Surface acoustic waves and elastic constants of InN epilayers determined by Brillouin scattering

The surface acoustic wave velocity in InN has been experimentally determined by means of Brillouin scattering experiments on c ‐ and m ‐face epilayers. From simulations based on the Green's function formalism we determine the shear elastic constants c₆₆ and c₄₄ and propose a complete set of elastic constants for wurtzite InN. The analysis of the sagittal and azimuthal dependence of the surface acoustic wave velocity indicates a slightly different elastic behavior of the m ‐face sample that basically affects the c₄₄ elastic constant. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Fabrication of polyindene and polyindole nanostructures

One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of fused ring polymeric systems: polyindene (PIn) and polyindole (PInd) were fabricated onto glass substrates using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Morphology of fabricated PIn and PInd structures studied using Olympus microscope reveals formation of 1D straight tubular, smooth and fluorescent nanostructures. The results obtained were further correlated with scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies of PIn and PInd nanostructures, indicating appearance of fine nanothread entangled network (having diameter ∼ 50 nm) for PIn, and well-defined, straight and aligned nanotubes (having diameter ∼ 60 nm) for PInd. A comparative study on the morphology/dimensions of fabricated PIn and PInd nanostructures with the nanosized PIn and PInd structures obtained by oxidative synthetic routes is also discussed. The structural composition of fabricated PIn and PInd nanostructures is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thereby indicating existence of all infrared markers corresponding to the characteristic bands present in PIn and PInd. The study suggests that the fabricated PIn and PInd nanodimensional structures may find potential applications in the field of nanotechnology.     

Brillouin scattering study on elastic and piezoelectric properties of laser irradiated ZnO single crystals

Brillouin light scattering technique can be successfully used to determine the whole set of elastic and piezoelectric constants of a ZnO single crystal irradiated by different laser energy densities,into a micron range (radiation layer thickness).It is found that the scattering intensity,the linewidth and the Brillouin scattering shift of acoustic phonons are all strongly dependent on laser energy density.Based on the sound propagation equations and these results,the directional dependences of the compressional and shear moduli of the irradiated ZnO sample in the (001) plane are investigated.It is found that under an appropriate laser condition,248 nm KrF excimer laser irradiation can significantly improve the surface quality and increase the elastic properties of ZnO single crystal.This procedure has potential applications in the fabrication of ZnO-based surface acoustic wave and optic-electronic devices.     

ZnO-ionic liquid nanostructures

The mixture of nanostructures derived from the surface interactions and reactivity of ZnO nanoparticles with the room-temperature ionic liquid (IL1) 1-hexyl, 3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate has been studied. Results are discussed on the basis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) determinations. Size and morphology changes in ZnO nanoparticles by surface modification with IL1 are observed. ZnF₂ crystalline needles due to reaction with the hexafluorophosphate anion are also formed.     

Brillouin scattering of light by spin waves in ferromagnetic nanorods

We report the investigations of spin wave modes of arrays of Ni and Co nanorods using Brillouin light scattering. We have revealed the significant influence of spin wave modes along the nanorod axis in contrast to infinite magnetic nanowires. Unusual optical properties featuring an inverted Stokes/anti-Stokes asymmetry of the Brillouin scattering spectra have been observed. The spectrum of spin wave modes in the nanorod array has been calculated and compared with the experiment. Experimental observations are explained in terms of a combined numerical–analytical approach taking into account both the low aspect ratio of individual magnetic nanorods and dipolar magnetic coupling between the nanorods in the array. The optical studies of spin-wave modes in nanorod metamaterials with low aspect ratio nanorods have revealed new magnetic and magneto-optical properties compared to continuous magnetic films or infinite magnetic nanowires. Such magnetic artificial materials are important class of active metamaterials needed for prospective data storage and signal processing applications.     

Inherent spectral distortions in pump-probe Brillouin scattering spectroscopy

It is shown that the pump-probe technique in Brillouin scattering spectroscopy is accompanied by two specific distortions to a registered spectrum. The first appears due to an acoustic wave that unavoidably accompanies in a continuous medium the density wave driven by the pump and probe signals. The registered spectrum then splits to two spectral components, one corresponding to the propagation velocity of the driven density wave, and the other to the acoustic velocity. The other distortion is asymmetry of the spectrum which is shown to occur when the velocity of the driven density wave is greater than the acoustic velocity in the medium.     

