Low-frequency resonance increase in the resistance of a microcontact between ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic metals

The magnetic dynamics of a mesoscopic three-dimensional magnet has been studied by measuring the resistance of a nanodimensional (point) microcontact between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic metals. The resistance was measured by a modulation technique under conditions where a significant role was played by dipole-dipole interaction, magnetic field, and dissipation. It was found that the resistance of the microcontact exhibits resonance growth at low frequencies (～10³ s^?1). The properties of resonances are described by a model of microcontact gyromagnetic oscillations (MCGMOs) based on mutual transformation of spin and mechanical angular momentum. Experimental techniques, basic properties, and the MCGMO model are described. The passage of an electric current through the interface between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic metals leads to nonequilibrium magnetization localized at the interface. A high current density in the microcontact determines the strong excitation of magnetization (high density of magnons) at which the interaction between magnons becomes significant. In a uniaxial magnet, the attraction of magnons leads to the formation of a spatially localized configuration of gapless long-wavelength magnons (magnetic soliton). At a given excitation of magnetization, the vector structure of a magnetic soliton possesses a minimum free energy (configuration energy minimum). The configuration energy minimum of a magnetic soliton is responsible for the radical increase in the soliton spin relaxation time, which determines the fundamental possibility of exciting stationary low-frequency MCGMOs.     

Patterning of polypyrrole using a fluoropolymer as an adsorption-protecting molecule

Patterning of the conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPy) was achieved using perfluoropolyether (PFPE) as a mask material. The fluoropolymer PFPE has both hydrophobic and oleophobic properties that allowed the generation of passivated patterns against PPy deposition. We exploited these properties to achieve the selective micropattern deposition of PPy, by simple chemical oxidation in an aqueous solution. Using a microcontact printing method, circle patterns with exposed carboxyl groups were prepared, while other region was protected by PFPE. Chemical oxidation of PPy on the patterned substrate resulted in selective deposition of PPy onto only the carboxylate-terminated regions, with little deposition on the PFPE layer. Cross-sectional analysis of the pattern revealed that the PFPE layer would form a hole-like structure around the carboxylate-terminated surfaces, with PPy deposition only in the holes. The PFPE layer had little influence on surface smoothness, compared to other self-assembled monolayers. These results suggest that PFPE can be used as a protective material for the surface modification and patterning of various materials.     

Parameter maps of 1H residual dipolar couplings in tendon under mechanical load

Proton multipolar spin states associated with dipolar encoded longitudinal magnetization (DELM) and double-quantum (DQ) coherences of bound water are investigated for bovine and sheep Achilles tendon under mechanical load. DELM decay curves and DQ buildup and decay curves reveal changes of the 1H residual dipolar couplings for tendon at rest and under local compression forces. The multipolar spin states are used to design dipolar contrast filters for NMR 1H images of heterogeneous tendon. Heterogeneities in tendon samples were artificially generated by local compression parallel and perpendicular to the tendon plug axis. Quotient images obtained from DQ-filtered images by matched and mismatched excitation/reconversion periods are encoded only by the residual dipolar couplings. Semi-quantitative parameter maps of the residual dipolar couplings of bound water were obtained from these quotient images using a reference elastomer sample. This method can be used to quantify NMR imaging of injured ordered tissues.     

Limited slowdown of endocrine-disruptor diffusion in confined fluid lipid membranes

Self-diffusion rates of lipids and trapped bisphenol A (BPA) are determined in various sizes of confined but fluid membranes by high-field-gradient NMR at 600 MHz. Micelles and vesicles of 3- to 400-nm diameters are used as model membranes to get an insight into the molecular diffusion in such soft environments. The slowdown of BPA and lipid motions is leveled off in 100- and 400-nm vesicles, although the hydrodynamic continuum model gives the aggregate motion slowed inversely to the aggregate size. Instead, the limited motion is related to the intra-membrane fluidity.     

