Spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis of GaAs1 − xNx layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy

In this work, we present the effect of nitrogen incorporation on the dielectric function of GaAsN samples, grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) followed by a rapid thermal annealing (for 90 s at 680 °C). The GaAs_1 − xN_x samples with N content up to 1.5% (x = 0.0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.5%), are investigated using room temperature spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The optical transitions in the spectral region around 3 eV are analyzed by fitting analytical critical point line shapes to the second derivative of the dielectric function. It was found that the features associated with E₁ and E₁ + Δ₁ transitions are blue-shifted and become less sharp with increasing nitrogen incorporation, in contrast to the case of E₀ transition energy in GaAs_1 − xN_x. An increase of the split-off Δ₁ energy with nitrogen content was also obtained, in agreement to results found with MOVPE GaAs_1 − xN_x grown samples.     

Controllable formation of Er–Yb codoped Al2O3 films by the non-aqueous sol–gel method

1 mol%Er³⁺–10 mol%Yb³⁺ codoped Al₂O₃ thin films have been prepared on thermally oxidized SiO₂/Si(110) substrates by a dip-coating process in the non-aqueous sol–gel method from the hydrolysis of aluminum isopropoxide [Al(OC₃H₇)₃] under isopropanol environment. Addition of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a drying control chemical additive (DCCA) into the sol suppresses formation of the cracks in the Er³⁺–Yb³⁺ codoped Al₂O₃ thin films when the rare-earth ion is doped with a high doping concentration. Homogeneous, smooth and crack-free Er³⁺–Yb³⁺ codoped Al₂O₃ thin films form at the conditions by a molar ratio of 1:1 for DMF:Al(OC₃H₇)₃. A strong photoluminescence spectrum with a broadband extending from 1.400 to 1.700 µm centered at 1.533 µm is obtained for the Er³⁺–Yb³⁺ codoped Al₂O₃ thin films, which is unrelated to the addition of DMF. Controllable formation of the Er³⁺–Yb³⁺ codoped Al₂O₃ thin films may be explained by the fact that the DMF assisted the deprotonation process of Al–OH at the surfaces of gel particles, resulting in enhancement of the degree of polymerization of sols and improvement of the mechanical properties of gel thin films.     

Er2O3掺杂Gd2(Zr0.8Ti0.2)2O7陶瓷的物理性能

用固相反应法制备(Gd_1-xEr_x)₂(Zr_0.8Ti_0.2)₂O₇(摩尔分数x=0,0.2,0.4)陶瓷并测试其晶体结构、显微形貌和物理性能,研究了Er₂O₃掺杂的影响。结果表明,(Gd_1-xEr_x)₂(Zr_0.8Ti_0.2)₂O₇陶瓷具有立方烧绿石结构,显微结构致密,在室温至1200℃高温相的稳定性良好;Er³⁺掺杂降低了陶瓷材料的热导率和平均热膨胀系数,当x=0.2时,其1000℃的热导率最低(为1.26 W·m^-1·k^-1)。同时,Er³⁺掺杂还提高了这种材料的硬度和断裂韧性。     

Chemical vapour deposition of praseodymium oxide films on silicon: influence of temperature and oxygen pressure

Metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) of various phases in PrO_x system has been studied in relation with deposition temperature (450–750 °C) and oxygen partial pressure (0.027–100 Pa or 0.2–750 mTorr). Depositions were carried out by pulsed liquid injection MOCVD using Pr(thd)₃ (thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) precursor dissolved in toluene or monoglyme. By varying deposition temperature and oxygen partial pressure amorphous films or various crystalline PrO_x phases (Pr₂O₃, Pr₇O₁₂, Pr₆O₁₁) and their mixtures can be grown. The pure crystalline Pr₂O₃ phase grows only in a narrow range of partial oxygen pressure and temperature, while high oxygen pressure (40–100 Pa) always leads to the most stable Pr₆O₁₁ phase. The influence of annealing under vacuum at 750 °C on film phase composition was also studied. Near 90% step coverage conformity was achieved for PrO_x films on structured silicon substrates with aspect ratio 1:10. In air degradation of Pr₂O₃ films with transformation to Pr(OH)₃ was observed in contrast to Pr₆O₁₁ films.     

