nanorf

Andrey Oksogoev at the Institute of High Technologies (Ulan-Ude) has carried out an experiment that proves assumptions made earlier. Research of S.P. Kurdumov’s school dealt with energy division into thermal and nonthermal components upon changes in the environment structure. This possibility is the most important objective for establishing self-organizing nanotechnologies.

A.A. Oksogoev carried out a numerical experiment on deformative analysis of metallic material collision with grit at threshold temperatures. The study of obtained outcomes enabled to single out a special mode called an intensification mode connected with heat inertia effect. Thus, the work done confirms the heat inertia effect predicted earlier and apparent in heat-conducting environments.

The intensification mode concept may become the basis for creating self-controlled (extreme) nanotechnologies. It will make possible to control metallic material properties during their synthesis, face-hardening processing and functioning of materials in a finished engineering construction.

The conducted investigation proves that when additional heat arrives in the environment, the heat does not spread but concentrates in a certain volume for some time. The computing experiment allowed to detect and to demonstrate manifestation of heat inertia effect with the intensification mode in the near-surface layer of the cup central zone in collision crater, as well as to study dynamics of temperature field front profile distribution at the point of grit recoil. To study the thermodeformative state of the near-surface barrier layer, the researchers used aluminium alloy type AVT-1, 8 mm thick, in the course of its high-speed interaction with the ShKh15 steel grit, Ø 4.0 mm.

Heat inertia effect becomes apparent upon increased energy «pumping» into the environment, heat dissipation (conversion of other types of energy into heat) does not spread for some time. The obtained heat concentrates in a certain existing volume. This system status accounts for transition from linear heat conductivity to non-linear one. This results in self-organization of structures that adapt the system to its new existence conditions.

Nanotechnologies development is directly connected with synergetics principle observance, which is the self-organizing systems theory. As follows from the above principles, to obtain considerable results, it is necessary to ensure conditions that meet the fullest adaptation of self-organizing structures to external action.

The distinction of traditional nanotechnologies from self-organizing ones is based on differences in the nature of energy sources that ensure environment structure changes. In the first case, environment structuring occurs at the expense of nonthermal (cold) part of released energy that ensures self-organization processes. In the second case, this happens owing to dissipation (conversion of other types of energy into heat) with the help of energy obtained by the system from environment.

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Physicists from Yekaterinburg have generated yttrium-aluminum-garnet nanopowder using the laser-induced evaporation method. The powder with particles sized about 10 nanometers was used to create optic ceramics with a high infrared light transmission factor.

The laser-induced evaporation method also known as laser ablation or laser spark is based on removing a substance from the surface during laser irradiation. The method works in several stages: the material evaporation from the target; plasma torch development from the particles of the substance being irradiated; deposition and growth of the crystal material on the substrate. The process can be used for chemical analysis of substances as well as for technologies associated with surface processing and nanostructure generation.

The task of creating nanopowders with predetermined stoichiometry — that is, pre-determined ratio of the masses of chemical elements included in the powder — is a promising one. The main challenge of the technology is associated with excessive substance evaporation; therefore laser irradiation with optimum parameters is required. The laser used to produce the powder must be high-power and with a short radiation pulse at the same time. Experts at the Institute of Electrophysics, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, suggested using carbon-dioxide laser for the purpose (the active environment of such laser is a gaseous mixture with a high level of CO₂ content). The physicists describe the advantages of such laser for generating nanopowders with predetermined stoichiometry in a report that is to be published in the January issue of the Letters to the Technical Physics Journal that is already made available at the journal Web site.

Physicists Vladimir Osipov, Vasily Lisenkov and Vyacheslav Platonov developed a theoretical model of the laser beam interaction with the substance, and subsequently confirmed the model experimentally. In order to obtain nanopowder, a laser complex consisting of a pulse-periodic CO₂ laser, evaporative chamber, and a separation and nanopowder capturing system was used. The laser received impulses with peak capacity of up to 10 kilowatt and repetition frequency of 500H. Yttrium and aluminium oxides served as impulse targets, with the particles sized from one to ten micron. As a result of ablation, the researchers generated an amorphous yttrium-aluminium oxide powder (also called yttrium aluminum garnet as synthetic precious stone is made from the substance on the microlevel). The size of the particle was 10 nanometer. The speed of the powder production depends on the radiant energy. The use of the CO₂ laser allowed to generate 24 grams of the powder per hour.

