Advanced Materials Research Vol. 789

Abstract: We studied the crystallographic of Barium Zirconium Titanate thin films with Aluminum doped (BZAT). These films were prepared by sol-gel process and followed by spin coating. The sintering temperature is taken at 800°C and 900°C. We found that the crystallographic system of BZAT thin films have tetragonal structure with the lattice parameter slightly changed by various Aluminum partial substitution. When 0.01 Al moles added, the grain size of the films is 29.42 nm at 800°C. The sintering temperature 900°C increased the grain size into 50.95 nm. We also calculated the spontaneous polarization theoretically and we found the optimum value of BZT thin film with 0.01 mole Al heated at 800°C, is 0.143 C/m². This way, we could predict that the film has ferroelectric phase.

Abstract: In view to develop gas sensors, a first generation of lead-free thin films was deposited by different techniques on commercial Si and Al₂O₃ substrates. During our research project, the correlation between the micro structure of films, the structure of the embedded sensors and the applied temperature range, is being studied. In the first year, doped and undoped BaTiO₃, KNbO₃ and ZnO thin films have been deposited by sol-gel and PLD techniques. BT and BST films have shown a polycrystalline structure with very fine and regular grains, while disoriented grains with an average size ranging from 50 to 200 nm were observed on the KNbO₃ film surface, and ZnO films exhibited a columnar growth. All films were characterized and finally embedded to make semiconductor gas sensors which have been tested under different gases. In this first generation of sensors, ZnO sensors have shown encouraging preliminary results under CO and H₂S gases. Keywords : thin films, lead-free oxide, sensor, gas.

Abstract: Polymer blends are potential candidates for solar-energy conversion, due to their flexibility, ease of processing, and low costs. We report herein 2.6 cm² active area of flexible polymer solar cells based on blends of polymeric semiconductor [poly (2-methoxy-5-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-(para-phenylene vinylene)] (MDMO-PPV) and the soluble fullerene C60 derivative [6,6 phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl este (PCBM). Devices were prepared by etching an electrode pattern of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) covered on poly [ethylene terephthalat (PET) substrate. A layer of conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) were screen printed on top of the ITO. Followed by spin coated a polymer blends of MDMO-PPV/PCBM in chlorobenzene onto PEDOT:PSS layer. Finally, evaporation of a silver electrode and PET film lamination completed the devices. The typical overall power efficiency of the prototype devices in an active area of 2.6 cm2 was 0.004 % with open-circuit voltage of 1.473 Volt, short-circuit current of 5.84 x 10^-06 Ampere, and maximum power of 2.12 x 10^-06 Watt.

Abstract: Barium titanate BaTiO₃ (BTO) - barium hexaferrite BaFe₁₂O₁₉ (BHF) nanocomposite could be as a raw material of multiferroic. Multiferroic is a class of materials with coupled electric, magnetic and structural order parameters that yield simultaneous effects of ferroelectric, ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in the same material. This material has potential applications in such as spintronic devices and sensors. This work was an earlier research towards formation of multiferroic material. Knowing magnetic properties that will lead to a better understanding of magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroic material is the objective of this research.The samples were BTO and BHF prepared by sol-gel and then were mixed in bulk system by a conventional techniques in various of volume fraction between BTO : BHF = 1:1 ; 1:2 and 2:1, then samples were sintered at 925°C for 5, 10 and 15 hours. Composite phase study was carried out using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). MPS Magnet Physik EP3 Permagraph L was used to characterize magnetic properties. XRD results confirm that composite with volume fraction of BTO : BHF = 1:1 with sintering at 925°C for 5 hours consists only of 2 phases BTO and BHF. There is impurity phase BaFe₂O₄ beside BTO and BHF phases at samples with volume fraction BTO:BHF = 1:2 and 2:1 for longer sintering. Composite with volume fraction of BTO:BHF = 1:1 for 5 hours sintering has a high value of remanent magnetization 0.081 T and the lowest value of intrinsic coersive 333.6 kA/m leading to good characteristics of multiferroic materials.

Abstract: Synthesis of mesoporous silica from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) by using sodium ricinoleic as a template and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APMS) as a co-structure directing agents (CDSA) in a volume variation of acid addition has been carried out. Preparation of mesoporous silica was conducted in HCl 0.1 M at volume variations of 2 ml, 35 ml, 40 ml and 50 ml. In acid conditions, the amine groups of APMS will protonate, which will then interact electrostatically with the carboxylate groups from ricinoleic acid, while the methoxy groups from APMS will condense with the silanol groups from TEOS to form an end product of mesoporous silica. The reaction products were characterized by using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red spectrometer (FTIR), surface area analyzer (BET), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). X-ray diffractograms of the products from all of the acid volume variation additions show broadening peaks indicating amorphous materials as a characteristic of mesoporous materials. Infrared spectra show that all of the products have Si-OH and Si-O-Si groups that are characteristics for mesoporous silica. Imaging results from SEM and TEM show morphology and particle size differences in accordance with the differences in volume variation of acid addition. Adsorption/desorption isotherm by using nitrogen at 77 K of the products from the addition of 2 ml of HCl show an isotherm Type II (adsorption on the surface layer) with irregular pore size distribution, whereas from the addition of 30 ml, 35 ml, 40 ml and 50 ml HCl show an isotherm Type IV with a hysteresis loop that is characteristic for mesoporous materials with a regular pore size distribution.

