Search results for "MATTER"

High transparency Bi 2 Se 3 topological insulator nanoribbon Josephson junctions with low resistive noise properties

2019

Bi$_2$Se$_3$ nanoribbons, grown by catalyst-free Physical Vapour Deposition, have been used to fabricate high quality Josephson junctions with Al superconducting electrodes. The conductance spectra (dI/dV) of the junctions show clear dip-peak structures characteristic of multiple Andreev reflections. The temperature dependence of the dip-peak features reveals a highly transparent Al/Bi$_2$Se$_3$ topological insulator nanoribbon interface and Josephson junction barrier. This is supported by the high values of the Bi$_2$Se$_3$ induced gap and of I$_c$R$_n$ (I$_c$ critical current, R$_n$ normal resistance of the junction) product both of the order of 160 $\mu$eV, a value close to the Al gap. T…

Color centers in diamond as novel probes of superconductivity

2018

Magnetic imaging using color centers in diamond through both scanning and wide-field methods offers a combination of unique capabilities for studying superconductivity, for example, enabling accurate vector magnetometry at high temperature or high pressure, with spatial resolution down to the nanometer scale. The paper briefly reviews various experimental modalities in this rapidly developing nascent field and provides an outlook towards possible future directions.

Simplified feedback control system for scanning tunneling microscopy

2021

A Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) is one of the most important scanning probe tools available to study and manipulate matter at the nanoscale. In a STM, a tip is scanned on top of a surface with a separation of a few \AA. Often, the tunneling current between tip and sample is maintained constant by modifying the distance between the tip apex and the surface through a feedback mechanism acting on a piezoelectric transducer. This produces very detailed images of the electronic properties of the surface. The feedback mechanism is nearly always made using a digital processing circuit separate from the user computer. Here we discuss another approach, using a computer and data acquisition thr…

Effect of surface disorder on the domain structure of PLZT ceramics

2017

ABSTRACTPb1-xLax(Zr0.65Ti0.35)1-x/4O3 (PLZT x/65/35) ceramics were studied by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy in order to understand the origin of domain structure as a function of La content. We show that the domain topology is mainly determined by the composition and grain size. The characteristic correlation length decreases with increasing La content, being sensitive also to the synthesis method. The behavior of the correlation length is linked to the macroscopic properties, showing a strong increase of disorder with La doping. The roughness exponent for the domain wall in PLZT 9/65/35 is close to 2/3 indicating 1D character of domain walls in relaxors.

Optical studies of MBE-grown InN nanocolumns: Evidence of surface electron accumulation

2009

Optical properties and microstructure of 2.02-3.30 eV ZnCdO nanowires: effect of thermal annealing

2013

International audience; ZnCdO nanowires with up to 45% Cd are demonstrated showing room temperature photoluminescence (PL) down to 2.02 eV and a radiative efficiency similar to that of ZnO nanowires. Analysis of the microstructure in individual nanowires confirms the presence of a single wurtzite phase even at the highest Cd contents, with a homogeneous distribution of Cd both in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Thermal annealing at 550 C yields an overall improvement of the PL, which is blue-shifted as a result of the homogeneous decrease of Cd throughout the nanowire, but the single wurtzite structure is fully maintained.

Thermal oxidation of the intermetallic phases Al 8 Mo 3 and AlMo 3

2017

Abstract The thermal oxidation reactions of the intermetallic phases Al8Mo3 and AlMo3 were investigated and analyzed by ex-situ powder-x-ray diffraction (XRD), difference thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TGA), and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The initial oxidation reactions in air were found to yield Al2O3 and AlMo3 in the case of Al8Mo3 (Tonset =725 °C), and MoO3 as well as Al8−xMo3 (Tonset =435 °C) for the pure intermetallic phase AlMo3, respectively. Thus, both intermetallic phases are coexisting in an equilibrium within a temperature range of 300 °C under oxidizing conditions. The formation of β-Al2(MoO4)3 followed the second oxidizing process of the respective minority componen…

Controlled thermal oxidation of nanostructured vanadium thin films

2016

Abstract Pure V thin films were dc sputtered with different pressures (0.4 and 0.6 Pa) and particle incident angles α of 0°, 20° and 85°, by using the GLancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) technique. The sputtered films were characterized regarding their electrical resistivity behaviour in atmospheric pressure and in-vacuum conditions as a function of temperature (40–550 °C), in order to control the oxidation process. Aiming at comprehending the oxidation behaviour of the samples, extensive morphological and structural studies were performed on the as-deposited and annealed samples. Main results show that, in opposition to annealing in air, the columnar nanostructures are preserved in vacuum con…

Quantification of relaxor behavior in (1 − x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 – xCaTiO3 lead-free ceramics system

2019

Abstract This work examines the relaxor behavior of lead-free ceramic (1 − x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–xCaTiO3 systems. A stable rhombohedral (R3c) phase is detected at room temperature for all compositions by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Relaxor behavior was observed in the temperature range 300 K - 400 K for all materials. Ceramics exhibit normal ferroelectric properties at room temperature, and then they develop relaxor characteristics with increasing temperature showing the same dispersive properties. This work quantifies the relaxor phenomenon at low temperature. For instance, the maximum temperature of relaxor and the order of dispersion were determined at the strongest dispersion. Finally, the s…

Simulations of the effect of the contact energy levels on a simple model of a hot carrier cell

2016

In the present work, the performance of a simplified model of a hot carrier cell is examined at different energy levels of carrier collection. Incident photons, Monte Carlo generated by employing the ASTM G173-03 data set, are accounted for individually as they interact with the cell. It is assumed that the carriers can be collected ultra-fast, thus avoiding considering hot carrier thermalisation effects. Although the model is preliminary and lacking some mechanisms of hot carrier cells, it has been demonstrated that the present approach to modelling hot carrier solar cells can be developed into fully working models. Some effects of the absorption energy levels in the valence band have been…