Electrical characterization of defects introduced during electron beam deposition of W Schottky contacts on n-type 4H-SiC

We have studied the defects introduced in n-type 4H-SiC during electron beam deposition (EBD) of tungsten by deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). The results from current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements showed deviations from ideality due to damage, but were still well suited to a DLTS study. We compared the electrical properties of six electrically active defects observed in EBD Schottky barrier diodes with those introduced in resistively evaporated material on the same material, as-grown, as well as after high energy electron irradiation (HEEI). We observed that EBD introduced two electrically active defects with energies E_C – 0.42 and E_C – 0.70 eV in the 4H-SiC at and near the interface with the tungsten. The defects introduced by EBD had properties similar to defect attributed to the silicon or carbon vacancy, introduced during HEEI of 4H-SiC. EBD was also responsible for the increase in concentration of a defect attributed to nitrogen impurities (E_C – 0.10) as well as a defect linked to the carbon vacancy (E_C – 0.67). Annealing at 400 °C in Ar ambient removed these two defects introduced during the EBD.     

The role of grain boundary energy in grain boundary complexion transitions

Recent findings about the role of the grain boundary energy in complexion transitions are reviewed. Grain boundary energy distributions are most commonly evaluated using measurements of grain boundary thermal grooves. The measurements demonstrate that when a stable high temperature complexion co-exists with a metastable low temperature complexion, the stable complexion has a lower energy. It has also been found that the changes in the grain boundary energy lead to changes in the grain boundary character distribution. Finally, recent experimental observations are consistent with the theoretical prediction that higher energy grain boundaries transform at lower temperatures than relatively lower energy grain boundaries. To better control microstructures developed through grain growth, it is necessary to learn more about the mechanism and kinetics of complexion transitions.     

Inhibited grain growth in hydroxyapatite–graphene nanocomposites during high temperature treatment and their enhanced mechanical properties

Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA)–graphene nanosheet (GN) composites have been fabricated by spark plasma sintering consolidation. Nanostructual evolution of the bioceramic-based composites during further high temperature heat treatment is characterized and enhanced mechanical strength is assessed. GN keeps intact after the treatment and its presence at HA grain boundaries effectively inhibits HA grain growth by impeding interconnection of individual HA grains. Microstructural characterization discloses strong coherent interfaces between GN and the (300) plane of HA crystals. This particular matching state in the composites agrees well with the competitive theoretical pull-out energy for single graphene sheet being departed from HA matrix. The toughening regimes that operate in HA–GN composites at high temperatures give clear insight into potential applications of GN for ceramic matrix composites.     

Stable resistive switching characteristics of Ce:HfOx film induced by annealing process

In this work, Ce:HfO_x films were fabricated and the resistive switching characteristics were investigated. The chemical bonding states of the films were explored by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The annealing process was carried out to modulate the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the film to confirm the dominant role of oxygen vacancies on resistive switching behaviors, which resulted in the elimination of unstable oxygen vacancies and the introduction of oxygen vacancy near Ce dopants due to the reduction of Ce⁴⁺. Benefiting from the oxygen vacancies near Ce dopants, stable resistive switching performance can be achieved for the annealed Ce:HfO_x sample. A schematic diagram based on the formation and rupture of oxygen vacancy filaments was proposed to illustrate the switching behaviors of annealed Ce:HfO_x sample.     

Superior electrochemical performances of LaMgNi alloys with A2B7/A5B19 double phase

Here, phase transformation and electrochemical characteristics of non-stoichiometry La₄MgNi_x (x = 16, 17 and 18) hydrogen storage alloys were studied. It is found that after annealed at 1223 K for 24 h, the minor AB₃ and AB₅ phases in La₄MgNi₁₆ alloy transform into A₂B₇ phase by a peritectic reaction and the La₄MgNi₁₆ alloy shows a A₂B₇ single phase structure. Double phase structures of A₂B₇/A₅B₁₉ are obtained in La₄MgNi₁₇ and La₄MgNi₁₈ alloys after annealed at the same condition. The abundance of A₅B₁₉ phase increases as x increases, indicating the increasing x value contributes to the formation of A₅B₁₉ phases. Electrochemical studies show that the maximum discharge capacity and capacity retention at the 100^th charge/discharge cycles (S₁₀₀) of A₂B₇ single phase La₄MgNi₁₆ alloy is 373 mAh g⁻¹ and 78.4%, respectively. The appearance of A₅B₁₉ (minor) phase in the La₄MgNi₁₇ alloy makes a remarkable improvement in the discharge capacity from 373 mAh g⁻¹ to 388.8 mAh g⁻¹, as well as the S₁₀₀ from 78.4% to 90.1%. It is believed that the LaMgNi-based alloy with the A₂B₇(main)/A₅B₁₉(minor) phase structure possesses the good overall electrochemical properties and is applicable to the high-power and long-cycle life negative electrode material for nickel metal hydride batteries.     

