Magnetoresistance of 2H−NbSe2

The magnetoresistance anisotropy of 2H?NbSe₂ was studied at 9.3 K and 35 K. Data indicate that the Fermi surface above and below the charge-density-wave onset temperature includes one or more sheets that are highly elongated (and possibly open) along the [0001] direction. The magnetoresistance at 9.3 K exhibits an anomalous linear dependence on magnetic field for all field directions studied, similar to that reported previously for $\text{B}$[0001]     

Surface characterization of imidazolium ionic liquids by high-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The surface composition of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM] [PF₆]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([BMIM] [DCA]) are studied by high-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. Although [BMIM] [PF₆] is almost stoichiometric up to the topmost molecular layer, considerable deviation from the theoretical stoichiometry is observed for [BMIM] [DCA] in a surface layer of ～1.5 nm thickness. Nitrogen is almost completely depleted in this layer while carbon is enhanced. In addition, there are oxygen impurities of ～3 × 10¹⁴ atoms/cm² in this surface layer. With the help of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements it is concluded that the surface of [BMIM] [DCA] is covered by ～1.7 × 10¹⁴ molecules/cm² of esters and/or carboxylic acids. These contaminant molecules have a preferred orientation, i.e. the carbonyl groups are on the surface of [BMIM] [DCA] and the alkyl chains are pointing towards vacuum. The origin of the contamination layer could be the surface segregation of bulk impurities.     

Numerical Solution of the spin-3/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnetic Chains Using a Projector Method

An efficient projector method is used to calculate the energies of the ground state and the first excited state, and hence the energy gap between them, of the spin-3/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chains with linear sizes up to N = 32. For the chains up to N = 8 the exact results are obtained, and for longer chains up to N = 32 they are estimated by imposing on Monte Carlo technique. It is found that the size dependence of the ground state energy per site has the form of [eo(N) - eo] ～ 1/N², and the value of the ground state energy per site as N→∞ is eo = -2.8248. Our results show that the energy gap trends to zero as N→∞, which is consistent with the rigorous proof.     

Size and average density spectra of macromolecules obtained from hydrodynamic data

It is proposed to normalize the Mark-Kuhn-Houwink-Sakurada type of equation relating the hydrodynamic characteristics, such as intrinsic viscosity, velocity sedimentation coefficient and translational diffusion coefficient of linear macromolecules to their molecular masses for the values of linear density M_L and the statistical segment length A. When the set of data covering virtually all known experimental information is normalized for M_L, it is presented as a size spectrum of linear polymer molecules. Further normalization for the A value reduces all data to two regions: namely the region exhibiting volume interactions and that showing hydrodynamic draining. For chains without intachain excluded volume effects these results may be reproduced using the Yamakawa-Fujii theory of wormlike cylinders. Data analyzed here cover a range of contour lengths of linear chains varying by three orders of magnitude, with the range of statistical segment lengths varying approximately 500 times. The plot of the dependence of [η]M on M represents the spectrum of average specific volumes occupied by linear and branched macromolecules. Dendrimers and globular proteins for which the volume occupied by the molecule in solution is directly proportional to M have the lowest specific volume. The homologous series of macromolecules in these plots are arranged following their fractal dimensionality.     

Growth of single-domain monatomic In chain arrays on the vicinal Si(0 0 1) surface

Using the annealed vicinal Si(0 0 1) surface with 4° miscut toward the [1 1 0] direction as a substrate, single-domain monatomic In chain arrays have been fabricated. High-resolution STM images reveal that deposited In atoms preferentially form In dimers between two neighboring Si dimer rows along the step edges on the lower terrace. Formation of In dimers removes the surface dangling bonds and saturates the In valency. With increasing coverage, the In dimers develop into straight monatomic In chains along the step running direction. It is found that the ordered narrow terrace and rebonded double-layer (D_B) step edge are the keys for the formation of monatomic In chains.     

Anomalies in the Fermi surface and band dispersion of quasi-one-dimensional CuO chains in the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu4O8

We have investigated the electronic states in quasi-one-dimensional CuO chains by microprobe angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We find that the quasiparticle Fermi surface consists of six disconnected segments, consistent with recent theoretical calculations that predict the formation of narrow, elongated Fermi surface pockets for coupled CuO chains. In addition, we find a strong renormalization effect with a significant kink structure in the band dispersion. The properties of this latter effect [energy scale (～40 meV), temperature dependence, and behavior with Zn-doping] are identical to those of the bosonic mode observed in CuO2 planes of high-temperature superconductors, indicating they have a common origin.     

