scholarly journals Combining Fluorinated Polymers with Ag Nanoparticles as a Route to Enhance Optical Properties of Composite Materials

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Satulu ◽  
Bogdana Mitu ◽  
Valentin Ion ◽  
Valentina Marascu ◽  
Elena Matei ◽  
...  

Polymer-based nanocomposites have recently received considerable attention due to their unique properties, which makes them feasible for applications in optics, sensors, energy, life sciences, etc. The present work focuses on the synthesis of nanocomposites consisting of a polytetrafluorethylene-like matrix in which metallic nano-silver are embedded, by using multiple magnetron plasmas. By successively exposing the substrate to separate RF magnetrons using as combination of target materials polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and silver, individual control of each deposition process is insured, allowing obtaining of structures in which silver nanoparticles are entrapped in-between two PTFE layers with given thicknesses. The topographical and morphological characteristics investigated by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy techniques evidenced the very presence of Ag nanoparticles with typical dimension 7 nm. The chemical composition at various depositing steps was evaluated through X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. We show that the presence of the top PTFE layer prevents silver oxidation, while its thickness allows the tailoring of optical properties, as evidenced by spectroellipsometry. The appearance of chemical bonds between silver atoms and PTFE atoms at interfaces is observed, pointing out that despite of pure physical deposition processes, a chemical interaction between the polymeric matrix and metal is promoted by plasma.

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2008
Author(s):  
Hsiu-Wen Chien ◽  
Hong-Yu Lin ◽  
Chau-Yi Tsai ◽  
Tai-Yu Chen ◽  
Wei-Nian Chen

Superhydrophilic coatings have been widely used for the surface modification of membranes or biomedical devices owing to their excellent antifouling properties. However, simplifying the modification processes of such materials remains challenging. In this study, we developed a simple and rapid one-step co-deposition process using an oxidant trigger to fabricate superhydrophilic surfaces based on dopamine chemistry with sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA). We studied the effect of different oxidants and SBMA concentrations on surface modification in detail using UV–VIS spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and surface plasmon resonance. We found that NaIO4 could trigger the rate of polymerization and the optimum ratio of dopamine to SBMA is 1:25 by weight. This makes the surface superhydrophilic (water contact angle < 10°) and antifouling. The superhydrophilic coating, when introduced to polyester membranes, showed great potential for oil/water separation. Our study provides a complete description of the simple and fast preparation of superhydrophilic coatings for surface modification based on mussel-inspired chemistry.


2019 ◽  
Vol 293 ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Pawel Jarka ◽  
Tomasz Tański ◽  
Bartlomiej Hrapkowicz ◽  
Barbara Hajduk ◽  
Kamil Bystroń ◽  
...  

The aim of this work is to present the influences of composition of the material and manufacturing technology conditions of the organic photovoltaics devices (OPv) with the organic and hybrid bulk heterojunction on the active layers properties and cells performance. The layers were produced by using small molecular compounds: the metal-phthalocyanine (MePc) and perylene derivatives (PTCDA) and the titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. Two kinds of metal phthalocyanines (NiPc, TiOPc) were used as donor material and pperylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) as an acceptor. The used manufacturing technique allowed to employ thin layers of materials in a fast deposition process. Bulk heterojunction was created by simultaneously applying the MePc:PTCDA materials during the evaporation of the components mixture.The research was based on the estimate of composition of bulk heterojunction, the examination of the surface morphology of the used layers and optical properties studies of the heterojunction and its implementation to photovoltaic architecture. The produced photovoltaic cells parameters were determined on the basis of current - voltage characteristics.The researches of structure of obtained layers were conducted by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The quantitative determination of surface topography by determining RMS and Ra coefficients were performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). In order to determine the optical properties of the films the UV-Visible spectroscope have been utilized. Current - voltage characteristics were employed to determine the basic photovoltaic parameters using a dedicated device.The paper describes the influence of the individual components sharing the bulk heterojunction on its structure, optical properties and morphology of surface. In addition it allows for linking active layers properties with the parameters of the photovoltaic cells. The obtained results suggest the possibility of developing the utilized materials and technology in the further works on photovoltaic structures.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 3510
Author(s):  
Lukasz Skowronski ◽  
Arkadiusz Ciesielski ◽  
Aleksandra Olszewska ◽  
Robert Szczesny ◽  
Mieczyslaw Naparty ◽  
...  

Zinc oxide films have been fabricated by the electron beam physical vapour deposition (PVD) technique. The effect of substrate temperature during fabrication and annealing temperature (carried out in ultra high vacuum conditions) has been investigated by means of atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. It was found that the layer deposited at room temperature is composed of Zn and ZnO crystallites with a number of orientations, whereas those grown at 100 and 200 ∘C consist of ZnO grains and exhibit privileged growth direction. Presented results clearly show the influence of ZnO decomposition and segregation of Zn atoms during evaporation and post-deposition annealing on microstructure and optical properties of zinc oxide films.


2005 ◽  
Vol 900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Amanda J Haes ◽  
Xiaoyu Zhang ◽  
Shengli Zou ◽  
Erin M Hicks ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThis work presents an innovative approach to produce monodisperse solution-phase triangular silver nanoparticles with well-controlled geometry. Ag nanotriangles are fabricated by nanosphere lithography (NSL), functionalized with alkanethiol molecules and then released from the substrate into solution. The resulting single isolated nanoparticles are subsequently asymmetrically functionalized with alkanedithiol molecules to form dimer pairs. The optical properties of the Ag nanoparticles have been measured using UV-Vis spectroscopy while their structural properties have been characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Theoretical calculations based on Mie theory and the Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA) method have been done to interpret the optical properties of the released Ag nanoparticles.