Dynamical properties of water-methanol solutions: Brillouin and depolarized Rayleigh scattering

Summary We have performed Brillouin and depolarized Rayleigh light scattering on water-methanol solutions as a function of methanol molar fraction and temperature. For this system, molecular-dynamics (MD) simulation predicts that a shell of water forms around a methanol molecule, prediction which has been recently confirmed by neutron diffraction experiments. The results obtained by light scattering and presented here confirm previous observations and show, in addition, an increase of the stability in time of the water structure in the shells when temperature decreases and methanol concentration approaches a particular value. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Surface enhanced Raman scattering based molecule detection using self-assembled DNA nanostructures

A novel method of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) based molecular detection was developed using self-assembled DNA nanostructures. Molecule detection using rigid, shape-controllable DNA nanostructures provides significant advantages such as accurate control of the particle distance and geometrical programmability of the DNA nanostructure. We successfully detected the Cy3 dye, a Raman-active molecule, at 1461, 1590, and 1619 cm⁻¹ using a Ag-enhanced Au-DNA nanostructure. Consequently, DNA-guided SERS detection is expected to contribute significantly to molecular detecting systems in the near future.     

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of semiconductor nanostructures

We review our recent results concerning surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) by confined optical and surface optical phonons in semiconductor nanostructures including CdS, CuS, GaN, and ZnO nanocrystals, GaN and ZnO nanorods, and AlN nanowires. Enhancement of Raman scattering by confined optical phonons as well as appearance of new Raman modes with the frequencies different from those in ZnO bulk attributed to surface optical modes is observed in a series of nanostructures having different morphology located in the vicinity of metal nanoclusters (Ag, Au, and Pt). Assignment of surface optical modes is based on calculations performed in the frame of the dielectric continuum model. It is established that SERS by phonons has a resonant character. A maximal enhancement by optical phonons as high as 730 is achieved for CdS nanocrystals in double resonant conditions at the coincidence of laser energy with that of electronic transitions in semiconductor nanocrystals and localized surface plasmon resonance in metal nanoclusters. Even a higher enhancement is observed for SERS by surface optical modes in ZnO nanocrystals (above 10⁴). Surface enhanced Raman scattering is used for studying phonon spectrum in nanocrystal ensembles with an ultra-low areal density on metal plasmonic nanostructures.     

Photoluminescent properties of Sm-doped zinc oxide nanostructures

Sm³⁺-doped zinc oxide nanophosphors were synthesized by solution combustion method. The size of the ZnO:Sm³⁺ nanostructures ranges from 40-60 nm. The photoluminescence spectra of ZnO:Sm³⁺ nanostructures is different from that of pure ZnO. The emission spectra of ZnO:Sm³⁺ nanostructures show a strong narrow emission peak at 425 nm and weak peaks at 457, 472 and 482 nm when excited with 255 nm.     

Comparison of thermal and elastic properties of glassy racemic and enantiomorphic ibuprofen studied by Brillouin light scattering and modulated differential scanning calorimetry

The vitrification process of racemic RS- and enantiomorphic S-ibuprofen was studied by using Brillouin light scattering and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The sound velocity and the attenuation coefficient of both compounds were determined for the first time in the glassy, supercooled liquid and liquid states. The sound velocity and the hypersonic damping were similar between the two ibuprofen pharmaceuticals over the whole investigated temperature range including glassy, supercooled liquid and liquid states. The thermal expansion coefficient of the RS-ibuprofen was smaller than that of the S-ibuprofen, which suggests that the intermolecular force of the former is slightly stronger than the latter. The thermal relaxation times derived from the modulated DSC were consistent with the dielectric relaxation times in both RS- and S-ibuprofens. The fragility index of S-ibuprofen just above the glass transition was determined to be 73, which was smaller compared to the value of RS-ibuprofen, 89. This difference in the fragility indicates that the decrease in the fragility of S-ibuprofen compared to the racemic one may improve its stability of the amorphous state below the glass transition temperature against crystallization.     

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy of aromatic compounds on silver nanoclusters

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been used to characterize multilayers of three different aromatic compounds in the proximity of silver nanoclusters. SERS of mercapto benzoic acid (MBA), which adsorbs onto the silver nanoclusters through the sulfur moiety, exhibits frequency shifts in comparison to the Raman spectrum of crystalline MBA. Conversely, benzoic acid and benzophenone that adsorb through the oxygen species lack these frequency shifts, and show only a typical SERS enhancement. We employed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to probe the nature of the binding between the silver and the three different aromatic compounds. Thereafter, we assigned the major Raman peaks of all three molecules to specific molecular vibrations. Overall, this enables us to determine the origin of the observed shifts in the SERS spectrum of MBA and similar molecules.     