Study by 1H NMR of the Influence of the Porosity and Solvent on the Conformations of Macromolecules at an Interface: Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Grafted on Silica

The ¹H NMR technique was used to study the behaviour of poly(ethylene oxide) chains grafted chemically on silica. A noticeable influence of the nature of the surface and solvent on the conformation of the grafted macromolecules was observed. For precipitated silica the chains adopted a disordered conformation whereas for pyrogenic silica they formed a more uniform layer. The grafting ratio and the solvent can both modify the conformations of the chains. The dependence of the relaxation times (T₁ and T₂) on the grafting ratios is discussed qualitatively from a phenomenological point of view. Different models are proposed for the two extreme grafting ratio levels in both the absence and the presence of solvent. Without solvent, for both grafting ratios, the macromolecules lie very flat on the silica and the layer is more organized, especially at high grafting ratio. In the presence of solvent the chains spread out in the solvent, adopt a more extended conformation and the local concentration of monomers at the surface decreases.     

Discrete breathers and nonlinear normal modes in monoatomic chains

We consider a relation between discrete breathers (DBs) and nonlinear normal modes in some nonlinear monoatomic chains. The dependence of the breathers’ stability on the strength of interparticle interaction in the K₄ chain (the chain with uniform on-site and intersite potentials of the fourth order) is investigated. A general method for constructing DBs which provides the pair synchronization between the individual particles’ vibrations is discussed. Many-frequency breathers as DBs of a new type and quasibreathers [introduced in Physical Review E 74 (2006) 036608] are analyzed.     

A versatile method for the preparation of end-functional polymers onto SiO2 nanoparticles by a combination of surface-initiated ATRP and Huisgen [3 + 2] cycloaddition

A versatile method was developed for the chain-end functionalization of the grafted polymer chains for surface modification of nanoparticles with functionalized groups through a combination of surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and Huisgen [3 + 2] cycloaddition. First, the surface of SiO₂ nanoparticles was modified with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes via the “grafting from” approach. The terminal bromides of PMMA-grafted SiO₂ nanoparticles were then transformed into an azide function by nucleophilic substitution. These azido-terminated PMMA brushes on the nanoparticle surface were reacted with alkyne-terminated functional end group via Huisgen [3 + 2] cycloaddition. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectra indicated quantitative transformation of the chain ends of PMMA brushes onto SiO₂ nanoparticles into the desired functional group. And, the dispersibility of the end-functional polymer-grafted SiO₂ nanoparticles was investigated with a transmission electron microscope (TEM).     

Molecular insight into structures of monocationic and dicationic ionic liquids in mica slits

Structures of ionic liquids (ILs) 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)azanide ([C₁₀mim][TFSA]) and 1-decyl-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)azanide ([C₁₀(mim)₂](TFSA)₂) in different-sized mica slits have been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Ion density and angular distributions for monocationic IL [C₁₀mim][TFSA] were analysed to elucidate the IL structures under different surface charges and especially their changes in the direction perpendicular to the surfaces. [C₁₀mim][TFSA] formes in bilayers, compatible with existing models of ILs with long alkyl chains. For dicationic IL [C₁₀(mim)₂](TFSA)₂, cations adjacent to the mica surface tend to stay parallel to the surface with both positively charged rings absorbed. While near the centre of the slit, dications show the weak tendency of orientation distribution, more random than [C₁₀mim]⁺ ions. Structures of [C₁₀(mim)₂](TFSA)₂ cannot be described by bilayer models. Additionally, the in-plane arrangement of [C₁₀mim][TFSA] is more ordered when K⁺ ions completely neutralise the negative charge of the mica surface, and [C₁₀mim]⁺ ions tend to be located in hexagonal mica lattices with two aluminium atoms in replacement of silicon atoms. [TFSA]^? ions are constrained by the neighbouring K⁺ ions absorbed onto mica lattices.     

