Optimization of the distance between source and substrate for device-grade SnS films grown by the thermal evaporation technique

Tin monosulfide (SnS) films with varying distance between the source and substrate (DSS) were prepared by the thermal evaporation technique at a temperature of 300 degrees C to investigate the effect of the DSS on the physical properties. The physical properties of the as-deposited films are strongly influenced by the variation of DSS. The thickness, Sn to S at.% ratio, grain size, and root mean square (rms) roughness of the films decreased with the increase of DSS. The films grown at DSS = 10 and 15 cm exhibited nearly single-crystalline nature with low electrical resistivity. From Hall-effect measurements, it is observed that the films grown at DSS <= 15 cm have p-type conduction and the films grown at higher distances have n-type conduction due to the variation of the Sn/S ratio. The films grown at DSS = 15 cm showed higher optical band gap of 1.36 eV as compared with the films grown at other distances. The effect of the DSS on the physical properties of SnS films is discussed and reported.

Dimethyl sulphoxide complexes of lanthanide and yttrium nitrates

Dimethyl sulphoxide complexes of lanthanide and yttrium nitrates of the general formula M(DMSO)n(NO3)3 where M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm or Gd; n = 4 and M = Y, Ho or Yb; n = 3 have been isolated and characterized. The i.r. data besides excluding the presence of D3h nitrate, reveal co-ordination through the oxygen atom of the dimethyl sulphoxide. The complexes are monomeric in acetonitrile. Molecular conductance data in acetone, acetonitrile, dimethyl formamide and dimethyl sulphoxide suggest a co-ordination number of eight for the lighter lanthanides and seven for yttrium and the heavier lanthanides.

Clustering and solute-vacancy binding energies in Al-4.4% Zn alloy with 0.01% ternary additions

Isochronal and isothermal ageing experiments have been carried out to determine the influence of 0.01 at. % addition of a second solute on the clustering rate in the quenched Al-4,4 a/o Zn alloy. The influence of quenching and ageing temperatures has been interpreted to obtain the apparent vacancy formation and vacancy migration energies in the various ternary alloys. Using a vacancy-aided clustering model the following values of binding free energy have been evaluated: Ce-0.18; Dy-0.24; Fe-0.18; Li-0.25; Mn-0.27; Nb-0.18; Pt-0.23; Sb-0.21; Si-0.30; Y-0.25; and Yb-0.23 (± 0.02 eV). These binding energy values refer to that between a solute atom and a single vacancy. The values of vacancy migration energy (c. 0.4 eV) and the experimental activation energy for solute diffusion (c. 1.1 eV) are unaffected by the presence of the ternary atoms in the Al-Zn alloy.

Investigation of novel cuprates of the TlCa1-xLnxSr2Cu2O7- δ (Ln=rare earth) series showing electron- or hole-superconductivity depending on the composition

Superconductivity in cuprates of the general formula TlCa1-xLnxSr2Cu2O7+ delta has been investigated as a function of Ln and x. Compositions with 0.250.25. Thus, these cuprates exhibit a composition-dependent electron- or hole-superconductivity. In the normal state, most of the members of the series traverse compositionally determined metal-insulator transitions. High-energy spectroscopies show the presence of Cu in the 1+ and 2+ states. The Raman frequency around 525 cm-1 characteristic of the Tl-O2-Cu linkage is sensitive to both Ln and x, indicating a possible involvement in the mechanism of superconductivity.

Formation of crystalline diamond from amorphous diamond-like carbon films by pulsed laser irradiation

The formation of crystalline diamond films from amorphous diamond-like carbon films by pulsed laser irradiation with a 300 μs non-Q-switched Nd:YAG laser has been established by a combined study of transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrical resistivity. The films have been prepared by glow discharge decomposition of a mixture of propane, n-butane, and hydrogen in a rf plasma operating at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. Prior to laser irradiation, the films have been found to be amorphous by transmission electron microscope studies. After irradiation, the electron diffraction patterns clearly point out the formation of cubic diamond structure with a lattice spacing of 3.555 Å. However, the close similarity between diamond and graphite electron diffraction patterns could sometimes be misleading regarding the formation of a diamond structure, and hence, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies have been carried out to confirm the results. A chemical shift in the C 1s core level binding energies towards higher values, viz., from 286.5 to 287.8 eV after laser irradiation, and a high electrical resistivity >1013 Ω cm are consistent with the growth of diamond structure. This novel "low-temperature, low-pressure" synthesis of diamond films offers enormous potential in terms of device compatibility with other solid-state devices.

