The sintering behavior of submicron / nanosize TiC powders was investigated. The TiC powders (31 wt.% carbon) are synthesized from a carbon coated precursor and have excess carbon content. Ti, Ni and Al powders were added to have in-situ intermetallic binders for sintering. The composition TiC-5 wt.% Ti (pellet 1) shows pure TiC in the XRD analysis after sintering. The composition TiC-30 wt.% Ni3Al (pellet 3) shows the formation of the liquid phase Ni3Al. No liquid phase can be clearly identified in the XRD pattern of pellet 2 (TiC-30 wt.% Ni3Ti). However the SEM micrograph of pellet 2 shows similarity to the SEM image of pellet 3 concerning the formation of liquid phase.

Pellets 1 and 2 show densifications of 100 % TD (theoretical density), whereas pellet 3 is only 90 % TD. Pellet 3 has the highest hardness (2511 HV) and fracture toughness (12.08 MPa m1/2).

We present results of a study motivated by the recent suggestion that the properties of nanocrystalline materials with a large surface-to-volume ratio can be tuned by inducing spacecharge regions at interfaces by means of an applied voltage. As an example, we investigate the reversible variation of the lattice constant of platinum nanoparticles immersed in an aqueous 1M KOH electrolyte as a function of applied potential. It is found that a reversible volumetric strain of up to 1.2 % can be induced, corresponding to pressures of up to 3.2 GPa. We present the experimental set-ups for in-situ X-ray diffraction with an electrochemical cell. The variation of the space charge at the metal-electrolyte interface results in a variation of the surface stress f as a function of the applied potential, which is not an electrocapillary effect.

We have developed a novel thin film processing method based upon pulsed laser deposition to process nanocrystalline magnetic materials with accurate size and interface control. Using this method, single domain nanocrystalline Fe and Ni particles in 5-10 nm size range embedded in amorphous as well as crystalline alumina have been produced. Magnetization measurements of these layered thin films as function of field and temperature were carried out using a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. Hysteresis below blocking temperature have been found to be consistent with the Stoner-Wohlfarth type behavior. The size of Fe and Ni nanodots measured using transmission electron microscopy and calculated using magnetic data are in excellent agreement with each other.

Using a plasma-gas-condensation-type cluster beam deposition system, we deposited monodispersed Co clusters with mean diameter d = 8.5 nm on quartz and microgrid substrates. The cluster-cluster coalescence process of the Co cluster assemblies was investigated by in situ electrical conductivity measurements and ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The change of magnetic properties induced by the inter-cluster coalescence was also discussed. The electrical conductivity measurement indicated that, at temperatures T < 100°C, the Co clusters in the assemblies maintain their original size as deposited at room temperature, while the inter-cluster coalescence takes place at T > 100°C. The TEM observation showed that the size distribution and the interface morphology of the clusters do not change markedly at substrate temperatures T s ≤ 200°C, while cluster-cluster coalescence starts at T s > 200°C. Above T s = 300°C, the interfacial area of coalesced clusters is crystalline, having its own orientation different from those of two connected cluster cores.

We describe the growth of magnetic nanostructures on carbon nanotube templates. The nanotubes were grown by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. The as grown nanotubes were aligned reasonably well around the substrate normal directions. Although the nanotubes were quite straight, there were still some bent and tilt as revealed by the scanning electron microscope observations. Magnetic field has been used to re-align or re-assemble the nanotubes before they were used as the templates to grow magnetic nanostructures. Depending on whether there is a magnetic particle on the top tip of each nanotube and the density of the nanotubes, there are two different consequences of applying a magnetic field to the nanotubes. For nanotubes with magnetic particles attached to their top tips, the post-growth treatment by the magnetic field resulted in re-assembly of the nanotubes into micro-umbrella type of structures. For those without magnetic particles, however, the effect of magnetic field treatment is negligible; but after the deposition of thin magnetic layers, the field treatment made the nanotubes much straighter than what they originally were and aligned almost vertically to the substrates. The re-aligned or re-assembled nanotubes were used as the templates to grow magnetic nanostructures. It was found that most of the magnetic nanostructures exhibited characteristics similar to those of magnetic nanowires.

