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As a novel coating spray technique, the aerosol deposition method is applied for the fabrication of dense, nanostructured ceramic coatings at room temperature via an impact consolidation mechanism. It is widely recognized that the successful deposition of coatings is strongly dependent on processing parameters during the deposition process. In this study, a brush‐type aerosol generator was employed to enhance the continuity and stability of the aerosol supply. The uniformity of powder consumption at different packing densities was evaluated; an optimal loading density of 33% was identified for the alumina powders used in this study. Both simulation and experimental studies were performed to investigate the influence of gas flow rate and standoff distance (SoD) on coating fabrication and properties. The predicted particle impact velocity increased with increasing gas flow intensity and SoD, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties of the coatings, including adhesive strength and hardness. The maximum compressive residual stress value of 389 MPa was determined for an alumina coating fabricated at a gas flow rate of 20 L/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability and accuracy of numerical models and computer simulations to study aerosol deposition in the human respiratory system is investigated for a patient-specific tracheobronchial tree geometry. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model coupled with discrete elements methods (DEM) is used to predict the transport and deposition of the aerosol. The results are compared to experimental and numerical data available in the literature to study and quantify the impact of the modeling parameters and numerical assumptions. Even if the total deposition compares very well with the reference data, it is clear from the present work how local deposition results can depend significantly upon spatial discretization and boundary conditions adopted to represent the respiratory act. The modeling of turbulent fluctuations in the airflow is also found to impact the local deposition and, to a minor extent, the flow characteristics at the inlet of the computational domain. Using the CFD-DEM model, it was also possible to calculate the airflow and particles splitting at bifurcations, which were found to depart from the assumption of being equally distributed among branches adopted by some of the simplified deposition models. The results thus suggest the need for further studies towards improving the quantitative prediction of aerosol transport and deposition in the human airways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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High-temperature conditions are harmful for carbon nanotube-based (CNT-based) composites, as CNTs are susceptible to oxidation. On the other hand, adding CNTs to ceramics with low electrical conductivity, such as 3YSZ, is beneficial because it allows the production of complex-shaped samples with spark plasma sintering (SPS). A shielding coating system may be applied to prevent CNT oxidation. In this work, the 8YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) thermal shielding coating system was deposited by aerosol deposition (AD) to improve the composite's resistance to CNT degradation without the use of bond-coat sublayers. Additionally, the influence of the annealing process on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the composite was evaluated by nanoindentation, scratch tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), flame tests, and light microscopy (LM). Annealing at 1200 °C was the optimal temperature for heat treatment, improving the coating's mechanical strength (the first critical load increased from 0.84 N to 3.69 N) and promoting diffusion bonding between the compacted powder particles and the substrate. The deposited coating of 8YSZ increased the composite's thermal resistance by reducing the substrate's heating rate and preventing the oxidation of CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The optimal setup for continuously administering albuterol with heliox remains unclear, especially for pediatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of continuous albuterol delivery with heliox using different nebulizer setups in a pediatric model. METHODS: A pediatric manikin with simulated spontaneous breathing was used to receive continuous albuterol (20 mg/h) with heliox (80/20) in 3 setups: (1) The MiniHEART nebulizer, driven by oxygen at 3 L/min, was attached to a Y-piece, linking to a non--rebreather mask and a valved reservoir with 11 L/min heliox; (2) a vibrating mesh nebulizer (VMN) placed at the humidifier inlet of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) with 11 L/min heliox and the manikin's mouth sealed; and (3) a VMN placed between a valved reservoir with 11 L/min heliox and a non--rebreather mask. Both tight-fitting and loose-fitting mask configurations were tested in the setup with vibrating mesh nebulizer and mask. Heliox of 70/30 was tested with a VMN and a loose-fitting mask. Albuterol was delivered continuously to the nebulizer via an infusion pump at 8 mL (20 mg)/h for each 20-min run and each experiment was repeated five times. A collecting filter placed between the manikin's trachea and lung model was removed after each run, and the drug was eluted and assayed via ultraviolet spectrophotometry (276 nm). RESULTS: During continuous albuterol nebulization using heliox, the VMN either in line with HFNC or with a tight-fitting mask achieved the highest and similar inhaled dose (8.5 ± 0.4 vs 8.8 ± 0.7%, P = .35), while the MiniHEART nebulizer yielded the lowest aerosol deposition (1.5 ± 0.2%). The inhaled dose was lower with the loose-fitting mask than with the tight-fitting mask (5.9 ± 0.9 vs 8.8 ± 0.7%, P=.009), and heliox of 80/20 delivered a higher inhaled dose than heliox of 70/30 (5.9 ± 0.9 vs 3.9 ± 0.4%, P=.009). CONCLUSIONS: When administering continuous albuterol with heliox in a pediatric model, utilizing a VMN in line with HFNC during closed-mouth breathing yielded a higher inhaled dose compared to both the MiniHEART nebulizer and VMN with a loose-fitting mask. