228 research outputs found
Topography induced optical spectral shifts and finite size effect of focal spot
We observe topography induced spectral shifts using high resolution grating
spectrometers which we attribute to the fact that the focal spot has a finite
size. The topography induced spectral shifts depend on spectrometer grating
orientation and numerical aperture of the microscope objective. This is
demonstrated by spectroscopic imaging trenches in GaAs in directions parallel
and perpendicular the spectrometer entrance slit. Differences along the two
directions of the LO phonon band show that the spectral shift is due to the
variation of the grating angle across the non uniform illuminated focal spot
caused by topography. Alignment errors of the optical axis lead to additional
spectral shifts. Topography induced spectral shifts can be detected by
recording spectra by scanning the sample in two perpendicular orientations with
respect to the spectrometer entrance slit.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure
Tunable Resonant Raman Scattering from Singly Resonant Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes
We perform tunable resonant Raman scattering on 17 semiconducting and 7
metallic singly resonant single wall carbon nanotubes. The measured scattering
cross-section as a function laser energy provides information about a tube's
electronic structure, the lifetime of intermediate states involved in the
scattering process and also energies of zone center optical phonons. Recording
the scattered Raman signal as a function of tube location in the microscope
focal plane allows us to construct two-dimensional spatial maps of singly
resonant tubes. We also describe a spectral nanoscale artifact we have coined
the "nano-slit effect"
Leading interactions in the - compound
The present study shows that the electronic structure of the
- family of compounds () is based on
weakly interacting two-leg ladders, in contrast with the zig-zag chain model
one could expect from their crystal structure. Spin dimer analysis, based on
extended H\"{u}ckel tight-binding calculations, was performed to determine the
structure of the dominant transfer and magnetic interactions in the room
temperature - phase. Two different two-legs ladders,
associated with different charge/spin orders are proposed to describe these
one-dimensional -type systems. The antiferromagnetic ladders are packed
in an 'IPN' geometry and coupled to each other through weak antiferromagnetic
interactions. This arrangement of the dominant interactions explains the
otherwise surprising similarities of the optical conductivity and Raman spectra
for the one-dimensional -type phases and the two-dimensional
-type ones such as the well-known - system
Strong electron correlations in the normal state of FeSe0.42Te0.58
We investigate the normal state of the '11' iron-based superconductor
FeSe0.42Te0.58 by angle resolved photoemission. Our data reveal a highly
renormalized quasiparticle dispersion characteristic of a strongly correlated
metal. We find sheet dependent effective carrier masses between ~ 3 - 16 m_e
corresponding to a mass enhancement over band structure values of m*/m_band ~ 6
- 20. This is nearly an order of magnitude higher than the renormalization
reported previously for iron-arsenide superconductors of the '1111' and '122'
families but fully consistent with the bulk specific heat.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Chirality of internal metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes
We have assigned the chirality of the internal tubes of double walled carbon nanotubes grown by catalytic chemical vapor deposition using the high sensitivity of the radial breathing ~RB! mode in inelastic lightscattering experiments. The deduced chirality corresponds to several semiconducting and only two metallic internal tubes. The RB modes are systematically shifted to higher energies when compared to theoretical values. The difference between experimental and theoretical energies of the RB modes of metallic tubes and semiconducting tubes are discussed in terms of the reduced interlayer distance between the internal and the external tube and electronic resonance effects. We find several pairs of RB modes corresponding to different diameters of internal and external tubes
Optical Interference Substrates for Nanoparticles and Two-Dimensional Materials
