Self-doping Effects on the Superconducting Properties of Cu0.5Tl0.25M0.25Ba2Ca2Cu3O10−δ (M = Bi, Hg, Nb, Pd, Li, Na, K)

The effect of self-doping and substitution of elements of higher and lower electronegativity, such as Bi, Hg, Nb, Pd, Li, Na, K, on the superconducting properties of Cu_0.5Tl_0.5−x M _x Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10−δ with x=0.25 is investigated. These experiments demonstrated that the elements of lower electronegativity such as Li, Na, and K can easily liberate their outer most s-electron that could be supplied to the conducting CuO₂ planes of Cu_0.5Tl_0.5−x M _x Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10−δ superconductor, and as a result, we get enhanced superconducting properties. However, highly electro-negative elements hinder the transfer of carriers from charge reservoir layer to the conducting CuO₂ planes and promote inferior superconducting properties. In the present studies, we have investigated the effect of post-annealing in nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres for optimizing the carriers in conducting CuO₂ planes of Cu_0.5Tl_0.5−x M _x Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10−δ (M=Bi,Hg,Nb,Pd,Li,Na,K) superconductor. These studies are important since the density of carriers in the conducting CuO₂ planes determines the Fermi-vector k _F and Fermi velocity v _F of the carriers, which ultimately brings about the final superconducting state of the system.      

Morphologies and electrochemical properties of 0.6Li2MnO3·0.4LiCoO2 composite cathode powders prepared by spray pyrolysis

Nanosized 0.6Li₂MnO₃·0.4LiCoO₂ composite cathode powders are prepared by spray pyrolysis. The micron-sized composite powders are converted into nanosized powders by a simple milling process. The mean sizes of the composite powders measured from the TEM images increase from 20 to 170 nm when the post-treatment temperatures increase from 650 to 900 °C. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface areas of the composite powders post-treated at 650 and 900 °C are 24 and 3 m² g⁻¹, respectively. The XRD patterns indicate that the layered composite powders post-treated at 800 and 900 °C have high crystallinity and low cation mixing. The mean crystallite sizes of the powders, measured from the (003) peak widths of the XRD patterns using Scherrer's equation, are 35 and 56 nm at post-treatment temperatures of 800 and 900 °C, respectively. The initial discharge capacities of the 0.6Li₂MnO₃·0.4LiCoO₂ composite are 262, 267, 264, and 263 mAh g⁻¹ when the post-treat temperatures of the powders are 650, 700, 800, and 900 °C, respectively. The discharge capacity of the composite powders post-treated at 900 °C abruptly decreases from 263 to 214 mAh g⁻¹ by the seventh cycle and then slowly decreases to 198 mAh g⁻¹ with increasing cycle number, up to 30.     

Influence of hydrogen introduction on structure and properties of ZnO thin films during sputtering and post-annealing

ZnO thin films were prepared in Ar and Ar + H₂ atmospheres by rf magnetron sputtering, and then they were annealed in vacuum and Ar + H₂ atmosphere, respectively. The structure and optical-electrical properties of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmittance spectra, and resistivity measurement, and their dependences on deposition atmosphere, annealing treatment, and aging were studied. The results showed that adding H₂ in deposition atmosphere improved the crystallinity of the films, decreased lattice constant, increased band gap, decreased the resistivity by the order of 10⁴ Ω cm, but exhibited poor conductive stability with aging. After Ar + H₂ and vacuum annealing, crystallinity of the films deposited in Ar and Ar + H₂ was further improved; their resistivity was decreased by the order of 10⁵ and 10¹ Ω cm, respectively, and exhibited high conductive stability with aging. We suggest that the formed main defect is V_O and H_i when H₂ is introduced during deposition, which decreases the resistivity but cannot improve the conductive stability; hydrogen would remove negatively charged oxygen species near grain boundaries during Ar + H₂ annealing to decrease the resistivity, and grain boundaries are passivated by formation of a number of V_O-H complex (H_O) to improve the conductive stability at the same time. Under vacuum annealing, the hydrogen that is introduced non-intentionally from deposition chamber maybe plays an important role; it exists as H_O in the films to improve the conductive stability of the films.     

