Field emission from as-grown carbon nanotube (CNTs) films often suffered from high threshold electric field, and low emission site density due to screening effects. These problems can be resolved by patterned growth of CNTs on lithographically prepared catalyst films. However, these approaches are expensive and not applicable for future emitting devices with large display areas. Here we show that as-grown CNTs films can have low emission threshold field and high emission density without using any lithography processes. We have reduced screening effects and work function of as-grown CNTs films and created the novel CNT matrices by addition of vapor- and/or liquid- phase deposition. Furthermore, these CNT matrices can continuous emit electrons for 40 hours without significant degradation. The fabrication of our CNT matrices is described as follows. First, CNT films were grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. These vertically-aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) are having typical length and diameter of 4 microns and 40 nm, respectively. Spacing between these CNTs is ~80 nm in average, leading to poor emission properties due to the screening effect. These as-grown samples were then subjected to the deposition of strontium titanate (SrTiO3) by pulsed-laser deposition to reduce both the work function and screening effect of CNTs. The emission properties of these coated samples can be further improved by fully filled the spaces between VA-MWCNTs by poly-methyl metha acrylate (PMMA). The field emission threshold electric field was decreased from 4.22 V/μm for as-grown VA-MWCNTs to 1.7 V/μm for SrTiO3 coated VA-MWCNTs. The addition filling with PMMA and mechanical polishing can further reduce the threshold to 0.78V/μm for the so called PMMA-STO-CNT matrices. Long term emission stability and emission site density were also enhanced.

The current demand in the automobile industry is in the control of air-fuel mixture in the combustion engine of automobiles. Oxygen partial pressure can be used as an input parameter for regulating or controlling systems in order to optimize the combustion process. Our goal is to identify and optimize the material system that would potentially function as the active sensing material for such a device that monitors oxygen partial pressure in these systems. We have used thin film samaria doped ceria (SDC) as the sensing material for the sensor operation, exploiting the fact that at high temperatures, oxygen vacancies generated due to samarium doping act as conducting medium for oxygen ions which hop through the vacancies from one side to the other contributing to an electrical signal. We have recently established that 6 atom % Sm doping in ceria films has optimum conductivity. Based on this observation, we have studied the variation in the overall conductivity of 6 atom % samaria doped ceria thin films as a function of thickness in the range of 50 nm to 300 nm at a fixed bias voltage of 2 volts. A direct proportionality in the increase in the overall conductivity is observed with the increase in sensing film thickness. For a range of oxygen pressure values from 0.001 Torr to 100 Torr, a tolerable hysteresis error, good dynamic response and a response time of less than 10 seconds was observed.

Individual magnetostrictive nanobars and arrays comprised of magnetostrictive nanobars were recently introduced as a high performance biosensor platform. In this paper, we report the fabrication and characterization of magnetostrictive nanobars based on Fe-B alloy. The nanobars were synthesized using a template-based electrochemical deposition method. The composition and microstructure of the Fe-B nanobars are directly related to their performance as a biosensor platform. The Fe-B nanobar arrays and individual nanobar were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Morphologically, nanobars have a very flat top and a smooth cylindrical surface, which are critical factors for obtaining high performance as sensor platforms. Structurally, electron diffraction reveals that the Fe-B nanobars are amorphous. AES analysis indicates that Fe-B nanobars show no significant compositional variation along the length direction. It is found that the nanobars were covered by an oxidation layer of a typical thickness of ∼ 10 nm. It is believed that this oxidation layer is related to the passivation of nanobars in air. High temperature annealing and subsequent structural analysis indicate that the Fe-B nanobars possess a good thermal stability.

This paper describes the results of an investigation of modified synthetic protocols to produce monodispersed magnetic ferrite nanoparticles, γ-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4, and their magnetic properties. The synthesis involved thermal decomposition of organometallic precursors followed by oxidation or reduction. In the synthesis of γ-Fe2O3, iron pentacarbonyl was used as the precursor and trimethylamine oxide as the oxidant. In the synthesis of Fe3O4, iron (III) acetylacetonate was reduced by 1, 2-hexadecanediol. The particle sizes ranged from 5–15 nm with high monodispersity. Results from TEM, XPS, and SQUID characterizations of these iron oxide nanoparticles are discussed.

This paper describes the results of an investigation of the structure and composition of core-shell gold and alloy nanoparticles as catalytically active nanomaterials for potential fuel cell catalysis. Centered on the electrocatalytic methanol oxidation, we show three sets of results based on electrochemical, surface, and composition characterizations. First, electrochemical studies have revealed that the nanostructured catalysts are active towards the electrooxidation of methanol and carbon monoxide. Second, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data have shown that the organic encapsulating shells can be effectively removed electrochemically or thermally, which involves the formation of oxides on the nanocrystals. Thirdly, direct current plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES) has revealed insights for the correlation of the composition of alloy nanoparticles with the catalytic activities. Implications of these results to the design of nanostructured catalysts will also be discussed.

