A comparison between RF-driven single and double cathode structures

Experimental results are presented for the electron density, bias voltage, and dark space size surrounding a 18-cm-diameter cathode situated in the centre of a 30-cm-diameter, 30-cm-long glass vacuum chamber, containing low-pressure argon. The cathode is a single aluminium plate to which can be added another plate situated at various distances from the first and electrically connected to it. The effect of the second cathode is to dramatically reduce the self-bias on the driven cathode and considerably increase the luminosity: The plasma density increases but at a significantly smaller rate.     

Ion transmission in an electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry interface using an S-lens

We present the design and performance of an in-house built electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) interface equipped with an S-lens ion guide. The ion source was designed specifically for our ion beam experiments to investigate the chemical reactivity and deposition of the clusters and nanoparticles. It includes standard ESI-MS interface components, such as nanoelectrospray, ion transfer capillary, and the S-lens. A custom design enables systematic optimization of all relevant factors influencing ion formation and transfer through the interface. By varying the ESI voltage and flow rate, we determined the optimal operating conditions for selected silica emitters. A comparison of the pulled silica emitters with different tip inner diameters reveals that the total ion current is highest for the largest tip, whereas a tip with the smallest diameter exhibited the highest transmission efficiency through the ESI-MS interface. Ion transmission through the transfer capillary is strongly limited by its length, but the loss of ions can be reduced by increasing the capillary voltage and temperature. The S-lens was characterized over a wide range of RF frequencies and amplitudes. Maximum ion current was detected at RF amplitudes greater than 50 V peak-to-peak (p/p) and frequencies above 750 kHz, with a stable ion transmission region of about 20%. A factor of 2.6 increase in total ion current is observed for 650 kHz as RF amplitudes reach 400 V p/p. Higher RF amplitudes also focus the ions into a narrow beam, which mitigates their losses when passing through the ion guide.     

Local inverse inelastic mean free path at interface

We calculated a local inverse inelastic mean free path (local-IIMFP) for electrons crossing a medium–medium interface, considering various incident electron energies, crossing angles and combinations of materials. We used an extension of a classical dielectric model developed by Li and co-workers for an electron crossing a surface (interface vacuum-medium). Moreover, the integration over the distance of the local-IIMFP allows to obtain the interface excitation parameter (or IEP) characterizing the change in excitation probability for an electron crossing an interface once caused by the presence of the interface in comparison with an electron for which only volume excitations are considered. We perform these calculations for angles between 0° and 80°, for electron energies between 500 and 2500 eV and for various pairs of materials, as Al/In for its academic interest or Au/Si and SiO₂/Si for their technological importance. Small but not negligible variations of the local-IIMFP and the IEP were observed for metal–metal or metal–semiconductor interfaces, while quite significant variations are obtained when one of the materials is a insulator.     

Modeling of RF plasma torch with a metallic tube inserted for reactant injection

Flow, temperature, and electromagnetic (EM) fields in a radio-frequency thermal plasma torch designed for the preparation of superconducting powders or films have been analysed by using a new two-dimensional modeling approach with the electric field intensity as the fundamental EM field variable. The insertion of a stainless steel injection tube into the torch leads to large induction currents in this tube. Although such large induction currents cause pronounced changes of the EM fields near the injection tube, flow and temperature fields are little affected. There exists only one large toroidal vortex in the upper part of the present torch, while the maximum temperature appears at an off-axis location within the coil region.     

He-N2 radiofrequency discharge: Influence of N2 on discharge and afterglow

A diagnostic study q (energy transfer processes in a He-N₂ flowing discharge and afterglow has been performed in a radiofrequency-produced plasma cooled in a liquid nitrogen hath. Optical emission spectroscopy in the visible and infrared spectral range as well as Langrnuir probe diagnostics were used. The vibrational kinetics of CO injected in such an afterglow has been examined. It shows a slow cooling of the electrons in the afterglow regime. The electron kinetics responsible joy CO vibrahonal excitation is turned off when N₂ is added to the He discharge, while that for vibrationally excited N₂ molecules is turned on. The results are discussed on the basis of previous theorerical calculations and experiments on the He-N₂ system.     

