Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Andreas Jamnig, Nikolaos Pliatsikas, Gregory Abadias, Kostas Sarakinos
Summary: We demonstrate the ability to manipulate the morphology of thin noble-metal films using alloying species. The addition of these species promotes two-dimensional growth morphology but increases electrical resistivity. By deploying these alloying agents at different stages, we can selectively control the film morphology.
JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mohsen Farshad, Jayendran Rasaiah
Summary: Understanding the mechanism of nanocluster formation is crucial for determining their properties. In this study, we used the method of moments to solve the rate equations and found that the size distribution of nanoclusters drastically changes with small variations in initial ion concentration or coalescence rate. The number of possible cluster combinations increases abruptly during coalescence. We also observed the sensitivity of nanocluster size distribution to coalescent growth rate and the inhibiting effect of a strong ligand stabilizer.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Fan Zhao, Ling-Jie Zhou, Fei Wang, Guang Wang, Tiancheng Song, Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Hemian Yi, Ruobing Mei, Ke Wang, Moses H. W. Chan, Chao-Xing Liu, Xiaodong Xu, Cui-Zu Chang
Summary: The study utilized molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to grow MnBi2Te4 films of various thicknesses and observed a nonsquare hysteresis loop in films with a thickness greater than 2 septuple layers (SL). The hysteresis loop was found to consist of two anomalous Hall (AH) components, one from the dominant MnBi2Te4 phase and the other from the minor Mn-doped Bi2Te3 phase. The AH component extracted from the MnBi2Te4 phase exhibited clear even-odd layer-dependent behavior.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Can Guo, Chenrui Kang, Qian Liu, Chunjie Xu
Summary: Using the atomic-scale phase-field crystal model, this study investigated the coarsening kinetics of crystalline nanoparticles in the semi-solid region and found that the details of the atomic-scale nature of particles do not affect the kinetics of coarsening for low solid volume fractions. However, the simulation results showed that the coarsening rates of crystalline particles decrease with the solid volume fraction for high fractions, which contradicts theoretical models based on mean-field theories. The appearance of grain rotation and volume diffusion mechanisms during the competitive growth process of all particles led to the failure of classical coarsening models.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sondes Bauer, Adriana Rodrigues, Lukas Horak, Berkin Nergis, Xiaowei Jin, Reinhard Schneider, Roland Groeger, Tilo Baumbach, Vaclav Holy
Summary: Monitoring the growth and morphology of Pt films during pulsed laser deposition reveals significant influence of growth temperature on the morphology and growth kinetics of the Pt layers. Real-time analysis and modeling of GISAXS patterns provide insights into the transitions in the nucleation, coalescence, and coarsening phases of the Pt layers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chengjun Kang, Kuiwei Yang, Zhaoqiang Zhang, Adam K. Usadi, David C. Calabro, Lisa Saunders Baugh, Yuxiang Wang, Jianwen Jiang, Xiaodong Zou, Zhehao Huang, Dan Zhao
Summary: Resolving the single-crystal structures of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) is a challenging task. In this study, the authors investigate the growth process of 2D COFs by tracing growth intermediates and identify two different growth mechanisms. This enables the growth and structure determination of micron-sized 2D single-crystalline COFs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Kanjana Sirirak, Visit Vao-soongnern
Summary: Monte Carlo simulation was used to study the structural properties of polymer blend nanofilms with coarse-grained polyethylene-like models. The results showed that the densities in the bulk region increased and the films became thinner with sharper surface profiles for homopolymer films with stronger interchain interaction. For polymer blend films, components with weaker interchain interaction migrated to the surface region, while others located near the center. Increasing interchain interaction resulted in a higher degree of anisotropic orientation and distortion in chain dimension and shape, especially at the surface region.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jirasuta Chungprempree, Sutep Charoenpongpool, Jitima Preechawong, Nithi Atthi, Manit Nithitanakul
