Durability of rewritable phase-change Ge X Sb Y Te1 − X − Y memory devices

The bond constraint theory (BCT) dealing with the rigidity caused by bond constraints and the long-range potential fluctuations (LRPF) arising from the defects and heterogeneities in the disordered semiconductors are important for understanding the atomic and electronic properties of amorphous semiconductors. Here, they are applied to the already commercialized Ge _X Sb _Y Te_1???X???Y (GST) chalcogenide glasses used in the rewritable phase change memory (PCM) devices. The main concern at present is to improve their ability to withstand a large number of phase change cycles, by choosing the right composition. The two considerations (BCT and LRPF) are briefly described and tested on the most commonly used Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ and the nearby compositions. While these considerations provide significant insight into their atomic and electronic structures, the ansatz linking them with the durability of the PCM devices need to be justified by more work.     

57Fe Mössbauer study of sol–gel synthesized Sn1 − x − y Fe x Sb y O2 − δ powders

Samples of SnO₂ doped with different amount of Fe (10–20%) and Sb (5–25%) were prepared by sol–gel method. Room temperature ferromagnetism was found to increase as a result of co-doping with Sb, as compared to SnO₂ doped only with Fe. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of almost all samples exhibited two paramagnetic doublets and a small subspectrum referring to magnetic relaxation at room temperature. Only the samples Sn_0.65Fe_0.2Sb_0.15O_2???δ and Sn_0.85Fe_0.1Sb_0.05O_2???δ with 4 h long annealing time showed well developed sextets and larger magnetic coercivity compared to that of the other samples. The sextet observed was considered to be due to precipitates like Sn doped α-Fe₂O₃. The results suggest that the origin of the magnetic interactions is enhanced by the presence of magnetic defects, which can interact with the iron ions by free carrier electrons. For the sample with precipitates, the grain boundary defects may play an important role of enhanced ferromagnetism.     

Growth and Characterization of CdSe1 − y S y Nanofilms Obtained by Chemical Bath Deposition

In this work, the growth and characterization of cadmium selenide sulphur (CdSe_1???y S _y ) deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique at the reservoir temperature of 20?±?2 °C are presented, varying the thiourea volume added to the growth solution in the range of 0–30 ml. The films chemical stoichiometry was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Raman scattering reveal that CdSe_1???y S _y -deposited films showed hexagonal wurtzite crystalline phase. The average size of the crystalline grain in relation to the sulphur volume varies in the range of 1.48–9.2 nm that was determined by using the Debye-Scherrer equation for the direction (100), which is confirmed by analyzing the grain average diameter by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Raman scattering shows that the lattice dynamics is characteristic of bimodal behaviour and the multipeak adjust of the first optical longitudinal mode for the CdSeS denotes, in all cases, the Raman shift of the characteristic peak in the range of 177–181 cm^?1 of the CdSe crystals associated with the sulphur incorporation. CdSe_1???y S _y band gap energy can be varied from 1.86 to 2.11 eV by varying the thiourea volume added in the growth solution measured by transmittance at room temperature.     

The chemical stability and conductivity improvement of protonic conductor BaCe0.8 − x Zr x Y0.2O3 − δ

A series of BaCe_0.8???x Zr _x Y_0.2O_3???δ (BCZYx) (x?=?0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) powders were prepared by EDTA–citrate complexing sol–gel process in this paper. The electrical conducting behavior, as well as chemical stability, was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that all samples are homogenous perovskite phases. Observed from XRD patterns and thermogravimetric curves, the samples with x?≥?0.4 survive in the pure CO₂, while samples with various Zr contents all present structurally stable against steam at 800 °C. The Zr-free sample of BaCe_0.8Y_0.2O_3???δ possesses the maximum bulk conductivity, 4.25?×?10^?2 S/cm, but decomposes into Ba(OH)₂ and Ce_0.8Y_0.2O_3???δ in steam. A negative influence of increasing Zr content on the conductivity of BCZYx can be observed by impedance tests. Considering the effect of temperature on the bulk conductivity, BCZY0.4 is preferred to be applied in SOFC as a protonic conductor, ranging from 1.52?×?10^?4 to 1.51?×?10^?3 S/cm (500–850 °C) with E _a?=?0.859 eV, which is proved to be a good protonic conductor with t _H+?≥?0.9.     

