A monodisperse spherical Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor was prepared by a homogeneous precipitation method. The mean size of the phosphor particles (MSPP) was successfully controlled by changing the volume ratio of normal alcohol (RA) (propanol) in the solvents mixed between deionized water and normal propanol. When the RA was increased from 0 to 0.7, the MSPP decreased while maintaining a high yield of >95%. Although the prepared phosphor samples were fired at the same temperature, the thermal energy was delivered more efficiently into the inner side of the phosphor particles with the decrease of the MSPP. Therefore, the crystallinity and also the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the phosphor increased with the decrease in the MSPP. In addition, because the numbers of Eu3+ ions located near the particle surfaces increased with the decrease of particle size, the ratio of PL intensity caused by the 5D0–7F2 transition to that caused by 5D0–7F1 transition increased from 10.8 to 12.7 with the decrease in MSPP.

As a modification to the insoluble and herringbone-structured pentacene, bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) (TIPS) pentacene has two bulky side groups, leading to good solubility in common organic solvents and regular π–π stacking arrangements in the crystalline state. Solution processing of TIPS–pentacene thin films was investigated as a function of various process parameters in this work. Electron diffraction results suggested that TIPS–pentacene molecules tended to align with the acene unit edge on to the substrate, touching down with their bulky side groups. In a TIPS–pentacene polycrystalline film, the long axis of individual crystallite is [2 1 0], while the shorter axis is [1 ¯20]. High-resolution electron microscopy was used to study the local crystal structure and characteristic defects of TIPS–pentacene thin films. Due to the nonaromatic side groups, TIPS–pentacene was found to be significantly more sensitive to the electron beam (critical dose Jc= 0.05 C/cm2at 300 kV) than pentacene itself (Jc= 0.2 C/cm2at 100 kV).

Nanocrystalline alloys often show exceptional thermal stability as a consequence of kinetic and thermodynamic impediments to grain growth. However, evaluating the various contributions to stability requires detailed investigation of the solute distribution, which is challenging within the fine structural-length-scales of nanocrystalline materials. In the present work, we use a variety of techniques to assess changes in the grain size, chemical ordering, grain-boundary segregation, and grain-boundary structure during the heat treatment of Ni–W specimens synthesized over a wide range of grain sizes from 3 to 70 nm. A schematic microstructural evolution map is also developed based on analytical models of the various processes activated during annealing, highlighting the effects of alloying in nanocrystalline materials.

Two new oxide photocatalysts in the Pb–Mg–Nb ternary system, Pb3MgNb2O9 (PMN) and Pb1.83Mg0.29Nb1.71O6.39, have been synthesized, and their photophysical and photocatalytic properties were investigated for the first time. The band gaps of PMN and Pb1.83Mg0.29Nb1.71O6.39 were estimated to be 3.2 and 2.8 eV, respectively, from their absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity evaluated from the decomposition of 2-propanol into acetone under visible-light irradiation indicated that Pb1.83Mg0.29Nb1.71O6.39 exhibited at least 20 times higher activity than PMN and has a strong oxidizing potential to mineralize organic compounds.

In situ measurements of stresses due to the phase transformation in Sn and Ni(P) films were analyzed relating to the formation of layered intermetallic compounds such as Ni3Sn4, Ni3Sn2, Ni3P, and the crystallization of Ni(P) films. When Sn/Ni(11.7P) films were heated up to 480 °C, the first tensile stress developed due to formation of Ni3Sn4 and Ni3P around 220 °C, and the second one appeared at 335 °C due to formation of Ni3Sn2 as well as the self-crystallization of Ni(11.7P). For Sn/Ni(3P), a tensile stress developed mildly with the temperature between 300 and 410 °C due to formation of Ni3Sn2 and precipitation of Ni3P. The onset temperatures of self-crystallization of Ni(P) and Ni3P precipitation decreased due to the Ni–Sn reaction.

We explored the growth and characteristics of CdTe doped with Sn to heighten our understanding of the role of deep levels on electrical compensation and trapping. We demonstrated, for the first time, the strong dependence of the SnCd charge state on the Fermi-level variation (2–3kT) in high-resistivity CdTe. The concentration of deep traps for electrons was determined by the number of doubly positively charged Sn2+ atoms. Thermoelectric-effect spectroscopy and photovoltage measurements revealed the conversion of the SnCd defect from the electron SnCd2+ trap to the hole SnCd0 trap. The results agree well with the existence of a negative U-center in the SnCd0/2+ defect. We also showed that the neutral Sn defect is responsible for the near midgap C-band → bound hole radiative transitions band with a maximum at 0.76 eV.

Nano-sized Eu3+-activated Gd1−xVO4 phosphors were prepared via hydrothermal reaction coupled with the coprecipitation method at a low temperature (230 °C). The coprecipitation provided chemical homogeneity. However, it resulted in a low crystallinity and reduced emission and excitation characteristics. Raman study showed that Gd–O bond lengths changed in powders, depending on the level of crystallinity. The particle morphology was controlled using ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid during the hydrothermal reaction. Particle shapes in the nano-size range affected the vibration of atoms in the lattice, changing photoluminescence properties.