Summary: The key to preventing undesirable fouling in the marine environment is to use a polymer film with high hydrophobicity that does not harm microorganisms. A polymer blend of hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane elastomer and hydrophilic polyurethane showed improved properties and economic viability for antifouling film in the marine industry. Additionally, surface patterning on the polymer blend film further increased hydrophobicity, making it suitable for antifouling applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Q. Liebgott, A. Borroto, Z. Fernandez-Gutierrez, S. Bruyere, F. Muecklich, D. Horwat
Summary: Recently, it has been reported that dual-phase Zr-based thin films synthesized by magnetron co-sputtering exhibit competitive growth between amorphous and crystalline phases. The amorphous phase grows in columnar structures, while the crystalline phase forms separate cone-shaped regions composed of smaller crystallites. In this paper, the authors use X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to investigate this phenomenon in Zr-Cr and Zr-V thin films. The study evaluates the stability and geometrical characteristics of this self-separation phenomenon under different film compositions and deposition rates, as well as compares the nucleation and growth kinetics of Zr-Cr, Zr-V, Zr-Mo, and Zr-W dual-phase thin films.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Rosalinda Caringella, Parag Bhavsar, Giulia Dalla Fontana, Alessia Patrucco, Claudio Tonin, Pier Davide Pozzo, Marina Zoccola
Summary: Films of keratoses and sericin were successfully prepared using solution casting method with water as a common solvent and glycerol as a plasticizer. The addition of sericin led to rougher film surfaces, while there was good miscibility between keratoses and plasticizer. However, there were no covalent interactions between the polymers. Glycerol changed the thermal stability of sericin films, but had less impact on keratoses, and adding keratoses improved the mechanical properties of the sericin plasticized films.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Jahanbakhsh Mashaiekhy Asl, Ali Nemati, Iraj Hadi, Shamsedin Mirdamadi
Summary: This study investigates the influence of substrate materials on the growth mechanism and microstructure of Ta2O5 thin films. The results show that films grown on silicon wafers have finer crystals and better optical and morphological properties compared to films grown on BK7 glass substrates.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mitsuhiko Morisue, Minami Nakamura, Yusuke Miyake, Yukiyasu Kashiwagi, Seiji Watase, Taiki Hoshino, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Shinichi Sakurai, Sono Sasaki
Summary: The antifreezing effect of central metal on porphyrin supercooled liquid and glass is investigated. The central metal enhances intermolecular interactions, increases viscosity, and slows crystallization process. The impact of the central metal on metalloporphyrins with specific chemical structures is discussed.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Derek E. Huang, Anthony P. Kotula, Chad R. Snyder, Kalman B. Migler
Summary: Motivated by the issue of brittle mechanical behavior in recycled blends of HDPE and iPP, this study investigates the composition dependence of their crystallization kinetics using optical microscopy, rheo-Raman, and DSC. The results show that the crystallization behavior of iPP varies with blend composition, with three distinct two-phase morphologies observed. The crystallization temperature of iPP decreases sharply with increasing HDPE composition in the HDPE droplet regime, while it is delayed but shows little change in the onset temperature in cocontinuous morphologies. In the iPP droplet regime, the two components crystallize nearly concurrently. Rheological measurements support these findings. DSC analysis suggests that the enthalpy of crystallization of the blends is less than the weighted values of the individual components.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Cyril Labode Williams
Summary: This paper reviews the role of void nucleation, growth, and coalescence in the spall failure process of light metals. It concludes that void nucleation, growth, and coalescence are prevalent in light metals such as magnesium and aluminum alloys. The as-received microstructure and its evolution play a crucial role in these processes. Further experimental and modeling research is needed to understand spall failure in new alloys.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Leonard Jacques, Veronika Kovacova, Jung In Yang, Susan Trolier-McKinstry
Summary: This study investigates the activation energies for KNN thin films with manganese doping, revealing that crystallization is nucleation-limited and can be reduced by using a seed layer.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2021)
