| 1. |
- Ekström, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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The effects of microstructure, Nb content and secondary Ruddlesden-Popper phase on thermoelectric properties in perovskite CaMn1-xNbxO3 (x=0-0.10) thin films
- 2020
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Ingår i: RSC Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2046-2069. ; 10:13, s. 7918-7926
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CaMn1-xNbxO3 (x = 0, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.10) thin films have been grown by a two-step sputtering/annealing method. First, rock-salt-structured (Ca,Mn1-x,Nb-x)O thin films were deposited on 11 & x304;00 sapphire using reactive RF magnetron co-sputtering from elemental targets of Ca, Mn and Nb. The CaMn1-xNbxO3 films were then obtained by thermally induced phase transformation from rock-salt-structured (Ca,Mn1-xNbx)O to orthorhombic during post-deposition annealing at 700 degrees C for 3 h in oxygen flow. The X-ray diffraction patterns of pure CaMnO3 showed mixed orientation, while Nb-containing films were epitaxially grown in [101] out of-plane-direction. Scanning transmission electron microscopy showed a Ruddlesden-Popper (R-P) secondary phase in the films, which results in reduction of the electrical and thermal conductivity of CaMn1-xNbxO3. The electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of the pure CaMnO3 film were measured to 2.7 omega cm and -270 mu V K-1 at room temperature, respectively. The electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient were reduced by alloying with Nb and was measured to 0.09 omega cm and -145 mu V K-1 for x = 0.05. Yielding a power factor of 21.5 mu W K-2 m(-1) near room temperature, nearly eight times higher than for pure CaMnO3 (2.8 mu W K-2 m(-1)). The power factors for alloyed samples are low compared to other studies on phase-pure material. This is due to high electrical resistivity originating from the secondary R-P phase. The thermal conductivity of the CaMn1-xNbxO3 films is low for all samples and is the lowest for x = 0.07 and 0.10, determined to 1.6 W m(-1) K-1. The low thermal conductivity is attributed to grain boundary scattering and the secondary R-P phase.
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| 2. |
- Halim, Joseph, et al.
(författare)
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Electronic and optical characterization of 2D Ti2C and Nb2C (MXene) thin films
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0953-8984 .- 1361-648X. ; 31:16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and/or nitrides (MXenes) are a new class of 2D materials, with extensive opportunities for property tailoring due to the numerous possibilities for varying chemistries and surface terminations. Here, Ti2AlC and Nb2AlC MAX phase epitaxial thin films were deposited on sapphire substrates by physical vapor deposition. The films were then etched in LiF/HCl solutions, yielding Li-intercalated, 2D Ti2CTz and Nb2CTz films, whose terminations, transport and optical properties were characterized. The former exhibits metallic conductivity, with weak localization below 50 K. In contrast, the Nb-based film exhibits an increase in resistivity with decreasing temperature from RT down to 40K consistent with variable range hopping transport. The optical properties of both films were determined from spectroscopic ellipsometry in the 0.75 to 3.50 eV range. The results for Ti2Clz films confirm the metallic behavior. In contrast, no evidence of metallic behavior is observed for the Nb2CT(z) film. The present work therefore demonstrates that one fruitful approach to alter the electronic and optical properties of MXenes is to change the nature of the transition metal.
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| 3. |
- Halim, Joseph, et al.
(författare)
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Sodium hydroxide and vacuum annealing modifications of the surface terminations of a Ti3C2 (MXene) epitaxial thin film
- 2018
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Ingår i: RSC Advances. - : ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY. - 2046-2069. ; 8:64, s. 36785-36790
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigate, and quantify, changes in structure and surface terminations of epitaxial thin films of titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene, when treated by sodium hydroxide solution followed by vacuum annealing at 550 degrees C. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we show that NaOH treatment produce an increase in the c-lattice parameter together with an increase in the O terminations and a decrease in the F terminations. There is also an increase in the percentage of the binding energy of Ti-species in Ti 2p XPS region, which suggests an increase in the overall oxidation state of Ti. After subsequent annealing, the c-lattice parameter is slightly reduced, the overall oxidation state of Ti is decreased, and the F surface terminations are further diminished, leaving a surface with predominantly O as the surface terminating species. It is important to note that NaOH treatment facilitates removal of F at lower annealing temperatures than previously reported, which in turn is important for the range of attainable properties.
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| 4. |
- Singh, Niraj Kumar, et al.
