Modification of the Interlayer in HTiNbO5 and its Physicochemical Characterization

Abstract

A layered titanoniobate, in which the interlayer of the metal oxide based on octahedral framework is pillared with silica, has been prepared from HTiNbO₅ by employing alkylamines (C_nH_2n+1NH₂, n = 4, 6, 8, 10) and tetraethylorthosilicate as interlayer exchange guests and a pillar precursor, respectively. The incorporated amine had bilayer arrangements in the interlayer space and their ammonium head groups pointed to the host (TiNbO5₅ ^?) layers. While the basal spacing of the compounds increased with the chain length of alkylamine. the inclination angle also increased. The intercalated structure facilitated the incorporation of tetraethylorthosilicate into the interlayers, and silica-pillared layered titanoniobate was obtained after calcination. The physicochemical properties of the resultant pillared compounds were characterized on the interlayer microstructure, nitrogen adsorption and UV-VIS absorption spectra.     

Microscopic Studies of 2H-NbSe2 Probed by Positive Muon

Abstract

The microscopic state of the positively charged light particle in the transition metal dichalcogenide 2H-NbSe₂ was studied using the muon spin relaxation method (μ⁺SR) and muon level crossing resonance method (μ-LCR). Muons are expected to stay at interlayer position and behaves as a hydrogen like intercalant. We discuss the relation between conduction electron properties and the muon's behavior.     

Study of optical and conducting properties of FeCl3 doped PVA polymers

In the present work, PVA and various concentrations of FeCl₃ doped PVA polymer were prepared and optical studies like IR and UV/Visible analysis were carried out on them in solution form also the cast films were examined for their conductance. The variation of optical band gap of PVA polymer with the addition of Fe³⁺ transition metal ion has been determined by the Tauc plot method. It is found that the optical band gap and the transmittance of the polymer solutions being decreased with the increase in the concentration of Fe³⁺ ion, and thus obeys Beer's Law. This is supported by conductivity obtained for these polymers and FT-IR spectra which shows the stretching of the various bonds of the polymer due to the addition of transition metal (Fe³⁺) ions.     

The application of small polaron theory to transition metal oxide glasses

A review of the experimental data on a range of transition metal oxide glasses shows a strong relationship between activation energy and site spacing for glasses based on V₂O₅. The behaviour confirms that transport in amorphous V₂O₅ and vanadate glasses is by adiabatic hopping with an appreciable polaron bandwidth, while non-adiabatic hopping between isolated centres is apropriate for glasses based on most other transition metal oxides. The behaviour of vanadium is linked to the retention of a well-defined VO^5? structural unit in the glass network and to optimisation of the packing of this unit within the glass.     

Electrical Conduction Mechanisms of MxPS3, M1−xM'xPS3 and their Intercalation Compounds

Abstract

In the M_xPS₃ and M_1?xM'_xPS₃ systems, the P₂S₆ cluster contributes to the poor electrical conductivity for the compounds in which the energy level of the metal 3d orbital is deeper than those of the P, S 3p orbitals. For the compounds in which metal 3d orbital is closed to P and S 3p orbitals and has mixed valency, the induced mixed valency of P₂S₆, cluster and/or hopping mechanism contribute to the electrical conductivity. In the organic electron donor intercalation into M_xPS₃ and M_1?xM'_xPS₃ compounds, the new intercalation reaction is discovered, in which formation of tris-complexes of metal ions with guest molecules occurs in the host interlayer.     

Interlayer Reaction of Polyamine/α-Zirconium Phosphate Intercalation Compounds with Some Aldehydes

Abstract

The intercalation compound between α-zirconium phosphate and N,N′-bis-(3-aminopropyl)-1, 3-propanediamine has two different modifications with respect to the conformation of the guest amine molecules: one is “bent form” and the other “straight form”. Reactivity of each phase with a series of aldehydes was examined. ¹³C CP/MAS NMR indicated that the tetraamine reacts stereoselectively with aldehydes to form cis-imine in the interlayer spacing. Depending on the molecular size of aldehyde, it is found that a significant difference can be recognized in the yields of the imine products for the two phases of intercalation compounds. It is also noted that residual water molecules in the interlayer spacing play an important role in the imine formation reaction.     

