Water photolysis by NaTaO3-C composite prepared by spray pyrolysis

Spherical powders of NaTaO₃-C composite were prepared by a step process in a continuous spray pyrolysis reactor and tested their photocatalytic activity in a continuous slurry reactor for the production of hydrogen from water. Effects of carbon contents in the composite on the crystal, surface property, shape, optical absorption response and efficiency of hydrogen production of the composite were examined. The crystal of NaTaO₃-C composite was analyzed by XRD analysis. From the analysis of SEM images, the prepared composite powder was found to be spherical with rough surface. The roughness of the composite surface became noticeable with increasing carbon content in the composite. The concentrations of all elements in the composite were determined by energy dispersive spectra (EDS). From the analysis of optical response, which was analyzed by diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), the absorption edge of NaTaO₃-C composite was extended to the whole visible light range. The extension to the visible light absorption edge became drastic with increasing carbon content in the composite up to 8.98 wt.%. However, this shift is not directly related to the band change because there is no evidence that carbon is incorporated in the lattice of NaTaO₃.     

Crystalline alumina films prepared by nebulized spray pyrolysis

Crystalline alumina films have been successfully deposited on Si(100) and amorphous silica substrates by the nebulized spray pyrolysis technique. The surface morphology of the films has been studied by various microscopic techniques. The films exhibit satisfactory microhardness and frequency independent capacitance.     

超声喷雾热解法制备ZnO薄膜及性能研究

以醋酸锌水溶液为前驱体溶液,使用自制的超声喷雾热解系统在玻璃基板上制备得到了ZnO薄膜.经X射线衍射(XRD),扫描电镜(SEM)分析得到ZnO薄膜的晶体结构和微观形貌.测试结果表明,ZnO薄膜为六角纤锌矿结构,在450～500℃下制备的薄膜显示出良好的结晶性能,并且沿(002)晶面择优取向生长,薄膜具有优良的均匀性和致密性.同时,制备得到的薄膜在可见光区也表现出80%以上的高透过率.     

Perovskite-type lanthanum chromium-based oxide films prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis was used to form 2–8 m thick LaCrO₃ films on different substrates from La(CrO₄)(NO₃)·nH₂O precursor films. There was an optimum substrate temperature for the formation of uniform precursor films by the spray pyrolysis. When the substrate temperature was lower than 250 °C, dry precursor films were not formed, while above 250 °C the deposition rate decreased with substrate temperature. The precursor films were converted to perovskite-type oxide films by heat treatment at 800 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Both A-site substituted (La_0.8Ca_0.2) CrO₃ and B-site substituted La(Cr_0.5Mn_0.5)O₃ oxide films were formed in a similar manner. Electronic conductivity of the oxide films was improved by repetitions of the spray pyrolysis and heat treatment in nitrogen.     

Ag diffusion in ZnS thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

ZnS thin films were deposited by spray pyrolysis method on glass substrates. Diffusion of Ag in ZnS thin films was performed in the temperature range 80-400 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The diffusion of Ag is determined with XRF, and the obtained concentration profile allows to calculate the diffusion coefficient. The temperature dependence of Ag diffusion coefficient is determined by the equation D = 8 × 10^− 9 exp(− 0.10 eV / kT). It was found that the as-grown undoped high resistive n-type ZnS thin films were converted to the p-type upon Ag doping with a slight increase in resistivity only by rapid thermal annealing at 400 °C in N₂ atmosphere. In addition, the band gap of the p-type film was decreased as compared with the undoped sample annealed under the same conditions. The results were attributed to the migration of Ag atoms in polycrystalline ZnS films by means of both along intergrain surfaces and intragrain accompanied by interaction with native point defect.     

Morphologies and properties of nickel particles prepared by spray pyrolysis

Nickel particles were prepared by spray pyrolysis of aqueous solutions of NiCl₂·6H₂O with reducing gas. Wet pyrolysis lowered the onset and the finishing temperatures of the individual chemical transformations by at least 100°C to contribute high conversion to nickel and its completion of sintering. Densification by increasing the furnace set temperature outweighed the adverse effects of the dry sintering and short residence time of the precursor particles. The initial salt concentration increased the size of the nickel particles with their densification, resulting from the enhanced rate of nickel nucleation.     

Optical constants of CdS thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

CdS thin films were prepared by spray pyrolysis techniques. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used for optical constant calculations. Multiple angle measurements were taken in the most sensitive angle of incidence region. The sensitive regions of angle of incidence were obtained theoretically using 3-dimensional graph ofδψ andδΔ. Real partn and imaginary partk of the complex refractive index of the samples were calculated in the wavelength range 470–650 nm, taking into account surface roughness. Bruggeman’s effective medium approximation is used for analysis of the surface rough layer of the thin films.     

n-CuInS2/polysulfide photoelectrochemical solar cells prepared by spray pyrolysis

n-CuInS₂ photoanode has been prepared by spray pyrolysis onto SnO₂ deposited glass substrate at 350°C. The conductivity type of the photoanode was tested by hot-probe method and was ofn type. The conductivity of the photoanode was of the order of 2–4Θ⁻¹cm⁻¹ and was measured by using four-probe method. The effect of etching (HCl:HNO₃ = 5:1 by volume) on photoanode properties has been studied. The best cell had the following parameters:V _oc = 0·29V,I _sc = 5·33 mA/cm²,ff = 0·571 and η = 1·275%.     

