Self-organized porous TiO2 and ZrO2 produced by anodization

The present work investigates the electrochemical formation of self-organized high aspect ratio TiO₂ and ZrO₂ nanotube layers. The formation and growth of a self-organized porous layer can be achieved directly by anodization without any templates in fluoride containing electrolytes. The morphology of the porous layers is affected by the electrochemical conditions such as the electrolyte composition, the pH and the exact polarization treatment (such as the potential sweep rate from the open-circuit potential to the anodizing potential). For Ti, nanotube layers are formed with diameters varying from approx. 20 nm to 100 nm and lengths from approx. 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm depending on the electrolytes and pH. On the other hand, for Zr, tubes of 50 nm in diameter and up to approx. 17 μm in length can be grown—a key parameter in this case is the potential sweep rate. The large difference between Ti and Zr in the achievable thickness of nanotube layers indicates a difference in the growth mechanism which may be based on the different chemical dissolution rates of electrochemically formed oxides.     

The high-temperature oxidation of Ni-20%Cr alloys containing various oxide dispersions

The oxidation behavior of Ni-20%Cr alloys containing approximately 3 vol.% Y₂O₃, ThO₂, and A1₂O₃ as dispersed particles has been examined in the temperature range 900 to 1200° C in slowly flowing oxygen at 100 Torr. The results show that the oxidation behavior of the Y₂O₃-, ThO₂-, Al₂O₃-, and Ce0₂-containing alloys is very similar and that some anomalies in the behavior of the ThO₂-containing alloy might be explained by the slower rate of chromium diffusion in this coarse-grained alloy. Two Al₂O₃-containing alloys were studied. One with a relatively coarse dispersoid size behaved in a manner analogous to a dispersion-free Ni-30% Cr alloy at 1100°C. The other alloy contained a dispersion of fine Al₂O₃ particles and behaved exactly like the Y₂O₃-containing alloy at 1000 and 1100°C, but at 1200° C oxidized at a faster rate. It has been shown that the adherent scales on dispersion-containing alloys have a stabilized fine grain size, whereas the nonadherent scales on dispersion-free alloys undergo grain growth.This work has been supported by the Naval Air Systems Command under Contract No. N00019-72-C-0190.     

高钒高速钢碳化钒形态的数值化分析

针对碳化钒的不同形态,设计出定量分析软件,并利用形状因子K,实现了高钒高速钢不同碳化物形态数值化处理,当K介于0.785～1.000之间碳化钒形态为团球状;K≤0.223,碳化钒呈开花状.高钒高速钢当碳含量达到4.2%时,K为0.86和当量直径D为0.78μm,碳化物呈团球状均匀分布.     

表面氧化层对TiMn1.25Cr0.25储氢合金活化性能的影响

通过TiMn1.25Cr0.25合金粉活化前在空气中暴露不同的时间,探讨了表面氧化层的形成对其活化性能的影响。活化测试结果表明：合金的活化难度随着合金在空气中暴露时间的延长而加大。俄歇电子能谱(AES)结果表明,在空气中暴露后的合金表面形成了一层大约6nm-10nm厚的表面氧化层,正是这层氧化层的形成加大了合金的活化难度。扫描电镜(SEM)结果表明合金的活化过程与合金的碎化有着密切的联系。     

Effect of theθ-α-Al2O3 transformation on the oxidation behavior ofβ-NiAl + Zr

Isothermal oxidation of NiAl + Zr has been performed over the temperature range of 800–1200°C and studied by TGA, XRD, and SEM. A discontinuous decrease in growth rate of two orders of magnitude was observed at 1000° C due to the formation of -Al₂O₃ from -Al₂O₃. This transformation also resulted in a dramatic change in the surface morphology of the scales, as a whisker topography was changed into a weblike network of oxide ridges and radial transformation cracks. It is believed that the ridges are evidence for a shortcircuit outward aluminum diffusion growth mechanism that has been documented in a number of¹⁸O tracer studies.     

Performance of positive and negative electrodes in amorphous manganese oxide supercapacitor

Using potassium permanganate and acetic manganese as the reactants, amorphous manganese oxide was prepared with mechanochemical method. XRD was used for microstructure characterization, while cyclic voltammetry and constant current charge-discharge were used for electrochemical performance testing. The positive electrode （PE） and negative electrode （NE） were investigated respectively in amorphous manganese oxide supercapacitor, aiming to find their different performances in charging-discharging. The results show that the crystalline structure is destroyed in both the PE and NE material during charge-discharge process. Thereinto, the NE suffers a bit more seriously. When cycling, the PE potential scope diminishes while the NE potential scope enlarges. The increased inner resistance makes the NE curves almost bended to be a right angle, but not the PE curves. The cell＇s equivalent series resistance （ESR） is more dependent on the NE, and the capacitance is mainly determined by the rapid descent of the NE potential range. The capacitances of the NE are highly rate-dependent, decreasing from 121.3 to 53.1 F/g, by 56.2%, over the range of 5-25 mV/s. However, the PE appears to be weakly dependent and its capacitance is only dropped by 22.1%.     

