Synthesis, optical and ferroelectric properties of PZT thin films: experimental and theoretical investigation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Optical and structural properties of PEO-like plasma polymers

This paper deals with the study of optical, structural and biocompatible properties of PEO-like plasma polymerized films resulting from RF excited diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (CH3O(CH2CH2O)(2)CH3 diglyme) glow discharges. The study was carried out using visible-ultraviolet and FTIR spectroscopies and contact angle measurements. FTIR spectra of plasma polymerized diglyme showed a stronger presence of ethylene glycol groups in film structure for lower RF power levels. The contact angle measurements for water revealed an increasing from 30degrees to 62,5degrees when the RF power was varied from 2 to 45 W, indicating the decreasing of the hydrophilic character of diglyme films with the increasing of RF power. This trend is in agreement with FTIR results. The data from visible-ultraviolet reflectance and transmittance spectra revealed alterations on optical properties of plasma polymerized diglyme films. The film's optical gap varied from 3.8 to 3 eV for RF power running from 5 to 45 W.

The structure and optical dispersion of the refractive index of tellurite glass

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Optical and Structural Properties of Zein-Xanthan Gum Biofilms

Structural and optical characteristics of zein-based films produced with different xanthan gum concentrations have been studied in this work. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM) were performed to identify if the incorporation of the material into the matrix film, formed a homogeneous structure, as well as to characterize its constituents as the colour and shape. SEM showed a homogeneous matrix for the control (0% xanthan) with good lipid distribution. However, when the samples were investigated by OM, lipids globules in the control biofilm appeared larger and more dispersed in the matrix than the others samples. Transparency/opacity test measurements by UV-VIS analysis indicated that the addition of xanthan to the film matrix lowered significantly its transparency properties Overall, the addition of xanthan gum favoured lipid dispersion in the matrix, making biomaterials more homogeneous, although with less transparency.

Synthesis of (Ca,Nd)TiO3 powders by complex polymerization, Rietveld refinement and optical properties

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

SrZrO3 powders obtained by chemical method: Synthesis, characterization and optical absorption behaviour

Strontium zirconate (SrZrO3) powders have been synthesized by the polymeric precursor method after heat treatment at different temperatures for 2 h in oxygen atmosphere. The decomposition of precursor powder was followed by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman). The UV-vis absorption spectroscopy measurements suggested the presence of intermediary energy levels in the band gap of structurally disordered powders. XRD, Rietveld refinement and FT-Raman revealed that the powders are free of secondary phases and crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, characterization, structural refinement and optical absorption behavior of PbWO(4) powders

The present paper describes the synthesis, characterization, structural refinement and optical absorption behavior of lead tungstate (PbWO(4)) powders obtained by the complex polymerization method heat treated at different temperatures for 2h in air atmosphere. PbWO(4) powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopy and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy measurements. XRD, Rietveld refinement and FT-Raman revealed that PbWO(4) powders are free of secondary phases and crystallizes in a tetragonal structure. The UV-vis absorption spectroscopy measurements suggest the presence of intermediary energy levels into the band gap of structurally disordered powders. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and optical properties of GdAlO3:RE3+ (RE = Eu or Tb) prepared by the Pechini method for application as X-ray phosphors

In this work, GdAlO3:RE3+ (RE = Eu or Tb) was successfully prepared by the Pechini method at lower temperatures when compared to others methods as solid-state synthesis and sol-gel process. In accordance to the XRD data, the fully crystalline single-phase GdAlO3 could be obtained at 900 degrees C. The differential thermal analysis (DTA) shows a crystallization peak at 850 degrees C. The samples are composed by monocrystalline particles (50-120 nm) exhibiting the formation of aggregates among them, which indicates the beginning of the sinterization process. This feature indicates a strong tendency to the formation of aggregates, which is a suitable ability for the close-packing of particles, and hence a potential application in X-ray intensifying screens. Luminescence measurements indicate Gd3+ -> RE3+ energy transfer. The Eu3+ emission spectra exhibit all the characteristics D-5(0) -> F-7(j) transitions and the observed profile suggests that RE3+ ions occupy at least one site without center of symmetry. For terbium-doped samples, the D-5(3) -> F-7(j) (blue emission) and D-5(4) -> F-7(j) (green emission) transitions were observed and the ratio between them may depend on the Tb3+ content due to cross-relaxation processes. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optical studies of the correlation between interface disorder and the photoluminescence line shape in GaAs/InGaP quantum wells

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of hydrogenation on the optical and structural properties of GaAs thin films prepared by rf-magnetron sputtering

We have utilized infra-red and optical absorption measurements, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements to investigate the influence of hydrogenation on the optical and structural properties of GaAs thin films prepared by rf-magnetron sputtering. Hydrogenation induces distinct changes in the optical properties, namely shifts in the absorption edges and reduction of the Urbach energy. Such modifications are correlated to a reduction in structural disorder as determined by EXAFS and the increase of crystallinity determined by GIXRD. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High Verdet constant Ga : S : La : O chalcogenide glasses for magneto-optical devices

