Characterization and antibacterial functions of Ag–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and W–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanostructured thin films prepared by sol-gel/laser-induced technique

A novel sol-gel/laser-induced technique (SGLIT) has been developed to form nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO₂) based thin films with an improved antibacterial performance. TiO₂ precursor films loaded with W⁺⁶ and Ag⁺² ions (W–TiO₂, Ag–TiO₂) were prepared separately by sol-gel method and spin-coated on microscopic glass slides. As-dried films were subjected to KrF excimer laser pulses at optimized parameters to generate mesoporous anatase and rutile phases at room temperature. The anatase phase was obtained after irradiation with 10 laser pulses only at 75–85 mJ/cm² fluence in W–TiO₂ films. However, higher number of laser pulses and higher W⁺⁶ content favored the formation of rutile. Whereas Ag–TiO₂ films exhibited anatase up to 200 laser pulses at the same fluence. The films were characterized by using XRD, FEG-SEM, TEM and UV-Vis spectrophotometer to investigate the crystallographic structure, phase transformation, surface morphology, film thickness and the optical properties. A crystallite size of approximately 20 nm was achieved from the anatase prepared by SGLIT. The films exhibited an enhanced antibacterial function against E-Coli cells under the UV excitation.     

N2微空心阴极放电特性及其阴极溅射的PIC/MC模拟

采用两维PIC/MCC模型模拟了氮气微空心阴极放电以及轰击离子 (N₂⁺,N⁺) 的钛阴极溅射. 主要计算了氮气微空心阴极放电离子 (N₂⁺,N⁺) 及溅射原子Ti的行为分布, 并研究了溅射Ti 原子的热化过程. 结果表明: 在模拟条件下, 空心阴极效应是负辉区叠加的电子震荡; 在对应条件下, 微空心较传统空心放电两种离子 (N₂⁺,N⁺) 密度均大两个量级, 两种离子的平均能量的分布及大小几乎相同; 在放电空间N⁺的密度约为N₂⁺的1/6, 最大能量约大2倍; 在不同参数 (P, T, V)下, 轰击阴极内表面的氮离子(N₂⁺,N⁺)的密度近似均匀, 其平均能量几乎相等; 从阴极溅射出的Ti原子的初始平均能量约6.8 eV, 离开阴极约0.15 mm处几乎完全被热化. 模拟结果为N₂微空心阴极放电等离子体特性的认识提供了参考依据. 关键词： 微空心阴极放电 PIC/MC模拟 2等离子体')" href="#">N₂等离子体     

Effect of doping on the magnetic properties of the low-dimensional antiferromagnet CuO

The effect of doping with Li⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Ga³⁺ ions on the magnetic susceptibility of the low-dimensional antiferromagnet CuO (T _N=230 K) has been studied within a broad temperature range of 77–600 K. The solubility of impurity ions in the CuO lattice is low, ⩽3%. Impurity ions, similar to intrinsic defects, distort antiferromagnetic coupling and can shift the long-and short-range magnetic-order regions toward lower T. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1876–1880 (October 1998)     

Balmer Hβ vs. Dβ line intensity in the collisions of H+, H2 +, H3 +, D+, D2 +, and D3 + ions with “realistic” metal surface at energies below 1 keV

The intensities of hydrogen H_β and deuterium D_β spectral lines of the Balmer series were measured as a function of collision energy when H⁺, H₂ ⁺, H₃ ⁺, D⁺, D₂ ⁺, and D₃ ⁺ ions impinged on Al, Ti, Cu, Mo, W, and Pb targets. The collision energies were kept in the 100–1000 eV range. The target surface was contaminated with hydrocarbons from the vacuum pumping system and possibly also by oxygen molecules due to limited vacuum conditions. At projectile velocities above 200 km/s the luminescence of backscattered deuterium atoms is about 30–50% weaker than that of hydrogen atoms.     

