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Highly dispersed silver nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous thin films (MTFs) have been synthesized by modification of the interior surface of mesoporous silica with ethylenediamine moieties, which provided the coordination sites for the Ag ions, and subsequent reduction under hydrogen atmosphere. TEM observations show the mesoporous parent films have effectively controlled the growth of the synthesized silver nanoparticles. The composite films had an ultrafast nonlinear response time, as fast as 200 fs, and a third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of 0.94??10?10 esu, which was enhanced by the local field enhancement effect that was present when the silver nanoparticles were embedded in the surrounding dielectric matrix. The origin of the ultrafast nonlinear response and the enhanc...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The nanostructure Ni-doped CdO films have been prepared by sol gel spin coating method. Atomic force microscopy results indicate that the CdO films are formed from the nanoparticles and the grain size is changed with nickel content. X-ray diffraction patterns of the films indicate that the undoped and Ni-doped CdO films have polycrystalline structure with a cubic sodium chloride structure, showing two main characteristic peaks assigned to the (111) and (200) planes. The optical band gap values of undoped and Ni-doped CdO films were determined by optical absorption method. The Eg values of the CdO films were found to be in the range of 2.26?2.60?eV. The Eg values of the CdO films increase with the content of Ni dopant (up to 6% Ni). It is evaluated that the optical band gap and grain size o...

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British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Rheological properties of moderately concentrated solutions of cellulose in methylmorpholine N-oxide-dimethylformamide mixtures containing hydrophilic montmorillonite nanoparticles were studied. Film composite materials were prepared, and their physicomechanical properties and structural organization were studied.

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Manufacture of cadmium sulfide thin film solar cells

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Size-selected SnO{sub 1.8}:Ag mixed nanoparticle films have been prepared using a gas phase condensation method. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the applied size-selection technique yields well-defined, monodisperse and spherical SnO{sub 1.8} and Ag nanoparticles, both with a fixed diameter of 20 nm. The technique allows an independent variation of the particle size of both materials as well as the concentration of Ag. It allows to assess the influence of these parameters on the gas-sensing properties of the films, here for ethanol vapor in synthetic air. SnO{sub 1.8}:Ag nanoparticle films show optimal values of the sensor signal and response time at a Ag nanoparticle concentration of 5%. Due to the fact that the Ag nanoparticles are clearly distinct from the SnO{sub 1.8} nanoparticles ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We described the use of silica nanoparticles as building blocks for the immobilization of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) reagent Ru(bpy)_3"2"+ and the fabrication of layer-by-layer assembly film by alternating the deposition of the Ru(bpy)_3"2"+-doped silica nanoparticles and Au nanoparticles. UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry and ECL were used to characterize the uniform growth of the multilayer film. Since Ru(bpy)_3"2"+ could still maintain its ECL property when doped into the silica nanoparticles, the as-prepared multilayer film could be used as an effective ECL sensor, and the sensor showed high sensitivity and good stability.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Science.gov (United States)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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Science.gov (United States)

In the present work, a new kind of myoglobin (Mb)/Au nanoparticles composite film was fabricated on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes. Oppositely charged chitosan (CS) and silica (SiO(2)) nanoparticles were alternately adsorbed on the PG surface by the electrostatic interaction between them, forming {CS/SiO(2)}(5) layer-by-layer films. Mb and HAuCl(4) in solution were then simultaneously loaded into {CS/SiO(2)}(5) films. The loaded Au(III) in the films were electrochemically reduced into Au nanoparticles, forming nanocomposite films, designated as {CS/SiO(2)}(5)-Mb-Au. Various techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were used to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A super-hydrophobic coating was prepared by combining a rigid base film with crater-like hemispherical holes and acicular nanoparticles. The acicular boehmite powder provides a high contact angle on the film surface. The rigid base film with crater-like hemispherical holes inhibits the rapid decrease of contact angle by surface rubbing. The combination of different roughness is an effective method for improving the abrasion resistance of super-hydrophobic films.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Emeraldine base (EB) polymer?ZnO nanoparticles composite films has been synthesized by solution casting technique on ITO-coated glass substrate and characterized by XRD, FTIR and TEM for their structure and morphology. Dielectric behaviour of these composite films has been investigated in the very low frequency region to medium frequency region (1?kHz?1?MHz). The dielectric constant of the composite with 30% nanoparticles is almost one-tenth of the pure EB. The dielectric value becomes constant in the frequency region greater than 400?kHz. The change in dielectric behaviour of the composite is explained on the basis of multilayered interface formed between the ZnO nanoparticles and emeraldine chains. Nanoparticles have high energy surface which is responsible for the decrease of free volum...

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In this paper, an environmentally friendly metal corrosion inhibitor, phytic acid, was assembled into the walls of silica nanoparticles via layer-by-layer self-assembly technique (LbL) with poly(allylamine hydrochloride). Such functionalized nanoparticles were uniformly distributed into sol-gel films for metal anticorrosion. The films showed very pronounced and lasting protective efficiency in concentrated salt aqueous solutions as indicated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. These results may provide a new route for the preparation of environment-friendly anticorrosion coatings.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nanoporous materials have become indispensable in many fields ranging from photonics, catalysis and semiconductor processing to biosensor infrastructure. Rapid and energy efficient process fabrication of these materials is, however, nontrivial. In this communication, we describe a simple method for the rapid fabrication of these materials from colloidal dispersions of Polymethyl Silsesquioxane nanoparticles. Nanoparticle-polymer composites above the decomposition temperature of the polymer are examined and the entropic gain experienced by the nanoparticles in this rubric is harnessed to fabricate novel highly porous films composed of nanoparticles. Optically smooth, hydrophobic films with low refractive indices (as low as 1.048) and high surface areas (as high as 1325 m2 g-1) have been achieved with this approach. In this communication we address the behavior of ...

Science.gov (United States)

Thin film solar cells and solar cell testing - photovoltaic cells, radiation damage to cadmium sulfide solar cells, and airplane testing of solar cells

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A thin-film evaporator requires only a short heating time to concentrate a solution since it has a high thermal efficiency and has a small capacity. Thus, the chemical industry often uses this type of evaporator for concentrating materials that are subjec...

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We demonstrate that the nanoparticle formation during laser ablation of metals by short (of a few tens of ps) laser pulses strongly depends on the concentration of surrounding gas. While, at vacuum conditions, nanoparticle formation shows very ''sharp'' atomic force microscope images of aggregated clusters, following with clear appearance of plasmon resonance on the absorption spectra of deposited films, an addition of gas particles starts to decrease the probability of cluster formation. This process shows a threshold for both helium (33 torr) and xenon (12 torr) above which no surface plasmon resonance and correspondingly no observable nanoparticles on the deposited surfaces were detected. The destruction of nanoparticle formation was attributed to the negative influence of surrounding gas particles on ablated particles aggregation. (orig.)

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... wherever possible. The primary interface for mechanical modeling is through PATRAN, a ... PATRAN Neutral File. PATRAN ...

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(1 Feb 1975). Netherlands Rollin, DF Robinson, JE McMaster Univ.,

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The formation of nanoparticles during the radiation-induced chemical reduction of silver ions, copper ions, and nickel ions in films based on poly(acrylic acid)-poly(ethylenimine) complexes are studied via electron microscopy. This approach allows preparation of composites containing nanoparticles that are randomly distributed in the polymer matrix and materials with a regular spatial distribution of nanoparticles across the film thickness and in subsurface layers. The structure of metal-polymer hybrid materials is dependent on the irradiation conditions, the type of reduced metal ions, and their initial content in polymer matrices. The ratio between the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of nanoparticles in the matrices of interpolyelectrolyte complexes depends on the intensity of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Cellulose whiskers and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were extracted from the rachis of date palm tree and characterized. These cellulosic nanoparticles were used as reinforcing phase to prepare nanocomposite films using latex of natural rubber as matrix. These films were obtained by the casting/evaporation method. The properties of the ensuing nanocomposite films were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, toluene and water uptake experiments, dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile tests. The stiffness of the natural rubber was significantly increased above its glass-rubber transition temperature upon nanoparticles addition. The reinforcing effect was shown to be higher for nanocomposites with MFC compared to whiskers. It was ascribed to the higher aspect ratio and possi...

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Polyacrylonitrile films have been spin cast and pyrolyzed to produce thin (500--1500 A) carbon films. These films have higher electrical conductivities than films produced by other methods at similar temperatures. The conductivity can be varied by at least four orders of magnitude by changing the pyrolysis temperature. Ultraviolet, infrared, and Raman spectroscopies were used to investigate the chemical structure of the films during different stages of processing.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Nanocomposites based on SnO2 with carbon scaffold were used as highly porous anode films on Ni substrates. The films were obtained by in situ deposition of the particles without any binder or excess carbon black avoiding any secondary treatment. Compared to similarly prepared uncoated SnO2 nanoparticles as well as conventionally prepared powder samples the capacity loss of the in situ deposited nanocomposite films is significantly reduced. Thus, this newly developed anode material combined with in situ film formation is a promising approach for high capacity anodes in Li-ion batteries. SEM-micrograph of a SnO2/C nanoparticle film.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Iron oxide thin films have been obtained by spray pyrolysis using 100% methanolic and ethanolic solutions of iron tri-chloride. The films were deposited onto ITO-coated glass substrates. The preparative conditions have been optimized to obtain compact, pin-hole-free and smooth thin films which are adherent to the substrate. The structural, morphological and compositional characterizations have been carried out by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The films deposited using ethanolic solution results into pure hematite; #alpha#-Fe_2O_3 thin films, however, films deposited using methanolic solution consists of hematite and maghemite-c phases of iron oxide. The films are nanocrystalline with particle size of 30-40 nm. The optical ...

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A composite film consisting of the mixed-addenda Keggin-type polyoxometalate alpha-K{sub 3}PMo{sub 3}W{sub 9}O{sub 40} (PMo{sub 3}W{sub 9}) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was fabricated on quartz, silicon, and ITO by the layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The regular growth of the multilayer film was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy, and the morphology was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The multilayer film embedded by AgNPs exhibited the photo-luminescence ascribed to electronic transitions from excited states to d levels of the silver nanoparticles. The composite film also showed electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of NO{sub 2}{sup -}, H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, ClO{sub 3}{sup -}, BrO{sub 3}{sup -}, and IO{sub 3}{sup -} attributed to tungsten-centered and molybdenum-centered redox processes of PMo{sub 3}W{sub 9}.

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YBa_2Cu_3O_7_-_x thick films have been deposited on silver sheets and MgO single crystals by spray pyrolysis. Film texture is related to film thickness and sintering temperature. The X-ray intensity ratio of the 005 peak to the 110 peak is higher for thin films deposited at the higher temperatures. However, elevated temperatures promote copper diffusion and second-phase formation in films deposited on silver. Films deposited on MgO can have larger grain sizes and are more oriented than those deposited on silver.

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Thin films of high temperature garnet materials such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with rare earths are currently being investigated as selective emitters. This paper presents a radiative transfer analysis of the thin film emitter. From this analysis the emitter efficiency and power density are calculated. Results based on measured extinction coefficients for erbium-YAG and holmium-YAG are presented. These results indicated that emitter efficiencies of 50 percent and power densities of several watts/sq cm are attainable at moderate temperatures (less than 1750 K).

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Short communication. 2 figs.

