Heteroepitaxial growth of Pt and Au thin films on MgO single crystals by bias-assisted sputtering

DOE PAGES

Tolstova, Yulia; Omelchenko, Stefan T.; Shing, Amanda M.; ...

2016-03-17

The crystallographic orientation of a metal affects its surface energy and structure, and has profound implications for surface chemical reactions and interface engineering, which are important in areas ranging from optoelectronic device fabrication to catalysis. However, it can be very difficult and expensive to manufacture, orient, and cut single crystal metals along different crystallographic orientations, especially in the case of precious metals. One approach is to grow thin metal films epitaxially on dielectric substrates. In this work, we report on growth of Pt and Au films on MgO single crystal substrates of (100) and (110) surface orientation for use asmore » epitaxial templates for thin film photovoltaic devices. We develop bias-assisted sputtering for deposition of oriented Pt and Au films with sub-nanometer roughness. We show that biasing the substrate decreases the substrate temperature necessary to achieve epitaxial orientation, with temperature reduction from 600 to 350 °C for Au, and from 750 to 550 °C for Pt, without use of transition metal seed layers. Additionally, this temperature can be further reduced by reducing the growth rate. Biased deposition with varying substrate bias power and working pressure also enables control of the film morphology and surface roughness.« less

Effect of deposition pressure on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties of epitaxial ScN(001) thin films sputtered onto MgO(001) substrates

DOE PAGES

Burmistrova, Polina V.; Zakharov, Dmitri N.; Favaloro, Tela; ...

2015-03-14

Four epitaxial ScN(001) thin films were successfully deposited on MgO(001) substrates by dc reactive magnetron sputtering at 2, 5, 10, and 20 mTorr in an Ar/N2 ambient atmosphere at 650 °C. The microstructure of the resultant films was analyzed by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Electrical resistivity, electron mobility and concentration were measured using the room temperature Hall technique, and temperature dependent in-plain measurements of the thermoelectric properties of the ScN thin films were performed. The surface morphology and film crystallinity significantly degrade with increasing deposition pressure. The ScN thin film deposited at 20 mTorr exhibitsmore » the presence of <221> oriented secondary grains resulting in decreased electric properties and a low thermoelectric power factor of 0.5 W/m-K² at 800 K. ScN thin films grown at 5 and 10 mTorr are single crystalline, yielding the power factor of approximately 2.5 W/m-K² at 800 K. The deposition performed at 2 mTorr produces the highest quality ScN thin film with the electron mobility of 98 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the power factor of 3.3 W/m-K² at 800 K.« less

Process for growing a film epitaxially upon a MgO surface

DOEpatents

McKee, Rodney Allen; Walker, Frederick Joseph

1997-01-01

A process and structure wherein optical quality perovskites, such as BaTiO.sub.3 or SrTiO.sub.3, are grown upon a single crystal MgO substrate involves the epitaxial build up of alternating planes of TiO.sub.2 and metal oxide wherein the first plane grown upon the MgO substrate is a plane of TiO.sub.2. The layering sequence involved in the film build up reduces problems which would otherwise result from the interfacial electrostatics at the first atomic layers, and these oxides can be stabilized as commensurate thin films at a unit cell thickness or grown with high crystal quality to thicknesses of 0.5-0.7 .mu.m for optical device applications.

High mobility La-doped BaSnO3 on non-perovskite MgO substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Youjung; Shin, Juyeon; Kim, Young Mo; Char, Kookrin

(Ba,La)SnO3 is a transparent perovskite oxide with high electron mobility and excellent oxygen stability. Field effect device with (Ba,La)SnO3 channel was reported to show good output characteristics on STO substrate. Here, we fabricated (Ba,La)SnO3\\ films and field effect devices with (Ba,La)SnO3 channel on non-perovskite MgO substrates, which are available in large size wafers. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of (Ba,La)SnO3\\ films on MgO substrates show that the films are epitaxial with many threading dislocations. (Ba,La)SnO3 exhibits the high mobility with 97.2 cm2/Vs at 2 % La doping on top of 150 nm thick BaSnO3 buffer layer. Excellent carrier modulation was observed in field effect devices. FET performances on MgO substrates are slightly better than those on SrTiO3 substrates in spite of the higher dislocation density on MgO than on SrTiO3 substrates. These high mobility BaSnO3 thin films and transistors on MgO substrates will accelerate development for applications in high temperature and high power electronics. Samsung Science and Technology Foundation.

Study of interlayer coupling between FePt and FeCoB thin films through MgO spacer layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sadhana; Kumar, Dileep; Gupta, Mukul; Reddy, V. Raghvendra

2017-05-01

Interlayer exchange coupling between hard-FePt and soft-FeCoB magnetic layers has been studied with increasing thickness of insulator MgO spacer layer in FePt/MgO/FeCoB sandwiched structure. A series of the samples were prepared in identical condition using ion beam sputtering method and characterized for their magnetic and structural properties using magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and X-ray reflectivity measurements. The nature of coupling between FePt and FeCoB was found to be ferromagnetic which decreases exponentially with increasing thickness of MgO layer. At very low thickness of MgO layer, both layers were found strongly coupled thus exhibiting coherent magnetization reversal. At higher thickness, both layers were found decoupled and magnetization reversal occurred at different switching fields. Strong coupling at very low thickness is attributed to pin holes in MgO layer which lead to direct coupling whereas on increasing thickness, coupling may arise due to magneto-static interactions.

Large-area thin self-supporting carbon foils with MgO coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stolarz, Anna; Maier-Komor, Peter

2002-03-01

Large area self-supporting carbon foils in the thickness of range of 8-22 μg/cm 2, coated with approximately 4 μg/cm 2 MgO have been prepared by e-gun evaporation. They were mounted on frames with apertures of 130 cm 2. Problems related to the parting agent preparation, floating procedure, and mounting onto frames are discussed. Special precautions necessary to avoid damage during foil drying, storage and transportation are suggested.

Pulsed laser deposition of SmFeAsO1-δ on MgO(100) substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haindl, Silvia; Kinjo, Hiroyuki; Hanzawa, Kota; Hiramatsu, Hidenori; Hosono, Hideo

2018-04-01

Layered iron oxyarsenides are novel interesting semimetallic compounds that are itinerant antiferromagnets in their ground state with a transition to high-temperature superconductivity upon charge carrier doping. The rare earth containing mother compounds offer rich physics due to different antiferromagnetic orderings: the alignment of Fe magnetic moments within the FeAs sublattice, which is believed to play a role for the superconducting pairing mechanism, and the ordering of the rare-earth magnetic moments at low temperatures. Here, we present thin film preparation and a film growth study of SmFeAsO on MgO(100) substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). In general, the PLD method is capable to produce iron oxyarsenide thin films, however, competition with impurity phase formation narrows the parameter window. We assume that the film growth in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment results in an oxygen-deficient phase, SmFeAsO1-δ. Despite the large lattice misfit, we find epitaxial oxyarsenide thin film growth on MgO(100) with evolving film thickness. Bragg reflections are absent in very thin films although they locally show indications for pseudomorphic growth of the first unit cells. We propose the possibility for a Stranski-Krastanov growth mode as a result of the large in-plane lattice misfit between the iron oxypnictide and the MgO unit cells. A columnar 3-dimensional film growth mode dominates and the surface roughness is determined by growth mounds, a non-negligible parameter for device fabrication as well as in the application of surface sensitive probes. Furthermore, we found evidence for a stratified growth in steps of half a unit cell, i.e. alternating growth of (FeAs)- and (SmO1-δ)+ layers, the basic structural components of the unit cell. We propose a simple model for the growth kinetics of this compound.

Structural phase diagram for ultra-thin epitaxial Fe 3O 4 / MgO(0 01) films: thickness and oxygen pressure dependence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alraddadi, S.; Hines, W.; Yilmaz, T.

2016-02-19

A systematic investigation of the thickness and oxygen pressure dependence for the structural properties of ultra-thin epitaxial magnetite (Fe 3O 4) films has been carried out; for such films, the structural properties generally differ from those for the bulk when the thickness ≤10 nm. Iron oxide ultra-thin films with thicknesses varying from 3 nm to 20 nm were grown on MgO (001) substrates using molecular beam epitaxy under different oxygen pressures ranging from 1 × 10 -7 torr to 1 × 10 -5 torr. The crystallographic and electronic structures of the films were characterized using low energy electron diffraction (LEED)more » and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Moreover, the quality of the epitaxial Fe 3O 4 ultra-thin films was judged by magnetic measurements of the Verwey transition, along with complementary XPS spectra. We observed that under the same growth conditions the stoichiometry of ultra-thin films under 10 nm transforms from the Fe 3O 4 phase to the FeO phase. In this work, a phase diagram based on thickness and oxygen pressure has been constructed to explain the structural phase transformation. It was found that high-quality magnetite films with thicknesses ≤20 nm formed within a narrow range of oxygen pressure. An optimal and controlled growth process is a crucial requirement for the accurate study of the magnetic and electronic properties for ultra-thin Fe 3O 4 films. Furthermore, these results are significant because they may indicate a general trend in the growth of other oxide films, which has not been previously observed or considered.« less

First stage of reaction of molten Al with MgO substrate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Morgiel, J., E-mail: j.morgiel@imim.pl; Sobczak, N.; Motor Transport Institute, 80 Jagiellońska St., 03-301 Warsaw

The Al/MgO couple was produced in vacuum (~ 5 × 10{sup −} {sup 4} Pa) by contact heating from RT up to 1000 °C and holding at that temperature for 1 h of a small 4 × 4 × 4 mm aluminium (5 N) sample placed on the [100] MgO single crystal substrate. TEM observations backed with electron diffraction analysis indicated that the interaction between liquid aluminium and MgO starts from a redox reaction producing a continuous layer of MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel on the substrate surface. Its growth is controlled by solid state out-diffusion of magnesium and oxygen towardsmore » the surface being in contact with liquid metal. The thickening of spinel layer is accompanied by its cracking and infiltration with aluminium. The above process enables local dissolution of the MgO substrate and formation in it of a thin region of interpenetrating metallic channels walled with spinel. The removal of dissolved magnesium through open aluminium channels towards the drop and to vacuum locally produces areas of aluminium enriched with dissolved oxygen, which results in the nucleation of α-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} at spinel clad walls. The growth of α-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is controlled only by the dissolution rate of MgO by aluminium, liquid state diffusion of Mg to drop/vacuum and oxygen to the front of the of α-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} crystallites growing into MgO substrate. - Highlights: • New unique evidence of first stages of interaction of liquid Al with MgO substrates • Interaction of liquid Al with MgO starts with the formation of a layer MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}. • Growth of MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} is slow as controlled by solid state out-diffusion of Mg and O. • MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} serves as a nucleation site for Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and consumed by it soon after. • Growth of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is fast as controlled by diffusion in liquid state.« less

Magnetic anisotropy modulation of epitaxial Fe3O4 films on MgO substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chichvarina, O.; Herng, T. S.; Xiao, W.; Hong, X.; Ding, J.

2015-05-01

Fe3O4 has been widely studied because of its great potential in spintronics and other applications. As a magnetic electrode, it is highly desired if magnetic anisotropy can be controlled. Here, we report the results from our systematic study on the magnetic properties of magnetite (Fe3O4) thin films epitaxially grown on various MgO substrates. Strikingly, we observed a prominent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Fe3O4 film deposited on MgO (111) substrate. When measured in out-of-plane direction, the film (40 nm thick) exhibits a well-defined square hysteresis loop with coercivity (Hc) above 1 kOe, while much lower coercivity was obtained in the in-plane orientation. In sharp contrast, the films deposited onto MgO (100) and MgO (110) substrates show in-plane magnetic anisotropy. These films exhibit a typical soft magnet characteristic—Hc lies within the range of 200-400 Oe. All the films showed a clear Verwey transition near 120 K—a characteristic of Fe3O4 material. In addition, a series of magnetoresistance (MR) measurements is performed and the MR results are in good agreement with the magnetic observations. The role of the substrate orientation and film thickness dependency is also investigated.

Probing specific oxides as potential supports for metal/oxide model catalysts: MgO(111) polar film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigorkina, G. S.; Ramonova, A. G.; Kibizov, D. D.; Kozyrev, E. N.; Zaalishvili, V. B.; Fukutani, K.; Magkoev, T. T.

2017-05-01

The growth of thermally evaporated magnesium oxide thin film on Mo(110) substrate in ultra-high vacuum was studied by means of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and work function (WF) measurements. It is shown that at a growth rate of c.a. 0.1 monolayer per minute and the substrate temperature of 600 K the film acquires the MgO(111) structure. This structure begins to form at two monolayers and holds up to six monolayers. At higher thickness the film disorders due to weakening of the ordering effect of the isosymmetric Mo(110) support. Adsorption of CO and H2 on the formed MgO(111) film cooled down to 90 K was studied by means of ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and compared with in-situ obtained results for CO on Pt(111). Comparison of UPS data of CO on MgO(111) and Pt(111) in combination with RAIRS results reveals quite different bonding mechanisms on the metal and the oxide supports. The main feature of CO on MgO(111) is quite high intensity of CO stretch vibration, considerably exceeding that on amorphous MgO, and comparable to that of CO on Pt(111). This is presumably due to the electrostatic effect of the uncompensated microscopic dipole moment of ultrathin MgO(111) film on the enhancing of CO dynamical dipole moment. Adsorption of H2 dramatically reduces the CO stretch intensity as a possible result of removing of dipole moment of MgO(111) surface by hydrogen and (CO+H2) interaction.

Electronic structure of sputter deposited MgO(100) tunnel barriers in magnetic tunnel junction structures exhibiting giant tunneling magnetoresistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, See-Hun; Samant, Mahesh; Parkin, Stuart

2007-03-01

Giant tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) in magnetic tunnel junctions formed with crystalline MgO tunnel barriers [1] have potential applications in a wide variety of spintronic devices. However, the relationship of the TMR to the detailed chemical and electronic structure of the MgO barrier and its interfaces with the ferromagnetic electrodes is not yet fully understood. We have carried out valence band photoemission spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterize the chemical state and electronic structure of sputter deposited, highly oriented, MgO (001) barriers and its interfaces with ferromagnetic electrodes. A large band gap of ˜7.5 eV is found even for ultrathin MgO layers. This is consistent with barrier heights found from fitting current versus voltage curves providing that very small effective electron masses are used. We discuss the role of thin Mg interface layers that we have used to reduce oxidation of the underlying ferromagnetic layer during the MgO layer formation [1]. [1] S. S. P. Parkin, C. Kaiser, A. Panchula, P. M. Rice, B. Hughes, M. Samant, S.-H. Yang, Nature Materials 3, 862 (2004).

Epitaxial growth and dielectric properties of Pb0.4Sr0.6TiO3 thin films on (00l)-oriented metallic Li0.3Ni0.7O2 coated MgO substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, X. T.; Du, P. Y.; Mak, C. L.; Wong, K. H.

2007-06-01

Highly (00l)-oriented Li0.3Ni0.7O2 thin films have been fabricated on (001) MgO substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The Pb0.4Sr0.6TiO3 (PST40) thin film deposited subsequently also shows a significant (00l)-oriented texture. Both the PST40 and Li0.3Ni0.7O2 have good epitaxial behavior. The epitaxial growth of the PST40 thin film is more perfect with the Li0.3Ni0.7O2 buffer layer due to the less distortion in the film. The dielectric tunability of the PST40 thin film with Li0.3Ni0.7O2 buffer layer therefore reaches 70%, which is 75% higher than that without Li0.3Ni0.7O2 buffer layer, and the dielectric loss of the PST40 thin film is 0.06.

MgO melting curve constraints from shock temperature and rarefaction overtake measurements in samples preheated to 2300 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fat'yanov, O.; Asimow, P.

2013-06-01

In a continuous effort to determine experimentally the melting curve of MgO at 100-200 GPa, we extended our target preheating capability to 2300 K. The limit was primarily caused by intense sublimation of pure MgO in vacuum above ~2050 K. Completely redesigned Mo capsules holding ~20 mm long MgO crystals with controlled thermal gradients were impacted by thin Ta flyers launched at 6.5 to 7.5 km/s on the Caltech two-stage light-gas gun. Radiative shock temperatures and rarefaction overtake times were measured simultaneously by a 6-channel pyrometer with 3 ns time resolution, over 440-750 nm spectral range. All our experiments showed smooth pressure dependence of MgO sound speed consistent with the solid phase at 204-239 GPa. Observed temperatures are ~1000 K lower than those predicted by the solid phase model, but the plot of measured shock temperature versus pressure exhibits a pattern typical of shock melting at the highest pressure investigated. This may suggest that the Hugoniot of MgO preheated to 2300 K crosses its melting line at 220-240 GPa. Sound speed data indistinguishable from the solid phase model do not exclude the possibility of melting there.

Thermodynamic and Neutron Scattering Investigation of Ethylene Wetting on MgO (100)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbour, Andi; Brown, Craig; Larese, J. Z.

2008-03-01

The adsorption properties of a molecular film on a solid substrate are governed by the relative strength of the molecule-substrate versus molecule-molecule interaction. The wetting properties of ethylene (C2H4) molecular thin films on graphite are of fundamental interest because the number of observed adlayers increases as the isothermal temperature increases with T<=104K (bulk triple point). In adsorbate/substrate systems like C2H4/graphite, it is accepted that triple point wetting occurs. For our studies, we employed MgO nanocubes because they represent a prototypical metal oxide with a wide variety of technological uses including catalyst support. Of particular interest are wetting/layering transitions and the changes that take place in the neighborhood of the bulk triple point. We report our experimental investigation of the adsorption behavior of evidence C2H4 on MgO (100) using high-precision adsorption isotherms and neutron diffraction and scattering. We demonstrate the dominate role that molecule-molecule interaction plays in the wetting phenomena by comparing the behavior of ethylene on graphite and MgO. U.S. Department of Energy (DE-AC05-00OR22725) at ORNL managed and operated by UT-Battelle, LLC, and the NSF (DMR-0412231).

Enhancements of magnetic properties and planar magnetoresistance by electric fields in γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/MgO thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Bin; Qin, Hongwei; Pei, Jinliang

2016-05-23

The treatment of perpendicular electric field upon γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/MgO film at room temperature could adjust the magnetic properties (saturation magnetization, magnetic remanence, coercivity, and saturation magnetizing field) of the film. The enhancement of saturation magnetization after the treatment of electric field may be connected with the combined shift effects of Mg ions from MgO to γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and O{sup 2−} ions from γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} to MgO. The negative magnetoresistance of the γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/MgO film also enhances with the treatment of perpendicular electric field at room temperature, possibly due to the increasing of electron hopping rate betweenmore » Fe{sup 2+} and Fe{sup 3+}.« less

Process for growing a film epitaxially upon a MGO surface and structures formed with the process

DOEpatents

McKee, Rodney Allen; Walker, Frederick Joseph

1998-01-01

A process and structure wherein optical quality perovskites, such as BaTiO.sub.3 or SrTiO.sub.3, are grown upon a single crystal MgO substrate involves the epitaxial build up of alternating planes of TiO.sub.2 and metal oxide wherein the first plane grown upon the MgO substrate is a plane of TiO.sub.2. The layering sequence involved in the film build up reduces problems which would otherwise result from the interfacial electrostatics at the first atomic layers, and these oxides can be stabilized as commensurate thin films at a unit cell thickness or grown with high crystal quality to thicknesses of 0.5-0.7 .mu.m for optical device applications.

Evolution of magnetic properties in the vicinity of the Verwey transition in Fe3O4 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, X. H.; Liu, W.; Zhang, Z. D.

2017-09-01

We have systematically studied the evolution of magnetic properties, especially the coercivity and the remanence ratio in the vicinity of the Verwey transition temperature (TV), of high-quality epitaxial Fe3O4 thin films grown on MgO (001), MgAl2O4 (MAO) (001), and SrTiO3 (STO) (001) substrates. We observed rapid change of magnetization, coercivity, and remanence ratio at TV, which are consistent with the behaviors of resistivity versus temperature [ρ (T )] curves for the different thin films. In particular, we found quite different magnetic behaviors for the thin films on MgO from those on MAO and STO, in which the domain size and the strain state play very important roles. The coercivity is mainly determined by the domain size but the demagnetization process is mainly dependent on the strain state. Furthermore, we observed a reversal of remanence ratio at TV with thickness for the thin films grown on MgO: from a rapid enhancement for 40-nm- to a sharp drop for 200-nm-thick film, and the critical thickness is about 80 nm. Finally, we found an obvious hysteretic loop of coercivity (or remanence ratio) with temperature around TV, corresponding to the hysteretic loop of the ρ (T ) curve, in Fe3O4 thin film grown on MgO.

Pressure-induced photoluminescence of MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xin; Yuan, Ye; Zhang, Jinbo; Kim, Taehyun; Zhang, Dongzhou; Yang, Ke; Lee, Yongjae; Wang, Lin

2018-05-01

It is reported in this paper that pressure can promote strong photoluminescence (PL) in MgO. The PL measurements of MgO indicate that it has no obvious luminescence at pressures lower than 13 GPa. PL starts to appear upon further compression and reaches a maximum intensity at about 35 GPa. The center of the emission band shows a red shift at lower pressures and turns to a blue shift as pressure exceeds 25 GPa. The PL is preserved upon complete decompression. The defects and micro-strain due to the plastic deformation of MgO are likely responsible for the origin of the luminescence.

Evidence of martensitic phase transitions in magnetic Ni-Mn-In thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sokolov, A.; Zhang, Le; Dubenko, I.; Samanta, T.; Stadler, S.; Ali, N.

2013-02-01

Ni50Mn35In15 Heusler alloy thin films (with thicknesses of about 10 nm) have been grown on single crystal MgO and SrTiO3 (STO) (100) substrates using a laser-assisted molecular beam epitaxy method. Films of mixed austenitic and martensitic phases and of pure martensitic phase have been detected for those grown on MgO and STO substrates, respectively. Thermomagnetic curves were measured using a SQUID magnetometer and are consistent with those of off-stoichiometric In-based bulk Heusler alloys, including a martensitic transition at T = 315 K for films grown on MgO. The differences in the properties of the films grown on MgO and STO are discussed.

Growth of L1{sub 0}-ordered crystal in FePt and FePd thin films on MgO(001) substrate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Futamoto, Masaaki, E-mail: futamoto@elect.chuo-u.ac.jp; Nakamura, Masahiro; Ohtake, Mitsuru

2016-08-15

Formation of L1{sub 0}-oredered structure from disordered A1 phase has been investigated for FePt and FePd films on MgO(001) substrates employing a two-step method consisting of low temperature deposition at 200 °C followed by high-temperature annealing at 600 °C. L1{sub 0}-(001) variant crystal with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate grows preferentially in FePd films whereas L1{sub 0}-(100), (010) variants tend to be mixed with the L1{sub 0}-(001) variant in FePt films. The structure analysis by X-ray diffraction indicates that a difference in A1 lattice strain is the influential factor that determines the resulting L1{sub 0}-variant structure in ordered thinmore » films. Misfit dislocations and anti-phase boundaries are observed in high-resolution transmission electron micrographs of 10 nm-thick Fe(Pt, Pd) film consisting of L1{sub 0}-(001) variants which are formed through atomic diffusion at 600 °C in a laterally strained FePt/PeFd epitaxial thin film. Based on the experimental results, a nucleation and growth model for explaining L1{sub 0}-variant formation is proposed, which suggests a possibility in tailoring the L1{sub 0} variant structure in ordered magnetic thin films by controlling the alloy composition, the layer structure, and the substrate material.« less

Multifunctional MgO Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells.

PubMed

Guo, Xudong; Dong, Haopeng; Li, Wenzhe; Li, Nan; Wang, Liduo

2015-06-08

A multifunctional magnesium oxide (MgO) layer was successfully introduced into perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to enhance their performance. MgO was coated onto the surface of mesoporous TiO(2) by the decomposition of magnesium acetate and, therefore, could block contact between the perovskite and TiO(2). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy showed that the amount of H(2)O/hydroxyl absorbed on the TiO(2) decreased after MgO modification. The UV/Vis absorption spectra of the perovskite with MgO modification revealed an enhanced photoelectric performance compared with that of unmodified perovskite after UV illumination. In addition to the photocurrent, the photovoltage and fill factor also showed an enhancement after modification, which resulted in an increase in the overall efficiency of the cell from 9.6 to 13.9 %. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed that MgO acts as an insulating layer to reduce charge recombination. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Recovery of SO2 and MgO from By-Products of MgO Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization.

PubMed

Yan, Liyun; Lu, Xiaofeng; Wang, Quanhai; Guo, Qiang

2014-11-01

An industrial demonstration unit using natural gas as a heat source was built to calcine the by-products of MgO wet flue gas desulfurization from power plants; influencing factors on the SO 2 content in calciner gas were comprehensively analyzed; and an advantageous recycling condition of MgO and SO 2 from by-products was summarized. Results showed that the SO 2 content in the calciner gas was increased by more than 10 times under a lower excess air coefficient, a higher feed rate, a lower crystal water in by-products, and a higher feed port position. For the tests conducted under the excess air coefficient above and below one, the effect of the furnace temperature on the SO 2 content in the calciner gas was reversed. Results of activity analysis indicate that particles of MgO generated under the calcination temperature of 900-1,000°C had a high activity. In contrast, due to the slight sintering, MgO generated under the calcination temperature of 1,100°C had a low activity. To recycle SO 2 as well as MgO, a temperature range of 900-927°C for TE103 is proposed. These studies will prompt the desulfurization market diversification, reduce the sulfur's dependence on imports for making sulfuric acid, be meaningful to balance the usage of the natural resource in China, and be regarded as a reference for the development of this technology for other similar developing countries.

Size effects in MgO cube dissolution.

PubMed

Baumann, Stefan O; Schneider, Johannes; Sternig, Andreas; Thomele, Daniel; Stankic, Slavica; Berger, Thomas; Grönbeck, Henrik; Diwald, Oliver

2015-03-10

Stability parameters and dissolution behavior of engineered nanomaterials in aqueous systems are critical to assess their functionality and fate under environmental conditions. Using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, we investigated the stability of cubic MgO particles in water. MgO dissolution proceeding via water dissociation at the oxide surface, disintegration of Mg(2+)-O(2-) surface elements, and their subsequent solvation ultimately leads to precipitation of Mg(OH)2 nanosheets. At a pH ≥ 10, MgO nanocubes with a size distribution below 10 nm quantitatively dissolve within few minutes and convert into Mg(OH)2 nanosheets. This effect is different from MgO cubes originating from magnesium combustion in air. With a size distribution in the range 10 nm ≤ d ≤ 1000 nm they dissolve with a significantly smaller dissolution rate in water. On these particles water induced etching generates (110) faces which, above a certain face area, dissolve at a rate equal to that of (100) planes.1 The delayed solubility of microcrystalline MgO is attributed to surface hydroxide induced self-inhibition effects occurring at the (100) and (110) microplanes. The present work underlines the importance of morphology evolution and surface faceting of engineered nanomaterials particles during their dissolution.

Antibacterial activities of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles against foodborne pathogens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Tony; He, Yiping

2011-12-01

The antibacterial activities of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NP) alone or in combination with other antimicrobials (nisin and ZnO NP) against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Stanley were investigated. The results show that MgO NP have strong bactericidal activity against the pathogens, achieving more than 7 log reductions in bacterial counts. The antibacterial activity of MgO NP increased as the concentrations of MgO increased. A synergistic effect of MgO in combination with nisin was observed as well. However, the addition of ZnO NP to MgO NP did not enhance the antibacterial activity of MgO against both pathogens. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphological changes of E. coli O157:H7 before and after antimicrobial treatments. It was revealed that MgO NP treatments distort and damage the cell membrane, resulting in a leakage of intracellular contents and eventually the death of bacterial cells. These results suggest that MgO NP alone or in combination with nisin could potentially be used as an effective antibacterial agent to enhance food safety.

Recovery of SO2 and MgO from By-Products of MgO Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization

PubMed Central

Yan, Liyun; Lu, Xiaofeng; Wang, Quanhai; Guo, Qiang

2014-01-01

Abstract An industrial demonstration unit using natural gas as a heat source was built to calcine the by-products of MgO wet flue gas desulfurization from power plants; influencing factors on the SO2 content in calciner gas were comprehensively analyzed; and an advantageous recycling condition of MgO and SO2 from by-products was summarized. Results showed that the SO2 content in the calciner gas was increased by more than 10 times under a lower excess air coefficient, a higher feed rate, a lower crystal water in by-products, and a higher feed port position. For the tests conducted under the excess air coefficient above and below one, the effect of the furnace temperature on the SO2 content in the calciner gas was reversed. Results of activity analysis indicate that particles of MgO generated under the calcination temperature of 900–1,000°C had a high activity. In contrast, due to the slight sintering, MgO generated under the calcination temperature of 1,100°C had a low activity. To recycle SO2 as well as MgO, a temperature range of 900–927°C for TE103 is proposed. These studies will prompt the desulfurization market diversification, reduce the sulfur's dependence on imports for making sulfuric acid, be meaningful to balance the usage of the natural resource in China, and be regarded as a reference for the development of this technology for other similar developing countries. PMID:25371652

Fabrication of Single Crystal MgO Capsules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Danielson, Lisa

2012-01-01

A method has been developed for machining MgO crystal blocks into forms for containing metallic and silicate liquids at temperatures up to 2,400 C, and pressures up to at least 320 kilobars. Possible custom shapes include tubes, rods, insulators, capsules, and guides. Key differences in this innovative method include drilling along the crystallographic zone axes, use of a vibration minimizing material to secure the workpiece, and constant flushing of material swarf with a cooling medium/lubricant (water). A single crystal MgO block is cut into a section .5 mm thick, 1 cm on a side, using a low-speed saw with a 0.004 blade. The cut is made parallel to the direction of cleavage. The block may be cut to any thickness to achieve the desired length of the piece. To minimize drilling vibrations, the MgO block is mounted on a piece of adhesive putty in a vise. The putty wad cradles the bottom half of the entire block. Diamond coring tools are used to drill the MgO to the desired custom shape, with water used to wet and wash the surface of swarf. Compressed air may also be used to remove swarf during breaks in drilling. The MgO workpiece must be kept cool at all times with water. After all the swarf is rinsed off, the piece is left to dry overnight. If the workpiece is still attached to the base of the MgO block after drilling, it may be cut off by using a diamond cutoff wheel on a rotary hand tool or by using a low-speed saw.

Fabrication of stable, wide-bandgap thin films of Mg, Zn and O

DOEpatents

Katiyar, Ram S.; Bhattacharya, Pijush; Das, Rasmi R.

2006-07-25

A stable, wide-bandgap (approximately 6 eV) ZnO/MgO multilayer thin film is fabricated using pulsed-laser deposition on c-plane Al₂O₃ substrates. Layers of ZnO alternate with layers of MgO. The thickness of MgO is a constant of approximately 1 nm; the thicknesses of ZnO layers vary from approximately 0.75 to 2.5 nm. Abrupt structural transitions from hexagonal to cubic phase follow a decrease in the thickness of ZnO sublayers within this range. The band gap of the thin films is also influenced by the crystalline structure of multilayer stacks. Thin films with hexagonal and cubic structure have band-gap values of 3.5 and 6 eV, respectively. In the hexagonal phase, Mg content of the films is approximately 40%; in the cubic phase Mg content is approximately 60%. The thin films are stable and their structural and optical properties are unaffected by annealing at 750.degree. C.

Surface exciton emission of MgO crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuang, Wen-Jian; Li, Qing; Chen, Yu-Xiang; Hu, Kai; Wang, Ning-Hui; Xing, Fang-Li; Yan, Qun; Sun, Shuai-Shuai; Huang, Yan; Tao, Ye; Tolner, Harm

2013-09-01

MgO crystals have been exposed to vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation from a synchrotron, with energies up to 9 eV, and the emitted light, at wavelengths above 200 nm, was observed. It is concluded that bulk excitons, play an important role in the diffusion of energy inside MgO crystals, resulting in 5.85 eV (212 nm) emission from the MgO terraces of large (0.2-2 µm) MgO : F crystals. In the case of aliovalent impurity doping, then the bulk exciton energy is also transferred to the Vk centres and 5.3 eV (235 nm) light is emitted. Both fluorine and silicon doping appear to promote UV surface emission, acting similarly to an ns2 ion inside MgO, while strong scandium doping is killing the surface emission completely. The 212 nm surface UV emission and the 235 nm bulk UV emission can be excited only at the bandgap edge. Broadband visible light, centred around 400 nm, is also emitted. Contrary to the UV emission, this is not generated when excited at the bandgap edge; instead, we find that it is only excited at sub-bandgap energies, with a maximum at the 5C surface excitation energy of 5.71 eV (217 nm) for the MgO terraces.

WIPP Magnesium Oxide (MgO) - Planned Change Request

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

On April 10, 2006, the DOE submitted a planned change request pertaining to the amount of MgO emplaced in the WIPP repository. MgO is an engineered barrier that DOE included as part of the original WIPP Certification Decision.

Enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric responses in Zn 1 -xMg xO thin films near the phase separation boundary

DOE PAGES

Kang, Xiaoyu; Shetty, Smitha; Garten, Lauren; ...

2017-01-23

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties for Zn 1-xMg xO (ZMO) thin films are reported as a function of MgO composition up to and including the phase separation region. Zn 1-xMg xO (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) thin films with c-axis textures were deposited by pulsed laser deposition on platinized sapphire substrates. The films were phase pure wurtzite for MgO concentrations up to 40%; above that limit, a second phase with rocksalt structure evolves with strong {100} texture. With increasing MgO concentration, the out-of-plane ( d33,f) and in-plane ( e31,f) piezoelectric coefficients increase by 360% and 290%, respectively. The increase in piezoelectricmore » coefficients is accompanied by a 35% increase in relative permittivity. Loss tangent values fall monotonically with increasing MgO concentration, reaching a minimum of 0.001 for x ≥ 0.30, at which point the band gap is reported to be 4 eV. As a result, the enhanced piezoelectric response, the large band gap, and the low dielectric loss make Zn 1-xMg xO an interesting candidate for thin film piezoelectric devices, and demonstrate that compositional phase transformations provide opportunities for property engineering.« less

The characterization of a zebrafish mid-hindbrain mutant, mid-hindbrain gone (mgo).

PubMed

Shima, Takaki; Znosko, Wade; Tsang, Michael

2009-04-01

The vertebrate mid-hindbrain boundary (MHB) is a crucial morphological structure required for patterning and neural differentiation of the midbrain and anterior hindbrain. We isolated a novel zebrafish mutant, MHB gone (mgo), that exhibited a defective MHB. Expression of engrailed3 in the prospective MHB was absent at the 1-somite stage, suggesting that initiation of the isthmic organizer was disrupted in mgo mutants. Complementation test with mgo and noi, in which the pax2a gene is mutated, infer that the mgo mutant may represent a novel noi allele. However, pronephric, otic vesicle, and commissural axonal defects described in noi mutants were not associated with mgo mutants. Genetic mapping revealed that the mgo mutation is linked to the Pax2a locus, but no mutation was detected in pax2a exons or within intron-exon boundaries. Based on these findings, we propose that the mgo mutation genetically interacts with pax2a required for the initiation of MHB formation. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Characterization of the surface properties of MgO using paper spray mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Zheng, Yajun; Zhang, Xiaoling; Bai, Zongquan; Zhang, Zhiping

2016-08-01

Significant advances have been made in the preparation of different morphologies of magnesium oxide (MgO), but the relationship between MgO morphology and its interactions with therapeutic drugs is rarely studied. Herein, we investigated the interactions between different morphologies of MgO and therapeutic drugs using paper spray mass spectrometry. Different morphologies of MgO including trapezoidal, needle-like, flower-like and nest-like structures were prepared through a facile precipitation method. The as-obtained MgO particles were then coated onto the surface of filter paper via vacuum filtration strategy. The coated papers with different morphologies of MgO were used as the substrates for paper spray mass spectrometry to explore the interactions between different MgO and therapeutic drugs. Through investigating the interactions between different morphologies of MgO coated papers and therapeutic drugs, it demonstrated that, in contrast to the trapezoidal, needle-like and nest-like MgO coated papers, different drugs in dried blood spots (DBS) were more favourably eluted off from the paper coated with flower-like MgO due to its weaker surface basicity. Also, the signal intensities of different drugs during paper spray were highly dependent on their elution behaviours. Paper spray mass spectrometry (MS) provides an avenue to elaborate the surface properties of MgO with different structures. The surface basicity of MgO played a crucial role in determining the elution behaviours of therapeutic drugs in DBS, and a more favourable elution behaviour tended to result in a higher MS signal. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of annealing temperatures on the morphology and structural properties of PVDF/MgO nanocomposites thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozana, M. D.; Arshad, A. N.; Wahid, M. H. M.; Habibah, Z.; Sarip, M. N.; Rusop, M.

2018-05-01

This study investigates the effect of annealing on the topography, morphology and crystal phases of poly(vinylideneflouride)/Magnesium Oxide (MgO) nanocomposites thin films via AFM, FESEM and ATR-FTIR. The nanocomposites thin films were annealed at temperatures ranging from 70°C to 170°C. The annealed PVDF/MgO nanocomposites thin films were then cooled at room temperature before removal from the oven. This is to restructure the crystal lattice and to reduce imperfection for the PVDF/MgO nanocomposites thin films. PVDF/MgO nanocomposites thin films with annealing temperatures of 70°C, 90°C and 110°C showed uniform distribution of MgO nanoparticles, relatively low average surface roughness and no visible of defects. High application of annealing temperature on PVDF/MgO nanocomposites thin films caused tear-like defects on the thin films surface as observed by FESEM. The PVDF/MgO nanocomposites thin films annealed at 70°C was found to be a favourable film to be utilized in this study due to its enhanced β-crystalites of PVDF as evident in ATR-FTIR spectra.

Ultrathin hexagonal MgO nanoflakes coated medical textiles and their enhanced antibacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veeran Ponnuvelu, Dinesh; Selvaraj, Aravind; Prema Suriyaraj, Shanmugam; Selvakumar, Rajendran; Pulithadathail, Biji

2016-10-01

A facile hydrothermal method for development of ultrathin MgO nanoplates from different precursors and their enhanced antibacterial activity after coating onto medical textiles is reported. Ultrathin MgO nanoplates having hexagonal structure were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The formation of MgO nanoplates was found to exhibit profound anionic effect leading to ultrathin, planar structures with exposed MgO [111] facets, which may be responsible for enhanced antimicrobial activity. Medical fabrics (bleached 100% cotton) were coated with MgO nanoplates using pad-dry-cure method. The antibacterial activity of these fabrics was tested against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The MgO nanoplates coated onto the fabric were found to have good adherence properties owing to their two-dimensional structure and were durable even after repeated washings without substantial reduction in the antimicrobial activity. The enhanced antibacterial activity may be attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies, surface oxygen anions and hydroxyl groups on the surface of MgO nanoplates. This cost-effective functional finish (anti-microbial) to cotton fabric using MgO nanoplates may be suitable for many prospective medical applications and can serve as an alternative to the costlier silver based antimicrobial textiles.

Work function and quantum efficiency study of metal oxide thin films on Ag(100)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, V.; Noakes, T. C. Q.; Harrison, N. M.

2018-04-01

Increasing the quantum efficiency (QE) of metal photocathodes is in the design and development of photocathodes for free-electron laser applications. The growth of metal oxide thin films on certain metal surfaces has previously been shown to reduce the work function (WF). Using a photoemission model B. Camino et al. [Comput. Mater. Sci. 122, 331 (2016), 10.1016/j.commatsci.2016.05.025] based on the three-step model combined with density functional theory calculations we predict that the growth of a finite number of MgO(100) or BaO(100) layers on the Ag(100) surface increases significantly the QE compared with the clean Ag(100) surface for a photon energy of 4.7 eV. Different mechanisms for affecting the QE are identified for the different metal oxide thin films. The addition of MgO(100) increases the QE due to the reduction of the WF and the direct excitation of electrons from the Ag surface to the MgO conduction band. For BaO(100) thin films, an additional mechanism is in operation as the oxide film also photoemits at this energy. We also note that a significant increase in the QE for photons with an energy of a few eV above the WF is achieved due to an increase in the inelastic mean-free path of the electrons.

Epitaxial growth and magnetic properties of Fe4-xMnxN thin films grown on MgO(0 0 1) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anzai, Akihito; Takata, Fumiya; Gushi, Toshiki; Toko, Kaoru; Suemasu, Takashi

2018-05-01

Epitaxial Fe4-xMnxN (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) thin films were successfully grown on MgO(0 0 1) single-crystal substrates by molecular beam epitaxy, and their crystalline qualities and magnetic properties were investigated. It was found that the lattice constants of Fe4-xMnxN obtained from X-ray diffraction measurement increased with the Mn content. The ratio of the perpendicular lattice constant c to the in-plane lattice constant a of Fe4-xMnxN was found to be about 0.99 at x ⩾ 2. The magnetic properties evaluated using a vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature revealed that all of the Fe4-xMnxN films exhibited ferromagnetic behavior regardless of the value of x. In addition, the saturation magnetization decreased non-linearly as the Mn content increased. Finally, FeMn3N and Mn4N exhibited perpendicular anisotropy and their uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energies were 2.2 × 105 and 7.5 × 105 erg/cm3, respectively.

Spectroscopic, thermal, and electrical properties of MgO/ polyvinyl pyrrolidone/ polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohammed, Gh.; El Sayed, Adel M.; Morsi, W. M.

2018-04-01

In this study, we aimed to control the optical and electrical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in order to broaden its industrial and technological applications, which we achieved by blending PVA with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and adding sol-gel prepared MgO nanopowder. The blended film and nanocomposite films were prepared using the solution casting technique. X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the crystallite size was ∼18.4 nm for MgO and the highest degree of crystallinity (XC) in the films was about 24.34% at 1.0 wt% MgO. High resolution transmission electron microscopy determined the nanoribbon morphology of MgO. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the uniform distribution of the MgO nanoribbons on the surfaces of the PVA/PVP films. SEM and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also confirmed the interaction between the blend and MgO fillers. The effects of the additives on the glass transition (Tg) and melting (Tm) temperatures were evaluated by differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The appearance of one melting point confirmed the miscibility of the two polymers. According to ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectroscopy measurements, the optical properties and optical constants of PVA could be adjusted by the addition of PVP and MgO, where the optical band gap (Eg) determined for PVA increased with the PVP content, whereas it decreased to 4.8 eV as the MgO content increased. The DC conductivity (σdc) of the films increased whereas the activation energy (Ea) decreased after the addition of MgO, possibly because the nanoribbon shape fixed the preferred conducting pathways. In addition, MgO could break the H-bond in sbnd OH groups of the blends to allow the free movement of the molecular chains.

Unexpected resonant response in [Fe(001)/Cr(001)]10/MgO(001) multilayers in a magnetic field.

PubMed

Aliev, F G; Pryadun, V V; Snoeck, E

2009-01-23

We observed unexpected resonant response in [Fe/Cr]10 multilayers epitaxially grown on MgO(100) substrates which exists only when both ac current and dc magnetic field are simultaneously applied. The magnitude of the resonances is determined by the multilayer magnetization proving their intrinsic character. The reduction of interface epitaxy leads to nonlinear dependence of the magnitude of resonances on the alternating current density. We speculate that the existence of the interface transition zone could facilitate the subatomic vibrations in thin metallic films and multilayers grown on bulk insulating substrates.

A novel approach for arsenic adsorbents regeneration using MgO.

PubMed

Tresintsi, Sofia; Simeonidis, Konstantinos; Katsikini, Maria; Paloura, Eleni C; Bantsis, Georgios; Mitrakas, Manassis

2014-01-30

An integrated procedure for the regeneration of iron oxy-hydroxide arsenic adsorbents by granulated MgO is proposed in this study. A continuous recirculation configuration, with a NaOH solution flowing sequentially through the saturated adsorbent (leaching step) and the MgO (adsorption step) column beds, was optimized by utilizing the high arsenic adsorption efficiency of MgO at strong alkaline environments. Experimental results indicated that the total amount of leached arsenic was captured by MgO whereas the regenerated iron oxy-hydroxide recovered around 80% of its removal capacity upon reuse. The improved adsorption capacity of MgO for As(V), which is maximized at pH 10, is explained by the intermediate hydration to Mg(OH)2 and the following As(V) oxy-anions adsorption on its surface through the formation of monodentate inner sphere complexes, as it is deduced from the AsK-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. In addition to the economical-benefits, corresponding tests proved that the solid wastes of this process, namely spent MgO/Mg(OH)2, can be environmentally safely disposed as stable additives in cement products, while the alkaline solution is completely detoxified and can be recycled to the regeneration task. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Origin of steps in magnetization loops of martensitic Ni-Mn-Ga films on MgO(001)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laptev, Aleksej; Lebecki, Kristof; Welker, Gesa; Luo, Yuansu; Samwer, Konrad; Fonin, Mikhail

2016-09-01

We study the temperature dependent magnetization properties of (010)-oriented Ni-Mn-Ga epitaxial films on MgO(001) substrates. In the martensitic phase, we observe pronounced abrupt slope changes in the magnetization loops for all studied samples. Our experimental findings are discussed in conjunction with the micromagnetic simulations, revealing that the characteristic magnetization behavior is governed solely by the magnetization switching within the specific martensitic variant pattern, and no reorientation of twin variants is involved in the process. Our study emphasizes the important role of the magnetostatic interactions in the magnetization behavior of magnetic shape memory alloy thin films.

Strain-enhanced tunneling magnetoresistance in MgO magnetic tunnel junctions

PubMed Central

Loong, Li Ming; Qiu, Xuepeng; Neo, Zhi Peng; Deorani, Praveen; Wu, Yang; Bhatia, Charanjit S.; Saeys, Mark; Yang, Hyunsoo

2014-01-01

While the effects of lattice mismatch-induced strain, mechanical strain, as well as the intrinsic strain of thin films are sometimes detrimental, resulting in mechanical deformation and failure, strain can also be usefully harnessed for applications such as data storage, transistors, solar cells, and strain gauges, among other things. Here, we demonstrate that quantum transport across magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) can be significantly affected by the introduction of controllable mechanical strain, achieving an enhancement factor of ~2 in the experimental tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio. We further correlate this strain-enhanced TMR with coherent spin tunneling through the MgO barrier. Moreover, the strain-enhanced TMR is analyzed using non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) quantum transport calculations. Our results help elucidate the TMR mechanism at the atomic level and can provide a new way to enhance, as well as tune, the quantum properties in nanoscale materials and devices. PMID:25266219

Experimental Work Conducted on MgO Inundated Hydration in WIPP-Relevant Brines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, H.; Xiong, Y.; Nemer, M. B.; Johnsen, S.

2009-12-01

Magnesium oxide (MgO) is being emplaced in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) as an engineered barrier to mitigate the effect of microbial CO2 generation on actinide mobility in a postclosure repository environment. MgO will sequester CO2 and consume water in brine or water vapor in the gaseous phase. Martin Marietta (MM) MgO is currently being emplaced in the WIPP. A fractional-factorial experiment has been performed to study the inundated-hydration of MM MgO as a function of its particle size, solid-to-liquid ratio, and brine type. MgO hydration experiments have been carried out with three MgO particle sizes and two solid-to-liquid ratios in three WIPP-related brines: ERDA-6, GWB and simplified GWB. ERDA-6 is a synthetic NaCl-rich brine typical of a Castile brine reservoir below the repository. GWB is a synthetic MgCl2- and NaCl-rich brine representative of intergranular brines from the Salado Formation at or near the stratigraphic horizon of the repository. Simplified GWB contains amounts of Mg, Na, and Cl similar to those in GWB without other minor constituents. The hydration products include brucite (Mg(OH)2) and phase 5 (Mg3(OH)5Cl4H2O). In addition to phase 5, MgO hydration in GWB or simplified GWB produces brucite, whereas MgO hydrated in ERDA-6 only produces brucite. The MgO particle size has had a significant effect on the formation of hydration products: small MgO particles have hydrated before the large particles. MgO has hydrated faster in simplified GWB than in the other two brines. In ERDA-6, the solid-to-liquid ratio has affected the brine pH due to the presence of CaO (~1 wt %) as an impurity in MM MgO. GWB has sufficient dissolved Mg to buffer pH despite small amounts of CaO. Both our results and thermodynamic modeling indicate that phase-5 is the stable Mg-OH-Cl phase in Mg-Na-Cl-dominated brines with ionic strengths and chemical compositions similar to that of GWB. In contrast, phase-3 (Mg2(OH)3Cl4H2O) is the stable phase in the MgCl2

In situ measurement of surface potential developed on MgO thin film surface under ion irradiation using ion scattering spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nagatomi, T.; Kuwayama, T.; Takai, Y.

2009-11-15

The application of ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) to the in situ measurement of the surface potential developed on an insulator surface under positive ion irradiation was investigated. The ISS spectra measured for a MgO film of 600 nm thickness on a Si substrate by the irradiation of 950 eV He{sup +} ions revealed that the surface is positively charged by approximately 180 V. For accurate measurement of the surface potential, a correction to take into account the angular deflection of primary ions induced by the high surface potential is required. The dependence of the surface potential on the sample temperaturemore » revealed that no charging is induced above 700 deg. C, indicating that accumulated charges can be removed by heating to 700 deg. C. From the measurement of the ion-induced secondary electron yield using a collector electrode located in front of the sample surface, the surface potential and ion-induced secondary electron yield were found to be strongly affected by the experimental setup. Secondary electrons produced by the impact of slow positive secondary ions, the maximum energy of which corresponds to the surface potential, play an important role when the bias voltage applied to the collector electrode is positively high for the present experimental setup. The surface potential developed on the surface of MgO films of 600 and 200 nm thickness was measured in situ, revealing that the amount of accumulated charges and the time required to attain the steady state of charging are slightly dependent on the beam current of primary ions and strongly dependent on the thickness of the MgO film. The present results confirmed that the application of ISS has high potential for investigating charging phenomena and the secondary electron emission from insulator surfaces under positive ion irradiation.« less

Interstitial Fe in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mølholt, T. E.; Mantovan, R.; Gunnlaugsson, H. P.; Svane, A.; Masenda, H.; Naidoo, D.; Bharuth-Ram, K.; Fanciulli, M.; Gislason, H. P.; Johnston, K.; Langouche, G.; Ólafsson, S.; Sielemann, R.; Weyer, G.

2014-01-01

Isolated 57Fe atoms were studied in MgO single-crystals by emission Mössbauer spectroscopy following implantation of 57Mn decaying to 57Fe. Four Mössbauer spectral components were found corresponding to different Fe lattice positions and/or charge states. Two components represent Fe atoms substituting Mg as Fe2+ and Fe3+, respectively; a third component is due to Fe in a strongly implantation-induced disturbed region. The fourth component, which is the focus of this paper, can be assigned to Fe at an interstitial site. Comparison of its measured isomer shift with ab initio calculations suggests that the interstitial Fe is located on, or close to, the face of the rock-salt MgO structure. To harmonize such an assignment with the measured near-zero quadrupole interaction a local motion process (cage motion) of the Fe has to be stipulated. The relation of such a local motion as a starting point for long range diffusion is discussed.

Correlation between ferromagnetism and defects in MgO nanocrystals studied by positron annihilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, D. D.; Chen, Z. Q.; Li, C. Y.; Li, X. F.; Cao, C. Y.; Tang, Z.

2012-07-01

High purity MgO nanopowders were pressed into pellets and annealed in air from 100 to 1400 °C. Variation of the microstructures was investigated by X-ray diffraction and positron annihilation spectroscopy. Annealing induces an increase in the MgO grain size from 27 to 60 nm with temperature increasing up to 1400 °C. Positron annihilation measurements reveal vacancy defects including Mg vacancies, vacancy clusters, microvoids and large pores in the grain boundary region. Rapid recovery of Mg monovacancies and vacancy clusters was observed after annealing above 1200 °C. Room temperature ferromagnetism was observed for MgO nanocrystals annealed at 100, 700, and 1000 °C. However, after 1400 °C annealing, MgO nanocrystals turn into diamagnetic. Our results suggest that the room temperature ferromagnetism in MgO nanocrystals might originate from the interfacial defects.

Dependence of magnetic anisotropy on MgO sputtering pressure in Co20Fe60B20/MgO stacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaidatzis, A.; Serletis, C.; Niarchos, D.

2017-10-01

We investigated the dependence of magnetic anisotropy of Ta/Co20Fe60B20/MgO stacks on the Ar partial pressure during MgO deposition, in the range between 0.5 and 15 mTorr. The stacks are studied before and after annealing at 300°C and it is shown that magnetic anisotropy significantly depends on Ar partial pressure. High pressure results in stacks with very low perpendicular magnetic anisotropy even after annealing, while low pressure results in stacks with perpendicular anisotropy even at the as-deposited state. A monotonic increase of magnetic anisotropy energy is observed as Ar partial pressure is decreased.

Pulsed laser deposition of YBCO films on ISD MgO buffered metal tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, B.; Li, M.; Koritala, R. E.; Fisher, B. L.; Markowitz, A. R.; Erck, R. A.; Baurceanu, R.; Dorris, S. E.; Miller, D. J.; Balachandran, U.

2003-04-01

Biaxially textured magnesium oxide (MgO) films deposited by inclined-substrate deposition (ISD) are desirable for rapid production of high-quality template layers for YBCO-coated conductors. High-quality YBCO films were grown on ISD MgO buffered metallic substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Columnar grains with a roof-tile surface structure were observed in the ISD MgO films. X-ray pole figure analysis revealed that the (002) planes of the ISD MgO films are tilted at an angle from the substrate normal. A small full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of approx9° was observed in the phi-scan for ISD MgO films deposited at an inclination angle of 55°. In-plane texture in the ISD MgO films developed in the first approx0.5 mum from the substrate surface, and then stabilized with further increases in film thickness. Yttria-stabilized zirconia and ceria buffer layers were deposited on the ISD MgO grown on metallic substrates prior to the deposition of YBCO by PLD. YBCO films with the c-axis parallel to the substrate normal have a unique orientation relationship with the ISD MgO films. An orientation relationship of YBCOlangle100rangleparallelMgOlangle111rangle and YBCOlangle010rangleparallelMgOlangle110rangle was measured by x-ray pole figure analyses and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. A Tc of 91 K with a sharp transition and transport Jc of 5.5 × 105 A cm-2 at 77 K in self-field were measured on a YBCO film that was 0.46 mum thick, 4 mm wide and 10 mm long.

Grain boundary mobility in anion doped MgO

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kapadia, C. M.; Leipold, M. H.

1973-01-01

Certain anions OH(-), F(-) and Gl(-) are shown to enhance grain growth in MgO. The magnitude of their effect decreases in the order in which the anions are listed and depends on their location (solid-solution, second phase) in the MgO lattice. As most anions exhibit relatively high vapor pressures at sintering temperatures, they retard densification and invariably promote residual porosity. The role of anions on grain growth rates was studied in relation to their effect on pore mobility and pore removal; the atomic process controlling the actual rates was determined from observed kinetics in conjunction with the microstructural features. With respect to controlling mechanisms, the effects of all anions are not the same. OH(-) and F(-) control behavior through creation of a defect structure and a grain boundary liquid phase while Cl(-) promotes matter transport within pores by evaporation-condensation. Studies on an additional anion, S to the minus 2nd power gave results which were no different from undoped MgO, possibly because of evaporative losses during hot pressing. Hence, the effect of sulphur is negligible or undetermined.

Tuning the properties of an MgO layer for spin-polarized electron transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Chong-Jun; Ding, Lei; Zhao, Zhi-Duo; Zhang, Peng; Cao, Xing-Zhong; Wang, Bao-Yi; Zhang, Jing-Yan; Yu, Guang-Hua

2014-08-01

The influence of substrate temperature and annealing on quality/microstructural evolution of MgO, as well as the resultant magnetoresistance (MR) ratio, has been investigated. It has been found that the crystallinity of MgO in the MgO/NiFe/MgO heterostructures gradually improves with increasing substrate temperature. This behavior facilitates the transport of spin-polarized electrons, resulting in a high MR value. After annealing, the formation of vacancy clusters in MgO layers observed through positron annihilation spectroscopy leads to an increase in MR at different levels because of the crystallinity improvement of MgO. However, these vacancy clusters as another important defect can limit further improvement in MR.

Bias Dependence of the Electrical Spin Injection into GaAs from Co -Fe -B /MgO Injectors with Different MgO Growth Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barate, P.; Liang, S. H.; Zhang, T. T.; Frougier, J.; Xu, B.; Schieffer, P.; Vidal, M.; Jaffrès, H.; Lépine, B.; Tricot, S.; Cadiz, F.; Garandel, T.; George, J. M.; Amand, T.; Devaux, X.; Hehn, M.; Mangin, S.; Tao, B.; Han, X. F.; Wang, Z. G.; Marie, X.; Lu, Y.; Renucci, P.

2017-11-01

We investigate the influence of the MgO growth process on the bias dependence of the electrical spin injection from a Co -Fe -B /MgO spin injector into a GaAs-based light-emitting diode (spin LED). With this aim, textured MgO tunnel barriers are fabricated either by sputtering or molecular-beam-epitaxy (MBE) methods. For the given growth parameters used for the two techniques, we observe that the circular polarization of the electroluminescence emitted by spin LEDs is rather stable as a function of the injected current or applied bias for the samples with sputtered tunnel barriers, whereas the corresponding circular polarization decreases abruptly for tunnel barriers grown by MBE. We attribute these different behaviors to the different kinetic energies of the injected carriers linked to differing amplitudes of the parasitic hole current flowing from GaAs to Co-Fe-B in both cases.

Regenerable MgO promoted metal oxide oxygen carriers for chemical looping combustion

DOEpatents

Siriwardane, Ranjani V.; Miller, Duane D.

2014-08-19

The disclosure provides an oxygen carrier comprised of a plurality of metal oxide particles in contact with a plurality of MgO promoter particles. The MgO promoter particles increase the reaction rate and oxygen utilization of the metal oxide when contacting with a gaseous hydrocarbon at a temperature greater than about 725.degree. C. The promoted oxide solid is generally comprised of less than about 25 wt. % MgO, and may be prepared by physical mixing, incipient wetness impregnation, or other methods known in the art. The oxygen carrier exhibits a crystalline structure of the metal oxide and a crystalline structure of MgO under XRD crystallography, and retains these crystalline structures over subsequent redox cycles. In an embodiment, the metal oxide is Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, and the gaseous hydrocarbon is comprised of methane.

L10-Ordered Thin Films with High Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy for STT-MRAM Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Efrem Yuan-Fu

The objective of the research conducted herein was to develop L10-ordered materials and thin film stack structures with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) for spin-transfertorque magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) applications. A systematic approach was taken in this dissertation, culminating in exchange coupled L1 0-FePt and L10- MnAl heterogeneous structures showing great promise for developing perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (pMTJs) with both high thermal stability and low critical switching current. First, using MgO underlayers on Si substrates, sputtered MnAl films were systematically optimized, ultimately producing a Si substrate/MgO (20 nm)/MnAl (30)/Ta (5) film stack with a high degree of ordering and large PMA. Next, noting the incompatibility of insulating MgO underlayers with industrial-scale CMOS processes, attention was turned to using conductive underlayers. TiN was found to excel at promoting growth of L10-MnAl, with optimized films showing improved magnetic properties over those fabricated on MgO underlayers. The use of different post-annealing processes was then studied as an alternative to in situ annealing. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) was found to produce PMA in films at lower annealing temperatures than tube furnace annealing, but tube furnace annealing produced films with higher maximum PMA than RTA. While annealed samples had lower surface roughness than those ordered by high in situ deposition temperatures, relying solely on annealing to achieve L10-ordering resulted drastically reduced PMA. Finally, heterogeneous L10-ordered FePt/MgO/MnAl film stacks were explored for pMTJs. Film stacks with MgO barrier layers thinner than 2 nm showed significant interdiffusion between the FePt and MnAl, while film stacks with thicker MgO barrier layers exhibited good ordering and high PMA in both the FePt and MnAl films. It is believed that this limitation is caused by the roughness of the underlying FePt, which was thicker

YSZ thin films with minimized grain boundary resistivity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mills, Edmund M.; Kleine-Boymann, Matthias; Janek, Juergen

2016-03-31

In recent years, interface engineering of solid electrolytes has been explored to increase their ionic conductivity and improve the performance of solid oxide fuel cells and other electrochemical power sources. It has been observed that the ionic conductivity of epitaxially grown thin films of some electrolytes is dramatically enhanced, which is often attributed to effects (e. g. strain-induced mobility changes) at the heterophase boundary with the substrate. Still largely unexplored is the possibility of manipulation of grain boundary resistivity in polycrystalline solid electrolyte films, clearly a limiting factor in their ionic conductivity. Here we report that the ionic conductivity ofmore » yttria stabilized zirconia thin films with nano-­ columnar grains grown on a MgO substrate nearly reaches that of the corresponding single crystal when the thickness of the films becomes less than roughly 8 nm (smaller by a factor of three at 500°C). Using impedance spectroscopy, the grain boundary resistivity was probed as a function of film thickness. The resistivity of the grain boundaries near the film- substrate interface and film surface (within 4 nm of each) was almost entirely eliminated. This minimization of grain boundary resistivity is attributed to Mg2+ diffusion from the MgO substrate into the YSZ grain boundaries, which is supported by time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurements. We suggest grain boundary “design” as an attractive method to obtain highly conductive solid electrolyte thin films.« less

YSZ thin films with minimized grain boundary resistivity

DOE PAGES

Mills, Edmund M.; Kleine-Boymann, Matthias; Janek, Juergen; ...

2016-03-31

In recent years, interface engineering of solid electrolytes has been explored to increase their ionic conductivity and improve the performance of solid oxide fuel cells and other electrochemical power sources. It has been observed that the ionic conductivity of epitaxially grown thin films of some electrolytes is dramatically enhanced, which is often attributed to effects (e.g. strain-induced mobility changes) at the heterophase boundary with the substrate. Still largely unexplored is the possibility of manipulation of grain boundary resistivity in polycrystalline solid electrolyte films, clearly a limiting factor in their ionic conductivity. Here in this paper, we report that the ionicmore » conductivity of yttria stabilized zirconia thin films with nano-columnar grains grown on a MgO substrate nearly reaches that of the corresponding single crystal when the thickness of the films becomes less than roughly 8 nm (smaller by a factor of three at 500 °C). Using impedance spectroscopy, the grain boundary resistivity was probed as a function of film thickness. The resistivity of the grain boundaries near the film–substrate interface and film surface (within 4 nm of each) was almost entirely eliminated. This minimization of grain boundary resistivity is attributed to Mg 2+ diffusion from the MgO substrate into the YSZ grain boundaries, which is supported by time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurements. We suggest grain boundary “design” as an attractive method to obtain highly conductive solid electrolyte thin films.« less

Thermodynamics of MgO shocked to 250 GPa and 9000 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fat'yanov, O. V.; Asimow, P. D.; Ahrens, T. J.

2011-06-01

Plate impact experiments in the 200-250 GPa pressure range were done on <100 > single-crystal MgO preheated before compression to 1850 K. Hot Mo(driver)-MgO targets were impacted with Ta flyers launched by the Caltech two-stage light-gas gun up to 7.5 km/s. Radiative temperatures and shock velocities were measured with 3-5% and 1-2% respective uncertainty by a 6-channel pyrometer with 3 ns time resolution, over 500-900 nm spectral range. MgO shock front reflectivity was determined in additional experiments at 220 and 250 GPa using 50/50 high-temperature sapphire beamsplitters. Shock temperatures and preheated MgO Hugoniot data reported here are in good agreement with the corresponding values calculated using Mie-Grüneisen equation of state with γ0 = 1.4 and constant γ / V . Our experiments showed no evidence of MgO melting up to 250 GPa and 9.2 kK. The highest shock temperatures exceed the extrapolated melting curve of Zerr & Boehler by >3000 K at 250 GPa, which seems too much for any realistic superheating.

Tunable reactivity of supported single metal atoms by impurity engineering of the MgO(001) support.

PubMed

Pašti, Igor A; Johansson, Börje; Skorodumova, Natalia V

2018-02-28

Development of novel materials may often require a rational use of high price components, like noble metals, in combination with the possibility to tune their properties in a desirable way. Here we present a theoretical DFT study of Au and Pd single atoms supported by doped MgO(001). By introducing B, C and N impurities into the MgO(001) surface, the interaction between the surface and the supported metal adatoms can be adjusted. Impurity atoms act as strong binding sites for Au and Pd adatoms and can help to produce highly dispersed metal particles. The reactivity of metal atoms supported by doped MgO(001), as probed by CO, is altered compared to their counterparts on pristine MgO(001). We find that Pd atoms on doped MgO(001) are less reactive than on perfect MgO(001). In contrast, Au adatoms bind CO much more strongly when placed on doped MgO(001). In the case of Au on N-doped MgO(001) we find that charge redistribution between the metal atom and impurity takes place even when not in direct contact, which enhances the interaction of Au with CO. The presented results suggest possible ways for optimizing the reactivity of oxide supported metal catalysts through impurity engineering.

Bulk and surface electronic structures of MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schönberger, U.; Aryasetiawan, F.

1995-09-01

The bulk electronic structure of MgO is calculated from first principles including correlation effects within the GW approximation. The band gap, the position of the 2s O band, and the valence band width are in good agreement with experiment. From the quasiparticle band structure, optical transitions corresponding to the main optical absorption peaks are identified. The energy-loss spectrum is also calculated and compared with experiment. The surface electronic structure of MgO(100) is calculated self-consistently within the local-density approximation. It is found that states observed in a recent photoemission experiment outside the bulk allowed states are close to surface states.

Incipient plasticity and indentation response of MgO surfaces using molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, Anh-Son; Hong, Zheng-Han; Chen, Ming-Yuan; Fang, Te-Hua

2018-05-01

The mechanical characteristics of magnesium oxide (MgO) based on nanoindentation are studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The effects of indenting speed and temperature on the structural deformation and loading-unloading curve are investigated. Results show that the strained surface of the MgO expands to produce a greater relaxation of atoms in the surroundings of the indent. The dislocation propagation and pile-up for MgO occur more significantly with the increasing temperature from 300 K to 973 K. In addition, with increasing temperature, the high strained atoms with a great perturbation appearing at the groove location.