Spectroscopy study of air plasma induced by IR CO2 laser pulses

A spectroscopic study of ambient air plasma, initially at room temperature and pressures ranging from 32 to 101 kPa, produced by high-power transverse excitation atmospheric (TEA) CO₂ laser (λ=9.621 and 10.591 μm; τ _FWHM≈64 ns; power densities ranging from 0.29 to 6.31 GW cm⁻²) has been carried out in an attempt to clarify the processes involved in laser-induced breakdown (LIB) air plasma. The strong emission observed in the plasma region is mainly due to electronic relaxation of excited N, O and ionic fragments N⁺. The medium-weak emission is due to excited species O⁺, N²⁺, O²⁺, C, C⁺, C²⁺, H, Ar and molecular band systems of N ₂⁺(_{2}^{+}( B ²\varSigma _u⁺^{2}\varSigma _{\mathrm{u}}^{+} –X ²\varSigma _g⁺)^{2}\varSigma _{\mathrm{g}}^{+}) , N₂(C³ Π _u–B³ Π _g), N ₂⁺(_{2}^{+}( D² Π _g–A² Π _u) and OH(A² Σ ⁺–X² Π). Excitation temperatures of 23400±700 K and 26600±1400 K were estimated by means of N⁺ and O⁺ ionic lines, respectively. Electron number densities of the order of (0.5–2.4)×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ and (0.6–7.5)×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ were deduced from the Stark broadening of several ionic N⁺ and O⁺ lines, respectively. Estimates of vibrational and rotational temperatures of N ₂⁺_{2}^{+} electronically excited species are reported. The characteristics of the spectral emission intensities from different species have been investigated as functions of the air pressure and laser irradiance. Optical breakdown threshold intensities in air at 10.591 μm have been measured.     

Emission of quasi-thermal ions from a solid bombarded by cluster ions

Comparative studies of the emission of quasi-thermal atomic and cluster ions from V, Nb, Ta, Au, and In targets bombarded by cluster ions Au _m ⁻(m = 1–9), as well as from Si and Bi targets bombarded by cluster ions Au _m ⁻(m = 1–9) and Bi _m ⁻(m = 1–5), with energy E ₀ ranging from 6 to 21 keV are carried out. In the case of bombardment by heavy cluster ions, the fraction of the quasi-thermal component in the energy spectra of sputtered atomic ions reaches 50 (for V, In, and Au), 70 (Nb), or more than 90% (Ta). In addition, quasi-thermal ions play a considerable part in the emission of small cluster ions Au₂⁺, In₂⁺, In₃⁺, and Bi _n ⁺(n = 2–7). The results of the generalizing investigation favor the presence of thermal spike conditions at cluster bombardment and their appreciable contribution to the emission of atomic and small cluster ions.     

Structure, electrical properties and temperature characteristics of?Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–Bi0.5K0.5TiO3–Bi0.5Li0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

(1−x−y)Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–xBi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃– yBi_0.5Li_0.5TiO₃ lead-free piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared by an ordinary sintering technique, and their structure, electrical properties, and temperature characteristics have been studied systematically. The ceramics can be well-sintered at 1050–1150 °C. The increase in K⁺ concentration decreases the grain-growth rate and promotes the formation of grains with a cubic shape, while the addition of Li⁺ decreases greatly the sintering temperature and assists in the densification of BNT-based ceramics. The results of XRD diffraction show that K⁺ and Li⁺ diffuse into the Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ lattices to form a solid solution with a pure perovskite structure. As x increases from 0.05 to 0.50, the ceramics transform gradually from rhombohedral phase to tetragonal phase and consequently a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) is formed at 0.15≤x≤0.25. The concentration y of Li⁺ has no obvious influence on the crystal structure of the ceramics. Compared with pure Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃, the partial substitution of K⁺ and Li⁺ for Na⁺ lowers greatly the coercive field E _c and increases the remanent polarization P _r of the ceramics. Because of the MPB, lower E _c and large P _r, the piezoelectricity of the ceramics is improved significantly. For the ceramics with the compositions near the MPB (x=0.15–0.25 and y=0.05–0.10), the piezoelectric properties become optimum: piezoelectric coefficient d ₃₃=147–231 pC/N and planar electromechanical coupling factor k _P=20.2–41.0%. In addition, the ceramics exhibit relaxor characteristic, which probably results from the cation disordering in the 12-fold coordination sites. The depolarization temperature T _d shows a strong dependence on the concentration x of K⁺ and reaches the lowest values at the MPB. The temperature dependences of the ferroelectric and dielectric properties at high temperatures may imply that the ceramics may contain both the polar and non-polar regions at temperatures above T _d.     

