Formation of tetragonal hydrogen tungsten bronze by reactive mechanical alloying

Hydrogen tungsten bronzes have been synthesized by reactive mechanical alloying monoclinic tungsten (VI) oxide under hydrogen atmosphere. Two milling devices with different energy ranges were used. Regardless of the distinct reaction times, a similar phase evolution was observed with both apparatus. The characterization of the materials was performed by XRD, SEM, DSC and total hydrogen content determination. The final product obtained was a mixture of tetragonal H_0.33WO₃ and H_0.23WO₃ bronzes.     

Simple cubic super crystals containing PbTe nanocubes and their core-shell building blocks

We report a preparation of high-quality cubic PbTe nanocrystals and their assembly into both square-array, two-dimensional patterns and three-dimensional simple cubic super crystals. The influence of oleylamine in the nanocrystal synthesis and core-shell formation through an anion-exchange mechanism was also studied. The simple cubic super crystals together with two-dimensional assembly patterns containing PbTe nanocubes and their core-shell building blocks were examined using TEM, SEM, AFM, XRD, SAXS, and FTIR. Such super crystals consisting of cubic structural building blocks may allow engineering of more complex materials from which novel properties may emerge.     

Structural and thermal properties of polysulfone-ZnO nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposite thin film of polysulfone with different concentration of ZnO was prepared by solution grown technique. This paper presents a study on the structural and thermal properties of ZnO filled Polysulfone (PSF) nanocomposites. The structural morphology of the resulting nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microcopy (SEM), and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). Thermal properties of PSF nanocomposites samples were investigated by Differential thermal analysis, Thermal gravimetric, and Differential thermal gravimetric. Structural result shows that the ZnO nanofiller with different mass% in polymer matrix cause the significant variation of lattice spacing, crystallite size, and percentage crystallinity. XRD result shows that the amorphous behavior of PSF (Pristine) is increasing with incorporation of ZnO nanoparticle in PSF matrix. The SEM and AFM images show the change in structural morphology of PSF due to incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles. The thermal analysis result shows that the significant thermal degradation of polysulfone nanocomposites due to catalytic behavior of ZnO nanoparticles.     

帽状金纳米结构的制备、表征及表面增强拉曼散射活性

采用真空离子溅射法在自组装的单层阵列二氧化硅纳米粒子表面沉积金薄膜, 制备了以SiO₂为核的帽状金纳米结构. 用透射电镜、扫描电镜、原子力显微镜、X 射线衍射仪和紫外-可见-近红外分光光度计对样品的表面形貌、结构及光学性质进行了表征. 以亚甲基蓝作为探针分子, 对金纳米帽的表面增强拉曼散射活性进行了研究, 结果显示, 吸附在金纳米帽上的分子拉曼散射信号得到显著增强, 增强因子达到10⁷数量级. 该基底在超灵敏生物和化学检测方面具有潜在的应用前景.     

Patterning functional materials using channel diffused plasma-etched self-assembled monolayer templates

A simple and cost-effective methodology for large-area micrometer-scale patterning of a wide range of metallic and oxidic functional materials is presented. Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of alkyl thiols on Au were micropatterned by channel-diffused oxygen plasma etching, a method in which selected areas of SAM were protected from plasma oxidation via a soft lithographic stamp. The patterned SAMs were used as templates for site-selective electrodeposition, electroless deposition and solution-phase deposition of functional materials such as ZnO, Ni, Ag thin films, and ZnO nanowires. The patterned SAMs and functional materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and tunneling AFM (TUNA).     

Synthesis of thin dense titania films via an aqueous solution-gel method

Nanostructured titanium dioxide films have been reported to be used in many applications ranging from optics and solar energy devices to gas sensors. This work describes the synthesis of nanocrystalline titania films via an aqueous solution-gel method. The thin films are deposited by spin coating an aqueous citratoperoxo-Ti(IV)-precursor solution onto a silicon substrate. The influence of processing parameters like Ti⁴⁺ concentration and crystallization temperature on the phase formation, crystallite size and surface morphology of the films is studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Furthermore, the effect of successive layer deposition on the film thickness of the resulting films is studied by means of cross sectional SEM. SEM and TEM micrographs clearly show that, after optimization of the process parameters, thin, smooth, dense nanocrystalline films are synthesized in a reproducible manner. The films are composed of 15–20 nm grains. At higher crystallization temperatures (600, 650°C) also larger particles (40–70 nm) are present. XRD data reveal that a phase pure anatase film is formed at 450°C. Crystallization temperatures equal to or higher than 600 °C however give rise to the formation of both the anatase and rutile crystalline phases. The smoothness of the films is proved by their very low rms surface roughness (≤1.1 nm) measured by AFM.     

