Breakdown of the homogeneity of weakly conducting liquids in high electric fields

A study of the structure of electrohydrodynamic flows shows that the electric charge carriers are ions that are practically frozen into the surrounding liquid. In other words, ions in weakly conducting liquids are capable of forming more or less stable structures whose viscoelastic properties are different from those of an uncharged liquid. One method of studying this effect is to investigate the velocity dispersion of ultrasound on charged supermolecular formations. The results of theoretical and experimental investigations of acoustic dispersion in liquid dielectrics subjected to prebreakdown electric fields are presented. A model problem of sound propagation in a liquid in which supermolecular structures have formed around elementary charge carriers is studied theoretically. Approximate formulas describing the dispersion of the acoustic phase velocity as a function of the electric field parameters and the electrophysical parameters of the liquid are obtained. The frequency dependence of the sound velocity is of a resonance character, the resonance frequency being determined by the electric charge density and the mass of the charged supermolecular structures. The experiments showed that the space charge affects the velocity of acoustic waves in liquid dielectrics. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 105–111 (October 1997)     

Ferromagnetism in heterostructures based on a dilute magnetic semiconductor

Ferromagnetism of magnetic impurity atoms located in the barrier regions of various heterostructures (solitary heterojunction, single quantum well, double quantum well, or superlattice) is considered theoretically. The indirect magnetic interaction of impurities occurs via charge carriers localized in quasi-two-dimensional conducting channels of these structures due to “penetration” of the wavefunction of charge carriers into the barrier regions. The wavefunctions defined analytically in the triangular potential model are virtually the same as in “exact” numerical calculations (joint solution of the Poisson and Schrödinger equations). The corresponding Curie temperatures are determined, which may attain approximately 500 K in Ga_{1 ? x} Mn _x As-based structures according to calculations.     

Electronic states at junctions of molecular semiconductors

We consider properties of junctions for the field effect transistors (FET) geometry where molecular crystals or conducting polymers are used as semiconducting layers. In the molecular crystal Coulomb interaction of free electrons with surface polar phonons of the dielectric layer can lead to self-trapping of carriers and to the formation of a strongly coupled long-range surface polaron. The effect is further enhanced in presence of the bias electric field and strongly depends on the gate dielectric used.In conducting polymers instead of the usual band bending near the contact interface, new allowed electronic bands appear inside the band gap. As a result the bias electric field and the injected charge penetrate into the polymer via creation of the soliton lattice whose period changes with the distance from the contact surface. The current through the contact is performed via moving solitons.     

Light-driven molecular current switch

A scheme of a light-driven current switch based on properties of a conducting polymer containing photochromic moieties chemically attached to the main chain is put forward. The idea is supported with results of 3D calculations of local states for charge carriers formed in the vicinity of dipolar species in molecular materials, and with quantum chemical calculations.     

Some effects of the electrostatic interaction of water drops in the atmosphere

The electric field at the surface of two conducting spherical charged particles and their interaction force are calculated. It is shown that as particles carrying like charge approach each other, the force changes sign and becomes attractive. The case where the charge on each particle varies as the square of its radius is an exception (repulsion at any distance between the particles). Self-similar asymptotic solutions for the interaction force and energy are found for particles of identical size. For a pair of charged water drops falling simultaneously in the atmosphere, a numerical simulation shows that a drop formed by coalescence of the pair may be subject to the Rayleigh instability. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 12–17 (December 1999)     

Spatial charge distribution and conductivities of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces: A theoretical study

The electronic properties of the charge carriers at the LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃ interfaces are investigated by first principles studies. For the n-type interface, the carriers are located only on the SrTiO₃ side. For the p-type interface, the carriers are highly localized at the interface. A critical thickness of the LaAlO₃ overlayer exists, below which, the interface is insulating. Moreover, we show that the effective masses and mobilities of the carriers are spatially anisotropic and have a strong disparity for the two types of carriers. These results are consistent with experimental observations and are explained by the band structures and alignments of the consisting oxides and their interaction at the interfaces.     

Local charge formation in LiNbO3 using a mobile needle-shaped electrode

It is shown that local formation of electric charge in a region near the surface of lithium niobate crystals can take place both by local polarization switching of the sample and by local injection of electric charge from a needle-shaped electrode. A local change, due to the electrooptic effect, in the birefringence of the sample near the charged region is used to investigate the nature and the formation mechanism of the charge relief. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 510–512 (March 1999)     

Capillary oscillations of a flat charged surface of liquid with finite conductivity