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Nanocrystalline MnO thin film has been prepared by a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. The reversible lithium storage capacity of the MnO thin film electrodes at 0.125C is over 472 mAh g{sup -1} (3484 mAh cm{sup -3}) and can be retained more than 90% after 25 cycles. At a rate of 6C, 55% value of the capacity at 0.125C rate can be obtained for both charge and discharge. As-prepared MnO thin film electrodes show the lowest values of overpotential for both charge and discharge among transition metal oxides. All these performances make MnO a promising high capacity anode material for Li-ion batteries. (author)

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... Abstract : Single crystals of Pb(x)Sn(1-x)Te alloy have been grown with o = or thin film evaporator. ...

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Optical absorptance spectra of A-15 compounds were taken using a calorimetric technique in the range 0.2 eV to 4.0 eV. Thermomodulation spectra were taken on several A-15 sputtered films.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The possibility to compress and to split laser pulses at their nonlinear optical transmission through semiconductor films was investigated

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The symposium, Polycrystalline Thin Films - Structure, Texture, Properties, and Applications III, was held at the 1997 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting on March 31--April 4 in San Francisco, California. The topics and investigations were interdisciplinary in nature, and ranged from fundamental to technological. Specifically, the work presented in this volume includes film growth, texture and structural evolution, phase transformation, characterization of grain boundaries and interfaces, stress analysis, and works on polycrystalline Si and SiGe films and devices. Fifty four papers were processed separately for inclusion on the data base.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

One of the main problems related to optical thin film materials used in high power laser environments is the catastrophic damage caused to them due to laser irradiation. While the influence of ion bombardment on the optical properties of oxide thin films is now a well understood subject, the morphology and crystalline behaviour of these films under ion incidence is not so well studied. Hence, it is of great importance to investigate the effects of ion bombardment during growth on the microstructure and crystalline behaviour of oxide materials.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chromium nitride thin films were deposited on SA-304 stainless steel substrates by using direct-current reactive magnetron sputtering. The influence of process conditions such as nitrogen content in the fed gas, substrate temperature, and different sputtering gases on microstructural characteristics of the films was investigated. The films showed (200) preferred orientation at low nitrogen content (< 30%) in the fed gas. The formation of Cr_2N and CrN phases was observed when 30% and 40% N_2 were used, with a balance of Ar, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the morphology and surface topography of the thin films, respectively. Microhardness tests showed a maximum hardness of 16.95 GPa for the 30% nitrogen content.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Mesoporous films of platinized carbon nanotube-zirconia-Nafion composite have been used for the immobilization of tris(2,2prime-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) (Ru(bpy)32+) on an electrode surface to yield a solid-state electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor. The composite films of Pt-CNT-zirconia-Nafion exhibit much larger pore diameter (3.55 nm) than that of Nafion (2.82 nm) and thus leading to much larger ECL response for tripropylamine (TPA) because of the fast diffusion of the analyte within the films. Due to the conducting and electrocatalytic features of CNTs and Pt nanoparticles, their incorporation into the zirconia-Nafion composite films resulted in the decreased electron transfer resistance within the films. The present ECL sensor based on the Pt-CNT-zirconia-Nafion gave a lin...

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The effects of gate and drain bias stresses on thin film transistors fabricated in polysilicon films crystallized using the advanced sequential lateral solidification excimer laser annealing (SLS ELA) process, which yields very elongated polysilicon grains and allows the fabrication of TFTs without grain boundary barriers to current flow, are investigated as a function of the active layer thickness and of the TFT orientation relative to the grains. The application of hot carrier stress, with a condition of V{sub GS} = V{sub DS}/2, was determined to induce threshold voltage, subthreshold swing and transconductance degradation for TFTs in thicker polysilicon films and the associated stress-induced increase in the active layer trap density was evaluated. However, this device degradation was drastically reduced for TFTs fabricated in ultra-thin films. Furthermore, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Functionalizing nanoparticle surfaces is essential for achieving homogeneous dispersions of monodisperse particles in polymer nanocomposites for successful utilization in engineering applications. Functionalization reduces the surface energy of the nanoparticles, thereby limiting the tendency to agglomerate. Moreover, reactive groups on the surface can also participate in the polymerization, creating covalent bonds between the inorganic and organic phases. In this paper, a fluidized bed inductively coupled plasma (FB-ICP) reactor is used to break apart the agglomerates and functionalize commercial TiO2 nanoparticle powders in a batch of several grams. The fluidized bed could be implemented into a continuous flow reactor, potentially making this a viable method to treat larger quantities of commercial powders. The particles are treated with acrylic acid (AA) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) plasma and the functionalized ...

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In an aim to develop photo-responsive composites, the UV photo-reduction of aqueous titanium oxide nanoparticle-graphene oxide (TiO{sub 2}-GO) dispersions (Lambert et al. J Phys. Chem. 2010 113 (46), 19812-19823) was undertaken. Photo-reduction led to the formation of a black precipitate as well as a soluble portion, comprised of titanium oxide nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide (TiO{sub 2}-RGO). When allowed to slowly evaporate, self assembled titanium oxide nanoparticle-graphene oxide (SA-TiO{sub 2}-RGO) films formed at the air-liquid interface of the solution. The thickness of SARGO-TiO{sub 2} films range from {approx}30-100 nm when deposited on substrates, and appear to be comprised of a mosaic assembly of graphene nanosheets and TiO{sub 2}, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the graphene oxide is ...

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Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is known for its capacity to reproduce a target composition on a substrate. The authors have used this deposition technique to produce thin films of transition metal chalcogenides. However, the deposits were always deficient in Te relative to the starting material (composed by a refractory metal (niobium) and a chalcogene (tellurium)). Variations of the interreticular distances have been observed with respect to fluence and substrate temperature. The authors show that spatial composition of the films is determined by a degree of crystallinity of deposit and by the reaction of formation of Te{sub 2} molecule within laser induced plume. Two kinds of deposits have been obtained: Nb{sub 5}Te{sub 4}-type thin films which have a one-dimensional structure and NbTe{sub 2}-type thin films which have a two-dimensional ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magnetron sputter deposition was used to fabricate body centered cubic (bcc) and A-15 crystal structure W thin films. Previous work demonstrated that the as-deposited crystal structure of the films was dependent on the deposition parameters and that the formation of a metastable A-15 structure was favored over the thermodynamically stable bcc phase when the films contained a few atomic percent oxygen. However, the A-15 phase was shown to irreversibly transform into the bcc phase between 500 C and 650 C and that a significant decrease in the resistivity of the metallic films was measured after the transformation. The current investigation of 150 nm thick, sputter deposited A-15 and bcc tungsten thin films on silicon wafers consisted of a series of experiments in which the stress, resistivity and crystal structure of the ...

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The solid state reaction between a Pd thin film and a Si substrate produces a single new phase, Pd/sub 2/Si, for temperatures <700/sup 0/C. When the substrate is a single crystal of (111) surface orientation, this process is particularly interesting because the silicide grows epitaxially. Growth of epitaxial interfacial Pd/sub 2/Si was the focus of this study using X-ray diffraction techniques.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Crude N,N-dialkylcarbamoylmethylphosphonates and phosphine oxide extractants, and particularly crude dihexyl N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphonate and octylphenyl N,N-diisobutylcarbamoyl phosphine oxide, are purified by distilling the crude materials in a thin film evaporator. Preferably, the crude materials are reacted with concentrated hydrochloric acid and then with aqueous sodium hydroxide prior to distillation in the thin film evaporator to hydrolyze impurities contained in them. The purified extractants are useful for extracting actinides and lanthanides from liquid waste streams. (author).

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A simple and continuous model for the on-state current of polysilicon thin-film transistors, suitable for implementation in circuit simulators, is presented. The model includes the potential barrier at the grain boundaries, the channel length modulation and the excess current due to impact ionization. Comparison between measured output characteristics and the model shows excellent agreement over wide range of bias voltages and for devices with different gate lengths.

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A new thin film manufacturing method is established to add a function to glass material surface, as a new material technology which harmonizes with global environment, and is suitable for resource re-utilization and energy conservation. It is intended to develop a leading technology to promote recycling of colored glasses by applying this technical method to colored glasses. Fiscal 1998 has implemented subsequently to fiscal 1997 the following subjects in the three research items composed of a new manufacturing method of functional thin films, application of the functional thin films to colored glasses, and the comprehensive investigative studies: establishment of an industrial manufacturing method for color coating liquid and evaluation of basic characteristics of the colored functional thin films, optimization of ...

Science.gov (United States)

Lunar resource utilization has focused principally on the extraction of oxygen from the lunar regolith. A number of schemes have been proposed for oxygen extraction from Ilmenite and Anorthite. Serendipitously, these schemes have as their by-products (or more directly as their "waste products"), materials needed for the fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells. Thus lunar surface possesses both the elemental components needed for the fabrication of silicon solar cells and a vacuum environment that allows for vacuum deposition of thin film solar cells directly on the surface of the Moon without the need for vacuum chambers. In support of the US space exploration initiative a new architecture for the production of thin film solar cells on directly on the lunar surface is proposed. The paper discusses experimental data on the fabrication and properties of lunar ...

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Three-dimensional porous Sn thin film electrodes were prepared by electroless deposition on copper foam, then its morphology and electrochemical property were studied by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical cycling test and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The porous framework and micro-holes have shown a great structure advantage in restricting severe volume changes when the Sn thin film was employed as anode for lithium-ion battery. The film electrode of sample C with an initial capacity of 676 mAh g{sup -1} showed good cycle performance displayed by retaining a capacity of 313 mAh g{sup -1} after 100 cycles.

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Thin films of sodium montmorillonite clay and cationic polyacrylamide were grown on a polyethylene terephthalate film using layer-by-layer assembly. After 30 clay-polymer layers are deposited, with a thickness of 571 nm, the resulting transparent film has an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) below the detection limit of commercial instrumentation (< 0.005 cc/m{sup 2}/day/atm). This low OTR, which is unprecedented for a clay-filled polymer composite, is believed to be due to a brick wall nanostructure comprised of completely exfoliated clay in polymeric mortar. With an optical transparency greater than 90% and potential for microwaveability, this thin composite is a good candidate for foil replacement in food packaging and may also be useful for flexible electronics packaging.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A novel composite film, comprising of hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and gold nanoparticles (GNP), was fabricated and characterized. The GNP was introduced through electrochemical deposition on IL-MWNT gel film coated glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Experiments showed that both IL and MWNTs could facilitate the GNP deposition. With GNP the composite film exhibited smaller electron transfer resistance and higher sensitivity in sensing guanine (G) and adenine (A). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the anodic peak currents were linear to the analyte concentration in the ranges of 0.008-2.0 ?M. The detection limits were down to nanomole level after an accumulation of 150 s on open-circuit. In addition, on the composite film coated GCE, the anodic peaks of G and A were well separated, and their response sensitivities kept almost unchanged ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been prepared and used as an immobilization matrix for the fabrication of solid-state tris(2,2prime-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)32+) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor. The pre-synthesized maghemite (g-Fe2O3) MNPs were coated with poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid) based on an oxidative polymerization method using KMnO4. The poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid)-coated MNPs have formed the clusters with average diameter of 200-500nm. The multilayer films of poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid)-coated MNPs were uniformly formed on the surface of a Pt electrode by an external magnet. The Ru(bpy)32+ was rapidly incorporated into the multilayer films within 5min through the electrostatic interaction between the Ru(bpy)32+ and the negatively charged c...

