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Ti thin films were deposited by a radio frequency ion-beam sputtering system. Deposition resulted from sputtering a Ti target (99.995%) with an Ar ion beam. Epitaxial TiO thin films with different orientations, which came from oxidizing Ti thin films, were prepared on single-crystal NaCl substrate. The formation of epitaxial TiO2 thin films (anatase or rutile phase) by oxidation of epitaxial TiO thin films was investigated. The composition, microstructure, and orientation relationships between interfaces were analyzed by TEM and Fourier transformation in the present report. Epitaxial TiO thin films with different orientations were prepared on single-crystal NaCl substrate in the present study. The formation of epitaxial TiO2 thin films (anatase or rutile) by oxidation of epitaxial TiO thin films, which were first grown on different NaCl surfaces, was investigated. The composition, microstructure, and orientation relationships between interfaces were analyzed by TEM and Fourier transformation in this report. The TiO to anatase phase transformation has been studied by transmission electron microscopy in this Article. It is shown that prior formation of TiO from Ti film can induce the formation of anatase by thermal oxidation in air, otherwise only rutile is formed. Ti film deposited on the NaCl (001) surface is induced to form epitaxial TiO film by thermal oxidation in air. Further thermal oxidation in air partially transformed TiO into anatase (A) with a parallel orientation relationship of {200}A // {200}TiO. Detailed analysis of the lattice fringes image of the specimen reveals the presence of very high density of misfit dislocations. The TiO to anatase transformation is reversible as further annealing in a vacuum can turn the anatase back into TiO and eliminates the misfit dislocations. The transformation is analyzed in terms of the crystal structure, orientation relationship, and the dislocation distribution, which show that the TiO to anatase transformation is due to the close similarity between their structures. (Chapter 1) The anatase TiO2 (001) surface was shown to have superior photoreactivity. Epitaxial anatase (001) films used to be grown on single-crystal SrTiO3 and LaAlO3 substrates. It is shown in this report that these films can be grown also on the NaCl substrate, which is much cheaper and easily prepared. Epitaxial TiO (001) films were first grown on the NaCl (001) substrate. By testing the TiO-to-anatase transformation over temperature and time ranges, an epitaxial anatase (001) film was prepared by simple thermal oxidation in air. The formation of a single-variant anatase (001) film instead of a multiple-variant film is discussed in this report. (Chapter 2) An epitaxial rutile (100) thin film has been grown on NaCl substrate instead of other more expensive substrates. An epitaxial TiO (111) thin film with minor Ti phase was first deposited on the NaCl (111) surface by thermal evaporation. It was then transformed into the epitaxial rutile (100) thin film by subsequent thermal oxidation in air. TEM was used to analyze the phases and the orientation relationship. Our previous result showed that an epitaxial anatase (001) film was formed on the NaCl (001) surface in a similar process. The substrate-dependent formation of different TiO2 phase is also discussed in terms of the mismatch of the interfaces. (Chapter 3)

Nanoparticles possess unique physical, chemical, optical and electronic properties stemming from their nanoscale dimensions and are currently used in catalysis, microelectronics, drug delivery, as well as other applications. However, due to their large surface area-to-volume ratio, nanoparticles have a strong tendency to coalesce and sinter during processing or usage over short time scales and at low temperatures, which lead to significant changes in behavior and performance. In this work, in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) heating has been used to investigate the effects of particle size, temperature and carbon capping layers on sintering in face-centered cubic (FCC) metallic nanoparticles. For the first time, we make direct and real-time measurements of nanoparticle size, neck growth, dihedral angle and grain boundary motion during sintering, which are then used to calculate fundamental material transport parameters such as surface diffusivity and grain boundary mobility. We observe that carbon surface coatings typically present on most commercial nanoparticles can significantly inhibit sintering in nanoparticles. Also, a new mechanism for coalescence in nanoparticles is shown where small clusters on the support can initiate neck growth by forming a bridge between the nanoparticles consisting of individual atoms or small clusters of atoms. In-situ TEM experiments provide critical and valuable real-time dynamic information for direct investigation of the link between the evolution of sintering and controlling mechanisms, which conventional experiments such as post-mortem TEM observations are not capable of conveying. / text