In order to show the practical importance of the resultant nanopowder, the researchers used it to make several samples of transparent optical ceramics. Such ceramics lets through 77 per cent of infrared radiation which makes it a promising material for electronics to manufacture infrared windows (areas transparent for infrared irradiation).

Source of information: “The Laser Synthesis of Nanopowders in the Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Stoichiometry,” V. V. Osipov, V. V. Lisenkov, V. V. Platonov, the Letters to the Technical Physics Journal, 2011, vol. 37, issue 1, pp. 103-110

Further information: Vasily Lisenkov, Ph. D. (Physics and Mathematics), the Quantum Electronics laboratory. Telephone: +7 (343) 267-87-79, e-mail: lisenkov@iep.uran.ru

Specialists at the A.F. Ioffe Institute of Applied-Physics (Russian Academy of Sciences) have developed a new methodology for nano-dimensional heterostructure composition analysis. Along with the composition, the depth of layer occurrence is also identified. Experimental check of the methodology has proved that the data obtained through it on semiconductor structure constitution well agrees with measurement results achieved by other method, the data having low error.

Layer structures consisting of semiconductors with different width of forbidden band (i.e., with different conductivity) are known as heterostructures. Development of such materials is one of the most promising directions in nanotechnology advance. The 2000 Nobel prize was awarded to Academician Zh. I. Alferov for “advancement of semiconductor heterostructures for high-speed optoelectronics”.

At the moment, heterostructures have found wide application in optoelectronics, various light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Their utilization in solar batteries also seems very promising. Researchers’ special attention is drawn by heterostructures with nano-dimensional semiconductor layers. However, at the moment there exists no universally recognized method for analysis of such materials, which creates great problems for their practical application.

Tatiana Popova and her colleagues at the A.F. Ioffe Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, have developed a new method for analysis of heterostructure composition with nano-dimensional layers and have written the software that enables to identify composition and the depth of analyzable structure and the depth of its layer occurrence. The work was published in the “Semiconductor Physocs and Technology”  journal.

X-ray spectroscopic analysis is one of widely applicable methods for analyzing substance. The substance is exposed to X-ray impact, atoms get actuated, thus enabling to judge about the specimen qualitative and quantitative composition by the amount of secondary X-rays quanta radiated by them. However, this method has an inadmissibly low accuracy when investigating nano-dimesional heterostructures because the layer depth is too small.

The researchers have developed a new algorithm of X-ray spectroscopic microanalysis that allows to reduce error of method. The signal is processed by a special program, which introduces a correction for small layer dimension. The layer dimension data required to this end is preliminary obtained via transmission electron microscopy. Besides, the obtained signal is compared to calibration signals obtained from substances of known composition, which also improves material identification accuracy.

To check the method, some samples of InGaAs and ZnCdSe (indium-gallium-arsenic and zinc-cadmium-selenium) heterostructures were measured. The researchers have confirmed that the material composition/structure data obtained via the new method well agrees with the data obtained via analyzing by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and it has low error. The researchers point out that the obtained results can be used to control the new heterostructure creation technology.

Source of information: “X-ray spectroscopic microanalysis of heterostructures with nano-dimensional layers”. Semiconductor Physics and Technology, 2011, Vol. 45, issue 2

Further information: Tatiana Borisovna Popova, A.F. Ioffe Institute of Applied-Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tel.: + 7(812)292-73-93 E-mail: T.Popova@mail.ioffe.ru

Zamorianskaya Maria Vladimirovna, A.F. Ioffe Institute of Applied-Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tel.: + 7 (812)292-73-93 E-mail: Zam@mail.ioffe.ru

Researchers at the Ioffe Technical Physical Institute have developed a new method of synthesising composite materials from synthetic opal and vanadium oxides. Such materials have unusual optical properties. Previously, they were generated by depositing vanadium oxides (V₂O₅ and VO₂) from a solution, but in their latest work the researchers demonstrated the greater effectiveness of using melted vanadium oxide V₂O₅.