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a viable route for green hydrogen generation. In PEC cells, the electrodes are coated with suitable semiconductor materials, which absorb the sunlight, generating charge carriers that are used to split water molecules into H2 and O2. CuFeO2 is one promising photocathode material for water splitting. However, its performance is limited by electron/hole pairs recombination within the film and at the film/substrate interface. Aerosol deposition (AD) can be employed to minimize charge recombination by spraying dense, thin films and by establishing a good back-contact interface. In this study, CuFeO2 powders were synthesized through a conventional solid-state technique and sprayed by AD under varied parameter sets. The effect of particle size distributions, carrier gas, gas pressure and substrate temperature was investigated. The best spraying parameter set was then tuned to obtain thin coatings (< 1 µm). Single-particle deformation and coatings microstructure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Optical properties of CuFeO2 films were analyzed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, while photoelectrochemical performances were estimated through amperometry tests under simulated sunlight. The results of this research show that CuFeO2 photocathodes can be successfully manufactured by AD. Their performance can be optimized by adjusting coating thickness and by annealing in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of aerosol deposited (AD) thick ceramic films are significantly reduced in comparison to bulk materials, which is assumed to be largely related to the nanometer-sized grains (∼0.01 μm) observed in the resulting microstructures. This work, therefore, focuses on understanding the role of grain size in electromechanical properties within the range of AD films based on Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 Zr 0.1 Ti 0.9 O 3 (BCZT). In a comprehensive compilation of the piezoelectric constant (d 33) of samples from various studies the grain size dependency of the d 33 was shown for the lead-free ferroelectrics BCZT, BaTiO 3 , and (K,Na)NbO 3. In this, it can be seen that no BCZT sample with a grain size below 0.4 μm was analyzed regarding their d 33 before, thereby leaving a gap to the grain size of AD films. In this study, the grain size of ceramic bulk samples was varied using spark plasma and conventional sintering (0.1 μm – 11 μm) and their properties compared to those of AD films. To enable the fabrication of bulk samples in the same range as AD films, a hydrothermal powder with an average particle size of 0.075 μm was synthesized. A continuous increase of the permittivity, the polarization, and the piezoelectric coefficient was observed through grain size increase. These results suggest that the grain size of AD films needs to be enhanced to improve their properties. Importantly, the insights of this multiscale analysis on the grain size can help to tailor also the properties of other BCZT films and bulk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Y2O3 coating is used as an interlayer between Al2O3 substrate and a ceramic coating; this is in order to minimize the morphological distortion produced by a single deposition of the ceramic coating on the Al2O3 substrate, which is performed using the aerosol method. The interlayer coating, which comprises the Y2O3 phase, is deposited on the Al2O3 substrate using an e-beam evaporator. The crystal structure of the powder that was used to process the coating is identified as cubic Y2O3. In contrast, the crystal structure of the top-coating layer and interlayer indicates the presence of two kinds of Y2O3 phases, which possess cubic and monoclinic structures. The single Y2O3 coating without an interlayer exhibits microcracks around the interface between the coating and the substrate, which can be attributed to the stress that occurs during aerosol deposition. In contrast, no cracks are found in the aerosol-deposited Y2O3 coating and interlayer, which show a desirable microstructure. The single Y2O3 coating and the Y2O3 coating with an interlayer exhibit similar hardness and elastic modulus values. Nevertheless, the Y2O3 coating with an interlayer exhibits a higher level of adhesion than the single Y2O3 coating, with a value of 14.8 N compared to 10.2 N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we successfully deposited highly dense BaTiO 3 thick films at room temperature on kovar® substrates using aerosol deposition method (AD). As-deposited films exhibited non-ferroelectric behavior due to grain size effect. Post-annealing below 800 °C released residual stress without promoting grain growth for both air and argon annealing atmospheres. Hence, it enhanced relative permittivity, electrical resistivity (1012 Ω.cm) and reduced leakage currents (<1 µA.cm−2). Annealing at 800 and 900 °C induced significant grain growth, favoring the recovery of ferroelectric properties. Grain growth was further enhanced for argon-annealed BT films. For annealing temperatures ≥ 800 °C, both air and argon annealing induced a piezoelectric behavior, clearly evidenced by the strain – field (S-E) cycles. The 900 °C argon-annealed film exhibited the highest properties, with a P r of ∼6.6 µC.cm−2 and a maximum strain of 0.04% under 10 kV.mm−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local steroid medication is one of the most important treatment options for chronic rhinosinusitis. Regional deposition has a higher clinical value compared with total deposition in predicting treatment outcomes or evaluating adverse reactions. The goal of this project is to propose an effective technique for visualizing and quantifying aerosol deposition in a three-dimensional adult nasal cavity, and to verify the practicality of this method. Three-dimensional (3D) nasal cavity models were constructed from computed tomography (CT) scans of one post-operative rhinosinusitis subject using imaging software. The nasal cast was coated with a water-indicating paste and deposited with saline; a liquid dressing was added to visualize the progress. The quantity of liquid dressing was evaluated via HPLC and the liquid deposition was analyzed within the nasal cast cavity. Herein, 98.77 % of the particles generated by the nebulizer were over 5 μm, suggesting that most of the aerosol could effectively enter the nasal cavity instead of the lower respiratory system. The liquid dressing was mainly deposited in the nasal cavity, ethmoid sinus, and frontal sinus according to the visualization tests. HPLC results suggested that the main deposits were the frontal sinus (up to 41.80 %) as well as in the sphenoid sinus and ethmoid sinus (14.00 %). The large particle nebulizer (BM-TCA) generally led to better deposition in sinus areas when compared to the smaller particle nebulizer (PARI). This technology allows for in vitro testing of various types of nasal preparations and equipment under various test methods.

