Dielectric features of two grades of bi‐oriented isotactic polypropylene

The dielectric properties of two grades of bi‐oriented isotactic polypropylene were studied with a variety of techniques: breakdown field measurements, dielectric spectroscopy, thermally stimulated depolarization currents (Is), and direct‐current (dc) conduction I values. Standard polypropylene (STPP) and high‐crystallinity polypropylene (HCPP) films were investigated. Measurements were carried out over a wide temperature range (?150°C/+125°C). The breakdown fields in both materials showed a very small difference. On the other hand, the dielectric losses and dc conduction I values were significantly lower in HCPP. Both materials showed a decrease in the dielectric loss versus temperature in the range 20–90°C; this is favorable for application in alternating‐current power capacitors. The analysis of the dc I value allowed us to find evidence of two main conduction mechanisms: (1) below 80°C in both materials, a hopping mechanism due to the motion of electrons occurred in the amorphous phase, and (2) above 80°C, ionic conduction occurred in HCPP, and hopping conduction occurred in STPP. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42224.     

Structural and dielectric properties of parylene-VT4 thin films

58% semi-crystalline thin parylene-VT4 (–H₂C–C₆F₄–CH₂−)_n films, have been investigated by dielectric spectroscopy for temperature and frequency ranges of [−120 to 380 °C] and [0.1–10⁵ Hz] respectively. The study comprises a detailed investigation of the dielectric constant, dielectric loss and AC conductivity of this fluoropolymer. Dielectric behavior of parylene-VT4 is represented by a low dielectric constant with values in the range of 2.05–2.35 while the dielectric losses indicate the presence of two relaxation processes. Maxwell−Wagner−Sillars (MWS) polarization at the amorphous/crystalline interfaces with activation energy of 1.6 eV is due to the oligomer orientation. Electrical conductivity obeys to the well-known Jonscher law. The plateau in the low frequency part of this conductivity is temperature-dependent and follows an Arrhenius behavior with activation energy of 1.17 eV (deep traps) due to the fluorine diffusion. Due to its thermal stability with a high decomposition temperature (around 400 °C under air and 510 °C under nitrogen) and due to its good resistivity at low frequency (10¹⁵–10¹⁷ Ω m⁻¹), parylene-VT4 constitutes a very attractive polymer for microelectronic applications as low k dielectric. Moreover, when parylene-VT4 is subjected to an annealing, the dielectric properties can be still more improved.     

Enhanced structural and optical properties of ZnO nanopowder with tailored visible luminescence as a function of sodium hydroxide to zinc sulfate mass ratio

ZnO nanopowders of tailored particle sizes were synthesized using a simple wet chemical method, by controlling the mass ratio of the precursors. The physical properties were investigated as a function of OH^?/Zn²⁺ mass ratio (x). The structural properties of the synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) are studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD patterns show pure wurtzite structure. Microstructural parameters dependence on x ratio was studied based on Williamson-Hall model. We notice an increase in crystallite size (17–24?nm) and a decrease in strain values when the x ratio increases (0.5–1.4). The best crystallinity corresponds to the higher mass ratio. Indeed, for x?=?1.4 we obtain the largest crystallite size, the lowest strain and stacking faults. The TEM images support the XRD results. Raman spectra confirm the purity of the synthesized ZnO powder. Furthermore, the optical properties were examined by UV–vis and Photoluminescence as a function of precursor’s ratio. Absorption data show a band gap red-shift of the ZnO-NPs with increase in particle’s size. Moreover, we found that the ZnO-NPs luminescence in the visible range can be engineered by changes of x ratio. This constitutes an advantage for the use of ZnO-NPs in different wavelength areas in optoelectronic applications covering UV-Blue-Green domain for the LED design, sensors…     

Re-examining uranium supply and demand: New insights

In this paper, we derive a simultaneous system of equations which aims at analysing the uranium supply and demand. In addition to reviewing and updating previous studies dealing with the uranium market analysis, in particular Amavilah (1995), the contribution of the paper lies in putting attention to some questions which are still either controversial or unanswered. They are especially related to the controversial hypothesis of the interdependence between uranium market and other commodities markets, both, with respect to the demand side, i.e. oil and coal markets, and the supply side, i.e. gold market. The paper also casts lights on electricity and uranium price effects on uranium demand as well as on the simultaneous interdependencies that may exist between nuclear consumption and nuclear installed capacity.     

Properties of Band Gaps and Defect Modes Based on Fibonacci All Superconductor-Semiconductor Aperiodic Photonic Crystals

Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism - In this numerical simulation, we study a new optical device based on semiconductor-superconductor structures, showing narrower broadband...     

