Semiconductor/porous silica glass nanocomposites via the single-source precursor approach

The utilization of single-source molecular precursor approach to obtain II–VI and IV–VI semiconductors encapsulated in porous Vycor glass (PVG) is described. The procedure is based on the impregnation of cadmium and lead(II) diethyl-dithiocarbamate complexes, Cd(S₂CNEt₂)₂ and Pb(S₂CNEt₂)₂, inside the porous environment of PVG followed by a thermal treatment of the glass. The pyrolysis of the impregnated precursor gives rise to binary semiconductors CdS and PbS, respectively. The impregnation step is driven by interactions between the precursors and active sites located at glass pore surfaces. After completing the impregnation–decomposition cycle, it was found that the active glass sites were regenerated, making new cycles possible. The amount of encapsulated semiconductor increases linearly as a function of the number of cycles. Nanocomposites obtained after 1–10 cycles were prepared and characterized by optical spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction powder and transmission electron microscopy.     

Formation of lanthanum beryllate real structure under different crystallization conditions

The aim of this paper is to characterize the major structural defects of lanthanum beryllate single crystals grown by the Czochralski method, including those doped with rare-earth elements, and to reveal their relationship to specific properties of the crystal structure of La₂Be₂O₅ and with their crystallization conditions. As a basic method for research, we used transmission X-ray topography. It was established that the defect state of La₂Be₂O₅ crystals prepared by this method can be caused by different types of dislocations and their ordered assemblies, solid-phase inclusions of crucible metal and eutectically co-crystallizing phases, as well as by face growth sectors with elevated content of dopant. We show a possibility for growing single crystals of doped lanthanum beryllate having a minimum quantity of structural defects that could be suitable for manufacture of high quality laser rods.     

A sol-powder coating technique for fabrication of yttria stabilised zirconia

Yttria stabilised zirconia has been prepared using a simple sol-powder coating technique. The polymeric yttria sol, which was prepared using 1,3 propanediol as a network modifier, was homogeneously mixed with nanocrystalline zirconia powder and it showed a dual function: as a binder which promoted densification and a phase modifier which stabilised zirconia in the tetragonal and cubic phases. Thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction revealed that the polymeric yttria sol which decomposed at low temperature into yttrium oxide could change the m → t phase transformation behaviour of the zirconia, possibly due to the small particle size and very high surface area of both yttria and zirconia particles allowing rapid alloying. The sintered samples exhibited three crystalline phases: monoclinic, tetragonal and cubic, in which cubic and tetragonal are the major phases. The weight fractions of the individual phases present in the selected specimens were determined using quantitative Rietveld analysis.     

Nanocrystalline pirochromite spinel through solution combustion synthesis

The production of magnesium–chromium oxides by solution combustion synthesis was investigated using glycine and urea for the first time. Ammonium dichromate, urea/glycine and ammonium nitrate aqueous solutions were used as the precursors of the oxides. The effect of different reaction parameters, such as fuel richness, stoichiometry and fuel leanness was evaluated; such parameters were modified by changing the reagents and the fuel/oxidant ratio. The results suggest that glycine is an interesting complexing/combustible agent for ammonium dichromate to produce chromite spinel. Addition of extra ammonium nitrate to stoichiometric compositions improved the specific surface area and reduced the crystallite size. The highest specific surface area (153.40 m²/g) was obtained for the stoichiometric fuel/oxidant mixtures containing glycine as combustible in combination with ammonium nitrate; however, the smallest crystallite size (approximately 9 nm) of Pirochromite (MgCr₂O₄) was synthesized using urea as combustible.     

Magnetic properties of nanosized Sr2CrReO6 powders prepared by a combustion synthesis process

Double perovskite, Sr₂CrReO₆, nanoparticles in the size range 10–25 nm have been prepared by a combustion method. Its coercivity (H_c) at 5 and 300 K are determined to be 16.1 and 6.5 kOe, respectively. Using the law of approach to saturation, the obtained saturation magnetization σ_s (5 K) and σ_s (300 K) are 0.41 and 0.32 μB per formula unit (f.u.), respectively. The values of saturation magnetization are lower than the expected value 1 μB/f.u. considering the antiferromagnetic coupling between Cr³⁺ (3d³, S = 3 / 2) and Re⁵⁺ (5d², S = 1). At the same time high field irreversibility in M(H) curves and zero field cooled–field cooled (ZFC–FC) processes has also been found. A field-cooled (FC) hysteresis loop shift decreases with increasing temperature and vanishes near 350 K. It is suggested that the observed reduction of σ_s and shifted hysteresis loops are caused by the exchange interaction between the ferromagnetic core of the Sr₂CrReO₆ nanoparticles and its surface layer with disordered spins.     

