Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhengtao Wu, Yintuan Zhang, Qimin Wang, Kwang-Ho Kim, Se-Hun Kwon
Summary: The microstructure and properties of WTi alloy films with different contents of Ti prepared by magnetron sputtering were investigated. The electrical resistivity increased with the increase in Ti content. The alloy film with 6.8 at.% Ti showed the highest temperature coefficient of resistance, which decreased gradually after thermal resistance tests and annealing treatment. The WTi films exhibited excellent stability in thermal resistance tests and have potential applications in temperature measurement of tools and dies.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenxue Zhang, Mikdat Gurtaran, Xiaoying Li, Hio-Ieng Un, Yi Qin, Hanshan Dong
Summary: In this study, N-type and P-type BiTe-based thin films were deposited on silicon, glass, and Kapton HN polyimide foil using magnetron sputtering technique. The morphology, microstructure, and phase constituents of the thin films were characterized by SEM/EDX, XRD, and TEM. The electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient were measured by an advanced in-plane test system. The power output (open-circuit voltage and electric current) of the thin films was measured at different temperature gradients using a custom-built apparatus. The impact of deposition parameters and the dimensions of the thin films on the power output were investigated to optimize the thin-film flexible TE device for thermal energy harvesting.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jiwen Li, Zhenhua Fu, Liu Wei, Guoshang Zhang, Shizhong Wei, Liujie Xu, Kunming Pan, Jie Shen, Jinghong Yang
Summary: Alloying with tantalum can significantly reduce the grain size of molybdenum targets, enhance the deposition velocity and surface quality of deposited films, and increase the sheet resistivity of the films with sputtering time. In terms of electrochemical properties, tantalum alloying improves the corrosion resistance of molybdenum films.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REFRACTORY METALS & HARD MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ewa Mankowska, Michal Mazur, Jaroslaw Domaradzki, Damian Wojcieszak
Summary: Thin films of copper oxide (CuxO), titanium oxide (TiOx), and mixtures of copper and titanium oxides ((CuTi)Ox) were prepared by magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of TiO crystallites in the TiOx film, metallic Cu crystallites in the (CuTi)Ox film with low copper content, and metallic copper and copper oxides in the (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox and CuxO films. Post-annealing significantly influenced the microstructure, with anatase phase observed in the (Cu0.23Ti0.77)Ox and (Cu0.41Ti0.59)Ox films, and copper oxide phase in the (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox and CuxO films. The (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox film annealed at 473 K exhibited the highest opto-electronic performance, with superior transmission, lowest resistivity, and strong p-type semiconducting behavior indicated by the Seebeck coefficient. All films showed sensitivity to hydrogen exposure, with the (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox film annealed at 473 K demonstrating the best sensor response of 10.9.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Smita G. Rao, Rui Shu, Robert Boyd, Arnaud le Febvrier, Per Eklund
Summary: During direct current magnetron sputtering, the use of a magnetic field can increase the ion flux at the substrate, improving the quality of thin film growth without introducing impurities.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Smita G. Rao, Rui Shu, Robert Boyd, Arnaud le Febvrier, Per Eklund
Summary: The phase formation in the Cantor alloy CrFeCoMnNi can be significantly influenced by slight changes in composition. The addition of copper was found to stabilize the bcc structure and slightly increase the hardness of the thin films, while also exhibiting good ductility indicated by pile up instead of cracking during nanoindentation tests.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. M. Furqan, Jacob Y. L. Ho, H. S. Kwok
Summary: This article reports the growth of GaN thin film on low-cost electronic substrate using magnetron sputtering method. Various characterization techniques were used to explore the optical and structural properties, revealing the effects of different growth parameters on the film properties. XRD studies, raman spectroscopy, as well as mu-PL and optical transmittance experiments provided insights into the thin film properties under different growth conditions.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liangliang Yang, Jiangtao Wei, Yuanhao Qin, Lei Wei, Peishuai Song, Mingliang Zhang, Fuhua Yang, Xiaodong Wang
Summary: Thermoelectric technology offers advantages such as quiet operation, zero emissions, and long life, but its large-scale application is limited by the lower thermoelectric performance factor (ZT). By growing Cu2Se thin films using magnetron sputtering, researchers achieved high conductivity and ZT values. This work lays the foundation for further research on nano-thin-film thermoelectrics.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dong-Mei Mi, Sheng-Li Zhu, Yan-Qin Liang, Zhao-Yang Li, Zhen-Duo Cui, Xian-Jin Yang, Akihisa Inoue
Summary: In this study, an amorphous Zr55Al10Ni5Cu30 alloy thin film was prepared on a D36 steel substrate using magnetron sputtering method. The film exhibited uniform and smooth surface morphology after 5 hours of sputtering at room temperature, improving the microhardness and corrosion resistance of the substrate significantly. Additionally, good adhesion strength was observed between the amorphous alloy film and the substrate, while sputtering for too short or too long resulted in crevice corrosion in the as-sputtered sample.
