Effects of atomic short-range order on the properties of perovskite alloys in their morphotropic phase boundary

The effects of atomic short-range order on the properties of Pb(Zr_{1-x}Ti_x)O_3 alloy in its morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) are predicted by combining first-principles-based methods and annealing techniques. Clustering is found to lead to a compositional expansion of this boundary, while the association of unlike atoms yields a contraction of this region. Atomic short-range order can thus drastically affect properties of perovskite alloys in their MPB, by inducing phase transitions. Microscopic mechanisms responsible for these effects are revealed and discussed.Comment: 4 pages, with 2 postscript figures embedded. Uses REVTEX4 and graphicx macro

Diamond-Based Thin Film Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonator for Biomedical Applications

Nowadays it is in constant growing the development of thin film bulk acoustic resonators. If the piezoelectric material is going to be implanted in the human body, an important requirement is the biocompatibility of the implant. In this regard, Aluminum Nitride (AlN) has emerged as an attractive alternative for use in biomedical MicroElectroMechanical Systems. Ultrananocrystalline Diamond (UNCD) is a promising material to be used in biomedical applications, due to its extraordinary mulifunctionality; it is exceptional for implantable medical devices requiring stringent biological performance. Since both UNCD and AlN films can be processed via photolithography processes used in microfabrication, the integration of UNCD and AlN films provides the bases for developing a new generation of biocompatible Bio-MEMS/NEMS. Research and development was conducted to produce implantable MEMS devices: Pt/piezoelectric AlN/Pt layer heterostructure was grown and patterned on the UNCD membrane with a Ti adhesion layer. By applying voltages between the top and bottom Pt electrodes layers the piezoelectric AlN layer is energized. The feasibility of the fabrication of biocompatible AlN/diamond-based FBAR structure has been demonstrated.Fil: Zalazar, Martin. Universidad Nacional de Entre Rios. Facultad de Ingenieria. Departamento de Bioingenieria; ArgentinaFil: Guarnieri, Fabio Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico. Centro de Investigación de Métodos Computacionales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Entre Rios. Facultad de Ingenieria. Departamento de Bioingenieria; Argentin

Temperature dependence of mechanical stiffness and dissipation in ultrananocrystalline diamond

Ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films are promising for radio frequency micro electro mechanical systems (RF-MEMS) resonators due to the extraordinary physical properties of diamond, such as high Young’s modulus, quality factor, and stable surface chemistry. UNCD films used for this study are grown on 150 mm silicon wafers using hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) at 680°C. UNCD fixed free (cantilever) resonator structures designed for the resonant frequencies in the kHz range have been fabricated using conventional microfabrication techniques and are wet released. Resonant excitation and ring down measurements in the temperature range of 138 K to 300 K were conducted under ultra high vacuum (UHV) conditions in a custom built UHV AFM stage to determine the temperature dependence of Young’s Modulus and dissipation (quality factor) in these UNCD cantilever structures. We measured a temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of 121 and 133 ppm/K for the cantilevers of 350 ìm and 400 ìm length respectively. Young’s modulus of the cantilevers increased by about 3.1% as the temperature was reduced from 300 K to 138 K. This is the first such measurement for UNCD and suggests that the nanostructure plays a significant role in modifying the thermo-mechanical response of the material. The quality factor of these resonators showed a moderate increase as the cantilevers were cooled from 300 K to 138 K. The results suggest that surface and bulk defects significantly contribute to the observed dissipation in UNCD resonators

Mechanical stiffness and dissipation in ultrananocrystalline diamond microresonators

We have characterized mechanical properties of ultrananocrystalline diamond UNCD thin films grown using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition HFCVD technique at 680 °C, significantly lower than the conventional growth temperature of 800 °C. The films have 4.3% sp2 content in the near-surface region as revealed by near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The films, 1 m thick, exhibit a net residual compressive stress of 3701 MPa averaged over the entire 150 mm wafer. UNCD microcantilever resonator structures and overhanging ledges were fabricated using lithography, dry etching, and wet release techniques. Overhanging ledges of the films released from the substrate exhibited periodic undulations due to stress relaxation. This was used to determine a biaxial modulus of 8382 GPa. Resonant excitation and ring-down measurements in the kHz frequency range of the microcantilevers were conducted under ultrahigh vacuum UHV conditions in a customized UHV atomic force microscope system to determine Young’s modulus as well as mechanical dissipation of cantilever structures at room temperature. Young’s modulus is found to be 79030 GPa. Based on these measurements, Poisson’s ratio is estimated to be 0.0570.038. The quality factors Q of these resonators ranged from 5000 to 16000. These Q values are lower than theoretically expected from the intrinsic properties of diamond. The results indicate that surface and bulk defects are the main contributors to the observed dissipation in UNCD resonators