This article reports on the in situ observations of deformation behavior of a metallic glass under a wedge-like cylindrical indenter. The experimental observations for various indenter radii provide information on both macroscopic and microscopic details of the deformation. The deformation zones developed under indenters with different radii that were found to be self-similar and in agreement with the predictions of continuum finite-element simulation with pressure-dependent yielding. There are two types of shear bands being identified beneath the indenter. A set of primary bands is identified as evolving with the process zone front and presents an included angle of 78–80°. The other set of bands evolves at a later stage of loading within the originally formed ones but with a consistently higher included angle of around 87°. Despite the richness of the shear-band details, the macroscopic trends, the force-indentation depth response, and the extent of deformation zones are well captured for this constrained deformation mode by the continuum models that address the onset of yielding only.

The structural transformation of natural montmorillonite clay with different acids and superacids (hydrochloric, HCl; sulfuric, H2SO4; hydrofluoric, HF; perchloric, HClO4; chlorosulfonic, HSO3Cl; and trifluoromethanesulfonic, HSO3CF3 acids) is evaluated by various techniques, allowing its full characterization. The process involves the modulated digestion of the aluminum and silicon atoms from the original clay without the loss of the original mass in the material from a careful drying methodology. The x-ray diffraction technique suggests that the process is disruptive, causing different magnitudes of modification, depending on the acidic source, taking the material with natural lamellar structure as reference. By 27Al and 29Si magnetic resonance, it is also shown that all the silicon and aluminum atoms were removed from the chemical structure to be physisorbed or dispersed in the interstices of the clay lattice when HF, HSO3Cl, and H2SO4 acid treatments were carried out. However, with treatment of HClO4, the results suggest that only was achieved partial digestion and physisorption of the aluminosilicate core. Treatment with HCl led to a mild digestion that increased the laminar distance of the montmorillonite. Finally, HSO3CF3 acid achieved a total disorder of the lamellar structure of the clay. In addition, by infrared spectrometry, the disappearance of the absorption peaks assigned to Al2OH, AlMgOH, and Al-O-Si are other evidence of the complete digestion of silicon and aluminum atoms caused by the acidic medium. On the other hand, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of the acidified clays showed a great enlargement in comparison with the unmodified clay. The porosimetry measurements demonstrate the presence of mesopores and hysteresis as observed in the physisorption isotherms, which indeed exhibited a capillary condensation into the porous structures. The present results are the first full characterization research and structural comparison between the acidic and the not-extensively-studied superacidic modified clays of this type.

Through acid-leaching treatment, the degree of hydrophobicity of a zeolite β can be controlled in a broad range. As the treatment time increases, the nanopore surface can change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, leading to the formation of an infiltration plateau in sorption isotherm curve. The infiltration pressure and hysteresis are dependent on the testing temperature. As temperature rises, the effective degree of hydrophobicity is lowered, while the defiltration is much more pronounced.

Piezoresponse mode atomic force microscopy was used to induce a dynamic polarization reversal process and to characterize domain configuration behavior in BaMgF4 single crystal. Triangular reversed domains observed on the polar and non-polar surface demonstrate a sideways domain wall motion mechanism prevailing in the switching process of the bulk BaMgF4 crystal. The domain wall bowing phenomenon due to the strong pinning of the crystal defects was first visualized in the piezoresponse image of the engineering domain pattern in BaMgF4 crystal.

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with critical diameters of 2.5–3 mm were synthesized in the (Cu0.6Zr0.3Ti0.1)100−x−yNiyNbxsystem by copper-mold casting. These alloys exhibit a large supercooled liquid region (ΔTx) of 40–60 K and a high reduced glass transition temperature (Tg/Tl) of 0.60–0.61, indicating high glass-forming ability and high thermal stability of the supercooled liquid. The corrosion rates in 1 N HCl and 3 mass% NaCl solutions significantly decrease by simultaneous alloying with Ni and Nb elements. The addition is also effective in raising the pitting potential in chloride solutions. The addition of Ni and Nb is favorable for the alloys in forming Zr-, Ti-, and Nb-enriched highly protective surface films in HCl and NaCl solutions.

Instrumented indentation has yielded mixed results when used to measure surface residual stresses in metal films. Relative to metals, many glasses and ceramics have a low modulus-to-yield strength (E/σy) ratio. The advantage of this characteristic for measuring residual stress using instrumented indentation is demonstrated by a series of comparative spherical and conical tip finite element simulations. Two cases are considered: (i) a material with E/σy = 24—similar to glass and (ii) a material with E/σy = 120—similar to metal films. In both cases, compressive residual stress shifts the simulated load–displacement response toward increasing hardness, irrespective of tip geometry. This shift is shown to be entirely due to pile up for the “metal” case, but primarily due to the direct influence of the residual stress for the “glass” case. Hardness changes and load–displacement curve shifts are explained by using the spherical cavity model. Supporting experimental results on stressed glasses are provided.

