Synthesis and characterisation of cadmium titanium oxide thin films by sol-gel technique

Crack free, dense and transparent CdTiO₃ thin films have been prepared by sol-gel technique using titanium butoxide and cadmium acetate. The formation of the CdTiO₃ phase started from 500°C annealing temperature onwards. The complete orthorhombic structure of CdTiO₃ was formed on Silicon (100) substrate at an annealing temperature of 600°C for 5 h. As the annealing temperature increased from 600 to 700°C, we have observed the cadmium silicate phase at the interface of Si and CdTiO₃ phase. Structural, morphological and elemental evolution of these CdTiO₃ thin films produced by sol-gel synthesis were characterised by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) respectively.     

Longitudinally detected electron spin resonance: Recent developments

Multiple-quantum spectroscopies are reviewed in the frame of electron paramagnetic resonance. Some properties of different nonlinear techniques are discussed for both transverse and longitudinal detection. The connections of effects recently presented with the procedure of longitudinal detection of electron paramagnetic resonance (LODESR) in presence of double transverse irradiation are stressed. Peculiarities of LODESR spectroscopy and its capabilities in facing problems related to relaxations in presence of very slow dynamic processes are evidentiated. Recent results show the vitality of the LODESR technique, that in the future could be applied to new fields, owing to experimental updating.     

An electrochemical multienzymatic biosensor for determination of cholesterol

This paper describes an electrochemical biosensor for free cholesterol monitoring. The sensor is a multienzymatic electrodic system in which horseradish peroxidase and cholesterol oxidase are simultaneously immobilized within a polymeric film, on the surface of a pyrolitic graphite electrode. From voltammetric and amperometric (flow-injection) data obtained, the efficiency, reproducibility and stability of the system are discussed. Results obtained, of interest for basic and applied biochemistry, represent a first step for construction of a mediator-free biosensor with potentialities for a successful application in the biosensor area.     

Electronic structure of Cr clusters on graphite

The electronic structure of small chromium clusters deposited by evaporation onto clean polycrystalline graphite has been studied by means of Auger, X-ray Photoemission (XPS) and Electron Energy Loss (EELS) spectroscopies. The XPS results show an increase in the binding energy of both core levels and valence band reducing the cluster size. The EELS measurements show a variation of the intensity ratio of L₃-to-L₂ ionization core edges. We interpret this change as due to different redistribution, within the clusterd-band, of the empty states above the Fermi level. As a consequence the XPS results may also be attributed to sizeable change of the electronic structure of the small clusters.     

Interaction between zigzag single-wall carbon nanotubes and polymers: a density-functional study

Density-functional all-electrons calculations within local-density approximation show that the two isoelectronic polymers poly(para-phenylene) and poly(para-borazylene) weakly interact with zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes. The analysis of the electronic properties of the joint systems, both with the polymer inside and outside the nanotubes, reveals a physisorption process with small changes in band structures and densities of states with respect to the constituents. We evaluate the potential barrier arising between polymers and nanotubes. Finally, we remark a generic selectivity of poly(para-phenylene) with respect to the electronic behavior of nanotubes, leading to a change in the density of states of metallic tubules.     

Mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane incorporating valinomycin: improvements in preparation and functioning

The paper deals with the reconstruction of lipid bilayer membranes on a Au-covered polycarbonate membrane. Such a kind of like-biomembranes (namely mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane (MHBLM)) are characterised by appreciable long-term stability. Here we describe changes that have been made in the geometry of the experimental device in order to avoid artefacts and render membrane reproduction easier. Incorporation of valinomycin was performed to check the membrane and its stability: conductance and membrane potential following the changes of ion concentration were recorded. This new approach permits increase of successful trials and renders possible, when it breaks, easily formation of a new MHBLM on the same Au-covered polycarbonate membrane support. Finally, the stability shown by the MHBLM renders this system a promising tool for use under flowing conditions.     

Slow crack growth: Models and experiments

The properties of slow crack growth in brittle materials are analyzed both theoretically and experimentally. We propose a model based on a thermally activated rupture process. Considering a 2D spring network submitted to an external load and to thermal noise, we show that a preexisting crack in the network may slowly grow because of stress fluctuations. An analytical solution is found for the evolution of the crack length as a function of time, the time to rupture and the statistics of the crack jumps. These theoretical predictions are verified by studying experimentally the subcritical growth of a single crack in thin sheets of paper. A good agreement between the theoretical predictions and the experimental results is found. In particular, our model suggests that the statistical stress fluctuations trigger rupture events at a nanometric scale corresponding to the diameter of cellulose microfibrils.     

On some measurements of the propagation properties of thermal waves in the Nb-H and Ta-H systems

Summary By means of an experimental technique based on a nonsteady-state method,i.e. on the propagation of thermal waves, we have measured at room temperature for oscillation frequencies between 6 and 30 mHz the thermal diffusivity, the lateral thermal-loss coefficient and the ?fractional heat loss? in Nb and Ta wires as a function of hydrogen doping. The appearance of hydride formation and precipitation notably changes the behaviour of these quantities. From these measurements it was also possible to calculate the propagation velocity and attenuation coefficient of thermal waves. It was found that the increase of the hydrogen concentration in the solid solution produces a gradual decrease in the velocity and increase in the attenuation coefficient until the solubility limit is reached. For larger hydrogen concentrations, the velocity showed a tendency to increase towards the value of the pure metal, while the attenuation coefficient decreased below the value of the pure metal. These results as a whole appear quite promising for studying the properties of hydrogenated systems. This work was supported by the Gruppo Nazionale di Struttura della Materia of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and by the Centro Interuniversitario di Struttura della Materia of the M.P.I., Roma (Italia).     

Self-injection length in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3-YBa2Cu3O7-δ ferromagnet-superconductor multilayer thin films

We have carried out extensive studies on the self-injection problem in barrierless heterojunctions between La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ (LCMO) and YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) thin films. The heterojunctions were formed in situ by sequentially growing LCMO and YBCO films on 〈100〉 LaAlO₃ (LAO) substrate using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system. YBCO micro-bridges with 64 μm width were patterned both on the LAO (control) and LCMO side of the substrate. Critical current, I _c, was measured at 77 K on both the control side as well as the LCMO side for different YBCO film thickness. It was observed that while the control side showed a J _c of ∼ 2 × 10⁶ A/cm², the LCMO side showed about half the value for the same thickness (1800 ?). The difference in J _c indicates that a certain thickness of YBCO has become ‘effectively’ normal due to self-injection. From the measurement of J _c at two different thicknesses (1800 ? and 1500 ?) of YBCO films both on the LAO as well as the LCMO side, the value of self-injection length (at 77 K) was estimated to be ∼ 900 ?. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first time that self-injection length has been quantified. A control experiment carried out with LaNiO₃ deposited by PLD on YBCO did not show any evidence of self-injection.