Directing SEI formation on Si-based electrodes using atomic layer deposition.

The design of artificial solid eletroctrolyte interphase is an important task to minimize capacity losses in Li-ion batteries. Herein, TiO created through atomic layer deposition was used as an artificial SEI on Si nanoparticles. Such coating led to substantial improvement of cycling stability when evaluated with FEC-free electrolyte.

Towards bone regeneration: Understanding the nucleating ability of proline-rich peptides in biomineralisation.

Obtaining rapid mineralisation is a challenge in current bone graft materials, which has been attributed to the difficulty of guiding the biological processes towards osteogenesis. Amelogenin, a key protein in enamel formation, inspired the design of two intrinsically disordered peptides (P2 and P6) that enhance in vivo bone formation, but the process is not fully understood. In this study, we have elucidated the mechanism by which these peptides induce improved mineralisation.

X-ray and Neutron Diffraction Studies of SrTeFeOCl, an Oxide Chloride with Rare Anion Ordering.

The oxychloride SrTeFeOCl is obtained by high-temperature solid-state synthesis under inert conditions in closed reaction vessels. The compound crystallizes in a novel monoclinic crystal structure that is described in the space group 12/1 (No. 14).

A CMOS Multi-Electrode Array for Four-Electrode Bioimpedance Measurements.

This work demonstrates how a multi-electrode array (MEA) dedicated to four-electrode bioimpedance measurements can be implemented on a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip. As a proof of concept, an 8 × 8 pixel array along with dedicated amplifiers was designed and fabricated in the TSMC 180 nm process. Each pixel in the array contains a circular current carrying (CC) electrode that can act as a current source or sink.

Aromatic sensitizers in luminescent hybrid films.

Atomic layer deposition offers a unique set of design possibilities due to the vast range of metal and organic precursors that can be used and combined. In this work, we have combined lanthanides with aromatic aids as strongly absorbing sensitizers to form highly luminescent thin films. Terephthalic acid is used as a base sensitizer, absorbing shorter wavelengths than 300 nm.

Photoactive Zr-aromatic hybrid thin films made by molecular layer deposition.

The principle of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) is appealing because it can be controlled by an external light source and possibly the use of durable materials. However, to utilise such surfaces requires a process for their production that allows for coating on even complex geometries. We have therefore explored the ability of the emerging molecular layer deposition (MLD) technique to produce and tune PDT active materials.

Utilizing Zirconium MOF-functionalized Fiber Substrates Prepared by Molecular Layer Deposition for Toxic Gas Capture and Chemical Warfare Agent Degradation.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous organic-inorganic solids extensively explored for numerous applications owing to their catalytic activity and high surface area. In this work MOF thin films deposited in a one-step, molecular layer deposition (MLD), an all-gas-phase process, on glass wool fibers are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and their capabilities towards toxic industrial chemical (TIC) capture and chemical warfare agents (CWA) degradation are investigated. It is shown that despite low volume of the active material used, MOFs thin films are capable of removal of harmful gaseous chemicals from air stream and CWA from neutral aqueous environment.

Avoiding water reservoir effects in ALD of functional complex alkali oxides by using O as the oxygen source.

Toxic Pb-containing piezo-, pyro- and ferroelectrics continue to dominate the market even though they were banned from use in consumer products more than a decade ago. There is a strong need for sustainable alternatives, but the lack of facile synthesis routes for thin films exhibiting suitable functional properties have limited the transition from Pb workhorse materials like Pb(Zr,Ti)O and Pb(Mg,Nb)O - PbTiO. Atomic layer deposition has proven capable of the deposition of possible successors, such as LiNbO, (K,Na)NbO and K(Ta,Nb)O, albeit with limited control due to water reservoir effects resulting from the hygroscopicity of intermediate products.

Molecular layer deposition of photoactive metal-naphthalene hybrid thin films.

We here report on photoactive organic-inorganic hybrid thin films prepared by the molecular layer deposition (MLD) method. The new series of hybrid films deposited using 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (2,6-NDC) and either hafnium chloride (HfCl), yttrium tetramethylheptanedionate (Y(thd)) or titanium chloride (TiCl) were compared with the known zirconium chloride (ZrCl) based system. All metal-naphthalene films are amorphous as-deposited and show self-saturating growth as expected for an ideal MLD process with varied growth rates depending on the choice of metal precursor.

Quinizarin: a large aromatic molecule well suited for atomic layer deposition.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a remarkable synthesis tool due to the vast array of materials that can be deposited and the complexity of structures that can be designed. The low-temperature layer-by-layer approach even allows organic and inorganic components to be combined as hybrid or composite materials. The technique is then called molecular layer deposition (MLD).

Single-step approach to sensitized luminescence through bulk-embedded organics in crystalline fluorides.

Luminescent materials enable warm white LEDs, molecular tagging, enhanced optoelectronics and can improve energy harvesting. With the recent development of multi-step processes like down- and upconversion and the difficulty in sensitizing these, it is clear that optimizing all properties simultaneously is not possible within a single material class. In this work, we have utilized the layer-by-layer approach of atomic layer deposition to combine broad absorption from an aromatic molecule with the high emission yields of crystalline multi-layer lanthanide fluorides in a single-step nanocomposite process.

Understanding KOBu in atomic layer deposition - mechanistic studies of the KNbO growth process.

