form bonds with lattice oxygen, the superstoichiometric tin atoms are formed, and the density Ni increases. If the bonds of oxygen with nickel and cobalt are stronger than those with tin, then, under the prolonged tests, atomic hydrogen will be oxidized not by lattice oxygen, but mainly by the chemisorbed one. In this case, stability of the sensors' characteristics increases.

Investigating the Mechanism of Reversible Lithium Insertion into Anti-NASICON Fe 2(WO 4) 3

DOE PAGES

Barim, Gozde; Cottingham, Patrick; Zhou, Shiliang; ...

2017-03-07

The gram-scale preparation of Fe 2(WO 4) 3 by a new solution-based route and detailed characterization of the material are presented. The resulting Fe 2(WO 4) 3 undergoes a reversible electrochemical reaction against lithium centered around 3.0 V with capacities near 93% of the theoretical maximum. Evolution of the Fe 2(WO 4) 3 structure upon lithium insertion and deinsertion is probed using a battery of characterization techniques, including in situ X-ray diffraction, neutron total scattering, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). A structural transformation from monoclinic to orthorhombic phases is confirmed during lithium intercalation. XAS and neutron total scattering measurements verifymore » that Fe 2(WO 4) 3 consists of trivalent iron and hexavalent tungsten ions. As lithium ions are inserted into the framework, iron ions are reduced to the divalent state, while the tungsten ions are electrochemically inactive and remain in the hexavalent state. Lastly, lithium insertion occurs via a concerted rotation of the rigid polyhedra in the host lattice driven by electrostatic interactions with the Li + ions; the magnitude of these polyhedral rotations was found to be slightly larger for Fe 2(WO 4) 3 than for the Fe 2(MoO 4) 3 analog.« less

Investigating the Mechanism of Reversible Lithium Insertion into Anti-NASICON Fe 2(WO 4) 3

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

Barim, Gozde; Cottingham, Patrick; Zhou, Shiliang

The gram-scale preparation of Fe 2(WO 4) 3 by a new solution-based route and detailed characterization of the material are presented. The resulting Fe 2(WO 4) 3 undergoes a reversible electrochemical reaction against lithium centered around 3.0 V with capacities near 93% of the theoretical maximum. Evolution of the Fe 2(WO 4) 3 structure upon lithium insertion and deinsertion is probed using a battery of characterization techniques, including in situ X-ray diffraction, neutron total scattering, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). A structural transformation from monoclinic to orthorhombic phases is confirmed during lithium intercalation. XAS and neutron total scattering measurements verifymore » that Fe 2(WO 4) 3 consists of trivalent iron and hexavalent tungsten ions. As lithium ions are inserted into the framework, iron ions are reduced to the divalent state, while the tungsten ions are electrochemically inactive and remain in the hexavalent state. Lastly, lithium insertion occurs via a concerted rotation of the rigid polyhedra in the host lattice driven by electrostatic interactions with the Li + ions; the magnitude of these polyhedral rotations was found to be slightly larger for Fe 2(WO 4) 3 than for the Fe 2(MoO 4) 3 analog.« less

Optical properties of Dy3+ and Eu3+ -Codoped SrWO4 phosphors for white light-emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Shinho

2018-01-01

Dy3+ - and Eu3+ -codoped SrWO4 phosphor powders were prepared using a solid-state reaction technique by changing the molar concentration of Eu3+ within the range of 0 to 15 mol% at a fixed Dy3+ concentration of 5 mol%. The effects of Dy3+ and Eu3+ doping on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of SrWO4:Dy3+, Eu3+ phosphors were investigated via Xray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectrophotometry, respectively. Irrespective of the concentrations of Dy3+ and Eu3+ ions, the crystal structures of all the phosphors were tetragonal, and the grains exhibited a tendency to agglomerate. The emission spectra of Sr0.925WO4:5 mol% Dy3+ contained an intense yellow band at 573 nm arising from the 4 F 9/2 → 6 H 13/2 electric dipole transition of Dy3+, as well as three weak emission lines. When the Eu3+ ions were incorporated into the SrWO4:Dy3+ phosphors, a strong red emission peak at 615 nm originating from the 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+ appeared in addition to the four emission bands centered at 481, 573, 662, and 750 nm, which result from the 4 f-4 f transitions of Dy3+. The emission intensity decreased as the Eu3+ concentration increased up to 15 mol% due to concentration quenching, which resulted from dipole-dipole interactions. The results suggest that the color emissions and intensities of SrWO4:Dy3+, Eu3+ phosphors can be tuned from yellow to white to red by varying the types of ions used and the ratio of Dy3+ to Eu3+ ions.

Synthesis of nanowire bundle-like WO3-W18O49 heterostructures for highly sensitive NH3 sensor application.