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / There are limited reports on virus population in haloalkaline environments; therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity and biology of bacteriophage communities in these environments. Bacteria were isolated to be used as phage hosts. One bacterium from Lake Magadi and four bacteria from Lake Shala were successfully isolated from sediment samples. A further two Lake Shala bacterial hosts from the IMBM culture collection were also used to isolate bacteriophages. Bacterial isolates were identified to be most closely related to Bacillius halodurans, Halomonas axialensis, Virgibacillus salarius, Bacillus licheniformis, Halomonas venusta, Bacillus pseudofirmus and Paracoccus aminovorans. Bacteriophages were screened using all bacteria against sediment samples from both Lake Shala and Lake Magadi. One phage was identified from Lake Magadi sediments (MGBH1) and two phages from Lake Shala sediments (SHBH1 and SHPA). TEM analysis showed that these phages belong to three different dsDNA phage families; Siphoviridae (MGBH1), Myoviridae (SHBH1) and Podoviridae (SHPA). All phages showed different genome sizes on agarose gel. Due to the small genome size, phage SHPA was chosen for further investigation. Partial, genome sequence analysis showed homology to both bacterial and phage proteins. A further investigation of phage diversity in this environment is essential using metagenomic approaches to understand these unique communities.

The phase transformation of anodized Ti film has been studied. Although X-ray diffraction detected only the amorphous TiO2 phase, transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that TiO nanocrystallites less than 10 nm in size were also present, which was further supported by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Anatase was found to appear gradually by annealing the as-anodized specimen in air at 500¡V550 oC, which was accompanied by a simultaneous disappearance of TiO nanocrystallites. In contrast, only rutile is formed by annealing the Ti film at the same temperatures. The results indicate that TiO can induce the formation of anatase, which is explained by the close similarity between their structures. (Chapter 1) Anatase phase of TiO2 has been shown to have very good biocompability. It was frequently observed on Ti surfaces after anodizing and thermal annealing treatments. In this report the mechanisms of the Ti to TiO and the TiO to anatase phase transitions in anodizing and annealing treatments of Ti have been studied by transmission electron microscopy. Ti thin films of two strong textures were first grown on the (001)NaCl substrates. In addition to amorphous TiO2, the anodization treatment caused the formation of TiO with an orientation relationship of (11-20)Ti // (220)TiO with Ti. The subsequent thermal annealing treatment caused the TiO to anatase transition with an orientation relationship of {200}TiO //{200}A. Pure anatase film was prepared by this method. (Chapter 2)

In order to improve understanding of diesel soot oxidation, an experimental rig was designed and set up, in which the soot oxidation conditions, such as temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and CO2 partial pressure, could be varied independently of each other. The oxidizing gas flow in the oxidizer was under laminar condition. This test rig comprised a naturally-aspirated single cylinder engine which acted as the soot generator, and a separate premixed oxidation burner system in which soot extracted from the engine was oxidized under controlled conditions. Diesel soot was extracted from the engine exhaust pipe and from the engine pre-combustion chamber, and the soot-laden gas was then conveyed to the burner where it was oxidized. The burner was positioned vertically and it had a flat flame whose thickness was only a few millimetres. The hot gases from the flame flew upwards through a quartz transparent tube which acted as the soot oxidation duct. The soot-laden gas from the engine was premixed with the feedgas (itself a premixed mixture of methane, air, oxygen, and nitrogen) to the burner. The soot particles passed vertically through the flame front and continued burning in the post-flame gas flowing through the quartz tube oxidation duct. The oxygen concentration and temperature of the post-flame soot oxidation gas were controllable by adjusting the flowrate and composition of the burner feedgas. Diesel soot particles were sampled at different heights along the centreline of the quartz tube above the burner. Profiles of oxygen concentration, temperature, and soot particle velocity in the oxidation zone were thus measured. Morphology and size distributions of the sampled diesel soot particles were analyzed by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and a computer software called ImagePro Plus. Subsequently, the specific surface oxidation rates of the soot particles were worked out based on soot particle size distributions. The TEM micrographs obtained in this study showed that the diesel soot agglomerates existed in forms of clusters and chains, each containing between a small number and thousands of individual, mostly spherical tiny particles. Of order 97% of the individual spherical particles (spherules) had a size range from 10 to 80 nm. Occasionally, individual spherules of about 150 nm in diameter could be observed. The diesel soot particles sampled from the pre-chamber of the engine had different size distributions from those sampled from the exhaust of the engine, indicating that the soot underwent an oxidation process in the combustion chamber. Soot oxidation experiments were performed in the burner post-flame gas under oxygen partial pressures ranging from 0.010 to 0.050 atm and temperatures from 1520 to 1820 K. The test results showed that the oxidation rates of the diesel soot extracted from the diesel engine were generally lower than those predicted by the well-known Nagle and Strickland-Constable formula; however, the measured oxidation rates were higher than the predictions made with another well-known formula - the Lee formula. The soot extracted from the engine pre-chamber appeared not to oxidize as fast as the soot extracted from the exhaust of the engine. CO2 gas injection to the post-flame oxidation gas at constant oxygen partial pressure and oxidation temperature seemed to have accelerated the diesel soot oxidation rate. Based on the experimental results of this study and the results of other researchers, modifications to the Nagle and Strickland-Constable formula and to the Lee formula were accomplished. Also, an empirical expression, as an alternative to semi-empirical formulae, was worked out and presented in the thesis.

