Superconducting properties of binary rare-earth HoREBCO thin films prepared by pulsed layer deposition

The superconducting properties of REBa₂Cu₃O_y (REBCO or RE123, RE = rare earth elements) coated conductors could essentially depend on the rare earth elements, which could be the premise of all potential superconducting applications. In this paper, Ho_0.75RE_0.25Ba₂Cu₃O_7-σ (HoREBCO, RE = Dy, Er, Yb) high temperature superconducting films were fabricated successfully by a reel-to-reel pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system for the first time. By replacing Ho elements with heavy rare earth elements in a certain mole ratio, the critical currents of the HoREBCO superconducting films were improved significantly compared with pure HoBCO films. The lattice distortions are considered as the determinative factors of the changes. The replacement of Ho atoms by Dy, Er or Yb also influenced the structure and the surface morphology of the superconducting films. The decrease of the lattice constant in HoREBCO superconducting film and the variation of the interatomic force play the decisive role in the improvement of the superconducting property.     

Sintering characteristics of low-rank coal ashes

The electrical resistance and compressive strength were measured to gain a better understanding of the sintering characteristics of low-rank coal ashes involved in deposit formation in combustion systems. Low-rank coal ashes were prepared by the standard ASTM ashing procedures at 750°C and then separated into three different particle size fractions. The sinter point determined by the electrical resistance method decreased with decreasing particle size at three different particle size fractions of each coal ash. The compressive strength lest was made as a function of temperature in the range 750–950°C. At a given sintering temperature, strength of the sintered ash was inversely proportional to particle size. For any given particle size of each coal ash, the strength increased with increasing sintering temperature. X-ray diffraction of the sintered coal ashes showed that, as sintering temperature increased, there was an inverse relationship between sinter strength and the amount of anhydrite in the sintered ash, and a direct relationship between strength and the amount of hauyne.     

Review of suspension and solution precursor plasma sprayed thermal barrier coatings

As one of the promising methods that can be employed to fabricate high-performance thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), suspension plasma spraying (SPS) or solution precursor plasma spraying (SPPS) has received significant attention in academic research. Enhanced performances have been shown in the SPS-/SPPS-coatings due to their special microstructures, such as uniformly distributed micro-pores, vertical cracks or columnar structures. Since there are more complexities than conventional plasma spraying methods, many works have been devoted to study the mechanism and properties of SPS-/SPPS-coatings during the past decades. In this work, the latest development of SPS or SPPS is reviewed in order to discuss some key issues in terms of preparation of suspension or solution precursor, injection mode of liquid phase, interaction between liquid and plasma jet, microstructure of as-sprayed coatings and corresponding deposition mechanism. Meanwhile, the potential application of SPS or SPPS in some new-type TBCs is introduced at the end of this paper.     

Influence of Stratification and Shoreline Erosion on Reservoir Sedimentation Patterns

Sedimentation in the main pool of a deep (maximum depth: 50?m), 227?km2 hydropower reservoir was modeled using a three-dimensional numerical model of hydrodynamics and sedimentation for different wind, inflow, and outflow conditions. Short-term velocity measurements made in the reservoir were used to validate some aspects of the hydrodynamic model. The effects of thermal stratification on sedimentation patterns were investigated, since the reservoir is periodically strongly stratified. Stratification alters velocity profiles and thus affects sedimentation in the reservoir. Sedimentation of reservoirs is often modeled considering only the deposition of sediments delivered by tributaries. However, the sediments eroding from the shorelines can contribute significantly to sedimentation if the shorelines of the reservoir erode at sufficiently high rates or if sediment delivery via tributary inflow is small. Thus, shoreline erosion rates for a reservoir were quantified based on measured fetch, parameterized beach profile shape, and measured wind vectors, and the eroded sediments treated as a source within the sedimentation modeling scheme. The methodology for the prediction of shoreline erosion was calibrated and validated using digital aerial photos of the reservoir taken in different years and indicated approximately 1?m/year of shoreline retreat for several locations. This study revealed likely zones of sediment deposition in a thermally stratified reservoir and presented a methodology for integration of shoreline erosion into sedimentation studies that can be used in any reservoir.     

Structure and photoconductive properties of dip-deposited SnS and SnS2 thin films and their conversion to tin dioxide by annealing in air

SnS and SnS₂ thin films have been prepared by the dip technique. In this technique, a substrate was dipped into an alcoholic solution of the corresponding chloride and thiourea and then withdrawn vertically at a controlled speed, and finally baked in a high temperature furnace at atmospheric condition. XRD and SEM data suggest that good quality SnS and SnS₂ films are obtained at a baking temperature of 300 and 360°C, respectively. Values of band gap for SnS and SnS₂ obtained from spectral response of photoconductivity are 1.4 and 2.4 eV, respectively. The indirect allowed band gap values for SnS₂ film obtained from optical absorption measurements are 1.95 and 2.05 eV. Open-air annealing of both SnS and SnS₂ films at 400°C converts them to transparent conducting SnO₂.     

