Radiation damage in Si1−x Ge x heteroepitaxial devices

Results are presented of an extended study on the induced lattice defects and their effects on the degradation of Si_1−x Ge _x devices, subjected to a 20 MeV alpha-ray, 1 MeV electron, 1 MeV fast neutron, and 20 and 86 MeV proton irradiations. The degradation of the electrical device performance increase with increasing fluence, while it decreases with increasing germanium content. In the Si_1−x Ge _x epitaxial layers, electron capture levels associated with an interstitial-substitutional boron complex are induced. The radiation source dependence of performance degradation is attributed to the difference of mass and the probability of nuclear collision for the formation of lattice defects.     

Atoms state and interatomic interactions in perovskite-like oxides: XXXII. Formation of paramagnetic clusters in the La1−0.33x Ca0.33x Fe x Al1−x O3 and La1−0.33x Sr0.33x Fe x Al1−x O3 solid solutions

Calcium- and strontium-containing lanthanum orthoferrites have been studied using magnetic dilution method. It has been shown that the iron-atom clusters with competing ferro- and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions can exist. By using Mossbauer spectroscopy, Fe(IV) atoms have been found in the La_1?0.33x Ca_0.33x Fe_xAl_1?x O₃ solid solutions and Fe(III) atoms in two different surroundings have been found in the La_1?0.33x Sr_0.33x Fe _x Al_1?x O₃ solid solutions. The compositions of paramagnetic clusters stable at the infinite dilution have been proposed basing of the magnetic susceptibility and Mossbauer spectroscopy data.     

Thermal stability of cluster structure in Bi x Sn1− x molten alloys in vicinity of eutectic point

Structure of liquid Bi _x Sn_{1? x} molten alloys has been studies in the vicinity of eutectic point at temperatures of complete melting and above by 100?K. It is shown that the structure parameter concentration dependences reveal the deviation from linear function with extremum points at eutectic composition. Such features exist also at higher temperatures. The reason of untypical behaviour of structure parameters is supposed to be attributed to the existence of two kinds of clusters with Sn‐ and Bi‐like structures.     

Hydrogen content in proton-conducting perovskites CaZr1 − x Sc x O3 − x /2 (x = 0.0–0.2)

The hydrogen content in CaZr_{1 ? x} Sc _x O_{3 ? x/2} (x = 0.00–0.20) and BaZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3-α (for comparison) was studied by powder nuclear microanalysis. The samples were saturated with heavy water (D₂O) vapors at 350 and 400°C in air. The chemical expansion of the CaZr_0.95Sc_0.05O_3-α and BaZr_0.95Y_0.05O_3-α samples at 700°C was measured at different water vapor pressures. A model was suggested to explain the lowered hydrogen content in oxides based on CaZrO₃.     

Phase Transitions in the BaCe1–x Nd x O3–δ System (x = 0–0.15)

Phase transitions in BaCe_{1 – x} Nd _x O_3– (x = 0–0.15) are studied on ceramic samples by dilatometry (at 370–1100 K) and by measuring electroconductivity (at 750–1220 K). Ion transport numbers are measured by an EMF method at 850–1240 K. All measurements are done in dry air (₂ 40 Pa). By treating the obtained temperature dependences of linear expansion with a difference method (difference between first-degree polynomial approximating the dependence and experimental points), the position and the sort of the phase transitions are determined. High-temperature phase transitions are confirmed by measuring the electroconductivity and ion transport numbers. Second-order phase transitions in pure BaCeO₃ are discovered at 480 ± 10, 530 ± 10, 900 ± 10, 1030 ± 20, and 1170 ± 10 K and a first-order transition, at 665 ±10 K. Phase transitions at 900 and 1030 K are discovered for the first time ever.     

Electrochemical properties of solid solutions in the Li8Zr1 − x Ce x O6 system

Li₈Zr_{1 ? x} Ce _x O₆ solid solutions based on lithium zirconate Li₈ZrO₆ were obtained by solid-state synthesis in an inert atmosphere. Their transport properties (the electron component of the total conductivity, the temperature and concentration dependences of conductivity, and the activation energies) were studied by impedance spectroscopy. The practical stability of the ceramic samples of Li₈Zr_{1 ? x} Ce _x O₆ solid solutions (x = 0–0.07) at 473–573 K against melted lithium was studied.     

