Abstract: Both an organically modified commercial clay of montmorillonite type (MMT) and its nanocomposites, based either on polyamide 6 (PA6) or an epoxy resin, as matrix polymer, have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Sample micrographs, taken at increasing exposure times (t(e)), have shown the gradual disappearance of clay layers, because of an amorphisation of the MMT crystalline structures caused by prolonged sample exposure to electron beam. Indeed, the above phenomenon, which is mostly evident in the case of intercalated nanocomposites, makes the detection of the layered silicate dispersion in the polymer matrix rather difficult and compels to perform TEM measurements using very short exposure times. Moreover, the microscopy accelerating voltage has turned out to affect sample stability; namely, when decreasing the above parameter, the disappearance of clay structure occurs at lower exposure times. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Size-controlled, catalytically active nanoparticles are successfully encapsulated in a one-pot synthesis to form novel hierarchical macroporous core@mesoporous shell structures, where macroporous cores are connected by uniform and ordered mesoporous channels. Most importantly, the encapsulated nanoparticles can be used as nanoreactors, with high activities and excellent long-term recycling stability.

Abstract: The one-step preparation of capped PbS nanoparticles in an inorganic matrix via UV-induced decomposition of lead thiosulfate complexes intercalated into a hydrotalcite-type layered double hydroxide is reported.

Abstract: The optical excitonic Aharonov-Bohm effect in type-1 three-dimensional (In, Ga)As/GaAs nanorings in theoretically explored. The single-particle states of the electron and the hole are extracted from the effective mass theory in the presence of inhomogeneous strain, and an exact numerical diagonalization approach is used to compute the exciton states and the oscillator strength fx for exciton recombination. We studied both the large lithographically-defined and small self-assembled rings. Only in smaller self-assembled nanorings we found optical excitonic AharonovBohm effect. Those oscillations are established by anticrossings between the optically active exciton states with zero orbital momentum. In lithographically defined rings, whose average radius is 33 nm, fx shows no oscillations, whereas in the smaller self-assembled nanoring with average radius of 11.5 nm oscillations in fx for the ground exciton state are found as function of the magnetic field that is superposed on a linear dependence. These oscillations are smeared out at finite temperature, thus photoluminescence intensity exhibits step-like variation with magnetic field even at temperature as small as 4.2 K.

Abstract: Results are presented on the photoluminescence (PL) characterization of heavily doped p(+) Czochralski silicon, which has been subjected to a two-step, oxygen precipitation heat treatment. It will be shown that the presence of oxygen precipitates gives rise to the D1, D2 and D5 lines, where the energy of the D1 line shifts to lower values for a stronger degree of precipitation. The occurrence of these PL features is also a function of the boron concentration in the p(+) material. The PL results are compared with Fourier transform infrared absorption data and with transmission electron microscope, results. From this, it is concluded that PL has a good potential for use in the assessment of oxygen precipitation in heavily doped silicon.

Abstract: The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in energy-loss magnetic chiral dichroism (EMCD)the equivalent of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) in the electron microscopeis optimized with respect to the detector shape, size and position. We show that an important increase in SNR over previous experiments can be obtained when taking much larger detector sizes. We determine the ideal shape of the detector but also show that round apertures are a good compromise if placed in their optimal position. We develop the theory for a simple analytical description of the EMCD experiment and then apply it to dynamical multibeam Bloch wave calculations and to an experimental data set. In all cases it is shown that a significant and welcome improvement of the SNR is possible.

Abstract: An alternative focused ion beam preparation method is used for sampling historical photographs containing metallic nanoparticles in a polymer matrix. We use the preparation steps of classical ultra-microtomy with an alternative final sectioning with a focused ion beam. Transmission electron microscopy techniques show that the lamella has a uniform thickness, which is an important factor for analytical transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the method maintains the spatial distribution of nanoparticles in the soft matrix. The results are compared with traditional preparation techniques such as ultra-microtomy and classical focused ion beam milling.

