Strong blue photoluminescence from aligned silica nanofibers

Photoluminescence (PL) and infrared spectra of aligned silica nanofibers are investigated. Two striking strong blue luminescence emissions have been found at room temperature. This suggests that the silica nanofibers could be a candidate material for a blue-light emitter. The intensity of the PL emission decreases after annealing, which can be interpreted as the decrease of the oxygen deficiency resulting in the reduction of radiative recombination centers. Infrared spectra provide further evidence of this conclusion, where the enhancement of Si–O absorption is observed in annealed samples. Received: 2 October 2002 / Accepted: 7 October 2002 / Published online: 8 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-10/8264-9531, E-mail: ldai@vip.sina.com     

Synthesis of aligned gallium nitride nanowire quasi-arrays

Self-aligned GaN nanowire quasi-arrays were synthesized on MgO crystal through a simple gas reaction method. They were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). FE-SEMimages showed that the product consisted of quasi-arrays of nanowires. XRD, EDX and HRTEM indicated that the nanowires were wurtzite GaN single crystals. Received: 19 June 2000 / Accepted: 21 June 2000 / Published online: 9 August 2000     

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Bi2S3 nanowires via surfactant micelle-template inducing reaction

Single-crystalline Bi₂S₃ nanowires, with diameters in the range of 80-200 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers, have been successfully synthesized through surfactant micelle-template inducing reaction at ambient-pressure and low-temperature. The synthetic route is simple, effective and can provide great opportunities for both fundamental and technological applications. The optical properties of the Bi₂S₃ nanowires with different diameters were firstly examined by means of photoluminescence spectroscopy at room temperature. The representative photoluminescence spectrum exhibits a great blue-shift from the band gap of 1.30 eV of bulk Bi₂S₃ to high energy of 1.44 eV, which indicated that these nanostructures showed quantum confinement effects.     

The role of defect states in the creation of photoluminescence in SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We discuss the nature of visible photoluminescence at room temperature in amorphous strontium titanate in the light of the results of a recent experimental and quantum mechanical theoretical study. Our calculation of the electronic structure involves the use of first-principles molecular calculations to simulate the variation of the electronic structure in the strontium titanate crystalline phase, which is known to have a direct band gap, and we also make an in-depth examination of amorphous strontium titanate. The results of our simulations of amorphous strontium titanate indicate that the formation of five-fold coordination in the amorphous system may introduce delocalized electronic levels in the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. These delocalized electronic levels are ascribed to the formation of a tail in the absorbance-spectrum curve. Optical absorption measurements experimentally showed the presence of a tail. The results are interpreted by the nature of these exponential optical edges and tails associated with defects promoted by the disordered structure of the amorphous material. We associate them with localized states in the band gap. Received: 15 January 2002 / Accepted: 7 August 2002 / Published online: 4 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +55-16/2615-215, E-mail: derl@power.ufscar.br     

Synthesis and photoluminescence characteristics of doped ZnS nanoparticles

Free-standing powders of doped ZnS nanoparticles have been synthesized by using a chemical co-precipitation of Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ with sulfur ions in aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the diameter of the particles is ∼2–3 nm. The unique luminescence properties, such as the strength (its intensity is about 12 times that of ZnS nanoparticles) and stability of the visible-light emission, were observed from ZnS nanoparticles co-doped with Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺. The nanoparticles could be doped with copper and manganese during the synthesis without altering the X-ray diffraction pattern. However, doping shifts the luminescence to 520–540 nm in the case of co-doping with Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺. Doping also results in a blue shift on the excitation wavelength. In Cd²⁺-doped ZnS nanometer-scale particles, the fluorescence spectra show a red shift in the emission wavelength (ranging from 450 nm to 620 nm). Also a relatively broad emission (ranging from blue to yellow) has been observed. The results strongly suggest that doped ZnS nanocrystals, especially two kinds of transition metal-activated ZnS nanoparticles, form a new class of luminescent materials. Received: 16 October 2000 / Accepted: 17 October 2000 / Published online: 23 May 2001     

Copper nanowire arrays for infrared polarizer

A micropolarizer of copper nanowire arrays within anodic alumina membrane (AAM) was fabricated by anodization of pure Al foil and electrodeposition of Cu, respectively. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigations reveal that the ordered Cu nanowires are essentially single crystal, and have an average diameter of 90 nm. Spectrophotometer measurements show that the copper nanowire arrays embedded in AAM can only transmit polarized light vertical to the wires. An extinction ratio of 24 to 32 dB and an average insertion loss of 0.5 dB in the wavelength range of 1 to 2.2 μm were obtained, respectively. Therefore Cu nanowire/AAM can be used as a wire grid type micropolarizer. Received: 28 January 2002 / Accepted:17 May 2002 / Published online: 22 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-551/559-1434, E-mail: ytpang@263.net     

