Composition of Ge+ and Si+ implanted SiO2/Si layers: Role of oxides in nanocluster formation

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to examine the atomic content of implanted SiO₂/Si layers. In particular, an XPS analysis permits to identify elemental Ge and Si, as well as GeO₂ precipitations in SiO₂ matrices. The XPS results reveal valuable information not only about the formation mechanism of Ge and Si nanoclusters but also on the annealing kinetics of SiO₂ whose properties are known to be significantly altered during the process of ion implantation and subsequent annealing. The composition of ion beam-modified SiO₂ layers strongly depends on the annealing temperature. With respect to germanium implanted samples a possibility of Ge nanocrystals formation appears at high (above 1000 °C) annealing temperatures. It has been shown that an intermediate step in the Ge oxide formation is necessary for the creation of Ge nanoclusters. Additionally, the presence of a subsurface zone GeO_x (about 100 nm thick) predicted in kinetic three-dimensional lattice simulations has been confirmed. In the case of Si⁺ implanted samples substoichiometric silicon oxide lines in the XPS spectra of a SiO₂ layer for all samples have been observed. No evidence of a line connected to the Si–Si bonding has been observed even at the highest annealing temperatures, at which only stoichiometric SiO₂ has been detected.     

Determination of silicate anion constitution in glassy and crystalline lead silicates using an improved TMS technique

Using the DMF trimethylsilylation technique developed by Tamás, Sarkar and Roy, the distribution of silicate anions in lead silicate glasses of the composition range PbO·SiO₂4PbO· SiO₂ has been reinvestigated. The obtained results agree with earlier findings except for the tetrameric chain anion [SiO₄O₁₃]^10?, which had not been found before. Crystallization of glassy PbO·SiO₂ proceeds via the formation of low-molecular silicate anions [Si₂O₇]^6?, [Si₄O₁₃]_(II)^10? and [Si₇O₂₂]^16?, which characterize the low-temperature crystalline polymorph TPbO·SiO₂. Further heat treatment turns TPbO·SiO₂ into alamosite, characterized by polysilicate chain anions [SiO₃^2?]_∞.     

Fabrication and thermal evolution of nanoparticles in SiO2 by Zn ion implantation

SiO₂ samples were implanted with 45 keV Zn ions at doses ranging from 5×10¹⁵ to 1.0×10¹⁷ ions/cm², and were then subjected to furnace annealing at different temperatures. Several techniques, such as ultra-violet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (GXRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), have been used to investigate formation of nanoparticles and their thermal evolution. Our results clearly show that Zn nanoparticles could be effectively formed in SiO₂ at doses higher than 5×10¹⁶ ions/cm². The subsequent thermal annealing at oxygen ambient could induce the growth of Zn nanoparticles at intermediate annealing temperature range. While at temperature above 600 °C, Zn nanoparticles could be transformed into ZnO, or even Zn₂SiO₄ nanoparticles. The results have been tentatively discussed in combination with Zn diffusion and migration obtained by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) measurements.     

High resolution 29Si NMR study of the structure and devitrification of lead-silicate glasses

High speed magic-angle rotation of glass samples in the strong polarizing field of a superconducting magnet yields high-resolution ²⁹Si NMR spectra. Using this technique glasses of various composition, PbO·SiO₂, (PbO)₂·SiO₂, and (PbO)₄·SiO₂ were studied and the influence of thermal treatment followed. Crystallization of PbO·SiO₂ glass has been found to be a complex process leading to a structure identical with that of the mineral alamosite. The ²⁹Si NMR spectrum of crystalline alamosite consists of three lines in agreement with the structure determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Chemical characterization of bioresorbable sol–gel derived SiO2 matrices prepared at protein-compatible pH

