Production of three-dimensional quantum dot lattice of Ge/Si core-shell quantum dots and Si/Ge layers in an alumina glass matrix.

We report on the formation of Ge/Si quantum dots with core/shell structure that are arranged in a three-dimensional body centered tetragonal quantum dot lattice in an amorphous alumina matrix. The material is prepared by magnetron sputtering deposition of Al2O3/Ge/Si multilayer. The inversion of Ge and Si in the deposition sequence results in the formation of thin Si/Ge layers instead of the dots. Both materials show an atomically sharp interface between the Ge and Si parts of the dots and layers. They have an amorphous internal structure that can be crystallized by an annealing treatment. The light absorption properties of these complex materials are significantly different compared to films that form quantum dot lattices of the pure Ge, Si or a solid solution of GeSi. They show a strong narrow absorption peak that characterizes a type II confinement in accordance with theoretical predictions. The prepared materials are promising for application in quantum dot solar cells.

The influence of deposition temperature on the correlation of Ge quantum dot positions in amorphous silica matrix.

We studied the structural properties of (Ge+SiO2)/SiO2 multilayer films, especially the influence of the deposition temperature and the parameters of subsequent annealing on the formation and spatial correlation of Ge quantum dots in an amorphous silica matrix. We showed that in-layer and inter-layer spatial correlations of the formed Ge quantum dots strongly depend on the deposition temperature. For suitable chosen deposition parameters, highly correlated dot positions in all three dimensions can be obtained. It is demonstrated that the degree of the spatial correlation of quantum dots influences the size distribution width, which further affects the macroscopic properties of the quantum dot arrays.

Amorphous alloys resistant to corrosion in artificial saliva solution.

The tailoring of new corrosion-resistant alloys with specific properties has recently been performed mostly by the sputter deposition technique. The aim of this work was to investigate corrosion resistance of aluminum-tungsten (Al-W) amorphous alloys in artificial saliva solution, pH=5.5, based on the electrochemical methods of cyclic voltammetry and linear polarization. Thin alloy films were prepared on a sapphire substrate by magnetron codeposition. Completely amorphous films were obtained in the Al(80)W(20)-Al(67)W(33) composition range. Amorphous Al-W alloys exhibit very high corrosion resistance due to their homogeneous single-phase nature. The passive films spontaneously formed at their surface are uniform with characteristics of an insulator film and prevent corrosion progression in the bulk in a very demanding oral environment. The mechanism of increasing resistivity of Al-W alloys to pitting corrosion and generalized corrosion has been discussed in the view of increasing tungsten content in the alloy. Considering these exceptional corrosion properties and microhardness which falls in the range 7.5+/-1.6 Pa, Al-W alloys represent promising materials for dental applications.

Fluoride electrode with LaF(3)-membrane and simple disjoining solid-state internal contact.

Fluoride-selective electrode with LaF(3)-membrane and stainless steel internal contact has been prepared. The electrode has been tested in F(-) concentration range 10(-2)-10(-6) M and the results compared with those of commercial electrode and electrode with laboratory renewed internal electrolytic contact. The properties of simple disjoining solid-state contact have been investigated by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The impedance spectra show two time constants, which suggest that, at lower frequencies, proceed some Faradic reaction which probably stabilizes the potential between LaF(3)-membrane and stainless steel disk.

Potentiometric flow-injection determination of vitamin C and glutathione with a chemically prepared tubular silver electrode.

This paper describes the preparation and use of a tubular electrode by means of chemical pretreatment of a silver tube with mercuric (II) chloride solution and iodide solution in flow injection analysis (FIA). The electrode was used as a potentiometric sensor for the indirect determination of vitamin C and glutathione in a carrier stream containing iodine. A simple FIA system that consists of a peristaltic pump, an injection T valve, a tubular silver electrode and a saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE) was used. Some typical FIA parameters such as flow rate, tube length, sample volume and composition of the carrier stream were varied. After optimisation of these parameters, the electrode was further characterised by a constant linear response within the concentration range for the vitamin C between 5 x 10(-5) and 5 x 10(-3) M at the slope of 60.5 +/- 1.0 mV/p (vitamin C). Glutathione has a linear concentration range between 5 x 10(-5) and 10(-2) M at a slope of 55.2 +/- 1.0 mV/p (glutathione). The experimental slope was in good agreement with the theoretical values. Some pharmaceutical products containing vitamin C were also tested. These results can be compared to the results obtained by the standard volumetric method for the determination of vitamin C and are also in good agreement with values declared by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

All-sky camera with a concave mirror.

The characteristics of an all-sky camera with a concave mirror are analyzed. A differential equation for a concave aspheric mirror with constant angular magnification is derived for the general dependence of the camera image height on the camera field angle. This equation is solved in parametric form for the case of a concave mirror with a constant angular magnification. The explicit equations for the shape of the aspheric mirror are given for some particular values of the angular magnification. Parametric equations of the surface shape for sevenfold angular magnification are developed into a power series that is used to analyze the imaging performance of such a mirror. The performance of the concave aspheric mirror is compared with that of a spherical mirror. The minimal camera-to-mirror distance is determined as a function of the blur allowed and the camera lens aperture. Some characteristics of convex mirrors are also presented for comparison.

Aspheric mirror with constant angular magnification II.

Differential equations for a constant-angular-magnification aspheric-mirror surface shape are derived for a general dependence of the camera image height on the camera field angle. The explicit equations of the constant-angular-magnification mirror surface are given for some particular values of the angular magnification. For a series of odd integer values of the angular magnification, 10th-order polynomial approximations of the mirror surface are presented. The imaging performance of such a mirror with an angular magnification of 7 is analyzed and compared with a spherical mirror. The main cause of image blur in all-sky cameras at the edge of the field of view was found to be a strong image curvature. We show that increasing the camera-to-mirror distance and/or stopping down the camera lens reduces the image blur.