Ultralow refractive index optical films with enhanced mechanical performance obtained by hybrid glancing angle deposition.

PubMed

Trottier-Lapointe, W; Zabeida, O; Schmitt, T; Martinu, L

2016-11-01

Ultralow refractive index materials (n less than 1.38 at 550 nm) are of particular interest in the context of antireflective coatings, allowing one to enhance their overall optical performance. However, application of such materials is typically limited by their mechanical properties. In this study, we explore the characteristics of a new category of hybrid (organic/inorganic) SiOCH thin films prepared by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) using electron beam evaporation of SiO₂ in the presence of an organosilicon precursor. The resulting layers exhibited n as low as 1.2, showed high elastic rebound, and generally better mechanical properties than their inorganic counterparts. In addition, hybrid GLAD films were found to be highly hydrophobic. The performance of the films is discussed in terms of their hybridicity (organic/inorganic) ratio determined by infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry as well as the presence of anisotropy assessed by the nanostructure-based spectroscopic ellipsometry model. Finally, we demonstrate successful implementation of the ultralow-index material in a complete antireflective stack.

Oxygen plasma ashing effects on aluminum and titanium space protective coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Synowicki, R.; Kubik, R. D.; Hale, J. S.; Peterkin, Jane; Nafis, S.; Woollam, John A.; Zaat, S.

1991-01-01

Using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the surface roughness and oxidation of aluminum and titanium thin films have been studied as a function of substrate deposition temperature and oxygen plasma exposure. Increasing substrate deposition temperatures affect film microstructure by greatly increasing grain size. Short exposures to an oxygen plasma environment produce sharp spikes rising rapidly above the surface as seen by AFM. Ellipsometric measurements were made over a wide range of plasma exposure times, and results at longer exposure times suggest that the surface is greater than 30% void. This is qualitatively verified by the AFM images.

Nondestructive characterization of textured a-Si:H/c-Si heterojunction solar cell structures with nanometer-scale a-Si:H and In2O3:Sn layers by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuki, Nobuyuki; Fujiwara, Hiroyuki

2013-07-01

Nanometer-scale hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layers formed on crystalline silicon (c-Si) with pyramid-shaped textures have been characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) using a tilt angle measurement configuration, in an attempt to establish a nondestructive method for the structural characterization of the a-Si:H/c-Si heterojunction solar cells. By applying an a-Si:H dielectric function model developed recently, the thickness and SiH2 content of the a-Si:H layer have been determined even on the textured substrates. Furthermore, from the SE analysis incorporating the Drude model, the carrier properties of the In2O3:Sn layers in the textured solar-cell structure have been characterized.

The effect of PECVD plasma decomposition on the wettability and dielectric constant changes in silicon modified DLC films for potential MEMS and low stiction applications

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

Ogwu, A. A.; Okpalugo, T. I. T.; Nanotechnology Institute, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland

We have carried out investigations aimed at understanding the mechanism responsible for a water contact angle increase of up to ten degrees and a decrease in dielectric constant in silicon modified hydrogenated amorphous carbon films compared to unmodified hydrogenated amorphous carbon films. Our investigations based on surface chemical constituent analysis using Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SIMS, FTIR, contact angle / surface energy measurements and spectroscopic ellipsometry suggests the presence of hydrophobic chemical entities on the surface of the films. This observation is consistent with earlier theoretical plasma chemistry predictions and observed Raman peak shifts in the films. Thesemore » surface hydrophobic entities also have a lower polarizability than the bonds in the un-modified films thereby reducing the dielectric constant of the silicon modified films measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Ellipsometric dielectric constant measurement is directly related to the surface energy through Hamaker's constant. Our current finding is expected to be of benefit to understanding stiction, friction and lubrication in areas that range from nano-tribology to microfluidics.« less

The effect of PECVD plasma decomposition on the wettability and dielectric constant changes in silicon modified DLC films for potential MEMS and low stiction applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogwu, A. A.; Okpalugo, T. I. T.; McLaughlin, J. A. D.

2012-09-01

We have carried out investigations aimed at understanding the mechanism responsible for a water contact angle increase of up to ten degrees and a decrease in dielectric constant in silicon modified hydrogenated amorphous carbon films compared to unmodified hydrogenated amorphous carbon films. Our investigations based on surface chemical constituent analysis using Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SIMS, FTIR, contact angle / surface energy measurements and spectroscopic ellipsometry suggests the presence of hydrophobic chemical entities on the surface of the films. This observation is consistent with earlier theoretical plasma chemistry predictions and observed Raman peak shifts in the films. These surface hydrophobic entities also have a lower polarizability than the bonds in the un-modified films thereby reducing the dielectric constant of the silicon modified films measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Ellipsometric dielectric constant measurement is directly related to the surface energy through Hamaker's constant. Our current finding is expected to be of benefit to understanding stiction, friction and lubrication in areas that range from nano-tribology to microfluidics.

Investigation of percolation thickness of sputter coated thin NiCr films on clear float glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erkan, Selen; Arpat, Erdem; Peters, Sven

2017-11-01

Percolation thickness of reactively sputtered nickel chromium (NiCr) thin films is reported in this study. Nickel-chromium films with the thicknesses in between 1 and 10 nm were deposited on 4 mm clear glass substrate by dc magnetron sputtering. Optical properties such as refractive index, extinction coefficient and also sheet resistance, carrier concentration and mobility of NiCr films were determined by a combination of variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and four point probe measurements. We show both the percolation phenomena in atmosphere and critical percolation thickness for thin NiCr films by both electrical and optical techniques. The two techniques gave consistent results with each other.

Evaluation of the dielectric function of colloidal Cd1 - xHgxTe quantum dot films by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bejaoui, A.; Alonso, M. I.; Garriga, M.; Campoy-Quiles, M.; Goñi, A. R.; Hetsch, F.; Kershaw, S. V.; Rogach, A. L.; To, C. H.; Foo, Y.; Zapien, J. A.

2017-11-01

We report on the investigation by spectroscopic ellipsometry of films containing Cd1 - xHgxTe alloy quantum dots (QDs). The alloy QDs were fabricated from colloidal CdTe QDs grown by an aqueous synthesis process followed by an ion-exchange step in which Hg2+ ions progressively replace Cd2+. For ellipsometric studies, several films were prepared on glass substrates using layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition. The contribution of the QDs to the measured ellipsometric spectra is extracted from a multi-sample, transmission and multi- angle-of-incidence ellipsometric data analysis fitted using standard multilayer and effective medium models that include surface roughness effects, modeled by an effective medium approximation. The relationship of the dielectric function of the QDs retrieved from these studies to that of the corresponding II-VI bulk material counterparts is presented and discussed.

Tunable optical properties of plasmonic Au/Al2O3 nanocomposite thin films analyzed by spectroscopic ellipsometry accounting surface characteristics.

PubMed

Jaiswal, Jyoti; Mourya, Satyendra; Malik, Gaurav; Chandra, Ramesh

2018-05-01

In the present work, we have fabricated plasmonic gold/alumina nanocomposite (Au/Al 2 O 3 NC) thin films on a glass substrate at room temperature by RF magnetron co-sputtering. The influence of the film thickness (∼10-40  nm) on the optical and other physical properties of the samples was investigated and correlated with the structural and compositional properties. The X-ray diffractometer measurement revealed the formation of Au nanoparticles with average crystallite size (5-9.2 nm) embedded in an amorphous Al 2 O 3 matrix. The energy-dispersive X ray and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed the formation of Au/Al 2 O 3 NC quantitatively and qualitatively and it was observed that atomic% of Au increased by increasing thickness. The optical constants of the plasmonic Au/Al 2 O 3 NC thin films were examined by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wide spectral range of 246-1688 nm, accounting the surface characteristics in the optical stack model, and the obtained results are expected to be unique. Additionally, a thickness-dependent blueshift (631-590 nm) of surface plasmon resonance peak was observed in the absorption spectra. These findings of the plasmonic Au/Al 2 O 3 NC films may allow the design and fabrication of small, compact, and efficient devices for optoelectronic and photonic applications.

Characterization of High Ge Content SiGe Heterostructures and Graded Alloy Layers Using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyd, A. R.; Alterovitz, S. A.; Croke, E. T.

1995-01-01

Si(x)Ge(1-x)heterostructures on Si substrates have been widely studied due to the maturity of Si technology. However, work on Si(x)Ge)1-x) heterostructures on Ge substrates has not received much attention. A Si(x)Ge(1-x) layer on a Si substrate is under compressive strain while Si(x)Ge(1-x) on Ge is under tensile strain; thus the critical points will behave differently. In order to accurately characterize high Ge content Si(x)Ge(1-x) layers the energy shift algorithm used to calculate alloy compositions, has been modified. These results have been used along with variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) measurements to characterize Si(x)Ge(1-x)/Ge superlattices grown on Ge substrates. The results agree closely with high resolution x-ray diffraction measurements made on the same samples. The modified energy shift algorithm also allows the VASE analysis to be upgraded in order to characterize linearly graded layers. In this work VASE has been used to characterize graded Si(x)Ge(1-x) layers in terms of the total thickness, and the start and end alloy composition. Results are presented for a 1 micrometer Si(x)Ge(1-x) layer linearly graded in the range 0.5 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1.0.

Characterization of plasmonic effects in thin films and metamaterials using spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oates, T. W. H.; Wormeester, H.; Arwin, H.

2011-12-01

In this article, spectroscopic ellipsometry studies of plasmon resonances at metal-dielectric interfaces of thin films are reviewed. We show how ellipsometry provides valuable non-invasive amplitude and phase information from which one can determine the effective dielectric functions, and how these relate to the material nanostructure and define exactly the plasmonic characteristics of the system. There are three related plasmons that are observable using spectroscopic ellipsometry; volume plasmon resonances, surface plasmon polaritons and particle plasmon resonances. We demonstrate that the established method of exploiting surface plasmon polaritons for chemical and biological sensing may be enhanced using the ellipsometric phase information and provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for the technique. We show how the particle and volume plasmon resonances in the ellipsometric spectra of nanoparticle films are directly related to size, surface coverage and constituent dielectric functions of the nanoparticles. The regularly observed splitting of the particle plasmon resonance is theoretically described using modified effective medium theories within the framework of ellipsometry. We demonstrate the wealth of information available from real-time in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of metal film deposition, including the evolution of the plasmon resonances and percolation events. Finally, we discuss how generalized and Mueller matrix ellipsometry hold great potential for characterizing plasmonic metamaterials and sub-wavelength hole arrays.

Surface roughness estimation of MBE grown CdTe/GaAs(211)B by ex-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry

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

Karakaya, Merve, E-mail: mervegunnar@iyte.edu.tr; Bilgilisoy, Elif; Arı, Ozan

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) ranging from 1.24 eV to 5.05 eV is used to obtain the film thickness and optical properties of high index (211) CdTe films. A three-layer optical model (oxide/CdTe/GaAs) was chosen for the ex-situ ellipsometric data analysis. Surface roughness cannot be determined by the optical model if oxide is included. We show that roughness can be accurately estimated, without any optical model, by utilizing the correlation between SE data (namely the imaginary part of the dielectric function, or phase angle, ψ) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) roughness. and ψ values at 3.31 eV, which corresponds to E{sub 1}more » critical transition energy of CdTe band structure, are chosen for the correlation since E{sub 1} gives higher resolution than the other critical transition energies. On the other hand, due to the anisotropic characteristic of (211) oriented CdTe surfaces, SE data ( and ψ) shows varieties for different azimuthal angle measurements. For this reason, in order to estimate the surface roughness by considering these correlations, it is shown that SE measurements need to be taken at the same surface azimuthal angle. Estimating surface roughness in this manner is an accurate way to eliminate cumbersome surface roughness measurement by AFM.« less

Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry of micrometer-sized SiO2 line gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walder, Cordula; Zellmeier, Matthias; Rappich, Jörg; Ketelsen, Helge; Hinrichs, Karsten

2017-09-01

For the design and process control of periodic nano-structured surfaces spectroscopic ellipsometry is already established in the UV-VIS spectral regime. The objective of this work is to show the feasibility of spectroscopic ellipsometry in the infrared, exemplarily, on micrometer-sized SiO2 line gratings grown on silicon wafers. The grating period ranges from 10 to about 34 μm. The IR-ellipsometric spectra of the gratings exhibit complex changes with structure variations. Especially in the spectral range of the oxide stretching modes, the presence of a Rayleigh singularity can lead to pronounced changes of the spectrum with the sample geometry. The IR-ellipsometric spectra of the gratings are well reproducible by calculations with the RCWA method (Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis). Therefore, infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry allows the quantitative characterization and process control of micrometer-sized structures.

Determining and Controlling the Magnesium Composition in CdTe/CdMgTe Heterostructures

DOE PAGES

LeBlanc, E. G.; Edirisooriya, M.; Ogedengbe, O. S.; ...

2017-06-05

The relationships between Mg composition, band gap, and lattice characteristics are investigated for Cd 1-xMg xTe barrier layers using a combination of cathodoluminescence, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, variable angle spectral ellipsometry, and atom probe tomography. The use of a simplified, yet accurate, variable angle spectral ellipsometry analysis is shown to be appropriate for fast determination of composition in thin Cd 1-xMg xTe layers. The validity of using high-resolution x-ray diffraction for CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe double heterostructures is discussed. Furthermore, the stability of CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe heterostructures are investigated with respect to thermal processing.

Determining and Controlling the Magnesium Composition in CdTe/CdMgTe Heterostructures

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

LeBlanc, E. G.; Edirisooriya, M.; Ogedengbe, O. S.

The relationships between Mg composition, band gap, and lattice characteristics are investigated for Cd 1-xMg xTe barrier layers using a combination of cathodoluminescence, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, variable angle spectral ellipsometry, and atom probe tomography. The use of a simplified, yet accurate, variable angle spectral ellipsometry analysis is shown to be appropriate for fast determination of composition in thin Cd 1-xMg xTe layers. The validity of using high-resolution x-ray diffraction for CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe double heterostructures is discussed. Furthermore, the stability of CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe heterostructures are investigated with respect to thermal processing.

Effect of Ta concentration on the refractive index of TiO{sub 2}:Ta studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry

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

Nurfani, Eka, E-mail: ekanurfani@gmail.com; Kurniawan, Robi; Muhammady, Shibghatullah

2016-04-19

We have investigated optical properties of Ta-doped TiO{sub 2} thin film on LaAlO{sub 3} (LAO) substrate using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE) at room temperature. Amplitude ratio Ψ and phase difference L1 between p- and s- polarized light waves are obtained by multiple incident angles measurement (60°, 70°, and 80°) at energy range of 0.5 – 6.5 eV. In order to obtain optical properties for every Ta concentrations (0.01, 0.4, and 5 at. %), multilayer modelling was performed simultaneously by using Drude-Lorentz model. Refractive index and optical dispersion parameters were determined by Wemple-DiDomenico relation. In general, refractive index at zero photon energymore » n(0) increases by increasing Ta concentration. Furthermore, optical band gap shows a significant increasing due to presence of Ta dopant. In addition, other optical constants are discussed as well.« less

Controle des proprietes des couches optiques par bombardement ionique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marushka, Viktor

The manufacture of optical coatings presents many challenges such as the control over the film properties and microstructure, the optimization for the production of thin films with high quality, and the research on new materials. Ion-assisted evaporation is one of the principal methods used for the fabrication of optical coatings as a response to these challenges. It allows for good process control, and it permits us to predict and put on an industrial scale the deposition process by considering the direct and quantitative relation between the energies of the incident ions, and the performance of the deposited materials. This work is devoted to the study of the effect of ion bombardment on the microstructure and properties of optical thin films of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide, which are widely used in optical interference filters, in particular with the use of a Hall effect ion source. These studies include a systematic evaluation of the mechanical and optical properties and of the density of thin films using different complementary techniques - the Quartz Crystal Microbalance, Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy, and Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry among others. Different approaches (Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Infrared Ellipsometry, the measurement of mechanical stress) have been used to evaluate the amount of water in thin films. The results on the density of films and the presence of water in the films obtained by the different methods are in good agreement. It was found that the critical energy values giving rise to dense and stable optical coatings of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide are 25 eV/atom and 45 eV/atom, respectively. Moreover, this work presents the methodology developed to determine the ion current density distribution on the surface of a substrate holder of a dome shape for different positions relative to the ion source. The proposed analysis can be used as an effective tool for the construction of an industrial reactor and for its appropriate optimization.

Multiple-layered effective medium approximation approach to modeling environmental effects on alumina passivated highly porous silicon nanostructured thin films measured by in-situ Mueller matrix ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mock, Alyssa; Carlson, Timothy; VanDerslice, Jeremy; Mohrmann, Joel; Woollam, John A.; Schubert, Eva; Schubert, Mathias

2017-11-01

Optical changes in alumina passivated highly porous silicon slanted columnar thin films during controlled exposure to toluene vapor are reported. Electron-beam evaporation glancing angle deposition and subsequent atomic layer deposition are utilized to deposit alumina passivated nanostructured porous silicon thin films. In-situ Mueller matrix generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry in an environmental cell is then used to determine changes in optical properties of the nanostructured thin films by inspection of individual Mueller matrix elements, each of which exhibit sensitivity to adsorption. The use of a multiple-layered effective medium approximation model allows for accurate description of the inhomogeneous nature of toluene adsorption onto alumina passivated highly porous silicon slanted columnar thin films.

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

Hilfiker, James N.; Stadermann, Michael; Sun, Jianing

It is a well-known challenge to determine refractive index (n) from ultra-thin films where the thickness is less than about 10 nm. In this paper, we discovered an interesting exception to this issue while characterizing spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) data from isotropic, free-standing polymer films. Ellipsometry analysis shows that both thickness and refractive index can be independently determined for free-standing films as thin as 5 nm. Simulations further confirm an orthogonal separation between thickness and index effects on the experimental SE data. Effects of angle of incidence and wavelength on the data and sensitivity are discussed. Finally, while others have demonstratedmore » methods to determine refractive index from ultra-thin films, our analysis provides the first results to demonstrate high-sensitivity to the refractive index from ultra-thin layers.« less

Controlling plasmonic properties of epitaxial thin films of indium tin oxide in the near-infrared region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamakura, R.; Fujita, K.; Murai, S.; Tanaka, K.

2015-06-01

Epitaxial thin films of indium tin oxide (ITO) were grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia single-crystal substrates by using a pulsed laser deposition to examine their plasmonic properties. The dielectric function of ITO was characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Through the concentration of SnO2 in the target, the carrier concentration in the films was modified, which directly leads to the tuning of the dielectric function in the near-infrared region. Variable-angle reflectance spectroscopy in the Kretschmann geometry shows the dip in the reflection spectrum of p-polarized light corresponding to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritions (SPPs) in the near-infrared region. The excitation wavelength of the SPPs was shifted with changing the dielectric functions of ITO, which is reproduced by the calculation using transfer matrix method.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry and polarimetry for materials and systems analysis at the nanometer scale: state-of-the-art, potential, and perspectives

PubMed Central

Bergmair, Michael; Bruno, Giovanni; Cattelan, Denis; Cobet, Christoph; de Martino, Antonello; Fleischer, Karsten; Dohcevic-Mitrovic, Zorana; Esser, Norbert; Galliet, Melanie; Gajic, Rados; Hemzal, Dušan; Hingerl, Kurt; Humlicek, Josef; Ossikovski, Razvigor; Popovic, Zoran V.; Saxl, Ottilia

2009-01-01

This paper discusses the fundamentals, applications, potential, limitations, and future perspectives of polarized light reflection techniques for the characterization of materials and related systems and devices at the nanoscale. These techniques include spectroscopic ellipsometry, polarimetry, and reflectance anisotropy. We give an overview of the various ellipsometry strategies for the measurement and analysis of nanometric films, metal nanoparticles and nanowires, semiconductor nanocrystals, and submicron periodic structures. We show that ellipsometry is capable of more than the determination of thickness and optical properties, and it can be exploited to gain information about process control, geometry factors, anisotropy, defects, and quantum confinement effects of nanostructures. PMID:21170135

Role of electron-phonon coupling in finite-temperature dielectric functions of Au, Ag, and Cu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Meng; Yang, Jia-Yue; Zhang, Shangyu; Liu, Linhua

2017-09-01

Realistic representation of finite temperature dielectric functions of noble metals is crucial in describing the optical properties of advancing applications in plasmonics and optical metamaterials. However, the atomistic origins of the temperature dependence of noble metals' dielectric functions still lack full explanation. In this paper, we implement electronic structure calculations as well as ellipsometry experiments to study the finite temperature dielectric functions of noble metals Au, Ag, and Cu. Theoretically, the intraband dielectric function is described by the Drude model, of which the important quantity electron lifetime is obtained by considering the electron-phonon, electron-electron, and electron-surface scattering mechanism. The electron-phonon coupling is key to determining the temperature dependence of electron lifetime and intraband dielectric function. For the interband dielectric function, it arises from the electronic interband transition. Due to the limitation of incorporating electron-phonon coupling into the interband transition scheme, the temperature dependence of the interband dielectric function is mainly determined by the thermal expansion effect. Experimentally, variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry measures the dielectric functions of Au and Ag over the temperature range of 300-700 K and spectral range of 2-20 µm. Those experimental measurements are consistent with theoretical results and thus verify the theoretical models for the finite temperature dielectric function.

Case study on the dynamics of ultrafast laser heating and ablation of gold thin films by ultrafast pump-probe reflectometry and ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pflug, T.; Wang, J.; Olbrich, M.; Frank, M.; Horn, A.

2018-02-01

To increase the comprehension of ultrafast laser ablation, the ablation process has to be portrayed with sufficient temporal resolution. For example, the temporal modification of the complex refractive index {\\tilde{n}} and the relative reflectance of a sample material after irradiation with ultrafast single-pulsed laser radiation can be measured with a pump-probe setup. This work describes the construction and validation of a pump-probe setup enabling spatially, temporally, and spectroscopically resolved Brewster angle microscopy, reflectometry, ellipsometry, and shadow photography. First pump-probe reflectometry and ellipsometry measurements are performed on gold at λ _{probe}= 440 nm and three fluences of the single-pulsed pump radiation at λ _{pump}= 800 nm generating no, gentle, and strong ablation. The relative reflectance overall increases at no and gentle ablation. At strong ablation, the relative reflectance locally decreases, presumable caused by emitted thermal electrons, ballistic electrons, and ablating material. The refractive index n is slightly decreasing after excitation, while the extinction coefficient k is increasing.

Optical Anisotropy and Waveguiding in Thin Films of a Conjugated Polymer Which Exhibits Stimulated Emission.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, E. Kirk; McGehee, Michael; Diaz-Garcia, Maria; Srikant, V.; Heeger, Alan J.

1998-03-01

We report variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) measurements on thin films of poly(2-butyl-5(2-ethyl-hexyl)-1,4- phenylenevinylene) (BuEH-PPV) in the spectral region below the electronic absorption edge. We find that the films are best described as uniaxially anisotropic, with the optical axis perpendicular to the plane of the film, consistent with the notion that the polymer chains lie preferentially in the plane of the film. Due to the anisotropic distribution of chromophores, the in-plane index of refraction is found to be significantly higher and more dispersive than the out-of- plane index, implying a higher effective index for transverse-electric (TE) waveguide modes than for the corresponding transverse- magnetic (TM) modes. The implications of these data for amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) experiments and in-plane laser structures are discussed.

Optical Properties of Ferroelectric Epitaxial K0.5Na0.5NbO3 Films in Visible to Ultraviolet Range

PubMed Central

Pacherova, O.; Kocourek, T.; Jelinek, M.; Dejneka, A.; Tyunina, M.

2016-01-01

The complex index of refraction in the spectral range of 0.74 to 4.5 eV is studied by variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry in ferroelectric K0.5Na0.5NbO3 films. The 20-nm-thick cube-on-cube-type epitaxial films are grown on SrTiO3(001) and DyScO3(011) single-crystal substrates. The films are transparent and exhibit a significant difference between refractive indices Δn = 0.5 at photon energies below 3 eV. The energies of optical transitions are in the range of 3.15–4.30 eV and differ by 0.2–0.3 eV in these films. The observed behavior is discussed in terms of lattice strain and strain-induced ferroelectric polarization in epitaxial perovskite oxide films. PMID:27074042

Characterization by spectroscopic Ellipsometry, the physical properties of silver nanoparticles.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coanga, Jean-Maurice

2013-04-01

Physicists are able to change their minds through their experiments. I think it is time to go kick the curse and go further in research if we want a human future. I work in the Nano-Optics and Plasmonics research. I defined with ellipsomètrie the structure of new type of Nano particles of silver. It's same be act quickly to replace the old dirty leaded electronic-connexion chip and by the other hand to find a new way for the heath care of cancer disease by nanoparticles the next killers of bad cells. Silver nanoparticle layers are obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering are investigated as an alternative to lead alloy based material for solder joint in power mechatronics modules. These layers are characterized by mean of conventional techniques that is the dilatometry technique, the resistivity measurement through the van der Pauw method, and the flash laser technique. Furthermore, the nanoparticles of silver layer are deeply studied by UV-Visible spectroscopic ellipsometry. Spectroscopic angles parameters are determined in function of temperature and dielectric constants are deduced and analyzed through an optical model which takes into account a Drude and a Lorentz component within the Bruggeman effective medium approximation (EMA). The relaxation times and the electrical conductivity are plot in function of temperature. The obtained electrical conductivity give significant result in good agreement to those reported by four points electrical measurement method.

An original method to determine complex refractive index of liquids by spectroscopic ellipsometry and illustrated applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stchakovsky, M.; Battie, Y.; Naciri, A. En

2017-11-01

We present a method to characterize optical properties of liquids by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The experiments use a specific liquid cell that avoids disturbance of waves at air-liquid interface and allows the determination of the real and the imaginary part of the refractive index, with a sensitivity of the latter below 10-4. The method is illustrated by results obtained with a spectroscopic phase modulation ellipsometer on several liquids such as deionised water, microscope oil and protein solution. Comparisons of the method with standard techniques are given.

PMMA and polystyrene films modification under ion implantation studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leontyev, A. V.; Kovalev, V. I.; Khomich, A. V.; Komarov, Fadei F.; Grigoryev, V. V.; Kamishan, A. S.

2004-05-01

We have applied spectroscopic ellipsometry with binary polarization modulation to study the refractive index n(λ) and extinction coefficient k(λ) spectra of as-deposited and irradiated with nitrogen ions polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) films in 300-1030 nm range. The results of performed investigation confirmed the possibility and estimate restrictions of the ion implantation for local change the refractive index of polymeric materials.

B-spline parameterization of the dielectric function and information criteria: the craft of non-overfitting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Likhachev, Dmitriy V.

2017-06-01

Johs and Hale developed the Kramers-Kronig consistent B-spline formulation for the dielectric function modeling in spectroscopic ellipsometry data analysis. In this article we use popular Akaike, corrected Akaike and Bayesian Information Criteria (AIC, AICc and BIC, respectively) to determine an optimal number of knots for B-spline model. These criteria allow finding a compromise between under- and overfitting of experimental data since they penalize for increasing number of knots and select representation which achieves the best fit with minimal number of knots. Proposed approach provides objective and practical guidance, as opposite to empirically driven or "gut feeling" decisions, for selecting the right number of knots for B-spline models in spectroscopic ellipsometry. AIC, AICc and BIC selection criteria work remarkably well as we demonstrated in several real-data applications. This approach formalizes selection of the optimal knot number and may be useful in practical perspective of spectroscopic ellipsometry data analysis.

Ellipsometric study of oxide films formed on LDEF metal samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Franzen, W.; Brodkin, J. S.; Sengupta, L. C.; Sagalyn, P. L.

1992-01-01

The optical constants of samples of six different metals (Al, Cu, Ni, Ta, W, and Zr) exposed to space on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) were studied by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. Measurements were also carried out on portions of each sample which were shielded from direct exposure by a metal bar. A least-squares fit of the data using an effective medium approximation was then carried out, with thickness and composition of surface films formed on the metal substrates as variable parameters. The analysis revealed that exposed portions of the Cu, Ni, Ta, and Zr samples are covered with porous oxide films ranging in thickness from 500 to 1000 A. The 410 A thick film of Al2O3 on the exposed Al sample is practically free of voids. Except for Cu, the shielded portions of these metals are covered by thin non-porous oxide films characteristic of exposure to air. The shielded part of the Cu sample has a much thicker porous coating of Cu2O. The tungsten data could not be analyzed.

Spectroellipsometric detection of silicon substrate damage caused by radiofrequency sputtering of niobium oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lohner, Tivadar; Serényi, Miklós; Szilágyi, Edit; Zolnai, Zsolt; Czigány, Zsolt; Khánh, Nguyen Quoc; Petrik, Péter; Fried, Miklós

2017-11-01

Substrate surface damage induced by deposition of metal atoms by radiofrequency (rf) sputtering or ion beam sputtering onto single-crystalline silicon (c-Si) surface has been characterized earlier by electrical measurements. The question arises whether it is possible to characterize surface damage using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). In our experiments niobium oxide layers were deposited by rf sputtering on c-Si substrates in gas mixture of oxygen and argon. Multiple angle of incidence spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements were performed, a four-layer optical model (surface roughness layer, niobium oxide layer, native silicon oxide layer and ion implantation-amorphized silicon [i-a-Si] layer on a c-Si substrate) was created in order to evaluate the spectra. The evaluations yielded thicknesses of several nm for the i-a-Si layer. Better agreement could be achieved between the measured and the generated spectra by inserting a mixed layer (with components of c-Si and i-a-Si applying the effective medium approximation) between the silicon oxide layer and the c-Si substrate. High depth resolution Rutherford backscattering (RBS) measurements were performed to investigate the interface disorder between the deposited niobium oxide layer and the c-Si substrate. Atomic resolution cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy investigation was applied to visualize the details of the damaged subsurface region of the substrate.

Controlled Contamination of Epoxy Composites with PDMS and Removal by Laser Ablation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palmieri, Frank; Ledesma, Rodolfo; Cataldo, Daniel; Lin, Yi; Wohl, Christopher; Gupta, Mool; Connell, John

2016-01-01

Surface preparation is critical to the performance of adhesively bonded composites. During manufacturing, minute quantities of mold release compounds are inevitably deposited on faying surfaces and may compromise bond performance. To ensure safety, mechanical fasteners and other crack arrest features must be installed in the bondlines of primary structures, which negates some advantages of adhesively bonded construction. Laser ablation is an automated, repeatable, and scalable process with high potential for the surface preparation of metals and composites in critical applications such as primary airframe structures. In this study, laser ablation is evaluated on composite surfaces for the removal of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a common mold release material. Composite panels were contaminated uniformly with PDMS film thicknesses as low as 6.0 nm as measured by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. Bond performance was assessed by mechanical testing using a 250 F cure, epoxy adhesive and compared with pre-bond surface inspection results. Water contact angle, optically stimulated electron emission, and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy were used to characterize contaminated and laser ablated surfaces. The failure mode obtained from double cantilever beam tests correlated well with surface characterization data. The test results indicated that even low levels of PDMS were not completely removed by laser ablation.

Formation of pentacene wetting layer on the SiO2 surface and charge trap in the wetting layer.

PubMed

Kim, Chaeho; Jeon, D

2008-09-01

We studied the early-stage growth of vacuum-evaporated pentacene film on a native SiO(2) surface using atomic force microscopy and in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. Pentacene deposition prompted an immediate change in the ellipsometry spectra, but atomic force microscopy images of the early stage films did not show a pentacene-related morphology other than the decrease in the surface roughness. This suggested that a thin pentacene wetting layer was formed by pentacene molecules lying on the surface before the crystalline islands nucleated. Growth simulation based on the in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry spectra supported this conclusion. Scanning capacitance microscopy measurement indicated the existence of trapped charges in the SiO(2) and pentacene wetting layer.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry study on E2 peak splitting of Si-Ge short period superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Y. D.; Klein, M. V.; Baribeau, J.-M.; Hwang, S. H.; Whang, K. W.; Yoon, E.

1997-06-01

We report spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) studies on (Si)2(Ge)12, (Si)6(Ge)2, and (Si)12(Ge)2 short period superlattices (SLs) whose optical response has not been reported yet. Multilayer calculations enabled us to determine the dielectric response of the superlattice layers. We report the clear observation of splitting of the E2 peak in (Si)m(Ge)n superlattices contrary to the previous SE report that the separation was observed only in larger period SLs.

Supercritical CO2/Co-solvents Extraction of Porogen and Surfactant to Obtain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lubguban, Jorge

2005-03-01

A method of pore generation by supercritical CO2 (SCCO2)/co-solvents extraction for the preparation of nanoporous organosilicate thin films for ultralow dielectric constant materials is investigated. A nanohybrid film was prepared from poly (propylene glycol) (PPG) and poly(methylsilsesquioxane) (PMSSQ) whereby the PPG porogen are entrapped within the crosslinked PMSSQ matrix. Another set of thin films was produced by liquid crystal templating whereby non-ionic (polyoxyethylene 10 stearyl ether) (Brij76) and ionic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) (CTAB) surfactant were used as sacrificial templates in a tetraethoxy silane (TEOS) and methyltrimethoxy silane (MTMS) based matrix. These two types of films were treated with SCCO2/co-solvents to remove porogen and surfactant templates. As a comparison, porous structures generated by thermal decomposition were also evaluated. It is found that SCCO2/co-solvents treatment produced closely comparable results with thermal decomposition. The results were evident from Fourier Transform Infrared (FT- IR) spectroscopy and optical constants data obtained from variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE).

Modified Brewster angle on conducting 2D materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majérus, Bruno; Cormann, Mirko; Reckinger, Nicolas; Paillet, Matthieu; Henrard, Luc; Lambin, Philippe; Lobet, Michaël

2018-04-01

Insertion of two-dimensional (2D) materials in optical systems modifies their electrodynamical response. In particular, the Brewster angle undergoes an up-shift if a substrate is covered with a conducting 2D material. This work theoretically and experimentally investigates this effect related to the 2D induced current at the interface. The shift is predicted for all conducting 2D materials and tunability with respect to the Fermi level of graphene is evidenced. Analytical approximations for high and low 2D conductivities are proposed and avoid cumbersome numerical analysis of experimental data. Experimental demonstration using spectroscopic ellipsometry has been performed in the UV to NIR range on mono-, bi- and trilayer graphene samples. The non-contact measurement of this modified Brewster angle allows to deduce the optical conductivity of 2D materials. Applications to telecommunication technologies can be considered thanks to the tunability of the shift at 1.55 μm.

Measurement of the optical properties of a transparent, conductive carbon nanotube film using spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuwahara, Masashi; Kim, Yeji; Azumi, Reiko

2015-07-01

We have measured the complex refractive indices of a transparent, conductive carbon nanotube film by spectroscopic ellipsometry at wavelengths of 300-1700 nm (this includes the visible range). The film was produced on a quartz substrate by the doctor-blade method using single-walled carbon nanotube-polymer ink. The imaginary part of the complex refractive index of the film was found to be lower than 0.09 over the entire wavelength range. This film has a large advantage as a transparent, flexible, and conductive material.

Interface plasmonic properties of silver coated by ultrathin metal oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sytchkova, A.; Zola, D.; Grilli, M. L.; Piegari, A.; Fang, M.; He, H.; Shao, J.

2011-09-01

Many fields of high technology take advantage of conductor-dielectric interface properties. Deeper knowledge of physical processes that determine the optical response of the structures containing metal-dielectric interfaces is important for improving the performance of thin film devices containing such materials. Here we present a study on optical properties of several ultrathin metal oxides deposited over thin silver layers. Some widely used materials (Al2O3, SiO2, Y2O3, HfO2) were selected for deposition by r.f. sputtering, and the created metal-dielectric structures with two of them, alumina and silica, were investigated in this work using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) technique and by variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE). VASE was performed with a help of a commercial ellipsometer at various incident angles and in a wide spectral range. A home-made sample holder manufactured for WVASE ellipsometer and operational in Otto configuration has been implemented for angle-resolved and spectral ATR measurements. Simultaneous analysis of data obtained by these two independent techniques allows elaboration of a representative model for plasmonic-related phenomena at metal-dielectric interface. The optical constants of the interface layers formed between metal and ultrathin oxide layers are investigated. A series of oxides chosen for this study allows a comparative analysis aimed for selection of the most appropriate materials for different applications.

Study on electrical defects level in single layer two-dimensional Ta2O5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dahai, Li; Xiongfei, Song; Linfeng, Hu; Ziyi, Wang; Rongjun, Zhang; Liangyao, Chen; David, Wei Zhang; Peng, Zhou

2016-04-01

Two-dimensional atomic-layered material is a recent research focus, and single layer Ta2O5 used as gate dielectric in field-effect transistors is obtained via assemblies of Ta2O5 nanosheets. However, the electrical performance is seriously affected by electronic defects existing in Ta2O5. Therefore, spectroscopic ellipsometry is used to calculate the transition energies and corresponding probabilities for two different charged oxygen vacancies, whose existence is revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Spectroscopic ellipsometry fitting also calculates the thickness of single layer Ta2O5, exhibiting good agreement with atomic force microscopy measurement. Nondestructive and noncontact spectroscopic ellipsometry is appropriate for detecting the electrical defects level of single layer Ta2O5. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11174058 and 61376093), the Fund from Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Grant No. 13QA1400400), the National Science and Technology Major Project, China (Grant No. 2011ZX02707), and the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. 12ZZ010).

Advanced applications of scatterometry based optical metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, Dhairya; Keller, Nick; Kagalwala, Taher; Recchia, Fiona; Lifshitz, Yevgeny; Elia, Alexander; Todi, Vinit; Fronheiser, Jody; Vaid, Alok

2017-03-01

The semiconductor industry continues to drive patterning solutions that enable devices with higher memory storage capacity, faster computing performance, and lower cost per transistor. These developments in the field of semiconductor manufacturing along with the overall minimization of the size of transistors require continuous development of metrology tools used for characterization of these complex 3D device architectures. Optical scatterometry or optical critical dimension (OCD) is one of the most prevalent inline metrology techniques in semiconductor manufacturing because it is a quick, precise and non-destructive metrology technique. However, at present OCD is predominantly used to measure the feature dimensions such as line-width, height, side-wall angle, etc. of the patterned nano structures. Use of optical scatterometry for characterizing defects such as pitch-walking, overlay, line edge roughness, etc. is fairly limited. Inspection of process induced abnormalities is a fundamental part of process yield improvement. It provides process engineers with important information about process errors, and consequently helps optimize materials and process parameters. Scatterometry is an averaging technique and extending it to measure the position of local process induced defectivity and feature-to-feature variation is extremely challenging. This report is an overview of applications and benefits of using optical scatterometry for characterizing defects such as pitch-walking, overlay and fin bending for advanced technology nodes beyond 7nm. Currently, the optical scatterometry is based on conventional spectroscopic ellipsometry and spectroscopic reflectometry measurements, but generalized ellipsometry or Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry data provides important, additional information about complex structures that exhibit anisotropy and depolarization effects. In addition the symmetry-antisymmetry properties associated with Mueller matrix (MM) elements provide an excellent means of measuring asymmetry present in the structure. The useful additional information as well as symmetry-antisymmetry properties of MM elements is used to characterize fin bending, overlay defects and design improvements in the OCD test structures are used to boost OCDs' sensitivity to pitch-walking. In addition, the validity of the OCD based results is established by comparing the results to the top down critical dimensionscanning electron microscope (CD-SEM) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscope (TEM) images.

Optical characterization and bandgap engineering of flat and wrinkle-textured FA0.83Cs0.17Pb(I1-xBrx)3 perovskite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tejada, A.; Braunger, S.; Korte, L.; Albrecht, S.; Rech, B.; Guerra, J. A.

2018-05-01

The complex refractive indices of formamidinium cesium lead mixed-halide [FA0.83Cs0.17Pb(I1- xBrx)3] perovskite thin films of compositions ranging from x = 0 to 0.4, with both flat and wrinkle-textured surface topographies, are reported. The films are characterized using a combination of variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and spectral transmittance in the wavelength range of 190 nm to 850 nm. Optical constants, film thicknesses and roughness layers are obtained point-by-point by minimizing a global error function, without using optical dispersion models, and including topographical information supplied by a laser confocal microscope. To evaluate the bandgap engineering potential of the material, the optical bandgaps and Urbach energies are then accurately determined by applying a band fluctuation model for direct semiconductors, which considers both the Urbach tail and the fundamental band-to-band absorption region in a single equation. With this information, the composition yielding the optimum bandgap of 1.75 eV for a Si-perovskite tandem solar cell is determined.

Strain-induced optical band gap variation of SnO 2 films

DOE PAGES

Rus, Stefania Florina; Ward, Thomas Zac; Herklotz, Andreas

2016-06-29

In this paper, thickness dependent strain relaxation effects are utilized to study the impact of crystal anisotropy on the optical band gap of epitaxial SnO 2 films grown by pulsed laser deposition on (0001)-oriented sapphire substrates. An X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that all films are under tensile biaxial in-plane strain and that strain relaxation occurs with increasing thickness. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry shows that the optical band gap of the SnO 2 films continuously increases with increasing film thickness. This increase in the band gap is linearly related to the strain state of the films, which indicates that the mainmore » origin of the band gap change is strain relaxation. The experimental observation is in excellent agreement with results from density functional theory for biaxial in-plane strain. Our research demonstrates that strain is an effective way to tune the band gap of SnO 2 films and suggests that strain engineering is an appealing route to tailor the optical properties of oxide semiconductors.« less

Localized surface plasmon resonance nanosensor: a high-resolution distance-dependence study using atomic layer deposition.

PubMed

Whitney, Alyson V; Elam, Jeffrey W; Zou, Shengli; Zinovev, Alex V; Stair, Peter C; Schatz, George C; Van Duyne, Richard P

2005-11-03

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to deposit 1-600 monolayers of Al(2)O(3) on Ag nanotriangles fabricated by nanosphere lithography (NSL). Each monolayer of Al(2)O(3) has a thickness of 1.1 A. It is demonstrated that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) nanosensor can detect Al(2)O(3) film growth with atomic spatial resolution normal to the nanoparticle surface. This is approximately 10 times greater spatial resolution than that in our previous long-range distance-dependence study using multilayer self-assembled monolayer shells. The use of ALD enables the study of both the long- and short-range distance dependence of the LSPR nanosensor in a single unified experiment. Ag nanoparticles with fixed in-plane widths and decreasing heights yield larger sensing distances. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, and quartz crystal microbalance measurements are used to study the growth mechanism. It is proposed that the growth of Al(2)O(3) is initiated by the decomposition of trimethylaluminum on Ag. Semiquantitative theoretical calculations were compared with the experimental results and yield excellent agreement.

Tribological performance of titanium samples oxidized by fs-laser radiation, thermal heating, or electrochemical anodization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirner, S. V.; Slachciak, N.; Elert, A. M.; Griepentrog, M.; Fischer, D.; Hertwig, A.; Sahre, M.; Dörfel, I.; Sturm, H.; Pentzien, S.; Koter, R.; Spaltmann, D.; Krüger, J.; Bonse, J.

2018-04-01

Commercial grade-1 titanium samples (Ti, 99.6%) were treated using three alternative methods, (i) femtosecond laser processing, (ii) thermal heat treatment, and (iii) electrochemical anodization, respectively, resulting in the formation of differently conditioned superficial titanium oxide layers. The laser processing (i) was carried out by a Ti:sapphire laser (pulse duration 30 fs, central wavelength 790 nm, pulse repetition rate 1 kHz) in a regime of generating laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). The experimental conditions (laser fluence, spatial spot overlap) were optimized in a sample-scanning setup for the processing of several square-millimeters large surface areas covered homogeneously by these nanostructures. The differently oxidized titanium surfaces were characterized by optical microscopy, micro Raman spectroscopy, variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, and instrumented indentation testing. The tribological performance was characterized in the regime of mixed friction by reciprocating sliding tests against a sphere of hardened steel in fully formulated engine oil as lubricant. The specific tribological performance of the differently treated surfaces is discussed with respect to possible physical and chemical mechanisms.

Growth and optical property characterization of textured barium titanate thin films for photonic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dicken, Matthew J.; Diest, Kenneth; Park, Young-Bae; Atwater, Harry A.

2007-03-01

We have investigated the growth of barium titanate thin films on bulk crystalline and amorphous substrates utilizing biaxially oriented template layers. Ion beam-assisted deposition was used to grow thin, biaxially textured, magnesium oxide template layers on amorphous and silicon substrates. Growth of highly oriented barium titanate films on these template layers was achieved by molecular beam epitaxy using a layer-by-layer growth process. Barium titanate thin films were grown in molecular oxygen and in the presence of oxygen radicals produced by a 300 W radio frequency plasma. We used X-ray and in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) to analyze the structural properties and show the predominantly c-oriented grains in the films. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to analyze and compare the optical properties of the thin films grown with and without oxygen plasma. We have shown that optical quality barium titanate thin films, which show bulk crystal-like properties, can be grown on any substrate through the use of biaxially oriented magnesium oxide template layers.

Deep Blue Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with CIEy Value of 0.11 and External Quantum Efficiency up to 22.5.

PubMed

Li, Xiaoyue; Zhang, Juanye; Zhao, Zifeng; Wang, Liding; Yang, Hannan; Chang, Qiaowen; Jiang, Nan; Liu, Zhiwei; Bian, Zuqiang; Liu, Weiping; Lu, Zhenghong; Huang, Chunhui

2018-03-01

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on red and green phosphorescent iridium complexes are successfully commercialized in displays and solid-state lighting. However, blue ones still remain a challenge on account of their relatively dissatisfactory Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates and low efficiency. After analyzing the reported blue iridium complexes in the literature, a new deep-blue-emitting iridium complex with improved photoluminescence quantum yield is designed and synthesized. By rational screening host materials showing high triplet energy level in neat film as well as the OLED architecture to balance electron and hole recombination, highly efficient deep-blue-emission OLEDs with a CIE at (0.15, 0.11) and maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 22.5% are demonstrated. Based on the transition dipole moment vector measurement with a variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry method, the ultrahigh EQE is assigned to a preferred horizontal dipole orientation of the iridium complex in doped film, which is beneficial for light extraction from the OLEDs. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Ellipsometric studies of synthetic albumin-binding chitosan-derivatives and selected blood plasma proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Sabyasachi

This dissertation summarizes work on the synthesis of chitosan-derivatives and the development of ellipsometric methods to characterize materials of biological origin. Albumin-binding chitosan-derivatives were synthesized via addition reactions that involve amine groups naturally present in chitosan. These surfaces were shown to have an affinity towards human serum albumin via ELISA, UV spectroscopy and SDS PAGE. Modified surfaces were characterized with IR ellipsometry at various stages of their synthesis using appropriate optical models. It was found that spin cast chitosan films were anisotropic in nature. All optical models used for characterizing chitosan-derivatives were thus anisotropic. Chemical signal dependence on molecular structure and composition was illustrated via IR spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE). An anisotropic optical model of an ensemble of Lorentz oscillators were used to approximate material behavior. The presence of acetic acid in spin-cast non-neutralized chitosan samples was thus shown. IRSE application to biomaterials was also demonstrated by performing a step-wise chemical characterizations during synthesis stages. Protein adsorbed from single protein solutions on these modified surfaces was monitored by visible in-situ variable wavelength ellipsometry. Based on adsorption profiles obtained from single protein adsorption onto silicon surfaces, lumped parameter kinetic models were developed. These models were used to fit experimental data of immunoglobulin-G of different concentrations and approximate conformational changes in fibrinogen adsorption. Biomaterial characterization by ellipsometry was further extended to include characterization of individual protein solutions in the IR range. Proteins in an aqueous environment were characterized by attenuated total internal reflection (ATR) IR ellipsometry using a ZnSe prism. Parameterized dielectric functions were created for individual proteins using Lorentz oscillators. These parameterized dielectric functions were then used to describe the growth and eventual enzymatic degradation of a multilayered IgG structure by dynamic ATR-IR ellipsometry measurements. ATR-IR ellipsometry was also used to observe the specificity of anti-bodies to antigens.

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of n-i-p Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Based Photovoltaic Devices

PubMed Central

Karki Gautam, Laxmi; Junda, Maxwell M.; Haneef, Hamna F.; Collins, Robert W.; Podraza, Nikolas J.

2016-01-01

Optimization of thin film photovoltaics (PV) relies on characterizing the optoelectronic and structural properties of each layer and correlating these properties with device performance. Growth evolution diagrams have been used to guide production of materials with good optoelectronic properties in the full hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) PV device configuration. The nucleation and evolution of crystallites forming from the amorphous phase were studied using in situ near-infrared to ultraviolet spectroscopic ellipsometry during growth of films prepared as a function of hydrogen to reactive gas flow ratio R = [H2]/[SiH4]. In conjunction with higher photon energy measurements, the presence and relative absorption strength of silicon-hydrogen infrared modes were measured by infrared extended ellipsometry measurements to gain insight into chemical bonding. Structural and optical models have been developed for the back reflector (BR) structure consisting of sputtered undoped zinc oxide (ZnO) on top of silver (Ag) coated glass substrates. Characterization of the free-carrier absorption properties in Ag and the ZnO + Ag interface as well as phonon modes in ZnO were also studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Measurements ranging from 0.04 to 5 eV were used to extract layer thicknesses, composition, and optical response in the form of complex dielectric function spectra (ε = ε1 + iε2) for Ag, ZnO, the ZnO + Ag interface, and undoped a-Si:H layer in a substrate n-i-p a-Si:H based PV device structure. PMID:28773255

Evaluation of the SEI using a multilayer spectroscopic ellipsometry model

DOE PAGES

Dufek, Eric J.

2014-08-28

A multilayer spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) model has been developed to characterize SEI formation. The model, which consists of two Cauchy layers, is constructed with an inner layer meant to model primarily inorganic compounds adjacent to an electrode and an outer layer which mirrors polymeric, organic constituents on the exterior of the SEI. Comparison of 1:1 EC:EMC and 1:4 EC:EMC with 1.0 M LiPF₆ shows distinct differences in the two modeled layers. The data suggest that the thickness of both layers change over a wide potential range. These changes have been linked with other reports on the growth of the SEI.

Solid-state dewetting of thin Au films studied with real-time, in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magnozzi, M.; Bisio, F.; Canepa, M.

2017-11-01

We report the design and testing of a small, high vacuum chamber that allows real-time, in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements; the chamber was designed to be easily inserted within the arms of a commercial ellipsometer. As a test application, we investigated the temperature-induced solid-state dewetting of thin (20 to 8 nm) Au layers on Si wafers. In situ SE measurements acquired in real time during the heating of the samples reveal features that can be related to the birth of a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and demonstrate the presence of a temperature threshold for the solid-state dewetting.

Observation of Frenkel and charge transfer excitons in pentacene single crystals using spectroscopic generalized ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Dongchen; Su, Haibin; Bastjan, M.; Jurchescu, O. D.; Palstra, T. M.; Wee, Andrew T. S.; Rübhausen, M.; Rusydi, A.

2013-09-01

We report on the emerging and admixture of Frenkel and charge transfer (CT) excitons near the absorption onset in pentacene single crystals. Using high energy-resolution spectroscopic generalized ellipsometry with in-plane polarization dependence, the excitonic nature of three lowest lying excitations is discussed. Their distinct polarization dependence strongly indicates the presence of both Frenkel and CT types of excitons near the excitation onset. In particular, the peculiar polarization behavior of the second excitation can only be rationalized by taking into account the inherent CT transition dipole moment. This observation has important implications for the pentacene-based optoelectronic devices.

Characterization of Free-Standing Nano-Membranes by Using Ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Sungmo; Lee, Changho; An, Ilsin; Kim, Min-Su; Park, Jin-Goo; Ahn, Jin-ho

2018-04-01

The thickness of the pellicle is only a few tens of microns in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL). This is because the absorption loss by the pellicle is high. Thus, the thickness and contamination on the surface of the EUVL pellicle are important factors for controlling the transmission of EUV light. In this work, we fabricate ultra-thin silicon-nitride membranes for EUVL pellicles and use micro-spot spectroscopic ellipsometry and imaging ellipsometry for characterization. We successfully deduce not only the thickness but also the optical function of the membrane. However, we found that some precautions were required for accurate measurement of the free-standing thin membranes by using ellipsometry. Issues related to the vibration of the membrane and the sensitivity of the measurement are discussed.

In situ assessment of the contact angles of nanoparticles adsorbed at fluid interfaces by multiple angle of incidence ellipsometry.

PubMed

Stocco, Antonio; Su, Ge; Nobili, Maurizio; In, Martin; Wang, Dayang

2014-09-28

Here multiple angle of incidence ellipsometry was successfully applied to in situ assess the contact angle and surface coverage of gold nanoparticles as small as 18 nm, coated with stimuli-responsive polymers, at water-oil and water-air interfaces in the presence of NaCl and NaOH, respectively. The interfacial adsorption of the nanoparticles was found to be very slow and took days to reach a fairly low surface coverage. For water-oil interfaces, in situ nanoparticle contact angles agree with the macroscopic equilibrium contact angles of planar gold surfaces with the same polymer coatings, whilst for water-air interfaces, significant differences have been observed.

Parametrization of optical properties of indium-tin-oxide thin films by spectroscopic ellipsometry: Substrate interfacial reactivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Losurdo, M.; Giangregorio, M.; Capezzuto, P.; Bruno, G.; de Rosa, R.; Roca, F.; Summonte, C.; Plá, J.; Rizzoli, R.

2002-01-01

Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) films deposited by sputtering and e-gun evaporation on both transparent (Corning glass) and opaque (c-Si, c-Si/SiO2) substrates and in c-Si/a-Si:H/ITO heterostructures have been analyzed by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the range 1.5-5.0 eV. Taking the SE advantage of being applicable to absorbent substrate, ellipsometry is used to determine the spectra of the refractive index and extinction coefficient of the ITO films. The effect of the substrate surface on the ITO optical properties is focused and discussed. To this aim, a parametrized equation combining the Drude model, which considers the free-carrier response at the infrared end, and a double Lorentzian oscillator, which takes into account the interband transition contribution at the UV end, is used to model the ITO optical properties in the useful UV-visible range, whatever the substrate and deposition technique. Ellipsometric analysis is corroborated by sheet resistance measurements.

Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry study of chiral nanocrystalline cellulose films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendoza-Galván, Arturo; Muñoz-Pineda, Eloy; Ribeiro, Sidney J. L.; Santos, Moliria V.; Järrendahl, Kenneth; Arwin, Hans

2018-02-01

Chiral nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) free-standing films were prepared through slow evaporation of aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals in a nematic chiral liquid crystal phase. Mueller matrix (MM) spectroscopic ellipsometry is used to study the polarization and depolarization properties of the chiral films. In the reflection mode, the MM is similar to the matrices reported for the cuticle of some beetles reflecting near circular left-handed polarized light in the visible range. The polarization properties of light transmitted at normal incidence for different polarization states of incident light are discussed. By using a differential decomposition of the MM, the structural circular birefringence and dichroism of a NCC chiral film are evaluated.

Modeling the transport properties of epitaxially grown thermoelectric oxide thin films using spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarath Kumar, S. R.; Abutaha, Anas I.; Hedhili, M. N.; Alshareef, H. N.

2012-01-01

The influence of oxygen vacancies on the transport properties of epitaxial thermoelectric (Sr,La)TiO3 thin films is determined using electrical and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements. Oxygen vacancy concentration was varied by ex-situ annealing in Ar and Ar/H2. All films exhibited degenerate semiconducting behavior, and electrical conductivity decreased (258-133 S cm-1) with increasing oxygen content. Similar decrease in the Seebeck coefficient is observed and attributed to a decrease in effective mass (7.8-3.2 me), as determined by SE. Excellent agreement between transport properties deduced from SE and direct electrical measurements suggests that SE is an effective tool for studying oxide thin film thermoelectrics.

The optical characterization of organometallic complex thin films by spectroscopic ellipsometry and photovoltaic diode application

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

Özaydın, C.; Güllü, Ö., E-mail: omergullu@gmail.com; Pakma, O.

2016-05-15

Highlights: • Optical properties and thickness of the A novel organometallic complex (OMC) film were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). • Au/OMC/n-Si metal/interlayer/semiconductor (MIS) diode has been fabricated • This paper presents the I–V analysis of Au/OMC/n-Si MIS diode. • Current–voltage and photovoltaic properties of the diode were investigated. - Abstract: In this work, organometallic complex (OMC) films have been deposited onto glass or silicon substrates by spin coating technique and their photovoltaic application potential has been investigated. Optical properties and thickness of the film have been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Also, transmittance spectrum has been taken by UV/vismore » spectrophotometer. The optical method has been used to determine the band gap value of the films. Also, Au/OMC/n-Si metal/interlayer/semiconductor (MIS) diode has been fabricated. Current–voltage and photovoltaic properties of the structure were investigated. The ideality factor (n) and barrier height (Φ{sub b}) values of the diode were found to be 2.89 and 0.79 eV, respectively. The device shows photovoltaic behavior with a maximum open-circuit voltage of 396 mV and a short circuit current of 33.8 μA under 300 W light.« less

Quartz crystal microbalance with coupled spectroscopic ellipsometry-study of temperature-responsive polymer brush systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adam, Stefan; Koenig, Meike; Rodenhausen, Keith Brian; Eichhorn, Klaus-Jochen; Oertel, Ulrich; Schubert, Mathias; Stamm, Manfred; Uhlmann, Petra

2017-11-01

Using a combined setup of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring together with spectroscopic ellipsometry, the thermo-responsive behavior of two different brush systems (poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and poly(2-oxazoline)s) was investigated and compared to the behavior of the free polymer in solution. Poly(2-oxazoline)s with three different hydrophilicities were prepared by changing the content of a hydrophilic comonomer. While both polymer types exhibit a sharp, discontinuous thermal transition in solution, in the brush state the transition gets broader in the case of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and is transformed into a continuous transition for poly(2-oxazoline)s. The position of the transition in solution is influenced by the degree of hydrophilicity of the poly(2-oxazoline). The difference in areal mass detected by quartz crystal microbalance and by spectroscopic ellipsometry, has been attributed to the chain segment density profile of the polymer brushes. Applying this density profile information, for poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) two different swelling stages could be identified, while for poly(2-oxazoline) the transition between a parabolic and more step-wise profile is found continuous. The different swelling characteristics were attributed to the different miscibility behavior types, with the brush state acting similar to a crosslinked system.

Embedded top-coat for reducing the effect out of band radiation in EUV lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Ke; Siauw, Meiliana; Valade, David; Jasieniak, Marek; Voelcker, Nico; Trefonas, Peter; Thackeray, Jim; Blakey, Idriss; Whittaker, Andrew

2017-03-01

Out of band (OOB) radiation from the EUV source has significant implications for the performance of EUVL photoresists. Here we introduce a surface-active polymer additive, capable of partitioning to the top of the resist film during casting and annealing, to protect the underlying photoresist from OOB radiation. Copolymers were prepared using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and rendered surface active by chain extension with a block of fluoro-monomer. Films were prepared from the EUV resist with added surface-active Embedded Barrier Layer (EBL), and characterized using measurements of contact angles and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Finally, the lithographic performance of the resist containing the EBL was evaluated using Electron Beam Lithography exposure

Optical properties of LiGaS2: an ab initio study and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atuchin, V. V.; Lin, Z. S.; Isaenko, L. I.; Kesler, V. G.; Kruchinin, V. N.; Lobanov, S. I.

2009-11-01

Electronic and optical properties of lithium thiogallate crystal, LiGaS2, have been investigated by both experimental and theoretical methods. The plane-wave pseudopotential method based on DFT theory has been used for band structure calculations. The electronic parameters of Ga 3d orbitals have been corrected by the DFT+U methods to be consistent with those measured with x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Evolution of optical constants of LiGaS2 over a wide spectral range was determined by developed first-principles theory and dispersion curves were compared with optical parameters defined by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the photon energy range 1.2-5.0 eV. Good agreement has been achieved between theoretical and experimental results.

Analyzing optical properties of thin vanadium oxide films through semiconductor-to-metal phase transition using spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jianing; Pribil, Greg K.

2017-11-01

We investigated the optical behaviors of vanadium dioxide (VO2) films through the semiconductor-to-metal (STM) phase transition using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Correlations between film thickness and refractive index were observed resulting from the absorbing nature of these films. Simultaneously analyzing data at multiple temperatures using Kramers-Kronig consistent oscillator models help identify film thickness. Nontrivial variations in resulting optical constants were observed through STM transition. As temperature increases, a clear increase is observed in near infrared absorption due to Drude losses that accompany the transition from semiconducting to metallic phases. Thin films grown on silicon and sapphire substrate present different optical properties and thermal hysteresis due to lattice stress and compositional differences.

Intrinsic evolutions of dielectric function and electronic transition in tungsten doping Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5} phase change films discovered by ellipsometry at elevated temperatures

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

Guo, S.; Ding, X. J.; Zhang, J. Z.

2015-02-02

Tungsten (W) doping effects on Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5} (GSTW) phase change films with different concentrations (3.2, 7.1, and 10.8%) have been investigated by variable-temperature spectroscopic ellipsometry. The dielectric functions from 210 K to 660 K have been evaluated with the aid of Tauc-Lorentz and Drude dispersion models. The analysis of Tauc gap energy (E{sub g}) and partial spectral weight integral reveal the correlation between optical properties and local structural change. The order degree increment and chemical bond change from covalent to resonant should be responsible for band gap narrowing and electronic transition enhancement during the phase change process. It is foundmore » that the elevated crystalline temperature for GSTW can be related to improved disorder degree. Furthermore, the shrinkage of E{sub g} for GSTW should be attributed to the enhanced metallicity compared with undoped GST.« less

FTIR and Vis-FUV real time spectroscopic ellipsometry studies of polymer surface modifications during ion beam bombardment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laskarakis, A.; Gravalidis, C.; Logothetidis, S.

2004-02-01

The continuously increasing application of polymeric materials in many scientific and technological fields has motivated an extensive use of polymer surface treatments, which modify the physical and chemical properties of polymer surfaces leading to surface activation and promotion of the surface adhesion. Fourier transform IR spectroscopic ellipsometry (FTIRSE) and phase modulated ellipsometry (PME) in the IR and Vis-FUV spectral regions respectively have been employed for in situ and real time monitoring of the structural changes on the polymer surface obtained by Ar + ion bombardment. The polymers were industrially supplied polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) membranes. The Ar + ion bombardment has found to change the chemical bonding of the films and especially the amount of the CO, C-C and CC groups. The detailed study of the FTIRSE spectra reveals important information about the effect of the Ar + ion bombardment on each of the above bonding groups. Also, the modification of the characteristic features, attributed to electronic transitions in specific bonds of PET and PEN macromolecules, has been studied using PME.

Controlled modification of resonant tunneling in metal-insulator-insulator-metal structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitrovic, I. Z.; Weerakkody, A. D.; Sedghi, N.; Ralph, J. F.; Hall, S.; Dhanak, V. R.; Luo, Z.; Beeby, S.

2018-01-01

We present comprehensive experimental and theoretical work on tunnel-barrier rectifiers comprising bilayer (Nb2O5/Al2O3) insulator configurations with similar (Nb/Nb) and dissimilar (Nb/Ag) metal electrodes. The electron affinity, valence band offset, and metal work function were ascertained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, and electrical measurements on fabricated reference structures. The experimental band line-up parameters were fed into a theoretical model to predict available bound states in the Nb2O5/Al2O3 quantum well and generate tunneling probability and transmittance curves under applied bias. The onset of strong resonance in the sub-V regime was found to be controlled by a work function difference of Nb/Ag electrodes in agreement with the experimental band alignment and theoretical model. A superior low-bias asymmetry of 35 at 0.1 V and a responsivity of 5 A/W at 0.25 V were observed for the Nb/4 nm Nb2O5/1 nm Al2O3/Ag structure, sufficient to achieve a rectification of over 90% of the input alternate current terahertz signal in a rectenna device.

Pulsed laser deposited GeTe-rich GeTe-Sb2Te3 thin films

PubMed Central

Bouška, M.; Pechev, S.; Simon, Q.; Boidin, R.; Nazabal, V.; Gutwirth, J.; Baudet, E.; Němec, P.

2016-01-01

Pulsed laser deposition technique was used for the fabrication of Ge-Te rich GeTe-Sb2Te3 (Ge6Sb2Te9, Ge8Sb2Te11, Ge10Sb2Te13, and Ge12Sb2Te15) amorphous thin films. To evaluate the influence of GeTe content in the deposited films on physico-chemical properties of the GST materials, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction and reflectometry, atomic force microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, optical reflectivity, and sheet resistance temperature dependences as well as variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements were used to characterize as-deposited (amorphous) and annealed (crystalline) layers. Upon crystallization, optical functions and electrical resistance of the films change drastically, leading to large optical and electrical contrast between amorphous and crystalline phases. Large changes of optical/electrical properties are accompanied by the variations of thickness, density, and roughness of the films due to crystallization. Reflectivity contrast as high as ~0.21 at 405 nm was calculated for Ge8Sb2Te11, Ge10Sb2Te13, and Ge12Sb2Te15 layers. PMID:27199107

Synthesis, Characterization and Optical Constants of Silicon Oxycarbide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Memon, Faisal Ahmed; Morichetti, Francesco; Abro, Muhammad Ishaque; Iseni, Giosue; Somaschini, Claudio; Aftab, Umair; Melloni, Andrea

2017-03-01

High refractive index glasses are preferred in integrated photonics applications to realize higher integration scale of passive devices. With a refractive index that can be tuned between SiO2 (1.45) and a-SiC (3.2), silicon oxycarbide SiOC offers this flexibility. In the present work, silicon oxycarbide thin films from 0.1 - 2.0 μm thickness are synthesized by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering a silicon carbide SiC target in a controlled argon and oxygen environment. The refractive index n and material extinction coefficient k of the silicon oxycarbide films are acquired with variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry over the UV-Vis-NIR wavelength range. Keeping argon and oxygen gases in the constant ratio, the refractive index n is found in the range from 1.41 to 1.93 at 600 nm which is almost linearly dependent on RF power of sputtering. The material extinction coefficient k has been estimated to be less than 10-4 for the deposited silicon oxycarbide films in the visible and near-infrared wavelength regions. Morphological and structural characterizations with SEM and XRD confirms the amorphous phase of the SiOC films.

Characterization of anisotropically shaped silver nanoparticle arrays via spectroscopic ellipsometry supported by numerical optical modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gkogkou, Dimitra; Shaykhutdinov, Timur; Oates, Thomas W. H.; Gernert, Ulrich; Schreiber, Benjamin; Facsko, Stefan; Hildebrandt, Peter; Weidinger, Inez M.; Esser, Norbert; Hinrichs, Karsten

2017-11-01

The present investigation aims to study the optical response of anisotropic Ag nanoparticle arrays deposited on rippled silicon substrates by performing a qualitative comparison between experimental and theoretical results. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used along with numerical calculations using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) to reveal trends in the optical and geometrical properties of the nanoparticle array. Ellipsometric data show two resonances, in the orthogonal x and y directions, that originate from localized plasmon resonances as demonstrated by the calculated near-fields from FDTD calculations. The far-field calculations by RCWA point to decoupled resonances in x direction and possible coupling effects in y direction, corresponding to the short and long axis of the anisotropic nanoparticles, respectively.

Optical constants of wurtzite ZnS thin films determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ong, H. C.; Chang, R. P. H.

2001-11-01

The complex dielectric functions of wurtzite ZnS thin films grown on (0001) Al2O3 have been determined by using spectroscopic ellipsometry over the spectral range of 1.33-4.7 eV. Below the band gap, the refractive index n is found to follow the first-order Sellmeir dispersion relationship n2(λ)=1+2.22λ2/(λ2-0.0382). Strong and well-defined free excitonic features located above the band edge are clearly observed at room temperature. The intrinsic optical parameters of wurtzite ZnS such as band gaps and excitonic binding energies have been determined by fitting the absorption spectrum using a modified Elliott expression together with Lorentizan broadening. Both parameters are found to be larger than their zinc blende counterparts.

Influence of deposition substrate temperature on the morphology and molecular orientation of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine films as well the performance of organic photovoltaic cells.