Microcontact printing of self-assembled monolayers to pattern the light-emission of polymeric light-emitting diodes

By patterning a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of thiolated molecules with opposing dipole moments on a gold anode of a polymer light-emitting diode (PLED), the charge injection and, therefore, the light-emission of the device can be controlled with a micrometer-scale resolution. Gold surfaces were modified with SAMs based on alkanethiols and perfluorinated alkanethiols, applied by microcontact printing, and their work functions have been measured. The molecules form a chemisorbed monolayer of only ∼1.5 nm on the gold surface, thereby locally changing the work function of the metal. Kelvin probe measurements show that the local work function can be tuned from 4.3 to 5.5 eV, which implies that this anode can be used as a hole blocking electrode or as a hole injecting electrode, respectively, in PLEDs based on poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives. By microcontact printing of SAMs with opposing dipole moments, the work function was locally modified and the charge injection in the PLED could be controlled down to the micrometer length scale. Consequently, the local light-emission exhibits a high contrast. Microcontact printing of SAMs is a simple and inexpensive method to pattern, with micrometer resolution, the light-emission for low-end applications like static displays. Both authors (J.J. Brondijk and X. Li) contributed equally.     

Monolayer assembly and striped architecture of Co nanoparticles on organic functionalized Si surfaces

We present a new strategy to fabricate a monolayer assembly of Br-terminated Co nanoparticles on functionalized Si surfaces by using chemical covalent bonding and microcontact printing method. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the Co nanoparticles formed on the hydroxyl-terminated Si surface exhibit two-dimensional island networks with locally ordered arrays via covalent linkage between nanoparticles and surface. On the other hand, SAMs of the nanoparticles on the aminopropyl-terminated Si surface show an individual and random distribution over an entire surface. Furthermore, we have fabricated striped architectures of Co nanoparticles using a combination of microcontact printing and covalent linkage. Microcontact printing of octadecyltrichlorosilane and selective covalent linkage between nanoparticles and functionalized Si surfaces lead to a hybrid nanostructure with selectively assembled nanoparticles stripes on the patterned functionalized Si surfaces. PACS 81.07.Ta; 61.46.+w; 81.16.Dn; 81.16.Be; 68.37.Hk; 82.80.Pv     

表面修饰改善溶液法金属诱导晶化薄膜稳定性与均匀性研究

提出了一种表面修饰的金属诱导晶化方法,以稳定地获得晶粒尺寸均匀的多晶硅薄膜.为在非晶硅表面获得均匀稳定的Ni源,在晶化前驱物表面浸沾Ni盐溶液之前,先旋涂一层表面亲合剂.通过控制Ni盐溶液的浓度,可以获得均匀性较好、晶粒尺寸分布在20—70μm的多晶硅薄膜.该方法的特点是改善了Ni盐溶液在表面的黏附状态,从而可在比常规Ni盐溶液浓度低1—2个数量级的情况下仍能获得大晶粒的多晶薄膜. 关键词： 表面修饰 溶液法金属诱导晶化 多晶硅 均匀性     

Two Electrons with Spin-Orbit Interactions in InAs Coupled Quantum Dots

We theoretically study the spin properties of two interacting electrons confined in the IhAs parallel coupled quantum dots （CQDs） with spin-orbit interactions （SOI） by exact diagonalization method. Through the SOI induced spin mixing of the singlet and the triplet states, we show the different spin properties for the weak and strong SOI. We investigate the coherent singlet-triplet spin oscillations of the two electrons under the SOI, and demonstrate the detailed behaviors of the spin oscillations depending on the SOI strengths, the inter-dot separations and the external magnetic fields. To better understand the underlying physics of the spin dynamics, we introduce a four-level model Hamiltonian for both weak and strong SOI, and find that the SOI induced in plane effective magnetic fields can be quantitatively extracted from the two-electron excitation energy spectra.     

Enhanced sensitivity to residual dipolar couplings of elastomers by higher-order multiple-quantum NMR

The homonuclear and heteronuclear residual dipolar couplings in elastomers reflect changes in the cross-link density, temperature, the uniaxial and biaxial extension or compression as well as the presence of penetrant molecules. It is shown theoretically that for an isolated methyl group the relative changes in the intensity of the homonuclear double-quantum buildup curves in the initial time regime due to variation of the residual dipolar coupling strength is less sensitive than the changes in the triple-quantum filtered NMR signal when considering the same excitation/reconversion time. For a quadrupolar nucleus with spin I=2 the sensitivity enhancement was simulated for four-quantum, triple-quantum, and double-quantum buildup curves. In this case the four-quantum build-up curve shows the highest sensitivity to changes of spin couplings. This enhanced sensitivity to the residual dipolar couplings was tested experimentally by measuring 1H double-quantum, triple-quantum, and four-quantum buildup curves of differently cross-linked natural rubber samples. In the initial excitation/reconversion time regime, where the residual dipolar couplings can be measured model free, the relative changes in the intensity of the four-quantum buildup curves are about five times higher than those of the double-quantum coherences. For the first time proton four-quantum coherences were recorded for cross-linked elastomers.     