Synthetic opal presents a porous matrix consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO₂). Two types of such matrixes exist — these are three-dimensional and film. Nanocomposites where opal pores are filled with vanadium oxides invoke significant interest. Such structures can be used as gas sensors, switches and limiters of visible and infrared light emission. In addition, nanocomposites have the properties of three-dimensional photon crystal. It means that their structure is characterised with periodic changes in the refractive index. Such substances are capable of capturing photons and are of great demand in optoelectronics.

Today, nanocomposite opal-V₂O₅ and opal-VO₂ are produced using solution methods, that is, wash the matrix in the oxide solution until its pores are filled. The process must be repeated several times which increases the production time; it also leads to unwanted impurities in the resultant material.

Dmitry Kurdyukov and his colleagues suggested and tested a new method to synthesise such nanocomposites. The study report was published in the Solid-State Physics magazine. The researchers used melted vanadium oxide (V₂O₅) and an opal sample previously synthesised on the fused quartz substrate. The substances were put into the crucible at the temperature of 690°С, and were further heated uniformly. The vanadium oxide melt moistens the surface of silicon dioxide which allows it to fill the pores in the opal crystal completely. Cooling of the mixture results in the desired nanocomposite. The metal oxide shrinks with cooling and therefore the opal pores get only 70 per cent filled but this level of filling allows the material to preserve its properties. Based on the resulting opal-V₂O₅ it is possible to produce opal-VO₂ – it requires a reaction of vanadium oxide reduction with hydrogen in the pores of the sample.

In order to confirm that the new methodology resulted in the synthesis of the desired nanocomposite, the researchers used the data provided by electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The created substance was subjected to chemical etching to remove vanadium oxides from the near-surface opal layers. The scientists note that the nanocomposites generated after the synthesis have areas of lower pore filling levels, that concentrate near the surface. At the same time, the level of filling the pores located close to the substrate reaches 100 per cent. It means that the development of the three-dimensional photon-crystal structure begins during the first stage of the nanocomposite processing.

Source of information: D. А. Kurdyukov, S. А. Grudinkin, А. V. Nashchekin, N. Smirnov, Е. Yu. Trofimov, М. А. Yagovkina, А. B. Pevtsov, V. G. Golubev: “Melting Synthesis and Structural Properties of opal-V₂O₅ and opal-VO₂ nanocomposites.” The Solid-State Physics, 2011, vol. 53, issue 2

Further information: Dmitry Kurdyukov, the Ioffe Technical Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sceinces, (812)292-73-93 E-mail: Kurd@gvg.ioffe.ru. Sergey Grudinkin, the Ioffe Technical Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sceinces, (812)292-73-93 E-mail: Grudink@gvg.ioffe.ru

The majority of drugs do not penetrate from blood into the brain because of the hematoencephalic barrier existing between them. This creates a lot of difficulties for brain tumor treatment. Russian researchers have developed a system for drug delivery into the brain with the help of nanoparticles and demonstrated its efficiency on laboratory animals.

Glioblastoma is the most widespread and the most dangerous variety of the brain malignant tumor. At the moment, chemotherapy of such tumors has little effect due to existence of the hematoencephalic barrier – the filter that prevents alien agents (including drugs) from passing into the brain. Researchers worldwide are working to create medicinal systems, which could be used for glioblastoma therapy.

A substancial progress in development of new treatment has been achieved by a group of researchers from the Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology , Scientific Research Institute of Human Morphology (Russian Academy of Medical Sciences)  and Limited Liability Company - Research and Production Company “Nanosystem” . The research findings were shared by the researchers at the “Nanotechnologies in Oncology”  conference that took place in Moscow on October 30. Svetlana Gelperina and her colleagues applied the Doxorubicine antitumoral antibiotic. This substance is frequently used in malignant tumors chemotherapy, but it is not used for brain tumor treatment as it poorly penetrates the hematoencephalic barrier. The researchers joined Doxorubicine with polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles covered by polysorbate 80. Such nanoparticles are being intensely studied now at multiple laboratories due to their potential ability to penetrate into the brain. The researchers have experimentally demonstrated that the antibiotic-nanoparticles complex created by them enables to achieve efficient drug concentration in the brain of rats suffering from Glioblastoma. The sick animals that received experimental treatment, lived on average 85% longer than the ones in the reference group that did not receive the treatment. Prolonged remission was observed with more than 20% of rats – six months after the treatment, no further tumor growth was detected with these animals.

