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Film Thickness (film + thickness)
Kinds of Film Thickness Selected AbstractsGrowth of lead bromide polycrystalline filmsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2004M. Giles Abstract Lead bromide polycrystalline films were grown by the physical vapor deposition method (PVD). Glass 1,x1, in size, uncoated, and coated with Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), was used as substrate and rear contact. The starting material was evaporated at temperatures from 395°C to 530°C under high vacuum atmosphere (6 x 10 -3 Pa) and during 8 days. The substrate temperature was prefixed from 190°C to 220°C. Film thickness yielded values from 40 to 90 ,m. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed on the films. Grain size resulted to be from 1.0 to 3.5 ,m. SEM and X-ray diffraction indicate that films grow with a preferred orientation with the (0 0 l) planes parallel to the substrate. The Texture Coefficient (TC) related to the plane (0 0 6) was 7.3. Resistivity values in the order of 1012 ,cm were obtained for the oriented samples, but a strong polarization indicates severe charge transport problems in the films. Film properties were correlated with the growth temperature and with previous results for films of other halides. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Electrolyte Effects on Charge Transport Behavior of [Os(bpy)2(PVP)10Cl]Cl and [Ru(bpy)2(PVP)10Cl]Cl Redox Polymers in Ultra-Thin Films of PolyionsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 18 2005Bingquan Wang Abstract Metallopolymer films have important applications in electrochemical catalysis. The alternate electrostatic layer-by-layer method was used to assemble films of [Ru(bpy)2(PVP)10Cl]Cl (denoted as ClRu-PVP) and [Os(bpy)2(PVP)10Cl]Cl (ClOs-PVP) metallopolymers onto pyrolytic graphite electrodes. Film thickness estimated by quartz crystal microbalance was 6,8,nm. The effects of pH, electrolyte species and concentration on the electrochemical properties of these electroactive polymers were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Behavior in various electrolytes was compared. Also the mass changes within the ultra-thin film during redox of Os2+/3+ were characterized by in situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The results indicate rapid reversible electron transfer, and show that both ClRu-PVP and ClOs-PVP have compact surface structures while ClOs-PVP is a little denser than ClRu-PVP. Although hydrogen ions do not participate in the chemical reaction of either film, the movement of Na+ cation and water accompanies the redox process of ClOs-PVP films. [source] Electrically Conductive Thin Films Prepared from Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Graphite PlateletsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009Mubarak Alazemi Abstract Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of carbon nanoparticles for low electrical contact resistance thin film applications is demonstrated. The nanoparticles consist of irregularly shaped graphite platelets, with acrylamide/,, -methacryl-oxyethyl-trimethyl-ammonium copolymer as the cationic binder. Nanoparticle zeta (,,) potential and thereby electrostatic interactions are varied by altering the pH of graphite suspension as well as that of the binder suspension. Film thickness as a function of zeta potential, immersion time, and the number of layers deposited is obtained using Monte Carlo simulation of the energy dispersive spectroscopy measurements. Multilayer film surface morphology is visualized via field-emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic-force microscopy. Thin film electrical properties are characterized using electrical contact resistance measurements. Graphite nanoparticles are found to self-assemble onto gold substrates through two distinct yet overlapping mechanisms. The first mechanism is characterized by logarithmic carbon uptake with respect to the number of deposition cycles and slow clustering of nanoparticles on the gold surface. The second mechanism results from more rapid LBL nanoparticle assembly and is characterized by linear weight uptake with respect to the number of deposition cycles and a constant bilayer thickness of 15 to 21,nm. Thin-film electrical contact resistance is found to be proportional to the thickness after equilibration of the bilayer structure. Measured values range from 1.6,m,,cm,2 at 173,nm to 3.5,m,,cm,2 at 276,nm. Coating volume resistivity is reduced when electrostatic interactions are enhanced during LBL assembly. [source] Photoluminescence properties of erbium-doped amorphous gallium-germanium-selenium films fabricated by RF sputteringPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue S1 2009Takahiko Imai Abstract Chalcogenide glasses have various useful features for optical devices such as a high refractive index, low-loss transmission in the mid-IR, and low phonon energies. The fabrication of thin films is important for use in waveguide applications and integrated photonics. In this work, we report the properties of vacuum deposited films of gallium-germanium-selenium glasses onto fused silica substrates by an RF magnetron sputtering technique (RF electric power of 40-250 W and growth rate of 0.01-2.1 ,m/min). The concentration of Er3+ ions is controlled by the number of sintered Er2S3 small plates on a target. Samples are shown to be in an amorphous-like state as measured by X-ray diffraction experiments. Film thicknesses are proportional to the RF sputtering power and sputtering time. The compositions of films obtained from energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. There are much dependent on the condition of the sputtering target, for example whether the target is in the bulk or powder-state. Photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, intensity, and lifetime at 1550 nm band are measured by excitation from a 973 nm laser. The PL band of the films has a similar shape to those of bulk glasses. The PL intensity increased with the RF electric power. The PL lifetime at the 1550 nm band of the film is about 1.8-2.6 ms; the latter values are similar to those of bulk samples. The results show that the RF sputtering is a potential method of fabrication for Er-doped GeGaSe thin films. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Isothermal close space sublimation of CdTe/ZnTe heterostructures in vacuum conditionsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 6 2010O. de Melo Abstract Thin films and structures of ZnTe and CdTe have been grown by isothermal close space sublimation using alternated exposure of single crystalline substrates to elemental Zn, Te and Cd sources. The results show that the use of vacuum conditions promotes the transport of vapors towards the surface and then efficient growth at lower temperatures. Films thickness ranged between 200 and 600 nm for 50 cycles samples. ZnTe and CdTe films were obtained even at temperatures as low as 310 °C. This is important because low temperatures worsen the inter- diffusion processes; as a consequence we have obtained relatively abrupt interfaces in the ZnTe/CdTe system. Its compositional, structural and optical properties are presented. These results offer new possibilities of this low cost technique for growing heterostructures. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Single-layered microscale linear-gradient PDLC material for electro-opticsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2009Y. G. Marinov Abstract We report on single-layered optical material of linear-gradient microscale polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC). E7/NOA65 composite films formed by pulsed UV laser photopolymerization-induced phase separation exhibit two morphology types, namely a bipolar and a hybrid alignment of liquid crystal droplets. The specific structural properties of the produced PDLC layers, such as the droplet shape uniformity and alignment, as well as the droplet size control through the film thickness, facilitate the efficient control on the electro-optical (EO) response, thus being of practical interest for EO device applications. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Optical and electrical studies on spray deposited ZnO thin filmsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2007P. P. Sahay Abstract ZnO thin films were prepared by spray pyrolytic decomposition of zinc acetate onto a glass substrate. These films were analyzed for the optical and electrical properties. Optical studies show that in these films the electronic transition is of the direct transition type. The optical energy gap for the films of different thicknesses is estimated to be in the range 2.98 , 3.09 eV. Electrical studies indicate that the films exhibit thermally activated electronic conduction and the activation energies are found to be dependent on the film thickness. The complex impedance measurements were carried out over a wide range of frequencies at room temperature (300 K). All the impedance spectra contain only a single arc, but the arc has a non-zero intersection with the real axis in the high frequency region. Also, the arc has its centre lying below with the real axis which indicates the multirelaxation behavior of the films. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Electrochemically Induced Formation of Surface-Attached Temperature-Responsive Hydrogels.ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 9 2010Amperometric Glucose Sensors with Tunable Sensor Characteristics Abstract Employing thermally responsive hydrogels, the design of an amperometric glucose sensor is proposed. The properties of the biosensor can be modulated upon changing the temperature. Homo- and copolymers of N -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) were prepared by electrochemically induced polymerization thus yielding surface-attached hydrogels. The growth of the films as well as the change in the film thickness in dependence from the temperature were investigated by means of an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The layer thickness in the dry state ranged from 20 to 120,nm. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the hydrogel increases with increasing content of the more hydrophilic OEGMA. Hence, the swelling in aqueous electrolyte is composition dependent and can be adjusted by selecting a specific NIPAm to OEGMA ratio. All homo- and copolymer films showed good biocompatibility and no fouling could be observed during exposing the surfaces to human serum albumin. For amperometric glucose detection, glucose oxidase was entrapped in the films during electrochemically-induced polymerization. Both the apparent Michaelis constant (K and the apparent maximum current (i as determined by amperometry could be adjusted both by the film composition as well as the operation temperature. [source] Development of a Controlled Release System for Risperidone Using Polypyrrole: Mechanistic StudiesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 4 2010Darren Svirskis Abstract Polypyrrole (PPY) film has been selected as a platform material for drug delivery due to its inherent conductivity, ease of preparation and apparent biocompatibility. PPY films were prepared containing the antipsychotic drug risperidone as a model compound. Drug release profiles could be altered by applying different electrical stimulation to these films. Atomic force microscopy was used to investigate changes in PPY film thickness when different stimuli were applied. The highest levels of drug release were observed when PPY was reduced; this was accompanied by expansion of the film. Technology such as this could be utilized for implantable drug delivery devices, where the dose could be adjusted by external signaling. [source] Electrocatalytic Properties of Electropolymerized Ni(II)curcumin ComplexELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 5-6 2003Aleksander Ciszewski Abstract The voltammetric behavior in alkaline solution of a nickel-based chemically modified electrode (poly-Ni(II)curcumin) prepared by oxidative electropolymerization of nickel-curcumin complex for electrooxidation of aliphatic alcohols was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk technique (curcumin=1,7-bis[4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione). The dependence of the oxidation current on the alcohol concentration and on the number of redox centers Ni(II)/Ni(III) is discussed. From the fact that the oxidation current increases with the increase of film thickness it is evident that the electrocatalytic reaction occurs inside the polymer film. The system examined is a typical example of a redox polymer with 3D properties. It is also concluded that the reaction mechanism of alcohol oxidation is the case, according to the concept of Andrieux and Saveant, where the cross-exchange reaction is the limiting step. The mechanism of modifying the film formation has also been discussed. [source] Micro-reactor for transesterification of plant seed oilsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Phattaraporn Kaewkool Abstract The fatty acid compositions of vegetable or other plant seed oils are generally determined by gas chromatography (GC). Methyl esters (the most volatile derivatives) are the preferred derivatives for GC analysis. Esters of higher alcohols are good for the separation of volatile and positional isomers. All the esters of the C1,C8 alcohols of vegetable oils were silmilarly prepared by passing the reaction mixture containing the desired alcohol, oil and tetrahydrofuran through the micro-reactor (a 3-mL dispossible syringe packed with 0.5,g of NaOH powder). The reaction products were acidified with acetic acid and the mixture was analyzed by high-performance size exclusion chromatography and GC. Transesterification was quantitative for primary alcohols, but an appreciable amount of free fatty acids was formed for secondary alcohols. Coriander seed oil was quantitatively esterified with 2-ethyl 1-hexanol with the micro-reactor in less than 1,min. Oleic and petroselinic acid 2-ethyl 1-hexyl esters are baseline separated on an Rtx-2330 capillary column (30,m×0.25,mm, 0.25,µm film thickness). [source] Self-Assembled, Molecularly Aligned Conjugated Polymer Nanowires via DewettingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 18 2010Shion Seng Chang High aspect-ratio poly(9,9,-dioctylfluorene) (F8) nanowires are fabricated on top of silicon/amorphous Teflon substrates, by dewetting of F8 thin-films. The conjugated nature of the polymers enables the self-assembly of continuous molecularly-aligned nanowires of several micrometers in length and tens of nanometers width, without using a template. The sizescale of the dewetted morphology can be controlled by varying the thickness of the F8 and amorphous Teflon layers. As predicted by van der Waals theory the characteristic sizescale of the dewetted morphology increases with F8 film thickness. However, the dependence of the characteristic sizescale on amorphous Teflon thickness is not accounted for, even qualitatively, by standard spinodal theory with van der Waals forces as the de-stabilizing force across the F8 film. The Rayleigh instability is strongly suppressed in the F8 nanowires in the late stages of dewetting, compared to isotropic, amorphous polymers. Polarized Raman measurements show a systematic increase in molecular alignment along the axis of the nanowires as their width is reduced below the typical liquid-crystalline domain size in polyfluorene films. Thus the dewetting process aligns the polymers, and the aligned polymers suppress the Rayleigh instability and enable the formation of high aspect-ratio continuous nanowires. [source] Patterned Hydrogels for Controlled Platelet Adhesion from Whole Blood and PlasmaADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 15 2010Tobias Ekblad Abstract This work describes the preparation and properties of hydrogel surface chemistries enabling controlled and well-defined cell adhesion. The