Electrodeposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films on Ti

Diamond-like carbon films (DLC) were deposited on titanium substrates in acetonitrile and N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) liquids by the liquid-phase electrodeposition technique at ambient pressure and temperature. The applied voltage between the electrodes was high (1200 V) due to the use of resistive organic liquids. The surface morphology was examined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Corrosion performance of the coatings was investigated by potentiodynamic polararization tests in phosphate buffer saline solution. Raman spectroscopy analysis of the films revealed two broad bands at approximately 1360 cm⁻¹ and 1580 cm⁻¹, related to D and G-band of DLC, respectively. The coated Ti was tested in a ball-on-plate type wear test machine with Al₂O₃ balls. The films presented a low friction coefficient (about 0.1), and the films deposited from DMF presented the best wear resistance.     

XPS study of the deposited Ti layer in a magnetron-type sputter ion pump

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to study the surface chemical composition of the anode deposits in a miniature magnetron ion pump. The pump was mounted on an UHV system with the ultimate pressure of 1 × 10⁻⁹ mbar. A stable discharge was established in the nitrogen atmosphere with some traces of CO at about 10⁻⁷ mbar. The cathode was made of pure titanium. The sputtered titanium atoms deposited on the anode, where they reacted with gases to form a film of titanium compounds. The thickness of the deposited titanium layer on the anode was about 100 nm. The results from XPS investigations indicate that active gases such as O₂ and N₂ react with Ti forming TiO₂ and TiN. While carbon containing molecules just adsorb on the surface and do not form carbide. In the bulk of the deposited layer almost pure TiN was found with some traces of oxygen and carbon. The part of carbon was bonded to TiC, which can be caused by ion sputtering during the depth profiling.     

Studies on surface graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto PTFE film by remote argon plasma initiation

The graft polymerization of acrylic acid (AAc) was carried out onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films that had been pretreated with remote argon plasma and subsequently exposed to oxygen to create peroxides. Peroxides are known to be the species responsible for initiating the graft polymerization when PTFE reacts with AAc. We chose different parameters of remote plasma treatment to get the optimum condition for introducing maximum peroxides (2.87 × 10⁻¹¹ mol/cm²) on the surface. The influence of grafted reaction conditions on the grafting degree was investigated. The maximum grafting degree was 25.2 μg/cm². The surface microstructures and compositions of the AAc grafted PTFE film were characterized with the water contact angle meter, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Contact angle measurements revealed that the water contact angle decreased from 108° to 41° and the surface free energy increased from 22.1 × 10⁻⁵ to 62.1 × 10⁻⁵ N cm⁻¹ by the grafting of the AAc chains. The hydrophilicity of the PTFE film surface was greatly enhanced. The time-dependent activity of the grafted surface was better than that of the plasma treated film.     

Characterization of Ti6Al4V implant surface treated by Nd:YAG laser and emery paper for orthopaedic applications

A more noble and biocompatible Ti alloy was achieved at fluence of 140 J cm⁻² where the implant indicated a higher degree of hardness (825HV), higher corrosion resistance (−0.21 V) and highest hydrophilicity (i.e. θ_c = 37°) compared with 70° of the control sample. These values corresponded to 58 and 39 mN m⁻¹ of surface tension respectively. The laser treated samples at 140 J cm⁻² showed higher wettability characteristics than mechanically roughened surface. Cell growth and their spreading condition in a specific area were analyzed by SEM and Image J Program software. Clearly, more cells were attached (1.2 × 10⁵) to and spread (488 μm²) over the surface at 140 J cm⁻² than in any other condition. Pathologically, the treated samples indicated no sign of infection.     

Preparation and the optical nonlinearity of surface chemistry improved titania nanoparticles in poly(methyl methacrylate)-titania hybrid thin films

With 800-nm, 120-fs laser pulses, optical nonlinearity has been studied in a series of thin films containing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), filled with surfactant acetylacetone (Acac) capped TiO₂ nanoparticles, which were synthesized by a simple in situ sol-gel/polymerization process, assisted by spin coating and multi-step baking. The resulting nanohybrid thin films have highly optical transparency and demonstrate a unique nonlinear optical (NLO) response. The highest nonlinear refractive index (n₂) is observed up to 6.55 × 10⁻² cm² GW⁻¹ in the nanohybrid thin film of 60 wt% Ti(OBu)₄ in PMMA, with a negligible two-photon absorption (TPA), as confirmed by the Z-scan technique. The titanium precursor loading combined with the nature of the capping molecules are used to influence the ability of nanoparticles to nonlinear optical response. Indeed, the ligands at the nanoparticles’ surface can not only control the extent of the interaction between the organic molecules and the embedded nanoparticles but also influence the optical nonlinearities of nanoparticles.     

Dependence of surface nano-structural modifications of Ti implanted by N ions on temperature

The surface modification of titanium thin foil/sheet samples (0.5 mm) implanted by nitrogen ions of 30 keV energy and a fluence of 1 × 10¹⁸ N⁺ cm⁻² at different temperatures is studied using XRD, AFM, SEM, and SIMS. XRD patterns showed the development of titanium nitride with different compositions in the implanted samples, while the presence of different titanium compositions such as titanium oxides was also observed. AFM images at 654 K showed the formation of grains, that after initial sputtering of the grain boundary at 728 K temperature, the morphology of the surface changed from small grains to a bimodal distribution of grains at 793 K which consisted of larger grains with bright hillocks within them. This was considered to be due to phase transformation/compositional changes, explained by correlating XRD and SIMS results. The SIMS results showed a maximum at about 730 K and a minimum at about 790 K for both N⁺ density and depth of N⁺ penetration in the Ti sample. The variation of these results with temperature was explained on the basis of the residual gas, substrate temperature, dissociation of water in the chamber and the gettering property of titanium.     

The structures of physisorbed and chemisorbed formic acid on Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7

The reaction of formic acid on Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7 was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). The hydroxyl and carbonyl O 1s core levels of chemisorbed formic acid display chemical shifts of 2.4 and 0.2 eV respectively, compared with those of physisorbed molecules. The HREELS spectra of chemisorbed formic acid show the absence of stretching and bending modes of the O-H bond, the appearance of Si-H (2089 cm⁻¹) and the Si-O (680 cm⁻¹) stretching modes and the retained stretching mode of CO at 1703 cm⁻¹. Our results clearly suggest that formic acid dissociates to form monodentate formate species and H-atom on the adatom-rest atom pair of Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7.     

Formation and hydrogenation of p(2 × 2)-N on Pt(1 1 1)

The formation of a well-ordered p(2 × 2) overlayer of atomic nitrogen on the Pt(1 1 1) surface and its reaction with hydrogen were characterized with reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The p(2 × 2)-N overlayer is formed by exposure of ammonia to a surface at 85 K that is covered with 0.44 monolayer (ML) of molecular oxygen and then heating to 400 K. The reaction between ammonia and oxygen produces water, which desorbs below 400 K. The only desorption product observed above 400 K is molecular nitrogen, which has a peak desorption temperature of 453 K. The absence of oxygen after the 400 K anneal is confirmed with AES. Although atomic nitrogen can also be produced on the surface through the reaction of ammonia with an atomic, rather than molecular, oxygen overlayer at a saturation coverage of 0.25 ML, the yield of surface nitrogen is significantly less, as indicated by the N₂ TPD peak area. Atomic nitrogen readily reacts with hydrogen to produce the NH species, which is characterized with RAIRS by an intense and narrow (FWHM ∼ 4 cm⁻¹) peak at 3322 cm⁻¹. The areas of the H₂ TPD peak associated with NH dissociation and the XPS N 1s peak associated with the NH species indicate that not all of the surface N atoms can be converted to NH by the methods used here.     

Electron beam physical vapor deposition of YSZ electrolyte coatings for SOFCs

YSZ electrolyte coatings were prepared by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) at a high deposition rate of up to 1 μm/min. The YSZ coating consisted of a single cubic phase and no phase transformation occurred after annealing treatment at 1000 °C. A typical columnar structure was observed in this coating by SEM and feather-like characteristics appeared in every columnar grain. In columnar grain boundaries there were many micron-sized gaps and pores. In TEM image, many white lines were found, originating from the alignment of nanopores existing within feather-like columnar grains. The element distribution along the cross-section of the coating was homogeneous except Zr with a slight gradient. The coating exhibited a characteristic anisotropic behavior in electrical conductivity. In the direction perpendicular to coating surface the electrical conductivity was remarkably higher than that in the direction parallel to coating surface. This mainly attributed to the typical columnar structure for EB-PVD coating and the existence of many grain boundaries along the direction parallel to coating surface. For as-deposited coating, the gas permeability coefficient of 9.78 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁴ N⁻¹ s⁻¹ was obtained and this value was close to the critical value of YSZ electrolyte layer required for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operation.     

