Structural and Electrical Properties of Sol–Gel-processed CdTiO3 Powders and Films

Cadmium titanate, CdTiO₃, was prepared by the sol–gel technique in bulk and in thin film form. The thermal evolution of the gels and the phase changes were studied by thermo- gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Raman and energy-dispersive (EDS) spectroscopies. The morphology of the samples was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Gels heated to 800 °C gave rise to powders with only the ilmenite-like phase. The orthorhombic perovskite phase is the only crystalline phase observed after a 4 h heat-treatment at 1100 °C. With respect to the conventional preparation method by solid-state reaction, by the sol–gel method it is possible to prepare the ilmenite phase at lower temperatures and the perovskite phase in a shorter time. Clear, homogeneous thin films were obtained by the dip-coating method. The refraction index and the thickness of the films were measured using ellipsometry. The humidity-sensitive electrical properties were measured for thin films deposited on alumina substrates with comb-type gold electrodes, heated to 200 °C and 450 °C. The films heated to 200 °C, which still contained organics, showed a variation of the resistance of six orders of magnitude in the relative humidity (RH) range tested (4–87% RH). The films heated to 450 °C, made of ilmenite-type CdTiO₃, were nearly insensitive to RH. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure of HfO2 films and binary oxides on its base

The chemical composition and structure of HfO₂ films and binary oxides formed by their doping with aluminum and scandium are analyzed. It is shown that aluminum doping of HfO₂ causes film amorphization: at the Al concentration above 30 at.% the film becomes amorphous. Scandium doping of HfO₂ modifies the monoclinic structure, and in the Sc concentration range from ??9 at.% to ??14 at.% Sc under non-equilibrium conditions of the CVD process at 600°C a solid solution film of the orthorhombic structure forms.     

Effect of sol-gel preparation method on particle morphology in pure and nanocomposite PZT thin films

Double-scale composite lead zirconate titanate Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ (PZT) thin films of 360 nm thickness were prepared by a modified composite sol-gel method. PZT films were deposited from both the pure sol and the composite suspension on Pt/Al₂O₃ substrates by the spin-coating method and were sintered at 650°C. The composite suspension formed after ultrasonic mixing of the PZT nanopowder and PZT sol at the powder/sol mass concentration 0.5 g mL⁻¹. PZT nanopowder (≈ 40–70 nm) was prepared using the conventional sol-gel method and calcination at 500°C. Pure PZT sol was prepared by a modified sol-gel method using a propan-1-ol/propane-1,2-diol mixture as a stabilizing solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the thin films possess a single perovskite phase after their sintering at 650°C. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirmed that the roughness of double-scale composite PZT films (≈ 17 nm) was significantly lower than that of PZT films prepared from pure sol (≈ 40 nm). The composite film consisted of nanosized PZT powder uniformly dispersed in the PZT matrix. In the surface micrograph of the film derived from sol, large round perovskite particles (≈ 100 nm) composed of small spherical individual nanoparticles (≈ 60 nm) were observed. The composite PZT film had a higher crystallinity degree and smoother surface morphology with necklace clusters of nanopowder particles in the sol-gel matrix compared to the pure PZT film. Microstructure of the composite PZT film can be characterized by a bimodal particle size distribution containing spherical perovskite particles from added PZT nanopowder and round perovskite particles from the sol-matrix, (≈ 30–50 nm and ≈ 100–120 nm), respectively. Effect of the PZT film preparation method on the morphology of pure and composite PZT thin films deposited on Pt/Al₂O₃ substrates was evaluated.     

An aqueous solution-gel method for low temperature synthesis of nanocrystalline NaNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and their ceramics

Nano-sized NaNbO₃ powder has been successfully prepared by aqueous solution-gel method. The phase evolution of NaNbO₃ powder is investigated by TG/DSC, X-rays spectra, FT-IR, and Raman spectra. The results show that the pure NaNbO₃ phase has been obtained at about 375 °C, which is lowered by about 100 °C comparing to others’ work. In TEM studied, it shows the average particle size of ~ 70 nm for the powders heat-treated at 750 °C for 4 h. The powders heat-treated below 650 °C for 4 h shows a Pmnm symmetry, then change from O₃ orthorhombic to O₁ orthorhombic with the heat-treatment temperature above 650 °C.     

