Materials Science Forum Vol. 846

Abstract: Conjugated polymers have been widely used for electronic purpose applications due to their numerous advantages. This has led many researches to pay their major attention in studying on characteristics of conjugated polymer thin films. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of undoped conjugated polymer thin films on their optical and electrical properties. Poly(3-thiophene acetic acid), Polypyrrole and Polythiophene thin film was fabricated on ITO glass substrate by using EIS. Film thickness, energy band gap and electrical conductivity of thin films were characterized by using profilometer, ultraviolet-visible spectrometer and four point probe method respectively. The thickness of each thin film varied between 50.534 nm to 97.03 nm. The result has shown that thicker film has lower energy band gap compared to the thinner one. However the electrical conductivity showed an opposite behavior.

Abstract: Yttrium iron garnet (Y₃Fe₅O₁₂) films were prepared by a sol-gel method followed by an annealing process at 500,600,700,800, and 900°C in oxygen atmosphere for 2 hours. The microstructure characterization carried out by an X-ray diffractometer showed that the film started to crystalline into YIG phase at 700°C. The average grain size of the films measured using a field emission scanning electron microscope gave the average value of 20 to 70 nm. The magnetic properties measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer showed that all of the films were soft magnetic materials. The saturation magnetization values increased with the increment of annealing temperature. However, the coercivity values were independence with temperatures.Keywords: Thin films; Crystalline; Sol-gel method;

Abstract: Polycrystalline La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) powder prepared via conventional solid state reaction was pressed into pellet form. The pellets became target to growth thin films on corning glass (LSMO-C), fused silica (LSMO-FS) and MgO (100) (LSMO-M) substrate via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. XRD results showed that all samples were hexagonal structure with R-3C space group. Thin films showed relatively smaller crystallite size compared to bulk samples. From Rietveld Refinement analysis, all thin films experienced lattice strain when deposited on different substrate. LSMO compound deposited in different substrate induced structure distortion and lattice strain. Compression along c-axis occurred when the lattice strain increased thus shifted the metal-insulator transition temperature to lower temperature and increased its resistivity.

Abstract: Conducting polymers are excellent host materials for nanoparticles of metals and semiconductors. PANI-Ag-Co nanocomposite was prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of nitric acid. PANI-Ag-Co thin films were deposited on the glass substrate using spin-coating technique. The films were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, AFM and TEM to analyze the internal structure and surface morphology. The performance of the sensor was conducted using I–V measurement to obtain the changes in the current before and after the incubation with E. coli bacteria in water. In UV-visible absorbance bands, a single peak appears at 421.6 nm in each band indicating the Ag-Co alloy nanoparticles were formed. The peaks in the XRD patterns show the crystals are oriented along (111) planes for Ag while (200) plane for Co. AFM images indicate the surface roughness of the PANI-Ag-Co films decreases when the concentration of Co increased. TEM image shows spherical shaped of Ag-Co alloy particles with diameter in the range of 6 – 10 nm. I–V measurements show that the current change of the films increased when incubated in E. coli. The sensitivity on E. coli increases as we increase the Co concentration. PANI-Ag-Co nanocomposite thin films can be explored further for microbial sensor application in future study.

Abstract: The study signifies the radio-frequency (RF) sputtering growth and characterizations of indium nitride (InN) thin films deposited on flexible substrates. A three-inch diameter indium (In) sputtering target with purity of 99.999% was used. The deposition was carried out at room temperature and with substrate temperature of 200 °C. The surface morphologies, structural and optical properties of the deposited thin films were examined by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All the results revealed that InN thin films have been successfully deposited on the flexible substrates in the gas mixture ambient of argon and nitrogen.

Abstract: Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CN_x) is a well-known material that can be used in various applications such as coating for hard disk, wear resistant, humidity sensor and others. In this research, a-CN_x thin films have been deposited by using radio frequency-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) with the mixing of pure methane (CH₄) and nitrogen (N₂). The gas ratio of CH₄/N₂, electrode distance, pressure and temperature of deposition is kept constant while deposition time is allowed to vary from 30 to 150 minutes. Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) have been used to study the bonding and morphology of these films respectively. An increase in deposition time resulted with thedecrease in sp² content in the a-CN_x thin films. Theincrease in the I_d/I_g intensity ratio with the increase in deposition time can be explained by the reducing size of graphitic cluster. Long deposition time retarded the growth rate of a-CN_x thin films due to etching effects. Longer exposure to the etching effect resultingin the creation of small graphitic cluster with the formation of spongy-like porous features.

