| 1. |
- Elhag, Sami, et al.
(author)
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Low-temperature growth of polyethylene glycol-doped BiZn2VO6 nanocompounds with enhanced photoelectrochemical properties
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A. - Cambridge : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2050-7488. ; 5:3, s. 1112-1119
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We demonstrate scalable, low-cost and low-temperature (<100 °C) aqueous chemical growth of bismuth–zinc vanadate (BiZn2VO6) nanocompounds by BiVO4 growth on ZnO nanobelts (NBs). The nanocompounds were further doped with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to tune the electronic structure of the materials, as a means to lower the charge carrier recombination rate. The chemical composition, morphology, and detailed nanostructure of the BiZn2VO6 nanocompounds were characterized. They exhibit rice-like morphology, are highly dense on the substrate and possess a good crystalline quality. Photoelectrochemical characterization in 0.1 M lithium perchlorate in carbonate propylene shows that BiZn2VO6 nanocompounds are highly suitable as anodes for solar-driven photoelectrochemical applications, providing significantly better performance than with only ZnO NBs. This performance could be attributed to the heterogeneous catalysis effect at nanocompound and ZnO NB interfaces, which have enhanced the electron transfer process on the electrode surface. Furthermore, the charge collection efficiency could be significantly improved through PEG doping of nanocompounds. The photocurrent density of PEG-doped BiZn2VO6 nanocompounds reached values of 2 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), over 60% larger than that of undoped BiZn2VO6 nanocompounds. Photoluminescence emission experiments confirmed that PEG plays a crucial role in lowering the charge carrier recombination rate. The presented BiZn2VO6 nanocompounds are shown to provide highly competitive performance compared with other state-of-the art photoelectrodes.
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| 2. |
- Bakoglidis, Konstantinos D., et al.
(author)
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Low-temperature growth of low friction wear-resistant amorphous carbon nitride thin films by mid-frequency, high power impulse, and direct current magnetron sputtering
- 2015
-
In: Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. A. Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films. - : American Vacuum Society. - 0734-2101 .- 1520-8559. ; 33:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CNx) thin films were deposited on steel AISI52100 and Si(001) substrates using mid-frequency magnetron sputtering (MFMS) with an MF bias voltage, high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with a synchronized HiPIMS bias voltage, and direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) with a DC bias voltage. The films were deposited at a low substrate temperature of 150 °C and a N2/Ar flow ratio of 0.16 at the total pressure of 400 mPa. The negative bias voltage (Vs) was varied from 20 V to 120 V in each of the three deposition modes. The microstructure of the films was characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), while the film morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All films possessed amorphous microstructure with clearly developed columns extending throughout the entire film thickness. Layers grown with the lowest substrate bias of 20 V exhibited pronounced intercolumnar porosity, independent of the technique used. Voids closed and dense films formed at Vs ≥ 60 V, Vs ≥ 100 V and Vs = 120 V for MFMS, DCMS and HiPIMS, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that the nitrogen-to-carbon ratio, N/C, of the films ranged between 0.2 and 0.24. Elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) showed that Ar content varied between 0 and 0.8 at% and increases as a function of Vs for all deposition techniques. All films exhibited compressive residual stress, σ, which depends on the growth method; HiPIMS produces the least stressed films with stress between – 0.4 and – 1.2 GPa for all Vs values, while for CNx films deposited by MFMS σ = – 4.2 GPa. Nanoindentation showed a significant increase in film hardness and reduced elastic modulus with increasing Vs for all techniques. The harder films were produced by MFMS with hardness as high as 25 GPa. Low friction coefficients, between 0.05 and 0.06, were recorded for all films. Furthermore, CNx films produced by MFMS and DCMS at Vs = 100 V and 120 V presented a high wear resistance with wear coefficients of k ≤ 2.3 x 10-5 mm3/Nm.
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| 3. |
- Boso, Nathaniel, et al.
(author)
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International entrepreneurial orientation and regional expansion
- 2017
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In: Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. - : Routledge. - 0898-5626 .- 1464-5114. ; 29:1-2, s. 4-26
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study examines how behavioral elements of international entrepreneurial orientation (i.e. product innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy) increase variability in scope of regional market expansion, and the international marketing channel management conditions under which this occurs. Results from an empirical study in a developing market show that not all behavioral elements of international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) increase scope of regional expansion. The study specifically finds that scope of regional expansion is fostered when high levels of product innovation intensity, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomous behaviors are aligned with a stronger channel management capability. Conversely, the regional expansion values of product innovation novelty and proactiveness are cancelled out when channel management capability levels are high.
