National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

In this paper, we report some experimental results concerning new aspects in laser ablation process of the YBCO thin film. Both structural and superconducting properties of the studied films were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, elastic recoil detection analysis, Raman spectra, atomic force microscopy images and the ac magnetic susceptibility. We have obtained the epitaxial films with relative large area of c-axis grown film and high critical temperature, without any post ablation annealing process.

Partial replacement of Bi by Pb and Sb produces materials of high-T-c pure phase, with antimony playing an important role in accelerating the formation of the phase with the higher superconductive transition in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system. The influence of the antimony precursors on the superconducting phases mechanism formation was examined. Using a solid state reaction route, two nominal compositions Bi(1.6)Pb(0.3)Sb(0.1)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)Oy and Bi(1.6)Pb(0.4)Sb(0.1)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(4)Oy were investigated. The sources of antimony were Sb2O3 alphaSb(2)O(4) and a prepared mixture Bi1.9Sb0.1Ox. The mechanism formation of the phases upon annealing was investigated using X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermal analysis. Electrical properties of the obtained materials were evaluated. The presence of the antimony ions determined a higher reactivity of the system as well as the promotion of the superconducting high-T-c phase enhancement. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) properties of the Mn2+ ions in PbWO4 single crystals grown by the Czochralski method have been investigated in the X-band microwave frequency, at T = 20 K. The angular dependence of the EPR line positions obtained by rotating the magnetic field in the main crystallographic planes shows that the local symmetry at the Mn2+ impurity ions is tetragonal, strongly suggesting that the Mn2+ ions substitute for the Pb2+ lattice cations, without charge compensation. The resulting spin Hamiltonian parameters compare well with the corresponding values for the Mn2+ ions in other isomorphous tungstates. The observed strong angular variation of the EPR linewidth has been quantitatively described considering a random distribution of lattice strains. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new type of dual mode filter is proposed for mobile communications systems in 900 MHz frequency bandwidth such as GSM or GPRS. The planar filters were developed on a 0.635 mm substrate with a 10.8 dielectric constant. Several methods of modes coupling were investigated. Each dual mode resonator has a square-shape with the edge 20.5 mm and contributes with two poles to the filter response.

Epitaxial Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O-3 (PZT) thin films were grown on single crystalline Nb-doped SrTiO3 (STON) substrates by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). The top electrode was SrRuO3. The investigated electric and ferroelectric properties have revealed a strong asymmetry of the two PZT-electrode interfaces. A qualitative explanation based on the possible existence of a n(+) - p junction at the STON-PZT interface is suggested.

The paper presents experimental results concerning the influence of additives from a solution of the PVA on the optical properties of the polymer. The refractive index of the poly (vinyl-alcohol) was modified through the addition of inorganic materials and showed values between 1.5 and 2 (depending on the compositions and the curing conditions of the polymer. The transmittance indicated values above 80%. The additives we used were metal oxides/inorganic salts. The composition and the deposition processes were optimized to allow a better control of the optical parameters (refractive index, transmittance), to reduce the processing temperatures and to improve photosensitivity. PVA with these new light-sensitive compositions can be easily spin coated onto variety of semiconductor substrate and directly patterned. A process was developed for channel waveguides fabrication.

The paper describes the specific quasi-optical phenomena involved in the generation of the celestial and biological radiation. It examines the generation of the free space and guided biological beams in the presence of the ambient celestial primordial isotropic background. Josephson and Kerr mechanisms provide an explanation of the concept of bio-coherence as a novel possibility of electromagnetic communication.

The inhibiting effect of MBT has been studied regarding the corrosion of carbon-steel in diluted ammonia solution at room temperature. The effects of the inhibitor have been demonstrated using weight loss and electrochemical measurements. The increase of the inhibitor concentration leads to a decrease in the corrosion rate and in the corrosion current. The microscopic analysis of the surface of the electrode shows a decrease of the corrosion spots with the increase of the MBT concentration. This indicates a good adsorbability of MBT on the metal surface. Mossbauer spectrometry shows the formation of a superficial film on the surface of the corroded sample in the presence of MBT. This film provides a good corrosion protection for the sample.

Ceramics in the ternary system (Pb,Sr)TiO3-PbZrO3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3, in the ratio 85.976/5.817/8.207 mol%, was prepared by mixed oxide route. With about 13.98 at % Sr+2, as isovalent substitution in A-position of the lead titanate, high-density samples were obtained for the sintering temperatures of about 1220 and 1230 degreesC. Tetragonal phases were identified both by XRD method and selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED). The lattice parameter ratio, c/a, of about 1.017 indicated a decrease of tetragonal distortion. The typical TEM micrographs showed domains of about 50 nm wide. The reflection spectra were recorded to prove the presence of the transition Ti+4 to Ti+3. The principal mechanical, electrical and electromechanical properties were discussed as a function of the sintering temperature. The variation of the relative constant with the temperature and frequency evidenced a relaxation-like behavior of this ternary system. By combining the ferroelectric and relaxor end member we tried to improve the piezoelectric properties of a ceramic with a high content of lead titanate, and to achieve a material with both piezoelectric and relaxor-like properties. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We report the synthesis and characterization of conducting polymer nanocomposites based on polypyrrole (PPY) and Fe2O3 magnetic particles. The global structure of PPY nanocomposites was obtained by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) method using a new approximation based on Generalized Fermi Function. The local structural parameters of Fe sites in Fe2O3 nanocrystallites embedded in PPY were determined by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (EXAFS). The lack of hysteresis loop for the magnetization curves of the composite PPY-Fe2O3 indicates a superparamagnetic behavior which is typical for nanosized magnetic particles.