Films fabricated by aerosol deposition (AD) are expected to be used as electrical insulating coatings. High thermal conductivity is required in addition to electrical insulation properties for electrical insulation substrate applications, but the thermal conductivity of AD films has not been reported. AD films are nanocrystalline films consisting of crystals several tens of nanometers in size, and it is unclear what effect the small particle size has on thermal conductivity. In this study, the thermal conductivity of an AD alumina film was measured by the light flash method as 15–31 W m−1 K−1 at room temperature and was large despite the particle size of several tens of nanometers. Analysis was performed using a model of grain size effects on thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deposition mechanism of the vacuum kinetic spraying (VKS) process remains unclear because of various complicated phenomena occurring simultaneously within several nanoseconds and the difficulty in directly observing the process. In this study, the deposition mechanism is investigated by considering the energy contributions of heat, friction, and new surface energies, including the first weak bonding of the nanofragments, nanocrystallization during film growth, and bonding consolidation. Particle impact simulations are performed to analyze the change in state during impact, and the microstructure was thoroughly analyzed through high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In particular, in situ TEM was used to examine the microstructural evolution during low-temperature heating. For the first bonding, new and activated surface energy plays a major role in the bonding of nanofragments, and friction energy assists in bonding, whereas the heat energy is negligible. The first weak bonding is hypothesized to be achieved by the "friction-assisted attractive van der Waals bonding". The initial fragments are further fragmented during successive particle impacts, during which the film becomes nanocrystalline with nanograin plasticity, leaving traces of lattice distortion and rotation, grain rotation, and amorphization. The weak bonding in the nanocrystallized film is consolidated mainly through active surface and grain boundary diffusion by localized heating resulting from successive particle impacts under adiabatic conditions. Furthermore, high pressure accelerates the densification with limiting grain growth, and the surface and friction energies assist in bond strengthening. It is hypothesized that VKS involves pressure-assisted localized nanocrystalline sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerosol deposition process, involving the impact of solid particles on a substrate at high velocities, is an attractive method for the manufacture of ceramic coatings at room temperature. For process optimisation, it is crucial to select a powder having the appropriate physical characteristics and evaluate the particle flow behaviour during the deposition process. In this study, a powder modification process using high-energy milling and spray drying to improve the applicability of precursor powders was developed and evaluated both numerically and experimentally. A modified aerosol deposition system incorporating a brush-type aerosol generator was employed to maintain the continuity of the aerosol supply and improve the stability of the particle concentration. The deposition efficiency was nearly tripled when using spray-dried granules (0.68%) instead of the as-received powders (0.26%). From tribological measurements, the strongest interfacial bonding was also confirmed for coatings prepared with alumina granules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3) films have been the subject of recent scientific and technological research, owing to their outstanding characteristics. In this study, a rapid and efficient aerosol deposition (AD) process was utilized to produce Ga 2 O 3 films. The effect of the particle size distribution (PSD) of the columnar or plate-like Ga 2 O 3 starting powder on the dielectric, electrical, and microstructural properties of the films was also investigated. The dielectric constant and loss tangent of polycrystalline β -Ga 2 O 3 films fabricated using AD with narrow PSD Ga 2 O 3 powder were 10 and 6.7% at 10 kHz, respectively. In contrast, the films composed of a wide PSD powder exhibited a dielectric constant of 18 and a loss tangent of 3.6%. The leakage current densities of 1.77 × 10−5 and 6.63 × 10−7 A/cm2 at 5 V of the films using narrow and wide PSD powder were observed, respectively. In addition, the breakdown electric fields of the Ga 2 O 3 films with narrow and wide PSD powder were 1.15 and 1.06 MV/cm, respectively. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the surface and inner microstructure were conducted to elucidate the differences in film characteristics according to the PSD. Consequently, a wider PSD enables the production of relatively denser and flatter high-quality films owing to enhanced hammering and crush effects. These results suggest potential applications of Ga 2 O 3 films fabricated using AD in various fields, such as capacitors, power semiconductors, and sensor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an atomic-scale description of the high-velocity impact of α-Al 2 O 3 particles onto an α-Al 2 O 3 substrate, with a focus on unraveling the material behavior during Aerosol Deposition (AD). Large-scale Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to model two defect-free single-crystal and one bicrystal particles, all with a diameter of 0.2 µm, impacting the substrate at different velocities using quasi-two-dimensional approach. The results suggest that the crystal orientation plays a crucial role in both plasticity and damage of the nanoparticles. As anticipated, we observed a direct correlation between impact velocity and both plasticity and fragmentation. However, the increase in adhesion efficiency remains marginal, suggesting that neither factor significantly impacts the deposition process. On the contrary, our MD results indicate that the crucial element lies in the substrate's surface alterations. These modifications arise from the fragments left on the substrate after impact and their subsequent interactions with incoming particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol deposition (AD) method is a kind of additive manufacturing technology for fabricating dense films such as metals and ceramics at room temperature. It resolves the challenge of integrating ceramic films onto temperature-sensitive substrates, including metals, glasses, and polymers. It should be emphasized that the AD is a spray coating technology that uses powder without thermal assistance to generate films with high density. Compared to the traditional sputter-based approach, the AD shows several advantages in efficiency, convenience, better interfacial bonding and so on. Therefore, it opens some possibilities to the field of batteries, especially all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) and draws much attention not only for research but also for large scale applications.The purpose of this work is to provide a critical review on the science and technology of AD as well as its applications in the field of batteries. The process, mechanism and effective parameters of AD, and recent developments in AD applications in the field of batteries will be systematically reviewed so that a trend for AD will be finally provided.

