Adherent Thin Films Research Articles

Synthesis and Characterization of Vanadium Oxide Gels from Alkoxy-Vanadate Precursors

ABSTRACTVanadium oxide gels are synthesized through vanadium oxo-alkoxide hydrolysis condensation processes. Different precursors and hydrolysis conditions lead to different sorts of gels. V0(0Amt)3hydrolyzed with a large excess of water results in red jammy gels with a layered structure. They exhibit electronic and ionic behavior comparable to vanadium pentoxide gels from inorganic precursors. Hydrolysis of VO(OPrn)3in an alcoholic medium, leads to orange transparent monolithic gels. They have a highly branched polymeric structure. Controlled hydrolysis of vanadium oxo-alkoxide precursors has the further advantage of giving good adherent thin films.

A simple technique to deposit molybdenum thin films

A simple technique is proposed for metallizing nonconductive objects. The technique, which is based on a plasma-induced dissociation of Mo(CO)6 molecules, is inexpensive with no sophisticated instrument needed, and allows us to deposit fine grained, adherent thin films of molybdenum on nonrefractory substrates. It is believed that the technique possesses a variety of potential applications in laboratory works.

1. Inert gas handling in ion plating systems

The new technique of ion plating has become such an important method of producing robust, strongly adherent thin films of metals or metallic salts on substrates that there has developed considerable industrial interest in this activity. Amongst such developments, Nanotech (Thin Films) Ltd have played a notable part. The three papers presented here are all by scientists or engineers at that firm and give accounts of some of their recent developments. The topics are Inert gas-handling in ion-plating systems, Radio-frequency plasma excitation and An evaporation source pellet or slug-feeding system.*