As technology advances, mechanical and electrical systems are subjugated to intense temperature fluctuations through their service life. Designing coatings that operate in extreme temperatures is, therefore, a continuing challenge within the tribology community. Silver tantalate was chosen for investigation at the atomic level, the physical and chemical properties that influence the thermal, mechanical, and tribological behavior for moving assemblies in high temperature tribological applications. By correlating behavior of internal physical processes to the macro tribological behavior, the tribological community will potentially gain improved predicative performance of solid lubricants in future investigations. Three different approaches were explored for the creation of such materials on Inconel substrates: (1) powders produced using a solid state which were burnished on the surface; (2) monolithic silver tantalate thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering; and, (3) an adaptive tantalum nitride/silver nanocomposite sputter-deposited coating that forms a lubricious silver tantalate oxide on its surface when operated at elevated temperatures. Dry sliding wear tests of the coatings against Si3N4 counterfaces revealed friction coefficients in the 0.06 - 0.15 range at T ~ 750 °C. Reduced friction coefficients were found in nanocomposite materials that contained primarily a AgTaO3 phase with a small amount of segregated Ag phase, as suggested by structural characterization using X-ray diffraction. The presence of nanoparticles of segregated Ag in the thin films further enhanced the performance of these materials by increasing their toughness. Additional characterization of the AgTaO3 films at 750 °C under normal loads of 1, 2, 5, or 10 N revealed that the friction monotonically increased as the load was increased. These results were complemented by molecular dynamics simulations, which confirmed the increase of friction with load. Further, the simulations support the hypothesis that this trend can be explained in terms of decreased presence of Ag clusters near the sliding surface and the associated decreased porosity. The results suggest that the relative amount of Ag in a TaN or Ta2O5 mastrix may be used to tune film performance for a given application.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第21074号 / 工博第4438号 / 新制||工||1690(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科分子工学専攻 / (主査)教授 田中 庸裕, 教授 梶 弘典, 教授 今堀 博 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Topochemical strategies, techniques that allow one to effectively manipulate the structures of nonmolecular solids once a crystal lattice is established, are effective in the low temperature (< 500 °C) modification of solid state structures, allowing the preparation of nonmolecular compounds not accessible by standard synthetic routes. Some of the techniques, ion exchange, intercalation/deintercalation, have proven to be excellent synthetic methods for preserving specific frameworks. The combination of these techniques can allow one to create a multistep approach that can be used to design new compounds with interesting properties. As an expansion to the field of topotactic reactions, a multistep approach was developed towards the synthesis of the new compounds (A xM0.5Cly)LaNb2O7 (where A = Rb, Cs; M = Fe, Ni; x ≈ 1.5;y ≈ 1) at temperatures below 400oC. The first reaction step involved the ion exchange of the host materials (ALaNb2O7, A = Rb, Cs) to form the products M0.5LaNb2O7 (where M = Fe, Ni), a structure open to further chemistry. The next step involved reductive intercalation with Rb or Cs metal to form the air sensitive mixed-valence products with the nominal compositions, A1.5M0.5LaNb2O7. The last step involved the oxidative intercalation of chlorine using chlorine gas to obtain the final compounds. This multistep approach is a design to form mix-metal halide layers, specifically those with divalent cations, within layered perovskites, opening the doors to compounds that can have interesting properties. This reaction series was also applied to the tantalate layered oxides, leading to the formation of the new compound Ni 0.5LaTa2O7 through ion exchange. The further multistep topochemical manipulation of this new compound was not successful and was indicative of the difference in chemical behavior of the tantalates versus the niobates. We have also investigated the oxidative intercalation of halogens into a series of Ruddlesden-Popper (R-P) ruthenate oxides with the formula Ae n+1RunO3n+1 (Ae = Ca, Sr; n = 1, 2, 3) using several sources of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. A new method was developed to intercalate chlorine into layered systems; this new approach avoids the use of chlorine gas which is highly toxic. The new phase Sr3Ru2O7Cl0.7 was synthesized by the new method and further topotactic manipulations were explored. The chemistry was not limited to the n = 2 phase but was also applied to the n = 3 phase, Sr4Ru3O10.