Modeling the thickness dependence of the magnetic phase transition temperature in thin FeRh films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ostler, Thomas Andrew; Barton, Craig; Thomson, Thomas; Hrkac, Gino

2017-02-01

FeRh and its first-order phase transition can open new routes for magnetic hybrid materials and devices under the assumption that it can be exploited in ultra-thin-film structures. Motivated by experimental measurements showing an unexpected increase in the phase transition temperature with decreasing thickness of FeRh on top of MgO, we develop a computational model to investigate strain effects of FeRh in such magnetic structures. Our theoretical results show that the presence of the MgO interface results in a strain that changes the magnetic configuration which drives the anomalous behavior.

Melting temperatures of MgO under high pressure by micro-texture analysis

PubMed Central

Kimura, T.; Ohfuji, H.; Nishi, M.; Irifune, T.

2017-01-01

Periclase (MgO) is the second most abundant mineral after bridgmanite in the Earth's lower mantle, and its melting behaviour under pressure is important to constrain rheological properties and melting behaviours of the lower mantle materials. Significant discrepancies exist between the melting temperatures of MgO determined by laser-heated diamond anvil cell (LHDAC) and those based on dynamic compressions and theoretical predictions. Here we show the melting temperatures in earlier LHDAC experiments are underestimated due to misjudgment of melting, based on micro-texture observations of the quenched samples. The high melting temperatures of MgO suggest that the subducted cold slabs should have higher viscosities than previously thought, suggesting that the inter-connecting textural feature of MgO would not play important roles for the slab stagnation in the lower mantle. The present results also predict that the ultra-deep magmas produced in the lower mantle are peridotitic, which are stabilized near the core–mantle boundary. PMID:28580945

Thermal conductivity of thin insulating films determined by tunnel magneto-Seebeck effect measurements and finite-element modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huebner, Torsten; Martens, Ulrike; Walowski, Jakob; Münzenberg, Markus; Thomas, Andy; Reiss, Günter; Kuschel, Timo

2018-06-01

In general, it is difficult to access the thermal conductivity of thin insulating films experimentally by electrical means. Here, we present a new approach utilizing the tunnel magneto-Seebeck effect (TMS) in combination with finite-element modeling (FEM). We detect the laser-induced TMS and the absolute thermovoltage of laser-heated magnetic tunnel junctions with 2.6 nm thin barriers of MgAl2O4 (MAO) and MgO, respectively. A second measurement of the absolute thermovoltage after a dielectric breakdown of the barrier grants insight into the remaining thermovoltage of the stack. Thus, the pure TMS without any parasitic Nernst contributions from the leads can be identified. In combination with FEM via COMSOL, we are able to extract values for the thermal conductivity of MAO (0.7 W (K · m)‑1) and MgO (5.8 W (K · m)‑1), which are in very good agreement with theoretical predictions. Our method provides a new promising way to extract the experimentally challenging parameter of the thermal conductivity of thin insulating films.

Process-Parameter-Dependent Optical and Structural Properties of ZrO2MgO Mixed-Composite Films Evaporated from the solid Solution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sahoo, N. K.; Shapiro, A. P.

1998-01-01

The process-parameter-dependent optical and structural properties of ZrO2MgO mixed-composite material have been investigated. Optical properties were derived from spectrophotometric measurements. By use of atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis, and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis, the surface morphology, grain size distributions, crystallographic phases, and process-dependent material composition of films have been investigated. EDX analysis made evident the correlation between the oxygen enrichment in the films prepared at a high level of oxygen pressure and the very low refractive index. Since oxygen pressure can be dynamically varied during a deposition process, coatings constructed of suitable mixed-composite thin films can benefit from continuous modulation of the index of refraction. A step modulation approach is used to develop various multilayer-equivalent thin-film devices.

Stabilization of arsenic and lead by magnesium oxide (MgO) in different seawater concentrations.

PubMed

Kameda, Kentaro; Hashimoto, Yohey; Ok, Yong Sik

2018-02-01

Ongoing sea level rise will have a major impact on mobility and migration of contaminants by changing a number of natural phenomena that alter geochemistry and hydrology of subsurface environment. In-situ immobilization techniques may be a promising remediation strategy for mitigating contaminant mobility induced by sea level rise. This study investigated the reaction mechanisms of magnesium oxide (MgO) with aqueous Pb and As under freshwater and seawater using XAFS spectroscopy. Initial concentrations of Pb and As in freshwater strongly controlled the characteristics of the reaction product of MgO. Our study revealed that i) the removal of aqueous Pb and As by MgO was increased by the elevation of seawater concentration, and ii) the removal of As was attributed primarily to (inner-sphere) surface adsorption on MgO, independent on seawater concentrations, and iii) the retention mechanism of Pb was dependent on seawater concentrations where formations of Pb oxides and adsorption on the MgO surface were predominant in solutions with low and high salinity, respectively. The release of As fixed with MgO significantly increased in seawater compared to freshwater, although the amount of As desorbed accounted for <0.2% of total As. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phase Transitions of MgO Along the Hugoniot (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Root, S.; Shulenburger, L.; Lemke, R. W.; Cochrane, K. R.; Mattsson, T. R.

2013-12-01

The formation of terrestrial planets and planetary structure has become of great interest because of recent exoplanet discoveries of super earths. MgO is a major constituent of Earth's mantle, the rocky cores of gas giants such as Jupiter, and likely constitutes the interiors of many exoplanets. The high pressure - high temperature behavior of MgO directly affects equation of state models for planetary structure and formation. In this work, we examine single crystal MgO under shock compression utilizing experimental and density functional theory (DFT) methods to determine phase transformations along the Hugoniot. We perform plate impact experiments using Sandia's Z - facility on MgO up to 11.6 Mbar. The plate impact experiments generate highly accurate Hugoniot state data. The experimental results show the B1 - B2 solid - solid phase transition occurs near 4 Mbar on the Hugoniot. The solid - liquid transition is determined to be near 7 Mbar with a large region of B2-liquid coexistence. Using DFT methods, we also determine melt along the B1 and B2 solid phase boundaries as well as along the Hugoniot. The combined experimental and DFT results have determined the phase boundaries along the Hugoniot, which can be implemented into new planetary and EOS models. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Securities Administration under Contract No. DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Surfactant Mediated Growth of Co on MgO(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson-Steigelman, H. Trevor; Parihar, Somendra S.; Lyman, Paul F.

2010-03-01

Monolayer films of Co were deposited using an electrostatic electron-beam evaporator on single-crystal MgO(111)- √3 x√3 R 30^o substrates held at room temperature, with subsequent annealing of temperatures 400 C to 800 C. These films were characterized using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). After short anneals of 400 C, AFM, LEED, and XPS suggest that islanding has occurred at the surface. XPS and XRD indicate the presence of elemental Co. 1-2 ML films of Ag were examined as a potential surfactant to aid in the growth of smooth Co films. Despite the fact that Ag itself formed islands, it was found that the presence of Ag did have a surfactant effect upon the thin-film growth of Co on Ag/MgO(111)- √3 x√3 R 30^o. Co islands were still present, but much more smooth than islands formed without Ag. XPS and AFM suggest strongly that Ag floated to the top of these samples at temperatures above 400 ^oC.

Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of B, C, N and F doped MgO monolayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moghadam, A. Dashti; Maskane, P.; Esfandiari, S.

2018-06-01

MgO as one of the alkaline earth oxides has various applications in industry. In this work, we aim to investigate the electronic, optical and magnetic properties of MgO monolayers. Furthermore, monolayer structures with substituted B, N, C and F atoms instead of O atom are studied. These results indicate that MgO layer has possessed potential application in optoelectronic and spintronic nano-devices.

Positron annihilation 2D-ACAR study of semi-coherent Li nanoclusters in MgO( 1 0 0 ) and MgO( 1 1 0 )

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falub, C. V.; Mijnarends, P. E.; Eijt, S. W. H.; van Huis, M. A.; van Veen, A.; Schut, H.

2002-05-01

Depth selective positron annihilation two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR) is used to determine the electronic structure of Li nanoclusters formed by implantation of 10 16 cm -26Li ions (with an energy of 30 keV) in MgO(1 0 0) and (1 1 0) crystals, and subsequently annealed at 950 K. The 2D-ACAR spectra of Li-implanted MgO obtained with 4 keV positrons reveal the semi-coherent ordering state of the embedded metallic Li nanoclusters. The results agree with ab initio Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker calculations.

Competitive Heterogeneous Nucleation Between Zr and MgO Particles in Commercial Purity Magnesium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, G. S.; Wang, Y.; Fan, Z.

2018-04-01

Grain refining of commercial purity (CP) Mg by Zr addition with intensive melt shearing prior to solidification has been investigated. Experimental results showed that, when intensive melt shearing is imposed prior to solidification, the grain structure of CP Mg exhibits a complex changing pattern with increasing Zr addition. This complex behavior can be attributed to the change of nucleating particles in terms of their crystal structure, size, and number density with varied Zr additions. Naturally occurring MgO particles are found to be {100} faceted with a cubic morphology and 50 to 300 nm in size. Such MgO particles are usually populated densely in a liquid film (usually referred as oxide film) and can be effectively dispersed by intensive melt shearing. It has been confirmed that the dispersed MgO particles can act as nucleating substrates resulting in a significant grain refinement of CP Mg when no other more potent particles are present in the melt. However, Zr particles in the Mg-Zr alloys are more potent than MgO particles for nucleation of Mg due to their same crystal structure and similar lattice parameters with Mg. With the addition of Zr, Zr and the MgO particles co-exist in the melt. Grain refining efficiency is closely related to the competition for heterogeneous nucleation between Zr and the MgO particles. The final solidified microstructure is mainly determined by the interplay of three factors: nucleation potency (measured by lattice misfit), particle size, and particle number density.

Competitive Heterogeneous Nucleation Between Zr and MgO Particles in Commercial Purity Magnesium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, G. S.; Wang, Y.; Fan, Z.

2018-06-01

Grain refining of commercial purity (CP) Mg by Zr addition with intensive melt shearing prior to solidification has been investigated. Experimental results showed that, when intensive melt shearing is imposed prior to solidification, the grain structure of CP Mg exhibits a complex changing pattern with increasing Zr addition. This complex behavior can be attributed to the change of nucleating particles in terms of their crystal structure, size, and number density with varied Zr additions. Naturally occurring MgO particles are found to be {100} faceted with a cubic morphology and 50 to 300 nm in size. Such MgO particles are usually populated densely in a liquid film (usually referred as oxide film) and can be effectively dispersed by intensive melt shearing. It has been confirmed that the dispersed MgO particles can act as nucleating substrates resulting in a significant grain refinement of CP Mg when no other more potent particles are present in the melt. However, Zr particles in the Mg-Zr alloys are more potent than MgO particles for nucleation of Mg due to their same crystal structure and similar lattice parameters with Mg. With the addition of Zr, Zr and the MgO particles co-exist in the melt. Grain refining efficiency is closely related to the competition for heterogeneous nucleation between Zr and the MgO particles. The final solidified microstructure is mainly determined by the interplay of three factors: nucleation potency (measured by lattice misfit), particle size, and particle number density.

Analytical electron microscopic studies and positron lifetime measurements in Al-doped MgO crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedrosa, M. A.; Pareja, R.; González, R.; Abraham, M. M.

1987-07-01

MgO crystals intentionally doped with Al were characterized by analytical electron microscopic examinations and positron lifetime measurements. Large spinel (MgO Al2O3) precipitates were observed in samples with high contents of Al. A well-defined crystallographic relationship between the precipitates and the matrix was found. The characteristics of positron lifetime spectra appear to depend on the valence state of the different impurities in the MgO lattice suggesting that positrons are trapped by vacancy impurity complexes.

Insulator at the ultrathin limit: MgO on Ag(001).

PubMed

Schintke, S; Messerli, S; Pivetta, M; Patthey, F; Libioulle, L; Stengel, M; De Vita, A; Schneider, W D

2001-12-31

The electronic structure and morphology of ultrathin MgO films epitaxially grown on Ag(001) were investigated using low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. Layer-resolved differential conductance (dI/dU) measurements reveal that, even at a film thickness of three monolayers, a band gap of about 6 eV is formed corresponding to that of the MgO(001) single-crystal surface. This finding is confirmed by layer-resolved calculations of the local density of states based on density functional theory.

Combustion synthesis of MgO nanoparticles using plant extract: Structural characterization and photoluminescence studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Danith; Yadav, L. S. Reddy; Lingaraju, K.; Manjunath, K.; Suresh, D.; Prasad, Daruka; Nagabhushana, H.; Sharma, S. C.; Naika, H. Raja; Chikkahanumantharayappa, Nagaraju, G.

2015-06-01

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO Nps) have been successfully synthesized via solution combustion method using Parthenium plant extract as fuel for the first time. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern reveal that product belongs to the cubic phase (Periclase). FTIR spectrum shows the band at 822 cm-1 indicates the formation of cubic periclase MgO. The optical band gap of MgO Nps estimated from UV -Vis spectrum was found to be in the range 5.40-5.45 eV. SEM images showed that, the product is agglomerated and particle in nature. Photoluminescence (PL) studies shows violet emission at 390 nm, blue emission at 470 nm and green emission at 550 nm. MgO Nps shows good photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV/Sun light irradiation.

Subsurface synthesis and characterization of Ag nanoparticles embedded in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilayurganapathy, S.; Devaraj, A.; Colby, R.; Pandey, A.; Varga, T.; Shutthanandan, V.; Manandhar, S.; El-Khoury, P. Z.; Kayani, Asghar; Hess, W. P.; Thevuthasan, S.

2013-03-01

Metal nanoparticles exhibit a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) which is very sensitive to the size and shape of the nanoparticle and the surrounding dielectric medium. The coupling between the electromagnetic radiation and the localized surface plasmon in metallic nanoparticles results in a sizable enhancement of the incident fields, making them possible candidates for plasmonic applications. In particular, partially exposed metallic nanoparticles distributed in a dielectric matrix can provide prime locations for LSPR spectroscopy and sensing. We report the synthesis and characterization of a plasmonic substrate consisting of Ag nanoparticles partially buried in MgO. Ag nanoparticles of different shapes and size distributions were synthesized below the surface of MgO by implanting 200 keV Ag+ ions followed by annealing at 1000 °C for 10 and 30 h. A detailed optical and structural characterization was carried out to understand the evolution of the Ag nanoparticle and size distribution inside the MgO matrix. Micro x-ray diffraction (Micro-XRD) was employed to investigate the structural properties and estimate the crystallite size. The nanoparticles evolved from a spherical to a faceted morphology with annealing time, assuming an octahedral shape truncated at the (001) planes, as visualized from aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. The nanoparticles embedded in MgO were shown to be pure metallic Ag using atom probe tomography (APT). The nanoparticles were partially exposed to the surface by employing plasma etch techniques to remove the overlaying MgO. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to study the surface morphology and obtain a height distribution for the partially exposed nanoparticles.

Epitaxial Fe16N2 thin film on nonmagnetic seed layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hang, Xudong; Zhang, Xiaowei; Ma, Bin; Lauter, Valeria; Wang, Jian-Ping

2018-05-01

Metastable α″ -Fe16N2 has attracted much interest as a candidate for rare-earth-free hard magnetic materials. We demonstrate that Fe16N2 thin films were grown epitaxially on Cr seed layers with MgO (001) substrates by facing-target sputtering. Good crystallinity with the epitaxial relation MgO (001 )[110 ] ∥ Cr (001 )[100 ] ∥ Fe16N2 (001 )[100 ] was obtained. The chemical order parameter, which quantifies the degree of N ordering in the Fe16N2 (the N-disordered phase is α' -Fe8N martensite), reaches 0.75 for Cr-seeded samples. Cr has a perfect lattice constant match with Fe16N2, and no noticeable strain can be assigned to Fe16N2. The intrinsic saturation magnetization of this non-strained Fe16N2 thin film at room temperature is determined to be 2.31 T by polarized neutron reflectometry and confirmed with vibrating sample magnetometry. Our work provides a platform to directly study the magnetic properties of high purity Fe16N2 films with a high order parameter.

MgO NPs synthesis, capping and enhanced free radical effect on the bacteria and its cell morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kushwaha, Amisha; Bagchi, T.

2018-05-01

Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles (MgO NPs) commonly known as Magnesia is a white powder, hygroscopic material. MgO NPs were synthesized through four methods Co-precipitation method (Co-PM), Solution combustion (S-CoM) and Sol-gel method with starch (So-GSM) and CTAB (So-GCM), classified as template dependent and template independent method using magnesium nitrate hexahydrate (Mg(NO3).6H2O) as the precursor and comparative analysis was done through DLS. The order of hydrodynamic diameters of four different synthesis method of MgO NPs is Co-PMMgO NPs considered for the further studies and characterized through UV/Visible spectroscopy, DLS and FTIR spectroscopy and particle size was confirmed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), crystal lattice was estimated by XRD spectroscopy, morphology was confirmed with SEM and surface absorbed free radicals were analysed with electron spin resonance (ESR). Subsequently, MgO NPs were capped with Lauric acid (LA). Further, antibacterial assay of MgO NPs, LA capped MgO NPs (LA-MgO) and LA studied against bacteria through Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). In the antibacterial test the Ascending order for bactericidal activity responding against Bacillus pumilus was resultant as LA> LA-MgO NPs> MgO NPs responding.

Nanodomain induced anomalous magnetic and electronic transport properties of LaBaCo{sub 2}O{sub 5.5+δ} highly epitaxial thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ruiz-Zepeda, F.; Ma, C.; Bahena Uribe, D.

2014-01-14

A giant magnetoresistance effect (∼46% at 20 K under 7 T) and anomalous magnetic properties were found in a highly epitaxial double perovskite LaBaCo{sub 2}O{sub 5.5+δ} (LBCO) thin film on (001) MgO. Aberration-corrected Electron Microscopy and related analytical techniques were employed to understand the nature of these unusual physical properties. The as-grown film is epitaxial with the c-axis of the LBCO structure lying in the film plane and with an interface relationship given by (100){sub LBCO} || (001){sub MgO} and [001]{sub LBCO} || [100]{sub MgO} or [010]{sub MgO}. Orderly oxygen vacancies were observed by line profile electron energy loss spectroscopy and bymore » atomic resolution imaging. Especially, oxygen vacancy and nanodomain structures were found to have a crucial effect on the electronic transport and magnetic properties.« less

Ultrathin IBAD MgO films for epitaxial growth on amorphous substrates and sub-50 nm membranes

DOE PAGES

Wang, Siming; Antonakos, C.; Bordel, C.; ...

2016-11-07

Here, a fabrication process has been developed for high energy ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) biaxial texturing of ultrathin (~1 nm) MgO films, using a high ion-to-atom ratio and post-deposition annealing instead of a homoepitaxial MgO layer. These films serve as the seed layer for epitaxial growth of materials on amorphous substrates such as electron/X-ray transparent membranes or nanocalorimetry devices. Stress measurements and atomic force microscopy of the MgO films reveal decreased stress and surface roughness, while X-ray diffraction of epitaxial overlayers demonstrates the improved crystal quality of films grown epitaxially on IBAD MgO. The process simplifies the synthesis ofmore » IBAD MgO, fundamentally solves the “wrinkle” issue induced by the homoepitaxial layer on sub-50 nm membranes, and enables studies of epitaxial materials in electron/X-ray transmission and nanocalorimetry.« less

Trap characterization by photo-transferred thermoluminescence in MgO nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isik, M.; Gasanly, N. M.

2018-05-01

Shallow trapping centers in MgO nanoparticles were characterized using photo-transferred thermoluminescence (TL) measurements. Experiments were carried out in low temperature range of 10-280 K with constant heating rate. Shallow traps were filled with charge carriers firstly by irradiating the sample at room temperature using S90/Y90 source and then illuminating at 10 K using blue LED. TL glow curve exhibited one peak around 150 K. Curve fitting analyses showed that this peak is composed of two individual peaks with maximum temperatures of 149.0 and 155.3 K. The activation energies of corresponding trapping centers were revealed as 0.70 and 0.91 eV. The dominant mechanism for TL process was found as second order kinetics which represent that fast retrapping is effective transitions taking place within the band gap. Structural characterization of MgO nanoparticles were investigated using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. Analyses of experimental observations indicated that MgO nanoparticles show good crystallinity with particle size in nanometer scale.

Thin films of the Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O(x) superconductor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mei, YU; Luo, H. L.; Hu, Roger

1990-01-01

Using RF sputtering technique, thin films of near single phase Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O(x) were successfully prepared on SrTiO3(100), MgO(100), and LaAlO3(012) substrates. Zero resistance of these films occurred in the range of 90-105 K.

Experimental and DFT studies of gold nanoparticles supported on MgO(111) nano-sheets and their catalytic activity.

PubMed

Li, Zhi; Ciobanu, Cristian V; Hu, Juncheng; Palomares-Báez, Juan-Pedro; Rodríguez-López, José-Luis; Richards, Ryan

2011-02-21

A wet chemical preparation of MgO with the (111) facet as the primary surface has recently been reported and with alternating layers of oxygen anions and magnesium cations, this material shows unique chemical and physical properties. The potential to utilize the MgO(111) surface for the immobilization of metal particles is intriguing because the surface itself offers a very different environment for the metal particle with an all oxygen interface, as opposed to the typical (100) facet that possesses alternating oxygen anion and magnesium cation sites on the surface. Gold nanoparticles have demonstrated a broad range of interesting catalytic properties, but are often susceptible to aggregation at high temperatures and are very sensitive to substrate effects. Here, we investigate gold-supported on MgO(111) nanosheets as a catalyst system for the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Gold nanoparticles deposited on MgO(111) show an increased level of activity in the solvent-free benzyl alcohol aerobic oxidation as compared to gold nanoparticles deposited on a typical MgO aerogel. TEM studies reveal that the gold nanoparticles have a hemispherical shape while sitting on the main surface of MgO(111) nanosheets, with a large Au-MgO interface. Given that the gold nanoparticles deposited on the two types of MgO have similar size, and that the two types of unmodified MgO show almost the same activities in the blank reaction, we infer that the high activity of Au/MgO(111) is due to the properties of the (111) support and/or those of the gold-support interface. To understand the binding of Au on low-index MgO surfaces and the charge distribution at the surface of the support, we have performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations on all low-index MgO substrates (with and without gold), using a model Au(10) cluster. Due to similar lattice constants of Au(111) and MgO(111) planes, the Au cluster retains its structural integrity and binds strongly on MgO(111) with either

Growth and characterization of thin Cu-phthalocyanine films on MgO(001) layer for organic light-emitting diodes.

PubMed

Bae, Yu Jeong; Lee, Nyun Jong; Kim, Tae Hee; Cho, Hyunduck; Lee, Changhee; Fleet, Luke; Hirohata, Atsufumi

2012-11-26

Surface morphology and thermal stability of Cu-phthalocyanine (CuPc) films grown on an epitaxially grown MgO(001) layer were investigated by using atomic force microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The (002) textured β phase of CuPc films were prepared at room temperature beyond the epitaxial MgO/Fe/MgO(001) buffer layer by the vacuum deposition technique. The CuPc structure remained stable even after post-annealing at 350°C for 1 h under vacuum, which is an important advantage of device fabrication. In order to improve the device performance, we investigated also current-voltage-luminescence characteristics for the new top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes with different thicknesses of CuPc layer.

Combustion synthesis of MgO nanoparticles using plant extract: Structural characterization and photoluminescence studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Danith; Chikkahanumantharayappa; Yadav, L. S. Reddy

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO Nps) have been successfully synthesized via solution combustion method using Parthenium plant extract as fuel for the first time. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern reveal that product belongs to the cubic phase (Periclase). FTIR spectrum shows the band at 822 cm{sup −1} indicates the formation of cubic periclase MgO. The optical band gap of MgO Nps estimated from UV –Vis spectrum was found to be in the range 5.40–5.45 eV. SEM images showed that, the product is agglomerated and particle in nature. Photoluminescence (PL) studies shows violet emission at 390 nm, blue emission at 470 nm and green emissionmore » at 550 nm. MgO Nps shows good photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV/Sun light irradiation.« less

Improved passive treatment of high Zn and Mn concentrations using caustic magnesia (MgO): particle size effects.

PubMed

Rötting, Tobias S; Ayora, Carlos; Carrera, Jesus

2008-12-15

High concentrations of divalent metals such as Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co, etc. are not removed satisfactorily in conventional (calcite- or organic matter-based) passive treatment systems. Caustic magnesia ("MgO") has been used successfully as an alternative alkaline material to remove these metals almost completely from water, but columns with coarse-grained MgO lost reactivity or permeability due to the accumulation of precipitates when only a small portion of the reagent had been spent. In the present study, MgO was mixed with wood chips to overcome these problems. Two columns with different MgO grain sizes were used to treat Zn- and Mn-rich water during one year. Performance was compared by measuring depth profiles of chemical parameters and hydraulic conductivity. The column containing 25% (v/v) of MgO with median particle size of about 3 mm displayed low reactivity and poor metal retention. In contrast, the column containing only 12.5% (v/v) of MgO with median particle size of 0.15 mm depleted Zn and Mn below detection limit throughout the study and had a good hydraulic performance. 95% of the applied MgO was consumed in the zone where Zn and Mn accumulated. The fine alkaline grains can dissolve almost completely before the growing layer of precipitates passivates them, whereas clogging is prevented by the large pores of the coarse inert matrix (wood chips). A reactive transport model corroborated the hypotheses that Zn(II) was removed due to its low solubility at pH near 10 achieved by MgO dissolution, whereas Mn(II) was removed due to rapid oxidation to Mn(III) at this pH and subsequent precipitation. The model also confirmed that the small size and large specific surface area of the MgO particles are the key factor to achieve a sufficiently fast dissolution.

Formation of solid Kr nanoclusters in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Huis, M. A.; van Veen, A.; Schut, H.; Kooi, B. J.; de Hosson, J. Th.

2003-06-01

The phenomenon of positron confinement enables us to investigate the electronic structure of nanoclusters embedded in host matrices. Solid Kr nanoclusters are a very interesting subject of investigation because of the very low predicted value of the positron affinity of bulk Kr. In this work, positron trapping in solid Kr nanoclusters embedded in MgO is investigated. The Kr nanoclusters were created by means of 280 keV Kr ion implantation in single crystals of MgO(100) and subsequent thermal annealing at a temperature of 1100 K. The nanoclusters were observed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy in high-resolution mode. The fcc Kr nanoclusters are rectangularly shaped with sizes of 2 to 5 nm and are in a cube-on-cube orientation relationship with the MgO host matrix. From the Moiré fringes in high-resolution recordings, the lattice parameter of the solid Kr was deduced and found to vary from 5.3 to 5.8 Å. The corresponding pressures are 0.6 2.5 GPa as found using the Ronchi equation of state. The relationship between lattice parameter and cluster size was investigated and it was found that the lattice parameter increases linearly with increasing nanocluster size. The defect evolution during annealing was monitored by means optical absorption spectroscopy and positron beam analysis. No evidence of positron trapping was found despite the very low positron affinity of solid Kr. Alternative definitions of the positron affinity are proposed for application to insulator materials.

Effect of MgO on Liquidus Temperatures in the ZnO-"FeO"-Al2O3-CaO-SiO2-MgO System in Equilibrium with Metallic Iron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Baojun; Hayes, Peter C.; Jak, Evgueni

2011-06-01

The phase equilibria in the ZnO-"FeO"-Al2O3-CaO-SiO2-MgO system have been determined experimentally in equilibrium with metallic iron. Synthetic slags were equilibrated at a high temperature, quenched, and then the compositions of the phases in equilibrium were measured using electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Pseudoternary sections of the form ZnO-"FeO"-(Al2O3 + CaO + SiO2) for CaO/SiO2 = 0.71, (CaO + SiO2)/Al2O3 = 5 and fixed MgO concentrations of 2, 4, and 6 wt pct have been constructed. Wustite (Fe2+,Mg,Zn)O and spinel (Fe2+,Mg,Zn)O·(Al,Fe3+)2O3 are the major primary phases in the temperature and composition ranges investigated. The liquidus temperatures are increased by 140 K in the wustite primary phase field and by 70 K in the spinel primary phase field with the addition of 6 wt pct MgO in the slag. The partitioning of MgO and ZnO between the solid and liquid phases has been discussed.

Effect of MgO and MnO on Phosphorus Utilization in P-Bearing Steelmaking Slag

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Lu; Bao, Yan-Ping; Wang, Min; Li, Xiang

2016-04-01

In order to recycle the phosphorus in P-bearing converter slag and make it used as slag phosphate fertilizer, the effect of MgO and MnO in P-bearing steelmaking slag on phosphorus existence form, P2O5 solubility and magnetic separation behavior were researched systematically. The results show that the phosphorus in slag is mainly in the form of n2CaO · SiO2-3CaO · P2O5 (for short nC2S-C3P) solid solution in the P-rich phase for CaO-SiO2-FetO-P2O5-X (X stands for MgO and MnO, respectively). And the increasing of MgO and MnO content has no influence on precipitation of nC2S-C3P solid solution in slag, MnO and MgO mainly enter into RO phase and base phase to form MnFe2O4 and MgFe2O4, which has little effect on the P2O5 content of P-rich phase, so which has little effect on the degree of phosphorus enrichment and phosphorus occurrence form of the P-bearing slag. And adding MgO and MnO into CaO-SiO2-P2O5-Fe2O3 slag system can break the complex net structure formed by Si-O on certain degree, and also hinder the precipitation of β-Ca3(PO4)2 crystal with low citric acid solubility during the melting-cooling process. Therefore, adding appropriate MgO and MnO content into slag can improve the slag P2O5 solubility, but the effect of different amounts of MgO and MnO on the P2O5 solubility has little difference. Meanwhile, adding MgO and MnO into slag can improve the metallization of slag and magnetism of iron-rich phase, make the magnetic substances content increase and separation of phosphorus and iron incomplete, so it is adverse to phosphorus resources recovery from P-bearing slag by magnetic separation method. In order to recycle the phosphorus in P-bearing converter slag, the MgO and MnO content in the P-bearing slag should be controlled in the steelmaking process.

Grain boundaries at the surface of consolidated MgO nanocrystals and acid-base functionality.

PubMed

Vingurt, Dima; Fuks, David; Landau, Miron V; Vidruk, Roxana; Herskowitz, Moti

2013-09-21

The increase of the surface basicity-acidity of MgO material by factors of 1.8-3.0 due to consolidation of its nanocrystals was demonstrated by the indicator titration. It was shown that the parallel increase of surface acidity and basicity is attributed to the formation of grain boundaries (GB) after MgO aerogel densification. A simple model predicting the increase of surface acidity-basicity of MgO that correlates with the results of direct measurements was proposed. The model is based on the study of the fine atomic structure at GB surface areas in consolidated MgO nanocrystals in the framework of Density Functional Theory. It is found that the displacements of coordinatively unsaturated surface ions near the GB are significant at the distances ~3-4 atomic layers from the geometrical contact plane between nanocrystals. The detailed analysis of atomic positions inside GB demonstrated the coordination deficiency of surface atoms at the GB areas leading to the formation of stretched bonds and to creation of low coordinated surface ions due to splitting of coordination numbers of surface atoms belonging to GB areas. Density of states for electrons shows the existence of additional states in the band gap close to the bottom of the conduction band. The adsorption energy of CO2 molecules atop oxygen atoms exposed at surface GB areas is of the same order of magnitude as that reported for oxygen atoms at crystallographic edges and corners of MgO crystals. It provides additional options for bonding of molecules at the surface of nanocrystalline MgO increasing the adsorption capacity and catalytic activity.

Swift heavy ion irradiation studies of GdFeO3 orthoferrite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Pawanpreet; Pandit, Rabia; Sharma, K. K.; Kumar, Ravi

2018-04-01

Thin films of GdFeO3, orthoferrite have been grown on MgO (001) substrate by pulsed laser deposition technique (PLD) to investigate the effect of swift heavy ion irradiation on their structural and magnetic properties. Thin films were irradiated with 200 MeV Ag15+ ions with fluence of 1×1011ions/cm2. The results of X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer characterization techniques are found to be different for the irradiated film from that of the pristine sample. The modifications in the irradiated samples are explained in terms of the ion-induced disorder.

Growth and characterization of thin Cu-phthalocyanine films on MgO(001) layer for organic light-emitting diodes

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Surface morphology and thermal stability of Cu-phthalocyanine (CuPc) films grown on an epitaxially grown MgO(001) layer were investigated by using atomic force microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The (002) textured β phase of CuPc films were prepared at room temperature beyond the epitaxial MgO/Fe/MgO(001) buffer layer by the vacuum deposition technique. The CuPc structure remained stable even after post-annealing at 350°C for 1 h under vacuum, which is an important advantage of device fabrication. In order to improve the device performance, we investigated also current-voltage-luminescence characteristics for the new top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes with different thicknesses of CuPc layer. PMID:23181826

Reduction of CaO and MgO Slag Components by Al in Liquid Fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mu, Haoyuan; Zhang, Tongsheng; Fruehan, Richard J.; Webler, Bryan A.

2018-05-01

This study documents laboratory-scale observations of reactions between Fe-Al alloys (0.1 to 2 wt pct Al) with slags and refractories. Al in steels is known to reduce oxide components in slag and refractory. With continued development of Al-containing Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) grade, the effects of higher Al must be examined because reduction of components such as CaO and MgO could lead to uncontrolled modification of non-metallic inclusions. This may lead to castability or in-service performance problems. In this work, Fe-Al alloys and CaO-MgO-Al2O3 slags were melted in an MgO crucible and samples were taken at various times up to 60 minutes. Inclusions from these samples were characterized using an automated scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM/EDS). Initially Al2O3 inclusions were modified to MgAl2O4, then MgO, then MgO + CaO-Al2O3-MgO liquid inclusions. Modification of the inclusions was faster at higher Al levels. Very little Ca modification was observed except at 2 wt pct Al level. The thermodynamic feasibility of inclusion modification and some of the mass transfer considerations that may have led to the differences in the Mg and Ca modification behavior were discussed.

Epitaxial growth of (001)-oriented Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3} thin films on a-plane sapphire with an MgO/ZnO bridge layer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xiao Bo; Liu Hongrui; Avrutin, Vitaliy

2009-11-23

High quality (001)-oriented Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3} (BST) thin films have been grown on a-plane sapphire (1120) by rf magnetron sputtering using a double bridge layer consisting of (0001)-oriented ZnO (50 nm) and (001)-oriented MgO (10 nm) prepared by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of three sets of in-plane BST domains, offset from one another by 30 deg., which is consistent with the in-plane symmetry of the MgO layer observed by in situ reflective high electron energy diffraction. The in-plane epitaxial relationship of BST, MgO, and ZnO has been determined to be BST [110]//MgO [110]//ZnO [1120]more » and BST [110]/MgO [110]//ZnO [1100]. Capacitance-voltage measurements performed on BST coplanar interdigitated capacitor structures revealed a high dielectric tunability of up to 84% at 1 MHz.« less

Nanostructure and strain effects in active thin films for novel electronic device applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Zheng

2007-12-01

There are many potential applications of ferroelectric thin films that take advantage of their unique dielectric and piezoelectric properties, such as tunable microwave devices and thin-film active sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM). However, many technical issues still restrict practical applications of ferroelectric thin films, including high insertion loss, limited figure of merit, soft mode effect, large temperature coefficients, and others. The main theme of this thesis is the advanced technique developments, and the new ferroelectric thin films syntheses and investigations for novel device applications. A novel method of additional doping has been adopted to (Ba,Sr)TiO 3 (BSTO) thin films on MgO. By introducing 2% Mn into the stoichiometric BSTO, Mn:BSTO thin films have shown a greatly enhanced dielectric tunability and a reduced insertion loss at high frequencies (10-30 GHz). A new record of a large tunability of 80% with a high dielectric constant of 3800 and an extra low dielectric loss of 0.001 at 1 MHz at room-temperature was achieved. Meanwhile, the new highly epitaxial ferroelectric (Pb,Sr)TiO3 (PSTO) thin films have been synthesized on (001) MgO substrates. PSTO films demonstrated excellent high frequency dielectric properties with high dielectric constants above 1420 and large dielectric tunabilities above 34% at room-temperature up to 20 GHz. In addition, a smaller temperature coefficient from 80 K to 300 K was observed in PSTO films compared to BSTO films. These results indicate that the Mn:BSTO and PSTO films are both good candidates for developing room-temperature tunable microwave devices. Furthermore, crystalline ferroelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) thin films have been deposited directly on metal substrate Ni through a unique in-situ substrate pre-oxidation treatment. The highly oriented nanopillar structural BTO films were grown on the buffered layers created by the pre-oxidation treatment. No interdiffusion or reaction was observed at the

Direct graphene growth on MgO: origin of the band gap.

PubMed

Gaddam, Sneha; Bjelkevig, Cameron; Ge, Siping; Fukutani, Keisuke; Dowben, Peter A; Kelber, Jeffry A

2011-02-23

A 2.5 monolayer (ML) thick graphene film grown by chemical vapor deposition of thermally dissociated C(2)H(4) on MgO(111), displays a significant band gap. The apparent six-fold low energy electron diffraction (LEED) pattern actually consists of two three-fold patterns with different 'A' and 'B' site diffraction intensities. Similar effects are observed for the LEED patterns of a 1 ML carbon film derived from annealing adventitious carbon on MgO(111), and for a 1.5 ML thick graphene film grown by sputter deposition on the 1 ML film. The LEED data indicate different electron densities at the A and B sites of the graphene lattice, suggesting that the observed band gap results from lifting the graphene HOMO/LUMO degeneracy at the Dirac point. The data also indicate that disparities in A site/B site LEED intensities decrease with increasing carbon overlayer thickness, suggesting that the graphene band gap size decreases with increasing number of graphene layers on MgO(111). © 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd

Defect induced ferromagnetism in MgO nanoparticles studied by optical and positron annihilation spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Nitesh; Sanyal, D.; Sundaresan, A.

2009-08-01

Positron annihilation spectroscopy has been used to explore the nature of defects and to estimate the defect concentrations in ferromagnetic MgO nanoparticles. Our experimental results show that Mg vacancies or Mg vacancy concentration are present approximately at the concentration of 3.4 × 10 16 cm -3 in the nano-crystalline MgO which is twice the value that obtained for bulk sample. This is in correlation with the decrease of the intensity of blue luminescence and the saturation magnetic moment with increasing particle size. These results clearly demonstrate that the origin of magnetic moment and thus the ferromagnetism in MgO nanoparticles is due to Mg related vacancies at the surface of the particles.

Pure ultraviolet emission from ZnO quantum dots-based/GaN heterojunction diodes by MgO interlayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Cheng; Liang, Renli; Chen, Jingwen; Zhang, Jun; Wang, Shuai; Zhao, Chong; Zhang, Wei; Dai, Jiangnan; Chen, Changqing

2017-07-01

We demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of ZnO/GaN-based heterojunction light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by using air-stable and solution-processable ZnO quantum dots (QDs) with a thin MgO interlayer acting as an electron blocking layer (EBL). The ZnO QDs/MgO/ p-GaN heterojunction can only display electroluminescence (EL) characteristic in reverse bias regime. Under sufficient reverse bias, a fairly pure ultraviolet EL emission located at 370 nm deriving from near band edge of ZnO with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 8.3 nm had been obtained, while the deep-level emission had been almost totally suppressed. The EL origination and corresponding carrier transport mechanisms were investigated qualitatively in terms of photoluminescence (PL) results and energy band diagram.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

Nano SiO2 and MgO improve the properties of porous β-TCP scaffolds via advanced manufacturing technology.

PubMed

Gao, Chengde; Wei, Pingpin; Feng, Pei; Xiao, Tao; Shuai, Cijun; Peng, Shuping

2015-03-25

Nano SiO2 and MgO particles were incorporated into β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds to improve the mechanical and biological properties. The porous cylindrical β-TCP scaffolds doped with 0.5 wt % SiO2, 1.0 wt % MgO, 0.5 wt % SiO2 + 1.0 wt % MgO were fabricated via selective laser sintering respectively and undoped β-TCP scaffold was also prepared as control. The phase composition and mechanical strength of the scaffolds were evaluated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the phase transformation from β-TCP to α-TCP was inhibited after the addition of MgO. The compressive strength of scaffold was improved from 3.12 ± 0.36 MPa (β-TCP) to 5.74 ± 0.62 MPa (β-TCP/SiO2), 9.02 ± 0.55 MPa (β-TCP/MgO) and 10.43 ± 0.28 MPa (β-TCP/SiO2/MgO), respectively. The weight loss and apatite-forming ability of the scaffolds were evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid. The results demonstrated that both SiO2 and MgO dopings slowed down the degradation rate and improved the bioactivity of β-TCP scaffolds. In vitro cell culture studies indicated that SiO2 and MgO dopings facilitated cell attachment and proliferation. Combined addition of SiO2 and MgO were found optimal in enhancing both the mechanical and biological properties of β-TCP scaffold.

Nano SiO2 and MgO Improve the Properties of Porous β-TCP Scaffolds via Advanced Manufacturing Technology

PubMed Central

Gao, Chengde; Wei, Pingpin; Feng, Pei; Xiao, Tao; Shuai, Cijun; Peng, Shuping

2015-01-01

Nano SiO2 and MgO particles were incorporated into β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds to improve the mechanical and biological properties. The porous cylindrical β-TCP scaffolds doped with 0.5 wt % SiO2, 1.0 wt % MgO, 0.5 wt % SiO2 + 1.0 wt % MgO were fabricated via selective laser sintering respectively and undoped β-TCP scaffold was also prepared as control. The phase composition and mechanical strength of the scaffolds were evaluated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the phase transformation from β-TCP to α-TCP was inhibited after the addition of MgO. The compressive strength of scaffold was improved from 3.12 ± 0.36 MPa (β-TCP) to 5.74 ± 0.62 MPa (β-TCP/SiO2), 9.02 ± 0.55 MPa (β-TCP/MgO) and 10.43 ± 0.28 MPa (β-TCP/SiO2/MgO), respectively. The weight loss and apatite-forming ability of the scaffolds were evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid. The results demonstrated that both SiO2 and MgO dopings slowed down the degradation rate and improved the bioactivity of β-TCP scaffolds. In vitro cell culture studies indicated that SiO2 and MgO dopings facilitated cell attachment and proliferation. Combined addition of SiO2 and MgO were found optimal in enhancing both the mechanical and biological properties of β-TCP scaffold. PMID:25815597

Structural, spectral, NLO and MEP analysis of the [MgO2Ti2(OPri)6], [MgO2Ti2(OPri)2(acac)4] and [MgO2Ti2(OPri)2(bzac)4] by DFT method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayin, Koray; Karakaş, Duran

2015-06-01

Quantum chemical calculations are performed on [MgO2Ti2(OPri)6] and [MgO2Ti2(OPri)2(L)4] complexes. L is acetylacetonate (acac) and benzoylacetonate (bzac) anion. The crystal structures of these complexes have not been obtained as experimentally but optimized structures of these complexes are obtained as theoretically in this study. Universal force field (UFF) and DFT/B3LYP method are used to obtain optimized structures. Theoretical spectral analysis (IR, 1H and 13C NMR) is compared with their experimental values. A good agreement is found between experimental and theoretical spectral analysis. These results mean that the optimized structures of mentioned complexes are appropriate. Additionally, the active sites of mentioned complexes are determined by molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) diagrams and non-linear optical (NLO) properties are investigated.

Vacancies in MgO at ultrahigh pressure: About mantle rheology of super-Earths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritterbex, Sebastian; Harada, Takafumi; Tsuchiya, Taku

2018-05-01

First-principles calculations are performed to investigate vacancy formation and migration in the B2 phase of MgO. Defect energetics suggest the importance of intrinsic non-interacting vacancy pairs, even though the extrinsic vacancy concentration might govern atomic diffusion in the B2 phase of MgO. The enthalpies of ionic vacancy migration are generally found to decrease across the B1-B2 phase transition around a pressure of 500 GPa. It is shown that this enthalpy change induces a substantial increase in the rate of vacancy diffusion in MgO of almost four orders of magnitude (∼104) when the B1 phase transforms into the B2 phase with increasing pressure. If plastic deformation is controlled by vacancy diffusion, mantle viscosity is expected to decrease in relation to this enhanced diffusion rate in MgO across the B1-B2 transition in the interior of Earth-like large exoplanets. Our results of atomic relaxations near the defects suggest that diffusion controlled creep viscosity may generally decrease across high-pressure phase transitions with increasing coordination number. Plastic flow and resulting mantle convection in the interior of these super-Earths may be therefore less sluggish than previously thought.

Dissolution behavior of MgO based inert matrix fuel for the transmutation of minor actinides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mühr-Ebert, E. L.; Lichte, E.; Bukaemskiy, A.; Finkeldei, S.; Klinkenberg, M.; Brandt, F.; Bosbach, D.; Modolo, G.

2018-07-01

This study explores the dissolution properties of magnesia-based inert matrix nuclear fuel (IMF) containing transuranium elements (TRU). Pure MgO pellets as well as MgO pellets containing CeO2, as surrogate for TRU oxides, and are considered as model systems for genuine magnesia based inert matrix fuel were fabricated. The aim of this study is to identify conditions at which the matrix material can be selectively dissolved during the head-end reprocessing step, allowing a separation of MgO from the actinides, whereas the actinides remain undissolved. The dissolution behavior was studied in macroscopic batch experiments as a function of nitric acid concentration, dissolution medium volume, temperature, stirring velocity, and pellet density (85, 90, 96, and 99%TD). To mimic pellets with various burn-ups the density of the here fabricated pellets was varied. MgO is soluble even under mild conditions (RT, 2.5 mol/L HNO3). The dissolution rates of MgO at different acid concentrations are rather similar, whereas the dissolution rate is strongly dependent on the temperature. Via a microscopic approach, a model was developed to describe the evolution of the pellet surface area during dissolution and determine a surface normalized dissolution rate. Moreover, dissolution rates of the inert matrix fuel containing CeO2 were determined as a function of the acid concentration and temperature. During the dissolution of MgO/CeO2 pellets the MgO dissolves completely, while CeO2 (>99%) remains undissolved. This study intends to provide a profound understanding of the chemical performance of magnesia based IMF containing fissile material. The feasibility of the dissolution of magnesia based IMF with nitric acid is discussed.

Hydrogen production from steam reforming of ethylene glycol over iron loaded on MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Mingqiang; Wang, Yishuang; Liang, Tian; Yang, Jie; Yang, Zhonglian

2017-01-01

In this study, a series of Fe-based catalysts loaded on MgO were prepared by a precipitation technique. And they were tested in hydrogen production from steam reforming of ethylene glycol (SRE), which was a representative model compound of fast bio-oil. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM and H2-TPR analysis. The results showed that the crystalline phases of catalysts contained Fe2O3 (Hematite), Fe3O4 (Magnetite), Fe2MgO4 (iron magnesium oxide) and MgO, and morphology of MgO was changed from the rugby-ball like particles to spherical particles with the addition of Fe. In addition, the catalytic test results indicated that the 18%Fe/MgO catalyst exhibited the highest ethylene glycol conversion (˜99.8%) and H2 molar percent (˜77%) during at the following conditions: H2O/C molar ratio is 5˜7, the feeding rate is 14 mL/h and the reaction temperature at 600˜650°C. Furthermore, the 18%Fe/MgO catalyst can keep outstanding stability during SRE for 12 h.

Polyethylene Nanocomposites for the Next Generation of Ultralow-Transmission-Loss HVDC Cables: Insulation Containing Moisture-Resistant MgO Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Pourrahimi, Amir Masoud; Pallon, Love K H; Liu, Dongming; Hoang, Tuan Anh; Gubanski, Stanislaw; Hedenqvist, Mikael S; Olsson, Richard T; Gedde, Ulf W

2016-06-15

The use of MgO nanoparticles in polyethylene for cable insulation has attracted considerable interest, although in humid media the surface regions of the nanoparticles undergo a conversion to a hydroxide phase. A facile method to obtain MgO nanoparticles with a large surface area and remarkable inertness to humidity is presented. The method involves (a) low temperature (400 °C) thermal decomposition of Mg(OH)2, (b) a silicone oxide coating to conceal the nanoparticles and prevent interparticle sintering upon exposure to high temperatures, and (c) heat treatment at 1000 °C. The formation of the hydroxide phase on these silicone oxide-coated MgO nanoparticles after extended exposure to humid air was assessed by thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The nanoparticles showed essentially no sign of any hydroxide phase compared to particles prepared by the conventional single-step thermal decomposition of Mg(OH)2. The moisture-resistant MgO nanoparticles showed improved dispersion and interfacial adhesion in the LDPE matrix with smaller nanosized particle clusters compared with conventionally prepared MgO. The addition of 1 wt % moisture-resistant MgO nanoparticles was sufficient to decrease the conductivity of polyethylene 30 times. The reduction in conductivity is discussed in terms of defect concentration on the surface of the moisture-resistant MgO nanoparticles at the polymer/nanoparticle interface.

Defect studies of thin ZnO films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vlček, M.; Čížek, J.; Procházka, I.; Novotný, M.; Bulíř, J.; Lančok, J.; Anwand, W.; Brauer, G.; Mosnier, J.-P.

2014-04-01

Thin ZnO films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on four different substrates: sapphire (0 0 0 1), MgO (1 0 0), fused silica and nanocrystalline synthetic diamond. Defect studies by slow positron implantation spectroscopy (SPIS) revealed significantly higher concentration of defects in the studied films when compared to a bulk ZnO single crystal. The concentration of defects in the films deposited on single crystal sapphire and MgO substrates is higher than in the films deposited on amorphous fused silica substrate and nanocrystalline synthetic diamond. Furthermore, the effect of deposition temperature on film quality was investigated in ZnO films deposited on synthetic diamond substrates. Defect studies performed by SPIS revealed that the concentration of defects firstly decreases with increasing deposition temperature, but at too high deposition temperatures it increases again. The lowest concentration of defects was found in the film deposited at 450° C.

Pulsed laser deposition of air-sensitive hydride epitaxial thin films: LiH

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oguchi, Hiroyuki, E-mail: oguchi@nanosys.mech.tohoku.ac.jp; Micro System Integration Center; Isobe, Shigehito

2015-09-01

We report on the epitaxial thin film growth of an air-sensitive hydride, lithium hydride (LiH), using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). We first synthesized a dense LiH target, which is key for PLD growth of high-quality hydride films. Then, we obtained epitaxial thin films of [100]-oriented LiH on a MgO(100) substrate at 250 °C under a hydrogen pressure of 1.3 × 10{sup −2} Pa. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the film demonstrates a Stranski-Krastanov growth mode and that the film with a thickness of ∼10 nm has a good surface flatness, with root-mean-square roughness R{sub RMS} of ∼0.4 nm.

Simulation Study on Understanding the Spin Transport in MgO Adsorbed Graphene Based Magnetic Tunnel Junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raturi, Ashish; Choudhary, Sudhanshu

2016-11-01

First principles calculations of spin-dependent electronic transport properties of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) consisting of MgO adsorbed graphene nanosheet sandwiched between two CrO2 half-metallic ferromagnetic (HMF) electrodes is reported. MgO adsorption on graphene opens bandgap in graphene nanosheet which makes it more suitable for use as a tunnel barrier in MTJs. It was found that MgO adsorption suppresses transmission probabilities for spin-down channel in case of parallel configuration (PC) and also suppresses transmission in antiparallel configuration (APC) for both spin-up and spin-down channel. Tunnel magneto-resistance (TMR) of 100% is obtained at all bias voltages in MgO adsorbed graphene-based MTJ which is higher than that reported in pristine graphene-based MTJ. HMF electrodes were found suitable to achieve perfect spin filtration effect and high TMR. I-V characteristics for both parallel and antiparallel magnetization states of junction are calculated. High TMR suggests its usefulness in spin valves and other spintronics-based applications.

Structural and optical characterization of Er-alkali-metals codoped MgO nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivasankari, J.; Selvakumar Sellaiyan, S.; Sankar, S.; Devi, L. Vimala; Sivaji, K.

2017-01-01

Pure MgO, rare-earth (Er) doped MgO (MgO:Er), and alkali metal ions (Li, Na and K) co-doped MgO:Er [i.e. MgO: Er+X (X=Li, Na, and K)] nanopowders were synthesized by solution combustion method and characterized. The XRD analysis reveals the cubic structure and the substitution of dopants and co-dopants in MgO. Annealing at 800 °C, increases the sizes of nano-crystallites of all samples appreciably, indicating the grain growth and the improvement in crystallinity of all the samples. Increase in lattice parameter, d spacing and band gap were observed after annealing. Structural and morphological analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies has shown that the samples contain structures like agglomerated clusters. FT-IR spectra confirm the stretching mode of hydroxyl groups, carbonate and presence of MgO bonding. The characteristic wavelength ranging from 2600 cm-1 to 3000 cm-1 were assigned to transition of 4S3/2→4I13/2 and 4I11/2→4I15/2 of Er3+.

Periodic DFT study of acidic trace atmospheric gas molecule adsorption on Ca- and Fe-doped MgO(001) surface basic sites.

PubMed

Baltrusaitis, Jonas; Hatch, Courtney; Orlando, Roberto

2012-08-02

The electronic properties of undoped and Ca- or Fe-doped MgO(001) surfaces, as well as their propensity toward atmospheric acidic gas (CO2, SO2, and NO2) uptake was investigated with an emphasis on gas adsorption on the basic MgO oxygen surface sites, O(surf), using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Adsorption energy calculations show that MgO doping will provide stronger interactions of the adsorbate with the O(surf) sites than the undoped MgO for a given adsorbate molecule. Charge transfer from the iron atom in Fe-doped MgO(001) to NO2 was shown to increase the binding interaction between adsorbate by an order of magnitude, when compared to that of undoped and Ca-doped MgO(001) surfaces. Secondary binding interactions of adsorbate oxygen atoms were observed with surface magnesium sites at distances close to those of the Mg-O bond within the crystal. These interactions may serve as a preliminary step for adsorption and facilitate further adsorbate transformations into other binding configurations. Impacts on global atmospheric chemistry are discussed as these adsorption phenomena can affect atmospheric gas budgets via altered partitioning and retention on mineral aerosol surfaces.

Periodic DFT study of acidic trace atmospheric gas molecule adsorption on Ca and Fe doped MgO (001) surface basic sites

PubMed Central

Hatch, Courtney; Orlando, Roberto

2012-01-01

The electronic properties of undoped and Ca or Fe doped MgO (001) surfaces, as well as their propensity towards atmospheric acidic gas (CO2, SO2 and NO2) uptake was investigated with an emphasis on gas adsorption on the basic MgO oxygen surface sites, Osurf, using periodic Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Adsorption energy calculations show that MgO doping will provide stronger interactions of the adsorbate with the Osurf sites than the undoped MgO for a given adsorbate molecule. Charge transfer from the iron atom in Fe doped MgO (001) to NO2 was shown to increase the binding interaction between adsorbate by an order of magnitude, when compared to that of undoped and Ca doped MgO (001) surfaces. Secondary binding interactions of adsorbate oxygen atoms were observed with surface magnesium sites at distances close to those of the Mg-O bond within the crystal. These interactions may serve as a preliminary step for adsorption and facilitate further adsorbate transformations into other binding configurations. Impacts on global atmospheric chemistry are discussed as these adsorption phenomena can affect atmospheric gas budgets via altered partitioning and retention on mineral aerosol surfaces. PMID:22775293

Exciting transition metal doped dilute magnetic thin films: MgO:Er and ZnO:Er

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ćakıcı, T.; Sarıtaş, S.; Muǧlu, G. Merhan; Yıldırım, M.

2017-02-01

Erbium doped MgO and doped ZnO thin films have reasonably important properties applications in spintronic devices. These films were synthesized on glass substrates by Chemical Spray Pyrolysis (CSP) method. In the literature there has been almost no report on preparation of MgO:Er dilute magnetic thin films by means of CSP. Because doped thin films show different magnetic behaviors, depending upon the type of magnetic material ions, concentration of them, synthesis route and experimental conditions, synthesized MgO:Er and ZnO:Er films were compared to thin film properties. Optical analyses of the synthesized thin films were examined spectral absorption and transmittance measurements by UV-Vis double beam spectrophotometer technique. Structural analysis of the thin films was examined by using XRD, Raman Analysis, FE-SEM, EDX and AFM techniques. Also, magnetic properties of the MgO:Er and ZnO:Er films were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) which show that diamagnetic behavior of the MgO:Er thin film and ferromagnetic (FM) behavior of the ZnO:Er film were is formed.

Metalliclike behavior of the exchange coupling in (001) Fe/MgO/Fe junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellouard, C.; Duluard, A.; Snoeck, E.; Lu, Y.; Negulescu, B.; Lacour, D.; Senet, C.; Robert, S.; Maloufi, N.; Andrieu, S.; Hehn, M.; Tiusan, C.

2017-10-01

Exchange magnetic coupling between Fe electrodes through a thin MgO interlayer in epitaxial junctions has been investigated as a function of temperature, MgO thickness, and interface quality. Depending on the MgO thickness, which has been varied from 1.5 to 4 monolayers, two opposite temperature dependences are clearly disentangled. For a thin MgO spacer, the main component decreases with temperature following a metalliclike behavior. On the contrary, for the thickest MgO layers, the main component increases with temperature, following an Arrhenius law. Moreover, the insertion of a monoatomic roughness at the bottom MgO interface, induced by the addition of a fraction of a Fe monolayer, exacerbates the metallic features as an oscillatory behavior from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic is observed. These results allow questioning the simple tunneling mechanism usually invoked for MgO coupling, and suggest a crossover behavior of the thin MgO spacer from metallic to insulating with a progressive opening of the gap.

Dielectric properties and microstructure of nano-MgO dispersed Ba{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}TiO{sub 3} thin films prepared by sputter deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, S.-F.; Chu, Jinn P.; Lin, C.C.

2005-07-01

In this study, thin films prepared from the targets of Ba{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}TiO{sub 3} (BST), BST/5 mol % MgO, BST/10 mol % MgO, and BST/20 mol % MgO composites, using radio frequency magnetron sputtering, have been reported. As-deposited films were found to be amorphous and began to crystallize after annealing at temperatures of 650 deg. C and above. The addition of MgO in the BST films resulted in the hindrance of crystallization and inhibition of grain growth. MgO was substituted into the BST lattices to a certain degree. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy results revealed some MgO dispersed in the BSTmore » matrix. The MgO dispersed in the dense BST matrix was found to be around 25 nm in size. The dielectric constant was estimated to be 90 for the pure BST film annealed at 700 deg. C, and observed to be slightly reduced with the MgO addition. The dielectric losses of the Ba{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}TiO{sub 3} (0.006) and BST/MgO films (0.002-0.004) were much less than those of the Ba{sub 0.6}Sr{sub 0.4}TiO{sub 3}(0.013) and Ba{sub 0.7}Sr{sub 0.3}TiO{sub 3} films (0.11-0.13). The leakage current was smaller for the BST/10 mol % MgO film compared to the pure BST film and this low leakage current may be attributed to the substitution of Mg in the B sites of BST lattices which might have behaved as an electron acceptors.« less

When beauty is only skin deep; optimizing the sensitivity of specular neutron reflectivity for probing structure beneath the surface of thin filmsa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majkrzak, Charles F.; Carpenter, Elisabeth; Heinrich, Frank; Berk, Norman F.

2011-11-01

Specular neutron reflectometry has become an established probe of the nanometer scale structure of materials in thin film and multilayered form. It has contributed especially to our understanding of soft condensed matter of interest in polymer science, organic chemistry, and biology and of magnetic hard condensed matter systems. In this paper we examine a number of key factors which have emerged that can limit the sensitivity of neutron reflection as such a probe. Among these is loss of phase information, and we discuss how knowledge about material surrounding a film of interest can be applied to help resolve the problem. In this context we also consider what role the quantum phenomenon of interaction-free measurement might play in enhancing the statistical efficiency for obtaining reflectivity or transmission data.

Highly oriented Bi-based thin films with zero resistance at 106 K

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kula, W.; Sobolewski, R.; Gorecka, J.

1991-03-01

This paper reports on fabrication and characterization of nearly single-phase superconducting Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} thin films. The films were dc magnetron sputtered from heavily Pb-doped (Pb/Bi molar ratios up to 1.25), sintered targets on unheated MgO, SrTiO{sub 3}, CaNdAlO{sub 4}, and SrLaAlO{sub 4} single crystals. For the films grown on the (100) oriented MgO substrate, less than 1 hour of annealing in air at 870{degrees} C was sufficient to obtain more than 90% of the 110-K-phase material, with highly c-axis oriented crystalline structure and zero resistivity at 106 K. The films fabricated on the other substrates alsomore » exhibited a narrow superconducting transition and were fully superconducting above 100 K, but they consisted of a mixed-phase material with a large percentage of the 80 K phase.« less

Application of flowerlike MgO for highly sensitive determination of lead via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Hou, Jian; Chen, Suming; Cao, Changyan; Liu, Huihui; Xiong, Caiqiao; Zhang, Ning; He, Qing; Song, Weiguo; Nie, Zongxiu

2016-08-01

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) is a high-throughput method to achieve fast and accurate identification of lead (Pb) exposure, but is seldom used because of low ionization efficiency and insufficient sensitivity. Nanomaterials applied in MS are a promising technique to overcome the obstacles of MALDI. Flowerlike MgO nanostructures are applied for highly sensitive lead profiling in real samples. They can be used in two ways: (a) MgO is mixed with N-naphthylethylenediamine dihydrochloride (NEDC) as a novel matrix MgO/NEDC; (b) MgO is applied as an absorbent to enrich Pb ions in very dilute solution. The signal intensities of lead by MgO/NEDC were ten times higher than the NEDC matrix. It also shows superior anti-interference ability when analyzing 10 μmol/L Pb ions in the presence of organic substances or interfering metal ions. By applying MgO as adsorbent, the LOD of lead before enrichment is 1 nmol/L. Blood lead test can be achieved using this enrichment process. Besides, MgO can play the role of internal standard to achieve quantitative analysis. Flowerlike MgO nanostructures were applied for highly sensitive lead profiling in real samples. The method is helpful to prevent Pb contamination in a wide range. Further, the combination of MgO with MALDI MS could inspire more nanomaterials being applied in highly sensitive profiling of pollutants. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Comparative Study of Chemically and Biologically Synthesized MgO Nanomaterial for Liquefied Petroleum Gas Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thirupathi, Rampelly; Solleti, Goutham; Sreekanth, Tirumala; Sadasivuni, Kishor Kumar; Venkateswara Rao, Kalagadda

2018-03-01

The exceptional chemical and physical properties of nanostructured materials are extremely suitable for designing new and enhanced sensing devices, particularly gas sensors and biosensors. The present work describes the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles through two methods: a green synthesis using aloe vera plant extract and a chemical method using a glycine-based solution combustion route. In a single step, the extracted organic molecules from aloe vera plants were used to reduce metal ions by the green method. MgO nanoparticles were coated onto the interdigital electrode using the drop-drying method. The dynamic gas-sensing characteristics were measured for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at different concentrations and various temperatures. The MgO nanoparticles were characterized by using x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to determine the size and structure of the particles. The product's functional properties were analyzed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. We found that the LPG sensing behavior of biologically synthesized MgO registers excellent sensitivity at various operating temperatures.

A Comparative Study of Chemically and Biologically Synthesized MgO Nanomaterial for Liquefied Petroleum Gas Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thirupathi, Rampelly; Solleti, Goutham; Sreekanth, Tirumala; Sadasivuni, Kishor Kumar; Venkateswara Rao, Kalagadda

2018-07-01

The exceptional chemical and physical properties of nanostructured materials are extremely suitable for designing new and enhanced sensing devices, particularly gas sensors and biosensors. The present work describes the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles through two methods: a green synthesis using aloe vera plant extract and a chemical method using a glycine-based solution combustion route. In a single step, the extracted organic molecules from aloe vera plants were used to reduce metal ions by the green method. MgO nanoparticles were coated onto the interdigital electrode using the drop-drying method. The dynamic gas-sensing characteristics were measured for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at different concentrations and various temperatures. The MgO nanoparticles were characterized by using x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to determine the size and structure of the particles. The product's functional properties were analyzed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. We found that the LPG sensing behavior of biologically synthesized MgO registers excellent sensitivity at various operating temperatures.

Domain wall pinning on strain relaxation defects (stacking faults) in nanoscale FePd (001)/MgO thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsiao, C. H.; Ouyang, Chuenhou, E-mail: wei0208@gmail.com, E-mail: houyang@mx.nthu.edu.tw; Yao, Y. D.

FePd (001) films, prepared by an electron beam deposition system on MgO(100), exhibit a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (1.7 × 10{sup 7 }erg/cc) with a high order parameter (0.92). The relation between stacking faults induced by the strain relaxation, which act as strong domain wall pinning sites, and the perpendicular coercivity of (001) oriented L1{sub 0} FePd films prepared at different temperatures have been investigated. Perpendicular coercivity can be apparently enhanced by raising the stacking fault densities, which can be elevated by climbing dissociation of total dislocation. The increased stacking fault densities (1.22 nm{sup −2}) with large perpendicular coercivity (6000 Oe) are obtained for samples preparedmore » at 650 °C. This present work shows through controlling stacking fault density in FePd film, the coercivity can be manipulated, which can be applied in future magnetic devices.« less

Self-healing of drying shrinkage cracks in cement-based materials incorporating reactive MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qureshi, T. S.; Al-Tabbaa, A.

