Allotropic transformation induced stacking faults and discontinuous coarsening in a γ-γ′ Co-base alloy

The stability of a Co-based alloy designed to possess a microstructure comprising of L1₂, γ′ Co₃Ti-type precipitates embedded in an A1, γ Co solid solution matrix has been investigated. The alloy showed acute microstructural instabilities upon ageing at 700 °C, resulting in the degeneration of the γ-γ′ aggregate into i) a faulted Co-based martensite and Co₃Ti and ii) a lamellar aggregate of A3-Co and Co₃Ti. The faulted Co-based phase was formed by isothermal diffusionless transformation of the metastable A1-phase, whilst the lamellar aggregate was a discontinuous reaction product.     

Graphite Oxide and Aromatic Amines: Size Matters

Experimental and theoretical studies are performed in order to illuminate, for first time, the intercalation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic molecules into graphite oxide. Two representative molecules of this family, aniline and naphthalene amine are investigated. After intercalation, aniline molecules prefer to covalently connect to the graphene oxide matrix via chemical grafting, while napthalene amine molecules bind with the graphene oxide surface through π–π interactions. The presence of intercalated aromatic molecules between the graphene oxide layers is demonstrated by X‐ray diffraction, while the type of interaction between graphene oxide and polycyclic organic molecules is elucidated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical calculations describe the intercalation mechanism and the aniline grafting, rationalizing the experimental data. The present work opens new perspectives for the interaction of various aromatic molecules with graphite oxide and the so‐called “intercalation chemistry”.     

Preparation,characterization and properties of polycaprolactone diol-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyurethane composite

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically functionalized to prepare thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) composites with enhanced properties. In order to achieve a high compatibility of functionalized MWCNTs with the PU matrix, polycaprolactone diol (PCL), as one of PU’s monomers, was selectively grafted on the surface of MWCNTs (MWCNT–PCL), while carboxylic acid groups functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNT–COOH) and raw MWCNTs served as control. Both MWCNT–COOH and MWCNT–PCL improved the dispersion of MWCNTs in the PU matrix and interfacial bonding between them at 1 wt% loading fraction. The MWCNT–PCL/PU composite showed the greatest extent of improvement, where the tensile strength and modulus were 51.2% and 33.5% higher than those of pure PU respectively, without sacrificing the elongation at break. The considerable improvement in both mechanical properties and thermal stability of MWCNT–PCL/PU composite should result from the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNT–PCL in the PU matrix and strong interfacial bonding between them.     

Enhanced properties for visible-light-driven photocatalysis of Ag nanoparticle modified Bi2MoO6 nanoplates

The visible light driven Bi₂MoO₆ photocatalyst doped with different contents of Ag nanoparticles was successfully synthesized by a combination of hydrothermal and sonochemical methods. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and UV–visible spectroscopy to investigate crystalline structure, morphology, composition and photocatalytic properties. XRD patterns and TEM images of the samples revealed pure phase orthorhombic Bi₂MoO₆ nanoplates without any detection of Ag dopant due to its low concentration and very tiny particle size. TEM images showed that Ag nanoparticles with the size of 10–15 nm were dispersed randomly on the surface of Bi₂MoO₆. The XPS analysis of Ag/Bi₂MoO₆ nanocomposites revealed the presence of additional metallic Ag. Photocatalytic activities of the Ag/Bi₂MoO₆ nanocomposites were evaluated by determining the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light radiation. In this research, the 10 wt% Ag/Bi₂MoO₆ nanocomposites showed the best photocatalytic activity. The results suggest that the dispersion of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of Bi₂MoO₆ significantly enhances its photocatalytic activity.     