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Ying Yang, Yanxiang Zhang, Mufu Yan
Summary: Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are attractive energy conversion devices due to their fuel flexibility, environmental friendliness, and promising energy conversion efficiency. However, the high operating temperature of SOFCs poses challenges in stability, sealing integrity, and safety. Lowering the operating temperature to 600°C or lower is an important research topic. Magnetron sputtering is gaining attention as a thin-film preparation technology for electrolyte thin films with high stability and performance at lower temperatures. This comprehensive review analyzes various electrolyte preparation methods, focusing on magnetron sputtering technology for oxygen-ion conducting electrolyte thin films. The effects of processing parameters on the microstructures and properties of the thin films, as well as the relevant interfaces and full SOFCs, are discussed. Perspectives and directions for developing high-performance SOFCs with thin-film electrolytes prepared by magnetron sputtering technology are presented.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Aleksandr Ivanovic Shumilin, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Fomin
Summary: A tantalum-containing two-layer coating was produced by DC-magnetron sputtering, consisting of a 50 nm thick tantalum oxide sublayer and a tantalum layer up to 1200 nm thick. Disoriented lamellar formations with an average size of 46 +/- 1 nm were found on the coating grain surface, with a bimodal distribution of hardness. The proportion of superhard inclusions with H = 76.19 +/- 9.64 GPa was no <55.6%.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REFRACTORY METALS & HARD MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. Cervena, R. Cerstvy, T. Dvorak, J. Rezek, P. Zeman
Summary: Binary W-Zr thin-film alloys with different metastable structures were prepared using DC magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and properties of the films were found to be related to the individual metastable structures prepared. The hardness of the films varied with the elemental composition, with W-rich films showing enhanced hardness and reduced residual stress, while amorphous W-Zr films exhibited low surface roughness and metallic glass features.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Siavash Bakhtiarnia, Saeed Sheibani, Alain Billard, Eric Aurry, Mohammad Arab Pour Yazdi
Summary: Nanoporous BiVO4 thin films were successfully deposited using reactive magnetron sputtering, exhibiting good crystal structure, morphology, and photocatalytic properties. The films showed the highest porosity and lowest bandgap under specific conditions, demonstrating excellent photocatalytic activity.
TRANSACTIONS OF NONFERROUS METALS SOCIETY OF CHINA
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Camille Pallier, Philippe Djemia, Daniele Fournier, Laurent Belliard, Jun Lu, Fredrik Eriksson, Per Eklund, Grzegorz Greczynski, Arnaud le Febvrier
Summary: Cr-N based materials are commonly used as hard and corrosion-resistant coatings. In this study, low nitrogen containing Cr thin films were deposited by high ion assisted magnetron sputtering. The films exhibited a multiphase nanostructure, resulting in a hardening effect. The mechanical properties of the films were affected by residual stress, h-Cr2N1-delta phase content, and nanostructuring.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Camille Pallier, Philippe Djemia, Daniele Fournier, Laurent Belliard, Jun Lu, Fredrik Eriksson, Per Eklund, Grzegorz Greczynski, Arnaud le Febvrier
Summary: Low nitrogen containing Cr thin films deposited by high ion assisted magnetron sputtering were studied, revealing a hardening effect due to the multiphase nanostructure. The mechanical properties of these films depend on residual stress and nanostructuring nature, with a maximum hardness of 37 GPa achieved.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Michal Mazur, Jaroslaw Domaradzki, Tomasz Jedrezejak, Damian Wojcieszak
Summary: This paper investigates the dispersion of a complex refractive index and proposes a method to analyze the change of optical properties in gasochromic materials under the influence of diluted hydrogen. Experimental verification shows that this method can explain the observed changes in transparency.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Damian Wojcieszak, Paulina Kapuscik, Wojciech Kijaszek
Summary: This study prepared TiOx films by gas impulse magnetron sputtering under oxygen-deficient and oxygen-rich conditions, followed by annealing at 100-800 degrees C. The films' transparency level was influenced by the O2 content, with the oxygen-rich mode showing a slightly decreased transparency after annealing in the visible range, while the oxygen-deficient mode exhibited a lower transmission, which increased by up to 60% in the near-infrared range after annealing. Differences in optical band gap and Urbach energy were observed, along with variations in the microstructure of the TiOx coatings. Sensor studies revealed n-type conductivity for the coating deposited under oxygen-rich conditions and p-type response for oxygen-deficient conditions. The highest sensor responses were achieved for TiOx films annealed at 300 degrees C and 400 degrees C.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ewa Mankowska, Michal Mazur, Jaroslaw Domaradzki, Damian Wojcieszak
Summary: Thin films of copper oxide (CuxO), titanium oxide (TiOx), and mixtures of copper and titanium oxides ((CuTi)Ox) were prepared by magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of TiO crystallites in the TiOx film, metallic Cu crystallites in the (CuTi)Ox film with low copper content, and metallic copper and copper oxides in the (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox and CuxO films. Post-annealing significantly influenced the microstructure, with anatase phase observed in the (Cu0.23Ti0.77)Ox and (Cu0.41Ti0.59)Ox films, and copper oxide phase in the (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox and CuxO films. The (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox film annealed at 473 K exhibited the highest opto-electronic performance, with superior transmission, lowest resistivity, and strong p-type semiconducting behavior indicated by the Seebeck coefficient. All films showed sensitivity to hydrogen exposure, with the (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox film annealed at 473 K demonstrating the best sensor response of 10.9.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Malwina Sikora, Damian Wojcieszak, Aleksandra Chudzynska, Aneta Zieba
Summary: This work presents an improved methodology for cross-sectional SEM analysis of thin-film Ti/V/Ti multilayers. Different cross sections made by standard fracture, FIB/Ga, and PFIB/Xe were compared. The Helios NanoLab 600i microscope and the Helios G4 CXe with the Quanta XFlash 630 energy dispersive spectroscopy detector were used for microscopic characterization. A novel multi-threaded approach to SEM preparation was proposed, which allows for the retention of microstructure information and ensures high material contrast even for elements with similar atomic numbers. The fracture technique was the least invasive for microstructure, while PFIB/Xe resulted in better material contrast compared to FIB/Ga.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ewa Mankowska, Michal Mazur, Jaroslaw Domaradzki, Piotr Mazur, Malgorzata Kot, Jan Ingo Flege
Summary: Hydrogen is a clean energy source, but safety concerns arise due to its explosive nature at high concentrations. To meet the need for reliable monitoring systems, this study investigated mixed copper-titanium oxide thin films as hydrogen sensing materials. The films showed a sensor response to hydrogen at a low operating temperature without additional catalysts. The best response and sensitivity were found in films with similar atomic concentrations of copper and titanium.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Michal Mazur, Paulina Kapuscik, Wiktoria Weichbrodt, Jaroslaw Domaradzki, Piotr Mazur, Malgorzata Kot, Jan Ingo Flege
Summary: This paper investigates tungsten oxide thin films deposited by innovative gas impulse magnetron sputtering in terms of their response to H-2 gas. The annealing process at 673 K was found to achieve the most favorable sensor response value, as well as response and recovery times. The sensor response to 25 ppm of H-2 was found to be 6.3, which is one of the best results reported in the literature for WO3 optical gas sensors based on a gasochromic effect. The gasochromic effect was correlated with changes in the extinction coefficient and the concentration of free charge carriers.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jaroslaw Domaradzki, Michal Mazur, Damian Wojcieszak, Artur Wiatrowski, Ewa Mankowska, Pawel Chodasewicz
Summary: This paper presents an analysis of the optical properties of a gradient (Ti,Cu)Ox thin film. The thin film was prepared using reactive co-sputtering of Ti and Cu targets. The optical properties were analyzed using the reverse engineering method. Detailed microstructure analysis revealed that the thin film consisted of at least four areas with different structural properties. The built equivalent layer stack model was used to evaluate the composition profile and porosity of the prepared gradient film, which agreed well with experimental studies.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Patrycja Pokora, Damian Wojcieszak, Piotr Mazur, Malgorzata Kalisz, Malwina Sikora
Summary: Gas-impulse magnetron sputtering (GIMS) was used to prepare nonstoichiometric (Ti,Co)Ox coatings. The properties and structures of these coatings were compared to TiOx and CoOx films. The (Ti,Co)Ox coatings were found to be amorphous in nature and exhibited a fine-columnar, homogeneous microstructure. The presence of TiO2, CoO, and Co3O4 forms were confirmed through XPS measurements. The optical studies showed that the films were semi-transparent and the level of transparency decreased with increasing cobalt content. The absorption edge position and optical bandgap energy also changed with cobalt content. The hardness of the films remained relatively stable except for the CoOx film, which had a slightly lower hardness value.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wojciech Kijaszek, Artur Wiatrowski, Michal Mazur, Damian Wojcieszak, Regina Paszkiewicz, Jaroslav Kovac Jr
Summary: In this paper, a comparison of Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) films prepared by Radio Frequency Inductively Coupled Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (RF ICP PECVD) with different sp3 fraction content was presented. The properties of DLC films required for micro- and optoelectronic applications improve with the increasing sp3 fraction content.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING B-ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL SOLID-STATE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ewa Mankowska, Michal Mazur, Malgorzata Kalisz, Marcin Grobelny, Jaroslaw Domaradzki, Damian Wojcieszak
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive comparison of the mechanical properties of HfO2 thin films deposited using different conditions of reactive magnetron sputtering. The transparent HfO2 thin films deposited in the continuous process exhibit superior corrosion resistance and the highest values of Young's modulus and scratch resistance, potentially indicating a new application as a corrosion protective material.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ammara Ejaz, Michael McKinlay, Sam Ahmadzadeh, Manuel Pelayo Garcia, Lewis Fleming, Piotr Mazur, Michal Mazur, Des Gibson, Carlos Garcia Nunez
Summary: This work details the triboelectric characteristics of diamond-like carbon (DLC) film with an engineered sp(3):sp(2) bond ratio through a patented pulsed DC magnetron sputtering process. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is fabricated using the DLC film and PTFE, demonstrating a stable electric power output of 141 mW m(-2). The paper provides insights into the triboelectrification mechanism and highlights the potential of DLC-PTFE TENG for low-frequency energy harvesting and self-/low-power electronic devices.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ping Zhang, Xiujie Yue, Yeran Gao, Zhenyong Lin, Shunxiang Wang, Songting Zhang
Summary: This paper investigates the strengthening mechanism of highspeed cutting and solid particle-entrained waterjet peening (HSC-WJP) composite reinforcement on 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. The research results show that composite reinforcement can improve surface quality, reduce surface pits and roughness, and decrease the size of precipitation-free zone (PFZ) at grain boundaries.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sangyoon Lee, Hwi Yoon, Sanghun Lee, Seung-min Chung, Hyungjun Kim
Summary: The wettability of metal oxides, particularly HfO2 thin films deposited via atomic layer deposition, and its correlation with surface free energy have been studied. It was found that surface oxygen species significantly affect the intrinsic hydrophilicity of HfO2 thin films, and the crystalline orientations also evolve with film thickness.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Changdong Yin, Yiwen Wu, Zhou Xu, Dongdong Ye, Jun Yao, Jianjun Chen, Qiang Liu, Xin Ge, Meiling Ding
Summary: This study proposed a new strategy to indirectly estimate the hydrogen diffusivity of metallic materials under tensile stress by combining the electrochemical hydrogen permeation test (EHPT), the hydrogen diffusion descriptive equation based on Fick's law, and hydrogen pre-charged tensile test. The results showed that the hydrogen permeation curve obtained was highly approximate to the theoretical trend. The hydrogen embrittlement (HE) susceptibility of the specimens increased with increasing stress.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Huan Luo, Wei-yi Wang, Xin Yu, Xian-jun Lei, Lang Liu, Guo-zheng Zha, Wen-long Jiang, Bin Yang, Bao-qiang Xu
Summary: Separating selenium and tellurium is a general challenge in material and non-ferrous metallurgical industries. This paper proposes a novel method that achieved efficient separation of selenium and tellurium using gas-liquid equilibrium phase diagram and valence regulation-vacuum gasification technique.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fan Zhang, Rong Xin Wang, Aiqin Tian, Fangzhi Li, Jianping Liu, Hui Yang
