Structural characteristics and morphology of SmxCe1−xO2−x/2 thin films

Effect of the deposition temperature (200 and 500 °C) and composition of Sm_xCe_1−xO_2−x/2 (x = 0, 10.9–15.9 mol%) thin films prepared by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) and Ar⁺ ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) combined with EB-PVD on structural characteristics and morphology/microstructure was investigated. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the surface and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of the bulk of the film revealed the dominant occurrence of Ce⁴⁺ oxidation state, suggesting the presence of CeO₂ phase, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Ce³⁺ oxidation states corresponding to Ce₂O₃ phase were in minority. The XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the polycrystalline columnar structure and a rooftop morphology of the surface. Effects of the preparation conditions (temperature, composition, IBAD) on the lattice parameter, grain size, perfection of the columnar growth and its impact on the surface morphology are analyzed and discussed.     

Optical and electrical properties of single Sb2Se3 nanorod

In this report, methods of solvothermal synthesis of Sb₂Se₃ nanorods from a single-source precursor Sb[Se₂P(O ⁱPr)₂]₃ were demonstrated. The synthesized Sb₂Se₃ nanorods were expected to have new optical and electrical properties. With the electron beam (E-beam) lithography and focus ion beam (FIB) techniques, we achieved immobilization and positioning of a single Sb₂Se₃ nanorod on a patterned template. By using the confocal Raman microscope and two-point-contact electrical measurement methods, we obtained optical and electrical characteristics from a single Sb₂Se₃ nanorod.     

Exchange‐coupled L10‐FePt/Fe composite patterns with perpendicular magnetization

L1₀‐FePt and exchange‐coupled L1₀‐FePt/Fe composite films are grown epitaxially on MgO(001) single crystal substrates and are subsequently large‐area patterned utilizing an electron beam lithography process with Ar⁺ ion etching. The patterning process of the continuous film system leads to a different demagnetization behavior resulting in an increase of the out‐of‐plane coercivity of the patterned samples. Due to exchange‐coupling between L1₀‐FePt and Fe the coercivity of the L1₀‐FePt/Fe composite patterns is reduced by 52% as compared to the coercivity of L1₀‐FePt patterns. From the analysis of the temperature dependence of the coercivity it follows that the dots include regions with reduced anisotropy. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Lattice site dependent cathodoluminescence behavior and surface chemical changes in a Sr5(PO4)3F host

Eu activated Sr₅(PO₄)₃F phosphor powders have been subjected to the electron bombardment at 2 keV (10 μA) at an oxygen pressure of 1×10⁻⁶ Torr. The synthesized Sr₅(PO₄)₃F phosphor was identical to the hexagonal apatite structure, with the Sr present at two different sites C_s (S1) and C₃ (S2) in the Sr₅(PO₄)₃F host, as inferred from the crystallographic study. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and Auger electron spectroscopy of the phosphor excited by the same electron beam were used to monitor changes in the surface state during prolonged electron bombardment. A direct correlation between the surface reactions and the degradation of the CL brightness was observed. Both C and F were depleted from the surface during electron bombardment. The postulated mechanism for the electron stimulated chemical reactions on the phosphor surface is electron beam dissociation of molecular species to atomic species, which subsequently react with C to form volatile compounds CO₂, CH₄, etc. and with Sr₅(PO₄)₃F to form a non luminescence layer of metal oxides of Sr and P.     

Blue and infrared cathodoluminescence induced by carbon-irradiation in SrTiO3 single crystal

We show that blue-CL can be induced in SrTiO₃ single crystal at room temperature by irradiating it with 60 KeV carbon ion (C⁻) beam. An infrared CL-emission is induced simultaneously. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement exhibits an 200 nm thick surface layer formed by the C⁻ irradiation. We show that the emitting region can be patterned into any desired shape by fabricating the STO surface using Pt-based micro-lithography technique.     

Ordering of Ge nanocrystals using FIB nanolithography

Formation and ordering of Ge nanocrystals (NC) are studied on Si(0 0 1) and SiO₂/Si(0 0 1) substrates patterned by focused ion beam (FIB). In both cases we use a three step process consisting of FIB milling of hole patterns with various periodicities, ex-situ substrate cleaning to remove Ga contamination and Ge NC growth by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). We show that Ge NC can be ordered between or inside the holes on patterned Si(0 0 1) substrates and inside the holes on patterned SiO₂/Si(0 0 1) substrates.     

