Influence of Aqueous Precursor Chemistry on the Growth Process of Epitaxial SrTiO₃ Buffer Layers

In this Article, epitaxial thin films of SrTiO₃ were prepared on single crystalline (100) LaAlO₃ by an aqueous chemical solution deposition method. By using different chelating agents to stabilize the metal ions in water, the impact of the precursor chemistry on the microstructural and crystalline properties of the films was studied. Thorough investigation of the precursor by means of infrared and Raman spectroscopy as well as thermogravimetric analysis revealed that stable precursors can be obtained in which strontium ions can be either free in the solution or stabilized by one of the chelating agents. This stabilization of strontium ions appeared to be essential in order to obtain single phase SrTiO₃ films. Precursors in which Sr²⁺ remained as free ions showed SrO microcrystal segregation. Precursors in which both metal ions were stabilized gave rise to strongly textured, dense, and terraced SrTiO₃ films, allowing subsequent deposition of YBa₂Cu₃O_7‑δ with superior superconducting performances

Highly Crystalline Nanoparticle Suspensions for Low-Temperature Processing of TiO₂ Thin Films

In this work, we present preparation and stabilization methods for highly crystalline TiO2 nanoparticle suspensions for the successful deposition of transparent, photocatalytically active TiO2 thin films toward the degradation of organic pollutants by a low temperature deposition method. A proof-of-concept is provided wherein stable, aqueous TiO2 suspensions are deposited on glass substrates. Even if the processing temperature is lowered to 150–200 °C, the subsequent heat treatment provides transparent and photocatalytically active titania thin layers. Because all precursor solutions are water-based, this method provides an energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly synthesis route. The high load in crystalline titania particles obtained after microwave heating opens up the possibility to produce thin coatings by low temperature processing, as a conventional crystallization procedure is in this case superfluous. The impact of the precursor chemistry in Ti4+-peroxo solutions, containing imino-diacetic acid as a complexing ligand and different bases to promote complexation was studied as a function of pH, reaction time and temperature. The nanocrystal formation was followed in terms of colloidal stability, crystallinity and particle size. Combined data from Raman and infrared spectroscopy, confirmed that stable titanium precursors could be obtained at pH levels ranging from 2 to 11. A maximum amount of 50.7% crystallinity was achieved, which is one of the highest reported amounts of anatase nanoparticles that are suspendable in stable aqueous titania suspensions. Decoloring of methylene blue solutions by precipitated nanosized powders from the TiO2 suspensions proves their photocatalytic properties toward degradation of organic materials, a key requisite for further processing. This synthesis method proves that the deposition of highly crystalline anatase suspensions is a valid route for the production of photocatalytically active, transparent films on heat-sensitive substrates such as polymers

Fast and Tunable Synthesis of ZrO₂ Nanocrystals: Mechanistic Insights into Precursor Dependence

In this work, ZrO₂ nanocrystals (NCs) are synthesized via a solvothermal treatment in benzyl alcohol, which is an established method for the synthesis of many metal oxide nanocrystals. We found that the use of microwave heating allows for a reduction in reaction time from 2 days in the autoclave to merely 4 h in the microwave. Furthermore, we were able to tune the crystallographic phase from pure cubic to pure monoclinic zirconia by changing the reaction mechanism through the use of a different zirconium precursor. Via GC-MS measurements, we found that the release of a strong acid during synthesis controls the key mechanism behind the control over crystal phase formation. The as-synthesized ZrO₂ NCs (cubic or monoclinic) are small in size (3–10 nm), yet aggregated. However, aggregate-free NCs are generated through a surface-functionalization with carboxylic acid ligands, providing stabilization in apolar solvents via steric hindrance. Solution ¹H NMR was used to study the details of this post-modification step and the surface chemistry of the resulting aggregate-free NCs. This led to the conclusion that not only a different crystal structure but also a different surface chemistry is obtained, depending on the precursor composition