Papers by Author: Jiu Peng Zhao

Abstract: Silica aerogel/epoxy composite, a kind of efficient thermal insulation material, was prepared by doping silica aerogel of different sizes into epoxy resin through thermocuring process. The results of thermal experiments showed that silica aerogel/epoxy composite had a lower thermal conductivity (0.105W/(m·k) at 60 wt% silica aerogel) and higher serviceability temperature (Martens heat distortion temperature: 160°C at 20 wt% silica aerogel). In addition, the composite doping larger size (0.2-2mm) of silica aerogel particle had lower thermal conductivity and higher Martens heat distortion temperature. Based on the results of SEM and FT-IR, the thermal transfer model was established. Thermal transfer mechanism and the reasons of higher Martens heat distortion temperature have been discussed respectively.

Abstract: Low density SiO2-xZrO2 aerogels with x=35wt%, 65wt%, 75wt%, 90wt%, 95wt% were prepared by CO2 supercritical drying technique with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and zirconyl nitrate dihydrate (ZrO(NO3)2 .2H2O) by hydrolytic polycondensation under different chemical conditions. The prepared aerogels are performed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and BET surface areas to characterize and analyze the morphology and pore structure of SiO2-ZrO2 aerogels. The results showed that the SiO2-ZrO2 areogels are the typical of nano mesopores and the average pore size is about 50 nm. The specific surface areas varied from 345.5 to 615.5 m2/g with (SBET)MAX = 615.5 m2/g with 20wt% Zirconia; Moreover a mass of Si-O-Zr bands formed in the aerogels and the formation mechanism of Si-O-Zr bands are also discussed.

Abstract: Silica xerogels were prepared by sol-gel process and non-supercritical drying. Two kinds of reinforcements, SiC whisker and short carbon fiber (CF), were chosen to control the shrinkage during drying process and improve the mechanical properties of xerogels. Microstructure and mechanical properties of samples were examined. It was found that the addition of SiC whisker could greatly improve the elastic modulus of silica xerogels, while short CF could prominently decrease the volume shrinkage ratio but could not improve the elastic modulus. Analysis showed that the difference between the two reinforcement mechanisms was caused by the interface and the size of the doped fiber and whisker.

Abstract: Lithium niobate thin films have been deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by the Pechini method from metal carboxylate gels and heat-treated at temperatures ranging from 400 to 600°C. The thermal decomposition of the metal carboxylate precursor gels has been studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry. The products derived from calcination of the gels at different temperatures have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared, Roman spectrum and X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows the surface of the films to be smooth, dense and crack-free. Electric properties measurement indicates that the LiNbO3 films demonstrate a ferroelectric hysteresis loop. The remanent polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec) are 17.89 μC/cm2 and 35.23 kV/cm, respectively.

Abstract: In this work, PZT (Zr/Ti=52/48) thin films have been prepared using aqueous organic gel method. The desired metal cations are chelated in a solution using citric acid and ethylenediaminetertraacetic acid (EDTA) as the chelating agents. The thermal decompostion of the metal carboxylate precursors gels have been studied by TG/DTA and the products derived from calcinations of the gels at different temperatures have been characterized by XRD and SEM. By heat-treatment at 650°C for 2h, PZT thin films with smooth and crack-free surface could be achieved. The thickness of each layer was 50nm. Electric properties measurement indicated that the PZT films demonstrated a ferroelectric hysteresis loop. The remanent polarization(Pr) and coercive field (Ec) were 20.7μC/cm2 and 75.5kV/cm, respectively. The dielectric constant and the dielectric loss at 100 kHz of the films were 930 and 0.045, respectively.