B. Chhay

Thermoelectric properties of SiO2/SiO2+CoSb multi-nanolayered thin films modified by MeV Si ions

We have fabricated the thermoelectric generator devices from 100 alternating layers of SiO2/SiO2+CoSb superlattice thin films using the ion beam–assisted deposition. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was used for quantitative elemental analysis of Si, Co, and Sb in the multilayer films. The thin films were then modified by 5-MeV Si ion bombardments using the Alabama A&M University Pelletron ion beam accelerator. Quantum dots and/or clusters were produced in the nanolayered superlattice films to decrease the cross-plane thermal conductivity, increase the cross-plane Seebeck coefficient, and the cross-plane electrical conductivity. We have characterized the thermoelectric generator devices before and after Si ion bombardments using the thermoelectric, optical, and surface characterization techniques. The optical absorption amplitude decreased when the first fluence of 1 × 1012 ions/cm2 was introduced from the value of 2.8 to about 1.9 at 200 nm. The figure of merit reached the maximum value of about 0.005 at the fluence of 1 × 1013 ions/cm2.

Modification of Surface Morphology of UHMWPE for Biomedical Implants

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) samples were implanted with metal and metal-gas hybrid ions (Ag, Ag+N, C+H, C+H+Ar, Ti+O ) by using improved MEVVA Ion implantation technique [1,2] . An extraction voltage of 30 kV and influence of 1017 ions/cm2 were attempted in this experiment . to change their surface morphologies in order to understand the effect of ion implantation on the surface properties of UHMWPEs. Characterizations of the implanted samples with RBS , ATR - FTIR, spectra were compared with the un-implanted ones . Implanted and unimplanted samples were also thermally characterized by TGA and DSC. It was generally observed that C–H bond concentration seemed to be decreasing with ion implantation and the results indicated that the chain structure of UHMWPE were changed and crosslink density and polymer crystallinity were increased compared to unimplanted ones resulting in increased hardness. It was also observed that nano size cracks (approx.10nm) were significantly disappeared after Ag implantation, which also has an improved antibacterial effect . Contact angle measurements showed that wettability of samples increased with ion implantation. Results showed that metal and metal+gas hybrid ion implantation could be an effective way to improve the surface properties of UHMWPE to be used in hip and knee prosthesis.

Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Glassy Polymeric Carbon

Glassy Polymeric Carbon (GPC) is obtained by a molding technique, in various shapes, from a phenolic resin precursor. The heat treatment of the precursor is achieved in three stages up to 1000 °C. Similar GPC materials produced in our laboratory displayed large strain to failure ratio, small thermal expansion coefficient and low density. Like all carbon forms, is attacked by oxygen, especially atomic oxygen. Nevertheless the kinetics for reaction with atmospheric oxygen is very slow. We investigated the composition and structural changes of the phenolic precursor as a function of temperature and evaluated materials stability when exposed to high temperatures in presence of hydrogen or oxygen.