Structural and magnetic properties of Ge0.7Mn0.3 thin films

Ge_0.7Mn_0.3 thin films were fabricated on Al₂O₃ (0001) and glass substrates at growth temperatures ranging from room temperature to 500 °C by a radio frequency magnetron sputtering. We found that the Ge_0.7Mn_0.3 thin films showed a polycrystalline-to-amorphous transition at about 360 °C, and the ferromagnetic transition temperature of each thin film depends on its structure — crystalline or amorphous states. Particularly, the Ge_0.7Mn_0.3 thin films showed room temperature ferromagnetism when they were fabricated at temperatures above the crystallization temperature.     

纳米纤维素增强SiO2气凝胶力学性能与微观结构

为克服SiO₂气凝胶强度低、易破碎等缺点,通过原位溶胶-凝胶法制备纳米纤维素（CNF）增强SiO₂气凝胶,并对SiO₂气凝胶的化学结构、微观形貌和力学、物理性能进行表征分析,探讨了CNF对SiO₂气凝胶力学性能的增强机制。结果表明：CNF独特的纳米级网络结构可增强SiO₂颗粒之间的联结强度;Si-OH（960 cm^-1）和Si-O-Si（1 225 cm^-1、1 056 cm^-1和800 cm^-1）等特征吸收峰的出现表明,CNF与SiO₂之间形成稳定的化学键联结;采用不同含量CNF气凝胶作为SiO₂增强相均可达到增强力学性能的效果,同时仍能保持SiO₂气凝胶本身质轻、高孔隙率、高比表面积等特性;当以CNF质量分数为6wt%的溶液制备气凝胶时,CNF增强SiO₂气凝胶具有最优的力学性能,压缩模量和压缩强度分别为12.43 MPa和2.59 MPa。     

SiO2/聚四氟乙烯复合薄膜的制备及力学性能

采用空气辅助干法共混、冷压烧结并车削成膜的方法制备了SiO₂填充量为35wt%、厚度为50 μm的聚四氟乙烯（PTFE）基复合薄膜。系统研究了SiO₂颗粒粒径对SiO₂/PTFE薄膜复合材料的孔洞缺陷和力学性能等的影响,并研究了SiO₂在PTFE中的分散情况及分子间相互作用对其性能变化的影响机制。结果表明,随SiO₂粒径的逐渐增大,其在PTFE中的分散趋于均匀,同时PTFE能更好地包覆粒子,因此SiO₂/PTFE薄膜孔洞缺陷逐渐减少,力学性能逐渐增强;当SiO₂的粒径D₅₀为12 μm时,其在PTFE中的分散均匀性最佳,SiO₂/PTFE复合薄膜孔洞缺陷最少,具有较好的力学性能,断裂伸长率达19.5%,拉伸强度达9.2 MPa。      

Ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3 films grown by sol–gel process

Several methods have been used to prepare ferroelectromagnetic BiFeO₃ films. In this paper, we adopted a sol–gel process to fabricate BiFeO₃ films on indium tin oxide (ITO)/glass substrates. X-ray diffraction pattern indicated that the samples are randomly oriented. Cross section scanning microscopy showed that the thicknesses of both films were about 1.2 μm and no apparent diffusion between the BiFeO₃ films and ITO/glass substrates. Remnant polarization of 2.0 and 1.75 μC/cm² were identified by the measuring of electric hysteresis loops for the films annealed at 500 and 600 °C respectively at an applied field of 108 kV/cm. Dielectric property and loss factor were investigated as a function of frequency. In addition, magnetism was detected at 77 K.     

SiO2/TiO2 thin films with variable refractive index prepared by ion beam induced and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

SiO₂/TiO₂ optical thin films with variable compositions have been prepared by ion beam induced and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (IBICVD and PECVD). While the films obtained by IBICVD were very compact, the PECVD ones with a high content of Ti presented a columnar microstructure. The formation of Si–O–Ti bonds and a change in the environment around titanium from four- to six-coordinated has been proved by vibrational and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. The refractive index increased with the titanium content from 1.45 to 2.46 or 2.09 for, respectively, the IBICVD and PECVD films. Meanwhile, the band gap decreased, first sharply and then more smoothly up to the value of pure TiO₂. It is concluded that the optical properties of SiO₂/TiO₂ thin films can be properly tailored by using these two procedures.     

