Corrosion protection of fluorzirconate glasses coated by a layer of surface modified tin oxide nanoparticles

• Published in: Thin solid films 2006-04, Vol.502 (1), p.94-98
• Main Authors: Hammer, P., Rizzato, A.P., Alvarez, F., Landers, R., Pulcinelli, S.H., Santilli, C.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Corrosion; Corrosion mechanisms; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Nanopowders; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Physics; Tin oxide; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); Zirconium
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2005.07.252

The protection efficiency against water corrosion of fluorozirconate glass, ZBLAN, dip-coated by nanocrystalline tin oxide film containing the organic molecule Tiron® was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The chemical bonding structure of the surface region and morphology were studied before and after two water exposure periods of 5 and 30 min. The results of the analysis for the as-grown sample revealed a SnO 1.6 phase containing carbon and sulfur, related to Tiron®, and traces of elements related to ZBLAN (Zr, F, Ba). This fact and the clear evidence of the presence of tin oxifluoride specie (SnO x F y ) indicates a diffusion of the glass components into the porous coating. After water exposure, the increase of the oxygen concentration accompanied by a strong increase of Zr, F, Ba and Na content is interpreted as filling of the nanopores of the film by glass compounds. The formation of a compact protective layer is supported by the morphological changes observed by AFM.