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| 4. |
- Engberg, David
(author)
-
Atom Probe Tomography of TiSiN Thin Films
- 2015
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis concerns the wear resistant coating TiSiN and the development of the analysis technique atom probe tomography (APT) applied to this materials system. The technique delivers compositional information through time-of-flight mass spectrometry, with sub-nanometer precision in 3D for a small volume of the sample. It is thus a powerful technique for imaging the local distribution of elements in micro and nanostructures. To gain the full benefits of the technique for the materials system in question, I have developed a method that combines APT with isotopic substitution, here demonstrated by substitution of natN with 15N. This alters the time-of-flight of ions with of one or more N and will thereby enable the differentiation of the otherwise inseparable isotopes 14N and 28Si. Signs of small-scale fluctuations in the data led the development of an algorithm needed to properly visualize these fluctuations. A method to identify the best sampling parameter for visualization of small-scale compositional fluctuations was added to an algorithm originally designed to find the best sampling parameters for measuring and visualizing strong compositional variations. With the identified sampling parameters, the nano-scale compositional fluctuations of Si in the metal/metalloid sub-lattice could be visualized. The existence and size of these fluctuations were corroborated by radial distribution functions, a technique independent of the previously determined sampling parameter. The radial distribution function algorithm was also developed further to ease in the interpretation. The number of curves could thereby be reduced by showing elements, rather than single and molecular ions (of which there were several different kinds). The improvement of the algorithm also allowed interpretation of signs regarding the stoichiometry of SiNy. With a combination of analytical transmission electron microscopy and APT we show Si segregation on the nanometer scale in arc-deposited Ti0.92Si0.0815N and Ti0.81Si0.1915N thin films. APT composition maps and proximity histograms generated from Ti-rich domains show that the TiN contain at least ~2 at. % Si for Ti0.92Si0.08N and ~5 at. % Si for Ti0.81Si0.19N, thus confirming the formation of solid solutions. The formation of relatively pure SiNy domains in the Ti0.81Si0.19N films is tied to pockets between microstructured, columnar features in the film. Finer SiNy enrichments seen in APT possibly correspond to tissue layers around TiN crystallites, thus effectively hindering growth of TiN crystallites, causing TiN renucleation and thus explaining the featherlike nanostructure within the columns of these films.
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| 5. |
- Engberg, David L. J., 1986-
(author)
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Atom Probe Tomography of Hard Nitride and Boride Thin Films
- 2019
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Hard ceramic thin films, including TiSiN, ZrAlN, ZrB2, and ZrTaB2, with applications for wear-resistant coatings, have been studied using atom probe tomography and correlated with several other analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and elastic recoil detection analysis. Outstanding obstacles for quantitative atom probe tomography of ceramic thin films have been surmounted.Mass spectral overlaps in TiSiN, which make 28Si indistinguishable from 14N, was resolved by isotopic substitution with 15N, and the nanostructural distribution of elements was thus revealed in 3-D, which enabled the identification of additional structural elements within the nanostructured Ti0.81Si0.1915N film. Improvements to the growth model of TiSiN by cathodic arc deposition was suggested.A self-organized nanolabyrinthine structure of ZrAlN, consisting of standing lamellae of fcc-ZrN and hexagonal AlN, was investigated with focus on the onset and limits of the self-organization. The local crystallographic orientational relationships were (001)ZrN || (0001)AlN and <110>ZrN || <2-1-10>AlN. Close to the MgO substrates, a smooth transition region was formed, going from segregated and disordered to the self-organized nanolabyrinthine structure. With increased growth temperature, coarse (111)-oriented ZrN grains occasionally precipitated and locally replaced the nanolabyrinthine structure. Significant local magnification effects rendered the Zr and N signals unusable, thereby inhibiting quantitative compositional analysis of the constituent phases, but the nanostructure was resolved using the Al signal.Ceramic materials are often affected by correlated evaporation, which can result in losses due to the detector dead-time/space. A compositional correction procedure was suggested, tested against an established procedure, and applied to ZrB2. The correction was found to be less dependent on the isotope abundances and background correction compared to the established procedure. While losses due to dead-time/space occur in atom probe tomography of all materials, the correlative field evaporation behavior of ceramics significantly increases the compositional error. The evaporation behavior of ZrB2 was therefore