Sample records for nanostructured alumina coatings

  1. Influence of nano-structured alumina coating on shear bond strength between Y-TZP ceramic and various dual-cured resin cements.

    PubMed

    Lee, Jung-Jin; Choi, Jung-Yun; Seo, Jae-Min

    2017-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nano-structured alumina surface coating on shear bond strength between Y-TZP ceramic and various dual-cured resin cements. A total of 90 disk-shaped zirconia specimens (HASS CO., Gangneung, Korea) were divided into three groups by surface treatment method: (1) airborne particle abrasion, (2) tribochemicalsilica coating, and (3) nano-structured alumina coating. Each group was categorized into three subgroups of ten specimens and bonded with three different types of dual-cured resin cements. After thermocycling, shear bond strength was measured and failure modes were observed through FE-SEM. Two-way ANOVA and the Tukey's HSD test were performed to determine the effects of surface treatment method and type of cement on bond strength ( P <.05). To confirm the correlation of surface treatment and failure mode, the Chi-square test was used. Groups treated with the nanostructured alumina coating showed significantly higher shear bond strength compared to other groups treated with airborne particle abrasion or tribochemical silica coating. Clearfil SA Luting showed a significantly higher shear bond strength compared to RelyX ARC and RelyX Unicem. The cohesive failure mode was observed to be dominant in the groups treated with nano-structured alumina coating, while the adhesive failure mode was prevalent in the groups treated with either airborne particle abrasion or tribochemical silica coating. Nano-structured alumina coating is an effective zirconia surface treatment method for enhancing the bond strength between Y-TZP ceramic and various dual-cured resin cements.

  2. Matrix coatings based on anodic alumina with carbon nanostructures in the pores

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gorokh, G. G.; Pashechko, M. I.; Borc, J. T.; Lozovenko, A. A.; Kashko, I. A.; Latos, A. I.

    2018-03-01

    The nanoporous anodic alumina matrixes thickness of 1.5 mm and pore sizes of 45, 90 and 145 nm were formed on Si substrates. The tubular carbon nanostructures were synthesized into the matrixes pores by pyrolysis of fluid hydrocarbon xylene with 1% ferrocene. The structure and composition of the matrix coatings were examined by scanning electron microscopy, Auger analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The carbon nanostructures completely filled the pores of templates and uniformly covered the tops. The structure of carbon nanostructures corresponded to the structure of multiwall carbon nanotubes. Investigations of mechanical and tribological properties of nanostructured oxide-carbon composite performed by scratching and nanoindentation showed nonlinear dependencies of the frictional force, penetration depth of the cantilever, hardness and plane strain modulus on the load. It was found that the microhardness of the samples increases with reduced of alumina pore diameter, and the penetration depth of the cantilever into the film grows with carbon nanostructures size. The results showed the high mechanical strength of nanostructured oxide-carbon composite.

  3. The effect of nano-structured alumina coating on resin-bond strength to zirconia ceramics.

    PubMed

    Jevnikar, Peter; Krnel, Kristoffer; Kocjan, Andraz; Funduk, Nenad; Kosmac, Tomaz

    2010-07-01

    The aim of this study was to functionalize the surface of yttria partially stabilized tetragonal zirconia ceramics (Y-TZP) with a nano-structured alumina coating to improve resin bonding. A total of 120 densely sintered disc-shaped specimens (15.5+/-0.03 mm in diameter and 2.6+/-0.03 mm thick) were produced from biomedical-grade TZ-3YB-E zirconia powder (Tosoh, Tokyo, Japan), randomly divided into three groups of 40 and subjected to the following surface treatments: AS - as-sintered; APA - airborne-particle abraded; POL - polished. Half of the discs in each group received an alumina coating that was fabricated by exploiting the hydrolysis of aluminium nitride (AlN) powder (groups AS-C, APA-C, POL-C). The coating was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The shear-bond strength of the self-etching composite resin (RelyX Unicem, 3M ESPE, USA) was then studied for the coated and uncoated surfaces of the as-sintered, polished and airborne-particle abraded specimens before and after thermocycling (TC). The SEM/TEM analyses revealed that the application of an alumina coating to Y-TZP ceramics created a highly retentive surface for resin penetration. The coating showed good surface coverage and a uniform thickness of 240 nm. The resin-bond strength to the groups AS-C, APA-C, POL-C was significantly higher than to the groups AS, APA and POL, both before and after TC (p< or =0.05). During TC all the specimens in the POL and AS groups debonded spontaneously. In contrast, the TC did not affect the bond strength of the AS-C, POL-C and APA-C groups. A non-invasive method has been developed that significantly improves resin-bond strength to Y-TZP ceramics. After surface functionalization the bond survives thermocycling without reduction in strength. The method is relatively simple and has the potential to become an effective conditioning method for zirconia ceramics. Copyright 2010

  4. Nanocarbon-Coated Porous Anodic Alumina for Bionic Devices

    PubMed Central

    Aramesh, Morteza; Tong, Wei; Fox, Kate; Turnley, Ann; Seo, Dong Han; Prawer, Steven; Ostrikov, Kostya (Ken)

    2015-01-01

    A highly-stable and biocompatible nanoporous electrode is demonstrated herein. The electrode is based on a porous anodic alumina which is conformally coated with an ultra-thin layer of diamond-like carbon. The nanocarbon coating plays an essential role for the chemical stability and biocompatibility of the electrodes; thus, the coated electrodes are ideally suited for biomedical applications. The corrosion resistance of the proposed electrodes was tested under extreme chemical conditions, such as in boiling acidic/alkali environments. The nanostructured morphology and the surface chemistry of the electrodes were maintained after wet/dry chemical corrosion tests. The non-cytotoxicity of the electrodes was tested by standard toxicity tests using mouse fibroblasts and cortical neurons. Furthermore, the cell–electrode interaction of cortical neurons with nanocarbon coated nanoporous anodic alumina was studied in vitro. Cortical neurons were found to attach and spread to the nanocarbon coated electrodes without using additional biomolecules, whilst no cell attachment was observed on the surface of the bare anodic alumina. Neurite growth appeared to be sensitive to nanotopographical features of the electrodes. The proposed electrodes show a great promise for practical applications such as retinal prostheses and bionic implants in general. PMID:28793486

  5. Amorphous alumina coatings: processing, structure and remarkable barrier properties.

    PubMed

    Samélor, Diane; Lazar, Ana-Maria; Aufray, Maëlenn; Tendero, Claire; Lacroix, Loïc; Béguin, Jean-Denis; Caussat, Brigitte; Vergnes, Hugues; Alexis, Joël; Poquillon, Dominique; Pébère, Nadine; Gleizes, Alain; Vahlas, Constantin

    2011-09-01

    Amorphous aluminium oxide coatings were processed by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD); their structural characteristics were determined as a function of the processing conditions, the process was modelled considering appropriate chemical kinetic schemes, and the properties of the obtained material were investigated and were correlated with the nanostructure of the coatings. With increasing processing temperature in the range 350 degrees C-700 degrees C, subatmospheric MOCVD of alumina from aluminium tri-isopropoxide (ATI) sequentially yields partially hydroxylated amorphous aluminium oxides, amorphous Al2O3 (415 degrees C-650 degrees C) and nanostructured gamma-Al2O3 films. A numerical model for the process allowed reproducing the non uniformity of deposition rate along the substrate zone due to the depletion of ATI. The hardness of the coatings prepared at 350 degrees C, 480 degrees C and 700 degrees C is 6 GPa, 11 GPa and 1 GPa, respectively. Scratch tests on films grown on TA6V titanium alloy reveal adhesive and cohesive failures for the amorphous and nanocrystalline ones, respectively. Alumina coating processed at 480 degrees C on TA6V yielded zero weight gain after oxidation at 600 degrees C in lab air. The surface of such low temperature processed amorphous films is hydrophobic (water contact angle 106 degrees), while the high temperature processed nanocrystalline films are hydrophilic (48 degrees at a deposition temperature of 700 degrees C). It is concluded that amorphous Al2O3 coatings can be used as oxidation and corrosion barriers at ambient or moderate temperature. Nanostructured with Pt or Ag nanoparticles, they can also provide anti-fouling or catalytic surfaces.

  6. Influence of nano alumina coating on the flexural bond strength between zirconia and resin cement

    PubMed Central

    Mumcu, Emre; Şen, Murat

    2018-01-01

    PURPOSE The purpose of this in vitro study is to examine the effects of a nano-structured alumina coating on the adhesion between resin cements and zirconia ceramics using a four-point bending test. MATERIALS AND METHODS 100 pairs of zirconium bar specimens were prepared with dimensions of 25 mm × 2 mm × 5 mm and cementation surfaces of 5 mm × 2 mm. The samples were divided into 5 groups of 20 pairs each. The groups are as follows: Group I (C) – Control with no surface modification, Group II (APA) – airborne-particle-abrasion with 110 µm high-purity aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles, Group III (ROC) – airborne-particle-abrasion with 110 µm silica modified aluminum oxide (Al2O3 + SiO2) particles, Group IV (TCS) – tribochemical silica coated with Al2O3 particles, and Group V (AlC) – nano alumina coating. The surface modifications were assessed on two samples selected from each group by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The samples were cemented with two different self-adhesive resin cements. The bending bond strength was evaluated by mechanical testing. RESULTS According to the ANOVA results, surface treatments, different cement types, and their interactions were statistically significant (P<.05). The highest flexural bond strengths were obtained in nanostructured alumina coated zirconia surfaces (50.4 MPa) and the lowest values were obtained in the control group (12.00 MPa), both of which were cemented using a self-adhesive resin cement. CONCLUSION The surface modifications tested in the current study affected the surface roughness and flexural bond strength of zirconia. The nano alumina coating method significantly increased the flexural bond strength of zirconia ceramics. PMID:29503713

  7. Interferometric nanoporous anodic alumina photonic coatings for optical sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Yuting; Santos, Abel; Wang, Ye; Kumeria, Tushar; Wang, Changhai; Li, Junsheng; Losic, Dusan

    2015-04-01

    Herein, we present a systematic study on the development, optical optimization and sensing applicability of colored photonic coatings based on nanoporous anodic alumina films grown on aluminum substrates. These optical nanostructures, so-called distributed Bragg reflectors (NAA-DBRs), are fabricated by galvanostatic pulse anodization process, in which the current density is altered in a periodic manner in order to engineer the effective medium of the resulting photonic coatings. As-prepared NAA-DBR photonic coatings present brilliant interference colors on the surface of aluminum, which can be tuned at will within the UV-visible spectrum by means of the anodization profile. A broad library of NAA-DBR colors is produced by means of different anodization profiles. Then, the effective medium of these NAA-DBR photonic coatings is systematically assessed in terms of optical sensitivity, low limit of detection and linearity by reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS) in order to optimize their nanoporous structure toward optical sensors with enhanced sensing performance. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of these photonic nanostructures as optical platforms by selectively detecting gold(iii) ions in aqueous solutions. The obtained results reveal that optimized NAA-DBR photonic coatings can achieve an outstanding sensing performance for gold(iii) ions, with a sensitivity of 22.16 nm μM-1, a low limit of detection of 0.156 μM (i.e. 30.7 ppb) and excellent linearity within the working range (0.9983).Herein, we present a systematic study on the development, optical optimization and sensing applicability of colored photonic coatings based on nanoporous anodic alumina films grown on aluminum substrates. These optical nanostructures, so-called distributed Bragg reflectors (NAA-DBRs), are fabricated by galvanostatic pulse anodization process, in which the current density is altered in a periodic manner in order to engineer the effective medium of the resulting

  8. Cold Spray Aluminum–Alumina Cermet Coatings: Effect of Alumina Content

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fernandez, Ruben; Jodoin, Bertrand

    2018-04-01

    Deposition behavior and deposition efficiency were investigated for several aluminum-alumina mixture compositions sprayed by cold spray. An increase in deposition efficiency was observed. Three theories postulated in the literature, explaining this increase in deposition efficiency, were investigated and assessed. Through finite element analysis, the interaction between a ceramic particle peening an impacting aluminum particle was found to be a possible mechanism to increase the deposition efficiency of the aluminum particle, but a probability analysis demonstrated that this peening event is too unlikely to contribute to the increment in deposition efficiency observed. The presence of asperities at the substrate and deposited layers was confirmed by a single-layer deposition efficiency measurement and proved to be a major mechanism in the increment of deposition efficiency of the studied mixtures. Finally, oxide removal produced by the impact of ceramic particles on substrate and deposited layers was evaluated as the complement of the other effects and found to also play a major role in increasing the deposition efficiency. It was found that the coatings retained approximately half of the feedstock powder alumina content. Hardness tests have shown a steady increase with the coating alumina content. Dry wear tests have revealed no improvement in wear resistance in samples with an alumina content lower than 22 wt.% compared to pure aluminum coatings. Adhesion strength showed a steady improvement with increasing alumina content in the feedstock powder from 18.5 MPa for pure aluminum coatings to values above 70 MPa for the ones sprayed with the highest feedstock powder alumina content.

  9. Passivation properties of alumina for multicrystalline silicon nanostructure prepared by spin-coating method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Ye; Shen, Honglie; Yang, Wangyang; Zheng, Chaofan; Tang, Quntao; Yao, Hanyu; Raza, Adil; Li, Yufang; Huang, Chunlai

    2018-02-01

    In this paper, we report passivation properties of inverted pyramidal nanostructure based multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) by Al2O3 films with spin-coating method. Precursors AlCl3 and Al(acac)3 for Al2O3 films were chosen for comparison. Al2O3/SiO x stacks were found to be able to passivate the nanostructured surface well. With the number of spin-coating up to five, the Al2O3 films could conformally attach the nanostructure. The weighted average reflectance values (ranging from 400-900 nm) of the passivated silicon surface could be reduced to 10.74% (AlCl3) and 11.12% (Al(acac)3), and the effective carrier lifetime could reach 7.84 and 16.98 μs, respectively. This work presented a potential process to fabricate low cost high efficiency mc-Si solar cells.

  10. Deuterium permeation of amorphous alumina coating on 316L prepared by MOCVD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Shuai; He, Di; Liu, Xiaopeng; Wang, Shumao; Jiang, Lijun

    2012-01-01

    The deuterium permeation behavior of the alumina coating on 316L stainless steel prepared by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) was investigated. The alumina coating was also characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the as-prepared coating consisted of amorphous alumina. This alumina coating had a dense, crack-free and homogeneous morphology. Although the alumina coating was amorphous, effective suppression of deuterium permeation was demonstrated. The deuterium permeability of the alumina coating was 51-60 times less than that of the 316L stainless steel and 153-335 times less than that of the referred low activation martensitic steels at 860-960 K.

  11. Nanopatterning of magnetic domains: Fe coverage of self-assembled alumina nanostructure

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

    Wu, Qibin; Wang, Bo -Yao; Lin, Wen -Chin

    2015-08-19

    Nanosized ultrathin magnetic films were prepared by controlling the deposition of Fe onto an oxidized NiAl(001) surface with an alumina nanostructure on it. Because the ultrathin ferromagnetic Fe films on the bare NiAl(001) surface are separated by paramagnetic Fe nanoparticles on the alumina stripes, as determined by scanning electron microscopy with spin analysis, they form rectangular domains with sizes ranging from tens of nanometer to larger than a micrometer. Furthermore, magnetic domain patterning can thus be achieved by controlling the Fe coverage and nanostructured template.

  12. [Surface modification of dental alumina ceramic with silica coating].

    PubMed

    Xie, Hai-Feng; Zhang, Fei-Min; Wang, Xiao-Zu; Xia, Yang

    2006-12-01

    To make silica coating through sol-gel process, and to evaluate the wettability of dental alumina ceramic with or without coating. Silica coating was prepared with colloidal silica sol on In-Ceram alumina ceramic surface which had been treated with air particle abrasion. Coating gel after heat treatment was observed with atomic force microscope (AFM), and was analyzed by infrared spectrum (IR) with gel without sintered as control. Contact angles of oleic acid to be finished, sandblasted and coated ceramic surface of were measured. AFM pictures showed that some parts of nano-particles in coating gel conglomerated after heat treatment. It can be seen from the IR picture that bending vibration absorption kurtosis of Si-OH also vanished after heat treatment. Among contact angles of three treated surface, the ones on polished surface were the biggest (P = 0.000, P = 0.000), and sandblasting+silica coating surface the smallest (P = 0.000, P = 0.003). Silica coating can be made with sol-gel process successfully. Heat treatment may reinforce Si-O-Si net structure of coating gel. Wettability of dental alumina ceramic with silica coating is higher than with sandblasting and polishing.

  13. ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION OF TITANIUM OXIDE THIN FILMS ONNANOPOROUS ALUMINA TEMPLATES FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

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

    Brigmon, R.

    2009-05-05

    Nanostructured materials may play a significant role in controlled release of pharmacologic agents for treatment of cancer. Many nanoporous polymer materials are inadequate for use in drug delivery. Nanoporous alumina provides several advantages over other materials for use in controlled drug delivery and other medical applications. Atomic layer deposition was used to coat all the surfaces of the nanoporous alumina membrane in order to reduce the pore size in a controlled manner. Both the 20 nm and 100 nm titanium oxide-coated nanoporous alumina membranes did not exhibit statistically lower viability compared to the uncoated nanoporous alumina membrane control materials. Inmore » addition, 20 nm pore size titanium oxide-coated nanoporous alumina membranes exposed to ultraviolet light demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Nanostructured materials prepared using atomic layer deposition may be useful for delivering a pharmacologic agent at a precise rate to a specific location in the body. These materials may serve as the basis for 'smart' drug delivery devices, orthopedic implants, or self-sterilizing medical devices.« less

  14. Protective coating for alumina-silicon carbide whisker composites

    DOEpatents

    Tiegs, Terry N.

    1989-01-01

    Ceramic composites formed of an alumina matrix reinforced with silicon carbide whiskers homogenously dispersed therein are provided with a protective coating for preventing fracture strength degradation of the composite by oxidation during exposure to high temperatures in oxygen-containing atmospheres. The coating prevents oxidation of the silicon carbide whiskers within the matrix by sealing off the exterior of the matrix so as to prevent oxygen transport into the interior of the matrix. The coating is formed of mullite or mullite plus silicon oxide and alumina and is formed in place by heating the composite in air to a temperature greater than 1200.degree. C. This coating is less than about 100 microns thick and adequately protects the underlying composite from fracture strength degradation due to oxidation.

  15. Ultrasonic technique for measuring porosity of plasma-sprayed alumina coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Parthasarathi, S.; Tittmann, B. R.; Onesto, E. J.

    1997-12-01

    Porosity is an important factor in plasma-sprayed coatings, especially ceramic coatings. Excessive poros-ity can adversely affect the performance of the coated component in various ways. An ultrasonic nonde-structive measurement technique has been developed to measure porosity in plasma-sprayed alumina coatings. The technique is generic and can be extended to other ceramic coating systems. To test the tech-nique, freestanding alumina coatings with varying levels of porosity were fabricated via plasma spray. Samples with varying porosity, obtained through innovative fabrication techniques, were used to gener-ate a calibration curve. The ultrasonic velocity in the low-frequency range was found to be dependent on the density of freestanding coatings (measured via Archimedian techniques). This dependence is the basis of the development of a technique to measure the density of coatings.

  16. Atomic layer deposition of TIO{sub 2} thin films on nanoporous alumina templates : medical applications.

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

    Narayan, R. J.; Monteiro-Riviere, N. A.; Brigmon, R. L.

    2009-06-01

    Nanostructured materials may play a significant role in controlled release of pharmacologic agents for treatment of cancer. Many nanoporous polymer materials are inadequate for use in drug delivery. Nanoporous alumina provides several advantages over other materials for use in controlled drug delivery and other medical applications. Atomic layer deposition was used to coat all the surfaces of a nanoporous alumina membrane in order to reduce the pore size in a controlled manner. Neither the 20 nm nor the 100 nm TiO{sub 2}-coated nanoporous alumina membranes exhibited statistically lower viability compared to the uncoated nanoporous alumina membrane control materials. Nanostructured materialsmore » prepared using atomic layer deposition may be useful for delivering a pharmacologic agent at a precise rate to a specific location in the body. These materials may serve as the basis for 'smart' drug delivery devices, orthopedic implants, or self-sterilizing medical devices.« less

  17. Laser-induced reaction alumina coating on ceramic composite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Chenghe

    Silicon carbide ceramics are susceptible to corrosion by certain industrial furnace environments. It is also true for a new class of silicon carbide-particulate reinforced alumina-matrix composite (SiCsb(P)Alsb2Osb3) since it contains more than 55% of SiC particulate within the composite. This behavior would limit the use of SiCsb(P)Alsb2Osb3 composites in ceramic heat exchangers. Because oxide ceramics corrode substantially less in the same environments, a laser-induced reaction alumina coating technique has been developed for improving corrosion resistance of the SiCsb(P)Alsb2Osb3 composite. Specimens with and without the laser-induced reaction alumina coating were subjected to corrosion testing at 1200sp°C in an air atmosphere containing Nasb2COsb3 for 50 ˜ 200 hours. Corroded specimens were characterized via x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The uncoated SiCsbP/Alsb2Osb3 composite samples experienced an initial increase in weight during the exposure to Nasb2COsb3 at 1200sp°C due to the oxidation of residual aluminum metal in the composite. There was no significant weight change difference experienced during exposure times between 50 and 200 hours. The oxidation layer formed on the as-received composite surface consisted of Si and Alsb2Osb3 (after washing with a HF solution). The oxidation layer grew outward and inward from the original surface of the composite. The growth rate in the outward direction was faster than in the inward direction. The formation of the Si/Alsb2Osb3 oxidation layer on the as-received composite was nonuniform, and localized corrosion was observed. The coated samples experienced very little mass increase. The laser-induced reaction alumina coating effectively provided protection for the SiCsbP/Alsb2Osb3 composite by keeping the corrodents from contacting the composite and by the formation of some refractory compounds such as Nasb2OAlsb2Osb3SiOsb2 and Nasb2Alsb{22}Osb

  18. From Coating to Dopant: How the Transition Metal Composition Affects Alumina Coatings on Ni-Rich Cathodes

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

    Han, Binghong; Key, Baris; Lapidus, Saul H.

    Surface alumina coatings have been shown to be an effective way to improve the stability and cyclability of cathode materials. However, a detailed understanding of the relationship between the surface coatings and the bulk layered oxides is needed to better define the critical cathode–electrolyte interface. In this work, we systematically studied the effect of the composition of Ni-rich LiNi xMn yCo 1–x–yO 2 (NMC) on the surface alumina coatings. Changing cathode composition from LiNi 0.5Mn 0.3Co 0.2O 2 (NMC532) to LiNi 0.6Mn 0.2Co 0.2O 2 (NMC622) and LiNi 0.8Mn 0.1Co 0.1O 2 (NMC811) was found to facilitate the diffusion ofmore » surface alumina into the bulk after high-temperature annealing. By use of a variety of spectroscopic techniques, Al was seen to have a high bulk compatibility with higher Ni/Co content, and low bulk compatibility was associated with Mn in the transition metal layer. It was also noted that the cathode composition affected the observed morphology and surface chemistry of the coated material, which has an effect on electrochemical cycling. The presence of a high surface Li concentration and strong alumina diffusion into the bulk led to a smoother surface coating on NMC811 with no excess alumina aggregated on the surface. Structural characterization of pristine NMC particles also suggests surface Co segregation, which may act to mediate the diffusion of the Al from the surface to the bulk. The diffusion of Al into the bulk was found to be detrimental to the protection function of surface coatings leading to poor overall cyclability, indicating the importance of compatibility between surface coatings and bulk oxides on the electrochemical performance of coated cathode materials.In conclusion, these results are important in developing a better coating method for synthesis of next-generation cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.« less

  19. From Coating to Dopant: How the Transition Metal Composition Affects Alumina Coatings on Ni-Rich Cathodes

    DOE PAGES

    Han, Binghong; Key, Baris; Lapidus, Saul H.; ...

    2017-11-01

    Surface alumina coatings have been shown to be an effective way to improve the stability and cyclability of cathode materials. However, a detailed understanding of the relationship between the surface coatings and the bulk layered oxides is needed to better define the critical cathode–electrolyte interface. In this work, we systematically studied the effect of the composition of Ni-rich LiNi xMn yCo 1–x–yO 2 (NMC) on the surface alumina coatings. Changing cathode composition from LiNi 0.5Mn 0.3Co 0.2O 2 (NMC532) to LiNi 0.6Mn 0.2Co 0.2O 2 (NMC622) and LiNi 0.8Mn 0.1Co 0.1O 2 (NMC811) was found to facilitate the diffusion ofmore » surface alumina into the bulk after high-temperature annealing. By use of a variety of spectroscopic techniques, Al was seen to have a high bulk compatibility with higher Ni/Co content, and low bulk compatibility was associated with Mn in the transition metal layer. It was also noted that the cathode composition affected the observed morphology and surface chemistry of the coated material, which has an effect on electrochemical cycling. The presence of a high surface Li concentration and strong alumina diffusion into the bulk led to a smoother surface coating on NMC811 with no excess alumina aggregated on the surface. Structural characterization of pristine NMC particles also suggests surface Co segregation, which may act to mediate the diffusion of the Al from the surface to the bulk. The diffusion of Al into the bulk was found to be detrimental to the protection function of surface coatings leading to poor overall cyclability, indicating the importance of compatibility between surface coatings and bulk oxides on the electrochemical performance of coated cathode materials.In conclusion, these results are important in developing a better coating method for synthesis of next-generation cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.« less

  20. Corrosion studies of DC reactive magnetron sputtered alumina coating on 304 SS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thangaraj, Baskar; Mahadevan, Krishnan

    2017-12-01

    Aluminum oxide films on SS 304 deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering technique were studied with respect to the composition of the sputter gas (Ar:O2), gas pressure, substrate temperature, current etc. to achieve good insulating films with high corrosion resistance. The films were characterized by XRD and SEM techniques. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were made under static conditions in order to evaluate the corrosion performance of the alumina-coated SS 304 for various immersion durations in 0.5 M and 1 M NaCl solution. Alumina-coated SS 304 has low corrosion value of 0.4550 and 1.1090MPY for 24 h immersion time in both solutions. The impedance plots for the alumina coated SS 304 in 1 M NaCl solution at different durations are slightly different to when compared to its immersion in 0.5 M NaCl solutions and are composed of two depressed semi circles. For the alumina coated film, the impedance spectrum decreased, when immersion time increased.

  1. Rapid fabrication of self-ordered porous alumina with 10-/sub-10-nm-scale nanostructures by selenic acid anodizing

    PubMed Central

    Nishinaga, Osamu; Kikuchi, Tatsuya; Natsui, Shungo; Suzuki, Ryosuke O.

    2013-01-01

    Anodic porous alumina has been widely investigated and used as a nanostructure template in various nanoapplications. The porous structure consists of numerous hexagonal cells perpendicular to the aluminum substrate and each cell has several tens or hundreds of nanoscale pores at its center. Because the nanomorphology of anodic porous alumina is limited by the electrolyte during anodizing, the discovery of additional electrolytes would expand the applicability of porous alumina. In this study, we report a new self-ordered nanoporous alumina formed by selenic acid (H2SeO4) anodizing. By optimizing the anodizing conditions, anodic alumina possessing 10-nm-scale pores was rapidly assembled (within 1 h) during selenic acid anodizing without any special electrochemical equipment. Novel sub-10-nm-scale spacing can also be achieved by selenic acid anodizing and metal sputter deposition. Our new nanoporous alumina can be used as a nanotemplate for various nanostructures in 10-/sub-10-nm-scale manufacturing. PMID:24067318

  2. Enhanced out-coupling efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes using an nanostructure imprinted by an alumina nanohole array

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Endo, Kuniaki; Adachi, Chihaya

    2014-03-01

    We demonstrate organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with enhanced out-coupling efficiency containing nanostructures imprinted by an alumina nanohole array template that can be applied to large-emitting-area and flexible devices using a roll-to-roll process. The nanostructures are imprinted on a glass substrate by an ultraviolet nanoimprint process using an alumina nanohole array mold and then an OLED is fabricated on the nanostructures. The enhancement of out-coupling efficiency is proportional to the root-mean-square roughness of the nanostructures, and a maximum improvement of external electroluminescence quantum efficiency of 17% is achieved. The electroluminescence spectra of the OLEDs indicate that this improvement is caused by enhancement of the out-coupling of surface plasmon polaritons.

  3. Characterization of the Alumina Scale formed on Coated and Uncoated Doped Superalloys

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

    Unocic, Kinga A; Parish, Chad M; Pint, Bruce A

    2011-01-01

    To investigate the mechanisms by which Y and La dopants affect the oxidation behavior of Ni base single crystal superalloys, the oxide scales formed on two variants of a commercial X4 alloy, each with and without a MCrAlYHfSi coating were characterized. The alloy systems were oxidized for 100h at 1100 C and then examined using analytical transmission electron microscopy. Without a coating, a duplex scale was formed on the superalloy surface comprised of an outer Ni rich spinel type layer and an inner columnar Al2O3 layer. In this case, Hf and Ti were found segregated to the alumina grain boundariesmore » in the outer part of the scale on both alloys but only Hf was detected near the metal alumina interface. There was no evidence of Ta, Y or La segregation to the scale grain boundaries after this exposure. The scale formed on the alloys with the thermally sprayed coating was primarily alumina, and Y and Hf segregated to the alumina grain boundaries for both alloys. There was evidence of Ti rich oxides in the outer part of the scale indicating that Ti had diffused through the coating into the thermally grown oxide but La was not found.« less

  4. Pulsed sonication for alumina coatings on high-capacity oxides: Performance in lithium-ion cells

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

    Pol, Vilas G.; Li, Yan; Dogan, Fulya

    2014-07-01

    High-capacity xLi2MnO3•(1-x)LiMO2 (M=Ni, Mn, Co) oxides show relatively rapid performance degradation when cycled at voltages >4.5V vs. Li/Li+. Previous research has indicated that modifying the oxide surfaces with coatings, such as alumina, reduces cell impedance rise and improves capacity retention. In this article, we demonstrate pulsed-sonication as a rapid and effective approach for coating alumina on Li1.2Ni0.175Mn0.525Co0.1O2 (0.5Li2MnO3•0.5LiNi0.44Mn0.31Co0.25O2) particles. Oxide integrity and morphology is maintained after the sonochemical process and subsequent heat-treatment. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) X-ray elemental maps show uniform coating of all secondary particles. 27Al Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR data confirm the presence of alumina and mainlymore » indicate octahedral aluminum occupancy in a six-coordinate environment with oxygen. Full cells containing electrodes with the alumina-coated particles demonstrate lower initial impedance rise and better capacity retention during extended cycling to high voltages. However, the coating has a negligible effect on the voltage hysteresis and voltage fade behavior displayed by these oxides. The various data indicate that the pulsed sonochemical technique is a viable approach for coating oxide particles. The methodology described herein can easily be extended beyond alumina to include coatings such as AlF3, MgO, and MgF2.« less

  5. Determination of the coefficient of dynamic friction between coatings of alumina and metallic materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Santos, A.; Córdoba, E.; Ramírez, Z.; Sierra, C.; Ortega, Y.

    2017-12-01

    This project aims to determine the coefficient of dynamic friction between micrometric size coatings of alumina and metallic materials (Steel and aluminium); the methodology used to achieve the proposed objective consisted of 4 phases, in the first one was developed a procedure that allowed, from a Pin on Disk machine built based on the specifications given by the ASTM G99-05 standard (Standard test method for wear tests with a Pin on Disk machine), to determine the coefficient of dynamic friction between two materials in contact; subsequently the methodology was verified through tests between steel-steel and steel-aluminium, due to these values are widely reported in the literature; as a third step, deposits of alumina particles of micrometric size were made on a steel substrate through thermal spraying by flame; finally, the tests were carried out between pins of steel of aluminium and alumina coating to determine the coefficients of dynamic friction between these two surfaces. The results of the project allowed to verify that the developed methodology is valid to obtain coefficients of dynamic friction between surfaces in contact since the percentages of error were of 3.5% and 2.1% for steel-steel and aluminium-steel, respectively; additionally, it was found that the coefficient of friction between steel-alumina coatings is 0.36 and aluminium-alumina coating is 0.25.

  6. Biomimetic Coating on Porous Alumina for Tissue Engineering: Characterisation by Cell Culture and Confocal Microscopy

    PubMed Central

    Kolos, Elizabeth; Ruys, Andrew J

    2015-01-01

    In this study porous alumina samples were prepared and then coated using the biomimetic coating technique using a five times Simulated Body Fluid (5.0SBF) as the growth solution. A coating was achieved after pre-treatment with concentrated acid. From elemental analysis, the coating contained calcium and phosphorous, but also sodium and chlorine. Halite was identified by XRD, a sodium chloride phase. Sintering was done to remove the halite phase. Once halite was burnt off, the calcium phosphate crystals were not covered with halite and, therefore, the apatite phases can be clearly observed. Cell culturing showed sufficient cell attachment to the less porous alumina, Sample B, that has more calcium phosphate growth, while the porous alumina, Sample A, with minimal calcium phosphate growth attained very little cell attachment. This is likely due to the contribution that calcium phosphate plays in the attachment of bone-like cells to a bioinert ceramic such as alumina. These results were repeated on both SEM and confocal microscopy analysis. Confocal microscopy was a novel characterisation approach which gave useful information and was a visual aid.

  7. Effective coating of titania nanoparticles with alumina via atomic layer deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Azizpour, H.; Talebi, M.; Tichelaar, F. D.; Sotudeh-Gharebagh, R.; Guo, J.; van Ommen, J. R.; Mostoufi, N.

    2017-12-01

    Alumina films were deposited on titania nanoparticles via atomic layer deposition (ALD) in a fluidized bed reactor at 180 °C and 1 bar. Online mass spectrometry was used for real time monitoring of effluent gases from the reactor during each reaction cycle in order to determine the optimal dosing time of precursors. Different oxygen sources were used to see which oxygen source, in combination with trimethyl aluminium (TMA), provides the highest alumina growth per cycle (GPC). Experiments were carried out in 4, 7 and 10 cycles using the optimal dosing time of precursors. Several characterization methods, such as high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), were conducted on the products. Formation of the alumina film was confirmed by EDX mapping and EDX line profiling, FTIR and TEM. When using either water or deuterium oxide as the oxygen source, the thickness of the alumina film was greater than that of ozone. The average GPC measured by TEM for the ALD of TMA with water, deuterium oxide and ozone was about 0.16 nm, 0.15 nm and 0.11 nm, respectively. The average GPC calculated using the mass fraction of aluminum from INAA was close to those measured from TEM images. Excess amounts of precursors lead to a higher average growth of alumina film per cycle due to insufficient purging time. XRD analysis demonstrated that amorphous alumina was coated on titania nanoparticles. This amorphous layer was easily distinguished from the crystalline core in the TEM images. Decrease in the photocatalytic activity of titania nanoparticles after alumina coating was confirmed by measuring degradation of Rhodamine B by ultraviolet irradiation.

  8. Development of nanostructured antireflection coatings for infrared technologies and applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pethuraja, Gopal G.; Zeller, John W.; Welser, Roger E.; Efstathiadis, Harry; Haldar, Pradeep; Wijewarnasuriya, Priyalal S.; Dhar, Nibir K.; Sood, Ashok K.

    2017-09-01

    Infrared (IR) sensing technologies and systems operating from the near-infrared (NIR) to long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectra are being developed for a variety of defense and commercial systems applications. Reflection losses affecting a significant portion of the incident signal limits the performance of IR sensing systems. One of the critical technologies that will overcome this limitation and enhance the performance of IR sensing systems is the development of advanced antireflection (AR) coatings. Magnolia is actively involved in the development and advancement of ultrahigh performance AR coatings for a wide variety of defense and commercial applications. Ultrahigh performance nanostructured AR coatings have been demonstrated for UV to LWIR spectral bands using various substrates. The AR coatings enhance the optical transmission through optical components and devices by significantly minimizing reflection losses, a substantial improvement over conventional thin-film AR coating technologies. Nanostructured AR coatings are fabricated using a tunable self-assembly process on substrates that are transparent for a given spectrum of interest ranging from UV to LWIR. The nanostructured multilayer structures have been designed, developed and optimized for various optoelectronic applications. The optical properties of the AR-coated optical components and sensor substrates have been measured and fine-tuned to achieve a predicted high level of performance of the coatings. In this paper, we review our latest work on high quality nanostructure-based AR coatings, including recent efforts towards the development of nanostructured AR coatings on IR-transparent substrates.

  9. Nanostructured Mineral Coatings Stabilize Proteins for Therapeutic Delivery.

    PubMed

    Yu, Xiaohua; Biedrzycki, Adam H; Khalil, Andrew S; Hess, Dalton; Umhoefer, Jennifer M; Markel, Mark D; Murphy, William L

    2017-09-01

    Proteins tend to lose their biological activity due to their fragile structural conformation during formulation, storage, and delivery. Thus, the inability to stabilize proteins in controlled-release systems represents a major obstacle in drug delivery. Here, a bone mineral inspired protein stabilization strategy is presented, which uses nanostructured mineral coatings on medical devices. Proteins bound within the nanostructured coatings demonstrate enhanced stability against extreme external stressors, including organic solvents, proteases, and ethylene oxide gas sterilization. The protein stabilization effect is attributed to the maintenance of protein conformational structure, which is closely related to the nanoscale feature sizes of the mineral coatings. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) released from a nanostructured mineral coating maintains its biological activity for weeks during release, while it maintains activity for less than 7 d during release from commonly used polymeric microspheres. Delivery of the growth factors bFGF and vascular endothelial growth factor using a mineral coated surgical suture significantly improves functional Achilles tendon healing in a rabbit model, resulting in increased vascularization, more mature collagen fiber organization, and a two fold improvement in mechanical properties. The findings of this study demonstrate that biomimetic interactions between proteins and nanostructured minerals provide a new, broadly applicable mechanism to stabilize proteins in the context of drug delivery and regenerative medicine. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  10. Estimation of the Friction Coefficient of a Nanostructured Composite Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shil'ko, S. V.; Chernous, D. A.; Ryabchenko, T. V.; Hat'ko, V. V.

    2017-11-01

    The frictional-mechanical properties of a thin polymer-ceramic coating obtained by gas-phase impregnation of nanoporous anodic alumina with a fluoropolymer (octafluorocyclobutane) have been investigated. The coefficient of sliding friction of the coating is predicted based on an analysis of contact deformation within the framework of the Winkler elastic foundation hypothesis and a three-phase micromechanical model. It is shown that an acceptable prediction accuracy can be obtained considering the uniaxial strain state of the coating. It was found that, on impregnation by the method of plasmachemical treatment, the relative depth of penetration of the polymer increased almost in proportion to the processing time. The rate and maximum possible depth of penetration of the polymer into nanoscale pores grew with increasing porosity of the alumina substrate.

  11. Nanostructural Engineering of Nanoporous Anodic Alumina for Biosensing Applications

    PubMed Central

    Ferré-Borrull, Josep; Pallarès, Josep; Macías, Gerard; Marsal, Lluis F.

    2014-01-01

    Modifying the diameter of the pores in nanoporous anodic alumina opens new possibilities in the application of this material. In this work, we review the different nanoengineering methods by classifying them into two kinds: in situ and ex situ. Ex situ methods imply the interruption of the anodization process and the addition of intermediate steps, while in situ methods aim at realizing the in-depth pore modulation by continuous changes in the anodization conditions. Ex situ methods permit a greater versatility in the pore geometry, while in situ methods are simpler and adequate for repeated cycles. As an example of ex situ methods, we analyze the effect of changing drastically one of the anodization parameters (anodization voltage, electrolyte composition or concentration). We also introduce in situ methods to obtain distributed Bragg reflectors or rugate filters in nanoporous anodic alumina with cyclic anodization voltage or current. This nanopore engineering permits us to propose new applications in the field of biosensing: using the unique reflectance or photoluminescence properties of the material to obtain photonic barcodes, applying a gold-coated double-layer nanoporous alumina to design a self-referencing protein sensor or giving a proof-of-concept of the refractive index sensing capabilities of nanoporous rugate filters. PMID:28788127

  12. Effects of sol-gel processed silica coating on bond strength of resin cements to glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic.

    PubMed

    Xie, Haifeng; Wang, Xiaozu; Wang, Yu; Zhang, Feimin; Chen, Chen; Xia, Yang

    2009-02-01

    The aim of this study was to verify the effects of sol-gel processed silica coating on the bond strength between resin cement and glass-infiltrated aluminum oxide ceramic. Silica coatings were prepared on glass-infiltrated aluminum oxide ceramic surface via the sol-gel process. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Fourier Transmission Infrared spectrum (FTIR), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) were used for coating characterization. Forty-eight blocks of glass-infiltrated aluminum oxide ceramic were fabricated. The ceramic surfaces were polished following sandblasting. Three groups of specimens (16 for each group) with different surface treatment were prepared. Group P: no treatment; group PO: treated with silane solution; group PTO: silica coating via sol-gel process, followed by silane application. Composite cylinders were luted with resin cement to the test specimens. Half of the specimens in each group were stored in distilled water for 24 h and the other half were stored in distilled water for 30 days before shear loading in a universal testing machine until failure. Selected ceramic surfaces were analyzed to identify the failure mode using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nanostructured silica coatings were prepared on glass-infiltrated aluminum oxide ceramic surfaces by the sol-gel process. The silicon element on the ceramic surface increased significantly after the coating process. The mean shear bond strength values (standard deviation) before artificial aging were: group P: 1.882 +/- 0.156 MPa; group PO: 2.177 +/- 0.226 MPa; group PTO: 3.574 +/- 0.671 MPa. Statistically significant differences existed between group PTO and group P, and group PTO and groups PO. The failure mode for group P and group PO was adhesive, while group PTO was mixed. The mean shear bond strength values (standard deviation) after artificial aging were: group P: 1.594 +/- 0.111 MPa; group PO: 2.120 +/- 0.339 MPa; group PTO: 2.955 +/- 0.113 MPa. Statistically significant

  13. Fabrication of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Nanostructures with Anodic Alumina Oxide Templates, Characterization and Biofilm Development Test for Staphylococcus epidermidis

    PubMed Central

    Desrousseaux, Camille; Cueff, Régis; Aumeran, Claire; Garrait, Ghislain; Mailhot-Jensen, Bénédicte; Traoré, Ousmane; Sautou, Valérie

    2015-01-01

    Medical devices can be contaminated by microbial biofilm which causes nosocomial infections. One of the strategies for the prevention of such microbial adhesion is to modify the biomaterials by creating micro or nanofeatures on their surface. This study aimed (1) to nanostructure acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a polymer composing connectors in perfusion devices, using Anodic Alumina Oxide templates, and to control the reproducibility of this process; (2) to characterize the physico-chemical properties of the nanostructured surfaces such as wettability using captive-bubble contact angle measurement technique; (3) to test the impact of nanostructures on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm development. Fabrication of Anodic Alumina Oxide molds was realized by double anodization in oxalic acid. This process was reproducible. The obtained molds present hexagonally arranged 50 nm diameter pores, with a 100 nm interpore distance and a length of 100 nm. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene nanostructures were successfully prepared using a polymer solution and two melt wetting methods. For all methods, the nanopicots were obtained but inside each sample their length was different. One method was selected essentially for industrial purposes and for better reproducibility results. The flat ABS surface presents a slightly hydrophilic character, which remains roughly unchanged after nanostructuration, the increasing apparent wettability observed in that case being explained by roughness effects. Also, the nanostructuration of the polymer surface does not induce any significant effect on Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion. PMID:26284922

  14. Broadband angle-independent antireflection coatings on nanostructured light trapping solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vázquez-Guardado, Abraham; Boroumand, Javaneh; Franklin, Daniel; Chanda, Debashis

    2018-03-01

    Backscattering from nanostructured surfaces greatly diminishes the efficacy of light trapping solar cells. While the analytical design of broadband, angle-independent antireflection coatings on nanostructured surfaces proved inefficient, numerical optimization proves a viable alternative. Here, we numerically design and experimentally verify the performance of single and bilayer antireflection coatings on a 2D hexagonal diffractive light trapping pattern on crystalline silicon substrates. Three well-known antireflection coatings, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxide, which also double as high-quality surface passivation materials, are studied in the 400-1000 nm band. By varying thickness and conformity, the optimal parameters that minimize the broadband total reflectance (specular and scattering) from the nanostructured surface are obtained. The design results in a single-layer antireflection coating with normal-angle wavelength-integrated reflectance below 4% and a bilayer antireflection coating demonstrating reflection down to 1.5%. We show experimentally an angle-averaged reflectance of ˜5.2 % up to 60° incident angle from the optimized bilayer antireflection-coated nanostructured surface, paving the path toward practical implementation of the light trapping solar cells.

  15. Morphology of one-time coated palladium-alumina composite membrane prepared by sol-gel process and electroless plating technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sari, R.; Dewi, R.; Pardi; Hakim, L.; Diana, S.

    2018-03-01

    Palladium coated porous alumina ceramic membrane tube was obtained using a combination of sol-gel process and electroless plating technique. The thickness, structure and composition of palladium-alumina composite membrane were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Palladium particle size was 6.18 to 7.64 nm. Palladium membrane with thickness of approximately 301.5 to 815.1 nm was formed at the outer surface of the alumina layer. EDX data confirmed the formation of palladium-alumina membrane containing 45% of palladium. From this research it shows the combination of sol-gel process and electroless plating technique with one-time coating can produce a homogeneous and smoother palladium nano layer film on alumina substrate.

  16. Synthesis of superhydrophobic alumina membrane: Effects of sol-gel coating, steam impingement and water treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahmad, N. A.; Leo, C. P.; Ahmad, A. L.

    2013-11-01

    Ceramic membranes possess natural hydrophilicity thus tending to absorb water droplets. The absorption of water molecules on membrane surface reduces their application in filtration, membrane distillation, osmotic evaporation and membrane gas absorption. Fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) grafting allows the conversion of hydrophilic ceramic membranes into superhydrophobic thin layer, but it usually introduces a great increment of mass transfer resistance. In this study, superhydrophobic alumina membranes were synthesized by dip coating alumina support into sol-gel and grafted with the fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) named (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetra hydrodecyl) triethoxysilane. Steam impingement and water treatment acted as additional steps to generate surface roughness on sol-gel and most importantly to reduce mass transfer resistance. Superhydrophobic alumina membrane with high water contact angle (158.4°) and low resistance (139.5 ± 24.9 G m-1) was successfully formed when the alumina membrane was dip coated into sol-gel for 7 s, treated with steam impingement for 1 min and immersed in hot water at 100 °C. However, the mass transfer resistance was greatly induced to 535.6 ± 23.5 G m-1 when the dip coating time was increased to 60 s. Long dip coating time contributes more on the blockage of porous structure rather than creates a thin film on the top of membrane surface. Reducing the pore size and porosity significantly due to increase of coating molecules deposited on the membrane. Steam impingement for 1 min promoted the formation of cones and valleys on the sol-gel, but the macro-roughness was destroyed when the steam impingement duration was extended to more than 3 min. The immersions of membranes into hot water at temperatures higher than 60 °C encouraged the formation of boehmite which enhances the formation of additional roughness and enlarges pore size greatly. Thus, this work showed that the formation of superhydrophobic alumina membrane with low resistance is

  17. Nanostructured diamond coatings for orthopaedic applications

    PubMed Central

    CATLEDGE, S.A.; THOMAS, V.; VOHRA, Y.K.

    2013-01-01

    With increasing numbers of orthopaedic devices being implanted, greater emphasis is being placed on ceramic coating technology to reduce friction and wear in mating total joint replacement components, in order to improve implant function and increase device lifespan. In this chapter, we consider ultra-hard carbon coatings, with emphasis on nanostructured diamond, as alternative bearing surfaces for metallic components. Such coatings have great potential for use in biomedical implants as a result of their extreme hardness, wear resistance, low friction and biocompatibility. These ultra-hard carbon coatings can be deposited by several techniques resulting in a wide variety of structures and properties. PMID:25285213

  18. Improved alumina scale adhesion of electron beam physical vapor deposited Dy/Hf-doped β-NiAl coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Dongqing; Guo, Hongbo; Peng, Hui; Gong, Shengkai; Xu, Huibin

    2013-10-01

    The cyclic oxidation behavior of Dy/Hf-doped β-NiAl coatings produced by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) was investigated. For the undoped NiAl coating, numerous voids were formed at the alumina scale/coating interface and large rumpling developed in the scale, leading to premature oxide spallation. The addition of Dy and Hf both improved scale adhesion and the alumina scale grown on the NiAl-Hf coating showed better adhesion than that on the NiAl-Dy coating, although the suppressing effect on interfacial void formation and the scale rumpling resistance were stronger in the NiAl-Dy coating. It is proposed that the segregation of Dy and Hf ions at the scale/coating interfaces not only prevent interfacial sulfur segregation but also may directly enhance interfacial adhesion by participating in bonding across the interfaces, and this strengthening effect is relatively stronger for Hf ionic segregation.

  19. Multiple-layered effective medium approximation approach to modeling environmental effects on alumina passivated highly porous silicon nanostructured thin films measured by in-situ Mueller matrix ellipsometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mock, Alyssa; Carlson, Timothy; VanDerslice, Jeremy; Mohrmann, Joel; Woollam, John A.; Schubert, Eva; Schubert, Mathias

    2017-11-01

    Optical changes in alumina passivated highly porous silicon slanted columnar thin films during controlled exposure to toluene vapor are reported. Electron-beam evaporation glancing angle deposition and subsequent atomic layer deposition are utilized to deposit alumina passivated nanostructured porous silicon thin films. In-situ Mueller matrix generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry in an environmental cell is then used to determine changes in optical properties of the nanostructured thin films by inspection of individual Mueller matrix elements, each of which exhibit sensitivity to adsorption. The use of a multiple-layered effective medium approximation model allows for accurate description of the inhomogeneous nature of toluene adsorption onto alumina passivated highly porous silicon slanted columnar thin films.

  20. The immunomodulatory effects of Zn-incorporated micro/nanostructured coating in inducing osteogenesis.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Ranran; Liu, Xujie; Xiong, Zhiyuan; Huang, Qianli; Yang, Xing; Yan, Hao; Ma, Jing; Feng, Qingling; Shen, Zhijian

    2018-03-08

    Micro/nanostructured TiO 2 /ZnO coating has been shown to possess multiple functions, including antibacterial activity and bioactivity. Osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells were employed for evaluating the in vitro osteogenic capacity of this coating and positive results were obtained. However, traditional principles of osseointegration focus only on the osteogenic differentiation alone. The effects of immunomodulation on the osteogenic activity have been largely ignored. In this study, the inflammatory responses of macrophages on the micro/nanostructured TiO 2 /ZnO coating were investigated. The extract media of macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cultured on the TiO 2 /ZnO coating were collected as indirect co-culture conditioned media. The osteogenic activity of SaOS-2 cells in the conditioned media was investigated. Adhesion, ALP activity and extracellular mineralization of cells grown in the conditioned media extracted from the micro/nanostructured TiO 2 /ZnO coating were found to be enhanced, compared to those grown in the conditioned media extracted from the macroporous TiO 2 coating. The immune microenvironment produced by the micro/nanostructured TiO 2 /ZnO coating showed excellent capacity to promote osteogenesis, indicating that this coating could be a promising candidate for implant surface modification in orthopaedic and dental applications. Furthermore, this work could help us understand the interplay between the host immune system and the osteoimmunomodulatory properties of the biomaterials, and optimize the design for coating biomaterials.

  1. New support for high-performance liquid chromatography based on silica coated with alumina particles.

    PubMed

    Silveira, José Leandro R; Dib, Samia R; Faria, Anizio M

    2014-01-01

    A new material based on silica coated with alumina nanoparticles was proposed for use as a chromatographic support for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Alumina nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol-gel process in reversed micelles composed of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate, and the support material was formed by the self-assembly of alumina layers on silica spheres. Spectroscopic and (29)Si nuclear magnetic resonance results showed evidence of chemical bonds between the alumina nanoparticles and the silica spheres, while morphological characterizations showed that the aluminized silica maintained the morphological properties of silica desired for chromatographic purposes after alumina incorporation. Stability studies indicated that bare silica showed high dissolution (~83%), while the aluminized silica remained practically unchanged (99%) after passing one liter of the alkaline mobile phase, indicating high stability under alkaline conditions. The C18 bonded aluminized silica phase showed great potential for use in high-performance liquid chromatography to separate basic molecules in the reversed-phase mode.

  2. Fabrication and magnetic properties of Fe nanostructures in anodic alumina membrane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lim, J.-H.; Chae, W.-S.; Lee, H.-O.; Malkinski, L.; Min, S.-G.; Wiley, J. B.; Jun, J.-H.; Lee, S.-H.; Jung, J.-S.

    2010-05-01

    Several Fe nanostructures with different lengths, diameters, and separations of the constituting magnetic components have been synthesized using anodized alumina membranes (AAMs) to understand the influence of these parameters on their magnetic properties. Fe nanostructures with high crystallinity and (110) orientation were synthesized by electrodeposition at room temperature in regular AAMs and mild-hard AAM (Mi-Ha AAM). Fe nanostructures with different aspect ratios (1:1, 1:10, and 1:75) in the form of nanodots, nanorods, or nanowires were synthesized in regular AAMs with the 100 nm interpore distance. Mi-Ha AAMs with two different pore sizes (70 and 120 nm) and 250 nm interpore distances were used to investigate the effect of the interactions and of the diameter of the wires on their magnetic behavior. Nearly linear magnetization characteristics with small coercivity, observed for Fe nanowires, suggest the magnetization rotation to be the predominant magnetization process for the field applied transverse to the wires. The anisotropy of the arrays was governed by the shape anisotropy of the magnetic objects with different aspect ratios. Reduced interactions between the nanowires grown in Mi-Ha AAMs resulted in enhancement of the average anisotropy. It is believed that due to difference in spin configuration, the increased diameter of the nanowires led to reduction in the coercivity in the case of the field applied along the wires.

  3. Gold coated metal nanostructures grown by glancing angle deposition and pulsed electroplating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grüner, Christoph; Reeck, Pascal; Jacobs, Paul-Philipp; Liedtke, Susann; Lotnyk, Andriy; Rauschenbach, Bernd

    2018-05-01

    Nickel based nanostructures are grown by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) on flat and pre-patterned substrates. These fabricated porous thin films were subsequently coated by pulsed electroplating with gold. The morphology and conformity of the gold coating were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Controlled growth of closed gold layers on the nanostructures could be achieved, while the open-pore structure of the nanosculptured thin films was preserved. Such gold coated nanostructures are a candidate for optical sensing and catalysis applications. The demonstrated method can be applied for numerous material combinations, allowing to provide GLAD thin films with new surface properties.

  4. Investigations on composition and morphology of electrochemical alumina and alumina yttria stabilised zirconia deposits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    El Hajjaji, S.; Manov, S.; Roy, J.; Aigouy, T.; Ben Bachir, A.; Aries, L.

    2001-08-01

    Conversion coatings modified by deposits of electrolytic alumina added or not with yttria and/or zirconia, have been studied which are well known for their resistance to chemical attack and high temperature. Conversion coating, characterised by a particular morphology and strong interfacial adhesion with the substrate, facilitate the electrochemical deposition of ceramic layers and enhance their adhesion to the substrate. Zirconia-alumina coating behaviour at 1000°C is similar to that of alumina coating; from 800°C, the chromium diffuses from the stainless steel through the electrolytic refractory coating up to the external interface, provokes discontinuities and can modify its protective character. Yttrium stabilises the cubic and the tetragonal form of the zirconia; so, during cooling, the phase transformation near 1000°C of tetragonal zirconia to monoclinic form cannot take place.

  5. Optimization of the parameters for obtaining zirconia-alumina coatings, made by flame spraying from results of numerical simulation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferrer, M.; Vargas, F.; Peña, G.

    2017-12-01

    The K-Sommerfeld values (K) and the melting percentage (% F) obtained by numerical simulation using the Jets et Poudres software were used to find the projection parameters of zirconia-alumina coatings by thermal spraying flame, in order to obtain coatings with good morphological and structural properties to be used as thermal insulation. The experimental results show the relationship between the Sommerfeld parameter and the porosity of the zirconia-alumina coatings. It is found that the lowest porosity is obtained when the K-Sommerfeld value is close to 45 with an oxidant flame, on the contrary, when superoxidant flames are used K values are close 52, which improve wear resistance.

  6. Multi-Layer Coating of Ultrathin Polymer Films on Nanoparticles of Alumina by a Plasma Treatment

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2001-01-01

    Proc. Vol. 635 © 2001 Materials Research Society Multi-Layer Coating of Ultrathin Polymer Films on Nanoparticles of Alumina by a Plasma Treatment Donglu...interconnected organic and inorganic networks results in coatings with a very low permeability for gases and liquids. Hybrid materials are very suitable for... materials consist of a clear alcoholic solution that can easily be processed by classical application techniques such as dipping, spraying, or spin coating

  7. Characterization of gas tunnel type plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite-nanostructure titania composite coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yugeswaran, S.; Kobayashi, A.; Ucisik, A. Hikmet; Subramanian, B.

    2015-08-01

    Hydroxyapatite (HA) can be coated onto metal implants as a ceramic biocompatible coating to bridge the growth between implants and human tissue. Meanwhile many efforts have been made to improve the mechanical properties of the HA coatings without affecting its bioactivity. In the present study, nanostructure titania (TiO2) was mixed with HA powder and HA-nanostructure TiO2 composite coatings were produced by gas tunnel type plasma spraying torch under optimized spraying conditions. For this purpose, composition of 10 wt% TiO2 + 90 wt% HA, 20 wt% TiO2 + 80 wt% HA and 30 wt% TiO2 + 70 wt% HA were selected as the feedstock materials. The phase, microstructure and mechanical properties of the coatings were characterized. The obtained results validated that the increase in weight percentage of nanostructure TiO2 in HA coating significantly increased the microhardness, adhesive strength and wear resistance of the coatings. Analysis of the in vitro bioactivity and cytocompatibility of the coatings were done using conventional simulated body fluid (c-SBF) solution and cultured green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled marrow stromal cells (MSCs) respectively. The bioactivity results revealed that the composite coating has bio-active surface with good cytocompatibility.

  8. Moisture-Induced Delayed Alumina Scale Spallation on a Ni(Pt)Al Coating

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smialek, James L.

    2009-01-01

    Delayed interfacial scale failure takes place after cooling for samples of a Ni(Pt)Al-coated CMSX4 single crystal superalloy, cycled at 1150 C for up to 2000 hr. One sample exhibited premature coating grain boundary wrinkling, alumina scale spallation to bare metal, and a final weight loss of 3.3 mg/cm2 . Spallation under ambient conditions was monitored with time after cooldown and was found to continue for 24 hr. This produced up to 0.05 mg/cm2 additional loss for each hold, accumulating 0.7 mg/cm 2 (20 percent of the total) over the course of the test. After test termination, water immersion produced an additional 0.15 mg/cm2 loss. (A duplicate sample produced much less wrinkling and time dependent spalling, maintaining a net weight gain.) The results are consistent with the general phenomena of moisture-induced delayed spallation (MIDS) of mature, distressed alumina scales formed on oxidation resistant M-Al alloys. Relative ambient humidity is discussed as the factor controlling adsorbed moisture, reaction with the substrate, and hydrogen effects on interface strength.

  9. Effect of silica coating on fracture strength of glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic cemented to dentin.

    PubMed

    Xie, Haifeng; Zhu, Ye; Chen, Chen; Gu, Ning; Zhang, Feimin

    2011-10-01

    To examine the availability of sol-gel processed silica coating for alumina-based ceramic bonding, and determine which silica sol concentration was appropriate for silica coating. Sixty disks of In-Ceram alumina ceramic were fabricated and randomly divided into 5 main groups. The disks received 5 different surface conditioning treatments: Group Al, sandblasted; Group AlC, sandblasted + silane coupling agent applied; Groups Al20C, Al30C, and Al40C, sandblasted, silica coating via sol-gel process prepared using 20 wt%, 30 wt%, and 40 wt% silica sols, and then silane coupling agent applied. Before bonding, one-step adhesives were applied on pre-prepared ceramic surfaces of all groups. Then, 60 dentin specimens were prepared and conditioned with phosphoric acid and one-step adhesive. Ceramic disks of all groups were cemented to dentin specimens with dual-curing resin cements. Fracture strength was determined at 24 h and after 20 days of storage in water. Groups Al20C, Al30C, and Al40C revealed significantly higher fracture strength than groups Al and AlC. No statistically significant difference in fracture strength was found between groups Al and AlC, or among groups Al20C, Al30C, and Al40C. Fracture strength values of all the groups did not change after 20 days of water storage. Sol-gel processed silica coating can enhance fracture strength of In-Ceram alumina ceramic after bonding to dentin, and different silica sol concentrations produced the same effects. Twenty days of water storage did not decrease the fracture strength.

  10. Insights into effects and mechanism of pre-dispersant on surface morphologies of silica or alumina coated rutile TiO2 particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dong, Xiongbo; Sun, Zhiming; Liu, Yangyu; Jiang, Lei; Zheng, Shuilin

    2018-05-01

    Silica and alumina coated rutile TiO2 samples with various surface morphologies were fabricated using four different pre-dispersants. Using sodium silicate nonahydrate (SSNH) as pre-dispersant, the received sample displayed the best acidic stability. The addition of SSNH could induce layer-by-layer growth of hydrous silica via enhancing the dispersion of hydrous silica nucleus and accelerating the dehydration condensation rate of silica film. Alumina coated rutile TiO2 sample obtained by polyethyleneglycol 1000 (PEG) presented the highest dispersion stability. The existence of PEG can induce the formation of fibrous hydrous alumina film, which would increase the steric hindrance and the promotion of dispersion stability.

  11. Au/Cr Sputter Coating for the Protection of Alumina During Sliding at High Temperatures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Benoy, Patricia A.; Dellacorte, Christopher

    1995-01-01

    A sputter deposited bilayer coating of gold and chromium was investigated as a potential solid lubricant to protect alumina substrates in applications involving sliding at high temperature. The proposed lubricant was tested in a pin-on-disk tribometer with coated alumina disks sliding against uncoated alumina pins. Three test parameters; temperature, load, and sliding velocity were varied over a wide range in order to determine the performance envelope on the gold/chromium (Au/Cr) solid lubricant film. The tribo-tests were run in an air atmosphere at temperatures of 25 to 1000 C, under loads of 4.9 to 49.0 N and at sliding velocities from 1 to 15 m/sec. Post test analyses included surface profilometry, wear factor determination and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) examination of worn surfaces. Compared to unlubricated Al2O3 sliding, the use of the Au/Cr film reduced friction by 30 to 50 percent and wear by one to two orders of magnitude. Increases in test temperature resulted in lower friction and the Au/Cr film continued to provide low friction, about 0.3, even at 1000 C. Pin wear factors and friction were largely unaffected by increasing loads up to 29.4 N. Sliding velocity had essentially no effect on friction, however, increased velocity reduced coating life (total sliding distance). Based upon these research results, the Au/Cr film is a promising lubricant for moderately loaded, low speed applications operating at temperatures as high as 1000 C.

  12. Phase and microstructural development in alumina sol-gel coatings on CoCr alloy.

    PubMed

    Bae, I J; Standard, O C; Roger, G J; Brazil, D

    2004-09-01

    Phase transformation of gamma-Al(2)O(3) to alpha-Al(2)O(3) in alumina sol gel coatings on biomedical CoCr alloy was studied as function of heat treatment temperature and time. Transformation in unseeded coatings was significant only above approximately 1200 degrees C. Addition of alpha-Al(2)O(3) seed particles having an average size of approximately 40 nm lowered the phase transformation temperature to around 800 degrees C. These particles were considered to act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for epitaxial growth of the alpha-Al(2)O(3) phase. The kinetics and activation energy (420 kJ/mol) for the phase transformation in the seeded coatings were similar to those reported for seeded monolithic alumina gels indicating that the transformation mechanism is the same in the two material configurations. Avrami growth parameters indicated that the mechanism was diffusion controlled and invariant over the temperature range studied but that growth was possibly constrained by the finite size of the seed particles and/or coating thickness. The phase transformation occurred by the growth of alpha-Al(2)O(3) grains at the expense of the precursor fine-grained gamma-Al(2)O(3) matrix and near-complete transformation coincided with physical impingement of the growing grains. The grain size at impingement was approximately 100 nm which agreed well with that predicted from the theoretical linear spacing of seed particles in the initial sol.

  13. Comparison of the cohesive and delamination fatigue properties of atomic-layer-deposited alumina and titania ultrathin protective coatings deposited at 200 °C

    PubMed Central

    Sadeghi-Tohidi, Farzad; Samet, David; Graham, Samuel; Pierron, Olivier N

    2014-01-01

    The fatigue properties of ultrathin protective coatings on silicon thin films were investigated. The cohesive and delamination fatigue properties of 22 nm-thick atomic-layered-deposited (ALD) titania were characterized and compared to that of 25 nm-thick alumina. Both coatings were deposited at 200 °C. The fatigue rates are comparable at 30 °C, 50% relative humidity (RH) while they are one order of magnitude larger for alumina compared to titania at 80 °C, 90% RH. The improved fatigue performance is believed to be related to the improved stability of the ALD titania coating with water compared to ALD alumina, which may in part be related to the fact that ALD titania is crystalline, while ALD alumina is amorphous. Static fatigue crack nucleation and propagation was not observed. The underlying fatigue mechanism is different from previously documented mechanisms, such as stress corrosion cracking, and appears to result from the presence of compressive stresses and a rough coating–substrate interface. PMID:27877645

  14. Long-term evaluation of solid oxide fuel cell candidate materials in a 3-cell generic stack test fixture, part III: Stability and microstructure of Ce-(Mn,Co)-spinel coating, AISI441 interconnect, alumina coating, cathode and anode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chou, Yeong-Shyung; Stevenson, Jeffry W.; Choi, Jung-Pyung

    2014-07-01

    A generic solid oxide fuel cell stack test fixture was developed to evaluate candidate materials and processing under realistic conditions. Part III of the work investigated the stability of Ce-(Mn,Co) spinel coating, AISI441 metallic interconnect, alumina coating, and cell's degradation. After 6000 h test, the spinel coating showed densification with some diffusion of Cr. At the metal interface, segregation of Si and Ti was observed, however, no continuous layer formed. The alumina coating for perimeter sealing areas appeared more dense and thick at the air side than the fuel side. Both the spinel and alumina coatings remained bonded. EDS analysis of Cr within the metal showed small decrease in concentration near the coating interface and would expect to cause no issue of Cr depletion. Inter-diffusion of Ni, Fe, and Cr between spot-welded Ni wire and AISI441 interconnect was observed and Cr-oxide scale formed along the circumference of the weld. The microstructure of the anode and cathode was discussed relating to degradation of the top and middle cells. Overall, the Ce-(Mn,Co) spinel coating, alumina coating, and AISI441 steel showed the desired long-term stability and the developed generic stack fixture proved to be a useful tool to validate candidate materials for SOFC.

  15. Importance of surface modification of γ-alumina in creating its nanostructured composites with zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-67.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yuanyuan; Gonçalves, Alexandre A S; Zhou, Yang; Jaroniec, Mietek

    2018-05-07

    Application of zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) as an adsorbent has been greatly hindered by slow mass transfer of adsorbate molecules due to its inherent microporosity. To address this limitation, we have developed binary nanostructures composed of ZIF-67 and γ-alumina (GA) containing respectively micropores and large mesopores. The nanostructured composites were successfully prepared by coupling ZIF-67 and GA with and without surface modification with imidazole silane that mimics the building blocks of ZIF-67 to obtain GA-Im-ZIF-67 (with imidazole silane) and GA-ZIF-67 (without imidazole silane). The sizes of ZIF-67 crystals in these composites were smaller as compared to those of pure ZIF-67, and the textural properties of these composites with and without surface modification were quite similar. However, the surface grafting of alumina with imidazole silane played an important role in improving interfacial coupling between GA and ZIF-67, which resulted in significant changes in the dispersion of ZIF-67 crystals and better adsorption properties. The presence of large mesopores in the alumina-based composites containing smaller ZIF-67 crystals improved their adsorption properties toward dyes such as Rhodamine B (RhB). The RhB adsorption capacity of GA-Im-ZIF-67 was much higher than that of GA-ZIF-67, suggesting that the imidazole silane modification of GA before its coupling with ZIF-67 and the GA mesoporosity were essential for a substantial increase in the adsorption capacity of RhB. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Influence of alumina coating on characteristics and effects of SiO2 nanoparticles in algal growth inhibition assays at various pH and organic matter contents.

    PubMed

    Van Hoecke, Karen; De Schamphelaere, Karel A C; Ramirez-Garcia, Sonia; Van der Meeren, Paul; Smagghe, Guy; Janssen, Colin R

    2011-08-01

    Silica nanoparticles (NPs) belong to the industrially most important NP types. In a previous study it was shown that amorphous SiO(2) NPs of 12.5 and 27.0 nm are stable in algal growth inhibition assays and that their ecotoxic effects are related to NP surface area. Here, it was hypothesized and demonstrated that an alumina coating completely alters the particle-particle, particle-test medium and particle-algae interactions of SiO(2) NPs. Therefore, stability and surface characteristics, dissolution, nutrient adsorption and effects on algal growth rate of both alumina coated SiO(2) NPs and bare SiO(2) NPs in OECD algal test medium as a function of pH (6.0-8.6) and natural organic matter (NOM) contents (0-12 mg C/l) were investigated. Alumina coated SiO(2) NPs aggregated in all media and adsorbed phosphate depending on pH and NOM concentration. On the other hand, no aggregation or nutrient adsorption was observed for the bare SiO(2) NPs. Due to their positive surface charge, alumina coated SiO(2) NPs agglomerated with Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Consequently, algal cell density measurements based on cell counts were unreliable and hence fluorescent detection of extracted chlorophyll was the preferred method. Alumina coated SiO(2) NPs showed lower toxicity than bare SiO(2) NPs at concentrations ≥46 mg/l, except at pH 6.0. At low concentrations, no clear pH effect was observed for alumina coated SiO(2) NPs, while at higher concentrations phosphate deficiency could have contributed to the higher toxicity of those particles at pH 6.0-6.8 compared to higher pH values. Bare SiO(2) NPs were not toxic at pH 6.0 up to 220 mg/l. Addition of NOM decreased toxicity of both particles. For SiO(2) NPs the 48 h 20% effect concentration of 21.8 mg/l increased 2.6-21 fold and a linear relationship was observed between NOM concentration and effective concentrations. No effect was observed for alumina coated SiO(2) NPs in presence of NOM up to 1000 mg/l. All experiments point

  17. Alumina fiber strength improvement

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pepper, R. T.; Nelson, D. C.

    1982-01-01

    The effective fiber strength of alumina fibers in an aluminum composite was increased to 173,000 psi. A high temperature heat treatment, combined with a glassy carbon surface coating, was used to prevent degradation and improve fiber tensile strength. Attempts to achieve chemical strengthening of the alumina fiber by chromium oxide and boron oxide coatings proved unsuccessful. A major problem encountered on the program was the low and inconsistent strength of the Dupont Fiber FP used for the investigation.

  18. Analysis of effect of nanoporous alumina substrate coated with polypyrrole nanowire on cell morphology based on AFM topography.