The structure changes in Sn1− x Ti x alloys at transition from liquid to solid state

The structures of Sn_{1– x} Ti _x (x = 0.00; 0.02, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25; 0.35; 0.45) alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction at different temperatures. The structure factors, pair correlation functions, and parameters obtained were analysed. It is shown that the structures of the liquid alloys are inhomogeneous in the pre-crystallisation temperature region. The solidified phases are in agreement with the equilibrium phase diagram. The X-ray diffraction data were used for the specification of the liquidus line position.     

Phase equilibriums, oxygen exchange kinetics and diffusion in oxides CaZr1 ? x Sc x O3 ? x/2 ? δ

Oxides CaZr_{1 ? x} Sc _x O_{3 ? x/2 - ??} (x = 0.00?C0.20) were synthesized according to the ceramic technology. The solubility boundary of scandium with formation of solid solutions on the basis of calcium zirconate CaZrO_{3 ? ??} corresponds to x = 0.07?C0.08. The second phase of CaSc₂O₄ is present in the samples with scandium content of x = 0.10, 0.15, 0.20. Its fraction grows at an increase in x. The method of full-profile Rietveld analysis was used to calculate the structure parameters for oxides CaZr_0.99Sc_0.01O_{2.995 ? ??} and CaZr_0.95Sc_0.05O_{2.975 ? ??}. The method of isotopic exchange with gas phase analysis was used to study the kinetics of gas-phase oxygen interaction with the CaZr_0.95Sc_0.05O_{2.975 ? ??} oxide in the temperature range of 700?C850°C and at oxygen pressures of 0.13?C6.67 kPa. The values of effective activation energies of the oxygen exchange and diffusion processes were 1.36 ± 0.32 and 1.92 ± 0.21 eV, accordingly. The dependence of the interphase exchange rate on the pressure of oxygen corresponds to the power law with the exponent of 0.31 ± 0.04 at the temperature of 750°C.     

Transition between direct gap and indirect gap in two dimensional hydrogenated honeycomb Si x Ge1−x alloys

Using first-principles calculations, we have explored the structural and electronic properties of fully hydrogenated honeycomb Si _x Ge_1?x H alloys. Finite band gaps are opened by hydrogenation for x in the whole range from 0 to 1, while their nature and values can be tuned by x. When x is <0.7, the band gap is direct (from Γ to Γ). And when x is ≥0.7, the gap turns into indirect (from Γ to M). For all the computed compositions, the two kinds of energy differences between valence band and conduction band, Γ–Γ and Γ–M, are described well by two polynomial functions of x. The smaller of the two functions gives a good prediction for the overall band gap at any x. The two curves cross at x = 0.7, leading to the change of band gap type. At PBE level, the values of band gap for different x spread from 1.09 to 2.29 eV. These findings give a new route to tune the electronic properties of these materials and may have potential applications in nanoscale optoelectronics.     

LaNi1 − x Cu x O3 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.30) coated electrodes for oxygen evolution in alkaline medium

LaNi_1???x Cu _x O₃ (x?=?0.05, 0.10, 0.30) coated electrodes were prepared by brush painting using Ni foam substrates in order to increase its active surface area. For comparison, coatings with x?=?0.05 were also prepared using vitreous carbon substrates. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the coating roughness (R _f). Values between 5,145?±?148 and 6,334?±?277 were obtained, depending on the x value, for the coatings on Ni foam. These results show that the electrodes prepared with LaNi_1???x Cu _x O₃ powder, obtained at 600 °C, lead to a big increase on the oxide electrode roughness when compared with LaNiO₃ electrodes prepared by a similar method. Much lower values were obtained for the coatings on vitreous carbon indicating that the substrate nature is also a key factor for the preparation of high surface area electrodes. The calculated kinetic parameters for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) show that the partial replacement of Ni by Cu has no beneficial effect on the intrinsic catalytic activity of the coatings. On the other hand, a big increase on the active area is observed even for small amounts of Cu (x?=?0.05), leading to a better overall OER performance for the LaNi_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ coating on Ni foam. For this composition, the activity is dominated by geometric effects.     

