Atomic Layer Deposition of Ruthenium Thin Films From an Amidinate Precursor

Ruthenium thin films were deposited by atomic layer deposition from bis(N,N’-di-tert-butylacetamidinato)ruthenium(II) dicarbonyl and O2. Highly conductive, dense and pure thin films can be deposited when oxygen exposure EO approaches a certain threshold ( Emax ). When EO > Emax, the film peels off due to the recombinative desorption of O2 at the film/substrate interface. Analysis by an atomic probe microscope shows that the crystallites are nearly free of carbon impurity (<0.1 at.%), while a low level of carbon (<0.5 at.%) is segregated near the grain boundaries. The atom probe microscope also shows that a small amount of O impurity (0.3 at.%) is distributed uniformly between the crystallites and the grain boundaries.Chemistry and Chemical BiologyEngineering and Applied Science

Proposed nomenclature for Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium and related genera

As a result of fundamental changes in the International Code of Nomenclature on the use of separate names for sexual and asexual stages of fungi, generic names of many groups should be reconsidered. Members of the ECMM/ISHAM working group on Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium infections herein advocate a novel nomenclature for genera and species in Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium and allied taxa. The generic names Parascedosporium, Lomentospora, Petriella, Petriellopsis, and Scedosporium are proposed for a lineage within Microascaceae with mostly Scedosporium anamorphs producing slimy, annellidic conidia. Considering that Scedosporium has priority over Pseudallescheria and that Scedosporium prolificans is phylogenetically distinct from the other Scedosporium species, some name changes are proposed. Pseudallescheria minutispora and Petriellidium desertorum are renamed as Scedosporium minutisporum and S. desertorum, respectively. Scedosporium prolificans is renamed as Lomentospora prolificans

Local Electrode Atom Probe TomographyA User's Guide /

XVII, 318 p. 164 illus., 54 illus. in color.onlin

'Green' Cr(iii)-glycine electrolyte for the production of FeCrNi coatings: electrodeposition mechanisms and role of by-products in terms of coating composition and microstructure

The electrodeposition of stainless steel-like FeCrNi alloys for miniaturised devices is appealing as it would allow combining excellent material properties (e.g. corrosion resistance, hardness, biocompatibility) at low-cost. However, conventional baths often contain hazardous hexavalent chromium. Cr-based alloys electrodeposited from environmentally friendly trivalent chromium electrolytes are crucial for industrial application for facilitating the transition towards sustainable and ecological production and processing. Nevertheless, this process has not been comprehensively studied or understood in depth: especially the role of organic agents (common additives for improving Cr(iii)-based plating; e.g. glycine) in terms of material properties of the electrodeposits. The aim of this work was to investigate the electrodeposition of FeCrNi coatings from a 'green' Cr(iii)-glycine electrolyte. Novel information was attained by analysing films developed under various conditions and characterising them using a combination of advanced techniques. The evolution of microstructure (from amorphous to nanocrystalline) in correlation with film composition (i.e. metals ratio and presence of impurities) and elemental 3D spatial distribution was achieved for coatings produced from different anode materials and thermal post-treatment. The influence of Cr(iii) and glycine in terms of coating atomic contents (i.e. Fe-Cr-Ni-O-C-N-H) was evaluated for films in which both the applied current density and electrolyte composition were varied. These results, together with a thorough analysis on metals speciation/complexation allowed us to propose various Cr(iii)-based electroreduction mechanisms, and to observe, upon annealing, segregation and distribution of impurities, as well as of oxides and metals with respect to microstructure variation, providing an explanation for the amorphisation process