Search

As a promising in-situ hydrogen generation material, magnesium (Mg) has been seeking a promotion in its hydrogen generation property. Increasing the specific surface area, for example, replacing the Mg bulk using Mg powder, can greatly increase the hydrogen generation property, but it brings a high explosion risk, a difficulty in controlling the hydrogen generation, and an oxidation problem. In this work, we prepare a novel Mg@Ni foam material with Mg deposits on Ni foam by a physical vapor deposition method. The Ni foam not only increases the hydrolysis reaction areas of Mg by improving its specific surface area, but also kinetically accelerates the hydrolysis reaction rate of Mg by forming a uniform Mg-Ni galvanic cell. As a result, the Mg@Ni foam material realizes a near-theoretical hydrogen generation amount of Mg and a hydrogen generation rate significantly higher than those realized by the bulk Mg-based materials. The Mg@Ni foam material with the excellent hydrogen generation property is also free from explosion risk, easy to be controlled, and resistible to oxidation. A hydrogen fuel cell powered by the hydrogen generated by the Mg@Ni foam material can yield a steady voltage and run a small car for a long distance.

We investigated the effect of Cr thin film deposition on the thermal stability and corrosion resistance of hot-dip aluminized steel. A high-quality Cr thin film was deposited on the surface of the Al-9 wt. % Si-coated steel sheets by physical vapor deposition. When the Al-Si coated steel sheets were exposed to a high temperature of 500℃, Fe from the steel substrate diffused into the Al-Si coating layer resulting in discoloration. However, the highly heat-resistant Cr thin film deposited on the Al-Si coating prevented diffusion and surface exposure of Fe, improving the heat and corrosion resistances of the Al-Si alloy coated steel sheet.

Abstract Equipping otherwise passive surfaces with electronic functionality enables advanced interactive robotics, consumer products, sensor skins, and structural health monitoring. Concurrently, the rapidly growing number of electronic devices fuels the search for sustainable materials and processes that aid in reducing electronic waste. Wood is CO2‐neutral, omnipresent in the construction industry, in furniture, musical instruments, or packaging, yet so far, its potential for direct integration with electronics remains largely unexplored. Complications arise as traditional methods of equipping wood with electronics often compromise structural integrity and thus limit applications requiring load‐bearing capabilities. Here, seamless fabrication methods that allow the direct enhancement of wooden surfaces with electrically conducting structures, sensors, and microelectronic components based on screen printing of conducting inks or physical vapor deposition of thin metal films in conjunction with laser engraving are presented. Such electronic circuits imperceptibly operate on the surface of structural elements or as parts of decorative wooden furniture. These types of electronic wooden surfaces enable touch‐sensing applications, monitoring temperature, or the curing of varnishes without compromising functionality and mechanical stability. This multidisciplinary approach opens up new avenues for the development of smart wooden structures with embedded electronics, revolutionizing the way it is monitored, controlled, and interacted with wood‐based constructions.

In the quest for advanced materials suitable for next-generation electronic and optoelectronic applications, tungsten disulfide (WS2) ultrathin films have emerged as promising candidates due to their unique properties. However, obtaining WS2 directly on the desired substrate, eliminating the need for transfer, which produces additional defects, poses many challenges. This paper aims to explore the synthesis of WS2 ultrathin films via physical vapor deposition (PVD) followed by sulfurization in a confined space, addressing the challenge of film formation for practical applications. Precursor layers of tungsten and WS2 were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering. Subsequent sulfurization treatments were conducted in a small, closed, graphite box to produce WS2 films. The physical and chemical properties of these precursor and sulfurized layers were thoroughly characterized using techniques such as X-ray reflectometry (XRR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The findings reveal notable distinctions in film thickness, structural orientation, and chemical composition, attributable to the different precursor used. Particularly, the sulfurized layers from the tungsten precursor exhibited a preferred orientation of WS2 crystallites with their (00L) planes parallel to the substrate surface, along with a deviation from parallelism in a small angular range. This study highlights the necessity of precise control over deposition and sulfurization parameters to tailor the properties of WS2 films for specific technological applications.

In recent years, researchers have been exploring Janus particles, a unique type of colloidal system, which has gained enormous attention across diverse fields, from soft matter physics to biology. These particles, possessing an asymmetric surface, can be manipulated in the fluid using external energy sources. This versatility makes them suitable for mimicking biological systems and applications like cargo transportation, drug delivery, biosensing, and environmental cleanup. The study focuses on the response of metal-dielectric (Ti-PMMA) Janus spheres in the AC field, created through the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technique. When subjected to a uniform AC electric field, these particles exhibit different dynamic behaviors at various frequency ranges. The particles show diverse responses from induced-charge electrophoresis (ICEP: 500 Hz-80 kHz) to reversed motion (r: ICEP:100 kHz-1 MHz) and linear chain formation (1 MHz). Additionally, they randomly cluster near the lower characteristic frequency (800 Hz) of the ICEP, whereas they exhibit the 3D motion at frequencies (100 Hz) below this lower characteristic value. The mechanisms behind these dynamic phenomena could be explained by considering the concept of electric double layer (EDL), self-dielectrophoresis (sDEP), dipolar interactions, hydrodynamic interactions, and electrothermal effects. These active Janus Colloids are further leveraged to manipulate 1 µm diameter PMMA passive microparticles and E. coli bacteria at 1 kHz, showcasing their potential applications in cargo delivery under various microfluidic research areas. The manipulation of payloads could be explained based on dielectrophoretic trapping due to locally generated field gradients around the surface of the Janus sphere. Therefore, the present work offers an unprecedented opportunity to study such out-of-equilibrium complex active matter systems and create novel functional materials. Moreover, it could also be extended as a fuel-free microrobotics system for various biomedical applications such as sensing and on-demand drug or cargo delivery inside the microfluidics chamber.

