Autor Mária Čaplovičová

Adhesive-deformation relationships and mechanical properties of nc-AlCrN/a-SiNx hard coatings deposited at different bias voltages

Adhesive-deformation relationships and mechanical properties of nc-AlCrN/a-SiNx hard coatings deposited at different bias voltages

Posted on by Mária Čaplovičová

M. Haršáni, N. Ghafoor, K. Calamba, P. Zacková, M. Sahul, T. Vopát, L. Satrapinskyy, M. Čaplovičová, Ľ. Čaplovič

Thin Solid Films, Volume 650, 2018, Pages 11-19

doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2018.02.006

Abstract

A series of Al-Cr-Si-N hard coatings were deposited on WC-Co substrates with a negative substrate bias voltage ranging from −50 to −200 V using cathodic arc evaporation system. A Rockwell-C adhesion test demonstrated that excellent adhesion was observed at lower bias voltages of −50 V and −80 V, while further increases in bias voltage up to −200 V led to severe delamination and worsening of the overall adhesion strength. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed a single phase cubic B1-structure identified as an AlCrN solid solution with a nanocomposite microstructure where cubic AlCrN nanocrystals were embedded in a thin continuous amorphous SiNx matrix. Coatings exhibited a 002-texture evolution that was more pronounced at higher bias voltages (≥−120 V). Stress-induced cracks were observed inside the coatings at high bias voltages (≥−150 V), which resulted in stress relaxation and a decline in the overall residual stresses.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of hydrogenated and vanadium doped TiO2 nanotube arrays grown by anodization of sputtered Ti layers

Posted on by Mária Čaplovičová

MOTOLA, Martin – SATRAPINSKYY, L – ČAPLOVIČOVÁ, Mária – ROCH, Tomáš – GREGOR, Maroš – GRANČIČ, B. – GREGUŠ, J. – ČAPLOVIČ, Ľubomír – PLESCH, Gustav

In Applied Surface Science. Vol. 434, 15 March 2018 (2018)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.11.253

Abstract

TiO2 nanotube (TiNT) arrays were grown on silicon substrate via electrochemical anodization of titanium films sputtered by magnetron. To improve the photocatalytic activity of arrays annealed in air (o-TiNT), doping of o-TiNT with vanadium was performed (o-V/TiNT). These non-doped and doped TiNT arrays were also hydrogenated in H2/Ar atmosphere to r-TiNT and r-V/TiNT samples, respectively. Investigation of composition and morphology by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed the presence of well-ordered arrays of anatase nanotubes with average diameter and length of 100 nm and 1.3 μm, respectively. In both oxidized and reduced V-doped samples, vanadium is partly dissolved in the structure of anatase and partly deposited in form of oxide on the nanotube surface. Vanadium-doped and reduced samples exhibited higher rates in the photodegradation of organic dyes (compared to non-modified o-TiNT sample) and this is caused by limitation of electron-hole recombination rates and by shift of the energy gap into visible region. The photocatalytic activity was measured under UV, sunlight and visible irradiation, and the corresponding efficiency increased in the order (o-TiNT) < (r-TiNT) < (o-V/TiNT) < (r-V/TiNT). Under visible light, only r-TiNT and r-V/TiNT showed significant photocatalytic activity.