Metal-Coated <100>-Cut GaAs Coupled to Tapered Parallel-Plate Waveguide for Cherenkov-Phase-Matched Terahertz Detection: Influence of Crystal Thickness

The influence of crystal thickness of metal-coated <100>-cut GaAs (M-G-M) on Cherenkov-phase-matched terahertz (THz) pulse detection was studied. The M-G-M detectors were utilized in conjunction with a metallic tapered parallel-plate waveguide (TPPWG). Polarization-sensitive measurements were carried out to exemplify the efficacy of GaAs in detecting transverse magnetic (TM)- and transverse electric (TE)-polarized THz waves. The reduction of GaAs’ thickness increased the THz amplitude spectra of the detected TM-polarized THz electro-optic (EO) signal due to enhanced electric field associated with a more tightly-focused and well-concentrated THz radiation on the thinner M-G-M. The higher-fluence THz beam coupled to the thinner M-G-M improved the integrated intensity of the detected THz amplitude spectrum. This trend was not observed for TE-polarized THz waves, wherein the integrated intensities were almost comparable. Nevertheless, good agreement of spectral line shapes of the superposed TM- and TE-polarized THz-EO signals with that of elliptically polarized THz-EO signal demonstrates excellent polarization-resolved detection capabilities of M-G-M via Cherenkov-phase-matched EO sampling technique.     

Cathodic performance of LiMn1−xMxPO4 (M = Ti, Mg and Zr) annealed in an inert atmosphere

To improve the cathodic performance of olivine-type LiMnPO₄, we investigated the optimal annealing conditions for a composite of carbon with cation doping. Nanocrystalline and the cation-doped LiMn_1−xM_xPO₄ (M = Ti, Mg, Zr and x = 0, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.10) was synthesized in aqueous solution using a planetary ball mill. The synthesis was performed at the fairly low temperature of 350 °C to limit particle size. The obtained samples except for the Zr doped one consisted of uniform and nano-sized particles. The performance of LiMnPO₄ was much improved by an annealing treatment between 500 and 550 °C with carbon in an inert atmosphere. A small amount of metal-rich phosphide (Mn₂P) was detected in the sample annealed at 900 °C. In addition, 1 at.% Mg doping for Fe enhanced the rate capability in our doped samples. The discharge capacity of LiMn_0.99Mg_0.01PO₄/C was 146 mAh/g at 0.1 mA/cm² and 125 mAh/g even at 2.0 mA/cm².     

Structural change in the Brill transition of Nylon m/n (1) Nylon 10/10 and its model compounds

Structural changes in the Brill transitions of Nylon 10/10 and its model compounds have been investigated by carrying out the temperature-dependent measurements of X-ray diffraction and infrared spectra along with the DSC measurement. The crystal structure at room temperature was found to be the so-called α form with the all-trans zigzag methylene segments. When the samples were heated, the infrared progression bands of the methylene segments, which are sensitive to the length of all-trans segmental parts, were found to change their spectral patterns in the transition temperature region: the progression bands decreased in intensity and disappeared above the transition region. At the same time several new bands were observed to appear, which were found to correspond to the progression bands of (CH₂)₇-(CH₂)₅trans-zigzag segments. These spectral changes indicate that the methylene segments were conformationally disordered by an invasion of some gauche bonds and as a result the effective length of trans-zigzag segments became shorter. This conformational disordering was found to occur more remarkably in the methylene segment of NH-(CH₂)₁₀-NH part than the CO-(CH₂)₈-CO part. At the same time the infrared bands of amide groups, in particular the bands sensitive to the twisting angles about the CH₂-amide bonds were found to show the remarkable change, indicating the local conformational change from planar-zigzag to twisted form in the CH₂-amide moiety. The frequency shift of amide A band (NH stretching mode) indicated a weakening of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which however, did not disappear up to the melting region. From these data combined with the X-ray diffraction data, the structural disordering in the Brill transition phenomena was deduced concretely.     

Dynamics of autowaves in a one-dimensional crystal model

A mechanism of the phase transition between two modulated structures with different wave vectors was proposed and investigated numerically. The phase transition occurs through the mechanism of nucleation and growth of the new phase. The role of the nucleus is played by an unstable domain wall and the domain of a new low energy phase grows due to the motion of autowaves.     

Effect of metal-sulfide additives on electrochemical properties of nano-sized Fe2O3-loaded carbon for Fe/air battery anodes

In the present study, K₂S and Bi₂S₃ were used as additives in electrolytes and electrodes, respectively. The effects of these additives on the electrochemical properties of nano-sized Fe₂O₃-loaded carbon electrodes were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic cycling performance and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), along with electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that both K₂S and Bi₂S₃ significantly reduced hydrogen evolution and benefited the Fe₂O₃-loaded carbon electrode, such as by retarding passivation and improving the discharge capacity. The effects of metal sulfide additives depended on the carbon used. For Bi₂S₃ additive, all carbons provided larger capacities than acetylene black (AB) while AB gave greater capacity than other carbons when K₂S was used.     

