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At least 19 records

Dislocation-Related Photoluminescence in Silicon Implanted with Germanium Ions

The influence exerted by the conditions of the post-implantation annealing of silicon implanted with germanium ions on how luminescence centers are formed is studied. Measurements by the technique of the Rutherford backscattering of medium- and high-energy ions demonstrates that implantation with 1-MeV germanium ions at a dose of 1.5 × 10{sup 14} cm{sup –2} does not lead to the amorphization of single-crystal silicon. It is found that subsequent high-temperature annealing of the implanted samples in a chlorine-containing atmosphere at a temperature of 1100°C for 0.5–1.5 h gives rise to so-called D1 and D2 dislocation-related luminescence lines with wavelengths of 1.54 and 1.42 μm. With increasing annealing duration, the intensity of the D1 line decreases and that of D2 remains constant, but the D1 line dominates in all the spectra. The possible factors responsible for a decrease in the intensity of the D1 line and, in particular, the diffusion of germanium atoms and the formation of a silicon–germanium solid solution are discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Erbium-doped optical fibre with enhanced radiation resistance for superluminescent fibre sources

This paper presents a study of the properties of erbium-doped optical fibres with enhanced gamma-ray resistance at a high dose rate. The fibres have a silica core containing different dopants. The gamma-ray resistance of the fibres is due to additional doping of their core with cerium and germanium ions, as well as to aluminium concentration optimisation. We assess the effect of fibre composition on the radiation-induced loss at a wavelength of 1310 nm and the output power and weighted average wavelength of superluminescent fibre sources based on erbium-doped fibre under pulsed gamma irradiation (dose per pulse, ∼ 20 Gy). The fibre doped with aluminium, germanium and cerium oxides is shown to be optimal for use in gamma-ray-resistant broadband superluminescent fibre sources. (optical fibres)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Thermal spike effect in sputtering of porous germanium to form surface pattern by high energy heavy ions irradiation

Germanium exhibits a remarkable effect when subjected to high energy heavy ions irradiation. A synergic effect of high electronic energy loss (S{sub e} = 16.4 keV nm{sup −1}) and nuclear energy loss (S{sub n} = 0.1 keV nm{sup −1}) of 100 MeV Ag ions irradiation in Ge is presented. The results show that crystalline Ge is insensitive to the ionizing part of energy loss whereas thermal spike generated in the damaged Ge leads to the formation of porous structure. Further, an unusual high sputtering of the porous structure opens up the sub-surface voids to show the surface pattern. We explore the role of electron and phonon confinement to explain this effect.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Elucidation of the Local and Long-Range Structural Changes that Occur in Germanium Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Metallic germanium is a promising anode material in secondary lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity (1623 mAh/g) and low operating voltage, coupled with the high lithium-ion diffusivity and electronic conductivity of lithiated Ge. Here, the lithiation mechanism of micron-sized Ge anodes has been investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, and in-/ex-situ high-resolution Li-7 solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), utilizing the structural information and spectroscopic fingerprints obtained by characterizing a series of relevant Li(x)Gey model compounds. In contrast to previous work, which postulated the formation of Li9Ge4 upon initial lithiation, we show that crystalline Ge first reacts to form a mixture of amorphous and crystalline Li7Ge3 (space group P32(1)2). Although Li7Ge3 was proposed to be stable in a recent theoretical study of the Li-Ge phase diagram (Morris, A. J.; Grey, C. P.; Pickard, C. J. Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter Mater. Phys. 2014, 90, 054111), it had not been identified in prior experimental studies. Further lithiation results in the transformation of Li7Ge3, via a series of disordered phases with related structural motifs, to form a phase that locally resembles Li7Ge2, a process that involves the gradual breakage of the Ge-Ge bonds in the Ge-Ge dimers (dumbbells) on lithiation. Crystalline Li15Ge4 then grows, with an overlithiated phase, Li15+delta Ge4, being formed at the end of discharge. This study provides comprehensive experimental evidence, by using techniques that probe short-, medium-, and long-range order, for the structural transformations that occur on electrochemical lithiation of Ge; the results are consistent with corresponding theoretical studies regarding stable lithiated LixGey phases.

Jung, Hyeyoung↗

Wavelengths, transition probabilities, and oscillator strengths for M-shell transitions in Co-, Ni-, Cu-, Zn-, Ga-, Ge-, and Se-like Au ions

Wavelengths, transition probabilities, and oscillator strengths have been calculated for M-shell electric dipole transitions in Co-, Ni-, Cu-, Zn-, Ga-, Ge-, and Se-like Au ions. The fully relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock method, taking quantum electrodynamical effects and the Breit correction into account, was used in the calculations. Calculated energy levels of M-shell excited states for Cu-, Zn-, Ga-, Ge-, and Se-like Au ions from the method were compared with available theoretical and experimental results, and good agreement with them was achieved.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Improved fabrication techniques for infrared bolometers

