Corrosion Behavior of High Nitrogen Nickel-Free Fe-16Cr-Mn-Mo-N Stainless Steels

The purpose of the current study is to develop austenitic nickel-free stainless steels with lower chromium content and higher manganese and nitrogen contents. In order to prevent nickel-induced skin allergy, cobalt, manganese, and nitrogen were used to substitute nickel in the designed steel. Our results demonstrated that manganese content greater than 14 wt pct results in a structure that is in full austenite phase. The manganese content appears to increase the solubility of nitrogen; however, a lower corrosion potential was found in steel with high manganese content. Molybdenum appears to be able to increase the pitting potential. The effects of Cr, Mn, Mo, and N on corrosion behavior of Fe-16Cr-2Co-Mn-Mo-N high nitrogen stainless steels were evaluated with potentiodynamic tests and XPS surface analysis. The results reveal that anodic current and pits formation of the Fe-16Cr-2Co-Mn-Mo-N high nitrogen stainless steels were smaller than those of lower manganese and nitrogen content stainless steel.     

Mechanism of nitrogen-enhanced negative bias temperature instability in pMOSFET

From the detailed analysis of the dependence of threshold voltage shift and positive fixed charge/interface state generation on the stress time/temperature of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) for various nitrogen concentrations at the oxide/Si interface, the mechanism of nitrogen-enhanced NBTI effect has been studied experimentally. The experimental results can be understood in terms of the reaction energies of the hydrogen trapping reactions at the interface, which are obtained from first-principles calculations. The calculations show that the nitrogen's lone-pair electrons can trap dissociated hydrogen species more easily than oxygen. From the experimental and theoretical studies, one can conclude that the roles of nitrogen in the NBTI are two folds, i.e., it provides more reaction sites, and it can also enhance the NBTI reaction by reducing the reaction energy.     

Low Frequency Oscillations in Longitudinal Power Systems: Experience with Dynamic Stability of Taiwan Power System

Sustained low frequency oscillations have been observed in Taiwan power system which is of longitudinal structure. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the various factors affecting the damping characteristics of these oscillations which caused dynamic instability problem in the operation of Taiwan power system. It is observed that the amount of power flow on the EHV transmission line and the characteristics of load have a significant effect on the damping of the system while the speed-governing system and the gain of automatic voltage regulator have only a minor one. Detailed investigation using both the frequency domain and time domain approaches also reveals that power system stabilizers can be employed as an effective means for improving dynamic stability of Taiwan power system.     

Studies of Functional Defects for Fast Na‐Ion Conduction in Na3−yPS4−xClx with a Combined Experimental and Computational Approach

All‐solid‐state rechargeable sodium (Na)‐ion batteries are promising for inexpensive and high‐energy‐density large‐scale energy storage. In this contribution, new Na solid electrolytes, Na_3?yPS_4?xCl_x, are synthesized with a strategic approach, which allows maximum substitution of Cl for S (x = 0.2) without significant compromise of structural integrity or Na deficiency. A maximum conductivity of 1.96 mS cm^?1 at 25 °C is achieved for Na_3.0PS_3.8Cl_0.2, which is two orders of magnitude higher compared with that of tetragonal Na₃PS₄ (t‐Na₃PS₄). The activation energy (E_a) is determined to be 0.19 eV. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations shed light on the merit of maximizing Cl‐doping while maintaining low Na deficiency in enhanced Na‐ion conduction. Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterizations confirm the successful substitution of Cl for S and the resulting change of P oxidation state from 5+ to 4+, which is also verified by spin moment analysis. Ion transport pathways are determined with a tracer‐exchange NMR method. The functional detects that promote Na ‐ion transport are maximized for further improvement in ionic conductivity. Full‐cell performance is demonstrated using Na/Na_3.0PS_3.8Cl_0.2/Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ with a reversible capacity of ≈100 mAh g^‐1 at room temperature.     

High-Safety and High-Energy-Density Lithium Metal Batteries in a Novel Ionic-Liquid Electrolyte

Rechargeable lithium metal batteries are next generation energy storage devices with high energy density, but face challenges in achieving high energy density, high safety, and long cycle life. Here, lithium metal batteries in a novel nonflammable ionic-liquid (IL) electrolyte composed of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIm) cations and high-concentration bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI) anions, with sodium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI) as a key additive are reported. The Na ion participates in the formation of hybrid passivation interphases and contributes to dendrite-free Li deposition and reversible cathode electrochemistry. The electrolyte of low viscosity allows practically useful cathode mass loading up to ≈16 mg cm⁻². Li anodes paired with lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂) and lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂, NCM 811) cathodes exhibit 99.6–99.9% Coulombic efficiencies, high discharge voltages up to 4.4 V, high specific capacity and energy density up to ≈199 mAh g⁻¹ and ≈765 Wh kg⁻¹ respectively, with impressive cycling performances over up to 1200 cycles. Highly stable passivation interphases formed on both electrodes in the novel IL electrolyte are the key to highly reversible lithium metal batteries, especially for Li–NMC 811 full batteries.     

