Toward wafer-scale patterning of freestanding intermetallic nanowires

Individual metal alloy nanowires of constant diameter and high aspect ratio have previously been self-assembled at selected locations on atomic force microscope (AFM) probes by the method reported in Yazdanpanah et al (2005 J. Appl. Phys. 98 073510). This process relies on the room temperature crystallization of an ordered phase of silver-gallium. A parallel version of this method has been implemented in which a substrate, either an array of micromachined tips (similar to tips on AFM probes) or a lithographically patterned planar substrate, is brought into contact with a continuous, nearly planar film of melted gallium. In several runs, freestanding wires are fabricated with diameters of 40-400 nm, lengths of 4-80 μm, growth rates of 80-170 nm s( - 1) and, most significantly, with yields of up to 97% in an array of 422 growth sites. These results demonstrate the feasibility of developing a batch manufacturing process for the decoration of wafers of AFM tips and other structures with selectively patterned freestanding nanowires.     

Scanning gate microscopy on graphene: charge inhomogeneity and extrinsic doping

We have performed scanning gate microscopy (SGM) on graphene field effect transistors (GFET) using a biased metallic nanowire coated with a dielectric layer as a contact mode tip and local top gate. Electrical transport through graphene at various back gate voltages is monitored as a function of tip voltage and tip position. Near the Dirac point, the response of graphene resistance to the tip voltage shows significant variation with tip position, and SGM imaging displays mesoscopic domains of electron-doped and hole-doped regions. Our measurements reveal substantial spatial fluctuation in the carrier density in graphene due to extrinsic local doping from sources such as metal contacts, graphene edges, structural defects and resist residues. Our scanning gate measurements also demonstrate graphene's excellent capability to sense the local electric field and charges.     

Luminescence properties of monoclinic Cu4I4(Piperidine)4

A new modification of Cu₄I₄Pip₄ has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. X-ray crystallography revealed that this compound crystallized in the monoclinic system and consists of a tetrahedral core with composition Cu₄I₄, in which each Cu atom is coordinated by a piperidine molecule via the N atom. In contrast to a previously reported modification of Cu₄I₄Pip₄, the present modification shows luminescent properties when exposed to UV-light. In addition, we have used time-dependent density functional theory calculations to characterize both compounds in term of both absorption and emission.     

Influence of top‐section design and draft‐tube height on the performance of airlift bioreactors containing water‐in‐oil microemulsion

The mixing and mass transfer characteristics of draft‐tube airlift bioreactors (DTAB) for a water‐in‐kerosene microemulsion, as a cold model of petroleum biodesulfurization, were studied. Incomplete gas disengagement at the top‐section of the DTAB and hence high gas recirculation were obtained with the microemulsion system for all the top‐section configurations employed in the present study especially at the high airflow rates. The ratio (S) of the volumes of the riser and the downcomer to the top‐section together with the gas disengagement abilities of the gas separator were both found to affect the mixing performance of the DTAB employed for the microemulsion system. Increase in the draft‐tube height resulted in significant increase in the mixing time (t_m) and a slight increase in the overall volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k_La). Increase in the diameter of the top‐section and the height of the liquid above the draft‐tube led to a decrease in k_La, the latter effect being less prominent. New correlations were developed that predicted the mixing time and oxygen transfer coefficients obtained in the present work with reasonable accuracy. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fault Diagnosis in Multivariate Control Charts Using Artificial Neural Networks

Most multivariate quality control procedures evaluate the in‐control or out‐of‐control condition based upon an overall statistic, like Hotelling's T². Although T² is optimal for finding a general shift in mean vectors, it is not optimal for shifts that occur for some subset of variables. This introduces a persistent problem in multivariate control charts, namely the interpretation of a signal that often discourages practitioners in applying them. In this paper, we propose an artificial neural network based model to diagnose faults in out‐of‐control conditions and to help identify aberrant variables when Shewhart‐type multivariate control charts based on Hotelling's T² are used. The results of the model implementation on two numerical examples and one case of real world data are encouraging. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unsteady-State Mass Transfer of Gases between Two Quiescent Phases

It is shown that many gases interact with water by reactions similar to that characteristic of sulfur dioxide. The unsteady-state transfer of such gases from one quiescent phase into another is studied in the cases where these gases are absorbed by a liquid or released from a liquid solution.     

Influence of PP‐g‐MA on morphology,mechanical properties and deformation mechanism of copolypropylene/clay nanocomposite

Copolypropylene/organoclay nanocomposites are prepared by melt intercalation method in this research. Two different routes for addition of compatibilizer are examined, i.e. addition in the twin‐screw extruder along with the polymer and the clay powder simultaneously and premixing the compatibilizer with the reinforcement in a batch mixer before addition to the polypropylene (PP) matrix. Morphology, tensile and impact properties and deformation mechanisms of the samples made via two procedures are studied and compared with those of the noncompatibilized system. To study the structure of nanocomposites, x‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques are utilized. The deformation mechanisms of different samples are examined via reflected and transmitted optical microscopy. The results reveal that introduction of compatibilizer and also the procedure in which the compatibilizer is added to the compound, affect structure and mechanical properties of nanocomposite. The elastic modulus of PP‐clay nanocomposite has increased 11.5% with incorporation of compatibilizer. Also, introduction of organoclay without compatibilizer facilitates crazing at the notch tip of PP in 3PB testing. Incorporation of compatibilizer, however, makes difficulties in initiation and growth of crazes at the notch tip. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009