Fourier transform spectroscopy of new emission systems of NbN in the visible region

The emission spectrum of NbN has been reinvestigated in the 8000-35 000  cm⁻¹ region using a Fourier transform spectrometer and two groups of new bands were observed. The bands observed in the 18 000-20 000 cm⁻¹ region have been assigned to a new ³Π-X³Δ transition. Three bands with R heads near 19 463.8, 19 659.0 and 19 757.0 cm⁻¹ have been assigned as 0-0 bands of the ³Π₂-X³Δ₃, ³Π₁-X³Δ₂ and ³Π_0±-X³Δ₁ subbands, respectively, of this new transition. Three additional ΔΩ = 0 bands have been observed in the 24 000-26 000  cm⁻¹ region. A 0-0 band with an R head near 25 409.9 cm⁻¹ has been assigned as a ΔΩ = 0 transition having X³Δ₂ as its lower state while two additional bands with heads near 25 518.7 and 25 534.8 cm⁻¹ were found to be ΔΩ = 0 bands having X³Δ₁ as the common lower state. Two of these three bands are perhaps subbands of a ³Δ-X³Δ transition. Most of the excited levels are affected by perturbations.     

Local vibration assisted molecular configurations in poly(vinylidene fluoride) of ordered ferroelectric phase in N,N-dimethylformamide

Amide-based polymer liquids are important for developing biological and optical colloids or nanofluids. Functionalized properties arise from specific molecular structures. In this investigation, we report model molecular configurations of a polymer liquid, 0.3 g/L poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) dissolved in liquid N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), based on the characteristic IR vibration bands. Peculiarly, a ferroelectric β-PVF₂ phase reorders on a linear configuration in support with the DMF molecules, showing a characteristic band 840 cm^− 1 (CH₂ rocking and CF₂ asymmetric stretching) with the trans band at 1275 cm^− 1. Four CO stretching bands ν₁⁰, ν₁¹, ν₁², and ν₁³ of 1650, 1675, 1725, and 1760 cm^− 1 (bandwidth Δν_½ = 180 cm^− 1 in the four bands) arise in four major configurations of DMF-PVF₂ pairs (or derivatives). Only one prominent ν₁⁰ band 1660 cm^− 1 (Δν_½ = 75 cm^− 1) incurs with a shoulder ν₁¹ of 1725 cm^− 1 (Δν_½ = 25 cm^− 1) in two DMF configurations. A ferroelectric field cased in presence of β-PVF₂ leads to enhance IR absorption by as much as an order of magnitude. It leads to converging non-bonding electron density on the amide moiety.     

Near infrared spectroscopy of carbon dioxide. II: OCO and OCO line positions

High-resolution near-infrared (4000-8500 cm⁻¹) spectra of ¹³C-enriched carbon dioxide have been recorded using the McMath-Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer at the Kitt Peak National Solar Observatory. We observed over 1000 line positions for the ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁶O isotopologue, the majority of which have previously been observed only in spectra of the Venusian atmosphere [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 67 (1977) 304]. These have been analyzed to determine spectroscopic constants for 28 different vibrational states. The analysis yielded RMS fitting residuals <1.5 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹ for the strongest bands and RMS residuals <5 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹ for most other fitted bands. A 5% ¹⁸O-enrichment in the sample enabled us to observe 410 line positions from 5 near-infrared vibrational bands of the ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁸O isotopologue. Analysis of the ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁸O bands yielded RMS fitting residuals <2 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. Additionally, the first fits for the ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁸O 11101 ← 01101 and 11102 ← 01101 hot bands yielded RMS residuals of 2.3 × 10⁻⁴ and 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹, respectively. Critical reevaluations of the spectroscopic constants for the low lying vibrational states for both isotopologues have been performed as part of the analysis.     

The application of Raman and anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy for in situ monitoring of structural changes in laser irradiated titanium dioxide materials

