Showing papers in "Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences in 2015"
TL;DR: The surge of interest in multiferroic materials over the past 15 years has been driven by their fascinating physical properties and huge potential for technological applications as discussed by the authors, which can deliver a new wave of technological advances and economic impact comparable to the silicon industrial revolution of the 1950s.
Abstract: Materials science is recognized as one of the main factors driving development and economic growth. Since the silicon industrial revolution of the 1950s, research and developments in materials and solid state science have radically impacted and transformed our society by enabling the emergence of the computer technologies, wireless communications, Internet, digital data storage, and widespread consumer electronics. Today's emergent topics in solid state physics, such as nano-materials, graphene and carbon nano-tubes, smart and advanced functional materials, spintronic materials, bio-materials, and multiferroic materials, promise to deliver a new wave of technological advances and economic impact, comparable to the silicon industrial revolution of the 1950s.The surge of interest in multiferroic materials over the past 15 years has been driven by their fascinating physical properties and huge potential for technological applications. This article addresses some of the fundamental aspects of solid-state mult...
387 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the synthesis or development of SnS structures in different forms including single-crystals and thin films, and their unique properties are reviewed and discussed, and they emphasize that this material could have novel applications in optoelectronics including solar cell devices, sensors, batteries, and also in biomedical sciences.
Abstract: Tin (II) sulphide (SnS), a direct band gap semiconductor compound, has recently received great attention due to its unique properties. Because of low cost, absence of toxicity, and good abundance in nature, it is becoming a candidate for future multifunctional devices particularly for light conversion applications. Although the current efficiencies are low, the cost-per-Watt is becoming competitive. At room temperature, SnS exhibits stable low-symmetric, double-layered orthorhombic crystal structure, having a = 0.4329, b = 1.1192, and c = 0.3984nm as lattice parameters. These layer-structured materials are of interest in various device applications due to the arrangement of structural lattice with cations and anions. The layers of cations are separated only by van der Waals forces that provide intrinsically chemically inert surface without dangling bonds and surface density of states. As a result, there is no Fermi level pinning at the surface of the semiconductor. This fact leads to considerably high chemical and environmental stability. Further, the electrical and optical properties of SnS can be easily tailored by modifying the growth conditions or doping with suitable dopants without disturbing its crystal structure.In the last few decades, SnS has been synthesized and studied in the form of single-crystals and thin-films. Most of the SnS single-crystals have been synthesized by Bridgeman technique, whereas thin films have been developed using different physical as well as chemical deposition techniques. The synthesis or development of SnS structures in different forms including single-crystals and thin films, and their unique properties are reviewed here. The observed physical and chemical properties of SnS emphasize that this material could has novel applications in optoelectronics including solar cell devices, sensors, batteries, and also in biomedical sciences. These aspects are also discussed.
150 citations
TL;DR: An overview of current advances in GO applications in biomedicine and future perspectives conclude that GO is going to play a vital role in Biomedical applications in the near future.
Abstract: Graphene oxide (GO) offers interesting physicochemical and biological properties for biomedicine due to its versatility, biocompatibility, small size, large surface area, and its ability to interact with biological cells and tissues. GO is a two-dimensional material of exceptional strength, unique optical, physical, mechanical, and electronic properties. Ease of functionalization and high antibacterial activity are two major properties identified with GO. Due to its excellent aqueous processability, amphiphilicity, surface functionalization capability, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and fluorescence quenching ability, GO chemically exfoliated from oxidized graphite is considered a promising material for biological applications. In addition, due to π-π* transitions, a low energy is required for electron movement, a property important in Biosensor and Bioimaging applications of GO. In this article, we present an overview of current advances in GO applications in biomedicine and discuss future per...
142 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the diamond-like carbon (DLC) is used to lower the friction and wear rate in some machine parts, which makes the process energy inefficient and can be an effective means to reduce the energy consumption.
