Characterization of stable hydrophobic carbon coating and its application in removing organic pollutants

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) thin films were deposited on Ni particles with a mean size of ～1 μm using chemical vapor deposition method. The thin films consisting of these PDMS-covered Ni particles showed a water contact angle higher than 160°, corresponding to the superhydrophobicity. These superhydrophobic films were found to be resistant toward acidic and basic media. The PDMS-covered Ni particles showed high affinity toward non-polar organic solvent such as toluene. Together with an external magnetic field, the PDMS-covered Ni can be used for separating water and toluene from a water/toluene heterogeneous mixture.     

A study of phase transfer processes of Ag nanoparticles

With the protection of sodium oleate, Ag nanoparticles are produced through the reduction of AgNO₃ with NaBH₄ in an aqueous solution. The possible mechanism of phase transfer of the Ag nanoparticles was discussed. At a suitable concentration of sodium oleate, after adding NaH₂PO₄, the oleic acid molecule can change its position on the surface of Ag nanoparticles under the effects of water and toluene and become amphipathic. So most of the nanoparticles form a film between water/toluene. For the case of a higher concentration of sodium oleate, excess sodium oleate will form a closed monolayer film on the surface of the Ag nanoparticles. After adding NaH₂PO₄, the oleic acid molecule cannot move on the Ag nanoparticles surface, thus the colloid particles are hydrophobic but not amphipathic. So most of the particles transfer to the organic phase. UV–Vis spectra, TEM and conventional metallographic microscopy are used to characterize the Ag nanoparticles and nanoparticles films.     

An XPS study on the attachment of triethoxsilylbutyraldehyde to two titanium surfaces as a way to bond chitosan

A bioactive coating has the ability to create a strong interface between bone tissue and implant. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from the exoskeletons of shellfish, exhibits many bioactive properties that make it an ideal material for use as a coating such as antibacterial, biodegradable, non-toxic, and the ability to attract and promote bone cell growth and organized bone formation. A previous study reported on the bonding of chitosan to a titanium surface using a three-step process. In the current study, 86.4% de-acetylated chitosan coatings were bound to implant quality titanium in a two-step process that involved the deposition of triethoxsilylbutyraldehyde (TESBA) in toluene, followed by a reaction between the aldehyde of TESBA with chitosan. The chitosan coatings were examined on two different metal treatments to determine if any major differences in the ability of titanium to bind chitosan could be detected. The surface of the titanium metal and the individual reaction steps were examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Following the deposition of TESBA, significant changes were seen in the amounts of oxygen, silicon, carbon, and titanium present on the titanium surface, which were consistent with the anticipated reaction steps. It was demonstrated that more TESBA was bound to the piranha-treated titanium surface as compared to the passivated titanium surface. The two different silane molecules, aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and TESBA, did not affect the chemistry of the resultant chitosan films. XPS showed that both the formation of unwanted polysiloxanes and the removal of the reactive terminal groups were prevented by using toluene as the carrier solvent to bond TESBA to the titanium surfaces, instead of an aqueous solvent. Qualitatively, the chitosan films demonstrated improved adhesion after using toluene, as the films remained attached to the titanium surface even when placed under the ultra-high vacuum necessary for XPS, unlike the chitosan films deposited using an aqueous solvent, which were removed when exposed to the ultra-high vacuum environment of XPS.     

Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of polyfluorene thin films

Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PF8) thin films have been deposited by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) using a KrF excimer laser. The influence of the laser fluence (50-500 mJ/cm²) and the nature of the solvent (chloroform, toluene, tetrahydrofuran) on the films properties have been studied. The chemical composition of the deposited films was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and compared with the one of spin coated films. To investigate the effect of the deposition parameters on the optical properties of the films, photoluminescence (PL) measurements were performed. Poor structural and optical properties were observed for films deposited starting from chloroform solutions. When using toluene as solvent, the spectra characteristics improved with increasing laser fluence, while wide PL spectra were observed. The characteristic emission bands of the PF8 polymer were nicely detected for films deposited starting from a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. Moreover, in this last case, the PF8 structure is preserved at high laser fluences, too.     

