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    Plasma-assisted synthesis and high-resolution characterization of anisotropic elemental and bimetallic core-shell magnetic nanoparticles
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2014) Hennes, M.; Lotnyk, A.; Mayr, S.G.
    Magnetically anisotropic as well as magnetic core-shell nanoparticles (CS-NPs) with controllable properties are highly desirable in a broad range of applications. With this background, a setup for the synthesis of heterostructured magnetic core-shell nanoparticles, which relies on (optionally pulsed) DC plasma gas condensation has been developed. We demonstrate the synthesis of elemental nickel nanoparticles with highly tunable sizes and shapes and Ni@Cu CS-NPs with an average shell thickness of 10 nm as determined with scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements. An analytical model that relies on classical kinetic gas theory is used to describe the deposition of Cu shell atoms on top of existing Ni cores. Its predictive power and possible implications for the growth of heterostructured NP in gas condensation processes are discussed.
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    Iron-assisted ion beam patterning of Si(001) in the crystalline regime
    (Bristol : IOP, 2012) Macko, S.; Grenzer, J.; Frost, F.; Engler, M.; Hirsch, D.; Fritzsche, M.; Mücklich, A.; Michely, T.
    We present ion beam erosion experiments on Si(001) with simultaneous sputter co-deposition of steel at 660 K. At this temperature, the sample remains within the crystalline regime during ion exposure and pattern formation takes place by phase separation of Si and iron-silicide. After an ion fluence of F ≈ 5.9×10 21 ions m -2, investigations by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy identify sponge, segmented wall and pillar patterns with high aspect ratios and heights of up to 200 nm. Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveal the structures to be composed of polycrystalline iron-silicide. The observed pattern formation is compared to that in the range of 140-440K under otherwise identical conditions, where a thin amorphous layer forms due to ion bombardment.
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    Conversion of p–n conduction type by spinodal decomposition in Zn-Sb-Bi phase-change alloys
    ([London] : Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature Tokyo, 2020) Wang, Guoxiang; Shi, Haizhou; Lotnyk, Andriy; Shi, Daotian; Wang, Rongping
    Phase-change films with multiple resistance levels are promising for increasing the storage density in phase-change memory technology. Diffusion-dominated Zn2Sb3 films undergo transitions across three states, from high through intermediate to low resistance, upon annealing. The properties of the Zn2Sb3 material can be further optimized by doping with Bi. Based on scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electrical transport measurements, at a particular Bi concentration, the conduction of Zn-Sb-Bi compounds changes from p- to n-type, originating from spinodal decomposition. Simultaneously, the change in the temperature coefficient of resistivity shows a metal-to-insulator transition. Further analysis of microstructure characteristics reveals that the distribution of the Bi-Sb phase may be the origin of the driving force for the p–n conduction and metal-to-insulator transitions and therefore may provide us with another way to improve multilevel data storage. Moreover, the Bi doping promotes the thermoelectric properties of the studied alloys, leading to higher values of the power factor compared to known reported structures. The present study sheds valuable light on the spinodal decomposition process caused by Bi doping, which can also occur in a wide variety of chalcogenide-based phase-change materials. In addition, the study provides a new strategy for realizing novel p–n heterostructures for multilevel data storage and thermoelectric applications.
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    Dimethyl carbonate synthesis from carbon dioxide using ceria–zirconia catalysts prepared using a templating method: characterization, parametric optimization and chemical equilibrium modeling
    (London : RSC Publishing, 2016) Kumar, Praveen; With, Patrick; Srivastava, Vimal Chandra; Shukla, Kartikeya; Gläser, Roger; Mishra, Indra Mani
    In this paper, a series of CexZr1−xO2 solid solution spheres were synthesized by exo- and endo-templating methods and tested for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis using direct conversion of CO2. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and CO2/NH3-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Formation of CexZr1−xO2 solid solutions with tetragonal and cubic crystal structures depending on cerium/zirconium compositions was confirmed by XRD analysis. The specific surface area of the mixed oxide decreased and the average pore diameter increased with an increase in the ceria content, with the exception of the mixed oxides with x = 0.4–0.5 i.e. Ce0.4Zr0.6O2 and Ce0.5Zr0.5O2. The basic and acidic site density of the synthesized catalysts was in the order: ZrO2 < CeO2 < Ce0.5Zr0.5O2, and the basic and acidic site density per unit area followed the same order. The best Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 catalyst was further used for the optimization of reaction conditions such as reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst dose and reusability for DMC synthesis. Furthermore, study of chemical equilibrium modeling was done using the Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera equation of state (PRSV-EoS) along with the van der Waals one-fluid reaction condition so as to calculate change of Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) and heat of reaction (ΔH°).
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    Systematic tuning of segmented magnetic nanowires into three-dimensional arrays of 'bits'
    (London : RSC Publishing, 2017) Bochmann, S.; Fernandez-Pacheco, A.; Mačković, M.; Neff, A.; Siefermann, K.R.; Spiecker, E.; Cowburn, R.P.; Bachmann, J.
    A method is presented for the preparation of a three-dimensional magnetic data storage material system. The major ingredients are an inert nanoporous matrix prepared by anodization and galvanic plating of magnetic and non-magnetic metals in wire shape inside the cylindrical pores. The individual nanomagnets consist of a nickel-cobalt alloy, the composition of which is tuned systematically by adjusting the electrolytic bath composition at one optimal applied potential. The lowest magnetocrystalline anisotropy is obtained at the composition Ni60Co40, as quantified by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. Wires of this composition experience a pinning-free propagation of magnetic domain walls, as determined by single-wire magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry. Adding copper into the electrolyte allows one to generate segments of Ni60Co40 separated by non-magnetic copper. The segment structure is apparent in individual nanowires imaged by scanning electron microscopy, UV-photoelectron emission microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The single-domain structure of the wire segments is evidenced by magnetic force microscopy.