Field-gradient NMR diffusometry in poly(ethylene oxide) melts confined to nanoscopic pores of solid methacrylate matrices

Depending on the choice of matrix constituents, the diameters of strands of linear, monodisperse poly(ethylene oxide) confined to nanoscopic pores of cross-linked methacrylate matrices can be varied considerably. The samples were characterized by DSC, TEM, SEM and fringe field-gradient NMR diffusometry with respect to the strand diameter. A formalism evaluating diffusive spin echo attenuation curves based on the tube/reptation model allows the determination of the strand diameter. Values in the range 8-58 nm were found in accordance with TEM and SEM micrographs of shadow-cast freeze-fractured surfaces of the samples.     

Excitation of spin waves during ferromagnetic resonance

A non-linear equation is solved which includes the excitation of spin waves by Suhl non-linear coupling and by the scattering of homogeneous precession on inhomogeneities. The solution of this equation takes into account the dependence of the spin-wave frequencies on the degree of excitation of the homogeneous precession and on the degree of excitation of the spin waves. The result of the dependence just quoted is the finality of the amplitudes of spin waves for arbitrary values of the angle of homogeneous precession and the foldover effect, connected with hysteresis and discontinuities in the excitation of the spin waves. From the solution it is also apparent that for values of the homogeneous precession amplitude higher than the Suhl critical value the resonance curve splits into two curves, i.e. two groups of spin waves are excited. These two groups differ in frequency by a value of the same order as their relaxation frequency.     

High-fidelity chemical patterning on oxide-free germanium

Oxide-free germanium can be chemically patterned directly with self-assembled monolayers of n-alkanethiols via submerged microcontact printing. Native germanium dioxide is water soluble; immersion activates the germanium surface for self-assembly by stripping the oxide. Water additionally provides an effective diffusion barrier that prevents undesired ink transport. Patterns are stable with respect to molecular exchange by carboxyl-functionalized thiols.     

Mitogens-DPPC-vesicles interaction: A spin label ESR study

Summary The electron spin resonance spectroscopy with the spin labelling technique has been used to investigate the interaction of sonicated di-palmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) small unilamellar vesicles with concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in the temperature range 0–50°C. Conventional ESR measurements show that the addition of mitogens to the vesicles suspensions up to the number of mitogens/number of vesicles ratio of 60 increases the orientational degree of order of the lipid molecules in the gel phase and the gel→liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature. No effects on the liquid-crystalline phase have been observed, also no matter for the mitogen used. The effectiveness results in the order: ConA>SEB>PHA. Saturation transfer-ESR measurements evidence more restricted rotation of the DPPC molecules in the gel phase in the presence of Con A and SEB than in the presence of PHA if compared to pure DPPC-vesicles. The effective rotational correlation time, σ_c, of the spin label 5-SASL results about one order of magnitude higher in the presence of 60 mitogen molecules/vesicle. The ESR findings suggest a mitogen-induced increase in the packing density of lipid bilayers which is attributed to a morphological change from sonicated vesicles, with a small radius of curvature, to a more planar mesophase. Con A is more effective than SEB and PHA in inducing this process. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Beam focusing through a tapered subwavelength aperture surrounded by dielectric surface gratings

A novel plasmonic nanolens formed by a tapered subwavelength metal slit surrounded by surface dielectric gratings is proposed and demonstrated numerically. By patterning surface corrugations on the output surface, the beam can be focused, by regulating the aperture, the focal length can be controlled effectively. Numerical simulations using Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method coupled with anisotropic perfectly matched layer (APML) boundary conditions verify that the proposed metallic lens can focus the radiation on the scale of a wavelength below the substrate and the method is effective for the design of nano-optical devices such as optical microprobes.     

Confined states and spin polarization on a topological insulator thin film modulated by an electric potential

We study the electronic structure and spin polarization of the surface states of a three-dimensional topological insulator thin film modulated by an electrical potential well. By routinely solving the low-energy surface Dirac equation for the system, we demonstrate that confined surface states exist, in which the electron density is almost localized inside the well and exponentially decayed outside in real space, and that their subband dispersions are quasilinear with respect to the propagating wavevector. Interestingly, the top and bottom surface confined states with the same density distribution have opposite spin polarizations due to the hybridization between the two surfaces. Along with the mathematical analysis, we provide an intuitive, topological understanding of the effect.     

