Effect of grain boundary structures on the behavior of He defects in Ni: An atomistic study

We investigated the effect of grain boundary structures on the trapping strength of He_N(N is the number of helium atoms) defects in the grain boundaries of nickel. The results suggest that the binding energy of an interstitial helium atom to the grain boundary plane is the strongest among all sites around the plane. The He_N defect is much more stable in nickel bulk than in the grain boundary plane. Besides, the binding energy of an interstitial helium atom to a vacancy is stronger than that to a grain boundary plane. The binding strength between the grain boundary and the He _N defect increases with the defect size. Moreover, the binding strength of the He_N defect to the Σ3(12)[110] grain boundary becomes much weaker than that to other grain boundaries as the defect size increases.     

The vacancy defects and oxygen atoms occupation effects on mechanical and electronic properties of Mo_5Si_3 silicides

Improving brittle behavior and mechanical properties is still a big challenge for high-temperature structural materials.By means of first-principles calculations,in this paper,we systematically investigate the effect of vacancy and oxygen occupation on the elastic properties and brittle-orductile behavior on Mo_5Si_3.Four vacancies (Si_(–Va1),Si_(–Va2),Mo_(–Va1),Mo_(–Va2)) and oxygen occupation models (O_(–Mo1),O_(–Mo2),O_(–Si1),O_(–Si2)) are selected for research.It is found that Mo_(–Va2)vacancy has the stronger structural stability in the ground state in comparison with other vacancies.Besides,the deformation resistance and hardness of the parent Mo_5Si_3are weakened due to the introduction of different vacancy defects and oxygen occupation.The ratio of B/G indicates that oxygen atoms occupation and vacancy defects result in brittle-to-ductile transition for Mo_5Si_3.These vacancies and the oxygen atoms occupation change the localized hybridization between Mo–Si and Mo–Mo atoms.The weaker O–Mo bond is a contributing factor for the excellent ductile behavior in the O_(-Si2)model for Mo_5Si_3.     

Effect of P impurity on NiAlΣ5 grain boundary from first-principles study

First-principles calculations based on the density functional theory(DFT) and ultra-soft pseudopotential are employed to study the atomic configuration and charge density of impurity P in Ni Al Σ5 grain boundary(GB). The negative segregation energy of a P atom proves that a P atom can easily segregate in the Ni Al GB. The atomic configuration and formation energy of the P atom in the Ni Al GB demonstrate that the P atom tends to occupy an interstitial site or substitute a Al atom depending on the Ni/Al atoms ratio. The P atom is preferable to staying in the Ni-rich environment in the Ni Al GB forming P–Ni bonds. Both of the charge density and the deformation charge imply that a P atom is more likely to bond with Ni atoms rather than with Al atoms. The density of states further exhibits the interactions between P atom and Ni atom, and the orbital electrons of P, Ni and Al atoms all contribute to P–Ni bonds in the Ni Al GB. It is worth noting that the P–Ni covalent bonds might embrittle the Ni Al GB and weakens the plasticity of the Ni Al intermetallics.     

First principles study of interactions of oxygen–carbon–vacancy in bcc Fe

Behaviors of C or O in bcc Fe and interactions of C–O and oxygen–carbon–vacancy(O–C–□) are investigated by first principles calculations. Octahedral interstitial site is the most stable position for an O atom in bcc Fe. The migration energy of an O atom in bcc Fe is 0.46 eV. The strength of O–Fe(1 nn) bond(0.32) is slightly greater than that of Fe–Fe metallic bond(0.26). Repulsive interactions of C–C, O–O, and C–O exist in bcc Fe. When the concentration of FIA(FIA refers to C or O) is relatively high, a vacancy can attract four FIAs and form stable FIAs–□ complex.     

