Hydrophobic materials capable of withstanding harsh conditions are required for various applications. Here, we show that oxides and nitrides low‐electronegativity metals hydrophobic hard ceramics. We attribute their hydrophobicity to low Lewis acidity the cations implying a ability on surface form coordinate bonds with water oxygen anions. Furthermore, observe systematically stronger behavior compared corresponding oxides, which nitrogen being poorer base than due reduced number lone pairs...

A method for calculating the free energy of an inhomogeneous superconductor is presented. This based on quasiclassical limit (or Andreev approximation) Bogoliubov--de Gennes wave function) formulation theory weakly coupled superconductors. The applicable to any pure bulk described by a pair potential with arbitrary spatial dependence, in presence supercurrents and external magnetic field. We find that both local density states can be expressed terms diagonal resolvent corresponding...

In electron-doped GaAs, we use scanning Kerr-rotation microscopy to locally probe and spatially resolve the depolarization of electron spin distributions by transverse magnetic fields. The shape these local Hanle-effect curves provides a measure lifetime as well transport parameters including drift velocity, mobility diffusion length. Asymmetries in Hanle data can be used reveal map out effective fields due spin–orbit coupling. Finally, using both imaging effect studies, investigate...

We show here that intrinsic hydrophobicity of HfO2 thin films can be easily tuned by the variation film thickness. used reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering for preparation high-quality with smooth topography and well-controlled Results a strong dependence wetting properties on thickness in range 50–250 nm due to dominance electrostatic Lifshitz-van der Waals component surface free energy. have found water droplet contact angle ranging from ≈120° 50 ≈100° 2300 nm. At same time...

We measure the spin lattice relaxation of planar In(1) nuclei in CeMIn5 materials, extract quantitative information about low energy dynamics Ce moments both CeRhIn5 and CeCoIn5, identify a crossover normal state. Above temperature T(*) exhibits "Kondo gas" behavior characterized by local fluctuations independently screened moments; below systems exhibit liquid" regime which interactions between contribute to dynamics. Both antiferromagnetic superconducting ground states these emerge from...

We calculate the rate of non-radiative, Forster-type energy transfer (ET) from an excited epitaxial quantum well (QW) to a proximal monolayer semiconductor nanocrystal dots (QDs). Different electron-hole configurations in QW are considered as function temperature and density. A comparison theoretically determined ET radiative recombination shows that, depending on specific conditions, is comparable or even greater than rate. Such efficient Forster promising for implementation ET-pumped,...

We construct a spin-drift-diffusion model to describe spin-polarized electron transport in zinc-blende semiconductors the presence of magnetic fields, electric and off-diagonal strain. present predictions for geometries that correspond optical spin injection from absorption circularly polarized light, electrical ferromagnetic contacts. Starting with Keldysh Green's function description system driven out equilibrium, we semiclassical kinetic theory electron-spin strained fields. From this...

We use a non-stationary two-zone model to verify predictions of steady-state phenomenological (Vl?ek and Burcalov?) under the conditions in typical high-power impulse magnetron sputtering discharges (copper target 50?mm diameter, argon pressure 1?Pa, rectangular voltage pulses 200??s length with amplitudes from 400 1000?V repetition frequency 100?Hz). It is shown that provides reliable description fundamental deposition parameters characterizing efficiency transfer material ions substrate...

We have recently argued that manganites do not possess stripes of charge order, implying the electron-lattice coupling is weak [Loudon et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 097202 (2005)]. Here we independently argue same conclusion based on transmission electron microscopy measurements a nanopatterned epitaxial film ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.5}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. In strain relaxed regions, superlattice period modified by 2% to 3% with respect parent lattice, suggesting two are...

The ion-flux characteristics at a substrate position and the corresponding discharge were investigated during controlled low-temperature (300 °C) reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) depositions of thermochromic VO2 films onto conventional soda-lime glass substrates without any bias voltage interlayer. It was shown that phase composition correlates with (V+ + V2+) ion fraction V2+):() ratio in total flux substrate. Setting amount oxygen gas mixture allowed us to control...

We develop a theory of spin noise spectroscopy itinerant, noninteracting, spin-carrying fermions in different regimes temperature and disorder. use kinetic equations for the density matrix variables. find general result with clear physical interpretation, discuss its dependence on temperature, size system, applied magnetic field. consider two classes experimental probes: 1. electron-spin-resonance (ESR)-type measurements, which probe response to uniform magnetization increases linearly...

The paper contains a detailed discussion of the electronic structure novel hard and thermally stable amorphous SiBCN materials. We focus on weight individual states different elements, bond types, bonds lengths, number atoms clusters are localized on. A special attention is paid to around Fermi level. show in detail effect elements types (non)conductivity results provide insight into complex relationships between material composition properties, allow one tailor compositions which can...

We disclose a serious deficiency of the Baym-Kadanoff construction thermodynamically consistent conserving approximations. There are two vertices in this scheme: dynamical and conserving. The divergence each indicates phase instability. show that leads to incomplete qualitatively different behavior at critical points. diagrammatically controlled vertex from Schwinger-Dyson equation does not obey Ward identity cannot be continued beyond its singularity. standardly used alone cannot, hence,...

The leading (Gaussian) fluctuation correction to the weak coupling zero temperature Bardeen-Cooper-Schreiffer superconducting gap equation is computed. We find that dominant contribution comes from high energies and momenta (compared gap) gives a smaller by weak-coupling factor $g{N}_{0}$ than mean-field terms. This small due cancellation of singular contributions amplitude phase mode at momenta.

Binary and ternary amorphous transition metal (TM) nitrides oxides are of great interest because their suitability for diverse applications ranging from high-temperature machining to the production optical filters or electrochromic devices. However, understanding bonding in, electronic structure of, these materials represents a challenge mainly due d electrons in valence band. In present work, we report ab initio calculations ZrSiN materials. We focus on methodology needed interpretation...