The interaction of oxygen and nitrogen with the niobium (100) surface: I. Morphology

Low energy electron diffraction has been used to investigate the reactions between nitrogen and oxygen and the (100) face of niobium. Several different oxygen containing surface structures were observed.     

Surface segregation in bimetallic Pt3M (M = Fe, Co, Ni) alloys with adsorbed oxygen

Surface segregation of Pt₃M (M = Fe, Co, and Ni) alloys under oxygen environment has been examined using periodic density functional theory. The segregation trend at a (1 1 1) surface is found to be substantially modified by the adsorbed oxygen. Our calculations indicate that under 1/4 monolayer O coverage both the Pt-segregated and M-segregated surfaces are less stable than the non-segregated one. Further analysis reveals that segregation energy under adsorption environments can be expressed as the sum of the segregation energy under vacuum conditions and the adsorption energy difference of the segregated and non-segregated alloy systems. Therefore, the surface segregation trend under adsorption conditions is directly correlated to the surface-adsorbate binding strength.     

The interaction of oxygen with polycrystalldve niobium studied using aes and low-energy sims

The interaction of oxygen with polycrystalline niobium has been studied using both Auger electron spectroscopy and low-energy secondary ion mass spectrometry in the temperature range from 300–1250 K. At higher temperatures there is oxygen dissolution into the bulk but a preferential surface segregation on recooling. Between 300 and 1250 K, there is a rapid initial adsorption into a very stable state which is associated with increases in the Nb⁺ and NbO⁺ yields that are linear with coverage. At 1250 K, further changes are very slow. At 900 K, the initial stage is followed by the adsorption with a lower sticking coefficient (<0.1) as coverage increases from θ = 0.5 to 0.7. This produces an additional larger increase in the yield of Nb⁺ but a much smaller change in NbO⁺. At 300 K, the sticking probability falls more slowly with coverage above θ = 0.5 and the amount of oxygen continues to increase slowly with exposure. The SIMS spectrum shows dramatic increases in Nb⁺, NbO⁺ and NbO⁺₂ yields and the successive appearance of small yields of ions such as Nb₂O⁺₂ and Nb₂O⁺₃ as oxide formation begins. The Nb⁺ yield slowly decreases as further oxidation occurs. Each stage of oxidation has a characteristic secondary ion mass spectrum.     

Electric and magnetic anomalies at the charge-density-wave transition in niobium-substituted vanadium diselenides

A systematic study has been made of the effect of niobium substitution on the CDW transition in VSe₂, especially in the low-doping region. Transitions were monitored by measurements of static magnetic susceptibility, which has been found to be particularly sensitive for both onset and lock-in discontinuities, and by measurements on resistivity and Hall effect. Results, discussed in terms of the model of Chan and Heine and in terms of McMillan's phenomenological model, suggest that structural changes due to the presence of the niobium dopant lead to enchanced electron-phonon coupling thus raising the CDW onset temperature.     

Manufacture of superconducting niobium cavity parts by hydropercussion punching

A complete cycle of manufacturing all parts of superconducting niobium cavities which comprise two half-cells, two drift tubes, and two flanges each has been developed. The cavity half-cells are manufactured by hydropercussion punching, which has a number of advantages over the instrumental stamping technique. For the first time, the diagram of formability of ultrapure niobium has been experimentally obtained for hydropercussion punching and the key parameters of the process have been determined that ensure complete deep-drawing of workpieces, viz., the value of the limit drawing ratio of ultrapure niobium that is 1.92 at a specific impact energy of 0.42 MJ/m². The deviations of the half-cell dimensions from the rated values do not exceed 0.1 mm. Production tools required for all manufacturing steps have been created. The parameters of machining of the niobium cavity parts prior to welding have been experimentally established.     

Vibrational characteristics of the niobium dichalcogenide. Bulk samples and nanofilms

A model of the niobium diselenide crystal lattice has been proposed. This model sufficiently describes the vibrational characteristics of both bulk samples and nanofilms with a thickness beyond one three-layered structural element. Calculation of the local Green functions and mean-squared atom amplitudes have been performed using the Jacobi-matrix method.Phonon density of states features stipulated by acoustic branches and low-frequency low-dispersion optical modes cross-over have been analyzed.     

