Effect of Ni content on the diffusion-controlled growth of the product phases in the Cu(Ni)–Sn system

A strong influence of Ni content on the diffusion-controlled growth of the (Cu,Ni)₃Sn and (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ phases by coupling different Cu(Ni) alloys with Sn in the solid state is reported. The continuous increase in the thickness ratio of (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ to (Cu,Ni)₃Sn with the Ni content is explained by combined kinetic and thermodynamic arguments as follows: (i) The integrated interdiffusion coefficient does not change for the (Cu,Ni)₃Sn phase up to 2.5 at.% Ni and decreases drastically for 5 at.% Ni. On the other hand, there is a continuous increase in the integrated interdiffusion coefficient for (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ as a function of increasing Ni content. (ii) With the increase in Ni content, driving forces for the diffusion of components increase for both components in both phases but at different rates. However, the magnitude of these changes alone is not large enough to explain the high difference in the observed growth rate of the product phases because of Ni addition. (iv) Kirkendall marker experiments indicate that the Cu₆Sn₅ phase grows by diffusion of both Cu and Sn in the binary case. However, when Ni is added, the growth is by diffusion of Sn only. (v) Also, the observed grain refinement in the Cu₆Sn₅ phase with the addition of Ni suggests that the grain boundary diffusion of Sn may have an important role in the observed changes in the growth rate.     

Isotopic composition of sulphates from meteoric precipitation as an indicator of pollutant origin in Wrocław (SW Poland)

This paper describes the results of isotopic analyses of (i) hydrogen and oxygen in water (delta DH2O and delta18OH2O ) and (ii) sulphur and oxygen in sulphates (delta34Ssulphate and delta18Osulphate) from atmospheric precipitation collected within a one-year period between 25 May 2004 and 25 May 2005 in Wroc?aw (SW Poland). The resulting equation of Local Meteoric Water Line for Wroc?aw is delta D=6.373xdelta18O-0.047, (r2=0.97, n=32). The delta34Ssulphate varies from 1.1 to 4.2 per thousand (with an average of 2.5 per thousand), delta18Osulphate varies from 9.0 to 16.7 per thousand (with an average of 13.8 per thousand) and delta18OH2O varies from-0.8 to-16.3 per thousand (with an average of-8.2 per thousand). The above results indicate two main sources of sulphates in Wroc?aw precipitation: (i) low-temperature secondary sulphates forming in situ in Wroc?aw from the atmospheric SO2 as well as precipitation water (heterogeneous and homogeneous pathways oxidation) and (ii) high-temperature primary sulphates forming in rapid high-temperature hydratation of SO3- in an immediate proximity of industrial chimneys. We hypothesise that the secondary low-temperature type of sulphates is probably formed from the local sulphur and oxygen reservoirs, whereas the primary high-temperature type is allochthonous and it is probably transported from industrial areas located outside of Wroc?aw.     

Size dependences in the adsorptive properties of the surface of ytterbium nanofilms deposited on silicon: The CO-Yb-Si(111)7 × 7 system

This paper reports on a study of the adsorption of CO molecules on the surface of ytterbium nanofilms of different thicknesses, which were sublimed on Si(111)7 × 7 at room temperature. Dependences of two types were investigated: the surface concentration of adsorbed molecules vs. CO dose expressed in langmuirs and the work function of films vs. CO dose. It was shown that the behavior of these dependences is mediated by size effects and Friedel oscillations generated by the ytterbium-silicon interface. Both effects exert an influence on the binding of CO molecules to the surface. At low molecule concentrations, this binding is effected through lone electron pairs localized at the carbon ends of the molecules. These electrons form a donor-acceptor bond to the vacant 5d level of the metal, with the level dropping below the Fermi level. At high CO molecule concentrations, the pattern becomes more complex; indeed, the enhanced Coulomb interaction gives rise to a partial transfer of electrons from the 5d level to the vacant 2π* orbital of CO molecules.     

