Iron oxide and iron carbide particles produced by the polyol method

Iron oxide (γ-Fe₂O₃) and iron carbide (Fe₃C) particles were produced by the polyol method. Ferrocene, which was employed as an iron source, was decomposed in a mixture of 1,2-hexadecandiol, oleylamine, and 1-octadecene. Particles were characterized using Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that oleylamine acted as a capping reagent, leading to uniform-sized (12-16 nm) particles consisting of γ-Fe ₂O₃. On the other hand, 1-octadecene acted as a non-coordinating solvent and a carbon source, which led to particles consisting of Fe₃C and α-Fe with various sizes.     

Re-examination of Dronino iron meteorite and its weathering products using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution

Re-examination of Dronino iron meteorite and products of its weathering in the internal and external surface layers was carried out using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution. New results showed the presence of α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases with variations in Ni concentration in Dronino metallic iron alloy. The surface weathering products were supposed as magnetite and/or maghemite, goethite with different particles size and probably ferrihydrite in the internal layer and goethite with different particles size and probably ferrihydrite in the external layer.     

Dielectric Properties of Nanoporous Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Films Filled with Ferroelectric SC(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Temperature dependences of permittivity ε′ and third harmonic amplitude γ_3ω of nanocomposites obtained by embedding ferroelectric SC(NH₂)₂ in porous alumina films with pore sizes of 60 and 100 nm are studied. A substantial increase in the temperatures of ferroelectric phase transition T_c1 and T_c2 and that of phase transition T_i from incommensurate phase to paraphase are also observed. The temperatures of all phase transitions are found to rise as pore diameters shrink.     

Comparative study of Aliskerovo,Anyujskij, Sikhote-Alin and Sterlitamak iron meteorites using Mössbauer spectroscopy

A comparative study of Sikhote-Alin IIAB, Anyujskij IIAB, Aliskerovo IIIE-an and Sterlitamak IIIAB iron meteorites was carried out using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution as well as using metallography, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Different numbers of spectral components were found in the Mössbauer spectra of Sikhote-Alin IIAB and Anyujskij IIAB and in the spectra of Aliskerovo IIIE-an and Sterlitamak IIIAB iron meteorites. The values of hyperfine field at the ⁵⁷Fe nuclei obtained for spectral components were related to α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases with variations in Ni concentration.     

Superconductor-insulator transition tuned by annealing in Bi-film on top of Co-clusters

We deposited amorphous Bi films with a thickness between 3 and 6.5 nm at 4.2 K on top of previously deposited Co clusters having a mean size of ～4.5 nm. The Co cluster layers thickness was between 2.3 and 5 nm. In-situ electrical transport measurements were performed between 2 and 100 K. Measurements on as-prepared samples having a Bi layer thickness of 3.0 nm show hopping (tunneling) conductivity as σ(T) = σ ₀ exp[?(T ₀/T)^1/2] above the superconducting transition temperature T _C and re-entrance behavior again with hopping (tunneling) conductivity below T _C . Annealing of films having a Bi layer thickness of 5.5 nm results in a decrease of resistivity, with variable-range hopping conduction behavior as σ(T) = σ ₀ exp[?(T ₀/T)^1/3 ]. Quite different are the findings for films having a Bi layer thickness of 6.5 nm: annealing of these films results in a power-law behavior as σ(T) = σ ₀ T ^α with α = 2/3, indicating that these films are close to a quantum critical point separating superconducting and insulating phases. A phase diagram including all experimental observations is proposed.     

Magnetic properties of Co/Pd multilayered films on porous Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> templates with developed cell substructure

We studied the structure and magnetic properties of porous multilayered Co/Pd films deposited on the templates of anodized Al₂O₃ with a specific surface morphology that is characterized by a cellular–porous structure with several pores inside each cell. X-ray diffraction analysis and reflectometry are used to study the peculiarities of the formation of phases in deposited films. The effect of morphological features of porous Co/Pd films on their magnetoanisotropic properties and magnetization reversal processes (magnetization reversal mechanisms, domain structure of films, and coercive field H _c ) is revealed by SQUID magnetometry and magnetic force microscopy.     

Mössbauer and XRD analysis of corrosion products on weathering steel treated by wet-dry cycles using various solutions

Weathering steels (COR-TEN) were corroded by wet-dry cycles using a splay of various solutions in a laboratory. Corrosion products on weathering steel were characterized by X-ray diffractometry and Mössbauer spectrometry at room and low temperatures. Fine α-FeOOH, γ-FeOOH and γ-Fe ₂ O ₃ are fundamentally formed in various atmospheric conditions. β-FeOOH is additionally formed under the existence of chloride ions, but not formed when sulfate ions are coexisting. Spraying a NaF solution prevents the progress of corrosion.     