Dental application of the 30Ni-30Cu-40Mn ternary alloy system

Experimental nickel-based alloys for dental application were made on the basis of the measurement of dissolved oxygen in the liquid state of the alloys. The improved Ni-Cu-Mn-based alloys were examined for hardness, microstructures and dimensional change. The alloys had a low concentration of dissolved oxygen, and each experimental Ni-Cu-Mn-based alloy containing a single additive element (either aluminium or tin) and complex additive elements (aluminium and tin, aluminium and indium, and aluminium, indium and tin) was constituted mainly by dendrite structure, but the aluminium, indium and tin-containing ones had a smaller amount of dendrite structure than the others, representing a fineness of dendrite structure. In addition, the metal crowns of the improved Ni-Cu-Mn-based alloys showed a better fit than that of the original Ni-Cu-Mn ternary alloy.     

Thermoanalytical characteristics of powders in dental cast investment

The present study examined the thermal properties of phosphate-bonded investments, a gypsum-bonded investment and an experimental investment powder when the basic powders were heated to high temperatures by simultaneous differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG). The phosphate-bonded investments showed values of about 59 kcal mol^–1 (247 kJ mol^–1) (thermal decomposition of NH₄H₂PO₄) and about 11 kcal mol^–1 (46 kJ mol^–1) (formation of NH₄MgPO₄). Thermal reactions occurred clearly on the DTA-TG curves for the investment powders, using powders of NH₄H₂PO₄, and MgO with NH₄H₂PO₄/MgO = 1 as main components in the investment.     

Effect of TEGDMA content on staining of experimental bis-GMA-based resins

This study was to examine water uptake, contact angle and colour change vector in relation to the staining on the optically smooth surface in five experimental visible light-cured (VLC) bis-GMA-based resins. They were formulated from bis-GMA-based resins including 25 to 45 wt% TEGDMA which were accelerated by CQ/DMAEMA/BHT = 0.5/2/0.05 (wt%) to bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin matrix. Of the set resins including more than 25 wt% of TEGDMA, the resins including 30 to 45 wt% had less than 1.0% as bis-GMA residual monomer. Water uptake and solubility in bis-GMA-based resins including 35 wt% TEGDMA were the minimum of the resins tested. Contact angle decreased with increasing time over 70 days, from 67 to 62 degrees. Using the hydrophilic staining solution (food red 3), the values of colour change vector were 6 to 9 after immersing them for 70 days at 37 °C, whereas hydrophobic oil orange staining test had a range of 12 to 19. The change of water uptake with time of immersion correlated with that of the colour change vector. With the accelerated test, the minimum value was 4.55 in 65/35 (bis-GMA/TEGDMA) resin. Of the bis-GMA-based resins (25 to 45 wt% fraction of TEGDMA) the minimum value of water uptake and contact angle were obtained.     

Preparation and Characterization of Superconducting B1-Type Mo1-xNbxN Thin Films

Solid-solution thin films, Mo_1−xNb_xN, with B1 (NaCl) structure have been deposited on substrates at 450°C by reactive sputtering of composite targets with Mo and Nb metals in an equimolar Ar and N₂ gas mixture. The lattice parameter of the solid solution increased linearly with an increase of Nb content, x . The superconducting transition temperature, T _c, of the Mo-rich films ( x ≦ 0.12) was around 6 K, which was lower than that expected from theoretical prediction. The residual resistivity ratio, r =ρ(300 K)/ρ(20 K), of the films varied with x , and a minimum value of r was observed in the vicinity of x = 0.5.     

Selective Patterning of Gold Surfaces by Core/Shell,Semisoft Hybrid Nanoparticles

The generation of patterned surfaces with well‐defined nano‐ and microdomains is demonstrated by attaching core/shell, semisoft nanoparticles with narrow size distribution to microdomains of a gold‐coated silicon wafer. Near monodisperse nanoparticles are prepared using reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, initiated from a silica surface, to prepare a polystyrene shell around a silica core. The particles are then used as‐prepared, or after aminolysis of the terminal thiocarbonyl group of the polystyrene shell, to give thiol‐terminated nanoparticles. When gold‐coated silicon wafers are immersed into very dilute suspensions of these particles (as low as 0.004 wt%), both types of particles are shown to adhere to the gold domains. The thiolated particles adhere selectively to the gold microdomains, allowing for microdomain patterning, while particles that contain the trithiocarbonate functionality lead to a much more even coverage of the gold surface with fewer particle aggregations.