Solvent-related effects in MAPLE mechanism

To study the role of the solvent and of the laser fluence in the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) process, we used a soft polymer (polydimethylsiloxane—PDMS) as “sensing surface” and toluene as solvent. Thin films of the PDMS polymer were placed in the position of the growing film, while a frozen toluene target was irradiated with an ArF laser at the conventional fluences used in MAPLE depositions (60–250 mJ/cm²). Apart the absence of solute, the MAPLE typical experimental conditions for the deposition of thin organic layers were tested. The effects on the PDMS films of the toluene target ablation, at different fluences, were studied using atomic force microscopy and contact angles measurements. The results were compared with the effects produced on similar PDMS films by four different treatments (exposure to a drop of the solvent, to saturated toluene vapors and to plasma sources of two different powers). From this comparative study, it appears that depending on the MAPLE experimental conditions: (1) the MAPLE process may be “semidry” rather than purely dry (namely the solvent is likely to be present in the deposition environment near the growing film), (2) the solvent, if sufficiently volatile, is in form of vapor molecules (neutral, ionized and probably dissociated) rather than in liquid phase near the substrate and (3) at relatively high laser fluences (>150 mJ/cm²), the formation of an intense plasma plume results which can damage/affect a soft substrate as well as a growing polymer film.     

Thin films of polyaniline deposited by MAPLE technique

Polyaniline (PAni) has important electro-conductive properties, high absorbance in microwave range and it is also frequently used in gas sensors because of its capability to convert chemical interactions into electrical signals. The methods of obtaining polyaniline in the form of thin films and/or nanostructures are complicated and request special physical and chemical treatments, both on the substrate surface and for the polymer itself.In this paper we applied matrix assisted pulsed lased evaporation (MAPLE) for obtaining thin films and nanostructures of polyaniline. In MAPLE, the target consisting of the material (usually 0.2-3 wt%) dissolved in a solvent is frozen and it is evaporated using a laser. In our case polyaniline-emeraldine salt (PAni-ES) was dissolved in xylene or toluene, frozen in liquid nitrogen and was used as target. The third and the fourth harmonics of a Nd-YAG laser (λ = 355 nm and 266 nm) were used as laser sources. The obtained films have been characterized by atomic force microscopy, dielectric spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The influence of the solvent type and of the laser parameters (wavelengths and fluence) on the polyaniline structures composition and properties has been investigated.     

An infrared spectroscopic investigation of thin alumina films: measurement of acid sites and surface reactivity

The surface chemical activity of an alumina films grown on Mo(100) by oxidation of aluminum evaporated onto the surface and oxidized using water is examined using Auger, X-ray photoelectron and reflection/absorption infrared spectroscopies. The formation of alumina is confirmed using Auger and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy from the positions and intensities of the aluminum features and using reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy from the longitudinal optical modes of the Al–O bonds measured at 935 cm⁻¹. The presence of surface hydroxyls is monitored by forming films using D₂O which are evidenced by a feature at 2700 cm⁻¹. Ammonia adsorption on a dehydroxylated surface yields a single peak at 1260 cm⁻¹ due to ammonia adsorbed at a surface Lewis site where the principle symmetry axis of ammonia is oriented perpendicularly to the surface plane. Ammonia also appears to adsorb at Lewis sites on a hydroxylated surface with a slightly different adsorption geometry from that on a dehydroxylated surface. Finally, the chemistry of trimethyl aluminum adsorbed on the planar hydroxylated alumina surface is compared with that found on high-surface-area γ-alumina where the spectra and the chemistry found in both régimes is exactly identical except that the low-frequency methyl bending modes (at 769 and 718 cm⁻¹) are not obscured on the thin film by the intense substrate whereas they are on the high-surface-area support.     