Synthesis of highly ordered LiMnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanowire arrays (by AAO template) and their structural properties

LiMnO₂ nanowire arrays were prepared using a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template from a sol–gel solution containing Li(OAc) and Mn(OAc)₂. Electron-microscope results showed that a uniform length and diameter of LiMnO₂ nanowires were obtained, and the length and diameter of the LiMnO₂ nanowires are dependent on the pore diameter and the thickness of the applied AAO template. X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction pattern investigations demonstrate that LiMnO₂ nanowires are a layered structure of LiMnO₂ crystal. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates that a material closely resembling stoichiometric layered LiMnO₂ has been obtained. Received: 2 September 2001 / Accepted: 6 January 2002 / Published online: 10 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-931/891-2582, E-mail: lihl@lzu.edu.cn     

Synthesis and characteristics of Fe<Subscript>96-x</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>x</Subscript>B<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanowire arrays

Fe-rich Fe_96-xZr_xB₄ (0≤x≤7) nanowires were first prepared by electrodepositing into anodic aluminum oxide templates. Transmission electron microscope analysis shows that the nanowires are uniform and are about 100 nm in diameter with an aspect ratio of around 75. The broad peaks of X-ray diffraction and the Mössbauer spectrum indicate that the Fe_96-xZr_xB₄ nanowires are composed of α-Fe-like and Zr-rich FeZrB phases. Selected area electro diffraction results also indicate that the structure of Fe₈₉Zr₇B₄ nanowires is amorphous. A vibrating sample magnetometer is employed to study the magnetic properties of nanowire arrays at room temperature. The coercivity of nanowire arrays in parallel to the wire axis decreases with increasing Zr content.     

Template synthesis of single-crystal Cu nanowire arrays by electrodeposition

Cu nanowire arrays have been synthesized using potentiostatic electrodeposition within the confined nanochannels of a porous anodic alumina membrane. The Cu nanowire arrays and the individual nanowires have been characterized using SEM, TEM, SAED, HREM and XRD. Investigation results reveal that the Cu nanowire arrays having high wire packing densities are highly ordered over large areas. The individual Cu nanowires (diameter ∼60 nm) were single-crystal and found to be dense and continuous with uniform diameters throughout their entire length. An optimum ECD condition (at lower overpotentials) for the synthesis of single-crystal Cu nanowires was also discussed. Received: 19 April 2001 / Accepted: 28 April 2001 / Published online: 20 June 2001     

Preparation,characterization and photoluminescence properties of ultra long SiC/SiO<Subscript>x</Subscript> nanocables

SiC core and SiO_x shell nanocables of a few millimeters long have been prepared by pyrolysis of SiO₂ nanopowder added poly(dimethyl siloxane) without catalyst in a tube furnace at 1050 °C in Ar. The influence of the synthesis conditions (synthesis temperature and cooling time) on the products is studied. The products obtained from different conditions are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results show that the cores and the shells are crystalline and amorphous, respectively, and that the addition of SiO₂ nanopowder and prolongation of cooling time both increase the diameter of the cores. The growth process of the nanocables is discussed. The photoluminescence emission bands of the nanocables are mainly from their shells. PACS 68.37.Hk; 68.37.Lp; 78.67.n; 81.07.b; 81.16.Be     

N+BF<Subscript>2</Subscript> and N+C+BF<Subscript>2</Subscript> high-dose co-implantation in silicon

Nitrogen and boron BF₂, and nitrogen, carbon, and boron BF₂ high-dose (6×10¹⁶–3×10¹⁷ cm^-2) co-implantation were performed at energies of about 21–77 keV. Subsequent high-temperature annealing processes (600, 850, and 1200 °C) lead to the formation of three and two surface layers respectively. The outer layer mainly consists of polycrystalline silicon and some amorphous material and Si₃N₄ inclusions. The inner layer is highly defective crystalline silicon, with some inclusions of Si₃N₄ too. In the N+B-implanted sample the intermediate layer is amorphous. Co-implantation of boron with nitrogen and with nitrogen and carbon prevents the excessive diffusivity of B and leads to a lattice-parameter reduction of 0.7–1.0%. Received: 10 January 2002 / Accepted: 30 May 2002 / Published online: 4 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +34-91/3974895; E-mail: Lucia.Barbadillo@uam.es     