Abstract: During the last two decades, the industry (including scientists) has focused on diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating because of its wide range of application in various fields. This material has numerous applications in mechanical, electrical, tribological, biomedical, and optical fields. Severe friction and wear in some machine parts consumes high amount of energy, which makes the process energy inefficient. Thus, DLC coating can be an effective means to lower the friction and wear rate. Some important process variables that affect the tribological characteristics of DLC coating are adhesion promoter intermediate layer, substrate surface roughness, hydrogen incorporation or hydrogen non involvement, and coating deposition parameters (e.g., bias voltage, etching, current, precursor gas, time, and substrate temperature). Working condition of DLC-coated parts also affects the tribological characteristics, such as temperature, sliding speed and load, relative humidity, counter surface, and lubrication media (DL...
130 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the role of the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes and their dispersion into the metal matrix is highlighted and the production techniques such as mechanical alloying through powder metallurgy routes and their effects on the mechanical properties of CNT reinforced TMCs are reviewed.
Abstract: Titanium-based metal composites (TMCs) are showing great potential to replace existing traditional materials in aerospace, automotive, and other high temperature engineering applications. This is due to their excellent mechanical, thermal, and physical properties and improved strength to weight ratio. Weight savings in the aerospace industry results in higher efficiency. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), because of their low density and high Young's modulus, are considered to be an excellent reinforcement for metal matrix composites (MMCs). In the last 20 years extensive research has been carried out to investigate the combination of carbon nanotubes with aluminum, nickel, copper, magnesium, and other metal matrices. The production techniques such as mechanical alloying through powder metallurgy routes and their effects on the mechanical properties of CNT reinforced TMCs are reviewed in this article. The role of the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes and their dispersion into the metal matrix are highlighted. Gov...
130 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a comprehensive overview of the reported rice and butterfly wing effect discovered by the authors is presented with the hope to attract and inspire others in the field, with much attention given to unique structures, materials, and surfaces.
Abstract: In this article, a comprehensive overview of the reported rice and butterfly wing effect discovered by the authors is presented with the hope to attract and inspire others in the field. Living nature has inspired researchers for centuries to solve complex engineering challenges with much attention given to unique structures, materials, and surfaces. Such challenges include drag reducing and antifouling surfaces to save energy, lives, and money. Many flora and fauna exhibit low drag and antifouling characteristics, such as shark skin and lotus leaves, due to their hierarchical microstructured morphologies. The authors have reported that rice leaves and butterfly wings combine the shark skin (anisotropic flow leading to low drag) and lotus leaf (superhydrophobic and self-cleaning) effects, producing the so-called rice and butterfly wing effect. Such surfaces have been fabricated with photolithography, soft lithography, hot embossing, and coating techniques. Fluid drag, anti-biofouling, anti-inorganic foulin...
91 citations
TL;DR: The surface modification using surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) is an option that cab be used to tailor the corrosion, tribological, mechanical, and chemical reaction properties of a surface.
Abstract: Nanometer-sized grain structures that exhibit a large number of grain boundaries on the surface of a bulk material demonstrate excellent properties relative to their coarse-grained (CG) equivalents. Surface modification using surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) is an option that cab be used to tailor the corrosion, tribological, mechanical, and chemical reaction properties of a surface. SMAT is an effective route to create the nanostructured surface layer. The SMAT process has unique advantages compared with the other coating and deposition techniques for surface nanocrystallization. For example, SMAT does not alter the chemical composition of the nanocrystalline surface layer in the matrix. In addition, SMAT has been demonstrated to activate the material surface layer by surface modification and enhance the atomic diffusivity. This article presents a review of the advantages offered by the SMAT technique for the creation of high performance surface layers. The influence of the created nanocryst...
82 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of 3C-SiC heteroepitaxial growth on a silicon substrate is presented, where various aspects of the growth process from substrate carbonization to epitaxy are discussed as a function of growth parameters.
