Preparation and characterisation of Ag incorporated Al2O3 nanocomposite films obtained by sol-gel method

in Crystal Research and Technology (2012), 47(5), 579-584

Sol-gel route has been applied for a deposition of the thin films of aluminum oxide and Ag embedded in Al2O3 films. The films are spin-coated on Si and quartz substrates with the film thickness of 120 nm ... [more ▼]

Sol-gel route has been applied for a deposition of the thin films of aluminum oxide and Ag embedded in Al2O3 films. The films are spin-coated on Si and quartz substrates with the film thickness of 120 nm. XRD analysis has been used for the determination of the film structure. FTIR spectroscopy is applied for studying vibrational properties of the obtained coatings. Optical characterization is done by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The formation of Ag nanoparticles has been confirmed by XRD and optical data. The sol-gel process is found to be useful technology for incorporation of Ag nanoparticles in the metal oxide matrices. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. [less ▲]

Preparation and characterization of ZnO-TiO(2) films obtained by sol-gel method

in Journal Of Non-Crystalline Solids (2011), 357(15), 2840-2845

The sol-gel route has been applied to obtain ZnO-TiO(2) thin films. For comparison, pure TiO(2) and ZnO films are also prepared from the corresponding solutions. The films are deposited by a spin-coated ... [more ▼]

The sol-gel route has been applied to obtain ZnO-TiO(2) thin films. For comparison, pure TiO(2) and ZnO films are also prepared from the corresponding solutions. The films are deposited by a spin-coated method on silicon and glass substrates. Their structural and vibrational properties have been studied as a function of the annealing temperatures (400-750 degrees C). Pure ZnO films crystallize in a wurtzite modification at a relatively low temperature of 400 degrees C, whereas the mixed oxide films show predominantly amorphous structure at this temperature. XRD analysis shows that by increasing the annealing temperatures, the sol-gel Zn/Ti oxide films reveal a certain degree of crystallization and their structures are found to be mixtures of wurtzite ZnO, Zn(2)TiO(4), anatase TiO(2) and amorphous fraction. The XRD analysis presumes that Zn(2)TiO(4) becomes a favored phase at the highest annealing temperature of 750 degrees C. The obtained thin films are uniform with no visual defects. The optical properties of ZnO-TiO(2) films have been compared with those of single component films (ZnO and TiO(2)). The mixed oxide films present a high transparency with a slight decrease by increasing the annealing temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Effect of annealing temperatures on properties of sol-gel grown ZnO-ZrO2 films

in Crystal Research And Technology (2010), 45(11), 1154-1160

Mixed ZnO-ZrO2 films have been obtained by sol-gel technology. By using spin coating method, the films were deposited on Si and glass substrates. The influence of thermal annealings (the temperatures vary ... [more ▼]

Mixed ZnO-ZrO2 films have been obtained by sol-gel technology. By using spin coating method, the films were deposited on Si and glass substrates. The influence of thermal annealings (the temperatures vary from 400 degrees C to 750 degrees C) on their structural properties has been studied. The structural behavior has been investigated by the means of XRD and FTIR techniques. The results revealed no presence of mixed oxide phases, the detected crystal phases were related to the hexagonal ZnO and to crystalline ZrO2. The sol-gel ZnO-ZrO2 films showed polycrystalline structure with a certain degree of an amorphous fraction. The optical transmittance reached 91% and it diminished with increasing the annealing temperatures. The optical properties of the sol-gel ZnO-ZrO2 films, deposited on glass substrates are excellent with high transparency and better then those of pure ZrO2 films, obtained at similar technological conditions. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim [less ▲]

From RE-211 to RE-123. How to control the final microstructure of superconducting single-domains

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2005), 18(3), 9-23

This paper reviews the usual techniques for producing YBCO-type single-domains and the microstructure of the as-obtained samples. The problems of seed dissolution and parasite nucleations are discussed in ... [more ▼]

This paper reviews the usual techniques for producing YBCO-type single-domains and the microstructure of the as-obtained samples. The problems of seed dissolution and parasite nucleations are discussed in detail. The formation of microstructural defects, such as pores and cracks, is examined. An important part of this review is devoted to the study of the influence of RE-211 particles (RE2BaCuO5 where RE denotes Y, Yb, Nd, Sm, Dy, Gd, Eu or a mixture of them. Generally Nd4Ba2Cu 2O10 is preferred to Nd2BaCuO5) for the microstructure and properties of RE-Ba-Cu-O single-domains. Pushing/trapping theory is described in order to explain the spatial distribution of RE-211 particles in the RE-123 ((RE)Ba2Cu3O7-δ) monoliths. The formation of RE-211-free regions is discussed. Different ways to limit the RE-211 coarsening are reviewed. Microstructural defects in the RE-123 matrix caused by the RE-211 particles are presented. It is also shown that RE-211 particles play a significant role in the mechanical properties of single-domain samples. We finish this review by discussing the infiltration and growth process as a good technique to control the microstructure. © 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd. [less ▲]

The contribution of 211 particles to the mechanical reinforcement mechanism of 123 superconducting single domains

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2004), 17(1), 169-174

Hardness and fracture toughness of Dy-123 single domains were studied by Vickers in micro-indentation. A significant anisotropy of the mechanical properties was observed. Hardness tests give higher values ... [more ▼]

Hardness and fracture toughness of Dy-123 single domains were studied by Vickers in micro-indentation. A significant anisotropy of the mechanical properties was observed. Hardness tests give higher values when performed in (001) planes rather than in planes parallel to the c-axis. Moreover, the cracks pattern around the indentation follows preferential orientation in planes parallel to the c-axis whereas a classical 'four-cracks' pattern is observed in the (001) planes. It has been possible to show the crucial role played by the 211 particles in the deviating mechanism of cracks and the relevance of the high homogeneity of 211-particle distribution in the material. [less ▲]