Laterally patterned high mobility two-dimensional electron gases obtained by overgrowth of focused ion beam implanted Al1−xGaxAs

The use of focused ion beam implantation doping of an inverted GaAs/Al_1−xGa_xAs heterostructure during a growth interruption allows for the lateral modulation of the heterostructure doping. Hence, laterally patterned two dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) are obtained with no further processing steps required. We have performed the direct writing of a 2DEG with a Hall-bar pattern, such that only the application of ohmic contacts was necessary and the sample surface remained unharmed otherwise. The 2DEG has an electron density of 3.6×10¹¹ cm⁻² and an electron mobility of 4.8×10⁵ cm²/V s, as determined by magnetotransport measurements. A conventional mesa-etched Hall-bar with almost identical electronic properties has also been studied. Different behaviour of the longitudinal as well as the transversal magnetoresistance for the two Hall-bars is observed and can be concluded to be due to a different confinement potential.     

The corrosion behavior of intermetallic compounds Ni3(Si,Ti) and Ni3(Si,Ti) + 2Mo in acidic solutions

The corrosion behavior of the intermetallic compounds homogenized, Ni₃(Si,Ti) (L1₂: single phase) and Ni₃(Si,Ti) + 2Mo (L1₂ and (L1₂ + Ni_ss) mixture region), has been investigated using an immersion test, electrochemical method and surface analytical method (SEM; scanning electron microscope and EPMA: electron probe microanalysis) in 0.5 kmol/m³ H₂SO₄ and 0.5 kmol/m³ HCl solutions at 303 K. In addition, the corrosion behavior of a solution annealed austenitic stainless steel type 304 was studied under the same experimental conditions as a reference. It was found that the intergranular attack was observed for Ni₃(Si,Ti) at an initial stage of the immersion test, but not Ni₃(Si,Ti) + 2Mo, while Ni₃(Si,Ti) + 2Mo had the preferential dissolution of L1₂ with a lower Mo concentration compared to (L1₂ + Ni_ss) mixture region. From the immersion test and polarization curves, Ni₃(Si,Ti) + 2Mo showed the lowest corrosion resistance in both solutions and Ni₃(Si,Ti) had the highest corrosion resistance in the HCl solution, but not in the H₂SO₄ solution. For instance, it was found that unlike type 304 stainless steel, these intermetallic compounds were difficult to form a stable passive film in the H₂SO₄ solution. The results obtained were explained in terms of boron segregation at grain boundaries, Mo enrichment and film stability (or strength).     

Low voltage electron induced cathodoluminescence degradation and surface characterization of Sr3(PO4)2:Tb phosphor

Tb³⁺-doped Sr₃(PO₄)₂ phosphor was prepared by a sol-gel combustion method. A trigonal structure having Sr and O atoms occupying two different lattice sites were obtained. Scanning Auger nanoprobe was used to analyze the morphology of the particles. Photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) properties of Sr₃(PO₄)₂:Tb powder phosphors were evaluated and compared. In addition, the CL intensity degradation of Sr₃(PO₄)₂:Tb was evaluated when the powders were irradiated with a beam of electrons in a vacuum chamber maintained at an O₂ pressure of 1 × 10⁻⁶ Torr or a background pressure of 1 × 10⁻⁸ Torr O₂. The surface chemical composition of the degraded powders, analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), suggests that new compounds (metal oxides) of strontium and phosphorous were formed on the surface. It is most likely that these compounds contributed to the CL intensity degradation of the Sr₃(PO₄)₂:Tb phosphors. The CL properties and possible mechanism by which the new metal oxides were formed on the surface due to a prolonged electron beam irradiation are discussed.     

Growth of Ni-Al alloys on Ni(1 1 1): (I) Formation of epitaxial Ni3Al from ultra-thin Al deposits

In this paper we describe the alloying process of ultra-thin Al layers (below 8 × 10¹⁵ Al/cm²) deposited on Ni(1 1 1). For this purpose Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and ion beam analysis-channelling measurements have been performed in situ in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. Al deposits formed at low temperature (about 130 K) are strained defective crystalline layers retaining the substrate orientation. Alloying takes place, with very progressive Ni enrichment, in a very broad temperature range between 250 K and 570 K. This feature shows that diffusion of the alloy species is more and more difficult when the Ni concentration increases. At 570 K a crystallographically and chemically ordered Ni₃Al phase is formed, and its order continuously improves upon annealing, up to 750 K. We have shown by ion beam methods that this alloy is three-dimensional, extending up to 16 (1 1 1) planes for the thickest deposits. The Ni₃Al phase can also be obtained directly by Al deposition at 750 K, but its crystalline quality is lower and the layer is probably formed of grains elongated along 〈1 1 −2〉 directions. The Al content of the thin Ni₃Al layers formed mostly dissolves in the bulk above 800 K. However a small amount of Al remains segregated at the Ni crystal surface.     

