On the antimicrobial properties and endurance of eugenol and 2-phenylphenol functionalized sol-gel coatings.

Preventing microbiological surface contamination in public spaces is nowadays of high priority. The proliferation of a microbial infection may arise through air, water, or direct contact with infected surfaces. Chemical sanitization is one of the most effective approaches to avoid the proliferation of microorganisms.

Solid lubricant behavior of MoS and WSe-based nanocomposite coatings.

Tribological coatings made of MoS and WSe phases and their corresponding combinations with tungsten carbide (WC) were prepared by non-reactive magnetron sputtering of individual targets of similar composition. A comparative tribological analysis of these multiphase coatings was done in both ambient air (30-40% relative humidity, RH) and dry nitrogen (RH<7%) environments using the same tribometer and testing conditions. A nanostructural study using advanced transmission electron microscopy of the initial coatings and examination of the counterfaces after the friction test using different analytical tools helped to elucidate what governs the tribological behavior for each type of environment.

A nanoscale characterization with electron microscopy of multilayered CrAlYN coatings: a singular functional nanostructure.

A combination of transmission electron microscopy techniques and spatially resolved microanalysis is used to investigate the nanostructure, constituting phases, and chemical elemental distribution in CrAlYN multilayered coatings. The location of the metallic elements and their chemical state are needed to understand their functional properties. Samples were prepared with variable Al (4-12 at%) and Y (2-5 at%) contents by direct current reactive magnetron sputtering on silicon substrates using metallic targets and Ar/N2 mixtures under different deposition parameters (power applied to the target and rotation speed of the sample holder).