Effect of surfactant surface nature on the energy transfer efficiency (η) of a carbon dot-dye system

Carbon dots (CDs) have unique optoelectronic properties and are considered efficient fluorescent probes as organic dyes, semiconducting quantum dots, metallic clusters, etc. A carbon dot-dye system has been established to study alternative photoelectric conversion processes. For this purpose, a CuO-associated CD was synthesized using a green chemical method. The energy conversion efficiency was monitored using a cationic, anionic, and neutral dye. The nature of the dye has an important effect on the energy transfer process. This limitation from its electrostatic nature was overcome by introducing a surfactant into the system. Both positively and negatively charged surfactants were used in this study. The nature of the surfactant was found to have a significant effect on the energy transfer process within positively charged CDs and organic dyes. The individual interactions within surfactant-CD and surfactant-dye system can cause modification. This CD-dye-surfactant system with further modifications can be used appropriately in dye-sensitized solar cells.     

Effect of Ni on growth kinetics,microstructural evolution and crystal structure in the Cu(Ni)–Sn system

Abstract

The role of Ni addition in Cu on the growth of intermetallic compounds in the Cu–Sn system is studied based on microstructure, crystal structure and quantitative diffusion analysis. The diffraction pattern analysis of intermetallic compounds indicates that the presence of Ni does not change their crystal structure. However, it strongly affects the microstructural evolution and diffusion rates of components. The growth rate of (Cu,Ni)₃Sn decreases without changing the diffusion coefficient because of the increase in growth rate of (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅. For 3 at.% or higher Ni addition in Cu, only the (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ phase grows in the interdiffusion zone. The elongated grains of (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ are found when it is grown from (Cu,Ni)₃Sn. This indicates that the newly formed intermetallic compound joins with the existing grains of the phase. On the other hand, smaller grains are found when this phase grows directly from Cu in the absence of (Cu,Ni)₃Sn indicating the ease of repeated nucleation. Grain size of (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ decreases with further increase in Ni content, which indicates a further reduction of activation barrier for nucleation. The relations for the estimation of relevant diffusion parameters are established considering the diffusion mechanism in the Cu(Ni)–Sn system, which is otherwise impossible in the phases with narrow homogeneity range in a ternary system. The flux of Sn increases, whereas the flux of Cu decreases drastically with the addition of very small amount of Ni, such as 0.5 at.% Ni, in Cu. Analysis of the atomic mechanism of diffusion indicates the contribution from both lattice and grain boundary for the growth of (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ phase.     

Polarization effect on the spin symmetry for anti-Lambda spectrum in ~(16)O+■ system

The polarization effect on the spin symmetry for anti-Lambda spectrum in 16 O+Λ system has been studied in relativistic mean-field theory.The PK1 effective interaction is used for nucleon-meson couplings and G-parity symmetry with a reduction factor ξ = 0.3 is adopted for anti-Lambda-meson couplings.The energy differences between spin doublets in the anti-Lambda spectrum are around 0.10-0.73 MeV for p Λ state.The dominant components of the Dirac spinor for the anti-Lambda spin doublets are found to be near identical.It indicates that the spin symmetry is still well-conserved against the polarization effect from the valence antiLambda hyperon,which leads to a highly compressed cold nucleus with the central density up to 2 - 3 times of saturated density.     

Dispersion of the oxygen-induced bands on Cu (110) - an angle-resolved ups study of the system p(2×1)O/Cu(110)

The two-dimensional electronic energy bands induced by adsorption of atomic oxygen on Cu(110) are measured with angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS). Three oxygen-derived bonding bands and two Cu - derived antibonding bands are found below the Fermi energy. The dispersions can be described by assuming nearest-neighbour σ and π CuO bonds along the [001] direction with oxygen in a long bridge site.     

Determination of iodide in urine based on chemiluminescence system of cerium (IV)–tween 40–iodide

In acidic medium, the oxidation reaction of cerium (IV) with iodide can produce strong chemiluminescence (CL) in the presence of surfactant tween 40 as an enhancer. On this basis, a flow injection method with CL detection was established for the determination of iodide. The method is simple, rapid and effective to determine iodide in the range of 8.0×10^?8–5.0×10^?5 mol/L with a determination limit of 5.0×10^?8 mol/L. The relative standard deviation is 2.7% for the determination of 5.0×10^?6 mol/L iodide (n=11). The method has been applied to determine the content of iodide in urine with satisfactory results. Furthermore, it is suggested that the light emission from cerium (IV)–tween 40 reaction is probably because of the formation of singlet oxygen ¹O₂^? and the emitter is excited oxygen molecular pairs O₂(¹Δ_g)O₂(¹∑_g^?).     