Magnetocaloric effect in Gd(1−y)DyyAl2

In this work we calculate the magnetic properties and the magnetocaloric effect in Gd_1−yDy_yAl₂ (y = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1). The model Hamiltonian includes contributions from the Zeeman effect, the crystalline electrical field anisotropy and the exchange interactions among Gd–Gd, Gd–Dy and Dy–Dy ions. To obtain a composite with ΔS_T as constant as possible in the temperature range from T = 60 K to 170 K, the appropriate concentrations of the five compounds investigated were calculated using the Smaili and Chahine method. The magnetization and ΔS_T dependences on temperature in the composite were simulated and compared with the partial contributions of the single magnetic component materials. Also, the magnetic field dependence on magnetization was investigated in Gd_0.25Dy_0.75Al₂, where the discontinuous spin reorientation transitions were predicted for magnetic fields lower than 2 T, applied along <110> direction.     

Unusual broadening of the NIR luminescence of Er-doped Nb2O5 nanocrystals embedded in silica host: Preparation and their structural and spectroscopic study for photonics applications

This paper reports on the preparation of novel sol-gel erbium-doped SiO₂-based nanocomposites embedded with Nb₂O₅ nanocrystals fabricated using a bottom-up method and describes their structural, morphological, and luminescence characterization. To prepare the glass ceramics, we synthesized xerogels containing Si/Nb molar ratios of 90:10 up to 50:50 at room temperature, followed by annealing at 900, 1000, or 1100 °C for 10 h. We identified crystallization accompanying host densification in all the nanocomposites with orthorhombic (T-phase) or monoclinic (M-phase) Nb₂O₅ nanocrystals dispersed in the amorphous SiO₂ phase, depending on the niobium content and annealing temperature. A high-intensity broadband emission in the near-infrared region assigned to the ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of the Er³⁺ ions was registered for all the nanocomposites. The shape and the bandwidth changed with the Nb₂O₅ crystalline phase, with values achieving up to 81 nm. Er³⁺ ions were located mainly in Nb₂O₅-rich regions, and the complex structure of the different Nb₂O₅ polymorphs accounted for the broadening in the emission spectra. The materials containing the T-phase, displayed higher luminescence intensity, longer ⁴I_13/2 lifetime and broader bandwidth. In conclusion, these nanostructured materials are potential candidates for photonic applications like optical amplifiers and WDM devices operating in the S, C, and L telecommunication bands.     

Deposition of zirconium oxynitride films by reactive cathodic arc evaporation and investigation of physical properties

The area of metal oxynitrides is poorly explored, and understanding of the fundamental mechanism that explains structural, mechanical, electrical, and optical properties is still insufficient. Therefore, the purpose of the present investigation is to analyze structural, electrical, and optical properties of ZrN_xO_y films deposited by reactive cathodic arc evaporation.Depending on the oxygen flow, cubic ZrN:O, monoclinic ZrO₂:N, and tetragonal ZrO₂:N phases films were prepared. The sheet resistance and the optical transmittance very much depend on the oxygen flow. Optical transparent ZrN_xO_y films with transmittance of 86% at 650 nm, the sheet resistance 1.1 · 10³ Ω/sq, and the figure of merit 2 · 10^− 4 Ω^− 1 are deposited with the 60 sccm oxygen flow.     

Structural and electronic properties of BiOX (X = F, Cl, Br, I) considering Bi 5f states

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to investigate the structural and electronic properties of BiOX (X = F, Cl, Br, I) photocatalysts, considering the Bi 5f states. Comparing with our previous results without Bi 5f states, the present work conveys similar gap features and comparable gap widths for the unrelaxed species, but the relaxation here causes opposite directions of atomic displacements and different trends for band and gap widths. The unrelaxed BiOF exhibits a direct band gap of 3.25 eV, while the other three species present the indirect gaps of 2.62, 2.16 and 1.51, respectively. Atomic relaxation expands the above gaps to 3.41, 2.69, 2.21 and 1.62 eV correspondingly. Analyses based on wavefunction isosurfaces and decomposed orbitals reveal that at the valence-band tops, O 2p_z and F 2p_z states prevail in BiOF, O 2p_y and X np_y dominate in BiOCl and BiOBr, and the I 5p_x state governs in BiOI. The conduction-band bottoms are composed mainly of the Bi 6p_z orbital.     

气氛中硫和氯导致Fe-15Cr-10Al合金表面氧化铝膜退化

研究了Fe-15Cr-10Al合金在700℃还原性H_2-CO_2和H_2-HCl-H_2S-HCl混合气氛中的腐蚀行为.结果表明,添加到H_2-CO_2气氛中的微量HCl和H_2S导致合金表面氧化铝膜退化,在合金表面生成了铁铬铝混合氧化物层.这种退化与腐蚀过程中生成的硫化物和氯化物密切相关.计算混合气氛中平衡时的氯势、氧势和硫势预测了合金与气氛可能发生的反应,并解释了腐蚀机制.     