We have developed a highly modular electrostatically-mediated approach to colloid-colloid and polymer-colloid networks using ‘building block’ and ‘bricks and mortar’ self-assembly methodologies, respectively. The former approach involved functionalization of one type of nanoparticle building block with a primary amine and a counterpart building block with a carboxylic acid derivative. After combining these two systems, acid-base chemistry followed by immediate charge-pairing resulted in the spontaneous formation of electrostatically-bound mixed-nanoparticle constructs. The shape and size of these ensembles were controlled via variation of particle size and stoichiometries. In the ‘bricks and mortar’ approach, a functionalized polymer is combined with complementary nanoparticles to provide mixed polymer-nanoparticle networked structures. A notable feature is the inherent porosity resulting from the electrostatic assembly. The shape and size of these ensembles were controlled via variation of particle size, stoichiometries and the order in which they were added.

Due to effects of reduced dimensionality, Bi2Te3 nanowires are predicted to have increased thermoelectric efficiency relative to bulk Bi2Te3, one of the most efficient thermoelectric materials known. High-density arrays of nanowires have desirable characteristics for accessing nanowire properties in potential applications and also allow for facile nanowire property assessment. Here we describe a fabrication method to produce Bi2Te3 nanowire arrays by direct current electrochemical deposition into porous anodic alumina templates. The characteristics of the arrays have been assessed to determine the composition and structure in the arrays as well as in individual nanowires. Thefabricated arrays have a high-density of uniform diameter (∼40nm), high aspect ratio wires that are stoichiometric, polycrystalline Bi2Te3.

A Y2O3-SiO2 nanocomposite doped with Eu3+ was obtained by a sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR, 29Si NMR and laser-excited luminescence spectroscopy. It was found that small (2-3 nm) yttria nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in, and interacting with, the amorphous silica matrix. Luminescence spectroscopy indicates that the Eu3+ ion is preferentially located inside or at the surface of highly disordered Y2O3 nanoparticles. These luminescent nanocomposites form a class of materials which could find applications in the field of phosphors.

Carbon encapsulated Ni nanoparticles (Ni(C)) were synthesized by modified arc-discharge reactor under methane atmosphere. The presence of carbon encapsulation is confirmed by HR-TEM imaging, and Nano-diffraction. The average particle radius is typically 10.5 nm with spherical shape. The intimate and contiguous carbon fringe around these Ni nanoparticles is good evidence for complete encapsulation by carbon shell layers.

Superparamagnetic property studies were performed using SQUID magnetometer for the assemblies of Ni(C) nanoparticles. The blocking temperature (TB) is determined to around 115K at 1000Oe applied field. Above TB, the magnetization M (H, T) can be described by the classical Langevin function L using the relation, M/Ms(T=0) = coth(μH/kT)- kT/μH. The particle radius can be inferred from Langevin fit (particle moment μ) and blocking temperature theory (TB), which values are a little bigger than HR-TEM observations. It is suggested, these assemblies of carbon encapsulated Ni nanoparticles have been showed typical single-domain, field-dependent superparamagnetic relaxation properties.

Surface patterns of porous zeolite structures such as knotted-rope web and wrinkled honeycomb were obtained by dynamic self-assembly of zeolite nanoparticles during solvent evaporation of colloidal zeolite suspension. The study shows that extra ethanol in zeolite synthesis solution is crucial for pattern formation. The addition of ethanol helps produce zeolite nanoparticles with a specific range of particle size during the hydrothermal synthesis. It also provides uniform dynamic driving force for pattern formation during its preferential evaporation. In addition, surface patterns vary with suspension compositions. The patterned zeolite structures have a well-defined bimodal pore size distribution (i.e., 0.55 nm and 2.6 nm) with high BET surface area of 680∼750m2&/g.