闪烁光纤在快中子辐照下部分特性的蒙特卡罗模拟

采用蒙特卡罗方法对闪烁光纤在快中子辐照下的特性进行了研究。利用Geant4模拟计算得到了快中子照射下,闪烁光纤中的能量沉积效率与光纤长度、半径及入射中子能量的变化曲线,同时对量子效率随上述参数的变化关系进行了模拟分析。研究结果表明选择合适尺寸的闪烁光纤和入射中子能量对于快中子成像技术具有重要的意义,并为实际测量工作中的参数选择提供了的理论指导。     

PECVD淀积SiO_2薄膜工艺研究

研究了等离子增强化学气相淀积（PECVD）制备非晶SiO2薄膜的工艺。系统地研究了反应气体流量比、射频功率、淀积腔内压强、淀积时间等工艺条件对SiO2薄膜质量的影响,采用椭偏仪测量了不同工艺条件下淀积的SiO2薄膜的厚度和折射率。根据以上测试结果分析了各工艺参数对SiO2薄膜淀积速率、折射率以及均匀性的影响规律,并定性讨论了其机理。找到了比较合适的制备高均匀性和典型折射率SiO2薄膜的工艺参数。     

Study on ash deposition under oxyfuel combustion of coal/biomass blends

Combustion in an O₂/CO₂ mixture (oxyfuel) has been recognized as a promising technology for CO₂ capture as it produces a high CO₂ concentration flue gas. Furthermore, biofuels in general contribute to CO₂ reduction in comparison with fossil fuels as they are considered CO₂ neutral. Ash formation and deposition (surface fouling) behavior of coal/biomass blends under O₂/CO₂ combustion conditions is still not extensively studied. Aim of this work is the comparative study of ash formation and deposition of selected coal/biomass blends under oxyfuel and air conditions in a lab scale pulverized coal combustor (drop tube). The fuels used were Russian and South African coals and their blends with Shea meal (cocoa). A horizontal deposition probe, equipped with thermocouples and heat transfer sensors for on line data acquisition, was placed at a fixed distance from the burner in order to simulate the ash deposition on heat transfer surfaces (e.g. water or steam tubes). Furthermore, a cascade impactor (staged filter) was used to obtain size distributed ash samples including the submicron range at the reactor exit. The deposition ratio and propensity measured for the various experimental conditions were higher in all oxyfuel cases. The SEM/EDS and ICP analyses of the deposit and cascade impactor ash samples indicate K interactions with the alumina silicates and to a smaller extend with Cl, which was all released in the gas phase, in both the oxyfuel and air combustion samples. Sulfur was depleted in both the air or oxyfuel ash deposits. S and K enrichment was detected in the fine ash stages, slightly increased under air combustion conditions. Chemical equilibrium calculations were carried out to facilitate the interpretation of the measured data; the results indicate that temperature dependence and fuels/blends ash composition are the major factors affecting gaseous compounds and ash composition rather than the combustion environment, which seems to affect the fine ash (submicron) ash composition, and the ash deposition mechanisms.     

Performance and Evaluation of Cu‐based Nano‐composite Anodes for Direct Utilisation of Hydrocarbon Fuels in SOFCs

The anodes for direct utilisation of hydrocarbon fuels have been developed by using Cu/Ceria‐based nano‐composite powders. The CuO/GDC/YSZ–YSZ or CuO/GDC‐GDC nano‐composite powders were synthesised by coating nano‐sized CuO and CeO₂ particles on the YSZ or GDC core particles selectively by the Pechini process. Their microstructures and electrical properties have been investigated with long‐term stability in reactive gases of dry methane and air. The anodes fabricated using Cu‐based nano‐composite anodes showed almost no carbon deposition until 500 h in dry CH₄ atmosphere. The type of an electrolyte‐supported single cell in conjunction with the Cu/Ceria‐based anode must be selected together for the low melting temperature of Cu/CuO. The GDC electrolyte supported unit cell with the Cu/GDC–GDC anode showed the maximum power density of 0.1 Wcm^–2 and long‐term stability for more than 500 h under electronic load of 0.05 Acm^–2 at 650 °C in dry methane atmosphere.     

Deposition of InGaAsP alloys on GaAs by low pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy: Theory and experiments

A combined thermodynamic-kinetic approach to the epitaxial deposition of InGaAsP alloys on GaAs substrates is presented. Good agreement with experimental group V solid phase incorporation has been found when neglecting the 2V₂ = V₄ (V = As,P) vapor phase reactions, while the group III solid phase composition is well described by simple mass-transport limited processes. InGaAsP materials, lattice matched to GaAs, have been grown in a wide composition range toward the ternary limit [In(0.49)Ga(0.51)P]. Furthermore, high quality InGaAsP/GaAs strained quantum wells with a bandgap below that of GaAs are realized for the first time.