Structural and nanomechanical properties of sol–gel prepared (K,Na)NbO3 thin films

Perovskite (K, Na)NbO₃ (KNN) thin films (~100 nm) were prepared by sol–gel/spin coating process on Pt/SiO₂/Si substrates and annealed at 650 °C. The structural properties of KNN films were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron, transmission electron and atomic force microscopy (SEM, TEM and AFM) analysis. Pure perovskite phase of K_0.65Na_0.35NbO₃ in nonstoichiometric composition with monoclinic symmetry in film was revealed. Uniform homogeneous microstructure of KNN film with the roughness (~6.9 nm) contained spherical particles (~50–90 nm). Nanoindentation technique was used to characterize the mechanical properties of KNN films. Elastic modulus and hardness of Pt, SiO₂ and KNN thin films were calculated from their composite values of KNN/Pt/SiO₂/Si film/substrate system. The modulus and hardness of KNN film (71 and 4.5 GPa) were lower in comparison with SiO₂ (100 and 7.5 GPa). Pt film (~30 nm) did not influence the composite modulus, but had effect on hardness of KNN film. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sol–gel synthesis of mesoporous WO3–TiO2 composite thin films for photochromic devices

Mesoporous WO₃–TiO₂ composite films were prepared by a sol gel based two stage dip coating method and subsequent annealing at 450, 500 and 600 °C. An organically modified silicate based templating strategy was adopted in order to obtain a mesoporous structure. The composite films were prepared on ITO coated glass substrates. The porosity, morphology, and microstructures of the resultant products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements, μ-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Calcination of the films at 450, and 500 °C resulted in mixed hexagonal (h) plus monoclinic phases, and pure monoclinic (m) phase of WO₃, respectively. The degree of crystallization of TiO₂ present in these composite films was not evident. The composite films annealed at 600 °C, however, consist of orthorhombic (o) WO₃ and anatase TiO₂. It was found that the o-WO₃ phase was stabilized by nanocrystalline anatase TiO₂. The thus obtained mesoporous WO₃–TiO₂ composite films were dye sensitized and applied for the construction of photochromic devices. The device constructed using dye sensitized WO₃–TiO₂ composite layer heat treated at 600 °C showed an optical modulation of 51 % in the NIR region, whereas the devices based on the composite layers heat treated at 450, and 500 °C showed only a moderate optical modulation of 24.9, and 38 %, respectively. This remarkable difference in the transmittance response is attributed to nanocrystalline anatase TiO₂ embedded in the orthorhombic WO₃ matrix of the WO₃–TiO₂ composite layer annealed at 600 °C.     

Erratum to: Sol–gel synthesis of mesoporous WO3–TiO2 composite thin films for photochromic devices

Mesoporous WO₃–TiO₂ composite films were prepared by a sol gel based two stage dip coating method and subsequent annealing at 450, 500 and 600 °C. An organically modified silicate based templating strategy was adopted in order to obtain a mesoporous structure. The composite films were prepared on ITO coated glass substrates. The porosity, morphology, and microstructures of the resultant products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements, μ-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Calcination of the films at 450, and 500 °C resulted in mixed hexagonal (h) plus monoclinic phases, and pure monoclinic (m) phase of WO₃, respectively. The degree of crystallization of TiO₂ present in these composite films was not evident. The composite films annealed at 600 °C, however, consist of orthorhombic (o) WO₃ and anatase TiO₂. It was found that the o-WO₃ phase was stabilized by nanocrystalline anatase TiO₂. The thus obtained mesoporous WO₃–TiO₂ composite films were dye sensitized and applied for the construction of photochromic devices. The device constructed using dye sensitized WO₃–TiO₂ composite layer heat treated at 600 °C showed an optical modulation of 51 % in the NIR region, whereas the devices based on the composite layers heat treated at 450, and 500 °C showed only a moderate optical modulation of 24.9, and 38 %, respectively. This remarkable difference in the transmittance response is attributed to nanocrystalline anatase TiO₂ embedded in the orthorhombic WO₃ matrix of the WO₃–TiO₂ composite layer annealed at 600 °C.     

