Materials and Wireless Microfluidic Systems for Electronics Capable of Chemical Dissolution on Demand

Electronics that are capable of destroying themselves, on demand and in a harmless way, might provide the ultimate form of data security. This paper presents materials and device architectures for triggered destruction of conventional microelectronic systems by means of microfluidic chemical etching of the constituent materials, including silicon, silicon dioxide, and metals (e.g., aluminum). Demonstrations in an array of home‐built metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistors that exploit ultrathin sheets of monocrystalline silicon and in radio‐frequency identification devices illustrate the utility of the approaches.     

Shrinkage behavior and interfacial diffusion in Ni-based internal electrodes with BaTiO3 additive

The effects of particle size of starting materials and amount of a BaTiO₃ additive on the shrinkage behavior and elemental diffusion in Ni-based internal electrodes have been investigated in order to control the shrinkage of the internal electrode in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). Two kinds of Ni and BaTiO₃ powders were used with different particle sizes. Volume shrinkage over the range of 700–1300 °C at 150 °C intervals and linear shrinkage during sintering were measured for starting materials and composites in a reducing atmosphere. The interfaces of Ni/BaTiO₃ composites with 90:10 and 70:30 volume ratios, respectively, were investigated using TEM. Composites with bimodal Ni powder show less shrinkage than those with monomodal Ni powder, showing less shrinkage in monolith Ni of bimodal particle size. The shrinkage behavior is changed during sintering with increasing amounts of BaTiO₃ additives in both Ni-based composites. The particle size of the BaTiO₃ additive affects the shrinkage behavior of composites, without the additional amount affecting the final shrinkage. A reaction layer of about 300 nm wide is observed at the interface between the Ni and BaTiO₃ powders in composites, in which elemental Ni diffuses into the BaTiO₃ without counterdiffusion.     

Synthesis of BaCu(B2O5) Ceramics and their Effect on the Sintering Temperature and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 Ceramics

BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramics were synthesized and their microwave dielectric properties were investigated. BaCu(B₂O₅) phase was formed at 700°C and melted above 850°C. The BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramic sintered at 810°C had a dielectric constant (ɛ_r) of 7.4, a quality factor ( Q × f ) of 50 000 GHz and a temperature coefficient of resonance frequency (τ_f) of −32 ppm/°C. As the BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramic had a low melting temperature and good microwave dielectric properties, it can be used as a low-temperature sintering aid for microwave dielectric materials for low temperature co-fired ceramic application. When BaCu(B₂O₅) was added to the Ba(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (BZN) ceramic, BZN ceramics were well sintered even at 850°C. BaCu(B₂O₅) existed as a liquid phase during the sintering and assisted the densification of the BZN ceramic. Good microwave dielectric properties of Q × f =16 000 GHz, ɛ_r=35, and τ_f=22.1 ppm/°C were obtained for the BZN+6.0 mol% BaCu(B₂O₅) ceramic sintered at 875°C for 2 h.     

Synthesis and optical characterization of novel Sr3Ga2O6:Eu phosphor

Alkaline earth metal gallets have been identified as an important ceramic material. The crystal chemistry of many of these gallets is well explored; however, very rare studies regarding optical properties of rare earth (RE) ions doped in such gallets, particularly in Sr₃Ga₂O₆ host, have been carried out. The present study reports on synthesis and characterization of novel Sr₃Ga₂O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphors. The phosphors have been synthesized using a conventional solid state reaction method. Crystal structure, morphology and luminescence properties (excitation, emission and CIE coordinate) of these phosphors have been studied as a function of sintering temperature and Eu³⁺ concentration. X-ray diffraction study reveals that the phosphor sintered at low temperature (900 °C) contains an impurity phase which is removed at higher sintering temperatures and results into cubic crystalline phase of Sr₃Ga₂O₆. Particle size of the phosphor increases with an increase in sintering temperature which results to a red shift in the peak position of excitation band lying in a broad range from 250 to 370 nm. Optimum emission intensity is attained for 0.12 mol% concentration of Eu³⁺ ions; above this concentration, a quenching in emission intensity is observed.     