Abstract: The issue related to relatively poor interfacial adhesion between hydrophilic natural fiber and hydrophobic thermoplastic remain as an obstacle in natural fiber/thermoplastic biocomposites. Consequently, surface treatment of fiber is of important to impart adhesion. The present work used consecutive superheated steam-alkali treatment to treat the oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) prior to biocomposite fabrication. The biocomposites made up of 70 wt% treated OPMF and 30 wt% poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) were prepared by melt blending technique in a Brabender internal mixer followed by hot-press moulding into 1 mm sheets. A silane coupling agent of (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS) was also added to the biocomposite during the process of compounding to promote interfacial adhesion and enhance the properties of biocomposites. The results showed that the biocomposite containing 2 wt% APTMS showed maximum enhancement in tensile strength (89%), tensile modulus (812%) and elongation at break (52%) in comparison to that of untreated OPMF/PBS biocomposite. The SEM observation of the tensile fracture surface revealed that APTMS improved the interfacial adhesion between treated OPMF and PBS. It can be deduced that the presence of APTMS can improve the adhesion between hydrophilic fiber and hydrophobic thermoplastic, and thus increased the tensile properties of the biocomposite.

Abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of plastic synthesized using bio-based starch. The method began with extraction of starch from chosen tubers with high content of starch; potato and yam. The samples were first grated, grinded and strained to obtain crude starch, which then centrifuged and rinsed to get pure starch. The starch was then reacted with hydrochloric acid to breakdown amylopectin to prevent the starch from becoming plastic-like. Finally, propan-1,2,3-triol was added as a plasticizer to increase the elasticity of the product. The chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the products were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), tensile strength tester and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FTIR spectra of the product displayed the presence of O-H, C-H, C=O and C-O absorption peaks, which indicate the formation of bioplastic has already occured. The tensile strength obtained for potato and yam starch-based bioplastic are 0.6 MPa and 1.9 MPa, respectively. The result gained from TGA showed that 50% weight loss occurred at 250°C for potato and 310°C for yam-based plastic. The highly biodegradability of the plastic was proven using soil burial test, which observed the percentage of soil biodegradation for potato and yam-based bioplastic in 1 week duration is 43% and 26%, respectively. These bio-based plastics have exhibited good thermal and mechanical properties with high biodegradability that makes them a suitable alternative for the existing conventional plastics.

Abstract: Micrifibrillated cellulose (MFC) is generally can be prepared either by acid hydrolysis, chemical treatments, or by a high pressure refiner. In this study, the MFC of Resak’s hardwood waste with high degree of crystallinity has been obtained by an acid hydrolysis using mineral acid H₂SO₄. The microstructures of the MFC were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM).

Abstract: Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) is a combination of asphalt and aggregates that will give durable road surface for pavement and is widely used in Malaysia. However, due to damages caused by excessive traffic loadings, the HMA pavement normally required frequently maintenance and rehabilitation works. Therefore in recent years, research on modification of HMA has tremendously increased in highway construction field using natural sources and recycling products such as rubber, plastic, anti-stripping agents, waste materials and etc. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) used as filler in HMA. Experimental laboratory were done to compare the properties of normal HMA sample with modified HMA sample using SCBA. Result obtained for both sample were compared to Malaysian Public Works Department (MPWD) specification. The laboratory result reveals that SCBA are effective in increasing the Marshall stability, flow and Resilient Modulus of normal HMA. The SCBA increases Marshall stability by 0.6%, flow 4.9% and Resilient Modulus 17.4% respectively of ordinary HMA and all test and analysis parameters for asphaltic concrete of SCBA sample comply with MPWD requirements. Therefore, SCBA has potential in modifying normal HMA.