Manufacture and characterization of sol–gel V1−x−yWxSiyO2 films for uncooled thermal detectors

V_1−x−yW_xSi_yO₂ films for uncooled thermal detectors were coated on sodium-free glass slides with sol–gel process, followed by the calcination under a reducing atmosphere (Ar/H₂ 5%). The V_1−x−yW_xSi_yO₂ films as prepared inherit various phase transition temperatures ranging from 20 to 70 °C depending on the dopant concentrations and the fabrication conditions. Compared to the hysteresis loop of plain VO₂ films, a rather steep loop was obtained with the addition of tungsten components, while a relaxed hysteresis loop with the tight bandwidth was contributed by Si dopants. Furthermore, the films with switching temperature close to room temperature were fabricated to one-element bolometers to characterize their figures of merit. Results showed that the V_0.905W_0.02Si_0.075O₂ film presented a satisfactory responsivity of 2600 V/W and detectivity of 9 × 10⁶ cm  Hz^1/2/W with chopper frequencies ranging from 30 to 60 Hz at room temperature. It was proposed that with appropriate amount of silicon and tungsten dopants mixed in the VO₂, the film would characterize both a relaxed hysteresis loop and a fair TCR value, which effectively reduced the magnitude of noise equivalent power without compromising its performance in detectivity and responsivity.     

Trace detection of nitroaromatic compounds with layer-by-layer assembled {SBA/PSS}n/PDDA modified electrode

The {SBA/PSS}_n/PDDA films modified electrode was prepared by layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly with mesoporous SiO₂ (SBA), poly(sodium 4-styrene-sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) in this paper. SBA is a large pore-size mesoporous material with highly ordered hexagonally arranged mesochannels and high thermal stability etc. The electrochemical characteristics of the {SBA/PSS}_n/PDDA films have been studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 0.1 M KCl solution containing 5.0 mM Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ at the formal potential of 0.230 V. The ultratrace nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) such as TNT, TNB, DNT and DNB were determined by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurement. The sensitivities for NACs determination with {SBA/PSS}_n/PDDA modified electrode were dependent on the number of layers, pH and ionic strength of electrolyte, based on which a set of optimized conditions for film fabrication was inferred. The current responses were linear with NACs ranging from 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁷ mol/l. The results showed that the {SBA/PSS}_n/PDDA modified electrode established a new way for fast, simple and sensitive analysis of NACs.     

Sn1-xFexOy: a new material with high carbon monoxide sensitivity

The preparation method and the sensing properties (sensitivity and selectivity to interfering gases) towards carbon monoxide of the new ternary compound Sn_1-xFe_xO_y deposited in the form of thin films, are presented in this paper. The metal of the VIIIB group is introduced with concentrations in the range 0<x<25 at %. Thin films are sputtered using the RGTO (rhotaxial growth and thermal oxidation) technique. This technique consists of metal deposition onto a substrate maintained at a temperature higher than the metal melting point and metal oxidation by means of an annealing cycle in pure oxygen. Particular emphasis is given to the relations between some preparation parameters of the material, namely the atomic percentage ofiron or the annealing cycle, and to the sensor sensitivity towards CO and other interfering gases like C₂H₅OH, H₂ and NO_x diluted in dry air. A sensitivity S=(G_gas-G_air)/G_air=3.5 towards 10 ppm of CO has been measured: the kinetic characteristics of the sensors are also presented, together with the working mechanism.     

Analytic-numerical solutions with a priori error bounds for time-dependent mixed partial differential problems

The aim of this paper is double. First, we point out that the hypothesis D(t₁)D(t₂) = D(t₂)D(t₁) imposed in [1] can be removed. Second, a constructive method for obtaining analytic-numerical solutions with a prefixed accuracy in a bounded domain Ω(t₀,t₁) = [0,p] × [t₀,t₁], for mixed problems of the type u_t(x,t) − D(t)u_xx(x,t) = 0, 0 < x < p, t> 0, subject to u(0,t) = u(p,t) = 0 and u(x,0) = F(x) is proposed. Here, u(x,t) and F(x) are r-component vectors, D(t) is a C^{r × r} valued analytic function and there exists a positive number δ such that every eigenvalue z of (1/2) (D(t) + D(t)^H) is bigger than δ. An illustrative example is included.     

Behavior of the beta-splines with values of the parameters beta2 negative

In this paper we study the behavior of the beta-spline functions in the case the parameter β₂(i) is negative. We prove that a negative value exists so that if , the beta-spline functionsN_i(u) are positive. Moreover, if the control vertices are such that x₀ x_m−1, we have proved that the design curve keeps the properties already proved in the case β₂(i) 0.     

