Unusual stress behaviour of CeO2-doped diamond-like carbon nanofilms

CeO₂-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) films with thicknesses of 180–200 nm were deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering. When the CeO₂ concentration is in the range 5–8%, the residual compressive stress of the deposited films is reduced by 90%, e.g. from about 4.1 GPa to 0.5 GPa, whereas their adhesion strength increases. These effects are attributed to the dissolution of CeO₂ within the DLC amorphous matrix and a widening interface between the DLC film and the Si substrate, respectively.     

A new orthorhombic approximant of the icosahedral Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystal

We report on the formation of a new crystalline approximant phase of the icosahedral (i-)Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystal. This phase is formed during sintering of Al-based composites reinforced with i-AlCuFeB quasicrystalline particles. The structure of this phase has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM). TEM revealed that it is a B-centred orthorhombic phase with lattice parameters a = 1.166 nm, b = 1.195 nm and c = 3.44 nm. Its chemical composition, as determined by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), is close to Al_76.9Cu_2.7Fe_20.4, with an average number of valence electrons per atom e/a of 1.92, similar to the value in all other approximants of the i-phase discovered thus far. Initial results on local atomic arrangements along one of its pseudo-5-fold axes are also presented.     

Deformation of nanograined Ni–60Co alloy with low stacking fault energy

The evolution of deformation texture in a Ni–60Co alloy with low stacking fault energy and a grain size in the nanometre range has been investigated. The analyses of texture and microstructure suggest different mechanisms of deformation in nanocrystalline as compared to microcrystalline Ni–60Co alloy. In nanocrystalline material, the mechanism responsible for texture formation has been identified as partial slip, whereas in microcrystalline material, a characteristic texture forms due to twinning and shear banding.     

Relaxation of electrons following trapping in the space-charge-limited conduction regime of n + -i-n + hydrogenated amorphous silicon structures

The relaxation of a space charge due to trapped electrons in an n + -i-n + hydrogenated amorphous silicon structure has been modelled by Solomon. Here we extend the model by obtaining analytical expressions for the current at the beginning of the relaxation as well as for long times when retrapping of electrons is taken into account. Our expression for the current at long times differs considerably from that given previously. Consequences for the derived values of the capture cross-sections of the gap states near the Fermi level are examined and discussed.     

Microwave-dielectric and magnetic properties of Ta-doped BiFeO3 nanopowders

BiFe_{1? x} Ta _x O₃ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) nanopowders have been fabricated by a simple sol–gel method. Dielectric measurements at microwave frequencies (2–18 GHz) were made using a vector network analyser. Without tantalum, the BiFeO₃ nanopowder presents a relaxation-like response with a characteristic frequency of 15 GHz, which can be associated with an overdamped process. The Ta-doped nanopowders, however, show resonant behaviour with resonant frequencies of 12.5 and 14.6 GHz. The intensity of the resonant peak near 14.6 GHz decreases with increasing Ta addition. This behaviour is associated with a damped resonance process. Room-temperature magnetic measurements indicate that the addition of Ta influences the magnetic properties of the BiFeO₃ nanopowders, with BiFe_0.95Ta_0.05O₃ having the strongest ferromagnetism with a saturation magnetisation M _s of about 0.05 µ_B/Fe. The origin of the enhanced ferromagnetism is possibly associated with the distortion of the oxygen octahedral by the Ta substitution or/and the statistical distribution of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺.     

Surface effect on the screw dislocation mobility over the Peierls barrier

The effect of the image force on the Peierls stress (τ _p ) of a screw dislocation below a free surface is studied via a self-consistent semidiscrete variational Peierls–Nabarro model. The consequence of reduction in elastic energy and increase in stacking fault energy by the presence of the free surface is found to additively increase the Peierls stress (τ _p ). This model gives a physical interpretation of the same tend observed in a recent molecular dynamic study, while previous continuum analysis predicted the opposite.     

In situ characterization of the martensitic transformation temperature of NiTi shape memory alloys via instrumented microindentation

A novel, instrumented microindentation technique was successfully used to measure the temperature associated with the martensitic transformation leading to the recovery of plastic strain in a Nickel–Titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy. Following a standard indentation cycle, the indenter was partially unloaded such that a good contact was maintained between indenter and specimen surface. The onset and finish temperature of the martensitic transformation, the associated volume contraction, and the amount of the recovered plastic deformation were determined by quantifying the indenter displacement as a function of temperature. These experiments were compared to conventional measurements of the transformation temperature by differential scanning calorimetry and compression testing.     

Nature of ferroelectric–paraelectric transition

Ferroelectric (FE) materials directly convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and are critical to applications such as sensors, transducers, and actuators. The giant electromechanical response is the manifestation of the critical point between the first-order and second-order ferroelectric–paraelectric (FE–PE) transitions. For the simple classic FE lead titanate (PbTiO₃), it is commonly accepted that there is a critical point in the temperature–pressure phase diagram separating the first- and second-order FE–PE transitions at zero electric field. Here, we show that the FE-PE transition in PbTiO₃ is second-order at zero electric field. We introduce the concept of the invariant critical points (ICP) among three phases, representing the stability of the PE phase with respect to two FE phases in a three-dimensional electric field-pressure-temperature phase diagram of PbTiO₃. It is pointed out that the electromechanical response near ICPs is larger than that near the line of critical end points (LCEPs) between two phases.     

Supercapacitor behaviour of cobalt-doped nickel oxide films

Ordered nanostructured cobalt-doped nickel oxide films were prepared on a conducting glass substrate via the sol–gel dip-coating method. X-ray diffraction analysis shows the films to be amorphous. Field-emission scanning electron microscope images showed well-defined, ordered grains with pores in between them. Supercapacitor behaviour was studied using cyclic voltammetry. A maximum specific capacitance of 1982?F/g at a scan rate of 5?mV/s with 1?M KOH was obtained for 5?wt% of cobalt-doped nickel oxide films. AC impedance analysis showed that the solution resistance was R _s?=?27?Ω and the charge transfer resistance R _ct?=?20?Ω.     

Investigation of {111} stacking faults and nanotwins in epitaxial BaTiO3 thin films by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

{111} stacking faults and nanotwins in epitaxial BaTiO₃ thin films on MgO substrates have been investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. In many cases, the stacking faults and nanotwins were found to be accompanied by partial dislocations. These partial dislocations can be classified as two different types, analogous to the situation in the fcc structure. One is of the Shockley type with the Burgers vector (a/3)<112>. The other is of the Frank type with the Burgers vector (a/3)<111>. The movements of both types of partial can lead to the {111} stacking faults and the {111} twins observed in these films.