Galvanomagnetic study of the quantum-well valence band of germanium in the Ge<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Si<Subscript>x</Subscript>/Ge/Ge<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Si<Subscript>x</Subscript> potential well

The structure of the quantum-well valence band in a Ge(111) two-dimensional layer is calculated by the self-consistent method. It is shown that the effective mass characterizing the motion of holes along the germanium layer is almost one order of magnitude smaller than the mass for the motion of heavy holes along the [111] direction in a bulk material (this mass is responsible for the formation of quantum-well levels). This creates a unique situation in which a large number of subbands appear to be populated at moderate values of the layer thickness d _w and the hole concentration p _s . The depopulation of two or more upper subbands in a 38-nm-thick germanium layer at a hole concentration p _s = 5 × 10¹⁵ m^?2 is revealed from the results of measuring the magnetoresistance in a strong magnetic field aligned parallel to the germanium layers. The destruction of the quantum Hall state at a filling factor ν = 1 indicates that the two lower subbands merge together in a self-formed potential profile of the double quantum well. It is demonstrated that, in a quasi-two-dimensional hole gas, the latter effect should be sensitive to the layer strain.     

New insight into the solid electrolyte interphase with use of a focused ion beam

The formation and evolution of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on the surface of natural graphite spheres in the electrolyte of 1 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (volume ratio 1:1) were investigated with use of focused ion beam (FIB) technology. Secondary electron FIB images clearly show the surface and cross-section morphology of the SEI film. The composition variation along the surface and cross section of the SEI film was also explored by the elemental line scan analysis (ELSA). The initial SEI film with an apparent thickness range of approximately 450 to approximately 980 nm is rough in morphology and nonuniform in composition, and contains small splits. After certain electrochemical cycles, the thickened SEI film displays microscale holes and obvious cracks on the surface, and the content of organic compounds increases. In addition, the concept of "internal SEI film" is first proposed based on the characterization of the cross section of the natural graphite spheres with the aid of FIB. Finally, the capacity fading mechanisms of the natural graphite spheres corresponding to different electrochemical stages are discussed.     

Superheating of confined Pb thin films

In this work we report, for the first time, an experimental observation of a superheating phenomenon in metal thin films. By means of cold rolling, Pb thin films of about 20 nm thick were sandwiched by Al layers, and between them semicoherent epitaxial Pb/Al interfaces were formed. In situ x-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the confined Pb thin films could be superheated for at least 6 degrees C. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that such a substantial superheating in the confined two-dimensional thin films may originate from suppression of growth of the molten droplets by the epitaxial Al/Pb/Al confinement, instead of suppression of melt nucleation for the confined particle superheating.     

Phase formation and magnetic properties of Nd2Fe14B-type Nd16Co76B8−xCx alloys and their hydrides

An attempt is made to synthesize Nd₂Co₁₄C compound by mechanical alloying Nd₁₆Co₇₆B_8−xC_x (0x8) alloys and subsequent annealing. Phase formation and magnetic properties of Nd₂Fe₁₄B-type Nd₁₆Co₇₆B_8−xC_x alloys and their hydrides are investigated. The Nd₂Co₁₄(B,C) phase with Nd₂Fe₁₄B-type structure is formed for Nd₁₆Co₇₆B_8−xC_x (0x7) alloys, while NdCo₇C_δ phase with TbCu₇-type structure is observed in Nd₁₆Co₇₆C₈ alloy. The lattice parameter c of the Nd₂Co₁₄(B,C) phase decreases with increasing the carbon content. A limit volume of the unit cell to form the Nd₂Fe₁₄B-type structure is estimated to be 0.870 nm³. The spin-reorientation temperature T_SR increases with increasing the carbon content, due to an enhancement of magnetocrystalline anisotropy caused by carbon substitution for boron. After hydrogenation, the lattice expansion is observed for Nd₁₆Co₇₆B_8−xC_x (0x7) alloys. The spin-reorientation temperature of Nd₁₆Co₇₆B_8−xC_xH_y (0x7) is much lower than that of the host alloys. Some structural and magnetic properties of hypothetic Nd₂Co₁₄C and Nd₂Co₁₄CH_y compounds are estimated by extrapolation.     

Interlaboratory comparison of tooth enamel dosimetry on Semipalatinsk region: Part 1, general view

For intercomparison of methods of dose determination using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of tooth enamel, the same sets of enamel samples were analyzed in different laboratories using similar recording parameters. The sets of samples included calibration samples irradiated in known doses, test samples irradiated to doses unknown to the participants and accidental dose samples prepared from teeth of humans affected by radioactive fallout from nuclear tests in the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in Kazakhstan. The test samples were analyzed to determine the differences in the resulting doses using different spectrometers and different spectra processing methods. The accidental dose samples were analyzed in order to test the precision of doses determined by EPR spectroscopy and to obtain more accurate values by averaging the results from different laboratories.     

An Experimental Study of Mg Aggregation in AA5754 Alloys by Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

Defects in an AA5754 （Al-3.0%Mg） alloy are investigated by coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopy and positron lifetime spectroscopy. The results indicate enhancement of positron trapping by Mg atoms in this Al-Mg alloy after quenching treatment at 623K, which may be due to the formation of vacancy-Mg complexes or the aggregation of Mg near the vacancy sites. It is speculated that the aggregation of Mg atoms in the moderate temperature range is responsible for cracking in spot welding of AA5754 alloys.     

Development of the Technique for Fabricating Submicron Moire Gratings on Metal Materials Using Focused Ion Beam Milling

A focused gallium ion （Ga＋） beam is used to fabricate micro/submicron spacing gratings on the surface of porous NiTi shape memory alloy （SMA ）. The crossing type of gratings with double-frequency （25001/mm and 50001/mm） using the focused ion beam （FIB） milling are successfully produced in a combination mode or superposition mode. Based on the double-frequency gratings, high-quality scanning electron microscopy （SEM） Moird patterns are obtained to study the micro-scale deformation of porous NiTi SMA. The grating fabrication technique is discussed in detail. The experimental results verify the feasibility of fabricating high frequency grating on metal surface using FIB milling.