Effect of nickel on the structure and bond type in amorphous diamond-like carbon films

Experimental data are presented from studies of the structure and bond type of carbon atoms in amorphous carbon-nickel films deposited from pulsed vacuum-arc discharge plasma sources. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used. The characteristics of the plasmon loss spectra depend significantly on the deposition parameters. Carbon exists in a mixed sp²+sp³ hybridized state in the carbon–nickel films. The ratio of sp³/sp² carbon bonds increases when the nickel content is reduced (from 5.5 to 1.0 atomic %) and the deposition angle is increased. The structure closest to that of diamond was with a substrate bias voltage of –80 to –100 V and a deposition angle of 90°.     

氮气辉光放电阴极鞘层重粒子输运过程研究

采用蒙特卡罗模拟对氮气辉光放电等离子体阴极鞘层内离子(N₂⁺,N⁺)和快中性分子(N_2f)的输运过程进行了研究,计算了阴极鞘层中离子(N₂⁺,N⁺)和快中性分子的能量及角分布的空间变化,较好地解释了实验结果.得到了氮气辉光放电等离子体阴极附近主要存在着能量较低的荷能分子、密度较低的高能原子离子及密度和能量居中的分子离子.诸粒子状态随放电条件而变化.模拟结 关键词：     

Effect of the excimer laser irradiation on sol–gel derived tungsten–titanium dioxide thin films

A novel technique based on the excimer laser induced crystallization and modification of TiO₂ thin films is being reported. W⁺⁶ ions loaded TiO₂ (WTO) precursor films were prepared by a modified sol–gel method and spin-coated onto microscopic glass slides. Pulsed KrF (248 nm, 13 ns) excimer laser was used to irradiate the WTO amorphous films at various laser parameters. Mesoporous and nanostructured films consisting of anatase and rutile were obtained after laser irradiation at room temperature. The effect of varying W⁺⁶ ions concentrations on structural and optical properties the WTO films was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope, UV-Vis spectrophotometer and transmission electron microscope before and after laser treatment. Films irradiated for 10 pulses at 65–75 mJ/cm² laser fluence, exhibited anatase whereas higher parameters promoted the formation of rutile. XPS results revealed WO₃ along with minor proportion of WO₂ compounds after laser irradiation. Photo-absorbance of the WTO films was increased with increase in W⁺⁶ ions concentration in the film. TEM results exhibited a crystallite size of 15 nm which was confirmed from SEM results as well.     

Magnetic moment measurements of picosecond states: New results and open problems

The temperature dependence of the precession of the angular correlation of decay gamma rays from swift¹⁵⁰Sm (2 ₁ ⁺ ) ions traversing a gadolinium foil has been found to be proportional to the foil magnetization, supporting the assertion that the transient hyperfine magnetic field acting on these ions is proportional to the magnetization of the hosts (iron or gadolinium). Similar experiments on¹⁹⁴Pt (2 ₁ ⁺ ) ions traversing iron and gadolinium foils are consistent with both the magnetic moment obtained from Rutgers experiments on iron and with a hyperfine field at Pt ions larger for gadolinium than for iron foils, in agreement with the Chalk River parametrization for heavy nuclei traversing gadolinium foils. Finally, the magnetic moments of the 2 ₁ ⁺ states in^144–150Nd,^145,150Sm and¹⁵²Gd have been measured. These data support the evidence of shell closure atZ=64 forN≤88 andZ=50 forN>90.     

Reduction in the rate of phonon scattering by a spatially correlated system of iron ions and low-temperature “anomaly” of the thermoelectric phenomena in HgSe:Fe crystals

A new effect of the reduction in the rate of phonon scattering by the spatially correlated system of iron ions in HgSe:Fe crystals is detected experimentally and calculated theoretically. The thermoelectric power is measured using HgSe:Fe samples with different iron content in the temperature range 7.5–60 K. It is found that the dependence of the thermoelectric power on iron content exhibits remarkable features at T<10 K: the quantity |α(N _Fe )| increases as the iron concentration increases to N _Fe =5×10¹⁸ cm⁻³, reaches a maximum at N _Fe ≈(1–2)×10¹⁹ cm⁻³, but then monotonically decreases with further increases in N _Fe . It is shown that the obseved increase in the thermoelectric power is due to a reduction in the rate of phonon scattering by the spatially correlated system of Fe³⁺ ions. This new effect is analyzed theoretically, and the theoretical results are compared with the experimental data. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 191–207 (July 1998)     