Sol–gel derived SiO₂ have been shown to be biocompatible and bioresorbable and they have potential use in living tissue, e.g., in bone regeneration and controlled drug delivery. Bioresorbable SiO₂ is a potential alternative for the controlled delivery of large biologically active agents, such as proteins and peptides. The aim was to prepare SiO₂ matrices with varying bioresorption rate at protein-compatible conditions and to characterize the chemical features of the matrices. SiO₂ was prepared in two morphologies, monoliths by casting and microparticles by spray drying. A model protein was encapsulated into the SiO₂ matrices. Materials were carefully characterized with FTIR- and Raman spectroscopy, TGA-FTIR, solid state ²⁹Si MAS NMR, SEM and matrix dissolution was measured in simulated physiological conditions. It is shown that both fast and slowly dissolving SiO₂ matrices could be prepared at protein-compatible conditions. Fast-dissolving SiO₂ microparticles contained a high proportion of Q³ and a low portion of Q⁴ indicating poor cross-linking of SiO₂ species and an increased amount of hydrolysable terminal groups. Spectroscopic techniques and TGA-FTIR show that organic residues and moisture are left in the matrices. The amount of organic residues is larger in the fast-dissolving SiO₂ matrices, but it does not significantly affect the bioresorption rate.     

Raman spectroscopic study of scandium in sodium silicate glasses

Glasses in the Na₂OSiO₂Sc₂O₃ system have been studied by Raman and difference Raman spectroscopy. Addition of Sc₂O₃ to sodium silicate glasses results in new vibrational bands at 1025 cm^?1 and 360 cm^?1. The high frequency band is interpreted to be due to Sc⁺³ quasi-complexes formed by Sc⁺³ ions coordinated by SiO₄^?4 tetrahedra having non-bridging oxygens. The discrete character of the scandium-produced bands implies incipient separation of Sc⁺³-enriched silicate structures from purely silicate structures.     

The structure of SiO2-GeO2 glasses: A spectroscopic study

Four glasses of the SiO₂-GeO₂ binary system have been synthesized via a sol-gel route followed by a heat treatment and a quench. Glass structure has been determined by Ge K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at low temperature and Raman spectroscopy. These mixed glasses present a continuous random network of interconnected GeO₄ and SiO₄ tetrahedra, with GeO₄ tetrahedra similar to the GeO₄ units in GeO₂ glass and continuous compositional variations from GeO₂-rich regions to SiO₂-rich regions. Such a random mixture is consistent with physical properties of these binary glasses as well as with the chemical dependence of their polyamorphism at high pressure. This EXAFS-derived mean Ge-O-Si angles are close to the Ge-O-Ge mean angle in GeO₂ glass, 134° and 130°, respectively. This misfit with the Si-O-Si angles might explain the ease of formation of isolated and pair defects centers, which are suspected to be at the origin of photo-induced modifications of optical properties in Ge-bearing SiO₂ glasses.     

Spinel ferrite-silica glass obtained by splat quenching

The compositions (in mol%) 40 MnFe₂O₄, 60 SiO₂, and 42.8 CoFe₂O₄, 57.1 SiO₂ have been melted and splat-quenched. The resulting materials have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and room temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy.The quenched Mn-containing material was completely amorphous. Its Mössbauer spectrum contains two doublets, indicating Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in distorted octahedral sites.The quenched Co-containing composition contained (Co, Fe)₂SiO₄ (olivine and (Co, Fe)₂O₄ (spinel) precipitates, 150–400 Å in diameter, in a glassy matrix. The Mössbauer spectrum contains three doublets, indicating octahedral Fe²⁺ in the olivine, distorted octahedral Fe²⁺ in the glass, and distorted octahedral Fe³⁺ in the glass. The spectrum also shows trace hyperfine splitting, attributed to the spinel ferrite.     

