Characteristic Length of Metallic Nanorods under Physical Vapor Deposition

By using physical vapor deposition(PVD)to grow metallic nanorods,the characteristic length is controllable,which can be identified by two different growth modes:Mode I and Mode II.In Mode I,the growth of metallic nanorods is dominated by the monolayer surface steps.Whereas in Mode II,the growth mechanism is mainly determined by the multilayer surface steps.In this work,we focused on the analysis of the physical process of Mode I,in which the adatoms diffuse on the monolayer surface at beginning,then diffuse down to the next monolayer surface,and finally result in the metallic nanorods growth.Based on the physical process,both the variations of the characteristic length and the numerical solutions were theoretically proposed.In addition,the twodimensional(2 D)lattice kinetic Monte Carlo simulations were employed to verify the theoretical derivation of the metallic nanorods growth.Our results pay a new way for modifying the performance of metallic nanorods-based applications and devices.

Achieving highly uniform two-dimensional PbI2 flakes for photodetectors via space confined physical vapor deposition

Two-dimensional(2D) PbI_2 flakes have been attracting intensive attention as one potential candidate for the modern optoelectronics. However, suffered from the instability of kinetics-driven growth, the fabricated 2D PbI_2 flakes have a wide dimensional distribution even under the same conditions. Herein, a novel facile space confined physical vapor deposition(PVD) process is provided to synthesize uniform triangle PbI_2 flakes with high quality. The confined space provides a relatively stable growth environment that renders more control on the growth kinetics, leading to highly uniform triangle PbI_2 flakes with the average size of 5 mm and thickness of 17 nm. Moreover, as-fabricated PbI_2-based photodetectors show promising stable and flexible optoelectronic performances to 470 nm light, including high responsivity(0.72 AW^(-1)), large on/off ratio up to 900, fast photoresponse speed(rise time of 13.5 ms and decay time of 20 ms) and high detectivity(1.04×10^(10) Jones). The well-controllable growth of the uniform triangle PbI_2 flakes and the detailed exploration of their optoelectronic properties are particularly valuable for their further practical applications.

Plasma spray-physical vapor deposition toward advanced thermal barrier coatings:a review

Plasma spray–physical vapor deposition(PS–PVD)is a unique technology that enables highly tailorable functional films and coatings with various rare metal elements to be processed.This technology bridges the gap between conventional thermal spray and vapor deposition and provides a variety of coating microstructures composed of vapor,liquid,and solid deposition units.The PS–PVD technique serves a broad range of applications in the fields of thermal barrier coatings(TBCs),environmental barrier coatings(EBCs),oxygen permeable films,and electrode films.It also represents the development direction of high-performance TBC/EBC preparation technologies.With the PS–PVD technique,the composition of the deposition unit determines the microstructure of the coating and its performance.When coating materials are injected into a nozzle and transported into the plasma jet,the deposition unit generated by a coating material is affected by the plasma jet characteristics.However,there is no direct in situ measurement method of material transfer and deposition processes in the PS–PVD plasma jet,because of the extreme conditions of PS–PVD such as a low operating pressure of*100 Pa,temperatures of thousands of degrees,and a thin and high-velocity jet.Despite the difficulties,the transport and transformation behaviors of the deposition units were also researched by optical emission spectroscopy,observation of the coating microstructure and other methods.This paper reviews the progress of PS–PVD technologies considering the preparation of advanced thermal barrier coatings from the perspective of the transport and transformation behaviors of the deposition units.The development prospects of new high-performance TBCs using the PS–PVD technique are also discussed.

