Tailoring of the functional properties of sol–gel films on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/(100)Si substrates: (Pb,La)TiO3/(Pb,Ca)TiO3 multilayer heterostructures

Preferentially oriented sol–gel (Pb,Ca)TiO₃/(Pb,La)TiO₃/(Pb,Ca)TiO₃ and (Pb,La)TiO₃/(Pb,Ca)TiO₃/(Pb,La)TiO₃ multilayer heterostructure thin films deposited on silicon-based substrates have been studied and compared with identically prepared (Pb,La)TiO₃ (PTL) and (Pb,Ca)TiO₃ (PTC) films. The existence in their texture of two components that contribute to the net polarization in the direction normal to the plane of the film, 001 and 111, results in significant ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties. P_r=26 Ccm^-2 and =28.5×10^-9 Ccm^-2K^-1, and P_r=17 Ccm^-2 and =22.8×10^-9 Ccm^-2K^-1, have been achieved, respectively, in the PTL/PTC/PTL and PTC/PTL/PTC heterostructures. The surface roughness of these films provides a high specific surface that can be interesting for infrared detectivity. An increase of the dielectric permittivity in the whole temperature interval up to the transition temperature has been observed for both heterostructures with respect to the PTL and PTC films. This effect is due to a release of stress in the heterostructures that is revealed by the increase of the tetragonal distortion, c/a, of these films. PACS 68.55.Jk; 77.80.-e; 77.84.Dy     

Dual-oriented thin crystals of molybdenum grown under Ar+ ion bombardment

Ar⁺ sputtering of an Cu(111) surface while simultaneously supplying Mo atoms is known to induce an oriented growth of Mo thin crystals, or seed-layers, on evolving conical Cu protrusions. The seed-layers thus formed are shown to be dual-oriented, or bicrystalline, consisting of columnar crystallites grown homo-epitaxially. The orientation relationship between the two types of crystallites was (100)_I (111)_II with [001]_I [110]_II, and this bicrystallinity probably resulted from a non-uniform charge-up of the layers' growth front. As concluded from high-resolution electron microscopy, the Mo(100) stacking is elastically converted into the Mo(111) stacking and vice versa, under the influence of tensile stress. The homo-epitaxy that the seed-layers exhibited is believed to reflect the mutual convertibility of the Mo(100) and (111) stackings.     

Influence of ambient oxygen pressure on the preferred orientation, microstructures, and dielectric properties of (Ba1-xSrx)TiO3 thin films with compositionally graded structures

Compositionally graded (Ba_1-xSr_x)TiO₃ (BST) thin films, with x decreasing from 0.25 to 0.0, were deposited on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si(100) substrates by pulsed-laser ablation at 600 °C and under ambient oxygen pressures ranging from 50 to 400 mTorr. The influence of the ambient gas pressure on the preferred orientation, microstructures, and dielectric properties of compositionally graded BST films was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and dielectric frequency spectra, respectively. As the ambient oxygen pressure was increased, the preferred orientation evolved in the order: (100)+(110)(110)+(111) random orientation, and the surface roughness of the graded BST films also increased. The graded BST films deposited at high ambient oxygen pressures (300400 mTorr) exhibited a grainy structure with polycrystalline grains throughout the film thickness, whereas the graded films deposited at low ambient oxygen pressures (50200 mTorr) possessed a columnar structure. The evolution of the microstructure was ascribed to the different physical and chemical properties of the species that were incident onto the substrates at the various oxygen pressures. The dielectric properties of the graded BST films were dependent upon the ambient oxygen pressures. The graded BST films deposited at 200 mTorr exhibited the highest dielectric constant. PACS 77.55.+f; 77.22.Ch; 81.15.Fg     

Atomic adsorption of oxygen on Cu(111) and Cu(110)

We have studied angle-resolved inverse photoemission ( = 9.7 eV) after room temperature adsorption of oxygen on Cu(111) and Cu(110). On Cu(111) exposure to 500 L induces a band (3.0 eV aboveE _F at) which shows clear dispersion (1.0 eV) to higher energies for off normal incidence. Since no LEED superstructure is seen for that system, our results present strong evidence for the presence of short-range surface order. Two adsorbate bands are identified (2.8 eV and 6.3 eV at) on Cu(110)p(2×1)-O. Our results are in good agreement with a long-bridge adsorption site.     

Microstructure of fiber-like SiC/Si3N4 composite particulate

The microstructure of fiber-like SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate was investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. The SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate consisted of a-SiC core and a -Si₃N₄ outer shell. Two kinds of composite particulate were distinguished when the observed orientation of the SiC core was <110>. In one type of the SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate, a crystal relationship of (111)-SiC | (102) -Si₃N₄ and (111)-SiC (114) -Si₃N₄ was identified; in the other type of the SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate, a crystal relationship of (111)-SiC (001) -Si₃N₄, and (111)-SiC (101) -Si₃N₄ was observed.     

