Papers by Keyword: Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract: Graphene layers were created on both C and Si faces of semi-insulating, on-axis, 4H- and 6H-SiC substrates. The process was performed under high vacuum (<10-4 mbar) in a commercial chemical vapor deposition SiC reactor. A method for H2 etching the on-axis substrates was developed to produce surface steps with heights of 0.5 nm on the Si-face and 1.0 to 1.5 nm on the C-face for each polytype. A process was developed to form graphene on the substrates immediately after H2 etching and Raman spectroscopy of these samples confirmed the formation of graphene. The morphology of the graphene is described. For both faces, the underlying substrate morphology was significantly modified during graphene formation; surface steps were up to 15 nm high and the uni-form step morphology was sometimes lost. Mobilities and sheet carrier concentrations derived from Hall Effect measurements on large area (16 mm square) and small area (2 and 10 m square) samples are presented and shown to compare favorably to recent reports.

Abstract: We report a comparative investigation of few layers graphene grown on 6H, 4H and 3C-SiC substrates. We show that the size of the graphitic domains depends more on the <0001> SiC surface orientation than the polytypism.

Abstract: Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were fabricated by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using monometallic and bimetallic Co and Ni on MgO as the catalyst. The mixture of H2/C2H2 gas was used as carbon source. The prepared CNTs have different sizes/shapes and morphologies with minimal formation of carbon particles. The maximum yield of CNTs was obtained with 50% Co catalyst at 600 oC. The morphology of the CNTs with 50% Co loading generates curved structure while 50% Ni results in the formation of linear structure with aligned graphene walls. Intensity ratio of D and G-peaks (ID/IG) was measured from Raman spectra. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was done for the structural analysis of the prepared MWNTs.

Abstract: Interest in hydrogen as a future energy carrier in mobile applications has led to a strong increase in research on the structural properties of complex alkali metal and alkaline earth hydrides, with the aim to find structural phases with higher hydrogen densities. This contribution reviews recent work on the structural properties and phase diagrams of these complex hydrides under elevated pressures, an area where rapid progress has been made over the last few years. The materials discussed in greatest detail are LiAlH4, NaAlH4, Li3AlH6, Na3AlH6, LiBH4, NaBH4, and KBH4. All of these have been studied under high pressure by various methods such as X-ray or neutron scattering, Raman spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis or thermal conductivity measurements in order to find information on their structural phase diagrams. Based mainly on experimental studies, preliminary or partial phase diagrams are also given for six of these materials. In addition to this information, data are provided also on experimental results for a number of other complex hydrides, and theoretical predictions of new phases and structures under high pressures are reviewed for several materials not yet studied experimentally under high pressure.

Abstract: A small area of a fine grain graphite block was exposed to intense thermal shock load at 9.6 GW/m2 and investigated by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra of the loaded area show a reduction of the intensity ratio of D and G peaks in comparison with the one of unloaded graphite, indicating the ordering of graphitic structure even for as short as 5 ms. Raman spectra of the surrounding area, on the other hand, exhibited broad features of amorphous carbon, indicating a carbon deposits from the loaded area. The broad spectra showed a strong positional dependence, reflecting the temperature gradient of the block induced by the shock load. Fitting analysis of the Raman spectra clearly shows two linear relationships between the G-peak width (FWHMG) and the peak intensity ratio (ID / IG), corresponding to two steps of ordering process of the amorphous carbon deposits.

Abstract: We present a micro-Raman spectroscopy study on single- and few layer graphene (FLG) grown on the silicon terminated surface of 6H-silicon carbide (SiC). On the basis of the 2D-line (light scattering from two phonons close to the K-point in the Brillouin zone) we distinguish graphene mono- from bilayers or few layer graphene. Monolayers have a 2D-line consisting of only one component, whereas more than one component is observed for thicker graphene layers. Compared to the graphite the monolayer graphene lines are shifted to higher frequencies. We tentatively ascribe the corresponding phonon hardening to strain in the first graphene layer.

Abstract: In this work, growth stresses have been investigated in relation with the microstructure in the case of α-Cr2O3 growing oxide films on NiCr30 alloy. The equibiaxial growth stresses have been measured thanks to a technique coupling Raman spectroscopy and in situ high temperature oxidation of the NiCr30 alloy in the temperature range [700°C-900°C]. The low acquisition time necessary to obtain a Raman spectrum allows to follow the chromia growth kinetic with sufficient accuracy. It is demonstrated that the growth stress in such oxide films can attain more than 2 GPa, before additional thermal stress arises on cooling. Moreover, the growth stress kinetic - subsequent establishment and relaxation - are highly microstructure sensitive: in particular, as the oxidation temperature rises, the chromia grain size also increases, and it consequently retards the occurrence of the creep relaxation phenomena which needs an additional stress to start.

Abstract: Potential application of Carbon Nanotubes as a drug delivery system is limited by their hydrophobity and their natural tendency to aggregate in the bundles. Dispersion and solubility of Singlewall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT) in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) solution via non covalent and covalent interactions was investigated. Galactosyl-β1-Sphyngosine (glycolipid precursor of cerebrosides, structured with a hydrophobic chain, a hydrophilic head and an amine group between them) was used. Pristine SWCNTs were wrapped with Galactosyl-β1-Sphyngosine (Gal-Sphy), whereas the carboxylic groups of the functionalized CNTs were activated in order to interact with amine groups of Galactosylsphyngosine and render the coating stronger. Samples dispersion was characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy (OAS). The comparison and efficiency of the dispersion stability of the functionalized material in respect to the pristine SWCNTs will be presented. We exploited Raman Spectroscopy to evaluate relative purity of the samples, and the Infrared analysis to characterize the presence of the functional groups on the tubes surface. The morphology of the samples was studied using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM).

Abstract: The Raman light to vibrations coupling coefficients C(ν) of quadrupolar and symmetrical vibrational modes of spherical nanoparticles embedded in a matrix are calculated. In contrast to the symmetrical mode, the C(ν) of the quadrupolar modes consists of the longitudinal and transversal sound velocity contributions. It is shown, that depending on the ratio of longitudinal and transverse sound velocity, these two contributions can interfere constructively or destructively resulting in enhancing or vanishing of some radial modes. Different peaks in the C(ν) spectrum were attributed to transverse and longitudinal spheroidal modes and the longitudinal spheroidal modes were found to have a higher Raman intensity than the transverse modes. The theoretical model was tested on a sample of HfO2 nanoparticles in a silica matrix.

Abstract: Iron phthalocyanine (FePc) thin films prepared by thermally evaporated from as received and purified powders were studied. The molecular interaction between FePc thin films and acetone vapor was studies by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and optical absorption spectrometer. The core level XPS spectra and optical absorption spectra showed slightly different between the spectra before and after acetone exposure. For FePc film evaporated with purified powder, only the Fe 2p3/2 spectra at about 712 eV appeared and the height of peak dramatically decreased. Iron K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra was used to investigate iron atom in as received and purified powders and also study the interaction between FePc molecule and methanol vapor. The X-ray diffraction pattern of as received, annealed and purified FePc powder were investigated to study the crystal reformation and Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate iron atom vibration in as received FePc film.