Luminescent properties of Ca2MgSi2O7 phosphor activated by Eu2+, Dy3+ and Nd3+

Long lasting alkaline earth silicates, Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu,Dy,Nd was prepared under a reduction atmosphere through solid state reaction. The obtained phosphor was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence spectrum (PLS). The crystal structure of Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu,Dy,Nd phosphor was refined by Rietveld analysis. The obtained Ca₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu,Dy,Nd phosphor showed a yellow–green emission peaking at 518 nm, which is ascribed to the luminescent emission of the Eu²⁺ that occupied the octa-coordinated Ca²⁺ sites in the Ca₂MgSi₂O₇ host. The electron affinity (ea) value for Eu²⁺ in [EuO₈] was calculated to 1.9 eV. The decay profile and the emission spectrum indicated that when the value of Dy/Eu is increasing, there is a concentration quenching of Eu²⁺.     

Fabrication and characterization of direct patterning ferroelectric Sr0.9Bi2.1Ta2O9 thin films by photosensitive sol–gel solution

Photosensitive ferroelectric Sr_0.9Bi_2.1Ta₂O₉ (SBT) precursor solutions were synthesized using strontium ethoxide chelated with ethylacetoacetone, tetramethylheptanedionato bismuth and tantalum ethoxide chelated with ethylacetoacetone. SBT thin films with 200 nm thickness were prepared on Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si substrates using the spin coating method. As UV light exposure time to the SBT thin film increased, the intensity of the UV absorption peak of the metal β-diketonate decreased due to metal–oxygen–metal bond formation, which led to decreased solubility of SBT thin film. The solubility difference enabled direct patterning of thin films that had ferroelectric properties. The ferroelectric properties of the UV irradiated SBT thin films were superior to those of the non-UV irradiated films. Pr/Ps and 2 Pr values (at 3 V) of SBT thin films improved approximately 8% and 5%, respectively, with UV irradiation.     

Experimental simulation of tool/product interface during hot drawing

During hot drawing, work tools are subjected to severe constraints. Thus, tool wear is a main preoccupation for industrial engineers. For this reason, it is important to better understand the phenomena which occur at the interface between tool and sheet in this kind of process. That is why, a pin on disc tribometer for high temperature has been designed and achieved. Its originality consists in having an open contact on a continuously new disc surface. This machine permits the simulation of the contact at the tool/product interface during the hot drawing process.In this paper, this new tribometer is described. Then, a friction and wear comparative study of various tool materials is carried out at a temperature of 400 °C and with a pressure of 20 MPa. The classification of these materials is done according to the measurement of the friction coefficient and the wear characterization. Pins, which represent tools are: X153CrMoV12 steel samples uncoated and coated with TiAlN deposited by PVD process and nodular cast iron GJS 600 ones.Sheets made of steel and representing drawing products are: uncoated and coated samples by bimetallic alloy coating. The tribometer is able to classify and to evaluate the tribological performances of the different combinations of pins and sheets. Tests show that coatings reduce friction. However, they do not prevent adhesive wear of pins.     

Dry three-body abrasive wear behavior of WC reinforced iron matrix surface composites produced by V-EPC infiltration casting process

This paper fabricated tungsten carbide (WC) particles reinforced iron matrix surface composites on gray cast iron substrate using vacuum evaporative pattern casting (V-EPC) infiltration process, investigated dry three-body abrasive wear resistance of the composites containing different volume fractions of WC particles, comparing with a high chromium cast iron. The fabricated composites contained WC particles of 5, 10, 19, 27, 36, and 52 vol.%, respectively. The results in abrasive wear tests showed that, with the increase in the volume fraction of WC particles, the wear resistance of the composites first increased until reached the maximum when the volume fraction of WC was 27%, then decreased, and was 1.5–5.2 times higher than that of the high chromium cast iron. The changes of the wear resistance of the composites with the volume fraction of WC particles and the mode of material removal in dry three-body abrasive wear condition were analyzed.     

A novel optimization method for designing stand alone photovoltaic system

This paper presents a novel optimization method for sizing and design of stand alone photovoltaic systems. Loss of power supply probability analysis is set as a benchmark to determine all possible PV array and battery capacity. Then, the optimum design is proposed based on the lowest levelized cost of energy. The case study, with reference to Malaysia's meteorological data and typical load profile of rural area, has been simulated and compared to selected three past researches.