Structural Analysis of silica aerogels for the interlayer dielectric in semiconductor devices

As semiconductor devices have become miniaturized and highly integrated, interconnection problems such as RC delays, power dissipation, and crosstalk appear. To alleviate these problems, materials with a low dielectric constant should be used for the interlayer dielectric in nanoscale semiconductor devices. Silica aerogel as a porous structure composed of silica and air can be used as the interlayer dielectric material to achieve a very low dielectric constant. However, the problem of its low stiffness needs to be resolved for the endurance required in planarization. The purpose of this study is to discover the geometric effect of the electrical and mechanical properties of silica aerogel. The effects of porosity, the distribution of pores, the number of pores on the dielectric constant, and elastic modulus were analyzed using FEM. The results suggest that the porosity of silica aerogel is the main parameter that determines the dielectric constant and it should be at least 0.76 to have a very low dielectric constant of 1.5. Additionally, while maintaining the porosity of 0.76, the silica aerogel needs to be designed in an ordered open pores structure (OOPS) containing 64 or more pores positioned in a simple cubic lattice point to endure in planarization, which requires an elastic modulus of 8 GPa to prevent delamination.     

Synthesis,characterization and charge transport properties of Pr–Ni Co-doped SrFe2O4 spinel for high frequency devices applications

Ferrites are materials of interest due to their broad applications in high technological devices and a lot of research has been focused to synthesize new ferrites. In this regard, an effort has been devoted to synthesize spinel Pr–Ni co-substituted strontium ferrites with a nominal formula of Sr_1-xPr_xFe_2-yNi_yO₄ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, 0.0 ≤ y ≤ 1.0). The cubic structure of pure and Pr–Ni co-substituted strontium ferrite samples calcinated at 1073 K for 3 h has been confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Average sizes of crystallites (18–25 nm) have been estimated from XRD analysis and nanometer particle sizes of synthesized ferrites have been further verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM results have also shown that particles are mostly agglomerated and all the samples possess porosity. It has been observed that at 298 K, the values of resistivity (ρ) increase, while that of AC conductivity, dielectric loss, and dielectric constants decrease with increasing amounts of Pr³⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions. The values of dielectric parameters initially decrease with frequency and later become constant and can be explained on the basis of dielectric polarization. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies show that the charge transport phenomenon in ferrite materials is mainly controlled via grain boundaries. Overall, synthesized ferrite materials own enhanced resistivity values in the range of 1.38 × 10⁹–1.94 × 10⁹ Ω cm and minimum dielectric losses, which makes them suitable candidates for high frequency devices applications.     

Nonlinear dielectric response and positive dielectric tunability in antipolar CaTiSiO5

Dielectric tunability has been extensively investigated in ferroelectric materials, which exhibit a negative tunability of dielectric permittivity in an external electric field. In contrast, positive tunability is rare and has been reported only in a few antiferroelectric materials. We present positive (and negative) tunability in the titanite, CaTiSiO₅. The dielectric property of CaTiSiO₅ was measured up to an extraordinarily high electric field of 40 MV/m. A nonlinear polarization field loop with no hysteresis was obtained. The dielectric permittivity of ε_r ~ 25 increases up to ε_r ~ 40 at 20 MV/m and room temperature. Although titanite has an antipolar structure and is expected to be “antiferroelectric,” its dielectric response in high electric fields up to ~40 MV/m differs from that of conventional antiferroelectrics. We demonstrate that the phase-transition temperature and dielectric tunability could be modulated through the chemical substitution of Ca_1−xLa_xTiSi_1−xAl_xO₅, in which the destabilization of the long-range antipolar order is revealed by transmission electron microscopy analysis. These results indicate that the observed dielectric response to an electric field may originate from the unique features of the antipolar and domain structures in CaTiSiO₅.     

新型限力输出保护功能柔性夹钳的设计与参数评估

柔性夹钳因具有微/纳精密操作能力, 常应用于微操作系统中, 但因抓爪无法提供恒定输出力或恒力范围小, 容易造成操作对象的损伤或脱落。根据放大模块与常力模块串联的结构形式, 设计了一种具有常力特性的柔性夹钳。基于伪刚体法, 建立放大模块中桥式机构与杠杆机构的刚度和放大率数学模型, 通过对倾斜导向梁进行分析, 得到常力模块的力-位移关系式, 计算出恒定输出力为42.5 N, 输出范围为370 μm。最后, 结合不同柔顺梁的结构参数, 运用MATLAB仿真探究了各关键参数对常力特性的影响。研究结果可为常力柔性夹钳的构型设计和分析提供一定的理论支撑。     

Optimized Biocatalytic Synthesis of 2-Selenopyrimidine Nucleosides by Transglycosylation**

Selenium-modified nucleosides are powerful tools to study the structure and function of nucleic acids and their protein interactions. The widespread application of 2-selenopyrimidine nucleosides is currently limited by low yields in established synthetic routes. Herein, we describe the optimization of the synthesis of 2-Se-uridine and 2-Se-thymidine derivatives by thermostable nucleoside phosphorylases in transglycosylation reactions using natural uridine or thymidine as sugar donors. Reactions were performed at 60 or 80 °C and at pH 9 under hypoxic conditions to improve the solubility and stability of the 2-Se-nucleobases in aqueous media. To optimize the conversion, the reaction equilibria in analytical transglycosylation reactions were studied. The equilibrium constants of phosphorolysis of the 2-Se-pyrimidines were between 5 and 10, and therefore differ by an order of magnitude from the equilibrium constants of any other known case. Hence, the thermodynamic properties of the target nucleosides are inherently unfavorable, and this complicates their synthesis significantly. A tenfold excess of sugar donor was needed to achieve 40−48 % conversion to the target nucleoside. Scale-up of the optimized conditions provided four Se-containing nucleosides in 6–40 % isolated yield, which compares favorably to established chemical routes.     