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Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) was used to study outgassing from polycrystalline SiGe (poly-SiGe), SiC and SiO"2 films used for poly-SiGe-based MEMS thin film vacuum package technology. Primary desorption products were found to be H"2, H"2O and CO"2. The CO"2 outgassing could be correlated with CF"4 plasma interface cleaning used for thick SiGe PECVD, which can leave carbon at the CF"4-plasma-cleaned interface.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Heusler films with L2_1 and B2 structure are deposited simultaneously on amorphous carbon films, Si(100) surfaces, and in situ cleaved InAs(110) surfaces by coevaporation of Ni and the alloy MnIn. Morphology, structure, and stoichiometry are investigated with transmission-electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and X-ray spectroscopy. The almost perfect lattice match supports highly oriented growth of Ni_2MnIn on InAs, which is proven by electron diffraction under grazing incidence. The electrical resistivity of thin films on Si show metallic behavior. At temperatures of liquid helium point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy is performed on films grown on Si(100) and in situ cleaved InAs(110) surfaces yielding spin polarizations comparable to the ones of Fe, Ni, Co, and permalloy (Ni_8_0Fe_2_0).

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In an effort to develop a simple low-temperature high-performance polysilicon thin-film transistor (TFT) technology, the authors report a fabrication process featuring laser-crystallized sputtered-silicon films. This top Al-gate coplanar TFT process subjects the substrate to a maximum temperature of 300 C, and produces devices with mobilities up to 450 cm{sup 2}/Vs, on/off current ratios greater than 10{sup 7}, without using a post-hydrogenation step. They believe these results represent the highest performance TFT`s to date fabricated from sputtered silicon films.

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The evolution of strain in the Pd-Si system during the growth of Pd{sub 2}Si thin films on Si (100) substrate has been followed in situ using a double optical beam technique. As was observed for the Pt-Si system, the reaction to form Pd{sub 2}Si yields a compressive intrinsic surface film stress as well as for the silicon-rich suicides as proposed by Angilello et al. [Thin Film Interfaces and Interactions, edited by J. Baglin and J. Poate (The Electrochemical Society, Pennington, NJ, 1980)]. A transmission electron microscopy analysis has revealed grain growth during the formation of Pd{sub 2}Si which cannot account for the compressive film stresses. The formation of silicide at the interfaces rather than the overall change in volume agrees with the sign of the stresses formed. 29 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.

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The temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetization of epitaxial iron films with a thickness ranging from d=20 to 200nm has been measured. The films are grown on GaAs (100) substrates which are covered by a 150nm thick silver (100) buffer layer. For three-dimensional BCC iron it was observed already in 1929 that saturation of the spontaneous magnetization for T->0 is perfectly described by a T{sup 2} power law. On the other hand, for thin two-dimensional (2D) iron films a T{sup 3/2} law has been established in many recent experimental investigations. In our iron films grown on diamagnetic silver, this dimensionality change occurs at a thickness between d=100 and 200nm. Comparison of the here-observed T{sup 3/2} coefficients with those on iron films grown on paramagnetic tungsten (110) shows that the 2D interactions are {approx}20 times larger in ...

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Deposition of CN-based films by a novel version of active screen plasma nitriding, aiming at surface modification of polymers, is reported. The approach relies on the use of pure graphite as the grid material, which was found to act both as an active screen and as a dry source of carbon atoms for the synthesis of thin films consisting mainly of a stoichiometric CN layer with columnar-type structure and dome-like nanostructured morphology.

Science.gov (United States)

Most palladium thin film based hydrogen gas sensors have response and recovery times that are too long to make them useful in vehicular and stationary gas leak detection applications. In contrast, a palladium-silver thin film based microcantilever (MC) hydrogen gas microsensor is reported herein with near ideal response characteristics for use in these hydrogen economy related applications. Specifically, 3-10 second response and recovery times have been measured for these sensors in contrast to previous sensor response measurements of several to tens of minutes using Pd thin film and MC based sensing techniques. The much reduced response times observed in the present study are attributed to a wet chemical Pd-Ag thin film deposition technique and a gas conditioning protocol that produces a highly nanostructured, porous ...

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The conductive ultra thin films were fabricated from mixed monolayers containing stearic acid and Head-to-Tail poly(3-alkylthiophene). These films exhibited well-defined layered structures as determined by optical absorption and X-ray diffraction measurements. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of these films showed lower energy absorption shifts of 48 nm from that of the random poly(3-alkylthiophene)/stearic acid LB films. The blue shift of absorption maximum of the LB film is attributed to the increase of {pi}-conjugation length caused by no steric hindrance of alkyl side chains. The conductivity of the Head-to-Tail poly(3-hexylthiophene)/stearic acid LB films was greatly improved in the range of 67-100 S/cm. (orig.)

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The measurement of local heat transfer coefficients is necessary to record the basic phenomena of heat transfer in thin-film apparatuses. For this reason the so-called electrochemical analogy method was developed and used for this application. The electrochemical method implies a specifically composed electrolyte which substitutes the fluid to be evaporated in the thin-film apparatus. Using the redox electrolyte (0,025 kmol/m/sup 3/ K/sub 4/Fe(CN)/sub 6/ resp. k/sub 4/Fe(CN)/sub 6/ and 2nNaOH) the viscosity was, for the first time, thickened until 0.4 Pa s by the help of hydroxyethyl-cellulose.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A method for estimating the form of magnetic nanoparticles in composite film structures based on the observation of ferromagnetic resonance phenomenon is offered. Within the model of the effective medium, an explanation is given for experimentally observed concentration and temperature dependences of resonant fields for composite nanosystem (Co45Fe45Z10) f +(Al2O3)100?f .

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Oregon State University (OSU) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) were funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct research focused on resolving the key technical issues that limited the deployment of efficient and extremely compact microtechnology based heat actuated absorption heat pumps and gas absorbers. Success in demonstrating these technologies will reduce the main barriers to the deployment of a technology that can significantly reduce energy consumption in the building, automotive and industrial sectors while providing a technology that can improve our ability to sequester CO{sub 2}. The proposed research cost $939,477. $539,477 of the proposed amount funded research conducted at OSU while the balance ($400,000) was used at PNNL. The project lasted 42 months and started in April 2001. Recent developments at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Oregon State University suggest that the performance of absorption and desorption systems can be ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Plasma-deposited thin films prepared at room temperature, ranging from 46 to 250 A of PdAu on #approx#45-50 A Si-oxide and Si-oxynitride films grown on Si wafers were studied. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, and XPS depth profile techniques were used to characterize the thin films. A reactive interface involving Pd- and Au-silicides is formed, linking the thin film to the Si-oxide and Si-oxynitride films: a small fraction of Pd and Au atoms from PdAu migrate into the Si substrate, first penetrating the oxide layer, and the small fraction of Si atoms from the oxide layer migrate into the PdAu film and form a silicide interlayer consisting of a reactive interface made up of mixtures of Au- and Pd-silicides interspersed within the matrix of PdAu and substrate. The concentration ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nano structured carbon nitride thin films were deposited at different RF powers in the range of 50 W to 225 W and constant gas ratio of (argon: nitrogen) Ar:N_2 by RF magnetron sputtering. The atomic percentage of Nitrogen: Carbon (N/C) content and impedance of the films increased from 14.36% to 22.31% and 9 x 10"-"1 #OMEGA# to 7 x 10"5 #OMEGA# respectively with increase in RF power. The hardness of the deposited films increased from 3.12 GPa to 13.12 GPa. The increase in sp"3 hybridized C-N sites and decrease of grain size with increase in RF power is responsible for such variation of observed mechanical and electrical properties.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Indium sulfide thin films were deposited onto indium-tin-oxide coated glass substrate by electrochemical deposition from an aqueous solution containing In2 (SO4) 3 and Na2S2O3. The deposition conditions were optimized on the basis of data obtained by scanning electron microscope, Auger electron spectroscopy and optical transmission measurements. Furthermore, the photosensitivity of the films was observed by means of photoelectrochemical measurements, which confirmed that the indium sulfide showed n-type conduction. The X-ray diffraction and Raman studies revealed that the as-grown films were amorphous or nanocrystalline in nature and became polycrystalline In2S3 after annealing.

Science.gov (United States)

During Phase II multi-junction solar cell will be grown on the large grain thin film produced during Phase I on flexible/low cost metal foil substrate. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A thin film microoxidation test utilizing the concept of the Lubricant Stability Map has been used to study the effect of temperature on deposit formation by lubricants on upper piston locations of low heat rejection engines. The stability maps were established for two formulated lubricants in this study. These two lubricants were also evaluated in a series of engine tests with various piston temperatures. The deposition phenomena observed in the engine tests have been adequately simulated and described by the stability maps. It is concluded that lubricants at upper piston locations are under a thin film condition similar to that achieved by the thin film microoxidation test. The deposit formation trend is determined by the volatility, thermal stability, and oxidative stability of the base stock. Additives have little effect on deposit formation at very high ...

CERN Document Server

The aim of this work was to study the possibility of producing a fast switching optical thin film device to react to laser radiation in the visible/near infrared region of the spectrum. The switching mechanism was to be thermally driven. A computer program was written to enable the effects of changes of the refractive index of a component of a multilayer thin film stack to be modelled. Attempts to use the phase transition in vanadium dioxide were unsuccessful because, in the spectral region of interest, the 'open-state' absorption was too great. A class of materials known as 'the bronzes' was identified as being potentially useful. Attempts were made to produce thin films of bronze compounds of vanadium, tungsten and molybdenum by the techniques of conventional thermal evaporation and laser ablation for further studies. The former technique appeared to suffer ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Carbon films have been made by a variety of techniques, including evaporation, sputtering, and laser or thermal pyrolysis of organic polymers. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is often used as a carbon precursor, since low-temperature thermo-oxidative pretreatment produces a material which can be pyrolyzed without loss of shape. This is the basis for the production of carbon fibers with good mechanical properties. We report here the formation of very thin films of carbon (500 to 1500 A) by pyrolysis of spin-cast PAN. Using this technique, large, conductive films can be made which are sufficiently robust to allow intact lift-off and transfer of the films from one substrate to another. Such films are chemically inert, but can be photolithographically patterned and etched with an oxygen plasma.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of catalase (Cat) was studied based on a nano-composite film consisting of amine functionalized graphene and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified glassy carbon electrode. Graphene was synthesized chemically by Hummers and Offeman method and then was functionalized with amino groups via chemical modification of carboxyl groups introduced on the graphene surface. The nano-composite film showed an obvious promotion of the direct electron transfer between Cat and the underlying electrode, which attributed to the synergistic effect of graphene-NH2 and AuNPs. The resultant bioelectrode retained its biocatalytic activity and offered fast and sensitive H2O2 quantification. Under the optimized experimental conditions, hydrogen peroxide was detected in the concentration range from 0.3 to 600 ?M with a detection limit of 50 nM at S/N = 3. The biosensor exhibited some advantages, such as ...

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Depth resolved positron annihilation studies on Pd/Si thin film system have been carried out to investigate silicide phase formation and vacancy defect production induced by thermal annealing. The evolution of defect sensitive S-parameter clearly indicates the presence of divacancy defects across the interface, due to enhanced Si diffusion beyond 870 K consequent to silicide formation. Corroborative glancing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) have elucidated the aspects related to silicide phase formation and Si surface segregation.