Vacancy effect on the doping of silicon nanowires:A first-principles study

The influence of vacancy defect on the doping of silicon nanowires is systematically studied by the first-principles calculations. The atomic structures and electronic properties of vacancies and vacancy–boron(vacancy–phosphor) complexes in H-passivated silicon nanowire with a diameter of 2.3 nm are explored. The results of geometry optimization indicate that a central vacancy can exist stably, while the vacancy at the edge of the nanowire undergoes a local surface reconstruction, which results in the extradition of the vacancy out of the nanowire. Total-energy calculations indicate that the central vacancy tends to form a vacancy–dopant defect pair. Further analysis shows that n-type doping efficiency is strongly inhibited by the unintentional vacancy defect. In contrast, the vacancy defect has little effect on p-type doping.Our results suggest that the vacancy defect should be avoided during the growth and the fabrication of devices.     

First-principles calculations of solute–vacancy interactions in aluminum

The interactions of solute atoms with vacancies play a key role in diffusion and precipitation of alloying elements,ultimately influencing the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys. In this study, first-principles calculations are systematically performed to quantify the solute–vacancy interactions for the 3 d–4 p series and the 4 d–5 p series. The solute–vacancy interaction gradually transforms from repulsion to attraction from left to right. The solute–vacancy binding energy is sensitive to the supercell size for elements at the beginning. These behaviors of the solute–vacancy binding energy can be understood in terms of the combination and competition between the elastic and electronic interactions. Overall, the electronic binding energy follows a similar trend to the total binding energy and plays a major role in the solute–vacancy interactions.     

The effect of intragranular microstress in Al2O3—SiC nanocomposites

A theoretical model is established to investigate the intragranular particle residual stress in Al2O3-SiC nanocomposites.Using this model,we calculate the average compressive stress on the Al2O3 grain boundary(GB) and the average tensile stress within Al2O3 grains caused by SiC nanoparticles.The normal compressive stress strengthens the GB,and the average tensile stress weakens the grains.The model gives a reasonable interpretation of the strength changes of Al2O3-SiC nanocomposites with the number of SiC particles.     

Interplay between External Strain and Oxygen Vacancies on Raman Spectra of SnO2

Comprehensive first-principle calculations on strained SnO2 crystal structure indicate that the formation energy of different types of oxygen vacancies depends on the external strain. Many novel Raman modes can be observed, their intensities and positions are strongly dependent on applied stain, which can be ascribed to crystal symmetry destruction by oxygen vacancies. Applied strain can compress/stretch distances between Sn and O atoms; therefore, Sn-O band vibration frequencies can be adjusted accordingly. Our calculated results disclose that the Raman spectra of SnO2 crystal structure with different types of oxygen vacancies are obviously different, which can be used to identify the oxygen vacancy types in strained Sn02 crystal structures.     

Effects of Grain Boundary Characteristics on Its Capability to Trap Point Defects in Tungsten

As recombination centers of vacancies(Vs) and self-interstitial atoms(SIAs), firstly grain boundaries(GBs)should have strong capability of trapping point defects. In this study, abilities to trap Vs and SIAs of eight symmetric tilt GBs in tungsten are investigated through first-principles calculations. On the one hand, vacancy formation energy E~f_V rapidly increases then slowly decreases as the hard-sphere radius r_0 of the vacancy increases.The value of E~f_V is the largest when r_0 is about 1.38 ?, which is half the distance between the nearest atoms in equilibrium single crystal tungsten. That is, any denser or looser atomic configuration around GBs than that in bulk is helpful to form a vacancy. On the other hand, SIA formation energy E~f_(SIA) at GBs decreases monotonically with increasing the hard-sphere radius of the interstitial sites, which indicates that GBs with larger interstitial sites have stronger ability to trap SIAs. Based on the data obtained for GBs investigated in this study, it is found that the ability to trap Vs increases as the GB energy increases, and the capability of trapping SIAs linearly increases as the excess volume of GB increases. Due to its lowest GB energy and smallest excess volume among all GBs studied, twin GB ∑3(110)[111] has the weakest capability to trap both Vs and SIAs.     