The researchers have managed to demonstrate one more important benefit of the drug formulation developed by them. It has turned out that the Doxorubicine-nanoparticle complex penetrates worse into animals’ heart and testicles than Doxorubicine does alone, and consequently, toxic action on these organs reduced in the course of treatment.

Source of information: Gelperina S.E., Khalansky A.S., Shvets V.I. “Chemotherapy of experimental glioblastoma with the help of nanocormial form of Doxorubicine”. Report theses for the “Nanotechnologies in Oncology 2010” conference.

Further information: Gelperina Svetlana Emmanuilovna, Director for Science, Research and Production Complex “Nanosystem”, svetlana.gelperina@gmail.com

Laser waves focused on the tumor area can damage cancer cells and blood vessels feeding them. The process becomes more efficient if nanoparticles are preliminary introduced into the tumor. At the conference “Nanotechnologies in Oncology in 2010”, Russian oncologists explained how laser irradiation is absorbed by nanoparticles, what particular nanoparticles should be used and to what extent their application increases therapeutic effect with animals suffering with cancer.

Pulsed laser hyperthermia is the tumor elimination method based on injecting sensitizers (nanoparticles) into the pathological tissue and further irradiation by high-energy laser pulses, the wave length of which is the area of applied nanoparticles absorption. Efficiency and mechanism of action of this approach were studied by specialists of the  Moscow Scientific Research Institute of Oncology named after P.A. Hertzen, State Research Center “NIOPIK” and the A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry. Andrei Pankratov and his colleagues investigated more than 15 nanostructure varieties of different chemical nature, structure and size. Nanoparticles of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) were researched in most detail. The researchers have demonstrated that pulsed laser hyperthermia involving ZnPc particles use results in lengthy inhibition in growth of tumors of various nature: sarcomata, colon carcinoma, carcinoma of lung, melanoma. Part of the animals (from 10 to 70%, depending on cancer разновидности рака and investigated treatment method) has demonstrated complete recovery.

The mechanism of antitumoral action of pulsed laser hyperthermia with nanoparticles used as sensitizers has not been fully studied yet. The new research enables to state that the main reason of therapeutic effect is destruction of the tumor vascular system. When the tumor is laser-irradiated, nanoparticle microexplosions occur in blood vessels feeding it. The researchers have demonstrated that significant decrease of oxygen partial pressure is observed in the tumor tissues after irradiation: from 40-60 down to 0.5-5 mm of mercury. After irradiation is over, oxygen partial pressure level was not restored with the majority of animals that had underwent treatment with ZnPc particles. Blood vessel destruction in the tumor was also observed when investigation tissues under a microscope. A day after irradiation, blood vessel density in the tumor was almost 10 times lower than that in the reference group (unfortunately, several days after irradiation, vessel growth restarts in the tumor).

The researchers have also investigated safety of nanoparticles they used. They have demonstrated that ZnPc nanoparticles are removed from the blood flow within 3 hours, that the maximum endurable dose in case of intravenous induction exceeds the minimal dose necessary for treatment by 35 times, and that nanoparticles at the 0.2% concentration do not lead to blood corpuscle destruction. Nanoparticles are able to accumulate in the lungs, liver, kidneys and spleen, however, a year after nanoparticle injections, including those in high doses, the researchers did not reveal abnormal changes in these organs.

Source of information: Pankratov A.A., Andreeva T.N.., Yakubovskaya R.I., Kogan B.Ya., Butenin A.V., Feizulova R.A., Rudoi V.M. “Nanostructure composites for laser hyperthermia: various aspects of safety”. Report theses for the “Nanotechnologies in Oncology in 2010” conference.

Further information: Andrei Alexandrovich Pankratov, senior staff scientis, department of modifiers and protectors for antitumoral therapy, Moscow Scientific Research Institute of Oncology named after P.A. Hertzen. Tel. + 7(494)945-87-16, e-mail andreimnioi@yandex.ru.

In the course of plasma magnetic traps’ operation, erosion their walls’ occurs, and nano-dimensional films and dust particles are formed. Researchers at the Russian Scientific Center “Kurchatov Institute” assert: the dust can favorably influence the reactor’s operation.

