Influence of leaky surface acoustic wave velocity of glass substrates on frequency variation of ZnO/glass SAW filters

During the manufacture of ZnO/glass surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, two kinds of problems sometimes arise. One is that the average frequency of the SAW filters changes greatly depending on the production lot of glass sheets. The other is that SAW filters made from the same production lot of glass sheets have largely separated double peaks in the frequency distribution. Previously, it had been considered that the frequency variation of ZnO/glass SAW filters depended on such factors as the ZnO film thickness and its elastic quality. The authors focused on the glass substrates as the cause of this variation and measured the leaky SAW (LSAW) velocity on the glass substrates using an ultrasonic microscope to clarify the mechanism. As a result, it was clarified that the LSAW velocities on the glass substrates showed a large variation within and between production lots of glass sheets, and the frequency of ZnO/glass SAW filters largely depended on the LSAW velocity on glass substrates. Moreover, the authors clarified the cause of the difference in the LSAW velocity between glass substrates and were able to reduce the variation of the LSAW velocity.     

Vertical single-crystal ZnO nanowires grown on ZnO:Ga/glass templates

Vertical single-crystal ZnO nanowires with uniform diameter and uniform length were selectively grown on ZnO:Ga/glass templates at 600/spl deg/C by a self-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid process without any metal catalyst. It was found that the ZnO nanowires are grown preferred oriented in the [002] direction with a small X-ray diffraction full-width half-maximum. Photoluminescence, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements also confirmed good crystal quality of our ZnO nanowires. Field emitters using these ZnO nanowires were also fabricated. It was found that threshold field of the fabricated field emitters was 14 V//spl mu/m. With an applied electric field of 24 V//spl mu/m, it was found that the emission current density was around 0.1 mA/cm/sup 2/.     

Influence of ZnO/graphene nanolaminate periodicity on their structural and mechanical properties

Structural, electronic and mechanical properties of ZnO/Graphene (ZnO/G) nanolaminates fabricated by low temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were investigated. We performed scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nanoindentation to characterize the ZnO/G nanolaminates. The main structural and mechanical parameters of ZnO/G nanolaminates were calculated. The obtained results were analyzed and interpreted taking into account mechanical interaction and charge effects occurring at the G-ZnO interface. The influence of graphene sublayers number on the mechanical behavior of the ZnO/G nanolaminates was studied. By reducing the bilayer thickness, the mechanical parameters of the films can be tuned (Young’s modulus 100–200 GPa, hardness 3–9 GPa). The softer response of the multilayers as compared to the single layers of ZnO and graphene was attributed to the structural changes in the ZnO layer and the interfaces. This study shows the mechanical behavior of ZnO/G nanolaminates and their influence on the development of novel electro-optical devices based on these structures.     

Influence of fibre treatment and glass fibre hybridisation on thermal degradation and surface energy characteristics of hemp/unsaturated polyester composites

The effect of fibre treatment on the thermal degradation and surface energy characteristics of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester (HFRUP) composites was investigated by means of a thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) in a nitrogen atmosphere and contact angle measurement. In order to modify the fibre/matrix interface, NaOH treatment and glass fibre hybridisation were employed. HFRUP composites were compared to the unreinforced UP, NaOH treated hemp and glass fibre hybridised hemp/UP composites. TGA test results show that the weight loss for all samples occurred between 200 and 415 °C. The unreinforced UP had a maximum weight loss of 1.011%/°C. For the HFRUP composites, the maximum rate of weight loss was 0.81%/°C. For the NaOH treated and glass fibre hybridised hemp/UP composites, the maximum rate of weight loss was 0.78%/°C and 0.79%/°C, respectively. The effect of fibre treatment on the surface energy of studied samples and their dispersive and polar components were also investigated. Surface energy characteristics obtained from contact angle measurement revealed that for unreinforced UP, the contact angle measured with glycerol is 49.37°. For hemp/UP composites, the contact angle is 76.05°. For NaOH treated hemp/UP composites sample, the contact angle was recorded 78.89°, higher than untreated one. For hemp/CSM/UP specimen, the contact angle was recorded 69.80°. Both TGA and contact angle results indicated that surface treatment and glass fibre hybridisation led to better thermal stability and the wetting behaviour of hemp/UP composites.     