(La1-xMgx)2Ce2O7-x的合成与热物理性能

Mg对La₂Ce₂O₇的掺杂可提高其热膨胀系数、降低其热导率, 从而改善其作为热障涂层材料的性能。采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了(La_1-xMg_x)₂Ce₂O_7-x系列组成样品。X射线测试表明: 当 0≤x≤0.4时, 所有(La_1-xMg_x)₂Ce₂O_7-x 样品均与La₂Ce₂O₇具有相同的缺陷萤石结构, 且晶胞参数随x的增大而递减; 当x?0.4时, 样品中出现MgO的峰。在组成相同的情况下, 样品(La_1-xMg_x)₂Ce₂O_7-x (0≤x≤0.4)的热膨胀系数随温度升高而增大, 而热导率随温度升高而降低。在相同温度下, 不同组成样品(La_1-xMg_x)₂Ce₂O_7-x (0≤x≤0.4)的热膨胀系数随x的增大而增大; 而样品的热导率则随Mg掺杂量的增加呈先增大后减小的趋势。在此基础上, 探讨了Mg掺杂对La₂Ce₂O₇的物相、晶胞参数、热膨胀系数以及热导率的影响机理。     

Microstructure, crystallinity, and properties of low-pressure MOCVD-grown europium oxide films

A study of growth, structure, and properties of Eu₂O₃ thin films were carried out. Films were grown at 500–600 °C temperature range on Si(1 0 0) and fused quartz from the complex of Eu(acac)₃·Phen by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technique which has been rarely used for Eu₂O₃ deposition. These films were polycrystalline. Depending on growth conditions and substrates employed, these films had also possessed a parasitic phase. This phase can be removed by post-deposition annealing in oxidizing ambient. Morphology of the films was characterized by well-packed spherical mounds. Optical measurements exhibited that the bandgap of pure Eu₂O₃ phase was 4.4 eV. High frequency 1 MHz capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements showed that the dielectric constant of pure Eu₂O₃ film was about 12. Possible effects of cation and oxygen deficiency and parasitic phase on the optical and electrical properties of Eu₂O₃ films have been briefly discussed.     

Thermolysis and Photolysis of C60 Diozonides

Ozonation of C₆₀ in o-xylene produced three C₆₀(O₃)₂ diozonides that were separated from one another and from two C₆₀(O₃)₃ triozonides by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Upon thermolysis at 10, 15, and 16.6°C, each of the diozonides dissociated sequentially, first to a C₆₀O(O₃) oxyozonide, then to a C₆₀O₂ diepoxide. The three diepoxides were stable in solution for at least 3 weeks. The mean lifetimes of the three diozonides were 52 ± 5, 62 ± 6, and 17.3 ± 1.8 min, respectively (all at 15°C). The mean lifetimes of the three oxyozonides were 69.7 ± 0.7 and 58 ± 6 min at 16.6°C, respectively and about 240 min at 10°C. Photolysis of the diozonides yielded two dioxidoannulenes with UV-Vis adsorption maxima at 333 and 332 nm, and what appeared to be an epoxide-oxidoannulene with UV-Vis adsorption maximum at 327 nm. These annulenes were observed to form dimers. We have synthesized and characterized six C₆₀O₂ dioxides, at least three and possibly four of which were hitherto unknown. We report the discovery of oxyozonides that form during the dissociation of diozonides.     

Deposition of Sm2O3 doped CeO2 thin films from Ce(DPM)4 and Sm(DPM)3 (DPM=2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato) by aerosol-assisted metal–organic chemical vapor deposition

Samarium-doped ceria (SDC) thin films were prepared from Sm(DPM)₃ (DPM = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato) and Ce(DPM)₄ using the aerosol-assisted metal–organic chemical vapor deposition method. -Al₂O₃ and NiO-YSZ (YSZ = Y₂O₃-stabilized ZrO₂) disks were chosen as substrates in order to investigate the difference in the growth process on the two substrates. Single cubic structure could be obtained on either -Al₂O₃ or NiO-YSZ substrates at deposition temperatures above 450 °C; the similar structure between YSZ and SDC results in matching growth compared with the deposition on -Al₂O₃ substrate. A typical columnar structure could be obtained at 650 °C on -Al₂O₃ substrate and a more uniform surface was produced on NiO-YSZ substrate at 500 °C. The composition of SDC film deposited at 450 °C is close to that of precursor solution (Sm : Ce = 1 : 4), higher or lower deposition temperature will both lead to sharp deviation from this elemental ratio. The different thermal properties of Sm(DPM)₃ and Ce(DPM)₄ may be the key reason for the variation in composition with the increase of deposition temperature.     