Band alignment between NiO_x and nonpolar/semipolar GaN planes for selective-area-doped termination structure

Band alignment between NiO_x and nonpolar GaN plane and between NiO_x and semipolar GaN plane are measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. They demonstrate that the maximum value of the valence band in the unintentional-doped a-plane, m-plane, and r-plane GaN are comparable to each other, which means that all the substrates are of n-type with similar background carrier concentrations. However, the band offset at the NiO_x/GaN interface presents obvious crystalline plane dependency although they are coated with the same NiO_x films. By fitting the Ga 3 d spectrum obtained from the NiO_x/GaN interface, we find that relatively high Ga–O content at the interface corresponds to a small band offset. On the one hand, the high Ga–O content on the GaN surface will change the growth mode of NiO_x. On the other hand, the affinity difference between Ga and O forms a dipole which will introduce an extra energy band bending.     

石墨烯在Al_2O_3(0001)表面生长的模拟研究

基于密度泛函理论的广义梯度近似法,对用化学气相沉积法在蓝宝石(α-Al_2O_3)(0001)表面上生长石墨烯进行理论研究.研究结果表明:CH_4在α-Al_2O_3(0001)表面上的分解是吸热过程,由CH_4完全分解出C需要较高能量及反应能垒,这些因素不利于C在衬底表面的存在.在α-Al_2O_3(0001)表面,石墨烯形核的活跃因子并不是通常认为的C原子,而是CH基团.通过CH基团在α-Al_2O_3(0001)表面上的迁移聚集首先形成能量较低的(CH)_x结构.模拟研究(CH)_x对揭示后续石墨烯的形核生长机理具有重要意义.     

蓝光激发的Y2.93Al5O12∶0.07Ce3+黄色荧光粉的制备及光致发光

以Al₂(SO₄)₃·18H₂O、尿素为原料,采用水热-热解法制备了球形α-Al₂O₃粉体。以自制α-Al₂O₃、Y₂O₃及CeO₂为原料,固相法制备了白光LED用Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce3+黄色荧光粉,通过X射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）、X射线能谱（EDS）及荧光光谱（PL）等对产物的物相、形貌及光致发光性能进行了表征。结果表明：水热-热解法制备出了物相纯净、分散性良好的球形α-Al₂O₃粉体,以该α-Al₂O₃为原料,合成出可被460 nm蓝光有效激发,发射光谱为峰值在550 nm宽带的Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce3+荧光粉,色坐标为（0.453,0.531 9）,采用GSAS软件对Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce3+荧光粉的XRD图进行了Rietveld结构精修,精修图与XRD测试图完全吻合,Y,Al,Ce,O四元素均匀地分布在黄色荧光粉产物中,Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce3+黄色荧光粉的激发光谱由两个部分组成,在340和460 nm处有两个非常明显的吸收峰,Ce3+的4f能级由于自旋-耦合而劈裂为两个光谱支项2F_7/2和2F_5/2,其中2F_5/2为基谱项。340 nm的激发峰对应于2F_5/2→5D_5/2的跃迁,460 nm的激发峰属于2F_7/2→5D_3/2的跃迁,并且460 nm处的激发强度强于340 nm处激发强度。以460 nm为监测波长得到的发射光谱,最强发射峰位于550 nm,Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce3+荧光粉是一种适用于白光LED的高性能黄色荧光粉。     

