Band-gap tuning and linear magnetoresistance in the silver chalcogenides

Optimally doped silver selenide and silver telluride exhibit linear positive magnetoresistance over decades in magnetic field and on a scale comparable to the colossal magnetoresistance compounds. We use hydrostatic pressure to smoothly alter the band structure of Ag-rich and Ag-deficient samples of semiconducting Ag_(2±δ)Te of fixed stoichiometry and disorder. We find that the magnetoresistance spikes and the linear field dependence emerges when the bands cross and the Hall coefficient changes sign

Physics in the fast lane: rotors, fast ions and mobile fermions

Dynamic disorder in the high-temperature solid phases of the Zintl compounds CsPb and NaSn is characterized by. fast orientational motions of the polyanions and coupled motions of the cations Melting is characterized by slow translational motions of the centers of mass of the polyanions. The dynamic behavior of the ions is associated with dramatic increases in electrical conductivity characteristic of the behavior expected of a mixed conductor

Anomalous x-ray scattering studies of short-, intermediate- and extended-range order in glasses

The authors present the formalism of anomalous x-ray scattering as applied to partial structure analysis of disordered materials, and give an example of how the technique has been applied, together with that of neutron diffraction, to investigate short-, intermediate- and extended-range order in vitreous germania and rubidium germanate

A High Energy X-Ray and Neutron Scattering Study of Iron Phosphate Glasses Containing Uranium

The atomic structure of iron phosphate glasses containing uranium has been studied by complementary neutron and x-ray scattering techniques. by combining x-ray and neutron structure factors, detailed information about different pair interactions has been obtained. Most of the basic structural features such as coordination numbers and O-O and P-O distances in uranium containing glasses are the same as those in the base glass of batch composition 40Fe2O3-60P2O5 (mol %). However, the Fe-O distances change slightly with the addition of uranium. The observed structural parameters support a structural model in which the waste elements occupy voids in the Fe-O-P network, hence, not altering the basic structure of the parent iron phosphate glass

The Structure, Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Liquid Ag-Se Alloys Investigated by Ab Initio Simulation

Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations have been used to investigate the structure, dynamics and electronic properties of the liquid alloy Ag(1-x)Se(x) at 1350 K and at the three compositions x=0.33, 0.42 and 0.65. The calculations are based on density-functional theory in the local density approximation and on the pseudopotential plane-wave method. The reliability of the simulations is confirmed by detailed comparisons with very recent neutron diffraction results for the partial structure factors and radial distribution functions (RDF) of the stoichiometric liquid Ag2Se. The simulations show a dramatic change of the Se-Se RDF with increasing Se content. This change is due to the formation of Se clusters bound by covalent bonds, the Se-Se bond length being almost the same as in pure c-Se and l-Se. The clusters are predominantly chain-like, but for higher x a large fraction of 3-fold coordinated Se atoms is also found. It is shown that the equilibrium fractions of Se present as isolated atoms and in clusters can be understood on a simple charge-balance model based on an ionic interpretation. The Ag and Se diffusion coefficients both increase with Se content, in spite of the Se clustering. An analysis of the Se-Se bond dynamics reveals surprisingly short bond lifetimes of less than 1 ps. The changes in the density of states with composition arise directly from the formation of Se-Se covalent bonds. Results for the electronic conductivity obtained using the Kubo-Greenwood approximation are in adequate agreement with experiment for l-Ag2Se, but not for the high Se contents. Possible reasons for this are discussed.Comment: 14 pages, Revtex, 14 Postscript figures embedded in the tex

Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology Research Directions

This report describes important future research directions in nanoscale science, engineering and technology. It was prepared in connection with an anticipated national research initiative on nanotechnology for the twenty-first century. The research directions described are not expected to be inclusive but illustrate the wide range of research opportunities and challenges that could be undertaken through the national laboratories and their major national scientific user facilities with the support of universities and industry

Drying colloidal systems: laboratory models for a wide range of applications

The drying of complex fluids provides a powerful insight into phenomena that take place on time and length scales not normally accessible. An important feature of complex fluids, colloidal dispersions and polymer solutions is their high sensitivity to weak external actions. Thus, the drying of complex fluids involves a large number of physical and chemical processes. The scope of this review is the capacity to tune such systems to reproduce and explore specific properties in a physics laboratory. A wide variety of systems are presented, ranging from functional coatings, food science, cosmetology, medical diagnostics and forensics to geophysics and art

Optical spectroscopy on Se clusters and chains confined in zeolites

The incorporation of selenium into the supercages of zeolite Y leads to the formation of Se 8 rings and distorted Se chains in a ratio which is influenced by the nature of the zeolitic cations. Here we review Raman (including resonance Raman) and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy results on Se encapsulated into a number of cation-exchanged faujasite zeolites. Both rings and chains give rise to characteristic Raman bands. In particular, low-frequency Raman bands are attributed to localized vibrations in ordered segments of distorted chains. The UV/vis absorption spectra indicate an opening of the band gap of selenium upon confinement in these zeolites. This can be reversed through electronic interaction with zeolite cations