Formation and Microwave Dielectric Properties of the Mg2V2O7 Ceramics

The formation process and microwave dielectric properties of the Mg₂V₂O₇ ceramics were investigated. The MgV₂O₆ phase that was formed at around 450°C interacted with remnant MgO above 590°C to form a homogeneous monoclinic Mg₂V₂O₇ phase. Finally, this monoclinic Mg₂V₂O₇ phase was changed to a triclinic Mg₂V₂O₇ phase for the specimen fired at 800°C. Sintering at 950°C for more than 5 h produced high-density triclinic Mg₂V₂O₇ ceramics. In particular, the Mg₂V₂O₇ ceramics sintered at 950°C for 10 h exhibited the good microwave dielectric properties of ɛ_r=10.5, Q × f =58 275 GHz, and τ_f=−26.9 ppm/°C.     

Short communication: Antiviral activity of subcritical water extract of Brassica juncea against influenza virus A/H1N1 in nonfat milk

Subcritical water extract (SWE) of Brassica juncea was studied for antiviral effects against influenza virus A/H1N1 and for the possibility of application as a nonfat milk supplement for use as an “antiviral food.” At maximum nontoxic concentrations, SWE had higher antiviral activity against influenza virus A/H1N1 than n-hexane, ethanol, or hot water (80°C) extracts. Addition of 0.5 mg/mL of B. juncea SWE to culture medium led to 50.35% cell viability (% antiviral activity) for Madin-Darby canine kidney cells infected with influenza virus A/H1N1. Nonfat milk supplemented with 0.28 mg/mL of B. juncea SWE showed 39.62% antiviral activity against influenza virus A/H1N1. Thus, the use of B. juncea SWE as a food supplement might aid in protection from influenza viral infection.     

Fabrication and Characterization of Nanoscale Ferroelectric Honeycombs

Nanoscale ferroelectric honeycombs, comprised of vertically aligned PbTiO₃ nanotubes, are fabricated by vapor phase reaction between lead acetate‐infiltrated TiO₂ nanotubes and PbO vapor. PbTiO₃ nanohoneycombs converted by vapor phase reaction at 550°C showed well‐aligned nanoscale structure with alignment angle less than 1° and well‐defined ferroelectric properties with the effective piezoelectric coefficient of 44 pm/V. This novel nanoscale structure is expected to facilitate high efficiency sensing of electromechanical and electrochemical stimuli.     

Control of H2O generated during the CO2 hardening process in a casting mold

An additive reagent was introduced into a water glass binder system for enhancing the mechanical properties and dimension stability of a casting mold, and for improving the surface quality of a cast product. Two different processes with three different additive reagents were employed to investigate the relation between fracture strength of the mold and water (H₂O) existed in the mold. In processes I and II, the mold samples were coated with a water glass binder, and then dipped into different solutions with additive reagent after and before carbon dioxide (CO₂) hardening, respectively. The fracture strength of the mold was enhanced by reducing H₂O content in the mold, achieved by a hydrolysis reaction of additive reagents. In process I, the H₂O movement was restricted in the mold by the solid phase, converted from the water glass during CO₂ hardening. When employing process II, especially in the TEOS used as additive reagent, the fracture strength was significantly increased due to the effective reduction of H₂O content in the mold and the homogeneous generation of glass phase by a sol–gel reaction of the additives.     

Shelf‐life characteristics of fresh oysters and ground beef as affected by bacteriocin‐coated plastic packaging film

Fresh oysters and ground beef were wrapped in antimicrobial films coated with a bacteriocin (nisin or lacticin NK24) incorporated into a polyamide binder layer. The packaged foods were stored at 3 and 10 °C and changes in counts of total aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria were monitored together with appropriate quality attributes in order to determine the influence of the bacteriocin‐coated films on quality preservation and shelf‐life extension. Compared to plain low‐density polyethylene film, plastic films with incorporated bacteriocins slowed down microbial growth on packaged oysters and ground beef at both temperatures, contributed in some degree to the preservation of chemical quality and extended shelf‐life significantly. The effects of the antimicrobial films on the suppression of coliform bacterial growth were more pronounced at 10 than at 3 °C , while the effects on total aerobic bacteria were consistently evident at both temperatures. There was no difference in food quality preservation between the two types of antimicrobial film. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry