Oxygen plasma assisted end-opening and field emission enhancement in vertically aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes

This paper highlights the changes in micro-structural and field emission properties of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) via oxygen plasma treatment. We find that exposure of very low power oxygen plasma (6 W) at 13.56 MHz for 15–20 min, opens the tip of vertically aligned CNTs. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images were used to identify the quality and micro-structural changes of the nanotube morphology and surfaces. Raman spectra showed that the numbers of defects were increased throughout the oxygen plasma treatment process. In addition, the hydrophobic nature of the VACNTs is altered significantly and the contact angle decreases drastically from 110° to 40°. It was observed that the electron field emission (EFE) characteristics are significantly enhanced. The turn-on electric field (ETOE) of CNTs decreased from ∼0.80 V μm⁻¹ (untreated) to ∼0.60 V μm⁻¹ (oxygen treated). We believe that the open ended VACNTs would be immensely valuable for applications such as micro/nanofluidic based filtering elements and display devices.     

Distribution of Badial Error in the Bivariate Elliptical Normal Distribution

This note is concerned with the distribution of radial error in the general bivariate normal distribution with correlated and heteroscedastic errors. Measures of location and of dispersion of the radial error are obtained.     

The effect of matrix polarity on the properties of poly(o-methoxyaniline)–EVA blends

Poly(o-methoxyaniline) (POMA) doped with p-toluene sulfonic acid (TSA) was successfully melt blended with ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). The effect of the matrix polarity as well as the blend composition on the properties of the blends was investigated using two grades of EVA as matrix. The lower polarity EVA contains 8% vinyl acetate (VA) (EVA₈) and the higher polarity EVA contains 33% VA (EVA₃₃). The surface resistivity of the POMA-EVA blends was found to decrease with an increase of POMA loading. The POMA-EVA₈ blends had a lower surface resistivity than POMA-EVA₃₃ blends which is attributed to the presence of a higher proportion of conductive POMA particles in the surface region resulting from the larger polarity difference between the POMA and the EVA₈ matrix. More uniform dispersion is observed from scanning electron microscopy (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) for POMA in EVA₃₃ compared to POMA in EVA₈ and this has been interpreted as being a consequence of the similar polarities between POMA and EVA₃₃. The mechanical properties of the blends were found to be affected by both POMA loading and matrix polarity. The oxygen barrier property of the POMA-EVA blends was found to increase with POMA loading in both high and low polarity EVA matrices.     

Heat dissipation from silicon chips in a vertical plate,elevated pressure cold wall system

The heat dissipation effects of elevated pressure and cold gas temperature on vertically configured module mounted and free hanging chips were examined. It was found that with both types of chips, the thermal resistance (temperature rise x area/power) varies linearly with pressure in a log-log plot. A free hanging chip exhibits a (-1/3) power dependency on pressure while the module mounted chip exhibits a (-1/5) power dependency on pressure. The thermal resistance of the module mounted chip also appears to exhibit a dependency on gas temperature, but not on the difference in temperature between the chip and cold gas. The thermal resistance of the module mounted chip is some 5x lower than that of the free hanging chip, demonstrating that the module acts to a degree as a thermal expander. The efficiency is less than 20% based on the fact that the module area is some 30x greater than the chip area. For the module mounted chip, and a combination of a liquid nitrogen gas temperature and 1500 psi ambient atmosphere pressure, > 30 W/chip (0.180 in. × 0.180 in.) (0.46 cm × 0.46 cm), can be dissipated with a temperature rise to 85°C. This translates to a heat dissipation capability of more than 900 W/in².     

Growth and optical properties of single-crystal metastable (GaAs)1?xGex alloys

Single-crystal metastable (GaAs)1?xGex alloys with 0?x?1 have been grown on (100) GaAs substrates using ultra-high-vacuum ion-beam sputter deposition. Optical absorption measurements showed that the direct gap E0 exhibited a large negative, but nonparabolic, bowing as a function of x with a broad minimum E0?0.5 eV near 35 mole % Ge. Raman results exhibited a nonlinear `single-mode? behaviour, with the longitudinal and transverse optical modes becoming degenerate at x = 1.     

Cuticular hydrocarbons and defensive compounds ofReticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) andR. santonensis (feytaud): Polymorphism and chemotaxonomy

Colonies ofReticulitermes flavipes andR. santonensis were collected from the southeastern United States (Georgia) and the southwest of France (Charente-maritime). Defensive compounds and cuticular hydrocarbons were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantified by gas chromatography using an internal standard for each caste and all colonies. These analyses show that although the cuticular hydrocarbons ofR. santonensis in Europe andR. flavipes in Georgia are identical, their relative proportions are different. However, the defensive compounds synthesized by their soldiers are different. A strong chemical polymorphism between sympatric colonies ofR. flavipes in the SW United States was detected in terms of both the hydrocarbons of the workers and soldiers and in the defensive secretions of the soldiers. The six defensive secretion phenotypes are based on the presence or absence of terpenes whereas the cuticular hydrocarbon phenotypes are based on significant differences in the proportions of the various components. A multivariate analysis (analysis of principal components) clearly permitted discrimination of four phenotypes (three inR. flavipes and one inR. santonensis) without intermediates. The hydrocarbons responsible for these variations were identified, and it was shown that the variations are neither seasonal nor geographic. The phenotypes of the cuticular hydrocarbons (workers and soldiers) and defensive compounds are linked in each colony, forming in three groups inR. flavipes Georgia, one subdivided into four subgroups according to the defensive secretion phenotypes. The role of these polymorphisms is discussed and ethological tests indicate that the chemical polymorphism do not determine aggressive behavior. The taxonomic significance of these results is considered and two hypothesis are formulated: (1) We only detected a strong genetic polymorphism in one unique species, and we believe thatR. santonensis was introduced into Europe in the last century from oneR. flavipes colony. (2) Chemical variability characterizes the sibling species that can be grouped into the same subspeciesR. flavipes. Unknown mechanisms of reproductive isolation separate them.     