Nesta tese são apresentados resultados inovadores de puxamento e caracterização de fibras cristalinas de compostos presentes no diagrama de fases de equilíbrio La2O3 - Ta2O5. Os compostos La3TaO7 (Ponto de Fusão: 2020 ºC), LaTaO4 (1930 ºC), LaTa3O9 (1850 ºC), La2Ta12O33 (1890 ºC), LaTa5O14 e LaTa7O19 mais os óxidos precursores Ta2O5 (1872 ºC) e La2O3 (2315 ºC) foram crescidos pela técnica Laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG). Cristais no formato de fibras, com diâmetros que variaram de 250 a 2200 &mu;m e comprimentos de até 60 mm, foram obtidos em atmosfera aberta a partir da fusão de pedestais preparados por extrusão a frio e na composição estequiométrica desejada. Diagramas de velocidade de puxamento em função do diâmetro da fibra foram construídos para se definir as condições experimentais ideais para o crescimento de cristais transparentes e livres de defeitos, como microtrincas. Um estudo térmico na interface sólido-líquido foi realizado para o composto Ta2O5 de modo a determinar o diâmetro do cristal máximo que é possível de se obter sem a ocorrência de trincas associadas ao stress térmico. A estrutura cristalina das fibras de Ta2O5 foi determinada como monoclínica, quando dopada com íons terras-raras em concentração nominal superior a 1 mol% apresentaram a estrutura como triclínica. Cristais de La2O3 também foram obtidos. Porém o La2O3 é altamente higroscópico, transformaram-se em La(OH)3. Os cristais La3TaO7, LaTaO4, LaTa3O9, La2Ta12O33, LaTa5O14 e LaTa7O19 puros e, quando possível dopados com íons terras-raras (Nd+3, Tm+3 e Eu+3, foram caracterizados estruturalmente, por difração de raios X e em alguns casos, por espectroscopia micro-Raman, e opticamente, usando as técnicas de absorção óptica e fotoluminescência. / Innovative results related to the pulling and characterization of crystalline fibers of compounds in the La2O3 - Ta2O5 phase diagram. Structural and optical characterizations were carried out to evaluate the quality of the crystals grown. Compounds such as La3TaO7 (Melting point: 2020 ºC), LaTaO4 (1930 ºC), LaTa3O9 (1850 ºC), La2Ta12O33 (1890 ºC), LaTa5O14 e LaTa7O19 and the end member Ta2O5 (1872 ºC) and La2O3 (2315 ºC) precursors were grown by laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG). Fibers of lengths of up to 60 mm and with diameters ranging from 250 to 2200 &mu;m were obtained in open atmosphere from the melting of pedestals with stoichiometric compositions that are prepared by the cold extrusion process. Diagrams of pulling rate on the fiber diameter were built to define experimental conditions for the growth of transparent crystals and free defect, such as microcracks. A study on thermal solid-liquid interface was performed for the Ta2O5 compound to determine the maximum diameter of the crystal it is possible to obtain without the occurrence of cracks associated with thermal stress. The crystal structure of the fibers of Ta2O5 was monoclinic, with the exception of as-doped rare-earth ions in nominal concentration more than 1 mol% which was determined as triclinic. Transparent La2O3 crystals were grown and verified which its absorbed water from the environment and transformed into La(OH)3. The crystals La3TaO7, LaTaO4, LaTa3O9, La2Ta12O33, LaTa5O14 and LaTa7O19 pure and, when possible doped rare-earth ions (Nd+3, Tm+3, Eu+3), were characterized by X-ray diffraction, and in some cases, by micro-Raman spectroscopy, and optically, using the techniques of optical absorption and photoluminescence.

Based on a Ph.D. thesis in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, 1963. / Bibliography: p. 81-83.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2002. / Adviser: Anthony Petric. Includes bibliographical referernces. Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2002. / Adviser: Anthony Petric. Includes bibliographical referernces. Also available via World Wide Web.