A simple solution to the l optimization problem

It is pointed out in this brief paper that the l¹ optimization problem min_{Q ε lqp¹} | H − U * Q * V |₁, H ε l_mn¹, U ε l_mq¹, V ε l_pn¹ can be solved in one step rather than two. The solution of the dual problem is obviated by the direct solution of the primal problem via linear programming. The method here is applicable to finite-dimensional problems or approximating finite-dimensional problems, in the general case.     

Hydrolyzed colloid reaction (HCR) technique for phosphor powder preparation

Undoped and Eu³⁺, Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺-doped YVO₄ YPO₄, LaPO₄ and YV_xP_1−xO₄ were prepared in H₂O by the recently introduced hydrolyzed colloid reaction (HCR) technique working at low temperature (<100°C) and atmospheric pressure. Two intermediate — partially hydrophobic — complex colloidal mixtures with metastable characteristics can transform into the stable orthovanadate–orthophosphate phase due to intensive hydrolysis. In contrast with the other low temperature reacting processes — like the sol-gel technique, which makes an amorphous structure — the HCR method can produce crystalline structures in nanometer size ranges. The reaction, morphology, incorporation of activators and different luminescent characteristics are surveyed in this letter-type paper selected from our previous results.     

Fast evaluation of radial basis functions: I

This paper describes some new techniques for the rapid evaluation and fitting of radial basic functions. The techniques are based on the hierarchical and multipole expansions recently introduced by several authors for the calculation of many-body potentials. Consider in particular the N term thin-plate spline, s(x) = Σ_j=1^N d_jφ(x−x_j), where φ(u) = |u|²log|u|, in 2-dimensions. The direct evaluation of s at a single extra point requires an extra O(N) operations. This paper shows that, with judicious use of series expansions, the incremental cost of evaluating s(x) to within precision ε, can be cut to O(1+|log ε|) operations. In particular, if A is the interpolation matrix, a_i,j = φ(x_i−x_j, the technique allows computation of the matrix-vector product Ad in O(N), rather than the previously required O(N²) operations, and using only O(N) storage. Fast, storage-efficient, computation of this matrix-vector product makes pre-conditioned conjugate-gradient methods very attractive as solvers of the interpolation equations, Ad = y, when N is large.     

Titania NOx sensors for exhaust monitoring

Oxide semiconductors have been examined to develop NO_x sensors for exhaust monitoring. Titania doped with trivalent elements, such as Al³⁺, Sc³⁺, Ga³⁺ or In³⁺, has a good sensitivity and selectivity to NO between 450 and 550 °C, and shows rapid response. A sensor probe for monitoring exhaust NO_x has been fabricated. Many kinds of interference gases, such as C₃H₆, CO and SO₂, have been found to have only a slight influence on the sensor response to NO. The influence of O₂ and H₂O is also negligible, except for the cases of 0% H₂O and fuel-rich conditions. In accordance with these results, the sensor probe operates satisfactority in the exhaust gas of various combustion conditions without interference from the various kinds of gas species in the exhaust gases.     

Effect of surface modification on NO2 sensing properties of SnO2 varistor-type sensors

NO₂ sensing properties of SnO₂-based varistor-type sensors have been investigated in the temperature range of 400-650°C and in the NO₂ concentration range of 15–30 ppm. Pure SnO₂ exhibited a weak nonlinear I–V characteristic in air, but clear nonlinearity in NO₂ at 450°C. The breakdown voltage of SnO₂ shifted to a high electric field upon exposure to NO₂ and the magnitude of the shift was well correlated with NO₂ concentration. Thus, SnO₂ exhibited some sensitivity to NO₂ as a varistor-type sensor. When SnO₂ particles coated with a SiO₂ thin film were used as a raw material for fabricating a varistor, the breakdown voltage in air was approximately the double that of pure SnO₂ and the sensitivity to 15 ppm NO₂ was enhanced slightly. However, the sensitivity to 30 ppm NO₂ decreased. The Cr₂O₃-loading on SnO₂ also led to an increase in the breakdown voltage in air, but the Cr₂O₃ addition was not effective for promoting the NO₂ sensitivity under the present experimental conditions.     

Minimizing the distance to one evader while chasing another

To approach a simple game Δ² of P and E = {E₁, E₂} with no a priori evaders' role assignment and the payoff equal to the distance to one evader at an instant of catching another, we introduce a concept of casting and study the games Δ_1,2 and Δ_2,1 for preassigned and Δ_p² for open-loop casting procedures. Since Δ_p² is reduced to Δ_1,2 or Δ_2,1 which, in turn, are distinguished only by their notations, we focus attention mainly on Δ_1,2. According to the tenet of transition, Δ_1,2 is divided into a concatenation of Δ_1,2^b (basic) and Δ_1,2^a (auxiliary) games that model the problem before and after the first instant of E₁ capture. The games Δ_1,2^a, Δ_1,2^b, Δ_1,2 are studied one after another with use of the Isaacs' approach extended by Berkowitz, Breakwell, Bernhard et al.     