    PubMed

    El-Said, Waleed Ahmed; Yea, Cheol-Heon; Jung, Mi; Kim, Hyuncheol; Choi, Jeong-Woo

    2010-05-01

    In this study, in situ electrochemical synthesis of polypyrrole nanowires with nanoporous alumina template was described. The formation of highly ordered porous alumina substrate was demonstrated with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In addition, Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed that polypyrrole (PP) nanowires were synthesized by direct electrochemical oxidation of pyrrole. HeLa cancer cells and HMCF normal cells were immobilized on the polypyrrole nanowires/nanoporous alumina substrates to determine the effects of the substrate on the cell morphology, adhesion and proliferation as well as the biocompatibility of the substrate. Cell adhesion and proliferation were characterized using a standard MTT assay. The effects of the polypyrrole nanowires/nanoporous alumina substrate on the cell morphology were studied by AFM. The nanoporous alumina coated with polypyrrole nanowires was found to exhibit better cell adhesion and proliferation than polystyrene petridish, aluminum foil, 1st anodized and uncoated 2nd anodized alumina substrate. This study showed the potential of the polypyrrole nanowires/nanoporous alumina substrate as biocompatibility electroactive polymer substrate for both healthy and cancer cell cultures applications.

  19. Synthesis and surface characterization of alumina-silica-zirconia nanocomposite ceramic fibres on aluminium at room temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mubarak Ali, M.; Raj, V.

    2010-04-01

    Alumina-silica-zirconia nanocomposite (ASZNC) ceramic fibres were synthesized by conventional anodization route. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force microscopy (AFM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDAX) were used to characterize the morphology and crystalloid structure of ASZNC fibres. Current density (DC) is one of the important parameters to get the alumina-silica-zirconia nanocomposite (ASZNC) ceramic fibres by this route. Annealing of the films exhibited a drastic change in the properties due to improved crystallinity. The root mean square roughness of the sample observed from atomic force microscopic analysis is about 71.5 nm which is comparable to the average grain size of the coatings which is about 72 nm obtained from X-Ray diffraction. The results indicate that, the ASZNC fibres are arranged well in the nanostructure. The thickness of the coating increased with the anodizing time, but the coatings turned rougher and more porous. At the initial stage the growth of ceramic coating increases inwards to the metal substrate and outwards to the coating surface simultaneously. Subsequently, it mainly grows towards the metal substrate and the density of the ceramic coating increases gradually, which results in the decrease of the total thickness as anodizing time increases. This new approach of preparing ASZNC ceramic fibres may be important in applications ranging from gas sensors to various engineering materials.

  20. Nanostructured bioactive glass-ceramic coatings deposited by the liquid precursor plasma spraying process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Yanfeng; Song, Lei; Liu, Xiaoguang; Huang, Yi; Huang, Tao; Wu, Yao; Chen, Jiyong; Wu, Fang

    2011-01-01

    Bioactive glass-ceramic coatings have great potential in dental and orthopedic medical implant applications, due to its excellent bioactivity, biocompatibility and osteoinductivity. However, most of the coating preparation techniques either produce only thin thickness coatings or require tedious preparation steps. In this study, a new attempt was made to deposit bioactive glass-ceramic coatings on titanium substrates by the liquid precursor plasma spraying (LPPS) process. Tetraethyl orthosilicate, triethyl phosphate, calcium nitrate and sodium nitrate solutions were mixed together to form a suspension after hydrolysis, and the liquid suspension was used as the feedstock for plasma spraying of P 2O 5-Na 2O-CaO-SiO 2 bioactive glass-ceramic coatings. The in vitro bioactivities of the as-deposited coatings were evaluated by soaking the samples in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 4 h, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. The as-deposited coating and its microstructure evolution behavior under SBF soaking were systematically analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that P 2O 5-Na 2O-CaO-SiO 2 bioactive glass-ceramic coatings with nanostructure had been successfully synthesized by the LPPS technique and the synthesized coatings showed quick formation of a nanostructured HCA layer after being soaked in SBF. Overall, our results indicate that the LPPS process is an effective and simple method to synthesize nanostructured bioactive glass-ceramic coatings with good in vitro bioactivity.

  1. Electrodes synthesized from carbon nanostructures coated with a smooth and conformal metal adlayer

    DOEpatents

    Adzic, Radoslav; Harris, Alexander

    2014-04-15

    High-surface-area carbon nanostructures coated with a smooth and conformal submonolayer-to-multilayer thin metal films and their method of manufacture are described. The preferred manufacturing process involves the initial oxidation of the carbon nanostructures followed by a surface preparation process involving immersion in a solution with the desired pH to create negative surface dipoles. The nanostructures are subsequently immersed in an alkaline solution containing a suitable quantity of non-noble metal ions which adsorb at surface reaction sites. The metal ions are then reduced via chemical or electrical means. The nanostructures are exposed to a solution containing a salt of one or more noble metals which replace adsorbed non-noble surface metal atoms by galvanic displacement. The process can be controlled and repeated to obtain a desired film coverage. The resulting coated nanostructures may be used, for example, as high-performance electrodes in supercapacitors, batteries, or other electric storage devices.

  2. MCP performance improvement using alumina thin film

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Yuzhen; Yan, Baojun; Liu, Shulin; Zhao, Tianchi; Yu, Yang; Wen, Kaile; Li, Yumei; Qi, Ming

    2017-10-01

    The performance improvement using alumina thin film on a dual microchannel plate (MCP) detector for single electron counting was investigated. The alumina thin film was coated on all surfaces of the MCPs by atomic layer deposition method. It was found that the gain, the single electron resolution and the peak-to-valley ratio of the dual MCP detector were significantly enhanced by coating the alumina thin film. The optimum operating conditions of the new dual MCP detector have been studied.

  3. Nanostructured glass–ceramic coatings for orthopaedic applications

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Guocheng; Lu, Zufu; Liu, Xuanyong; Zhou, Xiaming; Ding, Chuanxian; Zreiqat, Hala

    2011-01-01

    Glass–ceramics have attracted much attention in the biomedical field, as they provide great possibilities to manipulate their properties by post-treatments, including strength, degradation rate and coefficient of thermal expansion. In this work, hardystonite (HT; Ca2ZnSi2O7) and sphene (SP; CaTiSiO5) glass–ceramic coatings with nanostructures were prepared by a plasma spray technique using conventional powders. The bonding strength and Vickers hardness for HT and SP coatings are higher than the reported values for plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings. Both types of coatings release bioactive calcium (Ca) and silicon (Si) ions into the surrounding environment. Mineralization test in cell-free culture medium showed that many mushroom-like Ca and phosphorus compounds formed on the HT coatings after 5 h, suggesting its high acellular mineralization ability. Primary human osteoblasts attach, spread and proliferate well on both types of coatings. Higher proliferation rate was observed on the HT coatings compared with the SP coatings and uncoated Ti-6Al-4V alloy, probably due to the zinc ions released from the HT coatings. Higher expression levels of Runx2, osteopontin and type I collagen were observed on both types of coatings compared with Ti-6Al-4V alloy, possibly due to the Ca and Si released from the coatings. Results of this study point to the potential use of HT and SP coatings for orthopaedic applications. PMID:21292725

  4. Controlling the Biodegradation of Magnesium Implants Through Nanostructured Calcium-Phosphate Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Iskandar, Maria Emil

    Magnesium (Mg) alloys, a novel class of degradable, metallic biomaterials, have attracted growing interest as a promising alternative for medical implant and device applications due to their advantageous mechanical and biological properties. Moreover, Mg is biodegradable in the physiological environments. However, the major obstacle for Mg to be used as medical implants is its rapid degradation in physiological fluids. Therefore, the present key challenge lies in controlling Mg degradation rate in the physiological environment. The objective of this study was to develop a nanostructured-hydroxyapatite (nHA) coating on polished Mg implants to control the degradation and bone tissue integration of the implants. The nHA coatings were deposited on Mg using the Spire's patented TPA process to moderate the aggressive degradation of Mg and to improve quick osteointegration between Mg and natural bone. Nanostructured-HA coatings mimic the nanostructure and chemistry of natural bone, which will provide a desirable environment for bone tissue regeneration. Surface morphology, element compositions, and crystal structures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray diffractometry (XRD), respectively. SEM images of the deposited nHA-coating was analyzed using ImageJ's quantitative image analysis tool, to determine the nHA-coating particle size and thickness. The degradation of nHA-coated and non-coated Mg samples was investigated by incubating samples in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and revised simulated body fluid (r-SBF), under standard cell culture conditions. To mimic the in vivo cell response in the physiological environment, rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) were harvested and cultured with nHA-coated and non-coated polished Mg samples to determine cytocompatibilty. The degradation results suggested that the nanocoatings positively mediated Mg degradation. It can therefore be concluded that nHA-coatings

  5. Ceria nanoparticles vis-à-vis cerium nitrate as corrosion inhibitors for silica-alumina hybrid sol-gel coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lakshmi, R. V.; Aruna, S. T.; Sampath, S.

    2017-01-01

    The present work provides a comparative study on the corrosion protection efficiency of defect free sol-gel hybrid coating containing ceria nanoparticles and cerium nitrate ions as corrosion inhibitors. Less explored organically modified alumina-silica hybrid sol-gel coatings are synthesized from 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and aluminium-tri-sec-butoxide. The microemulsion derived nanoparticles and the hybrid coatings are characterized and compared with coatings containing cerium nitrate. Corrosion inhibiting capability is assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Scanning Kelvin probe measurements are also conducted on the coatings for identifying the apparent corrosion prone regions. Detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis is carried out to comprehend the bonding and corrosion protection rendered by the hybrid coatings.

  6. Mono or polycrystalline alumina-modified hybrid ceramics.

    PubMed

    Kaizer, Marina R; Gonçalves, Ana Paula R; Soares, Priscilla B F; Zhang, Yu; Cesar, Paulo F; Cava, Sergio S; Moraes, Rafael R

    2016-03-01

    This study evaluated the effect of addition of alumina particles (polycrystalline or monocrystalline), with or without silica coating, on the optical and mechanical properties of a porcelain. Groups tested were: control (C), polycrystalline alumina (PA), polycrystalline alumina-silica (PAS), monocrystalline alumina (MA), monocrystalline alumina-silica (MAS). Polycrystalline alumina powder was synthesized using a polymeric precursor method; a commercially available monocrystalline alumina powder (sapphire) was acquired. Silica coating was obtained by immersing alumina powders in a tetraethylorthosilicate solution, followed by heat-treatment. Electrostatic stable suspension method was used to ensure homogenous dispersion of the alumina particles within the porcelain powder. The ceramic specimens were obtained by heat-pressing. Microstructure, translucency parameter, contrast ratio, opalescence index, porosity, biaxial flexural strength, roughness, and elastic constants were characterized. A better interaction between glass matrix and silica coated crystalline particles is suggested in some analyses, yet further investigation is needed to confirm it. The materials did not present significant differences in biaxial flexural strength, due to the presence of higher porosity in the groups with alumina addition. Elastic modulus was higher for MA and MAS groups. Also, these were the groups with optical qualities and roughness closer to control. The PA and PAS groups were considerably more opaque as well as rougher. Porcelains with addition of monocrystalline particles presented superior esthetic qualities compared to those with polycrystalline particles. In order to eliminate the porosity in the ceramic materials investigated herein, processing parameters need to be optimized as well as different glass frites should be tested. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Modification of implant material surface properties by means of oxide nano-structured coatings deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Safonov, Vladimir; Zykova, Anna; Smolik, Jerzy; Rogowska, Renata; Lukyanchenko, Vladimir; Kolesnikov, Dmitrii

    2014-08-01

    The deposition of functional coatings on the metal surface of artificial joints is an effective way of enhancing joint tribological characteristics. It is well-known that nanostructured oxide coatings have specific properties advantageous for future implant applications. In the present study, we measured the high hardness parameters, the adhesion strength and the low friction coefficient of the oxide magnetron sputtered coatings. The corrosion test results show that the oxide coating deposition had improved the corrosion resistance by a factor of ten for both stainless steel and titanium alloy substrates. Moreover, the hydrophilic nature of coated surfaces in comparison with the metal ones was investigated in the tensiometric tests. The surfaces with nanostructured oxide coatings demonstrated improved biocompatibility for in vitro and in vivo tests, attributed to the high dielectric constants and the high values of the surface free energy parameters.

  8. Designing robust alumina nanowires-on-nanopores structures: superhydrophobic surfaces with slippery or sticky water adhesion.

    PubMed

    Peng, Shan; Tian, Dong; Miao, Xinrui; Yang, Xiaojun; Deng, Wenli

    2013-11-01

    Hierarchical alumina surfaces with different morphologies were fabricated by a simple one-step anodization method. These alumina films were fabricated by a new raw material: silica gel plate (aluminum foil with a low purity of 97.17%). The modulation of anodizing time enabled the formation of nanowires-on-nanopores hybrid nanostructures having controllable nanowires topographies through a self-assembly process. The resultant structures were demonstrated to be able to achieve superhydrophobicity without any hydrophobic coating layer. More interestingly, it is found that the as-prepared superhydrophobic alumina surfaces exhibited high contrast water adhesion. Hierarchical alumina film with nanowire bunches-on-nanopores (WBOP) morphology presents extremely slippery property which can obtain a sliding angle (SA) as low as 1°, nanowire pyramids-on-nanopores (WPOP) structure shows strongly sticky water adhesion with the adhesive ability to support 15 μL inverted water droplet at most. The obtained superhydrophobic alumina surfaces show remarkable mechanical durability even treated by crimping or pressing without impact on the water-repellent performance. Moreover, the created surfaces also show excellent resistivity to ice water, boiling water, high temperature, organic solvent and oil contamination, which could expand their usefulness and efficacy in harsh conditions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Temperature measurement involving nanostructured thermal barrier coating using a multiwavelength pyrometer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ng, Daniel

    1996-01-01

    It has been reported that erroneous results were obtained when a conventional pyrometer was used to measure the surface temperature of turbine engine components. Temperatures discrepancies were observed in components which were identical, except that one had its measured surface covered by a nanostructured thermal barrier coating (TBC) whereas the other component's surface was not so coated. These components were placed in an identical environment, receiving identical heat fluxes. A pyrometer measured the TBC covered surface hundreds degrees lower. These coatings were about 25 (mu)m thick, consisting of hundreds of layers of finer structures. The TBC's had very low thermal conductivity, heat flux calculations indicated that the temperatures of the coated surface should exhibit much higher temperature than the uncoated surface. Because these coatings were transparent to radiation from the visible to the infrared region, the temperatures measured by the pyrometer should be the temperature of the covered surface. Turbo components' performance and service life depend critically on the temperatures that it would experience; it is therefore important to know accurately and confidently the real surface temperature. Out of these concerns, an investigation into the measurement of nanostructured material surface temperature was carried out.

  10. Plasmonic Switches and Sensors Based on PANI-Coated Gold Nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Nina

    Gold nanostructures have been received intense and growing attention due to their unique properties associated with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The frequency and strength of the LSPR are highly dependent on the dielectric properties of the surrounding environment around gold nanostructures. Such dependence offers the essential basis for the achievement of plasmonic switching and sensing. While the plasmonic response of gold nanostructures is tuned by changing their dielectric environment, the external stimuli inducing the changes in the dielectric environment will be read out through the plasmonic response of gold nanostructures. As a consequence, plasmonic sensors and switches can be engineered by integrating active media that can respond to external stimuli with gold nanostructures. In this thesis research, I have achieved the coating of polyaniline (PANI) ' a conductive polymer, on gold nanostructures, and exploited the application of the core/shell nanostructures in plasmonic switching and sensing. Large modulation of the longitudinal plasmon resonance of single gold nanorods is achieved by coating PANI shell onto gold nanorods to produce colloidal plasmonic switches. The dielectric properties of PANI shell can be tuned by changing the proton-doping levels, which allows for the modulation of the plasmonic response of gold nanorods. The coated nanorods are sparsely housed in a simple microfluidic chamber. HCl and NaOH solutions are alternately pumped through the chamber for the realization of proton doping and dedoping. The plasmonic switching behavior is examined by monitoring the single-particle scattering spectra under the proton-doped and dedoped state of PANI. The coated nanorods exhibit a remarkable switching performance, with the modulation depth and scattering peak shift reaching 10 dB and 100 nm, respectively. Electrodynamic simulations are employed to confirm the plasmon switching behavior. I have further investigated the modulation of

  11. Properties-Adjustable Alumina-Zirconia Nanolaminate Dielectric Fabricated by Spin-Coating.

    PubMed

    Peng, Junbiao; Wei, Jinglin; Zhu, Zhennan; Ning, Honglong; Cai, Wei; Lu, Kuankuan; Yao, Rihui; Tao, Hong; Zheng, Yanqiong; Lu, Xubing

    2017-11-29

    In this paper, an alumina-zirconia (Al₂O₃-ZrO₂) nanolaminate dielectric was fabricated by spin-coating and the performance was investigated. It was found that the properties of the dielectric can be adjusted by changing the content of Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ in nanolaminates: when the content of Al₂O₃ was higher than 50%, the properties of nanolaminates, such as the optical energy gap, dielectric strength (V ds ), capacitance density, and relative permittivity were relatively stable, while the change of these properties became larger when the content of Al₂O₃ was less than 50%. With the content of ZrO₂ varying from 50% to 100%, the variation of these properties was up to 0.482 eV, 2.12 MV/cm, 135.35 nF/cm², and 11.64, respectively. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the dielectric strength of nanolaminates were influenced significantly by the number (n) of bilayers. Every increment of one Al₂O₃-ZrO 2 bilayer will enhance the dielectric strength by around 0.39 MV/cm (V ds ≈ 0.86 + 0.39n). This could be contributed to the amorphous alumina which interrupted the grain boundaries of zirconia.

  12. Failure Analysis of Alumina Reinforced Aluminum Microtruss and Tube Composites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chien, Hsueh Fen (Karen)

    The energy absorption capacity of cellular materials can be dramatically increased by applying a structural coating. This thesis examined the failure mechanisms of alumina reinforced 3003 aluminum alloy microtrusses and tubes. Alumina coatings were produced by hard anodizing and by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). The relatively thin and discontinuous oxide coating at the hinge acted as a localized weak spot which triggered a chain reaction of failure, including oxide fracture, oxide spallation, oxide penetration to the aluminum core and severe local plastic deformation of the core. For the PEO microtrusses, delamination occurred within the oxide coating resulting in a global strut buckling failure mode. A new failure mode for the anodized tubes was observed: (i) axisymmetric folding of the aluminum core, (ii) longitudinal fracture, and (iii) alumina pulverization. Overall, the alumina coating enhanced the buckling resistance of the composites, while the aluminum core supported the oxide during the damage propagation.

  13. Nickel antimony oxide (NiSb2O6): A fascinating nanostructured material for gas sensing application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Archana; Singh, Ajendra; Singh, Satyendra; Tandon, Poonam

    2016-02-01

    Fabrication of nanocrystalline NiSb2O6 thin films via sol-gel spin coating method towards the development of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sensor operable at room temperature (25 °C) is being reported. Nanostructural, surface morphological and optical properties of trirutile-type NiSb2O6 have been investigated in order to explore the parameters of interest. The crystallite size has been found to be 19 nm. A detailed sensing performance (sensitivity, sensor response, response and recovery times, reproducibility and long term stability) of NiSb2O6 nanostructures grown on alumina substrate has been investigated.

  14. Development and Characterization of Nanostructured Cermet Coatings Produced by Co-electrodeposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Farrokhzad, Mohammad Ali

    Nanostructured cermet (ceramic-metallic) coatings are a group of materials that combine properties possessed by ceramics, such as oxidation resistance and high hardness, and the properties of metals such as strength and ductility. These coatings consist of nano-sized metal-oxide particles (i.e. Al2 O3) dispersed into a corrosion resistant metal matrix such as nickel. Cermet coatings have been used in many industrial applications such as cutting tools and jet engines where high temperature and erosion resistance performance are required. However, despite the promising properties, the lack of experimental data and theories on high temperature oxidation and mechanical properties of cermet coatings have restricted their full potential to be used in technologies for oil sand production such as In-Situ Combustion (ISC). In this study, the structure of cermet coatings was investigated to identify the characteristics that give rise to oxidation performance and wear resistance properties of cermet coatings. The experimental oxidation results on the single-component oxide cermet coatings showed that when Al2O3 and TiO2 were combined in the electrolyte, the new combination can improve oxidation performance (less mass gain) as compared to a pure Ni coating. Based on the oxidation and micro-hardness results, a new group of nanostructured cermet coatings (double-component oxides) was developed and investigated using long term oxidation tests, thermo-gravimetric analysis in mixed gas, thermal cycling, micro-hardness and abrasive wear tests. The mechanical analysis of the newly developed coatings showed improved resistance against wear and thermal cycling compared to single-component oxide cermet and pure Ni coatings. Furthermore, some new theoretical analysis were also put forward that aims at a new explanation of high temperature oxidation for cermet coatings.

  15. MgF2-coated porous magnesium/alumina scaffolds with improved strength, corrosion resistance, and biological performance for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Kang, Min-Ho; Jang, Tae-Sik; Kim, Sung Won; Park, Hui-Sun; Song, Juha; Kim, Hyoun-Ee; Jung, Kyung-Hwan; Jung, Hyun-Do

    2016-05-01

    Porous magnesium (Mg) has recently emerged as a promising biodegradable alternative to biometal for bone ingrowth; however, its low mechanical properties and high corrosion rate in biological environments remain problematic. In this study, porous magnesium was implemented in a scaffold that closely mimics the mechanical properties of human bones with a controlled degradation rate and shows good biocompatibility to match the regeneration rate of bone tissue at the affected site. The alumina-reinforced Mg scaffold was produced by spark plasma sintering and coated with magnesium fluoride (MgF2) using a hydrofluoric acid solution to regulate the corrosion rate under physiological conditions. Sodium chloride granules (NaCl), acting as space holders, were leached out to achieve porous samples (60%) presenting an average pore size of 240 μm with complete pore interconnectivity. When the alumina content increased from 0 to 5 vol%, compressive strength and stiffness rose considerably from 9.5 to 13.8 MPa and from 0.24 to 0.40 GPa, respectively. Moreover, the biological response evaluated by in vitro cell test and blood test of the MgF2-coated porous Mg composite was enhanced with better corrosion resistance compared with that of uncoated counterparts. Consequently, MgF2-coated porous Mg/alumina composites may be applied in load-bearing biodegradable implants. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Hot Corrosion Resistance and Mechanical Behavior of Atmospheric Plasma Sprayed Conventional and Nanostructured Zirconia Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saremi, Mohsen; Keyvani, Ahmad; Heydarzadeh Sohi, Mahmoud

    Conventional and nanostructured zirconia coatings were deposited on In-738 Ni super alloy by atmospheric plasma spray technique. The hot corrosion resistance of the coatings was measured at 1050°C using an atmospheric electrical furnace and a fused mixture of vanadium pent oxide and sodium sulfate respectively. According to the experimental results nanostructured coatings showed a better hot corrosion resistance than conventional ones. The improved hot corrosion resistance could be explained by the change of structure to a dense and more packed structure in the nanocoating. The evaluation of mechanical properties by nano indentation method showed the hardness (H) and elastic modulus (E) of the YSZ coating increased substantially after hot corrosion.

  17. Electrochemical Deposition of Nanostructured Conducting Polymer Coatings on Neural Prosthetic Devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Junyan; Martin, David

    2003-03-01

    Micromachined neural prosthetic devices facilitate the functional stimulation of and recording from the central nervous system (CNS). These devices have been fabricated to consist of silicon shanks that have gold or iridium sites along their surface. Our goal is to improve the biocompatibility and long-term performance of the neural prosthetic probes when they are implanted chronically in the brain. In our most recent efforts we have established that electrochemical polymerization can be used to deposit fuzzy coatings of conducting polymers specifically on the electrode sites. For neural prosthetic devices that are intended for long term implantation, we need to develop surfaces that provide intimate contact and promote efficient signal transport at the interface of the microelectrode array and brain tissue. We have developed methods to rapidly and reliably fabricate nanostructured conducting polymer coatings on the electrode probes using templated and surfactant-mediated techniques. Conducting polymer nanomushrooms and nanohairs of polypyrrole (PPy) were electrochemically polymerized onto the functional sites of neural probes by using either nanoporous block copolymers thin films, "track-etched" polycarbonate films or anodic aluminium oxide membranes as templates. Nanofibers of conducting polymers have also been successfully obtained by polymerizations in the presence of surfactants. The influence of current density, monomer concentration, surfactant concentration, and deposition charge on the thickness and morphology of the nanostructured conducting polymer coatings has been studied by optical, scanned probe, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. As compared with the normal nodular morphology of polypyrrole, the nanostructured morphologies grown from the neural electrode result in fuzzy coatings with extremely high surface area. The electrical properties of the polymer coatings were studied by Impedance Spectroscopy (IS) and Cyclic Voltammetry

  18. Effective Parameters in Axial Injection Suspension Plasma Spray Process of Alumina-Zirconia Ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tarasi, F.; Medraj, M.; Dolatabadi, A.; Oberste-Berghaus, J.; Moreau, C.

    2008-12-01

    Suspension plasma spray (SPS) is a novel process for producing nano-structured coatings with metastable phases using significantly smaller particles as compared to conventional thermal spraying. Considering the complexity of the system there is an extensive need to better understand the relationship between plasma spray conditions and resulting coating microstructure and defects. In this study, an alumina/8 wt.% yttria-stabilized zirconia was deposited by axial injection SPS process. The effects of principal deposition parameters on the microstructural features are evaluated using the Taguchi design of experiment. The microstructural features include microcracks, porosities, and deposition rate. To better understand the role of the spray parameters, in-flight particle characteristics, i.e., temperature and velocity were also measured. The role of the porosity in this multicomponent structure is studied as well. The results indicate that thermal diffusivity of the coatings, an important property for potential thermal barrier applications, is barely affected by the changes in porosity content.

  19. Sol-gel coating of inorganic nanostructures with resorcinol-formaldehyde resin.

    PubMed

    Li, Na; Zhang, Qiao; Liu, Jian; Joo, Jibong; Lee, Austin; Gan, Yang; Yin, Yadong

    2013-06-07

    A general sol-gel process has been developed to form a coating of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin on inorganic nanostructures of various compositions and morphologies. The RF shell can be conveniently converted into carbon through high temperature carbonization under an inert atmosphere.

  20. Synthesis and adsorption properties of hollow tubular alumina fibers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lozhkomoev, A. S.; Kazantsev, S. O.; Glazkova, E. A.

    2017-12-01

    In this study, composite glass fibers coated with alumina nanoplates and hollow tubular alumina fibers with a diameter of 400-500 nm are synthesized based on glass fiber templated hydrothermal strategy. Porous coatings on glass fibers and hollow fibers consist of cross-linked alumina nanoplates with the size of 100-200 nm and thickness of 2-5 nm. Their formation is attributed to the template-induced heterogeneous growth of alumina nanoplates on glass fibers of the B-06-F type. It is important that composite glass fibers and hollow tubular fibers have opposite surface charges and exhibit selective sorption characteristics towards anionic and cationic dyes.

  1. Oligolysine-based coating protects DNA nanostructures from low-salt denaturation and nuclease degradation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ponnuswamy, Nandhini; Bastings, Maartje M. C.; Nathwani, Bhavik; Ryu, Ju Hee; Chou, Leo Y. T.; Vinther, Mathias; Li, Weiwei Aileen; Anastassacos, Frances M.; Mooney, David J.; Shih, William M.

    2017-05-01

    DNA nanostructures have evoked great interest as potential therapeutics and diagnostics due to ease and robustness of programming their shapes, site-specific functionalizations and responsive behaviours. However, their utility in biological fluids can be compromised through denaturation induced by physiological salt concentrations and degradation mediated by nucleases. Here we demonstrate that DNA nanostructures coated by oligolysines to 0.5:1 N:P (ratio of nitrogen in lysine to phosphorus in DNA), are stable in low salt and up to tenfold more resistant to DNase I digestion than when uncoated. Higher N:P ratios can lead to aggregation, but this can be circumvented by coating instead with an oligolysine-PEG copolymer, enabling up to a 1,000-fold protection against digestion by serum nucleases. Oligolysine-PEG-stabilized DNA nanostructures survive uptake into endosomal compartments and, in a mouse model, exhibit a modest increase in pharmacokinetic bioavailability. Thus, oligolysine-PEG is a one-step, structure-independent approach that provides low-cost and effective protection of DNA nanostructures for in vivo applications.

  2. Oligolysine-based coating protects DNA nanostructures from low-salt denaturation and nuclease degradation

    PubMed Central

    Ponnuswamy, Nandhini; Bastings, Maartje M. C.; Nathwani, Bhavik; Ryu, Ju Hee; Chou, Leo Y. T.; Vinther, Mathias; Li, Weiwei Aileen; Anastassacos, Frances M.; Mooney, David J.; Shih, William M.

    2017-01-01

    DNA nanostructures have evoked great interest as potential therapeutics and diagnostics due to ease and robustness of programming their shapes, site-specific functionalizations and responsive behaviours. However, their utility in biological fluids can be compromised through denaturation induced by physiological salt concentrations and degradation mediated by nucleases. Here we demonstrate that DNA nanostructures coated by oligolysines to 0.5:1 N:P (ratio of nitrogen in lysine to phosphorus in DNA), are stable in low salt and up to tenfold more resistant to DNase I digestion than when uncoated. Higher N:P ratios can lead to aggregation, but this can be circumvented by coating instead with an oligolysine-PEG copolymer, enabling up to a 1,000-fold protection against digestion by serum nucleases. Oligolysine-PEG-stabilized DNA nanostructures survive uptake into endosomal compartments and, in a mouse model, exhibit a modest increase in pharmacokinetic bioavailability. Thus, oligolysine-PEG is a one-step, structure-independent approach that provides low-cost and effective protection of DNA nanostructures for in vivo applications. PMID:28561045

  3. Engineering optical properties of gold-coated nanoporous anodic alumina for biosensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hernández-Eguía, Laura P.; Ferré-Borrull, Josep; Macias, Gerard; Pallarès, Josep; Marsal, Lluís F.

    2014-08-01

    The effect in the Fabry-Pérot optical interferences of nanoporous anodic alumina films coated with gold is studied as a function of the porosity and of the gold thickness by means of reflectance spectroscopy. Samples with porosities between 14 and 70% and gold thicknesses (10 and 20 nm) were considered. The sputtering of gold on the nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) films results in an increase of the fringe intensity of the oscillations in the spectra resulting from Fabry-Pérot interferences in the porous layer, with a reduction in the maximum reflectance in the UV-visible region. For the thicker gold layer, sharp valleys appear in the near-infrared (IR) range that can be useful for accurate spectral shift measurements in optical biosensing. A theoretical model for the optical behavior has also been proposed. The model shows a very good agreement with the experimental measurements, what makes it useful for design and optimization of devices based on this material. This material capability is enormous for using it as an accurate and sensitive optical sensor, since gold owns a well-known surface chemistry with certain molecules, most of them biomolecules.

  4. Synthesis, characterization, and applications of electroactive polymeric nanostructures for organic coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suryawanshi, Abhijit Jagnnath

    Electroactive polymers (EAP) such as polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PANI) are being explored intensively in the scientific community. Nanostructures of EAPs have low dimensions and high surface area enabling them to be considered for various useful applications. These applications are in several fields including corrosion inhibition, capacitors, artificial muscles, solar cells, polymer light emitting diodes, and energy storage devices. Nanostructures of EAPs have been synthesized in different morphologies such as nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes, nanospheres, and nanocapsules. This variety in morphology is traditionally achieved using soft templates, such as surfactant micelles, or hard templates, such as anodized aluminum oxide (AAO). Templates provide stability and groundwork from which the polymer can grow, but the templates add undesirable expense to the process and can change the properties of the nanoparticles by integrating its own properties. In this study a template free method is introduced to synthesize EAP nanostructures of PPy and PANI utilizing ozone oxidation. The simple techniques involve ozone exposure to the monomer solution to produce aqueous dispersions of EAP nanostructures. The synthesized nanostructures exhibit uniform morphology, low particle size distribution, and stability against agglomeration. Ozone oxidation is further explored for the synthesis of silver-PPy (Ag-PPy) core-shell nanospheres (CSNs). Coatings containing PPy nanospheres were formulated to study the corrosion inhibition efficiency of PPy nanospheres. Investigation of the coatings using electrochemical techniques revealed that the PPy nanospheres may provide corrosion inhibition against filiform corrosion by oxygen scavenging mechanism. Finally, organic corrosion inhibitors were incorporated in PPy to develop efficient corrosion inhibiting systems, by using the synergistic effects from PPy and organic corrosion inhibitors.

  5. Investigation of the nanostructure and wear properties of physical vapor deposited CrCuN nanocomposite coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baker, M. A.; Kench, P. J.; Tsotsos, C.; Gibson, P. N.; Leyland, A.; Matthews, A.

    2005-05-01

    This article presents results on CrCuN nanocomposite coatings grown by physical vapor deposition. The immiscibility of Cr (containing a supersaturation of nitrogen) and Cu offers the potential of depositing a predominantly metallic (and therefore tough) nanocomposite, composed of small Cr(N) metallic and/or β-Cr2N ceramic grains interdispersed in a (minority) Cu matrix. A range of CrCuN compositions have been deposited using a hot-filament enhanced unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. The stoichiometry and nanostructure have been studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. Hardness, wear resistance, and impact resistance have been determined by nanoindentation, reciprocating-sliding, and ball-on-plate high-cycle impact. Evolution of the nanostructure as a function of composition and correlations of the nanostructure and mechanical properties of the CrCuN coatings are discussed. A nanostructure comprised of 1-3 nm α-Cr(N) and β-Cr2N grains separated by intergranular regions of Cu gives rise to a coating with significantly enhanced resistance to impact wear.

  6. Synthesis of nanostructured porous silica coatings on titanium and their cell adhesive and osteogenic differentiation properties.

    PubMed

    Inzunza, Débora; Covarrubias, Cristian; Von Marttens, Alfredo; Leighton, Yerko; Carvajal, Juan Carlos; Valenzuela, Francisco; Díaz-Dosque, Mario; Méndez, Nicolás; Martínez, Constanza; Pino, Ana María; Rodríguez, Juan Pablo; Cáceres, Mónica; Smith, Patricio

    2014-01-01

    Nanostructured porous silica coatings were synthesized on titanium by the combined sol-gel and evaporation-induced self-assembly process. The silica-coating structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and nitrogen sorptometry. The effect of the nanoporous surface on apatite formation in simulated body fluid, protein adsorption, osteoblast cell adhesion behavior, and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) is reported. Silica coatings with highly ordered sub-10 nm porosity accelerate early osteoblast adhesive response, a favorable cell response that is attributed to an indirect effect due to the high protein adsorption observed on the large-specific surface area of the nanoporous coating but is also probably due to direct mechanical stimulus from the nanostructured topography. The nanoporous silica coatings, particularly those doped with calcium and phosphate, also promote the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs with spontaneous mineral nodule formation in basal conditions. The bioactive surface properties exhibited by the nanostructured porous silica coatings make these materials a promising alternative to improve the osseointegration properties of titanium dental implants and could have future impact on the nanoscale design of implant surfaces. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., a Wiley Company.

  7. Broadband antireflective silicon nanostructures produced by spin-coated Ag nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    We report the fabrication of broadband antireflective silicon (Si) nanostructures fabricated using spin-coated silver (Ag) nanoparticles as an etch mask followed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching process. This fabrication technique is a simple, fast, cost-effective, and high-throughput method, making it highly suitable for mass production. Prior to the fabrication of Si nanostructures, theoretical investigations were carried out using a rigorous coupled-wave analysis method in order to determine the effects of variations in the geometrical features of Si nanostructures to obtain antireflection over a broad wavelength range. The Ag ink ratio and ICP etching conditions, which can affect the distribution, distance between the adjacent nanostructures, and height of the resulting Si nanostructures, were carefully adjusted to determine the optimal experimental conditions for obtaining desirable Si nanostructures for practical applications. The Si nanostructures fabricated using the optimal experimental conditions showed a very low average reflectance of 8.3%, which is much lower than that of bulk Si (36.8%), as well as a very low reflectance for a wide range of incident angles and different polarizations over a broad wavelength range of 300 to 1,100 nm. These results indicate that the fabrication technique is highly beneficial to produce antireflective structures for Si-based device applications requiring low light reflection. PMID:24484636

  8. Fabrication of Gold-Coated Ultra-Thin Anodic Porous Alumina Substrates for Augmented SERS

    PubMed Central

    Toccafondi, Chiara; Proietti Zaccaria, Remo; Dante, Silvia; Salerno, Marco

    2016-01-01

    Anodic porous alumina (APA) is a nanostructured material used as a template in several nanotechnological applications. We propose the use of APA in ultra-thin form (<100 nm) for augmented surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Here, the effect of in-depth thinning of the APA nanostructures for possible maximization of SERS was addressed. Anodization was carried out on ultra-thin films of aluminum on glass and/or silicon, followed by pore-opening. Gold (Au) was overcoated and micro-Raman/SERS measurements were carried out on test target analytes. Finite integration technique simulations of the APA-Au substrate were used both for the experimental design and simulations. It was observed that, under optimized conditions of APA and Au thickness, the SERS enhancement is higher than on standard APA-Au substrates based on thin (~100 nm) APA by up to a factor of ~20 for test molecules of mercaptobenzoic acid. The agreement between model and experimental results confirms the current understanding of SERS as being mainly due to the physical origin of plasmon resonances. The reported results represent one step towards micro-technological, integrated, disposable, high-sensitivity SERS chemical sensors and biosensors based on similar substrates. PMID:28773525

  9. Cr(VI) removal by FeS-coated alumina, silica, and natural sand

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Park, M.; Lee, S.; Jeong, H. Y.

    2014-12-01

    Removal of Cr(VI) was investigated using mackinawite (FeS)-coated mineral sorbents under anoxic conditions. The sorbents included alumina (Al), silica (WS), and natural sand (NS). By analysis of both solution and solid phases, all FeS-coated sorbents were found to reduce Cr(VI) into Cr(III). The sorption extent and mechanism of Cr(VI) strongly depended on the pH conditions. Only at pH 4.5, significant amounts of the dissolved Cr remained in the solution. Titration of dissolved Cr(III) and Fe(III) by NaOH solutions indicated that no bulk-phase precipitation occurred at pH 4.5. Also, the removal of Cr(VI) at pH 4.5 was the greatest by FeS-coated NS. Consistent with these, Cr-K edge EXAFS revealed that Cr was removed by FeS-coated NS via surface precipitation, and that it was immobilized by FeS-coated WS and Al by forming surface clusters. Regardless of FeS-coated sorbents, at pH 7.0 and pH 9.5, the initially added Cr(VI) was quantitatively removed from the solution phase. By EXAFS analysis, the Cr sorption by FeS-coated Al was mainly due to the bulk-phase precipitation of Cr(OH)3(s) or [Cr, Fe](OH)3(s). In case of FeS-coated WS and NS, the short Cr-Cr distance (~2.6 Å) at pH 7.0 and pH 9.5 was not simply accounted for by the bulk precipitation as either hydroxide (rCr-Cr ~ 3.0 Å), and it would rather result from the surface precipitation. Such a difference in the coordination structure among FeS-coated sorbents was likely due to in the lower surface area of the former available for the surface precipitation.

  10. Nanostructured wear resistant coating for reversible cultivator shovels: An experimental investigation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dave, V.; Rao, G. P.; Tiwari, G. S.; Sanger, A.; Kumar, A.; Chandra, R.

    2016-04-01

    Cultivator, one of the agriculture farm tool, extensively suffers from the wear problem. In this paper, we report nanostructured chromium nitrite (CrN) coating for the cultivator shovels to mitigate wear problem. The (CrN) coating was developed using DC magnetron sputtering technique at 200 °C. The structural, morphological, hydrophobic and wear properties were investigated using X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, contact angle goniometer and custom designed soil bin assembly. The XRD reveals that the deposited coating was polycrystalline in nature with cubic structure. Also, The deposited coating was found to be anti wear resistant as well as hydrophobic in nature. The gravimetric wear for the coating developed at 200 °C coated was found out to be 8.15 gm and for non coated it was 14.48 gm tested for 100 hrs. The roughness of the coating plays an important role in determining the hydrophobicity of the coated film. Roughness and contact angle measured for 200 °C coated shovel was found out to be 11.17 nm and 105 ° respectively.

  11. Application of carbide cutting tools with nano-structured multilayer composite coatings for turning austenitic steels, type 16Cr-10NI

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vereschaka, Alexey; Migranov, Mars; Oganyan, Gaik; Sotova, Catherine S.; Batako, Andre

    2018-03-01

    This paper addresses the challenges of increasing the efficiency of the machining of austenitic stainless steels AISI 321 and S31600 by application of cutting tools with multilayer composite nano-structured coatings. The main mechanical properties and internal structures of the coatings under study (hardness, adhesion strength in the "coating-substrate" system) were investigated, and their chemical compositions were analyzed. The conducted research of tool life and nature of wear of carbide tools with the investigated coatings during turning of the above mentioned steels showed that the application of those coatings increases the tool life by up to 2.5 times. In addition, the use of a cutting tool with coatings allows machining at higher cutting speeds. It was also found that the use of a tool with multilayer composite nano-structured coating (Zr,Nb)N-(Zr,Al,Nb)N ensures better results compared with not only monolithic coating TiN, but also with nano-structured coatings Ti-TiN-(Ti,Al)N and (Zr,Nb)N-(Cr,Zr,Nb,Al)N. The mechanism of failure of the coatings under study was also investigated.

  12. Palladium coated porous anodic alumina membranes for gas reforming processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Jeremy P.; Brown, Ian W. M.; Bowden, Mark E.; Kemmitt, Timothy

    2010-11-01

    Nanostructured ceramic membranes with ultrathin coatings of palladium metal have been demonstrated to separate hydrogen gas from a gas mixture containing nitrogen with 10% carbon dioxide and 10% hydrogen at temperatures up to 550 °C. The mechanically robust and thermally durable membranes were fabricated using a combination of conventional and high-efficiency anodisation processes on high purity aluminium foils. A pH-neutral plating solution has also been developed to enable electroless deposition of palladium metal on templates which were normally prone to chemical corrosion in strong acid or base environment. Activation and thus seeding of palladium nuclei on the surface of the template were essential to ensure uniform and fast deposition, and the thickness of the metal film was controlled by time of deposition. The palladium coated membranes showed improved hydrogen selectivity with increased temperature as well as after prolonged exposure to hydrogen, demonstrating excellent potential for gas separation technologies.

  13. Hierarchical adaptive nanostructured PVD coatings for extreme tribological applications: the quest for nonequilibrium states and emergent behavior.

    PubMed

    Fox-Rabinovich, German S; Yamamoto, Kenji; Beake, Ben D; Gershman, Iosif S; Kovalev, Anatoly I; Veldhuis, Stephen C; Aguirre, Myriam H; Dosbaeva, Goulnara; Endrino, Jose L

    2012-08-01

    Adaptive wear-resistant coatings produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD) are a relatively new generation of coatings which are attracting attention in the development of nanostructured materials for extreme tribological applications. An excellent example of such extreme operating conditions is high performance machining of hard-to-cut materials. The adaptive characteristics of such coatings develop fully during interaction with the severe environment. Modern adaptive coatings could be regarded as hierarchical surface-engineered nanostructural materials. They exhibit dynamic hierarchy on two major structural scales: (a) nanoscale surface layers of protective tribofilms generated during friction and (b) an underlying nano/microscaled layer. The tribofilms are responsible for some critical nanoscale effects that strongly impact the wear resistance of adaptive coatings. A new direction in nanomaterial research is discussed: compositional and microstructural optimization of the dynamically regenerating nanoscaled tribofilms on the surface of the adaptive coatings during friction. In this review we demonstrate the correlation between the microstructure, physical, chemical and micromechanical properties of hard coatings in their dynamic interaction (adaptation) with environment and the involvement of complex natural processes associated with self-organization during friction. Major physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the adaptive coating, which play a significant role in its operating properties, such as enhanced mass transfer, and the ability of the layer to provide dissipation and accumulation of frictional energy during operation are presented as well. Strategies for adaptive nanostructural coating design that enhance beneficial natural processes are outlined. The coatings exhibit emergent behavior during operation when their improved features work as a whole. In this way, as higher-ordered systems, they achieve multifunctionality and high wear

  14. Hierarchical adaptive nanostructured PVD coatings for extreme tribological applications: the quest for nonequilibrium states and emergent behavior

    PubMed Central

    Fox-Rabinovich, German S; Yamamoto, Kenji; Beake, Ben D; Gershman, Iosif S; Kovalev, Anatoly I; Veldhuis, Stephen C; Aguirre, Myriam H.; Dosbaeva, Goulnara; Endrino, Jose L

    2012-01-01

    Adaptive wear-resistant coatings produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD) are a relatively new generation of coatings which are attracting attention in the development of nanostructured materials for extreme tribological applications. An excellent example of such extreme operating conditions is high performance machining of hard-to-cut materials. The adaptive characteristics of such coatings develop fully during interaction with the severe environment. Modern adaptive coatings could be regarded as hierarchical surface-engineered nanostructural materials. They exhibit dynamic hierarchy on two major structural scales: (a) nanoscale surface layers of protective tribofilms generated during friction and (b) an underlying nano/microscaled layer. The tribofilms are responsible for some critical nanoscale effects that strongly impact the wear resistance of adaptive coatings. A new direction in nanomaterial research is discussed: compositional and microstructural optimization of the dynamically regenerating nanoscaled tribofilms on the surface of the adaptive coatings during friction. In this review we demonstrate the correlation between the microstructure, physical, chemical and micromechanical properties of hard coatings in their dynamic interaction (adaptation) with environment and the involvement of complex natural processes associated with self-organization during friction. Major physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the adaptive coating, which play a significant role in its operating properties, such as enhanced mass transfer, and the ability of the layer to provide dissipation and accumulation of frictional energy during operation are presented as well. Strategies for adaptive nanostructural coating design that enhance beneficial natural processes are outlined. The coatings exhibit emergent behavior during operation when their improved features work as a whole. In this way, as higher-ordered systems, they achieve multifunctionality and high wear

  15. Superhydrophilicity of novel anodic alumina nanofibers films and their formation mechanism

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peng, Rong; Yang, Wulin; Fu, Licai; Zhu, Jiajun; Li, Deyi; Zhou, Lingping

    2017-06-01

    A novel anodic alumina nanofibers structure, which is different from the traditional porous anodic structure, has been quickly fabricated via anodizing in a new electrolyte, pyrophosphoric acid. The effects of the solution concentration and the anodizing time on the formation of the anodic alumina nanofibers were analyzed. The results show that the nanostructure of anodic alumina can change to the nanofiber oxide from the porous oxide by increasing the solution concentration. Prolonging the anodizing time is beneficial to obtain alumina nanofibers at high solution concentration. Growth behavior of the alumina nanofibers was also discussed by scanning electron microscopy observations. Owing to the unique hexagonal structure of anodic alumina as well as the preferential chemical dissolution between the porous anodic alumina and the anodic alumina nanotips, the slightly soluble anodic alumina nanotips could form novel alumina nanofibers during anodizing. The results show that the nanofibers-covered aluminum surface exhibits superhydrophilic property, with a near-zero water contact angle. Such alumina nanofibers with superhydrophilic property could be used for various potential applications.

  16. Nanostructured titanium-silver coatings with good antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility fabricated by one-step magnetron sputtering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bai, Long; Hang, Ruiqiang; Gao, Ang; Zhang, Xiangyu; Huang, Xiaobo; Wang, Yueyue; Tang, Bin; Zhao, Lingzhou; Chu, Paul K.

    2015-11-01

    Bacterial infection and loosing are serious complications for biomedical implants in the orthopedic, dental, and other biomedical fields and the ideal implants should combine good antibacterial ability and bioactivity. In this study, nanostructured titanium-silver (Ti-Ag) coatings with different Ag contents (1.2 to 21.6 at%) are prepared on Ti substrates by magnetron sputtering. As the Ag concentration is increased, the coatings change from having dense columnar crystals to sparse ones and eventually no columnar structure. The Ti-Ag coatings can effectively kill Staphylococcus aureus during the first few days and remain moderately antibacterial after immersion for 75 days. Compared to pure Ti, the Ti-Ag coatings show good cytocompatibility as indicated by good osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, intracellular total protein synthesis, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. In addition, cell spreading, collagen secretion, and extracellular matrix mineralization are promoted on the coatings with the proper Ag contents due to the nanostructured morphological features. Our results indicate that favorable antibacterial activity and osseointegration ability can be simultaneously achieved by regulating the Ag contents in Ti-Ag coatings.

  17. Enhanced protein adsorption and patterning on nanostructured latex-coated paper.

    PubMed

    Juvonen, Helka; Määttänen, Anni; Ihalainen, Petri; Viitala, Tapani; Sarfraz, Jawad; Peltonen, Jouko

    2014-06-01

    Specific interactions of extracellular matrix proteins with cells and their adhesion to the substrate are important for cell growth. A nanopatterned latex-coated paper substrate previously shown to be an excellent substrate for cell adhesion and 2D growth was studied for directed immobilization of proteins. The nanostructured latex surface was formed by short-wavelength IR irradiation of a two-component latex coating consisting of a hydrophilic film-forming styrene butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer and hydrophobic polystyrene particles. The hydrophobic regions of the IR-treated latex coating showed strong adhesion of bovine serum albumin (cell repelling protein), fibronectin (cell adhesive protein) and streptavidin. Opposite to the IR-treated surface, fibronectin and streptavidin had a poor affinity toward the untreated pristine latex coating. Detailed characterization of the physicochemical surface properties of the latex-coated substrates revealed that the observed differences in protein affinity were mainly due to the presence or absence of the protein repelling polar and charged surface groups. The protein adsorption was assisted by hydrophobic (dehydration) interactions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Resistance of Nanostructured Environmental Barrier Coatings to the Movement of Molten Salts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rao, S.; Frederick, L.; McDonald, A.

    2012-09-01

    Corrosion of components in a recovery boiler is a major problem faced by the pulp and paper industry. The superheater tubes become severely corroded due to the presence of sulfidic gases in the boiler and molten salts which are deposited on the surface of the tubes. As a result, the boiler must be decommissioned for expensive maintenance and repairs. Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings have been shown to provide corrosion resistance when applied on gas turbines operating at high temperatures. Air plasma-sprayed YSZ environmental barrier coatings on Type 309 stainless steel were exposed to three different corrosive environments: Test A—600 °C, salt vapors, flue gases, 168 h; Test B—600 °C, molten salt, air, 168 h; and Test C—600 °C, molten salt, flue gases, 168 h. Two different types of YSZ coatings—conventional YSZ and nanostructured YSZ—were tested to study their resistance to corrosion and molten salt penetration. The performances of both types of coatings were evaluated, and a comparative study was conducted. It was found that the nanostructured YSZ samples protected the stainless steel substrate better than their conventional counterparts. This superior performance was attributed to the presence of semi-molten nano-agglomerates present in the coating microstructure, which acted as collection points for the penetrating molten salts.

  19. Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured Mg-doped CdS/AAO nanoporous membrane for sensing applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shaban, Mohamed; Mustafa, Mona; Hamdy, Hany

    2016-04-01

    In this study, Mg-doped CdS nanostructure was deposited onto anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane substrate using sol-gel spin coating method. The AAO membrane was prepared by a two-step anodization process combined with pore widening process. The morphology, chemical composition, and structure of the spin- coated CdS nanostructure have been studied. The morphology of the fabricated AAO membrane and the deposited Mg-doped CdS nanostructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM of AAO illustrates a typical hexagonal and smooth nanoporous alumina membrane with interpore distance of ~ 100 nm, the pore diameter of ~ 60 nm. SEM of Mgdoped CdS shows porous nanostructured film of CdS nanoparticles. This film well adherents and covers the AAO substrate. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) pattern exhibits the signals of Al, O from AAO membrane and Mg, Cd, and S from the deposited CdS. This indicates the high purity of the fabricated membrane and the deposited Mg-doped CdS nanostructure. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, Scherrer equation was used to calculate the average crystallite size. Additionally, the texture coefficients and density of dislocations were calculated. The fabricated CdS/AAO was applied to detect glucose of different concentrations. The proposed method has some advantages such as simple technology, low cost of processing, and high throughput. All of these factors facilitate the use of the prepared films in sensing applications.

  20. Friction and fretting wear characteristics of different diamond-like carbon coatings against alumina in water-lubricated fretting conditions.

    PubMed

    Watabe, Tsukasa; Amanov, Auezhan; Tsuboi, Ryo; Sasaki, Shinya

    2013-12-01

    Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings typically show low friction and high wear resistance. In this study, the friction and fretting wear characteristics of PVD, CVD and CVD-Si DLC coatings were investigated against an alumina (Al2O3) ball under water-lubricated fretting conditions. The objective of this study is to investigate and compare the friction and fretting wear characteristics of those DLC coatings at various fretting frequencies. The test results showed that the PVD DLC coating led to a lower friction coefficient and a higher resistance to fretting wear compared to those of the CVD and CVD-Si DLC coatings. However, the CVD DLC coating showed that the fretting wear resistance decreases with increasing frequency, while no significant difference in fretting wear resistances of the PVD and CVD-Si DLC coatings was observed. Quantitative surface analyses of the specimens were performed using an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), a laser scanning microscope (LSM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an atomic force microscope (AFM) and the Raman spectroscopy.

  1. Phase evolution and thermal properties of yttria-stabilized hafnia nano-coatings deposited on alumina

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rubio, Ernesto Javier

    High-temperature coatings are critical to the future power-generation systems and industries. Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), which are usually the ceramic materials applied as thin coatings, protect engine components and allow further increase in engine temperatures for higher efficiency. Thus, the durability and reliability of the coating systems have to be more robust compared to current natural gas based engines. While a near and mid-term target is to develop TBC architecture with a 1300 °C surface temperature tolerance, a deeper understanding of the structure evolution and thermal behavior of the TBC-bond coat interface, specifically the thermally grown oxide (TGO), is of primary importance. In the present work, attention is directed towards yttria-stabilized hafnia (YSH) coatings on alumina (α-Al2O 3) to simulate the TBC-TGO interface and understand the phase evolution, microstructure and thermal oxidation of the coatings. YSH coatings were grown on α-Al2O3 substrates by sputter deposition by varying coating thickness in a wide range ˜30-1000 nm. The effect of coating thickness on the structure, morphology and the residual stress has been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal oxidation behavior of the coatings has been evaluated using the isothermal oxidation measurements under static conditions. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed the existence of monoclinic hafnia phase for relatively thin coatings indicating that the interfacial phenomena are dominant in phase stabilization. The evolution towards pure stabilized cubic phase of hafnia with the increasing coating thickness is observed. The SEM results indicate the changes in morphology of the coatings; the average grain size increases from 15 to 500 nm with increasing thickness. Residual stress was calculated employing XRD using the variable ψ-angle. Relation between residual stress and structural change is also studied. The results

  2. Nanostructural characterization of large-scale porous alumina fabricated via anodizing in arsenic acid solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akiya, Shunta; Kikuchi, Tatsuya; Natsui, Shungo; Suzuki, Ryosuke O.

    2017-05-01

    Anodizing of aluminum in an arsenic acid solution is reported for the fabrication of anodic porous alumina. The highest potential difference (voltage) without oxide burning increased as the temperature and the concentration of the arsenic acid solution decreased, and a high anodizing potential difference of 340 V was achieved. An ordered porous alumina with several tens of cells was formed in 0.1-0.5 M arsenic acid solutions at 310-340 V for 20 h. However, the regularity of the porous alumina was not improved via anodizing for 72 h. No pore sealing behavior of the porous alumina was observed upon immersion in boiling distilled water, and it may be due to the formation of an insoluble complex on the oxide surface. The porous alumina consisted of two different layers: a hexagonal alumina layer that contained arsenic from the electrolyte and a pure alumina honeycomb skeleton. The porous alumina exhibited a white photoluminescence emission at approximately 515 nm under UV irradiation at 254 nm.

  3. Fabrication of polystyrene/gold nanotubes and nanostructure-controlled growth of aluminate.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Haifeng; Ai, Sufen; He, Qiang; Cui, Yue; Li, Junbai

    2007-07-01

    Direct adsorption of gold nanoparticles in the inner of alumina template and following immersion of polystyrene (PS) dichloromethane solution in the template resulted in the fabrication of composite nanotubes of PS and gold nanoparticles. Several methods have been used to characterize the tubular structure. Nanostructured sodium aluminates were formed when the anodic alumina oxide membrane was dissolved by the sodium hydroxide. A "flower" shape was found after etching the template while the synthesis process was recorded as function of a time. The results demonstrate that the shape and size of the aluminates nanostructure can be controlled by etching time and the pore diameter of the alumina membrane.

  4. Structural and morphological characterization of anatase TiO 2 coating on χ-Alumina scale fiber fabricated by sol-gel dip-coating method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, Hue Thi; Miao, Lei; Tanemura, Sakae; Tanemura, Masaki; Toh, Shoichi; Kaneko, Kenji; Kawasaki, Masahiro

    2004-10-01

    Anatase TiO 2 coatings 0.4 μm thick have been successfully fabricated by sol-gel dip-coating process on χ-Al 2O 3 fibers 100 μm by 10 cm long with a surface fish-scale. This was achieved by adjustment of the sol-gel parameters such as molar ratio of the precursors in TiO 2-sols, dip-coating time, drying duration in air, heating processes and number of cyclical repetitions of the process. Two samples were prepared using two sols containing different molar ratios of precursors. XRD, TEM, EDS and SEM characterization confirmed: (1) the similarity of the growth of anatase-TiO 2 from two sols under the optimal sol-gel parameters, (2) that the coatings are composed of aggregated crystallites of 10-25 nm in diameter, (3) the good compositional uniformity of Ti in the fabricated anatase-TiO 2 crystallites, (4) a surface covering ratio of anatase-TiO 2 around the fiber of at least 90%, and (5) that there is a good adherence of the fabricated anatase-TiO 2 layer on alumina fiber as evidenced by the lack of cracking and peeling off traces around the boundary between the coating and the fiber.

  5. Tuning the morphology of silver nanostructures photochemically coated on glass substrates: an effective approach to large-scale functional surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaier, Mohamed; Vidal, Loic; Hajjar-Garreau, Samar; Bubendorff, Jean-Luc; Balan, Lavinia

    2017-03-01

    This paper reports on a simple and environmentally friendly photochemical process capable of generating nano-layers (8-22 nm) of silver nanostructures directly onto glass surfaces. This approach opens the way to large-scale functionalized surfaces with plasmonic properties through a single light-induced processing. Thus, Ag nanostructures top-coated were obtained through photo-reduction, at room temperature, of a photosensitive formulation containing a metal precursor, free from extra toxic stabilizers or reducing agents. The reactive formulation was confined between two glass slides and exposed to a continuous near-UV source. In this way, stable silver nano-layers can be generated directly on the substrate with a very good control of the morphology of as-synthesized nanostructures that allows tailoring the optical properties of the coated layers. The position and width of the corresponding surface plasmon resonance bands can be adjusted over a broad spectral window. By extension, this low-cost and easy-to-apply process can also be used to coat ultra thin layers of metal nanostructures on a variety of substrates. The possibility of controlling of nanostructures shape should achieve valuable developments in many fields, as diverse as plasmonics, surface enhanced Raman scattering, nano-electronic circuitry, or medical devices.

  6. Silica coating on alumina ceramic: comparison of three chairside air-abrasion devices working for different times and distances.

    PubMed

    Pestana Passos, S; Dias Vanderlei, A; Ozcan, M; Felipe Valandro, L F; Felipe Valandro, L

    2011-03-01

    This study evaluated, by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and EDS, the effect of different strategies for silica coating (sandblasters, time and distance) of a glass-infiltrated ceramic (In-Ceram Alumina). Forty-one ceramic blocks were produced. For comparison of the three air-abrasion devices, 15 ceramic samples were divided in three groups (N.=5): Bioart, Microetcher and Ronvig (air-abrasion parameters: 20 s at a distance of 10 mm). For evaluation of the time and distance factors, ceramic samples (N.=5) were allocated in groups considering three applied times (5 s, 13 s and 20 s) and two distances (10 mm and 20 mm), using the Ronvig device. In a control sample, no surface treatment was performed. After that, the micro-morphologic analyzes of the ceramic surfaces were made using SEM. EDS analyzes were carried out to detect the % of silica on representative ceramic surface. ANOVA and Tukey tests were used to analyze the results. One-way ANOVA showed the silica deposition was different for different devices (P=0.0054). The Ronvig device promoted the highest silica coating compared to the other devices (Tukey test). Two-way ANOVA showed the distance and time factors did not affect significantly the silica deposition (application time and distance showed no statistical difference). The Ronvig device provided the most effective silica deposition on glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic surface and the studied time and distance for air-abrasion did not affect the silica coating.

  7. Near zero reflection by nanostructured anti-reflection coating design for Si substrates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Al-Fandi, Mohamed; Makableh, Yahia F.; Khasawneh, Mohammad; Rabady, Rabi

    2018-05-01

    The nanostructure design of near zero reflection coating for Si substrates by using ZnO Nanoneedles (ZnONN) is performed and optimized for the visible spectral range. The design investigates the ZnONN tip to body ratio effect on the anti-reflection coating properties. Different tip to body ratios are used on Si substrates. Around zero reflection is achieved by the Nanoneedles structure design presented in this work, leading to minimal reflection losses from the Si surface. The current design evolves a solution to optical losses and surface contamination effects associated with Si solar cells.

  8. Proton-conducting beta"-alumina via microwave-assisted synthesis and mechanism of enhanced corrosion prevention of a zinc rich coating with electronic control

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kirby, Brent William

    Proton Conducting beta-alumina via Microwave Assisted Synthesis. The microwave assisted synthesis of proton conducting Mg- and Li-stabilized NH4+/H3O+ beta-alumina from a solution based gel precursor is reported. beta-alumina is a ceramic fast ion conductor containing two-dimensional sheets of mobile cations. Na +-beta-alumina is the most stable at the sintering temperatures (1740°C) reached in a modified microwave oven, and can be ion exchanged to the K+ form and then to the NH4+/H 3O+ form. beta-phase impurity is found to be 20% for Mg-stabilized material and 30-40% for Li-stabilized material. The composition of the proton conducting form produced here is deficient in NH4 + as compared to the target composition (NH4)1.00 (H3O)0.67Mg0.67Al10.33O 17. Average grain conductivity for Li-stabilized material at 150°C is 6.6x10-3 +/- 1.6x10-3 S/cm with 0.29 +/- 0.05 eV activation energy, in agreement with single crystal studies in the literature. Grain boundary conductivity is found to be higher in the Li-stabilized material. A hydrogen bond energy hypothesis is presented to explain these differences. Li-stabilized NH4+/H3O + beta-alumina is demonstrated as a fuel cell electrolyte, producing 28 muA/cm2 of electrical current at 0.5 V. Mechanism of Enhanced Corrosion Prevention of a Zinc Rich Coating with Electronic Control. A corrosion inhibition system consisting of high weight-loading zinc rich coating applied to steel panels is examined. An electronic control unit (ECU) consisting of a battery and a large capacitor in series with the panel is shown to improve corrosion protection upon immersion in 3% NaCl solution. Weekly solution changes to avoid zinc saturation in solution system were necessary to see well differentiated results. The corrosion product, hydrozincite [Zn5(CO3) 2(OH)6] is observed to deposit within the pores of the coating and on the surface as a barrier layer. Simonkolleite [Zn5(OH) 8Cl2·H2O] is found to form in place of the original zinc particles

  9. Ionic Segregation on Grain Boundaries in Thermally Grown Alumina Scales

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

    Pint, Bruce A; Unocic, Kinga A

    2012-01-01

    This study first examined segregation behaviour in the alumina scale formed after 100 h at 1100 C on bare and MCrAlYHfSi-coated single-crystal superalloys with {approx}10 ppma La and Y. For the bare superalloy, Hf and Ti were detected on the grain boundaries of the inner columnar alumina layer. Increasing the oxidation temperature to 1200 C for 2 h did not change the segregation behavior. With the bond coating, both Y and Hf were segregated to the grain boundaries as expected. However, there was evidence of Ti-rich oxide particles near the gas interface suggesting that Ti diffused from the superalloy throughmore » the coating. To further understand these segregation observations with multiple dopants, other alumina-forming systems were examined. Alumina scale grain boundary co-segregation of Ti with Y is common for FeCrAl alloys. Co-segregation of Hf and Ti was observed in the scale formed on co-doped NiAl. No La segregation was detected in the scale formed on NiCrAl with only a 19 ppma La addition, however, the scale was adherent.« less

  10. In vivo and in vitro investigations of a nanostructured coating material – a preclinical study

    PubMed Central

    Adam, Martin; Ganz, Cornelia; Xu, Weiguo; Sarajian, Hamid-Reza; Götz, Werner; Gerber, Thomas

    2014-01-01

    Immediate loading of dental implants is only possible if a firm bone-implant anchorage at early stages is developed. This implies early and high bone apposition onto the implant surface. A nanostructured coating material based on an osseoinductive bone grafting is investigated in relation to the osseointegration at early stages. The goal is to transmit the structure (silica matrix with embedded hydroxyapatite) and the properties of the bone grafting into a coating material. The bone grafting substitute offers an osseoinductive potential caused by an exchange of the silica matrix in vivo accompanied by vascularization. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis show that the coating material consists of a high porous silica matrix with embedded nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite with the same morphology as human hydroxyapatite. An in vitro investigation shows the early interaction between coating and human blood. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed that the silica matrix was replaced by an organic matrix within a few minutes. Uncoated and coated titanium implants were inserted into the femora of New Zealand White rabbits. The bone-to-implant contact (BIC) was measured after 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The BIC of the coated implants was increased significantly at 2 and 4 weeks. After 6 weeks, the BIC was decreased to the level of the control group. A histological analysis revealed high bone apposition on the coated implant surface after 2 and 4 weeks. Osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities on the coating material indicated that the coating participates in the bone-remodeling process. The nanostructure of the coating material led to an exchange of the silica matrix by an autologous, organic matrix without delamination of the coating. This is the key issue in understanding initial bone formation on a coated surface. PMID:24627631

  11. REFRACTORY COATING FOR GRAPHITE MOLDS

    DOEpatents

    Stoddard, S.D.

    1958-06-24

    Refractory coating for graphite molds used in the casting of uranium is described. The coating is an alumino-silicate refractory composition which may be used as a mold surface in solid form or as a coating applied to the graphite mold. The composition consists of a mixture of ball clay, kaolin, alumina cement, alumina, water, sodium silicate, and sodium carbonate.

  12. Mechanism of formation of humus coatings on mineral surfaces 3. Composition of adsorbed organic acids from compost leachate on alumina by solid-state 13C NMR

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Wershaw, R. L.; Llaguno, E.C.; Leenheer, J.A.

    1996-01-01

    The adsorption of compost leachate DOC on alumina is used as a model for elucidation of the mechanism of formation of natural organic coatings on hydrous metal oxide surfaces in soils and sediments. Compost leachate DOC is composed mainly of organic acid molecules. The solid-state 13C NMR spectra of these organic acids indicate that they are very similar in composition to aquatic humic substances. Changes in the solid-state 13C NMR spectra of compost leachate DOC fractions adsorbed on alumina indicate that the DOC molecules are most likely adsorbed on metal oxide surfaces through a combination of polar and hydrophobic interaction mechanisms. This combination of polar and hydrophobic mechanism leads to the formation of bilayer coatings of the leachate molecules on the oxide surfaces.

  13. Development of Erosion-Corrosion-Resistant Cold-Spray Nanostructured Ni-20Cr Coating for Coal-Fired Boiler Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, M.; Singh, H.; Singh, N.; Chavan, N. M.; Kumar, S.; Joshi, S. V.

    2015-12-01

    The erosion-corrosion (E-C) behavior of a cold-spray nanostructured Ni-20Cr coating was studied under cyclic conditions in a coal-fired boiler. This study was done for 15 cycles (1500 h), in which each cycle comprised 100 h of heating in the boiler environment, followed by 1 h of cooling under ambient air conditions. The E-C extent was evaluated in terms of thickness loss data of the samples. The eroded-corroded samples were characterized using XRD, SEM/EDS, and x-ray mapping analyses. The nanostructured coating offered excellent E-C protection to boiler tube material (SA 516 steel) under harsh live conditions of the boiler. This E-C resistance offered by investigated coating may be attributed to the presence of protective NiO and Cr2O3 phases in its oxide scale and its superior as-sprayed microhardness.

  14. Sliding Wear Response of Nanostructured YSZ Suspension Plasma-Sprayed Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kossman, S.; Chicot, D.; Decoopman, X.; Iost, A.; van Gorp, A.; Meillot, E.; Puchi-Cabrera, E. S.; Santana, Y. Y.; Staia, M. H.

    2014-12-01

    Nanostructured yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings for applications in high-temperature environments can be deposited by suspension plasma spraying (SPS) techniques. The present research has been conducted in order to study the sliding wear response of a SPS ZrO2-8% mol. Y2O3 coating (75 μm in thickness) deposited onto a Haynes 230 substrate, using pin-on-disc tests. Some of the coated samples were subsequently heat-treated for 1 h at 300 and 600 °C. Samples characterization prior and after the wear tests was carried out by SEM, EDS, XRD and optical profilometry techniques. Instrumented indentation was employed to determine elastic modulus and hardness. The results have shown that the as-sprayed and heat-treated samples experienced severe wear (10-13 m3/Nm) and the worst wear performance corresponded to the sample heat treated at 600 °C. Such a behavior could be related to both the structural changes that took place during heat treatment and the nature and level of the residual stresses in the coatings. In general, the morphologies of the wear tracks observed by SEM have shown a smoothing of the surface, brittle fracture, smearing and grain pull-out.

  15. Coating of biodegradable magnesium alloy bone implants using nanostructured diopside (CaMgSi2O6)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Razavi, Mehdi; Fathi, Mohammadhossein; Savabi, Omid; Beni, Batoul Hashemi; Razavi, Seyed Mohammad; Vashaee, Daryoosh; Tayebi, Lobat

    2014-01-01

    Magnesium alloys with their biodegradable characteristic can be a very good candidate to be used in orthopedic implants. However, magnesium alloys may corrode and degrade too fast for applications in the bone healing procedure. In order to enhance the corrosion resistance and the in vitro bioactivity of a magnesium alloy, a nanostructured diopside (CaMgSi2O6) film was coated on AZ91 magnesium alloy through combined micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) methods. The crystalline structures, morphologies and compositions of the coated and uncoated substrates were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and immersion test in simulated body fluid (SBF) were employed to evaluate the corrosion resistance and the in vitro bioactivity of the samples. The results of our investigation showed that the nanostructured diopside coating deposited on the MAO layer increases the corrosion resistance and improves the in vitro bioactivity of the biodegradable magnesium alloy.

  16. Enhanced bonding property of cold-sprayed Zn-Al coating on interstitial-free steel substrate with a nanostructured surface layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Y. L.; Wang, Z. B.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, J. B.; Lu, K.

