Photoluminescence and LED application of β-SiAlON:Eu2+ green phosphor

We successfully prepared β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ phosphors with composition of Eu_xSi_6?zAl_zO_yN_8?y (y = z ? 2x, x = 0.018, z = 0.23) by gas-pressured synthesis for application to LED. The crystal phase, microstructure, PL emission and thermal quenching properties were investigated in detail. The β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ phosphors absorbed broad UV–vis spectral region, and showed a single intense broadband emission near 538 nm. The Stokes shift and zero-phonon line were calculated mathematically, and also estimated from the spectral data. The β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ green phosphor showed superior thermal quenching properties compared to commercial silicate (SrBaSiO₄:Eu²⁺) green phosphor. The white light-emitting diode (LED) using the prepared β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ green phosphor exhibited high color gamut, and good optical stability in high working temperature.     

Fabrication and Characterization of Nanoscale Ferroelectric Honeycombs

Nanoscale ferroelectric honeycombs, comprised of vertically aligned PbTiO₃ nanotubes, are fabricated by vapor phase reaction between lead acetate‐infiltrated TiO₂ nanotubes and PbO vapor. PbTiO₃ nanohoneycombs converted by vapor phase reaction at 550°C showed well‐aligned nanoscale structure with alignment angle less than 1° and well‐defined ferroelectric properties with the effective piezoelectric coefficient of 44 pm/V. This novel nanoscale structure is expected to facilitate high efficiency sensing of electromechanical and electrochemical stimuli.     

Lower Tropospheric Aerosol Measurements by MAX-DOAS During Severe Asian Dust Period

A recently developed aerosol retrieval algorithm based on O₄ slant column densities (SCDs) measured at a visible wavelength (476 nm) was utilized to derive aerosol information (e.g., aerosol optical depth (AOD) and vertical distributions of aerosol extinction coefficients (AECs)) in the lower troposphere during a severe Asian dust period. The MAX-DOAS measurements were carried out at Gwangju, Korea for nearly three months from February through May 2008. Comparison with AOD and surface PM₁₀, measured by collocated sunphotometer and beta gauge sampler, were made to validate the retrieved AODs and AECs in the atmospheric layer surface to 1 km height above ground. On the Asian dust days, temporal variations of the AODs retrieved from MAX-DOAS measurements show similar patterns, but with reduced magnitudes, to those measured by sunphotometer whereas similar AOD magnitude and temporal variation was observed between MAX-DOAS and sunphotometer measurements during the non-episodic days. Smaller correlation was observed between the surface PM₁₀ and AECs at 0.5 km during the Asian dust period compared to the correlation obtained for the non episodic days. This study demonstrates the ability of MAX-DOAS as a remote sensing technique for surface aerosol measurements under conditions of homogeneously distributed pollution in the planetary boundary layer. However, for the measurement of significantly enhanced aerosol loads with heterogeneous vertical distribution (e.g., Asian dust), measured AODs and AECs are underestimated at altitudes above 1 km due to decreased sensitivity of MAX-DOAS measurements at high altitudes.     

Novel High‐Temperature Antiferroelectric‐Based Dielectric NaNbO3–NaTaO3 Solid Solutions Processed in Low Oxygen Partial Pressures

The (1?x)NaNbO₃–(x)NaTaO₃ solid solution was investigated for x ≤ 0.4 in terms of new high‐temperature and high‐permittivity dielectric system that is suitable for base metal inner electrode capacitor applications. The addition of Ta significantly enhanced the resistivity of the dielectric, resulting in superior resistivity than the dielectrics‐formulated BaTiO₃ systems that dominate the multilayer ceramic capacitor dielectric devices. The voltage dependence of the permittivity was also superior to BaTiO₃‐based materials, providing higher capacitance at higher temperatures. A transmission electron microscopy study illustrated that the grains had so‐called core‐shell structure. According to the electron diffraction analysis, the core region had an inhomogeneous structure between antiferroelectric and ferroelectric phases, and shell region had an incommensurate ferroelectric‐like structure. The core and shell region had Nb‐ and Ta‐rich composition, respectively, and their interface was compositionally sharp, implying that shell region was formed via a liquid phase during the sintering process with an incongruent Ta dissolution reprecipitation. We anticipate that these or similar materials based on the alkali‐niobate perovskites can be further enhanced to provide capacitor solutions from 150°C to 250°C, which is an important range for a number of new AC–DC invertor and engine control units.     

Development and characterization of covalently cross-linked SPEEK/Cs-TPA/CeO2 composite membrane and membrane electrode assembly for water electrolysis

Covalently cross-linked SPEEK/Cs-TPA/CeO₂ composite membrane was prepared for the polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis. Tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) with a cesium was added to the SPEEK to increase proton conductivity. CeO₂ was used to scavenge free radicals which attack the membrane in the water electrolysis and to improve the durability of the membrane. The composite membrane featured the electrochemical characteristics, such as 0.130 S/cm of proton conductivity at 80 °C, and 2.324 meq./g-dry-memb. of ion-exchange capacity. Pt(NH₃)₄Cl₂, Pd(NH₃)₄Cl₂, RhCl₃ and Co(NH₆)₄Cl₃ were used to prepare a variety of the membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) as electrocatalytic precursors. Electrochemical activity surface area (ESA) of the Pt–Pd electrode prepared with 2 mM Pt(NH₃)₄Cl₂ and 2 mM Pd(NH₃)₄Cl₂ showed the best properties of 26.2 m²/g with CL-SPEEK/Cs-TPA/CeO₂ membrane. In water electrolysis performance, the cell voltage of Pd/PEM/Pt–Pd MEA with CL-SPEEK/Cs-TPA/CeO₂(1%) composite membrane showed cell property of 1.82 V at 1 A cm⁻² and 80 °C.     

