Effect of stress on structural transformations in GaMnAs.

Granular GaAs:(Mn, Ga)As films were prepared by annealing at 500 degrees C under ambient and enhanced hydrostatic pressure (1.1 GPa), of Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As/GaAs layers (x = 0.025, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.063) grown by molecular beam epitaxy method at 230 degrees C. Layers were fully strained in respect to the substrate before and after treatment. Strain change, from compressive to tensile, related to creation of MnAs inclusions of zinc blende structure, was detected after sample annealing. Mn concentration remained unchanged after annealing under ambient and enhanced hydrostatic pressure. Distinct influence of hydrostatic pressure applied during annealing on strain as well as on interface roughness has been found.

Origin of magnetic circular dichroism in GaMnAs: giant zeeman splitting versus spin dependent density of states.

We present a unified interpretation of experimentally observed magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) in the ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As, based on theoretical arguments, which demonstrates that MCD in this material arises primarily from a difference in the density of spin-up and spin-down states in the valence band brought about by the presence of the Mn impurity band, rather than being primarily due to the Zeeman splitting of electronic states.

Effect of the heating temperature on the corrosion resistance of alkali-treated titanium.

The paper presents the results of examinations of the corrosion resistance of titanium after its being subjected to the surface modification by the alkali- and heat-treatments. The material examined was commercially pure titanium (grade 2). The samples were soaked in an aqueous 10M NaOH solution at 60 degrees C for 24 h and subsequently heated at 500, 600, or 700 degrees C for 1 h. The chemical composition of the surface layers was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. The phases present in the layers were identified by XRD. The corrosion resistance was evaluated by electrochemical methods (Stern's method, potentiodynamic method, and impedance spectroscopy) at a temperature of 37 degrees C after short- and long-time exposures. The 13 h exposure was aimed to allow the corrosion potential to stabilize. The aim of the long-term exposures was to examine how the corrosion resistance of the modified samples changes during the exposure. Under the conditions prevailing during the experiments, the highest corrosion resistance was achieved with the samples heated at a temperature of 700 degrees C.

The effect of sodium-ion implantation on the properties of titanium.

This paper deals with the surface modification of titanium by sodium-ion implantation and with the effect of this modification on structure, corrosion resistance, bioactivity and cytocompatibility. The Na ions were implanted with doses of 1 x 10(17) and 4 x 10(17) ions/cm(2) at an energy of 25 keV. The chemical composition of the surface layers formed during the implantation was examined by secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and their microstructure--by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The corrosion resistance was determined by electrochemical methods in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37 degrees C, after exposure in SBF for various times. The surfaces of the samples were examined by optical microscopy, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biocompatibility of the modified surface was evaluated in vitro in a culture of the MG-63 cell line and human osteoblast cells. The TEM results indicate that the surface layers formed during the implantation of Na-ions are amorphous. The results of the electrochemical examinations obtained for the Na-implanted titanium samples indicate that the implantation increases corrosion resistance. Sodium-ion implantation improves bioactivity and does not reduce biocompatibility.

Corrosion resistance and bioactivity of titanium after surface treatment by three different methods: ion implantation, alkaline treatment and anodic oxidation.

The paper compares the effects of various surface modifications, ion implantation, alkaline treatment and anodic oxidation, upon the corrosion resistance and bioactivity of titanium. The chemical composition of the surface layers thus produced was determined by XPS, SIMS and EDS coupled with SEM. The structure of the layers was examined by TEM, and their phase composition by XRD. The corrosion resistance was determined by electrochemical methods after the samples were exposed to the test conditions for 13 h. The bioactivity of titanium was evaluated in a simulated body fluid at a temperature of 37 degrees C after various exposure time.

Effect of dual ion implantation of calcium and phosphorus on the properties of titanium.