Enhancement of the room-temperature hydrogen sensing performance of MoO3 nanoribbons annealed in a reducing gas

Uniform-sized orthorhombic MoO₃ nanoribbons were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method at 240 °C. The nanoribbons grew along the [001] orientation, with average length, width and thickness of approximately 20 μm, 270 nm and 90 nm, respectively. The obtained nanoribbons were further annealed in a hydrogen atmosphere at different temperatures to modify their surface states. The treatment of the nanoribbons at 300 °C significantly elevated the concentration of non-stoichiometric Mo⁵⁺ to 24.7%, much larger than the original concentration (∼14.8%). A positive relationship was found between the non-stoichiometric Mo⁵⁺, chemisorbed oxygen ion and sensor response. The sensor based on the MoO₃ nanoribbons treated at 300 °C exhibited a faster response time of approximately 10.9 s, and a higher sensor response of 17.3 towards 1000 ppm H₂, compared with the results of original tests (∼21 s and ∼5.7, respectively), indicating the significantly improved gas sensing performance of the treated MoO₃. Meanwhile, the sensor also exhibited excellent repeatability and selectivity toward hydrogen gas. The enhancement of the hydrogen gas sensing performance of treated MoO₃ nanoribbons was attributed to the more effective adjustment of the width of the depletion region on the nanoribbon surface and the height of the potential barrier at the junctions, induced by the interaction between hydrogen molecules and higher-concentration oxygen ions. Our research implied that the gas sensing performance of nanostructured metal oxides could be successfully enhanced through annealing in the reducing gas.     

The influence of intergranular and interphase boundaries and δ-ferrite volume fraction on hydrogen embrittlement of high-nitrogen steel

We study the effect of grain size of austenitic and ferritic phases and volume fraction of δ-ferrite, which were obtained in different solution-treatment regimes (at 1050, 1100, 1150 and 1200 °C), on hydrogen embrittlement of high-nitrogen steel (HNS). The amount of dissolved hydrogen is similar for the specimens with different densities of interphase (γ-austenite/δ-ferrite) and intergranular (γ-austenite/γ-austenite, δ-ferrite/δ-ferrite) boundaries. Despite, the susceptibility of the specimens to hydrogen embrittlement, depth of the hydrogen-assisted surface layers, hydrogen transport during tensile tests and mechanisms of the hydrogen-induced brittle fracture all depend on grain size and ferrite content. The highest hydrogen embrittlement index I_H = 32%, the widest hydrogen-affected layer and a pronounced solid-solution hardening by hydrogen atoms is typical of the specimens with the lowest fraction of the boundaries. Even though fast hydrogen transport via coarse ferritic grains provides longer diffusion paths during H-changing, the width of the H-affected surface layer in the dual-phase structure of the HNS specimens is mainly determined by the hydrogen diffusivity in austenite. In tension, hydrogen transport with dislocations increases with the decrease in density of boundaries due to the longer dislocation free path, but stress-assisted diffusion transport does not depend on grain size and ferrite fraction. The contribution from intergranular fracture increases with an increase in the density of intergranular and interphase boundaries.     

Influence of calcination temperature on the photocatalytic performance of the hierarchical TiO2 pinecone-like structure decorated with CdS nanoparticles

Herein, a novel hierarchical TiO₂ pinecone-like structure (TPS) has been successfully fabricated for the first time by self-assembling anodic oxidation methods on the Ti plate. Then it was constructed that a series of CdS-TPS nanocomposites with different cycles CdS modifying by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) after different temperature annealing in air. The structures and properties of the CdS-TPS were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Current-voltage (I-V), ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis/DRS). The results shown that the optical properties of the CdS-TPS could be rationally tailored by adjusting the CdS-modified cycles and annealing temperature, which significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity. To be used in photocatalytic organic pollutant removal after optimizing both the CdS modification cycles and annealing temperature. The 15-CdS-TPS-500?°C exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic activities of methyl orange (MO) degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation. With 180?min, 85% of the MO (0.05?mM/L, 5?mL) was photodegraded and its kinetic constant reached to 0.0104?min^?1, which is the 3.0 times and 3.6 times quicker than that of 5-CdS-TPS-500?°C and 15-CdS-TPS-0?°C, respectively. This could be ascribed to the result of the synergy effects of the suitable quantity of CdS nanoparticles modifier, the special surface structure, excellent crystallinity, higher electrical conductivity, and band structure matching. The possible photocatalytic mechanism of the CdS-TPS sample is investigated as well.