Dynamic probe of ZnTe(110) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy

The reconstructed surface structure of the II–VI semiconductor ZnTe (110), which is a promising material in the research field of semiconductor spintronics, was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). First, the surface states formed by reconstruction by the charge transfer of dangling bond electrons from cationic Zn to anionic Te atoms, which are similar to those of IV and III–V semiconductors, were confirmed in real space. Secondly, oscillation in tunneling current between binary states, which is considered to reflect a conformational change in the topmost Zn–Te structure between the reconstructed and bulk-like ideal structures, was directly observed by STM. Third, using the technique of charge injection, a surface atomic structure was successfully fabricated, suggesting the possibility of atomic-scale manipulation of this widely applicable surface of ZnTe.     

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.     

Separation of hematite from banded hematite jasper (BHJ) by magnetic coating

The separation of iron oxide from banded hematite jasper(BHJ) assaying 47.8% Fe, 25.6% Si O2 and 2.30%Al2O3 using selective magnetic coating was studied. Characterization studies of the low grade ore indicate that besides hematite and goethite,jasper, a microcrystalline form of quartzite, is the major impurity associated with this ore. Beneficiation by conventional magnetic separation technique could yield a magnetic concentrate containing 60.8% Fe with 51% Fe recovery. In order to enhance the recovery of the iron oxide minerals, fine magnetite, colloidal magnetite and oleate colloidal magnetite were used as the coating material. When subjected to magnetic separation, the coated ore produces an iron concentrate containing 60.2% Fe with an enhanced recovery of56%. The AFM studies indicate that the coagulation of hematite particles with the oleate colloidal magnetite facilitates the higher recovery of iron particles from the low grade BHJ iron ore under appropriate conditions.     

Preparation,characterization and properties of polycaprolactone diol-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyurethane composite

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically functionalized to prepare thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) composites with enhanced properties. In order to achieve a high compatibility of functionalized MWCNTs with the PU matrix, polycaprolactone diol (PCL), as one of PU’s monomers, was selectively grafted on the surface of MWCNTs (MWCNT–PCL), while carboxylic acid groups functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNT–COOH) and raw MWCNTs served as control. Both MWCNT–COOH and MWCNT–PCL improved the dispersion of MWCNTs in the PU matrix and interfacial bonding between them at 1 wt% loading fraction. The MWCNT–PCL/PU composite showed the greatest extent of improvement, where the tensile strength and modulus were 51.2% and 33.5% higher than those of pure PU respectively, without sacrificing the elongation at break. The considerable improvement in both mechanical properties and thermal stability of MWCNT–PCL/PU composite should result from the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNT–PCL in the PU matrix and strong interfacial bonding between them.     

Synthesis,structure, stability and phase diagrams of selected bimetallic silver- and nickel-based nanoparticles

An overview of the research on silver-based (Ag-Sn, Ag-Cu, Ag-Ni) and nickel-based (Cu-Ni, Au-Ni, Ni-Pt) bimetallic nanoparticles is presented. The investigated nanoparticles in this review are formed by elements that represent an important group of metals revealing fcc lattice under macro-sized conditions (with the exception of Sn). The effects of surface stabilizing layer of the alloy nanoparticles are also described. Our experience with synthesis, characterization and stabilization of alloy nanoparticles is summarized. The development of the nanoparticle synthesis represents an important and mandatory part of the experimental nanoalloy research. Main synthetic routes under focus are the low temperature borohydride reduction method, the high temperature oleylamine synthesis, and the high pressure method in autoclave. The subsequent structural studies are focused on both nanoparticle core and outer stabilizing layer. The cores of the nanoparticles are studied mainly by electron microscopy techniques. The phase stability of the nanoparticle core is investigated by thermal analysis. The Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry was applied for studies of stabilizing organic molecules that can be found on the surface of the nanoparticles. The presented overview of the experimental results is complemented by thermodynamic calculations of phase diagrams by the CALPHAD method.     

