• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.13 no.spc2
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• pp.394-397
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• 2012

In this work, we studied the influence of the dopant elements concentration on the properties of SnO2 thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Hall effect measurement and UV-Vis studies were performed to characterize the deposited films. XRD results showed that the films had polycrystalline nature with tetragonal rutile structure. FE-SEM micrographs revealed that the as deposited films composed of dense microstructures with uniform grain size distribution. All the films show n-type conduction and the best transparent conductive oxide (TCO) performance was obtained on 6 wt% Sb2O5 doped SnO2 film prepared at pO2 of 60mtorr and Ts of 500 ℃. Its resitivity, optical transmittance, figure of merit are 7.8 × 10-4 Ω cm, 85% and 1.2 × 10-2 Ω-1, respectively.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.810-814
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• 2017

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are some of the most efficient electrochemical energy sources for transportation applications because of their clean, green, and high efficiency characteristics. The optimization of catalyst layer morphology is considered a feasible approach to achieve high performance of PEMFC membrane electrode assembly (MEA). In this work, we studied the effect of the solvent on the catalyst layer of PEMFC MEAs fabricated using the electrostatic spray deposition method. The catalyst ink comprised of Pt/C, a Nafion ionomer, and a solvent. Two types of solvent were used: isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and dimethylformamide (DMF). Compared with the catalyst layer prepared using IPA-based ink, the catalyst layer prepared with DMF-based ink had a dense structure because the DMF dispersed the Pt/C-Nafion agglomerates smaller and more homogeneously. The size distribution of the agglomerates in catalyst ink was confirmed through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and the microstructure of the catalyst layer was compared using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). In addition, the electrochemical investigation was performed to evaluate the solvent effect on the fuel cell performance. The catalyst layer prepared with DMF-based ink significantly enhanced the cell performance (1.2 A cm-2 at 0.5 V) compared with that fabricated using IPA-based ink (0.5 A cm-2 at 0.5 V) due to the better dispersion and uniform agglomeration on the catalyst layer.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.557-573
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• 2023

The rapid growth of zinc-oxide (ZnO) nanostructures (NSs) on woven carbon fiber (WCF) is reported in this study employing a microwave-aided chemical bath deposition process. The effects of different process parameters such as molar concentration, microwave duration and microwave power on morphologies and growth rate of the ZnO on WCF were studied. Furthermore, an attempt has been taken to study influence of different type of growth solutions on ZnO morphologies and growth rates. The surface functionalization of WCF fabrics is achieved by successful growth of crystalline ZnO on fiber surface in a very short duration through one-step microwave synthesis. The morphological, structural and compositional studies of ZnO-modified WCF are evaluated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy respectively. Good amount of zinc and oxygen has been seen in the surface of WCF. The presence of the wurtzite phase of ZnO having crystallite size 30-40 nm calculated using the Debye Scherrer method enhances the surface characteristics of WCF fabrics. The UV-VIS spectroscopy is used to investigate optical properties of ZnO-modified WCF samples by absorbance, transmittance and reflectance spectra. The variation of different parameters such as dielectric constants, optical conductivity, refractive index and extinction coefficient are examined that revealed the enhancement of optical characteristics of carbon fiber for wide applications in optoelectronic devices, carbon fiber composites and photonics.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.103-107
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• 2023

A Nickel oxide (NiO_x) thin films were prepared via sol-gel process on a transparent conductive oxide glass substrate. The NiO_x thin films were spin-coated in ambient air and subsequently annealed for 30 minutes at temperatures ranging from 150℃ to 450℃. The structural and optical characteristics of the NiO_x thin films annealed at various temperatures were measured using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. After optimizing the NiO_x coating conditions, perovskite solar cells were fabricated with p-i-n inverted structure, and its photovoltaic performance was evaluated. NiO_x thin films annealed at 350℃ exhibited the most favorable characteristics as a hole transport layer, resulting in the highest power conversion efficiency of 17.88 % when fabricating inverted perovskite solar cells using this film.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.320-327
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• 2023

In this study, the nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)₂) electrode for supercapacitor was prepared via hydrothermal method. Based on the nickel (Ni) foam, the electrode does not require any additional binder material or post-processing. Nickel nitrate (Ni(NO₃)₂) and hexamethylenetetramine (C₆H₁₂N₄) were used for synthesis, and the synthesis condition was 12 hours at 80 ℃. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to analyze the structural characteristics of the electrode, and it shown that the nickel hydroxide was successfully prepared after only the one-step hydrothermal synthesis. The electrochemical properties were analyzed through the half-cell test. The prepared electrode shown a pair of oxidation/reduction peaks, indicating that the driving method included the redox reaction on the electrode surface. After the charge/discharge test, the specific capacitance was calculated as the value of 438 F/g at 3 A/g.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Aggressive environmental conditions, and especially the acidic effects of sulfate ion penetration, have reduced the lifetime of concrete structures in some areas, especially coastal and marine areas. In this research, at first, samples made of type II and V cement were kept in a solution of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) for a period of 90 and 180 days, the change of appearance. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), were used to analyze the microstructure and the complex mineral composition of the concrete after exposure to corrosive environments. Then solving the differential equation governing the sulfate ion penetration, which is based on the second Fick law, it has been tried to determine the concentration of sulfate ions inside the concrete. In the following, an attempt has been made to improve the prediction of sulfate ion concentration in concrete by using Crank's penetration equation. At the same time, the coefficient in the Crank's solution have been optimized by using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO algorithm). The comparison between the results shows that the values obtained from Crank's relation are closer to the experimental results than the equation obtained from Fick's second law and shows a more accurate prediction.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.479-487
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• 2020

