Ab initio simulation of the BaZrO3 (0 0 1) surface structure

Electronic and atomic structures of different terminations of the (0 0 1) non-polar orientation of BaZrO₃ surfaces have been studied using first-principles calculations. We found that surface energies at both possible surface terminations, BaO and ZrO₂, were very close. The (0 0 1)-BaO and (0 0 1)-ZrO₂ terminated surfaces have bandgap values smaller than that of a bulk BaZrO₃ crystal. In addition, the relative surface stability has been analyzed as a function of chemical environment.     

Microstructure performance and formation mechanism of laser alloying rare earth oxides modified nanocrystalline layer on TA7

Nanoscale particles (NP) were observed in a Ni60–Ag–Si₃N₄–Y₂O₃ laser alloying (LA) layer on a TA7 titanium alloy, NP usually locate on the grain boundaries, which are able to block the motion of dislocation in a certain extent. Such layer mainly consisted of γ-Ni, TiN, γ-(Fe, Ni), TiAg and lots of amorphous phases. The wear resistance of such layer with laser scanning speed 3 mm/s was better than that of a LA layer with 6 mm/s, which was mainly ascribed to an uniform microstructure and less defect of layer. The high laser scanning speed made the existing time of laser molten pool be shorter than before, favoring the formation of a fine microstructure. However, the defects, such as pores were produced in LA layer (higher scanning speed), decreasing the wear resistance.     

Contactless Spectroscopy of Deep Levels in Semiconducting Materials: Gaas

Abstract

The surface photo voltage (SPV) and photocurrent (PC) transients as a result of the excitation by the short high-intensity light pulses from semiconductor's intrinsic absorption spectral region are investigated in semi-insulating GaAs. It is shown that the mathematical convolution of SPV transients and arbitrary form double-pulse integrator (lock-in, double-boxcar) in a wide temperature range allows to receive the deep-level (DL) spectrum without the need to form electrical contacts to the crystal investigated. The use of such a procedure while scanning the crystal surface with a light spot at a temperature, corresponding to some DL maximum in the spectrum, makes possible the con tactless determination of this DL density distribution profile along the scanning direction.     

Tunable local surface plasmon resonance in liquid-crystal-coated Ag nanoparticles

The far-field and near-field properties of a spherical nematic liquid crystal (NLC) coated metal nanoparticle (NPs) have been investigated in an external field, basing on the quasistatic theory. The resonant wavelength is tunable by varying metallic material of core, anisotropy extent and thickness of liquid crystals (LCs). The field enhancement is along the incident polarization near the outer surface of the shell. The direction of field is reverse in the inner surface comparing with the one if outer shell. In contrast to isotropy shell, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) shows an obvious red shift and field enhancement near outer surface of the shell always is stronger.     

Characterization of the channel walls roughness in photonic crystal fibers

We present electron microscope (FEI NanoSEM) and atomic force microscopy measurements of surface roughness in nanochannels in photonic crystal fibers (PCF). A method was invented to cleave the PCF along the axis without damaging the surface structure in the nanochannels allowing us to characterize the morphology of the nanochannels in the PCF. A multi-wall carbon nanotube mounted onto commercial AFM probes and super sharp silicon non-contact mode AFM probes were used to characterize the wall roughness in the nanochannels. The roughness is shown to have a Gaussian distribution, and has an amplitude smaller than 0.5 nm. The height–height correlation function is an exponential correlation function with an autocorrelation length of 13 nm, and 27 nm corresponding with scan sizes of 200×100 nm², and 1600×200 nm², respectively.     

Surface plasmon enhanced light emission of silicon-rich silicon nitride: Dependence on metal island size

Surface plasmon coupled light emission of silicon-rich silicon nitride (SRSN) was investigated as a function of metal island size. It was found that the emission intensity was enhanced by surface plasmon (SP) and the enhancement factors increase greatly with the increase of metal island size. Moreover, SP coupled emission spectral shape was found also correlating with Ag island size. By calculating the extinction characteristics of the Ag islands, it was believed that SP scattering and absorption efficiency of the metal islands decide the photoluminescence (PL) changes including emission intensity enhancement and band position shift.     

