Inorganic Analogues of Graphene

The discovery of graphene has aroused great interest in the properties and phenomena exhibited by two-dimensional inorganic materials, especially when they comprise only a single, two or a few layers. Graphene-like MoS2 and WS2 have been prepared by chemical methods, and the materials have been characterized by electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other methods. Boron nitride analogues of graphene have been obtained by a simple chemical procedure starting with boric acid and urea and have been characterized by various techniques that include surface area measurements. A new layered material with the composition BCN possessing a few layers and a large surface area discovered recently exhibits a large uptake of CO2.

Metal-organic chemical vapour deposition of thin films of cobalt on different substrates: study of microstructure

We have investigated the microstructure of thin films grown by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition using a beta-diketonate complex of cobalt, namely cobalt (11) acetylacetonate. Films were deposited on three different substrates: Si(100), thermally oxidised silicon [SiO2/Si(100)] and glass at the same time. As-grown films were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy, atomic force microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Electrical resistivity was measured for all the films as a function of temperature. We found that films have very fine grains, resulting in high electrical resistivity Further, film microstructure has a strong dependence on the nature of the substrate and there is diffusion of silicon and oxygen into cobalt from the substrate. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Graphene composites containing chemically bonded metal oxides

Composites of graphene involving chemically bonded nano films of metal oxides have been prepared by reacting graphene containing surface oxygen functionalities with metal halide vapours followed by exposure to water vapour. The composites have been characterized by electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and other techniques. Magnetite particles chemically bonded to graphene dispersible in various solvents have been prepared and they exhibit fairly high magnetization.

An easily prepared palladium-hydrogel nanocomposite catalyst for C-C coupling reactions

Supported metallic nanoparticles are important composite materials owing to their enormous potential for applications in various fields. In this work, palladium nanoparticles were prepared in situ in a calcium-cholate (Ca-Ch) hydrogel by reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride. The hydrogel matrix appeared to assist the controlled growth as well as stabilization of palladium nanoparticles. The palladium nanoparticle/Ca-Ch hydrogel hybrid was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Furthermore, the PdNP/Ca-Ch hybrid xerogel was shown to act as an active catalyst for the Suzuki reaction under aqueous aerobic conditions. The PdNP/Ca-Ch xerogel retains its catalytic activities on storage for several months.

Formulation of nanotized curcumin and demonstration of its antimalarial efficacy

Aim: The present study was conducted to overcome the disadvantages associated with the poor water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin by synthesizing nanotized curcumin and demonstrating its efficacy in treating malaria. Materials and methods: Nanotized curcumin was prepared by a modified emulsion-diffusion-evaporation method and was characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Zetasizer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential thermal analysis. The novelty of the prepared nanoformulation lies in the fact that it was devoid of any polymeric matrices used in conventional carriers. The antimalarial efficacy of the prepared nanotized curcumin was then checked both in vitro and in vivo. Results: The nanopreparation was found to be non-toxic and had a particle size distribution of 20-50 nm along with improved aqueous dispersibility and an entrapment efficiency of 45%. Nanotized curcumin (half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50]: 0.5 mu M) was also found to be ten-fold more effective for growth inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro as compared to its native counterpart (IC50: 5 mu M). Oral bioavailability of nanotized curcumin was found to be superior to that of its native counterpart. Moreover, when Plasmodium berghei-infected mice were orally treated with nanotized curcumin, it prolonged their survival by more than 2 months with complete clearance of parasites in comparison to the untreated animals, which survived for 8 days only. Conclusion: Nanotized curcumin holds a considerable promise in therapeutics as demonstrated here for treating malaria as a test system.