PubMed

Zheng, Yan-Qiong; Zhang, Jing; Yang, Fang; Komino, Takeshi; Wei, Bin; Zhang, Jianhua; Wang, Zixing; Pu, Wenhong; Yang, Changzhu; Adachi, Chihaya

2015-10-09

The dependence of the morphology of neat chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) films on substrate temperature (Tsub) during deposition is investigated by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to obtain detailed information about the molecular orientation, phase separation, and crystallinity. AFM images indicate that both grain size and root mean square (RMS) roughness noticeably increase with Tsub both in neat and blend films. Increasing Tsub from room temperature to 420 K increases the horizontal orientation of the ClAlPc molecules with an increase of the mean molecular tilt angle from 60.13° (300 K) to 65.86° (420 K). The UV-vis absorption band of the corresponding films increases and the peak wavelength slightly red shifts with the Tsub increase. XRD patterns show a clear diffraction peak at Tsub over 390 K, implying the π-stacking of interconnected ClAlPc molecules at high Tsub. Planar and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic cells containing pristine ClAlPc films and ClAlPc:C60 blend films fabricated at Tsub of 390 K show increases in the power conversion efficiency (ηPCE) of 28% (ηPCE = 3.12%) and 36% (ηPCE = 3.58%), respectively, relative to devices as-deposited at room temperature. The maximum short circuit current in BHJs is obtained at 390 K in the Tsub range from 300 K to 450 K.

In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry study of low-temperature epitaxial silicon growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halagačka, L.; Foldyna, M.; Leal, R.; Roca i Cabarrocas, P.

2018-07-01

Low-temperature growth of doped epitaxial silicon layers is a promising way to reduce the cost of p-n junction formation in c-Si solar cells. In this work, we study process of highly doped epitaxial silicon layer growth using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. The film was deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on a crystalline silicon substrate at a low substrate temperature of 200 °C. In the deposition process, SiF4 was used as a precursor, B2H6 as doping gas, and a hydrogen/argon mixture as carrier gas. A spectroscopic ellipsometer with a wide spectral range was used for in situ spectroscopic measurements. Since the temperature during process is 200 °C, the optical functions of silicon differ from these at room temperature and have to be adjusted. Thickness of the epitaxial silicon layer was fitted on in situ ellipsometric data. As a result we were able to determine the dynamics of epitaxial layer growth, namely initial layer formation time and epitaxial growth rate. This study opens new perspectives in understanding and monitoring the epitaxial silicon deposition processes as the model fitting can be applied directly during the growth.

Optimization and characterization of biomolecule immobilization on silicon substrates using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and glutaraldehyde linker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunda, Naga Siva Kumar; Singh, Minashree; Norman, Lana; Kaur, Kamaljit; Mitra, Sushanta K.

2014-06-01

In the present work, we developed and optimized a technique to produce a thin, stable silane layer on silicon substrate in a controlled environment using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The effect of APTES concentration and silanization time on the formation of silane layer is studied using spectroscopic ellipsometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Biomolecules of interest are immobilized on optimized silane layer formed silicon substrates using glutaraldehyde linker. Surface analytical techniques such as ellipsometry, FTIR, contact angle measurement system, and atomic force microscopy are employed to characterize the bio-chemically modified silicon surfaces at each step of the biomolecule immobilization process. It is observed that a uniform, homogenous and highly dense layer of biomolecules are immobilized with optimized silane layer on the silicon substrate. The developed immobilization method is successfully implemented on different silicon substrates (flat and pillar). Also, different types of biomolecules such as anti-human IgG (rabbit monoclonal to human IgG), Listeria monocytogenes, myoglobin and dengue capture antibodies were successfully immobilized. Further, standard sandwich immunoassay (antibody-antigen-antibody) is employed on respective capture antibody coated silicon substrates. Fluorescence microscopy is used to detect the respective FITC tagged detection antibodies bound to the surface after immunoassay.

Multichannel Spectroscopic Ellipsometry for CdTe Photovoltaics: from Materials and Interfaces to Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koirala, Prakash

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the mid-infrared to ultraviolet range has been implemented in order to develop and evaluate optimization procedures for CdTe solar cells at the different stages of fabrication. In this dissertation research, real time SE (RT-SE) has been applied during the fabrication of the as-deposited CdS/CdTe solar cell. Two areas of background research were addressed before undertaking the challenging RT-SE analysis procedures. First, optical functions were parameterized versus temperature for the glass substrate and its overlayers, including three different SnO2 layers. This database has applications not only for RT-SE analysis but also for on-line monitoring of the coated glass itself at elevated temperature. Second, post-deposition modifications of substrate have been studied by infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IR-SE) prior to the RT-SE analysis in order to evaluate the need for such modification in the analysis. With support from these background studies, RT-SE has been implemented in analyses of the evolution of the thin film structural properties during sputter deposition of polycrystalline CdS/CdTe solar cells on the transparent conducting oxide (TCO) coated glass substrates. The real time optical spectra collected during CdS/CdTe deposition were analyzed using the optical property database for all substrate components as a function of measurement temperature. RT-SE enables characterization of the filling process of the surface roughness modulations on the top-most SnO2 substrate layer, commonly referred to as the high resistivity transparent (HRT) layer. In this filling process, the optical properties of this surface layer are modified in accordance with an effective medium theory. In addition to providing information on interface formation to the substrate during film growth, RT-SE also provides information on the bulk layer CdS growth, its surface roughness evolution, as well as overlying CdTe interface formation and bulk layer growth. Information from RT-SE at a single point during solar cell stack deposition assists in the development of a model that has been used for mapping the properties of the completed cell stack, which can then be correlated with device performance. Independent non-uniformities in the layers over the full area of the cell stack enable optimization of cell performance combinatorially. The polycrystalline CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cell in the superstrate configuration has been studied by SE using glass side illumination whereby the single reflection from the glass/film-stack interface is collected whereas that from the ambient/glass interface and those from multiple glass/film-stack reflections are rejected. The SE data analysis applies an optical model consisting of a multilayer stack with bulk and interface layers. The dielectric functions epsilonfor the solar cell component materials were obtained by variable-angle and in-situ SE. Variability in the properties of the materials are introduced through free parameters in analytical expressions for the dielectric functions. In the SE analysis of the complete cell, a step-wise procedure ranks all free parameters of the model, including thicknesses and those defining the spectra in epsilon, according to their ability to reduce the root-mean-square deviation between simulated and measured SE spectra. The results for the best fit thicknesses compare well with electron microscopy. From the optical model, including all best-fit parameters, the solar cell quantum efficiency (QE) can be simulated without free parameters, and comparisons with QE measurements have enabled the identification of losses. The capabilities have wide applications in off-line photovoltaic module mapping and in-line monitoring of coated glass at intermediate stages of production. Mapping spectroscopic ellipsometry (M-SE) has been applied in this dissertation research as an optimization procedure for polycrystalline CdS/CdTe solar cell fabrication on TCO coated glass superstrates. During fabrication of these solar cells, the structure undergoes key processing steps after the sputter-deposition of the CdS/CdTe. These steps include CdCl2 treatment of the CdTe layer and subsequent deposition of ultrathin Cu. Additional steps involve final metal back contact layer deposition and an anneal for Cu diffusion that completes the device. In this study, we have fabricated cells with variable absorber thicknesses, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 mum, and variable CdCl2 treatment times, ranging from 5 to 30 min. Because both CdS window and Cu back contact layers are critical for determining device performance, the ability to characterize their deposition processes and determine the resulting process-property-performance relationships is important for device optimization. We have applied M-SE to map the effective thickness (volume/area) of the CdS and Cu films over 15 cm x 15 cm substrates prior to the fabrication of 16 x 16 arrays of dot cells. We report correlations of cell performance parameters with the CdCl2 treatment time and with the effective thicknesses from M-SE analysis. We demonstrate that correlations between optical/structural parameters extracted from M-SE analysis and device performance parameters facilitate process optimization. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Thin Film a-Si:H Solar Cell Fabrication by Multichamber Deposition in the n-i-p Substrate Configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dahal, Lila Raj

Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE), and ex-situ mapping spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) are powerful characterization techniques capable of performance optimization and scale-up evaluation of thin film solar cells used in various photovoltaics technologies. These non-invasive optical probes employ multichannel spectral detection for high speed and provide high precision parameters that describe (i) thin film structure, such as layer thicknesses, and (ii) thin film optical properties, such as oscillator variables in analytical expressions for the complex dielectric function. These parameters are critical for evaluating the electronic performance of materials in thin film solar cells and also can be used as inputs for simulating their multilayer optical performance. In this Thesis, the component layers of thin film hydrogenated silicon (Si:H) solar cells in the n-i-p or substrate configuration on rigid and flexible substrate materials have been studied by RTSE and ex-situ mapping SE. Depositions were performed by magnetron sputtering for the metal and transparent conducting oxide contacts and by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) for the semiconductor doped contacts and intrinsic absorber layers. The motivations are first to optimize the thin film Si:H solar cell in n-i-p substrate configuration for single-junction small-area dot cells and ultimately to scale-up the optimized process to larger areas with minimum loss in device performance. Deposition phase diagrams for both i- and p -layers on 2" x 2" rigid borosilicate glass substrate were developed as functions of the hydrogen-to-silane flow ratio in PECVD. These phase diagrams were correlated with the performance parameters of the corresponding solar cells, fabricated in the Cr/Ag/ZnO/n/i/ p/ITO structure. In both cases, optimization was achieved when the layers were deposited in the protocrystalline phase. Identical solar cell structures were fabricated on 6" x 6" borosilicate glass with 256 cells followed by ex-situ mapping SE on each cell to achieve better statistics for solar cell optimization by correlating local structural parameters with solar cell parameters. Solar cells of similar structure were also fabricated on flexible polymer substrates in the roll-to-roll configuration. In this configuration as well, RTSE was demonstrated as an effective process monitoring and control tool for thin film photovoltaics.

Surface Analysis Cluster Tool | Materials Science | NREL

Science.gov Websites

spectroscopic ellipsometry during film deposition. The cluster tool can be used to study the effect of various prior to analysis. Here we illustrate the surface cleaning effect of an aqueous ammonia treatment on a

Spectroscopic ellipsometry investigation of the optical properties of graphene oxide dip-coated on magnetron sputtered gold thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Politano, Grazia Giuseppina; Vena, Carlo; Desiderio, Giovanni; Versace, Carlo

2018-02-01

Despite intensive investigations on graphene oxide-gold nanocomposites, the interaction of graphene oxide sheets with magnetron sputtered gold thin films has not been studied yet. The optical constants of graphene oxide thin films dip-coated on magnetron sputtered gold thin films were determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the [300-1000] wavelength range. Moreover, the morphologic properties of the samples were investigated by SEM analysis. Graphene oxide absorbs mainly in the ultraviolet region, but when it is dip-coated on magnetron sputtered gold thin films, its optical constants show dramatic changes, becoming absorbing in the visible region, with a peak of the extinction coefficient at 3.1 eV. Using magnetron sputtered gold thin films as a substrate for graphene oxide thin films could therefore be the key to enhance graphene oxide optical sheets' properties for several technological applications, preserving their oxygen content and avoiding the reduction process.

Optical and structural properties of 100 MeV Fe{sup 9+} ion irradiated InP

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

Dubey, R. L., E-mail: radhekrishna.dubey@xaviers.edu; Department of Physics, University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400 032; Dubey, S. K.

2016-05-06

Single crystal InP samples were irradiated with 100 MeV Fe{sup 9+} ions for ion fluences 1x10{sup 12} and 1x10{sup 13} cm{sup −2}. Optical properties of irradiated InP was investigated by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy. The optical parameters like, refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient is found to be fluence dependent near the surface as well as near the projected range. Small change in the optical parameters near the surface region as investigated by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry indicatesthat the surfaces of irradiated InP are similar to non-irradiated InP. This is also supported by RBS/C measurements. The UV-VIS-NIR study revealed the decrease inmore » the band gap and increase in the defect concentration in the irradiated sample as a result of nuclear energy loss.« less

Spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry for automated search of flakes of mono- and n-layers of 2D-materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Funke, S.; Wurstbauer, U.; Miller, B.; Matković, A.; Green, A.; Diebold, A.; Röling, C.; Thiesen, P. H.

2017-11-01

Spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry (SIE) is used to localize and characterize flakes of conducting, semi-conducting and insulating 2D-materials. Although the research in the field of monolayers of 2D-materials increased the last years, it is still challenging to look for small flakes and distinguish between different layer numbers. Special substrates are used to enhance optical contrast for the conventional light microscopy (LM). In case when other functional support from the substrate is essential, an additional transfer step needs to be employed, bringing the drawbacks as contamination, cracking and wrinkling of the 2D materials. Furthermore it is time-consuming and not yet fully automatically to search for monolayers by contrast with the LM. Here we present a method, that is able to automatically localize regions with desired thicknesses, e.g. monolayers, of the different materials on arbitrary substrates.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry study of Cu2ZnSnS4 bulk poly-crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levcenko, S.; Hajdeu-Chicarosh, E.; Garcia-Llamas, E.; Caballero, R.; Serna, R.; Bodnar, I. V.; Victorov, I. A.; Guc, M.; Merino, J. M.; Pérez-Rodriguez, A.; Arushanov, E.; León, M.

2018-04-01

The linear optical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 bulk poly-crystals have been investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range of 1.2-4.6 eV at room temperature. The characteristic features identified in the optical spectra are explained by using the Adachi analytical model for the interband transitions at the corresponding critical points in the Brillouin zone. The experimental data have been modeled over the entire spectral range taking into account the lowest E0 transition near the fundamental absorption edge and E1A and E1B higher energy interband transitions. In addition, the spectral dependences of the refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, and normal-incidence reflectivity values have been accurately determined and are provided since they are essential data for the design of Cu2ZnSnS4 based optoelectronic devices.

Water Vapor Uptake of Ultrathin Films of Biologically Derived Nanocrystals: Quantitative Assessment with Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry.

PubMed

Niinivaara, Elina; Faustini, Marco; Tammelin, Tekla; Kontturi, Eero

2015-11-10

Despite the relevance of water interactions, explicit analysis of vapor adsorption on biologically derived surfaces is often difficult. Here, a system was introduced to study the vapor uptake on a native polysaccharide surface; namely, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) ultrathin films were examined with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). A significant mass uptake of water vapor by the CNC films was detected using the QCM-D upon increasing relative humidity. In addition, thickness changes proportional to changes in relative humidity were detected using SE. Quantitative analysis of the results attained indicated that in preference to being soaked by water at the point of hydration each individual CNC in the film became enveloped by a 1 nm thick layer of adsorbed water vapor, resulting in the detected thickness response.

Atomic Force Microscopy and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry combined analysis of Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier adsorption on functional monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solano, Ilaria; Parisse, Pietro; Gramazio, Federico; Ianeselli, Luca; Medagli, Barbara; Cavalleri, Ornella; Casalis, Loredana; Canepa, Maurizio

2017-11-01

The comprehension of mechanisms of interaction between functional layers and proteins is relevant for the development of sensitive and precise biosensors. Here we report our study which combines Atomic Force Microscopy and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry to investigate the His-Ni-NTA mediated interaction between 6His-tagged Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) protein with self assembled monolayers of NTA terminated alkanethiols. The use of AFM-based nanolithograhic tools and the analysis of ellipsometric spectra in situ and ex situ provided us a solid method to disentangle the effects of Ni(II)-mediated interaction between the NTA layer and the 6His-tagged SUMO and to accurately determine in physiological condition the thickness value of the SUMO layer. This investigation is a first step towards the study of layered systems of greater complexity of which the NTA/6His-tagged SUMO is a prototypical example.

Surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization grafting of sodium styrene sulfonate from titanium and silicon substrates.

PubMed

Foster, Rami N; Keefe, Andrew J; Jiang, Shaoyi; Castner, David G

2013-11-01

This study investigates the grafting of poly-sodium styrene sulfonate (pNaSS) from trichlorosilane/10-undecen-1-yl 2-bromo-2-methylpropionate functionalized Si and Ti substrates by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The composition, molecular structure, thickness, and topography of the grafted pNaSS films were characterized with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. XPS and ToF-SIMS results were consistent with the successful grafting of a thick and uniform pNaSS film on both substrates. VASE and AFM scratch tests showed the films were between 25 and 49 nm thick on Si, and between 13 and 35 nm thick on Ti. AFM determined root-mean-square roughness values were ∼2 nm on both Si and Ti substrates. Therefore, ATRP grafting is capable of producing relatively smooth, thick, and chemically homogeneous pNaSS films on Si and Ti substrates. These films will be used in subsequent studies to test the hypothesis that pNaSS-grafted Ti implants preferentially adsorb certain plasma proteins in an orientation and conformation that modulates the foreign body response and promotes formation of new bone.

Surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization grafting of sodium styrene sulfonate from titanium and silicon substrates

PubMed Central

Foster, Rami N.; Keefe, Andrew J.; Jiang, Shaoyi; Castner, David G.

2013-01-01

This study investigates the grafting of poly-sodium styrene sulfonate (pNaSS) from trichlorosilane/10-undecen-1-yl 2-bromo-2-methylpropionate functionalized Si and Ti substrates by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The composition, molecular structure, thickness, and topography of the grafted pNaSS films were characterized with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. XPS and ToF-SIMS results were consistent with the successful grafting of a thick and uniform pNaSS film on both substrates. VASE and AFM scratch tests showed the films were between 25 and 49 nm thick on Si, and between 13 and 35 nm thick on Ti. AFM determined root-mean-square roughness values were ∼2 nm on both Si and Ti substrates. Therefore, ATRP grafting is capable of producing relatively smooth, thick, and chemically homogeneous pNaSS films on Si and Ti substrates. These films will be used in subsequent studies to test the hypothesis that pNaSS-grafted Ti implants preferentially adsorb certain plasma proteins in an orientation and conformation that modulates the foreign body response and promotes formation of new bone. PMID:24482558

Tuning optical absorption and photoexcited recombination dynamics in La1-xSrxFeO3-δ through A-site substitution and oxygen vacancies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolin, Sergey; Scafetta, Mark; Choquette, Amber; Sfeir, Matthew; Baxter, Jason; May, Steven

We study optical absorption and recombination dynamics in La1-xSrxFeO3-δ thin films, uncovering the effects of tuning nominal Fe valence via A-site substitution and oxygen stoichiometry. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to measure static optical properties, revealing a linear increase in absorption coefficient at 1.25 eV and a red-shifting of the optical absorption edge with increasing Sr fraction. The absorption spectra can be similarly tuned through the introduction of oxygen vacancies, indicating the critical role that nominal Fe valence plays in optical absorption. Dynamic optoelectronic properties were studied with ultrafast transient reflectance spectroscopy, revealing similar nanosecond photoexcited carrier lifetimes for oxygen deficient and stoichiometric films with the same nominal Fe valence. These results demonstrate that while the static optical absorption is strongly dependent on Fe valence tuned through cation or anion stoichiometry, oxygen vacancies do not appear to play a significantly detrimental role in the recombination kinetics. Nsf: ECCS-1201957, MRI DMR-0922929, MRI DMR-1040166. This research used resources of the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, which is a U.S. DOE Office of Science Facility, at Brookhaven National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-SC0012704.

Combined ellipsometry and refractometry technique for characterisation of liquid crystal based nanocomposites.

PubMed

Warenghem, Marc; Henninot, Jean François; Blach, Jean François; Buchnev, Oleksandr; Kaczmarek, Malgosia; Stchakovsky, Michel

2012-03-01

Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a technique especially well suited to measure the effective optical properties of a composite material. However, as the sample is optically thick and anisotropic, this technique loses its accuracy for two reasons: anisotropy means that two parameters have to be determined (ordinary and extraordinary indices) and optically thick means a large order of interference. In that case, several dielectric functions can emerge out of the fitting procedure with a similar mean square error and no criterion to discriminate the right solution. In this paper, we develop a methodology to overcome that drawback. It combines ellipsometry with refractometry. The same sample is used in a total internal reflection (TIR) setup and in a spectroscopic ellipsometer. The number of parameters to be determined by the fitting procedure is reduced in analysing two spectra, the correct final solution is found by using the TIR results both as initial values for the parameters and as check for the final dielectric function. A prefitting routine is developed to enter the right initial values in the fitting procedure and so to approach the right solution. As an example, this methodology is used to analyse the optical properties of BaTiO(3) nanoparticles embedded in a nematic liquid crystal. Such a methodology can also be used to analyse experimentally the validity of the mixing laws, since ellipsometry gives the effective dielectric function and thus, can be compared to the dielectric function of the components of the mixture, as it is shown on the example of BaTiO(3)/nematic composite.

Role of an Oxidant Mixture as Surface Modifier of Porous Silicon Microstructures Evaluated by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

PubMed Central

Montiel-González, Zeuz; Escobar, Salvador; Nava, Rocío; del Río, J. Antonio; Tagüeña-Martínez, Julia

2016-01-01

Current research on porous silicon includes the construction of complex structures with luminescent and/or photonic properties. However, their preparation with both characteristics is still challenging. Recently, our group reported a possible method to achieve that by adding an oxidant mixture to the electrolyte used to produce porous silicon. This mixture can chemically modify their microstructure by changing the thickness and surface passivation of the pore walls. In this work, we prepared a series of samples (with and without oxidant mixture) and we evaluated the structural differences through their scanning electron micrographs and their optical properties determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The results showed that ellipsometry is sensitive to slight variations in the porous silicon structure, caused by changes in their preparation. The fitting process, based on models constructed from the features observed in the micrographs, allowed us to see that the mayor effect of the oxidant mixture is on samples of high porosity, where the surface oxidation strongly contributes to the skeleton thinning during the electrochemical etching. This suggests the existence of a porosity threshold for the action of the oxidant mixture. These results could have a significant impact on the design of complex porous silicon structures for different optoelectronic applications. PMID:27097767

Role of an Oxidant Mixture as Surface Modifier of Porous Silicon Microstructures Evaluated by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry.

PubMed

Montiel-González, Zeuz; Escobar, Salvador; Nava, Rocío; del Río, J Antonio; Tagüeña-Martínez, Julia

2016-04-21

Current research on porous silicon includes the construction of complex structures with luminescent and/or photonic properties. However, their preparation with both characteristics is still challenging. Recently, our group reported a possible method to achieve that by adding an oxidant mixture to the electrolyte used to produce porous silicon. This mixture can chemically modify their microstructure by changing the thickness and surface passivation of the pore walls. In this work, we prepared a series of samples (with and without oxidant mixture) and we evaluated the structural differences through their scanning electron micrographs and their optical properties determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The results showed that ellipsometry is sensitive to slight variations in the porous silicon structure, caused by changes in their preparation. The fitting process, based on models constructed from the features observed in the micrographs, allowed us to see that the mayor effect of the oxidant mixture is on samples of high porosity, where the surface oxidation strongly contributes to the skeleton thinning during the electrochemical etching. This suggests the existence of a porosity threshold for the action of the oxidant mixture. These results could have a significant impact on the design of complex porous silicon structures for different optoelectronic applications.

Enhanced sensitivity to dielectric function and thickness of absorbing thin films by combining total internal reflection ellipsometry with standard ellipsometry and reflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lizana, A.; Foldyna, M.; Stchakovsky, M.; Georges, B.; Nicolas, D.; Garcia-Caurel, E.

2013-03-01

High sensitivity of spectroscopic ellipsometry and reflectometry for the characterization of thin films can strongly decrease when layers, typically metals, absorb a significant fraction of the light. In this paper, we propose a solution to overcome this drawback using total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) and exciting a surface longitudinal wave: a plasmon-polariton. As in the attenuated total reflectance technique, TIRE exploits a minimum in the intensity of reflected transversal magnetic (TM) polarized light and enhances the sensitivity of standard methods to thicknesses of absorbing films. Samples under study were stacks of three films, ZnO : Al/Ag/ZnO : Al, deposited on glass substrates. The thickness of the silver layer varied from sample to sample. We performed measurements with a UV-visible phase-modulated ellipsometer, an IR Mueller ellipsometer and a UV-NIR reflectometer. We used the variance-covariance formalism to evaluate the sensitivity of the ellipsometric data to different parameters of the optical model. Results have shown that using TIRE doubled the sensitivity to the silver layer thickness when compared with the standard ellipsometry. Moreover, the thickness of the ZnO : Al layer below the silver layer can be reliably quantified, unlike for the fit of the standard ellipsometry data, which is limited by the absorption of the silver layer.

Designing optical metamaterial with hyperbolic dispersion based on Al:ZnO/ZnO nano-layered structure using Atomic Layer Deposition technique

DOE PAGES

Kelly, Priscilla; Liu, Mingzhao; Kuznetsova, Lyuba

2016-04-07

In this study, nano-layered Al:ZnO/ZnO hyperbolic dispersion metamaterial with a large number of layers was fabricated using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. Experimental dielectric functions for Al:ZnO/ZnO structures are obtained by an ellipsometry technique in the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges. The theoretical modeling of the Al:ZnO/ZnO dielectric permittivity is done using effective medium approximation. A method for analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry data is demonstrated to extract the optical permittivity for this highly anisotropic nano-layered metamaterial. The results of the ellipsometry analysis show that Al:ZnO/ZnO structures with a 1:9 ALD cycle ratio exhibit hyperbolic dispersion transition change near 1.8more » μm wavelength.« less

Characterizing dielectric tensors of anisotropic materials from a single measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Paula Kay

Ellipsometry techniques look at changes in polarization states to measure optical properties of thin film materials. A beam reflected from a substrate measures the real and imaginary parts of the index of the material represented as n and k, respectively. Measuring the substrate at several angles gives additional information that can be used to measure multilayer thin film stacks. However, the outstanding problem in standard ellipsometry is that it uses a limited number of incident polarization states (s and p). This limits the technique to isotropic materials. The technique discussed in this paper extends the standard process to measure anisotropic materials by using a larger set of incident polarization states. By using a polarimeter to generate several incident polarization states and measure the polarization properties of the sample, ellipsometry can be performed on biaxial materials. Use of an optimization algorithm in conjunction with biaxial ellipsometry can more accurately determine the dielectric tensor of individual layers in multilayer structures. Biaxial ellipsometry is a technique that measures the dielectric tensors of a biaxial substrate, single-layer thin film, or multi-layer structure. The dielectric tensor of a biaxial material consists of the real and imaginary parts of the three orthogonal principal indices (n x + ikx, ny +iky and nz + i kz) as well as three Euler angles (alpha, beta and gamma) to describe its orientation. The method utilized in this work measures an angle-of-incidence Mueller matrix from a Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter equipped with a pair of microscope objectives that have low polarization properties. To accurately determine the dielectric tensors for multilayer samples, the angle-of-incidence Mueller matrix images are collected for multiple wavelengths. This is done in either a transmission mode or a reflection mode, each incorporates an appropriate dispersion model. Given approximate a priori knowledge of the dielectric tensor and film thickness, a Jones reflectivity matrix is calculated by solving Maxwell's equations at each surface. Converting the Jones matrix into a Mueller matrix provides a starting point for optimization. An optimization algorithm then finds the best fit dielectric tensor based on the measured angle-of-incidence Mueller matrix image. This process can be applied to polarizing materials, birefringent crystals and the multilayer structures of liquid crystal displays. In particular, the need for such accuracy in liquid crystal displays is growing as their applications in industry evolve.

Effective electron mass and phonon modes in n-type hexagonal InN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasic, A.; Schubert, M.; Saito, Y.; Nanishi, Y.; Wagner, G.

2002-03-01

Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry and micro-Raman scattering are used to study vibrational and electronic properties of high-quality hexagonal InN. The 0.22-μm-thick highly n-conductive InN film was grown on c-plane sapphire by radio-frequency molecular-beam epitaxy. Combining our results from the ellipsometry data analysis with Hall-effect measurements, the isotropically averaged effective electron mass in InN is determined as 0.14m0. The resonantly excited zone center E1 (TO) phonon mode is observed at 477 cm-1 in the ellipsometry spectra. Despite the high electron concentration in the film, a strong Raman mode occurs in the spectral range of the unscreened A1(LO) phonon. Because an extended carrier-depleted region at the sample surface can be excluded from the ellipsometry-model analysis, we assign this mode to the lower branch of the large-wave-vector LO-phonon-plasmon coupled modes arising from nonconserving wave-vector scattering processes. The spectral position of this mode at 590 cm-1 constitutes a lower limit for the unscreened A1(LO) phonon frequency.

The optical properties of transferred graphene and the dielectrics grown on it obtained by ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasikov, Aarne; Kahro, Tauno; Matisen, Leonard; Kodu, Margus; Tarre, Aivar; Seemen, Helina; Alles, Harry

2018-04-01

Graphene layers grown by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method and transferred from Cu-foils to the oxidized Si-substrates were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), Raman and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) methods. The optical properties of transferred CVD graphene layers do not always correspond to the ones of the exfoliated graphene due to the contamination from the chemicals used in the transfer process. However, the real thickness and the mean properties of the transferred CVD graphene layers can be found using ellipsometry if a real thickness of the SiO2 layer is taken into account. The pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods were used to grow dielectric layers on the transferred graphene and the obtained structures were characterized using optical methods. The approach demonstrated in this work could be useful for the characterization of various materials grown on graphene.

Optical characterizations of silver nanoprisms embedded in polymer thin film layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carlberg, Miriam; Pourcin, Florent; Margeat, Olivier; Le Rouzo, Judikael; Berginc, Gerard; Sauvage, Rose-Marie; Ackermann, Jorg; Escoubas, Ludovic

2017-10-01

The precise control of light-matter interaction has a wide range of applications and is currently driven by the use of nanoparticles (NPs) by the recent advances in nanotechnology. Taking advantage of the material, size, shape, and surrounding media dependence of the optical properties of plasmonic NPs, thin film layers with tunable optical properties are achieved. The NPs are synthesized by wet chemistry and embedded in a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer thin film layer. Spectrophotometer and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements are coupled to finite-difference time domain numerical modeling to optically characterize the heterogeneous thin film layers. Silver nanoprisms of 10 to 50 nm edge size exhibit high absorption through the visible wavelength range. A simple optical model composed of a Cauchy law and a Lorentz law, accounting for the optical properties of the nonabsorbing polymer and the absorbing property of the nanoprisms, fits the spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. Knowing the complex optical indices of heterogeneous thin film layers let us design layers of any optical properties.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis of nanocrystalline silicon carbide obtained at low temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerdiles, S.; Madelon, R.; Rizk, R.

2001-12-01

Thin films of silicon carbide obtained by hydrogen-reactive magnetron sputtering with various substrate temperatures TS (100-600 °C) were analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The TEM images show evidence of the growth of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon carbide (nc-SiC:H) deposited at TS as low as 300 °C, with an average grain size of 4-5 nm. The SE spectra were reproduced by using the Forouhi-Bloomer model and assuming a 7 nm thick overlayer with a void fraction of 45%. The observed increase of the refractive index with TS is assigned to the improvement of both crystallinity and compactness of the layer. The expected increase of the optical gap seems to be offset by the drop of hydrogen content, leaving the gap unchanged. The fabrication and characteristics of nc-SiC:H/c-Si diode are finally described and the data indicate a good rectifying behaviour, together with a low leakage current.

Characteristic of Nano-Cu Film Prepared by Energy Filtrating Magnetron Sputtering Technique and Its Optical Property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhaoyong; Hu, Xing; Yao, Ning

2015-03-01

At the optimized deposition parameters, Cu film was deposited by the direct current magnetron sputtering (DMS) technique and the energy filtrating magnetron sputtering (EFMS) technique. The nano-structure was charactered by x-ray diffraction. The surface morphology of the film was observed by atomic force microscopy. The optical properties of the film were measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The refractive index, extinction coefficient and the thickness of the film were obtained by the fitted spectroscopic ellipsometry data using the Drude-Lorentz oscillator optical model. Results suggested that a Cu film with different properties was fabricated by the EFMS technique. The film containing smaller particles is denser and the surface is smoother. The average transmission coefficient, the refractive index and the extinction coefficients are higher than those of the Cu film deposited by the DMS technique. The average transmission coefficient (400-800 nm) is more than three times higher. The refractive index and extinction coefficient (at 550 nm) are more than 36% and 14% higher, respectively.

Thermally-induced first-order phase transition in the (FC6H4C2H4NH3)2[PbI4] photoluminescent organic-inorganic material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koubaa, M.; Dammak, T.; Garrot, D.; Castro, M.; Codjovi, E.; Mlayah, A.; Abid, Y.; Boukheddaden, K.

2012-03-01

The thermal properties of the perovskite slab alkylammonium lead iodide (FC6H4C2H4NH3)2[PbI4] are investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry, differential scanning calorimetry, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy. The spectroscopic ellipsometry, performed in the heating mode, clearly evidenced the presence of a singularity at 375 K. This is corroborated by the temperature dependence of the photoluminescence, which pointed out a first-order order-disorder phase transition at ˜375 K, with a hysteresis loop of 40 K width. Raman spectroscopy data suggest that this transition arises from a dynamic rotational disordering of the ammonium headgroups of the alkylammonium chain. In contrast, differential scanning calorimetry measurements on a pellet sample led to an entropy change value ΔS ≈0.39 J/K/mol at the transition, suggesting the existence of a residual short-range order of the NH3+ on cooling from the high temperature phase.

Infrared metamaterial by RF magnetron sputtered ZnO/Al:ZnO multilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santiago, Kevin C.; Mundle, Rajeh; White, Curtis; Bahoura, Messaoud; Pradhan, Aswini K.

2018-03-01

Hyperbolic metamaterials create artificial anisotropy using metallic wires suspended in dielectric media or alternating layers of a metal and dielectric (Type I or Type II). In this study we fabricated ZnO/Al:ZnO (AZO) multilayers by the RF magnetron sputtering deposition technique. Our fabricated multilayers satisfy the requirements for a type II hyperbolic metamaterial. The optical response of individual AZO and ZnO films, as well as the multilayered film were investigated via UV-vis-IR transmittance and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The optical response of the multilayered system is calculated using the nonlocal-corrected Effective Medium Approximation (EMA). The spectroscopic ellipsometry data of the multilayered system was modeled using a uniaxial material model and EMA model. Both theoretical and experimental studies validate the fabricated multilayers undergo a hyperbolic transition at a wavelength of 2.2 μm. To our knowledge this is the first AZO/ZnO type II hyperbolic metamaterial system fabricated by magnetron sputtering deposition method.

Exciton-phonon coupling in diindenoperylene thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinemeyer, U.; Scholz, R.; Gisslén, L.; Alonso, M. I.; Ossó, J. O.; Garriga, M.; Hinderhofer, A.; Kytka, M.; Kowarik, S.; Gerlach, A.; Schreiber, F.

2008-08-01

We investigate exciton-phonon coupling and exciton transfer in diindenoperylene (DIP) thin films on oxidized Si substrates by analyzing the dielectric function determined by variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. Since the molecules in the thin-film phase form crystallites that are randomly oriented azimuthally and highly oriented along the surface normal, DIP films exhibit strongly anisotropic optical properties with uniaxial symmetry. This anisotropy can be determined by multiple sample analysis. The thin-film spectrum is compared with a monomer spectrum in solution, which reveals similar vibronic subbands and a Huang-Rhys parameter of S≈0.87 for an effective internal vibration at ℏωeff=0.17eV . However, employing these parameters the observed dielectric function of the DIP films cannot be described by a pure Frenkel exciton model, and the inclusion of charge-transfer (CT) states becomes mandatory. A model Hamiltonian is parametrized with density-functional theory calculations of single DIP molecules and molecule pairs in the stacking geometry of the thin-film phase, revealing the vibronic coupling constants of DIP in its excited and charged states together with electron and hole transfer integrals along the stack. From a fit of the model calculation to the observed dielectric tensor, we find the lowest CT transition E00CT at 0.26±0.05eV above the neutral molecular excitation energy E00F , which is an important parameter for device applications.

Static and dynamic optical properties of La 1-xSr xFeO 3-δ: The effects of A-site and oxygen stoichiometry

DOE PAGES

Sergey Y. Smolin; Sfeir, Matthew Y.; Scafetta, Mark D.; ...

2015-12-09

Perovskite oxides are a promising material class for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications due to their visible band gaps, nanosecond recombination lifetimes, and great chemical diversity. However, there is limited understanding of the link between composition and static and dynamic optical properties, despite the critical role these properties play in the design of light-harvesting devices. To clarify these relationships, we systemically studied the optoelectronic properties in La 1-xSr xFeO 3-δ epitaxial films, uncovering the effects of A-site cation substitution and oxygen stoichiometry. Variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to measure static optical properties, revealing a linear increase in absorption coefficient at 1.25more » eV and a red-shifting of the optical absorption edge with increasing Sr fraction. The absorption spectra can be similarly tuned through the introduction of oxygen vacancies, indicating the critical role that nominal Fe valence plays in optical absorption. Dynamic optoelectronic properties were studied with ultrafast transient reflectance spectroscopy, revealing similar nanosecond photoexcited carrier lifetimes for oxygen deficient and stoichiometric films with the same nominal Fe valence. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that while the static optical absorption is strongly dependent on nominal Fe valence tuned through cation or anion stoichiometry, oxygen vacancies do not appear to play a significantly detrimental role in the recombination kinetics.« less

Compositionally Dependent Nonlinear Optical Bandgap Behavior of Mixed Anodic Oxides in Niobium-Titanium System.

PubMed

Bleckenwegner, Petra; Mardare, Cezarina Cela; Cobet, Christoph; Kollender, Jan Philipp; Hassel, Achim Walter; Mardare, Andrei Ionut

2017-02-13

Optical bandgap mapping of Nb-Ti mixed oxides anodically grown on a thin film parent metallic combinatorial library was performed via variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE). A wide Nb-Ti compositional spread ranging from Nb-90 at.% Ti to Nb-15 at.% Ti deposited by cosputtering was used for this purpose. The Nb-Ti library was stepwise anodized at potentials up to 10 V SHE, and the anodic oxides optical properties were mapped along the Nb-Ti library with 2 at.% resolution. The surface dissimilarities along the Nb-Ti compositional gradient were minimized by tuning the deposition parameters, thus allowing a description of the mixed Nb-Ti oxides based on a single Tauc-Lorentz oscillator for data fitting. Mapping of the Nb-Ti oxides optical bandgap along the entire compositional spread showed a clear deviation from the linear model based on mixing individual Nb and Ti electronegativities proportional to their atomic fractions. This is attributed to the strong amorphization and an in-depth compositional gradient of the mixed oxides. A systematic optical bandgap decrease toward values as low as 2.0 eV was identified at approximately 50 at.% Nb. Mixing of Nb 2 O 5 and TiO 2 with both amorphous and crystalline phases is concluded, whereas the possibility of complex Nb a Ti b O y oxide formation during anodization is unlikely.

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.

Measurement of InAsSb bandgap energy and InAs/InAsSb band edge positions using spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy

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

Webster, P. T.; Riordan, N. A.; Liu, S.

2015-12-28

The structural and optical properties of lattice-matched InAs{sub 0.911}Sb{sub 0.089} bulk layers and strain-balanced InAs/InAs{sub 1−x}Sb{sub x} (x ∼ 0.1–0.4) superlattices grown on (100)-oriented GaSb substrates by molecular beam epitaxy are examined using X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and temperature dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photoluminescence and ellipsometry measurements determine the ground state bandgap energy and the X-ray diffraction measurements determine the layer thickness and mole fraction of the structures studied. Detailed modeling of the X-ray diffraction data is employed to quantify unintentional incorporation of approximately 1% Sb into the InAs layers of the superlattices. A Kronig-Penney model of the superlattice miniband structure ismore » used to analyze the valence band offset between InAs and InAsSb, and hence the InAsSb band edge positions at each mole fraction. The resulting composition dependence of the bandgap energy and band edge positions of InAsSb are described using the bandgap bowing model; the respective low and room temperature bowing parameters for bulk InAsSb are 938 and 750 meV for the bandgap, 558 and 383 meV for the conduction band, and −380 and −367 meV for the valence band.« less

Fast IR laser mapping ellipsometry for the study of functional organic thin films.

PubMed

Furchner, Andreas; Sun, Guoguang; Ketelsen, Helge; Rappich, Jörg; Hinrichs, Karsten

2015-03-21

Fast infrared mapping with sub-millimeter lateral resolution as well as time-resolved infrared studies of kinetic processes of functional organic thin films require a new generation of infrared ellipsometers. We present a novel laboratory-based infrared (IR) laser mapping ellipsometer, in which a laser is coupled to a variable-angle rotating analyzer ellipsometer. Compared to conventional Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) ellipsometers, the IR laser ellipsometer provides ten- to hundredfold shorter measurement times down to 80 ms per measured spot, as well as about tenfold increased lateral resolution of 120 μm, thus enabling mapping of small sample areas with thin-film sensitivity. The ellipsometer, equipped with a HeNe laser emitting at about 2949 cm(-1), was applied for the optical characterization of inhomogeneous poly(3-hexylthiophene) [P3HT] and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [PNIPAAm] organic thin films used for opto-electronics and bioapplications. With the constant development of tunable IR laser sources, laser-based infrared ellipsometry is a promising technique for fast in-depth mapping characterization of thin films and blends.

Effects of working pressure and annealing on bulk density and nanopore structures in amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ide, Keisuke; Kikuchi, Mitsuho; Ota, Masato; Sasase, Masato; Hiramatsu, Hidenori; Kumomi, Hideya; Hosono, Hideo; Kamiya, Toshio

2017-03-01

Microstructures of amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O (a-IGZO) thin films of different densities were analyzed. Device-quality a-IGZO films were deposited under optimum conditions, e.g., the total pressure P tot = 0.55 Pa produced high film densities of ˜6.1 g/cm3, while a very high P tot = 5.0 Pa produced low film densities of 5.5 g/cm3. Both films formed uniform high-density layers in the vicinity of the glass substrate, 10-20 nm in thickness depending on P tot, while their growth mode changed to a sparse columnar structure in thicker regions. X-ray reflectivity and in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry provided different results on densification by post deposition thermal annealing; i.e., the latter has a higher sensitivity. High-Z-contrast images obtained by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy were also useful for detecting nanometer-size non uniformity even in device-quality a-IGZO films.

Optical and structural properties of cobalt-permalloy slanted columnar heterostructure thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekora, Derek; Briley, Chad; Schubert, Mathias; Schubert, Eva

2017-11-01

Optical and structural properties of sequential Co-column-NiFe-column slanted columnar heterostructure thin films with an Al2O3 passivation coating are reported. Electron-beam evaporated glancing angle deposition is utilized to deposit the sequential multiple-material slanted columnar heterostructure thin films. Mueller matrix generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry data is analyzed with a best-match model approach employing the anisotropic Bruggeman effective medium approximation formalism to determine bulk-like and anisotropic optical and structural properties of the individual Co and NiFe slanted columnar material sub-layers. Scanning electron microscopy is applied to image the Co-NiFe sequential growth properties and to verify the results of the ellipsometric analysis. Comparisons to single-material slanted columnar thin films and optically bulk solid thin films are presented and discussed. We find that the optical and structural properties of each material sub-layer of the sequential slanted columnar heterostructure film are distinct from each other and resemble those of their respective single-material counterparts.

Effect of argon ion activity on the properties of Y 2O 3 thin films deposited by low pressure PACVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barve, S. A.; Jagannath; Deo, M. N.; Kishore, R.; Biswas, A.; Gantayet, L. M.; Patil, D. S.

2010-10-01

Yttrium oxide thin films are deposited by microwave electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma assisted metal organic chemical vapour deposition process using an indegeneously developed Y(thd) 3 {(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate)yttrium} precursor. Depositions were carried out at two different argon gas flow rates keeping precursor and oxygen gas flow rate constant. The deposited coatings are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and infrared spectroscopy. Optical properties of the films are studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Hardness and elastic modulus of the films are measured by load depth sensing nanoindentation technique. Stability of the film and its adhesion with the substrate is inferred from the nanoscratch test. It is shown here that, the change in the argon gas flow rates changes the ionization of the gas in the microwave ECR plasma and imposes a drastic change in the characteristics like composition, structure as well as mechanical properties of the deposited film.

Self-assembled anchor layers/polysaccharide coatings on titanium surfaces: a study of functionalization and stability

PubMed Central

Zemek, Josef; Neykova, Neda; Demianchuk, Roman; Chánová, Eliška Mázl; Šlouf, Miroslav; Houska, Milan; Rypáček, František

2015-01-01

Summary Composite materials based on a titanium support and a thin, alginate hydrogel could be used in bone tissue engineering as a scaffold material that provides biologically active molecules. The main objective of this contribution is to characterize the activation and the functionalization of titanium surfaces by the covalent immobilization of anchoring layers of self-assembled bisphosphonate neridronate monolayers and polymer films of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and biomimetic poly(dopamine). These were further used to bind a bio-functional alginate coating. The success of the titanium surface activation, anchoring layer formation and alginate immobilization, as well as the stability upon immersion under physiological-like conditions, are demonstrated by different surface sensitive techniques such as spectroscopic ellipsometry, infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The changes in morphology and the established continuity of the layers are examined by scanning electron microscopy, surface profilometry and atomic force microscopy. The changes in hydrophilicity after each modification step are further examined by contact angle goniometry. PMID:25821702

Superlattice Intermediate Band Solar Cell on Gallium Arsenide

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-09

18  APPENDIX: Methodology for Calculaton of Minband Energies and Absorption Coefficient of a Superlattice...4 Figure 3. Absorption coefficient extracted from spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of a... coefficient of a 30 period GaAs0.98N0.02 (3nm)/ Al0.20Ga0.80As (3nm) Superlattice following the methodology developed in

Interplay of hydrogen and deposition temperature in optical properties of hot-wire deposited a-Si:H Films: Ex situ spectroscopic ellipsometry studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, S.; Weiner, B. R.; Morell, G.

2005-11-01

High-quality hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films were grown by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition on glass (Corning 7059) using silane with relatively high hydrogen albeit avoiding the formation of microcrystalline hydrogenated silicon. They were grown as a function of substrate temperature (TS) ranging from 50 to 515 °C resulting in the corresponding hydrogen concentration [CH] variation from 20.0 to 0.2 at. %. They are optically examined ex situ using spectroscopic phase modulated ellipsometry from near IR to near UV (i.e., 1.5-5.0 eV) obtaining pseudo-dielectric function (<ɛr(E)>,<ɛi(E)>) for investigating the role of hydrogen in network disorder. The raw ellipsometry data were modeled using Bruggeman effective medium theory and the dispersion relations for the amorphous semiconductors. A two-layer model consisting of a top surface roughness layer (dS) containing an effective medium mix of 50% a-Si:H and 50% voids and a single ``bulk'' layer (dB) of 100% a-Si:H was used to simulate the data reasonably well. We performed these simulations by nonlinear least-square regression analysis and it was possible to estimate the true dielectric function, energy band gap (Eg), film thickness (dSE), bulk void fraction, surface roughness layer (dS), and confidence limits (χ2). Moreover, it is shown that the Tauc-Lorentz model fits the ellipsometry data reasonably well and helps elucidating the layered structure of a-Si:H thin films. We also compared the optical band gap determined using ellipsometry modeling and the Tauc gap. We discuss the variation of the deduced parameters in terms of role of TS (T role) or of hydrogen (H role) yielding possible physical meaning and found an agreement with the excitation dependent Raman spectroscopy results reported earlier [S. Gupta, R. S. Katiyar, G. Morell, S. Z. Weisz, and J. Balberg, Appl. Phys. Lett. 75, 2803 (1999)]. Atomic force microscopy was also used to validate the simulations. These analyses led to a correlation between the films' microstructure (or network disorder) and their electronic properties for electronic device applications, in general and for photovoltaic applications, in particular.

Co-sputtered amorphous Ge-Sb-Se thin films: optical properties and structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halenkovič, Tomáš; Němec, Petr; Gutwirth, Jan; Baudet, Emeline; Specht, Marion; Gueguen, Yann; Sangleboeuf, J.-C.; Nazabal, Virginie

2017-05-01

The unique properties of amorphous chalcogenides such as wide transparency in the infrared region, low phonon energy, photosensitivity and high linear and nonlinear refractive index, make them prospective materials for photonics devices. The important question is whether the chalcogenides are stable enough or how the photosensitivity could be exacerbated for demanded applications. Of this view, the Ge-Sb-Se system is undoubtedly an interesting glassy system given the antinomic behavior of germanium and antimony with respect to photosensitivity. The amorphous Ge-Sb-Se thin films were fabricated by a rf-magnetron co-sputtering technique employing the following cathodes: GeSe2, Sb2Se3 and Ge28Sb12Se60. Radio-frequency sputtering is widely used for film fabrication due to its relative simplicity, easy control, and often stoichiometric material transfer from target to substrate. The advantage of this technique is the ability to explore a wide range of chalcogenide film composition by means of adjusting the contribution of each target. This makes the technique considerably effective for the exploration of properties mentioned above. In the present work, the influence of the composition determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy on the optical properties was studied. Optical bandgap energy Egopt was determined using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. The morphology and topography of the selenide sputtered films was studied by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The films structure was determined using Raman scattering spectroscopy.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry in vacuum ultraviolet spectral area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuchs, Detlef

An ellipsometer is developed and built, which allows the direct spectroscopic evaluation of dielectric function of solid bodies in the energy area 5 to 35 eV. A linear polarized synchrotron radiation was used as light source. The Stokes parameters and the Mueller matrices were used for the mathematical modeling, which take into account the properties of the synchrotron light and the analyzer, which depend on the wavelength. The crystals of the semiconductor bindings GaAs, GaP, InP and ZnS were examined. Ellipsometric measurements and reflection spectra show a displacement of spectral structures towards lower photon energies after the storage.

The study of genomic DNA adsorption and subsequent interactions using total internal reflection ellipsometry.

PubMed

Nabok, Alexei; Tsargorodskaya, Anna; Davis, Frank; Higson, Séamus P J

2007-10-31

The adsorption of genomic DNA and subsequent interactions between adsorbed and solvated DNA was studied using a novel sensitive optical method of total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE), which combines spectroscopic ellipsometry with surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Single strands of DNA of two species of fish (herring and salmon) were electrostatically adsorbed on top of polyethylenimine films deposited upon gold coated glass slides. The ellipsometric spectra were recorded and data fitting utilized to extract optical parameters (thickness and refractive index) of adsorbed DNA layers. The further adsorption of single stranded DNA from an identical source, i.e. herring ss-DNA on herring ss-DNA or salmon ss-DNA on salmon ss-DNA, on the surface was observed to give rise to substantial film thickness increases at the surface of about 20-21 nm. Conversely adsorption of DNA from alternate species, i.e. salmon ss-DNA on herring ss-DNA or herring ss-DNA on salmon ss-DNA, yielded much smaller changes in thickness of 3-5 nm. AFM studies of the surface roughness of adsorbed layers were in line with the TIRE data.

Electronic structure of HxVO2 probed with in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, So Yeun; Sandilands, Luke J.; Kang, Taedong; Son, Jaeseok; Sohn, C. H.; Yoon, Hyojin; Son, Junwoo; Moon, S. J.; Noh, T. W.

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) undergoes a metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) near 340K. Despite extensive studies on this material, the role of electron-electron correlation and electron-lattice interactions in driving this MIT is still under debate. Recently, it was demonstrated that hydrogen can be reversibly absorbed into VO2 thin film without destroying the lattice framework. This H-doping allows systematic control of the electron density and lattice structure which in turn leads to a insulator (VO2) - metal (HxVO2) - insulator (HVO2) phase modulation. To better understand the phase modulation of HxVO2, we used in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to monitor the electronic structure during the hydrogenization process, i.e. we measured the optical conductivity of HxVO2 while varying x. Starting in the high temperature rutile metallic phase of VO2, we observed a large change in the electronic structure upon annealing in H gas at 370K: the low energy conductivity is continuously suppressed, consistent with reported DC resistivity data, while the conductivity peaks at high energy show strong changes in energy and spectral weight. The implications of our results for the MIT in HxVO2 will be discussed.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry study of N+ ion-implanted ethylene-norbornene films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Šiljegović, M.; Kačarević-Popović, Z. M.; Stchakovsky, M.; Radosavljević, A. N.; Korica, S.; Novaković, M.; Popović, M.

2014-05-01

The optical properties of 150 keV N+ implanted ethylene-norbornene (TOPAS 6017S-04) copolymer were investigated using phase modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry (PMSE) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy in the ranges of 0.6-6.5 eV and of 1.5-6.2 eV, respectively. The single-effective-oscillator model was used to fit the calculated data to the experimental ellipsometric spectra. The results show that the oscillator and dispersion energies decrease with increasing ion fluence up to 1015 cm-2, and then these parameters increase with further fluence increasing. Analysis of the UV-Vis absorption spectra revealed the presence of indirect electronic transitions with the band gap energy in the range of 1.3 to 2.8 eV. It was found that both the band gap energy and the energy width of the distribution of localized band tail states decrease, while the values of Tauc coefficient increase with increasing the ion fluence. From the ellipsometric data we found that the real part of the dielectric function increased about 7% after irradiation with 1015 cm-2, and decreased about 10% in samples modified with 1016 cm-2.

Optical properties of a nanostructured glass-based film using spectroscopic ellipsometry

DOE PAGES

Jellison, G. E.; Aytug, T.; Lupini, A. R.; ...

2015-12-22

Nanostructured glass films, which are fabricated using spinodally phase-separated low-alkali glasses, have several interesting and useful characteristics, including being robust, non-wetting and antireflective. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements have been performed on one such film and its optical properties were analyzed using a 5-layer structural model of the near-surface region. Since the glass and the film are transparent over the spectral region of the measurement, the Sellmeier model is used to parameterize the dispersion in the refractive index. To simulate the variation of the optical properties of the film over the spot size of the ellipsometer (~ 3 × 5 mm), themore » Sellmeier amplitude is convoluted using a Gaussian distribution. The transition layers between the ambient and the film and between the film and the substrate are modeled as graded layers, where the refractive index varies as a function of depth. These layers are modeled using a two-component Bruggeman effective medium approximation where the two components are the layer above and the layer below. Lastly, the fraction is continuous through the transition layer and is modelled using the incomplete beta function.« less

Paramagnetic dysprosium-doped zinc oxide thin films grown by pulsed-laser deposition

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

Lo, Fang-Yuh, E-mail: fangyuhlo@ntnu.edu.tw; Ting, Yi-Chieh; Chou, Kai-Chieh

2015-06-07

Dysprosium(Dy)-doped zinc oxide (Dy:ZnO) thin films were fabricated on c-oriented sapphire substrate by pulsed-laser deposition with doping concentration ranging from 1 to 10 at. %. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman-scattering, optical transmission spectroscopy, and spectroscopic ellipsometry revealed incorporation of Dy into ZnO host matrix without secondary phase. Solubility limit of Dy in ZnO under our deposition condition was between 5 and 10 at. % according to XRD and Raman-scattering characteristics. Optical transmission spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry also showed increase in both transmittance in ultraviolet regime and band gap of Dy:ZnO with increasing Dy density. Zinc vacancies and zinc interstitials were identified by photoluminescencemore » spectroscopy as the defects accompanied with Dy incorporation. Magnetic investigations with a superconducting quantum interference device showed paramagnetism without long-range order for all Dy:ZnO thin films, and a hint of antiferromagnetic alignment of Dy impurities was observed at highest doping concentration—indicating the overall contribution of zinc vacancies and zinc interstitials to magnetic interaction was either neutral or toward antiferromagnetic. From our investigations, Dy:ZnO thin films could be useful for spin alignment and magneto-optical applications.« less

Optical properties of thickness-controlled MoS2 thin films studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Dahai; Song, Xiongfei; Xu, Jiping; Wang, Ziyi; Zhang, Rongjun; Zhou, Peng; Zhang, Hao; Huang, Renzhong; Wang, Songyou; Zheng, Yuxiang; Zhang, David Wei; Chen, Liangyao

2017-11-01

As a promising candidate for applications in future electronic and optoelectronic devices, MoS2 has been a research focus in recent years. Therefore, investigating its optical properties is of practical significance. Here we synthesized different MoS2 thin films with quantitatively controlled thickness and sizable thickness variation, which is vital to find out the thickness-dependent regularity. Afterwards, several characterization methods, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), optical absorption spectra, and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), were systematically performed to character the optical properties of as-grown samples. Accurate dielectric constants of MoS2 are obtained by fitting SE data using point-by-point method, and precise energies of interband transitions are directly extracted from the Lorentz dispersion model. We assign these energies to different interband electronic transitions between the valence bands and conduction bands in the Brillouin zone. In addition, the intrinsic physical mechanisms existing in observed phenomena are discussed in details. Results derived from this work are reliable and provide a better understanding of MoS2, which can be expected to help people fully employ its potential for wider applications.

Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry in semiconductor manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guittet, Pierre-Yves; Mantz, Ulrich; Weidner, Peter; Stehle, Jean-Louis; Bucchia, Marc; Bourtault, Sophie; Zahorski, Dorian

2004-05-01

Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE) metrology is an emerging technology in semiconductor production environment. Infineon Technologies SC300 implemented the first worldwide automated IRSE in a class 1 clean room in 2002. Combining properties of IR light -- large wavelength, low absorption in silicon -- with a short focus optics -- no backside reflection -- which allow model-based analysis, a large number of production applications were developed. Part of Infineon IRSE development roadmap is now focused on depth monitoring for arrays of 3D dry-etched structures. In trench DRAM manufacturing, the areal density is high, and critical dimensions are much lower than mid-IR wavelength. Therefore, extensive use of effective medium theory is made to model 3D structures. IR-SE metrology is not limited by shrinking critical dimensions, as long as the areal density is above a specific cut-off value determined by trenches dimensions, trench-filling and surrounding materials. Two applications for depth monitoring are presented. 1D models were developed and successfully applied to the DRAM trench capacitor structures. Modeling and correlation to reference methods are shown as well as dynamic repeatability and gauge capability results. Limitations of the current tool configuration are reviewed for shallow structures.

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Measurements of Wurtzite Gallium Nitride Surfaces as a Function of Buffered Oxide Etch Substrate Submersion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szwejkowski, Chester; Constantin, Costel; Duda, John; Hopkins, Patrick; Optical Studies of GaN interfaces Collaboration

2013-03-01

Gallium nitride (GaN) is considered the most important semiconductor after the discovery of silicon. Understanding the optical properties of GaN surfaces is imperative in determining the utility and applicability of this class of materials to devices. In this work, we present preliminary results of spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements as a function of surface root mean square (RMS). We used commercially available 5mm x 5mm, one side polished GaN (3-7 μm)/Sapphire (430 μm) substrates that have a wurtzite crystal structure and they are slightly n-type doped. The GaN substrates were cleaned with Acetone (20 min)/Isopropanol(20 min)/DI water (20 min) before they were submerged into Buffered Oxide Etch (BOE) for 10s - 60s steps. This BOE treatment produced RMS values of 1-30 nm as measured with an atomic force microscope. Preliminary qualitative ellipsometric measurements show that the complex refractive index and the complex dielectric function decrease with an increase of RMS. More measurements need to be done in order to provide explicit quantitative results. This work was supported by the 4-VA Collaborative effort between James Madison University and University of Virginia.

Mechanical characterization of 'uncoated' and 'Ta2O5-single-layer-coated' SiO2 substrates: results from GeNS suspension, and the CoaCh project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cesarini, E.; Prato, M.; Lorenzini, M.; Cagnoli, G.; Campagna, E.; Canepa, M.; Chincarini, A.; Gemme, G.; Losurdo, G.; Martelli, F.; Piergiovanni, F.; Vetrano, F.

2010-04-01

Thermal noise of the mirrors limits the sensitivity of interferometric gravitational-wave detectors in the frequency range between 50 and 300 Hz. According to the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, the thermal noise amplitude is proportional to the mechanical loss of the mirrors. Fused silica substrates loss angle widely ranges from 10-9 to 10-6, while for the coating it is around 10-4. Loss angle measurements in ultra low mechanical loss materials are normally affected by a large systematic error due to the excess losses introduced by the suspension system used to hold the samples. An innovative measurement system Gentle Nodal Suspension, where the disk-shaped sample is suspended in equilibrium on the top of a sphere, touching one of the nodal points of vibration, has been developed in INFN Florence Virgo laboratory. The advantages of this system are as follows: (i) the good reproducibility of loss angle measurements; (ii) one surface only (in any case uncoated) of the sample is touched; (iii) the contact surface is minimized because of the absence of applied forces. This suspension has been used to characterize annealing and coating deposition effects on the mechanical quality factor Q. An interesting comparison/analysis of these effects on mechanical, optical, chemical and surface properties using spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy has been carried out.

The Structure of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Alkylsiloxanes on Silicon: A Comparison of Results from Ellipsometry and Low-Angle X-Ray Reflectivity

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-05-01

Thicknesses measured by the two methods differ by 2.2 (rlms) for alkyl chains of 10 - 18 carbon atoms and have a maximum difference of 4.2 e Ellipsometry...the approximate area projected by each alkyl group in the plane of the monolayer is 0,, 1’ ) # . Preliminary studies indicate that the use of this...projected by each alkyl group in the plane of the monolayer is - 21 ± 3 A2 . Preliminary studies indicate that this technique can be used to follow the

In situ monitoring of atomic layer epitaxy via optical ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyzwa, F.; Marsik, P.; Roddatis, V.; Bernhard, C.; Jungbauer, M.; Moshnyaga, V.

2018-03-01

We report on the use of time-resolved optical ellipsometry to monitor the deposition of single atomic layers with subatomic sensitivity. Ruddlesden-Popper thin films of SrO(SrTiO3) n=4 were grown by means of metalorganic aerosol deposition in the atomic layer epitaxy mode on SrTiO3(1 0 0), LSAT(1 0 0) and DyScO3(1 1 0) substrates. The measured time dependences of ellipsometric angles, Δ(t) and Ψ(t), were described by using a simple optical model, considering the sequence of atomic layers SrO and TiO2 with corresponding bulk refractive indices. As a result, valuable online information on the atomic layer epitaxy process was obtained. Ex situ characterization techniques, i.e. transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and x-ray reflectometry verify the crystal structure and confirm the predictions of optical ellipsometry.

Optical and AFM study of electrostatically assembled films of CdS and ZnS colloid nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryajaya; Nabok, A.; Davis, F.; Hassan, A.; Higson, S. P. J.; Evans-Freeman, J.

2008-05-01

CdS and ZnS semiconducting colloid nanoparticles coated with the organic shell, containing either SO 3- or NH 2+ groups, were prepared using the aqueous phase synthesis. The multilayer films of CdS (or ZnS) were deposited onto glass, quartz and silicon substrates using the technique of electrostatic self-assembly. The films produced were characterized with UV-vis spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. A substantial blue shift of the main absorption band with respect to the bulk materials was found for both CdS and ZnS films. The Efros equation in the effective mass approximation (EMA) theoretical model allowed the evaluation of the nanoparticle radius of 1.8 nm, which corresponds well to the ellipsometry results. AFM shows the formation of larger aggregates of nanoparticles on solid surfaces.

Study of Receptor-Chaperone Interactions Using the Optical Technique of Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

PubMed Central

Kriechbaumer, Verena; Tsargorodskaya, Anna; Mustafa, Mohd K.; Vinogradova, Tatiana; Lacey, Joanne; Smith, David P.; Abell, Benjamin M.; Nabok, Alexei

2011-01-01

This work describes a detailed quantitative interaction study between the novel plastidial chaperone receptor OEP61 and isoforms of the chaperone types Hsp70 and Hsp90 using the optical method of total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE). The receptor OEP61 was electrostatically immobilized on a gold surface via an intermediate layer of polycations. The TIRE measurements allowed the evaluation of thickness changes in the adsorbed molecular layers as a result of chaperone binding to receptor proteins. Hsp70 chaperone isoforms but not Hsp90 were shown to be capable of binding OEP61. Dynamic TIRE measurements were carried out to evaluate the affinity constants of the above reactions and resulted in clear discrimination between specific and nonspecific binding of chaperones as well as differences in binding properties between the highly similar Hsp70 isoforms. PMID:21767504

Synergic combination of the sol–gel method with dip coating for plasmonic devices

PubMed Central

Patrini, Maddalena; Floris, Francesco; Fornasari, Lucia; Pellacani, Paola; Marchesini, Gerardo; Valsesia, Andrea; Artizzu, Flavia; Marongiu, Daniela; Saba, Michele; Marabelli, Franco; Mura, Andrea; Bongiovanni, Giovanni

2015-01-01

Summary Biosensing technologies based on plasmonic nanostructures have recently attracted significant attention due to their small dimensions, low-cost and high sensitivity but are often limited in terms of affinity, selectivity and stability. Consequently, several methods have been employed to functionalize plasmonic surfaces used for detection in order to increase their stability. Herein, a plasmonic surface was modified through a controlled, silica platform, which enables the improvement of the plasmonic-based sensor functionality. The key processing parameters that allow for the fine-tuning of the silica layer thickness on the plasmonic structure were studied. Control of the silica coating thickness was achieved through a combined approach involving sol–gel and dip-coating techniques. The silica films were characterized using spectroscopic ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy and dispersive spectroscopy. The effect of the use of silica layers on the optical properties of the plasmonic structures was evaluated. The obtained results show that the silica coating enables surface protection of the plasmonic structures, preserving their stability for an extended time and inducing a suitable reduction of the regeneration time of the chip. PMID:25821692

Investigations and application in piezoelectric phenol sensor of Langmuir-Schäfer films of a copper phthalocyanine derivative functionalized with bulky substituents.

PubMed

Giancane, G; Basova, T; Hassan, A; Gümüş, G; Gürek, A G; Ahsen, V; Valli, L

2012-07-01

An octa-substituted copper phthalocyanine was dissolved in chloroform and spread on ultrapure water subphase in a Langmuir trough. The floating films were characterized at the air-water interface by the Langmuir isotherm, Brewster angle microscopy, and UV-Vis reflection spectroscopy and transferred by Langmuir-Schäfer technique on a silicon substrate, and thickness, refractive index, and extinction coefficient of the phthalocyanine derivative thin film were calculated by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry. A different number of layers were deposited using Langmuir-Schäfer method onto QCM crystals, and the active layers were tested as sensors for the detection of phenols in aqueous solution. The piezoelectric sensor response, totally reversible, is influenced by the number of transferred layers and by the nature of the substituent; on the contrary, the pK(a) value of the injected analytes slightly affects the device performances. Repeatability of the sensor responses was tested, and the frequency variation appears unchanged at least for 100 days. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Polarizing properties and structure of the cuticle of scarab beetles from the Chrysina genus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández del Río, Lía; Arwin, Hans; Järrendahl, Kenneth

2016-07-01

The optical properties of several scarab beetles have been previously studied but few attempts have been made to compare beetles in the same genus. To determine whether there is any relation between specimens of the same genus, we have studied and classified seven species from the Chrysina genus. The polarization properties were analyzed with Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry and the structural characteristics with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Most of the Chrysina beetles are green colored or have a metallic look (gold or silver). The results show that the green-colored beetles polarize reflected light mainly at off-specular angles. The gold-colored beetles polarize light left-handed near circular at specular reflection. The structure of the exoskeleton is a stack of layers that form a cusplike structure in the green beetles whereas the layers are parallel to the surface in the case of the gold-colored beetles. The beetle C. gloriosa is green with gold-colored stripes along the elytras and exhibits both types of effects. The results indicate that Chrysina beetles can be classified according to these two major polarization properties.

Strongly bound excitons in anatase TiO 2 single crystals and nanoparticles

DOE PAGES

Baldini, E.; Chiodo, L.; Dominguez, A.; ...

2017-04-13

Anatase TiO 2 is among the most studied materials for light-energy conversion applications, but the nature of its fundamental charge excitations is still unknown. Yet it is crucial to establish whether light absorption creates uncorrelated electron-hole pairs or bound excitons and, in the latter case, to determine their character. Here, by combining steady-state angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry with state-of-the-art ab initio calculations, we demonstrate that the direct optical gap of single crystals is dominated by a strongly bound exciton rising over the continuum of indirect interband transitions. This exciton possesses an intermediate character between the Wannier-Mott and Frenkelmore » regimes and displays a peculiar two-dimensional wavefunction in the three-dimensional lattice. The nature of the higher-energy excitations is also identified. Furthermore, the universal validity of our results is confirmed up to room temperature by observing the same elementary excitations in defect-rich samples (doped single crystals and nanoparticles) via ultrafast two-dimensional deep-ultraviolet spectroscopy.« less

Optical properties of InGaN thin films in the entire composition range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazazis, S. A.; Papadomanolaki, E.; Androulidaki, M.; Kayambaki, M.; Iliopoulos, E.

