Simulation is essential for embedded control systems with task jitter

Sampling or task jitter affects the performance of digital control systems but realistic simulation of this effect has not been possible to date. Our previous work has developed a novel method to simulate sampling jitter in MATLAB/Simulink simulation software where the jitter is generated randomly. What has been missing is a way to capture sampling jitter from a target platform and then feed this timing information into the simulation. This paper presents a low-cost and novel solution to these problems. The method uses an Arduino board to capture task jitter from two different hardware platforms with multiple stressing conditions. Then the recorded performance data is used to drive realistic simulations of a control system. Measurement shows that the task jitter data does not follow any specific random distribution such as Gaussian or Uniform. Furthermore, very occasional timing patterns, which may not be picked up while testing a real system, can result in extreme controller responses. This novel method allows comparisons of different platforms and reduces the effort required to choose the most appropriate platform for full implementation.

     

Phase and microstructure evolution of Sc2O3–CeO2 –ZrO2ceramics in Na2SO4 + V2O5 molten salts

In this study, the destabilization resistance of Sc₂O₃ and CeO₂ co-stabilized ZrO₂ (SCZ) ceramics was tested in Na₂SO₄ + V₂O₅ molten salts at 750°C–1100 °C. The phase structure and microstructure evolution of the samples during the hot corrosion testing were analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results showed that the destabilization of SCZ ceramics at 750 °C was the result of the chemical reaction with V₂O₅ to produce m-ZrO₂ and CeVO₄, and little ScVO₄ was detected in the Sc₂O₃-rich SCZ ceramics. The primary corrosion products at 900 °C and 1100 °C were CeO₂ and m-ZrO₂ due to the mineralization effect. The Sc₂O₃-rich SCZ ceramics exhibited excellent degradation resistance and phase stability owing to the enhanced bond strength and the decreased size misfit between Zr⁴⁺ and Sc³⁺. The destabilization mechanism of SCZ ceramic under hot corrosion was also discussed.     

Microstructure induced ultra-high energy storage density coupled with rapid discharge properties in lead-free Ba0.9Ca0.1Ti0.9Zr0.1O3–SrNb2O6 ceramics

Novel lead-free (1-x)Ba_0·9Ca_0·1Ti_0·9Zr_0·1O₃-xSrNb₂O₆ ceramics were synthesized via a two-step high energy ball milling process. The evolution of microstructural properties, phase transformation, and energy storage characteristics was comprehensively investigated to assess the applicability of material in multi-layered ceramic capacitors. The substitution of SrNb₂O₆ (SNO) in Ba_0·9Ca_0·1Ti_0·9Zr_0·1O₃ (BTCZ) has resulted in substantial improvement in materials density along with a small increase in the grain size of the synthesized ceramic. A thorough microstructural investigation indicates an excellent dispersibility and compatibility between BTCZ and SNO phases. With an increase in SNO substitution, a transition from typical ferroelectric to relaxor ferroelectric has been observed, which has led to a significantly slimmer ferroelectric loop along with frequency dispersive dielectric properties. The optimized composition (i.e., x = 0.10) exhibits an ultra-high recoverable energy density of 2.68 J/cm³ along with a moderately high energy efficiency of 83.4%. Further, SNO substituted samples have also shown an enhancement in breakdown strength. The improvement in energy storage performance and breakdown strength of SNO substituted BTCZ composites are mainly attributed to relatively homogeneous grain morphology, optimum grain size, microstructural density, and improved grain boundary interface.     

Enhanced thermal shrinkage behavior of phenolic-derived carbon aerogel-reinforced by HNTs with superior compressive strength performance

A novel carbon/m-HNTs composite aerogel was synthesized by introducing the modified halloysite nanotubes (m-HNTs) into phenolic (PR) aerogels through chemical grafting, followed with carbonization treatment. In order to explore the best proportion of HNTs to phenolic, the micromorphology of PR/m-HNTs were investigated by SEM before carbonization, confirming 10 wt% of m-HNTs is most beneficial to the porous network of aerogels. The interaction between PR and HNTs was studied by FTIR spectra, and microstructure evolution of the target product-carbon/m-HNTs composite aerogel were illustrated by SEM and TEM techniques. SEM patterns indicated that the carbon/m-HNTs aerogels maintain a stable porous structure at 1000 °C (carbonization temperature), while a ~20 nm carbon layer was formed around m-HNTs generating an integral unit through TEM analysis. Specific surface area and pore size distribution of composite aerogels were analyzed based on mercury intrusion porosimetry and N₂ adsorption–desorption method, the obtained results stayed around 500 m²g^?1 and 1.00 cm³g^?1 (pore volume) without significant discrepancy, compared with pure aerogel, showing the uniformity of pore size. The weight loss rate (26.76%) decreased greatly compared with pure aerogel, at the same time, the best volumetric shrinkage rate was only 30.83%, contributed by the existence of HNTs supporting the neighbor structure to avoid over-shrinking. The highest compressive strength reached to 4.43 MPa, while the data of pure aerogel was only 1.52 MPa, demonstrating the excellent mechanical property of carbon/m-HNTs aerogels.     

