One-step synthesis of TiC/multilayer graphene composite by thermal plasma

Graphene hybrid materials have been attracting a great deal of attention due to their superior properties. Nevertheless, problems such as expensive and complicated production processes have limited their application to industrial fields. Here, we introduce a one-step synthesis of titanium carbide (TiC) nanoparticles on multilayer graphene nanosheet (TiC/multilayer graphene) composites using thermal plasma. Although there are three types of titanium alkoxides (titanium ethoxide, titanium isopropoxide and titanium n-butoxide), the TiC/multilayer graphene was synthesized from only titanium isopropoxide. The injection temperature of the precursor was varied to investigate the effects of the precursor concentration in the plasma region. A TiC/multilayer graphene hybrid material with crystalline TiC nanoparticles below 50 nm on graphene nanosheets was observed. The number of graphene nanosheet layers varied from one to over 10 according to the injection temperature. When titanium ethoxide and titanium butoxide were injected, TiC with amorphous carbon and graphite were synthesized. The formation of graphene is considered to be affected by the structure of the carbon chain in the precursors and the concentration in the plasma region.     

Density and particle size of cubic niobium carbide NbC y nanocrystalline powders

Physics of the Solid State - The density of coarse-crystalline and nanocrystalline powders of niobium carbide NbC y (0.77 ≤ y ≤ 0.96) (with a different average particle sizes of...     

Ordering Sequence in Strongly Nonstoichiometric Niobium Carbide with the Formation of Nb6C5-Type Superstructures

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - Possible Nb6C5-type superstructures of nonstoichiometric niobium carbide NbC0.83 are found by the evolutionary crystal structure prediction...     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> calculations of the superconducting transition temperature for NbC at various pressures

Ab initio calculations of the superconducting properties have been performed for niobium carbide (NbC) at normal pressure and upon a 15 and 30% compression. Factors accounting for the relatively low values of the transition temperature T _c in transition metal carbides are considered and the possible ways of increasing this parameter are discussed.     

Formation of titanium carbide coating with micro-porous structure

Micro-porous titanium carbide coating was successfully synthesized in a vacuum gas carburizing furnace by using a sequential diffusion technology. The composition and structure of the as-synthesized TiC were examined by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All of the XRD, XPS and GDMS analysis results indicate that carbon atoms effectively diffused into the titanium alloys and formed a uniform acicular TiC coating with micro-porous structure.     

Electron microscopy characterization of nanostructured carbon obtained from chlorination of metallocenes and metal carbides

In this work we report some new well-defined carbon nanostructures produced by direct chlorination of metallocenes (ferrocene and cobaltocene) and NbC, at temperatures from 100 to 900 degrees C. Thus, amorphous carbon nanotubes with variable dimensions depending on reaction temperature were produced from ferrocene. When cobaltocene is the carbon precursor the main product are solid amorphous nanospheres. The high refractory metal carbide NbC as carbon source favours the growth of nanospherical cabbage-like particles with a higher degree of graphene sheets order. Besides, NbC crystallites encapsulated in an amorphous carbon shell were also found at lower temperatures (T< or =700 degrees C).     

Nanocomposite TiC/a-C：H film prepared on titanium aluminium alloy substrates by PSII assistant MW-ECRCVD

Thin films of titanium carbide and amorphous hydrogenated carbon have been synthesized on titanium aluminium alloy substrates by PSII assisted MW-ECRCVD with a mirror field. The microstructure, chemical composition and mechanical property were investigated. Using XPS and TEM, the films were identified to be a-C：H film containing TiC nanometre grains （namely, the so-called nanocomposite structure）. The size of TiC grains of nanocomposite TiC/DLC film is about 5 nm. The nanocomposite structure has obvious improvement in the mechanical properties of DLC film. The hardness of a-C：H film with Ti is enhanced to 34 G Pa~ while that of a-C：H film without Ti is about 12 G Pa, and the coherent strength is also obviously enhanced at the critical load of about 35N.     

Phase transition and high pressure behavior of Zirconium and Niobium carbides

We have predicted the phase transition pressure (P _T )and high pressure behavior of Zirconium and Niobium carbide (ZrC, NbC). The high pressure structural phase transitions in ZrC and NbC has been studied by using a two body inter-ionic potential model, which includes the Coulomb screening effect, due to the semi-metallic nature of these compounds. These transition metal carbides have been found to undergo NaCl (B1) to CsCl (B2)-type structural phase transition, at high pressure like other binary systems. We predict such structural transformation in ZrC and NbC at a pressure of 98GPa and 85GPa respectively. We have also predicted second order elastic constant and bulk modulus. The present theoretical work has been compared with the corresponding experimental data and prediction of LAPW and GGA and LDA theories.      