Abstract: For a long time now, 3C-SiC has attracted attention of the semiconductor community due to its very interesting properties. The lack of commercial 3C-SiC seeds for epitaxy has forced researchers to prospect for different host materials in order to grow heteroepitaxial thin layers. Because of the obvious economical and technical advantages, silicon is a very attractive substrate so that more than 90% of the thin 3C-SiC heteroepitaxial films are grown on such seed. However, the obstacles to overcome, mainly lattice and thermal mismatch, are challenging. This article reviews the numerous attempts for growing high quality 3C-SiC heteroepitaxial layers on silicon substrate. The various aspects of the heteroepitaxial growth, from substrate carbonization to epitaxy, are discussed as a function of growth parameters. The difficulties encountered and the proposed solutions are described. Perspectives of this heteroepitaxial system are proposed.
75 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reviewed six commonly used models which determine residual stresses from analyzing load-depth curves, as well as indentation fracture technique which is based on the classical fracture mechanics.
Abstract: Instrumented indentation, which is also known as nanoindentation or depth-sensing indentation, is increasingly being used to probe the residual stresses of materials including bulk solids, thin films, and coatings. The residual stresses are proved to have significant effects on various nanoindentation parameters such as hardness, loading curve, unloading curve, pile-up amount around indentation, and true contact area. By analyzing these parameters, numerous methods are developed to evaluate the residual stresses of materials in recent years. This article reviews six commonly used models which determine residual stresses from analyzing load-depth curves, as well as indentation fracture technique which is based on the classical fracture mechanics. Emphasis is placed on the principle, application and limitation of each nanoindentation method.
51 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of ultrathin silicon wafer technology is reviewed in terms of the semiconductor applications, critical challenges, and wafer pre-assembly and assembly process technologies and their underlying mechanisms.
Abstract: Ultrathin silicon wafer technology is reviewed in terms of the semiconductor applications, critical challenges, and wafer pre-assembly and assembly process technologies and their underlying mechanisms. Mechanical backgrinding has been the standard process for wafer thinning in the semiconductor industry owing to its low cost and productivity. As the thickness requirement of wafers is reduced to below 100 μm, many challenges are being faced due to wafer/die bow, mechanical strength, wafer handling, total thickness variation (TTV), dicing, and packaging assembly. Various ultrathin wafer processing and assembly technologies have been developed to address these challenges. These include wafer carrier systems to handle ultrathin wafers; backgrinding subsurface damage and surface roughness reduction, and post-grinding treatment to increase wafer/die strength; improved wafer carrier flatness and backgrinding auto-TTV control to improve TTV; wafer dicing technologies to reduce die sidewall damage to increase die ...
47 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the last two decades to produce contacts with embedded nanoparticles (NPs) is presented, covering common routes of NPs deposition on different substrates (e.g., Si, Ge, SiC, GaN, GaAs67P33, and InP) for nanostructured contact fabrication.
Abstract: Schottky and Ohmic contacts are essential parts of electronic and optoelectronic devices based on semiconductor materials. Controlling the contact/semiconductor interface properties is the key to obtaining a contact with an optimum performance. Contacts incorporated by nanomaterials, i.e., nano-sized particles that are embedded at the interface of contact/semiconductor, can transform the conventional approaches of contact fabrication, resulting in more reproducible, tunable and efficient electronic, and optoelectronic devices. This article is a review of theoretical and fabrication progress on the last two decades to produce contacts with embedded nanoparticles (NPs). The review covers common routes of NPs deposition on different substrates (e.g., Si, Ge, SiC, GaN, GaAs67P33, and InP) for nanostructured contact fabrication and the theoretical models to investigate the NPs effects on the conduction mechanism and electrical properties of devices.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors summarize recent developments on the preparation methods of nanofluids based on oil, its stability, thermal conductivity enhancement, nanoparticle effect on viscosity, and its effect on thermal efficiency.