Techniques are described for producing improved infrared bolometers from doped germanium. Ion implantation and sputter metalization have been used to make ohmic electrical contacts to Ge:Ga chips. This method results in a high yield of small monolithic bolometers with very little low-frequency noise. When one of these chips is used as the thermometric element of a composite bolometer, it must be bonded to a dielectric substrate. The thermal resistance of the conventional epoxy bond has been measured and found to be undesirably large. A procedure for soldering the chip to a metalized portion of the substrate is described which reduced this resistance. The contribution of the metal film absorber to the heat capacity of a composite bolometer has been measured. The heat capacity of a NiCr absorber at 1.3 K can dominate the bolometer performance. A Bi absorber has significantly lower heat capacity. A low temperature blackbody calibrator has been built to measure the optical responsivity of bolometers. A composite bolometer system with a throughput of approx. 0.1 sr sq cm was constructed using the new techniques. In negligible background it has an optical NEP of 3.6 10((exp -15) W/sq root of Hz at 1.0 K with a time constant of 20 ms. The noise in this bolometer is white above 2.5 Hz and is somewhat below the value predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium theory. It is in agreement with calculations based on a recent nonequilibrium theory.

Lange, A. E.↗

Characterization of NTD germanium and ion-implanted Si bolometers at 0.3K and 0.1K

Bolometer elements were built and tested using NTD germanium and ion-implanted Si thermometer elements. The thermal links were made using aluminum wires and NbC(x)N(y) coated carbon fibers. The temperature dependence of the detector resistance, lead thermal conductivity, and heat capacity were measured. The dependence of the detector resistance on applied electric field was also measured. This, combined with the current-voltage curve for the detector, allowed the calculation of the detector responsivity. Known amounts of energy were deposited into the detector by allowing X-rays from the decay of Fe-55 to be thermalized in the detector. In the best-measured case, the predicted pulse height/measured height was 1.04 + or - .05. The noise at frequencies above 25 Hz in the NTD Ge was near that predicted by thermodynamics. The noise below 25 Hz has a 1/f character and may be in the carbon fiber/bolometer junction. The implanted detectors show some 1/f noise which depends on the total thermometer volume. Comparison between noise measurements and theory will be presented.

Moseley, H.↗

Studying Near-Surface Layers of Germanium Implanted with Cobalt Ions

Results of an investigation of the surface of germanium nanostructured by means of ion implantation are presented. Single-crystalline germanium (c-Ge) plates were irradiated by 40-keV cobalt Co{sup +} ions in a dose range of (2–8) × 10{sup 16} ion/cm{sup 2}. Evolution of the germanium surface morphology with increasing ion dose was studied by method of scanning electron microscopy. It is established that an increase in the ion implantation dose is accompanied by gradual formation of a surface layer consisting of spherical particles with diameters of ~150 nm. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns of samples was indicative of the appearance of nanosized cobalt germanide (CoGe) particles in the ion-implanted surface layer.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Inhibitive formation of nanocavities by introduction of Si atoms in Ge nanocrystals produced by ion implantation

Germanium nanocrystals (Ge-nc) were successfully synthesized by co-implantation of Si and Ge ions into a SiO{sub 2} film thermally grown on (100) Si substrate and fused silica (pure SiO{sub 2}), respectively, followed by subsequent annealing at 1150 °C for 1 h. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations show that nanocavities only exist in the fused silica sample but not in the SiO{sub 2} film on a Si substrate. From the analysis of the high-resolution TEM images and electron energy-loss spectroscopy spectra, it is revealed that the absence of nanocavities in the SiO{sub 2} film/Si substrate is attributed to the presence of Si atoms inside the formed Ge-nc. Because the energy of Si-Ge bonds (301 kJ·mol{sup −1}) are greater than that of Ge-Ge bonds (264 kJ·mol{sup −1}), the introduction of the Si-Ge bonds inside the Ge-nc can inhibit the diffusion of Ge from the Ge-nc during the annealing process. However, for the fused silica sample, no crystalline Si-Ge bonds are detected within the Ge-nc, where strong Ge outdiffusion effects produce a great number of nanocavities. Our results can shed light on the formation mechanism of nanocavities and provide a good way to avoid nanocavities during the process of ion implantation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Effect of ion-plated films of germanium and silicon on friction, wear, and oxidation of 52100 bearing steel

Friction and wear experiments were conducted with ion plated films of germanium and silicon on the surface of 52100 bearing steel both dry and in the presence of mineral oil. Both silicon and germanium were found to reduce wear, with germanium being more effective than silicon. An optimum film thickness of germanium for minimum wear without surface crack formation was found to be approximately 400 nanometers (4000 A). The presence of silicon and germanium on the 52100 bearing steel surface improved resistance to oxidation.

