Electrochemical properties of thin TiO2 electrode on Li1 + xAlxGe2 − x(PO4)3 solid electrolyte

A fabrication of all-solid-state thin-film rechargeable lithium ion batteries by sol-gel method is expected to achieve both the simplification and cost reduction for fabrication process. TiO₂ thin film electrode was prepared by PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) sol-gel method combined with spin-coating on Li_1 + xAl_xGe_2 − x(PO₄)₃ (LAGP) solid electrolyte which has wide electrochemical window. The thin film was composed of anatase TiO₂ that is the most active phase for Li insertion and extraction and contacted well with LAGP substrate. In the cyclic voltammogram, a redox couple was observed at 1.8 V vs. Li/Li⁺ assigned to Li insertion/extraction into/from anatase TiO₂, indicating that the thin film worked as electrode for lithium battery. The charge and discharge test in various charge and discharge rates revealed that the discharge process (delithiation) is thought to be faster than charge process (lithiation). It is attested that the sol-gel process, which derives both simplification and cost reduction for fabrication process, can be applied to thin film battery using LAGP solid electrolyte.     

Template-free synthesis of TS-1 zeolite film on tubular mullite support

The TS-1 film on tubular mullite support was prepared by secondary growth via template-free route using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and tetrabutyl orthotitanate (TBOT) as silica and titanium sources. The as-made films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). Continuous TS-1 seed layer was bonded tightly to the mullite substrates. After secondary growth in the template-free synthesis solution, intergrown TS-1 zeolite film with the typical MFI-type structure was formed on the outer surface of support. The Si atoms in zeolitic lattice were found to be isomorphously substituted by Ti atoms which existed only in tetrahedral coordination. The thickness of the obtained TS-1 zeolite film was less than 20 μm.     

Interfacial morphology and friction properties of thin PEO and PEO/PAA blend films

The scanning force microscope (SFM) was used to investigate morphology of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) blend. The effect of solvent and dewetting in surface structure of PEO film was reported. The results manifested that the crystallization of PEO could be suppressed completely in ultrathin region via using chloroform as a solvent, and the branched-like crystallization was recovered after dewetting. Also, the effect of thickness, the ratio of PEO/PAA and dewetting in surface morphology of PEO-PAA blend films were investigated. These results showed that the crystallization was highly dependent on the ratio of PEO/PAA and the thickness of blend film. Furthermore, we assembled the PEO/PAA layer-by-layer film by spin-casting method for the first time, which exhibited highly efficiency. As a complementary tool, we also used lateral force microscopy (LFM) to explore surface information of these films. The result was indicative of interfacial constraints in ultrathin region, and also was supported by the results showing the spin-casting PEO/PAA blends rather than heterogeneous mixture.     

Structural and optical properties of RF magnetron sputtered aluminum nitride films without external substrate heating

We report structural and optical properties of aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering. A ceramic AlN target was used to sputter deposit AlN films without external substrate heating in Ar-N₂ (1:1) ambient. The X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy results revealed that the films were preferentially oriented along c-axis. Cross-sectional imaging revealed columnar growth perpendicular to the substrate. The secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis confirmed that aluminum and nitrogen distribution was uniform within the thickness of the film. The optical band gap of 5.3 eV was evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy. Photo-luminescence broad band was observed in the range of 420-600 nm with two maxima, centered at 433 nm and 466 nm wavelengths related to the energy states originated during the film growth. A structural property correlation has been carried out to explore the possible application of such important well oriented nano-structured two-dimensional semiconducting objects.     

Oxidation temperature dependent properties of MgO thin film on alumina

The magnesium oxide thin films were prepared by thermal oxidation (in air) of vacuum evaporated magnesium thin film on alumina. It was found that oxidation temperature (623 K, 675 K and 723 K) and thickness (103 nm and 546 nm) dependent effects were prominently manifested in the surface morphology. Electrical and microwave properties (8-12 GHz) of the MgO thin films were also carried out. X-ray diffraction showed orientation along (2 0 0) and (2 2 0) directions. Flowerlike morphology was observed from SEM and flake like morphology for films of higher thickness oxidized at higher temperatures. The magnesium oxide thin film showed NTC behavior. Microwave transmittance was found to increase with increase in oxidation temperature but was lower than alumina. Frequency and oxidation temperature dependent microwave permittivity was obtained. The microwave dielectric constant varied in the range 8.3-15.3.     