    2016-11-01

    By means of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT), a gradient nanostructured surface layer was fabricated on a hot-rolled interstitial-free steel plate. A Zn-Al coating was subsequently deposited on the SMAT sample by using cold spray process. The bonding property of the coating on the SMAT substrate was compared with that on the coarse-grained (CG) sample. Stud-pull tests showed that the bonding strength in the as-sprayed SMAT sample is ∼30% higher than that in the as-sprayed CG sample. No further improvement in bonding strength was achieved in the coated SMAT sample after annealing at 400 °C, mostly due to the formation of cracks and intermetallic compounds at the coating/substrate interface in an earlier stage (<30 min) and in a final stage (>90 min), respectively. The enhanced bonding property of the Zn-Al coating on the SMAT sample might be related with the promoted atomic diffusion and hardness in the nanostructured surface layer.

  17. In vitro genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of polydopamine-coated magnetic nanostructures.

    PubMed

    Woźniak, Anna; Walawender, Magdalena; Tempka, Dominika; Coy, Emerson; Załęski, Karol; Grześkowiak, Bartosz F; Mrówczyński, Radosław

    2017-10-01

    Synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic nanoclusters was performed by the co-precipitation method or solvothermal synthesis, respectively, followed by oxidative polymerization of dopamine, resulting in a polydopamine (PDA) shell. The nanomaterials obtained were described using TEM, FTIR and magnetic measurements. For the first time, cyto- and genotoxicity studies of polydopamine-coated nanostructures were performed on cancer and normal cell lines, providing in-depth insight into the toxicity of such materials. The tests conducted, e.g. ROS, apoptosis and DNA double-break of the nanomaterials obtained revealed the low toxicity of these structures. Thus, these results prove the biocompatibility and low genotoxicity of these materials and provide new data on the toxicity of PDA-coated materials, which is of great importance for their biomedical application. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Ceramic nanostructures and methods of fabrication

    DOEpatents

    Ripley, Edward B [Knoxville, TN; Seals, Roland D [Oak Ridge, TN; Morrell, Jonathan S [Knoxville, TN

    2009-11-24

    Structures and methods for the fabrication of ceramic nanostructures. Structures include metal particles, preferably comprising copper, disposed on a ceramic substrate. The structures are heated, preferably in the presence of microwaves, to a temperature that softens the metal particles and preferably forms a pool of molten ceramic under the softened metal particle. A nano-generator is created wherein ceramic material diffuses through the molten particle and forms ceramic nanostructures on a polar site of the metal particle. The nanostructures may comprise silica, alumina, titania, or compounds or mixtures thereof.

  19. Nanostructured composite reinforced material

    DOEpatents

    Seals, Roland D [Oak Ridge, TN; Ripley, Edward B [Knoxville, TN; Ludtka, Gerard M [Oak Ridge, TN

    2012-07-31

    A family of materials wherein nanostructures and/or nanotubes are incorporated into a multi-component material arrangement, such as a metallic or ceramic alloy or composite/aggregate, producing a new material or metallic/ceramic alloy. The new material has significantly increased strength, up to several thousands of times normal and perhaps substantially more, as well as significantly decreased weight. The new materials may be manufactured into a component where the nanostructure or nanostructure reinforcement is incorporated into the bulk and/or matrix material, or as a coating where the nanostructure or nanostructure reinforcement is incorporated into the coating or surface of a "normal" substrate material. The nanostructures are incorporated into the material structure either randomly or aligned, within grains, or along or across grain boundaries.

  20. Nanostructures based on alumina hydroxides inhibit tumor growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fomenko, A. N.; Korovin, M. S.

    2017-09-01

    Nanoparticles and nanostructured materials are one of the most promising developments for cancer therapy. Gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles based on iron and its oxides and other metal oxides have been widely used in diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Much less research attention has been payed to nanoparticles and nanostructures based on aluminum oxides and hydroxides as materials for cancer diagnosis and treatment. However recent investigations have shown promising results regarding these objects. Here, we review the antitumor results obtained with AlOOH nanoparticles.

  1. Comparative analysis of the effect of low-dimensional alumina structures on cell lines L929 and Neuro-2a

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

    Fomenko, A. N., E-mail: alserova@ispms.tsc.ru; Korovin, M. S., E-mail: msk@ispms.tsc.ru

    The paper presents the toxicity evaluation of nanostructures on the basis of alumina of different shape (nanofibers, nanoplates, nanosheets, nanosheet agglomerates) and with similar physical and chemical properties (particle size, specific surface area, phase composition, and zeta potential). The nanostructures were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cytotoxicity of nanostructures was estimated using L929 fibroblast cells and Neuro-2a tumor cells. It has been found that the L929 cells are less subject to the influence of alumina nanoparticles than the Neuro-2a tumor cells. Probably, themore » differences in the proliferation activity of normal and tumor cells in contact with the synthesized nanostructures are due to a change in the pH of the cell microenvironment.« less

  2. Comparative analysis of the effect of low-dimensional alumina structures on cell lines L929 and Neuro-2a

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fomenko, A. N.; Korovin, M. S.

    2016-08-01

    The paper presents the toxicity evaluation of nanostructures on the basis of alumina of different shape (nanofibers, nanoplates, nanosheets, nanosheet agglomerates) and with similar physical and chemical properties (particle size, specific surface area, phase composition, and zeta potential). The nanostructures were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cytotoxicity of nanostructures was estimated using L929 fibroblast cells and Neuro-2a tumor cells. It has been found that the L929 cells are less subject to the influence of alumina nanoparticles than the Neuro-2a tumor cells. Probably, the differences in the proliferation activity of normal and tumor cells in contact with the synthesized nanostructures are due to a change in the pH of the cell microenvironment.

  3. Projection parameters for zirconia-alumina-ceria coatings made by flame spraying from results of numerical simulation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodríguez, L.; Ferrer, M.; Vargas, F.; Peña, G.

    2017-12-01

    A numerical simulation was performed with the software Jets et Poudres, the results let choose the parameters to deposit zirconia-alumina-ceria coatings of different composition on substrates of red clay, by thermal spraying with the oxyacetylene flame to obtain homogeneous coatings with good adhesion to the substrate. The effect of the projection distance (7, 10 and 12cm) between the substrate and the torch, the fusion percentage of particles and the K-Sommerfeld number was determined. This number is dimensionless and is affected by the projection distance and by the chemical composition of the particles. For a projection distance of 9cm, the fusion percentage of the particles varies between 83.8% and 100%, and the K-Sommerfeld number between 47.3 and 50 for the different compounds. This makes possible to obtain uniform coatings with good wettability, therefore, good adhesion to the substrate, while for the distance of 7cm the fusion percentage varies between 22% and 38%, due to the short time of the particles in the flame which causes low adhesion, when the projection distance is 12cm the particles do not have sufficient kinetic energy to reach the substrate and therefore the coating is not deposited.

  4. Comparing nanostructured hydroxyapatite coating on AZ91 alloy samples via sol-gel and electrophoretic deposition for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Rojaee, Ramin; Fathi, Mohammadhossein; Raeissi, Keyvan

    2014-12-01

    Magnesium is one of the most critical elements in hard tissues regeneration and therefore causes speeding up the restoration of harmed bones, while high deterioration rate of magnesium in body fluid restricts it to be used as biodegradable implants. Alloying magnesium with some relatively nobler metals such as aluminium, zinc, rare earth elements, magnesium-bioceramics composites, and surface modification techniques are some of the routes to control magnesium corrosion rate. In this study AZ91 magnesium alloy had been coated by nanostructured hydroxyapatite via sol-gel dip coating and electrophoretical methods to survey the final barricade properties of the obtained coatings. In order to perform electrophoretic coating, powders were prepared by sol-gel method, and then the powders deposited on substrates utilizing direct current electricity. Zeta potentials of the electrophoresis suspensions were measured to determine a best mode for good quality coatings. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to confirm nanoscale dimension, and the uniformity of the nanostructured hydroxyapatite coating, respectively. Fourier Transform-Infrared and X-ray diffraction analysis were utilized for functional group and phase structure evaluation of the prepared coatings, correspondingly. Electrochemical corrosion tests were performed in SBF at 37±1 (°)C which revealed considerable increase in corrosion protection resistivity and corrosion current density for electrophoretic coated specimens versus sol-gel coated specimens. Results showed that both sol-gel and electrophoretical techniques seem to be suitable to coat magnesium alloys for biomedical applications but electrophoretic coating technique is a better choice due to the more homogeneity and more crystalline structure of the coating.

  5. Plasmonic Three-Dimensional Transparent Conductor Based on Al-Doped Zinc Oxide-Coated Nanostructured Glass Using Atomic Layer Deposition

    DOE PAGES

    Malek, Gary A.; Aytug, Tolga; Liu, Qingfeng; ...

    2015-04-02

    Transparent nanostructured glass coatings, fabricated on glass substrates, with a unique three-dimensional (3D) architecture were utilized as the foundation for the design of plasmonic 3D transparent conductors. Transformation of the non-conducting 3D structure to a conducting 3D network was accomplished through atomic layer deposition of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO). After AZO growth, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were deposited by electronbeam evaporation to enhance light trapping and decrease the overall sheet resistance. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microcopy images revealed the highly porous, nanostructured morphology of the AZO coated glass surface along with the in-plane dimensions of the depositedmore » AuNPs. Sheet resistance measurements conducted on the coated samples verified that the electrical properties of the 3D network are comparable to that of the untextured two-dimensional AZO coated glass substrates. In addition, transmittance measurements of the glass samples coated with various AZO thicknesses showed preservation of the highly transparent nature of each sample, while the AuNPs demonstrated enhanced light scattering as well as light-trapping capability.« less

  6. Plasmonic Three-Dimensional Transparent Conductor Based on Al-Doped Zinc Oxide-Coated Nanostructured Glass Using Atomic Layer Deposition

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

    Malek, Gary A.; Aytug, Tolga; Liu, Qingfeng

    Transparent nanostructured glass coatings, fabricated on glass substrates, with a unique three-dimensional (3D) architecture were utilized as the foundation for the design of plasmonic 3D transparent conductors. Transformation of the non-conducting 3D structure to a conducting 3D network was accomplished through atomic layer deposition of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO). After AZO growth, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were deposited by electronbeam evaporation to enhance light trapping and decrease the overall sheet resistance. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microcopy images revealed the highly porous, nanostructured morphology of the AZO coated glass surface along with the in-plane dimensions of the depositedmore » AuNPs. Sheet resistance measurements conducted on the coated samples verified that the electrical properties of the 3D network are comparable to that of the untextured two-dimensional AZO coated glass substrates. In addition, transmittance measurements of the glass samples coated with various AZO thicknesses showed preservation of the highly transparent nature of each sample, while the AuNPs demonstrated enhanced light scattering as well as light-trapping capability.« less

  7. Plasma-Sprayed Titania and Alumina Coatings Obtained from Feedstocks Prepared by Heterocoagulation with 1 wt.% Carbon Nanotube

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jambagi, Sudhakar C.; Agarwal, Anish; Sarkar, Nilmoni; Bandyopadhyay, P. P.

    2018-05-01

    Properties of plasma-sprayed ceramic coatings can be improved significantly by reinforcing such coatings with carbon nanotube (CNT). However, it is difficult to disperse CNT in the plasma spray feedstock owing to its tendency to form agglomerate. A colloidal processing technique, namely heterocoagulation, is effective in bringing about unbundling of CNT, followed by its homogeneous dispersion in the ceramic powder. This report deals with the mixing of micro-sized crushed titania and agglomerated alumina powders with CNT using the heterocoagulation technique. Heterocoagulation of titania was attempted with both cationic and anionic surfactants, and the latter was found to be more effective. Mixing of the oxides and carbon nanotube was also accomplished in a ball mill either in a dry condition or in alcohol, and powders thus obtained were compared with the heterocoagulated powder. The heterocoagulated powder has shown a more homogeneous dispersion of CNT in the oxide. The coatings produced from the heterocoagulated powder demonstrated improvement in hardness, porosity, indentation fracture toughness and elastic modulus. This is attributed to CNT reinforcement.

  8. Interplay of water and reactive elements in oxidation of alumina-forming alloys.

    PubMed

    Mortazavi, N; Geers, C; Esmaily, M; Babic, V; Sattari, M; Lindgren, K; Malmberg, P; Jönsson, B; Halvarsson, M; Svensson, J E; Panas, I; Johansson, L G

    2018-06-11

    High-temperature alloys are crucial to many important technologies that underpin our civilization. All these materials rely on forming an external oxide layer (scale) for corrosion protection. Despite decades of research on oxide scale growth, many open questions remain, including the crucial role of the so-called reactive elements and water. Here, we reveal the hitherto unknown interplay between reactive elements and water during alumina scale growth, causing a metastable 'messy' nano-structured alumina layer to form. We propose that reactive-element-decorated, hydroxylated interfaces between alumina nanograins enable water to access an inner cathode in the bottom of the scale, at odds with the established scale growth scenario. As evidence, hydride-nanodomains and reactive element/hydrogen (deuterium) co-variation are observed in the alumina scale. The defect-rich alumina subsequently recrystallizes to form a protective scale. First-principles modelling is also performed to validate the RE effect. Our findings open up promising avenues in oxidation research and suggest ways to improve alloy properties.

  9. A comparative study on omnidirectional anti-reflection SiO2 nanostructure films coating by glancing angle deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prachachet, R.; Samransuksamer, B.; Horprathum, M.; Eiamchai, P.; Limwichean, S.; Chananonnawathorn, C.; Lertvanithphol, T.; Muthitamongkol, P.; Boonruang, S.; Buranasiri, P.

    2018-02-01

    Fabricated omnidirectional anti-reflection nanostructure films as a one of the promising alternative solar cell applications have attracted enormous scientific and industrial research benefits to their broadband, effective over a wide range of incident angles, lithography-free and high-throughput process. Recently, the nanostructure SiO2 film was the most inclusive study on anti-reflection with omnidirectional and broadband characteristics. In this work, the three-dimensional silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanostructured thin film with different morphologies including vertical align, slant, spiral and thin films were fabricated by electron beam evaporation with glancing angle deposition (GLAD) on the glass slide and silicon wafer substrate. The morphological of the prepared samples were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The transmission, omnidirectional and birefringence property of the nanostructure SiO2 films were investigated by UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer (VASE). The spectrophotometer measurement was performed at normal incident angle and a full spectral range of 200 - 2000 nm. The angle dependent transmission measurements were investigated by rotating the specimen, with incidence angle defined relative to the surface normal of the prepared samples. This study demonstrates that the obtained SiO2 nanostructure film coated on glass slide substrate exhibits a higher transmission was 93% at normal incident angle. In addition, transmission measurement in visible wavelength and wide incident angles -80 to 80 were increased in comparison with the SiO2 thin film and glass slide substrate due to the transition in the refractive index profile from air to the nanostructure layer that improve the antireflection characteristics. The results clearly showed the enhanced omnidirectional and broadband characteristic of the three dimensional Si

  10. Nanoporous alumina as templates for multifunctional applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sousa, C. T.; Leitao, D. C.; Proenca, M. P.; Ventura, J.; Pereira, A. M.; Araujo, J. P.

    2014-09-01

    Due to its manufacturing and size tailoring ease, porous anodic alumina (PAA) templates are an elegant physical-chemical nanopatterning approach and an emergent alternative to more sophisticated and expensive methods currently used in nanofabrication. In this review, we will describe the ground work on the fabrication methods of PAA membranes and PAA-based nanostructures. We will present the specificities of the electrochemical growth processes of multifunctional nanomaterials with diversified shapes (e.g., nanowires and nanotubes), and the fabrication techniques used to grow ordered nanohole arrays. We will then focus on the fabrication, properties and applications of magnetic nanostructures grown on PAA and illustrate their dependence on internal (diameter, interpore distance, length, composition) and external (temperature and applied magnetic field intensity and direction) parameters. Finally, the most outstanding experimental findings on PAA-grown nanostructures and their trends for technological applications (sensors, energy harvesting, metamaterials, and biotechnology) will be addressed.

  11. Carbon fiber CVD coating by carbon nanostructured for space materials protection against atomic oxygen

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pastore, Roberto; Bueno Morles, Ramon; Micheli, Davide

    2016-07-01

    adhesion and durability in the environment. Though these coatings are efficient in protecting polymer composites, their application imposes severe constraints. Their thermal expansion coefficients may differ markedly from those of polymer composite substrates: as a result, cracks develop in the coatings on thermal cycling and AO can penetrate through them to the substrate. In addition to the technicalities of forming an effective barrier, such factors as cost, convenience of application and ease of repair are important considerations in the selection of a coating for a particular application. The latter issues drive the aerospace research toward the development of novel light composite materials, like the so called polymer nanocomposites, which are materials with a polymer matrix and a filler with at least one dimension less than 100 nanometers. Current interest in nanocomposites has been generated and maintained because nanoparticle-filled polymers exhibit unique combinations of properties not achievable with traditional composites. These combinations of properties can be achieved because of the small size of the fillers, the large surface area the fillers provide, and in many cases the unique properties of the fillers themselves. In particular, the carbon fiber-based polymeric composite materials are the basic point of interest: the aim of the present study is to find new solution to produce carbon fiber-based composites with even more upgraded performances. One intriguing strategy to tackle such an issue has been picked out in the coupling between the carbon fibers and the carbon nanostructures. That for two main reasons: first, carbon nanostructures have shown fancy potentialities for any kind of technological applications since their discovery, second, the chemical affinity between fiber and nanostructure (made of the same element) should be a likely route to approach the typical problems due to thermo-mechanical compatibility. This work is joined in such framework

  12. In-situ aging microwave heating synthesis of LTA zeolite layer on mesoporous TiO2 coated porous alumina support

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baig, Mirza A.; Patel, Faheemuddin; Alhooshani, Khalid; Muraza, Oki; Wang, Evelyn N.; Laoui, Tahar

    2015-12-01

    LTA zeolite layer was successfully grown on a superhydrophilic mesoporous titania layer coated onto porous α-alumina substrate. Mesoporous titania layer was formed as an intermediate bridge in the pore size variation between the macroporous α-alumina support and micro-porous LTA zeolite layer. In-situ aging microwave heating synthesis method was utilized to deposit the LTA zeolite layer. Mesoporous titania layer was pre-treated with UV photons and this was observed to have played a major role in improving the surface hydrophilicity of the substrate leading to formation of increased number of Ti-OH groups on the surface. This increase in Ti-OH groups enhanced the interaction between the synthesis gel and the substrate leading to strong attachment of the amorphous gel on the substrate, thus enhancing coverage of the LTA zeolite layer to almost the entire surface of the 1-inch (25.4 mm) diameter membrane. LTA zeolite layer was developed via in-situ aged under microwave irradiation to study the effect of synthesis parameters such as in-situ aging time and synthesis time on the formation of the LTA zeolite layer. Optimized process parameters resulted in the formation of crack-free porous zeolite layer yielding a zeolite-titania-alumina multi-layer membrane with a gradient in porosity.

  13. Superhydrophobic alumina surface based on stearic acid modification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feng, Libang; Zhang, Hongxia; Mao, Pengzhi; Wang, Yanping; Ge, Yang

    2011-02-01

    A novel superhydrophobic alumina surface is fabricated by grafting stearic acid layer onto the porous and roughened aluminum film. The chemical and phase structure, morphology, and the chemical state of the atoms at the superhydrophobic surface were investigated by techniques as FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, and XPS, respectively. Results show that a super water-repellent surface with a contact angle of 154.2° is generated. The superhydrophobic alumina surface takes on an uneven flowerlike structure with many nanometer-scale hollows distribute in the nipple-shaped protrusions, and which is composed of boehmite crystal and γ-Al2O3. Furthermore, the roughened and porous alumina surface is coated with a layer of hydrophobic alkyl chains which come from stearic acid molecules. Therefore, both the roughened structure and the hydrophobic layer endue the alumina surface with the superhydrophobic behavior.

  14. Aqueous-Based Fabrication of Low-VOC Nanostructured Block Copolymer Films as Potential Marine Antifouling Coatings.

    PubMed

    Kim, Kris S; Gunari, Nikhil; MacNeil, Drew; Finlay, John; Callow, Maureen; Callow, James; Walker, Gilbert C

    2016-08-10

    The ability to fabricate nanostructured films by exploiting the phenomenon of microphase separation has made block copolymers an invaluable tool for a wide array of coating applications. Standard approaches to engineering nanodomains commonly involve the application of organic solvents, either through dissolution or annealing protocols, resulting in the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this paper, an aqueous-based method of fabricating low-VOC nanostructured block copolymer films is presented. The reported procedure allows for the phase transfer of water insoluble triblock copolymer, poly(styrene-block-2 vinylpyridine-block-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO), from a water immiscible phase to an aqueous environment with the assistance of a diblock copolymeric phase transfer agent, poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO). Phase transfer into the aqueous phase results in self-assembly of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO into core-shell-corona micelles, which are characterized by dynamic light scattering techniques. The films that result from coating the micellar solution onto Si/SiO2 surfaces exhibit nanoscale features that disrupt the ability of a model foulant, a zoospore of Ulva linza, to settle. The multilayered architecture consists of a pH-responsive P2VP-"shell" which can be stimulated to control the size of these features. The ability of these nanostructured thin films to resist protein adsorption and serve as potential marine antifouling coatings is supported through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and analysis of the settlement of Ulva linza zoospore. Field trials of the surfaces in a natural environment show the inhibition of macrofoulants for 1 month.

  15. Nanostructured sapphire optical fiber for sensing in harsh environments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Hui; Liu, Kai; Ma, Yiwei; Tian, Fei; Du, Henry

    2017-05-01

    We describe an innovative and scalable strategy of transforming a commercial unclad sapphire optical fiber to an allalumina nanostructured sapphire optical fiber (NSOF) that overcomes decades-long challenges faced in the field of sapphire fiber optics. The strategy entails fiber coating with metal Al followed by subsequent anodization to form anodized alumina oxide (AAO) cladding of highly organized pore channel structure. We show that Ag nanoparticles entrapped in AAO show excellent structural and morphological stability and less susceptibility to oxidation for potential high-temperature surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). We reveal, with aid of numerical simulations, that the AAO cladding greatly increases the evanescent-field overlap both in power and extent and that lower porosity of AAO results in higher evanescent-field overlap. This work has opened the door to new sapphire fiber-based sensor design and sensor architecture.

  16. Functionally graded alumina-based thin film systems

    DOEpatents

    Moore, John J.; Zhong, Dalong

    2006-08-29

    The present invention provides coating systems that minimize thermal and residual stresses to create a fatigue- and soldering-resistant coating for aluminum die casting dies. The coating systems include at least three layers. The outer layer is an alumina- or boro-carbide-based outer layer that has superior non-wettability characteristics with molten aluminum coupled with oxidation and wear resistance. A functionally-graded intermediate layer or "interlayer" enhances the erosive wear, toughness, and corrosion resistance of the die. A thin adhesion layer of reactive metal is used between the die substrate and the interlayer to increase adhesion of the coating system to the die surface.

  17. Cu-Au alloy nanostructures coated with aptamers: a simple, stable and highly effective platform for in vivo cancer theranostics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ye, Xiaosheng; Shi, Hui; He, Xiaoxiao; Yu, Yanru; He, Dinggeng; Tang, Jinlu; Lei, Yanli; Wang, Kemin

    2016-01-01

    As a star material in cancer theranostics, photoresponsive gold (Au) nanostructures may still have drawbacks, such as low thermal conductivity, irradiation-induced melting effect and high cost. To solve the problem, copper (Cu) with a much higher thermal conductivity and lower cost was introduced to generate a novel Cu-Au alloy nanostructure produced by a simple, gentle and one-pot synthetic method. Having the good qualities of both Cu and Au, the irregularly-shaped Cu-Au alloy nanostructures showed several advantages over traditional Au nanorods, including a broad and intense near-infrared (NIR) absorption band from 400 to 1100 nm, an excellent heating performance under laser irradiation at different wavelengths and even a notable photostability against melting. Then, via a simple conjugation of fluorophore-labeled aptamers on the Cu-Au alloy nanostructures, active targeting and signal output were simultaneously introduced, thus constructing a theranostic platform based on fluorophore-labeled, aptamer-coated Cu-Au alloy nanostructures. By using human leukemia CCRF-CEM cancer and Cy5-labeled aptamer Sgc8c (Cy5-Sgc8c) as the model, a selective fluorescence imaging and NIR photothermal therapy was successfully realized for both in vitro cancer cells and in vivo tumor tissues. It was revealed that Cy5-Sgc8c-coated Cu-Au alloy nanostructures were not only capable of robust target recognition and stable signal output for molecular imaging in complex biological systems, but also killed target cancer cells in mice with only five minutes of 980 nm irradiation. The platform was found to be simple, stable, biocompatible and highly effective, and shows great potential as a versatile tool for cancer theranostics.As a star material in cancer theranostics, photoresponsive gold (Au) nanostructures may still have drawbacks, such as low thermal conductivity, irradiation-induced melting effect and high cost. To solve the problem, copper (Cu) with a much higher thermal conductivity

  18. Tunable alumina 2D photonic-crystal structures via biomineralization of peacock tail feathers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Yonggang; Wang, Rui; Feng, Lin; Li, Jian; An, Zhonglie; Zhang, Deyuan

    2018-04-01

    Peacock tail feathers with subtle periodic nanostructures exhibit diverse striking brilliancy, which can be applied as natural templates to fabricate artificial photonic crystals (PhCs) via a biomineralization method. Alumina photonic-crystal structures are successfully synthesized via an immersion and two-step calcination process. The lattice constants of the artificial PhCs are greatly reduced compared to their natural matrices. The lattice constants are tunable by modifying the final annealing conditions in the biomineralization process. The reflection spectra of the alumina photonic-crystal structures are measured, which is related to their material and structural parameters. This work suggests a facile fabrication process to construct alumina PhCs with a high-temperature resistance.

  19. Thermoresponsive PNIPAM Coatings on Nanostructured Gratings for Cell Alignment and Release

    DOE PAGES

    Zhernenkov, Mikhail; Ashkar, Rana; Feng, Hao; ...

    2015-05-20

    Thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) has been widely used as a surface coating to thermally control the detachment of adsorbed cells without the need for extreme stimuli such as enzyme treatment. Recently, the use of 2D and 3D scaffolds in controlling cell positioning, growth, spreading, and migration has been of a great interest in tissue engineering and cell biology. We use a PNIPAM polymer surface coating atop a nanostructured linear diffraction grating to controllably change the surface topography of 2D linear structures using temperature stimuli. Neutron reflectometry and surface diffraction are utilized to examine the conformity of the polymer coating to themore » grating surface, its hydration profile, and its evolution in response to temperature variations. Our results show that, in the collapsed state, the PNIPAM coating conforms to the grating structures and retains a uniform hydration of 63%. In the swollen state, the polymer expands beyond the grating channels and absorbs up to 87% water. Such properties are particularly desirable for 2D cell growth scaffolds with a built-in nonextreme tissue-release mechanism. Indeed, the current system demonstrates advanced performance in the effective alignment of cultured fibroblast cells and the easy release of the cells upon temperature change.« less

  20. Thermoresponsive PNIPAM Coatings on Nanostructured Gratings for Cell Alignment and Release

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

    Zhernenkov, Mikhail; Ashkar, Rana; Feng, Hao

    Thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) has been widely used as a surface coating to thermally control the detachment of adsorbed cells without the need for extreme stimuli such as enzyme treatment. Recently, the use of 2D and 3D scaffolds in controlling cell positioning, growth, spreading, and migration has been of a great interest in tissue engineering and cell biology. We use a PNIPAM polymer surface coating atop a nanostructured linear diffraction grating to controllably change the surface topography of 2D linear structures using temperature stimuli. Neutron reflectometry and surface diffraction are utilized to examine the conformity of the polymer coating to themore » grating surface, its hydration profile, and its evolution in response to temperature variations. Our results show that, in the collapsed state, the PNIPAM coating conforms to the grating structures and retains a uniform hydration of 63%. In the swollen state, the polymer expands beyond the grating channels and absorbs up to 87% water. Such properties are particularly desirable for 2D cell growth scaffolds with a built-in nonextreme tissue-release mechanism. Indeed, the current system demonstrates advanced performance in the effective alignment of cultured fibroblast cells and the easy release of the cells upon temperature change.« less

  1. Preparation of novel alumina nanowire solid-phase microextraction fiber coating for ultra-selective determination of volatile esters and alcohols from complicated food samples.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Zhuomin; Ma, Yunjian; Wang, Qingtang; Chen, An; Pan, Zhuoyan; Li, Gongke

    2013-05-17

    A novel alumina nanowire (ANW) solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coating was prepared by a simple and rapid anodization-chemical etching method for ultra-selective determination of volatile esters and alcohols from complicated food samples. Preparation conditions for ANW SPME fiber coating including corrosion solution concentration and corrosion time were optimized in detail for better surface morphology and higher surface area based on scanning electron microscope (SEM). Under the optimum conditions, homogeneous alumina nanowire structure of ANW SPME fiber coating was achieved with the average thickness of 20 μm around. Compared with most of commercial SPME fiber coatings, ANW SPME fiber coatings achieved the higher extraction capacity and special selectivity for volatile esters and alcohols. Finally, an efficient gas sampling technique based on ANW SPME fiber coating as the core was established and successfully applied for the ultra-selective determination of trace volatile esters and alcohols from complicated banana and fermented glutinous rice samples coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) detection. It was interesting that 25 esters and 2 alcohols among 30 banana volatile organic compounds (VOCs) identified and 4 esters and 7 alcohols among 13 identified VOCs of fermented glutinous rice were selectively sampled by ANW SPME fiber coatings. Furthermore, new analytical methods for the determination of some typical volatile esters and alcohols from banana and fermented glutinous rice samples at specific storage or brewing phases were developed and validated. Good recoveries for banana and fermented glutinous rice samples were achieved in range of 108-115% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.6-6.7% and 80.0-91.8% with RSDs of 0.3-1.3% (n=3), respectively. This work proposed a novel and efficient gas sampling technique of ANW SPME which was quite suitable for ultra-selectively sampling trace volatile esters and alcohols from

  2. Atomic layer deposition of nanoporous biomaterials.

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

    Narayan, R. J.; Adiga, S. P.; Pellin, M. J.

    2010-03-01

    Due to its chemical stability, uniform pore size, and high pore density, nanoporous alumina is being investigated for use in biosensing, drug delivery, hemodialysis, and other medical applications. In recent work, we have examined the use of atomic layer deposition for coating the surfaces of nanoporous alumina membranes. Zinc oxide coatings were deposited on nanoporous alumina membranes using atomic layer deposition. The zinc oxide-coated nanoporous alumina membranes demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. These results suggest that atomic layer deposition is an attractive technique for modifying the surfaces of nanoporous alumina membranes and other nanostructured biomaterials.more » Nanoporous alumina, also known as anodic aluminum oxide (AAO), is a nanomaterial that exhibits several unusual properties, including high pore densities, straight pores, small pore sizes, and uniform pore sizes. In 1953, Keller et al. showed that anodizing aluminum in acid electrolytes results in a thick layer of nearly cylindrical pores, which are arranged in a close-packed hexagonal cell structure. More recently, Matsuda & Fukuda demonstrated preparation of highly ordered platinum and gold nanohole arrays using a replication process. In this study, a negative structure of nanoporous alumina was initially fabricated and a positive structure of a nanoporous metal was subsequently fabricated. Over the past fifteen years, nanoporous alumina membranes have been used as templates for growth of a variety of nanostructured materials, including nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, and nanoporous membranes.« less

  3. Effects of sandblasting and silica-coating procedures on pure titanium.

    PubMed

    Kern, M; Thompson, V P

    1994-10-01

    Silica coating titanium improves chemomechanical bonding. Sandblasting is recommended as a pretreatment to thermal silica coating (Silicoater MD) or as part of a tribochemical silica coating process (Rocatec). This study evaluated the effects of sandblasting and coating techniques on volume loss, surface morphology and composition changes in pure titanium. Volume loss of titanium was similar to values reported for base alloys and does not seem to be critical for the clinical fit of restorations. Embedded alumina particles were found in the titanium after sandblasting and the alumina content increased to a range of 27.5-39.3 wt% as measured by EDS. Following tribochemical silica coating, a layer of small silica particles remained on the surface, increasing the silica content to a range of 17.9-19.5 wt%. Ultrasonic cleaning removed loose alumina or silica particles from the surface, resulting in only slight decreases in alumina or silica contents, suggesting firm attachment of most of the alumina and silica to the titanium surface. Silica content following thermal silica coating treatment increased only slightly from the sandblasted specimen to 1.4 wt%. The silica layer employed by these silica coating methods differs widely in both morphology and thickness. These results provide a basis for explanation of adhesive failure modes in bond strength tests and for developing methods to optimize resin bonding. Clinically, ultrasonic cleaning of sandblasted and tribochemically silica coated titanium should improve resin bonding as loose surface particles are removed without relevant changes in composition.

  4. Acoustoelectric Effect on the Responses of SAW Sensors Coated with Electrospun ZnO Nanostructured Thin Film

    PubMed Central

    Tasaltin, Cihat; Ebeoglu, Mehmet Ali; Ozturk, Zafer Ziya

    2012-01-01

    In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) was a very good candidate for improving the sensitivity of gas sensor technology. The preparation of an electrospun ZnO nanostructured thin film on a 433 MHz Rayleigh wave based Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensor and the investigation of the acoustoelectric effect on the responses of the SAW sensor are reported. We prepared an electrospun ZnO nanostructured thin film on the SAW devices by using an electrospray technique. To investigate the dependency of the sensor response on the structure and the number of the ZnO nanoparticles, SAW sensors were prepared with different coating loads. The coating frequency shifts were adjusted to fall between 100 kHz and 2.4 MHz. The sensor measurements were performed against VOCs such as acetone, trichloroethylene, chloroform, ethanol, n-propanol and methanol vapor. The sensor responses of n-propanol have opposite characteristics to the other VOCs, and we attributed these characteristics to the elastic effect/acoustoelectric effect.

  5. Electromagnetic and Microwave Absorption Properties of Carbonyl Tetrapod-Shaped Zno Nanostructures Composite Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Haibo; Qin, Hui; Huang, Yunhua

    2012-08-01

    CIP/T-ZnO/EP composite coatings with carbonyl iron powders (CIP) and tetrapodshaped ZnO (T-ZnO) nanostructures as absorbers, and epoxy resin (EP) as matrix were prepared. The complex permittivity, permeability and microwave absorption properties of the coatings were investigated in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. The effects of the weight ratio (CIP/T-ZnO/EP), the thickness and the solidification temperature on microwave absorption properties were discussed. When the weight ratio (CIP/TZnO/ EP), the thickness and the solidification temperature is 28:2:22, 1.8 mm, and 10°C, respectively, the optimal wave absorption with the minimum reflection loss (RL) value of -22.38 dB at 15.67 GHz and the bandwidth (RL<-10 dB) of 5.74 GHz was obtained, indicating that the composite coatings may have a promising application in Ku-band (12-18 GHz).

  6. Two-component end mills with multilayer composite nano-structured coatings as a viable alternative to monolithic carbide end mills

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vereschaka, Alexey; Mokritskii, Boris; Mokritskaya, Elena; Sharipov, Oleg; Oganyan, Maksim

    2018-03-01

    The paper deals with the challenges of the application of two-component end mills, which represent a combination of a carbide cutting part and a shank made of cheaper structural material. The calculations of strains and deformations of composite mills were carried out in comparison with solid carbide mills, with the use of the finite element method. The study also involved the comparative analysis of accuracy parameters of machining with monolithic mills and two-component mills with various shank materials. As a result of the conducted cutting tests in milling aluminum alloy with monolithic and two-component end mills with specially developed multilayer composite nano-structured coatings, it has been found that the use of such coatings can reduce strains and, correspondingly, deformations, which can improve the accuracy of machining. Thus, the application of two-component end mills with multilayer composite nano-structured coatings can provide a reduction in the cost of machining while maintaining or even improving the tool life and machining accuracy parameters.

  7. The nanostructure of porous cobalt coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering in helium atmosphere.

    PubMed

    Lacroix, B; Godinho, V; Fernández, A

    2018-05-01

    In this work, (scanning) transmission electron microscopy has been used to study the nanostructure of porous cobalt coatings obtained by magnetron sputtering using helium as process gas. This nanostructure consists of closed pores of different nanometric size (about 4-20 nm) that are distributed all over a nanocrystalline Co matrix and filled with the deposition gas. Spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy analysis was applied to measure and map, with high lateral resolution, the relevant physical properties (density, pressure and He-K edge shift) of helium trapped inside these individual nanopores, in order to provide new insights about the growth mechanism involved in such systems. In particular, a coefficient of proportionality, C = 0.039 eV nm 3 , between the blue shift of the He K-edge and the He density has been found. In addition, very high He densities (10-100 at./nm 3 ) and pressures in the gigapascal range (0.05-5.0 GPa) have been measured. The linear dependence of these parameters as a function of the inverse radii obeying to the Laplace-Young law for most of the pores suggests that their formation during the coating's growth takes place in regime of elastic deformation of the Co matrix. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Controlled placement and orientation of nanostructures

    DOEpatents

    Zettl, Alex K; Yuzvinsky, Thomas D; Fennimore, Adam M

    2014-04-08

    A method for controlled deposition and orientation of molecular sized nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) on substrates is disclosed. The method comprised: forming a thin layer of polymer coating on a substrate; exposing a selected portion of the thin layer of polymer to alter a selected portion of the thin layer of polymer; forming a suspension of nanostructures in a solvent, wherein the solvent suspends the nanostructures and activates the nanostructures in the solvent for deposition; and flowing a suspension of nanostructures across the layer of polymer in a flow direction; thereby: depositing a nanostructure in the suspension of nanostructures only to the selected portion of the thin layer of polymer coating on the substrate to form a deposited nanostructure oriented in the flow direction. By selectively employing portions of the method above, complex NEMS may be built of simpler NEMSs components.

  9. Dataset on experimental investigation of gum arabic coated alumina nanoparticles for enhanced recovery of nigerian medium crude oil.

    PubMed

    Orodu, Oyinkepreye D; Orodu, Kale B; Afolabi, Richard O; Dafe, Eboh A

    2018-08-01

    The dataset in this article are related to an experimental Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) scheme involving the use of dispersions containing Gum Arabic coated Alumina Nanoparticles (GCNPs) for Nigerian medium crude oil. The result contained in the dataset showed a 7.18% (5 wt% GCNPs), 7.81% (5 wt% GCNPs), and 5.61% (3 wt% GCNPs) improvement in the recovery oil beyond the water flooding stage for core samples A, B, and C respectively. Also, the improvement in recovery of the medium crude oil by the GCNPs dispersions when compared to Gum Arabic polymer flooding was evident in the dataset.

  10. The Wear Behavior of HVOF Sprayed Near-Nanostructured WC-17%Ni(80/20)Cr Coatings in Dry and Slurry Wear Conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ben Mahmud, Tarek A.; Atieh, Anas M.; Khan, Tahir I.

    2017-07-01

    The ability to deposit nanostructured feedstock by using high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spray offers potential improvements in coating hardness, wear resistance and toughness for applications in the oil sands industry. In this study, the wear behavior of a near-nanostructured coating was compared under dry and slurry abrasive wear test using an uncoated AISI-1018 low-carbon steel substrate as a reference. The coating microstructures were analyzed in the as-sprayed, dry and slurry test conditions using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and microhardness measurements. Wear behavior of the steel and coating surfaces were assessed using a pin-on-plate wear test under various loads. The results showed that a coating could be successfully deposited using the HVOF spraying technique and with retention of the near-nanosized WC dispersion within the coating structure. The wear rate under dry test conditions was greater for the steel and coating compared to tests performed under slurry conditions. Examination of the wear tracks revealed that the wear mechanism was different for the two test conditions. Wear in the dry test condition resulted from 2-body abrasion, while 3-body abrasion dominated wear in slurry conditions. The latter showed lower wear rates due to a lubricating effect of the oil.

  11. Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of graphitic carbon nitride nanofibers using porous anodic alumina templates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suchitra, S. M.; Udayashankar, N. K.

    2017-12-01

    In the present study, we describe an effective method for the synthesis of Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) nanostructures using porous anodic alumina (AAO) membrane as template by simple thermal condensation of cyanamide. Synthesized nanostructure was fully analysed by various techniques to detect its crystalline nature, morphology, luminescent properties followed by the evaluation of its photocatalytic activity in the degradation of Methylene blue dye. Structural analysis of synthesized GCNNF was systematically carried out using x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and. The results confirmed the growth of GCN inside the nanochannels of anodic alumina templates. Luminescent properties of GCNNF were studied using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. PL analysis showed the presence of a strong emission peak in the wavelength range of 350-600 nm in blue region. GCNNF displays higher photocatalytic performance in the photodegradation of methylene blue compare to the bulk GCN. Highlights 1. In the present paper, we report the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride nanofibers (GCNNF) using porous anodic aluminium oxide membranes as templates through thermal condensation of cyanamide at 500 °C. 2. The synthesis of Graphitic carbon nitride nanofibers using porous andic alumina template is the efficient approach for increasing crystallinity and surface area. 3. The high surface area of graphitic carbon nitride nanofibers has a good impact on novel optical and photocatalytic properties of the bulkGCN. 4. AAO templating of GCN is one of the versatile method to produce tailorable GCN nanostructures with higher surface area and less number of structural defects. 5. Towards photocatalytic degradation of dyes, the tuning of physical properties is very essential thing hence we are succeeded in achieving better catalytic performance of GCN nanostructures by making use of AAO templates.

  12. Shock-induced compaction of nanoparticle layers into nanostructured coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mayer, Alexander E.; Ebel, Andrei A.

    2017-10-01

    A new process of shock wave consolidation of nanoparticles into a nanocrystalline coating is theoretically considered. In the proposed scheme, the nanoparticle layers, which are attached to the substrate surface by adhesion, are compacted by plane ultra-short shock waves coming from the substrate. The initial adhesion is self-arisen at any contact between the nanoparticles without a pre-compression. The absence of the nanoparticle ejections due to the shock wave action is connected with the strong adhesive forces, which allow nanoparticles to be attached to each other and to substrate while they are being compacted; this should be valid for small enough nanoparticles. Severe plastic deformation of the nanoparticles and the increased temperature due to collapse of voids between them facilitate their compaction into the monolithic nanocrystalline layer. We consider the examples of Cu and Ni nanoparticles on Al substrate using molecular dynamic simulations. We show the efficiency of the action of multiple shock waves with the duration in the range 2-20 ps and the amplitude in the range 4-12 GPa for sequential layerwise compaction of nanoparticles. A series of shock waves can be created by a repetitive powerful pulsed laser irradiation of the opposite surface of the substrate. The method offers the challenge for the formation of nanostructured coatings of various compositions. The thickness of the compacted nanocrystalline coating can be locally varied and controlled by the number of acting pulses.

  13. Laser-etch patterning of metal oxide coated carbon nanotube 3D architectures.

    PubMed

    Aksu, Cemile; Ingram, Wade; Bradford, Philip D; Jur, Jesse S

    2018-08-17

    This paper describes a way to fabricate novel hybrid low density nanostructures containing both carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ceramic nanotubes. Using atomic layer deposition, a thin film of aluminum oxide was conformally deposited on aligned multiwall CNT foams in which the CNTs make porous, three-dimensional interconnected networks. A CO 2 laser was used to etch pure alumina nanotube structures by burning out the underlying CNT substrate in discrete locations via the printed laser pattern. Structural and morphological transitions during the calcination process of aluminum oxide coated CNTs were investigated through in situ transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. Laser parameters were optimized to etch the CNT away (i.e. etching speed, power and focal length) while minimizing damage to the alumina nanotubes due to overheating. This study opens a new route for fabricating very low density three dimensionally patterned materials with areas of dissimilar materials and properties. To demonstrate the attributes of these structures, the etched areas were used toward anisotropic microfluidic liquid flow. The demonstration used the full thickness of the material to make complex pathways for the liquid flow in the structure. Through tuning of processing conditions, the alumina nanotube (etched) regions became hydrophilic while the bulk material remained hydrophobic and electrically conductive.

  14. Conductive super-hydrophobic surfaces of polyaniline modified porous anodic alumina membranes.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xinhua; Chen, Guangming; Ma, Yongmei; Li, Xinhong; Jiang, Lei; Wang, Fosong

    2006-03-01

    A conductive polymer polyaniline (PANI) was employed to achieve surfaces of both super-hydrophobic and conductive on NaOH etched porous anodic alumina (PAA) membranes. The surfaces exhibit micro- and nanostructures. In the PANI modified PAA membrane, PANI is mainly emeraldine. After the membrane was immersed in HCl, the content of the protonated nitrogen increased, which increased the conductivity.

  15. Effects of Ambient High Temperature Exposure on Alumina-Titania High Emittance Surfaces for Solar Dynamic Systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    deGroh, Kim K.; Smith, Daniela C.; Wheeler, Donald R.; MacLachlam, Brian J.

    1998-01-01

    Solar dynamic (SD) space power systems require durable, high emittance surfaces on a number of critical components, such as heat receiver interior surfaces and parasitic load radiator (PLR) elements. To enhance surface characteristics, an alumina-titania coating has been applied to 500 heat receiver thermal energy containment canisters and the PLR of NASA Lewis Research Center's (LeRC) 2 kW SD ground test demonstrator (GTD). The alumina-titania coating was chosen because it had been found to maintain its high emittance under vacuum (less than or equal to 10(exp -6) torr) at high temperatures (1457 F (827 C)) for an extended period (approximately 2,700 hours). However, preflight verification of SD systems components, such as the PLR require operation at ambient pressure and high temperatures. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the durability of the alumina-titania coating at high temperature in air. Fifteen of sixteen alumina-titania coated Incoloy samples were exposed to high temperatures (600 F (316 C) to l500 F (816 C)) for various durations (2 to 32 hours). Samples, were characterized prior to and after heat treatment for reflectance, solar absorptance, room temperature emittance and emittance at 1,200 F (649 C). Samples were also examined to detect physical defects and to determine surface chemistry using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy operated with an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) system, and x ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Visual examination of the heat-treated samples showed a whitening of samples exposed to temperatures of 1,000 F (538 C) and above. Correspondingly, the optical properties of these samples had degraded. A sample exposed to 1,500 F (816 C) for 24 hours had whitened and the thermal emittance at 1,200 F (649 C) had decreased from the non-heat treated value of 0.94 to 0.62. The coating on this sample had become embrittled with spalling off the substrate noticeable at several locations. Based

  16. Nanostructured superhydrophobic polysiloxane coating for high barrier and anticorrosion applications in marine environment.

    PubMed

    Arukalam, Innocent O; Oguzie, Emeka E; Li, Ying

    2018-02-15

    The use of epoxy and polyurethane coatings as marine topcoats, have been influenced by their inherent high surface energy property which increases their affinity to water and microorganisms. Thus, their susceptibility to degradation is enhanced. Because of this defect, recently, nanostructured hydrophobic and superhydrophobic polysiloxane coatings are being preferred as topcoats. But the appropriate nanoparticle size and matrix:filler ratio which provide guide for the design of desired topcoats are scarcely available. In view of this, a series of hydrophobic and superhydrophobic coatings were prepared by sol-gel process based on perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS), different nanoZnO particles and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS):nanoZnO ratios. The liquid repellency, surface morphology and roughness of the coatings were conducted by use of contact angle goniometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Additionally, the electrochemical and salt spray corrosion tests were conducted. According to the results, modifications of the coatings showed that anticorrosion performance was considerably influenced by the surface properties which were dependent on nanoZnO size and PDMS:nanoZnO ratio. Remarkably, the optimum effect was observed on the superhydrophobic coating based on 30 nm ZnO and 1:1 ratio. This displayed highest anticorrosion performance, and is therefore recommended as a guide for the design of marine topcoats. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Antibacterial Activity of Zinc Oxide-Coated Nanoporous Alumina

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-05-17

    microorganisms, including Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, E. coli, methicillin - sensitive S. aureus , methicillin - resistant S. aureus , S... Staphylococcus aureus , and Staphylococcus epidermidis. On the other hand, zinc 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 13. SUPPLEMENTARY...alumina membranes against several bacteria found on the skin surface, including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus , and

  18. Microstructural characteristics of plasma sprayed nanostructured partially stabilized zirconia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lima, Rogerio Soares

    Thermal barrier coatings have been extensively applied in the aerospace industry in turbines and rocket engines as an insulation system. Partially stabilized zirconia, due to its high thermal stability and low thermal conductivity at high temperatures has been traditionally employed as the ceramic element of the thermal barrier coating system. Different approaches have been taken in order to improve the performance of these coatings. Nanostructured materials are promising an interesting future in the beginning of the 21st century. Due to its enhanced strain to failure and superplasticity new applications may be accomplished or the limits of materials utilization may be placed at higher levels. Single nanostructured particles can not be thermal sprayed by conventional thermal spray equipment. Due to its low mass, they would be deviated to the periphery of the thermal spray jet. To overcome this characteristic, single nanostructured particles were successively agglomerated into large microscopic particles, with particle size distribution similar to the conventional feedstocks for thermal spray equipment. Agglomerated nanostructured particles of partially stabilized zirconia were plasma sprayed in air with different spray parameters. According to traditional thermal spray procedure, the feedstock has to be melted in the thermal spray jet in order to achieve the necessary conditions for adhesion and cohesion on the substrate. Due to the nature of the nanostructured particles, a new step has to be taken in the thermal spray processing; particle melting has to be avoided in order to preserve the feedstock nanostructure in the coating overall microstructure. In this work, the adhesion/cohesion system of nanostructured coatings is investigated and clarified. A percentage of molten particles will retain and hold the non-molten agglomerated nanostructured particles in the coating overall microstructure. Controlling the spray parameters it was possible to produce coatings

  19. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of lipid bilayers in water with an alumina- and silver-coated tungsten tip.

    PubMed

    Nakata, Atsushi; Nomoto, Tomonori; Toyota, Taro; Fujinami, Masanori

    2013-01-01

    Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) of supported phospholipid bilayers in an aqueous environment is discussed in this paper. Two bilayer membranes were examined: 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). We fabricated alumina- and silver-coated tungsten tips that are very robust in water. There was a large time-dependence in the TERS spectra for the DOPC bilayers, whereas no such time-dependence was observed in the DPPC bilayer spectra under the probe tip. The spectral changes of DOPC bilayers are discussed in terms of the fluidity of the liquid crystalline phase. Time-resolved TERS thus has the potential to characterize inhomogeneity and diffusion in fluidic phospholipid bilayer membranes.

  20. Oxidation of Alumina-Forming MAX Phases in Turbine Environments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smialek, James; Garg, Anita; Harder, Bryan; Nesbitt, James; Gabb, Timothy; Gray, SImon

    2017-01-01

    Protective coatings for high temperature turbine components are based on YSZ thermal barriers and oxidation resistant, alumina-forming NiAl or NiCoCrAlY bond coats. Ti2AlC and Cr2AlC MAX phases are thus of special interest because of good oxidation resistance and CTE that can match Al2O3 and YSZ. Their alumina scales grow according to cubic kinetics due to grain growth in the scale, with initial heating dominated by fast TiO2 growth. Protective cubic kinetics are also found in high pressure burner rig tests of MAXthal 211 Ti2AlC, but with reduced rates due to volatile TiO(OH)2 formation in water vapor. YSZ-coatings on bulk Ti2AlC exhibit remarkable durability up to 1300C in furnace tests and at least a 25x life advantage compared to superalloys. At another extreme, Cr2AlC is resistant to low temperature Na2SO4 hot corrosion and exhibits thermal cycling stability bonded to a superalloy disk material. Accordingly, sputtered Cr2AlC coatings on disk specimens prevented hot corrosion detriments on LCF. Breakaway oxidation (Ti2AlC), scale spallation (Cr2AlC), interdiffusion, and processing as coatings still present serious challenges. However the basic properties of MAX phases provide some unusual opportunities for use in high temperature turbines.

  1. Preparation and characterization of dutasteride-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers coated with stearic acid-chitosan oligomer for topical delivery.

    PubMed

    Noor, Norhayati Mohamed; Sheikh, Khalid; Somavarapu, Satyanarayana; Taylor, Kevin M G

    2017-08-01

    Dutasteride, used for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), promotes hair growth. To enhance delivery to the hair follicles and reduce systemic effects, in this study dutasteride has been formulated for topical application, in a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) coated with chitosan oligomer-stearic acid (CSO-SA). CSO-SA has been successfully synthesized, as confirmed using 1 H NMR and FTIR. Formulation of dutasteride-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (DST-NLCs) was optimized using a 2 3 full factorial design. This formulation was coated with different concentrations of stearic acid-chitosan solution. Coating DST-NLCs with 5% SA-CSO increased mean size from 187.6±7.0nm to 220.1±11.9nm, and modified surface charge, with zeta potentials being -18.3±0.9mV and +25.8±1.1mV for uncoated and coated DST-NLCs respectively. Transmission electron microscopy showed all formulations comprised approximately spherical particles. DST-NLCs, coated and uncoated with CSO-SA, exhibited particle size stability over 60days, when stored at 4-8°C. However, NLCs coated with CSO (without conjugation) showed aggregation when stored at 4-8°C after 30days. The measured particle size for all formulations stored at 25°C suggested aggregation, which was greatest for DST-NLCs coated with 10% CSO-SA and 5% CSO. All nanoparticle formulations exhibited rapid release in an in vitro release study, with uncoated NLCs exhibiting the fastest release rate. Using a Franz diffusion cell, no dutasteride permeated through pig ear skin after 48h, such that it was not detected in the receptor chamber for all samples. The amount of dutasteride in the skin was significantly different (p<0.05) for DST-NLCs (6.09±1.09μg/cm 2 ) without coating and those coated with 5% CSO-SA (2.82±0.40μg/cm 2 ), 10% CSO-SA (2.70±0.35μg/cm 2 ) and CSO (2.11±0.64μg/cm 2) . There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the cytotoxicity (IC 50 ) between dutasteride alone and in the nanoparticles. DST-NLCs coated

  2. A biodegradable AZ91 magnesium alloy coated with a thin nanostructured hydroxyapatite for improving the corrosion resistance.

    PubMed

    Mukhametkaliyev, T M; Surmeneva, M A; Vladescu, A; Cotrut, C M; Braic, M; Dinu, M; Vranceanu, M D; Pana, I; Mueller, M; Surmenev, R A

    2017-06-01

    The main aim of this study was to investigate the properties of an AZ91 alloy coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) prepared by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The bioactivity and biomineralization of the AZ91 magnesium alloy coated with HA were investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF) via an in vitro test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed. The samples were immersed in SBF to study the ability of the surface to promote the formation of an apatite layer as well as corrosion resistance and mass change of the HA-coated AZ91 alloy. Electrochemical tests were performed to estimate the corrosion behaviour of HA-coated and uncoated samples. The results revealed the capability of the HA coating to significantly improve the corrosion resistance of the uncoated AZ91 alloy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Regularities of Filamentary Channels Formation During Formation of Nanostructured Non-Metallic Inorganic Coatings in Microplasma Galvanostatic Mode in Solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mamaev, A. I.; Mamaeva, V. A.; Kolenchin, N. F.; Chubenko, A. K.; Kovalskaya, Ya. B.; Konstantinova, T. A.; Dolgova, Yu. N.; Beletskaya, E. Yu.

    2016-04-01

    This paper presents the theoretical models describing the growth of filamentary channels of nanostructured non-metallic coatings formed by anodizing and microplasma oxidation. The authors identified dependences of the number of pores on the coating thickness. The paper presents graphic dependences of the number of filamentary channels on the process time and the coating thickness. These dependences allow calculating through and surface porosity, and in cases, when the pores are filled with functional material, they allow calculating the concentration distribution of this functional material throughout the coating thickness. The theoretical models enhance our understanding of the nature of anode processes and can be used to describe and forecast the growth and filling of porous coatings, so they can also be used to create functional and bioactive materials.

  4. Porous Alumina Films with Width-Controllable Alumina Stripes

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Porous alumina films had been fabricated by anodizing from aluminum films after an electropolishing procedure. Alumina stripes without pores can be distinguished on the surface of the porous alumina films. The width of the alumina stripes increases proportionally with the anodizing voltage. And the pores tend to be initiated close to the alumina stripes. These phenomena can be ascribed to the electric field distribution in the alumina barrier layer caused by the geometric structure of the aluminum surface. PMID:21170406

  5. Niobium oxide nanocolumns formed via anodic alumina with modulated pore diameters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pligovka, A.; Zakhlebayeva, A.; Lazavenka, A.

    2018-03-01

    Niobium oxide nanocolumns with modulated diameters were formed for the first time. An Al/Nb bilayer specimen was prepared by successive sputter-deposition of 300 nm niobium layer and 1200 nm aluminum layer onto silicon wafer. Regular anodic alumina matrix with modulated pore diameters was formed by sequential anodization of initial specimen in tartaric acid at 180 V, and in oxalic acid at 37 V. Further potentiodynamic reanodization of the specimen up to 400 V causes the simultaneous growth of 440 nm continuous niobium oxide layer beneath the alumina film and two types of an array of oxide nanocolumns (thick – with 100 nm width and 630 nm high and thin – with 25 nm width and 170 nm high), which are the filling of the alumina pores. The morphology of the formed anodic niobium oxide nanocolumns with modulated diameters was determined by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The formed nanostructures can be used for perspective devices of nano- and optoelectronics such as photonic crystals.

  6. Round-patterned ZnO nanostructure coated with siloxane-based polymer for nerve agent detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choi, Hyun Ji; Lee, Ji Won; Jeong, Dong-Cheol; Ha, Seonggyun; Song, Changsik; Boo, Jin-Hyo

    2018-01-01

    The alignment of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures is expected to improve device sensitivities due to large surface areas which can be utilized to capture significant quantities of gas particles. In this study, we investigated patterned ZnO nanorods modified with polystyrene monolayers synthesized directly onto a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) cell to increase the coating surface area of the sensing material. Also, we designed and synthesized a siloxane-based polymer (S1 polymer) as a sensing material. The patterned ZnO nanorods coated with S1 polymers were fabricated and used for the detection of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). The resonance frequency of QCM was shifted due to the adsorption and desorption of a compound at the surface of the modified electrodes. We have synthesized an S1 polymer that exhibited high sensitivity to DMMP. The patterned ZnO nanorods coated with the polymer also exhibited improved sensitivity due to an enhanced surface area capable of adsorbing more DMMP vapor.

  7. Adhesion and proliferation of fibroblasts on RF plasma-deposited nanostructured fluorocarbon coatings: evidence of FAK activation.

    PubMed

    Rosso, Francesco; Marino, Gerardo; Muscariello, Livio; Cafiero, Gennaro; Favia, Pietro; D'Aloia, Erica; d'Agostino, Riccardo; Barbarisi, Alfonso

    2006-06-01

    We used combined plasma-deposition process to deposit smooth and nanostructured fluorocarbon coatings on polyethylenethereftalate (PET) substrates, to obtain surfaces with identical chemical composition and different roughness, and investigate the effect of surface nanostructures on adhesion and proliferation of 3T3 Swiss Albino Mouse fibroblasts. Untreated PET and polystyrene (PS) were used as controls for cell culture. We have found that the statistically significant increase of cell proliferation rate and FAK (a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase) activation detected on ROUGH fluorocarbon surfaces is due to the presence of nanostructures. Changes in cytoskeletal organization and phospho FAK (tyr 397) localization were evident after 60 min on cells adhering to ROUGH surfaces. This change was characterized by the formation of actin stress fibers along lamellar membrane protrusion instead of usual focal contacts. Also the morphology of the adhering fibroblasts (60 min) adhering on ROUGH surfaces was found quite different compared to cells adhering on smooth ones. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  8. Sorption and complexation of Eu(III) on alumina: effects of pH, ionic strength, humic acid and chelating resin on kinetic dissociation study.

    PubMed

    Wang, X; Xu, D; Chen, L; Tan, X; Zhou, X; Ren, A; Chen, Ch

    2006-04-01

    The effects of pH (pH=2-12), ionic strength (0.01-2 mol/l NaNO(3)) and humic acid on the sorption and complexation of Eu(III) on alumina were investigated by using batch techniques. The experiments were carried out at room temperature and under ambient conditions. The results indicate that the sorption of Eu(III) on alumina is strongly influenced by humic acid. The sorption of Eu(III) on alumina is significantly dependent on pH values and independent of ionic strength. The sorption of Eu(III) on alumina may be attributed to surface complexation. The species of Eu(III) on HA-alumina colloids is dominated by both HA and alumina, and the addition sequences of HA or Eu(III) to the ternary system do not influence the sorption of Eu(III) to HA-coated alumina. Kinetic dissociation of Eu(III) from bare and HA-coated alumina was also studied by using the chelating resin. The result was discussed by a pseudo-first-order kinetics model.

  9. Nanostructured antistatic and antireflective thin films made of indium tin oxide and silica over-coat layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cho, Young-Sang; Hong, Jeong-Jin; Yang, Seung-Man; Choi, Chul-Jin

    2010-08-01

    Stable dispersion of colloidal indium tin oxide nanoparticles was prepared by using indium tin oxide nanopowder, organic solvent, and suitable dispersants through attrition process. Various comminution parameters during the attrition step were studied to optimize the process for the stable dispersion of indium tin oxide sol. The transparent and conductive films were fabricated on glass substrate using the indium tin oxide sol by spin coating process. To obtain antireflective function, partially hydrolyzed alkyl silicate was deposited as over-coat layer on the pre-fabricated indium tin oxide film by spin coating technique. This double-layered structure of the nanostructured film was characterized by measuring the surface resistance and reflectance spectrum in the visible wavelength region. The final film structure was enough to satisfy the TCO regulations for EMI shielding purposes.

  10. The effects of nanostructured hydroxyapatite coating on the biodegradation and cytocompatibility of magnesium implants.

    PubMed

    Iskandar, Maria Emil; Aslani, Arash; Liu, Huinan

    2013-08-01

    Magnesium (Mg) alloys, a novel class of degradable, metallic biomaterials, have attracted growing interest as a promising alternative for medical implant and device applications due to their advantageous mechanical and biological properties. Although its biodegradability is an attractive property, rapid degradation of Mg in the physiological environments imposes a major obstacle that limits the translation of Mg-based implants to clinical applications. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nHA) coating on polished Mg substrates to mediate the rapid degradation of Mg while improving its integration with bone tissue for orthopedic applications. The nHA coatings were deposited on polished Mg using the patented transonic particle acceleration (Spire Biomedical) process. Surface morphology, elemental compositions, and crystal structures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. The degradation of nHA-coated and non-coated Mg samples was investigated by incubating the samples in phosphate buffered saline and revised simulated body fluid, under standard cell culture conditions. Rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were harvested and cultured with nHA-coated and non-coated Mg samples to determine cytocompatibility. The degradation results suggested that the nHA coatings decreased Mg degradation. Improved BMSC adhesion was observed on the surfaces of the nHA-coated and non-coated Mg samples, in comparison with the cells on the culture plate surrounding the Mg samples. In conclusion, nHA coatings showed promise for improving the biodegradation and cytocompatibility properties of Mg-based orthopedic implants and should be further studied. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Uniform Fe3O4 coating on flower-like ZnO nanostructures by atomic layer deposition for electromagnetic wave absorption.

    PubMed

    Wan, Gengping; Wang, Guizhen; Huang, Xianqin; Zhao, Haonan; Li, Xinyue; Wang, Kan; Yu, Lei; Peng, Xiange; Qin, Yong

    2015-11-21

    An elegant atomic layer deposition (ALD) method has been employed for controllable preparation of a uniform Fe3O4-coated ZnO (ZnO@Fe3O4) core-shell flower-like nanostructure. The Fe3O4 coating thickness of the ZnO@Fe3O4 nanostructure can be tuned by varying the cycle number of ALD Fe2O3. When serving as additives for microwave absorption, the ZnO@Fe3O4-paraffin composites exhibit a higher absorption capacity than the ZnO-paraffin composites. For ZnO@500-Fe3O4, the effective absorption bandwidth below -10 dB can reach 5.2 GHz and the RL values below -20 dB also cover a wide frequency range of 11.6-14.2 GHz when the coating thickness is 2.3 mm, suggesting its potential application in the treatment of the electromagnetic pollution problem. On the basis of experimental observations, a mechanism has been proposed to understand the enhanced microwave absorption properties of the ZnO@Fe3O4 composites.

  12. Design and characterization of a conductive nanostructured polypyrrole-polycaprolactone coated magnesium/PLGA composite for tissue engineering scaffolds.

    PubMed

    Liu, Haixia; Wang, Ran; Chu, Henry K; Sun, Dong

    2015-09-01

    A novel biodegradable and conductive composite consisting of magnesium (Mg), polypyrrole-block-ploycaprolactone (PPy-PCL), and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is synthesized in a core-shell-skeleton manner for tissue engineering applications. Mg particles in the composite are first coated with a conductive nanostructured PPy-PCL layer for corrosion resistance via the UV-induced photopolymerization method. PLGA matrix is then added to tailor the biodegradability of the resultant composite. Composites with different composition ratios are examined through experiments, and their material properties are characterized. The in vitro experiments on culture of 293FT-GFP cells show that the composites are suitable for cell growth and culture. Biodegradability of the composite is also evaluated. By adding PLGA matrix to the composite, the degrading time of the composite can last for more than eight weeks, hence providing a longer period for tissue formation as compared to Mg composites or alloys. The findings of this research will offer a new opportunity to utilize a conductive, nanostructured-coated Mg/PLGA composite as the scaffold material for implants and tissue regeneration. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Electrophoretic deposition of nanostructured hydroxyapatite coating on AZ91 magnesium alloy implants with different surface treatments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rojaee, Ramin; Fathi, Mohammadhossein; Raeissi, Keyvan

    2013-11-01

    Bio-absorbable magnesium (Mg) based alloys have been introduced as innovative orthopedic implants during recent years. It has been specified that rapid degradation of Mg based alloys in physiological environment should be restrained in order to be utilized in orthopedic trauma fixation and vascular intervention. In this developing field of healthcare materials, micro-arc oxidation (MAO), and MgF2 conversion coating were exploited as surface pre-treatment of AZ91 magnesium alloy to generate a nanostructured hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) coating via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to characterize the obtained powder and coatings. The potentiodynamic polarization tests were carried out to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the coated and uncoated specimens, and in vitro bioactivity evaluation were performed in simulated body fluid. Results revealed that the MAO/n-HAp coated AZ91 Mg alloy samples with a rough topography and lower corrosion current density leads to a lower Mg degradation rate accompanied by high bioactivity.

  14. Nanostructured Photocatalytic TiO2 Coating Deposited by Suspension Plasma Spraying with Different Injection Positions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Xuezhang; Wen, Kui; Deng, Chunming; Yang, Kun; Deng, Changguang; Liu, Min; Zhou, Kesong

    2018-02-01

    High plasma power is beneficial for the deposition efficiency and adhesive strength of suspension-sprayed photocatalytic TiO2 coatings, but it confronts two challenges: one is the reduced activity due to the critical phase transformation of anatase into rutile, and the other is fragmented droplets which cannot be easily injected into the plasma core. Here, TiO2 coatings were deposited at high plasma power and the position of suspension injection was varied with the guidance of numerical simulation. The simulation was based on a realistic three-dimensional time-dependent numerical model that included the inside and outside of torch regions. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to study the microstructure of the TiO2 coatings, whereas x-ray diffraction was adopted to analyze phase composition. Meanwhile, photocatalytic activities of the manufactured TiO2 coatings were evaluated by the degradation of an aqueous solution of methylene blue dye. Fragmented droplets were uniformly injected into the plasma jet, and the solidification pathway of melting particles was modified by varying the position of suspension injection. A nanostructured TiO2 coating with 93.9% anatase content was obtained at high plasma power (48.1 kW), and the adhesive coating bonding to stainless steel exhibited the desired photocatalytic activity.

  15. Optical fiber sensors based on nanostructured coatings fabricated by means of the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arregui, Francisco J.; Matías, Ignacio R.; Claus, Richard O.

    2007-07-01

    The Layer-by-Layer Electrostatic Self-Assembly (ESA) method has been successfully used for the design and fabrication of nanostructured materials. More specifically, this technique has been applied for the deposition of thin films on optical fibers with the purpose of fabricating different types of optical fiber sensors. In fact, optical fiber sensors for measuring humidity, temperature, pH, hydrogen peroxide, glucose, volatile organic compounds or even gluten have been already experimentally demonstrated. The versatility of this technique allows the deposition of these sensing coatings on flat substrates and complex geometries as well. For instance, nanoFabry-Perots and microgratings have been formed on cleaved ends of optical fibers (flat surfaces) and also sensing coatings have been built onto long period gratings (cylindrical shape), tapered fiber ends (conical shape), biconically tapered fibers or even the internal side of hollow core fibers. Among the different materials used for the construction of these sensing nanostructured coatings, diverse types such as polymers, inorganic semiconductors, colorimetric indicators, fluorescent dyes, quantum dots or even biological elements as enzymes can be found. This technique opens the door to the fabrication of new types of optical fiber sensors.

  16. Controlled growth of novel hyper-branched nanostructures in nanoporous alumina membrane.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Junping; Day, Cynthia S; Carroll, David L

    2009-12-07

    This paper proposes a novel approach to fabricate hyper-branched anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) nanostructures with different branches on the vertically-aligned trunk and at the trunk terminal. Silver nanowires with different dimensional and multifunctional complexity have been prepared from this hyper-branched AAO template by varying the electrodeposition time. These kinds of novel nanostructure may be used to build blocks for nanoelectronic and nanophotonic devices.

