Efficient PL Emission from p-type Porous Silicon: A Comparative Study for Selection of Effective Anodization Parameters

The physical mechanism of highly efficient photoluminescence (PL) emission from p-type silicon is described by a comparative study of the effectiveness of the etching parameters in an electrochemical anodization technique. Two series of porous silicon samples were prepared in a combination of anodization current and time, to maintain the total amount of anodic charge transfer constant. Photoluminescence studies show that irrespective of the amount of charge transfer, the samples prepared with comparatively higher current density show an efficient PL as well as stronger blueshift in the emission energy vis-à-vis the samples prepared for longer durations. An overall decrease in crystallite size, as estimated by Raman spectral analysis, was observed for both series of samples with the progress of charge transfer. Comparative analysis shows a marginal difference in crystallite size for both series of samples in the initial state of charge transfer, whereas major differences arise at higher values. This is explained with the formation of silicon suboxide on the porous surface at higher current density, leading to initiation of side wall reaction, and higher reduction rate in crystallite size as well as strong luminescence due to the carrier quantum confinement effect.     

An engineering method for complex structural optimization involving both size and topology design variables

This work presents an engineering method for optimizing structures made of bars, beams, plates, or a combination of those components. Corresponding problems involve both continuous (size) and discrete (topology) variables. Using a branched multipoint approximate function, which involves such mixed variables, a series of sequential approximate problems are constructed to make the primal problem explicit. To solve the approximate problems, genetic algorithm (GA) is utilized to optimize discrete variables, and when calculating individual fitness values in GA, a second-level approximate problem only involving retained continuous variables is built to optimize continuous variables. The solution to the second-level approximate problem can be easily obtained with dual methods. Structural analyses are only needed before improving the branched approximate functions in the iteration cycles. The method aims at optimal design of discrete structures consisting of bars, beams, plates, or other components. Numerical examples are given to illustrate its effectiveness, including frame topology optimization, layout optimization of stiffeners modeled with beams or shells, concurrent layout optimization of beam and shell components, and an application in a microsatellite structure. Optimization results show that the number of structural analyses is dramatically decreased when compared with pure GA while even comparable to pure sizing optimization.     

General Decay Synchronization and H ∞ Synchronization of Multi-weighted Coupled Reaction-diffusion Neural Networks

This paper investigates the general decay synchronization and general decay H∞ synchronization problems of multi-weighted coupled reaction-diffusion     

Matrix Transformation in Boron Containing High-Temperature Co–Re–Cr Alloys

An addition of boron largely increases the ductility in polycrystalline high-temperature Co–Re alloys. Therefore, the effect of boron on the alloy structural characteristics is of high importance for the stability of the matrix at operational temperatures. Volume fractions of ε (hexagonal close-packed—hcp), γ (face-centered cubic—fcc) and σ (Cr₂Re₃ type) phases were measured at ambient and high temperatures (up to 1500 °C) for a boron-containing Co–17Re–23Cr alloy using neutron diffraction. The matrix phase undergoes an allotropic transformation from ε to γ structure at high temperatures, similar to pure cobalt and to the previously investigated, more complex Co–17Re–23Cr–1.2Ta–2.6C alloy. It was determined in this study that the transformation temperature depends on the boron content (0–1000 wt. ppm). Nevertheless, the transformation temperature did not change monotonically with the increase in the boron content but reached a minimum at approximately 200 ppm of boron. A probable reason is the interplay between the amount of boron in the matrix and the amount of σ phase, which binds hcp-stabilizing elements (Cr and Re). Moreover, borides were identified in alloys with high boron content.     

Tailoring the electron-blocking layer by addition of YSZ to Ba-containing anode for improvement of ceria-based solid oxide fuel cell

The in-situ fabrication of an electron-blocking layer between the Ba-containing anode and the ceria-based electrolyte is an effective approach in suppressing the internal electronic leakage in ceria-based solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). To improve the thickness of the electron-blocking layer and to research the effect of the layer thickness on the improvement of SOFC, a Ba-containing compound (0.6NiO-0.4BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-δ) modified by Y stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was employed as a composite anode in this research. SEM analyses demonstrated that the thickness of the interlayer can be simply controlled by regulating the proportion of YSZ at anode. The in-situ formed interlayer in the cell with the anode modified by 20?mol% YSZ possesses a thickness of 0.9?µm which is more suitable for the cell achieving an enhanced performance.     

Theoretical Prediction of Chiral 3D Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskites

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs), in particular 3D HOIPs, have demonstrated remarkable properties, including ultralong charge‐carrier diffusion lengths, high dielectric constants, low trap densities, tunable absorption and emission wavelengths, strong spin–orbit coupling, and large Rashba splitting. These superior properties have generated intensive research interest in HOIPs for high‐performance optoelectronics and spintronics. Here, 3D hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites that implant chirality through introducing the chiral methylammonium cation are demonstrated. Based on structural optimization, phonon spectra, formation energy, and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, it is found that the chirality of the chiral cations can be successfully transferred to the framework of 3D HOIPs, and the resulting 3D chiral HOIPs are both kinetically and thermodynamically stable. Combining chirality with the impressive optical, electrical, and spintronic properties of 3D perovskites, 3D chiral perovskites is of great interest in the fields of piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, ferroelectricity, topological quantum engineering, circularly polarized optoelectronics, and spintronics.     

Genes Identification,Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Analysis of Laccases from Amylostereum areolatum Provides Molecular Basis of Laccase Bound to Lignin

An obligate mutualistic relationship exists between the fungus Amylostereum areolatum and woodwasp Sirex noctilio. The fungus digests lignin in the host pine, providing essential nutrients for the growing woodwasp larvae. However, the functional properties of this symbiosis are poorly described. In this study, we identified, cloned, and characterized 14 laccase genes from A. areolatum. These genes encoded proteins of 508 to 529 amino acids and contained three typical copper-oxidase domains, necessary to confer laccase activity. Besides, we performed molecular docking and dynamics simulation of the laccase proteins in complex with lignin compounds (monomers, dimers, trimers, and tetramers). AaLac2, AaLac3, AaLac6, AaLac8, and AaLac10 were found that had low binding energies with all lignin model compounds tested and three of them could maintain stability when binding to these compounds. Among these complexes, amino acid residues ALA, GLN, LEU, PHE, PRO, and SER were commonly present. Our study reveals the molecular basis of A. areolatum laccases interacting with lignin, which is essential for understanding how the fungus provides nutrients to S. noctilio. These findings might also provide guidance for the control of S. noctilio by informing the design of enzyme mutants that could reduce the efficiency of lignin degradation.     

Imaging of two-dimensional unsaturated moisture flows in uncracked and cracked cement-based materials using electrical capacitance tomography

The development of visualizing tools to monitor unsaturated moisture flow in cement-based materials is of great importance, as most degradation processes in cement-based materials are connected to and take place in the presence moisture. This paper investigates the ability of electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) to image two-dimensional (2D) unsaturated moisture flow in cement-based materials. In ECT, the electrical permittivity distribution within an object is reconstructed based on measured capacitances between electrodes attached on the object’s surface. In a series of experiments, mortar specimens with and without discrete cracks were imaged with ECT during a 2D moisture ingress. The results show that ECT is able to monitor the evolution of the moisture flow, and to approximate the shape and position of the moisture front. These findings indicate that ECT is a viable method for monitoring and visualizing 2D unsaturated moisture flow in cement-based materials in the presence and absence of discrete cracks.