Sol-Gel Synthesis and Microstructural Characterization of Silicon Oxycarbide Glass Sheets with High Fracture Strength and High Modulus

A synthesis route to silicon oxycarbide glass sheets (thickness 40 to 1000 m and area up to 20 × 35 cm2) has been developed for the first time starting from a methyl modified sol containing nano-particulate SiO2 and having a solid content of 70 wt%. The gel sheets obtained by casting and drying of this sol were sintered in N2 atmosphere at temperatures between 900–1650°C. Only by the incorporation of colloidal silica (0.10–0.35 mole per mole alkoxide) to the sol could crack-free, large area glass sheets be obtained. Fracture strength (three point bending) was found to attain a maximum (200–300 MPa) for the sheets sintered at 1000°C. Young's modulus attained a peak value between 120 and 130 GPa for the sheets sintered at 1200°C. HR-TEM studies showed an amorphous and homogeneous matrix up to a sintering temperature of 1200°C, whereas at 1450°C and 1650°C, crystallites of SiC and lamellar graphite were formed. It is concluded that addition of colloidal silica to the sol does not lead to inhomogeneities after sintering and therefore does not decrease the strength and elastic modulus.     

New organosols of ZnS and HgS in N,N-dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. Use in the preparation of semiconductive polymer-metal sulfide composite films

Organosols of ZnS and HgS in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were prepared by reaction of Zn and Hg salts with H₂S. ZnS in the DMF organosol has a particle size of about 300 Å, determined by an argon laser scattering technique. The form of HgS in the organosols varies with temperature, concentration of HgS, and type of solvent;-HgS in a DMF organosol is converted into-HgS at –30 °C or above. Poly(acrylonitrile)-ZnS or -HgS composite films prepared from organosols are semiconductive, and the electrical conductivity of the film increases by a factor of 10²–10³ on exposure to moisture or alcohol vapour. Poly(acrylonitrile)--HgS composite films, prepared from heated-HgS, show electrical conductivity of a range of 10^–1–10^–2 S cm^–1 and a large electron mobility.     

The first ionization constant from 25 to 200°C and 2000 bar for orthophosphoric acid

The ionization constant of orthophosphoric acid, determined by conductivity measurements, decreased from 7.11×10^–3 at 25°C to 6.2×10^–4 mol-kg^–1 at 200°C. The pressure effect to 2000 bar was also measured and the ratio K₂₀₀₀/K₁ is 2.7 at 25°C and 3.7 at 200°C. The standard partial molar volume change for the ionization at 1 bar, , changes from –16.1 at 25°C to –33.3 cm³-mol^–1 at 200°C. The partial molar compressibility change for the ionization, , varies from –3.8×10^–3 to –8.3×10^–3 cm³-mol^–1 bar^–1 over the same temperature range.     

Electrically conducting,thermally stable,and mechanically strong CuS-poly(parabanic acid) composite films and their shielding effect of electromagnetic wave

Poly(parabanic acid)-CuS composite film (wt-% of CuS=20–50) prepared by using organosol of CuS (=1500 Å) showed electrical conductivity of 0.1–70 S cm^–1, high thermal stability up to 250°C, high mechanical strength (breaking stress=7.0–12 × 10⁷ Pa), and good shielding effect of electromagnetic wave.     

Ionic conduction of a high-temperature modification of Lu<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

A nanoceramic product of the composition Lu₂Ti₂O₇ is synthesized by a coprecipitation method with a subsequent sublimation drying and an annealing at 650–1650°C. The conduction of Lu₂Ti₂O₇ synthesized at 1650°C is ionic (10^–3 S cm^–1 at 800°C). Thus, a new material with a high ionic conduction has been discovered. The ordering in Lu₂Ti₂O₇ is studied by methods of RFA, RSA, IK spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and impedance spectroscopy. The existence of a low-temperature phase transition fluorite-pyrochlore at 800°C and a high-temperature conversion order-disorder at 1650°C are established.Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 298–303.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Shlyakhtina, Ukshe, Shcherbakova.     

Atomic-Scale Structure of Water-Based Zirconia Xerogels by X-Ray Diffraction

The structural evolution of zirconia thin films and gel powders has been evaluated by X-ray diffraction. Maxima (r ₁ and r ₂) of the experimental radial distribution function RDF and the bond angles were determined and correlated with TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), DTA (differential thermal analysis) and MS (mass spectrometry). The results indicate that the topological short-range structure (<5 Å) of amorphous zirconia thin films, independent of drying temperature, resembles that of crystalline tetragonal ZrO₂. In contrast, amorphous zirconia powder gels dried at temperatures below 120°C show atomic arrangements similar to that of tetragonal ZrO₂. The structure of these gels annealed at temperatures between 165–340°C resembles a distorted tetragonal ZrO₂, monoclinic-like structure. Zirconia powders and films contain crystalline tetragonal ZrO₂ at 400°C.     

