Film Thickness Research Articles

Direct Melt-Calendaring of Highly Textured (Bi,Sb)2Te3 Thick Films: Superior Thermoelectric and Mechanical Performance via Strain Engineering.

The evolutions of chip thermal management and micro energy harvesting put forward urgent need for micro thermoelectric devices. Nevertheless, low-performance thermoelectric thick films as well as the complicated precision cutting process for hundred-micron thermoelectric legs still remain the bottleneck hindering the advancement of micro thermoelectric devices. In this work, an innovative direct melt-calendaring manufacturing technology is first proposed with specially designed and assembled equipment, that enables direct, rapid, and cost-effective continuous manufacturing of Bi2Te3-based films with thickness of hundred microns. Based on the strain engineering with external glass coating confinement and controlled calendaring deformation degree, enhanced thermoelectric performance has been achieved for (Bi,Sb)2Te3 thick films with highly textured nanocrystals, which can promote carrier mobility over 182.6 cm2 V-1 s-1 and bring out a record-high zT value of 0.96 and 1.16 for n-type and p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 thick films, respectively. The nanoscale interfaces also further improve the mechanical strength with excellent elastic modules (over 42.0GPa) and hardness (over 1.7GPa), even superior to the commercial zone-melting ingots and comparable to the hot-extrusion (Bi,Sb)2Te3 alloys. This new fabrication strategy is versatile to a wide range of inorganic thermoelectric thick films, which lays a solid foundation for the development of micro thermoelectric devices.

Impact of Palladium Decoration on the Performance of Co-SmFeO<sub>3</sub> Based Gas Sensor

The enhanced ammonia gas sensing properties of palladium decorated Co-SFO are demonstrated here. Pristine SmFeO3 thick films fabricated by screen printing technique were surface modified with Co by dipping method (dipping time 3 min) and identified as Co-SFO thick films. They showed maximum sensitivity to 50 ppm ammonia at 200 °C. In order to further increase its sensitivity, Co-SFO thick film was dipped into Palladium nitrate solution for 1 min, 2 min and 3 min. Surface morphology of as-prepared thick films was studied by FE-SEM. Formation of PdO phase and its uniform distribution over Co-SFO surface was confirmed from EDAX spectra. Gas sensing results revel that the sensitivity of Pd decorated Co-SFO thick films towards 50 ppm ammonia was increased. Moreover, decrease in operating temperature was also observed. Pd decorated Co-SFO thick film with dipping time 3 min has maximum sensitivity at lower operating temperature. The improved sensitivity at low temperature was attributed to the sensitization of palladium which was discussed in details. Keywords: Co-SFO, Chemical sensitization, Noble metal, Gas Response, Reducing gas.

Investigating resistive and gas sensing properties of TiO2, CuO and TiO2-CuO thick films

Investigating resistive and gas sensing properties of TiO2, CuO and TiO2-CuO thick films

Effect of electrical stress on time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) tolerate capability of HfO2–ZrO2 ferroelectric films with different thicknesses

HfO2-based ferroelectric materials as the most promising candidate for the ferroelectric memories, have been widely studied for more than a decade due to their excellent ferroelectric properties and CMOS compatibility. In order to realize its industrialization as soon as possible, researchers have been devoted to improving the reliability performance, such as wake up, imprint, limited endurance, et al. Among them, the breakdown characteristic is one of main failure mechanisms of HfO2-based ferroelectric devices, which limits the write/read reliability of the devices. Based on this, we systematically studied the effect of thickness on the time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) tolerate capability of HfO2–ZrO2 (HZO) FE films under both forward and reverse electrical stress conditions. The thickness of HZO FE film ranged from 6 to 20 nm. Our findings reveal that decreasing the thickness of the HZO FE film leads to an improvement in TDDB tolerance capability which is attributed to the fact that higher density of oxygen vacancies in thinner HZO FE films can effectively inhibit the generation of new oxygen vacancies and the growth of conductive filaments, thus effectively improving the TDDB characteristics. These results provide a potential solution for mitigating breakdown characteristics of HfO2-based ferroelectric devices in memory applications.

Determining the Characteristics of Ultrathin Polymer Films: A Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Approach.

