This study focuses on synthesizing Niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) thin films on silicon wafers and quartz substrates using DC reactive magnetron sputtering for NO2 gas sensors. The films undergo annealing in ambient air at 800 °C for 1 hr. Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Hall effect measurements, and sensitivity measurements, are employed to evaluate the structural, morphological, electrical, and sensing properties of the Nb2O5 thin films. XRD analysis confirms the polycrystalline nature and hexagonal crystal structure of Nb2O5. The optical band gap values of the Nb2O5 thin films demonstrate a decrease from 4.74 to 3.73 eV as the sputtering power is increased from 25 to 75 W. AFM images illustrate a progressive increase in particle size ranging from (41.86) to (45.56) nm, with varying sputtering power between 25 and 75 W. Additionally, EDS analysis validates the rise in Nb content, increasing from 12.2 at. % to 20.1 at. %, corresponding to the increase in sputtering power. Hall effect measurements show that all films exhibit n-type charge carriers, and increasing sputtering power leads to decreased carrier concentration and enhanced mobility. The gas sensor's sensitivity, response, and recovery time were evaluated at various operating temperatures. The NO2 sensor exhibited an optimal sensitivity of 28.6% at 200 °C when the sputtering power was set to 50 W.
This work investigates the effect of the gas nitriding process on the surface layer microstructure and mechanical properties for steel 37, tool steel X155CrVMo12-1 and stainless steel 316L. Nitriding was conducted at a temperature of 550 °C for 2 hours during the first stage and at 750 °C for 4 hours during the second stage. SEM and X-ray diffraction tests were performed to evaluate the microstructural features and the major phases formed after surface treatment. SEM and X-ray diffraction tests were performed to assess the microstructural features and the primary phases formed after surface treatment. The new secondary precipitates were identified as γ′-Fe4N, ε (Fe2–3N), and α-Fe, exhibiting an uneven chain-like pattern wit
... Show MoreThe magnetic properties of a pure Nickel metal and Nickel-Zinc-Manganese ferrites having the chemical formula Ni0.1(Zn0.4Mn0.6)0.9Fe2O4 were studied. The phase formation and crystal structure was studied by using x-ray diffraction which confirmed the formation of pure single spinel cubic phase with space group (Fd3m) in the ferrite. The samples microstructure was studied with scanning electron microstructure and EDX. The magnetic properties of the ferrite and nickel metal were characterized by using a laboratory setup with a magnetic field in the range from 0-500 G. The ferrite showed perfect soft spinel phase behavior while the nickel sample showed higher magnetic loss an
... Show MoreThis contribution reports a comprehensive investigation into the structural, electronic and thermal properties of bulk and surface terbium dioxide (TbO2); a material that enjoys wide spectra of catalytic and optical applications. Our calculated lattice dimension of 5.36 Å agrees well with the corresponding experimental value at 5.22 Å. Density of states configuration of the bulk structure exhibits a semiconducting nature. Thermo-mechanical properties of bulk TbO2 were obtained based on the quasi-harmonic approximation formalism. Heat capacities, thermal expansions and bulk modulus of the bulk TbO2 were obtained under a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The dependency of these properties on operational pressure is very evident. Cle
... Show MoreSilver selenide telluride Semiconducting (Ag2Se0.8Te0.2) thin films were by thermal evaporation at RT with thickness350 nm at annealing temperatures (300, 348, 398, and 448) °K for 1 hour on glass substrates .using X-ray diffraction, the structural characteristics were calculated as a function of annealing temperatures with no preferential orientation along any plane. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray techniques are used to analyze the Ag2SeTe thin films' physical makeup and properties. AFM techniques were used to analyze the surface morphology of the Ag2SeTe films, and the results showed that the values for average diameter, surface roughness, and grain size mutation increased with annealing temperature (116.36-171.02) nm The transm
... Show MoreSilver selenide telluride Semiconducting (Ag2Se0.8Te0.2) thin films were by thermal evaporation at RT with thickness350 nm at annealing temperatures (300, 348, 398, and 448) °K for 1 hour on glass substrates .using X-ray diffraction, the structural characteristics were calculated as a function of annealing temperatures with no preferential orientation along any plane. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray techniques are used to analyze the Ag2SeTe thin films' physical makeup and properties. AFM techniques were used to analyze the surface morphology of the Ag2SeTe films, and the results showed that the values for average diameter, surface roughness, and grain size mutation increased with annealing temperature (116.36-171.02) nm The transm
... Show MoreZnO nanostructures were synthesized by hydrothermal method at different temperatures and growth times. The effect of increasing the temperature on structural and optical properties of ZnO were analyzed and discussed. The prepared ZnO nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis. absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis.), Photoluminescence (PL), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this work, hexagonal crystal structure prepared ZnO nanostructures was observed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the average crystallite size equal 14.7 and 23.8 nm for samples synthesized at growth time 7 and 8 hours respectively. A nanotubes-shaped surface morphology was found using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optic
... Show MoreZinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using a modified hydrothermal approach at different reaction temperatures and growth times. Moreover, a thorough morphological, structural and optical investigation was demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), ultra-violate visible light spectroscopy (UV-Vis.), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. Notably, SEM analysis revealed the occurrence of nanorods-shaped surface morphology with a wide range of length and diameter. Meanwhile, a hexagonal crystal structure of the ZnO nanoparticles was perceived using XRD analysis and crystallite size ranging from 14.7 to 23.8 nm at 7 and 8 ℎ𝑟𝑠., respectively. The prepared ZnO samples showed good abso
... Show MoreZinc-indium-selenide ZnIn2Se4 (ZIS) ternary chalcopyrite thin film on glass with a 500 nm thickness was fabricated by using the thermal evaporation system with a pressure of approximately 2.5×10−5 mbar and a deposition rate of 12 Å/s. The effect of aluminum (Al) doping with 0.02 and 0.04 ratios on the structural and optical properties of film was examined. The utilization of X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to showcase the influence of aluminum doping on structural properties. XRD shows that thin ZIS-pure, Al-doped films at RT are polycrystalline with tetragonal structure and preferred (112) orientation. Where the