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A liquid-fillet is formed in front of a rotor blade in the cylinder of a horizontal agitated thin-film evaporator. Its thickness varies due to the gravity while the blade revolves inside the cylinder. In the critical condition, the amplitude of the oscillation becomes infinite and the phase advances 180 degrees. Prior to the critical condition, the experimental data agrees fairly well with the predictions. Near the critical condition, the amplitutde increases and the phase advances 60 degrees. In other words, the transition to the critical condition occurs continuously. (6 figs, 1 ref)

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Solid-state acoustic sensors for monitoring conditions at a surface immersed in a liquid and for monitoring concentrations of species in a liquid and for monitoring electrical properties of a liquid are formed by placing interdigital input and output transducers on a piezoelectric substrate and propagating acoustic plate modes therebetween. The deposition or removal of material on or from, respectively, a thin film in contact with the surface, or changes in the mechanical properties of a thin film in contact with the surface, or changes in the electrical characteristics of the solution, create perturbations in the velocity and attenuation of the acoustic plate modes as a function of these properties or changes in them.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A stable BSA blocking poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannel was prepared based on in situ synthesized PDMS-gold nanoparticles composite films. The modified microchip could successfully suppress protein adsorption. The assembly was followed by contact angle, charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging, electroosmotic flow (EOF) measurements and electrophoretic separation methods. Contact angle measurements revealed the coated surface was hydrophilic, water contact angle for coated chips was 45.2^o compared to a water contact angle for native PDMS chips of 88.5^o. The coated microchips exhibited reproducible and stable EOF behavior. With FITC-labeled myoglobin incubation in the coated channel, no fluorescence was observed with CCD image, and the protein exhibited good electrophoretic effect in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study, WO{sub 3} thin films were grown on glass substrates using an aqueous solution containing tungstate (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}WO{sub 4} as precursor. The substrate temperature incremented from 250 to 500 deg. C, by steps of 50 deg. C. The structural properties were investigated using XRD, atomic force microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy techniques. Microprobe analyses showed that a balanced stoichiometric composition was obtained for thin films prepared at T{sub s} = 350 and 400 deg. C. The X-ray diffraction analyses showed different structure crystallography in function of the substrate temperature. Moreover, films deposited at 400 deg. C were annealed in air for 2 h at 450 and 500 deg. C, respectively and the structural changes due to heat treatment were studied. Finally, the optical properties of these films were carried out using optical ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li{sub 1.3}Al{sub 0.3}Ti{sub 1.7}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} thin films were successfully prepared by the solution deposition using lithium acetate, aluminum nitrate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and titanium butoxide as starting materials. The structure, surface morphology, electrochemical window, and ionic conductivity of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance. The results showed that Li{sub 1.3}Al{sub 0.3}Ti{sub 1.7}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} thin films annealed between 750 deg. C and 900 deg. C prepared by this method were well crystallized, homogenous and crack-free. The electrochemical window was beyond 2.4 V and the ionic conductivity was approximately 1.57x10{sup -5} S/cm at room temperature for the film annealed at 800 deg. C for 30 min.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To attain reproducible and stable contacts to compound semiconductor devices, it is necessary to achieve thermodynamically stable phases after the reaction of metals with the compound semiconductor. In this study, the final phases produced by the reactions between GaAs and thin metal films of Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, and Pt have been investigated. They are identified as MGa for M = Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, and Pt, monoarsenides of Co and Ni, diarsenides of Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt, and Ir/sub 3/Ga/sub 5/. These phases, if deposited directly onto GaAs, will produce thermally stable contacts. In addition to the identification of these stable phases, analyses of the products of thin-film M/GaAs reactions by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry reveal the distribution, grain size, and crystallographic texture of these end phases. Trends in these observations across the six metal/GaAs ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Thermally stable materials with low dielectric constant (k<3.9) are being hotly pursued. They are essential as interlayer dielectrics/intermetal dielectrics in integrated circuit technology, which reduces parasitic capacitance and decreases the RC time constant. Most of the currently employed materials are based on silicon. Low k films based on organic polymers are supposed to be a viable alternative as they are easily processable and can be synthesized with simpler techniques. It is known that the employment of ac/rf plasma polymerization yields good quality organic thin films, which are homogenous, pinhole free and thermally stable. These polymer thin films are potential candidates for fabricating Schottky devices, storage batteries, LEDs, sensors, super capacitors and for EMI shielding. Recently, great efforts have been made in finding alternative methods to prepare low ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The bibliography contains citations concerning the structural properties of sputtered tantalum and tantalum compounds. The preparation of thin film capacitors and resistors is described. The electrical properties of the sputtered films are also included. The influence of the substrate on the properties of the coatings is considered, including adherence of the coating to the substrate, and the effects of impurities on coating integrity. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Diamond-like carbon thin films for tribological applications were deposited by d.c.-magnetron sputtering of a graphite target in a pure argon atmosphere or in a reactive hydrogen or methane atmosphere at pressures between 0.1 and 1 Pa in a graded constitution to improve adhesion and reduce residual stress. The temperature of the metallic, carbon- and ceramic-like substrates was below 100 C. The mechanical, thermal, electronic and optical properties of the carbon thin films show a significant dependence on the ion energy. Below 220 eV, strongly adherent black conductive films with hardness values up to 2000 HV0.05 were obtained. Hard and superhard diamond-like carbon thin films were deposited in an energy range between 220 and 370 eV with hardness values up to 4000 HV0.05. They are insulating, optically transparent and show a high degree of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Various examples of applications of these two techniques are described. A part of them are related to the analysis of adsorbed layers formed during gaz-metal interactions. The others are concerned with the analysis of passive films formed during dry and wet corrosion. Problems related to the calibration of these techniques are discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have studied the nucleation and growth processes in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond film using a tomographic electron backscattering diffraction method (3D EBSD). The approach is based on the combination of a focused ion beam (FIB) unit for serial sectioning in conjunction with high-resolution EBSD. Individual diamond grains were investigated in 3-dimensions particularly with regard to the role of twinning.

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Thin passive films formed on highly corrosion-resistant type-312L stainless steel, containing 20 mass% chromium and 6 mass% molybdenum, in 2 mol dm{sup -3} HCl solution at 293 K have been analyzed by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES). The stainless steel does not suffer pitting corrosion even in this aggressive solution, showing a wide passive potential region. The depth profiles obtained clearly show a two-layer structure of the air-formed and passive films: an outer iron-rich layer and an inner layer highly enriched in chromium. Alloy-constituting molybdenum is deficient in the inner layer of the passive films and is enriched in the outer layer, particularly at the active dissolution potential. The molybdenum species in the outer layer may retard the active dissolution of stainless steel, promoting the formation of stable passive films highly enriched in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Described herein are the results of the FY1994 research program for analysis and evaluation for thin film solar cells. The study on quantitative analysis of hydrogen atoms in a plasma determines quantity of hydrogen atoms in the plasma of monosilane diluted with hydrogen. It is found, contrary to expectation, that quantity of hydrogen atoms in the plasma decreases as it is more diluted with hydrogen. The study on light-induced degradation of the thin chlorine-base amorphous silicon films confirms that the plasma CVD method with 20% of dichlorosilane gas added to monosilane gas produces the thin amorphous silicon film 3 times faster than the conventional method. The thin film has essentially the same defect density as the one prepared by the conventional method, showing good photoelectric characteristics. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The growth of thin Pd[sub 2]Si films on Si(111) surfaces is studied using [ital in] [ital situ] transmission electron microscope under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. No immediate reaction of deposited Pd with Si is observed at room temperature. At [similar to]200 [degree]C, uniform Pd[sub 2]Si films can be formed. The thin Pd[sub 2]Si films are found to grow into strained islands at elevated temperatures. Interfacial misfit dislocations associated with interfacial steps propagate across the strained islands, causing the islands to grow layer-by-layer at the interface. The strain fields associated with the misfit dislocations are believed to be responsible for this behavior.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We have developed a process for chemical purification of carbon nanotubes for solution-processable thin-film transistors (TFTs) having high mobility. Films of the purified carbon nanotubes fabricated by simple drop coating showed carrier mobilities as high as 164 cm2V?1s?1, normalized transconductances of 0.78 Sm?1, and on/off current ratios of 106. Such high performance requires the preparation of a suspension of micrometer-long and highly purified semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Our purification process includes length and electronic-type selective trapping of SWCNTs using recycling gel filtration with a mixture of surfactants. The results provide an important milestone toward printed high-speed and large-area electronics with roll-to-roll and ink-jet device fabri...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An x-ray diffraction technique for determining thin-film thickness is presented which should prove to be a valuable alternative to the array of spectroscopies (Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, Auger electron spectroscopy, etc.) currently favored for these measurements. Some of the virtues of this x-ray diffraction approach are its nondestructive nature, fast data acquisition rate (enabling in situ observations), thickness resolution better than 5 nm, and conventional equipment requirements. Results are shown for Pd/sub 2/Si thin films grown during isothermal annealing of Pd coatings (100 nm) on Si at 200 /sup 0/C for various amounts of time. A comparison of these x-ray measurements with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry data taken from the same specimens is used to demonstrate the validity of the x-ray technique.

Science.gov (United States)

The growth of the Pd{sub 2}Si thin fllms on Si(111) substrates has been monitored by an {ital in} {ital situ} x-ray diffraction technique in vacuum and in helium atmosphere from 160 to 250 {degree}C. A familiar parabolic growth rate was found, confirming the diffusion-controlled film growth process. The activation energies were found to be 1.34 and 1.37 eV for the measurements performed in vacuum and helium environment, respectively. Stress relaxation in the growing Pd{sub 2}Si fllm was observed when the reaction temperature exceeds 200 {degree}C. The relaxed films showed a higher degree of texture as evidenced by the rocking curve measurements.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Thin films of La{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}CoO{sub 3} perovskite were deposited on nickel plates by thermal decomposition of the metal nitrates. The electrochemical activity of the films for oxygen evolution in KOH solutions (0.1-1 M) was investigated. The reaction order with respect to OH{sup -} ion was found to be around 0.7. The results correlate fairly well with a mechanism in which breaking of the intermediate metal-peroxide bond at the Co ion is the rate-determining step. (author) 4 figs., 4 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The long-term stability of pentacene thin-film transistors (TFTs) encapsulated with a transparent SnO{sub 2} thin-film prepared by ion beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) was investigated. After encapsulation process, our organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) showed somewhat degraded field-effect mobility of 0.5 cm{sup 2}/(V s) that was initially 0.62 cm{sup 2}/(V s), when a buffer layer of thermally evaporated 100 nm SnO{sub 2} film had been deposited prior to IBAD process. However, the mobility was surprisingly sustained up to 1 month and then gradually degraded down to 0.35 cm{sup 2}/(V s) which was still three times higher than that of the OTFT without any encapsulation layer after 100 days in air ambient. The encapsulated OTFTs also exhibited superior on/off current ratio of over 10{sup 5} to that of the unprotected devices ({approx}10{sup 4}) which was reduced from {approx}10{sup 6} before aging. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Dopant-free Bi{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} thin films with pyrochlore structure and La-doped bismuth titanate thin films have been fabricated by means of chemical solution decomposition, and characterized by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometry in this study. Their photocatalytic activities have been evaluated by photodegrading methyl orange solution, and the optimum processing parameters for the highest photocatalytic activity have been found. Moreover, the effects of La-doping on the phase transformation and the photocalalytic activity have been studied. It has been deduced from the experiment result that substituted La{sup 3+} ions can act as a stabilizer of Aurivillus phase BLT and a grain-growth inhibitor in BLT thin films.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vertical thin film evaporators have been used to concentrate and dry solutions because their rotating swing blades prevent scale from being deposited on the heated surfaces. Powdering capacity of the vertical thin film evaporator was examined experimentally for drying applications of radioactive liquid waste generated from nuclear power plants. As a result, it was found that the powdering capacity increased with the blade rotation, changing significantly in the low ratational region and scarcely in the high rotational region. The powdering capacity in the high rotational region was restricted by the lack of heat flux which was theoretically evaluated for the concentrating process. As the critical factor in the low rotational region was not clear, a visual test apparatus was made to observe flow patterns in the evaporator, and a powdering model was obtained. This model showed that powdering process was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

For obtaining radiation less damagable laser mirrors, a preliminary optimization of film fabrication suitable for the analysis of laser damage mechanism has been done as the first step. Here, the optimization requires not only the stable fabrication process but also the ideal film structure i.e., the amorphous and smooth film structure simultaneously, eliminating latently unwanted secondary effects such as light scattering during laser damage test. For this purpose, we adopted the ion assisted deposition (IAD) method and modified the deposition conditions for titanium and tantalum oxide films, both of which compose typical high index layers, and where SiO_2 layers are also chosen as low index layers because of their amorphous and smooth nature, in alternative multilayer laser mirrors. Surface and cross sectional film structures and film crystallinity are ...