Ionization constants of benzoic acid from 25 to 250°C and to 2000 bar

The ionization constant of benzoic acid has been determined by conductivity measurements of dilute aqueous solutions and found to vary from 6.27×10^–5 at 25°C to 0.39×10^–5 at 250°C. The pressure effect to 2000 bar has been measured, and the ratio of ionization constants K₂₀₀₀/K₁ is 2.26 at 25°C and 7.3 at 250°C. V°₁, the standard partial molar volume change for the ionization at 1 bar, varies from –11.7 cm³-mol^–1 at 25°C to –60 cm³-mol^–1 at 250°C. The volume changes are smaller at higher pressures.     

Röntgenstrahlenbeugung bei hohen Temperaturen zur Untersuchung der thermischen Ausdehnung von MnSe und MnSe2

Zusammenfassung Durch Röntgenstrahlenbeugung mit Hilfe einer 190 mm Unicam-Hochtemperaturkamera wurde die thermische Ausdehnung von MnSe und MnSe₂ von Zimmertemperatur bis 710° bzw. 522° C untersucht. Der thermische Ausdehnungskoeffizient wurde aus den Meßdaten nach der Methode der kleinsten Fehlerquadrate erhalten und beträgt für MnSe: =24,5·10^–6°C^–1 (94–450° C) und =14,3·10^–6°C^–1 (450–710° C). Die Ausdehnung von MnSe₂ verläuft bis zum Bereich, in dem Zersetzung eintritt, linear. Die Methode der kleinsten Fehlerquadrate ergibt den Wert =20,0·10^–6°C^–1 (73–522° C).

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High temperature X-ray studies of the thermal expansion ofMnSe andMnSe ₂

The thermal expansion of MnSe and MnSe₂ has been studied above room temperature up to 710° and 522° C, resp., by X-ray diffraction techniques using a 190 mm Unicam high temperature camera. The thermal expansion coefficients, , obtained from a linear least-squares analysis of the data are for MnSe: =24.5·10^–6°C^–1 (94–450° C) and =14.3·10^–6°C^–1 (450–710° C). The expansion of MnSe₂ is linear up to the temperature range of decomposition. A least-squares analysis yields a value for of 20.0·10^–6°C^–1 (73–522° C).

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Mit 2 Abbildungen

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Herrn Prof.H. Nowotny gewidmet.     

Sol-gel processing and properties of cerium doped Barium Strontium Titanate thin films

A stock solution sol-gel based method for making Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) thin films has been developed. A modified titanium alkoxide was combined with a barium and/or strontium inorganic salt in methoxyethanol and ethylene glycol to form the solution. The effect of chemistry on the stability of this BST solution is discussed. The crystallization temperature of 700–725°C for rapid thermally processed films dropped by 100°C using cerium doping. The permittivity for undoped films was 250 and doping by 3 at. % Ce increased the dielectric constant by 20%. A remanent polarization of approximately 0.5 C/cm² and coercive field of 28 kV/cm were measured for the undoped films. The leakage current densities were <10 nA/cm² at E=60 kV/cm and improved for cerium concentrations up to 3 at. %. The charge storage density was 50 fF/m² at 200 kV/cm and the DC breakdown voltage was 300 kV/cm for Ce doped films.     

Thermal and Temporal Aging of Two Step Acid-Base Catalyzed Silica Gels in Water/Ethanol Solutions

Dissolution and reprecipitation of silica during aging in water improve the wet gels mechanical stiffness and strength, and hence shrinkage during supercritical drying is reduced. We have investigated how the strength and stiffness of a 2-step TEOS acid-base catalyzed wet gel can be improved by aging in a solution of water/ethanol (20–40 vol%) at various temperatures (20–70°C) and time (2 h and 24 h) and how this influences the aerogels properties. The linear shrinkage during supercritical drying was reduced from 29% to 2% by introducing the aging step in the 20 vol% water/ethanol solution for 24 h at 60°C.We have also in previous works introduced the idea of preparing ambient pressure dried silica aerogels by increasing the wet gels stiffness by aging in a TEOS solution until shrinkage during drying is almost eliminated. The gels aged in the water/ethanol solutions were further aged in a TEOS/ethanol solution and the effect of the increasing water content in the pore liquid was studied. A xerogel density of 0.20 g/cm³ is reported for gels with a shear modulus (G) of 30 MPa.     