Microstructural characterisation of five simulated archaeological copper alloys using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and secondary ion mass spectrometry

This paper describes the microstructural characterisation of five simulated archaeological copper alloys, produced by modern powder technology. The chemical composition of the examined bronzes covers the major families of archaeological bronzes from antiquity until the Roman period. Light microscopy (LM), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as two- and three-dimensional secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) have been used to describe the main properties of the alloys. The results show a heterogeneous microstructure on a micrometer scale, formed by metallic and non-metallic phases. The latter are conglomerates of oxides or sulphides of major or minor elements.     

Multi-instrument characterization of HiPIMS and DC magnetron sputtered tungsten and copper films

In this work, copper and tungsten were sputtered onto silicon wafers by direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) and high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). The resulting films were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). By EDX and XPS, all the sputtered films showed only the expected metal peaks. By XPS, the surfaces sputtered by DCMS were richer in oxygen than those produced by HiPIMS. By AFM, the surfaces were quite smooth. The root mean square (RMS) roughness values are as follows: 0.83 nm (W, HiPIMS), 1.10 nm (W, DCMS), 0.85 nm (Cu, HiPIMS), and 1.78 nm (Cu, DCMS). By SEM, the HiPIMS films exhibited smaller grain sizes, which was confirmed by XRD. The crystallite sizes estimated by XRD are as follows: 4 nm (W, body-centered cubic, HiPIMS), 13 nm (W, body-centered cubic, DCMS), 7 nm (W, cubic, HiPIMS), 14 nm (W, cubic, DCMS), 25 nm (Cu, HiPIMS), and 35 nm (Cu, DCMS). By SE, the HiPIMS surfaces showed higher refractive indices, which suggested that they were denser and less oxidized than the DCMS surfaces.     

二氧化钛薄膜的液相沉积法制备研究

常温下,采用锐钛矿型二氧化钛纳米晶为诱导剂,采用液相沉积法制备了二氧化钛薄膜,采用XRD、SEM、AFM对其晶型、平均晶粒尺寸和形貌进行表征。结果表明,室温所制的二氧化钛薄膜为锐钛矿型,平均粒径为5．8nm,二次粒子平均粒径为10nm,薄膜上观察不到明显的孔洞和裂纹,表面均匀平整,以苯酚的光催化氧化作为目标反应,评价了二氧化钛薄膜的光催化活性。     

Three-dimensional morphological characterization of optic nerve fibers by atomic force microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy.

A comparative study of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of the healthy human optic nerve was carried out to determine the similarities and the differences. In this study we compared the fine optic nerve structures as observed by SEM and AFM. The fibers of the right optic nerve of a 61-year-old man show different arrangements in transverse sections taken from the same individual 5 mm central to the optic canal and 5 mm peripheral to the optic chiasma; this difference can be recognized by light microscopy (LM), SEM, and AFM. AFM revealed such typical optic nerve fibers (taken from a point 5 mm central to the optic canal) with annular and longitudinal orientations, which were not visible by SEM in this form. By contrast, LM and SEM visualized other structures, such as pia mater and optic nerve fibers loosely arranged in bundles, none of which was visualized by AFM. The images, however, taken 5 mm peripheral from the optic chiasma show shapeless nerve fibers having a wavy course. Our results reveal that more detailed information on optic nerve morphology is obtained by exploiting the advantages of both SEM and AFM. These are the first SEM and AFM images of healthy human optic nerve fibers, containing clear representations of the three dimensions of the optic nerve.     

预处理对丝素蛋白膜调控羟基磷灰石晶体生长的影响

以丝素蛋白膜为基质, 在模拟体液中诱导羟基磷灰石晶体在其表面沉积和生长. 利用XRD, SEM, HRTEM, AFM和FTIR等表征手段研究了不同预处理方法对羟基磷灰石晶体的形成及其微观形貌的影响. 结果表明, 丝素膜可有效地诱导羟基磷灰石晶体在其表面沉积和生长; 较长的矿化时间有利于形成较多结晶度良好的HAP晶体; 而不同预处理方法对丝素膜的表面结构产生了不同影响, 进而调制在其表面沉积的羟基磷灰石的形貌和生长方向. 同时对丝素蛋白膜调控羟基磷灰石晶体生长的机制进行了必要的探讨.     