Aerosol delivery using conventional nebulizers with fixed maximal output rates is limited and unpredictable under high-flow conditions. This study measured regulated aerosol delivery to the lungs of normal volunteers using a nebulizer designed to overcome the limitations of HFNC therapy (i-AIRE (InspiRx, Inc., Somerset, NJ, USA)). This breath-enhanced jet nebulizer, in series with the high-flow catheter, utilizes the high flow to increase aerosol output beyond those of conventional devices. Nine normal subjects breathing tidally via the nose received humidified air at 60 L/min. The nebulizer was connected to the HFNC system upstream to the humidifier and received radio-labeled saline as a marker for drug delivery (99mTc DTPA) infused by a syringe pump (mCi/min). The dose to the subject was regulated at 12, 20 and 50 mL/h. Rates of aerosol deposition in the lungs (µCi/min) were measured via a gamma camera for each infusion rate and converted to µg NaCl/min. The deposition rate, as expressed as µg of NaCl/min, was closely related to the infusion rate: 7.84 ± 3.2 at 12 mL/h, 43.0 ± 12 at 20 mL/h and 136 ± 45 at 50 mL/h. The deposition efficiency ranged from 0.44 to 1.82% of infused saline, with 6% deposited in the nose. A regional analysis indicated peripheral deposition of aerosol (central/peripheral ratio 0.99 ± 0.27). The data were independent of breathing frequency. Breath-enhanced nebulization via HFNC reliably delivered aerosol to the lungs at the highest nasal airflows. The rate of delivery was controlled simply by regulating the infusion rate, indicating that lung deposition in the critically ill can be titrated clinically at the bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a tracer method involving the cosmogenic radioisotope beryllium‐7 (half‐life = 53.3 days) to follow the deposition of aerosols and the fate of snow on the MOSAiC ice floe during winter and spring 2019–2020. When examined alongside data from earlier studies in the Arctic Ocean that covered summer and fall, Be‐7 inventories indicate a summertime peak for aerosol Be‐7 deposition fluxes coinciding with seasonal minima boundary‐level aerosol concentrations, which suggests that deposition fluxes are primarily controlled by precipitation. This conclusion is supported by the linear relationship between Be‐7 fluxes and precipitation rates derived from data from the MOSAiC and SHEBA expeditions. Inventories of Be‐7 within the snow column exhibited evidence of significant redistribution. Be‐7 deficits, relative to the flux, were observed in areas of level sea ice while excess Be‐7 was found associated with deformed ice features such as pressure ridges, leading to the following estimates for the distribution of snow on the ice floe in May 2020: 75–93% of the snow mass is found on deformed sea ice with the remainder on level ice. Furthermore, uncertainties associated with measurements of Be‐7 concentrations within the ocean mixed layer would allow for losses of snow through open leads of up to approximately 20% of the flux. Our snow distribution estimates agree with data from repeat snow depth transect measurements. These results suggest that Be‐7 can be a useful tool in studying snow redistribution. Plain Language Summary: Beryllium‐7, a radioactive isotope with a half‐life of 53.3 days, is formed in the atmosphere, attaches to aerosol particles, and is deposited on the earth's surface through wet and dry processes. In this project, we measured Be‐7 concentrations in aerosol particles, as well as its deposition and distribution on an ice floe. The project was part of the MOSAiC expedition, in which German Icebreaker Polarstern was moored to ice in the Arctic Ocean and drifted for a full year. Aerosols are an important source of trace elements to the central Arctic Ocean, and our results give a clearer picture of the seasonal cycle of aerosol deposition there. Forthcoming results from a concurrent study will utilize our deposition rates to deduce fluxes of biologically important and pollutant trace elements. Regarding snow distributions, we estimate that at least 75% of snow mass was in areas of deformed sea ice in early May. This is a result of winter storms that sweep snow from level ice to ridge flanks. Since snow acts as an insulator and it reflects sunlight, high degrees of snow redistribution may have important consequences, particularly if ridging increases as sea ice thins, as some scientists have suggested. Key Points: Be‐7 inventories suggest that Arctic Ocean aerosol deposition peaks in summertime and is largely controlled by precipitationEstimates of snow mass redistribution based on Be‐7 data are consistent with estimates from repeat snow depth transectsBe‐7 depth profiles reflect the complex history of snow accumulation processes on an ice floe [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic communities are increasingly subjected to multiple stressors through global change, including warming, pH shifts, and elevated nutrient concentrations. These stressors often surpass species tolerance range, leading to unpredictable consequences for aquatic communities and ecosystem functioning. Phytoplankton, as the foundation of the aquatic food web, play a crucial role in controlling water quality and the transfer of nutrients and energy to higher trophic levels. Despite the significance in understanding the effect of multiple stressors, further research is required to explore the combined impact of multiple stressors on phytoplankton. In this study, we used a combination of crossed experiment and mechanistic model to analyze the ecological and biogeochemical effects of global change on aquatic ecosystems and to forecast phytoplankton dynamics. We examined the effect of dust (0–75 mg L−1), temperature (19–27°C), and pH (6.3–7.3) on the growth rate of the algal species Scenedesmus obliquus. Furthermore, we carried out a geospatial analysis to identify regions of the planet where aquatic systems could be most affected by atmospheric dust deposition. Our mechanistic model and our empirical data show that dust exerts a positive effect on phytoplankton growth rate, broadening its thermal and pH tolerance range. Finally, our geospatial analysis identifies several high‐risk areas including the highlands of the Tibetan Plateau, western United States, South America, central and southern Africa, central Australia as well as the Mediterranean region where dust‐induced changes are expected to have the greatest impacts. Overall, our study shows that increasing dust storms associated with a more arid climate and land degradation can reverse the negative effects of high temperatures and low pH on phytoplankton growth, affecting the biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems and their role in the cycles of the elements and tolerance to global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study aims to describe the dilemma faced when exposing rats to very high concentrations of fine, pulverulent materials for acute inhalation studies and to address the regulatory question of whether the effects seen here are relevant to humans and the subject of classification according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Many powders match the definition of nanomaterials in the EU; therefore, information on acute inhalation testing of powders up to the GHS cutoff of 5 mg/L is required. However, testing rats at such a high aerosol concentration can cause physical obstruction of the airways and even mortality by suffocation. Therefore, to evaluate whether the physical effects on airway obstruction in rats exposed to 5 mg/L for 4 hours and alternative exposures to 1 and 2 mg/L are relevant for humans, an in silico evaluation of aerosol deposition was conducted using the multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model. For this evaluation, actual exposure conditions for an organic, nano-sized pigment which produced 100% lethality in rats at 5 mg/L, but not at 1 mg/L, were used to assess the potential for airway obstruction in rats and accordingly in humans. As an indicator of the potential for airway obstruction, the ratio of the diameter of the deposited, aggregated aerosol to airway diameter was calculated for each exposure condition. For rats exposed to 5 mg/L for 4 h, approximately 75% of tracheobronchial and 22% of pulmonary/alveolar airways were considered vulnerable to significant or complete obstruction (ratios >0.5). In humans, an equivalent exposure resulted in just over 96% of human tracheobronchial airways that received deposited mass to airway diameter ratios between 0.3 and 0.4 (nasal) or 0.4 and 0.5 (oral), with no airways with ratios >0.5. For the pulmonary/alveolar region, ~88% of the airways following nasal or oral breathing were predicted to have deposited aerosol diameter to airway diameter ratios <0.1, with no airways with ratios >0.5. Thus, the in silico results obtained for rats are in line with the pathological findings of the animal test. The predicted results in humans, however, affirm the hypothesis of a rat-specific high dose effect which does not justify a classification according to GHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most commonly used method to deliver aerosolized drugs to the lung is with pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). The