thoroughly investigated and evidence of preferential retention, correlated evaporation, and inhomogeneous field distributions at a low-index pole was presented. The high mass resolution, relatively low multiple events percentage, and quality of the co-evaporation correlation data was partly attributed to the crystal structure and film orientation, which promoted a layer-by-layer field evaporation.The evaporation behavior of the related ZrTaB2 films was found to be similar to that of ZrB2. The distribution of Ta in relation to Zr was investigated, showing that the column boundaries were both metal- and Ta-rich, and that there was a significant amount of Ta in solid solution within the columns.In addition, an instrumental artefact previously not described in atom probe tomography was found in several of the materials investigated in this thesis. The artefact consists of high-density lines along the analysis direction, which cannot be related to pole artefacts. The detection system of the atom probe was identified as the cause, because the artefact patterns on detector histograms coincided with the structure of the microchannel plate. Inconsistencies in the internal boundaries of the microchannel plate multifibers from the manufacturing process can influence the signal to the detector and locally increase the detection efficiency in a pattern characteristic to the microchannel plate in question.Altogether, this thesis shows that atom probe tomography of nitride and boride thin films is burdened by several artefacts and distortions, but that relevant material outcomes can nevertheless be achieved by informed choices of film isotopic constituents and analytical parameters, exclusion of heavily distorted regions (such as pole artefacts), and the use of compositional correction procedures when applicable.
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| 6. |
- Garbrecht, Magnus, et al.
(author)
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Dislocation-pipe diffusion in nitride superlattices observed in direct atomic resolution
- 2017
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Device failure from diffusion short circuits in microelectronic components occurs via thermally induced migration of atoms along high-diffusivity paths: dislocations, grain boundaries, and free surfaces. Even well-annealed single-grain metallic films contain dislocation densities of about 1014 m-2; hence dislocation-pipe diffusion (DPD) becomes a major contribution at working temperatures. While its theoretical concept was established already in the 1950s and its contribution is commonly measured using indirect tracer, spectroscopy, or electrical methods, no direct observation of DPD at the atomic level has been reported. We present atomically-resolved electron microscopy images of the onset and progression of diffusion along threading dislocations in sequentially annealed nitride metal/semiconductor superlattices, and show that this type of diffusion can be independent of concentration gradients in the system but governed by the reduction of strain fields in the lattice.
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| 7. |
- Garbrecht, Magnus, et al.
(author)
-
Microstructural evolution and thermal stability of HfN/ScN, ZrN/ScN, and Hf0.5Zr0.5N/ScN metal/semiconductor superlattices
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Materials Science. - : SPRINGER. - 0022-2461 .- 1573-4803. ; 51:17, s. 8250-8258
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nitride-based metal/semiconductor superlattices for possible applications as thermoelectric, plasmonic, and hard coating materials have been grown by magnetron sputtering. Since long-time thermal stability of the superlattices is crucial for these applications, the atomic scale microstructure and its evolution under annealing to working temperatures were investigated with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy methods. We report on epitaxial growth of three cubic superlattice systems (HfN/ScN, ZrN/ScN, and Hf0.5Zr0.5N/ScN) that show long-time thermal stability (annealing up to 120 h at 950 degrees C) as monitored by scanning transmission electron microscopy-based energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. No interdiffusion between the metal and semiconductor layers could be observed for any of the present systems under long-time annealing, which is in contrast to earlier attempts on similar superlattice structures based on TiN as the metallic compound. Atomically resolved high-resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging revealed that even though the superlattice curves towards the substrate at regular interval column boundaries originating from threading dislocations close to the substrate interface, the cubic lattice continues coherently across the boundaries. It is found that the boundaries themselves are alloyed along the entire growth direction, while in their vicinity nanometer-size inclusions of metallic phases are observed that could be identified as the zinc blende phase of same stoichiometry as the parent rock salt transition metal nitride phase. Our results demonstrate the longtime thermal stability of metal/semiconductor superlattices based on Zr and Hf nitrides.
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| 8. |
- Garbrecht, Magnus, et al.