Ab initio calculations of electronic structures of LiYF4 crystals containing F-type color centers

The electronic structures of LiYF₄ crystals containing F, F⁻, and M color centers (F₂ center) with the lattice structure optimized are studied within the framework of the density functional theory. The calculation indicated that F, F⁻, and M color centers have donor energy levels in the forbidden band. The electronic transition energies from the donor level to the bottom of the conduction band are 3.74 eV, 2.85 eV, and 2.42 eV, respectively, which correspond to the 331 nm, 436 nm, and 513 nm absorption bands. It is predicted that the absorption bands observed at 330 nm, 440 nm, and 505 nm could arise from the F, F⁻, and M centers, respectively, in LiYF₄ crystals.     

Investigation on vibration scuffing life curves

The printing images on products and packaging play an important role in increasing the business value, adding artistic quality, and sending information. During transportation, scuffing of the printing images will emerge due to vibrations and impacts induced by rough roads and vehicles. This paper investigates experimentally the vibration scuffing through an ink transfer device. The scuffing value–time curves are obtained. Then the scuffing life curves G_rms,e‐N_a,e based on excitation acceleration root‐mean‐square (RMS) and G_rms,r‐N_a,r based on relative acceleration RMS are developed. Both Basquin‐type and exponential‐type curves may be applied to describe the scuffing life in this case. The excitation frequency width covering the resonance frequency has a significant effect on the scuffing life curve G_rms,e‐N_a,e based on excitation acceleration RMS; however, it is not obvious on the scuffing life curve G_rms,r‐N_a,r based on relative acceleration RMS. The vibration system filters out the broadband excitation vibration frequencies away from the resonance zone and makes the relative acceleration signal a narrow one. The scuffing life curve in the resonance scuffing state is very different from that in the nonresonance scuffing state, and they should be distinguished in practical application. The scuffing life equations and curves obtained in this paper may provide a reference to the further research on packaging scuffing and its test evaluation and accelerated vibration test in laboratory.     

Formation of Nd2Fe14B hydride by milling of anhydride particles in toluene in a closed reactor

When milling micrometer thin Nd₂Fe₁₄B platelets, of an average 1–2 mm diameter, in toluene in a closed reactor, part of the toluene decomposes at the surface of the platelets and yields nascent hydrogen and carbon/low hydrocarbons. The hydrogen diffuses into the Nd₂Fe₁₄B platelets and the carbon forms a thin surface passivation layer of the platelets, forming the stable Nd₂Fe₁₄BH _x ,x ≤ 5, hydride at room temperature. On heating in a calorimeter, the hydrogen desorbs off the sample with a well-defined endotherm between 370 and 425 K. An N₂ gas atmosphere, if used during the heating, facilitates the H-desorption process with the modified kinetic parameters. For example, the enthalpy of the H-desorption ΔH and the related activation energyE _a have the measured values ΔH = 153 J/g andE _a = 58·2 kJ/mol in argon and ΔH = 256 J/g andE _a = 41·6 kJ/mol in N₂. It is argued that N₂ gas has a fast reaction with the H atoms desorbing off the thin sample platelets and forms NH₃ gas with an instantaneous decrease of the total external gas pressure at the sample. This supports the fast desorption of H atoms in the sample with the modified desorption kinetics in N₂ gas.     

Enhancing the oxygen permeability of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O5 + δ membranes by coating RBaCo2O5 + δ(R= Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) layers

The effects of a thin RBaCo₂O_5 + δ (R= Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) layer coating on the oxygen permeation flux through Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_5 + δ(BSCF) membrane were investigated. Due to the high oxygen adsorption and desorption rate constants k_a and k_d of the RBaCo₂O_5 + δ (R112) materials and the porous structure of the coating layers, the oxygen permeation flux through the BSCF membranes can be enhanced remarkably. It was found that the reaction between Pr112 and BSCF also has significant influence on the oxygen permeation flux. The reaction between Pr112 and BSCF forms impurities which may block oxygen permeation flux. However, Nd112, Sm112, and Gd112 do not react seriously with BSCF, therefore, coating layers of these materials can significantly enhance the oxygen permeation flux of BSCF membranes.     

