Abstract
In this study, we report an experimental investigation of the structural, morphological, and electrical properties of the ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet. In particular, we use the tape casting technique to produce the flexible ZrO2 ceramic sheet and impregnation and magnetron sputtering techniques to incorporate graphene and silver. Structural and morphological analyses indicate the presence of graphene and silver in the ceramic matrix, confirming the methods efficiency. We noticed that with the deposition of graphene and silver on the ZrO2 sheet, there is a decrease in electrical resistance. This fact is associated with the crystalline structure and morphology of graphene and silver, which makes sheets attractive in electrical applications. Thus, our results become fascinating for specific technological applications.
Keywords:
ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet; tape casting; impregnation; magnetron sputtering; electrical response
INTRODUCTION
Zirconia-based electrical ceramic matrices have been the subject of recent research due to their diverse technological applications, such as optoelectronic devices 1, solid oxide fuel cells 2, capacitors 3, and cellular cells 4. In this sense, the electrical properties of these materials have great potential in multifunctional technological applications 5)-(7.
To improve the electrical properties of ZrO2 matrices, we highlight the deposition of carbon-based materials and the insertion of metallic materials, particularly silver (Ag). Ag is known for its excellent conductivity and low resistivity, making it an ideal candidate for electrode materials 8. The growth of Ag nanolayers on graphene-doped ZrO2 sheets not only leverages the inherent conductivity of Ag but also synergistically combines it with the improved conductivity and structural strength conferred by graphene 9), (10. Incorporating Ag and graphene into ceramic matrices presents an opportunity to develop high-performance materials for various technological applications 11), (12. For example, Ahmad et al. 13 observe that the optical properties of the ZnO ceramic matrix are affected by the incorporation of graphene and Ag, making them nanocomposites with potential for photocatalytic applications. In another study, Sadoun et al. 14 realize that doping graphene and Ag in the Al2O3 matrix modifies the mechanical properties, targeting structural applications.
In this sense, developing a flexible ceramic matrix for the deposition of these materials allows the easy integration of the deposited components, enabling their broad functionalization 15), (16. Tape casting 17, impregnation 18, and magnetron sputtering 19 techniques can produce these multilayers. The tape casting technique produces flexible ceramic sheets that can be shaped before sintering and allows multilayer structures 20), (21. On the other hand, impregnation consists of the high adsorption capacity of the material deposited through the porosity, where deposition control can be controlled 22. Now, the magnetron sputtering technique allows the growth of nanostructures in a single film or multilayer geometry, being grown on rigid, amorphous, or oriented substrates 23. Few studies have been conducted regarding functionalizing the structural and electrical properties of nanostructures grown on ceramic sheet substrates decorated with carbon-based materials.
This study focuses on the structural and electrical behavior of a silver (Ag) nanolayer grown on graphene-doped ZrO2 sheets. By examining the interaction between the Ag nanolayer and the graphene-doped ZrO2 substrate, we aim to elucidate how the inclusion of these nanostructures influences the electrical performance of the material. Specifically, microstructural characterization will be studied to understand the distribution and morphology of Ag particles on the composite surface. Therefore, this research aims to develop multifunctional materials with enhanced electrical properties, which can have wide applications in electronics, energy storage devices, and sensors. Understanding the interaction between the metallic nanolayers and the graphene-doped ZrO2 substrate is essential to tailoring these composite materials for specific industrial applications, ensuring high performance and long-term stability.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
As shown in Table 1, the preparation of the ceramic suspension occurred in two steps through the ball milling process, each lasting 24 h. Subsequently, the ceramic suspension was deposited on a polyethylene film using the TTC-1200 desktop tape casting machine (Tape Casting Warehouse, Inc.) at room temperature, with a 20.2 cm/min transport speed. The green sheet was dried in equipment at room temperature and in a controlled atmosphere for 24 h. The sheets were calcined (HT 17/04, Nabertherm, Lilienthal/Bremen, Germany) at 773 K under a heating rate of 0.5 K/min for 60 min to eliminate residual organic components and sintered at 1773 K with a heating rate of 5 K/min for 60 min.