Science.gov (United States)

A film of GaSb grown epitaxially on a Si substrate is a direct transition semiconductor useful for application as a light source in Si photonics and channel material in next-generation field effect transistors because its energy bandgap is close to the optical fibre communication wavelength and it possesses high carrier mobility. Here, we report a novel method for heteroepitaxial growth of high-quality GaSb/Si films, despite having a lattice mismatch as large as ? 12%, using elastically strain-relaxed GaSb nanodots with ultrahigh density as seed crystals for film growth. The nanodot seed crystals were grown epitaxially by restricted contact with the Si substrate through nanowindows in an ultrathin SiO(2) film on the Si substrate. A light-emitting diode containing GaSb/Si films with a thickness of ? 90 nm fabricated by this method operated at room temperature. The growth method was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Transparent aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al, AZO) conducting thin films with a high-preferential c-axis orientation were synthesized using a new sol-gel formula. The films were deposited using a spin-coating route onto borosilicate glass substrates. We used propylene glycol methyl ether (PGME) as the solvent in place of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME), which is commonly used because it is easier to deposit onto the substrates. PGME is also superior in terms of health and safety. PGME solvent does not need to settle for several days before use and can be spin-coated as soon as the raw material and solvent are mixed. The effects of this novel solvent on the structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties are discussed using XRD, SEM, a four-point probe and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. It was found that the films produced with PGME showed a high-preferential c-axis orientation and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Ferroelectric barium strontium titanate (Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3)(BST) thin films have been prepared from barium 2-ethylhexanoate [Ba[CH3(CH2)3CH(C2H5)CO2]2], strontium 2-ethylhexanoate [Sr[CH3(CH2)3CH(C2H5)CO2]2] and titanium(IV) isopropoxide [TiOCH(CH3)2]4 precursors using a modified sol-gel technique. The precursor except [TiOCH(CH3)2]4 were synthesized in the laboratory. Transparent and crack-free films were fabricated on pre-cleaned quartz substrates by spin coating. The structural and optical properties of films annealed at different temperatures have been investigated. The as-fired films were found to be amorphous that crystallized to the tetragonal phase after annealing at 550degreeC for 1h in air. The lattice constants "a" and "c" were found to be 3.974A and 3.990A, respectively. The grain...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nano-wire arrays of Niobium were produced by small angle sputtering on facetted sapphire, using the self shadowing effect of the facets. A wire width of about 80 nm was adjusted, the mean (maximum) wire height was about 20 nm (30 nm), the length can be in the cm range. Meander-film morphologies of 20 nm mean (26 nm maximum) thickness were produced by conventional sputtering onto smooth sapphire substrates at elevated temperatures. The morphology of the wires was investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM), using contact mode. Meander-films were studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). Hydrogen loading was performed by instantaneously increasing the hydrogen gas pressure above the solubility limit. Thus, an elongated hydride could be monitored in an about 30 nm thick wire. STM studies on meander-films show the presence of cylindrical hydrides. Local out-of-plane and in-plane expansion can be explained by the ...

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Graphite fluoride (CF{sub x}) is investigated as an additive for WS{sub 2} thin films to reduce its sensitivity to moisture. The films are grown onto hardened 440C stainless steel disks by pulsed laser deposition using the 248 nm line from an excimer laser. Substrate temperature and additive concentration are varied to control film chemistry and crystal structure. The effect of relative humidity (i.e., < 1 to 85% RH) on friction is evaluated. Coatings grown at RT from targets with a low concentration of CF{sub x} exhibit ultra-low friction (ULF) behavior in dry air (i.e., {mu} {<=} 0.01), but friction increases with RH. Mechanisms for the ULF behavior are proposed which suggest that further reductions in friction are possible. Films grown at 300 C or with higher concentrations of CF{sub x} are relatively insensitive to humidity, but have more typical friction coefficients ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Acrylonitrile electropolymerization (in an aprotic and anhydrous medium) has been used as a way to build thin, homogeneous and covering polyacrylonitrile layers grafted on the surface of usual metals and specially on copper-based shape memory alloy: Cu-Zn-Al. The results of the study first confirm the possibility of grafting thin and covering polyacrylonitrile layers on Cu-Zn-Al surface. The morphology of the films however is influenced by the geometry of the polycristalline structure of the alloy and its superficial defects. Samples obtained after grafting polyacrylonitrile films were submitted to corrosion tests based on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements in a NaCl/H{sub 2}O medium. Results show that some post-treatments of the grafted films are necessary to improve their protective role, while preserving the strong interfacial bondings. Actually, thermal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The compound semiconductor system InGaAsN exhibits many intriguing properties which are particularly useful for the development of innovative high efficiency thin film solar cells and long wavelength lasers. The bandgap in these semiconductors can be varied by controlling the content of N and In and the thin films can yet be lattice-matched to GaAs. In the present work, x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and grazing incidence x-ray scattering (GIXS) techniques have been employed to probe the local environment surrounding both N and In atoms as well as the interface morphology of InGaAsN thin films epitaxially grown on GaAs. The soft x-ray XAFS results around nitrogen K-edge reveal that N is in the sp{sup 3} hybridized bonding configuration in InGaAsN and GaAsN, suggesting that N impurities most likely substitute for As sites in these two compounds. The ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

FexZn1-x alloys were electrochemically deposited on aluminum substrates from a sulfate bath. The K?/K? x-ray intensity ratios of Zn and Fe in FexZn1-x thin films have been experimentally studied. The energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique was used to measure K x-ray photons. Samples were excited by using 59.5 keV photons emitted by a 50 mCi 241Am radioactive source. The emitted K x-rays were detected by an Ultra-LEGe detector having a resolution of 150 eV at 5.9 keV. In addition, the effect of bath composition on the phase structure was investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The composition of the thin films was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry analysis. Iron content was shown to strongly affect the structure of Zn-Fe alloys. It was found that the K-shell x-ray intensity ratio changed in FexZn1-x thin films for different ...

Science.gov (United States)

High quality La/sub 1.8/Sr/sub 0.2/CuO/sub 4/ and YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ superconducting thin films, with zero resistance at 88 K, have been made by dual-ion-beam sputtering of metal and oxide targets at elevated temperatures. The films are about 1.0 ..mu..m thick and are single phase after annealing. The substrates investigated are Nd-YAP, MgO, SrF/sub 2/, Si, CaF/sub 2/, ZrO/sub 2/-9% Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/, BaF/sub 2/, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and SrTiO/sub 3/. Characterization of the films was carried out using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, resistivity measurements, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Substrate/film interaction was observed in every case. This generally involves diffusion of the substrate into the film, which is accompanied by, for example, the replacement of Ba by Sr in the YBa/sub ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method for using in situ X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy to determine the composition of passive, transpassive, and nonreducible thin oxide films is described. The method is demonstrated by determining the composition of the passive films formed in pH 4.5, 0.1 M acetate buffer, on 100 {angstrom} thick Fe-yCr alloys (y = 8.5, 15, 19, 23 atom %) at potentials: (1) low in the passive region ({minus}0.3 V vs. mercurous sulfate reference electrode, MSE); (2) high in the passive region; (3) in the transpassive region; and (4) in the cathodic region where the air-formed film is not fully reduced. The nonreducible film at {minus}1.2 V is entirely a Cr{sup 3+} oxide/hydroxide. This nonreducible film persists at anodic potentials. At {minus}0.3 V, the passive film on each alloy is significantly enriched in Cr. The film ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Iron oxide films have been deposited on Si(100) substrates by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of iron(III) tert-butoxide ([Fe(O "tBu)_3]_2) in the temperature range 350-450 deg. C. The precursor flux and substrate temperature were varied to control the phase composition, average grain size and film thickness. The nature of substrate and deposition temperature markedly influence the morphology and iron-oxygen stoichiometry in the CVD deposits. Phase transformations in iron oxide films were achieved through precise local and periodic heating of the films by interfering laser beams. The interaction of iron oxide films with short laser pulses (Nd:YAG, 355 nm) induced partial transformation of hematite (#alpha#-Fe_2O_3) to magnetite (Fe_3O_4) or magnetite to wuestite (Fe_1_-_xO), respectively. The phase characterization and morphology of the hematite and magnetite ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The properties of ZnO films were investigated as functions of annealing temperatures in H2/Ar and vacuum. The resistivities and mobilities of ZnO films decreased with increase of annealing temperatures in vacuum and H2/Ar ambients. However, the carrier densities of ZnO films increased with increase of annealing temperatures in vacuum and H2/Ar ambients. The resistivities of ZnO2 films annealed at 300degreeC were 2186cm and 798cm in H2/Ar and vacuum ambients, respectively. The resistivities of ZnO films annealed in vacuum and H2/Ar ambients at 600degreeC were similar with 0.040cm and 0.035cm, respectively. The hydrogen donor was more dominant than the oxygen vacancy or Zn interstitial donor in ZnO films annealed in ambient H2/Ar at low temperatures. The average optical transmission was >82%...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper presents studies carried out on tin-doped indium sulfide films prepared using Chemical Spray Pyrolysis (CSP) technique. Effect of both in-situ and ex-situ doping were analyzed. Ex-situ doping was done by thermal diffusion, which was realized by annealing Sn/In2S3 bilayer films. In-situ doping was accomplished by introducing Sn into the spray solution by using SnCl45H2O. Interestingly, it was noted that by ex-situ doping, conductivity of the sample enhanced considerably without affecting any of the physical properties such as crystallinity or band gap. Analysis also showed that higher percentage of doping resulted in samples with low crystallinity and negative photosensitivity. In-situ doping resulted in amorphous films. In contrast to ex-situ doping, `in- situ doping' resulted i...

CERN Document Server

In order to reduce the activation temperature of the TiZrV alloy, thin films of various compositions were produced by three-cathode magnetron sputtering on stainless-steel substrates. For the characterisation of the activation behaviour the surface chemical composition has been monitored by Auger electron spectroscopy during specific in situ thermal cycles. The volume elemental composition of the film has been measured by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and the morphology (crystal structure and size of the crystallites) has been investigated by X-ray diffraction. The criteria indicating the sample quality and its dependence on film structure and chemical composition are presented and discussed. (13 refs).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The initial growth process and surface structure of thin Pd(silicide) films on clean Si(111)-7x7 surfaces have been studied by low energy ion scattering (ISS) and LEED-Auger techniques. Considerable reaction between Pd and Si at room temperature is observed to extend up to 25 ML thickness of deposited Pd. Heat treatment of the room temperature film produced epitaxial silicide Pd_2Si(0001) films covered with the accumulated elementary Si layers of 1-2 ML thickness. Deposition of 1/3 ML Pd onto a heated substrate gives a Pd-embedded ordered surface of Si(111)-#sq root#3x#sq root#3R30"0, the feature being similar to the cases of Ag, Au/Si(111) systems. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this work we present the electrical characterization of non self-aligned p-channel thin film transistors fabricated by using laser doping technique for source/drain contact formation and gate oxide deposited at room temperature by Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition. These techniques are suitable for a very low temperature process for TFT fabrication. The output characteristics show a current increase at high drain voltage ('kink' effect) rather moderate, if compared to self aligned polysilicon TFTs, probably due to the gradual doping profile induced by laser doping process. After bias stress at low gate voltage and high drain voltage condition a strong reduction of kink current has been observed in the output characteristics at high drain voltage, whereas minor changes has been observed in the transfer characteristics. This behaviour is similar to what observed in n-channel Gate ...

