Insight into Metalized Interfaces in Nano Devices by Surface Analytical Techniques.

Connections between metals and heterogeneous solid state materials form buried interfaces. These ubiquitous structures play an essential role in determining the performances of many nano- and microdevices. However, the information about the chemistry, structure, and properties of these real interfaces is intrinsically difficult to extract by traditional techniques. Therefore, approaches to efficiently discovering metalized interfaces are in high demand. Here, we demonstrate the transformation of nanoscale metal/oxide interface problems into surface problems through a novel metal-hydrogenation detaching method. We applied this technique to study the thickness dependence in Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) ferroelectric thin films, a long-standing interface problem in a model metal/insulator device, and this allowed comprehensive surface analytical techniques to be adapted. A nonstoichiometric interfacial layer of 4.1 nm thick with low mass density, low permittivity, and weak ferroelectricity was quantified at the Pt/PZT interface and attributed to the preferential diffusions among the compositional elements. Targeted interface engineering by Pb rebalance led to a substantial recovery of ferroelectric properties. Our results therefore pave the way to a better understanding of metallized interface in ferroelectric and dielectric nanodevices. We hope that more useful information about metalized interfaces of other solid materials could, analogously, be accessed by surface analytical techniques.

Facile access to large-scale, self-assembled, nacre-inspired, high-performance materials with tunable nanoscale periodicities.

Although advances have been reported to mimic the mechanically excellent structure of natural nacre, larger-scale applications are still limited due to time and energy-intensive preparation pathways. Herein, we demonstrate that simple high-shear homogenization of dispersions containing biobased high molecular weight sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (700 kg/mol, CMC) and natural sodium montmorillonite (MTM), serving as the soft energy-dissipating phase and reinforcing platelets, respectively, can be used to prepare large-area and thick films with well-aligned hard/soft nacre-mimetic mesostructure. During this process, core-shell nanoplatelets with intrinsic hard/soft structure form, which then self-assemble into a layered nanocomposite during water removal. The nanoscale periodicities of the alternating hard/soft layers can be precisely tuned by changing the ratio of CMC to MTM, which allows studying the evolution of mechanical properties as a function of the lamellar nanoscale periodicity and fractions of hard to soft material. Remarkable mechanical stiffness (25 GPa) and strength (320 MPa) can be obtained placing these materials among the top end of nacre-inspired materials reported so far. Mechanical homogenization also allows direct preparation of concentrated, yet homogeneous, gel-like dispersions of high nanoclay content, suited to doctor-blade large-area and thick films with essentially the same properties as films cast from dilute dispersions. In terms of functional properties, we report high-transparency, shape-persistent fire-blocking and the ability to surface-pattern via inkjet printing. Considering the simple, fully scalable, waterborne preparation pathway, and the use of nature-based components, we foresee applications as ecofriendly, bioinspired materials to promote sustainable engineering materials and novel types of functional barrier coatings and substrates.

Solid-liquid interface of a 2-propanol-perfluoromethylcyclohexane mixture: from adsorption to wetting.

The liquid-solid interface between a silicon substrate and the binary mixture perfluoromethylcyclohexane (PFMC) and 2-propanol (IP) is examined by x-ray specular reflectivity and diffuse scattering under grazing angles. The wetting films between the PFMC-rich phase and the substrate are characterized with respect to the density profile and lateral fluctuations. We find that the liquid-liquid interface of the film is anomalously broadened as compared to capillary wave theory. This broadening is caused by a locally slow variation of the density between the liquid phases and marks an adsorption profile that does not reflect the bulk properties of the film phase. Essentially the same behavior is present for a fused silica substrate.