High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayers

High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayer (ML) up to 600 °C have been studied and reported in this paper. Ti/Ni multilayer samples having constant layer thicknesses of 50 Å each are deposited on float glass and Si(1 1 1) substrates using electron-beam evaporation technique under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions at room temperatures. The micro-structural parameters and their evolution with temperature for as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples up to 600 °C in a step of 100 °C for 1 h are determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity techniques. The X-ray diffraction pattern recorded at 300 °C annealed multilayer sample shows interesting structural transformation (from crystalline to amorphous) because of the solid-state reaction (SSR) and subsequent re-crystallization at higher temperatures of annealing, particularly at ≥400 °C due to the formation of TiNi₃ and Ti₂Ni alloy phases. Sample quality and surface morphology are examined by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique for both as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples. In addition to this, a temperature dependent dc resistivity measurement is also used to study the structural transformation and subsequent alloy phase formation due to annealing treatment. The corresponding magnetization behavior of multilayer samples after each stage of annealing has been investigated by using Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) technique and results are interpreted in terms of observed micro-structural changes.     

Vibrational EELS and DFT study of propionic acid and pyruvic acid on Ni(1 0 0): Effects of keto group substitution on room-temperature adsorption and thermal chemistry

The room-temperature adsorption and thermally induced processes of propionic acid and pyruvic acid on Ni(1 0 0) have been investigated by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Computational vibrational analysis of the optimized bidentate structures for acid-Ni model complexes (involving the organic acid and a Ni atom) has been performed by using the two-layer ONIOM method with the Density Functional Theory and used to interpret the vibrational EELS data. Dehydrogenation of the hydroxyl group is found to result in bonding of the carboxylate group in the propionate and pyruvate adspecies to either a single Ni surface atom in a bidentate configuration or two neighbouring Ni atoms in a bridge configuration. Given the similarities in the total energies and related vibrational frequencies obtained by the calculations in the case of pyruvate adspecies, it is difficult to differentiate the alternate adsorption structure, in which the keto O and hydroxyl O atoms are bonded to a Ni atom in a five-member chelate ring configuration. Furthermore, temperature-dependent EELS studies show that both the propionate and pyruvate adspecies could decompose upon annealing to above 400 K and further dissociate to CO adspecies above 550 K and to C and/or O above 600 K.     

ICP-AES测定钛基复合材料中镍、钕和铁的研究

采用ICP－AES法对钛基复合材料中的合金元素镍、钕、铁的测定进行了研究，着重进行了基体元素及待测元素镍、钕、铁之间干扰试验及各元素在测定浓度范围内的线性相关性试验，进行了酸度试验，测定了钛基复合材料中3种元素的含量，得到了较好的精密度和准确度。方法简便、可靠，获得满意的分析结果。     

Growth and optical properties of a new self-Q-switched laser crystal: Cr:Yb3Al5O12

Cr⁴⁺:YbAG (Cr⁴⁺:Yb₃Al₅O₁₂) crystal with a size up to Φ24 mm×30 mm was grown by the Czochralski method. In the absorption spectrum, there are two absorption bands at 939 and 969 nm, respectively, which are suitable for InGaAs diode laser pumping, and there is an absorption band at 1030 nm, which is suitable for passive Q-switched laser output at 1.03 μm. A broad emission spectrum from 970 to 1100 nm was exhibited from 940 nm wavelength pumping. This crystal is promising as a self-Q-switched laser crystal used for compact, efficient, highly stable, passive self-Q-switched thin chip solid-state lasers.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of multilayer Ni/Cu and NiFe/Cu nanowires

Highly ordered composite nanowires with multilayer Ni/Cu and NiFe/Cu have been fabricated by pulsed electrodeposition into nanoporous alumina membrane. The diameter of wires can be easily varied by pore size of alumina, ranging from 30 to 100 nm. The applied potential and the duration of each potential square pulse determine the thickness of the metal layers. The nanowires have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. The MFM images indicate that every ferromagnetic layer separated by Cu layer was present as single isolated domain-like magnet. This technique has potential use in the measurement and application of magnetic nanodevices.     

ICP-AES测定彩涂前处理表面调整转化层中Ti、Ni含量及钝化膜中Cr含量

采用电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱法同时测定彩涂前处理表面调整转化层中Ti、Ni含量及钝化膜中Cr含量.以表征表面调整转化层厚度及钝化膜厚度,采用本方法准确度高、快速简便,经试验结果令人满意.     

