Ag-decorated TiO₂ nanostructured materials are promising photocatalysts. We used non-standard cryo-lyophilization and ArF laser ablation methods to produce TiO₂ nanosheets and TiO₂ nanostructured thin films decorated with Ag nanoparticles. Both methods have a common advantage in that they provide a single multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ characterized by {111} twin boundaries. Advanced microscopy techniques and electron diffraction patterns revealed the formation of multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ structures at elevated temperatures (500 °C and 800 °C). The photocatalytic activity was demonstrated by the efficient degradation of 4-chlorophenol and Total Organic Carbon removal using Ag-TiO₂ nanosheets, because the multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ served as an immobilized photocatalytically active center. Ag-TiO₂ nanostructured thin films decorated with multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ achieved improved photoelectrochemical water splitting due to the additional induction of a plasmonic effect. The photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ nanosheets and TiO₂ nanostructured thin films were correlated with the presence of defect-twinned structures formed from Ag⁽⁰⁾ nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution, tuned to between 10 and 20 nm. This work opens up new possibilities for understanding the defects generated in Ag-TiO₂ nanostructured materials and paves the way for connecting their morphology with their photocatalytic activity.

Geopolymers compete with a number of conventional coatings and a few of them have already been replaced. The aim of this work was the analysis of alkali-activated metakaolin-based geopolymers and their use as brush-applied coatings, which were chosen due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Eight coatings were prepared and the AlMgSi aluminum alloy underlying the substrate was also studied. The main characterizations of the prepared coatings were the microscopy analysis, which showed that manual painting with a brush on the coatings we prepared could achieve a high-quality geopolymer layer, and that if microscopic cracks are visible on the surface, they are uniform and do not affect the resulting cohesiveness of the coating. The thicknesses of these coatings are different, ranging from 1.5 to 11 μm, with no visible anomalies. For the evaluation of the properties of the coatings, we determined the analysis of adhesion to the adjacent substrate, microhardness and thermal expansion determined using the so-called dilatometric analysis as important criteria. For these analyses, the results vary by geopolymer type and are discussed in the following chapters.

This work is focused on creating coating layers made of a metakaolin-based geopolymer suspensions (GP)-formed Al matrix modified using H₃PO₄ acid with Al(OH)₃ in isopropyl alcohol, named GP suspension I, and H₃PO₄ acid with nano Al₂O₃ in isopropyl alcohol, named GP suspension J. The selected GP suspensions were applied on aluminum and steel underlying substrates as single-layer coatings and multi-layer coatings, where multi-layer coatings included three and five layers that were polymerized by a curing process. Curing was divided into two types with every layer curing process and final layer curing process. For both GP suspensions I and J, the effect of the number of layers and the type of substrate on adhesion was investigated. The prepared samples on underlying substrates were characterized on the microscopy analysis including SEM for high-resolution images and 3D laser confocal microscopy (CLSM) for the 3D visualization of the coatings structure. Microscopy analysis showed structural defects such as porosity, cracks and peeling, which increase with a greater number of applied layers. However, these defects were only evident on a micro scale and did not seem to be fatal for the performance of the surface stability. The EDS mapping of the prepared layer showed inhomogeneity in the distribution of elements caused by the brush application. A grid test and thickness measurement were performed to complete the microscopy analysis. The grid test confirmed a very high adhesion of GP coatings on the aluminum substrate with a rating of one (only in one case was there a rating of two) and a lower adhesion on the steel substrate with the most frequent rating of three (in one case, there were ratings of two and one). The thickness measurement proved a noticeably thicker thickness of the prepared layer on the Fe substrate compared to the Al substrate by 20%–30% in the case of suspension I and by 70%–10% in the case of suspension J. The thickness of the layer also showed a dependence on the method of application and curing, as a thicker layer was always achieved when curing after the final layer of the GP suspension, compared to curing after each applied layer. The resulting single-layer and multi-layer thicknesses ranged from approx. 7 to 30 µm for suspension I and from approx. 3 to 11 µm for suspension J. A non-linear increase in thickness was also evident from the thickness measurement data.

This article deals with adhesion of various alkali-activated metakaolin-based geopolymer coatings on structural steel 1.0038 (according to EN 10025-2). This steel alloy was chosen in order to analysis adhesion of prepared geopolymer coatings. Our samples were characterized by laser and SEM microscopy and grid test was performed. Microscopy was performed to get knowledge about visible characterization and overall quality of prepared coatings. Based on previous research SEM results correspond with properties changes in coatings and their classification of grid test. Grid test was performed and results was evaluated. These results show potential of our prepared GP and could be used as base for further research and possible application as anti corrosion coatings in construction or fire-resistant barriers. The aim of the research was to prepare alkali-activated metakaolin-based geopolymer on a structural steel substrate, to evaluate the visual quality of the coatings and to evaluate the results of the grid test.

This article deals with the influence of the applied solution annealing temperatures in the precipita-tion hardening process on the resulting increase in the mechanical properties of Al-Si-Cu alloy cast-ings with different copper contents in t...

This article summarizes the results from the fire resistance test of geopolymer suspensions in the form of coatings on non-metallic substrates. Their heat resistance was evaluated based on the burn-through time compared to the uncoated substrate. Non-metallic substrate materials, extruded polystyrene (XPS) and chipboard (DTD) were chosen as the underlying substrates for GP suspension research. Parameters from the fire resistance test as fire test duration of geopolymer coatings and percentage increase in burn time of geopolymer coatings on an XPS and DTD substrates compared to an uncoated substrate were evaluated. One of the discussed point was also the addition of CaCO3 and Al(OH)3 for studding flame retardancy effect.