Optical, mechanical, and dielectric properties of Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3 thin film synthesized by sol–gel method

The Bi_1/2Na_1/2TiO₃ (BNT) thin film has been researched as an excellent candidate of lead-free ferroelectric materials. We synthesized BNT thin film on Si wafers or quartz glass by sol–gel spin coating method. The homogeneous and crack-free BNT thin film was synthesized by cost effective solution sol gel coating method. The main crystal phase of the film was identified as Bi_1/2Na_1/2TiO₃. The BNT thin film which was coated 3 times and heat-treated at 700 °C had about 70% of transmittance in the ultra-violet visible (UV–VIS) light wavelength region. The calculated band gap energies from the UV transmittance spectra were 3.0 and 3.5 eV for indirect and direct transition, respectively and the refractive index of BNT thin film was 2.16 at 898 nm of wavelength. The hardness and elastic modulus of the film were about 9 and 136 GPa at 10 mN load, where the penetration depth was about 220 nm. BNT thin film showed the diffuse type of dielectric properties due to its Na⁺ and Bi³⁺ ions in A′_1/2A″_1/2BO₃-type perovskite structure and the dielectric constant was about 10 until 300 °C and showed maximum value at 550 °C, 450 at 1 kHz.     

Structure and optical properties of CVD molybdenum oxide films for electrochromic application

Vibrational and optical properties of MoO₃ thin films have been studied by Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The films were deposited onto Si substrates at a temperature of 150 °C by chemical vapor deposition of Mo(CO)₆ at atmospheric pressure and different amounts of oxygen in the reactor. The Raman and IR spectral analyses show that the as-deposited films are in general amorphous. Post-deposition annealing at 300 and 400 °C leads to crystallization and the MoO₃ film structure is a mixture of orthorhombic and monoclinic MoO₃ modifications. Transformation of the monoclinic crystallographic modification to a thoroughly orthorhombic layered structure is observed for films heated at temperatures above 400 °C. Electronic Publication     

Synthesis of Pr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> doped or Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Mg codoped CaSnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> perovskite phosphor by the polymerized complex method

Pr³⁺ doped or Tb³⁺–Mg codoped CaSnO₃ phosphor powder with perovskite structure was synthesized by the polymerized complex method. Powder samples crystallized into the perovskite phase at approximately 600 °C, which is 400 °C lower than the crystallization temperature for the solid-state reaction method. Uniform-sized powders with average particle sizes of 1–2 μm were obtained after heat treatment at 1,400 °C. Although the samples heat-treated at 600 °C did not exhibit photoluminescence, white photoluminescence of Pr³⁺ doped CaSnO₃ or green photoluminescence of Tb³⁺–Mg codoped CaSnO₃ was observed from the sample heat-treated above 800 °C. The intensity of the photoluminescence increased with increase of the heat-treatment temperature and reached a maximum for heat treatment at 1,400 °C. The maximum photoluminescence intensity for the samples prepared by the polymerized complex method was larger than those prepared by solid-state reaction method, which is probably due to the homogeneous mixing of the doped rare earth ions.     

Role of reaction atmosphere in preparation of potassium tantalate through sol–gel method

Potassium tantalate (KT) thin films and powders of both K₂Ta₂O₆ (KT pyrochlore) and KTaO₃ (KT perovskite) structures were prepared by means of chemical solution deposition method using Si(111) with ZnO and MgO buffer layers as a substrate. The influence of reaction atmosphere on reaction pathway and phase composition for both KT powders, and KT thin films has been studied mainly by means of powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. When an oxygen flow instead of static air atmosphere has been used the process of pyrolysis in oxygen runs over much narrower temperature interval (200–300 °C), relatively to air atmosphere (200–600 °C) and almost no (in case of powders), or no (in case of thin films) pyrochlore intermediate phase has been detected in comparison with treatment in air, where the pyrochlore phase is stable at temperatures 500–600 °C (powders). KT perovskite phase starts to crystallize at temperatures 50° and 150 °C lower compared to air atmosphere in case of powders and thin films, respectively. Microstructure formed by near-columnar grains and small grains of equiaxed shape was observed in films treated in oxygen and air atmosphere, respectively.     

