Temperature Evolution of the Dielectric Response of α-Lactose Monohydrate in the THz Frequency Range

Optics and Spectroscopy - Transmission spectra of pressed microcrystalline α-lactose monohydrate samples have been measured by THz time-domain spectroscopy in the temperature range of...     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Carnosine in THz Range

The characteristic fingerprints of carnosine from 0.2 to 2.6 THz are first measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy at room temperature. For the pure carnosine, the refractive index varies between 1.79 and 1.85 with the average value 1.84, while for the carnosine-polyethylene mixture, four absorption peaks centred at 1.37, 1.56, 1.85 and 2.49 THz are detected. A comparison of the theoretical predictions using the density functional theory with the experimental results shows satisfactory agreement except somewhat blue shift.     

Effect of TiO2 addition on the crystallization of quenched glasses in the SiO2–Al2O3–ZrO2 system

The glass formation in the SiO₂-rich region of the ternary oxide system Al₂O₃–ZrO₂–SiO₂ with MgO, CaO, and TiO₂ as melting aids was analyzed. The crystallization of glasses with different content of TiO₂ and phase evolution with the temperature was studied by X-ray diffraction, infrared, laser Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The use of TiO₂ favored formation and crystallization of the glasses due to the decrease of the viscosity of melts and acting as a nucleating agent. The crystalline phase of t-ZrO₂ was developed at temperatures as low as 880°C whereas in as prepared specimens without TiO₂ its presence was not detected. For the specimens with TiO₂, t-ZrO₂ and mullite were the principal phases at 1000°C. TiO₂ addition did not change the crystallization sequence but decreased the formation temperature of the crystalline phases. Most of Ti⁴⁺ ions entered into t-ZrO₂ and only a small portion in mullite, but the surplus was detected in ZrTiO₄.     

Influence of different Fe2O3 content on crystallization of MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–TiO2 system glass-ceramics

The crystallization behaviors of MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–TiO₂ system glasses doping with different content Fe₂O₃ were investigated by means of differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. The kinetic parameter of activation energy for crystallization (E) was obtained by the Owaza Johnson–Mehl–Avrami method. The results show that during the heat treatment, the intermediate phase of µ-cordierite initially precipitated from the glass matrix, and with the increasing temperature, it transformed to α-cordierite. The more the Fe₂O₃ content, the lower the crystallization peak temperature (T _p).But the lowering of T _p value did not mean that the value of E decreases correspondingly. The experimental results suggest that only with appropriate content (about 4.2 wt%), Fe₂O₃ can promote the crystallization of this glass effectively.     

Optical Constants of an Apatite Single Crystal in the IR Range of 6–28 μm

On the basis of polarized IR-reflection spectra in the range of 5000–350 cm^–1 measured from the natural face of an optically transparent fluorapatite single crystal, components of a complex refractive index (optical constants) for radiation-vector orientations E ‖ c and E ⊥ c have been calculated by the Kramers–Kronig method. The fluorapatite single crystal has been chosen from several samples: it contains a minimum amount of impurities and has a high degree of crystallinity in accordance with the criteria of IR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Tabular data on optical constants for ordinary and extraordinary rays are given for the IR range of 6–28 μm. The obtained absorption spectra are compared with the results of quantum-chemical ab initio calculations within the B3LYP simulation.     

Characteristics of Surface Spin Waves in a Metal–Dielectric–Ferrite–Dielectric–Metal Structure

The dispersion and isofrequency characteristics of surface spin waves in a tangentially magnetized metal–dielectric–ferrite–dielectric–metal structure are investigated. A loop-like change in the isofrequency dependences for spin waves is observed in a certain range of frequencies, and the origin of the loop is always located at wave number value k → 0.     

Effect of SiO2–metal–SiO2 plasmonic structures on InGaAs/GaAs quantum well intermixing

Dielectric–metal–dielectric sandwich structures have been fabricated on top of an InGaAs/GaAs single quantum well (QW) structure to enhance atomic interdiffusion across the QW interfaces at elevated temperature during rapid thermal annealing using a halogen lamp as the heating source. The QW intermixing enhancement is realized during rapid thermal annealing. By placing a properly designed SiO₂–Ag–SiO₂ structure on top of the QW sample, a blueshift in photoluminescence emission from 920 to 882 nm was observed, larger than that obtained in a SiO₂-capped QW annealed at the same condition. Finite-difference time-domain simulation and optical reflectance measurements showed that the enhanced QW intermixing is due to the plasmonic resonance-enhanced light absorption and suppressed light reflection from the SiO₂–Ag–SiO₂ structure.     

Effect of Corona Discharge on the Optical Properties of Thin-Film Cu–As2Se3 Structures

Optics and Spectroscopy - The effect that corona discharge has on holographic recording of diffraction gratings in a thin-film Cu−As2Se3 structure deposited on glass by thermal vacuum...     