^(60)Co Gamma Irradiation and Annealing Effects on Transport Properties of Antimony Telluride Platelets Grown by Physical Vapor Deposition

Physical vapor deposition method was employed to deposit antimony telluride （Sb2Te3） crystals in a dual-zone furnace. The microstructure, surface topography and composition of samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. Seebeck coefficient （Sic）, electrical conductivity （σ⊥c） as well as power factor （PF） were enhanced for pure Sb2Te3 samples upon annealing, and the samples annealed at 473 K exhibited the highest PF of 3.16 × 10^-3 W m-1K-2 with an enhancement of 22% in the figure of merit （Z）. When the delivered dose of 60Co gamma radiation was increased from 0 to 30 kGy in the stoichiometric crystals, σ⊥c decreased due to the decrease in mobility. As a result of the increase in S, PF and Z improved by 12.11 and 13.7%, respectively, in the 30 kGy gamma- irradiated crystals. Both RH （BIIc） and S⊥c were positive, suggesting that the prepared Sb2Te3 crystals retained the p-type semiconductivity after these treatments.

Influence of Deposition Temperature on the Electrical and Electrochemical Properties of Carbon-Based Coatings for Metallic Bipolar Plates, Prepared by Cathodic Arc Evaporation

Cathodic arc evaporation is a well-established physical vapor deposition technique which is characterized by a high degree of ionization and high deposition rate. So far, this technique has been mainly used for the deposition of tribological coatings. In this study, anti-corrosive and electrical conductive carbon-based coatings with a metallic interlayer were prepared on stainless steel substrates as surface modification for metallic bipolar plates. Hereby, the influence of the deposition temperature during the deposition of the carbon top layer was investigated. Raman spectroscopy revealed differences in the microstructure at 200°C compared to 300°C and 100°C. Measurements of the interfacial contact resistance showed that the deposited coatings significantly improve the electrical conductivity. There are only minor differences between the different carbon top layers. The corrosion resistance of the coatings was studied via potentiodynamic polarization at room temperature and 80°C. Experiments showed that the coating with a carbon top layer deposited at 200°C, considerably reduces the current density and thus corrosion of the substrate is suppressed.

Fabrication of Gd_(2)O_(3)-doped CeO_(2)thin films through DC reactive sputtering and their application in solid oxide fuel cells

Physical vapor deposition(PVD)can be used to produce high-quality Gd_(2)O_(3)-doped CeO2(GDC)films.Among various PVD methods,reactive sputtering provides unique benefits,such as high deposition rates and easy upscaling for industrial applications.GDC thin films were successfully fabricated through reactive sputtering using a Gd_(0.2)Ce_(0.8)(at%)metallic target,and their application in solid oxide fuel cells,such as buffer layers between yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ)/La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O_(3−δ)and as sublayers in the steel/coating system,was evaluated.First,the direct current(DC)reactive-sputtering behavior of the GdCe metallic target was determined.Then,the GDC films were deposited on NiO-YSZ/YSZ half-cells to investigate the influence of oxygen flow rate on the quality of annealed GDC films.The results demonstrated that reactive sputtering can be used to prepare thin and dense GDC buffer layers without high-temperature sintering.Furthermore,the cells with a sputtered GDC buffer layer showed better electrochemical performance than those with a screen-printed GDC buffer layer.In addition,the insertion of a GDC sublayer between the SUS441 interconnects and the Mn-Co spinel coatings contributed to the reduction of the oxidation rate for SUS441 at operating temperatures,according to the area-specific resistance tests.

Effects of heat treatment on mechanical properties of ODS nickel-based superalloy sheets prepared by EB-PVD

A Y2O3 dispersion strengthened nickel-based superalloy sheet（0.15 mm thick） was prepared by electron beam physical vapor deposition（EB-PVD） technology.Different heat treatments were used to improve the mechanical properties of the alloy sheet.Differential thermal analysis（DTA） was used to examine the thermal stability of the as-deposited sheet.Element contents,phase composition and microstructure investigations on as-deposited and heat treated specimens were performed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer（XRF）,X-ray diffraction（XRD） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）.Tensile tests were conducted at room temperature on specimens as-deposited and heat treated.The results show that the as-deposited sheet is composed of equiaxed grains on the substrate side and columnar grains on the evaporation side.The as-deposited sheet shows poor ductility due to micropores between columnar grains.The strength and ductility can be improved effectively by annealing at 800°C for 3 h.For samples treated at 1100°C,the strength drops down due to the precipitates of Y3Al5O12（YAG）.

