A fast-settling charge-pump PLL with constant loop bandwidth

A fully integrated fast-settling Fractional-N phase-locked loop (PLL) is presented. Based on the \(\Delta \varSigma\) modulator and I/Q generator architectures, the frequency synthesizer covers a frequency range of 130 MHz-1 GHz with a 3-KHz channel step. The constant loop bandwidth over the above tuning frequency ranges is achieved without modifying low pass filter parameters. The current of charge pump \(Icp\) is programmed not only to compensate the variation of voltage-controlled oscillator gain \(Kvco\), but also for adapting to the change of divider ratio \(N_{m}\). This calibration process is carried out in an open-loop condition for a small settling time. The proposed synthesizer was fabricated in 0.18 µm CMOS process. The measurement results show that the whole synthesizer PLL draws 11.3-mA including I/Q generator from 1.8 V supply. The out-of-band phase noise is ? 123 dBc/Hz@10 MHz with a 433 MHz carrier frequency after the divider. The normalized \(\left( {Icp*Kvco} \right)/N_{m}\) which is equivalent to the variation of PLL loop bandwidth ranges from ? 6 to 6%.     

Defect reduction in Hg1−xCdxTe grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Cd0.96Zn0.04Te(211)B

A study on preparation of Cd_0.96Zn_0.04Te(211)B substrates for growth of Hg_1−xCd_xTe epitaxial layers by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) was investigated. The objective was to investigate the impact of starting substrate surface quality on surface defects such as voids and hillocks commonly observed on MBE Hg_1−xCd_xTe layers. The results of this study indicate that, when the Cd_0.96Zn_0.04Te(211)B substrates are properly prepared, surface defects on the resulting MBE Hg_1−xCd_xTe films are reduced to minimum (size, ∼0.1 m and density ∼500/cm²) so that these MBE Hg_1−xCd_x Te films have surface quality as good as that of liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) Hg_1−xCd_xTe films currently in production in this laboratory.     

脉冲氙灯瞬态放电特性实时检测

随着惯性约束核聚变（ICF）的发展,对激光驱动器提出了很高的要求。本文研究了脉冲氙灯瞬态在线检测系统对脉冲氙灯放电电压、电流和发光强度进行实时监测的方法和系统的结构,结合氙灯的瞬态放电特征,利用光电隔离、光纤传输、高速A／D采样等技术,获取氙灯瞬态放电 数据。有效的实现了弱电系统对强电系统的远程测控,为大型激光驱动器能源系统的自动测控打下良好的基础。     

On the feasibility of a Doppler weather radar for estimates of dropsize distribution using two closely spaced frequencies

Dual-frequency weather radar data can be gathered using a single broadband power amplifier and antenna for the purpose of estimating parameters of the hydrometeor size distribution. This is an attractive feature for observation platforms that are limited with respect to mass or available power. Whether useful properties of the scattering medium can be obtained from data of this type is the focus of the paper. Generally, as the center frequency or the bandwidth is decreased, the reflectivity factor difference falls below the level of the inherent signal fluctuations. Even if large numbers of independent samples can be gathered to permit estimates of the differential signals, the question remains as to whether the signal can be related unambiguously to properties of the rain or snow. Center frequencies at or near 35 GHz with bandwidths in excess of 5% give relatively strong differential signals. The signal, moreover, is directly related to the median mass diameter of the size distribution. The differential mean Doppler at frequencies where non-Rayleigh scattering effects are significant is also of use because the quantity depends only on the terminal velocity of the drops and is insensitive to the mean air and platform motion. In principle, the mean and differential mean Doppler velocities from a nadir-viewing radar can be used to estimate the mean vertical air motion and the median drop diameter of the size distribution     

LP-MOCVD生长InGaAlP外延层In组分控制的动力学分析

本文分析了低压转盘ＭＯＣＶＤ生长室中气流的流动特征,首次提出了在高温（７００℃左右）下生长ＩｎＧａＡｌＰ外延层时,抑制Ｉｎ组分脱吸附的“动压力模型”．解释了托盘转速和生长压力等生长参数对Ｉｎ组分控制的影响．     

Unveiling the Synergy of Interfacial Contact and Defects in α-Fe2O3 for Enhanced Photo-Electrochemical Water Splitting

Photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising method for converting solar energy into clean energy, but the mechanism of improving PEC efficiency through the interfacial contact and defect strategy remains highly controversial. Herein, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and oxygen vacancies are introduced into α-Fe₂O₃ nanorod (NR) arrays using a simple spin-coating method and acid treatment. The resultant oxygen vacancy–α-Fe₂O₃/rGO-integrated system exhibits a higher photocurrent, four times than the pristine α-Fe₂O₃. It is well evidenced that the electronic interface interaction between α-Fe₂O₃ and rGO is boosted with the oxygen vacancies, facilitating electron transfer from α-Fe₂O₃ to rGO. Moreover, the oxygen vacancies not only create interband states in α-Fe₂O₃ that can trap photogenerated holes and thus facilitate charge separation but significantly also strengthen the adsorption of oxidative intermediates and reduce the energy barrier of rate-determining step during oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This study demonstrates an rGO–oxygen vacancy synergistic interfacial contact and defect modification approach to design semiconducting photocatalysts for high-efficiency solar energy capture and conversion. The generated principle is expected to be extendable to another material system.     