2018-03-01

The optical properties of thick InGaN epilayers, with compositions spanning the entire ternary range, are studied in detail. High structural quality, single phase InxGa1-xN (0001) films were grown heteroepitaxially by radio-frequency plasma assisted molecular-beam epitaxy on freestanding GaN substrates. Their emission characteristics were investigated by low temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy, whereas variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was applied to determine the complex dielectric function of the films, in the 0.55-4.0 eV photon range. Photoluminescence lines were intense and narrow, in the range of 100 meV for Ga-rich InGaN films (x < 0.3), around 150 meV for mid-range composition films (0.3 < x < 0.6), and in the range of 50 meV for In-rich alloys (x > 0.6). The composition dependence of the strain-free emission energy was expressed by a bowing parameter of b = 2.70 ± 0.12 eV. The films' optical dielectric function dispersion was obtained by the analysis of the ellipsometric data employing a Kramers-Kronig consistent parameterized optical model. The refractive index dispersion was obtained for alloys in the entire composition range, and the corresponding values at the band edge show a parabolic dependence on the InN mole fraction expressed by a bowing parameter of b = 0.81 ± 0.04. The bowing parameter describing the fundamental energy bandgap was deduced to be equal to 1.66 ± 0.07 eV, consistent with the ab initio calculations for statistically random (non-clustered) InGaN alloys.

Characterization of thermochromic VO2 (prepared at 250 °C) in a wide temperature range by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houska, J.; Kolenaty, D.; Rezek, J.; Vlcek, J.

2017-11-01

The paper deals with thermochromic VO2 prepared by reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering and characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry. We focus on the dispersion of optical constants in a wide temperature range and on the transmittance predicted using the optical constants. While the thermochromic behavior of VO2 in itself has been reported previously (particularly above the room temperature, RT), in this paper we present (i) optical properties achieved at a low deposition temperature of 250 °C and without any substrate bias voltage (which dramatically increases the application potential of the coating) and (ii) changes of these properties not only above but also below RT (down to -30 °C). The properties include very low (for VO2) extinction coefficient at RT (0.10 at 550 nm), low transition temperature of around or even below 50 °C (compared to the frequently cited 68 °C) and high modulation of the predicted infrared transmittance (e.g. 39% at -30 °C, 30% at RT and 3.4% above the transition temperature at 2000 nm for a 100 nm thick coating on glass). The results are important for the design of thermochromic coatings, and pathways for their preparation under industry-friendly conditions, for various technological applications.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry of columnar porous Si thin films and Si nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fodor, Bálint; Defforge, Thomas; Agócs, Emil; Fried, Miklós; Gautier, Gaël; Petrik, Péter

2017-11-01

Columnar mesoporous Si thin films and dense nanowire (SiNW) carpets were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the visible-near-infrared wavelength range. Porous Si layers were formed by electrochemical etching while structural anisotropy was controlled by the applied current. Layers of highly oriented SiNWs, with length up to 4.1 μm were synthesized by metal-assisted chemical etching. Ellipsometric spectra were fitted with different multi-layered, effective medium approximation-based (EMA) models. Isotropic, in-depth graded, anisotropic and hybrid EMA models were investigated with the help of the root mean square errors obtained from the fits. Ellipsometric-fitted layer thicknesses were also cross-checked by scanning electron microscopy showing an excellent agreement. Furthermore, in the case of mesoporous silicon, characterization also revealed that, at low current densities (<100 mA/cm2), in-depth inhomogeneity shows a more important feature in the ellipsometric spectra than anisotropy. On the other hand, at high current densities (>100 mA/cm2) this behavior turns around, and anisotropy becomes the dominant feature describing the spectra. Characterization of SiNW layers showed a very high geometrical anisotropy. However, the highest fitted geometrical anisotropy was obtained for the layer composed of ∼1 μm long SiNWs indicating that for thicker layers, collapse of the nanowires occurs.

Non-destructive characterization of corroded glass surfaces by spectroscopic ellipsometry

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

Kaspar, Tiffany C.; Reiser, Joelle T.; Ryan, Joseph V.

Characterization of the alteration layers that form on glass surfaces during corrosion processes provides valuable information on both the mechanisms and rate of glass alteration. In recent years, state-of-the-art materials and surface characterization techniques have been employed to study various aspects of the alteration layers that result from corrosion. In most cases, these techniques are destructive and thus can only be employed at the end of the corrosion experiment. We show that the alteration layers can be investigated by non-destructive spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), which provides pertinent information on alteration layer thickness, morphology, and, through correlation of the index of refraction,more » porosity. SE measurements of silicate glass coupons altered in aqueous solutions of pH 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 at 90 °C for 7 days are compared to cross-sectional secondary electron microscopy images. In most cases, quantitative agreement of the alteration layer thickness is obtained. The fractional porosity calculated from the index of refraction is lower than the porosity calculated from elemental analysis of the aqueous solutions, indicating that the alteration layer has compacted during corrosion or the subsequent supercritical CO 2 drying process. Our results confirm the utility of performing non-destructive SE measurements on corroded glass surfaces.« less

Characterization of Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x)/Si Heterostructures for Device Applications Using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sieg, R. M.; Alterovitz, S. A.; Croke, E. T.; Harrell, M. J.; Tanner, M.; Wang, K. L.; Mena, R. A.; Young, P. G.

1993-01-01

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) characterization of several complex Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x)/Si heterostructures prepared for device fabrication, including structures for heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT), p-type and n-type heterostructure modulation doped field effect transistors, has been performed. We have shown that SE can simultaneously determine all active layer thicknesses, Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x) compositions, and the oxide overlayer thickness, with only a general knowledge of the structure topology needed a priori. The characterization of HBT material included the SE analysis of a Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x) layer deeply buried (600 nanometers) under the silicon emitter and cap layers. In the SE analysis of n-type heterostructures, we examined for the first time a silicon layer under tensile strain. We found that an excellent fit can be obtained using optical constants of unstrained silicon to represent the strained silicon conduction layer. We also used SE to measure lateral sample homogeneity, providing quantitative identification of the inhomogeneous layer. Surface overlayers resulting from prior sample processing were also detected and measured quantitatively. These results should allow SE to be used extensively as a non-destructive means of characterizing Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x)/Si heterostructures prior to device fabrication and testing.

Optical constants of electroplated gold from spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Synowicki, R. A.; Herzinger, Craig M.; Hall, James T.; Malingowski, Andrew

2017-11-01

The optical constants of an opaque electroplated gold film (Laser Gold from Epner Technology Inc.), were determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry at room temperature over the spectral range from 0.142 μm in the vacuum ultraviolet to 36 μm in the infrared (photon energy range 0.034-8.75 eV). Data from two separate ellipsometer instruments covering different spectral ranges were analyzed simultaneously. The optical constants n&k or ε1&ε2 were determined by fitting an oscillator dispersion model combining Drude, Gaussian, and Sellmeier dispersion functions to the experimental Ψ and Δ data. The data were analyzed using both an ideal bulk substrate model and a simple overlayer model to account for surface roughness. Including the optical surface roughness layer improved ellipsometric data fits in the UV, and using a separate Drude function for the surface layer improved fits in the infrared. The surface roughness was also characterized using an Atomic Force Microscope. Using an oscillator dispersion model for the optical constants determined in this work allows for more realistic extrapolation to longer infrared wavelengths. Extending optical constants out to 50 μm and beyond is important for calibrating far-infrared reflectance measurements. Applications include understanding the thermal performance of cryogenic space-based instruments, such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Non-destructive characterization of corroded glass surfaces by spectroscopic ellipsometry

DOE PAGES

Kaspar, Tiffany C.; Reiser, Joelle T.; Ryan, Joseph V.; ...

2017-11-03

Characterization of the alteration layers that form on glass surfaces during corrosion processes provides valuable information on both the mechanisms and rate of glass alteration. In recent years, state-of-the-art materials and surface characterization techniques have been employed to study various aspects of the alteration layers that result from corrosion. In most cases, these techniques are destructive and thus can only be employed at the end of the corrosion experiment. We show that the alteration layers can be investigated by non-destructive spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), which provides pertinent information on alteration layer thickness, morphology, and, through correlation of the index of refraction,more » porosity. SE measurements of silicate glass coupons altered in aqueous solutions of pH 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 at 90 °C for 7 days are compared to cross-sectional secondary electron microscopy images. In most cases, quantitative agreement of the alteration layer thickness is obtained. The fractional porosity calculated from the index of refraction is lower than the porosity calculated from elemental analysis of the aqueous solutions, indicating that the alteration layer has compacted during corrosion or the subsequent supercritical CO 2 drying process. Our results confirm the utility of performing non-destructive SE measurements on corroded glass surfaces.« less

O-6 Optical Property Degradation of the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera-2 Pick Off Mirror

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McNamara, Karen M.; Hughes, D. W.; Lauer, H. V.; Burkett, P. J.; Reed, B. B.

2011-01-01

Degradation in the performance of optical components can be greatly affected by exposure to the space environment. Many factors can contribute to such degradation including surface contaminants; outgassing; vacuum, UV, and atomic oxygen exposure; temperature cycling; or combinations of parameters. In-situ observations give important clues to degradation processes, but there are relatively few opportunities to correlate those observations with post-flight ground analyses. The return of instruments from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) after its final servicing mission in May 2009 provided such an opportunity. Among the instruments returned from HST was the Wide-Field Planetary Camera-2 (WFPC-2), which had been exposed to the space environment for 16 years. This work focuses on the identifying the sources of degradation in the performance of the Pick-off mirror (POM) from WFPC-2. Techniques including surface reflectivity measurements, spectroscopic ellipsometry, FTIR (and ATR-FTIR) analyses, SEM/EDS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with and without ion milling, and wet and dry physical surface sampling were performed. Destructive and contact analyses took place only after completion of the non-destructive measurements. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was then repeated to determine the extent of contaminant removal by the destructive techniques, providing insight into the nature and extent of polymerization of the contaminant layer.

Immersion transmission ellipsometry (ITE) for the determination of orientation gradients in photoalignment layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, C. C.; Stumpe, J.

2014-09-01

The capability of the method of immersion transmission ellipsometry (ITE) (Jung et al. Int Patent WO, 2004/109260) to not only determine three-dimensional refractive indices in anisotropic thin films (which was already possible in the past), but even their gradients along the z-direction (perpendicular to the film plane) is investigated in this paper. It is shown that the determination of orientation gradients in deep-sub-μm films becomes possible by applying ITE in combination with reflection ellipsometry. The technique is supplemented by atomic force microscopy for measuring the film thickness. For a photo-oriented thin film, no gradient was found, as expected. For a photo-oriented film, which was subsequently annealed in a nematic liquid crystalline phase, an order was found similar to the one applied in vertically aligned nematic displays, with a tilt angle varying along the z-direction. For fresh films, gradients were only detected for the refractive index perpendicular to the film plane, as expected.

Spectral ellipsometry studying of iron's optical and electronic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernukha, Yevheniia; Stashchuk, Vasyl S.; Polianska, Olena; Oshtuk, Olexsandr

2014-05-01

Fe's optical and electronic properties were investigated at room temperature in different structural states. The sample's surface was explored in wide spectral range λ = 0,23-17,0 μm (E = 4,96 - 0,07 еV ) by the Beatty's spectral ellipsometry method. While an experiment was carried out ellipsometry parameters Δ and ψ were measure near the principal angle of incidence. The refraction index R , permittivity Ɛ and optical conductivity σ( hν ) , that is proportional to the interband density of electronic states, were calculated using these parameters. Fe's optical conductivities in liquid, amorphous and crystalline states were compared in this work. The optical conductivity was calculated using the published data of the iron's density of electronic states in crystalline, amorphous and liquid states for the comparison of the experimental and theoretical results. It is shown that, at structural transformations "amorphous, liquid state- crystalline state", the optical properties of metallic iron are determined, in the first turn, by the nearest neighborhood, and the electronic structure is not subjected to significant modifications.

Band gap of corundumlike α -Ga2O3 determined by absorption and ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segura, A.; Artús, L.; Cuscó, R.; Goldhahn, R.; Feneberg, M.

2017-07-01

The electronic structure near the band gap of the corundumlike α phase of Ga2O3 has been investigated by means of optical absorption and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements in the ultraviolet (UV) range (400-190 nm). The absorption coefficient in the UV region and the imaginary part of the dielectric function exhibit two prominent absorption thresholds with wide but well-defined structures at 5.6 and 6.3 eV which have been ascribed to allowed direct transitions from crystal-field split valence bands to the conduction band. Excitonic effects with large Gaussian broadening are taken into account through the Elliott-Toyozawa model, which yields an exciton binding energy of 110 meV and direct band gaps of 5.61 and 6.44 eV. The large broadening of the absorption onset is related to the slightly indirect character of the material.

Study of receptor-chaperone interactions using the optical technique of spectroscopic ellipsometry.

PubMed

Kriechbaumer, Verena; Tsargorodskaya, Anna; Mustafa, Mohd K; Vinogradova, Tatiana; Lacey, Joanne; Smith, David P; Abell, Benjamin M; Nabok, Alexei

2011-07-20

This work describes a detailed quantitative interaction study between the novel plastidial chaperone receptor OEP61 and isoforms of the chaperone types Hsp70 and Hsp90 using the optical method of total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE). The receptor OEP61 was electrostatically immobilized on a gold surface via an intermediate layer of polycations. The TIRE measurements allowed the evaluation of thickness changes in the adsorbed molecular layers as a result of chaperone binding to receptor proteins. Hsp70 chaperone isoforms but not Hsp90 were shown to be capable of binding OEP61. Dynamic TIRE measurements were carried out to evaluate the affinity constants of the above reactions and resulted in clear discrimination between specific and nonspecific binding of chaperones as well as differences in binding properties between the highly similar Hsp70 isoforms. Copyright © 2011 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In Situ Infrared Ellipsometry for Protein Adsorption Studies on Ultrathin Smart Polymer Brushes in Aqueous Environment

DOE PAGES

Kroning, Annika; Furchner, Andreas; Aulich, Dennis; ...

2015-02-10

The protein-adsorbing and -repelling properties of various smart nanometer-thin polymer brushes with high potential for biosensing and biomedical applications are studied by in-situ infrared-spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE). IRSE as a highly sensitive non-destructive technique allows us to investigate protein adsorption on polymer brushes in aqueous environment in dependence of external stimuli like temperature and pH. These stimuli are, for instance, relevant in switchable mixed brushes containing poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid), respectively. We use such brushes as model surfaces for controlling protein adsorption of human serum albumin and human fibrinogen. IRSE can distinguish between polymer-specific vibrational bands, which yield insights intomore » the hydration state of the brushes, and changes in the protein-specific amide bands, which are related to changes of the protein secondary structure.« less

Protein adsorption on thin films of carbon and carbon nitride monitored with in situ ellipsometry.

PubMed

Berlind, T; Tengvall, P; Hultman, L; Arwin, H

2011-03-01

Thin films of amorphous carbon and amorphous, graphitic and fullerene-like carbon nitride were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering and optically characterized with spectroscopic ellipsometry. Complementary studies using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were performed. The films were exposed to human serum albumin (HSA) and the adsorption was monitored in situ using dynamic ellipsometry. From the ellipsometric data the adsorbed amount of proteins was quantified in terms of surface mass density using de Feijter's model. The results indicate larger adsorption of proteins onto the amorphous films compared to the films with a more textured structure. Complementary studies with 125I-labeled HSA showed an apparent protein adsorption up to six times larger compared to the ellipsometry measurement. In addition, the four types of films were incubated in blood plasma followed by exposure to anti-fibrinogen, anti-HMWK or anti-C3c, revealing the materials' response to complement and contact activation. The amorphous and graphitic carbon nitride exhibit rather high immune activity compared to a titanium reference, whereas the amorphous carbon and the fullerene-like CNx show less immune complement deposition. Compared to the reference, all films exhibit indications of a stronger ability to initiate the intrinsic pathway of coagulation. Finally, the surfaces' bone-bonding ability was investigated by examination of their ability to form calcium phosphate crystals in a simulated body fluid, with a-CNx depositing most calcium phosphate after 21 days of incubation. Copyright © 2010 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Jet Fuel Thermal Stability Investigations Using Ellipsometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nash, Leigh; Vasu, Subith S.; Klettlinger, Jennifer Lindsey

2017-01-01

Jet fuels are typically used for endothermic cooling in practical engines where their thermal stability is very important. In this work the thermal stability of Sasol IPK (a synthetic jet fuel) with varying levels of naphthalene has been studied on stainless steel substrates using spectroscopic ellipsometry in the temperature range 385-400 K. Ellipsometry is an optical technique that measures the changes in a light beam’s polarization and intensity after it reflects off of a thin film to determine the film’s thickness and optical properties. All of the tubes used were rated as thermally unstable by the color standard portion of the Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Test, and this was confirmed by the deposit thicknesses observed using ellipsometry. A new amorphous model on a stainless steel substrate was used to model the data and obtain the results. It was observed that, as would be expected, increasing the temperature of the tube increased the overall deposit amount for a constant concentration of naphthalene. The repeatability of these measurements was assessed using multiple trials of the same fuel at 385 K. Lastly, the effect of increasing the naphthalene concentration in the fuel at a constant temperature was found to increase the deposit thickness.In conclusion, ellipsometry was used to investigate the thermal stability of jet fuels on stainless steel substrate. The effects of increasing temperature and addition of naphthalene on stainless steel tubes with Sasol IPK fuel were investigated. It was found, as expected, that increasing temperature lead to an increase in deposit thickness. It wasAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics6also found that increasing amounts of naphthalene increased the maximum deposit thickness. The repeatability of these measurements was investigated using multiple tests at the same conditions. The present work provides as a better quantitative tool compared to the widely used JFTOT technique. Future work will expand on the fuel types, temperature, and substrate materials.

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Ag and ZnO Thin Films and Their Interfaces for Thin Film Photovoltaics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sainju, Deepak

Many modern optical and electronic devices, including photovoltaic devices, consist of multilayered thin film structures. Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a critically important characterization technique for such multilayers. SE can be applied to measure key parameters related to the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the components of multilayers with high accuracy and precision. One of the key advantages of this non-destructive technique is its capability of monitoring the growth dynamics of thin films in-situ and in real time with monolayer level precision. In this dissertation, the techniques of SE have been applied to study the component layer materials and structures used as back-reflectors and as the transparent contact layers in thin film photovoltaic technologies, including hydrogenated silicon (Si:H), copper indium-gallium diselenide (CIGS), and cadmium telluride (CdTe). The component layer materials, including silver and both intrinsic and doped zinc oxide, are fabricated on crystalline silicon and glass substrates using magnetron sputtering techniques. These thin films are measured in-situ and in real time as well as ex-situ by spectroscopic ellipsometry in order to extract parameters related to the structural properties, such as bulk layer thickness and surface roughness layer thickness and their time evolution, the latter information specific to real time measurements. The index of refraction and extinction coefficient or complex dielectric function of a single unknown layer can also be obtained from the measurement versus photon energy. Applying analytical expressions for these optical properties versus photon energy, parameters that describe electronic transport, such as electrical resistivity and electron scattering time, can be extracted. The SE technique is also performed as the sample is heated in order to derive the effects of annealing on the optical properties and derived electrical transport parameters, as well as the intrinsic temperature dependence of these properties and parameters. One of the major achievements of this dissertation research is the characterization of the thickness and optical properties of the interface layer formed between the silver and zinc oxide layers in a back-reflector structure used in thin film photovoltaics. An understanding of the impact of these thin film material properties on solar cell device performance has been complemented by applying reflectance and transmittance spectroscopy as well as simulations of cell performance.

Characterisation of slab waveguides, fabricated in CaF2 and Er-doped tungsten-tellurite glass by MeV energy N+ ion implantation, using spectroscopic ellipsometry and m-line spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bányász, I.; Berneschi, S.; Lohner, T.; Fried, M.; Petrik, P.; Khanh, N. Q.; Zolnai, Z.; Watterich, A.; Bettinelli, M.; Brenci, M.; Nunzi-Conti, G.; Pelli, S.; Righini, G. C.; Speghini, A.

2010-05-01

Slab waveguides were fabricated in Er-doped tungsten-tellurite glass and CaF2 crystal samples via ion implantation. Waveguides were fabricated by implantation of MeV energy N+ ions at the Van de Graaff accelerator of the Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, Budapest, Hungary. Part of the samples was annealed. Implantations were carried out at energies of 1.5 MeV (tungsten-tellurite glass) and 3.5 MeV (CaF2). The implanted doses were between 5 x 1012 and 8 x 1016 ions/cm2. Refractive index profile of the waveguides was measured using SOPRA ES4G and Woollam M-2000DI spectroscopic ellipsometers at the Research Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science, Budapest. Functionality of the waveguides was tested using a home-made instrument (COMPASSO), based on m-line spectroscopy and prism coupling technique, which was developed at the Materials and Photonics Devices Laboratory (MDF Lab.) of the Institute of Applied Physics in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy. Results of both types of measurements were compared to depth distributions of nuclear damage in the samples, calculated by SRIM 2007 code. Thicknesses of the guiding layer and of the implanted barrier obtained by spectroscopic ellipsometry correspond well to SRIM simulations. Irradiationinduced refractive index modulation saturated around a dose of 8 x 1016 ions/cm2 in tungsten-tellurite glass. Annealing of the implanted waveguides resulted in a reduction of the propagation loss, but also reduced the number of supported guiding modes at the lower doses. We report on the first working waveguides fabricated in an alkali earth halide crystal implanted by MeV energy medium-mass ions.

Growth of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite on Stainless Steel Substrate Layered by ZnO Nanoparticles Using One-Step Spin Coating Route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuad, A.; Fibriyanti, A. A.; Mufti, N.; Taufiq, A.; Maryam, S.; Hidayat, N.

2018-04-01

In this work, we report the preparation of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite using one-step spin coating route for solar cell application. CH3NH3I• PbI2•DMF•DMSO complexes were coated on stainless steel as a subtrate layered by ZnO nanoparticles as an electron transport layer. To obtain samples with a special performance, we annealed the samples at a temperature of 100, 120, and 140°C for 10 minutes. The samples were then characterized by means of XRD, SEM/EDX, and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. The analysis of XRD data presented that the CH3NH3PbI3 perovskites were successfully prepared and crystallized in tetragonal structure confirming from crystalline planes (110) and (220). Meanwhile, the particle size of the samples prepared at a temperature of 100, 120, and 140°C presented 42.96, 54.73, and 55.19 nm, respectively with coincide with the SEM images. The results indicated that the increase in temperature during synthesis influenced the particle growth. Furthermore, the characterization using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry exhibited that the CH3NH3PbI3 successfully layered on the substrate sizing nano metric scale that open high opportunity to be applied to solar cells with high performance.

Photomask CD and LER characterization using Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinrich, A.; Dirnstorfer, I.; Bischoff, J.; Meiner, K.; Ketelsen, H.; Richter, U.; Mikolajick, T.

2014-10-01

Critical dimension and line edge roughness on photomask arrays are determined with Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry. Arrays with large sinusoidal perturbations are measured for different azimuth angels and compared with simulations based on rigorous coupled wave analysis. Experiment and simulation show that line edge roughness leads to characteristic changes in the different Mueller matrix elements. The influence of line edge roughness is interpreted as an increase of isotropic character of the sample. The changes in the Mueller matrix elements are very similar when the arrays are statistically perturbed with rms roughness values in the nanometer range suggesting that the results on the sinusoidal test structures are also relevant for "real" mask errors. Critical dimension errors and line edge roughness have similar impact on the SE MM measurement. To distinguish between both deviations, a strategy based on the calculation of sensitivities and correlation coefficients for all Mueller matrix elements is shown. The Mueller matrix elements M13/M31 and M34/M43 are the most suitable elements due to their high sensitivities to critical dimension errors and line edge roughness and, at the same time, to a low correlation coefficient between both influences. From the simulated sensitivities, it is estimated that the measurement accuracy has to be in the order of 0.01 and 0.001 for the detection of 1 nm critical dimension error and 1 nm line edge roughness, respectively.

Effects of oxygen partial pressure, deposition temperature, and annealing on the optical response of CdS:O thin films as studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junda, Maxwell M.; Grice, Corey R.; Subedi, Indra; Yan, Yanfa; Podraza, Nikolas J.

2016-07-01

Ex-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements are made on radio frequency magnetron sputtered oxygenated cadmium sulfide (CdS:O) thin films. Films are deposited onto glass substrates at room temperature and at 270 °C with varying oxygen to total gas flow ratios in the sputtering ambient. Ellipsometric spectra from 0.74 to 5.89 eV are collected before and after annealing at 607 °C to simulate the thermal processes during close-space sublimation of overlying cadmium telluride in that solar cell configuration. Complex dielectric function (ɛ = ɛ1 + iɛ2) spectra are extracted for films as a function of oxygen gas flow ratio, deposition temperature, and post-deposition annealing using a parametric model accounting for critical point transitions and an Urbach tail for sub-band gap absorption. The results suggest an inverse relationship between degree of crystallinity and oxygen gas flow ratio, whereas annealing is shown to increase crystallinity in all samples. Direct band gap energies are determined from the parametric modeling of ɛ and linear extrapolations of the square of the absorption coefficient. As-deposited samples feature a range of band gap energies whereas annealing is shown to result in gap energies ranging only from 2.40 to 2.45 eV, which is close to typical band gaps for pure cadmium sulfide.

Real-time spectro-ellipsometric approach to distinguish between two-dimensional Ge layer growth and Ge dot formation on SiO2 substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akazawa, Housei

2018-04-01

Morphological evolution of Ge layers on SiO2 substrates grown by photo-excited chemical vapor deposition from GeH4 was monitored in real time by recording (Ψ, Δ) angles of spectroscopic ellipsometry and ex-situ analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Distinct Ψ-Δ trajectory shapes were demonstrated to discriminate the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) growth modes. While the trajectory of 2D growth is characterized by a one-turn spiral, that of 3D growth consisted of three sections corresponding to initial wetting of the SiO2 surface, creation of nucleation centers, and dot growth. The critical point where the system turns into 2D or 3D growth can be in situ identified in terms of the directions of the Ψ-Δ trajectories. AFM images revealed characteristic changes in the microstructure, including self-assembling dots and dots merging with one another. While the root-mean-square surface roughness increased linearly against film thickness, the maximum peak-to-valley height deviated once from linear dependence and later returned back to it, which reflected coarsening of dots and embedding of valleys between dots.

Scattering and polarization properties of the scarab beetle Cyphochilus insulanus cuticle.

PubMed

Åkerlind, Christina; Arwin, Hans; Hallberg, Tomas; Landin, Jan; Gustafsson, Johan; Kariis, Hans; Järrendahl, Kenneth

2015-07-01

Optical properties of natural photonic structures can inspire material developments in diversified areas, such as the spectral design of surfaces for camouflage. Here, reflectance, scattering, and polarization properties of the cuticle of the scarab beetle Cyphochilus insulanus are studied with spectral directional hemispherical reflectance, bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF) measurements, and Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry (MMSE). At normal incidence, a reflectance (0.6-0.75) is found in the spectral range of 400-1600 nm and a weaker reflectance <0.2 in the UV range as well as for wavelengths >1600  nm. A whiteness of W=42 is observed for mainly the elytra of the beetle. Chitin is a major constituent of the insect cuticle which is verified by the close similarity of the measured IR spectrum to that of α-chitin. The BRDF signal shows close-to-Lambertian properties of the beetle for visible light at small angles of incidence. From the MMSE measurement it is found that the beetles appear as dielectric reflectors reflecting linearly polarized light at oblique incidence with low gloss and a low degree of polarization. The measured beetle properties are properties that can be beneficial in a camouflage material.

Evaluation of Space Power Materials Flown on the Passive Optical Sample Assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaworske, Donald A.; deGroh, Kim K.; Skowronski, Timothy J.; McCollum, Tim; Pippin, Gary; Bungay, Corey

1999-01-01

Evaluating the performance of materials on the exterior of spacecraft is of continuing interest, particularly in anticipation of those applications that will require a long duration in low Earth orbit. The Passive Optical Sample Assembly (POSA) experiment flown on the exterior of Mir as a risk mitigation experiment for the International Space Station was designed to better understand the interaction of materials with the low Earth orbit environment and to better understand the potential contamination threats that may be present in the vicinity of spacecraft. Deterioration in the optical performance of candidate space power materials due to the low Earth orbit environment, the contamination environment, or both, must be evaluated in order to propose measures to mitigate such deterioration. The thirty two samples of space power materials studied here include solar array blanket materials such as polyimide Kapton H and SiO(x) coated polyimide Kapton H, front surface aluminized sapphire, solar dynamic concentrator materials such as silver on spin coated polyimide and aluminum on spin coated polyimide, CV 1144 silicone, and the thermal control paint Z-93-P. The physical and optical properties that were evaluated prior to and after the POSA flight include mass, total, diffuse, and specular reflectance, solar absorptance, and infrared emittance. Additional post flight evaluation included scanning electron microscopy to observe surface features caused by the low Earth orbit environment and the contamination environment, and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry to identify contaminant type and thickness. This paper summarizes the results of pre- and post-flight measurements, identifies the mechanisms responsible for optical properties deterioration, and suggests improvements for the durability of materials in future missions.

Dielectric function of InGaAs in the visible

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alterovitz, S. A.; Sieg, R. E.; Yao, H. D.; Snyder, P. G.; Woollam, J. A.; Pamulapati, J.; Bhattacharya, P. K.; Sekula-Moise, P. A.

1990-01-01

Measurements are reported of the dielectric function of thermodynamically stable In(x)Ga(1-x)As in the composition range 0.3 equal to or less than X = to or less than 0.7. The optically thick samples of InGaAs were made by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) in the range 0.4 = to or less than X = to or less than 0.7 and by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) for X = 0.3. The MBE made samples, usually 1 micron thick, were grown on semi-insulating InP and included a strain release structure. The MOCVD sample was grown on GaAs and was 2 microns thick. The dielectric functions were measured by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range 1.55 to 4.4 eV. The data was analyzed assuming an optically thick InGaAs material with an oxide layer on top. The thickness of this layer was estimated by comparing the results for the InP lattice matched material, i.e., X = 0.53, with results published in the literature. The top oxide layer mathematically for X = 0.3 and X = 0.53 was removed to get the dielectric function of the bare InGaAs. In addition, the dielectric function of GaAs in vacuum, after a protective arsenic layer was removed. The dielectric functions for X = 0, 0.3, and 0.53 together with the X = 1 result from the literature to evaluate an algorithm for calculating the dielectric function of InGaAs for an arbitrary value of X(0 = to or less than X = to or less than 1) were used. Results of the dielectric function calculated using the algorithm were compared with experimental data.

Dielectric function of InGaAs in the visible

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alterovitz, S. A.; Yao, H. D.; Snyder, P. G.; Woolam, J. A.; Pamulapati, J.; Bhattacharya, P. K.; Sekula-Moise, P. A.; Sieg, R. E.

1990-01-01

Measurements are reported of the dielectric function of thermodynamically stable In(x)Ga(1-x)As in the composition range 0.3 equal to or less than X = to or less than 0.7. The optically thick samples of InGaAs were made by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) in the range 0.4 = to or less than X = to or less than 0.7 and by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) for X = 0.3. The MBE made samples, usually 1 micron thick, were grown on semi-insulating InP and included a strain release structure. The MOCVD sample was grown on GaAs and was 2 microns thick. The dielectric functions were measured by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range 1.55 to 4.4 eV. The data was analyzed assuming an optically thick InGaAs material with an oxide layer on top. The thickness of this layer was estimated by comparing the results for the InP lattice matched material, i.e., X = 0.53, with results published in the literature. The top oxide layer mathematically for X = 0.3 and X = 0.53 was removed to get the dielectric function of the bare InGaAs. In addition, the dielectric function of GaAs in vacuum, after a protective arsenic layer was removed. The dielectric functions for X = 0, 0.3, and 0.53 together with the X = 1 result from the literature to evaluate an algorithm for calculating the dielectric function of InGaAs for an arbitrary value of X (0 = to or less than X = to or less than 1) were used. Results of the dielectric function calculated using the algorithm were compared with experimental data.

From neutral to zwitterionic poly(α-amino acid) nonfouling surfaces: Effects of helical conformation and anchoring orientation.

PubMed

Zhang, Chong; Yuan, Jingsong; Lu, Jianhua; Hou, Yingqin; Xiong, Wei; Lu, Hua

2018-02-03

The development of high-performance nonfouling polymer surfaces for implantable medical devices and therapeutic nanomaterials is of great importance. Elaborating the relationship of polymer structural characteristics and the resulted surface properties can offer useful guidance toward ideal biointerfaces. In this work, we investigate the effects of the helical conformation and anchoring orientation of poly(α-amino acid)s (PαAAs) to produce advanced nonfouling surfaces. By using the neutral poly(γ-(2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)esteryl glutamates) (P(EG 3 Glu)s) as a model system, the adsorption kinetics are monitored by ex-situ variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and in-situ quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. It is found that the polymers adopting a rigid rod-like α-helical conformation can self-assemble more rapidly to produce denser adlayers, and generate significantly improved nonfouling surfaces compared to those flexible polymer analogues including the widely used antifouling polymer PEG. Moreover, the surface properties can be further enhanced by using the antiparallel orientated helical P(EG 3 Glu)s. Most importantly, the insights gained from the P(EG 3 Glu) model system are successfully applied to the generation of ultra-low-fouling surfaces using zwitterionic PαAAs brushes, underscoring the generality of the approach. Particularly, the surface based on the antiparallel aligned zwitterionic helical PαAAs exhibits ∼98-99% reduction of human serum adsorption relative to the bare gold, and gives almost no adhesion of mouse platelet. Taken together, this work depicts an extremely simple yet highly effective approach to manipulate surface properties for numerous applications in biomaterial interfaces, diagnostics, and biosensors. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ellipsometry-based combination of isothermal sorption-desorption measurement and temperature programmed desorption technique: A probe for interaction of thin polymer films with solvent vapor.

PubMed

Efremov, Mikhail Yu; Nealey, Paul F

2018-05-01

An environmental chamber equipped with an in situ spectroscopic ellipsometer, programmatic vapor pressure control, and variable temperature substrate holder has been designed for studying polymer coating behavior during an exposure to a solvent vapor and also for probing the residual solvent in the film afterwards. Both sorption-desorption cycle at a constant temperature and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of the residual solvent manifest themselves as a change of the film thickness. Monitoring of ellipsometric angles of the coating allows us to determine the thickness as a function of the vapor pressure or sample temperature. The solvent vapor pressure is precisely regulated by a computer-controlled pneumatics. TPD spectra are recorded during heating of the film in an oil-free vacuum. The vapor pressure control system is described in detail. The system has been tested on 6-170 nm thick polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(2-vinyl pyridine) films deposited on silicon substrates. Liquid toluene, water, ethanol, isopropanol, cyclohexane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and chlorobenzene were used to create a vapor atmosphere. Typical sorption-desorption and TPD curves are shown. The instrument achieves sub-monolayer sensitivity for adsorption studies on flat surfaces. Polymer-solvent vapor systems with strong interaction demonstrate characteristic absorption-desorption hysteresis spanning from vacuum to the glass transition pressure. Features on the TPD curves can be classified as either glass transition related film contraction or low temperature broad contraction peak. Typical absorption-desorption and TPD dependencies recorded for the 6 nm thick polystyrene film demonstrate the possibility to apply the presented technique for probing size effects in extremely thin coatings.

Ellipsometry-based combination of isothermal sorption-desorption measurement and temperature programmed desorption technique: A probe for interaction of thin polymer films with solvent vapor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Efremov, Mikhail Yu.; Nealey, Paul F.

2018-05-01

An environmental chamber equipped with an in situ spectroscopic ellipsometer, programmatic vapor pressure control, and variable temperature substrate holder has been designed for studying polymer coating behavior during an exposure to a solvent vapor and also for probing the residual solvent in the film afterwards. Both sorption-desorption cycle at a constant temperature and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of the residual solvent manifest themselves as a change of the film thickness. Monitoring of ellipsometric angles of the coating allows us to determine the thickness as a function of the vapor pressure or sample temperature. The solvent vapor pressure is precisely regulated by a computer-controlled pneumatics. TPD spectra are recorded during heating of the film in an oil-free vacuum. The vapor pressure control system is described in detail. The system has been tested on 6-170 nm thick polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(2-vinyl pyridine) films deposited on silicon substrates. Liquid toluene, water, ethanol, isopropanol, cyclohexane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and chlorobenzene were used to create a vapor atmosphere. Typical sorption-desorption and TPD curves are shown. The instrument achieves sub-monolayer sensitivity for adsorption studies on flat surfaces. Polymer-solvent vapor systems with strong interaction demonstrate characteristic absorption-desorption hysteresis spanning from vacuum to the glass transition pressure. Features on the TPD curves can be classified as either glass transition related film contraction or low temperature broad contraction peak. Typical absorption-desorption and TPD dependencies recorded for the 6 nm thick polystyrene film demonstrate the possibility to apply the presented technique for probing size effects in extremely thin coatings.

The Asymmetrical Wind of the Candidate Luminous Blue Variable MWC 314

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wisniewski, John P.; Babler, Brian L.; Bjorkman, Karen S.; Kurchakov, Anatoly V.; Meade,Marilyn R.; Miroshnichenko, Anatoly S.

2006-01-01

We present the results of long-term spectropolarimetric and spectroscopic monitoring of MWC 314, a candidate Luminous Blue Variable star. We detect the first evidence of H alpha variability in MWC 314, and find no apparent periodicity in this emission. The total R-band polarization is observed to vary between 2.21% and 3.00% at a position angle consistently around approximately 0 degrees, indicating the presence of a time-variable intrinsic polarization component, hence an asymmetrical circumstellar envelope. We find suggestive evidence that MWC 314's intrinsic polarization exhibits a wavelength-independent magnitude varying between 0.09% and 0.58% at a wavelength-independent position angle covering all four quadrants of the Stokes Q-U plane. Electron scattering off of density clumps in MWC 314's wind is considered as the probable mechanism responsible for these variations.

Influence of sputtering deposition parameters on electrical and optical properties of aluminium-doped zinc oxide thin films for photovoltaic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krawczak, Ewelina; Agata, Zdyb; Gulkowski, Slawomir; Fave, Alain; Fourmond, Erwann

2017-11-01

Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCOs) characterized by high visible transmittance and low electrical resistivity play an important role in photovoltaic technology. Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) is one of the TCOs that can find its application in thin film solar cells (CIGS or CdTe PV technology) as well as in other microelectronic applications. In this paper some optical and electrical properties of ZnO:Al thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering method have been investigated. AZO layers have been deposited on the soda lime glass substrates with use of variable technological parameters such as pressure in the deposition chamber, power applied and temperature during the process. The composition of AZO films has been investigated by EDS method. Thickness and refraction index of the deposited layers in dependence on certain technological parameters of sputtering process have been determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The measurements of transmittance and sheet resistance were also performed.

ELLIPSOMETRIC STUDY OF a-Si:H NUCLEATION, GROWTH, AND INTERFACES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, R. W.

Recent in situ and spectroscopic ellipsometry investigations of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) nucleation behavior, microstructural evolution, and interface formation are reviewed. An outline of the commonly applied experimental techniques and data analysis is also presented. In situ ellipsometry reveals a nuclei formation and convergence sequence in the first 50Å of a-Si:H growth by rf plasma deposition from silane on c-Si and metal substrates. This sequence provides evidence of favorable growth chemistry that results in material with a low density of structural defects. The influence of deposition parameters and processes on the nucleation and subsequent microstructural evolution of a-Si:H is covered in detail. Among the other topics discussed include: nucleation of microcrystalline Si, evolution of surface roughness on a-Si:H, inert and reactive gas plasma modification of a-Si:H, and formation of a-Si:H heterostructures with SiO2, wide band gap alloys, and Bdoped a-Si:H.

Optical Physics of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells and Their Layer Components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibdah, Abedl-Rahman

Polycrystalline Cu(In1-xGax)Se 2 (CIGS) thin film technology has emerged as a promising candidate for low cost and high performance solar modules. The efficiency of CIGS solar cells is strongly influenced by several key factors. Among these factors include Ga composition and its profile in the absorber layer, copper content in this layer, and the solar cell multilayer structure. As a result, tools for the characterization of thin film CIGS solar cells and their layer components are becoming increasingly essential in research and manufacturing. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a non-invasive technique that can serve as an accurate probe of component layer optical properties and multilayer structures, and can be applied as a diagnostic tool for real-time, in-line, and off-line monitoring and analysis in small area solar cell fabrication as well as in large area photovoltaics manufacturing. Implementation of spectroscopic ellipsometry provides unique insights into the properties of complete solar cell multilayer structures and their layer components. These insights can improve our understanding of solar cell structures, overcome challenges associated with solar cell fabrication, and assist in process monitoring and control on a production line. In this dissertation research, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 films with different Cu contents have been prepared by the one stage co-evaporation process. These films have been studied by real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) during deposition, and by in-situ SE at the deposition temperature as well as at room temperature to extract the dielectric functions (epsilon1, epsilon 2) of the thin film materials. Analytical expressions for the room temperature dielectric functions were developed, and the free parameters that describe these analytical functions were in turn expressed as functions of the Cu content. As a result of this parameterization, the dielectric function spectra (epsilon 1, epsilon2) can be predicted for any desired composition within the range of the samples investigated. This capability was applied for mapping the structural and compositional variations of CIGS thin films deposited over a 10 cm x 10 cm substrate area. In another application presented in this dissertation, a non-invasive method utilizing ex-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis has been developed and applied to determine non-destructively the Ga compositional profile in CIGS absorbers. The method employs parameterized dielectric function spectra (epsilon1, epsilon2) of CIGS versus Ga content to probe the compositional variation with depth into the absorber. In addition, a methodology for prediction of the external quantum efficiency (QE) including optical gains and losses for a CIGS solar cell has been developed. The methodology utilizes ex-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis of a complete solar cell, with no free parameters, to deduce the multilayer solar cell structure non-invasively and simulate optical light absorption in each of the layer components. In the case of high efficiency CIGS solar cells, with minimal electronic losses, QE spectra are predicted from the sum of optical absorption in the active layer components. For such solar cells with ideal photo-generated charge carrier collection, the SE-predicted QE spectra are excellent representation of the measured ones. Since the QE spectra as well as the short circuit current density (Jsc) can be calculated directly from SE analysis results, then the predicted QE from SE can be compared with the experimental QE to evaluate electronic losses based on the difference between the spectra. Moreover, the calculated Jsc can be used as a key parameter for the design and optimization of anti-reflection coating structures. Because the long term production potential of CIGS solar modules may be limited by the availability of indium, it becomes important to reduce the thickness of the CIGS absorber layer. Thickness reduction would reduce the quantity of indium required for production which would in turn reduce costs. A decrease in short-circuit current density (Jsc) is expected, however, upon thinning the CIGS absorber due to incomplete absorption. To clarify the limits of obtainable Jsc in ultra-thin CIGS solar cells with Mo back contacts, optical properties and multilayer structural data are deduced via spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis and used to predict the QE spectra and maximum obtainable Jsc values upon thinning the absorber. Moreover, SE-guided optical design of ultra-thin CIGS solar cells has been demonstrated. In the case of solar cells fabricated on Mo, thinning the absorber in a CIGS solar cell is associated with significant optical losses in the Mo containing back contact layers. This is due in part to the poor optical reflectance of Mo. Such optical losses may be reduced by employing a back contact design with improved reflectance. Thus, alternative novel solar cell structures with ultra-thin absorbers and improved back contact reflectance have been designed and investigated using SE and the optical modeling methods. In addition to optical losses, electronic losses in the ultra-thin solar cells have been evaluated. By separating the absorber layer into sub-layer regions (for example, near-junction, bulk, and near-back-contact) and varying carrier collection probability in these regions, the contribution of each region to the current can be estimated. Based on this separation, the origin of the electronic losses has been identified as near the back contact.

Spectroscopic ellipsometric studies of the dielectric function of Cd1-x-yMnxFeyTe single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Younghun; Kim, Hyekyeong; Um, Youngho; Park, Hyoyeol

2004-06-01

Cd1-x-yMnxFeyTe single crystals grown by the vertical Bridgman method have been studied by measuring the complex dielectric function using spectroscopic ellipsometry in the 1.5 5.5 eV photon energy range at room temperature. The CP energy parameters of the E0, E1, E1 + 1, and E2 structures were determined by fitting the second-derivative spectra (d2/d2) with a theoretical model, i.e., the standard critical point (SCP) line shapes. The E1, E1 + 1, and E2 energies decreased with increasing Fe composition y, which is due to the hybridization effect of the valence and conduction bands in Cd1-xMnxTe with Fe 3d levels.

RF plasma MOCVD of Y2O3 thin films: Effect of RF self-bias on the substrates during deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chopade, S. S.; Barve, S. A.; Thulasi Raman, K. H.; Chand, N.; Deo, M. N.; Biswas, A.; Rai, Sanjay; Lodha, G. S.; Rao, G. M.; Patil, D. S.

2013-11-01

Yttrium oxide (Y2O3) thin films have been deposited by radio frequency plasma assisted metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process using (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) yttrium (commonly known as Y(thd)3) precursor in a plasma of argon and oxygen gases at a substrate temperature of 350 °C. The films have been deposited under influence of varying RF self-bias (-50 V to -175 V) on silicon, quartz, stainless steel and tantalum substrates. The deposited coatings are characterized by glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), spectroscopic ellipsometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). GIXRD and FTIR results indicate deposition of Y2O3 (BCC structure) in all cases. However, XPS results indicate nonstoichiometric cubic phase deposition on the surface of deposited films. The degree of nonstoichiometry varies with bias during deposition. Ellipsometry results indicate that the refractive index for the deposited films is varying from 1.70 to 1.83 that is typical for Y2O3. All films are transparent in the investigated wavelength range 300-1200 nm. SEM results indicate that the microstructure of the films is changing with applied bias. Results indicate that it is possible to deposit single phase cubic Y2O3 thin films at low substrate temperature by RF plasma MOCVD process. RF self-bias that decides about the energy of impinging ions on the substrates plays an important role in controlling the texture of deposited Y2O3 films on the substrates. Results indicate that to control the structure of films and its texture, it is important to control the bias on the substrate during deposition. The films deposited at high bias level show degradation in the crystallinity and reduction of thickness.

Development of graphene process control by industrial optical spectroscopy setup

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fursenko, O.; Lukosius, M.; Lupina, G.; Bauer, J.; Villringer, C.; Mai, A.

2017-06-01

The successful integration of graphene into microelectronic devices depends strongly on the availability of fast and nondestructive characterization methods of graphene grown by CVD on large diameter production wafers [1-3] which are in the interest of the semiconductor industry. Here, a high-throughput optical metrology method for measuring the thickness and uniformity of large-area graphene sheets is demonstrated. The method is based on the combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and normal incidence reflectometry in UV-Vis wavelength range (200-800 nm) with small light spots ( 30 μm2) realized in wafer optical metrology tool. In the first step graphene layers were transferred on a SiO2/Si substrate in order to determine the optical constants of graphene by the combination of multi-angle ellipsometry and reflectometry. Then these data were used for the development of a process control recipe of CVD graphene on 200 mm Ge(100)/Si(100) wafers. The graphene layer quality was additionally monitored by Raman spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy measurements were performed for micro topography evaluation. In consequence, a robust recipe for unambiguous thickness monitoring of all components of a multilayer film stack, including graphene, surface residuals or interface layer underneath graphene and surface roughness is developed. Optical monitoring of graphene thickness uniformity over a wafer has shown an excellent long term stability (s=0.004 nm) regardless of the growth of interfacial GeO2 and surface roughness. The sensitivity of the optical identification of graphene during microelectronic processing was evaluated. This optical metrology technique with combined data collection exhibit a fast and highly precise method allowing one an unambiguous detection of graphene after transferring as well as after the CVD deposition process on a Ge(100)/Si(100) wafer. This approach is well suited for industrial applications due to its repeatability and flexibility.

Electronic and optical properties of titanium nitride bulk and surfaces from first principles calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehmood, Faisal; Pachter, Ruth; Murphy, Neil R.; Johnson, Walter E.

2015-11-01

Prediction of the frequency-dependent dielectric function of thin films poses computational challenges, and at the same time experimental characterization by spectroscopic ellipsometry remains difficult to interpret because of changes in stoichiometry and surface morphology, temperature, thickness of the film, or substrate. In this work, we report calculations for titanium nitride (TiN), a promising material for plasmonic applications because of less loss and other practical advantages compared to noble metals. We investigated structural, electronic, and optical properties of stoichiometric bulk TiN, as well as of the TiN(100), TiN(110), and TiN(111) outermost surfaces. Density functional theory (DFT) and many-body GW methods (Green's (G) function-based approximation with screened Coulomb interaction (W)) were used, ranging from G0W0, GW0 to partially self-consistent sc-GW0, as well as the GW-BSE (Bethe-Salpeter equation) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) methods for prediction of the optical properties. Structural parameters and the band structure for bulk TiN were shown to be consistent with previous work. Calculated dielectric functions, plasma frequencies, reflectivity, and the electron energy loss spectrum demonstrated consistency with experiment at the GW0-BSE level. Deviations from experimental data are expected due to varying experimental conditions. Comparison of our results to spectroscopic ellipsometry data for realistic nanostructures has shown that although TDDFT may provide a computationally feasible level of theory in evaluation of the dielectric function, application is subject to validation with GW-BSE calculations.

Composition and temperature dependent optical properties of AlxGa1-xN alloy by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yao; Li, Qing Xuan; Wan, Ling Yu; Kucukgok, Bahadir; Ghafari, Ehsan; Ferguson, Ian T.; Zhang, Xiong; Wang, Shuchang; Feng, Zhe Chuan; Lu, Na

2017-11-01

A series of AlxGa1-xN/AlN/Sapphire films with x = 0.35-0.75 and different thickness of epi-layer were prepared by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was used to study the temperature-dependent refractive indices and optical bandgaps of the AlxGa1-xN films ranging from 300 to 823 K. Parametric semiconductor (PSEMI) models were used to describe the dielectric functions of AlGaN/AlN layers. The fitting results of refractive index, energy bandgap, thickness and surface roughness at 300 K are in good agreement with photoluminescence (PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements and the existing literature. Our finding indicates that the crystal quality of the samples with x = 0.47 and 0.60 are better than those with x = 0.35 and 0.75. As the temperature rises, the increasing of refractive index for the low Al content AlxGa1-xN layers is stronger than that of high Al content in the transparent region, and the reduction of bandgap with high Al content is larger than that of low Al content. For all the samples (x = 0.35-0.75), an analytical expression for temperature-dependent refractive index in the wavelength range of 195-1650 nm was obtained using the Sellmeier law, and the quantitative analysis of the SE-derived temperature-dependent bandgap was conducted by using the Bose-Einstein equation.

Temperature dependence of the dielectric tensor of monoclinic Ga2O3 single crystals in the spectral range 1.0-8.5 eV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sturm, C.; Schmidt-Grund, R.; Zviagin, V.; Grundmann, M.

2017-08-01

The full dielectric tensor of monoclinic Ga2O3 (β-phase) was determined by generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range from 1.0 eV up to 8.5 eV and temperatures in the range from 10 K up to 300 K. By using the oriented dipole approach, the energies and broadenings of the excitonic transitions are determined as a function of the temperature, and the exciton-phonon coupling properties are deduced.

Thin Films of Reduced Hafnium Oxide with Excess Carbon for High-Temperature Oxidation Protection

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-01

Cho, N. V. Nguyen, C. A. Richter, J. R. Ehrstein, B . H. Lee, and J. C. Lee, "Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Characterization of High- k Dielectric Hf02...34 Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 61 850-55 (1983). I6D. B . Chrisey and G. K . Hubler (Eds.), "Pulsed Laser Deposition of Thin Films." John Wiley...smaller than b rim. It was shown that high carbon content in the films inhibits crystaliization of HtO( at temperatures at least up to 333 C. Study ot

Polarization controlled kinetics and composition of trivalent chromium coatings on aluminum.

PubMed

Dardona, Sameh; Chen, Lei; Kryzman, Michael; Goberman, Daniel; Jaworowski, Mark

2011-08-15

Combined in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and electrochemistry have been employed to monitor, in real-time, the formation of trivalent Cr conversion coatings on polished Al substrates at applied sample potentials. It is found that the formation kinetics and chemical composition of the film can be controlled by adjusting the anodic and cathodic reactions. The growth kinetics are accelerated at more positive anodic potentials or more negative cathodic potentials. At more negative potentials, the percentage of chromium in the coating is found to increase, while the zirconium percentage decreases.

Passivation of Si(111) surfaces with electrochemically grafted thin organic films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roodenko, K.; Yang, F.; Hunger, R.; Esser, N.; Hinrichs, K.; Rappich, J.

2010-09-01

Ultra thin organic films (about 5 nm thick) of nitrobenzene and 4-methoxydiphenylamine were deposited electrochemically on p-Si(111) surfaces from benzene diazonium compounds. Studies based on atomic force microscopy, infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that upon exposure to atmospheric conditions the oxidation of the silicon interface proceed slower on organically modified surfaces than on unmodified hydrogen passivated p-Si(111) surfaces. Effects of HF treatment on the oxidized organic/Si interface and on the organic layer itself are discussed.

Temperature dependent optical properties of ZnO thin film using ellipsometry and photoluminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouzourâa, M.-B.; Battie, Y.; Dalmasso, S.; Zaïbi, M.-A.; Oueslati, M.; En Naciri, A.

2018-05-01

We report the temperature dependence of the dielectric function, the exciton binding energy and the electronic transitions of crystallized ZnO thin film using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and photoluminescence (PL). ZnO layers were prepared by sol-gel method and deposited on crystalline silicon (Si) by spin coating technique. The ZnO optical properties were determined between 300 K and 620 K. Rigorous study of optical responses was achieved in order to demonstrate the quenching exciton of ZnO as a function of temperature. Numerical technique named constrained cubic splines approximation (CCS), Tauc-Lorentz (TL) and Tanguy dispersion models were selected for the ellipsometry data modeling in order to obtain the dielectric function of ZnO. The results reveals that the exciton bound becomes widely flattening at 470 K on the one hand, and on the other that the Tanguy dispersion law is more appropriate for determining the optical responses of ZnO thin film in the temperature range of 300 K-420 K. The Tauc-Lorentz, for its part, reproduces correctly the ZnO dielectric function in 470 K-620 K temperature range. The temperature dependence of the electronic transition given by SE and PL shows that the exciton quenching was observed in 420 K-∼520 K temperature range. This quenching effect can be explained by the equilibrium between the Coulomb force of exciton and its kinetic energy in the film. The kinetic energy was found to induce three degrees of freedom of the exciton.

Electrowetting on plasma-deposited fluorocarbon hydrophobic films for biofluid transport in microfluidics

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

Bayiati, P.; Tserepi, A.; Petrou, P. S.

2007-05-15

The present work focuses on the plasma deposition of fluorocarbon (FC) films on surfaces and the electrostatic control of their wettability (electrowetting). Such films can be employed for actuation of fluid transport in microfluidic devices, when deposited over patterned electrodes. Here, the deposition was performed using C{sub 4}F{sub 8} and the plasma parameters that permit the creation of films with optimized properties desirable for electrowetting were established. The wettability of the plasma-deposited surfaces was characterized by means of contact angle measurements (in the static and dynamic mode). The thickness of the deposited films was probed in situ by means ofmore » spectroscopic ellipsometry, while the surface roughness was provided by atomic force microscopy. These plasma-deposited FC films in combination with silicon nitride, a material of high dielectric constant, were used to create a dielectric structure that requires reduced voltages for successful electrowetting. Electrowetting experiments using protein solutions were conducted on such optimized dielectric structures and were compared with similar structures bearing commercial spin-coated Teflon registered amorphous fluoropolymer (AF) film as the hydrophobic top layer. Our results show that plasma-deposited FC films have desirable electrowetting behavior and minimal protein adsorption, a requirement for successful transport of biological solutions in 'digital' microfluidics.« less

Molecular layer deposition of APTES on silicon nanowire biosensors: Surface characterization, stability and pH response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yuchen; Huang, Jie; Zang, Pengyuan; Kim, Jiyoung; Hu, Walter

2014-12-01

We report the use of molecular layer deposition (MLD) for depositing 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) on a silicon dioxide surface. The APTES monolayer was characterized using spectroscopic ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and atomic force microscopy. Effects of reaction time of repeating pulses and simultaneous feeding of water vapor with APTES were tested. The results indicate that the synergistic effects of water vapor and reaction time are significant for the formation of a stable monolayer. Additionally, increasing the number of repeating pulses improved the APTES surface coverage but led to saturation after 10 pulses. In comparing MLD with solution-phase deposition, the APTES surface coverage and the surface quality were nearly equivalent. The hydrolytic stability of the resulting films was also studied. The results confirmed that the hydrolysis process was necessary for MLD to obtain stable surface chemistry. Furthermore, we compared the pH sensing results of Si nanowire field effect transistors (Si NWFETs) modified by both the MLD and solution methods. The highly repeatable pH sensing results reflected the stability of APTES monolayers. The results also showed an improved pH response of the sensor prepared by MLD compared to the one prepared by the solution treatment, which indicated higher surface coverage of APTES.

Ellipsometric characterization of MoSe2 thin layers obtained by thermal treatment of molybdenum in selenium vapor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayramov, Ayaz; Aliyeva, Yegana; Eyyubov, Gurban; Mammadov, Eldar; Jahangirli, Zakir; Lincot, Daniel; Mamedov, Nazim

2017-11-01

Submicron MoSe2 layers were prepared by thermal treatment of thick Mo layers on glass substrate in saturated selenium vapor. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was then applied to the obtained MoSe2/Mo/Glass structures and MoSe2 target sample at room temperature. Dielectric function for both the MoSe2 layer and MoSe2 target was retrieved in the spectral range 190-1700 nm by using the Kramers-Kronig consistent B-spline dispersion model. The obtained data were similar in both cases. Despite apparent red shift of the dielectric function spectra of the layer in high energy region the peculiarity at around 1 eV is manifested at the same energy for both, layer and target. Comparison of the ellipsometry-based dielectric function of the target and the one, obtained within calculated band structure of MoSe2 for room temperature lattice parameters, has shown that the former is a broadened counterpart of the latter. Above-mentioned peculiar feature is not reproduced in the calculated dielectric function and is assumed to have excitonic nature.

Analysis of Toxic Amyloid Fibril Interactions at Natively Derived Membranes by Ellipsometry

PubMed Central

Smith, Rachel A. S.; Nabok, Aleksey; Blakeman, Ben J. F.; Xue, Wei-Feng; Abell, Benjamin; Smith, David P.

2015-01-01

There is an ongoing debate regarding the culprits of cytotoxicity associated with amyloid disorders. Although small pre-fibrillar amyloid oligomers have been implicated as the primary toxic species, the fibrillar amyloid material itself can also induce cytotoxicity. To investigate membrane disruption and cytotoxic effects associated with intact and fragmented fibrils, the novel in situ spectroscopic technique of Total Internal Reflection Ellipsometry (TIRE) was used. Fibril lipid interactions were monitored using natively derived whole cell membranes as a model of the in vivo environment. We show that fragmented fibrils have an increased ability to disrupt these natively derived membranes by causing a loss of material from the deposited surface when compared with unfragmented fibrils. This effect was corroborated by observations of membrane disruption in live cells, and by dye release assay using synthetic liposomes. Through these studies we demonstrate the use of TIRE for the analysis of protein-lipid interactions on natively derived lipid surfaces, and provide an explanation on how amyloid fibrils can cause a toxic gain of function, while entangled amyloid plaques exert minimal biological activity. PMID:26172440

Ellipsometric Analysis of Contaminant Layer on Optical Witness Samples from MISSE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norwood, Joseph K.

2007-01-01

Several optical witness samples included in the Materials for International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) trays have been analyzed with a variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer or VASE. Witness samples of gold or platinum mirrors are extremely useful as collectors of space-borne contamination, due to the relative inertness of these noble metals in the atomic oxygen-rich environment of LEO. Highly accurate thickness measurements, typically at the sub-nanometer scale, may be achieved with this method, which uses polarized light in a spectral range of 300 to 1300 nanometers at several angles of incidence to the sample surface.

Optical gradients in a-Si:H thin films detected using real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry with virtual interface analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junda, Maxwell M.; Karki Gautam, Laxmi; Collins, Robert W.; Podraza, Nikolas J.

2018-04-01

Virtual interface analysis (VIA) is applied to real time spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements taken during the growth of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films using various hydrogen dilutions of precursor gases and on different substrates during plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. A procedure is developed for optimizing VIA model configurations by adjusting sampling depth into the film and the analyzed spectral range such that model fits with the lowest possible error function are achieved. The optimal VIA configurations are found to be different depending on hydrogen dilution, substrate composition, and instantaneous film thickness. A depth profile in the optical properties of the films is then extracted that results from a variation in an optical absorption broadening parameter in a parametric a-Si:H model as a function of film thickness during deposition. Previously identified relationships are used linking this broadening parameter to the overall shape of the optical properties. This parameter is observed to converge after about 2000-3000 Å of accumulated thickness in all layers, implying that similar order in the a-Si:H network can be reached after sufficient thicknesses. In the early stages of growth, however, significant variations in broadening resulting from substrate- and processing-induced order are detected and tracked as a function of bulk layer thickness yielding an optical property depth profile in the final film. The best results are achieved with the simplest film-on-substrate structures while limitations are identified in cases where films have been deposited on more complex substrate structures.

Electronic and optical properties of titanium nitride bulk and surfaces from first principles calculations

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

Mehmood, Faisal; General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45433; Pachter, Ruth, E-mail: ruth.pachter@us.af.mil

Prediction of the frequency-dependent dielectric function of thin films poses computational challenges, and at the same time experimental characterization by spectroscopic ellipsometry remains difficult to interpret because of changes in stoichiometry and surface morphology, temperature, thickness of the film, or substrate. In this work, we report calculations for titanium nitride (TiN), a promising material for plasmonic applications because of less loss and other practical advantages compared to noble metals. We investigated structural, electronic, and optical properties of stoichiometric bulk TiN, as well as of the TiN(100), TiN(110), and TiN(111) outermost surfaces. Density functional theory (DFT) and many-body GW methods (Green'smore » (G) function-based approximation with screened Coulomb interaction (W)) were used, ranging from G{sub 0}W{sub 0}, GW{sub 0} to partially self-consistent sc-GW{sub 0}, as well as the GW-BSE (Bethe-Salpeter equation) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) methods for prediction of the optical properties. Structural parameters and the band structure for bulk TiN were shown to be consistent with previous work. Calculated dielectric functions, plasma frequencies, reflectivity, and the electron energy loss spectrum demonstrated consistency with experiment at the GW{sub 0}-BSE level. Deviations from experimental data are expected due to varying experimental conditions. Comparison of our results to spectroscopic ellipsometry data for realistic nanostructures has shown that although TDDFT may provide a computationally feasible level of theory in evaluation of the dielectric function, application is subject to validation with GW-BSE calculations.« less

Optical properties of ultrathin CIGS films studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry assisted by chemical engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loubat, Anaïs; Eypert, Céline; Mollica, Fabien; Bouttemy, Muriel; Naghavi, Negar; Lincot, Daniel; Etcheberry, Arnaud

2017-11-01

CIGS (Cu(In1-x,Gax)Se2) based devices are very efficient for photovoltaic conversion. A non-destructive optical study of CIGS is an important challenge as for evaluation of the material quality, and for device modeling. Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE) is well adapted for a quantitative characterization only if the handicaps of the roughness limitation, the oxidized surface, or the compositional gradient are minimized. For this SE study, ungraded and thin CIGS samples are prepared with GGI (x) ratio (=[Ga]/([Ga] + [In])) ranging from 0.15 to 0.60. Thanks to chemical engineering based on acidic bromine solution etching and/or HCl de-oxidation, the SE experiments are performed on flattened surfaces, and also, on as grown de-oxidized samples. Using assumptions based on XPS, AFM and SEM complementary characterizations, we give proof of oxide free flattening surfaces and chemical homogeneity in depth. Using these observations, the SE data are modeled on the basis of a three layer model using an Adachi/Tauc-Lorentz formula for the CIGS dispersion. The optical gap values are determined in good agreement with the x ratio measured by the other characterization techniques. SE is able to well estimate the thickness and roughness variations on each sample. Furthermore, the CIGS optical constant extracted on such reference flat surfaces are then applied to the as grown-de-oxidized surfaces, enabling to describe the SE data obtained on rougher surfaces. A complete consistency of the proposed model is shown as well as the capability of SE to be sensitive to the chemistry of the surface.

Modeling and in Situ Probing of Surface Reactions in Atomic Layer Deposition.

PubMed

Zheng, Yuanxia; Hong, Sungwook; Psofogiannakis, George; Rayner, G Bruce; Datta, Suman; van Duin, Adri C T; Engel-Herbert, Roman

2017-05-10

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has matured into a preeminent thin film deposition technique by offering a highly scalable and economic route to integrate chemically dissimilar materials with excellent thickness control down to the subnanometer regime. Contrary to its extensive applications, a quantitative and comprehensive understanding of the reaction processes seems intangible. Complex and manifold reaction pathways are possible, which are strongly affected by the surface chemical state. Here, we report a combined modeling and experimental approach utilizing ReaxFF reactive force field simulation and in situ real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry to gain insights into the ALD process of Al 2 O 3 from trimethylaluminum and water on hydrogenated and oxidized Ge(100) surfaces. We deciphered the origin for the different peculiarities during initial ALD cycles for the deposition on both surfaces. While the simulations predicted a nucleation delay for hydrogenated Ge(100), a self-cleaning effect was discovered on oxidized Ge(100) surfaces and resulted in an intermixed Al 2 O 3 /GeO x layer that effectively suppressed oxygen diffusion into Ge. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry in combination with ex situ atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed these simulation results. Electrical impedance characterizations evidenced the critical role of the intermixed Al 2 O 3 /GeO x layer to achieve electrically well-behaved dielectric/Ge interfaces with low interface trap density. The combined approach can be generalized to comprehend the deposition and reaction kinetics of other ALD precursors and surface chemistry, which offers a path toward a theory-aided rational design of ALD processes at a molecular level.

Acquisition of Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometer (IR-VASE)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-22

External Advisory Board Meeting in Rio Piedras, PR. March 2016 Quiñonez B.*, Castilla D., Almodóvar J.; “ Polysaccharide -based polyelectrolyte...April 2016 Quiñonez B.*, Castilla D., Almodóvar J.; “ Polysaccharide -based polyelectrolyte multilayers: Physicochemical characterization and in...2016 Quiñonez B.*, Castilla D., Almodóvar J.; “ Polysaccharide -based polyelectrolyte multilayers: Physicochemical characterization and in vitro

Investigation of ellipsometric parameters of 2D microrough surfaces by FDTD.

PubMed

Qiu, J; Ran, D F; Liu, Y B; Liu, L H

2016-07-10

Ellipsometry is a powerful method for measuring the optical constants of materials and is very sensitive to surface roughness. In previous ellipsometric measurement of optical constants of solid materials with rough surfaces, researchers frequently used effective medium approximation (EMA) with roughness already known to fit the complex refractive index of the material. However, the ignored correlation length, the other important parameter of rough surfaces, will definitely result in fitting errors. Hence it is necessary to consider the influence of surface roughness and correlation length on the ellipsometric parameters Δ (phase difference) and Ψ (azimuth) characterizing practical systems. In this paper, the influence of roughness of two-dimensional randomly microrough surfaces (relative roughness σ/λ ranges from 0.001 to 0.025) of silicon on ellipsometric parameters was simulated by the finite-difference time-domain method which was validated with experimental results. The effects of incident angle, relative roughness, and correlation length were numerically investigated for two-dimensional Gaussian distributed randomly microrough surfaces, respectively. The simulated results showed that compared with the smooth surface, only tiny changes of the ellipsometric parameter Δ could be observed for microrough silicon surface in the vicinity of the Brewster angle, but obviously changes of Ψ occur especially in the vicinity of the Brewster angle. More differences between the ellipsometric parameters of the rough surface and smooth surface can been seen especially in the vicinity of the Brewster angle as the relative roughness σ/λ increases or correlation length τ decreases. The results reveal that when we measure the optical constants of solid materials by ellipsometry, the smaller roughness, larger correlation length and larger incident wavelength will lead to the higher precision of measurements.

Natural organic UV-absorbent coatings based on cellulose and lignin: designed effects on spectroscopic properties.

PubMed

Hambardzumyan, Arayik; Foulon, Laurence; Chabbert, Brigitte; Aguié-Béghin, Véronique

2012-12-10

Novel nanocomposite coatings composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and lignin (either synthetic or fractionated from spruce and corn stalks) were prepared without chemical modification or functionalization (via covalent attachment) of one of the two biopolymers. The spectroscopic properties of these coatings were investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry. When using the appropriate weight ratio of CNC/lignin (R), these nanocomposite systems exhibited high-performance optical properties, high transmittance in the visible spectrum, and high blocking in the UV spectrum. Atomic force microscopy analysis demonstrated that these coatings were smooth and homogeneous, with visible dispersed lignin nodules in a cellulosic matrix. It was also demonstrated that the introduction of nanoparticles into the medium increases the weight ratio and the CNC-specific surface area, which allows better dispersion of the lignin molecules throughout the solid film. Consequently, the larger molecular expansion of these aromatic polymers on the surface of the cellulosic nanoparticles dislocates the π-π aromatic aggregates, which increases the extinction coefficient and decreases the transmittance in the UV region. These nanocomposite coatings were optically transparent at visible wavelengths.