Comparison of TiAlN, AlCrN, and AlCrN/TiAlN coatings for cutting-tool applications

Monolayer and bilayer coatings of TiAlN, AlCrN, and AlCrN/TiAlN were deposited onto tungsten carbide inserts using the plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition process. The microstructures of the coatings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and atomic force microscopy （AFM）. The SEM micrographs revealed that the AlrN and AlCrN/TiAlN coatings were uniform and highly dense and contained only a limited number of microvoids. The TiAIN coating was non-uniform and highly porous and contained more micro droplets. The hardness and scratch resistance of the specimens were measured using a nanoindentation tester and scratch tester, respectively. Different phases formed in the coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The AlCrN/TiAlN coating exhibited a higher hardness （32.75 GPa）, a higher Young＇s modulus （561.97 GPa）, and superior scratch resistance （LcN = 46 N） compared to conventional coatings such as TiAlN, A1CrN, and TiN.

Preparation of a Novel Micro/nano Tubes via Electrospun Fiber as a Template

Poly (para-xylylene) hollow fibers with inner diameters can be prepared via template fibers electrospun from solutions. The PPX is deposited from the vapor phase and the template fiber is selectively removed by heat treatment or solvent extraction. The PPX is partially crystalline and the crystal modification depending on the route is used to extract the template fiber. The thermal stability of the hollow fibers is only slightly reduced relative to the bulk material and the same holds for the UV-stability.

Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Li-doped ZnO Thin Films Influenced by Annealing Temperature

Li-doped ZnO thin films had been grown by radio frequency magnetron sputtering and then annealed under various annealing temperatures. The characteristics of ZnO films were examined by XRD, FESEM, Hall measurement and optical transmission spectra. Results showed that p type conduction was observed in Li doped ZnO films annealed at 500-600 ℃ and thep type ZnO films possessed a good crystalline with c-axis orientation, dense surface, and average transmission of about 85% in visible spectral region.

Effect of pulsed bias on the properties of ZrN/TiZrN films deposited by a cathodic vacuum arc

ZrN/TiZrN multilayers are deposited by using the cathodic vacuum arc method with different substrate bias（from 0 to 800 V）,using Ti and Zr plasma flows in residual N 2 atmosphere,combined with ion bombardment of sample surfaces.The effect of pulsed bias on the structure and properties of films is investigated.Microstructure of the coating is analyzed by X-ray diffraction（XRD）,and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）.In addition,nanohardness,Young＇s modulus,and scratch tests are performed.The experimental results show that the films exhibit a nanoscale multilayer structure consisting of TiZrN and ZrN phases.Solid solutions are formed for component TiZrN films.The dominant preferred orientation of TiZrN films is（111） and（220）.At a pulsed bias of 200 V,the nanohardness and the adhesion strength of the ZrN/TiZrN multilayer reach a maximum of 38 GPa,and 78 N,respectively.The ZrN/TiZrN multilayer demonstrates an enhanced nanohardness compared with binary TiN and ZrN films deposited under equivalent conditions.