This paper focuses on the relation between the microstructure and the Giant Magneto-Resistive (GMR) properties of Au80Co20 and Au80Co10Fe10 granular alloys. After annealing of quenched samples large differences in structure of Co and CoFe nano-particles arise: e.g. fcc Co versus bcc CoFe, spinodal decomposition of Co versus nucleation and growth of FeCo, truncated octahedrons for Co and plates for CoFe. Particularly the shape of the precipitates and the state of coherency at the interface between magnetic particle and non-magnetic matrix turned out to have important influences on the GMR behavior.

The mechanism of molybdenum and molybdenum oxide nanoparticles formation from molybdenum oxide microparticles by electron beam irradiation using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope on a room-temperature stage have been investigated. It is found that, the microsized molybdenum oxide particles disintegrated to form nanosized molybdenum oxide particles by electron beam irradiation with an intensity of approximately 1021e/cm2 · sec. The molybdenum nanoparticles were formed from molybdenum oxide nanoparticles upon further electron irradiation. During the electron irradiation process, the surfaces and interfaces of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles suffered damage and defects, such as vacancy arrays showing hole like spots and a moire-like fringes in the lattice image due to oxygen loss, followed by a gradual change from molybdenum oxide to molybdenum nanoparticles. The phenomenon of molybdenum metal nanoparticle formation from nanosized molybdenum oxide is considered to be due to desorption of oxygen as a result of electron stimulation and atomic displacement via the knock-on effect. It is suggested that electron irradiation is a powerful technique to create nanostructured metal, ceramic and semiconductor materials by atomic-scale control.

Diffusion and ionic conduction in nanocrystalline ceramics, both monophase and composite, was studied by NMR relaxation and NMR lineshape as well as impedance spectroscopy. Measurements were mainly done on Li ion conductors prepared by high-energy ball milling. It was possible to discriminate between mobile ions in the interfacial regions and immobile ions in the grains. In general the diffusivity and conductivity are enhanced in the nanocrystalline monophase system as compared to the microcrystalline one, e. g. by about four orders of magnitude in the case of CaF2. An exception is, e. g., Li2O where the nano- and microcrystalline forms have similar conductivities. However, when the nanocrystalline insulator B2O3 is added to nanocrystalline Li2O the conductivity of the composite increases whereas it decreases in the corresponding microcrystalline system.

Osteoblast (the bone-forming cells) and smooth muscle cell adhesion was investigated on carbon nanofiber formulations of various diameters (specifically, from 60 to 200 nm) and surface energies (from 25 to 140 mJ/m2) in the present in vitro study. Results provided the first evidence that osteoblast adhesion increased with decreased carbon nanofiber diameter after 1 hour. In contrast, smooth muscle cell adhesion was not dependent on carbon nanofiber diameter. Moreover, the present study demonstrated that smooth muscle cell adhesion decreased with increased carbon nanofiber surface energy after 1 hour. Alternatively, osteoblast adhesion was not affected by carbon nanofiber surface energy. Since adhesion is a crucial prerequisite for subsequent functions of cells (such as the deposition of bone by osteoblasts), the present results of controlled adhesion of both osteoblasts and a competitive cell line (i.e., smooth muscle cells) demonstrate that carbon nanofibers with small diameters and high surface energies may become the next-generation of orthopedic implant materials to enhance new bone synthesis. These criteria may prove critical in the clinical success of bone prostheses.

Superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles were surface-modified with poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) or folic acid, to resist the protein adsorption and avoid their recognition by macrophage cells, and to improve their cell internalization and ability to target specific cells. The nanoparticle uptake into human osteosarcoma cells, MG63, was visualized using both fluorescence and confocal microscopy, and quantified using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP) measurement. Fluorescence and confocal microscopy results showed that the nanoparticles were internalized into the cells after the cells were cultured for 48h in the medium containing the nanoparticles modified with PEG or folic acid. ICP measurements indicated that both the PEG and folic acid modification increased the amount of the nanoparticle uptake into the cells, in comparison with that of unmodified nanoparticles.