(author)
-
Tailoring of surface plasmon resonances in TiN/(Al0.72Sc0.28)N multilayers by dielectric layer thickness variation
- 2018
-
In: Journal of Materials Science. - : SPRINGER. - 0022-2461 .- 1573-4803. ; 53:6, s. 4001-4009
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alternative designs of plasmonic metamaterials for applications in solar energy-harvesting devices are necessary due to pure noble metal-based nanostructures incompatibility with CMOS technology, limited thermal and chemical stability, and high losses in the visible spectrum. In the present study, we demonstrate the design of a material based on a multilayer architecture with systematically varying dielectric interlayer thicknesses that result in a continuous shift of surface plasmon energy. Plasmon resonance characteristics of metal/semiconductor TiN/(Al,Sc)N multilayer thin films with constant TiN and increasing (Al,Sc)N interlayer thicknesses were analyzed using aberration-corrected and monochromated scanning transmission electron microscopy-based electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). EEL spectrum images and line scans were systematically taken across layer interfaces and compared to spectra from the centers of the respective adjacent TiN layer. While a constant value for the TiN bulk plasmon resonance of about 2.50 eV was found, the surface plasmon resonance energy was detected to continuously decrease with increasing (Al,Sc)N interlayer thickness until 2.16 eV is reached. This effect can be understood to be the result of resonant coupling between the TiN bulk and surface plasmons across the dielectric interlayers at very low (Al,Sc)N thicknesses. That energy interval between bulk and decreasing surface plasmon resonances corresponds to wavelengths in the visible spectrum. This shows the potential of tailoring the materials plasmonic response by controlling the (Al,Sc)N interlayer thickness, making TiN-based multilayers good prospects for plasmonic metamaterials in energy devices.
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| 9. |
- Garbrecht, Magnus, et al.
(author)
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Void-mediated coherency-strain relaxation and impediment of cubic-to-hexagonal transformation in epitaxial metastable metal/semiconductor TiN/Al0.72Sc0.28N multilayers
- 2017
-
In: Physical Review Materials. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 2475-9953. ; 1:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bulk metastable phases can be stabilized during thin-film growth by employing substrates with similar crystal structure and lattice parameter, albeit over a thickness range limited by coherency-strain relaxation. Expanding that strategy, growth of superlattices comprising one stable and another metastable compound with similar crystal structure and lattice parameters are known to yield epitaxial stabilization over a few nanometers of thickness. In this work, the high-pressure rocksalt (B1) phase of Al0.72Sc0.28N was stabilized epitaxially in a multilayer with TiN with thicknesses of up to 26 nm. In order to investigate the microstructural changes leading to the phase transformation of the metastable B1 phase to its wurtzite allomorph, we demonstrate a design based on a multilayer architecture with systematically varying thicknesses of the metastable compound within a constant-thickness lattice of stable metallic TiN with the cubic rocksalt structure. The multilayer films show an increasing hardness and elastic modulus for decreasing period thickness, in correspondence with both coherency-strain and Koehler hardening. The phase transition is accompanied by an increase of lattice strain with increasing multilayer periods, and resulting ultimately in coherency-strain relaxation upon phase transformation. Further, we show that the phase transformation is mediated by voids decorating the {130} planes that separate regions of different growth rates and act as additional growth fronts for wurtzite growth during the phase transformation. The TiN/(Al, Sc) N interfaces themselves remain atomically sharp and smooth until the interface structure roughens along with the epitaxial rocksalt to wurtzite transition of (Al, Sc) N. These results show the strong influence of the voids on controlling the target thickness of epitaxially stabilized thin-film growth to the range relevant for applications, such as coatings, plasmonic materials, and electronic device technology, where the mechanical integrity of the material is critical.
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| 10. |
- Ghafoor, Naureen, et al.