Electrochemical synthesis of ordered CdTe nanowire arrays

Semiconductor CdTe nanowire arrays embedded in the nanochannels of the porous anodic alumina (PAA) template have been prepared by using a potentiostatic electrochemical deposition method. The morphology and structure of the CdTe nanowire arrays have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It is found that the CdTe nanowires with diameters and lengths of about 60 nm are single-crystalline with cubic phase structure, uniformly and continuously embedded in the nanochannels of the PAA template. X-ray energy-dispersion analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicate that stoichiometric CdTe was formed. The growth mechanism of the CdTe nanowires is also discussed. Received: 11 June 2002 / Accepted: 2 July 2002 / Published online: 8 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-551/559-1434, E-mail: aiwuzhao@yahoo.com.cn     

Photoluminescence behavior of pulsed laser deposited ZnGa<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> thin-film phosphors grown on various substrates

ZnGa₂O₄ thin-film phosphors have been grown on Si(100), Al₂O₃(0001) and MgO(100) substrates using pulsed laser deposition. The structural characterization was carried out on a series of ZnGa₂O₄ films grown on various substrates under various substrate temperatures and oxygen pressures. The films grown on these substrates not only have different crystallinity and surface morphology, but also different Zn/Ga composition ratio. The crystallinity and photoluminescence (PL) of the ZnGa₂O₄ films are highly dependent on the deposition conditions, in particular the stoichiometry ratio of Zn/Ga and the kind of substrate. The variation of Zn/Ga in the films also depends on not only the oxygen pressure but also the substrate temperature during deposition. The PL properties of pulsed laser deposited ZnGa₂O₄ thin films have indicated that Al₂O₃(0001) and MgO(100) are promising substrates for the growth of high-quality ZnGa₂O₄ thin films and that the luminescence brightness depends on the substrate. The luminescence spectra show a broad band extending from 350 to 600 nm and peaking at 460 nm. Received: 11 July 2002 / Accepted: 31 July 2002 / Published online: 28 October 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +82-51-6206356, E-mail: jhjeong@pknu.ac.kr     

Field emission properties of a-CN<Subscript>x</Subscript> films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CN_x) films were grown on silicon substrates by ArF excimer laser ablation of a graphite target in the presence of nitrogen at various gas pressures. By working at elevated pressures (up to 100 Pa), large amounts of nitrogen can be incorporated into the films (up to 40 at. %, which leads to a strong enhancement of their field emission properties. This behaviour was demonstrated to be mainly related to changes in the surface morphology of the samples, in connection with the development of graphite-like structures. Received: 22 February 2002 / Accepted: 3 March 2002 / Published online: 10 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +33-(0)/388-106-230, E-mail: fogarassy@phase.c-strasbourg.fr     

Structure,transport and field-emission properties of compound nanotubes: CN<Subscript>x</Subscript> vs. BNC<Subscript>x</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis><0.1)

Transport and field-emission properties of as-synthesized CN_x and BNC_x (x<0.1) multi-walled nanotubes were compared in detail. Individual ropes made of these nanotubes and macrofilms of those were tested. Before measurements, the nanotubes were thoroughly characterized using high-resolution and energy-filtered electron microscopy, electron diffraction and electron-energy-loss spectroscopy. Individual ropes composed of dozens of CN_x nanotubes displayed well-defined metallic behavior and low resistivities of ∼10–100 kΩ or less at room temperature, whereas those made of BNC_x nanotubes exhibited semiconducting properties and high resistivities of ∼50–300 MΩ. Both types of ropes revealed good field-emission properties with emitting currents per rope reaching ∼4 μA(CN_x) and ∼2 μA (BNC_x), albeit the latter ropes se- verely deteriorated during the field emission. Macrofilms made of randomly oriented CN_x or BNC_x nanotubes displayed low and similar turn-on fields of ∼2–3 V/μm. 3 mA/cm² (BNC_x) and 5.5 mA/cm² (CN_x) current densities were reached at 5.5 V/μm macroscopic fields. At a current density of 0.2–0.4 mA/cm² both types of compound nanotubes exhibited equally good emission stability over tens of minutes; by contrast, on increasing the current density to 0.2–0.4 A/cm², only CN_x films continued to emit steadily, while the field emission from BNC_x nanotube films was prone to fast degradation within several tens of seconds, likely due to arcing and/or resistive heating. Received: 29 October 2002 / Accepted: 1 November 2002 / Published online: 10 March 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +81-298/51-6280, E-mail: golberg.dmitri@nims.go.jp     