Complexes of lanthanide nitrates with N,N-diethylantipyrine-4-carboxamide

New complexes of lanthanide nitrates with N, N-diethylantipyrine-4-carboxamide (DEAP), with the general formulae [Ln2(DEAP)3] [NO3]6 (where Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Tb, Ho, Er, Yb and Y) have been isolated and characterized by chemical analysis and various physical methods such as electrolytic conductance, IR and13C NMR spectral data. Electrolytic conductance values and infrared spectral studies indicate that the nitrate groups are coordinated. Infrared and13C NMR spectral analysis show that the ligand DEAP is coordinated to the tripositive metal ion through the diethylcarboxamide carbonyl and antipyrine carbonyl oxygens in a bidentate fashion.

Direct Writing of Copper Film Patterns by Laser-Induced Decomposition of Copper Acetate

Direct writing of patterns is being widely attempted in the field of microelectronic circuit/device manufacture. Use of this technique eliminates the need for employing photolithographic process. Laser induced direct writing can be achieved by (i) Photochemical reaction [i] , (ii) Evaporation from target material [2], and (iii) decomposition.Micron size features of palladium and copper through decomposition of palladium acetate and copper formate respectively on quartz and silicon using Argon ion laser have been reported [3,4] .In this commuication we report a technique for both single line and large area depositon of copper through decomposition of copper acetate,(CH3COO)2Cu, on alumina substrates.Nd:YAG laser known for its reliability and low maintenance cost as compared to excimer and other gas lasers is used. This technique offers an attractive and economical alternative for manufacture of thin film microcircuits.

Stability of CU(2)Ln(2)O(5) compounds - Comparison, assessment and systematics

Phase diagram studies show that at ambient pressure only one ternary oxide, Cu(2)Ln(2)O(5), is stable in the ternary systems Cu-Ln-O (Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) at high temperatures. The crystal structure of Cu(2)Ln(2)O(5) can be described as a zig-zag arrangement of one-dimensional Cu2O5 chains parallel to-the a-axis with Ln atoms occupying distorted octahedral sites between these chains. Four sets of emf measurements on Gibbs energy of formation of Cu(2)Ln(2)O(5) (Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; Y) from component binary oxides and one set of high-temperature solution calorimetric data on enthalpy of formation have been reported in the literature. Except for Cu2Y2O5, the measured values for the Gibbs energies of formation of all other Cu(2)Ln(2)O(5) compounds fall in a narrow band (+/-1 kJ mol(-1)) and indicate a regular increase in stability with decreasing ionic radius of the lanthanide ion. The values for the second law enthalpy of formation, derived from the temperature dependence of emf obtained in different studies, show larger differences, as high as 25 kJ mol(-1) for Cu2Tm2O5. Though associated with an uncertainty of +/-4 kJ mol(-1), the calorimetric measurements help to identify the best set of emf data. The trends in thermodynamic data correlate well with the global instability index (GII) based on the overall deviation from the valence sum rule. Low values for the index calculated from crystallographic information indicate higher stability. Higher values are indicative of the larger stress in the structure.

2,4-Lutidine-1-oxide complexes of lanthanide perchlorates

2,4-Lutidine-1-oxide (2,4-LutO) complexes of lanthanide perchlorates of the formulae Ln2(2,4-LutO)13(ClO4)6 (Ln = Pr and Nd) and Ln2(2,4-LutO)15 (ClO4)6 (Ln = La, Tb, Dy, Ho and Yb) have been prepared and characterised by chemical analysis, IR, NMR, conductance and electronic spectral data. Proton NMR data along with the IR data show that the ligand coordinates to the metal ion through the oxygen. Conductance data of the complexes in acetone and nitrobenzene indicate that the perchlorate is not coordinated to the metal ion.

High contrast laser writing in insitu textured germanium films via a novel chemical oxide formation

A high contrast laser writing technique based on laser induced efficient chemical oxidation in insitu textured Ge films is demonstrated. Free running Nd-YAG laser pulses are used for irradiating the films. The irradiation effects have been characterised using optical microscopy, electron spectroscopy and microdensitometry. The mechanism for the observed contrast has been identified as due to formation of GeO2 phase upon laser irradiation using X-ray initiated Auger spectroscopy (XAES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The contrast in the present films is found to be nearly five times more than that known due to GeO phase formation in similar films.