NMR of multipolar spin states excitated in strongly inhomogeneous magnetic fields

The possibility of exciting and filtering various multipolar spin states in proton NMR like dipolar encoded longitudinal magnetization (LM), double-quantum (DQ) coherences, and dipolar order (DO) in strongly inhomogeneous static and radio-frequency magnetic fields is investigated. For this purpose pulse sequences which label and manipulate the multipolar spin states in a specific way were implemented on the NMR-MOUSE (mobile universal surface explorer). The performance of the pulse sequences was also tested in homogeneous fields on a solid-state high-field NMR spectrometer. The theoretical justification of these procedures was shown for a rigid two-spin 1/2 system coupled by dipolar interactions. Dipolar encoded longitudinal magnetization decay curves, double-quantum and dipolar-order buildup curves, as well as double-quantum decay curves were recorded with the NMR-MOUSE for natural rubber samples with different crosslink density. The possibility of using these multipolar spin states for investigations of strained elastomers by NMR-MOUSE is also shown. These curves give access to quantitative values of the ratio of the total residual dipolar couplings of the protons in the series of samples which are in good agreement with those measured in homogeneous fields.     

The theory of ferromagnetic and spin-wave resonance in a thin film magnetized parallel to its own plane

The excitation of spin waves in a thin magnetic film magnetized parallel to its own plane is examined, commencing with a solution of the Landau-Lifschitz equation with general boundary conditions. The effects on the excitation spectrum of finite damping, finite spin fixation on the film surface, and inhomogeneous distribution of the shf field over the film thickness are examined.Translated from Izvestiya VUZ. Fizika, No. 12, pp. 105–111, December, 1971.     

Rotating-frame depth selection and its application to the study of human organs

Rotating-frame depth selection, a reduction of the full rotating-frame imaging experiment, has recently been developed as a method for spatial localization of NMR spectra. Using selected pulses and tailoring the number of transients, a region of sensitivity may be specified and maximum signal received from the desired position of interest in the sample. The application of the technique to human spectroscopy is particularly demanding due to the shape of the sample and the need for optimum sensitivity. Here a two-coil system is used for transmit and receive which can interrogate flat, planar slices to a depth of up to 7 cm, retaining maximum slice excitation and negligible surface contamination. Possible artifacts include distortions due to partial saturation, harmonic excitation, and off resonance effects; these are analyzed and, where possible, eliminated. This technique, which is now in routine use in a clinical laboratory, can give good quality spectra from several human organs and is illustrated by results from brain, liver, heart, and muscle.     

亚微米尺寸元件的离子束刻蚀制作

采用软光刻技术中的微接触印刷(μCP)技术、表面诱导的水蒸气冷凝、表面诱导的去湿行为,在金基底上制作出了亚微米的环状周期结构聚合物掩膜.通过对离子束刻蚀过程中各个参量对刻蚀元件的表面光洁度、轮廓保真度和线宽分辨的影响分析,结合掩膜的实际情况选择出了合适的离子束入射角、离子能量、束流密度和刻蚀时间等参量.依照这些参量刻蚀出了高质量的亚微米尺寸环状周期结构元件.通过对刻蚀出的元件的检测发现,刻出的元件表面光洁度、轮廓保真度和侧壁陡峭度都非常好.     

Fabrication of patterned polyaniline microstructure through microcontact printing and electrochemistry

Polyaniline (PANI) microstructures on ITO glass surface were achieved by microcontact printing of self-assembled film and electrochemical polymerization in an aqueous monoaniline solution. The patterned microstructures of PANI were easily transferred to an adhesive tape surface, which could be applied in the area of plastic circuit application. Optical microscope, atomic force microscopy (AFM), lateral force microscopy (LFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to examine the topography and properties of patterned PANI films. Optical microscope and AFM results showed that the PANI microstructure has regular pattern and clear boundary, while LFM and XPS results implied that this microstructure was completely covered by PANI. The data suggested that the interfacial properties of the surface control the rate of electrochemical polymerization, and the polymerization rate on the modified ITO surface is higher than that on the bare ITO area. In our experiments, cyclic voltammetric method, potentiostatic method and chronopotentiometry method were employed to deposited patterned PANI films on octadecyltrichorosilane modified ITO substrate.