Plasma generation by cathodic arc spots plays a crucial role for coating processes that make use of the Arc-PVD technology. Usually, the arc spot motion over the cathode is steered by a magnetic field of a particular distribution and magnitude to ensure a continuous plasma generation, the avoidance of liquid droplets, and a proper utilization of cathode material by homogeneous erosion. This study presents a semi-empirical model that allows for an examination and characterization of the arc spot motion with regard to direction and speed as a function of an imposed magnetic field. This model considers the different components of random walk, retrograde, and Robson drift motion. Introduced empirical coefficients were determined by corresponding experimental investigations. The calibrated model describes the arc spot motion in good agreement to the recorded spot tracks and can therefore be applied for an evaluation of different magnetic field configurations.

To meet the escalating energy demands, marine resources have assumed a significant role in the field of renewable energy. High performance and extended lifespan of offshore equipment provide robust underpinnings for marine resource exploration. Stainless steel, as one of the most widely used marine materials, its friction and corrosion problems in extreme marine environments have become critical factors influencing the service life of marine equipment. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology is a compelling method for current and future applications due to the advantages of simple process, no pollution, few consumables, and uniform film formation. The preparation of suitable strengthening coatings by PVD provides a promising approach for enhancing the surface properties of stainless steel. Here, we review the current status of research on the preparation of wear resistance and anti-corrosion coatings on stainless steel surfaces by PVD in marine environments. First, an overview of PVD technology is given. Second, the influence of nitride and carbon-based coatings prepared by PVD technology on the tribological and corrosion properties of stainless steel in the marine environment is discussed, and the strengthening mechanisms of the two coatings are compared and analyzed from the aspects of elemental doping and multilayer structure design. Finally, the challenges and future directions in the development of nitride and carbon-based coatings for marine environments are prospected. The goal is to propose the design ideas of a new generation of anti-wear and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Sb2Se3, as an earth-abundant and low-toxic material, has emerged as one of the most interesting absorbers for clean renewable power generation technologies. Due to its optical properties, especially bandgap and absorption coefficient, the number of papers on Sb2Se3-based solar cells has been constantly increasing in the last ten years, and its power conversion efficiency has raised from 1% in 2014 to 10.57% in 2022. In this review, different Sb2Se3 solar cells’ fabrication technologies based on physical vapor deposition are described and correlated to the texture coefficient (ribbon orientation). Moreover, recent research works of the most promising solar cell configurations with different electron-transporting layers and hole-transporting layers are analyzed with a special emphasis on photovoltaic performances. Furthermore, different Sb2Se3 doping techniques are discussed. All these aspects are considered as new strategies to overcome the Sb2Se3 solar cell’s actual limitations.

Heterogeneous microstructures in Cu-Mo-W alloy thin films formed by magnetron co-sputtering immiscible elements with concentrated compositions are characterized using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and nanoindentation. In this work, we modified the phase separated structure of a Cu-Mo immiscible system by adding W, which impedes surface diffusion during film growth. The heterogeneous microstructures in the Cu-Mo-W ternary system exhibited bicontinuous matrices and agglomerates composed of Mo(W)-rich phase. This is unique, as these are the slower-diffusing species, contrasting past reports of binary Cu-Mo thin films that exhibited Cu-rich agglomerates. The bicontinuous matrices comprised of Cu-rich and Mo(W)-rich phases exhibited bilayer thicknesses of less than 5 nm. The hardness of these thin films measured using nanoindentation is reported and compared to similar multilayers and nanocomposites in binary systems.

Chalcogenide glasses have broad applications in the mid-infrared optoelectronics field and as phase-change materials (PCMs) due to their unique properties. Chalcogenide glasses can have crystalline and amorphous phases, making them suitable as PCMs for reversible optical or electrical recording. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the evaporation kinetics of indium-doped chalcogenides, GeTe4 and GeTe5, using the physical vapor deposition technique on glass substrates. Our approach involved a detailed examination of the evaporation process under controlled temperature conditions, allowing precise measurement of rate changes and energy dynamics. This study revealed a significant and exponential increase in the evaporation rate of GeTe4 and GeTe5 with the introduction of indium, which was particularly noticeable at higher temperatures. This increase in evaporation rate with indium doping suggests a more complex interplay of materials at the molecular level than previously understood. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the addition of indium affects the evaporation rate and elevates the energy requirements for the evaporation process, providing new insights into the thermal dynamics of these materials. This study’s outcomes contribute significantly to understanding deposition processes, paving the way for optimized manufacturing techniques that could lead to more efficient and higher-performing optoelectronic devices and memory storage solutions.

The status of current advances in modifying surfaces for the protection of materials is reviewed in this research. The main goal of material selection is to improve and reinforce surface functionalities. A few examples of surface modification techniques include sol-gel, cladding, electroplating, plasma and thermal spraying, physical deposition of vapors (PVD), vapor chemical deposition (CVD) and beam electron physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). Strengthening by flame, induction, laser or electron beam is one type of surface modification procedure. Other types include plasma-immersed ion implantation and ion implantation at high energies, as well as diffusion treatments like carburizing and nitriding. Friction control, improved surface corrosion and wear resistance and changes to a component's mechanical or physical qualities are all possible using surface modification methods. The study also contains contemporary research in laser therapy, PVD, EB-PVD, thermal spraying and ion implantation. Additionally, magnetron sputtering (MS) is a widely used and successful approach for thin film coating in the current study. It is crucial to remember that each approach has a distinct set of restrictions, and the method's parameters might change based on the one that is selected, such as deposition targets, overall vacuum substrate temperature, reactive or mixed gas type, pressure percentage and bias voltage, which all have impacts on the PVD technique's layer qualities. Phase formation, change in phase, hardness and film structure of monolayer and multilayer films formed on the substrate under various circumstances also cause variations in the characteristics. Additionally, ion implantation enhances the surface characteristics of layers by implanting ions such as N+, B+, C+, etc. The study shows that the higher layers of multilayer enhance the degree of hardness and lower friction coefficients. To enhance the protection of thermal resistance, a thermal spraying barrier coating was coated on substrate nickel-base alloys, and the surface materials' texture, hardness and wear rate were altered by laser beam. Additionally, a heat pipe's performance was improved by a factor of 300 by adding a tiny coating of gold.

