Electrical properties of (Bi3.5La0.5)Ti3O12 thin-films prepared by liquid source misted chemical deposition

The ((Bi_3.5La_0.5)Ti₃O₁₂(BLT) thin-films used in this study were fabricated on a Pt(111)/SiO₂/Si(100) substrate by a Liquid Source Misted Chemical Deposition (LSMCD) technique. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the BLT films were crystallized and no other phases were observed when annealed above 650 ‡C. Grain size and remnant polarizations increased with increase in the annealing temperature, while leakage current densities decreased. The remnant polarizations (Pr) increased from 2.0 to 4.8 and 19.0 μC/cm2 with increase in the annealing temperature from 650 to 700 and 750 ‡C, respectively. The BLT films annealed at 700 ‡C in O₂ showed a good fatigue resistance of reduced polarization by 10% after 10⁹ switching cycles when 9 V of bipolar voltage was applied at a frequency of 40 kHz.     

Nanocoating individual cohesive boron nitride particles in a fluidized bed by ALD

Experiments are conducted with alumina (Al₂O₃) deposition on a wide size range of hexagonal boron nitride (BN) platelet-like particles. Successful deposition of alumina films on these particles, with film thickness controllable at the Angstrom level, is observed based upon TEM imaging, ICP-AES, particle size distributions, and surface area analysis. While fluidizing, fine BN particles aggregate in the bed. The aggregates are the entities fluidizing, not the primary particles. However, individual particles are coated using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), not aggregates. Since ALD is a surface chemistry phenomenon, the films grow uniformly on every primary particle. BN particles are small platelets with different functional groups on the basal planes and edge planes. A small exposure to reagents [2.5×10⁶ Langmuir (L) per reagent per cycle], will only coat the edge planes of uncoated BN particles. A larger dose of 1×10⁸ L will coat the entire uncoated BN particle (edge and basal planes). After 10 ALD cycles of the 1×10⁸ L dose, the exposures can be reduced to 1×10⁶ L as the film is then growing on alumina and not BN. Peel strength data indicate that adhesion between the coated particles and a cured epoxy in a filled composite is ∼25% stronger than that of uncoated particles and the epoxy. The overall thermal conductivity drops ∼17% for an identical filler loading as expected due to the additional thermal resistance added by the film. However, the viscosity of an epoxy resin loaded with coated BN is as much as five times lower than that of the resin loaded with the same amount of uncoated BN. These results indicate that the loading of Al₂O₃ nanocoated BN particles in an epoxy matrix can be substantially increased relative to that of uncoated particles. The thermal conductivity of the more highly filled composite will be increased without adversely impacting filled resin viscosity or the peel strength of the cured material. This is the first reported study indicating that cohesive primary particles that fluidize as aggregates in a fluidized bed can be individually coated with a nano-thick ceramic film using ALD.     

Utilizing biomass and waste for power production—a decade of contributing to the understanding, interpretation and analysis of deposits and corrosion products

Through the years, Danish utilities have gained significant knowledge on how to minimize or even avoid ash deposition problems in utility boilers, firing a worldwide suite of high-volatile bituminous coals. In the early 1990s, the Danish Government decided on a 20% reduction in the CO₂-emission before the year 2005, based on the 1988-level. Biomass is considered CO₂-neutral due to its short time of regeneration, compared to fossil fuels. Thus, the Danish power producers are enjoined to burn 1.0 Mtonnes of straw, 0.2 Mtonnes of wood chips and 0.2 Mtonnes of straw/wood chips (free choice) every year beyond year 2005. As a consequence of this, the CHEC Research Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, being partly funded by the Danish power utilities, has during the last decade, investigated ash and deposit formation, and corrosion, in utility boilers fired with coal, petcoke, orimulsion, and different types of biomass (straw (barley, rape and wheat), wood (beech, spruce, fibreboard, bark and waste wood), shea nuts, olive stones, etc.). A number of reviews of these full-scale measuring campaigns have been provided in the open literature. Recently, a project on the formation of ash and deposits in waste incinerators has been initiated.This paper summarizes our findings, including recent activities on: (1) deposit formation during coal-wheat straw co-firing in suspension-fired boilers; (2) a pilot-scale study of ash and deposit formation in the Sandia Multi-Fuel Combustor (MFC); (3) a full-scale measuring campaign dealing with the effect of co-firing of biomass on the ash and deposit formation; (4) a full-scale measuring campaign addressing low-temperature corrosion of tubes in the air pre-heater of a straw-fired utility boiler; (5) a lab-scale study of the corrosion of superheater materials in straw-fired utility boilers, and, finally; (6) a fundamental study on ash and deposit formation in municipal solid waste incinerators. The paper provides insight into the experience gained on ash, deposit and corrosion formation in thermal fuel conversion systems fired with solid non-fossil fuels, and focuses attention on how these results fit into our current understanding of this subject. A complete and updated list of references covering our research activities within this area during the last decade is provided. In addition, a brief overview of current and future research activities is provided.     

