Epitaxial Growth of 2D Materials on High-Index Substrate Surfaces

Recently, the successful synthesis of wafer-scale single-crystal graphene, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), and MoS₂ on transition metal surfaces with step edges boosted the research interests in synthesizing wafer-scale 2D single crystals on high-index substrate surfaces. Here, using hBN growth on high-index Cu surfaces as an example, a systematic theoretical study to understand the epitaxial growth of 2D materials on various high-index surfaces is performed. It is revealed that hBN orientation on a high-index surface is highly dependent on the alignment of the step edges of the surface as well as the surface roughness. On an ideal high-index surface, well-aligned hBN islands can be easily achieved, whereas curved step edges on a rough surface can lead to the alignment of hBN along with different directions. This study shows that high-index surfaces with a large step density are robust for templating the epitaxial growth of 2D single crystals due to their large tolerance for surface roughness and provides a general guideline for the epitaxial growth of various 2D single crystals.     

Heat propagation in thermally conductive polymers of PA6 and hexagonal boron nitride

Thermally conductive polymers offer new possibilities for the heat dissipation in electric and electronic components, for example, by a three‐dimensional shaping of the heat sinks. To face safety regulations, improved fire performance of those components is required. In contrast to unfilled polymers, those materials exhibit an entirely different thermal behavior. To investigate the flammability, a phosphorus flame retardant was incorporated into thermally conductive composites of polyamide 6 and hexagonal boron nitride. The flame retardant decreased the thermal conductivity only slightly. However, the burning behavior changed significantly, due to a different heat propagation, which was investigated using a thermographic camera. An optimum content of hexagonal boron nitride for a sufficient thermal conductivity and fire performance was found between 20 and 30 vol%. The improvement of the fire performance was due to a faster heat release out of the pyrolysis zone and an earlier decomposition of the flame retardant. For higher contents of hexagonal boron nitride, the heat was spread faster within the part, promoting an earlier ignition and increasing the decomposition rate of the flame retardant.     

Some aspects of the electrochemistry of the flotation of pyrrhotite

The iron sulfide mineral, pyrrhotite (Fe_(1–x)S), has long been known to be more difficult to recover by flotation from alkaline slurries than many other base metal sulfide minerals. This paper summarizes the results of an electrochemical study of the surface reactions that occur during the flotation of nickeliferous pyrrhotite in the recovery of nickel and the platinum group metals. Mixed potential measurements conducted with natural pyrrhotite electrodes in various stages of an operating flotation plant showed that the mineral potential is positive to the equilibrium potential of the xanthate/dixanthogen couple. Similar results were obtained during batch flotation experiments and in synthetic solutions in the laboratory. Cyclic voltammetric and potentiostatic current/time transient experiments were used to investigate the oxidation of pyrrhotite under various conditions. In addition, the reduction of oxygen, the reaction of copper ions and the oxidation of xanthate ions at the mineral surface were investigated. The formation of dixanthogen on pyrrhotite surfaces is thermodynamically favourable in plant flotation slurries. However the interaction with xanthate at pH values above 7 is inhibited by a surface species formed during the conditioning prior to xanthate addition. In acidic solutions copper ions react readily with pyrrhotite to form a species, possibly CuS that can be oxidized at potentials above 0.4 V. At pH 9 this species does not form and there is no electrochemical reaction between pyrrhotite and copper ions. The beneficial effects of copper ions to flotation performance appear to be related to an enhancement of the oxidation of xanthate.     

快速凝固Al—Li—Cu—Mg—Zr合金中H相的Z相的TEM研究

用ＨＲＴＥＭ、ＴＥＭ及ＥＤＡＸ分析研究了Ａｌ－Ｌｉ－Ｃｕ－Ｚｒ合金中的一种新相（暂名Ｈ相）和六角Ｚ相的结构，确定Ｈ相具有四方点阵，点阵参数为ａ＝２．８ｎｍ，ｃ＝２．４ｎｍ，ＥＤＡＸ分析表明Ｈ明和Ｚ相均含有Ａｌ，Ｍｇ，Ｃｕ。发现Ｈ相与Ｚ相的共存取向关系为［１００］ｈ｜｜［１１２０］ｚ，［０１０］｜｜［０００１］Ｚ。还观察到Ｚ相中一种特有有的旋转畴结构。     

Harnessing the Melting Peculiarities of Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibers for the Processing of Compacted Fiber Composites

Summary: Compacted fiber composites offer unique properties due to their lack of an extraneous matrix. The conditions of processing ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers were simulated in a heated pressure cell. In situ X‐ray diffraction measurements were used to follow the relevant transitions and the changes in the degree of crystallinity during melting and crystallization. The results strongly support the suggestion that the hexagonal crystal phase, in which the chain conformation is extremely mobile on the segmental level, constitutes the physical basis of compaction technologies for processing UHMWPE fibers into a single‐polymer composite. This report suggests that using a pseudo‐phase diagram outlining the occurrence of different phases during slow heating and the degree of crystallinity can provide valuable insight into the technological parameters relevant for optimal processing conditions.

