Deconvolution of very low primary energy SIMS depth profiles

In this paper, the deconvolution of SIMS profiles analysed at very low primary energy (0.5 keV/O₂⁺) is addressed. The depth resolution function (DRF) of the SIMS analysis in presence of roughness is established and a deconvolution procedure is implemented without or in presence of roughness on samples containing delta-doped layers of boron in silicon. It is shown that the deconvolution procedure can lead to a great improvement of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the measured peaks in the case where no roughness in detected in the crater bottom. In the case where it is present, the conditions required to use a deconvolution procedure are discussed, and the deconvolution is implemented using precise and restrictive assumptions.     

Electronic properties of model quantum-dot structures in zero and finite magnetic fields

We have computed electronic structures and total energies of circularly confined two-dimensional quantum dots and their lateral dimers in zero and finite uniform external magnetic fields using different theoretical schemes: the spin-density-functional theory (SDFT), the current-and-spin-density-functional theory (CSDFT), and the variational quantum Monte Carlo (VMC) method. The SDFT and CSDFT calculations employ a recently-developed, symmetry-unrestricted real-space algorithm allowing solutions which break the spin symmetry. Results obtained for a six-electron dot in the weak confinement limit and in zero magnetic field as well as in a moderate confinement and in finite magnetic fields enable us to draw conclusions about the reliability of the more approximative SDFT and CSDFT schemes in comparison with the VMC method. The same is true for results obtained for the two-electron quantum dot dimer as a function of inter-dot distance. The structure and role of the symmetry-breaking solutions appearing in the SDFT and CSDFT calculations for the above systems are discussed. Received 16 October 2001 and Received in final form 17 January 2002     

The treatment of nonhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions by thep-version of the finite element method

Summary The paper addresses the problem of the implementation of nonhomogeneous essential Dirichlet type boundary conditions in thep-version of the finite element method.Partially supported by the Office of Naval Research under Grant N-00014-85-K-0169Research partially supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Systems Command, USAF, under Grant Number AFOSR 85-0322     

Über die abstandsverträglichen Abbildungen auf dem Kreis und auf der reellen Geraden

Zusammenfassung. Eine Abbildung zwischen metrischen R?umen hei?t abstandsvertr?glich, wenn der Abstand der Bilder zweier Punkte nur vom Abstand der Punkte selbst abh?ngt. Wir zeigen, dass eine Abbildung genau dann abstandsvertr?glich ist, wenn der Cauchyschen Funktionalgleichung genügt, also ein Endomorphismus der Gruppe ist. Ein entsprechendes Resultat gilt auch für die abstandsvertr?glichen Abbildungen des Kreises (mit der Multiplikation komplexer Zahlen als Gruppenverknüpfung). Damit kann man sowohl alle messbaren abstandsvertr?glichen Abbildungen von bzw. in sich angeben, als auch einen Nachweis für die Existenz nichtmessbarer abstandsvertr?glicher Abbildungen auf und erbringen. Eingegangen am 20. Juni 2001 / Angenommen am 13. September 2001     