Al+Si Interface Optical Properties Obtained in the Si Solar Cell Configuration

DOE PAGES

Subedi, Indra; Silverman, Timothy J.; Deceglie, Michael G.; ...

2017-10-18

Al is a commonly used material for rear side metallization in commercial silicon (Si) wafer solar cells. In this study, through-the-silicon spectroscopic ellipsometry is used in a test sample to measure Al+Si interface optical properties like those in Si wafer solar cells. Two different spectroscopic ellipsometers are used for measurement of Al+Si interface optical properties over the 1128-2500 nm wavelength range. For validation, the measured interface optical properties are used in a ray tracing simulation over the 300-2500 nm wavelength range for an encapsulated Si solar cell having random pyramidal texture. The ray tracing model matches well with the measuredmore » total reflectance at normal incidence of a commercially available Si module. The Al+Si optical properties presented here enable quantitative assessment of major irradiance/current flux losses arising from reflection and parasitic absorption in encapsulated Si solar cells.« less

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition of titanium oxynitrides films: A comparative spectroscopic and electrical study

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

Sowińska, Małgorzata, E-mail: malgorzata.sowinska@b-tu.de; Henkel, Karsten; Schmeißer, Dieter

2016-01-15

The process parameters' impact of the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) method on the oxygen to nitrogen (O/N) ratio in titanium oxynitride (TiO{sub x}N{sub y}) films was studied. Titanium(IV)isopropoxide in combination with NH{sub 3} plasma and tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium by applying N{sub 2} plasma processes were investigated. Samples were characterized by the in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrical characterization (current–voltage: I-V and capacitance–voltage: C-V) methods. The O/N ratio in the TiO{sub x}N{sub y} films is found to be very sensitive for their electric properties such as conductivity, dielectric breakdown, and permittivity. Our results indicate that these PE-ALD film propertiesmore » can be tuned, via the O/N ratio, by the selection of the process parameters and precursor/coreactant combination.« less

Recent advances in characterization of CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films by spectroscopic ellipsometric metrology.

PubMed

Lo Nigro, Raffaella; Malandrino, Graziella; Toro, Roberta G; Losurdo, Maria; Bruno, Giovanni; Fragalà, Ignazio L

2005-10-12

CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) thin films were successfully grown on LaAlO3(100) and Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si(100) substrates by a novel MOCVD approach. Epitaxial CCTO(001) thin films have been obtained on LaAlO3(100) substrates, while polycrystalline CCTO films have been grown on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si(100) substrates. Surface morphology and grain size of the different nanostructured deposited films were examined by AFM, and spectroscopic ellipsometry has been used to investigate the electronic part of the dielectric constant (epsilon2). Looking at the epsilon2 curves, it can be seen that by increasing the film structural order, a greater dielectric response has been obtained. The measured dielectric properties accounted for the ratio between grain volumes and grain boundary areas, which is very different in the different structured films.

Al+Si Interface Optical Properties Obtained in the Si Solar Cell Configuration

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

Subedi, Indra; Silverman, Timothy J.; Deceglie, Michael G.

Al is a commonly used material for rear side metallization in commercial silicon (Si) wafer solar cells. In this study, through-the-silicon spectroscopic ellipsometry is used in a test sample to measure Al+Si interface optical properties like those in Si wafer solar cells. Two different spectroscopic ellipsometers are used for measurement of Al+Si interface optical properties over the 1128-2500 nm wavelength range. For validation, the measured interface optical properties are used in a ray tracing simulation over the 300-2500 nm wavelength range for an encapsulated Si solar cell having random pyramidal texture. The ray tracing model matches well with the measuredmore » total reflectance at normal incidence of a commercially available Si module. The Al+Si optical properties presented here enable quantitative assessment of major irradiance/current flux losses arising from reflection and parasitic absorption in encapsulated Si solar cells.« less

Spectroscopic vector analysis for fast pattern quality monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohn, Younghoon; Ryu, Sungyoon; Lee, Chihoon; Yang, Yusin

2018-03-01

In semiconductor industry, fast and effective measurement of pattern variation has been key challenge for assuring massproduct quality. Pattern measurement techniques such as conventional CD-SEMs or Optical CDs have been extensively used, but these techniques are increasingly limited in terms of measurement throughput and time spent in modeling. In this paper we propose time effective pattern monitoring method through the direct spectrum-based approach. In this technique, a wavelength band sensitive to a specific pattern change is selected from spectroscopic ellipsometry signal scattered by pattern to be measured, and the amplitude and phase variation in the wavelength band are analyzed as a measurement index of the pattern change. This pattern change measurement technique is applied to several process steps and verified its applicability. Due to its fast and simple analysis, the methods can be adapted to the massive process variation monitoring maximizing measurement throughput.

Optical properties of quasi-tetragonal BiFeO3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, P.; Podraza, N. J.; Xu, X. S.; Melville, A.; Vlahos, E.; Gopalan, V.; Ramesh, R.; Schlom, D. G.; Musfeldt, J. L.

2010-03-01

Optical transmission spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry were used to extract the optical properties of an epitaxially grown quasi-tetragonal BiFeO3 thin film in the near infrared to near ultraviolet range. The absorption spectrum is overall blue shifted compared with that of rhombohedral BiFeO3, with an absorption onset near 2.25 eV, a direct 3.1 eV band gap, and charge transfer excitations that are ˜0.4 eV higher than those of the rhombohedral counterpart. We interpret these results in terms of structural strain and local symmetry breaking.

Properties of Surface-Modification Layer Generated by Atomic Hydrogen Annealing on Poly(ethylene naphthalate) Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heya, Akira; Matsuo, Naoto

2008-01-01

The surface of a poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) substrate was modified by atomic hydrogen annealing (AHA). In this method, a PEN substrate was exposed to atomic hydrogen generated by cracking hydrogen molecules on heated tungsten wire. The properties of the surface-modification layer by AHA were evaluated by spectroscopic ellipsometry. It is found that the thickness of the modified layer was 5 nm and that the modification layer has a low refractive index compared with the PEN substrate. The modification layer relates to the reduction reaction of the PEN substrate by AHA.

Effect of density of localized states on the ovonic threshold switching characteristics of the amorphous GeSe films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Hyung-Woo; Seok Jeong, Doo; Cheong, Byung-ki; Lee, Hosuk; Lee, Hosun; Kim, Su-dong; Shin, Sang-Yeol; Kim, Donghwan; Lee, Suyoun

2013-07-01

We investigated the effect of nitrogen (N) doping on the threshold voltage of an ovonic threshold switching device using amorphous GeSe. Using the spectroscopic ellipsometry, we found that the addition of N brought about significant changes in electronic structure of GeSe, such as the density of localized states and the band gap energy. Besides, it was observed that the characteristics of OTS devices strongly depended on the doping of N, which could be attributed to those changes in electronic structure suggesting a method to modulate the threshold voltage of the device.

Q factor limitation at short wavelength (around 300 nm) in III-nitride-on-silicon photonic crystal cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabataba-Vakili, Farsane; Roland, Iannis; Tran, Thi-Mo; Checoury, Xavier; El Kurdi, Moustafa; Sauvage, Sébastien; Brimont, Christelle; Guillet, Thierry; Rennesson, Stéphanie; Duboz, Jean-Yves; Semond, Fabrice; Gayral, Bruno; Boucaud, Philippe

2017-09-01

III-nitride-on-silicon L3 photonic crystal cavities with resonances down to 315 nm and quality factors (Q) up to 1085 at 337 nm have been demonstrated. The reduction of the quality factor with decreasing wavelength is investigated. Besides the quantum well absorption below 340 nm, a noteworthy contribution is attributed to the residual absorption present in thin AlN layers grown on silicon, as measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. This residual absorption ultimately limits the Q factor to around 2000 at 300 nm when no active layer is present.

Infrared-spectroscopic single-shot laser mapping ellipsometry: Proof of concept for fast investigations of structured surfaces and interactions in organic thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furchner, Andreas; Kratz, Christoph; Gkogkou, Dimitra; Ketelsen, Helge; Hinrichs, Karsten

2017-11-01

We present a novel infrared-spectroscopic laser mapping ellipsometer based on a single-shot measurement concept. The ellipsometric set-up employs multiple analyzers and detectors to simultaneously measure the sample's optical response under different analyzer azimuths. An essential component is a broadly tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL) covering the important marker region of 1800-1540 cm-1. The ellipsometer allows for fast single-wavelength as well as spectroscopic studies with thin-film sensitivity at temporal resolutions of 60 ms per wavelength. We applied the single-shot mapping ellipsometer for the characterization of metal-island enhancement surfaces as well as of molecular interactions in organic thin films. In less than 3 min, a linescan with 1600 steps revealed profile and infrared-enhancement properties of a gradient gold-island film for sensing applications. Spectroscopic measurements were performed to probe the amide I band of thin films of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [PNIPAAm], a stimuli-responsive polymer for bioapplications. The QCL spectra agree well with conventional FT-IR ellipsometric results, showing different band components associated with hydrogen-bond interactions between polymer and adsorbed water. Multi-wavelength ellipsometric maps were used to analyze homogeneity and surface contaminations of the polymer films.

Vertical and lateral morphology effects on solar cell performance for a thiophene–quinoxaline copolymer:PC 70BM blend

DOE PAGES

Hansson, Rickard; Ericsson, Leif K. E.; Holmes, Natalie P.; ...

2015-02-13

The distribution of electron donor and acceptor in the active layer is known to strongly influence the electrical performance of polymer solar cells for most of the high performance polymer:fullerene systems. The formulation of the solution from which the active layer is spincoated plays an important role in the quest for morphology control. We have studied how the choice of solvent and the use of small amounts of a low vapour pressure additive in the coating solution influence the film morphology and the solar cell performance for blends of poly[2,3-bis-(3-octyloxyphenyl)quinoxaline-5,8-diyl-alt-thiophene-2,5-diyl] (TQ1) and [6,6]-phenyl C 71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 70BM).more » We have investigated the lateral morphology using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), the vertical morphology using dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (d-SIMS) and variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), and the surface composition using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). The lateral phase-separated domains observed in films spincoated from single solvents, increase in size with increasing solvent vapour pressure and decreasing PC 70BM solubility, but are not observed when 1-chloronaphthalene (CN) is added. A strongly TQ1-enriched surface layer is formed in all TQ1:PC 70BM blend films and rationalized by surface energy differences. The photocurrent and power conversion efficiency strongly increased upon the addition of CN, while the leakage current decreased by one to two orders of magnitude. The higher photocurrent correlates with the finer lateral structure and stronger TQ1-enrichment at the interface with the electron-collecting electrode. This indicates that the charge transport and collection are not hindered by this polymer-enriched surface layer. Neither the open-circuit voltage nor the series resistance of the devices are sensitive to the differences in morphology.« less

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

Grujić-Brojčin, M., E-mail: myramyra@ipb.ac.rs; Armaković, S.; Tomić, N.

The influence of La-doping in the range of 0.5–6.0 mol% on structural and morphological properties of TiO{sub 2} nanopowders synthesized by sol–gel routine has been investigated by XRPD, AFM, EDS and BET measurements, as well as Raman spectroscopy. The XRPD and Raman measurements have revealed the anatase phase as dominant in all nanopowders, with crystallite size decreasing from ∼ 15 nm in pure TiO{sub 2} to ∼ 12 nm in La-doped samples. The BET data suggest that all samples are fully mesoporous, with mean pore diameters in the range of ∼ 6–8 nm. The specific surface area and the complexitymore » of pore structure are greater in doped samples than in pure TiO{sub 2} sample. The spectroscopic ellipsometry has apparently shown that the band gap has been gradually increased with the increase of La content. The STM and STS techniques have been used successfully to evaluate the surface morphology and electronic properties of La-doped nanopowders. All investigated properties have been related to photocatalytic activity, tested in degradation of a metoprolol tartrate salt (0.05 mM), and induced by UV-radiation. All doped samples showed increased photocatalytic activity compared to pure TiO{sub 2}, among which the 0.65 mol% La-doped sample appeared to be the most efficient. - Highlights: • Effects of La-doping on structural, morphological and electronic properties of TiO{sub 2} nanopowders. • Surface morphology and electronic properties of La-doped nanopowders evaluated by STM/STS. • Spectroscopic ellipsometry shown gradual increase of bandgap with the increase of La content. • Photocatalytic activity of samples was tested in degradation of MET under UV light.« less

Optical properties of InAsBi and optimal designs of lattice-matched and strain-balanced III-V semiconductor superlattices

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

Webster, P. T., E-mail: preston.t.webster@asu.edu; Riordan, N. A.; Gogineni, C.

The optical properties of bulk InAs{sub 0.936}Bi{sub 0.064} grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a (100)-oriented GaSb substrate are measured using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The index of refraction and absorption coefficient are measured over photon energies ranging from 44 meV to 4.4 eV and are used to identify the room temperature bandgap energy of bulk InAs{sub 0.936}Bi{sub 0.064} as 60.6 meV. The bandgap of InAsBi is expressed as a function of Bi mole fraction using the band anticrossing model and a characteristic coupling strength of 1.529 eV between the Bi impurity state and the InAs valence band. These results are programmed into a software toolmore » that calculates the miniband structure of semiconductor superlattices and identifies optimal designs in terms of maximizing the electron-hole wavefunction overlap as a function of transition energy. These functionalities are demonstrated by mapping the design spaces of lattice-matched GaSb/InAs{sub 0.911}Sb{sub 0.089} and GaSb/InAs{sub 0.932}Bi{sub 0.068} and strain-balanced InAs/InAsSb, InAs/GaInSb, and InAs/InAsBi superlattices on GaSb. The absorption properties of each of these material systems are directly compared by relating the wavefunction overlap square to the absorption coefficient of each optimized design. Optimal design criteria are provided for key detector wavelengths for each superlattice system. The optimal design mid-wave infrared InAs/InAsSb superlattice is grown using molecular beam epitaxy, and its optical properties are evaluated using spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy.« less

Research on silicon-carbon alloys and interfaces. Final subcontract report, 15 February 1991--31 July 1994

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

Abelson, J.R.

1995-07-01

This report describes work performed to develop improved p-type wide-band-gap hydrogenated amorphous silicon-carbon alloy (a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x:}H) thin films and interfaces for the ``top junction`` in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)-based p-i-n solar cells. We used direct current reactive magnetron sputtering to deposit undoped a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x}H films with a Tauc band gap E{sub g} of 1.90 eV, a sub-band-gap absorption of 0.4 (at 1.2 eV), an Urbach energy of 55 MeV, an ambipolar diffusion length of 100 nm, an air-mass-one photoconductivity of 10{sup {minus}6}/{Omega}-cm, and a dark conductivity of 8{times} 1O{sup {minus}11}/{Omega}-cm. p{sup +}a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x}:H films with a Taucmore » band gap of 1.85 eV have a dark conductivity of 8 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}/{Omega}-cm and thermal activation energy of 0.28 eV. We used in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and post-growth X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to determine the relative roles of H and Si in the chemical reduction of SnO{sub 2} in the early stages of film growth. We used in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to show that a-Si:H can be transformed into {mu}c-Si:H in a subsurface region under appropriate growth conditions. We also determined substrate cleaning and ion bombardment conditions which improve the adhesion of a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x}:H films.« less

A room temperature method for the formation of ultrathin silicon oxide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muisener, Richard John

Growing interest surrounds the use of thin films to impart unique surface properties without adversely affecting those of the bulk. One such example is the formation of a stable high-energy silicon oxide surface on polymers. Thin silicon oxide films have been used to tailor the surface properties of many materials. Conventional methods for SiOx film fabrication such as chemical vapor deposition require either high temperature or expensive vacuum chambers. This research focuses on the intrinsically inexpensive process of UV-ozone to form ultrathin SiOx films from polysiloxane precursors at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Chemical evidence suggests a complete conversion from organic polymer to inorganic ceramic. Through XPS, the UV-ozone treatment oxidizes over 95% of the silicone's organic side groups with a resulting stoichiometry Of Si 1O2.2C0.08. The silicon oxidation state changes from 2+ in poly(dimethylsiloxane) to 93% 4+ corresponding to SiO2. IR studies show a total loss of methyl bands and the growth of a new Si-O band centered at 1225 cm-1. Gas phase reaction products suggest a radical driven process. The physical properties also suggest a complete conversion to SiO x. Excellent control of film thickness, as low as 2 nm, has been demonstrated by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. The ellipsometrically determined thickness loss of 55% during treatment corresponds to an SiOx film density of 1.9 g/cm3. The continuity of the film is demonstrated by electrical properties and a very low water contact angle consistent with SiOx. The later property ensures that the SiOx films are anti-fogging in nature. Unique hydrophilic-hydrophobic structures were formed through photo-patterning. The reaction has been successfully modeled as self-limiting based on the diffusion of ozone. The chief reactant, atomic oxygen, is generated by the photochemical dissociation of ozone and quickly generates radical species within the polymer film. The reaction proceeds through a cascade of radical reaction pathways until the resulting oxide is formed. The penetration of ozone is limited to the topmost 30 nm of the film; hence, the formation of SiOx is also surface limited. SiOx films of upto 10 nm are formed at room temperature from polymeric precursors.

Characterisation of thin films of graphene–surfactant composites produced through a novel semi-automated method

PubMed Central

Nabok, Alexei; Davis, Frank; Higson, Séamus P J

2016-01-01

Summary In this paper we detail a novel semi-automated method for the production of graphene by sonochemical exfoliation of graphite in the presence of ionic surfactants, e.g., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The formation of individual graphene flakes was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, while the interaction of graphene with surfactants was proven by NMR spectroscopy. The resulting graphene–surfactant composite material formed a stable suspension in water and some organic solvents, such as chloroform. Graphene thin films were then produced using Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) or electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition techniques. The composition and morphology of the films produced was studied with SEM/EDX and AFM. The best results in terms of adhesion and surface coverage were achieved using LbL deposition of graphene(−)SDS alternated with polyethyleneimine (PEI). The optical study of graphene thin films deposited on different substrates was carried out using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. A particular focus was on studying graphene layers deposited on gold-coated glass using a method of total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) which revealed the enhancement of the surface plasmon resonance in thin gold films by depositing graphene layers. PMID:26977378

Tailoring density and optical and thermal behavior of gold surfaces and nanoparticles exploiting aromatic dithiols.

PubMed

Bruno, Giovanni; Babudri, Francesco; Operamolla, Alessandra; Bianco, Giuseppe V; Losurdo, Maria; Giangregorio, Maria M; Hassan Omar, Omar; Mavelli, Fabio; Farinola, Gianluca M; Capezzuto, Pio; Naso, Francesco

2010-06-01

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) derived of 4-methoxy-terphenyl-3'',5''-dimethanethiol (TPDMT) and 4-methoxyterphenyl-4''-methanethiol (TPMT) have been prepared by chemisorption from solution onto gold thin films and nanoparticles. The SAMs have been characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy to determine their optical properties, namely the refractive index and extinction coefficient, in an extended spectral range of 0.75-6.5 eV. From the analysis of the optical data, information on SAMs structural organization has been inferred. Comparison of SAMs generated from the above aromatic thiols to well-known SAMs generated from the alkanethiol dodecanethiol revealed that the former aromatic SAMs are densely packed and highly vertically oriented, with a slightly higher packing density and a absence of molecular inclination in TPMT/Au. The thermal behavior of SAMs has also been monitored using ellipsometry in the temperature range 25-500 degrees C. Gold nanoparticles functionalized by the same aromatic thiols have also been discussed for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy applications. This study represents a step forward tailoring the optical and thermal behavior of surfaces as well as nanoparticles.

Liquid gallium and the eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) alloy: Dielectric functions from 1.24 to 3.1 eV by electrochemical reduction of surface oxides

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

Morales, Daniel; Yu, Zhiyuan; Dickey, Michael D., E-mail: mddickey@ncsu.edu, E-mail: aspnes@ncsu.edu

Liquid metals based on gallium are promising materials for soft, stretchable, and shape reconfigurable electromagnetic devices. The behavior of these metals relates directly to the thicknesses of their surface oxide layers, which can be determined nondestructively by ellipsometry if their dielectric functions ε are known. This paper reports on the dielectric functions of liquid gallium and the eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) alloy from 1.24 to 3.1 eV at room temperature, measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Overlayer-induced artifacts, a continuing problem in optical measurements of these highly reactive metals, are eliminated by applying an electrochemically reductive potential to the surface of the metalmore » immersed in an electrolyte. This technique enables measurements at ambient conditions while avoiding the complications associated with removing overlayers in a vacuum environment. The dielectric responses of both metals are closely represented by the Drude model. The EGaIn data suggest that in the absence of an oxide the surface is In-enriched, consistent with the previous vacuum-based studies. Possible reasons for discrepancies with previous measurements are discussed.« less

Fabrication of nonfouling, bactericidal, and bacteria corpse release multifunctional surface through surface-initiated RAFT polymerization.

PubMed

Wang, Bailiang; Ye, Zi; Tang, Yihong; Han, Yuemei; Lin, Quankui; Liu, Huihua; Chen, Hao; Nan, Kaihui

Infections after surgery or endophthalmitis are potentially blinding complications caused by bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on the intraocular lens. Neither single-function anti-adhesion surface nor contacting killing surface can exhibit ideal antibacterial function. In this work, a novel (2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl methacrylate- co -2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (p (DMAEMA- co -MPC)) brush was synthesized by "grafting from" method through reversible-addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. 1-Bromoheptane was used to quaternize the p (DMAEMA- co -MPC) brush coating and to endow the surface with bactericidal function. The success of the surface functionalization was confirmed by atomic force microscopy, water contact angle, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The quaternary ammonium salt units were employed as efficient disinfection that can eliminate bacteria through contact killing, whereas the 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine units were introduced to suppress unwanted nonspecific adsorption. The functionalized poly(dimethyl siloxane) surfaces showed efficiency in reducing bovine serum albumin adsorption and in inhibiting bacteria adhesion and biofilm formation. The copolymer brushes also demonstrated excellent bactericidal function against gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus ) bacteria measured by bacteria live/dead staining and shake-flask culture methods. The surface biocompatibility was evaluated by morphology and activity measurement with human lens epithelial cells in vitro. The achievement of the p (DMAEMA + - co -MPC) copolymer brush coating with nonfouling, bactericidal, and bacteria corpse release properties can be used to modify intraocular lenses.

Fabrication of nonfouling, bactericidal, and bacteria corpse release multifunctional surface through surface-initiated RAFT polymerization

PubMed Central

Wang, Bailiang; Ye, Zi; Tang, Yihong; Han, Yuemei; Lin, Quankui; Liu, Huihua; Chen, Hao; Nan, Kaihui

2017-01-01

Infections after surgery or endophthalmitis are potentially blinding complications caused by bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on the intraocular lens. Neither single-function anti-adhesion surface nor contacting killing surface can exhibit ideal antibacterial function. In this work, a novel (2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl methacrylate-co-2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (p (DMAEMA-co-MPC)) brush was synthesized by “grafting from” method through reversible–addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. 1-Bromoheptane was used to quaternize the p (DMAEMA-co-MPC) brush coating and to endow the surface with bactericidal function. The success of the surface functionalization was confirmed by atomic force microscopy, water contact angle, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The quaternary ammonium salt units were employed as efficient disinfection that can eliminate bacteria through contact killing, whereas the 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine units were introduced to suppress unwanted nonspecific adsorption. The functionalized poly(dimethyl siloxane) surfaces showed efficiency in reducing bovine serum albumin adsorption and in inhibiting bacteria adhesion and biofilm formation. The copolymer brushes also demonstrated excellent bactericidal function against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria measured by bacteria live/dead staining and shake-flask culture methods. The surface biocompatibility was evaluated by morphology and activity measurement with human lens epithelial cells in vitro. The achievement of the p (DMAEMA+-co-MPC) copolymer brush coating with nonfouling, bactericidal, and bacteria corpse release properties can be used to modify intraocular lenses. PMID:28053527

Effect of thickness on electrical properties of SILAR deposited SnS thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akaltun, Yunus; Astam, Aykut; Cerhan, Asena; ćayir, Tuba

2016-03-01

Tin sulfide (SnS) thin films of different thickness were prepared on glass substrates by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at room temperature using tin (II) chloride and sodium sulfide aqueous solutions. The thicknesses of the films were determined using spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements and found to be 47.2, 65.8, 111.0, and 128.7nm for 20, 25, 30 and 35 deposition cycles respectively. The electrical properties of the films were investigated using d.c. two-point probe method at room temperature and the results showed that the resistivity was found to decrease with increasing film thickness.

Temperature-dependent dielectric functions and interband critical points of sulfur-rich TlIn(S1-xSex)2 layered solid solution crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomonnai, O. O.; Gordan, O.; Guranich, P. P.; Slivka, A. G.; Gomonnai, A. V.; Zahn, D. R. T.

2017-12-01

Real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function of TlIn(S1-xSex)2 (x = 0.05, 0.08, 0.25) single crystals were determined in the spectral range from 1 to 5 eV within a temperature interval 140-293 K from spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. The energies of interband transitions (critical points) of the TlIn(S1-xSex)2 crystals were obtained from the second derivative of the real and imaginary parts of dielectric function. Structural phase transitions are behind the observed change of electronic band structure.

Investigation of ferroelectric domains in thin films of vinylidene fluoride oligomers

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

Sharma, Pankaj, E-mail: psharma@huskers.unl.edu; Poddar, Shashi; Ducharme, Stephen

2014-07-14

High-resolution vector piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) has been used to investigate ferroelectric domains in thin vinylidene fluoride oligomer films fabricated by the Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique. Molecular chains are found to be preferentially oriented normal to the substrate, and PFM imaging shows that the films are in ferroelectric β-phase with a predominantly in-plane polarization, in agreement with infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry and X-ray diffraction measurements. The fractal analysis of domain structure has yielded the Hausdorff dimension (D) in the range of ∼1.3–1.5 indicating a random-bond nature of the disorder potential, with domain size exhibiting Landau-Lifshitz-Kittel scaling.

Immobilization and detection of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles on functionalized silicon substrate: cytometric and spectrometric approach.

PubMed

Gajos, Katarzyna; Kamińska, Agnieszka; Awsiuk, Kamil; Bajor, Adrianna; Gruszczyński, Krzysztof; Pawlak, Anna; Żądło, Andrzej; Kowalik, Artur; Budkowski, Andrzej; Stępień, Ewa

2017-02-01

Among the various biomarkers that are used to diagnose or monitor disease, extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent one of the most promising targets in the development of new therapeutic strategies and the application of new diagnostic methods. The detection of circulating platelet-derived microvesicles (PMVs) is a considerable challenge for laboratory diagnostics, especially in the preliminary phase of a disease. In this study, we present a multistep approach to immobilizing and detecting PMVs in biological samples (microvesicles generated from activated platelets and human platelet-poor plasma) on functionalized silicon substrate. We describe the application of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and spectroscopic ellipsometry methods to the detection of immobilized PMVs in the context of a novel imaging flow cytometry (ISX) technique and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This novel approach allowed us to confirm the presence of the abundant microvesicle phospholipids phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) on a surface with immobilized PMVs. Phosphatidylcholine groups (C 5 H 12 N + ; C 5 H 15 PNO 4 + ) were also detected. Moreover, we were able to show that ellipsometry permitted the immobilization of PMVs on a functionalized surface to be evaluated. The sensitivity of the ISX technique depends on the size and refractive index of the analyzed microvesicles. Graphical abstract Human platelets activated with thrombin (in concentration 1IU/mL) generate population of PMVs (platelet derived microvesicles), which can be detected and enumerated with fluorescent-label method (imaging cytometry). Alternatively, PMVs can be immobilized on the modified silicon substrate which is functionalized with a specific IgM murine monoclonal antibody against human glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex (PAC-1). Immobilized PMVs can be subjected to label-free analyses by means ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS).

Surface compositional variation on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by OSIRIS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barucci, M. A.; Fornasier, S.; Feller, C.; Perna, D.; Hasselmann, H.; Deshapriya, J. D. P.; Fulchignoni, M.; Besse, S.; Sierks, H.; Forgia, F.; Lazzarin, M.; Pommerol, A.; Oklay, N.; Lara, L.; Scholten, F.; Preusker, F.; Leyrat, C.; Pajola, M.; Osiris-Rosetta Team

2015-10-01

Since the Rosetta mission arrived at the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67/P C-G) on July 2014, the comet nucleus has been mapped by both OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System, [1]) NAC (Narrow Angle Camera) and WAC (Wide Angle Camera) acquiring a huge quantity of surface's images at different wavelength bands, under variable illumination conditions and spatial resolution, and producing the most detailed maps at the highest spatial resolution of a comet nucleus surface.67/P C-G's nucleus shows an irregular bi-lobed shape of complex morphology with terrains showing intricate features [2, 3] and a heterogeneity surface at different scales.

Vacuum ellipsometry as a method for probing glass transition in thin polymer films.

PubMed

Efremov, Mikhail Yu; Soofi, Shauheen S; Kiyanova, Anna V; Munoz, Claudio J; Burgardt, Peter; Cerrina, Franco; Nealey, Paul F

2008-04-01

A vacuum ellipsometer has been designed for probing the glass transition in thin supported polymer films. The device is based on the optics of a commercial spectroscopic phase-modulated ellipsometer. A custom-made vacuum chamber evacuated by oil-free pumps, variable temperature optical table, and computer-based data acquisition system was described. The performance of the tool has been demonstrated using 20-200 nm thick poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene films coated on silicon substrates at 10(-6)-10(-8) torr residual gas pressure. Both polymers show pronounced glass transitions. The difficulties in assigning in the glass transition temperature are discussed with respect to the experimental challenges of the measurements in thin polymer films. It is found that the experimental curves can be significantly affected by a residual gas. This effect manifests itself at lower temperatures as a decreased or even negative apparent thermal coefficient of expansion, and is related to the uptake and desorption of water by the samples during temperature scans. It is also found that an ionization gauge--the standard accessory of any high vacuum system--can cause a number of spurious phenomena including drift in the experimental data, roughening of the polymer surface, and film dewetting.

Self-propagated combustion synthesis of few-layered graphene: an optical properties perspective.

PubMed

Mohandoss, Manonmani; Sen Gupta, Soujit; Kumar, Ramesh; Islam, Md Rabiul; Som, Anirban; Mohd, Azhardin Ganayee; Pradeep, T; Maliyekkal, Shihabudheen M

2018-04-26

This paper describes a labour efficient and cost-effective strategy to prepare few-layered of reduced graphene oxide like (RGOL) sheets from graphite. The self-propagated combustion route enables the bulk production of RGOL sheets. Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses confirmed the formation of few-layer graphene sheets of an average thickness of ∼3 nm and the presence of some oxygen functional groups with a C/O ratio of 8.74. A possible mechanistic pathway for the formation of RGOL sheets is proposed. The optical properties of the RGOL sample were studied in detail by means of Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE). The experimental abilities of SE in relating the optical properties with the number of oxygen functionalities present in the samples are explored. The data were analysed by a double-layered optical model along with the Drude-Lorentz oscillatory dispersion relation. The refractive index (n = 2.24), extinction coefficient (k = 2.03), and dielectric functions are obtained using point-by-point analysis and are also checked for Kramers-Kronig (KK) consistency.

Composition and structure of spontaneously adsorbed monolayers of n-perfluorocarboxylic acids on silver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chau, Lai-Kwan; Porter, Marc D.

1990-03-01

Monolayer films of n-perfluorocarboxylic acids (CF 3(CF 2) nCOOH, where n = 0-2, 5-8) have been formed by spontaneous adsorption at silver. Infrared reflection spectroscopy, optical ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements indicate that these films exhibit low surface free energies, that the carboxylic acid group is symmetrically bound at the silver substrate as a carboxylate bridging ligand, and that the structure is composed of tilted (≈ 40° from the surface normal) perfluorocarbon chains and small structural defects.

Broadband optical properties of graphene and HOPG investigated by spectroscopic Mueller matrix ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Baokun; Gu, Honggang; Zhu, Simin; Jiang, Hao; Chen, Xiuguo; Zhang, Chuanwei; Liu, Shiyuan

2018-05-01

Optical properties of mono-graphene fabricated by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) are comparatively studied by Mueller matrix ellipsometry (MME) over an ultra-wide energy range of 0.73-6.42 eV. A multilayer stacking model is constructed to describe the CVD mono-graphene, in which the roughness of the glass substrate and the water adsorption on the graphene are considered. We introduce a uniaxial anisotropic dielectric model to parameterize the optical constants of both the graphene and the HOPG. With the established models, broadband optical constants of the graphene and the HOPG are determined from the Mueller matrix spectra based on a point-by-point method and a non-linear regression method, respectively. Two significant absorption peaks at 4.75 eV and 6.31 eV are observed in the extinction coefficient spectra of the mono-graphene, which can be attributed to the von-Hove singularity (i.e., the π-to-π∗ exciton transition) near the M point and the σ-to-σ∗ exciton transition near the Γ point of the Brillouin zone, respectively. Comparatively, only a major absorption peak at 4.96 eV appears in the ordinary extinction coefficient spectra of the HOPG, which is mainly formed by the π-to-π∗ interband transition.

Genesis Silicon Carbide Concentrator Target 60003 Preliminary Ellipsometry Mapping Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calaway, M. J.; Rodriquez, M. C.; Stansbery, E. K.

2007-01-01

The Genesis concentrator was custom designed to focus solar wind ions primarily for terrestrial isotopic analysis of O-17/O-16 and O-18/O-16 to +/-1%, N-15/N-14 to +/-1%, and secondarily to conduct elemental and isotopic analysis of Li, Be, and B. The circular 6.2 cm diameter concentrator target holder was comprised of four quadrants of highly pure semiconductor materials that included one amorphous diamond-like carbon, one C-13 diamond, and two silicon carbide (SiC). The amorphous diamond-like carbon quadrant was fractured upon impact at Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR), but the remaining three quadrants survived fully intact and all four quadrants hold an important collection of solar wind. The quadrants were removed from the target holder at NASA Johnso n Space Center Genesis Curation Laboratory in April 2005, and have been housed in stainless steel containers under continual nitrogen purge since time of disintegration. In preparation for allocation of a silicon carbide target for oxygen isotope analyses at UCLA, the two SiC targets were photographed for preliminary inspection of macro particle contamination from the hard non-nominal landing as well as characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry to evaluate thin film contamination. This report is focused on Genesis SiC target sample number 60003.

Temperature-dependent and anisotropic optical response of layered Pr0.5Ca1.5MnO4 probed by spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majidi, M. A.; Thoeng, E.; Gogoi, P. K.; Wendt, F.; Wang, S. H.; Santoso, I.; Asmara, T. C.; Handayani, I. P.; van Loosdrecht, P. H. M.; Nugroho, A. A.; Rübhausen, M.; Rusydi, A.

2013-06-01

We study the temperature dependence as well as anisotropy of optical conductivity (σ1) in the pseudocubic single crystal Pr0.5Ca1.5MnO4 using spectrocopic ellipsometry. Three transition temperatures are observed and can be linked to charge-orbital (TCO/OO˜320 K), two-dimensional-antiferromagnetic (2D-AFM) (˜200 K), and three-dimensional AFM (TN˜125 K) orderings. Below TCO/OO, σ1 shows a charge-ordering peak (˜0.8 eV) with a significant blue shift as the temperature decreases. Calculations based on a model that incorporates a static Jahn-Teller distortion and assumes the existence of a local charge imbalance between two different sublattices support this assignment and explain the blue shift. This view is further supported by the partial spectral weight analysis showing the onset of optical anisotropy at TCO/OO in the charge-ordering region (0.5-2.5 eV). Interestingly, in the charge-transfer region (2.5-4 eV), the spectral weight shows anomalies around the T2D-AFM that we attribute to the role of oxygen-p orbitals in stabilizing the CE-type magnetic ordering. Our result shows the importance of spin, charge, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom in this layered manganite.

Mueller matrix characterization of flexible plastic substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Nina; Synowicki, Ron A.; Hilfiker, James N.

2017-11-01

This work reports on Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry characterization of various flexible plastic substrates that are optically anisotropic with varying degrees of birefringence. The samples are divided into three groups according to the suggested characterization strategy: low birefringence, high birefringence, and twisted birefringence. The first group includes poly(methyl methacrylate) and cyclic olefin copolymer substrates. These are modeled with biaxial anisotropy for the real part of the refractive index while the imaginary part is approximated as isotropic due to small light absorption. The second group includes polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate substrates, which are modeled with biaxial anisotropy for both real and imaginary refractive indices. Lastly, a polyimide substrate is described as two birefringent layers with twisted in-plane orientation.

Water desorption from a confined biopolymer.

PubMed

Pradipkanti, L; Satapathy, Dillip K

2018-03-14

We study desorption of water from a confined biopolymer (chitosan thin films) by employing temperature dependent specular X-ray reflectivity and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The water desorption is found to occur via three distinct stages with significantly different desorption rates. The distinct rates of water desorption are attributed to the presence of different kinds of water with disparate mobilities inside the biopolymer film. We identify two characteristic temperatures (T c1 and T c2 ) at which the water desorption rate changes abruptly. Interestingly, the characteristic temperatures decrease with decreasing the film thickness. The thickness dependence of the characteristic temperature is interpreted in the context of a higher mobility of polymer chains at the free surface for polymers under one-dimensional confinement.

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of interfacial biomimetic assemblies on electrochemically generated gold oxide surfaces.

PubMed

Krysiński, Paweł; Blanchard, G J

2005-04-01

We report on the formation of a gold oxide layer and the reaction of this oxide with an acid chloride to form a stable, relatively complete monolayer bound through an ester-like bond to the gold oxide surface. We have used cyclic voltammetry, FTIR and optical ellipsometry to characterize this novel monolayer structure. The exposed functional groups of this monolayer can participate in subsequent surface reactions, opening the door to the use of oxide-based surface attachment chemistry on metallic substrates. This chemistry will allow for the formation of films tailored to contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, stacked at predetermined distances from the substrate that may serve as biomembrane mimetic assemblies.

Real-time observations of interface formation for barium strontium titanate films on silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, A. H.; Suvorova, N. A.; Irene, E. A.; Auciello, O.; Schultz, J. A.

2002-05-01

Ba.5Sr.5TiO3 (BST) film growth by ion sputtering on bare and thermally oxidized silicon was observed in real time using in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and time of flight ion scattering and recoil spectrometry techniques. At the outset of BST film deposition on silicon, an approximately 30 Å film with intermediate static dielectric constant (K˜12) and refractive index (n˜2.6 at photon energies of 1.5-3.25 eV) interface layer formed on bare silicon. The interface layer growth rate was greatly reduced on an oxidized silicon substrate. The results have profound implications on the static dielectric constant of BST.

Phase transformation in multiferroic Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics by temperature-dependent ellipsometric and Raman spectra: An interband electronic transition evidence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, P. P.; Duan, Z. H.; Xu, L. P.; Zhang, X. L.; Li, Y. W.; Hu, Z. G.; Chu, J. H.

2014-02-01

Thermal evolution and an intermediate phase between ferroelectric orthorhombic and paraelectric tetragonal phase of multiferroic Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramic have been investigated by temperature-dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman scattering. Dielectric functions and interband transitions extracted from the standard critical-point model show two dramatic anomalies in the temperature range of 200-873 K. It was found that the anomalous temperature dependence of electronic transition energies and Raman mode frequencies around 800 K can be ascribed to intermediate phase transformation. Moreover, the disappearance of electronic transition around 3 eV at 590 K is associated with the conductive property.

Optical properties and emissivities of liquid metals and alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krishnan, Shankar; Nordine, Paul C.

1993-01-01

This paper presents the results from our on-going program to investigate the optical properties of liquid metals and alloys at elevated temperatures. Ellipsometric and polarimetric techniques have been used to investigate the optical properties of materials in the 1000 - 3000 K temperature range and in the 0.3 - 0.1 mu m wavelength range. The ellipsometric and polarimetric techniques are described and the characteristics of the instruments are presented. The measurements are conducted by reflecting a polarized laser beam from an electromagnetically levitated liquid metal or alloy specimen. A Rotating Analyzer Ellipsometer (RAE) or a four-detector Division-of-Amplitude Photopolarimeter (DOAP) is used to determine the polarimetric properties of the light reflected at an angle of incidence of approximately 68 deg. Optical properties of the specimen which are calculated from these measurements include the index of refraction, extinction coefficient, normal spectral emissivity, and spectral hemispherical emissivity. These properties have been determined at various wavelengths and temperatures for liquid Ag, Al, Au, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pd, Pt, Si, Ti, Ti-Al alloys, U, and Zr. We also describe new experiments using pulsed-dye laser spectroscopic ellipsometry for studies of the wavelength dependence of the emissivities and optical properties of materials at high temperature. Preliminary results are given for liquid Al. The application of four-detector polarimetry for rapid determination of surface emissivity and true temperature is also described. Characteristics of these devices are presented. An example of the accuracy of this instrument in measurements of the melting point of zirconium is illustrated.

Zwitterionic Antifouling Coatings for the Purification of High-Salinity Shale Gas Produced Water.

PubMed

Yang, Rong; Goktekin, Esma; Gleason, Karen K

2015-11-03

Fouling refers to the undesirable attachment of organic molecules and microorganisms to submerged surfaces. It is an obstacle to the purification of shale gas produced water and is currently without an effective solution due to the highly contaminated nature of produced water. Here, we demonstrate the direct vapor application of a robust zwitterionic coating to a variety of substrates. The coating remains unprecedentedly hydrophilic, smooth, and effectively antifouling in extremely high salinity solutions (with salt concentration of 200,000 ppm). The fouling resistance is assessed rapidly and quantitatively with a molecular force spectroscopy-based method and corroborated using quartz crystal microbalance system with dissipation monitoring. Grazing angle attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared is used in combination with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscope, and in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to lend insight into the underlying mechanism for the exceptional stability and effectiveness of the zwitterionic coating under high-salinity conditions. A unique coating architecture, where the surface is concentrated with mobile zwitterionic moieties while the bulk is cross-linked to enhance coating durability, was discovered to be the origin of its stable fouling resistance under high salinity. Combined with previously reported exceptional stability in highly oxidative environments and strong fouling resistance to oil and grease, the zwitterionic surface here has the potential to enable low-cost, membrane-based techniques for the purification of produced water and to eventually balance the favorable economics and the concerning environmental impacts of the hydraulic fracturing industry.

Ellipsometric Measurement of Bacterial Films at Metal-Electrolyte Interfaces

PubMed Central

Busalmen, J. P.; de Sánchez, S. R.; Schiffrin, D. J.

1998-01-01

Ellipsometric measurements were used to monitor the formation of a bacterial cell film on polarized metal surfaces (Al-brass and Ti). Under cathodic polarization bacterial attachment was measured from changes in the ellipsometric angles. These were fitted to an effective medium model for a nonabsorbing bacterial film with an effective refractive index (nf) of 1.38 and a thickness (df) of 160 ± 10 nm. From the optical measurements a surface coverage of 17% was estimated, in agreement with direct microscopic observations. The influence of bacteria on the formation of oxide films was monitored by ellipsometry following the film growth in situ. A strong inhibition of metal oxide film formation was observed, which was assigned to the decrease in oxygen concentration due to the presence of bacteria. It is shown that the irreversible adhesion of bacteria to the surface can be monitored ellipsometrically. Electrophoretic mobility is proposed as one of the factors determining bacterial attachment. The high sensitivity of ellipsometry and its usefulness for the determination of growth of interfacial bacterial films is demonstrated. PMID:9758786

Segment density profiles of polyelectrolyte brushes determined by Fourier transform ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biesalski, Markus; Rühe, Jürgen; Johannsmann, Diethelm

1999-10-01

We describe a method for the explicit determination of the segment density profile φ(z) of surface-attached polymer brushes with multiple angle of incidence null-ellipsometry. Because the refractive index contrast between the brush layer and the solvent is weak, multiple reflections are of minor influence and the ellipsometric spectrum is closely related to the Fourier transform of the refractive index profile, thereby allowing for explicit inversion of the ellipsometric data. We chose surface-attached monolayers of polymethacrylic acid (PMAA), a weak polyelectrolyte, as a model system and determined the segment density profile of this system as a function of the pH value of the surrounding medium by the Fourier method. Complementary to the Fourier analysis, fits with error functions are given as well. The brushes were prepared on the bases of high refractive index prisms with the "grafting-from" technique. In water, the brushes swell by more than a factor of 30. The swelling increases with increasing pH because of a growing fraction of dissociated acidic groups leading to a larger electrostatic repulsion.

Optical Metrology for Directed Self-assembly Patterning Using Mueller Matrix Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Based Scatterometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, Dhairya J.

The semiconductor industry continues to drive patterning solutions that enable devices with higher memory storage capacity, faster computing performance, lower cost per transistors, and higher transistor density. These developments in the field of semiconductor manufacturing along with the overall minimization of the size of transistors require cutting-edge metrology tools for characterization. Directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning process can be used to fabricate nanoscale line-space patterns and contact holes via thermodynamically driven micro-phase separation of block copolymer (BCP) films with boundary constraints from guiding templates. Its main advantages are high pattern resolution (~10 nm), high throughput, no requirement of a high-resolution mask, and compatibility with standard fab-equipment and processes. Although research into DSA patterning has demonstrated a high potential as a nanoscale patterning process, there are critical challenges that must be overcome before transferring DSA into high volume manufacturing, including achievement of low defect density and high process stability. For this, advances in critical dimension (CD) and overlay measurement as well as rapid defect characterization are required. Both scatterometry and critical dimension-scanning electron microscopy (CD-SEM) are routinely used for inline dimensional metrology. CD-SEM inspection is limited, as it does not easily provide detailed line-shape information, whereas scatterometry has the capability of measuring important feature dimensions including: line-width, line-shape, sidewall-angle, and thickness of the patterned samples quickly and non-destructively. The present work describes the application of Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry (MMSE) based scatterometry to optically characterize DSA patterned line- space grating and contact hole structures fabricated with phase-separated polystyrene-b-polymethylmethacrylate (PS-b-PMMA) at various integration steps of BCP DSA based patterning process. This work focuses on understanding the efficacy of MMSE base scatterometry for characterizing complex DSA structures. For example, the use of symmetry-antisymmetry properties associated with Mueller matrix (MM) elements to understand the topography of the periodic nanostructures and measure defectivity. Simulations (the forward problem approach of scatterometry) are used to investigate MM elements' sensitivity to changes in DSA structure such as one vs. two contact hole patterns and predict sensitivity to dimensional changes. A regression-based approach is used to extract feature shape parameters of the DSA structures by fitting simulated optical spectra to experimental optical spectra. Detection of the DSA defects is a key to reducing defect density for eventual manufacturability and production use of DSA process. Simulations of optical models of structures containing defects are used to evaluate the sensitivity of MM elements to DSA defects. This study describes the application of MMSE to determine the DSA pattern defectivity via spectral comparisons based on optical anisotropy and depolarization. The use of depolarization and optical anisotropy for characterization of experimental MMSE data is a very recent development in scatterometry. In addition, reconstructed scatterometry models are used to calculate line edge roughness in 28 nm pitch Si fins fabricated using DSA patterning process.

Correlation between oxygen stoichiometry, structure, and opto-electrical properties in amorphous In2O3:H films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koida, Takashi; Shibata, Hajime; Kondo, Michio; Tsutsumi, Koichi; Sakaguchi, Akio; Suzuki, Michio; Fujiwara, Hiroyuki

2012-03-01

We have characterized amorphous In2O3:H (H : ˜4 at.%) transparent conducting films by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), thermal desorption spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and Hall measurements. The amorphous In2O3:H films have been fabricated at room temperature by sputtering of an In2O3 ceramic target under Ar, O2, and H2O vapor with variation of a flow ratio r(O2) = O2/(O2+Ar). We observe (i) signals originating from Ar in RBS spectra for all the films and (ii) desorption of H2O and Ar gases during post thermal annealing of the films. Furthermore, O2 desorption together with H2O and Ar is observed for the films grown at r(O2) > 0.375%, whereas In desorption together with H2O and Ar is observed for the films grown at r(O2) < 0.375%. These results suggest that the films have void and/or multi-vacancy rich structures inside the amorphous network, and the variety of atoms, such as Ar, H2O, and weakly bonded O and In, is present in the void structures for the films grown at O2-rich and O2-poor conditions, respectively. Corresponding to the structural changes, optical and electrical properties also change at r(O2) = 0.375%. For the films grown at r(O2) < 0.375%, we observe a broad absorption in the visible wavelengths that cannot be explained by free carrier absorption. In this film, the carrier mobility reduces rapidly with increasing carrier density. Analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry and Hall measurements reveals that a large decrease in mobility is due to a large increase in carrier effective mass, in addition to the effect of ionized impurity scattering. In this article, we discuss the optical and transport properties with the variation of oxygen stoichiometry and microscopic structures in the amorphous In2O3:H films.

Reflectometry-Ellipsometry Reveals Thickness, Growth Rate, and Phase Composition in Oxidation of Copper.

PubMed

Diaz Leon, Juan J; Fryauf, David M; Cormia, Robert D; Zhang, Min-Xian Max; Samuels, Kathryn; Williams, R Stanley; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko P

2016-08-31

The oxidation of copper is a complicated process. Copper oxide develops two stable phases at room temperature and standard pressure (RTSP): cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and cupric oxide (CuO). Both phases have different optical and electrical characteristics that make them interesting for applications such as solar cells or resistive switching devices. For a given application, it is necessary to selectively control oxide thickness and cupric/cuprous oxide phase volume fraction. The thickness and composition of a copper oxide film growing on the surface of copper widely depend on the characteristics of as-deposited copper. In this Research Article, two samples, copper films prepared by two different deposition techniques, electron-beam evaporation and sputtering, were studied. As the core part of the study, the formation of the oxidized copper was analyzed routinely over a period of 253 days using spectroscopic polarized reflectometry-spectroscopic ellipsometry (RE). An effective medium approximation (EMA) model was used to fit the RE data. The RE measurements were complemented and validated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our results show that the two samples oxidized under identical laboratory ambient conditions (RTSP, 87% average relative humidity) developed unique oxide films following an inverse-logarithmic growth rate with thickness and composition different from each other over time. Discussion is focused on the ability of RE to simultaneously extract thickness (i.e., growth rate) and composition of copper oxide films and on plausible physical mechanisms responsible for unique oxidation habits observed in the two copper samples. It appears that extended surface characteristics (i.e., surface roughness and grain boundaries) and preferential crystalline orientation of as-deposited polycrystalline copper films control the growth kinetics of the copper oxide film. Analysis based on a noncontact and nondestructive measurement, such as RE, to extract key material parameters is beneficial for conveniently understanding the oxidation process that would ultimately enable copper oxide-based devices at manufacturing scales.

Investigating the Electron-Phonon Coupling of Molecular Beam Epitaxy-Grown Hg1-x Cd x Se Semiconductor Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peiris, F. C.; Lewis, M. V.; Brill, G.; Doyle, Kevin; Myers, T. H.

2018-03-01

Using spectroscopic ellipsometry, the temperature-dependence of the dielectric functions of a series of Hg1-x Cd x Se thin films deposited on both ZnTe/Si(112) and GaSb(112) substrates were investigated. Initially, for each sample, room-temperature ellipsometric spectra were obtained from 35 meV to 6 eV using two different ellipsometers. Subsequently, ellipsometry spectra were obtained from 10 K to 300 K by incorporating a cryostat to the ellipsometer. Using a standard inversion technique, the spectroscopic ellipsometric data were modeled in order to obtain the temperature-dependent dielectric functions of each of the Hg1-x Cd x Se thin films. The results indicate that the E 1 critical point blue-shifts as a function of Cd-alloy concentration. The temperature-dependence of E 1 was fitted to a Bose-Einstein occupation distribution function, which consequently allowed us to determine the electron-phonon coupling of Hg1-x Cd x Se alloys. From the fitting results, we obtain a value of 17 ± 2 meV for the strength of the electron-phonon coupling for Hg1-x Cd x Se alloy system, which compares nominally with the binary systems, such as CdSe and CdTe, which have values around 38 meV and 16 meV, respectively. This implies that the addition of Hg into the CdSe binary system does not significantly alter its electron-phonon coupling strength. Raman spectroscopy measurements performed on all the samples show the HgSe-like transverse optic (TO) and longitudinal optic (LO) phonons (˜ 130 cm-1 and ˜ 160 cm-1, respectively) for all the samples. While there is a slight red-shift of the HgSe-like TO peak as a function of the Cd-concentration, HgSe-like LO peak does not significantly change with the alloy concentration.

Optical Studies of Thin Film and Bulk Superconductor Yttrium BARIUM(2) COPPER(3) OXYGEN(7-DELTA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sengupta, Louise Clare

This dissertation summarizes a systematic study of the optical properties of YBa_2Cu _3O_{7-delta } using the nondestructive techniques of spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman scattering, and infrared absorption spectroscopy. In order to complete this research, a spectroscopic ellipsometric system has been designed and the fully automated system has been developed in this laboratory. Using the ellipsometric study, we have determined the effect of metallic replacement for Cu by Co, Fe, Ni, and Zn in YBa _2Cu_3O_ {7-delta} on the 1.7 eV electronic transition. The transition is observed in the case of doping by trivalent Co and Fe and in the case of oxygen deficiency. In all cases, it was established as result of a decrease in the hole concentration. The Raman spectra show a decrease in the frequency of the 500 cm ^{-1} mode with increase in Co and Fe concentration and an upward shift in frequency of the 435 cm^{-1} mode. These results, along with those for Ni and Zn doping are discussed in terms of the normal mode calculations for the material. The infrared phonon spectra also indicate a reduction in the electronic screening for trivalent dopants Co and Fe. All the optical experiments support evidence of the occurrence of a charge transfer mechanism in the high T_ {rm c} material YBa_2 Cu_3O in which the more insulating chains act as reservoirs of charge for the conducting copper -oxygen planes. As part of investigating the effects of orientation of the films on the optical constants of the material, studies on YBa_2Cu_3 O_{7-delta} deposited at various thicknesses on SrTiO_3 substrates have been completed using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The results indicate that the metallic behavior associated with the ab planes decreases with increasing film thickness. This behavior is well characterized by an exponential relationship between the relaxation time and the critical energy position at which the real part of the dielectric function becomes zero. The anisotropy of the transport properties of the material was also studied. Finally, in another series of investigations, we have also studied the effects of laser irradiation on YBaCuO in various gaseous ambients. This Raman microprobe study can be used for high resolution lithography.

Cholesterol-Based Grafted Polymer Brushes as Alignment Coating with Temperature-Tuned Anchoring for Nematic Liquid Crystals.

PubMed

Stetsyshyn, Yurij; Raczkowska, Joanna; Budkowski, Andrzej; Awsiuk, Kamil; Kostruba, Andriy; Nastyshyn, Svyatoslav; Harhay, Khrystyna; Lychkovskyy, Edward; Ohar, Halyna; Nastishin, Yuriy

2016-10-11

Novel alignment coating with temperature-tuned anchoring for nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) was successfully fabricated in three step process, involving polymerization of poly(cholesteryl methacrylate) (PChMa) from oligoproxide grafted to the glass surface premodified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Molecular composition, thickness, wettability of the PChMa coating and its alignment action for a NLC were examined with time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry, ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, polarization optical microscopy and commercially produced PolScope technique allowing for mapping of the optic axis and optical retardance within the microscope field view. We find that the PChMa coating provides a specific monotonous increase (decrease) in the tilt angle of the NLC director with respect to the substrates normal upon heating (cooling) referred to as anchoring tuning.

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Thin Film a-Si:H/nc-Si:H Micromorph Solar Cell Fabrication in the p-i-n Superstrate Configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Zhiquan

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a non-invasive optical probe that is capable of accurately and precisely measuring the structure of thin films, such as their thicknesses and void volume fractions, and in addition their optical properties, typically defined by the index of refraction and extinction coefficient spectra. Because multichannel detection systems integrated into SE instrumentation have been available for some time now, the data acquisition time possible for complete SE spectra has been reduced significantly. As a result, real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) has become feasible for monitoring thin film nucleation and growth during the deposition of thin films as well as during their removal in processes of thin film etching. Also because of the reduced acquisition time, mapping SE is possible by mounting an SE instrument with a multichannel detector onto a mechanical translation stage. Such an SE system is capable of mapping the thin film structure and its optical properties over the substrate area, and thereby evaluating the spatial uniformity of the component layers. In thin film photovoltaics, such structural and optical property measurements mapped over the substrate area can be applied to guide device optimization by correlating small area device performance with the associated local properties. In this thesis, a detailed ex-situ SE study of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films and solar cells prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) has been presented. An SE analysis procedure with step-by-step error minimization has been applied to obtain accurate measures of the structural and optical properties of the component layers of the solar cells. Growth evolution diagrams were developed as functions of the deposition parameters in PECVD for both p-type and n-type layers to characterize the regimes of accumulated thickness over which a-Si:H, hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) and mixed phase (a+nc)-Si:H thin films are obtained. The underlying materials for these depositions were newly-deposited intrinsic a-Si:H layers on thermal oxide coated crystalline silicon wafers, designed to simulate specific device configurations. As a result, these growth evolution diagrams can be applied to both p-i-n and n-i-p solar cell optimization. In this thesis, the n-layer growth evolution diagram expressed in terms of hydrogen dilution ratio was applied in correlations with the performance of p-i-n single junction devices in order to optimize these devices. Moreover, ex-situ mapping SE was also employed over the area of multilayer structures in order to achieve better statistics for solar cell optimization by correlating structural parameters locally with small area solar cell performance parameters. In the study of (a-Si:H p-i-n)/(nc-Si:H p-i-n) tandem solar cells, RTSE was successfully applied to monitor the fabrication of the top cell, and efforts to optimize the nanocrystalline p-layer and i-layer of the bottom cell were initiated.

Enhancement of light absorption in polyazomethines due to plasmon excitation on randomly distributed metal nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wróbel, P.; Antosiewicz, T. J.; Stefaniuk, T.; Ciesielski, A.; Iwan, A.; Wronkowska, A. A.; Wronkowski, A.; Szoplik, T.

2015-05-01

In photovoltaic devices, metal nanoparticles embedded in a semiconductor layer allow the enhancement of solar-toelectric energy conversion efficiency due to enhanced light absorption via a prolonged optical path, enhanced electric fields near the metallic inclusions, direct injection of hot electrons, or local heating. Here we pursue the first two avenues. In the first, light scattered at an angle beyond the critical angle for reflection is coupled into the semiconductor layer and confined within such planar waveguide up to possible exciton generation. In the second, light is trapped by the excitation of localized surface plasmons on metal nanoparticles leading to enhanced near-field plasmon-exciton coupling at the peak of the plasmon resonance. We report on results of a numerical experiment on light absorption in polymer- (fullerene derivative) blends, using the 3D FDTD method, where exact optical parameters of the materials involved are taken from our recent measurements. In simulations we investigate light absorption in randomly distributed metal nanoparticles dispersed in polyazomethine-(fullerene derivative) blends, which serve as active layers in bulkheterojunction polymer solar cells. In the study Ag and Al nanoparticles of different diameters and fill factors are diffused in two air-stable aromatic polyazomethines with different chemical structures (abbreviated S9POF and S15POF) mixed with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) or [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM). The mixtures are spin coated on a 100 nm thick Al layer deposited on a fused silica substrate. Optical constants of the active layers are taken from spectroscopic ellipsometry and reflectance measurements using a rotating analyzer type ellipsometer with auto-retarder performed in the wavelength range from 225 nm to 2200 nm. The permittivities of Ag and Al particles of diameters from 20 to 60 nm are assumed to be equal to those measured on 100 to 200 nm thick metal films.

Development of a spectroscopic Mueller matrix imaging ellipsometer for nanostructure metrology

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

Chen, Xiuguo; Du, Weichao; Yuan, Kui

2016-05-15

In this paper, we describe the development of a spectroscopic Mueller matrix imaging ellipsometer (MMIE), which combines the great power of Mueller matrix ellipsometry with the high spatial resolution of optical microscopy. A dual rotating-compensator configuration is adopted to collect the full 4 × 4 imaging Mueller matrix in a single measurement. The light wavelengths are scanned in the range of 400–700 nm by a monochromator. The instrument has measurement accuracy and precision better than 0.01 for all the Mueller matrix elements in both the whole image and the whole spectral range. The instrument was then applied for the measurementmore » of nanostructures combined with an inverse diffraction problem solving technique. The experiment performed on a photoresist grating sample has demonstrated the great potential of MMIE for accurate grating reconstruction from spectral data collected by a single pixel of the camera and for efficient quantification of geometrical profile of the grating structure over a large area with pixel resolution. It is expected that MMIE will be a powerful tool for nanostructure metrology in future high-volume nanomanufacturing.« less

Spectroscopic ellipsometric characterization of Si/Si(1-x)Ge(x) strained-layer superlattices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yao, H.; Woollam, J. A.; Wang, P. J.; Tejwani, M. J.; Alterovitz, S. A.

1993-01-01

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was employed to characterize Si/Si(1-x)Ge(x) strained-layer superlattices. An algorithm was developed, using the available optical constants measured at a number of fixed x values of Ge composition, to compute the dielectric function spectrum of Si(1-x)Ge(x) at an arbitrary x value in the spectral range 17 to 5.6 eV. The ellipsometrically determined superlattice thicknesses and alloy compositional fractions were in excellent agreement with results from high-resolution x ray diffraction studies. The silicon surfaces of the superlattices were subjected to a 9:1 HF cleaning prior to the SE measurements. The HF solution removed silicon oxides on the semiconductor surface, and terminated the Si surface with hydrogen-silicon bonds, which were monitored over a period of several weeks, after the HF cleaning, by SE measurements. An equivalent dielectric layer model was established to describe the hydrogen-terminated Si surface layer. The passivated Si surface remained unchanged for greater than 2 h, and very little surface oxidation took place even over 3 to 4 days.

Process margin enhancement for 0.25-μm metal etch process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Chung Y.; Ma, Wei Wen; Lim, Eng H.; Cheng, Alex T.; Joy, Raymond; Ross, Matthew F.; Wong, Selmer S.; Marlowe, Trey

2000-06-01

This study evaluates electron beam stabilization of UV6, a positive tone Deep-UV (DUV) resist from Shipley, for a 0.25 micrometer metal etch application. Results are compared between untreated resist and resist treated with different levels of electron beam stabilization. The electron beam processing was carried out in an ElectronCureTM flood electron beam exposure system from Honeywell International Inc., Electron Vision. The ElectronCureTM system utilizes a flood electron beam source which is larger in diameter than the substrate being processed, and is capable of variable energy so that the electron range is matched to the resist film thickness. Changes in the UV6 resist material as a result of the electron beam stabilization are monitored via spectroscopic ellipsometry for film thickness and index of refraction changes and FTIR for analysis of chemical changes. Thermal flow stability is evaluated by applying hot plate bakes of 150 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius, to patterned resist wafers with no treatment and with an electron beam dose level of 2000 (mu) C/cm2. A significant improvement in the thermal flow stability of the patterned UV6 resist features is achieved with the electron beam stabilization process. Etch process performance of the UV6 resist was evaluated by performing a metal pattern transfer process on wafers with untreated resist and comparing these with etch results on wafers with different levels of electron beam stabilization. The etch processing was carried out in an Applied Materials reactor with an etch chemistry including BCl3 and Cl2. All wafers were etched under the same conditions and the resist was treated after etch to prevent further erosion after etch but before SEM analysis. Post metal etch SEM cross-sections show the enhancement in etch resistance provided by the electron beam stabilization process. Enhanced process margin is achieved as a result of the improved etch resistance, and is observed in reduced resist side-wall angles after etch. Only a slight improvement is observed in the isolated to dense bias effects of the etch process. Improved CD control is also achieved by applying the electron beam process, as more consistent CDs are observed after etch.

Stokes-vector and Mueller-matrix polarimetry [Invited].

PubMed

Azzam, R M A

2016-07-01

This paper reviews the current status of instruments for measuring the full 4×1 Stokes vector S, which describes the state of polarization (SOP) of totally or partially polarized light, and the 4×4 Mueller matrix M, which determines how the SOP is transformed as light interacts with a material sample or an optical element or system. The principle of operation of each instrument is briefly explained by using the Stokes-Mueller calculus. The development of fast, automated, imaging, and spectroscopic instruments over the last 50 years has greatly expanded the range of applications of optical polarimetry and ellipsometry in almost every branch of science and technology. Current challenges and future directions of this important branch of optics are also discussed.

Interplay of Cu and oxygen vacancy in optical transitions and screening of excitons in ZnO:Cu films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darma, Yudi; Seng Herng, Tun; Marlina, Resti; Fauziah, Resti; Ding, Jun; Rusydi, Andrivo

2014-02-01

We study room temperature optics and electronic structures of ZnO:Cu films as a function of Cu concentration using a combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry, photoluminescence, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. Mid-gap optical states, interband transitions, and excitons are observed and distinguishable. We argue that the mid-gap states are originated from interactions of Cu and oxygen vacancy (Vo). They are located below conduction band (Zn4s) and above valence band (O2p) promoting strong green emission and narrowing optical band gap. Excitonic states are screened and its intensities decrease upon Cu doping. Our results show the importance of Cu and Vo driving the electronic structures and optical transitions in ZnO:Cu films.

Infrared-active optical phonons in LiFePO4 single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanislavchuk, T. N.; Middlemiss, D. S.; Syzdek, J. S.; Janssen, Y.; Basistyy, R.; Sirenko, A. A.; Khalifah, P. G.; Grey, C. P.; Kostecki, R.

2017-07-01

Infrared-active optical phonons were studied in olivine LiFePO4 oriented single crystals by means of both rotating analyzer and rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range between 50 and 1400 cm-1. The eigenfrequencies, oscillator strengths, and broadenings of the phonon modes were determined from fits of the anisotropic harmonic oscillator model to the data. Optical phonons in a heterosite FePO4 crystal were measured from the delithiated ab-surface of the LiFePO4 crystal and compared with the phonon modes of the latter. Good agreement was found between experimental data and the results of solid-state hybrid density functional theory calculations for the phonon modes in both LiFePO4 and FePO4.

Model for interface formation and the resulting electrical properties for barium-strontium-titanate films on silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, A. H.; Suvorova, N. A.; Irene, E. A.; Auciello, O.; Schultz, J. A.

2003-04-01

The interface formation between sputtered barium strontium titanate (BST) films and both Si and SiO2 substrate surfaces has been followed using real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry and the mass spectrometry of recoiled ions. In both substrates an intermixed interface layer was observed and subcutaneous Si oxidation occurred. A model for the interface formation is proposed in which the interface includes an SiO2 film on Si, and an intermixed film on which is pure BST. During the deposition of BST the interfaces films were observed to change in time. Electrical characterization of the resulting metal-BST interface capacitors indicates that those samples with SiO2 on the Si surface had the best electrical characteristics.

Comparison of trimethylgallium and triethylgallium as “Ga” source materials for the growth of ultrathin GaN films on Si (100) substrates via hollow-cathode plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition

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

Alevli, Mustafa, E-mail: mustafaalevli@marmara.edu.tr; Haider, Ali; Kizir, Seda

2016-01-15

GaN films grown by hollow cathode plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition using trimethylgallium (TMG) and triethylgallium (TEG) as gallium precursors are compared. Optimized and saturated TMG/TEG pulse widths were used in order to study the effect of group-III precursors. The films were characterized by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Refractive index follows the same trend of crystalline quality, mean grain, and crystallite sizes. GaN layers grown using TMG precursor exhibited improved structural and optical properties when compared to GaN films grown with TEG precursor.

Cluster Tool for In Situ Processing and Comprehensive Characterization of Thin Films at High Temperatures.

PubMed

Wenisch, Robert; Lungwitz, Frank; Hanf, Daniel; Heller, René; Zscharschuch, Jens; Hübner, René; von Borany, Johannes; Abrasonis, Gintautas; Gemming, Sibylle; Escobar-Galindo, Ramon; Krause, Matthias

2018-06-13

A new cluster tool for in situ real-time processing and depth-resolved compositional, structural and optical characterization of thin films at temperatures from -100 to 800 °C is described. The implemented techniques comprise magnetron sputtering, ion irradiation, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The capability of the cluster tool is demonstrated for a layer stack MgO/amorphous Si (∼60 nm)/Ag (∼30 nm), deposited at room temperature and crystallized with partial layer exchange by heating up to 650 °C. Its initial and final composition, stacking order, and structure were monitored in situ in real time and a reaction progress was defined as a function of time and temperature.