SiO2 layer thickness effects on the (001) texture of FePtCu:SiO2 nanocomposite films

The influence of SiO₂ layer thickness of (Fe₅₂Pt₄₈)₈₈Cu₁₂:SiO₂ multilayer nanocomposite films on their structural and magnetic properties were investigated. The films were deposited on (001) textured FePt films, and then annealed at 873 K. The crystalline texture of (Fe₅₂Pt₄₈)₈₈Cu₁₂:SiO₂ films changes drastically with respect to the thickness of the SiO₂ layers. In the film with 50-Å thick SiO₂ layers, the (111) peak was strong although the (001) orientation is dominant, and self-organized spherical FePtCu particles were formed in the SiO₂ matrix. However, in the film with 19-Å thick SiO₂ layers, flat FePt grains with perfect (001) orientation were obtained. In addition, twins with different crystalline orientations were seen in the above films with different thicknesses of the SiO₂ layers. Accordingly, different perpendicular hysteresis loops were obtained.     

Onset of hard magnetic L10 FePt phase with (001) texture

The perpendicular anisotropic magnetic properties of in-situ deposited FePt/Pt/Cr trilayer films were elucidated as functions of the deposition temperature and the sputtering rate of the FePt magnetic layer. Ordered L1₀ FePt thin films with perpendicular anisotropy and a (001) texture can be developed at a temperature as low as 300 °C with the sputtering of a FePt layer at a low rate. The larger Pt(001)[100] lattice induced an expansion of the FePt a- and b-axis, leading to the contraction of the FePt c-axis, enabling the epitaxial growth of the L1₀ FePt(001) texture to occur. A low rate of sputtering of the FePt thin film promotes the formation of the magnetically hard FePt(001) texture on the surface of the Pt(001) buffer layer at low temperature, while the high sputtering rate of FePt layer suppresses the phase transformation.     

(Fe,Ti) 16N2 films with high saturation magnetization prepared by facing target sputtering

(Fe,Ti)-N films with a Ti concentration of 10 at.% were prepared on Si(100) and NaCl substrates by facing targets sputtering. The effects of the nitrogen pressure (P_N) and the substrate temperature (T_s) on the formation of various (Fe,Ti)-N phases and their microstructures were investigated in detail. X-ray diffractometer and transmission electron microscope provided complete identification of the phases present in the films and the characterization of their microstructures. Films deposited at a lower P_N = 1 3 × 10⁻² Pa or a lower T_s = RT consist of mainly -phase. Films deposited at a higher P_N = 1.3 2 × 10⁻¹ Pa or a higher T_s = 200 °C contain a great many γ' and Fe₂N phases with a higher nitrogen content. When P_N = 4 7 × 10⁻² Pa and T_s = 100 150 °C, it is advantageous to the formation of ′' phase. These films exhibit a high saturation magnetization (M_s) up to the range of 2.3 2.5 T, which is larger than that of pure iron.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of Ni–SiO2 nanocomposites

Nanocomposite Ni_(1 − x)/(SiO₂)_x soft magnetic materials were synthesized by a simple sol–gel combined hydrogen reduction method. The crystal structure of the particles was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The shapes and sizes of the metal particles embedded in the SiO₂ matrix were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetic properties were measured by the vibrating samples magnetometer (VSM). The obtained nanocomposite material is composed of nanoparticles coated with a thin SiO₂ layer, and with the content of the silicon increase, the thickness of the silica shells increase and the saturation magnetization decrease. The diameter of Ni particle in the sample is about 30–40 nm. The influence of the Ni content and preparation conditions on the microstructures and magnetic properties were discussed.     

Magnetic properties of nanocrystalline CoFe2O4 synthesized by thermal plasma in large scale

The paper reports the large scale synthesis of nanoparticles of CoFe₂O₄ using thermal plasma reactor by gas phase condensation method. The yield of formation was found to be around 15 g h⁻¹. The magnetic properties of CoFe₂O₄, synthesized at different reactor powers, were investigated in view of studying the effect of operating parameters of plasma reactor on the structural reorganization leading to the different cation distribution. The values of saturation magnetization, coercivity and remanent magnetization were found to be influenced by input power in thermal plasma. Although the increase in saturation magnetization was marginal (61 emu g⁻¹ to 70 emu g⁻¹) with increasing plasma power; a significant increase in the coercivity (552 Oe to 849 Oe) and remanent magnetization (16 emu g⁻¹ to 26 emu g⁻¹) were also noticed. The Mössbauer spectra showed mixed spinel structure and canted spin order for the as synthesized nanoparticles. The detailed analysis of cation distribution using the Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy leads to the conclusion that the sample synthesized at an optimized power shows the different site selective states.     