Characteristics of Fe2O3 Nanoparticles from Doped Low-pressure H2/O2/Ar Flames

A burner stabilized premixed low-pressure flame has been used to generate iron-oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles with sizes in the range 7–20nm. The H₂/O₂/Ar flames were doped with different amounts of iron-pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)₅) with concentrations in the range 524–2096ppm. The influence of precursor concentration on composition, structure, morphology, and size have been studied utilizing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), measurements of the specific surface area (BET), and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The product particles consist of both, the - and the -phase of Fe₂O₃. Average particle sizes were measured in the range 7.4–16nm depending on precursor concentration and flame conditions.     

Magnetic phase transitions in 187-01187-01187-01

We report SR measurements of Pr₂CuO_4– and (Pr_2–xCe_x)CuO_4– single crystals in the temperature range 4.2K300K. Two spin reorientation phase transitions were observed, although neutron scattering experiment could not detect these phase transitions. These allow us to conclude that magnetic moments of the Cu atoms order in an antiferromagnetic noncollinear cross like structure including a hidden canting spin arrangement.     

Upper critical fields of single-crystalline and polycrystalline Ca-Sr-Bi-Cu-O compounds

The ac resistivity of a 110 K phase multiphase polycrystalline Ca-Sr-Bi-Cu-O compound and an 85 K phase single-crystalline Ca_0.9Sr_2.1Cu_2.0O_{8 +} has been measured in various magnetic fields up to 8 T. Values forB _c ^2/ (0) of 71.5 T and forB _c2 (0) of 542 T are found for the 85 K phase sample. A value forB _c2(0) of 57.9 T is estimated for the 110K phase compound.     

Electron-microscopy and electron-diffraction study of order-disorder phenomena in the intercalate C60(I2)2−x

Single crystals of iodine-intercalated C₆₀ have been examined by transmission electron microscopy. Tilting series of Electron Diffraction Patterns (EDP) confirm that it has a simple hexagonal structure with c/a1 in accordance with the results of X-ray diffraction, which allows higher precision c/a=1.0024. Cooling and heating experiments were performed in the vacuum of the microscope to investigate the order — disorder phenomena. High-Resolution Electron Microscopy (HREM) images and electron diffraction patterns reveal that the c/2-displacement along the c-direction plays an important role in the transition from the simple hexagonal structure into the fcc structure when iodine is lost from the specimen or vice versa. The orientation relationship between the intercalate and the C₆₀ structure is [01 10]_h[1 10]_fcc and (001)_h(110)_fcc. A model is proposed to interpret the features observed in EDP and HREM consistently.On leave from Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, People's Republic of ChinaOn leave from Beijing Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Republic of China     

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.     

Size and Interface Control of Novel Nanocrystalline Materials Using Pulsed Laser Deposition

We have developed a novel method based upon pulsed laser deposition to produce nanocrystalline materials with an accurate grain size and interface control. Using this method, the grain size in the case of Cu thin films was controlled by introducing a few monolayers of insoluble elements having high surface energy such as W, which increases interfacial energy and provides more nucleation sites. The grain size is determined by the thickness of Cu layer and the substrate temperature at which it transforms into islands (nanocrystalline grains) of fairly uniform size which we desgnate as self-assembling approach. Using this approach, the grain size was reduced from 160nm (Cu or Si (100) substrate) to 70–80nm for a simple W layer (Cu/W/Si (100)) to 4nm for a multilayer (Cu/W/Cu/W/Si (100)) thin film. The hardness of these films was evaluated using a nanoindentation technique, a significant increase in hardness from 2.0GPa for coarse-grained 180nm to 12.5GPa for 7nm films was observed. However, there is decrease in hardness below 7nm for copper nanocrystals. The increase in hardness with the decrease in grain size can be rationalized by Hall–Petch model. However, the decrease in slope and eventually the decrease in hardness below a certain grain size can be explained by a new model based upon grain-boundary deformation (sliding). We also used a similar materials processing approach to produce quantum dots in semiconductor heterostructures consisting of Ge and ZnO dots or nanocrystals in AlN or Al₂O₃ matrix. The latter composites exhibit novel optoelectronic properties with quantum confinement of phonons, electrons, holes and excitons. Similarly, we incorporated metal nanocrystals in ceramics to produce improved mechanical and optical properties.     

On the critical exponent for random walk intersections

The exponent _d for the probability of nonintersection of two random walks starting at the same point is considered. It is proved that 1/2<₂3/4. Monte Carlo simulations are done to suggest ₂=0.61 and ₃0.29.     

Electron and ion emission of faces of a tungsten crystal

The emission properties of the close-packed (110) and porous (111) faces of a tungsten crystal were studied with band-shaped samples in planar devices at a residual gas pressure of 10^–9 torr. The experimental apparatus has a provision for simultaneous measurement of the emission currents from two samples. The orientation of the samples is determined by chemical etching and by x-ray diffraction. The most probable values of _(hkl) for the (110) and (111) faces were found to be 5. 30 ± 0. 03 and 4. 40 ± 0. 02 eV, respectively, by the method of thermionic emission and the method of positive surface ionization of lithium atoms. The peak observed at temperatures < 1500 °K on the logI⁺ = f(5040/T) curve for the (111) face is explained, following Dobretsov, in terms of an increase in the work function of this surface at low coverages (­ 1) by adsorbed lithium atoms.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii Fizika, No. 6, pp. 7–11, June, 1970.     