Nanoscale imaging of domain dynamics and retention in ferroelectric thin films

We report results on the direct observation of the microscopic origins of backswitching in ferroelectric thin films. The piezoelectric response generated in the film by a biased atomic force microscope tip was used to obtain static and dynamic piezoelectric images of individual grains in a polycrystalline material. We demonstrate that polarization reversal occurs under no external field (i.e., loss of remanent polarization) via a dispersive continuous-time random walk process, identified by a stretched exponential decay of the remanent polarization

Quantum suppression of shot noise in field emitters

We have analyzed the shot noise of electron emission under strong applied electric fields within the Landauer-Buttiker scheme. In contrast to the previous studies of vacuum-tube emitters, we show that in new generation electron emitters, scaled down to the nanometer dimensions, shot noise much smaller than the Schottky noise is observable. Carbon nanotube field emitters are among possible candidates to observe the effect of shot-noise suppression caused by quantum partitioning.Comment: 5 pages, 1 fig, minor changes, published versio

Ab-initio design of perovskite alloys with predetermined properties: The case of Pb(Sc_{0.5} Nb_{0.5})O_{3}

A first-principles derived approach is combined with the inverse Monte Carlo technique to determine the atomic orderings leading to prefixed properties in Pb(Sc_{0.5}Nb_{0.5})O_{3} perovskite alloy. We find that some arrangements between Sc and Nb atoms result in drastic changes with respect to the disordered material, including ground states of new symmetries, large enhancement of electromechanical responses, and considerable shift of the Curie temperature. We discuss the microscopic mechanisms responsible for these unusual effects.Comment: 5 pages with 2 postscript figures embedde

Giant Enhancement of Surface Second Harmonic Generation in BaTiO_3 due to Photorefractive Surface Wave Excitation

We report observation of strongly enhanced surface SHG in BaTiO_3 due to excitation of a photorefractive surface electromagnetic wave. Surface SH intensity may reach 10^{-2} of the incident fundamental light intensity. Angular, crystal orientation and polarization dependencies of this SHG are presented. Possible applications of this effect in nonlinear surface spectroscopy are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters on the 3/29/199

A review of basic phenomena and techniques for sputter-deposition of high temperature superconducting films

The processes involved in plasma and ion beam sputter-deposition of high temperature superconducting thin films are critically reviewed. Recent advances in the development of these techniques are discussed in relation to basic physical phenomena, specific to each technique, which must be understood before high quality films can be produced. Control of film composition is a major issue in sputter-deposition of multicomponent materials. Low temperature processing of films is a common goal for each technique, particularly in relation to integrating high temperature superconducting films with the current microelectronics technology. It has been understood for some time that for Y{sub 1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} deposition, the most intensely studied high-{Tc} compound, incorporation of sufficient oxygen into the film during deposition is necessary to produce as-deposited superconducting films at relatively substrate temperatures. Recent results have shown that with the use of suitable buffer layers, high quality Y{sub 1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} sputtered films can be obtained on Si substrates without the need for post-deposition anneal processing. This review is mainly focussed on issues related to sputter-deposition of Y{sub 1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} thin films, although representative results concerning the bismuth and thallium based compounds are included. 143 refs., 11 figs

Pasta consumption and connected dietary habits: Associations with glucose control, adiposity measures, and cardiovascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes—TOSCA.IT study

Background: Pasta is a refined carbohydrate with a low glycemic index. Whether pasta shares the metabolic advantages of other low glycemic index foods has not really been investigated. The aim of this study is to document, in people with type-2 diabetes, the consumption of pasta, the connected dietary habits, and the association with glucose control, measures of adiposity, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: We studied 2562 participants. The dietary habits were assessed with the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) questionnaire. Sex-specific quartiles of pasta consumption were created in order to explore the study aims. Results: A higher pasta consumption was associated with a lower intake of proteins, total and saturated fat, cholesterol, added sugar, and fiber. Glucose control, body mass index, prevalence of obesity, and visceral obesity were not significantly different across the quartiles of pasta intake. No relation was found with LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, but there was an inverse relation with HDL-cholesterol. Systolic blood pressure increased with pasta consumption; but this relation was not confirmed after correction for confounders. Conclusions: In people with type-2 diabetes, the consumption of pasta, within the limits recommended for total carbohydrates intake, is not associated with worsening of glucose control, measures of adiposity, and major cardiovascular risk factors