Summary: Deposition of Pd/Pt/Au three-layer films on p-GaN under high and ultra-high vacuum conditions was studied to investigate the electrical contact properties. Linear I-V curves were observed in samples deposited under ultra-high vacuum conditions, while nonlinear I-V characteristics were obtained in samples deposited under high vacuum conditions. The study also found that the samples deposited under high vacuum conditions had higher amounts of oxygen and Pd oxide. The oxide layer had an additional influence on the electrical characteristics of the Pd/Pt/Au/p-GaN contact.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hongli Liu, Chengzhe Liu, Ying Sui, Zhongxian Liu, Tiangang Zhang, Zhiqiang Zhang, Shuang Sun, Jianwei Jia
Summary: This study utilized polysiloxane and hafnium carbide to produce Si-N-C-O-Hf hybridized ceramic fibers, and obtained ceramic fibers with hemispherical particles on the surface through electrostatic spinning and pyrolysis. The ceramic fibers exhibited excellent thermal stability, oxidation resistance, and high temperature insulation.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
M. Abaker, Nazar Elamin Ahmed, A. Saad, H. F. Khalil, E. M. M. Ibrahim, A. M. Adam
Summary: This paper systematically studied the internal structure and thermoelectric properties of In1-xGaxSb alloys prepared by melting synthesis at 1123 K. The results showed that doping with Ga in the In sites led to a significant increase in the Seebeck coefficient and power factor, while reducing the thermal conductivity. The maximum dimensionless figure of merit was observed at 403 K.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fucheng Yu, Jinlong Ren, Jielin Zhang, Haiyang Chen, Xin Tian, Chenchen Feng, Cuixia Li, Jianbin Zhang, Xianxi Tang, Xiaogang Hou
Summary: An environmentally friendly ZnO@BiVO4 composite photocatalyst was prepared using in-situ self-assembly and solvothermal methods, demonstrating good photocatalytic performance. The mass ratio of BiVO4 and NCZ was found to influence the photocatalytic performance of the composite.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yaoming Shao, Pingping Zheng, Tianhao Dong, Lianghuan Wei, Haifei Wu, Jianxiao Si
Summary: In this paper, Mg3Bi2 films were prepared on glass substrate using magnetron sputtering, and the phase composition and thermoelectric properties of the films were investigated with different atomic ratios. The films displayed a metastable cubic phase and high conductivity when the atomic ratio exceeded stoichiometry.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
I. V. Uimanov, D. L. Shmelev, S. A. Barengolts
Summary: A two-dimensional axisymmetric model has been developed to study the prebreakdown processes in a cathode microprotrusion under an external electric field. The simulation results show that electrohydrodynamic instability leads to the formation of a nanometer-sized conical protrusion on the microprotrusion tip, significantly accelerating the heating process.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Weilun Zhang, Di Yang, Feng Gong, Yongjun Chen, Tian Chen, Zhiwen Xie, Sirui Yang
Summary: A novel Pt doping method was designed to improve the thermal stability of CrWN coating. The doping of Pt atoms effectively blocks the coherent growth of the grains and creates a significant mixing effect, resulting in a smooth surface with uniform element distribution.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoye Wang, Xiaoguang Yang, Wenna Du, Tao Yang
Summary: In this study, the effects of multiple growth parameters on self-catalyzed growth of InAs/GaSb axial heterostructured nanowires on Si substrate by MOCVD were investigated. It was found that the growth temperature and switching time have significant influences on the nanowire growth.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Weizhong Cui, Yan Zhao, Can Cui, Xing Liu, Beili Pang, Jianguang Feng, Hongzhou Dong, Liyan Yu, Lifeng Dong
Summary: This study introduces Co2+ cations into Cs2AgBiBr6 film to improve its quality, grain size, and conductivity, resulting in enhanced solar cell efficiency.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jian Wang, Ke Yang, Xianming Cheng, Yalin Lu, Ganghui Wu, Yang Zhang, Yun Kan
Summary: The corrosion behavior and microstructural evolution of Sc microalloyed Al-3.2Cu-1.5Li alloys were investigated in detail. The microstructural results showed higher levels of dislocations density in the Sc microalloyed sample, which resulted in significantly refined grains and T1 precipitates. Microalloying with Sc changed the corrosion mode of the alloy and localized corrosion was found to occur preferentially at the subgrain within unrecrystallized grains with high grain stored energy.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Weifeng Liu, Na Liu, Kaiqiang Song, Meiqin Zeng, Zhongchen Lu
Summary: Monoclinic WO3 prepared through plasma milling exhibits higher photocatalytic activity due to its higher surface area, increased oxygen vacancies, and defects.
