Papers by Author: Gerhard Brauer

Abstract: In this contribution we report on the theoretical study of basic vacancy-like defects in cubic zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia. In particular, we concentrate on oxygen vacancy, zirconium vacancy and oxygen vacancy – yttrium complex. Relaxed atomic configurations of studied defects are obtained by means of an ab initio pseudopotential method within the supercell approach. Positron characteristics, like positron lifetime and binding energy to defects, are calculated using self-consistent electron densities and potentials taken from ab initio calculations.

Abstract: Hydrogen is an important impurity in zinc oxide and can be incorporated into the lattice in several ways. Hydrogen can be also bound by vacancies that can be studied using positron annihilation techniques. Here we examine theoretically oxygen and zinc vacancies in ZnO, the latter also with hydrogen atoms inside. Several computational approaches are employed to determine the defect geometries and related positron characteristics. Positron-induced forces are also taken into account. Calculated positron lifetimes are compared with those observed in experiment, which gives an indication of the presence of zinc vacancy-hydrogen complexes in ZnO materials.

Abstract: In the present work, positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) is employed for microstructure investigations of various ultra fine grained (UFG) metals (Cu, Ni, Fe) prepared by severe plastic deformation (SPD), namely high-pressure torsion (HPT) and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). Generally, UFG metals prepared using both the techniques exhibit two kinds of defects introduced by SPD: dislocations and small microvoids. The size of the microvoids is determined from the PAS data. Significantly larger microvoids are found in HPT deformed Fe and Ni compared to HPT deformed Cu. The microstructure of UFG Cu prepared by HPT and ECAP is compared and the spatial distribution of defects in UFG Cu samples is characterized. In addition, the microstructure of a pure UFG Cu prepared by HPT and HPT deformed Cu+Al2O3 nanocomposite (GlidCop) is compared.