Design and Scalable Synthesis of Thermochromic VO-Based Coatings for Energy-Saving Smart Windows with Exceptional Optical Performance.

We report strongly thermochromic YSZ/VWSrO/SiO coatings, where YSZ is Y-stabilized ZrO, prepared by using a scalable deposition technique on standard glass at a low substrate temperature of 320 °C and without any substrate bias voltage. The coatings exhibit a transition temperature of 22 °C with an integral luminous transmittance of 63.7% (low-temperature state) and 60.

Three-Layer PdO/CuWO/CuO System for Hydrogen Gas Sensing with Reduced Humidity Interference.

The growing hydrogen industry is stimulating an ongoing search for new materials not only for hydrogen production or storage but also for hydrogen sensing. These materials have to be sensitive to hydrogen, but additionally, their synthesis should be compatible with the microcircuit industry to enable seamless integration into various devices. In addition, the interference of air humidity remains an issue for hydrogen sensing materials.

Tuning Stoichiometry and Structure of Pd-WO Thin Films for Hydrogen Gas Sensing by High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering.

By tuning the deposition parameters of reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering, specifically the pulse length, we were able to prepare WO films with various stoichiometry and structure. Subsequently, the films were annealed in air at moderate temperature (350 °C). We demonstrate that the stoichiometry of the as-deposited films influences considerably the type of crystalline phase formed in the annealed films.

High-performance thermochromic VO-based coatings with a low transition temperature deposited on glass by a scalable technique.

We report on high-performance thermochromic ZrO/VWO/ZrO coatings with a low transition temperature prepared on glass by a low-temperature scalable deposition technique. The VWO layers were deposited by a controlled high-power impulse magnetron sputtering of V target, combined with a simultaneous pulsed DC magnetron sputtering of W target to reduce the transition temperature to 20-21 °C, at a low substrate surface temperature of 330 °C in an argon-oxygen gas mixture. ZrO antireflection layers both below and above the thermochromic VWO layers were deposited at a low substrate temperature (< 100 °C).

The use of porcine corrosion casts for teaching human anatomy.

In teaching and learning human anatomy, anatomical autopsy and prosected specimens have always been indispensable. However, alternative methods must often be used to demonstrate particularly delicate structures. Corrosion casting of porcine organs with Biodur E20 Plus is valuable for teaching and learning both gross anatomy and, uniquely, the micromorphology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urogenital systems.

Preparation of magnetron sputtered thin cerium oxide films with a large surface on silicon substrates using carbonaceous interlayers.

The study focuses on preparation of thin cerium oxide films with a porous structure prepared by rf magnetron sputtering on a silicon wafer substrate using amorphous carbon (a-C) and nitrogenated amorphous carbon films (CNx) as an interlayer. We show that the structure and morphology of the deposited layers depend on the oxygen concentration in working gas used for cerium oxide deposition. Considerable erosion of the carbonaceous interlayer accompanied by the formation of highly porous carbon/cerium oxide bilayer systems is reported.

Modeling growth of one-dimensional islands: influence of reactive defects.

Influence of reactive defects on size distribution of one-dimensional islands is studied by means of kinetic Monte Carlo simulations in combination with an analytical approach. Two different models are examined: a model with anisotropically diffusing atoms irreversibly aggregating to islands, and a reversible model close to thermal equilibrium which allows atom detachment from islands during the growth. The models can be used to simulate island growth of group III metals deposited on the Si(100)2 x 1 surface at room temperature: Al, Ga (irreversible model), and In (equilibrium model).