(författare)
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Electron-phonon coupling and quantum correction to topological magnetoconductivity in Bi2GeTe4
- 2022
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Ingår i: Physical Review B. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 2469-9950 .- 2469-9969. ; 105:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report structure, vibrational properties, and weak antilocalization-induced quantum correction to magnetoconductivity in single-crystal Bi2GeTe4. Surface band-structure calculations show a single Dirac cone corresponding to topological surface states in Bi2GeTe4. An estimated phase coherence length, lΦ ~ to 143 nm and prefactor α~-1.54 from Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka fitting of magnetoconductivity describe the quantum correction to conductivity. An anomalous temperature dependence of A1g Raman modes confirms enhanced electron-phonon interactions. Our results establish that electrons of the topological state can interact with the phonons involving the vibrations of Bi-Te in Bi2GeTe4.
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| 5. |
- Zhang, Xiaofu, et al.
(författare)
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Suppression of the transition to superconductivity in crystal/glass high-entropy alloy nanocomposites
- 2022
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Ingår i: Communications Physics. - : NATURE PORTFOLIO. - 2399-3650. ; 5:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High entropy alloys are multielement materials exhibiting enhanced properties compared to their binary or ternary equivalents. Here, the authors investigate the influence of microstructure and elemental distribution on the transport and superconducting properties of (TaNb)(1-x)(ZrHfTi)(x) thin films. Superconducting high entropy alloys (HEAs) may combine extraordinary mechanical properties with robust superconductivity. They are suitable model systems for the investigation of the interplay of disorder and superconductivity. Here, we report on the superconductivity in (TaNb)(1-x)(ZrHfTi)(x) thin films. Beyond the near-equimolar region, the films comprise hundreds-of-nanometer-sized crystalline grains and show robust bulk superconductivity. However, the superconducting transitions in these nanocomposites are dramatically suppressed in the near-equimolar configurations, i.e., 0.45 < x < 0.64, where elemental distributions are equivalently homogeneous. Crystal/glass high entropy alloy nanocomposite phase separation was observed for the films in the near-equimolar region, which yields a broadened two-step normal to superconducting transition. Furthermore, the diamagnetic shielding in these films is only observed far below the onset temperature of superconductivity. As these unusual superconducting transitions are observed only in the samples with the high mixing entropy, this compositional range influences the collective electronic properties in these materials.
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| 6. |
- Azina, Clio, et al.
(författare)
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Deposition of MAX phase-containing thin films from a (Ti,Zr)(2)AlC compound target
- 2021
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Ingår i: Applied Surface Science. - : Elsevier. - 0169-4332 .- 1873-5584. ; 551
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work reports on sputter depositions carried out from a compound (Ti,Zr)(2)AlC target on Al2O3(0 0 0 1) substrates at temperatures ranging between 500 and 900 degrees C. Short deposition times yielded 30-40 nm-thick Al-containing (Ti,Zr)C films, whereas longer depositions yielded thicker films up to 90 nm which contained (Ti,Zr)C and intermetallics. At 900 degrees C, the longer depositions led to films that also consisted of solid solution MAX phases. Detailed transmission electron microscopy showed that both (Ti,Zr)(2)AlC and (Ti,Zr)(3)AlC2 solid solution MAX phases were formed. Moreover, this work discusses the growth mechanism of the thicker films, which started with the formation of the mixed (Ti,Zr)C carbide, followed by the nucleation and growth of aluminides, eventually leading to solid state diffusion of Al within the carbide, at the highest temperature (900 degrees C) to form the MAX phases.
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| 7. |
- Ding, Haoming, et al.
(författare)
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Chemical scissor-mediated structural editing of layered transition metal carbides
- 2023
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Ingår i: Science. - : AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE. - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 379:6637, s. 1130-1135
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intercalated layered materials offer distinctive properties and serve as precursors for important two-dimensional (2D) materials. However, intercalation of non-van der Waals structures, which can expand the family of 2D materials, is difficult. We report a structural editing protocol for layered carbides (MAX phases) and their 2D derivatives (MXenes). Gap-opening and species-intercalating stages were respectively mediated by chemical scissors and intercalants, which created a large family of MAX phases with unconventional elements and structures, as well as MXenes with versatile terminals. The removal of terminals in MXenes with metal scissors and then the stitching of 2D carbide nanosheets with atom intercalation leads to the reconstruction of MAX phases and a family of metal-intercalated 2D carbides, both of which may drive advances in fields ranging from energy to printed electronics.