The effect of Zn on precipitation in Al–Mg–Si alloys

Effects of addition of Zn (up to 1 wt%) on microstructure, precipitate structure and intergranular corrosion (IGC) in an Al–Mg–Si alloys were investigated. During ageing at 185?°C, the alloys showed modest increases in hardness as function of Zn content, corresponding to increased number densities of needle-shaped precipitates in the Al–Mg–Si alloy system. No precipitates of the Al–Zn–Mg alloy system were found. Using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), the Zn atoms were incorporated in the precipitate structures at different atomic sites with various atomic column occupancies. Zn atoms segregated along grain boundaries, forming continuous film. It correlates to high IGC susceptibility when Zn concentration is ~1wt% and the materials in peak-aged condition.     

Conductivity of Metal–Dielectric–Semiconductor Structures Based on Ferroelectric Films

Physics of the Solid State - In this paper, we present the results of experimental studies of the frequency and temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity of...     

The effect of Cu on precipitation in Al–Mg–Si alloys

TEM investigations of two alloys isothermally heat treated at 175°C and 260°C show how Cu additions to the Al–Mg–Si system affect precipitation. Both alloys had a solute content Mg?+?Si?=?1.3 at.%, 0.127 at.% Cu, but with Mg/Si 0.8 and 1.25. Cu-containing Guinier-Preston (GP) zones and three types of Q′ precursors are identified as most common phases at peak-hardness conditions, whereas β″ accounts for maximum 30% of the total number of precipitates. The precursors have needle (L and S precipitates) or plate (C precipitate) morphologies. They consist of different arrangements of Al, Mg and Cu atoms on a grid defined by triangularly arranged Si planes parallel with and having the same period as {100} Al planes. The Si grid is composed of nearly hexagonal sub-cells of a?=?b?=?4.05?Å, c?=?4.05?Å. The Cu arrangement on the grid is often disordered in the needle precursors. The plate precursor is ordered, with a monoclinic unit cell of a?=?10.32?Å, b?=?8.1?Å, c?=?4.05?Å, γ?=?101°.     

Dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton properties of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure

Surface plasmons(SPs) in ultraviolet(UV) have attracted a great deal of attention because of their emerging applications in energy resources, environmental protection, and biotechnology. In this article, the dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton(DLSPP) properties of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure are investigated theoretically. Sharp SP responses can be obtained in deep UV by setting an insulator grating on the aluminum film. It is found that the height of the grating element,the lattice parameter, and the filling factor can all modulate the DLSPPs of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure. We further find that this structure is sensitive to the embedding medium and can serve as a refractive index sensor in the UV region. The corresponding sensitivity increases with the decrease of the filling factor. The Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure may be useful for medical diagnostics and biotechnology in deep UV.     

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy study on reversion of Al2CuMg precipitates in Al–Cu–Mg alloys under irradiation

Image deconvolution analyses showed that reversion of S-Al₂CuMg precipitates occurred in an Al–Cu–Mg alloy during high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations. A fraction of Mg and Cu atoms in the precipitates diffused into Al matrix due to electron beam irradiation at 300 kV, resulting in structural/chemical reversion of the precipitates. The structural reversion of the S-Al₂CuMg precipitates is closely related with irradiation-induced displacement of atoms. The strong attraction between Cu and Mg atoms might assist the sub-threshold displacement of Cu atoms. One transitional structure is determined to be S′′-Al₁₀Cu₃Mg₃, a precursor of S-Al₂CuMg. Two other transitional structures, Al₃CuMg and Al₁₈Cu₅Mg₅ which have the same lattice parameters of a = c = 0.405 nm as that of S′′-Al₁₀Cu₃Mg₃, but different b values, are suggested.     

Properties of ZnO:Al,ZnO:Al–SiO2 Films Obtained in Sol Gel Process from Coating Solutions

Russian Physics Journal - The paper deals with ZnO, ZnO:Al 5 wt.% and ZnO:Al 5 wt.% – SiO2 5 wt.% thin films obtained on glass substrates by the sol gel process from film-forming solutions...     

Admittance of Pentacene- Based Mis-Structures with Two-Layer Insulator SiO2–Al2O3

Russian Physics Journal - Experimental studies of the admittance of MIS structures based on pentacene with a two-layer insulator SiO2–Al2O3 and back contacts made of various materials (Au,...     

Amplitude Dependences of the Dielectric Losses in the Thin-Film Nanogranular Composite (x)Ni–(1 – x)PZT

Physics of the Solid State - At the temperatures T lower than ferroelectric Curie point and various intensities of constant ele-ctric field E=, the dependences of dielectric loss tanδ in the...     

Anti-corrosive properties of natural honey on Al–Mg–Si alloy in seawater

Anti-corrosive properties of natural honey on Al–Mg–Si alloy in seawater were evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization (PP), linear polarization resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. All the studied parameters showed good anti-corrosive properties against the corrosion of Al–Mg–Si alloy in the tested solution and their performance increases with corrosion resistant concentration. Polarization data indicated that natural honey is a mixed-type corrosion resistant. LPR and EIS studies showed that there were significant increases in the overall resistance after the addition of natural honey. The adsorption of natural honey on the metal surface obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The analysis of morphology studies confirmed the formation of precipitates of natural honey on the metal surface, which reduced the overall corrosion reaction.