Numerical study of the effect of gas flow in low pressure inductively coupled Ar/N<Subscript>2</Subscript> plasmas

The effect of gas flow in low pressure inductively coupled Ar/N₂ plasmas operating at the rf frequency of 13.56 MHz and the total gas pressure of 20 mTorr is studied at the gas flows of 5–700 sccm by coupling the plasma simulation with the calculation of flow dynamics. The gas temperature is 300 K and input power is 300 W. The Ar fractions are varied from 0% to 95%. The species taken into account include electrons, Ar atoms and their excited levels, N₂ molecules and their seven different excited levels, N atoms, and Ar⁺, N⁺, N₂ ⁺, N₄ ⁺ ions. 51 chemical reactions are considered. It is found that the electron densities increase and electron temperatures decrease with a rise in gas flow rate for the different Ar fractions. The densities of all the plasma species for the different Ar fractions and gas flow rates are obtained. The collisional power losses in plasma discharges are presented and the effect of gas flow is investigated.     

Study of the plasmas produced during the deposition of TiC/SiC thin films in a hybrid magnetron-laser system

Time- and spatially-resolved optical emission spectroscopy was performed to characterize the plasma produced in a hybrid magnetron-sputtering-laser deposition system, which is used for TiC or SiC thin films preparation. A graphite target was ablated by a KrF excimer laser (λ=248 nm,τ=20 ns) and either Ti or Si targets were used for DC magnetron sputtering in argon ambient. Spectra were measured in the range 250–850 nm. The evolution of the spectra with varying magnetron powers (0–100 W) and argon pressures (0.3–10 Pa) was studied. Spectra of the plasmas produced by a) the magnetron alone, b) the ablation laser alone, and c) the magnetron and the ablation laser together, were recorded. Spectra (a) were dominated by Ar atoms and Ar⁺ ions. Emission lines of Ti and Si were detected, when Ti target and Si target was used, respectively. Spectra (b) revealed emission of C, C⁺, C₂, Ar, Ar⁺. Spectra (c) showed presence of all previously mentioned species and further of Ti⁺ ions emission was detected. The research was supported by Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 202/06/02161, GA ASCR project number A1010110/01 and Institutional Research Plan AV CR No. AV0Z 10100522.     

Preparation, structures and photoluminescent enhancement effect of PbWO4–TiO2 composite nanofilms

A novel route for preparing PbWO₄–TiO₂ nanofilms on a glass substrate is firstly proposed. The collodion is used as a dispersant and film-forming agent. The nanofilms are characterized through SEM, XRD, TG/DTA, PL and IR, respectively. The results of XRD indicate PbWO₄ particles with tetragonal scheelite structure and TiO₂ particles with Anatase phase, and SEM shows they are well dispersed in the substrate. Compared with nanoparticles, when TiO₂ nanoparticles are added in 5% ratio, the PL intensities at 395 nm of PbWO₄ nanofilms are enhanced obviously. IR spectrum reveals a large absorption band between 750 and 870 cm⁻¹, which is the W–O stretching vibration in WO₄ tetrahedron.     

Effect of ethylene carbonate plasticizer and TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles on 49% poly(methyl methacrylate) grafted natural rubber-based polymer electrolyte

The effect of plasticizer and TiO₂ nanoparticles on the conductivity, chemical interaction and surface morphology of polymer electrolyte of MG49–EC–LiClO₄–TiO₂ has been investigated. The electrolyte films were successfully prepared by solution casting technique. The ceramic filler, TiO₂, was synthesized in situ by sol-gel process and was added into the MG49–EC–LiClO₄ electrolyte system. Alternating current electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was employed to investigate the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte films at 25 °C, and the analysis showed that the addition of TiO₂ filler and ethylene carbonate (EC) plasticizer has increased the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte up to its optimum level. The highest conductivity of 1.1 × 10⁻³ Scm⁻¹ was obtained at 30 wt.% of EC. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurement was employed to study the interactions between lithium ions and oxygen atoms that occurred at carbonyl (C=O) and ether (C-O-C) groups. The scanning electron microscopy micrograph shows that the electrolyte with 30 wt.% EC posses the smoothest surface for which the highest conductivity was obtained.     