Interference substrates are useful in enhancing Raman and luminescence signals and in increasing the optical contrast of nanoparticles and atomically thin layers. Interference substrates played a crucial role in the discovery of the electric field effect on electronic conduction in graphene a few years ago. They are now used for a wide range of two-dimensional materials and recently for the heterostructures of atomically thin films. The same or similar substrates can be employed for the exploration of a large variety of nanoparticles. Although optical interference has been known to occur within the proximity of surfaces for more than one century, optical interference has been only gradually used over the last two decades to enhance the optical response of nanoparticles and layered materials. We review the different forms of interference substrates used over time. While multiple interference effects are frequently put forward to explain the enhancement in interference substrates, we show here that the formation of optical surface standing waves near strongly reflecting surfaces is the main cause of field enhancement. In addition, we demonstrate how a metal layer improves optical field enhancement
Carbon Nanotubes by a CVD Method. Part I: Synthesis and Characterization of the (Mg, Fe)O Catalysts
The controlled synthesis of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition requires tailored and wellcharacterized catalyst materials. We attempted to synthesize Mg1-xFexO oxide solid solutions by the combustion route, with the aim of performing a detailed investigation of the influence of the synthesis conditions (nitrate/urea ratio and the iron content) on the valency and distribution of the iron ions and phases. Notably, characterization of the catalyst materials is performed using 57Fe Mošssbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. Several iron species are detected including Fe2+ ions substituting for Mg2+ in the MgO lattice, Fe3+ ions dispersed in the octahedral sites of MgO, different clusters of Fe3+ ions, and MgFe2O4-like nanoparticles. The dispersion of these species and the microstructure of the oxides are discussed. Powders markedly different from one another that may serve as model systems for further study are identified. The formation of carbon nanotubes upon reduction in a H2/CH4 gas atmosphere of the selected powders is reported in a companion paper
Controlled laser heating of carbon nanotubes
We investigate laser heating of double wall carbon nanotubes deposited on surfaces and immerged in liquids as a function of laser wavelength. Observing the Raman spectrum we find that laser heating of agglomerated double wall carbon nanotubes is six times larger at 488 nm than at 647 nm. The wavelength dependence of the Raman G band is linear in the visible spectral range. The frequency shift of the Raman G band obtained in methanol as a function of temperature is close to what is observed for graphite
Mössbauer Spectroscopy Involved in the Study of the Catalytic Growth of Carbon Nanotubes
Single-walled and thin multiwalled carbon nanotubes are prepared by a catalytic-chemical-vapor-deposition method involving the simultaneous formation of Fe or Co nanometric particles from oxide solid solutions based on Al2O3, MgAl2O4 or MgO. This paper is an overview of the authorsâ work on the characterization by Mössbauer spectroscopy used in complement to electron microscopy and specific-surface-area measurements. It is notably attempted to correlate the nature of the different iron phases in the carbon nanotube-metal-oxide powders with the formation mechanisms of the nanotubes. Massive composites and hydrogen storage are proposed as possible applications
Fe/Co Alloys for the Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition Synthesis of Single- and Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs). 1. The CNTâFe/CoâMgO System
Mg0.90FexCoyO (x + y ) 0.1) solid solutions were synthesized by the ureic combustion route. Upon reduction at 1000 °C in H2-CH4 of these powders, Fe/Co alloy nanoparticles are formed, which are involved in the formation of carbon nanotubes, which are mostly single and double walled, with an average diameter close to 2.5 nm. Characterizations of the materials are performed using 57Fe Mošssbauer spectroscopy and electron microscopy, and a well-established macroscopic method, based on specific-surface-area measurements, was applied to quantify the carbon quality and the nanotubes quantity. A detailed investigation of the Fe/Co alloysâ formation and composition is reported. An increasing fraction of Co2+ ions hinders the dissolution of iron in the MgO lattice and favors the formation of MgFe2O4-like particles in the oxide powders. Upon reduction, these particles form R-Fe/Co particles with a size and composition (close to Fe0.50Co0.50) adequate for the increased production of carbon nanotubes. However, larger particles are also produced resulting in the formation of undesirable carbon species. The highest CNT quantity and carbon quality are eventually obtained upon reduction of the iron-free Mg0.90Co0.10O solid solution, in the absence of clusters of metal ions in the starting material. Introduction Catalyti
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