Facile synthesis of MnV2O6 nanostructures with controlled morphologies

MnV₂O₆ nanostructures including nanorods, nanobelts, and nanosheets, have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal reaction between Mn(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O and commercial V₂O₅. The synthesized products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influences of synthetic parameters, such as, reaction time, temperature and medium, on the morphologies of the resulting products have been investigated. As the reaction temperatures increase from 120 °C to 180 °C, MnV₂O₆ nanorods and nanobelts are obtained, respectively. The time-dependent experimental results at 180 °C reveal that the sizes of MnV₂O₆ nanobelts increase gradually with the reaction proceeding. Interestingly, as the reaction is carried out with the aid of H₂O₂ solution, flower-like MnV₂O₆ nanosheets are formed.     

Microstructure characterization of fibrous HAp-(20 vol.% t-ZrO2)/Al2O3-(25 vol.% m-ZrO2) composites by multi-pass extrusion process

Core-shell structured HAp-(t-ZrO₂)/Al₂O₃-(m-ZrO₂) composites were fabricated using a multi extrusion process. The shell of Al₂O₃-(m-ZrO₂) phases was selected due to their excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties and the core was designed with t-ZrO₂ dispersed in the HAp matrix. The t-ZrO₂ and m-ZrO₂ particles (< 400 nm) were homogeneously dispersed in the HAp and Al₂O₃ phases, respectively. In the HAp-(t-ZrO₂) core region, a heavy strain field contrast was observed due to the mismatch of their thermal expansion coefficients. The values of relative density, bending strength and Vickers hardness of the third pass fibrous HAp-(t-ZrO₂)/Al₂O₃-(m-ZrO₂) composites, which were sintered at 1400 °C, were about 93%, 169 MPa, and 792 Hv, respectively.     

Influence of Se on the electron mobility in thermal evaporated Bi2(Te1−xSex)3 thin films

Thermoelectric solid solutions of Bi₂ (Te_1−xSe_x)₃ with x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 were grown using the Bridgman technique. Thin films of these materials of different compositions were prepared by conventional thermal evaporation of the prepared bulk materials. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity σ, free carriers concentration n, mobility μ_H, and seebeck coefficient S, of the as-deposited and films annealed at different temperatures, have been studied at temperature ranging from 300 to 500 K. The temperature dependence of σ revealed an intrinsic conduction mechanism above 400 K, while for temperatures less than 400 K an extrinsic conduction is dominant.The activation energy, ΔE, and the energy gap, E_g, were found to increase with increasing Se content. The variation of S with temperature revealed that the samples with different compositions x are degenerate semiconductors with n-type conduction. Both, the annealing and composition effects on Hall constant, R_H, density of electron carriers, n, Hall mobility, μ_H, and the effective mass, m^∗/m₀ are studied in the above temperature range.     

Studies on LiNi0.7Al0.3−xCoxO2 solid solutions as alternative cathode materials for lithium batteries

A series of phase-pure Co- and Al-substituted lithium nickel oxide solid solutions of the composition LiNi_0.7Al_0.3−xCo_xO₂ with x=0.0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.3, has been synthesized by adopting urea-assisted combustion (UAC) route. The structure and the physico-electrochemical features of the doped materials have been evaluated through PXRD, FTIR, SEM, CV, and charge/discharge studies. The stabilization of Ni in the +3 state and the existence of enhanced 2D-layered structure without any cation mixing have been substantiated from XRD. The results of the XRD and FTIR studies have established the complete mixing of Al and Co with Ni, especially at the various levels and the combinations of the dopants attempted in the present study. The enhanced electrochemical performance of LiNi_0.7Al_0.3−xCo_xO₂ may be attributed to the “synergetic effect” resulting from the presence of both Al³⁺ and Co³⁺ dopants in the LiNiO₂ matrix. From CV studies, it was understood that the addition of 10% Co is effective in suppressing the phase transformation during Li⁺ intercalation process that leads to better electrochemical properties. The effect and the extent of substitution of Ni with Al and Co on the structural and electrochemical performance of LiNi_0.7Al_0.3−xCo_xO₂ are discussed elaborately in this communication.     