Characterization and Application of a Grazing Angle Objective for Quantitative Infrared Reflection Microspectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pepper, Stephen V.

1995-01-01

A grazing angle objective on an infrared microspectrometer is studied for quantitative spectroscopy by considering the angular dependence of the incident intensity within the objective's angular aperture. The assumption that there is no angular dependence is tested by comparing the experimental reflectance of Si and KBr surfaces with the reflectance calculated by integrating the Fresnel reflection coefficient over the angular aperture under this assumption. Good agreement was found, indicating that the specular reflectance of surfaces can straight-forwardly be quantitatively integrated over the angular aperture without considering non-uniform incident intensity. This quantitative approach is applied to the thickness determination of dipcoated Krytox on gold. The infrared optical constants of both materials are known, allowing the integration to be carried out. The thickness obtained is in fair agreement with the value determined by ellipsometry in the visible. Therefore, this paper illustrates a method for more quantitative use of a grazing angle objective for infrared reflectance microspectroscopy.

Chirality-induced polarization effects in the cuticle of scarab beetles: 100 years after Michelson

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arwin, Hans; Magnusson, Roger; Landin, Jan; Järrendahl, Kenneth

2012-04-01

One hundred years ago Michelson discovered circular polarization in reflection from beetles. Today a novel Mueller-matrix ellipsometry setup allows unprecedented detailed characterization of the beetles' polarization properties. A formalism based on elliptical polarization for description of reflection from scarab beetles is here proposed and examples are given on four beetles of different character: Coptomia laevis - a simple dielectric mirror; Cetonia aurata - a left-hand narrow-band elliptical polarizer; Anoplognathus aureus - a broad-band elliptical polarizer; and Chrysina argenteola - a left-hand polarizer for visible light at small angles, whereas for larger angles, red reflected light is right-handed polarized. We confirm the conclusion of previous studies which showed that a detailed quantification of ellipticity and degree of polarization of cuticle reflection can be performed instead of only determining whether reflections are circularly polarized or not. We additionally investigate reflection as a function of incidence angle. This provides much richer information for understanding the behaviour of beetles and for structural analysis.

High-Throughput Characterization of Vapor-Deposited Organic Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalal, Shakeel S.

Glasses are non-equilibrium materials which on short timescales behave like solids, and on long timescales betray their liquid-like structure. The most common way of preparing a glass is to cool the liquid faster than it can structurally rearrange. Until recently, most preparation schemes for a glass were considered to result in materials with undifferentiable structure and properties. This thesis utilizes a particular preparation method, physical vapor deposition, in order to prepare glasses of organic molecules with properties otherwise considered to be unobtainable. The glasses are characterized using spectroscopic ellipsometry, both as a dilatometric technique and as a reporter of molecular packing. The results reported here develop ellipsometry as a dilatometric technique on a pair of model glass formers, alpha,alpha,beta-trisnaphthylbenzene and indomethacin. It is found that the molecular orientation, as measured by birefringence, can be tuned by changing the substrate temperature during the deposition. In order to efficiently characterize the properties of vapor-deposited indomethacin as a function of substrate temperature, a high-throughput method is developed to capture the entire interesting range of substrate temperatures in just a few experiments. This high-throughput method is then leveraged to describe molecular mobility in vapor-deposited indomethacin. It is also used to demonstrate that the behavior of organic semiconducting molecules agrees with indomethacin quantitatively, and this agreement has implications for emerging technologies such as light-emitting diodes, photovoltaics and thin-film transistors made from organic molecules.

Structural and optical properties of gold-incorporated diamond-like carbon thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majeed, Shahbaz; Siraj, K.; Naseem, S.; Khan, Muhammad F.; Irshad, M.; Faiz, H.; Mahmood, A.

2017-07-01

Pure and gold-doped diamond-like carbon (Au-DLC) thin films are deposited at room temperature by using RF magnetron sputtering in an argon gas-filled chamber with a constant flow rate of 100 sccm and sputtering time of 30 min for all DLC thin films. Single-crystal silicon (1 0 0) substrates are used for the deposition of pristine and Au-DLC thin films. Graphite (99.99%) and gold (99.99%) are used as co-sputtering targets in the sputtering chamber. The optical properties and structure of Au-DLC thin films are studied with the variation of gold concentration from 1%-5%. Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Vickers hardness measurement (VHM), and spectroscopic ellipsometry are used to analyze these thin films. Raman spectroscopy indicates increased graphitic behavior and reduction in the internal stresses of Au-DLC thin films as the function of increasing gold doping. AFM is used for surface topography, which shows that spherical-like particles are formed on the surface, which agglomerate and form larger clusters on the surface by increasing the gold content. Spectroscopy ellipsometry analysis elucidates that the refractive index and extinction coefficient are inversely related and the optical bandgap energy is decreased with increasing gold content. VHM shows that gold doping reduces the hardness of thin films, which is attributed to the increase in sp2-hybridization.

Growth studies of CVD-MBE by in-situ diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maracas, George N.; Steimle, Timothy C.

1992-10-01

This is the final technical report for the three year DARPA-URI program 'Growth Studies of CVD-MBE by in-situ Diagnostics'. The goals of the program were to develop non-invasive, real time epitaxial growth monitoring techniques and combine them to gain an understanding of processes that occur during MBE growth from gas sources. We have adapted these techniques to a commercially designed gas source MBE system (Vacuum Generators Inc.) to facilitate technology transfer out of the laboratory into industrial environments. The in-situ measurement techniques of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) have been successfully implemented to monitor the optical and chemical properties of the growing epitaxial film and the gas phase reactants. The ellipsometer was jointly developed with the J. Woolam Co. and has become a commercial product. The temperature dependence of group 3 and 5 desorption from GaAs and InP has been measured as well as the incident effusion cell fluxes. The temporal evolution of the growth has also been measured both by SE and LIF to show the smoothing of heterojunction surfaces during growth interruption. Complicated microcavity optical device structures have been monitored by ellipsometry in real time to improve device quality. This data has been coupled with the structural information obtained from reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) to understand the growth processes in binary and ternary bulk 3-5 semiconductors and heterojunctions.

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition for plasmonic TiN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otto, Lauren M.; Hammack, Aaron T.; Aloni, Shaul; Ogletree, D. Frank; Olynick, Deirdre L.; Dhuey, Scott; Stadler, Bethanie J. H.; Schwartzberg, Adam M.

2016-09-01

This work presents the low temperature plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) of TiN, a promising plasmonic synthetic metal. The plasmonics community has immediate needs for alternatives to traditional plasmonic materials (e.g. Ag and Au), which lack chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability. Plasmonic alloys and synthetic metals have significantly improved stability, but their growth can require high-temperatures (>400 °C), and it is difficult to control the thickness and directionality of the resulting film, especially on technologically important substrates. Such issues prevent the application of alternative plasmonic materials for both fundamental studies and large-scale industrial applications. Alternatively, PE-ALD allows for conformal deposition on a variety of substrates with consistent material properties. This conformal coating will allow the creation of exotic three-dimensional structures, and low-temperature deposition techniques will provide unrestricted usage across a variety of platforms. The characterization of this new plasmonic material was performed with in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry as well as Auger electron spectroscopy for analysis of TiN film sensitivity to oxide cross-contamination. Plasmonic TiN films were fabricated, and a chlorine plasma etch was found to pattern two dimensional gratings as a test structure. Optical measurements of 900 nm period gratings showed reasonable agreement with theoretical modeling of the fabricated structures, indicating that ellipsometry models of the TiN were indeed accurate.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polydiacetylene Films and Nanotubes

PubMed Central

Gatebe, Erastus; Herron, Hayley; Zakeri, Rashid; Rajasekaran, Pradeep Ramiah; Aouadi, Samir; Kohli, Punit

2009-01-01

We report here the synthesis and characterization of polydiacetylene (PDA) films and nanotubes using layer-by-layer (LBL) chemistry. 10,12-Docosadiyndioic acid (DCDA) monomer was self-assembled on flat surfaces and inside of nanoporous alumina templates. UV irradiation of DCDA provided polymerized-DCDA (PDCDA) films and nanotubes. We have used zirconium-carboxylate interlayer chemistry to synthesize PDCDA multilayers on flat surfaces and in nanoporous template. PDCDA multilayers were characterized using optical (UV–vis, fluorescence, ellipsometry, FTIR) spectroscopies, ionic current–voltage (I–V) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Ellipsometry, FTIR, electronic absorption and emission spectroscopies showed a uniform DCDA deposition at each deposition cycle. Our optical spectroscopic analysis indicates that carboxylate-zirconium interlinking chemistry is robust. To explain the disorganization in the alkyl portion of PDCDA multilayer films, we propose carboxylate-zirconium interlinkages act as “locks” in between PDCDA layers which restrict the movement of alkyl portion in the films. Because of this locking, the induced-stresses in the polymer chains can not be efficiently relieved. Our ionic resistance data from I–V analysis correlate well with calculated resistance at smaller number of PDCDA layers but significantly deviated for thicker PDCDA nanotubes. These differences were attributed to ion-blocking because some of the PDCDA nanotubes were totally closed and the nonohmic and permselective ionic behaviors when the diameter of the pores approaches the double-layer thickness of the solution inside of the nanotubes. PMID:18823090

4-Mercaptophenylboronic acid SAMs on gold: comparison with SAMs derived from thiophenol, 4-mercaptophenol, and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid.

PubMed

Barriet, David; Yam, Chi Ming; Shmakova, Olga E; Jamison, Andrew C; Lee, T Randall

2007-08-14

We report the formation and characterization of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) derived from the adsorption of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA) on gold. For comparison, SAMs derived from the adsorption of thiophenol (TP), 4-mercaptophenol (MP), and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) were also examined. The structure and properties of the SAMs were evaluated by ellipsometry, contact-angle goniometry, polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Specifically, ellipsometry was used to assess the formation of monolayer films, and contact angle measurements were used to determine the surface hydrophilicity and homogeneity. Separately, PM-IRRAS was used to evaluate the molecular composition and orientation as well as the intermolecular hydrogen bonding within the SAMs. Finally, XPS was used to evaluate the film composition and surface coverage (i.e., packing density), which was observed to increase in the following order: TP < MP < MPBA < MBA. A rationalization for the observed packing differences is presented. The XPS data indicate further that ultrahigh vacuum conditions induce the partial dehydration of MPBA SAMs with the concomitant formation of surface boronic anhydride species. Overall, the analytical data collectively show that the MPBA moieties in the SAMs exist in the acid form rather than the anhydride form under ambient laboratory conditions. Furthermore, stability studies find that MPBA SAMs are surprisingly labile in basic solution, where the terminal B-C bonds are cleaved by the attack of hydroxide ion and strongly basic amine nucleophiles. The unanticipated lability observed here should be considered by those wishing to use MPBA moieties in carbohydrate-sensing applications.

Structure and Thermotropic phase Behavior of Fluorinated Phospholipid Bilayers: A combined Attenuated Total Reflection FTIR Spectroscopy and Imaging Ellipsometry Study

PubMed Central

Schuy, Steffen; Faiss, Simon; Yoder, Nicholas C.; Kalsani, Venkateshwarlu; Kumar, Krishna; Janshoff, Andreas; Vogel, Reiner

2008-01-01

Lipid bilayers consisting of lipids with terminally perfluoroalkylated chains have remarkable properties. They exhibit increased stability and phase-separated nanoscale patterns in mixtures with nonfluorinated lipids. In order to understand the bilayer properties that are responsible for this behavior, we have analyzed the structure of solid-supported bilayers composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and of a DPPC analogue with 6 terminal perfluorinated methylene units (F6-DPPC). Polarized attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicates that for F6-DPPC, the tilt of the lipid acyl chains to the bilayer normal is increased to 39° as compared to 21° for native DPPC, for both lipids in the gel phase. This substantial increase of the tilt angle is responsible for a decrease of the bilayer thickness from 5.4 nm for DPPC to 4.5 nm for F6-DPPC, as revealed by temperature-controlled imaging ellipsometry on microstructured lipid bilayers and solution atomic force microscopy. During the main phase transition from the gel to the fluid phase, both the relative bilayer thickness change and the relative area change are substantially smaller for F6-DPPC than for DPPC. In light of these structural and thermotropic data, we propose a model in which the higher acyl-chain tilt angle in F6-DPPC is the result of a conformational rearrangement to minimize unfavorable fluorocarbon–hydrocarbon interactions in the center of the bilayer due to chain staggering. PMID:18563929

Real time in situ ellipsometric and gravimetric monitoring for electrochemistry experiments.

PubMed

Broch, Laurent; Johann, Luc; Stein, Nicolas; Zimmer, Alexandre; Beck, Raphaël

2007-06-01

This work describes a new system using real time spectroscopic ellipsometer with simultaneous electrochemical and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) measurements. This method is particularly adapted to characterize electrolyte/electrode interfaces during electrochemical and chemical processes in liquid medium. The ellipsometer, based on a rotating compensator Horiba Jobin-Yvon ellipsometer, has been adapted to acquire Psi-Delta spectra every 25 ms on a spectral range fixed from 400 to 800 nm. Measurements with short sampling times are only achievable with a fixed analyzer position (A=45 degrees ). Therefore the ellipsometer calibration is extremely important for high precision measurements and we propose a spectroscopic calibration (i.e., determination of the azimuth of elements according to the wavelength) on the whole spectral range. A homemade EQCM was developed to detect mass variations attached to the electrode. This additional instrument provides further information useful for ellipsometric data modeling of complex electrochemical systems. The EQCM measures frequency variations of piezoelectric quartz crystal oscillator working at 5 MHz. These frequency variations are linked to mass variations of electrode surface with a precision of 20 ng cm(-2) every 160 ms. Data acquisition has been developed in order to simultaneously record spectroscopic ellipsometry, EQCM, and electrochemical measurements by a single computer. Finally the electrodeposition of bismuth telluride film was monitored by this new in situ experimental setup and the density of electroplated layers was extracted from the optical thickness and EQCM mass.

Spectroscopic refractometer for transparent and absorbing liquids by reflection of white light near the critical angle

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

Sanchez-Perez, C.; Garcia-Valenzuela, A.

2012-11-15

We propose and evaluate a spectroscopic refractometer device to measure the refractive index dispersion of transparent and absorbing solutions. The angle-dependent reflectivity of a white beam of light in an internal reflection configuration around the critical angle is spectrally analyzed. The refractive index in a wavelength range from 400 nm to 900 nm is obtained from the angle-reflectivity curve around the critical angle at each wavelength. The device does not use angle scanning mechanisms, decreasing considerably the complexity of the instrument in comparison to previous proposals. As a result, the measurements are obtained relatively fast. Nevertheless, a good experimental resolutionmore » in refractive index of about {Delta}n Almost-Equal-To 10{sup -4} at all the wavelengths is achieved in the case of transparent solutions. The calibration procedure of the device is discussed in detail. We also present measurements of the refractive index dispersion of rhodamine 6G-methanol solutions, which has a strong absorption band in the visible spectra.« less

Optical study of the free-carrier response of LaTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices.

PubMed

Seo, S S A; Choi, W S; Lee, H N; Yu, L; Kim, K W; Bernhard, C; Noh, T W

2007-12-31

We used infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry to investigate the electronic properties of LaTiO_{3}/SrTiO_{3} superlattices (SLs). Our results indicated that, independent of the SL periodicity and individual layer thickness, the SLs exhibited a Drude metallic response with sheet carrier density per interface approximately 3x10;{14} cm;{-2}. This is probably due to the leakage of d electrons at interfaces from the Mott insulator LaTiO3 to the band insulator SrTiO3. We observed a carrier relaxation time approximately 35 fs and mobility approximately 35 cm;{2} V-1 s;{-1} at 10 K, and an unusual temperature dependence of carrier density that was attributed to the dielectric screening of quantum paraelectric SrTiO3.

Two-dimensional confinement of 3d{1} electrons in LaTiO_{3}/LaAlO{3} multilayers.

PubMed

Seo, S S A; Han, M J; Hassink, G W J; Choi, W S; Moon, S J; Kim, J S; Susaki, T; Lee, Y S; Yu, J; Bernhard, C; Hwang, H Y; Rijnders, G; Blank, D H A; Keimer, B; Noh, T W

2010-01-22

We report spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of the anisotropy of the interband transitions parallel and perpendicular to the planes of (LaTiO3)n(LaAlO3)5 multilayers with n=1-3. These provide direct information about the electronic structure of the two-dimensional (2D) 3d{1} state of the Ti ions. In combination with local density approximation, including a Hubbard U calculation, we suggest that 2D confinement in the TiO2 slabs lifts the degeneracy of the t{2g} states leaving only the planar d{xy} orbitals occupied. We outline that these multilayers can serve as a model system for the study of the t{2g} 2D Hubbard model.

Infrared-active optical phonons in LiFePO 4 single crystals

DOE PAGES

Stanislavchuk, T. N.; Middlemiss, D. S.; Syzdek, J. S.; ...

2017-07-28

Infrared-active optical phonons were studied in olivine LiFePO 4 oriented single crystals by means of both rotating analyzer and rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range between 50 and 1400 cm -1. The eigenfrequencies, oscillator strengths, and broadenings of the phonon modes were determined from fits of the anisotropic harmonic oscillator model to the data. Optical phonons in a heterosite FePO 4 crystal were measured from the delithiated ab-surface of the LiFePO 4 crystal and compared with the phonon modes of the latter. Good agreement was found between experimental data and the results of solid-state hybrid density functional theorymore » calculations for the phonon modes in both LiFePO 4 and FePO 4.« less

Demonstration of surface-enhanced Raman scattering by tunable, plasmonic gallium nanoparticles.

PubMed

Wu, Pae C; Khoury, Christopher G; Kim, Tong-Ho; Yang, Yang; Losurdo, Maria; Bianco, Giuseppe V; Vo-Dinh, Tuan; Brown, April S; Everitt, Henry O

2009-09-02

Size-controlled gallium nanoparticles deposited on sapphire were explored as alternative substrates to enhance Raman spectral signatures. Gallium's resilience following oxidation is inherently advantageous in comparison with silver for practical ex vacuo nonsolution applications. Ga nanoparticles were grown using a simple molecular beam epitaxy-based fabrication protocol, and monitoring their corresponding surface plasmon resonance energy through in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry allowed the nanoparticles to be easily controlled for size. The Raman spectra obtained from cresyl fast violet (CFV) deposited on substrates with differing mean nanoparticle sizes represent the first demonstration of enhanced Raman signals from reproducibly tunable self-assembled Ga nanoparticles. Nonoptimized aggregate enhancement factors of approximately 80 were observed from the substrate with the smallest Ga nanoparticles for CFV dye solutions down to a dilution of 10 ppm.

Demonstration of surface-enhanced Raman scattering by tunable, plasmonic gallium nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Wu, Pae C; Khoury, Christopher G.; Kim, Tong-Ho; Yang, Yang; Losurdo, Maria; Bianco, Giuseppe V.; Vo-Dinh, Tuan; Brown, April S.; Everitt, Henry O.

2009-01-01

Size-controlled gallium nanoparticles deposited on sapphire are explored as alternative substrates to enhance Raman spectral signatures. Gallium’s resilience following oxidation is inherently advantageous compared to silver for practical ex vacuo, non-solution applications. Ga nanoparticles are grown using a simple, molecular beam epitaxy-based fabrication protocol, and by monitoring their corresponding surface plasmon resonance energy through in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry, the nanoparticles are easily controlled for size. Raman spectroscopy performed on cresyl fast violet (CFV) deposited on substrates of differing mean nanoparticle size represents the first demonstration of enhanced Raman signals from reproducibly tunable self-assembled Ga nanoparticles. Non-optimized aggregate enhancement factors of ~80 were observed from the substrate with the smallest Ga nanoparticles for CFV dye solutions down to a dilution of 10 ppm. PMID:19655747

Ambience-sensitive optical refraction in ferroelectric nanofilms of NaNbO3.

PubMed

Tyunina, Marina; Chvostova, Dagmar; Pacherova, Oliva; Kocourek, Tomas; Jelinek, Miroslav; Jastrabik, Lubomir; Dejneka, Alexander

2014-08-01

Optical index of refraction n is studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry in epitaxial nanofilms of NaNbO 3 with thickness ∼10 nm grown on different single-crystal substrates. The index n in the transparency spectral range ( n  ≈ 2.1 - 2.2) exhibits a strong sensitivity to atmospheric-pressure gas ambience. The index n in air exceeds that in an oxygen ambience by δn  ≈ 0.05 - 0.2. The thermo-optical behaviour n ( T ) indicates ferroelectric state in the nanofilms. The ambience-sensitive optical refraction is discussed in terms of fundamental connection between refraction and ferroelectric polarization in perovskites, screening of depolarizing field on surfaces of the nanofilms, and thermodynamically stable surface reconstructions of NaNbO 3 .

Correlated effects of preparation parameters and thickness on morphology and optical properties of ZnO very thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilliot, Mickaël; Hadjadj, Aomar

2015-08-01

Nano-granular ZnO layers have been grown using a sol-gel synthesis and spin-coating deposition process. Thin films with thicknesses ranging from 15 to 150 nm have been obtained by varying the number of deposition cycles and prepared with different synthesis conditions. Morphologies and optical properties have been carefully investigated by joint spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. A correlation between the evolution of optical properties and grains morphology has been observed. It is shown that both synthesis temperature and concentration similarly allow us to change the correlated growth and properties evolution rate. Thickness variation associated to choice of synthesis parameters could be a useful way to tune morphology and optical properties of the nanostructured ZnO layers.

Ordinary dielectric function of corundumlike α -Ga2O3 from 40 meV to 20 eV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feneberg, Martin; Nixdorf, Jakob; Neumann, Maciej D.; Esser, Norbert; Artús, Lluis; Cuscó, Ramon; Yamaguchi, Tomohiro; Goldhahn, Rüdiger

2018-04-01

The linear optical response of metastable α -Ga2O3 is investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry. We determine the ordinary dielectric function from lattice vibrations up to the vacuum ultraviolet spectral range at room temperature for a sample with a (0001 ) surface. Three out of four Eu infrared-active phonon modes are unambiguously determined, and their frequencies are in good agreement with density functional theory calculations. The dispersion of the refractive index in the visible and ultraviolet part of the spectrum is determined. High-energy interband transitions are characterized up to 20 eV . By comparison with the optical response of α -Al2O3 and with theoretical results, a tentative assignment of interband transitions is proposed.

Moisture barrier properties of single-layer graphene deposited on Cu films for Cu metallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomasang, Ploybussara; Abe, Takumi; Kawahara, Kenji; Wasai, Yoko; Nabatova-Gabain, Nataliya; Thanh Cuong, Nguyen; Ago, Hiroki; Okada, Susumu; Ueno, Kazuyoshi

2018-04-01

The moisture barrier properties of large-grain single-layer graphene (SLG) deposited on a Cu(111)/sapphire substrate are demonstrated by comparing with the bare Cu(111) surface under an accelerated degradation test (ADT) at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity (RH) for various durations. The change in surface color and the formation of Cu oxide are investigated by optical microscopy (OM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. First-principle simulation is performed to understand the mechanisms underlying the barrier properties of SLG against O diffusion. The correlation between Cu oxide thickness and SLG quality are also analyzed by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measured on a non-uniform SLG film. SLG with large grains shows high performance in preventing the Cu oxidation due to moisture during ADT.

First-order wetting transition at a liquid-vapor interface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, J. W.; Moldover, M. R.

1983-01-01

Evidence from reflectance and contact angle measurements is presented that three-phase mixtures of i-C3H7OH-C7F14 exhibit a first-order wetting phase transition at the liquid-vapor interface at 38 C. Equilibration phenomena support this interpretation. Ellipsometry was used to measure the apparent thickness of the intruding layer in the three-phase mixture. At temperatures slightly above the wetting temperature T(w), the intruding layer's thickness is several hundred angstroms and its variation with temperature is extremely weak. Below T(w), three-phase contact can occur between the vapor and both the upper and lower liquid phases; one of the angles which characterizes this contact has a very simple temperature dependence. The thickness of the intruding layer, monitored as the solutions approached equilibrium, is found to depend quite weakly on the height spanned by the upper liquid phase in the vicinity of a first-order wetting transition.

NMR, MRI, and spectroscopic MRI in inhomogeneous fields

DOEpatents

Demas, Vasiliki; Pines, Alexander; Martin, Rachel W; Franck, John; Reimer, Jeffrey A

2013-12-24

A method for locally creating effectively homogeneous or "clean" magnetic field gradients (of high uniformity) for imaging (with NMR, MRI, or spectroscopic MRI) both in in-situ and ex-situ systems with high degrees of inhomogeneous field strength. THe method of imaging comprises: a) providing a functional approximation of an inhomogeneous static magnetic field strength B.sub.0({right arrow over (r)}) at a spatial position {right arrow over (r)}; b) providing a temporal functional approximation of {right arrow over (G)}.sub.shim(t) with i basis functions and j variables for each basis function, resulting in v.sub.ij variables; c) providing a measured value .OMEGA., which is an temporally accumulated dephasing due to the inhomogeneities of B.sub.0({right arrow over(r)}); and d) minimizing a difference in the local dephasing angle .phi.({right arrow over (r)},t)=.gamma..intg..sub.0.sup.t{square root over (|{right arrow over (B)}.sub.1({right arrow over (r)},t')|.sup.2+({right arrow over (r)}{right arrow over (G)}.sub.shimG.sub.shim(t')+.parallel.{right arrow over (B)}.sub.0({right arrow over (r)}).parallel..DELTA..omega.({right arrow over (r)},t'/.gamma/).sup.2)}dt'-.OMEGA. by varying the v.sub.ij variables to form a set of minimized v.sub.ij variables. The method requires calibration of the static fields prior to minimization, but may thereafter be implemented without such calibration, may be used in open or closed systems, and potentially portable systems.

Anisotropy and phonon modes from analysis of the dielectric function tensor and the inverse dielectric function tensor of monoclinic yttrium orthosilicate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mock, A.; Korlacki, R.; Knight, S.; Schubert, M.

2018-04-01

We determine the frequency dependence of the four independent Cartesian tensor elements of the dielectric function for monoclinic symmetry Y2SiO5 using generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry from 40-1200 cm-1. Three different crystal cuts, each perpendicular to a principle axis, are investigated. We apply our recently described augmentation of lattice anharmonicity onto the eigendielectric displacement vector summation approach [A. Mock et al., Phys. Rev. B 95, 165202 (2017), 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.165202], and we present and demonstrate the application of an eigendielectric displacement loss vector summation approach with anharmonic broadening. We obtain an excellent match between all measured and model-calculated dielectric function tensor elements and all dielectric loss function tensor elements. We obtain 23 Au and 22 Bu symmetry long-wavelength active transverse and longitudinal optical mode parameters including their eigenvector orientation within the monoclinic lattice. We perform density functional theory calculations and obtain 23 Au symmetry and 22 Bu transverse and longitudinal optical mode parameters and their orientation within the monoclinic lattice. We compare our results from ellipsometry and density functional theory and find excellent agreement. We also determine the static and above reststrahlen spectral range dielectric tensor values and find a recently derived generalization of the Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relation for polar phonons in monoclinic symmetry materials satisfied [M. Schubert, Phys Rev. Lett. 117, 215502 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.215502].

Modification of Light Emission in Si-Rich Silicon Nitride Films Versus Stoichiometry and Excitation Light Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torchynska, T.; Khomenkova, L.; Slaoui, A.

2018-04-01

Si-rich SiN x films with different stoichiometry were grown on Si substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The Si content was varied by changing the NH3/SiH4 gas flow ratio from 0.45 up to 1.0. Conventional furnace annealing at 1100°C for 30 min was applied to produce the Si quantum dots (QDs) in the SiN x films. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to determine the refractive index of the SiN x films that allowed estimating the film's stoichiometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been also used to confirm the stoichiometry and microstructure. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Si-rich SiN x films are complex. A non-monotonous variation of the different PL peaks versus Si excess contents testifies to the competition of different radiative channels. The analysis of PL spectra, measured at the different excitation light energies and variable temperatures, has revealed that the PL bands with the peaks within the range 2.1-3.0 eV are related to the carrier recombination via radiative native defects in the SiN x host. Simultaneously, the PL bands with the peaks at 1.5-2.0 eV are caused by the exciton recombination in the Si QDs of different sizes. The way to control the SiN x emission is discussed.

Modification of Light Emission in Si-Rich Silicon Nitride Films Versus Stoichiometry and Excitation Light Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torchynska, T.; Khomenkova, L.; Slaoui, A.

2018-07-01

Si-rich SiN x films with different stoichiometry were grown on Si substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The Si content was varied by changing the NH3/SiH4 gas flow ratio from 0.45 up to 1.0. Conventional furnace annealing at 1100°C for 30 min was applied to produce the Si quantum dots (QDs) in the SiN x films. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to determine the refractive index of the SiN x films that allowed estimating the film's stoichiometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been also used to confirm the stoichiometry and microstructure. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Si-rich SiN x films are complex. A non-monotonous variation of the different PL peaks versus Si excess contents testifies to the competition of different radiative channels. The analysis of PL spectra, measured at the different excitation light energies and variable temperatures, has revealed that the PL bands with the peaks within the range 2.1-3.0 eV are related to the carrier recombination via radiative native defects in the SiN x host. Simultaneously, the PL bands with the peaks at 1.5-2.0 eV are caused by the exciton recombination in the Si QDs of different sizes. The way to control the SiN x emission is discussed.

Dynamic Optoelectronic Properties in Perovskite Oxide Thin Films Measured with Ultrafast Transient Absorption & Reflectance Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolin, Sergey Y.

Ultrafast transient absorption and reflectance spectroscopy are foundational techniques for studying photoexcited carrier recombination mechanisms, lifetimes, and charge transfer rates. Because quantifying photoexcited carrier dynamics is central to the intelligent design and improvement of many solid state devices, these transient optical techniques have been applied to a wide range of semiconductors. However, despite their promise, interpretation of transient absorption and reflectance data is not always straightforward and often relies on assumptions of physical processes, especially with respect to the influence of heating. Studying the material space of perovskite oxides, the careful collection, interpretation, and analysis of ultrafast data is presented here as a guide for future research into novel semiconductors. Perovskite oxides are a class of transition metal oxides with the chemical structure ABO3. Although traditionally studied for their diverse physical, electronic, and magnetic properties, perovskite oxides have gained recent research attention as novel candidates for light harvesting applications. Indeed, strong tunable absorption, unique interfacial properties, and vast chemical flexibility make perovskite oxides a promising photoactive material system. However, there is limited research characterizing dynamic optoelectronic properties, such as recombination lifetimes, which are critical to know in the design of any light-harvesting device. In this thesis, ultrafast transient absorption and reflectance spectroscopy was used to understand these dynamic optoelectronic properties in highquality, thin (<50 nm) perovskite oxide films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Starting with epitaxial LaFeO3 (LFO) grown on (LaAlO 3)0.3(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7 (LSAT), transient absorption spectroscopy reveals two photoinduced absorption features at the band gap of LFO at 2.4 eV and at the higher energy absorption edge at 3.5 eV. Using a combination of temperature-dependent, variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and time-resolved ultrafast optical spectroscopy on a type I heterostructure, we clarify thermal and electronic contributions to spectral transients in LaFeO3. Upon comparison to thermally-derived static spectra of LaFeO3, we find that thermal contributions dominate the transient absorption and reflectance spectra above the band gap. A transient photoinduced absorption feature below the band gap at 1.9 eV is not reproduced in the thermally derived spectra and has significantly longer decay kinetics from the thermallyinduced features; therefore, this long lived photoinduced absorption is likely derived, at least partially, from photoexcited carriers with lifetimes much longer than 3 nanoseconds. LaFeO3 has a wide band gap of 2.4 eV but its absorption can be decreased with chemical substitution of Sr for Fe to make it more suitable for various applications. This type of A-site substitution is a common route to change static optical absorption in perovskite oxides, but there are no systematic studies looking at how A-site substitution changes dynamic optoelectronic properties. To understand the relationship between composition and static and dynamic optical properties we worked with the model system of La1-xSrxFeO 3-delta epitaxial films grown on LSAT, uncovering the effects of A-site cation substitution and oxygen stoichiometry. Variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to measure static optical properties, revealing a linear increase in absorption coefficient at 1.25 eV and a red-shifting of the optical absorption edge with increasing Sr fraction. The absorption spectra can be similarly tuned through the introduction of oxygen vacancies, indicating the critical role that nominal Fe valence plays in optical absorption. Dynamic optoelectronic properties were studied with ultrafast transient reflectance spectroscopy with broadband visible (1.6 eV to 4 eV) and near-infrared (0.9 eV to 1.5 eV) probes. The sign of the reflectance change in the near-infrared region in LSFO is indicative of carrier bandfilling of newly created electronic states by photoexcited carriers. Moreover, we find that similar transient spectral trends can be induced with A-site substitution or through oxygen vacancies, which is a surprising result. Probing the near-infrared region reveals similar nanosecond (1-3 ns) photoexcited carrier lifetimes for oxygen deficient and stoichiometric films. These results demonstrate that while the static optical absorption is strongly dependent on nominal Fe valence tuned through cation or anion stoichiometry, oxygen vacancies do not appear to play a significantly detrimental role in long lived recombination kinetics. Although this thesis represents one of the first comprehensive studies using broad band transient absorption and reflectance spectroscopy to study dynamic optoelectronic phenomena in perovskite oxides, it can also serve as a guide for the implementation and interpretation of ultrafast spectroscopy in other material systems. Moreover, the ultrafast work on perovskite oxides indicates that these materials have long nanosecond lifetimes required for light harvesting devices and should be investigated further.

The Nature of the Torus in the Heavily Obscured AGN Markarian 3: an X-Ray Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guainazzi, M.; Risaliti, G.; Awaki, H.; Arevalo, P.; Bauer, F. E.; Bianchi, S.; Boggs, S.E; Brandt, W. N.; Brightman, M.; Christensen, F. E.;

User oriented end-station on VUV pump-probe magneto-optical ellipsometry at ELI beamlines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Espinoza, Shirly; Neuber, Gerd; Brooks, Christopher D.; Besner, Bastian; Hashemi, Maryam; Rübhausen, Michael; Andreasson, Jakob

2017-11-01

A state of the art ellipsometer for user operations is being implemented at ELI Beamlines in Prague, Czech Republic. It combines three of the most promising and exotic forms of ellipsometry: VUV, pump-probe and magneto-optical ellipsometry. This new ellipsometer covers a spectral operational range from the NIR up to the VUV, with high through-put between 1 and 40 eV. The ellipsometer also allows measurements of magneto-optical spectra with a 1 kHz switchable magnetic field of up to 1.5 T across the sample combining ellipsometry and Kerr spectroscopy measurements in an unprecedented spectral range. This form of generalized ellipsometry enables users to address diagonal and off-diagonal components of the dielectric tensor within one measurement. Pump-probe measurements enable users to study the dynamic behaviour of the dielectric tensor in order to resolve the time-domain phenomena in the femto to 100 ns range.

Biosensing via light scattering from plasmonic core-shell nanospheres coated with DNA molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Huai-Yi; Chen, Minfeng; Chang, Yia-Chung; Moirangthem, Rakesh Singh

2017-05-01

We present both experimental and theoretical studies for investigating DNA molecules attached on metallic nanospheres. We have developed an efficient and accurate numerical method to investigate light scattering from plasmonic nanospheres on a substrate covered by a shell, based on the Green's function approach with suitable spherical harmonic basis. Next, we use this method to study optical scattering from DNA molecules attached to metallic nanoparticles placed on a substrate and compare with experimental results. We obtain fairly good agreement between theoretical predictions and the measured ellipsometric spectra. The metallic nanoparticles were used to detect the binding with DNA molecules in a microfluidic setup via spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and a detectable change in ellipsometric spectra was found when DNA molecules are captured on Au nanoparticles. Our theoretical simulation indicates that the coverage of Au nanosphere by a submonolayer of DNA molecules, which is modeled by a thin layer of dielectric material (which may absorb light), can lead to a small but detectable spectroscopic shift in both the Ψ and Δ spectra with more significant change in Δ spectra in agreement with experimental results. Our studies demonstrated the ultrasensitive capability of SE for sensing submonolayer coverage of DNA molecules on Au nanospheres. Hence the spectroscopic ellipsometric measurements coupled with theoretical analysis via an efficient computation method can be an effective tool for detecting DNA molecules attached on Au nanoparticles, thus achieving label-free, non-destructive, and high-sensitivity biosensing with nanoscale resolution.

Lens-Aided Multi-Angle Spectroscopy (LAMAS) Reveals Small-Scale Outflow Structure in Quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Paul J.

2006-06-01

Spectral differences between lensed quasar image components are common. Since lensing is intrinsically achromatic, these differences are typically explained as the effect of either microlensing, or as light path time delays sampling intrinsic quasar spectral variability. Here we advance a novel third hypothesis: some spectral differences are due to small line-of-sight differences through quasar disk wind outflows. In particular, we propose that variable spectral differences seen only in component A of the widest separation lens SDSS J1004+4112 are due to differential absorption along the sight lines. The absorber properties required by this hypothesis are akin to known broad absorption line (BAL) outflows but must have a broader, smoother velocity profile. We interpret the observed C IV emission-line variability as further evidence for spatial fine structure transverse to the line of sight. Since outflows are likely to be rotating, such absorber fine structure can consistently explain some of the UV and X-ray variability seen in AGNs. The implications are many: (1) Spectroscopic differences in other lensed objects may be due to this ``lens-aided multi-angle spectroscopy'' (LAMAS). (2) Outflows have fine structure on size scales of arcseconds, as seen from the nucleus. (3) Assuming either broad absorption line region sizes proposed in recent wind models, or typically assumed continuum emission region sizes, LAMAS and/or variability provide broadly consistent absorber size scale estimates of ~1015 cm. (4) Very broad smooth absorption may be ubiquitous in quasar spectra, even when no obvious troughs are seen.

Grafted self-assembled monolayers derived from naturally occurring phenolic lipids.

PubMed

Pillot, J-P; Birot, M; Tran, T T T; Dao, T M; Belin, C; Desbat, B; Lazare, S

2005-04-12

Self-assembled monolayers grafted onto silicon surfaces were obtained from the hydrosilylation products by trialcoxysilanes of naturally occurring phenolic lipid allyl ethers. The as-obtained materials were characterized by various physical and physicochemical methods. Thus, contact angles of water drops showed that they possess very high hydrophobicity. Their excellent regularity was corroborated by AFM microscopy. The frequencies of the stretching CH2 infrared modes indicate the presence of alkyl chains mainly in the trans/trans conformation. Additionally, optical ellipsometry and quartz microbalance measurements enabled us to estimate the thickness of the films. The results, as a whole, are in good agreement with the formation of densely packed monolayers.

Low-temperature oxidizing plasma surface modification and composite polymer thin-film fabrication techniques for tailoring the composition and behavior of polymer surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tompkins, Brendan D.

This dissertation examines methods for modifying the composition and behavior of polymer material surfaces. This is accomplished using (1) low-temperature low-density oxidizing plasmas to etch and implant new functionality on polymers, and (2) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) techniques to fabricate composite polymer materials. Emphases are placed on the structure of modified polymer surfaces, the evolution of polymer surfaces after treatment, and the species responsible for modifying polymers during plasma processing. H2O vapor plasma modification of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), and 75A polyurethane (PU) was examined to further our understanding of polymer surface reorganization leading to hydrophobic recovery. Water contact angles (wCA) measurements showed that PP and PS were the most susceptible to hydrophobic recovery, while PC and HDPE were the most stable. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed a significant quantity of polar functional groups on the surface of all treated polymer samples. Shifts in the C1s binding energies (BE) with sample age were measured on PP and PS, revealing that surface reorganization was responsible for hydrophobic recovery on these materials. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to rule out the intrinsic thermal properties as the cause of reorganization and hydrophobic recovery on HDPE, LDPE, and PP. The different contributions that polymer cross-linking and chain scission mechanisms make to polymer aging effects are considered. The H2O plasma treatment technique was extended to the modification of 0.2 microm and 3.0 microm track-etched polycarbonate (PC-TE) and track-etched polyethylene terephthalate (PET-TE) membranes with the goal of permanently increasing the hydrophilicity of the membrane surfaces. Contact angle measurements on freshly treated and aged samples confirmed the wettability of the membrane surfaces was significantly improved by plasma treatment. XPS and SEM analyses revealed increased oxygen incorporation onto the surface of the membranes, without any damage to the surface or pore structure. Contact angle measurements on a membrane treated in a stacked assembly suggest the plasma effectively modified the entire pore cross section. Plasma treatment also increased water flux through the membranes, with results from plasma modified membranes matching those from commercially available hydrophilic membranes (treated with wetting agent). Mechanisms for the observed modification are discussed in terms of OH and O radicals implanting oxygen functionality into the polymers. Oxidizing plasma systems (O2, CO2, H2O vapor, and formic acid vapor) were used to modify track-etched polycarbonate membranes and explore the mechanisms and species responsible for etching polycarbonate during plasma processing. Etch rates were measured using scanning electron microscopy; modified polycarbonate surfaces were further characterized using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angles. Etch rates and surface characterization results were combined with optical emission spectroscopy data used to identify gas-phase species and their relative densities. Although the oxide functionalities implanted by each plasma system were similar, the H2O vapor and formic acid vapor plasmas yielded the lowest contact angles after treatment. The CO2, H2O vapor, and formic acid vapor plasma-modified surfaces were, however, found to be similarly stable one month after treatment. Overall, etch rate correlated directly to the relative gas-phase density of atomic oxygen and, to a lesser extent, hydroxyl radicals. PECVD of acetic acid vapor (CH3COOH) was used to deposit films on PC-TE and silicon wafer substrates. The CH3COOH films were characterized using XPS, wCA, and SEM. This modification technique resulted in continuous deposition and self-limiting deposition of a-CxO yHz films on Si wafers and PC-TE, respectively. The self-limiting deposition on PC-TE revealed that resulting films have minimal impact on 3D PC structures. This technique would allow for more precise fabrication of patterned or nano-textured PC. PECVD is used to synthesize hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon thin films with compositional gradients by continuously changing the ratio of gases in a C 3F8/H2 plasma. The films are characterized using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), XPS, wCA, and SEM. These methods revealed that shifting spectroscopic signals can be used to characterize organization in the deposited film. Using these methods, along with gas-phase diagnostics, film chemistry and the underlying deposition mechanisms are elucidated, leading to a model that accurately predicts film thickness.

Optical characterization and thermal properties of CVD diamond films for integration with power electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nazari, Mohammad; Hancock, B. Logan; Anderson, Jonathan; Hobart, Karl D.; Feygelson, Tatyana I.; Tadjer, Marko J.; Pate, Bradford B.; Anderson, Travis J.; Piner, Edwin L.; Holtz, Mark W.

2017-10-01

Studies of diamond material for thermal management are reported for a nominally 1-μm thick layer grown on silicon. Thickness of the diamond is measured using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Spectra are consistently modeled using a diamond layer taking into account surface roughness and requiring an interlayer of nominally silicon carbide. The presence of the interlayer is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Thermal conductivity is determined based on a heater which is microfabricated followed by back etching to produce a supported diamond membrane. Micro-Raman mapping of the diamond phonon is used to estimate temperature rise under known drive conditions of the resistive heater. Consistent values are obtained for thermal conductivity based on straightforward analytical calculation using phonon shift to estimate temperature and finite element simulations which take both temperature rise and thermal stress into account.

Characterization of perovskite film prepared by pulsed laser deposition on ferritic stainless steel using microscopic and optical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durda, E.; Jaglarz, J.; Kąc, S.; Przybylski, K.; El Kouari, Y.

2016-06-01

The perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF48) film was deposited on Crofer 22 APU ferritic stainless steel by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Morphological studies of the sample were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Information about film thickness and surface topography of the film and the steel substrate were obtained using following optical methods: spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF) and total integrated reflectometry (TIS). In particular, the BRDF study, being complementary to atomic force microscopy, yielded information about surface topography. Using the previously mentioned methods, the following statistic surface parameters were determined: root-mean square (rms) roughness and autocorrelation length by determining the power spectral density (PSD) function of surface irregularities.

Band gap renormalization and Burstein-Moss effect in silicon- and germanium-doped wurtzite GaN up to 1020 cm-3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feneberg, Martin; Osterburg, Sarah; Lange, Karsten; Lidig, Christian; Garke, Bernd; Goldhahn, Rüdiger; Richter, Eberhard; Netzel, Carsten; Neumann, Maciej D.; Esser, Norbert; Fritze, Stephanie; Witte, Hartmut; Bläsing, Jürgen; Dadgar, Armin; Krost, Alois

2014-08-01

The interplay between band gap renormalization and band filling (Burstein-Moss effect) in n-type wurtzite GaN is investigated. For a wide range of electron concentrations up to 1.6×1020cm-3 spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoluminescence were used to determine the dependence of the band gap energy and the Fermi edge on electron density. The band gap renormalization is the dominating effect up to an electron density of about 9×1018cm-3; at higher values the Burstein-Moss effect is stronger. Exciton screening, the Mott transition, and formation of Mahan excitons are discussed. A quantitative understanding of the near gap transition energies on electron density is obtained. Higher energy features in the dielectric functions up to 10eV are not influenced by band gap renormalization.

Enhancement of Aviation Fuel Thermal Stability Characterization Through Application of Ellipsometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Browne, Samuel Tucker; Wong, Hubert; Hinderer, Cameron Branch; Klettlinger, Jennifer

2012-01-01

ASTM D3241/Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Tester (JFTOT) procedure, the standard method for testing thermal stability of conventional aviation turbine fuels is inherently limited due to the subjectivity in the color standard for tube deposit rating. Quantitative assessment of the physical characteristics of oxidative fuel deposits provides a more powerful method for comparing the thermal oxidation stability characteristics of fuels, especially in a research setting. We propose employing a Spectroscopic Ellipsometer to determine the film thickness and profile of oxidative fuel deposits on JFTOT heater tubes. Using JP-8 aviation fuel and following a modified ASTM D3241 testing procedure, the capabilities of the Ellipsometer will be demonstrated by measuring oxidative fuel deposit profiles for a range of different deposit characteristics. The testing completed in this report was supported by the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Subsonics Fixed Wing Project

Ambience-sensitive optical refraction in ferroelectric nanofilms of NaNbO3

PubMed Central

Tyunina, Marina; Chvostova, Dagmar; Pacherova, Oliva; Kocourek, Tomas; Jelinek, Miroslav; Jastrabik, Lubomir; Dejneka, Alexander

2014-01-01

Optical index of refraction n is studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry in epitaxial nanofilms of NaNbO3 with thickness ∼10 nm grown on different single-crystal substrates. The index n in the transparency spectral range (n ≈ 2.1 – 2.2) exhibits a strong sensitivity to atmospheric-pressure gas ambience. The index n in air exceeds that in an oxygen ambience by δn ≈ 0.05 – 0.2. The thermo-optical behaviour n(T) indicates ferroelectric state in the nanofilms. The ambience-sensitive optical refraction is discussed in terms of fundamental connection between refraction and ferroelectric polarization in perovskites, screening of depolarizing field on surfaces of the nanofilms, and thermodynamically stable surface reconstructions of NaNbO3. PMID:27877702

Ge1-xSnx alloys synthesized by ion implantation and pulsed laser melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Kun; Prucnal, S.; Huebner, R.; Baehtz, C.; Skorupa, I.; Wang, Yutian; Skorupa, W.; Helm, M.; Zhou, Shengqiang

2014-07-01

The tunable bandgap and the high carrier mobility of Ge1-xSnx alloys stimulate a large effort for bandgap and strain engineering for Ge based materials using silicon compatible technology. In this Letter, we present the fabrication of highly mismatched Ge1-xSnx alloys by ion implantation and pulsed laser melting with Sn concentration ranging from 0.5 at. % up to 1.5 at. %. According to the structural investigations, the formed Ge1-xSnx alloys are monocrystalline with high Sn-incorporation rate. The shrinkage of the bandgap of Ge1-xSnx alloys with increasing Sn content is proven by the red-shift of the E1 and E1 + Δ1 critical points in spectroscopic ellipsometry. Our investigation provides a chip technology compatible route to prepare high quality monocrystalline Ge1-xSnx alloys.

Optical, dielectric and morphological studies of sol-gel derived nanocrystalline TiO2 films.

PubMed

Vishwas, M; Sharma, Sudhir Kumar; Narasimha Rao, K; Mohan, S; Gowda, K V Arjuna; Chakradhar, R P S

2009-10-15

Nanocrystalline TiO(2) films have been synthesized on glass and silicon substrates by sol-gel technique. The films have been characterized with optical reflectance/transmittance in the wavelength range 300-1000 nm and the optical constants (n, k) were estimated by using envelope technique as well as spectroscopic ellipsometry. Morphological studies have been carried out using atomic force microscope (AFM). Metal-Oxide-Silicon (MOS) capacitor was fabricated using conducting coating on TiO(2) film deposited on silicon. The C-V measurements show that the film annealed at 300 degrees C has a dielectric constant of 19.80. The high percentage of transmittance, low surface roughness and high dielectric constant suggests that it can be used as an efficient anti-reflection coating on silicon and other optical coating applications and also as a MOS capacitor.

Terahertz spectroscopic analysis of crystal orientation in polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azeyanagi, Chisato; Kaneko, Takuya; Ohki, Yoshimichi

2018-05-01

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is attracting keen attention as a new spectroscopic tool for characterizing various materials. In this research, the possibility of analyzing the crystal orientation in a crystalline polymer by THz-TDS is investigated by measuring angle-resolved THz absorption spectra for sheets of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate), and poly(phenylene sulfide). The resultant angle dependence of the absorption intensity of each polymer is similar to that of the crystal orientation examined using pole figures of X-ray diffraction. More specifically, THz-TDS can indicate the alignment of molecules in polymers.

Improvements to III-nitride light-emitting diodes through characterization and material growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Getty, Amorette Rose Klug

A variety of experiments were conducted to improve or aid the improvement of the efficiency of III-nitride light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are a critical area of research for multiple applications, including high-efficiency solid state lighting. To enhance the light extraction in ultraviolet LEDs grown on SiC substrates, a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) optimized for operation in the range from 250 to 280 nm has been developed using MBE growth techniques. The best devices had a peak reflectivity of 80% with 19.5 periods, which is acceptable for the intended application. DBR surfaces were sufficiently smooth for subsequent epitaxy of the LED device. During the course of this work, pros and cons of AlGaN growth techniques, including analog versus digital alloying, were examined. This work highlighted a need for more accurate values of the refractive index of high-Al-content AlxGa1-xNin the UV wavelength range. We present refractive index results for a wide variety of materials pertinent to the fabrication of optical III-nitride devices. Characterization was done using Variable-Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. The three binary nitrides, and all three ternaries, have been characterized to a greater or lesser extent depending on material compositions available. Semi-transparent p-contact materials and other thin metals for reflecting contacts have been examined to allow optimization of deposition conditions and to allow highly accurate modeling of the behavior of light within these devices. Standard substrate materials have also been characterized for completeness and as an indicator of the accuracy of our modeling technique. We have demonstrated a new technique for estimating the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of nitride light-emitting diodes. This method is advantageous over the standard low-temperature photoluminescence-based method of estimating IQE, as the new method is conducted under the same conditions as normal device operation. We have developed processing techniques and have characterized patternable absorbing materials which eliminate scattered light within the device, allowing an accurate simulation of the device extraction efficiency. This efficiency, with measurements of the input current and optical output power, allow a straightforward calculation of the IQE. Two sets of devices were measured, one of material grown in-house, with a rough p-GaN surface, and one of commercial LED material, with smooth interfaces and very high internal quantum efficiency.

A comparative study on omnidirectional anti-reflection SiO2 nanostructure films coating by glancing angle deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prachachet, R.; Samransuksamer, B.; Horprathum, M.; Eiamchai, P.; Limwichean, S.; Chananonnawathorn, C.; Lertvanithphol, T.; Muthitamongkol, P.; Boonruang, S.; Buranasiri, P.

2018-02-01

Fabricated omnidirectional anti-reflection nanostructure films as a one of the promising alternative solar cell applications have attracted enormous scientific and industrial research benefits to their broadband, effective over a wide range of incident angles, lithography-free and high-throughput process. Recently, the nanostructure SiO2 film was the most inclusive study on anti-reflection with omnidirectional and broadband characteristics. In this work, the three-dimensional silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanostructured thin film with different morphologies including vertical align, slant, spiral and thin films were fabricated by electron beam evaporation with glancing angle deposition (GLAD) on the glass slide and silicon wafer substrate. The morphological of the prepared samples were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The transmission, omnidirectional and birefringence property of the nanostructure SiO2 films were investigated by UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer (VASE). The spectrophotometer measurement was performed at normal incident angle and a full spectral range of 200 - 2000 nm. The angle dependent transmission measurements were investigated by rotating the specimen, with incidence angle defined relative to the surface normal of the prepared samples. This study demonstrates that the obtained SiO2 nanostructure film coated on glass slide substrate exhibits a higher transmission was 93% at normal incident angle. In addition, transmission measurement in visible wavelength and wide incident angles -80 to 80 were increased in comparison with the SiO2 thin film and glass slide substrate due to the transition in the refractive index profile from air to the nanostructure layer that improve the antireflection characteristics. The results clearly showed the enhanced omnidirectional and broadband characteristic of the three dimensional SiO2 nanostructure film coating.

Simulation, modeling, and crystal growth of Cd0.9Zn0.1Te for nuclear spectrometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandal, Krishna C.; Kang, Sung Hoon; Choi, Michael; Bello, Job; Zheng, Lili; Zhang, Hui; Groza, Michael; Roy, Utpal N.; Burger, Arnold; Jellison, Gerald E.; Holcomb, David E.; Wright, Gomez W.; Williams, Joseph A.

2006-06-01

High-quality, large (10 cm long and 2.5 cm diameter), nuclear spectrometer grade Cd0.9Zn0.1Te (CZT) single crystals have been grown by a controlled vertical Bridgman technique using in-house zone refined precursor materials (Cd, Zn, and Te). A state-of-the-art computer model, multizone adaptive scheme for transport and phase-change processes (MASTRAP), is used to model heat and mass transfer in the Bridgman growth system and to predict the stress distribution in the as-grown CZT crystal and optimize the thermal profile. The model accounts for heat transfer in the multiphase system, convection in the melt, and interface dynamics. The grown semi-insulating (SI) CZT crystals have demonstrated promising results for high-resolution room-temperature radiation detectors due to their high dark resistivity (ρ≈2.8 × 1011 Θ cm), good charge-transport properties [electron and hole mobility-life-time product, μτe≈(2 5)×10-3 and μτh≈(3 5)×10-5 respectively, and low cost of production. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and optical transmission measurements were carried out on the grown CZT crystals using two-modulator generalized ellipsometry (2-MGE). The refractive index n and extinction coefficient k were determined by mathematically eliminating the ˜3-nm surface roughness layer. Nuclear detection measurements on the single-element CZT detectors with 241Am and 137Cs clearly detected 59.6 and 662 keV energies with energy resolution (FWHM) of 2.4 keV (4.0%) and 9.2 keV (1.4%), respectively.

Realistic Silver Optical Constants for Plasmonics.

PubMed

Jiang, Yajie; Pillai, Supriya; Green, Martin A

2016-07-29

Silver remains the preferred conductor for optical and near-infrared plasmonics. Many high-profile studies focus exclusively on performance simulation in such applications. Almost invariably, these use silver optical data either from Palik's 1985 handbook or, more frequently, an earlier Johnson and Christy (J&C) tabulation. These data are inconsistent, making it difficult to ascertain the reliability of the simulations. The inconsistency stems from challenges in measuring representative properties of pristine silver, due to tarnishing on air exposure. We demonstrate techniques, including use of silicon-nitride membranes, to access the full capabilities of multiple-angle, spectrometric-ellipsometry to generate an improved data set, representative of overlayer-protected, freshly-deposited silver films on silicon-nitride and glass.

Optical characterization of extremely small volumes of liquid in sub-micro-holes by simultaneous reflectivity, ellipsometry and spectrometry.

PubMed

Holgado, M; Casquel, R; Sánchez, B; Molpeceres, C; Morales, M; Ocaña, J L

2007-10-01

We have fabricated and characterized a lattice of submicron cone-shaped holes on a SiO(2)/Si wafer. Reflectivity profiles as a function of angle of incidence and polarization, phase shift and spectrometry are obtained for several fluids with different refractive indexes filling the holes. The optical setup allows measuring in the center of a single hole and collecting all data simultaneously, which can be applied for measuring extremely low volumes of fluid (in the order of 0.1 femtolitres) and label-free immunoassays, as it works as a refractive index sensor. A three layer film stack model is defined to perform theoretical calculations.

Determination of the refractive index of glucose-ethanol-water mixtures using spectroscopic refractometry near the critical angle.

PubMed

Sobral, H; Peña-Gomar, M

2015-10-01

A spectroscopic refractometer was used to investigate the dispersion curves of ethanol and D-glucose solutions in water near the critical angle; here, the reflectivity was measured using a white source. Dispersion curves were obtained in the 320-1000 nm wavelength range with a resolution better than 10(-4) for the refractive index, n. The differential refractive index is measured as a function of wavelength, and a simple expression is proposed to obtain the refractive index of the glucose-ethanol-water ternary system. Using this expression, combined with the experimental differential refractive index values, the concentrations of individual components can be calculated.

Organophosphonate-based PNA-functionalization of silicon nanowires for label-free DNA detection.

PubMed

Cattani-Scholz, Anna; Pedone, Daniel; Dubey, Manish; Neppl, Stefan; Nickel, Bert; Feulner, Peter; Schwartz, Jeffrey; Abstreiter, Gerhard; Tornow, Marc

2008-08-01

We investigated hydroxyalkylphosphonate monolayers as a novel platform for the biofunctionalization of silicon-based field effect sensor devices. This included a detailed study of the thin film properties of organophosphonate films on Si substrates using several surface analysis techniques, including AFM, ellipsometry, contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray reflectivity, and current-voltage characteristics in electrolyte solution. Our results indicate the formation of a dense monolayer on the native silicon oxide that has excellent passivation properties. The monolayer was biofunctionalized with 12 mer peptide nucleic acid (PNA) receptor molecules in a two-step procedure using the heterobifunctional linker, 3-maleimidopropionic-acid-N-hydroxysuccinimidester. Successful surface modification with the probe PNA was verified by XPS and contact angle measurements, and hybridization with DNA was determined by fluorescence measurements. Finally, the PNA functionalization protocol was translated to 2 microm long, 100 nm wide Si nanowire field effect devices, which were successfully used for label-free DNA/PNA hybridization detection.

Ag-Cu mixed phase plasmonic nanostructures fabricated by shadow nanosphere lithography and glancing angle co-deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ingram, Whitney; Larson, Steven; Carlson, Daniel; Zhao, Yiping

2017-01-01

By combining shadow nanosphere lithography with a glancing angle co-deposition technique, mixed-phase Ag-Cu triangular nanopatterns and films were fabricated. They were prepared at different compositions with respect to Ag from 100% to 0% by changing the relative deposition ratio of each metal. Characterizations by ellipsometry, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction revealed that the thin films and nanopatterns were composed of small, well-mixed Ag and Cu nano-grains with a diameter less than 20 nm, and their optical properties could be described by an effective medium theory. All compositions of the nanopattern had the same shape, but showed tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. In general, the LSPR of the nanopatterns redshifted with decreasing composition. Such a relation could be fitted by an empirical model based on the bulk theory of alloy plasmonics. By changing the colloidal template and the material deposited, this fabrication technique can be used to produce other alloy plasmonic nanostructures with predicted LSPR wavelengths.

Ag-Cu mixed phase plasmonic nanostructures fabricated by shadow nanosphere lithography and glancing angle co-deposition.

PubMed

Ingram, Whitney; Larson, Steven; Carlson, Daniel; Zhao, Yiping

2017-01-06

By combining shadow nanosphere lithography with a glancing angle co-deposition technique, mixed-phase Ag-Cu triangular nanopatterns and films were fabricated. They were prepared at different compositions with respect to Ag from 100% to 0% by changing the relative deposition ratio of each metal. Characterizations by ellipsometry, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction revealed that the thin films and nanopatterns were composed of small, well-mixed Ag and Cu nano-grains with a diameter less than 20 nm, and their optical properties could be described by an effective medium theory. All compositions of the nanopattern had the same shape, but showed tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. In general, the LSPR of the nanopatterns redshifted with decreasing composition. Such a relation could be fitted by an empirical model based on the bulk theory of alloy plasmonics. By changing the colloidal template and the material deposited, this fabrication technique can be used to produce other alloy plasmonic nanostructures with predicted LSPR wavelengths.

Thickness-dependence of optical constants for Ta2O5 ultrathin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dong-Xu; Zheng, Yu-Xiang; Cai, Qing-Yuan; Lin, Wei; Wu, Kang-Ning; Mao, Peng-Hui; Zhang, Rong-Jun; Zhao, Hai-bin; Chen, Liang-Yao

2012-09-01

An effective method for determining the optical constants of Ta2O5 thin films deposited on crystal silicon (c-Si) using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurement with a two-film model (ambient-oxide-interlayer-substrate) was presented. Ta2O5 thin films with thickness range of 1-400 nm have been prepared by the electron beam evaporation (EBE) method. We find that the refractive indices of Ta2O5 ultrathin films less than 40 nm drop with the decreasing thickness, while the other ones are close to those of bulk Ta2O5. This phenomenon was due to the existence of an interfacial oxide region and the surface roughness of the film, which was confirmed by the measurement of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Optical properties of ultrathin film varying with the thickness are useful for the design and manufacture of nano-scaled thin-film devices.

Atomic Layer Deposition of the Solid Electrolyte LiPON

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

Kozen, Alexander C.; Pearse, Alexander J.; Lin, Chuan -Fu

We demonstrate an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for the solid electrolyte lithium phosphorousoxynitride (LiPON) using lithium tert-butoxide (LiO tBu), H 2O, trimethylphosphate (TMP), and plasma N 2 ( PN 2) as precursors. We use in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to determine growth rates for process optimization to design a rational, quaternary precursor ALD process where only certain substrate–precursor chemical reactions are favorable. We demonstrate via in-situ XPS tunable nitrogen incorporation into the films by variation of the PN 2 dose and find that ALD films over approximately 4.5% nitrogen are amorphous, whereas LiPON ALD films with less than 4.5% nitrogen aremore » polycrystalline. Lastly, we characterize the ionic conductivity of the ALD films as a function of nitrogen content and demonstrate their functionality on a model battery electrode—a Si anode on a Cu current collector.« less

ZrO2 film interfaces with Si and SiO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, C. M.; Suvorova, N. A.; Irene, E. A.; Suvorova, A. A.; Saunders, M.

2005-08-01

The interface formed by the thermal oxidation of sputter-deposited Zr metal onto Si(100)- and SiO2-coated Si(100) wafers was studied in situ and in real time using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the 1.5-4.5 photon energy range and mass spectrometry of recoiled ions (MSRI). SE yielded optical properties for the film and interface and MSRI yielded film and interface composition. An optical model was developed and verified using transmission electron microscopy. Interfacial reaction of the ZrO2 was observed for both substrates, with more interaction for Si substrates. Equivalent oxide thicknesses and interface trap levels were determined on capacitors with lower trap levels found on samples with a thicker SiO2 underlayer. In addition to the optical properties for the intermixed interface layer, the optical properties for Zr metal and unreacted ZrO2 are also reported.

Optical effects induced by epitaxial tension in lead titanate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dejneka, A.; Chvostova, D.; Pacherova, O.; Kocourek, T.; Jelinek, M.; Tyunina, M.

2018-01-01

Single-crystal-type epitaxial films of perovskite oxide ferroelectrics are attractive for integrated photonic applications because of the remarkable optical properties and effects in ferroelectrics. The properties of the films may be influenced by epitaxial strain arising from the film-substrate mismatch. Here, dramatic strain-induced changes of the absorption and refraction are experimentally detected by spectroscopic ellipsometry in epitaxial films of archetypical ferroelectric PbTiO3. Comparison of the properties of a tensile-strained film with those of reference films and crystals reveals that epitaxial tension produces blueshifts of the primary above-bandgap absorption peaks by 1 eV and a decrease in the refractive index by 0.5 in the transparent spectral range. The obtained quadratic electrooptic and effective elastooptic coefficients exceed the bulk values by orders of magnitude. The experimental observations prove that epitaxy is a powerful tool for engineering unprecedented optical properties that may enable future photonics innovations.

Resolving the nanostructure of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited nanocrystalline SiOx layers for application in solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klingsporn, M.; Kirner, S.; Villringer, C.; Abou-Ras, D.; Costina, I.; Lehmann, M.; Stannowski, B.

2016-06-01

Nanocrystalline silicon suboxides (nc-SiOx) have attracted attention during the past years for the use in thin-film silicon solar cells. We investigated the relationships between the nanostructure as well as the chemical, electrical, and optical properties of phosphorous, doped, nc-SiO0.8:H fabricated by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The nanostructure was varied through the sample series by changing the deposition pressure from 533 to 1067 Pa. The samples were then characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, and a specialized plasmon imaging method. We found that the material changed with increasing pressure from predominantly amorphous silicon monoxide to silicon dioxide containing nanocrystalline silicon. The nanostructure changed from amorphous silicon filaments to nanocrystalline silicon filaments, which were found to cause anisotropic electron transport.

Plasmonic nanoparticles for a bottom-up approach to fabricate optical metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dintinger, José; Scharf, Toralf

2012-03-01

We investigate experimentally metallic nanoparticle composites fabricated by bottom-up techniques as potential candidates for optical metamaterials. Depending on the plasmonic resonances sustained by individual NPs and their nanoscale organization into larger meta-atoms, various properties might emerge. Here, the focus of our contribution is on the fabrication and optical characterization of silver NP clusters with a spherical shape. We start with the characterisation of the "bulk" dielectric constants of silver NP inks by spectroscopic ellipsometry for different nanoparticle densities (i.e from strongly diluted dispersions to solid randomly packed films). The inks are then used to prepare spherical nanoparticle clusters by an oil-in water emulsion technique. The study of their optical properties demonstrates their ability to support Mie resonances in the visible. These resonances are associated with the excitation of a magnetic dipole, which constitutes a prerequisite to the realization of metamaterials with negative permeability.

Comparison of the optical responses of O-poor and O-rich thermochromic VOX films during semiconductor-to-metal transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Zhenfei; Wu, Zhiming; Wang, Tao; Xu, Xiangdong; Li, Weizhi; Li, Wei; Jiang, Yadong

2012-09-01

O-poor and O-rich thermochromic vanadium oxide (VOX) nanostructured thin films were prepared by applying reactive direct current magnetron sputtering and post-annealing in oxygen ambient. UV-visible spectrophotometer and spectroscopic ellipsometry were used to investigate the optical properties of films. It was found that, when the O-poor VOX thin film underwent semiconductor-to-metal transition, the values of optical conductivity and extinction coefficient in the visible region increased due to the existence of occupied band-gap states. This noticeable feature, however, was not observed for the O-rich film, which showed a similar optical behavior with the stoichiometric crystalline VO2 films reported in the literatures. Moreover, the O-poor VOX film exhibits consistent variations of transmission values in the visible/near-infrared region when it undergoes semiconductor-to-metal transition.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Nanocrystalline silicon film growth morphology control through RF waveform tailoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Erik V.; Verbeke, Thomas; Vanel, Jean-Charles; Booth, Jean-Paul

2010-10-01

We demonstrate the application of RF waveform tailoring to generate an electrical asymmetry in a capacitively coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition system, and its use to control the growth mode of hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin films deposited at low temperature (150 °C). A dramatic shift in the dc bias potential at the powered electrode is observed when simply inverting the voltage waveform from 'peaks' to 'troughs', indicating an asymmetric distribution of the sheath voltage. By enhancing or suppressing the ion bombardment energy at the substrate (situated on the grounded electrode), the growth of thin silicon films can be switched between amorphous and nanocrystalline modes, as observed using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. The effect is observed at pressures sufficiently low that the collisional reduction in average ion bombardment energy is not sufficient to allow nanocrystalline growth (<100 mTorr).

Structural Properties Characterized by the Film Thickness and Annealing Temperature for La2O3 Films Grown by Atomic Layer Deposition.