用于宽谱带发射白色发光二极管的黄色荧光粉Sr8MgAl(PO4)7∶xEu2+的制备及发光性能

通过高温固相反应合成了一系列宽谱带发射黄色荧光粉Sr_8MgAl(PO_4)_7∶x Eu~(2+)(SMAP∶x Eu~(2+)),并对其物质结构、发光性能及其在白色发光二极管(WLED)领域的应用进行了探究。X射线衍射(XRD)测试结果表明,SMAP∶x Eu~(2+)系列荧光粉具有单斜结构和C2/m空间群,激活剂Eu~(2+)离子能够很好地进入SMAP基质中并占据Sr~(2+)离子的晶格位点。漫反射光谱分析显示SMAP基质属于宽带隙材料,带隙宽度为3.60 e V。此外,SMAP∶x Eu~(2+)具有较宽的激发范围(280～500 nm),对应于Eu~(2+)离子的4f~7→4f~65d~1跃迁;在380 nm近紫外光激发下,呈现出450～800 nm的多发光中心的非对称黄光发射,发射峰位于590 nm处。基于高斯多峰拟合结果,得到3个发光中心,分别位于528、600和680 nm。最后,将已制备的黄色荧光粉SMAP∶0.05Eu~(2+)与商业化蓝粉Ba Mg Al_(10)O_(17)∶Eu~(2+)混合涂覆到400 nm芯片上制得色温较好(3 344 K)、显色指数较高(90.1)的WLED。     

基于长波长光激发的光敏剂和载体在肿瘤光动力治疗中的应用

光动力疗法是近年来兴起的一种新型的微创性治疗肿瘤的方法,目前已经成功地应用于临床上多种恶性肿瘤治疗中,并取得了良好的效果。然而,由于生物组织对可见光的吸收和散射,使得光线无法穿透组织到达身体内的目标区域,所以该疗法更适用于浅表肿瘤的治疗。长波长光尤其是近红外光具有良好的组织穿透深度,其在治疗组织深处的肿瘤方面具有显著的优势。基于长波长光激发的光敏剂及载体在实体肿瘤的治疗领域已经取得了丰硕的研究成果。本文将从光敏剂的研发、双光子激光的使用、上转换纳米粒子的引入等方面简要概述近十年来用于光动力治疗中的组装体系,以及长波长激发光在光动力治疗方面的发展趋势。     

Microstructure of nickel nanoparticles embedded in carbon films: case study on annealing effect by micromorphology analysis

The presented study is aimed at analyzing the surface texture of amorphous hydrogenated carbon layers containing nickel nanoparticles (Ni‐NPs@a‐C:H) within their structure, which were deposited by Radio Frequency (RF) sputtering and RF‐Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (RF‐PECVD) methods on glass substrates. Prepared films were then used as research material following their annealing at two different temperatures of 250 °C and 350 °C in an inert argon atmosphere. Series of height samples were taken with the help of atomic force microscopy (AFM) operating in a non‐contact mode and examined in order to determine their fractal characteristics. Raw AFM data were first plane‐fitted to remove the surface bow exhibiting the so‐called residual surface, and then numerically processed to calculate the Areal Autocorrelation Function (AACF), which was later used to compute the Structure Function (SF). The log–log plots of the latter served for calculation of fractal properties of surfaces under investigation, including fractal dimension D, and pseudo‐topothesy K. The analysis of 3‐D surface texture helps to understand their essential characteristics and their implications as well as graphical models and their implementation in computer simulation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microwave and RF surface wave sustained discharges as plasma sources for plasma chemistry and plasma processing

The surface wave produced plasma belongs to a class of RF and microwave induced plasmas. It results from the propagation of an electromagnetic wave which uses the plasma column it sustains and the plasma tube as its sole propagating media. This type of plasma offers several advantages compared to the positive column plasma of dc discharges or to other RF and microwave produced plasmas. Surface wave plasmas require no internal electrodes, and they can be applied over an extremely broad range of wave frequencies (27 MHz to 10 GHz demonstrated) and gas pressures (about 10^–4 Torr to a few times the atmospheric pressures). Using the surface wave plasma technique, a large variety of plasma column diameters have been created (0.5–150 mm demonstrated) and no limitation on plasma column length (column up to 6 m long demonstrated) has been found. The surface wave produced plasma is used in elemental analysis and to sustain emission in lasing media. This article is intended as a guide for potential users of surface wave plasmas in the field of plasma processing and plasma chemistry.