The effect of oxygen partial pressure on the growth of ZnO nanostructure on Cu0.62Zn0.38brass during thermal oxidation

C. H. Xu, Z. B. Zhu, H. F. Lui, C. Surya, San-Qiang Shi

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cu0.62Zn0.38brass foils were thermally oxidized at 500 °C under various gaseous environments, including nitrogen, air and mixture of N2O2at a pressure of 1 atm for 3 h. The oxidized specimens were characterized with a scanning electron microscope, an X-ray diffractometer and a transmission electron microscope. Optical property of oxidized products was characterized by photoluminescence. It is found that the nanowires and/or nanowalls are formed from hexagon ZnO crystals under N2O2gases and air. However, nanowires and nanowalls cannot form on the specimens oxidized in N2. When oxygen partial pressure of environment is over a critical value, increasing oxygen partial pressure is of disbenefit to the growth of nanowires and nanowalls and reduces the thickness of oxide scale on a specimen. The experimental results are explained by the defect equilibrium theory of oxide scale and the compressive growth stresses occurred during oxidation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)408-415
Number of pages8
JournalSuperlattices and Microstructures
Volume49
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2011

Keywords

  • Brass
  • Nanostructures
  • Oxides
  • Oxygen partial pressure
  • Photoluminescence
  • Thermal oxidation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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