Ellipsometry is a powerful and convenient technique that is widely used to determine the thickness and optical characteristics of polymer thin films. The determination is accomplished by modeling the measured change in the polarization of an electromagnetic wave upon interacting with the thin film. However, due to the strong statistical correlations between the fit parameters in the model, simultaneous determination of the thickness and the refractive indices of optically anisotropic ultrathin films using ellipsometry remains a challenge. Here, we propose an approach that can be used to obtain reliable values of both the thickness and the optical anisotropy of ultrathin polymer films. The approach was developed by performing spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements on thin films of hydrophobic polystyrene and hydrophilic chitosan of thickness between a few tens to a few hundred nm and whose absolute value of the birefringence differed by approximately an order of magnitude. Careful consideration of the characteristics of the root mean squared error of the fits obtained by modeling the ellipsometry data and the statistical correlations between the fit parameters formed the basis of the proposed approach.

Effect of thickness on properties of La-doped Zinc Blende/Wurtzite ZnO thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Thin films of ZnO doped with 3 wt% Lanthanum were deposited on glass substrates using spray pyrolysis for varying thicknesses. The impact of thickness on the physical properties of the films was investigated using various techniques. XRD results revealed the formation of a mixture of two phases, cubic Zinc Blende (ZB) and hexagonal Wurtzite (WU), with their ratios changing based on film thickness. Crystallite size measurements indicated that the cubic phase granules remained stable at 14.6 nm up to a thickness of 719 nm, decreasing to 14 nm at 846 nm, while the crystallite size of the hexagonal phase increased to 18 nm at 846 nm. FE-SEM images showed changes in surface morphology with increasing thickness, and EDX analysis demonstrated a consistent La/Zn ratio across all film thicknesses. The refractive index exhibited a shift from normal to abnormal dispersion when the thickness exceeded 719 nm, and the high-frequency dielectric constant decreased from 3.2 to 2.91 as the thickness increased. Additionally, optical band gaps ranged from a minimum of 3.19 eV at 719 nm thickness to a maximum of 3.23 eV at 846 nm thickness. The study examined the effectiveness of the deposited films in blocking UV light with a wavelength of 365 nm. It was discovered that the decay time significantly decreased to 143 s at a thickness of 661 nm, compared to longer times observed at other thicknesses.

Combined Effect of Surface Irregularities and Applied Voltage on the Behavior of Hole-Entry Spherical Hybrid Journal Bearings Lubricated with an Electro-Rheological Fluid

Abstract Surface irregularities substantially affect the performance of tribological systems. The influence of three-dimensional surface irregularities has been investigated on the behavior of hole-entry spherical hybrid journal bearings. Recently, smart fluids have been employed in several applications to improve their performance. The interactive effect of electro-rheological (ER) fluid and surface irregularities have also been studied. The modified Reynolds equation and restrictor flow equation have been solved using the finite element technique with appropriate boundary conditions. The results show that consideration of surface irregularities on bearing surface enhances bearing stability. Spherical hybrid journal bearings lubricated by ER fluid increase minimum fluid film thickness and minimize the possibility of metal-to-metal contact. It is found that the combined effect of surface irregularities and ER fluid significantly improved the bearing performance parameters than individual behavior. The bearing designer is anticipated to benefit from the current model.

Tests and Analysis of Storage Life Extension of Hybrid Microcircuits for Aerospace Applications: A Case Study

Hybrid Microcircuits (HMCs) which bring about miniaturization with better performance and reliability are ideally suited for specific application where low volume requirement needed for aerospace missions. A large number of HMCs for varied applications are used in aerospace industry. HMCs generally use passive components and interconnections in thick film form, and active devices (MOSFETs, Transistor and Diode dice) and monolithic ICs (as bare chips) bonded to a substrate and are employed to carry out multiple functions. The die and other chip components utilized in making HMCs necessitated usage of hermetic sealing. The resulting HMCs consisting of multiple components are used as standalone EEE component. A general guideline of using HMCs for 9 years and re-screening after 3 years result in lot of constraint on resources and not viable in present scenario. The study conducted to find out the criticality and testing methodology for the extension of usable storage period. Comprehensive test plan consisting of variety of HMCs having varied processes, materials, density and various tests conducted as per the plan. This article details the various plans, choice of HMCs, testing results and analysis for the basis of extending the usable storage period of the HMCs for aerospace industry.