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A method is described for converting radioactive alkali metal into a low level disposable solid waste material. The radioactive alkali metal is atomized and introduced into an aqueous caustic solution having caustic present in the range of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % to convert the radioactive alkali metal to a radioactive alkali metal hydroxide. The aqueous caustic containing radioactive alkali metal hydroxide and CO{sub 2} are introduced into a thin film evaporator with the CO{sub 2} present in an amount greater than required to convert the alkali metal hydroxide to a radioactive alkali metal carbonate, and thereafter the radioactive alkali metal carbonate is separated from the thin film evaporator as a dry powder. Hydroxide solutions containing toxic metal hydroxide including one or more metal ions of Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag and Tl can be converted into a low level ...

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In this paper the authors present the first emitter efficiency results for the thin film 40 percent Er-1.5 percent Ho YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet, Y3Al5O12) and 25 percent Ho YAG selective emitter at 1500 K with a platinum substrate. Spectral emittance and emissive power measurements were made (1.2 less than lambda less than 3.2 microns). Emitter efficiency and power density are significantly improved with the addition of multiple rare earth dopants. Predicted efficiency results are presented for an optimized (equal power density in the Er, (4)I[sub 15/2]-(4)I[sub 13/2] at 1.5 microns, and Ho, (5)I[sub 7]-(5)I[sub 8] at 2.0 micron emission bands) Er-Ho YAG thin film selective emitter.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We report a new method of generating nano and micro patterns using focused ion beam (FIB) induced adhesion. The method utilizes selective irradiation of thin metallic films grown on substrates by focused ion beam followed by peel off. After peel off of the irradiated thin film it is observed that the ion beam scanned portions are retained on the substrate, creating nano and micro patterns. The method is suitable for materials of which the adhesion to the substrate can be improved by ion bombardment. The phenomenon has been demonstrated by creating gold nano patterns of different shapes and sizes ranging from 500 nm to 5 #mu#m on SiO_2-Si substrate using 10-30 keV Ga FIB at beam currents up to 10 pA. The mechanism involved in the process has been discussed. The technique could be utilized to prepare micro and nano patterns of thin films deposited on an ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

As the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Solar Energy Technologies Program initiates new cost-shared solar energy R&D under the Solar America Initiative (SAI), it is useful to analyze the experience gained from cost-shared R&D projects that have been funded through the program to date. This report summarizes lessons learned from two DOE-sponsored photovoltaic (PV) projects: the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology/PV Manufacturing R&D (PVMaT/PVMR&D) project and the Thin-Film PV Partnership project. During the past 10-15 years, these two projects have invested roughly $330 million of government resources in cost-shared R&D and leveraged another $190 million in private-sector PV R&D investments. Following a description of key findings and brief descriptions of the PVMaT/PVMR&D and Thin-Film PV Partnership projects, this report presents lessons learned from the projects.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Thin, lightweight, and flexible gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) based on freestanding entangled networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) decorated with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) are tested as the air-breathing cathode in a zinc-air battery. The SWNT networks provide a highly porous surface for active oxygen absorption and diffusion. The high conductivity of SWNTs coupled with the catalytic activity of AgNPs for oxygen reduction leads to an improvement in the performance of the zinc-air cell. By modulating the pH value and the reaction time, different sizes of AgNPs are decorated uniformly on the SWNTs, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. AgNPs with sizes of 3-5 nm double the capacity and specific energy of a zinc-air battery as compared with bare SWNTs. The simplified, lightweight architecture shows significant advantages over conventional carbon-based GDEs in terms of weight, thickness and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The application of medium energy ion scattering in combination with channelling and blocking to the study of the initial stages of palladium silicide formation is discussed. After a brief description of the experimental arrangement and method, the effects on the Rutherford backscattering spectra of depositing small quantities of palladium on clean Si(111) are reported. The uniformity and thermal stability of thin palladium silicide films grown at room temperature were measured. Finally, channelling and blocking results were used to carry out a structural analysis of thin epitaxial Pd_2Si layers. (Auth.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Thin film ultraviolet detectors based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloys are realized with different diode structures (PIN, NIP, PN, and NP). The PIN and NIP detectors exhibit higher sensitivity in the ultraviolet spectrum and a significant lower dark current in comparison to the PN or NP structures. The best detector performance was achieved with a 33 nm thick PIN diode. This detector shows a maximum of quantum efficiency of 36.3% at a wavelength of 310 nm. By varying the thickness of the semi-transparent Ag front contact the selectivity of the detectors with the quantum efficiency peak at 320 nm can be adjusted. Thus, the spectral sensitivity of the detector shifts from a broad UV to a selective UV-B spectrum. (orig.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Indium sulfide thin films consisting of porous network of nanoplatelets, have been deposited using chemical bath deposition (CBD) method onto the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) coated glass substrate. Aqueous solutions of indium sulfate and thioacetamide have been used as indium and sulfur precursors. As a complexing agent, acetic acid was used. The chemically deposited indium sulfide thin films were examined for their structural, surface morphological and optical characterizations. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of the cubic b-In2S3 onto the substrate. From scanning electron micrograph, it is observed that the surface of substrate is covered by nanoporous platelets type morphology. The optical studies showed a direct band gap of 2.84eV for indium sulfide platelets. Ph...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The influence of hydrogen ion implantation into the channel polysilicon of polysilicon thin film transistors on gate oxide conductivity has been investigated. Data for effective tunnelling barriers at the gate oxide/channel polysilicon interface are presented. A value of 1.2eV for samples with boron doped channel polysilicon is calculated. For hydrogenated boron doped samples tunnelling barriers higher than 2.1 eV are obtained. The tunnelling barriers for phosphorus doped samples are impurity concentration dependent and decrease with increasing phosphorus concentration in the range 3 x 10"1"7 to 3 x 10"1"9 cm"-"3. (Author).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We report the fabrication and characterization of glucose-tolerant Raney-platinum cathodes for oxygen reduction in potentially implantable glucose fuel. Fabricated by extraction of aluminum from 1mm thin platinum-aluminum bi-layers annealed at 300^oC, the novel cathodes show excellent resistance against hydrolytic and oxidative attack. This renders them superior over previous cathodes fabricated from hydrogel-bound catalyst particles. Annealing times of 60, 120, and 240min result in approximately 400-550nm thin porous films (roughness factors ~100-150), which contain platinum and aluminum in a ratio of ~9:1. Aluminum release during electrode operation can be expected to have no significant effect on physiological normal levels, which promises good biocompatibility. Annealing time has a dis...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The fundamental points to be considered in a waste treatment system for a country like Japan, where the final disposal method has not been decided and the wastes have to be stored in the power plants, are volume reduction of the wastes, safe storage of the wastes in the plant, and flexibility regarding the final disposal. A system has been developed that consists of a thin film evaporator for the direct solidification of the liquid waste, a pelletizer for producing hard pellets from the powdered wastes, a pellet storage unit, and a solidification unit for the final disposal. A pilot plant with waste treatment capacity of 200 kg/h was built in 1976 and has proved the system feasibility. This paper reports on pilot plant tests of the thin film evaporator and other components, tests on pellet deterioration during long term storage, and integrity tests on the final disposal of the pellet bitumen package.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction data show that rapid thermal anneals of SrS:Ce thin films enhance grain size and reduce crystalline defects. Electron paramagnetic resonance results suggest that these anneals lead to less variance in the crystal field environments at the nearly cubic Ce"3"+ sites along with the formation of another type of Ce"3"+ site believed to involve a nearby Sr vacancy. We suggest that the association of Ce"3"+ sites with V_S_r shifts the electroluminescence towards larger wavelengths as the symmetry of the activator site is lowered. copyright 1997 American Institute of Physics.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper studies the electrical characteristics of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (a-Si:H TFTs) under flat and bending situations after AC/DC stress at different temperatures. Stress temperature was varied from 77K to 400K, and threshold voltage shifts were extracted to analyze degradation mechanisms. It was found that high temperature and mechanical bending played important roles under AC stress, with an enhanced stress effect resulting in a more serious degradation. This study also discusses the dependence between the accumulated sum of bias rising and falling time and the threshold voltage shifts under AC stress.

CERN Document Server

Classic and recent results for gauge effects on the properties of the normal-to-superconducting phase transition in bulk and thin film superconductors are reviewed. Similar problems in the description of other natural systems (liquid crystals, quantum field theory, early universe) are also discussed. The relatively strong gauge effects on the fluctuations of the ordering field at low spatial dimensionality D and, in particular, in thin (quasi-2D) films are considered in details. A special attention is paid to the fluctuations of the gauge field. It is shown that the mechanism in which these gauge fluctuations affect on the order of the phase transition and other phase transition properties varies with the variation of the spatial dimensionality D. The problem for the experimental confirmation of the theoretical predictions about the order of the phase transitions in gauge systems is discussed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The performance of scanning driver circuits fabricated with self-aligned aluminum gate polysilicon thin-film transistors (TFT's) is demonstrated. After the gate electrode patterning, the fabrication process temperature is kept below 400degC to enable the use of aluminum gate electrodes. The low-temperature crystallization phenomenon, which occurs when protons are implanted simultaneously with boron or phosphorus dopants, is employed to eliminate the 600degC activation-annealing process. A maximum clock frequency of about 2.0 MHz is achieved when the driver operating voltage is 24 V and the TFT channel length is 12 #mu#m. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of asymmetry tilt angle ion implantation on polysilicon thin-film transistors (TFTs) device characteristics are investigated. This asymmetric source/drain (S/D) TFTs structure exhibits low leakage current and suppressed kink effect due to the relief of higher electric field near the drain junction side. It is shown that the optimal implantation tilt angle is 30 deg. in our annealing condition. And the anomalous off-state current is more than two orders of magnitude lower than that of the conventional TFTs. By well controlled the LDD region, this structure can act as a conventional structure in the on-state and the turn-on current will not be degraded. Besides, the device under severe hot carrier bias stress shows better hot carrier endurance.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