Comparative study of titanium carbide and nitride coatings grown by cathodic vacuum arc technique

Titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbide (TiC) thin films and TiC/TiN bilayers have been deposited on AISI 304 stainless steel substrates by plasma assisted physical vapor deposition technique—reactive pulsed vacuum arc method. The coatings were characterized in terms of crystalline structure, microstructure and chemical nature by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. Tribological behavior was investigated using ball on disc technique. The average coefficient of friction was measured, showing lower values for the TiN/TiC bilayer. Dynamic wear curves were performed for each coating, observing a better wear resistance for TiN/TiC bilayers, compared to TiN and TiC monolayers. On the other hand, the TiCN formation in the TiN/TiC bilayer was observed, being attributed to the interdiffusion between TiN and TiC at the interface. Moreover, the substrate temperature influence was analysing observing a good behavior at T_S = 115 °C.     

相结构形成因子统计值对钢中化合物形成的影响

本文根据宏观物理量是微观原子状态统计值的思想,将原子组态最可几值改用统计值代替,利用固体与分子经验电子理论(EET)计算钢中FeS、MnS、TiC(N)、NbC(N)、VC(N)、AlN的相结构形成因子的统计值S′,探讨了各种化合物的S′对钢中组成原子自发凝聚成各种化合物能力的影响.研究发现S′McNS′McC,可以从电子层面合理解释钢在平衡状态下由高温向低温转变时,FeS先于MnS析出,合金碳化物先于合金氮化物析出,在非平衡状态下,析出顺序相反的事实.并成功解释了铁碳相图共晶转变和共析转变各个相的形成顺序.从电子层次得出,在平衡条件下,S′较大的相先形成,在非平衡条件下,S′较小的相先形成.在某一适当冷却速度范围内,S′相差较小的相可以共生,这一冷却速度区间将是S′差值的函数.     

相结构形成因子统计值对钢中化合物形成的影响

本文根据宏观物理量是微观原子状态统计值的思想,将原子组态最可几值改用统计值代替,利用固体与分子经验电子理论(EET)计算钢中FeS、MnS、TiC(N)、NbC(N)、VC(N)、AlN的相结构形成因子的统计值S^',探讨了各种化合物的S^'对钢中组成原子自发凝聚成各种化合物能力的影响。研究发现S_MnS^'相似文献   

Evaluation of phase,composition, microstructure and properties in TiC/a-C:H thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering

Titanium carbide/amorphous-carbon (TiC/a-C:H) nanocomposite coatings deposited by pulsed unbalanced reactive magnetron sputtering have been investigated in terms of structure, chemical and phase composition by AFM, TEM, XPS and XRD analyses. Subject to total carbon content, metallic titanium, titanium carbide and amorphous-carbon phases were found in the deposited coatings, which contributed to the observed microstructures and morphologies. The specific resistivity of nanocomposite coatings scales up with increasing amount of matrix-forming carbon. Hardness profiles of the different compositions revealed that nearly stoichiometric TiC films with average crystallite size of 70 nm exhibit the maximum hardness, whereas the lowest friction coefficient (μ<0.1) was found in films rich in amorphous-carbon and containing smaller TiC nanocrystallites (〈d〉 ∼ 10 nm).     

Graphene oxide with improved electrical conductivity for supercapacitor electrodes

Predominant few-layer graphene (FLG) sheets of high electrical conductivity have been synthesized by a multi-step intercalation and reduction method. The electrical conductivity of the as-synthesized FLG is measured to be ∼3.2 × 10⁴ S m⁻¹, comparable to that of pristine graphite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman analysis reveal that the as-synthesized FLG sheets have large areas with single and double layers. The specific capacitance of 180 F g⁻¹ is obtained for the FLG in a 1 M Na₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte by integrating the cyclic voltammogram. The good capacitive behavior of the FLG is very promising for the application for next-generation high-performance electrochemical supercapacitors.     

Preparation of carbon nanosheets deposited on carbon nanotubes by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method

Carbon nanosheets were synthesized by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method on carbon nanotubes substrate which was treated by hydrogen plasma. The results showed that the diameters of carbon nanotubes first got thick and then “petal-like” carbon nanosheets were grown on the outer wall of carbon nanotubes. The diameters of carbon nanotubes without and with carbon nanosheets were 100-150 and 300-500 nm, respectively. Raman spectrum indicated the graphite structure of carbon nanotubes/carbon nanosheets. The hydrogen plasma treatment and reaction time greatly affected the growth and density of carbon nanosheets. Based on above results, carbon nanosheets/carbon nanotubes probably have important applications as cold cathode materials and electrode materials.     

