Synthesis evaluation of nitrogen atom encapsulated fullerenes by optical emission spectra in nitrogen plasmas

The nitrogen atom encapsulated fullerene (N@C₆₀) with relatively high yield has been synthesized by a plasma irradiation method. We have examined the relationship between optical emission spectra of a radio frequency (RF) discharge nitrogen plasma and the synthesis yield of N@C₆₀. As a consequence, the increasing amount of nitrogen molecule ions (N₂⁺) impinging on the sublimated fullerenes are found to enhance the synthesis of N@C₆₀. Furthermore, it is clarified that there is an optimum condition of the nitrogen plasma for the high-yield synthesis of N@C₆₀, which is generated under lower gas pressure and is irradiated to the larger amount of fullerenes.     

Electron field emission from microtip arrays

Electron field emission measurements from structurized cathodes was reported. Silicon (Si) and boron-doped silicon carbide (SiC:B) had been chosen as a base materials for microtip field emission arrays (FEA). Each of single silicon FEAs has been covered by a thin metal layer using chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti) or platinum (Pt) to reduce the threshold voltage of electron emission. Surface of boron-doped silicon carbide and silicon FEAs have also been modified by deposition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). These efforts let improved the emission currents and bring down the turn-on field down to 1.2 V/μm. In contrast to the above, plain cold cathodes prepared as porous silicon (PS) substrates covered by thin MWNTs have also been measured.     

Electron microscopy of defect clusters produced by radiation damage

The methods of characterization of different types of radiation-induced defect clusters bytem have been reviewed. Point defects produced in irradiated materials agglomerate in two or three dimensional clusters to reduce the strain energy associated with them. Two-dimensional clusters assume the configuration of vacancy or interstitial type dislocation loops which can be resolved if the size of the loops is large compared to the extinction distance associated with the imaging reflection. The small loops give rise to a black dot contrast under the kinematical and a black-white contrast under the dynamical imaging conditions. The method of characterization of dislocation loops which include the determination of the nature of the loop, the Burgers vector and the loop plane normal is discussed taking examples from the work done on the ion irradiated Ni₄Mo samples. A summary of available experimental results on the characterization of dislocation loops in different metals and alloys having fcc, bcc and hcp structures is presented. The contrast from stacking fault tetrahedra which form in some fcc metals and alloys after a certain degree of annealing is also discussed. The optimum conditions for imaging three-dimensional clusters or voids are derived on the basis of the contrast theory proposed for such defects. Special reference is made to the usefulness of “through focus analysis” in the imaging of very small cavities (with diameters as small as about 10 Å). It is shown that the formation of disordered zones resulting from displacement cascades in the ordered matrix can be utilized in determining the shape and the volume of cascades in the virgin state. The importance of different contributing factors like the strain contrast and the structure factor contrast in producing the overall contrast from the disordered zones is discussed. Detailed observations on the shape of the disordered zones are shown to be important to establish the occurrence of the replacement collision sequence and the formation of sub-cascades.     

Electron field emission from the semimetallic TiO2 nanotube arrays

To enhance field-emission (FE) properties, as-prepared TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TNAs) successfully transformed from semiconductor into semimetal by a carbonization treatment under an argon/acetylene flux at 750 °C. After semimetallic transformation, the TNAs maintain tubular morphology, however, their surface become rougher. Especially, their electronic structures are significantly improved. A low turn-on field of 3.0 V/μm and a threshold field of 7.0 V/μm are obtained. Such improvements of FE properties can be mainly attributed to the enhancements of electrical property and rough surface morphology.     

Electron emission properties of CNT arrays grown with micro-molding in capillary (MIMIC) assisted process

We have selectively fabricated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) emitter arrays with a micro mold in capillary (MIMIC) assisted process. The electron emitter growth site was fabricated by resist patterning using the MIMIC process. The pattern was uniformly transferred to the substrate and well aligned CNTs were grown. The emitter produces a turn-on field of 2.7 V/μm with a field emission current of 10 μA/cm². The electron emission current can be controlled by emitter pattern width and pitch variation.     

Electron emission from solid surfaces stimulated by electric field and heterogeneous chemical reaction

A method for monitoring the process of electron accommodation during chemical reactions at the gas-solid (metal, semiconductor) interface is proposed. It is established that the tunneling electron current from a solid surface (Ni, Cu, Si steel) increases by a factor of 10³–10⁵ when a heterogeneous chemical reaction (H+H→H₂) proceeds on the surface. Autooscillations of the reaction-stimulated tunneling current have been observed. A method of investigation of the structure of surface catalytic centers on a nanometer resolution level is proposed.     