Apparent molal heat capacities and volumes of pyridine and methyl-substituted pyridines in aqueous solution at 25°C

We have made calorimetric measurements leading to apparent molal heat capacities of pyridine and four methyl-substituted pyridines in aqueous solution at 25.0°C. Measurements of densities of the same solutions have led to apparent molal volumes. The results are as follows: pyridine, _C ^° = 305.7 J–°K^–1-mole^–1 and _V ^° = 77.5 cm³-mole^–1; 2-methylpyridine, _C ^° = 370.0 J–°K^–1-mole^–1 and _V ^° = 94.3 cm³-mole^–1; 3-methylpyridine, _C ^° = 380.2 J–°K^–1-mole^–1 and _V ^° = 93.7 cm³-mole^–1; 4-methylpyridine, _C ^° = 378.9 J–°K^–1-mole^–1 and _V ^° = 94.3 cm³-mole^–1; 2,6-dimethylpyridine, _C ^° = 441.8 J–°K^–1-mole^–1 and _V ^° = 109.9 cm³-mole^–1. These _C ^° and _V ^° values are discussed in terms of effects of substitution of CH₃-for H– in the various solute molecules.The research reported here was carried out in the Department of Chemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4.     

Electrical Properties of Sol-Gel Processed Amorphous BaTiO3 Thin Films

BaTiO₃ thin films were prepared on single crystal silicon (1 0 0) and platinum substrates by sol-gel technique. Amorphous films with thickness uniformity were obtained by spinning the solution at 3000 rpm for 30 s and by post-deposition annealing at 400°C. The films exhibited good dielectric and insulating properties. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor at a frequency of 100 kHz were 17 and 0.20, respectively, for 1400 Å thick film on platinum substrate (MIM). The corresponding values were 16 and 0.015 for films on Si (MIS). Dielectric properties were also studied as functions of frequency and voltage. The C-V curve for MIS structure exhibited a hysteresis. The density of interface states recharged during the bias cycle in hysteresis measurement was estimated to be of the order of 2.10 × 10¹¹ cm^–2 and total oxide charge density was about 4.28 × 10¹¹ cm^–2. I-V measurements were performed on films of different thicknesses. The leakage current densities at 5 V for the films having thicknesses 1400 and 2800 Å were 0.86 and 0.11 A/cm² respectively. The conduction mechanism is found to be Poole-Frenkel and Schottky mechanisms at low and high fields, respectively.     

Ionization constants of aqueous ammonia from 25 to 250°C and to 2000 bar

The ionization constant of ammonia has been determined by conductivity measurements and found to vary from 1.77×10^–5 at 25°C to 1.3×10^–6mol-kg^–1 at 250°C. The pressure effect to 2000 bar has been measured and the ratio K₂₀₀₀/K₁ is 6.8 at 25°C and 11 at 250°C. The standard molar volume change for the ionization at 1 bar, V ₁ ^o , changes from –28.8 at 25°C to –67 cm³-mol^–1 at 250°C.     

Stress and Cracks in Gel-Derived Ceramic Coatings and Thick Film Formation

Residual stress was evaluated by measuring the substrate curvature for alkoxide-derived silica and titania films deposited on silica glass substrates. The residual stress was tensile, increasing with increasing heat-treatment temperature. The stress in fired films was affected greatly by water/alkoxide ratio and chelating agents in starting solutions. Secondly, in situ observation was made on cracking of gel films subjected to heat-treatment. Silica and titania gel films deposited on silicon wafers were cracked in the heating-up stage at temperatures of 100°–400°C, depending on the film thickness and heating rate. Larger thickness and lower heating rates were found to lower the cracking onset temperature. Finally, organic polymers with amide groups were demonstrated to increase the uncracking critical thickness. The polymers include polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinylacetamide, allowing single layer ceramic coating films over 1 m in thickness to be formed without cracking.     

Intrinsic defects in irradiated and annealed GaAs detected by FTIR

GaAs has been subjected to fast neutron or electron irradiations up to doses of 2×10¹⁹ n cm^–2 and 10¹⁹ e^– cm^–2 respectively and subsequently annealed to temperatures of 500°C. Infrared absorption spectra (20–700 cm^–1), measured at 20 K, show that the induced one-phonon absorption depends on the nature of the radiation. Resonant modes, at 45 cm^–1 and 119 cm^–1, and a broad line at 328 cm^–1 were found in neutron irradiated material, whereas in electron irradiated material only the 45 cm^–1 feature was detected. These spectroscopic features are interpreted as vibrational modes arising from intrinsic defect centres.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Sol–Gel Derived Ureasilicate Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Matrix Containing CdS Colloidal Particles

