Temperature and junction-type dependency of Andreev reflection in MgB2

We studied the voltage and temperature dependency of the dynamic conductance of normal metal-MgB₂ junctions obtained either with the point-contact technique (with Au and Pt tips) or by making Ag-paint spots on the surface of MgB₂ samples. The fit of the conductance curves with the generalized BTK model gives evidence of pure s-wave gap symmetry. The temperature dependency of the gap, measured in Ag-paint junctions (dirty limit), follows the standard BCS curve with 2Δ/k_BT_c=3.3. In out-of-plane, high-pressure point-contacts we obtained almost ideal Andreev reflection characteristics showing a single small s-wave gap Δ=2.6±0.2 meV (clean limit).     

The mechanism of emission in the red photoluminescence band of porous silicon

Porous silicon (PS) exhibits several photoluminescence (PL) bands, whose spectral position and intensity depend strongly on the actual conditions of preparation of PS, its treatment, and subsequent use. The PS PL band peaking at about 1.8 eV and usually assigned to the intrinsic emission of silicon nanocrystals was studied. It was shown that the temperature-induced variation of the PL kinetics in the 80 to 300-K interval follows a complex pattern and depends noticeably on the actual point on the band profile. The temperature behavior of PL decay in the 1.8-eV band is determined by the electron-hole recombination rate within a nanocrystal and the cascade carrier transitions from small to large nanocrystals, with an attendant decrease in energy.     

Reaction of D2 with palladium fulleride C60Pd4.9

Fullerene deuteride was obtained by the reaction of deuterium with solid palladium fulleride C₆₀Pd_4.9 under fairly mild conditions. The compound was identified by FD-MS, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies, and TLC.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 483–484, February, 1996     

Magnetic resonance in beta-active nuclei 8Li at the doubled larmor frequency in LiF polycrystals containing dislocations

The nuclear magnetic resonance in beta-active nuclei ⁸Li at the doubled Larmor frequency in LiF polycrystals is studied before and after treating these polycrystals with an external pressure. A quantitative approach is proposed that makes it possible to calculate the parameters of the resonance line-shape function versus the dislocation structure of crystallites. Data suggesting that the samples under investigation that were subjected to a treatment with an external pressure develop dislocations whose Burgers vectors are parallel are obtained.     

Electrochemical procedure for express evaluation of the corrosion effect of aqueous glycol solutions on metals

Electrochemical procedure for express evaluation of the corrosion effect of aqueous glycol solutions on the metallic construction materials for cooling systems was studied. This procedure was used to develop new coolant formulations.     

Ion synthesis and laser annealing of Cu nanoparticles in Al2O3

Al₂O₃ samples with Cu nanoparticles, synthesised by ion implantation at 40 keV with a dose of 1×10¹⁷ ion/cm² and a current density from 2.5 to 12.5 μA/cm², were annealed using ten pulses from a KrF excimer laser with a single pulse fluence of 0.3 J/cm². The copper depth distribution, formation and modification of metal nanoparticles under the ion implantation and laser treatment were studied by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical spectroscopy. It was found that laser annealing leads to a reduction in the nanoparticle size without diffusion of metal atoms into the bulk. The change in particle size and the possibility for oxidation of the copper particles are examined in the framework of Mie theory. Calculations presented show that under excimer laser treatment, Cu nanoparticles are more likely to be reduced in size than to undergo oxidation. Received: 19 April 2001 / Accepted: 7 November 2001 / Published online: 23 January 2002     

H MAS NMR monitoring of the C-labeled carbon scrambling for propane in zeolite H-ZSM-5

It has been demonstrated that ¹H MAS NMR spectroscopy can be used as a tool for in situ monitoring the reaction kinetics of ¹³C-labeled carbon scrambling in alkane molecules adsorbed on zeolite catalysts at the reaction temperature of 540–570 K. The accuracy of the results and the time resolution are improved compared to ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy.