On directly measuring relative Fermi energies of noble metals and their alloys

We present the first evidence of direct measurement of relative Fermi energies in alloys and between pure metals. From applying the “atomic” concept of core hole final state screening, the Auger energy shift of noble metal A equals E_F^A?E_F(x). High resolution Auger shifts in P_1?x^tCu_x,Au_xCu_1?x and Au_xAg_1?x demonstrate experimental verification of this simple relation. We find E_F^CuE_F^Au ? ? 0.2 eV, and E_F^Pt ? E_F^Cu and E_F^Ag ? E_F^Au.     

Ternary alloying effect on the melting of metal clusters

Canonical ensemble Monte Carlo simulations are applied to investigate the melting of the icosahedral 55-atom Ag-Cu-Au clusters. The clusters are modeled by the second-moment approximation of the tight-binding (TB-SMA) many-body potentials. Results show that the introduction of the only Cu atom of the third alloying metal in the bimetallic Ag₄₃Au₁₂ cluster, forming the Ag₄₂Cu₁Au₁₂ cluster, can greatly increase the melting point of the cluster by about 100 K. It is also found that the substitution of the only Cu atom of the third alloying metal in the Ag₁Au₅₄ clusters, forming the Ag₁Cu₁Au₅₃ cluster, can result in an increase of 40 K in the melting point. It can be concluded that the melting points of the bimetallic clusters can be tuned by the third metal impurities doping. In addition, the surface segregation of Ag atoms in the Ag-Cu-Au trimetallic clusters occurs even after melting.     

Disorder broadening of E2 optical spectra in GeSi alloys

he E₂ transitions in GeSi alloys are analyzed quantitatively using low-field electroreflectance data. The model of M₁ saddle point transitions is found to be in fair agreement with differentiated electroreflectance spectra in the whole composttion range. The broadening parameter of pure Ge and Si increases by 0.035 eV in the alloy with equal content of both components.     

X-ray emission spectra and electronic structure of Mn impurities in diluted Al,Ni and Cu-based solid solutions

Mn L_α emission spectra of pure metal and AlMn, CuMn and NiMn alloys are presented. For CuMn and NiMn alloys, the dependence of the width of structureless emission band on Mn concentration is discussed. For Al_0.995Mn_0.005 alloy, distoted shape of the emission spectrum reveals the spin splitting of impurity virtual bound states.     

Sputtering of neutral clusters from silver-gold alloys

Polycrystalline Ag, Ag₂₀Au₈₀, Ag₄₀Au₆₀, Ag₈₀Au₂₀ and Au samples were bombarded with 15 keV Ar⁺ at 60° incidence and the resulting secondary neutral yield distribution was studied by non-resonant laser postionisation mass spectrometry. Neutral clusters containing up to 21 atoms were observed for the targets. The yield of neutral clusters, Ag_mAu_n−m, containing n atoms, Y_n, was found to follow a power in n, i.e. Y_n ∝ n^−δ, where the exponent δ varied from 3.2 to 4.0. For a fixed n, the cluster yields showed a variation with number of gold atoms similar to that expected for a binomial distribution. In addition, the cluster compositions from the sputtered alloys were indicative of sputtering from a gold rich surface.     

II. XPS study of 3d-metal ions dissolved in noble metals

Valence and core level spectra ofAgMn,AuFe,AuCo,AuNi,CuFe,CuCo andCuNi will be reported. Clearly defined virtual bound states (vbs) can only be detected in the spin fluctuating systemsAuNi andCuNi. An increase in the density of states near the Fermi energy, in the region of the flats-p band of the host metal is observed in the other magnetic alloys. There are indications that a large hybridization between the impurity and the host metald-electrons exist. The impurity core levels show satellites. They can originate from the emission from real isolated impurities and from many body effects.     

Disorder induced core photoelectron linewidth broadening in AgPd alloys

High resolution core level photoelectron spectra for a series of Ag_xPd_1−x alloys have been measured and reveal a large “disorder broadening” effect. A comparison of measurements of this effect for three alloy systems, Ag_xPd_1−x, Cu_xPd_1−x and Cu_xZn_1−x, with results of ab initio calculations is presented. Poor agreement is obtained and possible reasons for this observation are discussed.     

