Investigation of thermostability and phonon–phonon interactions in Mo6S3I6 nanowires by Raman scattering spectroscopy

Detailed Raman scattering measurements were performed on molybdenum–sulfur–iodine nanowires (Mo₆S₃I₆). At room temperature, 21 well‐resolved Raman modes were experimentally observed for the first time in this new compound. The phase stability and vibrational properties of the nanowires were investigated by different temperature treatments. High‐temperature Raman spectra showed that the phase separation of Mo₆S₃I₆ nanowires took place between 573 and 673 K, followed by appearance of a new mode at 819 cm⁻¹ characteristic of the MoO₃ phase. Low‐temperature Raman scattering spectra showed a significant difference in phonon–phonon interactions between internal and external Raman modes of Mo₆S₃I₆ nanowires. These interesting vibrational properties can give new insights for improved material preparation and achievement of higher conductivity and other functional properties of these otherwise interesting materials. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of spin–phonon coupling in LiFe1 − xMnxPO4olivines

LiFe_{1 − x}Mn_xPO₄ olivines are promising material for improved performance of Li‐ion batteries. Spin–phonon coupling of LiFe_{1 − x}Mn_xPO₄ (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5) olivines is studied through temperature‐dependent Raman spectroscopy. Among the observed phonon modes, the external mode at ~263 cm⁻¹ is directly correlated with the motions of magnetic Fe²⁺/Mn²⁺ ions. This mode displays anomalous temperature‐dependent behavior near the Néel temperature, indicating a coupling of this mode with spin ordering. As Mn doping increases, the anomalous behavior becomes clearly weaker, indicating the spin–phonon coupling quickly decreases. Our analyses show that the quick decrease of spin–phonon coupling is due to decrease of the strength of spin–phonon coupling, but not change of spin‐ordering feature with Mn doping. Importantly, we suggest that the low electrochemical activity of LiMnPO₄ is correlated with the weak spin–phonon coupling strength, but not with the weak ferromagnetic ground state. Our work would play an important role as a guide in improving the performances of future Li‐ion batteries. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopy for study of interplay between phonon confinement and Fano effect in silicon nanowires

A combined effect of doping (type and species) and size on Raman scattering from silicon (Si) nanowires (NWs) has been presented here to study interplay between quantum confinement and Fano effects. The SiNWs prepared from low doping Si wafers show only confinement effect, as evident from the asymmetry in the Raman line‐shape, irrespective of the doping type. On the other hand SiNWs prepared from wafer with high doping shows the presence of electron–phonon interaction in addition to the phonon confinement effect as revealed from the presence of asymmetry and antiresonence in the corresponding Raman spectra. This combined effect induces an extra asymmetry in the lower energy side of Raman peak for n‐type SiNWs whereas the asymmetry flips from lower energy side to the higher energy side of the Raman peak in p‐type SiNWs. Such an interplay can be represented by considering a general Fano‐Raman line‐shape equation to take care of the combined effect in SiNWs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polarized Raman scattering in helimagnetic β‐MnO2

A rutile β‐MnO₂ film was grown on MgO substrate using plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE) monitored by reflection high‐energy electron diffraction (RHEED). Polarized Raman spectra at various temperatures were obtained to investigate the influence of the helimagnetic structure on the vibrational modes of β‐MnO₂. A red shift of E_g modes indicates a gradual formation of spin angles between neighboring Mn⁴⁺ ions. The intensities of the E_g and A_1g modes with y‐polarized incidence increase remarkably below the Néel temperature. A new view as vibrational mode projection (VMP) indicates the interactions between the magnetic component of incident light and the helimagnetic structure. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman investigations of Zn1−xCoxO nanocrystals: role of starting precursors on vibrational properties

The Raman spectra of sol–gel derived Co‐doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in the spectral range 100–1500 cm⁻¹ were investigated. In the sol–gel method, three different series of Co‐doped ZnO particles, i.e. Zn_1−xCo_xO (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20), were obtained using three different starting precursors, viz. cobalt chloride hexahydrate, cobalt acetate tetrahydrate, and cobalt nitrate hexahydrate, respectively. It has been observed that cobalt acetate is a better precursor in comparison to cobalt chloride and cobalt nitrate to obtain single‐phase Co‐doped ZnO NPs. As for cobalt acetate‐derived NPs, no hidden secondary phase of Co₃O₄ was observed for the lower (x = 0.05) Co concentration. The Fröhlich interaction associated with the longitudinal modes was found to be destroyed with increasing Co concentration due to structural disorder and defects induced by the dopant. In addition to ZnO and Co₃O₄ vibrational modes, a few additional modes near 550 and 715 cm⁻¹ were also observed in all cases, which could be attributed to the modes due to Co doping in ZnO. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Near‐forward/high‐pressure‐backward Raman study of Zn1 − xBexSe (x ~ 0.5) – evidence for percolation behavior of the long (Zn―Se) bond

The apparently universal 1‐bond → 2‐mode percolation behavior in the Raman spectra of zincblende semiconductor alloys is generally observed for the short bond only, and not for the long one. In this work we perform a combined high‐pressure‐backward/near‐forward Raman study of the leading percolation‐type (Zn,Be)Se alloy (~50 at.% Be), which exhibits a distinct percolation doublet in the spectral range of its short Be―Se bond, in search of a Zn―Se analogue. The high‐pressure‐backward insight is not conclusive per se, but clarifies the perspective behind the near‐forward Raman study. The latter reveals an unique Zn―Se phonon–polariton. Its fair contour modeling depending on the scattering angle is achieved within the linear dielectric approach, based on ellipsometry measurement of the ZnBeSe refractive index. Somewhat surprisingly this reveals that the phonon–polariton in question is a ‘fractional’ one in that it carries only half of the available Zn―Se oscillator strength, as ideally expected in case of a BeSe‐like bimodal Raman behavior of the long Zn―Se bond. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectral probe on increased local vibrational modes and phonon lifetimes in Ho3+‐doped Bi2O3 micro‐rods

We report the appearance and enhancement in intensity of impurity related local vibrational modes in Bi₂O₃ : Ho micro‐rods along with normal modes. Pure and Ho‐doped Bi₂O₃ micro‐rods were synthesized by conventional co‐precipitation method at 60 °C. The structural and morphological studies were carried out using powder X‐ray diffraction technique and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Raman spectroscopic studies reveal the existence of local phonon vibrational modes (LVM) due to the incorporation of Ho³⁺. Harmonic approximation method was employed to find the dopant‐related peak in the Raman spectra. Variation in full width at half maximum for LVM with increase in Ho³⁺ was also investigated. This increase in FWHM indicates the decrease in crystallinity of the doped samples. The phonon lifetime calculation carried out for each samples and the decrease in phonon lifetime with doping concentration make this material a potential candidate for optical and electronic applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Micro‐Raman study of orbiton–phonon coupling in YbVO3

First‐order and multiphonon Raman active excitations are studied in YbVO₃ as a function of temperature in the orthorhombic and monoclinic phases. Below T ≃ 170 K, a G‐type orbital ordering with a concomitant monoclinic transition occurs. They enhance the phonon polarizabilities, allowing the resolution of room‐temperature bands, and activate new excitations around 700 cm⁻¹. Below T ∼ 65 K, the 700 cm⁻¹ excitations disappear, indicating a C‐type orbital ordering and a return to the orthorhombic structure. The observed phonon combinations around 1400 cm⁻¹ with a dominant Jahn‐Teller vibration at ∼690 cm⁻¹ reflect a possible orbiton‐phonon coupling. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resonant Raman scattering in CdSxSe1−x nanocrystals: effects of phonon confinement,composition, and elastic strain

Optical phonon modes, confined in CdS_xSe_1−x nanocrystal (NC) quantum dots (≈2 nm in radius) grown in a glass matrix by the melting‐nucleation method, were studied by resonant Raman scattering (RRS) spectroscopy and theoretical modeling. The formation of nanocrystalline quantum dots (QDs) is evidenced by the observation of absorption peaks and theoretically expected resonance bands in the RRS excitation spectra. This system, a ternary alloy, offers the possibility to investigate the interplay between the effects of phonon localization by disorder and phonon confinement by the NC/matrix interface. Based on the concept of propagating optical phonons, which is accepted for two‐mode pseudo‐binary alloys in their bulk form, we extended the continuous lattice dynamics model, which has successfully been used for nearly spherical NCs of binary materials, to the present case. After determining the alloy composition for NCs (that was evaluated with only 2–3% uncertainty using the bulk longitudinal optical phonon wavenumbers) and the NC size (using atomic force microscopy and optical absorption data), the experimental RRS spectra were described rather well by this theory, including the line shape and polarization dependence of the scattering intensity. Even though the presence of a compressive strain in the NCs (introduced by the matrix) masks the expected downward shift owing to the phonons' spatial quantization, the asymmetric broadening of both Raman peaks is similar to that characteristic of NCs of pure binary materials. Although with some caution, we suggest that both CdSe‐like and CdS‐like optical phonon modes indeed are propagating within the NC size unless the alloy is considerably heterogeneous. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ca‐doped Ba2Cu3O7–δ bicrystal junctions fabricated on asymmetric SrTiO3 substrates

