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At least 703 records · Page 39

Kinetic Studies on Photodeposition of Polydiacetylene Thin Film from Solution: Preliminary Determination of the Rate Law

Preliminary kinetic studies were undertaken on the photodeposition of thin films of a polydiacetylene derivative of 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline from monomer solutions onto quartz substrates. Solutions of the monomer, DAMNA, in 1,2-dichloroethane at various concentrations were irradiated at 364 nm using an argon-ion laser at several intensities. It was found that the rate of polydiacetylene (PDAMNA) film photodeposition varies linearly with UV light intensity and as the square root of monomer concentration.

Paley, M. S.↗

A Novel Inter Core-Cladding Lithium Niobate Thin Film Coated Fiber Modulator/Sensor

A fiber modulator/sensor has been fabricated by depositing a lithium niobate sol-gel thin film between the core and cladding of a fiber preform. The preform is then drawn into 125 micron fiber. The proposed design of lithium niobate cylinder fibers can enhance the existing methodology for detecting sound waves under water utilizing the acoustooptic properties of lithium niobate. Upon application of a stress or strain, light propagating inside the core, according to the principle of total internal reflection, escapes, into the cladding because of the photoelastic boundary layer of lithium niobate. Test results of the lithium niobate fiber reveal a reduction in the 1550 nm, 4mW source with applied tension. The source power from an ordinary quartz fiber under the same stress condition remained invariant to applied tension.

Jamison, Tracee L.↗

RF and DC Power Handling Characterization of Thin Film Resistors Embedded on LCP

For the first time, the DC and RF power handling capability of NiCrAlSi thin film resistors on Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) is presented. It is shown that there is a maximum power that the resistors can handle without causing degradation of the resistors, and this value is significantly less than the power required for burn out of the resistors. EDAX shows that the resistors fail due to electromigration of Ni and Cr, and migration of C from the LCP.

Ponchak, George E.↗

Semiconductor- Metal Graded Index Composite Thin Films for Infrared Applications

Theoretical/experimental studies have been carried out on Germanium:Silver (Ge:Ag) graded index composite thin films, which demonstrate that graded coatings, consisting of varied concentrations of Ag with respect to the Ge film thickness, exhibit different optica properties ranging from selective infrared (IR) reflectance to broadband IR absorptance.

Inhomogeneous↗

Layer by layer thin film fabrication with in-process laser patterning

A modification of the traditional layer by layer process where the substrate is irradiated with laser light during the polycation and/or polyanion dipping cycles is described. By adjusting the laser irradiation time during dipping, irradiation power, number of bilayers, and the location and speed of laser irradiation, a variety of structures with controlled thicknesses can be fabricated. Laser patterned multilayer PAH/PTEBS polymer thin films were fabricated and characterized with absorbance mapping to demonstrate several patterning approaches. Results for 1) two laser patterned tracks, 2) single laser patterned track with varied average laser power across the sample from a continuously variable neutral density filter, and 3) laser patterning using a beam sent through multiple circular apertures are described. Based on the variable neutral density filter laser pattern, for 20 bilayer PAH/PTEBS films, an absorbance difference between off and on pattern of 0.1 requires an average laser power of less than 15 mW at 405 nm. The patterns produced are on the scale of several millimeters, though they could be made much smaller by focusing the laser used for patterning.

Nanoengineering↗

One-dimensional analysis of the hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics of thin film flows including the hydraulic jump and rotation

The flow of a thin liquid film with a free surface along a horizontal plane that emanates from a pressurized vessel is examined numerically. In one g, a hydraulic jump was predicted in both plane and radial flow, which could be forced away from the inlet by increasing the inlet Froude number or Reynolds number. In zero g, the hydraulic jump was not predicted. The effect of solid-body rotation for radial flow in one g was to 'wash out' the hydraulic jump and to decrease the film height on the disk. The liquid film heights under one g and zero g were equal under solid-body rotation because the effect of centrifugal force was much greater than that of the gravitational force. The heat transfer to a film on a rotating disk was predicted to be greater than that of a stationary disk because the liquid film is extremely thin and is moving with a very high velocity.

Thomas, S.↗

Deposition of Nanostructured Thin Film from Size-Classified Nanoparticles

Materials comprising nanometer-sized grains (approximately 1_50 nm) exhibit properties dramatically different from those of their homogeneous and uniform counterparts. These properties vary with size, shape, and composition of nanoscale grains. Thus, nanoparticles may be used as building blocks to engineer tailor-made artificial materials with desired properties, such as non-linear optical absorption, tunable light emission, charge-storage behavior, selective catalytic activity, and countless other characteristics. This bottom-up engineering approach requires exquisite control over nanoparticle size, shape, and composition. We describe the design and characterization of an aerosol system conceived for the deposition of size classified nanoparticles whose performance is consistent with these strict demands. A nanoparticle aerosol is generated by laser ablation and sorted according to size using a differential mobility analyzer. Nanoparticles within a chosen window of sizes (e.g., (8.0 plus or minus 0.6) nm) are deposited electrostatically on a surface forming a film of the desired material. The system allows the assembly and engineering of thin films using size-classified nanoparticles as building blocks.

Camata, Renato P.↗

A study of nucleation and growth of thin films by means of computer simulation: General features

Some of the processes involved in the nucleation and growth of thin films were simulated by means of a digital computer. The simulation results were used to study the nucleation and growth kinetics resulting from the various processes. Kinetic results obtained for impingement, surface migration, impingement combined with surface migration, and with reevaporation are presented. A substantial fraction of the clusters may form directly upon impingement. Surface migration results in a decrease in cluster density, and reevaporation of atoms from the surface causes a further reduction in cluster density.

Salik, J.↗

Semiconductor-metal graded-index composite thin films for infrared applications

Theoretical/experimental studies have been carried out on germanium:silver (Ge:Ag) graded-index composite thin films which demonstrate that graded coatings, consisting of varied concentrations of Ag with respect to the Ge film thickness, exhibit different optical properties ranging from selective infrared (IR) reflectance to broadband IR absorptance. The graded coatings have been produced by dc magnetron cosputtering of Ge and Ag and the spectral properties are found to be stable against temperature. The coatings have been applied to an infrared tunnel sensor (micro-Golay cell) to improve the device performance.

Lamb, James L.↗

Device and method for measuring thermal conductivity of thin films

A device and method are provided for measuring the thermal conductivity of rigid or flexible, homogeneous or heterogeneous, thin films between 50 .mu.m and 150 .mu.m thick with relative standard deviations of less than five percent. The specimen is sandwiched between like material, highly conductive upper and lower slabs. Each slab is instrumented with six thermocouples embedded within the slab and flush with their corresponding surfaces. A heat source heats the lower slab and a heat sink cools the upper slab. The heat sink also provides sufficient contact pressure onto the specimen. Testing is performed within a vacuum environment (bell-jar) between 10.sup.-3 to 10.sup.-6 Torr. An anti-radiant shield on the interior surface of the bell-jar is used to avoid radiation heat losses. Insulation is placed adjacent to the heat source and adjacent to the heat sink to prevent conduction losses. A temperature controlled water circulator circulates water from a constant temperature bath through the heat sink. Fourier's one-dimensional law of heat conduction is the governing equation. Data, including temperatures, are measured with a multi-channel data acquisition system. On-line computer processing is used for thermal conductivity calculations.

Amer, Tahani R.↗

MgB2 Thin-Film Bolometer for Applications in Far-Infrared Instruments on Future Planetary Missions

A SiN membrane based MgB2 thin-film bolometer, with a non-optimized absorber, has been fabricated that shows an electrical noise equivalent power of 256 fW/square root Hz operating at 30 Hz in the 8.5 - 12.35 micron spectral bandpass. This value corresponds to an electrical specific detectivity of 7.6 x 10(exp 10) cm square root Hz/W. The bolometer shows a measured blackbody (optical) specific detectivity of 8.8 x 10(exp 9) cm square root Hz/W, with a responsivity of 701.5 kV/W and a first-order time constant of 5.2 ms. It is predicted that with the inclusion of a gold black absorber that a blackbody specific detectivity of 6.4 x 10(exp 10) cm/square root Hz/W at an operational frequency of 10 Hz, can be realized for integration into future planetary exploration instrumentation where high sensitivity is required in the 17 - 250 micron spectral wavelength range.

Lakew, B.↗

Thin-film hermeticity - A quantitative analysis of diamondlike carbon using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry

This paper reports on the successful application of variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry to quantitative thin-film hermeticity evaluation. It is shown that, under a variety of film preparations and moisture introduction conditions, water penetrates only a very thin diamondlike carbon (DLC) top surface-roughness region. Thus, DLC is an excellent candidate for use as protective coatings in adverse chemical and aqueous environments.

Orzeszko, S.↗