Microstructure and random magnetic anisotropy in Fe–Ni based nanocrystalline thin films

Nanocrystalline Fe–Ni thin films were prepared by partial crystallization of vapour deposited amorphous precursors. The microstructure was controlled by annealing the films at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy investigations showed that the nanocrystalline phase was that of Fe–Ni. Grain growth was observed with an increase in the annealing temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy observations showed the presence of a native oxide layer on the surface of the films. Scanning tunnelling microscopy investigations support the biphasic nature of the nanocrystalline microstructure that consists of a crystalline phase along with an amorphous phase. Magnetic studies using a vibrating sample magnetometer show that coercivity has a strong dependence on grain size. This is attributed to the random magnetic anisotropy characteristic of the system. The observed coercivity dependence on the grain size is explained using a modified random anisotropy model

Scanning Electron Microscopy Studies on Tear and Wear Failure of Short Kevlar Fiber-Thermoplastic- Polyurethane Composite

Tear and wear properties of short kevlar fiber, thermoplastic polcurethane (TPU) composite with respect to fiber loading-and fiber onentation has been studied and the fracture surfaces were examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Tear strength first decreased up to 20 phr fiber loading and then gradually increased with increasing fiber loading. Anisotropy in tear strength was evident beyond a fiber loading of 20 phr. Tear fracture surface of unfilled TPU showed sinusoidal folding characteristics of high strength matrix. At low fiber loading the tear failure was mainly due to fibermatrix failure whereas at higher fiber loading the failure occurred by fiber breakage. Abrasion loss shows a continuous rise with increasing fiber loading, the loss in the transverse orientation of fibers being higher than that in the longitudinal orientation. The abraded surface showed lone cracks and ridges parallel to the direction of abrasion indicating an abrasive wear mechanism. In the presence of fber the abrasion loss was mainly due to fiber low.

Evidence for intergranular tunnelling in polyaniline passivated α-Fe nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are of immense importance both from the fundamental and application points of view. They exhibit quantum size effects which are manifested in their improved magnetic and electric properties. Mechanical attrition by high energy ball milling (HEBM) is a top down process for producing fine particles. However, fineness is associated with high surface area and hence is prone to oxidation which has a detrimental effect on the useful properties of these materials. Passivation of nanoparticles is known to inhibit surface oxidation. At the same time, coating polymer film on inorganic materials modifies the surface properties drastically. In this work a modified set-up consisting of an RF plasma polymerization technique is employed to coat a thin layer of a polymer film on Fe nanoparticles produced by HEBM. Ball-milled particles having different particle size ranges are coated with polyaniline. Their electrical properties are investigated by measuring the dc conductivity in the temperature range 10–300 K. The low temperature dc conductivity (I–V ) exhibited nonlinearity. This nonlinearity observed is explained on the basis of the critical path model. There is clear-cut evidence for the occurrence of intergranular tunnelling. The results are presented here in this paper

Mechanism of ac conduction in nanostructured manganese zinc mixed ferrites

Mn1−xZnxFe2O4 nanoparticles (x = 0 to 1) were synthesized by the wet chemical co-precipitation technique. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy were effectively utilized to investigate the different structural parameters. The ac conductivity of nanosized Mn1−xZnxFe2O4 were investigated as a function of frequency, temperature and composition. The frequency dependence of ac conductivity is analysed by the power law σ(ω)ac = Bωn which is typical for charge transport by hopping or tunnelling processes. The temperature dependence of frequency exponent n was investigated to understand the conduction mechanism in different compositions. The conduction mechanisms are mainly based on polaron hopping conduction

Fabrication of a quantum well heterostructure based on plasma polymerized aniline and its characterization using STM/STS

Two-dimensional electronic systems play a crucial role in modern electronics and offer a multitude of opportunities to study the fundamental phenomena at low dimensional physics. A quantum well heterostructure based on polyaniline (P) and iodine doped polyaniline (I) thin films were fabricated using radio frequency plasma polymerization on indium tin oxide coated glass plate. Scanning probe microscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies were employed to study the morphology and roughness of the polymer thin films. Local electronic density of states (LDOS) of the P–I–P heterostructures is probed using scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS). A step like LDOS is observed in the P–I–P heterostructure and is attributed to the quantum well confinement of electrons in the polymer heterostructure.