PubMed

Wang, Xing; Liu, Hongxia; Zhao, Lu; Fei, Chenxi; Feng, Xingyao; Chen, Shupeng; Wang, Yongte

2017-12-01

La 2 O 3 films were grown on Si substrates by atomic layer deposition technique with different thickness. Crystallization characteristics of the La 2 O 3 films were analyzed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction after post-deposition rapid thermal annealing treatments at several annealing temperatures. It was found that the crystallization behaviors of the La 2 O 3 films are affected by the film thickness and annealing temperatures as a relationship with the diffusion of Si substrate. Compared with the amorphous La 2 O 3 films, the crystallized films were observed to be more unstable due to the hygroscopicity of La 2 O 3 . Besides, the impacts of crystallization characteristics on the bandgap and refractive index of the La 2 O 3 films were also investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry, respectively.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry data inversion using constrained splines and application to characterization of ZnO with various morphologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilliot, Mickaël; Hadjadj, Aomar; Stchakovsky, Michel

2017-11-01

An original method of ellipsometric data inversion is proposed based on the use of constrained splines. The imaginary part of the dielectric function is represented by a series of splines, constructed with particular constraints on slopes at the node boundaries to avoid well-know oscillations of natural splines. The nodes are used as fit parameters. The real part is calculated using Kramers-Kronig relations. The inversion can be performed in successive inversion steps with increasing resolution. This method is used to characterize thin zinc oxide layers obtained by a sol-gel and spin-coating process, with a particular recipe yielding very thin layers presenting nano-porosity. Such layers have particular optical properties correlated with thickness, morphological and structural properties. The use of the constrained spline method is particularly efficient for such materials which may not be easily represented by standard dielectric function models.

Determination of doping effects on Si and GaAs bulk samples properties by photothermal investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abroug, Sameh; Saadallah, Faycel; Yacoubi, Noureddine

2007-11-01

The knowledge of doping effects on optical and thermal properties of semiconductors is crucial for the development of opto-electronic compounds. The purpose of this work is to investigate these effects by mirage effect technique and spectroscopic ellipsometry SE. The near gap optical spectra are obtained from photothermal signal for differently doped Si and GaAs bulk samples. However, the above bandgap absorption is determined from SE. These spectra show that absorption in the near IR increases with dopant density and also the bandgap shifts toward low energies. This behavior is due to free carrier absorption which could be obtained by subtracting phonon-assisted absorption from the measured spectrum. This carrier absorption is related to the dopant density through a semi-empirical model. We have also used the photothermal signal phase to measure the influence of doping on thermal diffusivity.

Structures of Cu surfaces developing in benzotriazole solutions: Effect of pH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondoh, Eiichi; Kawakami, Tatsuya; Watanabe, Mitsuhiro; Jin, Linhua; Hamada, Satomi; Shima, Shohei; Hiyama, Hirokuni

2017-07-01

The effect of pH on layer formation onto clean Cu surfaces in benzotriazole (BTA) aqueous solutions was studied by in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. The effect of H2O2 addition was also investigated. Time changes in the ellipsometric parameters Ψ and Δ, which correspond to the structural changes of the layers on Cu, were discussed. In acidic solutions, a BTA or a Cu-BTA complex layer grows directly on Cu. The out-diffusion of Cu is suppressed at the Cu layer interface. When H2O2 was mixed, the Cu surface is eroded in acidic solutions. In alkaline solutions, the BTA layer grows on the oxidized Cu layer, or no growth occurs, depending on the composition of the solutions. In neutral solutions, the Cu-BTA complex layer forms on Cu, and the uncovered part is oxidized in the presence of H2O2.

Atomic Layer Deposition of the Solid Electrolyte LiPON

DOE PAGES

Kozen, Alexander C.; Pearse, Alexander J.; Lin, Chuan -Fu; ...

2015-07-09

We demonstrate an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for the solid electrolyte lithium phosphorousoxynitride (LiPON) using lithium tert-butoxide (LiO tBu), H 2O, trimethylphosphate (TMP), and plasma N 2 ( PN 2) as precursors. We use in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to determine growth rates for process optimization to design a rational, quaternary precursor ALD process where only certain substrate–precursor chemical reactions are favorable. We demonstrate via in-situ XPS tunable nitrogen incorporation into the films by variation of the PN 2 dose and find that ALD films over approximately 4.5% nitrogen are amorphous, whereas LiPON ALD films with less than 4.5% nitrogen aremore » polycrystalline. Lastly, we characterize the ionic conductivity of the ALD films as a function of nitrogen content and demonstrate their functionality on a model battery electrode—a Si anode on a Cu current collector.« less

Electrical level of defects in single-layer two-dimensional TiO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, X. F.; Hu, L. F.; Li, D. H.; Chen, L.; Sun, Q. Q.; Zhou, P.; Zhang, D. W.

2015-11-01

The remarkable properties of graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted increasing attention on two-dimensional materials, but the gate oxide, one of the key components of two-dimensional electronic devices, has rarely reported. We found the single-layer oxide can be used as the two dimensional gate oxide in 2D electronic structure, such as TiO2. However, the electrical performance is seriously influenced by the defects existing in the single-layer oxide. In this paper, a nondestructive and noncontact solution based on spectroscopic ellipsometry has been used to detect the defect states and energy level of single-layer TiO2 films. By fitting the Lorentz oscillator model, the results indicate the exact position of defect energy levels depends on the estimated band gap and the charge state of the point defects of TiO2.

Determination and interpretation of the optical constants for solar cell materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujiwara, Hiroyuki; Fujimoto, Shohei; Tamakoshi, Masato; Kato, Masato; Kadowaki, Hideyuki; Miyadera, Tetsuhiko; Tampo, Hitoshi; Chikamatsu, Masayuki; Shibata, Hajime

2017-11-01

Solar cell materials in thin film form often exhibit quite rough surface, which makes the accurate determination of the optical constants using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) quite difficult. In this study, we investigate the effect of the rough surface on the SE analysis and establish an analysis procedure, which is quite helpful for the correction of the underestimated roughness contribution. As examples, the roughness analyses for CuInSe2 and CH3NH3PbI3 hybrid-perovskite thin films are presented. Moreover, to interpret the dielectric functions of emerging solar cell materials, such as CH3NH3PbI3 and Cu2ZnSnSe4, the optical transition analyses are performed based on density functional theory (DFT). The excellent agreement observed between the experimental and DFT results allows the detailed assignment of the transition peaks, confirming the importance of DFT for revealing fundamental optical characteristics.

Perspective: Optical measurement of feature dimensions and shapes by scatterometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diebold, Alain C.; Antonelli, Andy; Keller, Nick

2018-05-01

The use of optical scattering to measure feature shape and dimensions, scatterometry, is now routine during semiconductor manufacturing. Scatterometry iteratively improves an optical model structure using simulations that are compared to experimental data from an ellipsometer. These simulations are done using the rigorous coupled wave analysis for solving Maxwell's equations. In this article, we describe the Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry based scatterometry. Next, the rigorous coupled wave analysis for Maxwell's equations is presented. Following this, several example measurements are described as they apply to specific process steps in the fabrication of gate-all-around (GAA) transistor structures. First, simulations of measurement sensitivity for the inner spacer etch back step of horizontal GAA transistor processing are described. Next, the simulated metrology sensitivity for sacrificial (dummy) amorphous silicon etch back step of vertical GAA transistor processing is discussed. Finally, we present the application of plasmonically active test structures for improving the sensitivity of the measurement of metal linewidths.

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

Jiang, J.; Walters, D. M.; Zhou, D.

Vapor-deposited glasses can be anisotropic and molecular orientation is important for organic electronics applications. In organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), for example, the orientation of dye molecules in two-component emitting layers significantly influences emission efficiency. Here we investigate how substrate temperature during vapor deposition influences the orientation of dye molecules in a model two-component system. We determine the average orientation of a linear blue light emitter 1,4-di-[4-( N,N-diphenyl)amino]styrylbenzene (DSA-Ph) in mixtures with aluminum-tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq 3) by spectroscopic ellipsometry and IR dichroism. We find that molecular orientation is controlled by the ratio of the substrate temperature during deposition and the glassmore » transition temperature of the mixture. Furthermore, these findings extend recent results for single component vapor-deposited glasses and suggest that, during vapor deposition, surface mobility allows partial equilibration towards orientations preferred at the free surface of the equilibrium liquid.« less

Homogeneous transparent conductive ZnO:Ga by ALD for large LED wafers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szabó, Zoltán; Baji, Zsófia; Basa, Péter; Czigány, Zsolt; Bársony, István; Wang, Hsin-Ying; Volk, János

2016-08-01

Highly conductive and uniform Ga doped ZnO (GZO) films were prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) as transparent conductive layers for InGaN/GaN LEDs. The optimal Ga doping concentration was found to be 3 at%. Even for 4" wafers, the TCO layer shows excellent homogeneity of film resistivity (0.8 %) according to Eddy current and spectroscopic ellipsometry mapping. This makes ALD a favourable technique over concurrent methods like MBE and PLD where the up-scaling is problematic. In agreement with previous studies, it was found that by an annealing treatment the quality of the GZO/p-GaN interface can be improved, although it causes the degradation of TCO conductivity. Therefore, a two-step ALD deposition technique was proposed and demonstrated: a "buffer layer" deposited and annealed first was followed by a second deposition step to maintain the high conductivity of the top layer.

Parallel Polarization State Generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

She, Alan; Capasso, Federico

2016-05-01

The control of polarization, an essential property of light, is of wide scientific and technological interest. The general problem of generating arbitrary time-varying states of polarization (SOP) has always been mathematically formulated by a series of linear transformations, i.e. a product of matrices, imposing a serial architecture. Here we show a parallel architecture described by a sum of matrices. The theory is experimentally demonstrated by modulating spatially-separated polarization components of a laser using a digital micromirror device that are subsequently beam combined. This method greatly expands the parameter space for engineering devices that control polarization. Consequently, performance characteristics, such as speed, stability, and spectral range, are entirely dictated by the technologies of optical intensity modulation, including absorption, reflection, emission, and scattering. This opens up important prospects for polarization state generation (PSG) with unique performance characteristics with applications in spectroscopic ellipsometry, spectropolarimetry, communications, imaging, and security.

Oxygen Passivation Mediated Tunability of Trion and Excitons in MoS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gogoi, Pranjal Kumar; Hu, Zhenliang; Wang, Qixing; Carvalho, Alexandra; Schmidt, Daniel; Yin, Xinmao; Chang, Yung-Huang; Li, Lain-Jong; Sow, Chorng Haur; Neto, A. H. Castro; Breese, Mark B. H.; Rusydi, Andrivo; Wee, Andrew T. S.

2017-08-01

Using wide spectral range in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry with systematic ultrahigh vacuum annealing and in situ exposure to oxygen, we report the complex dielectric function of MoS2 isolating the environmental effects and revealing the crucial role of unpassivated and passivated sulphur vacancies. The spectral weights of the A (1.92 eV) and B (2.02 eV) exciton peaks in the dielectric function reduce significantly upon annealing, accompanied by spectral weight transfer in a broad energy range. Interestingly, the original spectral weights are recovered upon controlled oxygen exposure. This tunability of the excitonic effects is likely due to passivation and reemergence of the gap states in the band structure during oxygen adsorption and desorption, respectively, as indicated by ab initio density functional theory calculation results. This Letter unravels and emphasizes the important role of adsorbed oxygen in the optical spectra and many-body interactions of MoS2 .

Structure and optical band gaps of (Ba,Sr)SnO{sub 3} films grown by molecular beam epitaxy

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

Schumann, Timo; Raghavan, Santosh; Ahadi, Kaveh

2016-09-15

Epitaxial growth of (Ba{sub x}Sr{sub 1−x})SnO{sub 3} films with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 using molecular beam epitaxy is reported. It is shown that SrSnO{sub 3} films can be grown coherently strained on closely lattice and symmetry matched PrScO{sub 3} substrates. The evolution of the optical band gap as a function of composition is determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The direct band gap monotonously decreases with x from to 4.46 eV (x = 0) to 3.36 eV (x = 1). A large Burnstein-Moss shift is observed with La-doping of BaSnO{sub 3} films. The shift corresponds approximately to the increase in Fermi level and is consistent with the low conduction band mass.

Importance of Electronic Correlations and Unusual Excitonic Effects in Formamidinium Lead Halide Perovskites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitcher, T. J.; Zhu, J.-X.; Chi, X.; Hu, H.; Zhao, Daming; Asmara, T. C.; Yu, X.; Breese, M. B. H.; Castro Neto, A. H.; Lam, Y. M.; Wee, A. T. S.; Chia, Elbert E. M.; Rusydi, A.

2018-04-01

Hybrid inorganic-organic perovskites have recently attracted much interest because of both rich fundamental sciences and potential applications such as the primary energy-harvesting material in solar cells. However, an understanding of electronic and optical properties, particularly the complex dielectric function, of these materials is still lacking. Here, we report on the electronic and optical properties of selective perovskites using temperature-dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray absorption spectroscopy supported by first-principles calculations. Surprisingly, the perovskite FA0.85Cs0.15PbI2.9Br0.1 has a very high density of low-energy excitons that increases with increasing temperature even at room temperature, which is not seen in any other material. This is found to be due to the strong, unscreened electron-electron and partially screened electron-hole interactions, which then tightly connect low- and high-energy bands caused by doping.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the electronic band structure of metal-organic frameworks of HKUST-1 type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Zhi-Gang; Heinke, Lars; Wöll, Christof; Neumann, Tobias; Wenzel, Wolfgang; Li, Qiang; Fink, Karin; Gordan, Ovidiu D.; Zahn, Dietrich R. T.

2015-11-01

The electronic properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are increasingly attracting the attention due to potential applications in sensor techniques and (micro-) electronic engineering, for instance, as low-k-dielectric in semiconductor technology. Here, the band gap and the band structure of MOFs of type HKUST-1 are studied in detail by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry applied to thin surface-mounted MOF films and by means of quantum chemical calculations. The analysis of the density of states, the band structure, and the excitation spectrum reveal the importance of the empty Cu-3d orbitals for the electronic properties of HKUST-1. This study shows that, in contrast to common belief, even in the case of this fairly "simple" MOF, the excitation spectra cannot be explained by a superposition of "intra-unit" excitations within the individual building blocks. Instead, "inter-unit" excitations also have to be considered.

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

Beran, L.; Cejpek, P.; Kulda, M.

Optical and magneto-optical properties of single crystal of Ni{sub 50.1}Mn{sub 28.4}Ga{sub 21.5} magnetic shape memory alloy during its transformation from martensite to austenite phase were systematically studied. Crystal orientation was approximately along (100) planes of parent cubic austenite. X-ray reciprocal mapping confirmed modulated 10 M martensite phase. Temperature depended measurements of saturation magnetization revealed the martensitic transformation at 335 K during heating. Magneto-optical spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry were measured in the sample temperature range from 297 to 373 K and photon energy range from 1.2 to 6.5 eV. Magneto-optical spectra of polar Kerr rotation as well as the spectra of ellipsometric parameter Ψ exhibitedmore » significant changes when crossing the transformation temperature. These changes were assigned to different optical properties of Ni-Mn-Ga in martensite and austenite phases due to modification of electronic structure near the Fermi energy during martensitic transformation.« less

Optical, compositional and structural properties of pulsed laser deposited nitrogen-doped Titanium-dioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farkas, B.; Heszler, P.; Budai, J.; Oszkó, A.; Ottosson, M.; Geretovszky, Zs.

2018-03-01

N-doped TiO2 thin films were prepared using pulsed laser deposition by ablating metallic Ti target with pulses of 248 nm wavelength, at 330 °C substrate temperature in reactive atmospheres of N2/O2 gas mixtures. These films were characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Optical properties are presented as a function of the N2 content in the processing gas mixture and correlated to nitrogen incorporation into the deposited layers. The optical band gap values decreased with increasing N concentration in the films, while a monotonically increasing tendency and a maximum can be observed in case of extinction coefficient and refractive index, respectively. It is also shown that the amount of substitutional N can be increased up to 7.7 at.%, but the higher dopant concentration inhibits the crystallization of the samples.

Study of surfaces using near infrared optical fiber spectrometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Workman, G. L.; Arendale, W. A.; Hughes, C.

1995-01-01

The measurement and control of cleanliness for critical surfaces during manufacturing and in service provides a unique challenge for fulfillment of environmentally benign operations. Of particular interest has been work performed in maintaining quality in the production of bondline surfaces in propulsion systems and the identification of possible contaminants. This work requires an in-depth study of the possible sources of contamination, methodologies to identify contaminants, discrimination between contaminants and chemical species caused by environment, and the effect of particular contaminants on the bondline integrity of the critical surfaces. This presentation will provide an introduction to the use of optical fiber spectrometry in a nondestructive measurement system for process monitoring and how it can be used to help clarify issues concerning surface chemistry. Correlation of the Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopic results with Optical Stimulated Electron Emission (OSEE) and ellipsometry will also be presented.

Near-Simultaneous Spectroscopic and Broadband Polarimetric Observations of Be Stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghosh, K.; Iyengar, K. V. K.; Ramsey, B. D.; Austin, R. A.

1999-01-01

Near simultaneous optical spectroscopic (on four nights) and broadband linear continuum (B, V, R, and I bands) polarimetric (on seven nights) observations of 29 Be stars were carried out during 1993 November-December. The program Be stars displayed wavelength dependence of intrinsic polarizations with no frequency dependence of polarimetric position angles. Some of the Be stars displayed long-term polarization variability. The Be and Be-shell stars could not be distinguished from one another solely on the basis of their polarization values. Full widths at half-maximum of the H.alpha profiles and the intrinsic linear continuum polarizations are closely correlated with the projected rotational velocities of the program stars. Photospheric-absorption-corrected equivalent widths of H.alpha profiles [W(alpha)] and the radii of H.alpha-emitting or -absorbing envelopes (R(sub e) or R(sub a)) are nonlinearly correlated with the intrinsic continuum polarizations of these stars. However, W(alpha) and R(sub e) are linearly correlated. With large uncertainties, there is a trend of spectral dependence of polarization. Detailed discussion of these results is presented in this paper.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry for analysis of polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic devices and prediction of external quantum efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibdah, Abdel-Rahman; Koirala, Prakash; Aryal, Puruswottam; Pradhan, Puja; Marsillac, Sylvain; Rockett, Angus A.; Podraza, Nikolas J.; Collins, Robert W.

2017-11-01

Complete polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic (PV) devices employing CuIn1-xGaxSe2/CdS and CdS/CdTe heterojunctions have been studied by ex situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). In this study, layer thicknesses have been extracted along with photon energy independent parameters such as compositions that describe the dielectric function spectra ε(E) of the individual layers. For accurate ex situ SE analysis of these PV devices, a database of ε(E) spectra is required for all thin film component materials used in each of the two absorber technologies. When possible, database measurements are performed by applying SE in situ immediately after deposition of the thin film materials and after cooling to room temperature in order to avoid oxidation and surface contamination. Determination of ε(E) from the resulting in situ SE data requires structural information that can be obtained from analysis of SE data acquired in real time during the deposition process. From the results of ex situ analysis of the complete CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) and CdTe PV devices, the deduced layer thicknesses in combination with the parameters describing ε(E) can be employed in further studies that simulate the external quantum efficiency (EQE) spectra of the devices. These simulations have been performed here by assuming that all electron-hole pairs generated within the active layers, i.e. layers incorporating a dominant absorber component (either CIGS or CdTe), are separated and collected. The active layers may include not only the bulk absorber but also window and back contact interface layers, and individual current contributions from these layers have been determined in the simulations. In addition, the ex situ SE analysis results enable calculation of the absorbance spectra for the inactive layers and the overall reflectance spectra, which lead to quantification of all optical losses in terms of a current density deficit. Mapping SE can be performed given the high speed of multichannel ellipsometers employing array detection, and the resulting EQE simulation capability has wide applications in predicting large area PV module output. The ultimate goal is an on-line capability that enables prediction of PV sub-cell current output as early as possible in the production process.

Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Analysis of First Stage CuIn1−xGaxSe2 Growth: Indium-Gallium Selenide Co-Evaporation

PubMed Central

Pradhan, Puja; Aryal, Puruswottam; Attygalle, Dinesh; Ibdah, Abdel-Rahman; Koirala, Prakash; Li, Jian; Bhandari, Khagendra P.; Liyanage, Geethika K.; Ellingson, Randy J.; Heben, Michael J.; Marsillac, Sylvain; Collins, Robert W.; Podraza, Nikolas J.

2018-01-01

Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) has been applied for in-situ monitoring of the first stage of copper indium-gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin film deposition by the three-stage co-evaporation process used for fabrication of high efficiency thin film photovoltaic (PV) devices. The first stage entails the growth of indium-gallium selenide (In1−xGax)2Se3 (IGS) on a substrate of Mo-coated soda lime glass maintained at a temperature of 400 °C. This is a critical stage of CIGS deposition because a large fraction of the final film thickness is deposited, and as a result precise compositional control is desired in order to achieve the optimum performance of the resulting CIGS solar cell. RTSE is sensitive to monolayer level film growth processes and can provide accurate measurements of bulk and surface roughness layer thicknesses. These in turn enable accurate measurements of the bulk layer optical response in the form of the complex dielectric function ε = ε1 − iε2, spectra. Here, RTSE has been used to obtain the (ε1, ε2) spectra at the measurement temperature of 400 °C for IGS thin films of different Ga contents (x) deduced from different ranges of accumulated bulk layer thickness during the deposition process. Applying an analytical expression in common for each of the (ε1, ε2) spectra of these IGS films, oscillator parameters have been obtained in the best fits and these parameters in turn have been fitted with polynomials in x. From the resulting database of polynomial coefficients, the (ε1, ε2) spectra can be generated for any composition of IGS from the single parameter, x. The results have served as an RTSE fingerprint for IGS composition and have provided further structural information beyond simply thicknesses, for example information related to film density and grain size. The deduced IGS structural evolution and the (ε1, ε2) spectra have been interpreted as well in relation to observations from scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy profiling analyses. Overall the structural, optical and compositional analysis possible by RTSE has assisted in understanding the growth and properties of three stage CIGS absorbers for solar cells and shows future promise for enhancing cell performance through monitoring and control. PMID:29337931

Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Analysis of First Stage CuIn1-xGaxSe₂ Growth: Indium-Gallium Selenide Co-Evaporation.

PubMed

Pradhan, Puja; Aryal, Puruswottam; Attygalle, Dinesh; Ibdah, Abdel-Rahman; Koirala, Prakash; Li, Jian; Bhandari, Khagendra P; Liyanage, Geethika K; Ellingson, Randy J; Heben, Michael J; Marsillac, Sylvain; Collins, Robert W; Podraza, Nikolas J

2018-01-16

Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) has been applied for in-situ monitoring of the first stage of copper indium-gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin film deposition by the three-stage co-evaporation process used for fabrication of high efficiency thin film photovoltaic (PV) devices. The first stage entails the growth of indium-gallium selenide (In 1- x Ga x )₂Se₃ (IGS) on a substrate of Mo-coated soda lime glass maintained at a temperature of 400 °C. This is a critical stage of CIGS deposition because a large fraction of the final film thickness is deposited, and as a result precise compositional control is desired in order to achieve the optimum performance of the resulting CIGS solar cell. RTSE is sensitive to monolayer level film growth processes and can provide accurate measurements of bulk and surface roughness layer thicknesses. These in turn enable accurate measurements of the bulk layer optical response in the form of the complex dielectric function ε = ε₁ - iε₂, spectra. Here, RTSE has been used to obtain the (ε₁, ε₂) spectra at the measurement temperature of 400 °C for IGS thin films of different Ga contents ( x ) deduced from different ranges of accumulated bulk layer thickness during the deposition process. Applying an analytical expression in common for each of the (ε₁, ε₂) spectra of these IGS films, oscillator parameters have been obtained in the best fits and these parameters in turn have been fitted with polynomials in x . From the resulting database of polynomial coefficients, the (ε₁, ε₂) spectra can be generated for any composition of IGS from the single parameter, x . The results have served as an RTSE fingerprint for IGS composition and have provided further structural information beyond simply thicknesses, for example information related to film density and grain size. The deduced IGS structural evolution and the (ε₁, ε₂) spectra have been interpreted as well in relation to observations from scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy profiling analyses. Overall the structural, optical and compositional analysis possible by RTSE has assisted in understanding the growth and properties of three stage CIGS absorbers for solar cells and shows future promise for enhancing cell performance through monitoring and control.

Spectroscopic ellipsometer based on direct measurement of polarization ellipticity.

PubMed

Watkins, Lionel R

2011-06-20

A polarizer-sample-Wollaston prism analyzer ellipsometer is described in which the ellipsometric angles ψ and Δ are determined by direct measurement of the elliptically polarized light reflected from the sample. With the Wollaston prism initially set to transmit p- and s-polarized light, the azimuthal angle P of the polarizer is adjusted until the two beams have equal intensity. This condition yields ψ=±P and ensures that the reflected elliptically polarized light has an azimuthal angle of ±45° and maximum ellipticity. Rotating the Wollaston prism through 45° and adjusting the analyzer azimuth until the two beams again have equal intensity yields the ellipticity that allows Δ to be determined via a simple linear relationship. The errors produced by nonideal components are analyzed. We show that the polarizer dominates these errors but that for most practical purposes, the error in ψ is negligible and the error in Δ may be corrected exactly. A native oxide layer on a silicon substrate was measured at a single wavelength and multiple angles of incidence and spectroscopically at a single angle of incidence. The best fit film thicknesses obtained were in excellent agreement with those determined using a traditional null ellipsometer.

Experimental studies of contact angle hysteresis phenomena on polymer surfaces – Toward the understanding and control of wettability for different applications.

PubMed

Grundke, K; Pöschel, K; Synytska, A; Frenzel, R; Drechsler, A; Nitschke, M; Cordeiro, A L; Uhlmann, P; Welzel, P B

2015-08-01

Contact angle hysteresis phenomena on polymer surfaces have been studied by contact angle measurements using sessile liquid droplets and captive air bubbles in conjunction with a drop shape method known as Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis - Profile (ADSA-P). In addition, commercially available sessile drop goniometer techniques were used. The polymer surfaces were characterized with respect to their surface structure (morphology, roughness, swelling) and surface chemistry (elemental surface composition, acid-base characteristics) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning force microscopy (SFM), ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and streaming potential measurements. Heterogeneous polymer surfaces with controlled roughness and chemical composition were prepared by different routes using plasma etching and subsequent dip coating or grafting of polymer brushes, anodic oxidation of aluminium substrates coated with thin polymer films, deposition techniques to create regular patterned and rough fractal surfaces from core-shell particles, and block copolymers. To reveal the effects of swelling and reorientation at the solid/liquid interface contact angle hysteresis phenomena on polyimide surfaces, cellulose membranes, and thermo-responsive hydrogels have been studied. The effect of different solutes in the liquid (electrolytes, surfactants) and their impact on contact angle hysteresis were characterized for solid polymers without and with ionizable functional surface groups in aqueous electrolyte solutions of different ion concentrations and pH and for photoresist surfaces in cationic aqueous surfactant solutions. The work is an attempt toward the understanding of contact angle hysteresis phenomena on polymer surfaces aimed at the control of wettability for different applications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Single-crystal Brillouin spectroscopy with CO{sub 2} laser heating and variable q

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

Zhang, Jin S.; Bass, Jay D.; Zhu, Gaohua

2015-06-15

We describe a Brillouin spectroscopy system integrated with CO{sub 2} laser-heating and Raman spectroscopic capabilities. Temperature is determined by measurements of the grey-body thermal radiation emitted by the hot sample, with the system response calibrated relative to a standard tungsten ribbon lamp. High-pressure laser-heating Brillouin scattering measurements of acoustic velocities on liquid water and ice compressed in a diamond-anvil cell were performed at temperatures up to 2500 ± 150 K at high pressure. Single-crystal laser-heating Brillouin measurements were made on the (111) plane of San Carlos olivine at ∼13 GPa, 1300 ± 200 K. The pressure as measured by rubymore » fluorescence is shown to be within ±0.5 GPa of the pressure on the olivine sample during laser heating when KCl and KBr are used as pressure-transmitting media. In addition, the system is designed for continuously variable scattering angles from forward scattering (near 0° scattering angle) up to near back scattering (∼141°). This novel setup allows us to probe a wide range of wave vectors q for investigation of phonon dispersion on, for example, crystals with large unit cells (on the scale of hundreds of nm)« less

Dynamic refractometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curley, Michael J. (Inventor); Sarkisov, Sergey S. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A refractometer computer controls the rotation of a rotary plate upon which are mounted a prism optically coupled via an optical window to a spectroscopic cell holding a resin exhibiting a dynamic refractive index during photocuring. The computer system positions the prism and spectroscopic cell relative to a visible light laser which illuminates the prism-resin interface at selected incidence angles. A photodetector mounted on the plate generates a signal to the computer proportional to intensity of an internally reflected light beam. A curing light is selectively transmitted through the prism and into the photocurable resin. The refractometer determines the intensity of the internally reflected beam a selected incidence angles and determines the effective refractive index curve of the resin at an uncured state and, optionally, at a completely cured state. Next, an amount of uncured resin and selected optical components to be joined by the resin is placed in the spectroscopic cell and irradiated with the UV light. The refractometer is fixed at a selected incidence angle and measures the intensity of an internally reflected light beam of light throughout the cure cycle. The refractometer determines the resin's refractive index of the polymeric mixture by means of extrapolation of a horizontal shift in the effective refractive index curve of the resin from an uncured state to a selected point in the cure cycle.

Electrografting of alkyl films at low driving force by diverting the reactivity of aryl radicals derived from diazonium salts.

PubMed

Hetemi, Dardan; Kanoufi, Frédéric; Combellas, Catherine; Pinson, Jean; Podvorica, Fetah I

2014-11-25

Alkyl and partial perfluoroalkyl groups are strongly attached to carbon surfaces through (i) the abstraction of the iodine atom from an iodoalkane by the sterically hindered 2,6-dimethylphenyl radical and (ii) the reaction of the ensuing alkyl radical with the carbon surface. Since the 2,6-dimethylphenyl radical is obtained at -0.25 V/Ag/AgCl by reducing the corresponding diazonium salt, the electrografting reaction is facilitated by ∼1.7 V by comparison with the direct electrografting of the iodo compounds. Layers of various thicknesses, including monolayers, are obtained by controlling the time duration of the electrolysis. The grafted films are characterized by electrochemistry, IR, XPS, ellipsometry, and water contact angles.

Oxygen termination of homoepitaxial diamond surface by ozone and chemical methods: An experimental and theoretical perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navas, Javier; Araujo, Daniel; Piñero, José Carlos; Sánchez-Coronilla, Antonio; Blanco, Eduardo; Villar, Pilar; Alcántara, Rodrigo; Montserrat, Josep; Florentin, Matthieu; Eon, David; Pernot, Julien

2018-03-01

Phenomena related with the diamond surface of both power electronic and biosensor devices govern their global behaviour. In particular H- or O-terminations lead to wide variations in their characteristics. To study the origins of such aspects in greater depth, different methods to achieve oxygen terminated diamond were investigated following a multi-technique approach. DFT calculations were then performed to understand the different configurations between the C and O atoms. Three methods for O-terminating the diamond surface were performed: two physical methods with ozone at different pressures, and an acid chemical treatment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, HRTEM, and EELS were used to characterize the oxygenated surface. Periodic-DFT calculations were undertaken to understand the effect of the different ways in which the oxygen atoms are bonded to carbon atoms on the diamond surface. XPS results showed the presence of hydroxyl or ether groups, composed of simple Csbnd O bonds, and the acid treatment resulted in the highest amount of O on the diamond surface. In turn, ellipsometry showed that the different treatments led to the surface having different optical properties, such as a greater refraction index and extinction coefficient in the case of the sample subjected to acid treatment. TEM analysis showed that applying temperature treatment improved the distribution of the oxygen atoms at the interface and that this generates a thinner amount of oxygen at each position and higher interfacial coverage. Finally, DFT calculations showed both an increase in the number of preferential electron transport pathways when π bonds and ether groups appear in the system, and also the presence of states in the middle of the band gap when there are π bonds, Cdbnd C or Cdbnd O.

Optical characterization of Mg-doped ZnO thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering technique

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

Singh, Satyendra Kumar; Tripathi, Shweta; Hazra, Purnima

2016-05-06

This paper reports the in-depth analysis on optical characteristics of magnesium (Mg) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films grown on p-silicon (Si) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering technique. The variable angle ellipsometer is used for the optical characterization of as-deposited thin films. The optical reflectance, transmission spectra and thickness of as-deposited thin films are measured in the spectral range of 300-800 nm with the help of the spectroscopic ellipsometer. The effect of Mg-doping on optical parameters such as optical bandgap, absorption coefficient, absorbance, extinction coefficient, refractive Index and dielectric constant for as-deposited thin films are extracted to show its application inmore » optoelectronic and photonic devices.« less

A spectroscopic ellispometric study of the tunability of the optical constants and thickness of GeO{sub x} films with swift heavy ions

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

Vijayarangamuthu, K.; Singh, Chaman; Rath, Shyama

2011-09-15

Sub-stoichiometric GeO{sub x} films were fabricated by electron-beam evaporation method. The films were irradiated with 100 MeV Ag{sup 7+} ions at fluences between 1 x 10{sup 12} and 1 x 10{sup 14} ions-cm{sup -2}. Spectroscopic ellipsometric measurements were performed in air at room temperature. The values of the layer thickness and refractive index were extracted from ellipsometry using a multilayer analysis and the Tauc Lorentz model. The refractive index (at 633 nm) of the as-deposited GeO{sub x} film was estimated to be 1.860 and decreased to 1.823 for films irradiated at an ion fluence of 1 x 10{sup 14} ions-cm{supmore » -2}. The thickness of the films also decreased after irradiation and is due to a sputtering induced by the ion beam. The change in the refractive index with ion fluence is attributed to a stoichiometric change and structural transformation represented by GeO{sub x}{yields} Ge + GeO{sub y} (y > x) occurring due to a thermal spike induced by ion irradiation. Swift heavy ions thus provide a scope for modulating the refractive index of GeO{sub x} films. The thickness and stoichiometric changes are supported by Rutherford backscattering measurements.« less

Spectroscopic and microscopic investigation of MBE-grown CdTe (211)B epitaxial thin films on GaAs (211)B substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Özden, Selin; Koc, Mumin Mehmet

2018-03-01

CdTe epitaxial thin films, for use as a buffer layer for HgCdTe defectors, were grown on GaAs (211)B using the molecular beam epitaxy method. Wet chemical etching (Everson method) was applied to the epitaxial films using various concentrations and application times to quantify the crystal quality and dislocation density. Surface characterization of the epitaxial films was achieved using Atomic force microscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after each treatment. The Energy Dispersive X-Ray apparatus of SEM was used to characterize the chemical composition. Untreated CdTe films show smooth surface characteristics with root mean square (RMS) roughnesses of 1.18-3.89 nm. The thicknesses of the CdTe layers formed were calculated via FTIR spectrometry and obtained by ex situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. Raman spectra were obtained for various temperatures. Etch pit densities (EPD) were measured, from which it could be seen that EPD changes between 1.7 × 108 and 9.2 × 108 cm-2 depending on the concentration of the Everson etch solution and treatment time. Structure, shape and depth of pits resulting from each etch pit implementation were also evaluated. Pit widths varying between 0.15 and 0.71 µm with heights varying between 2 and 80 nm were observed. RMS roughness was found to vary by anything from 1.56 to 26 nm.

New polarimetric and spectroscopic evidence of anomalous enrichment in spinel-bearing calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions among L-type asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devogèle, M.; Tanga, P.; Cellino, A.; Bendjoya, Ph.; Rivet, J.-P.; Surdej, J.; Vernet, D.; Sunshine, J. M.; Bus, S. J.; Abe, L.; Bagnulo, S.; Borisov, G.; Campins, H.; Carry, B.; Licandro, J.; McLean, W.; Pinilla-Alonso, N.

2018-04-01

Asteroids can be classified into several groups based on their spectral reflectance. Among these groups, the one belonging to the L-class in the taxonomic classification based on visible and near-infrared spectra exhibit several peculiar properties. First, their near-infrared spectrum is characterized by a strong absorption band interpreted as the diagnostic of a high content of the FeO bearing spinel mineral. This mineral is one of the main constituents of Calcium-Aluminum-rich Inclusions (CAI) the oldest mineral compounds found in the solar system. In polarimetry, they possess an uncommonly large value of the inversion angle incompatible with all known asteroid belonging to other taxonomical classes. Asteroids found to possess such a high inversion angle are commonly called Barbarians based on the first asteroid on which this property was first identified, (234) Barbara. In this paper we present the results of an extensive campaign of polarimetric and spectroscopic observations of L-class objects. We have derived phase-polarization curves for a sample of 7 Barbarians, finding a variety of inversion angles ranging between 25 and 30°. Spectral reflectance data exhibit variations in terms of spectral slope and absorption features in the near-infrared. We analyzed these data using a Hapke model to obtain some inferences about the relative abundance of CAI and other mineral compounds. By combining spectroscopic and polarimetric results, we find evidence that the polarimetric inversion angle is directly correlated with the presence of CAI, and the peculiar polarimetric properties of Barbarians are primarily a consequence of their anomalous composition.

Characterization and reactivity of organic monolayers on gold and platinum surfaces

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

Wu, Chien-Ching

1995-12-06

Purpose is to understand how the mobilization, dielectric, orientation, composition, coverage, and structure of self-assembled organic monolayers on metal surfaces affects the surface reactivities and properties of these films in order to facilitate the construction of desired films. Two model systems were used: tiols at Au and aromatic acids at Pt. Surface analysis methods, including contact angle, electrochemistry, ellipsometry, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), and x-ray photospectroscopy, were used to study the self-assembled organic monolayers on Au and Pt. IRRAS, contact angle, and electrochemistry were used to determine the surface pK a of phenylcarboxylic acids and pyridylcarboxylic acids monolayers onmore » Pt. These techniques were also used to determine the orientation of polymethylene chain axis and the carboxylic follow the structural evolution of the chains and end group of the thiolate monolayers during formation. IRRAS was also used to assess the carboxylic acid group in terms of its possible existence as the non-hydrogen-bonded species, the hydrogen-bonded dimeric group, and the hydrogen-bonded polymeric group. These different forms of the end group were also followed vs coverage, as well as the reactivity vs solution pH. IRRAS and contact angle were used to calculate the rate constant of the esterification of carboxylic acid-terminated monolayers on Au.« less

Ellipsometry of single-layer antireflection coatings on transparent substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azzam, R. M. A.

2017-11-01

The complex reflection coefficients of p- and s-polarized light and ellipsometric parameters of a transparent substrate of refractive index n2, which is coated by a transparent thin film whose refractive index n1 =√{n2 } satisfies the anti-reflection condition at normal incidence, are considered as functions of film thickness d and angle of incidence ϕ. A unique coated surface, with n1 =√{n2 } and film thickness d equal to half of the film-thickness period Dϕ at angle ϕ and wavelength λ, reflects light of the same wavelength without change of polarization for all incident polarization states. (The reflection Jones matrix of such coated surface is the 2 × 2 identity matrix pre-multiplied by a scalar, hence tanΨ = 1,Δ = 0.) To monitor the deposition of an antireflection coating, the normalized Stokes parameters of obliquely reflected light (e.g. at ϕ =70∘) are measured until predetermined target values of those parameters are detected. This provides a more accurate means of film thickness control than is possible using a micro-balance technique or an intensity reflectance method.

Synthesis, characterization, and relative stabilities of self-assembled monolayers on gold generated from bidentate n-alkyl xanthic acids.

PubMed

Moore, H Justin; Colorado, Ramon; Lee, Han Ju; Jamison, Andrew C; Lee, T Randall

2013-08-27

A series of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold were generated by the adsorption of n-alkyl xanthic acids (NAXAs) having the general formula CH3(CH2)nOCS2H (n = 12-15). The structural features of these SAMs were characterized by optical ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This series of xanthate SAMs were compared to SAMs generated from the corresponding n-alkanethiols and aliphatic dithiocarboxylic acids (ADTCAs). The collected data indicate that the NAXAs generate densely packed and well-ordered monolayers. The contact angles of hexadecane on the xanthate monolayers exhibited a large "odd-even" effect similar to that produced by the ADTCA SAMs. The relative stability of these bidentate xanthate SAMs was evaluated by monitoring the changes in ellipsometric thicknesses and wettability as a function of time under various conditions. The results demonstrate that SAMs formed from NAXAs are much less stable than analogous n-alkanethiolate and ADTCA SAMs.

Self-assembled monolayers of alkyl-thiols on InAs: A Kelvin probe force microscopy study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szwajca, A.; Wei, J.; Schukfeh, M. I.; Tornow, M.

2015-03-01

We report on the preparation and characterization of self-assembled monolayers from aliphatic thiols with different chain length and termination on InAs (100) planar surfaces. This included as first step the development and investigation of a thorough chemical InAs surface preparation step using a dedicated bromine/NH4OH-based etching process. Ellipsometry, contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicated the formation of smooth, surface conforming monolayers. The molecular tilt angles were obtained as 30 ± 10° with respect to the surface normal. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurements in hand with Parameterized Model number 5 (PM5) calculations of the involved molecular dipoles allowed for an estimation of the molecular packing densities on the surface. We obtained values of up to n = 1014 cm- 2 for the SAMs under study. These are close to what is predicted from a simple geometrical model that would calculate a maximum density of about n = 2.7 × 1014 cm- 2. We take this as additional conformation of the substrate smoothness and quality of our InAs-SAM hybrid layer systems.

POLARIZATION MODULATION FROM LENSE–THIRRING PRECESSION IN X-RAY BINARIES

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

Ingram, Adam; Maccarone, Thomas J.; Poutanen, Juri

2015-07-01

It has long been recognized that quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the X-ray light curves of accreting black hole and neutron star binaries have the potential to be powerful diagnostics of strong field gravity. However, this potential cannot be fulfilled without a working theoretical model, which has remained elusive. Perhaps, the most promising model associates the QPO with Lense–Thirring precession of the inner accretion flow, with the changes in viewing angle and Doppler boosting modulating the flux over the course of a precession cycle. Here, we consider the polarization signature of a precessing inner accretion flow. We use simple assumptions about themore » Comptonization process generating the emitted spectrum and take all relativistic effects into account, parallel transporting polarization vectors toward the observer along null geodesics in the Kerr metric. We find that both the degree of linear polarization and the polarization angle should be modulated on the QPO frequency. We calculate the predicted absolute rms variability amplitude of the polarization degree and angle for a specific model geometry. We find that it should be possible to detect these modulations for a reasonable fraction of parameter space with a future X-ray polarimeter such as NASA’s Polarization Spectroscopic Telescope Array (the satellite incarnation of the balloon experiment X-Calibur)« less

Ellipsometry with polarisation analysis at cryogenic temperatures inside a vacuum chamber

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

Bauer, S.; Grees, B.; Spitzer, D.

2013-12-15

In this paper we describe a new variant of null ellipsometry to determine thicknesses and optical properties of thin films on a substrate at cryogenic temperatures. In the PCSA arrangement of ellipsometry the polarizer and the compensator are placed before the substrate and the analyzer after it. Usually, in the null ellipsometry the polarizer and the analyzer are rotated to find the searched minimum in intensity. In our variant we rotate the polarizer and the compensator instead, both being placed in the incoming beam before the substrate. Therefore the polarisation analysis of the reflected beam can be realized by anmore » analyzer at fixed orientation. We developed this method for investigations of thin cryogenic films inside a vacuum chamber where the analyzer and detector had to be placed inside the cold shield at a temperature of T≈ 90 K close to the substrate. All other optical components were installed at the incoming beam line outside the vacuum chamber, including all components which need to be rotated during the measurements. Our null ellipsometry variant has been tested with condensed krypton films on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrate (HOPG) at a temperature of T≈ 25 K. We show that it is possible to determine the indices of refraction of condensed krypton and of the HOPG substrate as well as thickness of krypton films with reasonable accuracy.« less

Study of the composition, structure, and optical properties of a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x}:H Left-Pointing-Angle-Bracket Er Right-Pointing-Angle-Bracket films erbium doped from the Er(pd){sub 3} complex compound

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

Kudoyarova, V. Kh., E-mail: kudoyarova@mail.ioffe.ru; Tolmachev, V. A.; Gushchina, E. V.

2013-03-15

Rutherford backscattering, IR spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and atomic-force microscopy are used to perform an integrated study of the composition, structure and optical properties of a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x}:H Left-Pointing-Angle-Bracket Er Right-Pointing-Angle-Bracket amorphous films. The technique employed to obtain the a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x}:H Left-Pointing-Angle-Bracket Er Right-Pointing-Angle-Bracket amorphous films includes the high-frequency decomposition of a mixture of gases, (SiH{sub 4}){sub a} + (CH{sub 4}){sub b}, and the simultaneous thermal evaporation of a complex compound, Er(pd){sub 3}. It is demonstrated that raising the amount of CH{sub 4} in the gas mixture results in an increase in the carbon content of the films under study andmore » an increase in the optical gap E{sub g}{sup opt} from 1.75 to 2.2 eV. Changes in the composition of a-Si{sub 1-x}C{sub x}:H Left-Pointing-Angle-Bracket Er Right-Pointing-Angle-Bracket amorphous films, accompanied, in turn, by changes in the optical constants, are observed in the IR spectra. The ellipsometric spectra obtained are analyzed in terms of multiple-parameter models. The conclusion is made on the basis of this analysis that the experimental and calculated spectra coincide well when variation in the composition of the amorphous films with that of the gas mixture is taken into account. The existence of a thin (6-8 nm) silicon-oxide layer on the surface of the films under study and the validity of using the double-layer model in ellipsometric calculations is confirmed by the results of structural analyses by atomic-force microscopy.« less

Amorphous TiO 2 Compact Layers via ALD for Planar Halide Perovskite Photovoltaics

DOE PAGES

Kim, In Soo; Haasch, Richard T.; Cao, Duyen H.; ...

2016-09-06

A low temperature (< 120 °C) route to pinhole-free amorphous TiO 2 compact layers may pave the way to more efficient, flexible, and stable inverted perovskite halide device designs. Toward this end, we utilize low-temperature thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) to synthesize ultra-thin (12 nm) compact TiO 2 underlayers for planar halide perovskite PV. While device performance with as-deposited TiO 2 films is poor, we identify room temperature UV-O 3 treatment as a route to device efficiency comparable to crystalline TiO 2 thin films synthesized by higher temperature methods. Here, we further explore the chemical, physical, and interfacial properties 2more » that might explain the improved performance through x-ray diffraction, spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These findings challenge our intuition about effective electron selective layers as well as point the way to a greater selection of flexible substrates and more stable inverted device designs.« less

Size-selective breaking of the core-shell structure of gallium nanoparticles.

PubMed

Catalán Gómez, Sergio; Redondo-Cubero, Andres; Palomares Simon, Francisco Javier; Vazquez Burgos, Luis; Nogales, Emilio; Nucciarelli, Flavio; Mendez, Bianchi; Gordillo, Nuria; Pau, Jose Luis

2018-06-11

Core-shell gallium nanoparticles (Ga NPs) have recently been proposed as an ultraviolet plasmonic material for different applications but only at room temperature. Here, the thermal stability as a function of the size of the NPs is reported over a wide range of temperatures. We analyse the chemical and structural properties of the oxide shell by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate the inverse dependence of the shell breaking temperature with the size of the NPs. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is used for tracking the rupture and its mechanism is systematically investigated by scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and cathodoluminescence. Taking advantage of the thermal stability of the NPs, we perform complete oxidations that lead to homogenous gallium oxide NPs. Thus, this study set the physical limits of Ga NPs to last at high temperatures, and opens up the possibility to achieve totally oxidized NPs while keeping their sphericity. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Structural, morphological, and optical study of titania-based nanopowders suitable for photocatalytic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Šćepanović, M.; Grujić-Brojčin, M.; Abramović, B.; Golubović, A.

2017-01-01

Systematic investigation of the relationship between structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic properties of the titania-based nanopowders is presented. A series of pure and doped titania catalysts with various (anatase and brookite) phase compositions have been prepared by sol-gel or hydrothermal route. The crystal structure and composition of the synthesized samples have been extensively characterised by XRD and Raman scattering measurements. The nanopowder morphology has been studied using microscopic methods (SEM, AFM, and STM), whereas the porous structure has been revealed by the analysis of nitrogen sorption data. The optical and electronic properties have been studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry. All investigated properties have been correlated to photocatalytic activity, tested in degradation of the pharmaceutically active substances (such as metoprolol and alprazolam) induced by UVA or visible radiation. Based on this correlation, the physical properties which contribute most to the increase in photocatalytic activity of synthesized nanopowders have been determined, in order to optimize the synthesis conditions which could lead to the maximal efficiency in degradation of particular pollutant.

Intrinsic photocatalytic assessment of reactively sputtered TiO₂ films.

PubMed

Rafieian, Damon; Driessen, Rick T; Ogieglo, Wojciech; Lammertink, Rob G H

2015-04-29

Thin TiO2 films were prepared by DC magnetron reactive sputtering at different oxygen partial pressures. Depending on the oxygen partial pressure during sputtering, a transition from metallic Ti to TiO2 was identified by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The crystalline nature of the film developed during a subsequent annealing step, resulting in thin anatase TiO2 layers, displaying photocatalytic activity. The intrinsic photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) using a microfluidic reactor. A numerical model was employed to extract the intrinsic reaction rate constants. High conversion rates (90% degradation within 20 s residence time) were observed within these microreactors because of the efficient mass transport and light distribution. To evaluate the intrinsic reaction kinetics, we argue that mass transport has to be accounted for. The obtained surface reaction rate constants demonstrate very high reactivity for the sputtered TiO2 films. Only for the thinnest film, 9 nm, slightly lower kinetics were observed.

How Much Do Ultrathin Polymers with Intrinsic Microporosity Swell in Liquids?

PubMed

Ogieglo, Wojciech; Ghanem, Bader; Ma, Xiaohua; Pinnau, Ingo; Wessling, Matthias

2016-10-06

As synthetic membrane materials, polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) have demonstrated unprecedented permeation and molecular-separation properties. Here, we report the swelling characteristics of submicron-thick supported films of spirobisindane-based PIMs, PIM-1 and PIM-6FDA-OH, for six organic solvents and water using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. Surprisingly, PIMs swell significantly in most organic solvents, with swelling factors (SF = h swollen /h dry ) as high as 2.5. This leads to the loss of the ultrarigid character of the polymer and produces equilibrated liquid-like swollen films. Filling of the excess frozen-in fractional free volume with liquid was discovered next to swelling-induced polymer matrix dilation. Water hardly swells the polymer matrix, but it penetrates into the intrinsic microporous structure. This study is the first to provide fundamental swelling data for PIMs, leading to better comprehension of their permeation properties. Such an understanding is indispensable for applications such as solvent filtration, natural-gas separation, and ion retention in flow batteries.

Titanium dioxide thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition and integration in radio frequency devices: Study of structure, optical and dielectric properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlianges, Jean-Christophe; Crunteanu, Aurelian; Pothier, Arnaud; Merle-Mejean, Therese; Blondy, Pierre; Champeaux, Corinne

2012-12-01

Titanium dioxide presents a wide range of technological application possibilities due to its dielectric, electrochemical, photocatalytic and optical properties. The three TiO2 allotropic forms: anatase, rutile and brookite are also interesting, since they exhibit different properties, stabilities and growth modes. For instance, rutile has a high dielectric permittivity, of particular interest for the integration as dielectric in components such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for radio frequency (RF) devices. In this study, titanium dioxide thin films are deposited by pulsed laser deposition. Characterizations by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction show the evolution of the structural properties. Thin films optical properties are investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry and transmission measurements from UV to IR range. Co-planar waveguide (CPW) devices are fabricated based on these films. Their performances are measured in the RF domain and compared to simulation, leading to relative permittivity values in the range 30-120, showing the potentialities of the deposited material for capacitive switches applications.

Optical Properties of Al-Doped ZnO Films in the Infrared Region and Their Absorption Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Hua; Zhang, Rong-Jun; Li, Da-Hai; Chen, Xin; Wang, Song-You; Zheng, Yu-Xiang; Li, Meng-Jiao; Hu, Zhi-Gao; Dai, Ning; Chen, Liang-Yao

2018-05-01

The optical properties of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films were calculated rapidly and accurately by point-by-point analysis from spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) data. It was demonstrated that there were two different physical mechanisms, i.e., the interfacial effect and crystallinity, for the thickness-dependent permittivity in the visible and infrared regions. In addition, there was a blue shift for the effective plasma frequency of AZO when the thickness increased, and the effective plasma frequency did not exist for AZO ultrathin films (< 25 nm) in the infrared region, which demonstrated that AZO ultrathin films could not be used as a negative index metamaterial. Based on detailed permittivity research, we designed a near-perfect absorber at 2-5 μm by etching AZO-ZnO alternative layers. The alternative layers matched the phase of reflected light, and the void cylinder arrays extended the high absorption range. Moreover, the AZO absorber demonstrated feasibility and applicability on different substrates.

Observation of Phase-Filling Singularities in the Optical Dielectric Function of Highly Doped n-Type Ge.

PubMed

Xu, Chi; Fernando, Nalin S; Zollner, Stefan; Kouvetakis, John; Menéndez, José

2017-06-30

Phase-filling singularities in the optical response function of highly doped (>10^{19}  cm^{-3}) germanium are theoretically predicted and experimentally confirmed using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Contrary to direct-gap semiconductors, which display the well-known Burstein-Moss phenomenology upon doping, the critical point in the joint density of electronic states associated with the partially filled conduction band in n-Ge corresponds to the so-called E_{1} and E_{1}+Δ_{1} transitions, which are two-dimensional in character. As a result of this reduced dimensionality, there is no edge shift induced by Pauli blocking. Instead, one observes the "original" critical point (shifted only by band gap renormalization) and an additional feature associated with the level occupation discontinuity at the Fermi level. The experimental observation of this feature is made possible by the recent development of low-temperature, in situ doping techniques that allow the fabrication of highly doped films with exceptionally flat doping profiles.

Analysis of Molecular Contamination on Genesis Collectors Through Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McNamara, K. M.; Stansbery, Eileen K.

2005-01-01

Before the spacecraft returned to Earth in September, the Genesis mission had a preliminary assessment plan in place for the purpose of providing information on the condition and availability of collector materials to the science community as a basis for allocation requests. One important component of that plan was the evaluation of collector surfaces for molecular contamination. Sources of molecular contamination might be the on-orbit outgassing of spacecraft and science canister components, the condensation of thruster by-products during spacecraft maneuvers, or the condensation of volatile species associated with reentry. Although the non-nominal return of the Genesis spacecraft introduced particulate contamination to the collectors, such as dust and heatshield carbon-carbon, it is unlikely to have caused any molecular deposition. The contingency team's quick action in returning the damaged payload the UTTR cleanroom by 6 PM the evening of recovery help to ensure that exposure to weather conditions and the environment were kept to a minimum.

Optical Relaxation Time Enhancement in Graphene-Passivated Metal Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chugh, Sunny; Mehta, Ruchit; Man, Mengren; Chen, Zhihong

2016-07-01

Due to the small skin depth in metals at optical frequencies, their plasmonic response is strongly dictated by their surface properties. Copper (Cu) is one of the standard materials of choice for plasmonic applications, because of its high conductivity and CMOS compatibility. However, being a chemically active material, it gets easily oxidized when left in ambient environment, causing an inevitable degradation in its plasmonic resonance. Here, for the first time, we report a strong enhancement in the optical relaxation time in Cu by direct growth of few-layer graphene that is shown to act as an excellent passivation layer protecting Cu surface from any deterioration. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements reveal a 40-50% reduction in the total scattering rate in Cu itself, which is attributed to an improvement in its surface properties. We also study the impact of graphene quality and show that high quality graphene leads to an even larger improvement in electron scattering rate. These findings are expected to provide a big push towards graphene-protected Cu plasmonics.

Tailoring the index of refraction of nanocrystalline hafnium oxide thin films

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

Vargas, Mirella; Murphy, N. R.; Ramana, C. V., E-mail: rvchintalapalle@utep.edu

2014-03-10

Hafnium oxide (HfO{sub 2}) films were grown by sputter-deposition by varying the growth temperature (T{sub s} = 25–700 °C). HfO{sub 2} films grown at T{sub s} < 200 °C were amorphous, while those grown at T{sub s} ≥ 200 °C were monoclinic, nanocrystalline with (1{sup ¯}11) texturing. X-ray reflectivity (XRR) analyses indicate that the film-density (ρ) increases with increasing T{sub s}. The index of refraction (n) profiles derived from spectroscopic ellipsometry analyses follow the Cauchy dispersion relation. Lorentz-Lorenz analysis (n{sub (λ)} = 550 nm) and optical-model adopted agree well with the XRR data/analyses. A direct T{sub s}-ρ-n relationship suggests that tailoring the optical quality is possible by tuning T{sub s} and themore » microstructure of HfO{sub 2} films.« less

Optical and electrical characterization methods of plasma-induced damage in silicon nitride films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuyama, Tomohiro; Eriguchi, Koji

2018-06-01

We proposed evaluation methods of plasma-induced damage (PID) in silicon nitride (SiN) films. The formation of an oxide layer by air exposure was identified for damaged SiN films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Bruggeman’s effective medium approximation was employed for an optical model consisting of damaged and undamaged layers, which is applicable to an in-line monitoring by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The optical thickness of the damaged layer — an oxidized layer — extended after plasma exposure, which was consistent with the results obtained by a diluted hydrofluoric acid (DHF) wet etching. The change in the conduction band edge of the damaged SiN films was presumed from two electrical techniques, i.e., current–voltage (I–V) measurement and time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) test with a constant voltage stress. The proposed techniques can be used for assigning the plasma-induced structural change in an SiN film widely used as an etch-protecting layer.

Viscoelastic optical nonlocality of low-loss epsilon-near-zero nanofilms.

PubMed

de Ceglia, Domenico; Scalora, Michael; Vincenti, Maria A; Campione, Salvatore; Kelley, Kyle; Runnerstrom, Evan L; Maria, Jon-Paul; Keeler, Gordon A; Luk, Ting S

2018-06-19

Optical nonlocalities are elusive and hardly observable in traditional plasmonic materials like noble and alkali metals. Here we report experimental observation of viscoelastic nonlocalities in the infrared optical response of epsilon-near-zero nanofilms made of low-loss doped cadmium-oxide. The nonlocality is detectable thanks to the low damping rate of conduction electrons and the virtual absence of interband transitions at infrared wavelengths. We describe the motion of conduction electrons using a hydrodynamic model for a viscoelastic fluid, and find excellent agreement with experimental results. The electrons' elasticity blue-shifts the infrared plasmonic resonance associated with the main epsilon-near-zero mode, and triggers the onset of higher-order resonances due to the excitation of electron-pressure modes above the bulk plasma frequency. We also provide evidence of the existence of nonlocal damping, i.e., viscosity, in the motion of optically-excited conduction electrons using a combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry data and predictions based on the viscoelastic hydrodynamic model.

Formation and prevention of fractures in sol-gel-derived thin films.

PubMed

Kappert, Emiel J; Pavlenko, Denys; Malzbender, Jürgen; Nijmeijer, Arian; Benes, Nieck E; Tsai, Peichun Amy

2015-02-07

Sol-gel-derived thin films play an important role as the functional coatings for various applications that require crack-free films to fully function. However, the fast drying process of a standard sol-gel coating often induces mechanical stresses, which may fracture the thin films. An experimental study on the crack formation in sol-gel-derived silica and organosilica ultrathin (submicron) films is presented. The relationships among the crack density, inter-crack spacing, and film thickness were investigated by combining direct micrograph analysis with spectroscopic ellipsometry. It is found that silica thin films are more prone to fracturing than organosilica films and have a critical film thickness of 300 nm, above which the film fractures. In contrast, the organosilica films can be formed without cracks in the experimentally explored regime of film thickness up to at least 1250 nm. These results confirm that ultrathin organosilica coatings are a robust silica substitute for a wide range of applications.

Mixing-Induced Anisotropic Correlations in Molecular Crystalline Systems: Rationalizing the Behavior of Organic Semiconductor Blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broch, Katharina; Aufderheide, Antje; Novak, Jiri; Hinderhofer, Alexander; Gerlach, Alexander; Banerjee, Rupak; Schreiber, Frank

2013-03-01

Binary mixtures of organic semiconductors (OSCs) have recently become an important field of research, as they find applications in opto-electronic devices. In these systems, the mixing (intermixing vs. phase separation) and ordering behavior is crucial, since it affects the optical and electronic properties. We present a comprehensive study of binary mixtures of the three prototypical OSCs pentacene (PEN), perfluoropentacene (PFP) and diindenoperlyene (DIP) in all possible combinations. Using X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction we investigate the stuctural properties of the mixed films as well as their impact on the optical spectra obtained by spectroscopic ellipsometry. For PEN:DIP we find an anisotropic ordering behavior, comparable to that observed in some liquid crystals, which is fundamentally new for OSCs. The influence of sterical compatibility and the strength of the intermolecular interactions on the mixing and ordering behavior in the different blends will be discussed by extending a conventional mean-field model. Finally, we discuss general rules for the targeted preparation of blends of OSCs.

Surface and Thin Film Analysis during Metal Organic Vapour Phase Epitaxial Growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richter, Wolfgang

2007-06-01

In-situ analysis of epitaxial growth is the essential ingredient in order to understand the growth process, to optimize growth and last but not least to monitor or even control the epitaxial growth on a microscopic scale. In MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) in-situ analysis tools existed right from the beginning because this technique developed from Surface Science technology with all its electron based analysis tools (LEED, RHEED, PES etc). Vapour Phase Epitaxy, in contrast, remained for a long time in an empirical stage ("alchemy") because only post growth characterisations like photoluminescence, Hall effect and electrical conductivity were available. Within the last two decades, however, optical techniques were developed which provide similar capabilities as in MBE for Vapour Phase growth. I will discuss in this paper the potential of Reflectance Anisotropy Spectroscopy (RAS) and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE) for the growth of thin epitaxial semiconductor layers with zincblende (GaAs etc) and wurtzite structure (GaN etc). Other techniques and materials will be also mentioned.

Optical response of mixed methylammonium lead iodide and formamidinium tin iodide perovskite thin films

DOE PAGES

Ghimire, Kiran; Zhao, Dewei; Yan, Yanfa; ...

2017-07-13

Here, mixed tin (Sn) and lead (Pb) based perovskite thin films have been prepared by solution processing combining methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3) and formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI 3) precursors. Optical response in the form of complex dielectric function (ε = ε 1 + iε 2) spectra and absorption coefficient (α) spectra of (FASnI 3) 1-x(MAPbI 3) x based perovskite films have been extracted over a spectral range 0.74 to 5.89 eV using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Absorption band edge energy changes as a function of composition for films including FASnI 3, MAPbI 3, and mixed x = 0.20, 0.35, 0.40, andmore » 0.6 (FASnI 3) 1-x(MAPbI 3) x perovskites. (FASnI 3) 0.60(MAPbI 3) 0.4 is found to have the minimum absorption band edge energy near ~1.2 eV.« less

Spectroscopic ellipsometry and band structure of Si{sub 1{minus}y}C{sub y} alloys grown pseudomorphically on Si (001)

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

Zollner, S.; Herzinger, C.M.; Woollam, J.A.

1995-10-01

The authors have measured the dielectric functions of three Si{sub 1{minus}y}C{sub y} alloys layers (y {le} 1.4%) grown pseudomorphically on Si (001) substrates using molecular beam epitaxy at low temperatures. From the numerical derivatives of the measured spectra, they determine the critical point energies E{sub 0}{prime} and E{sub 1} as a function of y (y {le} 1.4%) using a comparison with analytical line shapes and analyze these energies in terms of the expected shifts and splittings due to negative hydrostatic pressure, shear stress, and alloying. Their data agree well with the calculated shifts for E{sub 1}, but the E{sub 0}{prime}more » energies are lower than expected. They discuss their results in comparison with recent tight-binding molecular dynamics simulations by Demkov and Sankey predicting a total breakdown of the virtual-crystal approximation for such alloys.« less

Calcium copper-titanate thin film growth: tailoring of the operational conditions through nanocharacterization and substrate nature effects.

PubMed

Lo Nigro, Raffaella; Toro, Roberta G; Malandrino, Graziella; Fragalà, Ignazio L; Losurdo, Maria; Giangregorio, Michelaria M; Bruno, Giovanni; Raineri, Vito; Fiorenza, Patrick

2006-09-07

A novel approach based on a molten multicomponent precursor source has been applied for the MOCVD fabrication of high-quality CaCu(3)Ti(4)O(12) (CCTO) thin films on various substrates. The adopted in situ strategy involves a molten mixture consisting of Ca(hfa)(2).tetraglyme, Ti(tmhd)(2)(O-iPr)(2), and Cu(tmhd)(2) [Hhfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione; tetraglyme = 2,5,8,11,14-pentaoxapentadecane; Htmhd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptandione; O-iPr = isopropoxide] precursors. Film structural and morphological characterizations have been carried out by several techniques [X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)], and in particular the energy filtered TEM mapping and X-ray energy dispersive (EDX) analysis in TEM mode provided a suitable correlation between nanostructural properties of CCTO films and deposition conditions and/or the substrate nature. Correlation between the nanostructure and optical/dielectric properties has been investigated exploiting spectroscopic ellipsometry.

Atomic layer deposition of magnesium fluoride via bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride

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

Hennessy, John, E-mail: hennessy@caltech.edu; Jewell, April D.; Greer, Frank

2015-01-15

A new process has been developed to deposit magnesium fluoride (MgF{sub 2}) thin films via atomic layer deposition (ALD) for use as optical coatings in the ultraviolet. MgF{sub 2} was deposited in a showerhead style ALD reactor using bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) as precursors at substrate temperatures from 100 to 250 °C. The use of HF was observed to result in improved morphology and reduced impurity content compared to other reported MgF{sub 2} ALD approaches that use metal fluoride precursors as the fluorine-containing chemistry. Characterization of these films has been performed using spectroscopic ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and x-raymore » photoelectron spectroscopy for material deposited on silicon substrates. Films at all substrate temperatures were transparent at wavelengths down to 190 nm and the low deposition temperature combined with low surface roughness makes these coatings good candidates for a variety of optical applications in the far ultraviolet.« less

Comparison of interfaces for (Ba,Sr)TiO3 films deposited on Si and SiO2/Si substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suvorova, N. A.; Lopez, C. M.; Irene, E. A.; Suvorova, A. A.; Saunders, M.

2004-03-01

(Ba,Sr)TiO3(BST) thin films were deposited by ion sputtering on both bare and oxidized Si. Spectroscopic ellipsometry results have shown that a SiO2 underlayer of nearly the same thickness (2.6 nm in average) is found at the Si interface for BST sputter depositions onto nominally bare Si, 1 nm SiO2 on Si or 3.5 nm SiO2 on Si. This result was confirmed by high-resolution electron microscopy analysis of the films, and it is believed to be due to simultaneous subcutaneous oxidation of Si and reaction of the BST layer with SiO2. Using the conductance method, capacitance-voltage measurements show a decrease in the interface trap density Dit of an order of magnitude for oxidized Si substrates with a thicker SiO2 underlayer. Further reduction of Dit was achieved for the capacitors grown on oxidized Si and annealed in forming gas after metallization.

Viscoelastic optical nonlocality of doped cadmium oxide epsilon-near-zero thin films

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

Luk, Ting S.; De Ceglia, Domenico; Scalora, Michael

Optical nonlocalities are elusive and hardly observable in traditional plasmonic materials like noble and alkali metals. Here we experimentally observe and theoretically model viscoelastic nonlocalities in the infrared optical response of a doped, cadmium oxide epsilon-near-zero thin film. The nonlocality is clearly detectable thanks to the low damping rate of conduction electrons and the virtual absence of interband transitions at infrared wavelengths. We describe the motion of conduction electrons using a hydrodynamic model for a viscoelastic fluid, and find excellent agreement with experimental results. The electrons’ elasticity blue-shifts the infrared plasmonic resonance associated with the main epsilon-near-zero mode, and triggersmore » the onset of higher-order resonances due to the excitation of electron-pressure modes above the bulk plasma frequency. We also provide evidence of the existence of nonlocal damping, i.e., viscosity, in the motion of optically-excited conduction electrons using a combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry data and predictions based on the viscoelastic hydrodynamic model.« less

Impact of the glass transition on exciton dynamics in polymer thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehrenreich, Philipp; Proepper, Daniel; Graf, Alexander; Jores, Stefan; Boris, Alexander V.; Schmidt-Mende, Lukas

2017-11-01

In the development of organic electronics, unlimited design possibilities of conjugated polymers offer a wide variety of mechanical and electronic properties. Thereby, it is crucially important to reveal universal physical characteristics that allow efficient and forward developments of new chemical compounds. In particular for organic solar cells, a deeper understanding of exciton dynamics in polymer films can help to improve the charge generation process further. For this purpose, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is commonly used as a model system, although exciton decay kinetics have found different interpretations. Using temperature-dependent time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy in combination with low-temperature spectroscopic ellipsometry, we can show that P3HT is indeed a model system in which excitons follow a simple diffusion/hopping model. Based on our results we can exclude the relevance of hot-exciton emission as well as a dynamic torsional relaxation upon photoexcitation on a ps time scale. Instead, we depict the glass transition temperature of polymers to strongly affect exciton dynamics.

