Synthesis,structure and photocatalytic properties of nanoparticles from a carbon-containing composite based on silicon oxide modified with titanium dioxide

A pulsed plasmochemical method was used to obtain carbon-containing nanocomposites based on silicon oxide modified with titanium dioxide. The material contained a Si_xC_yO_z carrier with an average size of 50–150?nm and a shell of fine particles with an average size of 5–10?nm. The phase composition and morphology of the synthesized composites was studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The optical and photocatalytic properties of the nanoparticles from the carbon-based composite based on silicon oxide encapsulated in titanium dioxide were studied. The synthesized composite showed a high photocatalytic activity due to the decomposition of methylene blue under the influence of visible light in the wavelength range of 460–630?nm.     

Optimization of Strength‐Electrical Conductivity Properties in Al–2Fe Alloy by Severe Plastic Deformation and Heat Treatment

High‐pressure torsion at room temperature followed by two processing routes, either 1) annealing at 200 °C for 8 h or 2) elevated temperature (200 °C) high‐pressure torsion, are employed to obtain simultaneous increase in mechanical strength and electrical conductivity of Al–2 wt%Fe. The comparative study of microstructure, particle distribution, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity for both processing routes gives the optimal combination of high mechanical strength and high electrical conductivity in Al–2Fe alloy. It is shown that while the mechanical strength is approximately the same for both processing routes (>320 MPa), high‐pressure torsion at elevated temperature results in higher conductivity (≥52% IACS) due to reduction of Fe solute atom concentration in Al matrix compared to annealing treatment. High‐pressure torsion at 200 °C has been demonstrated as a new and effective way for obtaining combination of high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity in Al–Fe alloys.

     

Plasma‐beam alignment of passive liquid crystals (Invited Paper)

Abstract— A plasma‐beam process, developed for the alignment of liquid crystals (LC) in electro‐optic applications, has been successfully applied to align “non‐standard” LC, such as crystalline materials with LC phases at elevated temperatures and reactive mesogenes. In addition to the high alignment quality of the materials, there is no need for an intermediate layer between the substrate and the LC layer. Furthermore, the construction of our source simplifies the alignment procedure of large‐area rigid substrates and the roll‐to‐roll processing of flexible films. This method opens new horizons for optical retarders and polarizers, as well as anisotropic semiconducting films for organic electronics.     

液晶共面取向的等离子处理方法

在受等离子辐照过的一些有机和无机的基板上，获得了高质量的液晶共面取向。与已知的用来改善顶部锚定及预倾角各向同性的等离子处理方法不同，新方法是将等离子束调整到倾斜射向待取向的基板。在所用的辐射参数范围内，所有基板上的LC取向的易取向轴(easy axis)都平行于等离子体传播方向。研究了LC的预倾角和锚定能与等离子束的入射角、辐照时间、能量以及辐照电流密度等的依赖关系。经等离子处理过的基板上，方位角、锚定能与用光取向方法得到的相近，而预倾角与摩擦产生的类似。透过率-电压曲线与等离子处理的和摩擦工艺处理的非常接近。与摩擦取向相同，等离子诱导的取向具有很高的温度和光照的稳定性。也考虑了采用等离子／偏振紫外光和等离子／摩擦处理等组合方法来制作LC图形。     

Nanostructuring of metals by severe plastic deformation for advanced properties

Despite rosy prospects, the use of nanostructured metals and alloys as advanced structural and functional materials has remained controversial until recently. Only in recent years has a breakthrough been outlined in this area, associated both with development of new routes for the fabrication of bulk nanostructured materials and with investigation of the fundamental mechanisms that lead to the new properties of these materials. Although a deep understanding of these mechanisms is still a topic of basic research, pilot commercial products for medicine and microdevices are coming within reach of the market. This progress article discusses new concepts and principles of using severe plastic deformation (SPD) to fabricate bulk nanostructured metals with advanced properties. Special emphasis is laid on the relationship between microstructural features and properties, as well as the first applications of SPD-produced nanomaterials.     

Effect of cold rolling on the structure and hydrogen properties of AZ91 and AM60D magnesium alloys processed by ECAP

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of cold rolling on the structure and hydrogen properties of two magnesium alloys, AZ91 and AM60D, after processing by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). The results show that the use of cold rolling after ECAP significantly increases the preferential texture for hydrogenation and increases the potential for the use of these alloys as hydrogen storage materials. The ECAP was performed through two different numbers of passes in order to give different grain sizes and both materials were subsequently cold-rolled through the same numbers of passes for a comparison of the hydrogenation absorption. It is shown that the hydriding properties are enhanced by an (0001) texture which improves the kinetics primarily in the initial stages of hydrogenation. The results demonstrate that optimum sorption properties may be acquired through a combination of fine grains and appropriate texture.     

Out of the Lab and into the Bathroom: Evening Short-Term Exposure to Conventional Light Suppresses Melatonin and Increases Alertness Perception

Life in 24-h society relies on the use of artificial light at night that might disrupt synchronization of the endogenous circadian timing system to the solar day. This could have a negative impact on sleep–wake patterns and psychiatric symptoms. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of evening light emitted by domestic and work place lamps in a naturalistic setting on melatonin levels and alertness in humans. Healthy subjects (6 male, 3 female, 22–33 years) were exposed to constant dim light (<10 lx) for six evenings from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. On evenings 2 through 6, 1 h before habitual bedtime, they were also exposed to light emitted by 5 different conventional lamps for 30 min. Exposure to yellow light did not alter the increase of melatonin in saliva compared to dim light baseline during (38 ± 27 pg/mL vs. 39 ± 23 pg/mL) and after light exposure (39 ± 22 pg/mL vs. 44 ± 26 pg/mL). In contrast, lighting conditions including blue components reduced melatonin increase significantly both during (office daylight white: 25 ± 16 pg/mL, bathroom daylight white: 24 ± 10 pg/mL, Planon warm white: 26 ± 14 pg/mL, hall daylight white: 22 ± 14 pg/mL) and after light exposure (office daylight white: 25 ± 15 pg/mL, bathroom daylight white: 23 ± 9 pg/mL, Planon warm white: 24 ± 13 pg/mL, hall daylight white: 22 ± 26 pg/mL). Subjective alertness was significantly increased after exposure to three of the lighting conditions which included blue spectral components in their spectra. Evening exposure to conventional lamps in an everyday setting influences melatonin excretion and alertness perception within 30 min.     

Four‐segment oscillator circuit for piezoelectric sensing devices

Novel circuit design is proposed for a low‐frequency quartz crystal oscillator circuit that consists of four segments. The characteristics of the negative resistance in a low‐frequency Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)‐inverter quartz oscillator were reviewed for the two modes of SC (stress‐compensated) cut mode and the overtone of low‐frequency mode; separation of two modes and suppression of overtone oscillation were demonstrated successfully. Experimental results and an estimate of the absolute value of the negative resistance are presented for the four‐segment oscillator circuit and the conventional Colpitts circuit and two new types of oscillator circuits. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.