Preparation of cobalt oxide nanoparticles and cobalt powders by solvothermal process and their characterization

Co₃O₄ nanoparticles and cobalt (fcc-Co) powders were successfully synthesized by solvothermal process from a single precursor. The reaction of Co(Ac)₂ with sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) shows evident-dependent temperature effect. At 180 °C, Co(Ac)₂ reacts with SDBS to produce precursor CoCO₃ plate structures, which are assembled by small nanoparticles. At the temperature of 250 °C, the precursor CoCO₃ can be gradually decomposed to form Co₃O₄ nanoparticles with diameter of ca. 70 nm. While, at 250 °C, the reaction of Co(Ac)₂ with SDBS also produce precursor CoCO₃ nanoparticles/plates, but the CoCO₃ nanoparticles/plates would only decompose to give metal Co. In this process, SDBS acts as not only a surfactant but also a reagent. Magnetic measurements reveal that the as-prepared Co₃O₄ nanoparticles exhibit weak ferromagnetic properties and Co powders show ferromagnetic properties. In addition, a possible formation mechanism was elaborately discussed.     

Ionic Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Post-HIPed Cubic Zirconia/Alumina Composites

8 mol.% yttria-doped cubic zirconia (8Y-CSZ)/AI₂O₃ composites containing 0-30 vol.% Al₂O₃ particles were fabricated by sintering, followed by hot isostatic pressing (post-HIPing). All composites were densified to at least 99·5% of the theoretical density by post-HIPing. The bending strength of composites sintered at 1500°C in air was independent of A1₂O₃ content, but a significant improvement in the bending strength was achieved by the post-HIPing technique. The bending strength and the fracture toughness of the HIPed composites increased with increasing A1₂O₃ content. Ionic conductivity of the composites was evaluated and the total, lattice, and grain boundary conductivities slightly decreased with increasing A1₂O₃ content. The HIPed composites containing up to 20 vol.% A1₂0₃ appear to be suitable candidate materials as electrolyte for solid oxygen fuel cell.     

Temperature dependence on addition of urea and its related compounds on formation of neodymium condensed phosphates

Urea (CO(NH₂)₂) and its related compounds (biuret: NH(CONH₂)₂ and cyanuric acid: (CONH)₃) were mixed with phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) and neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃). The thermal behavior of these dried mixtures was estimated by differential thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, specific surface area of phosphates was calculated by BET method using nitrogen adsorption. The addition of urea prevented the crystal growth of Monazite-type NdPO₄ in samples at P/Nd = 2 heated at 450 and 550 °C, and promoted the dehydration–condensation reaction of phosphate. Urea was considered to be decomposed at 400–450 °C in these systems. The decomposition of urea was considered to be related to the formation of neodymium dihydrogenphosphate and then this phosphate transformed to neodymium polyphosphate. The ratio of urea and phosphorus had influence on the promotion of the dehydration–condensation reaction. Thermal behavior of sample added with biuret or cyanuric acid was also investigated.     

Growth of calcium carbonate by the atomic layer chemical vapour deposition technique

Thin films of CaCO₃ (calcite) have been grown with the atomic layer chemical vapour deposition (ALCVD) technique, using Ca(thd)₂ (Hthd=2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptan-3,5-dione), CO₂, and ozone as precursors. Pulse parameters for the ALCVD-type growth are found and self-limiting reaction conditions are established between 200 and 400 °C. Calcium carbonate films have been deposited on soda-lime glass, Si(100), -Al₂O₃(001), -Al₂O₃(012), -SiO₂(001), and MgO(100) substrates. The observed textures were: in-plane oriented films with [100](001)CaCO₃ [100](001)Al₂O₃ and [100](001)CaCO₃[110](001)Al₂O₃ on -Al₂O₃(001), amorphous films on -Al₂O₃(012) when grown at 250 °C, and columnar oriented films on soda-lime glass, Si(001), -SiO₂(001), and MgO(100) substrates with (00l) and (104) parallel to the substrate plane at 250 and 350 °C, respectively. The film topography was studied by atomic force microscopy and AC impedance characteristics were measured on as-deposited films at room temperature. The films were found to be insulating with a dielectric constant (_r) typically approximately 8. Thin films of CaO were obtained by heat treatment of the carbonate films at 670 °C in a CO₂-free atmosphere, but the thermal decomposition led to a significant increase in surface roughness.     