Electron-phonon interaction and coulomb pseudopotential in AuGa alloys from resistivity and superconductivity measurements

Measurements of the electrical resistivity as a function of temperature from 250 to 270 K for Au and f.c.c. phase AuGa alloys are presented. The linear dependence of the resistivity with temperature and previous results of the superconducting transition temperature of the alloys are used to obtain a value for T_c of pure Au. From these results a new method is introduced to estimate the Coulomb pseudopotential μ¹ for gold.     

Initial oxidation kinetics and energetics of Cu0.5Au0.5 (0 0 1) film investigated by in situ ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscopy

The initial oxidation behavior of Cu_0.5Au_0.5 (0 0 1) thin film was investigated by in situ ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscopy to model nano-oxidation of alloys with one active component and one noble component. The formation of irregular-shaped octahedron Cu₂O islands with cube-on-cube crystallographic orientation to the substrate film was observed at all temperature studied. The energetics of Cu₂O nucleation for Cu and Cu_0.5Au_0.5 oxidation was compared. Cu_0.5Au_0.5 oxidation has lower nucleation activation energy due to the reduced mismatch strain between Cu₂O and Cu_0.5Au_0.5 films. On the other hand, the reaction kinetics for Cu_0.5Au_0.5 alloy oxidation is slower due to the higher diffusion activation energy of Cu.     

Synthesis of superconducting compounds by thermolysis of volatile hydrides and organometallic compounds on glowing wires

The synthesis of high temperature superconducting phases in the NbGe, NbSn, VSi, VGe, VSn, NbC and MoC systems is described by method consisting in the thermolysis of volatile hydrides or organometallic compounds on resistively heated wires. For face-centred cubic NbC a higher transition temperature than previously reported was obtained. The A15 phase boundary of NbGe is extended towards the stoichiometric 3:1 composition, affording samples of Nb₃ Ge with a T_c onset of 15.8°K.     

Preparation of amorphous films of superionic conducting glasses in systems AgIAg2MoO4 and AgIAg2OB2O3

Thermal evaporation, flash evaporation and rf-sputtering techniques were applied to the preparation of amorphous films of superionic conducting glasses in the systems AgIAg₂MoO₄ and AgIAg₂OB₂O₃. The flash-evaporated films were amorphous and showed very high conductivities, about 2 × 10^?2S/cm for the AgIAg₂MoO₄ and about 5 × 10^?3S/cm for the AgIAg₂OB₂O₃ at room temperature, and gave a Ag⁺ transport number of unity. The thermal evaporation method produced crystalline-phase included films. The rf-sputtered films were amorphous by X-ray diffraction and the transport number of Ag⁺ ions was smaller than unity (about 0.9). Thus flash evaporation was concluded to be the most suitable method for preparing amorphous films of superionic conducting glasses.     

Ag-Au合金/SiO$lt;sub$gt;2$lt;/sub$gt;复合薄膜的制备与表征

以AgNO₃,HAuCl₄和正硅酸乙酯为主要原料,利用溶胶-凝胶法和旋涂技术,通过热处理和紫外光辐射还原得到了不同n_Ag/n_Au（1∶0,2∶1,1∶2,0∶1）的Ag-Au合金/SiO₂复合薄膜.从扫描电子显微镜和X射线衍射谱的结果可以看出得到的薄膜均匀性好,复合薄膜中合金颗粒的尺寸为10 nm左右.利用紫外-可见分光光谱仪研究了复合薄膜的光吸收性能,结果表明,随着n_Ag/n_Au的降低,吸收峰的位置也由最初的Ag纳米粒子的等离子共振吸收峰430 nm附近,逐渐红移到Au纳米粒子的等离子共振吸收峰605和880 nm附近.从光吸收谱可以看出,n_Ag∶n_Au＝2∶1和1∶2的两个样品分别在515,730 nm附近和550,730 nm附近出现表面等离子共振吸收峰.这表明Au-Ag合金固溶体的形成. 关键词： 2')" href="#">Ag-Au合金/SiO₂ 紫外辐射 光吸收性能     

Effect of severe plastic deformation on the electronic properties of the Cu<Subscript>72</Subscript>Au<Subscript>24</Subscript>Ag<Subscript>4</Subscript> alloy

The electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of the Cu₇₂Au₂₄Ag₄ ternary alloy in the ordered and disordered states have been studied by the method of severe torsional plastic deformation under pressure in Bridgman anvils. It has been shown that, as a result of this deformation, the residual electrical resistivity of the alloy increases by approximately 11% and the magnitude of the negative thermopower decreases. The high diamagnetic susceptibility of the alloy has been explained by a significant role of charge carriers with the effective mass considerably smaller than the free-electron mass. The behavior of the optical conductivity has been discussed with due regard for the results of energy-band calculations. The experimental data obtained for the Cu₇₂Au₂₄Ag₄ alloy have been compared with the results of similar studies of the Cu₃Au binary alloy.     