Engineering of hydrophilic and plasmonic properties of Ag thin film by atom beam irradiation

Hydrophilic Ag nanostructures were synthesized by physical vapour deposition of 5 nm Ag thin films followed by irradiation with 1.5 keV Ar atoms. Optical absorbance measurements show a characteristic surface plasmon resonance absorption band in visible region. A blue-shift in absorbance from 532 to 450 nm is observed with increasing fluence from 1 × 10¹⁶ to 3 × 10¹⁶ atoms/cm². Atomic force microscopy was performed for the pristine and irradiated samples to study the surface morphology. The atom beam irradiation induced sputtering and surface diffusion lead to the formation of plasmonic surface. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy of the pristine and irradiated film indicates that metal content in the film decreases with ion fluence, which is attributed to the sputtering of Ag by Ar atoms. The contact angle measurement demonstrates the possibility of engineering the hydrophilicity by atom beam irradiation.     

Ultrasound velocimetry of ferrofluid spin-up flow measurements using a spherical coil assembly to impose a uniform rotating magnetic field

Ferrofluid spin-up flow is studied within a sphere subjected to a uniform rotating magnetic field from two surrounding spherical coils carrying sinusoidally varying currents at right angles and 90° phase difference. Ultrasound velocimetry measurements in a full sphere of ferrofluid shows no measureable flow. There is significant bulk flow in a partially filled sphere (1-14 mm/s) of ferrofluid or a finite height cylinder of ferrofluid with no cover (1-4 mm/s) placed in the spherical coil apparatus. The flow is due to free surface effects and the non-uniform magnetic field associated with the shape demagnetizing effects. Flow is also observed in the fully filled ferrofluid sphere (1-20 mm/s) when the field is made non-uniform by adding a permanent magnet or a DC or AC excited small solenoidal coil. This confirms that a non-uniform magnetic field or a non-uniform distribution of magnetization due to a non-uniform magnetic field are causes of spin-up flow in ferrofluids with no free surface, while tangential magnetic surface stress contributes to flow in the presence of a free surface.Recent work has fitted velocity flow measurements of ferrofluid filled finite height cylinders with no free surface, subjected to uniform rotating magnetic fields, neglecting the container shape effects which cause non-uniform demagnetizing fields, and resulting in much larger non-physical effective values of spin viscosity η′∼10⁻⁸−10⁻¹² N s than those obtained from theoretical spin diffusion analysis where η′≤10⁻¹⁸ N s. COMSOL Multiphysics finite element computer simulations of spherical geometry in a uniform rotating magnetic field using non-physically large experimental fit values of spin viscosity η′∼10⁻⁸−10⁻¹² N s with a zero spin-velocity boundary condition at the outer wall predicts measureable flow, while simulations setting spin viscosity to zero (η′=0) results in negligible flow, in agreement with the ultrasound velocimetry measurements. COMSOL simulations also confirm that a non-uniform rotating magnetic field or a uniform rotating magnetic field with a non-uniform distribution of magnetization due to an external magnet or a current carrying coil can drive a measureable flow in an infinitely long ferrofluid cylinder with zero spin viscosity (η′=0).     

The dynamic behavior of magnetic fluid adsorbed to small permanent magnet in alternating magnetic field

The dynamic behavior of a magnetic fluid adsorbed to a small NdFeB permanent magnet subjected to an alternating magnetic field was studied with a high speed video camera system. The directions of alternating magnetic field are parallel and opposite to that of the permanent magnet. It was found that the surface of magnetic fluid responds to the external alternating magnetic field in elongation and contraction with a lot of spikes. Generation of a capillary magnetic fluid jet was observed in the neighbourhood of a specific frequency of alternating field. The effect of gravitational force on surface phenomena of magnetic fluid adsorbed to the permanent magnet was revealed.     

Transmission Electron Microscopic Investigation of the Morphology of High-Speed Spun Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Fibers

Permanganic etching was performed on high-speed spun (HSS) and regular fibers of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and their surface morphologies were investigated via the two-stage carbon replica method using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The HSS PET fibers, with disordered amorphous regions, showed peculiar surface morphology; many small warts corresponding to the pits of etched disordered amorphous regions were observed. Such unevenness, however, was hardly observed on the surface of the permanganic-etched regular PET fibers, with well-oriented amorphous regions, or on the surface of alkali-etched HSS PET fibers. The permanganic etchant removed the disordered amorphous regions more preferentially compared with the alkali etchant.