The optical properties of some alkali metal tungsten bronzes from 0.1 to 38 eV

The optical properties of the alkali metal tungsten bronzes are investigated. A review of existing data and the interpretation thereof is presented. Our absorptivity or reflectivity data for two cubic Na bronzes and for a tetragonal K bronze in the energy range 0.1 to 38 eV are displayed; the data are Kramers-Kronig analyzed and the optical constants are obtained. When feasible, comparisons are made with the existing data for the bronzes as well as for ReO₃, which is structurally similar. The interpretation of optical constants is based on an existing band structure for ReO₃ and modifications thereto are suggested.     

Strong aggregation and directional assembly of aromatic oligoamide macrocycles

Aromatic oligoamide macrocycles exhibit strong preference for highly directional association. Aggregation happens in both nonpolar and polar solvents but is weakened as solvent polarity increases. The strong, directional assembly is rationalized by the cooperative action of dipole-dipole and π-π stacking interactions, leading to long nanotubular assemblies that are confirmed by SEM, TEM, AFM, and XRD. The persistent nanotubular assemblies contain non-collapsible hydrophilic internal pores that mediate highly efficient ion transport observed with these macrocycles and serve as cylindrical sites for accommodating guests such as metal ions.     

石质文物表面生物矿化保护材料的仿生制备

许多濒危石质文物急需进行保护处理. 但是, 调查表明已经使用过的表面防护材料很难令人满意, 探索新的石质文物保护材料已是当务之急. 本工作以石质文物表面天然生成的生物矿化膜为仿生合成目标, 依据生物矿化的原理, 以硫酸软骨素作为有机模板, 草酸钙的亚稳过饱和溶液作为无机前驱物, 室温下在石材表面仿生合成了主要成分为一水草酸钙的无机表面保护材料. 其制备工艺用正交试验进行了优化; 结构和形貌用X射线衍射分析仪和原子力显微镜进行了表征; 通过憎水性、耐污性和耐酸性试验进行了合成膜的保护性能测试, 效果良好. 本方法为开拓新的石质文物保护材料提供了思路.     

Synthesis and characterization of erbia and ceria doped calcia stabilized nanocrystalline zirconia based ceramics

Er₂O₃ doped calcia stabilized zirconia based inert matrix fuel containing CeO₂ as a surrogate for PuO₂ was fabricated for a wide range of concentration using the polymer-to-ceramic conversion technique via metal acetate preceramic hybrid polymer solutions. Samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and AFM techniques. Nanocrystallite size variation in the samples was evaluated using peak broadening values by means of the Scherrer formula. The smallest lattice constant was obtained for the sample containing Zr/Ca/Ce/Er atomic weight ratio of 74/11/10/5. The average grain diameters varied between 64 nm and 129 nm. SEM results show that, the smallest grain size was obtained for the sample containing Zr/Ce/Er atomic weight ratio of 22/2/1. Moreover, surface roughness characteristics of the samples were evaluated by different definitions using intermittent contact mode AFM.     

Photosensitivity of CuBiSe2 Thin Film Deposited by Vacuum Evaporation Technique

CuBiSe₂ (CBSe) thin film was prepared by vacuum evaporation. The deposited film was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX), UV–visible specroscopy, and I–V analysis. XRD analysis indicates the formation of cubic CBSe thin film, and the corresponding EDX spectrum confirms the stoichiometry composition of CBSe. In the AFM images, the majority of the particles are granular, and the surface roughness is 8.86 nm. The optical absorption coefficient is >10⁴ in the visible region and the bandgap energy is calculated to be 1.84 eV. The photosensitivity of the film is 181%.     

