Papers by Author: Zoran V. Popović

Abstract: Silicon suboxide, SiOx thin films with different oxygen contents (1.15≤x≤1.70) were prepared by thermal evaporation of silicon monoxide at a residual oxygen pressure of 1·10-3 Pa and deposition rates of 0.2, 1.0, 3.0 and 6.0 nm/s. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of films was carried out at 1100°C in vacuum for 15 and 30 s and the films were analyzed by infrared (FTIR) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. In the FTIR spectra of SiOx annealed samples, a blue-shift of the stretching band with initial oxygen content, x, is observed. This band is shifted to a much lower frequency with prolonged RTA time. This behavior can be interpreted in terms of the partial decrease of oxygen content and film density upon annealing in vacuum. With annealing time increase a new band at 1106 cm-1 appears. Therefore, infrared spectra of SiOx films are significantly affected by the oxygen content. PL spectra of these films also change drastically with increasing annealing time. In the PL spectra of films annealed for 15 s two bands are easily visible: broad redorange band at 2.2 eV and a green band at 2.4 eV, while for 30 s annealing only low-energy band exists. Green band is connected with the defects in the SiOx matrix while red-orange band can be deconvoluted into several bands at 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 eV. Two types of defects can be responsible for the PL band at about 2 eV: defects in a-Si (amorphous silicon) nanoparticles separated during RTA, and nonbridging oxygen hole recombination centers (NBOHC) formed by loosing of oxygen during RTA. The PL band at 2.3 eV is associated with the defects formed at a-Si/SiOx interfaces while a hardly visible band at 2.5 eV is related to the defects connected with the oxygen deficiency formed in the SiOx matrix during RTA.

Abstract: The use of the optical spectroscopy techniques (Raman scattering, infrared reflectivity and photoluminescence) in characterization of nanopowders is presented. These techniques, as illustrated in the case of TiO2 and CeO2 nanopowders, offer the estimation of average grain size and size distribution, strain effects, porosity and nonstoichiometry.

Abstract: Nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO2) powders in anatase phase were prepared by laserinduced pyrolysis. Specific surface area of as-grown powders measured by BET method was between 77 and 110 m2/g. The particle sizes (14.4-20.6 nm) estimated from these data coincide well with the crystallite sizes (12.3-17.4 nm) determined by XRD measurements. The mean particle sizes (35-41 nm) obtained from the subsequent SEM measurements refer to considerable agglomeration of nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the structural properties as well as the changes under laser irradiation of TiO2 nanopowders. The blueshift and broadening of the lowest frequency Eg Raman mode were analyzed using a phonon-confinement model which includes strain effect and broadening associated with the size distribution. Influence of the nonstoichiometry and anharmonic effects on this mode have been also investigated. Besides, different changes in Raman spectra after the laser irradiation in vacuum were observed for the nanopowders with different strain values.

Abstract: One of the methods for powder synthesis that is both cost and time effective is the selfpropagating room temperature synthesis. We applied this method to synthesize rare earth doped ceria nanopowders. Since they exhibit very high ionic conductivity at intermediate temperatures these compositions are attractive for a new generation of nanostructured ceramics applicable in solid oxide fuel cells as electrolytes. In this paper we paid our attention to the reaction based on methathetical pathway, whereby solid solution nanopowders of rare earth elements with ceria were obtained at room temperature. Compositions of Ce1-xRexO2-δ (Re = Y , Nd) were synthesized with x ranging from 0 to 0.20. The reaction course is discussed and the properties of the obtained powders are presented.

Abstract: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanopowders were prepared by laser-induced pyrolysis. Raman scattering showed that prepared TiO2 nanocrystals have anatase TiO2 structure. Specific surface area of the powders varies from 84 to 110 m2/g, while the grain size of nanoparticles is between 30 and 70 nm, depending on preparation conditions. We measured photoluminescence (PL) spectra of TiO2 nanocrystals. Under laser irradiation with photon energy between 2.41 and 2.71 eV the TiO2 nanocrystals displayed strong visible light emission, even at excitation power as low as 0.05 W/cm2. The line shape and position of this broad luminescence band vary with excitation energy. As PL spectra of anatase TiO2 can be attributed to three kinds of physical origins (self-trapped excitons, surface states and oxygen vacancies) in this paper we try to resolve which of them are dominant for different TiO2 nanopowders of different grain size.