A dispersion relation is proposed and analyzed for the spectrum of capillary motion at a charged flat liquid surface with allowance made for the finite rate of charge redistribution accompanying equalization of the potential as a result of the wave deformation of the free surface. It is shown that when the conductivity of the liquid is low, a highly charged surface becomes unstable as a result of an increase in the amplitude of the aperiodic chargerelaxation motion of the liquid and not of the wave motion, as is observed for highly conducting media. The finite rate of charge redistribution strongly influences the structure of the capillary motion spectrum of the liquid and the conditions for the establishment of instability of its charged surface when the characteristic charge relaxation time is comparable with the characteristic time for equalization of the wave deformations of the free surface of the liquid. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 34–41 (August 1997)     

Pseudogap state of two-dimensional Kondo lattice

The pseudogap behavior of spectral function A(k, ω) of charge carriers is considered in the weak doping regime for a 2D Kondo lattice with a strong spin-hole antiferromagnetic interaction. The scattering of carriers is described in terms of a local polaron according to the irreducible Green functions. The behavior of the carrier spectrum in the nodal and antinodal domains is considered. The resultant value of the pseudogap is in conformity with experimental data on photoemission with angular resolution.     

Kinetic arrest in polyion-induced inhomogeneously charged colloidal particle aggregation

Polymer chains adsorbed onto oppositely charged colloidal particles can significantly modify the particle-particle interactions. For sufficient amounts of added polymers, the original electrostatic repulsion can even turn into an effective attraction and relatively large aggregates can form. The attractive interaction contribution between two particles arises from the correlated adsorption of polyions at the oppositely charged particle surfaces, resulting in a non-homogeneous surface charge distribution. Here, we investigate the aggregation kinetics of polyion-induced colloidal complexes through Monte Carlo simulation, in which the effect of charge anisotropy is taken into account by a DLVO-like inter-particle potential, as recentely proposed by Velegol and Thwar (Langmuir 17, 7687 (2001)). The results reveal that the aggregation process slows down due to the progressive increase of the potential barrier height upon clustering. Within this framework, the experimentally observed cluster phases in polyelectrolyte-liposome solutions can be interpreted as a kinetic arrested state.     

Exchange interaction of S state ions with charge carriers in SnTe

ESR investigations of Mn, Eu and Gd in highly degenerate SnTe - a p-type semiconductor with metallic behaviour - prove the existence of an exchange interaction between localized magnetic moments and charge carriers. The ratio of the exchange parameters J_Mn and J_Eu between charge carriers and Mn or Eu ions, respectively, amounts to |J_Mn/J_Eu| = 8 ± 1.5. The consequence this result has on long range spin-spin interaction via charge carriers as well as on hyperfine interaction is discussed.     

Novel properties of nanoscale organic–inorganic systems and photonic crystals — conducting polymers in nanoscale periodic structures,microcavities and photonic crystals

Conducting polymer/C₆₀and C₆₀doped conducting polymer/C₆₀heterojunctions have been fabricated and found to exhibit remarkably enhanced photoresponse due to the highly effective photoinduced charge transfer at the interface. In conducting polymer/C₆₀alkali metal nanoscale composite systems, multiphase superconductivity has been clarified and explained by taking the coupling of nanoscale grains by Josephson junctions into consideration. As examples of intramolecular organic-inorganic combined systems, unique electrical and optical characteristics have been revealed in oligosilanylene oligophenylene polymers. Electroluminescence has been demonstrated in organic-inorganic junction devices such as conducting polymer/porous Si and conducting polymer/diamond junctions. Conducting, polymer-based nanoscale multilayer systems have been studied utilizing molecular self-assembly method and novel photosensitive characteristics have been revealed. \indent Novel optical and electrical properties of conducting polymers infiltrated in a photonic crystal, synthetic opal made of SiO₂spheres of several hundred nm in diameter, and also a conducting polymer replica have been revealed. A clear diffraction pattern was observed in a photonic crystal infiltrated with conducting polymers, and transmission spectra are dependent on various ambient conditions. Their photoluminescence (PL) spectra, spectral narrowing of PL and lasing characteristics at relatively low optical excitation have also been clarified. Novel conducting characteristics of conducting polymers in a photonic crystal that was prepared by pyrolysis of a polymer replica of opal have also been observed.     

Editorial

Abstract

A method is proposed for studying wave and particle transport in disordered waveguide systems of dimension higher than unity by means of exact one-dimensionalization of the dynamic equations in the mode representation. As a particular case, the T=0 conductance of a two-dimensional quantum wire is calculated, which exhibits ohmic behaviour, with length-dependent conductivity, at any conductor length exceeding the electron quasi-classical mean free path. The unconventional diffusive regime of charge transport is found in the range of conductor lengths where the electrons are commonly considered as localized. In quantum wires with more than one conducting channel, each being identified with the extended waveguide mode, the inter-mode scattering is proven to serve as a phase-breaking mechanism that prevents interference localization without real inelasticity of interaction.     

