Microwave-assisted synthesis of flower-like and leaf-like CuO nanostructures via room-temperature ionic liquids

Flower-like and leaf-like cupric oxide (CuO) single-crystal nanostructures have been successfully synthesized using ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ([Omim]TA) under the microwave-assisted approach. By controlling the concentration of [Omim]TA and reaction temperature, shape transformation of CuO nanostructures could be achieved in a short period of time. The results indicate that ionic liquid [Omim]TA plays an important role in the formation of different morphologies of CuO crystals. The crystal structure and morphology of products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrum (IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED). A possible mechanism for CuO nanostructure was proposed. In addition, UV-vis spectroscopy was employed to estimate the band gap energies of CuO crystals.     

Shape-dependent local internal stress of α-Cr2O3 nanocrystal fabricated by pulsed laser ablation

The α-Cr₂O₃ single-crystal nanocondensates were fabricated by pulsed laser ablation in air and characterized by analytical electron microscopy regarding shape-dependent local internal stress of the anisotropic crystal. The nanocondensates formed predominantly as rhombohedra with well-developed surfaces and occasionally hexagonal plate with thin edges and blunt corners. Such nanocondensates showed Raman shift for the CrO₆ polyhedra, indicating a local compressive stress up to ca. 4 GPa on the average. Careful analysis of the lattice fringes revealed a local compressive stress (0.5% strain) at the thin edge of the hexagonal plates and a local tensile stress (0.3–1.0% strain) near the relaxed , , and (0 0 0 1) surfaces of truncated rhombohedra. The combined effects of nanosize, capillarity force at sharp edge, and specific surface relaxation account for the retention of a local internal compressive stress built up in an anisotropic crystal during a very rapid heating–cooling process.     

Nanoscale formation mechanism of conducting filaments in NiO thin films

We have studied the nanoscale electrical properties of NiO thin films by using conducting atomic force microscopy (CAFM) to understand the mechanism of resistance change of the NiO thin films as we changed the applied voltage. We observed that inhomogeneous conducting filaments were generated by external voltage bias; in addition, some of the inhomogeneous conducting filaments were durable while some of them were not, and they disappeared. We deduced that the resistance change of the NiO thin films was related to inhomogeneous filamentary conducting paths generated by both Ni ions in thermodynamically unstable NiO and the existence of conducting filament segments generated by high voltage bias.     

Assignments of Nonexchangeable Proton Resonances and the Solution Structures of d–TGGGT

In this paper, we report the studies of the solution structures of synthetic pentadeoxyribonucleotide d-TGGGT(NH₄ ⁺ salt) using 2D–NMR. The 1H–NMR experiments with different temperatures and concentrations reveal an equilibrium between single strand and aggregation. In the experimental condition(22°C, 13mmol/ L), the cross peaks in the COSY spectrum are mainly from single strand, and the spin systems of sugar resonances of this component can be assigned. In contrast, the cross peaks in the NOESY spectrum mainly come from aggregation and the sequential assignments of bases, sugar 1′, 2′ and 2″ protons can be carried out. From NOE connectivities, it is obvious that the aggregation adopts a right–handed helix conformation. It is suggested that the aggregation in our experiment corresponds to the tetramolecular complex.     

Near infrared to UV dielectric functions of Al doped ZnO films deposited on c-plane sapphire substrate using pulsed laser deposition

Transparent conducting polycrystalline Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films were deposited on sapphire substrates at substrate temperatures ranging from 200 to 300 °C by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). X-ray diffraction measurement shows that the crystalline quality of AZO films was improved with increased substrate temperature. The electrical and optical properties of the AZO films have been systematically studied via various experimental tools. The room-temperature micro-photoluminescence (µ-PL) spectra show a strong ultraviolet (UV) excitonic emission and weak deep-level emission, which indicate low structural defects in the films. A Raman shift of about 11 cm⁻¹ is observed for the first-order longitudinal-optical (LO) phonon peak for AZO films when compared to the LO phonon peak of bulk ZnO. The Raman spectra obtained with UV resonant excitation at room temperature show multi-phonon LO modes up to third order. Optical response due to free electrons of the AZO films was characterized in the photon energy range from 0.6 to 6.5 eV by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The free electron response was expressed by a simple Drude model combined with the Cauchy model are reported.     