Synthesis and characterization of MgAl2O4 micro-rods by a molten salt method

Large amounts of MgAl₂O₄ micro-rods were successfully synthesized using the molten-salt technology. The effect of KCl contents on the formation of MgAl₂O₄ micro-rods was investigated. The structure and morphology of MgAl₂O₄ were investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The experimental results showed that the contents of KCl significantly influenced the formation of MgAl₂O₄ micro-rods. MgAl₂O₄ micro-rods could be prepared at 1150 °C with a weight ratio of 100:1 between the salt and the starting materials. The formation of MgAl₂O₄ micro-rods could be suggested to be due to the inhomogeneous nucleation and orientated growth perpendicularly to the surfaces of Al₂O₃ grains. An impedance-type humidity sensor was finally fabricated based on the as-prepared MgAl₂O₄ micro-rods. According to tests of the humidity performance, MgAl₂O₄ micro-rods might be suitable for high-performance humidity sensors.     

The analysis and comparison of two novel kinds of focusing elements as reflectors

In this article, two novel kinds of focusing elements as reflectors are analyzed and compared. One is the grooved Fresnel zone plate reflector with continuous phase‐correcting. The other called subzone paraboloid reflector, has the profile that consists of a series of paraboloids. Their diffraction efficiencies and bandwidths are described. The two elements still preserve the advantages of Fresnel zone plates, namely, low profile, high efficiency, and simple fabrication. Two dual‐reflector antennas using the proposed focusing elements as the main reflectors are simulated and the results show that these antennas have good radiation performances. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 25:101–108, 2015.     

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.     

Investigation of the residual stress in UO2-Mo composites via a neutron diffraction method

UO₂-Mo composites with a core-shell structure have been considered candidates for the thermal conductivity (TC)-enhanced UO₂ pellets and have demonstrated commercial potential for use in novel high-level safety reactors. Nevertheless, UO₂-Mo composites tend to form micro-cracks that are caused by the presence of residual stress (RS) during manufacturing. In this work, neutron diffraction measurements were employed to analyse the RS in UO₂-Mo core-shell structured composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) for the first time. It was found that in the UO₂-Mo composites, the RS state present in the UO₂ matrix was tensile in nature. The RS in the UO₂ matrix increased with increaseing Mo content. There was a maximum value of 148 ± 15 MPa in the UO₂-10 vol% Mo composite. The micro-cracks produced in the high-Mo content composites were explained by the results of the neutron diffraction measurements. These results could provide significant guidance for the manufacturing and improvement of the operational performance of UO₂-Mo composites as next-generation fuels.     

Effects of molecular modifications for water splitting enhancement of BiVO4

Combined organic (molecular adsorption) and inorganic (TiO₂ passivation) modifications for enhancing water splitting efficiency of porous bismuth vanadate electrodes are tested. The catalytic activity of BiVO₄ is increased after adsorption of a newly prepared ruthenium catalyst. TiO₂ passivation and sensitization with RuP dye does not show straightforward improvements to the complex photocatalytic behaviour depending on the configuration of the (two- or three-electrode) photoelectrochemical cell, type of the experiment and sample aging. The time constant for electron transport in BiVO₄ electrodes (in the range of seconds, revealed by electrochemical impedance measurements) was found to correlate with the stable photocurrent of the cells. The femtosecond transient absorption studies confirm the negligible effects of RuP on the population of the photoexcited carriers in BiVO₄. The transient absorption studies also show that the processes responsible for the differences in photocurrents of the modified BiVO₄ samples occur on a time scale longer than the first nanoseconds.     

Synergistic effects of anisotropy and image force on TEM diffraction contrast of dislocation loops

Based on column approximation (CA) assumption, many-beam Schaeublin–Stadelmann diffraction equations are employed for simulating the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) diffraction image contrast of dislocation loops within thin TEM foil of finite thickness, and two beam and many beam diffraction conditions are compared. Moreover, the effects of materials anisotropy and free surface relaxation induced elastic fields distortion of dislocation loops on the black-white image contrast are specially focused. It is found that anisotropy has a remarkable impact on the TEM image contrast of dislocation loop, and free surface relaxation induced image forces can change the black-white contrast features when dislocation loops are near TEM foil free surfaces. Thus, in order to make reliable judgment on the nature of defects, effects of free surface and anisotropy should be included when analysing irradiation induced dislocation loops and other type of defects in in-situ electron, proton, heavy-ion irradiation experiments under TEM environments.