Bicrystal grain–boundary Josephson junctions of Ca–doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7–δ that is Y_0.7Ca_0.3Ba₂Cu₃O_7–δ were fabricated on three bicrystal SrTiO₃ (001) substrates with asymmetric 30°, 40° and 45° orientations. An enhancement of the critical current density in these Ca–doped junctions was observed when compared with normal YBCO grain–boundary junctions with similar angular orientations. The observed increase in the critical current density is large for the junctions fabricated on the asymmetric 30° bicrystal substrate and small or negligible, for those on the asymmetric 45° bicrystal substrate. The critical current was modulated by a magnetic field applied in the plane of the junctions. However, the Fraunhofer pattern observed due to the applied magnetic field deviates from the ideal one.     

Darling–Dennison resonance of thiourea adsorbed on the silver electrode revealed by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

We report surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) of Darling–Dennison resonance of thiourea on Ag electrode excited at 514.5 nm laser excitation. Darling–Dennison resonance indicates that two degenerate Raman modes interact with each other and their degenerate first‐order overtone modes obtain energy and appear in Raman spectra. Our study showed that the ratio of intensity of the Darling–Dennison resonance is up to 0.24 of its fundamental Raman intensity, when the applied electrode voltage is at –0.4 V versus the saturated calomel electrode. This phenomenon was also observed on the Ag island film surface at ambient condition. These observations demonstrated strong evidence for Darling–Dennison resonance band in SERS. The implications of these observations are also discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hyper‐Raman and Raman scattering in paratellurite TeO2

Raman spectra of the tetragonal structure of paratellurite TeO₂ have been revisited avoiding anomalous polarization‐selection‐rules violations previously observed and due to optical activity. We present a complementary hyper‐Raman scattering study of paratellurite. Wavenumber and symmetry assignments are given for all expected 21 Raman active optical branches, except one LO component (out of the eight expected TO–LO pairs) of the polar doublet E modes. Also, the four expected hyper‐Raman active A₂ (TO) modes have been observed. Moreover, we have observed a strong Kleinman‐disallowed hyper‐Rayleigh signal, which is tentatively assigned as a first evidence of hyper‐Rayleigh optical activity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman studies of α‐aminophosphinic inhibitors of metalloenzymes

Here, we report the nature of new di‐α‐amino (L¹–L³) and α‐amino‐α‐hydroxyphosphinic (L⁴–L⁶) acids, which are considered potential inhibitors of the aminopeptidase N, adsorbed on a colloidal silver surface by means of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. In order to reveal the adsorption mechanism of these species from their SERS spectra, Fourier‐transform Raman (FT‐RS) spectra of these nonadsorbed molecules were measured. By examining the enhancement, shift in wavenumbers, and changes in breadth of the SERS bands due to the adsorption process, we revealed that the tilted compounds interact with the colloidal silver substrate mainly through the benzene ring, amino group, and phosphinic moiety in the following way. The benzene ring of L² and L³ is ‘standing up’ on the colloidal silver surface, and the C N bond is almost vertical to it, while the tilt angle between the O PO bond and this surface is greater than 45°. On the other hand, for L¹, L⁴, and L⁵, the aromatic ring and C N bond are arranged more or less tilted, and the tilt angle between the O PO bond and the silver substrate is smaller than 45°. The elongation of the bond to the benzene ring, the L⁶ case, produces an almost horizontal orientation of the benzene ring and the O PO bond on the silver nanoparticles. For these ligands, the complement inhibition IC₅₀ tested in vitro using porcine kidney leucine aminopeptidase was correlated mainly with the behavior of the O PO and C CH N fragments on the silver surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of surface oxygen vacancy position in SnO2 nanocrystals by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectra acquired from SnO₂ nanocrystals with different sizes show a size-independent Raman mode at ∼574 cm⁻¹. The intensity increases as the nanocrystal size decreases and this tendency is contrary to that of the normal bulk Raman modes. By considering the existence of oxygen vacancies at the nanocrystal surface, we adopt the density functional theory to calculate the Raman spectra with different oxygen vacancy positions and concentrations. The results clearly demonstrate that the in-plane oxygen vacancy is responsible for the 574 cm⁻¹ mode and the intensity enhancement is a result of the higher in-plane oxygen vacancy concentration.     

