Influence of Carbon Multiple Treatments on the Photoelectrical Properties of Porous Glasses

We have studied the influence of multiple carbon treatments on the properties of silica porous glasses. Each step of each carbon treatment started with filling the voids of porous glass with carbon. During the following anneal carbon interacted with the walls of the voids. It was shown that low dimensional silicon clusters were formed inside the voids as a result of this reaction. In the experiments the photoluminescence spectra and conductivity of carbon-processed specimens were measured. The size-distribution of voids in porous glasses was calculated from absorption—desorption isotherms. An original technique was proposed that allowed to obtain the size-distribution of silicon clusters from the positions of peaks in the photoluminescence spectra. Correlation between the photoluminescence intensity and the sizes of pores was revealed. The observed oscillations in the shapes of the photoluminescence spectra in subsequent cycles of carbon treatment are explained by changes of the number of clusters corresponding to definite peaks in the size distribution spectra.     

From sum rules to RPA: 2. 3He droplets

We investigate the excitation spectra of closed-shell ³He droplets using a flexible formulation of the RPA which has been presented in preceeding papers. The calculations are based on an energy functional which thorougly employs finite-range interactions. We compare the results for different stages in a hierarchy of approximations to the full RPA. We furthermore discuss the consequences of taking the zero-range limit of the present energy functional, i.e. of using Skyrme-type interactions.     

Nonequilibrium dynamics of a diffusion-limited reaction driven by a cluster-memory mechanism

The diffusion-limited reaction A+AA+B is studied in general dimension. The asymptotic decay of the system is found to depend nontrivially upon the initial concentration of A particles for certain ranges of the diffusion constant, backward reaction rate, and total concentration of particles. This nonequilibrium behavior is due to the formation of clusters centered about the initial A particles. A perturbative analysis ind=1 shows that the transition to the nonequilibrium dynamics is sharp and is quite similar to another previously studied reaction A+AA. Ford>1, a scaling argument is presented which describes the dependence of the asymptotic decay on the initial concentration of A particles and the equilibrium concentration for large backward reaction rates. Monte Carlo data are shown which confirm the analytic work ind=1, 2, and 3.     

原子团簇的稳定结构和幻数

原子团簇介于原子分子和宏观凝聚物质之间 ,一般产生于非平衡条件 ,其结构和性质随所含原子数目而变化。当含有某些特定原子数时 ,团簇特别稳定 ,这就是“幻数”。本文重点讨论几种典型团簇的幻数及其演变规律 ,说明“幻数”是团簇的基本属性之一及其与键合方式的关系     

Nanoporous silicon doped by Cu for gas-sensing applications

The effect of hydrogen sulphide on the current–voltage characteristics of metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structures based on nanoporous silicon (Si_nanopor) under copper doping has been investigated. Scanning electron (SEM), atomic force (AFM) and optic microscopes and/or secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) were used to obtain detailed characterisation of copper cluster distribution present at the surface and pores, respectively. SIMS spectra reveal that finite gradient in copper distribution along the pores and oxidation of nanoporous silicon simultaneously can be obtained successfully under electroless deposition process. It was also shown that the doping of nanoporous silicon by Cu leads to enhanced hydrogen sulphide sensitivity of MIS structures even without catalytic active top electrodes (for example, Pd) at room temperature. Furthermore, for different types of familiar MIS structures based on nanoporous silicon, e.g., MIS structures doped or undoped by copper and by using Pd metal electrodes, the hydrogen sulphide detection at room temperature mainly depends on the modification in the height of barrier of hetero- (Al–Cu–Si_nanopor–c-Si) or Schottky-like (Pd–Cu–Si_nanopor–c-Si) structures resulting the chemical interaction of molecular H₂S gas with copper clusters at the surface and in the pores. It is demonstrated that MIS structures based on the nanoporous silicon with copper doping are more sensitive to H₂S action at room temperature. In addition, the physical mechanism explaining the observed phenomena is also discussed.     