spray actuator is a critical component of pMDI, since it controls the atomization process by forming aerosol plumes and determining droplet size distribution. Through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, this study investigated the effect of two different nozzle types (single conventional and twin nozzles) on drug deposition in the mouth-throat (MT) region. We also studied the behavior of aerosol plumes in both an open-air environment and the MT geometry. Our study revealed that spray aerosol generated in an unconfined, open-air environment with no airflow behaves distinctly from spray introduced into the MT geometry in the presence of airflow. In addition, the actuator structure significantly impacts the device's efficacy. In the real MT model, we found that the twin nozzle increases drug deposition in the MT region, and its higher aerosol velocity negatively affects its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper explores S M Nazmuz Sakib’s hypothesis of aerosol-sea ice feedback and its implications for climate system dynamics. The hypothesis suggests that changes in aerosol emissions significantly impact sea ice concentration and thickness in the Arctic, which, in turn, affect aerosol transport and deposition over the Tibetan Plateau. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the hypothesis, including the underlying facts, a proposed formula for the aerosol-sea ice feedback, and the potential variations of this feedback based on regional and temporal patterns of aerosol emission changes. Furthermore, the paper introduces the Sea Ice-Aerosol-Cloud Feedback (SIACF) Index and its application to historical incidents related to aerosol emission changes. The SIACF Index provides a quantitative measure to evaluate the influence of changes in aerosol emissions on sea ice concentration and thickness. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of testing this hypothesis through global aerosol models, observations, and historical incidents to gain a deeper understanding of aerosol-climate interactions and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the antibacterial effect and biocompatibility of silver coatings via aerosol deposition on titanium and zirconia surfaces. Methods The surfaces of titanium and zirconia specimens were polished and coated with silver via aerosol deposition. After silver coating, the elemental composition, surface roughness and amount of silver released from the coated surfaces were measured. The bacterial growth on the silver-coated surfaces was investigated via crystal violet assay after incubation with Streptococcus gordonii for 24 h, Fusobacterium nucleatum for 72 h and Porphyromonas gingivalis for 48 h. Human gingival fibroblasts and mouse preosteoblasts were also cultured on the silver-coated specimens to examine the biocompatibility of the coating. Results After silver coating via aerosol deposition, the surface roughness increased significantly, and the released silver ranged from 0.067 to 0.110 ppm. The tested bacteria formed significantly less biofilm on the silver-coated titanium surfaces than on the uncoated titanium surfaces. In contrast, biofilm formation on the silver-coated zirconia surfaces was greater than that on the uncoated zirconia surfaces. Human gingival fibroblasts and mouse preosteoblasts proliferated on the silver-coated surfaces without significant differences from the uncoated surfaces. Conclusions Silver coating via aerosol deposition provided an antibacterial effect against oral bacteria on titanium surfaces, whereas it promoted more bacterial growth on zirconia surfaces. The proliferation of fibroblasts and osteoblasts was not significantly affected by the silver coating on both titanium and zirconia surfaces.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has propelled the field of aerosol science to the forefront, particularly the central role of virus-laden respiratory droplets and aerosols. The pandemic has also highlighted the critical need, and value for, an information bridge between epidemiological models (that inform policymakers to develop public health responses) and within-host models (that inform the public and health care providers how individuals develop respiratory infections). Here, we review existing data and models of generation of respiratory droplets and aerosols, their exhalation and inhalation, and the fate of infectious droplet transport and deposition throughout the respiratory tract. We then articulate how aerosol transport modeling can serve as a bridge between and guide calibration of within-host and epidemiological models, forming a comprehensive tool to formulate and test hypotheses about respiratory tract exposure and infection within and between individuals.

The reliability and accuracy of numerical models and computer simulations to study aerosol deposition in the human respiratory system is investigated for a patient-specific tracheobronchial tree geometry. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model coupled with discrete elements methods (DEM) is used to predict the transport and deposition of the aerosol. The results are compared to experimental and numerical data available in the literature to study and quantify the impact of the modeling parameters and numerical assumptions. Even if the total deposition compares very well with the reference data, it is clear from the present work how local deposition results can depend significantly upon spatial discretization and boundary conditions adopted to represent the respiratory act. The modeling of turbulent fluctuations in the airflow is also found to impact the local deposition and, to a minor extent, the flow characteristics at the inlet of the computational domain. Using the CFD-DEM model, it was also possible to calculate the airflow and particles splitting at bifurcations, which were found to depart from the assumption of being equally distributed among branches adopted by some of the simplified deposition models. The results thus suggest the need for further studies towards improving the quantitative prediction of aerosol transport and deposition in the human airways.

This case study aims to describe the dilemma faced when exposing rats to very high concentrations of fine, pulverulent materials for acute inhalation studies and to address the regulatory question of whether the effects seen here are relevant to humans and the subject of classification according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Many powders match the definition of nanomaterials in the EU; therefore, information on acute inhalation testing of powders up to the GHS cutoff of 5 mg/L is required. However, testing rats at such a high aerosol concentration can cause physical obstruction of the airways and even mortality by suffocation. Therefore, to evaluate whether the physical effects on airway obstruction in rats exposed to 5 mg/L for 4 hours and alternative exposures to 1 and 2 mg/L are relevant for humans, an in silico evaluation of aerosol deposition was conducted using the multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model. For this evaluation, actual exposure conditions for an organic, nano-sized pigment which produced 100% lethality in rats at 5 mg/L, but not at 1 mg/L, were used to assess the potential for airway obstruction in rats and accordingly in humans. As an indicator of the potential for airway obstruction, the ratio of the diameter of the deposited, aggregated aerosol to airway diameter was calculated for each exposure condition. For rats exposed to 5 mg/L for 4 h, approximately 75% of tracheobronchial and 22% of pulmonary/alveolar airways were considered vulnerable to significant or complete obstruction (ratios >0.5). In humans, an equivalent exposure resulted in just over 96% of human tracheobronchial airways that received deposited mass to airway diameter ratios between 0.3 and 0.4 (nasal) or 0.4 and 0.5 (oral), with no airways with ratios >0.5. For the pulmonary/alveolar region, ∼88% of the airways following nasal or oral breathing were predicted to have deposited aerosol diameter to airway diameter ratios 0.5. Thus, the in silico results obtained for rats are in line with the pathological findings of the animal test. The predicted results in humans, however, affirm the hypothesis of a rat-specific high dose effect which does not justify a classification according to GHS.