The magneto-optical rotation at room temperature was measured for three Ga:S:La:O chalcogenide glasses at several laser lines in the visible. The first sample was a binary system constituted by 70 mol % Ga2S3 and 30 mol % La2O3, whereas in the second and third ones the lanthanum oxide was partially substituted by lanthanum sulfide, keeping the amount of gallium sulfide fixed. A pulsed magnetic field between 50 and 80 kG was used for the Faraday rotation measurements. The Verdet constant for one of the ternary samples was found to be as high as 0.205 min G(-1) cm(-1) at 543 nm, indicating that these chalcogenide glasses are very promising for magneto-optical applications. The data for each sample were fitted using the expected analytical expression for the magneto-optical dispersion. Measurements of the refractive index of the glasses at 632.8 nm are also reported. Data on the magneto-optical properties of two high Verdet constant, heavy-metal oxide diamagnetic glasses are also included for comparison. (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(99)00102-6].

Optical spectroscopy and frequency upconversion properties of Tm3+ doped tungstate fluorophosphate glasses

Tungstate fluorophosphate glasses of good optical quality were synthesized by fusion of the components and casting under air atmosphere. The absorption spectra from near-infrared to visible were obtained and the Judd-Ofelt parameters determined from the absorption bands. Transition probabilities, excited state lifetimes and transition branching ratios, were, determined from the measurements. Pumping with a 354.7 nm beam from a pulsed laser. resulted in emission at 450 nm. due to transition D-1(2)-->F-3(4) in Tm3+ ions and a broadband emission centered at approximate to 550 nm attributed to the glass matrix. When pumping at 650 nm, two emission bands at 450 nm (D-1(2)-->F-3(4)) and at 790 nm (H-3(4)-->H-3(6)) were observed. Excitation spectra were also obtained in order to understand the origin of both emissions. Theoretical and experimental lifetimes were determined and,the results were explained in terms of multiphonon relaxation. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

Optical characterization of cubic AlGaN/GaN quantum wells

Cubic phase group III-nitrides were grown using RF plasma assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy on GaAs (001) substrates. High-resolution X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence and photoreflectance measurements were employed to characterize the structural and optical properties of GaN/AlxGa1-xN Multi Quantum Well (MQW) structures, in which both Aluminum content and well widths were varied. The observed quantized states are in agreement with first-principles based theoretical calculations.

Ferroelectric and optical properties of Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 thin film

Barium strontium titanate (Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3) thin films have been prepared on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates using a soft solution processing. X-ray diffraction and also micro-Raman spectroscopy showed that the Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 thin films exhibited a tetragonal structure at room temperature. The presence of Raman active modes was clearly shown at the 299 and 725 cm(-1) peaks. The tetragonal-to-cubic phase transition in the Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 thin films is broadened, and suppressed at about 35 degreesC, with a maximum dielectric constant of 948 (100 kHz). Electrical measurements for the prepared Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 thin films showed a remnant polarization (P-r) of 6.5 muC/cm(2), a coercive field (E-c) of 41 kV/cm, and good insulating properties. The dispersion of the refractive index is interpreted in terms of a single electronic oscillator at 6.97 eV. The direct band gap energy (E-g) and the refractive index (n) are estimated to be 3.3 eV and n = 2.27-2.10, respectively. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Determination of Cd(II) and Cd-metallothioneins in biological extracts using baker's yeast and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a sorbent material to separate Cd(II) and Cd-metallothionein complex (Cd-MT) has been explored. Solid-liquid phase extractions were carried out in batch mode and the main parameters of the process (pH, temperature, time of incubation, amount of biomass and analyte) were evaluated. Under optimized conditions, the yeast quantitatively retain (94 +/- 5%) the Cd(II) while 97 +/- 2% of the Cd-MT remain in the supernatant. on base of the findings of this study, a simple method is proposed to determine Cd(II) and Cd-MT in cytosols extracted from mouse kidney and crab hepatopancreas. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to quantify the analytes in solid and liquid phase. Determination of Cd in the solid phase was carried out by introducing a slurry of the yeast (0.0625 g/10 mL) directly to the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Mixed standards solutions, which also have been submitted to the extraction procedure, were used to quantify the analytes in the samples. Thus, matrix effects due to nebulization of the slurry were overcame. Limits of detection (3 sigma) for Cd(II) and Cd-MT were 1.5 and 1.2 mu g L-1, respectively. Relative standard deviations of signals were 4.2% for measurements in the slurry of solid phase and 2.1% for measurements in the liquid phase. Recoveries of the analytes in cytosol samples were between 76 and 114%. The concentrations of Cd(II) (2.4 +/- 0.5 mu g L-1) and Cd-MT (3.0 +/- 0.5 mu g L-1) found by using the proposed approach were close to those found by tangential-flow ultrafiltration technique (2.6 +/- 0.7 mu g L-1 for Cd(II) and 3.7 +/- 1.7 mu g L-1 for Cd-MT).