水性涂料施工过程中微观结构的FTIR研究

以市售立邦水性涂料作为研究对象,溶剂水作为变量因子。配制不同水料比的涂料系列样品,分别用FTIR/ATR、FTIR/漫反射光谱表征湿料、涂膜的微观结构特征,湿料抽滤得到的固型物用FTIR/漫反射光谱表征。分析其官能团变化情况,研究施工过程,溶剂对涂膜的影响。结果显示：随着加水量的增加,湿料的FTIR/ATR光谱中,1 727 cm-1对应的羰基吸收峰,逐渐转为肩峰,871 cm-1吸收峰发生蓝移,峰强度逐渐减弱;涂膜的漫反射红外图谱,3 400 cm-1的—OH吸收峰、3 030 cm-1不饱和—CH吸收峰强度逐渐变弱,2 962和2871 cm-1的甲基和亚甲基的吸收峰强度逐渐增强,2 516 cm-1吸收峰位移至2 603 cm-1形成肩峰,1 647 cm-1吸收峰逐渐位移至1 455 cm-1,1 107 cm-1对应的C—O伸缩振动吸收峰发生红移。在水性涂料施工过程中,溶剂水与涂料分子间存在相互作用,对涂层分子中电子云的密度分布有显著的影响,此结果对涂料的生产及施工有参考意义。     

Engineering and characterization of mesoporous silica-coated magnetic particles for mercury removal from industrial effluents

Mesoporous silica coatings were synthesized on dense liquid silica-coated magnetite particles using cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTAC) as molecular templates, followed by sol-gel process. A specific surface area of the synthesized particles as high as 150 m²/g was obtained. After functionalization with mercapto-propyl-trimethoxy-silane (MPTS) through silanation reaction, the particles exhibited high affinity of mercury in aqueous solutions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), zeta potential measurement, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) were used to characterize the synthesis processes, surface functionalization, and mercury adsorption on the synthesized magnetite particles. The loading capacity of the particles for mercury was determined to be as high as 14 mg/g at pH 2. A unique feature of strong magnetism of the synthesized nanocomposite particles makes the subsequent separation of the magnetic sorbents from complex multiphase suspensions convenient and effective.     

Experimental investigation of C60/NMP/toluene solutions by UV-Vis spectroscopy and small-angle neutron scattering

The transformation of the C₆₀ fullerene cluster state into C₆₀/N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solution after the addition of a nonpolar solvent (toluene, electric permittivity ?= 2.4) is studied. The results of ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and small-angle neutron scattering measurements are used for comparison of the C₆₀/NMP/toluene system with C₆₀/NMP mixtures with a high-polar solvent (water, ? = 80). As to the observed reorganization of the cluster state, the C₆₀/NMP/toluene system is similar to the C₆₀/NMP/water system. This effect is explained by the formation of charge-transfer complexes in the initial C₆₀/NMP solution. These complexes are thought to be soluble in both binary mixtures. The connection between the cluster-reorganization effect and solvatochromism is discussed.     

Formation of high quality gallium nitride thin films on Ga-diffused Si(1 1 1) substrate

High quality gallium nitride thin films have been successfully grown on the Ga-diffused Si(1 1 1) substrates through ammoniating Ga₂O₃ thin films deposited by r.f. magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and photoluminescence (PL) were used to characterize the synthesized samples. The analyses reveal that the formed films are high quality polycrystalline hexagonal gallium nitride. The as-formed GaN films show a flat surface topography with RMS roughness varied from 29 to 48 Å. The strong near-band-edge-emission peak around 368 nm was observed at room temperature. This is a novel method to fabricate GaN thin films based on the direct reaction between Ga₂O₃ and NH₃ on the Ga-diffused Si(1 1 1) substrates.     