hydrogels may be prepared directly on plastic substrates, such as polystyrene slides or dishes, using a quick and experimentally simple photopolymerization process, compatible with photolithographic and microfluidic patterning methods. The intended application for these materials is as substrates for diagnostic cell adhesion assays, particularly for the analysis of human platelet function. The non-specific adsorption of fibrinogen, a platelet adhesion promoting protein, is shown to be completely inhibited by the hydrogel, provided that the film thickness is sufficient (>5,nm). This allows the hydrogel to be used as a matrix for presenting selected bioactive ligands without risking interference from non-specifically adsorbed platelet adhesion factors, even in undiluted whole blood and blood plasma. This concept is demonstrated by preparing patterns of proteins on hydrogel surfaces, resulting in highly controlled platelet adhesion. Further insights into the protein immobilization and platelet adhesion processes are provided by studies using imaging surface plasmon resonance. The hydrogel surfaces used in this work appear to provide an ideal platform for cell adhesion studies of platelets, and potentially also for other cell types. [source] Microtexture and Grain Boundaries in Freestanding CVD Diamond Films: Growth and Twinning MechanismsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 24 2009Tao Liu Abstract Three groups of free-standing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond films formed with variations in substrate temperature, methane concentration, and film thickness are analyzed using high-resolution electron back-scattering diffraction. Primarily {001}, {110}, and {111} fiber textures are observed. In addition, corresponding primary and higher order twinning components are found. As interfaces, high angle, low angle, primary twin, and secondary twin boundaries are observed. A growth and a twinning model are proposed based on the sp3 hybridization of the bond in the CH4 molecule that is used as the deposition medium. [source] Swelling-Induced Surface Patterns in Hydrogels with Gradient Crosslinking DensityADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2009Murat Guvendiren Abstract Hydrogels with controlled surface patterns are useful for a range of applications, including in microdevices, sensors, coatings, and adhesives. In this work, a simple and robust method to generate a wide range of osmotically driven surface patterns, including random, lamellar, peanut, and hexagonal structures is developed. This method does not require the use of organic solvents for swelling, pre-patterning of the film surface, or coating of a second layer on the gel. The patterns are fabricated by exposing a photocurable formulation to light while open to air and then swelling, using oxygen inhibition of the radical polymerization at the surface to create a gradient of crosslinking with depth, which was confirmed by measuring the double bond conversion at the surface, surface mechanics, and molecule diffusion into the network. The modulus gradient, and hence osmotic pressure, is controlled by the crosslinker concentration, and the characteristic size of the patterns is determined by the initial film thickness. The patterns are stable in both swollen and dry states, creating a versatile approach that is useful for diverse polymers to create complex patterns with long-range order. [source] Layer-By-Layer Dendritic Growth of Hyperbranched Thin Films for Surface Sol,Gel Syntheses of Conformal, Functional, Nanocrystalline Oxide Coatings on Complex 3D (Bio)silica TemplatesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2009Guojie Wang Abstract Here, a straightforward and general method for the rapid dendritic amplification of accessible surface functional groups on hydroxylated surfaces is described, with focus on its application to 3D biomineral surfaces. Reaction of hydroxyl-bearing silica surfaces with an aminosilane, followed by alternating exposure to a dipentaerythritol-derived polyacrylate solution and a polyamine solution, allows the rapid, layer-by-layer (LBL) build-up of hyperbranched polyamine/polyacrylate thin films. Characterization of such LBL-grown thin films by AFM, ellipsometry, XPS, and contact angle analyses reveals a stepwise and spatially homogeneous increase in film thickness with the number of applied layers. UV,Vis absorption analyses after fluorescein isothiocyanate labeling indicate that significant amine amplification is achieved after the deposition of only 2 layers with saturation achieved after 3,5 layers. Use of this thin-film surface amplification technique for hydroxyl-enrichment of biosilica templates facilitates the conformal surface sol,gel deposition of iron oxide that, upon controlled thermal treatment, is converted into a nanocrystalline (,9.5,nm) magnetite (Fe3O4) coating. The specific adsorption of arsenic onto such magnetite-coated frustules from flowing, arsenic-bearing aqueous solutions is significantly higher than for commercial magnetite nanoparticles (,50,nm in diameter). [source] Compact Inverse-Opal Electrode Using Non-Aggregated TiO2 Nanoparticles for Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009Eun Sik Kwak Abstract Compact inverse-opal structures are constructed using non-aggregated TiO2 nanoparticles in a three-dimensional