Advanced Materials Research Vols. 79-82

Abstract: Molybdenum doped vanadium oxide (Mo doped V2O5) xerogel films were prepared by cathodic electrodeposition on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate from Mo doped V2O5 sol synthesized by sol-gel combined with hydrothermal reaction. Mo doped V2O5 xerogel films were deposited at different potentials between -0.01 V and -0.7 V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE) with the potentiostatic mode. The structure was characterized for using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM). These studies reveal that films consist of layered V2O5 host structure with various surface morphologies depending upon the deposition potentials. As shown by the cyclic voltammograms results, the films electrodeposited at -0.3 V exhibited Li+-ion storage capacity as high as ca. 70 mC/cm2 for the 50th cycle and showed multi-electrochromic behavior (orangered-green-blue) depending on the extent of intercalation during the electrochemical lithium insertion/extraction processes. It is proposed that the particles forming the films arrange directionally and crystallize partly, which lead to the enhanced electroactivity of vanadium oxide films by shortening the diffusion distance or quickening the transference rate of Li+ ions in the films.

Abstract: The cold spray TiO2 thin films were deposited on 5mm-thick float glass substrates using the sol containing nano-anatase TiO2. The effects of different heat treatment temperatures on optical properties were discussed. The properties of xerogel powder were analyzed using TG-DSC, the morphology and structure of TiO2 thin films were characterized by FESEM and XRD, the transmittance and absorption of TiO2 coated glass were investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometer. The results reveal that TiO2 in the film is still anatase phase after heat treatment at 350°C and 500°C. With the annealing temperatures increasing from 20°C to 500°C, the average crystal size increases just from 21.4 nm to 23.9nm, UV absorption of TiO2 coated glass increases from 2.2 to 2.7, visible light transmittance is high to about 80%.

Abstract: Strontium aluminate-based phosphors SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ (SAO-ED) are coated directly by the interfacial coordination chemistry method with maleic anhydride to prevent their hydrolysis in moist air. SEM, XPS, TG and DSC methods are used to characterize the coating. The results showed SAO-ED phosphors coordinated with maleic anhydride by the coordination bond and . The introduction of maleic anhydride doesn’t change the excitation and emission spectra of SAO-ED phosphors, which is proved by the photoluminescence measurement. The SAO-ED phosphor coated with 30 wt. % maleic anhydride has higher water-resistance at the cost of a minor loss of persistent phosphorescence than that of SAO-ED phosphor.

Abstract: In this study, a comparison of appearance surface and fracture surface of mechanical plating was made, respectively formed by spherical Zn powders and Zn-Al compounding flake powders. It is found that the spherical particles are deposited and embedded on Zn plating. The deformation of granular Zn powders on coating superficial is relatively large, but there is little distortion of globe grain inside the coating, mainly with spheroidicity distorted. Besides, there are obvious gaps between the particles in Zn coating. In contrast, the flake structure granules of Zn-Al plating are densely and compactly laid out with small space. After contacting with air, the plating coat expands owing to aluminum oxidation, leading to the higher position of the plating coat on the cross section than the matrix metal. We then did salt mist test to verify the corrosion resistance of Zn-Al compounding flake coating. It was found that the Zn-Al compounding flake coating was superior to that formed by globe Zn powder. Results show that the addition of layers of flakes has a better shielding action resisting corrosive medium, leading to the decrease of the osmosis from corrosive medium to the coatings. And the coating can repair naturally after being damaged. We further passivate plating with molybdate to improve the anticorrosion of the coating.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings were deposited onto Ti6Al4V substrate by microplasma spraying (MPS) in the current research. The morphology, phase compositions, and percentage of crystallinity of the coatings were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. An in vitro evaluation by soaking the coatings in simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to 14 days was conducted aiming at the evaluation of their bioactivity. Results from the present investigation suggest that microplasma sprayed HA coatings exhibited certain roughness, pores, and microcracks. Thermal decomposition existed in the coatings where HA, α-TCP，β-TCP, amorphous phases, and CaO-exclusive impurities were observed. The in vitro test indicated that HA coatings deposited by MPS possessed better bioactivity and stability. A layer of carbonate-apatite covered most of the coating surface, which did not exhibit significant spalling after incubation in SBF.