(author)
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Self-organized anisotropic (Zr1-xSix)N-y nanocomposites grown by reactive sputter deposition
- 2015
-
In: Acta Materialia. - : Elsevier. - 1359-6454 .- 1873-2453. ; 82, s. 179-189
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The physical properties of hard and superhard nanocomposite thin films are strongly dependent on their nanostructure. Here, we present the results of an investigation of nanostructural evolution and the resulting mechanical properties of (Zr1-xSix)N-y films, with 0 less than= x less than= 1 and 1 less than= y less than= 1.27, grown on MgO(0 0 1) and Al2O3(0 0 0 1) substrates at temperatures T-s = 500-900 degrees C by reactive magnetron sputter deposition from Zr and Si targets. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that there is a T-s/composition window in which stoichiometric Zr-Si-N and amorphous a-Si3N4 phases mutually segregate and self-organize into encapsulated 3-5 um wide ZrN-rich (Zr1-xSix)N columns which extend along the growth direction with a strong (002) texture. Lattice-resolved scanning TEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy reveal that the (Zr1-xSix)N-y nanocolumns are separated by a bilayer tissue phase consisting of a thin crystalline SiNy-rich (Zr1-xSix)N-y layer with an a-Si3N4 overlayer. Incorporation of metastable SiN into NaCl-structure ZrN leads to an enhanced nanoindentation hardness H which is a function of T-s and film composition. For nanocomposites with composition (Zr(0.8)Sio(0.2))N-1.14 (10 at.% Si) H, increases from 26 GPa at 500 degrees C to 37 GPa at 900 degrees C. For comparison, the hardness of epitaxial ZrN/MgO(0 0 1) layers grown at T-s = 800 degrees C is 24 GPa. (C) 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 11. |
- Greczynski, Grzegorz, et al.
(author)
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X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of Ti1-xAlxN (0 <= x <= 0.83) high-temperature oxidation: The crucial role of Al concentration
- 2019
-
In: Surface & Coatings Technology. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA. - 0257-8972 .- 1879-3347. ; 374, s. 923-934
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The resistance to high-temperature oxidation of Ti1-xAlxN films determines performance in numerous applications including coated cutting tools. Here, we present a comprehensive study covering Ti1-xAlxN films with 0 amp;lt;= x amp;lt;= 0.83 annealed in air for 1 h at temperatures T-a ranging from 500 to 800 degrees C. Layers are grown by the combination of high-power impulse and dc magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) in Ar/N-2 atmospheres. We use X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study the evolution of surface chemistry and to reconstruct elemental distribution profiles. No dependence of oxidation process on the phase content, average grain size, or preferred orientation could be confirmed, to the accuracy offered by the employed X-ray diffraction techniques. Instead, our results show that, under the applied test conditions, the Ti1-xAlxN oxidation scenario depends on both x and T-a. The common notion of double-layer Al2O3/TiO2 oxide formation is valid only in a limited region of the x-T-a parameter space (Type-1 oxidation). Outside this range, a mixed and non-conformal Al2O3-TiO2 layer forms, characterized by larger oxide thickness (Type-2 oxidation). The clear distinction between different Ti1-xAlxN oxidation scenarios revealed here is essential for numerous applications that can benefit from optimizing the Al content, while targeting a given operational temperature range.
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| 12. |
- Hultman, Bo, 1964-, et al.
(author)
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Prognostic factors in patients with loco-regionally advanced gastric cancer
- 2017
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In: World Journal of Surgical Oncology. - London : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1477-7819. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate epidemiologic and prognostic factors relevant to the treatment of loco-regionally advanced gastric cancer (GC).METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-five patients with GC were identified in Uppsala County between 2000 and 2009. Patient records were analyzed for loco-regionally advanced GC defined as tumor with peritoneal involvement, excluding serosal invasion from the primary tumor only, at primary diagnosis or during follow-up. The presence or not of distant metastasis (DM), including hematogenous metastases (e.g., liver, lung, and bone) and/or distant lymph node metastases, was also analyzed. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis of factors influencing survival.RESULTS: One hundred and twenty patients (47% of all patients with GC; median age 70.5 years) had loco-regionally advanced disease, corresponding to an incidence of 3.8 per 100,000 person-years. Forty-one percent of these also had DM. Median overall survival (mOS) from the time of the diagnosis of loco-regionally advanced disease was 4.8 months for the total patient cohort, 5.1 months for the subgroup of patients without DM, and 4.7 months for the subgroup with DM. There was no significant difference in mOS between the subgroups with synchronous versus metachronous loco-regionally advanced GC: 4.8 months (range 0.0-67.4) versus 4.7 months (range 0.0-28.3). Using multivariate Cox analysis, positive prognostic factors for survival were good performance status at diagnosis and treatment with palliative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Synchronous DM was a negative prognostic factor. The mOS did not differ when comparing the time period 2000-2004 (5.1 months, range 0-67.4) with the period 2005-2009 (4.0 months, range 0.0-28.3).CONCLUSION: Peritoneal involvement occurred in almost half of the patients with GC in this study and was associated with short life expectancy. New treatment strategies are warranted.