基于卷积神经网络图像分类的轴承故障模式识别

针对传统的基于数据驱动的机械故障模式识别方法中需要人工构造算法提取特征以及人工构造特征提取算法繁琐的问题,结合卷积神经网络(CNN)在图像特征自动提取与图像分类识别中的广泛应用,提出了一种基于CNN图像分类的轴承故障模式识别方法。首先,利用集合经验模态分解(EEMD)方法对轴承振动信号进行自适应分解并用相关系数对得到的本征模函数分量进行筛选。其次,对筛选得到的本征模函数分量进行伪魏格纳-威利时频分析(PWVD)计算得到信号的时频分布图,并对时频图进行预处理。最后,将轴承15种不同工况预处理后的时频图利用CNN进行特征提取与分类识别。将该方法与同类方法进行了对比,分类正确率提高了4.26%。     

Split heat pipe type compound adsorption ice making test unit for fishing boats

In order to settle the problem of the corrosion between sea water and the steel adsorber for ammonia system, a split heat pipe type adsorption ice making test unit, which use compound adsorbent of CaCl₂ and activated carbon to improve the adsorption performance, is designed and constructed. For this test unit there is mass recovery function between two beds and the CaCl₂ in compound adsorbent per bed is 1.88 kg, and there is only one pump for the whole heating and cooling phase for adsorbers. Performances of this system are tested; the lowest evaporating temperature is as low as −42 °C. At the evaporating temperature of −35 and −25 °C, the cooling powers are 0.89 and 1.18 kW, respectively. At the evaporating temperature of −15 °C, its average cooling power is 1.37 kW, which corresponds coefficient of performance of refrigeration COP=0.41 and specific cooling power per kilogram CaCl₂ of each adsorber SCP=731 W kg⁻¹. The mass recovery process has improved SCP and COP for the system by 15.5 and 24.1%, respectively. Heat transfer performance is also improved by the split heat pipe construction; the average heat transfer coefficient for a whole cycle is 155.8 W m⁻² °C⁻¹.     

Long term high temperature oxidation resistance of a nanoceria coated 316 SS under dry air conditions

In this work, nanoceria dip coated and uncoated 316 stainless steels were exposed to dry air at 1073–1273 K for times of up to 250 h. From this work, measured activation energies, Q = 256 kJ mol⁻¹ and Q = 240 kJ mol⁻¹ were found for coated and uncoated 316 SS, respectively. In the coated steel, the activation energy for oxidation cannot be attributed to a single mass transport mechanism. In addition, the scale morphologies, as well as the dominant oxide phases were determined by X-ray diffraction means. It was found that in the nanoceria dip coated steels, the scale was fine grained and highly adherent. Oxidation at increasing temperatures in the coated steels favored the development of the spinel ((Mn, Cr)₃O₄ structure and at 1273 K with the presence of Fe₂O₃ was severely hindered. In contrast, in the uncoated steel, a relatively thick scale, predominantly Fe₂O₃ developed and it exhibited severe damage through spallation and detachment from the steel substrate. Also, the resultant grain structure was rather coarse and it consisted of faceted grains with continuous nucleation/growth at grain ledges.     

FDTD simulations on radar cross sections of metal cone and plasma covered metal cone

Electromagnetic wave interaction with a plasma covered metal surface has been studied using the Radar Cross Section (RCS) changes of a 10 cm diameter and 30 cm height metal cone with and without plasma coverage. A Finite-Difference-Time-Difference (FDTD) method was use to calculate the case of a cone with and without a covering of a 1 cm thick sheet plasma for both S Band (2,3, and 4 GHz) and X Band (8, 10, and 12 GHz) frequencies. The characteristic plasma frequency ω_pe was set at 10 GHz, and electron-neutral collision frequency ν_en chosen to be 20 GHz. The results indicate that the metal cone has very small RCS at head-on direction, and a large RCS looking from the back end. A Plasma covered metal cone was shown to achieve head-on direction monostatic RCS changes between −0.47 and −7.2 dBm² from 2 to 4 GHz, and −11 to −3.2 dBm² RCS changes from 8 to 12 GHz, but at the back end the RCS increases between 2.2 and 2.6 dBm² from 2 to 4 GHz, and varies between −0.9 and 0 dBm² from 8 to 12 GHz. In the two frequency bands investigated, maximum RCS reduction of −15 dBm² occurs at 8 GHz at the same direction as the incident electromagnetic wave polarization. Plasma stealth offers advantages like frequency tunability, but the challenge is establishing an adaptive feedback mechanism that can main a constant plasma density and thus a constant RCS by adjusting the power supplied to plasma generator while monitoring the changes in air speed, altitude, and humidity.