Application of Nonlinear Superposition to Creep and Relaxation of Commercial Die-Casting Aluminum Alloys

Die-cast aluminum alloys are heavily used in small engines, where they are subjected to long-term stresses at elevated temperatures. The resulting time-dependent material responses can result in inefficient engine operation and failure. A method to analytically determine the stress relaxation response directly from creep tests and to accurately interpolate between experimental time-history curves would be of great value. Constant strain, stress relaxation tests and constant load, creep tests were conducted on aluminum die-casting alloys: B-390, eutectic Al–Si and a 17% Si–Al alloy. A nonlinear superposition integral was used to (i) interpolate between empirical primary inelastic creep-strain and stress-relaxation time histories and (ii) to determine the stress relaxation response from corresponding creep data. Using isochronal stress-strain curves, prediction of the creep response at an intermediate stress level from empirical creep curves at higher and lower stresses resulted in a correlation (R) of 0.98. Similarly for relaxation, correlations of 0.98 were obtained for the prediction of an intermediate strain level curve from higher and lower empirical relaxation curves. The theoretical prediction of stress relaxation from empirical creep curves fell within 10% of experimental data.This paper has not been submitted elsewhere in identical or similar form, nor will it be during the first three months after its submission to Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials     

Fast, completely reversible li insertion in vanadium pentoxide nanoribbons

Layered-structure nanoribbons with efficient electron transport and short lithium ion insertion lengths are promising candidates for Li battery applications. Here we studied at the single nanostructure level the chemical, structural, and electrical transformations of V2O5 nanoribbons. We found that transformation of V2O5 into the omega-Li3V2O5 phase depends not only on the width but also the thickness of the nanoribbons. Transformation can take place within 10 s in thin nanoribbons, suggesting a Li diffusion constant 3 orders of magnitude faster than in bulk materials, resulting in a significant increase in battery power density (360 C power rate). For the first time, complete delithiation of omega-Li3V2O5 back to the single-crystalline, pristine V2O5 nanoribbon was observed, indicating a 30% higher energy density. These new observations are attributed to the ability of facile strain relaxation and phase transformation at the nanoscale. In addition, efficient electronic transport can be maintained to charge a Li3V2O5 nanoribbon within less than 5 s. These exciting nanosize effects can be exploited to fabricate high-performance Li batteries for applications in electric and hybrid electric vehicles.     

Processing sodium tellurite melts in low gravity drop shaft: part I Melt evaporation and formation of solid particles from vapor

Glasses of Na₂O·8TeO₂ and Na₂O·4TeO₂ compositions adhered to a small platinum heating coil (2 to 3 mm ID, 5 to 6 mm long) were melted and evaporated in low gravity using the drop shaft at the Japan Microgravity Center (JAMIC). The gravity level attained during the 10 s free fall was in the order of 10^–3 g. The species evaporated from the melt in low gravity generally formed a spherical smoke cloud surrounding the melt, whose size depended on the melt temperature and also on the time the melt evaporated in low gravity. The shape of the cloud was found to depend on several other factors, namely, the uniformity of heating, amount of melt, and the presence of gas bubbles in the melt. The evaporating species formed nearly perfect spheres of pure TeO₂ whose diameter ranged from 0.05 to 20 m. The size of TeO₂ microspheres increased with increasing melt temperature and time in low gravity, and was 5 to 10 times larger than that of similar particles prepared at 1-g.     

Containerless processing of a lithium disilicate glass

Glasses of Li₂O · 2SiO₂ (LS₂), and LS₂ doped with 0.001 wt% platinum (LS₂ + 0.001 wt% Pt) compositions were melted, cooled and reheated at controlled rates while levitated (containerless) inside an electrostatic levitator (ESL) furnace at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The experiments were conducted in vacuum using spherical, 2.5–3 mm diameter, glass samples. The measured critical cooling rate for glass formation, R _c, for the LS₂ and LS₂ + 0.001 wt% Pt glasses processed at ESL were 14 ± 2 °C/min and 130 ± 5 °C/min, respectively. The values of R _c for the same LS₂ and LS₂ + 0.001 wt% Pt glasses processed in a container were 62 ± 3 °C/min and 162 ± 5 °C/min, respectively. The effective activation energy for crystallization, E, for this LS₂ glass processed without a container at ESL, was higher than that for an identical glass processed in a container. These results suggest that the glass formation tendency for a containerless LS₂ melt is significantly increased compared to an identical melt in contact with a container. The absence of heterogeneous nucleation sites that are inherently present in all melts held in containers is believed to be the reason for the increased glass forming tendency of this containerless melt.