The application of bioresorbable magnesium-based alloys in medical implants has been limited by their rapid dissolution rate. In order to enhance their suitability for medical use, this study proposes the deposition of calcium phosphate (CaP) onto Mg (0.8) Ca alloy using an RF magnetron sputtering with stoichiometric hydroxyapatite and Zn- or Cu-substituted hydroxyapatites. The comparison study assessed structure, composition, and mechanical properties of Mg (0.8) Ca alloy, Zn, and Cu containing CaP coatings. CaP coatings showed an increased Ca/P ratio due to re-sputtering. Sputtering of Zn- and Cu-substituted hydroxyapatites resulted in CaP dopant concentrations of 0.6 ± 0.2 wt% and 0.4 ± 0.1 wt%, respectively. All deposited coatings were found to be amorphous. Addition of Cu or Zn dopant slightly changed the CaP coatings' scratch resistance, with critical loads of 2.19 ± 0.60 N, 2.55 ± 0.95 N, and 2.76 ± 1.29 N for CaP, Zn–CaP, and Cu–CaP coatings, respectively. CaP coatings reduced corrosion current and increased electrical resistance compared to MgCa samples, but Cu addition accelerated corrosion. Biological tests revealed that the hAMSCs survival was improved and the bacteriostatic effect on the pathogenic SA strain was enhanced for Zn–CaP coatings when compared to CaP and Cu–CaP coatings. These findings suggest that the deposition of CaP coatings onto Mg (0.8) Ca alloy, and particularly the use of Zn-substituted hydroxyapatites, could be a promising approach to enhance the suitability of magnesium-based alloys for medical implant applications.

This study marks a significant stride in enhancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications through the development of a type II nano-heterojunction comprising HfO2 and α - Fe2O3. Fabricated via Physical Vapor Deposition/Radio Frequency (PVD/RF) sputtering, this nano-heterojunction effectively addresses the efficiency limitations inherent in traditional α - Fe2O3photoanodes. The integration of HfO2 leads to a substantial increase in photocurrent density, soaring from 62 μA/cm2 for pure α - Fe2O3 to 1.46 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE). This enhancement, a 23-fold increase, is primarily attributed to the improved absorption of photons in the visible range and the facilitation of more efficient charge transfer. The enhanced performance and long-term stability of the HfO2/α - Fe2O3 nano-heterojunction, validated through XRD, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, EDS, SEM, EIS, and UPS analyses, demonstrate its potential as a promising and cost-effective solution for PEC water splitting applications, leveraging renewable energy sources.

Functional supramolecular nanostructures are a promising class of materials, which can be used as potential heterogeneous photocatalysts in water. Self‐assembly to nanoobjects in solution typically requires large solubilizing groups linked to the photoactive building block, and possibly hampers access to the photocatalytic active sites. Herein, a straightforward method to fabricate supramolecular nanofibers based on the disclike tricycloquinazoline (TCQ) by physical vapor deposition (PVD) is reported. It is demonstrated that TCQ can be assembled on different substrates into supramolecular nanofibers with diameters of about 70 nm resulting in densely packed fiber layers. With optimized conditions, the evaporation time allows full control over the fiber length and the absorbance of the TCQ fiber layer. A bottlebrush‐like morphology with TCQ nanofibers is realized using glass‐microfiber nonwovens as porous support. These mesostructured nonwovens can be used as photocatalysts for the degradation of rhodamine B in a batch process in water where the morphology remains intact after the reaction. After photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B or tetracycline under continuous flow conditions, the supramolecular TCQ nanofibers still remain on the support. These findings demonstrate that PVD is a feasible approach to achieve functional mesostructured nonwovens with controlled morphology for use and reuse in catalytic applications.

Direct‐write vapor deposition is a new technique that would enable one‐step 3D maskless nanofabrication on a variety of substrates. A novel silicon chip‐based microevaporator is developed that allows evaporant to exit through 2000–300 nm nozzles while held at distances comparable to the nozzle diameter from the substrate by a three‐axis nanopositioning stage in vacuum. This results in a localized deposition on the substrate, which may be scanned relative to the substrate to produce direct‐write patterns. The performance of the microevaporator is tested by creating localized depositions of various materials and the line‐writing potential is demonstrated. The relationship between linewidth and source‐to‐substrate distance is investigated by the application of Knudsen's cosine law and Monte‐Carlo simulations, and then utilized to approximate the source‐to‐substrate distance from performed depositions.

Using physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology, GeSe nanowires were successfully fabricated by heating GeSe powder at temperatures of 500 °C, 530 °C, 560 °C, 590 °C, and 620 °C. The microstructure, crystal morphology, and chemical composition of the resulting materials were thoroughly analyzed employing methods like Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), plus Raman Spectroscopy. Through a series of photoelectric performance tests, it was discovered that the GeSe nanowires prepared at 560 °C exhibited superior properties. These nanowires not only possessed high crystalline quality but also featured uniform diameters, demonstrating excellent consistency. Under illumination at 780 nm, the GeSe nanowires prepared at this temperature showed higher dark current, photocurrent, and photoresponsivity compared to samples prepared at other temperatures. These results indicate that GeSe nanomaterials hold substantial potential in the field of photodetection. Particularly in the visible light spectrum, GeSe nanomaterials exhibit outstanding light absorption capabilities and photoresponse.

Applying aluminum protective coating is a common corrosion protection method for metal.In this paper,the preparation methods of aluminum protective coating were classified into the physical and chemical methods.Besides,the research progresses of physical preparation methods of aluminum protective coating such as the hot dip process,spraying and physical vapor deposition,as well as the electrochemical preparation methods of such coating were reviewed.Furthermore the development trend of the preparation methods of such coating was prospected.