A tokamak (a toroidal chamber with magnetic coils) is a closed magnetic trap intended for high-temperature plasma creation and confinement. Controlled thermonuclear fusion can be accomplished in such reactors – fusion of lighter nuclei that provides heavier nuclei and energy release. Plasma is the state in which all substances are transferred under strong heating (the temperature is measured by hundreds of millions of degrees). In plasma, not only bonds between molecules are destroyed (like under evaporation) but also bonds between atoms and even between atoms’ neuclei and electrons. Plasma consists of charged particles and, therefore, it can be retained by magnetic field. Under normal conditions, plasma should not touch the internal surface of tokamak but sometimes certain particles do reach the walls, thus causing erosion.

“The nanostructures being formed as a result of erosion of plasma-facing tokamak chamber elements mainly have a negative effect”, wrote specialists at the Kurchatov Institute  in the article about nanodust published at the “Physical Sciences Progress” journal. Nanostructures accumulate tritium – this causes damage to the reactor safety as this hydrogen isotope is radioactive, besides, its losses cause significant financial damage: the price of tritium is about 10 000 000 $/kg. Should water get into the chamber (in emergency situation), nanostructures can serve as a catalyst for its decomposition into oxygen and hydrogen, thus creating explosion hazard. Radioactive dust presence in the air represents danger for specialists during reactor opening.

Studying nanodust in tokamaks has demonstrated that the films being formed mainly consist of carbohydrates and tungsten. They can be smooth or possess a complicated relief. Nanoparticles can unite into the approximately 15-nm clusters or form a disordered structure. The hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) adsorption mechanism was studied on smooth films, and researchers suggested the thermodesorption method - deuterium and tritium removal from films under heating.

The researchers have found out that the dust being formed on the reactor chamber surface can also play a favorable role: it enables to support plasma discharge stability due to plasma density increase and plasma temperature decrease. Besides, the authors draw attention to complicated latticed nanostructures with large surface area, which are being formed from particles settling on the reactor surface. Probably, this by-product of reactor work will be used in the future to solve some other processing tasks.

Source of information: “Nanostructures in controlled thermonuclear fusion plants”,  V.I. Krouz, Yu.V. Martynenko, N. Yu. Svechnikov, V.P. Smirnov, V.G. Stankevich, L.N. Khimchenko, Uspekhi fizicheskikh nauk (Physical Sciences Progress), Vol. 180, #10, 2010, http://ufn.ru/ufn10/ufn10_10/Russian/r1010c.pdf

Further information: Yuri Vladimirovich Martynenko – specialist, Kurchatov Institute, e-mail: martyn@nfi.kiae.ru

Russian researchers have developed a method for assessing biological accumulation of nanoparticles in planktonic organisms, and have demonstrated that algae and seed shrimps intensively accumulate titanium dioxide particles.

It is known that nanoparticles can be transferred along food chains: a predator assimilates particles that were contained in the prey body. Majority of food chains in seas and lakes begin with plankton (microscopic organisms drifting in water mass), and therefore it is important to know how actively planktonic organisms accumulate nanoparticles when they get into water.

Yuri Morgalev and his colleagues at the Center “Biotest-Nano” of Tomsk University and Siberian State Medical University have investigated nanoparticles accumulation in chlorella and daphnids. Chlorella is the genus of unicellular algae, typical representatives of phytoplankton, and Daphnia is the genus of microscopic crustacea, widespread in zooplankton. Both organisms are often applied for water quality investigations.

The researchers dealt with titanium dioxide nanoparticles as these particles are already used now for production of paint, drugs, beauty aids and other products. It has become clear that titanium dioxide nanoparticles accumulate quickly and in large quantities in phyto- and zooplantkton. The work will be published in the next issue of the “Russian Nanotechnologies” journal.

The researchers obtained titanium dioxide particles (their size making 5 nm) via the electric explosion method. These particles were placed into water at concentrations from 10 mg/l through 1 g/l, and the researchers watched their behavior in aqueous environment. At high concentrations, nanoparticles coalesce and precipitate, stable nanoparticle suspension exists at the concentration lower than 2 mg/l. The experiment used dispersed solutions of titanium dioxide nanoparticles at the concentration of 1 mg/l.

