Flat band voltage modulation of AlGaN/GaN MOS capacitor with stacked Al2O3/La2O3 high dielectric structures

AlGaN/GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor structures using atomic layer deposited high-dielectric-constant (High-k) Al₂O₃/La₂O₃ bilayer films as dielectric have been investigated using high-frequency capacitance-voltage measurement. The stable thickness and uniform surface morphology of the bilayer films with different La/Al deposition cycle ratio (La/Al ratio) were observed after rapid thermal annealing by spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy, respectively. We have found that with a decrease of the La/Al ratio, the dipole layer observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at Al₂O₃/La₂O₃ interfaces is close to the surface of semiconductor and the flat band voltage shifts to the negative direction. Furthermore, the dramatic drop in dielectric constant of the films as La/Al ratio decrease was caused by the formation of La(OH)₃ in La₂O₃. Finally, the reason for the flat band voltage shifts, which is based on the dielectric constant of Al₂O₃ and La₂O₃ comprising the position of dipole layer in the dielectric films, is proposed.     

Effect of CuO as a dopant in TiO2 on ammonia and hydrogen sulphide sensing at room temperature

The heterogeneous nanocomposites of CuO doped TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized using sol gel method by varying the concentration of CuO as 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mol% for the sensing of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. The substitutional doping of CuO in TiO₂ matrix was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction. Average crystallite size of the doped nanocomposites was found to reduce with increase in concentration of CuO. The 0.1 mol% CuO doped TiO₂ nanocomposites showed highest sensitivity to ammonia (97%) with response time of 2 s, while 1 mol% was selective to H₂S gas (77%) with response time of 45 s for 50 ppm of each gas at room temperature.     

Suppressed temperature dependence of the resonant frequency of a AgNb0.5Ta0.5O3 composite vs. single-phase ceramics

AgNb_0.5Ta_0.5O₃ ceramics were synthesized and analyzed, with respect to their dielectric properties, in the radio- and microwave-frequency ranges. The influences of different synthesis conditions were investigated and correlated with the difficulties in preparing single-phase ceramics, as a consequence of the inhomogeneous distribution of Nb and Ta ions and the decomposition of the matrix phase. The results revealed that with the simple mixing of all three oxides and subsequent firing in air, it is possible to prepare composite material that is attractive for microwave applications due to inhomogeneity of the B-site cation distribution – a well-known issue that was in our case shown to be an advantage for decreasing the temperature dependence of the resonant frequency over a broad temperature range. On the other hand, we also succeeded in fabricating single-phase ceramics with a very high density through the initial formation of a precursor and sintering in an overpressure of oxygen.     

Fabrication and characterization of functionally graded Al–SiC nanocomposite by using a novel multistep friction stir processing

Functionally graded materials are one of the most promising candidates among advanced materials. However, some challenges still exist in its fabrication methods. The current study aims to produce functionally-graded bulk Al–SiC nanocomposites by a novel multistep friction stir processing (FSP) for the first time. The SiC nanoparticles were packed into a groove on the 6061 aluminum plate and FSP was performed by using a tool with pin length of 6 mm. Subsequently, FSP was reapplied on another groove by using a tool with a shorter pin length of 3.2 mm. The desirable distribution of SiC nanoparticles in the matrix was confirmed by scanning electron and atomic force microscopes. The composition of graded sample was changed continuously from 18 to 0 wt% SiC along the thickness. Accordingly, the microhardness profile showed a maximum of 160 Hv in the enriched zone which is 3.2 times higher than the hardness of the particle-depleted zone. However, a constant hardness value of 135 Hv was obtained along the thickness of homogenous sample which is 15% lower than that of superficial layer in graded sample. Moreover, the hardness values were linearly correlated with the inverse of interparticle spacing.     

New host materials based on fluorene and benzimidazole units for efficient solution-processed green phosphorescent OLEDs

New green host materials 1-(9,9-diphenyl-9H-fluorene-2-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole and 1-(9,9′-spirobifluorene-2-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole for solution-processed green phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices have been designed and synthesized by attaching the electron transporting benzimidazole units to the rigid fluorene units. Owing to the non-planar structures, which decrease the π conjugation length of fluorene and benzimidazole rings, these fluorene derived derivatives show high triplet energy. The high triplet energy of newly host materials ensures efficient energy transfer from the host to the triplet emitter tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium. Furthermore, the thermal, photophysical, electrochemical properties and crystal structures of 1-(9,9-diphenyl-9H-fluorene-2-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole and 1-(9,9′-spirobifluorene-2-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole were investigated. The solution-processed single-layer green device using 1-(9,9-diphenyl-9H-fluorene-2-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole as the host for the phosphorescence emitter tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium showed the maximum luminance efficiencies of 10.1 cd/A. This result demonstrated that the newly synthesized, fluorene-based rigid host materials are advantageous for fabrication of highly efficient green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of Ca8NaGd(PO4)6F2: Eu2+, Mn2+ for white LEDs

A series of luminescent emission-tunable phosphors Ca₈NaGd(PO₄)₆F₂: Eu²⁺, Mn²⁺ have been prepared by a combustion-assisted synthesis method. The X-ray diffraction measurement results indicate that the crystal structure of the phosphor is a single phase of Ca₈NaGd(PO₄)₆F₂. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of Eu²⁺ and Mn²⁺-codoped Ca₈NaGd(PO₄)₆F₂ phosphors were also investigated. The phosphors can be efficiently excited by ultraviolet (UV) light and show a blue emission band at about 450 nm and a yellow emission band at about 574 nm, which originated from the Eu²⁺ ions and the Mn²⁺ ions, respectively. The efficient energy transfer from the Eu²⁺ ions to the Mn²⁺ ions was observed and its mechanism should be a resonant type via a nonradiative dipole–quadrupole interaction. A color-tunable emission in Ca₈NaGd(PO₄)₆F₂ phosphors can be realized by Eu²⁺ → Mn²⁺ energy transfer. Our results indicate that the developed phosphor may be used as a potential white emitting phosphor for UV based white LEDs.     

Model of low spatial frequency diffractive elements recorded in photopolymers during and after recording

Photopolymer are appealing materials for diffractive elements recording. Two of their properties when they are illuminated are useful for this goal: the relief surface changes and the refractive index modifications. In this paper we use a 2-dimensional model, based on direct parameter measurements, for predicting the refractive index distributions during and after illumination. We have analyzed different recording spatial frequencies for photopolymers based on PVA/Acrylamide. This model was successfully applied to different photopolymer compositions with different values of monomer diffusion and polymerization rates.     

Durable superoleophobic fabric surfaces with counterintuitive superwettability for polar solvents

Smart superoleophobic (SOP) cotton fabric surfaces are created only through a controlled fluorosilanization treatment, exhibiting the first‐ever extreme wetting behaviors displaying ultrarepellency to nonpolar oils and counterintuitive superwettability for all polar solvents. The smart durable SOP surfaces, demonstrated chemically, thermally, and mechanically, render great potential practical and industrial applications in robust oil shielding, effective antifouling, highly energy efficient self‐cleaning, and solely gravity‐driven oil–water separations. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 2752–2756, 2014