Recent advances in layered LiNi x CoyMn1−x−y O2 cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

Lithium cobalt oxide, LiCoO₂, has been the most widely used cathode material in commercial lithium ion batteries. Nevertheless, cobalt has economic and environmental problems that leave the door open to exploit alternative cathode materials, among which LiNi _x Co_yMn_{1 − x − y} O₂ may have improved performances, such as thermal stability, due to the synergistic effect of the three ions. Recently, intensive effort has been directed towards the development of LiNi _x Co _y Mn_{1 − x − y} O₂ as a possible replacement for LiCoO₂. Recent advances in layered LiNi _x Co_yMn_{1 − x − y} O₂ cathode materials are summarized in this paper. The preparation and the performance are reviewed, and the future promising cathode materials are also prospected.     

Microwave hydrothermal synthesis,characterisation, and catalytic performance of Zn1−x Mn x O in cellulose conversion

Wurtzite-type Zn_1?x Mn _x O (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07) nanostructures were successfully synthesised using a simple microwave-assisted hydrothermal route and their catalytic properties were investigated in the cellulose conversion. The morphology of the nanocatalysts is dopant-dependent. Pure ZnO presented multi-plate morphology with a flower-like shape of nanometric sizes, while the Zn_0.97Mn_0.03O sample is formed by nanoplates with the presence of spherical nanoparticles; the Zn_0.95Mn_0.05O and Zn_0.93Mn_0.07O samples are mainly formed by nanorods with the presence of a small quantity of spherical nanoparticles. The catalyst without Mn did not show any catalytic activity in the cellulose conversion. The Mn doping promoted an increase in the density of weak acid sites which, according to the catalytic results, favoured promotion of the reaction.     

Electroconductivity and nature of ion transfer in La1 − x Sr x Sc1 − y Mg y O3 − α system (0.01 ≤ x = y ≤ 0.20) in dry and humid air

The conductivity and ion and proton transfer numbers were measured in La_{1 ? x} Sr _x Sc_{1 ? y} Mg _y O_{3 ? α} system (x = y = 0.10–0.20). The partial conductivities (total ion, proton, oxygen, hole) and their effective activation energies were calculated. The measurements were carried out in air with respect to humidity (pH₂O = 0.04?2.65 kPa) within the temperature range from 630 to 920°C.     

On some multiplicative product of kth derivative of Dirac's delta in x0+|x| and x0−|x|

In this paper we give a sense to the products $${{\left| x \right|^{(n - 2)/2} }} \cdot \frac{{\delta ^{(k - 1)} (x_0 + \left| x \right|)}} {{\left| x \right|^{(n - 2)/2} }}$$ and $\delta ^{(k - 1)} (x_0 - \left| x \right|) \cdot \delta ^{(k - 1)} (x_0 + \left| x \right|)$ . The first of them is a generalization of the product $${{\left| x \right|^{(n - 2)/2} }} \cdot \frac{{\delta (x_0 + \left| x \right|)}} {{\left| x \right|^{(n - 2)/2} }}{\text{ }}$$ given in [1, p. 158].     

Electrochemical studies of LiCr x Fe x Mn2?2x O4 in an aqueous electrolyte

In this paper, LiCr _x Fe _x Mn_2−2x O₄ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) electrode materials were prepared by sol–gel technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy or high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. XRD results reveal that the Cr–Fe-co-doped LiCr _x Fe _x Mn_2−2x O₄ materials are phase-pure spinels. The electrochemical properties of the LiMn₂O₄, LiCr_0.05Fe_0.05Mn_1.9O₄, and LiCr_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_1.8O₄ electrodes in 5 M LiNO₃ aqueous electrolyte were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, AC impedance, and galvanostatic charge/discharge methods. In the current range of 0.5–2 A g⁻¹, the specific capacity of the LiCr_0.05Fe_0.05Mn_1.9O₄ electrode is close to that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode, but the specific capacity of the LiCr_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_1.8O₄ electrode is obviously lower than that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode. When the electrodes are charge/discharge-cycled at the high current rate of 2 A g⁻¹, the LiCr_0.05Fe_0.05Mn_1.9O₄ electrode exhibits an initial specific capacity close to that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode, but its cycling stability is obviously prior to that of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode.     

