Vol 52, No 9 (2016)

This paper presents a technological study aimed at producing buried heterostructures for single-mode semiconductor lasers operating in the wavelength range 1651–1662 nm. We have fabricated laser diodes operating at a wavelength corresponding to an absorption band of methane. The effect of temperature on the optical emission spectrum of the laser diodes has been examined. The results demonstrate the possibility of tuning their emission spectrum in the range from 1651 to 1662 nm and producing smart fiber-optic systems for the remote monitoring of the methane concentration.

We have studied the growth and structure of epitaxial films of Cd_1–xMn_x (x = 0.03) diluted magnetic solid solutions grown on mica substrates by molecular beam epitaxy and identified conditions for producing n- and p-type epitaxial films. Using an additional Te vapor source and optimizing the substrate temperature in the growth process, we were able to obtain structurally perfect p-type Cd_1–xMn_xTe (x = 0.03) films with clean, smooth surfaces. The growth plane of the films on the mica substrates is (111) of a face-centered cubic lattice and their unit-cell parameter is а = 6.477 Å.

This paper presents a detailed study of the formation of chromium-based alloys, Cr–Ta–W + plasticizing additives (Nb and Zr) and Cr–Ta–Si, during milling of powder mixtures in a Fritsch (P-7) planetary mill under an Ar atmosphere. It is shown that, after milling for 18 h, all the components of the starting mixtures convert into a Cr-based BCC solid solution. The powders of chromium alloys obtained in this study are readily compacted by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) under conditions typical of the processing of powders of high-temperature nickel alloys. Heating of the powders and compacts leads to the decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution and the formation of two forms of the Cr₂M Laves phase with cubic crystal lattices. The formation of a mixed-phase fine microstructure in the chromium alloys after HIP suggests that the materials studied here are potentially attractive as a base of next-generation chromium-based high-temperature alloys.

Mesoporous NiO–SiO₂ (MCM-41) silica-matrix composites with various nickel oxide concentrations (NiO : SiO₂ = 0.025 : 1 to 0.2 : 1) have been produced by oxide cocondensation under hydrothermal synthesis conditions in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template and (2-cyanoethyl) triethoxysilane as an organosubstituted trialkoxysilane additive. X-ray diffraction data have been used to evaluate the maximum nickel(II) oxide concentration (NiO : SiO₂ = 0.1 : 1) that allows the ordered mesopore structure of MCM-41 to persist in the silica-matrix composites. We have studied the magnetic properties of this material as functions of temperature and magnetic field. The results demonstrate that the magnetic properties of the nanocomposite with NiO : SiO₂ = 0.1 : 1 at low temperatures (T < 20 K) are determined by incomplete spin compensation in the matrix and on the surface of the NiO nanoparticles.

Pyrolytic tungsten coatings have been produced on the surface of ash microspheres under steady-state conditions using tungsten hexacarbonyl as a precursor. The nanostructured composites thus obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. We have studied the kinetics of the catalytic reduction of germanium tetrachloride with hydrogen in the temperature range 423–973 K in the presence of the composites as catalysts and determined the reaction order and activation energy for the catalytic reduction of germanium tetrachloride with hydrogen.

We have developed processes for the synthesis of Ni_0.75Zn_0.25Fe_2–xLn_xO₄ ferrite solid solutions with the spinel structure and investigated the effect of the rare-earth elements Nd, Gd, Yb, and Lu on the chemical composition, extent, lattice parameters, and magnetic properties of the solid solutions. The results demonstrate that rare-earth solubility in the parent spinel reaches ≈2.5 at %, which leads to changes in the magnetic characteristics of the material, in particular in its saturation magnetization M_s, T_C, and coercive force H_c.

We have studied TiO₂, Ag, Ag/TiO₂, and Cu/TiO₂ coatings grown on track-etched polyethylene terephthalate membranes. The metals and oxides were deposited by reactive vacuum sputtering using a planar magnetron. The microstructure of the samples were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The elemental composition of the coatings were determined by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and their phase composition was determined by X-ray diffraction at different temperatures and by transmission electron diffraction. Titanium dioxide can be present on the surface of track-etched membranes (TMs) in three forms: nanocrystals of tetragonal anatase with orthorhombic brookite and amorphous TiO₂ impurities. The copper-metallized TM has been shown to contain cubic Cu₂O. The optical properties of the composite membranes and films have been studied by absorption spectroscopy. The energies of direct and indirect allowed optical transitions have been evaluated from measured absorption spectra of the TiO₂, Ag/TiO₂, and Cu/TiO₂ coatings.

An optically active ITO/Au/ITO multilayer coating (where ITO stands for an indium tin oxide with the composition 90% In₂O₃ + 10% SnO₂ and Au is nanoparticulate gold on a thin-film poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate) has been prepared by a solution-phase process using an ITO nanopowder dispersion in isopropanol and a solution of chloroauric acid, which was converted to colloidal gold by photolysis. A sol–gel process has been proposed for the synthesis of tin-doped indium oxide nanopowder. The properties and composition of the powder were assessed by IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The phase composition of the ITO nanopowder and the optical properties of the films grown using the nanopowder have been shown to depend on the thermal annealing conditions during synthesis. Layer-by-layer growth of metal oxide films in ITO/Au/ITO coatings influences the absorption in the composite in the IR spectral region.

We have studied the effect of a barium hydrosilicate-based modifier on the phase composition of Portland cement hydration products. The results demonstrate that the addition of a modifier containing barium hydrosilicates, silicic acid, and calcium carbonate makes it possible to reduce the nucleation rate of crystals of new phases during the induction period of the hydration process, increase alite (3СaO · SiO₂) hydration, and reduce the rate of aluminate phase (3CaO · Al₂O₃) hydration. The use of such a modifier increases the degree of cement hydration and the amount of calcium hydrosilicates and reduces the amount of forming portlandite and ettringite, thereby improving the mechanical properties and durability of the set cement.