Synthesis, phase transformation and dielectric properties of sol–gel derived Bi2Ti2O7 ceramics

Sol–gel derived Bi₂Ti₂O₇ ceramic powders have been prepared from methoxyethoxides of bismuth and titanium (molar ratio of Ti/Bi = 1.23 and water/alkoxides = 1.31). The Bi₂Ti₂O₇ phase was stable at a low temperature (700 °C), but it then transformed into mixed phases of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ and Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁ at 850–1150 °C. The single phase of Bi₂Ti₂O₇ reoccurred at 1200 °C. Dielectric properties and ferroelectric behavior of samples sintered at 1150 and 1200 °C were examined. Under frequency of 1 MHz, samples sintered at 1150 and 1200 °C had a dielectric constant of 101.3 and 104.2, and a loss tangent of 0.0193 and 0.0145, respectively. Only the sample sintered at 1150 °C showed ferroelectric behavior, where remanent polarization is 3.77 μC cm⁻² and coercive field is 24 kV cm⁻¹. Thus, the Bi₂Ti₂O₇ did not exhibit ferroelectricity, but the mixed phase of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ and Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁ did.     

Chemical vapor deposition of copper–cobalt binary films

Chemical vapor co-deposition of Cu–Co films has been demonstrated using (1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionato)Cu(II) [Cu(hfac)₂] [hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate] and (acetylacetonate)Co(II) [Co(acac)₂] [acac=acetylacetonate] as precursors. The deposition was performed at the substrate temperature of 270°C in a warm-wall impinging jet type reactor. The precursor Co(acac)₂ was sublimed at 140°C to achieve reasonable precursor delivery rates and avoid decomposition of precursor in the sublimator. Films with varying Cu content from 17 wt.% to 98 wt.% were deposited by subliming Cu(hfac)₂ in the temperature range of 40–100°C with a fixed Co(acac)₂ delivery rate. The morphologies and crystallinities of the binary films were strongly dependent on the film stoichiometry. Overall, this study provides insights into the mechanism of Cu–Co binary film formation by CVD.     

硬脂酸盐熔融法合成(Y,Lu)AG:Ce荧光粉及荧光性能研究

采用硬脂酸盐熔融新方法合成了[(Y_1-xLu_x)_1-yCe_y]₃Al₅O₁₂固溶体荧光粉(x=0’0.5, y=0.005’0.03), 并通过XRD、SEM、BET和PL-PLE等方法对该荧光粉进行了表征。结果表明, 纯相石榴石在800℃的低温下即可生成, 而不经过YAM和YAP中间相。煅烧所得[(Y_1-xLu_x)_1-yCe_y]₃Al₅O₁₂ 荧光粉具有良好的均一性和分散性, 并在455 nm蓝光激发下于544 nm附近呈现最强黄光发射。粉体的发光强度随煅烧温度升高而增大, 归因于结晶度提高和表面缺陷减少。发现Ce³⁺的荧光猝灭浓度为1.5%, 猝灭机制为Ce-Ce间的交换相互作用和晶格缺陷。发现发射峰位随Ce³⁺含量增加而红移, 而最强激发峰和发射峰随Lu³⁺含量增大而蓝移, 归因于Ce³⁺离子5d激发态能级重心移动和晶体场劈裂的共同作用。     

Na3V2(PO4)2F3@V2O5-x复合材料的制备及储钠性能研究

当前制约钠离子电池发展的主要因素包括较低的能量/功率密度和较差的循环性能, 而在正极材料表面包覆含氧缺陷金属氧化物层, 可以有效提高材料的电子导电率, 保证高振实密度、能量密度和功率密度。本文通过温和的溶剂热反应制备Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃纳米片前驱体并结合高温煅烧合成Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃@V₂O_5-x复合材料。其结构通过XRD、TEM、SEM、XPS和TGA测试进行表征。作为钠离子电池的正极材料, 展现了优异的循环性能和倍率性能。在0.2C倍率下, 首圈放电比容量为123 mAh?g ^-1, 循环140圈后容量保持在109 mAh?g ^-1。当电流密度提高至1C, 首圈放电比容量达到72 mAh?g ^-1, 充放电循环500圈后, 容量保持率高达84%。优异的电化学性能归因于材料表面包覆的具有丰富结构缺陷的无定型层, 有效提高了离子的扩散和电子导电率。此方法将有助于钠离子电池的实际应用。     