Synthesis of iron oxide nanorods via chemical scavenging and phase transformations of intermediates at ambient conditions

Chemically induced shape transformations of isotropic seeds, comprised of iron oxyhydroxides and iron oxide borate into nanorods, is reported. Transient growth studies show that the nanorods are formed via phase transformation and aggregation of various metastable species. Addition of tetra-methyl-ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) to the in situ synthesized seeds ensures a typical reaction pathway that favors formation of magnetite (Fe ₃ O ₄) via the steps of chemical etching, phase transformation of intermediates, and crystal consolidation. Whereas, with addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), either magnetite (Fe ₃ O ₄) or a mixture of (γ-Fe ₂ O ₃ + α-FeOOH) is obtained. The shape with both the additives is always that of nanorods. When the seeds treated with TMAH were aged in an ultrasonication bath, rods with almost twice the length and diameter (length = 2800 nm, diameter = 345 nm) are obtained as compared to the sample aged without ultrasonication (length = 1535 nm, diameter = 172 nm). The morphology of nanostructures depending upon other experimental conditions such as, aging the sample at 60 ^°C, seeds synthesized under ultrasonication/ stirring or externally added are also examined and discussed in detail. All the samples show high coercivity and strong ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature and should be promising candidates as ferro-fluids for various applications.     

Optical and electrical properties of thin NiO films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering and spray pyrolysis

Thin NiO films are deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering and spray pyrolysis. The main optical constants, i.e., refractive index n(λ), absorption coefficient α(λ), extinction coefficient k(λ), and thickness d, are determined. The temperature dependence of the resistance of thin films is found, and the activation energy of films deposited by different methods is determined.     

The <Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe hyperfine interactions in the iron-bearing phases in some LL ordinary chondrites

The study of several LL ordinary chondrites such as NWA 6286 LL6, NWA 7857 LL6 and Chelyabinsk LL5 fragments with different lithology was carried out using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution at 295 K. Small variations in the ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine parameters were revealed for the M1 and M2 sites in olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene as well as for α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases, and for troilite in different samples of studied LL ordinary chondrites.     

Deposition of NiFe(200) and NiFe(111) textured films onto Si/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> substrates by DC magnetron sputtering

The effect of substrate temperature T_sub and bias voltage U_bias on the texture of NiFe films with thickness d ～ 30–340 nm deposited by DC magnetron sputtering onto Si(111)/SiO₂ substrates under working gas pressure ～ 0.2 Pa has been investigated. It has been demonstrated that films grown at room substrate temperature have the (111) texture that is refined under a negative bias voltage. The deposition of films onto a grounded (U_bias ～ 0) substrate heated to T_sub ～ 440–640 K results in the formation of textured NiFe(200) films.     

Composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>−<Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis> nanoparticles precipitated from CuFe alloy studied by hyperfine interactions

Iron-based nanoparticles prepared by precipitation from solid solution of saturated binary Cu-Fe alloy were studied by transmission electron microscopy, high-energy X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results showed that the investigated as-prepared nanoparticles contained two phases. The major phase was determined as α?F e and the minor phase as γ?F e ₂ O ₃. Furthermore, additionally annealed samples in Ar protective atmosphere were investigated. Results showed clear decrease in contribution of α?F e phase and also revealed the presence of various iron oxides (maghemite, magnetite, hematite and w?stite).     

Effect of concurrent electron irradiation on the structure of deposited carbon films

Carbon films 110–180 nm thick are fabricated on nickel substrates by the ion sputtering of graphite with simultaneous electron irradiation and subsequent ion irradiation. Irradiation leads to the formation of bonds in the films in various proportions due to the sp and sp ³ hybridization of orbitals (sp-and sp ³-bonds). Ion irradiation induces, to a greater extent, the formation of sp bonds, while concurrent electron irradiation increases the portion of sp ³ bonds. Electron and ion irradiation increases the film microhardness which reaches a value of 12 GPa. A model of the kinetics of creating carbon allotropes in a deposited film is proposed, which is based on the competition between the formation and breakage of carbon bonds during hybridization of different types. Electron and ion irradiation influence the probabilities of the formation and breakage of carbon bonds in the deposited film. The model provides a qualitative interpretation of the observed content ratios of carbon phases in the deposited film.     

Phase transitions of SC(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> ferroelectrics in Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based nanoporous matrices

Temperature dependences of the linear permittivity ε' and the third harmonic amplitude γ_3ω of composites prepared by introducing ferroelectrics SC(NH₂)₂ into matrices of porous aluminum oxide Al₂O₃ with pore sizes 60 and 100 nm are determined. It is found that temperature T _c of the ferroelectric phase transition and the temperature T _i of the phase transition from incommensurable phase to the paraphrase increase significantly. The transition shifts increase as pore diameters decrease.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy of H,L and LL ordinary chondrites

Fifteen fragments of H, L and LL ordinary chondrites were studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution at 295 K. A new approach to fit troilite magnetic sextet using simulation of the full static Hamiltonian was applied that decreased spectra misfits. This approach permitted to obtain more correct and reliable parameters for the minor spectral components. Small variations in the ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine parameters were revealed for the M1 and M2 sites in both olivine and orthopyroxene as well as for α-Fe(Ni, Co), α ₂-Fe(Ni, Co) and γ-Fe(Ni, Co) phases in different ordinary chondrites. Some Mössbauer parameters showed the possibility to distinguish ordinary chondrites from H, L and LL groups that may be useful for their systematics.     