Luminescence channels of manganese-doped spinel

Two independent luminescence channels are observed from manganese-doped spinel Mn:MgAl₂O₄. The luminescence around 520 nm is assigned to transition from the lowest electronic excited state ⁴T₁ to the ground state ⁶A₁ of Mn²⁺ (3d)⁵ ion by analyzing the excitation spectrum and electron spin resonance measurement. The emission at 650 nm is triggered by the band edge excitation and is assigned similarly to the charge-transfer process associated with the manganese ion.     

Fabrication of Step-and-Flash Imprint Lithography (S-FIL) templates using XeF<Subscript>2</Subscript> enhanced focused ion-beam etching

The fabrication of Step-and-Flash Imprint Lithography (S-FIL) templates with line widths of 50 nm is described in this work. The structures have been patterned using a Ga⁺ focused ion beam (FIB) in a quartz template. FIB milling is generally accompanied with re-deposition effects, which represent a hindrance to densely patterned nanostructures required in most NIL applications. To reduce these re-deposition effects, in this research, xenon difluoride (XeF₂) enhanced FIB etching was applied that also increases the material removal rates in comparison to pure kinetic ion sputtering. To optimise the process when using XeF₂ gas the following ion scanning parameters have been examined: ion dose, beam current, dwell time and beam overlap (step size). It has been found that the assisting gases at very low doses do not bring significant etching enhancements whilst the sputtering rates have increased at high doses. Using the XeF₂ gas-assisted etching, FIB structuring has been used to fabricate <100 nm structures onto quartz S-FIL templates. The presence of XeF₂ considerably enhances the etching rate of quartz without any significant negative effects on the spatial resolution of the FIB lithographic process and reduces the template processing time.     

激光辐照非晶Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B 9微量晶化的穆斯堡尔谱研究

在激光功率为40—160W、扫描速度为10mm/s、激光光斑为20mm照射条件下,用CO ₂激 光辐照非晶Fe_73.5Cu₁Nb₃Si_13.5B_{9< /sub>产生微量晶化.利用透射穆斯堡尔谱 （TMS）技术分析了原始态和晶化后样品的超精细结构.确定了穆斯堡尔谱的基本参数——化 学位移(IS)、四极分裂(QS)、内磁场(Hhf)随激光功率变化的规律.分析表明，CO2关键词： 激光辐照 微量晶化 73.5Cu1Nb3 Si13.5B9')" href="#">非晶Fe73.5Cu1Nb3 Si13.5B9 穆斯堡尔谱}     

Martensitic transformation and magnetic properties of ferromagnetic shape memory Fe66Pd30Rh4 alloys

This study mainly shows that in the Fe₆₆Pd₃₀Rh₄ (at%) alloys, the L1₀ phase plays an important role in magnetostriction due to the interplay of L1₀ martensitic twins with magnetic domains. The L1₀ martensitic twin structure exhibits a strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy constant (K_u=1.27-2.84×10⁶ (ergs/cm³)) along the tetragonal c axis direction. In addition, the L1₀ tetragonal martensitic twin structure shows both a perfect shape memory and a reversible shape memory effect; therefore, it is expected to be applicable in magneto-mechanical applications (such as microactuators or springs). However, in this study, we discover that solution treatment (ST) and aging heat treatments of Fe₆₆Pd₃₀Rh₄ ferromagnetic shape memory alloys influence the behavior of the martensitic transition, which is associated with the change in magnetic properties. The process of a thermoelastic L1₀+L1_m twin phase decomposition→non-thermoelastic L1₀+L1_m+α_bct structure in Fe₆₆Pd₃₀Rh₄ alloys during solution treatment and aging at 400-550 °C for various times is studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The relation of phase separation morphology to the magnetic property change is examined with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer, and magnetostriction measurement is performed with a strain gage method and magnetostrictive meter setup. The results indicate that the process of martensitic transformation during aging leads to an increase in coercivity and a decrease in magnetostriction, simultaneously.     

Investigation of crystallographic sites of Eu in La2BaZnO5 by site-selective laser-excitation spectroscopy

La₂BaZnO₅:Eu³⁺ (0.05 mol%) was prepared by a solid-state reaction at high temperature. X-ray powder diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of single phase La₂BaZnO₅. Luminescence properties of La₂BaZnO₅:Eu³⁺ are investigated by site-selective laser-excitation and emission spectroscopy at 18 K. Two different crystallographic sites for Eu³⁺ corresponding to the La³⁺ and Ba²⁺ sites are identified from the ⁷F₀→⁵D₀ excitation spectra obtained by monitoring the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J=1, 2, …, 6) emissions. It is found that Eu³⁺ substituted for the Ba²⁺ ion experiences stronger crystal-field strength than Eu³⁺ substituted for the La³⁺ ion. Energy transfer between the two crystallographic Eu³⁺ centers is investigated by luminescence decay curves at 18 K.     