Determination of gold nanoparticle shape from absorption spectroscopy and ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Battie, Yann; Izquierdo-Lorenzo, Irene; Resano-Garcia, Amandine; Naciri, Aotmane En; Akil, Suzanna; Adam, Pierre Michel; Jradi, Safi

2017-11-01

A new methodology is developed to determine the shape distribution of gold nanoparticles (NPs) from optical spectroscopic measurements. Indeed, the morphology of Au colloids is deduced by fitting their absorption spectra with an effective medium theory which takes into account the nanoparticle shape distribution. The same procedure is applied to ellipsometric measurements recorded on photoresist films which contain Au NPs. Three spaces (L2, r2, P2) are introduced to interpret the NPs shape distribution. In the P2 space, the sphericity, the prolacity and the oblacity estimators are proposed to quantify the shape of NPs. The r2 space enables the determination of the NP aspect ratio distribution. The distributions determined from optical spectroscopy were found to be in very good agreement with the shape distributions obtained by transmission electron microscopy. We found that fitting absorption or ellipsometric spectra with an adequate effective medium theory, provides a robust tool for measuring the shape and concentration of metallic NPs.

Development of Pinhole-Free Amorphous Aluminum Oxide Protective Layers for Biomedical Device Applications

PubMed Central

Litvinov, Julia; Wang, Yi-Ju; George, Jinnie; Chinwangso, Pawilai; Brankovic, Stanko; Willson, Richard C.; Litvinov, Dmitri

2013-01-01

This paper describes synthesis of ultrathin pinhole-free insulating aluminum oxide layers for electronic device protection in corrosive liquid environments, such as phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or clinical fluids, to enable emerging biomedical applications such as biomolecular sensors. A pinhole-free 25-nm thick amorphous aluminum oxide layer has been achieved using ultra-high vacuum DC magnetron reactive sputtering of aluminum in oxygen/argon plasma followed by oxygen plasma post-processing. Deposition parameters were optimized to achieve the best corrosion protection of lithographically defined device structures. Electrochemical deposition of copper through the aluminum oxide layers was used to detect the presence (or absence) of pinholes. FTIR, XPS, and spectroscopic ellipsometry were used to characterize the material properties of the protective layers. Electrical resistance of the copper device structures protected by the aluminum oxide layers and exposed to a PBS solution was used as a metric to evaluate the long-term stability of these device structures. PMID:23682201

Resolving the nanostructure of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited nanocrystalline SiO{sub x} layers for application in solar cells

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

Klingsporn, M.; Costina, I.; Kirner, S.

2016-06-14

Nanocrystalline silicon suboxides (nc-SiO{sub x}) have attracted attention during the past years for the use in thin-film silicon solar cells. We investigated the relationships between the nanostructure as well as the chemical, electrical, and optical properties of phosphorous, doped, nc-SiO{sub 0.8}:H fabricated by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The nanostructure was varied through the sample series by changing the deposition pressure from 533 to 1067 Pa. The samples were then characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, and a specialized plasmon imaging method. We found that the material changed with increasing pressuremore » from predominantly amorphous silicon monoxide to silicon dioxide containing nanocrystalline silicon. The nanostructure changed from amorphous silicon filaments to nanocrystalline silicon filaments, which were found to cause anisotropic electron transport.« less

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the electronic band structure of metal-organic frameworks of HKUST-1 type

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

Gu, Zhi-Gang; State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 350002 Fuzhou; Heinke, Lars, E-mail: Lars.Heinke@KIT.edu

The electronic properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are increasingly attracting the attention due to potential applications in sensor techniques and (micro-) electronic engineering, for instance, as low-k-dielectric in semiconductor technology. Here, the band gap and the band structure of MOFs of type HKUST-1 are studied in detail by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry applied to thin surface-mounted MOF films and by means of quantum chemical calculations. The analysis of the density of states, the band structure, and the excitation spectrum reveal the importance of the empty Cu-3d orbitals for the electronic properties of HKUST-1. This study shows that, in contrast tomore » common belief, even in the case of this fairly “simple” MOF, the excitation spectra cannot be explained by a superposition of “intra-unit” excitations within the individual building blocks. Instead, “inter-unit” excitations also have to be considered.« less

Optical critical dimension metrology for directed self-assembly assisted contact hole shrink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, Dhairya; Green, Avery; Hosler, Erik R.; Kamineni, Vimal; Preil, Moshe E.; Keller, Nick; Race, Joseph; Chun, Jun Sung; O'Sullivan, Michael; Khare, Prasanna; Montgomery, Warren; Diebold, Alain C.

2016-01-01

Directed self-assembly (DSA) is a potential patterning solution for future generations of integrated circuits. Its main advantages are high pattern resolution (˜10 nm), high throughput, no requirement of high-resolution mask, and compatibility with standard fab-equipment and processes. The application of Mueller matrix (MM) spectroscopic ellipsometry-based scatterometry to optically characterize DSA patterned contact hole structures fabricated with phase-separated polystyrene-b-polymethylmethacrylate (PS-b-PMMA) is described. A regression-based approach is used to calculate the guide critical dimension (CD), DSA CD, height of the PS column, thicknesses of underlying layers, and contact edge roughness of the post PMMA etch DSA contact hole sample. Scanning electron microscopy and imaging analysis is conducted as a comparative metric for scatterometry. In addition, optical model-based simulations are used to investigate MM elements' sensitivity to various DSA-based contact hole structures, predict sensitivity to dimensional changes, and its limits to characterize DSA-induced defects, such as hole placement inaccuracy, missing vias, and profile inaccuracy of the PMMA cylinder.

Structure, Morphology and Optical Properties of TiO2 Films Formed by Anodizing in a Mixed Solution of Citric Acid and Sulfamic Acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhary, R. K.; Sarkar, P.; Biswas, A.; Mishra, P.; Abraham, G. J.; Sastry, P. U.; Kain, V.

2017-08-01

TiO2 films of 50-180 nm thickness were formed at room temperature by anodization of titanium metal in a mixture of citric acid and sulfamic acid in the potential range of 5-30 V. The films so obtained were characterized for their crystal structure, surface morphology, chemical composition and optical properties. Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and micro-laser Raman spectroscopy measurements of the anodic films confirmed the formation of brookite phase of TiO2 at anodizing potentials of 15, 20, 25 and 30 V and amorphous structure at 5 and 10 V. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed non-porous microstructure of the films. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements evaluated the band gap of TiO2 at around 3.3 eV, whereas the refractive index of the films was found to be in the range of 2-2.35, in the visible range of spectrum.

Silicon oxynitride films deposited by reactive high power impulse magnetron sputtering using nitrous oxide as a single-source precursor

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

Hänninen, Tuomas, E-mail: tuoha@ifm.liu.se; Schmidt, Susann; Jensen, Jens

2015-09-15

Silicon oxynitride thin films were synthesized by reactive high power impulse magnetron sputtering of silicon in argon/nitrous oxide plasmas. Nitrous oxide was employed as a single-source precursor supplying oxygen and nitrogen for the film growth. The films were characterized by elastic recoil detection analysis, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray reflectivity, scanning electron microscopy, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Results show that the films are silicon rich, amorphous, and exhibit a random chemical bonding structure. The optical properties with the refractive index and the extinction coefficient correlate with the film elemental composition, showing decreasing values with increasing film oxygen and nitrogen content.more » The total percentage of oxygen and nitrogen in the films is controlled by adjusting the gas flow ratio in the deposition processes. Furthermore, it is shown that the film oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio can be tailored by the high power impulse magnetron sputtering-specific parameters pulse frequency and energy per pulse.« less

Ellipsometric analysis and optical absorption characterization of gallium phosphide nanoparticulate thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qi-Xian; Wei, Wen-Sheng; Ruan, Fang-Ping

2011-04-01

Gallium phosphide (GaP) nanoparticulate thin films were easily fabricated by colloidal suspension deposition via GaP nanoparticles dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide. The microstructure of the film was performed by x-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The film was further investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry. After the model GaP+void|SiO2 was built and an effective medium approximation was adopted, the values of the refractive index n and the extinction coefficient k were calculated for the energy range of 0.75 eV-4.0 eV using the dispersion formula in DeltaPsi2 software. The absorption coefficient of the film was calculated from its k and its energy gaps were further estimated according to the Tauc equation, which were further verified by its fluorescence spectrum measurement. The structure and optical absorption properties of the nanoparticulate films are promising for their potential applications in hybrid solar cells.

Substrate temperature controls molecular orientation in two-component vapor-deposited glasses

DOE PAGES

Jiang, J.; Walters, D. M.; Zhou, D.; ...

2016-02-22

Vapor-deposited glasses can be anisotropic and molecular orientation is important for organic electronics applications. In organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), for example, the orientation of dye molecules in two-component emitting layers significantly influences emission efficiency. Here we investigate how substrate temperature during vapor deposition influences the orientation of dye molecules in a model two-component system. We determine the average orientation of a linear blue light emitter 1,4-di-[4-( N,N-diphenyl)amino]styrylbenzene (DSA-Ph) in mixtures with aluminum-tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq 3) by spectroscopic ellipsometry and IR dichroism. We find that molecular orientation is controlled by the ratio of the substrate temperature during deposition and the glassmore » transition temperature of the mixture. Furthermore, these findings extend recent results for single component vapor-deposited glasses and suggest that, during vapor deposition, surface mobility allows partial equilibration towards orientations preferred at the free surface of the equilibrium liquid.« less

Direct observation of anisotropic small-hole polarons in an orthorhombic structure of BiV O4 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaudhuri, A.; Mandal, L.; Chi, X.; Yang, M.; Scott, M. C.; Motapothula, M.; Yu, X. J.; Yang, P.; Shao-Horn, Y.; Venkatesan, T.; Wee, A. T. S.; Rusydi, A.

2018-05-01

Here, we report an anisotropic small-hole polaron in an orthorhombic structure of BiV O4 films grown by pulsed-laser deposition on yttrium-doped zirconium oxide substrate. The polaronic state and electronic structure of BiV O4 films are revealed using a combination of polarization-dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy at V L3 ,2 edges, spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray photoemission spectroscopies, and high-resolution x-ray diffraction with the support of first-principles calculations. We find that in the orthorhombic phase, which is slightly different from the conventional pucherite structure, the unoccupied V 3d orbitals and charge inhomogeneities lead to an anisotropic small-hole polaron state. Our result shows the importance of the interplay of charge and lattice for the formation of a hole polaronic state, which has a significant impact in the electrical conductivity of BiV O4 , hence its potential use as a photoanode for water splitting.

Optical and magneto-optical studies of martensitic transformation in Ni-Mn-Ga magnetic shape memory alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beran, L.; Cejpek, P.; Kulda, M.; Antos, R.; Holy, V.; Veis, M.; Straka, L.; Heczko, O.

2015-05-01

Optical and magneto-optical properties of single crystal of Ni50.1Mn28.4Ga21.5 magnetic shape memory alloy during its transformation from martensite to austenite phase were systematically studied. Crystal orientation was approximately along {100} planes of parent cubic austenite. X-ray reciprocal mapping confirmed modulated 10 M martensite phase. Temperature depended measurements of saturation magnetization revealed the martensitic transformation at 335 K during heating. Magneto-optical spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry were measured in the sample temperature range from 297 to 373 K and photon energy range from 1.2 to 6.5 eV. Magneto-optical spectra of polar Kerr rotation as well as the spectra of ellipsometric parameter Ψ exhibited significant changes when crossing the transformation temperature. These changes were assigned to different optical properties of Ni-Mn-Ga in martensite and austenite phases due to modification of electronic structure near the Fermi energy during martensitic transformation.

Effect of oxygen vacancy distribution on the thermoelectric properties of La-doped SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarath Kumar, S. R.; Abutaha, A. I.; Hedhili, M. N.; Alshareef, H. N.

2012-12-01

A detailed study of the role of oxygen vacancies in determining the effective mass and high temperature (300-1000 K) thermoelectric properties of La-doped epitaxial SrTiO3 thin films is presented. It is observed that at intermediate temperatures, a transition from degenerate to non-degenerate behavior is observed in the Seebeck coefficient, but not electrical conductivity, which is attributed to heterogeneous oxygen non-stoichiometry. Heikes formula is found to be invalid for the films with oxygen vacancies. By fitting the spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) data, obtained in the range 300-2100 nm, using a Drude-Lorentz dispersion relation with two Lorentz oscillators, the electrical and optical properties of the films are extracted. Using the excellent agreement between the transport properties extracted from SE modeling and direct electrical measurements, we demonstrate that an increase in concentration of oxygen vacancies results in a simultaneous increase of both carrier concentration and electron effective mass, resulting in a higher power factor.

High throughput CIGS solar cell fabrication via ultra-thin absorber layer with optical confinement and (Cd, CBD)-free heterojunction partner

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

Marsillac, Sylvain

2015-11-30

The main objective of this proposal was to use several pathways to reduce the production cost of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) PV modules and therefore the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) associated with this technology. Three high cost drivers were identified, nominally: 1) Materials cost and availability; 2) Large scale uniformity; 3) Improved throughput These three cost drivers were targeted using the following pathways: 1) Reducing the thickness of the CIGS layer while enhancing materials quality; 2) Developing and applying enhanced in-situ metrology via real time spectroscopic ellipsometry; 3) Looking into alternative heterojunction partner, back contact and anti-reflection (AR) coating Elevenmore » main Tasks were then defined to achieve these goals (5 in Phase 1 and 6 in Phase 2), with 11 Milestones and 2 Go/No-go decision points at the end of Phase 1. The key results are summarized below« less

Influence of reactive oxygen species during deposition of iron oxide films by high power impulse magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stranak, V.; Hubicka, Z.; Cada, M.; Bogdanowicz, R.; Wulff, H.; Helm, C. A.; Hippler, R.

2018-03-01

Iron oxide films were deposited using high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) of an iron cathode in an argon/oxygen gas mixture at different gas pressures (0.5 Pa, 1.5 Pa, and 5.0 Pa). The HiPIMS system was operated at a repetition frequency f  =  100 Hz with a duty cycle of 1%. A main goal is a comparison of film growth during conventional and electron cyclotron wave resonance-assisted HiPIMS. The deposition plasma was investigated by means of optical emission spectroscopy and energy-resolved mass spectrometry. Active oxygen species were detected and their kinetic energy was found to depend on the gas pressure. Deposited films were characterized by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. Optical properties and crystallinity of as-deposited films were found to depend on the deposition conditions. Deposition of hematite iron oxide films with the HiPIMS-ECWR discharge is attributed to the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species.

Simple diazonium chemistry to develop specific gene sensing platforms.

PubMed

Revenga-Parra, M; García-Mendiola, T; González-Costas, J; González-Romero, E; Marín, A García; Pau, J L; Pariente, F; Lorenzo, E

2014-02-27

A simple strategy for covalent immobilizing DNA sequences, based on the formation of stable diazonized conducting platforms, is described. The electrochemical reduction of 4-nitrobenzenediazonium salt onto screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) in aqueous media gives rise to terminal grafted amino groups. The presence of primary aromatic amines allows the formation of diazonium cations capable to react with the amines present at the DNA capture probe. As a comparison a second strategy based on the binding of aminated DNA capture probes to the developed diazonized conducting platforms through a crosslinking agent was also employed. The resulting DNA sensing platforms were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The hybridization event with the complementary sequence was detected using hexaamineruthenium (III) chloride as electrochemical indicator. Finally, they were applied to the analysis of a 145-bp sequence from the human gene MRP3, reaching a detection limit of 210 pg μL(-1). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Polarization effects on quantum levels in InN/GaN quantum wells.

PubMed

Lin, Wei; Li, Shuping; Kang, Junyong

2009-12-02

Polarization effects on quantum states in InN/GaN quantum wells have been investigated by means of ab initio calculation and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Through the position-dependent partial densities of states, our results show that the polarization modified by the strain with different well thickness leads to an asymmetry band bending of the quantum well. The quantum levels are identified via the band structures and their square wave function distributions are analyzed by the partial charge densities. Further theoretical and experimental comparison of the imaginary part of the dielectric function show that the overall transition probability increases under larger polarization fields, which can be attributable to the fact that the excited quantum states of 2h have a greater overlap with 1e states and enhance other hole quantum states in the well by a hybridization. These results would provide a new approach to improve the transition probability and light emission by enhancing the polarization fields in a proper way.

Confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy of black soap films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lecourt, B.; Capelle, F.; Adamietz, F.; Malaplate, A.; Blaudez, D.; Kellay, H.; Turlet, J. M.

1998-01-01

Black soap films from aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulphate are studied by micro-Raman confocal spectroscopy. At the end of the draining process films of different thicknesses are obtained depending on the experimental conditions: Working in a closed humidified chamber leads to common black films while, under evaporation or in the presence of electrolyte, Newton black films are observed. From the Raman spectra of these films, quantitative information is deduced about the conformational and lateral order of the aliphatic surfactant chains, as well as the thickness of the residual water layer. More accurate measurements of the thickness of these ultimate films have been carried out by transmission ellipsometry and their effective refractive index measured by Brewster angle reflectivity. The thinner films present higher molecular organization and their aqueous core exhibits unusual spectral features.

Magneto-ellipsometry as a powerful technique for investigating magneto-optical structures properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maximova, Olga; Kosyrev, Nikolay; Yakovlev, Ivan; Shevtsov, Dmitriy; Lyaschenko, Sergey; Varnakov, Sergey; Ovchinnikov, Sergey

2017-10-01

In this work we report on new magneto-ellipsometry set-up that allows to grow thin films and nanostructures by ultrahigh vacuum thermal evaporation as well as to conduct in situ measurements during the growth in order to analyze and control nanostructures properties. Ellipsometry and transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements can be performed in situ inside this set-up. A uniform magnetic field of high intensity (more than 1 kOe) can be applied to samples inside the vacuum chamber. Also, we report on the developed method of data interpretation that is the base of the set-up software. Thus, we present a powerful tool for nanostructures synthesis and characterization.

Influence of Hydrogen Bonding on the Kinetic Stability of Vapor Deposited Glasses of Triazine Derivatives

DOE Data Explorer

Laventure, Audrey [Departement de chimie, Universite de Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada] (ORCID:0000000208670231); Gujral, Ankit [Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States] (ORCID:0000000250652694); Lebel, Olivier [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario K7K 7B4] (ORCID:0000000217376843); Ediger, Mark [Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States] (ORCID:0000000347158473); Pellerin, Christian [Departement de chimie, Universite de Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada] (ORCID:0000000161441318)

2017-02-01

It has recently been established that physical vapor deposition (PVD) can produce organic glasses with enhanced kinetic stability, high density, and anisotropic packing, with the substrate temperature during deposition (Tsubstrate) as the key control parameter. The influence of hydrogen bonding on the formation of PVD glasses has not been fully explored. Herein, we use a high-throughput preparation method to vapor-deposit three triazine derivatives over a wide range of Tsubstrate, from 0.69 to 1.08Tg, where Tg is the glass transition temperature. These model systems are structural analogues containing a functional group with different H-bonding capability at the 2-position of a triazine ring: (1) 2-methylamino-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-phenylamino)-1,3,5-triazine (NHMe) (H-bond donor), (2) 2-methoxy-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-phenylamino)-1,3,5-triazine (OMe) (H-bond acceptor), and (3) 2-ethyl-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-phenylamino)-1,3,5-triazine (Et) (none). Using spectroscopic ellipsometry, we find that the Et and OMe compounds form PVD glasses with relatively high kinetic stability, with the transformation time (scaled by the α-relaxation time) on the order of 103, comparable to other highly stable glasses formed by PVD. In contrast, PVD glasses of NHMe are only slightly more stable than the corresponding liquid-cooled glass. Using IR spectroscopy, we find that both the supercooled liquid and the PVD glasses of the NHMe derivative show a higher average number of bonded NH per molecule than that in the other two compounds. These results suggest that H-bonds hinder the formation of stable glasses, perhaps by limiting the surface mobility. Interestingly, despite this difference in kinetic stability, all three compounds show properties typically observed in highly stable glasses prepared by PVD, including a higher density and anisotropic molecular packing (as characterized by IR and wide-angle X-ray scattering).

Single-shot Ellipsometry of Shocked Iron to 275 GPa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grant, Sean; Ao, Tommy; Bernstein, Aaron; Davis, Jean-Paul; Ditmire, Todd; Dolan, Daniel; Lin, Jung-Fu; Porwitzky, Andrew; Seagle, Christopher

2017-06-01

We have studied the properties of iron under shock conditions using time-resolved ellipsometry, a technique that probes the dielectric value of materials under dynamic conditions, on the STAR gas gun facility at Sandia National Laboratories. We performed experiments on a two-stage gas gun ranging from the α - ɛ transition (75 GPa) to the solid-liquid transition (275 GPa). For the first time, we report the dielectric results of shocked iron at those conditions. In addition, the time-resolved ellipsometry diagnostic is being implemented on the Sandia pulsed power Z-machine. The goal of upcoming Z experiments will be to employ the ``shock-ramp'' technique to reach pressure and temperature conditions relevant to the Earth core, and to use ellipsometry to obtain the iron electric conductivities needed for benchmarking material models. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission 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 Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. SAND2017-1952 A.

Confinement effects on glass transition temperature, transition breadth, and expansivity: comparison of ellipsometry and fluorescence measurements on polystyrene films.

PubMed

Kim, S; Hewlett, S A; Roth, C B; Torkelson, J M

2009-09-01

Using ellipsometry, we characterized the nanoconfinement effect on the glass transition temperature (T (g)of supported polystyrene (PS) films employing two methods: the intersection of fits to the temperature (Tdependences of rubbery- and glassy-state thicknesses, and the transition mid-point between rubbery- and glassy-state expansivities. The results demonstrate a strong effect of thickness: T(g) (bulk) - T(g)(23 nm) = 10 degrees C. The T -range needed for accurate measurement increases significantly with decreasing thickness, an effect that arises from the broadening of the transition with confinement and a region below T (g) where expansivity slowly decreases with decreasing T . As determined from expansivities, the T (g) breadth triples in going from bulk films to a 21-nm-thick film; this broadening of the transition may be a more dramatic effect of confinement than the T (g) reduction itself. In contrast, there is little effect of confinement on the rubbery- and glassy-state expansivities. Compared with ellipsometry, T (g) 's from fluorescence agree well in bulk films but yield lower values in nanoconfined films: T (g)(bulk) - T (g)(23 nm) = 15( degrees ) C via fluorescence. This small difference in the T (g) confinement effect reflects differences in how fluorescence and ellipsometry report "average T (g) " with confinement. With decreasing nanoscale thickness, fluorescence may slightly overweight the contribution of the free-surface layer while ellipsometry may evenly weight or underweight its contribution.

Confinement effects on glass transition temperature, transition breadth, and expansivity: Comparison of ellipsometry and fluorescence measurements on polystyrene films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, S.; Hewlett, S. A.; Roth, C. B.; Torkelson, J. M.

2009-09-01

Using ellipsometry, we characterized the nanoconfinement effect on the glass transition temperature (T gof supported polystyrene (PS) films employing two methods: the intersection of fits to the temperature (Tdependences of rubbery- and glassy-state thicknesses, and the transition mid-point between rubbery- and glassy-state expansivities. The results demonstrate a strong effect of thickness: ensuremath Tg(bulk)-Tg(23{ nm})= 10 circ C. The T -range needed for accurate measurement increases significantly with decreasing thickness, an effect that arises from the broadening of the transition with confinement and a region below T g where expansivity slowly decreases with decreasing T . As determined from expansivities, the T g breadth triples in going from bulk films to a 21-nm-thick film; this broadening of the transition may be a more dramatic effect of confinement than the T g reduction itself. In contrast, there is little effect of confinement on the rubbery- and glassy-state expansivities. Compared with ellipsometry, T g ’s from fluorescence agree well in bulk films but yield lower values in nanoconfined films: T g(bulk) - T g(23 nm) = 15° C via fluorescence. This small difference in the T g confinement effect reflects differences in how fluorescence and ellipsometry report “average T g ” with confinement. With decreasing nanoscale thickness, fluorescence may slightly overweight the contribution of the free-surface layer while ellipsometry may evenly weight or underweight its contribution. in here

Hexagonal ice in pure water and biological NMR samples.

PubMed

Bauer, Thomas; Gath, Julia; Hunkeler, Andreas; Ernst, Matthias; Böckmann, Anja; Meier, Beat H

2017-01-01

Ice, in addition to "liquid" water and protein, is an important component of protein samples for NMR spectroscopy at subfreezing temperatures but it has rarely been observed spectroscopically in this context. We characterize its spectroscopic behavior in the temperature range from 100 to 273 K, and find that it behaves like pure water ice. The interference of magic-angle spinning (MAS) as well as rf multiple-pulse sequences with Bjerrum-defect motion greatly influences the ice spectra.

Use of CdS quantum dot-functionalized cellulose nanocrystal films for anti-counterfeiting applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, L.; Lai, C.; Marchewka, R.; Berry, R. M.; Tam, K. C.

2016-07-01

Structural colors and photoluminescence have been widely used for anti-counterfeiting and security applications. We report for the first time the use of CdS quantum dot (QD)-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as building blocks to fabricate nanothin films via layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly for anti-counterfeiting applications. Both negatively- and positively-charged CNC/QD nanohybrids with a high colloidal stability and a narrow particle size distribution were prepared. The controllable LBL coating process was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and ellipsometry. The rigid structure of CNCs leads to nanoporous structured films on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates with high transmittance (above 70%) over the entire range of visible light and also resulted in increased hydrophilicity (contact angles of ~40 degrees). Nanothin films on PET substrates showed good flexibility and enhanced stability in both water and ethanol. The modified PET films with structural colors from thin-film interference and photoluminescence from QDs can be used in anti-counterfeiting applications.Structural colors and photoluminescence have been widely used for anti-counterfeiting and security applications. We report for the first time the use of CdS quantum dot (QD)-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as building blocks to fabricate nanothin films via layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly for anti-counterfeiting applications. Both negatively- and positively-charged CNC/QD nanohybrids with a high colloidal stability and a narrow particle size distribution were prepared. The controllable LBL coating process was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and ellipsometry. The rigid structure of CNCs leads to nanoporous structured films on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates with high transmittance (above 70%) over the entire range of visible light and also resulted in increased hydrophilicity (contact angles of ~40 degrees). Nanothin films on PET substrates showed good flexibility and enhanced stability in both water and ethanol. The modified PET films with structural colors from thin-film interference and photoluminescence from QDs can be used in anti-counterfeiting applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr03039d

Mechanism controller system for the optical spectroscopic and infrared remote imaging system instrument on board the Rosetta space mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro Marín, J. M.; Brown, V. J. G.; López Jiménez, A. C.; Rodríguez Gómez, J.; Rodrigo, R.

2001-05-01

The optical, spectroscopic infrared remote imaging system (OSIRIS) is an instrument carried on board the European Space Agency spacecraft Rosetta that will be launched in January 2003 to study in situ the comet Wirtanen. The electronic design of the mechanism controller board (MCB) system of the two OSIRIS optical cameras, the narrow angle camera, and the wide angle camera, is described here. The system is comprised of two boards mounted on an aluminum frame as part of an electronics box that contains the power supply and the digital processor unit of the instrument. The mechanisms controlled by the MCB for each camera are the front door assembly and a filter wheel assembly. The front door assembly for each camera is driven by a four phase, permanent magnet stepper motor. Each filter wheel assembly consists of two, eight filter wheels. Each wheel is driven by a four phase, variable reluctance stepper motor. Each motor, for all the assemblies, also contains a redundant set of four stator phase windings that can be energized separately or in parallel with the main windings. All stepper motors are driven in both directions using the full step unipolar mode of operation. The MCB also performs general housekeeping data acquisition of the OSIRIS instrument, i.e., mechanism position encoders and temperature measurements. The electronic design application used is quite new due to use of a field programmable gate array electronic devices that avoid the use of the now traditional system controlled by microcontrollers and software. Electrical tests of the engineering model have been performed successfully and the system is ready for space qualification after environmental testing. This system may be of interest to institutions involved in future space experiments with similar needs for mechanisms control.

Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of Cu2ZnGeSe4 : First-Principles Calculations and Vacuum-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Ellipsometric Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, S. G.; Park, J.-S.; Donohue, A. L.; Christensen, S. T.; To, B.; Beall, C.; Wei, S.-H.; Repins, I. L.

2015-11-01

Cu2ZnGeSe4 is of interest for the development of next-generation thin-film photovoltaic technologies. To understand its electronic structure and related fundamental optical properties, we perform first-principles calculations for three structural variations: kesterite, stannite, and primitive-mixed CuAu phases. The calculated data are compared with the room-temperature dielectric function ɛ =ɛ1+i ɛ2 spectrum of polycrystalline Cu2ZnGeSe4 determined by vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopic ellipsometry in the photon-energy range of 0.7 to 9.0 eV. Ellipsometric data are modeled with the sum of eight Tauc-Lorentz oscillators, and the best-fit model yields the band-gap and Tauc-gap energies of 1.25 and 1.19 eV, respectively. A comparison of overall peak shapes and relative intensities between experimental spectra and the calculated ɛ data for three structural variations suggests that the sample may not have a pure (ordered) kesterite phase. The complex refractive index N =n +i k , normal-incidence reflectivity R , and absorption coefficients α are calculated from the modeled ɛ spectrum, which are also compared with those of Cu2ZnSnSe4 . The spectral features for Cu2ZnGeSe4 appear to be weaker and broader than those for Cu2ZnSnSe4 , which is possibly due to more structural imperfections presented in Cu2ZnGeSe4 than Cu2ZnSnSe4 .

Spectral data of specular reflectance, narrow-angle transmittance and angle-resolved surface scattering of materials for solar concentrators.

PubMed

Good, Philipp; Cooper, Thomas; Querci, Marco; Wiik, Nicolay; Ambrosetti, Gianluca; Steinfeld, Aldo

2016-03-01

The spectral specular reflectance of conventional and novel reflective materials for solar concentrators is measured with an acceptance angle of 17.5 mrad over the wavelength range 300-2500 nm at incidence angles 15-60° using a spectroscopic goniometry system. The same experimental setup is used to determine the spectral narrow-angle transmittance of semi-transparent materials for solar collector covers at incidence angles 0-60°. In addition, the angle-resolved surface scattering of reflective materials is recorded by an area-scan CCD detector over the spectral range 350-1050 nm. A comprehensive summary, discussion, and interpretation of the results are included in the associated research article "Spectral reflectance, transmittance, and angular scattering of materials for solar concentrators" in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.

Immersion transmission ellipsometry (ITE): a new method for the precise determination of the 3D indicatrix of thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, C. C.; Stumpe, J.

2005-02-01

The new method of immersion transmission ellipsometry (ITE) [1] has been developed. It allows the highly accurate determination of the absolute three-dimensional (3D) refractive indices of anisotropic thin films. The method is combined with conventional ellipsometry in transmission and reflection, and the thickness determination of anisotropic films solely by optical methods also becomes more accurate. The method is applied to the determination of the 3D refractive indices of thin spin-coated films of an azobenzene-containing liquid-crystalline copolymer. The development of the anisotropy in these films by photo-orientation and subsequent annealing is demonstrated. Depending on the annealing temperature, oblate or prolate orders are generated.

Construction of protein-resistant pOEGMA films by helicon plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

PubMed

Lee, Bong Soo; Yoon, Ok Ja; Cho, Woo Kyung; Lee, Nae-Eung; Yoon, Kuk Ro; Choi, Insung S

2009-01-01

This paper describes the formation of protein-resistant, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (pOEGMA) thin films by helicon plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (helicon-PECVD). pOEGMA was successfully grafted onto a silicon substrate, as a model substrate, without any additional surface initiators, by plasma polymerization of OEGMA. The resulting pOEGMA films were characterized by ellipsometry, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle goniometry. To investigate the protein-resistant property of the pOEGMA films, four different proteins, bovine serum albumin, fibrinogen, lysozyme and ribonuclease A, were tested as model proteins for ellipsometric measurements. The ellipsometric thickness change for all the model proteins was less than 3 A, indicating that the formed pOEGMA films are protein-resistant. (c) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2009

Surface characterization and adhesion of oxygen plasma-modified LARC-TPI

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

Chin, J.W.; Wightman, J.P.

1992-01-01

LARC-TPI, an aromatic thermoplastic polyimide, was exposed to an oxygen plasma as a surface pretreatment of adhesive bonding. Chemical and physical changes which occurred in the polyimide surface as a result of the plasma treatment were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS), contact angle analysis, ellipsometry and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). A 180{degree} peel test with an acrylate-based pressure sensitive adhesive as a flexible adherend was utilized to study the interactions of the plasma-treated polyimide surface with other polymeric materials. The surface characterization and adhesion testing results showed that the oxygen plasma treatment, whilemore » creating a more hydrophilic, polar surface, also caused chain scission resulting in the formation of a weak boundary layer which inhibited adhesion.« less

89. 22'X34' original vellum, VariableAngle Launcher 'ELEVATION OF LAUNCHER BRIDGE ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

89. 22'X34' original vellum, Variable-Angle Launcher 'ELEVATION OF LAUNCHER BRIDGE ON TEMPORARY SUPPORT' drawn at 1'=20'. (BUORD Sketch # 209786, PAPW 1932). - Variable Angle Launcher Complex, Variable Angle Launcher, CA State Highway 39 at Morris Reservior, Azusa, Los Angeles County, CA

90. 22'X34' original blueprint, VariableAngle Launcher, 'FRONT ELEVATION OF LAUNCHER ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

90. 22'X34' original blueprint, Variable-Angle Launcher, 'FRONT ELEVATION OF LAUNCHER BRIDGE, CONNECTING BRIDGE AND BARGES' drawn at 1/4'=1'0'. (BUROD Sketch # 208247). - Variable Angle Launcher Complex, Variable Angle Launcher, CA State Highway 39 at Morris Reservior, Azusa, Los Angeles County, CA

Measurement of the infrared optical constants for spectral modeling: n and k values for (NH4)2SO4 via single-angle reflectance and ellipsometric methods

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

Blake, Thomas A.; Brauer, Carolyn S.; Kelly-Gorham, Molly Rose K.

The optical constants n and k can be used to model infrared spectra, including refraction, absorption, reflectance, and emissivity, but obtaining reliable values for solid materials (pure or otherwise) presents a challenge: In the past, the best results for n and k have been obtained from bulk, homogeneous materials, free of defects. That is, materials where the Fresnel equations are operant since there is no light scattering. Since it is often not possible to obtain a pure macroscopic (crystalline) material, it may be possible to press the material into a (uniform, void-free) disk. We have recently been able to domore » this with ammonium sulfate powder and then measured the n & k values via two independent methods: 1) Ellipsometry - which measures the changes in amplitude and phase of light reflected from the material of interest as a function of wavelength and angle of incidence, and 2) Single angle specular reflectance with an FT spectrometer using a specular reflectance device within an FT instrument which measures the change in amplitude of light reflected from the material of interest as a function of wavelength and angle of incidence over a wide wavelength range. The quality of the derived n & k values was tested by generating the reflectance spectra of the pellet and comparing to the calculated to measured reflectance spectra of the pure material which has been previously published. The comparison to literature values showed good accuracy and good agreement, indicating promise to measure other materials by such methods.« less

Integrated Photonics Research Topical Meeting (1993)

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-06-01

81 DMD Time Domain Methods .................................. 107 IME Photonic Circuits and Lightwave Reception...index change near the band edge using a small interference -ellipsometry bridge and presented several results of nt of refractive index change An[51. In... interference -ellipsometry bridge at the photon energies near Eg, especially E>Eg, and compared to previous theories. [11. Manning, R Olshans]y, and C. B. Su

The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacLeod, Chelsea L.; Green, Paul J.; Anderson, Scott F.; Eracleous, Michael; Ruan, John J.; Runnoe, Jessie; Nielsen Brandt, William; Badenes, Carles; Greene, Jenny; Morganson, Eric; Schmidt, Sarah J.; Schwope, Axel; Shen, Yue; Amaro, Rachael; Lebleu, Amy; Filiz Ak, Nurten; Grier, Catherine J.; Hoover, Daniel; McGraw, Sean M.; Dawson, Kyle; Hall, Patrick B.; Hawley, Suzanne L.; Mariappan, Vivek; Myers, Adam D.; Pâris, Isabelle; Schneider, Donald P.; Stassun, Keivan G.; Bershady, Matthew A.; Blanton, Michael R.; Seo, Hee-Jong; Tinker, Jeremy; Fernández-Trincado, J. G.; Chambers, Kenneth; Kaiser, Nick; Kudritzki, R.-P.; Magnier, Eugene; Metcalfe, Nigel; Waters, Chris Z.

2018-01-01

As astronomers increasingly exploit the information available in the time domain, spectroscopic variability in particular opens broad new channels of investigation. Here we describe the selection algorithms for all targets intended for repeat spectroscopy in the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), part of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-IV. Also discussed are the scientific rationale and technical constraints leading to these target selections. The TDSS includes a large “repeat quasar spectroscopy” (RQS) program delivering ∼13,000 repeat spectra of confirmed SDSS quasars, and several smaller “few-epoch spectroscopy” (FES) programs targeting specific classes of quasars as well as stars. The RQS program aims to provide a large and diverse quasar data set for studying variations in quasar spectra on timescales of years, a comparison sample for the FES quasar programs, and an opportunity for discovering rare, serendipitous events. The FES programs cover a wide variety of phenomena in both quasars and stars. Quasar FES programs target broad absorption line quasars, high signal-to-noise ratio normal broad line quasars, quasars with double-peaked or very asymmetric broad emission line profiles, binary supermassive black hole candidates, and the most photometrically variable quasars. Strongly variable stars are also targeted for repeat spectroscopy, encompassing many types of eclipsing binary systems, and classical pulsators like RR Lyrae. Other stellar FES programs allow spectroscopic variability studies of active ultracool dwarf stars, dwarf carbon stars, and white dwarf/M dwarf spectroscopic binaries. We present example TDSS spectra and describe anticipated sample sizes and results.

KIC 7599132: an ellipsoidal variable in a close SB1 system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catanzaro, G.; Frasca, A.; Giarrusso, M.; Ripepi, V.; Leone, F.; Tognelli, E.; Munari, M.; Scuderi, S.

2018-06-01

In this paper, we present a spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the suspected ellipsoidal variable star KIC 7599132. New spectroscopic observations have been obtained with Catania Astrophysical Observatory Spectropolarimeter. From the fit of Hα and Hβ, we determined the effective temperature and gravity of the primary component, Teff = 10200 ± 150 K and log g = 4.1 ± 0.1, while from a number of metal lines, we derive the rotational velocity, v esin i = 60 ± 2 km s-1. We found almost solar abundances with the exception of silicon (0.50 dex) overabundance. A Bayesian analysis, based on the comparison between observational data and theoretical predictions of PROSECCO evolutionary models, allows us to estimate the mass and the age of the primary. We obtained M1 = 2.4 ± 0.2 M⊙ and τs = 3.8 _{-0.7}^{+0.9} Myr. A new model for the system was obtained combining Kepler photometric time series (Q0-Q17) and our radial velocities by using the code PHOEBE. As a result, the system appears to be a detached binary system with a mass ratio q = 0.30 ± 0.01, a semimajor axis a = 7.3 ± 0.1 R⊙ and an inclination angle i = 35° ± 2°. This modelling allowed us to derive: M2 = 0.7 ± 0.1 M⊙, R1 = 3.0 ± 0.2 R⊙, and R2 = 1.5 ± 0.2 R⊙. Numerical simulations show that if the secondary star had been hotter than 4000 K, we would have observed its spectral features in our spectra.

An Analysis of Transiting Hot Jupiters Observed with K2: WASP-55b and WASP-75b

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, B. J. M.; Anderson, D. R.; Hellier, C.; Turner, O. D.; Močnik, T.

2018-03-01

We present our analysis of the K2 short-cadence data of two previously known hot Jupiter exoplanets: WASP-55b and WASP-75b. The high precision of the K2 light curves enabled us to search for transit timing and duration variations, rotational modulation, starspots, phase-curve variations and additional transiting planets. We identified stellar variability in the WASP-75 light curve which may be an indication of rotational modulation, with an estimated period of 11.2 ± 1.5 days. We combined this with the spectroscopically measured v\\sin ({i}* ) to calculate a possible line of sight projected inclination angle of {i}* =41^\\circ +/- 16^\\circ . We also perform a global analysis of K2 and previously published data to refine the system parameters.

Cross-polarization/magic-angle sample-spinning /sup 13/C NMR spectroscopic study of chlorophyll a in the solid state

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

Brown, C.E.; Spencer, R.B.; Burger, V.T.

1984-01-01

Solid-state cross-polarization/magic-angle sample-spinning /sup 13/C NMR spectra have been recorded on chlorophyll a-water aggregates, methyl pyrochlorophyllide a, and methyl pyropheophorbide a. Spectra have also been collected under a decoupling regime in which resonances of certain hydrogen-bearing carbon atoms are suppressed. These observations are used to assign the solid-state spectra. 18 references, 2 figures, 1 table.

Single shot ultrafast dynamic ellipsometry (UDE) of laser-driven shocks in single crystal explosives

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

Whitley, Von H; Mcgrane, Shawn D; Moore, David S

2009-01-01

We report on the first experiments to measure states in shocked energetic single crystals with dynamic ellipsometry. We demonstrate that these ellipsometric techniques can produce reasonable Hugoniot values using small amounts of crystalline RDX and PETN. Pressures, particle velocities and shock velocities obtained using shocked ellipsometry are comparable to those found using gas-gun flyer plates and molecular dynamics calculations. The adaptation of the technique from uniform thin films of polymers to thick non-perfect crystalline materials was a significant achievement. Correct sample preparation proved to be a crucial component. Through trial and error, we were able to resolve polishing issues, samplemore » quality problems, birefringence effects and mounting difficulties that were not encountered using thin polymer films.« less

The Disk of 48 Lib Revealed by NPOI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lembryk, Ludwik; Tycner, C.; Sigut, A.; Zavala, R. T.

2013-01-01

We present a study of the disk around the Be star 48 Lib, where NLTE numerical disk models are being compared to the spectral and interferometric data to constrain the physical properties of the inner disk structure. The computational models are generated using the BEDISK code, which accounts for heating and cooling of various atoms in the disk and assumes solar chemical composition. A large set of self-consistent disk models produced with the BEDISK code is in turn used to generate synthetic spectra and images assuming a wide range of inclination angles using the BERAY code. The aim of this project is to constrain the physical properties as well as the inclination angles using both spectroscopic and interferometric data. The interferometric data were obtained using the Naval Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI), with the focus on Hydrogen Balmer-alpha emission, which is the strongest emission line present due to the circumstellar structure. Because 48 Lib shows clear asymmetric spectral lines, we discuss how we model the asymmetric peaks of the Halpha line by combining two models computed with different density structures. The corresponding synthetic images of these combined density structures are then Fourier transformed and compared to the interferometric data. This numerical strategy has the potential to easily model the commonly observed variation of the ratio of the violet-to-red (V/R ratio) emission peaks and constrain the long-term variability associated with the disk of 48 Lib as well as other emission-line stars that show similar variability.

Sorption Behavior of Compressed CO2 and CH4 on Ultrathin Hybrid Poly(POSS-imide) Layers.

PubMed

Raaijmakers, Michiel J T; Ogieglo, Wojciech; Wiese, Martin; Wessling, Matthias; Nijmeijer, Arian; Benes, Nieck E

2015-12-09

Sorption of compressed gases into thin polymeric films is essential for applications including gas sensors and membrane based gas separation. For glassy polymers, the sorption behavior is dependent on the nonequilibrium status of the polymer. The uptake of molecules by a polymer is generally accompanied by dilation, or swelling, of the polymer material. In turn, this dilation can result in penetrant induced plasticization and physical aging that affect the nonequilibrium status of the polymer. Here, we investigate the dilation and sorption behavior of ultrathin membrane layers of a hybrid inorganic-organic network material that consists of alternating polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and imide groups, upon exposure to compressed carbon dioxide and methane. The imide precursor contains fluoroalkene groups that provide affinity toward carbon dioxide, while the octa-functionalized silsesquioxane provides a high degree of cross-linking. This combination allows for extremely high sorption capacities, while structural rearrangements of the network are hindered. We study the simultaneous uptake of gases and dilation of the thin films at high pressures using spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. Ellipsometry provides the changes in both the refractive index and the film thickness, and allows for accurate quantification of sorption and swelling. In contrast, gravimetric and volumetric measurements only provide a single parameter; this does not allow an accurate correction for, for instance, the changes in buoyancy because of the extensive geometrical changes of highly swelling films. The sorption behavior of the ultrathin hybrid layers depends on the fluoroalkene group content. At low pressure, the apparent molar volume of the gases is low compared to the liquid molar volume of carbon dioxide and methane, respectively. At high gas concentrations in the polymer film, the apparent molar volume of carbon dioxide and methane exceeds that of the liquid molar volume, and approaches that of the gas phase. The high sorption capacity and reversible dilation characteristics of the presented materials provide new directions for applications including gas sensors and gas separation membranes.

Surface modifications caused by a swift heavy ion irradiation on crystalline p-type gallium antimonide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jadhav, Vidya

2015-09-01

Surface modifications caused by a swift heavy ion irradiation on crystalline p-type gallium antimonide crystal have been reported. Single crystal, 1 0 0> orientations and ∼500 μm thick p-type GaSb samples with carrier concentration of 3.30 × 1017 cm-3 were irradiated at 100 MeV Fe7+ ions. We have used 15UD Pelletron facilities at IUAC with varying fluences of 5 × 1010-1 × 1014 ions cm-2. The effects of irradiation on these samples have been investigated using, spectroscopic ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy and ultraviolet-visible-NIR spectroscopy techniques. Ellipsometry parameters, psi (Ψ) and delta (Δ) for the unirradiated sample and samples irradiated with different fluences were recorded. The data were fit to a three phase model to determine the refractive index and extinction coefficient. The refractive index and extinction coefficient for various fluences in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared, regimes were evaluated. Atomic force microscopy has been used to study these surface modifications. In order to have more statistical information about the surface, we have plotted the height structure histogram for all the samples. For unirradiated sample, we observed the Gaussian fitting. This result indicates the more ordered height structure symmetry. Whereas for the sample irradiated with the fluence of 1 × 1013, 5 × 1013 and 1 × 1014 ions cm-2, we observed the scattered data. The width of the histogram for samples irradiated up to the fluence of 1 × 1013 ion cm-2 was found to be almost same however it decreased at higher fluence. UV reflectance spectra of the sample irradiated with increasing fluences exhibit three peaks at 292, 500 and 617 nm represent the high energy GaSb; E1, E1 + Δ and E2 band gaps in all irradiated samples.

Target geometrical effects on the stagnation layer formed by colliding a pair of laser produced copper plasmas

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

Fallon, C., E-mail: colm.fallon5@mail.dcu.ie; Hayden, P.; Walsh, N.

We present the results of a time and space resolved optical-spectroscopic study of colliding plasmas formed at the front surfaces of flat and inclined Cu slab targets as a function of both the distance and the wedge angle between them for angles ranging from 100° to 180° (laterally colliding plasmas). The key parameters studied are stagnation layer density, temperature, duration, and kinetics of atomic/ionic spatial distributions and all have been found to vary significantly with wedge angle. It is found that the density and temperature of the stagnation layer decrease with increasing wedge angle. It is also found that themore » larger the wedge angle, the tighter and more well defined the stagnation layer formed.« less

Angular position of the cleat according to torsional parameters of the cyclist's lower limb.

PubMed

Ramos-Ortega, Javier; Domínguez, Gabriel; Castillo, José Manuel; Fernández-Seguín, Lourdes; Munuera, Pedro V

2014-05-01

The aim of this work was to study the relationship of torsional and rotational parameters of the lower limb with a specific angular position of the cleat to establish whether these variables affect the adjustment of the cleat. Correlational study. Motion analysis laboratory. Thirty-seven male cyclists of high performance. The variables studied of the cyclist's lower limb were hip rotation (internal and external), tibial torsion angle, Q angle, and forefoot adductus angle. The cleat angle was measured through a photograph of the sole and with an Rx of this using the software AutoCAD 2008. The variables were photograph angle (photograph), the variable denominated cleat-tarsus minor angle, and a variable denominated cleat-second metatarsal angle (Rx). Analysis included the intraclass correlation coefficient for the reliability of the measurements, Student's t test performed on the dependent variables to compare side, and the multiple linear regression models were calculated using the software SPSS 15.0 for Windows. The Student's t test performed on the dependent variables to compare side showed no significant differences (P = 0.209 for the photograph angle, P = 0.735 for the cleat-tarsus minor angle, and P = 0.801 for the cleat-second metatarsal angle). Values of R and R2 for the photograph angle model were 0.303 and 0.092 (P = 0.08), the cleat/tarsus minor angle model were 0.683 and 0.466 (P < 0.001), and the cleat/second metatarsal angle model were 0.618 and 0.382, respectively (P < 0.001). The equation given by the model was cleat-tarsus minor angle = 75.094 - (0.521 × forefoot adductus angle) + (0.116 × outward rotation of the hips) + (0.220 × Q angle).

Jet Fuel Thermal Stability Investigations using Ellipsometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nash, Leigh; Klettlinger, Jennifer; Vasu, Subith

2017-01-01

Ellipsometry is an optical technique used to measure the thickness of thin films. This technique was used to measure the thickness of deposits created by heated jet fuel, specifically Sasol IPK on stainless steel tubes. A new amorphous model was used to iteratively determine the film thickness. This method was found to be repeatable, and the thickness of deposit increased with increasing temperature and increasing concentration of naphthalene.

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Reverberation Mapping Project: Ensemble Spectroscopic Variability of Quasar Broad Emission Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Mouyuan; Trump, Jonathan R.; Shen, Yue; Brandt, W. N.; Dawson, Kyle; Denney, Kelly D.; Hall, Patrick B.; Ho, Luis C.; Horne, Keith; Jiang, Linhua; Richards, Gordon T.; Schneider, Donald P.; Bizyaev, Dmitry; Kinemuchi, Karen; Oravetz, Daniel; Pan, Kaike; Simmons, Audrey

2015-09-01

We explore the variability of quasars in the Mg ii and {{H}}β broad emission lines and ultraviolet/optical continuum emission using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Reverberation Mapping project (SDSS-RM). This is the largest spectroscopic study of quasar variability to date: our study includes 29 spectroscopic epochs from SDSS-RM over 6 months, containing 357 quasars with Mg ii and 41 quasars with {{H}}β . On longer timescales, the study is also supplemented with two-epoch data from SDSS-I/II. The SDSS-I/II data include an additional 2854 quasars with Mg ii and 572 quasars with {{H}}β . The Mg ii emission line is significantly variable ({{Δ }}f/f∼ 10% on ∼100-day timescales), a necessary prerequisite for its use for reverberation mapping studies. The data also confirm that continuum variability increases with timescale and decreases with luminosity, and the continuum light curves are consistent with a damped random-walk model on rest-frame timescales of ≳ 5 days. We compare the emission-line and continuum variability to investigate the structure of the broad-line region. Broad-line variability shows a shallower increase with timescale compared to the continuum emission, demonstrating that the broad-line transfer function is not a δ-function. {{H}}β is more variable than Mg ii (roughly by a factor of ∼1.5), suggesting different excitation mechanisms, optical depths and/or geometrical configuration for each emission line. The ensemble spectroscopic variability measurements enabled by the SDSS-RM project have important consequences for future studies of reverberation mapping and black hole mass estimation of 1\\lt z\\lt 2 quasars.

CallFUSE Version 3: A Data Reduction Pipeline for the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-01

Earth orbit with an inclination of 25 to the equator and an approximately 100 minute orbital period. Data obtained with the instrument are reduced...throughout the mis- sion reveal that the gratings’ orbital motion depends on three parameters: beta angle (the angle between the target and the anti- Sun ...University, Bal- timore, MD; wvd@pha.jhu.edu. 3 Space Telescope Science Institute, ESS/SSG, Baltimore, MD. 4 Current address: Earth Orientation Department

Highly Reversible Water Oxidation at Ordered Nanoporous Iridium Electrodes Based on an Original Atomic Layer Deposition.

PubMed

Schlicht, Stefanie; Haschke, Sandra; Mikhailovskii, Vladimir; Manshina, Alina; Bachmann, Julien

2018-05-01

Nanoporous iridium electrodes are prepared and electrochemically investigated towards the water oxidation (oxygen evolution) reaction. The preparation is based on 'anodic' aluminum oxide templates, which provide straight, cylindrical nanopores. Their walls are coated using atomic layer deposition (ALD) with a newly developed reaction which results in a metallic iridium layer. The ALD film growth is quantified by spectroscopic ellipsometry and X-ray reflectometry. The morphology and composition of the electrodes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Their catalytic activity is quantified for various pore geometries by cyclic voltammetry, steady-state electrolysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. With an optimal pore length of L ≈17-20 μm, we achieve current densities of J =0.28 mA cm -2 at pH 5 and J =2.4 mA cm -2 at pH 1. This platform is particularly competitive for achieving moderate current densities at very low overpotentials, that is, for a high degree of reversibility in energy storage.

Strain tuning of electronic structure in Bi 4Ti 3O 12-LaCoO 3 epitaxial thin films

DOE PAGES

Choi, Woo Seok; Lee, Ho Nyung

2015-05-08

In this study, we investigated the crystal and electronic structures of ferroelectric Bi 4Ti 3O 12 single-crystalline thin films site-specifically substituted with LaCoO 3 (LCO). The epitaxial films were grown by pulsed laser epitaxy on NdGaO 3 and SrTiO 3 substrates to vary the degree of strain. With increasing the LCO substitution, we observed a systematic increase in the c-axis lattice constant of the Aurivillius phase related with the modification of pseudo-orthorhombic unit cells. These compositional and structural changes resulted in a systematic decrease in the band gap, i.e., the optical transition energy between the oxygen 2p and transition-metal 3dmore » states, based on a spectroscopic ellipsometry study. In particular, the Co 3d state seems to largely overlap with the Ti t 2g state, decreasing the band gap. Interestingly, the applied tensile strain facilitates the band-gap narrowing, demonstrating that epitaxial strain is a useful tool to tune the electronic structure of ferroelectric transition-metal oxides.« less

Mixed-Penetrant Sorption in Ultrathin Films of Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity PIM-1.

PubMed

Ogieglo, Wojciech; Furchner, Andreas; Ghanem, Bader; Ma, Xiaohua; Pinnau, Ingo; Wessling, Matthias

2017-11-02

Mixed-penetrant sorption into ultrathin films of a superglassy polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) was studied for the first time by using interference-enhanced in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. PIM-1 swelling and the concurrent changes in its refractive index were determined in ultrathin (12-14 nm) films exposed to pure and mixed penetrants. The penetrants included water, n-hexane, and ethanol and were chosen on the basis of their significantly different penetrant-penetrant and penetrant-polymer affinities. This allowed studying microporous polymer responses at diverse ternary compositions and revealed effects such as competition for the sorption sites (for water/n-hexane or ethanol/n-hexane) or enhancement in sorption of typically weakly sorbing water in the presence of more highly sorbing ethanol. The results reveal details of the mutual sorption effects which often complicate comprehension of glassy polymers' behavior in applications such as high-performance membranes, adsorbents, or catalysts. Mixed-penetrant effects are typically very challenging to study directly, and their understanding is necessary owing to a broadly recognized inadequacy of simple extrapolations from measurements in a pure component environment.

Lattice-mediated magnetic order melting in TbMnO 3

DOE PAGES

Baldini, Edoardo; Kubacka, Teresa; Mallett, Benjamin P. P.; ...

2018-03-15

Recent ultrafast magnetic-sensitive measurements have revealed a delayed melting of the long-range cycloid spin order in TbMnO 3 following photoexcitation across the fundamental Mott-Hubbard gap. The microscopic mechanism behind this slow transfer of energy from the photoexcited carriers to the spin degrees of freedom is still elusive and not understood. Here, we address this problem by combining spectroscopic ellipsometry, ultrafast broadband optical spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations. Upon photoexcitation, we observe the emergence of a complex collective response, which is due to high-energy coherent optical phonons coupled to the out-of-equilibrium charge density. This response precedes the magnetic order melting andmore » is interpreted as the fingerprint of the formation of anti-Jahn-Teller polarons. We propose that the charge localization in a long-lived self-trapped state hinders the emission of magnons and other spin-flip mechanisms, causing the energy transfer from the charge to the spin system to be mediated by the reorganization of the lattice. In conclusion, we provide evidence for the coherent excitation of a phonon mode associated with the ferroelectric phase transition.« less

In-cell overlay metrology by using optical metrology tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Honggoo; Han, Sangjun; Hong, Minhyung; Kim, Seungyoung; Lee, Jieun; Lee, DongYoung; Oh, Eungryong; Choi, Ahlin; Park, Hyowon; Liang, Waley; Choi, DongSub; Kim, Nakyoon; Lee, Jeongpyo; Pandev, Stilian; Jeon, Sanghuck; Robinson, John C.

2018-03-01

Overlay is one of the most critical process control steps of semiconductor manufacturing technology. A typical advanced scheme includes an overlay feedback loop based on after litho optical imaging overlay metrology on scribeline targets. The after litho control loop typically involves high frequency sampling: every lot or nearly every lot. An after etch overlay metrology step is often included, at a lower sampling frequency, in order to characterize and compensate for bias. The after etch metrology step often involves CD-SEM metrology, in this case in-cell and ondevice. This work explores an alternative approach using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) metrology and a machine learning analysis technique. Advanced 1x nm DRAM wafers were prepared, including both nominal (POR) wafers with mean overlay offsets, as well as DOE wafers with intentional across wafer overlay modulation. After litho metrology was measured using optical imaging metrology, as well as after etch metrology using both SE and CD-SEM for comparison. We investigate 2 types of machine learning techniques with SE data: model-less and model-based, showing excellent performance for after etch in-cell on-device overlay metrology.

Characterization of ultrathin SOI film and application to short channel MOSFETs.

PubMed

Tang, Xiaohui; Reckinger, Nicolas; Larrieu, Guilhem; Dubois, Emmanuel; Flandre, Denis; Raskin, Jean-Pierre; Nysten, Bernard; Jonas, Alain M; Bayot, Vincent

2008-04-23

In this study, a very dilute solution (NH(4)OH:H(2)O(2):H(2)O 1:8:64 mixture) was employed to reduce the thickness of commercially available SOI wafers down to 3 nm. The etch rate is precisely controlled at 0.11 Å s(-1) based on the self-limited etching speed of the solution. The thickness uniformity of the thin film, evaluated by spectroscopic ellipsometry and by high-resolution x-ray reflectivity, remains constant through the thinning process. Moreover, the film roughness, analyzed by atomic force microscopy, slightly improves during the thinning process. The residual stress in the thin film is much smaller than that obtained by sacrificial oxidation. Mobility, measured by means of a bridge-type Hall bar on 15 nm film, is not significantly reduced compared to the value of bulk silicon. Finally, the thinned SOI wafers were used to fabricate Schottky-barrier metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors with a gate length down to 30 nm, featuring state-of-the-art current drive performance.

Infrared dielectric functions and optical phonons of wurtzite Y x Al1-x N (0  ⩽  x  ⩽  0.22)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ben Sedrine, N.; Zukauskaite, A.; Birch, J.; Jensen, J.; Hultman, L.; Schöche, S.; Schubert, M.; Darakchieva, V.

2015-10-01

YAlN is a new member of the group-III nitride family with potential for applications in next generation piezoelectric and light emitting devices. We report the infrared dielectric functions and optical phonons of wurtzite (0001) Y x Al1-x N epitaxial films with 0  ⩽  x  ⩽  0.22. The films are grown by magnetron sputtering epitaxy on c-plane Al2O3 and their phonon properties are investigated using infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman scattering spectroscopy. The infrared-active E 1(TO) and LO, and the Raman active E 2 phonons are found to exhibit one-mode behavior, which is discussed in the framework of the MREI model. The compositional dependencies of the E 1(TO), E 2 and LO phonon frequencies, the high-frequency limit of the dielectric constant, {{\\varepsilon}∞} , the static dielectric constant, {{\\varepsilon}0} , and the Born effective charge Z B are established and discussed.

Investigation of PTFE transfer films by infrared emission spectroscopy and phase-locked ellipsometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lauer, James L.; Bunting, Bruce G.; Jones, William R., Jr.

1987-01-01

When a PTFE sheet was rubbed unidirectionally over a smooth surface of stainless steel an essentially monomolecular transfer film was formed. By ellipsometric and emission infrared spectroscopic techniques it was shown that the film was 10 to 15 A thick and birefringent. From the intensity differences of infrared bands obtained with a polarizer passing radiation polarized in mutually perpendicular planes, it was possible to deduce transfer film orientation with the direction of rubbing. After standing in air for several weeks the transfer films apparently increased in thickness by as much as threefold. At the same time both the index of refraction and the absorption index decreased. Examination of the surfaces by optical and electron microscopies showed that the films had become porous and flaky. These observations were consistent with previous tribological measurements. The coefficients of friction decreased with the formation of the transfer film but increased again as the film developed breaks. The applicability of the ellipsometric and polarized infrared emission techniques to the identification of monomolecular tribological transfer films of polymers such as PTFE has been demonstrated.

Ordinary and extraordinary dielectric functions of rutile SnO{sub 2} up to 20 eV

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

Feneberg, Martin, E-mail: martin.feneberg@ovgu.de; Lidig, Christian; Lange, Karsten

2014-06-09

Spectroscopic ellipsometry at room temperature is applied in order to determine the ordinary (ε{sub ⊥}) and extraordinary (ε{sub ∥}) dielectric functions (DFs) of rutile SnO{sub 2} corresponding to electric field (E) polarization perpendicular (E⊥c) and parallel (E∥c) to the optical axis (c), respectively. Strong anisotropic behavior is found for the full spectral range from 0.5 up to 20 eV. The onsets of strong absorption are found at 4.28 eV and 5.42 eV for E⊥c and E∥c, respectively. A dipole-forbidden band gap at (3.59 ± 0.2) eV at room temperature is found by line shape fits to the imaginary parts of the DFs. Further high-energy transitionsmore » are resolved. Their accurate energy values are obtained by fitting the second derivatives of the DFs. Comparison to published DFs calculated by ab-initio theory demonstrates that the electron-hole interaction in SnO{sub 2} is strong and has to be included for interpretation.« less

Optical and Morphological Properties of P3HT and P3HT: PCBM Thin Films Used in Photovoltaic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrostea, L.; Girtan, M.; Mallet, R.; Leontie, L.

2018-06-01

This work is focused on the study of some physical properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and poly(e-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl): Methanolfullerene Phenyl-C61-Butyric-Accid-Methyl-Ester (PCBM) blend thin films. Knowing the polymer advantages, such as ease of processing, high thermal stability, strong interaction with light, its properties have captured the attention regarding the changes that can occur in a polymer:fullerene blend in term of them. Polymer and polymer:fullerene blend (1:0.1, 1:0.2, 1:0.4 and 1:0.8 ratios) were deposited by spin coating on glass and SnO2:F (FTO) coated glass. The optical properties were emphasized using spectrophotometry (300 – 2200 nm wavelength range) and spectroscopic ellipsometry models, to obtain the refractive index, extinction coefficient and the transmission (found higher than 80%). According to X-ray diffraction analysis, as-obtained films are amorphous. Investigation of the surface morphology of thin-film samples using Atomic Force Microscopy revealed a crystallite-like surface morphology with crystallite size in the nanometer range.

Mimicking the Humidity Response of the Plant Cell Wall by Using Two-Dimensional Systems: The Critical Role of Amorphous and Crystalline Polysaccharides.

PubMed

Niinivaara, Elina; Faustini, Marco; Tammelin, Tekla; Kontturi, Eero

2016-03-01

Of the composite materials occurring in nature, the plant cell wall is among the most intricate, consisting of a complex arrangement of semicrystalline cellulose microfibrils in a dissipative matrix of lignin and hemicelluloses. Here, a biomimetic, two-dimensional cellulose system of the cell wall structure is introduced where cellulose nanocrystals compose the crystalline portion and regenerated amorphous cellulose composes the dissipative matrix. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and QCM-D are used to study the water vapor uptake of several two-layer systems. Quantitative analysis shows that the vapor-induced swelling of these ultrathin films can be controlled by varying ratios of the chemically identical ordered and unordered cellulose components. Intriguingly, increasing the share of crystalline cellulose appeared to increase the vapor uptake but only in cases for which the interfacial area between the crystalline and amorphous area was relatively large and the thickness of an amorphous overlayer was relatively small. The results show that a biomimetic approach may occasionally provide answers as to why certain native structures exist.

Low-temperature (120 °C) growth of nanocrystalline silicon films prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition from SiCl 4/H 2 gases: Microstructure characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, L.; Gao, J. H.; Xiao, J. Q.; Wen, L. S.; Gong, J.; Sun, C.

2012-01-01

Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) films were prepared using diluted tetrachlorosilane (SiCl4) with various hydrogen flow rates (Hf) by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at a constant substrate temperature (Ts) as low as 120 °C. Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectra (IR) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) were employed to investigate the microstructure and hydrogen bonding of the nc-Si:H films. Our results showed that the microstructure and hydrogen content of the films could be effectively tailored by the hydrogen flow rates, and a distinct transition from amorphous to nanocrystalline phase was observed with an increase of Hf. At an optimal preparation condition, a deposition rate was as high as 3.7 nm/min and the crystallinity reached up to 64.1%. In addition, the effect of hydrogen on the low-temperature growth of nc-Si:H film was proposed in relation to the surface reaction of radicals and the hydrogen diffusion in the surface growing region.

Evidence of plasmon resonances of nickel particles deposited by pulsed laser ablation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Picciotto, A.; Pucker, G.; Torrisi, L.; Bellutti, P.; Caridi, F.; Bagolini, A.

The optical spectra of some metals show pronounced resonance lines caused by collective excitations of conduction electrons. These excitations are known as particle plasmons, Mie plasmons, or surface plasmons. Their spectral properties have attracted a lot of interest, both for fundamental reasons and in a view of applications. Scope of the work is the growth of nanometric metal particles (Ni) and the study of its optical properties by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Ni particles are obtained by implanting SiO2 with pulsed laser ablation followed by heat treatment in inert atmosphere (N2). An analysis of the ellipsometric spectra for samples with different implantation times and energy is presented. Generally, the synthesis of such structures is performed using ion implantation techniques or chemical reaction methods, while here we propose pulsed laser ablation for the generation of these particles and annealing procedures for their activation. The experimental measurements were performed at IRST (Istituto per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica) of Fondazione Bruno Kessler in Trento and at the Physics Department of University of Messina.

Optical and structural characterization of Ge clusters embedded in ZrO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agocs, E.; Zolnai, Z.; Rossall, A. K.; van den Berg, J. A.; Fodor, B.; Lehninger, D.; Khomenkova, L.; Ponomaryov, S.; Gudymenko, O.; Yukhymchuk, V.; Kalas, B.; Heitmann, J.; Petrik, P.

2017-11-01

The change of optical and structural properties of Ge nanoclusters in ZrO2 matrix have been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry versus annealing temperatures. Radio-frequency top-down magnetron sputtering approach was used to produce the samples of different types, i.e. single-layers of pure Ge, pure ZrO2 and Ge-rich-ZrO2 as well as multi-layers stacked of 40 periods of 5-nm-Ge-rich-ZrO2 layers alternated by 5-nm-ZrO2 ones. Germanium nanoclusters in ZrO2 host were formed by rapid-thermal annealing at 600-800 °C during 30 s in nitrogen atmosphere. Reference optical properties for pure ZrO2 and pure Ge have been extracted using single-layer samples. As-deposited multi-layer structures can be perfectly modeled using the effective medium theory. However, annealed multi-layers demonstrated a significant diffusion of elements that was confirmed by medium energy ion scattering measurements. This fact prevents fitting of such annealed structure either by homogeneous or by periodic multi-layer models.