Abstract: Alumina coating on carbon fibre were prepared by Sol-gel method, and characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Affected factors such as coating times, oxidation temperature and time were investigated. The results show alumina coatings on carbon fibres are crack-free with a smooth surface, therefore would improve anti-oxidation of carbon fibre significantly. Thickness is one of the most important factors on anti-oxidation of alumina coating, and in this work, thicker coatings have better anti-oxidation quality.

Abstract: (Ba,Sr)TiO3 thin film has been deposited on Si (001) wafer with the SiO2 layer as the block layer through laser molecular-beam epitaxy using an ultra thin Sr layer as template. X-ray diffraction measurements and the cross-sectional observations under transmission electron microscope indicated that BST was well crystallized. This deposition of Sr layer is considered to remove the thin SiO2 layer to produce a layer, which is crystallized and has a lattice structure matching with that of perovskite BST. The maximum in-plane dielectric tunability is calculated to be 50% at 1 GHz under a moderate DC bias field of 13.3 V/µm. This BST/Si structure is believed to be a promising candidate in the development of ferroelectric BST-based microwave devices.

Abstract: In order to obtain the electromagnetic shielding material, the lightweight flakes of poplar are selected to be the substrate. After the electroless copper plating, the flakes turn to electric cell which is made by hot-press with bicomponent epoxy, and it turn to electromagnetic shielding materials. In this paper, the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of electromagnetic shielding materials is investigated. The results indicates that the reasonable ratio of main components of the electroless copper plating is: copper sulfate 80g/L, reducing agent 90 g/L, K-Na tartrate (TART) 65 g/L, EDTA•2Na100 g/L, α, α'-dipyridyl 10mg/L, potassium ferrocyanide 50 mg/L. In the testing of Hertzian waves between 9 kHz～1.5GHz, the average effectiveness of electromagnetic shielding is 60.4dB.

Abstract: Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BST) thin films have been prepared on copper foils via sol-gel method in almost inert atmosphere containing different level of oxygen which was achieved by flowing high purified argon with the varied rate from 0.3 L/min to 2.0 L/min. X-ray diffraction pattern of the BST thin film exhibits dominant perovskite phase. SEM images reveal good crystallization and much dense structure of the thin film. The BST thin film annealed at almost inert atmosphere by flowing the high purified argon at the rate of 0.5 L/min, exhibits highest dielectric constants which are 1549.65 and 1350.86 at the frequency of 10 kHz and 1 MHz, respectively. Additionally, the film also shows optimized ferroelectric behavior and low leakage current density. The mechanism of the annealing atmosphere on properties of BST thin films was investigated.

Abstract: In this work Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) suitable for the absorption layer in solar cells was successfully prepared by sol-gel spin-coated deposition. CZTS precursors were prepared by using solutions of copper (II) chloride, zinc (II) chloride, tin (IV) chloride, and thiourea. The CZTS with texture surface structures, resulting from 3 times of stacks through the cycles of spin-coated and synthesized (at 320 °C) processes, is found to be merged well together, and the thickness of the CZTS reaches ~ 3 μm. The kesterite crystallinity of the CZTS designated from the x-ray diffraction of (112), (200), (312), and (322) planes of CZTS were obtained. The optical-energy gap of the CZTS is about 1.5 eV. The average optical-absorption coefficient of the CZTS is ~ 2.4 x 104 cm-1, and the high absorption band of the CZTS covers most of the solar irradiation spectrum. This makes the CZTS the most potential material for solar cells. The chemical composition Cu:Zn:Sn:S = 30:14:16:40 of the CZTS is obtained at a synthesized temperature of 320 °C.