Ultraviolet laser photolysis of hydrocarbons for nondiamond carbon suppression in chemical vapor deposition of diamond films.

In this work, we demonstrate that ultraviolet (UV) laser photolysis of hydrocarbon species alters the flame chemistry such that it promotes the diamond growth rate and film quality. Optical emission spectroscopy and laser-induced fluorescence demonstrate that direct UV laser irradiation of a diamond-forming combustion flame produces a large amount of reactive species that play critical roles in diamond growth, thereby leading to enhanced diamond growth. The diamond growth rate is more than doubled, and diamond quality is improved by 4.

Thermally Stable and Electrically Conductive, Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube/Silicon Infiltrated Composite Structures for High-Temperature Electrodes.

Traditional ceramic-based, high-temperature electrode materials (e.g., lanthanum chromate) are severely limited due to their conditional electrical conductivity and poor stability under harsh circumstances.

Fast Growth of GaN Epilayers via Laser-Assisted Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition for Ultraviolet Photodetector Applications.

In this study, we successfully developed a carbon dioxide (CO)-laser-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (LMOCVD) approach to fast synthesis of high-quality gallium nitride (GaN) epilayers on AlO [sapphire(0001)] substrates. By employing a two-step growth procedure, high crystallinity and smooth GaN epilayers with a fast growth rate of 25.8 μm/h were obtained.

Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Imaging of MoS₂ and MoS₂-Based van der Waals Heterostructures.

van der Waals layered structures, notably the transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and TMD-based heterostructures, have recently attracted immense interest due to their unique physical properties and potential applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and energy harvesting. Despite the recent progress, it is still a challenge to perform comprehensive characterizations of critical properties of these layered structures, including crystal structures, chemical dynamics, and interlayer coupling, using a single characterization platform. In this study, we successfully developed a multimodal nonlinear optical imaging method to characterize these critical properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and MoS2-based heterostructures.

Highly efficient and recyclable carbon soot sponge for oil cleanup.

Carbon soot (CS) has the advantages of cost-effectiveness and production scalability over other carbons (i.e., graphene, CNTs) in their synthesis.