Degree of crystallinity as a function of pressure and temperature in a region relevant to compaction processes.     

A novel preparation method for NiCo2O4 electrodes stacked with hexagonal nanosheets for water electrolysis

In this paper, we describe the preparation of a porous nanosheet-stacked NiCo₂O₄ composite electrode using a novel electrophoretic deposition (EPD) calcination method. The effects of the deposition time and voltage, and of the calcination temperature have been investigated. The microstructure of the deposited films in the electrodes before and after calcination has also been investigated. The electrocatalytic properties of the electrodes have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry and polarization curves. The electrode films produced using this new technique have a porous structure composed of stacked hexagonal NiCo₂O₄ nanosheets. The resulting electrodes exhibit good electrocatalytic properties for water electrolysis.     

Phase stability and magnetic properties of SrFe18O27 W-type hexagonal ferrite

W-type ferrite is a member of the hexagonal ferrite family and a potential permanent magnet material. However, its synthesis conditions are not fully understood yet. Samples were sintered either at 1400°C in air and quenched, or at 1300°C at reduced oxygen partial pressure. The precise stability conditions of this W-type ferrite were investigated in the temperature range of 1200°C-1400°C using thermogravimetry, XRD, and electron microscopy. At 1300°C, the ferrite is stable at oxygen partial pressures of . At more oxidizing conditions, the ferrite decomposes into M-type ferrite and hematite, while at more reducing atmospheres Sr₄Fe₆O₁₃ and magnetite are formed. The nonstoichiometry δ of SrFe_18−δO₂₇ was derived from thermal analysis data at 1300°C as function of oxygen partial pressure and was found to be mainly due to cation vacancies. Magnetization measurements show that this W-type ferrite exhibits M_s = 103 emu/g at T = 4 K, which agrees well with a ferrimagnetic spin arrangement according to Gorter's model. As alternative, Zn-substituted W-ferrite was found to be stable in air at 1200°C with a large M_s = 123 emu/g at 4 K.     

Synthesis and characterization of CePO4 nanorods via solvothermal process

One-dimensional cerium phosphate(CePO4) nanorods were successfully synthesized by a facile and simple solvothermal method at 150 ℃ for 12 h, using Ce(NO3)3·6H2O and NaH2PO4·2H2O as the starting materials. Phase and morphologie of the as-synthesized CePO4 products, characterized by XRD, FESEM, and TEM, were proved to be perfect and uniform hexagonal CePO4 nanorods with aspect ratio of more than 100. The photoluminescence(PL) spectrometer was used to investigate the optical properties of the assynthesized hexagonal CePO4 nanorods.     

Bioleaching of pyrrhotite by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans

The bioleaching of pyrrhotite was investigated using Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans.The effects of pH,pulp concentration,inoculation amount,external addition of ferrous and ferric ions were examined.The pH is found to exert a profound effect on the leaching process for controlling the bacterial activity and precipitation of ferric ions mainly as jarosite.The results show that low pulp content increases the leaching rate of iron.The inoculation amount from 1×107 cell/mL to 1×108 cell/mL has positive effects on the leaching rate.The results also imply that addition of ferrous sulfate（1 g/L） is required for the bacteria to efficiently drive the extraction of iron,however,the leaching efficiency has no obvious enhancement when 2 g/L ferrous sulfate was added.Comparatively,addition of ferric sulfate（2 g/L） significantly inhibits the bioleaching process.At the end of bioleaching,jarosite and sulfur are observed on the surface of pyrrhotite residues by using XRD and SEM.With the passivation film formed by jarosite and sulfur,the continuous iron extraction is effectively blocked.     

Electrodeposition of dixanthogen（TETD） on pyrite surface

The electrochemical reaction of xanthate on the surface of pyrite was studied using cyclic voltammogrametry, chronopotentiometry and rotating-disc electrode measurements.Experimental results demonstrate that the first step in the reaction is electrochemical adsorption of xanthate ion,and then the adsorbed ion associates with a xanthate ion from the solution and forms a dixanthogen on the pyrite electrode surface.The diffusion coefficient of butyl xanthate on pyrite electrode surface can be determined to be about 1.09×10- 6cm2/s.Using the galvanostatic technique,the kinetic parameters of oxidation of the butyl xanthate ion on the pyrite surface are calculated as Ja=200μA/cm2 ,β=0.203 and J0=27.1μA/cm2.