Optimal conditions for submonolayer nanoisland growth in ion beam assisted deposition

We study the optimal conditions for nanoisland growth in ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD). This situation occurs when adatom islands remain small enough to prevent the onset of three-dimensional growth, while at the same time preventing ion-induced surface erosion. To this end, we develop a rate equation model of IBAD, which embodies continuous deposition of adatoms and creation of vacancies, recombination of vacancies at adatom island edges, as well as recombination of adatoms at vacancy island edges. These rate equations are solved by numerical simulations based on the particle coalescence method. To determine the optimal growth condition, we find the largest mean size of the vacancy islands leading to their survival. We show that at this onset between the rough and smooth layer-by-layer growth regimes there is a simple exponential relation between the largest size of the vacancy islands and the external control parameters of the growth.     

Dynamics of Ice Surfaces

The dynamics of faceted and partially faceted single crystal and polycrystalline ice are reviewed with an emphasis on the manner in which microscopic effects produce macroscopic shapes. Our understanding of the former is rooted in the basic kinetics common to all materials and our pursuit of the latter is largely motivated by the striking patterns exhibited in the natural environment when water changes phase to become ice.     

Kinetic interface roughening and magneto resistance of sputter-deposited Fe/Ni75B25 multilayers

The roughening of interfaces as a function of layer thickness and magneto transport properties have been investigated on sputter-deposited Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ multilayer films. X-ray reflectivity data were recorded for Ni₇₅B₂₅(72 nm) film and for [Fe(2 nm)/Ni₇₅B₂₅(2 nm)]₁₆ and [Fe(4 nm)/Ni₇₅B₂₅(4 nm)]₈ multilayer films. A power law dependence of the interfacial width of growing Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ interfaces was observed. The resulting growth exponents β were found to be in the range of 0.55–0.58 in the initial growth stage of the multilayer with lower Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ repetition thickness and at approximately 0.34 for multilayer with higher repetition thickness. The growth exponents were compared with theoretical calculations. High resolution electron microscopy revealed the columnar growth of the Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ multilayer. Additionally, an increase of magnetoresistance was observed by the multilayering of Ni₇₅B₂₅ films with Fe interlayers.     

A modified descent method for co-coercive variational inequalities

This paper presents a modified descent method for solving co-coercive variational inequalities. Incorporating with the techniques of identifying descent directions and optimal step sizes along these directions, the new method improves the efficiencies of some existing projection methods. Some numerical results for an economic equilibrium problem are reported.     

Tin oxalate as a precursor of tin dioxide and electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Tin(II) oxalate was studied as a novel precursor for active electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries. The discharge of lithium cells using tin oxalate electrodes takes place by three irreversible steps: tin reduction, forming a lithium oxalate matrix; solvent decomposition to form a passivating layer; and oxalate reduction in a two-electron process. These are followed by reversible alloying of tin with lithium, leading to a maximum discharge of 11 F/mol. Cycling of the cells showed reversible capacities higher than 600 mAh/g during the first five cycles and ca. 200 mAh/g after 50 cycles. Tin oxalate was converted to tin dioxide by thermal decomposition at 450 °C and also by a chemical method by dissolving tin oxalate powder in 33% v/v hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. The ultrafine nature of the tin dioxide powders obtained by this procedure allow their use as electrodes in lithium cells. The best capacity retention during the first five cycles was achieved for a sample heat treated to 250 °C to eliminate surface water. Electronic Publication     

γ谱仪测量系统样品旋转装置研制

利用球体随机旋转性好的特点，将包装样品的容器装入球内并放在样品旋转台中，在两台速度不同，方向垂直的步进电机带动下，球在旋转台上随机转动，实现对包装容器内的样品进行连续随机扫描，以达到减小由于包装容器的非均匀性对测量结果的影响，样品旋转装置由球面板、四根支柱，底座、步进电机及步进电机控制电路组成。采用两台型号为５７ＢＹＧ５０３的步进电机驱动球体旋转，步进电机控制器可对两台电机进行单独控制，并具有正反转功能，其转速分为２、５、８、１２、１６、２０转／ｍｉｎ六档，可连续长时间工作。     

Step structure on the fivefold Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal surface, and on related surfaces

We compare step morphologies on surfaces of Al-rich metallic alloys, both quasicrystalline and crystalline. We present evidence that the large-scale step structure observed on Al-rich quasicrystals after quenching to room temperature reflects equilibrium structure at an elevated temperature. These steps are relatively rough, i.e., have high diffusivity, compared to those on crystalline surfaces. For the fivefold quasicrystal surface, step diffusivity increases as step height decreases, but this trend is not obeyed in a broader comparison between quasicrystals and crystals. On a shorter scale, the steps on Al-rich alloys tend to exhibit local facets (short linear segments), with different facet lengths, a feature which could develop during quenching to room temperature. Facets are shortest and most difficult to identify for the fivefold quasicrystal surface.     

Curvature forces at crystal surfaces

The influence on thermal roughening of interactions beyond nearest neighbor sites on a surface is examined. In addition to the classical gradient term a novel dependence upon curvature appears in the surface energy. For interactions oscillatory with distance the curvature term can be dominant. The short range correlation function is then linear, it crosses over to the usual logarithmic behavior at large distances. This formalism can explain experimental results in disagreement with existing models. The non-trivial influence of finite size effects in anisotropic systems is also studied.     

Roughness effects on the double-layer charge capacitance: the case of Helmholtz layer induced roughness attenuation

For electrical double layers, the presence of a Helmholtz layer could lead to electrode roughness attenuation. The latter is assumed of self-affine type which is characterized by the roughness amplitude w, the correlation length ξ, and the roughness exponent H. For sufficiently rough metal electrode surfaces (H1 and/or ratios w/ξ0.1) the diffuse/Helmholtz layer interface would not have the same roughness parameters with the metal electrode surface. If the latter is smoothened at lateral length scales smaller than a healing length Λ (ξ), the diffuse charge capacitance decreases and approaches values close to that of the Gouy–Chapman theory for flat electrodes.