Thermal and transport properties of as-grown Ni-rich TiNi shape memory alloys

Electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, specific heat and thermal conductivity measurements on the Ti_50−xNi_50+x (x = 0.0–1.6 at.%) shape memory alloys are performed to investigate their thermal and transport properties. In this study, anomalous features are observed in both cooling and heating cycles in all measured physical properties of the slightly Ni-rich TiNi alloys (x ≤ 1.0), corresponds to the transformation between the B19′ martensite and B2 austenite phases. Besides, the transition temperature is found to decrease gradually with increasing Ni content, and the driving force for the transition is also found to diminish slowly with the addition of excess Ni, as revealed by specific heat measurements. While the signature of martensitic transformation vanishes for the Ni-rich TiNi alloys with x ≥ 1.3, the characteristics of strain glass transition start to appear. The Seebeck coefficients of these TiNi alloys were found to be positive, suggesting the hole-type carriers dominate the thermoelectric transport. From the high-temperature Seebeck coefficients, the estimated value of Fermi energy ranges from ∼1.5 eV (Ti_48.4Ni_51.6) to ∼2.1 eV (Ti₅₀Ni₅₀), indicating the metallic nature of these alloys. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the slightly Ni-rich TiNi alloys with x ≤ 1.0 shows a distinct anomalous feature at the B19′ → B2 transition, likely due to the variation in lattice thermal conductivity.     

Manganese ferrite-polyaniline hybrid materials: Electrical and magnetic properties

Magnetic MnFe₂O₄ nanopowders were synthesized by an original solvothermal method in the absence and in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB) and Tween 80 (TW) as surfactants. Manganese ferrite/polyaniline (PANI) hybrid materials were synthesized by in situ polymerization of aniline on the surface of MnFe₂O₄ using ammonium persulfate as oxidant. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of the two surfactants on the properties of the MnFe₂O₄ powders and of their composites with PANI. The specific surface area, the cumulative surface area of pores and the cumulative volume of pores are influenced by the nature of surfactant in case of MnFe₂O₄ powders and are higher by comparison to those of the MnFe₂O₄/PANI hybrid materials. The values of saturation magnetization in case of MnFe₂O₄ powders are higher than those of the hybrid materials and are not influenced by the surfactant nature. These features revealed that MnFe₂O₄ powders can be efficiently used as adsorbents for the purification of wastewaters. The values of the electrical conductivity of the composites exhibit a significant increase in comparison to the MnFe₂O₄ powders and depend on the surfactant nature. The highest value of electrical conductivity was achieved by the composite obtained using Tween 80 as surfactant (σ_DC = 54.5·10^?5S?m^?1) which was close to that of PANI (σ_DC = 61.2·10^?5 S?m^?1). The fact that the magnetic and electric properties of the synthesized MnFe₂O₄/PANI composites can be changed by design, demonstrate the high potential of these materials to be used in magneto-electric applications.     

Static and free vibration analysis of functionally graded plates based on a new quasi-3D and 2D shear deformation theories

In this study, two dimensional (2D) and quasi three-dimensional (quasi-3D) shear deformation theories are presented for static and free vibration analysis of single-layer functionally graded (FG) plates using a new hyperbolic shape function. The material of the plate is inhomogeneous and the material properties assumed to vary continuously in the thickness direction by three different distributions; power-law, exponential and Mori–Tanaka model, in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The fundamental governing equations which take into account the effects of both transverse shear and normal stresses are derived through the Hamilton's principle. The closed form solutions are obtained by using Navier technique and then fundamental frequencies are found by solving the results of eigenvalue problems. In-plane stress components have been obtained by the constitutive equations of composite plates. The transverse stress components have been obtained by integrating the three-dimensional stress equilibrium equations in the thickness direction of the plate. The accuracy of the present method is demonstrated by comparisons with the different 2D, 3D and quasi-3D solutions available in the literature.     

Modeling the effect of deep traps on the capacitance–voltage characteristics of p-type Si-doped GaAs Schottky diodes grown on high index GaAs substrates

Numerical simulation, using SILVACO-TCAD, is carried out to explain experimentally observed effects of different types of deep levels on the capacitance–voltage characteristics of p-type Si-doped GaAs Schottky diodes grown on high index GaAs substrates. Two diodes were grown on (311)A and (211)A oriented GaAs substrates using Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE). Although, deep levels were observed in both structures, the measured capacitance–voltage characteristics show a negative differential capacitance (NDC) for the (311)A diodes, while the (211)A devices display a usual behaviour. The NDC is related to the nature and spatial distribution of the deep levels, which are characterized by the Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) technique. In the (311)A structure only majority deep levels (hole traps) were observed while both majority and minority deep levels were present in the (211)A diodes. The simulation, which calculates the capacitance–voltage characteristics in the absence and presence of different types of deep levels, agrees well with the experimentally observed behaviour.     

Nonlinear response in glass fibre non-crimp fabric reinforced vinylester composites

This paper addresses the nonlinear stress-strain response in glass fibre non-crimp fabric reinforced vinylester composite laminates subjected to in-plane tensile loading. The nonlinearity is shown to be a combination of brittle and plastic failure. It is argued that the shift from plastic to brittle behaviour in the vinylester is caused by the state of stress triaxiality caused by the interaction between fibre and vinylester. A model combining damage and plasticity is calibrated and evaluated using data from extensive experimental testing. The onset of damage is predicted using the Puck failure criterion, and the evolution of damage is calibrated from the observed softening in plies loaded in transverse tension. Shear loading beyond linear elastic response is observed to result in irreversible strains. A yield criterion is implemented for shear deformation. A strain hardening law is fitted to the stress-strain response observed in shear loaded plies. Experimental results from a selection of laminates with different layups are used to verify the numerical models. A complete set of model parameters for predicting elastic behaviour, strength and post failure softening is presented for glass fibre non-crimped fabric reinforced vinylester. The predicted behaviour from using these model parameters are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results.     