Copper-alumina composites were developed for testing in abrasive wear applications. The composites featured a porous continuous ceramic-preform network infiltrated by a liquid metal to form the final consolidated composite. The liquid metal phase was pure copper. Six different ceramic preform variants were tested. Ceramic volume fractions of 40, 50 and 60% were used, of two preform types; one pure-alumina, and one with additional 2wt% copper(I) oxide (CU20), functioning as an infiltration aid, the effects of which were determined in a previous study; the copper-oxide reduced infiltration pressure and allowed the use of higher ceramic phase volume fraction in the final composite. Abrasive wear tests against two automotive braking system materials were conducted. Grey cast iron of alloy type GG15 was used to establish a baseline for behaviour of the six different composite samples and compare them. Following this, the three volume fraction variants of samples using the copper-oxide infiltration aid were trialled against a commercially-available European passenger vehicle brake pad friction material; ABEX 6091. Wear tests were conducted on a pin-on-disc tribometer. Hemispherical-headed pins were made from the composite and tested against rotating discs of the grey cast iron and the ABEX friction material. Contact velocity was kept constant at Ims-?? at room temperature in air, and contact loads up to 15N were used. Test loads of 1-4N were used against grey cast iron, and 15N against the ABEX friction material. Optical micrography was used to monitor the wear rate of samples tested against grey cast iron. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterise bulk microstructures and evaluate surface wear features. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used for further microstructural investigation of the sintering and interfacial features of the undamaged pin samples, as well as damage zones and tribofilm compositions. Focussed ion beam (FIB) milling was used to create subsurface cross-sections of wear regions and prepare TEM samples. The wear performance of the different sample types was compared by ceramic content and preform additives. It was found that the wear resistance of pure-alumina preform composites was dependent on ceramic volume fraction. Increasing ceramic content lead to increased wear resistance. The lower sinter temperature of the samples with the copper oxide additive led to reduced wear resistance compared with the monolithic alumina preforms and changes in ceramic volume fractions were not discernable in wear resistance against grey cast iron. This could be further supported by qualitative micrographic observations. All tests against grey cast iron were dominated by tribochemical film formation, which was determined to be oxidation of the iron which formed at the composite pin contact surface. Further testing of the copper-oxide containing samples against the ABEX friction material revealed a mixed result; the 50 and 60% ceramic volume samples produced near-identical wear performance, while the 40% sample suffered poor wear resistance. The dominant wear mechanism of composite pins tested against the ABEX friction material was abrasive wear. Sub-surface analysis of wear pins revealed a prominent damage layer forming at the contact surface of all pin samples which progressively grew into the bulk material. This layer was believed to have an important effect on the wear behaviour of the materials.

