CeraMat

Vertically oriented arrays of TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) are fabricated by fast and facile, thus easily up-scalable, anodic oxidation of a titanium foil followed by rapid thermal annealing. The structural/morphological characterization shows the formation of well defined one-dimensional nanotube carpets, while the X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the pure anatase crystalline structure of the thermal treated samples.

The fabrication and characterization of TiO2 nanotube (NT) arrays and their integration in front-side illuminated Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs) are reported. Vertically oriented TiO2 NTs were obtained by anodic oxidation of titanium foil and not-curling free-standing NT membranes were easily separated from the metal without the formation of cracks. Stoichiometry, crystalline phase and morphology of the films were investigated, evidencing the formation of a highly ordered 1D NT array, with a pure anatase crystalline structure.

Sponge-like nanostructured ZnO layers were successfully employed as photoanodes for the fabrication of highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. The sponge-like ZnO layers were obtained by room temperature radio-frequency magnetron sputtering deposition of metallic zinc, followed by thermal oxidation treatment in an ambient atmosphere. The porous films show a 3D branched nanomorphology, with a feature similar to natural coral.

Yttrium-aluminium garnet (YAG) powders were synthesized using a reverse-strike precipitation, by adding an aqueous solution of yttrium and aluminium chlorides to dilute ammonia while monitoring the pH to a constant value of 9. After precipitation, the gelly product was washed with dilute ammonia and absolute ethanol for avoiding hard agglomeration during drying. Precipitation and washing procedures were performed at three different temperatures, namely at 5, 25 and 60 °C.

Alumina-yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) 50 vol % nanocomposite powders were prepared by a wet-chemical synthesis and characterized by simultaneous DTA-TG, XRD, and TEM analyses. Amorphous powders were preheated at four different temperatures (namely, 600, 800, 900, and 1215°C) on the basis of the previous characterization, and the influence of this thermal treatment on sintering behavior, final microstructure, and density was investigated.