Monocrystalline silicon surface passivation by Al2O3/porous silicon combined treatment

In this paper, we report on the effect of Al₂O₃/porous silicon combined treatment on the surface passivation of monocrystalline silicon (c-Si). Al₂O₃ films with a thickness of 5, 20 and 80 nm are deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). It was demonstrated that Al₂O₃ coating is a very interesting low temperature solution for surface passivation. The level of surface passivation is determined by techniques based on photoconductance and FTIR. As a result, the effective minority carrier lifetime increase from 2 μs to 7 μs at a minority carrier density (Δn) of 1 × 10¹⁵ cm^?3 and the reflectivity reduce from 28% to about 7% after Al₂O₃/PS coating.     

Surface passivation of multicrystalline silicon wafers by porous silicon combined with an ultrathin nanoparticles aluminum coating film

In this paper, we demonstrate that we may efficiently improve surface passivation of multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) while combining formation of porous silicon (PS) and deposition of ultrathin aluminum (Al) film. Aluminum Nanoparticles were deposited by thermal evaporation onto PS formed on mc-Si wafers. Optoelectronic properties of Al/PS/mc-Si and Al/mc-Si treated samples were investigated before and after annealing in the 400–700 °C temperature range. The surface passivation effectiveness was pointed out based on minority carrier lifetime and photoluminescence measurements. It was found that, at a minority carrier density Δn = 10¹⁵ cm^?3, the effective minority carrier lifetime increases from 1.5 μs (for the bare mc-Si wafer) to about 6 and 14 μs before and after thermal annealing, respectively. FTIR analyses show strong correlation between the minority carrier lifetime values and hydrogen and Al passivation. Major beneficial effect of the co-presence of Al and Al–O on the optoelectronic properties is also demonstrated. The reflectivity of Al/PS treated mc-Si decrease significantly at 500 nm as compared to untreated mc-Si (from 31 % for untreated mc-Si wafers to 8 % for Al/PS treated ones), which is due to the roughly ordered structure and to the Al nanoparticles.     

Enhanced photoluminescence from porous silicon passivated with an ultrathin aluminum film

The photoluminescence (PL) of the porous silicon (PS) can be enhanced by coating it with an ultrathin aluminum (Al) film. The PL intensity of PS was found to increase up to ~ 67% by radio frequency (RF) sputter deposition of 5.2 nm Al film on PS. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis results suggest that the PL enhancement is related to change of Si–H and Si–O–Si bonds into Si–Al bonds as well as the increase in the carrier concentration participating in the radiative recombination under photoexcitation. On the other hand, the PL of the Al-passivated PS was found to be significantly deteriorated by postannealing owing to the thermal oxidation of the Al layer during annealing.     

原子层沉积氧化铝包覆层增强五氧化二钒多孔薄膜电化学循环稳定性

最近,包覆氧化物进行表面修饰的方法已成功应用于改善锂离子电池阴极材料的容量稳定性。本文中,我们通过V2O5溶胶结合提拉法制备了V2O5多孔薄膜,并利用原子层沉积法对其包覆Al2O3原子层。V2O5多孔薄膜的电化学性质受包覆层厚度的影响,我们研究了不同薄膜厚度下的修饰效果。结果显示,原子层沉积法包覆不同厚度Al2O3原子层对锂离子电池的循环稳定性都有所改善,经10个ALD包覆循环的样品表现出最好的修饰效果。在此基础上,我们讨论探索了包覆Al2O3对容量及稳定性增强的机理。     

Catalysis on oriented ultrathin films of platinum on Al2O3

The selectivity of the hydrogenolysis of methylcyclopentane on model thin film catalysts was investigated and the morphology of the particles was checked in parallel by transmission electron microscopy and transmission electron diffraction. The catalysts were island-stage platinum films of defined orientation obtained by evaporating platinum onto (100)- and (111)-oriented NaCl substrates, backing with Al₂O₃ and dissolving the substrate.The catalysts were quite inactive as long as the single-crystal surface was unchanged, and any increase in activity was accompanied by a change in morphology. The results are compared with those obtained on non-oriented films as well as on bulk single-crystal surfaces.     