2016-08-01

Excessive drying shrinkage is one of the major issues of concern for longevity and reduced strength performance of concrete structures. It can cause the formation of cracks in the concrete. This research aims to improve the autogenous self-healing capacity of traditional Portland cement (PC) systems, adding expansive minerals such as reactive magnesium oxide (MgO) in terms of drying shrinkage crack healing. Two different reactive grades (high ‘N50’and moderately high ‘92-200’) of MgO were added with PC. Cracks were induced in the samples with restraining end prisms through natural drying shrinkage over 28 days after casting. Samples were then cured under water for 28 and 56 days, and self-healing capacity was investigated in terms of mechanical strength recovery, crack sealing efficiency and improvement in durability. Finally, microstructures of the healing materials were investigated using FT-IR, XRD, and SEM-EDX. Overall N50 mixes show higher expansion and drying shrinkage compared to 92-200 mixes. Autogenous self-healing performance of the MgO containing samples were much higher compared to control (only PC) mixes. Cracks up to 500 μm were sealed in most MgO containing samples after 28 days. In the microstructural investigations, highly expansive Mg-rich hydro-carbonate bridges were found along with traditional calcium-based, self-healing compounds (calcite, portlandite, calcium silicate hydrates and ettringite).

MgO Nanoparticle Modified Anode for Highly Efficient SnO2-Based Planar Perovskite Solar Cells.

PubMed

Ma, Junjie; Yang, Guang; Qin, Minchao; Zheng, Xiaolu; Lei, Hongwei; Chen, Cong; Chen, Zhiliang; Guo, Yaxiong; Han, Hongwei; Zhao, Xingzhong; Fang, Guojia

2017-09-01

Reducing the energy loss and retarding the carrier recombination at the interface are crucial to improve the performance of the perovskite solar cell (PSCs). However, little is known about the recombination mechanism at the interface of anode and SnO 2 electron transfer layer (ETL). In this work, an ultrathin wide bandgap dielectric MgO nanolayer is incorporated between SnO 2 :F (FTO) electrode and SnO 2 ETL of planar PSCs, realizing enhanced electron transporting and hole blocking properties. With the use of this electrode modifier, a power conversion efficiency of 18.23% is demonstrated, an 11% increment compared with that without MgO modifier. These improvements are attributed to the better properties of MgO-modified FTO/SnO 2 as compared to FTO/SnO 2 , such as smoother surface, less FTO surface defects due to MgO passivation, and suppressed electron-hole recombinations. Also, MgO nanolayer with lower valance band minimum level played a better role in hole blocking. When FTO is replaced with Sn-doped In 2 O 3 (ITO), a higher power conversion efficiency of 18.82% is demonstrated. As a result, the device with the MgO hole-blocking layer exhibits a remarkable improvement of all J-V parameters. This work presents a new direction to improve the performance of the PSCs based on SnO 2 ETL by transparent conductive electrode surface modification.

High-Performance Flexible Single-Crystalline Silicon Nanomembrane Thin-Film Transistors with High- k Nb2O5-Bi2O3-MgO Ceramics as Gate Dielectric on a Plastic Substrate.

PubMed

Qin, Guoxuan; Zhang, Yibo; Lan, Kuibo; Li, Lingxia; Ma, Jianguo; Yu, Shihui

2018-04-18

A novel method of fabricating flexible thin-film transistor based on single-crystalline Si nanomembrane (SiNM) with high- k Nb 2 O 5 -Bi 2 O 3 -MgO (BMN) ceramic gate dielectric on a plastic substrate is demonstrated in this paper. SiNMs are successfully transferred to a flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrate, which has been plated with indium-tin-oxide (ITO) conductive layer and high- k BMN ceramic gate dielectric layer by room-temperature magnetron sputtering. The BMN ceramic gate dielectric layer demonstrates as high as ∼109 dielectric constant, with only dozens of pA current leakage. The Si-BMN-ITO heterostructure has only ∼nA leakage current at the applied voltage of 3 V. The transistor is shown to work at a high current on/off ratio of above 10 4 , and the threshold voltage is ∼1.3 V, with over 200 cm 2 /(V s) effective channel electron mobility. Bending tests have been conducted and show that the flexible transistors have good tolerance on mechanical bending strains. These characteristics indicate that the flexible single-crystalline SiNM transistors with BMN ceramics as gate dielectric have great potential for applications in high-performance integrated flexible circuit.

Effects of MgO on the Reduction of Vanadium Titanomagnetite Concentrates with Char

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chao; Sun, TiChang; Wang, XiaoPing; Hu, TianYang

2017-10-01

The effects of MgO on the carbothermic reduction behavior of vanadium titanomagnetite concentrates (VTC) from Chengde, China, were investigated via temperature-programmed heating under nitrogen atmosphere in a sealed furnace. Gaseous product content was measured by using an infrared gas analyzer, and it was found that the addition of MgO to VTC with char decreased the reduction rate and reduction degree, and the utilization of CO in VTC reduction was also reduced. X-ray diffraction results showed that magnesium titanate (Mg2TiO4) was formed but FeTi2O5 was not observed in the VTC reduction process by adding 6 wt.% MgO, which can be explained by thermodynamic analysis. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the enrichment of Mg in the unreacted core was the main reason that the further reduction of VTC was restricted. However, comparatively pure particles of Mg2TiO4 were generated, and the titanium and iron were separated well due to the combination of magnesium and titanium.

Magnetization and anisotropy of cobalt ferrite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eskandari, F.; Porter, S. B.; Venkatesan, M.; Kameli, P.; Rode, K.; Coey, J. M. D.

2017-12-01

The magnetization of thin films of cobalt ferrite frequently falls far below the bulk value of 455 kA m-1 , which corresponds to an inverse cation distribution in the spinel structure with a significant orbital moment of about 0.6 μB that is associated with the octahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions. The orbital moment is responsible for the magnetostriction and magnetocrystalline anisotropy and its sensitivity to imposed strain. We have systematically investigated the structure and magnetism of films produced by pulsed-laser deposition on different substrates (Ti O2 , MgO, MgA l2O4 , SrTi O3 , LSAT, LaAl O3 ) and as a function of temperature (500 -700 °C) and oxygen pressure (10-4-10 Pa ) . Magnetization at room-temperature ranges from 60 to 440 kA m-1 , and uniaxial substrate-induced anisotropy ranges from +220 kJ m-3 for films on deposited on MgO (100) to -2100 kJ m-3 for films deposited on MgA l2O4 (100), where the room-temperature anisotropy field reaches 14 T. No rearrangement of high-spin Fe3+ and Co2+ cations on tetrahedral and octahedral sites can reduce the magnetization below the bulk value, but a switch from Fe3+ and Co2+ to Fe2+ and low-spin Co3+ on octahedral sites will reduce the low-temperature magnetization to 120 kA m-1 , and a consequent reduction of Curie temperature can bring the room-temperature value to near zero. Possible reasons for the appearance of low-spin cobalt in the thin films are discussed.

Structure and electrical properties of Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 deposited on textured Pt thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Jongin; Song, Han Wook; Lee, Hee Chul; Lee, Won Jong; No, Kwangsoo

2001-08-01

The texturing of the bottom electrode plays a key role in the structure and electrical properties of Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PZT) thin films. We fabricated Pt bottom electrodes having a different thickness on MgO single crystals at 600 °C by rf magnetron sputtering. As the thickness of platinum (Pt) thin film increased, the preferred orientation of Pt thin film changed from (200) to (111). PZT thin films were fabricated at 450 °C by electron cyclotron resonance-plasma enhanced metal organic chemical vapor deposition on the textured Pt thin films. The texturing of the bottom electrode caused drastic changes in the C-V characteristics, P-E characteristics, and fatigue characteristics of metal/ferroelectric material/metal (MFM) capacitors. The difference of the electrical properties between the PZT thin films having different texturing was discussed in terms-of the x-y alignment and the interface between electrode and PZT in MFM capacitors.

Field dependent magnetic anisotropy of Fe1-xZnx thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Resnick, Damon A.; McClure, A.; Kuster, C. M.; Rugheimer, P.; Idzerda, Y. U.

2013-05-01

Using longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect in combination with a variable strength rotating magnetic field, called the Rotational Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (ROTMOKE) method, we show that the magnetic anisotropy for thin Fe82Zn18 single crystal films, grown on MgO(001) substrates, depends linearly on the strength of the applied magnetic field at low fields but is constant (saturates) at fields greater than 350 Oe. The torque moment curves generated using ROTMOKE are well fit with a model that accounts for the uniaxial and cubic anisotropy with the addition of a cubic anisotropy that depends linearly on the applied magnetic field. The field dependent term is evidence of a large effect on the effective magnetic anisotropy in Fe1-xZnx thin films by the magnetostriction.

Electron microscopy and positron annihilation study of CdSe nanoclusters embedded in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Huis, M. A.; van Veen, A.; Schut, H.; Eijt, S. W. H.; Kooi, B. J.; De Hosson, J. Th. M.

2004-06-01

CdSe nanoclusters are created in MgO by means of co-implantation of 280 keV, 1 × 10 16 Cd ions cm -2 and 210 keV, 1 × 10 16 Se ions cm -2 in single crystals of MgO(0 0 1) and subsequent thermal annealing at a temperature of 1300 K. The structural properties and the orientation relationship between the CdSe and the MgO are investigated using cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). The crystal structure of the nanoclusters depends on their size. The smallest nanoclusters with a size below 5 nm have the cubic rocksalt crystal structure. The larger nanoclusters have a different (most likely the cubic sphalerite) crystal structure. The defect evolution in the sample after ion implantation and during thermal annealing is investigated using Doppler broadening positron beam analysis (PBA). The defect evolution in samples co-implanted with Cd and Se is compared to the defect evolution in samples implanted with only Cd or only Se ions.

SO2 Initiates the Efficient Conversion of NO2 to HONO on MgO Surface.

PubMed

Ma, Qingxin; Wang, Tao; Liu, Chang; He, Hong; Wang, Zhe; Wang, Weihao; Liang, Yutong

2017-04-04

Nitrous acid (HONO) is an important source of hydroxyl radical (OH) that determines the fate of many chemically active and climate relevant trace gases. However, the sources and the formation mechanisms of HONO remain poorly understood. In this study, the effect of SO 2 on the heterogeneous reactions of NO 2 on MgO as a mineral dust surrogate was investigated. The reactivity of MgO to NO 2 is weak, while coexisting SO 2 can increase the uptake coefficients of NO 2 on MgO by 2-3 orders of magnitude. The uptake coefficients of NO 2 on SO 2 -aged MgO are independent of NO 2 concentrations in the range of 20-160 ppbv and relative humidity (0-70%RH). The reaction mechanism was demonstrated to be a redox reaction between NO 2 and surface sulfite. In the presence of SO 2 , NO 2 was reduced to nitrite under dry conditions, which could be further converted to gas-phase HONO in humid conditions. These results suggest that the reductive effect of SO 2 on the heterogeneous conversion of NO 2 to HONO may have a significant contribution to the unknown sources of HONO observed in polluted areas (for example, in China).

Selected Growth of Cubic and Hexagonal GaN Epitaxial Films on Polar MgO(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazarov, V. K.; Zimmerman, J.; Cheung, S. H.; Li, L.; Weinert, M.; Gajdardziska-Josifovska, M.

2005-06-01

Selected molecular beam epitaxy of zinc blende (111) or wurtzite (0001) GaN films on polar MgO(111) is achieved depending on whether N or Ga is deposited first. The cubic stacking is enabled by nitrogen-induced polar surface stabilization, which yields a metallic MgO(111)-(1×1)-ON surface. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory studies indicate that the atomically abrupt semiconducting GaN(111)/MgO(111) interface has a Mg-O-N-Ga stacking, where the N atom is bonded to O at a top site. This specific atomic arrangement at the interface allows the cubic stacking to more effectively screen the substrate and film electric dipole moment than the hexagonal stacking, thus stabilizing the zinc blende phase even though the wurtzite phase is the ground state in the bulk.

Chemical and electronic studies of CoFeB / MgO / CoFeB magnetic tunnel junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Read, J.; Cha, J.; Huang, P.; Egelhoff, W.; Muller, D.; Buhrman, R.

2008-03-01

MgO based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), particularly the CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB system, exhibit large tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) which makes them viable for MRAM [1] and sensor applications. Careful engineering of the MgO tunnel barriers, CoFeB electrodes, and their interfaces is essential for optimizing device performance [2,3], which motivates investigation of the chemical and electronic properties of high quality MTJs. We correlate scanning tunneling (STS), x-ray photoelectron (XPS) [4], and electron energy loss (EELS) [5] spectroscopies with current-in-plane tunneling (CIPT) measurements to gain insight on the electronic structure and chemistry of MgO MTJ structures. The measurements reveal that quite high TMR (>200%) can be obtained when there is substantial boron in the tunnel barrier, showing that proper doping of the MgO layer plays a significant role in the performance of such MTJs. We will discuss the impact of materials properties upon transport measurements and provide suggestions for greater control over MTJ device characteristics. [1] Parkin, Nat. Mater. 3, 862 (2004). [2] Nagamine, APL 89, 162507 (2006). [3] Lee, APL 90, 212507 (2007). [4] Read, APL 90, 132503 (2007). [5] Cha, APL 91, 062516 (2007).

XRD investigation of the Effect of MgO Additives on ZTA-TiO2 Ceramic Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azhar, Ahmad Zahirani Ahmad; Manshor, Hanisah; Ali, Afifah Mohd

2018-01-01

Alumina (Al2O3) based ceramics possess good mechanical properties and suitable for the application of cutting inserts. However, this monolithic ceramics suffer from lack of toughness. Hence, there are some modification were made such as the addition of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to the Al2O3 helps in increasing the toughness of the Al2O3 ceramics. Some additives such as MgO and TiO2 were used to further improve the mechanical properties of ZTA. In this study, high purity raw materials which consist of ZTA-TiO2 were mixed with different amount of MgO (0.0 - 1.0 wt %). The mixture of materials was going through wet mixing, compaction and pressureless sintering at 1600°C for one hour. The samples were characterized for phase analysis, microstructure, shrinkage rate, bulk density, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness. Based on the XRD analysis results, the secondary phase (MgAl2O4) was detected in the sample with 0.5 wt% of MgO onwards which leads to grains refinement, thus improve the density and hardness of ZTA-TiO2-MgO ceramics composites.

Failure mode prediction for composite structural insulated panels with MgO board facings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smakosz, Łukasz; Kreja, Ireneusz

2018-01-01

Sandwich panels are readily used in civil engineering due to their high strength to weight ratio and the ease and speed of assembly. The idea of a sandwich section is to combine thin and durable facings with a light-weight core and the choice of materials used allows obtaining the desired behaviour. Panels in consideration consist of MgO (magnesium oxide) board facings and expanded polystyrene core and are characterized by immunity to biological corrosion, a high thermal insulation and a relatively low impact on environment. Customizing the range of panels to meet market needs requires frequent size changes, leading to different failure modes, which are identified in a series of costly full-scale laboratory tests. A nonlinear numerical model was created with a use of a commercial ABAQUS code and a user-defined procedure, which is able to reproduce observed failure mechanisms; its parameters were established on the basis of small-scale tests and numerical experiments. The model was validated by a comparison with the results of the full-scale bending and compression tests. The results obtained were in satisfactory agreement with the test data.

Role of basic and acidic centers of MgO and modified MgO in catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketones studied by infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szöllösi, György; Bartók, Mihály

1999-05-01

In this study our aim was to identify the active sites and the surface species responsible for deactivation of MgO during catalytic transfer hydrogenations (CTH) of ketones using alcohols as hydrogen donors. Our previous studies showed that deactivation of MgO could be prevented by previous treatment with chloromethanes. Therefore the surface species formed during the reaction were studied before and after treatment with chloroform or chloroform- d by in situ infrared spectroscopy (IR). As a result, it was concluded that the reaction requires the presence of surface basic and acidic centers. The presence of Lewis acid centers was not necessary, the reaction could proceed on weakly acidic surface Brönsted sites, as the alterations in intensity and position of the ν(OH) bands indicated. Modification with chloroform resulted also in the generation of surface OH groups with a proper acidity for the reaction. The shift in carbonyl vibrations led us to the conclusion that Lewis acid and base centers were responsible for the catalyst poisoning, so covering these acid sites by Cl - led to a stable catalyst.

F + centre generation in MgO crystals at high density of excitation by accelerated electrons of subthreshold energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annenkov, Y. M.; Surzhikov, A. P.; Surzhikov, V. P.; Pogrebnjak, A. D.

1981-07-01

Optical absorption spectra and the angular distribution of annihilated positrons in MgO crystals irradiated by subtreshold superdense electron pulses are measured. The experimental results obtained show the effective contribution of the creation mechanism of non-impact radiation defects in MgO crystals at the highest electron irradiation densities.

A first-principles and experimental study of helium diffusion in periclase MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Zhewen; Wu, Henry; Shu, Shipeng; Krawczynski, Mike; Van Orman, James; Cherniak, Daniele J.; Bruce Watson, E.; Mukhopadhyay, Sujoy; Morgan, Dane

2018-02-01

The distribution of He isotopes is used to trace heterogeneities in the Earth's mantle, and is particularly useful for constraining the length scale of heterogeneity due to the generally rapid diffusivity of helium. However, such an analysis is challenging because He diffusivities are largely unknown in lower mantle phases, which can influence the He profiles in regions that cycle through the lower mantle. With this motivation, we have used first-principles simulations based on density functional theory to study He diffusion in MgO, an important lower mantle phase. We first studied the case of interstitial helium diffusion in perfect MgO and found a migration barrier of 0.73 eV at zero pressure. Then we used the kinetic Monte Carlo method to study the case of substitutional He diffusion in MgO, where we assumed that He diffuses on the cation sublattice through cation vacancies. We also performed experiments on He diffusion at atmospheric pressure using ion implantation and nuclear reaction analysis in both as-received and Ga-doped samples. A comparison between the experimental and simulation results are shown. This work provides a foundation for further studies at high-pressure.

Strong modification of thin film properties due to screening across the interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altendorf, S. G.; Reisner, A.; Tam, B.; Meneghin, F.; Wirth, S.; Tjeng, L. H.

2018-04-01

We report on our investigation of the influence of screening across the interface on the properties of semiconducting thin films. Using EuO as a well-defined model material, layers of various thickness deposited on yttria-stabilized zirconia (100) substrates were covered half with Mg metal and half with the wide-band-gap insulator MgO. We observed that the Curie temperature for the thinnest films is significantly higher for the part which is interfaced with the metal compared to the part which is interfaced with the insulator. We infer that the proximity of a polarizable medium reduces the energies of virtual charge excitations and thus increases the effective exchange interactions, a strong effect that can be utilized systematically for the design of thin film and multilayer systems.

Continuous modeling of a grain boundary in MgO and its disclination induced grain-boundary migration mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cordier, P.; Sun, X.; Taupin, V.; Fressengeas, C.

2016-12-01

Grain boundaries (GBs) are thin material layers where the lattice rotates from one orientation to the next one within a few nanometers. Because they treat these layers as infinitely thin interfaces, large-scale polycrystalline representations fail to describe their structure. Conversely, atomistic representations provide a detailed description of the GBs, but their character remains discrete and not prone to coarse-graining procedures. Continuum descriptions based on kinematic and crystal defect fields defined at interatomic scale are appealing because they can provide smooth and thorough descriptions of GBs, recovering in some sense the atomistic description and potentially serving as a basis for coarse-grained polycrystalline representations. In this work, a crossover between atomistic description and continuous representation of a MgO tilt boundary in polycrystals is set-up to model the periodic arrays of structural units by using dislocation and disclination dipole arrays along GBs. The strain, rotation, curvature, disclination and dislocation density fields are determined in the boundary area by using the discrete atomic positions generated by molecular dynamics simulations. Then, this continuous disclination/dislocation model is used as part of the initial conditions in elasto-plastic continuum mechanics simulations to investigate the shear-coupled boundary migration of tilt boundaries. The present study leads to better understanding of the structure and mechanical architecture of grain boundaries.

Fewer Defects in the Surface Slows the Hydrolysis Rate, Decreases the ROS Generation Potential, and Improves the Non-ROS Antimicrobial Activity of MgO.

PubMed

Anicˇić, Nemanja; Vukomanović, Marija; Koklicˇ, Tilen; Suvorov, Danilo

2018-05-21

Magnesium oxide (MgO) is recognised as exhibiting a contact-based antibacterial activity. However, a comprehensive study of the impact of atomic-scale surface features on MgO's antibacterial activity is lacking. In this study, the nature and abundance of the native surface defects on different MgO powders are thoroughly investigated. Their impacts on the hydrolysis kinetics, antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 47076), Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation potential are determined and explained. It is shown that a reduction in the abundance of low-coordinated oxygen atoms on the surface of the MgO improves its resistance to both hydrolysis and antibacterial activity. The ROS generation potential, determined in-situ using a fluorescence microplate assay and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, is not an inherent property of the studied MgO, rather it is a side product of hydrolysis (only for the most highly defected MgO particles) and/or a consequence of the MgO/bacteria interaction. The evaluation of the mutual correlations of the hydrolysis, the antibacterial activity and the ROS generation, with their origin in the surface defects' peculiarities, led to the conclusion that the acid/base reaction between the MgO surface and the bacterial wall contributes considerably to the MgO's antibacterial activity. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Gold atoms and clusters on MgO(100) films; an EPR and IRAS study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yulikov, M.; Sterrer, M.; Risse, T.; Freund, H.-J.

2009-06-01

Single gold atoms deposited on single crystalline MgO(1 0 0) films grown on Mo(1 0 0) are characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as IR spectroscopy using CO as probe molecules. In this article we describe the first angular dependent measurements to determine the principal hyperfine components of a secondary hyperfine interaction, namely, with 17O of the MgO. The values determined here are in perfect agreement with theoretical expectations and corroborate the previously reported binding mechanism of Au atoms on the oxygen anions of the MgO terrace. The temperature dependent EPR data reveal an onset of Au atom mobility at about 80 K while the formation of Au particles occurs only above 125 K. By an analysis of the EPR line width in combination with STM measurements it is possible to deduce an increase of the interatomic distance above 80 K. The Au/CO complexes show a somewhat smaller temperature stability as compared to the Au atoms. The observed thermal stability is in perfect agreement with theoretical predictions for CO desorption.

Structure-dependent magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque in antiferromagnetic Fe |MgO |FeMn |Cu tunnel junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Xingtao; Tang, Huimin; Wang, Shizhuo; Qin, Minghui

2017-02-01

We predict large magnetoresistance (MR) and spin transfer torque (STT) in antiferromagnetic Fe |MgO |FeMn |Cu tunnel junctions based on first-principles scattering theory. MR as large as ˜100 % is found in one junction. Magnetic dynamic simulations show that STT acting on the antiferromagnetic order parameter dominates the spin dynamics, and an electronic bias of order 10-1mV and current density of order 105Acm-2 can switches a junction of three-layer MgO, they are about one order smaller than that in Fe |MgO |Fe junction with the same barrier thickness, respectively. The multiple scattering in the antiferromagnetic region is considered to be responsible for the enhanced spin torque and smaller switching current density.

The Evaluation of Damage Effects on MgO Added Concrete with Slag Cement Exposed to Calcium Chloride Deicing Salt.

PubMed

Jang, Jae-Kyeong; Kim, Hong-Gi; Kim, Jun-Hyeong; Ryou, Jae-Suk

2018-05-14

Concrete systems exposed to deicers are damaged in physical and chemical ways. In mitigating the damage from CaCl₂ deicers, the usage of ground slag cement and MgO are investigated. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and slag cement are used in different proportions as the binding material, and MgO in doses of 0%, 5%, 7%, and 10% are added to the systems. After 28 days of water-curing, the specimens are immersed in 30% CaCl₂ solution by mass for 180 days. Compressive strength test, carbonation test, chloride penetration test, chloride content test, XRD analysis, and SEM-EDAX analysis are conducted to evaluate the damage effects of the deicing solution. Up to 28 days, plain specimens with increasing MgO show a decrease in compressive strength, an increase in carbonation resistance, and a decrease in chloride penetration resistance, whereas the S30- and S50- specimens show a slight increase in compressive strength, an increase in carbonation resistance, and a slight increase in chloride penetration resistance. After 180 days of immersion in deicing solution, specimens with MgO retain their compressive strength longer and show improved durability. Furthermore, the addition of MgO to concrete systems with slag cement induces the formation of magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H) phases.

The Evaluation of Damage Effects on MgO Added Concrete with Slag Cement Exposed to Calcium Chloride Deicing Salt

PubMed Central

Jang, Jae-Kyeong; Kim, Hong-Gi; Kim, Jun-Hyeong

2018-01-01

Concrete systems exposed to deicers are damaged in physical and chemical ways. In mitigating the damage from CaCl2 deicers, the usage of ground slag cement and MgO are investigated. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and slag cement are used in different proportions as the binding material, and MgO in doses of 0%, 5%, 7%, and 10% are added to the systems. After 28 days of water-curing, the specimens are immersed in 30% CaCl2 solution by mass for 180 days. Compressive strength test, carbonation test, chloride penetration test, chloride content test, XRD analysis, and SEM-EDAX analysis are conducted to evaluate the damage effects of the deicing solution. Up to 28 days, plain specimens with increasing MgO show a decrease in compressive strength, an increase in carbonation resistance, and a decrease in chloride penetration resistance, whereas the S30- and S50- specimens show a slight increase in compressive strength, an increase in carbonation resistance, and a slight increase in chloride penetration resistance. After 180 days of immersion in deicing solution, specimens with MgO retain their compressive strength longer and show improved durability. Furthermore, the addition of MgO to concrete systems with slag cement induces the formation of magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H) phases. PMID:29758008

Crystallization Behavior of the CaO-Al2O3-MgO System Studied with a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Sung Suk; Sohn, Il

2012-12-01

The crystallization behavior of a calcium-aluminate system with various MgO content from 2.5 to 7.5 wt pct and CaO/Al2O3 ratios between 0.8 and 1.2 has been examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). CCT (continuous cooling transformation) and time temperature transformation (TTT) diagrams were constructed to identify the primary crystal phase of slag at different compositions and at cooling rates between 25 and 800 K/minutes. In the slag at a CaO/Al2O3 ratio of 1.0, crystallization temperature increased during isothermal and continuous cooling with higher MgO content, and the shortest incubation time was observed at 5 wt pct MgO. When MgO content was fixed to be 5 wt pct, crystallization temperature increased with lower CaO/Al2O3 ratio. According to the slag composition, cooling rates and temperature, the primary phase could be CA, or C5A3, or C3A, or C3MA2, or MgO, and the crystal morphology changes from dendrites to faceted crystals to columnar crystals in this composition range.

Neutron monochromators of BeO, MgO and ZnO single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adib, M.; Habib, N.; Bashter, I. I.; Morcos, H. N.; El-Mesiry, M. S.; Mansy, M. S.

2014-05-01

The monochromatic features of BeO, MgO and ZnO single crystals are discussed in terms of orientation, mosaic spread, and thickness within the wavelength band from 0.05 up to 0.5 nm. A computer program MONO, written in “FORTRAN”, has been developed to carry out the required calculations. Calculation shows that a 5 mm thick MgO single crystal cut along its (2 0 0) plane having mosaic spread of 0.5° FWHM has the optimum parameters when it is used as a neutron monochromator. Moreover, at wavelengths shorter than 0.24 nm the reflected monochromatic neutrons are almost free from the higher order ones. The same features are seen with BeO (0 0 2) with less reflectivity than that of the former. Also, ZnO cut along its (0 0 2) plane is preferred over the others only at wavelengths longer than 0.20 nm. When the selected monochromatic wavelength is longer than 0.24 nm, the neutron intensities of higher orders from a thermal reactor flux are higher than those of the first-order one. For a cold reactor flux, the first order of BeO and MgO single crystals is free from the higher orders up to 0.4 nm, and ZnO at wavelengths up to 0.5 nm.

Organic-inorganic interface-induced multi-fluorescence of MgO nanocrystal clusters and their applications in cellular imaging.

PubMed

Xie, Shuifen; Bao, Shixiong; Ouyang, Junjie; Zhou, Xi; Kuang, Qin; Xie, Zhaoxiong; Zheng, Lansun

2014-04-25

Surface functionalization of inorganic nanomaterials through chemical binding of organic ligands on the surface unsaturated atoms, forming unique organic-inorganic interfaces, is a powerful approach for creating special functions for inorganic nanomaterials. Herein, we report the synthesis of hierarchical MgO nanocrystal clusters (NCs) with an organic-inorganic interface induced multi-fluorescence and their application as new alternative labels for cellular imaging. The synthetic method was established by a dissolution and regrowth process with the assistance of carboxylic acid, in which the as-prepared MgO NCs were modified with carboxylic groups at the coordinatively unsaturated atoms of the surface. By introducing acetic acid to partially replace oleic acid in the reaction, the optical absorption of the produced MgO NCs was progressively engineered from the UV to the visible region. Importantly, with wider and continuous absorption profile, those MgO NCs presented bright and tunable multicolor emissions from blue-violet to green and yellow, with the highest absolute quantum yield up to (33±1) %. The overlap for the energy levels of the inorganic-organic interface and low-coordinated states stimulated a unique fluorescence resonance energy transfer phenomenon. Considering the potential application in cellular imaging, such multi-fluorescent MgO NCs were further encapsulated with a silica shell to improve the water solubility and stability. As expected, the as-formed MgO@SiO2 NCs possessed great biocompatibility and high performance in cellular imaging. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The phase diagram and transport properties of MgO from theory and experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shulenburger, Luke

2013-06-01

Planetary structure and the formation of terrestrial planets have received tremendous interest due to the discovery of so called super-earth exoplanets. MgO is a major constituent of Earth's mantle, the rocky cores of gas giants and is a likely component of the interiors of many of these exoplanets. The high pressure - high temperature behavior of MgO directly affects equation of state models for planetary structure and formation. In this work, we examine MgO under extreme conditions using experimental and theoretical methods to determine its phase diagram and transport properties. Using plate impact experiments on Sandia's Z facility the solid-solid phase transition from B1 to B2 is clearly determined. The melting transition, on the other hand, is subtle, involving little to no signal in us-up space. Theoretical work utilizing density functional theory (DFT) provides a complementary picture of the phase diagram. The solid-solid phase transition is identified through a series of quasi-harmonic phonon calculations and thermodynamic integration, while the melt boundary is found using phase coexistence calculations. One issue of particular import is the calculation of reflectivity along the Hugoniot and the influence of the ionic structure on the transport properties. Particular care is necessary because of the underestimation of the band gap and attendant overestimation of transport properties due to the use of semi-local density functional theory. We will explore the impact of this theoretical challenge and its potential solutions in this talk. The integrated use of DFT simulations and high-accuracy shock experiments together provide a comprehensive understanding of MgO under extreme conditions. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Company, for the U.S. DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Theoretical aspects of methyl acetate and methanol activation on MgO(100) and (501) catalyst surfaces with application in FAME production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Man, Isabela-Costinela; Soriga, Stefan Gabriel; Parvulescu, Vasile

2017-01-01

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to study the activation of methyl acetate and methanol on MgO(100) and MgO(501) surfaces and integrated in the context of transesterification, interesterification and glycerolysis reactions used in biodiesel industry. First results indicate the importance of including of dispersion forces in the calculations. On MgO(100) the reverse reactions steps of Csbnd O and Csbnd H dissociations and on MgO(501) the same reverse reaction step of Csbnd H dissociations of methyl acetate are energetically favorable, while the dissociation of Csbnd O bond into methoxide and acetate fragments on the edge of MgO(501) was found to be exothermic with a low activation energy. For methanol, the dissociation of Osbnd H bond on MgO(100) surface in the presence of the second coadsorbed methanol molecule becomes more energetically favoured compared to the isolated molecule, due to the fact that the methoxide fragment is stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. This is reflected by the decrease of the activation energy of the forward reaction step and the increase of the activation energy of the backward reaction step, increasing the probability to have dissociated molecules among the undissociated ones. These results represent a step forward for better understanding from atomistic point of view the paths of these reactions on these surfaces for the corresponding catalytic processes.

Ion beam synthesis of Fe nanoparticles in MgO and yttria-stabilized zirconia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Potzger, K.; Reuther, H.; Zhou, Shengqiang; Mücklich, A.; Grötzschel, R.; Eichhorn, F.; Liedke, M. O.; Fassbender, J.; Lichte, H.; Lenk, A.

2006-04-01

To form embedded Fe nanoparticles, MgO(001) and YSZ(001) single crystals have been implanted at elevated temperatures with Fe ions at energies of 100 keV and 110 keV, respectively. The ion fluence was fixed at 6×1016 cm-2. As a result, γ- and α-phase Fe nanoparticles were synthesized inside MgO and YSZ, respectively. A synthesis efficiency of 100% has been achieved for implantation at 1273 K into YSZ. The ferromagnetic behavior of the α-Fe nanoparticles is reflected by a magnetic hyperfine field of 330 kOe and a hysteretic magnetization reversal. Electron holography showed a fringing magnetic field around some, but not all of the particles.

Structural Properties of Alternate Monatomic Layered [Fe/Co]n Epitaxial Films on MgO Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, In Chang; Saki, Yoshinobu; Kawasaki, Shohei; Doi, Masaaki; Sahashi, Masashi

2008-06-01

Body-centered-cubic (bcc) Fe50Co50 material is reported to show a high bulk spin scattering coefficient on current perpendicular to plane-giant magneto-resistance (CPP-GMR) system. But the origin of that phenomenon does not make sure yet. We prepared artificially alternate monatomic layered (AML) [Fe/Co] 41 MLs epitaxial films (Ts: 75, 250 °C) by monatomic deposition method and investigated the topology of AML [Fe/Co]n epitaxial films on MgO substrate with different orientation (001), (011) by the scanning tunnel microscopy (STM) and reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), which we could confirm Frank-van der Merwe (FM) growth mode for AML [Fe/Co]n on MgO(001) and Volmer-Weber (VW) growth mode for that on Mg(011). The roughness of surface, Ra (0.20 nm) of AML [Fe/Co] 41 MLs epitaxial film grown at 75 °C on MgO(001) is smaller than that (0.46 nm) of AML [Fe/Co] grown at 250 °C on MgO(001), which has the large terraces of over 50 nm (Ra: 0.17 nm), even though there are some valleys between large terraces. Moreover we confirmed the structural properties of trilayered epitaxial films with AML [Fe/Co]n (Ra: 0.18 nm) and Fe50Co50 alloy epitaxial film on Au electrode by RHEED before confirming the characteristics of CPP-GMR devices.

Optical and thermodynamic properties of MgO from radiative shock temperature and sound speed measurements on samples preheated to 2300 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatýanov, O. V.; Asimow, P. D.

2013-12-01

Thermodynamic properties of MgO, one of the major end-members of deep planetary interiors, play a significant role in the processes inside the Earth's lower mantle. Of particular importance in geophysics and geochemistry is the MgO melting behavior at high pressure. Despite considerable theoretical and experimental efforts over decades, it remains essentially unknown. The melting temperature predictions for MgO at 135 GPa, the Earth's core-mantle boundary pressure, range from 5 to 9 kK. In a continuous effort to resolve this inconsistency and to probe the P-T region previously unexplored, we developed a technique for radiative shock temperature measurements in single-crystal MgO preheated to 2300 K. Large ventilated Mo capsules were employed to hold ~20 mm long MgO crystals with controlled longitudinal thermal gradients. These hot targets were impacted by 0.8 mm thick Ta flyers launched at 6.5 to 7.5 km/s on the Caltech two-stage light-gas gun. Six spectral radiance histories from MgO shock front were recorded in every shot with 3 ns time resolution over 440-750 nm or 500-830 nm spectral range. The majority of our experiments showed smooth pressure dependence of MgO shock temperature and sound speed consistent with the solid phase at 197-243 GPa. Although most observed temperatures are ~700 K lower and sound speeds ~1 km/s higher than the model predictions, the pressure slopes for both parameters are in close agreement with those calculated for the solid phase. Unconfirmed data from a single experiment at 239 GPa and 8.3 kK showed correlated temperature and sound speed anomalies (both values lower than expected) that may be explained by partial melting. Our past and recent data on shock-compressed preheated MgO suggest its melting curve above 200 GPa is higher than the extrapolation of the experiments of Zerr & Boehler or the theoretical calculation by Strachan et. al. These results, features of shock experiments with 2300 K pre-heat temperatures, data analysis

Structural characterization of ZnO thin films grown on various substrates by pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novotný, M.; Čížek, J.; Kužel, R.; Bulíř, J.; Lančok, J.; Connolly, J.; McCarthy, E.; Krishnamurthy, S.; Mosnier, J.-P.; Anwand, W.; Brauer, G.

2012-06-01

ZnO thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on three different substrates: sapphire (0 0 0 1), MgO (1 0 0) and fused silica (FS). The structure and morphology of the films were characterized by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and defect studies were carried out using slow positron implantation spectroscopy (SPIS). Films deposited on all substrates studied in this work exhibit the wurtzite ZnO structure and are characterized by an average crystallite size of 20-100 nm. However, strong differences in the microstructure of films deposited on various substrates were found. The ZnO films deposited on MgO and sapphire single-crystalline substrates exhibit local epitaxy, i.e. a well-defined relation between film crystallites and the substrate. Domains with different orientation relationships with the substrate were found in both films. On the other hand, the film deposited on the FS substrate exhibits fibre texture with random lateral orientation of crystallites. Extremely high compressive in-plane stress of σ ˜ 14 GPa was determined in the film deposited on the MgO substrate, while the film deposited on sapphire is virtually stress-free, and the film deposited on the FS substrate exhibits a tensile in-plane stress of σ ˜ 0.9 GPa. SPIS investigations revealed that the concentration of open-volume defects in the ZnO films is substantially higher than that in a bulk ZnO single crystal. Moreover, the ZnO films deposited on MgO and sapphire single-crystalline substrates exhibit a significantly higher density of defects than the film deposited on the amorphous FS substrate.

Physicochemical and adsorptive characteristics of activated carbons from waste polyester textiles utilizing MgO template method.

PubMed

Xu, Zhihua; Zhang, Daofang; Yuan, Zhihang; Chen, Weifang; Zhang, Tianqi; Tian, Danqi; Deng, Haixuan

2017-10-01

Activated carbons with high specific surface areas were produced, utilizing waste polyester textiles as carbon precursor by magnesium oxide (MgO) template method. Magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 ), magnesium citrate (MgCi), and MgO were employed as MgO precursors to prepare activated carbons (AC-MgCl 2 , AC-MgCi, and AC-MgO). Thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry was conducted to investigate the pore-forming mechanism, and N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, XRD, SEM-EDS, TEM, FTIR and pH pzc were achieved to analyze physicochemical characteristics of the samples. The specific surface areas of AC-MgCl 2 (1173 m 2 /g) and AC-MgCi (1336 m 2 /g) were much higher than that of AC-MgO (450 m 2 /g), and the pores sizes of which were micro-mesoporous, mesoporous, and macropores, respectively, due to the formation of MgO crystal with different sizes. All activated carbons had abundant acidic oxygen groups. In addition, batch adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorptive characteristics of the prepared activated carbons toward Cr(VI). The adsorption kinetics fitted well with the pseudo-second order, and the adsorptive capacity of AC-MgCl 2 (42.55 mg/g) was higher than those of AC-MgCi (40.93 mg/g) and AC-MgO (35.87 mg/g).

Destructive adsorption of Diazinon pesticide by activated carbon nanofibers containing Al2O3 and MgO nanoparticles.

PubMed

Behnam, Roghaye; Morshed, Mohammad; Tavanai, Hossein; Ghiaci, Mehran

2013-10-01

We report the destructive adsorption of Diazinon pesticide by porous webs of activated carbon nanofibers containing Al2O3 and MgO nanoparticles. The results show that, the presence of Al2O3 and MgO nanoparticles in the activated carbon nanofibers increases the amount of destructively adsorbed Diazinon pesticide by activated carbon nanofibers. Moreover, type, amount, and specific surface area of metal oxide nanoparticles affect the adsorption rate as well as the total destructively adsorbed Diazinon. Liquid chromatography proved the degradation of Diazinon by chemical reaction with Al2O3 and MgO nanoparticles. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that the main product of reaction between Diazinon and the metal oxides is 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol with less toxicity than Diazinon.

Effect of hot extrusion, other constituents, and temperature on the strength and fracture of polycrystalline MgO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rice, R.W.

Improved agreement was confirmed between the Petch intercept and single-crystal yield stresses at 22 C. Hot-extruded MgO crystal specimens stressed parallel with the resultant axial texture (1) gave the highest and least-scattered strength-grain size results at 22 C, (2) showed direct fractographic evidence of microplastic initiated fracture at 22 C and showed macroscopic yield at 1,315 and especially 1,540 C, and (3) fractured entirely via transgranular cleavage, except for intergranular failure initiation from one or a few grain boundary surfaces exposed on the subsequent fracture surface, mainly at 1,540 C. Hot-extruded, hot-pressed MgO billets gave comparable strength when fracture initiatedmore » transgranularly, but lower strength when fracture initiated from one or especially a few grain boundary surfaces exposed on the fracture. The extent and frequency of such boundary fracture increased with test temperature. While oxide additions of [<=] 5% or impurities in hot-pressed or hot-extruded MgO can make limited strength increases at larger grain sizes, those having limited solubility can limit strength at finer grain sizes, as can coarser surface finish. Overall, MgO strength is seen as a balance between flaw and microplastic controlled failure, with several parameters shifting the balance.« less

Annealing temperature effects on the magnetic properties and induced defects in C/N/O implanted MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qiang; Ye, Bonian; Hao, Yingping; Liu, Jiandang; Kong, Wei; Ye, Bangjiao

2013-02-01

Virgin MgO single crystals were implanted with 70 keV C/N/O ions at room temperature to a dose of 2 × 1017/cm2. After implantation the samples showed room temperature hysteresis in magnetization loops. The annealing effects on the magnetic properties and induced defects of these samples were determined by vibrating sample magnetometer and positron annihilation spectroscopy, respectively. The experimental results indicate that ferromagnetism can be introduced to MgO single crystals by doping with C, N or introduction of Mg related vacancy defects. However, the Mg vacancies coexistence with C or N ions in the C-/N-implanted samples may play a negative role in magnetic performance in these MgO samples. The rapid increase of magnetic moment in O-implanted sample is attributed to the formation of new type of vacancy defects.

Superconductivity in BiPbCaSrCuO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, S. M.; Yang, H. C.; Chen, F. C.; Horng, H. E.; Jao, J. C.

1989-12-01

Thin films of BiPbCaSrCuO sample were prepared by RF sputtering from sintered ceramic targets. Single crystal of MgO(100) was selected as substrate. The sputtering was held at room temperature. Different annealing conditions were carried out to obtain optimum conditions. High temperature resistivity was measured in air to study the thermodynamic reaction of the sintered films. An resistivity anomaly was found in the first heating cycle which suggests a thermodynamic reaction. A temperature dependence of I c was measured to study the coupling of grains in the granular films in different temperature ranges and the results will be discussed.

Sequentially evaporated thin Y-Ba-Co-O superconducting films on microwave substrates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Valco, G. J.; Rohrer, N. J.; Warner, J. D.; Bhasin, K. B.

1989-01-01

The development of high T sub c superconducting thin films on various microwave substrates is of major interest in space electronic systems. Thin films of YBa2Cu3O(7-Delta) were formed on SrTiO3, MgO, ZrO2 coated Al2O3, and LaAlO3 substrates by multi-layer sequential evaporation and subsequent annealing in oxygen. The technique allows controlled deposition of Cu, BaF2 and Y layers, as well as the ZrO buffer layers, to achieve reproducibility for microwave circuit fabrication. The three layer structure of Cu/BaF2/Y is repeated a minimum of four times. The films were annealed in an ambient of oxygen bubbled through water at temperatures between 850 C and 900 C followed by slow cooling (-2 C/minute) to 450 C, a low temperature anneal, and slow cooling to room temperature. Annealing times ranged from 15 minutes to 5 hrs. at high temperature and 0 to 6 hr. at 450 C. Silver contacts for four probe electrical measurements were formed by evaporation followed with an anneal at 500 C. The films were characterized by resistance-temperature measurements, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Critical transition temperatures ranged from 30 K to 87 K as a function of the substrate, composition of the film, thicknesses of the layers, and annealing conditions. Microwave ring resonator circuits were also patterned on these MgO and LaAlO3 substrates.

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Mn2CoAl thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, N. Y.; Zhang, Y. Q.; Fu, H. R.; Che, W. R.; You, C. Y.; Shan, R.

2016-01-01

Heusler compound Mn2CoAl (MCA) is attracting more attentions due to many novel properties, such as high resistance, semiconducting behavior and suggestion as a spin-gapless material with a low magnetic moment. In this work, Mn2CoAl epitaxial thin film was prepared on MgO(100) substrate by magnetron sputtering. The transport property of the film exhibits a semiconducting-like behavior. Moreover, our research reveals that perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) can be induced in very thin Mn2CoAl films resulting from Mn-O and Co-O bonding at Mn2CoAl/MgO interface, which coincides with a recent theoretical prediction. PMA and low saturation magnetic moment could lead to large spin-transfer torque with low current density in principle, and thus our work may bring some unanticipated Heusler compounds into spintronics topics such as the domain wall motion and the current-induced magnetization reversal.

Reaction of water with MgO(100) surfaces: Part III. X-ray standing wave studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, P.; Kendelewicz, T.; Nelson, E. J.; Brown, G. E.

1998-09-01

Clean MgO(100) surfaces cleaved in vacuum and exposed to water vapor or bulk water were studied using the X-ray standing wave (XSW) technique in back reflection mode and surface sensitive, element specific O KLL and Mg KLL Auger electron yield detection. The effects of surface charging were mitigated, but not entirely eliminated, by using a low-energy electron flood gun. Simulation of the XSW signal showed that the effect of surface charging on the XSW data could be minimized with careful experimental design. We demonstrate that the XSW method can be applied to studies of insulating surfaces, and our results for MgO(100) surfaces exposed to water vapor or bulk water indicate the following: (1) the vacuum-cleaved clean surface undergoes no surface reconstruction or significant relaxation perpendicular to the surface; (2) Mg-OH distances on surfaces exposed to water vapor or bulk water measured perpendicular to the (100) surface are the same as in bulk MgO; and (3) the z-position of the surface Mg atoms does not change within the estimated error [±2% of the (200) spacing] after the surface is fully hydroxylated. Our results for the clean, vacuum-cleaved surface disagree with results from impact collision ion-scattering spectroscopy and surface-extended electron-loss fine structure for MgO(100), which indicate 15 and 17% inward relaxation, respectively, and they support results from low-energy electron diffraction, reflection high-energy electron diffraction, and photoelectron diffraction that show little, if any, relaxation or rumpling of the surface.

Experimental and Statistical Analysis of MgO Nanofluids for Thermal Enhancement in a Novel Flat Plate Heat Pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandiaraj, P.; Gnanavelbabu, A.; Saravanan, P.

Metallic fluids like CuO, Al2O3, ZnO, SiO2 and TiO2 nanofluids were widely used for the development of working fluids in flat plate heat pipes except magnesium oxide (MgO). So, we initiate our idea to use MgO nanofluids in flat plate heat pipe as a working fluid material. MgO nanopowders were synthesized by wet chemical method. Solid state characterizations of synthesized nanopowders were carried out by Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (UV), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Synthesized nanopowders were prepared as nanofluids by adding water and as well as water/ethylene glycol as a binary mixture. Thermal conductivity measurements of prepared nanofluids were studied using transient hot-wire apparatus. Response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken design was implemented to investigate the influence of temperature (30-60∘C), particle fraction (1.5-4.5 vol.%), and solution pH (4-12) of nanofluids as the independent variables. A total of 17 experiments were accomplished for the construction of second-order polynomial equations for target output. All the influential factors, their mutual effects and their quadratic terms were statistically validated by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum stability and thermal conductivity of MgO nanofluids with various temperature, volume fraction and solution pH were predicted and compared with experimental results. The results revealed that increase in particle fraction and pH of MgO nanofluids at certain points would increase thermal conductivity and become stable at nominal temperature.

Structural, compositional, mechanical characterization and biological assessment of bovine-derived hydroxyapatite coatings reinforced with MgF2 or MgO for implants functionalization.

PubMed

Mihailescu, Natalia; Stan, G E; Duta, L; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen; Bleotu, Coralia; Sopronyi, M; Luculescu, C; Oktar, F N; Mihailescu, I N

2016-02-01

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a consecrated biomaterial for bone reconstruction. In the form of thin films deposited by pulsed laser technologies, it can be used to cover metallic implants aiming to increase biocompatibility and osseointegration rate. HA of animal origin (bovine, BHA) reinforced with MgF2 (2wt.%) or MgO (5wt.%) were used for deposition of thin coatings with improved adherence, biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity. For pulsed laser deposition experiments, a KrF* (λ=248nm, τFWHM≤25ns) excimer laser source was used. The deposited structures were characterized from a physical-chemical point of view by X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy in top- and cross-view modes, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy and Pull-out adherence tests. The microbiological assay using the HEp-2 cell line revealed that all target materials and deposited thin films are non-cytotoxic. We conducted tests on three strains isolated from patients with dental implants failure, i.e. Microccocus sp., Enterobacter sp. and Candida albicans sp. The most significant anti-biofilm effect against Microcococcus sp. strain, at 72h, was obtained in the presence of BHA:MgO thin films. For Enterobacter sp. strain a superior antimicrobial activity at 72h was noticed, in respect with simple BHA or Ti control. The enhanced antimicrobial performances, correlated with good cytocompatibility and mechanical properties recommend these biomaterials as an alternative to synthetic HA for the fabrication of reliable implant coatings for dentistry and other applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of substrate type on transport properties of superconducting FeSe0.5Te0.5 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Feifei; Iida, Kazumasa; Langer, Marco; Hänisch, Jens; Ichinose, Ataru; Tsukada, Ichiro; Sala, Alberto; Putti, Marina; Hühne, Ruben; Schultz, Ludwig; Shi, Zhixiang

2015-06-01

FeSe0.5Te0.5 thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on CaF2, LaAlO3 and MgO substrates and structurally and electro-magnetically characterized in order to study the influence of the substrate on their transport properties. The in-plane lattice mismatch between FeSe0.5Te0.5 bulk and the substrate shows no influence on the lattice parameters of the films, whereas the type of substrate affects the crystalline quality of the films and, therefore, the superconducting properties. The film on MgO showed an extra peak in the angular dependence of critical current density Jc(θ) at θ = 180° (H||c), which arises from c-axis defects as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. In contrast, no Jc(θ) peaks for H||c were observed in films on CaF2 and LaAlO3. Jc(θ) can be scaled successfully for both films without c-axis correlated defects by the anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau approach with appropriate anisotropy ratio γJ. The scaling parameter γJ is decreasing with decreasing temperature, which is different from what we observed in FeSe0.5Te0.5 films on Fe-buffered MgO substrates.

First principles study of iron-bearing MgO under ultrahigh pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umemoto, K.; Hsu, H.

2017-12-01

Understanding of minerals under ultrahigh pressure is essential to model interiors of super-Earths. Chemical compositions of the super-Earths are expected to be similar to those of the Earth. Computational studies on Mg-Si-O ternary systems under ultrahigh pressures, which are difficult to be achieved by diamond-anvil-cell experiments, have been intensively performed (e.g., [1] for MgO, [2,3] for SiO2, and [4,5] for MgSiO3). However, as far as we know, these studies have been restricted to pure Mg-Si-O systems. In the mantles of super-Earths, we expect that there should be impurities as in the Earth's mantle. Among candidates of impurities, iron is especially important to model interiors of super-Earths. Here, we investigate iron-bearing MgO under ultrahigh pressures by first principles. We clarify effects of iron on the phase transition of MgO and thermodynamic quantities by first principles. The role of the 3d electrons will be elucidated. [1] Z. Wu, R. M. Wentzcovitch, K. Umemoto, B. Li, K. Hirose, and J. C. Zheng, J. Geophys. Res. 113, B06204 (2008). [2] S. Q. Wu, K. Umemoto, M. Ji, C. Z. Wang, K. M. Ho, and R. M. Wentzcovitch, Phys. Rev. B 83, 184102 (2011). [3] T. Tsuchiya and J. Tsuchiya, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 108, 1252 (2011) [4] S. Q. Wu, M. Ji, C. Z. Wang, M. C. Nguye, X. Zhao, K. Umemoto, R. M. Wentzcovitch, and K. M. Ho, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 26, 035402 (2014). [5] H. Niu, A. R. Oganov, X.-C. Chen, and D. Li, Sci. Rep. 5, 18347 (2015).

Transverse spin Seebeck effect versus anomalous and planar Nernst effects in Permalloy thin films.

PubMed

Schmid, M; Srichandan, S; Meier, D; Kuschel, T; Schmalhorst, J-M; Vogel, M; Reiss, G; Strunk, C; Back, C H

2013-11-01

Transverse magnetothermoelectric effects are studied in Permalloy thin films grown on MgO and GaAs substrates and compared to those grown on suspended SiN(x) membranes. The transverse voltage along platinum strips patterned on top of the Permalloy films is measured versus the external magnetic field as a function of the angle and temperature gradients. After the identification of the contribution of the planar and anomalous Nernst effects, we find an upper limit for the transverse spin Seebeck effect, which is several orders of magnitude smaller than previously reported.

Terahertz dielectric response of ferroelectric Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO3 thin films.

PubMed

Kang, Seung Beom; Kwak, Min Hwan; Choi, Muhan; Kim, Sungil; Kim, Taeyong; Cha, Eun Jong; Kang, Kwang Yong

2011-11-01

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy has been used to investigate the dielectric and optical properties of ferroelectric Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO(3) thin films for nominal x-values of 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 in the frequency range of 0.3 to 2.5 THz. The ferroelectric thin films were deposited at approximately 700 nm thickness on [001] MgO substrate by pulsed laser deposition. The measured complex dielectric and optical constants were compared with the Cole-Cole relaxation model. The results show that the Cole-Cole relaxation model fits well with the data throughout the frequency range and the dielectric relaxation behavior of ferroelectric Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO(3) thin films varies with the films compositions. Among the compositions of Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO(3) films with different Ba/Sr ratios, Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)TiO(3) has the highest dielectric constants and the shortest dielectric relaxation time.

Fabrication of air-stable n-type carbon nanotube thin-film transistors on flexible substrates using bilayer dielectrics.

PubMed

Li, Guanhong; Li, Qunqing; Jin, Yuanhao; Zhao, Yudan; Xiao, Xiaoyang; Jiang, Kaili; Wang, Jiaping; Fan, Shoushan

2015-11-14

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) thin-film transistors hold great potential for flexible electronics. However, fabrication of air-stable n-type devices by methods compatible with standard photolithography on flexible substrates is challenging. Here, we demonstrated that by using a bilayer dielectric structure of MgO and atomic layer deposited (ALD) Al2O3 or HfO2, air-stable n-type devices can be obtained. The mechanism for conduction type conversion was elucidated and attributed to the hole depletion in SWNT, the decrease of the trap state density by MgO assimilating adsorbed water molecules in the vicinity of SWNT, and the energy band bending because of the positive fixed charges in the ALD layer. The key advantage of the method is the relatively low temperature (120 or 90 °C) required here for the ALD process because we need not employ this step to totally remove the absorbates on the SWNTs. This advantage facilitates the integration of both p-type and n-type transistors through a simple lift off process and compact CMOS inverters were demonstrated. We also demonstrated that the doping of SWNTs in the channel plays a more important role than the Schottky barriers at the metal contacts in carbon nanotube thin-film transistors, unlike the situation in individual SWNT-based transistors.

Search for O[-1] earthquake-like precursors: a ME μSR MgO study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boekema, C.; Cabot, A.; Lee, A.-L.; Lin, I.; Colebaugh, A.; Freund, Ft

We study O-1 earthquake-like precursor effects by analyzing Muon-Spin-Resonance (μSR) MgO data using Maximum Entropy (ME). Due to its presence in the Earth's crust, MgO is ideal to study these features. O-1 formation results from a 2-stage break-up in an O anion pair at high-temperature or high-pressure conditions. As T increases above room temperature, a small % of oxygen is predicted to produce an O-1 state. ME analysis of 100-Oe μSR data of a pure 3N-MgO single crystal produces a broad Gaussian at 1.36 MHz and a sharp Lorentzian at 1.4 MHz. The latter could be effects of extended O-1 states, as positive muons probe near O ions. There is no sharp 1.4-MHz signal observed in the μSR data of insulators Al2O3 and PrBCO6 data, only the expected 100-Oe Gaussian. We have fitted ME μSR transforms of MgO to obtain an empirical description of 1.36- and 1.4- MHz peaks. Their T dependences above room temperature appear to be positive-hole effects. Relations to precursor earthquake-like O-valency effects are discussed. Research supported by ISIS-UK, LANL-DOE, SETI-NASA, SJSU & AFC.

Effect of the MgO on microstructure and optical properties of TAG (Tb3Al5O12) transparent ceramics using hot isostatic pressing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shouyi; Liu, Peng; Xu, Xiaodong; Zhang, Jian

2018-06-01

In this work, the TAG transparent ceramics doped with 0.4 wt.% TEOS and different concentration of MgO were fabricated by a reactive sintering process under vacuum sintering combined with hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment. The effect of MgO on the microstructure evolution and optical properties of delivered ceramics were investigated. The results showed that the TAG ceramics doped with 0.4 wt.% TEOS and 0.1 wt.% MgO exhibited the optimum optical transmittance, which can reach about 81% in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions. The addition of MgO inhibited the grain growth and accelerated the densification of TAG ceramic at the sintering temperature reached about 1600 °C.

MgO melting curve constraints from shock temperature and rarefaction overtake measurements in samples preheated to 2300 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fat'yanov, O. V.; Asimow, P. D.

2014-05-01

Continuing our effort to obtain experimental constraints on the melting curve of MgO at 100-200 GPa, we extended our target preheating capability to 2300 K. Our new Mo capsule design holds a long MgO crystal in a controlled thermal gradient until impact by a Ta flyer launched at up to 7.5 km/s on the Caltech two-stage light-gas gun. Radiative shock temperatures and rarefaction overtake times were measured simultaneously by a 6-channel VIS/NIR pyrometer with 3 ns time resolution. The majority of our experiments showed smooth monotonic increases in MgO sound speed and shock temperature with pressure from 197 to 243 GPa. The measured temperatures as well as the slopes of the pressure dependences for both temperature and sound speed were in good agreement with those calculated numerically for the solid phase at our peak shock compression conditions. Most observed sound speeds, however, were ~800 m/s higher than those predicted by the model. A single unconfirmed data point at 239 GPa showed anomalously low temperature and sound speed, which could both be explained by partial melting in this experiment and could suggest that the Hugoniot of MgO preheated to 2300 K crosses its melting line just slightly above 240 GPa.

Optical Properties of Nanocrystal Interfaces in Compressed MgO Nanopowders

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

The optical properties and charge trapping phenomena observed on oxide nanocrystal ensembles can be strongly influenced by the presence of nanocrystal interfaces. MgO powders represent a convenient system to study these effects due to the well-defined shape and controllable size distributions of MgO nanocrystals. The spectroscopic properties of nanocrystal interfaces are investigated by monitoring the dependence of absorption characteristics on the concentration of the interfaces in the nanopowders. The presence of interfaces is found to affect the absorption spectra of nanopowders more significantly than changing the size of the constituent nanocrystals and, thus, leading to the variation of the relative abundance of light-absorbing surface structures. We find a strong absorption band in the 4.0−5.5 eV energy range, which was previously attributed to surface features of individual nanocrystals, such as corners and edges. These findings are supported by complementary first-principles calculations. The possibility to directly address such interfaces by tuning the energy of excitation may provide new means for functionalization and chemical activation of nanostructures and can help improve performance and reliability for many nanopowder applications. PMID:21443262

The influence of incorporating MgO into Ni-based cermets by plasma spraying on anode microstructural and chemical stability in dry methane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lay, E.; Metcalfe, C.; Kesler, O.

2012-11-01

The Solution Precursor Plasma Spray (SPPS) process was successfully used to deposit cermet coatings that exhibit fine microstructures with high surface area. MgO addition in Ni-YSZ and Ni-SDC cermets results in (Ni,Mg)O solid solution formation, and nickel particles after reduction are finer than in coatings without magnesia. The influence of MgO on the chemical stability of cermets in anodic operating conditions is discussed. It was found that a sufficient amount of magnesia addition (Ni0.9(MgO)0.1) helps to reduce carbon deposition in dry methane.

Al embedded MgO barrier MTJ: A first principle study for application in fast and compact STT-MRAMs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Manoj Kumar; Gupta, Santosh Kumar; Rai, Sanjeev; Pandey, Avinash C.

2017-03-01

The first principle comparative study of a novel single Al sheet embedded MgO and pure MgO barrier having Fe electrodes magnetic tunnel junction has been presented. Al embedded MgO is reported to provide enhanced spin polarised tunnelling current due to increase of spin-polarized density of states at Fermi energy in the barrier region. This novel MTJ provides a current density and resistance area (RA) product of 94.497 ×107 A / cm2 and 0.105  Ω - μm2 respectively. With such a low RA product; it allows higher deriving current due to which switching time of magnetization reversal reduces without inducing barrier related breakdowns in non-volatile magnetic random access memories. The low RA product and high current density of the proposed MTJ may have possible applications in integration with existing MOS circuits.

Structural, electronic and chemical properties of metal/oxide and oxide/oxide interfaces and thin film structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lad, Robert J.

1999-12-14

This project focused on three different aspects of oxide thin film systems: (1) Model metal/oxide and oxide/oxide interface studies were carried out by depositing ultra-thin metal (Al, K, Mg) and oxide (MgO, AlO{sub x}) films on TiO{sub 2}, NiO and {alpha}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} single crystal oxide substrates. (2) Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) oxygen plasma deposition was used to fabricate AlO{sub 3} and ZrO{sub 2} films on sapphire substrates, and film growth mechanisms and structural characteristics were investigated. (3) The friction and wear characteristics of ZrO{sub 2} films on sapphire substrates in unlubricated sliding contact were studied and correlated with filmmore » microstructure. In these studies, thin film and interfacial regions were characterized using diffraction (RHEED, LEED, XRD), electron spectroscopies (XPS, UPS, AES), microscopy (AFM) and tribology instruments (pin-on-disk, friction microprobe, and scratch tester). By precise control of thin film microstructure, an increased understanding of the structural and chemical stability of interface regions and tribological performance of ultra-thin oxide films was achieved in these important ceramic systems.« less

High-piezoelectric behavior of c-axis-oriented lead zirconate titanate thin films with composition near the morphotropic phase boundary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Desheng; Suzuki, Hisao; Ogawa, Takeshi; Ishikawa, Kenji

2002-05-01

The piezoelectric responses of c-axis-oriented Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 (PZT) thin films have been studied by measuring the stress-induced charge with an accurate charge integrator. These measurements reveal that the c-axis-oriented PZT films have high values of d33, which are several times those of ceramic materials. The intrinsic d33 values of poled films are about 680 and 800 pC/N for the c-axis-oriented films on Si and MgO single-crystal substrates, respectively. It shows that the thin-film deposition technique opens an approach for exploring the potential superior properties of PZT near the morphotropic phase boundary.

In Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation of MgO Nanoparticles and Their Effect on the Expression of ROS Genes

PubMed Central

Kumaran, Rangarajulu Senthil; Choi, Yong-Keun; Singh, Vijay; Song, Hak-Jin; Song, Kyung-Guen; Kim, Kwang Jin; Kim, Hyung Joo

2015-01-01

Water-dispersible MgO nanoparticles were tested to investigate their cytotoxic effects on oxidative stress gene expression. In this in vitro study, genes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase, were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reactions (molecular level) and molecular beacon technologies (cellular level). The monodispersed MgO nanoparticles, 20 nm in size, were used to treat human cancer cell lines (liver cancer epithelial cells) at different concentrations (25, 75 and 150 µg/mL) and incubation times (24, 48 and 72 h). Both the genetic and cellular cytotoxic screening methods produced consistent results, showing that GST and catalase ROS gene expression was maximized at 150 µg/mL nanoparticle treatment with 48 h incubation. However, the genotoxic effect of MgO nanoparticles was not significant compared with control experiments, which indicates its significant potential applications in nanomedicine as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. PMID:25854426

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Mn{sub 2}CoAl thin film

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, N. Y.; Zhang, Y. Q.; Che, W. R.

Heusler compound Mn{sub 2}CoAl (MCA) is attracting more attentions due to many novel properties, such as high resistance, semiconducting behavior and suggestion as a spin-gapless material with a low magnetic moment. In this work, Mn{sub 2}CoAl epitaxial thin film was prepared on MgO(100) substrate by magnetron sputtering. The transport property of the film exhibits a semiconducting-like behavior. Moreover, our research reveals that perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) can be induced in very thin Mn{sub 2}CoAl films resulting from Mn-O and Co-O bonding at Mn{sub 2}CoAl/MgO interface, which coincides with a recent theoretical prediction. PMA and low saturation magnetic moment could leadmore » to large spin-transfer torque with low current density in principle, and thus our work may bring some unanticipated Heusler compounds into spintronics topics such as the domain wall motion and the current-induced magnetization reversal.« less

Positronium hydride in hydrogen-laden thermochemically reduced MgO single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pareja, R.; de La Cruz, R. M.; Pedrosa, M. A.; González, R.; Chen, Y.

1990-04-01

Thermochemical reduction of hydrogen-laden MgO single crystals at T~2400 K results in a large concentration of both hydride (H-) ions and anion vacancies (>1024 m-3). Positron-lifetime experiments of these crystals provide evidence for bound positronium hydride states also referred to as [e+-H-] or PsH states. The presence of the anion vacancies was found to inhibit the formation of these states. After thermally annealing out these vacancies, such that H- concentration remains intact, two long-lived components appear in the lifetime spectrum. Furthermore, these two components correlate with the presence of the H-ions. These results suggest the existence of bound [e+-H-] states when positrons are trapped by the H- ions, and the subsequent formation of positronium (Ps) states by the dissociation of the [e+-H-] states. From the values of the intermediate lifetime component, a value of (570+/-50) ps is obtained for the lifetime of the PsH state located in an anion vacancy in MgO. The longest lifetime component ~(1-3) ns is attributed to pick-off annihilation of ortho-Ps states.