Proximity-Induced Fully Ferromagnetic Order with Eightfold Magnetic Anisotropy in Heavy Transition Metal Oxide CaRuO3

Ferromagnetic materials with a strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) have attracted much attention in recent years because of their exotic properties and potential applications in energy-efficient spintronics. However, such materials are scarce in nature. Here, a proximity-induced paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition for the heavy transition metal oxide CaRuO₃ in (001)-(LaMnO₃/CaRuO₃) superlattices is reported. Anomalous Hall effect is observed in the temperature range up to 180 K. Maximal anomalous Hall conductivity and anomalous Hall angle are as large as ∼15 Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and ∼0.93%, respectively, by one to two orders of magnitude larger than those of the typical 3d ferromagnetic oxides such as La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃. Density functional theory calculations indicate the existence of avoid band crossings in the electronic band structure of the ferromagnetic CRO layer, which enhances Berry curvature thus strong anomalous Hall effects. Further evidences from polarized neutron reflectometry show that the CaRuO₃ layers are in a fully ferromagnetic state (∼0.8 μ_B/Ru), in sharp contrast to the proximity-induced canted antiferromagnetic state in 5d oxides SrIrO₃ and CaIrO₃ (∼0.1 μ_B/Ir). More than that, the magnetic anisotropy of the (001)-(LaMnO₃/CaRuO₃) superlattices is eightfold symmetric, showing potential applications in the technology of multistate data storage.     

Shape design of cerium oxide nanoparticles for enhancement of enzyme mimetic activity in therapeutic applications

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs), widely used in catalytic applications owing to their robust redox reaction, are now being considered in therapeutic applications based on their enzyme mimetic properties such as catalase and super oxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activities. In therapeutic applications, the emerging demand for CONPs with low cytotoxicity, high cost efficiency, and high enzyme mimetic capability necessitates the exploration of alternative synthesis and effective material design. This study presents a room temperature aqueous synthesis for low-cost production of shape-selective CONPs without potentially harmful organic substances, and additionally, investigates cell viability and catalase and SOD mimetic activities. This synthesis, at room temperature, produced CONPs with particular planes: {111}/{100} nanopolyhedra, {100} nano/submicron cubes, and {111}/{100} nanorods that grew in [110] longitudinal direction. Enzymatic activity assays indicated that nanopolyhedra with a high concentration of Ce⁴⁺ ions promoted catalase mimetic activity, while nanocubes and nanorods with high Ce³⁺ ion concentrations enhanced SOD mimetic activity. This is the first study indicating that shape and facet configuration design of CONPs, coupled with the retention of dominant, specific Ce valence states, potentiates enzyme mimetic activities. These findings may be utilized for CONP design aimed at enhancing enzyme mimetic activities in therapeutic applications.

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Memory effects of all‐solution‐processed oxide thin‐film transistors using ZnO nanoparticles

Abstract— Non‐volatile memory effects of an all‐solution‐processed oxide thin‐film transistor (TFT) with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as the charge‐trapping layer are reported. The device was fabricated by using a soluble MgInZnO active channel on a ZrHfO^x gate dielectric. ZnO NPs were used as the charge‐trapping site at the gate‐insulator—channel interface, and Al was used for source and drain electrodes. Transfer characteristics of the device showed a large clockwise hysteresis, which can be used to demonstrate its memory function due to electron trapping in the ZnO NP charge‐trapping layer. This memory effect has the potential to be utilized as a memory application on displays and disposable electronics.     

Effect of aluminium doping on structural and gas sensing properties of zinc oxide thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis

A facile spray pyrolysis route is used to deposit aluminium doped ZnO (AZO) thin films on to the glass substrates. It is observed that on aluminium doping the particle size of ZnO reduces significantly; moreover, uniformity of particle also gets enhanced. Their XRD study reveals that intensity ratio of crystal planes depend on the aluminium doping concentration. The gas response studies of; ∼800 nm thick Al-doped ZnO films at different operating temperatures show that 5 at% Al-doped ZnO thin film exhibits highest response towards H₂S gas at 200 °C. The results suggest that the gas response strongly depends on the particle size and aluminium doping in the ZnO.