Effect of Ion Bombardment on the Chemical Properties of Crystalline Tantalum Pentoxide Films

The effect of argon ion bombardment on the chemical properties of crystalline Ta$_2$O$_5$ films grown on Si(100) substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All samples were irradiated for several time intervals [(0.5, 3, 6, 9) min] and the Ta $4f$ and O $1s$ core levels were measured each time. Upon analysis at the surface of the films, we observe the Ta $4f$ spectrum characteristic of Ta$_2$O$_5$. Irradiated samples exhibit the formation of Ta suboxides with oxidation states Ta$^{1+}$, Ta$^{2+}$, Ta$^{3+}$, Ta$^{4+}$, and Ta$^{5+}$. Exposing the films, after ion bombardment, to ambient for some days stimulates the amorphous phase of Ta$_2$O$_5$ at the surface suggesting that the suboxides of Ta are unstable. Using a sputtering simulation we discuss that these suboxides are largely generated during ion bombardment that greatly reduces the oxygen to tantalum ratio as the irradiation time increases. The computer simulation indicates that this is due to the high sputtering yield of oxygen.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure

Synthesis by wet chemistry and characterization of LiNbO3 nanoparticles

Actually, lithium niobate (LiNbO3) has been used for optical wavelength conversion and ultrafast optical signal processing because of its outstanding rapid nonlinear optical response behavior, low switching power and broad conversion bandwidth. LiNbO3nanoparticles, which belong to the ferroelectric oxide class, were synthesized by chemical reaction with wetchemistry. Their sizedistributionwascenteredaround200 nm. Xray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to further investigate the quality of the obtained LiNbO3powders.The present work shows thatby employingthis chemical method the correct stoichiometric phasewas obtained. This wascorroborated by XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) results. Also, the nanoparticles showed a defined crystallinity and uniform morphology. This way of obtaining nanoparticles is innovative because of its low cost and simple way to reproduce it. It isan important method of increasing the surfacearea, controlling thephase purityand reducing theparticle size distribution. The samples were obtained under low temperature annealing at500, 650 and 800 ºC. Those features can be controlled using variables such temperature, time of synthesis,and calcination. In previous worksit wasfound that hydrothermal methods offer many advantages over conventional ceramic synthesis methods

Spectroscopic analysis of tungsten oxide thin films for sensor applications

The objective of this study is targeted toward improving the quality of pure tungsten oxide (WO3) for application to the detection of poisoning gases, especially of H2S. While pure WO3 is a recognized candidate for gas sensing, its characteristics are strongly dependent on the conditions and methods used in its deposition. Samples of WO3 thin films analyzed in this work were grown on silicon and sapphire substrates using RF magnetron sputtering at a number of different substrate temperatures and Ar:O2 pressure ratios. The properties of the samples were investigated spectroscopically with the goal of determining how variations in the above preparation parameters effect structural changes in the sensor materials. Such structural changes are of crucial importance to the question of improving the sensitivity, specificity, and durability of WO3 based gas sensors. Experimental characterization was performed using the techniques of infrared (IR) absorption, confocal Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results from both IR and Raman demonstrate that the WO3 sample grown at room temperature has an amorphous nature, and that an initial crystallization into a monoclinic WO 3 structure occurs for samples grown at temperatures between 100 and 300°C. For 400 and 500°C, the existence of a strained WO3 structure together with the monoclinic one is observed in the Raman spectra. XPS indicates that the film surface maintains the stoichiometry WOx, with a value of x slightly greater than 3 at room temperature due to oxygen contamination; x decreases with increasing temperature

Raman and infrared study of electrospun PLLA/PCL nanofiber blends for use in tissue engineering

Recently, the biomedical engineering field has developed at a very fast pace as improved techniques and materials become available to promote its growth. Consequently, the research in polymeric biomaterials has been highly stimulated by this trend. The goal of the current research is to demonstrate the usefulness of the Raman scattering, Raman mapping, and infrared absorption spectroscopies to tissue engineering, by spectroscopically characterizing blends of PLLA and PCL polymers, which were prepared by electrospinning with and without cell addition. The proposed use of these blends is as primary biomaterials in biodegradable scaffolds used in tissue engineering. Both Raman and infrared absorption spectra showed a direct relation between the relative intensities of the characteristic molecular vibrations of the individual polymers with their concentrations in each blend. The confocal Raman mapping of the samples that were prepared by co-electrospinning allowed direct visualization of different polymeric fibers. These images not only reveal the microstructural characteristics of each polymer, but they are also in good agreement with the Raman scattering results. Furthermore, by performing Raman mapping inside a single fiber, the homogeneity of the polymeric mixture can be visualized. These results demonstrate the existence of sub-domains of non-interacting polymers. The broadening of the cell characteristic peak at 1661 cm -1 observed in the Raman spectra of the blends seeded with C2C12 myoblasts, could be an indication of cell attachment onto the scaffolds