Functional coatings based on alkali metals have become increasingly attractive in the current shift towards sustainable technologies. While lithium-based compounds have a natural impact on batteries, other alkali metal compounds are important as replacements for toxic materials in a range of electronic devices. This is especially true for potassium, being a major component in e.

A foundation for complex oxide electronics -low temperature perovskite epitaxy.

As traditional silicon technology is moving fast towards its fundamental limits, all-oxide electronics is emerging as a challenger offering principally different electronic behavior and switching mechanisms. This technology can be utilized to fabricate devices with enhanced and exotic functionality. One of the challenges for integration of complex oxides in electronics is the availability of appreciable low-temperature synthesis routes.

Solar-driven plasmonic heterostructure Ti/TiO with gradient doping for sustainable plasmon-enhanced catalysis.

Plasmon-enhanced harvesting of photons has contributed to the photochemical conversion and storage of solar energy. However, high dependence on noble metals and weak coupling in heterostructures constrain the progress towards sustainable plasmonic enhancement. Here earth-abundant Ti is studied to achieve the plasmonic enhancement of catalytic activity in a solar-driven heterostructure Ti/TiO2-x.

Phase and Orientation Control of NiTiO Thin Films.

Subtle changes in the atomic arrangement of NiTiO in the ilmenite structure affects its symmetry and properties. At high temperatures, the cations are randomly distributed throughout the structure, resulting in the corundum structure with -3 symmetry. Upon cooling, the cations order in alternating layers along the crystallographic axis, resulting in the ilmenite structure with -3 symmetry.

Atomic Layer Deposition of GdCoO and GdCaCoO.

Thin films of the catalytically interesting ternary and quaternary perovskites GdCoO and GdCaCoO are fabricated by atomic layer deposition using metal β-diketonates and ozone as precursors. The resulting thin films are amorphous as deposited and become single-oriented crystalline on LaAlO(100) and YAlO(100/010) after post-annealing at 650 °C in air. The crystal orientations of the films are tunable by choice and the orientation of the substrate, mitigated through the interface via solid face epitaxy upon annealing.

Chemical Uniformity in Ferroelectric K Na NbO Thin Films.

Potassium sodium niobate (KNN) has long been considered a viable candidate for replacing lead-based materials in piezo- and ferroelectric devices. The introduction of KNN on an industrial scale is highly awaited; however, processing challenges still remain to be solved. The main obstacle is lack of reproducible growth of uniform boules or thin films at temperatures that facilitate monolithic device integration.

Sensors for optical thermometry based on luminescence from layered YVO: Ln (Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) thin films made by atomic layer deposition.

Below the Earth's crust, temperatures may reach beyond 600 K, impeding the batteries used to power conventional thermometers. Fluorescence intensity ratio based temperature probes can be used with optical fibers that can withstand these conditions. However, the probes tend to exhibit narrow operating ranges and poor sensitivity above 400 K.

Biocompatible organic-inorganic hybrid materials based on nucleobases and titanium developed by molecular layer deposition.

We have constructed thin films of organic-inorganic hybrid character by combining titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP) and the nucleobases thymine, uracil or adenine using the molecular layer deposition (MLD) approach. Such materials have potential as bioactive coatings, and the bioactivity of these films is described in our recent work [Momtazi, L.; Dartt, D.

Molecular layer deposition builds biocompatible substrates for epithelial cells.

The demand for novel biocompatible materials as surface coating in the field of regenerative medicine is high. We explored molecular layer deposition (MLD) technique for building surface coatings and introduced a new group of substrates consisting of amino acids, or nucleobases, and the biocompatible metal titanium. The substrates were built from titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) with l-lysine, glycine, l-aspartic acid, l-arginine, thymine, uracil, and adenine.

First complex oxide superconductor by atomic layer deposition.

We here report on atomic layer deposition (ALD) of the superconducting complex oxide La2-xSrxCuO4-y and provide details of the structural and electrical properties of such films. This is the first report on a complex oxide thin film with superconducting properties that has been deposited by atomic layer deposition.

Surface Forces Apparatus Measurements of Interactions between Rough and Reactive Calcite Surfaces.

nm-Range forces acting between calcite surfaces in water affect macroscopic properties of carbonate rocks and calcite-based granular materials and are significantly influenced by calcite surface recrystallization. We suggest that the repulsive mechanical effects related to nm-scale surface recrystallization of calcite in water could be partially responsible for the observed decrease of cohesion in calcitic rocks saturated with water. Using the surface forces apparatus, we simultaneously followed the calcite reactivity and measured the forces in water in two surface configurations: between two rough calcite surfaces (CC) and between rough calcite and a smooth mica surface (CM).

All-gas-phase synthesis of amino-functionalized UiO-66 thin films.

Thin films of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) prepared using all-gas-phase techniques such as atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD) are emerging due to their potential for enabling suitable applications. Their high and specific porosity enables their use as membranes for separations and as a basis for sensors in microelectronics, provided that films can be made. The properties of such MOF materials can be tuned by choosing linker molecules that are functionalized with a variety of chemical groups.

Rubidium containing thin films by atomic layer deposition.

The application range for atomic layer deposition (ALD) has now been extended to include the deposition of rubidium-containing films, enabling the deposition of new and exploratory types of compounds by ALD. The properties of rubidium t-butoxide as an ALD precursor are promising, revealing similar behavior as its lithium, sodium and potassium counterparts. The deposition of rubidium containing films is reported as proof of concept through the Rb-Ti-O and Rb-Nb-O systems.