Quality Of Films Research Articles

Innovative surface passivation of CZTSSe thin films: Ammonium sulfide treatment with plasma etching

For CZTS(e) solar cells, the passivation of interfacial defects is crucial for effectively reducing carrier recombination at the interface. This study examined the combined impact of plasma etching and surface sulfuration on the passivation of interface defects in CZTSSe thin films. The results indicated that plasma etching could improve the surface quality of the thin films and passivate surface defects. The (NH4)2S vapor had a significant sulfuration effect on the surface of the CZTSSe thin films post-etching. The surface defects of the CZTSSe film were passivated by the sulfur element entering the film by sulfuration. Moreover, the bandgap of the CZTSSe thin films was improved. The efficiency of the solar cell device increased by 1.72 % with a plasma etching duration of 5 min and (NH4)2S vaporization treatment of 15 min. This study proposes a novel approach that employs surface passivation techniques to enhance the efficiency of CZTSSe thin film solar cells.

Study of the effects of heating on the physical, optical, and electrical properties of NiO thin films synthesized using a low-cost sol-gel method

Developments in low-cost techniques for growing high-quality nickel oxide thin films (NiOTFs) are critical enablers for the fabrication of NiO-based devices, particularly solar cells, light-emitting diodes, lasers, and many other applications. In this study, it has been demonstrated that the optical, electrical, and structural characteristics of NiOTFs coated on glass substrate employing a low-cost solution method are strongly influenced by post-thermal annealing treatments in ambient air. A comprehensive study was carried out on the characteristics of the deposited NiOTFs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements indicate the enhancement of the crystal quality of films after annealing. There is a noticeable change and improvement in coated NiOTFs with heat treatment at 300 and 600 ℃ due to clear shifts in density. During the heating temperature increment, the energy of the band gap was shifted from 3.63 to 3.44 eV, and the electrical resistance of the NiOTFs varied from 1020 to 700 Ω-cm. Furthermore, the results indicate that the low-cost sol-gel (SG) deposition technique has a greater potential for producing high-quality p-type NiOTFs with minimal defects for electronic device applications.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RISKS OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA AND DRY EYE DISEASE

Introduction: Dry Eye Disease (DED) may lead to decreased visual function, chronic tissue changes, eyelid, conjunctival, and corneal abnormality. The prevalence of DED in Asia ranges from 21.6%–37.6%. Several studies pointed out the relationship between DED and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). In patients with OSA, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and ocular surface inflammation increase, leading to a decrease in the functions of meibomian glands, goblet cells, corneal sensitivity, and tear production as a response to the stimulations from the lacrimal glands. The loss of conjunctival goblet cells and meibomian glands are implications of damage to the tear film quality, which results in DED. Method: This is a population-based cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from the database of Biomarker Smarthealth Research in Mendalanwangi, Sidorahayu, and Cepokomulyo Villages, which are located in Malang Regency, having risks of OSA (based on the STOP-BANG questionnaire), above ≥40 years old, and DED Examination with Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT), MGD (Meibominan Gland Dysfunction), Tear Meniscus (TM) involving a total of 518 respondents. The available data were then processed according to the variables and went through DED examinations. This study employed the purposive sampling method. Result: In this study, moderate risk of OSA suggests a significant influence on the occurrence of DED with an odds ratio (OR) 1.66 (p<0.05). In addition, moderate risk of OSA predisposes ADDE (Aqueous Deficiency Dry Eye)-type and Mix-type DED with OR 2.85 and 1.23 (p<0.05). High risk of OSA correlates with the occurrence of ADDE-type DED with OR 2.37 (p<0.05). The age group >60 years old shows a correlation with Mix-type DED with OR 2.09 (p<0.05). Women have a higher predisposition to ADDE-type with OR 2.58 (p<0.05). Conclusion: Moderate risk of OSA influences the occurrence of DED, both ADDE-type and Mix type; whereas high risk of OSA only correlates with ADDE-type. Older age plays a role in the occurrence of Mix-type DED and women have a higher tendency to present with ADDE- type.

Defect Passivation and Crystallization Regulation for Efficient and Stable Formamidinium Lead Iodide Solar Cells with Multifunctional Amidino Additive.