  17. Cavitational synthesis of nanostructured inorganic materials for enhanced heterogeneous catalysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krausz, Ivo Michael

    The synthesis of nanostructured inorganic materials by hydrodynamic cavitation processing was investigated. The goal of this work was to develop a general synthesis technique for nanostructured materials with a control over crystallite size in the 1--20 nm range. Materials with crystallite sizes in this range have shown enhanced catalytic activity compared to materials with larger crystallite sizes. Several supported and unsupported inorganic materials were studied to understand the effects of cavitation on crystallite size. Cavitation processing of calcium fluoride resulted in more spherical particles, attached to one another by melted necks. This work produced the first evidence of shock wave heating of nanostructured materials by hydrodynamic cavitation processing. Hydrodynamic cavitation synthesis of various catalytic support materials indicated that their phase composition and purity could be controlled by adjustment of the processing parameters. Zirconia/alumina supports synthesized using hydro-dynamic cavitation and calcined to 1368 K retained a high purity cubic zirconia phase, whereas classically prepared samples showed a phase transformation to monoclinic zirconia. Similarly, the synthesis of alumina resulted in materials with varying Bohmite and Bayerite contents as a function of the process parameters. High temperature calcination resulted in stable alumina supports with varying amounts of delta-, and theta-alumina. Synthesis studies of palladium and silver showed modest variations in crystallite size as a function of cavitation process parameters. Calcination resulted in larger grain materials, indicating a disappearance of intergrain boundaries. Based on these results, a new synthesis method was studied involving controlled agglomeration of small silver crystallites by hydrodynamic cavitation processing, followed by deposition on alumina. The optimal pH, concentration, and processing time for controlling the silver crystallite size in the cavitation

  18. Nanoporous hard data: optical encoding of information within nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Santos, Abel; Law, Cheryl Suwen; Pereira, Taj; Losic, Dusan

    2016-04-01

    Herein, we present a method for storing binary data within the spectral signature of nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. A rationally designed multi-sinusoidal anodisation approach makes it possible to engineer the photonic stop band of nanoporous anodic alumina with precision. As a result, the transmission spectrum of these photonic nanostructures can be engineered to feature well-resolved and selectively positioned characteristic peaks across the UV-visible spectrum. Using this property, we implement an 8-bit binary code and assess the versatility and capability of this system by a series of experiments aiming to encode different information within the nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. The obtained results reveal that the proposed nanosized platform is robust, chemically stable, versatile and has a set of unique properties for data storage, opening new opportunities for developing advanced nanophotonic tools for a wide range of applications, including sensing, photonic tagging, self-reporting drug releasing systems and secure encoding of information.Herein, we present a method for storing binary data within the spectral signature of nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. A rationally designed multi-sinusoidal anodisation approach makes it possible to engineer the photonic stop band of nanoporous anodic alumina with precision. As a result, the transmission spectrum of these photonic nanostructures can be engineered to feature well-resolved and selectively positioned characteristic peaks across the UV-visible spectrum. Using this property, we implement an 8-bit binary code and assess the versatility and capability of this system by a series of experiments aiming to encode different information within the nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. The obtained results reveal that the proposed nanosized platform is robust, chemically stable, versatile and has a set of unique properties for data storage, opening new opportunities for

  19. Micromachined Resonators of High Q-factor Based on Atomic Layer Deposited Alumina

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-01-01

    control. These characteristics are appeal- ing for nano -scale mechanical devices. Previously, ALD Al2O3 has been used in MEMS as a protective coating [3...electrostatically actuated nano -membrane made of ALD Al2O3 has been demon- strated [5]. With an ALD hydrophobic coating , the ALD Al2O3 has been demonstrated as a... nano -devices made of ALD alumina coated with Cr metallic layer. Furthermore, the fabrication and characterization techniques developed here are

  20. Pseudopotential Computations for Metal/Alumina Interfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Wenqing

    2003-03-01

    Metal/alumina interfaces are found, for example, in electronic devices, as thermal barrier coatings in gas turbines, and in coatings to inhibit corrosion and wear. Of particular importance to their performance is their adhesion. Ultrasoft pseudopotentials combined with plane wave methods and density-functional theory have been employed to compute the properties of these relatively complex interfaces, including effects of impurity segregation. Interfacial stoichiometry and impurity content affect interfacial properties importantly. Thermodynamic links between our first principles results and metallurgical variables such as oxygen activity and oxygen partial pressure are established. This allows for a comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements. Good agreement is obtained for predicted interfacial variables such as atomic structure and adhesive bond strengths on comparison with results of sessile drop, fracture, and other experiments on interfaces of Ni, Cu, Al, and Ag with alumina [1-3], including effects of water and sulfur interfacial impurities. Understanding of the nature of the adhesive bonding at the atomic level is obtained by the pseudopotential first principles approach. [1] W.Zhang, and J.R.Smith, and A.G.Evans, Acta Mater., 50,3803(2002). [2] W.Zhang, and J.R.Smith, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3225(2000). [3] W.Zhang, and J.R.Smith, Phys. Rev. B61, 16883(2000).

  1. Dynamic Modulus and Damping of Boron, Silicon Carbide, and Alumina Fibers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dicarlo, J. A.; Williams, W.

    1980-01-01

    The dynamic modulus and damping capacity for boron, silicon carbide, and silicon carbide coated boron fibers were measured from-190 to 800 C. The single fiber vibration test also allowed measurement of transverse thermal conductivity for the silicon carbide fibers. Temperature dependent damping capacity data for alumina fibers were calculated from axial damping results for alumina-aluminum composites. The dynamics fiber data indicate essentially elastic behavior for both the silicon carbide and alumina fibers. In contrast, the boron based fibers are strongly anelastic, displaying frequency dependent moduli and very high microstructural damping. Ths single fiber damping results were compared with composite damping data in order to investigate the practical and basic effects of employing the four fiber types as reinforcement for aluminum and titanium matrices.

  2. Precursor-controlled synthesis of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures, using oligoaniline-coated Au nanoparticle seeds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krishnan, Deepti; Pradeep, T.

    2009-07-01

    Shape-selected synthesis of a large number of zinc oxide (ZnO) nano- and microstructures was achieved by the seed-mediated growth of oligoaniline-coated gold nanoparticle precursors. Distinctive ZnO structures such as nanoplates, nanospheres, microstars, microflowers, microthorns and micromultipods were synthesized by this method. Slightly different shapes were obtained in the absence of the seed solution. This is a fast, low temperature (60 °C) and biomimetic route to make a wide variety of structures. The structure and morphology of the nanostructures were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were utilized for the characterization of the nanostructures. A growth mechanism for these nanostructures was proposed based on these results. The concentrations of the reacting species were the main parameter causing the changes in the morphologies. The variation in morphologies of these structures is believed to be due to the ability of the seed solution as well as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to selectively suppress/depress the growth of certain planes, allowing growth to occur only in certain specific directions. Changes in the amount of growth nuclei with varying sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration is also seen to affect the morphology of these structures.

  3. Nanostructured hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite coating for controlling magnesium degradation in simulated body fluid.

    PubMed

    Johnson, Ian; Akari, Khalid; Liu, Huinan

    2013-09-20

    Biodegradable magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have many attractive properties (e.g. comparable mechanical properties to cortical bone) for orthopedic implant applications, but they degrade too rapidly in the human body to meet clinical requirements. Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nHA)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composite coatings provide synergistic properties for controlling degradation of Mg-based substrates and improving bone-implant integration. In this study, nHA/PLGA composites were spin coated onto Mg-based substrates and the results showed that the nHA/PLGA coatings retained nano-scale features with nHA dispersed in PLGA matrix. In comparison with non-coated Mg, the nHA/PLGA composite coated Mg increased the corrosion potential and decreased the corrosion current in revised simulated body fluid (rSBF). After 24 h of immersion in rSBF, increased calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition and formation of Mg-substituted CaP rosettes were observed on the surface of the nHA/PLGA coated Mg, indicating greater bioactivity. In contrast, no significant CaP was deposited on the PLGA coated Mg. Since both PLGA coating and nHA/PLGA coating showed some degree of delamination from Mg-based substrates during extended immersion in rSBF, the coating processing and properties should be further optimized in order to take full advantage of biodegradable Mg and nHA/PLGA nanocomposites for orthopedic applications.

  4. Nanostructured hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite coating for controlling magnesium degradation in simulated body fluid

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johnson, Ian; Akari, Khalid; Liu, Huinan

    2013-09-01

    Biodegradable magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have many attractive properties (e.g. comparable mechanical properties to cortical bone) for orthopedic implant applications, but they degrade too rapidly in the human body to meet clinical requirements. Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nHA)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composite coatings provide synergistic properties for controlling degradation of Mg-based substrates and improving bone-implant integration. In this study, nHA/PLGA composites were spin coated onto Mg-based substrates and the results showed that the nHA/PLGA coatings retained nano-scale features with nHA dispersed in PLGA matrix. In comparison with non-coated Mg, the nHA/PLGA composite coated Mg increased the corrosion potential and decreased the corrosion current in revised simulated body fluid (rSBF). After 24 h of immersion in rSBF, increased calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition and formation of Mg-substituted CaP rosettes were observed on the surface of the nHA/PLGA coated Mg, indicating greater bioactivity. In contrast, no significant CaP was deposited on the PLGA coated Mg. Since both PLGA coating and nHA/PLGA coating showed some degree of delamination from Mg-based substrates during extended immersion in rSBF, the coating processing and properties should be further optimized in order to take full advantage of biodegradable Mg and nHA/PLGA nanocomposites for orthopedic applications.

  5. Growth and optical properties of silver nanostructures obtained on connected anodic aluminum oxide templates.

    PubMed

    Giallongo, G; Durante, C; Pilot, R; Garoli, D; Bozio, R; Romanato, F; Gennaro, A; Rizzi, G A; Granozzi, G

    2012-08-17

    Ag nanostructures are grown by AC electrodeposition on anodic alumina oxide (AAO) connected membranes acting as templates. Depending on the thickness of the template and on the voltage applied during the growth process, different Ag nanostructures with different optical properties are obtained. When AAO membranes about 1 μm thick are used, the Ag nanostructures consist in Ag nanorods, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanotubes departing from the nanorods and filling the pores almost for the whole length. When AAO membranes about 3 μm thick are used, the nanostructures are Ag spheroids, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanowires that do not reach the upper part of the alumina pores. The samples are characterized by angle resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-vis and Raman spectroscopies. A simple NaOH etching procedure, followed by sonication in ethanol, allows one to obtain an exposed ordered array of Ag nanorods, suitable for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, while in the other case (3 μm thick AAO membranes) the sample can be used in localized surface plasmon resonance sensing.

  6. Growth and optical properties of silver nanostructures obtained on connected anodic aluminum oxide templates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giallongo, G.; Durante, C.; Pilot, R.; Garoli, D.; Bozio, R.; Romanato, F.; Gennaro, A.; Rizzi, G. A.; Granozzi, G.

    2012-08-01

    Ag nanostructures are grown by AC electrodeposition on anodic alumina oxide (AAO) connected membranes acting as templates. Depending on the thickness of the template and on the voltage applied during the growth process, different Ag nanostructures with different optical properties are obtained. When AAO membranes about 1 μm thick are used, the Ag nanostructures consist in Ag nanorods, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanotubes departing from the nanorods and filling the pores almost for the whole length. When AAO membranes about 3 μm thick are used, the nanostructures are Ag spheroids, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanowires that do not reach the upper part of the alumina pores. The samples are characterized by angle resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-vis and Raman spectroscopies. A simple NaOH etching procedure, followed by sonication in ethanol, allows one to obtain an exposed ordered array of Ag nanorods, suitable for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, while in the other case (3 μm thick AAO membranes) the sample can be used in localized surface plasmon resonance sensing.

  7. Evaluation of atomic layer deposited alumina as a protective layer for domestic silver articles: Anti-corrosion test in artificial sweat

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Park, Suk Won; Han, Gwon Deok; Choi, Hyung Jong; Prinz, Fritz B.; Shim, Joon Hyung

    2018-05-01

    This study evaluated the effectiveness of alumina fabricated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) as a protective coating for silver articles against the corrosion caused by body contact. An artificial sweat solution was used to simulate body contact. ALD alumina layers of varying thicknesses ranging from 20 to 80 nm were deposited on sputtered silver samples. The stability of the protective layer was evaluated by immersing the coated samples in the artificial sweat solution at 25 and 35 °C for 24 h. We confirmed that a sufficiently thick layer of ALD alumina is effective in protecting the shape and light reflectance of the underlying silver, whereas the uncoated bare silver is severely degraded by the artificial sweat solution. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used for in-depth analyses of the chemical stability of the ALD-coated silver samples after immersion in the sweat solution.

  8. Enabling antibacterial coating via bioinspired mineralization of nanostructured ZnO on fabrics under mild conditions.

    PubMed

    Manna, Joydeb; Begum, Gousia; Kumar, K Pranay; Misra, Sunil; Rana, Rohit K

    2013-05-22

    Herein, we present an environmentally benign method capable of mineralization and deposition of nanomaterials to introduce antibacterial functionalities into cotton fabrics under mild conditions. Similar to the way in which many naturally occurring biominerals evolve around the living organism under ambient conditions, this technique enables flexible substrates like the cotton fabric to be coated with inorganic-based functional materials. Specifically, our strategy involves the use of long-chain polyamines known to be responsible in certain biomineralization processes, to nucleate, organize, and deposit nanostructured ZnO on cotton bandage in an aqueous solution under mild conditions of room temperature and neutral pH. The ZnO-coated cotton bandages as characterized by SEM, confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy, XRD, UV-DRS, and fluorescence microscopy demonstrate the importance of polyamine in generating a stable and uniform coating of spindle-shaped ZnO particles on individual threads of the fabric. As the coating process requires only mild conditions, it avoids any adverse effect on the thermal and mechanical properties of the substrate. Furthermore, the ZnO particles on cotton fabric show efficient antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negetive bacteria. Therefore, the developed polyamine mediated bioinspired coating method provides not only a facile and "green" synthesis for coating on flexible substrate but also the fabrication of antibacterial enabled materials for healthcare applications.

  9. Lithium battery electrodes with ultra-thin alumina coatings

    DOEpatents

    Se-Hee, Lee; George, Steven M.; Cavanagh, Andrew S.; Yoon Seok, Jung; Dillon, Anne C.

    2015-11-24

    Electrodes for lithium batteries are coated via an atomic layer deposition process. The coatings can be applied to the assembled electrodes, or in some cases to particles of electrode material prior to assembling the particles into an electrode. The coatings can be as thin as 2 .ANG.ngstroms thick. The coating provides for a stable electrode. Batteries containing the electrodes tend to exhibit high cycling capacities.

  10. Current Thoughts on Reactive Element Effects in Alumina-Forming Systems: In Memory of John Stringer

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

    Naumenko, D.; Pint, B. A.; Quadakkers, W. J.

    In memory of John Stringer (1934–2014), one of the leaders in studying the reactive element (RE) effects, this paper reviews the current status of understanding of the effect of RE dopants on high-temperature oxidation behavior, with an emphasis on recent research related to deploying alumina-forming alloys and coatings with optimal performance in commercial systems. Additionally, to the well-known interaction between indigenous sulfur and RE additions, effects have been observed with C, N, and O found in commercial alloys and coatings. While there are many similarities between alumina-forming alloys and coatings, the latter bring additional complicating factors such as the effectsmore » of O incorporation during thermal spraying MCrAlY coatings, coating roughness, and heat treatments that must be considered in optimizing the beneficial dopant addition. We can see analogies between RE effects in alloys and in the substrates beneath diffusion M–Al coatings. Recently, there has been more interest in the influence of mixed oxidant environments, since these may modify the manifestation of the RE effect. Some thoughts are provided on optimizing the RE benefit and modeling oxidation of RE-doped alloys.« less

  11. Current Thoughts on Reactive Element Effects in Alumina-Forming Systems: In Memory of John Stringer

    DOE PAGES

    Naumenko, D.; Pint, B. A.; Quadakkers, W. J.

    2016-05-06

    In memory of John Stringer (1934–2014), one of the leaders in studying the reactive element (RE) effects, this paper reviews the current status of understanding of the effect of RE dopants on high-temperature oxidation behavior, with an emphasis on recent research related to deploying alumina-forming alloys and coatings with optimal performance in commercial systems. Additionally, to the well-known interaction between indigenous sulfur and RE additions, effects have been observed with C, N, and O found in commercial alloys and coatings. While there are many similarities between alumina-forming alloys and coatings, the latter bring additional complicating factors such as the effectsmore » of O incorporation during thermal spraying MCrAlY coatings, coating roughness, and heat treatments that must be considered in optimizing the beneficial dopant addition. We can see analogies between RE effects in alloys and in the substrates beneath diffusion M–Al coatings. Recently, there has been more interest in the influence of mixed oxidant environments, since these may modify the manifestation of the RE effect. Some thoughts are provided on optimizing the RE benefit and modeling oxidation of RE-doped alloys.« less

  12. A simplified method for generating periodic nanostructures by interference lithography without the use of an anti-reflection coating

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

    Kapon, Omree; Muallem, Merav; Palatnik, Alex

    Interference lithography has proven to be a useful technique for generating periodic sub-diffraction limited nanostructures. Interference lithography can be implemented by exposing a photoresist polymer to laser light using a two-beam arrangement or more simply a one beam configuration based on a Lloyd's Mirror Interferometer. For typical photoresist layers, an anti-reflection coating must be deposited on the substrate to prevent adverse reflections from cancelling the holographic pattern of the interfering beams. For silicon substrates, such coatings are typically multilayered and complex in composition. By thinning the photoresist layer to a thickness well below the quarter wavelength of the exposing beam,more » we demonstrate that interference gratings can be generated without an anti-reflection coating on the substrate. We used ammonium dichromate doped polyvinyl alcohol as the positive photoresist because it provides excellent pinhole free layers down to thicknesses of 40 nm, and can be cross-linked by a low-cost single mode 457 nm laser, and can be etched in water. Gratings with a period of 320 nm and depth of 4 nm were realized, as well as a variety of morphologies depending on the photoresist thickness. This simplified interference lithography technique promises to be useful for generating periodic nanostructures with high fidelity and minimal substrate treatments.« less

  13. Fabrication of Ordered Blue Nanostructure by Anodization of an Aluminum Plate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kurashima, Yuichi; Yokota, Yoshihiko; Miyamoto, Iwao; Itatani, Taro

    2007-03-01

    Colors in organisms are created by chemical interactions of molecular pigments and by optical interactions of incident light with biological nanostructures. The latter classes are called structural colors and form an important component of the phenotypes of many animals and even some plants. In this paper, we report on the fabrication of an ordered blue nanostructure by the anodization of an Al plate. In the fabrication of such an ordered nanostructure by the anodization of an Al plate, ordered nanostructures with a pitch and an alumina thickness of approximately 100 nm were produced on the Al plate. The ordered nanostructures on the Al plate showed no colors. However, an ordered nanostructure deposited with a Pt thin film with a thickness of approximately 10 nm showed a blue reflection with a peak reflectivity of approximately 370 nm. We conclude that this blue nanostructure on the Al plate is caused by an interference between the Al surface and the Pt surface.

  14. Nanoporous hard data: optical encoding of information within nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals.

    PubMed

    Santos, Abel; Law, Cheryl Suwen; Pereira, Taj; Losic, Dusan

    2016-04-21

    Herein, we present a method for storing binary data within the spectral signature of nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. A rationally designed multi-sinusoidal anodisation approach makes it possible to engineer the photonic stop band of nanoporous anodic alumina with precision. As a result, the transmission spectrum of these photonic nanostructures can be engineered to feature well-resolved and selectively positioned characteristic peaks across the UV-visible spectrum. Using this property, we implement an 8-bit binary code and assess the versatility and capability of this system by a series of experiments aiming to encode different information within the nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. The obtained results reveal that the proposed nanosized platform is robust, chemically stable, versatile and has a set of unique properties for data storage, opening new opportunities for developing advanced nanophotonic tools for a wide range of applications, including sensing, photonic tagging, self-reporting drug releasing systems and secure encoding of information.

  15. Screen-Cage Ion Plating Of Silver On Polycrystalline Alumina

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Spalvins, Talivaldis; Sliney, Harold E.; Deadmore, Daniel L.

    1995-01-01

    Screen-cage ion plating (SCIP) cost-effective technique offering high throwing power for deposition of adherent metal films on ceramic substrates. Applies silver films to complexly shaped substrates of polycrystalline alumina. Silver adheres tenaciously and reduces friction. SCIP holds promise for applying lubricating soft metallic films to high-temperature ceramic components of advanced combustion engines. Other potential uses include coating substrates with metal for protection against corrosion, depositing electrical conductors on dielectric substrates, making optically reflective or electrically or thermally conductive surface layers, and applying decorative metal coats to ceramic trophies or sculptures.

  16. Impact of structure and morphology of nanostructured ceria coating on AISI 304 oxidation kinetics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aadhavan, R.; Suresh Babu, K.

    2017-07-01

    Nanostructured ceria-based coatings are shown to be protective against high-temperature oxidation of AISI 304 due to the dynamics of oxidation state and associated defects. However, the processing parameters of deposition have a strong influence in determining the structural and morphological aspects of ceria. The present work focuses on the effect of variation in substrate temperature (50-300 °C) and deposition rate (0.1-50 Å/s) of ceria in electron beam physical vapour evaporation method and correlates the changes in structure and morphology to high-temperature oxidation protection. Unlike deposition rate, substrate temperature exhibited a profound influence on crystallite size (7-18 nm) and oxygen vacancy concentration. Upon isothermal oxidation at 1243 K for 24 h, bare AISI 304 exhibited a linear mass gain with a rate constant of 3.0 ± 0.03 × 10-3 kg2 m-4 s-1 while ceria coating lowered the kinetics by 3-4 orders. Though the thickness of the coating was kept constant at 2 μm, higher deposition rate offered one order lower protection due to the porous nature of the coating. Variation in the substrate temperature modulated the porosity as well as oxygen vacancy concentration and displayed the best protection for coatings deposited at moderate substrate temperature. The present work demonstrates the significance of selecting appropriate processing parameters to obtain the required morphology for efficient high-temperature oxidation protection.

  17. Bioactivity of fluorapatite/alumina composite coatings deposited on Ti6Al4V substrates by laser cladding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chien, C. S.; Liu, C. W.; Kuo, T. Y.; Wu, C. C.; Hong, T. F.

    2016-04-01

    Hydroxyapatite (HA) is one of the most commonly used coating materials for metal implants. However, following high-temperature deposition, HA easily decomposes into an unstable phase or forms an amorphous phase, and hence, the long-term stability of the implant is reduced. Accordingly, the present study investigates the use of fluorapatite (FA) fortified with 20 wt% alumina (α-Al2O3) as an alternative biomedical coating material. The coatings are deposited on Ti6Al4V substrates using a Nd:YAG laser cladding process performed with laser powers and travel speeds of 400 W/200 mm/min, 800 W/400 mm/min and 1200 W/600 mm/min, respectively. The results show that for all of the specimens, a strong metallurgical bond is formed at the interface between the coating layer and the transition layer due to melting and diffusion. The XRD analysis results reveal that the cladding layers in all of the specimens consist mainly of FA, β-TCP, CaF2, Ti and θ-Al2O3 phases. In addition, the cladding layers of the specimens prepared using laser powers of 400 and 800 W also contain CaTiO3 and CaAl2O4, while that of the specimen clad using a power of 1200 W contains TTCP and CaO. Following immersion in simulated body fluid for 14 days, all of the specimens precipitate dense bone-like apatite and exhibit excellent bioactivity. However, among all of the specimens, the specimen that is prepared with a laser power of 800 W shows the best biological activity due to the presence of residual FA, apatite-generating CaTiO3 and a rough cladding layer surface.

  18. The effect of cerium oxide argon-annealed coatings on the high temperature oxidation of a FeCrAl alloy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, C. T.; Buscail, H.; Cueff, R.; Issartel, C.; Riffard, F.; Perrier, S.; Poble, O.

    2009-09-01

    Ceria coatings were applied in order to improve the adherence of alumina scales developed on a model Fe-20Cr-5Al alloy during oxidation at high temperature. These coatings were performed by argon annealing of a ceria sol-gel coating at temperatures ranging between 600 and 1000 °C. The influence of these coatings on the alloy oxidation behaviour was studied at 1100 °C. In situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed to characterize the coating crystallographic nature after annealing and during the oxidation process. The alumina scale morphologies were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The present work shows that the alumina scale morphology observed on cerium sol-gel coated alloy was very convoluted. On the cerium sol-gel coated alloy, argon annealing results in an increase of the oxidation rate in air, at 1100 °C. The 600 °C argon annealing temperature results in a good alumina scale adherence under thermal cycling conditions at 1100 °C.

  19. Low-cost shape-control synthesis of porous carbon film on β″-alumina ceramics for Na-based battery application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Yingying; Wen, Zhaoyin; Wu, Xiangwei; Jin, Jun

    2012-12-01

    Porous carbon films with tunable pore structure to modify the β″-alumina electrolyte surface are fabricated through a low-cost and direct wet chemistry method with glucose and poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) as precursors. FTIR analysis confirms the effective connection between the carbohydrate and the pore-forming agent PMMA through hydrogen bonds. The experimental results indicate that the structural parameters of the porous carbon films, including mean pore size and film thickness, can be tuned simply by adjusting the amount of PMMA in the glucose/PMMA composite. This soft-template-assisted method could be readily extended to modify any other ceramic surfaces. The porous carbon films are demonstrated to greatly improve the wettability of the β″-alumina ceramics by molten sodium. Na/β″-alumina/Na cells are used to investigate the interfacial properties between sodium and the β″-alumina electrolyte. The results obtained at 350 °C reveal that the polarization behavior of the cell is alleviated by the porous coating. This work represents a successful method to coat ceramics with porous carbon and offers a promising solution to overcome the polarization problems of the sodium/β″-alumina interface in Na-based batteries.

  20. Ultra-High Density Single Nanometer-Scale Anodic Alumina Nanofibers Fabricated by Pyrophosphoric Acid Anodizing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kikuchi, Tatsuya; Nishinaga, Osamu; Nakajima, Daiki; Kawashima, Jun; Natsui, Shungo; Sakaguchi, Norihito; Suzuki, Ryosuke O.

    2014-12-01

    Anodic oxide fabricated by anodizing has been widely used for nanostructural engineering, but the nanomorphology is limited to only two oxides: anodic barrier and porous oxides. Therefore, the discovery of an additional anodic oxide with a unique nanofeature would expand the applicability of anodizing. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of a third-generation anodic oxide, specifically, anodic alumina nanofibers, by anodizing in a new electrolyte, pyrophosphoric acid. Ultra-high density single nanometer-scale anodic alumina nanofibers (1010 nanofibers/cm2) consisting of an amorphous, pure aluminum oxide were successfully fabricated via pyrophosphoric acid anodizing. The nanomorphologies of the anodic nanofibers can be controlled by the electrochemical conditions. Anodic tungsten oxide nanofibers can also be fabricated by pyrophosphoric acid anodizing. The aluminum surface covered by the anodic alumina nanofibers exhibited ultra-fast superhydrophilic behavior, with a contact angle of less than 1°, within 1 second. Such ultra-narrow nanofibers can be used for various nanoapplications including catalysts, wettability control, and electronic devices.

  1. Ultra-High Density Single Nanometer-Scale Anodic Alumina Nanofibers Fabricated by Pyrophosphoric Acid Anodizing

    PubMed Central

    Kikuchi, Tatsuya; Nishinaga, Osamu; Nakajima, Daiki; Kawashima, Jun; Natsui, Shungo; Sakaguchi, Norihito; Suzuki, Ryosuke O.

    2014-01-01

    Anodic oxide fabricated by anodizing has been widely used for nanostructural engineering, but the nanomorphology is limited to only two oxides: anodic barrier and porous oxides. Therefore, the discovery of an additional anodic oxide with a unique nanofeature would expand the applicability of anodizing. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of a third-generation anodic oxide, specifically, anodic alumina nanofibers, by anodizing in a new electrolyte, pyrophosphoric acid. Ultra-high density single nanometer-scale anodic alumina nanofibers (1010 nanofibers/cm2) consisting of an amorphous, pure aluminum oxide were successfully fabricated via pyrophosphoric acid anodizing. The nanomorphologies of the anodic nanofibers can be controlled by the electrochemical conditions. Anodic tungsten oxide nanofibers can also be fabricated by pyrophosphoric acid anodizing. The aluminum surface covered by the anodic alumina nanofibers exhibited ultra-fast superhydrophilic behavior, with a contact angle of less than 1°, within 1 second. Such ultra-narrow nanofibers can be used for various nanoapplications including catalysts, wettability control, and electronic devices. PMID:25491282

  2. Tribological characteristics of sputtered Au/Cr films on alumina substrates at elevated temperatures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Benoy, P. A.; Dellacorte, C.

    1993-01-01

    Research to evaluate the tribological properties of alumina pins sliding against thin sputtered gold films deposited on alumina disk substrates is described. A 250 A thick chromium interlayer was first deposited onto the alumina test disks to enhance adhesion and high temperature wetting of the gold films. The Au/Cr films were tribotested in pure sliding in a pin-on-disk tribometer under a 4.9 N load at 1m/s. The test atmosphere was room air at temperatures of 25, 500, and 800 C and the test duration varied from 60 to 540 min. The use of the Au/Cr films reduced friction by about a factor of two compared to the unlubricated alumina sliding couple. The coatings prevented wear of the alumina substrate disks and reduced pin wear by one to two orders of magnitude. In addition, wear lives in excess of 200,000 sliding passes (9 hr) were observed during sliding at 800 C. The results suggest that these films show promise for the practical lubrication of many high temperature sliding components.

  3. Microstructural and Optical Properties of Porous Alumina Elaborated on Glass Substrate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaghdoudi, W.; Gaidi, M.; Chtourou, R.

    2013-03-01

    A transparent porous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) nanostructure was formed on a glass substrate using the anodization of a highly pure evaporated aluminum layer. A parametric study was carried out in order to achieve a fine control of the microstructural and optical properties of the elaborated films. The microstructural and surface morphologies of the porous alumina films were characterized by x-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. Pore diameter, inter-pore separation, and the porous structure as a function of anodization conditions were investigated. It was then found that the pores density decreases with increasing the anodization time. Regular cylindrical porous AAO films with a flat bottom structure were formed by chemical etching and anodization. A high transmittance in the 300-900 nm range is reported, indicating a fulfilled growth of the transparent sample (alumina) from the aluminum metal. The data showed typical interference oscillations as a result of the transparent characteristics of the film throughout the visible spectral range. The thickness and the optical constants ( n and k) of the porous anodic alumina films, as a function of anodizing time, were obtained using spectroscopic ellipsometry in the ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-vis-NIR) regions.

  4. Transformation of γ-alumina to θ-alumina

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cai, Shuhui; Sohlberg, Karl; Rashkeev, Sergey; Pantelides, Sokrates T.

    2002-03-01

    γ- and θ-alumina are two metastable phases of aluminum oxide observed along the dehydration sequence of boehmite upon thermal treatment before conversion to the final product α-alumina. The transformation from the γ to the θ phase can best be studied by using Al_16O_24 cells. Motion of eight Al atoms from their γ-alumina positions to new positions and no O motions result in an approximate structure that, upon relaxation by first-principles calculations, becomes the known θ-alumina structure. Total-energy calculations along the paths of atomic motions have been used to map out possible synergistic transformation pathways. This work was supported in part by the USDoE and a NSF GOALI Grant with Alcoa, Inc.

  5. Development & characterization of alumina coating by atmospheric plasma spraying

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sebastian, Jobin; Scaria, Abyson; Kurian, Don George

    2018-03-01

    Ceramic coatings are applied on metals to prevent them from oxidation and corrosion at room as well as elevated temperatures. The service environment, mechanisms of protection, chemical and mechanical compatibility, application method, control of coating quality and ability of the coating to be repaired are the factors that need to be considered while selecting the required coating. The coatings based on oxide materials provides high degree of thermal insulation and protection against oxidation at high temperatures for the underlying substrate materials. These coatings are usually applied by the flame or plasma spraying methods. The surface cleanliness needs to be ensured before spraying. Abrasive blasting can be used to provide the required surface roughness for good adhesion between the substrate and the coating. A pre bond coat like Nickel Chromium can be applied on to the substrate material before spraying the oxide coating to avoid chances of poor adhesion between the oxide coating and the metallic substrate. Plasma spraying produces oxide coatings of greater density, higher hardness, and smooth surface finish than that of the flame spraying process Inert gas is often used for generation of plasma gas so as to avoid the oxidation of the substrate material. The work focuses to develop, characterize and optimize the parameters used in Al2O3 coating on transition stainless steel substrate material for minimizing the wear rate and maximizing the leak tightness using plasma spray process. The experiment is designed using Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array. The parameters that are to be optimized are plasma voltage, spraying distance and the cooling jet pressure. The characterization techniques includes micro-hardness and porosity tests followed by Grey relational analysis of the results.

  6. Interfacial Chemical Interactions in the (Alumina/Graphite/Al Alloys) System: Thermodynamic Modeling and Experimental Results

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gelbstein, M.; Edry, I.; Froumin, N.; Frage, N.

    2009-04-01

    The stability of alumina-coated graphite couples in liquid Al is investigated in the 1373 to 1573 K temperature range. A thermodynamic model was carried out to determine the mechanisms controlling the couple stability and the effect of alloying Al with high melting point element for instance U (up to 3 at. pct). It was established that the dissolved uranium dose not play any role in the interfacial interactions and that the couple stability is governed by the interactions with Al resulting in the release of gaseous products. The experiments focused on wetting kinetics under conditions allowing for an in-situ reduction of the alumina coating by the liquid Al. The experimental results confirm the predictions of the thermodynamic analysis.

  7. Sandblasting and silica-coating of dental alloys: volume loss, morphology and changes in the surface composition.

    PubMed

    Kern, M; Thompson, V P

    1993-05-01

    Silica-coating alloys improves chemo-mechanical bonding. Sandblasting is recommended as pretreatment to thermal silica-coating or as part of a tribochemical silica-coating process. This study evaluated the effects of sandblasting and coating techniques on volume loss, surface morphology and compositional changes in noble (AuAgCu) and base alloys (NiCr and CoCr). Volume loss was statistically significantly higher in the noble as compared to the base alloys but does not seem to be critical for the clinical fit of restorations. Embedded alumina particles were found in all alloys after sandblasting and the alumina content increased to a range of 14 to 37 wt% as measured by EDS. Following tribochemical silica-coating, a layer of small silica particles remained on the surface, increasing the silica content to between 12 and 20 wt%. Ultrasonic cleaning removed loose alumina or silica particles from the surface, resulting in only slight decreases in alumina or silica contents, thus suggesting firm attachment of the major part of alumina and silica to the alloy surface. Clinically, ultrasonic cleaning of sandblasted and tribochemically silica-coated alloys might improve resin bonding as loose surface particles are removed without relevant changes in composition. Silica content following thermal silica-coating treatment increased only slightly from the sandblasted specimen. The silica layer employed by these silica-coating methods differs widely in both morphology and thickness. These results provide a basis for explanation of adhesive failure modes in bond strength tests which will possibly optimize resin bonding. Further research is needed to characterize the outermost surface layers after these treatments and the exact location of adhesive failures.

  8. Thermal stability and chemical resistance of (Ti,Al)N-Cu and (Ti,Al)N-Ni metal-ceramic nanostructured coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Belov, D. S.; Blinkov, I. V.; Volkhonskii, A. O.; Kuznetsov, D. V.; Kiryukhantsev-Korneev, F. V.; Pustov, Yu. A.; Sergevnin, V. S.

    2016-12-01

    This work represents the results of research on thermal stability, oxidation resistance at temperatures of up to 800 °C and electrochemical behaviour of (Ti,Al)N-(∼3 at.%)Cu and (Ti,Al)N-(∼8 at.%)Ni nanocrystalline coatings in acidic and alkaline media. The coatings were deposited by the arc-PVD method with a thickness of approximately 4 μm and crystallite size of less than 20 nm. It has been demonstrated that the composition and properties of the coating structures do not change when the coatings are heated in 10-4 Pa vacuum at temperatures of 600, 700 °C for 1.5 h. Heating up to 800 °C caused an increase of crystallite size and reduction microstrain in the crystal lattice of the ceramic phase. The process is accompanied by deterioration of the coating hardness from 48 to 52 to 33-36 GPa. The (Ti,Al)N-Cu and (Ti,Al)N-Ni metal-ceramic nanostructured coatings are characterized by heat resistance up to the temperatures of 700 and 800 °C respectively. The coatings under study have tendency for self-passivation and resistance to pitting corrosion.

  9. Optimization of Anodic Porous Alumina Fabricated from Commercial Aluminum Food Foils: A Statistical Approach

    PubMed Central

    Riccomagno, Eva; Shayganpour, Amirreza; Salerno, Marco

    2017-01-01

    Anodic porous alumina is a known material based on an old industry, yet with emerging applications in nanoscience and nanotechnology. This is promising, but the nanostructured alumina should be fabricated from inexpensive raw material. We fabricated porous alumina from commercial aluminum food plate in 0.4 M aqueous phosphoric acid, aiming to design an effective manufacturing protocol for the material used as nanoporous filler in dental restorative composites, an application demonstrated previously by our group. We identified the critical input parameters of anodization voltage, bath temperature and anodization time, and the main output parameters of pore diameter, pore spacing and oxide thickness. Scanning electron microscopy and grain analysis allowed us to assess the nanostructured material, and the statistical design of experiments was used to optimize its fabrication. We analyzed a preliminary dataset, designed a second dataset aimed at clarifying the correlations between input and output parameters, and ran a confirmation dataset. Anodization conditions close to 125 V, 20 °C, and 7 h were identified as the best for obtaining, in the shortest possible time, pore diameters and spacing of 100–150 nm and 150–275 nm respectively, and thickness of 6–8 µm, which are desirable for the selected application according to previously published results. Our analysis confirmed the linear dependence of pore size on anodization voltage and of thickness on anodization time. The importance of proper control on the experiment was highlighted, since batch effects emerge when the experimental conditions are not exactly reproduced. PMID:28772776

  10. Optimization of formaldehyde concentration on electroless copper deposition on alumina surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shahidin, S. A. M.; Fadil, N. A.; Yusop, M. Zamri; Tamin, M. N.; Osman, S. A.

    2018-05-01

    The effect of formaldehyde concentration on electroless copper plating on alumina wafer was studied. The main composition of plating bath was copper sulphate (CuSO4) as precursor and formaldehyde as a reducing agent. The copper deposition films were assessed by varying the ratio of CuSO4 and formaldehyde. The plating rate was calculated from the weight gained after plating process whilst the surface morphology was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results show that 1:3 ratio of copper to formaldehyde is an optimum ratio to produce most uniform coating with good adhesion between copper layer and alumina wafer substrate.

  11. Surface microstructure and in vitro analysis of nanostructured akermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7) coating on biodegradable magnesium alloy for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Razavi, Mehdi; Fathi, Mohammadhossein; Savabi, Omid; Hashemi Beni, Batoul; Vashaee, Daryoosh; Tayebi, Lobat

    2014-05-01

    Magnesium (Mg) alloys, owing to their biodegradability and good mechanical properties, have potential applications as biodegradable orthopedic implants. However, several poor properties including low corrosion resistance, mechanical stability and cytocompatibility have prevented their clinical application, as these properties may result in the sudden failure of the implants during the bone healing. In this research, nanostructured akermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7) powder was coated on the AZ91 Mg alloy through electrophoretic deposition (EPD) assisted micro arc oxidation (MAO) method to modify the properties of the alloy. The surface microstructure of coating, corrosion resistance, mechanical stability and cytocompatibility of the samples were characterized with different techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrochemical corrosion test, immersion test, compression test and cell culture test. The results showed that the nanostructured akermanite coating can improve the corrosion resistance, mechanical stability and cytocompatibility of the biodegradable Mg alloy making it a promising material to be used as biodegradable bone implants for orthopedic applications. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  12. Self-organized morphological evolution and dewetting in solvent vapor annealing of spin coated polymer blend nanostructures.

    PubMed

    Roy, Sudeshna; Sharma, Ashutosh

    2015-07-01

    Dewetting pathways, kinetics and morphologies of thin films of phase separating polymer blends are governed by the relative mobilities of the two components. We characterize the morphological transformations of the nanostructures of a PS/PMMA blend by annealing in toluene and chloroform vapors. Toluene leads to faster reorganization of PS, whereas chloroform engenders the opposite effect. Spin coating produces a very rough PMMA rich layer that completely wets the substrate and forms a plethora of slender columns protruding through the continuous PS rich layer on top. The nanostructures were stable under long thermal annealing but in the vapor annealing, phase separation and dewetting occurred readily to form the equilibrium structures of dewetted droplets of PS on top of PMMA which also climbed around the PS droplets to form rims. Toluene and chloroform annealing required around 50 h and 1 h respectively to attain the equilibrium. Substantial differences are observed in the intermediate morphologies (heights of nanostructures, roughness and size). PMMA columns remained embedded in the dewetted PS droplets, whereas a high mobility of PMMA in chloroform allowed its rapid evacuation during dewetting to produce an intermediate swiss-cheese like morphology of PS domains. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Comparison of the Electrochemical Behavior of Ti and Nanostructured Ti-Coated AISI 304 Stainless Steel in Strongly Acidic Solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Attarzadeh, Farid Reza; Elmkhah, Hassan; Fattah-Alhosseini, Arash

    2017-02-01

    In this study, the electrochemical behaviors of pure titanium (Ti) and nanostructured (NS) Ti-coated AISI 304 stainless steel (SS) in strongly acidic solutions of H2SO4 were investigated and compared. A type of physical vapor deposition method, cathodic arc evaporation, was applied to deposit NS Ti on 304 SS. Scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize surface coating morphology. Potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Mott-Schottky (M-S) analysis were used to evaluate the passive behavior of the samples. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the passive behavior of NS Ti coating was better than that of pure Ti in 0.1 and 0.01 M H2SO4 solutions. M-S analysis indicated that the passive films behaved as n-type semiconductors in H2SO4 solutions and the deposition method did not affect the semiconducting type of passive films formed on the coated samples. In addition, this analysis showed that the NS Ti coating had lower donor densities. Finally, all electrochemical tests showed that the passive behavior of the Ti-coated samples was superior, mainly due to the formation of thicker, yet less defective passive films.

  14. Fabrics coated with lubricated nanostructures display robust omniphobicity

    DOE PAGES

    Shillingford, Cicely; MacCallum, Noah; Wong, Tak -Sing; ...

    2013-12-11

    The development of a stain-resistant and pressure-stable textile is desirable for consumer and industrial applications alike, yet it remains a challenge that current technologies have been unable to fully address. Traditional superhydrophobic surfaces, inspired by the lotus plant, are characterized by two main components: hydrophobic chemical functionalization and surface roughness. While this approach produces water-resistant surfaces, these materials have critical weaknesses that hinder their practical utility, in particular as robust stain-free fabrics. For example, traditional superhydrophobic surfaces fail (i.e., become stained) when exposed to low-surface-tension liquids, under pressure when impacted by a high-velocity stream of water (e.g., rain), and whenmore » exposed to physical forces such as abrasion and twisting. We have recently introduced slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), a self-healing, pressure-tolerant and omniphobic surface, to address these issues. However we present the rational design and optimization of nanostructured lubricant-infused fabrics and demonstrate markedly improved performance over traditional superhydrophobic textile treatments: SLIPS-functionalized cotton and polyester fabrics exhibit decreased contact angle hysteresis and sliding angles, omni-repellent properties against various fluids including polar and nonpolar liquids, pressure tolerance and mechanical robustness, all of which are not readily achievable with the state-of-the-art superhydrophobic coatings.« less

  15. Fabrics coated with lubricated nanostructures display robust omniphobicity

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

    Shillingford, C; MacCallum, N; Wong, TS

    2013-12-11

    The development of a stain-resistant and pressure-stable textile is desirable for consumer and industrial applications alike, yet it remains a challenge that current technologies have been unable to fully address. Traditional superhydrophobic surfaces, inspired by the lotus plant, are characterized by two main components: hydrophobic chemical functionalization and surface roughness. While this approach produces water-resistant surfaces, these materials have critical weaknesses that hinder their practical utility, in particular as robust stain-free fabrics. For example, traditional superhydrophobic surfaces fail (i.e., become stained) when exposed to low-surface-tension liquids, under pressure when impacted by a high-velocity stream of water (e. g., rain), andmore » when exposed to physical forces such as abrasion and twisting. We have recently introduced slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), a self-healing, pressure-tolerant and omniphobic surface, to address these issues. Herein we present the rational design and optimization of nanostructured lubricant-infused fabrics and demonstrate markedly improved performance over traditional superhydrophobic textile treatments: SLIPS-functionalized cotton and polyester fabrics exhibit decreased contact angle hysteresis and sliding angles, omni-repellent properties against various fluids including polar and nonpolar liquids, pressure tolerance and mechanical robustness, all of which are not readily achievable with the state-of-the-art superhydrophobic coatings.« less

  16. Fabrics coated with lubricated nanostructures display robust omniphobicity.

    PubMed

    Shillingford, Cicely; MacCallum, Noah; Wong, Tak-Sing; Kim, Philseok; Aizenberg, Joanna

    2014-01-10

    The development of a stain-resistant and pressure-stable textile is desirable for consumer and industrial applications alike, yet it remains a challenge that current technologies have been unable to fully address. Traditional superhydrophobic surfaces, inspired by the lotus plant, are characterized by two main components: hydrophobic chemical functionalization and surface roughness. While this approach produces water-resistant surfaces, these materials have critical weaknesses that hinder their practical utility, in particular as robust stain-free fabrics. For example, traditional superhydrophobic surfaces fail (i.e., become stained) when exposed to low-surface-tension liquids, under pressure when impacted by a high-velocity stream of water (e.g., rain), and when exposed to physical forces such as abrasion and twisting. We have recently introduced slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), a self-healing, pressure-tolerant and omniphobic surface, to address these issues. Herein we present the rational design and optimization of nanostructured lubricant-infused fabrics and demonstrate markedly improved performance over traditional superhydrophobic textile treatments: SLIPS-functionalized cotton and polyester fabrics exhibit decreased contact angle hysteresis and sliding angles, omni-repellent properties against various fluids including polar and nonpolar liquids, pressure tolerance and mechanical robustness, all of which are not readily achievable with the state-of-the-art superhydrophobic coatings.

  17. Fabrics coated with lubricated nanostructures display robust omniphobicity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shillingford, Cicely; MacCallum, Noah; Wong, Tak-Sing; Kim, Philseok; Aizenberg, Joanna

    2014-01-01

    The development of a stain-resistant and pressure-stable textile is desirable for consumer and industrial applications alike, yet it remains a challenge that current technologies have been unable to fully address. Traditional superhydrophobic surfaces, inspired by the lotus plant, are characterized by two main components: hydrophobic chemical functionalization and surface roughness. While this approach produces water-resistant surfaces, these materials have critical weaknesses that hinder their practical utility, in particular as robust stain-free fabrics. For example, traditional superhydrophobic surfaces fail (i.e., become stained) when exposed to low-surface-tension liquids, under pressure when impacted by a high-velocity stream of water (e.g., rain), and when exposed to physical forces such as abrasion and twisting. We have recently introduced slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), a self-healing, pressure-tolerant and omniphobic surface, to address these issues. Herein we present the rational design and optimization of nanostructured lubricant-infused fabrics and demonstrate markedly improved performance over traditional superhydrophobic textile treatments: SLIPS-functionalized cotton and polyester fabrics exhibit decreased contact angle hysteresis and sliding angles, omni-repellent properties against various fluids including polar and nonpolar liquids, pressure tolerance and mechanical robustness, all of which are not readily achievable with the state-of-the-art superhydrophobic coatings.

  18. Modified wound dressing with phyto-nanostructured coating to prevent staphylococcal and pseudomonal biofilm development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Anghel, Ion; Holban, Alina Maria; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai; Andronescu, Ecaterina; Ficai, Anton; Anghel, Alina Georgiana; Maganu, Maria; Lazǎr, Veronica; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen

    2012-12-01

    This paper reports a newly fabricated nanophyto-modified wound dressing with microbicidal and anti-adherence properties. Nanofluid-based magnetite doped with eugenol or limonene was used to fabricate modified wound dressings. Nanostructure coated materials were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. For the quantitative measurement of biofilm-embedded microbial cells, a culture-based method for viable cell count was used. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to staphylococcal and pseudomonal colonization and biofilm formation compared to the uncoated controls. The functionalized surfaces for wound dressing seems to be a very useful tool for the prevention of wound microbial contamination on viable tissues.

  19. Modified wound dressing with phyto-nanostructured coating to prevent staphylococcal and pseudomonal biofilm development

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    This paper reports a newly fabricated nanophyto-modified wound dressing with microbicidal and anti-adherence properties. Nanofluid-based magnetite doped with eugenol or limonene was used to fabricate modified wound dressings. Nanostructure coated materials were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. For the quantitative measurement of biofilm-embedded microbial cells, a culture-based method for viable cell count was used. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to staphylococcal and pseudomonal colonization and biofilm formation compared to the uncoated controls. The functionalized surfaces for wound dressing seems to be a very useful tool for the prevention of wound microbial contamination on viable tissues. PMID:23272823

  20. Modified wound dressing with phyto-nanostructured coating to prevent staphylococcal and pseudomonal biofilm development.

    PubMed

    Anghel, Ion; Holban, Alina Maria; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai; Andronescu, Ecaterina; Ficai, Anton; Anghel, Alina Georgiana; Maganu, Maria; Laz R, Veronica; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen

    2012-12-31

    This paper reports a newly fabricated nanophyto-modified wound dressing with microbicidal and anti-adherence properties. Nanofluid-based magnetite doped with eugenol or limonene was used to fabricate modified wound dressings. Nanostructure coated materials were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. For the quantitative measurement of biofilm-embedded microbial cells, a culture-based method for viable cell count was used. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to staphylococcal and pseudomonal colonization and biofilm formation compared to the uncoated controls. The functionalized surfaces for wound dressing seems to be a very useful tool for the prevention of wound microbial contamination on viable tissues.

  1. XUV generation from the interaction of pico- and nanosecond laser pulses with nanostructured targets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barte, Ellie Floyd; Lokasani, Ragava; Proska, Jan; Stolcova, Lucie; Maguire, Oisin; Kos, Domagoj; Sheridan, Paul; O'Reilly, Fergal; Sokell, Emma; McCormack, Tom; O'Sullivan, Gerry; Dunne, Padraig; Limpouch, Jiri

    2017-05-01

    Laser-produced plasmas are intense sources of XUV radiation that can be suitable for different applications such as extreme ultraviolet lithography, beyond extreme ultraviolet lithography and water window imaging. In particular, much work has focused on the use of tin plasmas for extreme ultraviolet lithography at 13.5 nm. We have investigated the spectral behavior of the laser produced plasmas formed on closely packed polystyrene microspheres and porous alumina targets covered by a thin tin layer in the spectral region from 2.5 to 16 nm. Nd:YAG lasers delivering pulses of 170 ps (Ekspla SL312P )and 7 ns (Continuum Surelite) duration were focused onto the nanostructured targets coated with tin. The intensity dependence of the recorded spectra was studied; the conversion efficiency (CE) of laser energy into the emission in the 13.5 nm spectral region was estimated. We have observed an increase in CE using high intensity 170 ps Nd:YAG laser pulses as compared with a 7 ns pulse.

  2. Atomic Layer Deposition Alumina-Passivated Silicon Nanowires: Probing the Transition from Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitor to Electrolytic Capacitor.

    PubMed

    Gaboriau, Dorian; Boniface, Maxime; Valero, Anthony; Aldakov, Dmitry; Brousse, Thierry; Gentile, Pascal; Sadki, Said

    2017-04-19

    Silicon nanowires were coated by a 1-5 nm thin alumina layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD) in order to replace poorly reproducible and unstable native silicon oxide by a highly conformal passivating alumina layer. The surface coating enabled probing the behavior of symmetric devices using such electrodes in the EMI-TFSI electrolyte, allowing us to attain a large cell voltage up to 6 V in ionic liquid, together with very high cyclability with less than 4% capacitance fade after 10 6 charge/discharge cycles. These results yielded fruitful insights into the transition between an electrochemical double-layer capacitor behavior and an electrolytic capacitor behavior. Ultimately, thin ALD dielectric coatings can be used to obtain hybrid devices exhibiting large cell voltage and excellent cycle life of dielectric capacitors, while retaining energy and power densities close to the ones displayed by supercapacitors.

  3. Structural Engineering of Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Photonic Crystals by Sawtooth-like Pulse Anodization.

    PubMed

    Law, Cheryl Suwen; Santos, Abel; Nemati, Mahdieh; Losic, Dusan

    2016-06-01

    This study presents a sawtooth-like pulse anodization approach aiming to create a new type of photonic crystal structure based on nanoporous anodic alumina. This nanofabrication approach enables the engineering of the effective medium of nanoporous anodic alumina in a sawtooth-like manner with precision. The manipulation of various anodization parameters such as anodization period, anodization amplitude, number of anodization pulses, ramp ratio and pore widening time allows a precise control and fine-tuning of the optical properties (i.e., characteristic transmission peaks and interferometric colors) exhibited by nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals (NAA-PCs). The effect of these anodization parameters on the photonic properties of NAA-PCs is systematically evaluated for the establishment of a fabrication methodology toward NAA-PCs with tunable optical properties. The effective medium of the resulting NAA-PCs is demonstrated to be optimal for the development of optical sensing platforms in combination with reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS). This application is demonstrated by monitoring in real-time the formation of monolayers of thiol molecules (11-mercaptoundecanoic acid) on the surface of gold-coated NAA-PCs. The obtained results reveal that the adsorption mechanism between thiol molecules and gold-coated NAA-PCs follows a Langmuir isotherm model, indicating a monolayer sorption mechanism.

  4. Cryogenic infrared filter made of alumina for use at millimeter wavelength.

    PubMed

    Inoue, Yuki; Matsumura, Tomotake; Hazumi, Masashi; Lee, Adrian T; Okamura, Takahiro; Suzuki, Aritoki; Tomaru, Takayuki; Yamaguchi, Hiroshi

    2014-03-20

    We propose a high-thermal-conductivity infrared filter using alumina for millimeter-wave detection systems. We constructed a prototype two-layer antireflection-coated alumina filter with a diameter of 100 mm and a thickness of 2 mm and characterized its thermal and optical properties. The transmittance of this filter at 95 and 150 GHz is 97% and 95%, respectively, while the estimated 3 dB cut-off frequency is at 450 GHz. The high thermal conductivity of alumina minimizes thermal gradients. We measure a differential temperature of only 0.21 K between the center and the edge of the filter when it is mounted on a thermal anchor of 77 K. We also constructed a thermal model based on the prototype filter and analyzed the scalability of the filter diameter. We conclude that the temperature increase at the center of the alumina IR filter is less than 6 K, even with a large diameter of 500 mm, when the temperature at the edge of the filter is 50 K. This is suitable for an application to a large-throughput next-generation cosmic-microwave-background polarization experiment such as POLARBEAR-2.

  5. Mo-Si-B-Based Coatings for Ceramic Base Substrates

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Perepezko, John Harry (Inventor); Sakidja, Ridwan (Inventor); Ritt, Patrick (Inventor)

    2015-01-01

    Alumina-containing coatings based on molybdenum (Mo), silicon (Si), and boron (B) ("MoSiB coatings") that form protective, oxidation-resistant scales on ceramic substrate at high temperatures are provided. The protective scales comprise an aluminoborosilicate glass, and may additionally contain molybdenum. Two-stage deposition methods for forming the coatings are also provided.

  6. Engineering optical properties using plasmonic nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tamma, Venkata Ananth

    Plasmonic nanostructures can be engineered to take on unusual optical properties not found in natural materials. The optical responses of plasmonic materials are functions of the structural parameters and symmetry of the nanostructures, material parameters of the nanostructure and its surroundings and the incidence angle, frequency and polarization state of light. The scattering and hence the visibility of an object could be reduced by coating it with a plasmonic material. In this thesis, presented is an optical frequency scattering cancelation device composed of a silicon nanorod coated by a plasmonic gold nanostructure. The principle of operation was theoretically analyzed using Mie theory and the device design was verified by extensive numerical simulations. The device was fabricated using a combination of nanofabrication techniques such as electron beam lithography and focused ion beam milling. The optical responses of the scattering cancelation device and a control sample of bare silicon rod were directly visualized using near-field microscopy coupled with heterodyne interferometric detection. The experimental results were analyzed and found to match very well with theoretical prediction from numerical simulations thereby validating the design principles and our implementation. Plasmonic nanostructures could be engineered to exhibit unique optical properties such as Fano resonance characterized by narrow asymmetrical lineshape. We present dynamic tuning and symmetry lowering of Fano resonances in plasmonic nanostructures fabricated on flexible substrates. The tuning of Fano resonance was achieved by application of uniaxial mechanical stress. The design of the nanostructures was facilitated by extensive numerical simulations and the symmetry lowering was analyzed using group theoretical methods. The nanostructures were fabricated using electron beam lithography and optically characterized for various mechanical stress. The experimental results were in good

  7. Fabrication of nano-structured HA/CNT coatings on Ti6Al4V by electrophoretic deposition for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Bokai; Kwok, Chi Tat; Cheng, Fai Tsun; Man, Hau Chung

    2011-12-01

    In order to improve the bone bioactivity and osteointegration of metallic implants, hydroxyapatite (HA) is often coated on their surface so that a real bond with the surrounding bone tissue can be formed. In the present study, cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has been attempted for depositing nanostructured HA coatings on titanium alloy Ti6Al4V followed by sintering at 800 degrees C. Nano-sized HA powder was used in the EPD process to produce dense coatings. Moreover, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were also used to reinforce the HA coating for enhancing its mechanical strength. The surface morphology, compositions and microstructure of the monolithic coating of HA and nanocomposite coatings of HA with different CNT contents (4 to 25%) on Ti6Al4V were investigated by scanning-electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Xray diffractometry, respectively. Electrochemical corrosion behavior of the various coatings in Hanks' solution at 37 degrees C was investigated by means of open-circuit potential measurement and cyclic potentiodynamic polarization tests. Surface hardness, adhesion strength and bone bioactivity of the coatings were also studied. The HA and HA/CNT coatings had a thickness of about 10 microm, with corrosion resistance higher than that of the substrate and adhesion strength higher than that of plasma sprayed HA coating. The properties of the composite coatings were optimized by varying the CNT contents. The enhanced properties could be attributed to the use of nano-sized HA particles and CNTs. Compared with the monolithic HA coating, the CNT-reinforced HA coating markedly increased the coating hardness without deteriorating the corrosion resistance or adhesion strength.

  8. Nanostructural evolution during emission of CsI-coated carbon fiber cathodes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Drummy, Lawrence F.; Apt, Scott; Shiffler, Don; Golby, Ken; LaCour, Matt; Maruyama, Benji; Vaia, Richard A.

    2010-06-01

    Carbon-based nanofiber and microfiber cathodes exhibit very low voltages for the onset of electron emission, and thus provide exciting opportunities for applications ranging from high power microwave sources to field emission displays. CsI coatings have been experimentally shown to lower the work function for emission from the fiber tips, although little is known about the microstructure of the fibers themselves in their as-received state, after coating with CsI, or after being subjected to high voltage cycling. Longitudinal cross sections of the original, unused CsI-coated fibers produced by focused ion beam lift-out revealed a nanostructured graphitic core surrounded by an amorphous carbon shell with submicron sized islands of crystalline CsI on the outer surface. Aberration-corrected high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) of the fiber core achieved 0.10 nm resolution, with the graphite (200) clearly visible in digital fast Fourier transformations of the 2-4 nm highly ordered graphitic domains. As the cathode fibers are cycled at high voltage, HREM demonstrates that the graphitic ordering of the core increases with the number of cycles, however the structure and thickness of the amorphous carbon layer remains unchanged. These results are consistent with micro-Raman measurements of the fiber disordered/graphitic (D/G) band ratios. After high voltage cycling, a uniform ˜100 nm film at the fiber tip was evident in both bright field transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high angle annular dark field scanning TEM (STEM). Low-dose electron diffraction techniques confirmed the amorphous nature of this film, and STEM with elemental mapping via x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy indicates this layer is composed of CsIO. The oxidative evolution of tip composition and morphology due to impurities in the chamber, along with increased graphitization of the fiber core, contributes to changes in emission behavior with cycling.

  9. Synthesis and characterization of polymeric V2O5/AlO(OH) with nanopores on alumina support.

    PubMed

    Ahmad, A L; Abd Shukor, S R; Leo, C P

    2006-12-01

    Polymeric vanadium pentoxide gel was formed via the reaction of V2O5 powder with hydrogen peroxide. The polymeric vanadium pentoxide gel was then dispersed in alumina gel. Different vanadium loading composites were coated on alumina support and calcined at 500 degrees C for 1 hr. These composite layers were characterized using TGA, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and Autosorb. It was found that the lamellar structure of polymerized vanadium pentoxide was retained in the inorganic matrix. Crystalline alumina in gamma phase was formed after calcinations. However, the vanadium-alumina mixed oxides are lack of the well defined PXRD peaks for polycrystalline V2O5. This is possibly because the vanadia species are highly dispersed in the alumina matrix or the vanadia species are dispersed as crystalline which is smaller than 4 nm. In addition, the imbedded polymeric vanadium oxide improved the specific area and average pore diameter of the composite layer.

  10. Nanostructured calcium phosphate coatings on magnesium alloys: characterization and cytocompatibility with mesenchymal stem cells

    PubMed Central

    Iskandar, Maria Emil; Aslani, Arash; Tian, Qiaomu

    2016-01-01

    This article reports the deposition and characterization of nanostructured calcium phosphate (nCaP) on magnesium–yttrium alloy substrates and their cytocompatibility with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The nCaP coatings were deposited on magnesium and magnesium–yttrium alloy substrates using proprietary transonic particle acceleration process for the dual purposes of modulating substrate degradation and BMSC adhesion. Surface morphology and feature size were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and quantitative image analysis tools. Surface elemental compositions and phases were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The deposited nCaP coatings showed a homogeneous particulate surface with the dominant feature size of 200–500 nm in the long axis and 100–300 nm in the short axis, and a Ca/P atomic ratio of 1.5–1.6. Hydroxyapatite was the major phase identified in the nCaP coatings. The modulatory effects of nCaP coatings on the sample degradation and BMSC behaviors were dependent on the substrate composition and surface conditions. The direct culture of BMSCs in vitro indicated that multiple factors, including surface composition and topography, and the degradation-induced changes in media composition, influenced cell adhesion directly on the sample surface, and indirect adhesion surrounding the sample in the same culture. The alkaline pH, the indicator of Mg degradation, played a role in BMSC adhesion and morphology, but not the sole factor. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate BMSC responses to each contributing factor. PMID:25917827

  11. Nanostructured calcium phosphate coatings on magnesium alloys: characterization and cytocompatibility with mesenchymal stem cells.

    PubMed

    Iskandar, Maria Emil; Aslani, Arash; Tian, Qiaomu; Liu, Huinan

    2015-05-01

    This article reports the deposition and characterization of nanostructured calcium phosphate (nCaP) on magnesium-yttrium alloy substrates and their cytocompatibility with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The nCaP coatings were deposited on magnesium and magnesium-yttrium alloy substrates using proprietary transonic particle acceleration process for the dual purposes of modulating substrate degradation and BMSC adhesion. Surface morphology and feature size were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and quantitative image analysis tools. Surface elemental compositions and phases were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The deposited nCaP coatings showed a homogeneous particulate surface with the dominant feature size of 200-500 nm in the long axis and 100-300 nm in the short axis, and a Ca/P atomic ratio of 1.5-1.6. Hydroxyapatite was the major phase identified in the nCaP coatings. The modulatory effects of nCaP coatings on the sample degradation and BMSC behaviors were dependent on the substrate composition and surface conditions. The direct culture of BMSCs in vitro indicated that multiple factors, including surface composition and topography, and the degradation-induced changes in media composition, influenced cell adhesion directly on the sample surface, and indirect adhesion surrounding the sample in the same culture. The alkaline pH, the indicator of Mg degradation, played a role in BMSC adhesion and morphology, but not the sole factor. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate BMSC responses to each contributing factor.

  12. Thin coatings for heavy industry: Advanced coatings for pipes and valves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vernhes, Luc

    characteristics suitable for applications such as pipes and valves. From these general objectives, three specific objectives were derived: 1) to select and assess the best candidates for alternatives to hard chromium electroplating, which has been classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an environmentally unfriendly process; 2) to investigate recurrent failures occurring in the field with thermal sprayed HVOF Cr3C 2-NiCr coating applied to Inconel 718 PH when exposed to supercritical steam lines and thermal shocks in supercritical power plants (determining the root causes of coating failures and assessing potential coating alternatives to alleviate these issues); and 3) to develop new coating architectures, including complex microstructures and interfaces, and to better understand and optimize complex tribomechanical properties. The main results are presented in the form of articles in peer-reviewed journals. In the first article, a variety of chromium-free protective coatings were assessed as alternatives to hard chromium (HC) electroplating, such as nanostructured cobalt-phosphor (NCP) deposited by electroplating and tungsten/tungsten carbide (W/WC) applied by chemical vapor deposition. In order to compare performance across the coatings, a series of laboratory tests were performed, including hardness, microscratch, pin-on-disk, and electrochemical polarization measurements. Mechanical and fatigue resistance were also determined using prototype valves with coated ball under severe tribocorrosion conditions. It was found that W/WC coating exhibits superior wear and corrosion resistance due to high hardness and high pitting resistance, respectively, whereas NCP exhibits better wear resistance than HC with alumina ball as well as low corrosion potential, making it suitable for use as sacrificial protective coating. Both nanostructured coatings exhibited superior tribomechanical and functional characteristics compared to HC. The second article presents an

  13. Mechanisms of LiCoO2 Cathode Degradation by Reaction with HF and Protection by Thin Oxide Coatings.

    PubMed

    Tebbe, Jonathon L; Holder, Aaron M; Musgrave, Charles B

    2015-11-04

    Reactions of HF with uncoated and Al and Zn oxide-coated surfaces of LiCoO2 cathodes were studied using density functional theory. Cathode degradation caused by reaction of HF with the hydroxylated (101̅4) LiCoO2 surface is dominated by formation of H2O and a LiF precipitate via a barrierless reaction that is exothermic by 1.53 eV. We present a detailed mechanism where HF reacts at the alumina coating to create a partially fluorinated alumina surface rather than forming AlF3 and H2O and thus alumina films reduce cathode degradation by scavenging HF and avoiding H2O formation. In contrast, we find that HF etches monolayer zinc oxide coatings, which thus fail to prevent capacity fading. However, thicker zinc oxide films mitigate capacity loss by reacting with HF to form a partially fluorinated zinc oxide surface. Metal oxide coatings that react with HF to form hydroxyl groups over H2O, like the alumina monolayer, will significantly reduce cathode degradation.

  14. Investigation of Ag-TiO2 nanostructures photocatalytic properties prepared by modified dip coating method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    AlArfaj, Esam

    2016-05-01

    In this article, titanium dioxide and silver nanostructures were deposited on glass substrates using modified sol-gel methods and dip-coating technique. The films were characterised chemically and physically using different techniques (TLC, UV-Vis and XRD) and tested for environmental applications regarding degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 nanostructures is tested with different small concentrations of phenol in water and reaction mechanisms discussed. Considerable enhancement is observed in the photodegradation activity of Ag-modified (3 wt.%) TiO2 compared to unmodified TiO2 nanostructures for phenol concentrations within the pseudo-first-order Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) model for reaction kinetics. The pseudo-first-order global degradation rate constant increased from <0.005 min-1 for TiO2 to 0.013 min-1 for 3 mol% Ag-modified TiO2. The enhancement is attributed to the incorporation of Ag which promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species and increases the carrier recombination life-time. In addition, Ag has been observed to extend the absorption to the visible region by its surface plasmon resonances and to suppress the anatase-rutile phase transformation. Moreover, TiO2 grain size prepared was found to be 10 nm which maximises the active surface area. For phenol initial concentrations as low as 0.0002 M, saturation trend in the degradation process occurred at 0.00014 M and the reaction rate can be fitted with half-order LH kinetics.

  15. Laser induced heating of coated carbon steel sheets: Consideration of melting and Marangoni flow

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shuja, S. Z.; Yilbas, B. S.

    2013-04-01

    Laser induced melting of coated carbon steel workpiece is simulated. The coating materials include tungsten carbide, alumina, and boron are incorporated in the simulations. The coating thickness is kept constant at 7.5 μm in the analysis. The enthalpy porosity method is used to account for the phase change in the irradiated region. The study is extended to include the influence of laser intensity transverse mode pattern (β) on the resulting melting characteristics. It is found that peak temperature predicted at the surface is higher for alumina and boron coatings than that of tungsten carbide coating. The influence of the laser intensity transverse mode pattern on the melting characteristics is considerable. Surface temperature predicted agrees with the thermocouple data.

  16. Liquid permeation and chemical stability of anodic alumina membranes

    PubMed Central

    Buldakov, Dmitrii A; Tishkin, Alexey A; Lukashin, Alexey V; Eliseev, Andrei A

    2017-01-01

    A study on the chemical stability of anodic alumina membranes and their performance in long-term water and organic solvent permeation experiments is reported. Anodic alumina possesses high stability for both protonic and aprotonic organic solvents. However, serious degradation of the membrane occurs in pure water, leading to a drastic decrease of permeance (over 20% of the initial value after the passing of 0.250 m3/m2 of pure water). The drying of the membrane induces further permeance drop-off. The rate of membrane degradation strongly depends on the pH of the penetrant solution and increases in basic media. According to 27Al NMR and thermogravimetry results, the degradation of the membranes is associated with the dissolution of water-soluble [Al13O4(OH)24(H2O)12]7+ polyhydroxocomplexes and their further redeposition in the form of [Al(OH)4]−, resulting in channels blocking. This process intensifies in basic pH due to the high positive charge of the anodic alumina surface. An approach for improving anodic aluminum oxide stability towards dissolution in water by carbon CVD coating of the membrane walls is suggested. PMID:28382245

  17. Humidity sensing properties of Al-doped zinc oxide coating films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saidi, S. A.; Mamat, M. H.; Ismail, A. S.; Malek, M. F.; Yusoff, M. M.; Sin, N. D. Md.; Zoolfakar, A. S.; Khusaimi, Z.; Rusop, M.

    2018-05-01

    Humidity sensor was fabricated using Al-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) coating films through spin-coating at room temperature. The sensing mechanism was discussed based on their nanostructures, such as surface area and porous nanostructures. Surface area and water adsorption are an important component in the low humidity, while at high humidity, porous nanostructures and capillary condensation become important. The results showed that the sensitivity of the Al-doped ZnO coating improved compared to that of the Al-doped ZnO nanorod arrays, with values of 7.38 at 40% to 90%RH (Relative humidity). All these results indicated that Al-doped ZnO coating had high potential for humidity-sensor applications.

  18. Study of alumina-trichite reinforcement of a nickel-based matric by means of powder metallurgy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Walder, A.; Hivert, A.

    1982-01-01

    Research was conducted on reinforcing nickel based matrices with alumina trichites by using powder metallurgy. Alumina trichites previously coated with nickel are magnetically aligned. The felt obtained is then sintered under a light pressure at a temperature just below the melting point of nickel. The halogenated atmosphere technique makes it possible to incorporate a large number of additive elements such as chromium, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, aluminum, etc. It does not appear that going from laboratory scale to a semi-industrial scale in production would create any major problems.

  19. Optical response of nanostructured metal/dielectric composites and multilayers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, Geoffrey B.; Maaroof, Abbas I.; Allan, Rodney S.; Schelm, Stefan; Anstis, Geoffrey R.; Cortie, Michael B.

    2004-08-01

    The homogeneous optical response in conducting nanostructured layers, and in insulating layers containing dense arrays of self assembled conducting nanoparticles separated by organic linkers, is examined experimentally through their effective complex indices (n*, k*). Classical effective medium models, modified to account for the 3-phase nanostructure, are shown to explain (n*, k*) in dense particulate systems but not inhomogeneous layers with macroscopic conductance for which a different approach to homogenisation is discussed. (n*, k*) data on thin granular metal films, thin mesoporous gold, and on thin metal layers containing ordered arrays of voids, is linked to properties of the surface plasmon states which span the nanostructured film. Coupling between evanescent waves at either surface counterbalanced by electron scattering losses must be considered. Virtual bound states for resonant photons result, with the associated transit delay leading to a large rise in n* in many nanostructures. Overcoating n-Ag with alumina is shown to alter (n*, k*) through its impact on the SP coupling. In contrast to classical optical homogenisation, effective indices depend on film thickness. Supporting high resolution SEM images are presented.

  20. Moisture-Induced Alumina Scale Spallation: The Hydrogen Factor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smialek, James L.