Instability Of Crack Propagation In Brittle Bulk Metallic Glass

The instability of the crack tip in brittle Mg-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) is studied. The formation of various fractographic surfaces of the BMG is associated with the instability of the fluid meniscus, which is due to viscous fluid matter being present on the fracture process zone. Depending on the values of the wavelength of the initial perturbation of the fluid meniscus and the local stress intensity factor, different fracture surface profiles, i.e. a dimple-like structure, a periodic corrugation pattern and a pure mirror zone are formed. The fractographic evolution is significantly affected by the applied stress. A decreased fracture Surface roughness is observed under a low applied stress. An increased fracture surface roughness, which has frequently been reported by other researchers, is also observed in the present studies under a high applied stress. Unique fractographic features are attributed to the non-linear hyperelastic stiffening for less softening) mechanism. (C) 2008 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphological characteristics of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 films after a single femtosecond laser pulse irradiation

The morphology of materials resulting from laser irradiation of the single-layer and the multilayer amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 films using 120 fs pulses at 800 nm was observed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. For the single-layer film, the center of the irradiated spot is depression and the border is protrusion, however, for the multilayer film, the center morphology changes from a depression to a protrusion as the increase of the energy. The crystallization threshold fluence of the single-layer and the multilayer film is 22 and 23 mJ/cm(2), respectively. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of surface treatment on sapphire substrates

The influence of mechanical polishing, chemo-mechanical polishing (CMP), as well as CMP and subsequent chemical etching on the properties of sapphire substrate surfaces has been studied. The sapphire substrates have been investigated by means of polarizing microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM). X-ray diffraction rocking curves (XRCs) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The results show that CMP with subsequent chemically etching yields the best-quality sapphire substrate surfaces. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Response of the topological surface state to surface disorder in TlBiSe2

Through a combination of experimental techniques we show that the topmost layer of the topological insulator TlBiSe2 as prepared by cleavage is formed by irregularly shaped Tl islands at cryogenic temperatures and by mobile Tl atoms at room temperature. No trivial surface states are observed in photoemission at low temperatures, which suggests that these islands cannot be regarded as a clear surface termination. The topological surface state is, however, clearly resolved in photoemission experiments. This is interpreted as direct evidence of its topological self-protection and shows the robust nature of the Dirac cone-like surface state. Our results can also help explain the apparent mass acquisition in S-doped TlBiSe2.

Resistência de união entre cimentos resinosos autoadesivos e cerâmicas de zircônia policristalina

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a resistência de união a microtração de cimentos resinosos autoadesivos a cerâmicas de zircônia policristalina. Dezoito blocos cerâmicos de zircônia 3Y-TZP (9 LAVA e 9 LAVA Plus) foram jateados com partículas de 50 m de Al2O3por 20 s com pressão de 28 psi a uma distância de 10 mm. Os blocos cerâmicos foram duplicados em resina composta (Point 4, Kerr) por moldagem com silicone. Os blocos de resina composta foram cimentados à superfície jateada da zircônia usando três diferentes cimentos resinosos autoadesivos: (1) RelyX Unicem 2 (3M ESPE); (2) SmartCem 2 (Dentsply); (3) Speedcem (Ivoclar Vivadent). Após 24 h imersos em água destilada a 37oC, os blocos cimentados foram cortados em palitos para testes de microtração,com área da interface adesiva de 1 mm2 0,2 mm, e tensionados até a fratura. Os resultados foram analisados pelo teste de análise de variância de dois fatores e pelo teste de comparações múltiplas LSD (α=0.05). As amostras fraturadas foram analisadas com microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e o modo de falha foi registrado. A topografia das superfícies cerâmicas antes e após o jateamento foi comparada por microscopia de força atômica (AFM). A resistência de união do cimento Speedcem à zircônia foi estatisticamente superior àquela reportada pelos cimentos RelyX Unicem 2 e SmartCem 2, independentemente da cerâmica usada (p<0,05). O fator cerâmica não teve influência estatística na resistência de união. A interação entre os dois fatores se mostrou significativa (p<0,05). O modo de fratura associado ao SmartCem 2 foi quase exclusivamente adesiva, enquanto oRelyX Unicem 2e o Speedcem exibiram um maior percentual de falhas mistas. Não foram observadas falhas coesivas. O AFM não revelou diferença no padrão de topografia de superfície entre as duas cerâmicas antes ou após o jateamento. Concluiu-se que o cimento Speedcem foi superior na adesão a cerâmicas de zircônia policristalina.

