Publications

Nanocrystalline powders of a soft FeNbLi-doped PZT material have been prepared by a novel mechanochemical process consisting of mixing the stoichiometric oxides in a planetary ball mill for prolonged times up to 80 h. The constituent oxides were reacted in a tungsten carbide vial with balls of 5, 10 and 20 mm in diameter and a ball/powder ratio of 15/1. The chemical reaction between the component oxides was triggered after 20 h of energetic milling and was completed after 80 h. The XRD of the reacted nanopowder showed the well known perovskite structure. Compacted samples of this powder were sintered between 800-1300degreesC for 3 h and the main piezoelectric properties were determined. The density of the sintered samples reached nearly 99% of the theoretical density at 1100degreesC and showed good piezoelectric characteristics: planar coupling factor of 0.66, dielectric displacement constant d(33) of 550 pm/V, mechanical quality factor of 85, and relative dielectric constant of 3800. The possible mechanisms for solid state reaction of mechanically activated nanopowders such as local heating and pressure at collision as well as defects diffusion are discussed. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

In this paper, we present Raman studies of different carbon nanotubes systems like single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) or composites prepared with different conjugated or non-conjugated polymers. We have focused our studies on the interactions that can take place in these systems and in general modify the characteristics of individual tubes. By introducing Van der Waals interactions between tubes, we are able to interpret experimental Raman spectra. In the case of SWNTs, we have put in evidence the so-called "bundle'' effect that consists of an upshift of the frequency of the RBM of 10 to 16 cm(-1), depending on the size of the bundles. In MWNTs, one can calculate the low frequency Raman modes observed experimentally. We found that they originate from the radial breathing modes of isolated tubes with an upshift that depends on the number of shells constituting the tube and we were then able to calculate the intensity of such modes. Finally, in polymer/nanotubes composites, we demonstrate that interactions take place between the two constituents in two different cases: PPV/SWNTs and PANI/SWNTs. The role of the method of preparation of composites is particularly put in evidence.

Electrolytic colouration at about 600degreesC and 350 V/cm, for KCl crystal containing Pb2+ and for KCl:Pb2+ crystals co-doped with Li+, Na+ and Rb+ has been undertaken. Several absorption bands were observed in both doped and co-doped crystals in the visible-UV region. Excitation into these bands gives rise to the same 0.86 eV emission band except for the Li+-co-doped crystal which gives rise to a 0.80 eV emission band. These absorption bands are due to the same T-a-centre related to Pb-. The observed infrared emission intensity of the crystal with F-centres is higher than of without F-centres. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) method in which the outer furnace is replaced by the high frequency induction heating (IH) has been used for synthesis of carbon nanostructures. Using different catalysts, various types of carbon nanofibers were obtained, with the absence of the catalyst particles at their tip as a common characteristic. The IH mode combined with the CCVD method seems attractive for the synthesis of carbon nanostructures, allowing a significant decrease of energy consumption and of the overall reaction time as compared with the heating mode with outer furnace. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of the NO3- anion on the corrosion of carbon steel in a solution of 0.1M NH4Cl (pH 5.5) was studied by galvanostatic polarization and Mossbauer spectrometry. The anion has an inhibiting effect by decreasing the expansion rate of generalized corrosion of carbon steel in a solution of 0.1M NH4Cl-Mossbauer spectroscopy shows that a superficial compound is formed on the electrode surface as a result of corrosion, presenting no magnetic ordering. Its parameters show the initial stage of corrosion. We assume that at this stage the main corrosion product is a mixture of ferrihydrite Fe(III) and FeOOH (alpha and/or gamma).

Silicon detectors represent an important option for the Large Hadron Collider and for its upgrades in luminosity and energy, especially for the tracking system. The main limitation in their utilisation comes from the degradation in the hostile radiation environment where they, will work for long time, without the possibility to be changed. The main goal of this paper is to study, the role of growth technology on stable defect concentrations produced by long-time continuous irradiation in the radiation field estimated for LHC and SLHC.

CdxPb1-xS (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1) thin films were prepared on glass substrates using the chemical bath deposition method. The structural, electrical, and photoelectrical properties of the films were investigated, and all were dependent on the x value. For x > 0.5 (high Cd content), the films show a poor crystallinity and weak photoconductivity. For x < 0.5 (high Pb content), the films exhibit a good crystallinity, with an average size of the crystallites of 100 nm, and good photoconductivity. The threshold voltage of photoconductivity is shifted to lower wavelengths with increasing Cd content. The experimental results point toward possible ternary deposition on some composition ranges (near pure PbS or CdS); whereas, for the rest, the deposited film is rather a mixture of phases [not CdxPb1-xS but (CdS)(x)(PbS)(1-x)]. (C) 2004 The Electrochemical Society.

The magnetic properties of core-shell-type nanoparticles with non-magnetic core and ferromagnetic shell are modeled using Monte Carlo simulation. The influence of the surface spin disorder on the magnetization and Curie temperature of magnetic states is studied. Due to competition between exchange coupling and surface anisotropy, rotation of the magnetization axis is observed, as the surface anisotropy of the ferromagnetic shell is increased. It is shown that the exchange coupling at the core-shell interface can influence the shape of the temperature dependence of total magnetization. (C) 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Thermally stimulated current measurements of silicon particle detectors have been performed for defect characterization after high levels of gamma- and proton-irradiation. Two defects closely correlated with the detector performance were monitored: a deep acceptor (1) and a bistable donor (BD). In oxygen rich silicon the deep acceptor is largely suppressed while the BD generation is strongly enhanced. The influence of the starting material (standard float zone (FZ), oxygen enriched FZ, Cz, epitaxial silicon) on the formation of these two defects is discussed. Identification of the I-defect with the V2O complex, and of BD with the thermal double donor TDD2 is suggested. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isothermal and isochronal annealing experiments have shown that the I defect (the main cause for the changes in silicon diodes characteristics after high levels of gamma-irradiation) is stable up to 325-350degreesC. Possible reactions, which can explain the behavior of different defects formed during the annealing experiments, are discussed. All the experimental results concerning the I center (second-order irradiation induced defect, formed most likely via VO center, suppressed in oxygen rich material, high thermal stability) make it the favorite for being associated with the V2O2 complex. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.