Study of asymmetric wavenumber shift of the Fermi doublet ν1 − 2ν2 in the Raman spectrum of liquid carbon disulfide

The Raman spectra of liquid carbon disulfide (CS₂) diluted with benzene (C₆H₆) have been measured. By changing the CS₂, the concentration, we found an asymmetric wavenumber shift phenomenon. With decreasing concentration of CS₂, the position of the ν₁ (655 cm⁻¹) band remains practically unchanged, and the 2ν₂ (796 cm⁻¹) band shifts toward higher wavenumbers. To interpret this asymmetric wavenumber shift phenomenon of the Fermi doublet ν₁ − 2ν₂ in the Raman spectra satisfactorily, we propose a modified Bertran model. The values of the Fermi resonance (FR) parameters of CS₂ at different concentrations were calculated using the Bertran equations. In addition, we found the fundamental ν₂, which should be independent of the FR interaction, shifted to higher wavenumbers as the concentration decreased. This shift was probably driven by the tuning of the FR. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temperature‐dependent Raman scattering in ferroelectric Bi4−xNdxTi3O12(x = 0, 0.5, 0.85) single crystals

The temperature‐dependent Raman spectra of ferroelectric Bi_4−xNd_xTi₃O₁₂(x = 0, 0.5, 0.85) single crystals were recorded from 100 to 800 K. It was found that there is a critical Nd content x₀ between 0.5 and 0.85. The Nd³⁺ ions prefer to replace Bi³⁺ ions in pseudo‐perovskite layers when x < x₀, while they might begin to incorporate into (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ layers when x ≥ x₀. Nd substitution leads to a decrease in the ferroelectric–paraelectric transition temperature (T_c). A monoclinic distortion of orthorhombic structure occurs in Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ crystals at temperatures below 200 K. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Accurate intensity calibration for low wavenumber (−150 to 150 cm−1) Raman spectroscopy using the pure rotational spectrum of N2

We report on an accurate intensity calibration method for low wavenumber Raman spectroscopy. It uses the rotational Raman spectrum of N₂. The intensity distributions in the rotational Raman spectra of diatomic molecules are theoretically well established. They can be used as primary intensity standards for intensity calibration. The intensity ratios of the Stokes and anti‐Stokes transitions originating from the same rotational levels are not affected by thermal population. Taking the effect of rotation–vibration interactions appropriately into account, we are able to calculate these intensity ratios theoretically. The comparison between the observed and calculated ratios of the N₂ pure rotational spectrum provides an accurate relative sensitivity curve (error ~5 × 10⁻⁴) in the wavenumber region of −150 to 150 cm⁻¹. We determine the temperature of water solely from the low wavenumber Raman spectra, using a thus calibrated spectrometer. The Raman temperature shows an excellent agreement with the thermocouple temperature, with only 0.5 K difference. The present calibration technique will be highly useful in many applications of low wavenumber quantitative Raman spectroscopy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tuning of phonon anharmonicity in pyrochlore titanates: temperature‐dependent Raman studies of Sm2Ti2‐xZrxO7 (x=0, 1/2, 3/4, and 2) and stuffed spin‐ice Ho2 + xTi2 − xO7 − x/2 (x=0, 1/3, and 2/3)

Anomalous temperature dependence of Raman phonon wavenumbers attributed to phonon–phonon anharmonic interactions has been studied in two different families of pyrochlore titanates. We bring out the role of the ionic size of titanium and the inherent vacancies of pyrochlore in these anomalies by studying the effect of replacement of Ti^{4 +} by Zr^{4 +} in Sm₂Ti₂O₇ and by stuffing Ho^{3 +} in place of Ti^{4 +} in Ho₂Ti₂O₇ with appropriate oxygen stoichiometry. Our results show that an increase in the concentration of the larger ion, i.e. Zr^{4 +} or Ho^{3 +}, reduces the phonon anomalies, thus implying a decrease in the phonon–phonon anharmonic interactions. In addition, we find signatures of coupling between a phonon and crystal field transition in Sm₂Ti₂O₇, manifested as an unusual increase in the phonon intensity with increasing temperature. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.