2003 ◽  
Vol 796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Tang ◽  
Henrik Birkedal ◽  
Eric W. McFarland ◽  
Galen D. Stucky

ABSTRACTCdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots have been synthesized and assembled onto pre-functionalized gold surfaces by either hydrogen bonding or covalent bonds through different functional groups. Control of the conditions during the deposition process allows producing a high coverage of quantum dots via molecular linkages. The quantum-dot surface is highly photoactive and is used in a surface sensitized Schottky barrier photovoltaic structure as the photoreception component. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) are used to characterize and confirm the morphology and linkage of the assemblies on Au surfaces. The electron transfer from the quantum-dot layer to the Schottky barrier device is examined by measuring the current-voltage (IV) curve of such photovoltaic devices under simulated sun light.


2011 ◽  
Vol 287-290 ◽  
pp. 2397-2400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian Qi Wei ◽  
Yong Jie Wang ◽  
Ming Yang Zhang ◽  
Zhong Zhang

ZnO thin films are grown on sapphire substrate by employing a Nd:YAG (1064nm) laser ablation in 1.3 Pa oxygen ambient. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observation show that as-grown thin film possess (0002) textured feature and form columnar inclined grains with a small size. The as-grown films show a little oxygen vacancies and Zn interstitial by the analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman. The annealing treatment in oxygen ambient causes obvious improvement on the structure, surface morphology, compositions and optical properties by the analysis of XRD, AFM, XPS, Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. It can be concluded that the increase of UV emission is oriented to the improvement of structure and decrease of intrinsic defects. The blue emission (430 nm) is attributed to the electronic transition from shallow donor level of Zn interstitial to top level of valence band.


Les/Wood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Dahle ◽  
Lienhard Wegewitz ◽  
Wolfgang Viöl ◽  
Wolfgang Maus-Friedrichs

Metastable Induced Electron Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (He I and He II), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy were employed to study the interaction of silver with lignin as well as with two of its natural precursors, coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol. For all three of them, no chemical interaction between the adsorbed silver and the organic substrate was found before contact with air. Nevertheless, silver nanoparticles were found in all three cases after contact with air. Thus, a process of silver nanoparticle formation during the decomposition of the organic molecules is suggested, similar to the previously found catalytic decomposition of cinnamyl alcohol by water in the presence of silver atoms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 780 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Essary ◽  
V. Craciun ◽  
J. M. Howard ◽  
R. K. Singh

AbstractHf metal thin films were deposited on Si substrates using a pulsed laser deposition technique in vacuum and in ammonia ambients. The films were then oxidized at 400 °C in 300 Torr of O2. Half the samples were oxidized in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from a Hg lamp array. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and grazing angle X-ray diffraction were used to compare the crystallinity, roughness, and composition of the films. It has been found that UV radiation causes roughening of the films and also promotes crystallization at lower temperatures.Furthermore, increased silicon oxidation at the interface was noted with the UVirradiated samples and was shown to be in the form of a mixed layer using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Incorporation of nitrogen into the film reduces the oxidation of the silicon interface.


Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Srihasam Saiganesh ◽  
Thyagarajan Krishnan ◽  
Golla Narasimha ◽  
Hesham S. Almoallim ◽  
Sulaiman Ali Alhari ◽  
...  

Over the past few years, the photogenic fabrication of metal oxide nanoparticles has attracted considerable attention, owing to the simple, eco-friendly, and non-toxic procedure. Herein, we fabricated NiO nanoparticles and altered their optical properties by doping with a rare earth element (lanthanum) using Sesbania grandiflora broth for antibacterial applications. The doping of lanthanum with NiO was systematically studied. The optical properties of the prepared nanomaterials were investigated through UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-DRS) analysis, and their structures were studied using X-ray diffraction analysis. The morphological features of the prepared nanomaterials were examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, their elemental structure was analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectral analysis, and their oxidation states were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, the antibacterial action of NiO and La-doped NiO nanoparticles was studied by the zone of inhibition method for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus sublitis. It was evident from the obtained results that the optimized compound NiOLa-04 performed better than the other prepared compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the phytosynthetic fabrication of rare-earth ion Lanthanum (La3+)-doped Nickel Oxide (NiO) nanoparticles and their anti-microbial studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Wang ◽  
Jianqing Feng ◽  
Lihua Jin ◽  
Chengshan Li

AbstractWe have grown Cu2O films by different routes including self-oxidation and metal-organic deposition (MOD). The reduction efficiency of Cu2O films on graphene oxide (GO) synthesized by modified Hummer’s method has been studied. Surface morphology and chemical state of as-prepared Cu2O film and GO sheets reduced at different conditions have also been investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results show that self-oxidation Cu2O film is more effective on phtocatalytic reduction of GO than MOD-Cu2O film. Moreover, reduction effect of self-oxidation Cu2O film to GO is comparable to that of environmental-friendly reducing agent of vitamin C. The present results offer a potentially eco-friendly and low-cost approach for the manufacture of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) by photocatalytic reduction.


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