Features of Structural Phase Transitions of Aluminum Hydroxides under Laser Processing

The results of the studies of laser processing of alkoxide aluminum hydroxides with micrometer and nanometer particle sizes are presented. It is shown that the pseudo-boehmite processing process and phase composition of formed oxides are controlled by particle packing, laser radiation propagation in powder, and specific energy deposition. The main phases formed upon laser heating are γ, α-Al₂O₃; the content of δ, θ-Al₂O₃ is low. The minimum corundum crystallite size is ～50 nm.     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR studies of cyclohexane confined in mesoporous solids: Melting point depression and pore size distribution

The pore size distributions of four controlled pore glasses and two silica gels with nominal diameters ranging from 6–24 nm were determined by measuring the¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal from the nonfrozen fraction of confined cyclohexane as a function of temperature, in steps of ca. 0.1–1 K. The intensity curves of the liquid component are well represented by a sum of two error functions. The mean melting point depression of cyclohexane confined in pores with radiusR follows the simplified Gibbs-Thompson equation δT=k _p/R with ak _p value of 72.4 Knm. To our knowledge, this is the first time that thek _p value of cyclohexane has been directly and accurately calibrated by NMR. As expected, thek _p value mainly determines the position of the pore size distribution curve, i.e., the mean pore radius. The overall pore size distributions determined by NMR are in reasonable agreement with the results specified by the manufacturer, or measured by us by the N₂ sorption technique. Although the melting point depression of confined cyclohexane is found to be less than previously assumed, this compound is still one of the most suitable candidates for NMR-based pore size determinations. However, pore sizes larger than approximately 50 nm in diameter will be difficult to determine accurately by NMR unless adsorbates undergoing larger melting point depressions than cyclohexane can be found.     

Mössbauer study of iron carbide nanoparticles produced by laser ablation in alcohols

Iron carbide nanoparticles were synthesized by laser ablation of iron in alcohols (methanol and ethanol). A new cell, designed to allow the ablation to be conducted in a flowing solvent, enabled separation and collection of the nanoparticles immediately after production, thus preventing further photochemical reactions of the colloids. The nanoparticles were investigated using Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. In methanol, they consisted of α-iron, γ-iron, iron carbide, and amorphous paramagnetic iron carbides, whereas in ethanol they consisted of iron carbides and amorphous paramagnetic iron carbides. The difference in products depending on the alcohol was attributed to the different carbon supplies for methanol and ethanol. For both solvents, the average particle size was found to be 16 nm, and the nanoparticles were dispersed in amorphous carbon. We also examined the effect of further laser irradiation of the colloids using stagnant solvent, and the particle size was found to increase and a very small amount of carbonization was observed.     

Effect of the morphology on the mechanisms of the magnetization reversal of multilayered thin Co/Pd films

A comparative study of the magnetization curves of continuous and porous multilayered Pd_10nm/[Co_0.3nm]/Pd_0.55nm]15/Pd_2nm films deposited on an anodized TiO₂ template was performed by magnetometry. Based on the comparison of the dependences of coercive field H_C on angle θ between the easy-magnetization axis and the direction of external magnetic field H with theoretical dependences H_C(θ) for the magnetization reversal by domain walls motion (according to the Kondorski model) and the rotation of magnetic moments (by the Stoner–Wohlfarth model), the differences in the mechanisms of magnetization reversal for two mentioned types of the films were revealed. The correlation between the difference in the morphologies of the continuous and porous films and revealed change in the mechanisms of the magnetization reversal, as well as the changes in values of H_C and calculated constants of the magnetic anisotropy, is discussed.     

Mössbauer study of oxide films of Fe-, Sn-, Cr- doped zirconium alloys during corrosion in autoclave

Mössbauer investigations were used to compare iron atom states in oxide films of binary Zr-Fe, ternary Zr-Fe-Cu and quaternary Zr-Fe-Cr-Sn alloys. Oxide films are received in an autoclave at a temperature of 350–360 °C and at pressure of 16.8 MPa. The corrosion process decomposes the intermetallic precipitates in alloys and forms metallic iron with inclusions of chromium atoms α–Fe(Cr), α–Fe(Cu), α–Fe ₂O₃ and Fe ₃O₄ compounds. Some iron ions are formed in divalent and in trivalent paramagnetic states. The additional doping influences on corrosion kinetics and concentration of iron compounds and phases formed in oxide films. It was shown the correlation between concentration of iron in different chemical states and corrosion resistance of alloys.