Carburization performance of Incoloy 800HT in CH4/H2 gas mixtures

Carburization performance of Incoloy 800HT has been studied after cyclic and isothermal exposures to CH₄/H₂ carburizing gas mixtures at high temperatures for 500 h. At 800 °C in 2% CH₄/H₂, Incoloy 800HT suffered external oxidation and carburization, the external continuous layer of reaction products consists primarily of Cr₇C₃, Mn_1.5Cr_1.5O₄, and FeCr₂O₄ with Fe(Cr, Al)₂O₄ as a minor phase. At 1100 °C in 10% CH₄/H₂, external carburization did not occur likely due to high carbon dissolution in the alloy substrate at this temperature. A thermodynamic analysis indicated that 1000 °C was an approximate critical temperature, below which the environment should result in mixed oxidizing/carburizing behavior, while above this temperature reducing carburizing behavior should occur. The experimental results approximately agree with the thermodynamic analysis. Metal dusting was not observed under highly carburizing conditions (a_C>1). The size and morphology of Cr-rich phases (or Cr-carbides) are both temperature- and time-dependent, while the external continuity is more temperature-dependent rather than time-dependent.     

Alkoxide route to La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 epitaxial thin films on SrTiO3

An all alkoxide based sol–gel route was investigated for preparation of epitaxial La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ (LSCO) films on 100 SrTiO₃ (STO) substrates. Films with 20–30 to 80–100 nm thickness were prepared by spin-coating 0.2–0.6 M (metal) solutions on the STO substrates and heat treatment to 800 °C at 2 °C min^− 1, 30 min, in air. The films were epitaxial with a cube-on-cube alignment and the LSCO cell was strained to match the STO substrate of 3.905 Å closely; a and b = 3.894 Å and 3.897 Å for the 20–30 and 80–100 nm films, respectively. The c-axis was compressed to 3.789 Å and 3.782 Å for the 20–30 and 80–100 nm films, respectively, which resulted in an almost unchanged cell volume as compared to polycrystalline film and nano-phase powders prepared in the same way. The SEM study showed mainly very smooth, featureless surfaces, but also some defects. A film prepared in the same way on an -Al₂O₃ substrate was dense and polycrystalline with crystallite sizes in the range 10–50 nm and gave cubic cell dimensions of a_c = 3.825 Å. The conductivity of the ca 30–40 nm thick polycrystalline film was 1.7 mΩcm, while the epitaxial 80–100 nm film had a conductivity of around 1.9 mΩcm.     

Ag glasses based on Zn-phosphate

The partial substitution of Zn²⁺ for Ag⁺ in Ag₄P₂O₇ leads to the formation of a wide glassy domain of composition [Ag₄P₂O₇] _(1−y) [Zn₂P₂O₇] _(y) with 0.20y0.87. The introduction of AgI in these materials results in a new series of glasses of formula [(Ag₄P₂O₇)_(1−y) (Zn₂P₂O₇)_(y)] _(1−X) [AgI] _(x), which domain for the composition y = 0.25 corresponds to 0x 0.64. The structure as well as the thermal and electrical properties of these materials are compared with those of the [AgPO₃] _(1−X) [AgI] _(x) and [Ag₄P₂O₇] _(1−x) [AgI] _(x) glasses.     

Synthesis, structure refinement and characterization of tetrahydrated acid gadolinium diphosphate HGdP2O7·4H2O

Synthesis and single crystal structure are reported for a new gadolinium acid diphosphate tetrahydrate HGdP₂O₇·4H₂O. This salt crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n, with the following unit-cell parameters: a = 6.6137(2) Å, b = 11.4954(4) Å, c = 11.377(4) Å, β = 87.53(2)° and Z = 4. Its crystal structure was refined to R = 0.0333 using 1783 reflections. The corresponding atomic arrangement can be described as an alternation of corrugated layers of monohydrogendiphosphate groups and GdO₈ polyhedra parallel to the () plane. The cohesion between the different diphosphoric groups is provided by strong hydrogen bonding involving the W4 water molecule.

IR and Raman spectra of HGdP₂O₇·4H₂O confirm the existence of the characteristic bands of diphosphate group in 980–700 cm⁻¹ area. The IR spectrum reveals also the characteristic bands of water molecules vibration (3600–3230 cm⁻¹) and acidic hydrogen ones (2340 cm⁻¹). TG and DTA investigations show that the dehydration of this salt occurs between 79 and 900 °C. It decomposes after dehydration into an amorphous phase. Gadolinium diphosphate Gd₄(P₂O₇)₃ was obtained by heating HGdP₂O₇·4H₂O in a static air furnace at 850 °C for 48 h.