Ionic conductivity of Li2OB2O3 thin films

The ionic conductivity of evaporated Li₂OB₂O₃ thin films has been studied. These thin films were found to show a considerably high ionic conductivity of 1 × 10^?7 Ω^?1 cm^?1 at room temperature. The conductivity increases with increasing Li content and exhibits a maximum value near 3Li₂O·B₂O₃. The structure of these films was determined using infrared absorption and laser Raman scattering spectroscopy. Using the results, the correlation between structure and conductivity is also discussed.     

Electrochemical characterizations and the effect of glycerol in biopolymer electrolytes based on methylcellulose-potato starch blend

ABSTRACT

Polymer electrolytes have been prepared by blending methylcellulose (MC)-potato starch, doped with lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) and plasticized with glycerol. The blend of 60 wt% MC-40 wt% starch was found to be the most suitable ratio to serve as polymer host. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis proved the interaction among the components. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the conductivity enhancement is due to the increase in amorphous content. The highest ionic conductivity obtained at room temperature was (4.25 ± 0.82) × 10^?4 S cm^?1 for MC-starch-LiClO₄-20 wt% glycerol. The highest conducting samples in both systems were found to obey Arrhenius rule. Dielectric study further strengthens the conductivity result.     

Electrical properties of PbxSn1‐xS thin films prepared by hot wall deposition method

The Pb_xSn_1‐xS (x = 0 – 0.25) thin films were prepared on glass substrates by hot wall vacuum deposition. The films were polycrystalline monophase in nature and had orthorhombic crystal structure. The thickness of the films was about 2‐3 μm. The temperature dependences of the conductivity were measured in the temperature range from 150 to 420 K. The films revealed p‐type of conductivity. The Seebeck coefficient and conductivity values of the films was in the range of α = 6 – 360 μV/K and σ = 4.8×10^‐5 – 1.5×10^‐2 Ω^‐1·cm^‐1, respectively, at room temperature depending on concentration of the lead in the films. The lead atoms created the substitution defects Pb_Sn in the crystal lattice of the Pb_xSn_1‐xS. These defects formed the donor energy levels in the band gap. The activation energy of the films increased in the range ΔE_a = 0.121 – 0.283 eV with increasing of the lead concentration. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

WO3-based electrochromic system with hybrid organic–inorganic gel electrolytes

Thin metal oxide films for a WO₃-based symmetric electrochromic system with a nickel oxide layer as the counter electrode have been prepared by spray pyrolysis on SnO₂:F coated soda-lime float glass, at a temperature of 670–720 °C and using metal acetylacetonates as precursors. The films have been characterized for composition and morphology by scanning electron microscopy equipped with an X-ray energy dispersive analyzer (SEM/EDAX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electrochromic properties have been examined in the electrochemical cells of a smart window arrangement using lithium ion doped sol–gel derived organic–inorganic hybrid materials as electrolytes. Hybrids with room-temperature ionic conductivities of 10^?4–10^?3 Ω^?1 cm^?1 have been synthesized from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with an addition of 35 mass % of organic compounds. Coloration-bleaching of WO₃ films with lithium ions from hybrid electrolytes has resulted in the desired modulating the properties in the visible and near infrared spectrum range. An XPS analysis has shown the presence of a lower oxidized tungsten oxide phase (WO_2.92) in the WO₃ film.     

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/carbon-based nanocomposite for gas sensing

Abstract

In this study, we have manufactured sensory films based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/carbon nanotubes/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite. The charge transport in obtained films was analyzed using impedance spectroscopy and temperature dependence of conductivity in the 90–325?K temperature range. The activation mechanism of charge transfer was established and the activation energy of conductivity was determined. The percolation effect in the nanocomposite was found with increasing the content of carbon nanoparticles. A decrease in resistance and an increase in the capacity of hybrid films due to the adsorption of water and ammonia molecules were revealed. Found features of the charge transport processes can expand the prospects of application of nanocomposite films for sensor electronics.     