吸附法原位制备Ag/ SiO2 纳米复合材料

以纳米SiO₂ 为载体, 以其富集水的表面吸附层作为纳米反应器制备了Ag 纳米粒子, 研究了水浓度对吸附和反应的影响。体系中NaOH 加入量一定的条件下, 硅胶表面NaOH 的平衡吸附量随着水浓度(0 、0105 %、0110 %、0125 %、0150 %、1. 00 %) 的增加而增加, 且存在两个突变区域(由0 增至0105 %和由0125 %增至0150 %) 。通过XRD、TEM 分析发现生成的银粒子(或氧化银) 团聚现象随水浓度的增加而逐渐减弱, 在硅胶表面分布越来越均匀, 晶粒粒径也逐渐减小。当水浓度约为0. 50 %时, 生成的Ag 或Ag₂O 粒子粒径多数在5 nm 以下, 且均匀分布在SiO₂ 表面。根据Ag + 的还原机理和吸附过程基本原理, 认为吸附水层的形成导致生成Ag 粒子的反应场所由硅胶表面转移到吸附水层中, 造成了Ag 粒子形貌的变化。      

Hydrophilic and photocatalytic properties of the SiO2/TiO2 double layers

The hydrophilic and photocatalytic properties of the SiO₂/TiO₂ double layers composed of a 20-nm-thick porous SiO₂ layer on the 200-nm-thick columnar anatase TiO₂ layer were studied. The hydrophilicity of the double layers was strictly determined by the relative coverage of organic contaminants. The intrinsic hydrophilicity of 0° of SiO₂ in terms of the water contact angle was restored by the photocatalytic decomposition of organic contaminants under the UV light irradiation.Electron spin resonance measurements revealed the generation of OH radicals under the UV light irradiation onto the SiO₂/TiO₂ double layers. Photoconductivity measurements showed that the current decay in O₂ gas atmosphere was remarkably fast in comparison with that in H₂O vapor. These observations support our view that the generation of OH radicals effective for decomposing organic contaminants on the surface begins with the reaction between O₂ molecules and the photoexcited electrons. We propose together with other experimental facts herein that OH radicals would be generated via O₂⁻ and H₂O₂ in the double layer system.     

Nano-structure formation of Fe-Pt perpendicular magnetic recording media co-deposited with MgO, Al2O3 and SiO2 additives

Perpendicular magnetic recording media samples were prepared by sputter deposition on sapphire with a layer sequence of MgO seed-layer/Cr under-layer/FeSi soft magnetic under-layer/MgO intermediate layer/FePt-oxide recording layer. The effects of MgO, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ additives on the morphology and orientation of the FePt layer were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The samples exhibited (001) orientation of the L1₀ FePt phase with the mutual orientations of sapphire substrate//MgO(100)[001]//Cr(100)[11¯0]//FeSi(100)[11¯0]//MgO(100)[001]//FePt(001)[100]. The morphology of the FePt films varied due to the co-deposited oxides: The FePt layers were continuous and segmented by stacking faults aligned at 54° to the surface. Films with SiO₂ addition, beside the oriented columnar FePt grains, exhibited a fraction of misoriented crystallites due to random repeated nucleation. Al₂O₃ addition resulted in a layered structure, i.e. an initial continuous epitaxial FePt layer covered by a secondary layer of FePt-Al₂O₃ composite. Both components (FePt and MgO) of the MgO-added samples were grown epitaxially on the MgO intermediate layer, so that a nano-composite of intercalated (001) FePt and (001) MgO was formed.The revealed microstructures and formation mechanisms may facilitate the improvement of the structural and magnetic properties of the FePt-oxide composite perpendicular magnetic recording media.     

Magnetic properties of ferrocenylmethylacrylate-N-dodecylacryl-amide copolymer Langmuir–Blodgett films

Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of the copolymer with ferrocenyl-methyl-acrylate (FcMA) and N-dodecyl-acrylamide (DDA) were fabricated. The magnetic moment of these LB films became about twenty times larger than that of the powder. In addition, the LB films had a magnetic anisotropy depending on the dipping direction. The FTIR results suggested that the polymer chains in the LB films were preferably aligned with the perpendicular of the dipping direction. These results were discussed by the intermolecular electron transfer.     

Modeling and characterization of viscoelasticity of PI/SiO2 nanocomposite films under constant and fatigue loading

In this paper, the viscoelastic behavior of PI/SiO₂ nanocomposite thin films under constant and fatigue tensile loading was studied. The cyclic hardening and viscous dissipation of PI/SiO₂ nanocomposite thin films during the fatigue process were experimentally investigated and analyzed by storage modulus, loss modulus and phase lag. The time-dependent deformation under constant and fatigue loading was simulated based on two viscoelastic models known as Burger model and Findley power law. Standard parameter analysis methodology was employed to interpret the structure–property relationship and deformation mechanisms of this kind of nanocomposites. In addition, the effects of nano-silica content, stress level and loading pattern (constant or fatigue loading) on the creep resistance of materials were discussed as well.     

