Multicomponent ceramics thin films

Important features of the sol-gel method are better homogeneity compared to the traditional ceramic method, high purity, lower processing temperature, more uniform phase distribution in multicomponent systems, better size and morphological control, the possibility of preparing new crystalline and non-crystalline materials and, lastly, easy preparation of thin films and coalings. The sol-gel method is widely used in ceramic technology and the subject has been widely reviewed [1-3]. 

Stangar U., Orel B., Krajnc M., Korosec R., Bukovec P. Sol-gel derived thin ceramic C0AI2O4 coatings for optical applications. MTAEC 9 2002 36 387-393 Stuart B., George B., McIntyre P. Modem Infrared Spectroscopy. Chichester, 1996 Thomas I.M. Multicomponent glasses from the sol-gel process. In Sol-Gel Technology for Thin Films, Fibres, Preforms, Electronics and Specialty Shapes. L.C. Klein, ed. New Jersey Noyes Publications, 1988... 

It has been demonstrated that the classical equihbiimn defect chemical concepts derived for binary compounds can be apphed to ternary and multinary compoimds. In the case of multicomponent materials, the space charge effects will become very important in cases in which the dimensions are no longer large compared with the thickness of the space charge layers, as in extremely thin films or in stractirral and functional ceramics with crystallites of nanometer dimensiorts. The formation of latent images in silver halide photography represents a prelude to effects of point defects in nanostractured materials, and is related to enlarged concentrations of point defects in botmdary layers. 

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