From optical point of view and due to the magnetic interaction of the cold neutrons with the unpaired electron shell, magnetic materials hae a neutron spin-dependent refractive index n[sup +] [spin up] and n[sup -] [spin down]. Magnetic media such as Fe, Co and Ni react like birefringent uniaxial crystals in ordinary optica. n[sup +] and n[sup -] are the equivalent of the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices. The specular reflection of spin polarized neutrons which is due to the discontinuity of the magnetic induction at the surface of the ferromagnet is a sensitive probe of surface and interface magnetism. We shall first give the background of the art of polarized neutron optics. Secondly, some recent examples from surface and interface magnetism will be given to illustrate the power of this technique such as the magnetic coupling in thin films and multilayers and flux penetration in superconductors. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this work, we investigated self-heating related instability in polysilicon thin film transistors (poly-Si TFTs) fabricated on polyimide (PI) substrates. Indeed, when Joule heating becomes relevant, the temperature of the active layer can substantially rise, since the devices are fabricated on thermally insulating substrates. As a result, electrical instability is triggered and attributed to the generation of interface states, due to the Si-H bond breaking, and charge trapping into the gate insulator. In addition, by using 3-dimensional numerical simulations, coupling the thermodynamic and transport models, we analyzed the temperature distribution of the device under operating conditions and found that self-heating is more severe for devices fabricated on plastic substrates.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Polysilicon thin-film technology has become of great interest due to the demand for large area electronic devices. Active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) and active matrix organic light emitting displays (AMOLEDs) are among the fields where polysilicon thin-film transistors (poly-Si TFTs) are most commonly used. Such devices, generally, require analog signal processing. This fact makes the performance of basic analog blocks, such as current mirrors implemented with poly-Si TFTs, crucial. This paper examines the performance of various current mirror designs through simulation. Finally, a novel design of a current mirror is proposed aimed to be used in low voltage applications.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this work, ?-SnS2 thin films have been prepared on glass substrates by the spray pyrolysis technique using an alcohol solution which contains tin chloride (SnCl4) and thiourea (SC(NH2)2) as precursors. The structural study shows that ?-SnS2 thin film prepared using optimal experimental conditions: substrate temperature Ts = 280 deg. C and the concentration ratio of sulfur and tin elements in the spray solution x = [S]/[Sn] = 2.5, crystallizes in the hexagonal phase with a strong (0 0 1) X-ray diffraction line. In the same way, microprobe analyses (EPMA) as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show the presence of undiserable phase of SnO2. From the transmission and reflectance spectra, the band gap energy is 2.65 eV. On the other hand, the photothermal properties of such films have been studied, the thermal conductivity was Kc = 0.85 W m-1 K-1 and the thermal ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nonevaporable getters (NEGs) have been extensively studied in the last several years for their sorption properties toward many gases. In particular, an innovative alloy as a thin film by magnetron sputtering was developed and characterized at the European Organization for Nuclear Research. It is composed of Ti-Zr-V and protected by an overlayer of palladium (Pd), according to a technology for which the authors got the licence. NEG-Pd thin films used in combination with ion getter pumps is a simple, easy way to handle pumping devices for ultrahigh and extremely high vacuum applications. To show how to apply this coating technology to the internal surface of different types of ion pumps, the authors carried out several tests on pumps of various shapes, sizes (in terms of nominal pumping speed), and types (diode, noble diode, and triode). Special care was taken during the thermal cycle of baking and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A technique and a particular apparatus for an inductive measurement of critical currents as a function of temperature and magnetic field in thin-film superconductors are described. The technique has been found to be particularly useful for high-field A-15 compounds 2 to 3 ..mu..m thick. Samples with lower critical current densities would have to be correspondingly thicker to measure over the same broad range of temperature and field. The design of the apparatus is detailed showing that the film can be taken directly from the deposition chamber and mounted without electrical contacts so samples can be changed easily. The principles of operation are developed based on the Critical State Model. These principles are tested by measurements which verify that the measured value of critical curent is independent of the amplitudes and frequency of the small ac magnetic field which is added to a much larger quasistatic field. The inductive measurements ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Organic electronic devices using a pentacene have improved importantly in the last several years. We fabricated pentacene organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with dielectric SiO{sub 2} and ferroelectric Pb(Zr{sub 0.3},Ti{sub 0.7})O{sub 3} (PZT) gate insulators. The organic devices using SiO{sub 2} and PZT films had the field-effect mobility of approximately 0.1 and 0.004 cm{sup 2}/V s, respectively. The drain current in the transfer curve of pentacene/PZT transistors showed a hysteresis behavior originated in a ferroelectric polarization switching. In order to investigate the polarization effect of PZT gate dielectrics in a logic circuit, the simple voltage inverter using SiO{sub 2} and PZT films was fabricated and measured by an output-input measurement. The gain of inverter at the poling-down state was approximately 7.2 and it was three times larger than the value measured at the poling-up state.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this work we investigate an iron oxide thin film grown with atomic layer deposition for a gas sensor application. The objective is to characterize the structural, chemical, and electrical properties of the film, and to demonstrate its gas-sensitivity. The obtained scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy results indicate that the film has a granular structure and that it has grown mainly on the glass substrate leaving the platinum electrodes uncovered. X-ray diffraction results show that iron oxide is in the #alpha#-Fe_2O_3 (hematite) phase. X-ray photoelectron spectra recorded at elevated temperature imply that the surface iron is mainly in the Fe"3"+ state and that oxygen has two chemical states: one corresponding to the lattice oxygen and the other to adsorbed oxygen species. Electric conductivity has an activation energy of 0.3-0.5 eV and almost Ohmic current-voltage dependency. ...

Science.gov (United States)

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CERN Document Server

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been utilized during high rate E-beam evaporation/deposition of YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO). The results demonstrate the great utility of FTIR as an in situ monitor of YBCO deposition and processing. We detect different (amorphous/fine polycrystalline) insulating pre-existing phases to the high Tc superconducting phase which appear to have distinct reflectivity fingerprints dominated by thin film interference effects, as a function of temperature and oxygen pressure. These fingerprints reveal some of the kinetic and thermodynamic pathways during the growth of YBCO.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

When nanometer scale holes (diameters of 50 to a few hundred nm) are imaged in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at pressures in the 10{sup -5} to 10{sup -6} torr range, hydrocarbon deposits built up and result in the closing of holes within minutes of imaging. Additionally, electron beam deposition of material from a gas source allows the closing of holes with films of platinum or TEOS oxide. In an instrument equipped both with a focused ion beam (FIB), and an SEM, holes can be formed and then covered with a thin film to form nanopores with controlled openings, ranging down to only a few nanometers.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Epitaxial thin films of nanotwinned face-centered cubic metals such as Cu possess an unprecedented combination of high hardness and high electrical conductivity due to the unique structure of nanometer-spaced coherent twin boundaries. Recent studies of in-situ nanoindentation in a transmission electron microscope have provided new insights on the deformation behavior of nanotwins that are reviewed here. In particular, two unit processes are highlighted: first, stress-induced migration of ?3 {112} incoherent twin boundary that leads to de-twinning of nanotwins; second, twinning dislocation can be multiplied at ?3 {111} coherent twin boundary.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This book describes the uses, coatings, and fabrication of laser materials. Topics considered include: optical waveguide materials; optical storage materials; holographic recording materials; phase conjunction materials; holographic recording materials; phase conjunction materials; laser crystals; laser glasses; quantum counter materials; thin films and coatings; multilayer dielectric coatings; graded-index surfaces and films; optical materials fabrication; fabrication techniques; fabrication procedures for specific materials.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Both (001)- and (111)-oriented CeO[sub 2] thin films have been grown on amorphous fused silica (SiO[sub 2]) substrates by ion-beam assisted pulsed laser ablation of a polycrystalline CeO[sub 2] target. Using 200 eV Ar[sup +] ions incident at 55[degree] to the substrate normal, the preferred orientation for CeO[sub 2] film growth is (001) at room temperature, but changes to (111) for temperatures [ge]300 [degree]C. Furthermore, the ion-beam assisted CeO[sub 2] films exhibit strong in-plane crystallographic alignment. In contrast, CeO[sub 2] films grown without ion-beam assistance exhibit a mixture of polycrystalline orientations with the relative amounts depending on growth temperature. Under optimum conditions, off-normal-incidence Ar[sup +] ions produce a (111)-oriented crystalline CeO[sub 2] film that is aligned with respect to a single in-plane axis, on an ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this work, the effects of substrate temperature that was changed from 100 to 500 "oC on the structural, chemical and electrical properties of carbon films, prepared by direct current magnetron sputtering technique, on 316L stainless steel as bipolar plate had been investigated. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to study the structure and the morphology of the deposited films, respectively. The corrosion resistance and the electrical resistivity were carried out by using corrosion tests and four point-probe technique. The results show that the carbon films change the structure from amorphous to graphite-like by increasing temperatures. At the temperatures higher than 300 "oC, the holes and porosities are formed on the film indicating a decrease of film quality. According to our results, corrosion resistance and electrical properties are ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Water repellency en the microstructure super-hydrophobic cured surface is important for research and industrial purposes. This microstructure film can be cured on polyethylene terephthalate PET surface by electron beam (EB) at different irradiation doses 10-100 kGy. The microstructure formulation composed from hydrophobic acrylate oligomer (EB 244) and monomer (SR 440). The irradiation induced cross linking of the prepared microstructure was proved by FTIR spectroscopy and the adhesion force by abrasion test. Some factors affecting the adhesion force of the prepared microstructure film such as oligomer/monomer composition ratio and the thickness of the microstructure cured film were studied. The contact angles (8) were measured on cured surfaces before and after adding the super hydrophobic nanoparticles (Zonyl 9361). The super-hydrophobic cured surface showed the self-cleaning property. The volume of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ultrathin solid polymer electrolyte membranes containing sulfonic ester groups were prepared by polymerization of methyl benzenesulfonate and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in a glow discharge plasma. The sulfonic ester groups of the plasma polymer were transformed to lithium sulfonate groups by treatment with lithium iodide. Hybridization of this plasma polymer containing the lithium sulfonate groups with poly(ethylene oxide) (average Mw 300) resulted in the formation of a single lithium ion conductive film. The hybrid polymer electrolyte films were about 1 #mu#m thick, pinhole-free, adherent to various substrates, and showed ionic conductivities at 60 degrees C of the order of 10"- "6 S cm"- "1 (10"2 #OMEGA# cm"2 resistance per unit area of as-prepared solid polymer electrolyte). This material shows promise for electrochemical applications such as all solid-state lithium batteries, sensors, and electrochemical display devices.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We demonstrate a two-dimensional device simulator for MOSFET structures that incorporates models for defect distributions and show predicted effects on device switching performance for various spatial distributions of defects in amorphous and polycrystalline silicon.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A summary of the topics covered in papers presented at the 1995 Brookhaven joint conference on production, neutralization, and application of negative ion beams is given. The conference topics covered included plasma ion sources, plasma seeding of these sources for increased ion production, beam extraction and transport, computer simulation and design studies, and operation of existing and experimental ion source facilities. Application of the sources to accelerator, tokamak, and thin film deposition are discussed. (AIP) {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

After slow progress in the efforts to develop phase plates for electron microscopes, functional phase plate using thin carbon film has been reported recently. It permits collecting high-contrast images...Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