Equilibrium segregation to terraces and steps

A method based on empirical interatomic potentials has been developed to calculate energies of segregation to low index (001) surfaces as well as to [110] and [100] steps on a (001) surface in simple (AB) binary alloys. The Baskes and Melius potentials have been used to model the A-A and B-B atomic interactions and a procedure has been outlined to derive an A-B interaction from the pure metal potentials. This approach has been used to compute the energy of segregation of gold, in an infinitely dilute nickel-gold alloy, to both terraces and steps. The results obtained are consistent with previous measurements of the anisotropy of surface segregation in that alloy.     

Magnetic property improvement of niobium doped with rare earth elements

A new idea is proposed by the PKU group to improve the magnetic properties of the Type-II superconductor niobium.Rare earth elements like scandium and yttrium are doped into ingot niobium during the smelting processes. A series of experiments have been done since 2010. The preliminary testing results show that the magnetic properties of niobium materials have changed with different doping elements and proportions while the superconductive transition temperature does not change very much. This method may increase the superheating magnetic field of niobium so as to improve the performance of the niobium cavity, which is a key component of SRF accelerators. A Tesla-type single-cell cavity made of scandium-doped niobium is being fabricated.     

The electronic structure of Fe1+xNb3-xSe10

Fe_1+xNb_3-xSe₁₀ has a crystal structure consisting of prismatic niobium chains and iron/niobium octahedral chains. A Charge Density Wave (CDW) has been observed at low temperatures, as might be expected from the similarity of the prismatic niobium chains to those present in NbSe₃. Here we report tight binding band structure calculations which indicate that the electrons responsible for conduction and the CDW reside primarily on the prismatic chains. The effects of disorder and stoichiometry in the iron/niobium octahedral chains on the electronic structure and CDW wave vector are discussed.     

Effects of interstitial oxygen and nitrogen on the mechanical properties of niobium-titanium alloys

The effects were studied of the clustering of substitutional titanium with interstitial oxygen or nitrogen on the strength of the niobium −1 at.-% titanium alloy. The observed values of the yield parameters and flow stress were resolved into a sum of contributions due to the solution strengthening and intrinsic strength components. From the obtained relation the substitutional-interstitial complex hardening coefficients for oxygen and nitrogen in the alloy were determined and compared with the respective solution hardening coefficients for unalloyed niobium. It was also found that the strengthening contribution due to atomic size mismatch and modulus differences introduced by unassociated titanium is small in comparison with that due to substitutional-interstitial complexing. In addition, the alloy displays both higher strength and elongation with respect to the base material. Strain-ageing experiments were carried out on the same alloy and the results were combined with the information obtained from the stress-strain tests and the internal friction measurements reported in a previous work.     

Equilibrium and kinetic surface segregation in binary alloy thin films

A general theoretical analysis of the effect of film thickness on equilibrium and kinetic surface segregation in binary alloy thin films is presented. In this analysis, a constrained condition that represents the finite size of thin film system has been introduced to the modified Darken model, which has been used to describe both equilibrium and kinetic surface segregation in bulk materials. Simulation of surface segregation for alloy thin films can be carried out for all composition ranges and all film thicknesses if only knowing the surface segregation parameters for bulk materials. Simulations of equilibrium and kinetic surface segregation in Cu(1 1 1)Ag binary alloy thin film are presented.     

Optical properties of trivalent chromium ions in the LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystal

The formulas of the crystal-field theory have been adapted to a system with the symmetry group C _3v. A simple method has been proposed for including the polarization of the local environment of the Cr³⁺ impurity ion in LiNbO₃. A model dependent on one parameter has been proposed for a distortion of the niobium octahedron due to the incorporation of the trivalent chromium ion. This parameter has been determined from experimental data. The parameters of the intraionic and interionic interactions have been obtained for the Cr³⁺ ion in the lithium and niobium positions of the crystal lattice of lithium niobate.     

High temperature thermodynamics of solutions of oxygen in vanadium,niobium and tantalum

The Tian-Calvet microcalorimetric method has been applied to the determination at 1323 K of ΔH(O₂), the partial molar enthalpy of mixing of oxygen in vanadium, niobium and tantalum. The present results are in good agreement with earlier studies using e.m.f. techniques. Nevertheless in the first two solutions, ΔH(O₂) has been found somewhat more negative than previously reported. The partial molar entropies of mixing have been recalculated. The low values of the excess entropies are explained by a strong increase of the Debye temperature and a decrease of the electronic density of states at the Fermi level as the oxygen content increases.     