Polarization inscription in ferroelectric (111) PZT and (100) SBT films

Ferroelectric thin films form an equilibrium domain structure compatible with their respective crystallographic symmetry. In tetragonal (111) PZT, 90° domains prevail; in (pseudo-tetragonal) (100) SBT both 90° and 180° domains are present. The size of 90° domains has been measured for e.g., PZT as slabs of 15 nm width. Domain size is a result of stress minimization in the film during the paraelectric (PE) → ferroelectric (FE) transition. A precise and regular domain pattern for (111) PZT and (100) SBT films has been investigated in detail by TMSFM. Single domains can be addressed mechanically with the tip of an AFM. Such single domain switching corresponds to a data storage density of 200 Gbit/inch². Applications of ferroelectric and high- paraelectric materials for e.g., non-volatile data storage replacing DRAM devices or as sensors in infrared cameras are increasingly becoming popular.     

Coexisting antiferromagnetism and ferromagnetism in mechanically alloyed Fe-rich Fe–Ni alloys: implications regarding the Fe–Ni phase diagram below 400°C

Fe–Ni alloys below the Invar region with compositions Fe_100−xNi_x (x=21, 24, and 27 at%) were prepared by high-energy ball milling technique (mechanical alloying). The as-milled samples, characterized by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy, contain a mixture of (BCC) and γ (FCC) phases, whereas the samples annealed at 650°C for 0.5 h show a single γ (FCC) phase displaying a single line Mössbauer spectrum at room temperature (RT). At low temperature, the Mössbauer spectra of annealed Fe₇₆Ni₂₄ and Fe₇₃Ni₂₇ alloys show the existence of a magnetically split pattern together with a broad singlet, which are ascribed to a high-moment ferromagnetic Ni-rich phase and a low-moment Fe-rich phase, respectively. The Fe-rich phase in annealed Fe₇₆Ni₂₄ alloy, which is paramagnetic at RT, undergoes antiferromagnetic ordering at 40 K, estimated from the dramatic line broadening of its spectrum, giving rise to a small hyperfine field (e.g. 2 T at 6 K). The coexistence of these phases is attributed to phase segregation occurring in these alloys as a result of enhanced atomic diffusion. The stability of these alloys towards martensitic (FCC→BCC) transformation at low temperatures is discussed in connection with the Fe–Ni phase diagram below 400°C.     

Behaviors of the positive temperature coefficient of resistance of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butylacrylate) filled with Ni‐plated core‐shell polymeric particles

Conductive composite films of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butylacrylate) copolymers filled with low‐density, Ni‐plated core‐shell polymeric particles were prepared and their behaviors of positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) were investigated. When the conductive fillers in the composite film were loaded beyond the critical volume, 10 up to 25 vol %, composite films exhibited a unique electrical resistant transition behavior, which the electrical resistance rapidly increased by several orders of magnitude at the critical temperature. The PTCR transition temperature, in general, occurred before the glass transition temperature of polymer matrix. Further increased the conductive filler loading to 30 vol %, the overpacked conduction paths were formed in the entire composite and the PTCR effects became blurred. While the composite film treated with thermal cycle several times from room temperature up to 120 °C, the electrical resistivity increased accompanied with the shift of the PTCR transition to lower temperature. The reason might have been caused by the formed interfacial cracks within the composite film. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 322–329, 2007     

Influence of boric acid on the electrochemical deposition of Ni

The electrolytic deposition of Ni onto a paraffin-impregnated graphite electrode from supporting chloride electrolyte (0.5 mol dm⁻³ NaCl) adjusted to the required pH using dilute HCl is investigated. The effect of electrolyte composition on the Ni electrodeposition is studied using linear sweep voltammetry in the cathodic region. An elimination voltammetry procedure was applied to evaluate the polarization curves. The aim of this work was to deduce the mechanism of Ni reduction in the chloride bath as well as the influence of boric acid on this. Positively-charged NiCl⁺ ions were found to be the electroactive particles in the Ni reduction mechanism. The strong competition between the NiCl⁺, Cl⁻ and H⁺ ions for active sites at the electrode is discussed. Kinetically-controlled adsorption/desorption processes of various species were also confirmed using elimination voltammetry with a linear scan. The evolution of gaseous hydrogen, catalyzed by the freshly-deposited Ni, accompanies the electrodeposition process. The presence of boric acid at a sufficiently high concentration inhibits the deposition of Ni and, at the same time, improves the morphology and brightness, as well as the adhesion of the deposited Ni. Elimination voltammetry with a linear scan is an efficient way to evaluate current–potential curves that reflect the electrodeposition of one-component Ni coatings. By eliminating selected currents, additional interesting and useful information can be obtained from voltammetric data.