Alloying behavior and novel properties of CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy fabricated by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering

An equiatomic CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy was synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). During MA, a solid solution with refined microstructure of 10 nm which consists of a FCC phase and a BCC phase was formed. After SPS consolidation, only one FCC phase can be detected in the HEA bulks. The as-sintered bulks exhibit high compressive strength of 1987 MPa. An interesting magnetic transition associated with the structure coarsening and phase transformation was observed during SPS process.     

Electromagnetic shielding properties of iron oxide impregnated kenaf bast fiberboard

The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of kenaf fiber based composites with different iron oxide impregnation levels was investigated. The kenaf fibers were retted for removing the lignin and extractives from the fibers and magnetized. Using the unsaturated polyester and the magnetized fibers, kenaf fiber based composites were manufactured by the compression molding process. The transmission energies of the composites were characterized when the composite samples were exposed under the irradiation of electromagnetic (EM) wave with a variable frequency from 9 GHz to 11 GHz. Using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the iron oxide nanoparticles were observed on the surfaces and inside the micropore structures of single fibers. As the Fe content increased from 0% to 6.8%, 15.9% and 18.0%, the total surface free energy of kenaf fibers with the magnetizing treatments increased from 44.8 mJ/m² to 46.1 mJ/m², 48.8 mJ/m² and 53.0 mJ/m², respectively, while the modulus of elasticity reduced from 2875 MPa to 2729 MPa, 2487 MPa and 2007 MPa, respectively. Meanwhile, the shielding effectiveness was increased from 30–50% to 60–70%, 65–75% and 70–80%, respectively.     

Oxygen transport,thermal and electrochemical properties of NdBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ cathode for SOFCs

In this study, the crystal structure, thermal, oxygen transport, electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties of the perovskite NdBa_0.5Sr_0.5Co₂O_5+δ (NBSC55) are investigated. In the temperature range of 250 °C–350 °C, the weight loss upon heating was due to a partial loss of lattice oxygen and along with a reduction of Co⁴⁺ to Co³⁺. The tend of weight-loss slows down as temperature increased above 350 °C indicating a reduction of Co³⁺ to Co²⁺ during this stage. The oxygen migration is dominated by surface exchange process at high temperature range (650-800 °C); however, the bulk diffusion process prevails at low temperature range (500–600 °C). For long-term testing, the polarization resistance of NBSC55 increases gradually form 3.13 Ω cm² for 2 h to 3.34 Ω cm² for 96 h at 600 °C and an increasing-rate for polarization resistance is around 0.22% h^?1. The power density of the single cell with NBSC55 cathode reached 341 mW cm^?2 at 800 °C.     

Fabrication of 3D structures via direct ink writing of kaolin/graphene oxide composite suspensions at ambient temperature

Kaolin/graphene oxide composite has been widely utilized in aero-space and architectural engineering applications due to its excellent mechanical property. Direct ink writing (DIW) is a freeform rapid prototyping technology that could be used to accurately fabricate the resulting size with complex shapes. In this study, we reported the DIW of kaolin/graphene oxide (GO) composite suspensions (KGCS) to assemble 3D structures at ambient temperature for the first time. The effects of GO on the chemical constitution and microstructure of kaolin suspensions were investigated. Rheology was characterized to ensure printability of KGCS. The addition of GO in kaolin suspensions quickened a flocculation structure, which dramatically changed their rheology properties. The DIW of 3D structures from the optimal KGCS sample maintained their initial shape without spreading. The flexural and compressive strengths of the dried optimal KGCS samples were obviously enhanced due to the improvement and reduction of the micro-defects compared from cured kaolin matrix.     

Optical properties and conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films treated by polyethylenimine solution for organic solar cells

We report on conductivity and optical property of three different types of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) films [pristine PH1000 film (PH1000-p), with 5 wt.% ethylene glycol additive (PH1000-EG) and with sulfuric acid post-treatment (PH1000-SA)] before and after polyethylenimine (PEI) treatment. The PEI is found to decrease the conductivity of all the PEDOT:PSS films. The processing solvent of 2-methoxyethanol is found to significantly enhance the conductivity of PH1000-p from 1.1 up to 744 S/cm while the processing solvent of isopropanol or water does not change the conductivity of PH1000-p much. As for the optical properties, the PEI treatment slightly changes the transmittance and reflectance of PH1000-p and PH1000-EG films, while the PEI leads to an substantial increase of the absorptance in the spectral region of 400–1100 nm of the PH1000-SA films. Though the optical property and conductivity of the three different types of PEDOT:PSS films vary with the PEI treatment, the treated PEDOT:PSS films exhibit similar low work function. We demonstrate solar cells with a simple device structure of glass/low-WF PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:ICBA/high-WF PEDOT:PSS cells that exhibit good performance with open-circuit voltage of 0.82 V and fill factor up to 0.62 under 100 mW/cm² white light illumination.