Dramatically enhanced oxygen uptake and ionization yield of positive secondary ions with C60+ sputtering

To explore C(60)(+) sputtering beyond low-damage depth profiling of organic materials, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) were used to examine metallic surfaces during and after C(60)(+) sputtering. During C(60)(+) sputtering, XPS spectra indicated that the degrees of carbon deposition were different for different metallic surfaces. Moreover, for some metals (e.g., Al, W, Ta, Ti, and Mo), the intensity of the O 1s photoelectron increased significantly during C(60)(+) sputtering, even though the instrument was under ultrahigh vacuum (<5 × 10(-7) Pa). This result indicated that the rate of oxygen uptake was greater than the rate of C(60)(+) sputtering. This behavior was not observed with the commonly used Ar(+) sputtering. To measure the oxygen uptake kinetics, pure oxygen was leaked into the chamber to maintain a 5 × 10(-6) Pa oxygen environment. The C(60)(+)-sputtered surface had a clearly increased rate of oxygen uptake than the Ar(+)-sputtered surface, even for moderately reactive metals such as Fe and Ni. For relatively nonreactive metals such as Cu and Au, a small amount of carbon was implanted and no oxygen uptake was observed. High-resolution XPS spectra revealed the formation of metal carbides on these reactive metals, and the carbon deposition and enhanced uptake of oxygen correlated to the carbide formation. Because oxygen enhances the secondary ion yield through surface passivation, the enhanced oxygen uptake due to C(60)(+) sputtering could be beneficial for SIMS analysis. To examine this hypothesis, C(60)(+) and Ar(+) were used as primary ions, and it was found that the intensity enhancement (because of the oxygen flooding at 5 × 10(-6) Pa) was much higher with C(60)(+) than with Ar(+). Therefore, oxygen flooding during C(60)(+) sputtering has a great potential for enhancing the detection limit due to the enhanced oxygen uptake.     

Phase Transformation during Plasma Spraying of Hydroxyapatite–10-wt%-Zirconia Composite Coating

This study aims to explore phase transformation in plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) + 10 wt% ZrO₂–8-mol%-Y₂O₃composite coating, using separately prepared HA and ZrO₂–8-mol%-Y₂O₃coatings as a control. Changes in the phase and chemistry of the coatings are characterized by X-ray diffractometry, with lattice-constant measurement (Cohen's method), and by transmission electron microscopy. Experimental results show evidence of diffusion, in the liquid state, of calcium ions from the HA matrix into the ZrO₂. This behavior causes the formation of the following structural features in the composite coating: (i) a CaO-doped ZrO₂solid solution (ZrO₂–7.7 mol% Y₂O₃–4.4 mol% CaO); (ii) a mixture of ZrO₂and CaZrO₃having a crystal-orientation relationship; (iii) an amorphous phase containing elements of calcium, phosphorus, zirconium, and yttrium; and (iv) a remaining CaO-poor HA matrix (Ca_{10− x} (HPO₄) _x (PO₄)_{6− x} (OH)_{2− x} ; x = 0.06). Rationales for the greatly decreased impurity phases of CaO and Ca₄P₂O₉found in the composite coating are discussed.     

Investigation of the Effect of Functional Group Substitutions on the Gas-Phase Electron Affinities and Ionization Energies of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids Ions using Density Functional Theory

The cathodic and anodic stabilities of room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are important factors in their applications in electrochemical devices. In this work, we investigated the electron affinities of cations and ionization energies of anions for ionic liquids by density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level. Over 200 unique cations and anions, formed from a set of six base cation structures, three base anion structures, and seven functional groups, were investigated. We find the trends in calculated EAs of alkylated cations and IEs of alkylated anions to be in good agreement with observed experimental trends in relative cathodic and anodic stabilities of various ILs. In addition, we also investigated the effect that functional group substitution at distinct positions in the ions have on the EA of the 1,2,3-trimethylimidazolium cation and the IE of the PF₅CF₃ anion. The overall impact on the EA or IE can be explained by the known electron-donating and electron-withdrawing inductive and resonance effects of the attached functional group, and the relative strength of the effect depends on the substitution position.