Al2O3/silicon nanoISFET with near ideal nernstian response

Nanoscale ISFET (ion sensitive field-effect transistor) pH sensors are presented that produce the well-known sub-nernstian pH-response for silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) surfaces and near ideal nernstian sensitivity for alumina (Al(2)O(3)) surfaces. Titration experiments of SiO(2) surfaces resulted in a varying pH sensitivity ～20 mV/pH for pH near 2 and >45 mV/pH for pH > 5. Measured pH responses from titrations of thin (15 nm) atomic layer deposited (ALD) alumina (Al(2)O(3)) surfaces on the nanoISFETs resulted in near ideal nernstian pH sensitivity of 57.8 ± 1.2 mV/pH (pH range: 2-10; T = 22 °C) and temperature sensitivity of 0.19 mV/pH °C (22 °C ≤ T ≤ 40 °C). A comprehensive analytical model of the nanoISFET sensor, which is based on the combined Gouy-Chapman-Stern and Site-Binding (GCS-SB) model, accompanies the experimental results and an extracted ΔpK ≈ 1.5 from the measured responses further supports the near ideal nernstian pH sensitivity.     

Wetting kinetics of liquid aluminium on an Al2O3 surface

The wetting process of a liquid aluminium drop on a solid Al₂O₃ surface has been investigated. Two different models have been proposed: a hydrodynamic model based on the effect of viscosity as well as a diffusion model which considers diffusional effects. The prediction from the models was compared with experiments. It was found that the wetting process of a liquid aluminium drop on an Al₂O₃ surface can be represented by the diffusion model rather than by the hydrodynamic model. In contrast, the hydrodynamic model could be employed to describe the wetting process of a liquid polymer drop on a solid.     

Alumina gels that form porous transparent Al2O3

Formation of a porous transparent Al₂O₃ from aluminium alkoxides has been previously reported. During the process, alkoxides are hydrolyzed and the resultant hydroxide is peptized to a clear sol. The sol then must be gelled and pyrolyzed to 500° C to obtain the aluminium oxide. This paper discusses the gel state and the requirements for the system to retain its integrity during the drying and pyrolysis. Influence of electrolytes on the sol-gel transformation shows that there is a critical electrolyte concentration at which the gelling volume goes through a pronounced minimum. Deviation in either direction of this electrolyte concentration causes a sharp increase in the relative gelling volume and detrimentally effects the capability of the gel to retain its integrity. The sols that gel at concentrations less than ～4 g equivalent oxide per 100 ml do not retain their integrity during pyrolysis.     

Mechanical properties of porous Al2O3 composite with surface modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been reinforced in alumina (Al2O3) matrix to overcome the inherent brittleness of the Al2O3 matrix. In this work, MWCNTs were treated by acid to provide hydrophilicity to hydrophobic MWCNTs, inducing the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs in an aqueous solution. Aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) as a Al2O3 precursor was added in the solution with the modified MWCNTs, and then this mixture solution was filtered at room temperature. The prepared powders were calcinated at 800-1000 degrees C to reduce the gas pocket in the matrix by decomposition of Al(OH)3. Then the calcinated powders were formed, and heat-treated. The porous MWCNTs-Al2O3 composites show higher mechanical properties in flexure strength and hardness than the porous Al2O3 without the reinforcement phase, which is attributed to the high mechanical properties of MWCNTs. However, higher MWCNTs contents in the composites decrease the mechanical properties due to the aggregation of MWCNTs in the composites. Therefore, control of the MWCNTs content and its dispersibility in the matrix are key factors to be considered for the fabrication of the porous MWCNT-Al2O3 composites.     

TiO2/void/porous Al2O3 shell embedded in polyvinylidene fluoride film for cleaning wastewater

In order to selectively adsorb hydrolyzed polyacryamide (HPAM) and remove oil from oily wastewater, TiO₂/void/porous Al₂O₃ shell particles (TVAs) were designed and prepared though hydrolysis and calcination; subsequently, the TVAs were embedded into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to prepare composite films (TVAP films). As polymeric supports, TVAP films were employed to immobilize TiO₂ powder. TVAs were characterized using SEM, TEM, FT-IR, BET while TVAP films were characterized by SEM. The results indicate that the particle size of TVAs is mainly distributed between 700 and 800?nm, core-shell structure has been successfully built. The removal rates of TVAP films prepared under the optimum synthesis conditions for oil and HPAM reach 69.70% and 60.20% respectively, performing attractive properties of mass transfer and adsorption. Therefore, TVAP films are desirable as suitable materials to clean oily wastewater.     