Chemische Zusammensetzung und Mikrostruktur polymerabgeleiteter Gläser und Keramiken im System Si–C–O. Teil 2: Charakterisierung der Gefügeausbildung mittels hochauflösender Durchstrahlungselektronenmikroskopie und Feinbereichsbeugung

Chemical Composition and Microstructure of Polymer‐Derived Glasses and Ceramics in the Si–C–O System. Part 2: Characterization of microstructure formation by means of high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area diffraction Liquid or solid silicone resins represent the economically most interesting class of organic precursors for the pyrolytic production of glass and ceramics materials on silicon basis. As dense, dimensionally stable components can be cost‐effectively achieved by admixing reactive filler powders, chemical composition and microstructure development of the polymer‐derived residues must be exactly known during thermal decomposition. Thus, in the present work, glasses and ceramics produced by pyrolysis of the model precursor polymethylsiloxane at temperatures from 525 to 1550 °C are investigated. In part 1, by means of analytical electron microscopy, the bonding state of silicon was determined on a nanometre scale and the phase separation of the metastable Si–C–O matrix into SiO₂, C and SiC was proved. The in‐situ crystallization could be considerably accelerated by adding fine‐grained powder of inert fillers, such as Al₂O₃ or SiC, which permits effective process control. In part 2, the microstructure is characterized by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area diffraction. Turbostratic carbon and cubic β‐SiC precipitate as crystallization products. Theses phases are embedded in an amorphous matrix. Inert fillers reduce the crystallization temperature by several hundred °C. In this case, the polymer‐derived Si–C–O material acts as a binding agent between the powder particles. Reaction layer formation does not occur. On the investigated pyrolysis conditions, no crystallization of SiO₂ was observed.     

Microstructure of Feta Cheese Made Using Different Cultures as Determined by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy

ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to observe the microstructure of feta cheese using confocal scanning laser microscopy. Low fat cheese and cheese containing capsule-producing cultures were made. The protein network was observed using the reflectance mode of the confocal microscope. Fat was stained by Nile red dye diluted with whey. More even distribution of fat with a larger number of smaller globules was observed in cheese made with noncapsule-forming culture compared to that made with the capsule-forming culture. Nonfat cheese had compact structure when made with noncapsule-forming culture which contrasted with the open structure observed in cheese made with the capsule-forming culture     

Low temperature delamination of plastic encapsulated microcircuits

Plastic encapsulated microcircuits (PEMs) are increasingly being used in applications requiring operation at temperatures lower than the manufacturer’s recommended minimum temperature, which is 0°C for commercial grade components and −40°C for industrial and automotive grade components. To characterize the susceptibility of PEMs to delamination at these extreme low temperatures, packages with different geometries, encapsulated in both biphenyl and novolac molding compounds, were subjected to up to 500 thermal cycles with minimum temperatures in the range −40 to −65°C in both the moisture saturated and baked conditions. Scanning acoustic microscopy revealed there was a negligible increase in delamination at the die-to-encapsulant interface after thermal cycling for the 84 lead PQFPs encapsulated in novolac and for both 84 lead PQFPs and 14 lead PDIPs encapsulated in biphenyl molding compound. Only the 14 lead novolac PDIPs exhibited increased delamination. Moisture exposure had a significant effect on the creation of additional delamination.     

Intracellular localization of the antitumour drug adriamycin in living cultured cells: A confocal microscopy study

The intracellular distribution of the anthracyclinic antibiotic adriamycin in living cultured cells has been investigated by confocal microscopy. In human melanoma cells (M14), adriamycin was localized inside the nuclei. When adriamycin-treated M14 cells were allowed to recover in drug-free medium, a complete efflux of the drug from the nucleus was revealed. In recovered cells, a weakly fluorescent signal was observed in the perinuclear region. When M14 cells were recovered in a medium containing colcemid, a microtubule depolymerizing agent, the drug transport from the nucleus to the cell periphery appeared to be inhibited, suggesting that the microtubule network is strongly involved in drug transport mechanisms. In multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells the intracellular location of adriamycin was shown to be noticeably different from that of the parental wild-type cells. In particular, in resistant human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7), adriamycin appeared to be exclusively located within the cytoplasm whereas the nuclei were shown to be completely negative. When adriamycin treatment was performed in association with MDR revertants, such as Lonidamine (inhibitor of the energy metabolism) or verapamil (inhibitor of the P-glycoprotein efflux pump), a marked enhancement of the cytoplasmic signal was observed in resistant cells. Under these conditions, adriamycin appeared concentrated in the perinuclear region, but the nuclei were still negative. Confocal microscopy proved to be a very useful method for the study of the intracellular transport of fluorescent substances, such as anthracyclinic antibiotics, and for the investigation of the multidrug resistance phenomenon in tumour cells.     

激光晶体Nd:YVO4的形貌及生长缺陷

本文报道了应用环境扫描电镜（ESEM）和同步辐射X射线白光形貌术对采用提拉法生长出的Nd:YVO4晶体进行的形貌及生长缺陷的分析,获得了该晶体的开裂表面的ESEM形貌像以及取自晶体肩部和中间部位的（001）面的同步辐射白光形貌像,观察到了位错、包裹物等缺陷,可为生长高质量的Nd:YVO4晶体提供重要的启示.