    2010-01-01

    For some time the oxidation community has been concerned with interfacial spallation of protective alumina scales, not just upon immediate cool down, but as a time-delayed phenomenon. Moisture-induced delayed spallation (MIDS) and desktop spallation (DTS) of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) refer to this process. It is most apparent for relatively adherent alumina scales that have survived initial cool down in a dry environment, have built up considerable thickness and strain energy, and have been somewhat damaged, such as by cyclic oxidation cracking. Indeed, a "sensitive zone" can be described that maximizes the observed effect as a function of all the relevant factors. Moisture has been postulated to serve as a source of interfacial hydrogen embrittlement. Hydrogen is derived from reaction with aluminum in the alloy at an exposed interface. The purpose of this monograph is to trace the close analogy of this phenomenon to other hydrogen-induced effects, such as embrittlement of aluminides and blistering of alloys and anodic alumina films. A formalized, top-down, logic-tree structure is presented as a guide to this discussion. A theoretical basis for interfacial weakening by hydrogen is first cited, as are demonstrations of hydrogen detection as a reaction product or interfacial species. Further support is provided by critical experiments that recreate the moisture effect, but by isolating hydrogen from other potential causative factors. These experiments include tests in H 2-containing atmospheres or cathodic hydrogen charging. Accordingly, they strongly indicate that interfacial hydrogen, derived from moisture, is the key chemical species accounting for delayed alumina scale spallation.

  1. A nanoporous alumina microelectrode array for functional cell-chip coupling.

    PubMed

    Wesche, Manuel; Hüske, Martin; Yakushenko, Alexey; Brüggemann, Dorothea; Mayer, Dirk; Offenhäusser, Andreas; Wolfrum, Bernhard

    2012-12-14

    The design of electrode interfaces has a strong impact on cell-based bioelectronic applications. We present a new type of microelectrode array chip featuring a nanoporous alumina interface. The chip is fabricated in a combination of top-down and bottom-up processes using state-of-the-art clean room technology and self-assembled generation of nanopores by aluminum anodization. The electrode characteristics are investigated in phosphate buffered saline as well as under cell culture conditions. We show that the modified microelectrodes exhibit decreased impedance compared to planar microelectrodes, which is caused by a nanostructuring effect of the underlying gold during anodization. The stability and biocompatibility of the device are demonstrated by measuring action potentials from cardiomyocyte-like cells growing on top of the chip. Cross sections of the cell-surface interface reveal that the cell membrane seals the nanoporous alumina layer without bending into the sub-50 nm apertures. The nanoporous microelectrode array device may be used as a platform for combining extracellular recording of cell activity with stimulating topographical cues.

  2. Control of exposure to hexavalent chromium concentration in shielded metal arc welding fumes by nano-coating of electrodes.

    PubMed

    Sivapirakasam, S P; Mohan, Sreejith; Santhosh Kumar, M C; Thomas Paul, Ashley; Surianarayanan, M

    2017-04-01

    Background Cr(VI) is a suspected human carcinogen formed as a by-product of stainless steel welding. Nano-alumina and nano-titania coating of electrodes reduced the welding fume levels. Objective To investigate the effect of nano-coating of welding electrodes on Cr(VI) formation rate (Cr(VI) FR) from a shielded metal arc welding process. Methods The core welding wires were coated with nano-alumina and nano-titania using the sol-gel dip coating technique. Bead-on plate welds were deposited on SS 316 LN plates kept inside a fume test chamber. Cr(VI) analysis was done using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Results A reduction of 40% and 76%, respectively, in the Cr(VI) FR was observed from nano-alumina and nano-titania coated electrodes. Increase in the fume level decreased the Cr(VI) FR. Discussion Increase in fume levels blocked the UV radiation responsible for the formation of ozone thereby preventing the formation of Cr(VI).

  3. Design of hybrid two-dimensional and three-dimensional nanostructured arrays for electronic and sensing applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ko, Hyunhyub

    This dissertation presents the design of organic/inorganic hybrid 2D and 3D nanostructured arrays via controlled assembly of nanoscale building blocks. Two representative nanoscale building blocks such as carbon nanotubes (one-dimension) and metal nanoparticles (zero-dimension) are the core materials for the study of solution-based assembly of nanostructured arrays. The electrical, mechanical, and optical properties of the assembled nanostructure arrays have been investigated for future device applications. We successfully demonstrated the prospective use of assembled nanostructure arrays for electronic and sensing applications by designing flexible carbon nanotube nanomembranes as mechanical sensors, highly-oriented carbon nanotubes arrays for thin-film transistors, and gold nanoparticle arrays for SERS chemical sensors. In first section, we fabricated highly ordered carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays by tilted drop-casting or dip-coating of CNT solution on silicon substrates functionalized with micropatterned self-assembled monolayers. We further exploited the electronic performance of thin-film transistors based on highly-oriented, densely packed CNT micropatterns and showed that the carrier mobility is largely improved compared to randomly oriented CNTs. The prospective use of Raman-active CNTs for potential mechanical sensors has been investigated by studying the mechano-optical properties of flexible carbon nanotube nanomembranes, which contain freely-suspended carbon nanotube array encapsulated into ultrathin (<50 nm) layer-by-layer (LbL) polymer multilayers. In second section, we fabricated 3D nano-canal arrays of porous alumina membranes decorated with gold nanoparticles for prospective SERS sensors. We showed extraordinary SERS enhancement and suggested that the high performance is associated with the combined effects of Raman-active hot spots of nanoparticle aggregates and the optical waveguide properties of nano-canals. We demonstrated the ability of this

  4. Ultrasonic cavitation erosion of high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) sprayed near-nanostructured WC-10Co-4Cr coating in NaCl solution.

    PubMed

    Hong, Sheng; Wu, Yuping; Zhang, Jianfeng; Zheng, Yugui; Qin, Yujiao; Lin, Jinran

    2015-09-01

    The high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spraying process was used to prepare near-nanostructured WC-10Co-4Cr coating. The cavitation erosion behavior and mechanism of the coating in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the amorphous phase and WC grain were present in the coating. The cavitation erosion resistance of the coating was about 1.27 times that of the stainless steel 1Cr18Ni9Ti under the same testing conditions. The effects of erosion time on the microstructural evolution were discussed. It was revealed that cracks initiated at the edge of pre-existing pores and propagated along the carbide-binder interface, leading to the pull-out of carbide particle and the formation of pits and craters on the surface. The main failure mechanism of the coating was erosion of the binder phases, brittle detachment of hard phases and formation of pitting corrosion products. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Engineering a new class of thermal spray nano-based microstructures from agglomerated nanostructured particles, suspensions and solutions: an invited review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fauchais, P.; Montavon, G.; Lima, R. S.; Marple, B. R.

    2011-03-01

    From the pioneering works of McPherson in 1973 who identified nanometre-sized features in thermal spray conventional alumina coatings (using sprayed particles in the tens of micrometres size range) to the most recent and most advanced work aimed at manufacturing nanostructured coatings from nanometre-sized feedstock particles, the thermal spray community has been involved with nanometre-sized features and feedstock for more than 30 years. Both the development of feedstock (especially through cryo-milling, and processes able to manufacture coatings structured at the sub-micrometre or nanometre sizes, such as micrometre-sized agglomerates made of nanometre-sized particles for feedstock) and the emergence of thermal spray processes such as suspension and liquid precursor thermal spray techniques have been driven by the need to manufacture coatings with enhanced properties. These techniques result in two different types of coatings: on the one hand, those with a so-called bimodal structure having nanometre-sized zones embedded within micrometre ones, for which the spray process is similar to that of conventional coatings and on the other hand, sub-micrometre or nanostructured coatings achieved by suspension or solution spraying. Compared with suspension spraying, solution precursor spraying uses molecularly mixed precursors as liquids, avoiding a separate processing route for the preparation of powders and enabling the synthesis of a wide range of oxide powders and coatings. Such coatings are intended for use in various applications ranging from improved thermal barrier layers and wear-resistant surfaces to thin solid electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cell systems, among other numerous applications. Meanwhile these processes are more complex to operate since they are more sensitive to parameter variations compared with conventional thermal spray processes. Progress in this area has resulted from the unique combination of modelling activities, the evolution of

  6. Gallium arsenide/gold nanostructures deposited using plasma method

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

    Mangla, O.; Physics Department, Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007; Roy, S.

    2016-05-23

    The fabrication of gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanostructures on gold coated glass, quartz and silicon substrates using the high fluence and highly energetic ions has been reported. The high fluence and highly energetic ions are produced by the hot, dense and extremely non-equilibrium plasma in a modified dense plasma focus device. The nanostructures having mean size about 14 nm, 13 nm and 18 nm are deposited on gold coated glass, quartz and silicon substrates, respectively. The optical properties of nanostructures studied using absorption spectra show surface plasmon resonance peak of gold nanoparticles. In addition, the band-gap of GaAs nanoparticles is more than that ofmore » bulk GaAs suggesting potential applications in the field of optoelectronic and sensor systems.« less

  7. Alumina/polymer-coated nanocrystals with extremely high stability used as a color conversion material in LEDs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Woo, Ju Yeon; Lee, Jongsoo; Han, Chang-Soo

    2013-12-01

    The long-term stability of quantum dot (QD)-based devices under harsh environmental conditions has been a critical bottleneck to be resolved for commercial use. Here, we demonstrate an extremely stable QD/alumina/polymer hybrid structure by combining internal atomic layer deposition (ALD) infilling with polymer encapsulation. ALD infilling and polymer encapsulation of QDs synergistically prohibit the degradation of QDs in terms of optical, thermal and humid attacks. Our hybrid QD/alumina/polymer film structure showed no noticeable reduction in photoluminescence even in a commercial grade test (85% humidity at 85 ° C) over 28 days. In addition, we successfully fabricated a QD-based light-emitting device with excellent long-term stability by incorporating hybrid QD/alumina/polymer film as a color conversion material on light-emitting diode chips.

  8. Interpenetrating phase ceramic/polymer composite coatings: Fabrication and characterization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Craig, Bradley Dene

    The goals of this thesis research were to fabricate interpenetrating phase composite (IPC) ceramic/polymer coatings and to investigate the effect of the interconnected microstructure on the physical and wear properties of the coatings. IPC coatings with an interpenetrating phase microstructure were successfully fabricated by first forming a porous ceramic with an interconnected microstructure using a chemical bonding route (mainly reacting alpha-alumina (0.3 mum) with orthophosphoric acid to form a phosphate bond). Porosity within these ceramic coatings was easily controlled between 20 and 50 vol. % by phosphoric acid addition, and was measured by a new porosity measurement technique (thermogravimetric volatilization of liquids, or TVL) which was developed. The resulting ceramic preforms were infiltrated with a UV and thermally curable cycloaliphatic epoxide resin and cured. This fabrication route resulted in composite coatings with thicknesses ranging from ˜1mum to 100 mum with complete filling of open pore space. The physical properties of the composite coatings, including microhardness, flexural modulus and wear resistance, were evaluated as a function of processing variables, including orthophosphoric acid content and ceramic phase firing temperature, which affected the microstructure and interparticulate bonding between particles in the coatings. For example, microhardness increased from ˜30 on the Vicker's scale to well over 200 as interparticulate bonding was increased in the ceramic phase. Additionally, Taber wear resistance in the best TPC coatings was found to approach that of fully-densified alumina under certain conditions. Several factors were found to influence the wear mechanism in the IPC coating materials. Forming strong connections between ceramic particles led to up to an order of magnitude increase in the wear resistance. Additionally, coating microhardness and ceramic/polymer interfacial strength were studied and found to be important in

  9. Enhancing the platinum atomic layer deposition infiltration depth inside anodic alumina nanoporous membrane

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

    Vaish, Amit, E-mail: anv@udel.edu; Krueger, Susan; Dimitriou, Michael

    Nanoporous platinum membranes can be straightforwardly fabricated by forming a Pt coating inside the nanopores of anodic alumina membranes (AAO) using atomic layer deposition (ALD). However, the high-aspect-ratio of AAO makes Pt ALD very challenging. By tuning the process deposition temperature and precursor exposure time, enhanced infiltration depth along with conformal coating was achieved for Pt ALD inside the AAO templates. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and small angle neutron scattering were employed to analyze the Pt coverage and thickness inside the AAO nanopores. Additionally, one application of platinum-coated membrane was demonstrated by creating a high-density protein-functionalized interface.

  10. Nanostructure of and structural defects in a Mo2BC hard coating investigated by transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gleich, Stephan; Fager, Hanna; Bolvardi, Hamid; Achenbach, Jan-Ole; Soler, Rafael; Pradeep, Konda Gokuldoss; Schneider, Jochen M.; Dehm, Gerhard; Scheu, Christina

    2017-08-01

    In this work, the nanostructure of a Mo2BC hard coating was determined by several transmission electron microscopy methods and correlated with the mechanical properties. The coating was deposited on a Si (100) wafer by bipolar pulsed direct current magnetron sputtering from a Mo2BC compound target in Ar at a substrate temperature of 630 °C. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed structural features at various length scales: bundles (30 nm to networks of several micrometers) consisting of columnar grains (˜10 nm in diameter), grain boundary regions with a less ordered atomic arrangement, and defects including disordered clusters (˜1.5 nm in diameter) as well as stacking faults within the grains. The most prominent defect with a volume fraction of ˜0.5% is the disordered clusters, which were investigated in detail by electron energy loss spectroscopy and atom probe tomography. The results provide conclusive evidence that Ar is incorporated into the Mo2BC film as disordered Ar-rich Mo-B-C clusters of approximately 1.5 nm in diameter. Hardness values of 28 ± 1 GPa were obtained by nanoindentation tests. The Young's modulus of the Mo2BC coating exhibits a value of 462 ± 9 GPa, which is consistent with ab initio calculations for crystalline and defect free Mo2BC and measurements of combinatorically deposited Mo2BC thin films at a substrate temperature of 900 °C. We conclude that a reduction of the substrate temperature of 270 °C has no significant influence on hardness and Young's modulus of the Mo2BC hard coating, even if its nanostructure exhibits defects.

  11. Multiscale Experimental and Numerical Approach to the Powder Particle Shape Effect on Al-Al2O3 Coating Build-Up

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leger, P. E.; Sennour, M.; Delloro, F.; Borit, F.; Debray, A.; Gaslain, F.; Jeandin, M.; Ducos, M.

    2017-10-01

    Aluminum (Al) powders with spherical and irregular particle shapes were mixed with two alumina (Al2O3) powders with either a spherical or an angular particle shape to achieve high-performance cold-sprayed coatings onto steel. Two effects of the aluminum particle shape were observed. First, coating microstructure observation showed impinging heterogeneity depending on particle shape. Second, particle jet differences depending on particle morphology were shown by velocity maps. From the latter, SEM and XRD, three effects of the alumina particle shape were also shown, i.e., higher in-flight velocity of angular particles, fragmentation of spherical hollow particles and embedding of alumina particles with aluminum. Numerical simulation of particle impacts was developed to study the densification of Al coating due to Al2O3 addition through elucidation of Al-Al2O3 interaction behavior at the scale of the coating. Al/Al and Al/Al2O3 interfaces were investigated using TEM to understand coating strengthening effects due to alumina addition at the scale of the particle. As a whole, Al and Al2O3 particle shape effects were claimed to explain coating mechanical properties, e.g., microhardness and coating-substrate bond strength. This study resulted in specifying criteria to help cold spray users in selecting powders for their applications, to meet economic and technical requirements.

  12. Bactericidal Effects of HVOF-Sprayed Nanostructured TiO2 on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jeffery, B.; Peppler, M.; Lima, R. S.; McDonald, A.

    2010-01-01

    Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been shown to exhibit photocatalytic bactericidal activity. This preliminary study focused on examining the photocatalytic activity of high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) sprayed nanostructured TiO2 coatings to kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The surfaces of the nanostructured TiO2 coatings were lightly polished before addition of the bacterial solution. Plates of P. aeruginosa were grown, and then suspended in a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution. The concentration of bacteria used was determined by a photo-spectrometer, which measured the amount of light absorbed by the bacteria-filled solution. This solution was diluted and pipetted onto the coating, which was exposed to white light in 30-min intervals, up to 120 min. It was found that on polished HVOF-sprayed coatings exposed to white light, 24% of the bacteria were killed after exposure for 120 min. On stainless steel controls, approximately 6% of the bacteria were not recovered. These preliminary results show that thermal-sprayed nanostructured TiO2 coatings exhibited photocatalytic bactericidal activity with P. aeruginosa.

  13. Effects of Anode Arc Root Fluctuation on Coating Quality During Plasma Spraying

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    An, Lian-Tong; Gao, Yang; Sun, Chengqi

    2011-06-01

    To obtain a coating of high quality, a new type of plasma torch was designed and constructed to increase the stability of the plasma arc and reduce the air entrainment into the plasma jet. The torch, called bi-anode torch, generates an elongated arc with comparatively high arc voltage and low arc fluctuation. Spraying experiments were carried out to compare the quality of coatings deposited by a conventional torch and a bi-anode torch. Alumina coatings and tungsten carbide coatings were prepared to appraise the heating of the sprayed particles in the plasma jets and the entrainment of the surrounding air into the plasma jets, respectively. The results show that anode arc root fluctuation has only a small effect on the melting rate of alumina particles. On the other hand, reduced air entrainment into the plasma jet of the bi-anode torch will drastically reduce the decarbonization of tungsten carbide coatings.

  14. Chemical Processing of Nanostructured Coatings

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-01-01

    increasing particle loading in sol-gel process (8-10). This approach involved dispersing large ceramic powders in sol-gel solution, and the mixture...the high loading of ceramic powders. One way to prepare thicker coatings is to add powders into the sol. This helps to reduce the capillary stresses...thickness that range between 2 and 4 microns. In order to investigate the nature and origin of the textured region of the coatings, GIXS was used to

  15. Issues in nanocomposite ceramic engineering: focus on processing and properties of alumina-based composites.

    PubMed

    Palmero, Paola; Kern, Frank; Sommer, Frank; Lombardi, Mariangela; Gadow, Rainer; Montanaro, Laura

    2014-12-30

    Ceramic nanocomposites, containing at least one phase in the nanometric dimension, have received special interest in recent years. They have, in fact, demonstrated increased performance, reliability and lifetime with respect to monolithic ceramics. However, a successful approach to the production of tailored composite nanostructures requires the development of innovative concepts at each step of manufacturing, from the synthesis of composite nanopowders, to their processing and sintering.This review aims to deepen understanding of some of the critical issues associated with the manufacturing of nanocomposite ceramics, focusing on alumina-based composite systems. Two case studies are presented and briefly discussed. The former illustrates the benefits, in terms of sintered microstructure and related mechanical properties, resulting from the application of an engineering approach to a laboratory-scale protocol for the elaboration of nanocomposites in the system alumina-ZrO2-YAG (yttrium aluminium garnet). The latter illustrates the manufacturing of alumina-based composites for large-scale applications such as cutting tools, carried out by an injection molding process. The need for an engineering approach to be applied in all processing steps is demonstrated also in this second case study, where a tailored manufacturing process is required to obtain the desired results.

  16. Effect of Isothermal Temperature on Growth Behavior of Nanostructured Bainite in Laser Cladded Coatings

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Yanbing; Yao, Chengwu; Feng, Kai; Li, Zhuguo; Chu, Paul K.; Wu, Yixiong

    2017-01-01

    The growth and propagation behavior of austenite-to-bainite isothermal transformation in laser-cladded, Si-rich, and Fe-based coatings is investigated. The crystallographic features, orientation relationship at different isothermal temperatures, and the morphology of the nanostructured bainite are determined. The Nishiyama-Wassermann type orientation relationship is observed at a high temperature and at a low temperature, and mixed Nishiyama-Wassermann and Kurdjumov-Sach mechanisms are seen. The growth direction is investigated by the partial dislocation theory and an extrapolated model based on the repeated formation of lenticular-shaped subunits and pile-up along the close-packed directions of the close-packed planes. The variants of the bainite growth directions would be more selective at the high transformation temperature. PMID:28773161

  17. A biotemplated nickel nanostructure: Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity

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

    Ashtari, Khadijeh; Fasihi, Javad; Mollania, Nasrin

    Highlights: • Nickel nanostructure-encapsulated bacteria were prepared using electroless deposition. • Bacterium surface was activated by red-ox reaction of its surface amino acids. • Interfacial changes at cell surfaces were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. • TEM and AFM depicted morphological changes. • Antibacterial activity of nanostructure was examined against different bacteria strains. - Abstract: Nickel nanostructure-encapsulated bacteria were prepared using the electroless deposition procedure and activation of bacterium cell surface by red-ox reaction of surface amino acids. The electroless deposition step occurred in the presence of Ni(II) and dimethyl amine boran (DMAB). Interfacial changes at bacteria cell surfaces during themore » coating process were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence of tryptophan residues was completely quenched after the deposition of nickel onto bacteria surfaces. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) depicted morphological changes on the surface of the bacterium. It was found that the Ni coated nanostructure was mechanically stable after ultrasonication for 20 min. Significant increase in surface roughness of bacteria was also observed after deposition of Ni clusters. The amount of coated Ni on the bacteria surface was calculated as 36% w/w. The antibacterial activity of fabricated nanostructure in culture media was examined against three different bacteria strains; Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Xantomonas campestris. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined as 500 mg/L, 350 mg/L and 200 mg/L against bacteria, respectively.« less

  18. Third-generation pure alumina and alumina matrix composites in total hip arthroplasty

    PubMed Central

    Hannouche, Didier; Zingg, Matthieu; Miozzari, Hermes; Nizard, Remy; Lübbeke, Anne

    2018-01-01

    Wear, corrosion and periprosthetic osteolysis are important causes of failure in joint arthroplasty, especially in young patients. Ceramic bearings, developed 40 years ago, are an increasingly popular choice in hip arthroplasty. New manufacturing procedures have increased the strength and reliability of ceramic materials and reduced the risk of complications. In recent decades, ceramics made of pure alumina have continuously improved, resulting in a surgical-grade material that fulfills clinical requirements. Despite the track record of safety and long-term results, third-generation pure alumina ceramics are being replaced in clinical practice by alumina matrix composites, which are composed of alumina and zirconium. In this review, the characteristics of both materials are discussed, and the long-term results with third-generation alumina-on-alumina bearings and the associated complications are compared with those of other available ceramics. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3:7-14. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170034 PMID:29657840

  19. Characterization of nanostructured CuO-porous silicon matrix formed on copper-coated silicon substrate via electrochemical etching

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naddaf, M.; Mrad, O.; Al-zier, A.

    2014-06-01

    A pulsed anodic etching method has been utilized for nanostructuring of a copper-coated p-type (100) silicon substrate, using HF-based solution as electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the formation of a nanostructured matrix that consists of island-like textures with nanosize grains grown onto fiber-like columnar structures separated with etch pits of grooved porous structures. Spatial micro-Raman scattering analysis indicates that the island-like texture is composed of single-phase cupric oxide (CuO) nanocrystals, while the grooved porous structure is barely related to formation of porous silicon (PS). X-ray diffraction shows that both the grown CuO nanostructures and the etched silicon layer have the same preferred (220) orientation. Chemical composition obtained by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis confirms the presence of the single-phase CuO on the surface of the patterned CuO-PS matrix. As compared to PS formed on the bare silicon substrate, the room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) from the CuO-PS matrix exhibits an additional weak `blue' PL band as well as a blue shift in the PL band of PS (S-band). This has been revealed from XPS analysis to be associated with the enhancement in the SiO2 content as well as formation of the carbonyl group on the surface in the case of the CuO-PS matrix.

  20. Fabrication of nanostructures and nanostructure based interfaces for biosensor application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Srivastava, Devesh

    Nanoparticles have applications from electronics, composites, drug-delivery, imaging and sensors etc. Fabricating and controlling shape and size of nanoparticles and also controlling the positioning of these particles in 1, 2 or 3-d structures is of most interest. The underlying theme of this study is to develop simple and efficient techniques to fabricate nanoparticles from polymers, and also achieve control in shape, size and functionalization of nanoparticles, while applying them in biosensor applications. First part of the dissertation studies the fabrication of nanostructures using anodized alumina membrane as template. It discusses the fabrication design for injecting polystyrene nanoparticles inside the pores of anodized alumina membranes and heating the membrane to coalesce the particles into tapered nanoparticles. Various parameters like temperature and amount of injected particles can vary the size and shape of fabricated nanoparticles. Later it focuses on the fabrication of metallic nanostructures using the alumina membranes without the aid of the injection system. It utilizes the difference in the functionality of the pore edges of cleaved alumina membrane with respect to the pore walls to first deposit charged polymers using layer-by-layer deposition followed by deposition of nickel. Second part of this study involves immobilization of enzymes for biosensor applications. It describes a biosensor interface developed by immobilization of tyrosinase using layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition process. The interface was modified with functional nanoparticles and their influence on the response of biosensor was studied. Tyrosinase sensor was further extended to develop a novel biosensor which was used to study real time inhibition of NEST, a subunit of the medically relevant membrane protein, neuropathy target esterase. The biosensor was developed to give real time monitoring of dose dependent decrease in activity of NEST. Final part of this study emphasizes on

  1. Synthesis of boron nitride nanostructures from catalyst of iron compounds via thermal chemical vapor deposition technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    da Silva, Wellington M.; Ribeiro, Hélio; Ferreira, Tiago H.; Ladeira, Luiz O.; Sousa, Edésia M. B.

    2017-05-01

    For the first time, patterned growth of boron nitride nanostructures (BNNs) is achieved by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) technique at 1150 °C using a mixture of FeS/Fe2O3 catalyst supported in alumina nanostructured, boron amorphous and ammonia (NH3) as reagent gas. This innovative catalyst was synthesized in our laboratory and systematically characterized. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The X-ray diffraction profile of the synthesized catalyst indicates the coexistence of three different crystal structures showing the presence of a cubic structure of iron oxide and iron sulfide besides the gamma alumina (γ) phase. The results show that boron nitride bamboo-like nanotubes (BNNTs) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets were successfully synthesized. Furthermore, the important contribution of this work is the manufacture of BNNs from FeS/Fe2O3 mixture.

  2. Platinum-based electrocatalysts synthesized by depositing contiguous adlayers on carbon nanostructures

    DOEpatents

    Adzic, Radoslav R.; Harris, Alexander

    2015-10-06

    High-surface-area carbon nanostructures coated with a smooth and conformal submonolayer-to-multilayer thin metal films and their method of manufacture are described. The manufacturing process may involve initial oxidation of the carbon nanostructures followed by immersion in a solution with the desired pH to create negative surface dipoles. The nanostructures are subsequently immersed in an alkaline solution containing non-noble metal ions which adsorb at surface reaction sites. The metal ions are then reduced via chemical or electrical means and the nanostructures are exposed to a solution containing a salt of one or more noble metals which replace adsorbed non-noble surface metal atoms by galvanic displacement. Subsequent film growth may be performed via the initial quasi-underpotential deposition of a non-noble metal followed by immersion in a solution comprising a more noble metal. The resulting coated nanostructures may be used, for example, as high-performance electrodes in supercapacitors, batteries, or other electric storage devices.

  3. Platinum-based electrocatalysts synthesized by depositing contiguous adlayers on carbon nanostructures

    DOEpatents

    Adzic, Radoslav; Harris, Alexander

    2013-03-26

    High-surface-area carbon nanostructures coated with a smooth and conformal submonolayer-to-multilayer thin metal films and their method of manufacture are described. The preferred manufacturing process involves the initial oxidation of the carbon nanostructures followed by immersion in a solution with the desired pH to create negative surface dipoles. The nanostructures are subsequently immersed in an alkaline solution containing non-noble metal ions which adsorb at surface reaction sites. The metal ions are then reduced via chemical or electrical means and the nanostructures are exposed to a solution containing a salt of one or more noble metals which replace adsorbed non-noble surface metal atoms by galvanic displacement. Subsequent film growth may be performed via the initial quasi-underpotential deposition of a non-noble metal followed by immersion in a solution comprising a more noble metal. The resulting coated nanostructures may be used, for example, as high-performance electrodes in supercapacitors, batteries, or other electric storage devices.

  4. Effects Investigated of Ambient High-Temperature Exposure on Alumina-Titania High-Emittance Surfaces for Solar Dynamic Systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    deGroh, Kim K.; Smith, Daniela C.

    1999-01-01

    Solar-dynamic space power systems require durable, high-emittance surfaces on a number of critical components, such as heat receiver interior surfaces and parasitic load radiator (PLR) elements. An alumina-titania coating, which has been evaluated for solar-dynamic heat receiver canister applications, has been chosen for a PLR application (an electrical sink for excess power from the turboalternator/compressor) because of its demonstrated high emittance and high-temperature durability in vacuum. Under high vacuum conditions (+/- 10(exp -6) torr), the alumina-titania coating was found to be durable at temperatures of 1520 F (827 C) for approx. 2700 hours with no degradation in optical properties. This coating has been successfully applied to the 2-kW solar-dynamic ground test demonstrator at the NASA Lewis Research Center, to the 500 thermal-energy-storage containment canisters inside the heat receiver and to the PLR radiator. The solar-dynamic demonstrator has successfully operated for over 800 hours in Lewis large thermal/vacuum space environment facility, demonstrating the feasibility of solar-dynamic power generation for space applications.

  5. Graphene oxide nanostructures modified multifunctional cotton fabrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krishnamoorthy, Karthikeyan; Navaneethaiyer, Umasuthan; Mohan, Rajneesh; Lee, Jehee; Kim, Sang-Jae

    2012-06-01

    Surface modification of cotton fabrics using graphene oxide (GO) nanostructures was reported. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigations revealed that the GO nanostructure was coated onto the cotton fabric. The molecular level interaction between the graphene oxide and the cotton fabric is studied in detail using the Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that GO loaded cotton fabrics have enhanced thermal stability compared to the bare cotton fabrics. The photocatalytic activity of the GO-coated cotton fabrics was investigated by measuring the photoreduction of resazurin (RZ) into resorufin (RF) under UV light irradiation. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and the results indicated that the GO-coated cotton fabrics are more toxic towards the Gram-positive ones. Our results provide a way to develop graphene oxide-based devices for the biomedical applications for improving health care.

  6. Silica, Alumina and Clay Catalyzed Peptide Bond Formation: Enhanced Efficiency of Alumina Catalyst

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bujdák, Juraj; Rode, Bernd M.

    1999-10-01

    Catalytic efficiencies of clay (hectorite), silica and alumina were tested in peptide bond formation reactions of glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala), proline (Pro), valine (Val) and leucine (Leu). The reactions were performed as drying/wetting (hectorite) and temperature fluctuation (silica and alumina) experiments at 85 °C. The reactivity of amino acids decreased in order Gly > Ala > Pro ~ Val ~ Leu. The highest catalytic efficiency was observed for alumina, the only catalyst producing oligopeptides in all investigated reaction systems. The peptide bond formation on alumina is probably catalyzed by the same sites and via similar reaction mechanisms as some alumina-catalyzed dehydration reactions used in industrial chemistry.

  7. Direct-soldering 6061 aluminum alloys with ultrasonic coating.

    PubMed

    Ding, Min; Zhang, Pei-lei; Zhang, Zhen-yu; Yao, Shun

    2010-02-01

    In this study, the authors applied furnace soldering with ultrasonic coating method to solder 6061 aluminum alloy and investigated the effects of both coating time and soldering temperature on its properties. The following results were obtained: firstly, the solder region mainly composed of four kinds of microstructure zones: rich Sn zone, rich-Pb zone, Sn-Pb eutectic phase and rich Al zone. Meanwhile, the microanalysis identified a continuous reaction product at the alumina-solder interface as a rich-Pb zone. Therefore, the joint strength changed with soldering time and soldering temperature. Secondly, the tensile data had significantly greater variability, with values ranging from 13.99MPa to 24.74MPa. The highest value was obtained for the samples coated with Sn-Pb-Zn alloy for 45s. Fractures occurred along the solder-alumina interface for the 6061 aluminum alloy with its surface including hybrid tough fracture of dimple and tear ridge. The interface could initially strip at the rich Bi zone with the effect of shear stress.

  8. Modulations of anisotropic optical transmission on alumina-doped zinc oxide surface by femtosecond laser induced ripples

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Yanhui; Jiang, Lan; Sun, Jingya; Cao, Qiang; Wang, Qingsong; Han, Weina; Lu, Yongfeng

    2018-04-01

    This study demonstrated that femtosecond-laser-induced ripples on an alumina-doped zinc oxide (AZO) film with space intervals of approximately 340 and 660 nm exhibit modulations of anisotropic optical transmission. At low laser fluence, ripples can not affect the original absorption peak of AZO film, but at higher laser fluence, the absorption peak of AZO film is disappeared due to the modulation by femtosecond laser induced ripples. Moreover, the relationship between the anisotropic optical transmission and the features of nanostructures is discussed. Ripples with a space interval of approximately 660 nm have a higher ability to block light than nanostructures with a space interval of approximately 340 nm. These observations indicate that anisotropic optical transmission has potential applications in the field of optoelectronics.

  9. Method of making nanopatterns and nanostructures and nanopatterned functional oxide materials

    DOEpatents

    Dravid, Vinayak P; Donthu, Suresh K; Pan, Zixiao

    2014-02-11

    Method for nanopatterning of inorganic materials, such as ceramic (e.g. metal oxide) materials, and organic materials, such as polymer materials, on a variety of substrates to form nanopatterns and/or nanostructures with control of dimensions and location, all without the need for etching the materials and without the need for re-alignment between multiple patterning steps in forming nanostructures, such as heterostructures comprising multiple materials. The method involves patterning a resist-coated substrate using electron beam lithography, removing a portion of the resist to provide a patterned resist-coated substrate, and spin coating the patterned resist-coated substrate with a liquid precursor, such as a sol precursor, of the inorganic or organic material. The remaining resist is removed and the spin coated substrate is heated at an elevated temperature to crystallize the deposited precursor material.

  10. Bauxite and alumina

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Bray, E.L.

    2009-01-01

    The article provides information on bauxite and alumina mining. U.S. states like Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia produced small amounts of bauxite and bauxitic clays for nonmetallurgical uses. Total metallurgical-grade bauxite imports in 2008 is cited. The leading suppliers of bauxite to the U.S. are Jamaica, Guinea and Brazil. The estimated domestic production of alumina in 2008 is mentioned. It also discusses consumption and prices of both bauxite and alumina.

  11. An improved biofunction of titanium for keratoprosthesis by hydroxyapatite-coating.

    PubMed

    Dong, Ying; Yang, Jingxin; Wang, Liqiang; Ma, Xiao; Huang, Yifei; Qiu, Zhiye; Cui, Fuzhai

    2014-03-01

    Titanium framework keratoprosthesis has been commonly used in the severe corneal blindness, but the tissue melting occurred frequently around titanium. Since hydroxyapatite has been approved to possess a good tissue integration characteristic, nanostructured hydroxyapatite was coated on the surface of titanium through the aerosol deposition method. In this study, nanostructured hydroxyapatite coating was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and auger electronic spectrometer. Biological evaluations were performed with rabbit cornea fibroblast in vitro and an animal model in vivo. The outcomes showed the coating had a grain-like surface topography and a good atomic mixed area with substrate. The rabbit cornea fibroblasts appeared a good adhesion on the surface of nanostructured hydroxyapatite in vitro. In the animal model, nanostructured hydroxyapatite-titanium implants were stably retained in the rabbit cornea, and by contrast, the corneal stroma became thinner anterior to the implants in the control. Therefore, our findings proved that nanostructured hydroxyapatite-titanium could not only provide an improved bond for substrate but also enhance the tissue integration with implants in host. As a promising material, nanostructured hydroxyapatite-titanium-based keratoprosthesis prepared by the aerosol deposition method could be utilized for the corneal blindness treatment.

  12. Effect of sintering temperature on flexural properties of alumina fiber-reinforced, alumina-based ceramics prepared by tape casting technique.

    PubMed

    Tanimoto, Yasuhiro; Nemoto, Kimiya

    2006-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sintering temperature on flexural properties of an alumina fiber-reinforced, alumina-based ceramic (alumina-fiber/alumina composite) prepared by a tape casting technique. The alumina-based ceramic used a matrix consisting of 60 wt% Al(2)O(3) powder and 40 wt% SiO(2)-B(2)O(3) glass powder with the following composition in terms of wt%: 33 SiO(2), 32 B(2)O(3), 20 CaO, and 15 MgO. Prepreg sheets of alumina-fiber/alumina composite in which uniaxial aligned alumina fibers were infiltrated with the alumina-based matrix were fabricated continuously using a tape casting technique employing a doctor blade system. Four sintering temperatures were investigated: 900 degrees C, 1000 degrees C, 1100 degrees C, and 1200 degrees C, all for 4 hours under atmospheric pressure in a furnace. The surface of the alumina-fiber/alumina composite after sintering was observed with a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). A three-point bending test was carried out to measure the flexural strength and modulus of alumina-fiber/alumina composite specimens. In addition, sintered alumina fiber was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). FE-SEM observation showed that alumina-fiber/alumina composite was confirmed to be densely sintered for all sintering temperatures. Three-point bending measurement revealed that alumina-fiber/alumina composite produced at sintering temperatures of 1100 degrees C and 1200 degrees C exhibit flexural strengths lower than those of alumina-fiber/alumina composite produced at sintering temperatures of 900 degrees C and 1000 degrees C; alumina-fiber/alumina composite produced at sintering temperatures of 1100 degrees C and 1200 degrees C exhibit flexural moduli lower than that of alumina-fiber/alumina composite produced at a sintering temperature of 1000 degrees C. Additional XRD pattern of alumina fiber indicated that with increasing sintering temperature, the crystallographic structure of gamma-alumina

  13. Osseointegration is improved by coating titanium implants with a nanostructured thin film with titanium carbide and titanium oxides clustered around graphitic carbon.

    PubMed

    Veronesi, Francesca; Giavaresi, Gianluca; Fini, Milena; Longo, Giovanni; Ioannidu, Caterina Alexandra; Scotto d'Abusco, Anna; Superti, Fabiana; Panzini, Gianluca; Misiano, Carlo; Palattella, Alberto; Selleri, Paolo; Di Girolamo, Nicola; Garbarino, Viola; Politi, Laura; Scandurra, Roberto

    2017-01-01

    Titanium implants coated with a 500nm nanostructured layer, deposited by the Ion Plating Plasma Assisted (IPPA) technology, composed of 60% graphitic carbon, 25% titanium oxides and 15% titanium carbide were implanted into rabbit femurs whilst into the controlateral femurs uncoated titanium implants were inserted as control. At four time points the animals were injected with calcein green, xylenol orange, oxytetracycline and alizarin. After 2, 4 and 8weeks femurs were removed and processed for histology and static and dynamic histomorphometry for undecalcified bone processing into methylmethacrylate, sectioned, thinned, polished and stained with Toluidine blue and Fast green. The overall bone-implant contacts rate (percentage of bone-implant contacts/weeks) of the TiC coated implant was 1.6 fold than that of the uncoated titanium implant. The histomorphometric analyses confirmed the histological evaluations. More precisely, higher Mineral Apposition Rate (MAR, μm/day) (p<0.005) and Bone Formation Rate (BFR, μm 2 /μm/day) (p<0.0005) as well as Bone Implant Contact (Bic) and Bone Ingrowth values (p<0.0005) were observed for the TiC coated implants compared to uncoated implants. In conclusion the hard nanostructured TiC layer protects the bulk titanium implant against the harsh conditions of biological tissues and in the same time, stimulating adhesion, proliferation and activity of osteoblasts, induces a better bone-implant contacts of the implant compared to the uncoated titanium implant. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  14. Improvements in nanoscale zero-valent iron production by milling through the addition of alumina

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ribas, D.; Cernik, M.; Martí, V.; Benito, J. A.

    2016-07-01

    A new milling procedure for a cost-effective production of nanoscale zero-valent iron for environmental remediation is presented. Conventional ball milling of iron in an organic solvent as Mono Ethylene Glycol produces flattened iron particles that are unlikely to break even after very long milling times. With the aim of breaking down these iron flakes, in this new procedure, further milling is carried out by adding an amount of fine alumina powder to the previously milled solution. As the amount of added alumina increases from 9 to 54 g l-1, a progressive decrease of the presence of flakes is observed. In the latter case, the appearance of the particles formed by fragments of former flakes is rather homogeneous, with most of the final nanoparticles having an equivalent diameter well below 1 µm and with an average particle size in solution of around 400 nm. An additional increase of alumina content results in a highly viscous solution showing worse particle size distribution. Milled particles, in the case of alumina concentrations of 54 g l-1, have a fairly large specific surface area and high Fe(0) content. These new particles show a very good Cr(VI) removal efficiency compared with other commercial products available. This good reactivity is related to the absence of an oxide layer, the large amount of superficial irregularities generated by the repetitive fracture process during milling and the presence of a fine nanostructure within the iron nanoparticles.

  15. Metal oxide nanostructures: preparation, characterization and functional applications as chemical sensors.

    PubMed

    Zappa, Dario; Bertuna, Angela; Comini, Elisabetta; Kaur, Navpreet; Poli, Nicola; Sberveglieri, Veronica; Sberveglieri, Giorgio

    2017-01-01

    Preparation and characterization of different metal oxide (NiO, WO 3 , ZnO, SnO 2 and Nb 2 O 5 ) nanostructures for chemical sensing are presented. p-Type (NiO) and n-type (WO 3 , SnO 2 , ZnO and Nb 2 O 5 ) metal oxide nanostructures were grown on alumina substrates using evaporation-condensation, thermal oxidation and hydrothermal techniques. Surface morphologies and crystal structures were investigated through scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, different batches of sensors have been prepared, and their sensing performances towards carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide have been explored. Moreover, metal oxide nanowires have been integrated into an electronic nose and successfully applied to discriminate between drinking and contaminated water.

  16. Methanol steam reforming promoted by molten salt-modified platinum on alumina catalysts.

    PubMed

    Kusche, Matthias; Agel, Friederike; Ní Bhriain, Nollaig; Kaftan, Andre; Laurin, Mathias; Libuda, Jörg; Wasserscheid, Peter

    2014-09-01

    We herein describe a straight forward procedure to increase the performance of platinum-on-alumina catalysts in methanol steam reforming by applying an alkali hydroxide coating according to the "solid catalyst with ionic liquid layer" (SCILL) approach. We demonstrate by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) studies that potassium doping plays an important role in the catalyst activation. Moreover, the hygroscopic nature and the basicity of the salt modification contribute to the considerable enhancement in catalytic performance. During reaction, a partly liquid film of alkali hydroxides/carbonates forms on the catalyst/alumina surface, thus significantly enhancing the availability of water at the catalytically active sites. Too high catalyst pore fillings with salt introduce a considerable mass transfer barrier into the system as indicated by kinetic studies. Thus, the optimum interplay between beneficial catalyst modification and detrimental mass transfer effects had to be identified and was found on the applied platinum-on-alumina catalyst at KOH loadings around 7.5 mass%. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  17. Methanol Steam Reforming Promoted by Molten Salt-Modified Platinum on Alumina Catalysts

    PubMed Central

    Kusche, Matthias; Agel, Friederike; Ní Bhriain, Nollaig; Kaftan, Andre; Laurin, Mathias; Libuda, Jörg; Wasserscheid, Peter

    2014-01-01

    We herein describe a straight forward procedure to increase the performance of platinum-on-alumina catalysts in methanol steam reforming by applying an alkali hydroxide coating according to the “solid catalyst with ionic liquid layer” (SCILL) approach. We demonstrate by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) studies that potassium doping plays an important role in the catalyst activation. Moreover, the hygroscopic nature and the basicity of the salt modification contribute to the considerable enhancement in catalytic performance. During reaction, a partly liquid film of alkali hydroxides/carbonates forms on the catalyst/alumina surface, thus significantly enhancing the availability of water at the catalytically active sites. Too high catalyst pore fillings with salt introduce a considerable mass transfer barrier into the system as indicated by kinetic studies. Thus, the optimum interplay between beneficial catalyst modification and detrimental mass transfer effects had to be identified and was found on the applied platinum-on-alumina catalyst at KOH loadings around 7.5 mass %. PMID:25124120

  18. Pt/Au nanoalloy supported on alumina and chlorided alumina: DFT and experimental analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharifi, N.; Falamaki, C.; Ghorbanzadeh Ahangari, M.

    2018-04-01

    Density functional theory (DFT) was used to explore the adsorption of Pt/Au nanoalloy onto a pure and chlorided γ-Al2O3(110) surface, which has been applied in numerous catalytic reactions. First, we considered the adsorption properties of Pt clusters (n ≤ 5) onto the Al2O3(110) surface to determine the most stable Pt cluster on alumina surface in reforming processes. After full structural relaxations of Pt clusters at various configurations on alumina, our computed results expressed that the minimum binding energy (‑5.67 eV) is accrued for Pt4 cluster and the distance between the nearest Pt atom in the cluster to the alumina surface is equal to 1.13 Å. Then, we investigated the binding energies, geometries, and electronic properties of adsorbed Aun clusters (n ≤ 6) on the γ-Al2O3(110) surface. Our studied showed that Au5 was the most thermodynamically stable structure on γ-Al2O3. Finally, we inspected these properties for adsorbed Au clusters onto the Pt4-decorated alumina (Aun/Pt4-alumina) system. The binding energy of the Au4/Pt4-alumina system was ‑5.01 eV, and the distance between Au4 cluster and Pt4-alumina was 1.33 Å. The Au4/Pt4alumina system was found to be the most stable nanometer-sized catalyst design. At last, our first-principles calculations predicted that the best position of embedment Cl on the Au4/Pt4-alumina.

  19. Silver Coating for High-Mass-Accuracy Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Fingerprints on Nanostructured Silicon.

    PubMed

    Guinan, Taryn M; Gustafsson, Ove J R; McPhee, Gordon; Kobus, Hilton; Voelcker, Nicolas H

    2015-11-17

    Nanostructure imaging mass spectrometry (NIMS) using porous silicon (pSi) is a key technique for molecular imaging of exogenous and endogenous low molecular weight compounds from fingerprints. However, high-mass-accuracy NIMS can be difficult to achieve as time-of-flight (ToF) mass analyzers, which dominate the field, cannot sufficiently compensate for shifts in measured m/z values. Here, we show internal recalibration using a thin layer of silver (Ag) sputter-coated onto functionalized pSi substrates. NIMS peaks for several previously reported fingerprint components were selected and mass accuracy was compared to theoretical values. Mass accuracy was improved by more than an order of magnitude in several cases. This straightforward method should form part of the standard guidelines for NIMS studies for spatial characterization of small molecules.

  20. Building one-dimensional oxide nanostructure arrays on conductive metal substrates for lithium-ion battery anodes.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Jian; Li, Yuanyuan; Liu, Jinping; Huang, Xintang

    2011-01-01

    Lithium ion battery (LIB) is potentially one of the most attractive energy storage devices. To meet the demands of future high-power and high-energy density requirements in both thin-film microbatteries and conventional batteries, it is challenging to explore novel nanostructured anode materials instead of conventional graphite. Compared to traditional electrodes based on nanostructure powder paste, directly grown ordered nanostructure array electrodes not only simplify the electrode processing, but also offer remarkable advantages such as fast electron transport/collection and ion diffusion, sufficient electrochemical reaction of individual nanostructures, enhanced material-electrolyte contact area and facile accommodation of the strains caused by lithium intercalation and de-intercalation. This article provides a brief overview of the present status in the area of LIB anodes based on one-dimensional nanostructure arrays growing directly on conductive inert metal substrates, with particular attention to metal oxides synthesized by an anodized alumina membrane (AAM)-free solution-based or hydrothermal methods. Both the scientific developments and the techniques and challenges are critically analyzed.

  1. Sunlight-Sensitive Anti-Fouling Nanostructured TiO2 coated Cu Meshes for Ultrafast Oily Water Treatment

    PubMed Central

    Liu, HaoRan; Raza, Aikifa; Aili, Abulimiti; Lu, JinYou; AlGhaferi, Amal; Zhang, TieJun

    2016-01-01

    Nanostructured materials with desired wettability and optical property can play an important role in reducing the energy consumption of oily water treatment technologies. For effective oily water treatment, membrane materials with high strength, sunlight-sensitive anti-fouling, relative low fabrication cost, and controllable wettability are being explored. In the proposed oily water treatment approach, nanostructured TiO2-coated copper (TNS-Cu) meshes are used. These TNS-Cu meshes exhibit robust superhydrophilicity and underwater oleophobicity (high oil intrusion pressure) as well as excellent chemical and thermal stability (≈250 °C). They have demonstrated high separation efficiency (oil residue in the filtrate ≤21.3 ppm), remarkable filtration flux (≥400 kL h−1 m−2), and sunlight-sensitive anti-fouling properties. Both our theoretical analysis and experimental characterization have confirmed the enhanced light absorption property of TNS-Cu meshes in the visible region (40% of the solar spectrum) and consequently strong anti-fouling capability upon direct solar light illumination. With these features, the proposed approach promises great potential in treating produced oily wastewater from industry and daily life. PMID:27160349

  2. Monolayer graphene on nanostructured Ag for enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering stable platform

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dai, Zhigao; Mei, Fei; Xiao, Xiangheng; Liao, Lei; Wu, Wei; Zhang, Yupeng; Ying, Jianjian; Wang, Lingbo; Ren, Feng; Jiang, Changzhong

    2015-03-01

    We have reported that the Ag nanostructure-based substrate is particularly suitable for surface-enhanced Raman scattering when it is coated with monolayer graphene, an optically transparent and chemistry-inertness material in the visible range. Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and Ag nanogrids were fabricated using plasma-assisted nanosphere lithography. Our measurements show that atmospheric sulfur containing compounds are powerless to break in the monolayer graphene to vulcanize the surfaces of the Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and Ag nanogrids by various means, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the Ag nanostructure substrate coated with the monolayer graphene film shows a larger enhancement of Raman activity and the electromagnetic field than the uncoated substrate. Compared with those of bare Ag nanostructures, the averaged EFs of graphene-film-coated Ag nanostructures were estimated to be about 21 and 5 for Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and nanogrids after one month later in air, respectively. These observations are further supported by theoretical calculations.

  3. Towards lightweight nanocomposite coatings for corrosion inhibition: Graphene, carbon nanotubes, and nanostructured magnesium as case studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dennis, Robert Vincent, III

    The field of nanocomposites is a burgeoning area of research due to the interest in the remarkable properties which can be achieved through their use in a variety of applications, including corrosion resistant coatings. Lightweighting is of increasing importance in the world today due to the ever growing push towards energy efficiency and the green movement and in recent years there has been a vast amount of research performed in the area of developing lightweight nanocomposites for corrosion inhibition. Many new composite materials have been developed through the use of newly developed nanomaterials (including carbonaceous and metallic constituents) and their specialized incorporation in the coating matrix materials. We start with a general review on the development of hybrid nanostructured composites for corrosion protection of base metals from a sustainability perspective in Chapter 1. This review demonstrates the ever swelling requirements for a paradigm shift in the way that we protect metals against corrosion due to the costs and environmental concerns that exist with currently used technology. In Chapter 2, we delve into the much required understanding of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide through near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy measurements to elucidate information about the electronic structure upon incorporation of nitrogen within the structure. For successful integration of the carbonaceous nanomaterials into a composite coating, a full swath of knowledge is necessary. Within this work we have shown that upon chemical defunctionalization of graphene oxide to reduced graphene oxide by means of hydrazine treatment, nitrogen is incorporated into the structure in the form of a pyrazole ring. In Chapter 3, we demonstrate that by way of in situ polymerization, graphene and multiwalled carbon nanotubes can be incorporated within a polymer (polyetherimide, PEI) matrix. Two systems have been developed including graphene and

  4. Surface analysis and biocorrosion properties of nanostructured surface sol-gel coatings on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy implants.

    PubMed

    Advincula, Maria C; Petersen, Don; Rahemtulla, Firoz; Advincula, Rigoberto; Lemons, Jack E

    2007-01-01

    Surfaces of biocompatible alloys used as implants play a significant role in their osseointegration. Surface sol-gel processing (SSP), a variant of the bulk sol-gel technique, is a relatively new process to prepare bioreactive nanostructured titanium oxide for thin film coatings. The surface topography, roughness, and composition of sol-gel processed Ti6Al4V titanium alloy coatings was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS). This was correlated with corrosion properties, adhesive strength, and bioreactivity in simulated body fluids (SBF). Electroimpedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization studies indicated similar advantageous corrosion properties between sol-gel coated and uncoated Ti6Al4V, which was attributed to the stable TiO2 composition, topography, and adhesive strength of the sol-gel coating. In addition, inductive coupled plasma (ICP) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) analysis of substrates immersed in SBF revealed higher deposition of calcium and phosphate and low release rates of alloying elements from the sol-gel modified alloys. The equivalent corrosion behavior and the definite increase in nucleation of calcium apatite indicate the potential of the sol-gel coating for enhanced bioimplant applications. 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. The synthesis and application of fine particles for coatings and composites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stephenson, Richard Charles

    A variety of coating methods are presented for producing titanium and zirconium oxide coatings on spherical alpha-alumina substrates. Some methods did not completely coat the alumina substrate leaving surface areas exposed. Techniques such as surface modifications with PDVB and 4-VP did produce coatings of metal oxides of very high quality. The best metal oxide coatings are produced from pre-treatment of the alumina microspheres followed by the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of the metal tetra-alkoxides. Methods to investigate converting titanium oxide and zirconium oxide coated alumina microspheres to the corresponding metal carbide coated alumina microspheres have been done. The methods involving direct reduction of the metal oxides by methane and methane-hydrogen gas proved inefficient in producing high quality metal carbide coatings. It is evident higher processing temperatures are required to achieve good metal carbide yield by these methods. Metal oxide coated products carbided by ART (Buffalo, NY) proved the carbiding can be accomplished at higher temperatures and with a different carburizing gas. In addition to the ART carbiding method, the magnesium thermite reaction is a promising method in converting metal oxides to metal carbides at much lower temperatures and shorter processing times. The electrophoretic deposition of Bi2Sr2CaCu 2O8 powder was in ethanol. Of critical consequence were the design of the cathode geometry and the arrangement of the electrodes so that all faces and edges of the silver anode were coated simultaneously. This was achieved by shaping the platinum cathode into a configuration that allowed the silver tape to be completely surrounded by the platinum. The electrophoretic cell was set up to keep the electrodes stationary thereby maintaining a constant distance from the cathode and anode (3 mm). The relationship between deposition time and coating thickness was determined for various powder loadings for a given electric field strength (62

  6. Enhanced gas separation factors of microporous polymer constrained in the channels of anodic alumina membranes

    PubMed Central

    Chernova, Ekaterina; Petukhov, Dmitrii; Boytsova, Olga; Alentiev, Alexander; Budd, Peter; Yampolskii, Yuri; Eliseev, Andrei

    2016-01-01

    New composite membranes based on porous anodic alumina films and polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) have been prepared using a spin-coating technique. According to scanning electron microscopy, partial penetration of polymer into the pores of alumina supports takes place giving rise to selective polymeric layers with fiber-like microstructure. Geometric confinement of rigid PIM-1 in the channels of anodic alumina causes reduction of small-scale mobility in polymeric chains. As a result, transport of permanent gases, such as CH4, becomes significantly hindered across composite membranes. Contrary, the transport of condensable gases (CO2, С4H10), did not significantly suffer from the confinement due to high solubility in the polymer matrix. This strategy enables enhancement of selectivity towards CO2 and C4H10 without significant loss of the membrane performance and seems to be prospective for drain and sweetening of natural gas. PMID:27498607

  7. Enhanced gas separation factors of microporous polymer constrained in the channels of anodic alumina membranes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chernova, Ekaterina; Petukhov, Dmitrii; Boytsova, Olga; Alentiev, Alexander; Budd, Peter; Yampolskii, Yuri; Eliseev, Andrei

    2016-08-01

    New composite membranes based on porous anodic alumina films and polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) have been prepared using a spin-coating technique. According to scanning electron microscopy, partial penetration of polymer into the pores of alumina supports takes place giving rise to selective polymeric layers with fiber-like microstructure. Geometric confinement of rigid PIM-1 in the channels of anodic alumina causes reduction of small-scale mobility in polymeric chains. As a result, transport of permanent gases, such as CH4, becomes significantly hindered across composite membranes. Contrary, the transport of condensable gases (CO2, С4H10), did not significantly suffer from the confinement due to high solubility in the polymer matrix. This strategy enables enhancement of selectivity towards CO2 and C4H10 without significant loss of the membrane performance and seems to be prospective for drain and sweetening of natural gas.

  8. Fabrication of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures on cotton fabric for wearable device applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pandiyarasan, V.; Suhasini, S.; Archana, J.; Navaneethan, M.; Majumdar, Abhijit; Hayakawa, Y.; Ikeda, H.

    2017-10-01

    We have investigated ZnO nanostructures on cotton fabric (CF) s a flexible material for an application of wearable thermoelectric (TE) power generator which requires super-hydrophobicity, UV protection, and high TE efficiency. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the formed ZnO nanostructures have a mixture of nanorods and nanosheets and are uniformly coated on the CF. XRD pattern and Raman spectra revealed that the ZnO nanostructure has a wurtzite structure. Contact angle measurements showed that the ZnO-nanostructures-coated CF possessed a high super hydrophobic nature with an angle of 132.5°. ZnO nanocomposite/CF sample exhibited an excellent UV protection factor 183.84. Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power factor of the ZnO nanostructures on cotton fabric were evaluated to be 28 μV/K, 0.04 Ω-cm, and 22 μW/m K2, respectively.

  9. Surface preparation for high purity alumina ceramics enabling direct brazing in hydrogen atmospheres

    DOEpatents

    Cadden, Charles H.; Yang, Nancy Yuan Chi; Hosking, Floyd M.

    2001-01-01

    The present invention relates to a method for preparing the surface of a high purity alumina ceramic or sapphire specimen that enables direct brazing in a hydrogen atmosphere using an active braze alloy. The present invention also relates to a method for directly brazing a high purity alumina ceramic or sapphire specimen to a ceramic or metal member using this method of surface preparation, and to articles produced by this brazing method. The presence of silicon, in the form of a SiO.sub.2 -containing surface layer, can more than double the tensile bond strength in alumina ceramic joints brazed in a hydrogen atmosphere using an active Au-16Ni-0.75 Mo-1.75V filler metal. A thin silicon coating applied by PVD processing can, after air firing, produce a semi-continuous coverage of the alumina surface with a SiO.sub.2 film. Room temperature tensile strength was found to be proportional to the fraction of air fired surface covered by silicon-containing films. Similarly, the ratio of substrate fracture versus interface separation was also related to the amount of surface silicon present prior to brazing. This process can replace the need to perform a "moly-manganese" metallization step.

  10. Integrated waveguide and nanostructured sensor platform for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pearce, Stuart J.; Pollard, Michael E.; Oo, SweZin; Chen, Ruiqi; Kalsi, Sumit; Charlton, Martin D. B.

    2014-01-01

    Limitations of current sensors include large dimensions, sometimes limited sensitivity and inherent single-parameter measurement capability. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy can be utilized for environment and pharmaceutical applications with the intensity of the Raman scattering enhanced by a factor of 10. By fabricating and characterizing an integrated optical waveguide beneath a nanostructured precious metal coated surface a new surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensing arrangement can be achieved. Nanostructured sensors can provide both multiparameter and high-resolution sensing. Using the slab waveguide core to interrogate the nanostructures at the base allows for the emission to reach discrete sensing areas effectively and should provide ideal parameters for maximum Raman interactions. Thin slab waveguide films of silicon oxynitride were etched and gold coated to create localized nanostructured sensing areas of various pitch, diameter, and shape. These were interrogated using a Ti:Sapphire laser tuned to 785-nm end coupled into the slab waveguide. The nanostructured sensors vertically projected a Raman signal, which was used to actively detect a thin layer of benzyl mercaptan attached to the sensors.

  11. Characterisation of Ceramic-Coated 316LN Stainless Steel Exposed to High-Temperature Thermite Melt and Molten Sodium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ravi Shankar, A.; Vetrivendan, E.; Shukla, Prabhat Kumar; Das, Sanjay Kumar; Hemanth Rao, E.; Murthy, S. S.; Lydia, G.; Nashine, B. K.; Mallika, C.; Selvaraj, P.; Kamachi Mudali, U.

    2017-11-01

    Currently, stainless steel grade 316LN is the material of construction widely used for core catcher of sodium-cooled fast reactors. Design philosophy for core catcher demands its capability to withstand corium loading from whole core melt accidents. Towards this, two ceramic coatings were investigated for its application as a layer of sacrificial material on the top of core catcher to enhance its capability. Plasma-sprayed thermal barrier layer of alumina and partially stabilised zirconia (PSZ) with an intermediate bond coat of NiCrAlY are selected as candidate material and deposited over 316LN SS substrates and were tested for their suitability as thermal barrier layer for core catcher. Coated specimens were exposed to high-temperature thermite melt to simulate impingement of molten corium. Sodium compatibility of alumina and PSZ coatings were also investigated by exposing samples to molten sodium at 400 °C for 500 h. The surface morphology of high-temperature thermite melt-exposed samples and sodium-exposed samples was examined using scanning electron microscope. Phase identification of the exposed samples was carried out by x-ray diffraction technique. Observation from sodium exposure tests indicated that alumina coating offers better protection compared to PSZ coating. However, PSZ coating provided better protection against high-temperature melt exposure, as confirmed during thermite melt exposure test.

  12. Enhancement of absorption and color contrast in ultra-thin highly absorbing optical coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kats, Mikhail A.; Byrnes, Steven J.; Blanchard, Romain; Kolle, Mathias; Genevet, Patrice; Aizenberg, Joanna; Capasso, Federico

    2013-09-01

    Recently a new class of optical interference coatings was introduced which comprises ultra-thin, highly absorbing dielectric layers on metal substrates. We show that these lossy coatings can be augmented by an additional transparent subwavelength layer. We fabricated a sample comprising a gold substrate, an ultra-thin film of germanium with a thickness gradient, and several alumina films. The experimental reflectivity spectra showed that the additional alumina layer increases the color range that can be obtained, in agreement with calculations. More generally, this transparent layer can be used to enhance optical absorption, protect against erosion, or as a transparent electrode for optoelectronic devices.

  13. Dielectric Performance of a High Purity HTCC Alumina at High Temperatures - a Comparison Study with Other Polycrystalline Alumina

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chen, Liangyu

    2014-01-01

    A very high purity (99.99+%) high temperature co-fired ceramic (HTCC) alumina has recently become commercially available. The raw material of this HTCC alumina is very different from conventional HTCC alumina, and more importantly there is no glass additive in this alumina material for co-firing processing. Previously, selected HTCC and LTCC (low temperature co-fired ceramic) alumina materials were evaluated at high temperatures as dielectric and compared to a regularly sintered 96% polycrystalline alumina (96% Al2O3), where 96% alumina was used as the benchmark. A prototype packaging system based on regular 96% alumina with Au thickfilm metallization successfully facilitated long term testing of high temperature silicon carbide (SiC) electronic devices for over 10,000 hours at 500 C. In order to evaluate this new high purity HTCC alumina for possible high temperature packaging applications, the dielectric properties of this HTCC alumina substrate were measured and compared with those of 96% alumina and a previously tested LTCC alumina from room temperature to 550 C at frequencies of 120 Hz, 1 KHz, 10 KHz, 100 KHz, and 1 MHz. A parallel-plate capacitive device with dielectric of the HTCC alumina and precious metal electrodes were used for measurements of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the co-fired alumina material in the temperature and frequency ranges. The capacitance and AC parallel conductance of the capacitive device were directly measured by an AC impedance meter, and the dielectric constant and parallel AC conductivity of the dielectric were calculated from the capacitance and conductance measurement results. The temperature and frequency dependent dielectric constant, AC conductivity, and dissipation factor of the HTCC alumina substrate are presented and compared to those of 96% alumina and a selected LTCC alumina. Other technical advantages of this new co-fired material for possible high packaging applications are also discussed.

  14. Fire performance, microstructure and thermal degradation of an epoxy based nano intumescent fire retardant coating for structural applications

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

    Aziz, Hammad, E-mail: engr.hammad.aziz03@gmail.com; Ahmad, Faiz, E-mail: faizahmad@petronas.com.my; Yusoff, P. S. M. Megat

    Intumescent fire retardant coating (IFRC) is a passive fire protection system which swells upon heating to form expanded multi-cellular char layer that protects the substrate from fire. In this research work, IFRC’s were developed using different flame retardants such as ammonium polyphosphate, expandable graphite, melamine and boric acid. These flame retardants were bound together with the help of epoxy binder and cured together using curing agent. IFRC was then reinforced with nano magnesium oxide and nano alumina as inorganic fillers to study their effect towards fire performance, microstructure and thermal degradation. Small scale fire test was conducted to investigate themore » thermal insulation of coating whereas fire performance was calculated using thermal margin value. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the microstructure of char obtained after fire test. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to investigate the residual weight of coating. Results showed that the performance of the coating was enhanced by reinforcement with nano size fillers as compared to non-filler based coating. Comparing both nano size magnesium oxide and nano size alumina; nano size alumina gave better fire performance with improved microstructure of char and high residual weight.« less

  15. Fire performance, microstructure and thermal degradation of an epoxy based nano intumescent fire retardant coating for structural applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aziz, Hammad; Ahmad, Faiz; Yusoff, P. S. M. Megat; Zia-ul-Mustafa, M.

    2015-07-01

    Intumescent fire retardant coating (IFRC) is a passive fire protection system which swells upon heating to form expanded multi-cellular char layer that protects the substrate from fire. In this research work, IFRC's were developed using different flame retardants such as ammonium polyphosphate, expandable graphite, melamine and boric acid. These flame retardants were bound together with the help of epoxy binder and cured together using curing agent. IFRC was then reinforced with nano magnesium oxide and nano alumina as inorganic fillers to study their effect towards fire performance, microstructure and thermal degradation. Small scale fire test was conducted to investigate the thermal insulation of coating whereas fire performance was calculated using thermal margin value. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the microstructure of char obtained after fire test. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to investigate the residual weight of coating. Results showed that the performance of the coating was enhanced by reinforcement with nano size fillers as compared to non-filler based coating. Comparing both nano size magnesium oxide and nano size alumina; nano size alumina gave better fire performance with improved microstructure of char and high residual weight.

  16. Nanostructured transparent conducting oxide electrochromic device

    DOEpatents

    Milliron, Delia; Tangirala, Ravisubhash; Llordes, Anna; Buonsanti, Raffaella; Garcia, Guillermo

    2016-05-17

    The embodiments described herein provide an electrochromic device. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrochromic device includes (1) a substrate and (2) a film supported by the substrate, where the film includes transparent conducting oxide (TCO) nanostructures. In a further embodiment, the electrochromic device further includes (a) an electrolyte, where the nanostructures are embedded in the electrolyte, resulting in an electrolyte, nanostructure mixture positioned above the substrate and (b) a counter electrode positioned above the mixture. In a further embodiment, the electrochromic device further includes a conductive coating deposited on the substrate between the substrate and the mixture. In a further embodiment, the electrochromic device further includes a second substrate positioned above the mixture.

  17. Deposition of nanostructured fluorine-doped hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone duplex coating to enhance the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Mg alloy for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Bakhsheshi-Rad, H R; Hamzah, E; Kasiri-Asgarani, M; Jabbarzare, S; Iqbal, N; Abdul Kadir, M R

    2016-03-01

    The present study addressed the synthesis of a bi-layered nanostructured fluorine-doped hydroxyapatite (nFHA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) coating on Mg-2Zn-3Ce alloy via a combination of electrodeposition (ED) and dip-coating methods. The nFHA/PCL composite coating is composed of a thick (70-80 μm) and porous layer of PCL that uniformly covered the thin nFHA film (8-10 μm) with nanoneedle-like microstructure and crystallite size of around 70-90 nm. Electrochemical measurements showed that the nFHA/PCL composite coating presented a high corrosion resistance (R(p)=2.9×10(3) kΩ cm(2)) and provided sufficient protection for a Mg substrate against galvanic corrosion. The mechanical integrity of the nFHA/PCL composite coatings immersed in SBF for 10 days showed higher compressive strength (34% higher) compared with the uncoated samples, indicating that composite coatings can delay the loss of compressive strength of the Mg alloy. The nFHA/PCL coating indicted better bonding strength (6.9 MPa) compared to PCL coating (2.2 MPa). Immersion tests showed that nFHA/PCL composite-coated alloy experienced much milder corrosion attack and more nucleation sites for apatite compared with the PCL coated and uncoated samples. The bi-layered nFHA/PCL coating can be a good alternative method for the control of corrosion degradation of biodegradable Mg alloy for implant applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Synthesis of advanced aluminide intermetallic coatings by low-energy Al-ion radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shen, Mingli; Gu, Yan; Zhao, Panpan; Zhu, Shenglong; Wang, Fuhui

    2016-05-01

    Metals that work at high temperatures (for instance, superalloys in gas-turbines) depend on thermally grown oxide (TGO, commonly alumina) to withstand corrosion attack. Nickel Aluminide (NiAl) as one superior alumina TGO former plays an important role in protective coatings for turbine blades in gas-turbine engines used for aircraft propulsion and power generation. Lowering TGO growth rate is essentially favored for offering sustainable protection, especially in thermal barrier coatings (TBC). However, it can only be achieved currently by a strategy of adding the third element (Pt or reactive elements) into NiAl during traditional diffusion- or deposition-based synthesis of the coating. Here we present a highly flexible Al-ion radiation-based synthesis of advanced NiAl coatings, achieving low TGO growth rate without relying on the third element addition. Our results expand the strategy for lowering TGO growth rate and demonstrate potentials for ion radiation in advancing materials synthesis.

  19. Synthesis of advanced aluminide intermetallic coatings by low-energy Al-ion radiation.

    PubMed

    Shen, Mingli; Gu, Yan; Zhao, Panpan; Zhu, Shenglong; Wang, Fuhui

    2016-05-19

    Metals that work at high temperatures (for instance, superalloys in gas-turbines) depend on thermally grown oxide (TGO, commonly alumina) to withstand corrosion attack. Nickel Aluminide (NiAl) as one superior alumina TGO former plays an important role in protective coatings for turbine blades in gas-turbine engines used for aircraft propulsion and power generation. Lowering TGO growth rate is essentially favored for offering sustainable protection, especially in thermal barrier coatings (TBC). However, it can only be achieved currently by a strategy of adding the third element (Pt or reactive elements) into NiAl during traditional diffusion- or deposition-based synthesis of the coating. Here we present a highly flexible Al-ion radiation-based synthesis of advanced NiAl coatings, achieving low TGO growth rate without relying on the third element addition. Our results expand the strategy for lowering TGO growth rate and demonstrate potentials for ion radiation in advancing materials synthesis.