Nacre-Inspired,Liquid Metal-Based Ultrasensitive Electronic Skin by Spatially Regulated Cracking Strategy

The realization of liquid metal-based wearable systems will be a milestone toward high-performance, integrated electronic skin. However, despite the revolutionary progress achieved in many other components of electronic skin, liquid metal-based flexible sensors still suffer from poor sensitivity due to the insufficient resistance change of liquid metal to deformation. Herein, a nacre-inspired architecture composed of a biphasic pattern (liquid metal with Cr/Cu underlayer) as “bricks” and strain-sensitive Ag film as “mortar” is developed, which breaks the long-standing sensitivity bottleneck of liquid metal-based electronic skin. With 2 orders of magnitude of sensitivity amplification while maintaining wide (>85%) working range, for the first time, liquid metal-based strain sensors rival the state-of-art counterparts. This liquid metal composite features spatially regulated cracking behavior. On the one hand, hard Cr cells locally modulate the strain distribution, which avoids premature cut-through cracks and prolongs the defect propagation in the adjacent Ag film. On the other hand, the separated liquid metal cells prevent unfavorable continuous liquid-metal paths and create crack-free regions during strain. Demonstrated in diverse scenarios, the proposed design concept may spark more applications of ultrasensitive liquid metal-based electronic skins, and reveals a pathway for sensor development via crack engineering.     

Facile Fabrication of Luminescent Eu(III) Functionalized HOF Hydrogel Film with Multifunctionailities: Quinolones Fluorescent Sensor and Anticounterfeiting Platform

The luminescent hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) based films have become one of the most remarkable materials for optical application, thus, developing facile synthesis methods and establishing multifunctional applications for HOF-based luminescent materials are essential. Herein, a dual-emitting Eu³⁺-functionalized HOF hydrogel film ( 1 ) is fabricated successfully. 1 emits a blue-green long afterglow when turning off the UV lamp, and the long afterglow lifetime gets to 1.99 s. 1 performs great selectivity, high sensitivity, and low detection limit toward ofloxacin and flumequine, and the sensing toward ofloxacin and flumequine is in accord with the chroma and ratio modes. The fluorescent response mechanisms of 1  toward ofloxacin and flumequine are investigated in depth, which are further utilized to build an anticounterfeiting platform with high-level security. The film-based anticounterfeiting platform can conduct information encryption on demand inline with different fluorescent responses and can also fetch specific information by controlling the long afterglow intensity and excited light. This study not only provides a representative case of the fabrication of dual-emitting Eu³⁺-functionalized HOF-based hydrogel film but also opens the possibility of HOF-based film as intelligent luminescent materials with multifunctionalities.     

Effect of Ge on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 composites

Owing to the good physicochemical compatibility and complementary mechanical properties of Ti₃SiC₂ and Al₂O₃, Ti₃SiC₂/Al₂O₃ composites are considered as ideal structural materials. However, TiC and TiSi₂ typically coexist during the synthesis of Ti₃SiC₂/Al₂O₃ composites through an in-situ reaction, which adversely affects the mechanical properties of the resulting composites. In this study, Ti₃SiC₂/Al₂O₃ composites were prepared via in-situ hot pressing sintering at 1450 °C. Ge, which was used as a sintering aid, improved the purity and mechanical properties of the Ti₃SiC₂/Al₂O₃ composites. This is because Ge replaced some of the Si atoms to compensate the evaporation loss of Si to form Ti₃(Si_1-xGe_x)C₂, which showed a crystal structure similar to that of Ti₃SiC₂. Furthermore, the molten Ge accelerated the diffusion reaction of the raw materials, increasing the overall density of the Ti₃SiC₂/Al₂O₃ composites. The optimum Ge amount for improving the mechanical properties of the composites was found to be 0.3 mol. The flexural strength, fracture toughness, and microhardness of the composite with the optimum Ge amount were 640.2 MPa, 6.57 MPa m^1/2, and 16.21 GPa, respectively. The formation of Ti₃(Si_1-xGe_x)C₂ was confirmed by carrying out X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. A model crystal structure of Ti₃(Si_1-xGe_x)C₂ doped with 0.3 mol Ge was established by calculating the solid solubility of Ge.     