Local trimer orbital ordering in LiNiO2 studied by quantitative convergent beam electron diffraction technique

A local trimer orbital ordering model of LiNiO₂ was studied by means of theoretical calculation and experimental measurement of electron structure factors. Based on the trimer model, the electron structure factors were calculated by using the scattering factor of non-spherical Ni³⁺ ion. From these results, it is found that the effect of local orbital ordering on the electron structure factors of several subtle reflections, such as (202) and (107), is very large. The electron structure factors of these subtle reflections were measured by quantitative convergent beam electron diffraction method. The experimentally measured electron structure factor values of these reflections indicate that the trimer orbital ordering model is more close to the true structure of LiNiO₂.     

Profile evolution of edge parameters during L/H and H/L mode transitions on compass-D

On COMPASS-D the profile evolution of electron density, electron temperature, perpendicular electric field, poloidal impurity velocity, and neutral density at the outboard mid-plane has been investigated during ohmic single null diverted (SND) discharges undergoing an L/H, H/L, and another L/H transition. This was achieved using a novel combined diagnostic consisting of thermal helium beam and Doppler spectrometry, sharing the same lines of sight. To generate the transitions first an ELM-free H-mode phase was produced by terminating the gas fuelling. Within this H-mode a stepped gas puff was applied triggering an intermediate L-mode phase followed by a second ELM-free phase. It was found that on COMPASS-D the L/H transition is not preceded by a change in velocity or electric field shear. The maximum electric field shear of ∇ ▽E _ψ ≈2×10³kV/m² develops after the L/H transition around the 95% flux surface. Although the neutral density at the separatrix is of the ordern _D ≈ 10¹⁷m⁻³ no indication of a local influence could be concluded. However, a correlation between the decay of the shear and the gas puff was observed. Presented at the Workshop on Role of Electric Fields in Plasma Confinement and Exhaust, Budapest, 18–19 June 2000. This work was jointly funded by the UK Department of Trade and Industry and EURATOM. The author H. Meyer is funded by a Marie Curie Research Training Grant.     

Circular polarization of the (1s2p)2 → (1s2)0 line emitted by 205Tl79+ ions after collisional excitation by an unpolarized electron beam

The circular polarization of the (1s2p)_J=2 → (1s²)_J=0 line emitted by the helium-like ion ²⁰⁵Tl⁷⁹⁺ following impact excitation by a nonpolarized electron beam is theoretically studied. The probability for the hyperfine induced E1 transition (1s2p)₂F=3/2→1s² has been determined from the first order perturbation theory. Various collision strengths for excitation of thallium ions to the (1s2p)₂M_J=0, 1 and 2 magnetic sublevels have been used. It is found that the interference between M2 and E1 radiation occurring in the line can give rise to a significant degree of circular polarization. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Combinatorial discovery of anomalous substrate effect on the photochemical properties of transition metal-doped epitaxial SrTiO3 heterostructures

Epitaxial Sr(V_xCr_yTi_1−x−y)O₃ (0≤x+y≤0.05) ternary composition spreads were grown on two different single crystal substrates, LaAlO₃ and Nb-doped SrTiO₃, by use of combinatorial laser molecular beam epitaxy with a specially patterned slide masking plate. The photocatalytic activity on the composition spreads was evaluated by the photo-reduction of Ag⁺ in an AgNO₃ aqueous solution to deposit Ag metal on the spreads. The V-doping effect was found to depend greatly on the substrate: the photodeposition of Ag was much enhanced in the composition region of SrV_0.05Ti_0.95O₃ only on the Nb-doped SrTiO₃, but not on the LaAlO₃ and non-doped SrTiO₃.     

Patterning of gold nano-octahedra using electron irradiation combined with thermal treatment and post-cleaning process

A novel approach to pattern nanocrystalline gold (Au) octahedra is presented based on electron irradiation combined with thermal treatment and post-cleaning process using HAuCl₄-loaded poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) block copolymer (BCP) as a precursor material. The BCP tends to cross-link under electron irradiation, and thus a patterned film can be prepared by selectively irradiating an electron beam onto a precursor film using a shadow mask. A post-thermal treatment leads to the formation of crystalline Au nano-octahedra inside the patterned film with a help of the BCP acting as a capping agent. Subsequently, the BCP can be removed by O₂ plasma etching combined with oxidative degradation, with the Au nanoparticles remaining. As a result, a patterned film consisting of high-purity nanocrystalline Au octahedra is fabricated. The sizes of the Au octahedral nanoparticles can be readily controlled from 49 to 101 nm by changing the thickness of the precursor film. The patterned Au nano-octahedra films exhibit excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering behavior with the maximum enhancement factor of ~10⁶.