Mössbauer study of magnetism in FeII − III (oxy-)hydroxycarbonate green rusts; ferrimagnetism of FeII − III hydroxycarbonate

Fe^II???III hydroxycarbonate Fe $^{\rm II}_{4}$ Fe $^{\rm III}_{2}$ (OH)₁₂CO₃, green rust GR(CO $_{3}^{2-})$ , reveals a ferrimagnetic behaviour. Moments that lie within two-dimensional cation layers are parallel for same species and antiparallel between Fe^II and Fe^III. Respective ordering temperatures are 5.2 and 7 K. A sextet with distribution from 350 to 580 kOe for Fe^III and an octet reflecting a mixture of states with field of 130 kOe and quadrupole splitting of ?3.0 mm s^???1 for Fe^II are observed at 1.4 K. Ferric oxyhydroxycarbonate Fe $^{\rm III}_{6}$ O₁₂H₈CO₃ is ferromagnetic and displays at 4 K a sextet with field between 400 and 500 kOe (maximum at 480 kOe) and transition at 80 K. GR(CO $_{3}^{2-})$ deprotonation gives magnetic domains with compositions at x?=?1/3, 2/3 and 1 due to long range order.     

Fougerite FeII − III oxyhydroxycarbonate in environmental chemistry and nitrate reduction

The identification of the fougerite mineral responsible for the bluish-green shade of gleysols in aquifers as being the Fe^II???III oxyhydroxycarbonate $\text{GR}(\text{CO}_{3}^{2-})^*$ of formula, $[\text{Fe}^{\rm II}_{6x}\text{Fe}^{\rm III}_{6(1 - x)}\text{O}_{12}\text{H}_{2(7-3x)}]^{2+}\bullet[\text{CO}_{3}^{2-}\bullet3\text{H}_{2}\text{O}]^{2-}$ where the ferric molar ratio x = [Fe^III/Fe_total] is restricted to the domain [1/3–2/3] induces to study the reactivity of the synthetic green rust for reducing some major pollutants. The oxidation within the solid compound $\text{GR}(\text{CO}_{3}^{2-})^*$ in the presence of nitrates is followed by miniaturized Mössbauer spectrometer (MIMOS). Ratio x = [Fe^III/Fe_total] increases up to 0.67 where $\text{GR}(\text{CO}_{3}^{2-})^*$ transforms gradually into magnetite. This could well explain the composition variability of fougerite occurrences.     

Crystalline Al1 − x Ti x phases in the hydrogen cycled NaAlH4 + 0.02TiCl3 system

The hydrogen (H) cycled planetary milled (PM) NaAlH₄?+?0.02TiCl₃ system has been studied by high resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy during the first 10?H cycles. After the first H absorption, we observe the formation of four nanoscopic crystalline (c-) Ti-containing phases embedded on the NaAlH₄ surface, i.e. Al₂Ti, Al₃Ti, Al₈₂Ti₁₈ and Al₈₉Ti₁₁, with 100% of the originally added Ti atoms accounted for. Al₂Ti and Al₃Ti are observed morphologically as a mechanical couple on the NaAlH₄ surface, with a moderately strained interface. Electron diffraction shows that the Al₈₂Ti₁₈ phase retains some ordering from the L1₂ structure type, with the observation of forbidden (100) ordering reflections in the fcc Al₈₂Ti₁₈ lattice. After 2?H cycles the NaAlH₄?+?0.02TiCl₃ system displays only two crystalline Ti-containing phases, Al₃Ti and Al₈₉Ti₁₁. After 10?H cycles, the Al₈₉Ti₁₁ is completely converted to Al₈₅Ti_15. Al₈₉Ti₁₁, Al₈₅Ti₁₅ and Al₃Ti do not display any ordering reflections, and they are modeled in the A1 structure type. Quantitative phase analysis indicates that the Al₃Ti proportion continues to increase with further H cycles. The formation of Ti-poor Al_{1??? x} Ti _x (x?<?0.25) phases in later H cycles is detrimental to hydrogenation kinetics, compared to the starting Ti-richer near-surface Al₂Ti/NaAlH₄ interface present during the first absorption of hydrogen.     