  20. Synthesis of advanced aluminide intermetallic coatings by low-energy Al-ion radiation

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Mingli; Gu, Yan; Zhao, Panpan; Zhu, Shenglong; Wang, Fuhui

    2016-01-01

    Metals that work at high temperatures (for instance, superalloys in gas-turbines) depend on thermally grown oxide (TGO, commonly alumina) to withstand corrosion attack. Nickel Aluminide (NiAl) as one superior alumina TGO former plays an important role in protective coatings for turbine blades in gas-turbine engines used for aircraft propulsion and power generation. Lowering TGO growth rate is essentially favored for offering sustainable protection, especially in thermal barrier coatings (TBC). However, it can only be achieved currently by a strategy of adding the third element (Pt or reactive elements) into NiAl during traditional diffusion- or deposition-based synthesis of the coating. Here we present a highly flexible Al-ion radiation-based synthesis of advanced NiAl coatings, achieving low TGO growth rate without relying on the third element addition. Our results expand the strategy for lowering TGO growth rate and demonstrate potentials for ion radiation in advancing materials synthesis. PMID:27194417

  1. Nano-Ceramic Coated Plastics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cho, Junghyun

    2013-01-01

    Plastic products, due to their durability, safety, and low manufacturing cost, are now rapidly replacing cookware items traditionally made of glass and ceramics. Despite this trend, some still prefer relatively expensive and more fragile ceramic/glassware because plastics can deteriorate over time after exposure to foods, which can generate odors, bad appearance, and/or color change. Nano-ceramic coatings can eliminate these drawbacks while still retaining the advantages of the plastic, since the coating only alters the surface of the plastic. The surface coating adds functionality to the plastics such as self-cleaning and disinfectant capabilities that result from a photocatalytic effect of certain ceramic systems. These ceramic coatings can also provide non-stick surfaces and higher temperature capabilities for the base plastics without resorting to ceramic or glass materials. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are the candidates for a nano-ceramic coating to deposit on the plastics or plastic films used in cookware and kitchenware. Both are wide-bandgap semiconductors (3.0 to 3.2 eV for TiO2 and 3.2 to 3.3 eV for ZnO), so they exhibit a photocatalytic property under ultraviolet (UV) light. This will lead to decomposition of organic compounds. Decomposed products can be easily washed off by water, so the use of detergents will be minimal. High-crystalline film with large surface area for the reaction is essential to guarantee good photocatalytic performance of these oxides. Low-temperature processing (<100 C) is also a key to generating these ceramic coatings on the plastics. One possible way of processing nanoceramic coatings at low temperatures (< 90 C) is to take advantage of in-situ precipitated nanoparticles and nanostructures grown from aqueous solution. These nanostructures can be tailored to ceramic film formation and the subsequent microstructure development. In addition, the process provides environment- friendly processing because of the

  2. Characterization of Thermal Stability and High-Temperature Tribological Behavior of Electroless Ni-B Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pal, Soupitak; Sarkar, Rohit; Jayaram, Vikram

    2018-05-01

    A preliminary study has been conducted using sequences of isothermal heat treatments and unidirectional high-temperature wear test following ball-on-flat geometry against an alumina counterface, to assess thermal stability and high-temperature tribological properties of the crystalline electroless Ni-B coating, a potential candidate for high-temperature solid lubricant coating. Isothermal heat treatment of 450 °C/15 h causes a significant amount of B diffusion into the Fe substrate without altering the coating's through-thickness hardness and nanostructure. At room temperature, a very low wear rate is observed, which increases up to two orders of magnitude above a testing temperature of 100 °C. Room-temperature wear behavior is mostly governed by oxidative wear, where friction-induced heating produces a thick oxide scale on the wear track, which subsequently decreases the wear rate by preventing direct contact between the coating and counterface. In the case of wear tests above 100 °C, removal of the same oxide layer occurs through local plastic deformation, essentially plastic ratcheting at the contacting region by flow softening of the contacting surface layer due to a local rise in temperature. Worn track morphology shows similarity with the severe wear seen in steel-steel contacts. Experimental observations have been explained and validated using the concept of contact point flash temperature. A quantitative assessment of contact point flash temperature has been carried out adopting the methodology, proposed by Ashby et al. The effects of applied normal load, test geometry, choice of counterface material, and testing temperatures on the transition of wear mechanism are critically discussed.

  3. Wettability of Y2O3: A Relative Analysis of Thermally Oxidized, Reactively Sputtered and Template Assisted Nanostructured Coatings

    PubMed Central

    Barshilia, Harish C.; Chaudhary, Archana; Kumar, Praveen; Manikandanath, Natarajan T.

    2012-01-01

    The wettability of reactively sputtered Y2O3, thermally oxidized Y-Y2O3 and Cd-CdO template assisted Y2O3 coatings has been studied. The wettability of as-deposited Y2O3 coatings was determined by contact angle measurements. The water contact angles for reactively sputtered, thermally oxidized and template assisted Y2O3 nanostructured coatings were 99°, 117° and 155°, respectively. The average surface roughness values of reactively sputtered, thermally oxidized and template assisted Y2O3 coatings were determined by using atomic force microscopy and the corresponding values were 3, 11 and 180 nm, respectively. The low contact angle of the sputter deposited Y2O3 and thermally oxidized Y-Y2O3 coatings is attributed to a densely packed nano-grain like microstructure without any void space, leading to low surface roughness. A water droplet on such surfaces is mostly in contact with a solid surface relative to a void space, leading to a hydrophobic surface (low contact angle). Surface roughness is a crucial factor for the fabrication of a superhydrophobic surface. For Y2O3 coatings, the surface roughness was improved by depositing a thin film of Y2O3 on the Cd-CdO template (average roughness = 178 nm), which resulted in a contact angle greater than 150°. The work of adhesion of water was very high for the reactively sputtered Y2O3 (54 mJ/m2) and thermally oxidized Y-Y2O3 coatings (43 mJ/m2) compared to the Cd-CdO template assisted Y2O3 coating (7 mJ/m2). PMID:28348296

  4. A general strategy toward the rational synthesis of metal tungstate nanostructures using plasma electrolytic oxidation method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Yanan; Liu, Baodan; Zhai, Zhaofeng; Liu, Xiaoyuan; Yang, Bing; Liu, Lusheng; Jiang, Xin

    2015-11-01

    A new method based on conventional plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) technology has been developed for the rational synthesis of metal tungstate nanostructures. Using this method, ZnWO4 and NiWO4 nanostructures with controllable morphologies (nanorods, nanosheets and microsheets) and superior crystallinity have been synthesized. It has been found that the morphology diversity of ZnWO4 nanostructures can be selectively tailored through tuning the electrolyte concentration and annealing temperatures, showing obvious advantages in comparison to traditional hydrothermal and sol-gel methods. Precise microscopy analyses on the cross section of the PEO coating and ZnWO4 nanostructures confirmed that the precursors initially precipitated in the PEO coating and its surface during plasma discharge process are responsible for the nucleation and subsequent growth of metal tungstate nanostructures by thermal annealing. The method developed in this work represents a general strategy toward the rational synthesis of metal oxide nanostructures and the formation mechanism of metal tungstate nanostructures fabricated by the PEO method is finally discussed.

  5. Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of magnetically separable hexagonal Ni/ZnO nanostructure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Senapati, Samarpita; Srivastava, Suneel K.; Singh, Shiv B.

    2012-09-01

    The hexagonal zinc oxide coated nickel (Ni/ZnO) nanostructure photocatalyst has successfully been prepared by the reduction of nickel chloride hexahydrate using hydrazine hydrate through the solvothermal process at 140 °C followed by surface modification of the product by the reflux method at 110 °C for 1 h. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that the `as prepared' sample consists of face centered cubic Ni and hexagonal wurtzite ZnO without any traces of impurity. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirmed the formation of nickel nanoparticles under solvothermal conditions. These nickel nanoparticles, when subjected to reflux, formed the hexagonal zinc oxide coated nickel nanostructure. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, photoluminescence (PL) and Raman studies also confirmed the presence of zinc oxide in the hybrid nanostructure. The growth mechanism for the development of the hexagonal zinc oxide coated nickel (Ni/ZnO) nanostructure has also been proposed. The appearance of the hysteresis loop, in the as-prepared Ni/ZnO hybrid nanostructure, demonstrated its ferromagnetic character at room temperature. The hexagonal Ni/ZnO nanostructure also acts as an efficient photocatalyst in the degradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet light irradiation. It is observed that the catalytic efficiency of the hybrid nanocatalyst is better compared to pure zinc oxide. Most importantly, the Ni/ZnO catalyst could also be easily separated, simply by applying an external magnetic field, and reused.The hexagonal zinc oxide coated nickel (Ni/ZnO) nanostructure photocatalyst has successfully been prepared by the reduction of nickel chloride hexahydrate using hydrazine hydrate through the solvothermal process at 140 °C followed by surface modification of the product by the reflux method at 110 °C for 1 h. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that the `as prepared' sample consists of face

  6. Quasi-monodimensional polyaniline nanostructures for enhanced molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensing.

    PubMed

    Berti, Francesca; Todros, Silvia; Lakshmi, Dhana; Whitcombe, Michael J; Chianella, Iva; Ferroni, Matteo; Piletsky, Sergey A; Turner, Anthony P F; Marrazza, Giovanna

    2010-10-15

    Recent advances in nanotechnology have allowed significant progress in utilising cutting-edge techniques associated with nanomaterials and nano-fabrication to expand the scope and capability of biosensors to a new level of novelty and functionality. The aim of this work was the development and characterisation of conductive polyaniline (PANI) nanostructures for applications in electrochemical biosensing. We explore a simple, inexpensive and fast route to grow PANI nanotubes, arranged in an ordered structure directly on an electrode surface, by electrochemical polymerisation using alumina nanoporous membranes as a 'nano-mould'. The deposited nanostructures have been characterised electrochemically and morphologically prior to grafting with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) receptor in order to create a model sensor for catechol detection. In this way, PANI nanostructures resulted in a conductive nanowire system which allowed direct electrical connection between the electrode and the synthetic receptor (MIP). To our knowledge, this is the first example of integration between molecularly imprinted polymers and PANI nanostructured electrodes. The advantages of using nanostructures in this particular biosensing application have been evaluated by comparing the analytical performance of the sensor with an analogous non-nanostructured MIP-sensor for catechol detection that was previously developed. A significantly lower limit of detection for catechol has been obtained (29 nM, one order of magnitude), thus demonstrating that the nanostructures are capable of improving the analytical performance of the sensor. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) coatings of Al2O3-TiO2 system for photocatalytic application.

    PubMed

    Stengl, V; Ageorges, H; Ctibor, P; Murafa, N

    2009-05-01

    The goal of this study is to examine the photocatalytic ability of coatings produced by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The plasma gun used is a common gas-stabilized plasma gun (GSP) working with a d.c. current and a mixture of argon and hydrogen as plasma-forming gas. The TiO(2) powders are particles of about 100 nm which were agglomerated to a mean size of about 55 mum, suitable for spraying. Composition of the commercial powder is 13 wt% of TiO(2) in Al(2)O(3), whereas also in-house prepared powder with the same nominal composition but with agglomerated TiO(2) and conventional fused and crushed Al(2)O(3) was sprayed. The feedstock materials used for this purpose are alpha-alumina and anatase titanium dioxide. The coatings are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion probe (EDS) and X-ray diffraction. Photocatalytic degradation of acetone is quantified for various coatings. All plasma sprayed coatings show a lamellar structure on cross section, as typical for this process. Anatase titania from feedstock powder is converted into rutile titania and alpha-alumina partly to gamma-alumina. Coatings are proven to catalyse the acetone decomposition when irradiated by UV rays.

  8. Analysis of the Microstructure and Thermal Shock Resistance of Laser Glazed Nanostructured Zirconia TBCs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Hui; Hao, Yunfei; Wang, Hongying; Tang, Weijie

    2010-03-01

    Nanostructured zirconia thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) have been prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying using the reconstituted nanosized yttria partially stabilized zirconia powder. Field emission scanning electron microscope was applied to examine the microstructure of the resulting TBCs. The results showed that the TBCs exhibited a unique, complex structure including nonmelted or partially melted nanosized particles and columnar grains. A CO2 continuous wave laser beam has been applied to laser glaze the nanostructured zirconia TBCs. The effect of laser energy density on the microstructure and thermal shock resistance of the as-glazed coatings has been systematically investigated. SEM observation indicated that the microstructure of the as-glazed coatings was very different from the microstructure of the as-sprayed nanostructured TBCs. It changed from single columnar grain to a combination of columnar grains in the fracture surface and equiaxed grains on the surface with increasing laser energy density. Thermal shock resistance tests have showed that laser glazing can double the lifetime of TBCs. The failure of the as-glazed coatings was mainly due to the thermal stress caused by the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the ceramic coat and metallic substrate.

  9. Nanostructural Characterization of Low Resistance Joints Using Ag Pastes for GdBa2Cu3O7-x Coated Conductors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kato, Tomohiro; Machi, Takato; Yokoe, Daisaku; Yoshida, Ryuji; Kato, Takeharu; Izumi, Teruo; Hirayama, Tsukasa; Shiohara, Yuh

    2017-07-01

    GdBa2Cu3O7-x coated conductors were splice jointed by a face-to-face manner using a paste containing nano-sized Ag particles under a pressure of about 50 MPa at 150 °C for 1 hr. The low electrical resistance of 6 nΩ at the joint was attained. Nanostructural characterizations of the starting Ag paste and the jointed region of the coated conductors were carried out using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The size of the Ag particles in the starting pastes were confirmed to be a few tens of nanometers in diameter. The size of Ag particles became larger during the jointing process. Both the surfaces of the stabilizing Ag layers were partially bonded by the Ag particles. No oxides or other elements were detected in the region of the bonding parts.

  10. Synthesis and Thermal Conductivity of Exfoliated Hexagonal Boron Nitride/Alumina Ceramic Composite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hung, Ching-cheh; Hurst, Janet; Santiago, Diana; Lizcano, Maricela; Kelly, Marisabel

    2017-01-01

    Exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)/alumina composite can be fabricated by following the process of (1) heating a mixture of hBN, AlCl3, and NaF in nitrogen for intercalation; (2) heating the intercalated product in air for exfoliation and at the same time converting the intercalate (AlCl3) into Al2O3, (3) rinsing the oxidized product, (4) coating individual exfoliated hBN platelets that contain Al2O3 with new layers of aluminum oxide, and finally, (5) hot pressing the product into the composite. The composite thus obtained has a composition of approximately 60 percent by weight hBN and 40 percent by weight alumina. Its in-plane and through-plane thermal conductivity were measured to be 86 and 18 watts per meter Kelvin, respectively, at room temperature.

  11. Nanostructured Polyaniline Coating on ITO Glass Promotes the Neurite Outgrowth of PC 12 Cells by Electrical Stimulation.

    PubMed

    Wang, Liping; Huang, Qianwei; Wang, Jin-Ye

    2015-11-10

    A conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) with nanostructure was synthesized on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass. The effect of electrical stimulation on the proliferation and the length of neurites of PC 12 cells was investigated. The dynamic protein adsorption on PANI and ITO surfaces in a cell culture medium was also compared with and without electrical stimulation. The adsorbed proteins were characterized using SDS-PAGE. A PANI coating on ITO surface was shown with 30-50 nm spherical nanostructure. The number of PC 12 cells was significantly greater on the PANI/ITO surface than on ITO and plate surfaces after cell seeding for 24 and 36 h. This result confirmed that the PANI coating is nontoxic to PC 12 cells. The electrical stimulation for 1, 2, and 4 h significantly enhanced the cell numbers for both PANI and ITO conducting surfaces. Moreover, the application of electrical stimulation also improved the neurite outgrowth of PC 12 cells, and the number of PC 12 cells with longer neurite lengths increased obviously under electrical stimulation for the PANI surface. From the mechanism, the adsorption of DMEM proteins was found to be enhanced by electrical stimulation for both PANI/ITO and ITO surfaces. A new band 2 (around 37 kDa) was observed from the collected adsorbed proteins when PC 12 cells were cultured on these surfaces, and culturing PC 12 cells also seemed to increase the amount of band 1 (around 90 kDa). When immersing PANI/ITO and ITO surfaces in a DMEM medium without a cell culture, the number of band 3 (around 70 kDa) and band 4 (around 45 kDa) proteins decreased compared to that of PC 12 cell cultured surfaces. These results are valuable for the design and improvement of the material performance for neural regeneration.

  12. Stresses in sulfuric acid anodized coatings on aluminum

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Alwitt, R. S.; Xu, J.; Mcclung, R. C.

    1993-01-01

    Stresses in porous anodic alumina coatings have been measured for specimens stabilized in air at different temperatures and humidities. In ambient atmosphere the stress is tensile after anodic oxidation and is compressive after sealing. Exposure to dry atmosphere causes the stress to change to strongly tensile, up to 110 MPa. The stress increase is proportional to the loss of water from the coating. These changes are reversible with changes in humidity. Similar reversible effects occur upon moderate temperature changes. The biaxial modulus of the coating is about 100 GPa.

  13. Alumina Handling Dustiness

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Authier-Martin, Monique

    Dustiness of calcined alumina is a major concern, causing undesirable working conditions and serious alumina losses. These losses occur primarily during unloading and handling or pot loading and crust breaking. The handling side of the problem is first addressed. The Perra pulvimeter constitutes a simple and reproducible tool to quantify handling dustiness and yields results in agreement with plant experience. Attempts are made to correlate dustiness with bulk properties (particle size, attrition index, …) for a large number of diverse aluminas. The characterization of the dust generated with the Perra pulvimeter is most revealing. The effect of the addition of E.S.P. dust is also reported.

  14. Amorphous alumina thin films deposited on titanium: Interfacial chemistry and thermal oxidation barrier properties

    DOE PAGES

    Baggetto, Loic; Charvillat, Cedric; Thebault, Yannick; ...

    2015-12-02

    Ti/Al 2O 3 bilayer stacks are used as model systems to investigate the role of atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to prepare 30-180 nm thick amorphous alumina films as protective barriers for the medium temperature oxidation (500-600⁰C) of titanium, which is employed in aeronautic applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the films produced from the direct liquid injection (DLI) CVD of aluminum tri-isopropoxide (ATI) are poor oxygen barriers. The films processed using the ALD of trimethylaluminum (TMA) show good barriermore » properties but an extensive intermixing with Ti which subsequently oxidizes. In contrast, the films prepared from dimethyl aluminum isopropoxide (DMAI) by CVD are excellent oxygen barriers and show little intermixing with Ti. Overall, these measurements correlate the effect of the alumina coating thickness, morphology, and stoichiometry resulting from the preparation method to the oxidation barrier properties, and show that compact and stoichiometric amorphous alumina films offer superior barrier properties.« less

  15. Non-contact temperature Raman measurement in YSZ and alumina ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thapa, Juddha; Chorpening, Benjamin T.; Buric, Michael P.

    2018-02-01

    Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ: ZrO2 + Y2O3) and alumina (Al2O3) are widely used in high-temperature applications due to their high-temperature stability, low thermal conductivity, and chemical inertness. Alumina is used extensively in engineered ceramic applications such as furnace tubes and thermocouple protection tubes, while YSZ is commonly used in thermal barrier coatings on turbine blades. Because they are already often found in high temperature and combustion applications, these two substances have been compared as candidates for Raman thermometry in high-temperature energy-related applications. Both ceramics were used with as-received rough surfaces, i.e., without polishing or modification. This closely approximates surface conditions in practical high-temperature situations. A single-line argon ion laser at 488nm was used to excite the materials inside a cylindrical furnace while measuring Raman spectra with a fixed-grating spectrometer. The shift in the peak positions of the most intense A1g peak at 418cm-1 (room temperature position) of alumina ceramic and relatively more symmetric Eg peak at 470cm-1 (room temperature position) of YSZ were measured and reported along with a thermocouple-derived reference temperature up to about 1000°C. This study showed that alumina and YSZ ceramics can be used in high-temperature Raman thermometry with an accuracy of 4.54°C and 10.5°C average standard deviations respectively over the range of about 1000°C. We hope that this result will guide future researchers in selecting materials and utilizing Raman non-contact temperature measurements in harsh environments.

  16. Multifunctional Ceramic Nanostructured Coatings

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-12-01

    silicon carbide composites // J. Europ. Cer. Soc. − 2004. − Vol. 24. − P. 2169−2179. 22. Yu. P. Udalov, E. E. Valova, S. S. Ordanian. Fabrication and...by the titanium and tungsten borides and carbides . The analysis was done using the X-ray and electron-optical methods. This information expands our...coating compositions should be based on limited solubility materials. Such systems include carbides , nitrides, borides and silicides based on

  17. The effect of CMAS interaction on thermal cycle lifetime of YSZ based thermal barrier coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bal, Emre; Karabaş, Muhammet; Yılmaz Taptık, İ.

    2018-06-01

    The purpose of this research is to produce CMAS resistant YSZ based TBCs and compare thermal cycle performance of the TBCs before and after CMAS interaction. Plasma sprayed YSZ (Y), YSZ + Alumina (YA), YSZ + Titania (YT), and YSZ + Alumina + Titania (YTA) coatings have been exposed to CMAS at 1250 °C for 18 h. Thermal cycling tests were carried out with a propane + oxygen flame at 1250 ± 50 °C. Thermal cycle lifetime of YSZ, YA, YT, YTA, and CMAS contaminated Y, YA, YT, YTA coatings are 450, 416, 426, 438, 122, 211, 141, 298 respectively. After CMAS interaction, while the life span of other coatings has fallen to their life span’s quarter, the life span of YTA coating has decreased slightly. Damages in the coatings after thermal cycle tests have been studied by using SEM to observe the microstructure and x-ray diffraction techniques to analyze the phase composition. Also to see areal distribution of the CMAS through the coating, EDS mapping has been carried out.

  18. Thin-film fractal nanostructures formed by electrical breakdown

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tadtaev, P. O.; Bobkov, A. A.; Borodzyulya, V. F.; Lamkin, I. A.; Mihailov, I. I.; Moshnikov, V. A.; Permyakov, N. V.; Solomonov, A. V.; Sudar, N. T.; Tarasov, S. A.

    2017-11-01

    This is a study of the fractal micro- and nanostructures formation caused by the electrical breakdown of the indium-tin oxide (ITO) covered with various organic coatings. The samples were created by covering a glass substrate with a 1 to 10um-thick layer of indium-tin oxide. Some of the samples were then coated with organic layers of polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate) and others. In order to create high local electrical field densities a special setup based on a eutectic GaIn liquid needle was created: it allowed for the contact area of 60um in diameter and application of the step voltage swept from 20 to 300 volts. The setup also contained a spectrometer for measuring the spectra of the breakdown optical effects. The results showed that the destruction of ITO led to the formation of the spiral fractal nanostructures, parameters of which depended on the thickness of the layer and the presence of the organic cover. In case of the latter, polymer coating was shown to visualize and zoom the topography of the nanostructures which might be used as a method of “polymer photography” for such fractal formations. The analysis of the spectra showed their dependence on the parameters of the structures which proves the possibility of conducting optical diagnostics of the created structures.

  19. Investigation of (Ti-Zr-Hf-V-Nb)N Multicomponent Nanostructured Coatings before and after Thermal Annealing by Nuclear Physics Methods of Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pogrebnjak, A. D.; Beresnev, V. M.; Bondar', A. V.; Kaverin, M. V.; Ponomarev, A. G.

    2013-10-01

    (Ti-Zr-Hf-V-Nb)N multicomponent nanostructured coatings with thickness of 1.0-1.4 μm synthesized by the method of cathode arc-vapor deposition at temperatures of 250-300°С are investigated by various mutually complementary methods of elemental structural analysis using slow positron beams (SPB), proton microbeam based particle-induced x-ray emission (μ-PIXE), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses based on electron micro- and nanobeams, x-ray diffraction (XRD) method of phase structural analysis, and the "a-sin2φ" method of measuring a stressed-strained state (x-ray tensometry). The elemental composition, microstructure, residual stress in nanograins, profiles of defect and atom distributions with depth and over the coating surface in 3D-representation are studied for these coatings, and their phase composition, severely strained state, and composition of coatings before and after annealing at Tann = 600°С for annealing time τ = 30 min are investigated. It is demonstrated that the oxidation resistance of the examined coatings can be significantly increased by high-temperature annealing that leads to the formation of elastic severely strained compression state of the coating. Redistribution of elements and defects, their segregation near the interface boundaries and around grains and subgrains in the process of thermostimulated diffusion, and termination of spinodal segregation without considerable change of the average nanograin size are revealed.

  20. Alteration of architecture of MoO₃ nanostructures on arbitrary substrates: growth kinetics, spectroscopic and gas sensing properties.

    PubMed

    Illyaskutty, Navas; Sreedhar, Sreeja; Sanal Kumar, G; Kohler, Heinz; Schwotzer, Matthias; Natzeck, Carsten; Pillai, V P Mahadevan

    2014-11-21

    MoO3 nanostructures have been grown in thin film form on five different substrates by RF magnetron sputtering and subsequent annealing; non-aligned nanorods, aligned nanorods, bundled nanowires, vertical nanorods and nanoslabs are formed respectively on the glass, quartz, wafer, alumina and sapphire substrates. The nanostructures formed on these substrates are characterized by AFM, SEM, GIXRD, XPS, micro-Raman, diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy. A detailed growth model for morphology alteration with respect to substrates has been discussed by considering various aspects such as surface roughness, lattice parameters and the thermal expansion coefficient, of both substrates and MoO3. The present study developed a strategy for the choice of substrates to materialize different types MoO3 nanostructures for future thin film applications. The gas sensing tests point towards using these MoO3 nanostructures as principal detection elements in gas sensors.

  1. Structural evolution of plasma-sprayed nanoscale 3 mol% and 5 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings during sintering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Yan; Gao, Yang

    2017-12-01

    The microstructure of plasma-sprayed nanostructured yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings may change during high-temperature exposure, which would influence the coating performance and service lifetime. In this study, the phase structure and the microstructural evolution of 3YSZ (zirconia-3 mol% yttria) and 5YSZ (zirconia-5 mol% yttria) nanostructured coatings were investigated by means of sintering at 1400 °C for 50-100 h. The microhardness, elastic moduli, and thermal shock cycles of the 3YSZ and 5YSZ nanostructured coatings were also investigated. The results showed that the redistribution of yttrium ions at 1400 °C caused the continuous increase of monoclinic-phase zirconia, but no obvious inter-splat cracking formed at the cross-sections, even after 100 h. Large voids appeared around the nanoporous zone because of the sintering of nanoscale granules upon high-temperature exposure. The microhardness and elastic moduli of the nanostructured coatings first increased and then decreased with increasing sintering times. The growth rate of the nanograins in the 3YSZ coating was lower than that in 5YSZ, which slowed the changes in 3YSZ coating porosity during sintering. Although the 3YSZ coating was prone to monoclinic phase transition, the experimental results showed that the thermal shock resistance of the 3YSZ coating was better than that of the 5YSZ coating.

  2. Direct Visualization of the Hydration Layer on Alumina Nanoparticles with the Fluid Cell STEM in situ

    PubMed Central

    Firlar, Emre; Çınar, Simge; Kashyap, Sanjay; Akinc, Mufit; Prozorov, Tanya

    2015-01-01

    Rheological behavior of aqueous suspensions containing nanometer-sized powders is of relevance to many branches of industry. Unusually high viscosities observed for suspensions of nanoparticles compared to those of micron size powders cannot be explained by current viscosity models. Formation of so-called hydration layer on alumina nanoparticles in water was hypothesized, but never observed experimentally. We report here on the direct visualization of aqueous suspensions of alumina with the fluid cell in situ. We observe the hydration layer formed over the particle aggregates and show that such hydrated aggregates constitute new particle assemblies and affect the flow behavior of the suspensions. We discuss how these hydrated nanoclusters alter the effective solid content and the viscosity of nanostructured suspensions. Our findings elucidate the source of high viscosity observed for nanoparticle suspensions and are of direct relevance to many industrial sectors including materials, food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical among others employing colloidal slurries with nanometer-scale particles. PMID:25996055

  3. Direct Visualization of the Hydration Layer on Alumina Nanoparticles with the Fluid Cell STEM in situ.

    PubMed

    Firlar, Emre; Çınar, Simge; Kashyap, Sanjay; Akinc, Mufit; Prozorov, Tanya

    2015-05-21

    Rheological behavior of aqueous suspensions containing nanometer-sized powders is of relevance to many branches of industry. Unusually high viscosities observed for suspensions of nanoparticles compared to those of micron size powders cannot be explained by current viscosity models. Formation of so-called hydration layer on alumina nanoparticles in water was hypothesized, but never observed experimentally. We report here on the direct visualization of aqueous suspensions of alumina with the fluid cell in situ. We observe the hydration layer formed over the particle aggregates and show that such hydrated aggregates constitute new particle assemblies and affect the flow behavior of the suspensions. We discuss how these hydrated nanoclusters alter the effective solid content and the viscosity of nanostructured suspensions. Our findings elucidate the source of high viscosity observed for nanoparticle suspensions and are of direct relevance to many industrial sectors including materials, food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical among others employing colloidal slurries with nanometer-scale particles.

  4. Direct visualization of the hydration layer on alumina nanoparticles with the fluid cell STEM in situ

    DOE PAGES

    Firlar, Emre; Çınar, Simge; Kashyap, Sanjay; ...

    2015-05-21

    Rheological behavior of aqueous suspensions containing nanometer-sized powders is of relevance to many branches of industry. Unusually high viscosities observed for suspensions of nanoparticles compared to those of micron size powders cannot be explained by current viscosity models. Formation of so-called hydration layer on alumina nanoparticles in water was hypothesized, but never observed experimentally. We report here on the direct visualization of aqueous suspensions of alumina with the fluid cell in situ. We observe the hydration layer formed over the particle aggregates and show that such hydrated aggregates constitute new particle assemblies and affect the flow behavior of the suspensions.more » We discuss how these hydrated nanoclusters alter the effective solid content and the viscosity of nanostructured suspensions. As a result, our findings elucidate the source of high viscosity observed for nanoparticle suspensions and are of direct relevance to many industrial sectors including materials, food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical among others employing colloidal slurries with nanometer-scale particles.« less

  5. A concept for improved fire-safety through coated fillers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ramohalli, K.

    1977-01-01

    A possible method is examined for obtaining a high value of thermal conductivity before ignition and a low value after ignition in standard composite materials. The idea is to coat fiberglass, alumina trihydrate, and similar fillers with specially selected chemicals prior to using polymer resins. The amount of the coat constitutes typically less than 5% of the material's total weight. The experimental results obtained are consistent with the basic concept.

  6. Bauxite Mining and Alumina Refining

    PubMed Central

    Frisch, Neale; Olney, David

    2014-01-01

    Objective: To describe bauxite mining and alumina refining processes and to outline the relevant physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial health risks. Methods: Review article. Results: The most important risks relate to noise, ergonomics, trauma, and caustic soda splashes of the skin/eyes. Other risks of note relate to fatigue, heat, and solar ultraviolet and for some operations tropical diseases, venomous/dangerous animals, and remote locations. Exposures to bauxite dust, alumina dust, and caustic mist in contemporary best-practice bauxite mining and alumina refining operations have not been demonstrated to be associated with clinically significant decrements in lung function. Exposures to bauxite dust and alumina dust at such operations are also not associated with the incidence of cancer. Conclusions: A range of occupational health risks in bauxite mining and alumina refining require the maintenance of effective control measures. PMID:24806720

  7. Bioinspired synthesis of a soft-nanofilament-based coating consisting of polysilsesquioxanes/polyamine and its divergent surface control.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Jian-Jun; Kimitsuka, Nobuo; Jin, Ren-Hua

    2013-04-24

    The synthesis of polysilsesquioxanes coating with controllable one-dimensional nanostructure on substrates remains a major long-term challenge by conventional solution-phase method. The hydrolytic polycondensation of organosilanes in solution normally produces a mixture of incomplete cages, ladderlike, and network structures, resulting in the poor control of the formation of specific nanostructure. This paper describes a simple aqueous process to synthesize nanofilament-based coatings of polysilsesquioxanes possessing various organo-functional groups (for example, thiol, methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and epoxy). We utilized a self-assembled nanostructured polyamine layer as a biomimetically catalytic scaffold/template to direct the formation of one-dimensional nanofilament of polysilsesquioxanes by temporally and spatially controlled hydrolytic polycondensation of organosilane. The surface nanostructure and morphology of polysilsesquioxane coating could be modulated by changing hydrolysis and condensation reaction conditions, and the orientation of nanofilaments of polysilsesquioxanes on substrates could be controlled by simply adjusting the self-assembly conditions of polyamine layer. The nanostructure and polyamine@polysilsesquioxane hybrid composition of nanofilament-based coatings were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The template role of nanostructured polyamine layer for the formation of polysilsesquioxane nanofilament was confirmed by combining thin film X-ray diffraction (XRD) and XPS measurements. Moreover, these nanotextured coatings with various organo-functional groups could be changed into superhydrophobic surfaces after surface modification with fluorocarbon molecule.

  8. Studies of Plasma-Sprayed Alumina

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ilavsky, Jan

    1994-05-01

    Phase transformations and porosity of the plasma sprayed alumina deposits were examined. The dependence of the phase transformations on deposit chemistry was established. Porosity changes during heat treatment were studied and a model for the porosity is proposed. A novel technique in the field of plasma sprayed deposits--small-angle neutron scattering (SANS)--was successfully applied. Deposits were manufactured using the water-stabilized plasma spray system, PAL160, with an input of 160 kW. Phase transformations of the plasma sprayed alumina deposits were studied using XRD and DTA. The deposits were manufactured from 99.9% alumina, alumina-chromia (1.5% Cr_2O_3), gray alumina (3.7% TiO_2) and alumina -titania (17% TiO_2). The addition of chromia increases the temperature of the alpha phase formation by about 40^circ C and the addition of TiO_2 reduces this temperature by about 150^circ C for gray alumina and by about 175^ circC for alumina-titania. The amount of metastable theta phase was found to depend on the chemistry of the feedstock. Porosities of the deposits, made from alumina and gray alumina, were studied using mercury intrusion porosimetry, weighing method (Archimedean porosimetry), image analysis and SANS. Samples were studied in the as -sprayed condition and after heat treatment for 2 hours at 1300^circC and 1500 ^circC. Porosity depends on the deposit chemistry and on the heat treatment and varies from 5% to about 11%. Different porosity measurement techniques yield different results. Surface areas of 1.5 to 7.5 times 10^4 cm^2 /cm^3 (times 10^6 m^{ -1}) were measured using SANS and depend on heat treatment and on the deposit chemistry. The phase transformations can be associated with an increase in pore surface area and decrease in surface area at 1500 ^circC can be associated with sintering. The effective pore radius, R_{ rm eff}, as measured by SANS is a measure of the pore sizes in the 0.08 to 10 μm size range. The R_{rm eff} depends on deposit

  9. Helium interactions with alumina formed by atomic layer deposition show potential for mitigating problems with excess helium in spent nuclear fuel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Shenli; Yu, Erick; Gates, Sean; Cassata, William S.; Makel, James; Thron, Andrew M.; Bartel, Christopher; Weimer, Alan W.; Faller, Roland; Stroeve, Pieter; Tringe, Joseph W.

    2018-02-01

    Helium gas accumulation from alpha decay during extended storage of spent fuel has potential to compromise the structural integrity the fuel. Here we report results obtained with surrogate nickel particles which suggest that alumina formed by atomic layer deposition can serve as a low volume-fraction, uniformly-distributed phase for retention of helium generated in fuel particles such as uranium oxide. Thin alumina layers may also form transport paths for helium in the fuel rod, which would otherwise be impermeable. Micron-scale nickel particles, representative of uranium oxide particles in their low helium solubility and compatibility with the alumina synthesis process, were homogeneously coated with alumina approximately 3-20 nm by particle atomic layer deposition (ALD) using a fluidized bed reactor. Particles were then loaded with helium at 800 °C in a tube furnace. Subsequent helium spectroscopy measurements showed that the alumina phase, or more likely a related nickel/alumina interface structure, retains helium at a density of at least 1017 atoms/cm3. High resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that the thermal treatment increased the alumina thickness and generated additional porosity. Results from Monte Carlo simulations on amorphous alumina predict the helium retention concentration at room temperature could reach 1021 atoms/cm3 at 400 MPa, a pressure predicted by others to be developed in uranium oxide without an alumina secondary phase. This concentration is sufficient to eliminate bubble formation in the nuclear fuel for long-term storage scenarios, for example. Measurements by others of the diffusion coefficient in polycrystalline alumina indicate values several orders of magnitude higher than in uranium oxide, which then can also allow for helium transport out of the spent fuel.

  10. The durability of ceramic coated dental instruments.

    PubMed

    Rawlings, R D; Robinson, P B; Rogers, P S

    1995-09-01

    This study investigates the hardness, structure, composition, and thickness of coatings on two dental instruments and the changes which occurred when the instruments were subjected to conditions that closely match their clinical use. One group of instruments had a titanium nitride coating that was approximately 8 micrometers thick and had a hardness of 19.5 GN/m2. The coating on the other instrument was alumina (aluminium oxide) and contained some microcracks even when new; this coating was thicker (approximately 30 micrometers) and had a hardness less than the titanium nitride coating (15.8 GN/m2). The results showed that the titanium nitride coating was structurally superior compared with the aluminium oxide coating. Laboratory wear tests against composite resin showed that the wear resistance of titanium nitride was superior to that of stainless steel whether assessed in terms of weight or volume loss.

  11. Stress development in particulate, nano-composite and polymeric coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jindal, Karan

    2009-12-01

    The main goal of this research is to study the stress, structural and mechanical property development during the drying of particulate coatings, nano-composite coatings and VOC compliant refinish clearcoats. The results obtained during this research establish the mechanism for the stress development during drying in various coating systems. Coating stress was measured using a controlled environment stress apparatus based on cantilever deflection principle. The stress evolution in alumina coatings made of 0.4 mum size alumina particles was studied and the effect of a lateral drying was investigated. The stress does not develop until the later stages of drying. A peak stress was observed during drying and the peak stress originates due to the formation of pendular rings between the particles. Silica nanocomposite coatings were fabricated from suspension of nano sized silicon dioxide particles (20 nm) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer. The stress in silica nano-composite goes through maximum as the amount of polymer in the coating increases. The highest final stress was found to be ˜ 110MPa at a PVA content of 60 wt%. Observations from SEM, nitrogen gas adsorption, camera imaging, and nano-indentation were also studied to correlate the coatings properties during drying to measured stress. A model VOC compliant two component (2K) acrylic-polyol refinish clearcoat was prepared to study the effects of a new additive on drying, curing, rheology and stress development at room temperature. Most of the drying of the low VOC coatings occurred before appreciable (20%) crosslinking. Tensile stress developed in the same timeframe as drying and then relaxed over a longer time scale. Model low VOC coatings prepared with the additive had higher peak stresses than those without the additive. In addition, rheological data showed that the additive resulted in greater viscosity buildup during drying.

  12. Alumina-Reinforced Zirconia Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Choi, Sung R.; Bansal, Narottam P.

    2003-01-01

    Alumina-reinforced zirconia composites, used as electrolyte materials for solid oxide fuel cells, were fabricated by hot pressing 10 mol percent yttria-stabilized zirconia (10-YSZ) reinforced with two different forms of alumina particulates and platelets each containing 0 to 30 mol percent alumina. Major mechanical and physical properties of both particulate and platelet composites including flexure strength, fracture toughness, slow crack growth, elastic modulus, density, Vickers microhardness, thermal conductivity, and microstructures were determined as a function of alumina content either at 25 C or at both 25 and 1000 C. Flexure strength and fracture toughness at 1000 C were maximized with 30 particulate and 30 mol percent platelet composites, respectively, while resistance to slow crack growth at 1000 C in air was greater for 30 mol percent platelet composite than for 30 mol percent particulate composites.

  13. Third-generation pure alumina and alumina matrix composites in total hip arthroplasty: What is the evidence?

    PubMed

    Hannouche, Didier; Zingg, Matthieu; Miozzari, Hermes; Nizard, Remy; Lübbeke, Anne

    2018-01-01

    Wear, corrosion and periprosthetic osteolysis are important causes of failure in joint arthroplasty, especially in young patients.Ceramic bearings, developed 40 years ago, are an increasingly popular choice in hip arthroplasty. New manufacturing procedures have increased the strength and reliability of ceramic materials and reduced the risk of complications.In recent decades, ceramics made of pure alumina have continuously improved, resulting in a surgical-grade material that fulfills clinical requirements.Despite the track record of safety and long-term results, third-generation pure alumina ceramics are being replaced in clinical practice by alumina matrix composites, which are composed of alumina and zirconium.In this review, the characteristics of both materials are discussed, and the long-term results with third-generation alumina-on-alumina bearings and the associated complications are compared with those of other available ceramics. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3:7-14. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170034.

  14. Durability of an inorganic polymer concrete coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wasserman, Kenneth

    The objective of the research program reported in this thesis is to evaluate the durability of an inorganic polymer composite coating exposed to freeze/thaw cycling and wet-dry cycling. Freeze/thaw cycling is performed following ASTM D6944-09 Standard Practice for Resistance of Cured Coatings to Thermal Cycling and wet/dry cycling is performed following guidelines set forth in a thesis written by Ronald Garon at Rutgers University. For both sets of experiments, four coating mixture proportions were evaluated. The variables were: silica/alumina ratio, mixing protocol using high shear and normal shear mixing, curing temperatures of 70 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit and use of nano size constituent materials. The mix with highest silica/alumina ratio was designated as Mix 1 and mixes with lower ratios were designated as Mix 2 and Mix 3. Mix 4 had nano silica particles. Four prisms were used for each variable including control that had no coating. The performance of the coating was evaluated using adhesion strength measured using: ASTM D7234 Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using Portable Adhesion Testers. Tests were performed after every five consecutive cycles of thermal conditioning and six consecutive cycles of wet-dry exposure. Results from the thermal cycling and wet-dry testing demonstrate that all coating formulations are durable. The minimum adhesion strength was 300 psi even though a relatively weak base concrete surface was chosen for the study. The weak surface was chosen to simulate aged concrete surfaces present in actual field conditions. Due to the inherent nature of the test procedure the variation in test results is high. However, based on the test results, high shear mixer and high temperature curing are not recommended. As expected nano size constituent materials provide better performance.

  15. Nano-structured surface plasmon resonance sensor for sensitivity enhancement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Jae-Ho; Kim, Hyo-Sop; Kim, Jin-Ho; Choi, Sung-Wook; Cho, Yong-Jin

    2008-08-01

    A new nano-structured SPR sensor was devised to improve its sensitivity. Nano-scaled silica particles were used as the template to fabricate nano-structure. The surface of the silica particles was modified with thiol group and a single layer of the modified silica particles was attached on the gold or silver thin film using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. Thereafter, gold or silver was coated on the template by an e-beam evaporator. Finally, the nano-structured surface with basin-like shape was obtained after removing the silica particles by sonication. Applying the new developed SPR sensor to a model food of alcoholic beverage, the sensitivities for the gold and silver nano-structured sensors, respectively, had 95% and 126% higher than the conventional one.

  16. Improving the oxidation resistance and stability of Ag nanoparticles by coating with multilayered reduced graphene oxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yahui; Zhang, Huayu; Wu, Bowen; Guo, Zhuo

    2017-12-01

    A kind of coating nanostructure, Ag nanoparticles coated with multilayered reduced graphene oxide (RGO), is fabricated by employing a three-step reduction method in an orderly manner, which is significantly different from the conventional structures that are simply depositing or doping with Ag nanoparticles on RGO via chemical reduction. The as-prepared nanostructure is investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected-area electronic diffraction (SEAD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the obtained Ag/RGO nanostructure is observed to be a perfect coating structure with well dispersed Ag particles, which is responsible for the remarkable oxidation resistance. The results of XPS spectra indicate the content of metallic Ag is far greater than that of Ag oxides despite of prolonged exposure to the air, which fully demonstrate the excellent stability of thus coating nanostructure.

  17. Epoxy-based broadband antireflection coating for millimeter-wave optics.

    PubMed

    Rosen, Darin; Suzuki, Aritoki; Keating, Brian; Krantz, William; Lee, Adrian T; Quealy, Erin; Richards, Paul L; Siritanasak, Praween; Walker, William

    2013-11-20

    We have developed epoxy-based, broadband antireflection coatings for millimeter-wave astrophysics experiments with cryogenic optics. By using multiple-layer coatings where each layer steps in dielectric constant, we achieved low reflection over a wide bandwidth. We suppressed the reflection from an alumina disk to 10% over fractional bandwidths of 92% and 104% using two-layer and three-layer coatings, respectively. The dielectric constants of epoxies were tuned between 2.06 and 7.44 by mixing three types of epoxy and doping with strontium titanate powder required for the high dielectric mixtures. At 140 K, the band-integrated absorption loss in the coatings was suppressed to less than 1% for the two-layer coating, and below 10% for the three-layer coating.

  18. Optically transparent and durable Al2O3 coatings for harsh environments by ultra short pulsed laser deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Korhonen, Hannu; Syväluoto, Aki; Leskinen, Jari T. T.; Lappalainen, Reijo

    2018-01-01

    Nowadays, an environmental protection is needed for a number of optical applications in conditions quickly impairing the clarity of optical surfaces. Abrasion resistant optical coatings applied onto plastics are usually based on alumina or polysiloxane technology. In many applications transparent glasses and ceramics need a combination of abrasive and chemically resistant shielding or other protective solutions like coatings. In this study, we intended to test our hypothesis that clear and pore free alumina coating can be uniformly distributed on glass prisms by ultra short pulsed laser deposition (USPLD) technique to protect the sensitive surfaces against abrasives. Abrasive wear tests were carried out by the use of SiC emery paper using specified standard procedures. After the wear tests the measured transparencies of coated prisms turned out to be close those of the prisms before coating. The coating on sensitive surfaces consistently displayed enhanced wear resistance exhibiting still high quality, even after severe wear testing. Furthermore, the coating modified the surface properties towards hydrophobic nature in contrast to untreated prisms, which became very hydrophilic especially due to wear.

  19. Surface modification of cathode material 0.5Li2MnO3·0.5LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 by alumina for lithium-ion batteries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yonghu; Chang, Xingping; Xu, Qunjie; Lai, Chunyan; Liu, Xinnuan; Yuan, Xiaolei; Liu, Haimei; Min, Yulin

    2018-02-01

    In an attempt to overcome the irreversible capacity loss occurred during the first cycle and stabilize the surface structure, an alumina coating layer has been triumphantly prepared on the surface of 0.5Li2MnO3·0.5LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 cathode material with different amounts (1, 2, and 3 wt%) through a simple hydrolysis reaction, followed by an annealing process. The results reveal that the coated materials have a higher crystallinity and the particles are evenly distributed. As a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, the 2-wt% coated sample delivers initial discharge specific capacity of 211.7 mAh g-1 at a rate of 1 C between 2.0 and 4.8 V with an initial columbic efficiency of 73.2%. Meanwhile, it exhibits the highest discharge specific capacity of 206.2 mAh g-1 with 97.4% capacity retention after 100 cycles at and much elevated rate capability compared to uncoated material. The excellent cycling stability and more superior rate property can be ascribed to alumina coating layer, which has a surface stabilization effect on these cathode materials, lessening the dissolution of metal ions. The electrochemical impedance and cyclic voltammetry studies indicate that coated by alumina improved the kinetic performance for lithium-rich layered materials, showing a prospect for practical lithium battery application.

  20. Facile synthesis of gold coated copper(II) hydroxide pine-needle-like micro/nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Long, Kailin; Du, Deyang; Luo, Xiaoguang; Zhao, Weiwei; Wu, Zhangting; Si, Lifang; Qiu, Teng

    2014-08-01

    This work reports a facile method to fabricate gold coated copper(II) hydroxide pine-needle-like micro/nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) application. The effects of reaction parameters on the shape, size and surface morphology of the products are systematically investigated. The as-prepared 3D hierarchical structures have the advantage of a large surface area available for the formation of hot spots and the adsorption of target analytes, thus dramatically improving the Raman signals. The finite difference time domain calculations indicate that the pine-needle-like model pattern may demonstrate a high quality SERS property owing to the high density and abundant hot spot characteristic in closely spaced needle-like arms.

  1. A Study on the Deposition of Al2O3 Coatings on Polymer Substrates by a Plasma Spray/Micro-Arc Oxidation Two-Step Method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Guanhong; He, Xiaodong; Jiang, Jiuxing; Sun, Yue; Zhong, Yesheng

    2013-02-01

    To increase the wear resistance of polymer matrix composites, alumina coatings were deposited on polymer substrates by a two-step method combining plasma spraying and micro-arc oxidation. The microstructures and phase compositions of the processed coatings were investigated for different treatment times. Uniformly distributed pores were found in addition to the presence of various coral-like structures and floccules on the surface of the coatings. The presence of α-Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3 phases was identified by XRD. The distribution of alumina was analyzed by EDS and is discussed. The maximum bond strength of the coatings was found to be 5.89 MPa. There was little thermal damage in the polymer substrates after the coatings were produced.

  2. Carbon-based nanostructured surfaces for enhanced phase-change cooling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Selvaraj Kousalya, Arun

    To maintain acceptable device temperatures in the new generation of electronic devices under development for high-power applications, conventional liquid cooling schemes will likely be superseded by multi-phase cooling solutions to provide substantial enhancement to the cooling capability. The central theme of the current work is to investigate the two-phase thermal performance of carbon-based nanostructured coatings in passive and pumped liquid-vapor phase-change cooling schemes. Quantification of the critical parameters that influence thermal performance of the carbon nanostructured boiling surfaces presented herein will lead to improved understanding of the underlying evaporative and boiling mechanisms in such surfaces. A flow boiling experimental facility is developed to generate consistent and accurate heat transfer performance curves with degassed and deionized water as the working fluid. New means of boiling heat transfer enhancement by altering surface characteristics such as surface energy and wettability through light-surface interactions is explored in this work. In this regard, carbon nanotube (CNT) coatings are exposed to low-intensity irradiation emitted from a light emitting diode and the subcooled flow boiling performance is compared against a non-irradiated CNT-coated copper surface. A considerable reduction in surface superheat and enhancement in average heat transfer coefficient is observed. In another work involving CNTs, the thermal performance of CNT-integrated sintered wick structures is evaluated in a passively cooled vapor chamber. A physical vapor deposition process is used to coat the CNTs with varying thicknesses of copper to promote surface wetting with the working fluid, water. Thermal performance of the bare sintered copper powder sample and the copper-functionalized CNT-coated sintered copper powder wick samples is compared using an experimental facility that simulates the capillary fluid feeding conditions of a vapor chamber

  3. Elaboration of Alumina-Zirconia Composites: Role of the Zirconia Content on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

    PubMed Central

    Naglieri, Valentina; Palmero, Paola; Montanaro, Laura; Chevalier, Jérôme

    2013-01-01

    Alumina-zirconia (AZ) composites are attractive structural materials, which combine the high hardness and Young’s modulus of the alumina matrix with additional toughening effects, due to the zirconia dispersion. In this study, AZ composites containing different amounts of zirconia (in the range 5–20 vol %) were prepared by a wet chemical method, consisting on the surface coating of alumina powders by mixing them with zirconium salt aqueous solutions. After spray-drying, powders were calcined at 600 °C for 1 h. Green bodies were then prepared by two methods: uniaxial pressing of spray-dried granules and slip casting of slurries, obtained by re-dispersing the spray dried granulates. After pressureless sintering at 1500 °C for 1 h, the slip cast samples gave rise to fully dense materials, characterized by a quite homogeneous distribution of ZrO2 grains in the alumina matrix. The microstructure, phase composition, tetragonal to monoclinic transformation behavior and mechanical properties were investigated and are here discussed as a function of the ZrO2 content. The material containing 10 vol % ZrO2 presented a relevant hardness and exhibited the maximum value of KI0, mainly imputable to the t → m transformation at the crack tip. PMID:28809262

  4. Self assembly of organic nanostructures and dielectrophoretic assembly of inorganic nanowires.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dholakia, Geetha; Kuo, Steven; Allen, E. L.

    2007-03-01

    Self assembly techniques enable the organization of organic molecules into nanostructures. Currently engineering strategies for efficient assembly and routine integration of inorganic nanoscale objects into functional devices is very limited. AC Dielectrophoresis is an efficient technique to manipulate inorganic nanomaterials into higher dimensional structures. We used an alumina template based sol-gel synthesis method for the growth of various metal oxide nanowires with typical diameters of 100-150 nm, ranging in length from 3-10 μm. Here we report the dielectrophoretic assembly of TiO2 nanowires, an important material for photocatalysis and photovoltaics, onto interdigitated devices. Self assembly in organic nanostructures and its dependence on structure and stereochemistry of the molecule and dielectrophoretic field dependence in the assembly of inorganic nanowires will be compared and contrasted. Tunneling spectroscopy and DOS of these nanoscale systems will also be discussed.

  5. Attrition resistant gamma-alumina catalyst support

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

    Singleton, Alan H.; Oukaci, Rachid; Goodwin, James G.

    2006-03-14

    A .gamma.-alumina catalyst support having improved attrition resistance produced by a method comprising the steps of treating a particulate .gamma.-alumina material with an acidic aqueous solution comprising water and nitric acid and then, prior to adding any catalytic material thereto, calcining the treated .gamma.-alumina.

  6. High-Temperature Erosive Behavior of Plasma Sprayed Cr3C2-NiCr/Cenosphere Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mathapati, Mahantayya; Doddamani, Mrityunjay; Ramesh, M. R.

    2018-02-01

    This research examines the deposition of Cr3C2-NiCr/cenosphere and Cr3C2-NiCr coatings on MDN 321 steel through the process of plasma spray. In this process, the solid particle erosion test is established at 200, 400, 600 °C with 30° and 90° impact angles. Alumina erodent is adopted to investigate the erosive behavior of the coating at higher temperatures. The properties of the Cr3C2-NiCr/cenosphere coating are established based on the microhardness, the adhesive strength, the fracture toughness, and the ductility. To quantify volume loss as a result of erosion, an optical profilometer is used. At higher temperature, decrease in the erosion volume loss of Cr3C2-NiCr/cenosphere and Cr3C2-NiCr coatings is observed. The erosion-resistive property of Cr3C2-NiCr/cenosphere coating is higher than that of MDN 321 steel by 76%. This property is influenced by high-temperature stability of mullite, alumina, and protective oxide layer that is formed at elevated temperatures. The morphology of eroded coating discloses a brittle mode of material removal.

  7. Noncatalytic thermocouple coatings produced with chemical vapor deposition for flame temperature measurements.

    PubMed

    Bahlawane, N; Struckmeier, U; Kasper, T S; Osswald, P

    2007-01-01

    Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) have been employed to develop alumina thin films in order to protect thermocouples from catalytic overheating in flames and to minimize the intrusion presented to the combustion process. Alumina films obtained with a CVD process using AlCl(3) as the precursor are dense, not contaminated, and crystallize in the corundum structure, while MOCVD using Al(acetyl acetone)(3) allows the growth of corundum alumina with improved growth rates. These films, however, present a porous columnar structure and show some carbon contamination. Therefore, coated thermocouples using AlCl(3)-CVD were judged more suitable for flame temperature measurements and were tested in different fuels over a typical range of stoichiometries. Coated thermocouples exhibit satisfactory measurement reproducibility, no temporal drifts, and do not suffer from catalytic effects. Furthermore, their increased radiative heat loss (observed by infrared spectroscopy) allows temperature measurements over a wider range when compared to uncoated thermocouples. A flame with a well-known temperature profile established with laser-based techniques was used to determine the radiative heat loss correction to account for the difference between the apparent temperature measured by the coated thermocouple and the true flame temperature. The validity of the correction term was confirmed with temperature profile measurements for several flames previously studied in different laboratories with laser-based techniques.

  8. Mechanical Behavior of Sapphire Reinforced Alumina Matrix Composites at Elevated Temperatures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jaskowiak, Martha H.; Eldridge, Jeffrey I.; Setlock, John A.; Gyekenyesi, John Z.

    1997-01-01

    Zirconia coated sapphire reinforced alumina matrix composites have been tested both after heat treatment to 1400 C and at temperatures ranging from 800 C to 1200 C in. air. Interfacial shear stress has also been measured with fiber pushout tests performed in air at room temperature, 800 C and 1OOO C. Matrix crack spacing was measured for the tensile tested composites and used to estimate interfacial shear stress up to 1200 C. Electron microscopy was used to determine the source of fiber fracture and to study interfacial failure within the composite.

  9. Preparation of ultra-fine powders from polysaccharide-coated solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers by innovative nano spray drying technology.

    PubMed

    Wang, Taoran; Hu, Qiaobin; Zhou, Mingyong; Xue, Jingyi; Luo, Yangchao

    2016-09-10

    In this study, five polysaccharides were applied as natural polymeric coating materials to prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructure lipid carriers (NLC), and then the obtained lipid colloidal particles were transformed to solid powders by the innovative nano spray drying technology. The feasibility and suitability of this new technology to generate ultra-fine lipid powder particles were evaluated and the formulation was optimized. The spray dried SLN powder exhibited the aggregated and irregular shape and dimension, but small, uniform, well-separated spherical powder particles of was obtained from NLC. The optimal formulation of NLC was prepared by a 20-30% oleic acid content with carrageenan or pectin as coating material. Therefore, nano spray drying technology has a potential application to produce uniform, spherical, and sub-microscale lipid powder particles when the formulation of lipid delivery system is appropriately designed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Structural Effects of Lanthanide Dopants on Alumina

    PubMed Central

    Patel, Ketan; Blair, Victoria; Douglas, Justin; Dai, Qilin; Liu, Yaohua; Ren, Shenqiang; Brennan, Raymond

    2017-01-01

    Lanthanide (Ln3+) doping in alumina has shown great promise for stabilizing and promoting desirable phase formation to achieve optimized physical and chemical properties. However, doping alumina with Ln elements is generally accompanied by formation of new phases (i.e. LnAlO3, Ln2O3), and therefore inclusion of Ln-doping mechanisms for phase stabilization of the alumina lattice is indispensable. In this study, Ln-doping (400 ppm) of the alumina lattice crucially delays the onset of phase transformation and enables phase population control, which is achieved without the formation of new phases. The delay in phase transition (θ → α), and alteration of powder morphology, particle dimensions, and composition ratios between α- and θ-alumina phases are studied using a combination of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, digital scanning calorimetry, and high resolution X-ray diffraction with refinement fitting. Loading alumina with a sparse concentration of Ln-dopants suggests that the dopants reside in the vacant octahedral locations within the alumina lattice, where complete conversion into the thermodynamically stable α-domain is shown in dysprosium (Dy)- and lutetium (Lu)-doped alumina. This study opens up the potential to control the structure and phase composition of Ln-doped alumina for emerging applications. PMID:28059121

  11. Structural Effects of Lanthanide Dopants on Alumina

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

    Patel, Ketan; Blair, Victoria; Douglas, Justin

    Lanthanide (Ln 3+) doping in alumina has shown great promise for stabilizing and promoting desirable phase formation to achieve optimized physical and chemical properties. However, doping alumina with Ln elements is generally accompanied by formation of new phases (i.e. LnAlO3, Ln2O3), and therefore inclusion of Ln-doping mechanisms for phase stabilization of the alumina lattice is indispensable. In this study, Ln-doping (400 ppm) of the alumina lattice crucially delays the onset of phase transformation and enables phase population control, which is achieved without the formation of new phases. The delay in phase transition (θ → α), and alteration of powder morphology,more » particle dimensions, and composition ratios between α- and θ-alumina phases are studied using a combination of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, digital scanning calorimetry, and high resolution X-ray diffraction with refinement fitting. Loading alumina with a sparse concentration of Ln-dopants suggests that the dopants reside in the vacant octahedral locations within the alumina lattice, where complete conversion into the thermodynamically stable α-domain is shown in dysprosium (Dy)- and lutetium (Lu)-doped alumina. This study opens up the potential to control the structure and phase composition of Ln-doped alumina for emerging applications.« less

  12. Microporous alumina ceramic membranes

    DOEpatents

    Anderson, M.A.; Guangyao Sheng.

    1993-05-04

    Several methods are disclosed for the preparation microporous alumina ceramic membranes. For the first time, porous alumina membranes are made which have mean pore sizes less than 100 Angstroms and substantially no pores larger than that size. The methods are based on improved sol-gel techniques.

  13. Microporous alumina ceramic membranes

    DOEpatents

    Anderson, Marc A.; Sheng, Guangyao

    1993-01-01

    Several methods are disclosed for the preparation microporous alumina ceramic membranes. For the first time, porous alumina membranes are made which have mean pore sizes less than 100 Angstroms and substantially no pores larger than that size. The methods are based on improved sol-gel techniques.

  14. New Bond Coat Materials for Thermal Barrier Coating Systems Processed Via Different Routes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soare, A.; Csaki, I.; Sohaciu, M.; Oprea, C.; Soare, S.; Costina, I.; Petrescu, M. I.

    2017-06-01

    This paper aims at describing the development of new Ru-based Bond Coats (BC) as part of Thermal Barrier Coatings. The challenge of this research was to obtain an adherent and uniform layer of alumina protective layer after high temperature exposure. We have prepared a RuAl 50/50 at% alloy in an induction furnace which was subsequently subjected to oxidation in an electric furnace, in air, at 1100C, for 10h and 100h. Mechanical alloying of Ru and Al powders was another processing route used in an attempt to obtain a stoichiometric RuAl. The alloy was sintered by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and then oxidized at 1100C for 1 and10h. The alloys obtained as such were analysed before and after oxidation using advanced microscopy techniques (SEM and TEM). The encouraging results in case of RuAl alloys prepared by induction melting reveal that we obtained an adherent and uniform layer of alumina, free of delta-Ru. The results for the samples processed by powder metallurgy were positive but need to be further investigated. We should note here the novelty of this method for this particular type of application - as a BC part of a TBC system.

  15. Bauxite and alumina

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Bray, E.L.

    2011-01-01

    The article discusses the latest developments in the bauxite and alumina industry, particularly in the U.S., as of June 2011. It claims that the U.S. mainly relies on imports for its bauxite consumption. Several states, including Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia, however, produce small amounts of bauxite and bauxitic clays for nonmetallurgical purposes. The major exporters of alumina to the U.S. include Australia, Brazil and Jamaica.

  16. Performance of Plasma Sprayed Al2O3 Coating in Bio-Simulated Environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yıldız, F.; Yetim, A. F.; Alsaran, A.; Çelik, A.

    2014-01-01

    Alumina coatings deposited on the surface of stainless steel 316L by the method of plasma spraying are studied. Tests for wear and corrosion are preformed in Ringer's solution simulating a human body environment. The structure, microhardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the steel are determined with and without a coating. Deposition of a coating onto the stainless steel is shown to be an effective means for protecting implants from corrosion and wear.

  17. Superhydrophobic properties induced by sol-gel routes on copper surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raimondo, M.; Veronesi, F.; Boveri, G.; Guarini, G.; Motta, A.; Zanoni, R.

    2017-11-01

    Superhydrophobic surfaces are attracting increasing attention in different fields such as energy, transportation, building industry and electronics, as they exhibit many interesting properties such as high water repellence, anti-fogging, anti-corrosion, anti-fouling and self-cleaning abilities. Here, superhydrophobic nanostructured hybrid materials obtained by depositing alumina nanoparticles on copper surfaces via dip coating in Al2O3 sol are presented. Two different preparation routes were explored, based on either an alcoholic or an aqueous Al2O3 sol, and the resulting wetting properties were compared. Wettability measurements showed that when the alcoholic sol is used superhydrophobicity is attained, with values of water contact angle very close to the upper limit of 180°, while highly hydrophobic coatings are obtained with the aqueous sol. These findings were further supported by electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which revealed that the surface layer deposited on Cu is more homogenous and richer in alumina nanoparticles when the alcoholic sol was used. Durability of the superhydrophobic coating was assessed by performing ageing tests in chemically aggressive environments. A remarkable resistance is displayed by the superhydrophobic coating in acid environment, while alkaline conditions severely affect its properties. Such behaviors were investigated by XPS and FE-SEM measurements, which disclosed the nature of the surface reactions under the different conditions tested. The present results underline that a thorough investigation of surface morphology, chemical composition and wetting properties reveals their strongly connection and helps optimizing the combination of substrate nanostructuring and suitable chemical coating for an improved durability in different aggressive environments.

  18. Hydrogen plasma tests of some insulating coating systems for the nuclear rocket thrust chamber

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Current, A. N.; Grisaffe, S. J.; Wycoff, K. C.

    1972-01-01

    Several plasma-sprayed and slurry-coated insulating coating systems were evaluated for structural stability in a low-pressure hot hydrogen environment at a maximum heat flux of 19.6 million watts/sq meter. The heat was provided by an electric-arc plasma generator. The coating systems consisted of a number of thin layers of metal oxides and/or metals. The materials included molybdenum, nichrome, tungsten, alumina, zirconia, and chromia. The study indicates potential usefulness in this environment for some coatings, and points up the need for improved coating application techniques.

  19. Plasma tests of sprayed coatings for rocket thrust chambers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Curren, A. N.; Love, W. K.

    1974-01-01

    Several plasma-sprayed coating systems were evaluated for structural stability in hydrogen plasma and in oxygen plasma mixed with hydrogen plasma. The principal test heat flux was 15 Btu per inch squared seconds. The system consisted of a number of thin 0.002 to 0.020 in. layers of metal oxides and/or metals. The principal materials included are molybdenum nichrome, alumina, and zirconia. The study identifies important factors in coating system fabrication and describes the durability of the coating systems in the test environments. Values of effective thermal conductivity for some of the systems are indicated.

  20. Structural Effects of Lanthanide Dopants on Alumina

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

    Patel, Ketan; Blair, Victoria; Douglas, Justin

    Lanthanide (Ln 3+) doping in alumina has shown great promise for stabilizing and promoting desirable phase formation to achieve optimized physical and chemical properties. However, doping alumina with Ln elements is generally accompanied by formation of new phases (i.e. LnAlO 3, Ln 2O 3), and therefore inclusion of Ln-doping mechanisms for phase stabilization of the alumina lattice is indispensable. In this study, Ln-doping (400 ppm) of the alumina lattice crucially delays the onset of phase transformation and enables phase population control, which is achieved without the formation of new phases. In addition, the delay in phase transition (θ → α),more » and alteration of powder morphology, particle dimensions, and composition ratios between α- and θ-alumina phases are studied using a combination of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, digital scanning calorimetry, and high resolution X-ray diffraction with refinement fitting. Loading alumina with a sparse concentration of Ln-dopants suggests that the dopants reside in the vacant octahedral locations within the alumina lattice, where complete conversion into the thermodynamically stable α-domain is shown in dysprosium (Dy)- and lutetium (Lu)-doped alumina. Lastly, this study opens up the potential to control the structure and phase composition of Ln-doped alumina for emerging applications.« less

  1. Structural Effects of Lanthanide Dopants on Alumina

    DOE PAGES

    Patel, Ketan; Blair, Victoria; Douglas, Justin; ...

    2017-01-06

    Lanthanide (Ln 3+) doping in alumina has shown great promise for stabilizing and promoting desirable phase formation to achieve optimized physical and chemical properties. However, doping alumina with Ln elements is generally accompanied by formation of new phases (i.e. LnAlO 3, Ln 2O 3), and therefore inclusion of Ln-doping mechanisms for phase stabilization of the alumina lattice is indispensable. In this study, Ln-doping (400 ppm) of the alumina lattice crucially delays the onset of phase transformation and enables phase population control, which is achieved without the formation of new phases. In addition, the delay in phase transition (θ → α),more » and alteration of powder morphology, particle dimensions, and composition ratios between α- and θ-alumina phases are studied using a combination of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, digital scanning calorimetry, and high resolution X-ray diffraction with refinement fitting. Loading alumina with a sparse concentration of Ln-dopants suggests that the dopants reside in the vacant octahedral locations within the alumina lattice, where complete conversion into the thermodynamically stable α-domain is shown in dysprosium (Dy)- and lutetium (Lu)-doped alumina. Lastly, this study opens up the potential to control the structure and phase composition of Ln-doped alumina for emerging applications.« less

  2. Thermal Conductivity of Alumina-Toughened Zirconia Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bansal, Narottam P.; Zhu, Dong-Ming

    2003-01-01

    10-mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (10YSZ)-alumina composites containing 0 to 30 mol% alumina were fabricated by hot pressing at 1500 C in vacuum. Thermal conductivity of the composites, determined at various temperatures using a steady-state laser heat flux technique, increased with increase in alumina content. Composites containing 0, 5, and 10-mol% alumina did not show any change in thermal conductivity with temperature. However, those containing 20 and 30-mol% alumina showed a decrease in thermal conductivity with increase in temperature. The measured values of thermal conductivity were in good agreement with those calculated from simple rule of mixtures.

  3. Modeling pressure-driven assembly of polymer coated nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lane, J. Matthew D.; Salerno, K. Michael; Grest, Gary S.; Fan, Hongyou

    2017-06-01

    High-pressure experiments have successfully produced a variety of gold nanostructures by compressing polymer coated spherical nanoparticles. We apply atomistic simulation to understand the role of the soft polymer response in determining the pressure-driven assembly of gold nanostructures. Quasi-isentropic experiments have shown that 1D, 2D and 3D nanostructures can be formed and recovered from dynamic compression of fcc superlattices of alkanethiol-coated gold nanocrystals on Sandia's Veloce pulsed power accelerator. Molecular modeling has shown that the dimensionality of the final structures depends on the orientation of the superlattice and the uniaxial loading. We describe the role of coating ligand length and grafting density, on ligand migration and deformation processes during pressure-driven coalescence of the cores into permanent nanowires, nanosheets and 3D structures. The role of uniaxial vs isotropic pressure and the effects of compression along various superlattice orientations will be discussed. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

  4. Selective growth of palladium and titanium dioxide nanostructures inside carbon nanotube membranes.

    PubMed

    Hevia, Samuel; Homm, Pía; Cortes, Andrea; Núñez, Verónica; Contreras, Claudia; Vera, Jenniffer; Segura, Rodrigo

    2012-06-25

    Hybrid nanostructured arrays based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) and palladium or titanium dioxide materials have been synthesized using self-supported and silicon-supported anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) as nanoporous template. It is well demonstrated that carbon nanotubes can be grown using these membranes and hydrocarbon precursors that decompose at temperatures closer to 600°C without the use of a metal catalyst. In this process, carbonic fragments condensate to form stacked graphitic sheets, which adopt the shape of the pores, yielding from these moulds' multi-walled carbon nanotubes. After this process, the ends of the tubes remain open and accessible to other substances, whereas the outer walls are protected by the alumina. Taking advantage of this fact, we have performed the synthesis of palladium and titanium dioxide nanostructures selectively inside carbon nanotubes using these CNT-AAO membranes as nanoreactors.

  5. Selective growth of palladium and titanium dioxide nanostructures inside carbon nanotube membranes

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Hybrid nanostructured arrays based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) and palladium or titanium dioxide materials have been synthesized using self-supported and silicon-supported anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) as nanoporous template. It is well demonstrated that carbon nanotubes can be grown using these membranes and hydrocarbon precursors that decompose at temperatures closer to 600°C without the use of a metal catalyst. In this process, carbonic fragments condensate to form stacked graphitic sheets, which adopt the shape of the pores, yielding from these moulds' multi-walled carbon nanotubes. After this process, the ends of the tubes remain open and accessible to other substances, whereas the outer walls are protected by the alumina. Taking advantage of this fact, we have performed the synthesis of palladium and titanium dioxide nanostructures selectively inside carbon nanotubes using these CNT-AAO membranes as nanoreactors. PMID:22731888

  6. Selective growth of palladium and titanium dioxide nanostructures inside carbon nanotube membranes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hevia, Samuel; Homm, Pía; Cortes, Andrea; Núñez, Verónica; Contreras, Claudia; Vera, Jenniffer; Segura, Rodrigo

    2012-06-01

    Hybrid nanostructured arrays based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) and palladium or titanium dioxide materials have been synthesized using self-supported and silicon-supported anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) as nanoporous template. It is well demonstrated that carbon nanotubes can be grown using these membranes and hydrocarbon precursors that decompose at temperatures closer to 600°C without the use of a metal catalyst. In this process, carbonic fragments condensate to form stacked graphitic sheets, which adopt the shape of the pores, yielding from these moulds' multi-walled carbon nanotubes. After this process, the ends of the tubes remain open and accessible to other substances, whereas the outer walls are protected by the alumina. Taking advantage of this fact, we have performed the synthesis of palladium and titanium dioxide nanostructures selectively inside carbon nanotubes using these CNT-AAO membranes as nanoreactors.