低温燃烧合成法制备的氧化铝陶瓷粉体的发光特性

α-Al₂O₃∶C单晶具有优良的热释光特性,被用做热释光剂量计,但α-Al₂O₃∶C晶体剂量计的形状不易加工,生产成本高且碳在晶体中难以掺杂均匀。采用低温燃烧合成法以无水乙醇为溶剂,尿素为染料,硝酸铝为反应物制备少团簇、分散均匀的片状α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体。探讨不同点火温度和不同退火温度对其光致发光特性的影响,不同退火温度对热释光特性的影响以及热释光与辐射剂量(90Sr β)的关系。通过分析α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体的光致发光光谱得出：α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体的发射波长在395 nm附近,点火温度T≤800℃时,点火温度为500 ℃制备的α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体的光致发光强度最强;在相同点火温度T=500 ℃下,经不同温度退火制备α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体,点火温度为500 ℃制备的α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体经1 000 ℃退火后光致发光强度最强。通过分析α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体的热释光曲线得出：退火后的α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体在200 ℃左右的热释光峰值占主导,900 ℃退火的α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体在200 ℃附近的热释光峰值最强;通过峰高法对900 ℃高温退火处理后的α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体位于200 ℃左右的热释光峰做剂量响应曲线,可以看出,在1～50 Gy剂量范围内具有良好的热释光剂量线性响应关系,在50～200 Gy剂量范围内出现超线性响应关系。与α-Al₂O₃∶C晶体(1～10 Gy)和多孔Al₂O₃∶C薄膜(1～10 Gy)相比,α-Al₂O₃∶C陶瓷粉体的线性剂量响应范围明显扩大。此研究可为提高氧化铝陶瓷粉体的热释光性能提供思路。     

Study of the interfacial structure and chemistry of CVD κ-Al2O3/TiC multilayer coatings

This article describes the interfacial regions in CVD grown TiC/κ-Al₂O₃ multilayers. A number of microanalytical techniques were used including HREM, EDX and EELS. Occasionally, the first 50 nm of the alumina layers deposited on the intermediate TiC layers grew as a cubic alumina, heavily faulted, containing small amounts of sulphur (S), maybe as a stabiliser. The presence of slightly rounded TiC (111) facets may act as preferred nucleation sites for the cubic Al₂O₃ phase, with a ‘cube on cube’ orientation relationship. In this way the nucleation of κ-Al₂O₃ is less favourable. After some tens of nanometres the cubic phase cannot be stabilised any longer and the layer continues to grow as κ-Al₂O₃. A number of observations point towards the reaction zone (RZ) being η- and/or γ-Al₂O₃. The diffraction work and the FFT analysis of the HREM images show that the RZ is an fcc phase with a=7.9 Å, which matches with η- and γ-Al₂O₃. The EELS Al fine structure indicate more tetrahedral Al ions than in κ-Al₂O₃, as in η- and γ-Al₂O₃. The RZ contains small amounts of S, as has been reported for γ-Al₂O₃. Due to the structural similarities between η- and γ-Al₂O₃ it was not possible to determine which of these cubic phases is present in the RZ.     

Molecular dynamics analysis of impurity ions behavior in β″-Al2O3

The effects of foreign impurity ions in the conduction plane on the β″-Al₂O₃ lattice have been analyzed by molecular dynamics. As impurity ions, K and Ca ions were chosen and Na sites in the conduction plane were replaced with these ions. Results are summarized as follows: (1) The β″-Al₂O₃ lattice expands perpendicular to the conduction plane when K ions are doped; (2) Ca ions do not contribute to expansions of the β″-Al₂O₃ lattice; (3) both K and Ca ions reduce the mean square displacement of Na ions, which can be attributed to decreased Na ion diffusion.     

Preparation and spectroscopic characterization of γ-Al2O3 thin films

The electronic structure and surface properties of γ-Al₂O₃ thin films are studied. We have prepared the films by oxydizing Al foils under controlled conditions and we characterize the γ-Al₂O₃ samples by means of XPS, UPS, and TEM and found no charging. Pronounced effects in temperature-dependent changes of the work function are observed which result from changes in band bending and electron affinities by reorganisation and migration of defects. Thereby the ability of these systems for prototype studies in catalysis and analysis of defects is demonstrated.     

MoO_3/Si界面区钼掺杂非晶氧化硅层形成的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法,通过模拟MoO_3/Si界面反应,研究了MoO_x薄膜沉积中原子、分子的吸附、扩散和成核过程,从原子尺度阐明了缓冲层钼掺杂非晶氧化硅(a-SiO_x(Mo))物质的形成和机理.结果表明,在1500 K温度下, MoO_3/Si界面区由Mo, O, Si三种原子混合,可形成新的稳定的物相.热蒸发沉积初始时, MoO_3中的两个O原子和Si成键更加稳定,同时伴随着电子从Si到O的转移,钝化了硅表面的悬挂键. MoO_3中氧空位的形成能小于SiO_2中氧空位的形成能,使得O原子容易从MoO_3中迁移至Si衬底一侧,从而形成氧化硅层;替位缺陷中, Si替位MoO_3中的Mo的形成能远远大于Mo替位SiO_2中的Si的形成能,使得Mo容易掺杂进入氧化硅中.因此,在晶硅(100)面上沉积MoO_3薄膜时, MoO_3中的O原子先与Si成键,形成氧化硅层,随后部分Mo原子替位氧化硅中的Si原子,最终形成含有钼掺杂的非晶氧化硅层.     