Annealing Effects on the Surface Plasmon of MgO Implanted with Gold

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ueda, A.; Mu, R.; Tung, Y. -S.; Henderson, D. O.; White, C. W.; Zuhr, R. A.; Zhu, Jane G.; Wang, P. W.

1997-01-01

Gold ion implantation was carried out with the energy of 1.1 MeV into (100) oriented MgO single crystal. Implanted doses are 1, 3, 6, 10 x 10(exp 16) ions/sq cm. The gold irradiation results in the formation of gold ion implanted layer with a thickness of 0.2 microns and defect formation. In order to form gold colloids from the as-implanted samples, we annealed the gold implanted MgO samples in three kinds of atmospheres: (1)Ar only, (2)H2 and Ar, and (3)O2 and Ar. The annealing over 1200 C enhanced the gold colloid formation which shows surface plasmon resonance band of gold. The surface plasmon bands of samples annealed in three kinds of atmospheres were found to be at 535 nm (Ar only), 524 nm(H2+Ar), and 560 nm (02+Ar), The band positions of surface plasmon can be reversibly changed by an additional annealing.

Stabilization of Reactive MgO Surfaces by Ni Doping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazheika, Aliaksei; Levchenko, Sergey V.

Ni-MgO solid solutions are promising materials for catalytic reduction of CO2 and dry reforming of CH4. To explain the catalytic activity, an ab initio study of Ni-substitutional defects in MgO (NiMg) has been performed. At first, the validation of the theory level was done. We compared results of CCSD(T) embedded-cluster calculations of NiMg formation energies and adsorption energies of CO, CO2 and H2 on them to the HSE(α) hybrid DFT functional with the fraction of the exact exchange α varied between 0 and 1. HSE(0.3) was found to be the best compromise in this study. Our periodic HSE(0.3) calculations show that NiMg defects are most stable at corner sites, followed by steps, and are least stable at (001) terraces. Thus, Ni-doping stabilizes stepped MgO surfaces. The dissociative adsorption of H2 on the terrace is found to be endothermic (+ 1 . 1 eV), whereas on (110) surface with NiMg it is highly exothermic (- 1 . 6 eV). Adsorbed CO2 is also significantly stabilized (- 0 . 6 vs. - 2 . 2 eV). These findings explain recent microcalorimetry measurements of H2 and CO2 adsorption at doped Ni-MgO samples. partially supported by UniCat (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).

Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides.

PubMed

Sivakumar, Sai; Zwier, Elizabeth; Meisenheimer, Peter Benjamin; Heron, John T

2018-05-29

Here, we present a procedure for the synthesis of bulk and thin film multicomponent (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O (Co variant) and (Mg0.25(1-x)Co0.25(1-x)Ni0.25(1-x)CuxZn0.25(1-x))O (Cu variant) entropy-stabilized oxides. Phase pure and chemically homogeneous (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O (x = 0.20, 0.27, 0.33) and (Mg0.25(1-x)Co0.25(1-x)Ni0.25(1-x)CuxZn0.25(1-x))O (x = 0.11, 0.27) ceramic pellets are synthesized and used in the deposition of ultra-high quality, phase pure, single crystalline thin films of the target stoichiometry. A detailed methodology for the deposition of smooth, chemically homogeneous, entropy-stabilized oxide thin films by pulsed laser deposition on (001)-oriented MgO substrates is described. The phase and crystallinity of bulk and thin film materials are confirmed using X-ray diffraction. Composition and chemical homogeneity are confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The surface topography of thin films is measured with scanning probe microscopy. The synthesis of high quality, single crystalline, entropy-stabilized oxide thin films enables the study of interface, size, strain, and disorder effects on the properties in this new class of highly disordered oxide materials.

Interpretation of transport measurements in ZnO-thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petukhov, Vladimir; Stoemenos, John; Rothman, Johan; Bakin, Andrey; Waag, Andreas

2011-01-01

In order to interpret results of temperature dependent Hall measurements in heteroepitaxial ZnO-thin films, we adopted a multilayer conductivity model considering carrier-transport through the interfacial layer with degenerate electron gas as well as the upper part of ZnO layers with lower conductivity. This model was applied to the temperature dependence of the carrier concentration and mobility measured by Hall effect in a ZnO-layer grown on c-sapphire with conventional high-temperature MgO and low-temperature ZnO buffer. We also compared our results with the results of maximum entropy mobility-spectrum analysis (MEMSA). The formation of the highly conductive interfacial layer was explained by analysis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images taken from similar layers.

Band offsets and growth mode of molecular beam epitaxy grown MgO (111) on GaN (0002) by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craft, H. S.; Collazo, R.; Losego, M. D.; Mita, S.; Sitar, Z.; Maria, J.-P.

2007-10-01

MgO is a proposed dielectric for use as a tunneling barrier in devices integrating GaN and ferroelectric oxides. In this study, we present data regarding the growth mode and band offsets of MgO grown epitaxially on GaN (0002) surfaces using molecular beam epitaxy. Using in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and molecular beam epitaxy, we determine, from sequential growth experiments, that the growth of MgO proceeds via the Volmer-Weber (three-dimensional) mode, and full coalescence of the film does not occur until approximately 12nm of MgO has been deposited. The observation of a three-dimensional growth mode is in agreement with previously published data. For the valence band offset, we find a value of 1.2±0.2eV, which corresponds to a 3.2eV conduction band offset. XPS measurements suggest a chemically abrupt interface and no effect on band lineup due to the slow coalescence behavior.

Anomalous Hall effect in epitaxial permalloy thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Y. Q.; Sun, N. Y.; Shan, R.

2013-10-28

Anomalous Hall effect (AHE) of epitaxial permalloy thin films grown on MgO (001) substrates is investigated. The longitudinal conductivity independent term (i.e., the sum of intrinsic and side-jump contributions) of the anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) is found to be much smaller than those of Fe and Ni films. Band theoretical calculations of the intrinsic AHC as a function of the number of valence electrons (band filling) indicate that the AHC of the permalloy is in the vicinity of sign change, thus resulting in the smallness of the intrinsic AHC. The contribution of the phonon scattering is found to be comparablemore » to that of the impurity scattering. This work suggests that the permalloy films are ideal systems to understand the AHE mechanisms induced by impurity scattering.« less

The influence of an MgO nanolayer on the planar Hall effect in NiFe films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Minghua, E-mail: mhli@ustb.edu.cn; Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095; Zhao, Zhiduo

2015-03-28

The Planar Hall Effect (PHE) in NiFe films was studied using MgO as the buffer and capping layer to reduce the shunt effect. The thermal annealing was found to be effective in increasing the sensitivity. The sensitivity of the magnetic field reached as high as 865 V/AT in a MgO (3 nm)/NiFe (5 nm)/MgO(3 nm)/Ta(3 nm) structure after annealing at 500 °C for 2 h, which is close to the sensitivity of semiconductor Hall Effect (HE) sensors. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to study the sample. The results show that the top crystallization of MgO and NiFemore » (111) texture were improved by proper annealing. The smooth and clear bottom MgO/NiFe and top NiFe/MgO interface is evident from our data. In addition, the shunt current of Ta was decreased. These combined factors facilitate the improvement of the sensitivity of the magnetic field.« less

Surface and local electronic structure modification of MgO film using Zn and Fe ion implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Jitendra Pal; Lim, Weon Cheol; Lee, Jihye; Song, Jonghan; Lee, Ik-Jae; Chae, Keun Hwa

2018-02-01

Present work is motivated to investigate the surface and local electronic structure modifications of MgO films implanted with Zn and Fe ions. MgO film was deposited using radio frequency sputtering method. Atomic force microscopy measurements exhibit morphological changes associated with implantation. Implantation of Fe and Zn ions leads to the reduction of co-ordination geometry of Mg2+ ions in host lattice. The effect is dominant at bulk of film rather than surface as the large concentration of implanted ions resides inside bulk. Moreover, the evidences of interaction among implanted ions and oxygen are not being observed using near edge fine structure measurements.

Memristive switching of MgO based magnetic tunnel junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krzysteczko, Patryk; Reiss, Günter; Thomas, Andy

2009-09-01

Here we demonstrate that both, tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) and resistive switching (RS), can be observed simultaneously in nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions. The devices show bipolar RS of 6% and TMR ratios of about 100%. For each magnetic state, multiple resistive states are created depending on the bias history, which provides a method for multibit data storage and logic. The electronic transport measurements are discussed in the framework of a memristive system. Differently prepared MgO barriers are compared to gain insight into the switching mechanism.

First principles and Debye model study of the thermodynamic, electronic and optical properties of MgO under high-temperature and pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miao, Yurun; Li, Huayang; Wang, Hongjuan; He, Kaihua; Wang, Qingbo

2018-02-01

First principles and quasi-harmonic Debye model have been used to study the thermodynamic properties, enthalpies, electronic and optical properties of MgO up to the core-mantle boundary (CMB) condition (137 GPa and 3700 K). Thermodynamic properties calculation includes thermal expansion coefficient and capacity, which have been studied up to the CMB pressure (137 GPa) and temperature (3700 K) by the Debye model with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local-density approximation (LDA). First principles with hybrid functional method (PBE0) has been used to calculate the electronic and optical properties under pressure up to 137 GPa and 0 K. Our results show the Debye model with LDA and first principles with PBE0 can provide accurate thermodynamic properties, enthalpies, electronic and optical properties. Calculated enthalpies show that MgO keep NaCl (B1) structure up to 137 GPa. And MgO is a direct bandgap insulator with a 7.23 eV calculated bandgap. The bandgap increased with increasing pressure, which will induce a blue shift of optical properties. We also calculated the density of states (DOS) and discussed the relation between DOS and band, optical properties. Equations were used to fit the relations between pressure and bandgaps, absorption coefficient (α(ω)) of MgO. The equations can be used to evaluate pressure after careful calibration. Our calculations can not only be used to identify some geological processes, but also offer a reference to the applications of MgO in the future.

Molecular beam epitaxy growth of SmB6+/-δ thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffman, Jason; Saleem, Muhammad; Day, James; Bonn, Doug; Hoffman, Jennifer

SmB6 has emerged as a leading candidate in the search for exotic topological states generated by strong interactions. The synthesis of epitaxial SmB6 thin films presents new avenues to control surface termination, thickness, and strain in this system. In this work, we use molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to deposit SmB6+/-δ films on insulating (001)-oriented MgO substrates. We use ex-situ x-ray diffraction and magnetotransport measurements to assess the properties of the samples and compare them to previously reported values for single crystals. We also discuss the prospects of using rare-earth substitution to control the correlation strength and alter the topology of the bulk and surface electronic states.

Surface structure of MgO underlayer with Ti diffusion for (002) oriented L10 FePt-based heat assisted magnetic recording media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinata, Sintaro; Jo, Shin; Saito, Shin

2018-05-01

Surface morphology of the MgO layer and magnetic properties of FePt-C layer deposited on the MgO were investigated for the FePt-based heat assisted magnetic recording media. Stacking structure of the underlayer for the FePt-C layer was MgO (0-5 nm)/Cr80Mn20 (0-30 nm)/Cr50Ti50 (0-50 nm)/glass sub.. Surface observation result for the MgO film by using an atomic force microscope revealed the existence of nodules with a height of about 2 nm and a network-like convex structure with a height difference of about sub nm (boundary wall, BW) on the MgO crystal grain boundary. Density of the nodules largely depends on the surface roughness of the CrTi layer, RaCrTi and it is suppressed from 10 to 2/0.5 μm2 by reducing RaCrTi from 420 to 260 pm. Height of the BW depends on thickness of the MgO layer, tMgO and it can be suppressed by reducing tMgO to less than 4 nm. From the cross-sectional energy dispersive x-ray mapping, it is clarified that the BW is formed by atomic diffusion of Ti atoms from CrTi layer due to the substrate heating process, and a compound consists of Mg, Ti and O atoms. This BW can be used as a template to magnetically isolate the FePt column in the FePt-based granular film, such as FePt-SiO2, if the size of the BW is reduced to less than 10 nm. M-H loop of the FePt-C granular film deposited on the underlayer showed that the nodule and BW induce oxidation of the FePt grains, and reduction of intergranular exchange coupling.

Metastable self-trapping of positrons in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monge, M. A.; Pareja, R.; González, R.; Chen, Y.

1997-01-01

Low-temperature positron annihilation measurements have been performed on MgO single crystals containing either cation or anion vacancies. The temperature dependence of the S parameter is explained in terms of metastable self-trapped positrons which thermally hop through the crystal lattice. The experimental results are analyzed using a three-state trapping model assuming transitions from both delocalized and self-trapped states to deep trapped states at vacancies. The energy level of the self-trapped state was determined to be (62+/-5) meV above the delocalized state. The activation enthalpy for the hopping process of self-trapped positrons appears to depend on the kind of defect present in the crystals.

Probing the bulk ionic conductivity by thin film hetero-epitaxial engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pergolesi, Daniele; Roddatis, Vladimir; Fabbri, Emiliana; Schneider, Christof W.; Lippert, Thomas; Traversa, Enrico; Kilner, John A.

2015-02-01

Highly textured thin films with small grain boundary regions can be used as model systems to directly measure the bulk conductivity of oxygen ion conducting oxides. Ionic conducting thin films and epitaxial heterostructures are also widely used to probe the effect of strain on the oxygen ion migration in oxide materials. For the purpose of these investigations a good lattice matching between the film and the substrate is required to promote the ordered film growth. Moreover, the substrate should be a good electrical insulator at high temperature to allow a reliable electrical characterization of the deposited film. Here we report the fabrication of an epitaxial heterostructure made with a double buffer layer of BaZrO3 and SrTiO3 grown on MgO substrates that fulfills both requirements. Based on such template platform, highly ordered (001) epitaxially oriented thin films of 15% Sm-doped CeO2 and 8 mol% Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 are grown. Bulk conductivities as well as activation energies are measured for both materials, confirming the success of the approach. The reported insulating template platform promises potential application also for the electrical characterization of other novel electrolyte materials that still need a thorough understanding of their ionic conductivity.

Magnesium Vacancy Segregation and Fast Pipe Diffusion for the ½<110>{110} Edge Dislocation in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walker, A. M.; Zhang, F.; Wright, K.; Gale, J. D.

2009-12-01

The movement of point defects in minerals plays a key role in determining their rheological properties, both by permitting diffusional creep and by allowing recovery by dislocation climb. Point defect diffusion can also control the kinetics of phase transitions and grain growth, and can determine the rate of chemical equilibration between phases. Because of this, and the difficulties associated with experimental studies of diffusion, the simulation of point defect formation and migration has been a subject of considerable interest in computational mineral physics. So far, studies have concentrated on point defects moving through otherwise perfect crystals. In this work we examine the behavior of magnesium vacancies close to the core of an edge dislocation in MgO and find that the dislocation dramatically changes the behavior of the point defect. An atomic scale model of the ½<110>{110} edge dislocation in MgO was constructed by applying the anisotropic linear elastic displacement field to the crystal structure and subsequently minimizing the energy of the crystal close to the dislocation core using a parameterized potential model. This process yielded the structure of an isolated edge dislocation in an otherwise perfect crystal. The energy cost associated with introducing magnesium vacancies around the dislocation was then mapped and compared to the formation energy of an isolated magnesium vacancy in bulk MgO. We find that the formation energy of magnesium vacancies around the dislocation mirrors the elastic strain field. Above the dislocation line σxx and σyy are negative and the strain field is compressional. Atoms are squeezed together to make room for the extra half plane effectively increasing the pressure in this region. Below the dislocation line σxx and σyy are positive and the strain field is dilatational. Planes of atoms are pulled apart to avoid a discontinuity across the glide plane and the effective pressure is decreased. In the region with a

Lubrication of dislocation glide in MgO by hydrous defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skelton, Richard; Walker, Andrew M.

2018-02-01

Water-related defects, principally in the form of protonated cation vacancies, are potentially able to weaken minerals under high-stress or low-temperature conditions by reducing the Peierls stress required to initiate dislocation glide. In this study, we use the Peierls-Nabarro (PN) model to determine the effect of protonated Mg vacancies on the 1/2<110>{110} and 1/2<110>{100} slip systems in MgO. This PN model is parameterized using generalized stacking fault energies calculated using plane-wave density functional theory, with and without protonated Mg vacancies present at the glide plane. It found that these defects increase dislocation core widths and reduce the Peierls stress over the entire pressure range 0-125 GPa. Furthermore, 1/2<110>{110} slip is found to be more sensitive to the presence of protonated vacancies which increases in the pressure at which {100} becomes the easy glide plane for 1/2<110> screw dislocations. These results demonstrate, for a simple mineral system, that water-related defects can alter the deformation behavior of minerals in the glide-creep regime by reducing the stress required to move dislocations by glide. (Mg, Fe)O is the most anisotropic mineral in the Earth's lower mantle, so the differential sensitivity of the major slip systems in MgO to hydrous defects has potential implications for the interpretation of the seismic anisotropy in this region.

Microstructural, Magnetic Anisotropy, and Magnetic Domain Structure Correlations in Epitaxial FePd Thin Films with Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Skuza, J. R.; Clavero, C.; Yang, K.; Wincheski, B.; Lukaszew, R. A.

2009-01-01

L1(sub 0)-ordered FePd epitaxial thin films were prepared using dc magnetron sputter deposition on MgO (001) substrates. The films were grown with varying thickness and degree of chemical order to investigate the interplay between the microstructure, magnetic anisotropy, and magnetic domain structure. The experimentally measured domain size/period and magnetic anisotropy in this high perpendicular anisotropy system were found to be correlated following the analytical energy model proposed by Kooy and Enz that considers a delicate balance between the domain wall energy and the demagnetizing stray field energy.

Preparation and evaluation of Mn3GaN1-x thin films with controlled N compositions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishino, Sunao; So, Jongmin; Goto, Hirotaka; Hajiri, Tetsuya; Asano, Hidefumi

2018-05-01

Thin films of antiperovskite Mn3GaN1-x were grown on MgO (001) substrates by reactive magnetron sputtering, and their structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties were systematically investigated. It was found that the combination of the deposition rate and the N2 gas partial pressure could produce epitaxial films with a wide range of N composition (N-deficiency) and resulting c/a values (0.93 - 1.0). While the films with c/a = 0.992 - 1.0 were antiferromagnetic, the films with c/a = 0.93 - 0.989 showed perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) with the maximum PMA energy up to 1.5×106 erg/cm3. Systematic dependences of the energy spectra of the polar Kerr signals on the c/a ratio were observed, and the Kerr ellipticity was as large as 2.4 deg. at 1.9 eV for perpendicularly magnetized ferromagnetic thin films with c/a = 0.975. These results highlight that the tetragonal distortion plays an important role in magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Mn3GaN1-x thin films.

FeO and MgO in plagioclase of lunar anorthosites: Igneous or metamorphic?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Phinney, W. C.

1994-01-01

The combined evidence from terrestrial anorthosites and experimental laboratory studies strongly implies that lunar anorthosites have been subjected to high-grade metamorphic events that have erased the igneous signatures of FeO and MgO in their plagioclases. Arguments to the contrary have, to this point, been more hopeful than rigorous.

Origin of fieldlike spin-orbit torques in heavy metal/ferromagnet/oxide thin film heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ou, Yongxi; Pai, Chi-Feng; Shi, Shengjie; Ralph, D. C.; Buhrman, R. A.

2016-10-01

We report measurements of the thickness and temperature (T ) dependencies of current-induced spin-orbit torques, especially the fieldlike (FL) component, in various heavy metal (HM)/normal metal (NM) spacer/ferromagnet (FM)/oxide (MgO and Hf Ox/MgO ) heterostructures. The FL torque in these samples originates from spin current generated by the spin Hall effect in the HM. For a FM layer sufficiently thin that a substantial portion of this spin current can reach the FM/oxide interface, T-dependent spin scattering there can yield a strong FL torque that is, in some cases, opposite in sign to that exerted at the NM/FM interface.

Growth, structure, and magnetic properties of γ-Fe2O3 epitaxial films on MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Y.; Kim, Y. J.; Thevuthasan, S.; Chambers, S. A.; Lubitz, P.

1997-04-01

Single-crystal epitaxial thin films of γ-Fe2O3(001) have been grown on MgO(001) using oxygen-plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The structure and magnetic properties of these films have been characterized by a variety of techniques, including reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron/Auger electron diffraction (XPD/AED), vibrating sample magnetometry, and ferromagnetic resonance. Real-time RHEED reveals that the film growth occurs in a layer-by-layer fashion. The γ-Fe2O3(001) film surface exhibits a (1×1) LEED pattern. The growth of γ-Fe2Ooverflow="scroll">3 films at 450 °C is accompanied by significant Mg outdiffusion. AED of Mg KLL Auger emission reveals that Mg substitutionally incorporates in the γ-Fe2O3 lattice, occupying the octahedral sites. Magnetic moments are ˜2300 G and ˜4500 G for γ-Fe2O3 films grown at 250 °C and 450 °C, respectively. The high magnetic moment for the films grown at 450 °C could be attributed to the high degree of structural order of the films and Mg substitution at octahedral sites.

The effect of the MgO buffer layer thickness on magnetic anisotropy in MgO/Fe/Cr/MgO buffer/MgO(001)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kozioł-Rachwał, Anna, E-mail: a.koziolrachwal@aist.go.jp; AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków; Nozaki, Takayuki

2016-08-28

The relationship between the magnetic properties and MgO buffer layer thickness d was studied in epitaxial MgO/Fe(t)/Cr/MgO(d) layers grown on MgO(001) substrate in which the Fe thickness t ranged from 0.4 nm to 1.1 nm. For 0.4 nm ≤ t ≤ 0.7 nm, a non-monotonic coercivity dependence on the MgO buffer thickness was shown by perpendicular magneto-optic Kerr effect magnetometry. For thicker Fe films, an increase in the buffer layer thickness resulted in a spin reorientation transition from perpendicular to the in-plane magnetization direction. Possible origins of these unusual behaviors were discussed in terms of the suppression of carbon contamination at the Fe surface and changes inmore » the magnetoelastic anisotropy in the system. These results illustrate a method to control magnetic anisotropy in MgO/Fe/Cr/MgO(d) via an appropriate choice of MgO buffer layer thickness d.« less

Comparison of effective transverse piezoelectric coefficients e31,f of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 thin films between direct and converse piezoelectric effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsujiura, Yuichi; Kawabe, Saneyuki; Kurokawa, Fumiya; Hida, Hirotaka; Kanno, Isaku

2015-10-01

We evaluated the effective transverse piezoelectric coefficients (e31,f) of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) thin films from both the direct and converse piezoelectric effects of unimorph cantilevers. (001) preferentially oriented polycrystalline PZT thin films and (001)/(100) epitaxial PZT thin films were deposited on (111)Pt/Ti/Si and (001)Pt/MgO substrates, respectively, by rf-magnetron sputtering, and their piezoelectric responses owing to intrinsic and extrinsic effects were examined. The direct and converse |e31,f| values of the polycrystalline PZT thin films were calculated as 6.4 and 11.5-15.0 C/m2, respectively, whereas those of the epitaxial PZT thin films were calculated as 3.4 and 4.6-4.8 C/m2, respectively. The large |e31,f| of the converse piezoelectric property of the polycrystalline PZT thin films is attributed to extrinsic piezoelectric effects. Furthermore, the polycrystalline PZT thin films show a clear nonlinear piezoelectric contribution, which is the same as the Rayleigh-like behavior reported in bulk PZT. In contrast, the epitaxial PZT thin films on the MgO substrate show a piezoelectric response owing to the intrinsic and linear extrinsic effects, and no nonlinear contribution was observed.

Barrier breakdown mechanism in nano-scale perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions with ultrathin MgO barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Hua; Leitao, Diana C.; Hou, Zhiwei; Freitas, Paulo P.; Cardoso, Susana; Kämpfe, Thomas; Müller, Johannes; Langer, Juergen; Wrona, Jerzy

2018-05-01

Recently, the perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs) arouse great interest because of its unique features in the application of spin-transfer-torque magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM), such as low switching current density, good thermal stability and high access speed. In this paper, we investigated current induced switching (CIS) in ultrathin MgO barrier p-MTJs with dimension down to 50 nm. We obtained a CIS perpendicular tunnel magnetoresistance (p-TMR) of 123.9% and 7.0 Ω.μm2 resistance area product (RA) with a critical switching density of 1.4×1010 A/m2 in a 300 nm diameter junction. We observe that the extrinsic breakdown mechanism dominates, since the resistance of our p-MTJs decreases gradually with the increasing current. From the statistical analysis of differently sized p-MTJs, we observe that the breakdown voltage (Vb) of 1.4 V is 2 times the switching voltage (Vs) of 0.7 V and the breakdown process exhibits two different breakdown states, unsteady and steady state. Using Simmons' model, we find that the steady state is related with the barrier height of the MgO layer. Furthermore, our study suggests a more efficient method to evaluate the MTJ stability under high bias rather than measuring Vb. In conclusion, we developed well performant p-MTJs for the use in STT-MRAM and demonstrate the mechanism and control of breakdown in nano-scale ultrathin MgO barrier p-MTJs.

Charge dynamics of MgO single crystals subjected to KeV electron irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boughariou, A.; Blaise, G.; Braga, D.; Kallel, A.

2004-04-01

A scanning electron microscope has been equipped to study the fundamental aspects of charge trapping in insulating materials, by measuring the secondary electron emission (SEE) yield σ with a high precision (a few percent), as a function of energy, electron current density, and dose. The intrinsic secondary electron emission yield σ0 of uncharged MgO single crystals annealed at 1000 °C, 2 h, has been studied at four energies 1.1, 5, 15, and 30 keV on three different crystal orientations (100), (110), and (111). At low energies (1.1 and 5 keV) σ0 depends on the crystalline orientation wheras at high energies (30 keV) no differentiation occurs. It is shown that the value of the second crossover energy E2, for which the intrinsic SEE yield σ0=1, is extremely delicate to measure with precision. It is about 15 keV±500 eV for the (100) orientation, 13.5 keV±500 eV for the (110), and 18.5 keV±500 eV for the (111) one. At low current density J⩽105 pA/cm2, the variation of σ with the injected dose makes possible the observation of a self-regulated regime characterized by a steady value of the SEE yield σst=1. At low energies 1.1 and 5 keV, there is no current density effects in MgO, but at high energies ≈30 keV, apparent current density effects come from a bad collect of secondary electrons, due to very high negative surface potential. At 30 keV energy, an intense erratic electron exoemission was observed on the MgO (110) orientation annealed at 1500 °C. This phenomenon is the result of a disruptive process similar to flashover, which takes place at the surface of the material.

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of low energy recoil events in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersen, B. A.; Liu, B.; Weber, W. J.; Zhang, Y.

2017-04-01

Low-energy recoil events in MgO are studied using ab intio molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the dynamic displacement processes and final defect configurations. Threshold displacement energies, Ed, are obtained for Mg and O along three low-index crystallographic directions, [100], [110], and [111]. The minimum values for Ed are found along the [110] direction consisting of the same element, either Mg or O atoms. Minimum threshold values of 29.5 eV for Mg and 25.5 eV for O, respectively, are suggested from the calculations. For other directions, the threshold energies are considerably higher, 65.5 and 150.0 eV for O along [111] and [100], and 122.5 eV for Mg along both [111] and [100] directions, respectively. These results show that the recoil events in MgO are partial-charge transfer assisted processes where the charge transfer plays an important role. There is a similar trend found in other oxide materials, where the threshold displacement energy correlates linearly with the peak partial-charge transfer, suggesting this behavior might be universal in ceramic oxides.

Enhancement of the Co magnetic moment in bcc Co1-xMnx on MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snow, Ryan; Bhatkar, Harsh; N'diaye, Alpha; Arenholz, Elke; Idzerda, Yves; Montana State University Team; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratries Team

Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), we show that the elemental Co moment for MBE grown thin films of bcc Co1-xMnx grown on MgO(001) is enhanced by 40% to a maximum value of 2.1 μB at x =0.24. The net Mn moment is found to align parallel with Co for all concentrations and remains roughly constant until x =0.3, then drops steadily, up to x =0.7, where the total moment of the film abruptly collapses to zero. Using a low-concentration Mn moment of 3.0 μB, the average magnetization lies directly on the Slater-Pauling (SP) curve for concentrations up to about x =.25, where it reaches a maximum moment of 2.3 μB /atom. This peak is slightly shifted and the slope is steeper on the high-Mn concentration side of the peak relative to the standard SP curve. This is in stark contrast to the fcc CoMn and hcp CoCr bulk behavior which shows only a rapid total moment reduction with Mn concentration. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant ECCS-1542210. The Advanced Light Source is supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Con.

Nanocrystal ghosting: Extensive radiation damage in MgO induced by low-energy electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frankenfield, Zackery; Kane, Kenneth; Sawyer, William H.

2017-03-01

We report direct evidence of extensive radiation damage in MgO nanocrystals due to intense bombardment (2 × 10 electrons/nm sec) by electrons with beam energies between 60 keV and 120 keV. Based upon a minimum intensity necessary to produce the observed damage, we present an explanation based on the Knotek-Feibelman process.

Structural, optical, and electrical properties of unintentionally doped NiO layers grown on MgO by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budde, Melanie; Tschammer, Carsten; Franz, Philipp; Feldl, Johannes; Ramsteiner, Manfred; Goldhahn, Rüdiger; Feneberg, Martin; Barsan, Nicolae; Oprea, Alexandru; Bierwagen, Oliver

2018-05-01

NiO layers were grown on MgO(100), MgO(110), and MgO(111) substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy under Ni-flux limited growth conditions. Single crystalline growth with a cube-on-cube epitaxial relationship was confirmed by X-ray diffraction measurements for all used growth conditions and substrates except MgO(111). A detailed growth series on MgO(100) was prepared using substrate temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 900 °C to investigate the influence on the layer characteristics. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated close-to-stoichiometric layers with an oxygen content of ≈ 47 at. % and ≈ 50 at. % grown under low and high O-flux, respectively. All NiO layers had a root-mean-square surface roughness below 1 nm, measured by atomic force microscopy, except for rougher layers grown at 900 °C or using molecular oxygen. Growth at 900 °C led to a significant diffusion of Mg from the substrate into the film. The relative intensity of the quasi-forbidden one-phonon Raman peak is introduced as a gauge of the crystal quality, indicating the highest layer quality for growth at low oxygen flux and high growth temperature, likely due to the resulting high adatom diffusion length during growth. The optical and electrical properties were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry and resistance measurements, respectively. All NiO layers were transparent with an optical bandgap around 3.6 eV and semi-insulating at room temperature. However, changes upon exposure to reducing or oxidizing gases of the resistance of a representative layer at elevated temperature were able to confirm p-type conductivity, highlighting their suitability as a model system for research on oxide-based gas sensing.

Defects and nanocluster engineering in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedorov, A. V.; van Veen, A.; van Huis, M. A.; Schut, H.; Kooi, B. J.; De Hosson, J. Th.; Zimmerman, R. L.

2001-07-01

The optical properties of MgO crystals are known to change after introduction of nanosize metal precipitates. In this work the formation of metallic nanoclusters in the presence of nanosize rectangular shaped cavities was studied. The rectangular cavities were formed by 30 keV He+ implantation followed by 1273 K annealing. The formation of cavities and their location was established by Positron Beam Analysis (PBA). The rectangular shape and their alignment in (100) direction was observed by X-TEM. Subsequently, the samples were implanted with 600 keV Ag and 1000 keV Au in order to introduce the metal ions in the vicinity of the cavities. The samples were then annealed to provide the formation of nanoclusters. The evolution of the implantation induced defects was monitored by PBA. The optical properties were studied by light absorption measurements.

Magnesium Oxide (MgO) pH-sensitive Sensing Membrane in Electrolyte-Insulator-Semiconductor Structures with CF4 Plasma Treatment.

PubMed

Kao, Chyuan-Haur; Chang, Chia Lung; Su, Wei Ming; Chen, Yu Tzu; Lu, Chien Cheng; Lee, Yu Shan; Hong, Chen Hao; Lin, Chan-Yu; Chen, Hsiang

2017-08-03

Magnesium oxide (MgO) sensing membranes in pH-sensitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor structures were fabricated on silicon substrate. To optimize the sensing capability of the membrane, CF 4 plasma was incorporated to improve the material quality of MgO films. Multiple material analyses including FESEM, XRD, AFM, and SIMS indicate that plasma treatment might enhance the crystallization and increase the grain size. Therefore, the sensing behaviors in terms of sensitivity, linearity, hysteresis effects, and drift rates might be improved. MgO-based EIS membranes with CF 4 plasma treatment show promise for future industrial biosensing applications.

Melting temperatures of MgO under high pressure determined by micro-texture observation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimura, T.; Ohfuji, H.; Nishi, M.; Irifune, T.

2016-12-01

Periclase (MgO) is the second abundant mineral after bridgmanite in the Earth's lower mantle, and its melting temperature (Tm) under pressure is important to constrain the chemical composition of ultra-deep magma formed near the mantle-core boundary. However, the melting behavior is highly controversial among previous studies: a laser-heated diamond anvil cell (LHDAC) study reported a melting curve with a dTm/dP of 30 K/GPa at zero pressure [1], while several theoretical computations gave substantially higher dTm/dP of 90 100 K/GPa [2,3]. We performed a series of LHDAC experiments for measurements of Tm of MgO under high pressure, using single crystal MgO as the starting material. The melting was detected by using micro-texture observations of the quenched samples. We found that the laser-heated area of the sample quenched from the Tm in previous LHDAC experiments [1] showed randomly aggregated granular crystals, which was not caused by melting, but by plastic deformation of the sample. This suggests that the Tms of their study were substantially underestimated. On the other hand, the sample recovered from the temperature higher by 1500-1700 K than the Tms in previous LHDAC experiments showed a characteristic internal texture comparable to the solidification texture typically shown in metal casting. We determined the Tms based on the observation of this texture up to 32 GPa. Fitting our Tms to the Simon equation yields dTm/dP of 82 K/GPa at zero pressure, which is consistent with those of the theoretical predictions (90 100 K/GPa) [2,3]. Extrapolation of the present melting curve of MgO to the pressure of the CMB (135 GPa) gives a melting temperature of 8900 K. The present steep melting slope offers the eutectic composition close to peridotite (in terms of Mg/Si ratio) throughout the lower mantle conditions. According to the model for sink/float relationship between the solid mantle and the magma [4], a considerable amount of iron (Fe/(Mg+Fe) > 0.24) is expected

Giant tunneling magnetoresistance and tunneling spin polarization in magnetic tunnel junctions with MgO (100) tunnel barriers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parkin, Stuart

2006-03-01

Recent advances in generating, manipulating and detecting spin-polarized electrons and electrical current make possible new classes of spin based sensor, memory and logic devices [1]. One key component of many such devices is the magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) - a sandwich of thin layers of metallic ferromagnetic electrodes separated by a tunneling barrier, typically an oxide material only a few atoms thick. The magnitude of the tunneling current passing through the barrier can be adjusted by varying the relative magnetic orientation of the adjacent ferromagnetic layers. As a result, MTJs can be used to sense the magnitude of magnetic fields or to store information. The electronic structure of the ferromagnet together with that of the insulator determines the spin polarization of the current through an MTJ -- the ratio of 'up' to 'down' spin electrons. Using conventional amorphous alumina tunnel barriers tunneling spin polarization (TSP) values of up to ˜55% are found for conventional 3d ferromagnets, such as CoFe, but using highly textured crystalline MgO tunnel barriers TSP values of more than 90% can be achieved for otherwise the same ferromagnet [2]. Such TSP values rival those previously observed only with half-metallic ferromagnets. Corresponding giant values of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) are found, exceeding 350% at room temperature and nearly 600% at 3K. Perhaps surprisingly the MgO tunnel barrier can be quite rough: its thickness depends on the local crystalline texture of the barrier, which itself is influenced by structural defects in the underlayer. We show that the magnitude and the sign of the TMR is strongly influenced by defects in the tunnel barrier and by the detailed structure of the barrier/ferromagnet interfaces. The observation of Kondo-assisted tunneling phenomena will be discussed as well as the detailed dependence of TMR on chemical bonding at the interfaces [3]. [1] .S.S.P. Parkin, X. Jiang, C. Kaiser, et al., Proc. IEEE 91, 661

Thin film growth of CaFe2As2 by molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatano, T.; Kawaguchi, T.; Fujimoto, R.; Nakamura, I.; Mori, Y.; Harada, S.; Ujihara, T.; Ikuta, H.

2016-01-01

Film growth of CaFe2As2 was realized by molecular beam epitaxy on six different substrates that have a wide variation in the lattice mismatch to the target compound. By carefully adjusting the Ca-to-Fe flux ratio, we obtained single-phase thin films for most of the substrates. Interestingly, an expansion of the CaFe2As2 lattice to the out-of-plane direction was observed for all films, even when an opposite strain was expected. A detailed microstructure observation of the thin film grown on MgO by transmission electron microscope revealed that it consists of cube-on-cube and 45°-rotated domains. The latter domains were compressively strained in plane, which caused a stretching along the c-axis direction. Because the domains were well connected across the boundary with no appreciable discontinuity, we think that the out-of-plane expansion in the 45°-rotated domains exerted a tensile stress on the other domains, resulting in the unexpectedly large c-axis lattice parameter, despite the apparently opposite lattice mismatch.

Evaluation of novel reactive MgO activated slag binder for the immobilisation of lead and zinc.

PubMed

Jin, Fei; Al-Tabbaa, Abir

2014-12-01

Although Portland cement is the most widely used binder in the stabilisation/solidification (S/S) processes, slag-based binders have gained significant attention recently due to their economic and environmental merits. In the present study, a novel binder, reactive MgO activated slag, is compared with hydrated lime activated slag in the immobilisation of lead and zinc. A series of lead or zinc-doped pastes and mortars were prepared with metal to binder ratio from 0.25% to 1%. The hydration products and microstructure were studied by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The major hydration products were calcium silicate hydrate and hydrotalcite-like phases. The unconfined compressive strength was measured up to 160 d. Findings show that lead had a slight influence on the strength of MgO-slag paste while zinc reduced the strength significantly as its concentration increased. Leachate results using the TCLP tests revealed that the immobilisation degree was dependent on the pH and reactive MgO activated slag showed an increased pH buffering capacity, and thus improved the immobilisation efficiency compared to lime activated slag. It was proposed that zinc was mainly immobilised within the structure of the hydrotalcite-like phases or in the form of calcium zincate, while lead was primarily precipitated as the hydroxide. It is concluded, therefore, that reactive MgO activated slag can serve as clinker-free alternative binder in the S/S process. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phenomenological in-situ TEM gas exposure studies of palladium particles on MgO at room temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinemann, K.; Poppa, H.; Osaka, T.

1983-01-01

It has been found that very small vapor-deposited catalytically active metal particles in the 1-2 nm size range on metal oxide substrates can undergo significant changes when they are exposed to gases such as oxygen or air, or even when allowed to 'anneal' at room temperature (RT) under vacuum conditions. The present investigation is concerned with continued in-situ gas exposures of as-deposited, 1 to 2 nm size palladium particles on MgO to air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, CO, and water vapor at RT. It is found that the low-pressure exposure to various gases at RT can significantly affect small palladium particles supported on MgO surfaces. Exposure to oxygen for 3 min at 0.0002 m bar produces a considerable amount of coalescence, flattening of the particles, and some distinct crystallographic particle shapes.

Thermodynamically complete equation of state of MgO from true radiative shock temperature measurements on samples preheated to 1850 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fat'yanov, O. V.; Asimow, P. D.; Ahrens, T. J.

2018-01-01

Plate impact experiments in the 100-250 GPa pressure range were done on a 〈100 〉 single-crystal MgO preheated before compression to 1850 K. Hot Mo(driver)-MgO targets were impacted with Mo or Ta flyers launched by the Caltech two-stage light-gas gun up to 7.5 km/s. Radiative temperatures and shock velocities were measured with 3%-4% and 1%-2% uncertainty, respectively, by a six-channel pyrometer with 3-ns time resolution, over a 500-900-nm spectral range. MgO shock front reflectivity was determined in additional experiments at 220 and 248 GPa using ≈50 /50 high-temperature sapphire beam splitters. Our measurements yield accurate experimental data on the mechanical, optical, and thermodynamic properties of B1 phase MgO from 102 GPa and 3900 K to 248 GPa and 9100 K, a region not sampled by previous studies. Reported Hugoniot data for MgO initially at ambient temperature, T =298 K, and the results of our current Hugoniot measurements on samples preheated to 1850 K were analyzed using the most general methods of least-squares fitting to constrain the Grüneisen model. This equation of state (EOS) was then used to construct maximum likelihood linear Hugoniots of MgO with initial temperatures from 298 to 2400 K. A parametrization of all EOS values and best-fit coefficients was done over the entire range of relevant particle velocities. Total uncertainties of all the EOS parameters and correlation coefficients for these uncertainties are also given. The predictive capabilities of our updated Mie-Grüneisen EOS were confirmed by (1) the good agreement between our Grüneisen data and five semiempirical γ (V ) models derived from porous shock data only or from combined static and shock data sets, (2) the very good agreement between our 1-bar Grüneisen values and γ (T ) at ambient pressure recalculated from reported experimental data on the adiabatic bulk modulus Ks(T ) , and (3) the good agreement of the brightness temperatures, corrected for shock reflectivity

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of low energy recoil events in MgO

DOE PAGES

Petersen, B. A.; Liu, B.; Weber, W. J.; ...

2017-01-11

In this paper, low-energy recoil events in MgO are studied using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the dynamic displacement processes and final defect configurations. Threshold displacement energies, E d, are obtained for Mg and O along three low-index crystallographic directions, [100], [110], and [111]. The minimum values for E d are found along the [110] direction consisting of the same element, either Mg or O atoms. Minimum threshold values of 29.5 eV for Mg and 25.5 eV for O, respectively, are suggested from the calculations. For other directions, the threshold energies are considerably higher, 65.5 and 150.0 eVmore » for O along [111] and [100], and 122.5 eV for Mg along both [111] and [100] directions, respectively. These results show that the recoil events in MgO are partial-charge transfer assisted processes where the charge transfer plays an important role. Finally, there is a similar trend found in other oxide materials, where the threshold displacement energy correlates linearly with the peak partial-charge transfer, suggesting this behavior might be universal in ceramic oxides.« less

Investigation of the combined effect of MgO and PEG on the release profile of mefenamic acid prepared via hot-melt extrusion techniques.

PubMed

Alshehri, Sultan M; Tiwari, Roshan V; Alsulays, Bader B; Ashour, Eman A; Alshetaili, Abdullah S; Almutairy, Bjad; Park, Jun-Bom; Morott, Joseph; Sandhu, Bhupinder; Majumdar, Soumyajit; Repka, Michael A

2017-09-01

This study aimed to investigate the combined effect of magnesium oxide (MgO) as an alkalizer and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a plasticizer and wetting agent in the presence of Kollidon® 12 PF and 17 PF polymer carriers on the release profile of mefenamic acid (MA), which was prepared via hot-melt extrusion technique. Various drug loads of MA and various ratios of the polymers, PEG 3350 and MgO were blended using a V-shell blender and extruded using a twin-screw extruder (16-mm Prism EuroLab, ThermoFisher Scientific, Carlsbad, CA) at different screw speeds and temperatures to prepare a solid dispersion system. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction data of the extruded material confirmed that the drug existed in the amorphous form, as evidenced by the absence of corresponding peaks. MgO and PEG altered the micro-environmental pH to be more alkaline (pH 9) and increased the hydrophilicity and dispersibility of the extrudates to enhance MA solubility and release, respectively. The in vitro release study demonstrated an immediate release for 2 h with more than 80% drug release within 45 min in matrices containing MgO and PEG in combination with polyvinylpyrrolidone when compared to the binary mixture, physical mixture and pure drug.

The power of in situ pulsed laser deposition synchrotron characterization for the detection of domain formation during growth of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 on MgO.

PubMed

Bauer, Sondes; Lazarev, Sergey; Molinari, Alan; Breitenstein, Andreas; Leufke, Philipp; Kruk, Robert; Hahn, Horst; Baumbach, Tilo

2014-03-01

A highly sophisticated pulsed laser deposition (PLD) chamber has recently been installed at the NANO beamline at the synchrotron facility ANKA (Karlsruhe, Germany), which allows for comprehensive studies on the PLD growth process of dielectric, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic thin films in epitaxial oxide heterostructures or even multilayer systems by combining in situ reflective high-energy diffraction with the in situ synchrotron high-resolution X-ray diffraction and surface diffraction methods. The modularity of the in situ PLD chamber offers the opportunity to explore the microstructure of the grown thin films as a function of the substrate temperature, gas pressure, laser fluence and target-substrate separation distance. Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 grown on MgO represents the first system that is grown in this in situ PLD chamber and studied by in situ X-ray reflectivity, in situ two-dimensional reciprocal space mapping of symmetric X-ray diffraction and acquisition of time-resolved diffraction profiles during the ablation process. In situ PLD synchrotron investigation has revealed the occurrence of structural distortion as well as domain formation and misfit dislocation which all depend strongly on the film thickness. The microstructure transformation has been accurately detected with a time resolution of 1 s. The acquisition of two-dimensional reciprocal space maps during the PLD growth has the advantage of simultaneously monitoring the changes of the crystalline structure as well as the formation of defects. The stability of the morphology during the PLD growth is demonstrated to be remarkably affected by the film thickness. A critical thickness for the domain formation in Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 grown on MgO could be determined from the acquisition of time-resolved diffraction profiles during the PLD growth. A splitting of the diffraction peak into two distinguishable peaks has revealed a morphology change due to modification of the internal strain during growth.

Properties of MgO to 1.2 TPa from high-precision experiments on Sandia's Z machine and first-principles simulations using QMC and DFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shulenburger, Luke

2015-11-01

MgO is a major constituent of Earth's mantle, the rocky cores of gas giants and is a likely component of the interiors of many exoplanets. The high pressure - high temperature behavior of MgO directly affects equation of state models for planetary structure and formation. In this work, we examine MgO under extreme conditions using experimental and theoretical methods to determine the phase diagram and transport properties. Using plate impact experiments on Sandia's Z facility a low entropy solid-solid phase transition from B1 to B2 is clearly determined. The melting transition, on the other hand, is subtle, involving little to no signal in us-up space. Theoretical work utilizing density functional theory (DFT) provides a complementary picture of the phase diagram. The solid-solid phase transition is identified through a series of quasi-harmonic phonon calculations and thermodynamic integration, while the melt boundary is found using phase coexistence calculations. The calculation of reflectivity along the Hugoniot and the influence of the ionic structure on the transport properties requires particular care because of the underestimation of the band gap and attendant overestimation of transport properties due to the use of semi-local density functional theory. We will explore the impact of this theoretical challenge and its potential solutions in this talk. Finally, understanding the behavior of MgO as the pressure releases from the Hugoniot state is a key ingredient to modeling giant impact events. We explore this regime both through additional DFT calculations and by observing the release state of the MgO into lower impedance materials. The integrated use of DFT simulations and high-accuracy shock experiments together provide a comprehensive understanding of MgO under extreme conditions. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Company, for the U

Enabling rechargeable non-aqueous Mg-O2 battery operations with dual redox mediators.

PubMed

Dong, Qi; Yao, Xiahui; Luo, Jingru; Zhang, Xizi; Hwang, Hajin; Wang, Dunwei

2016-12-11

Dual redox mediators (RMs) were introduced for Mg-O 2 batteries. 1,4-Benzoquinone (BQ) facilitates the discharge with an overpotential reduction of 0.3 V. 5,10,15,20-Tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine cobalt(ii) (Co(ii)TPP) facilitates the recharge with an overpotential decrease of up to 0.3 V. Importantly, the two redox mediators are compatible in the same DMSO-based electrolyte.

Versatile fluoride substrates for Fe-based superconducting thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurth, F.; Reich, E.; Hänisch, J.; Ichinose, A.; Tsukada, I.; Hühne, R.; Trommler, S.; Engelmann, J.; Schultz, L.; Holzapfel, B.; Iida, K.

2013-04-01

We demonstrate the growth of Co-doped BaFe2As2 (Ba-122) thin films on CaF2 (001), SrF2 (001), and BaF2 (001) single crystal substrates using pulsed laser deposition. All films are grown epitaxially despite of a large misfit of -10.6% for BaF2 substrate. For all films, a reaction layer is formed at the interface confirmed by X-ray diffraction and for the films grown on CaF2 and BaF2 additionally by transmission electron microscopy. The superconducting transition temperature of the film on CaF2 is around 27 K, whereas the corresponding values of the films on SrF2 and BaF2 are around 22 K and 21 K, respectively. The Ba-122 on CaF2 shows almost identical crystalline quality and superconducting properties as films on Fe-buffered MgO.

[Influence of MgO and TiO2 on mechanical properties of zirconia toughened alumina ceramics formed by gel-casting technique].

PubMed

Wang, Si-Qian; Wang, Wei; Du, Ruo-Xi; Zhang, Da-Feng; Liu, Chuan-Tong; Ma, Jian-Feng

2009-06-01

The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of mechanical properties and sintering performance by adding 5% weight percentage aids to nano-compound zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics. Micrometer Al2O3 and nanometer ZrO2 (quality ratio 4:1) were used to get 55% volume percentage slurry. Magnesium oxide and titanium oxide were taken as aids which were 5% weight percentage of the Al2O3 and ZrO2 powder. Five groups (number 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 group) were divided according to different proportion of aids. After gel-casting, the porcelain pieces were sintered at 1150, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1450, 1500, 1600 degrees C for 2 hours. Static three-point flexure strength, line shrinkage, relative density were measured and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe section. Number 1 (MgO 1%, TiO2 4%) group had the highest bending strength. It was (401.78+/-19.50) MPa after sintering at 1600 degrees C for 2 hours and was higher than 0 group (380.64+/-44.50) MPa. Bending strength became lower than 0 group when MgO was more than 2% or more than that weight percentage of ZTA powder. When MgO content was higher than 2% or more than that weight percentage, there was no difference in relative density raising rate between each sintering assistants groups. When the sintering temperature was higher than 1200 degrees C, all groups showed obvious line-shrinkage and the groups which contained sintering assistants were all was higher than 0 group. Adding MgO and TiO2 aids from 1% to 4% weight percentage of ZTA will promote fritting and increase ZTA nano-compound ceramics mechanical properties. Adding 2% MgO aids or more than that weight percent will has no obvious help to increase the relative density raising rate of ZTA nano-compound ceramics and will degrade the mechanical properties of ZTA nano-compound ceramics.

Synchrotron Radial X-ray Diffraction Studies of Deformation of Polycrystalline MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girard, J.; Tsujino, N.; Mohiuddin, A.; Karato, S. I.

2016-12-01

X-ray diffraction analyses have been used for decades to study mechanical properties of polycrystalline samples during in-situ high-pressure deformation. When polycrystalline materials are deformed, stresses develop in grains and lead to lattice distortion. Using X-ray diffraction we can estimate the lattice strain for each (hkl) diffraction plans and calculate the applied stress for each (hkl), using [Singh, 1993] relation. However, this method doesn't take into account plastic anisotropy. As a results of plastic anisotropy present in the material, stress estimated from this method can be largely differ depending on (hkl) diffraction planes [Karato, 2009]. Studying the stress estimate for each (hkl) plane, might help us distinguish dominant deformation mechanisms activated during deformation such as diffusion (we will observe small stress variation as a function of (hkl) diffraction planes) or dislocation creep (we will observe a stress variation as a function of (hkl) diffraction planes that could also give us clues on potential slip system activity). In this study we observed stress evolution in MgO polycrystalline samples deformed under mantle pressure and temperature for (200) and (220) diffraction planes. Using a range MgO grain sizes we were able to control the active deformation mechanism (for e.g. diffusion creep or dislocation creep). For coarse-grained specimens, we observed strong (hkl) dependence of radial strain indicating the operation of dislocation creep. The observed (hkl) dependence changes with pressure suggesting a change in the slip system: at pressures higher than 27 GPa, (200) shows larger stress estimate than (220). In contrast, at lower pressures, (220) shows larger stress estimate than (200). This might indicate a slip system transition in MgO occurring under lower mantle conditions. From {110} plane to {100} plane. This is in good agreement with theoretical predictions and numerical calculation [Amodeo et al., 2012] and has an important

Plastic deformation of polycrystalline MgO up to 1250 K and 65 GPa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merkel, S.; Liermann, H.; Miyagi, L. M.; Wenk, H.

2009-12-01

Understanding the development of lattice preferred orientations (LPO) in polycrystals is critical to constrain the anisotropy and dynamics of the Earth mantle. Until recently, it was not possible to study LPO under high pressure and high temperature. The introduction of the deformation-DIA (D-DIA) and radial diffraction experiments in the diamond anvil cell (DAC) have extended the range of pressures and temperatures that can be accessed. However, the pressure range accessible in the D-DIA remains limited (up to 19 GPa, 1) and LPO measurements in the DAC have been performed at 300 K (2). Recently, we have designed a new DAC that can be used to study LPO in polycrystalline samples up to temperatures of 1300 K and pressures of 65 GPa (3). In this study, we use this new device for the study of MgO up to 65 GPa and 1250 K. Four samples of polycrystalline MgO were deformed in the DAC at constant temperature: 300, 600, 900, and 1250 K. At each temperature, we study the development of stress and LPO as the sample is compressed between ambient and high pressures (up to 65 GPa). In all cases, we collect diffraction data in a radial geometry that can be used to extract lattice strains and LPO in the sample. A comparison of the LPO measured in the experiment and results of visco-plastic self-consistent models can be used to extract information about the active deformation mechanisms in the sample (2). Similarly, the measured lattice strains can be compared to results of an elasto-plastic self-consistent model to extract information on average stress, stress distribution among grains, and active deformation in the sample (4). Details of the measurements along with the LPO measured in the experiments will be presented. We will also discuss the implication of those results for our understanding of the behavior of MgO in the deep mantle. 1- N. Nishiyama, Y. Wang, M. L. Rivers, S. R. Sutton, D. Cookson, Rheology of e-iron up to 19 GPa and 600 K in the D-DIA, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34

Effects of Surface-Modified MgO Nanoparticles on Inclusion Characteristics and Microstructure in Carbon Structural Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Hao; Yang, Shufeng; Li, Jingshe; Zhao, Mengjing; Chen, Zhengyang; Zhang, Xueliang; Li, Jikang

2018-05-01

An innovative approach involving chemical modification of the surface of MgO nanoparticles (NPs) for steelmaking and application of NPs to carbon structural steel has been investigated. The results show that the inclusions in the test steels were completely converted to MgAl2O4 spinel or MnS complex inclusions. The mean inclusion size decreased with increasing NP content from 0.01% to 0.03%, but increased at 0.05% because of NP aggregation. Addition of NPs increased the amount of intragranular ferrite and prevented polygonal ferrite formation, thereby enhancing the impact toughness. Impact tests showed that the dimple fractures in steel with 0.05% NP content were deeper than those in the other samples because the MgAl2O4 inclusions were larger. The surface-modified MgO NPs had a major effect on the inclusion characteristics and microstructure of carbon structural steel.

Pt-Zn Clusters on Stoichiometric MgO(100) and TiO2(110): Dramatically Different Sintering Behavior

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dadras, Mostafa J.; Shen, Lu; Alexandrova, Anastassia N.

2015-03-02

Zn was suggested to be a promising additive to Pt in the catalysis of dehydrogenation reactions. In this work, mixed Pt-Zn clusters deposited on two simple oxides, MgO(100) and TiO2(110), were investigated. The stability of these systems against cluster sintering, one of the major mechanisms of catalyst deactivation, is simulated using a Metropolis Monte Carlo scheme under the assumption of the Ostwald ripening mechanism. Particle migration, association to and dissociation from clusters, and evaporation and redeposition of monomers were all included in the simulations. Simulations are done at several high temperatures relevant to reactions of catalytic dehydrogenation. The effect ofmore » temperature is included via both the Metropolis algorithm and the Boltzmann-weighted populations of the global and thermally accessible local minima on the density functional theory potential energy surfaces of clusters of all sizes and compositions up to tetramers. On both surfaces, clusters are shown to sinter quite rapidly. However, the resultant compositions of the clusters most resistant to sintering are quite different on the two supports. On TiO2(110), Pt and Zn appear to phase separate, preferentially forming clusters rich in just one or the other metal. On MgO(100), Pt and Zn remain well-mixed and form a range of bimetallic clusters of various compositions that appear relatively stable. However, Zn is more easily lost from MgO through evaporation. These phenomena were rationalized by several means of chemical bonding analysis.« less

Fe-Al alloy single-crystal thin film preparation for basic magnetic measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abe, Tatsuya; Kawai, Tetsuroh; Futamoto, Masaaki; Ohtake, Mitsuru; Inaba, Nobuyuki

2018-04-01

Fe100-xAlx (x = 0, 4, 10, 20, 30 at. %) alloy films of 40 nm thickness are prepared on MgO(001) single-crystal substrates by varying substrate temperature from room temperature to 600 °C. Single-crystal films of (001) orientation with bcc-based disordered A2 structure are obtained for the Al content range of x = 0 - 20 at. %. An ordered phase of DO3 structure is observed in Fe70Al30 films prepared at temperatures higher than 200 °C, whereas (001) oriented single-crystal films of A2 structure are obtained when prepared at room temperature. The film surface profile does not depend much on the film composition, while the surface roughness increases with increasing substrate temperature. Island-like crystals are observed for films prepared at 600°C for all compositions. Difference in lattice spacing measured parallel and perpendicular to the substrate is noted for the single-crystal thin films and it increases with increasing Al content. The lattice strain in single-crystal film is caused possibly to accommodate the lattice mismatch with the MgO substrate. The (001)-oriented single-crystal films with A2 structure show four-fold symmetries in in-plane magnetic anisotropy with the easy magnetization axis A2[100] and the hard magnetization axis A2[110], whereas the films with DO3 ordered structure show almost isotropic magnetic properties.

Nanocavity formation processes in MgO( 1 0 0 ) by light ion (D, He, Li) and heavy ion (Kr, Cu, Au) implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Veen, A.; van Huis, M. A.; Fedorov, A. V.; Schut, H.; Labohm, F.; Kooi, B. J.; De Hosson, J. Th. M.

2002-05-01

In studies on the controlled growth of metallic precipitates in MgO it is attempted to use nanometer size cavities as precursors for formation of metallic precipitates. In MgO nanocavities can easily be generated by light gas ion bombardment at room temperature with typically 30 keV ion energy to a dose of 10 16 cm -2, followed by annealing to 1300 K. It has been shown earlier by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that the cavities (thickness 2-3 nm and length/width 5-10 nm) have a perfectly rectangular shape bounded by {1 0 0} faces. The majority of the gas has been released at this temperature and the cavities are stable until annealing at 1500 K. The depth location of the cavities and the implanted ions is monitored by positron beam analysis, neutron depth profiling, RBS/channeling and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The presence of metallic nanoprecipitates is detected by optical absorption measurements and by high-resolution XTEM. Surprisingly, all the metallic implants induce, in addition to metallic precipitates in a band at the mean ion range, small rectangular and cubic nanocavities. These are most clearly observed at a depth shallower than the precipitate band. In the case of gold the cavities are produced in close proximity to the crystal surface. The results indicate that in MgO vacancy clustering dominates over Frenkel-pair recombination. Results of molecular dynamics calculations will be used to discuss the observed defect recovery and clustering processes in MgO.

The effect of Al2O3, CaO, Cr2O3 and MgO on devitrification of silica

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zaplatynsky, Isidor

1988-01-01

The effect of doping on devitrification of vitreous silica was studied at 1100, 1200, and 1300 C. Dispersion of dopants on a molecular scale was accomplished via a sol-gel technique. All dopants accelerated the devitrification of silica but to different degrees. The most active was CaO followed by MgO, Al2O3, and Cr2O3. Pure silica and silica containing Cr2O3 and Al2O3 devitrified to alpha-cristobalite only, whereas silica doped with CaO and MgO produced alpha-quartz and alpha-cristobalite. It appears that prolonged heat treatment would cause alpha-quartz to transform to alpha-cristobalite.

Adsorption Isotherm Studies of Methyl Bromide on MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burns, Teresa; Larese, John

2003-11-01

The adsorption of methyl bromine onto highly-uniform magnesium oxide powder was studied using a high-precision computer-controlled gas adsorption system. Methyl bromide was condensed onto the MgO substrate at temperatures between 165 K and 180 K. The layering behavior, iosthermal compressibility, and isosteric heat of adsorption were determined. Isotherms will be presented and future work discussed. TEB research sponsored by the Department of Energy EPSCOR Grant No. DE-FG02-01ER45895. JZL research sponsored by start-up funds from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and by the Division of Materials Sciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed and operated by UT-Battelle, LLC.

Engineering Nanoscale Multiferroic Composites for Memory Applications with Atomic Layer Deposition of Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chien, Diana

of substrate clamping. The out-of-plane magnetization showed that the mesoporous CFO coated with 3-nm-thick PZT film had a greater saturation magnetization change of 15% compared to 10% for the 6-nm-thick PZT film. This indicates that the flexibility in the partially filled pores enhances the ME coupling. Additionally, ALD PZT films were integrated between MgO and CoFeB layers to fabricate magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ), which was the first work to demonstrate increased voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect in a complete MTJ stack using a high dielectric material within the tunnel barrier and exhibit sizeable tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) at room temperature. The fabricated PZT MTJs with the MgO/PZT/MgO barrier demonstrated a VCMA coefficient which is ˜40% higher (20 fJ/V-m) than MgO MTJs (14 fJ/V-m) and TMR of more than 50% at room temperature, comparable to that of the MgO MTJs. The enhanced VCMA coefficient and sizeable TMR makes PZT MTJs potential candidates for future voltage-controlled, ultralow-power magnetic random access memory devices. ALD enables the growth of conformal ultra-thin PZT films, which can then be integrated to engineer nanoscale multiferroic composites for various applications.

O(minus 2) grain boundary diffusion and grain growth in pure dense MgO

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kapadia, C. M.; Leipold, M. H.

1973-01-01

Grain growth behavior in fully dense compacts of MgO of very high purity was studied, and the results compared with other similar behaving materials. The activation energy for the intrinsic self-diffusion of Mg(2minus) is discussed along with the grain boundary diffusion of O(2minus). Grain boundary diffusion of O(2minus) is proposed as the controlling mechanism for grain growth.

Direct Observation of Charge Transfer at a MgO(111) Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramanian, A.; Marks, L. D.; Warschkow, O.; Ellis, D. E.

2004-01-01

Transmission electron diffraction (TED) combined with direct methods have been used to study the √(3)×√(3)R30° reconstruction on the polar (111) surface of MgO and refine the valence charge distribution. The surface is nonstoichiometric and is terminated by a single magnesium atom. A charge-compensating electron hole is localized in the next oxygen layer and there is a nominal charge transfer from the oxygen atoms to the top magnesium atom. The partial charges that we obtain for the surface atoms are in reasonable agreement with empirical bond-valence estimations.

The effect of MgO on the optical properties of lithium sodium borate doped with Cu+ ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alajerami, Yasser Saleh Mustafa; Hashim, Suhairul; Hassan, Wan Muhamad Saridan Wan; Ramli, Ahmad Termizi; Saleh, Muneer Aziz

2013-04-01

The current work presented the photoluminescence (PL) properties of a new glass system, which are reported for the first time. Based on the attractive properties of borate glass, a mixture of boric acid (70-x mol %) modified with lithium (20 mol %) and sodium carbonate (10 mol %) was prepared. The current study illustrated the effect of dopant and co-dopant techniques on the lithium sodium borate (LNB). Firstly, 0.1 mol % of copper ions doped with LNB was excited at 610 nm. The emission spectrum showed two prominent peaks in the violet region (403 and 440 nm). Then, we remarked the effect of adding different concentration of MgO on the optical properties of LNB. The results showed the great effect of magnesium oxide on the PL intensities (enhanced more than two times). Moreover, an obvious shifting has been defined toward the blue region (440 → 475 nm). The up-conversion optical properties were observed in all emission spectra. This enhancement is contributed to the energy transfer from MgO ions to monovalent Cu+ ion. It is well known that magnesium oxide alone generates weak emission intensity, but during this increment the MgO act as an activator (co-doped) for Cu+ ions. Finally, energy band gap, density, ion concentration, molar volume, Polaron radius and inter-nuclear distance all were measured for the current samples. The current samples were subjected to XRD for amorphous confirmation and IR for glass characterization before and after dopants addition. Finally, some of significant physical and optical parameters were also calculated.

Biological and mechanical properties of an experimental glass-ionomer cement modified by partial replacement of CaO with MgO or ZnO.

PubMed

Kim, Dong-Ae; Abo-Mosallam, Hany; Lee, Hye-Young; Lee, Jung-Hwan; Kim, Hae-Won; Lee, Hae-Hyoung

2015-01-01

Some weaknesses of conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) as dental materials, for instance the lack of bioactive potential and poor mechanical properties, remain unsolved.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the partial replacement of CaO with MgO or ZnO on the mechanical and biological properties of the experimental glass ionomer cements.Material and Methods Calcium fluoro-alumino-silicate glass was prepared for an experimental glass ionomer cement by melt quenching technique. The glass composition was modified by partial replacement (10 mol%) of CaO with MgO or ZnO. Net setting time, compressive and flexural properties, and in vitrorat dental pulp stem cells (rDPSCs) viability were examined for the prepared GICs and compared to a commercial GIC.Results The experimental GICs set more slowly than the commercial product, but their extended setting times are still within the maximum limit (8 min) specified in ISO 9917-1. Compressive strength of the experimental GIC was not increased by the partial substitution of CaO with either MgO or ZnO, but was comparable to the commercial control. For flexural properties, although there was no significance between the base and the modified glass, all prepared GICs marked a statistically higher flexural strength (p<0.05) and comparable modulus to control. The modified cements showed increased cell viability for rDPSCs.Conclusions The experimental GICs modified with MgO or ZnO can be considered bioactive dental materials.