  7. Characterization of Thermal, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Fluoropolymer Composite Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    He, Y.; Farokhzadeh, K.; Edrisy, A.

    2017-04-01

    Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) is a potential polymer coating material for low-temperature waste heat recovery in heat exchangers. Nonetheless, poor thermal conductivity, low strength and susceptibility to surface degradation by erosion/wear pose restrictions in its application. In this study, four types of fillers, namely graphite, silicon carbide, alumina and boron nitride, were introduced to enhance the thermal, mechanical and tribological properties in PFA coatings. The thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity of the composites (reinforced with 20 wt.% filler) were also measured using laser flash and differential scanning calorimetry techniques, respectively. The results indicated that the addition of graphite or boron nitride increased the thermal conductivity of PFA by at least 2.8 orders of magnitude, while the composites with the same weight fraction of alumina or silicon carbide showed 20-80% rise in thermal conductivity. The micromechanical deformation and tribological behavior of composite coatings, electrostatically sprayed on steel substrates, were investigated by means of instrumented indentation and scratch tests. The deformation response and friction characteristics were investigated, and the failure mechanisms were identified. Surface hardness, roughness and structure of fillers influenced the sliding performance of the composite coatings. PFA coatings filled with Al2O3 or SiC particles showed high load-bearing capacity under sliding conditions. Conversely, BN- and graphite-filled PFA coatings exhibited lower interfacial adhesion to steel substrate and were prone to failure at relatively lower applied loads.

  8. Protein-releasing conductive anodized alumina membranes for nerve-interface materials.

    PubMed

    Altuntas, Sevde; Buyukserin, Fatih; Haider, Ali; Altinok, Buket; Biyikli, Necmi; Aslim, Belma

    2016-10-01

    Nanoporous anodized alumina membranes (AAMs) have numerous biomedical applications spanning from biosensors to controlled drug delivery and implant coatings. Although the use of AAM as an alternative bone implant surface has been successful, its potential as a neural implant coating remains unclear. Here, we introduce conductive and nerve growth factor-releasing AAM substrates that not only provide the native nanoporous morphology for cell adhesion, but also induce neural differentiation. We recently reported the fabrication of such conductive membranes by coating AAMs with a thin C layer. In this study, we investigated the influence of electrical stimulus, surface topography, and chemistry on cell adhesion, neurite extension, and density by using PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells in a custom-made glass microwell setup. The conductive AAMs showed enhanced neurite extension and generation with the electrical stimulus, but cell adhesion on these substrates was poorer compared to the naked AAMs. The latter nanoporous material presents chemical and topographical features for superior neuronal cell adhesion, but, more importantly, when loaded with nerve growth factor, it can provide neurite extension similar to an electrically stimulated CAAM counterpart. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Nanostructured medical device coatings based on self-assembled poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Dayyoub, Eyas; Hobler, Christian; Nonnweiler, Pierina; Keusgen, Michael; Bakowsky, Udo

    2013-07-01

    Here we present a new method for providing nanostructured drug-loaded polymer films which enable control of film surface morphology and delivery of therapeutic agents. Silicon wafers were employed as models for implanted biomaterials and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles were assembled onto the silicon surface by electrostatic interaction. Monolayers of the PLGA particles were deposited onto the silicon surface upon incubation in an aqueous particle suspension. Particle density and surface coverage of the silicon wafers were varied by altering particle concentration, incubation time in nanoparticle suspension and ionic strength of the suspension. Dye loaded nanoparticles were prepared and assembled to silicon surface to form nanoparticle films. Fluorescence intensity measurements showed diffusion-controlled release of the dye over two weeks and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis revealed that these particles remained attached to the surface during the incubation time. This work suggests that coating implants with PLGA nanoparticles is a versatile technique which allows drug release from the implant surface and modulation of surface morphology. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Material Properties of Silicon Carbide Fibers with Continuously Applied Sol-Gel Alumina Coatings

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-12-01

    71 Coating Characterization ...................... 73 iii Two-Dimensional Plane Strain Analysis .................. 78 VI ...Axial Load in the Coating of Fiber Serie T ...... .82 vi List of Figures (continued) Figure Page 39. Tangential Stress Due to Axial Load in the Coating...residual stress will be presented 17 Fiur Vi o a CaFber EfIVfef Sic=’/. Figure 1. Sectional View of a Coated Fiber first, since these stresses are of

  11. The performance of hematite nanostructures in different humidity levels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahmad, W. R. W.; Mamat, M. H.; Zoolfakar, A. S.; Khusaimi, Z.; Yusof, M. M.; Ismail, A. S.; Saidi, S. A.; Rusop, M.

    2018-05-01

    In this study, hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructure were prepared in Schott vials on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate using the sonicated immersion method in aqueous solution with ferric chloride FeCl3ṡ6H2O as a precursor and urea NH2-CONH2 as a stabilizer. The samples were characterized for different level of humidity conditions within range 40% to 90% RH. Based on the results obtained, the hematite nanostructure exhibited good optical properties and virtuous sensor response with high sensitivity. The fabricated hematite nanostructure has revealed a good potential for humidity sensor application based on the results obtained under different levels of humidity.

  12. Transport properties of alumina nanofluids.

    PubMed

    Wong, Kau-Fui Vincent; Kurma, Tarun

    2008-08-27

    Recent studies have showed that nanofluids have significantly greater thermal conductivity compared to their base fluids. Large surface area to volume ratio and certain effects of Brownian motion of nanoparticles are believed to be the main factors for the significant increase in the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. In this paper all three transport properties, namely thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and viscosity, were studied for alumina nanofluid (aluminum oxide nanoparticles in water). Experiments were performed both as a function of volumetric concentration (3-8%) and temperature (2-50 °C). Alumina nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 36 nm were dispersed in water. The effect of particle size was not studied. The transient hot wire method as described by Nagaska and Nagashima for electrically conducting fluids was used to test the thermal conductivity. In this work, an insulated platinum wire of 0.003 inch diameter was used. Initial calibration was performed using de-ionized water and the resulting data was within 2.5% of standard thermal conductivity values for water. The thermal conductivity of alumina nanofluid increased with both increase in temperature and concentration. A maximum thermal conductivity of 0.7351 W m(-1) K(-1) was recorded for an 8.47% volume concentration of alumina nanoparticles at 46.6 °C. The effective thermal conductivity at this concentration and temperature was observed to be 1.1501, which translates to an increase in thermal conductivity by 22% when compared to water at room temperature. Alumina being a good conductor of electricity, alumina nanofluid displays an increasing trend in electrical conductivity as volumetric concentration increases. A microprocessor-based conductivity/TDS meter was used to perform the electrical conductivity experiments. After carefully calibrating the conductivity meter's glass probe with platinum tip, using a standard potassium chloride solution, readings were taken at

  13. Self-assembled structures of hydroxyapatite in the biomimetic coating on a bioinert ceramic substrate.

    PubMed

    Chakraborty, Jui; Sarkar, Soumi Dey; Chatterjee, Saradiya; Sinha, Mithlesh Kumar; Basu, Debabrata

    2008-10-15

    The tribological properties of alumina ceramic are excellent due in part to a high wettability because of the hydrophilic surface and fluid film lubrication that minimizes the adhesive wear. Such surfaces are further modified with bioactive glass/ceramic coating to promote direct bone apposition in orthopedic applications. The present communication reports the biomimetic coating of calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) on dense (2-3% porosity) alumina (alpha-Al(2)O(3)) substrate (1cm x 1cm x 0.5 cm), at 37 degrees C. After a total period of 6 days immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), at 37 degrees C, linear self-assembled porous (pore size: approximately 0.2 microm) structures (length: approximately 375.39 microm and width: 5-6 microm) of HAp were obtained. The phenomenon has been demonstrated by self-assembly and diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) principles. Structural and compositional characterization of the coating was carried out using SEM with EDX facility, XRD and FT-IR data.

  14. Enhanced exchange bias and improved ferromagnetic properties in Permalloy-BiFe0.95Co0.05O3 core-shell nanostructures.

    PubMed

    Javed, K; Li, W J; Ali, S S; Shi, D W; Khan, U; Riaz, S; Han, X F

    2015-12-14

    Hybrid core-shell nanostructures consisting of permalloy (Ni80Fe20) and multiferroic(BiFeO3, BFO/BiFe0.95Co0.05O3, BFC) materials were synthesized by a two-step method, based on wet chemical impregnation and subsequent electrodeposition within porous alumina membranes. Structural and magnetic characterizations have been done to investigate doping effect on magnetic properties and exchange bias. The magnetometry analysis revealed significant enhancements of the exchange bias and coercivity in NiFe-BFC core-shell nanostructures as compared with NiFe-BFO core-shell nanostructures. The enhancements can be attributed to the effective reduction of ferromagnet domain sizes between adjacent layers of core-shell structure. It indicates that it is possible to improve properties of multiferroic composites by site-engineering method. Our approach opens a pathway to obtain optimized nanostructured multiferroic composites exhibiting tunable magnetic properties.

  15. Enhanced exchange bias and improved ferromagnetic properties in Permalloy–BiFe0.95Co0.05O3 core–shell nanostructures

    PubMed Central

    Javed, K.; Li, W. J.; Ali, S. S.; Shi, D. W.; Khan, U.; Riaz, S.; Han, X. F.

    2015-01-01

    Hybrid core–shell nanostructures consisting of permalloy (Ni80Fe20) and multiferroic(BiFeO3, BFO/BiFe0.95Co0.05O3, BFC) materials were synthesized by a two-step method, based on wet chemical impregnation and subsequent electrodeposition within porous alumina membranes. Structural and magnetic characterizations have been done to investigate doping effect on magnetic properties and exchange bias. The magnetometry analysis revealed significant enhancements of the exchange bias and coercivity in NiFe-BFC core-shell nanostructures as compared with NiFe-BFO core-shell nanostructures. The enhancements can be attributed to the effective reduction of ferromagnet domain sizes between adjacent layers of core-shell structure. It indicates that it is possible to improve properties of multiferroic composites by site-engineering method. Our approach opens a pathway to obtain optimized nanostructured multiferroic composites exhibiting tunable magnetic properties. PMID:26658956

  16. Supercritical fluid technology of nanoparticle coating for new ceramic materials.

    PubMed

    Aymonier, Cyril; Elissalde, Catherine; Reveron, Helen; Weill, François; Maglione, Mario; Cansell, François

    2005-06-01

    This work highlights, for the first time, the coating of ferroelectric nanoparticles with a chemical fluid deposition process in supercritical fluids. BaTiO3 nanoparticles of about 50 nm are coated with a shell of a few nanometers of amorphous alumina and can be recovered as a dry powder for processing. The sintering of these core-shell nanoparticles gives access to a ceramic material with very interesting ferroelectric properties, in particular, dielectric losses below 1%.

  17. An SU-8-based microprobe with a nanostructured surface enhances neuronal cell attachment and growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Eunhee; Kim, Jin-Young; Choi, Hongsoo

    2017-12-01

    Microprobes are used to repair neuronal injury by recording electrical signals from neuronal cells around the surface of the device. Following implantation into the brain, the immune response results in formation of scar tissue around the microprobe. However, neurons must be in close proximity to the microprobe to enable signal recording. A common reason for failure of microprobes is impaired signal recording due to scar tissue, which is not related to the microprobe itself. Therefore, the device-cell interface must be improved to increase the number of neurons in contact with the surface. In this study, we developed nanostructured SU-8 microprobes to support neuronal growth. Nanostructures of 200 nm diameter and depth were applied to the surface of microprobes, and the attachment and neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells on the microprobes were evaluated. Neuronal attachment and neurite outgrowth on the nanostructured microprobes were significantly greater than those on non-nanostructured microprobes. The enhanced neuronal attachment and neurite outgrowth on the nanostructured microprobes occurred in the absence of an adhesive coating, such as poly- l-lysine, and so may be useful for implantable devices for long-term use. Therefore, nanostructured microprobes can be implanted without adhesive coating, which can cause problems in vivo over the long term.

  18. Thermal Conductivity of Alumina-reinforced Zirconia Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bansal, Narottam P.

    2005-01-01

    10-mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (10SZ) - alumina composites containing 0-30 mol% alumina were fabricated by hot pressing at 1500 C in vacuum. Thermal conductivity was determined at various temperatures using a steady-state laser heat flux technique. Thermal conductivity of the composites increased with increase in alumina content. Composites containing 0, 5, and 10-mol% alumina did not show any change in thermal conductivity with temperature. However, those containing 20 and 30-mol% alumina showed a decrease in thermal conductivity with increase in temperature. The measured values of thermal conductivity were in good agreement with those calculated from the Maxwell-Eucken model where one phase is uniformly dispersed within a second major continuous phase.

  19. One-step large-scale deposition of salt-free DNA origami nanostructures

    PubMed Central

    Linko, Veikko; Shen, Boxuan; Tapio, Kosti; Toppari, J. Jussi; Kostiainen, Mauri A.; Tuukkanen, Sampo

    2015-01-01

    DNA origami nanostructures have tremendous potential to serve as versatile platforms in self-assembly -based nanofabrication and in highly parallel nanoscale patterning. However, uniform deposition and reliable anchoring of DNA nanostructures often requires specific conditions, such as pre-treatment of the chosen substrate or a fine-tuned salt concentration for the deposition buffer. In addition, currently available deposition techniques are suitable merely for small scales. In this article, we exploit a spray-coating technique in order to resolve the aforementioned issues in the deposition of different 2D and 3D DNA origami nanostructures. We show that purified DNA origamis can be controllably deposited on silicon and glass substrates by the proposed method. The results are verified using either atomic force microscopy or fluorescence microscopy depending on the shape of the DNA origami. DNA origamis are successfully deposited onto untreated substrates with surface coverage of about 4 objects/mm2. Further, the DNA nanostructures maintain their shape even if the salt residues are removed from the DNA origami fabrication buffer after the folding procedure. We believe that the presented one-step spray-coating method will find use in various fields of material sciences, especially in the development of DNA biochips and in the fabrication of metamaterials and plasmonic devices through DNA metallisation. PMID:26492833

  20. Surface Coatings for Gas Detection via Porous Silicon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ozdemir, Serdar; Li, Ji-Guang; Gole, James

    2009-03-01

    Nanopore covered microporous silicon interfaces have been formed via an electrochemical etch for gas sensor applications. Rapid reversible and sensitive gas sensors have been fabricated. The fabricated porous silicon (PS) gas sensors display the advantages of operation at room temperature as well as at a single, readily accessible temperature with an insensitivity to temperature drift; operation in a heat-sunk configuration, ease of coating with gas-selective materials; low cost of fabrication and operation, and the ability to rapidly assess false positives by operating the sensor in a pulsed mode. The PS surface has been modified with unique coatings on the basis of a general theory in order to achieve maximum sensitivity and selectivity. Sensing of NH3, NOx and PH3 at or below the ppm level have been observed. A typical PS nanostructure coated microstructured hybrid configuration when coated with tin oxide (NOx, CO) and gold nanostructures (NH3) provides a greatly increased sensitivity to the indicated gases. Al2O3 coating of the porous silicon using atomic layer deposition and its effect on PH3 sensing has been investigated. 20-100 nm TiO2 nanoparticles have been produced using sol-gel methods to coat PS surfaces and the effects on the selectivity and the sensitivity have been studied.

  1. Electrodeposition of nanostructured Sn-Zn coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Salhi, Y.; Cherrouf, S.; Cherkaoui, M.; Abdelouahdi, K.

    2016-03-01

    The electrodeposition of Sn-Zn coating at ambient temperature was investigated. The bath consists of metal salts SnCl2·2H2O and ZnSO4·7H2O and sodium citrate (NaC6H5Na3O7·2H2O) as complexing agent. To prevent precipitation, the pH is fixed at 5. Reducing tin and zinc through Sncit2- and ZnHcit- complex respectively is confirmed by the presence of two cathodic peaks on the voltammogram. The kinetic of tin (II) reduction process is limited by the SnCit2- dissociation. The SEM and TEM observations have showed that the coating consists of a uniform Sn-Zn layer composed of fine grains on which tin aggregates grow up. XRD revealed peaks corresponding to the hexagonal Zn phase and the tetragonal β-Sn phase.

  2. Monolayer coated aerogels and method of making

    DOEpatents

    Zemanian, Thomas Samuel [Richland, WA; Fryxell, Glen [Kennwick, WA; Ustyugov, Oleksiy A [Spokane, WA

    2006-03-28

    Aerogels having a monolayer coating are described. The aerogel and a monolayer forming precursor are provided in a supercritical fluid, whereupon the aerogel and the monolayer forming precursor are reacted in said supercritical fluid to form a covalent bond between the aerogel and the monolayer forming precursor. Suitable aerogels are ceramic oxides such as silica, alumina, aluminosilicate, and combinations thereof. Suitable monolayer forming precursors include alkyl silanes, chlorosilanes, boranes, chloroboranes, germanes, and combinations thereof. The method may also include providing a surface preparation agent such as water, or hydroetching an aerogel to enhance the coating of the monolayer.

  3. Article coated with flash bonded superhydrophobic particles

    DOEpatents

    Simpson, John T [Clinton, TN; Blue, Craig A [Knoxville, TN; Kiggans, Jr., James O [Oak Ridge, TN

    2010-07-13

    A method of making article having a superhydrophobic surface includes: providing a solid body defining at least one surface; applying to the surface a plurality of diatomaceous earth particles and/or particles characterized by particle sizes ranging from at least 100 nm to about 10 .mu.m, the particles being further characterized by a plurality of nanopores, wherein at least some of the nanopores provide flow through porosity, the particles being further characterized by a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features that include a contiguous, protrusive material; flash bonding the particles to the surface so that the particles are adherently bonded to the surface; and applying a hydrophobic coating layer to the surface and the particles so that the hydrophobic coating layer conforms to the nanostructured features.

  4. Effect of sol temperature on structural, morphological and magnetic properties of PZT thin films on alumina substrate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sreelalitha, K.; Thyagarajan, K.

    2016-01-01

    In the present study, we investigate the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of sol-gel spin-coated PZT thin films on alumina substrate. The morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of PZT [Pb (Zr1-xTix)03] between the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases occurs at the Zr/Ti ratio of 52/48. At the MPB the physical properties of PZT are of far-reaching importance due to their possible crystalline phases. In this study Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)03 sols are prepared at room temperature and at 125 °C. The gels are coated onto alumina substrate using a spin-coating unit as two and three layers. The structural studies using XRD confirm the perovskite phase formation at an annealing temperature of 660 °C for both films. The structural parameter grain size, dislocation density, lattice parameters and strain were dependent on the sol temperature. The SEM morphology of the samples represents well-developed dense grain structure and thickness in micrometer ranges. The VSM analysis shows diamagnetic and ferromagnetic hysteresis loop. The ferromagnetism at low fields in PZT films is confirmed by studying the magnetic properties of powder made of the same gel. The effect of heat treatment on the gel preparation is observed on structural, morphological and magnetic properties of PZT thin films. The ferromagnetism in PZT can be attributed to oxygen vacancies. The squareness ratio of the films shows the application of the films as a high-density recording medium.

  5. Nanostructured Coatings of Inner Surfaces in Microporous Matrixes

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-01-01

    SURFACE ENERGY _.I", DISPERSED MATERIAL............................ ,BULK MATERIp,’ t. i02 10’ iol LM Figure 1. a) Surface arising due to process of...material dispersion . b) Surface energy per cm3 of dispersed material versus characteristic size of dispersed particles - nanostructures with different...growth and lateral microstructuring techniques have made it possible to realise low-dimensional electronic systems with quantum confined energy structure

  6. Sintering of beta-type alumina bodies using alpha-alumina encapsulation

    DOEpatents

    McEntire, Bryan J.; Virkar, Anil V.

    1981-01-01

    A method of sintering a shaped green, beta-type alumina body comprising: (A) inserting said body into an open chamber prepared by exposing the interior surface of a container consisting essentially of at least about 50 weight percent of alpha-alumina and a remainder of other refractory material to a sodium oxide or sodium oxide producing environment; (B) sealing the chamber; and heating the chamber with the shaped body encapsulated therein to a temperature and for a time necessary to sinter said body to the desired density. The encapsulation chamber prepared as described above is also claimed.

  7. Biological evaluation of ultrananocrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond coatings.

    PubMed

    Skoog, Shelby A; Kumar, Girish; Zheng, Jiwen; Sumant, Anirudha V; Goering, Peter L; Narayan, Roger J

    2016-12-01

    Nanostructured biomaterials have been investigated for achieving desirable tissue-material interactions in medical implants. Ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) and nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) coatings are the two most studied classes of synthetic diamond coatings; these materials are grown using chemical vapor deposition and are classified based on their nanostructure, grain size, and sp 3 content. UNCD and NCD are mechanically robust, chemically inert, biocompatible, and wear resistant, making them ideal implant coatings. UNCD and NCD have been recently investigated for ophthalmic, cardiovascular, dental, and orthopaedic device applications. The aim of this study was (a) to evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of UNCD and NCD coatings and (b) to determine if variations in surface topography and sp 3 content affect cellular response. Diamond coatings with various nanoscale topographies (grain sizes 5-400 nm) were deposited on silicon substrates using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed uniform coatings with different scales of surface topography; Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of carbon bonding typical of diamond coatings. Cell viability, proliferation, and morphology responses of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) to UNCD and NCD surfaces were evaluated. The hBMSCs on UNCD and NCD coatings exhibited similar cell viability, proliferation, and morphology as those on the control material, tissue culture polystyrene. No significant differences in cellular response were observed on UNCD and NCD coatings with different nanoscale topographies. Our data shows that both UNCD and NCD coatings demonstrate in vitro biocompatibility irrespective of surface topography.

  8. Nano-Structured Magnesium Oxide Coated Iron Ore: Its Application to the Remediation of Wastewater Containing Lead.

    PubMed

    Nagarajah, Ranjini; Jang, Min; Pichiah, Saravanan; Cho, Jongman; Snyder, Shane A

    2015-12-01

    Magnetically separable nano-structured magnesium oxide coated iron ore (IO(MgO)) was prepared using environmentally benign chemicals, such as iron ore (IO), magnesium(II) nitrate hexahydrate [Mg(NO3)2 x 6H2O] and urea; via an easy and fast preparation method. The lO(MgO) was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and alternating gradient magnetometer (AGM) analyses. The isotherm and kinetic studies indicated that lO(MgO) has a comparably higher Langmuir constant (K(L), 1.69 L mg(-1)) and maximum sorption capacity (33.9 mg g(-1)) for lead (Pb) than other inorganic media. Based on MgO amount, the removal capacity of Pb by IO(MgO) was 2,724 mg Pb (g MgO)(-1), which was higher than that (1,980 mg g(-1)) for flowerlike magnesium oxide nanostructures reported by Cao et al. The kinetics, FE-SEM, elemental mapping and XRD results revealed that the substitution followed by precipitation was identified as the mechanism of Pb removal and plumbophyllite (Pb2Si4O10 x H2O) was the precipitated phase of Pb. A leaching test revealed that IOMgO) had negligible concentrations of leached Fe at pH 4-9. Since the base material, IO, is cheap and easily available, lO(MgO) could be produced in massive amounts and used for remediation of wastewater containing heavy metals, applying simple and fast magnetic separation.

  9. Microscopic analysis of nanostructured plasma coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ageev, E. V.; Altukhov, A. Yu; Ageeva, E. V.; Khardikov, S. V.

    2018-03-01

    In the course of the study, it was found that plasma nanocomposite coating obtained from a mixture of powders of BRS, VK8 and nichrome with a portable plasma device “ALPES-02M” has high performance properties, which significantly expands the scope of its application.

  10. Tribological properties of CrN coatings deposited by nitro-chromizing treatment on AISI D2 steel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Durmaz, M.; Kilinc, B.; Abakay, E.; Sen, U.; Sen, S.

    2015-03-01

    In this work, the wear test of uncoated and chromium nitride coated AISI D2 cold work tool steel against alumina ball realized at 0.1 m/s sliding speeds and under the loads of 2.5N, 5N and 10N. Steel samples were nitrided at 575°C for 8 h in the first step of the coating process, and then chromium nitride coating was performed thermo-reactive deposition technique (TRD) in a powder mixture consisting of ferro-chromium, ammonium chloride and alumina at 1000°C for 2 h. Nitro-chromized samples were characterized by X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-hardness and ball on disk wear tests. The coating layer formed on the AISI D2 steel was compact and homogeneous. X-ray studies showed that the phase formed in the coated layer is Cr2N. The depth of the layer was 8.15 µm. The average hardness of the layer was 2160±15 HV0.025. For uncoated and chromium nitride materials, wear rate increased with increasing load. The results of friction coefficient and wear rate of the tested materials showed that the CrN coating presents the lowest results.

  11. Tribological properties of CrN coatings deposited by nitro-chromizing treatment on AISI D2 steel

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

    Durmaz, M., E-mail: mdurmaz@sakarya.edu.tr; Abakay, E.; Sen, U.

    2015-03-30

    In this work, the wear test of uncoated and chromium nitride coated AISI D2 cold work tool steel against alumina ball realized at 0.1 m/s sliding speeds and under the loads of 2.5N, 5N and 10N. Steel samples were nitrided at 575°C for 8 h in the first step of the coating process, and then chromium nitride coating was performed thermo-reactive deposition technique (TRD) in a powder mixture consisting of ferro-chromium, ammonium chloride and alumina at 1000°C for 2 h. Nitro-chromized samples were characterized by X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-hardness and ball on disk wear tests. The coating layermore » formed on the AISI D2 steel was compact and homogeneous. X-ray studies showed that the phase formed in the coated layer is Cr{sub 2}N. The depth of the layer was 8.15 µm. The average hardness of the layer was 2160±15 HV{sub 0.025}. For uncoated and chromium nitride materials, wear rate increased with increasing load. The results of friction coefficient and wear rate of the tested materials showed that the CrN coating presents the lowest results.« less

  12. Significant performance enhancement of InGaN/GaN nanorod LEDs with multi-layer graphene transparent electrodes by alumina surface passivation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Latzel, M.; Büttner, P.; Sarau, G.; Höflich, K.; Heilmann, M.; Chen, W.; Wen, X.; Conibeer, G.; Christiansen, S. H.

    2017-02-01

    Nanotextured surfaces provide an ideal platform for efficiently capturing and emitting light. However, the increased surface area in combination with surface defects induced by nanostructuring e.g. using reactive ion etching (RIE) negatively affects the device’s active region and, thus, drastically decreases device performance. In this work, the influence of structural defects and surface states on the optical and electrical performance of InGaN/GaN nanorod (NR) light emitting diodes (LEDs) fabricated by top-down RIE of c-plane GaN with InGaN quantum wells was investigated. After proper surface treatment a significantly improved device performance could be shown. Therefore, wet chemical removal of damaged material in KOH solution followed by atomic layer deposition of only 10 {nm} alumina as wide bandgap oxide for passivation were successfully applied. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the initially compressively strained InGaN/GaN LED layer stack turned into a virtually completely relaxed GaN and partially relaxed InGaN combination after RIE etching of NRs. Time-correlated single photon counting provides evidence that both treatments—chemical etching and alumina deposition—reduce the number of pathways for non-radiative recombination. Steady-state photoluminescence revealed that the luminescent performance of the NR LEDs is increased by about 50% after KOH and 80% after additional alumina passivation. Finally, complete NR LED devices with a suspended graphene contact were fabricated, for which the effectiveness of the alumina passivation was successfully demonstrated by electroluminescence measurements.

  13. Significant performance enhancement of InGaN/GaN nanorod LEDs with multi-layer graphene transparent electrodes by alumina surface passivation.

    PubMed

    Latzel, M; Büttner, P; Sarau, G; Höflich, K; Heilmann, M; Chen, W; Wen, X; Conibeer, G; Christiansen, S H

    2017-02-03

    Nanotextured surfaces provide an ideal platform for efficiently capturing and emitting light. However, the increased surface area in combination with surface defects induced by nanostructuring e.g. using reactive ion etching (RIE) negatively affects the device's active region and, thus, drastically decreases device performance. In this work, the influence of structural defects and surface states on the optical and electrical performance of InGaN/GaN nanorod (NR) light emitting diodes (LEDs) fabricated by top-down RIE of c-plane GaN with InGaN quantum wells was investigated. After proper surface treatment a significantly improved device performance could be shown. Therefore, wet chemical removal of damaged material in KOH solution followed by atomic layer deposition of only 10 [Formula: see text] alumina as wide bandgap oxide for passivation were successfully applied. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the initially compressively strained InGaN/GaN LED layer stack turned into a virtually completely relaxed GaN and partially relaxed InGaN combination after RIE etching of NRs. Time-correlated single photon counting provides evidence that both treatments-chemical etching and alumina deposition-reduce the number of pathways for non-radiative recombination. Steady-state photoluminescence revealed that the luminescent performance of the NR LEDs is increased by about 50% after KOH and 80% after additional alumina passivation. Finally, complete NR LED devices with a suspended graphene contact were fabricated, for which the effectiveness of the alumina passivation was successfully demonstrated by electroluminescence measurements.

  14. On Controlling the Hydrophobicity of Nanostructured Zinc-Oxide Layers Grown by Pulsed Electrodeposition

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

    Klochko, N. P., E-mail: klochko-np@mail.ru; Klepikova, K. S.; Kopach, V. R.

    The possibility of fabricating highly hydrophobic nanostructured zinc-oxide layers by the inexpensive method of pulsed electrodeposition from aqueous solutions without water-repellent coatings, adapted for large-scale production, is shown. The conditions of the deposition of highly hydrophobic nanostructured zinc-oxide layers exhibiting the “rose-petal” effect with specific morphology, optical properties, crystal structure and texture are determined. The grown ZnO nanostructures are promising for micro- and nanoelectronics as an adaptive material able to reversibly transform to the hydrophilic state upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

  15. Effect of Impurities on O and Al Boundary Diffusion in Alumina: Application Alumina Scale Growth in Alloys

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-01-24

    of Ni alone enhances transport by approximately a factor of 2 relative to undoped alumina. The diffusive transport of chromium in both pure and Y...doped fine-grained alumina has been investigated over the temperature range 1250 -1650 C. From a quantitative assessment of the chromium diffusion...diffusion of chromium in both undoped and Y-doped fine-grained alumina has been investigated. In this work, Cr + was employed as a plausible substitute

  16. Boehmite nanostructures preparation by hydrothermal method from anodic aluminium oxide membrane.

    PubMed

    Yang, X; Wang, J Y; Pan, H Y

    2009-02-01

    Boehmite nanostructures were successfully synthesized from porous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) membrane by a simple and efficient hydro-thermal method. The experiment used high purity alumina as raw material, and the whole reaction process avoided superfluous impurities to be introduced. Thus, the purity of Boehmite products was ensured. The examinations of the morphology and structure were carried out by atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Composition of the specimens was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Based on these observations the growth process was analyzed.

  17. Fabrication and Wettability Study of WO3 Coated Photocatalytic Membrane for Oil-Water Separation: A Comparative Study with ZnO Coated Membrane.

    PubMed

    Gondal, Mohammed A; Sadullah, Muhammad S; Qahtan, Talal F; Dastageer, Mohamed A; Baig, Umair; McKinley, Gareth H

    2017-05-10

    Superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic surfaces were fabricated by facile spray coating of nanostructured WO 3 on stainless steel meshes and compared its performance in oil-water separation with ZnO coated meshes. The gravity driven oil-water separation system was designed using these surfaces as the separation media and it was noticed that WO 3 coated stainless steel mesh showed high separation efficiency (99%), with pore size as high as 150 µm, whereas ZnO coated surfaces failed in the process of oil-water separation when the pore exceeded 50 µm size. Since, nanostructured WO 3 is a well known catalyst, the simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants present in the separated water from the oil water separation process were tested using WO 3 coated surfaces under UV radiation and the efficiency of this degradation was found to be quite significant. These results assure that with little improvisation on the oil water separation system, these surfaces can be made multifunctional to work simultaneously for oil-water separation and demineralization of organic pollutants from the separated water. Fabrication of the separating surface, their morphological characteristics, wettability, oil water separation efficiency and photo-catalytic degradation efficiency are enunciated.

  18. Impact of ALD Coating on Mn-rich Cathode Materials (Presentation)

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

    Santhanagopalan, S.

    2013-06-01

    LG Chem Power Inc. (LGCPI) and NREL have collaborated to demonstrate the scalability of the atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating process over the last 6 months, and the benefits of ALD coatings for long-term cycling and calendar life are being quantified. The objectives of this work are two-fold: 1) to evaluate the scalability of the process to coat LGCPI cathodes with alumina using the ALD technique, and 2) to demonstrate improvements in rate capability and life of ALD-coated LGCPI electrodes. NREL received samples of baseline material to be coated from LGCPI. NREL carried out ALD coating of the samples withmore » help from a subcontractor, ALD Nanosolutions. NREL fabricated cells from those samples for quick screening and feedback to ALD Nanosolutions. LGCPI is currently fabricating larger-format cells for further evaluation.« less

  19. Hydrogenation catalysts were derived from Mo(Co)/sub 6//alumina

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

    Bowman, R.G.

    1979-01-01

    Alumina hydrogenation catalysts were derived from mo(CO)/sub 6//alumina with characteristics dependent upon the activation temperature, degree of alumina hydroxylation, and carrier gas used. Decomposition of Mo(CO)/sub 6/ at 100/sup 0/C on partially hydroxylated alumina in helium or hydrogen yielded Mo(CO)/sub 3//alumina, which catalyzed olefin metathesis in helium carrier and both metathesis and hydrogenation in hydrogen carrier. Decomposition of Mo(CO)/sub 6/ on dehydroxylated alumina at 100/sup 0/C in helium and in hydrogen resulted in complete decarbonylation and partial oxidation of molybdenum; this catalyst was 10 times as active as Mo(CO)/sub 3//alumina for hydrogenation. Decomposition of Mo(CO)/sub 6/ on dehydroxylated alumina atmore » 500/sup 0/C in helium gave essentially Mo(0)/alumina, which catalyzed hydrogenation, methanation, and hydrogenolysis in hydrogen. Catalysts activated on dehydroxylated alumina were ten times more active for methanation at 300/sup 0/C than catalyst activated on partially hydroxylated alumina and showed differences in selectivity for cyclopropane hydrogenolysis at 100/sup 0/C.« less

  20. Highly Selective and Rapid Breath Isoprene Sensing Enabled by Activated Alumina Filter.

    PubMed

    van den Broek, Jan; Güntner, Andreas T; Pratsinis, Sotiris E

    2018-03-23

    Isoprene is a versatile breath marker for noninvasive monitoring of high blood cholesterol levels as well as for influenza, end-stage renal disease, muscle activity, lung cancer, and liver disease with advanced fibrosis. Its selective detection in complex human breath by portable devices (e.g., metal-oxide gas sensors), however, is still challenging. Here, we present a new filter concept based on activated alumina powder enabling fast and highly selective detection of isoprene at the ppb level and high humidity. The filter contains high surface area adsorbents that retain hydrophilic compounds (e.g., ketones, alcohols, ammonia) representing major interferants in breath while hydrophobic isoprene is not affected. As a proof-of-concept, filters of commercial activated alumina powder are combined with highly sensitive but rather nonspecific, nanostructured Pt-doped SnO 2 sensors. This results in fast (10 s) measurement of isoprene down to 5 ppb at 90% relative humidity with outstanding selectivity (>100) to breath-relevant acetone, ammonia, ethanol, and methanol, superior to state-of-the-art isoprene sensors. Most importantly, when exposed continuously to simulated breath mixtures (four analytes) for 8 days, this filter-sensor system showed stable performance. It can be incorporated readily into a portable breath isoprene analyzer promising for simple-in-use monitoring of blood cholesterol or other patho/physiological conditions.

  1. Conformal atomic layer deposition of alumina on millimeter tall, vertically-aligned carbon nanotube arrays.

    PubMed

    Stano, Kelly L; Carroll, Murphy; Padbury, Richard; McCord, Marian; Jur, Jesse S; Bradford, Philip D

    2014-11-12

    Atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be used to coat high aspect ratio and high surface area substrates with conformal and precisely controlled thin films. Vertically aligned arrays of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with lengths up to 1.5 mm were conformally coated with alumina from base to tip. The nucleation and growth behaviors of Al2O3 ALD precursors on the MWCNTs were studied as a function of CNT surface chemistry. CNT surfaces were modified through a series of post-treatments including pyrolytic carbon deposition, high temperature thermal annealing, and oxygen plasma functionalization. Conformal coatings were achieved where post-treatments resulted in increased defect density as well as the extent of functionalization, as characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Using thermogravimetric analysis, it was determined that MWCNTs treated with pyrolytic carbon and plasma functionalization prior to ALD coating were more stable to thermal oxidation than pristine ALD coated samples. Functionalized and ALD coated arrays had a compressive modulus more than two times higher than a pristine array coated for the same number of cycles. Cross-sectional energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed that Al2O3 could be uniformly deposited through the entire thickness of the vertically aligned MWCNT array by manipulating sample orientation and mounting techniques. Following the ALD coating, the MWCNT arrays demonstrated hydrophilic wetting behavior and also exhibited foam-like recovery following compressive strain.

  2. Alcoa Pressure Calcination Process for Alumina

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sucech, S. W.; Misra, C.

    A new alumina calcination process developed at Alcoa Laboratories is described. Alumina is calcined in two stages. In the first stage, alumina hydrate is heated indirectly to 500°C in a decomposer vessel. Released water is recovered as process steam at 110 psig pressure. Partial transformation of gibbsite to boehmite occurs under hydrothermal conditions of the decomposer. The product from the decomposer containing about 5% LOI is then calcined by direct heating to 850°C to obtain smelting grade alumina. The final product is highly attrition resistant, has a surface area of 50-80 m2/g and a LOI of less than 1%. Accounting for the recovered steam, the effective fuel consumption for the new calcination process is only 1.6 GJ/t A12O3.

  3. Alumina-Forming MAX Phases in Turbine Material Systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smialek, James L.; Harder, Bryan J.; Garg, Arnita; Nesbitt, James A.

    2015-01-01

    Coatings for high temperature turbine components are based on low conductivity YSZ thermal barriers and protective NiAl, NiCoCrAlY bond coats. Good oxidation hot corrosion resistance, intermediate CTE, and strain tolerance of Ti2AlC and Cr2AlC MAX phases are thus of special interest. Their alumina scale growth follows a cubic law in accord with FeCrAlY alloys, with oxygen grain boundary diffusivity: Dgb 1.8 x 10-10 exp(-375 kJmole) m3s. Protective cubic kinetics are also found in high pressure burner rig (6 atm., 25 ms) and TGA tests of MAXthal 211Ti2AlC. The initial portion (0.1 hr) is dominated by fast TiO2 growth (with little evidence of scale volatility in high pressure water vapor, as found for SiO2 scales). Bulk Ti2AlC and Cr2AlC substrates show promise as potential bond coats for YSZ TBCs in 1000-1200 C furnace life (500 h) tests. Cr2AlC is proving to be very resistant to 700-900 C Na2SO4 hot corrosion and is of interest for disk alloys. Preliminary diffusion bonded Cr2AlC-superalloy hybrid couples have survived 1000 hr interrupted furnace tests at 800C with no indication of cracking or debonding. Diffusion zones of -NiAl+Cr7C3 were produced in these above 1000 C, but did not grow to any great extent after 1000 hr at 800 C. Processing as coatings presents challenges, however the basic properties of MAX phases provide novel opportunities for high temperature turbine components.

  4. Morphological evolution of porous nanostructures grown from a single isolated anodic alumina nanochannel.

    PubMed

    Chen, Shih-Yung; Chang, Hsuan-Hao; Lai, Ming-Yu; Liu, Chih-Yi; Wang, Yuh-Lin

    2011-09-07

    Porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes have been widely used as templates for growing nanomaterials because of their ordered nanochannel arrays with high aspect ratio and uniform pore diameter. However, the intrinsic growth behavior of an individual AAO nanochannel has never been carefully studied for the lack of a means to fabricate a single isolated anodic alumina nanochannel (SIAAN). In this study, we develop a lithographic method for fabricating a SIAAN, which grows into a porous hemispherical structure with its pores exhibiting fascinating morphological evolution during anodization. We also discover that the mechanical stress affects the growth rate and pore morphology of AAO porous structures. This study helps reveal the growth mechanism of arrayed AAO nanochannels grown on a flat aluminum surface and provides insights to help pave the way to altering the geometry of nanochannels on AAO templates for the fabrication of advanced nanocomposite materials.

  5. Morphological evolution of porous nanostructures grown from a single isolated anodic alumina nanochannel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Shih-Yung; Chang, Hsuan-Hao; Lai, Ming-Yu; Liu, Chih-Yi; Wang, Yuh-Lin

    2011-09-01

    Porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes have been widely used as templates for growing nanomaterials because of their ordered nanochannel arrays with high aspect ratio and uniform pore diameter. However, the intrinsic growth behavior of an individual AAO nanochannel has never been carefully studied for the lack of a means to fabricate a single isolated anodic alumina nanochannel (SIAAN). In this study, we develop a lithographic method for fabricating a SIAAN, which grows into a porous hemispherical structure with its pores exhibiting fascinating morphological evolution during anodization. We also discover that the mechanical stress affects the growth rate and pore morphology of AAO porous structures. This study helps reveal the growth mechanism of arrayed AAO nanochannels grown on a flat aluminum surface and provides insights to help pave the way to altering the geometry of nanochannels on AAO templates for the fabrication of advanced nanocomposite materials.

  6. The Effect of Journal Roughness and Foil Coatings on the Performance of Heavily Loaded Foil Air Bearings

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Radil, Kevin C.; DellaCorte, Christopher

    2001-01-01

    Foil air bearing load capacity tests were conducted to investigate if a solid lubricant coating applied to the surface of the bearing's top foil can function as a break-in coating. Two foil coating materials, a conventional soft polymer film (polyimide) and a hard ceramic (alumina), were independently evaluated against as-ground and worn (run-in) journals coated with NASA PS304, a high-temperature solid lubricant composite coating. The foil coatings were evaluated at journal rotational speeds of 30,000 rpm and at 25 C. Tests were also performed on a foil bearing with a bare (uncoated) nickel-based superalloy top foil to establish a baseline for comparison. The test results indicate that the presence of a top foil solid lubricant coating is effective at increasing the load capacity performance of the foil bearing. Compared to the uncoated baseline, the addition of the soft polymer coating on the top foil increased the bearing load coefficient by 120% when operating against an as-ground journal surface and 85 percent against a run-in journal surface. The alumina coating increased the load coefficient by 40% against the as-ground journal but did not have any affect when the bearing was operated with the run-in journal. The results suggest that the addition of solid lubricant films provide added lubrication when the air film is marginal indicating that as the load capacity is approached foil air bearings transition from hydrodynamic to mixed and boundary lubrication.

  7. Sustained, Controlled and Stimuli-Responsive Drug Release Systems Based on Nanoporous Anodic Alumina with Layer-by-Layer Polyelectrolyte

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Porta-i-Batalla, Maria; Eckstein, Chris; Xifré-Pérez, Elisabet; Formentín, Pilar; Ferré-Borrull, J.; Marsal, Lluis F.

    2016-08-01

    Controlled drug delivery systems are an encouraging solution to some drug disadvantages such as reduced solubility, deprived biodistribution, tissue damage, fast breakdown of the drug, cytotoxicity, or side effects. Self-ordered nanoporous anodic alumina is an auspicious material for drug delivery due to its biocompatibility, stability, and controllable pore geometry. Its use in drug delivery applications has been explored in several fields, including therapeutic devices for bone and dental tissue engineering, coronary stent implants, and carriers for transplanted cells. In this work, we have created and analyzed a stimuli-responsive drug delivery system based on layer-by-layer pH-responsive polyelectrolyte and nanoporous anodic alumina. The results demonstrate that it is possible to control the drug release using a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating that will act as a gate.

  8. Modeling Ultra-fast assembly and sintering of gold nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lane, J. Matthew D.; Salerno, K. Michael; Grest, Gary S.; Fan, Hongyou

    We use fully atomistic simulations to understand the role of extreme pressure in the assembly and sintering of fcc superlattices of alkanethiol-coated gold nanocrystals into larger nanostructures. Recent quasi-isentropic experiments have shown that 1D, 2D and 3D nanostructures can be formed and recovered from dynamic compression experiments on Sandia's Veloce pulsed power accelerator. Here, we describe the role of coating properties, such as ligand length and grafting density, on ligand migration and deformation processes during pressure-driven coalescence of metal nano cores into permanent nanowires, nanosheets and 3D structures. The role of uniaxial vs isotropic pressure and the effects of compression along various superlattice orientations will be discussed. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

  9. Insulator coated magnetic nanoparticulate composites with reduced core loss and method of manufacture thereof

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zhang, Yide (Inventor); Wang, Shihe (Inventor); Xiao, Danny (Inventor)

    2004-01-01

    A series of bulk-size magnetic/insulating nanostructured composite soft magnetic materials with significantly reduced core loss and its manufacturing technology. This insulator coated magnetic nanostructured composite is comprises a magnetic constituent, which contains one or more magnetic components, and an insulating constituent. The magnetic constituent is nanometer scale particles (1-100 nm) coated by a thin-layered insulating phase (continuous phase). While the intergrain interaction between the immediate neighboring magnetic nanoparticles separated by the insulating phase (or coupled nanoparticles) provide the desired soft magnetic properties, the insulating material provides the much demanded high resistivity which significantly reduces the eddy current loss. The resulting material is a high performance magnetic nanostructured composite with reduced core loss.

  10. Plasmonic nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Ruiqian

    In the last three decades, a large number of different plasmonic nanostructures have attracted much attention due to their unique optical properties. Those plasmonic nanostructures include nanoparticles, nanoholes and metal nanovoids. They have been widely utilized in optical devices and sensors. When the plasmonic nanostructures interact with the electromagnetic wave and their surface plasmon frequency match with the light frequency, the electrons in plasmonic nanostructures will resonate with the same oscillation as incident light. In this case, the plasmonic nanostructures can absorb light and enhance the light scattering. Therefore, the plasmonic nanostructures can be used as substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to enhance the Raman signal. Using plasmonic nanostructures can significantly enhance Raman scattering of molecules with very low concentrations. In this thesis, two different plasmonic nanostructures Ag dendrites and Au/Ag core-shell nanoparticles are investigated. Simple methods were used to produce these two plasmonic nanostructures. Then, their applications in surface enhanced Raman scattering have been explored. Ag dendrites were produced by galvanic replacement reaction, which was conducted using Ag nitrate aqueous solution and copper metal. Metal copper layer was deposited at the bottom side of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane. Silver wires formed inside AAO channels connected Ag nitrate on the top of AAO membrane and copper layer at the bottom side of AAO. Silver dendrites were formed on the top side of AAO. The second plasmonic nanostructure is Au/Ag core-shell nanoparticles. They were fabricated by electroless plating (galvanic replacement) reaction in a silver plating solution. First, electrochemically evolved hydrogen bubbles were used as template through electroless deposition to produce hollow Au nanoparticles. Then, the Au nanoparticles were coated with Cu shells in a Cu plating solution. In the following step, a Ag

  11. Tuning the field distribution and fabrication of an Al@ZnO core-shell nanostructure for a SPR-based fiber optic phenyl hydrazine sensor.

    PubMed

    Tabassum, Rana; Kaur, Parvinder; Gupta, Banshi D

    2016-05-27

    We report the fabrication and characterization of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based fiber optic sensor that uses coatings of silver and aluminum (Al)-zinc oxide (ZnO) core-shell nanostructure (Al@ZnO) for the detection of phenyl hydrazine (Ph-Hyd). To optimize the volume fraction (f) of Al in ZnO and the thickness of the core-shell nanostructure layer (d), the electric field intensity along the normal to the multilayer system is simulated using the two-dimensional multilayer matrix method. The Al@ZnO core-shell nanostructure is prepared using the laser ablation technique. Various probes are fabricated with different values of f and an optimized thickness of core-shell nanostructure for the characterization of the Ph-Hyd sensor. The performance of the Ph-Hyd sensor is evaluated in terms of sensitivity. It is found that the Ag/Al@ZnO nanostructure core-shell-coated SPR probe with f = 0.25 and d = 0.040 μm possesses the maximum sensitivity towards Ph-Hyd. These results are in agreement with the simulated ones obtained using electric field intensity. In addition, the performance of the proposed probe is compared with that of probes coated with (i) Al@ZnO nanocomposite, (ii) Al nanoparticles and (iii) ZnO nanoparticles. It is found that the probe coated with an Al@ZnO core-shell nanostructure shows the largest resonance wavelength shift. The detailed mechanism of the sensing (involving chemical reactions) is presented. The sensor also manifests optimum performance at pH 7.

  12. Processing of Alumina-Toughened Zirconia Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bansal, Narottam P.; Choi, Sung R.

    2003-01-01

    Dense and crack-free 10-mol%-yttria-stabilized zirconia (10YSZ)-alumina composites, containing 0 to 30 mol% of alumina, have been fabricated by hot pressing. Release of pressure before onset of cooling was crucial in obtaining crack-free material. Hot pressing at 1600 C resulted in the formation of ZrC by reaction of zirconia with grafoil. However, no such reaction was observed at 1500 C. Cubic zirconia and -alumina were the only phases detected from x-ray diffraction indicating no chemical reaction between the composite constituents during hot pressing. Microstructure of the composites was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Density and elastic modulus of the composites followed the rule-of-mixtures. Addition of alumina to 10YSZ resulted in lighter, stronger, and stiffer composites by decreasing density and increasing strength and elastic modulus.

  13. Biologically inspired LED lens from cuticular nanostructures of firefly lantern

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Jae-Jun; Lee, Youngseop; Kim, Ha Gon; Choi, Ki-Ju; Kweon, Hee-Seok; Park, Seongchong; Jeong, Ki-Hun

    2012-01-01

    Cuticular nanostructures found in insects effectively manage light for light polarization, structural color, or optical index matching within an ultrathin natural scale. These nanostructures are mainly dedicated to manage incoming light and recently inspired many imaging and display applications. A bioluminescent organ, such as a firefly lantern, helps to out-couple light from the body in a highly efficient fashion for delivering strong optical signals in sexual communication. However, the cuticular nanostructures, except the light-producing reactions, have not been well investigated for physical principles and engineering biomimetics. Here we report a unique observation of high-transmission nanostructures on a firefly lantern and its biological inspiration for highly efficient LED illumination. Both numerical and experimental results clearly reveal high transmission through the nanostructures inspired from the lantern cuticle. The nanostructures on an LED lens surface were fabricated by using a large-area nanotemplating and reconfigurable nanomolding with heat-induced shear thinning. The biologically inspired LED lens, distinct from a smooth surface lens, substantially increases light transmission over visible ranges, comparable to conventional antireflection coating. This biological inspiration can offer new opportunities for increasing the light extraction efficiency of high-power LED packages. PMID:23112185

  14. Properties of nanostructures obtained by anodization of aluminum in phosphoric acid at moderate potentials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaraska, L.; Sulka, G. D.; Jaskuła, M.

    2009-01-01

    The influence of the process duration, anodizing potential and methanol addition on the structural features of porous anodic alumina formed in a 0.3 M H3PO4 solutions by twostep self-organized anodizing was investigated for potentials ranging from 100 to 170 V. The structural features of porous structures including pore diameter and interpore distance were evaluated from FE-SEM top-view images for samples anodized in the presence and absence of methanol. For the highest studied anodizing time and methanol volume fraction, an excellent agreement between experimental values of the interpore distance and theoretical predictions was observed. The pore arrangement regularity was analyzed for various electrolyte compositions and anodizing potentials. It was found that the regularity ratio of porous alumina increases linearly with increasing anodizing potential and time. The addition of methanol improves the quality of nanostructures and especially better uniformity of pore sizes is observed in the presence of the highest studied methanol content.

  15. Low Cost High Performance Nanostructured Spectrally Selective Coating

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

    Jin, Sungho

    2017-04-05

    Sunlight absorbing coating is a key enabling technology to achieve high-temperature high-efficiency concentrating solar power operation. A high-performance solar absorbing material must simultaneously meet all the following three stringent requirements: high thermal efficiency (usually measured by figure of merit), high-temperature durability, and oxidation resistance. The objective of this research is to employ a highly scalable process to fabricate and coat black oxide nanoparticles onto solar absorber surface to achieve ultra-high thermal efficiency. Black oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized using a facile process and coated onto absorber metal surface. The material composition, size distribution and morphology of the nanoparticle are guidedmore » by numeric modeling. Optical and thermal properties have been both modeled and measured. High temperature durability has been achieved by using nanocomposites and high temperature annealing. Mechanical durability on thermal cycling have also been investigated and optimized. This technology is promising for commercial applications in next-generation high-temperature concentration solar power (CSP) plants.« less

  16. Formation of self-ordered porous anodized alumina template for growing tungsten trioxide nanowires

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hussain, Tajamal; Shah, Asma Tufail; Shehzad, Khurram; Mujahid, Adnan; Farooqi, Zahoor Hussain; Raza, Muhammad Hamid; Ahmed, Mirza Nadeem; Nisa, Zaib Un

    2015-12-01

    Uniform porous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane has been synthesized by two-step anodization for fabricating tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanowires. Under assayed conditions, uniform porous structure of alumina (Al2O3) membrane with long range ordered hexagonal arrangements of nanopores was achieved. The self-assembled template possesses pores of internal diameter of 50 nm and interpore distance ( d int) of 80 nm with a thickness of about 80 µm, i.e., used for fabrication of nanostructures. WO3 nanowires have been fabricated by simple electroless deposition method inside Al2O3 nanopores. SEM images show tungsten trioxide nanowire with internal diameter of about 50 nm, similar to porous diameter of AAO template. XRD results showed that nanowires exist in cubic crystalline state with minor proportion of monoclinic phase.

  17. Extreme wettability of nanostructured glass fabricated by non-lithographic, anisotropic etching

    PubMed Central

    Yu, Eusun; Kim, Seul-Cham; Lee, Heon Ju; Oh, Kyu Hwan; Moon, Myoung-Woon

    2015-01-01

    Functional glass surfaces with the properties of superhydrophobicity/or superhydrohydrophilicity, anti-condensation or low reflectance require nano- or micro-scale roughness, which is difficult to fabricate directly on glass surfaces. Here, we report a novel non-lithographic method for the fabrication of nanostructures on glass; this method introduces a sacrificial SiO2 layer for anisotropic plasma etching. The first step was to form nanopillars on SiO2 layer-coated glass by using preferential CF4 plasma etching. With continuous plasma etching, the SiO2 pillars become etch-resistant masks on the glass; thus, the glass regions covered by the SiO2 pillars are etched slowly, and the regions with no SiO2 pillars are etched rapidly, resulting in nanopatterned glass. The glass surface that is etched with CF4 plasma becomes superhydrophilic because of its high surface energy, as well as its nano-scale roughness and high aspect ratio. Upon applying a subsequent hydrophobic coating to the nanostructured glass, a superhydrophobic surface was achieved. The light transmission of the glass was relatively unaffected by the nanostructures, whereas the reflectance was significantly reduced by the increase in nanopattern roughness on the glass. PMID:25791414

  18. Nanomanufacturing : nano-structured materials made layer-by-layer.

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

    Cox, James V.; Cheng, Shengfeng; Grest, Gary Stephen

    Large-scale, high-throughput production of nano-structured materials (i.e. nanomanufacturing) is a strategic area in manufacturing, with markets projected to exceed $1T by 2015. Nanomanufacturing is still in its infancy; process/product developments are costly and only touch on potential opportunities enabled by growing nanoscience discoveries. The greatest promise for high-volume manufacturing lies in age-old coating and imprinting operations. For materials with tailored nm-scale structure, imprinting/embossing must be achieved at high speeds (roll-to-roll) and/or over large areas (batch operation) with feature sizes less than 100 nm. Dispersion coatings with nanoparticles can also tailor structure through self- or directed-assembly. Layering films structured with thesemore » processes have tremendous potential for efficient manufacturing of microelectronics, photovoltaics and other topical nano-structured devices. This project is designed to perform the requisite R and D to bring Sandia's technology base in computational mechanics to bear on this scale-up problem. Project focus is enforced by addressing a promising imprinting process currently being commercialized.« less

  19. Tribological properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of magnetron sputtered titanium-amorphous carbon coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dhandapani, Vishnu Shankar; Subbiah, Ramesh; Thangavel, Elangovan; Arumugam, Madhankumar; Park, Kwideok; Gasem, Zuhair M.; Veeraragavan, Veeravazhuthi; Kim, Dae-Eun

    2016-05-01

    Amorphous carbon incorporated with titanium (a-C:Ti) was coated on 316L stainless steel (SS) by magnetron sputtering technique to attain superior tribological properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. The morphology, topography and functional groups of the nanostructured a-C:Ti coatings in various concentrations were analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Raman and XPS analyses confirmed the increase in sp2 bonds with increasing titanium content in the a-C matrix. TEM analysis confirmed the composite nature of the coating and the presence of nanostructured TiC for Ti content of 2.33 at.%. This coating showed superior tribological properties compared to the other a-C:Ti coatings. Furthermore, electrochemical corrosion studies were performed against stimulated body fluid medium in which all the a-C:Ti coatings showed improved corrosion resistance than the pure a-C coating. Preosteoblasts proliferation and viability on the specimens were tested and the results showed that a-C:Ti coatings with relatively high Ti (3.77 at.%) content had better biocompatibility. Based on the results of this work, highly durable coatings with good biocompatibility could be achieved by incorporation of optimum amount of Ti in a-C coatings deposited on SS by magnetron sputtering technique.

  20. Metal Fluorides, Metal Chlorides and Halogenated Metal Oxides as Lewis Acidic Heterogeneous Catalysts. Providing Some Context for Nanostructured Metal Fluorides.

    PubMed

    Lennon, David; Winfield, John M

    2017-01-28

    Aspects of the chemistry of selected metal fluorides, which are pertinent to their real or potential use as Lewis acidic, heterogeneous catalysts, are reviewed. Particular attention is paid to β-aluminum trifluoride, aluminum chlorofluoride and aluminas γ and η, whose surfaces become partially fluorinated or chlorinated, through pre-treatment with halogenating reagents or during a catalytic reaction. In these cases, direct comparisons with nanostructured metal fluorides are possible. In the second part of the review, attention is directed to iron(III) and copper(II) metal chlorides, whose Lewis acidity and potential redox function have had important catalytic implications in large-scale chlorohydrocarbons chemistry. Recent work, which highlights the complexity of reactions that can occur in the presence of supported copper(II) chloride as an oxychlorination catalyst, is featured. Although direct comparisons with nanostructured fluorides are not currently possible, the work could be relevant to possible future catalytic developments in nanostructured materials.

  1. Self-generated concentration and modulus gradient coating design to protect Si nano-wire electrodes during lithiation.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sung-Yup; Ostadhossein, Alireza; van Duin, Adri C T; Xiao, Xingcheng; Gao, Huajian; Qi, Yue

    2016-02-07

    Surface coatings as artificial solid electrolyte interphases have been actively pursued as an effective way to improve the cycle efficiency of nanostructured Si electrodes for high energy density lithium ion batteries, where the mechanical stability of the surface coatings on Si is as critical as Si itself. However, the chemical composition and mechanical property change of coating materials during the lithiation and delithiation process imposed a grand challenge to design coating/Si nanostructure as an integrated electrode system. In our work, we first developed reactive force field (ReaxFF) parameters for Li-Si-Al-O materials to simulate the lithiation process of Si-core/Al2O3-shell and Si-core/SiO2-shell nanostructures. With reactive dynamics simulations, we were able to simultaneously track and correlate the lithiation rate, compositional change, mechanical property evolution, stress distributions, and fracture. A new mechanics model based on these varying properties was developed to determine how to stabilize the coating with a critical size ratio. Furthermore, we discovered that the self-accelerating Li diffusion in Al2O3 coating forms a well-defined Li concentration gradient, leading to an elastic modulus gradient, which effectively avoids local stress concentration and mitigates crack propagation. Based on these results, we propose a modulus gradient coating, softer outside, harder inside, as the most efficient coating to protect the Si electrode surface and improve its current efficiency.

  2. Room temperature deformation mechanisms of alumina particles observed from in situ micro-compression and atomistic simulations.

    DOE PAGES

    Sarobol, Pylin; Chandross, Michael E.; Carroll, Jay D.; ...

    2015-09-22

    Aerosol deposition (AD) is a solid-state deposition technology that has been developed to fabricate ceramic coatings nominally at room temperature. Sub-micron ceramic particles accelerated by pressurized gas impact, deform, and consolidate on substrates under vacuum. Ceramic particle consolidation in AD coatings is highly dependent on particle deformation and bonding; these behaviors are not well understood. In this work, atomistic simulations and in situ micro-compressions in the scanning electron microscope, and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) were utilized to investigate fundamental mechanisms responsible for plastic deformation/fracture of particles under applied compression. Results showed that highly defective micron-sized alumina particles, initially containingmore » numerous dislocations or a grain boundary, exhibited no observable shape change before fracture/fragmentation. Simulations and experimental results indicated that particles containing a grain boundary only accommodate low strain energy per unit volume before crack nucleation and propagation. In contrast, nearly defect-free, sub-micron, single crystal alumina particles exhibited plastic deformation and fracture without fragmentation. Dislocation nucleation/motion, significant plastic deformation, and shape change were observed. Simulation and TEM in situ micro-compression results indicated that nearly defect-free particles accommodate high strain energy per unit volume associated with dislocation plasticity before fracture. As a result, the identified deformation mechanisms provide insight into feedstock design for AD.« less

  3. High Temperature Stability of Potassium Beta Alumina

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Williams, R. M.; Kisor, A.; Ryan, M. A.

    1996-01-01

    None. From Objectives section: Evaluate the stability of potassium beta alumina under potassium AMTEC operating conditions. Evaluate the stability regime in which potassium beta alumina can be fabricated.

  4. Effects of Etching Time and NaOH Concentration on the Production of Alumina Nanowires Using Porous Anodic Alumina Template

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sadeghpour-Motlagh, M.; Mokhtari-Zonouzi, K.; Aghajani, H.; Kakroudi, M. Ghassemi

    2014-06-01

    In this work, two-step anodizing of commercial aluminum foil in acid oxalic solution was applied for producing alumina film. Then the anodic alumina film was etched in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution resulting dense and aligned alumina nanowires. This procedure leads to splitting of alumina nanotubes. Subsequently nanowires are produced. The effects of NaOH solution concentration (0.2-1 mol/L) and etching time (60-300 s) at constant temperature on characteristic of nanotubes and produced nanowires were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that an increase in NaOH solution concentration increases the rate of nanowires production and in turn the manipulation process will be more specific.

  5. Method for preparing Pb-. beta. ''-alumina ceramic

    DOEpatents

    Hellstrom, E.E.

    1984-08-30

    A process is disclosed for preparing impermeable, polycrystalline samples of Pb-..beta..''-alumina ceramic from Na-..beta..''-alumina ceramic by ion exchange. The process comprises two steps. The first step is a high-temperature vapor phase exchange of Na by K, followed by substitution of Pb for K by immersing the sample in a molten Pb salt bath. The result is a polycrystalline Pb-..beta..''-alumina ceramic that is substantially crack-free.

  6. Method for preparing Pb-.beta."-alumina ceramic

    DOEpatents

    Hellstrom, Eric E.

    1986-01-01

    A process is disclosed for preparing impermeable, polycrystalline samples of Pb-.beta."-alumina ceramic from Na-.beta."-alumina ceramic by ion exchange. The process comprises two steps. The first step is a high-temperature vapor phase exchange of Na by K, followed by substitution of Pb for K by immersing the sample in a molten Pb salt bath. The result is a polycrystalline Pb-.beta."-alumina ceramic that is substantially crack-free.

  7. Fabrication of nanostructured Al-doped ZnO thin film for methane sensing applications

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

    Shafura, A. K., E-mail: shafura@ymail.com; Azhar, N. E. I.; Uzer, M.

    2016-07-06

    CH{sub 4} gas sensor was fabricated using spin-coating method of the nanostructured ZnO thin film. Effect of annealing temperature on the electrical and structural properties of the film was investigated. Dense nanostructured ZnO film are obtained at higher annealing temperature. The optimal condition of annealing temperature is 500°C which has conductivity and sensitivity value of 3.3 × 10{sup −3} S/cm and 11.5%, respectively.

  8. Micromorphological characterization of zinc/silver particle composite coatings.

    PubMed

    Méndez, Alia; Reyes, Yolanda; Trejo, Gabriel; StĘpień, Krzysztof; Ţălu, Ştefan

    2015-12-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the three-dimensional (3D) surface micromorphology of zinc/silver particles (Zn/AgPs) composite coatings with antibacterial activity prepared using an electrodeposition technique. These 3D nanostructures were investigated over square areas of 5 μm × 5 μm by atomic force microscopy (AFM), fractal, and wavelet analysis. The fractal analysis of 3D surface roughness revealed that (Zn/AgPs) composite coatings have fractal geometry. Triangulation method, based on the linear interpolation type, applied for AFM data was employed in order to characterise the surfaces topographically (in amplitude, spatial distribution and pattern of surface characteristics). The surface fractal dimension Df , as well as height values distribution have been determined for the 3D nanostructure surfaces. © 2015 The Authors published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Wear and corrosion behaviour of tungsten carbide based coatings with different metallic binder

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kamdi, Z.; Apandi, M. N. M.; Ibrahim, M. D.

    2017-12-01

    Tungsten carbide based coating has been well known as wear and corrosion resistance materials. However, less study is done on comparing the coating with different binder. Thus, in this work the wear and corrosion behaviour of high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) coatings, namely (i) tungsten carbide cobalt and (ii) tungsten carbide nickel will be evaluated. Both coatings were characterised using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The wear behaviour has been examined using the modified grinder machine by weight loss measurement. Two types of abrasive have been used that include 3 g by weight alumina and silica. While for the corrosion behaviour, it is monitored by three electrodes of electrochemical test and immersion test for 30 days in an acidic environment. The electrolyte used was 0.5 M sulphuric acids (H2SO4). It was found that the cobalt binder shows higher wear resistance compares to the nickel binder for both slurry types. The harder alumina compared to silica results in higher wear rate with removal of carbide and binder is about the same rate. For silica abrasive, due to slightly lower hardness compared to the carbide, the wear is dominated by binder removal followed by carbide detachment. For corrosion, the nickel binder shows four times higher wear resistance compared to the cobalt binder as expected due to its natural behaviour. These finding demonstrate that the selection of coating to be used in different application in this case, wear and corrosion shall be chosen carefully to maximize the usage of the coating.

  10. Self-Assembly of Rod-Coil Block Copolymers on Carbon Nanotubes: A Route toward Diverse Surface Nanostructures.

    PubMed

    Han, Yang; Cai, Chunhua; Lin, Jiaping; Gong, Shuting; Xu, Wenheng; Hu, Rui

    2018-04-14

    In this work, it is reported that poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG-b-PEG) rod-coil block copolymers (BCPs) can disperse carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in solution and form various surface nanostructures on the CNTs via solution self-assembly. In an organic solvent that dissolves the BCPs, the PBLG rod blocks adsorb on CNT surfaces, and the BCPs form conformal coatings. Then, by the introduction of water, a selective solvent for PEG blocks, the BCPs in the coatings further self-assemble into diverse surface nanostructures, such as helices (left-handed or right-handed), gyros, spheres, and rings. The morphology of the surface nanostructure can be tailored by initial organic solvent composition, preparation temperature, feeding ratio of BCPs to CNTs, degree of polymerization of PBLG blocks, and diameter of the CNTs. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. Electrochemical detection of uric acid using ruthenium-dioxide-coated carbon nanotube directly grown onto Si wafer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shih, Yi-Ting; Lee, Kuei-Yi; Lin, Chung-Kuang

    2015-12-01

    Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) directly grown onto a Si substrate by thermal chemical vapor deposition were used in uric acid (UA) detection. The process is simple and formation is easy without the need for additional chemical treatments. However, CNTs lack selectivity and sensitivity to UA. To enhance the electrochemical analysis, ruthenium oxide was used as a catalytic mediator in the modification of electrodes. The electrochemical results show that RuO2 nanostructures coated onto CNTs can strengthen the UA signal. The peak currents of RuO2 nanostructures coated onto CNTs linearly increase with increasing UA concentration, meaning that they can work as electrodes for UA detection. The lowest detection limit and highest sensitivity were 55 nM and 4.36 µA/µM, respectively. Moreover, the characteristics of RuO2 nanostructures coated onto CNTs were examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

  12. Optically enhanced SnO{sub 2}/CdSe core/shell nanostructures grown by sol-gel spin coating method

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

    Kumar, Vijay, E-mail: vijaynadda83@gmail.com; Goswami, Y. C.; Rajaram, P.

    2015-08-28

    Synthesis of SnO{sub 2}/CdSe metal oxide/ chalcogenide nanostructures on glass micro slides using ultrasonic sol-gel process followed by spin coating has been reported. Stannous chloride, cadmium chloride and selenium dioxide compounds were used for Sn, Cd and Se precursors respectively. Ethylene glycol was used as complexing agent. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM and UV-spectrophotometer. All the peaks shown in diffractograms are identified for SnO{sub 2}. Peak broadening observed in core shell due to stress behavior of CdSe lattice. Scanning electron microscope and AFM exhibits the conversion of cluster in to nanorods structures forms. Atomic force microscope showsmore » the structures in nanorods form and a roughness reduced 1.5194 nm by the deposition of CdSe. Uv Visible spectra shows a new absorption edge in the visible region make them useful for optoelectronic applications.« less

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

    PubMed

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

    2014-01-01

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

  14. Analysis and characterization of Cu2CdSnS4 quaternary alloy nanostructures deposited on GaN

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Odeh, Ali Abu; Al-Douri, Y.; Ameri, M.; Bouhemadou, A.

    2018-06-01

    Through using spin coating technique, Cu2CdSnS4 (CCTS) quaternary alloy nanostructures were successfully deposited on GaN substrate using a wide range of spin coating speeds; 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 and 3500 RPM at annealing temperature 300 °C. The optical properties were investigated through UV-vis which revealed the changing of energy band gap as the spin coating speed increases, in addition, to verify specific models of refractive index and optical dielectric constant. The structural properties were studied by X-ray diffraction which indicated that the number and intensity of the peaks were changed as the spin coating speed changes. The morphological and topographical studies of CCTS were elaborated by field emission-scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The obtained results suggest that CCTS nanostructures deposited on GaN substrate are very suitable for optoelectronic applications, that are in accordance with the available theoretical and experimental data.

  15. Fabrication of thin layer beta alumina

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tennenhouse, G. J.

    1977-01-01

    Beta alumina tubes having walls 700 microns, 300 microns, and 140 microns were processed by extrusion and sintering utilizing Ford proprietary binder and fabrication systems. Tubes prepared by this method have properties similar to tubes prepared by isostatic pressing and sintering, i.e. density greater than 98% of theoretical and a helium leak rate less than 3 x 10 to the -9th power cc/sq cm/sec. Ford ultrasonic bonding techniques were used for bonding beta alumina end caps to open ended beta -alumina tubes prior to sintering. After sintering, the bond was hermetic, and the integrity of the bonded area was comparable to the body of the tube.