We present a study on the magnetic behavior of nanosized iron oxide particles coated with different surfactants (sodium oleate, PVA and starch) in a ferrofluid. The effect of the coating material, and different particle concentrations in the ferrofluid have been magnetically investigated to determine the effective magnetic particle size and possible interaction. The superparamagnetic iron oxide particles, synthesized by a controlled co-precipitation technique, are found to contain magnetite (Fe3O4) as a main phase with a narrow physical particle size distribution between 6 and 8 nm. The mean effective magnetic size of the particles in different ferrofluid systems are estimated to be around 4-5 nm which is smaller than the physical particle size. On a 10% dilution in the starch coated ferrofluid we observe a decrease in the blocking temperature.

A most feasible tool in characterizing magnetic properties is Mössbauer spectroscopy. By a combination with electron spectroscopy, the depth profile of the Mössbauer excitation is experimentally accessible [Liljequist01, Stahl97]. Depth selective Mössbauer studies in the vicinity of the Néel temperatures of an antiferromagnetic FeBO3 single crystal and a α-FeOOH thin film and of the Morin transition in an β-Fe2O3 single crystal are presented. Especially in FeBO3, the divergence of both, the spatial correlation between atomic moments and the autocorrelation of the local moment, could be observed in the critical region.

Recently, the field of nanoelectonics has evolved into a major area of investigation. In this paper, we present a novel method of nanofabrication using pulsed lasers and near-field optical properties of sub-micron particles. For this purpose, spherical silica particles were deposited on a silicon surface. After laser illumination, hillocks with size of about 150 nm were obtained at the original position of the particles. The mechanism can be explained as the enhancement of light intensity near the contact area. Since the characteristic distance between particles and substrate is smaller than the radiation wavelength and the particle size is of the order of a wavelength, particle does not simply play the role of microfocusing lens as in far-field, but possess optical resonance effect in near-field. In our work, the light intensity on the surface under the spherical particle was calculated by solving the electromagnetic boundary problem “particle on suface”.

Nanocrystalline gold films were prepared by advanced gas deposition. Electric field induced effects on the film structure during and after deposition was investigated. A dc electric field in the range 2 ≤U a ≤ 8 V/cm, was applied parallel to the substrate surface and led to changes of film microstructure and resistivity. In another set of experiments, films deposited at U a = 0 were exposed to electric fields of similar strength after deposition. Film degradation could be understood from a mechanism consistent with a biased-percolation effect. Our results show that it is possible to control the film structure by varying the strength of an applied electric field.

Metal-organic and hybrid metal-organic/metal nanoparticle inkswere evaluated for use in the inkjet printing of copper and silver conducting lines. Pure, smooth, dense, highly conductive coatings were produced by spray printing with (hexafluoroacetylacetonato)copper(I)-vinyltrimethylsilane Cu(hfa)·VTMS) and (hexafluoroacetylacetonato)silver(I)(1,5-cyclooctadiene) (Ag(hfa)COD) metal-organic precursors on heated substrates. Good adhesion to the substrates tested, glass, Kapton tape and Si, has been achieved without use of adhesion promoters. The silver metal-organic ink has also beenused to print metal lines and patterns with a commercial inkjet printer. Hybrid inks comprised of metal nanoparticles mixed with the metal-organic complexes above have also been used to deposit Cu and Ag films by spray printing.This approach gives dense, adherent films that are much thicker than those obtained using the metal-organic inks alone. The conductivities of the silvercoatings obtained by both approaches are near that of bulk silver (2 μΩ·cm). The copper coatings had conductivities at least an order ofmagnitude less than bulk.