A. V. Ushakov

Method for producing nanomaterials in the plasma of a low-pressure pulsed arc discharge

A new method for the production of nanomaterials in the plasma of a low-pressure arc discharge is developed and experimentally studied. This method can be used to synthesize nanoparticles 5–10 nm in size with a narrow size distribution. In this method, a low-pressure arc discharge is used to melt a material, to disperse the molten material, to deliver liquid material droplets to the plasma, to cool the liquid nanoparticles forming in the plasma up to their solidification, and to deposit the solidified nanoparticles onto a substrate.

Enhancing of magnetic flux pinning in YBa2Cu3O7−x/CuO granular composites

This paper shows that the combination of self-assembled structures in the form of “whiskers” and nanoparticles, which appear as a result of the joint sintering powders YBa2Cu3O7−x and arc nanopowders CuO, leads to a significant increase in the current density and the appearance of the peak effect in strong magnetic fields range. Very high critical current density appears from a complex vortex pinning, where the defects in the form of “whiskers” provides more energy of pinning, and nanoparticles inhibit the flux creep. Regulation of the morphology of such structures can be achieved by simple change of the concentration of nanodispersed additives. It is shown that the optimal additive is CuO equal to 20 wt. %.

Specific features of the behavior of electroarc CuO nanoparticles in a magnetic field

The temperature and time dependences of the magnetization of copper oxide nanoparticles 8, 13, and 18 nm in size have been investigated. Specific features of the behavior of CuO nanoparticles formed by vacuum plasma-arc synthesis as compared to other antiferromagnetic particles have been revealed. It has been shown that the bifurcation of magnetization curves upon cooling in the zero (ZFC) and nonzero (FC) magnetic fields occurs above the Néel temperature, while the usual peak of the magnetization curve is absent in the ZFC mode. The problems associated with the nonequilibrium behavior of synthesized CuO nanoparticles have been discussed.

Plasmachemical synthesis and basic properties of CoFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles

Cobalt-ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles (CFNPs) are obtained using direct plasmachemical synthesis in the plasma of a low-pressure arc discharge. The formation of the CFNPs with an average size of 9 nm and a narrow granulometric composition is established employing the methods of X-ray structure analysis and transmission microscopy. The CFNP behavior upon high-temperature annealing is analyzed. The CFNP functional groups are determined using the infrared Fourier spectrum. The results of the X-ray energy dispersion confirm the correspondence of the ratio of the number of atoms of each material to the nominal stoichiometry. The basic magnetic properties of the obtained and annealed samples are investigated at room temperature using the vibrating spectrum magnetometry (VSM).

Study of magnetic flux pinning in granular YBa2Cu3O7 − y/nanoZrO2 composites

In this work, the effect of ZrO2 nanoparticles prepared in a low-pressure arc discharge plasma on magnetic flux pinning of granular YBa2Cu3O7 − y/nanoZrO2 composites has been studied. It has been shown that the ZrO2 nanoparticles do not change the superconducting transition and the microstructure of superconductors. At a temperature of 5 K, the addition of 0.5 and 1 wt % of ZrO2 nanoparticles may lead to the additional effect of magnetic flux pinning and the increase in the critical current density Jc. The Jc value for composites with 1 wt % is two times larger than that for the reference sample. The fishtail effect is observed for YBa2Cu3O7 − y/nanoZrO2 composites at the temperatures of 20 and 50 K. The problems associated with the additional effect of magnetic flux pinning of granular YBa2Cu3O7 − y/nanoZrO2 composites and the appearance of the fishtail effect have been discussed.

Influence of the oxygen concentration on the formation of crystalline phases of ZrO2 nanoparticles during the low-pressure arc-discharge plasma synthesis

The synthesis of nanoparticles of zirconium dioxide with different contents of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases has been investigated. The synthesis has been performed by controlling the oxygen content in the gas mixture in the plasma-chemical evaporation–condensation process in low-pressure arc-discharge plasma. The crystal structure of synthesized ZrO2 nanoparticles has been studied using X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the particles has been analyzed using transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticle growth in arc-discharge plasma has been examined using optical emission spectroscopy. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis has revealed that the content of the monoclinic phase of ZrO2 increases with a decrease in the oxygen content in the oxygen–argon gas mixture.

Influence of pressure and hydrocarbons on carbide formation in the plasma synthesis of TiC nanoparticles

We examine the influence of pressure and gas mixture composition on the preparation of nanomaterials via vacuum arc sputtering of titanium cathodes in carbon-containing media. The formation of carbide phases in various gaseous atmospheres is accompanied by the formation of the low-temperature phase α-Ti (hcp lattice), characteristic of pure titanium. Carbide formation in the plasma synthesis of TiC nanoparticles is determined by the C/H ratio in the molecules of the hydrocarbons used. To raise the yield of carbon-rich carbide phases and reduce the percentage of the residual metal in the resulting nanopowders, it is necessary to use hydrocarbons with a large C/H ratio, for example, benzene and acetylene.

Physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of quasicrystalline Al-Cu-Fe coatings prepared by plasma spraying

The physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of quasicrystalline coatings based on the Al65Cu23Fe12 alloy prepared by plasma spraying have been investigated. The specific features of the phase formation due to the competitive interactions of the icosahedral ψ and cubic β phases have been elucidated. A correlation between the microhardness and the content of the icosahedral phase in the coating has been determined. The decisive role of the quasicrystalline phase in the formation of high tribological characteristics of the coatings has been revealed and tested.

Influence of the oxygen concentration on the formation of crystalline phases of TiO2 during the low-pressure arc-discharge plasma synthesis

The synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with different percentage of anatase and rutile phases is investigated. The synthesis is performed by controlling the oxygen percentage in the gas mixture in the plasmachemical evaporation–condensation process employing a low-pressure arc discharge. In all our experiments, the pressure in the plasmachemical reactor and the average size of particles remain constant and are 60 Pa and 6 nm, respectively. The crystal structure of synthesized TiO2 is studied using X-ray diffraction; the morphology of the particles is analyzed employing transmission electron microscopy. Using X-ray phase analysis, it is established that the concentration of the TiO2 anatase phase decreases upon a decrease in the oxygen concentration in the gas mixture. It is shown that the TiO2 anatase phase is more efficient for photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue than the rutile phase.

Modification of the phase composition and structure of the quasicrystalline Al-Cu-Fe alloy prepared by plasma spraying

The structural-phase state of quasicrystalline coatings of the Al-Cu-Fe alloy produced under different thermal conditions of plasma spraying (different contact temperatures Tk of the substrate) has been investigated. It has been shown that sprayed coatings are heterophase with the dominant content of the icosahedral ψ and cubic β phases, the formation and fractional ratio of which depend on spraying conditions. The distribution of probabilities P(QS) of quadrupole splitting in experimental γ-resonance spectra has been analyzed. The dependence of hyperfine interaction parameters (QS, A) on spraying conditions of the coating has been established. Five nonequivalent positions of resonant iron atoms, the appearance and filling of which are determined by spraying conditions, have been revealed.