Papers by Author: Makoto Takagi

Abstract: When the Al/Ge/SiO2 bilayer films are annealed in-situ in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the temperatures lower than the crystallization temperature of amorphous Ge itself, the so-called metal-mediated-crystallization (MMC) takes place. In the course of MMC, crystalline Ge aggregates (Ge clusters) form in the bilayer films, which results in the formation and the evolution of impressive fractal patterns with branching on the free surface. In-situ SEM observations of annealed Al/Ge/SiO2 bilayer films indicate that the grain size of polycrystalline Al-layer influences the nucleation of Ge clusters and hence of fractal patterns. For the bilayer films containing larger Al grains, the nucleation rate of fractal patterns (Ge clusters) is faster and the number of patterns is larger.

Abstract: Recently, the titania photocatalyst has been widely used in the environmental fields. However, because the past titania photocatalyst used only the range of ultraviolet rays, the usage has been limited. We attempted to develop a new type of titania photocatalyst that activates to respond not only in the ultraviolet rays region but also in the visible radiation region. The titania photocatalyst fine particles that zirconium oxide was uniformly added in the titania fine particles, and introduced simultaneously nitrogen into the crystal lattice in addition were synthesized. It was showed the high photo-absorption ability of the titania photocatalyst added the zirconium compared with not done by the absorption spectrum. Furthermore, it was found that the titania fine particles that introduced nitrogen colored to yellow, had also the high photo-absorption ability in the visible range of 600nm to 400nm in addition to the range of ultraviolet rays. It was thought that this depended on the reason based on the difference of the amount of the nitrogen introduction in the titania that originated in the zirconium. Moreover, it was compared the stability maintenance for the titania introduced nitrogen with it not done by the bleaching test of heating. As a result, the stability of the titania added the zirconium was higher than not added.