Reactions Between Ingredients in Binary Silicate Glasses

It is demonstrated that the density of binary glasses upon variation of the molar content of the modifier in their compositions obeys a parabolic dependence, whose parameters can be used to estimate the extent and type of reactions between the components. The reaction parameters in glasses that are prone to liquation are lower by an order of magnitude and have the negative sign.     

X-Ray Study of the Effect of Heat on the Structural Parameters of Armos Fibres

In studying a series of fibre samples spun in steady-state conditions, the following was found: as a function of the conditions of processing Armos fibre, two structural modifications of the polymer can form; intensive crystallization of the modification corresponding to the 28.7° reflection begins in heat treatment above 220°C; above 320°C, intensive crystallization of the modification corresponding to the 14.25° reflection is observed; at 360°C, symbatic enhancement of the intensities of both reflections with a weak change in the other structural parameters of the fibre is observed.     

Development of a Continuous Segmented Flow Tubular Reactor and the “Scale‐out” Concept – In Search of Perfect Powders

The synthesis of powders with controlled shape and narrow particle size distributions is still a major challenge for many industries. A continuous Segmented Flow Tubular Reactor (SFTR) has been developed to overcome homogeneity and scale‐up problems encountered when using batch reactors. Supersaturation is created by mixing the co‐reactants in a micromixer inducing precipitation; the suspension is then segmented into identical micro‐volumes by a non‐miscible fluid and sent through a tube. These micro‐volumes are more homogeneous when compared to large batch reactors leading to narrower size distributions, better particle morphology, polymorph selectivity and stoichiometry. All these features have been demonstrated on single tube SFTR for different chemical systems. To increase productivity for commercial application the SFTR is being “scaled‐out” by multiplying the number of tubes running in parallel instead of scaling‐up by increasing their size. The versatility of the multi‐tube unit will allow changes in type of precipitate with a minimum of new investment as new chemistry can be researched, developed and optimised in a single tube SFTR and then transferred to the multi‐tube unit for powder production.     

Photosensitivity of surface barrier structures based on Cu(In,Ga)Se<Subscript>2</Subscript> films grown by codeposition in vacuum

Polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) films with various ratios of Cu, In, and Ga were grown by codeposition of all elements in vacuum. The X-ray diffraction study showed that the films are single-phase and possess a chalcopyrite structure with predominant [112] orientation. The films exhibited a mirror smooth surface and had a close-packed structure composed of crystallites with clear faceting and a transverse size of 0.1–0.3 μm. Related surface barrier structures of the (In,Ag)/Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ type were obtained and their spectra of the quantum efficiency of photoconversion were studied. The obtained structures can be used for optimization of the CIGS film technology.     

Synthesis and Study of Alkaline-Earth Metal Uranoborates,AI I(BUO5)2·nH2O

Previously unknown compounds A^{I I}(BUO₅)₂·nH₂O (A^{I I} = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; n = 0-7) were synthesized. Their structure and thermal decomposition were studied by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis.     

Bandpass filters with reconfigurable transmission zeros using varactor-tuned tapped stubs

In this letter, bandpass filters with one or two tunable transmission zeros are proposed. The reconfigurable transmission zeros are implemented through varactors in combination with tapped quarter-wavelength stubs. Based on mixed mode simulations including EM simulation and circuit simulation, the proposed filters were designed and fabricated on low-cost FR4 board. The measurement results verified the design concepts.     

Radiative lifetimes of electrons and holes in a thin semiconductor layer

Radiative lifetimes of nondegenerate electrons and holes distributed uniformly in a semiconductor layer either deposited on a substrate or bounded by two dielectric media are calculated. The obtained expression takes into account the radiation reabsorbtion and interference effects and determines the dependences of the radiative lifetimes on the refractive indices of the external media and on the layer thickness.     

Hopping and optical absorption of electrons in nano-porous crystal 12CaO·7Al2O3

Recently it has been discovered that a nano-porous main group oxide 12CaO·7Al₂O₃ (C12A7) can be converted from a wide-gap insulator to a good transparent conductor. Using ab initio modelling we explain good conductivity of this material by very small barriers for hopping of localised electrons between neighbouring positive cages. We show that optical absorption of C12A7 in infrared region and at energies higher than 2.7 eV is due to inter-cage and intra-cage electron transitions, respectively. The proposed mechanisms can be useful in further search for conducting transparent media.