Thermodynamic investigation of thin films of ethane adsorbed on magnesium oxide

The layering properties of ethane on MgO(100) were measured between 91 and 144 K using high-resolution adsorption isotherms. In contrast to previous studies, the results demonstrate that only three layers are formed. The thermodynamic functions derived from the data (isosteric heat, differential enthalpy, and entropy of adsorption) compare well with literature values and show a steady trend toward the bulk properties as the number of layers increased. Phase transitions for two of the layers were identified by monitoring the changes in the two-dimensional isothermal compressibility as a function of chemical potential. Both of these phase transitions occur at approximately 127 K and within 1 K of each other. Through the use of neutron diffraction, it is possible to identify at least one solid surface phase that melts at approximately 75 K. The transition at 127 K is therefore a transition between a liquidlike phase and a hyper-critical fluid. A comparison is made between the present data and our recent study of methane on MgO.     

Thermodynamic studies on thin liquid films. III: Miscibility in adsorbed films at film interfaces

Thermodynamic treatment of surfactant mixture was developed for the adsorption at interfaces of thin liquid films and applied to the study of the foam film stabilized by decyl methyl sulfoxide (DeMS) in the presence of NaCl. The total surface density of NaCl and DeMS and the mole fraction of DeMS in the adsorbed film at the film surface were numerically evaluated by applying thermodynamic equations to the film tension as a function of the total molality of NaCl and DeMS and the mole fraction of DeMS in the mixture. Miscibility of NaCl and DeMS at the film surface was clarified by a phase diagram of adsorption and compared with that at the meniscus adjacent to the foam film. Judging from a phase diagram of phase transition, the transition in the DeMS foam film between common black and Newton black films, observed in part II, is a negative azeotropic transformation caused by the attractive interaction between the head group of DeMS molecule and Na⁺ or Cl^– in the adsorbed film.     

RHEED investigation of thin tin films on polypropylene

Thin layers of (25–1000 Å) tin were evaporated onto a highly oriented polypropylene sheet. Two rates of deposition were used: 5 and 20 Å/s. For the more rapid deposition rate, a preferred orientation of tin was found in all cases. Here, the Sn a axis lay parallel to the polymer chain (polymer c axis). The same orientation relationship was found for the slower deposition rate, but only at lower Sn film thicknesses; at the higher film thicknesses, a random orientation of crystallites is found. Scanning electron micrographs show an equiaxed tin grain structure for the case of no preferred orientation and a platelet morphology for the case of preferred orientation, the thin dimension of the platelets lying perpendicular to the polymer chain axis. Although no clearcut evidence either for or against crystallographic epitaxy has been found, a plausible case for geometrical epitaxy is presented.     

Thermodynamic investigation of the state of water adsorbed by carbonaceous adsorbents

The state of water adsorbed on active carbons and canal soot was studied using the “chemical potential—entropy—temperature” diagram. In the range of the relative pressures from 0.174 to 1, the state of adsorbed water is similar to the state of a stretched liquid. The molar volume, heat of evaporation, and surface tension of stretched water were calculated at different relative pressures. Near the spinodal, the molar volume of stretched water is 25% higher, and the surface tension is considerably lower compared to water. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 464–468, March, 1997.     

Rh-promoted methanol decomposition on cerium oxide thin films

Methanol adsorption and reaction have been studied on Rh-deposited cerium oxide thin films under UHV conditions using temperature-programmed desorption and synchrotron soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The methanol behavior was examined as a function of the Ce oxidation state, methanol exposure, and Rh particle size and coverage. When Rh nanoparticles were deposited on the ceria films, methanol decomposed on Rh to CO and H below 200 K. H atoms recombined and desorbed between 200 and 300 K. CO evolved from Rh deposited on fully oxidized ceria between 400 and 500 K. However, on reduced ceria films, the CO on Rh further decomposed to atomic C. Methanol adsorbed on the ceria films deprotonated to form methoxy as the only intermediate on the surface. This methoxy decomposed and desorbed as CO and H2 at higher temperatures regardless of the ceria oxidation state. Compared with the methanol reaction on Rh-free ceria thin films, formaldehyde formation from methoxy was completely suppressed after Rh deposition. Our results indicate that Rh can promote the decomposition of methoxy adsorbed on the ceria and that decomposition of methoxy intermediates occurred at the metal/oxide interfaces. On the other hand, the reduced ceria can promote total methanol decomposition on Rh.     