Molecular Orientation in Two Component Vapor-Deposited Glasses: Effect of Substrate Temperature and Molecular Shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, Charles; Jiang, Jing; Walters, Diane; Ediger, Mark

Vapor-deposited glasses are widely investigated for use in organic electronics including the emitting layers of OLED devices. These materials, while macroscopically homogenous, have anisotropic packing and molecular orientation. By controlling this orientation, outcoupling efficiency can be increased by aligning the transition dipole moment of the light-emitting molecules parallel to the substrate. Light-emitting molecules are typically dispersed in a host matrix, as such, it is imperative to understand molecular orientation in two-component systems. In this study we examine two-component vapor-deposited films and the orientations of the constituent molecules using spectroscopic ellipsometry, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy. The role of temperature, composition and molecular shape as it effects molecular orientation is examined for mixtures of DSA-Ph in Alq3 and in TPD. Deposition temperature relative to the glass transition temperature of the two-component mixture is the primary controlling factor for molecular orientation. In mixtures of DSA-Ph in Alq3, the linear DSA-Ph has a horizontal orientation at low temperatures and slight vertical orientation maximized at 0.96Tg,mixture, analogous to one-component films.

Temperature dependence of the interband critical points of bulk Ge and strained Ge on Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernando, Nalin S.; Nunley, T. Nathan; Ghosh, Ayana; Nelson, Cayla M.; Cooke, Jacqueline A.; Medina, Amber A.; Zollner, Stefan; Xu, Chi; Menendez, Jose; Kouvetakis, John

2017-11-01

Epitaxial Ge layers on a Si substrate experience a tensile biaxial stress due to the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients of the Ge epilayer and the Si substrate, which can be measured using asymmetric X-ray diffraction reciprocal space maps. This stress depends on temperature and affects the band structure, interband critical points, and optical spectra. This manuscripts reports careful measurements of the temperature dependence of the dielectric function and the interband critical point parameters of bulk Ge and Ge epilayers on Si using spectroscopic ellipsometry from 80 to 780 K and from 0.8 to 6.5 eV. The authors find a temperature-dependent redshift of the E1 and E1 + Δ1 critical points in Ge on Si (relative to bulk Ge). This redshift can be described well with a model based on thermal expansion coefficients, continuum elasticity theory, and the deformation potential theory for interband transitions. The interband transitions leading to E0‧ and E2 critical points have lower symmetry and therefore are not affected by the stress.

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

Jellison, G. E.; Aytug, T.; Lupini, A. R.

Nanostructured glass films, which are fabricated using spinodally phase-separated low-alkali glasses, have several interesting and useful characteristics, including being robust, non-wetting and antireflective. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements have been performed on one such film and its optical properties were analyzed using a 5-layer structural model of the near-surface region. Since the glass and the film are transparent over the spectral region of the measurement, the Sellmeier model is used to parameterize the dispersion in the refractive index. To simulate the variation of the optical properties of the film over the spot size of the ellipsometer (~ 3 × 5 mm), themore » Sellmeier amplitude is convoluted using a Gaussian distribution. The transition layers between the ambient and the film and between the film and the substrate are modeled as graded layers, where the refractive index varies as a function of depth. These layers are modeled using a two-component Bruggeman effective medium approximation where the two components are the layer above and the layer below. Lastly, the fraction is continuous through the transition layer and is modelled using the incomplete beta function.« less

Interfacial Mechanisms of Water Vapor Sorption into Cellulose Nanofibril Films as Revealed by Quantitative Models.

PubMed

Hakalahti, Minna; Faustini, Marco; Boissière, Cédric; Kontturi, Eero; Tammelin, Tekla

2017-09-11

Humidity is an efficient instrument for facilitating changes in local architectures of two-dimensional surfaces assembled from nanoscaled biomaterials. Here, complementary surface-sensitive methods are used to collect explicit and precise experimental evidence on the water vapor sorption into (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO) oxidized cellulose nanofibril (CNF) thin film over the relative humidity (RH) range from 0 to 97%. Changes in thickness and mass of the film due to water vapor uptake are tracked using spectroscopic ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, respectively. Experimental data is evaluated by the quantitative Langmuir/Flory-Huggins/clustering model and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller model. The isotherms coupled with the quantitative models unveil distinct regions of predominant sorption modes: specific sorption of water molecules below 10% RH, multilayer build-up between 10 to 75% RH, and clustering of water molecules above 75% RH. The study reveals the sorption mechanisms underlying the well-known water uptake behavior of TEMPO oxidized CNF directly at the gas-solid interface.

Functionalization of gold and graphene electrodes by p-maleimido-phenyl towards thiol-sensing systems investigated by EQCM and IR ellipsometric spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neubert, Tilmann J.; Rösicke, Felix; Sun, Guoguang; Janietz, Silvia; Gluba, Marc A.; Hinrichs, Karsten; Nickel, Norbert H.; Rappich, Jörg

2017-11-01

Electrografting of gold and graphene surfaces by functional p-(N-maleimido)phenyl groups was performed by reduction of p-(N-maleimido)phenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate. The reduction was carried out using cyclic voltammetry coupled with micro-gravimetric measurements by means of electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The overall deposited mass on gold was higher than on graphene. However, the Faradaic efficiency was lower on Au (14%) compared to graphene (22%) after the first potential scan. Subsequently, the maleimide functional groups have been tested for immobilization of terminal thiols using (4-nitrobenzyl)mercaptan for the functionalized graphene surface and a cysteine-modified peptide for the functionalized gold surface. The functionalization by p-(N-maleimido)phenyl groups and the following thiol coupling of the particular surface was proven by infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE). In addition, the interaction of the tetrabutylammonium and tetrafluoroborate ions present in the electrolyte with the Au and graphene electrodes was investigated by EQCM and revealed less electrostatic interaction of graphene with these ions in solution compared to the metal (Au) surface.

Structure-Dependent Optical Properties of Self-Organized Bi2Se3 Nanostructures: From Nanocrystals to Nanoflakes.

PubMed

Yang, Shang-Dong; Yang, Liao; Zheng, Yu-Xiang; Zhou, Wen-Jie; Gao, Meng-Yu; Wang, Song-You; Zhang, Rong-Jun; Chen, Liang-Yao

2017-08-30

Bismuth selenide (Bi 2 Se 3 ), with a wide bulk band gap and single massless Dirac cone at the surface, is a promising three-dimensional topological insulator. Bi 2 Se 3 possesses gapless surface states and an insulator-like bulk band gap as a new type of quantum matter. Different Bi 2 Se 3 nanostructures were prepared using electron beam evaporation with high production efficiency. Structural investigations by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction revealed the sample stoichiometries and the structural transition mechanism from nanocrystals to nanoflakes. The optical properties systematically probed and analyzed by spectroscopic ellipsometry showed strong dependence on the nanostructures and were also predicted to have structure-modifiable technological prospects. The optical parameters, plasma frequencies, scattering rates of the free electrons, and optical band gaps were related to the topological properties of the Bi 2 Se 3 nanostructures via light-matter interactions, offering new opportunities and approaches for studies on topological insulators and spintronics. The high-quality Bi 2 Se 3 nanostructures provide advantages in exploring novel physics and exploiting prospective applications.

Rhodium-Coordinated Poly(arylene-ethynylene)-alt-Poly(arylene-vinylene) Copolymer Acting as Photocatalyst for Visible-Light-Powered NAD+/NADH Reduction

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

A 2,2′-bipyridyl-containing poly(arylene-ethynylene)-alt-poly(arylene-vinylene) polymer, acting as a light-harvesting ligand system, was synthesized and coupled to an organometallic rhodium complex designed for photocatalytic NAD+/NADH reduction. The material, which absorbs over a wide spectral range, was characterized by using various analytical techniques, confirming its chemical structure and properties. The dielectric function of the material was determined from spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. Photocatalytic reduction of nucleotide redox cofactors under visible light irradiation (390–650 nm) was performed and is discussed in detail. The new metal-containing polymer can be used to cover large surface areas (e.g. glass beads) and, due to this immobilization step, can be easily separated from the reaction solution after photolysis. Because of its high stability, the polymer-based catalyst system can be repeatedly used under different reaction conditions for (photo)chemical reduction of NAD+. With this concept, enzymatic, photo-biocatalytic systems for solar energy conversion can be facilitated, and the precious metal catalyst can be recycled. PMID:25130570

Influence of transition metal doping on the structural, optical, and magnetic properties of TiO2 films deposited on Si substrates by a sol–gel process

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Transition metal (TM)-doped TiO2 films (TM = Co, Ni, and Fe) were deposited on Si(100) substrates by a sol–gel method. With the same dopant content, Co dopants catalyze the anatase-to-rutile transformation (ART) more obviously than Ni and Fe doping. This is attributed to the different strain energy induced by the different dopants. The optical properties of TM-doped TiO2 films were studied with spectroscopic ellipsometry data. With increasing dopant content, the optical band gap (EOBG) shifts to lower energy. With the same dopant content, the EOBG of Co-doped TiO2 film is the smallest and that of Fe-doped TiO2 film is the largest. The results are related to electric disorder due to the ART. Ferromagnetic behaviors were clearly observed for TM-doped TiO2 films except the undoped TiO2 film which is weakly magnetic. Additionally, it is found that the magnetizations of the TM-doped TiO2 films decrease with increasing dopant content. PMID:24350904

Lattice-mediated magnetic order melting in TbMnO 3

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

Baldini, Edoardo; Kubacka, Teresa; Mallett, Benjamin P. P.

Recent ultrafast magnetic-sensitive measurements have revealed a delayed melting of the long-range cycloid spin order in TbMnO 3 following photoexcitation across the fundamental Mott-Hubbard gap. The microscopic mechanism behind this slow transfer of energy from the photoexcited carriers to the spin degrees of freedom is still elusive and not understood. Here, we address this problem by combining spectroscopic ellipsometry, ultrafast broadband optical spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations. Upon photoexcitation, we observe the emergence of a complex collective response, which is due to high-energy coherent optical phonons coupled to the out-of-equilibrium charge density. This response precedes the magnetic order melting andmore » is interpreted as the fingerprint of the formation of anti-Jahn-Teller polarons. We propose that the charge localization in a long-lived self-trapped state hinders the emission of magnons and other spin-flip mechanisms, causing the energy transfer from the charge to the spin system to be mediated by the reorganization of the lattice. In conclusion, we provide evidence for the coherent excitation of a phonon mode associated with the ferroelectric phase transition.« less

Surface-attached orthogonal gradient hydrogels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chinnayan Kannan, Pandiyarajan; Genzer, Jan

Gradient materials play a significant role in the creation of artificial implants due to their potential to reduce stress concentration when two or more structures with different mechanical properties are joined together, e . g . , tendon, a fibrous protein that connects the soft and hard muscle tissues in our body. We employ free radical polymerization to synthesize random copolymers containing 90% of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm), 5% photo-active methacrylyloxybenzophenone (MABP) and 5% thermally-active styrenesulfonylazide (SSAz) crosslinkers. The presence of MABP and SSAz facilitates adjusting gel density on a flat support in two orthogonal directions by spatially and independently controlling UV dosage and temperature. The swelling behavior (α) of the gels in water and methanol is examined using a spectroscopic ellipsometry and the degree of swelling depends on the extent of crosslinking that ranges from α = 1-1.2 (highly crosslinked gels) to α = 4-5 (loosely crosslinked gels). We compare the network properties surface-attached gels and un-attached identical counterparts and confirm that the linear swelling ratio of surface-attached networks is higher than that of the corresponding un-attached gels.

Ellipsometry study of optical parameters of AgIn5S8 crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isik, Mehmet; Gasanly, Nizami

2015-12-01

AgIn5S8 crystals grown by Bridgman method were characterized for optical properties by ellipsometry measurements. Spectral dependence of optical parameters; real and imaginary parts of the pseudodielectric function, pseudorefractive index, pseudoextinction coefficient, reflectivity and absorption coefficient were obtained from ellipsometry experiments carried out in the 1.2-6.2 eV range. Direct band gap energy of 1.84 eV was found from the analysis of absorption coefficient vs. photon energy. The oscillator energy, dispersion energy and zero-frequency refractive index, high-frequency dielectric constant values were found from the analysis of the experimental data using Wemple-DiDomenico and Spitzer-Fan models. Crystal structure and atomic composition ratio of the constituent elements in the AgIn5S8 crystal were revealed from structural characterization techniques of X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

In-situ ellipsometry: applications to thin film research, development, and production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kief, Mark T.

1999-07-01

Many industries including the optics industry, semiconductor industry, and magnetic storage industry are deeply rooted in the science and technology of the film materials and thin film based devices. Research in novel thin film systems and the engineering of artificial structures increasingly requires a control on the atomic scale in both thickness and lateral order. Development of the deposition and fabrication processes for these thin film structures requires technical sophistication and efficiency combined with an understanding of the multi-faceted process interactions. The production of these materials necessitates a remarkable degree of control to minimize scrap and assure good performance. Furthermore, in today's industry these operations must occur at an ever accelerating pace. In this article, we will review one technique which can make these challenges more tractable-- insitu ellipsometry. This is a very powerful tool which is capable of characterizing thin film processes in real-time. We review the art and illustrate with novel applications to metal thin film growth. In addition, we will illustrate how information obtained with insitu ellipsometry can predict the end use thin film properties such as the transport properties. In conclusion, further advances in insitu ellipsometry and its applications will be discussed in terms of needs and trends as a tool for thin film research, development and production.

In-situ ellipsometry: applications to thin film research, development, and production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kief, M. T.

1999-07-01

Many industries including the optics industry, semiconductor industry, and magnetic storage industry are deeply rooted in the science and technology of thin film materials and thin film based devices. Research in novel thin film systems and the engineering of artificial structures increasingly requires a control on the atomic scale in both thickness and lateral order. Development of the deposition and fabrication processes for these thin film structures requires technical sophistication and efficiency combined with an understanding of the multi-faceted process interactions. The production of these materials necessitates a remarkable degree of control to minimize scrap and assure good performance. Furthermore, in today's industry these operations must occur at an ever accelerating pace. In this article, we will review one technique which can make these challenges more tractable - insitu ellipsometry. This is a very powerful tool which is capable of characterizing thin film processes in real-time. We review the art and illustrate with novel applications to metal thin film growth. In addition, we will illustrate how information obtained with insitu ellipsometry can predict the end use thin film properties such as the transport properties. In conclusion, further advances in insitu ellipsometry and its applications will be discussed in terms of needs and trends as a tool for thin film research, development and production.

Energy States of Molecules

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hollenberg, J. Leland

1970-01-01

Discusses molecular spectroscopy arising from transitions within rotational, vibrational, and electronic energy states. Using quantum mechanical formuli, the author describes how these spectroscopic methods can be used to determine internuclear distances, bond energies, bond angles, dipole moments, and other details. Concludes with a selected…

Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of Cu 2ZnGeSe 4. First-Principles Calculations and Vacuum-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Ellipsometric Studies

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

Choi, Sukgeun; Park, Ji-Sang; Donohue, Andrea

2015-11-19

Cu 2ZnGeSe 4 is of interest for the development of next-generation thin-film photovoltaic technologies. To understand its electronic structure and related fundamental optical properties, we perform first-principles calculations for three structural variations: kesterite, stannite, and primitive-mixed CuAu phases. The calculated data are compared with the room-temperature dielectric functionϵ=ϵ1+iϵ2 spectrum of polycrystalline Cu 2ZnGeSe 4 determined by vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopic ellipsometry in the photon-energy range of 0.7 to 9.0 eV. Ellipsometric data are modeled with the sum of eight Tauc-Lorentz oscillators, and the best-fit model yields the band-gap and Tauc-gap energies of 1.25 and 1.19 eV, respectively. A comparison of overall peakmore » shapes and relative intensities between experimental spectra and the calculated ϵ data for three structural variations suggests that the sample may not have a pure (ordered) kesterite phase. We found that the complex refractive index N=n+ik, normal-incidence reflectivity R, and absorption coefficients α are calculated from the modeled ϵ spectrum, which are also compared with those of Cu 2ZnSnSe 4 . The spectral features for Cu 2ZnGeSe 4 appear to be weaker and broader than those for Cu 2ZnSnSe 4 , which is possibly due to more structural imperfections presented in Cu 2ZnGeSe 4 than Cu 2ZnSnSe 4 .« less

Using a fast dual-wavelength imaging ellipsometric system to measure the flow thickness profile of an oil thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Chih-Wei; Han, Chien-Yuan; Jhou, Jhe-Yi; Peng, Zeng-Yi

2017-11-01

Dual-wavelength light sources with stroboscopic illumination technique were applied in a process of photoelastic modulated ellipsometry to retrieve two-dimensional ellipsometric parameters of thin films on a silicon substrate. Two laser diodes were alternately switched on and modulated by a programmable pulse generator to generate four short pulses at specific temporal phase angles in a modulation cycle, and short pulses were used to freeze the intensity variation of the PEM modulated signal that allows ellipsometric images to be captured by a charge-coupled device. Although the phase retardation of a photoelastic modulator is related to the light wavelength, we employed an equivalent phase retardation technique to avoid any setting from the photoelastic modulator. As a result, the ellipsometric parameters of different wavelengths may be rapidly obtained using this dual-wavelength ellipsometric system every 4 s. Both static and dynamic experiments are demonstrated in this work.

Birefringent Stable Glass with Predominantly Isotropic Molecular Orientation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Tianyi; Exarhos, Annemarie L.; Alguire, Ethan C.; Gao, Feng; Salami-Ranjbaran, Elmira; Cheng, Kevin; Jia, Tiezheng; Subotnik, Joseph E.; Walsh, Patrick J.; Kikkawa, James M.; Fakhraai, Zahra

2017-09-01

Birefringence in stable glasses produced by physical vapor deposition often implies molecular alignment similar to liquid crystals. As such, it remains unclear whether these glasses share the same energy landscape as liquid-quenched glasses that have been aged for millions of years. Here, we produce stable glasses of 9-(3,5-di(naphthalen-1-yl)phenyl)anthracene molecules that retain three-dimensional shapes and do not preferentially align in a specific direction. Using a combination of angle- and polarization-dependent photoluminescence and ellipsometry experiments, we show that these stable glasses possess a predominantly isotropic molecular orientation while being optically birefringent. The intrinsic birefringence strongly correlates with increased density, showing that molecular ordering is not required to produce stable glasses or optical birefringence, and provides important insights into the process of stable glass formation via surface-mediated equilibration. To our knowledge, such novel amorphous packing has never been reported in the past.

Study of changes in properties of solar sail materials from radiation exposure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, T.

1977-01-01

Techniques for monitoring changes in preparation of solar sail materials resulting from space radiation simulation, stressing (e.g., thermal, mechanical) and exposure to terrestrial environments are developed. The properties of interest are: metallic coating deterioration, polymeric film deterioration, interfacial debonding and possible metallic coating diffusion into the polymeric film. Four accelerated tests were devised to simulate the possible degradation processes mentioned above. These four tests are: a thermal shock test to simulate the wide variation of temperature expected in space (260 C to -100 C), a cyclic temperature test to stimulate the 6 minute temperature cycle anticipated in space, a mechanical vibration test to simulate mechanical bonding, folding and handling, and a humidity test to simulate terrestrial environment effects. The techniques for monitoring property changes are: visual and microscopic examination, ellipsometry, surface potential difference (SPD), photoelectron emission (PEE), and water contact angles.

Maleimide-activated aryl diazonium salts for electrode surface functionalization with biological and redox-active molecules.

PubMed

Harper, Jason C; Polsky, Ronen; Wheeler, David R; Brozik, Susan M

2008-03-04

A versatile and simple method is introduced for formation of maleimide-functionalized surfaces using maleimide-activated aryl diazonium salts. We show for the first time electrodeposition of N-(4-diazophenyl)maleimide tetrafluoroborate on gold and carbon electrodes which was characterized via voltammetry, grazing angle FTIR, and ellipsometry. Electrodeposition conditions were used to control film thickness and yielded submonolayer-to-multilayer grafting. The resulting phenylmaleimide surfaces served as effective coupling agents for electrode functionalization with ferrocene and the redox-active protein cytochrome c. The utility of phenylmaleimide diazonium toward formation of a diazonium-activated conjugate, followed by direct electrodeposition of the diazonium-modified DNA onto the electrode surface, was also demonstrated. Effective electron transfer was obtained between immobilized molecules and the electrodes. This novel application of N-phenylmaleimide diazonium may facilitate the development of bioelectronic devices including biofuel cells, biosensors, and DNA and protein microarrays.

Electrical tuning of the polarization state of light using graphene-integrated anisotropic metasurfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta-Gupta, Shourya; Dabidian, Nima; Kholmanov, Iskandar; Belkin, Mikhail A.; Shvets, Gennady

2017-03-01

Plasmonic metasurfaces have been employed for moulding the flow of transmitted and reflected light, thereby enabling numerous applications that benefit from their ultra-thin sub-wavelength format. Their appeal is further enhanced by the incorporation of active electro-optic elements, paving the way for dynamic control of light's properties. In this paper, we realize a dynamic polarization state generator using a graphene-integrated anisotropic metasurface (GIAM) that converts the linear polarization of the incident light into an elliptical one. This is accomplished by using an anisotropic metasurface with two principal polarization axes, one of which possesses a Fano-type resonance. A gate-controlled single-layer graphene integrated with the metasurface was employed as an electro-optic element controlling the phase and intensity of light polarized along the resonant axis of the GIAM. When the incident light is polarized at an angle to the resonant axis of the metasurface, the ellipticity of the reflected light can be dynamically controlled by the application of a gate voltage. Thus accomplished dynamic polarization control is experimentally demonstrated and characterized by measuring the Stokes polarization parameters. Large changes of the ellipticity and the tilt angle of the polarization ellipse are observed. Our measurements show that the tilt angle can be changed from positive values through zero to negative values while keeping the ellipticity constant, potentially paving the way to rapid ellipsometry and other characterization techniques requiring fast polarization shifting. This article is part of the themed issue 'New horizons for nanophotonics'.

A synchrotron-radiation-based variable angle ellipsometer for the visible to vacuum ultraviolet spectral range

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

Neumann, M. D., E-mail: maciej.neumann@isas.de; Cobet, C.; Esser, N.

2014-05-15

A rotating analyzer spectroscopic polarimeter and ellipsometer with a wide-range θ-2θ goniometer installed at the Insertion Device Beamline of the Metrology Light Source in Berlin is presented. With a combination of transmission- and reflection-based polarizing elements and the inherent degree of polarization of the undulator radiation, this ellipsometer is able to cover photon energies from about 2 eV up to 40 eV. Additionally, a new compensator design based on a CaF{sub 2} Fresnel rhomb is presented. This compensator allows ellipsometric measurements with circular polarization in the vacuum ultraviolet spectral range and thus, for example, the characterization of depolarizing samples. The new instrumentmore » was initially used for the characterization of the polarization of the beamline. The technical capabilities of the ellipsometer are demonstrated by a cohesive wide-range measurement of the dielectric function of epitaxially grown ZnO.« less

A phenomenological approach to modeling chemical dynamics in nonlinear and two-dimensional spectroscopy.

PubMed

Ramasesha, Krupa; De Marco, Luigi; Horning, Andrew D; Mandal, Aritra; Tokmakoff, Andrei

2012-04-07

We present an approach for calculating nonlinear spectroscopic observables, which overcomes the approximations inherent to current phenomenological models without requiring the computational cost of performing molecular dynamics simulations. The trajectory mapping method uses the semi-classical approximation to linear and nonlinear response functions, and calculates spectra from trajectories of the system's transition frequencies and transition dipole moments. It rests on identifying dynamical variables important to the problem, treating the dynamics of these variables stochastically, and then generating correlated trajectories of spectroscopic quantities by mapping from the dynamical variables. This approach allows one to describe non-Gaussian dynamics, correlated dynamics between variables of the system, and nonlinear relationships between spectroscopic variables of the system and the bath such as non-Condon effects. We illustrate the approach by applying it to three examples that are often not adequately treated by existing analytical models--the non-Condon effect in the nonlinear infrared spectra of water, non-Gaussian dynamics inherent to strongly hydrogen bonded systems, and chemical exchange processes in barrier crossing reactions. The methods described are generally applicable to nonlinear spectroscopy throughout the optical, infrared and terahertz regions.

Spectroscopic Chemical Analysis Methods and Apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hug, William F. (Inventor); Lane, Arthur L. (Inventor); Bhartia, Rohit (Inventor); Reid, Ray D. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.

Spectroscopic Chemical Analysis Methods and Apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hug, William F. (Inventor); Lane, Arthur L. (Inventor); Reid, Ray D. (Inventor); Bhartia, Rohit (Inventor)

2018-01-01

Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.

Polarization light curve modelling of corotating interaction regions in the wind of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

St-Louis, N.; Tremblay, Patrick; Ignace, Richard

2018-02-01

The intriguing WN4b star WR 6 has been known to display epoch-dependent spectroscopic, photometric and polarimetric variability for several decades. In this paper, we set out to verify if a simplified analytical model in which corotating interaction regions (CIRs) threading an otherwise spherical wind is able to reproduce the many broad-band continuum light curves from the literature with a reasonable set of parameters. We modified the optically thin model developed by Ignace, St-Louis & Proulx-Giraldeau to approximately account for multiple scattering and used it to fit 13 separate data sets of this star. By including two CIRs in the wind, we obtained reasonable fits for all data sets with coherent values for the inclination of the rotation axis (i0 = 166°) and for its orientation in the plane of the sky, although in the latter case we obtained two equally acceptable values (ψ = 63° and 152°) from the polarimetry. Additional line profile variation simulations using the Sobolev approximation for the line transfer allowed us to eliminate the ψ = 152° solution. With the adopted configuration (i0 = 166° and ψ = 63°), we were able to reproduce all data sets relatively well with two CIRs located near the stellar equator and always separated by ˜90° in longitude. The epoch dependence comes from the fact that these CIRs migrate along the surface of the star. Density contrasts smaller than a factor of 2 and large opening angles for the CIR (β ⪆ 35°) were found to best reproduce the type of spectroscopic variability reported in the literature.

Comparison between medial rectus pulley fixation and augmented recession in children with convergence excess and variable-angle infantile esotropia.

PubMed

Fouad, Heba M; Abdelhakim, Mohamad A; Awadein, Ahmed; Elhilali, Hala

2016-10-01

To compare the outcomes of medial rectus (MR) muscle pulley fixation and augmented recession in children with convergence excess esotropia and variable-angle infantile esotropia. This was a prospective randomized interventional study in which children with convergence excess esotropia or variable-angle infantile esotropia were randomly allocated to either augmented MR muscle recession (augmented group) or MR muscle pulley posterior fixation (pulley group). In convergence excess, the MR recession was based on the average of distance and near angles of deviation with distance correction in the augmented group, and on the distance angle of deviation in the pulley group. In variable-angle infantile esotropia, the MR recession was based on the average of the largest and smallest angles in the augmented group and on the smallest angle in the pulley group. Pre- and postoperative ductions, versions, pattern strabismus, smallest and largest angles of deviation, and angle disparity were analyzed. Surgery was performed on 60 patients: 30 underwent bilateral augmented MR recession, and 30 underwent bilateral MR recession with pulley fixation. The success rate was statistically significantly higher (P = 0.037) in the pulley group (70%) than in the augmented group (40%). The postoperative smallest and largest angles and the angle disparity were statistically significantly lower in the pulley group than the augmented group (P < 0.01). Medial rectus muscle pulley fixation is a useful surgical step for addressing marked variability of the angle in variable angle esotropia and convergence excess esotropia. Copyright © 2016 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO): Visible light coronal imaging and spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brueckner, Guenter E.; Howard, Russell A.; Koomen, Martin J.; Korendyke, C.; Michels, D. J.; Socker, D. G.; Lamy, Philippe; Llebaria, Antoine; Maucherat, J.; Schwenn, Rainer

1992-01-01

The Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) is a triple coronagraph being jointly developed for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission. LASCO comprises three nested coronagraphs (C1, C2, and C3) that image the solar corona for 1.1 to 30 solar radii (C1: 1.1 to 3 solar radii, C2: 1.5 to 6 solar radii, and C3: 3 to 30.0 solar radii). The inner coronagraph (C1) is a newly developed mirror version of the classic Lyot coronagraph without an external occultor, while the middle coronagraph (C2) and the outer coronagraph (C3) are externally occulted instruments. High resolution coronal spectroscopy from 1.1 to 3 R solar radii can be performed by using a Fabry-Perot interferometer, which is part of C1. High volume memories and a high speed microprocessor enable extensive onboard image processing. Image compression by factors of 10 to 20 will result in the transmission of 10 to 20 full images per hour.

Discrete retardance second harmonic generation ellipsometry.

PubMed

Dehen, Christopher J; Everly, R Michael; Plocinik, Ryan M; Hedderich, Hartmut G; Simpson, Garth J

2007-01-01

A new instrument was constructed to perform discrete retardance nonlinear optical ellipsometry (DR-NOE). The focus of the design was to perform second harmonic generation NOE while maximizing sample and application flexibility and minimizing data acquisition time. The discrete retardance configuration results in relatively simple computational algorithms for performing nonlinear optical ellipsometric analysis. NOE analysis of a disperse red 19 monolayer yielded results that were consistent with previously reported values for the same surface system, but with significantly reduced acquisition times.

MAPPING THE DYNAMICS OF COLD GAS AROUND SGR A* THROUGH 21 cm ABSORPTION

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

Christian, Pierre; Loeb, Abraham, E-mail: pchristian@cfa.harvard.edu

2015-11-20

The presence of a circumnuclear stellar disk around Sgr A* and megamaser systems near other black holes indicates that dense neutral disks can be found in galactic nuclei. We show that depending on their inclination angle, optical depth, and spin temperature, these disks could be observed spectroscopically through 21 cm absorption. Related spectroscopic observations of Sgr A* can determine its HI disk parameters and the possible presence of gaps in the disk. Clumps of dense gas similar to the G2 could could also be detected in 21 cm absorption against Sgr A* radio emission.

Roll Angle System (RAS) for the High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager HESSI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henneck, Reinhold; Bialkowski, Jacek; Burri, F.; Fivian, M.; Hajdas, W.; Mchedlishvili, A.; Ming, P.; Thomsen, Knud; Welte, J.; Zehnder, Alex; Dettwyler, M.; Buerki, F.; Hurford, Gordon J.; Curtis, Dave W.; Pankow, Dave

1999-10-01

The purpose of the HESSI RAS is to provide information on the roll angle of the rotation spacecraft. Precise knowledge of the roll angle is a necessary ingredient for image reconstruction. The RAS is a continuously operating star scanner that points out radially and observes stars at 75 degrees from the Sun direction using a commercial lens and a fast CCD. The passage of a star image over the CCD charges one or several pixels above threshold and the timing of this signal defines the roll angle, once the star has been identified by comparing its pixel position and amplitude with a star map. Roll angles at intermediate times are inferred by assuming uniform rotation. With a limiting star magnitude of mv equals 3 we expect to observe at least 1 star per revolution over 1 year; on the average we will detect about 10 stars/revolution.

11. 28'X40' original vellum, VariableAngle Launcher, 'INDEX TO Drawings' drawn ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

11. 28'X40' original vellum, Variable-Angle Launcher, 'INDEX TO Drawings' drawn at no scale (P.W.DWG.No. 1781). - Variable Angle Launcher Complex, CA State Highway 39 at Morris Reservior, Azusa, Los Angeles County, CA

Diagnostics of hydrogen plasma with in situ optical emission and silicon probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Szetsen; Chung, Yi-Jie

2005-11-01

In this work, an approach has been adopted to explore plasma properties by combining an in situ optical emission technique with a contact angle measurement. Hydrogen plasma was generated with a radio-frequency power source. The plasma parameters such as number densities and temperatures were derived from the optical emission spectroscopic data. Small silicon chips were placed at various positions inside a discharge tube as probes for the plasma conditions. The hydrogen-plasma-treated silicon chip surfaces were characterized with the contact angle measurement method. The change of wettability on the silicon surface was observed with various plasma treatment times. The spectroscopic information about the plasma is correlated with the results of the surface characterization. It is found that the rate of the increasing hydrophilicity is sensitive to the amount of helium added and the location in the discharge tube. A simple model describing the relation between the surface coverage area of water droplet and the variation of contact angle has been established. We have proposed plasma excitation and reaction mechanisms for the observed correlation between plasma temperatures and the wettability of the silicon surface. It shows that small silicon chips can serve as "litmus tests" for the plasma conditions without introducing too much perturbation.

Intratumoral Agreement of High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Profiles in the Metabolic Characterization of Breast Cancer

PubMed Central

Park, Vivian Youngjean; Yoon, Dahye; Koo, Ja Seung; Kim, Eun-Kyung; Kim, Seung Il; Choi, Ji Soo; Park, Seho; Park, Hyung Seok; Kim, Suhkmann; Kim, Min Jung

2016-01-01

Abstract High-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy data may serve as a biomarker for breast cancer, with only a small volume of tissue sample required for assessment. However, previous studies utilized only a single tissue sample from each patient. The aim of this study was to investigate whether intratumoral location and biospecimen type affected the metabolic characterization of breast cancer assessed by HR-MAS MR spectroscopy This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board and informed consent was obtained. Preoperative core-needle biopsies (CNBs), central, and peripheral surgical tumor specimens were prospectively collected under ultrasound (US) guidance in 31 patients with invasive breast cancer. Specimens were assessed with HR-MAS MR spectroscopy. The reliability of metabolite concentrations was evaluated and multivariate analysis was performed according to intratumoral location and biospecimen type. There was a moderate or higher agreement between the relative concentrations of 94.3% (33 of 35) of metabolites in the center and periphery, 80.0% (28 of 35) of metabolites in the CNB and central surgical specimens, and 82.9% (29 of 35) of metabolites between all 3 specimen types. However, there was no significant agreement between the concentrations of phosphocholine (PC) and phosphoethanolamine (PE) in the center and periphery. The concentrations of several metabolites (adipate, arginine, fumarate, glutamate, PC, and PE) had no significant agreement between the CNB and central surgical specimens. In conclusion, most HR-MAS MR spectroscopic data do not differ based on intratumoral location or biospecimen type. However, some metabolites may be affected by specimen-related variables, and caution is recommended in decision-making based solely on metabolite concentrations, particularly PC and PE. Further validation through future studies is needed for the clinical implementation of these biomarkers based on data from a single tissue sample. PMID:27082613

Colliding winds in five WR+O systems of the Southern hemisphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fahed, R.; Moffat, A. F. J.

2012-08-01

We present the results of an optical spectroscopic follow-up of five WR+O systems of the Southern hemisphere that have not been studied so far for wind-wind collisions: WR 12 (WN8h), WR 21 (WN5o+O7V), WR 30 (WC6+O7.5V), WR 31 (WN4o+O8) and WR 47 (WN6o+O5). Observations were made over an entire contiguous month using the Garrison spectrograph attached to the 0.6-m Helen Sawyer Hogg telescope at Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito. We obtain improved orbital elements for these five systems and provide an estimation of the orbital inclination and shock-cone opening angle for four of them by analysing excess emission profiles with the geometrical model of Lührs. We argue that line variability in one of the stars (WR 12) might be dominated by some dynamic instabilities in the shocked plasma, making the model inappropriate in this case. A sixth star, WR 69 (WC9d+OB), was observed in the programme based on its published photometric period of 2.293 ± 0.005 d. While we found a probable spectroscopic period of 2.15 ± 0.04 d compatible with that of Marchenko et al. (1998), the period is unlikely related to orbital effects, rather to (relatively fast) rotation of the WC9d component of a much longer binary system.

Applications of synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques in studying nucleic acids and nucleic acid-functionalized nanomaterials

PubMed Central

Wu, Peiwen; Yu, Yang; McGhee, Claire E.; Tan, Li Huey

2014-01-01

In this review, we summarize recent progresses in the application of synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques for nucleic acid research that takes advantage of high-flux and high-brilliance electromagnetic radiation from synchrotron sources. The first section of the review focuses on the characterization of the structure and folding processes of nucleic acids using different types of synchrotron-based spectroscopies, such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray emission spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism, X-ray footprinting and small-angle X-ray scattering. In the second section, the characterization of nucleic acid-based nanostructures, nucleic acid-functionalized nanomaterials and nucleic acid-lipid interactions using these spectroscopic techniques is summarized. Insights gained from these studies are described and future directions of this field are also discussed. PMID:25205057

Applications of synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques in studying nucleic acids and nucleic acid-functionalized nanomaterials

DOE PAGES

Wu, Peiwen; Yu, Yang; McGhee, Claire E.; ...

2014-09-10

In this paper, we summarize recent progress in the application of synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques for nucleic acid research that takes advantage of high-flux and high-brilliance electromagnetic radiation from synchrotron sources. The first section of the review focuses on the characterization of the structure and folding processes of nucleic acids using different types of synchrotron-based spectroscopies, such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray emission spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism, X-ray footprinting and small-angle X-ray scattering. In the second section, the characterization of nucleic acid-based nanostructures, nucleic acid-functionalized nanomaterials and nucleic acid-lipid interactions using these spectroscopic techniques is summarized. Insightsmore » gained from these studies are described and future directions of this field are also discussed.« less

Development of reaching during mid-childhood from a Developmental Systems perspective.

PubMed

Golenia, Laura; Schoemaker, Marina M; Otten, Egbert; Mouton, Leonora J; Bongers, Raoul M

2018-01-01

Inspired by the Developmental Systems perspective, we studied the development of reaching during mid-childhood (5-10 years of age) not just at the performance level (i.e., endpoint movements), as commonly done in earlier studies, but also at the joint angle level. Because the endpoint position (i.e., the tip of the index finger) at the reaching target can be achieved with multiple joint angle combinations, we partitioned variability in joint angles over trials into variability that does not (goal-equivalent variability, GEV) and that does (non-goal-equivalent variability, NGEV) influence the endpoint position, using the Uncontrolled Manifold method. Quantifying this structure in joint angle variability allowed us to examine whether and how spatial variability of the endpoint at the reaching target is related to variability in joint angles and how this changes over development. 6-, 8- and 10-year-old children and young adults performed reaching movements to a target with the index finger. Polynomial trend analysis revealed a linear and a quadratic decreasing trend for the variable error. Linear decreasing and cubic trends were found for joint angle standard deviations at movement end. GEV and NGEV decreased gradually with age, but interestingly, the decrease of GEV was steeper than the decrease of NGEV, showing that the different parts of the joint angle variability changed differently over age. We interpreted these changes in the structure of variability as indicating changes over age in exploration for synergies (a family of task solutions), a concept that links the performance level with the joint angle level. Our results suggest changes in the search for synergies during mid-childhood development.

13. 22'X34' original vellum, VariableAngle Launcher, 'SIDEVIEW CAMERA CAR TRACK ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

13. 22'X34' original vellum, Variable-Angle Launcher, 'SIDEVIEW CAMERA CAR TRACK DETAILS' drawn at 1/4'=1'-0' (BUORD Sketch # 208078, PAPW 908). - Variable Angle Launcher Complex, Camera Car & Track, CA State Highway 39 at Morris Reservior, Azusa, Los Angeles County, CA

10. 22'X34' original blueprint, VariableAngle Launcher, 'SIDE VIEW CAMERA CARSTEEL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

10. 22'X34' original blueprint, Variable-Angle Launcher, 'SIDE VIEW CAMERA CAR-STEEL FRAME AND AXLES' drawn at 1/2'=1'-0'. (BOURD Sketch # 209124). - Variable Angle Launcher Complex, Camera Car & Track, CA State Highway 39 at Morris Reservior, Azusa, Los Angeles County, CA

The SU(2) action-angle variables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ellinas, Demosthenes

1993-01-01

Operator angle-action variables are studied in the frame of the SU(2) algebra, and their eigenstates and coherent states are discussed. The quantum mechanical addition of action-angle variables is shown to lead to a noncommutative Hopf algebra. The group contraction is used to make the connection with the harmonic oscillator.

VSOP: the variable star one-shot project. I. Project presentation and first data release

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dall, T. H.; Foellmi, C.; Pritchard, J.; Lo Curto, G.; Allende Prieto, C.; Bruntt, H.; Amado, P. J.; Arentoft, T.; Baes, M.; Depagne, E.; Fernandez, M.; Ivanov, V.; Koesterke, L.; Monaco, L.; O'Brien, K.; Sarro, L. M.; Saviane, I.; Scharwächter, J.; Schmidtobreick, L.; Schütz, O.; Seifahrt, A.; Selman, F.; Stefanon, M.; Sterzik, M.

2007-08-01

Context: About 500 new variable stars enter the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) every year. Most of them however lack spectroscopic observations, which remains critical for a correct assignement of the variability type and for the understanding of the object. Aims: The Variable Star One-shot Project (VSOP) is aimed at (1) providing the variability type and spectral type of all unstudied variable stars, (2) process, publish, and make the data available as automatically as possible, and (3) generate serendipitous discoveries. This first paper describes the project itself, the acquisition of the data, the dataflow, the spectroscopic analysis and the on-line availability of the fully calibrated and reduced data. We also present the results on the 221 stars observed during the first semester of the project. Methods: We used the high-resolution echelle spectrographs HARPS and FEROS in the ESO La Silla Observatory (Chile) to survey known variable stars. Once reduced by the dedicated pipelines, the radial velocities are determined from cross correlation with synthetic template spectra, and the spectral types are determined by an automatic minimum distance matching to synthetic spectra, with traditional manual spectral typing cross-checks. The variability types are determined by manually evaluating the available light curves and the spectroscopy. In the future, a new automatic classifier, currently being developed by members of the VSOP team, based on these spectroscopic data and on the photometric classifier developed for the COROT and Gaia space missions, will be used. Results: We confirm or revise spectral types of 221 variable stars from the GCVS. We identify 26 previously unknown multiple systems, among them several visual binaries with spectroscopic binary individual components. We present new individual results for the multiple systems V349 Vel and BC Gru, for the composite spectrum star V4385 Sgr, for the T Tauri star V1045 Sco, and for DM Boo which we re-classify as a BY Draconis variable. The complete data release can be accessed via the VSOP web site. Based on data obtained at the La Silla Observatory, European Southern Observatory, under program ID 077.D-0085.

Doppler tomography and photometry of the cataclysmic variable 1RXS J064434.5+334451

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernández Santisteban, J. V.; Echevarría, J.; Michel, R.; Costero, R.

2017-01-01

We have obtained simultaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations of the cataclysmic variable 1RXS J064434.5+334451. We have calibrated the spectra for slit losses using simultaneous photometry, allowing us to construct reliable Doppler images from Hα and He II 4686-Å emission lines. We have improved the ephemeris of the object based on new photometric eclipse timings, obtaining HJD = 245 3403.759 533 + 0.269 374 46E. Some eclipses present a clear internal structure, which we attribute to a central He II emission region surrounding the white dwarf, a finding supported by Doppler tomography. This indicates that the system has a large inclination angle I = 78 ± 2°. We have also analysed the radial velocity curve from the emission lines to measure its semi-amplitude, K1, from Hα and He II 4686 and derive the masses of the components M1 = 0.82 ± 0.06 M⊙, M2 = 0.78 ± 0.04 M⊙ and their separation a = 2.01 ± 0.06 R⊙. The Doppler tomography and other observed features in this nova-like system strongly suggest that this is a SW Sex type system.

Dielectric constant extraction of graphene nanostructured on SiC substrates from spectroscopy ellipsometry measurement using Gauss–Newton inversion method

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

Maulina, Hervin; Santoso, Iman, E-mail: iman.santoso@ugm.ac.id; Subama, Emmistasega

2016-04-19

The extraction of the dielectric constant of nanostructured graphene on SiC substrates from spectroscopy ellipsometry measurement using the Gauss-Newton inversion (GNI) method has been done. This study aims to calculate the dielectric constant and refractive index of graphene by extracting the value of ψ and Δ from the spectroscopy ellipsometry measurement using GNI method and comparing them with previous result which was extracted using Drude-Lorentz (DL) model. The results show that GNI method can be used to calculate the dielectric constant and refractive index of nanostructured graphene on SiC substratesmore faster as compared to DL model. Moreover, the imaginary partmore » of the dielectric constant values and coefficient of extinction drastically increases at 4.5 eV similar to that of extracted using known DL fitting. The increase is known due to the process of interband transition and the interaction between the electrons and electron-hole at M-points in the Brillouin zone of graphene.« less

Practical routes to (SiH₃)₃P: applications in group IV semiconductor activation and in group III-V molecular synthesis.

PubMed

Tice, Jesse B; Chizmeshya, A V G; Tolle, J; D' Costa, V R; Menendez, J; Kouvetakis, J

2010-05-21

The (SiH₃)₃P hydride is introduced as a practical source for n-doping of group IV semiconductors and as a highly-reactive delivery agent of -(SiH₃)₂P functionalities in exploratory synthesis. In contrast to earlier methods, the compound is produced here in high purity quantitative yields via a new single-step method based on reactions of SiH₃Br and (Me₃Sn)₃P, circumventing the need for toxic and unstable starting materials. As an initial demonstration of its utility we synthesized monosubstituted Me₂M-P(SiH₃)₂ (M = Al, Ga, In) derivatives of Me₃M containing the (SiH₃)₂P ligand for the first time, in analogy to the known Me₂M-P(SiMe₃)₂ counterparts. A dimeric structure of Me₂M-P(SiH₃)₂ is proposed on the basis of spectroscopic characterizations and quantum chemical simulations. Next, in the context of materials synthesis, the (SiH₃)₃P compound was used to dope germanium for the first time by building a prototype p(++)Si(100)/i-Ge/n-Ge photodiode structure. The resultant n-type Ge layers contained active carrier concentrations of 3-4 × 10¹⁹ atoms cm⁻³ as determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry and confirmed by SIMS. Strain analysis using high resolution XRD yielded a Si content of 4 × 10²⁰ atoms cm⁻³ in agreement with SIMS and within the range expected for incorporating Si₃P type units into the diamond cubic Ge matrix. Extensive characterizations for structure, morphology and crystallinity indicate that the Si co-dopant plays essentially a passive role and does not compromise the device quality of the host material nor does it fundamentally alter its optical properties.

Ellipsometric investigation of nitrogen doped diamond thin films grown in microwave CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/N{sub 2} plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

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

Ficek, Mateusz, E-mail: rbogdan@eti.pg.gda.pl; Institute for Materials Research; Sankaran, Kamatchi J.

2016-06-13

The influence of N{sub 2} concentration (1%–8%) in CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/N{sub 2} plasma on structure and optical properties of nitrogen doped diamond (NDD) films was investigated. Thickness, roughness, and optical properties of the NDD films in the VIS–NIR range were investigated on the silicon substrates using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The samples exhibited relatively high refractive index (2.6 ± 0.25 at 550 nm) and extinction coefficient (0.05 ± 0.02 at 550 nm) with a transmittance of 60%. The optical investigation was supported by the molecular and atomic data delivered by Raman studies, bright field transmission electron microscopy imaging, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy diagnostics. Those results revealed that whilemore » the films grown in CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2} plasma contained micron-sized diamond grains, the films grown using CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/(4%)N{sub 2} plasma exhibited ultranano-sized diamond grains along with n-diamond and i-carbon clusters, which were surrounded by amorphous carbon grain boundaries.« less

Molecular Contamination on Anodized Aluminum Components of the Genesis Science Canister

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burnett, D. S.; McNamara, K. M.; Jurewicz, A.; Woolum, D.

2005-01-01

Inspection of the interior of the Genesis science canister after recovery in Utah, and subsequently at JSC, revealed a darkening on the aluminum canister shield and other canister components. There has been no such observation of film contamination on the collector surfaces, and preliminary spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements support the theory that the films observed on the anodized aluminum components do not appear on the collectors to any significant extent. The Genesis Science Team has made an effort to characterize the thickness and composition of the brown stain and to determine if it is associated with molecular outgassing.Detailed examination of the surfaces within the Genesis science canister reveals that the brown contamination is observed to varying degrees, but only on surfaces exposed in space to the Sun and solar wind hydrogen. In addition, the materials affected are primarily composed of anodized aluminum. A sharp line separating the sun and shaded portion of the thermal closeout panel is shown. This piece was removed from a location near the gold foil collector within the canister. Future plans include a reassembly of the canister components to look for large-scale patterns of contamination within the canister to aid in revealing the root cause.

Deep ultraviolet laser direct write for patterning sol-gel InGaZnO semiconducting micro/nanowires and improving field-effect mobility

PubMed Central

Lin, Hung-Cheng; Stehlin, Fabrice; Soppera, Olivier; Zan, Hsiao-Wen; Li, Chang-Hung; Wieder, Fernand; Ponche, Arnaud; Berling, Dominique; Yeh, Bo-Hung; Wang, Kuan-Hsun

2015-01-01

Deep-UV (DUV) laser was used to directly write indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) precursor solution and form micro and nanoscale patterns. The directional DUV laser beam avoids the substrate heating and suppresses the diffraction effect. A IGZO precursor solution was also developed to fulfill the requirements for direct photopatterning and for achieving semi-conducting properties with thermal annealing at moderate temperature. The DUV-induced crosslinking of the starting material allows direct write of semi-conducting channels in thin-film transistors but also it improves the field-effect mobility and surface roughness. Material analysis has been carried out by XPS, FTIR, spectroscopic ellipsometry and AFM and the effect of DUV on the final material structure is discussed. The DUV irradiation step results in photolysis and a partial condensation of the inorganic network that freezes the sol-gel layer in a homogeneous distribution, lowering possibilities of thermally induced reorganization at the atomic scale. Laser irradiation allows high-resolution photopatterning and high-enough field-effect mobility, which enables the easy fabrication of oxide nanowires for applications in solar cell, display, flexible electronics, and biomedical sensors. PMID:26014902

Ionically Paired Layer-by-Layer Hydrogels: Water and Polyelectrolyte Uptake Controlled by Deposition Time

DOE PAGES

Selin, Victor; Ankner, John Francis; Sukhishvili, Svetlana

2018-01-11

Despite intense recent interest in weakly bound nonlinear (“exponential”) multilayers, the underlying structure-property relationships of these films are still poorly understood. This study explores the effect of time used for deposition of individual layers of nonlinearly growing layer-by-layer (LbL) films composed of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and quaternized poly-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (QPC) on film internal structure, swelling, and stability in salt solution, as well as the rate of penetration of invading polyelectrolyte chains. Thicknesses of dry and swollen films were measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry, film internal structure—by neutron reflectometry (NR), and degree of PMAA ionization—by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results suggestmore » that longer deposition times resulted in thicker films with higher degrees of swelling (up to swelling ratio as high as 4 compared to dry film thickness) and stronger film intermixing. The stronger intermixed films were more swollen in water, exhibited lower stability in salt solutions, and supported a faster penetration rate of invading polyelectrolyte chains. These results can be useful in designing polyelectrolyte nanoassemblies for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery coatings for medical implants or tissue engineering matrices.« less

Preparation of electrochemically active silicon nanotubes in highly ordered arrays

PubMed Central

Grünzel, Tobias; Lee, Young Joo; Kuepper, Karsten

2013-01-01

Summary Silicon as the negative electrode material of lithium ion batteries has a very large capacity, the exploitation of which is impeded by the volume changes taking place upon electrochemical cycling. A Si electrode displaying a controlled porosity could circumvent the difficulty. In this perspective, we present a preparative method that yields ordered arrays of electrochemically competent silicon nanotubes. The method is based on the atomic layer deposition of silicon dioxide onto the pore walls of an anodic alumina template, followed by a thermal reduction with lithium vapor. This thermal reduction is quantitative, homogeneous over macroscopic samples, and it yields amorphous silicon and lithium oxide, at the exclusion of any lithium silicides. The reaction is characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry for thin silica films, and by nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for nanoporous samples. After removal of the lithium oxide byproduct, the silicon nanotubes can be contacted electrically. In a lithium ion electrolyte, they then display the electrochemical waves also observed for other bulk or nanostructured silicon systems. The method established here paves the way for systematic investigations of how the electrochemical properties (capacity, charge/discharge rates, cyclability) of nanoporous silicon negative lithium ion battery electrode materials depend on the geometry. PMID:24205460

Understanding Light Harvesting in Radial Junction Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells

PubMed Central

Yu, Linwei; Misra, Soumyadeep; Wang, Junzhuan; Qian, Shengyi; Foldyna, Martin; Xu, Jun; Shi, Yi; Johnson, Erik; Cabarrocas, Pere Roca i

2014-01-01

The radial junction (RJ) architecture has proven beneficial for the design of a new generation of high performance thin film photovoltaics. We herein carry out a comprehensive modeling of the light in-coupling, propagation and absorption profile within RJ thin film cells based on an accurate set of material properties extracted from spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. This has enabled us to understand and evaluate the impact of varying several key parameters on the light harvesting in radially formed thin film solar cells. We found that the resonance mode absorption and antenna-like light in-coupling behavior in the RJ cell cavity can lead to a unique absorption distribution in the absorber that is very different from the situation expected in a planar thin film cell, and that has to be taken into account in the design of high performance RJ thin film solar cells. When compared to the experimental EQE response of real RJ solar cells, this modeling also provides an insightful and powerful tool to resolve the wavelength-dependent contributions arising from individual RJ units and/or from strong light trapping due to the presence of the RJ cell array. PMID:24619197

Strain Dependent Electronic Structure and Band Offset Tuning at Heterointerfaces of ASnO3 (A=Ca, Sr, and Ba) and SrTiO3

PubMed Central

Baniecki, John D.; Yamazaki, Takashi; Ricinschi, Dan; Van Overmeere, Quentin; Aso, Hiroyuki; Miyata, Yusuke; Yamada, Hiroaki; Fujimura, Norifumi; Maran, Ronald; Anazawa, Toshihisa; Valanoor, Nagarajan; Imanaka, Yoshihiko

2017-01-01

The valence band (VB) electronic structure and VB alignments at heterointerfaces of strained epitaxial stannate ASnO3 (A=Ca, Sr, and Ba) thin films are characterized using in situ X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies, with band gaps evaluated using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with geometric phase analysis is used to resolve strain at atomic resolution. The VB electronic structure is strain state dependent in a manner that correlated with a directional change in Sn-O bond lengths with strain. However, VB offsets are found not to vary significantly with strain, which resulted in ascribing most of the difference in band alignment, due to a change in the band gaps with strain, to the conduction band edge. Our results reveal significant strain tuning of conduction band offsets using epitaxial buffer layers, with strain-induced offset differences as large as 0.6 eV possible for SrSnO3. Such large conduction band offset tunability through elastic strain control may provide a pathway to minimize the loss of charge confinement in 2-dimensional electron gases and enhance the performance of photoelectrochemical stannate-based devices. PMID:28195149

Dielectric function in the spectral range (0.5–8.5)eV of an (Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}){sub 2}O{sub 3} thin film with continuous composition spread

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

Schmidt-Grund, R., E-mail: Schmidt-Grund@physik.uni-leipzig.de; Kranert, C.; Wenckstern, H. von

2015-04-28

We determined the dielectric function of the alloy system (Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}){sub 2}O{sub 3} by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wide spectral range from 0.5 eV to 8.5 eV and for Al contents ranging from x = 0.11 to x = 0.55. For the composition range x < 0.4, we observe single phase material in the β-modification and for larger Al content also the occurrence of γ-(Al,Ga){sub 2}O{sub 3}. We derived spectra of the refractive index and the absorption coefficient as well as energy parameters of electronic band-band transitions by model analysis of the dielectric function. The dependence of the dielectric functions lineshape and the energy parameters on xmore » is highly continuous, reflecting theoretical expectations. The data presented here provide a basis for a deeper understanding of the electronic properties of this material system and may be useful for device engineering.« less

Determination of UV-visible-NIR absorption coefficient of graphite bulk using direct and indirect methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smausz, T.; Kondász, B.; Gera, T.; Ajtai, T.; Utry, N.; Pintér, M.; Kiss-Albert, G.; Budai, J.; Bozóki, Z.; Szabó, G.; Hopp, B.

2017-10-01

Absorption coefficient of graphite bulk pressed from 1 to 5 μm-sized crystalline grains was measured in UV-Vis-NIR range with three different methods: (i) determination of pulsed laser ablation rate as the function of laser fluence for different wavelengths (248, 337, 532, and 1064 nm, respectively); (ii) production of aerosol particles by UV laser ablation of the bulk graphite in inert atmosphere and determination of the mass-specific absorption coefficient with a four-wavelength (266, 355, 532, and 1064 nm, respectively) photoacoustic spectrometer, and (iii) spectroscopic ellipsometry in 250-1000 nm range. Taking into account the wide range of the absorption coefficients of different carbon structures, an overall relatively good agreement was observed for the three methods. The ellipsometric results fit well with the ablation rate measurement, and the data obtained with photoacoustic method are also similar in the UV and NIR region; however, the values were somewhat higher in visible and near-UV range. Taking into account the limitations of the methods, they can be promising candidates for the determination of absorption coefficient when the samples are strongly scattering and there is no possibility to perform transmissivity measurements.

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

Bharadwaja, S. S. N., E-mail: s.s.n.bharadwaja@gmail.com; Ko, S. W.; Qu, W.

Excimer laser assisted re-oxidation for reduced, crystallized BaTiO{sub 3} thin films on Ni-foils was investigated. It was found that the BaTiO{sub 3} can be re-oxidized at an oxygen partial pressure of ∼50 mTorr and substrate temperature of 350 °C without forming a NiO{sub x} interface layer between the film and base metal foil. The dielectric permittivity of re-oxidized films was >1000 with loss tangent values <2% at 100 Hz, 30 mV{sub rms} excitation signal. Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy indicated that BaTiO{sub 3} thin films can be re-oxidized to an oxygen stoichiometry close to ∼3 (e.g., stoichiometric). High resolution cross sectional transmission electronmore » microscopy showed no evidence of NiO{sub x} formation between the BaTiO{sub 3} and the Ni foil upon excimer laser re-oxidation. Spectroscopic ellipsometry studies on laser re-oxidized [001]{sub C} and [111]{sub C} BaTiO{sub 3} single crystals indicate that the re-oxidation of BaTiO{sub 3} single crystals is augmented by photo-excitation of the ozone, as well as laser pulse induced temperature and local stress gradients.« less

Periodic oxidation for fabricating titanium oxynitride thin films via atomic layer deposition

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

Iwashita, Shinya, E-mail: shinya.iwashita@tel.com; Aoyama, Shintaro; Nasu, Masayuki

2016-01-15

This paper demonstrates thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) combined with periodic oxidation for synthesizing titanium oxynitride (TiON) thin films. The process used a typical ALD reactor for the synthesis of titanium nitride (TiN) films wherein oxygen was supplied periodically between the ALD-TiN cycles. The great advantage of the process proposed here was that it allowed the TiN films to be oxidized efficiently. Also, a uniform depth profile of the oxygen concentration in the films could be obtained by tuning the oxidation conditions, allowing the process to produce a wide variety of TiON films. The resistivity measurement is a convenient methodmore » to confirm the reproducibility of metal film fabrication but may not be applicable for TiON films depending upon the oxidation condition because the films can easily turn into insulators when subjected to periodic oxidation. Therefore, an alternative reproducibility confirmation method was required. In this study, spectroscopic ellipsometry was applied to monitor the variation of TiON films and was able to detect changes in film structures such as conductor–insulator transitions in the TiON films.« less

Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/GeO{sub x} gate stack on germanium substrate fabricated by in situ cycling ozone oxidation method

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

Yang, Xu; Zeng, Zhen-Hua; Microwave Device and IC Department, Institute of Microelectronics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029

2014-09-01

Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/GeO{sub x}/Ge gate stack fabricated by an in situ cycling ozone oxidation (COO) method in the atomic layer deposition (ALD) system at low temperature is systematically investigated. Excellent electrical characteristics such as minimum interface trap density as low as 1.9 × 10{sup 11 }cm{sup −2 }eV{sup −1} have been obtained by COO treatment. The impact of COO treatment against the band alignment of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} with respect to Ge is studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Based on both XPS and SE studies, the origin of gate leakage in the ALD-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is attributed to themore » sub-gap states, which may be correlated to the OH-related groups in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} network. It is demonstrated that the COO method is effective in repairing the OH-related defects in high-k dielectrics as well as forming superior high-k/Ge interface for high performance Ge MOS devices.« less

Observation of room-temperature high-energy resonant excitonic effects in graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santoso, I.; Gogoi, P. K.; Su, H. B.; Huang, H.; Lu, Y.; Qi, D.; Chen, W.; Majidi, M. A.; Feng, Y. P.; Wee, A. T. S.; Loh, K. P.; Venkatesan, T.; Saichu, R. P.; Goos, A.; Kotlov, A.; Rübhausen, M.; Rusydi, A.

2011-08-01

Using a combination of ultraviolet-vacuum ultraviolet reflectivity and spectroscopic ellipsometry, we observe a resonant exciton at an unusually high energy of 6.3 eV in epitaxial graphene. Surprisingly, the resonant exciton occurs at room temperature and for a very large number of graphene layers N≈75, thus suggesting a poor screening in graphene. The optical conductivity (σ1) of a resonant exciton scales linearly with the number of graphene layers (up to at least 8 layers), implying the quantum character of electrons in graphene. Furthermore, a prominent excitation at 5.4 eV, which is a mixture of interband transitions from π to π* at the M point and a π plasmonic excitation, is observed. In contrast, for graphite the resonant exciton is not observable but strong interband transitions are seen instead. Supported by theoretical calculations, for N⩽ 28 the σ1 is dominated by the resonant exciton, while for N> 28 it is a mixture between exitonic and interband transitions. The latter is characteristic for graphite, indicating a crossover in the electronic structure. Our study shows that important elementary excitations in graphene occur at high binding energies and elucidate the differences in the way electrons interact in graphene and graphite.

Dielectric function, critical points, and Rydberg exciton series of WSe2 monolayer.

PubMed

Diware, M S; Ganorkar, S P; Park, K; Chegal, W; Cho, H M; Cho, Y J; Kim, Y D; Kim, H

2018-06-13

The complex dielectric function ([Formula: see text]) of WSe 2 monolayer grown by atomic layer deposition is investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Band structure parameters are obtained by standard line-shape analysis of the second-energy-derivative of [Formula: see text] spectra. The fundamental band gap is observed at 2.26 eV, corresponds to transition between valence band (VB) maximum at the K point and conduction band (CB) minimum at Q point in the Brillouin zone (BZ). Two strong so-called A and B excitonic peaks in [Formula: see text] spectra originate from vertical transitions from spin-orbit split (0.43 eV) VB to CB at K point of the BZ. Binding energies of A and B exactions are 0.71 and 0.28 eV, respectively. Well resolved five excited excitons states has been detected within the spectral region between A and B. Energy profile of the Rydberg series shows significant deviation from the hydrogenic behavior, discussed in connection with the 2D hydrogen model. Results presented here will improve our understanding about the optical response of 2D materials and will help to design better optoelectronic applications and validate theoretical considerations.

Dielectric function, critical points, and Rydberg exciton series of WSe2 monolayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diware, M. S.; Ganorkar, S. P.; Park, K.; Chegal, W.; Cho, H. M.; Cho, Y. J.; Kim, Y. D.; Kim, H.

2018-06-01

The complex dielectric function () of WSe2 monolayer grown by atomic layer deposition is investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Band structure parameters are obtained by standard line-shape analysis of the second-energy-derivative of spectra. The fundamental band gap is observed at 2.26 eV, corresponds to transition between valence band (VB) maximum at the K point and conduction band (CB) minimum at Q point in the Brillouin zone (BZ). Two strong so-called A and B excitonic peaks in spectra originate from vertical transitions from spin–orbit split (0.43 eV) VB to CB at K point of the BZ. Binding energies of A and B exactions are 0.71 and 0.28 eV, respectively. Well resolved five excited excitons states has been detected within the spectral region between A and B. Energy profile of the Rydberg series shows significant deviation from the hydrogenic behavior, discussed in connection with the 2D hydrogen model. Results presented here will improve our understanding about the optical response of 2D materials and will help to design better optoelectronic applications and validate theoretical considerations.

Characterization of nano-porosity in molecular layer deposited films.

PubMed

Perrotta, Alberto; Poodt, Paul; van den Bruele, F J Fieke; Kessels, W M M Erwin; Creatore, Mariadriana

2018-06-12

Molecular layer deposition (MLD) delivers (ultra-) thin organic and hybrid materials, with atomic-level thickness control. However, such layers are often reported to be unstable under ambient conditions, due to the interaction of water and oxygen with the hybrid structure, consequently limiting their applications. In this contribution, we investigate the impact of porosity in MLD layers on their degradation. Alucone layers were deposited by means of trimethylaluminium and ethylene glycol, adopting both temporal and spatial MLD and characterized by means of FT-IR spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and ellipsometric porosimetry. The highest growth per cycle (GPC) achieved by spatial MLD resulted in alucone layers with very low stability in ambient air, leading to their conversion to AlOx. Alucones deposited by means of temporal MLD, instead, showed a lower GPC and a higher ambient stability. Ellipsometric porosimetry showed the presence of open nano-porosity in pristine alucone layers. Pores with a diameter in the range of 0.42-2 nm were probed, with a relative content between 1.5% and 5%, respectively, which are attributed to the temporal and spatial MLD layers. We concluded that a correlation exists between the process GPC, the open-porosity relative content, and the degradation of alucone layers.

Preparation and characterization of nanostructured Pt/TiO2 thin films treated using electron beam.

PubMed

Shin, Joong-Hyeok; Woo, Hee-Gweon; Kim, Bo-Hye; Lee, Byung Cheol; Jun, Jin

2010-05-01

Pt nanoparticle-doped titanium dioxide (Pt/TiO2) thin films were prepared on a silicon wafer substrate by sol-gel spin coating process. The prepared thin films were treated with electron beam (EB at 1.1 MeV, 100, 200, 300 kGy) at air atmosphere. The effect of EB-irradiation on the composition of the treated thin films, optical properties and morphology of thin films were investigated by various analytical techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystal structure of the TiO2 layer was found to be an anatase phase and the size of TiO2 particles was determined to be about 13 nm. Pt nanoparticles with diameter of 5 nm were observed on surface of the films. A new layer (presumed to be Pt-Ti complex and/or PtO2 compound) was created in the Pt/TiO2 thin film treated with EB (300 kGy). The transmittance of thin film decreased with EB treatment whereas the refractive index increased.

Thin film GaP for solar cell application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morozov, I. A.; Gudovskikh, A. S.; Kudryashov, D. A.; Nikitina, E. V.; Kleider, J.-P.; Myasoedov, A. V.; Levitskiy, V.

2016-08-01

A new approach to the silicon based heterostructures technology consisting of the growth of III-V compounds (GaP) on a silicon substrate by low-temperature plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) is proposed. The basic idea of the method is to use a time modulation of the growth process, i.e. time separated stages of atoms or precursors transport to the growing surface, migration over the surface, and crystal lattice relaxation for each monolayer. The GaP layers were grown on Si substrates by PE-ALD at 350°C with phosphine (PH3) and trimethylgallium (TMG) as sources of III and V atoms. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy demonstrate that the grown GaP films have homogeneous amorphous structure, smooth surface and a sharp GaP/Si interface. The GaP/Si heterostructures obtained by PE-ALD compare favourably to that conventionally grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Indeed, spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements indicate similar interband optical absorption while photoluminescence measurements indicate higher charge carrier effective lifetime. The better passivation properties of GaP layers grown by PE-ALD demonstrate a potential of this technology for new silicon based photovoltaic heterostructure

Ionically Paired Layer-by-Layer Hydrogels: Water and Polyelectrolyte Uptake Controlled by Deposition Time

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

Selin, Victor; Ankner, John Francis; Sukhishvili, Svetlana

Despite intense recent interest in weakly bound nonlinear (“exponential”) multilayers, the underlying structure-property relationships of these films are still poorly understood. This study explores the effect of time used for deposition of individual layers of nonlinearly growing layer-by-layer (LbL) films composed of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and quaternized poly-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (QPC) on film internal structure, swelling, and stability in salt solution, as well as the rate of penetration of invading polyelectrolyte chains. Thicknesses of dry and swollen films were measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry, film internal structure—by neutron reflectometry (NR), and degree of PMAA ionization—by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results suggestmore » that longer deposition times resulted in thicker films with higher degrees of swelling (up to swelling ratio as high as 4 compared to dry film thickness) and stronger film intermixing. The stronger intermixed films were more swollen in water, exhibited lower stability in salt solutions, and supported a faster penetration rate of invading polyelectrolyte chains. These results can be useful in designing polyelectrolyte nanoassemblies for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery coatings for medical implants or tissue engineering matrices.« less