colloidal array template as the photoelectrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell. Organic-layer-coated titania nanoparticles show an enhanced infiltration and a compact packing within the 3D array. Subsequent thermal decomposition to remove the organic template followed by impregnation with N-719 dye results in excellent inverse-opal photoelectrodes with a photo-conversion efficiency as high as 3.47% under air mass 1.5 illumination. This colloidal-template approach using non-aggregated nanoparticles provides a simple and versatile way to produce efficient inverse-opal structures with the ability to control parameters such as cavity diameter and film thickness. [source] Interfacial Strain-Induced Oxygen Disorder as the Cause of Enhanced Critical Current Density in Superconducting Thin FilmsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 6 2009Stuart C. Wimbush Abstract To understand the origin of the increase in critical current density of rare earth barium cuprate superconductor thin films with decreasing thickness, a series of sub-300-nm EuBa2Cu3O7,, thin films deposited on SrTiO3 substrates are studied by X-ray diffraction and electrical transport measurements. The out-of-plane crystallographic mosaic tilt and the out-of-plane microstrain both increase with decreasing film thickness. The calculated density of c -axis threading dislocations matches the extent of the observed low-field enhancement in critical current density for fields applied parallel to c. The in-plane mosaic twist and in-plane microstrain are both around twice the magnitude of the out-of-plane values, and both increase with decreasing film thickness. The results are consistent with the observed stronger field enhancement in critical current density for fields applied parallel to ab. The lattice parameter variation with thickness is not as expected from consideration of the biaxial strain with the substrate, indicative of in-plane microstrain accommodation by oxygen disorder. Collectively, the results point to an enhancement of critical current by interfacial strain induced oxygen disorder which is greatest closest to the film-substrate interface. The findings of this study have important implications for other thin functional oxide perovskite films and nanostructures where surface and interfacial strains dominate the properties. [source] Spontaneous Formation of Complex Periodic Superstructures under High Interferential Illumination of Small-Molecule-Based Photochromic MaterialsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2009Eléna Ishow Abstract A series of push-pull azo compounds containing bulky substituents are synthesized, yielding fully amorphous materials with glass-transition temperatures above 200,°C. Thin films are subjected to holographic illumination and show superior bulk photomigration in terms of speed and efficiency compared to materials exhibiting similar electronic and photochromic properties in the solid state. The reported results give evidence that a microscopic consideration of the free volume rather than macroscopic parameters like the glass-transition temperature should to be adopted to interpret the matrix stiffness and its deformation ability. Irradiation performed at higher laser intensity produces periodic superstructures whose height is five to six times as high as the initial film thickness. The surface tension and instability effects are put forward to interpret the growth of such superstructures. [source] Effects of polyethylene colour and thickness on grass silage qualityGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2003H. G. J. Snell Abstract The aim of the investigation was to determine the influence of variations in thickness and colour of agricultural plastic film on silage preservation conditions and grass silage quality. For this purpose, 30 cylindrical plastic containers (mini-silos; 0·3 m3) were filled with chopped grass and covered with five films of different thickness and colour: 90 ,m, white; 125 ,m, green; 150 ,m, black; 200 ,m, green and 200 ,m, white. Four replications of each film type were placed in the open air. Two replications were housed indoors and exposed to an ,artificial sky' in a test apparatus. The surface temperature of the films was found to be strongly dependent on film thickness and colour. Results of the chemical analysis of silages did not reveal any significant influence of the films. This was also the case when restricting the analysis to the uppermost silage layer. The results showed that under the conditions of this experiment, well preserved forage can be produced with films of differing colour, as well as of lesser thickness. [source] Thickness-Dependent Structural Evolutions and Growth Models in Relation to Carrier Transport Properties in Polycrystalline Pentacene Thin Films,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2007H.