VUV F<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser ablation of sodium chloride

We report an investigation of the ablation of NaCl crystals at the 157-nm wavelength of the F₂ laser where there is very strong excitonic absorption. Probe-beam deflection and etch-rate measurements show that the interaction is characterised by a low ablation threshold (∼80 mJ cm^-2) and a capability for controllable material removal at the nanometer level. Scanning electron microscopy of the exposed surfaces show this to be microscopically smooth but with fine cracks present. It is demonstrated that micron-scale features can be formed in NaCl using 157-nm laser ablation, a result attributed to the strongly localised optical and thermal nature of the interaction. The results are discussed within the framework of a thermal vaporisation model. Received: 29 May 2002 / Accepted: 17 July 2002 / Published online: 4 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +44-1482/465606, E-mail: p.e.dyer@hull.ac.uk     

Electrical switching studies on As<Subscript>40</Subscript>Te<Subscript>60-x</Subscript>Se<Subscript>x</Subscript> and As<Subscript>35</Subscript>Te<Subscript>65-x</Subscript>Se<Subscript>x</Subscript> glasses

The I–V characteristics of bulk As₄₀Te_60-xSe_x and As₃₅Te_65-xSe_x glasses have been studied with a current sweep of 0–18 mA-0, over a wide range of compositions (4≤x≤22). All the glasses studied showed a threshold electrical switching behaviour. The number of switching cycles withstood by the samples has been found to depend on the ON-state current. It is seen that the switching voltages increase with increase in selenium content. Further, the switching voltages are found to be almost independent of the thickness of the sample (d), in the range 0.18–0.3 mm. Also, the switching voltages and the number of switching cycles withstood by the samples are found to decrease with temperature. Received: 6 November 2002 / Accepted: 8 November 2002 / Published online: 29 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +91-80/360-0135, E-mail: sasokan@isu.iisc.ernet.in     

Microstructures and photoluminescence of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films produced by using organic hydrocarbon source

Thin layers of hydrogenated amorphous carbon were prepared by using organic hydrocarbon source, xylene (C₈H₁₀), in plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system. The microstructures were characterized by using Fourier-transform infrared and Raman scattering spectra. The appearance of a sharp vibration signal in 1600 cm^-1 strongly suggests the existence of sp² carbon clusters with aromatic rings. With increasing the deposition rf power, the content of these aromatic structures is increased in the films. In contrast to a broad single PL peak in methane (CH₄)-baseda-C:H films, the PL band of xylene-based a-C:H films contains multiple peaks in blue-green light region, which is influenced by rf power. We tentatively attributed it to the radiative recombination of electron-hole pairs through some luminescent centers associated with aromatic structures. Received: 26 April 2000 / Accepted: 9 May 2000 / Published online: 13 September 2000     

A sonochemical-assisted synthesis and annealing temperature effect of La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles

This paper reports on the sonochemical-assisted synthesis of La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) nanoparticles (NPs) which have a single-crystalline perovskite structure. The average particle size of LSMO NPs was controlled from about 40 to 120 nm by changing the annealing temperatures from 750 to 1050°C. The particle size, electrical resistivity, and ferromagnetic transition temperature of LSMO NPs were strongly dependent on the annealing temperature. A substantial decrease in resistivity and an enhancement in the insulator–metal transition temperature were found on increasing the annealing temperature. Furthermore, the enhancement in magnetization and paramagnetic–ferromagnetic (PM–FM) transition temperatures was observed as the annealing temperature increases.     

Influence of storage time on laser cleaning of SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on Si

The influence of the ‘storage time’ τ_s on the threshold fluence φ_cl and the efficiency in dry laser cleaning is investigated. τ_s denotes the time between the deposition of particles and the cleaning. As a model system we employed silica spheres with diameters of 500 nm and 1500 nm on commercial silicon wafers and single-pulse KrF excimer laser radiation (τ_FWHM=28 ns). For the 1500-nm silica spheres, φ_cl was found to increase from about 65 mJ/cm² to 125 mJ/cm² for storage times of 4 h and 362 h, respectively. For 500-nm silica spheres the increase in the threshold fluence was less than 20% for storage times up to 386 h. Received: 12 July 2002 / Accepted: 12 July 2002 / Published online: 29 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. E-mail:dieter.baeurle@jku.at