Aerosol deposition (AD) enables the formation of dense ceramic coatings by high velocity impact of submicron‐sized particles. However, up to now, it is still not clear how the material properties of the ceramic powder particles influence their impact behavior and possible success in layer build‐up in AD. Therefore, in order to provide a broader understanding, this study utilizes molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to investigate the impacts of single‐crystalline particles while manipulating binding energies, particle sizes, and impact velocities, addressing a rather wide range of different materials and process conditions. The findings reveal that increasing binding energies from 0.22 to 0.96 eV necessitates up to three times higher velocities to reach thresholds for bonding and fragmentation, which are linked to potential layer formation. For conditions above the velocity thresholds given by individual binding energies, similarities in the deformation and fragmentation patterns are derived. Consequently, rough estimations regarding the required particle impact velocities for AD of different materials can be inferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a Ga 2 O 3 -based UV-C photodetector using the aerosol deposition (AD) method. By optimizing the size and crystallinity of the Ga 2 O 3 powder, we were able to obtain a uniform thin film with high transmittance (70–80%) without the need for additional heat treatment or high vacuum environments. The resulting Ga 2 O 3 film exhibited a high and selective response to 254 nm wavelength light, even without any treatment, and remained stable when exposed to γ-radiation. The photodetector also performed well in extreme temperatures (−196 °C–150 °C), making it suitable for use in harsh environments, such as the space industry. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the AD method for the fabrication of high-quality Ga 2 O 3 thin films for photodetector applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the antibacterial effect and biocompatibility of silver coatings via aerosol deposition on titanium and zirconia surfaces. Methods: The surfaces of titanium and zirconia specimens were polished and coated with silver via aerosol deposition. After silver coating, the elemental composition, surface roughness and amount of silver released from the coated surfaces were measured. The bacterial growth on the silver-coated surfaces was investigated via crystal violet assay after incubation with Streptococcus gordonii for 24 h, Fusobacterium nucleatum for 72 h and Porphyromonas gingivalis for 48 h. Human gingival fibroblasts and mouse preosteoblasts were also cultured on the silver-coated specimens to examine the biocompatibility of the coating. Results: After silver coating via aerosol deposition, the surface roughness increased significantly, and the released silver ranged from 0.067 to 0.110 ppm. The tested bacteria formed significantly less biofilm on the silver-coated titanium surfaces than on the uncoated titanium surfaces. In contrast, biofilm formation on the silver-coated zirconia surfaces was greater than that on the uncoated zirconia surfaces. Human gingival fibroblasts and mouse preosteoblasts proliferated on the silver-coated surfaces without significant differences from the uncoated surfaces. Conclusions: Silver coating via aerosol deposition provided an antibacterial effect against oral bacteria on titanium surfaces, whereas it promoted more bacterial growth on zirconia surfaces. The proliferation of fibroblasts and osteoblasts was not significantly affected by the silver coating on both titanium and zirconia surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric ceramics are envisioned as cell stimulating materials for in-vivo , load-bearing applications. To compensate for their brittle nature developing ceramic films on medically accredited metals is a promising approach. However, high temperature consolidation is often required to achieve highly dense ceramics with suitable functional properties, which can compromise the metal substrate integrity. With aerosol deposition highly dense thick films can be produced at room temperature. Still, an annealing step is required to enhance the functional properties of piezoelectric ceramics. Thermal annealing of dense, aerosol deposited BaTiO 3 thick films on 304SUS stainless steel gave a clear enhancement of the dielectric properties. An increase in saturation polarization and the adoption of ferroelectric hysteresis at 750 °C coincided with a significant reduction in mechanical properties. The simultaneous appearance of grain growth and diffusion of chromium from the substrate at 750 °C suggests that chromium acts as a sintering aid. [Display omitted] • Thermal annealing results in transition from dielectric to ferroelectric polarization hysteresis behavior. • Thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between film and substrate influence quality of annealed film. • Correlation between grain-growth and chromium diffusion from substrate into thick film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In disease, lung function and structure are heterogeneous, and aerosol transport and local deposition vary significantly among parts of the lung. Understanding such heterogeneity is relevant to aerosol medicine and for quantifying mucociliary clearance from different parts of the lung. In this chapter, we describe positron emission tomography (PET) imaging methods to quantitatively assess the deposition of aerosol and ventilation distribution within the lung. The anatomical information from computed tomography (CT) combined with the PET-deposition data allows estimates of airway surface concentration and peripheral tissue dosing in bronchoconstricted asthmatic subjects. A theoretical framework is formulated to quantify the effects of heterogeneous ventilation, uneven aerosol ventilation distribution in bifurcations, and varying escape from individual airways along a path of the airway tree. The framework is applied to imaging data from bronchoconstricted asthmatics to assess the contributions of these factors to the unevenness in lobar deposition. Results from this analysis show that the heterogeneity of ventilation contributes on average to more than one-third of the variability in interlobar deposition. Actual contribution of ventilation in individual lungs was variable and dependent on the breathing rate used by the subject during aerosol inhalation; the highest contribution was in patients breathing slowly. In subjects breathing faster, contribution of ventilation was reduced, with more expanded lobes showing lower deposition per unit ventilation than less expanded ones in these subjects. The lobar change in expansion measured from two static CT scans, which is commonly used as a surrogate for ventilation, did not correlate with aerosol deposition or with PET-measured ventilation. This suggests that dynamic information is needed to provide proper estimates of ventilation for asthmatic subjects. We hope that the enhanced understanding of the causes of heterogeneity in airway and tissue dosing using the tools presented here will help to optimize therapeutic effectiveness of inhalation therapy while minimizing toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanically ventilated patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) frequently receive aerosolized