Dielectric properties of parylene AF4 as low-k material for microelectronic applications

Using dielectric spectroscopy analysis, three relaxation mechanisms have been identified in 60% semi-crystalline parylene AF4 ([-F₂C-C₆H₄-CF₂-]_n) fluoropolymers. At high temperature, fluorine species located at the electrode/polymer interface involve a space-charge polarization. β-Process assigned to local molecular motions of the C-F dipoles and the γ-relaxation due to local fluctuations of the F₂C-C₆H₄ groups are also evidenced at intermediate and cryogenic temperatures respectively. Space-charge fluorine F⁻, β and γ relaxations obey an Arrhenius law against temperature with activation energy E_a (F⁻) = 1.26 eV, E_a (β) = 0.59 eV and E_a (γ) = 0.29 eV.     

Effects of technological learning and uranium price on nuclear cost: Preliminary insights from a multiple factors learning curve and uranium market modeling

This paper studies the effects of returns to scale, technological learning, i.e. learning-by-doing and learning-by-searching, and uranium price on the prospects of nuclear cost decrease. We use an extended learning curve specification, named multiple factors learning curve (MFLC). In a first stage, we estimate a single MFLC. In a second stage, we estimate the MFLC under the framework of simultaneous system of equations which takes into account the uranium supply and demand. This permits not only to enhance the reliability of the estimation by incorporating the uranium price formation mechanisms in the MFLC via the price variable, but also to give preliminary insights about uranium supply and demand behaviors and the associated effects on the nuclear expansion.Results point out that the nuclear cost has important prospects for decrease via capacity expansion, i.e. learning-by-doing effects. In contrast, they show that the learning-by-searching as well as the scale effects have a limited effect on the cost decrease prospects. Conversely, results also show that uranium price exerts a positive and significant effect on nuclear cost, implying that when the uranium price increases, the nuclear power generation cost decreases. Since uranium is characterized by important physical availability, and since it represents only a minor part in the total nuclear cost, we consider that in a context of increasing demand for nuclear energy the latter result can be explained by the fact that the positive learning effects on the cost of nuclear act in a way to dissipate the negative ones that an increase in uranium price may exert. Further, results give evidence of important inertia in the supply and demand sides as well as evidence of slow correlation between the uranium market and oil market which may limit the inter-fuels substituability effects, that is, nuclear capacity expansion and associated learning-by-doing benefits.     

Structure effect of thin film polypropylene view by dielectric spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction: Application to dry type power capacitors

This work reports on the relationship between structure and dielectric properties of biaxially oriented polypropylene. The morphology of semicrystalline bioriented isotactic polypropylene films is investigated using wide angle X‐ray diffraction and Polarized Optical Microscopy. A β‐orthorhombic structure, with a crystallinity ratio of about 46%, and “Crater” morphology of the β‐form is identified. Dielectric properties are measured by Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy over a wide temperature range (?150 to 125°C). Since the dissipation factor of the PP is very low, special care was taken to obtain valid data. Two main relaxation processes are observed: a α‐relaxation peak associated to the glass transition temperature (Tg) at temperature about ?7°C, and a broad β*‐relaxation at about ?60°C, partly attributed to CH orientation. The variation of the dissipation factor versus sample thickness (from 3.8 to 11.8 µm) is correlated and partly explained by the increase of crystallinity ratio and lamella size at larger thicknesses. It comes out that the thinnest film seems perfectly meet the application requesting, namely lowest dissipation factor and highest permittivity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42602.     

Effect of ClH aromatic substitution on structural and dielectric properties of poly(p-xylylene)

A basic understanding of the structure–property relations and how they are influenced by the molecular architecture is imperative for the future development of polymer thin films in a large number of applications including those in the electronics industry. A new study has been illustrated in this work to demonstrate the effect of an aromatic Chlorine–Hydrogen substitution on the structural and dielectric properties of poly-para-xylylene (parylene N) ((–CH₂–C₆H₆–CH₂–)_n). X?Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the chlorination of the aromatic rings of poly-para-xylylene stabilize the crystalline structure of the materials (α–monoclinic), increases the d-spacing, decreases the crystallinity, and increases the value of the dielectric parameters. Furthermore, the permittivity is increased from 2.68 (PPX N) to 3.1 (PPX C) and the conductivity is increased by two order of magnitude at room temperature at frequency 1 KHz. Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and Energy Dispersion X-ray (EDX) analyses shows that the different as deposited parylene type are deprived of extrinsic polar bonds who can influenced on the dielectric properties. The increase of the dielectric properties and the changes of the morphologies structure are associated to the change in the intermolecular interaction due to the Cl_H aromatic substitution of poly-p-xylylene.