Energetics and magnetic properties of V-doped MgO bulk and (001) surface: A GGA, GGA+U , and hybrid density functional study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Århammar, C.; Moyses Araujo, C.; Rao, K. V.; Norgren, Susanne; Johansson, Börje; Ahuja, Rajeev

2010-10-01

In this work, a first-principles study of the energetic and magnetic properties of V-doped MgO is presented, where both the bulk and (001) surface were investigated. It is found that V assumes a high-spin state with a local moment of about 3μB . In the bulk, the interaction between these local moments is very short ranged and the antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering is energetically more favorable. The formation of V-VMg-V defect clusters is found to weaken the antiferromagnetic coupling in bulk MgO, degenerating the AFM and ferromagnetic state. However, these clusters are high in energy and will not form at equilibrium conditions. By employing the GGA+U approach, with U=5eV , the V3d states on the (001) surface are shifted below the Fermi level, and a reasonable surface geometry was achieved. A calculation with the hybrid HSE03 functional, contradicts the GGA+U results, indicating that the V-MgO surface should be metallic at this concentration. From the energetics it is concluded that, at the modeled concentration, VxOy phases will limit the solubility of V in MgO at equilibrium conditions, which is in agreement with previous experimental findings. In order to achieve higher concentrations of V, an off-equilibrium synthesis method is needed. Finally, we find that the formation energy of V at the surface is considerably higher than in the bulk and V is thus expected to diffuse from the surface into the bulk of MgO.

Enhancement of lower critical field by reducing the thickness of epitaxial and polycrystalline MgB₂ thin films

DOE PAGES

Tan, Teng; Wolak, M. A.; Acharya, Narendra; ...

2015-04-01

For potential applications in superconducting RF cavities, we have investigated the properties of polycrystalline MgB₂ films, including the thickness dependence of the lower critical field Hc₁. MgB₂ thin films were fabricated by hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition on (0001) SiC substrate either directly (for epitaxial films) or with a MgO buffer layer (for polycrystalline films). When the film thickness decreased from 300 nm to 100 nm, Hc₁ at 5 K increased from around 600 Oe to 1880 Oe in epitaxial films and to 1520 Oe in polycrystalline films. The result is promising for using MgB₂/MgO multilayers to enhance the vortex penetrationmore » field.« less

Ferroelectricity emerging in strained (111)-textured ZrO{sub 2} thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fan, Zhen, E-mail: a0082709@u.nus.edu, E-mail: msecj@nus.edu.sg; Deng, Jinyu; Liu, Ziyan

2016-01-04

(Anti-)ferroelectricity in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible binary oxides have attracted considerable research interest recently. Here, we show that by using substrate-induced strain, the orthorhombic phase and the desired ferroelectricity could be achieved in ZrO{sub 2} thin films. Our theoretical analyses suggest that the strain imposed on the ZrO{sub 2} (111) film by the TiN/MgO (001) substrate would energetically favor the tetragonal (t) and orthorhombic (o) phases over the monoclinic (m) phase of ZrO{sub 2}, and the compressive strain along certain 〈11-2〉 directions may further stabilize the o-phase. Experimentally ZrO{sub 2} thin films are sputtered onto the MgO (001) substrates buffered bymore » epitaxial TiN layers. ZrO{sub 2} thin films exhibit t- and o-phases, which are highly (111)-textured and strained, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Both polarization-electric field (P-E) loops and corresponding current responses to voltage stimulations measured with appropriate applied fields reveal the ferroelectric sub-loop behavior of the ZrO{sub 2} films at certain thicknesses, confirming that the ferroelectric o-phase has been developed in the strained (111)-textured ZrO{sub 2} films. However, further increasing the applied field leads to the disappearance of ferroelectric hysteresis, the possible reasons of which are discussed.« less

Periodate-assisted pulsed sonocatalysis of real textile wastewater in the presence of MgO nanoparticles: Response surface methodological optimization.

PubMed

Darvishi Cheshmeh Soltani, Reza; Safari, Mahdi

2016-09-01

The improvement of sonocatalytic treatment of real textile wastewater in the presence of MgO nanoparticles was the main goal of the present study. According to our preliminary results, the application of pulse mode of sonication, together with the addition of periodate ions, produced the greatest sonocatalytic activity and consequently, the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency (73.95%) among all the assessed options. In the following, pulsed sonocatalysis of real textile wastewater in the presence of periodate ions was evaluated response surface methodologically on the basis of central composite design. Accordingly, a high correlation coefficient of 0.95 was attained for the applied statistical strategy to optimize the process. As results, a pulsed sonication time of 141min, MgO dosage of 2.4g/L, solution temperature of 314K and periodate concentration of 0.11M gave the maximum COD removal of about 85%. Under aforementioned operational conditions, the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) was obtained to be 63.34% with the reaction rate constant of 7.1×10(-3)min(-1) based on the pseudo-first order kinetic model (R(2)=0.99). Overall, periodate-assisted pulsed sonocatalysis over MgO nanoparticles can be applied as an efficient alternative process for treating and mineralizing real textile wastewater with good reusability potential. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth, structure, and magnetic properties of {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} epitaxial films on MgO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Y.; Kim, Y.J.; Thevuthasan, S.

1997-04-01

Single-crystal epitaxial thin films of {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}(001) have been grown on MgO(001) using oxygen-plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The structure and magnetic properties of these films have been characterized by a variety of techniques, including reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron/Auger electron diffraction (XPD/AED), vibrating sample magnetometry, and ferromagnetic resonance. Real-time RHEED reveals that the film growth occurs in a layer-by-layer fashion. The {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}(001) film surface exhibits a (1{times}1) LEED pattern. The growth of {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} films at 450 {degree}C is accompanied by significant Mg outdiffusion. AED ofmore » Mg KLL Auger emission reveals that Mg substitutionally incorporates in the {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} lattice, occupying the octahedral sites. Magnetic moments are {approximately}2300 G and {approximately}4500 G for {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} films grown at 250{degree}C and 450{degree}C, respectively. The high magnetic moment for the films grown at 450{degree}C could be attributed to the high degree of structural order of the films and Mg substitution at octahedral sites. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}« less

Optical Properties of Nitrogen-Substituted Strontium Titanate Thin Films Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition

PubMed Central

Marozau, Ivan; Shkabko, Andrey; Döbeli, Max; Lippert, Thomas; Logvinovich, Dimitri; Mallepell, Marc; Schneider, Christof W.; Weidenkaff, Anke; Wokaun, Alexander

2009-01-01

Perovskite-type N‑substituted SrTiO3 thin films with a preferential (001) orientation were grown by pulsed laser deposition on (001)-oriented MgO and LaAlO3 substrates. Application of N2 or ammonia using a synchronized reactive gas pulse produces SrTiO3-x:Nx films with a nitrogen content of up to 4.1 at.% if prepared with the NH3 gas pulse at a substrate temperature of 720 °C. Incorporating nitrogen in SrTiO3 results in an optical absorption at 370‑460 nm associated with localized N(2p) orbitals. The estimated energy of these levels is ≈2.7 eV below the conduction band. In addition, the optical absorption increases gradually with increasing nitrogen content.

Adsorption study of selenium ions from aqueous solutions using MgO nanosheets synthesized by ultrasonic method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cui, Wenwen; Li, Ping; Wang, Zheming

tMgO nanosheets with thickness ranges of 3–10 molecule layers and high specific area (166.44 m2g-1)were successfully fabricated by an ultrasound-assisted exfoliation method and used as adsorbent forthe removal of both selenite (Se(IV)) and selenate (Se(VI)) from aqueous solutions. The resulting MgOnanosheets displayed high maximum adsorption capacities of 103.52 and 10.28 mg g-1for Se(IV) andSe(VI), respectively. ATR-FTIR and XPS spectroscopic results suggested that both Se(IV) and Se(VI) formedinner-sphere surface complexes on MgO nanosheets under the present experimental conditions. Fur-thermore, high adsorption capacity for Se(IV/VI) in the presence of coexistent anions (SO 4 2-, PO43-, Cl-,and F-) and efficient regeneratability of adsorbentmore » by NaOH solution were observed in the competitiveadsorption and regeneration steps. The simple one-step synthesis process of MgO nanosheets and highadsorption capacities offer a promising method for Se(IV/VI) removal in water treatment.« less

Tc depression and superconductor-insulator transition in molybdenum nitride thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ichikawa, F.; Makise, K.; Tsuneoka, T.; Maeda, S.; Shinozaki, B.

2018-03-01

We have studied that the Tc depression and the superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) in molybdenum nitride (MoN) thin films. Thin films were fabricated by reactive DC magnetron sputtering method onto (100) MgO substrates in the mixture of Ar and N2 gases. Several dozen MoN thin films were prepared in the range of 3 nm < thickness d < 60 nm. The resistance was measured by a DC four-probe technique. It is found that Tc decreases from 6.6 K for thick films with increase of the normal state sheet resistance {R}{{sq}}{{N}} and experimental data were fitted to the Finkel’stein formula using the bulk superconducting transition temperature Tc 0 = 6.45 K and the elastic scattering time of electron τ = 1.6 × 10‑16 s. From this analysis the critical sheet resistance Rc is found about 2 kΩ, which is smaller than the quantum sheet resistance R Q. This value of Rc is almost the same as those for 2D NbN films. The value of τ for MoN films is also the similar value for NbN films 1.0 × 10‑16 s, while Tc 0 is different from that for NbN films 14.85 K. It is indicated that the mechanism of SIT for MoN films is similar to that of NbN films, while the mean free path ℓ for MoN films is larger than that for NbN films.

Defect induced ferromagnetism in MgO and its exceptional enhancement upon thermal annealing: a case of transformation of various defect states.

PubMed

Pathak, Nimai; Gupta, Santosh Kumar; Prajapat, C L; Sharma, S K; Ghosh, P S; Kanrar, Buddhadev; Pujari, P K; Kadam, R M

2017-05-17

MgO particles of few micron size are synthesized through a sol-gel method at different annealing temperatures such as 600 °C (MgO-600), 800 °C (MgO-800) and 1000 °C (MgO-1000). EDX and ICP-AES studies confirmed a near total purity of the sample with respect to paramagnetic metal ion impurities. Magnetic measurements showed a low temperature weak ferromagnetic ordering with a T C (Curie temperature) around 65 K (±5 K). Unexpectedly, the saturation magnetization (M s ) was found to be increased with increasing annealing temperature during synthesis. It was observed that with J = 1 or 3/2 or S = 1 or 3/2, the experimental points are fitted well with the Brillouin function of weak ferromagnetic ordering. A positron annihilation lifetime measurement study indicated the presence of a divacancy (2V Mg + 2V O ) cluster in the case of the low temperature annealed compound, which underwent dissociations into isolated monovacancies of Mg and O at higher annealing temperatures. An EPR study showed that both singly charged Mg vacancies and oxygen vacancies are responsible for ferromagnetic ordering. It also showed that at lower annealing temperatures the contribution from was very low while at higher annealing temperatures, it increased significantly. A PL study showed that most of the F + centers were present in their dimer form, i.e. as centers. DFT calculation implied that this dimer form has a higher magnetic moment than the monomer. After a careful consideration of all these observations, which have been reported for the first time, this thermally tunable unusual magnetism phenomenon was attributed to a transformation mechanism of one kind of cluster vacancy to another.

Structural and optical properties of magnetron sputtered MgxZn1-xO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Sanjeev; Gupte, Vinay; Sreenivas, K.

2006-04-01

MgxZn1-xO (MZO) thin films prepared by an rf magnetron sputtering technique are reported. The films were grown at room temperature and at relatively low rf power of 50 W. MZO thin films were found to possess preferred c-axis orientation and exhibited hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO up to a Mg concentration of 42 mol%. A small variation in the c-axis lattice parameter of around 0.3% was observed with increasing Mg composition, showing the complete solubility of Mg in ZnO. The band gap of the MZO films in the wurtzite phase varied linearly with the Mg concentration and a maximum band gap ~4.19 eV was achieved at x = 0.42. The refractive indices of the MgO films were found to decrease with increasing Mg content. The observed optical dispersion data are in agreement with the single oscillator model. A photoluminescence study revealed a blue shift in the near band edge emission peak with increasing Mg content in the MZO films. The results show the potential of MZO films in various opto-electronic applications.

Using Variable Temperature Powder X-Ray Diffraction to Determine the Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Solid MgO

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corsepius, Nicholas C.; DeVore, Thomas C.; Reisner, Barbara A.; Warnaar, Deborah L.

2007-01-01

A laboratory exercise was developed by using variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine [alpha] for MgO (periclase)and was tested in the Applied Physical Chemistry and Materials Characterization Laboratories at James Madison University. The experiment which was originally designed to provide undergraduate students with a…

Epitaxial structure and electronic property of β-Ga2O3 films grown on MgO (100) substrates by pulsed-laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wakabayashi, Ryo; Yoshimatsu, Kohei; Hattori, Mai; Ohtomo, Akira

2017-10-01

We investigated heteroepitaxial growth of Si-doped Ga2O3 films on MgO (100) substrates by pulsed-laser deposition as a function of growth temperature (Tg) to find a strong correlation between the structural and electronic properties. The films were found to contain cubic γ-phase and monoclinic β-phase, the latter of which indicated rotational twin domains when grown at higher Tg. The formation of the metastable γ-phase and twin-domain structure in the stable β-phase are discussed in terms of the in-plane epitaxial relationships with a square MgO lattice, while crystallinity of the β-phase degraded monotonically with decreasing Tg. The room-temperature conductivity indicated a maximum at the middle of Tg, where the β-Ga2O3 layer was relatively highly crystalline and free from the twin-domain structure. Moreover, both crystallinity and conductivity of β-Ga2O3 films on the MgO substrates were found superior to those on α-Al2O3 (0001) substrates. A ratio of the conductivity, attained to the highest quantity on each substrate, was almost three orders of magnitude.

Electronic structure and orientation relationship of Li nanoclusters embedded in MgO studied by depth-selective positron annihilation two-dimensional angular correlation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falub, C. V.; Mijnarends, P. E.; Eijt, S. W.; van Huis, M. A.; van Veen, A.; Schut, H.

2002-08-01

Quantum-confined positrons are sensitive probes for determining the electronic structure of nanoclusters embedded in materials. In this work, a depth-selective positron annihilation 2D-ACAR (two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation) method is used to determine the electronic structure of Li nanoclusters formed by implantation of 1016-cm-2 30-keV 6Li ions in MgO (100) and (110) crystals and by subsequent annealing at 950 K. Owing to the difference between the positron affinities of lithium and MgO, the Li nanoclusters act as quantum dots for positrons. 2D-ACAR distributions for different projections reveal a semicoherent fitting of the embedded metallic Li nanoclusters to the host MgO lattice. Ab initio Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker calculations of the momentum density show that the anisotropies of the experimental distributions are consistent with an fcc crystal structure of the Li nanoclusters. The observed reduction of the width of the experimental 2D-ACAR distribution is attributed to positron trapping in vacancies associated with Li clusters. This work proposes a method for studying the electronic structure of metallic quantum dots embedded in an insulating material.

Y1Ba2Cu3O(7-delta) thin film dc SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference device)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Racah, Daniel

1991-03-01

Direct current superconducting quantum interferometers (SQUIDs) based on HTSC thin films have been measured and characterized. The thin films used were of different quality: (1) Granular films on Sapphire substrates, prepared either by e-gun evaporation, by laser ablation or by MOCVD (metal oxide chemical vapor deposition), (2) Epitaxial films on MgO substrates. Modulations of the voltage on the SQUIDs as a function of the applied flux have been observed in a wide range of temperatures. The nature of the modulation was found to be strongly dependent on the morphology of the film and on its critical current. The SQUIDs based on granular films were relatively noisy, hysteretic and with a complicated V-phi shape. Those devices based on low quality (lowIc) granular films could be measured only at low temperatures (much lower than 77 K). While those of higher quality (granular films with high Ic) could be measured near to the superconductive transition. The SQUID based on high quality epitaxial film was measured near Tc and showed an anomalous, time dependent behavior.

Fast microwave-assisted catalytic co-pyrolysis of lignin and low-density polyethylene with HZSM-5 and MgO for improved bio-oil yield and quality.

PubMed

Fan, Liangliang; Chen, Paul; Zhang, Yaning; Liu, Shiyu; Liu, Yuhuan; Wang, Yunpu; Dai, Leilei; Ruan, Roger

2017-02-01

Fast microwave-assisted catalytic co-pyrolysis of lignin and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with HZSM-5 and MgO was investigated. Effects of pyrolysis temperature, lignin to LDPE ratio, MgO to HZSM-5 ratio, and feedstock to catalyst ratio on the products yields and chemical profiles were examined. 500°C was the optimal co-pyrolysis temperature in terms of the maximum bio-oil yield. The proportion of aromatics increased with increasing LDPE content. In addition, with the addition of LDPE (lignin/LDPE=1/2), methoxyl group in the phenols was completely removed. A synergistic effect was found between lignin and LDPE. The proportion of aromatics increased and alkylated phenols decreased with increasing HZSM-5 to MgO ratio. The bio-oil yield increased with the addition of appropriate amount of catalyst and the proportion of alkylated phenols increased with increasing catalyst to feedstock ratio. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The influence of mineralogical, chemical and physical properties on grindability of commercial clinkers with high MgO level

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Souza, Vladia Cristina G. de; Koppe, Jair Carlos; Costa, Joao F.C.L.

2008-08-15

This research investigates various methods able to identify possible mineralogical, physical and chemical influences on the grindability of commercial clinkers with high MgO level. The aim of the study is to evaluate the hardness and elastic modulus of the clinker mineral phases and their fracture strength during the comminution processes, comparing samples from clinkers with low MgO level (0.5%) and clinkers with elevated MgO levels (> 5.0%). The study of the influence of mineralogical, chemical and physical properties was carried out using several analytical techniques, such as: optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Thesemore » techniques were useful in qualifying the different clinker samples. The drop weight test (DWT) and the Bond ball mill grindability test were performed to characterize the mechanical properties of clinkers. Nanoindentation tests were also carried out. Results from the Bond ball mill grindability test were found to be related to the hardness of the mineral phase and to mineralogical characteristics, such as type and amount of inclusions in silicates, belite and alite crystals shape, or microcracked alites. In contrast, the results obtained by the DWT were associated to the macro characteristics of clinkers, such as porosity, as well as to the hardness and mineralogical characteristics of belite crystals in clusters. Hardness instrumented tests helped to determine the Vickers hardness and elastic modulus from the mineral phases in commercial clinkers and produced different values for the pure phases compared to previous publications.« less

The double-edged effects of annealing MgO underlayers on the efficient synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotube forests.

PubMed

Tsuji, Takashi; Hata, Kenji; Futaba, Don N; Sakurai, Shunsuke

2017-11-16

Recently, the millimetre-scale, highly efficient synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) forests from Fe catalysts has been reported through the annealing of the magnesia (MgO) underlayer. Here, we report the double-edged effects of underlayer annealing on the efficiency and structure of the SWCNT forest synthesis through a temperature-dependent examination. Our results showed that the efficiency of the SWCNT forests sharply increased with increased underlayer annealing temperatures from 600 °C up to 900 °C due to a temperature-dependent structural modification, characterized by increased grain size and reduced defects, of the MgO underlayer. Beyond this temperature, the SWCNT fraction also decreased as a result of further structural modification of the MgO underlayer. This exemplifies the double-edged effects of annealing. Specifically, for underlayer annealing below 600 °C, the catalyst subsurface diffusion was found to limit the growth efficiency, and for excessively high underlayer annealing temperatures (>900 °C), catalyst coalescence/ripening led to the formation of double-wall carbon nanotubes. As a result, three distinct regions of synthesis were observed: (i) a "low yield" region below a threshold temperature (∼600 °C); (ii) an "increased yield" region from 600 to 900 °C, and (iii) a "saturation" region above 900 °C. The efficient SWCNT forest synthesis could only occur within a specific annealing temperature window as a result of this double-edged effects of underlayer annealing.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kang, Xiaoyu; Shetty, Smitha; Garten, Lauren

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties for Zn 1-xMg xO (ZMO) thin films are reported as a function of MgO composition up to and including the phase separation region. Zn 1-xMg xO (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) thin films with c-axis textures were deposited by pulsed laser deposition on platinized sapphire substrates. The films were phase pure wurtzite for MgO concentrations up to 40%; above that limit, a second phase with rocksalt structure evolves with strong {100} texture. With increasing MgO concentration, the out-of-plane ( d33,f) and in-plane ( e31,f) piezoelectric coefficients increase by 360% and 290%, respectively. The increase in piezoelectricmore » coefficients is accompanied by a 35% increase in relative permittivity. Loss tangent values fall monotonically with increasing MgO concentration, reaching a minimum of 0.001 for x ≥ 0.30, at which point the band gap is reported to be 4 eV. As a result, the enhanced piezoelectric response, the large band gap, and the low dielectric loss make Zn 1-xMg xO an interesting candidate for thin film piezoelectric devices, and demonstrate that compositional phase transformations provide opportunities for property engineering.« less

Dependence of magnetic properties on different buffer layers of Mn3.5Ga thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Y.; Sato, K.; Shima, T.; Doi, M.

2018-05-01

D022-Mn3.5Ga thin films were prepared on MgO (100) single crystalline substrates with different buffer layer (Cr, Fe, Cr/Pt and Cr/Au) using an ultra-high-vacuum electron beam vapor deposition system. From XRD patterns, a fundamental (004) peak has clearly observed for all samples. The relatively low saturation magnetization (Ms) of 178 emu/cm3, high magnetic anisotropy (Ku) of 9.1 Merg/cm3 and low surface roughness (Ra) of 0.30 nm were obtained by D022-Mn3.5Ga film (20 nm) on Cr/Pt buffer layer at Ts = 300 °C, Ta = 400 °C (3h). These findings suggest that MnGa film on Cr/Pt buffer layer is a promising PMA layer for future spin electronics devices.

Role of Y2O3, CaO, MgO additives on structural and microstructural behavior of zirconia/mullite aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, D. K.; Prusty, Sasmita; Mohapatra, B. K.; Singh, S. K.; Behera, S. N.

2012-07-01

Zirconia mullite (MUZ), Y2O3-MUZ, CaO-MUZ and MgO-MUZ composites, synthesized through plasma fusion technique, are becoming important due to their commercial scale of production within five minutes of plasma treatment from sillimanite, zircon and alumina mixture. The X-ray diffraction studies reveal the monoclinic zirconia phase in MUZ composite whereas mixed monoclinic, tetragonal and cubic phases of zirconia have been observed in Y2O3, CaO, MgO added MUZ composites. The Y2O3, CaO and MgO additives act as sintering aids to favour the transformation and stabilisation of tetragonal and cubic zirconia phases at room temperature. These additives also play a key role in the development of various forms of microstructure to achieve dense MUZ composites.

Nucléation et croissance de films YBa_{2Cu3O_{7 - δ}} déposés par ablation laser sur substrat de MgO(001)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keller, D.; Gervais, A.; Chambonnet, D.; Belouet, C.; Audry, C.

1995-02-01

In the field of superconducting devices devoted to microwave applications, the crystalline texture of high quality thin films based on YBa{2}Cu{3}O{7 - δ} is of primary importance. This study presents the formation of this texture on MgO substrates with the nucleation and growth steps up to a film thickness of 300 nm as observed by means of AFM, HRTEM and XRD. The influence of deposition temperature on the growth mode is shown and a nucleation/growth model is discussed. The minimum roughness of c_{bot 0}{(^1)} textured films, 300 nm thick and 20 × 20 mm2 in size is as slow as 2 nm. Dans le cadre de la réalisation de composants supraconducteurs de haute qualité à base du composé YBa{2}Cu{3}O{7 - δ} destinés aux applications en hyperfréquences, le contrôle de la texture cristalline des films est de première importance. La formation de celle-ci sur substrat MgO est étudiée depuis la nucléation jusqu'à une épaisseur de 300 nm au moyen de la microscopie à force atomique, de la microscopie électronique en transmission à haute résolution et de la diffraction des rayons X. L'influence de la température de dépôt sur le mode de croissance est abordée et un modèle de nucléation/croissance est discuté. La rugosité minimale des films d'épaisseur 300 nm et de dimensions 20 × 20 mm2 de texture c_{bot 0}{(^1)} est voisine de 2 nm.

Production of carbon nanotubes: Chemical vapor deposition synthesis from liquefied petroleum gas over Fe-Co-Mo tri-metallic catalyst supported on MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setyopratomo, P.; Wulan, Praswasti P. D. K.; Sudibandriyo, M.

2016-06-01

Carbon nanotubes were produced by chemical vapor deposition method to meet the specifications for hydrogen storage. So far, the various catalyst had been studied outlining their activities, performances, and efficiencies. In this work, tri-metallic catalyst consist of Fe-Co-Mo supported on MgO was used. The catalyst was prepared by wet-impregnation method. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was used as carbon source. The synthesis was conducted in atmospheric fixed bed reactor at reaction temperature range 750 - 850 °C for 30 minutes. The impregnation method applied in this study successfully deposed metal component on the MgO support surface. It found that the deposited metal components might partially replace Mg(OH)2 or MgO molecules in their crystal lattice. Compare to the original MgO powder; it was significant increases in pore volume and surface area has occurred during catalyst preparation stages. The size of obtained carbon nanotubes is ranging from about 10.83 nm OD/4.09 nm ID up to 21.84 nm OD/6.51 nm ID, which means that multiwall carbon nanotubes were formed during the synthesis. Yield as much as 2.35 g.CNT/g.catalyst was obtained during 30 minutes synthesis and correspond to carbon nanotubes growth rate of 0.2 μm/min. The BET surface area of the obtained carbon nanotubes is 181.13 m2/g and around 50 % of which is contributed by mesopores. Micropore with half pore width less than 1 nm contribute about 10% volume of total micro and mesopores volume of the carbon nanotubes. The existence of these micropores is very important to increase the hydrogen storage capacity of the carbon nanotubes.

Millimeter wave transmission studies of YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films in the 26.5 to 40.0 GHz frequency range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miranda, F. A.; Gordon, W. L.; Bhasin, K. B.; Heinen, V. O.; Warner, J. D.; Valco, G. J.

1989-01-01

Millimeter wave transmission measurements through YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) thin films on MgO, ZrO2 and LaAlO3 substrates, are reported. The films (approx. 1 micron) were deposited by sequential evaporation and laser ablation techniques. Transition temperatures T sub c, ranging from 89.7 K for the Laser Ablated film on LaAlO3 to approximately 72 K for the sequentially evaporated film on MgO, were obtained. The values of the real and imaginary parts of the complex conductivity, sigma 1 and sigma 2, are obtained from the transmission data, assuming a two fluid model. The BCS approach is used to calculate values for an effective energy gap from the obtained values of sigma sub 1. A range of gap values from 2 DELTA o/K sub B T sub c = 4.19 to 4.35 was obtained. The magnetic penetration depth is evaluated from the deduced values of sigma 2. These results are discussed together with the frequency dependence of the normalized transmission amplitude, P/P sub c, below and above T sub c.

Large moments in bcc FexCoyMnz ternary alloy thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snow, R. J.; Bhatkar, H.; N'Diaye, A. T.; Arenholz, E.; Idzerda, Y. U.

2018-02-01

The elemental magnetic moments and the average atomic moment of 10-20 nm thick single crystal bcc (bct) FexCoyMnz films deposited on MgO(001) have been determined as a function of a broad range of compositions. Thin film epitaxy stabilized the bcc structure for 80% of the available ternary compositional space compared to only a 23% stability region for the bulk. The films that display ferromagnetism represent 60% of the available compositional possibilities compared to 25% for the bulk. A maximum average atomic moment of 3.25 ± 0.3 μB/atom was observed for a bcc Fe9Co62Mn29 film (well above the limit of the Slater-Pauling binary alloy curve of 2.45 μB/atom). The FexCoyMnz ternary alloys that exhibit high moments can only be synthesized as ultrathin films since the bcc structure is not stable in the bulk for those compositions.

Adsorption Isotherm Studies of Methyl Bromide on MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burns, Teresa; Larese, John

2004-03-01

The adsorption of methyl bromine onto highly-uniform magnesium oxide powder was studied. Methyl bromide was condensed onto the MgO substrate at temperatures between 164 K and 179 K. The layering behavior of the gas molecules was studied by a series of vapor pressure isotherms, using a high-accuracy, computer-controller system. The isotherms clearly show first layer formation at all temperatures, with second layer formation at higher temperatures; the 2D compressibility and isosteric heat of adsorption were determined. TEB sponsored by the Department of Energy EPSCOR Grant No. DE-FG02-01ER45895. JZL sponsored by start-up funds from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and by the Division of Materials Sciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed and operated by UT-Battelle, LLC.

Investigations on structural and electrical parameters of p-Si/ MgxZn1-xO thin film heterojunction diodes grown by RF magnetron sputtering technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Satyendra Kumar; Hazra, Purnima

2018-05-01

This work reports fabrication and characterization of p-Si/ MgxZn1-xO thin film heterojunction diodes grown by RF magnetron sputtering technique. In this work, ZnO powder was mixed with MgO powder at per their weight percentage from 0 to 10% to prepare MgxZn1-xO target. The microstructural, surface morphological and optical properties of as-deposited p-Si/MgxZn1-xO heterostructure thin films have been studied using X-ray Diffraction, atomic force microscopy and variable angle ellipsometer. XRD spectra exhibit that undoped ZnO thin films has preferred crystal orientation in (002) plane. However, with increase in Mg-doping, ZnO (101) crystal plane is enhanced progressively due to phase segregation, even though preferred growth orientation of ZnO crystals is still towards (002) plane. The electrical characteristics of Si/ MgxZn1-xO heterojunction diodes with large area Al/Ti ohmic contacts are evaluated using semiconductor parameter analyzer. With rectification ratio of 27894, reverse saturation current of 20.5 nA and barrier height of 0.724 eV, Si/Mg0.5Zn0.95O thin film heterojunction diode is believed to have potential to be used in wider bandgap nanoelectronic device applications.

The influence of nano MgO and BaSO4 particle size additives on properties of PMMA bone cement.

PubMed

Ricker, Alyssa; Liu-Snyder, Peishan; Webster, Thomas J

2008-01-01

A common technique to aid in implant fixation into surrounding bone is to inject bone cement into the space between the implant and surrounding bone. The most common bone cement material used clinically today is poly(methyl methacrylate), or PMMA. Although promising, there are numerous disadvantages of using PMMA in bone fixation applications which has limited its wide spread use. Specifically, the PMMA polymerization reaction is highly exothermic in situ, thus, damaging surrounding bone tissue while curing. In addition, PMMA by itself is not visible using typical medical imaging techniques (such as X-rays required to assess new bone formation surrounding the implant). Lastly, although PMMA does support new bone growth, studies have highlighted decreased osteoblast (bone forming cell) functions on PMMA compared to other common orthopedic coating materials, such as calcium phosphates and hydroxyapatite. For these reasons, the goal of this study was to begin to investigate novel additives to PMMA which can enhance its cytocompatibility properties with osteoblasts, decrease its exothermic reaction when curing, and increase its radiopacity. Results of this study demonstrated that compared to conventional (or micron) equivalents, PMMA with nanoparticles of MgO and BaSO4 reduced harmful exothermic reactions of PMMA during solidification and increased radiopacity, respectively. Moreover, osteoblast adhesion increased on PMMA with nanoparticles of MgO and BaSO4 compared with PMMA alone. This study, thus, suggests that nanoparticles of MgO and BaSO4 should be further studied for improving properties of PMMA for orthopedic applications.

Y2O3-MgO Nano-Composite Synthesized by Plasma Spraying and Thermal Decomposition of Solution Precursors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muoto, Chigozie Kenechukwu

This research aims to identify the key feedstock characteristics and processing conditions to produce Y2O3-MgO composite coatings with high density and hardness using solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) and suspension plasma spray (SPS) processes, and also, to explore the phenomena involved in the production of homogenized nano-composite powders of this material system by thermal decomposition of solution precursor mixtures. The material system would find potential application in the fabrication of components for optical applications such as transparent windows. It was shown that a lack of major endothermic events during precursor decomposition and the resultant formation of highly dense particles upon pyrolysis are critical precursor characteristics for the deposition of dense and hard Y2O3-MgO coatings by SPPS. Using these principles, a new Y2O3-MgO precursor solution was developed, which yielded a coating with Vickers hardness of 560 Hv. This was a considerable improvement over the hardness of the coatings obtained using conventional solution precursors, which was as low as 110 Hv. In the thermal decomposition synthesis process, binary solution precursor mixtures of: yttrium nitrate (Y[n]) or yttrium acetate (Y[a]), with magnesium nitrate (Mg[n]) or magnesium acetate (Mg[a]) were used in order to study the effects of precursor chemistry on the structural characteristics of the resultant Y2O3-MgO powders. The phase domains were coarse and distributed rather inhomogeneously in the materials obtained from the Y[n]Mg[n] and Y[a]Mg[a] mixtures; finer and more homogeneously-distributed phase domains were obtained for ceramics produced from the Y[a]Mg[n] and Y[n]Mg[a] mixtures. It was established that these phenomena were related to the thermal characteristics for the decomposition of the precursors and their effect on phase separation during oxide crystallization. Addition of ammonium acetate to the Y[n[Mg[n] mixture changed the endothermic process to exothermic

I. Measuring and Reducing Stress and Surface Roughness in IBAD MgO Films and II. Developing Tools to Measure Transfer in Undergraduate Chemistry Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonakos, Cory Dale

I. MgO may be grown with a biaxial texture onto an amorphous substrate with the use of ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD). This MgO film may then be used as a platform on which to grow epitaxial films on an amorphous membrane for characterization purposes. However, the IBAD MgO film is stressed, causing buckles in the amorphous membrane and problems with further film growth on the IBAD MgO. This dissertation work explores the source of this film stress and develops methods to relax the stress and reduce surface roughness with annealing and increased growth temperature. It is determined that annealing and increased growth temperature coupled with a higher ion-to-atom ratio (IAR) during film growth reduce stress and surface roughness sufficiently to use even thinner IBAD MgO films as an intermediate layer between an amorphous membrane and epitaxial film. II. Much of the existing literature on knowledge transfer concludes that transfer is rare and does not occur spontaneously. However, studies supporting that transfer is rare often use methods that focus on binary success or failure to solve a problem correctly and do not analyze thought process. This dissertation work aims at developing transfer questions that allow open-ended responses, developing a method of analysis for these responses that looks for transfer in the problem-solving process, and assessing the methodology itself and its sensitivity, validity, and utility as a general transfer measurement technique for use across a broad range of expertise levels in chemistry. Detailed analysis of responses to each transfer question show that some transfer questions are more effective at distinguishing between expertise levels while also allowing responders of all levels to show knowledge transfer. Simpler questions that are more accessible to students of introductory chemistry proved the most useful at eliciting a range of responses that correlate with expertise level while still showing some degree of transfer in

Adsorption Isotherm Studies of Methyl Bromide on MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harper, Tj; Burns, Te; Larese, Jz

2003-03-01

This research involves the adsorption of methyl bromine and methane onto highly-uniform magnesium oxide powder. Methyl bromide was condensed onto the MgO substrate at temperatures between 175 K and 179 K. The layering behavior of the gas molecules was studied by a series of vapor pressure isotherms, using a high-accuracy, computer-controlled system. The isotherms clearly show first layer formation at all temperatures, followed by a continuous layer growth to saturation. Isotherms will be presented and future work discussed. TJH and TEB research sponsored by the Department of Energy EPSCOR Grant No. DE-FG02-01ER45895. JZL research sponsored by start-up funds from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and by the Division of Materials Sciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed and operated by UT-Battelle, LLC.

Synthesis and structural characterization of transition metal doped MgO: Mg0.95Mn0.01TM0.04O (TM = Co, Ni, Cu)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Islam, Ishtihadah; Khandy, Shakeel Ahmad; Hafiz, Aurangzeb Khurram

2018-05-01

In the present work, preparation and characterization of transition metal doped MgO: Zn0.94Mn0.01TM0.05O (TM = Co, Ni and Cu) nano-particles have been reported. Transition metal doped samples of MgO were synthesized by Sol gel auto combustion method. Structural characterisation from XRD and SEM show the formation of single-phase primary particles, nearly of spherical shaped nano-crystallites. The crystallite size was found to be 78.2, 67.02, 78.11 and 64 nm for pure, Co, Cu and Ni doped MgMnO nano-particles, respectively. Hence, the average crystallite size increases monotonously from Co to Cu doping.

Effect of Relative Humidity and CO2 Concentration on the Properties of Carbonated Reactive MgO Cement Based Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilan, Yaroslav

Sustainability of modern concrete industry recently has become an important topic of scientific discussion, and consequently there is an effort to study the potential of the emerging new supplementary cementitious materials. This study has a purpose to investigate the effect of reactive magnesia (reactive MgO) as a replacement for general use (GU) Portland Cements and the effect of environmental factors (CO2 concentrations and relative humidity) on accelerated carbonation curing results. The findings of this study revealed that improvement of physical properties is related directly to the increase in CO2 concentrations and inversely to the increase in relative humidity and also depends much on %MgO in the mixture. The conclusions of this study helped to clarify the effect of variable environmental factors and the material replacement range on carbonation of reactive magnesia concrete materials, as well as providing an assessment of the optimal conditions for the effective usage of the material.

Laser ablated high T(sub c) superconducting thin YBa2Cu3O(7-x) films on substrates suitable for microwave applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warner, J. D.; Meola, J. E.; Jenkins, K. A.; Bhasin, K. B.

1990-04-01

The development of high temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3O(7-x) thin films on substrates suitable for microwave applications is of great interest for evaluating their applications for space radar, communication, and sensor systems. Thin films of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) were formed on SrTiO3, ZrO2, MgO, and LaAlO3 substrates by laser ablation. The wavelength used was 248 nm from a KrF excimer laser. During deposition the films were heated to 600 C in a flowing oxygen environment, and required no post annealing. The low substrate temperature during deposition with no post annealing gave films which were smooth, which had their c-axis aligned to the substrates, and which had grains ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 microns in size. The films being c-axis aligned gave excellent surface resistance at 35 GHz which was lower than that of copper at 77 K. At present, LaAlO3 substrates with a dielectric constant of 22, appears suitable as a substrate for microwave and electronic applications. The films were characterized by resistance-temperature measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and x ray diffraction. The highest critical transition temperatures (T sub c) are above 89 K for films on SrTiO3 and LaAlO3, above 88 K for ZrO2, and above 86 K for MgO. The critical current density (J sub c) of the films on SrTiO3 is above 2 x 10(exp 6) amperes/sq cm at 77 K. The T(sub c) and J(sub c) are reported as a function of laser power, composition of the substrate, and temperature of the substrate during deposition.

Polyol-mediated thermolysis process for the synthesis of MgO nanoparticles and nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramania, A.; Vijaya Kumar, G.; Sathiya Priya, A. R.; Vasudevan, T.

2007-06-01

The main aim of this work is to prepare MgO nanoparticles and nanowires by a novel polyol-mediated thermolysis (PMT) process. The influence of different mole concentration of magnesium acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP; capping agent) and ethylene glycol (EG; solvent as well as reducing agent) on the formation of nanoparticles and nanowires and the effect of calcination on the crystalline size of the samples were also examined. The resultant oxide structure, thermal behaviour, size and shape have been studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, thermal (TG/DTA) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively.

Theoretical evidence for unexpected O-rich phases at corners of MgO surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharya, Saswata; Berger, Daniel; Reuter, Karsten; Ghiringhelli, Luca M.; Levchenko, Sergey V.

2017-12-01

Realistic oxide materials are often semiconductors, in particular at elevated temperatures, and their surfaces contain undercoordinated atoms at structural defects such as steps and corners. Using hybrid density-functional theory and ab initio atomistic thermodynamics, we investigate the interplay of bond-making, bond-breaking, and charge-carrier trapping at the corner defects at the (100) surface of a p -doped MgO in thermodynamic equilibrium with an O2 atmosphere. We show that by manipulating the coordination of surface atoms, one can drastically change and even reverse the order of stability of reduced versus oxidized surface sites.

HTS Fabry-Perot resonators for the far infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keller, Philipp; Prenninger, Martin; Pechen, Evgeny V.; Renk, Karl F.

1996-06-01

We report on far infrared (FIR) Fabry-Perot resonators (FPR) with high temperature superconductor (HTS) thin films as mirrors. For the fabrication of FPR we use two parallel MgO plates covered with YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films on adjacent sides. We have measured the far-infrared transmissivity at 10 K with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Very sharp resonances can be observed for frequencies below 6 THz where the MgO is transparent. The finesse (width of the first order resonance) is comparable to the FPR with metallic meshes as reflectors that are applied in the FIR spectroscopy and astronomy. We have also shown that thin films of gold are not adequate substitute to HTS thin films and not suitable for the fabrication of high-quality FPR due to the ohmic losses.

Misfit paradox on nucleation potency of MgO and MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} for Al

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, D.; Wang, L.

MgO and MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} are believed to be effective heterogeneous nuclei for Al based alloys due to their small lattice misfits with Al. However, there is a strong evidence to suggest that liquid Al reacts with MgO and MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} phases but the heterogeneous nucleation behavior of such phases is rarely discussed. In order to identify the nucleation mechanism of Al, under the interference of the chemical reaction, the heterogeneous nucleation process is systematically investigated through thermal analysis and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The observed multi-nucleation interfaces (Al/MgO, Al/MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} and Al/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) andmore » scattered experimental undercooling data indicate an independent multi-phase nucleation process in these systems. - Highlights: •Theoretical lattice misfit doesn’t always disclose nucleation potency. •The nucleation of liquid can be triggered by multi-nucleation interfaces. •An independent multi-agents nucleation was verified in the study.« less

Investigation of the strain-sensitive superconducting transition of BaFe1.8Co0.2As2 thin films utilizing piezoelectric substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trommler, S.; Hänisch, J.; Iida, K.; Kurth, F.; Schultz, L.; Holzapfel, B.; Hühne, R.

2014-05-01

The preparation of biaxially textured BaFe1.8Co0.2As2 thin films has been optimized on MgO single crystals and transfered to piezoelectric (001) Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.72Ti0.28O3 substrates. By utilizing the inverse piezoelectric effect the lattice parameter of these substrates can be controlled applying an electric field, leading to a induction of biaxial strain into the superconducting layer. High electric fields were used to achieve a total strain of up to 0.05% at low temperatures. A sharpening of the resistive transition and a shift of about 0.6 K to higher temperatures was found at a compressive strain of 0.035%.

XPS Study on the Stability and Transformation of Hydrate and Carbonate Phases within MgO Systems

PubMed Central

Rheinheimer, Vanessa; Unluer, Cise; Liu, Jiawei; Ruan, Shaoqin; Pan, Jisheng; Monteiro, Paulo J. M.

2017-01-01

MgO cements have great potential for carbon sequestration as they have the ability to carbonate and gain strength over time. The hydration of reactive MgO occurs at a similar rate as ordinary Portland cement (PC) and forms brucite (Mg(OH)2, magnesium hydroxide), which reacts with CO2 to form a range of hydrated magnesium carbonates (HMCs). However, the formation of HMCs within the MgO–CO2–H2O system depends on many factors, such as the temperature and CO2 concentration, among others, which play an important role in determining the rate and degree of carbonation, the type and stability of the produced HMCs and the associated strength development. It is critical to understand the stability and transformation pathway of HMCs, which are assessed here through the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of the CO2 concentration (in air or 10% CO2), exposure to high temperatures (up to 300 °C) and curing period (one or seven days) are reported. Observed changes in the binding energy (BE) indicate the formation of different components and the transformation of the hydrated carbonates from one form to another, which will influence the final performance of the carbonated blends. PMID:28772437

The study of CaO and MgO heterogenic nano-catalyst coupling on transesterification reaction efficacy in the production of biodiesel from recycled cooking oil.

PubMed

Tahvildari, Kambiz; Anaraki, Yasaman Naghavi; Fazaeli, Reza; Mirpanji, Sogol; Delrish, Elham

2015-01-01

Fossil fuels' pollution and their non-renewability have motivated the search for alternative fuels. Some common example of seed oils are sunflower oil, date seed oil, soy bean oil. For instance, soy methyl and soy-based biodiesel are the main biodiesel. Biodiesel is a clean diesel fuel that can be produced through transesterification reaction. Recycled cooking oil, on the other hand, is one of the inexpensive, easily available sources for producing biodiesel. This article is aimed at production of biodiesel via trans-esterification method, Nano CaO synthesis using sol-gel method, and Nano MgO synthesis using sol-gel self-combustion. Two catalysts' combination affecting the reaction's efficacy was also discussed. Optimum conditions for the reaction in the presence of Nano CaO are 1.5 % weight fracture, 1:7 alcohol to oil proportion and 6 h in which biodiesel and glycerin (the byproduct) are produced. Moreover, the optimum conditions for this reaction in the presence of Nano CaO and Nano MgO mixture are 3 % weight fracture (0.7 g of Nano CaO and 0.5 g of Nano MgO), 1:7 alcohols to oil proportion and 6 h. Nano MgO is not capable of catalyzing the transesterification by itself, because it has a much weaker basic affinity but when used with Nano CaO due to its surface structure, the basic properties increase and it becomes a proper base for the catalyst so that CaO contact surface increases and transesterification reaction yield significantly increases as well. This study investigates the repeatability of transesterification reaction in the presence of these Nano catalysts as well.

Ultra Uniform Pb0.865La0.09(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 Thin Films with Tunable Optical Properties Fabricated via Pulsed Laser Deposition

PubMed Central

Jiang, Shenglin; Huang, Chi; Gu, Honggang; Liu, Shiyuan; Zhu, Shuai; Li, Ming-Yu; Yao, Lingmin; Wu, Yunyi; Zhang, Guangzu

2018-01-01

Ferroelectric thin films have been utilized in a wide range of electronic and optical applications, in which their morphologies and properties can be inherently tuned by a qualitative control during growth. In this work, we demonstrate the evolution of the Pb0.865La0.09(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 (PLZT) thin films on MgO (200) with high uniformity and optimized optical property via the controls of the deposition temperatures and oxygen pressures. The perovskite phase can only be obtained at the deposition temperature above 700 °C and oxygen pressure over 50 Pa due to the improved crystallinity. Meanwhile, the surface morphologies gradually become smooth and compact owing to spontaneously increased nucleation sites with the elevated temperatures, and the crystallization of PLZT thin films also sensitively respond to the oxygen vacancies with the variation of oxygen pressures. Correspondingly, the refractive indices gradually develop with variations of the deposition temperatures and oxygen pressures resulted from the various slight loss, and the extinction coefficient for each sample is similarly near to zero due to the relatively smooth morphology. The resulting PLZT thin films exhibit the ferroelectricity, and the dielectric constant sensitively varies as a function of electric filed, which can be potentially applied in the electronic and optical applications. PMID:29596398

Laser MBE-grown CoFeB epitaxial layers on MgO: Surface morphology, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaveev, Andrey K.; Bursian, Viktor E.; Krichevtsov, Boris B.; Mashkov, Konstantin V.; Suturin, Sergey M.; Volkov, Mikhail P.; Tabuchi, Masao; Sokolov, Nikolai S.

2018-01-01

Epitaxial layers of CoFeB were grown on MgO by means of laser molecular beam epitaxy using C o40F e40B20 target. The growth was combined with in situ structural characterization by three-dimensional reciprocal space mapping obtained from reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) data. High-temperature single stage growth regime was adopted to fabricate CoFeB layers. As confirmed by the atomic force microscopy, the surface of CoFeB layers consists of closely spaced nanometer sized islands with dimensions dependent on the growth temperature. As shown by RHEED and XRD analysis, the CoFeB layers grown at high-temperature on MgO(001) possess body centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure with the lattice constant a =2.87 Å close to that of the C o75F e25 alloy. It was further shown that following the same high-temperature growth technique the MgO/CoFeB/MgO(001) heterostructures can be fabricated with top and bottom MgO layers of the same crystallographic orientation. The CoFeB layers were also grown on the GaN(0001) substrates using MgO(111) as a buffer layer. In this case, the CoFeB layers crystallize in bcc crystal structure with the (111) axis perpendicular to the substrate surface. The magnetic properties of the CoFeB/MgO (001) heterostructures have been investigated by measuring magnetization curves with a vibrating sample magnetometer as well as by performing magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) studies. FMR spectra were obtained for the variety of the magnetic field directions and typically consisted of a single relatively narrow resonance line. The magnetization orientations and the resonance conditions were calculated in the framework of a standard magnetic energy minimization procedure involving a single K1 c cubic term for the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This allows a fairly accurate description of the angular dependences of the resonance fields—both in-plane and out-of-plane. It was shown that CoFeB layers exhibit

Ferromagnetic MnGaN thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy for spintronics applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Hwachol; Sukegawa, Hiroaki, E-mail: sukegawa.hiroaki@nims.go.jp; Ohkubo, Tadakatsu

2015-07-20

Perpendicularly magnetized flat thin films of antiperovskite Mn{sub 67}Ga{sub 24}N{sub 9} were grown on an MgO(001) substrate by reactive sputtering using an argon/1% nitrogen gas mixture and a Mn{sub 70}Ga{sub 30} target. The films showed a saturation magnetization of 80 –100 kA/m, an effective perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) energy of 0.1–0.2 MJ/m{sup 3}, and a Curie temperature of 660–740 K. Upon increasing the N composition, the films transformed from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic as expected in the stoichiometric Mn{sub 3}GaN phase. Point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy revealed that the ferromagnetic MnGaN has a current spin polarization of 57%, which is comparable to D0{sub 22}-MnGa. Thesemore » findings suggest that MnGaN is a promising PMA layer for future spintronics devices.« less

Compositional tuning of atomic layer deposited MgZnO for thin film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wrench, J. S.; Brunell, I. F.; Chalker, P. R.; Jin, J. D.; Shaw, A.; Mitrovic, I. Z.; Hall, S.

2014-11-01

Thin film transistors (TFTs) have been fabricated using magnesium zinc oxide (MgZnO) layers deposited by atomic layer deposition at 200 °C. The composition of the MgZnO is systematically modified by varying the ratio of MgO and ZnO deposition cycles. A blue-shift of the near band-edge photoluminescence after post-deposition annealing at 300 °C indicates significant activation of the Mg dopant. A 7:1 ratio of ZnO:MgO deposition cycles was used to fabricate a device with a TFT channel width of 2000 μm and a channel length of 60 μm. This transistor yielded an effective saturation mobility of 4 cm2/V s and a threshold voltage of 7.1 V, respectively. The on/off ratio was 1.6 × 10 6 and the maximum interface state density at the ZnO/SiO2 interface is ˜ 6.5 × 10 12 cm-2.

Lowering of the firing voltage and reducing of the discharge delay time in alternating current plasma display panels by a discontinuous spin-coated LaB{sub 6} film on the MgO protective layer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deng, Jiang, E-mail: dj78291@163.com; Zeng, Baoqing; Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 528402 zhongshan

2014-03-15

A spin coated LaB{sub 6} discontinuous film is covered on MgO protective layer to improve the discharge performance of alternating current plasma display panels. Under the premise of high transmittance of more than 90%, a very small amount of polycrystal LaB{sub 6} powders added in an organic solvent are chosen as the coating solution. The discharge characteristics results show that with 250 torr 5% Xe-Ne pressure, the firing voltage and discharge delay time of the test panel with LaB{sub 6}/MgO double protective layer are decreased by 13.4% and 36.5%, respectively, compared with that of conventional MgO protective layer, likely owingmore » to the low work function of LaB{sub 6.} Furthermore, the aging time of the proposed structure is comparable to that of pure MgO protective layer. Therefore, it will not increase the production costs and is highly suitable to be applied for alternating current plasma display panels with low electrical power consumption.« less

Room-temperature ferromagnetism observed in C-/N-/O-implanted MgO single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qiang; Ye, Bonian; Hao, Yingping; Liu, Jiandang; Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Lijuan; Kong, Wei; Weng, Huimin; Ye, Bangjiao

2013-01-01

MgO single crystals were implanted with 70 keV C/N/O ions at room temperature with respective doses of 2 × 1016 and 2 × 1017 ions/cm2. All samples with high-dose implantation showed room temperature hysteresis in magnetization loops. Magnetization and slow positron annihilation measurements confirmed that room temperature ferromagnetism in O-implanted samples was attributed to the presence of Mg vacancies. Furthermore, the introduction of C or N played more effective role in ferromagnetic performance than Mg vacancies. Moreover, the magnetic moment possibly occurred from the localized wave function of unpaired electrons and the exchange interaction formed a long-range magnetic order.

Synthesis of {111} Facet-Exposed MgO with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in the Dark.

PubMed

Hao, Ying-Juan; Liu, Bing; Tian, Li-Gang; Li, Fa-Tang; Ren, Jie; Liu, Shao-Jia; Liu, Ying; Zhao, Jun; Wang, Xiao-Jing

2017-04-12

Seeking a simple and moderate route to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for antibiosis is of great interest and challenge. This work demonstrates that molecule transition and electron rearrangement processes can directly occur only through chemisorption interaction between the adsorbed O 2 and high-energy {111} facet-exposed MgO with abundant surface oxygen vacancies (SOVs), hence producing singlet oxygen and superoxide anion radicals without light irradiation. These ROS were confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance, in situ Raman, and scavenger experiments. Furthermore, heat plays a crucial role for the electron transfer process to accelerate the formation of ·O 2 - , which is verified by temperature kinetic experiments of nitro blue tetrazolium reduction in the dark. Therefore, the presence of oxygen vacancy can be considered as an intensification of the activation process. The designed MgO is acquired in one step via constructing a reduction atmosphere during the combustion reaction process, which has an ability similar to that of noble metal Pd to activate molecular oxygen and can be used as an effective bacteriocide in the dark.

Stabilization of scandium rich spinel ferrite CoFe{sub 2−x}Sc{sub x}O{sub 4} (x≤1) in thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lefevre, Christophe, E-mail: christophe.lefevre@ipcms.unistra.fr; Roulland, François; Thomasson, Alexandre

2015-12-15

Scandium rich cobalt ferrites Co{sub y}Fe{sub 3−x−y}Sc{sub x}O{sub 4} with y~1 never obtained in bulk could be stabilized in pulsed laser deposited thin films. Scandium contents of up to x=1 are reached. The cell parameter increases versus x as awaited when considering the size of scandium. It is equal to 0.8620 nm for x=1, significantly higher than that of CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (0.8396 nm). The lattice mismatch between the MgO (100) substrate and the scandium-containing spinel leads to an increased roughness. Cobalt is displaced from the octahedral site by Sc and mainly occupies the tetrahedral sites for high x values.more » - Graphical abstract: Magnification of the XRD patterns recorded on thin films of CoFe{sub 2-x}Sc{sub x}O{sub 4} for x=0, 0.45, 1 and 1.2, the arrows denote the (004) and (008) diffraction lines of the spinel phase.« less

PRIMELT3 MEGA.XLSM software for primary magma calculation: Peridotite primary magma MgO contents from the liquidus to the solidus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herzberg, C.; Asimow, P. D.

2015-02-01

An upgrade of the PRIMELT algorithm for calculating primary magma composition is given together with its implementation in PRIMELT3 MEGA.xlsm software. It supersedes PRIMELT2.xls in correcting minor mistakes in melt fraction and computed Ni content of olivine, it identifies residuum mineralogy, and it provides a thorough analysis of uncertainties in mantle potential temperature and olivine liquidus temperature. The uncertainty analysis was made tractable by the computation of olivine liquidus temperatures as functions of pressure and partial melt MgO content between the liquidus and solidus. We present a computed anhydrous peridotite solidus in T-P space using relations amongst MgO, T and P along the solidus; it compares well with experiments on the solidus. Results of the application of PRIMELT3 to a wide range of basalts shows that the mantle sources of ocean islands and large igneous provinces were hotter than oceanic spreading centers, consistent with earlier studies and expectations of the mantle plume model.

Thermal conductivity of MgO and MgSiO3 at lower mantle conditions from molecular dynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jahn, S.; Haigis, V.; Salanne, M.

2011-12-01

Thermal conductivity is an important physical parameter that controls the heat flow in the Earth's core and mantle. The heat flow from the core to the mantle influences mantle dynamics and the convective regime of the liquid outer core, which drives the geodynamo. Although thermal conductivities of important mantle minerals at ambient pressure are well-known (Hofmeister, 1999), experimentalists encounter major difficulties to measure thermal conductivities at high pressures and temperatures. Extrapolations of experimental data to high pressures have a large uncertainty and hence the heat transport in minerals at conditions of the deep mantle is not well constrained. Recently, the thermal conductivity of MgO at lower mantle conditions was computed from first-principles simulations (e.g. de Koker (2009), Stackhouse et al. (2010)). Here, we used classical molecular dynamics to calculate thermal conductivities of MgO and MgSiO3 in the perovskite and post-perovskite structures at different pressures and temperatures. The interactions between atoms were treated by an advanced ionic interaction model which was shown to describe the behavior of materials reliably within a wide pressure and temperature range (Jahn & Madden, 2007). Two alternative techniques were used and compared. In non-equilibrium MD, an energy flow is imposed on the system, and the thermal conductivity is taken to be inversely proportional to the temperature gradient that builds up in response to this flow. The other technique (which is still too expensive for first principles methods) uses standard equilibrium MD and extracts the thermal conductivity from energy current correlation functions, according to the Green-Kubo formula. As a benchmark for the interaction potential, we calculated the thermal conductivity of fcc MgO at 2000K and 149GPa, where data from ab-initio non-equilibrium MD are available (Stackhouse et al., 2010). The results agree within the error bars, which justifies the use of the

Oxidative coupling of methane over supported La{sub 2}O{sub 3} and La-promoted MgO catalysts: Influence of catalyst-support interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Choudhary, V.R.; Mulla, S.A.R.; Uphade, B.S.

1997-06-01

Methane-to-C{sub 2}-hydrocarbon conversion activity and selectivity (or yield) of MgO and La-promoted MgO catalysts in the oxidative coupling of methane and strong basicity of the catalysts are decreased appreciably when these catalysts are deposited on commonly used commercial low surface area porous catalyst carriers containing Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, SiO{sub 2}, SiC, or ZrO{sub 2} + HfO{sub 2} as the main components. The decrease in the strong basicity and catalytic activity/selectivity or yield is mostly due to strong chemical interactions between the active catalyst component (viz., MgO and La{sub 2}O{sub 3}) and the reactive components of the catalyst support (viz., Al{submore » 2}O{sub 3} and SiO{sub 2}), resulting in the formation of catalytically inactive binary metal oxides on the support surface. However, the influence of support on the activity/selectivity of La{sub 2}O{sub 3} is relatively very small, and also the chemical interactions of La{sub 2}O{sub 3} with the supports (except that containing a high concentration of SiO{sub 2}) are almost absent. The catalyst-support interactions are thus found to be strongly dependent upon the nature (chemical composition) of both catalyst and support. For developing better supported catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane, supported La{sub 2}O{sub 3} with some promoters shows high promise.« less

Effect of band filling on anomalous Hall conductivity and magneto-crystalline anisotropy in NiFe epitaxial thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shi, Zhong; Jiang, Hang-Yu; Zhou, Shi-Ming, E-mail: shiming@tongji.edu.cn

2016-01-15

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE) and magneto-crystalline anisotropy (MCA) are investigated in epitaxial Ni{sub x}Fe{sub 1−x} thin films grown on MgO (001) substrates. The scattering independent term b of anomalous Hall conductivity shows obvious correlation with cubic magneto-crystalline anisotropy K{sub 1}. When nickel content x decreasing, both b and K{sub 1} vary continuously from negative to positive, changing sign at about x = 0.85. Ab initio calculations indicate Ni{sub x}Fe{sub 1−x} has more abundant band structures than pure Ni due to the tuning of valence electrons (band fillings), resulting in the increased b and K{sub 1}. This remarkable correlation betweenmore » b and K{sub 1} can be attributed to the effect of band filling near the Fermi surface.« less

Effects of MgO modified β-TCP nanoparticles on the microstructure and properties of β-TCP/Mg-Zn-Zr composites.

PubMed

Zheng, H R; Li, Z; You, C; Liu, D B; Chen, M F

2017-03-01

The mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of magnesium alloy composites were improved by the addition of MgO surface modified tricalcium phosphate ceramic nanoparticles (m-β-TCP). Mg-3Zn-0.8Zr composites with unmodified (MZZT) and modified (MZZMT) nanoparticles were produced by high shear mixing technology. Effects of MgO m-β-TCP nanoparticles on the microstructure, mechanical properties, electrochemical corrosion properties and cytocompatibility of Mg-Zn-Zr/β-TCP composites were investigated. After hot extrusion deformation and dynamic recrystallization, the grain size of MZZMT was the half size of MZZT and the distribution of m-β-TCP particles in the matrix was more uniform than β-TCP particles. The yield tensile strength (YTS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and corrosion potential (Ecorr) of MZZMT were higher than MZZT; the corrosion current density (I corr ) of MZZMT was lower than MZZT. Cell proliferation of co-cultured MZZMT and MZZT composite samples were roughly the same and the cell number at each time point is higher for MZZMT than for MZZT samples.

Vacancy defects and defect clusters in alkali metal ion-doped MgO nanocrystallites studied by positron annihilation and photoluminescence spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sellaiyan, S.; Uedono, A.; Sivaji, K.; Janet Priscilla, S.; Sivasankari, J.; Selvalakshmi, T.

2016-10-01

Pure and alkali metal ion (Li, Na, and K)-doped MgO nanocrystallites synthesized by solution combustion technique have been studied by positron lifetime and Doppler broadening spectroscopy methods. Positron lifetime analysis exhibits four characteristic lifetime components for all the samples. Doping reduces the Mg vacancy after annealing to 800 °C. It was observed that Li ion migrates to the vacancy site to recover Mg vacancy-type defects, reducing cluster vacancies and micropores. For Na- and K-doped MgO, the aforementioned defects are reduced and immobile at 800 °C. Coincidence Doppler broadening studies show the positron trapping sites as vacancy clusters. The decrease in the S parameter is due to the particle growth and reduction in the defect concentration at 800 °C. Photoluminescence study shows an emission peak at 445 nm and 498 nm, associated with F2 2+ and recombination of higher-order vacancy complexes. Further, annealing process is likely to dissociate F2 2+ to F+ and this F+ is converted into F centers at 416 nm.

The melting points of MgO up to 4 TPa predicted based on ab initio thermodynamic integration molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taniuchi, Takashi; Tsuchiya, Taku

2018-03-01

The melting curve of MgO is extended up to 4 TPa, corresponding to the Jovian core pressure, based on the one-step thermodynamic integration method implemented on ab initio molecular dynamics. The calculated melting temperatures are 3100 and 16 000 K at 0 and 500 GPa, respectively, which are consistent with previous experimental results, and 20 600 K at 3900 GPa, which is inconsistent with a recent experimental extrapolation, which implies the molten Jovian core. A quite small Clapeyron slope (dT/dP ) of 0.0+/- 0.5 is found at 3900 GPa due to comparable densities of the liquid and B2 phases under extreme compression. The Mg-O coordination number in the liquid phase is saturated at around 7.5 above 1 TPa and remains smaller than that in the B2 phase (8) even at 4 TPa, suggesting no density crossover between liquid and crystal and thus no further denser crystalline phases. Dynamical properties (atomic diffusivity and viscosity) are also investigated along the melting curve to understand these behaviors in greater detail.

In situ investigation of the mobility of small gold clusters on cleaved MgO surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Metois, J. J.; Heinemann, K.; Poppa, H.

1976-01-01

The mobility of small clusters of gold (about 10 A in diameter) on electron-beam-cleaved MgO surfaces was studied by in situ transmission electron microscopy under controlled vacuum and temperature conditions. During the first 10 min following a deposition at room temperature, over 10 per cent of the crystallites moved over short distances (about 20 A) discontinuously, with a velocity greater than 150 A/sec. Eighty per cent of the mobility events were characterized by the avoidance of proximity of other crystallites, and this was tentatively explained as the result of repulsive elastic forces between the interacting crystallites.

Room Temperature Thin Film Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO3 Ku-Band Coupled MicrostripPhase Shifters: Effects of Film Thickness, Doping, Annealing and Substrate Choice

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

VanKeuls, F. W.; Mueller, C. H.; Miranda, F. A.; Romanofsky, R. R.; Canedy, C. L.; Aggarwal, S.; Venkatesan, T.; Ramesh, R.; Horwitz, S.; Chang, W.

1999-01-01

We report on measurements taken on over twenty Ku-band coupled microstrip phase shifters (CMPS) using thin ferroelectric films of Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO3. This CMPS design is a recent innovation designed to take advantage of the high tunability and tolerate the high dielectric constant of ferroelectric films at Ku- and K-band frequencies. These devices are envisioned as a component in low-cost steerable beam phased area antennas, Comparisons are made between devices with differing film thickness, annealed vs unannealed, Mn-doped vs. undoped, and also substrates of LaAlO3 and MgO. A comparison between the CMPS structure and a CPW phase shifter was also made oil the same ferroelectric film.

Elemental moment variation of bcc FexMn1-x on MgO(001)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhatkar, H.; Snow, R. J.; Arenholz, E.; Idzerda, Y. U.

2017-02-01

We report the growth, structural characterization, and electronic structure evolution of epitaxially grown bcc FexMn1-x on MgO(001). It is observed that the 20 nm thick FexMn1-x alloy films remained bcc from 0.65≤x≤1, much beyond the bulk stability range of 0.88≤x≤1. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism show that both the Fe and Mn L3 binding energies slightly increase with Mn incorporation and that the elemental moment of Fe in the 20 nm crystalline bcc alloy film remain nearly constant, then shows a dramatic collapse near x 0.84. The Mn MCD intensity is found to be small at all compositions that exhibit ferromagnetism

Effects of MgO and SiO2 on Plasma-Sprayed Hydroxyapatite Coating: An in Vivo Study in Rat Distal Femoral Defects.