In recent nanomaterials research, combining nanoporous carbons with metallic nanoparticles, like palladium (Pd), has emerged as a focus due to their potential in energy, environmental and biomedical fields. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing Pd-decorated carbons using magnetron sputter deposition. This method allows for the functionalization of nanoporous carbon surfaces with Pd nano-sized islands, creating metal–carbon nanocomposites through brief deposition times of up to 15 s. The present research utilized direct current magnetron sputtering to deposit Pd islands on a flexible activated carbon cloth substrate. The surface chemistry, microstructure, morphology and pore structure were analyzed using a variety of material characterization techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, gas sorption analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed Pd islands of varying sizes distributed across the cloth’s carbon fibers, achieving high-purity surface modifications without the use of chemicals. The synthesis method preserves the nanoporous structure of the carbon cloth substrate while adding functional Pd islands, which could be potentially useful in emerging fields like hydrogen storage, fuel cells and biosensors. This approach demonstrates the possibility of creating high-quality metal–carbon composites using a simple, clean and economical method, expanding the possibilities for future nanomaterial-based applications.

Abstract Tin (II) selenide (SnSe) is an emerging 2D material with many intriguing properties, such as record‐high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT), purely in‐plane ferroelectricity, and excellent nonlinear optical properties. To explore these functional properties and related applications, a crucial step is to develop controllable routes to synthesize large‐area, ultrathin, and high‐quality SnSe crystals. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) constitutes a reliable method to synthesize 2D SnSe, however, effects of various growth parameters have not yet been systematically investigated, and current PVD‐synthesized flakes are often thick (>10 nm) with small lateral sizes (

In aerospace, aviation, nuclear power, and other high-tech fields, some essential moving parts must operate under high vacuum, high load, intense radiation, and other conditions. Under such extreme conditions, only solid lubricating materials can meet the lubrication requirements. Traditional material modification methods have problems such as high energy consumption, severe pollution, and narrow scope of application. Plasma modification technology can overcome these shortcomings. This paper focuses on several commonly used plasma preparation techniques for solid lubricating coatings, including plasma chemical heat treatment, physical vapor deposition, plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition, plasma spraying, and plasma electrolytic oxidation. Subsequently, the material systems of metal-based solid lubrication coatings are reviewed: soft metals, oxides, sulfides, nitrides, and carbon-based materials. Finally, found that the development of new solid lubricants, the improvement of existing preparation technology, and the development of new processes are the key development directions in the future.

Plasmonic metallic nanoparticles, like Au, can be used to tune the optical properties of photonic nanoarchitectures occurring in butterfly wing scales possessing structural color. The effect of the nanoscale Au depends on the location and the amount deposited in the chitin-based photonic nanoarchitecture. The following three types of Au introduction methods were compared regarding the structural and optical properties of the resulting hybrid bio-nanocomposites: (i) growth of Au nanoparticles inside the nanopores of butterfly wing scales by a light-induced in situ chemical reduction of HAuCl4 in aqueous solution containing sodium citrate, as a new procedure we have developed, (ii) drop-drying of the aqueous Au sol formed during procedure (i) in the bulk liquid phase, and (iii) physical vapor deposition of Au thin film onto the butterfly wing. We investigated all three methods at two different Au concentrations on the wings of laboratory-bred blue-colored male Polyommatus icarus butterflies and characterized the optical properties of the resulting hybrid bio-nanocomposites. We found that the drop-drying and the in situ growth produced comparable redshift in the spectral position of the reflectance maximum associated with the chitin-based photonic nanoarchitecture in the wing scales, while the 5 nm or 15 nm thick Au layers vacuum deposited onto the butterfly wing behaved like an optical filter, without inducing spectral shift. The in situ growth in the photonic nanoarchitecture under intense illumination produced uniform Au nanoparticles located in the pores of the biological template, which is more advantageous for further applications. An additional benefit of this method is that the Au nanoparticles do not aggregate on drying, like in the case of drop-drying of preformed Au nanoparticles from the citrate-stabilized sol.

Currently, scientists are striving to produce innovative textile materials characterized by special properties. Therefore, attempts have been made to use physical and chemical vapor deposition techniques to modify the surface of textile materials, i.e., nonwovens, fabrics, and knitted fabrics. By using these techniques for modifying the basic materials, researchers have obtained textiles with novel properties, which are used in shielding materials, textronics, or clothing, as well as in specialized accessories. The PVD process can be applied for almost all materials. The physical vapor deposition process allows for obtaining layers of different thicknesses and with various physical and chemical properties. This article is a review of the latest state of the art on the use of various methods of physical vapor deposition in textiles destined for different purposes.

In recent decades, nanostructuring has become one of the most important techniques to design and engineer functional materials. The properties of nanostructured materials are influenced by the interplay of its instrinsic bulk properties and the properties of its surface - the relative importance of the latter being enhanced by the increased surface-to-volume ratio in nanostructures. For instance, nanostructuring of a thermoelectric material can reduce the thermal conductivity while maintaining constant electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient, which would improve the thermoelectric properties. For that reason, this study investigated the possibility of preparing nanowires of iron antimonide (FeSb2), a thermoelectric material, on single-crystalline gallium arsenide GaAs (001) substrates with ion-induced surface nanoscale pre-patterning and characterized the structure of the prepared FeSb2 nanowires. The GaAs (001) substrates were pre-patterned using 1 keV Ar+ ion irradiation. By using an ion source with a broad, unfocused ion beam at normal incidence, the patterned area can be scaled to nearly any size. The self-organized surface morphology is formed by reverse epitaxy and is characterized by almost perfectly parallel-aligned ripples at the nanometer scale. For the fabrication of FeSb2 nanowires, iron and antimony were successively deposited on the pre-patterned GaAs substrates at grazing incidence and then annealed. They were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in particular high-resolution TEM imaging for structure analysis and spectrum imaging analysis based on energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for element characterization. With the presented fabrication method, FeSb2 nanowires were produced successfully on GaAs(001) substrates with an ion-induced nanopatterned surface. The nanowires have a polycristalline structure and a cross-sectional area which is scalable up to 22 × 22 nm2. Due to the high order nanostructures on the GaAs substrate, the nanowires have a length of several micrometer. This bottom-up nanofabrication process based on ion-induced patterning can be a viable alternative to top-down procedures regarding to efficiency and costs.

