Synthesis and Characterisation of Nanocomposite Mo-Fe-B Thin Films Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering.

Several ternary phases are known in the Mo-Fe-B system. Previous ab initio calculations have predicted that they should exhibit a tempting mix of mechanical and magnetic properties. In this study, we have deposited Mo-Fe-B films with a Fe-content varying from 0-37 at.% using non-reactive DC (direct current) magnetron sputtering. The phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and nanoindentation measurements. Films deposited at 300 °C and with >7 at.% Fe are nanocomposites consisting of two amorphous phases: a metal-rich phase and a metal-deficient phase. Hardness and elastic modulus were reduced with increasing Fe-content from ~29 to ~19 GPa and ~526 to ~353 GPa, respectively. These values result in H3/E2 ratios of 0.089-0.052 GPa, thereby indicating brittle behaviour of the films. Also, no indication of crystalline ternary phases was observed at temperatures up to 600 °C, suggesting that higher temperatures are required for such films to form.

In Situ Formation of Ge Nanoparticles by Annealing of Al-Ge-N Thin Films Followed by HAXPES and XRD.

Ge nanoparticles embedded in thin films have attracted a lot of attention due to their promising optical and electronic properties that can be tuned by varying the particle size and choice of matrix material. In this study, Ge nanoparticle formation was investigated for Al-Ge-N based thin films by simultaneous measurements of HAXPES and grazing incidence XRD during in situ annealing in vacuum conditions. As-deposited Al-Ge-N thin films, synthesized by reactive dc magnetron sputtering, consisted of a nanocrystalline (Al1-xGex)Ny solid solution and an amorphous tissue phase of Ge3Ny. Upon annealing to 750 °C, elemental Ge was formed shown by both HAXPES and XRD measurements, and N2 gas was released as measured by a mass spectrometer. Postannealed ex situ analysis by SEM and TEM showed that the elemental Ge phase formed spherical nanoparticles on the surface of the film, with an average size of 210 nm. As the annealing temperature increased further to 850 °C, the Ge particles on the film surface evaporated, while the phase segregation of Ge still could be observed within the film. Thus, these results show the possibility for a controlled synthesis of Ge nanoparticles through annealing of Al-Ge-N thin films to produce materials suitable for use in electronic or optoelectronic devices.

Influence of Deposition Temperature on the Phase Evolution of HfNbTiVZr High-Entropy Thin Films.

In this study, we show that the phase formation of HfNbTiVZr high-entropy thin films is strongly influenced by the substrate temperature. Films deposited at room temperature exhibit an amorphous microstructure and are 6.5 GPa hard. With increasing substrate temperature (room temperature to 275 °C), a transition from an amorphous to a single-phased body-centred cubic (bcc) solid solution occurs, resulting in a hardness increase to 7.9 GPa. A higher deposition temperature (450 °C) leads to the formation of C14 or C15 Laves phase precipitates in the bcc matrix and a further enhancement of mechanical properties with a peak hardness value of 9.2 GPa. These results also show that thin films follow different phase formation pathways compared to HfNbTiVZr bulk alloys.

Uptake of fluoride from aqueous solution on nano-sized hydroxyapatite: examination of a fluoridated surface layer.

Hydroxyapatite (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2), HAP), both as a synthetic material and as a constituent of bone char, can serve as an effective and relatively inexpensive filter material for fluoride (F(-)) removal from drinking water in low-income countries. Fluoride uptake on HAP can occur through different mechanisms, which are, in principle, influenced by solution composition. Suspensions of HAP (2 g L(-1)) were equilibrated under controlled pH conditions (pH 6.5, 7.3, 9.5) at 25 °C for 28 d after the addition of different F(-) concentrations (0.5-7.0 mM). The reacted HAP solids were examined with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Nano Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (NanoSIMS). Fluoride uptake on HAP was dependent on pH, with the highest capacity at pH 6.5; the lowest uptake was found at pH 9.5. Under all experimental conditions, the thermodynamically stable mineral phase was fluorapatite, (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)F(2), FAP). Fluoride uptake capacity was quantified on the basis of FTIR and XPS analysis, which was consistent with F(-) uptake from solution. The results of XPS and NanoSIMS analyses indicate that a fluoridated surface layer with a thickness of several nanometers is formed on nanosized HAP.

Carbon release by selective alloying of transition metal carbides.

We have performed first principles density functional theory calculations on TiC alloyed on the Ti sublattice with 3d transition metals ranging from Sc to Zn. The theory is accompanied by experimental investigations, both as regards materials synthesis as well as characterization. Our results show that by dissolving a metal with a weak ability to form carbides, the stability of the alloy is lowered and a driving force for the release of carbon from the carbide is created. During thin film growth of a metal carbide this effect will favour the formation of a nanocomposite with carbide grains in a carbon matrix. The choice of alloying element as well as its concentration will affect the relative amount of carbon in the carbide and in the carbon matrix. This can be used to design the structures of nanocomposites and their physical and chemical properties. One example of applications is as low-friction coatings. Of the materials studied, we suggest the late 3d transition metals as the most promising elements for this phenomenon, at least when alloying with TiC.