Advances in thermoelectric (GeTe)x(AgSbTe2)100-x

The (GeTe)_x(AgSbTe₂)_100-x alloys, also called TAGS-x in short, have long been demonstrated as a promising candidate for thermoelectric applications with successful services as the p-type leg in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space missions. This largely stems from the complex band structure for a superior electronic performance and strong anharmonicity for a low lattice thermal conductivity. Utilization of the proven strategies including carrier concentration optimization, band and defects engineering, an extraordinary thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, has been achieved in TAGS-based alloys. Here, crystal structure, band structure, microstructure, synthesis techniques and thermoelectric transport properties of TAGS-based alloys, as well as successful strategies for manipulating the thermoelectric performance, are surveyed with opportunities for further advancements. These strategies involved are believed to be in principle applicable for advancing many other thermoelectrics.     

Atomic and electronic structure of styrene on Ge(100)

Coverage-dependent adsorption structures of styrene on a Ge(100) surface were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The most favorable configuration at room temperature is that the two styrene molecules are bound to two Ge dimers with paired end-bridged (PEB) configuration via the reaction of the vinyl CC double bond. The phenyl rings of the two styrene molecules are trans relative to the Ge dimer rows. Due to the bulky and electronic nature of the phenyl ring, its spatial orientation relative to the Ge surface affects the thermodynamic stability of each configuration. The buckling properties of surface Ge dimers also affect their interaction with the phenyl ring. Simulated STM images of this PEB configuration for empty states explain well the adsorption features observed in the experiment, as well as for filled states. Detailed electronic structures were also investigated through the PDOS analysis.     

SmCo_(1-x)Ir_xAsO体系的磁性和输运性质

采用固相反应法,制备出一系列SmCo1-xIrxAsO(x=0.05,0.1,0.15,0.2,0.25,0.3)多晶样品。XRD测试结果表明所有样品均具有ZrCuSiAs型四方结构,随着掺杂量的增加,晶格参数a变大,c变小。在x≥0.25时发现小部分杂相峰IrAs2,说明SmCo1-xIrxAsO体系单相样品较难制得。磁性测量结果表明,SmCo1-xIrxAsO在高温区表现出顺磁性。外场为10Oe时,掺杂量为0.05的样品随着温度的降低,依次在60K和45K附近出现铁磁转变和反铁磁转变,在低温区ZFC与FC曲线分离,出现明显的不可逆性。随着外磁场的增加,不可逆性受到抑制,铁磁转变温度TC向高温方向移动。增加掺杂量,样品铁磁反铁磁转变温度几乎不变,表明Ir掺杂对样品磁性没有影响。M-H曲线表明,温度T30K时,所有掺杂样品随着磁场的增加,均出现反铁磁(AFM)-铁磁(FM)的磁性转变,且转变磁场随温度的升高而减小。T=50K时,这种变磁性转变消失,样品表现出软铁磁特性。     

Amorphous SiC film formation on Si(100) using electron beam excitation

The effect of electron impact on methylsilane (CH₃SiH₃) conversion to amorphous-Si_0.5C_0.5:H (a-Si_0.5C_0.5:H) films on Si(100) has been studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). It is found that electron impact greatly enhances CH₃SiH₃ decomposition on Si(100) at both 90 K and 300 K, resulting in a-Si_0.5C_0.5:H thin film formation. Thermal annealing of the film causes hydrogen desorption and amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) formation. Upon annealing to temperatures above 1200 K, the a-SiC film became covered by a thin silicon layer as indicated by AES studies. Ordered structures are not produced by annealing the a-SiC up to 1300 K.     

Influence of the Magnetic Moment of the Probe of a Magnetic Resonance Force Microscope on the Spin-Wave Resonance Spectra

Physics of the Solid State - Abstract—The ferromagnetic resonance in an array of permalloy microstrips 3000 × 500 × 30 nm3 in size, which are ordered on a rectangular 3.5 × 6...     

Effect of Magnetic Anisotropy on Magnetic Thermal Induction of Mn_(0.3)Zn_(0.3)Co_xFe_(2.4-x)O_4 Nanoparticles

Mn_(0.3)Zn_(0.3)Co_xFe_(2.4-x)O_4 series magnetic nanoparticles are prepared by the high-temperature organic solvent method, and Mn_(0.3)Zn_(0.3)Co_xFe_(2.4-x)O_4@SiO_2 composite nanoparticles are prepared by the reverse microemulsion method. The as-prepared samples are characterized, and the results show that the magnetic anisotropy constant of nanoparticles increases with the cobalt content, and the magnetic thermal induction shows a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The optimal magnetic thermal induction is obtained at x = 0.12 with a specific loss power of 2086 w/gmetal, which is a bright prospect in clinical magnetic hyperthermia.     

Magnetic hyperfine fields in ultrathin Ni films on Cu(100)

The magnetic hyperfine field was measured at ¹¹¹In(¹¹¹Cd) probe atoms in ultrathin Ni films epitaxially grown on Cu(100) utilizing the perturbed -angular correlation (PAC) method. The behaviour of the hyperfine field as a function of temperature was studied for different film thicknesses ranging from 2 up to 10 monolayers. It was found that the strength of the hyperfine fields as well as the critical temperatures are strongly reduced for thin nickel films and approach the bulk value with increasing film thickness. The orientation of the hyperfine field is discussed.     

Magnetic moments at the surface of antiferromagnetic NiO(100)

The orientation of magnetic moments at the (100) surface of antiferromagnetic NiO single crystals is studied by x-ray linear magnetic dichroism in photoemission microscopy. T domains are observed terminating at the surface, with domain boundaries running mostly along in-plane [10] directions. From the detailed polarization dependence we find that the magnetic surface structure of a cleaved crystal is bulk terminated. This is in contrast to sputtered surfaces, where magnetic moments lie within the surface plane, forming a magnetically relaxed structure. These findings are of importance for understanding the exchange bias phenomenon.     

Magnetic properties of (Co Pd ) superstructures on Pd(100) and Pd(111)

The magnetic properties of (Co_nPd_m)_r superstructures on Pd(100) and Pd(111) are evaluated using the fully-relativistic spin-polarized screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method. It is found that only in the case of a Pd(111) substrate such superstructures exhibit perpendicular magnetism, while on a Pd(100) substrate the magnetization is oriented in-plane. Also investigated is the effect of interdiffusion in repeated superstructures. By using the inhomogeneous coherent potential approximation (CPA) for layered systems the effect of ordering into (repeated) superstructures can be described in an ab-initio-like manner. It is found that already small amounts of interdiffusion can be decisive for the actual value of the magnetic anisotropy energy. Received 3 November 1999 and Received in final form 18 January 2000