Negative differential conductance in nano-scale normal metal/superconductor/normal metal junctions featuring Fe1 + y Te1 − x Se x

Iron-based superconductors have been the subject of intensive study due to their high transition temperature and intriguing physical mechanisms. We describe a unique experimental approach to fabricate nano-scale normal metal/superconductor/normal metal junctions involving microcrystals of Fe₁ ?₊?_y Te₁ ?_??_x Se _x , for which we have observed a distinct phenomenon of negative differential conductance (NDC) dips along with multiple plateau features in differential conductance spectra. The evolution of the NDC dips and the plateau features is further explored as a function of both temperature and magnetic field, and their physical origin is discussed.     

Mössbauer study on Zn1 − x Fe x O semiconductors prepared by high energy ball milling

We present the preparation of massive Zn_1???x Fe _x O ternary oxides using the mechanical mill. The Fe atom is a particular dopant since it presents two different oxidation states which allow us to vary the starting materials: Fe₂O₃, $\upalpha $ -Fe or FeO. Parameters such as initial concentrations, atmosphere and milling times were varied. X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrometry (MS) were applied in order to analyze the structure evolution and iron incorporation in the wurtzite crystalline structure with milling time. At final stages, Fe atoms seem to be incorporated in the ZnO structure for those samples milled under Ar atmosphere. In all cases, two paramagnetic components, attributed to Fe atoms in both valence states, were observed by MS.     

Mössbauer studies of GdFe2 − x Hf x alloys

GdFe_2???x Hf _x alloys, where x?=?0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.30, are produced by arc-melting of pure elements. The samples are investigated by x-ray diffraction and Fe⁵⁷ Mössbauer spectroscopy at 78 K and 300 K. We find that the alloy system GdFe_2???x Hf _x have the single phase cubic Cu₂Mg type structure in the whole concentration range. Mössbauer spectroscopic results show that all the samples studied are magnetically ordered at 78 K, and at room temperature. The room temperature spectra are fitted with two magnetic components where the direction of magnetization is along the [111] while the spectra at 78 K are fitted with four magnetic subspectra indicating a complex direction of magnetization for all samples under investigation. The average magnetic hyperfine field and the average isomer shift are found to decrease almost linearly with increasing the Hf concentration at 78 K and 300 K due to the replacement of Fe by nonmagnetic Hf.     

Magnetism influenced by structural disorder in melt-spun DyMn6 − x Ge6 − x Fe x Al x (x = 2.5, 3)

Different chemical and/or geometrical orders were found in melt-spun DyMn_6???x Ge_6???x Fe _x Al _x with x = 2.5 and 3 having fully amorphous and mixed (crystalline and amorphous) structure, respectively. Thermal variations in magnetization M from liquid helium up to room temperature for both samples are similar. Magnetization value at zero field cooled curve reaches about 0.1 μ_B per formula unit at 2 K and then increases. Two maxima are visible, the first at 50 K (a sharp effect) and the second very broad ranging from 150 to 200 K. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrometry investigation revealed a remaining magnetic component in addition to a prevailing quadrupolar feature. Application of a weak external magnetic field causes an increase in the mean hyperfine magnetic field B _hyp and the volume fraction of magnetic component. This observation was confirmed by results of M(T), M(H) and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. In short-range ordered crystallographic zones characteristic of melt-spun DyMn_6???x Ge_6???x Fe _x Al _x (x = 2.5, 3) alloys, the related magnetic ordering, called the mictomagnetism or the cluster spin glass appears.     

