Modification of tribological performance of DLC films by means of some elements addition

The elements added diamond-like carbon films (hydrogen, fluorine, and sulfur) fabricated from C₂H₂:H₂, C₂H₂:CF₄ and C₂H₂:SF₆ mixtures were used to compare and study the effects of element contents on the deposition and tribological properties of films prepared by plasma-based ion implantation (PBII). The structure of the films was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. Hardness and elastic modulus of films were measured by nano-indentation hardness testing. Contact angle and surface energy of films were measured by contact angle measurement. Tribological characteristics of films were performed using a ball-on-disk friction tester. The results indicate that with the increasing element contents, the hardness and elastic modulus, and surface energy of all films decreases, while the surface angle tends to increase. Additionally, H-DLC films at C:H flow rate ratio of 1:4 shows a friction coefficient of 0.08 under ambient air, which are considerable improvement in the tribological properties. This is due to the formation of a transfer films on the interface and high hydrogen contents. For F-DLC films and S-DLC films, does not show a significant decrease in the friction coefficient with the fluorine and sulfur contents under ambient air. The decrease in the friction coefficient is greater under high vacuum than under ambient air.     

Electrical Properties of Silica-Based Nanocomposites with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

Fully dense multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/SiO₂ nanocomposites with MWCNTs contents of 5 and 10 vol% have been processed by spark plasma sintering, and the electrical conductivities of the nanocomposites were evaluated at temperatures ranging from 5 to 300 K. It has been found that the incorporation of MWCNTs converted an insulating silica nanoceramic into metallically conductive composites. The room-temperature conductivities of the nanocomposites, with over 14 orders of magnitude compared with pure silica, are in the range of 8 and 65 S/m. Also, it was interestingly found that the conductivity increased linearly with temperature from 5 to 300 K.     

估算本征吸收技术中洁净区宽度的简捷方法

本文研究了在本征吸收技术中,硅片中氧外扩散后其浓度纵向分布的特点,提出了一种根据氧的外扩散时间来估算本征吸收技术中洁净区宽度的简捷方法。根据该方法能够很方便地估算出任意外扩散时间下的洁净区宽度,且在洁净区宽度小于20微米范围内,其结果与理论计算值之绝对误差小于1微米。     

Separation of PRMMC into matrix alloy and reinforcements by nozzle filtering method

The SiC_P/Al–4 mass%Cu alloy composites fabricated by a low-pressure infiltration process (LPI process) were remelted and separated by nozzle filtering method. In the separation process, the PRMMC specimen was placed in a container with a small nozzle at the bottom. The molten PRMMC was forced to flow out through the nozzle by applying a certain pressure of Ar gas. Most of the molten matrix alloy flowed out through the nozzle and the remainder in the container consisted of SiC particles and a part of the matrix alloy. The particle volume fraction of the remainder was higher than that of the original PRMMC and the remainder would work as a filter to separate SiC particles from the matrix alloy melt. When nozzle tip angle was ranged from 60° to 120°, about 80% of matrix alloy in the PRMMC was separated and few SiC particles were observed in the separated matrix alloy. The surface of recovered SiC particles became slightly roughened due to the reaction with the molten matrix during the separation process. However, this is not expected to affect their reuse.     

Interface Microstructure and Interface Degradation Behavior in SiC Fiber-Reinforced Ti-15-3 Matrix Composite During Cyclic Loading

This study consists of following two sections: (i) interface microstructure observation and (ii) interface degradationevaluation during fatigue. The microstructure of the interfacial reaction layer in SiC(SCS-6) fiberreinforced Ti-15-3 alloy matrix composite has been studied using transmission electron microscopy.     

CMOS retinal prosthesis with on-chip electrode impedance measurement

A retinal prosthesis device with built-in self-test capability is proposed and demonstrated. The measurement of electrode impedance as a self-test is achieved without increasing the chip area by employing analogue multiplexers to allow the electrodes to be used for both stimulation of retinal cells and measurement of impedance. Measurement is performed using a four-terminal method to ensure good accuracy. A prototype stimulus chip with 16/spl times/16 channels is fabricated using standard 0.6 /spl mu/m CMOS technology, and is demonstrated to provide self-test functionality with error of as little as 0.05% in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 100 kHz.     

Water vapor solubility of poly(lactic acid) films modified the surface by vacuum ultraviolet irradiation

Surface modification of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) film is performed via 172 nm excimer lamp irradiation. Effects on water vapor solubility and physical properties via vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation are studied systematically. After VUV irradiation, water vapor solubility increases approximately 11–43% in the low‐pressure region and approximately 20–38% in the high‐pressure region as surface hydrophilicity increased. The increase is attributed to hydrogen bonding with the carboxyl groups because of VUV radiation. The modified layer is significantly swelling after water vapor sorption. The hydrophilic layer forms a thickness of 2–3 μm from the irradiated surface via VUV radiation, but no changes are observed inside the irradiated film. Therefore, PLA film solubility after irradiation is enhanced by hydrophilicity and the swelling effect of the surface. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42200.     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Malonic Acid Half Thioesters to Coumarin‐3‐carboxylic Acids Using N‐Heteroarenesulfonyl Cinchona Alkaloid Amides

We disclose herein an efficient enantioselective conjugate addition reaction between coumarin‐3‐carboxylic acids and malonic acid half thioesters (MAHTs). The reaction was catalyzed by N‐heteroarenesulfonyl Cinchona alkaloid amides to afford double‐decarboxylative conjugate addition products in good yield with high enantioselectivity. The reaction of various coumarin‐3‐carboxylic acids with MAHTs gave products in high yield with high enantioselectivity.

     

Decreasing resistances of membrane-electrode assemblies containing hydrocarbon-based ionomers for improving their anodic performances

To improve methanol-oxidation performances of membrane-electrode assemblies composed of a hydrocarbon-based ionomers, the resistances involved in the reaction were decreased. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the proton-conductive resistance (R_i) in the anode was decreased from 0.54 to 0.40 Ω cm² by increasing a loading ratio of platinum-ruthenium to carbon support of anode catalyst from 54 to 73 wt.%. In addition, R_i was decreased to be 0.25 Ω cm² by increasing ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of the ionomer from 1.4 to 2.9 mequiv. g⁻¹. Consequently, the polarization resistance of the anode was significantly decreased, in turn, increasing current density of methanol oxidation at the potential of 0.45 V from 0.110 to 0.244 A cm⁻².