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| 8. |
- Eklund, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Layered ternary M(n+1)AX(n) phases and their 2D derivative MXene: an overview from a thin-film perspective
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics D. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0022-3727 .- 1361-6463. ; 50:11
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inherently and artificially layered materials are commonly investigated both for fundamental scientific purposes and for technological application. When a layered material is thinned or delaminated to its physical limits, a two-dimensional (2D) material is formed and exhibits novel properties compared to its bulk parent phase. The complex layered phases known as MAX phases (where M = early transition metal, A = A-group element, e.g. Al or Si, and X = C or N) are an exciting model system for materials design and the understanding of process-structure-property relationships. When the A layers are selectively etched from the MAX phases, a new type of 2D material is formed, named MXene to emphasize the relation to the MAX phases and the parallel with graphene. Since their discovery in 2011, MXenes have rapidly become established as a novel class of 2D materials with remarkable possibilities for composition variations and property tuning. This article gives a brief overview of MAX phases and MXene from a thin-film perspective, reviewing theory, characterization by electron microscopy, properties and how these are affected by the change in dimensionality, and outstanding challenges.
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| 9. |
- Ekström, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Microstructure control and property switching in stress-free van der Waals epitaxial VO2 films on mica
- 2023
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Ingår i: Materials & design. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0264-1275 .- 1873-4197. ; 229
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Realizing stress-free inorganic epitaxial films on weakly bonding substrates is of importance for applications that require film transfer onto surfaces that do not seed epitaxy. Film-substrate bonding is usually weakened by harnessing natural van der Waals layers (e.g., graphene) on substrate surfaces, but this is difficult to achieve in non-layered materials. Here, we demonstrate van der Waals epitaxy of stress-free films of a non-layered material VO2 on mica. The films exhibit out-of-plane 010 texture with three inplane orientations inherited from the crystallographic domains of the substrate. The lattice parameters are invariant with film thickness, indicating weak film-substrate bonding and complete interfacial stress relaxation. The out-of-plane domain size scales monotonically with film thickness, but the in-plane domain size exhibits a minimum, indicating that the nucleation of large in-plane domains supports subsequent island growth. Complementary ab initio investigations suggest that VO2 nucleation and van der Waals epitaxy involves subtle polarization effects around, and the active participation of, surface potassium atoms on the mica surface. The VO2 films show a narrow domain-size-sensitive electrical-conductiv ity-temperature hysteresis. These results offer promise for tuning the properties of stress-free van der Waals epitaxial films of non-layered materials such as VO2 through microstructure control (C) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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| 10. |
- Gangaprasad Rao, Smita, et al.
(författare)
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Phase formation in CrFeCoNi nitride thin films
- 2023
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Ingår i: Physical Review Materials. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 2475-9953. ; 7:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As a single-phase alloy, CrFeCoNi is a face centered cubic (fcc) material related to the archetypical highentropy Cantor alloy CrFeCoNiMn. For thin films, CrFeCoNi of approximately equimolar composition tends to assume an fcc structure when grown at room temperature by magnetron sputtering. However, the single-phase solid solution state is typically not achieved for thin films grown at higher temperatures. The same holds true for Cantor alloy-based ceramics (nitrides and oxides), where phase formation is extremely sensitive to process parameters such as the amount of reactive gas. This study combines theoretical and experimental methods to understand the phase formation in nitrogen-containing CrFeCoNi thin films. Density functional theory calculations considering three competing phases (CrN, Fe-Ni and Co) show that the free energy of mixing, Delta G of (CrFeCoNi)(1-x)N-x solid solutions has a maximum at x = 0.20-0.25, and AG becomes lower when x < 0.20 and x > 0.25. Thin films of (CrFeCoNi)1-xNx (0.14 >= x <= 0.41) grown by magnetron sputtering show stabilization of the metallic fcc when x <= 0.22 and the stabilization of the NaCl B1 structure when x > 0.33, consistent with the theoretical prediction. In contrast, films with intermediate amounts of nitrogen (x = 0.22) grown at higher temperatures show segregation into multiple phases of CrN, Fe-Ni-rich and Co. These results offer an explanation for the requirement of kinetically limited growth conditions at low temperature for obtaining single-phase CrFeCoNi Cantor-like nitrogen-containing thin films and are of importance for understanding the phase-formation mechanisms in multicomponent ceramics. The results from the study further aid in making correlations between the observed mechanical properties and the crystal structure of the films.
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