Floating Catalyst Chemical Vapor Deposition Patterning Nitrogen-Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Shape Tailorable and Flexible Micro-Supercapacitors

Micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) as high-power density energy storage units are designed to meet the booming development of flexible electronics, requiring simple and fast fabrication technology. Herein, a fast and direct solvent-free patterning method is reported to fabricate shape-tailorable and flexible MSCs by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD). The nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (N-SWCNTs) are directly deposited on a patterned filter by FCCVD with designable patterns and facilely dry-transferred on versatile substrates. The obtained MSCs deliver an excellent areal capacitance of 3.6 mF cm⁻² and volumetric capacitance of 98.6 F cm⁻³ at a scan rate of 5 mV s⁻¹ along with excellent long-term cycle stability over 125 000 circles. Furthermore, the MSCs show good performance uniformity, which can be readily integrated via connection in parallel or series to deliver a stable high voltage (4 V with five serially connected devices) and large capacitance (5.1 mF with five parallel devices) at a scan rate of 100 mV s⁻¹, enabling powering the light emitting displays. Therefore, this method blazes the trail of directly preparing flexible, shape-customizable, and high-performance MSCs.     

Room-Temperature Metal-Catalyzed Ultrafast Gasification of Ultrathin Boron Flakes

The trivalent outer shell of boron renders this element electron-poor but chemically rich, exhibiting more than one dozen allotropes. Its 2D polymorph has been recently synthesized on metal substrates under ultrahigh vacuum and has attracted intense interest. However, probing its properties ex situ has been challenging due to the quality degradation—surface oxidation—that occurs upon exposure to ambient environments. Herein, this surface chemistry is investigated in regard to the air stability of ultrathin boron flakes on metals prepared by atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition. The characteristic Volmer–Weber growth is recognized by the stacking of polygon-shaped, thin flakes as isolated islands. Significantly, the metal-catalyzed, ultrafast gasification of boron flakes at room temperature, exemplified by the complete, spontaneous vanishment of 200 nm-thick boron islands in 3 h is observed. A two-step mechanism, first oxygen-involved surface oxidation and then subsequent reactions with water forming a highly volatile boric acid layer, is unambiguously revealed by combined surface characterizations. The catalysis by metal substrates, corroborated by theoretical calculations, is attributed as the crucial cause of the unprecedented gasification. The concept of oxygen-free growth is thereby proposed for air-sensitive material growth by introducing in situ oxygen scavengers. These findings significantly expand the fundamental understanding of the surface chemistry of boron and pave the way for the chemical vapor deposition growth of hydrophobic materials.     

Tuning a Solvation Structure of Lithium Ions Coordinated with Nitrate Anions through Ionic Liquid-Based Solvent for Highly Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

Rational design of promising electrolyte is considered as an effective strategy to improve the cycling stability of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Here, an elaborately designed ionic liquid-based electrolyte is proposed that is composed of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide as the lithium salt, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate ionic liquid ([EMIm][NO₃] IL) and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as the functional solvents, and 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) as the diluent solvent. Using [EMIm][NO₃] IL as the solvent component facilitates a special Li⁺-coordinated NO₃⁻ solvation structure, which enables the continues electrochemical reduction of solvated NO₃⁻ and the formation of remarkably stable and conductive solid electrolyte interface. With FEC as another functional solvent and DME as the diluent solvent, the formulated electrolyte delivers high oxidative stability and ionic conductivity, and endows improved electrochemical reaction kinetics. Therefore, the formulated electrolyte demonstrates exceedingly reversible and stable Li stripping/plating behavior with high average Coulombic efficiency (98.8%) and ultralong cycling stability (3500 h). Notably, the high-voltage Li|LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ full cell with IL-based electrolyte exhibits enhanced cyclability with a capacity retention of 65% after 200 cycles under harsh conditions of low negative/positive ratio (3.1) and lean electrolyte (2.5 µL mg⁻¹). This study creates the first NO₃⁻-based ionic liquid electrolyte and evokes the avenue for practical high-voltage LMBs.