Two new low-temperature phase transitions in the Li(NH4)1 − x Na x SO4 system

Dielectric measurements, X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering techniques have been used to investigate Li(NH₄)_0.99Na_0.01SO₄ (LASS1%) and Li(NH₄)_0.80Na_0.20SO₄ (LASS20%) crystals in the temperature range from 200 to 10?K. These are interesting systems because of the presence of hydrogen bonds and structural defects and because the mother crystal, LiNH₄SO₄, is ferroelectric at room temperature. From the analysis of the results we can conclude that the substitution of Na⁺ ions in the structure of LiNH₄SO₄, even at quantities as low as 1%, is sufficient to induce additional phase transitions to the LiNH₄SO₄ system. The new phase transitions are observed at 181 and 115?K for LASS1% and at 208 and 133?K for LASS20% and both are reversible.     

Structural and electronic properties of wurtzite,zincblende and rocksalt Al1 − xInxN ternary alloys at ambient and high pressure

ABSTRACT

Although AlInN is originally a wurtzite structure, zincblende and rocksalt are other potential phases. It will be interesting to have a comparative study of the physical properties of this compound in various phases. A DFT-based study of wurtzite, zincblende and rocksalt phases of AlInN alloys is carried out. Structural (lattice parameter, bulk modulus) and electronic properties (energy band gap, and electron effective mass) of the Al_{1??? x}In_xN alloys are investigated, at ambient pressure, throughout the whole range of indium contents for all considered phases. High pressure effects on the studied parameters are also examined, with the phase transition pressures computed for different values of In concentrations, and compared with available data. Structural density functional calculations are performed with Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof gradient-corrected functional for solids (PBEsol), while electronic structure is computed with the modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential exchange to ensure a better accuracy of calculated the band gaps. Alloy randomness is taken into account using a special quasi-random structure.     

Local structure and electrochemistry of LiNi y Mn y Co1 − 2y O2 electrode materials for Li-ion batteries

A series of LiNi _x Mn _y Co _z O₂ (x = y, z = 1 − 2y) oxides have been synthesized by “chimie douce” and investigated as positive electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries. Layered LiNi _y Mn _y Co_1 − 2y O₂ materials with high homogeneity and crystallinity were synthesized using the wet-chemical method assisted by carboxylic acid as the polymeric agent. The long range and local structural properties are investigated with experiments including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The evolution of the structure is discussed as a function of the cobalt content that confers layer-like behavior on the framework. Electrochemical performance of LiNi _y Mn _y Co_1 − 2y O₂ oxides is tested in cells using nonaqueous 1 M LiPF₆ dissolved in ethylene carbonate–diethyl carbonate. Charge–discharge profiles are investigated as a function of the rate capability and the voltage window. A relation is found between the gravimetric capacity and the cation disorder of the positive electrode as indicated by structural analysis. Fast lithium extraction attributed to the larger interslab space has been observed in the cobalt-rich oxides. Paper presented at the 11th Euro-Conference on Science and Technology of Ionics, Batz-sur-Mer, France, 9–15 Sept. 2007.     

57Fe Mössbauer study of La0.67Ca0.33Mn1 − x Fe x O3 CMR system

The structural changes of near-equiatomic α-FeCr alloys, ground in a vibratory mill in vacuum and in argon, were followed as a function of milling time. An amorphous phase forms in both cases but at a much faster rate when milling in argon than when milling in vacuum. Amorphisation by ball-milling of α-FeCr alloys is deduced to be an intrinsic phenomenon which is however speeded-up by oxygen. The amorphous phase crystallizes into a bcc Cr-rich phase and a bcc Fe-rich phase when annealed for short times.     

QCD studies and discoveries with e + e − colliders and future perspectives

Observations of new charmonium(-like) and bottomonium(-like) states (sometimes refered to as “XYZ” states) at e ^?+? e ^??? colliders have changed our picture of quarkonia systems as QCD bound states. Potential models with a linear confinement ansatz, which were able to predict many conventional states with an accuracy of ～1 MeV, absolutely fail in describing many of the new states. Symmetries play an important role e.g. in the determination of the quantum numbers (such as charge conjugation in the radiative decays) or in trying to explain surprising properties such as isospin violation.     

Heat treatment effects on spinel phase of Zn x Ni1 − x Fe2O4 and MnFe2O4 nanoferrites

We report the effects of heat treatment on Zn _x Ni_1???x Fe₂O₄ (x?= 0, 0.5 and 1.0) and MnFe₂O₄ ferrite nanoparticles. The as-prepared compounds were sintered from 400°C to 1100°C. Pure ZnFe₂O₄ (x?= 1.0) and MnFe₂O₄ could be obtained under low reaction temperature of 200°C. NiFe₂O₄ (x?= 0) and Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ (x?= 0.5) nanoferrites crystallized with single phase cubic spinel structure after annealing at 600°C. The single phase cubic spinel structure of these compounds was destroyed after annealing at temperature above 700°C. The magnetization measurements indicate superparamagnetic behavior of the nanosized compounds produced.     

Structural and electrochemical properties of LiFe1 − 3x/2Bi x PO4/C synthesized by sol–gel

In this study, LiFe_1???3x/2Bi _x PO₄/C cathode material was synthesized by sol–gel method. From XRD patterns, it was found that the Bi-doped LiFePO₄/C cathode material had the same olivine structure with LiFePO₄/C. SEM studies revealed that Bi doping can effectively decrease the particle sizes. It shortened Li⁺ diffusion distance between LiFePO₄ phase and FePO₄ phase. The LiFe_0.94Bi_0.04PO₄/C powder exhibited a specific initial discharge capacity of about 149.6 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 rate as compared to 123.5 mAh g^?1 of LiFePO₄/C. EIS results indicated that the charge-transfer resistance of LiFePO₄/C decreased greatly after Bi doping.     

The preparation and electrochemical properties of the Li-excess cathode material Li1 + x (Mn0.7Fe0.3)1 − x O2 by coprecipitation method

The Fe-substituted Li₂MnO₃ cathode materials were synthesized by the coprecipitation method. The effects of the different precipitants of Na₂CO₃ and NaOH on the structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance were investigated by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, dQ/dV plots, and charge–discharge tests. The results indicate that the materials prepared using both precipitants possess layered α-NaFeO₂ structure with R-3m space group. However, the material prepared using Na₂CO₃ shows smaller primary particle size as well as higher discharge capacity. The cycling test shows that the initial discharge capacity is 206 mAh g^?1 in the voltage range of 2.5–4.8 V under current density of 30 mA g^?1 at 30 °C and 231 mAh g^?1 in the voltage range of 2.0–4.8 V. Meanwhile, the discharge capacity fades to 191 mAh g^?1 after 20 cycles. The activated Mn⁴⁺ was confirmed to contribute to the high reversible capacities.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer spectral studies of nano crystalline cobalt substituted magnesium ferrites (MgxCo1 − xFe2O4)

The electronic structure of the heme unit of deoxyhemoglobin including the proximal imidazole has been studied using the first-principles Hartree-Fock procedure. Our results for the ^57mFe isomer shift and asymmetry parameter are in very good agreement with the values obtained from Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. The ^57mFe nuclear quadrupole coupling constant is smaller than the experimental result and possible ways to improve the agreement in the future are discussed. Improved analysis of the Mössbauer data, removing some approximations made for deriving the magnetic hyperfine tensor for the ^57mFe nucleus, is suggested to allow quantitative comparison with our results in the future.