Effect of substrate on the phase transformation of TiO2 in pearlescent pigment

The TiO₂/substrate pearlescent pigments were prepared by the hydrolysis of TiOCl₂ on the substrate followed by a calcinations process. The natural mica (muscovite), synthetic mica (fluorophlogopite) and -alumina flake were selected as the substrates for pearlescent pigments. The effect of substrate on the anatase to rutile (A–R) phase transformation of TiO₂ was studied. The A–R phase transformation of TiO₂ during the preparation of pearlescent pigments and their proportion in the TiO₂ layer have been analyzed by XRD measurements. The phase compositions of TiO₂ layer in each pearlescent pigment are quite different depending on the substrates. The TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina has higher rutile fraction than those on the natural and synthetic mica. The XPS analysis showed that the cations originally present in the substrates diffused into the TiO₂ layer. The TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina contains Al, while those on the natural and synthetic mica substrates contain Si and K in addition to Al. The metal cations diffusing from the substrate into TiO₂ layer might retard the A–R phase transformation of TiO₂. The suppressing effect on the A–R transformation of TiO₂ by mixed cations seems to be much stronger than that of single cation, resulting in relatively higher rutile fraction in the case of TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina.     

Characteristics of polystyrene/polyethylene/clay nanocomposites prepared by ultrasound‐assisted mixing process

In this study, polymer‐clay nanocomposites of various concentrations were prepared by ultrasonically assisted polymerization and melt‐mixing processes. A sonication process using power ultrasonic waves was employed to enhance nano‐scale dispersion during melt‐mixing of polymer blends and organically modified clay. We expected enhanced breakup of layered silicate bundles and further reduction in the size of the dispersed phase, with better homogeneity compared to the different immiscible blend pairs. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the structures of the nanocomposites. The rheological behaviors of the obtained nanocomposites were measured with parallel plate rheometry. It was found that the ultrasound‐assisted process successfully generated exfoliated nanocomposites and promoted in‐situ compatibilization of the matrix comprising an immiscible pair of polymers in a blend. The resulting nanocomposite exhibited superior thermal stability and elastic modulus compared to the base polymer. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1198–1204, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Kinematics, kinetics and muscle activities of the lower extremity during the first four steps from gait initiation to the steady-state walking

In this study, biomechanical characteristics during the whole process of gait initiation for twenty normal healthy volunteers were determined by the motion analysis with six near-infrared cameras, four forceplates, and an EMG system. Gait initiation, a transitional movement phenomenon from quiet stance to steady-state walking, involves a series of muscular activities, GRFs, movements of COP and COM, and joint motions. Results showed that the location of the net COP to be most lateral during double limb stance at the beginning of gait initiation. During gait initiation, changes in anteroposterior components of GRFs were first found and then changes in vertical components followed. Hip and knee motions were found before the ankle joint motion. Walking speed, step length, and stride length gradually increased until the second step. The interaction between the COM and COP is tightly regulated to control the trajectory of the COM and thereby control total body balance. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Hong Hee Yoo Sun-Woo Park received a B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Yonsei University in 2006. He is currently a M.S. candidate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Korea. His research interests in the area of Human Movement and detection of gait phase using motion sensors. Hue-Seok Choi received a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from Daejeon University in 2004. He is currently a P.D. candidate at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Yonsei University, Korea. His research interests are in the area of Human Movement and Rehabilitation Engineering. Ki-Hong Ryu received a B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Yonsei University in 1998 and 2001, respectively. He is currently a P.D. candidate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Korea. His research interests are in the area of Human Movement and Gait Training System using Functional Electrical Stimulation. Sa-Yup Kim received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Yeungnam University in 2002 and M.S. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Yonsei University in 2006. He is currently working from Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in Cheonan, Korea. Young-Ho Kim received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Hanyang University in 1982. He then went on to receive his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Iowa in 1989 and 1991, respectively. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Korea. His research interests are in the area of Human Movement, Rehabilitation Engineering, and Biomechanics.     

Precipitate phases of a ferritic/martensitic 9% Cr steel for nuclear power reactors

One of the reasons that ferritic/martenstic steels have been considered as candidate materials for nuclear power reactors is their superior creep resistance at elevated temperature. The creep rupture strength of 9% chromium steel could be improved by a fine dispersion of secondary precipitate phase. The precipitate phases in extra-low carbon 9% chromium steel with tempered conditions were investigated by transmission electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The steel specimens were normalized and then tempered at different temperatures. Niobium-rich MN nitrides (Nb_0.6V_0.3Cr_0.1)N, and two kinds of vanadium nitrides, (V_0.6Nb_0.2Cr_0.2)N and (V_0.45Nb_0.45Cr_0.1)N having a f.c.c. crystal structure, were identified in the steel specimens tempered at 600-780 °C, and 750 or 780 °C respectively. Hexagonal chromium-rich M₂N precipitate phases with different lattice parameters, a = 2.80 Å/c = 4.45 Å and a = 7.76 Å/c = 4.438 Å, were determined in the tempered steel specimens. The M₂N phase showed a decrease/an increase in its chromium/vanadium content as the tempering temperature was increased. The influence of precipitates and heat treatment conditions on the high temperature properties of 9% Cr steel was discussed.     

Thermophysical properties of (U,Y)O2

We prepared polycrystalline pellets of (U,Y)O₂, containing YO_1.5 up to 11 mol.%. We performed indentation tests on the pellets, and evaluated the Young’s modulus and hardness. We measured the heat capacity and the thermal diffusivity, and evaluated the thermal conductivity. We succeeded in evaluating the effect of Y content on the thermophysical properties of (U,Y)O₂. We revealed that the Young’s modulus, hardness, and thermal conductivity of (U,Y)O₂ decreased with increasing the Y content.