Stability of a charged drop of a viscous electrically conducting liquid in a viscous electrically conducting medium

A dispersion relation is derived for capillary oscillations of a charged electrically conducting viscous drop in an electrically conducting viscous medium. It is shown that aperiodic instability of the charged interface between the two media can arise in this system, with a growth rate that depends qualitatively differently on the ratio of their conductivities in different ranges of values of this ratio. In a certain range of conductivity ratios the drop undergoes oscillatory instability. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 34–42 (October 1999)     

Intercalation of sulfonated melamine formaldehyde polycondensates into a hydrocalumite LDH structure

A series of sulfonated melamine formaldehyde (SMF) polycondensates possessing different anionic charge amounts and molecular weights was synthesized and incorporated into a hydrocalumite type layered double hydroxide structure using the rehydration method. For this purpose, tricalcium aluminate was dispersed in water and hydrated in the presence of these polymers. Defined inorganic–organic hybrid materials were obtained as reaction products. All SMF polymers tested intercalated readily into the hydrocalumite structure, independent of their different molecular weights (chain lengths) and anionic charge amounts. X-ray diffraction revealed typical patterns for weakly ordered, highly polymer loaded LDH materials which was confirmed via elemental analysis and thermogravimetry. IR spectroscopy suggests that the SMF polymers are interleaved between the [Ca₂Al(OH)₆]⁺ main sheets via electrostatic interaction, and that no chemical bond between the host matrix and the guest anion is formed. The SMF polymers well ensconced within the LDH structure exhibit significantly slower thermal degradation.     

Dielectric and magnetic properties of the multiferroic Tb<Subscript>(1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>)</Subscript>Bi<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>: Electric dipole glass and self-organization of charge carriers

Single crystals of the new multiferroic Tb_(1?x)Bi_xMnO₃ have been grown and studied. A semiconductor compound with x = 0.05 is investigated in most detail. At temperatures T ≥ 165 K, the electric dipole glass state is realized in the crystal. Localized charge carriers form conducting drops of electrons and holes, which are located predominantly in thin layers at the boundaries of polar domains. When drops escape as the temperature increases, jumps in conductance and capacitance are observed. The state of drops is controlled by low bias voltage. The long-range magnetic order arises at temperatures T ≤ 90 K. Negative magnetoresistance is observed at temperatures of the existence of localized charge carriers.     

Spectroscopic interrogation and charge transport properties of molecular transistors

ABSTRACT

Molecular transistors have been extensively investigated as the building blocks for the ultimate miniaturization of electronic devices. They are assembled from single molecules and molecular monolayers serving as a current-carrying channel in a conventional field-effect transistor configuration, in which gate electrodes have been electrically or electrochemically implemented in several types of test beds such as electromigration junctions, mechanically controllable break junctions, and devices with carbon-based electrodes. The energy level alignments of the component molecules incorporated into the transistor can be tuned using molecular orbital gating and it can ultimately control the flow of charge carriers. Herein, we review recent progress in studying spectroscopic characterization techniques and charge transport properties of molecular transistors.     

Wigner crystallization of electrons and holes in amorphous silicon nitride. Antiferromagnetic ordering of localized electrons and holes as a result of a resonance exchange interaction

The predicted quantitative relation between the density and trapping cross section of traps in Si₃N₄ and the Coulomb repulsion radius in the Wigner crystallization of carriers in localized states is observed experimentally. The absence of ESR for localized electrons and holes in Si₃N₄ is interpreted on the basis of a model of a resonance exchange interaction of electrons on account of tunneling via localized states. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 7, 489–494 (10 October 1996)     

The effects of nonequilibrium charge distribution in scanning tunneling spectroscopy of semiconductors

Results are presented from a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) investigation of III-V semiconductor surfaces cleaved in situ along a (110) plane. The STM topographic images reveal the presence of surface charge structures. The possibility of their observation depends on the charge state of the apex of the STM tip. Peaks are also observed in the local tunneling conductivity spectra. The energy position of these peaks and the energy position of the edges of the band gap change with distance from the defect. A theoretical model is proposed which demonstrates that the experimental scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) data can be explained by effects due to a nonequilibrium electron distribution in the contact area, which gives rise to localized charges. In this model the on-site Coulomb repulsion of localized charges and their interaction with semiconductor electrons are treated self-consistently. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 4, 299–304 (25 August 1998)     

Athermal effects in ion implanted layers

Abstract

Defect structure and electrical characterization of boron and arsenic implanted layers has been investigated for implantation under athermal (light) excitation. This Photon Assisted (PA) implantation owes its specific properties to an additional electric field acting on charged particles including carriers and charged defects. It was shown that in case of n-type silicon this extra field draws charged vacancies and self-interstitials towards each other and, thus, diminishes transient diffusion of boron. This effect resulted in junctions which are about 20% shallower compared to conventionally processed reference wafers. Experiments using light of an Ar-ion laser and white light of a high pressure Xe arc lamp were compared. Some deactivation of carriers in the deeper laying parts of the p-region was always a by-product.