氧化铝纳米线的制备及其形成机理

采用二次铝阳极氧化技术, 制备高度有序的铝阳极氧化膜(AAO模板). 经X射线衍射(XRD)分析, 模板为无定形结构. 将模板放入腐蚀液中, 可获得大量无定形结构的氧化铝纳米线. 模板在800 ℃下退火4 h后, 变为γ-Al2O3结构, 采用类似腐蚀液溶解模板, 得到大量γ-Al₂O₃纳米线. 研究了腐蚀液种类、腐蚀时间和模板晶体结构等因素对生成氧化铝纳米线的影响, 并利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和XRD对纳米线的形貌与结构进行了表征. 结果表明, 在多种腐蚀液中, 均可获得氧化铝纳米线; 随着腐蚀时间的增加, 纳米线的长度增加, 直径变小, 长径比增大; 氧化铝纳米线的晶体结构与所采用模板的晶体结构一致. 此外, 还采用原子力显微镜(AFM)和SEM对AAO膜的表面形貌及其结构特点进行了详细的观测, 并以此为基础讨论了氧化铝纳米线的形成机理, 认为AAO模板本身存在的花状微结构是形成纳米线的内因, 花瓣间的凹陷部位首先被腐蚀断裂, 形成氧化铝纳米线.     

帽状锡纳米粒子的制备及其表面等离子的共振特性

采用真空热蒸发法在SiO2自组装单层膜上沉积金属锡, 制备了帽状锡纳米结构, 通过扫描电镜(SEM)、原子力显微镜(AFM)、X射线衍射(XRD)仪和Cary 5000紫外-可见-近红外(UV-Vis-NIR)分光光度计对其表面形貌、结构以及光谱特性进行了研究和表征. 结果表明, 制备的复合纳米粒子呈帽状, 表面等离子共振峰位具有明显的可调谐性, 随二氧化硅粒径的增大或锡帽层厚度的增加, 表面等离子共振吸收峰向长波方向移动.     

Electrochemical and computational studies of an expired vilazodone Drug as environmentally safe corrosion inhibitor for aluminum in chloride medium

Through using chemical and electrochemical methods, the theoretical and experimental investigation of the expired vilazodone drug's ability to prevent corrosion on aluminium (Al) in a corrosive medium of HCl (1 M) has been examined. Weighing tests (WL), electrochemical (impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP)), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests at 25 °C have all been used to investigate Vilazodone's capability to prevent corrosion of Al in 1 M HCl in the concentration in the range of 25–150 ppm. The corrosion inhibition effect of the investigate Vilazodone's against Al in acid environment was investigated weight loss and electrochemical methods. The highest % inhibition efficiency (%IE) was 95% resulted from weight loss technique at the highest concentration for inhibitor. According to the PDP data, this examined vilazodone function as a mixed-type inhibitor, impacting both the anodic and cathodic reactions. The inhibitors covered the active points of the metal surface, according to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), to prevent corrosion. It was discovered that the inhibitor adsorption on the Al surface obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isothermal model. AFM, SEM, and FTIR surface examinations proved the inhibitor had a significant protective effect against Al dissolution in 1 M HCl. The outcomes from chemical and electrochemical methods are relatively consistent. Vilazodone acted as an effective corrosion inhibitor, according to all of the experimental data.     

Synthesis,morphology, and properties of hydroxyl terminated‐POSS/polyimide low‐k nanocomposite films

Polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS), having eight hydroxyl groups for the preparation of nanocomposites with polyimide (PI) was synthesized by the direct hydrosilylation of allyl alcohol with octasilsesquioxane (Q₈M₈^H) with platinum divinyltetramethyl disiloxane Pt(dvs) as a catalyst. The structure of allyl alcohol terminated‐POSS (POSS‐OH) was confirmed by FTIR, NMR, and XRD. A high performance, low‐k PI nanocomposite from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)‐4,4'‐oxydianiline (ODA) polyamic acid cured with POSS‐OH was also successfully synthesized. The incorporation of POSS‐OH into PI matrix reduced dielectric constant of PI without loosing mechanical properties. Furthermore, the effects of POSS‐OH on the morphology and properties of the PI/POSS‐OH nanocomposites were investigated using UV–vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, AFM, transmission electron microscope (TEM), TGA, and contact angle. The homogeneous dispersion of POSS particles was confirmed by SEM, AFM, and TEM. The nanoindentation showed that the modulus increased upon increasing the concentration of POSS‐OH in PI, whereas the hardness did not increase very much with respect to loading of POSS, due to soft‐interphase around POSS molecules in the resulting nanocomposites. Overall results demonstrated the nanometer‐level integration of the polymer and POSS‐OH. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5887–5896, 2008