Atomically thin layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as MoS2 and WS2, have been getting much attention recently due to their interesting electronic and optoelectronic properties. Especially, spiral TMDs provide a variety of candidates for examining the light-matter interaction resulting from the broken inversion symmetry, as well as the potential new utilization in functional optoelectronic, electromagnetic and nanoelectronics devices. To realize their potential device applications, it is desirable to achieve controlled growth of these layered nanomaterials with a tunable stacking. Here, we demonstrate the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) growth of spiral pyramid-shaped WS2 with ∼200 μm in size and the interesting optical properties via AFM and Raman spectroscopy. By controlling the precursors concentration and changing the initial nucleation rates in PVD growth, WS2 in different nanoarchitectures can be obtained. We discuss the growth mechanism for these spiral-patterned WS2 nanostructures based on the screw dislocations. This study provides a simple, scalable approach of screw dislocation-driven (SDD) growth of distinct TMD nanostructures with varying morphologies, and stacking.

The success of a functional coating is intrinsically linked to the improvement of its surface properties, as it is the surface that will be in direct contact with the environment and mechanical stresses when the material is used in severe wear, fatigue, or corrosion applications. It has been shown, for example, by increasing mechanical properties, that factors such as surface hardness increase the durability of the coating/substrate system. Consequently, current research on the design and development of multifunctional coatings for surface engineering within mechanical systems must address surface treatment and modification techniques. This article is a bibliographic review of coatings with industrial applications regarding transition metal nitrides deposited with physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques such as sputtering and cathodic arc.

Spark plasma sintering technique is used for the fabrication of dense materials with a fine-grained microstructure. In this process, a powder is placed into a graphite mold and a uniaxial pressure is applied by two graphite punches. A graphite foil is inserted between the punches and the powder and between the mold and the powder to ensure good electrical, physical and thermal contact. One of the major drawbacks during sintering of metal powders is the carburization of the powder in contact with the graphite foils. In this study, a PVD coating of titanium was applied on the graphite foils in contact with the metal powder (pure iron). The results are promising, as the investigations show that the application of a Ti PVD film of 1.5 and 1.1 µm thickness is effective to completely avoid the carburization of iron powder. Carbon diffuses inside the PVD film during sintering. In parallel, iron diffusion was revealed inside the Ti coating of 1.5 µm thickness. On the other hand, a Ti PVD film of 0.5 µm thickness provides a protection against carbon diffusion just on the sides in contact with the mold, proving that the coating thickness represents an important parameter to consider.

Abstract Flexible conducting materials are required for the design and fabrication of a host of applications involving flexible electronic items. A flexible substrate like paper or polymer is generally employed for deposition of metal by a variety of processes. Among many physical properties, the roughness of the substrate is considered an important parameter, although, its exact role on effective conductivity of the coating is not known. Nor any study has been carried out to understand how the three‐dimensional porous structure of the substrate surface affects the microscopic packing of grains that constitute the metal coating. With the objective of elucidating the effect of substrate roughness on the conductivity of paper electrodes, we have used six different commonly available papers for vacuum coating with copper. For a smooth substrate, the grains that constitute the coating appear spherical, however, turns ellipsoidal as the substrate roughness and heterogeneity is increased; ellipsoidal grains result in higher packing efficiency leading to higher conductivity. We have also presented a model to relate the packing efficiency to the asphericity, polydispersity, and skewness of size distribution of grains.

High-entropy alloy (HEA) design strategies have been limited to theoretical/computational approaches due to their compositional complexity and extremely large compositional parameter space. In this work, we developed an experimentally driven, high-throughput, HEA design approach using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique and coupled it with nanomechanical testing to accelerate material design for structural applications. The PVD technique enabled the formation of a compositional gradient across a thin-film sample. Specifically, a 10 cm wafer was used to manufacture a continuous set of 80 HEA compositions within the Nb-Ti-V-Zr family using a single deposition cycle. By using the solid-solution strengthening theory and estimated parameter properties, the strength and ductility of these HEA compositions were quantitatively determined/predicted and then experimentally verified by nano-indentation hardness test. Consequently, 7 refractory HEA compositions were successfully down-selected, which has a high propensity to have a balanced mechanical property.

Abstract Bismuth (III) sulfide thin films are prepared on glass substrates by physical vapor deposition technique. Then, the films are annealed at different temperatures from 150 to 350°C with nitrogen and nitrogen-sulfur atmospheres, respectively. The effect of annealing temperature on the optoelectronic properties is investigated. The layers were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, EDS analysis and Hall effect. The film annealed at 250°C in a nitrogen-sulfur atmosphere exhibited the best condition with an initial thickness of 106 nm and band gap of 1.37 eV. Also, Bismuthinite phase was obtained, close to the stoichiometry with 59.95 and 40.05 at % for bismuth and sulfur, respectively. The charge carrier concentration of 6.9x1019 cm-3 with a n-type conductivity, the resistivity of 0.19 Ω-cm, and mobility of 0.44 cm2V-1s-1 are obtained.

Ultrathin (5–50 nm) epitaxial superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) films were grown on AlN-buffered c-plane Al2O3 by an industrial scale physical vapor deposition technique at 400°C. Both X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis show high crystallinity of the (111)-oriented NbN films, with a narrow full-width-at-half-maximum of the rocking curve down to 0.030°. The lattice constant decreases with decreasing NbN layer thickness, suggesting lattice strain for films with thicknesses below 20 nm. The superconducting transition temperature, the transition width, the upper critical field, the irreversibility line, and the coherence length are closely correlated to the film thickness.

Polymers and their composites are widely used for designing structures in aerospace, automotive, electronic, sport industries due to their lightweight, cost, and processing advantages. However, the surface of polymeric materials typically exhibits intrinsic deficiencies, limiting their durability and functionalities, e.g., low wear resistance, low thermal and electrical conductivity, low adhesion, low bioactivity, low reflectiveness, and weak photochemical resistance. Polymer metallization is an emerging concept that addresses these deficiencies by forming a metallic skin on polymeric surfaces. Herein, the working principles, recent advances, challenges, functional capabilities, and applications of the state-of-the-art polymer metallization methods in the fields of additive manufacturing, coating technologies, and material science are reviewed on nano-, micro-, and macroscales. The polymer metallization methods applied to polymeric and polymer composite substrates are physical vapor deposition, electrochemical plating, a family of thermal spray methods (such as flame spaying, arc spraying, plasma spraying, and cold spraying), and a series of polymer–metal direct bonding methods (such as adhesive bonding, injection overmolding, and fusion joining techniques, including ultrasonic joining, friction spot joining, electromagnetic induction joining, and laser joining). Understanding the key aspects within these approaches would guide scientist and engineers for optimizing the design and durability of structural materials made of polymers/composites.