Vibration spectroscopic study of the interaction of tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) with potassium

The interaction between Alq₃ and potassium was studied by using Raman and infrared spectroscopies. Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) spectra of Alq₃ films show significant changes after potassium deposition, such as the appearance of new bands and changes in relative intensity. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra obtained using the 413.1 nm line of a Kr⁺ laser reveal similar changes. Changes are even more obvious when the 530.9 nm line was used for excitation. Changes in the SERS for excitation with the 413.1 nm line are less obvious due to a strong photoluminescence. The vibrational pattern of potassium-doped Alq₃ cannot be explained by the formation of radical anion by simple charge transfer, indicating the excess electron is not delocalized over the molecule. The observed spectral change suggests that the potassium atom interacts with both nitrogen and oxygen atoms of Alq₃ molecule.     

溶剂对钙钛矿薄膜形貌和结晶性的影响研究

溶剂对钙钛矿太阳能电池器件有着至关重要的影响. 基于目前常用的N, N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)和丁内酯(GBL)溶剂, 一步溶液旋涂技术和介孔电池结构, 制备的钙钛矿薄膜的形貌、结晶性, 以及最终的器件光电转化效率存在较大的差异, 利用DMF作为溶剂, 效率仅为2.8%, 而基于GBL的电池效率可以达到10.1%. 结合SEM, HRTEM, XRD和UV等表征手段, 分析了钙钛矿从DMF溶液和GBL溶液中结晶析出的不同机理, 明确了溶剂跟PbI₂的配位作用对钙钛矿的溶解、析出过程的制约作用, 揭示了造成器件效率差异的本质原因.     

常压MOCVD生长Ga2O3薄膜及其分析

以去离子水(H₂O)和三甲基镓(TMGa)为源材料,用常压MOCVD方法在蓝宝石(0001)面上生长出β-Ga₂O₃薄膜.用原子力显微镜(AFM)、X射线衍射(XRD)以及二次离子质谱(SIMS)实验表征Ga₂O₃外延膜的质量.在X射线衍射谱中有一个强的Ga₂O₃(102)面衍射峰,其半峰全宽(FWHM)为0.25°,表明该Ga₂O₃外延膜是(102)择优取向.在二次离子质谱中除了C、H、O和Ga原子外,没有观测到其他原子.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of silver deposition on thin Alq3 layers

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is applied to study in situ the interface formation of silver on thin Alq₃ films. The changes in the frequencies of Alq₃ vibrational modes are moderate and their line-shape is preserved upon Ag deposition. Moreover, a good correspondence appears between the SERS and powder spectra and frequencies predicted by density functional calculations for the meridianal isomer. The behaviour of Raman spectra indicates that no chemical interaction occurs between the Ag atoms and Alq₃ molecules.     

Deposition and characterization of carbon nitride films from hexamethylenetetramine/N2 by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Carbon nitride thin films were deposited on Si(1 0 0) substrate by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) was used as carbon and nitrogen source while N₂ gas was used as both nitrogen source and carrier gas. The sp³-bonded C---N structure in HMTA was considered significantly in the precursor selection. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the film was a mixture of crystalline - and β-C₃N₄ as well as graphitic-C₃N₄ and β-Si₃N₄ which were not easily distinguished. Raman spectroscopy also suggested the existence of - and β-C₃N₄ in the films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study indicated the presence of sp²- and sp³-bonded C---N structures in the films while sp³C---N bonding structure predominated to the sp² C---N bonding structure in the bulk composition of the films. N was also found to be bound to Si atoms in the films. The product was, therefore, described as CN_x:Si, where x depends on the film depth, with some evidences of crystalline C₃N₄ formation.     

Enhanced visible-light coloration and its mechanism of MoO3 thin films by Au nanoparticles

A new kind of MoO₃/Au film was prepared by depositing Au nanoparticles on the surface of MoO₃ thin film through spin-on coating technique. After cathodic polarization, the MoO₃/Au thin film was found to show enhanced visible-light coloration compared with MoO₃ thin films. The formation of Schottky barrier at the MoO₃/Au interface, and the visible-light coloration mechanism of the MoO₃/Au film are elucidated by the energy band theory based on surface photovoltaic spectroscopy measurements.     