Nesta tese são apresentados resultados inovadores de puxamento e caracterização de fibras cristalinas de compostos presentes no diagrama de fases de equilíbrio La2O3 - Ta2O5. Os compostos La3TaO7 (Ponto de Fusão: 2020 ºC), LaTaO4 (1930 ºC), LaTa3O9 (1850 ºC), La2Ta12O33 (1890 ºC), LaTa5O14 e LaTa7O19 mais os óxidos precursores Ta2O5 (1872 ºC) e La2O3 (2315 ºC) foram crescidos pela técnica Laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG). Cristais no formato de fibras, com diâmetros que variaram de 250 a 2200 &mu;m e comprimentos de até 60 mm, foram obtidos em atmosfera aberta a partir da fusão de pedestais preparados por extrusão a frio e na composição estequiométrica desejada. Diagramas de velocidade de puxamento em função do diâmetro da fibra foram construídos para se definir as condições experimentais ideais para o crescimento de cristais transparentes e livres de defeitos, como microtrincas. Um estudo térmico na interface sólido-líquido foi realizado para o composto Ta2O5 de modo a determinar o diâmetro do cristal máximo que é possível de se obter sem a ocorrência de trincas associadas ao stress térmico. A estrutura cristalina das fibras de Ta2O5 foi determinada como monoclínica, quando dopada com íons terras-raras em concentração nominal superior a 1 mol% apresentaram a estrutura como triclínica. Cristais de La2O3 também foram obtidos. Porém o La2O3 é altamente higroscópico, transformaram-se em La(OH)3. Os cristais La3TaO7, LaTaO4, LaTa3O9, La2Ta12O33, LaTa5O14 e LaTa7O19 puros e, quando possível dopados com íons terras-raras (Nd+3, Tm+3 e Eu+3, foram caracterizados estruturalmente, por difração de raios X e em alguns casos, por espectroscopia micro-Raman, e opticamente, usando as técnicas de absorção óptica e fotoluminescência. / Innovative results related to the pulling and characterization of crystalline fibers of compounds in the La2O3 - Ta2O5 phase diagram. Structural and optical characterizations were carried out to evaluate the quality of the crystals grown. Compounds such as La3TaO7 (Melting point: 2020 ºC), LaTaO4 (1930 ºC), LaTa3O9 (1850 ºC), La2Ta12O33 (1890 ºC), LaTa5O14 e LaTa7O19 and the end member Ta2O5 (1872 ºC) and La2O3 (2315 ºC) precursors were grown by laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG). Fibers of lengths of up to 60 mm and with diameters ranging from 250 to 2200 &mu;m were obtained in open atmosphere from the melting of pedestals with stoichiometric compositions that are prepared by the cold extrusion process. Diagrams of pulling rate on the fiber diameter were built to define experimental conditions for the growth of transparent crystals and free defect, such as microcracks. A study on thermal solid-liquid interface was performed for the Ta2O5 compound to determine the maximum diameter of the crystal it is possible to obtain without the occurrence of cracks associated with thermal stress. The crystal structure of the fibers of Ta2O5 was monoclinic, with the exception of as-doped rare-earth ions in nominal concentration more than 1 mol% which was determined as triclinic. Transparent La2O3 crystals were grown and verified which its absorbed water from the environment and transformed into La(OH)3. The crystals La3TaO7, LaTaO4, LaTa3O9, La2Ta12O33, LaTa5O14 and LaTa7O19 pure and, when possible doped rare-earth ions (Nd+3, Tm+3, Eu+3), were characterized by X-ray diffraction, and in some cases, by micro-Raman spectroscopy, and optically, using the techniques of optical absorption and photoluminescence.

A commercial non-contact atomic force microscope was improved to achieve utmost resolution on a routine basis. This system was used to study the (110) surface of rutile titanium dioxide. The focus was on understanding contrast formation in terms of tip-sample interaction mechanisms. Moreover, chromium and antimony-doped titanium dioxide was investigated. The implications of transition-metal doping on the surface structure of this highly interesting photocatalyst was studied at the atomic scale.

The ability of physics to provide an understanding of our Universe lies in the essential interrelation between experiment and theory. But physics does not provide us only reliable representations of the causes acting in nature. Its powerful experimental devices and theoretical methods are the underlying reason of the explosive technological development of our time. LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 represent only one example of the essential impact of both experimental and theoretical investigations on their technological applications. Particularly, LiNbO3 has been the subject of many experimental studies due to its applications in electro-optic and integrated optical devices. Also, the doped LiNbO3 with rare-earth and transition metals could be used, for instance, as a material for tunable lasers. The previous theoretical studies devoted to LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 focused on their electronic structure, being an attempt to understand the microscopic origin of the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition of these materials. The ab initio lattice dynamics investigations performed so far were mainly aimed to identify the role of the individual atoms vibrations in the energetic of the phase transition. The lack of a reliable model for the zone-center lattice dynamics in these compounds motivated us to investigate this issue by means of ab initio frozen-phonon calculations. On the background of the obtained phonon frequencies and eigenvectors, we unambiguously identified all zone-center modes for LiNbO3 and the A1 ones for LiTaO3. Due to the above mentioned enlargement of the technological applications of LiNbO3 by doping with various ions, we focused on the analysis of the ground-state properties of this material when doped with Fe and Cr. Even if the theoretical approach used in our calculations is not predictive with respect to the optical properties of the physical systems in study, a certain insight on this problem could be gained from the analysis of the effect of the atomic positions relaxation on the impurities energy levels localized in the optical band gap.