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| 13. |
- Hultman, Magnus, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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Achieving tourist loyalty through destination personality, satisfaction,and identification
- 2015
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In: Journal of Business Research. - : Elsevier. - 0148-2963 .- 1873-7978. ; 68:11, s. 2227-2231
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The general marketing literature suggests that brand personality, satisfaction, and customer identification with the brand are important drivers of consumer behavior in several contexts. Yet, the literature lacks studies on these constructs' role in tourist behavior. In an endeavor to overcome this research deficit, this study explores the interrelationships among destination personality, tourist satisfaction, and tourist–destination identification, and the extent to which they are important in influencing positive word-of-mouth and revisit intentions. The study employs structural equation modeling to analyze data from 490 Taiwanese consumers reporting on their most recently visited tourism destinations. Findings indicate that (1) destination personality promotes tourist satisfaction, tourist–destination identification, positive word-of-mouth, and revisit intentions; (2) satisfaction encourages identification and word-of-mouth; and (3) identification enhances word-of-mouth and revisit intentions. The paper provides theoretical and managerial implications.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Hultman, Magnus, et al.
(author)
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Drivers and outcomes of political candidate image creation : The role of social media marketing
- 2019
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In: Psychology & Marketing. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0742-6046 .- 1520-6793. ; 36:12, s. 1226-1236
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The study examines the role of social media marketing (SMM) activities and the influence of perceived candidate image in building voter-candidate relationship equity within the context of United Kingdom (UK) politics. Drawing from branding literature and social identity theory the article further investigates the role of candidate image as a mediator between SMM and voter-candidate relationship equity, whilst also testing the moderating effect of political ideologies. Survey results from 235 young UK voters indicate that while all SMM activities appears to positively influence the perceived candidate image, not all SMM variables directly relate to relationship equity. The relationship rather appears to be an indirect one, mediated through the political candidate's image. Surprisingly, political ideology also does not appear to moderate the connection between candidate image and voter-candidate relationship equity. The study findings highlight the growing importance of SMM activities and candidate image in political contexts, providing insights for political campaigners.
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| 16. |
- Hultman, Magnus, et al.
(author)
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Intention to visit and willingness to pay premium for ecotourism : The impact of attitude, materialism, and motivation
- 2015
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In: Journal of Business Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0148-2963 .- 1873-7978. ; 68:9, s. 1854-1861
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Drawing from the theory of planned behavior and post-materialism assumptions, this study investigates and uncovers key antecedents of the intention to engage in ecotourism and to pay premium prices for the experience. A conceptual model incorporates environmental beliefs, attitudes toward ecotourism, behavioral indications, and willingness to pay premium (WTPP), in combination with materialism and general tourism motivation. Samples of Swedish and Taiwanese tourists empirically test the assumptions. Findings reveal attitudes and environmental beliefs connect positively with intention and WTPP; however, materialistic values exert a negative effect. The results also disclose diverging moderating effects on the environmental beliefs — attitude linkage, depending on the type of tourism motivation guiding the tourist. The research findings offer key insights on what drives consumer behavior in the context of ecotourism
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| 17. |
- Hultman, Magnus, et al.
(author)
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The role of destination personality fit in destination branding : antecedents and outcomes
- 2017
-
In: Psychology & Marketing. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0742-6046 .- 1520-6793. ; 34:12, s. 1073-1083
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Drawing from fit research in strategic management, this study develops and investigates a model predicting destination attitude and (re)visit intention. The study introduces the concept of destination personality fit on the basis of how well consumer perceptions of a tourist destination's brand personality fits that of what the destination brand manager wishes to convey. A model incorporating destination advertising awareness as an antecedent of destination personality and consumer-manager destination personality fit is tested on international consumers with the destination personality of Switzerland as the study setting. Structural equation modeling results reveal that destination advertising awareness does indeed relate positively to both stronger perceived destination personality and destination personality fit in consumers’ minds. Interestingly, the subsequent destination personality–destination attitude relationship is moderated by consumer–manager destination personality fit in such a way that the link grows stronger in cases where fit is high. The results have important implications for destination brand managers in that they reinforce the importance of strong and distinct destination personalities. The findings also show the importance of actively communicating the destination brand to consumers since the positive outcomes of a strong destination personality increase in magnitude when successfully communicated, and the vision of the destination brand manager has been adopted by the consumer.
