The Mn site in Mn-doped Ga-As nanowires: an EXAFS study

We present an EXAFS study of the Mn atomic environment in Mn-doped GaAs nanowires. Mn doping has been obtained either via the diffusion of the Mn used as seed for the nanowire growth or by providing Mn during the growth of Au-induced wires. As a general finding, we observe that Mn forms chemical bonds with As but is not incorporated in a substitutional site. In Mn-induced GaAs wires, Mn is mostly found bonded to As in a rather disordered environment and with a stretched bond length, reminiscent of that exhibited by MnAs phases. In Au-seeded nanowires, along with stretched Mn-As coordination we have found the presence of Mn in a Mn-Au intermetallic compound.Comment: This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Semiconductor Science and Technology. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at doi:10.1088/0268-1242/27/8/08500

Strain and correlation of self-organized Ge_(1-x)Mn_x nanocolumns embedded in Ge (001)

We report on the structural properties of Ge_(1-x)Mn_x layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. In these layers, nanocolumns with a high Mn content are embedded in an almost-pure Ge matrix. We have used grazing-incidence X-ray scattering, atomic force and transmission electron microscopy to study the structural properties of the columns. We demonstrate how the elastic deformation of the matrix (as calculated using atomistic simulations) around the columns, as well as the average inter-column distance can account for the shape of the diffusion around Bragg peaks.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Spin-polarized electronic structure of the core-shell ZnO/ZnO:Mn nanowires probed by x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy

The combination of x-ray spectroscopy methods complemented with theoretical analysis unravels the coexistence of paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases in the Zn_0.9Mn_0.1O shell deposited onto array of wurtzite ZnO nanowires. The shell is crystalline with orientation toward the ZnO growth axis, as demonstrated by X-ray linear dichroism. EXAFS analysis confirmed that more than 90% of Mn atoms substituted Zn in the shell while fraction of secondary phases was below 10%. The value of manganese spin magnetic moment was estimated from the Mn K{\beta} X-ray emission spectroscopy to be 4.3{\mu}B which is close to the theoretical value for substitutional Mn_Zn. However the analysis of L_2,3 x-ray magnetic circular dichroism data showed paramagnetic behaviour with saturated spin magnetic moment value of 1.95{\mu}B as determined directly from the spin sum rule. After quantitative analysis employing atomic multiplet simulations such difference was explained by a coexistence of paramagnetic phase and local antiferromagnetic coupling of Mn magnetic moments. Finally, spin-polarized electron density of states was probed by the spin-resolved Mn K-edge XANES spectroscopy and consequently analyzed by band structure calculations.Comment: Supplementary information available at http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/ja/c3/c3ja50153a/c3ja50153a.pdf J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 201

X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy study of Mn and Co valence and spin states in TbM n1-x C ox O3

The valence and spin state evolution of Mn and Co on TbMn1-xCoxO3 series is precisely determined by means of soft and hard x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Kß x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). Our results show the change from Mn3+ to Mn4+ both high-spin (HS) together with the evolution from Co2+ HS to Co3+ low-spin (LS) with increasing x. In addition, high energy resolution XAS spectra on the K pre-edge region are interpreted in terms of the strong charge transfer and hybridization effects along the series. These results correlate well with the spin values of Mn and Co atoms obtained from the Kß XES data. In this paper, we determine that Co enters into the transition metal sublattice of TbMnO3 as a divalent ion in HS state, destabilizing the Mn long-range magnetic order since very low doping compositions (x=0.1). Samples in the intermediate composition range (0.4=x=0.6) adopt the crystal structure of a double perovskite with long-range ferromagnetic ordering which is due to Mn4+-O-Co2+ superexchange interactions with both cations in HS configuration. Ferromagnetism vanishes for x=0.7 due to the structural disorder that collapses the double perovskite structure. The spectroscopic techniques reveal the occurrence of Mn4+ HS and a fluctuating valence state Co2+ HS/Co3+ LS in this composition range. Disorder and competitive interactions lead to a magnetic glassy behavior in these samples

Solid and Aqueous Speciation of Yttrium in Passive Remediation Systems of Acid Mine Drainage

International audienceYttrium belongs to the rare earth elements (REEs) together with lanthanides and scandium. REEs are commonly used in modern technologies, and their limited supply has made it necessary to look for new alternative resources. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a potential resource since it is moderately enriched in REEs. In fact, in passive remediation systems, which are implemented to minimize the environmental impacts of AMD, REEs are mainly retained in basaluminite, an aluminum hydroxysulfate precipitate. In this study, the solid and liquid speciation and the local structure of yttrium are studied in high-sulfate aqueous solutions, basaluminite standards, and samples from remediation columns using synchrotron-based techniques and molecular modeling. Pair distribution function (PDF) analyses and ab initio molecular dynamics density functional theory models of the yttrium sulfate solution show that the YSO4+ ion pair forms a monodentate inner-sphere complex. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and PDF analyses show that Y is retained by basaluminite, forming a monodentate inner-sphere surface complex on the aluminum hydroxide surface. EXAFS of the column samples shows that more than 72% of their signal is represented by the signal of basaluminite with which YSO4+ forms an inner-sphere complex. The atomic view of the REE configuration in AMD environments could facilitate a deeper research of REE recovery from waste generated in AMD remediation systems

Experimental probing of exchange interactions between localized spins in the dilute magnetic insulator (Ga,Mn)N

The sign, magnitude, and range of the exchange couplings between pairs of Mn ions is determined for (Ga,Mn)N and (Ga,Mn)N:Si with x < 3%. The samples have been grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy and characterized by secondary-ion mass spectroscopy; high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with capabilities allowing for chemical analysis, including the annular dark-field mode and electron energy loss spectroscopy; high-resolution and synchrotron x-ray diffraction; synchrotron extended x-ray absorption fine-structure; synchrotron x-ray absorption near-edge structure; infra-red optics and electron spin resonance. The results of high resolution magnetic measurements and their quantitative interpretation have allowed to verify a series of ab initio predictions on the possibility of ferromagnetism in dilute magnetic insulators and to demonstrate that the interaction changes from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic when the charge state of the Mn ions is reduced from 3+ to 2+.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures; This version contains the detailed characterization of the crystal structure as well as of the Mn distribution and charge stat

Structural and paramagnetic properties of dilute Ga1-xMnxN

Systematic investigations of the structural and magnetic properties of single crystal (Ga,Mn)N films grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy are presented. High resolution transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and extended x-ray absorption fine structure studies do not reveal any crystallographic phase separation and indicate that Mn occupies Ga-substitutional sites in the Mn concentration range up to 1%. The magnetic properties as a function of temperature, magnetic field and its orientation with respect to the c-axis of the wurtzite structure can be quantitatively described by the paramagnetic theory of an ensemble of non-interacting Mn$^{3+}$ ions in the relevant crystal field, a conclusion consistent with the x-ray absorption near edge structure analysis. A negligible contribution of Mn in the 2+ charge state points to a low concentration of residual donors in the studied films. Studies on modulation doped p-type (Ga,Mn)N/(Ga,Al)N:Mg heterostructures do not reproduce the high temperature robust ferromagnetism reported recently for this system.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure

Oxide phase characterization in simulated high burn-up UO2 fuels in the early stages of a nuclear severe accident

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