Dynamics of gold clusters on amorphous carbon films induced by annealing in a transmission electron microscope

The change of the size distribution of Au clusters induced by annealing was studied in situ by transmission electron microscopy. Starting from statistically distributed Au clusters on a thin amorphous carbon film, “islands” are formed within a few months storage at room temperature, which consist of Au clusters with sizes <4 nm embedded in a thin Au film. These islands cover originally areas with sizes around 25 × 70 nm². If the temperature is increased in the transmission electron microscope two different processes can be clearly distinguished that lead to the coarsening of the cluster size distribution: cluster coalescence and (contactless) Ostwald ripening. The degree and rate of the coarsening are found to depend on the underlying surface (Au film or amorphous carbon) and the exposure to the high-flux high-energy electron beam, which can be estimated to lead to high-temperature excursions in a cluster on a 10⁻¹² s time scale. The experimental findings are confirmed by Monte-Carlo simulations using the many-body Gupta potentials in order to calculate the Au/Au interaction. Moreover, the results of MC simulations suggest an electron-beam induced formation of a “quasi-two-dimensional gas” of small highly mobile Au species on the Au film, which promotes Ostwald ripening.     

Functionalization of carbon nanotubes with silver clusters

In this paper, an advanced method of one-step functionalization of single and multi walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and MWCNTs) using γ-irradiation was described. Two synthesis procedures, related with different reduction species, were employed. For the first time, poly(vinyl alcohol) PVA is successfully utilized as a source to reduce silver (Ag) metal ions without having any additional reducing agents to obtain Ag nanoparticles on CNTs. The decoration of carbon nanotubes with Ag nanoparticles takes place through anchoring of (PVA) on nanotube's surface. Optical properties of as-prepared samples and mechanism responsible for the functionalization of carbon nanotubes were investigated using UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. Decorated carbon nanotubes were visualized using microscopic techniques: transmission electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. Also, the presence of Ag on the nanotubes was confirmed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. This simple and effective method of making a carbon nanotube type of composites is of interest not only for an application in various areas of technology and biology, but for investigation of the potential of radiation technology for nanoengineering of materials.     

Pd-Y微团簇的结构与性质研究

在相对论有效原子实势近似下，用密度泛函理论方法，对Pd_n(n=2,3,4)，Y_n（n=2,3,4）,Pd_nY(n=1,2,3,4)，PdY_n(n=2,3,4)，Pd₂ Y_n(n=2,3,4)团簇的各种可能的几何构型进行全优化计算,得到它们的基态结构和 光谱性质.结果表明，由于 Jahn-Teller效应， Pd₄和Y₄的基态结 构为C_s构型，P d₃和Y₃为C_2v 构型；混合微团簇Pd₃Y，Pd ₄Y，PdY₃，PdY₄ 和 Pd₂Y₄基态为C_s构型.最后计算了团簇的能级分布和最 高占据轨道与最低空轨道之间的能级间隙,分析了团簇的化学活性. 关键词： Pd-Y团簇 有效原子实势 密度泛函     

Hydrogen adsorption and desorption on the Pt and Pd subnano clusters – a review

In this review, we present our recent first principles studies on the sequential H₂ dissociative chemisorption and H desorption on the Pt_n and Pd_n clusters (n=2-9, 13). Upon full saturation by H atoms, the calculated H₂ dissociative chemisorption energy and H desorption energy on Pt₁₃ and Pd₁₃ clusters are similar to the corresponding values on smaller close-packed clusters. Indeed, the catalytic performances of these subnano clusters do not vary significantly with the particle sizes or shapes. Instead, they are dependent on the surface metal atoms which can be accessed by H atoms. In addition to the coverage dependency of the H₂dissociative chemisorption and H sequential desorption energies, the phase transition of both Pt₁₃ and Pd₁₃from the icosahedral to fcc-like structures at certain H coverage was also investigated.     

In situ spectroelectrochemical surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) investigations on composite Ag/TiO2-nanotubes/Ti substrates

A tubular array of TiO₂-nanotubes on a Ti substrate was used as a support for an Ag sputter-deposited layer intended for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) investigations. Composite samples of Ag/TiO₂-nanotube/Ti were studied with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) to reveal their characteristic morphological and chemical features. Raman spectra of pyridine (as a probe molecule) were measured at different cathodic potentials ranging from −0.2 down to −1.2 V after the pyridine had been adsorbed on the TiO₂-nanotube/Ti substrates covered with the Ag deposit. In addition, SERS spectra on a bulk electrochemically-roughened Ag reference substrate, were also measured.The SERS activity of the composite samples was strongly dependent on the amount of Ag deposit and, in some cases, was even higher than that for the Ag reference substrate. The SERS intensity vs. electrode potential dependences measured were interpreted in terms of the modified electronic structure of the Ag deposits due to the interaction of the Ag clusters with the TiO₂-nanotube/Ti substrate.