Isotopes to assess sustainability of overexploited groundwater in the Souss–Massa system (Morocco)

Groundwater depletion and changes in isotopic and chemical contents constitute the main indicators of overexploitation, recharge, and flow paths in the Souss–Massa aquifer. These indicators highlight processes concerning sustainability of water resources in the aquifer (e.g. surface/groundwater interaction, recharge processes, and marine intrusion). The spatial variation of stable and radioactive isotopic contents indicates a mixing of modern and old water within the system. Recent recharge was observed mainly along the Souss River (the major surface-water drainage in the study area) and in the irrigated areas. Mapping of chemical and isotopic variation shows that the area is affected by abstraction, irrigation water return, and the evolution of modern recharge in time and space. The processes, distribution, and timing of groundwater flow are influenced by short- and long-term effects; long-term recharge is dependent on climatic conditions. This study can be used to make informed decisions about water-resource allocation and alternative management practices.     

Processes of silicide formation in the Fe/Si(111)7 × 7 system

The initial stages of the formation of iron silicides in the Fe/Si(111)7 × 7 system in the course of solid-phase epitaxy are investigated using high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (～100 meV) with synchrotron radiation. The spectra of the Si 2p core and valence-band electrons obtained after deposition of iron coverages of up to 28 monolayers on the surface of the sample and subsequent isochronous annealings at 650°C are measured and analyzed. It is shown that the first to form under Fe deposition is an ultrathin film of the metastable silicide FeSi with a CsCl-type structure, on which a layer of the Fe-Si solid solution with segregated silicon grows. At coverages in excess of 10 monolayers, an iron film grows on the surface of the sample. Annealing of a silicon crystal coated with a Fe layer leads to the sequential formation of two stable silicide phases, namely, the ?-FeSi and β-FeSi₂ phases, in the near-surface region of the sample. It is found that the process of solid-phase synthesis of the ?-FeSi phase passes through the stage of transformation of the iron film into the Fe-Si solid solution.     

Photoproduction of pion-nucleon pairs on nuclei in the Δ(1232)-resonance region

Data from three experiments performed at the linear accelerator in Saclay, the Tomsk synchrotron, and the MAMI accelerator in Mainz and devoted to studying single pion photoproduction on light nuclei that is accompanied by nucleon emission are analyzed. The behavior of respective experimental cross sections, which is inexplicable in the impulse approximation, is interpreted within a model where the formation of an intermediate quasibound isobar-nucleus state is followed by its decay to a final state involving a pion and a nucleon.     

On the role of the Δ(1232) on the transverse nuclear response in the (e,e′) reaction

The transverse nuclear response to an electromagnetic probe which is limited to create (or destroy) a particle-hole (ph) or delta-hole (Δh) pair is analyzed. Correlations of the random phase approximation (RPA) type and self-energy insertions are considered. For RPA correlations we have developed a scheme which includes explicitly the Δ and the exchange terms. Self-energy insertions over ph and Δh bubbles are studied. Several residual interactions based on a contact plus a (π + ϱ)-meson exchange potential are used. All calculations are performed in non-relativistic nuclear matter. The main effect of the Δ is to reduce the intensity over the nuclear quasi-elastic peak. Exchange RPA terms are very important, while the terms with self-energy insertions depend strongly on the residual interaction employed. Our results are compared with data for ⁴⁰Ca at momentum transfer q = 410 and q = 550 MeV/c, where the longitudinal response is also briefly discussed.     

