M?ssbauer studies of the phase composition and microstructure of the La1-xCaxFeO3-y system as related to the reactivity of surface and bulk oxygen

The phase composition and microstructure of samples of the La_1-xCa_xFeO_3-y system prepared via a ceramic route were characterized by M?ssbauer spectroscopy. In all cases, iron was found in the 3+ state. The ordering of anion vacancies in the samples with the composition in the range of 0.8 > x ≥ 0.4, which corresponds to a microheterogeneous solid solution, generates new distorted octahedral and fivefold/tetrahedral sites revealed by two typical sextets. The disordering of this solid solution and small (10-100 ?) sizes of domains with a perovskite, braunmillerite or Grenier phase structure caused the appearance of a superparamagnetic doublet, which grows with the Ca content up to x = 0.8 but disappears in the sample of pure braunmillerite. The appearance of Fe cations in a distorted coordination correlates with the increased activity of the samples with a microheterogeneous structure in the CO catalytic oxidation and with their reducibility by H₂. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Temperature dynamics of triglycine sulfate domain structure according to atomic force microscopy and dielectric spectroscopy data

A hydrogen-containing ferroelectric triglycine sulfate (TGS) was comprehensively studied with an atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dielectric spectroscopy. The domain structure dynamics was in situ investigated with piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) during heating and cooling the TGS crystal near phase transition. Relaxation dependencies of domain boundaries general perimeter and domain dimensions were obtained. TGS dielectric spectra measured at the frequency range from 10 to 10¹¹ Hz were analyzed on basis of significant contribution of conductivity into the dielectric response of ferroelectrics and a good agreement with the experimental data was received. It allows us to obtain more information about temperature dynamics of the domain structure.     

Structure and properties of thin-film metal-poly(p-xylylene) hybrid nanocomposites

Thin-film hybrid metal-poly(p-xylylene) composites synthesized by vacuum co-condensation were examined. It was demonstrated that the structure of the composites consists of a matrix comprised of polymer globules and inorganic filler nanoparticles. The shape, structure, and size of the polymer globules depend on the film thickness and the nature of the filler nanoparticles. Studying the conductivity of these materials demonstrated that it is determined by hopping conduction via surface states of the matrix. At high frequencies of the voltage applied (above 500 Hz), the electric conduction characteristics depend appreciably on the processes of recharging of the surface states of the matrix and of the nanoparticle-matrix interfaces. Tests of lithium battery anodes prepared from nanocomposites showed that these materials are promising for manufacturing chemical current sources.     

ESR study of the nitric oxide production in tissues of animals under an external influence on the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems

Electron spin resonance (ESR) of the ternary (DETC)₂-Fe²⁺-NO complex has been applied to determine the nitric oxide production in tissues of rats and snails. A preliminary ESR study of the NO content in tissues of rats before and after artificially induced acute myocardial infarct was performed. The analysis of the obtained results shows that the nitric oxide production during the first hour after the moment of inducing myocardial infarct decreases. It is also demonstrated that ESR may be useful in the study of the influence of the long-term sensitization of snails on the nitric oxide production in their body. The changes in the NO production after the external influences in both cases are discussed.     

Study of the surface heterogeneity of topographic and electric nature by atomic force microscopy by the example of triglycine sulfate

Triglycine sulfate crystals with an ideal (010) cleavage plane are used as model objects to reveal problems in interpreting atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of surfaces with nonuniform charge distribution. Specific microrelief features of two types are found: lenslike formations with different contrast and rounded protrusions/valleys of different size but fixed height. An analysis of their evolution with a change in temperature and under an electric field and mechanical impacts has made it possible to separate relief elements from the crystal domain structure. The interpretation proposed is confirmed by the multimode AFM data. The specific features of the images of dynamic domains and aged domains (which cannot undergo polarization reversal) are studied. The domain-wall width found in the AFM measurements depends on the technique used and the specificity of probe-surface interaction; it varies from 9 to 2000 nm. The most reliable data on the domain-wall width in triglycine sulfate crystals are provided by piezoelectric force microscopy, according to which the wall width does not exceed 30 nm.     

Atomic force microscopy of the mirror cleavage surface of defect TGS crystals

The nanorelief of the mirror cleavage surface of triglycine sulfate crystals with various defect densities has been studied. Typical nanorelief features of both defect and clean (without artificial impurity) crystals are two-dimensional rounded bumps (dips) of equal height (depth) of about half the lattice parameter and sub-micrometer lateral sizes. The density, lateral size, and scatter of such 2D structures are several times larger for defect crystals than for clean ones. The correlation between the crystal defect density and the density and lateral size of 2D structures on the cleavage surface has been revealed. Conclusions are made about the defect origin of the typical nanorelief on the mirror cleavage.     

Formation of Hydrophobic and Superhydrophobic Coatings on Track-Etched Membrane Surfaces to Create Composite Membranes for Water Desalination

Colloid Journal - Different methods have been considered for the formation of coatings on the surface of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membrane with the help of...     

Microdomain Engineering in Waveguide and Layered Structures Based on Ferroelectrics for Applications in Photonic Elements (Brief Review)

JETP Letters - Studies of ferroelectric nano- and microdomain structures formed in LiNbO3-based optical waveguides are reviewed. Nanodomain structures of a given configuration have been written in...     

Microhardness and fracture toughness of Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-and Y<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>-based nanocrystalline laser ceramics

The microhardness and fracture toughness of laser nanocrystalline ceramics based on the cubic oxides Y₂O₃ and Y₃Al₅O₁₂ are determined experimentally. It is shown by comparative measurements that the fracture toughness and microhardness of Y₂O₃ ceramics exceed the corresponding parameters of Y₂O₃ single crystals by factors of 2.5 and 1.3, respectively. The fine morphology of grains and grain boundaries in fractures is investigated. It is ascertained that changes in the mechanical properties of the nanocrystalline ceramics under study are related to both the sizes and structure of grains and the structure of grain boundaries. It is suggested that twinning processes determine the mechanisms of formation of nanocrystalline ceramics.