The electrical properties of sol–gel-derived films can be tailored by embedding conductive particles of ruthenium dioxide or carbon black in an insulating amorphous SiO₂ silica matrix. The preparation process included an acid hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and methyltrimethoxysilane. Then alcohol solutions of ruthenium chloride or carbon black were added. Films of filler concentration up to 60 vol.% were prepared by dip coating and then dried and heat-treated at various temperatures up to 600_°C. The D.C. resistance of the films can be varied within the range of 10⁹ to 10^–2 cm. A non-linear dependence on filler composition in the films was observed for both systems, which is explained by a modified percolation theory. A percolation threshold of 5.5 vol.% for SiO₂-RuO₂ or 50 vol.% for SiO₂-C films, whereby the resistance drastically decreases, was determined. Moreover the temperature dependency of resistance and the current-voltage characteristics of the films can also be explained by this geometric model.     

Estimation and Comparison of Pore Charge on Titania and Zirconia Membranes Prepared by Sol-Gel Route Using Zeta Potential Measurement

An attempt has been made to synthesize ceramic titania and zirconia membranes by sol-gel process by filtering respective viscous colloidal sol through microporous alumina support and gelling followed by sintering at 400°C and 470°C respectively. The static charge on the pores of the so formed membranes and the pore size distribution determine the applicability in filtering colloidal solution. The mean pore size from SEM were found to be 0.65 m and 0.54 m for titania and zirconia membranes respectively with 1.47 × 10⁷/cm² as pore density for both. The filtration characteristics during membrane layer formation showed that the membrane layer formation started after 35 minutes in the case of titania membrane and 40 minutes in the case of zirconia membrane. From the gravimetric estimation of water content of the membranes the thickness of the membrane was found out to be 3 m and the porosity was found out to be 0.30 for both the cases. The particle charge density was estimated from the zeta potential and the particle size. The pore charge density was estimated from the particle charge density, pore density, pore diameter and the thickness of the membrane layer. The membrane pore charge density was found to vary between 3 to –1 Coulombs/cm² in the case of titania membrane and 7 to –0.5 Coulombs/cm² in the case of zirconia membrane in the pH range 1–12.     

Electroconductivity of Solid Electrolytes in the Systems K3–2x M x PO4 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba)

Solid electrolytes K_{3 – 2x} M _x PO₄ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) are synthesized and the temperature and concentration dependences of their electroconductivity are studied. Adding calcium and strontium stabilizes the high-temperature -form of K₃PO₄ at room temperature, while barium-containing solid electrolytes undergo an eutectoid decomposition below 430°C. Maximum electroconductivity is exhibited by K_{3 – 2x} Sr _x PO₄ (7.1 × 10^–3 and 1.25 × 10^–1 S cm^–1 at 300 and 700°C).     

Technetium-99m generator based on 12-molybdocerate —99Mo precipitate as column matrix

The preparation of insoluble 12-molybdocerate(IV) from⁹⁹Mo of low specific activity, produced by thermal neutron irradiation of MoO₃, is described. Samples of the material are dried at 50, 100 and 200°C and used as column matrices from which the generated^99mTc activity is periodically eluted with saline solution or saline solution containing 5·10^–5M K₂CrO₄ as an oxidant. The elution yields of^99mTc are high and reproducible (95–81%) with radionuclidic purity 99.98%. Both chemical and radiochemical purity (as TcO ₄ ^– ) of the eluates decrease with increasing drying temperature of the column matrix. Using chromated saline solution as eluent improves the radiochemical purity of the^99mTc eluate.     

Photoluminescence as a Function of Aggregated Size from n-Butyl-Terminated Silicon Nanoclusters

Photoluminescence (PL) from alkyl-terminated silicon nanocrystallites as a function of size has been studied. Ultraviolet–blue luminescence (390–410 nm) is observed from as-prepared silicon nanoclusters with diameters from 3 to 8 nm. After 1 h of annealing at 162°C in 2-methoxyethyl ether (diglyme), the _max of PL shifts from 360 to 420 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images show that individual silicon nanoparticles are fused to form pairs of nanoparticles. FTIR spectra show that the alkyl groups remain on the surface of silicon nanoparticles. As the temperature is raised to 250°C for 1 h, the PL no longer shows any peak in the visible light region. TEM images show that the silicon nanoparticles are aggregated and fused uniformly in one single dimension, to form a strip, and these strips parallel each other. When the temperature is raised to 350°C these silicon nanoparticles form a large piece of silicon textile network, showing that functionalized alkyl surface does not persist above this temperature. A strong Si–O–Si asymmetric stretching vibration appears between 1000 and 1100 cm^–1 at the expense of the C–H vibrational modes and there is no more change after 3 h of annealing at 250 or 350°C. These results provide strong evidence that the PL originates from quantum confinement.