Amidino-based additives show great potential in high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the role of different functional groups in amidino-based additives have not been well elucidated. Herein, two multifunctional amidino additives 4-amidinobenzoic acid hydrochloride (ABAc) and 4-amidinobenzamide hydrochloride (ABAm) are employed to improve the film quality of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskites. Compared with ABAc, the amide group imparts ABAm with larger dipole moment and thus stronger interactions with the perovskite components, i.e., the hydrogen bonds between N…H and I- anion and coordination bonds between C = O and Pb2+ cation. It strengthens the passivation effect of iodine vacancy defect and slows down the crystallization process of α-FAPbI3, resulting in the significantly reduced non-radiative recombination, long carrier lifetime of 1.7 µs, uniformly large crystalline grains, and enhances hydrophobicity. Profiting from the improved film quality, the ABAm-treated PSC achieves a high efficiency of 24.60%, and maintains 93% of the initial efficiency after storage in ambient environment for 1200 hours. This work provides new insights for rational design of multifunctional additives regarding of defect passivation and crystallization control toward highly efficient and stable PSCs.

In Situ Dynamic Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Characterization of Cu-Ligated Mercaptoalkanoic Acid "Molecular" Ruler Multilayers.

Hybrid strategies that combine conventional top-down lithography with bottom-up molecular assembly are of interest for a range of applications including nanolithography and sensors. Interest in these strategies stems from the ability to create complex architectures over large areas with molecular-scale control and precision. The molecular-ruler process typifies this approach where the sequential layer-by-layer assembly of mercaptoalkanoic acid molecules and metal ions are combined with conventional top-down lithography to create precise, registered nanogaps. However, the quality of the metal-ligated mercaptoalkanoic acid multilayer is a critical characteristic in generating reproducible and robust nanoscale structures via the molecular-ruler process. Therefore, we explore the assembly of alkanethiolate monolayers, mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHDA) monolayers, and Cu-ligated MHDA multilayers on Au{111} substrates using atomic force microscopy and in situ dynamic spectroscopic ellipsometry. The chemical film thicknesses in situ dynamic spectroscopic ellipsometry agree with previous ex situ surface analytical methods. Moreover, in situ dynamic spectroscopic ellipsometry provides insight into the assembly process without interrupting the assembly process and potentially altering the characteristics of the resulting chemical film. By following the real-time dynamics of each deposition step, the assembly of the Cu-ligated MHDA multilayers can be optimized to minimize deposition time while having minimal impact to the quality of the chemical film.

Boosting Solar Water Splitting Performance of Cu3BiS3‐Based Photocathode via Ag Doping Strategy

AbstractA photovoltaic wittichenite semiconductor of Cu3BiS3, due to its optimal bandgap, high light absorption coefficient, and various advantages of low cost and environmental‐friendliness, has been considered a competitive candidate for solar absorber materials of photocathode for photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, the presence of various deleterious defects in the Cu3BiS3 lattice and its high conduction band minimum are detrimental factors that restrict further enhancements in the conversion efficiency of Cu3BiS3‐based photocathode. Herein, a one‐step solution‐based Ag element doping strategy is proposed to improve the crystalline quality of Cu3BiS3 films, which includes enlarging the grain size and reducing the intergranular gaps. Additionally, the Ag‐doped Cu3BiS3 layer can form a more favorable band alignment with the buffer layer. Ultimately, the fabricated composite Cu3BiS3‐based photocathode doped with 3% Ag delivers a remarkable photocurrent density of 13.6 mA cm−2 under 0 VRHE, an applied bias photon‐to‐current efficiency of 2.85%, and long‐term stability exceeding 12 h. Furthermore, with the assistance of a BiVO4 photoanode, the tandem cell also achieves an unbiased solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of 2.64%, with no significant decline observed within 20 h.

Enhancing the Efficiency and Stability of Inverted Formamidinium-Cesium Lead-Triiodide Perovskite Solar Cells through Lewis Base Pretreatment of Buried Interfaces.

Mixed components of formamidinium(FA) and cesium (Cs)-based perovskite solar cells are the most hopeful for commercialization owing to their excellent operational and phase stabilities, especially for devices with inverted structure. The nonradiative recombination of carriers can be effectively suppressed through interface optimization, therefore, the performance of devices can be improved. Notably, the buried interface emerges as critical aspects such as charge transport, charge recombination kinetics, and morphology of perovskite films. This study focuses on a straightforward yet effective approach to overcome buried interface challenges between organic polymers (poly(-triarylamine) (PTAA) and FACs-based perovskite films. The PTAA substrate is pretreated with a Lewis base known as 2-butynoic acid (BA) with a C═O functional group. First, it can be an interfacial buffering layer, harmonizing stress mismatch between the perovskite and PTAA layers, consequently optimizing crystallization and improving perovskite film quality. Second, Pb2+ defect can be passivated at the buried interface of the perovskite film through binding with the C═O group of the BA molecule. This dual-function strategy leads to a substantial enhancement in both photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of devices. Finally, the PCE of the device-modified buried interface with BA reaches an impressive 23.33%. Furthermore, unencapsulated devices with BA treatment maintain approximately 94% of their initial efficiency after aging at maximum power point tracking for 1000 h.

A Revisit of Crystallization in Tin Halide Perovskite Thin Films: From Nucleation, Intermediate to Crystal Growth

AbstractPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) are exuding unique charm in the third generation of thin film solar cell technology with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low production cost. Recently, the lead‐free tin halide perovskite solar cells (TPSCs) have drawn significant research interests due to the advantages of low toxicity, near‐ideal bandgap and high carrier mobility. However, the rapid crystallization and easy oxidation limits the film quality and final performance of the solar cells. Therefore, the deposition of high‐quality tin halide perovskite films is key to the advance of TPSCs. In this review, the classical theory of solution nucleation and crystal growth is reviewed and correlated to the practical deposition of tin perovskite film. The physicochemical properties of tin perovskite with those of lead counterpart and the differences in the crystallization process is carefully compared. On this basis, recent regulation strategies are systematically summarized in terms of the nucleation management, intermediate phase engineering and crystal growth regulation. In addition, the preparation of mixed tin‐lead (Sn‐Pb) PSCs toward high performance is also discussed, as well as the limiting factors for device performance and stability. Finally, the future challenges and prospects of the crystallization regulation are discussed toward more efficient and stable TPSCs.

Pengaruh Film Dokumenter Nada Nusantara Terhadap Kesadaran Siswa Smk Dalam Pelestarian Budaya Lokal (Survei Terhadap Siswa Kelas XI SMKN 10 Bandung)

Indonesia's local cultural diversity plays an important role in the country's identity as the world's largest archipelago. The Ministry of Education and Culture records more than 67,273 cultural heritages, including immovable objects, movable objects, and intangible heritages. This diversity requires attention and preservation, especially from the younger generation as cultural successors. Public awareness, especially the younger generation, is very important in preventing the extinction of local culture in the midst of globalization. Mass media, especially documentary films, are considered an effective means to raise this awareness. This study examines the influence of the documentary film "Nada Nusantara" on the awareness of students of SMK Negeri 10 Bandung in preserving local culture. Using a quantitative descriptive method, this study questions the influence of frequency, attention, and quality of the documentary film on students' awareness. The results showed that the movie had a positive influence on students' awareness, contributing to their understanding and appreciation of local culture. The implications of this study can be used as a guideline in utilizing documentary films as an educational tool to enrich students' knowledge and awareness of Indonesia's local cultural heritage

Bimolecular Crystallization Modulation Boosts the Efficiency and Stability of Methylammonium‐Free Tin–Lead Perovskite and All‐Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells

AbstractThe elimination of methylammonium (MA) cation from mixed tin–lead (Sn–Pb) narrow‐bandgap (NBG) perovskites is an effective approach to enhance the operational stability of all‐perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs). Unfortunately, the uncontrolled nucleation and crystallization processes of MA‐free Sn–Pb perovskites usually lead to inferior film quality and device performance. Herein, a bimolecular crystallization modulation strategy is reported by using guanidine thiocyanate (GuaSCN) and aminoacetamide hydrochloride (AHC) together as additives to improve the film quality of MA‐free Sn–Pb perovskites. It is demonstrated that the use of bimolecular additives can effectively improve the crystallinity, increase the grain size, and induce a preferred (100) orientation for the corresponding films, leading to high‐quality absorber with considerably reduced defect density and suppressed non‐radiative recombination. In addition, the bimolecular additives can reduce the self‐p‐doping hole concentration within the perovskite films and enhance the charge extraction at the perovskite/electron transport layer interface. The modified NBG perovskite solar cells deliver a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.14%. Coupled with the wide‐bandgap (WBG) subcell, the all‐perovskite TSCs give a champion certified PCE of 27.15%, which is the highest certified PCE for MA‐free all‐perovskite TSCs. Encapsulated tandem devices maintain 90% of the initial PCE after 473 h operation.

Moisture‐Induced High‐Quality Perovskite Film in Air for Efficient Solar Cells

The quality of perovskite light‐harvesting layer is known to be the most critical factor for the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a facile ambient air‐aging process (AAP, 20%–30% RH) is adopted to realize the fabrication of high‐quality Cs0.15FA0.75MA0.1PbI3 perovskite films, thereby upgrading device performance. We find that the perovskite crystallinity after AAP for 10 d is greatly intensified, with large grain size and preferred crystal orientation along (110) and (220) planes. Comparative studies on the Ag‐based devices employing the perovskite films upon exposing to different atmospheres, i.e., dry N2, dry O2, N2, and H2O (20%–30% RH) and ambient air (20%–30% RH), demonstrate that H2O molecules in air rather than O2 molecules induce an effective defect passivation that holds the multiple functions in enhancing the quality of perovskite film, inhibiting the nonradiative recombination, prolonging the carrier lifetime, and improving the energy level matching, etc. Moreover, the positive effect of H2O in ambient atmosphere on cell performance is irreversible and remains even if moisture escapes. Finally, the average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of device based on the AAP‐induced film is increased from 18.24 ± 1.49 to 21.34 ± 0.76, with the champion PCE up to 22.60%. Also, the device with AAP exhibits better moisture resistance capability. Herein, it offers a viable AAP‐induced route for the perovskite films with superb optoelectronic properties that can be subsequently extended to the design and construction of other photovoltaic devices for practical application.

Influence of Donor Skeleton on Intramolecular Electron Transfer Amount for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

AbstractThe passivation of the defects derived from rapid‐crystallization with electron‐donating molecules is always a prerequisite to obtain desirable perovskite films for efficient and stable solar cells, thus, the in‐depth understanding on the correlations between molecular structure and passivation capacity is of great importance for screening passivators. Here, we introduce the double‐ended amide molecule into perovskite precursor solution to modulate crystallization process and passivate defects. By regulating the intermediate bridging skeletons with alkyl, alkenyl and benzene groups, the results show the passivation strength highly depends on the spin‐state electronic structure that serves as an intrinsic descriptor to determine the intramolecular charge distribution by controlling orbital electron transfer from the donor segment to acceptor segment. Upon careful optimization, the benzene‐bridged amide molecule demonstrates superior efficacy on improving perovskite film quality. As a physical proof‐of‐concept, the carbon‐based, all‐inorganic CsPbI2Br solar cell delivers a significantly increased efficiency of 15.51 % with a remarkably improved stability. Based on the same principle, a champion efficiency of 24.20 % is further obtained on the inverted (Cs0.05MA0.05FA0.9)Pb(I0.93Br0.07)3 solar cell. These findings provide new fundamental insights into the influence of spin‐state modulation on effective perovskite solar cells.

Influence of Donor Skeleton on Intramolecular Electron Transfer Amount for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

The passivation of the defects derived from rapid-crystallization with electron-donating molecules is always a prerequisite to obtain desirable perovskite films for efficient and stable solar cells, thus, the in-depth understanding on the correlations between molecular structure and passivation capacity is of great importance for screening passivators. Here, we introduce the double-ended amide molecule into perovskite precursor solution to modulate crystallization process and passivate defects. By regulating the intermediate bridging skeletons with alkyl, alkenyl and benzene groups, the results show the passivation strength highly depends on the spin-state electronic structure that serves as an intrinsic descriptor to determine the intramolecular charge distribution by controlling orbital electron transfer from the donor segment to acceptor segment. Upon careful optimization, the benzene-bridged amide molecule demonstrates superior efficacy on improving perovskite film quality. As a physical proof-of-concept, the carbon-based, all-inorganic CsPbI2Br solar cell delivers a significantly increased efficiency of 15.51 % with a remarkably improved stability. Based on the same principle, a champion efficiency of 24.20 % is further obtained on the inverted (Cs0.05MA0.05FA0.9)Pb(I0.93Br0.07)3 solar cell. These findings provide new fundamental insights into the influence of spin-state modulation on effective perovskite solar cells.