Accelerator based synthesis of hydroxyapatite by MeV ion implantation

Accelerator based MeV ion implantation of Ca²⁺ and P²⁺ into the titanium substrate to form hydroxyapatite (HA) has been carried out. Calcium hydroxide was formed after heating the calcium implanted titanium in air at 80 °C for 3 h. Upon subsequent annealing for 5 min at 600 °C HA was formed on the surface. Penetration depth of the HA layer in this method is much higher as compared to keV ion implantation. By elemental analysis, Ca/P ratio of the HA was found to be 1.76 which is higher than the ideal 1.67. This higher Ca/P ratio is attributed to the higher penetration depth of the MeV technique used.     

Nondestructive evaluation of jades by means of 14 MeV neutron activation

Fourteen MeV neutron activation of jades was used to test the authenticity of jades: to ascertain whether they are genuine jadeite and whether their greenish colour is genuine, both of which are important criteria for the high market value of jadeite. For given activation and measurement conditions of the jades, the gamma-ray spectrum was observed to change as a function of the type of the jades; the counting ratio of the photopeaks from the two most prominent constituent elements varies greatly as a function of the type of the jades. The ratio of counts for the Compton edges of the 1.779 MeV gamma-ray of²⁸Al, from²⁸Si(n,p)²⁸Al reaction, and the 1.434 MeV gamma-ray of⁵²V, from⁵²Cr(n,p)⁵²V reaction, varied as a function of the type of the jades and also as a function of the color. These results can be applied for a fast and nondestructive evaluation of jades.     

碳纳米管场发射电子源

从实验和理论上研究单根碳纳米管(CNT)场发射电子源的稳定问题.利用透射电镜/扫描探针显微镜(TEM/SPM)和场发射显微镜/场离子显微镜(FEM/FIM)对CNTs的场发射特性进行了实验研究.同时从密度泛函理论出发,利用相关程序模拟计算了吸附对单壁碳纳米管(SWNTs)场发射的影响.发现SWNTs荷电体系的总能量与荷电电荷数量关系具有抛物线形式,先减小,达到最小值,之后增加.通常荷4个电子时达到最小值,即体系处于最稳定状态.表明SWNTs有很大的电负性,是容易发生凝聚和吸附分子的根源.进而计算了对氢、氧和水的吸附特性,讨论了吸附对场发射的影响.这些结果对CNTs的场发射特性和作为新型电子源的应用都是有重要意义的.     

Catalysis by very small Au clusters

We review recent theoretical and experimental work on the catalytic properties of Au clusters that contain a few atoms and are supported on an oxide surface. The clusters are mass-selected and landed slowly on the oxide surface in ultra-high vacuum. STM measurements show that the clusters do not fragment and do not damage the surface when they are deposited nor do they coarsen after deposition. Their catalytic activity changes non-monotonically with the number of atoms and is sensitive to the nature of the support and to additives (hydroxyls, water, Na, Cl) present on the surface. Binary clusters (e.g. Au_nSr) can be more active than unary ones. Very recent work has managed to study catalysis by such clusters under realistic pressure conditions; their performance is very different from (and sometimes better than) that of large clusters.     

External electron emission near nanocylinders

In this work we investigate in detail the effects due to the interaction between an electron and a stationary positive ion (or atomic hole) in the neighbourhood of a nanostructured surface. In particular, we study how a positive charge, located near to the surface of a nanostructured (cylindrically shaped) body, can influence the probability of the surface plasmon excitations and consequently the energy loss of the emerging electron. We deal with simple nanostructured systems of Al, having a strong plasmon peak in its electron energy loss spectra. The method described here is useful for understanding the electron spectra excited from these nanostructures (different from those of the same bulk material).     

The control of spontaneous emission from a three-level atom in an anisotropic photonic crystal with two asymmetric bands

We theoretically investigate the spontaneous emission light of an excited three-level atom embedded in an anisotropic photonic crystal with two asymmetric bands. The property of spontaneous emission relating to the atomic position in a unit cell of the crystal is described with a position-dependent phase difference. The atomic transition in free space can be manipulated by the other associated transition coupling to photonic crystal. The result shows that the spontaneous emission spectra are effectively shifted and tuned by the atomic position-dependent phase, which results in the asymmetric distribution of the photonic density of states between two bands, and the increasing band can push the emitted light towards the other band. The physical process can be further illuminated through analyzing the emitted field in photonic crystal. The result perhaps offers an interesting route towards tunable photonic devices.     