Microstructural and optical properties of europium-doped zinc oxide nanowires

Single-crystal Eu³⁺-doped wurtzite ZnO micro- and nanowires were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition. The nanostructures grew via a self-catalytic mechanism on the walls of an alumina boat. The structure and properties of the doped ZnO were characterized using X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) methods. A 10-min synthesis yielded vertically grown nanowires of 50–400 nm in diameter and several micrometers long. The nanowires grew along the ±[0001] direction. The Eu³⁺ concentration in the nanowires was 0.8 at.%. The crystal structure and microstructure of were compared for Eu³⁺-doped and undoped ZnO. PL spectra showed a red shift in emission for Eu³⁺-doped (2.02 eV) compared to undoped ZnO nanowires (2.37 eV) due to Eu³⁺ intraionic transitions. Diffuse reflectance spectra revealed widening of the optical bandgap by 0.12 eV for Eu³⁺-doped compared to undoped ZnO to yield a value of 3.31 eV. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence of europium in the ZnO nanowires.     

Spin gap of a pressure-induced superconductor Sr2Ca12Cu24O41 at an optimum pressure of 3.8 GPa

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on ⁶³Cu nuclei was performed in a pressure-induced superconductor Sr₂Ca₁₂Cu₂₄O₄₁ at an optimum pressure of 3.8 GPa. A pressure of 3.8 GPa was achieved by improving a piston-cylinder-type pressure cell and developing a NMR probe with a steady-load control system. We found that the spin gap still exists even at the optimum pressure. The spin gap was almost the same at pressures below 3.5 GPa on the pressure-temperature phase diagram, whereas it decreased rather drastically above 3.5 GPa.     

Electrical and optical absorption studies of Cu7GeS5I fast-ion conductor

Electrical conductivity and fundamental absorption spectra of monocrystalline Cu₇GeS₅I were measured in the temperature ranges 95-370 and 77-373 K, respectively. A rather high electrical conductivity (σ_t=6.98×10⁻³Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 300 K) and low activation energy (ΔE_a=0.183 eV) was found. The influence of different types of disordering on the Urbach absorption edge and electron-phonon interaction parameters were calculated, discussed and compared with the same parameters in Cu₇GeS₅I, Cu₆PX₅I (X=S,Se) and Ag₇GeX₅I (X=S,Se) compounds. We have concluded that the P→Ge and Cu→Ag cation substitution results in an increase of the electrical conductivity and a decrease of the activation energy. Besides, P→Ge substitution, results in complete smearing and disappearance of the exciton absorption bands and in blue shift of the Urbach absorption edge, an increase of the edge energy width and an electron-phonon-interaction enhancement.     

Raman spectra of samarium-fullerene intercalation compounds

Samarium-fullerene intercalation compounds of nominal composition Sm_xC₆₀ (x=1,2,…,6) have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. We obtain a Sm_2.75C₆₀ superconducting phase with orthogonal structure and a Sm₆C₆₀ phase with body-centered cubic structure. The broadening and weakening of Raman peaks of the Sm_xC₆₀ compounds are due to the distortion of C₆₀ and electron-phonon interaction. The Raman measurements reveal that the distortion of C₆₀ decrease in Sm_xC₆₀ (x=3,4,5) exposed to air, although the fulleride solids have transformed into an amorphous state. The Raman results also show that the distortion of C₆₀ is still very large in the Sm₆C₆₀ exposed to air, or the C₆₀ molecules have been destroyed and become some amorphous carbide.