Starting from the 5^th day of chlorella cultivation in the presence of nanoparticles, the researchers estimated titanium presence in water and algae cells. The mass spectrometry method was used to this end. The biologists have proved that on the 5^th day the titanium concentration in the cultivation environment decreased, and it made 246±12 mcg/g in chlorella cells. In a month, titanium concentration in chlorella increased, although insignificantly. To determine what part of titanium is firmly bound with chlorella, concentrate of its cells was exposed to sixfold washing. After the procedure, the titanium content reduced to 92.50±3.20 mcg/g – this particular quantity of titanium penetrated inside cells or was firmly bound with their surface. Titanium content in algae cells exceeded titanium content in the external environment by more than 200 times.

Daphnids biology peculiarities make it difficult to get an absolutely precise result because it is necessary to feed the animals and to clean up their aquarium, these processes bring some distortions in titanium concentration in water. Nevertheless, the researchers managed to prove that on the 5^th day the seed shrimps concentrate contains 100±8 mcg/g of titanium, and after washing, its concentration reduces to 58±5 mcg/g – this particular quantity of the element gets bound with seed shrimps tissues. This is twice less than that of chlorella, but it is a hundred times more than titanium concentration in the environment.

So, experiments have proved that titanium nanoparticles are accumulated in aquatic tissues rather quickly (within 4-5 days) and in rather large quantities. They are accumulated both by algae – initial link of food chain - and by seed shrimps, which are at the nest stage. As zooplankton serves food for a lot of fish species, it can be expected that titanium nanoparticles will be transferred further along the food chain and appear in products of industrial fishery and aquaculture. Subsequent research will be required to assess if it is harmful and to what extent.

Source of information: Yu. N. Morgalev, N.S. Khoch, T.G. Morgaleva, E.S. Goulik, G.A. Borilo, U.A. Bulatova, S. Yu. Morgalev, E.V. Poniavina. “Biotesting of nanomaterials: about a possibility of nanoparticles translocation into food chains”. Russian Nanotechnologies, 2010, #11-12.

Further information: Morgalev Yuri Nikolayevich, Center “Biotest-Nano” of Tomsk State University.  Tel.: +7 (3822) 53-44-35, e-mail: morgalev@tsu.ru

Russian researchers have suggested a new method to form crystalline nanostructure of the Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B alloys. The nanostructures obtained under the action of gas discharge optical radiation possess better magnetic and mechanical characteristics as compared to their analogues produced via temperature methods.

Creation of materials resistant to strong mechanical and magnetic action is one of important nanotechnology tasks. New nanostructural materials based on  the Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B (iron, copper, niobium, silicon, boron) alloys that possess a high value of permeability are potentially able to replace permalloy – the iron/nickel alloy, which is now used extensively for magnetic field shielding.

So far, the Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B crystals have possessed a significant drawback: low mechanical strength. Researchers at Kazan State Unversity and Kazan Technology University  have managed to develop a method to solve the problem. To get nanocrystals in the Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B alloys, high-temperature annealing has been used so far, under which a disordered alloy structure turns into a crystalline structure under high-temperature action. The specimens obtained in this way acquire the necessary magnetic properties but they become very fragile and their surface oxidizes. Rouslan Nazipov, Anatoly Mitin and Nikolai Ziuzin have suggested a new alloy annealing method – processing by gas discharge. The article published this week describes that they obtained the Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B nanocrystals by effecting the material by optical radiation of a gas-discharge flash lamp (powerful electromagnetic source with the band varying from infrared through ultraviolet). The obtained material is a polycrystalline one, i.e., it consists of multiple differently-oriented crystals called crystallites or grains.

The researchers have determined the alloy structure dependence on the power supporting it, and described crystal creation conditions. Full crystallization of experimental specimen of an alloy (30×10×0.025 mm) into the 150-nm grains required 1,529 joules (approximately the same amount of energy is spent by a human being to walk 10 meters). To create similar structures via thermal annealing, the specimen should be heated up to 900 degrees Celsius under vacuum conditions (to avoid metal oxidation). Consequently, gas discharge utilization does not only improve mechanical properties of crystals but also enables to save power significantly.

Source of information: R.A. Nazipov, A.V. Mitin, N.A. Ziuzin. “Crystallization of amorphous alloy of the Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B system under the action of powerful pulse optical radiation”. Preprint of the article is available at http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/1010/1010.5010v1.pdf

Further information: Nazipov Rouslan Airatovich – assistant at department of solid state physics, Kazan State University, е-mail: Ruslan.Nazipov@ksu.ru