Modification of the energy functional for nuclei near the nucleon stability boundary

The effective energy functional for nuclei near the nucleon stability boundary is modified by taking into account that the functional parameters corresponding to interaction in the surface region depend on the neutron and proton chemical potentials μ_n and μ_p, respectively, in a nucleus. By the example of several long isotope chains, it is shown that the μ dependence of the effective interaction results in shifting the neutron stability boundary toward large N-Z values.     

Ab-initio study of the electromagnetic response and polarizability properties of carbon chains

We present the most complete set of calculations to date of the ground state electronic properties and of the optical/UV response function of linear carbon chains C_N, using ab-initio methods based on local density and on time-dependent local density approximations (LDA and TDLDA). Making use of the associated transition densities and wavefunctions we are able to provide microscopic insight into the collectivity of the corresponding plasmon spectrum in terms of correlated particle–hole excitations. From this analysis it is found that the (one-dimensional 1-D) delocalization of π (valence) electrons is responsible for the conspicuous values of the static dipole polarizability and of the high value of the exponent describing its dependence with the number of carbon atoms. Within this framework the electronic structure and linear response function of a carbon ring is also calculated. Although many properties of this function are similar to that associated with linear chains of the same number of atoms, the corresponding polarizabilities differ appreciably, providing a reliable method to distinguish between linear and close structures. The first principle results of the properties of linear carbon chains are compared with both theoretical and experimental results available in the literature, and constitute the basis for a systematic study of these 1-D sp-bonded systems, which have been found to be involved in such seemingly disparate phenomena as fullerene growth mechanism and diffuse interstellar bands.     

Pressure effects in AlAs/Inx Ga1-xAs/GaAs resonant tunnelling diodes for application in micromachined sensors

This paper reports the current-voltage characteristics of [001]-oriented AlAs/InxGa1-xAs/GaAs resonant tunnelling diodes （RTDs） as a function of uniaxial external stress applied parallel to the [110] and the [1^-10] orientations, and the output characteristics of the GaAs pressure sensor based on the pressure effect on the RTDs. Under [110] stress, the resonance peak voltages of the RTDs shift to more positive voltages. For [1^-10] stress, the peaks shift toward more negative voltages. The resonance peak voltage is linearly dependent on the [110] and [1^-0] stresses and the linear sensitivities are up to 0.69 mV/MPa, -0.69 mV/MPa respectively. For the pressure sensor, the linear sensitivity is up to 0.37 mV/kPa.     

Improved resolution in HREELS using maximum-entropy deconvolution: CO on PtxNi1−x(111)

High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) has been used to study stretch vibrations of CO chemisorbed at low coverage on Pt_xNi_1−x(111). Bayesian probability theory along with the entropic prior (Maxent) has been employed to deconvolve the apparatus function and to improve the apparent energy resolution. Maxent has proven very successful in a wide range of inversion problems. Here the resolution enhancement enables the positions of CO on the PtNi surface to be identified. It appears that CO is predominantly on top of Ni with the Ni atoms coordinated threefold laterally and with Ni in linear chains or on top of Pt. Furthermore, the ratio of the Pt to the Ni peak is used to study the dependence of the Pt concentration in the first layer on the annealing temperature.     

Geometric stability and electronic structure of infinite and finite phosphorus atomic chains

One-dimensional mono- or few-atomic chains were successfully fabricated in a variety of two-dimensional materials,like graphene, BN, and transition metal dichalcogenides, which exhibit striking transport and mechanical properties. However, atomic chains of black phosphorus(BP), an emerging electronic and optoelectronic material, is yet to be investigated.Here, we comprehensively considered the geometry stability of six categories of infinite BP atomic chains, transitions among them, and their electronic structures. These categories include mono- and dual-atomic linear, armchair, and zigzag chains. Each zigzag chain was found to be the most stable in each category with the same chain width. The mono-atomic zigzag chain was predicted as a Dirac semi-metal. In addition, we proposed prototype structures of suspended and supported finite atomic chains. It was found that the zigzag chain is, again, the most stable form and could be transferred from mono-atomic armchair chains. An orientation dependence was revealed for supported armchair chains that they prefer an angle of roughly 35?–37?perpendicular to the BP edge, corresponding to the [110] direction of the substrate BP sheet.These results may promote successive research on mono- or few-atomic chains of BP and other two-dimensional materials for unveiling their unexplored physical properties.     