PubMed

Xiong, Ya; Zhu, Zongye; Guo, Tianchao; Li, Hui; Xue, Qingzhong

2018-04-14

Heterojunctions are very promising structures due to their hybrid properties, which are usually obtained via a multistep growth process. However, in this paper, WO 3 -W 18 O 49 heterostructures are synthesized via a novel one-step approach by using isopropanol as reaction media and are applied in NH 3 gas detection for the first time. The obtained WO 3 -W 18 O 49 heterostructures with loose nanowire bundle-like morphology show a response value of 23.3 toward 500 ppm NH 3 at 250 °C, which is 5.63 times higher than that of pristine W 18 O 49 . In addition, the WO 3 -W 18 O 49 sensor also exhibits great dynamic response/recovery characteristics (13 s/49 s @ 500 ppm NH 3 ), superb selectivity and low detection limit of 460 ppb. The substantial improvement in the response of WO 3 -W 18 O 49 heterostructures toward NH 3 can be explained by the formation of n-WO 3 /n-W 18 O 49 heterojunctions that facilitate the generation of a more extended depletion layer as well as the enhancement of specific surface area and pore volume. Our research results open an easy pathway for facile one-step preparation of heterojunctions with high response and low cost, which can be used for the development of other high-performance gas sensors. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Functional materials based on nanocrystalline cellulose

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surov, O. V.; Voronova, M. I.; Zakharov, A. G.

2017-10-01

The data on the synthesis of functional materials based on nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) published over the past 10 years are analyzed. The liquid-crystal properties of NCC suspensions, methods of investigation of NCC suspensions and films, conditions for preserving chiral nematic structure in the NCC films after removal of the solvent and features of templated sol-gel synthesis of functional materials based on NCC are considered. The bibliography includes 106 references.

Preparation of Porous γ-Fe2O3@mWO3 Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Drug Loading and Controlled Release.

PubMed

Peng, Hongxia; Huang, Qin; Wu, Tengyan; Wen, Jin; He, Hengping

2018-02-14

The use of chemotherapy drug is hindered by relatively low selectivity toward cancer cells and severe side effects from uptake by noncancerous cells and tissue. Thus, targeted drug delivery systems are preferred to increase the efficiency of drug delivery to specific tissues as well as to decrease its side effects. The aims of this paper are develop microwave-triggered controlled-release drug delivery systems using porous γ-Fe2O3@mWO3 multifunctional core-shell nanoparticles. We also studied its magnetic- microwave to heat responsive properties and large specific surface area. We chose ibuprofen (IBU) as a model drug to evaluate the loading and release function of the γ- Fe2O3@mWO3 nanoparticles. We used a direct precipitation method and thermal decomposition of CTAB template method to synthesize core-shell structured γ-Fe2O3@mWO3 nanoparticles. The specific surface areas were calculated by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The load drug and controlled release of the γ-Fe2O3@mWO3 triggered by microwave was determined with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic analysis. The γ-Fe2O3@mWO3 nanoparticles possesses high surface area of 100.09 m2/g, provides large accessible pore diameter of 6.0 nm for adsorption of drug molecules, high magnetization saturation value of 43.6 emu/g for drug targeting under foreign magnetic fields, quickly convert electromagnetic energy into thermal energy for controlled release by microwave-triggered which was caused by mWO3 shell. The IBU release of over 78% under microwave discontinuous irradiation out classes the 0.15% within 20s only stirring release. This multifunctional material shows good performance for targeting delivery and mWO3 microwave controlled release of anticancer drugs based on all the properties they possess. The porous shell and the introduction of absorbing material not only increased the drug loading efficiency of the nanoparticles but also realized the microwave-stimulated anticancer drug controlled release

Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of BaWO4:RE3+ (RE = Eu or Sm) Phosphors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Shinho

2018-04-01

BaWO4:RE3+ (RE = Eu or Sm) phosphor powders were prepared with different doping concentrations of the activator ion by using the conventional solid-state reaction method. The dependences in the crystal structure, luminescence intensity, and morphology on the Eu3+ and the Sm3+ concentrations in BaWO4 were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectrophotometry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. XRD analysis showed tetragonal BaWO4 structures for all the phosphors synthesized, regardless of the type and the doping concentration of the activator ion. SEM images indicated that as the concentration of activator ions was increased, the crystalline particles showed an increasing tendency to agglomerate irregularly. The room temperature excitation spectra of Eu3+- or Sm3+-doped BaWO4 phosphors consisted of a broad charge transfer band in the ultraviolet region and several sharp 4 f-4 f transitions. When Eu3+-doped BaWO4 phosphors were excited at 274 nm, the emission spectra exhibited sharp bands due to inner shell transitions occurring from the excited energy state 5 D 0 to the lower energy levels 7 F J ( J = 1, 2, 3, and 4). For Sm3+-doped BaWO4 phosphors, three intense emission peaks at 568, 603, and 649 nm and a very weak line at 712 nm were observed. The highest asymmetry ratio-the intensity ratio of the 4 G 5/2 → 6 H 9/2 electric dipole to the 4 G 5/2 → 6 H 5/2 magnetic dipole transitions-was obtained for 1 mol% doping of Sm3+, indicating that the Sm3+ ions occupied the non-inversion symmetry sites.