The use of Raman and anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy to investigate the effect of exposure to high power laser radiation on the crystalline phases of TiO₂ has been investigated. Measurement of the changes, over several time integrals, in the Raman and anti-stokes Raman of TiO₂ spectra with exposure to laser radiation is reported. Raman and anti-stokes Raman provide detail on both the structure and the kinetic process of changes in crystalline phases in the titania material. The effect of laser exposure resulted in the generation of increasing amounts of the rutile crystalline phase from the anatase crystalline phase during exposure. The Raman spectra displayed bands at 144 cm⁻¹ (A1g), 197 cm⁻¹ (Eg), 398 cm⁻¹ (B1g), 515 cm⁻¹ (A1g), and 640 cm⁻¹ (Eg) assigned to anatase which were replaced by bands at 143 cm⁻¹ (B1g), 235 cm⁻¹ (2 phonon process), 448 cm⁻¹ (Eg) and 612 cm⁻¹ (A1g) which were assigned to rutile. This indicated that laser irradiation of TiO₂ changes the crystalline phase from anatase to rutile. Raman and anti-stokes Raman are highly sensitive to the crystalline forms of TiO₂ and allow characterisation of the effect of laser irradiation upon TiO₂. This technique would also be applicable as an in situ method for monitoring changes during the laser irradiation process.     

Fourier transform emission spectroscopy of the EΠ-XΣ transition of CaH and CaD

The emission spectra of CaH and CaD have been recorded at high resolution using a Fourier transform spectrometer and bands belonging to the E²Π-X²Σ⁺ transition have been measured in the 20 100-20 700 cm⁻¹ region. A rotational analysis of 0-0 and 1-1 bands of both the isotopologues has been carried out. The present measurements have been combined with the previously available pure rotation and vibration-rotation data to provide improved spectroscopic constants for the E²Π state. The constants ΔG(½) = 1199.8867(34) cm⁻¹, B_e = 4.345032(49) cm⁻¹, α_e = 0.122115(92) cm⁻¹, r_e = 1.986633(11) Å for CaH, and ΔG(½)=868.7438(46) cm⁻¹, B_e = 2.212496(51) cm⁻¹, α_e = 0.036509(97) cm⁻¹, r_e = 1.993396(23) Å for CaD have been determined.     

Near infrared spectroscopy of carbon dioxide I. OCO line positions

High-resolution near-infrared (4000-9000 cm⁻¹) spectra of carbon dioxide have been recorded using the McMath-Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer at the Kitt Peak National Solar Observatory. Some 2500 observed positions have been used to determine spectroscopic constants for 53 different vibrational states of the ¹⁶O¹²C¹⁶O isotopologue, including eight vibrational states for which laboratory spectra have not previously been reported. Calibration by simultaneous use of CO near 4200 cm⁻¹ and C₂H₂ near 6500 cm⁻¹ provides absolute line position accuracies of 6.0 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹ (RMS) for strong, isolated transitions throughout the observed range. Fits with RMS errors <3.8 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹ have been obtained for the 20013 ← 00001, 20012 ← 00001, and 20011 ← 00001 bands, RMS errors <6 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹ have been obtained for the 30014 ← 00001, 30013 ← 00001, 30012 ← 00001, and 00031 ← 00001 bands, and RMS errors <5 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹ for even the weakest fitted bands. This work reduces CO₂ near-infrared line position uncertainties by a factor of 10 or more compared to the 2000 HITRAN line list, which has not been modified since the comprehensive work of Rothman et al. [J. Quant. Spectrosc. Rad. Transfer 48 (1992) 537]. The new line list satisfies the line position accuracies required for the next generation of CO₂ remote sensing instruments, improves the capability of solar-viewing spectrometers to retrieve precise column CO₂ measurements, and provides a secondary frequency standard in the near-infrared.     

A reevaluation of the assignment of the vibrational fundamentals and the rotational analysis of bands in the high-resolution infrared spectra of trans- and cis-1,3,5-hexatriene

Assignments of the vibrational fundamentals of cis- and trans-1,3,5-hexatriene are reevaluated with new infrared and Raman spectra and with quantum chemical predictions of intensities and anharmonic frequencies. The rotational structure is analyzed in the high-resolution (0.0013-0.0018 cm⁻¹) infrared spectra of three C-type bands of the trans isomer and two C-type bands of the cis isomer. The bands for the trans isomer are at 1010.96 cm⁻¹ (ν₁₄), 900.908 cm⁻¹ (ν₁₆), and 683.46 cm⁻¹ (ν₁₇). Ground state (GS) rotational constants have been fitted to the combined ground state combination differences (GSCDs) for the three bands of the trans isomer. The bands for the cis isomer are at 907.70 cm⁻¹ (ν₃₃) and 587.89 cm⁻¹ (ν₃₅). GS rotational constants have been fitted to the combined GSCDs for the two bands of the cis isomer and compared with those obtained from microwave spectroscopy. Small inertial defects in the GSs confirm that both molecules are planar. Upper state rotational constants were fitted for all five bands.     