Diode-laser absorption measurements of CO2, H2O, N2O, and NH3 near 2.0 μm

2 , H₂O, N₂O, and NH₃ concentrations in various flowfields using absorption spectroscopy and extractive sampling techniques. An external-cavity diode laser with a tuning range of 1.953–2.057 μm was used to record absorption lineshapes from measured transitions in the CO₂ 4ν₂ ⁰+ν₃, ν₁+2ν₂ ⁰+ν₃, and 2ν₁+ν₃ bands, H₂O ν₂+ν₃and ν₁+ν₂ bands, N₂O 2ν₁+4ν₂ ⁰, ν₂ ¹+2ν₃, 3ν₁+2ν₂ ⁰, and 4ν₁ bands, and NH₃ν₁+ν₄ and ν₃+ν₄ bands. Measured CO₂, H₂O, and N₂O survey spectra were compared to calculations to verify the HITRAN96 database and used to determine optimum transitions for species detection. Individual lineshape measurements were used to determine fundamental spectroscopic parameters including the line strength, line-center frequency, and self-broadening coefficient of the probed transition. The results represent the first measurements of CO₂, H₂O, N₂O, and NH₃ absorption near 2.0 μm using room-temperature near-IR diode lasers. Received: 12 March 1998/Revised version: 7 May 1998     

Optical absorption behavior of Tl<Superscript>+</Superscript> DOPED Rb(Br<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>I<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>) system

The optical absorption behavior of Tl⁺ doped Rb(Br_1–x I _x ) mixed crystals (with x = 0.00, 0.05, and 0.10) grown under vacuum by slow cooling from the melt has been studied. Absorption spectra of the mixed crystals recorded at room temperature showed that the characteristic A-absorption band of Tl⁺ ions in the Rb(Br_1–x I _x ) system (0.1 mol. %) with x = 0.00 (i.e., RbBr:Tl⁺) broadened with the iodine content towards the low energy side. Changes in the absorption spectra of the mixed crystals are due to creation of some complex centers involving Tl⁺, Br^–, and I^- ions with energy levels inside the band gap while forming the mixed crystal. The absorption spectra of gamma-irradiated mixed crystals showed the F-band, which shifted towards the low energy side due to the existence of iodine ions in the mixed crystals.     

Non-interferometric transient quantitative phase microscopy for ultrafast engineering

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics Bi_0.5(Na_1-x-yK_xAg_y)_0.5TiO₃ [BNKAT(x/y)] have been synthesized by the mixed oxide method. The effects of the amount of K⁺ and Ag⁺ on the electrical properties were examined. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that K⁺ and Ag⁺ ions partially substitute for the Na⁺ ions in Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ and form a solid solution during sintering. At room temperature, the ceramics exhibit good performances with piezoelectric constant d₃₃=189 pC/N, electromechanical coupling factor k_p=35.0%, remanent polarization P_r=39.5 μC/cm², and coercive field E_c=3.3 kV/mm, respectively. The curves of the dielectric constant ε_r and loss tangent tan δ versus temperature show that the transition temperature from ferroelectric to anti-ferroelectric phase decreases with increasing the K⁺ content for the compositions researched. The dependencies of k_p and polarization versus electric (P–E) hysteresis loops on temperature reveal that the depolarization temperature T_d of BNKAT(0.15/0.015) ceramics, which have good piezoelectric properties (d₃₃=134 pC/N, k_p=32.5%) and strong ferroelectricity (P_r=39.5 μC/cm², E_c=4.1 kV/mm) at room temperature, is above 160 °C. PACS 77.22.-d; 77.65.Bn; 77.80.Bh; 77.80.Dj; 77.84.Dy     

Aerosol deposition of detonation nanodiamonds used as nucleation centers for the growth of nanocrystalline diamond films and isolated particles

The aerosol deposition of detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) on a silicon substrate is comprehensively studied, and the possibility of subsequent growth of nanocrystalline diamond films and isolated particles on substrates coated with DNDs is demonstrated. It is shown that a change in the deposition time and the weight concentration of DNDs in a suspension in the range 0.001–1% results in a change in the shape of DND agglomerates and their number per unit substrate surface area N _s from 10⁸ to 10¹¹ cm⁻². Submicron isolated diamond particles are grown on a substrate coated with DND agglomerates at N _s ≈ 108 cm⁻² using microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. At N _s ≈ 10¹⁰ cm⁻², thin (∼100 nm) nanodiamond films with a root-mean-square surface roughness less than 15 nm are grown.