PubMed

Ke, Dongxu; Robertson, Samuel F; Dernell, William S; Bandyopadhyay, Amit; Bose, Susmita

2017-08-09

Plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated titanium implants have been widely used in orthopedic applications due to their inheritance of an excellent mechanical property from titanium and great osteoconductivity from HA. However, the lack of osteoinductivity limits their further applications. In this study, 1 wt % MgO and 0.5 wt % SiO 2 were mixed with HA for making plasma-sprayed coatings on titanium implants. Plasma-sprayed HA- and MgO/SiO 2 -HA-coated titanium implants showed adhesive bond strengths of 25.73 ± 1.92 and 23.44 ± 2.89 MPa, respectively. The presence of MgO and SiO 2 significantly increased the osteogenesis, osseointegration, and bone mineralization of HA-coated titanium implants by the evaluation of their histomorphology after 6, 10, and 14 weeks of implantation in rat distal femoral defects. Implant pushout tests also showed a shear modulus of 149.83 ± 3.69 MPa for MgO/SiO 2 -HA-coated implants after 14 weeks of implantation, compared to 52.68 ± 10.41 MPa for uncoated implants and 83.92 ± 3.68 MPa for pure HA-coated implants; These are differences in the shear modulus of 96% and 56.4%, respectively. This study assesses for the first time the quality of the bone-implant interface of induction plasma-sprayed MgO and SiO 2 binary-doped HA coatings on load-bearing implants compared to bare titanium and pure HA coatings in a quantitative manner. Relating the osseointegration and interface shear modulus to the quality of implant fixation is critical to the advancement and implementation of HA-coated orthopedic implants.

Positronic probe of vacancy defects on surfaces of Au nanoparticles embedded in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Jun; Moxom, J.; Somieski, B.; White, C. W.; Mills, A. P., Jr.; Suzuki, R.; Ishibashi, S.

2001-09-01

Clusters of four atomic vacancies were found in Au nanoparticle-embedded MgO by positron lifetime spectroscopy [Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 4586 (1999)]. These clusters were also suggested to locate at the surface of Au nanoparticles by one-detector measurements of Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation. In this work we provide evidence, using two-detector coincidence experiments of Doppler broadening (2D-DBAR), to clarify that these vacancy clusters reside on the surfaces of Au nanoparticles. This work also demonstrates a method for identifying defects at nanomaterials interfaces: a combination of both positron lifetime spectroscopy, which tells the type of the defects, and 2D-DBAR measurements, which reveals chemical environment of the defects.

Diamagnetism to ferromagnetism in Sr-substituted epitaxial BaTiO{sub 3} thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singamaneni, Srinivasa Rao, E-mail: ssingam@ncsu.edu; Prater, John T.; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695

2016-04-04

We report on the ferromagnetic-like behavior in otherwise diamagnetic BaTiO{sub 3} (BTO) thin films upon doping with non-magnetic element Sr having the composition Ba{sub 0.4}Sr{sub 0.6}TiO{sub 3} (BST). The epitaxial integration of BST (∼800 nm) thick films on Si (100) substrate was achieved using MgO (40 nm) and TiN (20 nm) as buffer layers to prepare BST/MgO/TiN/Si (100) heterostructure by pulsed laser deposition. The c-axis oriented and cube-on-cube epitaxial BST is formed on Si (100) as evidenced by the in-plane and out-of-plane X-ray diffraction. All the deposited films are relaxed through domain matching epitaxy paradigm as observed from X-ray diffraction pattern and A{submore » 1}TO{sub 3} mode (at 521.27 cm{sup −1}) of Raman spectra. As-deposited BST thin films reveal ferromagnetic-like properties, which persist up to 400 K. The magnetization decreases two-fold upon oxygen annealing. In contrast, as-deposited un-doped BTO films show diamagnetism. Electron spin resonance measurements reveal no evidence of external magnetic impurities. XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra show significant changes influenced by Sr doping in BTO. The ferromagnetic-like behavior in BST could be due to the trapped electron donors from oxygen vacancies resulting from Sr-doping.« less

New insights into microstructural evolution of epitaxial Ni-Mn-Ga films on MgO (1 0 0) substrate by high-resolution X-ray diffraction and orientation imaging investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Amit; Mohan, Sangeneni; Suwas, Satyam

2018-04-01

In this work, a detailed investigation has been performed on hetero-epitaxial growth and microstructural evolution in highly oriented Ni-Mn-Ga (1 0 0) films grown on MgO (1 0 0) substrate using high-resolution X-ray diffraction and orientation imaging microscopy. Mosaicity of the films has been analysed in terms of tilt angle, twist angle, lateral and vertical coherence length and threading dislocation densities by performing rocking curve measurements and reciprocal space mapping. Density of edge dislocations is found to be an order of magnitude higher than the density of screw dislocations, irrespective of film thickness. X-ray pole figure measurements have revealed an orientation relationship of ? || (1 0 0)MgO; ? || [0 0 1]MgO between the film and substrate. Microstructure predicted by X-ray diffraction is in agreement with that obtained from electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The evolution of microstructure in the film with increasing thickness has been explained vis-à-vis dislocation generation and growth mechanisms. Orientation imaging microscopy observations indicate evolutionary growth of film by overgrowth mechanism. Decrease in coercivity with film thickness has been explained as an interplay between stress field developed due to crystal defects and magnetic domain pinning due to surface roughness.

Structure and electromagnetic properties of FeSiAl particles coated by MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yu; Zhou, Ting-dong

2017-03-01

FeSiAl particles with a layer of MgO surface coating have excellent soft magnetic and electromagnetic properties. In order to obtain the FeSiAl/MgO composites, Mg(OH)2 sol prepared by sol-gel process was well-mixed with FeSiAl flake particles, and then treated by calcination at 823 K in vacuum. The microstructural, morphological and electromagnetic parameters of FeSiAl/MgO particles were tested. Accordingly, the electromagnetic wave reflection loss in the frequency range of 0.5-18 GHz was calculated. The results show that the surface coating increases coercivity Hc and decreases complex permittivity, leading to a good impedance matching. When the coating amount was 7.5%, reflection loss of the composite particles can reach to -33 dB.

The Role of the Substrate on Photophysical Properties of Highly Ordered 15R-SiC Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mourya, Satyendra; Jaiswal, Jyoti; Malik, Gaurav; Kumar, Brijesh; Chandra, Ramesh

2018-06-01

We report on the structural optimization and photophysical properties of in situ RF-sputtered single crystalline 15R-SiC thin films deposited on various substrates (ZrO2, MgO, SiC, and Si). The role of the substrates on the structural, electronic, and photodynamic behavior of the grown films have been demonstrated using x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. The appropriate bonding order and the presence of native oxide on the surface of the grown samples are confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement. A deep-blue PL emission has been observed corresponding to the Si-centered defects occurring in the native oxide. Deconvolution of the PL spectra manifested two decay mechanisms corresponding to the radiative recombination. The PL intensity and carrier lifetime were found to be substrate- dependent which may be ascribed to the variation in the trap-density of the films grown on different substrates.

Characterizations of low-temperature electroluminescence from ZnO nanowire light-emitting arrays on the p-GaN layer.

PubMed

Lu, Tzu-Chun; Ke, Min-Yung; Yang, Sheng-Chieh; Cheng, Yun-Wei; Chen, Liang-Yi; Lin, Guan-Jhong; Lu, Yu-Hsin; He, Jr-Hau; Kuo, Hao-Chung; Huang, JianJang

2010-12-15

Low-temperature electroluminescence from ZnO nanowire light-emitting arrays is reported. By inserting a thin MgO current blocking layer in between ZnO nanowire and p-GaN, high-purity UV light emission at wavelength 398 nm was obtained. As the temperature is decreased, contrary to the typical GaN-based light emitting diodes, our device shows a decrease of optical output intensity. The results are associated with various carrier tunneling processes and frozen MgO defects.

Shock Response and Phase Transitions of MgO at Planetary Impact Conditions.

PubMed

Root, Seth; Shulenburger, Luke; Lemke, Raymond W; Dolan, Daniel H; Mattsson, Thomas R; Desjarlais, Michael P

2015-11-06

The moon-forming impact and the subsequent evolution of the proto-Earth is strongly dependent on the properties of materials at the extreme conditions generated by this violent collision. We examine the high pressure behavior of MgO, one of the dominant constituents in Earth's mantle, using high-precision, plate impact shock compression experiments performed on Sandia National Laboratories' Z Machine and extensive quantum calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods. The combined data span from ambient conditions to 1.2 TPa and 42 000 K, showing solid-solid and solid-liquid phase boundaries. Furthermore our results indicate that under impact the solid and liquid phases coexist for more than 100 GPa, pushing complete melting to pressures in excess of 600 GPa. The high pressure required for complete shock melting has implications for a broad range of planetary collision events.

Ferrimagnetism and disorder of epitaxial Mn2-xCoxVAl Heusler compound thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meinert, Markus; Schmalhorst, Jan-Michael; Reiss, Gunter

The quaternary full Heusler compound Mn{sub 2-x}Co{sub x}VAl with x = 1 is predicted to be a half-metallic antiferromagnet. Thin films of the quaternary compounds with x = 0-2 were prepared by dc and RF magnetron co-sputtering on heated MgO (0 0 1) substrates. The magnetic structure was examined by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism and the chemical disorder was characterized by x-ray diffraction. Ferrimagnetic coupling of V to Mn was observed for Mn{sub 2}VAl (x = 0). For x = 0.5, we also found ferrimagnetic order with V and Co antiparallel to Mn. The observed reduced magnetic moments are interpretedmore » with the help of band structure calculations in the coherent potential approximation. Mn{sub 2}VAl is very sensitive to disorder involving Mn, because nearest-neighbour Mn atoms couple antiferromagnetically. Co{sub 2}VAl has B2 order and has reduced magnetization. In the cases with x {ge} 0.9 conventional ferromagnetism was observed, closely related to the atomic disorder in these compounds.« less

Electronic structure of Cr doped Fe3O4 thin films by X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chi-Liang; Dong, Chung-Li; Asokan, Kandasami; Chern, G.; Chang, C. L.

2018-04-01

Present study reports the electronic structures of Cr doped Fe3O4 (Fe3-xCrxO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) grown on MgO (100) substrates in the form of thin films fabricated by a plasma-oxygen assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE). X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra at Cr & Fe L-, and O K-edges were used to understand the electronic structure: changes in the bonding nature, valence states, and site occupancies. Cr doping in Fe3O4 results in the change of charge transfer, crystal structure, and selective occupation of ions in octahedral and tetrahedral sites. Such change modifies the electrical and magnetic properties due to the covalency of Cr ions. The physical and chemical properties of ferrites are strongly dependent on the lattice site, ion size of dopant, and magnetic nature present at different structural symmetry of the spinel structure.

Localized surface plasmon-enhanced ultraviolet electroluminescence from n-ZnO/i-ZnO/p-GaN heterojunction light-emitting diodes via optimizing the thickness of MgO spacer layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, W. Z.; Xu, H. Y.; Zhang, L. X.; Zhang, C.; Ma, J. G.; Wang, J. N.; Liu, Y. C.

2012-10-01

Localized surface plasmon (LSP)-enhanced ultraviolet light-emitting diodes were manufactured by introducing Ag nanoparticles and MgO spacer layer into n-ZnO/i-ZnO/p-GaN heterostructures. By optimizing the MgO thickness, which can suppress the undesired charge transfer and nonradiative Förster resonant energy transfer between Ag and ZnO, a 7-fold electroluminescence enhancement was achieved. Time-resolved and temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements reveal that both spontaneous emission rate and internal quantum efficiency are increased as a result of coupling between ZnO excitons and Ag LSPs, and simple calculations, based on experimental data, also indicate that most of LSP's energy can be converted into the photon energy.

Ti diffusion in ion prebombarded MgO(100). I. A model for quantitative analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, M.; Lupu, C.; Styve, V. J.; Lee, S. M.; Rabalais, J. W.

2002-01-01

Enhancement of Ti diffusion in MgO(100) prebombarded with 7 keV Ar+ has been observed. Diffusion was induced by annealing to 1000 °C following the prebombardment and Ti evaporation. Such a sample geometry and experimental procedure alleviates the continuous provision of freely mobile defects introduced by ion irradiation during annealing for diffusion, making diffusion proceed in a non-steady-state condition. Diffusion penetration profiles were obtained by using secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profiling techniques. A model that includes a depth-dependent diffusion coefficient was proposed, which successfully explains the observed non-steady-state radiation enhanced diffusion. The diffusion coefficients are of the order of 10-20 m2/s and are enhanced due to the defect structure inflected by the Ar+ prebombardment.

Refractive index modulation in LiNbO3: MgO slab through Lamb wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Suraj; Sharma, Gaurav; Yadav, Gulab Chand; Singh, Vivek

2018-05-01

Present theoretical analysis deals with inducing refractive index contrast in Y-Z LiNbO3:MgO plate via GHz Lamb wave perturbation for photonic applications. Dispersion curves for Lamb wave in plate are plotted by employing displacement potential technique. Selecting wave parameters from dispersion curve, fundamental symmetric Lamb mode (S0) is excited in slab for 6GHz frequency. Produced displacement field by propagating S0 mode and thus developed strain is estimated to calculate refractive index modulation by applying photo-elastic relations. Modulated refractive index is of sinusoidal nature with period of modulation dependence on Lamb's wavelength. This plate having periodically modulated refractive index can be used as photonic crystal for different applications with acoustically tunable photonic band gap.

High quality superconducting titanium nitride thin film growth using infrared pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torgovkin, A.; Chaudhuri, S.; Ruhtinas, A.; Lahtinen, M.; Sajavaara, T.; Maasilta, I. J.

2018-05-01

Superconducting titanium nitride (TiN) thin films were deposited on magnesium oxide, sapphire and silicon nitride substrates at 700 °C, using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique, where infrared (1064 nm) pulses from a solid-state laser were used for the ablation from a titanium target in a nitrogen atmosphere. Structural studies performed with x-ray diffraction showed the best epitaxial crystallinity for films deposited on MgO. In the best films, superconducting transition temperatures, T C, as high as 4.8 K were observed, higher than in most previous superconducting TiN thin films deposited with reactive sputtering. A room temperature resistivity down to ∼17 μΩ cm and residual resistivity ratio up to 3 were observed in the best films, approaching reported single crystal film values, demonstrating that PLD is a good alternative to reactive sputtering for superconducting TiN film deposition. For less than ideal samples, the suppression of the film properties were correlated mostly with the unintended incorporation of oxygen (5–10 at%) in the film, and for high oxygen content films, vacuum annealing was also shown to increase the T C. On the other hand, superconducting properties were surprisingly insensitive to the nitrogen content, with high quality films achieved even in the highly nitrogen rich, Ti:N = 40/60 limit. Measures to limit oxygen exposure during deposition must be taken to guarantee the best superconducting film properties, a fact that needs to be taken into account with other deposition methods, as well.

Semiconductor-insulator transition in VO{sub 2} (B) thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rúa, Armando; Díaz, Ramón D.; Lysenko, Sergiy

2015-09-28

Thin films of B-phase VO{sub 2} were grown by pulsed-laser deposition on glass and (100)-cut MgO substrates in a temperature range from 375 to 425 °C and at higher gas pressures than usual for this technique. The films were strongly oriented, with ab-planes parallel to the substrate surface. Detailed study of surface morphology through Atomic Force Microscopy images suggest significant differences in evolution as a function of growth temperature for films on the two types of substrates. Measurements of electrical conductivities through cooling-heating cycles from room temperature to 120 K showed changes of five orders of magnitude, with steeper changes between roommore » temperature and ∼150 K, which corresponds with the extended and reversible phase transition known to occur for this material. At lower temperatures conductivities exhibited Arrhenius behavior, indicating that no further structural change was occurring and that conduction is thermally activated. In this lower temperature range, conductivity of the samples can be described by the near-neighbor hopping model. No hysteresis was found between the cooling and heating braches of the cycles, which is at variance with previous results published for VO{sub 2} (B). This apparent lack of hysteresis for thin films grown in the manner described and the large conductivity variation as a function of temperature observed for the samples suggests this material could be of interest for infrared sensing applications.« less

Improvement microstructural and damage characterization of ceramic composites Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} – V{sub 2}O{sub 5} with MgO nano particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Issa, T. T., E-mail: alazbrh@yahoo.com; Hasan, J. M.; Abdullah, E. T.

2016-04-21

Compacted samples of Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}-V{sub 2}O{sub 5} – MgO Nano – particles wt. % sintered at different sintering temperature (700, 900, 1100, 1300) ) C° for 2 hours under static air were investigated by x-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis(DTA), to identify the phase present .Microstructure examination achieved by scanning electron microscopy .Sintered density and porosity were measured for all sintered samples .Compression was tested too and the Brake down voltage and dielectric strength were measure for all sintered samples .The clear improvement were noticed in both microstructure and damage characterization respectively after existing the MgO Nano-particles, by increasingmore » in about 30% in sintered density and 25% for the compressive strength .The improvement also noticed on both brake down voltage and dielectric strength.« less

Microwave absorption studies on high-T sub c superconductors and related materials 7--ESR of DPPH coated on a thin BiSrCaCuO film fabricated on MgO(100) substrate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sugawara, K.; Sugimoto, T.; Shiohara, Y.

1992-05-10

In this paper, ESR of DPPH coated on a Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) film (350 {Angstrom} thick) fabricated on MgO(100) substrate by MOCVD is studied. Temperature dependence of the ESR peak-to-peak linewidth, {Delta}H{sub pp}, and the effect of applied magnetic field on {Delta}H{sub pp} are below about 100 K. The results are compared with those of ESR of DPPH coated on ceramic Y-Ba-Cu-O samples (powder and bulk) made by the MPMG method. The DPPH ESR for the BSCCO film reveals that {Delta}H{sub pp} was independent of applied magnetic field up to about 9 kG. In addition, no similarity between the temperature dependencemore » of the excess ESR linewidth of the DPPH and that of critical current density was found for the BSCCO film. These results for the BSCCO film are different from those for the MPMG YBCO samples.« less

Electronic and Chemical Properties of a Surface-Terminated Screw Dislocation in MgO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mckenna, Keith P.

2013-12-18

Dislocations represent an important and ubiquitous class of topological defect found at the surfaces of metal oxide materials. They are thought to influence processes as diverse as crystal growth, corrosion, charge trapping, luminescence, molecular adsorption and catalytic activity, however, their electronic and chemical properties remain poorly understood. Here, through a detailed first principles investigation into the properties of a surface terminated screw dislocation in MgO we provide atomistic insight into these issues. We show that surface dislocations can exhibit intriguing electron trapping properties which are important for understanding the chemical and electronic characteristics of oxide surfaces. The results presented inmore » this article taken together with recent experimental reports show that surface dislocations can be equally as important as more commonly considered surface defects, such as steps, kinks and vacanies, but are now just beginning to be understood.« less

Electronic and Chemical Properties of a Surface-Terminated Screw Dislocation in MgO

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Dislocations represent an important and ubiquitous class of topological defect found at the surfaces of metal oxide materials. They are thought to influence processes as diverse as crystal growth, corrosion, charge trapping, luminescence, molecular adsorption, and catalytic activity; however, their electronic and chemical properties remain poorly understood. Here, through a detailed first-principles investigation into the properties of a surface-terminated screw dislocation in MgO we provide atomistic insight into these issues. We show that surface dislocations can exhibit intriguing electron trapping properties which are important for understanding the chemical and electronic characteristics of oxide surfaces. The results presented in this article taken together with recent experimental reports show that surface dislocations can be equally as important as more commonly considered surface defects, such as steps, kinks, and vacancies, but are now just beginning to be understood. PMID:24279391

Li-doped MgO as catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane: A positron annihilation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, G. H.; Yan, Q. J.; Wang, Y.; Liu, Q. S.

1991-08-01

Magnesium oxides intentionally doped with lithium (with a maximum Li content of 40 tool%) for use as catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane were characterized by means of positron annihilation. The positron lifetime spectra, which could be reasonably well interpreted within the framework of the well-known trapping model, depend on the amount of Li doping of the MgO suggesting that positrons are trapped at dispersed small Li 2CO 3 precipitates. Very similar dependencies on lithium doping of the C 2 selectivity and the positron trapping rate ϰ imply an intimate relationship between the concentration of [Li] 0-centers (also referred to as [Li +O -] centers) and the selective activity of Li/MgO during catalytic reactions.

Growth dynamics controllable deposition of homoepitaxial MgO films on the IBAD-MgO substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Liu, Lin-Fei; Yao, Yan-Jie; Lu, Sai-Dan; Wu, Xiang; Zheng, Tong; Liu, Shun-Fan; Li, Yi-Jie

2018-03-01

Homoepitaxial MgO (Homo-MgO) films, deposited by RF magnetic sputtering method in various experimental conditions, were systematically studied using growth dynamics in older to fully understand their growth mechanism. The results showed that high quality Homo-MgO films could be obtained at high oxygen partial pressure and the thickness of Homo-MgO films were seriously affected by the ratio of O2/Ar. Moreover, an interesting phenomenon we addressed was the growth mode changed with varying the sputtering power, leading to different surface morphology. Most importantly, apart from Homo-MgO films, our theory can also be appropriate for other oxide films grown by RF magnetic sputtering technology.

Manipulation of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of single Fe atom adsorbed graphene via MgO(1 1 1) substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Mingming; Tang, Weiqing; Wu, Yaping; Ke, Congming; Guo, Fei; Zhang, Chunmiao; Yang, Weihuang; Wu, Zhiming; Kang, Junyong

2018-05-01

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is significantly important for realizing a long-term retention of information for spintronics devices. Inspired by 2D graphene with its high charge carrier mobility and long spin diffusion length, we report a first-principles design framework on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy engineering of a Fe atom adsorbed graphene by employing a O-terminated MgO (1 1 1) substrate. Determined by the adsorption sites of the Fe atom, a tunable magnetic anisotropy is realized in Fe/graphene/MgO (1 1 1) structure, with the magnetic anisotropy energy of  ‑0.48 meV and 0.23 meV, respectively, corresponding to the in-plane and out of plane easy magnetizations. Total density of states suggest a half-metallicity with a 100% spin polarization in the system. Decomposed densities of Fe-3d states reveal the orbital contributions to the magnetic anisotropy for different Fe adsorption sites. Bonding interaction and charge redistribution regulated by MgO substrate are found responsible for the novel perpendicular magnetic anisotropy engineering in the system. The effective manipulation of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in present work offers some references for the design and construction of 2D spintronics devices.

Tailoring oxide properties: An impact on adsorption characteristics of molecules and metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Honkala, Karoliina

2014-12-01

Both density functional theory calculations and numerous experimental studies demonstrate a variety of unique features in metal supported oxide films and transition metal doped simple oxides, which are markedly different from their unmodified counterparts. This review highlights, from the computational perspective, recent literature on the properties of the above mentioned surfaces and how they adsorb and activate different species, support metal aggregates, and even catalyse reactions. The adsorption of Au atoms and clusters on metal-supported MgO films are reviewed together with the cluster's theoretically predicted ability to activate and dissociate O2 at the Au-MgO(100)/Ag(100) interface, as well as the impact of an interface vacancy to the binding of an Au atom. In contrast to a bulk MgO surface, an Au atom binds strongly on a metal-supported ultra-thin MgO film and becomes negatively charged. Similarly, Au clusters bind strongly on a supported MgO(100) film and are negatively charged favouring 2D planar structures. The adsorption of other metal atoms is briefly considered and compared to that of Au. Existing computational literature of adsorption and reactivity of simple molecules including O2, CO, NO2, and H2O on mainly metal-supported MgO(100) films is discussed. Chemical reactions such as CO oxidation and O2 dissociation are discussed on the bare thin MgO film and on selected Au clusters supported on MgO(100)/metal surfaces. The Au atoms at the perimeter of the cluster are responsible for catalytic activity and calculations predict that they facilitate dissociative adsorption of oxygen even at ambient conditions. The interaction of H2O with a flat and stepped Ag-supported MgO film is summarized and compared to bulk MgO. The computational results highlight spontaneous dissociation on MgO steps. Furthermore, the impact of water coverage on adsorption and dissociation is addressed. The modifications, such as oxygen vacancies and dopants, at the oxide

Shock response and phase transitions of MgO at planetary impact conditions

DOE PAGES

Root, Seth; Shulenburger, Luke; Lemke, Raymond W.; ...

2015-11-04

The moon-forming impact and the subsequent evolution of the proto-Earth is strongly dependent on the properties of materials at the extreme conditions generated by this violent collision. We examine the high pressure behavior of MgO, one of the dominant constituents in Earth’s mantle, using high-precision, plate impact shock compression experiments performed on Sandia National Laboratories’ Z Machine and extensive quantum calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods. The combined data span from ambient conditions to 1.2 TPa and 42,000 K, showing solid-solid and solid-liquid phase boundaries. Furthermore our results indicate that under impact the solidmore » and liquid phases coexist for more than 100 GPa, pushing complete melting to pressures in excess of 600 GPa. Furthermore, the high pressure required for complete shock melting has implications for a broad range of planetary collision events.« less

Methods to induce perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in full-Heusler Co2FeSi thin layers in a magnetic tunnel junction structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinohara, Koki; Suzuki, Takahiro; Takamura, Yota; Nakagawa, Shigeki

2018-05-01

In this study, to obtain perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs) using half-metallic ferromagnets (HMFs), several methods were developed to induce perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in full-Heusler Co2FeSi (CFS) alloy thin layers in an MTJ multilayer composed of a layered CFS/MgO/CFS structure. Oxygen exposure at 2.0 Pa for 10 min after deposition of the bottom CFS layer was effective for obtaining PMA in the CFS layer. One of the reasons for the PMA is the formation of nearly ideal CFS/MgO interfaces due to oxygen exposure before the deposition of the MgO layer. The annealing process was effective for obtaining PMA in the top CFS layer capped with a Pd layer. PMA was clearly observed in the top CFS layer of a Cr(40 nm)/Pd(50 nm)/bottom CFS(0.6 nm)/MgO(2.0 nm)/top CFS(0.6 nm)/ Pd(10 nm) multilayer, where the top CFS and Pd thin films were deposited at RT and subsequently annealed at 300°C. In addition to the continuous layer growth of the films, the crystalline orientation alignment at the top CFS/Pd interface probably attributes to the origin of PMA at the top CFS layer.

Deposition of Cubic AlN Films on MgO (100) Substrates by Laser Molecular Beam Epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mo, Z. K.; Yang, W. J.; Weng, Y.; Fu, Y. C.; He, H.; Shen, X. M.

2017-12-01

Cubic AlN (c-AlN) films were deposited on MgO (100) substrates by laser molecular beam epitaxy (LMBE) technique. The crystal structure and surface morphology of deposited films with various laser pulse energy and substrate temperature were investigated. The results indicate that c-AlN films exhibit the (200) preferred orientation, showing a good epitaxial relationship with the substrate. The surface roughness of c-AlN films increases when the laser pulse energy and substrate temperature increase. The film grown at laser pulse energy of 150 mJ and substrate temperature of 700 °C shows the best crystalline quality and relatively smooth surface.

Low-current-density spin-transfer switching in Gd{sub 22}Fe{sub 78}-MgO magnetic tunnel junction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kinjo, Hidekazu, E-mail: kinjou.h-lk@nhk.or.jp; Machida, Kenji; Aoshima, Ken-ichi

2014-05-28

Magnetization switching of a relatively thick (9 nm) Gd-Fe free layer was achieved with a low spin injection current density of 1.0 × 10{sup 6} A/cm{sup 2} using MgO based magnetic tunnel junction devices, fabricated for light modulators. At about 560 × 560 nm{sup 2} in size, the devices exhibited a tunneling magnetoresistance ratio of 7%. This low-current switching is mainly attributed to thermally assisted spin-transfer switching in consequence of its thermal magnetic behavior arising from Joule heating.

Development and characterization of Mn2+-doped MgO nanoparticles by solution combustion synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basha, Md. Hussain; Gopal, N. O.; Rao, J. L.; Nagabhushana, H.; Nagabhushana, B. M.; Chakradhar, R. P. S.

2015-06-01

Mn doped MgO Nanoparticles have been prepared by Solution Combustion Synthesis. The synthesized sample is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The prepared MgO:Mn (1 mol%) nano crystals appear to be of simple cubic crystalline phase with lattice parameters a = 4.218(2) Å and cell volume = 74.98 (7) Å3. SEM micrograph of powders show highly porous, many agglomerates with irregular morphology, large voids, cracks and pores. EPR spectrum of the sample at room temperature exhibit an isotropic sextet hyperfine pattern, centered at g=1.99, characteristic if Mn2+ ions with S=I=5/2.The observed g value and the hyperfine value reveal the ionic bonding between Mn2+ and its surroundings.

Effects of alloy composition and Si-doping on vacancy defect formation in (InxGa1-x)2O3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prozheeva, V.; Hölldobler, R.; von Wenckstern, H.; Grundmann, M.; Tuomisto, F.

2018-03-01

Various nominally undoped and Si-doped (InxGa1-x)2O3 thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition in a continuous composition spread mode on c-plane α-sapphire and (100)-oriented MgO substrates. Positron annihilation spectroscopy in the Doppler broadening mode was used as the primary characterisation technique in order to investigate the effect of alloy composition and dopant atoms on the formation of vacancy-type defects. In the undoped samples, we observe a Ga2O3-like trend for low indium concentrations changing to In2O3-like behaviour along with the increase in the indium fraction. Increasing indium concentration is found to suppress defect formation in the undoped samples at [In] > 70 at. %. Si doping leads to positron saturation trapping in VIn-like defects, suggesting a vacancy concentration of at least mid-1018 cm-3 independent of the indium content.

Sequentially evaporated thin Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductor films: Composition and processing effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Valco, George J.; Rohrer, Norman J.; Warner, Joseph D.; Bhasin, Kul B.

1988-01-01

Thin films of YBa2Cu3O(7-beta) have been grown by sequential evaporation of Cu, Y, and BaF2 on SrTiO3 and MgO substrates. The onset temperatures were as high as 93 K while T sub c was 85 K. The Ba/Y ratio was varied from 1.9 to 4.0. The Cu/Y ratio was varied from 2.8 to 3.4. The films were then annealed at various times and temperatures. The times ranged from 15 min to 3 hr, while the annealing temperatures used ranged from 850 C to 900 C. A good correlation was found between transition temperature (T sub c) and the annealing conditions; the films annealed at 900 C on SrTiO3 had the best T sub c's. There was a weaker correlation between composition and T sub c. Barium poor films exhibitied semiconducting normal state resistance behavior while barium rich films were metallic. The films were analyzed by resistance versus temperature measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The analysis of the films and the correlations are reported.

Study of electrical and magnetic properties of RE doped layered cobaltite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bapna, K.; Choudhary, R. J.; Phase, D. M.; Rawat, R.; Ahuja, B. L.

2018-05-01

Thin films of layered perovskites Sr1.5RE0.5CoO4 (RE = La, Gd) were grown on MgO (0 0 1) substrate using pulsed laser ablation method. Structural, electrical and magnetic properties of single phase oriented films were studied. Films reveal semiconducting behavior in the entire measured temperature range. The films show thermally activated behavior at high temperature regime, with a higher value of activation energy for SGCO than that for SLCO. The low temperature behavior is well fitted with 3D-variable range hopping mechanism. Both films showed negative magneto-resistance measured in temperature range of 10-200 K. The value of MR is large for SGCO film as compared to its bulk counterpart as well as SLCO film, suggesting its high potential in the spintronics applications. A pinch-shaped M-H behaviour as observed in both the films, suggests the presence of two-magnetic phases. Occurrence of pinch-shape behaviour is although in line with that of SLCO bulk counterpart, interestingly, it was absent in SGCO polycrystalline powder. It suggests major role of film growth kinetics in modifying the magnetic properties in cobaltites.

Small Au clusters on a defective MgO(1 0 0) surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barcaro, Giovanni; Fortunelli, Alessandro

2008-05-01

The lowest energy structures of small T]>rndm where rndm is a random number (Metropolis criterion), the new configuration is accepted, otherwise the old configuration is kept, and the process is iterated. For each size we performed 3-5 BH runs, each one composed of 20-25 Monte Carlo steps, using a value of 0.5 eV as kT in the Metropolis criterion. Previous experience [13-15] shows that this is sufficient to single out the global minimum for adsorbed clusters of this size, and that the BH approach is more efficient as a global optimization algorithm than other techniques such as simulated annealing [18]. The MgO support was described via an (Mg 12O 12) cluster embedded in an array of ±2.0 a.u. point charges and repulsive pseudopotentials on the positive charges in direct contact with the cluster (see Ref. [15] for more details on the method). The atoms of the oxide cluster and the point charges were located at the lattice positions of the MgO rock-salt bulk structure using the experimental lattice constant of 4.208 Å. At variance with the ), evaluated by subtracting the energy of the oxide surface and of the metal cluster, both frozen in their interacting configuration, from the value of the total energy of the system, and by taking the absolute value; (ii) the binding energy of the metal cluster (E), evaluated by subtracting the energy of the isolated metal atoms from the total energy of the metal cluster in its interacting configuration, and by taking the absolute value; (iii) the metal cluster distortion energy (E), which corresponds to the difference between the energy of the metal cluster in the configuration interacting with the surface minus the energy of the cluster in its lowest-energy gas-phase configuration (a positive quantity); (iv) the oxide distortion energy (ΔE), evaluated subtracting the energy of the relaxed isolated defected oxide from the energy of the isolated defected oxide in the interacting configuration; and (v) the total binding energy

High Ms Fe16N2 thin film with Ag under layer on GaAs substrate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Allard Jr, Lawrence Frederick

2016-01-01

(001) textured Fe16N2 thin film with Ag under layer is successfully grown on GaAs substrate using a facing target sputtering (FTS) system. After post annealing, chemically ordered Fe16N2 phase is formed and detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD). High saturation magnetization (Ms) is measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). In comparison with Fe16N2 with Ag under layer on MgO substrate and Fe16N2 with Fe under layer on GaAs substrate, the current layer structure shows a higher Ms value, with a magnetically softer feature in contrast to the above cases. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is performed to characterize themore » binding energy of N atoms. To verify the role of strain that the FeN layer experiences in the above three structures, Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) is conducted to reveal a large in-plane lattice constant due to the in-plane biaxial tensile strain. INTRODUCTION« less

Growth of epitaxial Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 films by pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, J.; Safari, A.; Pfeffer, R. L.

1992-10-01

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films with a composition near the morphotropic phase boundary have been grown on MgO (100) and Y1Ba2Cu3Ox (YBCO) coated MgO substrates. Substrate temperature and oxygen pressure were varied to achieve ferroelectric films with a perovskite structure. Films grown on MgO had the perovskite structure with an epitaxial relationship with the MgO substrate. On the other hand, films grown on the YBCO/MgO substrate had an oriented structure to the surface normal with a misorientation in the plane parallel to the surface. The measured dielectric constant and loss tangent at 1 kHz were 670 and 0.05, respectively. The remnant polarization and coercive field were 42 μC/cm2 and 53 kV/cm. A large internal bias field (12 kV/cm) was observed in the as-deposited state of the undoped PZT films.

Preparation of TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9±δ high Tc thin films by laser ablation in combination with thermal evaporation of thallium oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piehler, A.; Löw, R.; Betz, J.; Schönberger, R.; Renk, K. F.

1993-11-01

TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9±δ high Tc thin films were prepared on MgO <100> surfaces by a combination of laser ablation from a stoichiometric Ba2Ca2Cu3Ox target and the thermal evaporation of thallium oxide. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the films consisted of predominantly c axis oriented TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9±δ, and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the surfaces had a flat, platelike morphology. The ac inductive measurements indicated that the onset of superconductivity occurred at 117 K with a transition width (10%-90%) of ˜3 K. Zero resistivity was reached at 120 K. The critical current density was ˜3×104 A/cm2 at 110 K.

Hierarchical meso/macro-porous carbon fabricated from dual MgO templates for direct electron transfer enzymatic electrodes.

PubMed

Funabashi, Hiroto; Takeuchi, Satoshi; Tsujimura, Seiya

2017-03-23

We designed a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical pore structure to improve the current production efficiency and stability of direct electron transfer-type biocathodes. The 3D hierarchical electrode structure was fabricated using a MgO-templated porous carbon framework produced from two MgO templates with sizes of 40 and 150 nm. The results revealed that the optimal pore composition for a bilirubin oxidase-catalysed oxygen reduction cathode was a mixture of 33% macropores and 67% mesopores (MgOC 33 ). The macropores improve mass transfer inside the carbon material, and the mesopores improve the electron transfer efficiency of the enzyme by surrounding the enzyme with carbon.

Hierarchical meso/macro-porous carbon fabricated from dual MgO templates for direct electron transfer enzymatic electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Funabashi, Hiroto; Takeuchi, Satoshi; Tsujimura, Seiya

2017-03-01

We designed a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical pore structure to improve the current production efficiency and stability of direct electron transfer-type biocathodes. The 3D hierarchical electrode structure was fabricated using a MgO-templated porous carbon framework produced from two MgO templates with sizes of 40 and 150 nm. The results revealed that the optimal pore composition for a bilirubin oxidase-catalysed oxygen reduction cathode was a mixture of 33% macropores and 67% mesopores (MgOC33). The macropores improve mass transfer inside the carbon material, and the mesopores improve the electron transfer efficiency of the enzyme by surrounding the enzyme with carbon.

Well-isolated FePt grains with high coercivity on TiN underlayers for heat-assisted magnetic recording media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, Tiffany; Jain, Shikha; Hirotsune, Akemi; Hellwig, Olav

2015-03-01

MgO is the underlayer material of choice for granular FePt thin film media for heat assisted magnetic recording, because MgO (001) seeds L10-ordered FePt with c-axis perpendicular to the film plane and high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. MgO is also an effective diffusion barrier between the FePt grains and the metallic underlayers beneath the MgO. However, there are possible concerns associated with using MgO in the media structure. MgO is highly sensitive to moisture, and hydration of MgO could potentially degrade film properties. In addition, many particulates are incorporated into the film during the RF-sputter process, which can be sources of delamination, pinholes and damage to the low-flying recording heads. TiN is an attractive alternative to MgO because it is chemically and mechanically robust, and TiN can be DC-sputtered, which produces fewer particles and has a faster deposition rate. Even though TiN has the same rocksalt crystal structure and lattice constant as MgO, the higher surface energy of TiN causes more wetting of the FePt grains on the TiN surface. As a result, deposition of granular FePt on TiN most often produces inter-connected, worm-like grains with low coercivity. We will show that by optimizing the deposition of FePt and segregant material on the TiN underlayer, we are able to fabricate FePt media with well-isolated grains and high coercivity reaching nearly 4 Tesla. In addition, the FePt has excellent structural properties with a high degree of L10 atomic ordering and minimal c-axis in-plane oriented grains.

Absolute second order nonlinear susceptibility of Pt nanowire arrays on MgO faceted substrates with various cross-sectional shapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogata, Yoichi; Mizutani, Goro

2013-08-01

We have measured optical second harmonic generation (SHG) intensity from three types of Pt nanowires with 7 nm widths of elliptical and boomerang cross-sectional shapes and with 2 nm width elliptical cross-sectional shapes on the MgO faceted templates. From the SHG intensities, we calculated the absolute value of the nonlinear susceptibility χ(2) integrated in the direction of the wire-layer thickness. The tentatively obtained bulk χ(2)B of the wire layer was very large, approaching the value of the well-known nonlinear optical material BaTiO3.

Effect of current density on electron beam induced charging in MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boughariou, Aicha; Hachicha, Olfa; Kallel, Ali; Blaise, Guy

2005-11-01

It is well known that the presence of space charge in an insulator is correlated with an electric breakdown. Many studies have been carried out on the experimental characterization of space charges. In this paper, we outline the dependence on the current density of the charge-trapping phenomenon in magnesium oxide. Our study was performed with a dedicated scanning electron microscope (SEM) on the electrical property evolution of surface of magnesium oxide (1 0 0) (MgO) single crystal, during a 1.1, 5 and 30 keV electron irradiation. The types of charges trapped on the irradiated areas and the charging kinetics are determined by measuring the total secondary electron emission (SEE) σ during the injection process by means of two complementary detectors. At low energies 1.1 and 5 keV, two different kinds of self-regulated regime (σ = 1) were observed as a function of current density. At 30 keV energy, the electron emission appears to be stimulated by the current density, due to the Poole-Frenkel effect.

Creation of nanopores on graphene planes with MgO template for preparing high-performance supercapacitor electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Huanjing; Sun, Xiuxia; Liu, Zonghuai; Lei, Zhibin

2014-05-01

Creation of nanopores on graphene planar sheets is of great significance in promoting the kinetic diffusion of electrolyte and enhancing the utilization efficiency of graphene planar sheets. Herein, we developed a facile chemical vapor deposition strategy to prepare highly porous graphene with flake-like MgO as template and ferrocene as the carbon precursor. The graphene layers show a highly porous structure with small mesopores of 4-8 nm, large mesopores of 10-20 nm and additional macropores of 100-200 nm. These nanopores on graphene sheets provide numerous channels for fast ion transport perpendicular to the 2D basal plane, while the good powder conductivity ensures an effective electron propagation within the 2D graphene plane. As a result, a specific capacitance of 303 F g-1, an areal capacitance up to 17.3 μF cm-2 and a nearly tenfold shorter time constant were achieved when compared with those of nonporous and stacked graphene electrodes. The method demonstrated herein would open up an opportunity to prepare porous graphene for a wide applications in energy storage, biosensors, nanoelectronics and catalysis.Creation of nanopores on graphene planar sheets is of great significance in promoting the kinetic diffusion of electrolyte and enhancing the utilization efficiency of graphene planar sheets. Herein, we developed a facile chemical vapor deposition strategy to prepare highly porous graphene with flake-like MgO as template and ferrocene as the carbon precursor. The graphene layers show a highly porous structure with small mesopores of 4-8 nm, large mesopores of 10-20 nm and additional macropores of 100-200 nm. These nanopores on graphene sheets provide numerous channels for fast ion transport perpendicular to the 2D basal plane, while the good powder conductivity ensures an effective electron propagation within the 2D graphene plane. As a result, a specific capacitance of 303 F g-1, an areal capacitance up to 17.3 μF cm-2 and a nearly tenfold shorter time

The role of Pt underlayer on the magnetization dynamics of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Pt/Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5}/MgO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Besbas, Jean; Loong, Li Ming; Wu, Yang

2016-06-06

We investigate the role of Pt on the magnetization dynamics of Pt/Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5}/MgO with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy using the time resolved magneto-optic Kerr effect. Pt/Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5}/MgO shows ultrafast magnetization dynamics comparable to 3d ferromagnets and can be fully demagnetized. The demagnetization time τ{sub d} ∼ 0.27 ps and magnetic heat capacity are independent of the Pt underlayer, whereas the value of the electron-phonon coupling time τ{sub e} ∼ 0.77 ps depends on the presence of the Pt layer. We further measure the effective damping α{sub eff} ∼ 1 that does not scale as the inverse demagnetizationmore » time (1/τ{sub d}), but is strongly affected by the Pt layer.« less

Investigation of iron spin crossover pressure in Fe-bearing MgO using hybrid functional

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Ya; Wang, Xianlong; Zhang, Jie; Yang, Kaishuai; Zhang, Chuanguo; Zeng, Zhi; Lin, Haiqin

2018-04-01

Pressure-induced spin crossover behaviors of Fe-bearing MgO were widely investigated by using an LDA  +  U functional for describing the strongly correlated Fe–O bonding. Moreover, the simulated spin crossover pressures depend on the applied U values, which are sensitive to environments and parameters. In this work, the spin crossover pressures of (Mg1‑x ,Fe x )O are investigated by using the hybrid functional with a uniform parameter. Our results indicate that the spin crossover pressures increase with increasing iron concentration. For example, the spin crossover pressure of (Mg0.03125,Fe0.96875)O and FeO was 56 GPa and 127 GPa, respectively. The calculated crossover pressures agreed well with the experimental observations. Therefore, the hybrid functional should be an effective method for describing the pressure-induced spin crossover behaviors in transition metal oxides.

Atomic structure and electronic properties of MgO grain boundaries in tunnelling magnetoresistive devices

PubMed Central

Bean, Jonathan J.; Saito, Mitsuhiro; Fukami, Shunsuke; Sato, Hideo; Ikeda, Shoji; Ohno, Hideo; Ikuhara, Yuichi; McKenna, Keith P.

2017-01-01

Polycrystalline metal oxides find diverse applications in areas such as nanoelectronics, photovoltaics and catalysis. Although grain boundary defects are ubiquitous their structure and electronic properties are very poorly understood since it is extremely challenging to probe the structure of buried interfaces directly. In this paper we combine novel plan-view high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and first principles calculations to provide atomic level understanding of the structure and properties of grain boundaries in the barrier layer of a magnetic tunnel junction. We show that the highly [001] textured MgO films contain numerous tilt grain boundaries. First principles calculations reveal how these grain boundaries are associated with locally reduced band gaps (by up to 3 eV). Using a simple model we show how shunting a proportion of the tunnelling current through grain boundaries imposes limits on the maximum magnetoresistance that can be achieved in devices. PMID:28374755

Novel solid-state synthesis of α-Fe and Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in a MgO matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneeweiss, O.; Zboril, R.; Pizurova, N.; Mashlan, M.; Petrovsky, E.; Tucek, J.

2006-01-01

Thermally induced reduction of amorphous Fe2O3 nanopowder (2-3 nm) with nanocrystalline Mg (~20 nm) under a hydrogen atmosphere is presented as a novel route to obtain α-Fe and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a MgO matrix. The phase composition, structural and magnetic properties, size and morphology of the nanoparticles were monitored by x-ray diffraction, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at temperatures of 24-300 K, transmission electron microscopy and magnetic measurements. Spherical magnetite nanoparticles prepared at a reaction temperature of 300 °C revealed a well-defined structure, with a ratio of tetrahedral to octahedral Fe sites of 1/2 being common for the bulk material. A narrow particle size distribution (20-30 nm) and high saturation magnetization (95 ± 5 A m2 kg-1) predispose the magnetite nanoparticles to various applications, including magnetic separation processes. The Verwey transition of Fe3O4 nanocrystals was found to be decreased to about 80 K. The deeper reduction of amorphous ferric oxide at 600 °C allows α-Fe (40-50 nm) nanoparticles to be synthesized with a coercive force of about 30 mT. They have a saturation magnetization 2.2 times higher than that of synthesized magnetite nanoparticles, which corresponds well with the ratio usually found for the pure bulk phases. The magnetic properties of α-Fe nanocrystals combined with the high chemical and thermal stability of the MgO matrix makes the prepared nanocomposite useful for various magnetic applications.

Development and characterization of Mn{sup 2+}-doped MgO nanoparticles by solution combustion synthesis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Basha, Md. Hussain; Gopal, N. O., E-mail: nogopal@yahoo.com; Rao, J. L.

2015-06-24

Mn doped MgO Nanoparticles have been prepared by Solution Combustion Synthesis. The synthesized sample is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The prepared MgO:Mn (1 mol%) nano crystals appear to be of simple cubic crystalline phase with lattice parameters a = 4.218(2) Å and cell volume = 74.98 (7) Å{sup 3}. SEM micrograph of powders show highly porous, many agglomerates with irregular morphology, large voids, cracks and pores. EPR spectrum of the sample at room temperature exhibit an isotropic sextet hyperfine pattern, centered at g=1.99, characteristic if Mn{sup 2+} ions with S=I=5/2.The observedmore » g value and the hyperfine value reveal the ionic bonding between Mn{sup 2+} and its surroundings.« less

Disordering of ultra thin WO3 films by high-energy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsunami, N.; Kato, M.; Sataka, M.; Okayasu, S.

2017-10-01

We have studied disordering or atomic structure modification of ultra thin WO3 films under impact of high-energy ions with non-equilibrium and equilibrium charge incidence, by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). WO3 films were prepared by thermal oxidation of W deposited on MgO substrate. Film thickness obtained by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) is as low as 2 nm. Smoothness of film surface was observed by atomic force microscopy. It is found that the ratio of XRD intensity degradation per 90 MeV Ni+10 ion (the incident charge is lower than the equilibrium charge) to that per 90 MeV Ni ion with the equilibrium charge depends on the film thickness. Also, film thickness dependence is observed for 100 MeV Xe+14. By comparison of the experimental result with a simple model calculation based on the assumption that the mean charge of ions along the depth follows a saturation curve with power-law approximation to the charge dependent electronic stopping power, the characteristic length attaining the equilibrium charge is obtained to be ∼7 nm for 90 MeV Ni+10 ion incidence or the electron loss cross section of ∼1016 cm2, demonstrating that disordering of ultra WO3 films has been observed and a fundamental quantity can be derived through material modification.

High-throughput growth temperature optimization of ferroelectric SrxBa1-xNb2O6 epitaxial thin films using a temperature gradient method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohkubo, I.; Christen, H. M.; Kalinin, Sergei V.; Jellison, G. E.; Rouleau, C. M.; Lowndes, D. H.

2004-02-01

We have developed a multisample film growth method on a temperature-gradient substrate holder to quickly optimize the film growth temperature in pulsed-laser deposition. A smooth temperature gradient is achieved, covering a range of temperatures from 200 to 830 °C. In a single growth run, the optimal growth temperature for SrxBa1-xNb2O6 thin films on MgO(001) substrates was determined to be 750 °C, based on results from ellipsometry and piezoresponse force microscopy. Variations in optical properties and ferroelectric domains structures were clearly observed as function of growth temperature, and these physical properties can be related to their different crystalline quality. Piezoresponse force microscopy indicated the formation of uniform ferroelectric film for deposition temperatures above 750 °C. At 660 °C, isolated micron-sized ferroelectric islands were observed, while samples deposited below 550 °C did not exhibit clear piezoelectric contrast.

CdO as the archetypical transparent conducting oxide. Systematics of dopant ionic radius and electronic structure effects on charge transport and band structure.

PubMed

Yang, Yu; Jin, Shu; Medvedeva, Julia E; Ireland, John R; Metz, Andrew W; Ni, Jun; Hersam, Mark C; Freeman, Arthur J; Marks, Tobin J

2005-06-22

A series of yttrium-doped CdO (CYO) thin films have been grown on both amorphous glass and single-crystal MgO(100) substrates at 410 degrees C by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and their phase structure, microstructure, electrical, and optical properties have been investigated. XRD data reveal that all as-deposited CYO thin films are phase-pure and polycrystalline, with features assignable to a cubic CdO-type crystal structure. Epitaxial films grown on single-crystal MgO(100) exhibit biaxial, highly textured microstructures. These as-deposited CYO thin films exhibit excellent optical transparency, with an average transmittance of >80% in the visible range. Y doping widens the optical band gap from 2.86 to 3.27 eV via a Burstein-Moss shift. Room temperature thin film conductivities of 8,540 and 17,800 S/cm on glass and MgO(100), respectively, are obtained at an optimum Y doping level of 1.2-1.3%. Finally, electronic band structure calculations are carried out to systematically compare the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the In-, Sc-, and Y-doped CdO systems. Both experimental and theoretical results reveal that dopant ionic radius and electronic structure have a significant influence on the CdO-based TCO crystal and band structure: (1) lattice parameters contract as a function of dopant ionic radii in the order Y (1.09 A) < In (0.94 A) < Sc (0.89 A); (2) the carrier mobilities and doping efficiencies decrease in the order In > Y > Sc; (3) the dopant d state has substantial influence on the position and width of the s-based conduction band, which ultimately determines the intrinsic charge transport characteristics.

Characterization of MgO Based Tunnel Barriers in Graphene Based Spin Valve Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avsar, Ahmet; Balakrishnan, Jayakumar; Koon, Gavin; Ho, Yuda; Patra, Ajit; Bae, Sukang; Hong, Byung-Hee; Özyilmaz, Barbaros

2012-02-01

The low spin orbit coupling and hyperfine interaction in graphene allows a high spin relaxation length even at room temperature [1]. The demonstration of comparable spin transport properties in CVD synthesized single layer and bilayer graphene with its exfoliated counterparts raised hopes for the realization of possible room temperature spintronic applications [2]. To improve the spin transport properties of CVD Graphene based spin valves further, contact induced spin relaxation should be reduced by creating pin-hole free tunneling barriers. In this presentation, we will compare MgO barriers deposited under different conditions towards establishing pin-hole free barriers. We will discuss the effect of the substrate smoothness on the formation of high quality tunnel barriers by studying growth on different substrates. [4pt] [1] N. Tombros, C. Jozsa, M. Popinciuc, H. T. Jonkman, and B. J. van Wees, Nature 448, 571-574 (2007) [0pt] [2] A. Avsar, T. Yang, S. Bae, J. Balakrishnan, F. Volmer, M. Jaiswal, Z. Yi, S. R. Ali, G. Guntherodt, B. H. Hong, B. Beschoten, B. Ozyilmaz, Nano Lett. 10.10.1021/nl200714q (2011)

Synthesis and characterization of β-Ni(OH)2 embedded with MgO and ZnO nanoparticles as nanohybrids for energy storage devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, C. R. Ravi; Santosh, M. S.; Nagaswarupa, H. P.; Prashantha, S. C.; Yallappa, S.; Kumar, M. R. Anil

2017-06-01

In this study, the electrode material (nickel hydroxide powder) has been synthesized by a co-precipitation method using sodium hydroxide and nickel sulphate as precipitator and nickel source, respectively. The obtained nickel hydroxide powder has been subsequently embedded with biosynthesized MgO and ZnO nanoparticles as nanohybrids, which have been investigated as a novel hybrid electrode material for power-storage applications. The powder x-ray diffraction pattern of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2)-based nanohybrid materials reveals a typical β-phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the embedded structures of nanohybrids and thermal stability by thermogravimetry and differential thermal) analysis. The electrochemical properties of these materials have been studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The specific capacitance values are found to be 439, 1076, and 622 F g-1 for bare β-Ni(OH)2, and for β-Ni(OH)2 embedded with ZnO and MgO nanohybrids, respectively, at a scan rate of 10 mVs-1. The enhanced capacitance of nanohybrids is also evident from EIS measurements. Galvanostatic charge-discharge tests for these designed nanohybrids show excellent capacitance performance in battery and supercapacitor applications. These innovative results could be considered for the expansion of novel resources to scale for power-storage applications and may contribute to the development of this niche area at large.

Characterization of Localized Filament Corrosion Products at the Anodic Head on a Model Mg-Zn-Zr Alloy Surface

DOE PAGES

Rossouw, David; Fu, Dong; Leonard, Donovan N.; ...

2017-02-15

In this study, localized filament corrosion products at the anodic head on a model Mg-1%Zn-0.4%Zr alloy surface were characterized by electron microscopy techniques of site-specific lamella prepared by focused ion beam milling. It is revealed that the anodic head propagates underneath a largely intact thin and dense MgO surface film and comprises dense aggregates of nano-crystalline MgO within a nano-porous Mg(OH) 2 network. In conclusion, the findings contribute new supportive direct imaging insight into the source of the enhanced H 2 evolution that accompanies anodic dissolution of Mg and its alloys.

Characterization of Localized Filament Corrosion Products at the Anodic Head on a Model Mg-Zn-Zr Alloy Surface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rossouw, David; Fu, Dong; Leonard, Donovan N.

In this study, localized filament corrosion products at the anodic head on a model Mg-1%Zn-0.4%Zr alloy surface were characterized by electron microscopy techniques of site-specific lamella prepared by focused ion beam milling. It is revealed that the anodic head propagates underneath a largely intact thin and dense MgO surface film and comprises dense aggregates of nano-crystalline MgO within a nano-porous Mg(OH) 2 network. In conclusion, the findings contribute new supportive direct imaging insight into the source of the enhanced H 2 evolution that accompanies anodic dissolution of Mg and its alloys.

Architecture, microstructure and Jc anisotropy of highly oriented biaxially textured Co-doped BaFe2As2 on Fe/IBAD-MgO-buffered metal tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trommler, S.; Hänisch, J.; Matias, V.; Hühne, R.; Reich, E.; Iida, K.; Haindl, S.; Schultz, L.; Holzapfel, B.

2012-08-01

Optimized, biaxially textured BaFe1.8Co0.2As2 thin films with an in-plane alignment of 1.7° have been realized on high-quality IBAD-textured MgO-coated technical substrates utilizing additional Fe buffer layers. High critical current densities (Jc) were achieved, comparable to films on single crystalline MgO (Jc ≥ 1 MA cm-2 at 4 K, self-field). Transmission electron microscopy investigations reveal a small number of c-axis correlated defects introduced by the MgO template. The effect of these defects on the Jc anisotropy was determined in angular-dependent electronic transport measurements.

Magnetic anisotropy engineering: Single-crystalline Fe films on ion eroded ripple surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liedke, M. O.; Koerner, M.; Lenz, K.

We present a method to preselect the direction of an induced in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (UMA) in thin single-crystalline Fe films on MgO(001). Ion beam irradiation is used to modulate the MgO(001) surface with periodic ripples on the nanoscale. The ripple direction determines the orientation of the UMA, whereas the intrinsic cubic anisotropy of the Fe film is not affected. Thus, it is possible to superimpose an in-plane UMA with a precision of a few degrees - a level of control not reported so far that can be relevant for example in spintronics.

Simultaneous stabilization/solidification of Mn2+ and NH4+-N from electrolytic manganese residue using MgO and different phosphate resource.

PubMed

Shu, Jiancheng; Wu, Haiping; Liu, Renlong; Liu, Zuohua; Li, Bing; Chen, Mengjun; Tao, Changyuan

2018-02-01

This study examined simultaneous stabilization and solidification (S/S) of Mn 2+ and NH 4 + -N from electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) using MgO and different phosphate resource. The characteristics of EMR NH 4 + -N and Mn 2+ S/S behavior, S/S mechanisms, leaching test and economic analysis, were investigated. The results show that the S/S efficiency of Mn 2+ and NH 4 + -N could reach 91.58% and 99.98%, respectively, and the pH value is 8.75 when the molar ratio of Mg:P is 3:1 and the dose of PM (MgO and Na 3 PO 4 ·12H 2 O) is 8wt%. In this process, Mn 2+ could mainly be stabilized in the forms of Mn(H 2 PO 4 ) 2 ·2H 2 O, Mn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ·3H 2 O, Mn(OH) 2 , and MnOOH, and NH 4 + -N in the form of NH 4 MgPO 4 ·6H 2 O. Economic evaluation indicates that using PM process has a lower cost than HPM and HOM process for the S/S of Mn 2+ and NH 4 + -N from EMR at the same stabilization agent dose. Leaching test values of all the measured metals are within the permitted level for the GB8978-1996 test suggested when the dose of PM, HPM and HOM is 8wt%. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

BaFe2As2/Fe Bilayers with [001]-tilt Grain Boundary on MgO and SrTiO3 Bicrystal Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iida, K.; Haindl, S.; Kurth, F.; Hänisch, J.; Schulz, L.; Holzapfel, B.

Co-doped BaFe2As2 (Ba-122) can be realized on both MgO and SrTiO3 bicrystal substrates with [001]-tilt grain boundary by employing Fe buffer layers. However, an additional spinel (i.e. MgAl2O4) buffer between Fe and SrTiO3 is necessary since an epitaxial, smooth surface of Fe layer can not be grown on bare SrTiO3. Both types of bicrystal films show good crystalline quality.

Defect states at organic-inorganic interfaces: Insight from first principles calculations for pentaerythritol tetranitrate on MgO surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsyshevsky, Roman V.; Rashkeev, Sergey N.; Kuklja, Maija M.

2015-07-01

Light-responsive organic-inorganic interfaces offer experimental opportunities that are otherwise difficult to achieve. Since laser light can be manipulated very precisely, it becomes possible to engineer selective, predictive, and highly controlled interface properties. Photochemistry of organic-inorganic energetic interfaces is a rapidly emerging research field in which energy absorption and interface stability mechanisms have yet to be established. To explore the interaction of the laser irradiation with molecular materials, we performed first principle calculations of a prototype organic-inorganic interface between a nitroester (pentaerythritol tetranitrate, PETN, C5H8N4O12) and a magnesium oxide (MgO) surface. We found that the light absorption is defined by the band alignment between interface components and interfacial charge transfer coupled with electronic states in the band gap, generated by oxide surface defects. Hence the choice of an oxide substrate and its morphology makes the optical absorption tunable and governs both the energy accumulation and energy release at the interface. The obtained results offer a possible consistent interpretation of experiments on selective laser initiation of energetic materials, which reported that the presence of metal oxide additives triggered the photoinitiation by excitation energy much lower than the band gap. We suggest that PETN photodecomposition is catalyzed by oxygen vacancies (F0 centers) at the MgO surface. Our conclusions predict ways for a complete separation of thermo- and photo-stimulated interface chemistry of molecular materials, which is imperative for highly controllable fast decomposition and was not attainable before. The methodology described here can be applied to any type of molecular material/wide band gap dielectric interfaces. It provides a solid basis for novel design and targeted improvements of organic-inorganic interfaces with desired properties that promise to enable vastly new concepts

Microfabrication of SrRuO3 thin films on various oxide substrates using LaAlO3/BaOx sacrificial bilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harada, Takayuki; Tsukazaki, Atsushi

2018-02-01

Oxides provide various fascinating physical properties that could find use in future device applications. However, the physical properties of oxides are often affected by formation of oxygen vacancies during device fabrication processes. In this study, to develop a damage-free patterning process for oxides, we focus on a lift-off process using a sacrificial template layer, by which we can pattern oxide thin films without severe chemical treatment or plasma bombardment. As oxides need high thin-film growth temperature, a sacrificial template needs to be made of thermally stable and easily etchable materials. To meet these requirements, we develop a sacrificial template with a carefully designed bilayer structure. Combining a thermally and chemically stable LaAlO3 and a water-soluble BaOx, we fabricated a LaAlO3/BaOx sacrificial bilayer. The patterned LaAlO3/BaOx sacrificial bilayers were prepared on oxide substrates by room-temperature pulsed laser deposition and standard photolithography process. The structure of the sacrificial bilayer can be maintained even in rather tough conditions needed for oxide thin film growth: several hundred degrees Celsius under high oxygen pressure. Indeed, the LaAlO3/BaOx bilayer is easily removable by sonication in water. We applied the lift-off method using the LaAlO3/BaOx sacrificial bilayer to a representative oxide conductor SrRuO3 and fabricated micron-scale Hall-bar devices. The SrRuO3 channels with the narrowest line width of 5 μm exhibit an almost identical transport property to that of the pristine film, evidencing that the developed process is beneficial for patterning oxides. We show that the LaAlO3/BaOx lift-off process is applicable to various oxide substrates: SrTiO3, MgO, and Al2O3. The new versatile patterning process will expand the range of application of oxide thin films in electronic and photonic devices.

Mutation-specific effects on thin filament length in thin filament myopathy.

PubMed

Winter, Josine M de; Joureau, Barbara; Lee, Eun-Jeong; Kiss, Balázs; Yuen, Michaela; Gupta, Vandana A; Pappas, Christopher T; Gregorio, Carol C; Stienen, Ger J M; Edvardson, Simon; Wallgren-Pettersson, Carina; Lehtokari, Vilma-Lotta; Pelin, Katarina; Malfatti, Edoardo; Romero, Norma B; Engelen, Baziel G van; Voermans, Nicol C; Donkervoort, Sandra; Bönnemann, C G; Clarke, Nigel F; Beggs, Alan H; Granzier, Henk; Ottenheijm, Coen A C

2016-06-01

Thin filament myopathies are among the most common nondystrophic congenital muscular disorders, and are caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that are associated with the skeletal muscle thin filament. Mechanisms underlying muscle weakness are poorly understood, but might involve the length of the thin filament, an important determinant of force generation. We investigated the sarcomere length-dependence of force, a functional assay that provides insights into the contractile strength of muscle fibers as well as the length of the thin filaments, in muscle fibers from 51 patients with thin filament myopathy caused by mutations in NEB, ACTA1, TPM2, TPM3, TNNT1, KBTBD13, KLHL40, and KLHL41. Lower force generation was observed in muscle fibers from patients of all genotypes. In a subset of patients who harbor mutations in NEB and ACTA1, the lower force was associated with downward shifted force-sarcomere length relations, indicative of shorter thin filaments. Confocal microscopy confirmed shorter thin filaments in muscle fibers of these patients. A conditional Neb knockout mouse model, which recapitulates thin filament myopathy, revealed a compensatory mechanism; the lower force generation that was associated with shorter thin filaments was compensated for by increasing the number of sarcomeres in series. This allowed muscle fibers to operate at a shorter sarcomere length and maintain optimal thin-thick filament overlap. These findings might provide a novel direction for the development of therapeutic strategies for thin filament myopathy patients with shortened thin filament lengths. Ann Neurol 2016;79:959-969. © 2016 American Neurological Association.

An SCF and MCSCF description of the low-lying states of MgO. [Configuration State Functions Multiconfiguration Self Consistent Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauschlicher, C. W., Jr.; Silver, D. M.; Yarkony, D. R.

1980-01-01

The paper presents the multiconfiguration-self-consistent (MCSCF) and configuration state functions (CSF) for the low-lying electronic states of MgO. It was shown that simple description of these states was possible provided the 1 Sigma(+) states are individually optimized at the MCSCF level, noting that the 1(3 Sigma)(+) and 2(1 Sigma)(+) states which nominally result from the same electron occupation are separated energetically. The molecular orbitals obtained at this level of approximation should provide a useful starting point for extended configuration interaction calculations since they have been optimized for the particular states of interest.

The role of Zn2+ dopants in the acid-basic catalysis on MgO(001) surface: Ab initio simulations of the dissociative chemisorption of R-O-R‧ and R-S-R‧ (R, R ‧ = H , CH3, C2H5)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fonseca, Carla G.; Tavares, Sérgio R.; Soares, Carla V.; daFonseca, Bruno G.; Henrique, Fábio J. F. S.; Vaiss, Viviane S.; Souza, Wladmir F.; Chiaro, Sandra S. X.; Diniz, Renata; Leitão, Alexandre A.

