Abstract: Multilayer material comprising a zirconium-based substrate covered with a multilayer coating, the multilayer coating comprising metallic layers composed of identical or different substances chosen from chromium, a chromium alloy or a ternary alloy of the Nb—Cr—Ti system. Such a material has improved resistance to oxidation in accident conditions of a nuclear reactor. The invention also relates to a multilayer coating, a part composed wholly or partly of the multilayer material or of the multilayer coating, as well as the method for manufacturing the multilayer material such as for example a magnetron cathodic sputtering process.

Abstract: This method for texturing a DLC coating comprises depositing a single layer of balls or spheres on the free surface of the DLC coating; dry-etching the DLC coating using oxygen plasma; and lastly, cleaning the surface of said coating by eliminating the balls or spheres.

Abstract: Multilayer material comprising a zirconium-based substrate covered with a multilayer coating, the multilayer coating comprising metallic layers composed of identical or different substances chosen from chromium, a chromium alloy or a ternary alloy of the Nb—Cr—Ti system. Such a material has improved resistance to oxidation in accident conditions of a nuclear reactor. The invention also relates to a multilayer coating, a part composed wholly or partly of the multilayer material or of the multilayer coating, as well as the method for manufacturing the multilayer material such as for example a magnetron cathodic sputtering process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating and to a method for the production thereof. It also relates to devices having such a coating. The method of the invention consists in producing a hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating comprising at least two layers of hydrogenated amorphous carbon, each of said layers having chemical compositions and physical and mechanical properties that are identical, and with thicknesses that are identical or different. The coating of the invention finds many applications, in particular in the mechanical field for parts subject to considerable wear and rubbing problems. It may also be applicable, in particular, in the field of surgical implants and in the MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) field.

Abstract: A cathode for an electrochemical reactor including a diffusion layer and a catalyst layer. The cathode has bimetallic or multimetallic nanoparticles, dispersed in direct contact with the diffusion layer, at least one of the metals being chromium (Cr) wholly or partly in oxidized form. The cathode is fabricated by depositing the bimetallic or multimetallic nanoparticles on the diffusion layer by DLI-MOCVD in the presence of O2.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a silicon-based thin-film photovoltaic cell, applicable for example in the energy generation field. The fabrication process includes a) depositing a p-doped or n-doped amorphous silicon film, the X-ray diffraction spectrum of which has a line centered at 28° that has a mid-height width, denoted by a, such that 4.7°?a<6.0°, on a substrate.

Abstract: This method for texturing a DLC coating comprises depositing a single layer of balls or spheres on the free surface of the DLC coating; dry-etching the DLC coating using oxygen plasma; and lastly, cleaning the surface of said coating by eliminating the balls or spheres.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a silicon-based thin-film photovoltaic cell, applicable for example in the energy generation field. The fabrication process includes a) depositing a p-doped or n-doped amorphous silicon film, the X-ray diffraction spectrum of which has a line centered at 28° that has a mid-height width, denoted by a, such that 4.7°?a<6.0°, on a substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating and to a method for the production thereof. It also relates to devices having such a coating. The method of the invention consists in producing a hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating comprising at least two layers of hydrogenated amorphous carbon, each of said layers having chemical compositions and physical and mechanical properties that are identical, and with thicknesses that are identical or different. The coating of the invention finds many applications, in particular in the mechanical field for parts subject to considerable wear and rubbing problems. It may also be applicable, in particular, in the field of surgical implants and in the MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) field.

Abstract: This method for producing a seal barrier for a micro component comprising a stack of two thin sealing layers involves forming a fusible interlayer between two sealing layers, said fusible interlayer having a melting temperature which is lower than that of the two sealing layers and melting said interlayer.

Abstract: The sulfidation resistance of a silver-base material coating is further improved by making a concentration gradient of silver, oxygen and of one or more oxidizable alloying elements that may be present in the material, from the free surface of the coating up to a depth comprised between 10 nm and 1 ?m and more particularly between 100 nm and 1 ?m. Thus, the coating comprises a stack of one main layer made from silver-base material and of one oxidized thin film. The thin film, with a thickness comprised between 10 nm and 1 ?m, thus presents a decreasing silver concentration gradient from the interface between the thin film and the main layer to the free surface of the thin film. Deposition of the coating on a support can be achieved by two successive physical vapor deposition steps, and more particularly by magnetron cathode sputtering.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a photovoltaic cell based on thin film silicon, which consists in providing a heterojunction by depositing on a support at least one first P— (or N—) doped amorphous silicon layer (13) and a second N— (or P—) doped amorphous silicon layer (14), in crystallizing, at least partly, the at least one first layer (13) using a technology for crystallizing silicon by pulsed electronic beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a thin, high hardness coating and devices comprising it. The method of the invention consists in depositing, by magnetron cathode sputtering, a titanium film on at least one surface of a substrate under a partial pressure of argon of 1 Pa, then in depositing, by magnetron cathode sputtering, a titanium nitride film, onto the film obtained by introducing nitrogen into the cathodic sputtering chamber while maintaining a partial pressure of 1 Pa, and in depositing a film of a composite nanostructured material based on titanium, zirconium, boron and nitrogen onto the film obtained by magnetron cathode sputtering in active co-sputtering mode. The method of the invention can be applied in many fields, and in particular in the mechanical field in order to improve the surface hardness of mechanical components.

Abstract: This cathode for electrochemical reactor comprises a diffusion layer and a catalyst layer. It has bimetallic or multimetallic nanoparticles, dispersed in direct contact with the diffusion layer, at least one of the metals being chromium (Cr) wholly or partly in oxidized form.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a photovoltaic cell based on thin film silicon, which consists in providing a heterojunction by depositing on a support at least one first P— (or N—) doped amorphous silicon layer (13) and a second N— (or P—) doped amorphous silicon layer (14), in crystallising, at least partly, the at least one first layer (13) using a technology for crystallising silicon by pulsed electronic beam.

Abstract: Dental post made of a composite material contains a central core constituted of a resin matrix in which fibres are embedded. The core is surrounded by a sheath. The sheath is free of fibres and contains at least one substance which can make the post radiopaque.

Abstract: The sulfidation resistance of a silver-base material coating is further improved by making a concentration gradient of silver, oxygen and of one or more oxidizable alloying elements that may be present in the material, from the free surface of the coating up to a depth comprised between 10 nm and 1 ?m and more particularly between 100 nm and 1 ?m. Thus, the coating comprises a stack of one main layer made from silver-base material and of one oxidized thin film. The thin film, with a thickness comprised between 10 nm and 1 ?m, thus presents a decreasing silver concentration gradient from the interface between the thin film and the main layer to the free surface of the thin film. Deposition of the coating on a support can be achieved by two successive physical vapor deposition steps, and more particularly by magnetron cathode sputtering.