The deposition of graphene (Sigma-Aldrich, with an average particle size of ≤ 2 µm) on the ZrO2 sheet was carried out using the impregnation technique. In this technique, graphene was dispersed in an isopropyl alcohol solution by ultrasound for 2 h to obtain a homogeneous mixture. Subsequently, the graphene solution was impregnated into the sheet and kept for 24 h at room temperature. On the other hand, silver (Ag) deposition occurred using the magnetron sputtering technique, where the sheet was placed on a glass substrate previously covered by a 2 nm Ta buffer with the following deposition parameters: base pressure of 8 × 10−8 Torr, Ar pressure during deposition of 2 × 10−3 Torr and DC of 25 mA.
Rheological characterization was measured using Haake Viscotester (Thermo Scientific, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.) with dual cone/plate geometry at room temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the green leaf was performed (DTG-60, Shimadzu Corporation, Japan) with a temperature ranging from 298 K to 873 K, a heating rate of 3 K/min, and a flow rate of 50 mL/min. X-ray diffraction (XRD, MiniFlex II; Rigaku Corporation, Japan) was analyzed using Brag-Brentano geometry (θ − 2θ) and Cu-Kα radiation. The diffractograms were refined using the Rietveld method using MAUD software. Raman spectra were collected under ambient conditions on a WITec Access system using 633 nm (1.96 eV) as a pump laser. Scattered light was collected through a 50× objective using a 300 lines/mm grating in the backscatter configuration. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) images were obtained using a Zeiss Auriga 40 microscope. Finally, the four-point probe method measured electrical properties at room temperature using I-V curves (source measurement unit, model 238, Keithley).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fig. 1a shows the rheological analysis of the ceramic suspension used to prepare the sheet. We observed a decrease in viscosity with an increase in the shear rate, which is characteristic of the pseudoplastic behavior that prevents the settling of the particles and preserves a homogeneous distribution of the sheet components 24), (25. Fig. 1b presents the thermal analysis of the flexible green sheet. We noticed a weight loss of 1.30 % between temperatures 385 K and 517 K and another of 16.39 % between temperatures 517 K and 650 K, which are related to the decomposition of organic constituents 26. The third weight loss of 4.09 % between 650 K and 750 K temperatures is attributed to the decomposition of residual organic materials 27. Therefore, the calcination temperature of 773 K becomes adequate.
(a) Viscosity of the ceramic suspension as a function of the shear rate. (b) Thermogravimetric analysis curve of the flexible green sheet. (c) Refined XRD patterns of the ZrO2 sheet, Ag powder, and ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet. (b) Raman spectrum of the ZrO2 sheet, graphene powder, and ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet. FESEM images of (e) ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet and distribution of elements (f) O, (g) Ag, (h) Zr, and (i) C from EDS mapping.
In Fig. 1a, we observe a decrease in viscosity with increasing shear rate, characterizing a pseudoplastic behavior 24. The thermal analysis of the green sheet, Fig. 1b, shows a weight loss of 1.30 % between the temperatures of 385 K and 517 K and another of 16.39 % between the temperatures of 517 K and 650 K, which are related to the composition of organic constituents 26. A third weight loss of 4.09 % between 650 K and 750 K temperatures is attributed to the loss of residual organic materials 27.