2017-07-01

Ab initio calculations were performed to study the effect of the Zn2+ dopant on the reactivity and the catalytic activity of the MgO(001) surface toward molecular adsorption and dissociation reactions of the H2O, H2S, CH3CH2OH, CH3CH2SH and CH3SCH3 molecules. The electronic analysis showed that Zn2+ cation increased the reactivity of the surface locally. All molecules dissociate on both surfaces except for water and ethanol which only dissociate on the MgO:Zn(001) surface, confirming the increased reactivity in this surface. The ΔG ° for the dissociation reactions of the CH3CH2SH and CH3SCH3 molecules on pure MgO(001) surface is positive in the entire temperature range. On the other hand, the ΔG ° for H2S molecule is negative until 148.7 °C. In the case of the MgO:Zn(001) surface, the CH3CH2SH molecule dissociates in the entire temperature range and, for H2S molecule, the dissociation is spontaneous until 349.7 °C. The rate constants obtained for the dissociation reactions were very large because the reaction barriers are very low in both surfaces for all the studied molecules, except for CH3SCH3 molecule. The Zn-doped MgO(001) surface, besides being more reactive, presented a better catalytic activity than the MgO(001) surface for the dissociation of this molecule.

Mutation-Specific Effects on Thin Filament Length in Thin Filament Myopathy

PubMed Central

de Winter, Josine M.; Joureau, Barbara; Lee, Eun-Jeong; Kiss, Balázs; Yuen, Michaela; Gupta, Vandana A.; Pappas, Christopher T.; Gregorio, Carol C.; Stienen, Ger J. M.; Edvardson, Simon; Wallgren-Pettersson, Carina; Lehtokari, Vilma-Lotta; Pelin, Katarina; Malfatti, Edoardo; Romero, Norma B.; van Engelen, Baziel G.; Voermans, Nicol C.; Donkervoort, Sandra; Bönnemann, C. G.; Clarke, Nigel F.; Beggs, Alan H.; Granzier, Henk; Ottenheijm, Coen A. C.

2016-01-01

Objective Thin filament myopathies are among the most common nondystrophic congenital muscular disorders, and are caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that are associated with the skeletal muscle thin filament. Mechanisms underlying muscle weakness are poorly understood, but might involve the length of the thin filament, an important determinant of force generation. Methods We investigated the sarcomere length-dependence of force, a functional assay that provides insights into the contractile strength of muscle fibers as well as the length of the thin filaments, in muscle fibers from 51 patients with thin filament myopathy caused by mutations in NEB, ACTA1, TPM2, TPM3, TNNT1, KBTBD13, KLHL40, and KLHL41. Results Lower force generation was observed in muscle fibers from patients of all genotypes. In a subset of patients who harbor mutations in NEB and ACTA1, the lower force was associated with downward shifted force–sarcomere length relations, indicative of shorter thin filaments. Confocal microscopy confirmed shorter thin filaments in muscle fibers of these patients. A conditional Neb knockout mouse model, which recapitulates thin filament myopathy, revealed a compensatory mechanism; the lower force generation that was associated with shorter thin filaments was compensated for by increasing the number of sarcomeres in series. This allowed muscle fibers to operate at a shorter sarcomere length and maintain optimal thin–thick filament overlap. Interpretation These findings might provide a novel direction for the development of therapeutic strategies for thin filament myopathy patients with shortened thin filament lengths. PMID:27074222

Surface Plasmons in Silver Films--A Novel Undergraduate Experiment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simon, H. J.; And Others

1975-01-01

Describes an experiment in which a 500-A-thick silver film is evaporated on the hypotenuse face of a right glass prism. The surface plasmon mode in the film is excited with a He-Ne laser. The dispersion relation for the surface plasmon and the reflectivity due to the excitation of this mode are calculated. (Author/MLH)

Theoretical study of the structures and chemical ordering of CoPd nanoalloys supported on MgO(001)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taran, Songul; Garip, Ali Kemal; Arslan, Haydar

2016-06-01

Metal nanoalloys on oxide surface are a widely studied topic in surface science and technology. In this study, the structures of CoPd nanoalloys adsorbed on MgO(001) have been searched by basin-hopping global optimization method within an atomistic model. Two different sizes (34 and 38 atom) have been considered for all compositions of CoPd/MgO(001) nanoalloys. Co and Pd atoms, for all the compositions, have cube-on-cube (001) epitaxy with substrate at interface. For both sizes, we have found that Pd rich composition nanoalloys have three layers, Co rich composition nanoalloys have four layers in morphology. Excess energy and second difference in energy analyzes have been performed to investigate the relative stability of nanoalloys with respect to their size and composition.

Facilitative capture of As(V), Pb(II) and methylene blue from aqueous solutions with MgO hybrid sponge-like carbonaceous composite derived from sugarcane leafy trash.

PubMed

Li, Ronghua; Liang, Wen; Wang, Jim J; Gaston, Lewis A; Huang, Di; Huang, Hui; Lei, Shuang; Awasthi, Mukesh Kumar; Zhou, Baoyue; Xiao, Ran; Zhang, Zengqiang

2018-04-15

Enhancing the contaminant adsorption capacity is a key factor affecting utilization of carbon-based adsorbents in wastewater treatment and encouraging development of biomass thermo-disposal. In this study, a novel MgO hybrid sponge-like carbonaceous composite (HSC) derived from sugarcane leafy trash was prepared through an integrated adsorption-pyrolysis method. The resulted HSC composite was characterized and employed as adsorbent for the removal of negatively charged arsenate (As(V)), positively charged Pb(II), and the organic pollutant methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions in batch experiments. The effects of solution pH, contact time, initial concentration, temperature, and ionic strength on As(V), Pb(II) and MB adsorption were investigated. HSC was composed of nano-size MgO flakes and nanotube-like carbon sponge. Hybridization significantly improved As(V), Pb(II) and methylene blue (MB) adsorption when compared with the material without hybridization. The maximum As(V), Pb(II) and MB adsorption capacities obtained from Langmuir model were 157 mg/g, 103 mg/g and 297 mg/g, respectively. As(V) adsorption onto HSC was best fit by the pseudo-second-order model, and Pb(II) and MB with the intraparticle diffusion model. Increased temperature and ionic strength decreased Pb(II) and MB adsorption onto HSC more than As(V). Further FT-IR, XRD and XPS analysis demonstrated that the removal of As(V) by HSC was mainly dominated by surface deposition of MgHAsO 4 and Mg(H 2 AsO 4 ) 2 crystals on the HSC composite, while carbon π-π* transition and carbon π-electron played key roles in Pb(II) and MB adsorption. The interaction of Pb(II) with carbon matrix carboxylate was also evident. Overall, MgO hybridization improves the preparation of the nanotube-like carbon sponge composite and provides a potential agricultual residue-based adsorbent for As(V), Pb(II) and MB removal. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optical absorption spectra and g factor of MgO: Mn2+explored by ab initio and semi empirical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreici Eftimie, E.-L.; Avram, C. N.; Brik, M. G.; Avram, N. M.

2018-02-01

In this paper we present a methodology for calculations of the optical absorption spectra, ligand field parameters and g factor for the Mn2+ (3d5) ions doped in MgO host crystal. The proposed technique combines two methods: the ab initio multireference (MR) and the semi empirical ligand field (LF) in the framework of the exchange charge model (ECM) respectively. Both methods of calculations are applied to the [MnO6]10-cluster embedded in an extended point charge field of host matrix ligands based on Gellé-Lepetit procedure. The first step of such investigations was the full optimization of the cubic structure of perfect MgO crystal, followed by the structural optimization of the doped of MgO:Mn2+ system, using periodic density functional theory (DFT). The ab initio MR wave functions approaches, such as complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF), N-electron valence second order perturbation theory (NEVPT2) and spectroscopy oriented configuration interaction (SORCI), are used for the calculations. The scalar relativistic effects have also been taken into account through the second order Douglas-Kroll-Hess (DKH2) procedure. Ab initio ligand field theory (AILFT) allows to extract all LF parameters and spin-orbit coupling constant from such calculations. In addition, the ECM of ligand field theory (LFT) has been used for modelling theoptical absorption spectra. The perturbation theory (PT) was employed for the g factor calculation in the semi empirical LFT. The results of each of the aforementioned types of calculations are discussed and the comparisons between the results obtained and the experimental results show a reasonable agreement, which justifies this new methodology based on the simultaneous use of both methods. This study establishes fundamental principles for the further modelling of larger embedded cluster models of doped metal oxides.

Intrinsic pinning and the critical current scaling of clean epitaxial Fe(Se,Te) thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iida, Kazumasa; Hänisch, Jens; Reich, Elke; Kurth, Fritz; Hühne, Ruben; Schultz, Ludwig; Holzapfel, Bernhard; Ichinose, Ataru; Hanawa, Masafumi; Tsukada, Ichiro; Schulze, Michael; Aswartham, Saicharan; Wurmehl, Sabine; Büchner, Bernd

2013-03-01

We report on the transport properties of clean, epitaxial Fe(Se,Te) thin films prepared on Fe-buffered MgO (001) single crystalline substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Near Tc a steep slope of the upper critical field for H||ab was observed (74.1 T/K), leading to a very short out-of-plane coherence length, ξc(0), of 0.2 nm, yielding 2ξc(0)≈0.4nm. This value is shorter than the interlayer distance (0.605 nm) between the Fe-Se(Te) planes, indicative of modulation of the superconducting order parameter along the c axis. An inverse correlation between the power law exponent N of the electric field-current density(E-J) curve and the critical current density Jc has been observed at 4 K, when the orientation of H was close to the ab plane. These results prove the presence of intrinsic pinning in Fe(Se,Te). A successful scaling of the angular dependent Jc and the corresponding exponent N can be realized by the anisotropic Ginzburg Landau approach with appropriate Γ values 2˜3.5. The temperature dependence of Γ behaves almost identically to that of the penetration depth anisotropy.

Crystallographic orientation of epitaxial BaTiO3 films: The role of thermal-expansion mismatch with the substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srikant, V.; Tarsa, E. J.; Clarke, D. R.; Speck, J. S.

1995-02-01

Expitaxial ferroelectric BaTiO3 thin films have been grown on (001) MgO and MgO-buffered (001) GaAs substrates by pulsed laser deposition to explore the effect of substrate lattice parameter. X-ray-diffraction studies showed that the BaTiO3 films on both MgO single-crystal substrates and MgO-buffered (001) GaAs substrates have a cube-on-cube epitaxy; however, for the BaTiO3 films grown on MgO the spacing of the planes parallel to the substrate was close to the c-axis dimension of the unconstrained tetragonal phase, whereas the BaTiO3 films on MgO/GaAs exhibited a spacing closer to the a-axis dimension of the unconstrained tetragonal phase. The cube-on-cube epitaxy was maintained through the heterostructures even when thin epitaxial intermediate buffer layers of SrTiO3 and La(0.5)Sr(0.5)CoO3 were used. The intermediate layers had no effect on the position of the BaTiO3 peak in theta - 2 theta scans. Together, these observations indicate that, for the materials combinations studied, it is the thermal-expansion mismatch between the film and the underlying substrate that determines the crystallographic orientation of the BaTiO3 film. Preliminary measurements indicate that the BaTiO3 films are 'weakly' ferroelectric.

Surfactant-mediated growth of cobalt on magnesium oxide(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson-Steigelman, Harry Trevor

Monolayer films of Co have been deposited using an electrostatic electron-beam evaporator on single-crystal MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° and MgO(111)-(1x1) substrates held at room temperature (RT), with subsequent annealing of temperatures 400°C to 800°C. These films have been characterized using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Upon RT deposition of Co, the LEED pattern of the substrate disappears and the XPS signal of MgO features reduce in intensity. After short anneals of 400°C, the LEED pattern returns and the MgO features increase in intensity. AFM images suggest that islanding has occurred at the surface. This conclusion is supported by the behavior of thicker films of Co on MgO(111), which showed pronounced changes in the MgO related XPS features. The behavior of the Mg 2p and O 1s features were analyzed and compared to previously reported reconstructions of the MgO(111)-(1x1) and MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° surfaces. Ag was examined as a potential surfactant to aid in the growth of smooth Co films. Ag was deposited onto MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° substrates and investigated using XPS, LEED, and AFM. It was found that Ag formed islands upon annealing. Despite the fact that Ag formed islands, it was found that the presence of Ag did have a surfactant effect upon the thin-film growth of Co on Ag/MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° substrates with 1-2 ML of Ag. Co islands were still present, but much more smooth than islands formed without the Ag surfactant. XPS peak intensity changes and AFM suggest strongly that Ag floated to the top of these samples at temperatures above 400°C. The Co growth mode appears to be Volmer-Weber island growth, as seen in AFM.

Structure Characterization and Catalytic Properties of Cr2O3 Doped with MgO Supported on MgF2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goslar, J.; Wojciechowska, M.; Zieliński, M.; Tomska-Foralewska, I.; Przystajko, W.

2006-08-01

A characterization of double oxide systems containing Cr2O3 doped with MgO and supported on MgF2 was carried out. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation and co-impregnation methods and characterized by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, EPR, and temperature programmed reduction. The results proved the interactions between supported oxides and the presence of spinel-like phase after treatment at 400 ºC. Magnesium oxide clearly influences the catalytic activity as well as selectivity of chromium catalysts supported on MgF2. The MgO-Cr2O3/MgF2 systems were active and selective in the reaction of CO oxidation at the room temperature and in the dehydrogenation of cyclohexene.

Quantitative transmission electron microscopy analysis of multi-variant grains in present L1{sub 0}-FePt based heat assisted magnetic recording media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ho, Hoan, E-mail: hoan.ho@wdc.com; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213; Zhu, Jingxi, E-mail: jingxiz@andrew.cmu.edu

2014-11-21

We present a study on atomic ordering within individual grains in granular L1{sub 0}-FePt thin films using transmission electron microscopy techniques. The film, used as a medium for heat assisted magnetic recording, consists of a single layer of FePt grains separated by non-magnetic grain boundaries and is grown on an MgO underlayer. Using convergent-beam techniques, diffraction patterns of individual grains are obtained for a large number of crystallites. The study found that although the majority of grains are ordered in the perpendicular direction, more than 15% of them are multi-variant, or of in-plane c-axis orientation, or disordered fcc. It wasmore » also found that these multi-variant and in-plane grains have always grown across MgO grain boundaries separating two or more MgO grains of the underlayer. The in-plane ordered portion within a multi-variant L1{sub 0}-FePt grain always lacks atomic coherence with the MgO directly underneath it, whereas, the perpendicularly ordered portion is always coherent with the underlying MgO grain. Since the existence of multi-variant and in-plane ordered grains are severely detrimental to high density data storage capability, the understanding of their formation mechanism obtained here should make a significant impact on the future development of hard disk drive technology.« less

The Formation, Transport Properties and Microstructure of 45 Degrees (001) Tilt Grain Boundaries in Yttrium BARIUM(2) COPPER(3) OXYGEN(7-X) Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vuchic, Boris Vukan

1995-01-01

Most high angle grain boundaries in high-T _{c} superconductors exhibit weak link behavior. The Josephson-like properties of these grain boundaries can be used for many device applications such as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The structure-property relationship of different types of 45 ^circ (001) YBa_2 Cu_3O_{7-x} thin film grain boundary junctions are examined to study their weak link nature. A technique, termed sputter-induced epitaxy, is developed to form 45^circ (001) tilt grain boundaries in YBa_2Cu _3O_{7-x} thin films on (100) MgO substrates. A low voltage ion bombardment pre-growth substrate treatment is used to modify the epitaxial orientation relationship between the thin film and the substrate in selected regions. By modifying the orientation of the thin film, grain boundary junctions can be placed in any configuration on the substrate. A variety of pre-growth sputtering conditions in conjunction with atomic force microscopy and Rutherford backscatter spectrometry are used to determine the role of the ions in modifying the substrate surface. Sputter-induced epitaxy is extended to a multilayer MgO/LaAlO_3 substrate, allowing integration of the sputter -induced epitaxy junctions into multilayer structures. The low temperature transport properties of the sputter-induced epitaxy junctions and a set of bi-epitaxial grain boundaries are studied. Individual grain boundaries are isolated and characterized for resistance vs. temperature, current vs. voltage as a function of temperature and magnetic field behavior. Resistive and superconducting grain boundaries are compared. Microstructural analysis is performed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). Marked differences are observed in the microstructure of resistive and superconducting grain boundaries. HREM studies suggest the importance of the local atomic scale structure of the grain boundary in transport

Improved virus removal in ceramic depth filters modified with MgO.

PubMed

Michen, Benjamin; Fritsch, Johannes; Aneziris, Christos; Graule, Thomas

2013-02-05

Ceramic filters, working on the depth filtration principle, are known to improve drinking water quality by removing human pathogenic microorganisms from contaminated water. However, these microfilters show no sufficient barrier for viruses having diameters down to 20 nm. Recently, it was shown that the addition of positively charged materials, for example, iron oxyhydroxide, can improve virus removal by adsorption mechanisms. In this work, we modified a common ceramic filter based on diatomaceous earth by introducing a novel virus adsorbent material, magnesium oxyhydroxide, into the filter matrix. Such filters showed an improved removal of about 4-log in regard to bacteriophages MS2 and PhiX174. This is explained with the electrostatic enhanced adsorption approach that is the favorable adsorption of negatively charged viruses onto positively charged patches in an otherwise negatively charged filter matrix. Furthermore, we provide theoretical evidence applying calculations according to Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory to strengthen our experimental results. However, modified filters showed a significant variance in virus removal efficiency over the course of long-term filtration experiments with virus removal increasing with filter operation time (or filter aging). This is explained by transformational changes of MgO in the filter upon contact with water. It also demonstrates that filter history is of great concern when filters working on the adsorption principles are evaluated in regard to their retention performance as their surface characteristics may alter with use.

Selective radiative cooling with MgO and/or LiF layers

DOEpatents

Berdahl, P.H.

1984-09-14

A selective radiation cooling material which is absorptive only in the 8 to 13 microns wavelength range is accomplished by placing ceramic magnesium oxide and/or polycrystalline lithium fluoride on an infrared-reflective substrate. The reflecting substrate may be a metallic coating, foil or sheet, such as aluminum, which reflects all atmospheric radiation from 0.3 to 8 microns, the magnesium oxide and lithium fluoride being nonabsorptive at those wavelengths. <10% of submicron voids in the material is permissible in which case the MgO and/or LiF layer is diffusely scattering, but still nonabsorbing, in the wavelength range of 0.3 to 8 microns. At wavelengths from 8 to 13 microns, the magnesium oxide and lithium fluoride radiate power through the ''window'' in the atmosphere, and thus remove heat from the reflecting sheet of material and the attached object to be cooled. At wavelengths longer than 13 microns, the magnesium oxide and lithium fluoride reflects the atmospheric radiation back into the atmosphere. This high reflectance is only obtained if the surface is sufficiently smooth: roughness on a scale of 1 micron is permissible but roughness on a scale of 10 microns is not. An infrared-transmitting cover or shield is mounted in spaced relationship to the material to reduce convective heat transfer. If this is utilized in direct sunlight, the infrared transmitting cover or shield should be opaque in the solar spectrum of 0.3 to 3 microns.

Effect of annealing ambient on anisotropic retraction of film edges during solid-state dewetting of thin single crystal films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Gye Hyun; Thompson, Carl V., E-mail: cthomp@mit.edu; Ma, Wen

During solid-state dewetting of thin single crystal films, film edges retract at a rate that is strongly dependent on their crystallographic orientations. Edges with kinetically stable in-plane orientations remain straight as they retract, while those with other in-plane orientations develop in-plane facets as they retract. Kinetically stable edges have retraction rates that are lower than edges with other orientations and thus determine the shape of the natural holes that form during solid-state dewetting. In this paper, measurements of the retraction rates of kinetically stable edges for single crystal (110) and (100) Ni films on MgO are presented. Relative retraction ratesmore » of kinetically stable edges with different crystallographic orientations are observed to change under different annealing conditions, and this accordingly changes the initial shapes of growing holes. The surfaces of (110) and (100) films were also characterized using low energy electron diffraction, and different surface reconstructions were observed under different ambient conditions. The observed surface structures were found to correlate with the observed changes in the relative retraction rates of the kinetically stable edges.« less

Thin-film optical initiator

DOEpatents

Erickson, Kenneth L.

2001-01-01

A thin-film optical initiator having an inert, transparent substrate, a reactive thin film, which can be either an explosive or a pyrotechnic, and a reflective thin film. The resultant thin-film optical initiator system also comprises a fiber-optic cable connected to a low-energy laser source, an output charge, and an initiator housing. The reactive thin film, which may contain very thin embedded layers or be a co-deposit of a light-absorbing material such as carbon, absorbs the incident laser light, is volumetrically heated, and explodes against the output charge, imparting about 5 to 20 times more energy than in the incident laser pulse.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ayala, Alicia; Corral, Erica L.; Loehman, Ronald E.

A tape casting procedure for fabricating ceramic magnesium oxide tapes has been developed as a method to produce flat sheets of sintered MgO that are thin and porous. Thickness of single layer tapes is in the range of 200-400 {micro}m with corresponding surface roughness values in the range of 10-20 {micro}m as measured by laser profilometry. Development of the tape casting technique required optimization of pretreatment for the starting magnesium oxide (MgO) powder as well as a detailed study of the casting slurry preparation and subsequent heat treatments for sintering and final tape flattening. Milling time of the ceramic powder,more » plasticizer, and binder mixture was identified as a primary factor affecting surface morphology of the tapes. In general, longer milling times resulted in green tapes with a noticeably smoother surface. This work demonstrates that meticulous control of the entire tape casting operation is necessary to obtain high-quality MgO tapes.« less

Characterization of α-Fe-Free Heteroepitaxial NdFe12- x Ti x Thin-Film Materials with a Novel Cubic Laves Fe2Ti Phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadorn, Jason Paul; Hirayama, Yusuke; Ohkubo, Tadakatsu

2018-01-01

Thin films with compositions of NdFe12 and NdFe11Ti1 were fabricated on W-buffered MgO(001) substrates of varying roughness. In this study, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the films microstructurally, chemically, and crystallographically. This study revealed successful heteroepitaxial synthesis of the tetragonal NdFe12 and NdFe12- x Ti x phases in the Ti-free and Ti-containing films, respectively, both with surface-normal c-axis orientation. It also revealed the presence of other phases within the magnetic layer. The NdFe12 films contained many α-Fe particles, which preferentially precipitated at locally rough regions of the W-buffer interface. The NdFe11Ti1 film showed the ubiquitous presence of an Fe2Ti phase, which covered most of the buffer thereby preventing the formation of α-Fe. This phase was determined to have a novel Cu2Mg-type cubic Laves ( C15) crystal structure with fourfold interfacial symmetry, good coherency, and a low mismatch with the W-buffer, thus rendering itself as being an ideal interface for the heteroepitaxial synthesis of NdFe12- x Ti x crystals. It is proposed that successful application of a cubic Fe2Ti underlayer on W can contribute to the development of a fabrication strategy for NdFe12 thin films without the presence of soft magnetic α-Fe.

Oxygen Effect on the Properties of Epitaxial (110) La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 by Defect Engineering.

PubMed

Rasic, Daniel; Sachan, Ritesh; Temizer, Namik K; Prater, John; Narayan, Jagdish

2018-06-20

The multiferroic properties of mixed valence perovskites such as lanthanum strontium manganese oxide (La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 ) (LSMO) demonstrate a unique dependence on oxygen concentration, thickness, strain, and orientation. To better understand the role of each variable, a systematic study has been performed. In this study, epitaxial growth of LSMO (110) thin films with thicknesses ∼15 nm are reported on epitaxial magnesium oxide (111) buffered Al 2 O 3 (0001) substrates. Four LSMO films with changing oxygen concentration have been investigated. The oxygen content in the films was controlled by varying the oxygen partial pressure from 1 × 10 -4 to 1 × 10 -1 Torr during deposition and subsequent cooldown. X-ray diffraction established the out-of-plane and in-plane plane matching to be (111) MgO ∥ (0001) Al 2 O 3 and ⟨11̅0⟩ MgO ∥ ⟨101̅0⟩ Al 2 O 3 for the buffer layer with the substrate, and an out-of-plane lattice matching of (110) LSMO ∥ (111) MgO for the LSMO layer. For the case of the LSMO growth on MgO, a novel growth mode has been demonstrated, showing that three in-plane matching variants are present: (i) ⟨11̅0⟩ LSMO ∥ ⟨11̅0⟩ MgO , (ii) ⟨11̅0⟩ LSMO ∥ ⟨101̅⟩ MgO , and (iii) ⟨11̅0⟩ LSMO ∥ ⟨01̅1⟩ MgO . The atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images were taken of the interfaces that showed a thin, ∼2 monolayer intermixed phase while high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) cross-section images revealed 4/5 plane matching between the film and the buffer and similar domain sizes between different samples. Magnetic properties were measured for all films and the gradual decrease in saturation magnetization is reported with decreasing oxygen partial pressure during growth. A systematic increase in the interplanar spacing was observed by X-ray diffraction of the films with lower oxygen concentration, indicating the decrease in the lattice constant in the plane due to the point defects

Dependence of e31,f on polar axis texture for tetragonal Pb(Zrx,Ti1-x)O3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeager, Charles B.; Ehara, Yoshitaka; Oshima, Naoya; Funakubo, Hiroshi; Trolier-McKinstry, Susan

2014-09-01

It was shown by Ouyang et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 152901 (2005)] that the piezoelectric e31,f coefficient is largest parallel to the spontaneous polarization in tetragonal PbZrxTi1-xO3 (PZT) films. However, the expected piezoelectric data are typically calculated from phenomenological constants derived from data on ceramic PZT. In this work, the dependence of e31,f on c-axis texture fraction, f001, for {001}PZT thin films was measured by growing films with systematically changed f001 using CaF2, MgO, SrTiO3, and Si substrates. An approximately linear increase in e31,f with f001 was observed for compositions up to 43 mol. % Zr, and 100% c-domain properties were extrapolated. It was demonstrated that c-axis PZT films can achieve e31,f exceeding -12 C/m2 for many tetragonal compositions. The energy harvesting figure of merit, e31,f2/ɛr, for c-axis PZT films surpassed 0.8 C2/m4. This is larger than the figure of merit of gradient-free PZT films grown on Si substrates by a factor of four.

Structural and optical characteristics of in-situ sputtered highly oriented 15R-SiC thin films on different substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mourya, Satyendra; Jaiswal, Jyoti; Malik, Gaurav; Kumar, Brijesh; Chandra, Ramesh

2018-01-01

In this work, we have reported the in-situ fabrication of nanocrystalline rhombohedral silicon carbide (15R-SiC) thin films by RF-magnetron sputtering at 800 °C substrate temperature. The structural and optical properties were investigated for the films grown on four different substrates (ZrO2, MgO, SiC, and Si). The contact angle measurement was performed on all the substrates to investigate the role of interfacial surface energy in nucleation and growth of the films. The XRD measurement revealed the growth of (1 0 10) orientation for all the samples and demonstrated better crystallinity on Si substrate, which was further corroborated by the TEM results. The Raman spectroscopy confirmed the growth of rhombohedral phase with 15R polytype. Surface characteristics of the films have been investigated by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, FTIR, and atomic force microscope (AFM) to account for chemical composition, bonding, and root mean square surface roughness (δrms). The optical dispersion behavior of 15R-SiC thin films was examined by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wide spectral range (246-1688 nm), including the surface characteristics in the optical model. The non-linear optical parameters (χ3 and n2) of the samples have been calculated by the Tichy and Ticha relation using a single effective oscillator model of Wemple and Didomenico. Additionally, our optical results provided an alternative way to measure the ratio of carrier concentration to the effective mass (N/m*). These investigated optical parameters allow one to design and fabricate optoelectronic, photonic, and telecommunication devices for deployment in extreme environment.

Unusually high critical current of clean P-doped BaFe2As2 single crystalline thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurth, F.; Tarantini, C.; Grinenko, V.; Hänisch, J.; Jaroszynski, J.; Reich, E.; Mori, Y.; Sakagami, A.; Kawaguchi, T.; Engelmann, J.; Schultz, L.; Holzapfel, B.; Ikuta, H.; Hühne, R.; Iida, K.

2015-02-01

Microstructurally clean, isovalently P-doped BaFe2As2 (Ba-122) single crystalline thin films have been prepared on MgO (001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. These films show a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of over 30 K although P content is around 0.22, which is lower than the optimal one for single crystals (i.e., 0.33). The enhanced Tc at this doping level is attributed to the in-plane tensile strain. The strained film shows high transport self-field critical current densities (Jc) of over 6 MA/cm2 at 4.2 K, which are among the highest for Fe based superconductors (FeSCs). In-field Jc exceeds 0.1 MA/cm2 at μ 0 H = 35 T for H ‖ a b and μ 0 H = 18 T for H ‖ c at 4.2 K, respectively, in spite of moderate upper critical fields compared to other FeSCs with similar Tc. Structural investigations reveal no defects or misoriented grains pointing to strong pinning centers. We relate this unexpected high Jc to a strong enhancement of the vortex core energy at optimal Tc, driven by in-plane strain and doping. These unusually high Jc make P-doped Ba-122 very favorable for high-field magnet applications.

The influence of external factors on the corrosion resistance of high temperature superconductor thin films against moisture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murugesan, M.; Obara, H.; Yamasaki, H.; Kosaka, S.

2006-12-01

High temperature superconductor (HTS) thin films have been systematically investigated for their corrosion resistance against moisture by studying the role of external factors such as temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and the type of substrates in the corrosion. In general, (i) the corrosion is progressed monotonously with increasing T as well as RH, (ii) a threshold level of water vapor is needed to cause degradation, and (iii) between T and RH, the influence of T is more dominant. HTS films on SrTiO3 and CeO2 buffered sapphire (cbs) substrates showed better corrosion stability and a low rate of degradation in the critical current density as compared to that of the film grown on MgO substrate. Between DyBa2Cu3Oz (DBCO) and YBa2Cu3Oz, the former is reproducibly found to have many fold higher corrosion resistance against moisture. This observed enhancement in the corrosion resistance in DBCO could be explained by the improved microstructure in the films and the better lattice matching with the substrate. Thus, the dual advantage of DBCO/cbs films, i.e., the enhanced corrosion stability of DBCO and the appropriate dielectric properties of sapphire, can be readily exploited for the use of DBCO/cbs films in the microwave and power devices.

Orientation of FePt nanoparticles on top of a-SiO2/Si(001), MgO(001) and sapphire(0001): effect of thermal treatments and influence of substrate and particle size.

PubMed

Schilling, Martin; Ziemann, Paul; Zhang, Zaoli; Biskupek, Johannes; Kaiser, Ute; Wiedwald, Ulf

2016-01-01

Texture formation and epitaxy of thin metal films and oriented growth of nanoparticles (NPs) on single crystal supports are of general interest for improved physical and chemical properties especially of anisotropic materials. In the case of FePt, the main focus lies on its highly anisotropic magnetic behavior and its catalytic activity, both due to the chemically ordered face-centered tetragonal (fct) L10 phase. If the c-axis of the tetragonal system can be aligned normal to the substrate plane, perpendicular magnetic recording could be achieved. Here, we study the orientation of FePt NPs and films on a-SiO2/Si(001), i.e., Si(001) with an amorphous (a-) native oxide layer on top, on MgO(001), and on sapphire(0001) substrates. For the NPs of an approximately equiatomic composition, two different sizes were chosen: "small" NPs with diameters in the range of 2-3 nm and "large" ones in the range of 5-8 nm. The 3 nm thick FePt films, deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), served as reference samples. The structural properties were probed in situ, particularly texture formation and epitaxy of the specimens by reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and, in case of 3 nm nanoparticles, additionally by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) after different annealing steps between 200 and 650 °C. The L10 phase is obtained at annealing temperatures above 550 °C for films and 600 °C for nanoparticles in accordance with previous reports. On the amorphous surface of a-SiO2/Si substrates we find no preferential orientation neither for FePt films nor nanoparticles even after annealing at 630 °C. On sapphire(0001) supports, however, FePt nanoparticles exhibit a clearly preferred (111) orientation even in the as-prepared state, which can be slightly improved by annealing at 600-650 °C. This improvement depends on the size of NPs: Only the smaller NPs approach a fully developed (111) orientation. On top of MgO(001) the effect of annealing on

Orientation of FePt nanoparticles on top of a-SiO2/Si(001), MgO(001) and sapphire(0001): effect of thermal treatments and influence of substrate and particle size

PubMed Central

Schilling, Martin; Ziemann, Paul; Zhang, Zaoli; Biskupek, Johannes; Kaiser, Ute

2016-01-01

Summary Texture formation and epitaxy of thin metal films and oriented growth of nanoparticles (NPs) on single crystal supports are of general interest for improved physical and chemical properties especially of anisotropic materials. In the case of FePt, the main focus lies on its highly anisotropic magnetic behavior and its catalytic activity, both due to the chemically ordered face-centered tetragonal (fct) L10 phase. If the c-axis of the tetragonal system can be aligned normal to the substrate plane, perpendicular magnetic recording could be achieved. Here, we study the orientation of FePt NPs and films on a-SiO2/Si(001), i.e., Si(001) with an amorphous (a-) native oxide layer on top, on MgO(001), and on sapphire(0001) substrates. For the NPs of an approximately equiatomic composition, two different sizes were chosen: “small” NPs with diameters in the range of 2–3 nm and “large” ones in the range of 5–8 nm. The 3 nm thick FePt films, deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), served as reference samples. The structural properties were probed in situ, particularly texture formation and epitaxy of the specimens by reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and, in case of 3 nm nanoparticles, additionally by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) after different annealing steps between 200 and 650 °C. The L10 phase is obtained at annealing temperatures above 550 °C for films and 600 °C for nanoparticles in accordance with previous reports. On the amorphous surface of a-SiO2/Si substrates we find no preferential orientation neither for FePt films nor nanoparticles even after annealing at 630 °C. On sapphire(0001) supports, however, FePt nanoparticles exhibit a clearly preferred (111) orientation even in the as-prepared state, which can be slightly improved by annealing at 600–650 °C. This improvement depends on the size of NPs: Only the smaller NPs approach a fully developed (111) orientation. On top of MgO(001) the

Turbine Engine Lubricant Reclamation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-01

results indicate no differences in additive/degradation product removal by varying the basic material level or between Ca(OH)2 and MgO. Data indicates...0H) 2 ɘ.09 .o difference in removal by changing Ca(OH) 2 treat- . ment level by HPLC and TLC. Thin Layer Chromatography Oil + adsorbents Oil + Ca(0H...2.1%) 0.17 3% by weight 0.17 4% by weight 0.16 No difference in removal by changing Ca(OH)2 treat- ment level by HPLC and TLC. Thin Layer

Thinning sprout clumps

Treesearch

Richard M. Godman

1992-01-01

How do you deal with stump sprouts in second-growth hardwood stands? Although thinning them takes special effort to avoid causing decay, stump sprouts are the only way to regenerate certain species such as basswood. Generally, you should thin them early and preferably when potential crop stems are 3 inches d.b.h. or less. But if you delay thinning until they are pole-...

Pyrolyzed thin film carbon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harder, Theodore (Inventor); Konishi, Satoshi (Inventor); Miserendino, Scott (Inventor); Tai, Yu-Chong (Inventor); Liger, Matthieu (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A method of making carbon thin films comprises depositing a catalyst on a substrate, depositing a hydrocarbon in contact with the catalyst and pyrolyzing the hydrocarbon. A method of controlling a carbon thin film density comprises etching a cavity into a substrate, depositing a hydrocarbon into the cavity, and pyrolyzing the hydrocarbon while in the cavity to form a carbon thin film. Controlling a carbon thin film density is achieved by changing the volume of the cavity. Methods of making carbon containing patterned structures are also provided. Carbon thin films and carbon containing patterned structures can be used in NEMS, MEMS, liquid chromatography, and sensor devices.

Band gap bowing in NixMg1−xO

PubMed Central

Niedermeier, Christian A.; Råsander, Mikael; Rhode, Sneha; Kachkanov, Vyacheslav; Zou, Bin; Alford, Neil; Moram, Michelle A.

2016-01-01

Epitaxial transparent oxide NixMg1−xO (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) thin films were grown on MgO(100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. High-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis indicate that the thin films are compositionally and structurally homogeneous, forming a completely miscible solid solution. Nevertheless, the composition dependence of the NixMg1−xO optical band gap shows a strong non-parabolic bowing with a discontinuity at dilute NiO concentrations of x < 0.037. Density functional calculations of the NixMg1−xO band structure and the density of states demonstrate that deep Ni 3d levels are introduced into the MgO band gap, which significantly reduce the fundamental gap as confirmed by optical absorption spectra. These states broaden into a Ni 3d-derived conduction band for x > 0.074 and account for the anomalously large band gap narrowing in the NixMg1−xO solid solution system. PMID:27503808

Metastable electronic populations and relaxation of Fe(I), Fe(II), and Fe(III) in MgO observed by Mössbauer emission spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuczek, F.; Spiering, H.; Gütlich, P.

1990-06-01

Magnetic-field Mössbauer emission spectra of 57Co in MgO single crystals covering a broad velocity range and measured up to high signal-to-noise ratios are presented. In accordance with a previous study, three charge states of 57Fe are found after 57Co(EC)57Fe (EC stands for electron capture). The evaluation of the Fe(III) fraction indicates nonthermalized populations of the 6A1 ground-state Zeeman levels. The field, temperature, and angular dependences of these populations are evaluated and display qualitative differences to the findings in 57Co/LiNbO3. The implications of the cubic symmetry on the spin-selective ground-state population are considered. In addition, a completely analogous phenomenon is evidenced for the first time within an Fe(II) electronic manifold, namely, the Γ5g ground state of Fe(II) in MgO, after the nuclear decay. In contrast to the Fe(III) case, these populations are not static within the Mössbauer time window. It turns out that the attainment of thermal equilibrium can be conveniently observed by changing the field value, evidencing a direct relaxation process at 4.2 K within Γ5g. The relaxation rates are compatible with static strain data; an initial alignment is observed. Finally, there is strong evidence that the Fe(I) fraction is also populated out of thermal equilibrium. In addition to these ground-state spectra, two features are present that may be attributed to metastable excited states of Fe(II) and Fe(III). It is described in detail how these various contributions can be disentangled.

Single d-metal atoms on F(s) and F(s+) defects of MgO(001): a theoretical study across the periodic table.

PubMed

Neyman, Konstantin M; Inntam, Chan; Matveev, Alexei V; Nasluzov, Vladimir A; Rösch, Notker

2005-08-24

Single d-metal atoms on oxygen defects F(s) and F(s+) of the MgO(001) surface were studied theoretically. We employed an accurate density functional method combined with cluster models, embedded in an elastic polarizable environment, and we applied two gradient-corrected exchange-correlation functionals. In this way, we quantified how 17 metal atoms from groups 6-11 of the periodic table (Cu, Ag, Au; Ni, Pd, Pt; Co, Rh, Ir; Fe, Ru, Os; Mn, Re; and Cr, Mo, W) interact with terrace sites of MgO. We found bonding with F(s) and F(s+) defects to be in general stronger than that with O2- sites, except for Mn-, Re-, and Fe/F(s) complexes. In M/F(s) systems, electron density is accumulated on the metal center in a notable fashion. The binding energy on both kinds of O defects increases from 3d- to 4d- to 5d-atoms of a given group, at variance with the binding energy trend established earlier for the M/O2- complexes, 4d < 3d < 5d. Regarding the evolution of the binding energy along a period, group 7 atoms are slightly destabilized compared to their group 6 congeners in both the F(s) and F(s+) complexes; for later transition elements, the binding energy increases gradually up to group 10 and finally decreases again in group 11, most strongly on the F(s) site. This trend is governed by the negative charge on the adsorbed atoms. We discuss implications for an experimental detection of metal atoms on oxide supports based on computed core-level energies.

Ab initio model potential calculations on the electronic spectrum of Ni2 + -doped MgO including correlation, spin-orbit and embedding effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Llusar, Rosa; Casarrubios, Marcos; Barandiarán, Zoila; Seijo, Luis

1996-10-01

An ab initio theoretical study of the optical absorption spectrum of Ni2+-doped MgO has been conducted by means of calculations in a MgO-embedded (NiO6)10-cluster. The calculations include long- and short-range embedding effects of electrostatic and quantum nature brought about by the MgO crystalline lattice, as well as electron correlation and spin-orbit effects within the (NiO6)10- cluster. The spin-orbit calculations have been performed using the spin-orbit-CI WB-AIMP method [Chem. Phys. Lett. 147, 597 (1988); J. Chem. Phys. 102, 8078 (1995)] which has been recently proposed and is applied here for the first time to the field of impurities in crystals. The WB-AIMP method is extended in order to handle correlation effects which, being necessary to produce accurate energy differences between spin-free states, are not needed for the proper calculation of spin-orbit couplings. The extension of the WB-AIMP method, which is also aimed at keeping the size of the spin-orbit-CI within reasonable limits, is based on the use of spin-free-state shifting operators. It is shown that the unreasonable spin-orbit splittings obtained for MgO:Ni2+ in spin-orbit-CI calculations correlating only 8 electrons become correct when the proposed extension is applied, so that the same CI space is used but energy corrections due to correlating up to 26 electrons are included. The results of the ligand field spectrum of MgO:Ni2+ show good overall agreement with the experimental measurements and a reassignment of the observed Eg(b3T1g) excited state is proposed and discussed.

Proton irradiation of MgO- or Sc 2O 3 passivated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, B.; Ren, F.; Allums, K. K.; Gila, B. P.; Onstine, A. H.; Abernathy, C. R.; Pearton, S. J.; Dwivedi, R.; Fogarty, T. N.; Wilkins, R.; Fitch, R. C.; Gillespie, J. K.; Jenkins, T. J.; Dettmer, R.; Sewell, J.; Via, G. D.; Crespo, A.; Baca, A. G.; Shul, R. J.

2003-06-01

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors with either MgO or Sc 2O 3 surface passivation were irradiated with 40 MeV protons at a dose of 5×10 9 cm -2. While both forward and reverse bias current were decreased in the devices as a result of decreases in channel doping and introduction of generation-recombination centers, there was no significant change observed in gate lag measurements. By sharp contrast, unpassivated devices showed significant decreases in drain current under pulsed conditions for the same proton dose. These results show the effectiveness of the oxide passivation in mitigating the effects of surface states present in the as-grown structures and also of surface traps created by the proton irradiation.

A study of the properties and microstructure of Ni 81Fe 19 ultrathin films with MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Minghua; Han, Gan; Ding, Lei; Wang, Xiaocui; Liu, Yang; Feng, Chun; Wang, Haicheng; Yu, Guanghua

2012-01-01

The anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) of a Ta (5 nm)/MgO (3 nm)/Ni81Fe19 (10 nm)/MgO (2 nm)/Ta (3 nm) film with MgO-Nano Oxide Layer (NOL) increases dramatically from 1.05% to 3.24% compared with a Ta (5 nm)/Ni81Fe19 (10 nm)/Ta (3 nm) film without the MgO-NOL layer after annealing at 380 °C for 2 h. Although the MgO destroys the NiFe (1 1 1) texture, it enhances the specular electron scattering of the conduction electrons at the NOL interface and suppresses the interface reactions and diffusion at the Ta/NiFe and NiFe/Ta interfaces. The NiFe (1 1 1) texture was formed after the annealing, resulting in a higher AMR ratio. X-ray photoelectron spectroscope results show that Mg and Mg2+ were present in the MgOx films.

Localized states in advanced dielectrics from the vantage of spin- and symmetry-polarized tunnelling across MgO.

PubMed

Schleicher, F; Halisdemir, U; Lacour, D; Gallart, M; Boukari, S; Schmerber, G; Davesne, V; Panissod, P; Halley, D; Majjad, H; Henry, Y; Leconte, B; Boulard, A; Spor, D; Beyer, N; Kieber, C; Sternitzky, E; Cregut, O; Ziegler, M; Montaigne, F; Beaurepaire, E; Gilliot, P; Hehn, M; Bowen, M

2014-08-04

Research on advanced materials such as multiferroic perovskites underscores promising applications, yet studies on these materials rarely address the impact of defects on the nominally expected materials property. Here, we revisit the comparatively simple oxide MgO as the model material system for spin-polarized solid-state tunnelling studies. We present a defect-mediated tunnelling potential landscape of localized states owing to explicitly identified defect species, against which we examine the bias and temperature dependence of magnetotransport. By mixing symmetry-resolved transport channels, a localized state may alter the effective barrier height for symmetry-resolved charge carriers, such that tunnelling magnetoresistance decreases most with increasing temperature when that state is addressed electrically. Thermal excitation promotes an occupancy switchover from the ground to the excited state of a defect, which impacts these magnetotransport characteristics. We thus resolve contradictions between experiment and theory in this otherwise canonical spintronics system, and propose a new perspective on defects in dielectrics.

Use of MgO doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation for removing arsenic from water

DOEpatents

Moore, Robert C; Holt-Larese, Kathleen C; Bontchev, Ranko

2013-08-13

Systems and methods for use of magnesium hydroxide, either directly or through one or more precursors, doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation, for removing arsenic from drinking water, including water distribution systems. In one embodiment, magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH).sub.2 (a strong adsorbent for arsenic) doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation is used to adsorb arsenic. The complex consisting of arsenic adsorbed on Mg(OH).sub.2 doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation is subsequently removed from the water by conventional means, including filtration, settling, skimming, vortexing, centrifugation, magnetic separation, or other well-known separation systems. In another embodiment, magnesium oxide, MgO, is employed, which reacts with water to form Mg(OH).sub.2. The resulting Mg(OH).sub.2 doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation, then adsorbs arsenic, as set forth above. The method can also be used to treat human or animal poisoning with arsenic.

Use of MgO doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation for removing arsenic from water

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moore, Robert C.; Larese, Kathleen Caroline; Bontchev, Ranko Panayotov

Systems and methods for use of magnesium hydroxide, either directly or through one or more precursors, doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation, for removing arsenic from drinking water, including water distribution systems. In one embodiment, magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH).sub.2 (a strong adsorbent for arsenic) doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation is used to adsorb arsenic. The complex consisting of arsenic adsorbed on Mg(OH).sub.2 doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation is subsequently removed from the water by conventional means, including filtration, settling, skimming, vortexing, centrifugation, magnetic separation, or other well-known separation systems. In another embodiment, magnesiummore » oxide, MgO, is employed, which reacts with water to form Mg(OH).sub.2. The resulting Mg(OH).sub.2 doped with a divalent or trivalent metal cation, then adsorbs arsenic, as set forth above. The method can also be used to treat human or animal poisoning with arsenic.« less

High performance batch production of LREBa 2Cu 3O y using novel thin film Nd-123 seed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muralidhar, M.; Suzuki, K.; Fukumoto, Y.; Ishihara, A.; Tomita, M.

2011-11-01

A batch production for fabrication of LREBa2Cu3Oy (LRE: Sm, Gd, NEG) "LRE-123" pellets are developed in air and Ar-1% O2 using a novel thin film Nd-123 seeds grown on MgO crystals. The SEM and XRD results conformed that the quality and orientation of the seed crystals are excellent. On the other hand, new seeds can withstand temperatures >1100 °C, as a result, the cold seeding process was applied even to grow Sm-123 material in Air. The trapped field observed in the best 45 mm single-grain puck of Gd-123 was in the range of 1.35 T and 0.35 T at 77.3 K and 87.3 K, respectively. The average trapped field at 77.3 K in the 24 mm diameter NEG-123 samples batch lies between 0.9 and 1 T. The maximum trapped field of 1.2 T was recorded at the sample surface. Further, the maximum trapped field of 0.23 T at 77 K was recorded in a sample with 16 mm diameter of Sm-123 with 3 mol% BaO2 addition. As a result we made more then 130 single grain pucks within a couple of months. Taking advantage of the single grain batch processed material, we constructed self-made chilled levitation disk, which was used on the open day of railway technical research Institute. More then 150 children stood on the levitation disk and revel the experience of levitation. The present results prove that a high-performance good-quality class of LREBa2Cu3Oy material can be made by using a novel thin film Nd-123 seeds.

Investigating and engineering spin-orbit torques in heavy metal/Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5}/MgO thin film structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Loong, Li Ming; Deorani, Praveen; Qiu, Xuepeng

2015-07-13

Current-induced spin-orbit torques (SOTs) have the potential to revolutionize magnetization switching technology. Here, we investigate SOT in a heavy metal (HM)/Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5} (CFAS)/MgO thin film structure with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), where the HM is either Pt or Ta. Our results suggest that both the spin Hall effect and the Rashba effect contribute significantly to the effective fields in the Pt underlayer samples. Moreover, after taking the PMA energies into account, current-induced SOT-based switching studies of both the Pt and Ta underlayer samples suggest that the two HM underlayers yield comparable switching efficiency in the HM/CFAS/MgO material system.

Processing of La(1.8)Sr(0.2)CuO4 and YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting thin films by dual-ion-beam sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madakson, P.; Cuomo, J. J.; Yee, D. S.; Roy, R. A.; Scilla, G.

1988-03-01

High-quality La(1.8)Sr(0.2)CuO4 and YBa2Cu3O7 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 micron thick and are single phase after annealing. The substrates investigated are Nd-YAP, MgO, SrF2, Si, CaF2, ZrO2-(9 pct)Y2O3, BaF2, Al2O3, and SrTiO3. Characterization of the films was carried out using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, resistivity measurements, TEM, X-ray diffraction, and SIMS. 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 YBa2Cu2O7 structure, in the case of SrTiO3 substrate. The best substrates were those that did not significantly diffuse into the film and which did not react chemically with the film.

Thin film superconductor magnetic bearings

DOEpatents

Weinberger, Bernard R.

1995-12-26

A superconductor magnetic bearing includes a shaft (10) that is subject to a load (L) and rotatable around an axis of rotation, a magnet (12) mounted to the shaft, and a stator (14) in proximity to the shaft. The stator (14) has a superconductor thin film assembly (16) positioned to interact with the magnet (12) to produce a levitation force on the shaft (10) that supports the load (L). The thin film assembly (16) includes at least two superconductor thin films (18) and at least one substrate (20). Each thin film (18) is positioned on a substrate (20) and all the thin films are positioned such that an applied magnetic field from the magnet (12) passes through all the thin films. A similar bearing in which the thin film assembly (16) is mounted on the shaft (10) and the magnet (12) is part of the stator (14) also can be constructed.

Epitaxial growth and electrical transport properties of Cr{sub 2}GeC thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eklund, Per; Thin Film Physics Division, Linkoeping University, IFM, 581 83 Linkoeping; Bugnet, Matthieu

2011-08-15

Cr{sub 2}GeC thin films were grown by magnetron sputtering from elemental targets. Phase-pure Cr{sub 2}GeC was grown directly onto Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}(0001) at temperatures of 700-800 deg. C. These films have an epitaxial component with the well-known epitaxial relationship Cr{sub 2}GeC(0001)//Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}(0001) and Cr{sub 2}GeC(1120)//Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}(1100) or Cr{sub 2}GeC(1120)//Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}(1210). There is also a large secondary grain population with (1013) orientation. Deposition onto Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}(0001) with a TiN(111) seed layer and onto MgO(111) yielded growth of globally epitaxial Cr{sub 2}GeC(0001) with a virtually negligible (1013) contribution. In contrast to the films deposited at 700-800 deg. C,more » the ones grown at 500-600 deg. C are polycrystalline Cr{sub 2}GeC with (1010)-dominated orientation; they also exhibit surface segregations of Ge as a consequence of fast Ge diffusion rates along the basal planes. The room-temperature resistivity of our samples is 53-66 {mu}{Omega}cm. Temperature-dependent resistivity measurements from 15-295 K show that electron-phonon coupling is important and likely anisotropic, which emphasizes that the electrical transport properties cannot be understood in terms of ground state electronic structure calculations only.« less

Field-tuned superconductor-insulator transitions and Hall resistance in thin polycrystalline MoN films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makise, Kazumasa; Ichikawa, Fusao; Asano, Takayuki; Shinozaki, Bunju

2018-02-01

We report on the superconductor-insulator transitions (SITs) of disordered molybdenum nitride (MoN) thin films on (1 0 0) MgO substrates as a function of the film thickness and magnetic fields. The T c of the superconducting MoN films, which exhibit a sharp superconducting transition, monotonically decreases as the normal state R sq increases with a decreasing film thickness. For several films with different thicknesses, we estimate the critical field H c and the product zν  ≃  0.6 of the dynamical exponent z and the correlation length exponent ν using a finite scaling analysis. The value of this product can be explained by the (2  +  1) XY model. We found that the Hall resistance ΔR xy (H) is maximized when the magnetic field satisfies H HP(T) \\propto |1  -  T/T C0| in the superconducting state and also in the normal states owning to the superconducting fluctuation corresponding to the ghost critical magnetic field. We measured the Hall conductivity δσ xy (H)  =  σ xy (H)  -  σ xyn and fit the Gaussian approximation theory for δσ xy (H) to the experimental data. Agreement between the data and the theory beyond H c suggests the survival of the Cooper pair in the insulating region of the SIT.

Field-tuned superconductor-insulator transitions and Hall resistance in thin polycrystalline MoN films.

PubMed

Makise, Kazumasa; Ichikawa, Fusao; Asano, Takayuki; Shinozaki, Bunju

2018-02-14

We report on the superconductor-insulator transitions (SITs) of disordered molybdenum nitride (MoN) thin films on (1 0 0) MgO substrates as a function of the film thickness and magnetic fields. The T c of the superconducting MoN films, which exhibit a sharp superconducting transition, monotonically decreases as the normal state R sq increases with a decreasing film thickness. For several films with different thicknesses, we estimate the critical field H c and the product zν  ≃  0.6 of the dynamical exponent z and the correlation length exponent ν using a finite scaling analysis. The value of this product can be explained by the (2  +  1) XY model. We found that the Hall resistance ΔR xy (H) is maximized when the magnetic field satisfies H HP (T) [Formula: see text] |1  -  T/T C0 | in the superconducting state and also in the normal states owning to the superconducting fluctuation corresponding to the ghost critical magnetic field. We measured the Hall conductivity δσ xy (H)  =  σ xy (H)  -  [Formula: see text] and fit the Gaussian approximation theory for δσ xy (H) to the experimental data. Agreement between the data and the theory beyond H c suggests the survival of the Cooper pair in the insulating region of the SIT.

[Spectral emissivity of thin films].

PubMed

Zhong, D

2001-02-01

In this paper, the contribution of multiple reflections in thin film to the spectral emissivity of thin films of low absorption is discussed. The expression of emissivity of thin films derived here is related to the thin film thickness d and the optical constants n(lambda) and k(lambda). It is shown that in the special case d-->infinity the emissivity of thin films is equivalent to that of the bulk material. Realistic numerical and more precise general numerical results for the dependence of the emissivity on d, n(lambda) and k(lambda) are given.

The enhancement of anomalous Hall effect by inserting MgO layer in perpendicular anisotropic Pd/Co2MnSi/MgO/Pd films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, H. R.; Ma, L.; Tian, N.; You, C. Y.; Wang, K.

2018-05-01

A systematic study of anomalous Hall effect (AHE) was performed in perpendicular magnetic anisotropic Pd/Co2MnSi(tCMS)/MgO/Pd films. The AHE was significantly intensified by inserting MgO layer, which can be ascribed to the enhancement of spin-orbit coupling and interfacial scattering contribution. Moreover, it was found that the Co and Mn ions were reduced at the interface of Co2MnSi/MgO with annealing process. The stable amount of Mn-O bonding was observed at the Co2MnSi/MgO interface after annealing, implying that the proper Mn-O bonding could be favorable for achieving large AHE.

Tunnel Magneto Resistance of Fe/Insulator/Fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aryee, Dennis; Seifu, Dereje

Tri-layer thin films of Fe/Insulator/Fe were synthesized using magnetron DC/ RF sputtering with MgO insulator and Bi2Te3 topological insulators as middle buffer layer. The multi-layered samples thus produced were studied using in-house built magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) instrument, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), torque magnetometer (TMM), AFM, MFM, and magneto-resistance (MR). This system, that is Fe/Insulator/Fe on MgO(100) substrate, is a well-known tunnel magneto resistance (TMR) structure often used in magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices. TMR effect is a method by which MTJs are used in developing magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM), magnetic sensors, and novel logic devices. The main purpose behind this research is to measure the magnetic anisotropy of Fe/Insulator /Fe structure and correlate it to magneto-resistance. In this presentation, we will present results from MOKE, VSM, TMM, AFM, MFM, and MR studies of Fe/Insulator/Fe on MgO(100). We would like to acknowledge support by NSF-MRI-DMR-1337339.

Deep-Ultraviolet Luminescence of Rocksalt-Structured Mg x Zn1-x O (x > 0.5) Films on MgO Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaneko, Kentaro; Tsumura, Keiichi; Ishii, Kyohei; Onuma, Takayoshi; Honda, Tohru; Fujita, Shizuo

2018-04-01

Rocksalt-structured Mg x Zn1-x O films with Mg composition x of 0.47, 0.57, and 0.64 were grown on (100)-oriented MgO substrates using mist chemical vapor deposition. Cathodoluminescence measurements showed deep ultraviolet (DUV) emission peaking at 4.88 eV (254 nm), 5.15 eV (241 nm), and 5.21 eV (238 nm), respectively, at 12 K. The peak energies were lower than the band gap energies by ca. 1 eV, suggesting that the deep ultraviolet (DUV) emission may be recognized as near band edge luminescence but is associated with impurities, defects, or band fluctuations. The use of carbon-free precursors in the growth is suggested to eliminate carbon impurities and to improve the optical properties of Mg x Zn1-x O.

NMR characterization of thin films

DOEpatents

Gerald II, Rex E.; Klingler, Robert J.; Rathke, Jerome W.; Diaz, Rocio; Vukovic, Lela

2010-06-15

A method, apparatus, and system for characterizing thin film materials. The method, apparatus, and system includes a container for receiving a starting material, applying a gravitational force, a magnetic force, and an electric force or combinations thereof to at least the starting material, forming a thin film material, sensing an NMR signal from the thin film material and analyzing the NMR signal to characterize the thin film of material.

NMR characterization of thin films

DOEpatents

Gerald, II, Rex E.; Klingler, Robert J.; Rathke, Jerome W.; Diaz, Rocio; Vukovic, Lela

2008-11-25

A method, apparatus, and system for characterizing thin film materials. The method, apparatus, and system includes a container for receiving a starting material, applying a gravitational force, a magnetic force, and an electric force or combinations thereof to at least the starting material, forming a thin film material, sensing an NMR signal from the thin film material and analyzing the NMR signal to characterize the thin film of material.

High rate buffer layer for IBAD MgO coated conductors

DOEpatents

Foltyn, Stephen R [Los Alamos, NM; Jia, Quanxi [Los Alamos, NM; Arendt, Paul N [Los Alamos, NM

2007-08-21

Articles are provided including a base substrate having a layer of an oriented material thereon, and, a layer of hafnium oxide upon the layer of an oriented material. The layer of hafnium oxide can further include a secondary oxide such as cerium oxide, yttrium oxide, lanthanum oxide, scandium oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. Such articles can further include thin films of high temperature superconductive oxides such as YBCO upon the layer of hafnium oxide or layer of hafnium oxide and secondary oxide.

Transparent photocatalytic coatings on the surface of the tips of medical fibre-optic bundles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evstropiev, S. K.; Volynkin, V. M.; Kiselev, V. M.; Dukelskii, K. V.; Evstropyev, K. S.; Demidov, V. V.; Gatchin, Yu. A.

2017-12-01

We report the results of the development of the sol - gel method for obtaining thin, transparent (in the visible part of the spectrum) TiO2/MgO coatings on the surfaces of the tips of medical fibre-optic bundles. Such coatings are capable of generating singlet oxygen under the action of UV radiation and are characterised by high antibacterial activity.

Epitaxial thinning process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegel, C. M. (Inventor)

1984-01-01

A method is described for thinning an epitaxial layer of a wafer that is to be used in producing diodes having a specified breakdown voltage and which also facilitates the thinning process. Current is passed through the epitaxial layer, by connecting a current source between the substrate of the wafer and an electrolyte in which the wafer is immersed. When the wafer is initially immersed, the voltage across the wafer initially drops and then rises at a steep rate. When light is applied to the wafer the voltage drops, and when the light is interrupted the voltage rises again. These changes in voltage, each indicate the breakdown voltage of a Schottky diode that could be prepared from the wafer at that time. The epitaxial layer is thinned by continuing to apply current through the wafer while it is immersed and light is applied, to form an oxide film and when the oxide film is thick the wafer can then be cleaned of oxide and the testing and thinning continued. Uninterrupted thinning can be achieved by first forming an oxide film, and then using an electrolyte that dissolves the oxide about as fast as it is being formed, to limit the thickness of the oxide layer.

The surface chemistry of nanocrystalline MgO catalysts for FAME production: An in situ XPS study of H2O, CH3OH and CH3OAc adsorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montero, J. M.; Isaacs, M. A.; Lee, A. F.; Lynam, J. M.; Wilson, K.

2016-04-01

An in situ XPS study of water, methanol and methyl acetate adsorption over as-synthesised and calcined MgO nanocatalysts is reported with a view to gaining insight into the surface adsorption of key components relevant to fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) production during the transesterification of triglycerides with methanol. High temperature calcined NanoMgO-700 adsorbed all three species more readily than the parent material due to the higher density of electron-rich (111) and (110) facets exposed over the larger crystallites. Water and methanol chemisorb over the NanoMgO-700 through the conversion of surface O2 - sites to OH- and coincident creation of Mg-OH or Mg-OCH3 moieties respectively. A model is proposed in which the dissociative chemisorption of methanol occurs preferentially over defect and edge sites of NanoMgO-700, with higher methanol coverages resulting in physisorption over weakly basic (100) facets. Methyl acetate undergoes more complex surface chemistry over NanoMgO-700, with C-H dissociation and ester cleavage forming surface hydroxyl and acetate species even at extremely low coverages, indicative of preferential adsorption at defects. Comparison of C 1s spectra with spent catalysts from tributyrin transesterification suggest that ester hydrolysis plays a key factor in the deactivation of MgO catalysts for biodiesel production.

A hot implantation study on the evolution of defects in He ion implanted MgO(1 0 0)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedorov, A. V.; van Huis, M. A.; van Veen, A.

2002-05-01

Ion implantation at elevated temperature, so-called hot implantation, was used to study nucleation and thermal stability of the defects. In this work, MgO(1 0 0) single crystal samples were implanted with 30 keV He ions at various implantation temperatures. The implantation doses ranged from 10 14 to 10 16 cm -2. The implantation introduced defects were subsequently studied by thermal helium desorption spectroscopy (THDS) and Doppler broadening positron beam analysis (PBA). The THDS study provides vital information on the kinetics of He release from the sample. PBA technique, being sensitive to the open volume defects, provides complementary information on cavity evolution. The THD study has shown that in most cases helium release is characterised by the activation energy of Q=4.7±0.5 eV with the maximum release temperature of Tmax=1830 K. By applying first order desorption model the pre-exponent factor is estimated as ν=4.3×10 11 s -1.

Thin film cell development workshop report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodyard, James R.

1991-01-01

The Thin Film Development Workshop provided an opportunity for those interested in space applications of thin film cells to debate several topics. The unique characteristics of thin film cells as well as a number of other issues were covered during the discussions. The potential of thin film cells, key research and development issues, manufacturing issues, radiation damage, substrates, and space qualification of thin film cells were discussed.

Comparative study for highly Al and Mg doped ZnO thin films elaborated by sol gel method for photovoltaic application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Hallani, G.; Nasih, S.; Fazouan, N.; Liba, A.; Khuili, M.; Sajieddine, M.; Mabrouki, M.; Laanab, L.; Atmani, E. H.

2017-04-01

Transparent conducting oxides such as ZnO doped with Al or Mg are commonly used in solar cells, light emitting diodes, photodetectors, and ultraviolet laser diodes. In our work, we focus on a comparative study of the structural, optical, and electrical properties of ZnO films highly doped with Al (AZO) and Mg (MZO). These films are deposited on glass substrates by the sol-gel spin coating method. The doping concentrations for Al and Mg are fixed to 5%-30%. The XRD spectra indicate that all the samples are polycrystalline with hexagonal wurtzite structures, exhibiting a preferred orientation along the (002) plane. Low degradation in crystallinity was observed for MZO even at a Mg concentration of 30%. The MgO phase started to appear compared to Al-doped layers where smaller grains are formed inducing a deterioration in the films just after doping but no new phase appeared. This result is in agreement with other experimental results [J. K. Rath, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 76, 431-487 (2003); Morris et al., J. Appl. Phys. 67, 1079-1087 (1990)]. By AFM analysis, the results indicate a significantly rough surface for MZO compared to AZO films. For equal Al and Mg dopant concentrations, we observe that the transmittance spectra of MZO thin films are wider than those of AZO, indicating a shift toward shorter wavelengths with an optical gap energy equal to 3.67 eV. The electrical measurements of AZO and MZO thin films were made using the I-V characteristic obtained by the four probe method. All the films present an ohmic behavior. The conductivity and the mobility of AZO films were found to be better than those of MZO.

Low thinning and crown thinning of two severities as restoration tools at Redwood National Park

USGS Publications Warehouse

Teraoka, Jason R; van Mantgem, Phillip J.; Keyes, Christopher R.

2017-01-01

Interest in the restoration of second-growth forests has continued to increase in the redwood region, which has further increased the importance of evaluating restoration-based silvicultural strategies. This study assessed the short-term effectiveness of four silvicultural treatments (two silvicultural thinning methods, low thinning and crown thinning, and two basal area retentions, 80 percent and 45 percent) as forest restoration tools via analysis of relative basal area growth at Redwood National Park. Prior to treatment, the second-growth stand had more than 1,600 trees ha-1 and 70.0 m2 ha-1 basal area and consisted primarily of two species, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii(Mirb.) Franco) (the dominant species) and redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.). Growth was enhanced for all treatments with 5-year net basal area gains of 28.4 percent for the lowretention crown thinning, 28.1 percent for the low-retention low thinning, 23.3 percent for the high-retention crown thinning, 19.1 percent for high-retention low thinning, and only 14.2 percent for the control. We conclude that all four thinning treatments improved tree growth; but among them, the low-retention treatments were most effective in accomplishing restoration objectives, while the high-retention low thinning was least effective. Increasing the array of silvicultural tools that Redwood National Park can use may prove helpful in accomplishing restoration goals in future projects.