Influence of Hysteretic Behaviour in Reactive Magnetron Sputtering on the Crystal Structure and Characteristics of Aluminium Oxide Films

The influence of the hysteretic behaviour in reactive sputtering with a pure aluminium target in the presence of argon and oxygen plasma on transmittance and surface free energy of aluminium oxide films was investigated by plasma optical emission spectroscopy technology. The evolutions of aluminium, and aluminium oxide emission lines as functions of oxygen flow rate at constant power and pressure were studied. A steep transition from the metallic sputtering to the compound sputtering was observed upon increasing the oxygen flow rate from 0.0 SCCM to above 2.0 SCCM. Then an optimal deposition zone was obtained through analyzing the hysteretic curves of aluminium and aluminium oxide emission lines. The evolution of crystal structures of samples was discerned by X-ray diffraction spectra data. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data also demonstrate the relationship between the chemical compositions of aluminium oxide films and the hysteretic behaviour. The film deposited between 1.5 SCCM and 2.0 SCCM oxygen flow rate displays an optimal and stoichiometic atomic ratio of O to Al and mass ratio of O to Al. The changes in the transmittance of samples were discovered to depend on the oxygen flow rate by UV-VIS transmittance spectra, and the changes in surface free energy were studied by contact angle measurement.

Modulating vectored non-covalent interactions for layered assembly with engineerable properties

Vectored non-covalent interactions—mainly hydrogen bonding and aromatic interactions—extensively contribute to(bio)-organic self-assembling processes and significantly impact the physicochemical properties of the associated superstructures.However,vectored non-covalent interaction-driven assembly occursmainly along one-dimensional(1D)or three-dimensional(3D)directions,and a two-dimensional(2D)orientation,especially that of multilayered,graphene-like assembly,has been reported less.In this present research,by introducing amino,hydroxyl,and phenyl moieties to the triazine skeleton,supramolecular layered assembly is achieved by vectored non-covalent interactions.The planar hydrogen bonding network results in high stability,with a thermal sustainability of up to about 330°C and a Young’s modulus of up to about 40 GPa.Upon introducing wrinkles by biased hydrogen bonding or aromatic interactions to disturb the planar organization,the stability attenuates.However,the intertwined aromatic interactions prompt a red edge excitation shift effect inside the assemblies,inducing broad-spectrum fluorescence covering nearly the entire visible light region(400–650 nm).We show that bionic,superhydrophobic,pillar-like arrays with contact angles of up to about 170°can be engineered by aromatic interactions using a physical vapor deposition approach,which cannot be realized through hydrogen bonding.Our findings show the feasibility of 2D assembly with engineerable properties by modulating vectored non-covalent interactions.

Promising Electrode and Electrolyte Materials for High-Energy-Density Thin-Film Lithium Batteries

All-solid-state thin-film lithium batteries(TFLBs)are the ideal wireless power sources for on-chip micro/nanodevices due to the significant advantages of safety,portability,and integration.As the bottleneck for increasing the energy density of TFLBs,the key components of cathode,electrolyte,and anode are still underway to be improved.In this review,a brief history of TFLBs is first outlined by presenting several TFLB configurations.Based on the state-of-the-art materials developed for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),the challenges and related strategies for the application of those potential electrode and electrolyte materials in TFLBs are discussed.Given the advanced manufacture and characterization techniques,the recent advances of TFLBs are reviewed for pursuing the high-energy-density and long-termdurability demands,which could guide the development of future TFLBs and analogous all-solid-state lithium batteries.

Structural and optical properties of AlN sputtering deposited on sapphire substrates with various orientations

AlN thin films were deposited on c-,a-and r-plane sapphire substrates by the magnetron sputtering technique.The in-fluence of high-temperature thermal annealing(HTTA)on the structural,optical properties as well as surface stoichiometry were comprehensively investigated.The significant narrowing of the(0002)diffraction peak to as low as 68 arcsec of AlN after HTTA implies a reduction of tilt component inside the AlN thin films,and consequently much-reduced dislocation densities.This is also supported by the appearance of E2(high)Raman peak and better Al-N stoichiometry after HTTA.Furthermore,the in-creased absorption edge after HTTA suggests a reduction of point defects acting as the absorption centers.It is concluded that HTTA is a universal post-treatment technique in improving the crystalline quality of sputtered AlN regardless of sapphire orienta-tion.

