Electrical properties of GaN deposited on nitridated sapphire by molecular beam epitaxy using NH3 cracked on the growing surface

We have found that GaN epilayers grown by NH3-source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) contain hydrogen. Dependent on the hydrogen concentration, GaN on (0001) sapphire can be either under biaxially compressive strain or under biaxially tensile strain. Furthermore, we notice that background electrons in GaN increase with hydrogen incorporation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements of the N1s region indicate that hydrogen is bound to nitrogen. So, the microdefect Ga...H-N is an effective nitrogen vacancy in GaN, and it may be a donor partly answering for the background electrons. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

High electrical-to-green efficiency high stability intracavity-frequency-doubled Nd:YAG-LBO QCW 532 nm laser with a straight cavity

An electrical-to-green efficiency of more than 10% was demonstrated by intracavity-frequency-doubling a Q-switched diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG laser with a type II lithium triborate (LBO) crystal in a straight plano-concave cavity. An average power of 69.2 W at 532 nm was generated when electrical input power was 666 W. The corresponding electrical-to-green conversion efficiency is 10.4%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest electrical-to-green efficiency of second harmonic generation laser systems with side-pumped laser modules, ever reported. At about 66 W of green output power, the power fluctuation over 4 hours was better than +/-0.86%.

Electrical bistability and negative differential resistance in diodes based on silver nanoparticle-poly(N-vinylcarbazole) composites

An electrically bistable device has been fabricated using nanocomposite films consisting of silver nanoparticles and a semiconducting polymer by a simple spin-coating method. The current-voltage characteristics of the as-fabricated devices exhibit an obvious electrical bistability and negative differential resistance effect. The current ratio between the high-conducting state and low-conducting state can reach more than 103 at room temperature. The electrical bistability of the device is attributed to the electric-filed-induced charge transfer between the silver nanoparticles and the polymer, and the negative differential resistance behavior is related to the charge trapping in the silver nanoparticles. The results open up a simple approach to fabricate high quality electrically bistable devices by doping metal nanoparticles into polymer.

Profiling of Complex Microbial Populations by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Analysis of Polymerase Chain Reaction-Amplified Genes Coding for 16S rRNA

We describe a new molecular approach to analyzing the genetic diversity of complex microbial populations. This technique is based on the separation of polymerase chain reaction-amplified fragments of genes coding for 16S rRNA, all the same length, by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). DGGE analysis of different microbial communities demonstrated the presence of up to 10 distinguishable bands in the separation pattern, which were most likely derived from as many different species constituting these populations, and thereby generated a DGGE profile of the populations. We showed that it is possible to identify constituents which represent only 1% of the total population. With an oligonucleotide probe specific for the V3 region of 16S rRNA of sulfate-reducing bacteria, particular DNA fragments from some of the microbial populations could be identified by hybridization analysis. Analysis of the genomic DNA from a bacterial biofilm grown under aerobic conditions suggests that sulfate-reducing bacteria, despite their anaerobicity, were present in this environment. The results we obtained demonstrate that this technique will contribute to our understanding of the genetic diversity of uncharacterized microbial populations.

Calibration of standard seawater in electrical conductivity

The procedure adopted by the Standard Seawater Service for the calibration of Standard Seawater in electrical conductivity relative to a defined potassium chloride solution is described

Structural characterization, stability and electrical properties of strontium niobate ceramic

The double perovskite oxide Sr2CrNbO6 has a cubic structure according to powder X-ray diffraction. After reducing in CO, Sr2CrNbO6 still exhibited a cubic structure refined by Rietveld technique. The TG analysis indicated that Sr2CrNbO6 loses 0.127 oxygen per formula unit from 400 to 700 degrees C in H-2. The morphology and compositions of this ceramic did not significantly change on reduction

Electrical instability in vanadyl-phthalocyanine thin-film transistors

We investigated the electrical instability of vanadyl-phthalocyanine (VOPc) thin-film transistors (TFTs) at various temperatures. The results demonstrate a slow threshold voltage shift in the bias stress process and a rapid recovery after the removal of bias stress, which indicates that a slower degradation process occurs in the on state while a faster removal in the off state of VOPc TFTs. The shift of threshold voltage comes from traps generated at the organic/dielectrics interface. Additionally, a relaxation time of 10(7) s was obtained at room temperature according to the stretched exponential model, which is comparable to a-Si: H TFTs. Therefore, VOPc TFTs are suitable to be applied in flat panel displays.

Toxicological effects of cinnabar in rats by NMR-based metabolic profiling of urine and serum

Cinnabar, an important traditional Chinese mineral medicine, has been widely used as a Chinese patent medicine ingredient for sedative therapy. However, the pharmaceutical and toxicological effects of cinnabar, especially in the whole organism, were subjected to few investigations. In this study, an NMR-based metabolomics approach has been applied to investigate the toxicological effects of cinnabar after intragastrical administration (dosed at 0.5, 2 and 5 g/kg body weight) on male Wistar rats.