Structural,morphological and mechanical properties of niobium nitride thin films grown by ion and electron beams emanated from plasma

The influence of variation in plasma deposition parameters on the structural, morphological and mechanical characteristics of the niobium nitride films grown by plasma-emanated ion and electron beams are investigated. Crystallographic investigation made by X-ray diffractometer shows that the film synthesized at 10?cm axial distance with 15 plasma focus shots (PFS) exhibits better crystallinity when compared to the other deposition conditions. Morphological analysis made by scanning electron microscope reveals a definite granular pattern composed of homogeneously distributed nano-spheroids grown as clustered particles for the film synthesized at 10?cm axial distance for 15 PFS. Roughness analysis demonstrates higher rms roughness for the films synthesized at shorter axial distance and by greater number of PFS. Maximum niobium atomic percentage (35.8) and maximum average hardness (19.4?±?0.4?GPa) characterized by energy-dispersive spectroscopy and nano-hardness analyzer respectively are observed for film synthesized at 10?cm axial distance with 15 PFS.     

Effect of Ti and C additions on structural and magnetic properties of (Pr,Nd)–Fe–B nanocrystalline magnetic materials

Effects of titanium carbide (TiC) addition on structural and magnetic properties of isotropic (Pr,Nd)–Fe-B nanocrystalline magnetic materials have been investigated. In this work, we investigate the effect of TiC addition on a (Pr,Nd)-poor and B-rich composition, as well as on a B-poor and (Nd,Pr)-rich composition. Rapidly solidified (Pr,Nd)–Fe–B alloys were prepared by melt-spinning. The compositions studied were (Pr_1−xNd_x)₄Fe₇₈B₁₈ (x=0, 0.5, and 1) with addition of 3 at% TiC. Unlike the (Pr_xNd_1−x)_9.5Fe_84.5B₆ materials that present excellent values for coercive field and energy product, the (Pr,Nd)-poor and B-rich composition alloys with TiC addition present lower values. Rietveld analysis of X-ray data and Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that samples are predominantly composed of Fe₃B and -Fe. For the RE-rich compositions (Pr_xNd_1−x)_9.5Fe_84.5B₆ (x=0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1) with the addition of 3 at% TiC, the highest coercive field and energy product (8.4 kOe and 14.4 MGOe, respectively) were obtained for the composition Pr_9.5Fe_84.5B₆.     

Synthesis and characterization of TiC and TiCN coatings

Thin film coatings of titanium carbide (TiC) and titanium- carbo-nitride (TiCN) were deposited on Si(100) substrates using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. The PLD method is a unique process for depositing high-quality thin films with novel microstructure and properties. Mechanical properties of TiCN are found to be dependent on the nitrogen ambient during deposition. For nitrogen ambient pressure of 20 mTorr the TiCN has hardness values close to TiN hardness values, whereas for nitrogen ambient pressure of 5 mTorr the hardness values of the TiCN films are comparable to the hardness values of the TiC films.     

Stability characteristics of single-layered silicon carbide nanosheets under uniaxial compression

The buckling behavior of single-layered silicon carbide nanosheets (SLSiCNSs) is investigated by employing an atomistic finite element model. Preserving the discrete nature of nanosheets, the beam elements are used to model the Si–C bounds. The effects of aspect ratio and boundary conditions on the stability of zigzag and armchair SLSiCNSs have been studied. Based on the results, it is observed that the buckling forces of small sheets are strongly size-dependent. However, the size-dependent behavior will diminish for larger sheets. Comparing the buckling force of armchair and zigzag nanosheets with same geometries and boundary conditions shows that the buckling force is independent of chirality.     

Surface segregation of ZrC from a carbide solid solution

The surface segregation of zirconium carbide from carbide solid solutions is investigated. The spontaneous surface segregation of ZrC grains from solid solutions in the pseudobinary ZrC-NbC system is revealed for the first time. It is demonstrated that the ZrC precipitation is associated with the decomposition of the car-bide homogeneous solid solutions Zr_1?x Nb_xC ≡ (ZrC)_1?x (NbC)_x. The boundaries of the latent solid-phase decomposition region formed at T<1200 K are determined for the solid solutions formed by ZrC_y and NbC _y′ carbides with different nonstoichiometry. The experimental and theoretical estimates obtained for the segregation energy of ZrC are equal to ?50 and ?31 kJ mol^?1, respectively.     

Cluster dynamics modeling of niobium and titanium carbide precipitates inα-Fe andγ-Fe

Kinetic behaviors of niobium and titanium carbide precipitates in iron are simulated with cluster dynamics.The simulations,carried out in austenite and ferrite for niobium carbides,and in austenite for titanium carbide,are analyzed for dependences on temperature,solute concentration,and initial cluster distribution.The results are presented for different temperatures and solute concentrations,compared to experimental data available.They show little impact of initial cluster distribution beyond a certain relaxation time and that highly dilute alloys with monomers only present a significantly different behavior from denser alloys or ones with different initial cluster distributions.