iloprost. Because of prostacyclin's short half-life, prolonged inhalative administration might improve its clinical efficacy. But, this is technically challenging. A solution might be the use of inspiration-synchronized vibrating mesh nebulizers (VMNsyn), which achieve high drug deposition rates while showing prolonged nebulization times. However, there are no data comparing prolonged to bolus iloprost nebulization using a continuous vibrating mesh nebulizer (VMNcont) and investigating the effects of different ventilation modes on inspiration-synchronized nebulization. Therefore, in an in vitro model of mechanically ventilated adults, a VMNsyn and a VMNcont were compared in volume-controlled (VC-CMV) and pressure-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation (PC-CMV) regarding iloprost deposition rate and nebulization time. During VC-CMV, the deposition rate of the VMNsyn was comparable to the rate obtained with the VMNcont, but 10.9% lower during PC-CMV. The aerosol output of the VMNsyn during both ventilation modes was significantly lower compared to the VMNcont, leading to a 7.5 times longer nebulization time during VC-CMV and only to a 4.2 times longer nebulization time during PC-CMV. Inspiration-synchronized nebulization during VC-CMV mode therefore seems to be the most suitable for prolonged inhalative iloprost administration in mechanically ventilated patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol deposition (AD) is a room-temperature ceramic coating method, which has been used for many applications. Various substrates, such as metals and ceramics, have been used depending on the application, but it is not clear how the substrate microstructure affects the deposition processes and film quality. In this study, AD alumina films deposited on silicon substrates with microstructures consisting of line and space patterns were systematically investigated. The films were formed along the microstructure on the substrate when the linewidth was much larger than the grain size of the raw powder. Conversely, on narrow-linewidth substrates, the films were supported by the lines and the spaces were sealed. The effect of the substrate microstructure was analyzed in terms of the residual stress of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the effect of age and head position on total and regional deposition of aerosol delivered by a mucosal atomization device (MAD™) in three-dimensional (3D) models of the intranasal airways of an 18-, 5-, and 2-year-old human. Models consisted of four pieces: anterior nose and nasal cavity that was divided horizontally into upper, middle, and lower thirds. Methods: Models were tested six times at supine, supine with head backward at 45° (supine45), and sitting with head backward at 45° (sitting45). The MAD delivered saline/fluorescein aerosol into model nostrils, during static airflow. Model pieces were tested for fluorescence using a fluorometer, and deposition calculated as percent fluorescence per piece relative to its reference. Total deposition (four pieces combined) and regional deposition (four pieces separately) were calculated. Results: Age and head position had little effect on total deposition. In contrast, deposition in the upper and middle third supine45 and in the lower third sitting45 was significantly different in the 2-year-old model, compared with the two older models. In addition, some head positions significantly increased deposition in the upper, middle, and lower thirds within each model, compared with other positions. Upper deposition was significantly greater at supine45, compared with sitting45 (18-year-old) and supine45, compared with supine and sitting45 (5-year-old). Middle deposition was significantly greater at supine and supine45, compared with sitting45 (2-year-old). Lower deposition was significantly greater at sitting45, compared with supine45 (18-year-old); supine and sitting45, compared with supine45 (5-year-old); and sitting45, compared with supine45 and supine (2-year-old). Conclusions: Age and head position significantly affected regional deposition of aerosol delivered by the MAD in these 3D models. Such models might be used to study other methods for targeting intranasal regions with aerosolized medications in children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aerosol deposition method was used to fabricate a solar-blind photodetector (for UV-C) using thin films of β-Ga 2 O 3 , which is a wide-bandgap oxide material. The Ga 2 O 3 films deposited at room temperature presented a polycrystalline structure and a thickness of approximately 4 µm and showed a high transmittance of approximately 70–80 % in the visible region; the transmittance was approximately 60–80 % even after heat treatment up to a 800 °C. The Ga 2 O 3 films that were post-annealed at a temperature of 800 °C showed an I photo /I dark ratio of approximately 40,000 in the solar-blind region with a light source of 254 nm, together with very good light detection characteristics (initial rising and decay times of 0.45 s and 0.13 s, respectively). Because of the good performances observed for the Ga 2 O 3 thin films even at extreme conditions, they exhibit a high potential for use as photodetectors in several applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTAerosol deposition (AD) is a ceramics coating technology that can be used at room temperature. AD does not use organic binders for the ceramics coating process, which reduces the amount of exhaust carbon dioxide. Additionally, AD realize fast and wide-area ceramics coating without heating the substrate. Thus, AD is an environmentally friendly ceramics coating process. AD has been already applied to various research fields including energy conversion devices such as rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and solid oxide fuel cells. Unique properties of AD are effective to investigate the fundamental properties of oxide-based all-solid-state batteries (Ox-SSBs) and possibly their productions. This paper reviews developments of Ox-SSBs using AD, mainly presenting our research.

To improve plasma and chemical resistance on various vacuum components used for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, various ceramic coating techniques have been applied. Among these methods for ceramic coating, the well-known atmospheric plasma spray (APS) is advantageous for providing thick film (100 µm or more) deposition. However, there are problems associated with the phase transition of the coating film and poor film quality due to formation of voids. To solve these problems, the aerosol deposition (AD) method has been developed. This method provides nice ceramic film quality. However, the coating rate is quite slow and has difficulty producing thick films (>30 µm). To overcome these limitations, microwave plasma-assisted aerosol deposition (μ-PAD) is applied at low vacuum conditions without the AD nozzle. This method uses a microwave plasma source during the AD process. After enduring a long-term durability test, as a trial run, μ-PAD has been applied on the actual process site. With the Al2O3 powder, μ-PAD shows a coating rate that is 12 times higher than the AD method. In addition, the formation of a thicker film (96 µm) deposition has been demonstrated. On the other hand, the coating film hardness, porosity, adhesion, and withstand voltage characteristics were confirmed to be less than the AD method.