Impurity 51V nuclear relaxation in AuV Kondo alloy (TK ∼ 300K) at temperatures 78–540 K

Impurity ⁵¹V nuclear relaxation time T₁ in AuV Kondo alloys was measured in the temperature range 78–540 K, which includes the Kondo temperature T_K of ～300 K. Considerable deviation from Korringa's relation was observed.     

Reversal of the magnetic interaction in hydrogenated Pd-Mn alloys

We have measured the properties of some Pd_1?xMn_x and Pd_1?xMn_xH_y alloys using a low field a.c. technique. For x<4%, we observe a change over from ferromagnetism (when y = 0) to antiferromagnetism (when y ≌ 0.7). The properties of the hydrogenated alloys are compared with the similar $\text{Ag}$Mn alloys.     

Amorphous rare-earth alloys: random-anisotropy antiferromagnetism

The model of randomly oriented single-ion uniaxial anisotropy field is extended to the case of antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between rare-earth ions. A self-consistent two-spin cluster approximation is used to calculate the magnetization curves for a model system of spin 1. The results are in good qualitative agreement with experimental data on amorphous RE_xCu_1?x and RE_xAg_1?x alloys (RE = Tb, Dy, Ho). In particular, the observed increase of the “coercive” field with increasing x in RE_xCu_1?x alloys is accounted for.     

The transition temperature of CuCr/Pb proximity sandwiches in the cooper limit

The temperature dependence of the conduction electron spin-flip lifetime in CuCr Kondo alloys can be determined from T_c measurements in CuCr/Pb proximity sandwiches. When the thin film sandwich is in the Cooper limit, a great sensitivity of the magnetic depairing effect upon T_c is observed. The temperature dependence of the calculated pair breaking parameter deviates markedly from the theoretical predictions.     

Density functional study of ternary AuxAgyCuz and AuxAgyCuz+ clusters (x + y+z = 5, 6)

ABSTRACT

We report a theoretical investigation of neutral Au_xAg_yCu_z and cationic Au_xAg_yCu_z⁺ ternary clusters, for x?+?y+z?=?5 and 6. Our study is performed within density functional theory at the TPSSTPSS/SDD level. The geometries, chemical order, binding energy, mixing energy, second difference in the energy, adiabatic ionisation potential of these clusters are evaluated as a function of the whole concentration range. The most probable dissociation channels and the corresponding dissociation energies for the most stable clusters are also determined and discussed.     

Evidence for the negative s-f interaction in a noble metal host

Electrical resistivity measurements on dillute alloys of Ce, Gd and Yb in Au are reported. Both Ce and Gd alloys show negligible temperature dependence in their excess resistivity at low temperatures whereas the Kondo effect is unambigously observed in the case of $\text{Au}\text{Yb}$. This result correlates with a negative exchange constant found for $\text{Au}\text{Yb}$ in the EPR experiment of Tao and co-workers.     

Measurement of the nuclear magnetic dipole moment of Au197 and hyperfine structure measurements in the ground states of Au197, Ag107, Ag109 and K39

Using an atomic beam magnetic resonance apparatus the nuclear magnetic dipole momentμ _I of the stable isotope Au¹⁹⁷ was measured directly with the doublet method. The result isμ _I(Au¹⁹⁷)=0.143491 (9)μ _n, uncorrected for atomic diamagnetism. Further hyperfine structure measurements were performed in the ground states of K³⁹, Ag¹⁰⁷, Ag¹⁰⁹ and Au¹⁹⁷ with the following results:Δv(K³⁹)=461.719723 (38) MHzΔv(Ag¹⁰⁷)=1712.512111 (18) MHzΔv(Ag¹⁰⁹)=1976.932075 (17) MHzΔv(Au¹⁹⁷)=6099.320184 (13) MHzg _J(Ag¹⁰⁷)/g _J(K39)=1.0000260 (20)g _J(Au¹⁹⁷)/g _J(K39)=1.0005076 (20).