Relation of the polymeric ion species in plasma to the hardness of a-C:H film made by PSII&D

The amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films formed by plasma source ion implantation and deposition (PSII&D) have expanded the tribological properties. Especially, the hardness can be widely changed by adequately selecting RF power, pulse bias voltage, gas species and gas pressure. Previously, we reported that a-C:H film hardness depended on the electron temperature in C₂H₂ plasma which was ignited with pulsed RF power, and that the hardness was in inverse proportion to the electron temperature in the range of less than 2.5 eV. We have discovered that the film hardness is, in some cases, changing even if the electron temperature is constant. This suggests that there are some new factors to determine the film hardness besides the electron temperature in the plasma. In this study, we employ a quadrupole mass spectrometer to measure the intensity of each polymeric ion in C₂H₂. The film hardness is determined by the synergy of the polymeric ion abundances and ion irradiation.     

Selection of soldering temperature for ultrasonic-assisted soldering of 5056 aluminum alloy using Zn-Al system solders

The conditions for sound butt-joints of 5056 aluminum alloy containing 4.6 mass% Mg using Zn-xAl (x = 5, 13, and 38 mass%) solder at the relevant temperatures were investigated. Each solder foil was inserted between faying surfaces of 5056 aluminum rods. Ultrasonic vibration at a frequency of 19 kHz was applied to the faying surfaces through an aluminum substrate at soldering temperatures for 4 s in air. The strength of obtained solder joints was measured by tensile tests. The microstructure in the solder layer after the soldering process was evaluated with an SEM-EDX. The results of tensile tests revealed that joints soldered under the liquidus temperature of Zn-Al solders showed higher strength than joints soldered over the liquidus temperature. In the joints soldered over the solder liquidus temperature, the joint strength decreased with an increase in soldering temperature. It was caused by the formation of MgZn₂ in the solder layer due to dissolution of 5056-Al into the solder liquid during the soldering process. On the other hand, ultrasonic-assisted soldering under the solder liquidus temperature suppressed dissolution of 5056-Al and improved the joint strength by reducing the formation of MgZn₂.     

Shelf-life time test of p- and n-channel organic thin film transistors using copper phthalocyanines

P- and n-type channel thin film transistors (OTFTs) were fabricated by using hexadecahydrogen copper phthalocyanine (H₁₆CuPc) and hexadecafluoro copper phthalocyanine (F₁₆CuPc) molecules, respectively. Top-contact and bottom-contact source-drain configurations were used for both semiconductors. Furthermore, the temperature and film thickness dependences on the mobility values were measured in the saturation regime of source-drain current. Unipolar mobilities in such single-layer OTFTs were correlated to thin film morphology by X-ray diffraction analysis and atomic force microscopy measurements. Shelf-life time tests of p-type and n-type OTFTs are detailed as OTFT configuration and substrate temperature dependence over a time period of 100 days.     

Influence of effective surface area on gas sensing properties of WO3 sputtered thin films

WO₃ thin films having different effective surface areas were deposited under various discharge gas pressures at room temperature by using reactive magnetron sputtering. The microstructure of WO₃ thin films was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and by the measurement of physical adsorption isotherms. The effective surface area and pore volume of WO₃ thin films increase with increasing discharge gas pressure from 0.4 to 12 Pa. Gas sensors based on WO₃ thin films show reversible response to NO₂ gas and H₂ gas at an operating temperature of 50-300 °C. The peak sensitivity is found at 200 °C for NO₂ gas and the peak sensitivity appears at 300 °C for H₂ gas. For both kinds of detected gases, the sensor sensitivity increases linearly with an increase of effective surface area of WO₃ thin films. The results demonstrate the importance of achieving high effective surface area on improving the gas sensing performance.     

All solid-state sheet battery using lithium inorganic solid electrolyte, thio-LISICON

All solid-state sheet lithium battery was developed using inorganic solid electrolyte, thio-LISICON (Li_3.25Ge_0.25P_0.75S₄), Li–Al anode, and Mo₆S₈ cathode materials, and the sheet manufacturing process was established. The new sheet-configuration was consisted of the cathode with the grid of current collector, electrolyte sheet with or without mechanical support, and aluminum/lithium composite sheet anode. A sheet battery with a dimension of 30 mm × 30 mm showed good charge–discharge characteristics without any capacity fading at a current of 0.1 mA.     