Pattern recognition of acoustic sea-bed profiling records (An expert system based on the fuzzy set theory)

I.IlltroductionAnexpertsystembasedonthedepth-firstsearchstrategyhasbeendevelopedforthegeologicalinterpretationoftheASPRs.ThisstrategyrepresentsthewayofthinkinganddeducingwhileaspecialistisdoingillterpretationtoASPRs.Ithasbeenacknowledgedthatthi8exPertsystemiseffectiveforaqualitativeinterpretationofASPRs.However,ifcertaintiesofgeologicalinterpretationneedtobequantitativelyestimated,alargeamountofaprioriandconditionprobabillties(morethan15)willhavetobeprovidedbyspecialists.Anotherapproach,…     

Influence of photoexcitation pathways on the initiation of ablation in poly (methyl methacrylate)

Experimental and theoretical studies of laser ablation of polymers, under various processing conditions, have identified many possible photoexcitation pathways and consequently many likely processes responsible for the onset of ablation. We investigate the role of these processes—namely the thermal, mechanical and chemical processes—occurring in a polymeric substrate during UV irradiation. Molecular dynamics simulations with an embedded Monte Carlo-based reaction scheme were used to study ablation of Poly (methyl methacrylate) at 157 nm. Laser-induced heating and chemical decomposition of the polymeric substrate are considered as ablation pathways. For the heating case, the mechanism of ejection is thermally driven limited by the critical number of bonds broken. This fragmentation process is well reproduced by the existing bulk photothermal ablation model. Alternatively, if the photon energy goes toward direct bond breaking, it initiates chemical reactions, polymer unzipping, and formation of gaseous products leading to near complete decomposition, loss of strength and cohesiveness of the top layers of the polymeric substrate. The ejection of small gaseous molecules weakens and hollows out the substrate, facilitating liftoff of larger fragments of material. These larger clusters are thermally ejected and the photochemical ablation process can be described by the two-step model proposed by Kalontarov.     

Fundamental Role of the H-Bond Interaction in the Dissociation of NH_{3} on Si(001)-(2×1)

Further insight into the dissociative adsorption of NH_{3} on Si(001) has been obtained using a combined computational and experimental approach. A novel route leading to the dissociation of the chemisorbed NH_{3} is proposed, based on H-bonding interactions between the gas phase and the chemisorbed NH_{3} molecules. Our model, complemented by synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, demonstrates that the low temperature dissociation of molecular chemisorbed NH_{3} is driven by the continuous flux of ammonia molecules from the gas phase.     

Integrality of the monopole number in SU(2) Yang-Mills-Higgs theory on ℝ3

We prove that in classical SU(2) Yang-Mills-Higgs theories on ³ with a Higgs field in the adjoint representation, an integer-valued monopole number (magnetic charge) is canonically defined for any finite-actionL _1,loc ² configuration. In particular the result is true for smooth configurations. The monopole number is shown to decompose the configuration space into path components.Research supported in part by NSF Grants 8120790 and PHY-03669     

Bond properties of the chalcopyrite and stannite phases in the Cu–(In,Ga)–Se system

Bond properties of the chalcopyrite and (defect) stannite phases in the Cu–(In,Ga)–Se system are compared in view of the bond overlap population calculated by the molecular orbital calculation of the DV-Xα method. Bond stretching force constant α is estimated for the stannite phases through the bond Ovlp. The Cu–Se and In(Ga)–Se bonds in defect stannite structure are considered to be mechanically weakened by the 2b-site vacancies. We estimate the weakened force constants to be 60–70% of those in the chalcopyrite structure. On the other hand, in In(Ga)-rich stannite, In(Ga)_4d–Se_8i and In(Ga)_2b–Se_8i bonds are estimated to be tighter by 23–25 and 8–9%, respectively, than In(Ga)_4b–Se_8d bond in the chalcopyrite structure. The Γ₁ frequencies of the stannite phases are also calculated using the estimated force constants. Characteristic Raman signals peaked at 160–175 cm⁻¹ observed for the Cu(In_1−xGa_x)₃Se₅ system are explained by the Cu-rich phase for the Cu–In–Se system, and the phase combination of Cu-rich and Ga_2aV_2b types for the Cu–Ga–Se system from these calculations.