Magnetotransmission in a Magnetostrictive CoFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> Crystal in the Faraday Geometry

An analytical approach that makes it possible to reconstruct the current–phase relation (CPR) in Josephson structures included in one of the arms of a two-junction superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), where the second junction has a significantly higher critical current and a known (sinusoidal) CPR, has been developed. The developed methods of analytical and numerical studies of current–flow transformations in two-junction SQUIDs make it possible to reconstruct the CPR of a junction with a low critical current taking into account both the existence of the self-inductance of the interferometer contour and a possible asymmetry in the supply current system. The efficiency of this approach has been confirmed by the experimental study of niobium–aluminum/aluminum oxide–niobium test structures with the known CPR.     

Electron spectroscopic study of surface segregation and oxidation of Cu-In and Cu-Au alloys

XPS and AES techniques were employed to study the surface segregation and oxidation of Cu-1at%In alloy. Surface segregation of In has been observed with an enthalpy of segregation of about −34 kJ/mol. The surface oxidation of the Cu-In alloy at 480 K showed first a formation of Cu₂O on the alloy surface. The displacement reaction 3Cu₂O + 2In → 6Cu + In₂O₃ occurred on the alloy surface, on further heating of the oxidized surface in vacuum at 700 K. XPS and UPS techniques were employed to study the oxygen interaction with Cu-5at%Au and Cu-11at%Au alloys. At 300 K, oxygen was dissociatively chemisorbed on the Cu sites of the Cu-11% Au alloy surface, and the oxygen desorbed on heating. TDS study showed that desorption follows second order kinetics with an activation energy of desorption of about 75 kJ/mol.     

Experimental study on SC RF cavities by using China large grain niobium for ILC

Large grain niobium has the potential of simplifying the production sequence and consequently reducing the cost of the superconducting RF cavities for ILC. To investigate the feasibility of fabrication and the possibility to achieve high gradient by large grain cavities, two 1.3GHz cavities were made of China large grain niobium and a series of vertical tests were carried out following several different surfaces treatment procedures. Two cavities have both reached the high gradient of more than 43MV/m repeatedly and the maximum accelerating field of 47.9MV/m has been achieved by China large grain niobium. This paper introduces the features of the fabrication and surface treatments on the large grain cavities and presents the preliminary results of the research.     

Experimental study on SC RF cavities by using China large grain niobium for ILC

Large grain niobium has the potential of simplifying the production sequence and consequently reducing the cost of the superconducting RF cavities for ILC.To investigate the feasibility of fabrication and the possibility to achieve high gradient by large grain cavities,two 1.3 GHz cavities were made of China large grain niobium and a series of vertical tests were carried out following several different surfaces treatment procedures.Two cavities have both reached the high gradient of more than 43 MV/m repeatedly and the maximum accelerating field of 47.9 MV/m has been achieved by China large grain niobium.This paper introduces the features of the fabrication and surface treatments on the large grain cavities and presents the preliminary results of the research.     

高压下金属铌熔化曲线的分子动力学模拟

铌作为一种高熔点的金属,广泛应用于制作合金材料. 铌的高温高压熔化曲线对于铌基合金的实际应用具有重要影响,但目前还未被成功研究. 本文中,我们采用铌目前已有的嵌入原子相互作用势函数（EAM）,通过经典的分子动力学方法,模拟了铌的熔化曲线. 两相法和改进Z方法的熔化曲线几乎完全一致,与Z方法的结果稍有差异. 我们也比较了尺寸效应对铌熔化曲线的影响. 我们认为,铌的现有的势函数描述其高压特性时不再适合,后续需要构建精确的温度和压强依赖的相互作用势函数来研究铌的高压特性.     

流动注射在线液-液萃取-ICP-AES测定土壤和化探样品中痕量铌和钽

应用流动注射在线萃取技术将Nb,Ta萃入甲基异丁酮(MIBK)和磷酸三丁脂(TBP)混合溶剂直接进行ICP-AES测定.研究了流动注射在线萃取-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定土壤和化探样品中Nb和Ta的实验条件、流路参数、酸度条件的选择,考察了共存元素的干扰.采样速率为20样@h-1,RSD(n=10)为Nb4.5%;Ta5.1%,测定检出限(K=3)为Nb0.5ng@mL-1;Ta0.8ng@mL-1.方法操作简便、快速,经对国家一级标准物质分析,结果与推荐值一致.