Improved method to simulate gradient in alumina packing fraction in alumina/epoxy composite fabricated by a centrifugal method

A centrifugal method was used to fabricate large‐scale functionally graded materials (FGMs) from solid‐particles/viscous‐matrix mixtures at room temperature. The conventional simulation procedure of the centrifugal process was improved by considering the dependency of the viscosity η of the mixture on the packing fraction ν_p of particle, the effects of arbitrary shape of the actual fillers on η, the statistical dispersion of the diameters of the actual fillers, and the formation and growth of the fully packed layer (FPL) near the FGM bottom. The new simulation method was applied to three centrifugal processes employed for experimental FGM fabrications from alumina/epoxy mixtures. The numerical profiles of ν_p are in good agreement with the experimental ones regardless of the shapes of fillers and 'ponding viscosity of the solutions without fillers, the total amount of fillers loaded, and the centrifugal conditions. The saturating nature of ν_p near the far end of the FGM column is also simulated with reasonable precision. Finally, the manner in which the particles exert varying influences on the gradient of ν_p is demonstrated: the particles exhibit different movements depending on their size. On the basis of these results, the effectiveness of the new simulation method proposed is confirmed for the modeling of similar processes involved in the fabrication of FGMs from solid‐particles/viscous‐matrix mixtures by the centrifugal method. © 2006 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal spray coating on conductor rolls in electroplating line

In electroplating lines,many conductor rolls are installed in electroplating bath.Typical electroplatings are tin plating(ETL) and zinc plating(EGL),and from required product qualities,a vertical cell for the former and a horizontal cell for the latter is often used.Generally,chrome plating or WC cermet thermal spray coating is applied to stainless steel conductor roll in ETL for prolonging service life by improvement of wear resistance and corrosion resistance.On the other hand,Hastelloy type alloy subs...     

Nanocube Superlattices of Cesium Lead Bromide Perovskites and Pressure‐Induced Phase Transformations at Atomic and Mesoscale Levels

Lead halide perovskites are promising materials for a range of applications owing to their unique crystal structure and optoelectronic properties. Understanding the relationship between the atomic/mesostructures and the associated properties of perovskite materials is crucial to their application performances. Herein, the detailed pressure processing of CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocube superlattices (NC‐SLs) is reported for the first time. By using in situ synchrotron‐based small/wide angle X‐ray scattering and photoluminescence (PL) probes, the NC‐SL structural transformations are correlated at both atomic and mesoscale levels with the band‐gap evolution through a pressure cycle of 0 ? 17.5 GPa. After the pressurization, the individual CsPbBr₃ NCs fuse into 2D nanoplatelets (NPLs) with a uniform thickness. The pressure‐synthesized perovskite NPLs exhibit a single cubic crystal structure, a 1.6‐fold enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield, and a longer emission lifetime than the starting NCs. This study demonstrates that pressure processing can serve as a novel approach for the rapid conversion of lead halide perovskites into structures with enhanced properties.     

Effect of Hypoxia on Pulmonary Endothelial Cells from Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Model Mice

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and fatal disorder characterized by dysregulated repair after recurrent injury. Destruction of the lung architecture with excess extracellular matrix deposition induces respiratory failure with hypoxia and progressive dyspnea. The impact of hypoxia on pulmonary endothelial cells during pulmonary fibrogenesis is unclear. Using a magnetic-activated cell sorting system, pulmonary endothelial cells were isolated from a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheally administered bleomycin. When endothelial cells were exposed to hypoxic conditions, a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α protein was detected in CD31- and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive cells. Levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, von Willebrand factor, and matrix metalloproteinase 12 were increased in endothelial cells isolated from bleomycin-treated mice exposed to hypoxic conditions. When endothelial cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions, levels of fibrotic mediators, transforming growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor, were elevated only in endothelial cells from bleomycin-treated and not from saline-treated lungs. The increased expression of α-SMA and mesenchymal markers and collagen production in bleomycin- or hypoxia-stimulated endothelial cells were further elevated in endothelial cells from bleomycin-treated mouse lungs cultured under hypoxic conditions. Exposure to hypoxia damaged endothelial cells and enhanced fibrogenesis-related damage in bleomycin-treated pulmonary endothelial cells.