Sol-Gel Processing of Lithium Niobate Thin-Layers on Silicon

1988 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis J. Eichorst ◽  
D. A. Payne

ABSTRACTSol-gel processing was used for the fabrication of LiNbO3 thin-layers on semiconductors. Two different alkoxide systems were investigated (i.e., ethoxide vs. methoxyethoxide) to determine the role of solution chemistry on the evolution of structure in LiNbO3 layers. An alcohol exchange reaction, which produced lithium niobium methoxyethoxide, proved advantageous with respect to the amount of hydrolysis water content which could be added to give stable solutions. Spin-casting was used for the deposition of thin-layers which crystallized at 500 C on Si. The refractive index of sol-gel derived LiNbO3 was determined to be similar to sputtered or epitaxially grown films. Data are reported for the processing route and the material characteristics. Methoxyethanol based systems appeared to be more forgiving than ethanol based solutions for the fabrication of high-quality thin-layer devices.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Adler ◽  
Igor Krivtsov ◽  
Dariusz Mitoraj ◽  
Lucía dos Santos-Gómez ◽  
Santiago García-Granda ◽  
...  

In spite of the enormous promise that polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) materials hold for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications, the fabrication of high-quality PCN photoelectrodes has been a largely elusive goal to date. Here we tackle this challenge by devising, for the first time, a sol–gel approach that enables facile preparation of photoanodes based on poly(heptazine imide) (PHI), a polymer belonging to the PCN family. The sol–gel process capitalizes on the use of a water-soluble PHI precursor composed of nanosized (~10 nm) particles that allows formation of a non-covalent hydrogel. The hydrogel can be deposited on a conductive substrate resulting in formation of mechanically stable porous polymeric thin layers (~400 nm), in contrast to the commonly obtained loosely attached thick particulate coatings. The resulting photoanodes exhibit unprecedented PEC performance in methanol reforming in neutral pH electrolytes with photocurrents of up to 177±27 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> (1 sun illumination) and 320±40 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> (2 sun illumination) at 1.23 V vs. RHE, maintaining such high photocurrents even down to ~0 V vs. RHE. These parameters permit effective operation even without any external electric bias, as demonstrated by bias-free photoreforming of methanol and glycerol, and highly selective (~100%) photooxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (4-MBA). The robust binder-free films derived from sol–gel processing of water-soluble PCN thus represent a new paradigm for high-performance ‘soft-matter’ photoelectrocatalytic systems, and pave the way for further applications in which high-quality PCN films are required.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Adler ◽  
Igor Krivtsov ◽  
Dariusz Mitoraj ◽  
Lucía dos Santos-Gómez ◽  
Santiago García-Granda ◽  
...  

In spite of the enormous promise that polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) materials hold for various applications, the fabrication of high-quality, binder-free PCN films and electrodes has been a largely elusive goal to date. Here we tackle this challenge by devising, for the first time, a sol–gel approach that enables facile preparation of thin films based on poly(heptazine imide) (PHI), a polymer belonging to the PCN family. The sol–gel process capitalizes on the use of a water-soluble PHI precursor that allows formation of a non-covalent hydrogel. The hydrogel can be deposited on conductive substrates resulting in formation of mechanically stable polymeric thin layers. The resulting photoanodes exhibit unprecedented PEC performance in alcohol reforming and selective (~100%) conversions with very high photocurrents down to ~0 V vs. RHE, which enables even effective operation under bias-free conditions. The robust binder-free films derived from sol–gel processing of water-soluble PCN thus represent a new paradigm for high-performance ‘soft-matter’ photoelectrocatalytic systems, and pave the way for further applications in which high-quality PCN films are required.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Adler ◽  
Igor Krivtsov ◽  
Dariusz Mitoraj ◽  
Lucía dos Santos-Gómez ◽  
Santiago García-Granda ◽  
...  

