Thin solid coatings

Fig. 1—A typical system of thin solid coating/substrate.

In this chapter, a brief introduction will be given mainly to the DEC, CNx, multilayer films and nano-composite coatings. Detailed and comprehensive introduction of the conventional thin solid coating technique is not the objective of this chapter. Readers are referred to relevant publications to attain the knowledge in this area. 

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is an atomistic surface modification process where a thin solid coating is deposited on an underlying heated substrate via a chemical reaction from the vapor or gas phase. The occurrence of this chemical reaction is an essential characteristic of the CVD method. The chemical reaction is generally activated thermally by resistance heat, RF, plasma and laser. Furthermore, the effects of the process variables such as temperature, pressure, flow rates, and input concentrations on these reactions must be understood. With proper selection of process parameters, the coating structure/properties such as hardness, toughness, elastic modulus, adhesion, thermal shock resistance and corrosion, wear and oxidation resistance can be controlled or tailored for a variety of applications. The optimum experimental parameters and the level to which... 

Pierson, H. O., Aluminum Coatings by the Decomposition of Alkyls, Thin Solid Films, 45 257-264 (1977)... 

Mantyla, T., Vuoristo, P., and Kettunen, P., Chemical Vapor Deposition of Plasma Sprayed Oxide Coatings, Thin Solid Films, 118(4) 437-444(24Aug. 1984)... 

Oakes J., A Comparative Evaluation of HfN, AI2O3, TiC and TiN Coatings on Cemented Carbide Tools, Thin Solid Films, (107) 159-165(1983)... 

Oguri, K. and Ariai, T., Friction Coefficient of Si-C, Ti-C and Ge-C Coatings with Excess Carbon Formed by Plasma-assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition, Thin Solid Films, Vol. 208,1992, pp. 158-160. 

Robertson, J., "Ultrathin Carbon Coatings for Magnetic Storage Technology," Thin Solid Films, Vol. 383, 2001, pp. 81-88. 

Veprek, S. and Reiprich, S., A Concept for the Design of Novei Superhard Coatings," Thin Solid Films, Vol. 268,... 

Bouroushian M, Charoud-Got J, Loizos Z, SpyrelUs N, Maurin G (2001) Structure and properties of CdSe and CdScxTej.x electrolytic coatings on Ni and Ti cathodes. Influence of the acidic aqueous bath pH. Thin Solid FUms 381 39-47... 

Bouroushian M, Loizos Z, SpyreUis N, Maurin G (1993) Influence of heat treatment on structure and properties of electrodeposited CdSe or Cd(Se,Te) semiconducting coatings. Thin Solid FUms 229 101-106... 

Thin film coatings of nanocrystalline semiconductors, as collections of quantum dots (QD or Q-dot) attached to a solid surface, resemble in many ways semiconductor colloids dispersed in a liquid or solid phase and can be considered as a subsection of the latter category. The first 3D quantum size effect, on small Agl and CdS colloids, was observed and correctly explained, back in 1967 [109]. However, systematic studies in this field only began in the 1980s. 

Okada, M., Yamada, Y., Jin, P., Tazawa, M., and Yoshimura, K., Fabrication of multifunctional coating which combines low-e property and visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity, Thin Solid Films, 442,217,2003. 

A. N. Khramov, V. N. Balbyshev, L. S. Kasten and R. A. Mantz, Sol-gel coatings with phosphonate functionalities for surface modification of magnesium alloys, Thin Solid Films, 2006, 514, 174. 

The electronic absorption spectra of dilute (typically 5-10 mg/1) solutions of poly(9,9-dialkyl-fluorenes) show a sharp peak with Amax 385-390 nm (3.2 eV) of tt-tt electronic transition. Thin solid films (spin coated from 15 to 20mg/ml solutions) reveal similar absorption with a slightly red-shifted ( 10 nm) and relatively broader peak (due to intermolecular interaction) (Figure 2.9) [246],... 

T. Kawashima, H. Matsui, and N. Tanabe, New transparent conductive films FTO coated ITO, Thin Solid Films, 445 241-244 (2003). 

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