Publications

We present results of ab initio. supercell calculations performed in the DFT-L(S)DA framework on rutile TiO2 phase with neutral oxygen vacancies (OVs), in the low defect concentration range (<= 6.25 at. %). The different OVs distributions in the supercell allow us to determine the localization and structure of the vacancy-induced states, the effect of vacancy concentration on the occupation numbers, as well as vacancy energetics. The present studs, benefits of the high accuracy in the total energy and band structure calculations of the full potential method utilized

In this paper a new type of dual-mode compact resonator for mobile communication systems, in the 900 MHz frequency band, is investigated. This compact planar resonator, developed on a 0.635 mm substrate with a 10.8 dielectric constant, has a square shape with an edge of 20.5 mm. For this dual resonator, several methods of modes coupling were considered. The radiation characteristics of this new resonator were investigated.

Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) is an ideal technique to be used for combinatorial approaches. By simply changing the deposition targets one can obtain alternating layers with different periodicities both vertically and laterally, along the substrate surface. By changing the laser impact area location and the number of pulses on each target used for ablation, one can grow films with a continuous variation of the chemical composition, which will be a function of the location on the substrate. To illustrate the advantages and versatility of this Combinatorial PLD (C-PLD) technique, several examples of films used in applications where more than one property should be tailored or optimized are presented. Investigations of thermo-chemical stability, chemical bonding and crystalline structure of thin films of mixtures of HfO2 and Al2O3 that are used as high-k dielectric layers in advanced C-MOS transistors is the first example, followed by a study of structural, mechanical, optical and electrical properties of mixtures of indium tin oxide and doped or pure zinc oxide that are used as transparent and conductive layers. The third example is from the deposition of multilayers of ZrC and ZrN with variable thicknesses to obtain hard coatings.

Hydrothermal techniques have been used to synthesize samples of ZnxFe3-O-x(4) (x = 0.0-1.0) starting with ZnSO4 center dot 7H(2)O/FeSO4 center dot 7H(2)O aqueous solution. The sequence of phases, structural and magnetic properties were followed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mossbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Refinement of the XRD spectra yielded the dependence of the lattice parameters of zinc-doped magnetite and zinc ferrite phase as function of the Zn molar concentration x. As well, the particle diameter was derived and represented as a function of Zn content x. As a function of Zn concentration, the phase content of hydrothermally synthesized samples was found to consist of zinc-doped magnetite, goethite and zinc ferrite. Consistent with the XRD results, Mossbauer spectroscopy data indicate the presence of magnetite and goethite at x <= 0.2, magnetite and zinc ferrite at x <= 0.9 and pure zinc ferrite only at high zinc concentrations. The presence of different magnetite phases was confirmed by TEM and particles with a size of 50 nm were identified. Our results show that zinc ferrite is formed at high zinc concentration by the hydrothermal method and an acicular component of goethite-magnetite is obtained at low zinc content. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

n-Type epitaxial silicon layers of different thickness and resistivity, grown on highly Sb doped CZ-substrate by ITME (Warsaw), and n-type MCz silicon supplied by Okmetic (Finland) were used for the processing of planar diodes at CiS (Erfurt). For the epi-diodes a standard as well as a diffusion oxygenation process was employed. Irradiations had been performed with 26 MeV protons at the cyclotron of the Karlsruhe University and with neutrons at the TRIGA reactor of the Ljubljana University. Microscopic investigations using the DLTS method were done. The correlation of the IO(2i)-defect and the oxygen concentration was studied by a depth-profile measurement. The annealing behavior of the IO(2i)-defect at different temperatures was investigated and the activation energy extracted. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

N-type epitaxial layers of 72 mu m thickness and a resistivity of 150 Omega cm have been grown on highly Sb-doped Cz-substrates at ITME (Warsaw). The diode processing was performed at CiS-Erfurt. For comparison a batch of 280 mu m thick n-type MCZ wafers with a resistivity of >600 Omega cm from Okmetic (Finland) was added to the process run. Depth profiles of the oxygen and carbon concentration were measured via the SIMS-method on as grown epi-layers and after different device-process steps at CiS including an oxygen enrichment at 1100 degrees C for 24 h. For the MCz material the profiles were measured on untreated samples and after the full device process. Irradiation runs were performed with neutrons at the TRIGA reactor of Ljubljana up to a fluence value of 10(16) cm(-2). The development of the macroscopic device parameters (effective doping concentration and charge collection for a-particles) as function of fluence is presented for the standard and oxygenated epi-devices and compared with the MCz-diodes. The results are discussed in the frame of defect studies resulting from TSC-measurements. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The irradiation represents a useful tool for determining the characteristics of defects in semiconductors as well as a method to evaluate their degradation, a fact with important technological consequences. In this contribution, starting from available data on the degradation of silicon detector characteristics in radiation fields, these effects are explained in the frame of a model that supposes also the production of the Si-FFCD defect due to irradiation. The displacement threshold energies different for different crystallographic axes, considered as parameters of the model, are established and the results obtained could contribute to clarify these controversial aspects. Predictions of the degradation of electrical parameters (leakage current, effective carrier concentration and effective trapping probabilities for electrons and holes) of DOFZ silicon detectors in the hadron background of the LHC accelerator, supposing operation at -10 degrees C, are done. The non-uniformity of the rate of production of primary defects and of complexes, as a function of depth, for incident particles with low kinetic energy was obtained by simulations using some particular and very simplifying assumptions, suggesting the possible important contribution of the low-energy component of the background spectra to detector degradation. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We investigate the effect of neutron irradiation on the electric and magnetic properties, including the enhancement of the critical current density, of ceramics YBa2Cu3O7(LiF)(x) samples. The most important finding has been that the level of Li-doping is crucial for the postirradiation response. The irreversibility increases for more than two times in the samples with x = 0.08.

The attractive properties of zirconia, particularly fracture toughness, wear resistance and chemical stability, have led to vast research efforts designed to investigate, characterize and develop such materials. Applications vary from structural, mechanical, biomedical to electrical, especially the fuel cells field. The current study is aiming at preparation and structural characterization Of 10% Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 nanometric powders. The sol-gel method is known to be easy to use for producing various kinds of materials, structured at nanometric level, so was chosen for the elaboration of powders. Different thermal treatments were applied to the obtained materials, which were consequently investigated through thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The characteristics Of Y2O3 doped zirconia powders are influenced by the processing parameters and proved promising for further applications in, for example, the Solid Oxides Fuel Cell field.

The interface between nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) thin films and a titanium alloy (Ti5Al2.5Fe) has been studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction at grazing incidence. The HA thin films were deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering in low pressure dry argon on substrates kept at low temperature or heated at 550 degrees C. The effect of film treatment by sputtering and annealing in humid air, as a simple, effective way of restoring the crystallinity and stoichiometry of the HA bulk, was studied in correlation with the development of a titanium oxide layer at the film-substrate interface. An interfacial TiO2 film grew at the interface during annealing in moist air, while a TiO2 layer diffused into the HA films when directly sputtered at 550 degrees C. The formation of an interfacial titanium oxide layer was inhibited by the insertion of a crystalline TiN buffer interlayer between the substrate and the HA film. Separately, the mechanical characteristics of the different HA films were monitored by nanoindentation to find out how they had been affected.