This study is concerned with the effect of dual implantation of calcium and phosphorus upon the structure, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of titanium. The ions were implanted in sequence, first Ca and then P, both at a dose of 10(17) ions/cm2 at a beam energy of 25 keV. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the microstructure of the implanted layer. The chemical composition of the implanted layer was examined by XPS and SIMS. The corrosion resistance was determined by electrochemical methods in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37 degrees C. The biocompatibility tests were performed in vitro in a culture of human-derived bone cells (HDBC) in contact with the tested materials. The viability of the cells was determined by an XTT assay and their activity by the measurements of the alkaline phosphatase activity in contact with implanted and non-implanted titanium samples. The in vitro examinations confirmed that, under the conditions prevailing during the experiments, the biocompatibility of Ca + P ion-implanted titanium was satisfactory. TEM results show that the surface layer formed by the Ca + P implantation is amorphous. The corrosion resistance of titanium, examined by the electrochemical methods, appeared to be increased after the Ca + P ion implantation.

Effect of calcium and phosphorus ion implantation on the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of titanium.

This paper is concerned with the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of titanium after surface modification by the ion implantation of calcium or phosphorus or calcium + phosphorus. Calcium and phosphorus ions were implanted in a dose of 10(17) ions/cm(2). The ion beam energy was 25 keV. The microstructure of the implanted layers was examined by TEM. The chemical composition of the surface layers was determined by XPS and SIMS. The corrosion resistance was examined by electrochemical methods in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37 degrees C. The biocompatibility was evaluated in vitro. As shown by TEM results, the surface layers formed during calcium, phosphorus and calcium + phosphorus implantation were amorphous. The results of the electrochemical examinations (Stern's method) indicate that the calcium, phosphorus and calcium + phosphorus implantation into the surface of titanium increases its corrosion resistance in stationary conditions after short- and long-term exposures in SBF. Potentiodynamic tests show that the calcium-implanted samples undergo pitting corrosion during anodic polarisation. The breakdown potentials measured are high (2.5 to 3 V). The good biocompatibility of all the investigated materials was confirmed under the specific conditions of the applied examination, although, in the case of calcium implanted titanium it was not as good as that of non-implanted titanium.

Effect of phosphorus-ion implantation on the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of titanium.

This work presents data on the structure and corrosion resistance of titanium after phosphorus-ion implantation with a dose of 10(17)P/cm2. The ion energy was 25keV. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the microstructure of the implanted layer. The chemical composition of the surface layer was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry. The corrosion resistance was examined by electrochemical methods in a simulated body fluid at a temperature of 37 C. Biocompatibility tests in vitro were performed in a culture of human derived bone cells in direct contact with the materials tested. Both, the viability of the cells determined by an XTT assay and activity of the cells evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity measurements in contact with implanted and non-implanted titanium samples were detected. The morphology of the cells spread on the surface of the materials examined was also observed. The results confirmed the biocompatibility of both phosphorus-ion-implanted and non-implanted titanium under the conditions of the experiment. As shown by transmission electron microscope results, the surface layer formed during phosphorus-ion implantation was amorphous. The results of electrochemical examinations indicate that phosphorus-ion implantation increases the corrosion resistance after short-term as well as long-term exposures.

Effect of calcium-ion implantation on the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of titanium.

This work presents data on the structure and corrosion resistance of titanium after calcium-ion implantation with a dose of 10(17) Ca+/cm2. The ion energy was 25 keV. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the microstructure of the implanted layer. The chemical composition of the surface layer was examined by XPS and SIMS. The corrosion resistance was examined by electrochemical methods in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37 degrees C. Biocompatibility tests in vitro were performed in a culture of human derived bone cells (HDBC) in direct contact with the materials tested. Both, the viability of the cells determined by an XTT assay and activity of the cells evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity measurements in contact with implanted and non-implanted titanium samples were detected. The morphology of the cells spread on the surface of the materials examined was also observed. The results confirmed the biocompatibility of both calcium-ion-implanted and non-implanted titanium under the conditions of the experiment. As shown by TEM results, the surface layer formed during calcium-ion implantation was amorphous. The results of electrochemical examinations indicate that calcium-ion implantation increases the corrosion resistance, but only under stationary conditions; during anodic polarization the calcium-ion-implanted samples undergo pitting corrosion. The breakdown potential is high (2.7-3 V).