Trapping adsorption of carbon monoxide located between carbon dioxide adsorbed on magnesium oxide

Carbon monoxide adsorbed on MgO is strongly trapped by the adsorbed carbon dioxide, increasing the heat of adsorption from 85.4 to 184.1 kJ/mol. The trapped CO is thought to be captured by two or three adsorbed CO₂ and becomes less active to react with oxygen.

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, MgO, , 85,4 184,1 /. , CO CO₂ .

     

Thermodynamic studies on thin liquid films. V. General formulation for spherical films

Thermodynamic equations were derived for adsorption at interfaces of spherical films and interaction between interfaces in a film. The dependence of film tension on capillary pressure between external and film-forming phases gave thermodynamic film thickness and the one on pressure difference across the film the distance between the surface of tension for the film and the innermost dividing surface. Curvature dependence of film tension was numerically evaluated by using one of the derived equations.     

Gas-sensitive properties of thin nickel oxide films

The results of a study of the gas-sensitive properties of nickel oxide layers with respect to n-hexane, acetone, ethanol, benzene, o-xylene, toluene and ammonia are presented. NiO layers 100 ± 5 nm thick were obtained by chemical vapor deposition in the systems (EtCp)₂Ni–О₂–Ar and (EtCp)₂Ni–О₃–О₂–Ar. The electrical resistance of the layers changes in the presence of hexane, ethanol, benzene, and ammonia vapors. The electrical resistance of the obtained layers changed in the presence of vapors of hexane, ethanol, benzene and ammonia. Response and recovery time of the sensing element of the gas sensors did not exceed 6 s in the temperature range 500–600 K.     

Dewetting pattern and stability of thin xyloglucan films adsorbed on silicon and mica

Thin polysaccharide films prepared with xyloglucan (XG), a neutral polysaccharide extracted from the seeds of Guibourtia hymenifolia were prepared by spin-coating and drop deposition under pH3, pH5 and pH12, on silicon and mica substrates. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show flat nanoporous matrices with additional grain-like structures on both mica and silicon for pH 3 and pH 5. However, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger spectra of these adsorbed biopolymers prepared under alkaline condition (pH 12) reveal that Na⁺ ions from the solution interact with the mica substrate surface and with XG forming chemical bonds. Both XPS and Auger results suggest XG depolymerisation during adsorption, caused by an alkaline ß-base catalyzed degradation mechanism, which is consistent with the more basic character of the mica surface under these conditions. Thus, the polysaccharide diffusion is inhibited during dewetting due to the surface bonding. On the other hand, the interaction of Na⁺ in solution with the silicon surface is weaker, favoring its interaction with the polysaccharide, conserving the overall polymer structure of XG and allowing the biopolymer to slip and diffuse during dewetting, forming the final branched fractal structure.     

Thermodynamic studies on thin liquid films. I. General formulation

From the viewpoint that thermodynamic study is essential to elucidate the structure and properties of thin liquid films, thermodynamic equations based on a new convention and employing pressure as a thermodynamic variable are developed for adsorption at film interfaces of a plane-parallel film. The equations together with quasi-thermodynamic ones correlate the dependence of film tension on concentration, temperature, pressure, and disjoining pressure to film density, entropy and volume changes associated with adsorption, and thermodynamic film thickness, respectively. Based on the formulation adopting pressure as a variable, equations are also derived for the differences in thermodynamic quantity between the film and the bulk interfaces coexisting at equilibrium.This revised version was published online in October 2004.Due to an unfortunate error Figure 1 has been omitted in the first version of the article which was published online first on April 23, 2004.     