A novel route to perovskite lead zirconate from lead glycolate and sodium tris(glycozirconate) via the sol–gel process

A perovskite lead zirconate was synthesized, using lead glycolate and sodium tris (glycozirconate) as the starting precursors, by the sol–gel process. The obtained molar ratio Pb:Zr of PbZrO₃ was 0.9805:1. The TGA–DSC characterizations indicated that the percentage of ceramic yield was 56.4, close to the calculated chemical composition of 59.6. The exothermic peak occurred at 245.7 °C, close to the theoretical Curie temperature of 230 °C. The pyrolysis of PbZrO₃ of the perovskite phase was investigated in terms of calcination temperature and time. The structure obtained was the orthorhombic form when calcined at low temperature at 300 °C for 1 h; it transformed to the monoclinic and cubic forms of the perovskite phase at higher temperatures above the Curie temperature as verified by X‐ray data. The lead zirconate synthesized and calcined at 300 °C for 1 h has the highest dielectric constant, the highest electrical conductivity and the dielectric loss tangent of 2267, 3.058 × 10^?4 (Ω m)^?1 and 2.484 at 1000 Hz, respectively. The lead zirconate powder produced has potential applications as materials used in microelectronics and microelectromechanical systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heat-Treatment-Induced Evolution of the Mesostructure of Finely Divided Y<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> Produced by the Sol–Gel Method

A method was developed for the low-temperature sol–gel synthesis of one of the most popular components of functional and structural materials—nanostructured yttrium aluminum garnet Y₃A_l5O₁₂—using precursors from the class of alkoxoacetylacetonates produced from the corresponding acetylacetonates. It was determined that increasing duration of heat treatment of yttrium-aluminum-containing xerogen in air to 6 h reduces the crystallization temperature of the Y₃A_l5O₁₂ phase from 920–930 to 750–800°C, which was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The microstructure of nanocrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet obtained at 800°С was studied; it was found that the size of crystallites is 30–40 nm, the size of particles is 30–50 nm, and the size of pores is 20–30 nm. Small-angle neutron scattering demonstrated that, in the powders synthesized at 700–800°C, there is structural ordering of the short-range type, whereas in the nanocrystalline samples heat-treated at a higher temperature (850°С), there is no such ordering.     

Effect of solvent on phase composition and particle morphology of lanthanum niobates prepared by polymeric complex sol–gel method

Lanthanum niobates were prepared by a new polymeric complex sol–gel method using Nb-citrate or -tartrate complexes in different solvent (ethanol or methanol) and calcination at 750–1,050 °C. The perovskite La_1/3NbO₃ and pyrochlore LaNb₅O₁₄ phases were formed after calcination at 900 and 1,050 °C from gels synthesized from ethanol and methanol solvents respectively. The very similar xerogel thermal decomposition processes were observed independently on applied solvents, where the pyrochlore monoclinic LaNbO₄ and Nb₂O₅ phases were intermediate products at lower calcination temperatures during transformation. The particle morphologies changed from spherical 20–50 nm particles at 750 °C to granular LN particles (ethanol) or rectangular (methanol) at 1,050 °C. HRTEM images and SAED verified the coexistence of minority monoclinic LaNbO₄ phase with majority phases in individual LN particles after annealing. The strong effect of alcohol solvent on phase formation was shown, while the effect of chelating agent was insignificant.     

Sol-Gel Preparation and Raman Characterization of CdTiO3

Cadmium titanate (CdTiO₃) has been prepared by a room-temperature sol-gel technique. The powders were characterized by means of X-Ray Diffraction. Samples treated at 800°C give rise only to the ilmenite-like phase, but, after a treatment at 1100°C for about four hours, the orthorhombic perovskite is the only crystalline phase observed. The Raman spectrum of the perovskite phase is reported for the first time and that of the ilmenite phase is compared with the spectrum of CdTiO₃ bulk crystals. The effects of the starting stoichiometry on the purity of the final phases, relative to the presence of TiO₂ (anatase and rutile) or CdO, are investigated.     

Elaboration and characterization of La2NiO4+δ powders and thin films via a modified sol–gel process

Polycrystalline thin films of La₂NiO_4+δ have been synthesized on yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates by dip-coating using a polymeric sol. Crack-free films were obtained after sintering in air at temperatures ranging from 800°C to 1000°C. The microstructure, characterized by SEM, shows the formation of dense polycrystalline films with smooth surface and mean grains size of 140 nm, for films sintered at 1000°C. A correlation between grains size and non-stoichiometry in powders have been made in our processes. The thickness, evaluated for rugosimetry measurements, is thin (80 nm) and is a function of the viscosity of the sol. The higher the thickness, the higher the viscosity. As the non-stoichiometry level is controlled by the oxygen partial pressure, an evolution of non-stoichiometry in thin film has proposed. Then, it is possible by modifying synthesis and processing parameters to prepare thin films with a controlled microstructure (thickness, porosity and non-stoichiometry).     