Copper-alumina composites were developed for testing in abrasive wear applications. The composites featured a porous continuous ceramic-preform network infiltrated by a liquid metal to form the final consolidated composite. The liquid metal phase was pure copper. Six different ceramic preform variants were tested. Ceramic volume fractions of 40, 50 and 60% were used, of two preform types; one pure-alumina, and one with additional 2wt% copper(I) oxide (CU20), functioning as an infiltration aid, the effects of which were determined in a previous study; the copper-oxide reduced infiltration pressure and allowed the use of higher ceramic phase volume fraction in the final composite. Abrasive wear tests against two automotive braking system materials were conducted. Grey cast iron of alloy type GG15 was used to establish a baseline for behaviour of the six different composite samples and compare them. Following this, the three volume fraction variants of samples using the copper-oxide infiltration aid were trialled against a commercially-available European passenger vehicle brake pad friction material; ABEX 6091. Wear tests were conducted on a pin-on-disc tribometer. Hemispherical-headed pins were made from the composite and tested against rotating discs of the grey cast iron and the ABEX friction material. Contact velocity was kept constant at Ims-?? at room temperature in air, and contact loads up to 15N were used. Test loads of 1-4N were used against grey cast iron, and 15N against the ABEX friction material. Optical micrography was used to monitor the wear rate of samples tested against grey cast iron. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterise bulk microstructures and evaluate surface wear features. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used for further microstructural investigation of the sintering and interfacial features of the undamaged pin samples, as well as damage zones and tribofilm compositions. Focussed ion beam (FIB) milling was used to create subsurface cross-sections of wear regions and prepare TEM samples. The wear performance of the different sample types was compared by ceramic content and preform additives. It was found that the wear resistance of pure-alumina preform composites was dependent on ceramic volume fraction. Increasing ceramic content lead to increased wear resistance. The lower sinter temperature of the samples with the copper oxide additive led to reduced wear resistance compared with the monolithic alumina preforms and changes in ceramic volume fractions were not discernable in wear resistance against grey cast iron. This could be further supported by qualitative micrographic observations. All tests against grey cast iron were dominated by tribochemical film formation, which was determined to be oxidation of the iron which formed at the composite pin contact surface. Further testing of the copper-oxide containing samples against the ABEX friction material revealed a mixed result; the 50 and 60% ceramic volume samples produced near-identical wear performance, while the 40% sample suffered poor wear resistance. The dominant wear mechanism of composite pins tested against the ABEX friction material was abrasive wear. Sub-surface analysis of wear pins revealed a prominent damage layer forming at the contact surface of all pin samples which progressively grew into the bulk material. This layer was believed to have an important effect on the wear behaviour of the materials.

abstract: Topological insulators with conducting surface states yet insulating bulk states have generated a lot of interest amongst the physics community due to their varied characteristics and possible applications. Doped topological insulators have presented newer physical states of matter where topological order co&ndashexists; with other physical properties (like magnetic order). The electronic states of these materials are very intriguing and pose problems and the possible solutions to understanding their unique behaviors. In this work, we use Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) – an analytical TEM tool to study both core&ndashlevel; and valence&ndashlevel; excitations in Bi2Se3 and Cu(doped)Bi2Se3 topological insulators. We use this technique to retrieve information on the valence, bonding nature, co-ordination and lattice site occupancy of the undoped and the doped systems. Using the reference materials Cu(I)Se and Cu(II)Se we try to compare and understand the nature of doping that copper assumes in the lattice. And lastly we utilize the state of the art monochromated Nion UltraSTEM 100 to study electronic/vibrational excitations at a record energy resolution from sub-nm regions in the sample. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Materials Science and Engineering 2013

A number of investigators have reported enhancement in oxidation and wear resistant of carbon-carbon composites (CCC) in the presence of protective coating layers. However, application of a surface and subsurface coating system that can preserve its oxidation and wear resistance along with maintaining lubricity at high temperature remains unsolved. To this end, thermodynamically stable protective oxides (ZnO/Al2O3/ZrO2) have been deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) to infiltrate porous CCC and graphite foams in order to improve the thermal stability and wear resistance in low and high speed sliding contacts. Characterization of microstructural evolution was achieved by using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping in scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with focused ion beam (FIB), x-ray tomography, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Evaluation of the tribological properties of CCC coated with abovementioned ALD thin films were performed by employing low speed pure sliding tribometer and a high speed/frequency reciprocating rig to simulate the fretting wear behavior at ambient temperature and elevated temperatures of 400°C.It was determined with x-ray tomography imaging and EDS mapping that ALD ZnO/Al2O3/ZrO2 nanolaminates and baseline ZrO2 coatings exhibited excellent conformality and pore-filling capabilities down to ~100 μm and 1.5 mm in the porous CCC and graphite foam, respectively, which were dependent on the exposure time of the ALD precursors. XRD and HRTEM determined the crystalline phases of {0002} textured ZnO (wurtzite), amorphous Al2O3, and {101}-tetragonal ZrO2. Significant improvements up to ~65% in the sliding and fretting wear factors were determined for the nanolaminates in comparison to the uncoated CCC. A tribochemical sliding-induced mechanically mixed layer (MML) was found to be responsible for these improvements. HRTEM confirmed the presence of a high density of ZnO shear-induced basal stacking faults inside the wear tracks responsible for intrafilm shear velocity accommodation that mitigated friction and wear.