The present work reports the synthesis of self-organized strontium-doped titania nanotubes arrays as a potential material for photocatalytic water splitting. Electrochemical anodization process was used to grow such material under various electrochemical conditions. The effect of dopant concentration on the morphology and photoelectrochemical properties of the material was investigated. The microstructure, morphology and composition of as-prepared and heat treated nanotubes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that increasing the dopant concentration up to its solubility limit results in higher photoelectrochemical activity. A preliminary proof of concept of the photocatalytic activity of the fabricated material was estimated in terms of the use of such material as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

In metal matrix composites the nature of the reinforcement can influence thedevelopment of residual stresses not only as a result of the mismatch in thethermal expansion coefficient between the fiber and the matrix but alsocaused by the interface of the materials during the processing cycles. Theresidual stress can be minimized through controlling the processing path andthe thermal environment. We studied the residual stress formation andevolution in gamma titanium aluminide (Ti-47AL-2Ta) matrix. The matrix wasreinforced with three different types of fibers: Alumina, Sapphikon, andTiboride through hot isostatic pressing. The composite was heat treated forvarious combinations of time: 100, 200 and 500 hours; and temperature:590C, 815C and 982 C respectively.Residual stresses were measured in the gamma phase of the matrix using X-Raydiffraction

Thin films of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) were prepared at 670 °C on LaAlO3 (LAO) and SrTiO3 (STO) substrates by liquid-delivery metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. X-ray diffraction analysis 2¸/¸ and pole figure scans showed that the films are epitaxial with (001)LSMO//(001)LAO and (001)LSMO//(001)STO. The crystal structure of LSMO/LAO was indexed as face-centered cubic with a double cell and LSMO/STO as simple cubic. Electron microscopy revealed square facets and elongated grain features. Films heat-treated between 700 and 800 °C on LAO resulted in a structural change, while those on STO showed an increase in texture.