Abstract: Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an inorganic semiconductor material which has been widely studied due to its various potential applications. Over the past decades, one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures such as nanowires and nanorods have stimulated significant scientific interests because of their unique properties in comparison to bulk materials. For the application of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), 1-D ZnO nanostructures are more desired than the spherical nanoparticles since the former provides ballistic effect leading to faster electron transfer which in turn can increase the device performance. Motivated by this consideration, in the current study ZnO nanorods were deposited on ITO glass substrate via chemical bath deposition (CBD) process where the seeding solution was prepared at 0°C. In order to increase their crystallinity and optical properties, the as-deposited ZnO nanorods were subjected to post-hydrothermal treatment at 150°C for 3, 6 and 9 hours. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the ZnO nanorods were successfully grown as vertically-aligned hexagonal structure, while the X-ray diffraction (XRD) study showed that the intensity of (002) crystal plane is the highest peak for all nanorod samples. The optical study by UV-Vis spectroscopy showed that the absorption edge of the as-deposited sample was slightly red-shifted to visible region after post-hydrothermal treatment. The ZnO nanorods sample derived from post-hydrothermal treatment for 6 hours provided the optimum nanostructural characteristics with an average diameter of 228 nm, crystallite size of 27.97 nm and the band gap energy, E_g, of 3.12 eV.

Abstract: Ca_xNi_1-xO was prepared by conventional solid state reaction. The properties of undoped and CaO doped NiO ceramics have been studied. The raw mixture of CaO and NiO were ball milled for 24 hours. The samples were calcined at 1000°C for 2 hours, pressed into pellet shape at 200 MPa and sintered at 1300°C for 4 hours. The sintered samples were subjected to XRD, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Impedance Analyzer for phase identification, microstructural observation and dielectric analysis. The grains size becomes larger with the increment of dopant amount. Enhanced dielectric constant was observed for all Ca doped NiO at the frequency range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The dielectric constant of sintered Ca_xNi_1-xO decreased with an increasing frequency. The result indicates that Ca ions have effectively changed the properties of NiO.

Abstract: The structure and construction of the ship is made of aluminum alloy, generally are of wrought aluminum alloys, when experiencing fatigue failure caused by a cracked vessel structure, is a serious problem. Reviewing of 'weakness' of wrought aluminum alloys for the ship, then in this study tries to provide material alternative for ship building is composite material based on aluminum casting AlSi10Mg (b) and reinforcing material silicon carbide (SiC), which has been in-treatment with the optimum composition 15%. Analysis of numerical computation with the help of ANSYS software version 2.00 to be made numerical modeling ship to ship aluminum EN AC-AlSi10Mg (b) and ship composite EN AC-AlSi10Mg (b)+SiC*/ 15p whether the material can be applied to building ship for see the distribution of stress . The results of the stress distribution in both of model numerical of ship, its value does not exceed the stress permits (sigma 0.2) and have a factor of safety above the minimum allowable limit, so it is safe to use. The overall, in numerical modeling, the ship material aluminum and ship composite materials can be used as an alternative material for ship building, however is still needed comprehensive testing in the field.Keywords: Aluminum casting ; ship building ; composite EN AC-43100(AlSi10Mg (b))+SiC*/15p; ANSYS ver.12,0

Abstract: In the present work, ZnO nanorods array were successfully grown on ITO substrate via chemical bath deposition method (CBD). The seeding solution was prepared at low temperature (0°C) using zinc nitrate tetrahydrate and hexamethylenetetramine. The as-deposited ZnO nanorods were hexagonal wurtzite structure growing vertically on the substrate. Various reaction times from 3 to 5 hours were applied upon the CBD process at 90°C. The results showed that the duration of reaction time has affected the nanorods array properties. With the increase of reaction time from 3 to 5 hours has increased the diameter and crystallite size of nanorods from 325 to 583 nm, and from 22.68 to 34.28 nm. As a result, the band gap energy, E_g of ZnO nanorods decreased from 3.63 to 3.13 eV.

Abstract: The convergence quantum states of free covariant equation in Einsteins space with quantum condition is studied using the ABR (Abrikosov-Balseiro-Russell) formulation in convergence approximation for Josephson tunneling is important role for determine of neutrino particle existing, especially after Cerenkovs effect for 517 tesla super magnetic at Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Cyclotron in CERN, Lyon, France based on Th_x DUO₂ nanomaterial. This approaching will be solved the problem for determine the value of interstellar Electrical Conductivity (EC) on DUO₂ chain reaction, then the post condition of muon has been known exactly. In this research shown the value of EC is 4.32 μeV at 378 tesla magnetic field for 2.1 x 10⁴ ci/mm fast thermal neutron floating in 45.7 megawatts adjusted power of CERNs Cyclotron. The resulted by special Electron-Scanning-Nuclear-Absorbtion (ESNA) shown any possibilities of Josephsons tunneling must be boundary by muon particles without neutrino particle existing for 350 456 tesla magnetic field on UO₂ more enrichment nuclear fuel at CERN, whereas this research has purpose for provide the mathematical formulation to boundary of muons moving at nuclear research reactor to a high degree of accuracy and with Catch-Nuc, one of nuclear beam equipment has a few important value of experimental effort.