Designing next generation thin films tailor-made for specific applications relies on the availability of robust process-structure-property relationships. Traditional structure zone diagrams that relate one or two deposition conditions to microstructures are limited to simple mappings, with machine-learning methods only recently attempting to relate multiple processing parameters to the final microstructure. Despite this progress, process-structure relationships are unknown for deposition conditions that vary during thin-film deposition, limiting the range of achievable microstructures and properties. We combine phase-field simulations with a genetic algorithm to identify and design time-dependent deposition protocols that achieve tailor-made microstructures. We simulate the physical vapor deposition of a binary-alloy thin film by employing a phase-field model, where deposition rates and diffusivities of the deposited species vary in time and are controlled via the genetic algorithm. Our genetic-algorithm-guided protocols achieve targeted microstructures with lateral and vertical concentration modulations, as well as more complex, hierarchical microstructures previously not described in classical structure zone diagrams. By elucidating the process-structure mechanisms during physical vapor deposition and using this knowledge to achieve precise thin-film microstructures, our algorithm provides insights to the thin film, physical vapor deposition, and film functionality communities looking for additional avenues to design novel thin-film microstructures.

In recent years, the processes used in wastewater treatment have received significant advances in various fields, including the electrochemical coagulation process as a significant innovation in the water and wastewater industry. The application of electrochemical technologies in the water and wastewater industry is very diverse. This technique has been applied in various situations and industries to remove a wide range of pollutants. Reactive dyes are a group of dyes widely used for dyeing cellulose fibers, especially linen fabrics used. The anthracavon dyes after the azo dyes are the second group of textile dyes. Reactive blue 19 is the anthraquinone dye in terms of color factor. Various methods have been used to treat this type of wastewater, including various physical and chemical treatment methods (such as filtration, settling, ozonation), each with its own disadvantages such as: low efficiency, high cost, high time and cause secondary pollution. Accordingly, electrochemical coagulation treatment to remove contamination from dye wastewater due to its high efficiency is studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the electrochemical removal of reactive blue 19 dye using iron and aluminum electrodes. The dye concentration was also considered at 200 mg/L for all stages and all experiments were performed at ambient temperature. Main parameters such as electrode spacing, type of electrode arrangement, anode electrode (iron and aluminum), coating of aluminum electrode with ZnO nanoparticles by physical evaporation layer-addressing method and evaluation of coating performance by scanning speed cyclic voltammetry system and different voltage ranges were used. In the optimum condition in the removal of synthetic contaminants including electrode distance of 3 cm, parallel monopolar electrode arrangement, use of iron anode electrode pair and aluminum cathode with ZnO nanoparticle coating, retention time equals to 32.66 minutes, current density 14.34 mA/cm2 and initial pH of 4, the percentage of dye wastwater was 93.8 percent. The use of zinc oxide nanoparticles coated by the physical evaporation layering method also improved the 173.12% electrical current.

The dynamic analysis of the fused deposition modeling (FDM) products is one of the most important topics in investigation of 3D manufacturing nowadays. The purpose of this paper to present the dynamic properties of FDM parts made from ULTEM 1010 with different coating layer thicknesses. The coating process consists of two stages: physical vapor deposition (PVD) to pre-coat the samples with a thin layer of Cu and Cr to prepare samples for the next step, electroplating different layer thickness Cu an outer layer of Ni. COMSOL Multiphysics software is used for finite element analysis of the models for free and forced vibration. The results showed an increase in ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus with increasing coating thickness. The effect of different coating layer thickness on the natural frequency and damping loss factor was studied. The scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the coating layers in tensile specimens after failure.

This paper presents the results of studies on AlMgB14-based ceramic coatings deposited on WC-Co hard alloy substrates using RF plasma sputtering. The aim of this work is to study the structure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of AlMgB14-based coatings depending on the sputtering mode. According to the results of the microstructural study, the bias voltage applied to the substrate during the sputtering process significantly contributed to the formation of the coating morphology. Based on the results of compositional and structural studies by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy, it was found that the coatings are composed of nanocrystalline B12 icosahedrons distributed in an amorphous matrix consisting of Al, Mg, B, and O elements. The nanohardness of the coatings varied from 24 GPa to 37 GPa. The maximum value of the hardness together with the lowest coefficient of friction (COF) equal to 0.12 and wear resistance of 7.5 × 10−5 mm3/N·m were obtained for the coating sputtered at a bias voltage of 100 V. Compared with the COF of the original hard alloy substrate, which is equal to 0.31, it can be concluded that the AlMgB14-based coatings could reduce the COF of WC-based hard alloys by more than two times. The hardness and tribological properties of the coatings obtained in this study are in good agreement with the properties of AlMgB14-based materials obtained by other methods reported in the literature.

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is one of the most important techniques for coating fabrication. With the traditional trial-and-error approach, it is labor-intensive and challenging to determine the optimal process parameters for PVD coatings with best properties. A combination of three-dimensional (3-D) quantitative phase–field simulation and a hierarchical multi-objective optimization strategy was, therefore, developed to perform high-throughput screening of the optimal process parameters for PVD coatings and successfully applied to technically important TiN coatings. Large amounts of 3-D phase-field simulations of TiN coating growth during the PVD process were first carried out to acquire the parametric relation among the model parameters, microstructures, and various coating properties. Experimental data were then used to validate the numerical simulation results and reveal the correlation between model parameters and process parameters. After that, a hierarchical multi-objective method was proposed for the design of multiple coating properties based on the quantitative phase–field simulations and key experimental data. Marginal utility was subsequently examined based on the identification of the Pareto fronts in terms of various combinations of objectives. The windows for the best TiN coating properties were, therefore, filtered with respect to the model/process parameters in a hierarchical manner. Finally, the consistent optimal design result was found against the experimental results.