石墨颗粒表面化学镀铜研究

为了充分利用Cu的导电性能，碳石墨的润滑性能，改善Cu/C的润湿性，用化学镀铜的方法成功地对石墨颗粒表面进行镀覆，详细地研究了镀铜液组分及工艺与石墨颗粒表面镀铜层厚度、沉积速率的关系，并得出较好的组分工艺方案，采用优化工艺可以得到平均厚度约7．1μm的镀铜层。同时应用X射线、金相显微镜、扫描电镜及电子探针对镀铜层的厚度、表面形貌、镀铜层与基体的界面进行了全面观察。分析表明，Cu/C界面存在过渡层，界面成锯齿状，机械冶金结合的特征十分明显，改善了铜碳界面的相溶性。     

PECVD淀积SiO_2薄膜工艺研究

研究了等离子增强化学气相淀积（PECVD）制备非晶SiO2薄膜的工艺。系统地研究了反应气体流量比、射频功率、淀积腔内压强、淀积时间等工艺条件对SiO2薄膜质量的影响,采用椭偏仪测量了不同工艺条件下淀积的SiO2薄膜的厚度和折射率。根据以上测试结果分析了各工艺参数对SiO2薄膜淀积速率、折射率以及均匀性的影响规律,并定性讨论了其机理。找到了比较合适的制备高均匀性和典型折射率SiO2薄膜的工艺参数。     

Benefits of carbon addition on the hydrogen absorption properties of Mg-based thin films grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Mg-Ni thin films were grown using Pulsed Laser Deposition. In situ optical changes from shiny metallic to transparent states were observed for films deposited in vacuum and under an Ar/H₂ gas mixture (93/7%), respectively. Optical changes were also achieved by ex situ hydrogenation under hydrogen gas pressure of 15 bars at 200 °C. However, after ex situ hydrogenation, the optical transmittance of the Mg-based hydrogenated thin films did not exceed 25%. Such limitation was attributed to oxygen contamination, as deduced by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy observations, showing the co-existence of both Mg-based and MgO phases for as-deposited films. A significant decrease in oxygen contamination was successfully achieved with the addition of carbon, leading to the preparation of (Mg-based)-C_x (x < 20%) thin films showing a faster and easier hydrogenation.     

XPS study of the surface chemistry of L-CVD SnO2 thin films after oxidation

In this paper we present the results of XPS study of the surface chemistry of L-CVD SnO₂ thin films onto Si(100) before and after subsequent additional oxidation. Moreover, the ageing effect was also studied in order to check the influence of ambient oxidation. As-deposited L-CVD SnO₂ thin films exhibit evident nonstoichiometry with the relative concentration [O]/[Sn] equal to 1.29 ± 0.1. After in situ oxidation at high temperature (800 K) the relative concentration [O]/[Sn] increases to 1.95 ± 0.05 which corresponds to the almost stoichiometric SnO₂. Almost the same relative concentration [O]/[Sn] of L-CVD SnO₂ thin films has been obtained after long term exposure to air. The oxidation states of L-CVD SnO₂ thin films in both cases were confirmed by the shape analysis of corresponding XPS O1s and Sn3d_5/2 peaks using the decomposition procedure. For the as-deposited L-CVD SnO₂ thin films a mixture of SnO and SnO₂ was observed, while for the oxidized L-CVD SnO₂ thin films the domination of SnO₂ was determined.     

Improvement of Heater Surface Flatness and Uniformity of TiN Film Deposition

The deposition rate and the thickness uniformity of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) titanium nitride films depend on wafer temperatures. The heater surface conditions, such as flatness, roughness, and surface imperfections, can greatly affect heat transfer efficiency from the heater surface to the wafer, and the process performance. Because heater surface imperfections or “hot spots” that caused poor uniformity had to be eliminated, the origin of “hot spots” was identified by a detailed study of heater surface profiles. A better visualization of “hot spots” could be obtained by comparing wafer-chucking patterns with deposition patterns. Thus, the time needed to locate “hot spots” could be shortened. The manufacturing process was revised to prevent “hot spots” and improve heater performance.     

Effect of Magnetic Field on the Deposition of Transparent Diamond-Like Carbon ( DLC ) Films by RF-PCVD

In order to deposit transparent and hard DLC films, magnetic field was introduced to enhance the plasma density of radiofrequency plasma chemical vapor deposition (RF-PCVD). In this paper, the configuration and computation of external magnetic field B are introduced. The restriction effect of magnetic field B on the charged particles and the effect of magnetic field B on the primary parameters-nonindependent power Pf and self-bias Uz were also studied. The mechanism of how magnetic field B affects self-bias Uz was analyzed.     

脉冲激光沉积技术制备的钪型阴极的发射性能

为提高阴极的发射性能以满足新型器件的需求,该文利用脉冲激光沉积技术制备了一种覆W+BaO- Sc2O3-SrO薄膜的浸渍扩散阴极。实验测得了该阴极在不同温度下的伏安特性曲线,并探讨了发射机制。结果表明,在1100C工作温度下,该阴极的零场发射电流密度达到305.5 A/cm2;阴极表面形成的Ba-Sc-Sr-O活性层是阴极获得高发射性能的主要原因。文章还利用半导体模型解释了该阴极的非正常肖特基效应。