Sub‐5 nm Dendrimer Directed Self‐Assembly with Large‐Area Uniform Alignment by Graphoepitaxy

Directed self‐assembly (DSA) using soft materials is an important method for producing periodic nanostructures because it is a simple, cost‐effective process for fabricating high‐resolution patterns. Most of the previously reported DSA methods exploit the self‐assembly of block copolymers, which generates a wide range of nanostructures. In this study, cylinders obtained from supramolecular dendrimer films with a high resolution (<5 nm) exhibit planar ordering over a macroscopic area via guiding topographical templates with a high aspect ratio (>10) and high spatial resolution (≈20 nm) of guiding line patterns. Theoretical and experimental studies reveal that this property is related to geometrical anchoring on the meniscus region and physical surface anchoring on the sidewall. Furthermore, this DSA of dendrimer cylinders is demonstrated by the non‐regular geometry of the patterned template. The macroscopic planar alignment of the dendrimer nanostructure reveals an extremely small feature size (≈4.7 nm) on the wafer scale (>16 cm²). This study is expected to open avenues for the production of a large family of supramolecular dendrimers with different phases and feature dimensions oriented by the DSA approach.     

Transverse magnetoresistance peculiarities of thermoelectric Lu-doped Bi2Te3 compound due to strong electrical disorder

The n-type thermoelectric Bi_1.9Lu_0.1Te₃ was prepared by microwave-solvothermal method and spark plasma sintering. The magnetic field and temperature dependences of transverse magnetoresistance measured within temperature 2–200 K interval allow finding the peculiarities characteristic for strongly disordered and inhomogeneous semiconductors. The first peculiarity is due to appearance of linear-in-magnetic field contribution to the total magnetoresistance reflected in a crossover from quadratic magnetoresistance at low magnetic fields to linear magnetoresistance at high magnetic fields. The linear magnetoresistance can result from the Hall resistance picked up from macroscopically distorted current paths due to local variations in stoichiometry of the compound studied. The second peculiarity is that both linear magnetoresistance magnitude and crossover field are functions of carrier mobility which is in agreement with the Parish and Littlewood model developed for disordered and inhomogeneous semiconductors. An increase in the mobility due to a decrease in temperature is accompanied by an increase in the magnetoresistance magnitude and a decrease in the crossover field. Finally, the third peculiarity is related to the remarkable deviation of the total magnetoresistance measured at various temperatures from the Kohler's rule. Presence of strong inhomogeneity and disorder in the Bi_1.9Lu_0.1Te₃ structure concluded from the magnetoresistance peculiarities can be responsible for the remarkable reduction in the total thermal conductivity of this compound.     

Effects of B2O3 on Crystallization,Structure, and Heat Transfer of CaO-Al2O3-Based Mold Fluxes

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - The reaction between traditional CaO-SiO2-based mold fluxes and high-Al steel inevitably changes flux composition, and, consequently, flux properties....     

Structural properties of nanocomposites based on resole-type phenol-formaldehyde oligomers and detonation nanodiamonds

Using the methods of infrared spectroscopy (IRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), it was shown that short-term high-energy machining of detonation nanodiamonds (DND) leads to structural changes in the crystal structure and functional composition of the surface layer on particles. The possibility of spontaneous formation for stable colloidal systems with a narrow size distribution of mechanically activated DND in phenol-formaldehyde oligomers (PFO) was established. By molecular spectroscopy it was revealed that π → π* interactions of the aromatic rings of PFO are caused by orientational phenomena as a result of hydrogen bonds between an activated DND surface and functional groups of PFO. The effect of DND concentration on the curing reaction parameters ofpsgr the phenol-formaldehyde oligomer was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The concentration effect of mechanically activated nanodiamonds on the physical and mechanical characteristics of a composite material based on phenol-formaldehyde binder and polyamide paper (Nomex) was studied. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48582.     

Special Important Aspects of the Thomson Effect

A comprehensive study of the mechanisms of heating and cooling originating from an electrical current in semiconductor devices is reported. The variation in temperature associated with the Peltier effect is not related to the presence of heat sources and sinks if the heat flux is correctly determined. The Thomson effect is commonly regarded as a heat source/sink proportional to the Thomson coefficient, which is added to the Joule heating. In the present work, we will show that this formulation of the Thomson effect is not sufficiently clear. When the heat flux is correctly defined, the Thomson heat source/sink is proportional to the Seebeck coefficient. In the conditions in which the Peltier effect takes place, the temperature gradient is created, and, consequently, the Thomson effect will occur naturally.     

Pulsed laser reshaping and fragmentation of upconversion nanoparticles — from hexagonal prisms to 1D nanorods through “Medusa”-like structures

One dimensional (1D) nanostructures attract considerable attention, enabling a broad application owing to their unique properties. However, the precise mechanism of 1D morphology attainment remains a matter of debate. In this study, ultrafast picosecond (ps) laser-induced treatment on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is offered as a tool for 1D-nanostructures formation. Fragmentation, reshaping through recrystallization process and bioadaptation of initially hydrophobic (β-Na_1.5Y_1.5F₆: Yb³⁺, Tm³⁺/β-Na_1.5Y_1.5F₆) core/shell nanoparticles by means of one-step laser treatment in water are demonstrated. “True” 1D nanostructures through “Medusa”-like structures can be obtained, maintaining anti-Stokes luminescence functionalities. A matter of the one-dimensional UCNPs based on direction of energy migration processes is debated. The proposed laser treatment approach is suitable for fast UCNP surface modification and nano-to-nano transformation, that open unique opportunities to expand UCNP applications in industry and biomedicine.

     

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry at the true cyclotron frequency

Ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) cells provide stability and coherence of ion oscillations in crossed electric and magnetic fields over extended periods of time. Using the Fourier transform enables precise measurements of ion oscillation frequencies. These precisely measured frequencies are converted into highly accurate mass-to-charge ratios of the analyte ions by calibration procedures. In terms of resolution and mass accuracy, Fourier transform ICR mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) offers the highest performance of any MS technology. This is reflected in its wide range of applications. However, in the most challenging MS application, for example, imaging, enhancements in the mass accuracy of fluctuating ion fluxes are required to continue advancing the field. One approach is to shift the ion signal power into the peak corresponding to the true cyclotron frequency instead of the reduced cyclotron frequency peak. The benefits of measuring the true cyclotron frequency include increased tolerance to electric fields within the ICR cell, which enhances frequency measurement precision. As a result, many attempts to implement this mode of FT-ICR MS operation have occurred. Examples of true cyclotron frequency measurements include detection of magnetron inter-harmonics of the reduced cyclotron frequency (i.e., the sidebands), trapping field-free (i.e., screened) ICR cells, and hyperbolic ICR cells with quadrupolar ion detection. More recently, ICR cells with spatially distributed ion clouds have demonstrated attractive performance characteristics for true cyclotron frequency ion detection. Here, we review the corresponding developments in FT-ICR MS over the past 40 years.     

Ru-Containing Polymeric Catalysts for Cellulose Conversion to Polyols

In this paper Ru-containing catalysts based on hypercrosslinked polystyrene (MN-270) and its functional analogues (MN-100 and MN-500) were studied for the first time in cellulose hydrolytic hydrogenation. The catalysts were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, and porosity measurements. Catalytic studies demonstrated that the catalyst containing 1.0 % Ru and based on MN-270 is the most active. The total yield of sorbitol and mannitol was 50 % on the average at 85 % cellulose conversion.