Abstract: In this work, GaN growth on porous Si(111) will be reported. The porosity of the substrates was 30% or 50%. In the latter case, various thicknesses, from 0.6 mu m to 10 mu m, were investigated. The morphology of the GaN surfaces was analyzed by optical interference microscopy. The crystalline quality of the epitaxial layers was characterized by High Resolution X-Ray Diffraction (HR-XRD) and cross-sectional Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). A Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of the X-ray symmetric rocking curve (0002) 2 theta – omega scan of 290 arc see was obtained for a 1 mu m thick GaN layer, which is comparable with that of GaN grown on bulk Si(111) substrates. (c) 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Abstract: We have studied granular films consisting of nanoscale Ga droplets formed on GaAs films via a method of vacuum annealing to promote As evaporation. For temperatures and magnetic fields below the bulk Ga critical parameters, the samples are very sensitive towards external microwave radiation when two point voltage measurements are performed. Together with the observation of an oscillating magnetic field dependence of the voltage, a scenario in which the samples consist of Josephson-coupled loops seems to be the most likely one for explaining the obtained results.

Abstract: Ag nanocluster-doped glasses have been prepared by a conventional melt-quenching method. The effect of melt temperature and dwell time on the formation of Ag nanoclusters and Ag nanoparticles in simple host oxyfluoride glasses has been studied. The increase of melt temperature and dwell time results in the dissolution of Ag nanoparticles and substantial red-shift of absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the prepared glasses. The quantum yield of the glasses is similar to 5% and does not depend on melt temperature and dwell time. The prepared glasses may be used as red phosphors or down-conversion layers for solar-cells.

Abstract: By means of electron diffraction the 2 root 2 a(p) x 2 root 2 a(p) phase, well-known in YBa2Cu3O7-delta was observed in two other perovskite-based materials (Y0.75Ce0.25)(2)(Sr0.85Y0.15)(2)AlCU2O9 and Bi1.8Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x. Highly correlated ordering is observed in the ab-plane, the correlation along the c-direction being weak. The plane group of the superstructure symmetry elements was determined on the basis of observed reflection conditions in diffraction patterns. Our results unambiguously rule out oxygen ordering as a possible origin of the superstructure. Experimental evidence points out that the superstructure is associated with the CuO2 layers, that are the only structural elements common to the three compounds studied. A model is proposed where the CuO2 sheet is displacively modulated. Experimental evidence suggests a correlation between adjacent CuO2 sheets. Comparison of simulated and experimental [001] zone diffraction patterns strongly supports our model.

Abstract: Two dimensional (2D) ZnO nanosheets are ideal system for dimensionally confined transport phenomenon investigation owing to specific surface atomic configuration. Therefore, 2D ZnO porous nanosheets with single-crystal nature and {0001} polar facets, likely display some specific physicochemical properties. In this work, for the first time, 2D ZnO mesoporous single-crystal nanosheets (ZnO-MSN) with {0001} polar facets have been designed and prepared via an intriguing colloidal templating approach through controlling the infiltration speed for the suspension of EG-capped ZnO nanoparticles and polymer colloids. The EG-capped ZnO nanoparticles are very helpful for single-crystal nanosheet formation, while the polymer colloids play dual roles on the mesoporosity generation and {0001} polar facets formation within the mesopores. Such special 2D structure not only accelerates the hole-electron separation and the electron transportation owing to the single-crystal nature, but also enhances the selective adsorption of organic molecules owing to the porous structure and the exposed {0001} polar facets with more O-termination (000-1) surfaces: the 2D ZnO-MSN shows highly selective adsorption and significantly higher photodegradation for positively charged rhodamine B than those for negatively charged methyl orange and neutral phenol, comparing with ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) and ZnO commercial nanoparticles (ZnO-CNP) with high surface areas. This work may shed some light on better understanding the synthesis of 2D porous single-crystal nanosheet with exposed polar surfaces and photocatalytic mechanism of nanostructured semiconductors in a mixed organic molecules system.

Abstract: The high temperature phase of Ni1-xS has the NiAs-type structure. The coexistence of two superstructures, ''3a3a3c'' and ''2a2a3c'' with the basic phase is confirmed by means of electron diffraction. The 2a2a3c superstructure is studied by means of electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy. A structure model is proposed based on the periodic insertion of stacking faults in the NiAs-type basic structure and the ordering of vacancies in alternate metal-atom layers. Microtwinning in very narrow slabs is found to be a main feature of the 2a2a3c regions and two defect models are discussed.

Abstract: Adsorption of sulfide ions onto a surface of starch capped silver nanoparticles upon addition of thioacetamide was investigated. UVvis absorption spectroscopy revealed that the adsorption of the sulfide ion on the surface of the silver nanoparticles induced damping as well as blue shift of the silver surface plasmon resonance band. Further increase in thioacetamide concentration led to shift of the resonance band toward higher wavelengths indicating the formation of the continuous Ag2S layer on the silver surface. Thus fabricated nanoparticles were investigated using electron microscopy techniques (TEM, HRTEM, and HAADF-STEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which confirmed their coreshell structure.

Abstract: The early growth stages of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond on a solgel TiO2 film with buried ultra dispersed diamond seeds (UDD) have been studied. In order to investigate the diamond growth mechanism and understand the role of the TiO2 layer in the growth process, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-filtered TEM and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) techniques were applied to cross sectional diamond film samples. We find evidence for the formation of TiC crystallites inside the TiO2 layer at different diamond growth stages. However, there is no evidence that diamond nucleation starts from these crystallites. Carbon diffusion into the TiO2 layer and the chemical bonding state of carbon (sp2/sp3) were both extensively investigated. We provide evidence that carbon diffuses through the TiO2 layer and that the diamond seeds partially convert to amorphous carbon during growth. This carbon diffusion and diamond to amorphous carbon conversion make the seed areas below the TiO2 layer grow and bend the TiO2 layer upwards to form the nucleation center of the diamond film. In some of the protuberances a core of diamond seed remains, covered by amorphous carbon. It is however unlikely that the remaining seeds are still active during the growth process.