A Comprehensive Study on the Production and Characterization of Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Plastic Films from Dent Corn Starch

The increasing demand for eco-conscious and sustainable biomaterials has propelled the exploration of alternatives to petroleum-derived materials. This study delves into the utilization of dent corn (Zea mays L.) starch as a renewable resource for crafting biodegradable packaging solutions. The physicochemical properties of dent corn starch were meticulously assessed through a series of preparation steps, encompassing washing, cutting, grinding, drying, and pulverizing. Despite the inherent variability in dent corn sourced from local markets, the resulting starch exhibited commendable characteristics, including a pH of 7.02, moisture content of 6.50%, ash content of 0.20%, bulk density of 0.47 g/ml, gelatinization temperature of 61.2 ˚C, protein content of 2%, and a yield of 64%. Subsequently, employing the casting method, bioplastic films were synthesized using starch powder, water, and glycerol as a plasticizer. A comprehensive evaluation of the chemical, mechanical, solubility, and biodegradability properties of the films ensued. Remarkably, the films demonstrated notable values for tensile strength (2.58 MPa), elongation at break (24%), and film thickness (1.4 mm), alongside exhibiting low absorption rates in various media and remaining insoluble in solvents, even at elevated temperatures. Notably, the influence of glycerol content on the tensile strength and biodegradability of the films was elucidated through a least squares model, underscoring its pivotal role. These findings highlights the potential of dent corn starch as a viable alternative for the development of biodegradable packaging materials, despite the variability inherent in its sourcing from local markets. The study significantly contributes to ongoing endeavors aimed at fostering sustainability and reducing reliance on petroleum-derived materials, aligning with the escalating environmental consciousness.

Impact of stacking sequence and sulfurization duration on the growth of pyrargyrite Ag3SbS3 absorber layers

Pyrargyrite Ag3SbS3 is a promising absorber for thin-film solar cells. In this study, the impact of precursor stacking sequence and sulfurization duration on the growth and properties of Ag3SbS3 films was investigated. Initially, the Ag3SbS3 films produced by depositing Sb/Ag and Ag/Sb/Ag metal stacks and then sulfurizing at 300 °C crystallized in rhombohedral structure with (113) preferred orientation. The film produced from the Sb/Ag stack had a uniform and large-grained morphology up to a thickness of 1150 nm, and a direct bandgap of 1.65 eV; whereas the film prepared with the Ag/Sb/Ag stack exhibited nonuniform grain morphology with decreased film thickness, and increased bandgap energy (1.70 eV). Secondly, the Ag3SbS3 films produced from the Sb/Ag stack by increasing sulfurization duration from 10 to 90 min increases the crystallite size from 26 to 27 nm, enhances the grain compactness and uniformity, varies the bandgap in the range of 1.65–1.69 eV, and electrical resistivity. The solar cells fabricated using the films produced by sulfurizing the Sb/Ag stack for 30 min duration exhibited a maximum power conversion efficiency of 0.52% with an VOC of 471.6 mV, JSC of 2.0 mA/cm2, and FF of 55.0%. This study offers a pathway for the advancement of Ag3SbS3 thin-film solar cells.

Rapid Fabrication of Tungsten Oxide-Based Electrochromic Devices through Femtosecond Laser Processing

The sol-gel method is a widely adopted technique for the preparation of tungsten trioxide (WO₃) materials, favored for its cost-effectiveness and straightforward production procedures. However, this method encounters challenges such as prolonged annealing periods and limited flexibility in fabricating patterned WO₃ films. This study introduces a novel approach that integrates femtosecond laser processing with the sol-gel method to enhance the fabrication of WO₃ films. By adjusting polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) concentrations during sol-gel synthesis, precise control over film thickness and optimized film properties were achieved. The innovative technique significantly reduced the annealing time required to achieve an 80% transmittance rate from 90 min to 40 min, marking a 56% decrease. Laser processing increased the surface roughness of the films from Sa = 0.032 to Sa = 0.119, facilitating enhanced volatilization of organics during heat treatment. Additionally, this method improved the transmittance modulation of the films by 22% at 550 nm compared to unprocessed counterparts. This approach not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also enhances the optical efficiency of electrochromic devices, potentially leading to broader applications and more effective energy conservation strategies.