-L. Cheng Abstract Thickness-dependent crystal structure, surface morphology, surface energy, and molecular structure and microstructure of a series of polycrystalline pentacene films with different film thickness ranging from several monolayers to the several hundred nanometers have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle meter, and Raman spectroscopy. XRD studies indicate that thin film polymorphs transformation behaviours are from the orthorhombic phase to the thin-film phase and then to the triclinic bulk phase as measured by the increased tilt angle (,tilt) of the pentacene molecule from the c- axis toward the a- axis. We propose a growth model that rationalizes the ,tilt increased along with increasing film thickness in terms of grain size and surface energy varying with film growth using AFM combined with contact angle measurements. The vibrational characterizations of pentacene molecules in different thickness films were investigated by Raman spectroscopy compared to density functional theory calculations of an isolated molecule. In combination with XRD and AFM the method enables us to distinguish the molecular microstructures in different thin film polymorphs. We proposed a methodology to probe the microscopic parameters determining the carrier transport properties based on Davydov splitting and the characteristics of aromatic C,C stretching modes in Raman spectra. When compared to the triclinic bulk phase at a high thickness, we suggest that the first few monolayer structures located at the dielectric surface could have inferior carrier transport properties due to weak intermolecular interactions, large molecular relaxation energy, and more grain boundaries. [source] Perpendicularly Aligned, Size-and Spacing-Controlled Nanocylinders by Molecular-Weight Adjustment of a Homopolymer Blended in an Asymmetric Triblock CopolymerADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 15 2006U. Ahn Abstract Perpendicularly arrayed and size-controlled nanocylinders have been prepared by simply blending an asymmetric polystyrene- block -polyisoprene- block -polystyrene triblock copolymer with polystyrene (the minority component) homopolymers of different molecular weights. The preference for perpendicular orientation or hexagonal ordering of the nanocylinders over a large area in the asymmetric block copolymer can be controlled by adjusting the molecular weight of the blended homopolymer, and the perfection of hexagonal ordering of the perpendicular cylinders can be tuned by using a substrate whose surface tension is much different from that of the majority component of the block copolymer. Such highly controlled nanostructured block-copolymer materials, which have been obtained by a simple method independent of film thickness and interfacial tension between the blocks and the substrates, have wide-ranging commercial potential, e.g., for use in membranes and nanotemplates with size-tunable pores, bandgap-controlled photonic crystals, and other nanotechnological fields demanding a specific nanosize and nanomorphology. [source] Transient flow patterns in a microfluidic chip with a complicated microstructureHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 4 2008Wei Zhang Abstract The transient flow patterns of the boiling flow in a microfluidic chip with a complicated microstructure were studied at low mass fluxes and high heat fluxes. The periodic flow pattern in the timescale of milliseconds and the stratified flow pattern were observed. For a specific separated zone, the liquid film thickness was increased along the flow direction and the dry-out always occurred earlier at the microchannel upstream rather than downstream. However, for different microchannel zones, the dry-out took place earlier in the downstream zone. It was determined that the low liquid Froude number was responsible for the formation of the stratified flow. The large boiling number resulted in a large shear stress at the vapor,liquid interface, leading to the accumulation of the liquid in the microchannel downstream, causing the increased liquid film thickness along the flow direction. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 37(4): 224,231, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20201 [source] Research on convective condensation heat transfer for a gas mixture in a vertical tubeHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 4 2004Li Jia Abstract This paper discusses the convective condensation of a gas mixture in a vertical tube. A mathematical model was derived by combining a modified film model and Nusselt's condensation theory. The effect of wall temperature on film thickness and interfacial temperature was predicted and film thickness was calculated. When compared with the gas phase resistance method, the film model is better. The phenomenon of SO2 absorption into condensate is illustrated and discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 33(4): 219,228, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20011 [source] An investigation of liquid film thickness during solutal Marangoni condensation using a laser absorption method: Absorption property and examination of measuring methodHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 8 2003Yoshio Utaka Abstract The objective of the study is to establish a method for measuring the thickness of thin condensates of liquid mixtures using a laser light absorption method during the process of water,ethanol Marangoni dropwise condensation. First, the extinction property of the test material, with unknown properties related to infrared laser light having a wavelength of 3.39µm, was measured. Next, measurements were made of the variations in condensate film thickness after the sweeping of the heat transfer surface by departing drops in the Marangoni dropwise condensation cycle. The precision of this method was investigated on the basis of the extinction coefficient of the test material and the thickness of the liquid film. Results showed that this method provides good precision and is applicable to the measurement of other similar materials. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 32(8): 700,711, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10124 [source] Polyimide Orientation Layers Prepared from Lyotropic Aromatic Poly(Amic Ethyl Ester)s,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2003C. Neuber Abstract The synthesis and characterization of liquid-crystalline precursor polymer solutions[1] for polyimides permit for the first time the preparation of bulk- and surface-oriented polyimide thin films from the nematic lyotropic state by shear. A special shearing technique was developed and optimized to orient viscous solutions into thin films with thicknesses below 100 nm. The films produced were thermally imidized and characterized by polarized light microscopy, as well as polarized FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy before and after imidization. The dichroic ratios (DRs) before imidization were determined as 5 by FTIR, and 4.5 by UV-vis spectroscopies. After imidization the DRs increased to 14 and 7, respectively. The shear-oriented layers possess a surface profile in the form of striations, which was characterized by mechanical surface scanning and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The profile height was determined in the nanometer range in contrast to the profile distance in the micrometer range, thus the latter is a magnitude larger than the film thickness. To quantify and compare the orientation potential of the obtained orientation layers, cells with a liquid-crystalline host and a dichroic azo dye as guest were prepared. Interesting for this class of rod-like polyimides is that layers, which were cast from low concentration isotropic solutions and rubbed, exhibited an almost doubled DR of 15 compared to analogously prepared alignment layers based on commercial flexible polyimide systems (DR,=,8). [source] Growth of magnetite epitaxial thin films by gas flow sputtering and characterization by FMRIEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2007Hiroshi Sakuma Member Abstract The growth of magnetite (Fe3O4) epitaxial thin films on MgO substrates were studied by using gas flow sputtering (GFS). Reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and atomic force microscopy showed that the surfaces of the films obtained at a substrate temperature Ts of 300 °C and oxygen flow rates FO2 of 0.12 , 0.18 sccm are fairly flat for the film thickness of about 200 nm. The saturation magnetization and resistivity were close to the reported values of Fe3O4 for Ts= 300°C and FO2 = 0.12,0.20sccm. The films obtained at Ts= 300°C and FO2=0.16 and 0.18 sccm showed Verwey transition, which is persuasive evidence of the formation of Fe3O4. The epitaxial relationship of Fe3O4(100)//MgO(100) and Fe3O4[100]//MgO[100] was confirmed by using ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), and the anisotropy constants and magnetization were obtained by the fitting of resonance-field versus applied-field angle curves. © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Highly Ordered Arrays of Mesoporous Silica Nanorods with Tunable Aspect Ratios from Block Copolymer Thin Films,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 4 2008A. Chen Highly ordered arrays of mesoporous silica nanorods with a tunable aspect ratio can be fabricated using PEOm - b -PMA(Az)n block copolymer thin films as templates. Together, penetration of the films by the silica precursor and the film thickness control the SiO2 nanorod growth, and heights of almost 200,nm can be achieved. Inside the SiO2 nanorods, mesochannels with a diameter of ,,2,nm are formed that are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the rod. [source] Fabrication of Highly Conductive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films by Vapor Phase Polymerization and Their Application in Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 17 2007A. Levermore Flexible polymer light-emitting diodes (see photo) are fabricated using highly conductive vapor-phase polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (VPP,PEDOT) as an anode material. The influence of the VPP,PEDOT film thickness and the effects of thermal annealing and oxygen-plasma treatment on conductivity, work function, and optical transmission are explored and used to optimize device performance, resulting ultimately in devices that have efficiencies comparable to those with indium tin oxide anodes. [source] Thickness-Driven Orthorhombic to Triclinic Phase Transformation in Pentacene Thin Films,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 7 2005F. Drummy Pentacene films are thermally evaporated onto amorphous carbon-coated mica substrates held at room temperature. The crystal structure and morphology of the films are analyzed using electron microscopy and diffraction, and a new orthorhombic structure is characterized for films below a critical thickness (see Figure). Evidence that the orthorhombic structure is thermodynamically stable at low film thickness due to its low (001) surface energy is obtained. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||