A study of structural, compositional and optical properties of spray-deposited non-stoichiometric (Zn,Fe)S thin films

Non-stoichiometric ternary chalcogenides (Zn,Fe)S were prepared in the film form by pyrolytic spray deposition technique, using air/nitrogen as the carrier gas. The precursor solution comprised of ZnCl₂, FeCl₂ and thiourea. The depositions were carried out under optimum conditions of experimental parameters viz. carrier gas (air/nitrogen) flow rate, concentration of precursor constituents, nozzle substrate distance and temperature of quartz substrate. The deposited thin films were later sintered in argon at 1073 K for 120 min.The structural, compositional and optical properties of the sintered thin films were studied. X-ray diffraction studies of the thin films indicated the presence of (Zn,Fe)S solid solution with prominent cubic sphalerite phase while surface morphology as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a granular structure.The chemical composition of the resulting thin films as analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) reflected the composition of the precursor solutions from which the depositions were carried out with Fe at% values ranging from 0.4 up to 33.SEM micrographs of thin films reveal that the grain sizes of the thin films prepared using air as carrier gas and N₂ as carrier gas are in the vicinity of 300 and 150 nm, respectively.The diffuse transmittance measurements for thin films, as a function of wavelength reveal the dependence of direct optical band gap on Fe content and type of phase.     

Study of thermal currents in powder β-spodumene ceramics doped with Cuo, FeO and TiO2

Ternary-phase ceramic system of Li₂O Al₂O₃ 4SiO₂ doped with CuO, FeO and TiO₂ has been prepared and subjected to dc electrical conductivity and thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) measurements as a function of temperature (30-250 °C) and field strength. The electrical conductivity results are explained by assuming both ionic and electronic conduction mechanisms coexist with different contributions over the whole temperature range of experiments. TSDC spectra have been found to be characterized by a broad intense relaxation peak, which can be attributed to an ionic charge polarization. The broad relaxation transitions are apparently a result of the nonuniform nature of this process. Activation energies are calculated for both dc electrical conductivity and TSDC according to Arrhenius equation and initial rise method, respectively.     

Damped waves in a cylinder shadow

The sound field in the region of a deep shadow behind an impedance cylinder is analyzed for the case of plane wave diffraction by the cylinder surface. The main part of the field is represented by a cylindrical wave that has a complex index determined from the boundary conditions and decays with the angular coordinate. An expression for the amplitude of this wave is determined by extracting it from the total field formed in the shadow region. It is demonstrated that this wave approximates more closely the total field behind the cylinder, as compared to the least damped wave in the field representation obtained on the basis of the Watson transform. A way to improve the sound barriers is indicated.     

Noiselike magnetic resonance fine structure for ferromagnetic powders: Dipole-dipole interaction effects

A noiselike fine structure of ferromagnetic resonance spectra in magnetic powders was investigated after ultrasonic treatment. Magnetic interactions between particles are proved to have an influence upon the fine structure formation. After decreasing dipole-dipole magnetic interactions in dilute suspension a special order appears in fine-structure spectra, which is generally the same for different systems.     

Portable and Automatic Mössbauer Analysis

A portable Mössbauer spectrometer, developed for extraterrestrial applications, opens up new industrial applications of MBS. But for industrial applications, an available tool for fast data analysis is also required, and it should be easy to handle. The analysis of Mössbauer spectra and their parameters is a barrier for the popularity of this wide-applicable spectroscopic technique in industry. Based on experience, the analysis of a Mössbauer spectrum is time-consuming and requires the dedication of a specialist. However, the analysis of Mössbauer spectra, from the fitting to the identification of the sample phases, can be faster using by genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks. Industrial applications are very specific ones and the data analysis can be performed using these algorithms. In combination with an automatic analysis, the Mössbauer spectrometer can be used as a probe instrument which covers the main industrial needs for an on-line monitoring of its products, processes and case studies. Some of these real industrial applications will be discussed.     

Investigations of Solid State Dynamics at the NRSSR Beamline at PETRA II. An Overview

The present status of the new nuclear resonance beamline PETRA 1 at HASYLAB, DESY, Hamburg is described. Besides an overview of the experimental setup some examples of recent experiments are given. Those cover the main applications, i.e., inelastic scattering from iron alloys and quasielastic scattering from glass-forming liquids. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effective magnetic properties of a composite material with circular conductive elements

Effective magnetic properties of a composite meta-material consisting of periodically arranged circular conductive elements are studied theoretically. A general expression for the effective bulk permeability is obtained with mutual effects and lattice ordering being taken into account. The resonance frequency of the permeability is found to be strongly dependent on the size and shape of the unit cell. Frequency dispersion of the permeability is studied with special attention paid to the frequency range, where negative values of the permeability are possible. Corresponding recommendations for optimisation of the meta-materials with negative permeability are made. The results are confirmed by numerical simulations of the finite structure behaviour in an external magnetic field. Received 19 April 2002 Published online 31 July 2002     

The plasticity of the Cu(H2O) 6 2+ Jahn-Teller complex affected by lattice strains and cooperative interactions

The EPR spectra evolution of Cs₂Zn_1?x Cu_x(ZrF₆)₂ · 6H₂O (x=0.01, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) in the temperature range 4.2–330 K and the x-ray structure analysis of the compound with x=1.0 in the range 150–327 K show that the Jahn-Teller (JT) complex Cu(H₂O)₆ coordination sphere undergoes a plastic deformation. The observed effect is due to the combined influence of small lattice strains existing in the paraphase and a new one appearing as a result of a ferroelastic phase transition and increasing with decreasing temperature below T _c . It is proved that both cooperative interactions between JT complexes and ferroelastic strain stabilize a certain JT configuration. The problem of instability of a JT configuration compressed at T ～ 265 K is discussed.     

Probe measurements in a discharge with liquid nonmetallic electrodes in air at atmospheric pressure

Discharges with liquid nonmetallic electrodes of much interest for applications are investigated. It is found that a dc discharge between two streams of tap water in air at atmospheric pressure is stable at a currentof 40≤I≤100 mA. The discharge exists in the diffuse (volume) form with a relatively low current density (∼0.2 A/cm²) and a high (above one kilovolt) voltage drop across the air gap (∼1 cm) between the water electrodes. The current density and voltage depend only slightly on the discharge current. Probe measurements show that three regions can be distinguished in the discharge: two electrode regions (1–2 mm in length) and a discharge column with a constant electric field of ≈0.8 kV/cm (i.e., E/N≈20 Td, because the gas in the discharge is heated up to 1500–2000 K). The average electric field strength near the electrodes is E≈2–3×10³ V/cm (E/N≈60–80 Td). The charged particle density in the column is n ∼ 10¹² cm⁻³. The probe measurements of n agree with the previous microwave absorption measurements. The water vapor concentration in the column is also estimated from probe measurements.