Uniaxial tensile tests were carried out on nickel sheets containing only few grains across the thickness thus presenting a so-called multicrystalline state. Pristine sheets used as reference and substrates covered by a nickel layer deposited by physical vapor deposition (magnetron sputtering) were studied. Results attest that the surface treatment affects the plastic deformation mechanisms by playing the role of a blocking barrier to dislocation movement which leads to a significant improvement of mechanical performances. The surface restructuring of the nickel sheets is efficient to stop dislocation escape through free surfaces and allows a mechanical improvement of the well-known strong mechanical softening of the multicrystals.

Tin dioxide nanowhiskers were grown by the vapor deposition. The effect of technological parameters on the morphology of the grown nanostructures was investigated. It is shown that an increase in the partial pressure of oxygen in the range from 0,06 mbar to 9,3 mbar and the temperature of the deposition zone in the range from 940°C to 995°C leads to an increase in the diameter of the formed nanocrystals. Experimentally it was shown that the average diameter of nanowhiskers varied from 80 nm to 250 nm. A gas sensor was formed with an active layer, based on the nanocrystals, sensitive to acetone vapor. The value of the gas sensitivity and the characteristic times of the sensor are sufficient for practical use in gas analyzers and systems for recognizing gas mixtures and odors.

Replacing conventional electrode materials is one of the most pressing challenges for next-generation lithium-ion batteries since state-of-the-art systems have almost reached their limitations for performance gains. For anodes, ambitious candidates include lithium and silicon because of their extremely high capacity. In this paper, a physical vapor deposition process for the preparation of pure metallic lithium layers and lithiated silicon layers in the layer thickness range of 1–20 µm is demonstrated. The lithium layers were deposited by thermal evaporation. Static coating rates up to 120 nm/s and dynamic deposition rates up to 1 µm·m/min were realized. Furthermore, the deposition of lithiated silicon alloy layers with various compositions was performed via the co-evaporation of lithium and silicon, where silicon was evaporated by an electron beam. The process was characterized regarding the deposition rate, heat loads, and effects of substrate pre-treatment. To achieve a porous microstructure, the layer morphology needed to be manipulated by adapting process parameters. Stripping experiments revealed high electrochemical activity of the lithium up to 85 %. The innovative approach carried out via vacuum processing showed capabilities for overcoming the current bottlenecks experienced with high-capacity anode materials in combination with the potential for upscaling to high throughput production.

Research on All-Solid-State Batteries (ASSBs) currently focuses on the development of innovative materials, cell concepts, and production processes, aiming to achieve higher energy densities compared to other battery technologies. For example, it is been demonstrated that coating the Cathode Active Material (CAM) can enhance the rate capability and cycle life and reduce the interfacial resistance of an ASSB cell. For this reason, various techniques for coating the CAM have been explored, along with a variety of coating materials, including lithium niobate. Since ASSBs are still an emerging technology, more research is needed to determine how their production processes will perform from a technical, economic, and environmental perspective. In this paper, two innovative techniques for producing lithium niobate-coated CAMs are presented and evaluated. Particularly, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) techniques for coating NCM811 particles are investigated. The methodology for environmental and technical feasibility assessments at an early stage of development is further presented and discussed. Based on process-specific data and expert knowledge, an environmental assessment is conducted and further supported with a qualitative technical feasibility assessment. The results help guide early-stage decision-making regarding the identification of promising process routes with relatively low impacts.

MicroRNAs (miRs) as biomarkers for early cancer diagnostic, were detected through a developed ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor containing gold Nano-islands (Au-NIs) structures. Different concentrations of miR-21 (from zepto -molar to micro range) in both standard solution and blood serum samples were measured to test the sensitivity of biosensor. A high surface-area-to-volume ratio of nanostructures embellished on the FTO electrodes increases the chance of immobilization of the thiol modified capture probe (anti-miR-21 or cap-21). The Au-nanostructures surface modification and its ability to hybridize successfully and stably anti-miR-21 and miR-21 confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) electrochemical techniques. The results showed that the linear detection range of the biosensor was from 1.0 zM to 200 nM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.12 zM which revealed a very high sensitivity. The selectivity of the biosensor was also investigated and confirmed by detecting miR-9 and miR-486. Corresponding results revealed that the biosensor discriminated target miR-21 from non-complementary miR-21 and showed high selectivity and specificity. Our results also revealed that this platform is a promising substrate to quantitative analysis of miR-21 in physiological samples and could be used for biomedical research and point-of-care (POC) diagnosis. Straightforward and robust Au-NIs surface fabricated without surfactant and stabilizer additive, with plenty of anchors for ssDNA immobilization, as well as well-established hybridization and immobilization procedures, plus high electron transfer rate ability in comparison to bare FTO electrodes are among attractive and suitable novelty of this study.

The output power in ultrafast fiber lasers is usually limited due to the lack of a versatile saturable absorber with high damage threshold and large modulation depth. Here we proposed a more efficient strategy to improve the output energy of erbium-doped fiber laser based on indium selenide (In2Se3) prepared by using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. Finally, stable mode-locked bright pulses and triple-wavelength dark–bright pulse pair generation were obtained successfully by adjusting the polarization state. The average output power and pulse energy were 172.4 mW/101 nJ and 171.3 mW/100 nJ, which are significantly improved compared with the previous work. These data demonstrate that the PVD-In2Se3 can be a feasible nonlinear photonic material for high-power fiber lasers, which will pave a fresh avenue for the high-power fiber laser.

Microstructural evolution and deformation mechanisms of magnetron sputtered V-Si-N coatings with various Si contents are investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations. A small amount of Si atoms was dissolved into the cubic VN lattice, locally reducing the neighboring V-N p-d hybridization near the Si site. The Si content was found to impact the architecture of coating significantly. With increasing Si content, the microstructure evolved through three different architectures: (i) highly textured columnar grains, (ii) refined columnar grains, and (iii) nanocomposite structures where elongated grains were bounded by vein-like boundaries. Enhanced damage tolerance was observed in the nanocomposite structure, where multiple toughening mechanisms become active. Ab initio calculations revealed that the incorporation of Si monolayer in the (111)-oriented VN resulted in the formation of weaker Si-N bonds compared to V-N bonds, which allowed a selective response to strain and shear deformations by assisting the activation of the slip systems.

