Advanced Materials Research Vols. 123-125

Abstract: In the present work, vertical ZnO nanorods (NRs) were grown onto ITO substrates by a simple two step chemical process at relatively low temperature by using successive ionic layer absorption and reaction method (SILAR) and chemical bath deposition (CBD) method. The investigated on n- ZnO/ p-Polythiophene heterojunction device have been fabricated with ZnO nanorods. Structural analysis reveals that the grown ZnO NRs exhibit (002) reflection with higher intensity, indicating that the ZnO NRs grown in c-axis orientation. FESEM image shows the surface morphology of grown ZnO nanorods was of hexagonal wurtzite structure whose diameter varies from 200 nm to 1μm. Room temperature Photoluminescence exhibited strong UV emission at ∼386 nm and a negligible green band confirms the presence of very low concentration of oxygen vacancies in the well-aligned ZnO nanorods. The current–voltage (I –V) characteristics of the heterojunctions show good rectifying diode characteristics. These results indicate that hybrid device fabricated from solution process is a promising approach for future light-emitting diodes (LEDs) devices.

Abstract: Nanoparticles of the metal oxides magnetite (Fe3O4), cobalt oxide (Co3O4), manganese oxide (Mn3O4) and the metal sulfides CuS, Cu1.96S, Ag2S and CdS were prepared using the biopolymer dextran as a stablising agent. The corresponding enzyme dextranase could then used remove the biopolymer coat to give nanoparticles stabilized by a remnant oligomer. A green and aqueous general route to functional nanoparticles is described.

Abstract: In this work, we synthesized graphene nanosheets via a soft chemistry synthetic route involving pre-exfoliation treatment, strong oxidation, and post thermal exfoliation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the ordered graphite crystal structure and morphology of graphene nanosheets. N2 adsorption was used to determine the specific surface area of graphene nanosheets. As a result, pre-treatment of the graphite with HNO3/H2SO4 mixture produced the exfoliated graphite nanoplates, and the post thermal exfoliation of the graphite oxide nanosheets at low temperature led to produce a large number graphene nanosheets. The specific surface area of obtained graphene nanosheets was 333 m2/g.

Abstract: Processes of atomic carbon formation can be initiated the most different energy sources – from strong shock waves to electric field of univalent ion. In the system, consisting of atomic carbon, there are fluctuations of energy and density, which result in the spontaneous origin of new solid phases.

Abstract: Well-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) arrays were grown by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on quartz substrate. The MWNTs in arrays had a uniform diameter of 30-50nm and high degree of graphitization. We find that catalyst nanoparticles with different sizes can be separated and deposit at different position by carrier gas flow under gravity effect in floating catalyst CVD. It is one of the main reasons that lead to the growth of well-aligned MWNTs.

Abstract: In this study, we report the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by ethanol catalytic chemical vapor deposition, which employs ferrocene as the catalyst precursors and ethanol as carbon source. We obtained massive deposits. The deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and visual laser Raman spectroscopy. We discussed the effects of synthesis temperature on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by floating catalytic chemical vapor deposition. Our results indicated that the synthesis temperature could affect not only on the graphitization degree, but also on the aligned growth of carbon nanotubes and the diameter of carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: High frequency induction heated sintering (HFIHS) method is one of the rapid sintering methods. The advantage of rapid sintering method is that grain growth can be prevented during sintering at high temperature. Refinement of grains was known to increase the yield and flow stresses of crystals. The relation between the yield stress and the grain size is known as Hall-Petch relation. NbC-10vol.%Co, Ni and Fe composites were fabricated by HFIHS at 1060°C for 0 and 3 min as holding times under a pressure of 80MPa.The relative density of NbC-10vol.%Co, Ni and Fe composites which were sintered at 1060°C for 0min as holding time under 80MPa were 91.90%, 91.26% and 91.26%, respectively. These composites are difficult to use industrial parts due to low relative density. The longer sintering time was conducted for increasing relative density in this study. Nano-sized specimens, which were calculated grain size by full-width at half maximum (FWHM), can be obtained by HFIHS. The value of hardness and fracture toughness was investigated using 20kgf load Vickers indenter.

Abstract: The object of this paper is to study the effect of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) on waterborne polyurethane films (5×10-3 to 5wt % SiO2 NPs). The Nanocompounds’ properties were analyzed by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). From the results, the nanocomposites degraded at a higher temperature than pure PU matrix. Moreover, the temperature where the weight loss reached 50% was shifted by 57oC towards higher temperature when the silica nanoparticle content was 5 wt%. The crystallinity, mechanical strength as well as thermostability the PU were influenced by the concentration of silica nanoparticles.

Abstract: We are reporting here on an inexpensive and facile fabrication method for ZnO nanorod arrays by hydrothermal growth at low temperature (90°C). In our experiment, ZnO nanostructures were grown on glass substrate using an equimolar (0.1M) aqueous solution of Zn(NO3)2•6H2O (zinc nitrate hexahydrate) and C6H12N4 (HMTA) as precursors solution, and using ammonia solution to controlling the pH levels. It enable easily obtained arrayed ZnO nanorods on substrate, and nanowires which grown on nanorod arrays were identified after about 1 month in the air. The growth process of nanorods and the formation mechanism of nanowires were investigated.

Abstract: A nondestructive technique would be very useful for evaluating the CF/Epoxy composite laminates. It is found that a pitch-catch signal was more sensitive than normal incidence backwall echo of longitudinal wave to subtle flaw conditions in the composites (damages, fiber orientation, low level porosity, ply waviness, and cracks). The depth of the sampling volume where the pitch-catch signal came from was relatively shallow with the head-to-head miniature Rayleigh probes, but the depth can be increased by increasing the separation distance of the transmitting and receiving probes. Also, a method was utilized to determine the porosity content of a composite lay-up by processing micrograph images of the laminate. The porosity content of a composite structure is critical to the overall strength and performance of the structure. The image processing method developed utilizes a free software package to process micrograph images of the test sample. The results from the image processing method are compared with existing data. Beam profile was characterized in unidirectional CFRP (Carbon fiber reinforced plastics) with using pitch-catch Rayleigh probes and the one-sided and two-side pitch-catch technique was utilized to produce C-scan images with the aid of the automatic scanner. Also, it is confirmed that the pitch-catch ultrasonic signal was corresponding with simulated results assuming in unidirectional CFRP composites.