Drop impact onto immiscible liquid films floating on pools

The interface dynamics of a droplet impacting onto a liquid pool has been well studied, and the common interfacial velocity quantified for the cases when the pool is both the same and a different fluid to the impacting droplet. In this work we investigate, experimentally and computationally, the scenario of a droplet impacting onto a pool of the same fluid coated by a layer of another fluid with various thicknesses. The effect of the film thickness on the penetration velocity of the upper droplet-film interface is measured for experiments and simulations, and carefully compared to theoretical predictions for early-to-moderate timescales in the limiting cases of: (i) zero film thickness, in which the film has no effect and thus behaves like a fluid on same fluid impact, and (ii) infinite film thickness, in which the underlying pool has no effect. For finite layer thickness cases we carefully quantify the transition between the two limiting scenarios, and provide insight into the interfacial and flow quantities of interest, with a robust transitional behaviour observed over a rich parametric landscape. This exploration provides new quantitative insight into the nonlinear behaviour of the multi-fluid systems in newly explored finite thickness regimes, as well as a clear delineation of their effect in the context of the noted distinguished limits, with films of up to one impacting drop diameter in thickness shown to induce meaningful interpretable changes in the resulting post-impact dynamics. We also explore longer timescale features of the lower interface dynamics, revealing comparatively lower velocities and larger film thicknesses as the liquid film viscosity is increased.

Photoconductive responses to biaxially tensile strain in LaCoO3 epitaxial films

Cobalt-based perovskite-type LaCoO3 epitaxial films, with different thickness (105, 44, 38 and 11 nm), were epitaxially grown on (100) SrTiO3 substrates by polymer assisted deposition. LaCoO3 films have different degree of CoO6 octahedral distortion, i.e., Jahn-Teller-like tetragonal distortion caused by the biaxially tensile strain. The photoconductivity of the LaCoO3 epitaxial films under visible light increases gradually with the decrease of film thickness, accompanied by the increasing of CoO6 octahedral tetragonal distortion. The results reveal that the photoconductive performance of the LaCoO3 epitaxial films is largely related to the biaxially tensile-strained tetragonal distortion of CoO6. Higher degree of tetragonal distortion corresponds to smaller value of crystal field splitting energy as well as the band gap, which is beneficial to photoconductivity.

Comparison of GeSn alloy films prepared by ion implantation and remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition methods

Thin films of germanium-tin (GeSn) alloy with Sn content well above its equilibrium solubility limit in Ge are produced using both remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RPECVD) directly on silicon substrates and ion implantation of Sn into Ge. For RPECVD, the growth temperature of 302 °C resulted in fully relaxed GeSn alloys with high defect density, principally threading dislocations related to the large lattice mismatch between Si and GeSn. For the implantation case, pulsed laser melting was used to melt and crystallize the GeSn layer on a time scale of a few tens of nanoseconds. The resulting GeSn layers were also relaxed and defective, presumably again as a result of lattice mismatch with the underlying Ge lattice. However, the nature of the defects was quite different to the RPECVD method, whereby the line defects were not threading dislocations but stackinglike defects, which developed into arrays of these defects in the high Sn content region close to the surface. For the purpose of comparing RPECVD and ion-implantation methods, alloy films of similar thickness (400–450 nm) and Sn content (4.5–6.5 at. %) were examined. Film parameters (thickness, Sn content, Sn solubility, and segregation), as well as film quality and defect structures, were examined for both fabrication methods using several analytical techniques. This comparison provided us with a better physical understanding of our GeSn films and will help inform future growth/fabrication strategies targeted at minimizing defects formed in the GeSn films for the realization of optoelectronic devices.

Heterogeneous Integration of Memristive and Piezoresistive MDMO-PPV-Based Copolymers in Nociceptive Transmission with Fast and Slow Pain for an Artificial Pain-Perceptual System.

Nociceptive pain perception is a remarkable capability of organisms to be aware of environmental changes and avoid injury, which can be accomplished by specialized pain receptors known as nociceptors with 4 vital properties including threshold, no adaptation, relaxation, and sensitization. Bioinspired systems designed using artificial devices are investigated to imitate the efficacy and functionality of nociceptive transmission. Here, an artificial pain-perceptual system (APPS) with a homogeneous material and heterogeneous integration is proposed to emulate the behavior of fast and slow pain in nociceptive transmission. Retention-differentiated poly[2-methoxy-5-(3,7-dimethyoctyoxyl)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) memristors with film thicknesses of 160 and 80nm are manufactured and adopted as A-δ and C nerve fibers of nociceptor conduits, respectively. Additionally, a nociceptor mimic, the ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru-NPs)-doped MDMO-PPV piezoresistive pressure sensor, is fabricated with a noxiously stimulated threshold of 150kPa. Under the application of pricking and dull noxious stimuli, the current flows predominantly through the memristor to mimic the behavior of fast and slow pain, respectively, in nociceptive transmission with postsynaptic potentiation properties, which is analogous to biological pain perception. The proposed APPS can provide potential advancements in establishing the nervous system, thus enabling the successful development of next-generation neurorobotics, neuroprosthetics, and precision medicine.

Tuning critical current density properties of YBa2Cu3O y thin films under longitudinal magnetic field by using heavy-ion irradiation

We attempted to improve the critical current density J c under a longitudinal magnetic field (LMF) by using columnar defects (CDs) tilted toward the transport current, where the CDs were produced with 80 MeV Xe ions at an incident angle(s) up to φ i = 87.5° relative to the c-axis of YBa2Cu3O y thin films. The formation of CDs extending throughout the film was confirmed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. The CDs tilted at φ i = 87.5° weakened the magnetic field dependence of J c under the LMF, providing a J c higher than that of the unirradiated film in a high magnetic field. This is the first study to demonstrate that CDs and/or irradiation defects contribute to flux pinning under the LMF in high-T c superconductors. In addition, the J c under LMF was sensitive to the tilt angle of the CDs: the J c was reduced by CDs tilted not only at φ i = 0°, but also at a slightly larger angle relative to the ab-plane, i.e. φ i = 85°. The introduction of CDs rather disturbs the LMF effect because of the large volume passing through the film thickness, unless the tilt angles of the CDs are within the narrow angular region effective for the LMF effect.

Purely Organic Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence Molecule for High‐Performance Non‐Doped Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

AbstractPurely organic molecules with room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) are potential luminescent materials with high exciton utilization for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), but those exhibiting superb electroluminescence (EL) performances are rarely explored, mainly due to their long phosphorescence lifetimes. Herein, a robust purely organic RTP molecule, 3,6‐bis(5‐phenylindolo[3,2‐a]carbazol‐12(5H)‐yl)‐xanthen‐9‐one (3,2‐PIC‐XT), is developed. The neat film of 3,2‐PIC‐XT shows strong green RTP with a very short lifetime (2.9 μs) and a high photoluminescence quantum yield (72 %), and behaviors balanced bipolar charge transport. The RTP nature of 3,2‐PIC‐XT is validated by steady‐state and transient absorption and emission spectroscopies, and the working mechanism is deciphered by theoretical simulation. Non‐doped multilayer OLEDs using thin neat films of 3,2‐PIC‐XT furnish an outstanding external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 24.91 % with an extremely low roll‐off (1.6 %) at 1000 cd m−2. High‐performance non‐doped top‐emitting and tandem OLEDs are also achieved, providing remarkable EQEs of 24.53 % and 42.50 %, respectively. Delightfully, non‐doped simplified OLEDs employing thick neat films of 3,2‐PIC‐XT are also realized, furnishing an excellent EQE of 17.79 % and greatly enhanced operational lifetime. The temperature‐dependent and transient EL spectroscopies demonstrate the electrophosphorescence attribute of 3,2‐PIC‐XT. These non‐doped OLEDs are the best devices based on purely organic RTP materials reported so far.