Effect of the surface texture and crystallinity of ZnO nanoparticles on their toxicity

We have investigated the correlation between the structural properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and their toxicity to mesenchymal stem cells (C2C12 cell line) and macrophage-derived cells (RAW 264.7 cell line). Nanopowders of grain size ranging between 5 nm and 50 nm were prepared by chemical route. Their structural properties were characterized extensively by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The XRD spectra showed that 50 nm sized NPs are well crystallized and present a preferential orientation along the direction normal to the (001) plane while the HREM observations revealed that most of the large size (50 nm) crystallized nanoparticles have polygonal shape which is consistent with a texture of along [001] direction. The toxicity tests showed that [001] large textured NPs have higher toxicity to inflammatory cells than nanoparticles of low crystallinity and much smaller size (5 nm). In addition, NPs have cytotoxic effects on inflammatory cells at concentration as low as 0.05 mM while ten times higher concentrations did not have significant cytotoxic effects on cells representing mesenchymal tissues. These observations are explained by the enhanced generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) at the (0001) polar surface of ZnO NP. These results provide a direct evidence of the correlation between the toxicity and the surface texture of the oxide nanoparticles. Similar correlation has been reported for the photocatalytic properties of ZnO nanoparticles.     

GHz frequency ZnO/Si SAW device

The demand for high-frequency low-loss filters generates intensive research on innovative wave guide solutions. In this work, a GHz SAW device based on a ZnO/Si structure was fabricated using classical UV photolithography. The thickness of the piezoelectric thin film was optimized and a specific interdigital transducer structure was used to generate third and fifth harmonic guided waves at 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz, respectively, with an aluminum strip larger than 1 micrometer. Different modes have been measured and theoretically identified thanks to an advanced finite-element/boundary-elementbased model. Good agreement is found between theory and experiments. The high-frequency modes have been fully characterized, allowing for accurate design of SAW devices exploiting such modes.     

远红外频率选择表面的传输特性分析

设计了十字单元的远红外带通型频率选择表面(FSS),并采用模匹配法对其传输特性进行了研究,其中单元中的场分布用有限元法求出。根据此方法研究了不同极化方式的电磁波在斜入射条件下,对不同布阵方式的远红外FSS传输特性的影响。结果发现,无论单元是按正方形布阵还是按正三角形布阵,在电磁波斜入射时中心频率都随入射角的增大而向低频漂移,带宽都相应减小。但无论入射波是什么极化方式,所设计单元按正三角形布阵时的传输特性都比正方形布阵方式稳定。     

Electrical and optical characteristics of surface treated ZnO nanotubes

Vertical ZnO nanotubes were electrochemically deposited onto an indium doped tin oxide glass substrate. These nanotubes were surface treated with zinc acetate and annealed at 450 °C, resulting in a nanotubes/nanoparticles composite layer. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface treated samples showed nanoparticles been dispersed uniformly along the ZnO tubular matrix, which was confirmed by X-ray diffractrometry. Photoluminescence and fluorescence microscopy showed untreated ZnO nanotubes exhibiting blue emission, while the treated samples exhibited green emissions. Ultra-violet spectroscopy of treated samples revealed lower band gap values compare to their untreated counterparts. Lifetime measurements showed higher excitonic lifetimes in treated samples. Conductance studies using atomic force microscopy showed significant improvement in the conductance values for the treated samples. A significant increase in photocurrent was observed in treated samples when used as photo-anodes in dye sensitized solar cells.     

Effects of spinel phase formation in the calcination process on the characteristics of ZnO–glass varistors

Ceramic varistors based on ZnO with lead zinc borosilicate glass were prepared in order to study the effects of various calcination processes on the formation of spinel phase during the sintering process, including the effects of different temperatures and soaking times. A ZnO–glass sample was prepared using powder calcined at 600°C for 10 h then sintered at 1250°C for 1 h; this sample possessed the highest non-linear coefficient, breakdown voltage and non-linear resistance as well as the lowest leakage current. The optimum amount of Zn7Sb2O12 spinel phase, formed in the calcination process, that can inhibit ZnO grain growth in the subsequent sintering plays an important role in the grain size distribution and stability of ZnO–glass ceramic varistors. Uniform distribution of the grain size obtained from suitable calcination processes was an important microstructural parameter in achieving a good device stability of ZnO–glass varistors. The dynamic resistance and the non-linear resistance of the ZnO–glass varistor, correlated with the average grain size, were proposed to describe insulating characteristics of the varistor samples. Increases in these two parameters, created by decreasing the grain size, enhances the sample clamping voltage during the surge impact and the sample breakdown voltage. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sputter deposited ZnO nanowires/thin film structures on glass substrate

Integrated ZnO nanowires/thin film structures were grown using radio-frequency magnetron sputter deposition on amorphous glass substrates having an electroless plated copper surface layer. The growth took place under different deposition times and O₂/Ar ratios. The substrate was not heated or biased during the deposition. Regardless of the O₂/Ar ratio, both nanowires and the film grew simultaneously. However, the growth of the nanowires and the film was diffusion-controlled and reaction-controlled, respectively. On the other hand, the O₂/Ar ratio substantially affected the crystal structure and morphology of the resulting ZnO deposits.     

Influence of gallium on the surface properties of zinc based glass polyalkenoate cements

This study investigates the effect of gallium (Ga) additions, substituting for zinc (Zn), on the physio-chemical surface properties of aluminium-free glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs). Substituting Zn with Ga resulted in a significant increase in hydrophilicity and thusly wettability, as shown by a decrease in water contact angle. Increasing Ga resulted in increased Zn release, irrespective of decreasing Zn content of the starting glass. This resulted in increased antibacterial efficiency, against Escherichia coli, but not Staphylococcus epidermidis. Ga was shown to have no effect on antibacterial efficiency.     

Influence of surface potential on the kinetics of glass reactions with aqueous solutions

The kinetics of leaching of alkali silicate glasses in aqueous solutions may be correlated experimentally with the rate of alkali ion transfer across the glass-water interface. However, present theories based upon free ion diffusion fail to provide quantitative or qualitative agreement with experiment. The model proposed incorporates an electrostatic interaction derived from the surface potential and associated space charge layer in the surface region of the glass, and thus involves field-enhanced diffusion. It gives both qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement with experimental observations.     

ZnO nanowires hydrothermally grown on PET polymer substrates and their characteristics

Zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) were successfully synthesized on the ITO/PET polymer substrates by a hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy investigations were carried out to characterize the crystallinity, surface morphologies, and orientations of these NWs, respectively. The influence of NW surface morphologies on the optical and electrical properties of ZnO NWs was studied. The hydrothermally grown ZnO NWs with direct band gap of 3.21 eV emitted ultraviolet photoluminescence of 406 nm at room temperature. Field emission measurements revealed that the threshold electric fields (Eth, current density of 1 mA/cm2) of ZnO NWs/ITO/PET and ZnO NWs/ZnO/ITO/PET are 1.6 and 2.2 V/microm with the enhancement factors, beta values, of 3275 and 4502, respectively. Furthermore, the field emission performance of ZnO NWs deposited on the ITO/PET substrate can be enhanced by illumination with Eth of 1.3 V/microm and displays a maximum emission current density of 18 mA/cm2. The ZnO NWs successfully grown on polymer substrate with high transmittance, low threshold electric field, and high emission current density may be applied to a flexible field emission display in the future.     

Influence of ZnO concentration on the optical and photocatalytic properties of Ni-doped ZnS/ZnO nanocomposite

Photocatalysts consisting of nickel-doped ZnS/ZnO core shell nanocomposites with varying concentrations of ZnO was synthesized through chemical precipitation method. The catalyst was deployed in photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine dye as a model organic pollutant. Characterization of the samples was achieved through the use of X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The composites consist of wurtzite ZnO phase deposited on cubic ZnS. Optical absorption, crystallite sizes and photocatalytic degradation efficiency increased with increasing ZnO concentration. Bandgap values of ZnS also decreased appreciably with increase in ZnO concentration. Ni-doped ZnS/(0.5 M ZnO) was identified as the most efficient catalyst with 91% dye degradation efficiency at a rate of 15.38 × 10^?3 min^?1 in 180 min. Meanwhile, the pristine ZnS degraded 25% of the dye at the rate of 1.53 × 10^?3 min^?1 within the same time. The Ni-doped Zns/(0.5 M ZnO) was used to degrade the dye on the basis of influence of factors such as solution temperature, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ethanol contents. Dye degradation increased with increase in temperature, but decreased with ethanol content. H₂O₂ content initially caused enhanced dye degradation but the efficiency decreased with higher H₂O₂ content.     

Influence of substrate temperature and Zn-precursors on atomic layer deposition of polycrystalline ZnO films on glass

Influence of substrate temperature and Zn-precursors on growth rate, crystal structure, and electrical property of undoped ZnO thin films grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been studied. Differences between dimethylzinc (DMeZn) and diethylzinc (DEtZn) used as Zn-precursors were examined. The ZnO films grown using DMeZn showed higher electrical resistivity compared to that grown using DEtZn. However, the higher resistivity in the case of DMeZn was owing to much amount of residual impurities incorporated during the ALD growth.     

