Microstructure, interdiffusion and magnetic properties of ZnO/MnOx multilayers grown by pulse laser deposition

ZnO/MnO_x nano-thin multilayers are fabricated by pulsed laser deposition with a sectioned target or “cake” technique. Structure and magnetic properties are measured, finding a magnetic signal that scales better with the number of interfaces than with the film volume, and an interlayer interdiffusion that happens at remarkably low film growth temperatures.     

Characterisation of submicron particles produced during oxygen blown entrained flow gasification of biomass

In this paper submicron particles sampled after the quench during 200 kW, 2 bar(a) pressurised, oxygen blown gasification of three biomass fuels, pure stem wood of pine and spruce, bark from spruce and a bark mixture, have been characterised with respect to particle size distribution with a low pressure cascade impactor. The particles were also characterised for morphology and elemental composition by a combination of scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy/selected area electron diffraction pattern (HRTEM/EDS/SAED) techniques. The resulting particle concentration in the syngas after the quench varied between 46 and 289 mg/Nm³ consisting of both carbon and easily volatile ash forming element significantly depending on the fuel ash content. Several different types of particles could be identified from classic soot particles to pure metallic zinc particles depending on the individual particle relation of carbon and ash forming elements. The results also indicate that ash forming elements and especially zinc interacts in the soot formation process creating a particle with shape and microstructure significantly different from a classical soot particle.     

TEM study of indium and gallium nitride nanocrystals in silica gasses obtained by the sol-gel method

GaN and InN nanocrystals in silica glasses prepared by the sol‐gel method were studied by transmission electron microscopy techniques. Morphology, structure and phase composition of silica gel containing Ga or In as function of the calcination and nitridation temperature were investigated.     

Mullite-bonded SiC-whisker-reinforced SiC matrix composites: Preparation,characterization, and toughening mechanisms

A novel mullite-bonded SiC-whisker-reinforced SiC matrix composite (SiCw/SiC, SiC whisker-to-SiC powder mass ratio of 1:9) was designed and successfully prepared. Before preparing the composite, the inexpensive lab-made SiCw was first modified by an oxidation/leaching process and then coated with Al₂O₃. The kinetics results indicate that the oxidation process can be described by improved shrinking-cylinder models. The aspect ratio of SiCw improved after modification. Subsequently, raw materials with a SiC–SiO₂–Al₂O₃ triple-layered structure were obtained after the Al₂O₃-coating process and used as feedstocks during the subsequent hot-pressing sintering. Finally, the characterization of the composites indicates that the mullite-bonded sample performs better (relative density of 93.8?±?1.4%, flexural strength of 533.3?±?18.2?MPa, fracture toughness of 13.6?±?2.1?MPa?m^1/2, and Vickers hardness of 20.6?±?2.5?GPa) than the reference sample without the mullite interface. The improved toughness could essentially be attributed to the moderately strong interface bonding and effective load transfer effects of the mullite interface.     

On the kinetics of phase transformations of dried porous vaterite particles immersed in deionized and tap water

Calcium carbonate exists in three allotropic forms: vaterite, aragonite and calcite. Metastable vaterite can be easily transformed into calcite and/or aragonite via different routes. We report how dry vaterite particles transform into aragonite and calcite when they are immersed into DeIonized water (DI) or tap water without additives at different temperature (22, 40 and 60?°C) with and without stirring. We show that the transformation rate of vaterite into more stable crystallographic forms is influenced not only by temperature but also by stirring and water purity. Low temperature, absence of stirring and absence of ions in water significantly slow down the kinetics of transformation of vaterite. Additionally, water purity influences the nature of the allotropic phase obtained after transformation. High temperatures and DI water favor the transformation of vaterite into single crystalline nanowires of aragonite, while tap water yields the transformation of vaterite into calcite. The absence of aragonite in tap water at high temperature can be explained by the presence of sulfate ions, which inhibit the formation of this phase. On the contrary, Mg²⁺ ions tend to stabilize vaterite.     

Microwave assisted template synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Easier, less time consuming, green processes, which yield silver nanoparticles of uniform size, shape and morphology are of interest. Various methods for synthesis, such as conventional temperature assisted process, controlled reaction at elevated temperatures, and microwave assisted process have been evaluated for the kind of silver nanoparticles synthesized. Starch has been employed as a template and reducing agent. Electron microscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance have been employed to characterize the silver nanoparticles synthesized. Compared to conventional methods, microwave assisted synthesis was faster and provided particles with an average particle size of 12 nm. Further, the starch functions as template, preventing the aggregation of silver nanoparticles.     

天然准纳米针状石墨的发现及其结构表征

在新疆苏吉泉花岗岩所含团块状石墨中发现一种细长针状物，经高分辨电镜能谱分析其化学成份为碳。电子衍射数据分析表明其结构为2H多型石墨。确认该细长针状物为准纳米针状石墨，其长度可达12500nm，宽度为150nm，边缘平直，且晶面条纹平直度极高。认为这种准纳米针状石墨会具有优异的力学性质，可能是一类高强度的材料。     

Use of amorphous monodispersed spinel film electrode in photo-electrochemical cells

A high purity amorphous spinel film (CdCr₂S₄) electrode composed of monodispersed grains has been successfully deposited on an ordinary glass and conducting glass (FTO) substrates from aqueous medium using a simple, inexpensive, reproducible chemical bath method at ambient temperature. The as-deposited film composed of small elongated particles of 100-150 nm in length and 10-20 nm in diameter aggregated into large monodispersed spherical clusters of 100-400 nm in diameter. Furthermore, the influence of this CdCr₂S₄ film electrode on photo-electrochemical properties was studied and reported.     

40Cr钢液相等离子体电解氮碳共渗层的组织与性能

在NaCl溶液和甲酰胺组成的电解液中,应用液相等离子体电解氮碳共渗技术对调质态40Cr钢进行处理,表面得到氮碳共渗层,研究了其组织与性能。结果表明,经液相等离子体电解氮碳共渗处理后,试样表面为多孔形貌,处理10 min后渗层厚度可达38μm,渗层由两层白亮层和过渡层组成。XRD分析表明外白亮层由ε-Fe2-3N、Fe5C2、Fe3C和α-Fe(N)马氏体组成,SAED分析证明内白亮层为α-Fe(N)马氏体。渗层的显微硬度最高可达650 HV0.05,经氮碳共渗处理后试样的腐蚀速率远小于40Cr钢基体的腐蚀速率。     

Growth and photovoltaic performance of SnS quantum dots

Tin sulphide (SnS) quantum dots of size ranging from 2.4 to 14.4 nm are prepared by chemical precipitation method in aqueous media. Growth of the SnS particles is monitored by controlling the deposition time. Both XRD and SAED patterns confirm that the particles possess orthorhombic structure. The uncapped SnS particles showed secondary phases like Sn₂S₃ and SnS₂ which is visible in the SAED pattern. From the electrochemical characterization, HOMO–LUMO levels of both TiO₂ and SnS are determined and the band alignment is found to be favorable for electron transfer from SnS to TiO₂. Moreover, the HOMO–LUMO levels varied for different particle sizes. Solar cell is fabricated by sensitizing porous TiO₂ thin film with SnS QDs. Cell structure is characterized with and without buffer layer between FTO and TiO₂. Without the buffer layer, cell showed an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 504 mV and short circuit current density (J_sc) of 2.3 mA/cm² under AM1.5 condition. The low fill factor of this structure (15%) is seen to be increased drastically to 51%, on the incorporation of the buffer layer. The cell characteristics are analyzed using two different size quantum dots.