Room-temperature fabrication of functional ceramic films using powder aerosol deposition (AD) is important for practical applications. However, the as-processed ferroelectric films show unusual temperature-dependent dielectric response, including enhanced conductivity in the as-processed state and subsequent significant increase in the permittivity following heat treatment. In this work, we investigate the influence of the residual internal stresses developed during the high-impact consolidation process on the dielectric response. Moreover, the recombination of charged defects generated during deposition is driven by the temperature and the atmospheric condition during the heat treatment as well as the carrier gas type used during deposition. Thermal treatment up to 500 °C in different atmospheres was used to tune the dielectric and ferroelectric response, highlighting that irrespective of the type of carrier gas, AD deposition process induces charged defects in polar oxide ceramics that can be reduced through heat-treatment far-below their bulk sintering temperature. Macroscopic electromechanical properties are contrasted to in-situ heating scanning transmission electron microscopy to observe possible local effects, such as crystallization, grain growth, crystal defect structure, or grain reorientation. In addition X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies were conducted to gain insight into the effect of annealing on the crystal structure and local moisture adsorption.

Aerosol deposition (AD) is a simple, dry raw-powder deposition process in which the targeted film is formed by direct bombardment of accelerated starting powder onto the substrate surface at room temperature. Despite the increased interest in AD film formation, no work has been completed to systematically investigate the formation of dense zinc oxide (ZnO) films using the AD method and their optical properties. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of AD gas flow rate on the formation of AD films and the optical properties of aerosol-deposited ZnO films. ZnO films with nanosized (

An effective strategy for manufacturing ceramic thick films with high porosity and robustness was proposed by aerosol deposition (AD). The agglomeration of the Y 2 O 3 and polyethylene powder composites was investigated to prepare porous films. After exploring a suitable particle distribution, Y 2 O 3 and polyethylene composite powder were prepared using two different mixing methods with various polyethylene contents. During the transportation in vacuum, easily separated mixture powders of Y 2 O 3 and polyethylene caused insufficient energy result in partially delaminated films. In contrast, the appropriate agglomeration of the Y 2 O 3 –polyethylene composite powders can be crushed with higher kinetic energy by increased mass, resulting in uniform and robust porous films with high adhesive strength. After burning, the Y 2 O 3 –polyethylene (8 wt% polyethylene) thick film (∼100 μm) exhibited high porosity (66%), low thermal conductivity (∼0.15 W/m·K at room temperature), and good adhesion strength (8.4 MPa). In this study, we provide effective guidelines for fabricating AD-based porous ceramic films deposited at room temperature with low thermal conductivity and high adhesive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-energy-density and safe rechargeable batteries are key components to realizing a low-carbon society. All-solid-state Li-metal batteries have the potential to achieve both high safety and high energy densities. However, the large interfacial resistance between solid electrolytes and cathodes is the major challenge for developing all-solid-state Li-metal batteries. Here we deposited a Li-rich layered metal oxide Li 1.2 Mn 0.54 Ni 0.13 Co 0.13 O 2 (LMNC) thin film (6 µm thick) on an Al-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) substrate at room temperature by aerosol deposition. The LMNC particles were coated with Li 3 BO 3 (LBO), which acted as a binder to hold LMNC and LLZO together at heating. As a result, good interfacial contact was achieved between LMNC and LLZO. Yet reactions between LMNC and LBO would occur at heat treatment temperatures above 600 °C. The highest discharge capacity of the all-solid-state Li/LLZO/LBO-LMNC cell at 0.1 C and 60 °C was 223 mAh g-1. The main reason for the cell capacity decay was the cracking of the LBO-LMNC cathode layer during cycling. Searching for a more suitable binder material with a high fracture toughness is crucial for further developing the aerosol-deposited LLZO-based all-solid-state Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the microelectronic industry develops, components that can perform several different tasks receive increasingly more attention, resulting in multifunctional materials being highly sought after. Al2O3 is widely present in electronic applications as a protective coating or as an electrical and thermal insulator due to its mechanical and thermal stabilities and chemical inertness. Al2O3 is also an important dielectric material, with high resistivity and stable permittivity over a wide range of temperatures and electric fields, but its modest permittivity necessitates large effective areas or extremely thin layers when a large capacitance is desired. Composites consisting of discrete conducting phases within an insulating matrix can produce large capacitance via Maxwell–Wagner polarization. In this work, Al2O3/Al composite thick films with different volume ratios of Al were prepared using the aerosol deposition method. A relative dielectric permittivity (εr′) of 800 at 1 MHz was achieved at 27 vol% of Al, a sixty-sevenfold enhancement compared to Al2O3. On the other hand, dielectric losses, tan(δ), at 1 MHz increased from 0.01 for Al2O3 up to 0.58 for the composite with 27 vol% of Al. A finite-element model of the composites was implemented, supporting the nonlinear electrical behavior of the composites as function of vol% of Al. Our results show novel possibilities for the applications of Al2O3-based materials in the microelectronic industry, especially for temperature-sensitive applications, for which the integration strengths of aerosol deposition are valuable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) offers high photon efficiencies in solar photo-anodes, due to its suitable semiconductor band gap energies and associated visible light absorption. In well-tuned conditions, such anodes enable green hydrogen generation in photoelectrochemical water splitting cells. Bismuth vanadate films have to ensure high efficiencies in electron/hole pair generation and sufficiently high rates of charge transfer to the conducting substrate and the electrolyte, respectively. Thus, the tuning of coating properties has to aim for high phase purity, good layer integrity as well as optimum diffusion path lengths. In order to explore the potential of aerosol deposition to produce BiVO4 films with high photoelectrochemical activity and to elucidate influences on microstructure and application properties, powder sizes and spraying parameters had to be tailored. By ball milling over durations of up to 20 min, particles sizes in the range from 8.3 down to 0.6 µm were obtained. With respect to spray conditions, the process gas pressure was varied from 1.0 to 2.1 bar corresponding to gas flow rates of 10-40 l/min. The wide range of powder sizes and parameters in aerosol deposition allowed for developing a window of deposition in order to derive the most promising combinations for layer build-up. Optimum parameter sets in application on stainless steel substrates were transferred to FTO-coated glass substrates for backlit cell layouts. The thickness and conductivity of the layers were adjusted to a layer thickness range of 200-500 nm in order to achieve maximum photocurrents. The production of homogeneous, large-scale prototypes demonstrates that aerosol deposition is suitable for processing layers for solar energy harvesting with high photo current densities of up to 3.55 mA/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]