First-principles calculations of the indigo encapsulation and adsorption by MgO nanotubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sánchez-Ochoa, F., E-mail: fsanchez@ifuap.buap.mx; Cocoletzi, Gregorio H.; Canto, Gabriel I.

2014-06-07

We have performed ab-initio calculations to investigate the structural and electronic properties of (m,m) chiral magnesium oxide nanotubes, (m,m)MgONTs, to explore the encapsulation, inclusion, and adsorption of dyes (organic molecules) such as Indigo (IND). Studies start by determining the structural parameters of the MgO nanotubes with different diameters and the IND. The indigo encapsulation into the MgONT is studied considering four (m,m) chiralities which yield 4 different NT diameters. In the endohedral functionalization, the indigo is within the NT at a tilt angle as in previous theoretical studies of organic molecules inside carbon and boron-nitride nanotubes. Results show that themore » encapsulation is a strong exothermic process with the m = 6 case exhibiting the largest encapsulation energy. It is also explored the indigo adsorption on the NT surface in the parallel and perpendicular configurations. The perpendicular configuration of the IND adsorption on the (8,8)MgONT exhibits the largest energy. The indigo inclusion within the NTs meets a potential barrier when m < 6, however this barrier diminishes as the index increases. Additionally, we have determined the total density of states (DOS), partial DOS, electron charge redistributions, and the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels for the NTs with m = 6. Very strong binding energies and electron charge transfer from the IND to NTs is present in the atomic structures.« less

Low work function, stable thin films

DOEpatents

Dinh, Long N.; McLean, II, William; Balooch, Mehdi; Fehring, Jr., Edward J.; Schildbach, Marcus A.

2000-01-01

Generation of low work function, stable compound thin films by laser ablation. Compound thin films with low work function can be synthesized by simultaneously laser ablating silicon, for example, and thermal evaporating an alkali metal into an oxygen environment. For example, the compound thin film may be composed of Si/Cs/O. The work functions of the thin films can be varied by changing the silicon/alkali metal/oxygen ratio. Low work functions of the compound thin films deposited on silicon substrates were confirmed by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). The compound thin films are stable up to 500.degree. C. as measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Tests have established that for certain chemical compositions and annealing temperatures of the compound thin films, negative electron affinity (NEA) was detected. The low work function, stable compound thin films can be utilized in solar cells, field emission flat panel displays, electron guns, and cold cathode electron guns.

Epitaxial Fe{sub 3}Pt/FePt nanocomposites on MgO and SrTiO{sub 3}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Casoli, F., E-mail: casoli@imem.cnr.it; Nasi, L.; Cabassi, R.

We have exploited the pseudomorphic growth of the magnetically soft Fe{sub 3}Pt phase on top of L1{sub 0}-FePt to obtain fully epitaxial soft/hard nanocomposites on both MgO(100) and SrTiO{sub 3}(100). The magnetic properties of this new nanocomposite system, driven by the soft/hard exchange-coupling, can be tailored by varying soft phase thickness, soft phase magnetic anisotropy and substrate. Coercivity is strongly reduced by the addition of the soft phase, a reduction which is definitely affected by the nominal composition of the soft phase and by the substrate choice; similarly is the magnetic phase diagram of the composite system. Coercive field decreasesmore » down to 21% of the hard layer value for Fe{sub 3}Pt(5 nm)/FePt(3.55 nm) nanocomposites on SrTiO{sub 3}; this maximum coercivity reduction was obtained with a nominal atomic content of Fe in the soft phase of 80%.« less

Dewetting of Thin Polymer Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, P. S.; Sorensen, J. L.; Kent, M.; Jeon, H. S.

2001-03-01

DEWETTING OF THIN POLYMER FILMS P. S. Dixit,(1) J. L. Sorensen,(2) M. Kent,(2) H. S. Jeon*(1) (1) Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, jeon@nmt.edu (2) Department 1832, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM. Dewetting of thin polymer films is of technological importance for a variety of applications such as protective coatings, dielectric layers, and adhesives. Stable and smooth films are required for the above applications. Above the glass transition temperature (Tg) the instability of polymer thin films on a nonwettable substrate can be occurred. The dewetting mechanism and structure of polypropylene (Tg = -20 ^circC) and polystyrene (Tg = 100 ^circC) thin films is investigated as a function of film thickness (25 Åh < 250 Åand quenching temperature. Contact angle measurements are used in conjunction with optical microscope to check the surface homogeneity of the films. Uniform thin films are prepared by spin casting the polymer solutions onto silicon substrates with different contact angles. We found that the stable and unstable regions of the thin films as a function of the film thickness and quenching temperature, and then constructed a stability diagram for the dewetting of thin polymer films. We also found that the dewetting patterns of the thin films are affected substantially by the changes of film thickness and quenching temperature.

Temporal retinal thinning and the diagnosis of Alport syndrome and Thin basement membrane nephropathy.

PubMed

Chen, Yan; Colville, Deb; Ierino, Francesco; Symons, Andrew; Savige, Judy

2018-04-01

Alport syndrome is an inherited disease characterized by renal failure, hearing loss, and ocular abnormalities, including temporal retinal thinning. This study compared retinal thinning in Alport syndrome and other renal diseases. Alport syndrome was diagnosed on renal biopsy and genetic testing. Subjects underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Instruments). Retinal thinning was determined from horizontal macular OCT scans through the foveal center using the formula: Temporal thickness index (TTI) = (nasal - temporal thickness) ÷ nasal thickness × 100%, and compared with the normal range for each age group. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and ROC analysis (SPPS, IBM). The mean temporal retinal thickness index was 12.4 ± 5.2% in men (n = 19) and 7.4 ± 1.4% in women (n = 28) with X-linked Alport syndrome; 13.1 ± 4.5% (n = 4) in recessive disease; 6.4 ± 2.2% (n = 5) in Thin basement membrane nephropathy; and 6.3 ± 3.3% (n = 14) in other renal diseases. Thinning was worse in men than women with X-linked disease (p < 0.01), and worse in men who developed early onset renal failure (R 2  = 0.75). Temporal retinal thinning was 84% sensitive for men with X-linked Alport syndrome and 67% specific (AUC = 0.83) compared with other renal diseases. Retinal temporal thinning is diagnostic for X-linked Alport syndrome in men and distinguishes them this condition from Thin basement membrane nephropathy, but only in men (p = 0.002). Temporal retinal thinning may also identify men and women with the rarer autosomal recessive disease.

Thin-Film Power Transformers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katti, Romney R.

1995-01-01

Transformer core made of thin layers of insulating material interspersed with thin layers of ferromagnetic material. Flux-linking conductors made of thinner nonferromagnetic-conductor/insulator multilayers wrapped around core. Transformers have geometric features finer than those of transformers made in customary way by machining and mechanical pressing. In addition, some thin-film materials exhibit magnetic-flux-carrying capabilities superior to those of customary bulk transformer materials. Suitable for low-cost, high-yield mass production.

Low-power, high-uniform, and forming-free resistive memory based on Mg-deficient amorphous MgO film with rough surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jiajun; Ren, Shuxia; Wu, Liqian; Kang, Xin; Chen, Wei; Zhao, Xu

2018-03-01

Saving energy and reducing operation parameter fluctuations remain crucial for enabling resistive random access memory (RRAM) to emerge as a universal memory. In this work, we report a resistive memory device based on an amorphous MgO (a-MgO) film that not only exhibits ultralow programming voltage (just 0.22 V) and low power consumption (less than 176.7 μW) but also shows excellent operative uniformity (the coefficient of variation is only 1.7% and 2.2% for SET and RESET voltage, respectively). Moreover, it also shows a forming-free characteristic. Further analysis indicates that these distinctive properties can be attributed to the unstable local structures and the rough surface of the Mg-deficient a-MgO film. These findings show the potential of using a-MgO in high-performance nonvolatile memory applications.

A thin film nitinol heart valve.

PubMed

Stepan, Lenka L; Levi, Daniel S; Carman, Gregory P

2005-11-01

In order to create a less thrombogenic heart valve with improved longevity, a prosthetic heart valve was developed using thin film nitinol (NiTi). A "butterfly" valve was constructed using a single, elliptical piece of thin film NiTi and a scaffold made from Teflon tubing and NiTi wire. Flow tests and pressure readings across the valve were performed in vitro in a pulsatile flow loop. Bio-corrosion experiments were conducted on untreated and passivated thin film nitinol. To determine the material's in vivo biocompatibility, thin film nitinol was implanted in pigs using stents covered with thin film NiTi. Flow rates and pressure tracings across the valve were comparable to those through a commercially available 19 mm Perimount Edwards tissue valve. No signs of corrosion were present on thin film nitinol samples after immersion in Hank's solution for one month. Finally, organ and tissue samples explanted from four pigs at 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks after thin film NiTi implantation appeared without disease, and the thin film nitinol itself was without thrombus formation. Although long term testing is still necessary, thin film NiTi may be very well suited for use in artificial heart valves.

The formation of microvoids in MgO by helium ion implantation and thermal annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Veen, A.; Schut, H.; Fedorov, A. V.; Labohm, F.; Neeft, E. A. C.; Konings, R. J. M.

1999-01-01

The formation of microvoids in metal oxides by helium implantation and thermal annealing is observed under similar conditions as has been shown earlier for silicon. Cleaved MgO (1 0 0) single crystals were implanted with 30 keV 3He ions with doses varying from 10 15 to 10 16 cm -2 and subsequently thermally annealed from RT to 1500 K. Monitoring of the defect depth profile and the retained amount of helium was performed by positron beam analysis and neutron depth profiling, respectively. For a dose larger than 2 × 10 15 cm -2 annealing of the defects was observed in two stages: at 1000 K helium filled monovacancies dissociated, and other defects still retaining the helium were formed, and at 1300 K all helium left the sample while an increase of positron-valence-electron annihilations was observed, indicating an increase of the volume available in the defects. The voids of nm size were located at shallower depth than the implanted helium. At lower dose no voids were left after high temperature annealing. Voids can also be created, and even more effectively, by hydrogen or deuterium implantation. The voids are stable to temperatures of 1500 K. The use of the nanovoids as a precursor state for nanoprecipitates of metals or other species is discussed.

The Effects of Gravity on the Combustion Synthesis of B2O3-Al2O3-MgO Glass Ceramic Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manerbino, A. R.; Yi, H. C.; Guigne, J. Y.; Moore, J. J.; Schowengerdt, F. D.

2000-01-01

Glass ceramic composites based on B2O3-Al2O3-MgO have been produced by combustion synthesis in a Self-propagating mode. The gravitational effects on the combustion characteristics such as combustion wave velocity (V), and combustion temperature (T(sub c)) were studied. The results showed that the gravitational effects on these parameters were inconclusive. The microstructure of this system has also been analyzed with X-ray Diffraction and light microscopy. These results showed a higher amount of divitrification occurs under both reduced gravity and high gravity conditions. The gravitational effects on formation of pores, overall porosity and apparent porosity for this family of glass-ceramics also shows to be inconclusive. Possible reasons for these results are discussed.

Growth mechanisms of MgO nanocrystals via a sol-gel synthesis using different complexing agents

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

In the preparation of nanostructured materials, it is important to optimize synthesis parameters in order to obtain the desired material. This work investigates the role of complexing agents, oxalic acid and tartaric acid, in the production of MgO nanocrystals. Results from simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (STA) show that the two different synthesis routes yield precursors with different thermal profiles. It is found that the thermal profiles of the precursors can reveal the effects of crystal growth during thermal annealing. X-ray diffraction confirms that the final products are pure, single phase and of cubic shape. It is also found that complexing agents can affect the rate of crystal growth. The structures of the oxalic acid and tartaric acid as well as the complexation sites play very important roles in the formation of the nanocrystals. The complexing agents influence the rate of growth which affects the final crystallite size of the materials. Surprisingly, it is also found that oxalic acid and tartaric acid act as surfactants inhibiting crystal growth even at a high temperature of 950°C and a long annealing time of 36 h. The crystallite formation routes are proposed to be via linear and branched polymer networks due to the different structures of the complexing agents. PMID:24650322

Grain size-sensitive viscoelastic relaxation and seismic properties of polycrystalline MgO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnhoorn, A.; Jackson, I.; Fitz Gerald, J. D.; Kishimoto, A.; Itatani, K.

2016-07-01

Torsional forced-oscillation experiments on a suite of synthetic MgO polycrystals, of high-purity and average grain sizes of 1-100 µm, reveal strongly viscoelastic behavior at temperatures of 800-1300°C and periods between 1 and 1000 s. The measured shear modulus and associated strain energy dissipation both display monotonic variations with oscillation period, temperature, and grain size. The data for the specimens of intermediate grain size have been fitted to a generalized Burgers creep function model that is also broadly consistent with the results for the most coarse-grained specimen. The mild grain size sensitivity for the relaxation time τL, defining the lower end of the anelastic absorption band, is consistent with the onset of elastically accommodated grain boundary sliding. The upper end of the anelastic absorption band, evident in the highest-temperature data for one specimen only, is associated with the Maxwell relaxation time τM marking the transition toward viscous behavior, conventionally ascribed a stronger grain size sensitivity. Similarly pronounced viscoelastic behavior was observed in complementary torsional microcreep tests, which confirm that the nonelastic strains are mainly recoverable, i.e., anelastic. With an estimated activation volume for the viscoelastic relaxation, the experimentally constrained Burgers model has been extrapolated to the conditions of pressure and temperature prevailing in the Earth's uppermost lower mantle. For a plausible grain size of 10 mm, the predicted dissipation Q-1 ranges from 10-3 to 10-2 for periods of 3-3000 s. Broad consistency with seismological observations suggests that the lower mantle ferropericlase phase might account for much of its observed attenuation.

Synthesis of Mg(OH) 2, MgO, and Mg nanoparticles using laser ablation of magnesium in water and solvents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phuoc, Tran X.; Howard, Bret. H.; Martello, Donald V.; Soong, Yee; Chyu, Minking K.

2008-11-01

Laser ablation of magnesium in deionized water (DW), solutions of DW and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with different concentrations, acetone and 2-propanol has been conducted. The results showed that ablation in acetone and 2-propanol yielded MgO and Mg nanocrystallites as isolated particles and agglomerated chains probably intermixed with organic residues resulting from the alteration/decomposition of the solvents under the high-energy conditions. Brucite-like Mg(OH) 2 particles were mainly produced by laser ablation of Mg in either DW or DW-SDS solutions. Ablation in DW yielded particles of fiber-like shapes having a diameter of about 5-10 nm and length as long as 150 nm. Materials produced in DW-SDS solutions were composed of various size and shape particles. Some had rough surfaces with irregular shapes. Small particles were about 20-30 nm and larger particles were about 120 nm. Particles with rod-like, triangular, and plate-like shapes were also observed.

Ceramic Composite Thin Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dikin, Dmitriy A. (Inventor); Nguyen, SonBinh T. (Inventor); Ruoff, Rodney S. (Inventor); Stankovich, Sasha (Inventor)

2013-01-01

A ceramic composite thin film or layer includes individual graphene oxide and/or electrically conductive graphene sheets dispersed in a ceramic (e.g. silica) matrix. The thin film or layer can be electrically conductive film or layer depending the amount of graphene sheets present. The composite films or layers are transparent, chemically inert and compatible with both glass and hydrophilic SiOx/silicon substrates. The composite film or layer can be produced by making a suspension of graphene oxide sheet fragments, introducing a silica-precursor or silica to the suspension to form a sol, depositing the sol on a substrate as thin film or layer, at least partially reducing the graphene oxide sheets to conductive graphene sheets, and thermally consolidating the thin film or layer to form a silica matrix in which the graphene oxide and/or graphene sheets are dispersed.

Thin film hydrogen sensor

DOEpatents

Cheng, Y.T.; Poli, A.A.; Meltser, M.A.

1999-03-23

A thin film hydrogen sensor includes a substantially flat ceramic substrate with first and second planar sides and a first substrate end opposite a second substrate end; a thin film temperature responsive resistor on the first planar side of the substrate proximate to the first substrate end; a thin film hydrogen responsive metal resistor on the first planar side of the substrate proximate to the fist substrate end and proximate to the temperature responsive resistor; and a heater on the second planar side of the substrate proximate to the first end. 5 figs.

Electrochemical thinning of silicon

DOEpatents

Medernach, J.W.

1994-01-11

Porous semiconducting material, e.g. silicon, is formed by electrochemical treatment of a specimen in hydrofluoric acid, using the specimen as anode. Before the treatment, the specimen can be masked. The porous material is then etched with a caustic solution or is oxidized, depending of the kind of structure desired, e.g. a thinned specimen, a specimen, a patterned thinned specimen, a specimen with insulated electrical conduits, and so on. Thinned silicon specimen can be subjected to tests, such as measurement of interstitial oxygen by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). 14 figures.

Electrochemical thinning of silicon

DOEpatents

Medernach, John W.

1994-01-01

Porous semiconducting material, e.g. silicon, is formed by electrochemical treatment of a specimen in hydrofluoric acid, using the specimen as anode. Before the treatment, the specimen can be masked. The porous material is then etched with a caustic solution or is oxidized, depending of the kind of structure desired, e.g. a thinned specimen, a specimen, a patterned thinned specimen, a specimen with insulated electrical conduits, and so on. Thinned silicon specimen can be subjected to tests, such as measurement of interstitial oxygen by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR).

Thin film hydrogen sensor

DOEpatents

Cheng, Yang-Tse; Poli, Andrea A.; Meltser, Mark Alexander

1999-01-01

A thin film hydrogen sensor, includes: a substantially flat ceramic substrate with first and second planar sides and a first substrate end opposite a second substrate end; a thin film temperature responsive resistor on the first planar side of the substrate proximate to the first substrate end; a thin film hydrogen responsive metal resistor on the first planar side of the substrate proximate to the fist substrate end and proximate to the temperature responsive resistor; and a heater on the second planar side of the substrate proximate to the first end.

Ag-Decorated Localized Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Ultraviolet Electroluminescence from ZnO Quantum Dot-Based/GaN Heterojunction Diodes by Optimizing MgO Interlayer Thickness.

PubMed

Chen, Cheng; Chen, Jingwen; Zhang, Jun; Wang, Shuai; Zhang, Wei; Liang, Renli; Dai, Jiangnan; Chen, Changqing

2016-12-01

We demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of localized surface plasmon (LSP)-enhanced n-ZnO quantum dot (QD)/MgO/p-GaN heterojunction light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by embedding Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) into the ZnO/MgO interface. The maximum enhancement ration of the Ag-NP-decorated LEDs in electroluminescence (EL) is 4.3-fold by optimizing MgO electron-blocking layer thickness. The EL origination was investigated qualitatively in terms of photoluminescence (PL) results. Through analysis of the energy band structure of device and carrier transport mechanisms, it suggests that the EL enhancement is attributed to the increased rate of spontaneous emission and improved internal quantum efficiency induced by exciton-LSP coupling.

Ag-Decorated Localized Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Ultraviolet Electroluminescence from ZnO Quantum Dot-Based/GaN Heterojunction Diodes by Optimizing MgO Interlayer Thickness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Cheng; Chen, Jingwen; Zhang, Jun; Wang, Shuai; Zhang, Wei; Liang, Renli; Dai, Jiangnan; Chen, Changqing

2016-10-01

We demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of localized surface plasmon (LSP)-enhanced n-ZnO quantum dot (QD)/MgO/p-GaN heterojunction light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by embedding Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) into the ZnO/MgO interface. The maximum enhancement ration of the Ag-NP-decorated LEDs in electroluminescence (EL) is 4.3-fold by optimizing MgO electron-blocking layer thickness. The EL origination was investigated qualitatively in terms of photoluminescence (PL) results. Through analysis of the energy band structure of device and carrier transport mechanisms, it suggests that the EL enhancement is attributed to the increased rate of spontaneous emission and improved internal quantum efficiency induced by exciton-LSP coupling.

Tuning the ultrafast photodissociation dynamics of CH3Br on ultrathin MgO films by reducing the layer thickness to the 2D limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaida, Mihai E.; Bernhardt, Thorsten M.

2017-11-01

The femtosecond-laser induced photodissociation of CH3Br adsorbed at sub-monolayer coverage on a solid surface was investigated by time-resolved pump-probe mass spectrometry. To tune the interaction of the CH3Br molecules with the substrate, an Mo(1 0 0) surface was covered with ultrathin insulating MgO layers of variable thickness. By gradually decreasing the magnesia layer thickness to the 2D limit the photodissociation dynamics observed by detection of the methyl fragment indicates an energetic lowering of the relevant methyl bromide excited states due to the increasing spatial proximity of the metallic support. Potential orientational effects of the methyl bromide adsorption geometry are also considered.

Effect of defects, magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and shape anisotropy on magnetic structure of iron thin films by magnetic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Ke; Schreiber, Daniel K.; Li, Yulan

Microstructures of magnetic materials, including defects and crystallographic orientations, are known to strongly influence magnetic domain structures. Measurement techniques such as magnetic force microscopy (MFM) thus allow study of correlations between microstructural and magnetic properties. The present work probes effects of anisotropy and artificial defects on the evolution of domain structure with applied field. Single crystal iron thin films on MgO substrates were milled by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) to create different magnetically isolated squares and rectangles in [110] crystallographic orientations, having their easy axis 45° from the sample edge. To investigate domain wall response on encountering non-magnetic defects, amore » 150 nm diameter hole was created in the center of some samples. By simultaneously varying crystal orientation and shape, both magnetocrystalline anisotropy and shape anisotropy, as well as their interaction, could be studied. Shape anisotropy was found to be important primarily for the longer edge of rectangular samples, which exaggerated the FIB edge effects and provided nucleation sites for spike domains in non-easy axis oriented samples. Center holes acted as pinning sites for domain walls until large applied magnetic fields. The present studies are aimed at deepening the understanding of the propagation of different types of domain walls in the presence of defects and different crystal orientations.« less

Effect of defects, magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and shape anisotropy on magnetic structure of iron thin films by magnetic force microscopy

DOE PAGES

Xu, Ke; Schreiber, Daniel K.; Li, Yulan; ...

2017-02-10

Microstructures of magnetic materials, including defects and crystallographic orientations, are known to strongly influence magnetic domain structures. Measurement techniques such as magnetic force microscopy (MFM) thus allow study of correlations between microstructural and magnetic properties. The present work probes effects of anisotropy and artificial defects on the evolution of domain structure with applied field. Single crystal iron thin films on MgO substrates were milled by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) to create different magnetically isolated squares and rectangles in [110] crystallographic orientations, having their easy axis 45° from the sample edge. To investigate domain wall response on encountering non-magnetic defects, amore » 150 nm diameter hole was created in the center of some samples. By simultaneously varying crystal orientation and shape, both magnetocrystalline anisotropy and shape anisotropy, as well as their interaction, could be studied. Shape anisotropy was found to be important primarily for the longer edge of rectangular samples, which exaggerated the FIB edge effects and provided nucleation sites for spike domains in non-easy axis oriented samples. Center holes acted as pinning sites for domain walls until large applied magnetic fields. The present studies are aimed at deepening the understanding of the propagation of different types of domain walls in the presence of defects and different crystal orientations.« less

Carbon Nanotube Thin-Film Antennas.

PubMed

Puchades, Ivan; Rossi, Jamie E; Cress, Cory D; Naglich, Eric; Landi, Brian J

2016-08-17

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) dipole antennas have been successfully designed, fabricated, and tested. Antennas of varying lengths were fabricated using flexible bulk MWCNT sheet material and evaluated to confirm the validity of a full-wave antenna design equation. The ∼20× improvement in electrical conductivity provided by chemically doped SWCNT thin films over MWCNT sheets presents an opportunity for the fabrication of thin-film antennas, leading to potentially simplified system integration and optical transparency. The resonance characteristics of a fabricated chlorosulfonic acid-doped SWCNT thin-film antenna demonstrate the feasibility of the technology and indicate that when the sheet resistance of the thin film is >40 ohm/sq no power is absorbed by the antenna and that a sheet resistance of <10 ohm/sq is needed to achieve a 10 dB return loss in the unbalanced antenna. The dependence of the return loss performance on the SWCNT sheet resistance is consistent with unbalanced metal, metal oxide, and other CNT-based thin-film antennas, and it provides a framework for which other thin-film antennas can be designed.

Study of anisotropy, magnetization reversal and damping in ultrathin Co films on MgO (0 0 1) substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallik, Srijani; Bedanta, Subhankar

2018-01-01

Ultrathin Co films of 3 nm thickness have been prepared on MgO (0 0 1) substrate in presence or absence of substrate pre-annealing. Uniaxial anisotropy is induced in the samples due to the deposition under oblique angle of incidence. Along with the oblique deposition induced anisotropy, another uniaxial anisotropy contribution has been observed due to pre-annealing. However, no cubic anisotropy has been observed here as compared to the thicker films. Angle dependent ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurement confirms the presence of two anisotropies in the pre-annealed sample with ∼18° misalignment with each other. The two anisotropy constants were calculated from both superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry and FMR spectroscopy. The magnetization reversal is governed by nucleation dominated aftereffect followed by domain wall motion for the pre-annealed sample. Branched domains are observed for the sample prepared without pre-annealing which indicates grain disorientation of Co. However, in the thicker (25 nm) Co films ripple domains were observed in contrary to ultrathin (3 nm) films.

Thin disk lasers: history and prospects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Speiser, Jochen

2016-04-01

During the early 1990s, collaboration between the German Aerospace Center and the University of Stuttgart started to work on the Thin Disk concept. The core idea behind the thin disk design is the use of a thin, disk-shaped active medium that is cooled through one of the flat faces of the disk. This ensures a large surface-to-volume ratio and therefore provides very efficient thermal management. Today, the thin disk concept is used in various commercial lasers - ranging from compact, efficient low power systems to multi-kW lasers, including cw lasers and also pulsed (femtosecond to nanosecond) oscillators and amplifiers. The whole development of the Thin Disk laser was and will be accompanied by numerical modeling and optimization of the thermal and thermo-mechanic behavior of the disk and also the heat sink structure, mostly based on finite element models. For further increasing the energy and efficiency of pulsed Thin Disk lasers, the effects of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) are a core issue. Actual efforts are oriented towards short pulse and ultra-short pulse amplifiers with (multi-)kW average power or Joule-class Thin Disk amplifiers, but also on new designs for cw thin disk MOPA designs.

Dissociative adsorption of water on Au/MgO/Ag(001) from first principles calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nevalaita, J.; Häkkinen, H.; Honkala, K.

2015-10-01

The molecular and dissociative adsorption of water on a Ag-supported 1 ML, 2 ML and 3 ML-a six atomic layer-thick MgO films with a single Au adatom is investigated using density functional theory calculations. The obtained results are compared to a bulk MgO(001) surface with an Au atom. On thin films the negatively charged Au strengthens the binding of the polar water molecule due to the attractive Au-H interaction. The adsorption energy trends of OH and H with respect to the film thickness depend on an adsorption site. In the case OH or H binds atop Au on MgO/Ag(001), the adsorption becomes more exothermic with the increasing film thickness, while the reverse trend is seen when the adsorption takes place on bare MgO/Ag(001). This behavior can be explained by different bonding mechanisms identified with the Bader analysis. Interestingly, we find that the rumpling of the MgO film and the MgO-Ag interface distance correlate with the charge transfer over the thin film and the interface charge, respectively. Moreover, we employ a modified Born-Haber-cycle to analyze the effect of film thickness to the adsorption energy of isolated Au and OH species on MgO/Ag(001). The analysis shows that the attractive Coulomb interaction between the negatively charged adsorbate and the positive MgO-Ag-interface does not completely account for the weaker binding with increasing film thickness. The redox energy associated with the charge transfer from the interface to the adsorbate is more exothermic with the increasing film thickness and partly compensates the decrease in the attractive Coulomb interaction.

Lithospheric and crustal thinning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moretti, I.

1985-01-01

In rift zones, both the crust and the lithosphere get thinner. The amplitude and the mechanism of these two thinning situations are different. The lithospheric thinning is a thermal phenomenon produced by an asthenospherical uprising under the rift zone. In some regions its amplitude can exceed 200%. This is observed under the Baikal rift where the crust is directly underlaid by the mantellic asthenosphere. The presence of hot material under rift zones induces a large negative gravity anomaly. A low seismic velocity zone linked to this thermal anomaly is also observed. During the rifting, the magmatic chambers get progressively closer from the ground surface. Simultaneously, the Moho reflector is found at shallow depth under rift zones. This crustal thinning does not exceed 50%. Tectonic stresses and vertical movements result from the two competing effects of the lithospheric and crustal thinning. On the one hand, the deep thermal anomaly induces a large doming and is associated with extensive deviatoric stresses. On the other hand, the crustal thinning involves the formation of a central valley. This subsidence is increased by the sediment loading. The purpose here is to quantify these two phenomena in order to explain the morphological and thermal evolution of rift zones.

Thinning increases climatic resilience of red pine

USGS Publications Warehouse

Magruder, Matthew; Chhin, Sophan; Palik, Brian; Bradford, John B.

2013-01-01

Forest management techniques such as intermediate stand-tending practices (e.g., thinning) can promote climatic resiliency in forest stands by moderating tree competition. Residual trees gain increased access to environmental resources (i.e., soil moisture, light), which in turn has the potential to buffer trees from stressful climatic conditions. The influences of climate (temperature and precipitation) and forest management (thinning method and intensity) on the productivity of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) in Michigan were examined to assess whether repeated thinning treatments were able to increase climatic resiliency (i.e., maintaining productivity and reduced sensitivity to climatic stress). The cumulative productivity of each thinning treatment was determined, and it was found that thinning from below to a residual basal area of 14 m2·ha−1 produced the largest average tree size but also the second lowest overall biomass per acre. On the other hand, the uncut control and the thinning from above to a residual basal area of 28 m2·ha−1 produced the smallest average tree size but also the greatest overall biomass per acre. Dendrochronological methods were used to quantify sensitivity of annual radial growth to monthly and seasonal climatic factors for each thinning treatment type. Climatic sensitivity was influenced by thinning method (i.e., thinning from below decreased sensitivity to climatic stress more than thinning from above) and by thinning intensity (i.e., more intense thinning led to a lower climatic sensitivity). Overall, thinning from below to a residual basal area of 21 m2·ha−1 represented a potentially beneficial compromise to maximize tree size, biomass per acre, and reduced sensitivity to climatic stress, and, thus, the highest level of climatic resilience.

Crafting ferromagnetism in Mn-doped MgO surfaces with p-type defects

PubMed Central

Panigrahi, Puspamitra; Araujo, C Moyses; Hussen, Tanveer; Ahuja, Rajeev

2014-01-01

We have employed first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the underlying physics of unusual magnetism in Mn-doped MgO surface. We have studied two distinct scenarios. In the first one, two Mn atoms are substitutionally added to the surface, occupying the Mg sites. Both are stabilized in the Mn valence state carrying a local moment of 4.3 having a high-spin configuration. The magnetic interaction between the local moments display a very short-ranged characteristic, decaying very quickly with distance, and having antiferromagnetic ordering lower in energy. The energetics analysis also indicates that the Mn ions prefer to stay close to each other with an oxygen atom bridging the local interaction. In the second scenario, we started exploring the effect of native defects on the magnetism by crafting both Mg and O vacancies, which are p- and n-type defects, respectively. It is found that the electrons and holes affect the magnetic interaction between Mn ions in a totally different manner. The n-type defect leads to very similar magnetism, with the AFM configuration being energetically preferred. However, in the presence of Mg vacancy, the situation is quite different. The Mn atoms are further oxidized, giving rise to mixed Mn(d) ionic states. As a consequence, the Mn atoms couple ferromagnetically, when placed in the close configuration, and the obtained electronic structure is coherent with the double-exchange type of magnetic interaction. To guarantee the robustness of our results, we have benchmarked our calculations with three distinct theory levels, namely DFT-GGA, DFT-GGA+U and DFT-hybrid functionals. On the surface, the Mg vacancy displays lower formation energy occurring at higher concentrations. Therefore, our model systems can be the basis to explain a number of controversial results regarding transition metal doped oxides. PMID:27877684

Thin Images Reflected in the Water: Narcissism and Girls' Vulnerability to the Thin-Ideal.

PubMed

Thomaes, Sander; Sedikides, Constantine

2016-10-01

The purpose of this research is to test how adolescent girls' narcissistic traits-characterized by a need to impress others and avoid ego-threat-influence acute adverse effects of thin-ideal exposure. Participants (11-15 years; total N = 366; all female) reported their narcissistic traits. Next, in two experiments, they viewed images of either very thin or average-sized models, reported their wishful identification with the models (Experiment 2), and tasted high-calorie foods in an alleged taste test (both experiments). Narcissism kept girls from wishfully identifying with thin models, which is consistent with the view that narcissistic girls are prone to disengage from thin-ideal exposure. Moreover, narcissism protected vulnerable girls (those who experience low weight-esteem) from inhibiting their food intake, and led other girls (those who consider their appearance relatively unimportant) to increase their food intake. These effects did not generalize to conceptually related traits of self-esteem and perfectionism, and were not found for a low-calorie foods outcome, attesting to the specificity of findings. These experiments demonstrate the importance of narcissism at reducing girls' thin-ideal vulnerability. Girls high in narcissism disengage self-protectively from threats to their self-image, a strategy that renders at least subsets of them less vulnerable to the thin-ideal. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Characteristics of heat transfer fouling of thin stillage using model thin stillage and evaporator concentrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Challa, Ravi Kumar

The US fuel ethanol demand was 50.3 billion liters (13.3 billion gallons) in 2012. Corn ethanol was produced primarily by dry grind process. Heat transfer equipment fouling occurs during corn ethanol production and increases the operating expenses of ethanol plants. Following ethanol distillation, unfermentables are centrifuged to separate solids as wet grains and liquid fraction as thin stillage. Evaporator fouling occurs during thin stillage concentration to syrup and decreases evaporator performance. Evaporators need to be shutdown to clean the deposits from the evaporator surfaces. Scheduled and unscheduled evaporator shutdowns decrease process throughput and results in production losses. This research were aimed at investigating thin stillage fouling characteristics using an annular probe at conditions similar to an evaporator in a corn ethanol production plant. Fouling characteristics of commercial thin stillage and model thin stillage were studied as a function of bulk fluid temperature and heat transfer surface temperature. Experiments were conducted by circulating thin stillage or carbohydrate mixtures in a loop through the test section which consisted of an annular fouling probe while maintaining a constant heat flux by electrical heating and fluid flow rate. The change in fouling resistance with time was measured. Fouling curves obtained for thin stillage and concentrated thin stillage were linear with time but no induction periods were observed. Fouling rates for concentrated thin stillage were higher compared to commercial thin stillage due to the increase in solid concentration. Fouling rates for oil skimmed and unskimmed concentrated thin stillage were similar but lower than concentrated thin stillage at 10% solids concentration. Addition of post fermentation corn oil to commercial thin stillage at 0.5% increments increased the fouling rates up to 1% concentration but decreased at 1.5%. As thin stillage is composed of carbohydrates, protein, lipid

Polarized neutron reflectivity study of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in MgO/CoFeB/W thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambaye, Haile; Zhan, Xiao; Li, Shufa; Lauter, Valeria; Zhu, Tao

In this work we study the origin of PMA in MgO/CoFeB/W trilayer systems using polarized neutron reflectivity. Recently, the spin Hall effect in the heavy metals, such as Pt and Ta, has been of significant interest for highly efficient magnetization switching of the ultrathin ferromagnets sandwiched by such a heavy metal and an oxide, which can be used for spintronic based memory and logic devices. Most work has focused on heavy-metal/ferromagnet/oxide trilayer (HM/FM/MO) structures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), where the oxide layer plays the role of breaking inversion symmetry .No PMA was found in W/CoFeB/MgO films. An insertion of Hf layer in between the W and CoFeB layers, however, has been found to create a strong PMA. Roughness and formation of interface alloys by interdiffusion influences the extent of PMA. We intend to identify these influences using the depth sensitive technique of PNR. In our previous study, we have successfully performed polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) measurements on the Ta/CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB/Ta thin film with MgO thickness of 1 nm. The PNR measurements were carried out using the BL-4A Magnetic Reflectometer at SNS. This work has been supported by National Basic Research Program of China (2012CB933102). Research at SNS was supported by the Office of BES, DOE.

Epitaxial thin films

DOEpatents

Hunt, Andrew Tye; Deshpande, Girish; Lin, Wen-Yi; Jan, Tzyy-Jiuan

2006-04-25

Epitatial thin films for use as buffer layers for high temperature superconductors, electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), gas separation membranes or dielectric material in electronic devices, are disclosed. By using CCVD, CACVD or any other suitable deposition process, epitaxial films having pore-free, ideal grain boundaries, and dense structure can be formed. Several different types of materials are disclosed for use as buffer layers in high temperature superconductors. In addition, the use of epitaxial thin films for electrolytes and electrode formation in SOFCs results in densification for pore-free and ideal gain boundary/interface microstructure. Gas separation membranes for the production of oxygen and hydrogen are also disclosed. These semipermeable membranes are formed by high-quality, dense, gas-tight, pinhole free sub-micro scale layers of mixed-conducting oxides on porous ceramic substrates. Epitaxial thin films as dielectric material in capacitors are also taught herein. Capacitors are utilized according to their capacitance values which are dependent on their physical structure and dielectric permittivity. The epitaxial thin films of the current invention form low-loss dielectric layers with extremely high permittivity. This high permittivity allows for the formation of capacitors that can have their capacitance adjusted by applying a DC bias between their electrodes.

Lavas and Sills in the Ferrar Large Igneous Province: Field and Geochemical Evidence for the Order of Emplacement.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elliot, D. H.; Fleming, T. H.

2005-12-01

Many large igneous provinces, particularly those associated with Gondwana break-up, include major sill complexes as well as flood basalt fields. In the Ferrar province, radiometric dates of lavas and sills are indistinguishable. Nevertheless, in north Victoria Land (NVL) field evidence suggests the lavas had to have been erupted first in order to create the overburden needed for emplacement at shallow depths of thick sills, lacking vesicles, in a thin (100 m) Upper Triassic sedimentary sequence overlying basement. Elsewhere in the Transantarctic Mountains sills occur almost exclusively in a thick (2-2.5 km) Devonian-Triassic sedimentary sequence (Beacon Supergroup) that was possibly capped by 500+m of lavas before sill emplacement. For south Victoria Land (SVL), Marsh (2004) proposed that the most evolved rocks were erupted first as lavas, and sills were emplaced at progressively greater depth as increasingly more magnesian magmas and crystal mushes were injected into supracrustal and finally basement rocks. In NVL most lavas have MgO between 6-8% with a few as low as 4.5% MgO, whereas analyzed chilled margins of sills range from 3.7-5.6% MgO. In the Prince Albert Mountains (PAM), SVL, lava and sill compositions overlap (3.9-7.3% MgO). In the greater Dry Valleys region (SVL) lavas at Carapace Nunatak range from 3.6-6.7% MgO; chilled margins of Dry Valleys sills range from about 4.2 to 7.2% MgO. In the Queen Alexandra Range, central Transantarctic Mountains (CTM), lavas are predominantly 2.6-5.7% MgO; sills in the region range from 4.5% to 10.7% MgO. In the Otway Massif region (head of the Shackleton Glacier, CTM) most lavas are strongly evolved (2.7-3.4% MgO); sills in the Shackleton Glacier region range from 4.3-7.3% MgO. Nowhere do lavas show unequivocal systematic temporal change in MgO, and notably in CTM the initial flows are the most mafic (7.5-8.0% MgO). Olivine dolerite sills (chilled margins: -9% MgO) tend to occur low in the stratigraphic section. Except

Reprint of "Theoretical description of metal/oxide interfacial properties: The case of MgO/Ag(001)"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prada, Stefano; Giordano, Livia; Pacchioni, Gianfranco; Goniakowski, Jacek

2017-02-01

We compare the performances of different DFT functionals applied to ultra-thin MgO(100) films supported on the Ag(100) surface, a prototypical system of a weakly interacting oxide/metal interface, extensively studied in the past. Beyond semi-local DFT-GGA approximation, we also use the hybrid DFT-HSE approach to improve the description of the oxide electronic structure. Moreover, to better account for the interfacial adhesion, we include the van de Waals interactions by means of either the semi-empirical force fields by Grimme (DFT-D2 and DFT-D2*) or the self-consistent density functional optB88-vdW. We compare and discuss the results on the structural, electronic, and adhesion characteristics of the interface as obtained for pristine and oxygen-deficient Ag-supported MgO films in the 1-4 ML thickness range.

Theoretical description of metal/oxide interfacial properties: The case of MgO/Ag(001)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prada, Stefano; Giordano, Livia; Pacchioni, Gianfranco; Goniakowski, Jacek

2016-12-01

We compare the performances of different DFT functionals applied to ultra-thin MgO(100) films supported on the Ag(100) surface, a prototypical system of a weakly interacting oxide/metal interface, extensively studied in the past. Beyond semi-local DFT-GGA approximation, we also use the hybrid DFT-HSE approach to improve the description of the oxide electronic structure. Moreover, to better account for the interfacial adhesion, we include the van de Waals interactions by means of either the semi-empirical force fields by Grimme (DFT-D2 and DFT-D2*) or the self-consistent density functional optB88-vdW. We compare and discuss the results on the structural, electronic, and adhesion characteristics of the interface as obtained for pristine and oxygen-deficient Ag-supported MgO films in the 1-4 ML thickness range.

Multilayer graphene growth on polar dielectric substrates using chemical vapour deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karamat, S.; Çelik, K.; Shah Zaman, S.; Oral, A.

2018-06-01

High quality of graphene is necessary for its applications at industrial scale production. The most convenient way is its direct growth on dielectrics which avoid the transfer route of graphene from metal to dielectric substrate usually followed by graphene community. The choice of a suitable dielectric for the gate material which can replace silicon dioxide (SiO2) is in high demand. Various properties like permittivity, thermodynamic stability, film morphology, interface quality, bandgap and band alignment of other dielectrics with graphene needs more exploration. A potential dielectric material is required which could be used to grow graphene with all these qualities. Direct growth of graphene on magnesium oxide (MgO) substrates is an interesting idea and will be a new addition in the library of 2D materials. The present work is about the direct growth of graphene on MgO substrates by an ambient pressure chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method. We address the surface instability issue of the polar oxides which is the most challenging factor in MgO. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements showed the topographical features of the graphene coated on MgO. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study is carried out to extract information regarding the presence of necessary elements, their bonding with substrates and to confirm the sp-2 hybridization of carbon, which is a characteristic feature of graphene film. The chemical shift is due to the surface reconstruction of MgO in the prepared samples. For graphene-MgO interface, valence band offset (VBO) and conduction band offset (CBO) extracted from valence band spectra reported. Further, we predicted the energy band diagram for single layer and thin film of graphene. By using the room-temperature energy band gap values of MgO and graphene, the CBO is calculated to be 6.85 eV for single layer and 5.66 eV for few layer (1-3) of graphene layers.

Thin-film metal hydrides.

PubMed

Remhof, Arndt; Borgschulte, Andreas

2008-12-01

The goal of the medieval alchemist, the chemical transformation of common metals into nobel metals, will forever be a dream. However, key characteristics of metals, such as their electronic band structure and, consequently, their electric, magnetic and optical properties, can be tailored by controlled hydrogen doping. Due to their morphology and well-defined geometry with flat, coplanar surfaces/interfaces, novel phenomena may be observed in thin films. Prominent examples are the eye-catching hydrogen switchable mirror effect, the visualization of solid-state diffusion and the formation of complex surface morphologies. Thin films do not suffer as much from embrittlement and/or decrepitation as bulk materials, allowing the study of cyclic absorption and desorption. Therefore, thin-metal hydride films are used as model systems to study metal-insulator transitions, for high throughput combinatorial research or they may be used as indicator layers to study hydrogen diffusion. They can be found in technological applications as hydrogen sensors, in electrochromic and thermochromic devices. In this review, we discuss the effect of hydrogen loading of thin niobium and yttrium films as archetypical examples of a transition metal and a rare earth metal, respectively. Our focus thereby lies on the hydrogen induced changes of the electronic structure and the morphology of the thin films, their optical properties, the visualization and the control of hydrogen diffusion and on the study of surface phenomena and catalysis.

Spiraling Cracks in Thin Sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romero, Victor; Roman, Benoit; Cerda, Enrique

2008-03-01

A wide kind of everyday-life industrial products come in a thin package that needs to be torn open by the user, and the opening is not always easy. We built a simple setup to study crack propagation in thin sheets coupled with large out-of-plane displacement : A cylindrical tool is inserted in a straight incision in a thin sheet, and is pushed against the sheet perpendicularly to that incision, eventually propagating a crack. When the blunt tool is continually pushed against the lip, we found that the crack follows a very robust spiraling path. Experiments may be interpreted in terms of ``Spira Mirabilis'' (logarithmic spiral). Starting with crack theory argument, we will show that the early behavior of the cut path follows a portion of a logathmic spiral, and that the path tends to another spiral with a different pitch as the crack adds more turns. Our crack experiment illustrates the fact that thin sheets mechanics is deeply connected to geometry, and finally spirals characteristics allow us to measure material crack properties of the thin layer used.

7 CFR 29.2663 - Thin Leaf (C Group).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Thin Leaf (C Group). 29.2663 Section 29.2663... REGULATIONS TOBACCO INSPECTION Standards Grades § 29.2663 Thin Leaf (C Group). This group consists of leaves that are thin in body. Grades Grade names and specifications C1L Choice Light-brown Thin Leaf. Thin...

7 CFR 29.2663 - Thin Leaf (C Group).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Thin Leaf (C Group). 29.2663 Section 29.2663... REGULATIONS TOBACCO INSPECTION Standards Grades § 29.2663 Thin Leaf (C Group). This group consists of leaves that are thin in body. Grades Grade names and specifications C1L Choice Light-brown Thin Leaf. Thin...

7 CFR 29.2663 - Thin Leaf (C Group).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Thin Leaf (C Group). 29.2663 Section 29.2663... REGULATIONS TOBACCO INSPECTION Standards Grades § 29.2663 Thin Leaf (C Group). This group consists of leaves that are thin in body. Grades Grade names and specifications C1L Choice Light-brown Thin Leaf. Thin...

7 CFR 29.2663 - Thin Leaf (C Group).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Thin Leaf (C Group). 29.2663 Section 29.2663... REGULATIONS TOBACCO INSPECTION Standards Grades § 29.2663 Thin Leaf (C Group). This group consists of leaves that are thin in body. Grades Grade names and specifications C1L Choice Light-brown Thin Leaf. Thin...

7 CFR 29.2663 - Thin Leaf (C Group).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Thin Leaf (C Group). 29.2663 Section 29.2663... REGULATIONS TOBACCO INSPECTION Standards Grades § 29.2663 Thin Leaf (C Group). This group consists of leaves that are thin in body. Grades Grade names and specifications C1L Choice Light-brown Thin Leaf. Thin...

Temperature Behavior of Thin Film Varactor

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

Temperature Behavior of Thin Film Varactor By Richard X. Fu ARL-TR-5905 January 2012...Thin Film Varactor Richard X. Fu Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate, ARL...DD-MM-YYYY) January 2012 2. REPORT TYPE Final 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Temperature Behavior of Thin Film Varactor 5a

Construction of viscosity diagrams for CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-8% MgO-4% B2O3 slags by the simplex lattice method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babenko, A. A.; Istomin, S. A.; Zhuchkov, V. I.; Sychev, A. V.; Ryabov, V. V.; Upolovnikova, A. G.

2017-05-01

The simplex lattice method of planning experiments is used to study the viscosities of CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-8% MgO-4% B2O3 slags in a wide chemical composition range. For each viscosity, we developed an adequate mathematical model in the form of a reduced third-order polynomial. The results of mathematical simulation are presented in composition-viscosity diagrams. Composition regions with a high fluidity of slags, the viscosities of which are 0.8-1.2 Pa s in the temperature range 1500-1600°C, are indicated in the diagrams.

Metallic Thin-Film Bonding and Alloy Generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peotter, Brian S. (Inventor); Fryer, Jack Merrill (Inventor); Campbell, Geoff (Inventor); Droppers, Lloyd (Inventor)

2016-01-01

Diffusion bonding a stack of aluminum thin films is particularly challenging due to a stable aluminum oxide coating that rapidly forms on the aluminum thin films when they are exposed to atmosphere and the relatively low meting temperature of aluminum. By plating the individual aluminum thin films with a metal that does not rapidly form a stable oxide coating, the individual aluminum thin films may be readily diffusion bonded together using heat and pressure. The resulting diffusion bonded structure can be an alloy of choice through the use of a carefully selected base and plating metals. The aluminum thin films may also be etched with distinct patterns that form a microfluidic fluid flow path through the stack of aluminum thin films when diffusion bonded together.

Printable CIGS thin film solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Xiaojuan

2014-03-01

Among the various thin film solar cells in the market, CuInGaSe thin film cells have been considered as the most promising alternatives to silicon solar cells because of their high photo-electricity efficiency, reliability, and stability. However, many fabrication of CIGS thin film are based on vacuum processes such as evaporation sputtering techniques which are not cost efficient. This work develops a method using paste or ink liquid spin-coated on glass that would be to conventional ways in terms of cost effective, non-vacuum needed, quick processing. A mixture precursor was prepared by dissolving appropriate amounts of chemicals. After the mixture solution was cooled, a viscous paste prepared and ready for spin-coating process. A slight bluish CIG thin film substrate was then put in a tube furnace with evaporation of metal Se by depositing CdS layer and ZnO nanoparticle thin film coating to a solar cell fabrication. Structure, absorption spectrum, and photo-conversion efficiency for the as-grown CIGS thin film solar cell under study.

Thin film temperature sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, H. P.; Przybyszewski, J. S.

1980-01-01

Thin film surface temperature sensors were developed. The sensors were made of platinum-platinum/10 percent rhodium thermocouples with associated thin film-to-lead wire connections and sputtered on aluminum oxide coated simulated turbine blades for testing. Tests included exposure to vibration, low velocity hydrocarbon hot gas flow to 1250 K, and furnace calibrations. Thermal electromotive force was typically two percent below standard type S thermocouples. Mean time to failure was 42 hours at a hot gas flow temperature of 1250 K and an average of 15 cycles to room temperature. Failures were mainly due to separation of the platinum thin film from the aluminum oxide surface. Several techniques to improve the adhesion of the platinum are discussed.

Phase control of Mn-based spinel films via pulsed laser deposition

DOE PAGES

Feng, Zhenxing; Chen, Xiao; Fister, Timothy T.; ...

2016-07-06

Phase transformations in battery cathode materials during electrochemical-insertion reactions lead to capacity fading and low cycle life. One solution is to keep the same phase of cathode materials during cation insertion-extraction processes. Here, we demonstrate a novel strategy to control the phase and composition of Mn-based spinel oxides for magnesium-ion battery applications through the growth of thin films on lattice-matched substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Materials at two extreme conditions are considered: fully discharged cathode MgMn 2O 4 and fully charged cathode Mn 2O 4. The tetragonal MgMn 2O 4 (MMO) phase is obtained on MgAl 2O 4 substrates, whilemore » the cubic MMO phase is obtained on MgO substrates. Similarly, growth of the empty Mn 2O 4 spinel in the cubic phase is obtained on an MgO substrate. These results demonstrate the ability to control separately the phase of spinel thin films (e.g., tetragonal vs. cubic MMO) at nominally fixed composition, and to maintain a fixed (cubic) phase while varying its composition (MgxMn 2O 4, for x = 0, 1). As a result, this capability provides a novel route to gain insights into the operation of battery electrodes for energy storage applications.« less

Phase control of Mn-based spinel films via pulsed laser deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, Zhenxing; Chen, Xiao; Fister, Timothy T.

Phase transformations in battery cathode materials during electrochemical-insertion reactions lead to capacity fading and low cycle life. One solution is to keep the same phase of cathode materials during cation insertion-extraction processes. Here, we demonstrate a novel strategy to control the phase and composition of Mn-based spinel oxides for magnesium-ion battery applications through the growth of thin films on lattice-matched substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Materials at two extreme conditions are considered: fully discharged cathode MgMn 2O 4 and fully charged cathode Mn 2O 4. The tetragonal MgMn 2O 4 (MMO) phase is obtained on MgAl 2O 4 substrates, whilemore » the cubic MMO phase is obtained on MgO substrates. Similarly, growth of the empty Mn 2O 4 spinel in the cubic phase is obtained on an MgO substrate. These results demonstrate the ability to control separately the phase of spinel thin films (e.g., tetragonal vs. cubic MMO) at nominally fixed composition, and to maintain a fixed (cubic) phase while varying its composition (MgxMn 2O 4, for x = 0, 1). As a result, this capability provides a novel route to gain insights into the operation of battery electrodes for energy storage applications.« less

Initial thinning in red pine plantations.

Treesearch

John H. Cooley

1969-01-01

Response to thinning in six red pine plantations in Lower Michigan supported previous findings by showing basal area growth to vary little over a wide range of residual densities. Furthermore, the method of selecting trees for removal in the first thinning had little or no influence on basal area growth. However, the immediate effect of thinning on average stand...

Childhood Risk Factors for Thin Body Preoccupation and Social Pressure to Be Thin

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agras, W. Stewart; Bryson, Susan; Hammer, Lawrence D.; Kraemer, Helena C.

2007-01-01

Objective: Thin body preoccupation and social pressure to be thin (TBPSP) in adolescence are risk factors for the development of full and partial bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. This study examined precursors of these potent risk factors. Method: A prospective study followed 134 children from birth to 11.0 years and their parents.…

Electrical and structural properties of epitaxially deposited chromium thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohashi, M.; Sawabu, M.; Nakanishi, H.; Ohashi, K.; Maeta, K.

2018-05-01

We studied the electrical resistance and crystal structure of epitaxial chromium (Cr) films. The lattice constant of the Cr films was larger than that of the bulk Cr because of MgO substrate on which Cr was epitaxially deposited. A chromium oxide layer having a thickness of 1 nm was found on all films from the result of X-ray reflectivity measurements. The electrical resistivity ρ(T) shows metallic behavior for all epitaxial Cr films in contrast with polycrystalline one. However, the magnitude of ρ tends to increase and the antiferromagnetic interaction is suppressed as decreasing thickness of film.

Analysis of Hard Thin Film Coating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shen, Dashen

1998-01-01

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is interested in developing hard thin film coating for bearings. The wearing of the bearing is an important problem for space flight engine. Hard thin film coating can drastically improve the surface of the bearing and improve the wear-endurance of the bearing. However, many fundamental problems in surface physics, plasma deposition, etc, need further research. The approach is using Electron Cyclotron Resonance Chemical Vapor Deposition (ECRCVD) to deposit hard thin film on stainless steel bearing. The thin films in consideration include SiC, SiN and other materials. An ECRCVD deposition system is being assembled at MSFC.

Analysis of Hard Thin Film Coating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shen, Dashen

1998-01-01

MSFC is interested in developing hard thin film coating for bearings. The wearing of the bearing is an important problem for space flight engine. Hard thin film coating can drastically improve the surface of the bearing and improve the wear-endurance of the bearing. However, many fundamental problems in surface physics, plasma deposition, etc, need further research. The approach is using electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition (ECRCVD) to deposit hard thin film an stainless steel bearing. The thin films in consideration include SiC, SiN and other materials. An ECRCVD deposition system is being assembled at MSFC.

Thermo-optic dispersion formula for the ordinary wave in 5 mol% MgO doped LiNbO3 and its application to temperature insensitive second-harmonic generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umemura, Nobuhiro; Matsuda, Daisuke

2016-05-01

We report the high accuracy thermo-optic dispersion formula for the ordinary wave of 5 mol% MgO doped congruent LiNbO3 (MgO:LiNbO3), which reproduces well our experimental data for the temperature-dependent birefringent phase-matching (BPM) and quasi-phase-matching (QPM) conditions with the oo-e, oo-o, and oe-o interactions in the 0.41-3.7 μm range. In addition, we found the temperature insensitive quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation (QPM/SHG) points exist in periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 (MgO:PPLN) with the oo-o and oe-o interactions for the first time.

Thin film-coated polymer webs

DOEpatents

Wenz, Robert P.; Weber, Michael F.; Arudi, Ravindra L.

1992-02-04

The present invention relates to thin film-coated polymer webs, and more particularly to thin film electronic devices supported upon a polymer web, wherein the polymer web is treated with a purifying amount of electron beam radiation.

Thin film solar cell workshop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Armstrong, Joe; Jeffrey, Frank

1993-01-01

A summation of responses to questions posed to the thin-film solar cell workshop and the ensuing discussion is provided. Participants in the workshop included photovoltaic manufacturers (both thin film and crystalline), cell performance investigators, and consumers.

Phase Equilibria in the System "FeO"-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO at Different CaO/SiO2 Ratios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Kyoung-oh; Ma, Xiaodong; Zhu, Jinming; Xu, Haifa; Wang, Geoff; Zhao, Baojun

2017-06-01

The "FeO"-containing slags play an important role in the operation of an ironmaking blast furnace (BF), in particular the primary slags such as the system "FeO"-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-2 mass pct MgO with CaO/SiO2 weight ratios of 1.3, 1.5, and 1.8 saturated with metallic iron. To investigate the characteristics of such a slag system and its behavior in BF, the phase equilibria and liquidus temperatures in the slag system have been experimentally determined using the high-temperature equilibration and quenching technique followed by an electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA). Isotherms between 1553 K and 1603 K (1280 °C and 1330 °C) were determined in the primary phase fields of dicalcium silicate, melilite, spinel, and monoxide [(Mg,Fe2+)O]. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams of (CaO + SiO2)-Al2O3-"FeO" with a fixed MgO concentration at 2 mass pct and at CaO/SiO2 ratios of 1.3, 1.5, and 1.8 have been discussed, respectively, simplifying the complexity of the slag system for easy understanding and applying in BF operation. It was found that the liquidus temperatures increase in melilite and spinel primary phase fields, but decrease in dicalcium silicate and monoxide primary phase fields with increasing Al2O3/(CaO + SiO2) ratio. In addition, the liquidus temperatures decrease with increasing "FeO" concentration in dicalcium silicate and melilite primary phase fields, while showing an increasing trend in the spinel and monoxide primary phase fields. The data resulted from this study can be used to improve and optimize currently available database of thermodynamic models used in FactSage.

Martensitic transformation in as-grown and annealed near-stoichiometric epitaxial Ni2MnGa thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Machain, P.; Condó, A. M.; Domenichini, P.; Pozo López, G.; Sirena, M.; Correa, V. F.; Haberkorn, N.

2015-08-01

Magnetic shape memory nanostructures have a great potential in the field of the nanoactuators. The relationship between dimensionality, microstructure and magnetism characterizes the materials performance. Here, we study the martensitic transformation in supported and free-standing epitaxial Ni47Mn24Ga29 films grown by sputtering on (0 0 1) MgO using a stoichiometric Ni2MnGa target. The films have a Curie temperature of ~390 K and a martensitic transition temperature of ~120 K. Similar transition temperatures have been observed in films with thicknesses of 1, 3 and 4 μm. Thicker films (with longer deposition time) present a wider martensitic transformation range that can be associated with small gradients in their chemical concentration due to the high vapour pressure of Mn and Ga. The magnetic anisotropy of the films shows a strong change below the martensitic transformation temperature. No features associated with variant reorientation induced by magnetic field have been observed. Annealed films in the presence of a Ni2MnGa bulk reference change their chemical composition to Ni49Mn26Ga25. The change in the chemical composition increases the martensitic transformation temperature, being closer to the stoichiometric compound, and reduces the transformation hysteresis. In addition, sharper transformations are obtained, which indicate that chemical inhomogeneities and defects are removed. Our results indicate that the properties of Ni-Mn-Ga thin films grown by sputtering can be optimized (fixing the chemical concentration and removing crystalline defects) by the annealing process, which is promising for the development of micromagnetic shape memory devices.

Nanocrystal thin film fabrication methods and apparatus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kagan, Cherie R.; Kim, David K.; Choi, Ji-Hyuk

Nanocrystal thin film devices and methods for fabricating nanocrystal thin film devices are disclosed. The nanocrystal thin films are diffused with a dopant such as Indium, Potassium, Tin, etc. to reduce surface states. The thin film devices may be exposed to air during a portion of the fabrication. This enables fabrication of nanocrystal-based devices using a wider range of techniques such as photolithography and photolithographic patterning in an air environment.

Carbonaceous Chondrite Thin Section Preparation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrington, R.; Righter, K.

2017-01-01

Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites have long posed a challenge for thin section makers. The variability in sample hardness among the different types, and sometimes within individual sections, creates the need for an adaptable approach at each step of the thin section making process. This poster will share some of the procedural adjustments that have proven to be successful at the NASA JSC Meteorite Thin Section Laboratory. These adjustments are modifications of preparation methods that have been in use for decades and therefore do not require investment in new technology or materials.

Barium ferrite thin-film recording media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sui, Xiaoyu; Scherge, Matthias; Kryder, Mark H.; Snyder, John E.; Harris, Vincent G.; Koon, Norman C.

1996-03-01

Both longitudinal and perpendicular barium ferrite thin films are being pursued as overcoatless magnetic recording media. In this paper, prior research on thin-film Ba ferrite is reviewed and the most recent results are presented. Self-textured high-coercivity longitudinal Ba ferrite thin films have been achieved using conventional rf diode sputtering. Microstructural studies show that c-axis in-plane oriented grains have a characteristic acicular shape, while c-axis perpendicularly oriented grains have a platelet shape. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements indicate that the crystal orientations are predetermined by the structural anisotropy in the as-sputtered 'amorphous' state. Recording tests on 1500 Oe coercivity longitudinal Ba ferrite disks show performance comparable with that of a 1900 Oe Co alloy disk. To further improve the recording performance, both grain size and aspect ratio need to be reduced. Initial tribological tests indicate high hardness of Ba ferrite thin films. However, surface roughness needs to be reduced. For future ultrahigh-density contact recording, it is believed that perpendicular recording may be used. A thin Pt underlayer has been found to be capable of producing Ba ferrite thin films with excellent c-axis perpendicular orientation.

Capillary Thinning of Particle-laden Drops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagoner, Brayden; Thete, Sumeet; Jahns, Matt; Doshi, Pankaj; Basaran, Osman

2015-11-01

Drop formation is central in many applications such as ink-jet printing, microfluidic devices, and atomization. During drop formation, a thinning filament is created between the about-to-form drop and the fluid hanging from the nozzle. Therefore, the physics of capillary thinning of filaments is key to understanding drop formation and has been thoroughly studied for pure Newtonian fluids. The thinning dynamics is, however, altered completely when the fluid contains particles, the physics of which is not well understood. In this work, we explore the impact of solid particles on filament thinning and drop formation by using a combination of experiments and numerical simulations.

Permanent laser conditioning of thin film optical materials

DOEpatents

Wolfe, C. Robert; Kozlowski, Mark R.; Campbell, John H.; Staggs, Michael; Rainer, Frank

1995-01-01

The invention comprises a method for producing optical thin films with a high laser damage threshold and the resulting thin films. The laser damage threshold of the thin films is permanently increased by irradiating the thin films with a fluence below an unconditioned laser damage threshold.

Development of textured magnesium oxide templates and bicrystals using ion beam assisted deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallejo, Ronald N.

Recently, there has been an increased research effort in the deposition of near-single-crystal thin films on substrates that do not provide a template for epitaxial crystalline film growth. Ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) has been demonstrated as one of the most promising methods to artificially control the texture in thin films. Biaxially textured MgO templates of 10 nm thickness were successfully fabricated on glass and silicon substrates without any buffer layers using IBAD. This work has shed insights on several issues. First, surface morphology ˜ 1 nm or better is only a necessary condition for textured IBAD-MgO, but not a sufficient condition. Additional surface preparation must be provided for nucleation and subsequent formation of the textured IBAD-MgO templates. Second, the role of buffer layer on IBAD-MgO texturing. It was found that the ion beam pre-exposure of the substrates prior to IBAD processing provided a sufficient condition for the nucleation and subsequent texture formation of the IBAD grown films. The ion pre-exposure replaced the need for buffer layers in silicon and glass substrates. Finally, by pre-exposing the substrates to Ar + ions, it was found that the ion beam modified the surface and improved the surface roughness of the glass substrates. Textured MgO epi templates were demonstrated for the first time on polymer based substrates (polyimide). This is a crucial step in the realization of epitaxial suspended devices. To achieve an epitaxial film on a sacrificial layer, an epitaxial template film must first be grown prior to subsequent film growth. The role of ion pre-exposure and buffer layer on texture formation was investigated in this part of the work. This thesis also presents groundbreaking results on the fabrication of bicrystal MgO films and bicrystal networks using ion beam assisted deposition. Highly oriented bicrystals, with a common (100) out-of-plane orientation and (110) in-plane orientations having a tilt angle of 45�

Permanent laser conditioning of thin film optical materials

DOEpatents

Wolfe, C.R.; Kozlowski, M.R.; Campbell, J.H.; Staggs, M.; Rainer, F.

1995-12-05

The invention comprises a method for producing optical thin films with a high laser damage threshold and the resulting thin films. The laser damage threshold of the thin films is permanently increased by irradiating the thin films with a fluence below an unconditioned laser damage threshold. 9 figs.

Multifunctional thin film surface

DOEpatents

Brozik, Susan M.; Harper, Jason C.; Polsky, Ronen; Wheeler, David R.; Arango, Dulce C.; Dirk, Shawn M.

2015-10-13

A thin film with multiple binding functionality can be prepared on an electrode surface via consecutive electroreduction of two or more aryl-onium salts with different functional groups. This versatile and simple method for forming multifunctional surfaces provides an effective means for immobilization of diverse molecules at close proximities. The multifunctional thin film has applications in bioelectronics, molecular electronics, clinical diagnostics, and chemical and biological sensing.