The refined XRD patterns of the ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet, ZrO2 sheet, and Ag powder are displayed in 1c. All diffraction peaks are associated with the phases: ZrO2 with monoclinic symmetry (ICSD-60900 and space group P121/c1) 28, ZrO2 with tetragonal symmetry (ICSD-68781 and space group P42/nmc) 29, and Ag with cubic symmetry (ICSD-64996 and space group Fm3m) 30. The 2θ peaks of monoclinic ZrO2 are at 28.19◦ and 31.41◦, corresponding to the and (111) planes, with d-spacings of approximately 2.84 Å and 3.12 Å, respectively 31. The planes corresponding to tetragonal ZrO2 are (011), (110), (112), (013), (121), (022), (004), and (220), which are located at 2θ equal to 30.24◦, 35.29◦, 50.24◦, 59.29◦, 60.25◦, 62.89◦, 72.93◦ and74.65◦, with d-spacings of approximately 3.07 Å, 2.54 Å, 1.79 Å, 1.67 Å, 1.75 Å, 1.53 Å, 1.29 Å and 1.27 Å, respectively 32. The existence of 2 θ peaks located at 38.25◦, 44.12◦, 64.27◦ and 77.52◦, corresponding to the planes (111), (200), (220), and (311), indicates the formation of silver nanoparticles, with d-spacings of approximately 2.36 Å, 2.04 Å, 1.44 Å and 1.23 Å, respectively 33. Yoon et al.. 34 reported that the monoclinic phase is not desired in larger quantities due to significant distortion in the crystal lattice, reducing the density of the stabilized zirconia. Table 2 shows Rietveld refinement’s lattice parameters, phase contents, and quality factors (Rwp , Rexp , and χ2). Therefore, we note that the values calculated via refinement and the experimental values via XRD show good agreement.
The Raman spectrum of the ZrO2 sheet, the graphene powder and the ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet are detailed in Fig. 1d. We observed that the spectrum of the ZrO2 sheet, whose peaks are in the frequency range of 100-800 cm−1, indicate the presence of the six vibrational modes of tetragonal zirconia: B1g , E g , B1g , E g , A1g and E g35. For the graphene powder, we evidenced the presence of three characteristic peaks known as the D (1333 cm−1), G (1587 cm−1), and 2D (2693 cm−1) bands 36. The appearance of these modes confirms that graphene and ZrO2 are present in the ceramic sheet. Through FESEM images, we observed the morphology of the ZrO2-Ag-Graphene ceramic sheet. Fig. 1e shows grains with varying sizes and irregular geometries, which may be related to the mixing process and heat treatments to which the sheet is subjected 37. In the EDS images, Fig. 1f-i, we notice a homogeneous distribution of the elements O, Ag, Zr, and C, which confirms the efficiency of the method used.
Finally, we investigated the electrical response, through I-V curves, of the ZrO2 sheet, the Ag powder, the graphene powder, and the ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet. The electrical behavior for the ZrO2 sheet (Fig. 2a) and the Ag powder (Fig. 2b) presents a non-ohmic character, with the electrical resistance measured at low voltage values around 109 Ω and 106 Ω, respectively. On the other hand, graphene offers ohmic behavior, and the electrical resistance at low voltage values decreases to around 103 Ω, as can be seen in Fig. 2c. The decrease in graphene’s electrical resistance is related to the hexagonal rings, in which there are double bonds, allowing electrons to migrate. Furthermore, carbons assume sp 2 hybridization, forming parallel sheets and weaker bonds in different planes, allowing electrons to move between planes; that is, electricity transfer occurs 38.
I-V curves of the (a) ZrO2 sheet, (b) Ag powder, (c) graphene powder, and (d) ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet.
For the ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet, Fig. 2d shows a non-ohmic behavior with electrical resistance around 109 Ω. Although it is of the same order of magnitude as the ZrO2 sheet, we observe a decrease in electrical resistance. According to Khan et al.. 39, this fact is attributed to the excellent dispersion of Ag and graphene on the surface of the ceramic sheet, as seen in the EDS images.
CONCLUSION
The ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet presents satisfactory results, such as homogeneity, absence of surface defects, and solid interfacial connection between the grains. Furthermore, we observed a non-ohmic behavior with electrical resistance around 109 Ω with the deposition of silver and graphene on the ZrO2 structure. Therefore, our results pave the way for using ZrO2-Ag-Graphene sheet in high-frequency substrate applications for electronic transmission devices.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Hugo P. A. Alves acknowledges the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, 88887.800034/2022-00) for the financial support. Paulo H. Chiberio acknowledges Brazil’s National Research Council (CNPq, 164013/2021-0) for the financial support.
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Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
04 Apr 2025 -
Date of issue
2025
History
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Received
08 Aug 2024 -
Reviewed
25 Oct 2024 -
Accepted
26 Nov 2024