3D Fe3S4 flower-like microspheres: high-yield synthesis via a biomolecule-assisted solution approach, their electrical, magnetic and electrochemical hydrogen storage properties

Well-defined 3D Fe3S4 flower-like microspheres were synthesized via a simple biomolecule-assisted hydrothermal process for the first time. On the basis of a series of contrast experiments, the probable growth mechanism and fabrication process of the products were proposed. The electrical conductivity property of the as-synthesized Fe3S4 sample exhibited a rectifying characteristic when a forward bias was applied for the bottom-contacted device. The magnetic properties of the products were studied as well and the results demonstrated that the products presented ferromagnetic properties related to the corresponding microstructure. In addition, we first verified that the Fe3S4 flower-like microspheres could store hydrogen electrochemically, and a discharge capacity of 214 mA h g(-1) was measured without any activation under normal atmospheric conditions at room temperature.

Vertical structure permeable-base hybrid transistors based on multilayered metal base for stable electrical characteristics

In this work we present a permeable base transistor consisting of a 60 nm thick N,N'diphenyl-N,N'-bis(1-naphthylphenyl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine layer or a 40 nm thick 2,6-diphenyl-indenofluorene layer as the emitter, a CalAl/Ca multilayer as the metal base, and p-Si as collector. In the base, the Ca layers are 5 nm thick and the Al layer was varied between 10 and 40 nm. the best results obtained with a 20 nm thick layer. The devices present common-base current gain with both organic layer and silicon acting as emitter, but there is only observable common-emitter current gain when the organic semiconductor acts as emitter. The obtained common-emitter current gain, similar to 2, is independent on collector-emitter voltage, base current and organic emitter in a reasonable wide interval. Air exposure or annealing of the base is necessary to achieve these characteristics, indicating that an oxide layer is beneficial to proper device operation.

Metabolic profiling studies on the toxicological effects of realgar in rats by H-1 NMR spectroscopy

The toxicological effects of realgar after intragastrical administration (1 g/kg body weight) were investigated over a 21 day period in male Wistar rats using metabonomic analysis of H-1 NMR spectra of urine, serum and liver tissue aqueous extracts. Liver and kidney histopathology examination and serum clinical chemistry analyses were also performed. H-1 NMR spectra and pattern recognition analyses from realgar treated animals showed increased excretion of urinary Kreb's cycle intermediates, increased levels of ketone bodies in urine and serum, and decreased levels of hepatic glucose and glycogen, as well as hypoglycemia and hyperlipoidemia, suggesting the Perturbation of energy metabolism. Elevated levels of choline containing metabolites and betaine in serum and liver tissue aqueous extracts and increased serum creatine indicated altered transmethylation. Decreased urinary levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide, phenylacetylglycine and hippurate suggested the effects on the gut microflora environment by realgar.

Preparation and electrical properties of new oxide ion conductors Ce6-xDyxMoO15-delta (0.0 <= x <= 1.8)

Ce6-xDyxMoO15-delta (0.0 <= x <= 1.8) were synthesized by modified sol-gel method. Structural and electrical properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The XRD patterns showed that the materials were single phase with a cubic fluorite structure. Impedance spectroscopy measurement in the temperature range between 350 degrees C and 800 degrees C indicated a sharp increase in conductivity for the system containing small amount of Dy2O3. The Ce5.6Dy0.4MoO15-delta detected to be the best conducting phase with the highest conductivity (sigma(t) = 8.93 x 10(-3) S cm(-1)) is higher than that of Ce5.6Sm0.4MoO15-delta (sigma(t) = 2.93 x 10(-3) S cm(-1)) at 800 degrees C, and the corresponding activation energy of Ce5.6Dy0.4MoO15-delta (0.994 eV) is lower than that of Ce5.6Sm0.4MoO15-delta (1.002 eV).

Synthesis of Titanate-Based Nanotubes for One-Dimensionally Confined Electrical Properties

Structural tailoring for dimensionally confined electrical properties is fundamentally important for nanodevices and the relevant technologies. Titanate-based nanotubes were taken as a prototype one-dimensional material to study. First, Na0.96H1.04Ti3O7 center dot 3.42H(2)O nanotubes were prepared by a simple hydrothermal condition, which converted into Na0.036H1.964Ti3O7 center dot 3.52H(2)O nanotubes by a subsequent acidic rinsing. Systematic sample characterization using combined techniques of X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and alternative current impedance indicated that both nanotubes possessed a scrolled trititanate-type structure with the (200) crystal face predominant on the tube surface. With increasing temperature, both nanotubes underwent a continuous dehydration process, which however imposed different impacts oil the structures and electrical properties, depending on the types of the nanotubes