Characterization of plasma-sprayed and whisker-reinforced alumina coatings

We have strengthened plasma-sprayed alumina coatings by incorporating SiC or Si₃N₄ whiskers. As a result, we found that the whisker-reinforced coatings were greatly improved in properties such as thermal shock resistance and adhesion. Major features of the plasma-sprayed Al₂O₃–5.0 wt % Si₃N₄, coating were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and thermal radiation measurements.     

On-site indication of fatigue damage under complex loading

A fatigue damage indicator using a microcomputer is reported. The evaluation of damage was based on the rainflow algorithm, the S/N relation and the linear damage rule. Real-time, on-site fatigue damage evaluation was achieved by the investigation of a digital system-oriented rainflow algorithm, by the adoption of an input buffer and by the use of a table where the result of calculating fatigue damage per reversal of strain is stored. A hard-wired logic for the rainflow algorithm was established and was simulated by the microcomputer. Multi-channel monitoring and its applications to cross-analysis are briefly discussed.     

p-channel GaAs SIS (semiconductor-insulator-semiconductor) FET

The first p-channel GaAs SIS (semiconductor-insulator-semiconductor) FET having a p+-GaAs/undoped GaAlAs/undoped GaAs structure is reported. The FET fabricated shows a transconductance of gm=30 mS/mm, a drain conductance of gd=2.5 mS/mm and a threshold voltage of Vth=+0.2 V at 77 K in the dark.     

Surface gradient integrated profiler for X-ray and EUV optics

A new ultraprecise profiler has been developed to measure, for example, asymmetric and aspheric profiles. The principle of our measuring method is that the normal vector at each point on the surface is determined by making the incident light beam on the mirror surface and the reflected beam at that point of coincident. The gradient at each point is calculated from the normal vector, and the surface profile is then obtained by integrating the gradients. The measuring instrument was designed in accordance with the above principle. In the design, four ultraprecise goniometers were applied to adjust the light axis for normal vector measurement. The angle-positioning resolution and accuracy of each goniometer are, respectively, 0.018 and 0.2 μrad. Thus, in the measuring instrument, the most important factor is the accuracy of the normal vectors measured by the goniometers. Therefore, the rotating angle-positioning errors were measured and calibrated. An elliptical profile mirror for nanometer hard-X-ray focusing was measured, and compared with the measured profile using a stitching interferometer. The absolute measurement accuracy of approximately 5 nm (peak-to-valley) was achieved. Then the measurements of 1000-mm-long flat, spherical and parabolic mirrors were demonstrated. The surface profiles of the mirrors were obtained by integrating the interpolated gradient.     

Luminescence of Eu^3 ＋ in LnAlO3 （Ln = Gd, Y） under UV and VUV Excitation

Single phases of LnAlO3 : Eu^3 ( Ln = Gd, Y ) were obtained by the process of evaporation of their nitric acid solution, and then pyrolysis of their nitrate salts. On monitoring by 613 nm emission, broad bands at around 270 and 170nm were observed in the excitation spectrum of Gd0.95Eu0.05AlO3. These peaks could be assigned to charge transfer (CT)transitions of Eu^3 -O^2- and Gd^3 -O^2- respectively. All the transitions observed in Gd0.95Eu0.05AlO3 are faithfully reproduced in the Y0.95Eu0.05AlO3, but with an exception of the ^8S7/2→^6I11/2 transition of Gd^3 . The 153 nm broad band could be the CT transition of Y^3 -O^2 - . Accordingly, the efficiency luminescence of (Gd, Y) BO3 : Eu^3 was explained as a result of CT transitions of Gd^3 -O^2- and Y^3 -O^2- under 147 nm excitation. Under VUV excitation, Gd0.95Eu0.05AlO3 exhibits a bright red luminescence with CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.623, 0. 335) with a PL intensity of 30 of the commercial phosphor (Gd, Y) BO3 : Eu^3 (KX-504A). The PL spectrum of Y0.95Eu0.05AlO3 is similar to that of Gd0.95Eu0.05AlO3. Calculation of the color coordinates gives x = 0. 636, y = 0. 340 with a PL intensity of 50 of the (Gd, Y) BO3 : Eu^3 ( KX-504A) for Y0.95Eu0.05AlO3, and confirms that it has the appearance of pure spectral red, corresponding approximately to 608 nm. It can be concluded that LnAlO3:Eu^3 is a promising red VUV phosphor.     

A study on reactivity insertion controlled LMR cores with metallic fuel

An inherently safe core concept with metallic fuel for sodium cooled fast reactor is proposed that has a negative void reactivity at the loss of coolant events without scram as well as a small excess reactivity during the operation cycle. The relationship of sodium void reactivities and burn-up reactivities to different core configurations has been studied quantitatively to clarify the core concept for large metallic fuel reactors. It has shown that the sodium void reactivity is greatly dependent on the core shapes while the excess reactivity is on the fuel compositions. It has also indicated that the core configuration that enables to enhance the neutron streaming through the region above the active core at coolant voiding is most effective to decrease sodium void reactivity.

A 3000 MWt core composed of the flat inner core and annular outer core where the fuel volume fraction is relatively high and the sodium plenum is placed just above the active core region has been selected as a candidate core.

The maximum excess reactivity of the candidate core at UTOP is about 0.4 $ and it can be reduced to approximately zero by power or inlet temperature adjustment during the operation cycle, meanwhile the sodium void reactivity is as low as -1.3 $ in negative that is enough to prevent ULOF sequences.     

Defect Engineering and Surface Functionalization of Nanocarbons for Metal‐Free Catalysis

With the advent of carbon nanotechnology, which initiated significant research efforts more than two decades ago, novel materials for energy harvesting and storage have emerged at an amazing pace. Nevertheless, some fundamental applications are still dominated by traditional materials, and it is especially evident in the case of catalysis, and environmental‐related electrochemical reactions, where precious metals such as Pt and Ir are widely used. Several strategies are being explored for achieving competitive and feasible metal‐free carbon nanomaterials, among which doping and defect engineering approaches within nanocarbons are recurrent and promising. Here, the most recent efforts regarding the control of doping and defects in carbon nanostructures for catalysis, and in particular for energy‐related applications, are addressed. Finally, an overview of alternative proposals that can make a difference when enabling carbon nanomaterials as efficient and emerging catalysts is presented.