不同退火温度的Al_2O_3:C薄膜热释光和光释光性能

α-Al_2O_3:C晶体的热释光和光释光性能优越,但其制备要求高,需高温和高还原气氛.与α-Al_2O_3:C晶体性能接近的α-Al_2O_3:C陶瓷,热释光峰不单一.本文采用两次阳极氧化法在0.5 mol/L的草酸溶液中5℃恒温制备高度均匀有序的多孔Al_2O_3:C薄膜,主要研究不同退火温度对其热释光和光释光特性的影响.结果表明,经不同温度退火后的Al_2O_3:C薄膜均为非晶结构;不同退火温度的Al_2O_3:C薄膜热释光的主发光峰约在310℃左右,符合通用级动力学模型.600℃退火后的Al_2O_3:C薄膜热释光灵敏度最强,其热释光剂量曲线在1-10 Gy范围内具有很好的线性响应,在剂量10-120 Gy范围内出现超线性响应;在相同的辐照剂量下,随着退火温度的升高(≤600℃)光释光的初始发光强度逐渐增强.不同退火温度的Al_2O_3:C薄膜光释光衰减曲线都呈典型的指数衰减且快衰减速率相比α-Al_2O_3:C晶体显著加快.600℃退火后的Al_2O_3:C薄膜光释光灵敏度最强,其光释光剂量响应曲线在1-200 Gy整体上都具有很好的剂量线性关系.与热释光相比,Al_2O_3:C薄膜的光释光具有更宽的线性剂量响应范围.此研究为Al_2O_3:C薄膜作为光释光辐射剂量材料做出了有益的探索.     

Critical current density behaviors across a grain boundary inclined to current with different angles in YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ) bicrystal junctions

The critical current density behaviors across a bicrystal grain boundary(GB) inclined to the current direction with different angles in YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ) bicrystal junctions in magnetic fields are investigated.There are two main reasons for the difference in critical current density in junctions at different GB inclined angles in the same magnetic field:(i) the GB plane area determines the current carrying cross section;(ii) the vortex motion dynamics at the GB affects the critical current value when the vortex starts to move along the GB by Lorentz force.Furthermore,the vortex motion in a bicrystal GB is studied by investigating transverse(Hall) and longitudinal current–voltage characteristics(I–V_(xx) and I–V_(xy)).It is found that the I–V_(xx) curve diverges from linearity at a high driving current,while the I–V_(xy) curve keeps nearly linear,which indicates the vortices inside the GB break out of the GB by Lorentz force.     

空位缺陷对β-AgVO_3电子结构和光吸收性能的影响

基于密度泛函的第一性原理研究了Ag空位、O空位和Ag-O双空位对β-AgVO_3的电子结构及光学性质的影响.采用广义梯度近似平面波超软赝势GGA+U方法,对不同缺陷体系的形成能、能带结构、电子态密度、差分电荷密度和吸收光谱进行了计算和分析.通过比较不同Ag空位和O空位的形成能,确定了β-AgVO_3中主要形成Ag3空位和O1空位,并且Ag空位较O空位更容易形成.Ag3空位和O1空位的存在都使得β-AgVO_3带隙有一定程度的减小;Ag3空位使β-AgVO_3呈现p-型半导体性质,而O1空位和Ag3-O1双空位使β-AgVO_3呈现n-型半导体性质.Ag3和O1空位对晶体在可见光范围内的光吸收影响较小.