Papers by Author: Sergey N. Dub

Abstract: Nanoscale experiments with diamond tip that include processing, visualization and tunneling spectroscopy of the surface are presented. Single crystal diamond synthesized by the temperature gradient method under high pressure–high temperature (HPHT) conditions is proposed as a multifunctional tip for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Sequence of the procedures covering growing crystals with predetermined physical properties, selection of the synthesized crystals with the desired habit and their precise shaping have been developed. The original STM’s peculiarity is the electromagnetic probe-to-surface load measuring system. The results of fabrication and characterization of nanostructures for nanoelectronics, data storages and biology are demonstrated and discussed.

Abstract: MgB2-based nanostructural materials with rather high oxygen concentration (5-14 wt.%) and dispersed grains of higher borides (MgB12, MgB7) high-pressure (2 GPa or 30 MPa) synthesized (in-situ) or sintered (ex-situ) demonstrated high superconducting characteristics (critical current density, jc, up to 1.8-1.0106 A/cm2 in the self magnetic field and 103 in 8 T field at 20 K, 3-1.5105 A/cm2 in the self field at 35 K, upper critical field up to HC2 = 15 T at 22 K, field of irreversibility Hirr =13 T at 20 K). The additives (Ti, SiC) and synthesis or sintering temperature can affect the segregation of oxygen and formation of oxygen-enriched Mg-B-O inclusions in the material structure, thus reducing the amount of oxygen in the material matrix as well as the formation of higher borides grains, which affects an increase of the critical current density. The record high HC2 and Hirr have been registered for the material high-pressure (2 GPa) synthesized from Mg and B at 600 oC having 17% porosity and more than 7 wt.% of oxygen. The attained values of the critical current, AC losses and thermal conductivity make the materials promising for application for fault current limiters and electromotors. The structural and superconducting (SC) characteristics of the material with matrix close to MgB12 in stoichiometry has been studied and the SC transition Tc=37 K as well as jc= 5×104 A/cm2 at 20 K in the self field were registered, its Raman spectrum demonstrated metal-like behavior.

Abstract: Addition of Ti and Zr to high-pressure (HP) synthesized MgB2 results in an increase of critical current density of the material due to the absorption of impurity hydrogen coming most likely from the materials of a high-pressure cell. The results of the studies of structure, critical current density, trapped field and mechanical characteristics are discussed. High-pressure synthesized MgB2 (with Ti additions) blocks were for the first time used in a SC electromotor at 20 K and demonstrated the efficiency similar to that of MT-YBCO bulk (at the same working temperature).

Abstract: The combination of depth-sensing indentation and band-gap illumination has been used to study the photoplastic effect (the reversible influence of light on the flow stress, hardness, and plasticity) in chalcogenide glasses on a nanoscale. The prominent photoplasticity of thin As-Se films has been revealed through deviations in the shape of load-displacement curves during nanoindentation under light illumination from those ones which have been observed for the material in the darkness. The photoinduced changes in static mechanical properties such as nanohardness and elastic (Young’s) modulus have been determined. The highest photoplasticity changes are achieved for As20Se80 films while their photodarkening is the lowest.

Abstract: Specific features of mechanical behaviour of ultra fine grained iron subjected to friction treatment with nitriding (FN) were clarified by comparison with that induced by friction treatment (FT) with air. Mechanical parameters such as Young’s modulus, nanohardness, and plasticity characteristic δA were found to be of high sensitive both to the scale of grain structure and to iron modification by nitrogen. Young’s modulus tends to decrease and Hall-Petch low fails to describe correlation between grain structure and hardness for submicro-grained and nanocrystalline iron. Hall-Petch coefficient, ky, decreases as grain size decreases within submicro-grained and, then, nano grained sections and it takes even negative value in nano grained section modified by nitrogen. Parameter δA is found to be dependent on combination of hardness and Young’s modulus, resulting in its variation with decreasing the grain size. The presence of secondary nanocrystalline Fe4N phase fundamentally changes mechanical behaviour of nanocrystalline iron, leading to strengthening the grain boundaries and triple junctions.