Biofunctionalization of PET/SiO2 surfaces for single molecule experiments and medical applications

PET/SiO2 layers were chemically modified to maintain immobilization of functional single molecules. GFP molecules provide an ideal system due to their stability and intrinsic fluorescence. GFP in vivo biotinylated within its NH2-terminal region and attached on the substrate via the biotinstreptavidin bond was further investigated with confocal microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). AFM revealed monolayered donut-like structures representing assemblies of biotinstreptavidinbiotinGFP immobilized onto PET/SiO2 surfaces via mPEG. In particular, regions with an approximate height of 12 nm, which approaches the molecular dimensions of the above complex given by molecular modeling, could be detected. The dimensions of the donut-like structures suggest a close-to-each-other positioning of the GFP molecules - which, however, retain their functionality, as evidenced by confocal microscopy. © 2011 World Scientific Publishing Company.

Influence of AlN buffer layer thickness on structural properties of GaN epilayer grown on Si (111) substrate with AlGaN interlayer

We present the growth of GaN epilayer on Si (111) substrate with a single AlGaN interlayer sandwiched between the GaN epilayer and AlN buffer layer by using the metalorganic chemical vapour deposition. The influence of the AlN buffer layer thickness on structural properties of the GaN epilayer has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy and high-resolution x-ray diffraction. It is found that an AlN buffer layer with the appropriate thickness plays an important role in increasing compressive strain and improving crystal quality during the growth of AlGaN interlayer, which can introduce a more compressive strain into the subsequent grown GaN layer, and reduce the crack density and threading dislocation density in GaN film.

Crystallization of amorphous Si films by pulsed laser annealing and their structural characteristics

Nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) films were prepared by pulsed laser annealed crystallization of amorphous silicon (alpha-Si) films on SiO2-coated quartz or glass substrates. The effect of laser energy density on structural characteristics of nc-Si films was investigated. The Ni-induced crystallization of the a-Si films was also discussed. The surface morphology and microstructure of these films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy. The results show that not only can the alpha-Si films be crystallized by the laser annealing technique, but also the size of Si nanocrystallites can be controlled by varying the laser energy density. Their average size is about 4-6 nm. We present a surface tension and interface strain model used for describing the laser annealed crystallization of the alpha-Si films. The doping of Ni atoms may effectively reduce the threshold value of laser energy density to crystallize the alpha-Si films, and the flocculent-like Si nanostructures could be formed by Ni-induced crystallization of the alpha-Si films.

X-ray evidence for Ge/Si(001) island columns in multilayer structure

A Ge/Si(0 0 1) multilayer structure is investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and double crystal X-lay diffraction. We find that the multilayer-structure-related satellite peaks in the rocking curve exhibit a similar nonuniform broadening and rye fit the zero-order peak with two Lorentz lineshapes. The ratio of the integrated intensity of two peaks is approximately equal with the anal ratio of the top Ge layer deposited between the areas that are and are not occupied by islands. It proves the existence of vertical-aligned island columns from the viewpoint of macroscopic dimension. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth mode and strain relaxation of InAs on InP (111)A grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Growth mode and strain relaxation of molecular-beam-epitaxy grown InAs/InAlAs/InP (111)A system have been investigated using reflection high-energy electron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. In direct contrast to the well-studied InAs/GaAs system, our experimental results show that the InAs grown on InAlAs/InP (111)A follows the Stranski-Krastanov mode. Both self-organized InAs quantum dots and relaxed InAs islands are formed depending on the InAs coverage. Intense luminescence signals from both the InAs quantum dots and wetting layer are observed. The luminescence efficiency of (111)A samples is comparable to that of (001) samples, suggesting the feasibility of fabricating quantum dot optoelectronic devices on InP (111)A surfaces. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)01010-4].