Line strengths of CO2: 4550-7000 cm

Line positions and strengths of ¹²C¹⁶O₂ were measured between 4550 and 7000 cm⁻¹ using near infrared absorption spectra recorded at 0.01-0.013 cm⁻¹ resolution with the McMath-Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer located at the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak, Arizona. These were retrieved from 42 laboratory spectra obtained at room temperature with five absorption cells having various optical path lengths (from 0.1 to 409 m) filled with natural and enriched samples of CO₂ at pressures ranging from 2 to 581 Torr. In all, band strengths and Herman-Wallis-like F-factor coefficients were determined for 58 vibration-rotation bands from the least-squares fits of over 2100 unblended line strengths; strengths of 34 of these bands had not been previously reported. Band strengths in natural abundance generally ranged from 3.30 × 10⁻²⁰ to 2.8 × 10⁻²⁵ cm⁻¹/molecule cm⁻² at 296 K. It was found that the high J transitions (J′ ? 61) of the 20012 ← 00001 band centered at 4977.8347 cm⁻¹ are perturbed, affecting both measured positions and strengths. Two other interacting bands, 21113e ← 01101e and 40002e ← 01101e, were also analyzed using degenerate perturbation theory. Comparisons with corresponding values from the literature indicate that absolute accuracies better than 1% and precisions of 0.5% were achieved for the strongest bands.     

Fourier transform emission spectroscopy of the CΔ-XΦ, DΔ-XΦ, GΦ-XΦ and GΦ-CΔ systems of CoCl

The emission spectrum of CoCl has been recorded in the 2000-23 000 cm⁻¹ region at high resolution. CoCl was made in a carbon tube furnace by heating cobalt metal to a temperature of about 2300 °C as well as in a DC discharge source and the spectra were observed using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The bands observed in the 2000-13 000 cm⁻¹ interval have been classified into four transitions: C³Δ-X³Φ (2500-3600 cm⁻¹), D³Δ-X³Φ (9300-10 030 cm⁻¹), G³Φ-X³Φ (8500-13 000 cm⁻¹) and G³Φ-C³Δ (7400-7900 cm⁻¹) analogous to the near infrared transitions of CoF reported previously [R.S. Ram, P.F. Bernath, S.P. Davis, J. Chem. Phys. 104 (1996) 6949.]. A rotational analysis of a number of vibrational bands of these transitions has been obtained and spectroscopic constants extracted for the low-lying electronic states of CoCl. It is found that the energy levels of CoCl correlate very well with those of CoF and CoH.     

Laser shock wave consolidation of nanodiamond powders on aluminum 319

A novel coating approach, based on laser shock wave generation, was employed to induce compressive pressures up to 5 GPa and compact nanodiamond (ND) powders (4-8 nm) on aluminum 319 substrate. Raman scattering indicated that the coating consisted of amorphous carbon and nanocrystalline graphite with peaks at 1360 cm⁻¹ and 1600 cm⁻¹ respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a wavy, non-uniform coating with an average thickness of 40 μm and absence of thermal effect on the surrounding material. The phase transition from nanodiamond to other phases of carbon is responsible for the increased coating thickness. Vicker's microhardness test showed hardness in excess of 1000 kg_f/mm² (10 GPa) while nanoindentation test indicated much lower hardness in the range of 20 MPa to 2 GPa. Optical surface profilometry traces displayed slightly uneven surfaces compared to the bare aluminum with an average surface roughness (R_a) in the range of 1.5-4 μm depending on the shock wave pressure and type of confining medium. Ball-on-disc tribometer tests showed that the coefficient of friction and wear rate were substantially lower than the smoother, bare aluminum sample. Laser shock wave process has thus aided in the generation of a strong, wear resistant, durable carbon composite coating on aluminum 319 substrate.     

FTIR measurements of CO2 line positions and intensities at high temperature in the 3700-3750 cm spectral region

Positions and intensities for 453 spectral lines in 12 rovibrational bands of ¹²C¹⁶O₂ have been determined between 3700 and 3750 cm⁻¹. At three temperatures (294, 500, and 698 K) eight spectra have been recorded at a pressure around 5 mbar and for an absorption path of about 190 cm⁻¹ using a Bomen DA3 Fourier transform spectrometer (4 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹ resolution). Some of the measured positions and intensities can be compared with recent experimental results that validate the experimental set-up and the data analysis procedure. The results are also compared with the values listed in the HITRAN 2000 database. If the agreement is generally good, discrepancies are observed for three hot bands.