Synthesis of Al–Cr decagonal quasicrystal nanoparticles and their temperature of phase transformation to stable crystal phase

The synthesis of Al–Cr single quasicrystal (QC) nanoparticles of the decagonal phase was achieved by introducing an advanced gas flow evaporation method. By obtaining successive electron diffraction patterns for single-QC nanoparticles, the phase transformation temperature of a single-QC nanoparticle was determined to be 700 °C. It was also determined that part of the QC nanoparticle decomposed into hex-Al₈Cr₅ and Al during the phase transformation. Since the grain growth did not occur during the phase transformation in the present experiment, the inherent phase transformation temperature could be measured.     

Characterization of Si-added aluminum oxide (AlSiO) films for power devices

Synthesis of Si-added aluminum oxide (AlSiO) films is attempted as an insulating film with both a wide bandgap and a high dielectric constant. Electrical characteristics of AlSiO films are investigated. Leakage current of the AlO film is suppressed by Si addition and is minimized with Si composition ratio of 12%. Capacitance versus voltage (C-V) measurements are carried out for Au/AlSiO/Si MIS structure. Both flat band shift and hysteresis of the C-V characteristics are suppressed by Si addition. A low leakage current is demonstrated for Au/AlSiO/n-SiC MIS structure.     

Novel in-gap spin state in Zn-doped La1.85Sr0.15CuO4

Low-energy spin excitations of La(1.85)Sr(0.15)Cu(1-y)Zn(y)O4 were studied by neutron scattering. In y=0.004, the incommensurate magnetic peaks show a well-defined "spin gap" below T(c). The magnetic signals at omega=3 meV decrease below T(c)=27 K for y=0.008, also suggesting the gap opening. At lower temperatures, however, the signal increases again, implying a novel in-gap spin state. In y=0.017, the spin gap vanishes and elastic magnetic peaks appear. These results clarify that doped Zn impurities induce the novel in-gap state, which becomes larger and more static with increasing Zn.     

Field-induced order-disorder transition in antiferromagnetic BaCo(2)V(2)O(8) driven by a softening of spinon excitation

High field magnetization and ESR measurements on the quasi-one-dimensional (1D) antiferromagnet BaCo(2)V(2)O(8) have been performed in magnetic fields up to 50 T along the chain. The experimental results are explained well in terms of a 1D S=1/2 antiferromagnetic XXZ model in longitudinal fields. We show that the quantum phase transition from the Néel ordered phase to the spin liquid one in the model is responsible for a peculiar order to disorder transition in BaCo(2)V(2)O(8).     

Simultaneous irradiation of ultrasound and UV light. Ultrasonic acceleration of the photochemical disappearance of 4,4'-dihalogenated benzils in 1,4-dioxane

Irradiation of ultrasound accelerated the rate of the photochemical disappearance of 4,4'-dihalogenated benzils in 1,4-dioxane in the order of halogen = I, Br > Cl > F. 4,4'-dimethoxy and unsubstituted benzils did not show acceleration. Possible mechanisms of the acceleration are discussed.     

Crystallization behavior and origin of c-axis orientation in sol–gel-derived ZnO:Li thin films on glass substrates

Preferentially, c-axis-oriented lithium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Li) thin films were prepared on Pyrex borosilicate glass substrates by a sol–gel method starting from zinc acetate dihydrate, lithium chloride, 2-methoxyethanol and monoethanolamine. Decomposition and crystallization behavior of dip-coated amorphous precursor films during post-annealing treatments were investigated by thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), optical transmittance measurements, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was revealed that the films contained the organic compounds at temperatures up to 300°C, which was the key to the transformation from the amorphous to the crystalline state. Thermodynamical consideration of nucleation and crystal growth was made taking account of surface energies of the film and the glass substrate and an interfacial energy between them. Mechanisms underlying the c-axis orientation were proposed based upon the initial orientation due to nucleation and final growth orientation.     

Dynamic observation of an atom-sized gold wire by phase electron microscopy

A single-atom-sized gold wire was successfully observed in real time by a newly developed defocus-image modulation processing electron microscope. Because of phase retrieval processing with spherical aberration correction, the single-atom strand wire was observed with high contrast and without contrast blurring. By carefully looking at the atomic distance, the contrast, and the dynamic behavior of the wire, we recognized that there are two stages of the wire. In the first stage the wire maintained the atomic distance in the bulk crystal, but in the second stage the wire showed the atomic distance of the nearest-neighbor atoms with weaker contrast. The gold wire was rather stable for a few seconds under strong electron beam illumination.     

Superconducting property of Zr–Co and Zr–Co–Al alloys fabricated by rapid solidification

The superconducting property of Zr_(1−x)Co_x (x = 10–50 at.%) alloys and a Zr₅₅Co₃₀Al₁₅ bulk metallic glass fabricated using techniques of rapid solidification was investigated. The Zr₅₅Co₃₀Al₁₅ alloy crystallized by heat treatment in a vacuum atmosphere exhibited superconductivity of T_c,on = 2.4 K. This was attributable to the superconducting property of a crystalline Zr–Co alloy precipitated in the Zr₅₅Co₃₀Al₁₅ alloy. The T_c,on of the crystalline Zr_(1−x)Co_x alloy was sensitive to the Co content. The increase of Co content for the Zr_(1−x)Co_x alloy led to the decrease of T_c,on. The Zr_(1−x)Co_x alloy exhibited superconductivity of a maximum T_c,on = 3.9 K for the Zr₈₀Co₂₀ alloy with superconducting nanocrystal particles embedded in the amorphous matrix.     

Multiphoton double ionization of Ar in intense extreme ultraviolet laser fields studied by shot-by-shot photoelectron spectroscopy

Photoelectron spectroscopy has been performed to study the multiphoton double ionization of Ar in an intense extreme ultraviolet laser field (hν ～ 21 eV, ～ 5 TW/cm2), by using a free electron laser (FEL). Three distinct peaks identified in the observed photoelectron spectra clearly show that the double ionization proceeds sequentially via the formation of Ar(+): Ar+hν→Ar (+) + e? and Ar2(+) + 2hν→Ar(+) + e?. Shot-by-shot recording of the photoelectron spectra allows simultaneous monitoring of FEL spectrum and the multiphoton process for each FEL pulse, revealing that the two-photon ionization from Ar(+) is significantly enhanced by intermediate resonances in Ar(+).     

Dielectric-field effect correction on i.r. band shapes in the liquid phase

The dielectric-field correction on i.r. band shape in the liquid has been studied by using the Lorentz internal field. The deformation of the band shape is inappreciable for a weak absorption band that becomes measurable only at a sample thickness larger than 10μ. The shapes of the strong singlet and doublet bands of hexafluorobenzene at 1530 cm^?1 and near 1000 cm^?1, respectively, and also of the doublet band of carbon tetrachloride near 790 cm^?1 have been measured in dilute solutions and compared with those for the pure liquid.