Improved electrochemical properties of chromium substituted in LiCr1 ? x Ni x O2 cathode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

Pristine- and chromium-substituted LiNiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method using nitrate precursor at 800?°C for 12?h. Physical properties of the synthesized product were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive analysis X-ray. XRD studies revealed a well-defined layer structure and a linear variation of lattice parameters with the addition of chromium and no impurities. Surface morphology and particle size of synthesized materials were changed with chromium addition using SEM and TEM analyses. Assembled lithium-ion cells were evaluated for charge/discharge studies at different rates, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectra. The initial discharge capacity of LiNiO₂ cathode material was found to be 168?mA hg^?1; however, discharge capacity increased in chromium substitution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that LiCr_0.10Ni_0.90O₂ could enhance charge transfer resistance upon cycling. The substitution of Ni with chromium, LiCr_0.10Ni_0.90O₂, had better cycle life, low irreversible capacity, and excellent electrochemical performance.     

Weakly bound oxygen and its role in stability of solid solutions La1−x Sr x FeO3−δ

In the present study high-temperature X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and mass-spectrometry have been employed for investigation of samples in the La_1?x Sr _x FeO_3?δ family (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), the materials being solid solutions having perovskite structure. It has been shown that the loss of oxygen by the samples on heating to 1200°C in air (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) or in vacuum (x < 0.75) does not result in structural rearrangement of the solid solutions, but causes an increase in the lattice parameters. Heating of the compositions with x ≥ 0.75 in vacuum affords phases with ordered vacancies. The observed structural evolutions (growth of the unit cell parameter and vacancy ordering) are reversible, and on re-oxidation (on cooling in air or additional heating of the “vacuum” samples in air atmosphere) the original parameters of the oxides are recovered. The amount of oxygen evolved on heating increases in vacuum or in helium atmosphere, as compared to air, and also grows with rising strontium content, but under experimental conditions does not reach the maximum possible value (δ = x/2).     

Solid potassium-conducting electrolytes in the K2 − 2x Ga2 − x V x O4 system

New potassium-conducting solid electrolytes based on potassium monogallate in the K_2?2x Ga_2?x V _x O₄ system are synthesized and studied. It is found that an introduction of V⁵⁺ ions leads to a considerable increase in the KGaO₂ conductivity due to the formation of vacancies in the potassium sublattice. The conductivity for optimal compositions is approximately 10^?3 S cm^?1 at 400°C and above 10^?2 S cm^?1 at 700°C. The results are compared with early obtained data for potassium monogallate dopped with four-charged cations.     

Lithium-cationic conductivity in the Li4 − 2x Cd x GeO4 system

The lithium-conducting solid electrolytes in the Li_{4 ? 2x} Cd _x GeO₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) system are synthesized. Their crystal structure and temperature and concentration dependences of conductivity are studied. The specimens with the highest conductivity have a γ-Li₃PO₄-derivative structure. The solid solutions with x = 0.15–0.25 are stable at the room temperature, whereas the specimens with x ≥ 0.3 decompose yielding Li₂CdGeO₄ below 310 ± 10°C. Li_3.6Cd_0.2GeO₄ solid solution exhibits the highest conductivity (5.25 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 at 300°C). The factors, which affect the conductivity of synthesized solid electrolytes, are considered.     

Van der Waals Gaps in Sm1+x Ba2−x Cu3O y and Their Effect on Superconductivity

We have used electron–positron annihilation to study superconducting cuprates Sm_1+x Ba_2–x Cu₃O _y . We have determined the average radii for oxygen ions in Sm_1+x Ba_2–x Cu₃O _y . Taking into account the ion coordinates and their radii, we have constructed a geometric model for the arrangement of copper and oxygen ions in CuO₂ layers in the [b, c] plane, responsible for the superconductivity. From these data, we have determined the length of the ionic/covalent bonds and the width of the interionic gaps. We have established the effect of the features of the atomic structure of Sm_1+x Ba_2–x Cu₃O _y on the superconducting transition temperature T _c and we have shown that T _c increases as X inceases.