Abstract: The 3D morphology and distribution of lenticular Ni4Ti3 precipitates in the austenitic B2 matrix of a binary Ni51Ti49 alloy has been investigated by a slice-and-view procedure in a dual-beam focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope system. Due to the weak contrast of the precipitates, proper imaging conditions need to be selected first to allow for semi-automated image treatment. Knowledgeable imaging is further needed to ensure that all variants of the precipitates are observed with equal probability, regardless of sample orientation. Finally, a volume ratio of 10.2% for the Ni4Ti3 precipitates could be calculated, summed over all variants, which yields a net composition of Ni50.27Ti49.73 for the matrix, leading to an increase of 125 degrees for the martensitic start temperature. Also, the expected relative orientation of the different variants of the precipitates could be confirmed.

Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma, connected to a mass spectrometer interface, is computationally investigated. The effect of pressure behind the sampler, injector gas flow rate, auxiliary gas flow rate, and applied power is studied. There seems to be an optimum range of injector gas flow rate for each setup which guaranties the presence and also a proper length of the central channel in the torch. Moreover, our modeling results show that for any specific purpose, it is possible to control that either only the central gas flow passes through the sampler orifice or that it is accompanied by the auxiliary gas flow. It was also found that depending on geometry, the variation of outgoing gas flow rate is much less than the variation of the injector gas flow rate and this causes a slightly higher pressure inside the torch. The general effect of increasing the applied power is a rise in the plasma temperature, which results in a higher ionization in the coil region. However, the negative effect is reducing the length of the cool central channel which is important to transfer the sample substances to the sampler. Using a proper applied power can enhance the efficiency of the system. Indeed, by changing the gas path lines, the power can control which flow (i.e., only from injector gas or also from the auxiliary gas) goes to the sampler orifice. Finally, as also reported from experiments in literature, the pressure behind the sampler has no dramatic effect on the plasma characteristics.

Abstract: The influence of the amount of catalyst and the reaction time on the quantity and quality of catalytically grown single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) was investigated. The aim was to optimize some of the SWNT growth parameters using TEM and HRTEM. The thickness of catalyst layer influences the synthesis of the nanotube because the gas composition can differ between top and bottom. Microscopic investigation of the grown SWNT samples showed that the thicker the catalyst layer the lower relative nanotube content, so the deeper parts of the catalyst layer are less effective: The optimum time for the reaction was found to be 10 minutes. This may be understood assuming that nanotube growth needs an initial incubation time while the activity of the catalyst decreases steadily until the nariotube growth stops.

Abstract: An optimized laser ablation setup, proposed for high repetition rate inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) analyses such as 2D imaging or depth profiling, is presented. For such applications, the particle washout time needs to be as short as possible to allow high laser pulse frequencies for reduced analysis time. Therefore, it is desirable to have an ablation setup that operates as a laminar flow reactor (LFR). A top-down strategy was applied that resulted in the present design. In the first step, a previously applied ablation setup was analyzed on the basis of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results presented by D. Autrique et al. (Spectrochim. Acta, B 2008, 63, 257−270). By means of CFD simulations, the design was modified in such a way that it operated in the LFR regime. Experimental results demonstrate that the current design can indeed be regarded as an LFR. Furthermore, the operation under LFR conditions allowed some insight into the initial radial concentration distribution if the experimental ICPMS signal and analytical expressions are taken into account. Recommendations for a modified setup for more resilient spatial distributions are given. With the present setup, a washout time of 140 ms has been achieved for a 3% signal area criterion. Therefore, 7 Hz repetition rates can be applied with the present setup. Using elementary formulas of the analytical model, an upper bound for the washout times for similar setups can be predicted. The authors believe that the presented setup geometry comes close to the achievable limit for reliable short washout times.

Abstract: Using the two-component Ginzburg-Landau model, we investigate the effect of sample size and magnitude and homogeneity of external magnetic field on the stability of fractional vortex states in a mesoscopic two-band superconducting disk. We found that each fractional state has a preferable sample size, for which the range of applied field in which the state is stable is pronouncedly large. Vice versa, there exists an optimal magnitude of applied field for which a large range of possible sample radii will support the considered fractional state. Finally, we show that the stability of fractional states can be enhanced even further by magnetic nanostructuring of the sample, i.e. by suitably chosen geometrical parameters and magnetic moment of a ferromagnetic dot placed on top of the superconducting disk. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.