Preparation of Fe-based monodisperse spherical particles with fully glassy phase

In this study, we prepared monodisperse spherical particles of a desired diameter using [(Fe_0.5Co_0.5)_0.75B_0.2Si_0.05]₉₆Nb₄ alloy; the particles were prepared by using an atomization process developed by us. The particles have perfect sphericity and narrow size distribution along with a homogeneous composition. The phase transitions of particles from the fully glassy phase to the crystalline phase via mixed phase structures occurred as the particle diameter was increased; the particles produced in the fully glassy phase in an argon atmosphere had a diameter of less than 300 μm. This allowed the estimation of the intrinsic critical cooling rate for the particles with a fully glassy phase, R_c:R_c varied in the range of 700-900 K/s and depended only on the initial temperature of the alloy melt.     

Cathode performance of LiMnPO4/C nanocomposites prepared by a combination of spray pyrolysis and wet ball-milling followed by heat treatment

LiMnPO₄/C nanocomposites could be prepared by a combination of spray pyrolysis and wet ball-milling followed by heat treatment in the range of spray pyrolysis temperature from 200 to 500 °C. The ordered LiMnPO₄ olivine structure without any impurity phase could be identified by X-ray diffraction analysis for all samples. It could be also confirmed from scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations that the final samples were the LiMnPO₄/C nanocomposites with approximately 100 nm in primary particles size. The LiMnPO₄/C nanocomposite samples were used as cathode active materials for lithium batteries, and the electrochemical tests were carried out for the cell Li|1 M LiPF₆ in EC:DMC = 1:1|LiMnPO₄/C at various charge/discharge rates in three charge modes. As a result, the final sample which was synthesized at 300 °C by spray pyrolysis showed the best electrochemical performance due to the largest specific surface area, the smallest primary particle size and a well distribution of carbon. At galvanostatic charge/discharge rates of 0.05 C, the cell delivered first discharge capacities of 123 and 165 mAh g⁻¹ in correspondence to charge cutoff voltages of 4.4 and 5.0 V, respectively. Furthermore, in a constant current-constant voltage charge mode at 4.4 V, the cells also exhibited initial discharge capacities of 147 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.05 C, 145 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C, 123 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 C and 65 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 C. Moreover, the cells showed fair good cycleability over 100 cycles.     

Stochastic Regression Model with Dependent Disturbances

In this paper, we consider the estimation of the coefficient of a stochastic regression model whose explanatory variables and disturbances are permitted to exhibit short-memory or long-memory dependence. Three estimators of the coefficient are proposed. A variety of their asymptotics are illuminated under various assumptions on the explanatory variables and the disturbances. Numerical studies of the theoretical results are given. They show some unexpected aspects of the asymptotics of the three estimators.     

Cylindrical linear pulse motor with interior permanent magnet mover

The advantages of the conventional cylindrical linear pulse motor (C-LPM), which has a ring permanent magnet between the A- and B-phase stators, are its simple magnet shape and small motor diameter; the disadvantages are the thrust imbalance resulting from the magnetic flux path of the outer poles being longer than that of the inner poles. This thrust imbalance decreases the pull-in thrust and increases the positioning error. In this paper, a new C-LPM with an interior permanent magnet mover which reduces this thrust imbalance is proposed. Steady and dynamic thrust are also examined and a magnetic equivalent circuit is discussed. It is shown that a C-LPM with an interior permanent magnet mover effectively improves the thrust imbalance and the dynamic thrust     

Electrostatic Spray Deposition of Perovskite-Type Oxides Thin Films with Porous Microstructure

The deposition of perovskite-type oxides thin films [La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ and La_1–xSr_xCo_1–yFe_yO₃ (0 x 0.4 and 0 y 1)] was investigated using the electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) technique. Lanthanum nitrate, strontium chloride and manganese nitrate, or cobalt nitrate and iron nitrate were dissolved into a mixture of 33 vol% ethanol and 67 vol% butyl carbitol, which was used as precursor solution. The effect of process parameters, such as deposition temperature, deposition time and concentration of precursor solution, on the surface morphology and microstructure of thin films were examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The deposited La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ and La_1–xSr_xCo_1–yFe_yO₃ thin films were amorphous at the used deposition temperature (573K). Subsequently, the samples were heated at 1173 K for 2 h and were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD). As the result, the crystal structure of the samples transformed to the desired perovskite phase. The chemical analysis of the thin films was investigated using energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) analysis. The observed chemical compositions of the samples were in a fair agreement with the ones of the starting solutions.     