Fabrication of two-dimensional MoS2 thin-film transistors using a reactive thermal evaporation method combined with an annealing step

ABSTRACT

Two-dimensional (2-D) MoS₂ films were fabricated by reactive thermal evaporation combined with thermal annealing. The 2-D nature of the MoS₂ films is demonstrated by observation of direct transition and a Van Hove singularity in the absorbance curve. The 1T phase MoS₂ is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. MoS₂ thin-film transistors (TFTs) are fabricated using the MoS₂ active layer transferred onto an oxidized Si wafer from a sapphire wafer. The MoS₂ TFT demonstrates a threshold voltage of 37.6 V, a field-effect mobility of 6.94 cm²V^?1s^?1 a sub-threshold swing of 29.2 V/dec and a switching ratio of 10³.     

Solution-Processable Low Voltage Organic Transistors of Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-Based Conducting Polymer

A low-operating voltage and high performance polymeric field effect transistors using octadecylphosphonic acid-treated high-k AlOx and HfO₂ hybrid dielectrics were demonstrated. High-k metal oxide hybrid dielectrics were prepared by oxygen plasma treatment of deposited Al film for AlOx and by spin coating of solution-processable HfO₂ sol-gel solution for HfO₂ in combination with phosphoric acid-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM), resulting in high capacitance (10 nF/cm² for SiO₂, 600 nF/cm² for AlOx and 580 nF/cm² for HfO₂). With phosphoric acid-based SAM on high-k metal oxide and thermal annealing of thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-based conducting polymer, the device performance was significantly enhanced. The highest mobility of the transistors using ODPA-treated AlOx as a gate dielectric is 2.3 × 10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in the saturation region with the source-drain of ?2 V. In ODPA-treated HfO₂ hybrid dielectric, the saturated mobility is 1.1 × 10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1 and the threshold voltage was measured to be ?0.31 V, which is at least one order lower than SiO₂ hybrid dielectric (?3 V).     

Ferroelectric PbTiO3 Powders and Thin Films Derived from Sol-Gel Processing

Lead titanate powders and thin films were prepared by the sol-gel process of metal alkoxide solutions and solvents. From DSC measurements, phase transition temperature of crystallized PbTiO₃ powders was obtained at about 484 °C. From XRD investigation, it was confirmed that the tetragonal phase of polycrystalline PbTiO₃ thin films is formed by coating of concentrated solution on all of the substrates we used after heat treatment above 500 °C. It was found by SEM and ellipsometric analysis that the thin film coated with 0.25 M concentrated solutions once had an average thickness of about 720 Å. Surfaces of thin films were crack-free, uniform, and its average grain size investigated by SEM was 0.6–0.8 μm. Band gap energy of PbTiO₃ thin film coated on the Al₂O₃ (2243) substrate was 3.45 eV, which is assumed to be due to the direct band to band transition. Dielectric constant (ϵ) and dielectric loss (tan δ) of PbTiO₃ thin film amounted to 60–70 and 0.01–0.02 in the region of 10 kHz ∼ 1 MHz at room temperature, respectively, and transition temperature was 486 °C at 1 MHz. From the hysteresis loop of PbTiO₃ thin film, spontaneous polarization of 12 μC/cm² and coercive filed of 45 kV/cm were obtained.     

InOx semiconductor films deposited on glass substrates for transparent electronics

Transparent undoped semiconductor indium oxide films were deposited by radio frequency (rf) plasma enhanced reactive thermal evaporation (rf-PERTE) of indium at low substrate temperature. It was experimentally verified that the variation of rf power density has a strong influence on the electrical and structural properties of the films. The thickness of the InO_x films is of about 100 nm. Results show that InO_x films show an average visible transmittance of about 85% and energy gap of about 2.6 eV. Structural and electrical conductivity measurements show that films are polycrystalline and there exists a linear variation of conductivity logarithm vs reciprocal of temperature. Electrical conductivity variation of 17.6 to 5.8 × 10⁻³ (Ω cm)⁻¹ for films produced at rf power densities ranging from 3.9 to 78.1 mW cm⁻³ was obtained. This controllable semiconductor behavior can therefore satisfy the requirement of a particular application for these type of films.     