原位高压测试技术在高压结构及性质研究中的应用

高压科学是研究不同压力条件下物质的结构、状态、理化性质及变化规律的学科。在高压科学研究中,多以凝聚态物质为研究对象,涉及的领域也非常广泛,包括物理学、化学、材料学、地质学、生物学、航天学等等,是一门以实验为基础的学科。高压科学之所以能成为一门独立的学科,还因为高压研究需要使用特殊且精巧的技术和方法来实现,是以技术创新为牵引的科学研究领域。而今,各种实验测试手段已经可以成熟地运用在该学科中,比较常见的有：高压拉曼散射、高压红外光谱、高压布里渊散射、高压同步辐射XRD、高压电学测量以及高压磁学测量等诸多技术。文章系统介绍了以上高压原位实验测试方法的原理、发展、作用及应用,有助于读者对原位高压测试技术有更深刻的认识和理解,为更高压力下的原位高压探测技术的发展提供重要的基础和借鉴。     

Finite element modeling of the interaction of laser-generated ultrasound with a surface-breaking notch in an elastic plate

The interaction of surface acoustic waves generated by laser line source in the thermoelastic regime with surface notches are investigated. The finite element method is used to establish the model of the transient displacement field for surface notches with various depths and orientation. The magnitude of the signal enhancement in the near field and the mechanism by which this occurs are explained. The positions of notches were evaluated by the reflected Rayleigh wave. The depths and orientations of the notches were also determined using a shear wave that was generated through mode conversion of a surface acoustic wave at the notch tip. The results agree with previously published experimental measurements.     

Formation of the Si/Ti interface

The formation of the Si/Ti interface during the deposition of silicon on titanium polycrystalline substrates has been studied at room temperature (RT) using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), angle-resolved XPS (ARXPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). The experimental results are consistent with a two-stage mechanism for Si growth: a first stage characterized by the simultaneous formation of a uniform titanium silicide layer, that reaches a limiting thickness of ∼3 monolayer (ML), and pure silicon islands 1 ML thick that grow on top of this layer up to coalescence, followed by a second stage in which pure silicon islands, with an average thickness of 9 ML, grow on top of the uniform titanium silicide layer + pure silicon ML structure formed during the first stage. As a whole, pure silicon species grows according to a Stranski-Krastanov mechanism, where the first ML is formed during the first stage and the islands during the second stage. The comparison of Ti/Si and Si/Ti interfaces shows that the structure and composition of the interface do not depend substantially on the deposition sequence, suggesting that the bulk chemistry of the compound formed at the interface dominates over the surface kinetics and the bulk substrate chemistry in determining the composition and structure of the interface.     

Effect of source temperature on the morphology and photoluminescence properties of ZnO nanostructures

ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by heating a mixture of ZnO/graphite powders using the thermal evaporation and vapor transport on Si(1 0 0) substrates without any catalyst and at atmospheric argon pressure. The influence of the source temperature on the morphology and luminescence properties of ZnO nanostructures has been investigated. ZnO nanowires, nanoflowres and nanotetrapods have been formed upon the Si(1 0 0) substrates at different source temperatures ranging from 1100 to 1200 °C. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed increase green emission intensity as the source temperature was decreased and ZnO nanowires had the strongest intensity of UV emission compared with other nanostructures. In addition, the growth mechanism of the ZnO nanostructures is discussed based on the reaction conditions.     

Magnetotransport properties of patterned magnetic Ni wires of submicrometric dimensions

Submicrometric Ni wires have been obtained by electron beam lithography to study their magnetic behavior by magnetotransport measurements. The magnetization reversal of these patterned nanostructures is driven by a combination of two mechanisms: coherent rotation processes, that govern the rotation when the magnetization direction of the lines is away from wire axis, and incoherent curling mechanisms that drive the reversal when the magnetization is closely parallel to line direction.     

半胱氨酸在银基底表面吸附机理的拉曼光谱研究

以具有表面增强拉曼散射 (SERS)活性的银镜为基底 ,将半胱氨酸组装到银基底表面 ;主要通过调整氨基酸溶液的pH值控制该组装过程。利用表面增强拉曼散射光谱对半胱氨酸小分子在银基底表面的吸附方式、作用机理进行了详细的探讨和研究。结果表明 ,只有当溶液的pH值接近或高于等电点时 ,半胱氨酸分子才能以 -COO- Ag+形式被有效组装到银基底的表面 ,形成表面带有自由疏基 (-SH)的半胱氨酸单分子膜 ,从而为硒代环糊精以 -S-Se-键形式组装到上述组装体系的表面提供了可能。本文的研究将为利用分子光谱探索含硒酶活性机理和进一步提高酶活性奠定基础。