XRCT characterisation of Ti particles inside porous Al2O3

Computed X-ray tomography was used to characterise distribution and sphericity of Ti granules within highly porous (> 35%) Al₂O₃ powder compacts, as they are key parameters for a successful infiltration by Fe-based alloys. Setting of reconstruction constraints, image editing as well as data processing are the most challenging parts of computed X-ray tomography and principal sources of errors that bias the generated data. Thus, corrective measures have to be applied and the reliability of generated data has to be proved with respect to statistical, stereological and volumetric aspects. Combining an adapted Interface Particle Treatment Algorithm with the Marching Cube Method, Equilibrium Random State Model, cluster splitting and conventional laser diffraction measurements a significant improvement of the three-dimensional reconstructed data was achieved. This study points out the need of the applied algorithms for the proof and improvement of generated data by computed X-ray tomography and gives a short survey of methods that can be applied.     

Physical properties of slip casting of high pure Al2O3 slurry using porous Al2O3-glass mold

Physical properties of advanced ceramics are influenced by impurities produced in the forming process. The forming compacts produced by slip casting using gypsum molds contain calcium and sulfur in green bodies. Therefore, a porous Al₂O₃-glass mold was produced and slip casting was performed in the present study. Porous Al₂O₃ ceramics as casting molds were examined in comparison with gypsum mold from viewpoints of free energy for wettability and rate of filter cake buildup. The sintered compact of Al₂O₃ produced by slip casting using the porous Al₂O₃-glass mold was compared with those using the gypsum mold. Transmittance of the sintered Al₂O₃ compacts using the porous Al₂O₃-glass molds was increased in comparison with that using the gypsum mold.     

Influence of surface modification of alumina on bond strength in Al2O3/Al/Al2O3 joints

The subject of the work was to study the effect of Ti thin film on alumina ceramic on mechanical strength and fracture character of Al₂O₃/Al/Al₂O₃ joints. The joints were formed by liquid state bonding of alumina substrates covered with titanium thin film of 800 nm thickness using Al interlayer of 30μm thickness at temperature of 973 K in a vacuum of 0.2 mPa for 5 min. The bend strength was measured by four–point bending test at room temperature. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were applied for detailed characterization of interface structure and failure character of fractured joint surfaces. Result analysis has shown that application of the Ti thin film on alumina leads to decrease of bond strength properties of Al₂O₃/Al/Al₂O₃ joints along with the change either of structure and chemistry of interface or of failure character.     

Plasma spraying of Al2O3 and Al2O3Y2O3

A microstructural study has been carried out of plasma-sprayed Al₂O₃ and mixed and sintered Al₂O₃Y₂O₃. In order to ascertain the degree of metastability achieved by plasma spraying, these results are compared with a similar experiment utilizing a CO₂ laser for melting and the hammer-and-anvil technique for quenching of the same materials. X-ray diffraction methods were used to determine the obtained phases and crystal structures. In addition, transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the phases present and to study their morpology. The porosity was studied with both mercury intrusion porosimetry and small angle neutron scattering. The addition of Y₂O₃ is shown to decrease the porosity from 15% to 7.5%. Adhesion is likewise related to the addition of Y₂O₃ and it is seen that adhesion of the mixture is measurably improved over that of pure Al₂O₃. The implication of these results is discussed.     

TiO2/ Al2O3复合薄膜的亲水性能研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了TiO2／Al2O3复合薄膜,通过XRD、XPS、UV透射光谱的分析及薄膜表面接触角的测量,研究了Al2O3与TiO2配比、热处理温度、膜厚度等因素对复合膜的亲水性、透光率的影响。结果表明：Al2O3的加入和膜厚度的增加均有利于TiO2薄膜亲水性的改善;热处理温度对TiO2／Al2O3复合膜的亲水性有较大影响,其中经450℃热处理的薄膜亲水性最好;Al2O3的加入未降低复合膜的可见光透光率,其平均透光率大于80％。