The residual stress generated after thin layer TiN coating by Physical Vapor Deposition is reducing the mechanical and tribological properties of TiN. Thermal stresses are one of the residual stress components which can cause failure modes of proper coatings. In this article, a validated computational simulation was developed to investigate the effect of physical and thermal properties on the thermal stresses of the coating, including the deposition temperature, Young's modulus of coating, the thermal expansion coefficient of coating, and the thicknesses of coating and substrate. An analytical method using Stoney & Tsui model was used to verify the simulation result by Abaqus software 6.14–5, and very good agreement was achieved. Results show that the thermal stress distribution is discontinued large difference between high stresses in the coating and low stress in the substrate. Also, increasing the deposition temperature from 100 ºC to 500 ºC increases the thermal stresses from 214 MPa to 1355 MPa linearly. Analysis of the coating thickness in the range of 1–5 µm slightly reduces the thermal stress from 1362 MPa to 1342 MPa, while an increase of the substrate thickness in the range of 1–5 mm increases the thermal stress from 1330 MPa to 1360 MPa. It is also realized that an increase in Young's modulus of TiN from 250 GPa to 600 GPa linearly increases the thermal stress from 567 MPa to 1355 MPa, while an increase of the coefficient of thermal expansion of TiN from 3.92×10−6 °C−1 to 9.40 × 10−6 °C−1 reduces the thermal stress from 3418 MPa to 1355 MPa.

A PVD coating is often applied on the surface of metallic alloys to improve their high-temperature resistance. In the present work, a thin titanium layer (1.2 µm) was deposited by PVD on the surface of a stainless steel substrate before high-temperature exposure (800 °C in ambient air). The underlying idea is that metallic Ti converts into Ti oxide (TiO2) during high-temperature aging at 800 °C, thereby slowing down the substrate oxidation. The stability of the coating with and without substrate pre-oxidation was investigated. Morphological, structural, and chemical characterizations were performed and completed by simulation of the film growth and measurement of the mechanical state of the film and the substrate. In the case of the sample that was not pre-oxidized, the oxidation of the steel was slowed down by the TiO2 scale but spallation was observed. On the other hand, when the steel was pre-oxidized, TiO2 provided more significant protection against high-temperature oxidation, and spalling or cracking did not occur. A combination of different kinds of stress could explain the two different behaviors, namely, the mechanical state of the film and the substrate before oxidation, the growing stress, and the thermal stress occurring during cooling down.

Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathode has been widely applied in 3C products (computer, communication, and consumer), and LCO films are currently the most promising cathode materials for thin-film lithium batteries (TFBs) due to their high volumetric energy density and favorable durability. Most LCO thin films are fabricated by physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques, while the influence of preparation on the materials’ properties and electrochemical performance has not been highlighted. In this review, the dominant effects (heating, substrate, power, atmosphere, etc.) on LCO thin films are summarized, and the LCO thin films fabricated by other techniques (spin coating, sol–gel, atomic layer deposition, pulsed laser deposition, etc.) are outlined. Moreover, the modification strategies including bulk doping and surface coating for powder and thin-film LCO electrodes are discussed in detail. This review may pave the way for developing novel, durable, and high-performance LCO thin films by versatile methods for TFB and other energy storage devices.

Lead selenide (PbSe) is a new emerging semiconductor with layer-dependent bandgap that has attracted much interest due to its high infrared response and good environmental stability. We have prepared large-scale PbSe films with the area of 7 cm2 and thickness of 25 nm based on physical vapor deposition approach at 160°C. The PbSe films exhibit saturable absorption property at 1.55 μm and a polarization-sensitive saturable absorber is obtained by growing PbSe on D-shaped fiber. Single-pulse with the duration of 490 fs is generated at the pump of 12 mW and the mode-locking operation is maintained at the pump of 1500 mW, indicating the high damage threshold of the D-shaped fiber based saturable absorber. Two polarization-insensitive saturable absorbers are achieved by depositing PbSe on fiber facet and polyvinyl alcohol film, respectively. For fiber facet (polyvinyl alcohol film) based saturable absorber, the repetition rate of Q-switched pulses increases from 8.6 (16.3) kHz to 45.4 (59.2) kHz while the duration decreases from 7.92 (12) μs to 2.06 (3.12) μs by tuning the pump from 15 mW to 90 (60) mW. Such large-scale PbSe films possess features of low cost and high modulation ability, and can find important applications in infrared optical modulators and detectors.

Surface properties of the material can affect the efficiency and behavior of the material when in service. Modifying and tuning these surface properties to meet the specific demand for better performance is feasible and has been vastly employed in a different aspect of life. This can be achieved by coating the surface via deposition of the thin film. This study provides a review of the existing literature of different deposition techniques used for surface modification and coating. The two major areas of interest discussed are physical and chemical vapor deposition techniques, and the area of applications of surface coating was briefly highlighted in this report.

A titanium (Ti) commercial cathode material and high purity Ar and O2 were used in the cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (arc-PVD) process. The TiOx coating was deposited on the three sets of Raschig rings using decreasing ratios of Ar/O2:440/60, 400/100 and 300/100. The cross sections of the TiOx PVD coating were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A homogeneous layer of Ti with small O content was observed, and the data suggest that a thin TiOx oxide film was deposited. For this reason, a thermal treatment was applied to the coating to oxidize it and form the rutile phase of TiO2 in the coating, which was demonstrated by grazing incidence XRD. In addition, the TiOx coatings absorb radiation, which was observed by diffuse reflectance band gap energy measurement. Silver (Ag) was added by the photo-reduction method, using UVC light to activate the TiO2 coating, and the band gap energy was analyzed by diffuse reflectance. The photocatalytic activities of the films were evaluated by degradation of the model dye rhodamine B and in the removal of fecal coliforms using two matrices, water from a secondary treatment effluent, and synthetic water.