Abstract: Magnetic state of Fe-57 implanted and doped ZnO samples have been reported and studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy at different temperatures. The Mossbauer spectra mainly showed four doublets and three sextets, but some ambiguous identification remains regarding the probe site location and influence of defects in the hyperfine and magnetic parameters. In the present work some possible implantation configurations are suggested and evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation and electronic structure calculations within the density functional theory. Various implantation environments were proposed and studied considering the presence of defects. The obtained Fe-57 hyperfine parameters show a good agreement with the reported experimental values for some of these configurations. The possibility of Fe pair formation, as well as a Zn site vacancy stabilization between he second and third neighborhood of the implantation site, is supported. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: K X-ray fluorescence cross-sections of Cu, Y and Ba elements were measured in CuO, Y(2)O(3), BaCO(3) Compounds and YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) superconductor samples (nonreacted agent, calcined and sintered states). A superconductor sample of YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) was prepared by using a solid-state reaction technique. The samples were excited by gamma rays of energy 59.5 keV from a (241)Am radioisotope source. The Cu, Y and Ba K X-ray intensities counted with a Si(Li) detector were measured in different solid-state conditions. The obtained values of K X-ray fluorescence cross-section were compared with the theoretical values of pure Cu, Y and Ba elements. We found that the K X-ray fluorescence cross-section of Cu, Y and Ba in YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) sample is changed in different solid-state conditions, depending on the mixture (nonreacted agent), calcined and sintered states. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: We investigate theoretically the ballistic transport in a two-dimensional electron gas, which is rolled up as a tube and is micro-structured into a Hall bar. A uniform magnetic field applied to such a curved surface results in a non-uniform perpendicular magnetic field. The bend resistances become asymmetric with respect to the orientation of the magnetic field due to the varying magnetic field along the junction. The resistance asymmetry is strongly affected by corrugation due to the varying mobility along different crystallographic directions. We compare our results with a recent transport measurement.

Abstract: The structural and melting properties of a quasi-one dimensional system of charged particles, interacting through a screened Coulomb potential are investigated. Depending on the density and the screening length, the system crystallizes in different lattice structures. The structural phase transitions between them are of first or second order. The melting of the system is studied through Monte Carlo simulations and reentrant behavior as a function of density is observed as well as evidence of anisotropic melting. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract: Quantum electron transport in side-gated graphene Hall bars is investigated in the presence of quantizing external magnetic fields. The asymmetric potential of four side-gates distorts the otherwise flat bands of the relativistic Landau levels, and creates new propagating states in the Landau spectrum (i.e. snake states). The existence of these new states leads to an interesting modification of the bend and Hall resistances, with new quantizing plateaus appearing in close proximity of the Landau levels. The electron guiding in this system can be understood by studying the current density profiles of the incoming and outgoing modes. From the fact that guided electrons fully transmit without any backscattering (similarly to edge states), we are able to analytically predict the values of the quantized resistances, and they match the resistance data we obtain with our numerical (tight-binding) method. These insights in the electron guiding will be useful in predicting the resistances for other side-gate configurations, and possibly in other system geometries, as long as there is no backscattering of the guided states.

Abstract: A novel two-dimensional (2D) structurally stable carbon allotrope is proposed using first-principles calculations, which is a promising material for water purification and for electronic devices due to its unique porous structure and electronic properties. Rectangular and hexagonal rings are connected with acetylenic linkages, forming a nanoporous structure with a pore size of 6.41 angstrom, which is known as T-4,T-4,T-4-graphyne. This 2D sheet exhibits a direct bandgap of 0.63 eV at the M point, which originates from the p(z)( )atomic orbitals of carbon atoms as confirmed by a tight-binding model. Importantly, T-4,T-4,T-4-graphyne is found to be energetically more preferable than the experimentally realized beta-graphdiyne, it is dynamically stable and can withstand temperatures up to 1500 K.

Abstract: We present a first-principles computational study of cation–Se 3 (112) grain boundaries in CuGaSe. We discuss the structure of these grain boundaries, as well as the effect of native defects and Na impurities on their electronic properties. The formation energies show that the defects will tend to form preferentially at the grain boundaries, rather than in the grain interiors. We find that in Ga-rich growth conditions Cu vacancies as well as Ga at Cu and Cu at Ga antisites are mainly responsible for having the equilibrium Fermi level pinned toward the middle of the gap, resulting in carrier depletion. The Na at Cu impurity in its +1 charge state contributes to this. In Ga-poor growth conditions, on the other hand, the formation energies of Cu vacancies and Ga at Cu antisites are comparatively too high for any significant influence on carrier density or on the equilibrium Fermi level position. Thus, under these conditions, the Cu at Ga antisites give rise to a -type grain boundary. Also, their formation energy is lower than the formation energy of Na at Cu impurities. Thus, the latter will fail to act as a hole barrier preventing recombination at the grain boundary, in contrast to what occurs in CuInSe grain boundaries. We also discuss the effect of the defects on the electronic properties of bulk CuGaSe, which we assume reflect the properties of the grain interiors.

Abstract: Annular objective apertures are fabricated for a CM300 transmission electron microscope using a focused ion beam system. A central beam stop in the back focal plane of the objective lens of the microscope blocks all electrons scattered up to a semi-angle of approximately 20 mrad. In this manner, contributions to the image from Bragg scattering are largely reduced and the image contrast is sensitive to the atomic number Z. Experimentally, we find that single atom scattering cross sections measured with this technique are close to Rutherford scattering values. A comparison between this new method and STEM-HAADF shows that both techniques result in qualitatively similar images although the resolution of ADF-TEM is limited by contrast delocalization caused by the spherical aberration of the objective lens. This problem can be overcome by using an aberration corrected microscope.

Abstract: An investigation of the physical properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 single crystals grown by the molten zone technique is realized close to the metal-to-insulator transition temperature (TMI). In this paper, we review the effect of the structural defects through magnetotransport and local magnetic microstructures. From electron microscopy observations, some nanocrack defects (i.e. defects at a nanometer scale) were found, essentially in the center part of the single crystals. At room temperature, magnetic force microscopy measurements have shown that the absence of defects allowed a magnetic ordering of the domains at the crystal edge, which is the best-crystallized region. In addition, the magnetization loops have permitted us to verify that the crystal was ferromagnetically weaker in the center. On analyzing the electrical resistivity data, we observed in the linear current regime a sensitive variation of the resistivity due to defects, by comparing the center and the edge of the material at TMI. Additionally, at strong current, non-linearity phenomena have been supposed to be related to local heating. Finally, we discuss the structural disorder effect on the relaxation of the ferromagnetic domains.

Abstract: The time dependence of the resistance RAC of a La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 single crystal has been investigated in the vicinity of the metal-to-insulator transition temperature. We used local probe microscopy to show the existence, at room temperature, of coexisting clusters of micrometer size. Our analysis shows that relaxation effects can be described with a simple exponential contribution using a random resistor-network, based on phase separation between insulating and metallic domains. Our results clearly prove the existence of a percolation threshold over which no percolation path exists. Moreover, these results highlight the significant role of the remanent magnetization.