In spite of the enormous promise that polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) materials hold for various applications, the fabrication of high-quality, binder-free PCN films and electrodes has been a largely elusive goal to date. Here we tackle this challenge by devising, for the first time, a sol–gel approach that enables facile preparation of thin films based on poly(heptazine imide) (PHI), a polymer belonging to the PCN family. The sol–gel process capitalizes on the use of a water-soluble PHI precursor that allows formation of a non-covalent hydrogel. The hydrogel can be deposited on conductive substrates resulting in formation of mechanically stable polymeric thin layers. The resulting photoanodes exhibit unprecedented PEC performance in alcohol reforming and selective (~100%) conversions with very high photocurrents down to ~0 V vs. RHE, which enables even effective operation under bias-free conditions. The robust binder-free films derived from sol–gel processing of water-soluble PCN thus represent a new paradigm for high-performance ‘soft-matter’ photoelectrocatalytic systems, and pave the way for further applications in which high-quality PCN films are required.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 2115-2122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Sun ◽  
Jing-Feng Li ◽  
Qi Yu ◽  
Li-Qian Cheng

We prepared high-quality Bi1−xSmxFeO3 films on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by sol–gel processing and found rhombohedral–orthorhombic phase transition with enhanced piezoelectricity.


1993 ◽  
Vol 310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Tani ◽  
Zhengkui Xu ◽  
David A. Payne

AbstractPLZT thin layers were deposited onto various substrates by sol-gel methods, and crystallized under different conditions and substrate treatments. Relationships are given for the chemical characteristics of the substrate's surface and the preferred orientations which develop on heat treatment. A preferred (111) orientation always developed for perovskite crystallized on Pt layers which contained Ti on the surface. This was attributed to the formation of Pt3Ti and the role of heteroepitaxial nucleation and growth sites. In addition, a preferred (100) orientation was also obtained on unannealed Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates which were free of Ti on the surface. This was attributed to self-textured growth with flat faces striving for minimum surface energy conditions. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of interfacial chemistry on the control of texture for crystallization of PLZT thin layers on coated substrates.


2006 ◽  
Vol 517 ◽  
pp. 135-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Al-Jufairi

Sol-gel processing route has been used for the production of thin films from titanium isopropoxide (TIP). The surface properties and statistics results have been characterized by AFM; the coating process has been examined using SEM and optical microscope. The structure phase of TiO2 has been analyzed by XRD; the composition of TiO2 has been estimated through EDS; the thickness of film has been measured by polarized microscope in an interferometric technique. The coating films are always crystallined in the anatase structure with circular particles in nanometer size.


1996 ◽  
Vol 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. K. Narula

AbstractThe high cost of materials prepared by sol-gel processing and the loss of useful surface properties at elevated temperature has prevented the application of sol-gel processed materials in automotive exhaust reduction catalyst formulations. In this report, we briefly describe the important developments needed in the next generation automotive catalysts and the role of sol-gel processed materials. We will also discuss the application of heterometallic alkoxides as sol-gel precursors to achieve the molecular distribution of lanthanides and alkaline earths in alumina matrices needed for the stabilization of alumina based materials at elevated temperatures.


1992 ◽  
Vol 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Xu ◽  
H. K. Chae ◽  
M. H. Frey ◽  
D. A. Payne

ABSTRACTBarium titanate (BaTiO3) thin layers were prepared by sol-gel processing. Details are reported for the synthesis route from methoxyethoxide precursors. Partially hydrolyzed solutions were spin-cast onto metallized silicon substrates, and a multilayering technique was used to develop sub-micron structures. Information is reported on the thermal processing conditions used and the development of structure. Crystallization started at 600°C and was fully developed by 700°C. The room temperature structure was cubic, and the grain size was 25–50 nm. Details are reported for the dielectric properties. Ferroelectricity was not observed. Dielectric constant (200–300) increased with increasing grain size, and was stable with respect to temperature, field and frequency. The properties are attractive for potential integrated capacitor applications.


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