Composition depth profiles of Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 thin films studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

In the present work, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the composition depth profiles of Bi_3.15Nd_0.85Ti₃O₁₂ (BNT) ferroelectric thin film, which was prepared on Pt(1 1 1)/Ti/SiO₂/Si(1 0 0) substrates by chemical solution deposition (CSD). It is shown that there are three distinct regions formed in BNT film, which are surface layer, bulk film and interface layer. The surface of film is found to consist of one outermost Bi-rich region. High resolution spectra of the O 1s peak in the surface can be decomposed into two components of metallic oxide oxygen and surface adsorbed oxygen. The distribution of component elements is nearly uniform within the bulk film. In the bulk film, high resolution XPS spectra of O 1s, Bi 4f, Nd 3d, Ti 2p are in agreement with the element chemical states of the BNT system. The interfacial layer is formed through the interdiffusion between the BNT film and Pt electrode. In addition, the Ar⁺-ion sputtering changes lots of Bi³⁺ ions into Bi⁰ due to weak Bi-O bond and high etching energy.     

TiO2 thick films supported on reticulated macroporous Al2O3 foams and their photoactivity in phenol mineralization

TiO₂ thick films deposited on macroporous reticulated Al₂O₃ foams with pore size of 10 ppi and 15 ppi were prepared using dip coating from slurries of Aeroxide^® P25 nanopowder and precipitated titania. All prepared films have sufficiently good adhesion to the surface of the substrate also in case of strongly cracked films. No measurable release of deposited TiO₂ after repeated photocatalytic cycles was observed. The photocatalytic activity was characterized as the rate of mineralization of aqueous phenol solution under irradiation of UVA light by TOC technique. The best activity was obtained with Aeroxide^® P25 coated Al₂O₃ foam with the pore size of 10 ppi, annealed at 600 °C. The optimal annealing temperature for preparation of films from precipitated titania could be determined at 700 °C. Films prepared by sol-gel deposition technique were considerably thinner compared to coatings made of suspensions and their photocatalytic activity was significantly smaller.     

Enhanced photoluminescence of rare-earth doped films prepared by off-axis pulsed laser deposition

Alternate pulsed laser deposition from the host (Al₂O₃) and dopant (Er, Yb) targets has been used to prepare artificially nanostructured films in which the rare earth ion-ion separation is controlled in the nanometer scale in order to control energy transfer between ions. One series of films was prepared in the standard on-axis configuration, i.e. a static substrate being centred with respect to the plasma expansion axis. A second series of films was prepared by rotating the substrate with respect to a shifted axis parallel to the plasma expansion one (off-axis configuration). The latter configuration leads to films with enhanced thickness and Er related photoluminescence intensity uniformity. More interestingly, the Er related photoluminescence lifetime in as-grown films increases up to 2.5 ms, which is much higher than the maximum value of 1 ms obtained for the on-axis configuration films. This enhancement is discussed in terms of a decrease of defect density when using the off-axis configuration.     

Molecule oxygen-driven shaping of gold islands under thermal annealing

Fabrication of the gold micro/nano-structure in a controlled manner has recently attracted considerable interest for its potential applications. With the help of the AFM and XRD measurements, our research on the annealing of the evaporated thin gold films under different thermal environments reveals that O₂ molecule, of which the influence has been generally ignored in the prevenient literatures, can play a very important role in the formation of gold island film. It is experimentally found that the molecule oxygen-driven migration of gold atoms can only occur at a high enough temperature. The time-dependent morphological development of the thin gold film annealing in O₂ is also observed, which is determined by the reduction of the whole interface energy. The morphological features of the Au islands, such as the flat top surfaces and the steep edges, point to the essential role of the interaction between oxygen and the specifically oriented gold surface during the structural evolution.     

Transparent titania nanotubes of micrometer length prepared by anodization of titanium thin film deposited on ITO

Transparent TiO₂ nanotube arrays of micrometer lengths were prepared by anodization of titanium thin film RF sputtered on indium tin oxide (ITO) which was coated on glass substrate. The sputtering process took place at elevated temperature of 500 °C. The structures of the films were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) while the optical properties of the films were investigated using UV-visible spectroscopy. Two types of electrolytes were used in this work: an aqueous mixture of acetic acid and HF solution and a mixture of NH₄F and water dissolved in ethylene glycol. The concentration of NH₄F, voltage and the thickness of the sputtered titanium film were varied to study their effect on the formation of TiO₂ nanotube arrays. It is demonstrated in this work that the nanoporous layer is formed on top of the ordered array of TiO₂ nanotubes. Furthermore, the optical transmittance of TiO₂ nanotubes annealed at 450 °C is much lower than the non annealed TiO₂ nanotubes in the visible wavelength region.