Characteristics of annealed ZnO:Cu nanoparticles prepared by spray pyrolysis

The effect of the annealing temperature (T _a) on the thermoluminescence, surface morphology, electrical and structural properties of the ZnO:Cu nanoparticles obtained by the spray pyrolysis method at 500°C substrate temperature was studied. All the ZnO:Cu nanoparticles annealed in the range from 200 to 450 °C are polycrystalline with (002) preferential orientation. The resistivity decreases as T _a increases until it reaches a value of 0.07 Ohm cm for T _a = 350 °C. For higher temperatures the resistivity experiences a slight increase. The grain size also increases when T _a increases as observed in data calculated from X-ray measurements.     

超声雾化热分解法制备超细SnO2粉体及其形貌和粒度控制

以SnCl4·5H2O为原料,采用喷雾热分解法制备超细SnO2粉体,结果表明,通过控制反应炉温、前驱体溶液浓度、载气流量,选择合适的添加剂可以有效调控粉体的粒度与形貌.当反应条件为温度600℃、前驱体盐溶液浓度0.4mol/L、载气流量124L/h和柠檬酸浓度0.004mol/L,得到的SnO2颗粒大小在1.4μm左右,粒度分布均匀,结晶度高,球形度好.     

Growth and characterization of indium oxide thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Highly transparent and conducting indium oxide thin films are prepared on glass substrates from precursor solution of indium chloride. These films are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and optical transmission. The preferential orientation of these films is found to be sensitive to deposition parameters. A comparative study has been made on the dependence on the thickness of the film on substrate temperatures with aqueous solution and 1:1 C₂H₅OH and H₂O as precursors. Films deposited at optimum conditions have 167 nm thickness and exhibited a resistivity of 2.94 × 10⁻⁴ Ω m along with transmittance better than 82% at 550 nm. The analytical expressions enabling the derivation of the optical constants of these films from their transmission spectrum only have successfully been applied. Finally, the refractive index dispersion is discussed in terms of the single-oscillator Wemple and Didomenico model.     

Photoelectrochemical behaviour of SnO2 thin-film electrodes prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Photoelectrochemical behaviour of the SnO₂ thin film prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis was studied as a function of deposition time, annealing time and phosphorus content. The photocurrent increased up to 10 min (1.16 m) with deposition time and then decreased. When the SnO₂ thin film was annealed for 10 min at 400°C in air, the maximum value of photocurrent was obtained. When phosphorus was added to the SnO₂, photocurrent was decreased continuously with increasing phosphorus content.     

Some physical properties of fluorine-doped SnO2 films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Thin films of undoped and fluorine-doped tin oxide have been prepared on fused silica substrates by a spray pyrolysis technique. Structural, optical and electrical properties were studied. Fluorine doping increased the degree of crystallinity and preferred orientation as well as the figure of merit (23.9×10^–3 at 0.5 µm). The refractive index,n, showed a considerable decrease (2.2–1.85) on fluorine doping. The direct allowed transition for fluorine-doped tin oxide was 0.1 eV higher than that of undoped material.     

Nano-sized manganese oxide particles prepared by low-pressure spray pyrolysis using FEAG process

Nano-sized manganese oxide particles were prepared by low-pressure spray pyrolysis using the new type of liquid aerosol generator called as FEAG process. The particles prepared from polymeric precursors spray solution with organic additives had large size, hollow and fractured morphologies due to the gas evolution from the decomposition of the organic additives. The precursor particles with micron size, hollow and thin wall structures turned to nano-sized manganese oxide particles after post-treatment at temperatures of 700 and 800 °C. The optimum concentrations of citric acid (CA) and ethylene glycol (EG) to prepare the nano-sized manganese oxide particles by spray pyrolysis using the FEAG process were 0.3 M each. The manganese oxide particles prepared from the polymeric precursors spray solutions with high concentrations of CA and EG had spherical shape and porous morphologies.     

Growth and characterization of indium oxide thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Highly transparent and conducting indium oxide thin films are prepared on glass substrates from precursor solution of indium chloride. These films are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and optical transmission. The preferential orientation of these films is found to be sensitive to deposition parameters. A comparative study has been made on the dependence on the thickness of the film on substrate temperatures with aqueous solution and 1:1 C₂H₅OH and H₂O as precursors. Films deposited at optimum conditions have 167 nm thickness and exhibited a resistivity of 2.94 × 10⁻⁴ Ω m along with transmittance better than 82% at 550 nm. The analytical expressions enabling the derivation of the optical constants of these films from their transmission spectrum only have successfully been applied. Finally, the refractive index dispersion is discussed in terms of the single-oscillator Wemple and Didomenico model.     

Substrate temperature effects on the tin oxide films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Indium-doped tin oxide films were prepared by the spray pyrolysis technique at different substrate temperatures ranging from 400–525 C. Texture coefficients for (200) and (112) reflections of tetragonal SnO₂ were calculated. The surface morphology of the prepared films was revealed by using scanning electron microscopy. A dendrite structure was observed in the films deposited at a substrate temperature of 525 C. The obtained specific resistances were correlated with those obtained from X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. A study of the effect of film thickness on the plane of preferred orientation was carried out.