Abstract: Infrared absorption spectra of oxygen precipitates in boron doped silicon with a boron concentration between 10(17) and 10(19) cm(-3) are analyzed, applying the spectral function theory of the composite precipitates. The aspect ratio of the platelet precipitates has been determined by transmission electron microscopy measurements. Our analysis shows that in samples with moderate doping levels (<10(18) B cm(-3)) SiOgamma precipitates are formed with stoichiometry as in the lightly doped case. In the heavily (>10(18) cm(-3)) boron doped samples, however, the measured spectra of the precipitates are consistent with a mixture of SiO2 and B2O3. with a volume fraction of B2O3 as high as 0.41 in the most heavily doped case.

Abstract: Laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMS) aims at the identification of local organic and inorganic constituents at the surface of solids, The low mass resolution capabilities of the initially used time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers have often proved to be insufficient for identification, Therefore, high mass resolution Fourier transform (ET) LMMS was developed, Neo-ceramic powders with oxide or carbide coatings were analyzed by both FT LMMS and TOF LMMS, The data are useful to compare the analytical information gained from both methods, Analytical results of these samples by electron microprobe x-ray analysis (EPXMA) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) are discussed to assess the place of FT LMMS and TOF LMMS in the spectrum of microanalytical techniques.

Abstract: We have investigated the role of the electroforming process in the establishment of resistive switching behaviour for Pt/Ti/Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3/SrRuO3 layered heterostructures (Pt/Ti/PCMO/SRO) acting as non-volatile Resistance Random Access Memories (RRAMs). Electron spectroscopy measurements demonstrate that the higher resistance state resulting from electroforming of as-prepared devices is strictly correlated with the oxidation of the top electrode Ti layer through field-induced electromigration of oxygen ions. Conversely, PCMO exhibits oxygen depletion and downward change of the chemical potential for both resistive states. Impedance spectroscopy analysis, supported by the detailed knowledge of these effects, provides an accurate model description of the device resistive behaviour. The main contributions to the change of resistance from the as-prepared (low resistance) to the electroformed (high resistance) states are respectively due to reduced PCMO at the boundary with the Ti electrode and to the formation of an anisotropic np junction between the Ti and the PCMO layers.

Abstract: A platform for producing stabilized Pt atoms and clusters through the combination of an N-doped graphene support and atomic layer deposition (ALD) for the Pt catalysts was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). It was determined, using imaging and spectroscopy techniques, that a wide range of N-dopant types entered the graphene lattice through covalent bonds without largely damaging its structure. Additionally and most notably, Pt atoms and atomic clusters formed in the absence of nanoparticles. This work provides a new strategy for experimentally producing stable atomic and subnanometer cluster catalysts, which can greatly assist the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) development by producing the ultimate surface area to volume ratio catalyst.

Abstract: Chemical vapor infiltration was used for the production of carbon/carbon composites based on exfoliated graphite and pyrolytic carbon Two different exfoliated graphites compacted to densities of 0 05-0 4 g/cm(3) were used as a preform The influence of the synthesis conditions (temperature, pressure, time etc) on the degree of infiltration, the pyrolytic carbon morphology and the C/C composite characteristics was examined using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Abstract: A simple and spontaneous one-pot self-formation procedure that is easy to scale up has been developed based on the chemistry of trimethylaluminum (TMA), leading to thermally stable macroporous crystalline alumina with a very unique and unprecedented three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical pore structure consisting of well-defined wormlike mesopores. TMA is the precursor of both product and porogene (viz, two working functions within the same molecule (2 in 1)). The materials obtained have been intensively characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), N2 adsorption−desorption, and mercury porosimetry. The open cagelike macrocavities are self-constructed by mesoporous nanorods (diameter of ca. 40−70 nm), which are themselves formed by a random assembly of fibrous nanoparticles 5−6 nm in size. Optical microscopy (OM) has been used in situ to follow the synthesis procedure, which led to the proposal of the formation mechanism. Methane molecules as porogens, which were instantaneously released because of the fast hydrolysis of the chemical precursor, were the key factor in producing these 3D structures with uniform co-continuous macropores that interconnected directly with the wormlike mesopores. The important characteristic of this procedure is the concurrent formation of a multiscaled porous network. The material exhibits great thermal stability. The hierarchically mesoporous−macroporous Al2O3 obtained is quite attractive for a myriad of applications, from catalysis to biomedicine. The present work illustrates that the one-pot self-formation concept, based on the chemistry of alkyl metals, is a versatile method to design industrially valuable hierarchically porous materials.

Abstract: At the interface of electrostatic potential kink profiles, one-dimensional chiral states are found in bilayer graphene (BLG). Such structures can be created by applying an asymmetric potential to the upper and the lower layers of BLG. We found the following: (i) due to the strong confinement by the single kink profile, the unidirectional states are only weakly affected by a magnetic field; (ii) increasing the smoothness of the kink potential results in additional bound states, which are topologically different from those chiral states; and (iii) in the presence of a kink-antikink potential, the overlap between the oppositely moving chiral states results in the appearance of crossing and anticrossing points in the energy spectrum. This leads to the opening of tunable minigaps in the spectrum of the unidirectional topological states.

Abstract: We report on a novel nonlinear optical phenomenon, coined as ciliary white light, during laser ablation of transparent dielectrics. It is observed in 14 different transparent materials including glasses, crystals, and polymers. This phenomenon is also universal with respect to laser polarization, pulse duration, and focusing geometry. We interpret its formation in terms of the nonlinear diffraction of the laser generated white light by the ablation crater covered by nanostructures. It carries rich information on the damage profile and morphology dynamics of the ablated surface, providing a real time in situ observation of the laser ablation process. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.097601