Molecular precursors to gallium oxide thin films

The donor-functionalised alkoxides [Et(2)Ga(OR)](2)(R = CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)(1), CH(CH(2)NMe(2))(2)(2), CH(2)CH(2)OMe (3), CH(CH(3))CH(2)NMe(2)(4), C(CH(3))(2)CH(2)OMe (5)) were synthesised by the 1:1 reaction of Et(3)Ga with ROH in hexane or dichloromethane at room temperature. Reaction of Et(3)Ga with excess ROH in refluxing toluene resulted in the isolation of a 1:1 mixture of [Et(2)Ga(OR)](2) and the ethylgallium bisalkoxide [EtGa(OR)(2)](R = CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)(6) or CH(CH(3))CH(2)NMe(2)(7)). X-ray crystallography showed that compound 6 is monomeric and this complex represents the first structurally characterised monomeric gallium bisalkoxide. Homoleptic gallium trisalkoxides [Ga(OR)(3)](2) were prepared by the 1:6 reaction of [Ga(NMe(2))(3)](2) with ROH (R = CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)(8), CH(CH(3))CH(2)NMe(2)(9), C(CH(3))(2)CH(2)OMe (10)). The decomposition of compounds 1, 4, 5 and 8 were studied by thermal gravimetric analysis. Low pressure CVD of 1 and 5 resulted in the formation of thin films of crystalline Ga(2)O(3).     

Thermodynamic theory of thin liquid films including line tension effects

This paper presents the contemporary state-of-art of the phenomenological thermodynamic theory of the thin foam and emulsion films, both symmetrical and asymmetrical ones. The roots of this theory are in the Gibbs' theory of capillarity. Two basic approaches — with two Gibbs dividing surfaces and with three surfaces of tension, are described. The generalization of the theory for systems with more complex geometry is commented. The ways of determining of the thermodynamic thickness of the film are described. The basic thermodynamic quantities of the thin film: disjoining pressure, tension of the film and surface tension of the film, are defined. The tangential mechanical equilibrium conditions with two types of contact angles, θ_h, and θ₀, are discussed. The effect of line tension of the three-phase contact-line perimeter on the film contact angles is elucidated.     

Electrochemical and XPS measurements on thin oxide films on zirconium

The potentiodynamic growth of thin oxide films on zirconium electrodes was investigated by coulometric and simultaneous impedance measurements, as a function of the electrode potential (0 V ⩽ E ⩽ 9 V), the pH (0 ⩽ pH ⩽ 14) and the surface preparation (electropolishing, etching and mechanical polishing). The initial film thickness d₀ is at least 4–6 nm; with increasing potential, the oxide grows irreversibly by 2.6 nm/V (pH 0.3) up to 3.2 nm/V (pH 14). In Cl⁻- and ClO⁻₄-containing solutions the oxide growth is limited by localized corrosion. The oxide behaves like a typical insulator with a donor concentration N_D < 10¹⁹ cm⁻³ and a dielectric constant D = 31. Below −0.5 V (vs. SHE) only, th film behaves like an n-type semiconductor with N_D ≈ 3 × 10¹⁹ cm⁻³. From photoelectrochemical measurements a direct and an indirect transition with band gap energies of E_g = 5 eV and E_g = 2.8 eV could be derived. Anodic electron-transfer reactions (ETRs) are blocked at the homogeneous oxide surface, but cathodic ETRs are possible at larger overvoltages. Near the flatband potential E_fb ≈ −1.3 ± 0.2 V (vs. SHE) hydrogen evolution takes place with a simultaneous increase of the capacity which may be attributed to hydrogen incorporation. With XPS measurements the stoichiometry of the oxide film was determined as ZrO₂ at all the pH values examined, but a thin outer layer contained some hydroxide. Components of the forming electrolyte could not be detected (sulphate, borate and perchlorate < 1%), but etching in HF caused accumulation of F⁻ at the inner boundary.     

Tunnelling electron transfer from bulk electron centers of magnesium oxide to adsorbed molecules of nitrous oxide

Tunneling electron transfer from bulk F⁺-centers of MgO to molecules of N₂O adsorbed on MgO surface has been detected and studied.