Mid-Gap State Formed Inside Mott Gap of 1T-TaS2 Single Crystals and Metal-Insulator Transition

We have measured electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, thermoelectric power, and magnetization for charge-density wave (CDW) material 1T-TaS₂ single crystals grown by varying the excess sulfur content x _es. We have revealed that a small mid-gap state is formed inside the Mott gap and that anomalous low temperature transport is not governed by the Mott gap state itself but by the mid-gap state. The electric properties of the mid-gap state are modified by increasing x _es (or hole doping), and we have found the insulator-metal transition occurs by hole doping below 60K.     

TEM Observations of the Initial Oxidation Stages of Nb-Ion-Implanted TiAl

Coupon specimens of TiAl were implanted with Nb ions at an acceleration voltage of 50 kV with a dose of 10²¹ ions m.^–2 They were then slightly oxidized during heating to 900 or 1200 K, or at 1200 K for 3.6 ksec (1 hr) in a flow of purified oxygen under atmospheric pressure. The implanted specimens and oxidized specimens were characterized and observed by AES, X-ray diffractometry, SEM, TEM, EDS, and EPMA. Implantation improves the oxidation resistance significantly by forming virtually -Al₂O₃ scales. The implanted layer is about 75 nm thick; the outer part of 30-nm thickness is -Ti phase and the rest of 45-nm thickness is amorphous. Heating to 900 K in O₂ results in partial crystallization of the amorphous layer to Ti₅Al₃O₂ (Z-phase) and to 1200 K results in oxide scales of 270 to 400 nm thickness consisting mainly of Al₂O₃. The fraction of Al₂O₃ in the scale increases toward the substrate. Oxidation at 1200 K for 3.6 ksec results in Al₂O₃-rich scales of about 400-nm thickness. The oxide grain size is very fine, about 80 nm in size, and becomes smaller toward the outer scale surface. This implies that implantation enhanced the nucleation of Al₂O₃ grains relative to the growth of TiO₂ grains. This finding and the formation of -Ti phase are thought to be responsible for the excellent oxidation resistance obtained.     

Travel Time Reliability in Vehicle Routing and Scheduling with Time Windows

This paper presents calibration of the Vehicle Routing and scheduling Problems with Time Windows-Probabilistic (VRPTW-P) model which takes into account the uncertainty of travel times. Probe vehicle data of travel times were obtained from usual operation of pickup-delivery trucks in South Osaka area. The optimal solution of the VRPTW-P model resulted in reducing total cost, running times and CO₂, NOx and Particle Materials (PM) emissions compared with the usual operation. This is attributed to better routing of VRPTW-P to choose more reliable roads. Therefore, VRPTW-P can contribute to establish efficient and environmentally friendly delivery systems in urban area.     

New high‐luminance 50‐ and 43‐in. ACPDPs with an improved panel structure

New 50‐ and 43‐in. ACPDPs, which have been developed and commercialized in 2001, show high luminance with improved cell structure and higher Xe‐content gas. The specific features of the cell structure are “T”‐shaped electrodes and waffle‐structured ribs, which are same as those of the previous model. Both the cell structure and gas conditions have been optimized. New green and blue phosphors have also been adopted. As a result, the luminous efficacy has been improved up to 1.8 lm/W by using a black stripe. The peak luminance of the 50‐ and 43‐in. PDPs have reached 900 and 1000 cd/m², respectively, while the power consumption of the 50‐in. PDP has been decreased to 380 W, which is 20% lower than that of our previous 50‐in. PDP.