Surface (110) of elementary semiconductors with diamond-type structure during stratified growth from an atomic beam in a vacuum

The stratified growth of an ideal crystal with diamond structure from an atomic beam in a vacuum is investigated by using the kinetic method of the theory of crystal growth. Equations are obtained to determine the mean concentrations _n of molecules consisting of n atoms on the (110) surface of the crystal. In the stationary case, an approximate analytic solution is obtained with a nonlinear dependence of ₁, ₂, and on the atomic beam density.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 92–96, Decmeber, 1981.     

The lattice deformation and the energy of antiphase boundaries in Fe-Si alloys

The lattice deformation across the antiphase boundary and the energy of both types (a/2111 anda(100) of antiphase boundaries lying in {110} plane are calculated using a series of three interatomic potentials fitted to experimental data. It is shown that the relaxation of atomic planes in the vicinity of antiphase boundary is important for thea/2111 antiphase boundary and is negligible for a 100 antiphase boundary in the DO₃ structure.The author is grateful to Dr. F.Kroupa and to Dr. A.Gemperle for valuable discussions.     

PAC investigations of Au(110) 1×2-surfaces

Au(110) surfaces with (1×2)-reconstruction have been investigated using perturbed -angular correlation (PAC) spectroscopy. From the two observed electric-field-gradient tensors at¹¹¹In probe atoms, deposited at room temperature in a concentration of about 10^–4 ML, the occupation of substitutional sites in the densely-packed rows along [110]-directions and ninefold coordinated sites within the (111)-oriented microfacets, respectively, can be concluded. Annealing to about 600 K leads to bulk migration of the In atoms, detected by an increase of probe atoms with cubic surroundings. Due to this behaviour the order-disorder transitions of these surfaces occurring atT _c=649 K cannot be detected in our PAC experiments.     

Magnetic states of Cu1 sublattice in YBa2Cu3Oy high Tc compounds at different oxygen content

Magnetic states of Cu1 sublattice in YBa₂Cu₃O _y : 1%⁵⁷Fe compounds with 6.09 y6.98 were investigated by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at 1.68T300 K. It has been found that, upon reducingy, the magnetic transition temperatureT _ml changes from 3.3 to 12 K aroundy6.4 where the superconductivity disappears. The magnetic phase diagram for the Cu1 sublattice is plotted.     

Thickness dependence of the spin- and angle-resolved photoemission of ultrathin,epitaxial Ni(111)/W(110) layers

The thickness dependence of the magnetic band structure of ultrathin, epitaxial Ni(111)/W(110) layers has been studied by spin and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The changes of the spin-resolved photoemission intensities upon reducing the layer thickness depend strongly on the wavevector along the -L line of the Brillouin zone. The measured exchange splitting atk 1/3(-L) andk 1/2(-L) is found to be independent of the layer thickness for layers consisting of 3 or more atomic layers, while decreases rapidly with the layer thickness atk2/3(-L). This behavior is very similar to the temperature dependence of the spin-resolved photoemission spectra of bulk Ni(111) at the samek-points.     

Synthesis of epitaxial γAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films by thermal oxidation of AlN/sapphire(0001) thin films

The synthesis of epitaxial Al₂O₃ films by oxidizing AlN/sapphire(0001) films was investigated in a synchrotron X-ray scattering experiment. Porous Al₂O₃ nucleates on the surface of the AlN film when annealed above 700 °C in oxygen ambient. As the annealing temperature increases above 900 °C, the entire AlN film is oxidized into an epitaxial Al₂O₃ film that has a cubic spinel structure. With increasing oxidation temperature, more oxygen atoms are incorporated into the oxide structure, resulting in denser oxide films with a larger lattice constant. The crystal domain size increases from 50 Å to 210 Å, suggesting that the initial nucleation of the Al₂O₃ crystalline domains is followed by gradual grain growth. PACS 61.10.Eq; 81.65.Mq; 68.55.Jk; 68.35.Ct     

Thin films for slow positron generation

We report on calculated slow-positron yields from m thick W(110) and Cu(111) single crystals in a transmission geometry to be used in conjuction with a²²Na ⁺ source. The fast to slow positron moderation efficiencies were found to be comparable ( 10^–3 to the more conventional single-crystal moderators used in the backscattering geometry with a⁵⁸Co source. This allows the construction of more simplified slow-positron beams. We also calculate the brightness enhancement and efficiency of ultrathin single-crystal metal foils used for remoderation of the slow-positron beam. The results are consistent with recent experiments, while they are smaller than previous theoretical estimates.