Study on electron field emission enhancement from nitrogenated carbon nanotips synthesized by plasma-enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition

Nitrogenated carbon nanotips (NCNTPs) with different structures were synthesized by plasma-enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition using methane, hydrogen and nitrogen as the reactive gases. The structures and compositions of the NCNTPs were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS spectra reveal that nitrogen is incorporated into the carbon nanotips to form the NCNTPs under plasma condition. The Raman spectra and FESEM images show that the NCNTPs are amorphous structure and their morphologies change with the change in deposition conditions, respectively. The electron field emission (EFE) from the NCNTPs was measured and the EFE results indicate that the NCNTPs with the smooth surfaces and high density can emit a current density of 3 × 10³ μA/cm² at an electric field of 7.2 V/μm, which exhibits better EFE characteristic than the NCNTPs with the carbon nanowires on their surfaces due to small amount of oxygen adsorbed on the smooth surfaces of NCNTPs. According to the possible structures of nitrogen in sp² cluster in rings, the EFE enhancement of the NCNTPs compared with pure carbon nanotips was studied. The high emission current density (3 × 10³ μA/cm²) at low field (7.2 V/μm) suggests that the NCNTPs can serve as effective electron emission sources for numerous applications.     

Relationship between ultraviolet emission and electron concentration of ZnO thin films

ZnO thin films were deposited on (0001) Al₂O₃ substrates depending on oxygen partial pressure by pulsed laser deposition. Optical properties of ZnO were investigated by photoluminescence (PL). The relationship between PL and electron concentration has been investigated. Origin of the dominant ultraviolet (UV) emission in ZnO thin film measured at room temperature was identified as a free electron-neutral-acceptor transition (eA⁰) through temperature dependence of PL measurement. The UV emission intensity at room temperature is related to variation of electron concentration because a free-electron-neutral-acceptor transition (eA⁰) as origin of UV emission at room temperature is related to impurity concentration of ZnO.     

Electron field emission properties of electro-deposited diamond-like carbon coatings

Field emission studies were carried out on diamond-like carbon films deposited by an electro-deposition technique onto SnO₂-coated glass substrates. A mixture of acetic acid and water was the electrolyte. The films are compact with surface roughness 10 nm. Work function (φ) values obtained from the Fowler–Nordheim model varied between 15 and 214 meV, while the field factor (β) varied between 4 and 700. The critical field was found to vary between 2 and 28 V/μm.     

金刚石薄膜阴极电子发射特性研究

宽带隙半导体材料金刚石的负电子亲合势特性使其在电子场发射应用方面备受瞩目。材料的功函数对其热电子发射或场电子发射都有决定性的影响。本文从热电子发射的角度出发 ,对钨基金刚石薄膜阴极有效功函数进行了测量。文章阐述了实验方法、装置及结果 ,测得金刚石涂层阴极的有效功函数为 0 70eV ,并对实验结果进行了理论分析     

Electron field emission from the carbon-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays

The field-emission characteristics of the carbon-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TNAs), which can be obtained by a heat treatment of the as-fabricated TNAs under a continuous argon and acetylene flux, were investigated. The morphology, crystalline structure, and composition of the as-grown specimens were characterized by the use of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. It was found that the samples' turn-on electric field is reduced from 21.9 to 5.0 V/μm and the field-emission current density rapidly reaches about 9.0 mA/cm² at 11.8 V/μm after carbon doping. The dramatically improved field-emission characteristics would be mainly attributed to the reduced work function and the enhanced conductivity due to the carbon doping into TNAs.     

Angular and temperature dependences of ion-induced electron emission of polycrystalline graphite

The dependences of ion-induced electron emission yields γ for MPG-8 graphite under high fluence 30 keV N₂⁺ and Ar⁺ ion irradiation on target temperature at different incidence angles (0-80°) have been measured. At normal incidence a step-like increase of the electron yield has been found at the defect annealing temperature T_a≈190°C. This effect and the changes of γ(T) with incidence angle are discussed in terms of electron path length rise due to decrease of the degree of amorphisation as a result of a phase-transition type of re-crystallisation and radiation damage annealing.     

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes at low temperature by filament assisted atmospheric CVD and their field emission characteristics

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized using a hot filament assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at the atmospheric pressure at a substrate temperature of 550 °C. The size of nanotubes was controlled by changing the size of catalyst particles. The structure and composition of these nanotubes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The electron field emission current of MWNTs was also measured. It was found that the nanotubes with smaller the diameter had higher the emission current levels though synthesis conditions except catalyst particles were the same. These as-grown MWNTs had emission current densities of 6.5 mA/cm² and 2.5 mA/cm² at 1 V/μm for 5-8 nm and 20 nm size carbon nanotube samples, respectively. The results indicated that the MWNTs synthesized had low emission threshold voltages and high emission current levels that are favorable properties for field emission-based display device applications.