Impedancemetric gas sensor based on Pt and WO3 co-loaded TiO2 and ZrO2 as total NOx sensing materials

Pt-loaded metal oxides [WO₃/ZrO₂, MO_x/TiO₂ (MO_x = WO₃, MoO₃, V₂O₅), WO₃ and TiO₂] equipped with interdigital Au electrodes have been tested as a NO_x (NO and NO₂) gas sensor at 500 °C. The impedance value at 4 Hz was used as a sensing signal. Among the samples tested, Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ showed the highest sensor response magnitude to NO. The sensor was found to respond consistently and rapidly to change in concentration of NO and NO₂ in the oxygen rich and moist gas mixture at 500 °C. The 90% response and 90% recovery times were as short as less than 5–10 s. The impedance at 4 Hz of the present device was found to vary almost linearly with the logarithm of NO_x (NO or NO₂) concentration from 10 to 570 ppm. Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ showed responses to NO and NO₂ of the same algebraic sign and nearly the same magnitude, while Pt/WO₃ and WO₃/TiO₂ showed higher response to NO than NO₂. The impedance at 4 Hz in the presence of NO for Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ was almost equal at any O₂ concentration examined (1–99%), while in the case of Pt/WO₃ and WO₃/TiO₂ the impedance increased with the oxygen concentration. The features of Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ are favorable as a NO_x sensor that can monitor and control the NO_x concentration in automotive exhaust. The effect of WO₃ loading of Pt-WO₃/ZrO₂-based sensor is studied to discuss the role of surface W-OH sites on the NO_x sensing.     

Efficient enumeration of all minimal separators in a graph

This paper presents an efficient algorithm for enumerating all minimal a-b separators separating given non-adjacent vertices a and b in an undirected connected simple graph G = (V, E), Our algorithm requires O(n³R_ab) time, which improves the known result of O(n⁴R_ab) time for solving this problem, where ¦V¦= n and R_ab is the number of minimal a-b separators. The algorithm can be generalized for enumerating all minimal A-B separators that separate non-adjacent vertex sets A, B < V, and it requires O(n²(n − n_A − n_b)R_AB) time in this case, where n_a = ¦A¦, n_B = ¦B¦ and r_AB is the number of all minimal A−B separators. Using the algorithm above as a routine, an efficient algorithm for enumerating all minimal separators of G separating G into at least two connected components is constructed. The algorithm runs in time O(n³R⁺_Σ + n⁴R_Σ), which improves the known result of O(n⁶R_Σ) time, where R_σ is the number of all minimal separators of G and R_ΣR⁺_Σ = ∑_1i, v_j) ER_vivj n − 1)/2 − m)R_Σ. Efficient parallelization of these algorithms is also discussed. It is shown that the first algorithm requires at most O((n/log n)R_ab) time and the second one runs in time O((n/log n)R⁺_Σ+n log nR_Σ) on a CREW PRAM with O(n³) processors.     

Bivariate hermite subdivision

A subdivision scheme for constructing smooth surfaces interpolating scattered data in R³ is proposed. It is also possible to impose derivative constraints in these points. In the case of functional data, i.e., data are given in a properly triangulated set of points {(x_i, y_i)}_i=1^N from which none of the pairs (x_i,y_i) and (x_j,y_j) with i≠j coincide, it is proved that the resulting surface (function) is C¹. The method is based on the construction of a sequence of continuous splines of degree 3. Another subdivision method, based on constructing a sequence of splines of degree 5 which are once differentiable, yields a function which is C² if the data are not ‘too irregular’. Finally the approximation properties of the methods are investigated.     

Resolvability and the upper dimension of graphs

For an ordered set W = {w₁, w₂,…, w_k} of vertices and a vertex v in a connected graph G, the (metric) representation of v with respect to W is the k-vector r(v | W) = (d(v, w₁), d(v, w₂),…, d(v, w_k)), where d(x, y) represents the distance between the vertices x and y. The set W is a resolving set for G if distinct vertices of G have distinct representations. A new sharp lower bound for the dimension of a graph G in terms of its maximum degree is presented.

A resolving set of minimum cardinality is a basis for G and the number of vertices in a basis is its (metric) dimension dim(G). A resolving set S of G is a minimal resolving set if no proper subset of S is a resolving set. The maximum cardinality of a minimal resolving set is the upper dimension dim⁺(G). The resolving number res(G) of a connected graph G is the minimum k such that every k-set W of vertices of G is also a resolving set of G. Then 1 ≤ dim(G) ≤ dim⁺(G) ≤ res(G) ≤ n − 1 for every nontrivial connected graph G of order n. It is shown that dim⁺(G) = res(G) = n − 1 if and only if G = K_n, while dim⁺(G) = res(G) = 2 if and only if G is a path of order at least 4 or an odd cycle.

