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The paper presents results of optical and surface morphology investigations of semitransparent silver single thin films deposited on glass substrate in relation to their heat radiation treatment. The thickness of 15 nm for the silver thin films was selected using computer designing of optical spectra and the films were deposited using electron beam evaporation process. Optical transmission and reflection were investigated for as deposited samples and after exposition to heat radiation from quartz-halogen lamp. The changes in the optical spectra were observed which suggested degradation of deposited heat mirrors. Structure and surface morphology studies performed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy allowed us to conclude about formation of nanometric silver islands, regularly distributed over the surface of the glass substrate after exposure to heat treatment.

In this paper an analysis of the surface properties of (Ti,Pd,Eu)Oxthin films prepared by magnetron sputtering has been described. In particular, the results of composition and structure investigations were studied in relation to the surface state and optical properties. It was found that (Ti,Pd,Eu)Oxfilm was nanocrystalline and had a rutile structure. The average crystallites size was equal to 7.8 nm. Films were homogeneous and had densely packed grains. Investigation of the surface properties by XPS showed that titanium was present at 4+ state (in the TiO2form), palladium occurred as PdO2(also at 4+ state), while europium was in Eu2O3form (at 3+ state). In comparison with the unmodified TiO2, the coating with Pd and Eu additives had a rather high transparency (approx. 47%) in the visible light range, its optical absorption edge was shifted towards into the longer wavelengths (from 345 nm to 452 nm), and the width of optical energy gap Egopt was nearly twice lower (1.82 eV). Besides, the resistivity of (Ti,Pd,Eu)Oxat room temperature was 1x103Wcm. In the case of the film as-deposited on Si substrate (p-type) the generation of photocurrent as a response to light beam excitation (λexc= 527 nm) was observed.

In this paper investigations of structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline Ti-V oxide thin films are described. The films were deposited onto Corning 7059 glass using a modified reactive magnetron sputtering method. Structural investigations of prepared Ti-V oxides with vanadium addition of 19 at. % revealed amorphous structure, while incorporation of 21 and 23 at. % of vanadium resulted in V2O5 formation with crystallites sizes of 12.7 and 32.4 nm, respectively. All prepared thin films belong to transparent oxide semiconductors due to their high transmission level of ca. 60–75 % in the visible light range, and resistivity in the range of 3.3·102–1.4·105 Ωcm. Additionally, wettability and hardness tests were performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of the films for functional coatings.

In this paper investigations of structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline Ti-V oxide thin films are described. The films were deposited onto Corning 7059 glass using a modified reactive magnetron sputtering method. Structural investigations of prepared Ti-V oxides with vanadium addition of 19 at. % revealed amorphous structure, while incorporation of 21 and 23 at. % of vanadium resulted in V2O5formation with crystallites sizes of 12.7 and 32.4 nm, respectively. All prepared thin films belong to transparent oxide semiconductors due to their high transmission level of ca. 60–75 % in the visible light range, and resistivity in the range of 3.3·102–1.4·105Ωcm. Additionally, wettability and hardness tests were performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of the films for functional coatings.

In this paper designing, preparation and characterization of multifunctional coatings based on TiO2/SiO2 has been described. TiO2 was used as a high index material, whereas SiO2 was used as a low index material. Multilayers were deposited on microscope slide substrates by microwave assisted reactive magnetron sputtering process. Multilayer design was optimized for residual reflection of about 3% in visible spectrum (450–800 nm). As a top layer, TiO2 with a fixed thickness of 10 nm as a protective film was deposited. Based on transmittance and reflectance spectra, refractive indexes of TiO2 and SiO2 single layers were calculated. Ultra high vacuum atomic force microscope was used to characterize the surface properties of TiO2/SiO2 multilayer. Surface morphology revealed densely packed structure with grains of about 30 nm in size. Prepared samples were also investigated by nanoindentation to evaluate their protective performance against external hazards. Therefore, the hardness of the thin films was measured and it was equal to 9.34 GPa. Additionally, contact angle of prepared coatings has been measured to assess the wetting properties of the multilayer surface.

In this paper designing, preparation and characterization of multifunctional coatings based on TiO2/SiO2has been described. TiO2was used as a high index material, whereas SiO2was used as a low index material. Multilayers were deposited on microscope slide substrates by microwave assisted reactive magnetron sputtering process. Multilayer design was optimized for residual reflection of about 3% in visible spectrum (450–800 nm). As a top layer, TiO2with a fixed thickness of 10 nm as a protective film was deposited. Based on transmittance and reflectance spectra, refractive indexes of TiO2and SiO2single layers were calculated. Ultra high vacuum atomic force microscope was used to characterize the surface properties of TiO2/SiO2multilayer. Surface morphology revealed densely packed structure with grains of about 30 nm in size. Prepared samples were also investigated by nanoindentation to evaluate their protective performance against external hazards. Therefore, the hardness of the thin films was measured and it was equal to 9.34 GPa. Additionally, contact angle of prepared coatings has been measured to assess the wetting properties of the multilayer surface.

Polyesterimide resin applied for winding impregnation has been modified by incorporating the hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanosilica, montmorillonite and aluminium oxide. For assessment of the resins in liquid and cured states thermoanalytical methods TG/DSC were used. For pure and nanofilled resins the results of investigation of AFM topography, bond strength, dielectric strength and partial discharge resistance have been also presented. It was found that dielectric and mechanical properties of polyesterimide resin containing hydrophilic silica as well aluminium oxide were much improved as compared to pure resin. Based on our investigations we have found that the methods of thermal analysis may be very useful for evaluation of nanocomposites: DSC/TGA study of resins in the liquid state under dynamic conditions can be applied to pre-select nanocomposites; isothermal TG curves of cured resins can be utilized for thermal stability evaluation; in turn, TG study after thermal ageing of cured resins could confirm the barrier properties of nanocomposites.