Altering interfacial properties through the integration of C60 into ZnO ceramic via cold sintering process

A lot of nanocomposites containing C60 have been developed to enable various application opportunities. However, it seems impossible to incorporate C60 into ceramics without destroying the C60 molecules, because ceramics are typically sintered at high temperatures that could result in the chemical reaction of C60. Herein, we report the successful integration of C60 with ZnO using cold sintering process. (1-x)ZnO-xC60 composites with x ranging from 0 to 5 wt% are densified into monolithic structures with relative densities over 95%. Clear C60 molecules are observed in the cold sintered composites, and thin C60 layers with less than 10 nm are located at the ZnO grain boundaries. With C60 altering the interfacial structures of ZnO ceramics, the electrical properties are improved significantly, especially, the breakdown electric field at 1 mA cm^(−2) is enhanced from ∼80 V mm^(−1) to ∼2100 V mm^(−1). The FEM analysis indicates that the current density at the interfaces of ZnO and C60 is higher than other regions. This work thus indicates that cold sintering process provides a promising pathway to design new types of functional materials through the integration of C60 and ceramics.

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Work Title Altering interfacial properties through the integration of C60 into ZnO ceramic via cold sintering process
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Jing Guo
  2. Mingming Si
  3. Xuetong Zhao
  4. Li Wang
  5. Ke Wang
  6. Jianyu Hao
  7. Hong Wang
  8. Clive A. Randall
Keyword
  1. C60
  2. Composites
  3. Cold sintering process
  4. Low temperature sintering
  5. Interfacial effects
  6. ZnO
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Carbon
Publication Date January 19, 2022
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2022.01.017
Deposited August 02, 2022

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added Guo-Carbon-April2022.pdf
  • Added Creator Jing Guo
  • Added Creator Mingming Si
  • Added Creator Xuetong Zhao
  • Added Creator Li Wang
  • Added Creator Ke Wang
  • Added Creator Jianyu Hao
  • Added Creator Hong Wang
  • Added Creator Clive A. Randall
  • Published
  • Updated Work Title Show Changes
    Work Title
    • Altering interfacial properties through the integration of C<sub>60</sub> into ZnO ceramic via cold sintering process
    • Altering interfacial properties through the integration of C60 into ZnO ceramic via cold sintering process
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • C60, Composites, Cold sintering process, Low temperature sintering, Interfacial effects, ZnO
    Publication Date
    • 2022-04-30
    • 2022-01-19
  • Updated Description Show Changes
    Description
    • <p>A lot of nanocomposites containing C<sub>60</sub> have been developed to enable various application opportunities. However, it seems impossible to incorporate C<sub>60</sub> into ceramics without destroying the C<sub>60</sub> molecules, because ceramics are typically sintered at high temperatures that could result in the chemical reaction of C<sub>60</sub>. Herein, we report the successful integration of C<sub>60</sub> with ZnO using cold sintering process. (1-x)ZnO-xC<sub>60</sub> composites with x ranging from 0 to 5 wt% are densified into monolithic structures with relative densities over 95%. Clear C<sub>60</sub> molecules are observed in the cold sintered composites, and thin C<sub>60</sub> layers with less than 10 nm are located at the ZnO grain boundaries. With C<sub>60</sub> altering the interfacial structures of ZnO ceramics, the electrical properties are improved significantly, especially, the breakdown electric field at 1 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> is enhanced from ∼80 V mm<sup>−1</sup> to ∼2100 V mm<sup>−1</sup>. The FEM analysis indicates that the current density at the interfaces of ZnO and C<sub>60</sub> is higher than other regions. This work thus indicates that cold sintering process provides a promising pathway to design new types of functional materials through the integration of C<sub>60</sub> and ceramics.</p>
    • <p>A lot of nanocomposites containing C<sub>60</sub> have been developed to enable various application opportunities. However, it seems impossible to incorporate C<sub>60</sub> into ceramics without destroying the C<sub>60</sub> molecules, because ceramics are typically sintered at high temperatures that could result in the chemical reaction of C<sub>60</sub>. Herein, we report the successful integration of C<sub>60</sub> with ZnO using cold sintering process. (1-x)ZnO-xC<sub>60</sub> composites with x ranging from 0 to 5 wt% are densified into monolithic structures with relative densities over 95%. Clear C<sub>60</sub> molecules are observed in the cold sintered composites, and thin C<sub>60</sub> layers with less than 10 nm are located at the ZnO grain boundaries. With C<sub>60</sub> altering the interfacial structures of ZnO ceramics, the electrical properties are improved significantly, especially, the breakdown electric field at 1 mA cm^(−2) is enhanced from ∼80 V mm^(−1) to ∼2100 V mm^(−1). The FEM analysis indicates that the current density at the interfaces of ZnO and C<sub>60</sub> is higher than other regions. This work thus indicates that cold sintering process provides a promising pathway to design new types of functional materials through the integration of C<sub>60</sub> and ceramics.</p>
  • Updated