Photoluminescence of chromium doped and chromium diffused GaAs

Photoluminescence (PL) measurements on the 0.84 eV Cr-related PL line have been made on both Cr diffused and Cr doped GaAs. In the former case, no luminescence is observed below a diffusion temperature of 800°C. The form of the PL spectrum is found to be the same, independent of whether the majority donor species is group IV(Si) or group VI(Te). PL profiling experiments are used to show that the PL intensity is proportional to the concentration of chromium. Although it is possible that a group VI donor is involved, the insensitivity of the spectrum to different donor species and its linear dependence on chromium concentration suggest that the luminescent centre is a [Cr_Ga-V_As] complex.Measurements on growth doped material are typified by the low intensity near the seed and the scatter in PL intensity in samples where the measured [Cr] is nearly constant. By comparison with the results on the diffused material, the anomalously low PL intensity near the seed end is deduced to be indicative of the high crystal stoichiometry in this region.     

Temperature dependence of morphology of supermolecular structures growing in the thin layer melt of fractions of poly(ethylene oxide)

Poly(ethylene oxide) fractions with molecular weights in the range from 1.55 × 10³ to 1.5 × 10⁵ were studied. The optical microscopic observations of the morphology of supermolecular structures grown isothermally from the melt were used to determine the dependance of structural-morphological changes on temperature. Two morphological transitions were established: (1) a high temperature transition at 49 [Ptilde] 3° C from hedritic structures to positive spherulitoids and (2) a low temperature transition at 38 [Ptilde] 2° C from positive spherulitoids to negative spherulites. It is supposed that the transition from hedrites to positive spherulitoids proceeds through a transition from b-axis-oriented lamellae with tilted chains to [401] lamellae with chains perpendicular to the lamellar surface.     

Temperature dependence of AC-photoconductivity of HgI2 crystal

An ac impedance method has been used to study the electrical properties of an illuminated HgI₂ crystal as a function of temperature [10–350 K] and frequency [1–10₄ Hz]. The complex impedance plane plots enabled us to determine the bulk resistance of the crystal as a function of temperature. Activation energies of [0.08±0.005 eV] and [0.25 ±0.01eV] are then found; they are attributed to acceptor and donor trapping levels, respectively. At temperatures lower than 230 K, a weak temperature dependence of the bulk resistance is observed. This weak dependence is supposed to be due to photoconductivity.     

Model calculation of the surface tension of liquid Ga-Bi alloy

A convenient model, based on some assumptions, for calculating the composition and temperature dependence of the surface tension of binary liquid alloys is reported. The theoretical calculations of the surface tension of gallium-rich-bismuth alloys are presented. The calculated results are compared with the reported experimental data. A relatively good agreement with experimental behavior of the composition dependence of the surface tension was found, but a disagreement was observed with experimental temperature behavior of the surface tension of these alloys. The calculations were conducted in the temperature range from almost 320 K to about 800 K. The surface tension was calculated from eutectic composition (x_Bi = 0.0022) to x_Bi = 0.1, and worked out by linear equations. The model calculation and analysis indicate a first order surface phase transition in this system, which is in accord with experimental findings. For this system, γ decreases linearly with increasing temperature at fixed Bi mole fraction x_Bi, and thus, suggesting a positive surface excess entropy. It is also found that the surface tension isotherms show the linear dependence on the concentration, in the logarithm scale of x_Bi, in the very narrow concentration range.     

A reversible reaction forming (---Cu---O---) strings and (Cu)6-clusters on Ag(110) shown by STM

An artificial new surface of (---Cu---O---) chains grown on Ag(110) surface was prepared by reacting a surface with Cu atoms, where the (---Cu---O---) chains grow in the [1 0] direction and are self-assembled on the Ag(110) surface in a (2 x 2)-p2mg structure. When the Cu---O/Ag(110) surface was heated in vacuum, the (---Cu---O---) chain decomposed to uniform cluster dots arranged along the [1 0] direction, where the cluster dots were composed of six Cu atoms. When the Ag(110) surface with the Cu---cluster dots was exposed to O₂, the (---Cu---O---) lines were redrawn along the [1 0] direction by reacting a s in the [1 0] direction with O₂. This is a reversible chemical reaction in one dimensional regime proved in atomic resolution.