Effect of BaO on the crystallization kinetics of glasses along the Diopside-Ca-Tschermak join

We report on the effect of BaO on the crystallization kinetics of glasses in the diopside (CaMgSi₂O₆)-Ca-Tschermak (CaAl₂SiO₆) system. Partial substitution (i.e. 5%, 10% and 20%) of Ba²⁺ for Ca²⁺ was attempted in composition CaMg_0.8Al_0.4Si_1.8O₆, in three different glasses while partial substitution of B³⁺ for Al³⁺ was made in the fourth glass. Structural investigations on the glasses have been made by density measurements, molar volume and Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). Non-isothermal crystallization kinetic studies have been employed to study the mechanism of crystallization in all the four glasses. The Avrami parameter for the glass powders is ∼2, indicating the existence of intermediate mechanism of crystallization. Crystallization sequence in the glasses has been followed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FTIR. Augite crystallized out being the dominant phase in all the glass-ceramics, while different polymorphs of BaAl₂Si₂O8 were present as secondary or minor phases.     

Ablation and compaction of amorphous SiO2 irradiated with ArF excimer laser

The structure of amorphous SiO₂ exposed to ArF excimer laser irradiation was examined. Threshold fluence for causing ablation with a single pulse depended on sample preparation: more specifically, 1 J/cm² for thermally grown SiO₂ films on silicon and 2.5 J/cm² for bulk SiO₂. It was found that the bond angle of Si-O-Si was reduced by irradiation near the interface of thermally grown SiO₂ films. In contrast, evolution of the bond angle by irradiation was absent in both the bulk SiO₂ and SiO₂ film-near the top surface, even though the concentration of puckered four-membered rings deduced from Raman spectra dramatically increased. It is assumed that planar three-membered rings were generated in the SiO₂ thin layer near the interface, and puckered four-membered rings were generated in the bulk SiO₂. The concentration of both the Si³⁺ and Si²⁺ structure was increased at a fluence of 800 mJ/cm² with an increasing number of pulses, although generation of both was absent at higher fluence for a single pulse. The author proposes that the structure of SiO₂ is created by flash heating and quenching by pulse laser irradiation. Structural similarities were found between the irradiated SiO₂ and SiO₂ at high temperatures.     

Growth of amorphous SiO2 nano-wires on pre-oxidized silicon substrate via chemical vapor deposition

Without an additional silicon source, amorphous SiO₂ nano-wires were grown on the pre-oxidized silicon substrate with the assistance of Ni-based catalyst under ambient pressure. The as-grown amorphous SiO₂ nano-wires were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area diffraction. The micro-region chemical composition investigation on the as-grown amorphous SiO₂ nano-wires was carried out using X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) on the HRTEM. The present work focuses on the formation of atomic H on the surface of pure zinc powder by introducing moisture (N₂ + H₂O) into the furnace at high temperature. The growth mechanism has been discussed and attributed to the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism instead of the adopted solid–liquid–solid (SLS) mechanism owing to the observed evidence of an etching reaction of atomic H at the SiO₂ buffer layer and/or that of H at the Si substrate to form a gaseous hydro-silicon radical (SiH_x) that is then transported to the growth sites. The intrinsic luminescent behavior of the amorphous SiO₂ nano-wires in the range of 350–430 nm was also reported and discussed. These results provide an alternative and simple procedure for nanostructures growth, which will be helpful to understand the growth mechanism of one dimensional SiO₂ nanostructures.     

Orthophosphate nanostructures in SiO2-P2O5-CaO-Na2O-MgO bioactive glasses

Vibrational spectroscopy, ²⁹Si and ³¹P magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate structural aspects of SiO₂-P₂O₅-CaO-Na₂O-MgO glasses. The experimental results show that for the two compositions, 25.3SiO₂-10.9P₂O₅-32.6CaO-31.2MgO and 33.6SiO₂-6.40P₂O₅-19.0CaO-41.0MgO, phosphorous is present in a nano-crystalline form with interplanar distances in the 0.21-0.26 nm range. The two glasses develop a surface CaP-rich layer and the presence of any intermediate silica-rich layer was not detected. It was suggested that the phosphate nano-regions may play a key role in the initial stages of the bioactive process, acting as nucleation sites for the calcium phosphate-rich layer.     