Buckley, D. H.↗

Germanium as a Sodium Ion Battery Material: In Situ TEM Reveals Fast Sodiation Kinetics with High Capacity

Amorphous germanium (a-Ge) nanowires have great potential for application as anodes in Na-ion batteries. However, the Na-Ge reaction is much less studied and understood compared with other metal alloy anodes. Here, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used to study the sodiation/desodiation behavior of a-Ge nanowires. Unexpectedly, our experiments revealed that a-Ge nanowires can be charged at a very fast rate and the final sodiation product, with over 300% volume expansion, is close to Na3Ge instead of NaGe which was considered as the ultimate sodiation state that Ge could achieve. Porous structure was observed in desodiation and, in contrast to delithiation, Na extraction is more likely to create pores in the nanowires due to the much larger radius of the Na ion. This porous structure has demonstrated excellent robustness upon cycling: it could recover flawlessly from the giant pores that were created during experimentation. These results show that the potential of a-Ge for Na-ion battery applications may have been previously underestimated.

amorphous↗

Linear chains of Ge/Si quantum dots grown on a prepatterned surface formed by ion irradiation

The growth of Ge nanoclusters on a prepatterned Si (100) surface formed by imprint lithography in combination with subsequent irradiation with Ge{sup +} ions is studied. The prepatterned surface presents a system of parallel 10-nm-wide grooves repeating with a period of 180 nm. Irradiation of the substrate was conducted at two temperatures, room temperature (cold irradiation) and 400°C (hot irradiation). It is shown that, during epitaxy (550–700°C), the residual radiation defects located in the bulk under the grooves suppress the nucleation of Ge nanoclusters in the grooves. In the case of prepatterned substrates, from which imperfect regions are completely removed, nanoclusters grow in the grooves.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Formation of Porous Germanium Layers by Silver-Ion Implantation

We propose a method for the formation of porous germanium (P-Ge) layers containing silver nanoparticles by means of high-dose implantation of low-energy Ag{sup +} ions into single-crystalline germanium (c-Ge). This is demonstrated by implantation of 30-keV Ag{sup +} ions into a polished c-Ge plate to a dose of 1.5 × 10{sup 17} ion/cm{sup 2} at an ion beam-current density of 5 μA/cm{sup 2}. Examination by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic-force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) showed that the implantation of silver ions into c-Ge surface led to the formation of a P-Ge layer with spongy structure comprising a network of interwoven nanofibers with an average diameter of ∼10–20 nm Ag nanoparticles on the ends of fibers. It is also established that the formation of pores during Ag{sup +} ion implantation is accompanied by effective sputtering of the Ge surface.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

In Situ and Operando Morphology Study of Germanium-Selenium Alloy Anode for Li-ion Batteries

Selenium-doped germanium (GeSe) micrometersized particles have been reported with good cycling performance and rate capability due to a Li-Se-Ge network formed during the first lithiation that provides a Li-ion fast pathway. To understand the effect of the Li-Se-Ge network at a high cycling rate, we monitored the morphology change of both pure Ge and GeSe particles during cycling with an in situ/operando focused-ion beam-scanning electron microscope method. Our results showed that the proposed inactive Li-Se-Ge network can provide fast Li-ion transport and also buffer volume variation, resulting in homogeneous volume change and uniform microstructural evolution.

germanium↗

The Effect of Solvent on the Capacity Retention in a Germanium Anode for Lithium Ion Batteries

A thin and mechanically stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is desirable for a stable cyclic performance in a lithium ion battery. For the electrodes that undergo a large volume expansion such as Si, Ge and Sn, the presence of a robust SEI layer can improve the capacity retention. In this work, the role of solvent choice on the electrochemical performance of Ge electrode is presented by a systematic comparison of the SEI layers in EC-based and FEC-based electrolytes. The results show that the presence of FEC as a co-solvent in a binary or ternary solvent electrolyte results in an excellent capacity retention of ~ 85% after 200 cycles at the current density of 500 mA·g-1; while EC-based electrode suffers a rapid capacity degradation with a capacity retention of just 17% at the end of 200 cycles. Post analysis by an extensive use of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was carried out, which showed that the presence of Li2O in FEC-based SEIs was the origin for the improved electrochemical performance.

Mishra, Kuber↗

Photoluminescence of Amorphous SiO{sub 2} with Implanted Ar{sup +} Ions

Implantation of ions into amorphous silicon dioxide (a-SiO{sub 2}) is widely used in microelectronics (mainly, using Si ions) and in the production of light-guiding components of optical fibers (Ge, P, B ions). All of these elements interact with the matrix oxygen, so the point defects that occur during implantation are not only the result of the displacement of the silicon–oxygen frame atoms from their equilibrium positions, but also reflect the specific chemical interaction in the material. In this study, inert argon ions were implanted into silicon dioxide plates, which excluded chemical reactions. It is demonstrated using photoluminescence (PL) that the highest concentration of point defects in the damaged silicate network belongs to neutral oxygen vacancies (NOVs). The concentration of these and some other induced defects increased with an increase in fluence up to 5 × 10{sup 15} Ar{sup +}/cm{sup 2}, and, with a further increase in dose, the concentration dropped due to annealing of defects in the layer heated by the introduction of ions. The NOV defects appeared in the photoluminescence spectrum in the form of doublets, that is, pairs of bands belonging to the same optical transition. The appearance of doublets is explained by the dependence of the optical transition energy on the localization of identical point defects in zones of different distortions of the matrix structure.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