Preliminary Structural Data Revealed That the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 Variant's RBD Binds to ACE2 Receptor Stronger Than the Wild Type to Enhance the Infectivity

The evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 variants around the globe has made the COVID-19 pandemic more worrisome, further pressuring the health care system and immunity. Novel variations that are unique to the receptor-binding motif (RBM) of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) spike glycoprotein, i. e. L452R-E484Q, may play a different role in the B.1.617 (also known as G/452R.V3) variant's pathogenicity and better survival compared to the wild type. Therefore, a thorough analysis is needed to understand the impact of these mutations on binding with host receptor (RBD) and to guide new therapeutics development. In this study, we used structural and biomolecular simulation techniques to explore the impact of specific mutations (L452R-E484Q) in the B.1.617 variant on the binding of RBD to the host receptor ACE2. Our analysis revealed that the B.1.617 variant possesses different dynamic behaviours by altering dynamic-stability, residual flexibility and structural compactness. Moreover, the new variant had altered the bonding network and structural-dynamics properties significantly. MM/GBSA technique was used, which further established the binding differences between the wild type and B.1.617 variant. In conclusion, this study provides a strong impetus to develop novel drugs against the new SARS-CoV-2 variants.     

自重湿陷性黄土地基预钻孔浸水处理的可靠度设计方法

为解决传统预浸水法存在的浸水时间长、浸水处理范围难以确定等不足,基于土体中水分运移规律,依据可靠度理论、极限状态设计方法及复合 Poisson 过程原理,提出一种消除黄土湿陷性的处理浸水方法——预钻孔浸水法。给出了利用预钻孔浸水法对自重湿陷性黄土地基进行浸水时,水平向及竖直向浸水影响范围的确定模型;在此基础上结合达西定律给出了浸水孔设计参数如孔深、孔间距及浸水孔个数的确定方法。结合铜川某工程,设计进行了现场预钻孔浸水试验,对该方法的合理性进行了验证,并通过现场钻探、现场勘探、室内湿陷性试验等方法对该方法的处理效果进行了评价。该浸水方法具有浸水时间短、浸水影响范围可根据浸水孔布设进行控制等优点,且浸水处理效果良好,完全符合施工要求。     

Mixing enhancement mechanism of combined H2–Water jets in supersonic crossflows in a combustor with an expanded section

To obtain the mixing enhancement mechanism of H₂–Water combined jets in supersonic crossflows in a combustor with expanded section for rotating detonation ramjet, the flow field shape and spray structure were studied by experimental and numerical methods. The Eulerian–Lagrangian method was used to investigate the diffusion mechanism and H₂–Water interaction law of combined jets with different sequences. At the same time, high-speed photography and the schlieren technique were used to capture the flow field. The effects of jet pressure drop, orifice diameter, orifice spacing, incoming Mach number, and other parameters on the penetration depth of water jets were studied. The results of experiment and simulation show that using H₂–Water combined jets, the penetration depth of the jet spray can be greatly increased and the jet mixing effect can be significantly improved, which will contribute to the engine's ignition and stable combustion. In the case of pre-water/post-H₂, the penetration depth of the hydrogen jet is greater. In the case of pre-H₂/post-water, the hydrogen jet raises the water spray mainly by protecting the integrity of the water column.     

Local scour at offshore windfarm monopile foundations: A review

In this article, current research findings of local scour at offshore windfarm monopile foundations are presented. The scour mechanisms and scour depth prediction formulas under different hydrodynamic conditions are summarized, including the current-only condition, wave-only condition, combined wave-current condition, and complex dynamic condition. Furthermore, this article analyzes the influencing factors on the basis of classical equations for predicting the equilibrium scour depth under specific conditions. The weakness of existing researches and future prospects are also discussed. It is suggested that future research shall focus on physical experiments under unsteady tidal currents or other complex loadings. The computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method and artificial intelligence technique are suggested being adopted to study the scour at offshore windfarm foundations.     

Transport properties in spinel ferrite/graphene oxide nanocomposites for electromagnetic shielding

Herein, $\left({\text{Co}}_{0.5}{\text{Ni}}_{0.5}\right){\text{Cr}}_{0.3}{\text{Fe}}_{1.7}{\text{O}}_4$/graphene oxide nanocomposites were fabricated by ultrasonication technique, using pure spinel ferrite and graphene oxide synthesized by sol-gel method and modified Hummers' method, respectively. The effect of graphene incorporation with ferrite nanoparticles was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical and dielectric measurements. XRD analysis revealed the spinel phase for the ferrite sample and confirmed the formation of graphene oxide. The crystallite size was found in the range of $37-43\text{ nm}$ and the porosity increased with the increase in the concentration of graphene oxide in the composites. The DC electrical resistivity of spinel ferrite was found equal to $3.83\times {10}^9\text{ Ω}.\text{cm}$ and it substantially decreased with the increase in the percentage of graphene oxide at room temperature. The real and imaginary part of relative permittivity followed the Maxwell-Wagner type of interfacial polarization. AC conductivity confirmed the conduction by hopping mechanism and increased on increasing the GO content. The coupling of magnetic ferrite with graphene oxide tunes the magneto-electrical properties for potential applications at high frequencies.