Structure and nano-mechanical characteristics of surface oxide layers on a metallic glass

Owing to their low elastic moduli, high specific strength and excellent processing characteristics in the undercooled liquid state, metallic glasses are promising materials for applications in micromechanical systems. With miniaturization of metallic mechanical components down to the micrometer scale, the importance of a native oxide layer on a glass surface is increasing. In this work we use TEM and XPS to characterize the structure and properties of the native oxide layer grown on Ni(62)Nb(38) metallic glass and their evolution after annealing in air. The thickness of the oxide layer almost doubled after annealing. In both cases the oxide layer is amorphous and consists predominantly of Nb oxide. We investigate the friction behavior at low loads and in ambient conditions (i.e. at T = 295 K and 60% air humidity) of both as-cast and annealed samples by friction force microscopy. After annealing the friction coefficient is found to have significantly increased. We attribute this effect to the increase of the mechanical stability of the oxide layer upon annealing.     

Influence of Cu2O surface treatment on the photovoltaic properties of Al-doped ZnO/Cu2O solar cells

Low cost Al-doped ZnO (AZO)/Cu₂O Schottky barrier solar cells with a high conversion efficiency of 2.19% were fabricated by depositing a transparent conducting AZO thin film on high quality Cu₂O sheets prepared by thermally oxidizing copper sheets. To achieve efficiencies higher than 2%, it is necessary to form the AZO thin film at a low deposition temperature using a low-damage deposition method, i.e., at room temperature by a pulsed laser deposition. In addition, the obtained efficiency could be enhanced with a surface treatment of the Cu₂O sheets, such as by applying a Pd-Sn catalyst layer as a coating or a rapid thermal annealing treatment at approximately 500 °C in air.     

Influence of surface modification of porous glasses on their surface free energy

Investigations of zeta-potential changes of initial and thermally treated controlled-porosity glasses (CPGs), whose surfaces were covered with different amounts of n-octane and/or nitromethane, are presented. The dispersive ( _s ^d ) and non-dispersive ( _s ⁿ ) components of the surface free energy were then calculated using the relationships obtained. _s ^d was found to be practically independent of the treatment time (a small increase in the range of 4 mJ m^–2 can be seen), but a considerable decrease in _s ⁿ was observed (from 76.95 to 27.2 4 mJ m^–2). In the case of CPG modified with -aminopropyltriethoxysilane an increased hydrophobic character of the surface was found. This was reflected in increased _s ^d and decreased _s ⁿ values.     

Influence of lithium doping on the structural and electrical characteristics of ZnO thin films

Thin films of undoped and lithium-doped Zinc oxide, (Zn_1 − xLi_x)O; x = 0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 were prepared by sol-gel method using spin-coating technique on silicon substrates [(111)Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si)]. The influence of lithium doping on the structural, electrical and microstructural characteristics have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, leakage current, piezoelectric measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The resistivity of the ZnO film is found to increase markedly with low levels (x ≤ 0.05) of lithium doping thereby enhancing their piezoelectric applications. The transverse piezoelectric coefficient, e₃₁^? has been determined for the thin films having the composition (Zn_0.95Li_0.05)O, to study their suitability for piezoelectric applications.     

Influence of surface characteristics of modified glass beads as model carriers in dry powder inhalers (DPIs) on the aerosolization performance

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of surface characteristics (surface roughness and specific surface area) of surface-modified glass beads as model carriers in dry powder inhalers (DPIs) on the aerosolization, and thus, the in vitro respirable fraction often referred to as fine particle fraction (FPF). By processing glass beads in a ball mill with different grinding materials (quartz and tungsten carbide) and varying grinding time (4?h and 8?h), and by plasma etching for 1?min, glass beads with different shades of surface roughness and increased surface area were prepared. Compared with untreated glass beads, the surface-modified rough glass beads show increased FPFs. The drug detachment from the modified glass beads is also more reproducible than from untreated glass beads indicated by lower standard deviations for the FPFs of the modified glass beads. Moreover, the FPF of the modified glass beads correlates with their surface characteristics. The higher the surface roughness and the higher the specific surface area of the glass beads the higher is the FPF. Thus, surface-modified glass beads make an ideal carrier for tailoring the performance of DPIs in the therapy of asthma and chronically obstructive pulmonary diseases.