Image-potential band-gap narrowing at a metal/semiconductor interface

GW approximation is used to systematically revisit the image-potential band-gap narrowing at metal/semiconductor interfaces proposed by Inkson in the 1970's. Here we have questioned how the narrowing as calculated from quasi-particle energy spectra for the jellium/Si interface depends on $r_s$ of the jellium. The gap narrowing is found to only weakly depend on $r_s$ (i.e., narrowing $\simeq 0.3$ eV even for a large $r_s = 6)$. Hence we can turn to smaller polarizability in the semiconductor side as an important factor in looking for larger narrowing.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Kiwi talent flow : a study of chartered accountants and business professionals overseas

New Zealanders have always had a propensity to travel overseas. The globalisation of the world has seen an increase in the number of people who, having completed their education and gained some work experience, set off on their overseas experience. Concern has been expressed as to the potential “brain drain” that would result should these well-educated and talented citizens remain overseas permanently. This research considers the propensity to return of over 1,500 expatriate Kiwis working in the areas of accounting and finance. It examines their demographics, attitudes, values, motivations, factors of attraction to, and repulsion from, New Zealand and their concerns for change in New Zealand. It therefore provides insights into the nature and purpose of this significant group of professionals resident mainly in the United Kingdom and Australia. We find that less than half are likely to return to New Zealand. This is because of the lack of career and business opportunities despite the “pull” of family and relations in New Zealand

Variational solution of the T-matrix integral equation

We present a variational solution of the T-matrix integral equation within a local approximation. This solution provides a simple form for the T matrix similar to Hubbard models but with the local interaction depending on momentum and frequency. By examining the ladder diagrams for irreducible polarizability, a connection between this interaction and the local-field factor is established. Based on the obtained solution, a form for the T-matrix contribution to the electron self-energy in addition to the GW term is proposed. In the case of the electron-hole multiple scattering, this form allows one to avoid double counting.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Visualization and chemical characterization of the cathode electrolyte interphase using He-ion microscopy and in situ time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Unstable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) formation increases degradation in high voltage Li-ion battery materials. Few techniques couple characterization of nano-scale CEI layers on the macroscale with in situ chemical characterization, and thus, information on how the underlying microstructure affects CEI formation is lost. Here, the process of CEI formation in a high voltage cathode material, LiCoPO4, has been investigated for the first time using helium ion microscopy (HIM) and in situ time-of-flight (ToF) secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The combination of HIM and Ne-ion ToF-SIMS has been used to correlate the cycle-dependent morphology of the CEI layer on LiCoPO4 with a local cathode microstructure, including position, thickness, and chemistry. HIM imaging identified partial dissolution of the CEI layer on discharge resulting in in-homogenous CEI coverage on larger LiCoPO4 agglomerates. Ne-ion ToF-SIMS characterization identified oxyfluorophosphates from HF attack by the electrolyte and a Li-rich surface region. Variable thickness of the CEI layer coupled with inactive Li on the surface of LiCoPO4 electrodes contributes to severe degradation over the course of 10 cycles. The HIM–SIMS technique has potential to further investigate the effect of microstructures on CEI formation in cathode materials or solid electrolyte interphase formation in anodes, thus aiding future electrode development

Experimental time-resolved photoemission and ab initio study of lifetimes of excited electrons in Mo and Rh

We have studied the relaxation dynamics of optically excited electrons in molybdenum and rhodium by means of time resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy (TR-2PPE) and ab initio electron self-energy calculations performed within the GW and GW+T approximations. Both theoretical approaches reproduce qualitatively the experimentally observed trends and differences in the lifetimes of excited electrons in molybdenum and rhodium. For excitation energies exceeding the Fermi energy by more than 1 eV, the GW+T theory yields lifetimes in quantitative agreement with the experimental results. As one of the relevant mechanisms causing different excited state lifetime in Mo and Rh we identify the occupation of the 4d bands. An increasing occupation of the 4d bands results in an efficient decrease of the lifetime even for rather small excitation energies of a few 100 meV.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Towards in-situ TEM for Li-ion battery research

Due to recent developments in new battery materials for higher energy density applications there has been growing interest in new characterization techniques capable of time-resolved in situ/in operando analysis of dynamic Battery systems. This review provides an overview on recent development of liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for Li-ion battery research and discusses the challenges, highlighting potential research areas. In-situ TEM offers the opportunity to study phenomena including solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and phase changes during battery operation. There are two main challenging areas for in-situ TEM research (1) designing an in-situ TEM electrochemical cell that mimics a ‘real’ cell and (2) quantifying beam damage caused by electron irradiation of the electrolyte

Temperature dependence of electrical properties of electrodeposited Ni-based nanowires

The influence of annealing on the microstructure and the electrical properties of cylindrical nickel-based nanowires has been investigated. Nanowires of nickel of nominally 200 nm diameter and of permalloy (Py) of nominally 70 nm were fabricated by electrochemical deposition into nanoporous templates of polycarbonate and anodic alumina, respectively. Characterization was carried out on as-grown nanowires and nanowires heat treated at 650°C. Transmission electron microscopy and diffraction imaging of as-grown and annealed nanowires showed temperature-correlated grain growth of an initially nano-crystalline structure with ≤8 nm (Ni) and ≤20 nm (Py) grains towards coarser poly-crystallinity with grain sizes up to about 160 nm (Ni) and 70 nm (Py), latter being limited by the nanowire width. The electrical conductivity of individual as-grown and annealed Ni nanowires was measured in situ within a scanning electron microscope environment. At low current densities, the conductivity of annealed nanowires was estimated to have risen by a factor of about two over as-grown nanowires. We attribute this increase, at least in part, to the observed grain growth. The annealed nanowire was subsequently subjected to increasing current densities. Above 120 kA mm -2 the nanowire resistance started to rise. At 450 kA mm -2 the nanowire melted and current flow ceased

Quantification of airborne road-side pollution carbon nanoparticles

Roadside diesel particulate matter (DPM) has been collected using a P-Trak particle counter with modified inlet filter. The P-Trak monitor assesses ultrafine particle number in real-time rather than accumulated PM mass over a period of time, which is important for DPM where the particles are often <100nm in size. Collected pollution particulate matter was analysed by SEM and TEM, quantifying particle size, morphology and size distribution. The primary carbon nanoparticles form complex fractal aggregates with open porous morphologies and evidence of secondary carbon deposition. For the chosen collection sites, occasional but significantly larger mineral and fibrous particles were identified. The assessment of airborne particles by mass collection (TEOM), particle-number (P-Trak) and TEM methods is discussed