Memory Effect in the Charge Transport in Strongly Disordered Antimony Films

We study conductivity of strongly disordered amorphous antimony films under high bias voltages. We observe non-linear current-voltage characteristic, where the conductivity value at zero bias is one of two distinct values, being determined by the sign of previously applied voltage. Relaxation curves demonstrate high stability of these conductivity values on a large timescale. Investigations of the antimony film structure allows to determine the percolation character of electron transport in strongly disordered films. We connect the memory effect in conductivity with modification of the percolation pattern due to recharging of some film regions at high bias voltages.     

Nanocomposite electrodes “Titanium nanophase in a silicon-carbon matrix”

The electrode behavior of nanocomposite films deposited onto a sitall substrate is studied, the films containing a titanium-based conducting phase in a dielectric silicon-carbon matrix. With the films’ resistance decreasing, their electrochemical behavior changes from that of “poor conductors” to a nearly “metal-like” one. The electrode’s differential capacitance increases, and the electron transfer in the [Fe(CN)₆]^3-/4- redox system accelerates. This is explained by an increased number of conducting metal-containing clusters at the film/electrolyte interface.     

Ab Initio Modeling of the Local Violation of a Peierls Transition at the Sb(111) Surface

The crystal structure of the Sb(111) surface is studied within the density functional theory. It is shown that a defect near-surface region with a thickness of 6–8 atomic layers, which is similar to a topological soliton in hydrocarbon one-dimensional chains, is formed at the surface because of the break of bilayers. The formation of the defect layer is discussed within the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger model in terms of the local violation of the Peierls transition.     

Thermodynamic Description of Crystalline Water Phases Containing Hydrogen

JETP Letters - Stability regions of crystal phases in the water–hydrogen system have been studied within our statistical thermodynamic model for describing clathrate compounds. The...     

Spin-lattice relaxation of radicals in molecular crystals

The mechanism of spin-lattice relaxation of radicals in magnetically diluted molecular crystals caused by delocalization of the unpaired electron is considered.The authors thank I. V. Aleksandrov for a number of helpful remarks during discussions of this investigation.     

Plasma torches and electrophysical parameters of the diaphragm discharge in water

This work is aimed at studying plasma torch formation, voltages, currents, power distribution, and resistance variation in the case of the little understood low-energy (≤10 J) diaphragm discharge initiated in water and salt solutions. Plasma torches associated with this type of discharge differ considerably from those of other discharges. Different shapes of anode and cathode torches, breakdowns between the diaphragm and one of the electrodes, and a specific form of cathode breakdown are observed. It is found that the electrical conductivity of the medium influences the parameters of the plasma formations, current pulses, dielectric strength of the medium, current pulse variation at “semibreakdowns,” etc. Based on the experimental data, it is concluded that the process of discharge initiation differs from that described in the literature.