Influence of MgO surface conditions on the in-plane crystal orientation and critical current density of epitaxial YBCO films

The effect of magnesium oxide (MgO) surface conditions on in-plane grain orientation and critical current density of epitaxial YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO) films was systematically investigated. The MgO substrates were either “as received” or stored for some time, cleaned using different methods and lithographically prepared for our step-edge junction devices. The YBCO films were grown via reactive thermal co-evaporation by Theva, GmbH. The surface characterisation of MgO substrates was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The in-plane grain orientation of the YBCO films was studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) φ-scan and the critical current density was measured for the XRD scanned samples. The surface condition of the MgO substrates was found to have a strong influence on the in-plane grain orientation and the critical current density of the YBCO films. The MgO substrates with a degraded or contaminated surface gave rise to 45° grain misorientation in YBCO films and reduced the critical current density. A final process step using a low energy Ar ion beam etching (IBE) of the MgO substrates prior to the YBCO film deposition was found effective in removing the in-plane grain misorientation and promoting the growth of perfectly aligned c-axis YBCO films.     

Al_2O_3杂化聚酰亚胺薄膜Al含量测试方法研究

无机粒子杂化聚酰亚胺(PI)薄膜具有优良的耐电晕特性,广泛用于变频电机中,文章首先用偶联剂处理过的超细氧化铝粉掺杂聚酰胺酸(PAA)制备了不同氧化铝含量的聚酰亚胺杂化膜.通过傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、电感耦合等离子发射光谱(ICP)、重量法、热失重(TG/空气气氛)等测试方法对制备的不同Al2O3含量杂化聚酰亚胺薄膜的无机成分进行了定性和定量分析.结果表明:FTIR和XPS能很好地对杂化膜进行定性分析,FTIR主要对材料的结构进行分析从而推断出其可能的成分,而XPS则主要得到材料所含各元素信息,它具有操作简单,重复性好等优点;通过研究内层电子结合能及其氧化态的变化,XPS可以鉴别元素种类和价态、测定元素的相对含量.XPS和TG的实测值和理论值相差较大,相对标准偏差(RSD)很大,其中,XPS的RSD值大于5.0%,而TG的RSD值也都大于2.0%,只能对杂化膜进行半定量分析.而ICP和重量法的实测值和理论值相差较小且相对标准偏差(RSD)很小,它们的RSD)值均小于1.0%,能进行精确的定量分析,其中重量法的实测值最接近理论值,但只能用于单一无机组分的分析;而ICP法最精确且可以对多无机组分的复合物进行分析,它有简便、快速、灵敏度高、准确性好、可多元素同时测定,且对环境污染小等优点.由上面的结论可以得到一种分析复合材料中的无机成分的方法:首先,用FTIR和XPS对复合材料进行定性分析;然后,以XPS半定量分析结果作为参考,用重量法(单一组分)和ICP法对复合材料进行精确的定量分析.     

Structure and optical properties of sol–gel derived Gd2O3 waveguide films

Pure and rare earth doped gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃) waveguide films were prepared by a simple sol–gel process and dip-coating method. Gd₂O₃ was successfully synthesized by hydrolysis of gadolinium acetate. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were used to study the thermal chemistry properties of dried gel. Structure of Gd₂O₃ films annealed at different temperature ranging from 400 to 750 °C were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that Gd₂O₃ starts crystallizing at about 400 °C and the crystallite size increases with annealing temperature. Oriented growth of (4 0 0) face of Gd₂O₃ has been observed when the films were deposited on (1 0 0) Si substrate and annealed at 750 °C. The laser beam (λ=632.8 nm) was coupled into the film by a prism coupler and propagation loss of the film measured by scattering-detection method is about 2 dB/cm. Luminescence properties of europium ions doped films were measured and are discussed.