A qualitatively different manifestation of the Rayleigh instability is demonstrated, where, instead of the usual extended undulations and breakup of the liquid into many droplets, the instability is localized, leading to an isolated narrowing of the liquid filament. The localized instability, caused by a nonuniform curvature of the liquid domain, plays a key role in the evaporation of thin liquid films off solid surfaces.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The influence of MeV electrons irradiation on the gate oxide layers of hydrogenated polysilicon thin film transistors (TFTs) was investigated by measuring gate leakage currents and threshold voltages. The experimental data revealed a decrease of oxide trap density and increase of positive oxide charge. Improvement in the interface roughness and in the oxide quality near the bottom interface was observed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper deals with preparation of PE clay nano composite specimen for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and studying the difference between dispersion of clay in low density polyethylene using poly(hydrogen methyl siloxane) (PHMS) as coupling agent and untreated one. Argon ion milling is the conventional means by which film sections are thinned to electron transparency for TEM analysis, but this technique exhibits significant problems. In particular, selective thinning and imaging of sub-micrometer inclusions during sample milling are highly problematic. We have achieved successful results using the focused ion beam (FIB) lift-out technique, which utilizes a 30 kV Ga"+ ion beam to extract electron transparent specimens with nanometer scale precision. Using this procedure, we have prepared a number of thin film materials representing a range of structures and compositions for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this paper, aluminium nitride synthesis is carried out by direct laser irradiation onto an aluminium target surface in a nitrogen containing atmosphere. The influence of various processing parameters on the microstructure of AlN thin films is investigated in order to improve their tribological properties. The main microstructural characteristics: nature, concentration, in depth distribution and morphology of various phases are studied versus processing parameters by TEM and GIXD. (author). 2 refs., 1 fig., 2 photos.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nylon 6 and nylon 66 films have been treated with aqueous sulfonated aromatic compound (SAC) solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 1.0 wt%. SAC uptakes at different treatment concentrations were measured and found to follow a BET isotherm. The surface morphologies of nylon film samples, including the original and SAC-treated films, have been characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). For untreated nylon 6 and nylon 66 films, AFM images show a randomly distributed fibrillar surface structure. Characteristic widths of fibrils in the nylon 66 and 6 films were 150-225 and 75-150 nm, respectively. For SAC-treated nylon films, the AFM images revealed that the surfaces of the films became covered with nodule-like features having a diameter range of 25-60 nm. AFM analysis provides evidence that SAC treatment deposited a surface ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this work, ZnO thin films have been grown on glass substrates by using a solution of propanol (C{sub 3}H{sub 8}O), water (H{sub 2}O) and zinc acetate (Z{sub n}(CH{sub 3}CO{sub 2}){sub 2}) in acidified medium (pH 5). The obtained films were n doped with ytterbium (Yb) at the rates of 100, 200 and 300 ppm. The structural features of the doped films were investigated using XRD, atomic force microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy techniques. XRD analysis shows a strong (0 0 2) X-ray diffraction line for increasing Yb-doping amounts. This c-axis preferential orientation of ZnO crystallites is naturally required to use this oxide as transparent conductor in optoelectronic applications. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis shows an enhancement in the surface roughness of the doped ZnO:Yb thin films. Optical measurements were performed in 300-1800 nm domain ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method for detecting electrons emitted as secondary particles by photon incidence to a specimen, as well as a method of using the photons emitted by electron incidence as detecting particles are explained. Pd-Si(100)2{times}1 system is adopted for a case study of using photo-electron spectroscopy where synchrotron emitted light in soft X-ray region is used as the incident light. Pd atoms are deposited little by little on clean Si surface to investigate the electron structure of the surface, and the interface electron structure after bonded formation of Pd(thin film)-Si(substrate) is estimated. Radiation soft X-ray spectroscopy is employed to observe the real state of the bonded interface of Pd(thin film)-Si(substrate) prepared by depositing Pd film in a short period of time. In the case of radiation soft X-ray spectroscopy with electron beam excitation, bonded system of ...

CERN Document Server

Non-evaporable thin film getters of various compositions have been produced by sputtering. Among about 20 materials which have been studied, the lowest activation temperature (about 180 degree C) has been displayed by a Ti-Zr-V coating obtained from a cathode made of intertwisted elemental wires. In order to optimize the vacuum properties of this film various production parameters, including the substrate temperature during coating, have been varied. The films have been characterized by pumping speed measurement, secondary electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. It has been found that the substrate coating temperature affects significantly the activation temperature, the pumping speed and the gas surface capacity. The highest pumping speed values, obtained for substrate coating temperatures of 250 degree C and 300 degree C, are clearly correlated with the increased surface roughness and porosity of ...

Science.gov (United States)

A facile solution chemistry is demonstrated to fabricate high-quality polycrystalline strontium ruthenium oxide (SrRuO{sub 3}) thin film electrodes on silicon substrates suppressing the formation of undesired ruthenium oxide (RuO{sub 2}) for the deposition of dielectric and ferroelectric materials like lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT). The robust, highly crystalline SrRuO{sub 3} film fabrication process does not favor the formation of RuO{sub 2} because of molecular level modification of the precursors possessing analogous melting points, yielding homogeneous films. This chemistry is further understood and complemented by kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of the DTA data under nonisothermal conditions, with which the activation energies to form RuO{sub 2} and SrRuO{sub 3} were calculated to be 156 {+-} 17 and 96 {+-} 10 kJ/mol, respectively. The room-temperature resistivity of the SrRuO{sub 3} ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We have studied the correlation between the chemical state and the oxygen-sensing properties of an iron oxide thin film using a setup that allows simultaneous sensor resistance measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data acquisition. The gas exposures were performed at the highest operating pressure of the XPS spectrometer at a controlled sample temperature which allows direct comparison between the sensor response and the chemical state of the surface. The iron oxide film was modified by a sequence of argon ion sputtering steps and the induced changes in the chemical state, resistance, and sensitivity to oxygen were investigated. The sputtering was found to reduce the iron from the Fe"3"+ to the Fe"2"+ state and to decrease the sensor resistance. The measured sensitivity to oxygen first increased by a factor of two but then collapsed to its original level. The mechanism for oxygen sensing was found to be ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reactions between (100) GaAs and the near-noble metals Ni, Pd, and Pt have been investigated by application of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive analysis of x rays in the scanning TEM and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of the phase distributions, film compositions, and interface morphologies during annealing at temperatures up to 480 /sup 0/C. The first phase in the Ni/GaAs reaction is shown to have the nominal composition Ni/sub 3/GaAs. Ternary phases of the type Pd/sub x/GaAs are also found to be the dominant products of the Pd/GaAs reaction. Conversely, only binary phases result from the Pt/GaAs reaction. These observations are used to construct isothermal sections of the M--Ga--As thin-film phase diagrams. The behavior of a thin (1--2 nm) native oxide--hydrocarbon layer during the Ni/GaAs, Pd/GaAs, and Pt/GaAs reactions is also ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effective electron mobility was measured as a function of surface field in polysilicon thin film transistors having the following three types of gate dielectrics; silicon dioxide deposited by low temperature (350degC) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), low temperature (400degC) nitrogen-rich PECVD silicon nitride and high temperature (1050degC) thermally grown silicon dioxide. At low surface fields, the maximum true effective electron mobility was 40[+-]3 cm[sup 2] V[sup -1] s[sup -1] in all devices independent of the type of gate dielectric, indicating that the quality of the interface is the same. However, at high surface fields a stronger degradation of the mobility was observed in devices having the thermally grown silicon dioxide as gate dielectric, indicating the presence of surface roughness within the interfacial region. The polysilicon structure was studied by transmission electron microscopy in order to ensure that ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The influence of high energy electron (23 MeV) irradiation on the electrical characteristics of p-channel polysilicon thin film transistors (PSTFTs) was studied. The channel 220 nm thick LPCVD (low pressure chemical vapor deposition) deposited polysilicon layer was phosphorus doped by ion implantation. A 45 nm thick, thermally grown, SiO_2 layer served as gate dielectric. A self-alignment technology for boron doping of the source and drain regions was used. 200 nm thick polysilicon film was deposited as a gate electrode. The obtained p-channel PSTFTs were irradiated with different high energy electron doses. Leakage currents through the gate oxide and transfer characteristics of the transistors were measured. A software model describing the field enhancement and the non-uniform current distribution at textured polysilicon/oxide interface was developed. In order to assess the irradiation-stimulated changes of gate oxide ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper reports on superconductor-semiconductor-superconductor (S-N-S) weak-link junctions with the normal layer of Si or InSb thin films were prepared by using focused ion beam (FIB), and electrical properties were measured. Whereas InSb thin films on single crystals did not have an intrinsic mobility, S-N-S junction with InSb shows the characteristics of Josephson S-N-S junction. A 200nm-thick film of InSb deposited on MgO had a mobility of 83 cm{sup 2}.V {center dot} s and a carrier density of 6.5 {times} 10{sup 17} cm{sup {minus}3} at 4.2K. The coherence length {xi}{sub n} was computed to be 17 nm from these experimental data, and we obtained critical superconducting current Ic of 100 {mu} A for the S-N-S junction which had a line width of 10{mu} m and a channel length of 20 nm.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nanoparticles represent versatile building blocks in material science and nanotechnology. Thereby, the defined assembly of nanostructures (13 and 56 nm in diameter, respectively) is of significant importance. Short DNA sequences can be bound to the nanoparticle surface thus enabling highly specific DNA hybridization-driven events that direct the formation of nanoparticle constructs.In this paper, examples for the defined formation of gold nanoparticle constructs are demonstrated. In addition, gold-silver core-shell nanoparticles are introduced as further building blocks for the hybridization-controlled formation of nanoparticle constructs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Photoelectrochemical oxidation is a potentially interesting method for destroying toxic organic materials. We have studied the photoelectrocatalytic activity of TiO{sub 2} films made by thermal oxidation of titanium, low pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD), and anodisation of titanium. Two model organic compounds have been investigated for photooxidation: methyl phosphonic acid (MPA) which is a nerve gas analogue and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) which is a chlorinated aromatic compound considered a standard for the evaluation of the TiO{sub 2} / UV processes. In addition to photoelectrochemical characterisation the films have been characterised by profilometry, XRD, AFM, photocurrent spectroscopy and Raman microscopy. Correlations have been made between the physical properties of the thin films and their catalytic activities. The most catalytic sample of thermally oxidised titanium was prepared at 400 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Individual nanoscale building blocks exhibit a wide range of size-dependent properties, since their size can be tuned over known characteristic length scales of bulk materials. In the last several years, the possibility of combining different materials in the form of two and three component nanoparticles (NPs) has been extensively explored. Also multi-component materials can be obtained via self-assembly of NPs from their binary colloidal mixtures. These new nanocrystal solids may possess tunable collective properties that originate from interactions between size and composition controlled building blocks. Exchange coupling between neighboring NPs of magnetically soft and hard materials enhances the magnetic energy product of the nanocomposite material. Randomly mixed solids of small and large semiconducting CdSe NPs revealed enhancement of photoluminescence intensity of large semiconductor particles accompanied by quenching of photoluminescence of the small ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In vitro cytocompatibility and cellular interactions of lauric acid and dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles were evaluated with two different cell lines (mouse fibroblast and human cervical carcinoma). Lauric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles were less cytocompatible than dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles and cellular uptake of lauric acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles was more than that of dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles. Lesser cytocompatibility and higher uptake of lauric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles as compared to dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles may be due to different cellular interactions by coating material. Thus, coating plays an important role in modulation of biocompatibility and cellular interaction of magnetic nanoparticles.

Environmental Research Database

ObjectivesThe development of novel formulations of nanoparticles in the nanotechnology industry and their increasing importance and use in industry means there is certainty of human environmental exposures in both the workplace and the general environment. The pulmonary route of exposure to airborne nanoparticles is a major one, as nanoparticles are handled in industry, escape from workplaces and products containing nanoparticles undergo attrition in the environment. There is a substantial problem for ris [continued...]DescriptionNanoparticles are extremely small particles, each individual particlel being less than one ten millionth of a metre in size. We are exposed to nanoparticles in busy streets as they are present in traffic exhaust produced from combustion of fuel and such nanoparticles are considered to be important in causing the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Complimentary spectroscopic, microscopic and electrochemical studies were performed to characterise the barrier properties as well as the interface structure of model iron substrates covered with thin plasma polymer films. Cathodic plasma polymers were deposited which show high barrier properties. The metal surface was pre-treated by a reducing or oxidising plasma. This allowed the adjustment of the oxidation state of the interface layer. The interface structure was characterised by means of X-ray photoelectron sputter profiles, infrared spectroscopy and the application of a Kelvin probe. The investigations show that the measured Voltapotential on the plasma polymer surface can be correlated with the oxidation state of the interface. Reducing plasmas lead to an almost oxide free surface. After deposition of the plasma polymer, this reduced state of the oxide is sensitive to re-oxidation of the interface by oxygen that diffuses through the ...