The Influence of Film Morphology in High‐Mobility Small‐Molecule:Polymer Blend Organic Transistors

Organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) based upon blends of small molecular semiconductors and polymers show promise for high performance organic electronics applications. Here the charge transport characteristics of high mobility p‐channel organic transistors based on 2,8‐difluoro‐5,11‐bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene:poly(triarylamine) blend films are investigated. By simple alteration of the film processing conditions two distinct film microstructures can be obtained: one characterized by small spherulitic grains (SG) and one by large grains (LG). Charge transport measurements reveal thermally activated hole transport in both SG and LG film microstructures with two distinct temperature regimes. For temperatures >115 K, gate voltage dependent activation energies (E_A) in the range of 25–60 meV are derived. At temperatures <115 K, the activation energies are smaller and typically in the range 5–30 meV. For both film microstructures hole transport appears to be dominated by trapping at the grain boundaries. Estimates of the trap densities suggests that LG films with fewer grain boundaries are characterized by a reduced number of traps that are less energetically disordered but deeper in energy than for small SG films. The effects of source and drain electrode treatment with self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on current injection is also investigated. Fluorinated thiol SAMs were found to alter the work function of gold electrodes by up to ～1 eV leading to a lower contact resistance. However, charge transport analysis suggests that electrode work function is not the only parameter to consider for efficient charge injection.     

Anisotropy of Charge Transport in a Uniaxially Aligned and Chain‐Extended,High‐Mobility,Conjugated Polymer Semiconductor

Charge transport in the ribbon phase of poly(2,5‐bis(3‐alkylthiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene) (PBTTT)—one of the most highly ordered, chain‐extended crystalline microstructures available in a conjugated polymer semiconductor—is studied. Ribbon‐phase PBTTT has previously been found not to exhibit high carrier mobilities, but it is shown here that field‐effect mobilities depend strongly on the device architecture and active interface. When devices are constructed such that the ribbon‐phase films are in contact with either a polymer gate dielectric or an SiO₂ gate dielectric modified by a hydrophobic, self‐assembled monolayer, high mobilities of up to 0.4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 can be achieved, which is comparable to those observed previously in terrace‐phase PBTTT. In uniaxially aligned, zone‐cast films of ribbon‐phase PBTTT the mobility anisotropy is measured for transport both parallel and perpendicular to the polymer chain direction. The mobility anisotropy is relatively small, with the mobility along the polymer chain direction being higher by a factor of 3–5, consistent with the grain size encountered in the two transport directions.     

Strain Anisotropies and Self‐Limiting Capacities in Single‐Crystalline 3D Silicon Microstructures: Models for High Energy Density Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes

This study examines the crystallographic anisotropy of strain evolution in model, single‐crystalline silicon anode microstructures on electrochemical intercalation of lithium atoms. The 3D hierarchically patterned single‐ crystalline silicon microstructures used as model anodes were prepared using combined methods of photolithography and anisotropic dry and wet chemical etching. Silicon anodes, which possesses theoretically ten times the energy density by weight compared to conventional carbon anodes, reveal highly anisotropic but more importantly, variably recoverable crystallographic strains during cycling. Model strain‐limiting silicon anode architectures that mitigate these impacts are highlighted. By selecting a specific design for the silicon anode microstructure, and exploiting the crystallographic anisotropy of strain evolution upon lithium intercalation to control the direction of volumetric expansion, the volume available for expansion and thus the charging capacity of these structures can be broadly varied. We highlight exemplary design rules for this self‐strain‐limited charging in which an anode can be variably optimized between capacity and stability. Strain‐limited capacities ranging from 677 mAhg^?1 to 2833 mAhg^?1 were achieved by constraining the area available for volumetric expansion via the design rules of the microstructures.     

Unraveling the Significance of Li+/e−/O2 Phase Boundaries with a 3D-Patterned Cu Electrode for Li–O2 Batteries

The reaction kinetics at a triple-phase boundary (TPB) involving Li⁺, e⁻, and O₂ dominate their electrochemical performances in Li–O₂ batteries. Early studies on catalytic activities at Li⁺/e⁻/O₂ interfaces have enabled great progress in energy efficiency; however, localized TPBs within the cathode hamper innovations in battery performance toward commercialization. Here, the effects of homogenized TPBs on the reaction kinetics in air cathodes with structurally designed pore networks in terms of pore size, interconnectivity, and orderliness are explored. The diffusion fluxes of reactants are visualized by modeling, and the simulated map reveals evenly distributed reaction areas within the periodic open structure. The 3D air cathode provides highly active, homogeneous TPBs over a real electrode scale, thus simultaneously achieving large discharge capacity, unprecedented energy efficiency, and long cyclability via mechanical/electrochemical stress relaxation. Homogeneous TPBs by cathode structural engineering provide a new strategy for improving the reaction kinetics beyond controlling the intrinsic properties of the materials.     

Controlled Folding of 2D Au–Polymer Brush Composites into 3D Microstructures

Microscale, quasi‐2D Au–polymer brush composite objects are fabricated by a versatile, controllable process based on microcontact printing followed by brush growth and etching of the substrate. These objects fold into 3D microstructures in response to a stimulus: crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) brushes fold on immersion in MeOH, and poly(methacryloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC) brushes fold on addition of salt. Microcages and microcontainers are fabricated. A multistep microcontact printing process is also used to create sheets of Au–PGMA bilayer lines linked by a PGMA film, which fold into cylindrical tubes. The bending of these objects can be predicted, and hence predefined during the synthesis process by controlling the parameters of the gold layer, and of the polymer brush.     

微流路生物芯片的研制

运用光刻、刻蚀技术在载玻片上刻蚀出条宽 70 μm、深 30 μm、长 7cm的沟槽 ,与另一载玻片键合 ,形成一微流路沟道 ,研制出了用于生物电泳技术的微流路生物芯片。在该芯片的研制中 ,克服了湿法腐蚀、断线、键合等技术难题。该芯片已经交付合作单位使用 ,能够满足应用中的基本性能要求     

钛酸锶钡薄膜微细图形的制备

采用化学修饰的溶胶凝胶工艺,制备了具有紫外光感应特性的钛酸锶钡(Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3)溶胶及其凝胶薄膜.提出了钛酸锶钡薄膜微细加工的新方法,即以苯酰丙酮(BzAcH)为化学修饰剂,乙酸钡、氯化锶、钛酸丁酯为原料,甲醇为溶剂,乳酸为催化剂,合成了具有螯合物结构的前驱溶胶体系.其螯合物的特征吸收峰在358nm附近,该溶胶及其凝胶薄膜在室温下有较好的化学稳定性;高压汞灯产生的紫外光照射可以分解薄膜中的螯合物结构,伴随着这种螯合物结构的分解,薄膜在乙醇中的溶解性迅速降低,从而表现出紫外光感应特性.利用这种光感应特性,采用紫外光通过掩膜照射薄膜,然后在乙醇中溶洗,获得了凝胶薄膜的微细图形,进一步通过600℃晶化热处理,最后得到了具有钙钛矿相结构和铁电特性的钛酸锶钡薄膜的微细图形.     

黄河利用洪水排沙不必刻意拦粗排细

简要总结我国在黄河泥沙输移方面的研究成果,根据笔者多年的研究,得出如下结论:可以利用高含沙洪水输沙入海,适宜输送的不是低含沙量的水流,而是含沙量大于200 kg/m3的高含沙水流。黄河下游洪水期窄深河道多来多排的输沙特性是造成河道多来多排的机理,在低含沙水流时水流的流速达到1.8~2 m/s,床面进入高输沙动平整状态。不仅全沙如此,造床质泥沙(d>0.025 mm的粗泥沙)也存在着同样的输沙规律。小浪底水库的泥沙多年调节,充分利用下游河道的洪水输沙潜力输沙入海,是解决黄河下游泥沙问题和节省输沙用水的有效技术途径。平水年、枯水年小浪底水库不排沙,全部水量用于兴利和环境用水,利用洪水排沙不必刻意拦粗排细。     

Grain Boundary Diffusion Hardening in Potassium Sodium Niobate-Based Ceramics with Full Gradient Composition and High Piezoelectricity

Reducing mechanical losses and suppressing self-heating are critical characteristics for high-power piezoelectric applications. For environmentally friendly Pb-free piezoelectric ceramics, traditional acceptor doping or annealing treatments have successfully improved the mechanical quality factor (Q_m) based on a ceramic matrix with a poor piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃<100 pC/N). Nevertheless, a ceramic with high Q_m and d₃₃ values has not been reported owing to the inverse relationship between Q_m and d₃₃. Herein, a novel hardening method called grain boundary diffusion is used to develop Pb-free potassium sodium niobate ceramics, where Q_m increased by more than two-fold (from 51 to 132) and a high d₃₃ value (d₃₃ = 360 pC/N) is maintained. Significantly, d₃₃ retained 98% of its initial value after 180 days, exhibiting improved aging stability. The established properties are associated with the formation of the core-shell microstructure and the full gradient composition distribution using structural characterizations and phase-field simulations, where the core maintains a high d₃₃ and the shell provides a hardening effect. The novel hardening effect in piezoelectric materials, known as grain boundary diffusion hardening, highlights the enhancement of the mechanical quality factor with high piezoelectricity, providing a new paradigm for the design of functional materials.     

Single‐Phase Filamentary Cellular Breakdown Via Laser‐Induced Solute Segregation

Nanosecond melting and quenching of materials offers a pathway to novel structures with unusual properties. Impurity‐rich silicon processed using nanosecond‐pulsed‐laser‐melting is known to produce nanoscale features in a process referred to as “cellular breakdown” due to destabilization of the planar liquid/solid interface. Here, atom probe tomography combined with electron microscopy is applied to show that the morphology of cellular breakdown in these materials is significantly more complex than previously documented. Breakdown into a complex, branching filamentary structure topped by a few nm of a cell‐like layer is observed. Single‐phase diamond cubic silicon highly supersaturated with at least 10% atomic Co and no detectable silicides is reported within these filaments. In addition, the unprecedented spatio‐chemical accuracy of the atom probe allows to investigate nanosecond formation dynamics of this complex material. Previously reported properties of these materials can now be reconsidered in light of their true composition, and this class of inhomogeneous metastable alloys in silicon can be explored with confidence.