Dielectric response of mesoporous silica films was monitored as a function of several gas-phase chemical species. The effects of humidity, ammonia, and methane on dielectric constant and dissipation factor of films subjected to different chemical treatments are described. Dielectric constant and dissipation factor of partially dehydroxylated films were found to be highly sensitive to both water vapor and ammonia in air. The capacitive devices based on mesoporous silica films show potential for use in chemical sensors.

Three kinds of oriented electrodes of Pt, Ir and Pt/Ir electrodes were prepared using electron beam evaporation techniques for deposition of PZT thin films. An oxide MOCVD reactor with liquid delivery system was used for the growth of PZT thin films. [Pb(thd)2], Zr(TMHD)4 and Ti(IPO)4 were dissolved in a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran or butyl ether, isopropanol and tetraglyme to form a precursor source. The deposition temperature and pressure were 500 - 650°C and 5 - 10 Torr, respectively. The experimental results showed PZT thin film deposited on various electrodes had different phase formation, microstructure and ferroelectric property. The X-ray patterns showed the perovskite phase of PZT was formed on both Ir and Pt/Ir electrodes at 550°C. The grain size of the PZT thin film increases after a further, higher temperature annealing. The as-deposited PZT thin film on Pt electrode exhibits pyrochlore phase at 550°C. The phase is transformed to perovskite phase after 650°C annealing. The experimental results also indicated that the MOCVD PZT thin film on Pt/Ir exhibits better ferroelectric and electrical properties compared to those deposited on Pt and Ir electrodes. A 300 nm thick PZT thin film on Pt/Ir electrode has a square, well saturated, and symmetrical hysteresis loop with 2Pr value of 40 μC/cm2 and 2Ec of 73 kV/cm at an applied voltage of 5 V. The hysteresis loop of the PZT thin film is almost saturated at 2 V. The leakage current of the film is 6.16 × 10−7 A/cm2 at 100 KV/cm. The electrode effects on ferroelectric properties of PZT thin films also have been investigated.

The interaction of both liquid and vapor water on nearly defect-free and defective TiO2(100) surfaces has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). The study has focused on examining electronic or chemical defects as created in vacuum and after exposure to both liquid and vapor water. Defective surfaces were prepared by electron-beam exposure and Ar+ bombardment. For a nearly defect-free (100)1×1 surface, water coverage was ∼0.02 ML (1ML = 2.9×1015/cm2) at 104 L exposure to low vapor pressure water, ∼0.08 ML at 108 L exposure to higher vapor pressure water, and ∼0.12 ML with liquid water exposure, respectively. Defect intensities were greatly reduced after exposing defective surfaces to ∼102 L low vapor pressure water. More significantly, electron-beam induced defects were completely removed upon higher-pressure vapor exposure (>104 L) or liquid water exposure, while defects created by Ar+ bombardment were only partially removed. The adsorption behavior and surface defect reactivity for TiO2(100) 1×1 surfaces were compared with those for TiO2(110) surfaces. The adsorption rates for nearly defect-free (100) 1×1 and (110) surfaces are comparable. However, the rate of defect “healing” for a defective (100) surface is much faster than that for a defective (110) surface.

The adsorption of liquid and vapor water on defective and nearly defect-free TiO2 (110) surfaces has been examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). The study has focused on examining electronic defects as created in vacuum and after exposure to both liquid and vapor water. The defective surfaces were prepared by electron-beam exposure and Ar+ bombardment. With exposure up to 104 L low vapor pressure (<10−5 Torr) water to defective surfaces, little or no changes on Ti 3d defect intensities were observed, in agreement with the previous studies. However, defect intensities were greatly reduced after exposing defective surfaces to ∼ 108 L higher vapor pressure (0.2 - 0.6 Torr) water for 5 min. More significantly, XPS and UPS spectra showed that electron-beam induced defects were completely removed upon liquid water exposure, while defects created by Ar+ bombardment were only partially removed. It was found that surface defects created by Ar+ bombardment were removed more readily than sub-surface defects. For a nearly defect-free surface, water coverages were ∼ 0.02 ML at 104 L exposure to low vapor pressure water, ∼ 0.07 ML at 108 L exposure to higher vapor pressure water, and ∼ 0.125 ML with liquid water exposure, respectively.

Heterogeneous nucleation and crystal growth on protein substrates are critical steps in biological hard tissue formation. Self assembled monolayers can be derivatized with various organic functional groups to mimic the “nucleation proteins” for induction of mineral growth. Studies of nucleation and growth on SAMs can provide a better understanding of biomineralization and can also form the basis of a superior thin film deposition process. We demonstrate that micron-scale, electron and ion beam, lithographic techniques can be used to pattern SAMs with functional organic groups that either inhibit or promote mineral deposition. Patterned films of iron oxyhydroxide were deposited on the areas patterned with nucleation sites. Studies of the deposition kinetic of these films show that the surface indeed induces heterogeneous nucleation and that film formation does not occur via absorption of polymers or colloidal material formed homogeneously in solution. The nucleus interfacial free energy was calculated to be 88 mJ/m2 on a SAM surface composed entirely of sulfonate groups.