Effects of addition of nitrogen on bioglass properties and structure

Bioglasses have been developed for use in surgery because of their ability to form a hydroxy-carbonate apatite (HCA) layer on their surface which facilitates bonding to natural bone. However, they do not have sufficient strength for use in load-bearing situations and therefore improving their mechanical properties would allow their use in more robust applications. The purpose of this work was to study the effects of nitrogen addition on the physical and mechanical properties and the structure of oxynitride bioglasses based on the system Na₂O–CaO–SiO₂–Si₃N₄. The density, glass transition temperature, hardness and elastic modulus were measured and observed to increase linearly with nitrogen content. These increases are consistent with the incorporation of N into the glass structure in three-fold coordination with silicon which results in extra cross-linking of the glass network. The characterization of these oxynitride bioglasses using solid state nuclear magnetic resonance ²⁹Si MAS NMR and infrared spectroscopy have shown firstly that all the N atoms are bonded to Si atoms and secondly that this increase in rigidity of the glass network can be explained by the formation of SiO₃N, SiO₂N₂ tetrahedra and Q⁴ units with extra bridging anions at the expense of Q³ units. The oxynitride bioglasses in simulated body fluid form a hydroxy-carbonate apatite (HCA) layer on their surfaces showing that bioactivity is retained.     

The leaching behavior of PbOSiO2 glasses

The leached layer of PbOSiO₂ glasses formed by diluted nitric acid solution has been investigated by ellipsometry and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The leaching behavior of PbOSiO₂ glasses in 10^?4 N aqueous solution of NHO₃ at 30°C was measured in real time using a Nikon auto-ellipsometer.The results were applied by curve fitting to the two-layer model from the concentration profile obtained by AES, and the refractive index profile against the film thickness was determined.The leached layer is inhomogeneous and consists of a low refractive index region and a transition region. The gradient of the refractive index in the former region is extremely small and the refractive index becomes nearly constant between 1.42 and 1.44. The shape of latter region becomes stable with its thickness at 100–310 Å, and moves in the direction of depth without changing the shape as the leaching proceeds.     

Quantitation of sulfate solubility in borosilicate glasses using Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is used here as an innovative technique to investigate sulfate content in borosilicate glasses. Using Raman spectroscopy after having heated the material, the evolution of sulfate amounts can be followed as a function of temperature, time and chemical composition of the starting matrix. The accuracy of this technique was verified using electron probe micro analysis (EPMA), on two systems of glasses (SiO₂–B₂O₃–Na₂O (SBNa) and SiO₂–B₂O₃–BaO (SBBa)) in order to compare the effect of alkaline or alkaline-earth elements on sulfur speciation and incorporation. To quantitate sulfate content with Raman spectroscopy, the integrated intensity of the sulfate band at 990 cm^?1 was scaled to the sum of the integrated bands between 850 and 1250 cm^?1, bands that are assigned to Qⁿ silica units. Calibration curves were then determined for different samples. The determination of sulfate contents with Raman spectroscopy analysis is possible with an accuracy of approximately 0.1 wt% depending on the composition of the glass. It mainly allows us to follow sulfate removal during the elaboration process and to establish kinetic curves of sulfate release as a function of the viscosity of the borosilicate glass.     

Vibrational spectra of vapor-deposited binary phosphosilicate glasses

Room temperature infrared transmission spectra in the range 4000-250 cm^?1 of binary phosphosilicate glass (PSG) films deposited by reacting argon- or nitrogen-diluted PH₃SiH₄O₂ mixtures on heated silicon substrates at 300–400° C have been obtained across the whole composition range. In all the as-deposited binary films, an absorption at ≈1300 cm^?1 characteristics of the P=O vibration was found to persist, together with a couple of broad absorptions in the regions 1200-900 cm^?1 and 500 cm^?1. Using a differential infrared technique the broad feature in the higher frequency region has been resolved into two well-defined bands at ≈1100 and 970 cm^?1. A detailed analysis shows that the intensity variation of the differential band at ≈1100 cm^?1 conforms well, at least to 50 mol% P₂O₅, to a simple structural model that yields an analytic distribution of POSi linkages as a function of composition by assuming chemical mixing in the vapor-deposited P₂O₅SiO₂ system. Furthermore, the system may be written as (P=O)₂ O₃SiO₂ in order to emphasize the similarity of its coordination scheme with that of the B₂O₃SiO₂ system studied earlier. The nature of these CVD films has also been elucidated by thermal and water treatments.     