Purely Organic Room-Temperature Phosphorescence Molecule for High-Performance Non-Doped Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Purely organic molecules with room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) are potential luminescent materials with high exciton utilization for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), but those exhibiting superb electroluminescence (EL) performances are rarely explored, mainly due to their long phosphorescence lifetimes. Herein, a robust purely organic RTP molecule, 3,6-bis(5-phenylindolo[3,2-a]carbazol-12(5H)-yl)-xanthen-9-one (3,2-PIC-XT), is developed. The neat film of 3,2-PIC-XT shows strong green RTP with a very short lifetime (2.9 μs) and a high photoluminescence quantum yield (72%), and behaviors balanced bipolar charge transport. The RTP nature of 3,2-PIC-XT is validated by steady-state and transient absorption and emission spectroscopies, and the working mechanism is deciphered by theoretical simulation. Non-doped multilayer OLEDs using thin neat films of 3,2-PIC-XT furnish an outstanding external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 24.91% with an extremely low roll-off (1.6%) at 1000 cd m‒2. High-performance non-doped top-emitting and tandem OLEDs are also achieved, providing remarkable EQEs of 24.53% and 42.50%, respectively. Delightfully, non-doped simplified OLEDs employing thick neat films of 3,2-PIC-XT are also realized, furnishing an excellent EQE of 17.79% and greatly enhanced operational lifetime. The temperature-dependent and transient EL spectroscopies demonstrate the electrophosphorescence attribute of 3,2-PIC-XT. These non-doped OLEDs are the best devices based on purely organic RTP materials reported so far.

Free‐standing 0.9Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3‐0.1Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3 thick films produced by water‐based tape‐casting method

Abstract(1‐x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3‐xSr1‐1.5yBiyTiO3 solid solutions attract increased interest as lead‐free ferroelectrics perspective for sensors, actuators, and energy storage applications. However, thick films of this composition are of great demand, as they could serve as a good compromise between the bulk ceramics and thin films—due to the advantage in realization of miniaturized devices without reducing the power and sensitivity of target devices, as in the case of thin films, and ability to accommodate application of much higher electric fields compared to bulk ceramics. In the present research, for the first time, we have produced free‐standing 0.9Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3‐0.1Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3 thick films by water‐based tape‐casting method, using just two organic chemicals, which is an eco‐friendly production approach having only several successful attempts in the case of ferroelectric materials before. We conducted a detailed study focusing on development of microstructure at various sintering temperatures and consequences of evaporation of Bi during the production. Our findings show how the choice of the sintering temperature can help in improvement of density of the thick films, reaching 98.9%, and changing the grain size. It is demonstrated that a secondary phase appears predominantly on the free surface of the films. We propose a method for effective minimization of its formation—by the choice of appropriate embedding powder media during the sintering.

3D printing of thick film NTC thermistor from preceramic polymer composites for ultra-high temperature measurement

Integrating thick/thin film sensors into component systems has emerged as a prevalent approach for monitoring in extreme environments. However, traditional vapor deposition methods face obstacles, including complex fabrication processes and the degradation of sensitive materials at extremely high temperatures. This work delineates the development of a polysilazane composite dual-layer thick-film Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor characterized by its suitability for extreme temperatures and robust bond strength achieved through an advanced near-net-shape printing methodology. High-temperature resistant La(Ca)CrO3/polysilazane films were printed as the sensitive layer, while a dense layer formed by Cr2O3/polysilazane was used as the protective layer. The bilayer structure resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in adhesion strength compared to the single-layer La(Ca)CrO3/polysilazane films. Experimental results indicate that the dual-layer thick-film NTC thermistor can be operated long-term at 1300 °C with a resistance drift rate of 0.9 %/h and survive short-term exposure to temperatures up to 1550 °C. As a proof of concept, this work applied 3D printing technology to fabricate a polysilazane composite dual-layer thick-film NTC thermistor on the surface of turbine blades and demonstrated its functionality under flame impingement at nearly 1300 °C. Such flexible 3D printing techniques pave the way for a new paradigm in manufacturing sensors capable of withstanding ultra-high temperatures.