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| 18. |
- Johnson, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Self-organized nanostructuring in Zr0.69Al0.31N thin films studied by atom probe tomography
- 2016
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In: Thin Solid Films. - : Elsevier BV. - 0040-6090 .- 1879-2731. ; 615, s. 233-238
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have applied atom probe tomography (APT) to analyze self-organizing structures of wear-resistant Zr0.69Al0.31N thin films grown by magnetron sputtering. Transmission electron microscopy shows that these films grow as a three-dimensional nanocomposite, consisting of interleaved lamellae in a labyrinthine structure, with an in-plane size scale of ~ 5 nm. The structure was recovered in the Al APT signal, while the Zr and N data lacked structural information. The onset of the self-organized labyrinthine growth was observed to occur by surface nucleation, 5–8 nm above the MgO substrate, due to increasing Zr–Al compositional fluctuations during elemental segregation. At a final stage, the labyrinthine growth mode was observed to be interrupted by the formation of larger ZrN grains.
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| 19. |
- Kazeminia, Azadeh, et al.
(author)
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Why pay more for sustainable services? : The case of ecotourism
- 2016
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In: Journal of Business Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0148-2963 .- 1873-7978. ; 69:11, s. 4992-4997
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study draws on dual-processing theory and post-materialism assumptions to uncover the role of attitudinal and Materialistic values in determining the degree to which consumers are willing to pay premium prices for sustainable tourism services. Findings from a large-scale survey of Swedish potential ecotourists reveal that, while attitude and environmental beliefs relate positively to willingness to pay premium (WTPP) for ecotourism, materialistic values exert a negative effect In line with the theory of affect heuristics, study results further suggest that by giving rise to the intensity of feelings toward the offering, ecotourism interest alters the interplay of affective and evaluative antecedents, so that greater interest amplifies the influence, of affective attitude and materialistic values on WTPP while simultaneously attenuating the effect of environmental beliefs.
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| 20. |
- Mostaghel, Rana, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Marketing and supply chain coordination and intelligence quality : A product innovation performance perspective
- 2019
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In: Journal of Business Research. - : Elsevier. - 0148-2963 .- 1873-7978. ; 101, s. 597-606
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Based on a sample of 148 Swedish firms, this study investigates the complementary relationships between internal and external coordination and external intelligence quality to explain product innovation performance. The results show that, with increasing manufacturing-marketing coordination, higher market intelligence quality or higher supply chain intelligence quality are positively associated with product innovation performance. The complementary roles of internal and external coordination and intelligence quality have theoretical and practical implications.
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| 21. |
- Mostaghel, Rana, et al.
(author)
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Strategic use of enterprise systems among service firms : Antecedents and consequences
- 2015
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In: Journal of Business Research. - : Elsevier. - 0148-2963 .- 1873-7978. ; 68:7, s. 1544-1549
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As competition in the service sector is continuously intensifying, managers are increasingly realizing how effective use of enterprise systems (ESs) might improve competition capabilities. Building on previous work that explores ESs and supply chain integration, this study investigates antecedents and consequences of ES usage among service firms. Following an empirical study using data from 233 Swedish retail and wholesale service providers, findings indicate that internal reasons such as access to new markets and anticipated performance, rather than external pressure, drive ES adoption. The study further reveals that ES usage relates positively to supply chain integration, which subsequently relates to firm performance via the mediating variable of competition capabilities. This study contributes by synthesizing previously separate constructs into a coherent research model that is both empirically viable and integrative. The study concludes by discussing implications for theory building and management practice.
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| 22. |
- Muhammad, Junaid, et al.
(author)
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Liquid-target Reactive Magnetron Sputter Epitaxy of High Quality GaN(0001ɸ)ɸ Nanorods on Si(111)
- 2015
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In: Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing. - : Elsevier. - 1369-8001 .- 1873-4081. ; 39, s. 702-710
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Direct current magnetron sputter epitaxy with a liquid Ga sputtering target hasbeen used to grow single-crystal GaN(0001) nanorods directly on Si(111)substrates at different working pressures ranging from 5 to 20 mTorr of pure N2,.The as-grown GaN nanorods exhibit very good crystal quality from bottom to topwithout stacking faults, as determined by transmission electron microscopy. Thecrystal quality is found to increase with increasing working pressure. X-raydiffraction results show that all the rods are highly (0001)-oriented. Thenanorods exhibit an N-polarity, as determined by convergent beam electrondiffraction methods. Sharp and well-resolved 4 K photoluminescence peaks at ~3.474 eV with a FWHM ranging from 1.7 meV to 35 meV are attributed to theintrinsic GaN band edge emission and corroborate the superior structuralproperties of the material. Texture measurements reveal that the rods haverandom in-plane orientation when grown on Si(111) with native oxide, while theyhave an in-plane epitaxial relationship of GaN[110] // Si[110] when grown onsubstrates without surface oxide.