Nitridation of SiO2–B2O3 aerogels

SiO₂–B₂O₃ aerogels have been prepared by drying wet gels at a supercritical condition for ethanol in an autoclave. Aerogels have been nitrided for 6 h in flowing ammonia at the temperature of 1200 °C. It has been found that the amount of nitrogen incorporated in these aerogels always exceeds 20 wt%. This is a much higher value compared with the amount of nitrogen incorporated in a pure silica aerogel nitrided at the same conditions. The specific surface area of SiO₂–B₂O₃ aerogels has been between 312 and 359 m²/g. After nitridation some shrinkage of aerogels has been observed and the surface area decreases about 20%. In FTIR spectra of SiO₂–B₂O₃ aerogels a typical bands for SiO₂ are observed. After nitridation a shift and broadening of 1100 cm^?1 band to lower wavenumbers indicates that Si–N and B–N bonds are formed in nitrided aerogels.     

Effect of composition on ionic transport in SiO2–B2O3–Na2O glasses

Ionic diffusion was investigated in the SiO₂–B₂O₃–Na₂O glass system over a wide composition range by impedance spectroscopy measurements. The Na⁺ cation transport mechanism was described by an interstitial pair migration model based on Frenkel defects in ionic crystals. The activation energy of the static electrical conductivity is shown to be correlated with the boron coordination number in these glasses. Published ¹¹B NMR results were used to calculate the activation energies of sodium cations acting as charge compensators for the [BO_4/2]⁻ tetrahedron and of sodium cations bonded to non-bridging oxygen atoms. These values are in agreement with the activation energies of the Na₂O–B₂O₃ and Na₂O–SiO₂ binary systems, respectively.     

Effect of Al2O3 on the viscosity and structure of calcium silicate-based melts containing Na2O and CaF2

The effect of Al₂O₃ on viscosity in the calcium silicate melt-based system containing Na₂O and CaF₂ was investigated and correlated with the melt structure using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy, XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), and Raman spectroscopy. Substituting SiO₂ with Al₂O₃ modified the dominant silicate network into a highly structured alumino-silicate structure with the aluminate structure being particularly prevalent at 20 mass% of Al₂O₃ and higher. As the melts become increasingly polymerized with higher Al₂O₃ content, the fraction of symmetric Al–O⁰ stretching vibrations significantly increased and the viscosity increased. XPS showed a decrease in the amount of non-bridged oxygen (O^?) but an increase in bridged oxygen (O⁰) and free oxygen (O^2?) with higher Al₂O₃. Although changes in the structure and viscosity with higher CaO/(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃) were not significant, the symmetric Al–O⁰ stretching in the [AlO₄]^5?-tetrahedral units decreased. The apparent activation energy for viscous flow varied from 118 to 190 kJ/mol.     

Decrease of the alkali signal during auger analysis of glasses

The decrease of the alkali signal during Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) has been studied on glasses with molar composition 20 M₂O · 80 SiO₂ and 20 M₂O · 10 CaO · 70 SiO₂, where M = Na and/or K. The samples were fractured in situ, and beam conditions in the region 1.5–3 keV and 1–40 μA were chosen. The K signal in 20 K₂O · 80 SiO₂ remained sufficiently constant to allow a reliable measurement. Its decrease showed an initial delay which can be explained by assuming a rapid decrease of the K concentration at some depth below the surface. The presence of CaO accelerates the migration of alkali during AES. This is not predicted by diffusion data.