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F⁺- N₂O, .

     

Plasma-induced deposition of thin films of aluminum oxide

Plasma-induced deposition of wear-protecting A1₂O₃ films has been investigated for two different gas mixtures, one of which is ususally used in thermal CVD. It is shown that, contrary to thermal CVO, the properties of thin films deposited from an AlCl₃/O₂/Ar mixture are superior to those prepared from AICl₃/CO₂/H₂. High Vickers hardness of 1800-2500 and a low chlorine content of 0.7 at. % have been obtained in films deposited from an AICl₃/O₂/Ar mixture at a substrate temperature of 500°C.     

Characterization of monolayer formation on aluminum-doped zinc oxide thin films

The optical and electronic properties of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films on a glass substrate are investigated experimentally and theoretically. Optical studies with coupling in the Kretschmann configuration reveal an angle-dependent plasma frequency in the mid-IR for p-polarized radiation, suggestive of the detection of a Drude plasma frequency. These studies are complemented by oxygen depletion density functional theory studies for the calculation of the charge carrier concentration and plasma frequency for bulk AZO. In addition, we report on the optical and physical properties of thin film adlayers of n-hexadecanethiol (HDT) and n-octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on AZO surfaces using reflectance FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Our characterization of the SAM deposition onto the AZO thin film reveals a range of possible applications for this conducting metal oxide.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering characteristics of 4-nitrobenzenethiol adsorbed on palladium and silver thin films

Palladium is an important catalytic metal, and it is desirable to develop a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique to investigate the reagent and product species adsorbed on its surface. Unfortunately, Pt-group metals, e.g., Pt and Pd, have been commonly considered as non- or weak-SERS-active substrates. In this work, Ag and Pd thin films were deposited very efficiently and evenly onto the surface of glass substrates by using only corresponding metal nitrate salts (AgNO₃ and Pd(NO₃)₂) with butylamine in ethanolic solutions. In this process, pure ethanol was used for Ag deposition, while an ethanol–water (8:2) mixture was used for Pd deposition. The as-prepared Ag and Pd films exhibited SERS activity over a large area. The surface-induced photoconversion capabilities of these Ag and Pd films were then tested on 4-nitrobenzenethiol by means of SERS. It was found that at least under visible laser irradiation, the surface-catalyzed photoreaction occurs more readily on a Ag film than on a Pd film for the conversion of 4-nitrobenzenethiol to 4-aminobenzenethiol, even though Pd is known to be an important transition metal with high catalytic activity.     

Formation and decomposition of thin rhodium oxide films

Interaction of O₂ with Rh (poly) and Rh (100) has been studied by Auger Electron Spectroscopy and thermal desorption method at O₂ pressures of 10^–5–10³ Pa and at 400–1600 K. At P(O₂)<10^–5 Pa chemisorption of O₂ occurs, at P(O₂)=10^–5–10^–1 Pa surface oxides are formed, at P(O₂)>1.0 Pa a bulk Rh₂O₃ oxide starts to grow. The growth of rhodium oxide film proceeds via the Cabrera-Mott mechanism. Its decomposition occurs via a mechanism including electron transfer across the oxide film, O₂ desorption from the surface layer and rearrangement of the oxide layer.     

Thermodynamic equilibrium of adsorbed phases

The types of phase equilibrium behavior for adsorbed binary mixtures that can be predicted by an equation of state (EOS) based on the lattice gas theory are investigated. The equilibrium conditions were obtained by solving the isofugacity equations between adsorbed phases. It is observed that the investigated EOS can predict complex behavior for adsorbed phases such as the existence of azeotropes, and retrograde and double retrograde phase transition phenomena, that are analogous to those found in bulk phase equilibrium. Furthermore, it was possible to find systems that presented phase equilibrium between two dense adsorbed phases, analogously to liquid–liquid equilibrium for bulk phases. Experimental data would be necessary to confirm the types of adsorbed phase behavior predicted by the calculations presented.