A novel nanoporous Mg-Li material for efficient hydrogen generation

Hydrogen generation material is a new kind of energy material that can supply hydrogen by reacting with water and is drawing more and more attention with the development of hydrogen economy. In this study, a novel nanoporous magnesium-lithium material prepared by a physical vapor deposition method exhibits an excellent hydrogen generation property. It generates hydrogen efficiently and quickly with saltwater, reaching a hydrogen generation amount of 962 mL g^(-1) and hydrogen generation rates of 60 mL g^(-1)min^(-1), 109 mL g^(-1)min^(-1),256 mL g^(-1)min^(-1) and 367 mL g^(-1)min^(-1) at 0 ℃, 25 ℃, 35 ℃ and 50 ℃, respectively. The nanoporous magnesium-lithium material is composed of a solid solution phase with a magnesium-lithium atomic ratio of 17:3. By synchrotron radiation analysis, the sizes of the nanopores are in the range of 100 nm ~ 600 nm with an average size of 280 nm, and the porosity is calculated to be ~42.4%. The improved hydrogen generation property is attributed to the nanoporous structure with a high specific surface area, and the addition of lithium element which acts as active sites in hydrogen generation process.

Synergy to discovery and innovation——Growth of nanorods

A synergy of computer simulations, analytical formulations, and experiments proves very effective in research and development. Using nanorod growth as an example, this letter presents the synergy of the three complementary approaches in research, and demonstrates its effectiveness. Through this synergy, a theoretical framework of nanorod growth emerges; through the direction of the theories, experimental realization of smallest well-separated nanorods becomes reality; through the realization of such nanorods, metallic glue in ambient environments becomes technical reality and commercial possibility.

Coating deposition regularity depended on orientation difference in PS-PVD plasma jet

The YSZ coatings are prepared by the plasma spray-physical vapor deposition(PS-PVD)technology based on a specific experimental design.The structure,thickness and growth angle of YSZ coatings on the entire circumferential surface of the cylindrical sample are studied.The results indicated that the structure,thickness and deflection growth angle of YSZ coatings are related to the orientation of deposition location.The numerical simulation of the multiphase mixed fluid near the substrate is carried out and the deposition regularity and mechanism of YSZ coatings prepared by PS-PVD is deduced.The growth rate is related to the local characteristics of the plasma flow field,and is directly proportional to the field pressure and inversely proportional to the field velocity.The growth angle of the coating is generally affected by the flow direction of the plasma jet.Especially,the normal component of velocity vector,V_(norm),mainly affects the speed at which the coating grows vertically upwards.The tangential component of velocity vector,V_(tan),determines the degree that the coating growth direction deviates from the vertical direction.When V_(tan)≠0,the coating forms a fine column with a certain deflection angle and finally develops into an oblique columnar structure.

Effects of Dy on Transient Oxidation Behavior of EB-PVD β-NiAl Coatings at Elevated Temperatures

β-NiAl is a potential oxidation-resistant coating material to be operated at temperatures above 1 150 ℃. In this paper,β-NiAl coatings with 0-0.5 at% Dy are prepared by electron beam physical vapor deposition （EB-PVD）. Transient oxidation behavior of the coatings is investigated. At 1 200 ℃, only stable α-Al2O3 phase is observed on the 0.05 at% doped coating, whereas the phase transfomlation from θ-Al2O3 to α-Al2O3 occurs in the 0.5 at% Dy doped coating during 1 h oxidation. At 1 100 ℃, all the coatings reveal the transient transformation of θ-α in the early 15 min and the transformation for the 0.05 at% Dy doped coating is completed within 45 min, much earlier than that for the 0.5 at% Dy doped coating. Overdoping of Dy retards the transformation of θ-α. The undoped and overdoped coatings reveal the whisker structure of θ-Al2O3 even after 20 h oxidation at 1 100 ℃, while the 0.05 at% Dy coating reveals typical granulated structure of α-Al2O3.