  16. Corrosion and wear properties of Zn-Ni and Zn-Ni-Al2O3 multilayer electrodeposited coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shourgeshty, M.; Aliofkhazraei, M.; Karimzadeh, A.; Poursalehi, R.

    2017-09-01

    Zn-Ni and Zn-Ni-Al2O3 multilayer coatings with 32, 128, and 512 layers were electroplated on a low carbon steel substrate by pulse electrodeposition under alternative changes in the duty cycle between 20% and 90% and a constant frequency of 250 Hz. Corrosion behavior was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and wear behavior of the coatings was evaluated by a pin on disk test. The results showed that the corrosion resistance of coatings was improved by increasing the number of layers (the decrease in layer thickness) as well as the presence of alumina nanoparticles. The lowest corrosion current density corresponds to Zn-Ni-Al2O3 with 512 layers equal to 3.74 µA cm-2. Increasing the number of layers in the same total thickness and the presence of alumina nanoparticles within the coating also leads to the improvement in wear resistance of the samples. The coefficient of friction decreased with increasing number of layers and the lowest coefficient of friction (0.517) corresponds to Zn-Ni-Al2O3 coating with 512 layers. Wear mechanism of Zn-Ni coatings with a different number of layers is adhesive while in the Zn-Ni-Al2O3 coatings wear mechanism is a combination of adhesive and abrasive wear, where by increasing the number of the layers to 512 abrasive wear mechanism becomes dominant.

  17. Gold coatings on polymer laser induced periodic surface structures: assessment as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

    PubMed

    Rebollar, Esther; Sanz, Mikel; Pérez, Susana; Hernández, Margarita; Martín-Fabiani, Ignacio; Rueda, Daniel R; Ezquerra, Tiberio A; Domingo, Concepción; Castillejo, Marta

    2012-12-05

    We report on the fabrication of gold coated nanostructured polymer thin films and on their characterization as substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were obtained on thin polymer films of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) upon laser irradiation with the fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser (266 nm, pulse duration 6 ns) resulting in a period close to the incident wavelength. The nanostructured polymer substrates were coated with a nanoparticle assembled gold layer by pulsed laser deposition using the fifth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser (213 nm, pulse duration 15 ns). Different deposition times resulted in thicknesses from a few nanometres up to several tens of nanometres. Analysis by atomic force microscopy and grazing incident small angle X-ray scattering showed that gold coating preserved the LIPSS relief. The capabilities of the produced nanostructures as substrates for SERS have been investigated using benzenethiol as a test molecule. The SERS signal is substantially larger than that observed for a gold-coated flat substrate. Advantages of this new type of SERS substrates are discussed.

  18. Layer-by-layer deposition of nanostructured CsPbBr3 perovskite thin films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reshetnikova, A. A.; Matyushkin, L. B.; Andronov, A. A.; Sokolov, V. S.; Aleksandrova, O. A.; Moshnikov, V. A.

    2017-11-01

    Layer-by-layer deposition of nanostructured perovskites cesium lead halide thin films is described. The method of deposition is based on alternate immersion of the substrate in the precursor solutions or colloidal solution of nanocrystals and methyl acetate/lead nitrate solution using the device for deposition of films by SILAR and dip-coating techniques. An example of obtaining a photosensitive structure based on nanostructures of ZnO nanowires and layers of CsBbBr3 nanocrystals is also shown.

  19. Facile Hydrothermal Preparation of ZNO/CO3O4 Heterogeneous Nanostructures and its Photovoltaic Effect

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Fanan; Jiang, Minlin; Liu, Lianqing

    2015-07-01

    Photovoltaic technology offers great potential in the replacement of fossil fuel resources, but still suffers from high device fabrication cost. Herein, we attempted to provide a solution to these issues with heterogeneous nanostructures. Firstly, Zinc oxide (ZnO)/cobalt oxide (Co3O4) heterojunction nanowires are prepared through facile fabrication methods. By assembling Co(OH)2 nanoplates on ZnO nanowire arrays, the ZnO/Co3O4 heterogeneous nanostructures are uniformly synthesized on ITO coated glass and wafer. Current (I)-voltage (V) measurement through conductive atomic force microscope shows excellent photovoltaic effect. And, the heterojunction nanostructures shows unprecedented high open circuit voltage. Therefore, the potential application of the heterogeneous nanostructures in solar cells is demonstrated.

  20. Antimicrobial activity of silica coated silicon nano-tubes (SCSNT) and silica coated silicon nano-particles (SCSNP) synthesized by gas phase condensation.

    PubMed

    Tank, Chiti; Raman, Sujatha; Karan, Sujoy; Gosavi, Suresh; Lalla, Niranjan P; Sathe, Vasant; Berndt, Richard; Gade, W N; Bhoraskar, S V; Mathe, Vikas L

    2013-06-01

    Silica-coated, silicon nanotubes (SCSNTs) and silica-coated, silicon nanoparticles (SCSNPs) have been synthesized by catalyst-free single-step gas phase condensation using the arc plasma process. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy showed that SCSNTs exhibited a wall thickness of less than 1 nm, with an average diameter of 14 nm and a length of several 100 nm. Both nano-structures had a high specific surface area. The present study has demonstrated cheaper, resistance-free and effective antibacterial activity in silica-coated silicon nano-structures, each for two Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was estimated, using the optical densitometric technique, and by determining colony-forming units. The MIC was found to range in the order of micrograms, which is comparable to the reported MIC of metal oxides for these bacteria. SCSNTs were found to be more effective in limiting the growth of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus over SCSNPs at 10 μg/ml (IC 50 = 100 μg/ml).

  1. Neutron irradiation and high temperature effects on amorphous Fe-based nano-coatings on steel - A macroscopic assessment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Simos, N.; Zhong, Z.; Dooryhee, E.; Ghose, S.; Gill, S.; Camino, F.; Şavklıyıldız, İ.; Akdoğan, E. K.

    2017-06-01

    The study revealed that loss of ductility in an amorphous Fe-alloy coating on a steel substrate composite structure was essentially prevented from occurring, following radiation with modest neutron doses of ∼2 × 1018 n/cm2. At the higher neutron dose of ∼2 × 1019, macroscopic stress-strain analysis showed that the amorphous Fe-alloy nanostructured coating, while still amorphous, experienced radiation-induced embrittlement, no longer offering protection against ductility loss in the coating-substrate composite structure. Neutron irradiation in a corrosive environment revealed exemplary oxidation/corrosion resistance of the amorphous Fe-alloy coating, which is attributed to the formation of the Fe2B phase in the coating. To establish the impact of elevated temperatures on the amorphous-to-crystalline transition in the amorphous Fe-alloy, electron microscopy was carried out which confirmed the radiation-induced suppression of crystallization in the amorphous Fe-alloy nanostructured coating.

  2. Hybrid silicon–carbon nanostructures for broadband optical absorption

    DOE PAGES

    Yang, Wen -Hua; Lu, Wen -Cai; Ho, K. M.; ...

    2017-01-25

    Proper design of nanomaterials for broadband light absorption is a key factor for improving the conversion efficiency of solar cells. Here we present a hybrid design of silicon–carbon nanostructures with silicon clusters coated by carbon cages, i.e., Si m@C 2n for potential solar cell application. The optical properties of these hybrid nanostructures were calculated based on time dependent density function theory (TDDFT). The results show that the optical spectra of Si m@C 2n are very different from those of pure Si m and C 2n clusters. While the absorption spectra of pure carbon cages and Si m clusters exhibit peaksmore » in the UV region, those of the Si m@C 2n nanostructures exhibit a significant red shift. Superposition of the optical spectra of various Si m@C 2n nanostructures forms a broad-band absorption, which extends to the visible light and infrared regions. As a result, the broadband adsorption of the assembled Si m@C 2n nanoclusters may provide a new approach for the design of high efficiency solar cell nanomaterials.« less

  3. Simultaneous removal of heavy-metal ions in wastewater samples using nano-alumina modified with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine.

    PubMed

    Afkhami, Abbas; Saber-Tehrani, Mohammad; Bagheri, Hasan

    2010-09-15

    2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) immobilized on sodium dodecyl sulfate coated nano-alumina was developed for the removal of metal cations Pb(II), Cd(II), Cr(III), Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) from water samples. The research results displayed that adsorbent has the highest adsorption capacity for Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cd(II) in ions mixture system. Optimal experimental conditions including pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time have been established. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to analyze the experimental data. The best interpretation for the experimental data was given by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm equation for Mn(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cd(II) ions and by Langmuir isotherm equation for Ni(II) and Co(II) ions. Desorption experiments by elution of the adsorbent with a mixture of nitric acid and methanol show that the modified alumina nanoparticles could be reused without significant losses of its initial properties even after three adsorption-desorption cycles. Thus, modified nano-alumina with DNPH is favorable and useful for the removal of these metal ions, and the high adsorption capacity makes it a good promising candidate material for Pb(II),Cr(III) and Cd(II) removal. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Fabrication and characterisation of embedded metal nanostructures by ion implantation with nanoporous anodic alumina masks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guan, Wei; Peng, Nianhua; Jeynes, Christopher; Ghatak, Jay; Peng, Yong; Ross, Ian M.; Bhatta, Umananda M.; Inkson, Beverley J.; Möbus, Günter

    2013-07-01

    Lateral ordered Co, Pt and Co/Pt nanostructures were fabricated in SiO2 and Si3N4 substrates by high fluence metal ion implantation through periodic nanochannel membrane masks based on anodic aluminium oxides (AAO). The quality of nanopatterning transfer defined by various AAO masks in different substrates was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in both imaging and spectroscopy modes.

  5. Nanostructured aluminium titanate (Al{sub 2}TiO{sub 5}) particles and nanofibers: Synthesis and mechanism of microstructural evolution

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

    Azarniya, Abolfazl, E-mail: abolfazl_azarniya@mehr.sharif.ir; Azarniya, Amir, E-mail: a.azarnia91@gmail.com; Hosseini, Hamid Reza Madaah, E-mail: madaah@sharif.ir

    In this study, aluminium titanate (AT) particles and nanofibers were synthesized through citrate sol gel and sol gel-assisted electrospinning methods in both nanostructured powder and nanofiber forms. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and differential thermal analysis showed that the synthetic products benefit a nanostructured nature with a grain size less than 70 nm. The optimal values for time and temperature at which a roughly pure AT is attained were determined as 2 h and 900 °C, respectively. It was found that the sol gel precursor bears an amorphous structure till 700 °C and begins tomore » be crystallized to alumina, anatase and AT at higher temperatures. Moreover, AT tends to decompose into rutile and alumina at temperatures higher than 900 °C and its degradation rate reaches a maximum at temperatures near to 1100 °C. In this synthesis, citric acid was used as a chelating agent for Al{sup 3} {sup +} and Ti{sup 4} {sup +} ions and it was shown that a low citric acid-to-metal cation ratio leads to larger numbers of nuclei during crystallization and smaller grain size. Finally, a model was suggested to describe the microstructural evolution of AT compound based on a nucleation and growth regime. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • We synthesized aluminium titanate ceramic in both powder and nanofiber forms. • The methods in use were citrate sol gel and sol gel-assisted electrospinning. • Powders and nanofibers bear a nanostructured nature with a grain size less than 70 nm. • A model is suggested to describe microstructural evolution of synthetic products.« less

  6. Structural and wetting properties of porous anodic alumina templates prepared by different electrolytes

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

    Suchitra, S. M., E-mail: suchitra.ph14f03@nitk.edu.in; Reddy, P. Ramana; Udayashankar, N. K.

    2016-05-06

    Porous anodic alumina (PAA) has been extensively studied in recent years due to their unique properties and applications for manufacturing nanostructured materials. In this article, we report our studies on structural and wetting properties of PAA membranes prepared using different electrolytes such as sulphuric, oxalic and phosphoric acids. The morphological parameters such as pore diameter and porosity were measured using SEM and analysed using image-J software. The structural investigation of PAA membranes was carried out through X-ray diffraction analysis and it was confirmed that PAA membranes were amorphous in nature. The wetting behaviour of PAA membranes were measured using contactmore » angle measurement technique. The results show that PAA membranes were hydrophilic in nature with contact angles 26.03°, 35.21° and 42.0° for sulphuric, oxalic and phosphoric acids respectively.« less

  7. Alkali resistant optical coatings for alkali lasers and methods of production thereof

    DOEpatents

    Soules, Thomas F; Beach, Raymond J; Mitchell, Scott C

    2014-11-18

    In one embodiment, a multilayer dielectric coating for use in an alkali laser includes two or more alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials, wherein an innermost layer includes a thicker, >500 nm, and dense, >97% of theoretical, layer of at least one of: alumina, zirconia, and hafnia for protecting subsequent layers of the two or more alternating layers of high and low index dielectric materials from alkali attack. In another embodiment, a method for forming an alkali resistant coating includes forming a first oxide material above a substrate and forming a second oxide material above the first oxide material to form a multilayer dielectric coating, wherein the second oxide material is on a side of the multilayer dielectric coating for contacting an alkali.

  8. Role of the electric field in selective ion filtration in nanostructures.

    PubMed

    Park, Yong; Kim, Sueon; Jang, In Hyuk; Nam, Young Suk; Hong, Hiki; Choi, Dukhyun; Lee, Won Gu

    2016-02-21

    Nafion has received great attention as a proton conductor that can block negative ions. Here, we report the effect of a Nafion coating on an anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) nanoporous membrane on its function of ion rejection and filtering depending on the electric field. In our experiments, Nafion, once coated, was used to repel the negative ions (anions) from the coated surface, and then selectively allowed positive ions (cations) to pass through the nanopores in the presence of an electric field. To demonstrate the proof-of-concept validation, we coated Nafion solution onto the surface of AAO membranes with 20 nm nanopores average diameter at different solution concentration levels. Vacuum filtration methods for Nafion coating were vertically applied to the plane of an AAO membrane. An electric field was then applied to the upper surface of the Nafion-coated AAO membrane to investigate if ion rejection and filtering was affected by the presence of the electric field. Both anions and cations could pass through the AAO nanopores without an electric field applied. However, only cations could well pass through the AAO nanopores under an electric field, thus effectively blocking anions from passing through the nanopores. This result shows that ion filtration of electrons has been selectively performed while the system also works as a vital catalyst in reactivating Nafion via electrolysis. A saturated viscosity ratio of Nafion solution for the coating was also determined. We believe that this approach is potentially beneficial for better understanding the fundamentals of selective ion filtration in nanostructures and for promoting the use of nanostructures in potential applications such as ion-based water purification and desalination system at the nanoscale in a massively electrically integrated format.

  9. Synthesis of antireflective silica coatings through the synergy of polypeptide layer-by-layer assemblies and biomineralization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Yung-Lun; Lin, Ting-Xuan; Hsu, Feng-Ming; Jan, Jeng-Shiung

    2016-01-01

    We report a versatile approach to synthesize silica coatings with antireflective (AR) characteristics through the combination of a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique and biomineralization. LbL assembled decanoyl-modified poly(l-lysine)/poly(l-glutamic acid) (PLL-g-Dec/PLGA) multilayer films were used as templates for silica mineralization, followed by calcination. The specific deposition of silica onto the LbL polypeptide assemblies through amine-catalyzed polycondensation resulted in silica coatings that exhibited the transcription of the nano-/microstructured polypeptide films and their film thickness and porosity can be tuned by varying the number of bilayers, degree of substitution, and PLL molecular weight. AR silica coatings exhibiting more than 6% increase in transmittance in the near UV/visible spectral range can be obtained at an optimized refractive index, thickness, and surface roughness. The abrasion test showed that the silica coatings exhibited sufficient structural durability due to continuous silica nanostructures and low surface roughness. This study demonstrated that nanostructured thin films can be synthesized for AR coatings using the synergy between the LbL assembly technique and biomineralization.We report a versatile approach to synthesize silica coatings with antireflective (AR) characteristics through the combination of a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique and biomineralization. LbL assembled decanoyl-modified poly(l-lysine)/poly(l-glutamic acid) (PLL-g-Dec/PLGA) multilayer films were used as templates for silica mineralization, followed by calcination. The specific deposition of silica onto the LbL polypeptide assemblies through amine-catalyzed polycondensation resulted in silica coatings that exhibited the transcription of the nano-/microstructured polypeptide films and their film thickness and porosity can be tuned by varying the number of bilayers, degree of substitution, and PLL molecular weight. AR silica coatings exhibiting

  10. Powder-Derived High-Conductivity Coatings for Copper Alloys

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Thomas-Ogbuji, Linus U.

    2003-01-01

    Makers of high-thermal-flux engines prefer copper alloys as combustion chamber liners, owing to a need to maximize heat dissipation. Since engine environments are strongly oxidizing in nature and copper alloys generally have inadequate resistance to oxidation, the liners need coatings for thermal and environmental protection; however, coatings must be chosen with great care in order to avoid significant impairment of thermal conductivity. Powder-derived chromia- and alumina- forming alloys are being studied under NASA's programs for advanced reusable launch vehicles to succeed the space shuttle fleet. NiCrAlY and Cu-Cr compositions optimized for high thermal conductivity have been tested for static and cyclic oxidation, and for susceptibility to blanching - a mode of degradation arising from oxidation-reduction cycling. The results indicate that the decision to coat the liners or not, and which coating/composition to use, depends strongly on the specific oxidative degradation mode that prevails under service conditions.

  11. Evaluation of thermal barrier coating systems on novel substrates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pint, B. A.; Wright, I. G.; Brindley, W. J.

    2000-06-01

    Testing was conducted on both plasma-sprayed (PS) and electron beam-physical vapor deposited (EB-PVD) Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) applied directly to oxidation-resistant substrates such as β-NiAl, oxide-dispersed FeCrAl, and NiCr. On an alloy that forms a very adherent alumina scale, β-NiAl+Zr, the coating lifetime of YSZ in furnace cyclic tests was 6 or more times longer than on state-of-the-art, YSZ coatings on single-crystal Ni-base superalloys with MCrAlY or Pt aluminide bond coats. Coatings on FeCrAl alloys appear to be a viable option for applications such as the external skin of the X-33, single stage to orbit, reusable launch vehicle. Model chromia-forming bond coat compositions also show promise for power generation applications at temperatures where hot corrosion may be a major problem. In general, while this work examined unique materials systems, many of the same fundamental failure mechanisms observed in conventional TBCs were observed.

  12. Review of Research Work on Ti-BASED Composite Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gabbitas, Brian; Salman, Asma; Zhang, Deliang; Cao, Peng

    The service life of industrial components is limited predominantly by Chemical corrosion/mechanical wear. The project is concerned with the investigation of the capability of Ti(Al,O)/Al2O3 coatings to improve the service life of tool steel (H13) used for dies in aluminium high pressure die casting. This paper gives a general review on the research work conducted at the University of Waikato on producing and evaluating the titanium/alumina based composite coatings. The powder feedstocks for making the composite coatings were produced by high energy mechanical milling of a mixture of Al and TiO2 powders in two different molar ratios followed by a thermal reaction process. The feedstocks were then thermally sprayed using a high velocity air-fuel (HVAF) technique on H13 steel substrates to produce a Ti(Al,O)/Al2O3 composite coatings. The performance of the coating was assessed in terms of thermal shock resistance and reaction kinetics with molten aluminium. The composite powders and coatings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD).

  13. Effects of thermal cycling parameters on residual stresses in alumina scales of CoNiCrAlY and NiCoCrAlY bond coats

    DOE PAGES

    Nordhorn, Christian; Mücke, Robert; Unocic, Kinga A.; ...

    2014-08-20

    In this paper, furnace cycling experiments were performed on free-standing high-velocity oxygen-fuel bond coat samples to investigate the effect of material composition, surface texture, and cycling conditions on the average stresses in the formed oxide scales after cooling. The oxide scale thicknesses were determined by SEM image analyses and information about the stresses were acquired by photo-stimulated luminescence-spectroscopy. Additionally, the scale thickness dependent stress fields were calculated in finite-element analyses including approximation functions for the surface roughness derived on the basis of profilometry data. The evolution of the average residual stress as a function of oxide scale thickness was subjectmore » to stochastic fluctuations predominantly caused by local scale spallations. In comparison to the supplemental modeling results, thermal stresses due to mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients are identified as the main contribution to the residual stresses. Finally, the theoretical results emphasize that analyses of spectroscopic data acquired for average stress investigations of alumina scales rely on detailed information about microstructural features.« less

  14. Synthesis of fullerene@gold core-shell nanostructures.

    PubMed

    Ren, Yupeng; Paira, Priyankar; Nayak, Tapas Ranjan; Ang, Wee Han; Pastorin, Giorgia

    2011-07-21

    A "direct encapsulation" method was developed for the synthesis of highly stable water-soluble fullerene@gold core-shell nanostructures, with gold nanoshells showing either closed or porous morphology. This gold nano-shell coating formed a "nano-oven", capable of decomposing encapsulated fullerene molecules rapidly when irradiated by laser. We envisaged this being a useful tool for chemical reactions as well as a novel scaffold for nano-material synthesis.

  15. Samarium and europium beta”-alumina derivatives characterized by XPS

    DOE PAGES

    Myhre, Kristian; Meyer, Harry; Du, Miting

    2017-01-04

    Characterization of sodium, samarium and europium beta -alumina derivatives has been carried out using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Beta -alumina has been widely studied as a material capable of incorporating many different cations into its lattice structure, such as sodium and many of the lanthanide elements. The X-ray photoelectron spectra of samarium and europium in the beta -alumina structure are reported here. Additionally, the spectra of the precursor sodium beta -alumina as well as the europium and samarium trichloride starting materials are presented.

  16. Fabrication of Self-Ordered Alumina Films with Large Interpore Distance by Janus Anodization in Citric Acid

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Yingjun; Wen, Yihao; Li, Juan; Li, Yuxin; Zhang, Zhiying; Feng, Chenchen; Sun, Runguang

    2016-12-01

    Self-organized porous anodic alumina (PAA) formed by electrochemical anodization have become a fundamental tool to develop various functional nanomaterials. However, it is still a great challenge to break the interpore distance (Dint) limit (500 nm) by using current anodization technologies of mild anodization (MA) and hard anodization (HA). Here, we reported a new anodization mode named “Janus anodization” (JA) to controllably fabricate self-ordered PAA with large Dint at high voltage of 350-400 V. JA naturally occurs as anodizing Al foils in citric acid solution, which possessing both the characteristics of MA and HA. The process can be divided into two stages: I, slow pore nucleation stage similar to MA; II, unequilibrium self-organization process similar to HA. The as-prepared films had the highest modulus (7.0 GPa) and hardness (127.2 GPa) values compared with the alumina obtained by MA and HA. The optical studies showed that the black films have low reflectance (<10 %) in the wavelength range of 250-1500 nm and photoluminescence property. Dint can be tuned between 645-884 nm by controlling citric acid concentration or anodization voltage. JA is a potential technology to efficiently and controllably fabricate microstructured or hybrid micro- and nanostructured materials with novel properties.

  17. Fabrication of Self-Ordered Alumina Films with Large Interpore Distance by Janus Anodization in Citric Acid

    PubMed Central

    Ma, Yingjun; Wen, Yihao; Li, Juan; Li, Yuxin; Zhang, Zhiying; Feng, Chenchen; Sun, Runguang

    2016-01-01

    Self-organized porous anodic alumina (PAA) formed by electrochemical anodization have become a fundamental tool to develop various functional nanomaterials. However, it is still a great challenge to break the interpore distance (Dint) limit (500 nm) by using current anodization technologies of mild anodization (MA) and hard anodization (HA). Here, we reported a new anodization mode named “Janus anodization” (JA) to controllably fabricate self-ordered PAA with large Dint at high voltage of 350–400 V. JA naturally occurs as anodizing Al foils in citric acid solution, which possessing both the characteristics of MA and HA. The process can be divided into two stages: I, slow pore nucleation stage similar to MA; II, unequilibrium self-organization process similar to HA. The as-prepared films had the highest modulus (7.0 GPa) and hardness (127.2 GPa) values compared with the alumina obtained by MA and HA. The optical studies showed that the black films have low reflectance (<10 %) in the wavelength range of 250–1500 nm and photoluminescence property. Dint can be tuned between 645–884 nm by controlling citric acid concentration or anodization voltage. JA is a potential technology to efficiently and controllably fabricate microstructured or hybrid micro- and nanostructured materials with novel properties. PMID:27958365

  18. Optically transparent, mechanically durable, nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces enabled by spinodally phase-separated glass thin films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aytug, Tolga; Simpson, John T.; Lupini, Andrew R.; Trejo, Rosa M.; Jellison, Gerald E.; Ivanov, Ilia N.; Pennycook, Stephen J.; Hillesheim, Daniel A.; Winter, Kyle O.; Christen, David K.; Hunter, Scott R.; Haynes, J. Allen

    2013-08-01

    We describe the formation and properties of atomically bonded, optical quality, nanostructured thin glass film coatings on glass plates, utilizing phase separation by spinodal decomposition in a sodium borosilicate glass system. Following deposition via magnetron sputtering, thermal processing and differential etching, these coatings are structurally superhydrophilic (i.e., display anti-fogging functionality) and demonstrate robust mechanical properties and superior abrasion resistance. After appropriate chemical surface modification, the surfaces display a stable, non-wetting Cassie-Baxter state and exhibit exceptional superhydrophobic performance, with water droplet contact angles as large as 172°. As an added benefit, in both superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic states these nanostructured surfaces can block ultraviolet radiation and can be engineered to be anti-reflective with broadband and omnidirectional transparency. Thus, the present approach could be tailored toward distinct coatings for numerous markets, such as residential windows, windshields, specialty optics, goggles, electronic and photovoltaic cover glasses, and optical components used throughout the US military.

  19. Optically transparent, mechanically durable, nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces enabled by spinodally phase-separated glass thin films.

    PubMed

    Aytug, Tolga; Simpson, John T; Lupini, Andrew R; Trejo, Rosa M; Jellison, Gerald E; Ivanov, Ilia N; Pennycook, Stephen J; Hillesheim, Daniel A; Winter, Kyle O; Christen, David K; Hunter, Scott R; Haynes, J Allen

    2013-08-09

    We describe the formation and properties of atomically bonded, optical quality, nanostructured thin glass film coatings on glass plates, utilizing phase separation by spinodal decomposition in a sodium borosilicate glass system. Following deposition via magnetron sputtering, thermal processing and differential etching, these coatings are structurally superhydrophilic (i.e., display anti-fogging functionality) and demonstrate robust mechanical properties and superior abrasion resistance. After appropriate chemical surface modification, the surfaces display a stable, non-wetting Cassie-Baxter state and exhibit exceptional superhydrophobic performance, with water droplet contact angles as large as 172°. As an added benefit, in both superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic states these nanostructured surfaces can block ultraviolet radiation and can be engineered to be anti-reflective with broadband and omnidirectional transparency. Thus, the present approach could be tailored toward distinct coatings for numerous markets, such as residential windows, windshields, specialty optics, goggles, electronic and photovoltaic cover glasses, and optical components used throughout the US military.

  20. Nanostructured multielement (TiHfZrNbVTa)N coatings before and after implantation of N+ ions (1018 cm-2): Their structure and mechanical properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pogrebnjak, A. D.; Bondar, O. V.; Borba, S. O.; Abadias, G.; Konarski, P.; Plotnikov, S. V.; Beresnev, V. M.; Kassenova, L. G.; Drodziel, P.

    2016-10-01

    Multielement high entropy alloy (HEA) nitride (TiHfZrNbVTa)N coatings were deposited by vacuum arc and their structural and mechanical stability after implantation of high doses of N+ ions, 1018 cm-2, were investigated. The crystal structure and phase composition were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy, while depth-resolved nanoindentation tests were used to determine the evolution of hardness and elastic modulus along the implantation depth. XRD patterns show that coatings exhibit a main phase with fcc structure, which preferred orientation varies from (1 1 1) to (2 0 0), depending on the deposition conditions. First-principles calculations reveal that the presence of Nb atoms could favor the formation of solid solution with fcc structure in multielement HEA nitride. TEM results showed that amorphous and nanostructured phases were formed in the implanted coating sub-surface layer (∼100 nm depth). Concentration of nitrogen reached 90 at% in the near-surface layer after implantation, and decreased at higher depth. Nanohardness of the as-deposited coatings varied from 27 to 38 GPa depending on the deposition conditions. Ion implantation led to a significant decrease of the nanohardness to 12 GPa in the implanted region, while it reaches 24 GPa at larger depths. However, the H/E ratio is ⩾0.1 in the sub-surface layer due to N+ implantation, which is expected to have beneficial effect on the wear properties.

  1. X-ray standing wave analysis of nanostructures using partially coherent radiation

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

    Tiwari, M. K., E-mail: mktiwari@rrcat.gov.in; Das, Gangadhar; Bedzyk, M. J.

    2015-09-07

    The effect of longitudinal (or temporal) coherence on total reflection assisted x-ray standing wave (TR-XSW) analysis of nanoscale materials is quantitatively demonstrated by showing how the XSW fringe visibility can be strongly damped by decreasing the spectral resolution of the incident x-ray beam. The correction for nonzero wavelength dispersion (δλ ≠ 0) of the incident x-ray wave field is accounted for in the model computations of TR-XSW assisted angle dependent fluorescence yields of the nanostructure coatings on x-ray mirror surfaces. Given examples include 90 nm diameter Au nanospheres deposited on a Si(100) surface and a 3 nm thick Zn layer trapped on top amore » 100 nm Langmuir-Blodgett film coating on a Au mirror surface. Present method opens up important applications, such as enabling XSW studies of large dimensioned nanostructures using conventional laboratory based partially coherent x-ray sources.« less

  2. Nanosilica coating for bonding improvements to zirconia.

    PubMed

    Chen, Chen; Chen, Gang; Xie, Haifeng; Dai, Wenyong; Zhang, Feimin

    2013-01-01

    Resin bonding to zirconia cannot be established from standard methods that are currently utilized in conventional silica-based dental ceramics. The solution-gelatin (sol-gel) process is a well developed silica-coating technique used to modify the surface of nonsilica-based ceramics. Here, we use this technique to improve resin bonding to zirconia, which we compared to zirconia surfaces treated with alumina sandblasting and tribochemical silica coating. We used the shear bond strength test to examine the effect of the various coatings on the short-term resin bonding of zirconia. Furthermore, we employed field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize the zirconia surfaces. Water-mist spraying was used to evaluate the durability of the coatings. To evaluate the biological safety of the experimental sol-gel silica coating, we conducted an in vitro Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay (Ames mutagenicity test), cytotoxicity tests, and in vivo oral mucous membrane irritation tests. When compared to the conventional tribochemical silica coating, the experimental sol-gel silica coating provided the same shear bond strength, higher silicon contents, and better durability. Moreover, we observed no apparent mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, or irritation in this study. Therefore, the sol-gel technique represents a promising method for producing silica coatings on zirconia.

  3. Nanosilica coating for bonding improvements to zirconia

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Chen; Chen, Gang; Xie, Haifeng; Dai, Wenyong; Zhang, Feimin

    2013-01-01

    Resin bonding to zirconia cannot be established from standard methods that are currently utilized in conventional silica-based dental ceramics. The solution–gelatin (sol–gel) process is a well developed silica-coating technique used to modify the surface of nonsilica-based ceramics. Here, we use this technique to improve resin bonding to zirconia, which we compared to zirconia surfaces treated with alumina sandblasting and tribochemical silica coating. We used the shear bond strength test to examine the effect of the various coatings on the short-term resin bonding of zirconia. Furthermore, we employed field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize the zirconia surfaces. Water–mist spraying was used to evaluate the durability of the coatings. To evaluate the biological safety of the experimental sol–gel silica coating, we conducted an in vitro Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay (Ames mutagenicity test), cytotoxicity tests, and in vivo oral mucous membrane irritation tests. When compared to the conventional tribochemical silica coating, the experimental sol–gel silica coating provided the same shear bond strength, higher silicon contents, and better durability. Moreover, we observed no apparent mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, or irritation in this study. Therefore, the sol–gel technique represents a promising method for producing silica coatings on zirconia. PMID:24179333

  4. Understanding bactericidal performance on ambient light activated TiO2-InVO4 nanostructured films.

    PubMed

    He, Ziming; Xu, Qingchi; Tan, Timothy Thatt Yang

    2011-12-01

    TiO(2)-InVO(4) nanostructured films were coated onto glass substrates and systematically investigated for their bactericidal activities using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as the model bacterium under ambient light illumination. The uniform TiO(2)-InVO(4) nanostructured films were prepared using titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) as the precursor via a simple sol-gel approach. Polyethylenimine (PEI) was used as a surfactant to ensure uniform dispersion of InVO(4) and a sacrificial pore-inducing agent, generating nanostructured films. Compared to unmodified TiO(2) film, the current TiO(2)-InVO(4) films exhibited enhanced bactericidal activities under ambient light illumination. Bacterial cell "photo-fixation" was demonstrated to be crucial in enhancing the bactericidal activity. A bacterial-nanostructured surface interaction mechanism was proposed for the current ambient-light activated nanostructured film.

  5. Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} - TiO{sub 2}-A simple sol-gel strategy to the synthesis of low temperature sintered alumina-aluminium titanate composites through a core-shell approach

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

    Jayasankar, M.; Ananthakumar, S.; Mukundan, P.

    A simple sol-gel based core-shell approach for the synthesis of alumina-aluminium titanate composite is reported. Alumina is the core and titania is the shell. The coating of titania has been performed in aqueous medium on alumina particle by means of heterocoagulation of titanyl chloride. Further heat treatment results in low temperature formation of aluminium titanate as well as low temperature sintering of alumina-aluminium titanate composites. The lowering of the reaction temperature can be attributed to the maximisation of the contact surface between the reactants due to the core-shell approach involving nanoparticles. The mechanism of formation of aluminium titanate and themore » observations on densification features in the present process are compared with that of mixture of oxides under identical conditions. The sintered alumina-aluminium titanate composite has an average grain size of 2 {mu}m. - Graphical abstract: The article presents a simple sol-gel process through core-shell approach to the synthesis of low temperature sintered alumina-aluminium titanate. The lowering of the reaction temperature can be attributed to the maximisation of the contact surface between the reactant due to the core-shell approach. This material showed the better microstructure control compared to the standard solid-state mixing route.« less

  6. Hydrothermal synthesis of alpha- and beta-HgS nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Galain, Isabel; María, Pérez Barthaburu; Ivana, Aguiar; Laura, Fornaro

    2017-01-01

    We synthesized HgS nanostructures by the hydrothermal method in order to use them as electron acceptors in hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells. We employed different mercury sources (HgO and Hg(CH3COO)2) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or hexadecanethiol (HDT) as stabilizing/capping agent for controlling size, crystallinity, morphology and stability of the obtained nanostructures. We also used thiourea as sulfur source, and a temperature of 180 °C during 6 h. Synthesized nanostructures were characterized by powder X-Ray Diffraction, Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform and Transmission Electron Microscopy. When PVP acts as stabilizing agent, the mercury source has influence on the size -but not in morphology- of the beta-HgS obtained nansostructures. HDT has control over nanostructures' size and depending on the relation Hg:HDT, we obtained a mixture of alpha and beta HgS which can be advantageous in the application in solar cells, due their absorption in different spectral regions. The smallest nanostructures obtained have a mean diameter of 20 nm when using HDT as capping agent. Also, we deposited the aforementioned nanostructures onto flat glass substrates by the spin coating technique as a first approach of an active layer of a solar cell. The depositions were characterized by atomic force microscopy. We obtained smaller particle deposition and higher particle density -but a lower area coverage (5%) - in samples with HDT as capping agent. This work presents promising results on nanostructures for future application on hybrid solar cells. Further efforts will be focused on the deposition of organic-inorganic layers.

  7. Fabrication of hollow boron-doped diamond nanostructure via electrochemical corrosion of a tungsten oxide template.

    PubMed

    Lim, Young-Kyun; Lee, Eung-Seok; Lee, Choong-Hyun; Lim, Dae-Soon

    2018-08-10

    In the study, a hollow boron-doped diamond (BDD) nanostructure electrode is fabricated to increase the reactive surface area for electrochemical applications. Tungsten oxide nanorods are deposited on the silicon substrate as a template by the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method. The template is coated with a 100 nm BDD layer deposited by HFCVD to form a core-shell nanostructure. The WO x core is finally electrochemically dissolved to form hollow BDD nanostructure. The fabricated hollow BDD nanostructure electrode is investigated via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The specific surface areas of the electrodes were analyzed and compared by using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry are used to investigate the electrochemical characteristics and the reactive surface area of the as-prepared hollow BDD nanostructure electrode. A hollow BDD nanostructure electrode exhibits a reactive area that is 15 times that of a planar BDD thin electrode.

  8. Oil-Impregnated Oxide Nanostructures for Aluminum Corrosion Prevention

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-12-18

    and self- healing capability. Figure 1 illustrates the key idea proposed in this research , i.e., employing oil instead of air for the interfacial...the preparation of polyaniline nanostructures and their applications in anticorrosive coatings. RSC Advances 2014, 4 (54), 28195-28208. 23. Solomon ...2), 263-269. 38. Maroo, S. C.; Chung, J., Negative pressure characteristics of an evaporating meniscus at nanoscale. Nanoscale Research Letters

  9. Nanostructure-enhanced surface plasmon resonance imaging (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Špašková, Barbora; Lynn, Nicholas S.; Slabý, Jiří Bocková, Markéta; Homola, Jiří

    2017-06-01

    There remains a need for the multiplexed detection of biomolecules at extremely low concentrations in fields of medical diagnostics, food safety, and security. Surface plasmon resonance imaging is an established biosensing approach in which the measurement of the intensity of light across a sensor chip is correlated with the amount of target biomolecules captured by the respective areas on the chip. In this work, we present a new approach for this method allowing for enhanced bioanalytical performance via the introduction of nanostructured sensing chip and polarization contrast measurement, which enable the exploitation of both amplitude and phase properties of plasmonic resonances on the nanostructures. Here we will discuss a complex theoretical analysis of the sensor performance, whereby we investigate aspects related to both the optical performance as well as the transport of the analyte molecules to the functionalized surfaces. This analysis accounts for the geometrical parameters of the nanostructured sensing surface, the properties of functional coatings, and parameters related to the detection assay. Based on the results of the theoretical analysis, we fabricated sensing chips comprised of arrays of gold nanoparticles (by electron-beam lithography), which were modified by a biofunctional coating to allow for the selective capturing of the target biomolecules in the regions with high sensitivity. In addition, we developed a compact optical reader with an integrated microfluidic cell, allowing for the measurement from 50 independent sensing channels. The performance of this biosensor is demonstrated through the sensitive detection of short oligonucleotides down to the low picomolar level.

  10. Surface coating of ceria nanostructures for high-temperature oxidation protection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aadhavan, R.; Bhanuchandar, S.; Babu, K. Suresh

    2018-04-01

    Stainless steels are used in high-temperature structural applications but suffer from degradation at an elevated temperature of operation due to thermal stress which leads to spallation. Ceria coating over chromium containing alloys induces protective chromia layer formation at alloy/ceria interface thereby preventing oxidative degradation. In the present work, three metals of differing elemental composition, namely, AISI 304, AISI 410, and Inconel 600 were tested for high-temperature stability in the presence and absence of ceria coating. Nanoceria was used as the target to deposit the coating through electron beam physical vapor deposition method. After isothermal oxidation at 1243 K for 24 h, Ceria coated AISI 304 and Inconel 600 exhibited a reduced rate of oxidation by 4 and 1 orders, respectively, in comparison with the base alloy. The formation of spinel structure was found to be lowered in the presence of ceria due to the reduced migration of cations from the alloy.

  11. Selective hierarchical patterning of silicon nanostructures via soft nanostencil lithography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Du, Ke; Ding, Junjun; Wathuthanthri, Ishan; Choi, Chang-Hwan

    2017-11-01

    It is challenging to hierarchically pattern high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on microstructures using conventional lithographic techniques, where photoresist (PR) film is not able to uniformly cover on the microstructures as the aspect ratio increases. Such non-uniformity causes poor definition of nanopatterns over the microstructures. Nanostencil lithography can provide an alternative means to hierarchically construct nanostructures on microstructures via direct deposition or plasma etching through a free-standing nanoporous membrane. In this work, we demonstrate the multiscale hierarchical fabrication of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on microstructures of silicon using a free-standing nanostencil, which is a nanoporous membrane consisting of metal (Cr), PR, and anti-reflective coating. The nanostencil membrane is used as a deposition mask to define Cr nanodot patterns on the predefined silicon microstructures. Then, deep reactive ion etching is used to hierarchically create nanostructures on the microstructures using the Cr nanodots as an etch mask. With simple modification of the main fabrication processes, high-aspect-ratio nanopillars are selectively defined only on top of the microstructures, on bottom, or on both top and bottom.

  12. Selective hierarchical patterning of silicon nanostructures via soft nanostencil lithography.

    PubMed

    Du, Ke; Ding, Junjun; Wathuthanthri, Ishan; Choi, Chang-Hwan

    2017-11-17

    It is challenging to hierarchically pattern high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on microstructures using conventional lithographic techniques, where photoresist (PR) film is not able to uniformly cover on the microstructures as the aspect ratio increases. Such non-uniformity causes poor definition of nanopatterns over the microstructures. Nanostencil lithography can provide an alternative means to hierarchically construct nanostructures on microstructures via direct deposition or plasma etching through a free-standing nanoporous membrane. In this work, we demonstrate the multiscale hierarchical fabrication of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on microstructures of silicon using a free-standing nanostencil, which is a nanoporous membrane consisting of metal (Cr), PR, and anti-reflective coating. The nanostencil membrane is used as a deposition mask to define Cr nanodot patterns on the predefined silicon microstructures. Then, deep reactive ion etching is used to hierarchically create nanostructures on the microstructures using the Cr nanodots as an etch mask. With simple modification of the main fabrication processes, high-aspect-ratio nanopillars are selectively defined only on top of the microstructures, on bottom, or on both top and bottom.

  13. Construction and DNA condensation of cyclodextrin-coated gold nanoparticles with anthryl grafts.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Di; Chen, Yong; Liu, Yu

    2014-07-01

    The condensation of DNA in a controlled manner is one of the key steps in gene delivery and gene therapy. For this purpose, a water-soluble supramolecular nanostructure is constructed by coating 14 β-cyclodextrins onto the surface of a gold nanoparticle, followed by the noncovalent association of different amounts of anthryl-modified adamantanes with coated β-cyclodextrins. The strong binding of β-cyclodextrins with anthryl adamantanes (K(S) =8.61×10(4)  M(-1)) efficiently stabilizes the supramolecular nanostructure. Spectrophotometric fluorescence spectra and microscopic studies demonstrated that, with many anthryl grafts that can intercalate in the outer space of the DNA double helix, this supramolecular nanostructure showed good condensation abilities to calf thymus DNA. Significantly, the condensation efficiency of supramolecular nanostructure towards DNA could be conveniently controlled by adjusting the ratio between gold nanoparticles and anthryl adamantane grafts, leading to the formation of DNA condensates of a size that are suitable for the endocytosis of hepatoma cells, which will make it potentially applicable in many fields of medicinal science and biotechnology. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  14. Barrier Coatings for Refractory Metals and Superalloys

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

    SM Sabol; BT Randall; JD Edington

    2006-02-23

    In the closed working fluid loop of the proposed Prometheus space nuclear power plant (SNPP), there is the potential for reaction of core and plant structural materials with gas phase impurities and gas phase transport of interstitial elements between superalloy and refractory metal alloy components during service. Primary concerns are surface oxidation, interstitial embrittlement of refractory metals and decarburization of superalloys. In parallel with kinetic investigations, this letter evaluates the ability of potential coatings to prevent or impede communication between reactor and plant components. Key coating requirements are identified and current technology coating materials are reviewed relative to these requirements.more » Candidate coatings are identified for future evaluation based on current knowledge of design parameters and anticipated environment. Coatings were identified for superalloys and refractory metals to provide diffusion barriers to interstitial transport and act as reactive barriers to potential oxidation. Due to their high stability at low oxygen potential, alumina formers are most promising for oxidation protection given the anticipated coolant gas chemistry. A sublayer of iridium is recommended to provide inherent diffusion resistance to interstitials. Based on specific base metal selection, a thin film substrate--coating interdiffusion barrier layer may be necessary to meet mission life.« less

  15. Effect of Inhibitor Agents Addition on Corrosion Resistance Performance of Titania Sol-Gel Coatings Applied on 304 Stainless Steel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shanaghi, Ali; Chu, Paul K.; Moradi, Hadi

    Hybrid organic-inorganic coatings are deposited on 304 stainless steel substrates by the sol-gel technique to improve the corrosion resistance. A titania-based nanostructured hybrid sol-gel coating is impregnated with three different microencapsulated healing agents (inhibitors) including cerium, Benzotriazole (BTA), and 8-Hydroxyquinoline (8H). Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are performed to investigate the barrier performance properties. The optimum conditions to achieve corrosion protective coatings for 304 stainless steel were determined. The Nyquist plots demonstrate that the activation time of the coating containing 8H as an organic healing agent shows improved behavior when compared to other coatings including cerium and BTA. Cerium as an inorganic healing agent is second and BTA is third and minimum. An increase in the impedance parameters such as resistance and capacitance as a function of immersion time is achieved in a 3.5wt.% NaCl solution by using healing agents such as BTA. Actually, over the course of immersion, the barrier performance behavior of the coatings changes and reduction of the impedance observed from the coatings containing Ce and 8H discloses deterioration of the protection system after immersion for 96h of immersion in the 3.5% NaCl solution. However, after 96h of immersion time, the concentration of chloride ions is high and causes increase in defects, micro cracks, hole on the surface of hybrid titania nanostructured coating containing Ce and 8H by destruction of coating, and also hybrid titania nanostructured coating containing BTA; BTA is released from coating to improve the resistance of passive film, which is created on the surface.

  16. Everlasting Dark Printing on Alumina by Laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Penide, J.; Quintero, F.; Arias-González, F.; Fernández, A.; del Val, J.; Comesaña, R.; Riveiro, A.; Lusquiños, F.; Pou, J.

    Marks or prints are needed in almost every material, mainly for decorative or identification purposes. Despite alumina is widely employed in many different industries, the need of printing directly on its surface is still a complex problem. In this sense, lasers have largely demonstrated their high capacities to mark almost every material including ceramics, but performing dark permanent marks on alumina is still an open challenge. In this work we present the results of a comprehensive experimental analysis on the process of marking alumina by laser. Four different laser sources were used in this study: a fiber laser (1075 nm) and three diode pumped Nd:YVO4 lasers emitting at near-infrared (1064 nm), visible (532 nm) and ultraviolet (355 nm) wavelengths, respectively. The results obtained with the four lasers were compared and physical processes involved were explained in detail. Colorimetric analyses allowed to identify the optimal parameters and conditions to produce everlasting and high contrast marks on alumina.

  17. The mineralogy of bauxite for producing smelter-grade alumina

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Authier-Martin, M.; Forte, G.; Ostap, S.; See, J.

    2001-12-01

    Aluminum-producing companies rely on low-cost, high-purity, smelter-grade alumina (aluminum oxide), and alumina production utilizes the bulk of bauxites mined world-wide. The mineralogy of the bauxites has a significant impact on the operation of the Bayer process for alumina production. Typically, the Bayer process produces smelter-grade alumina of 99.5% Al2O3, starting from bauxite containing 30% to 60% Al2O3. The main objective of the Bayer process is to extract the maximum amount of aluminum from the bauxite at as high an aluminate concentration in solution as possible, while limiting any troublesome side reactions. Only with a better understanding of the chemistry of the mineral species and a strict control of the operating/processing conditions can the Bayer process produce efficiently, a low cost, high-quality alumina with minimum detrimental environmental impact.

  18. Micromorphological characterization of zinc/silver particle composite coatings

    PubMed Central

    Méndez, Alia; Reyes, Yolanda; Trejo, Gabriel; StĘpień, Krzysztof

    2015-01-01

    ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the three‐dimensional (3D) surface micromorphology of zinc/silver particles (Zn/AgPs) composite coatings with antibacterial activity prepared using an electrodeposition technique. These 3D nanostructures were investigated over square areas of 5 μm × 5 μm by atomic force microscopy (AFM), fractal, and wavelet analysis. The fractal analysis of 3D surface roughness revealed that (Zn/AgPs) composite coatings have fractal geometry. Triangulation method, based on the linear interpolation type, applied for AFM data was employed in order to characterise the surfaces topographically (in amplitude, spatial distribution and pattern of surface characteristics). The surface fractal dimension D f, as well as height values distribution have been determined for the 3D nanostructure surfaces. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1082–1089, 2015. © 2015 The Authors published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. PMID:26500164

  19. Cadmium removal from simulated groundwater using alumina nanoparticles: behaviors and mechanisms.

    PubMed

    Koju, Neel Kamal; Song, Xin; Wang, Qing; Hu, Zhihao; Colombo, Claudio

    2018-05-07

    Cadmium (Cd), one of the most toxic contaminants in groundwater, can cause a severe threat to human health and ecological systems. In this study, alumina nanoparticles were synthesized and tested for high-efficiency Cd removal from simulated groundwater. Furthermore, the synthesized alumina nanoparticles were successfully modified using negatively charged glycerol, to alleviate the challenge of its low mobility in groundwater for the Cd removal. The maximum removal efficiency of both synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles were more than 99%. The sorption isotherm and kinetic data of both synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles were best fitted to the Freundlich model and the pseudo-second-order model, respectively, indicating that the sorption of Cd ions occurs on heterogeneous surfaces of both alumina nanoparticles via the chemisorption mechanism. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed the presence of Cd peak in both sorbents after contact with Cd. In addition, the FTIR analyses demonstrated that hydroxyl group participated in the sorption of Cd on both synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles, while other glycerol associated groups contributed to the removal of Cd ions by the glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles. It was concluded that Cd removal by synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles were mainly due to ion exchange and electrostatic attraction, respectively. Desorption experiment suggested that both alumina nanoparticles are effective and practically significant sorbents to remediate Cd from contaminated groundwater. However, the stronger bond between Cd and glycerol-modified alumina, plus its potential of higher mobility due to the negative charge on the surface, warrant glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles a better performance in remediating Cd contaminated groundwater than that of the synthesized alumina nanoparticles. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier

  20. Analysis of Plasma-Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings With Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Bond Coats Under Spatially Uniform Cyclic Thermal Loading

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Arnold, Steven M.; Pindera, Marek-Jerzy; Aboudi, Jacob

    2003-01-01

    This report summarizes the results of a numerical investigation into the spallation mechanism in plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings observed under spatially-uniform cyclic thermal loading. The analysis focuses on the evolution of local stress and inelastic strain fields in the vicinity of the rough top/bond coat interface during thermal cycling, and how these fields are influenced by the presence of an oxide film and spatially uniform and graded distributions of alumina particles in the metallic bond coat aimed at reducing the top/bond coat thermal expansion mismatch. The impact of these factors on the potential growth of a local horizontal delamination at the rough interface's crest is included. The analysis is conducted using the Higher-Order Theory for Functionally Graded Materials with creep/relaxation constituent modeling capabilities. For two-phase bond coat microstructures, both the actual and homogenized properties are employed in the analysis. The results reveal the important contributions of both the normal and shear stress components to the delamination growth potential in the presence of an oxide film, and suggest mixed-mode crack propagation. The use of bond coats with uniform or graded microstructures is shown to increase the potential for delamination growth by increasing the magnitude of the crack-tip shear stress component.

  1. Neutron irradiation and high temperature effects on amorphous Fe-based nano-coatings on steel – A macroscopic assessment

    DOE PAGES

    Simos, N.; Zhong, Z.; Dooryhee, E.; ...

    2017-03-23

    Here, this study revealed that loss of ductility in an amorphous Fe-alloy coating on a steel substrate composite structure was essentially prevented from occurring, following radiation with modest neutron doses of ~2 x 10 18 n/cm 2. At the higher neutron dose of ~2 x 10 19, macroscopic stress-strain analysis showed that the amorphous Fe-alloy nanostructured coating, while still amorphous, experienced radiation-induced embrittlement, no longer offering protection against ductility loss in the coating-substrate composite structure. Neutron irradiation in a corrosive environment revealed exemplary oxidation/corrosion resistance of the amorphous Fe-alloy coating, which is attributed to the formation of the Fe 2Bmore » phase in the coating. To establish the impact of elevated temperatures on the amorphous-to-crystalline transition in the amorphous Fe-alloy, electron microscopy was carried out which confirmed the radiation-induced suppression of crystallization in the amorphous Fe-alloy nanostructured coating.« less

  2. REMOVING RADIUM FROM WATER BY PLAIN AND TREATED ACTIVATED ALUMINA

    EPA Science Inventory

    The research determined the feasibility of using BaSO4-impregnated activated alumina and plain activated alumina for radium removal from groundwater by fixed-bed adsorption. The major factors influencing radium adsorption onto the two types of alumina were identified. The radium ...

  3. Response of Cr and Cr-Al coatings on Zircaloy-2 to high temperature steam

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, Weicheng; Mouche, Peter A.; Heuser, Brent J.

    2018-01-01

    The oxidation behavior of chromium (Cr) and chromium-aluminum (CrAl) coatings with various compositions deposited on Zircaloy-2 to 700 °C high-temperature steam (HTS) exposure has been investigated. CrAl coatings with higher Al compositions demonstrate lower oxidation weight gain. A layer of γ-alumina developed on the CrAl coatings with Al composition over 43 at%, while Al2O3 and Cr2O3 developed on CrAl coatings with Al composition below 33 at%. Oxidation of Zircaloy-2 substrate was inhibited by the 1um coatings to 20 h HTS exposure. Coating constituent elements diffused into the substrate and formed intermetallic phases with the Zircaloy substrate. Thicker layers of intermetallic phases developed on the coatings with higher Al composition. The intermetallic phases included Fe and Ni, indicating the dissolution of second phase particles (SPPs) during HTS exposure.

  4. Glass-(nAg, nCu) biocide coatings on ceramic oxide substrates.

    PubMed

    Esteban-Tejeda, Leticia; Malpartida, Francisco; Díaz, Luis Antonio; Torrecillas, Ramón; Rojo, Fernando; Moya, José Serafín

    2012-01-01

    The present work was focused on obtaining biocide coatings constituted by a glassy soda-lime matrix containing silver or copper nanoparticles on ceramic (alumina and zirconia based) substrates. Both glassy coatings showed a high biocide activity against Gram-, Gram+ bacteria and yeast, reducing cell numbers more than three logarithms. Silver nanoparticles had a significantly higher biocide activity than copper nanoparticles, since the lixiviation levels required to reduce cell numbers more than 3 logarithms was of almost 1-2 µg/cm(2) in the case of silver nanoparticles, and 10-15 µg/cm(2) for the copper nanoparticles.

  5. Electrodeposited Nanostructured Films and Coatings: Synthesis, Structure, Properties and Applications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-01-01

    function of the Electrodeposited Layer Thickness", B.Sc Thesis , Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada 34) Merchant, H. K., (1995) in "Defect...The following component part numbers comprise the compilation report: ADPO11800 thru ADP011832 UNCLASSIFIED ELECTRODEPOSITED NANOSTRUCTURED FILMS AND...thermomechanical processing, ball milling, rapid solidification, electrodeposition ), unique material performance characteristics in bulk materials as well as

  6. Plasmonic nanostructures for bioanalytical applications of SERS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kahraman, Mehmet; Wachsmann-Hogiu, Sebastian

    2016-03-01

    Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a potential analytical technique for the detection and identification of chemicals and biological molecules and structures in the close vicinity of metallic nanostructures. We present a novel method to fabricate tunable plasmonic nanostructures and perform a comprehensive structural and optical characterization of the structures. Spherical latex particles are uniformly deposited on glass slides and used as templates to obtain nanovoid structures on polydimethylsiloxane surfaces. The diameter and depth of the nanovoids are controlled by the size of the latex particles. The nanovoids are coated with a thin Ag layer for fabrication of uniform plasmonic nanostructures. Structural characterization of the surfaces is performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Optical properties of these plasmonic nanostructures are evaluated via UV/Vis spectroscopy, and SERS. The sample preparation step is the key point to obtain strong and reproducible SERS spectra from the biological structures. When the colloidal suspension is used as a SERS substrate for the protein detection, the electrostatic interaction of the proteins with the nanoparticles is described by the nature of their charge status, which influences the aggregation properties such as the size and shape of the aggregates, which is critical for the SERS experiment. However, when the solid SERS substrates are fabricated, SERS signal of the proteins that are background free and independent of the protein charge. Pros and cons of using plasmonic nano colloids and nanostructures as SERS substrate will be discussed for label-free detection of proteins using SERS.

  7. FT-IR characterization of the acidic and basic sites on a nanostructured aluminum nitride surface

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

    Baraton, M.I.; Chen, X.; Gonsalves, K.E.

    1997-12-31

    A nanostructured aluminum nitride powder prepared by sol-gel type chemical synthesis is analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The surface acidic and basic sites are probed out by adsorption of several organic molecules. Resulting from the unavoidable presence of oxygen, the aluminum nitride surface is an oxinitride layer in fact, and its surface chemistry should present some analogies with alumina. Therefore, a thorough comparison between the acido-basicity of aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide is discussed. The remaining nitrogen atoms in the first atomic layer modify the acidity-basicity relative balance and reveals the specificity of the aluminum nitride surface.

  8. Conversion of Conventional Rotary Kiln Into Effective Sandy Alumina Calciner

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishihara, M.; Hirano, T.; Yajima, H.

    Using conventional rotary kiln for calcining sandy alumina in potlines, remakable heat-saving and capacity-improving can be achieved. 83 liters of oil per tonne of alumina (3200MJ/tonne) were required for calcining 800 m.t.p.d. of sandy alumina in the rotary kiln at Shimizu Works. The kiln is installed with two stages of flash dryers and planetary coolers, and was originally designed for calcining floury alumina at 550 m.t.p.d. This improvement in capacity and unit oil consumption was achieved mainly through shortening the flame by using a special burner and effective heat recovery. The quality of sandy alumina calcined by the kiln is good enough for potlines.

  9. Co-blasting of titanium surfaces with an abrasive and hydroxyapatite to produce bioactive coatings: substrate and coating characterisation.

    PubMed

    Dunne, Conor F; Twomey, Barry; O'Neill, Liam; Stanton, Kenneth T

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this work is to assess the influence of two blast media on the deposition of hydroxyapatite onto a titanium substrate using a novel ambient temperature coating technique named CoBlast. CoBlast was developed to address the problems with high temperature coating techniques. The blasting media used in this study were Al2O3 and a sintered apatite powder. The prepared and coated surfaces were compared to plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite on the same substrates using the same hydroxyapatite feedstock powder. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the coating crystallinity was the same as the original hydroxyapatite feedstock powder for the CoBlast samples while evidence of amorphous hydroxyapatite phases and β-TCP was observed in the plasma sprayed samples. The blast media type significantly influences the adhesive strength of the coating, surface roughness of both the substrate and coating and the microstructure of the substrate. The coating adhesion increased for the CoBlasted samples from 50 MPa to 60 MPa for sintered apatite powder and alumina, respectively, while plasma spray samples were significantly lower (5 MPa) when tested using a modified pull-test. In conclusion, the choice of blast medium is shown to be a key parameter in the CoBlast process. This study indicates that sintered apatite powder is the most suitable candidate for use as a blast medium in the coating of medical devices.

  10. Absolute Thickness Measurements on Coatings Without Prior Knowledge of Material Properties Using Terahertz Energy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roth, Don J.; Cosgriff, Laura M.; Harder, Bryan; Zhu, Dongming; Martin, Richard E.

    2013-01-01

    This study investigates the applicability of a novel noncontact single-sided terahertz electromagnetic measurement method for measuring thickness in dielectric coating systems having either dielectric or conductive substrate materials. The method does not require knowledge of the velocity of terahertz waves in the coating material. The dielectric coatings ranged from approximately 300 to 1400 m in thickness. First, the terahertz method was validated on a bulk dielectric sample to determine its ability to precisely measure thickness and density variation. Then, the method was studied on simulated coating systems. One simulated coating consisted of layered thin paper samples of varying thicknesses on a ceramic substrate. Another simulated coating system consisted of adhesive-backed Teflon adhered to conducting and dielectric substrates. Alumina samples that were coated with a ceramic adhesive layer were also investigated. Finally, the method was studied for thickness measurement of actual thermal barrier coatings (TBC) on ceramic substrates. The unique aspects and limitations of this method for thickness measurements are discussed.

  11. Ceramic composite coating

    DOEpatents

    Wicks, George G.

    1997-01-01

    A thin, room-temperature-curing, ceramic composite for coating and patching etal substrates comprises a sol gel silica glass matrix filled with finely ground particles or fibers, preferably alumina. The sol gel glass is made by adding ethanol to water to form a first mixture, then separately adding ethanol to tetraethyl orthosilicate to form a second mixture, then slowly adding the first to the second mixture to make a third mixture, and making a slurry by adding the finely ground particles or fibers to the third mixture. The composite can be applied by spraying, brushing or trowelling. If applied to patch fine cracks, densification of the ceramic composite may be obtained to enhance sealing by applying heat during curing.

  12. Ceramic composite coating

    DOEpatents

    Wicks, G.G.

    1997-01-21

    A thin, room-temperature-curing, ceramic composite for coating and patching metal substrates comprises a sol gel silica glass matrix filled with finely ground particles or fibers, preferably alumina. The sol gel glass is made by adding ethanol to water to form a first mixture, then separately adding ethanol to tetraethyl orthosilicate to form a second mixture, then slowly adding the first to the second mixture to make a third mixture, and making a slurry by adding the finely ground particles or fibers to the third mixture. The composite can be applied by spraying, brushing or trowelling. If applied to patch fine cracks, densification of the ceramic composite may be obtained to enhance sealing by applying heat during curing.

  13. The local strength of individual alumina particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pejchal, Václav; Fornabaio, Marta; Žagar, Goran; Mortensen, Andreas

    2017-12-01

    We implement the C-shaped sample test method and micro-cantilever beam testing to measure the local strength of microscopic, low-aspect-ratio ceramic particles, namely high-purity vapor grown α-alumina Sumicorundum® particles 15-30 μm in diameter, known to be attractive reinforcing particles for aluminum. Individual particles are shaped by focused ion beam micromachining so as to probe in tension a portion of the particle surface that is left unaffected by ion-milling. Mechanical testing of C-shaped specimens is done ex-situ using a nanoindentation apparatus, and in the SEM using an in-situ nanomechanical testing system for micro-cantilever beams. The strength is evaluated for each individual specimen using bespoke finite element simulation. Results show that, provided the particle surface is free of readily observable defects such as pores, twins or grain boundaries and their associated grooves, the particles can achieve local strength values that approach those of high-perfection single-crystal alumina whiskers, on the order of 10 GPa, outperforming high-strength nanocrystalline alumina fibers and nano-thick alumina platelets used in bio-inspired composites. It is also shown that by far the most harmful defects are grain boundaries, leading to the general conclusion that alumina particles must be single-crystalline or alternatively nanocrystalline to fully develop their potential as a strong reinforcing phase in composite materials.

  14. Carbon dioxide pressure swing adsorption process using modified alumina adsorbents

    DOEpatents

    Gaffney, Thomas Richard; Golden, Timothy Christopher; Mayorga, Steven Gerard; Brzozowski, Jeffrey Richard; Taylor, Fred William

    1999-01-01

    A pressure swing adsorption process for absorbing CO.sub.2 from a gaseous mixture containing CO.sub.2 comprising introducing the gaseous mixture at a first pressure into a reactor containing a modified alumina adsorbent maintained at a temperature ranging from 100.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. to adsorb CO.sub.2 to provide a CO.sub.2 laden alumina adsorbent and a CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous mixture and contacting the CO.sub.2 laden adsorbent with a weakly adsorbing purge fluid at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure to desorb CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 laden alumina adsorbent. The modified alumina adsorbent which is formed by depositing a solution having a pH of 3.0 or more onto alumina and heating the alumina to a temperature ranging from 100.degree. C. and 600.degree. C., is not degraded by high concentrations of water under process operating conditions.

  15. Carbon dioxide pressure swing adsorption process using modified alumina adsorbents

    DOEpatents

    Gaffney, T.R.; Golden, T.C.; Mayorga, S.G.; Brzozowski, J.R.; Taylor, F.W.

    1999-06-29

    A pressure swing adsorption process for absorbing CO[sub 2] from a gaseous mixture containing CO[sub 2] comprises introducing the gaseous mixture at a first pressure into a reactor containing a modified alumina adsorbent maintained at a temperature ranging from 100 C and 500 C to adsorb CO[sub 2] to provide a CO[sub 2] laden alumina adsorbent and a CO[sub 2] depleted gaseous mixture and contacting the CO[sub 2] laden adsorbent with a weakly adsorbing purge fluid at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure to desorb CO[sub 2] from the CO[sub 2] laden alumina adsorbent. The modified alumina adsorbent which is formed by depositing a solution having a pH of 3.0 or more onto alumina and heating the alumina to a temperature ranging from 100 C and 600 C, is not degraded by high concentrations of water under process operating conditions. 1 fig.

  16. "Brick-and-Mortar" Nanostructured Interphase for Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites.

    PubMed

    De Luca, Francois; Sernicola, Giorgio; Shaffer, Milo S P; Bismarck, Alexander

    2018-02-28

    The fiber-matrix interface plays a critical role in determining composite mechanical properties. While a strong interface tends to provide high strength, a weak interface enables extensive debonding, leading to a high degree of energy absorption. Balancing these conflicting requirements by engineering composite interfaces to improve strength and toughness simultaneously still remains a great challenge. Here, a nanostructured fiber coating was realized to manifest the critical characteristics of natural nacre, at a reduced length scale, consistent with the surface curvature of fibers. The new interphase contains a high proportion (∼90 wt %) of well-aligned inorganic platelets embedded in a polymer; the window of suitable platelet dimensions is very narrow, with an optimized platelet width and thickness of about 130 and 13 nm, respectively. An anisotropic, nanostructured coating was uniformly and conformally deposited onto a large number of 9 μm diameter glass fibers, simultaneously, using self-limiting layer-by-layer assembly (LbL); this parallel approach demonstrates a promising strategy to exploit LbL methods at scale. The resulting nanocomposite interphase, primarily loaded in shear, provides new mechanisms for stress dissipation and plastic deformation. The energy released by fiber breakage in tension appear to spread and dissipate within the nanostructured interphase, accompanied by stable fiber slippage, while the interfacial strength was improved up to 30%.

  17. Development of nanostructured PVD coatings for total knee replacement joints using HIPIMS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sugumaran, Arunprabhu A.

    The aim of this study was to develop thin film coatings for total knee replacement joints using high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS). An industrial size four cathode magnetron sputtering system equipped with direct current (DC) and HIPIMS power supplies was used for this purpose. Initially, Plasma diagnostics were carried out using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) while sputtering Ti target in Ar + N2 atmosphere by utilizing various HIP IMS/conventional DCMS (henceforth UBM) source combinations by varying the process parameters such as coil current and N2 flow. Then, single layer titanium nitride (TiN) coating was deposited by varying the degree of HIPIMS utilisation and the process parameters such as bias voltage and coil current to thoroughly understand the effect of degree of HIPIMS utilisation on the microstructure, residual stress, texture, mechanical, tribological and corrosion properties of such coatings. The degree of HIPIMS utilisation was altered by increasing the number of HIPIMS targets used for the deposition. Four different source combinations were used for this purpose, as follows: 4 cathodes in conventional DCMS mode to deposit pure UBM coating, 1 HIPIMS + 3UBM and 2HIPIMS + 2UBM cathodes to deposit combined HIPIMS/UBM coatings and 2HIPIMS cathodes to deposit pure HIPIMS coatings. TiN/NbN, TiCN/NbCN and CrN/NbN multilayer coatings were deposited on CoCr alloy test buttons along with other (HSS, SS and Si) substrates since our intended application is on total knee replacement joints made of CoCr alloy. The knowledge gained by investigating the TiN (Ar + N[2]) plasma and the properties of TiN was used to determine the process parameters for depositing the multilayer coatings. X- ray diffraction (XRD) technique was used for calculating the texture, residual stress and bilayer thickness of the coatings. Nanoindentation method was used to determine the nano hardness of the coatings. The adhesion strength of the coatings was estimated by

  18. Self-catalytic crystal growth, formation mechanism, and optical properties of indium tin oxide nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Yuan-Chang; Zhong, Hua

    2013-08-01

    In-Sn-O nanostructures with rectangular cross-sectional rod-like, sword-like, and bowling pin-like morphologies were successfully synthesized through self-catalytic growth. Mixed metallic In and Sn powders were used as source materials, and no catalyst layer was pre-coated on the substrates. The distance between the substrate and the source materials affected the size of the Sn-rich alloy particles during crystal growth in a quartz tube. This caused In-Sn-O nanostructures with various morphologies to form. An X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and a transmittance electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer were used to investigate the elemental binding states and compositions of the as-synthesized nanostructures. The Sn doping and oxygen vacancies in the In2O3 crystals corresponded to the blue-green and yellow-orange emission bands of the nanostructures, respectively.

  19. Cyclic oxidation of cobalt-chromium-aluminum-yttrium and aluminide coatings on IN-100 and VIA alloys in high velocity gases

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Deadmore, D. L.

    1972-01-01

    Embedded-alumina-particle aluminide (EAPA) coated and CoCrAlY coated IN-100 and NASA-TRW-VIA specimens were cyclically oxidation tested in a high velocity (approximately Mach 1) gas flame at 1093 C (2000 F). The EAPA coatings on both alloys performed very similarly to commercial pack aluminide coatings with respect to weight change and thermal fatigue cracking. The CoCrAlY coating on IN-100 had weight changes similar to commercial pack aluminide coatings but no thermal fatigue cracks appeared at 300 hours. The CoCrAlY coating on VIA performed significantly better than the commercial aluminide coatings, providing oxidation protection (based on weight change) to 450 hours and thermal fatigue crack prevention to at least 600 hours.

  20. MAO-derived hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanostructured multi-layer coatings on titanium substrate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abbasi, S.; Golestani-Fard, F.; Rezaie, H. R.; Mirhosseini, S. M. M.

    2012-11-01

    In this study, titanium substrates which previously oxidized through Micro arc oxidation method, was coated by Hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating once more by means of the same method. Morphology, topography and chemical properties as well as phase composition and thickness of layers were studied to reveal the effect of the electrolyte concentration on coating features. According to results, the obtained coatings are consisted of HAp and titania as the major phases along with minor amounts of calcium titanate and α-tri calcium phosphate. Ca and P are present on surface of obtained layers as well as predictable Ti and O based on the XPS results. Thickness profile of coatings figured out that by increasing the electrolyte concentration, especially by addition of more Calcium Acetate (CA) to electrolyte, the thickness of HAp layer would rise, consequently. However, the influence of coating time on thickness of obtained coatings would be more considerable than electrolyte concentration. High specific area coatings with nest morphology were obtained in Electrolyte containing 5 g/L β-Glycero Phosphate (β-GP) and 5 g/L CA. Increasing coating duration time in this kind of coatings would cause deduction of the nesting in their structure.