The enhanced GaN deposition on highly N-incorporated diamond substrate

As typical impurities in diamonds, the incorporated nitrogen (N) atoms could alleviate the wetting issues of GaN deposition on diamonds. Therefore, GaN was deposited on the N-incorporated diamond substrate. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization, the enhanced AlN was observed on the highly-N incorporated diamond substrate. Moreover, GaN morphology on N-incorporated diamond was greatly enhanced, showcasing superior film quality, which would be further confirmed by the Raman and photoluminescence spectra. Notably, high-resolution XRD characterization unveiled a much narrower rocking curve for GaN films on N-incorporated diamond substrates, with a full width at half maximum of 2714 arcsec, compared to 7560 arcsec on N-free diamond substrates. In conclusion, utilizing N-incorporated diamond substrates is a practical approach for GaN-on-diamond deposition.

Quantification of the sp3 content in Diamond-Like carbon Films: Effects of Ne plasma addition in Deep Oscillation Magnetron sputtering

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are a class of amorphous carbon materials with unique properties, including high hardness and wear resistance, making them attractive for aerospace and automotive applications. Recently, High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) has emerged as a new route for magnetron-sputtered hard DLC films. The authors have previously demonstrated that adding Ne to the plasma significantly improves the properties of DLC films deposited by Deep Oscillation Magnetron Sputtering (DOMS), a HiPIMS variant. In this study, the sp3 content evolution with DLC film thickness was measured by Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and Near Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (NEXAFS). The sp3 content in the top section of the film deposited in Ar + Ne plasma is close to 40 % and remains constant across the film thickness. Conversely, in films deposited in pure Ar plasma, the sp3 content decreases from approximately 30 % to 18 % towards the surface. Ne addition increases the sp3 content by enhancing the carbon ion flux and counteracting the atomic shadowing effect. These findings provide novel insights into the role of Ne in reducing the atomic shadowing effect and improving the overall quality of DLC films, paving the way for their optimized industrial use.

Magnetotransport properties of ternary tetradymite films with high mobility

(Bi,Sb)2(Te,Se)3 tetradymite materials are among the most efficient for thermoelectric energy conversion, and most robust for topological insulator spintronic technologies, but should possess rather disparate doping properties to be useful for either technology. In this work, we report results on the molecular beam epitaxy growth of p-type (Bi0.43Sb0.57)2Te3 and n-type Bi2(Te0.95Se0.05)3 that can contribute to both technology bases, but are especially useful for topological insulators where low bulk doping is critical for devices to leverage the Dirac-like topological surface states. Comprehensive temperature, field and angular dependent magnetotransport measurements have attested to the superior quality of these ternary tetradymite films, displaying low carrier density on the order of 1018 cm−3 and a record high mobility exceeding 104 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 2 K. The remarkable manifestation of strong Shubnikov–de Haas (SdH) quantum oscillation under 9 T at liquid helium temperatures, as well as the analyses therein, has allowed direct experimental investigation of the tetradymite electronic structure with optimized ternary alloying ratio. Our effort substantiates tetradymites as a critical platform for miniaturized thermoelectric cooling and power generation in wearable consumer electronics, as well as for futuristic topological spintronics with unprecedented magnetoelectric functionalities.

Relevance of Platinum Underlayer Crystal Quality for the Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of the Heterostructures YbFeO3/Pt/YSZ(111).

