ABSTRACT
Sol-gel layers have been the subject of many studies in recent decades. However, very little information exists about layers in which carbon structures are developed in situ. Using the spin-coating method, we obtained thin iron-doped SiO2/C composite films. The results of Raman spectroscopy showed that our samples consisted of graphitic forms and polymers. The latter's contribution decreases with rising temperature. FTIR and EDS studies show changes in carbon distribution on top of the layer, depending on the sintering temperature. The samples sintered at 800 °C showed a significant increase in the contribution of carbon forms to the layer's surface. Therefore, high conductivity can be observed in this sample. The results of XPS spectroscopy showed that the contribution of sp3 hybridized carbon increases after etching. The total electrical conductivity, studied by a DC four-wire technique, increased with the temperature and showed almost linear characteristics with significant changes below 150 K. The reduced activation energy plot has a positive temperature coefficient, which is a characteristic property of the conductive polymers in a metallic regime of conductivity.
ABSTRACT
In the following article, we present a simple, two-step method of creating spaced, hollow nanopillars, from the titania nanotube arrays via pulsed laser-treatment. Due to the high ordering of the structure, the prepared material exhibits photonic properties, which has been shown to increase the overall photoefficiency. The optical and morphological changes in the titania nanotubes after pulsed laser-treatment with 532, 355, and 266 nm wavelengths in the 10-50 mJ/cm2 fluence range are studied. The investigation reveals, that by using appropriate wavelength and energy, the number of surface defects, geometrical features, or both can be tailored.
ABSTRACT
Fossil fuels became increasingly unpleasant energy source due to their negative impact on the environment; thus, attractiveness of renewable, and especially solar energy, is growing worldwide. Among others, the research is focused on smart combination of simple compounds towards formation of the photoactive materials. Following that, our work concerns the optimized manipulation of laser light coupled with the iron sputtering to transform titania that is mostly UV-active, as well as exhibiting poor oxygen evolution reaction to the material responding to solar light, and that can be further used in water splitting process. The preparation route of the material was based on anodization providing well organized system of nanotubes, while magnetron sputtering ensures formation of thin iron films. The last step covering pulsed laser treatment of 355 nm wavelength significantly changes the material morphology and structure, inducing partial melting and formation of oxygen vacancies in the elementary cell. Depending on the applied fluence, anatase, rutile, and hematite phases were recognized in the final product. The formation of a re-solidified layer on the surface of the nanotubes, in which thickness depends on the laser fluence, was shown by microstructure studies. Although a drastic decrement of light absorption was recorded especially in UV range, laser-annealed samples have shown activity under visible light even 20 times higher than bare titania. Electrochemical analysis has shown that the improvement of photoresponse originates mainly from over an order of magnitude higher charge carrier density as revealed by Mott-Schottky analysis. The results show that intense laser light can modulate the semiconductor properties significantly and can be considered as a promising tool towards activation of initially inactive material for the visible light harvesting.
ABSTRACT
The laser processing of the titania nanotubes has been investigated in terms of morphology, structure, and optical properties of the obtained material. The length of the nanotubes and crystallinity, as well as the atmosphere of the laser treatment, were taken into account. The degree of changes of the initial geometry of nanotubes were checked by means of scanning electron microscopy, which visualizes both the surface and the cross-section. The phase conversion from the amorphous to anatase has been achieved for laser-treated amorphous material, whereas modification of calcined one led to distortion within the crystal structure. This result is confirmed both by Raman and grazing incident XRD measurements. The latter studies provided an in-depth analysis of the crystalline arrangement and allowed also for determining the propagation of laser modification. The narrowing of the optical bandgap for laser-treated samples has been observed. Laser treatment of TiO2 nanotubes can lead to the preparation of the material of desired structural and optical parameters. The usage of the motorized table during processing enables induction of changes in the precisely selected area of the sample within a very short time.