Ceramic ZnS nanocomposites were prepared by mechanical processing and one-step heat sintering with powder mixtures of fly ash, waste glass, and ZnS (template-free hydrothermal method manufacturing). Chemical durability and morphological characteristics of heat-treated samples at 800 ℃ with/without acid treatment were evaluated. The photocatalytic activities were estimated with methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), acetaldehyde (ATA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) as photodegradation targets. Crystallization behaviors of the prepared ceramic ZnS nanocomposites were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). In addition, compressive and bending strength as mechanical properties were evaluated. Ceramic ZnS nanocomposites were found to showed improvement in optimal photocatalytic reaction and physical properties regardless of acid treatment when the amount of ZnS nanoparticles was increased from 7.0 to 25.0 wt%. Degrees of photocatalytic decomposition of MO, ATA, 2,4-D, and MB by acid treated ceramic ZnS nanocomposites containing 25 wt% ZnS were about 0.185, 0.121, 0.216, 0.236, respectively, after UV irradiation for 180 min.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2024

Plastics are consistently produced owing to their practicality and convenience. Unmanaged plastics enter the oceans, where they adversely impact marine life, and their degradation into nano-plastics due to sunlight and weathering is of concern for all living beings. Nano-plastics affect humans via the food chain, emphasizing the necessity for effective solutions. Microbial biodegradation has been suggested as a solution, offering the advantages of minimal environmental impact and the utilization of decomposition byproducts in microbial metabolic pathways. In this study, fifty-seven bacterial strains were isolated and identified from a waste-treatment facility. Cultivation in a minimum medium with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) beads as the sole carbon source resulted in the selection of the LDPE-degrading strain Acinetobacter guillouiae PL211. The selected strain was cultured at high cell density with LDPE as a carbon source, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis confirmed chemical changes on the LDPE bead's surface. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis revealed substantial biodegradation of the LDPE surface. These results demonstrated the capability of A. guillouiae PL211 to biodegrade LDPE beads. This discovery demonstrates the potential of an environmentally friendly process to addressing polyethylene waste issues.

• Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.1357-1360
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• 2020

The low adherence of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films on titanium (Ti) alloys can be improved by using interlayer coatings. In this study, DLC (a-C:H) films were deposited using radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (rf-PECVD), and a TiCN interlayer was applied between the extra low interstitial (ELI) grade of Ti-6Al-4V alloy and a-C:H film. The characteristics of the a-C:H-coated Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy, Vickers hardness, and scratch and wear tests. The DLC (a-C:H) films deposited by rf-PECVD had a thickness of 1.7 ㎛, and the TiCN interlayer had a thickness of 1.1 ㎛. Vickers hardness of the DLC (a-C:H) films were increased as a result of the influence of the TiCN interlayer. The resulting friction coefficient of the a-C:H-coated Ti-6Al-4V with the TiCN interlayer had an extremely low value of 0.07.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.762-769
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• 2008

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon(a-Si : H) layers, 120 nm and 50 nm in thickness, were deposited on 200 $nm-SiO_2$/single-Si substrates by inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition(ICP-CVD). Subsequently, 30 nm-Ni layers were deposited by E-beam evaporation. Finally, 30 nm-Ni/120 nm a-Si : H/200 $nm-SiO_2$/single-Si and 30 nm-Ni/50 nm a-Si:H/200 $nm-SiO_2$/single-Si were prepared. The prepared samples were annealed by rapid thermal annealing(RTA) from $200^{\circ}C$ to $500^{\circ}C$ in $50^{\circ}C$ increments for 30 minute. A four-point tester, high resolution X-ray diffraction(HRXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning probe microscopy(SPM) were used to examine the sheet resistance, phase transformation, in-plane microstructure, cross-sectional microstructure, and surface roughness, respectively. The nickel silicide on the 120 nm a-Si:H substrate showed high sheet resistance($470{\Omega}/{\Box}$) at T(temperature) < $450^{\circ}C$ and low sheet resistance ($70{\Omega}/{\Box}$) at T > $450^{\circ}C$. The high and low resistive regions contained ${\zeta}-Ni_2Si$ and NiSi, respectively. In case of microstructure showed mixed phase of nickel silicide and a-Si:H on the residual a-Si:H layer at T < $450^{\circ}C$ but no mixed phase and a residual a-Si:H layer at T > $450^{\circ}C$. The surface roughness matched the phase transformation according to the silicidation temperature. The nickel silicide on the 50 nm a-Si:H substrate had high sheet resistance(${\sim}1k{\Omega}/{\Box}$) at T < $400^{\circ}C$ and low sheet resistance ($100{\Omega}/{\Box}$) at T > $400^{\circ}C$. This was attributed to the formation of ${\delta}-Ni_2Si$ at T > $400^{\circ}C$ regardless of the siliciation temperature. An examination of the microstructure showed a region of nickel silicide at T < $400^{\circ}C$ that consisted of a mixed phase of nickel silicide and a-Si:H without a residual a-Si:H layer. The region at T > $400^{\circ}C$ showed crystalline nickel silicide without a mixed phase. The surface roughness remained constant regardless of the silicidation temperature. Our results suggest that a 50 nm a-Si:H nickel silicide layer is advantageous of the active layer of a thin film transistor(TFT) when applying a nano-thick layer with a constant sheet resistance, surface roughness, and ${\delta}-Ni_2Si$ temperatures > $400^{\circ}C$.