Statistical Piezotronic Effect in Nanocrystal Bulk by Anisotropic Geometry Control

Utilizing inner-crystal piezoelectric polarization charges to control carrier transport across a metal-semiconductor or semiconductor–semiconductor interface, piezotronic effect has great potential applications in smart micro/nano-electromechanical system (MEMS/NEMS), human-machine interfacing, and nanorobotics. However, current research on piezotronics has mainly focused on systems with only one or rather limited interfaces. Here, the statistical piezotronic effect is reported in ZnO bulk composited of nanoplatelets, of which the strain/stress-induced piezo-potential at the crystals’ interfaces can effectively gate the electrical transport of ZnO bulk. It is a statistical phenomenon of piezotronic modification of large numbers of interfaces, and the crystal orientation of inner ZnO nanoplatelets strongly influence the transport property of ZnO bulk. With optimum preferred orientation of ZnO nanoplatelets, the bulk exhibits an increased conductivity with decreasing stress at a high pressure range of 200–400 MPa, which has not been observed previously in bulk. A maximum sensitivity of 1.149 µS m⁻¹ MPa⁻¹ and a corresponding gauge factor of 467–589 have been achieved. As a statistical phenomenon of many piezotronic interfaces modulation, the proposed statistical piezotronic effect extends the connotation of piezotronics and promotes its practical applications in intelligent sensing.     

平板集热器(倾角)变化工况数值模拟

运用FLUENT数值模拟软件分析了平板集热器(倾角)变化对集热器传热特性的影响,保证其结构参数不变,通过对5组不同倾角(0°、30°、45°、60°、75°)的数值模型进行非稳态模拟,对模拟数据进行分析,得出了平板集热器不同倾角对集热器传热性能变化的影响。     

Modeling for the electromagnetic properties and EMI shielding of Cf/mullite composites in the gigahertz range

The electromagnetic properties and EMI shielding effectiveness of C_f/mullite composites via the spark plasma sintering were intensively investigated in the gigahertz range (8.2–12.4 GHz). Experimental results have revealed excellent electromagnetic properties and a high value of EMI shielding effectiveness (nearly 40 dB) for C_f/mullite composites with 1.65 vol% carbon fillers at thickness of 2 mm. We quantitatively characterize the contributions of microstructural features to overall EMI shielding effectiveness using a micromechanics-based homogenization model. The EMI shielding effectiveness enhances with respect to the C_f volume concentration before the threshold. The increasing trend of EMI shielding effectiveness with respect to AC (alternating current) frequency can be attributed to enhanced conductivity at high gigahertz range. It is demonstrated that filler and frequency dependent interface effects are essential to obtain excellent electromagnetic properties of C_f/mullite composite. The present research can provide guidances for the design of ceramic-based composites applied in high-temperature EMI shielding devices.     

Top illuminated organic photodetectors with dielectric/metal/dielectric transparent anode

The top illuminated organic photodetectors (OPDs) with a Dielectric/Metal/Dielectric (DMD) transparent anode are fabricated. The transparent electrode is composed of molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃)/silver (Ag)/MoO₃ layers and zinc oxide (ZnO)/aluminum (Al) is used for bottom cathode. The optimized DMD electrode has an optical transmittance of 85.7% at the wavelength of 546 nm and sheet resistance of ∼6 Ω/sq. The fabricated OPDs exhibit a high detectivity and wide range linearity.     

Alloying behavior and novel properties of CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy fabricated by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering

An equiatomic CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy was synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). During MA, a solid solution with refined microstructure of 10 nm which consists of a FCC phase and a BCC phase was formed. After SPS consolidation, only one FCC phase can be detected in the HEA bulks. The as-sintered bulks exhibit high compressive strength of 1987 MPa. An interesting magnetic transition associated with the structure coarsening and phase transformation was observed during SPS process.     

Supply chain planning and scheduling integration using Lagrangian decomposition in a knowledge management environment

The integration of planning and scheduling decisions in rigorous mathematical models usually results in large scale problems. In order to tackle the problem complexity, decomposition techniques based on duality and information flows between a master and a set of subproblems are widely applied. In this sense, ontologies improve information sharing and communication in enterprises and can even represent holistic mathematical models facilitating the use of analytic tools and providing higher flexibility for model building. In this work, we exploit this ontologies’ capability to address the optimal integration of planning and scheduling using a Lagrangian decomposition approach. Scheduling/planning sub-problems are created for each facility/supply chain entity and their dual solution information is shared by means of the ontological framework. Two case studies based on a STN representation of supply chain planning and scheduling models are presented to emphasize the advantages and limitations of the proposed approach.     

The significant promotion of g-C3N4 on Pt/CNS catalyst for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

This article reported a series of g–C₃N₄–CNS (g-C₃N₄ and carbon nanosheets) composite carriers formed by the hydrothermal method, and then the ethylene glycol reduction method was used to anchor Pt nanoparticles on the g–C₃N₄–CNS carrier to form the Pt/g–C₃N₄–CNS catalysts. The electrochemical test for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol (MOR) shown that the Pt/20%g–C₃N₄–CNS catalyst has the best catalytic performance and stability. These Pt/g–C₃N₄–CNS catalysts were analyzed by TEM, XRD, XPS, and BET characterization. It is discovered that the amount of g-C₃N₄ greatly influenced the structure and chemical properties of Pt/CNS precursor. As the content of g-C₃N₄ increases, the content of pyridine nitrogen and pyrrole nitrogen also increases, and N species can enhance the interaction between Pt nanoparticles and CNS, promote Pt dispersion, and increase the specific surface area of the catalyst. Similarly, an excessive addition of g-C₃N₄ will cause a sharp decline in the conductivity of the catalyst, and then led to the decline of MOR activity.     

Corrosion behaviors of Cr2AlC/α-Al2O3 composites in 3.5 wt. % NaCl aqueous solution

Cr₂AlC and its composites containing α-Al₂O₃ (6.1 and 15.2 wt %) were prepared by hot pressing and their corrosion behaviors in air-saturated 3.5 wt % NaCl aqueous solution were investigated by electrochemical testing methods. It was revealed that the secondary phase of Al₂O₃ particles mainly distributed along grain boundaries of Cr₂AlC matrix. The potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that the corrosion current densities of these Cr₂AlC composites were lower than that of the pure Cr₂AlC. The Aluminum in Cr₂AlC was prone to be attacked more easily. When immersed at open circuit potential (OCP), Al readily slipped out from Cr₂AlC matrix into NaCl solution in the form of dissoluble species. But in the case of polarization, regardless of potentiostatic polarization or potentiodynamic polarization, more de-intercalated Al, reacted with the electrolyte to form corrosion products of Al₂O₃ and/or AlOOH and deposited on the sample surface. For Cr₂AlC/α-Al₂O₃ composites, the presence of Al₂O₃ weakened the corrosion along grain boundaries by partly blocking the permeation of electrolyte and inhibiting the anodic dissolution process.