Single chain force spectroscopy - Reading the sequence of HP protein models

We study the elastic properties of single A/B random copolymer chains, with a specific sequence and use them as theoretical model for so called HP proteins. HP proteins carry hydrophilic (P) and hydrophobic (H) monomers. We predict a rich structure in the force-extension relations which can be attributed to the information in the sequence. The variational method is used to probe local minima on the path of stretching and releasing for the chain molecules. At a given force, we find multiple configurations which are separated by energy barriers. A collapsed globular configuration consists of several domains which unravel cooperatively. Upon stretching, the unfolding path shows a stepwise pattern corresponding to the unfolding of each domain. While releasing, several cores can be created simultaneously in the middle of the chain, resulting in a different path of collapse. The long-range interactions and stiffness of the chain simplify the potential landscape given by the disorder in sequence. Received 5 March 2002 / Received in final form 16 May 2002 Published online 13 August 2002     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanocomposites were prepared by mixing PHB and poly(ethylene glycol) phosphonates (PEOPAs)‐modified LDH (PMLDH) in chloroform solution. Both X‐ray diffraction data and TEM micrographs of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites indicate that the PMLDHs are randomly dispersed and exfoliated into the PHB matrix. In this study, the effect of PMLDH on the isothermal crystallization behavior of PHB was investigated using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy. Isothermal crystallization results of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites show that the addition of 2 wt % PMLDH into PHB induced more heterogeneous nucleation in the crystallization significantly increasing the crystallization rate and reducing their activation energy. By adding more PMLDH into the PHB probably causes more steric hindrance of the diffusion of PHB, reducing the transportation ability of polymer chains during crystallization, thus increasing the activation energy. The correlation among crystallization kinetics, melting behavior and crystalline structure of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites can also be discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3337–3347, 2006     

Fabrication of patterned gold electrodes with spin-coated-and-fired Au(1 1 1) film by the soft lithography

We prepared high quality Au(1 1 1) film on Si wafer through the spin coating and thermal decomposition of a gold ink, spin-coated-and-fired (SCAF) Au film. The X-ray measurements, XRD and pole-figure analysis, showed that the SCAF Au film has a (1 1 1) out-of-plane orientation with a random in-plane orientation. In order to confirm the chemical activity of the SCAF Au film, we demonstrate the formation of patterned structures with the film by using soft lithography technique. The chemical activities of this physically stable SCAF Au film to the alkanethiols were at least equivalent those of physically deposited the Au films. The possibility of the mass production of micro patterned structure with the SCAF Au film was also demonstrated over the wide region on Si wafer by the microcontact lithography. These suggest that the Au film will help the easy fabrication of various nanosized devices on Si wafer and other substrates.     

Interpretation of initial stage of 3C-SiC growth on Si(1 0 0) using dimethylsilane

The initial stage of cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) growth on a Si(0 0 1) surface using dimethylsilane (DMS) as a source gas was observed using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). It was found that the dimer vacancies initially existing on the Si(0 0 1)-(2 × 1) surface were repaired by the Si atoms in DMS molecules, during the formation of the c(4 × 4) surface. From the STM measurement, nucleation of SiC was found to start when the Si surface was covered with the c(4 × 4) structure but before the appearance of SiC spots in the RHEED pattern. The growth mechanism of SiC islands was also discussed based on the results of RHEED, STM and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD).     

Mössbauer and X-ray diffraction characterization of Fe60Al40 coatings prepared by thermal spraying

Microstructured (atomized) and nanostructured (milled) Fe₆₀Al₄₀ powders together with their corresponding coatings synthesized by High Velocity Oxy-fuel (HVOF) or Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) thermal spraying techniques have been characterized by Mössbauer Spectroscopy (MS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The evolution of the microstructure and the atomic ordering degree in the powders and coatings are discussed at the light of the various processing conditions. The operational correlation between the parameters of the duplex morphology of coatings and the processing parameters is discussed.     

Poly(vinyl chloride)-paste/clay nanocomposites: Investigation of thermal and morphological characteristics

The paper concentrates on poly(vinyl chloride) - PVC - from the point of nanocomposite characterisation through thermal degradation of samples, evolution of the changes caused by elevating temperature using TGA, FTIR and Congo Red methods combined with morphological characterisation by XRD and TEM analyses. A novel method of PVC-paste/nanocomposite preparation while processing was used. During preparation, PVC plasticizer was mixed with clay, both natural and organophilic, and the suspension was then compounded with the other components. Two factors were followed: effect of shearing alone, and in combination with temperature. As is presented, the type of nano-filler and its chemical modifier have obvious influence on final properties either thermal or morphological. Presented contribution follows previous part of investigation and brings further information from PVC-paste/nanocomposite field.