Reproducible resistance switching for BaTiO3 thin films fabricated by RF-magnetron sputtering

BaTiO₃ (BTO) thin film was fabricated to investigate its non-volatile and reversible resistance switching phenomena by RF-sputtering method. The reversible resistance switching phenomenon was observed by DC voltage sweep and Pt/BTO/Pt metal-insulator-metal structure devices showed the bipolar resistance switching such as Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and Cr-doped SrTiO₃. The typical leakage current-voltage characteristic measurements were performed. High resistance state (HRS) and low resistance state (LRS) were maintained without power supply. The margin of the resistance between HRS and LRS is considerable during 120th cycles. The current emission mechanisms were suggested by double logarithm plot of leakage current vs. voltage. The comparison of the spreading current mapping images for two different resistance states showed that local conduction path was formed at LRS and was destroyed at HRS.     

Magnetic and dielectric properties of HoMnO3 nanoparticles synthesized by the polymerized complex method

In this paper, we report on the magnetic and dielectric properties of HoMnO₃ nanoparticles with different size synthesized by a polymerized complex method have been investigated. The HoMnO₃ nanoparticles crystallized in hexagonal perovskite-type structure. The zero-field-cooled magnetic susceptibility curve of HoMnO₃ nanoparticles with averaged size of 30 nm shows that complicated magnetic transitions occurred in a temperature range from 2 to 100 K, which was confirmed by magnetic hysteresis loops. With increasing the particle size, the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature increases from 56 to 77 K, due to the reduced surface-to-volume ratio. Moreover, with a decrease in particle size, the Mn-spin reorientation temperature (T_SR) is enhanced from 44 to 48 K.     

Physicochemical characterization of Fe3O4/SiO2/Au multilayer nanostructure

The purpose of this research was to synthesize and characterize gold-coated Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ nanoshells for biomedical applications. Magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using co-precipitation method. Smaller particles were synthesized by decreasing the NaOH concentration, which in our case this corresponded to 35 nm using 0.9 M of NaOH at 750 rpm with a specific surface area of 41 m² g⁻¹. For uncoated Fe₃O₄ NPs, the results showed an octahedral geometry with saturation magnetization range of 80–100 emu g⁻¹ and coercivity of 80–120 Oe for particles between 35 and 96 nm, respectively. The magnetic NPs were modified with a thin layer of silica using Stober method. Small gold colloids (1–3 nm) were synthesized using Duff method and covered the amino functionalized particle surface. Magnetic and optical properties of gold nanoshells were assessed using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), UV–Vis spectrophotometer, atomic and magnetic force microscope (AFM, MFM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, three main peaks of Au (1 1 1), (2 0 0) and (2 2 0) were identified. The formation of each layer of a nanoshell is also demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results. The Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/Au nanostructures, with 85 nm as particle size, exhibited an absorption peak at ∼550 nm with a magnetization value of 1.3 emu g⁻¹ with a specific surface area of 71 m² g⁻¹.     

Transparent conductive In2O3:Mo thin films prepared by reactive direct current magnetron sputtering at room temperature

An amorphous transparent conductive oxide thin film of molybdenum-doped indium oxide (IMO) was prepared by reactive direct current magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The films formed on glass microscope slides show good electrical and optical properties: the low resistivity of 5.9 × 10^− 4 Ω cm, the carrier concentration of 5.2 × 10²⁰ cm^− 3, the carrier mobility of 20.2 cm² V^− 1 s^− 1, and an average visible transmittance of about 90.1%. The investigation reveals that oxygen content influences greatly the carrier concentration and then the photoelectrical properties of the films. Atomic force microscope evaluation shows that the IMO film with uniform particle size and smooth surface in terms of root mean square of 0.8 nm was obtained.     

Electronic conduction in SiO2:N thin films grown by thermal oxidation of silicon in N2O

Silicon oxynitride [SiO₂:N] thin films have been grown by oxidizing silicon in N₂O at 900, 1000 and 1100 °C and at 760 and 1520 torr. It is shown that the dominant electrical conduction mechanism, for high electric fields, is the field assisted thermionic emission from the traps (Poole-Frenkel effect), and is not direct or Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, as typically occurs in thermal silicon oxide with similar thickness. Electrical conduction in these films occurs by field assisted electron emission from donor traps with energy levels varying in the range from 0.5 to 1 eV from the conduction band. The results shown here indicate that the best quality films are those grown at low temperature and pressure, since they give films with a higher critical electric field, a higher energy barrier depth at the traps and less donors compensated by acceptors than those grown at high temperatures and pressures.