Laser Surface Alloying of a Creep Resistant Magnesium Alloy MRI 230D with Al and Al2O3

A creep resistant permanent mould cast Mg alloy MRI 230D was laser surface alloyed with Al and a mixture of Al and Al2O3 using pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation at four different scan speeds in order to improve the corrosion and wear resistance. The microstructure, corrosion and wear behavior of the laser surface alloyed material is reported in this manuscript. The coating comprised of a featureless microstructure with cellular-dendritic microstructure near the interface and exhibited good interfacial bonding. A few solidification cracks reaching down to substrate were also observed. The two step coating with Al followed by a mixture of Al and Al2O3 exhibited a slightly better corrosion resistance than the single step coating with Al. In the long run, however, corrosion resistance of both the coatings became comparable to the as-cast alloy. The corroded surface of the laser surface alloyed specimens revealed a highly localized corrosion. The laser surface alloyed specimens exhibited an improvement in wear resistance. The laser scan speed did not exhibit a monotonic trend either in corrosion or wear resistance.

Complexes of lanthanide nitrates with O,O′,N-triisopropyl phosphoramidate

A substituted phosphoramidate has been used as a ligand to lanthanides for the first time. New complexes of lanthanide nitrates with O,O′,N-triisopropyl phosphoramidate (TIP) of the general formula Ln(TIP)3(NO3)3 where Ln=La-Yb and Y have been synthesised and characterised by chemical analysis, infrared and visible electronic spectra and electrical conductance.Infrared spectra indicate the coordination of the ligand to the metal ions through the oxygen of the P=O group. IR and conductance show that the nitrate groups are all coordinated. Electronic spectral shapes have been interpreted in terms of an eight coordinate geometry around the metal ions.

The physical properties of SnS films grown on lattice-matched and amorphous substrates

The development of high-quality tin monosulphide (SnS) layers is one of the crucial tasks in the fabrication of efficient SnS-based optoelectronic devices. Reduction of strain between film and the substrate by using an appropriate lattice-matched (LM) substrate is a new attempt for the growth of high-quality layers. In this view, the SnS films were deposited on LM Al substrate using the thermal evaporation technique with a low rate of evaporation. The as-grown SnS films were characterized using appropriate techniques and the obtained results are discussed by comparing them with the properties of SnS films grown on amorphous substrate under the same conditions. From structural analysis of the films, it is noticed that the SnS films deposited on amorphous substrate have crystallites that were oriented along different directions. However, the SnS crystallites grown on Al substrate exhibited epitaxial growth along the 101] direction. Photoluminescence (PL) and Raman studies reveal that the films grown on Al substrate have better optical properties than those of the films grown on amorphous substrates. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

4-Nitro 2-picoline-l-oxide complexes of lanthanide perchlorates

4-Nitro 2-picoline-l-oxide (NPicO) complexes of the formulae La (NPicO)5 (CIO4)3, Ln2 (NPicO)9 (C1O4)6 (Ln = Pr, Nd, and Gd) and Ln (NPicO)4 (CIO4)3 (Ln == Tb, Dy, Ho and Yb) have been synthesised and characterised by analysis, electrolytic conductance, infrared, proton NMR and electronic spectral data. A tentative coordination number of 6 for all the complexes have been assigned

Raman induced phase conjugation spectroscopy

Raman induced phase conjugation (RIPC) spectroscopy is a relatively new coherent Raman spectroscopic (CRS) technique using optical phase conjugation (OPC), with which complete Raman spectra of transparent media can be obtained. It is a non-degenerate four-wave mixing technique in which two pulsed laser beams at Ω1 and Ω1 ± Δ where A corresponds to a vibrational frequency of a nonlinear medium mix with a third laser beam at Ω1 to generate a fourth beam Ω1 ± Δ, which is nearly phase conjugate to one of the beams at Ω1. With this technique one can measure the ratio of the resonant and nonresonant components of the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities of the nonlinear media. We have used this technique to get Raman spectra of well-known organic solvents like benzene etc., using pulsed Nd: YAG -dye laser systems. We have also studied the effect of delaying one of the interacting beams with respect to the others and the phase conjugate property of RIPC signals.