Effect of sol temperature on the structure,morphology, optical and photoluminescence properties of nanocrystalline zirconia thin films

Transparent nanocrystalline zirconia thin films were prepared by sol–gel dip coating technique using Zirconium oxychloride octahydrate as source material on quartz substrates, keeping the sol at room temperature (SET I) and 60 °C (SET II). X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows the formation of mixed phase [tetragonal (T) + monoclinic (M)] in SET I and a pure tetragonal phase in SET II ZrO₂ thin films annealed at 400 °C. Phase transformation from tetragonal to monoclinic was achieved in SET II film annealed at 500 °C. Atomic force microscopy analysis reveals lower rms roughness and skewness in SET II film annealed at 500 °C indicating better optical quality. The transmittance spectra gives a higher average transmittance >85% (UV–VIS region) in SET II films. Optical spectra indicate that the ZrO₂ films contain direct—band transitions. The sub- band in the monoclinic ZrO₂ films introduced interstitial O⁻defect states above the top of the valance band. The energy bandgap increased (5.57–5.74 eV) in SET I films and decreased (5.74–5.62 eV) in SET II films, with annealing temperature. This is associated with the variations in grain sizes. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra give intense band at 384 and 396 nm in SET I and SET II films, respectively. A twofold increase in the PL intensity is observed in SET II film. The “Red” shift of SET I films and “Blue” shift of SET II films with annealing temperature, originates from the change of stress of the film due to lattice distortions.     

Effect of calcination temperature on the microstructure of porous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> film

To obtain porous TiO₂ film, the precursor sol was prepared by hydrolysis of Ti isopropoxide and then complexed with trehalose dihydrate. The porous TiO₂ film was fabricated by the dip-coating technique on glass substrates using this solution. The TiO₂ film was calcined at 500 °C. The maximum thickness of the film from one-run dip-coating was ca. 740 nm. The film was composed of nanosized particle and pores. The porosity of the TiO₂ film was increased by addition of trehalose dihydrate to the sol. The porous TiO₂ films were calcined at different temperatures. The effects of calcination temperature on the microstructure of the porous TiO₂ film were investigated. The porous film prepared from sol containing trehalose still kept the porous structure after calcination at 950 °C. The phase transition temperature of the film from anatase to rutile was shifted from 650 to 700 °C by addition of trehalose to the sol.     

Preparation and characterization of the Ti/IrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> as supercapacitor electrode materials

WO₃ films have been prepared onto IrO₂-coated Ti substrate by electro-deposition, and as-deposited and annealed films have been characterized by using Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the asdeposited film consists of orthorhombic WO₃ · H₂O phase, which transforms to amorphous WO₃ by annealing at 250°C and to monoclinic phase by annealing at and above 350°C. All electrochemical experiments were carried on Ti/IrO₂/WO₃ annealed at 450°C. The open-circuit potential could change significantly due to the hydration of the coating film. However this process is fairly slow. Reproducible voltammograms could be obtained quickly, further revealing high electrochemical stability of the Ti/IrO₂/WO₃ electrode. And the shapes of CV show the approximate rectangular mirror image, showing the typical characteristic of capacitive behavior. The specific capacitance obtained at a scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹ is 46 F g⁻¹.     

Sol-Gel Thin Films of BaFe12O19 from Chemically Modified Alkoxide Precursors

Homogeneous BaFe₁₂O₁₉ (BaM) thin films have been prepared by the dip-coating technique on microscope slides and SiO₂ wafers using barium and iron alkoxides as precursors, and diethanolamine as a modifier. In order to optimise the coating conditions, the influence of the alkoxide, water and modifier on the sol viscosity, thickness and appearance of the Fe₂O₃ films has been investigated. For comparison of the crystallisation and magnetic properties, powders of the same composition as the films have been also prepared by the sol-gel method. The BaM phase appears after annealing at 650°C for 6 hours. The BaM film and powder, heated at 850°C for 6 hours, give coercive force of about 3000 and 5500 Oe, respectively.