Enhanced the photocatalytic activity of B–C–N–TiO2 under visible light:Synergistic effect of element doping and Z-scheme interface heterojunction constructed with Ag nanoparticles

In order to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ under visible light, Ag nanoparticles were introduced into tridoped B–C–N–TiO₂ (TT) catalyst by photoreduction deposition. Ag/B–C–N–TiO₂ (ATT) catalysts with the functions of reducing band gap and carrier recombination were prepared. At the same time, the effect of the amount of Ag on the photocatalytic performance of ATT catalyst was investigated. Through XRD, XPS, PL and other characterization methods, the (211)/(101)/Ag interface heterojunction mechanism similar to the traditional Z-scheme heterojunction was proposed. The intervention of Ag nanoparticles changed the P–N interface heterojunction between (211)/(101) to the (211)/(101)/Ag Z-scheme interface heterojunction. The results show that ATT catalyst exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity when the molar amount of Ag is 0.005% with the MB degradation rate of the ATT catalyst (0.01707 min^?1), which is 14.59 times of TiO₂ (0.00117 min^?1) and 2.02 times of TT (0.00847 min^?1). In addition, the four cycles efficiencies of ATT for MB degradation were all above 94.00%.This study reveals the possibility of construction of Z-scheme heterojunctions between precious metal nanoparticles and different interfaces of TiO₂, and provides a reference for the construction of Z-scheme interface heterojunctions.     

Synergistic effect of bulk phase doping and layered-spinel structure formation on improving electrochemical performance of Li-Rich cathode material

In this study, La was doped into the lithium layer of Li-rich cathode material and formed a layered-spinel hetero-structure. The morphology, crystal structure, element valence and kinetics of lithium ion migration were studied by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The La doped lithium-rich cathode material exhibited similar initial discharge capacity of 262.8 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C compared with the undoped material, but the discharge capacity retention rate can be obviously improved to 90% after 50 cycles at 1.0 C. Besides that, much better rate capability and Li⁺ diffusion coefficient were observed. The results revealed that La doping not only stabilized the material structure and reduced the Li/Ni mixing degree, but also induced the generation of spinel phase to provide three-dimensional diffusion channels for lithium ion migration. Moreover, the porous structure of the doped samples also contributed to the remarkable excellent electrochemical performance. All of these factors combined to significantly improve the electrochemical performance of the material.     

Methods and mechanisms for uniformly refining deformed mixed and coarse grains inside a solution-treated Ni-based superalloy by two-stage heat treatment

The uniform refinement mechanisms and methods of deformed mixed and coarse grains inside a solution-treatment Ni-based superalloy during two-stage annealing treatment have been investigated.The two-stage heat treatment experiments include an aging annealing treatment(AT)and a subsequent recrystallization annealing treatment(RT).The object of AT is to precipitate some δ phases and consume part of storage energy to inhibit the grain growth during RT,while the RT is to refine mixed and coarse grains by recrystallization.It can be found that the recrystallization grains will quickly grow up to a large size when the AT time is too low or the RT temperature is too high,while the deformed coarse grains cannot be eliminated when the AT time is too long or the RT temperature is too low.In addition,the mixed microstructure composed of some abnormal coarse recrystallization grains(ACRGs)and a large number of fine grains can be observed in the annealed specimen when the AT time is 3 h and RT tem-perature is 980℃.The phenomenon attributes to the uneven distribution of δ phase resulted from the heterogeneous deformation energy when the AT time is too short.In the regions with a large number of δ phases,the recrystallization nucleation rate is promoted and the growth of grains is limited,which results in fine grains.However,in the regions with few δ phases,the recrystallization grains around grain boundaries can easily grow up,and the new recrystallization nucleus is difficult to form inside grain,which leads to ACRGs.Thus,in order to obtain uniform and fine annealed microstructure,it is a prereq-uisite to precipitate even-distributed δ phase by choosing a suitable AT time,such as 12 h.Moreover,a relative high RT temperature is also needed to promote the recrystallization nucleation around δ phase.The optimal annealing parameters range for uniformly refining mixed crystal can be summarized as:900℃×12 h+990℃×(40-60 min)and 900℃×12 h+1000℃×(10-15 min).