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| 23. |
- Olsson, Simon, et al.
(author)
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Mechanical and Tribological Properties of AlCuFe Quasicrystal and Al(Si)CuFe Approximant Thin Films
- 2016
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In: Journal of Materials Research. - : Cambridge University Press. - 0884-2914 .- 2044-5326. ; 31:2, s. 232-240
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Multilayered thin films of Al/Cu/Fe have been prepared by magnetron sputtering and annealed into the quasicrystalline or approximant phases, for Al2O3 or Si substrates, respectively. The nanomechanical and nanotribological properties; hardness, elastic modulus, friction and toughness, have been measured using a triboindenter and analytical methods. The approximant phase, annealed at 600 °C for 4 h, proved to be harder and had higher elastic modulus values than the quasicrystalline phase, about, 15.6 GPa and 258 GPa, respectively. The fracture toughness of the approximant, <0.1 MPa/m½, was however inferior to that of the quasicrystals with 1.5 MPa/m½. The friction coefficients were measured in a range of 0.10-0.14 for the quasicrystalline and approximant thin films.
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| 24. |
- Saha, Bivas, et al.
(author)
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Compensation of native donor doping in ScN: Carrier concentration control and p-type ScN
- 2017
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In: Applied Physics Letters. - : AMER INST PHYSICS. - 0003-6951 .- 1077-3118. ; 110:25
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Scandium nitride (ScN) is an emerging indirect bandgap rocksalt semiconductor that has attracted significant attention in recent years for its potential applications in thermoelectric energy conversion devices, as a semiconducting component in epitaxial metal/semiconductor superlattices and as a substrate material for high quality GaN growth. Due to the presence of oxygen impurities and native defects such as nitrogen vacancies, sputter-deposited ScN thin-films are highly degenerate n-type semiconductors with carrier concentrations in the (1-6) x 10(20) cm(-3) range. In this letter, we show that magnesium nitride (MgxNy) acts as an efficient hole dopant in ScN and reduces the n-type carrier concentration, turning ScN into a p-type semiconductor at high doping levels. Employing a combination of high-resolution X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and room temperature optical and temperature dependent electrical measurements, we demonstrate that p-type Sc1-xMgxN thin-film alloys (a) are substitutional solid solutions without MgxNy precipitation, phase segregation, or secondary phase formation within the studied compositional region, (b) exhibit a maximum hole-concentration of 2.2 x 10(20) cm(-3) and a hole mobility of 21 cm(2)/Vs, (c) do not show any defect states inside the direct gap of ScN, thus retaining their basic electronic structure, and (d) exhibit alloy scattering dominating hole conduction at high temperatures. These results demonstrate MgxNy doped p-type ScN and compare well with our previous reports on p-type ScN with manganese nitride (MnxNy) doping. Published by AIP Publishing.
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| 25. |
- Saridakis, Charalampos, et al.
(author)
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Motivation Recipes for Brand-Related Social Media Use : A BooleanfsQCA Approach
- 2016
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In: Psychology & Marketing. - : Wiley. - 0742-6046 .- 1520-6793. ; 33:12, s. 1062-1070
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Social media Web sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide various means for users to interact with others, by creating, sharing, and commenting on content about anything, including brands and products. Such online brand-related activities may significantly influence a firm's operations. To effectively manage these influences, marketers should understand consumer's motivations to engage in brand-related social media use. This paper is one of the very few efforts to come to such an understanding. In this direction, a set-theoretic comparative approach is implementednamely, fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysisas a means to capitalize on the merits of both qualitative and quantitative techniques, and provide a more nuanced coverage of how motives and their combinations affect social media use. The results of the proposed approach are compared with the results derived from the implementation of a mainstream quantitative analytical technique (i.e., multiple regression analysis), as well as the results of the qualitative study of Muntinga, Moorman, and Smit ()the only study so far examining different types of brand-related social media use and their motivations. By examining motivations for the full spectrum of social media use types (i.e., consuming, contributing and creating), the paper provides marketers and brand managers with valuable insights into online consumer behavior in a social media dominated era.
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