The resolving numbers and upper dimensions of some well-known graphs are determined. It is shown that for every pair a, b of integers with 2 ≤ a ≤ b, there exists a connected graph G with dim(G) = dim⁺(G) = a and res(G) = b. Also, for every positive integer N, there exists a connected graph G with res(G) − dim⁺(G) ≥ N and dim⁺(G) − dim(G) ≥ N.     

Optimization of NASICON composition for Na recognition

Na_1+xZr₂Si_xP_3−xO₁₂ are ceramic materials which are fast ionic conductors by Na⁺. The present work concerns the characterizations of such materials in the range x = 1.4–3.0 for their use as ion sensitive membranes. Samples were prepared by sol-gel route to obtain pellets with a high density. Characteristics, such as lattice parameters and bulk conductivity are given. Results on detection limit and selectivity of such membranes used in ISE devices are presented. The effect of the stoichiometry on electrochemical characteristics is discussed. The best performances are obtained for x = 2.0–2.2, with samples sintered at 1200°C. No influence of sintering temperature is noticeable for the selectivity, excepted for proton which is less interfering after sintering at 1200°C.     

Analytic numerical solution of coupled semi-infinite diffusion problems

In this paper, we consider coupled semi-infinite diffusion problems of the form u_t(x, t)− A² u_xx(x,t) = 0, x> 0, t> 0, subject to u(0,t)=B and u(x,0)=0, where A is a matrix in , and u(x,t), and B are vectors in . Using the Fourier sine transform, an explicit exact solution of the problem is proposed. Given an admissible error and a domain D(x₀,t₀)={(x,t);0≤x≤x₀, t≥t₀ > 0, an analytic approximate solution is constructed so that the error with respect to the exact solution is uniformly upper bounded by in D(x₀, t₀).     

Theoretical calculation of the phase diagram between one-dimensional long-period structures in the quasi binary sections: Pd3xRh3(1−x)V, Pt3xRh3(1−x)V, and Pt3VxTi(1−x)

The relative stabilities of L1₂, D0₂₂, D0₂₃, 21, and 3 structures in the Pd₃V, Pt₃V, Rh₃V, and Pt₃Ti compounds are investigated employing the Vienna ab initio simulation package. In the pseudobinary Pd_3xRh_3(1−x)V, Pt_3xRh_3(1−x)V, and Pt₃V_xTi_(1−x) alloys, the energy differences from L1₂ of D0₂₂, D0₂₃, 21, and 3 structures are assumed to be linear as function of the number of electrons per atom. At T=0K, the resulting energy diagram shows that the equilibrium between the limiting binary phases is the most stable state. At high temperature, the Gibbs energy curves are computed assuming a Bragg and Williams entropy of mixing in the pseudobinary sections. The D0₂₃ and 21 structures are stabilized in the pseudobinary Pd_3xRh_3(1−x)V, Pt_3xRh_3(1−x)V, and Pt₃V_xTi_(1−x) alloys. The phase diagram between the various structures is calculated in each pseudobinary section and compared with the experimental one.     

Uniform and optimal schemes for stiff initial-value problems

We formulate a class of difference schemes for stiff initial-value problems, with a small parameter ε multiplying the first derivative. We derive necessary conditions for uniform convergence with respect to the small parameter ε, that is the solution of the difference scheme u_i^h satisfies |u_i^h−u(x_i)| Ch, where C is independent of h and ε. We also derive sufficient conditions for uniform convergence and show that a subclass of schemes is also optimal in the sense that |u_i^h−u(x_i)| C min (h, ε). Finally, we show that this class contains higher-order schemes.     

PECVD-SiOxNy films for large area self-sustained grids applications

In this work we study the structural properties and mechanical stress of silicon oxynitride (SiO_xN_y) films obtained by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique at low temperatures (320 °C) and report the feasibility of using this material for the fabrication of large area self-sustained grids. The films were obtained at different deposition conditions, varying the gas flow ratio between the precursor gases (N₂O and SiH₄) and maintaining all the other deposition parameters constant. The films were characterized by ellipsometry, by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and by optically levered laser technique to measure the total mechanical stress. The results demonstrate that for appropriated deposition conditions, it is possible to obtain SiO_xN_y with very low mechanical stress, a necessary condition for the fabrication of mechanically stable thick films (up to 10 μm). Since this material (SiO_xN_y) is very resistant to KOH wet chemical etching it can be utilized to fabricate, by silicon substrate bulk micromachining, very large self-sustained grids and membranes, with areas up to 1 cm² and with thickness in the 2–6 μm range. These results allied with the compatibility of the PECVD SiO_xN_y films deposition with the standard silicon based microelectronic processing technology makes this material promising for micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) fabrication.