ZnO Nanoplatelets with Controlled Thickness: Atomic Insight into Facet-Specific Bimodal Ligand Binding Using DNP NMR

Colloidal nanoplatelets (NPLs) and nanosheets with controlled thickness have recently emerged as an exciting new class of quantum-sized nanomaterials with substantially distinct optical properties compared to 0D quantum dots. Zn-based NPLs are an attractive heavy-metal-free alternative to the so far most widespread cadmium chalcogenide colloidal 2D semiconductor nanostructures, but their synthesis remains challenging to achieve. The authors describe herein, to the best of their knowledge, the first synthesis of highly stable ZnO NPLs with the atomically precise thickness, which for the smallest NPLs is 3.2 nm (corresponding to 12 ZnO layers). Furthermore, by means of dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state ¹⁵N NMR, the original role of the benzamidine ligands in stabilizing the surface of these nanomaterials is revealed, which can bind to both the polar and non-polar ZnO facets, acting either as X- or L-type ligands, respectively. This bimodal stabilization allows obtaining hexagonal NPLs for which the surface energy of the facets is modulated by the presence of the ligands. Thus, in-depth study of the interactions at the organic–inorganic interfaces provides a deeper understanding of the ligand–surface interface and should facilitate the future chemistry of stable-by-design nano-objects.     

System- and circuit-level optimization of PLL designs for DVB-T/H receivers

This article proposes a framework for the optimization of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) designs in frequency synthesizers for digital video broadcasting ?C terrestrial/handheld (DVB-T/H) receivers. Linear time-invariant phase-domain model of a charge-pump phase-locked loop (PLL) is devised and includes both flicker (1/f) and thermal noise contributions from the loop oscillators. By modeling the entire receiver, it is shown that there are combinations of flicker and thermal noise contributions that result in a constant sum of inter-carrier interference (ICI) and adjacent channel interference, and constant symbol error rate as well. Consequently, optimization of the VCO phase noise spectrum is defined while maintaining the standard-specified symbol-error rate. Link-level performance evaluation is carried out to validate the stipulated trade-off. The effect of ICI mitigation schemes is discussed. Circuit-level VCO design approaches utilizing the derived trade-off are finally presented. The proposed optimization procedure is generic and is also applicable to other systems based on Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing.     

Design, implementation and measurement of a 120 GHz 10 Gb/s phase-modulating transmitter in 65 nm LP CMOS

A novel mm-wave phase modulating transmit architecture, capable of achieving data rates as high as 10 Gb/s is presented at 120 GHz. The circuit operates at a frequency of 120 GHz. The modulator consists of a differential branchline coupler and a high speed 4-to-1 analog multiplexer with direct digital input. Both a QPSK as well as a 8QAM constellation are supported. To achieve high output power, a 9-stage power amplifier is designed and connected to the multiplexer output. The complete chip is integrated in a 65 nm low power CMOS technology. Capacitive neutralization is used to achieve high gain and good stability for the MOS devices. Also, various differential transmission line topologies are investigated to achieve high performance in terms of loss and area consumption.     

On the profile of temperature dependent series resistance in Al/Si3N4/p-Si (MIS) Schottky diodes

The temperature dependence of capacitance-voltage (C-V) and conductance-voltage (G/w-V) characteristics of metal-insulator-semiconductor (Al/Si₃N₄/p-Si) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) was investigated by considering series resistance effect in the temperature range of 80-300 K. It is found that in the presence of series resistance, the forward bias C-V plots exhibit a peak, and experimentally show that the peak positions with a maximum at 260 K shift toward lower voltages with increasing temperature. The C-V and (G/w-V) characteristics confirm that the interface state density (N_ss) and series resistance (R_s) of the diode are important parameters that strongly influence the electric parameters of MIS structures. The crossing of the G/w-V curves appears as an abnormality compared to the conventional behavior of ideal Schottky diode. It is thought that the presence of series resistance keeps this intersection hidden and unobservable in homogeneous Schottky diodes, but it appears in the case of inhomogeneous Schottky diode. In addition, the high frequency (C_m) and conductance (G_m/w) values measured under both reverse and forward bias were corrected for the effect of series resistance to obtain the real diode capacitance.     

Design of practical broadband matching networks with commensurate transmission lines

To design broadband matching networks for microwave communication systems, commercially available computer aided design (CAD) tools are always preferred. But these tools need proper matching network topology and element values. Therefore, in this paper, a practical method is proposed to generate distributed-element matching networks with good initial element values. Then, the gain performance of the designed matching network can be optimized employing these tools. The utilization of the proposed method is illustrated by means of the given example. It is shown that proposed method provides very good initials for CAD tools.     

基于SVD-SURF的宽基线鲁棒景象匹配算法

提出一种基于SVD-SURF的宽基线鲁棒景象匹配算法。首先,在实时图与基准图奇异值分解的基础上构建SURF尺度空间,运用快速Hessian矩阵定位极值点;然后,计算出图像的64维SURF描述子;最后,通过Hessian矩阵迹进行特征点匹配,并利用RANSAC参数估计方法剔除出格点,从而实现位置参数的精确估计。实测航空图像序列位置估计实验表明了该景象匹配算法对图像的旋转、尺度变换及噪声不敏感,具有较强的实时性、精确性和鲁棒性。     

Rayonnement en ondes métriques et décimétriques des orages

This article presents the result of the current knowledge on the very high frequency electromagnetic radiation of lightning. A phenomenology analysis of the new results obtained from the study of triggered lightning in New Mexico (TRIP 82) and at Saint-Privat-d’ Allier in Haute-Loire, France (1983) is first described. The authors then present the spectral and temporal characteristics of the VHF/UHF radiation which can be applied to the electromagnetic compatibility of systems. From a synthesis of the experimental and theoretical contributions, they propose a reflection on the lightning initiation process and on the mechanisms generating lightning radiation.     

Effective viscoelastic behavior of short fibers composites using virtual DMA experiments

Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials - May it be for environmental or economic reasons, mass reduction has become one of the main goals in mechanics. The short fiber thermoplastics composite is an...     

Modeling Lightning Impact Thermo-Mechanical Damage on Composite Materials

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, used in primary structures for aircraft due to an excellent strength-to-weight ratio when compared with conventional aluminium alloy counterparts, may nowadays be considered as mature structural materials. Their use has been extended in recent decades, with several aircraft manufacturers delivering fuselages entirely manufactured with carbon composites and using advanced processing technologies. However, one of the main drawbacks of using such composites entails their poor electrical conductivity when compared with aluminium alloy competitors that leads to lightning strikes being considered a significant threat during the service life of the aircraft. Traditionally, this problem was overcome with the use of a protective copper/bronze mesh that added additional weight and reduced the effectiveness of use of the material. Moreover, this traditional sizing method is based on vast experimental campaigns carried out by subjecting composite panels to simulated lightning strike events. While this method has proven its validity, and is necessary for certification of the structure, it may be optimized with the aid provided by physically based numerical models. This paper presents a model based on the finite element method that includes the sources of damage observed in a lightning strike, such as thermal damage caused by Joule overheating and electromagnetic/acoustic pressures induced by the arc around the attachment points. The results of the model are compared with lightning strike experiments carried out in a carbon woven composite.