Abstract: The development of stable dispersion of nanoparticles in different oils is gaining momentum for close circuit applications as most of the mineral oils used are not very good thermal conductors. The enhancement of thermal conductivity with optimum enhancement of viscosity of oil with nanoparticles poses a serious challenge for use of such fluids in cooling. Transformer oil, mineral oil, silicon oil, hydrocarbon fuels, biodiesel, and some organic solutions have been used as the base fluids for studying the effect of nanoparticles for improving thermal efficiency. Innovative heat transfer fluids are produced by suspending metallic or nonmetallic nanometer-sized solid particles. Although a large number of sources are available on water-based nanofluids, the number of such reports on oil-based nanofluids is rather limited. The aim of this article is to summarize recent developments on the preparation methods of nanofluids based on oil, its stability, thermal conductivity enhancement, nanoparticle effect on vis...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors emphasize the need for understanding this perpetual problem of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites which is most often complex and far away from comprehensive conclusion.
Abstract: Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are increasingly becoming suitable and durable materials in the repair and replacement of traditional metallic materials. The built-in promise of performance assurance and retention of structural integrity in harsh and hostile environments of these materials certainly offers an alternative and attractive avenue for a wider range application to explore its potential to the zenith. The toughest challenge faced by material scientists is to assess and ascertain its behavioral log in a range of loading rates. The heterogeneity and responses of multiple distinct phases to varying loading conditions are most often complex and far away from comprehensive conclusion. Furthermore, composites with common structural polymer matrices quite often absorb moisture during service period. Then, FRPs become a much more complex system to comprehend its sensitivity to experimental variation. The present article emphasizes the need for understanding this perpetual problem of FRPs which...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed an efficient catalyst supporting matrix for a direct methanol fuel cell, which is based on a mixture of carbon black and platinum-Ruthenium catalysts.
Abstract: Significant progress has been made in the last few years toward synthesizing highly dispersible inorganic catalysts for application in the electrodes of direct methanol fuel cells. In addition, research toward achieving an efficient catalyst supporting matrix has also attracted much attention in recent years. Carbon black- (Vulcan XC-72) supported Platinum and Platinum-Ruthenium catalysts have for long served as the conventional choice as the cathode and the anode catalyst materials, respectively. Oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode and methanol oxidation reaction at the anode occur simultaneously during the operation of a direct methanol fuel cell. However, inefficiencies in these reactions result in a generation of mixed potential. This, in turn, gives rise to reduced cell voltage, increased oxygen stoichiometric ratio, and generation of additional water that is responsible for water flooding in the cathode chamber. In addition, the lack of long-term stability of Pt-Ru anode catalyst, coupled with ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the fully-depletion operation of thin body of silicon on the insulator of advanced MOSFETs is discussed and a detailed review is presented.
Abstract: Scaling of the transistor has been tremendous successful in the beginning with reduction of the gate oxide thickness and increase of doping concentration. Moving into smaller dimension, those are not enough to overcome the short channel effect. Starting with changing in materials and followed by device architecture is needed which require fully depletion operation. This article reviews the fully-depletion operation of thin body of silicon on insulator of advanced MOSFETs.
TL;DR: In this article, the formation mechanism of an amorphous structure through glass transition, structural characterization and models, micromechanics of plastic event and shear band, and correlation between the amorphus structure and its mechanical properties are discussed.
Abstract: Metallic glass (MG) is amorphous and has some outstanding properties such as ultrahigh strength, superior elasticity, and excellent thermo-plasticity. However, as MG is relatively new to the metal family, the relationship between its physical properties and amorphous structure is still unclear. This article aims to provide an insightful discussion through a comprehensive review about the investigations in the past few decades on the scientific mechanisms of this class of material. The discussion of the paper will include the following key aspects: (1) the formation mechanism of an amorphous structure through glass transition, (2) the structural characterization and models, (3) the micromechanics of plastic event and shear band, and (4) the correlation between the amorphous structure and its mechanical properties.