The hexagonal ferrite h-YbFeO3 grown on YSZ(111) by pulsed laser deposition is foreseen as a promising single multiferroic candidate where ferroelectricity and antiferromagnetism coexist for future applications at low temperatures. We studied in detail the microstructure as well as the temperature dependence of the magnetic properties of the devices by comparing the heterostructures grown directly on YSZ(111) (i.e., YbPt_Th0nm) with h-YbFeO3 films deposited on substrates buffered with platinum Pt/YSZ(111) and in dependence on the Pt underlayer film thickness (i.e., YbPt_Th10nm, YbPt_Th40nm, YbPt_Th55nm, and YbPt_Th70nm). The goal was to deeply understand the importance of the crystal quality and morphology of the Pt underlayer for the h-YbFeO3 layer crystal quality, surface morphology, and the resulting physical properties. We demonstrate the relevance of homogeneity, continuity, and hillock formation of the Pt layer for the h-YbFeO3 microstructure in terms of crystal structure, mosaicity, grain boundaries, and defect distribution. The findings of transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping characterization enable us to conclude that an optimum film thickness for the Pt bottom electrode is ThPt = 70 nm, which improves the crystal quality of h-YbFeO3 films grown on Pt-buffered YSZ(111) in comparison with h-YbFeO3 films grown on YSZ(111) (i.e., YbPt_Th0nm). The latter shows a disturbance in the crystal structure, in the up-and-down atomic arrangement of the ferroelectric domains, as well as in the Yb-Fe exchange interactions. Therefore, an enhancement in the remanent and in the total magnetization was obtained at low temperatures below 50 K for h-YbFeO3 films deposited on Pt-buffered substrates Pt/YSZ(111) when the Pt underlayer reached ThPt = 70 nm.

Ascorbic acid-induced porous iodide layer for a high-purity two-step solution-processed tin-lead mixed perovskite photodetector

Tin (Sn)-lead (Pb) mixed halide perovskites have attracted widespread interest due to their wider response wavelength and lower toxicity than lead halide perovskites. Among the preparation methods, the two-step method more easily controls the crystallization rate and is suitable for preparing large-area perovskite devices. However, the residual low-conductivity iodide layer in the two-step method can affect carrier transport and device stability, and the different crystallization rates of Sn- and Pb-based perovskites may result in poor film quality. Therefore, Sn-Pb mixed perovskites are mainly prepared by a one-step method. Herein, a MAPb0.5Sn0.5I3-based self-powered photodetector without a hole transport layer is fabricated by a two-step method. By adjusting the concentration of the ascorbic acid (AA) additive, the final perovskite film exhibited a pure phase without residues, and the optimal device exhibited a high responsivity (0.276 A W−1), large specific detectivity (2.38 × 1012 Jones), and enhanced stability. This enhancement is mainly attributed to the inhibition of Sn2+ oxidation, the control of crystal growth, and the sufficient reaction between organic ammonium salts and bottom halides due to the AA-induced pore structure.

Fabrication of binder-free TiO2 P 25 films on flexible PET/ITO substrate for photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells

In this work, TiO2 P 25 films for photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been fabricated using a flexible PET/ITO substrate with a low-temperature heating technique. Ammonium hydroxide/ethanol solution was used as an alternative binding agent to fabricate TiO2 paste, which can be removed at low-temperature heating. The conventional screen print method is still used in DSSC fabrication because it is a very cheap and easy technique. A hot-pressing method is also used to improve the quality of TiO2 films and the performance of DSSCs. The encapsulation technique used in the assembly of DSSC is expected to increase the stability of DSSC devices to prevent electrolyte leakage. The resulting TiO2 film shows the highest DSSC performance using the hot-pressing and encapsulation method with PCE 0.29%. The encapsulation technique increased the stability of DSSC devices with more extended durability than without encapsulation.

Effect of cold deformation on the corrosion behavior of ZrTiNb alloys in an anodic environment of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis

The effect of cold deformation levels on the corrosion behavior of ZrTiNb alloys in an anodic environment of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis was investigated. The findings revealed that cold deformation facilitated the formation of α" martensite and the accumulation of dislocations near deformation bands. The protective quality of the passive film decreased up to 50 % deformation but improved at 75 %. Nb2O5 plays a major role in the protectiveness of passive film. Additionally, crystal orientation selective corrosion was observed, with higher deformation intensifying the corrosion rate. Annealing improved corrosion resistance by producing smaller recrystallization grains.