Electrical, structural and optical properties of SnO2 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

This study investigated the effect of the substrate temperature on the structural, optical, morphological, and electrical properties of undoped SnO₂ films prepared by a spray deposition method. The films were deposited at various substrate temperatures ranging from 300-500 °C in steps of 50 °C and characterized by different optical and structural techniques. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the crystallite size and preferential growth directions of the films were dependent on the substrate temperature. These studies also indicated that the films were amorphous at 300 °C and polycrystalline at the other substrate temperatures used. Infrared and visible spectroscopic studies revealed that a strong vibration band, characteristic of the SnO₂ stretching mode, was present around 630 cm⁻¹ and that the optical transmittance in the visible region varied over the range 75-95% with substrate temperature, respectively. The films deposited at 400 °C exhibited the highest electrical conductivity property.     

Electrical properties of TiO2 thin films

The electrical properties of n-type titanium dioxide thin films deposited by magnetron-sputtering method have been investigated by temperature-dependent conductivity. We observed that the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of titanium dioxide films exhibits a crossover from T^?1/4 to T^?1/2 dependence in the temperature range between 80 and 110 K. Characteristic parameters describing conductivity, such as the characteristic temperature (T₀), hopping distance (R_hop), average hopping energy (Δ_hop), Coulomb gap (Δ_C), localization length (ξ) and density of states (N(E_F)), were determined, and their values were discussed within the models describing conductivity in TiO₂ thin films.     

Electronic transport properties of mixed transition metal ions doped borophosphate glasses

A series of borophosphate glasses in the composition (B₂O₃)_0.10–(P₂O₅)_0.40–(CuO)_0.50?x–(MoO₃)_x; 0.05 ? x ? 0.50 have been investigated for room temperature density and dc conductivity over the temperature range from 350 to 650 K. The density decreased with increase in MoO₃ over the composition range studied except a slight increase around 0.35 mole fraction. The observed initial decrease in conductivity with the addition of MoO₃ has been attributed to the hindrance offered by the Mo⁺ ions to the electronic motions. The observed peak-like behavior in conductivity in the composition range 0.20 – 0.50 mol% of MoO₃ is ascribed to the mixed transition metal ion effect (MTE). Mott’s small polaron hopping model has been used to analyze the high temperature conductivity data and the activation energy for conduction has been determined. The low temperature conductivity has been analyzed in view of Mott’s and Greaves variable range hopping models. It is for the first time that conduction mechanisms have been explored and MTE detected in mixed transition metal ions doped borophosphate glasses.     

Superconducting Transition of (TMTSF)2CLO4 in Magnetic Fields

Abstract

Superconducting transition of (TMTSF)₂ClO₄ was studied by conductivity measurements along the most conductive a-axis in magnetic fields applied along three different principal crystallographic axes. The GL coherence lengths at OK along the a-, b-, and c*-axes, ?_a(0)≈ 600A, ?(0) ≈ 540A, and ?_c*(0) ≈ 60A were obtained from the measurements of the temperature dependence of the upper critical field H_C2 near the transition temperature. The anisotropy is discussed in terms of the dimensionality arising from the crystal structure and of the conductivity anisotropy in the normal state.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Polyphenothiazene Iodine Complexes

Abstract

N-methyl 3,6 dibromophenothiazene has been polymerized by using a nickel complex-assisted Grignard coupling. Vapor phase iodine doping of the organometallic polymerized material led to a conductivity increase of 10^?11 ohm^?1 cm^?1 to 10^?5 ohm cm^?l at room temperature. The complex thus formed exhibited a semiconductor behavior with a thermal activation energy of 0.1 eV and a strong electronic IR absorbance from 4000–400 cm^?1. However, the complexed polymer could be dissolved in liquid I₂ and cast into films with air stable, room temperature conductivities as high as 1 ohm^?l cm^?l. The mechanisms that could give rise to these differences in behavior will be discussed.