Thin-film n-n nanoheterostructures of SnO₂/TiO₂, highly sensitive to NO₂, were obtained in a two-step process: (i) magnetron sputtering, MS followed by (ii) Langmuir-Blodgett, L–B, technique. Thick (200 nm) SnO₂ base layers were deposited by MS and subsequently overcoated with a thin and discontinuous TiO₂ film by means of L–B. Rutile nanopowder spread over the ethanol/chloroform/water formed a suspension, which was used as a source in L–B method. The morphology, crystallographic and electronic properties of the prepared sensors were studied by scanning electron microscopy, SEM, X-ray diffraction, XRD in glancing incidence geometry, GID, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, XPS, and uv-vis-nir spectrophotometry, respectively. It was found that amorphous SnO₂ films responded to relatively low concentrations of NO₂ of about 200 ppb. A change of more than two orders of magnitude in the electrical resistivity upon exposure to NO₂ was further enhanced in SnO₂/TiO₂ n-n nanoheterostructures. The best sensor responses R_NO2/R₀ were obtained at the lowest operating temperatures of about 120 °C, which is typical for nanomaterials. Response (recovery) times to 400 ppb NO₂ were determined as a function of the operating temperature and indicated a significant decrease from 62 (42) s at 123 °C to 12 (19) s at 385 °C A much smaller sensitivity to H₂ was observed, which might be advantageous for selective detection of nitrogen oxides. The influence of humidity on the NO₂ response was demonstrated to be significantly below 150 °C and systematically decreased upon increase in the operating temperature up to 400 °C.

Zein coatings were obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on commercially pure titanium substrates in an as-received state and after various chemical treatments. The properties of the zein solution, zeta potential and conductivity, at varying pH values were investigated. It was found that the zein content and the ratio of water to ethanol of the solution used for EPD, as well as the process voltage value and time, significantly influence the morphology of coatings. The deposits obtained from the solution containing 150 g/L and 200 g/L of zein and 10 vol % of water and 90 vol % of ethanol, about 4–5 μm thick, were dense and homogeneous. The effect of chemical treatment of the Ti substrate surface prior to EPD on coating adhesion to the substrate was determined. The coatings showed the highest adhesion to the as-received and anodized substrates due to the presence of a thick TiO₂ layer on their surfaces and the presence of specific surface features. Coated titanium substrates showed slightly lower electrochemical corrosion resistance than the uncoated one in Ringer’s solution. The coatings showed a well-developed surface topography compared to the as-received substrate, and they demonstrated hydrophilic nature. The present results provide new insights for the further development of zein-based composite coatings for biomedical engineering applications.

The aim of the presented investigations was to deposit the thin films La_1−xSr_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) on (100) Si substrate by using the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) method. Structure was exanimated by using XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM and XPS methods. The catalytic properties were analyzed in 4 ppm acetone atmosphere. The doping of Sr thin films La_1−xSr_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) resulted in a decrease in the size of the crystallites, the volume of the elemental cell and change in the grain morphology. In the LaFeO₃ and La_0.9Sr_0.1FeO₃, clusters around which small grains grow are visible in the structure, while in the layer La_0.8Sr_0.2FeO₃, the visible grains are elongated. The TEM analysis has shown that the obtained thin films had a thickness in the range 150–170 nm with triangular or flat column ends. The experiment performed in the presence of gases allowed us to conclude that the surfaces (101/020) in the triangle-shaped columns and the plane (121/200) faces in flat columns were exposed to gases. The best properties in the presence of CH₃COCH₃ gas were noted for LaFeO₃ thin film with triangle columns ending with orientation (101/020).

The development of the oxide scale on model Fe20Cr5Al-type alloys unmodified and containing implanted yttrium was studied in oxygen-dominated atmosphere at 1,100 °C for up to 1 h. A two-stage-oxidation exposure was applied with the use of ¹⁸O₂ as a tracer. The choice of the exposure durations ensured the possibility to follow the consecutive stages of scale development. The oxidized samples were characterized using SEM (morphology); PLS (phase composition), and SIMS (elemental distributions). The obtained results are discussed in terms of the mechanism of the development of protective α-Al₂O₃ scale and the effect of the additions on this process taking into account the necessity of distinguishing the mechanism and kinetics of the scale evolution. Similar scale evolution stages were found on both studied materials and in both cases the protective α-Al₂O₃ scale developed rapidly, already after the exposure for 3 min. Implanted yttrium appeared to have a negligible effect on the evolution of the scale. It only slightly retarded the evolution which can be attributed rather to a kinetic effect than to mechanistic one. However, the mechanical failure of the scales via formation of cracks at the asperities of convolutions occurred on the yttrium-implanted alloy but not on the non-implanted one.

This study investigates the structural and catalytic properties of pure and Sr-doped LaCoO₃ and LaFeO₃ thin films for potential use as resistive gas sensors. Thin films were deposited via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation, and scratch tests. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of the desired perovskite phases without secondary phases. XPS revealed the presence of La³⁺, Co³⁺/Co⁴⁺, Fe³⁺/Fe⁴⁺, and Sr²⁺ oxidation states. SEM and AFM imaging showed compact, nanostructured surfaces with varying morphologies (shape and size of surface irregularities) depending on the composition. Sr doping led to surface refinement and increased nanohardness and adhesion. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed the columnar growth of nanocrystalline films. Sr-doped LaCoO₃ demonstrated enhanced sensitivity and stability in the presence of NO₂ gas compared to pure LaCoO₃, as evidenced by electrical resistivity measurements within 230 ÷ 440 °C. At the same time, it was found that Sr doping stabilizes the catalytic activity of LaFeO₃ (in the range of 300 ÷ 350 °C), although its behavior in the presence of NO₂ differs from that of LaCo(Sr)O₃—especially in terms of response and recovery times. These findings highlight the potential of Sr-doped LaCoO₃ and LaFeO₃ thin films for NO₂ sensing applications.

The aim of this work was to determine the influence of the tungsten addition to TiB₂ coatings on their microstructure and brittle cracking resistance. Four coatings of different compositions (0, 7, 15, and 20 at.% of W) were deposited by magnetron sputtering from TiB₂ and W targets. The coatings were investigated by the following methods: X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All coatings had a homogeneous columnar structure with decreasing column width as the tungsten content increased. XRD and XPS analysis showed the presence of TiB₂ and nonstoichiometric TiBx phases with an excess or deficiency of boron depending on composition. The crystalline size decreased from 27 nm to 10 nm with increasing W content. The brittle cracking resistance improved with increasing content of TiBx phase with deficiency of B and decreasing crystalline size.