A new Ti-based bulk-metallic glassy (BMG) alloy without Ni was developed in various forms such as melt-spun ribbon and cylindrical rods. Ti metal and Ti-based alloys are well known as biomaterials because Ti has good biocompatibility with the human body. We examined mechanical and chemical properties of a newly developed Ti-based BMG alloy in comparison with pure Ti metal and Ti–6Al–4V alloy, which are used for biomaterials. The new Ti-based BMG (Ti45Zr10Pd10Cu31Sn4) alloy does not contain Ni, Al, and Be elements, which are known to be toxic. The Ti45Zr10Pd10Cu31Sn4 BMG alloy rod with a diameter of 3 mm, which is produced by copper mold casting, exhibits a compressive strength of 1970 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 95 GPa. In addition, the Ti45Zr10Pd10Cu31Sn4 BMG alloy shows a supercooled liquid region of 56 K and a reduced glass-transition temperature, Trg(=Tg/Tl), of 0.56. The high thermal stability of supercooled liquid has enabled the fabrication of a cylindrical rod specimen with a diameter of 4 mm. This alloy exhibits precipitation of a primary nanoscale icosahedral phase upon devitrification followed by the formation of a metastable unidentified phase. Ti2Cu and Ti3Sn are stable phases formed in this alloy. The Ti45Zr10Pd10Cu31Sn4 BMG alloy has a high corrosion resistance and is passivated at a lower passive current density of approximately 10−2 A/m2 compared to those of pure titanium and the Ti–6Al–4V alloy in 1 mass% lactic acid and phosphate-buffered saline solutions at 310 K.

We report the layer structure and composition in recently discovered TiN/SiN(001) superlattices deposited by dual-reactive magnetron sputtering on MgO(001) substrates. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy combined with Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray reflection, diffraction, and reciprocal-space mapping shows the formation of high-quality superlattices with coherently strained cubic TiN and SiN layers for SiN thickness below 7–10 Å. For increasing SiN layer thicknesses, a transformation from epitaxial to amorphous SiNx (x ⩾ 1) occurs during growth. Elastic recoil detection analysis revealed an increase in nitrogen and argon content in SiNx layers during the phase transformation. The oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen contents in the multilayers were around the detection limit (∼0.1 at.%) with no indication of segregation to the layer interfaces. Nanoindentation experiments confirmed superlattice hardening in the films. The highest hardness of 40.4 ± 0.8 GPa was obtained for 20-Å TiN with 5-Å-thick SiN(001) interlayers, compared to monolithic TiN at 20.2 ± 0.9 GPa.

The densification behavior of 20–40-nm graphite-coated B4C nano-particles was studied using dilatometry, x-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. The sintering onset temperature was higher than expected from a nanoscale powder (∼1500 °C); remnant B2O3 kept particles separated until B2O3 volatilization, and the graphite coatings imposed particle-to-particle contact of a substance more refractory than B4C. Solid-state sintering (1500–1850 °C) was followed by a substantial slowing of contraction rate attributed to the formation of eutectic liquid droplets more than 10× the size of the original nano-particles. These droplets were induced to form well below the B4C-graphite eutectic temperature by the high surface energy of nanoparticles. They were interpreted to have quickly solidified to form a vast number of voids in particle packing, which in turn, impeded detection of continued solid-state sintering. Starting at 2200 °C, a permanent and interconnected liquid phase formed, which facilitated rapid contraction by liquid phase sintering and/or compact slumping.

By injecting additional argon gas, we were able to grow one-dimensional ZnO nanorod arrays with a uniform distribution on a large scale at a low temperature of less than 330 °C by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. All of the nanorods grown on the sapphire substrate had a 30° in-plane rotation with respect to the substrate and showed the epitaxial characteristics of [10¯10]ZnO//[11¯20]sapphire, despite the low-temperature growth. These ZnO nanorods with high crystalline quality exhibited a high enhancement factor and low turn-on field value, thus having good potential to be used as a field emitter.

A thin nanocrystalline Pt interfacial layer (IL) was observed near the SrBi2Ta2O9(SBT)–Pt interface after crystallization treatment in a SBT–Pt–Ti ferroelectric capacitor. Apart from its Pt content, this IL also incorporated large numbers of Ti and O atoms, which arose from the Ti adhesion layer and the SBT film, respectively. These atoms reacted to form TiOx, which resulted in a volume expansion during the annealing process. This phenomenon led to a putative shear stress being exerted on the Pt layer. Under such stress and thermal conditions, we speculate that the nanocrystalline Pt IL developed from the Pt bottom electrode.

Plastic behavior at room temperature of amorphous, partially crystallized, and fully crystallized Zr41.25Ti13.75Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 Vitreloy 1 samples was investigated using instrumented indentation. Residual imprints were imaged using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Young’s modulus and hardness were estimated using the contact area derived from AFM imaging. It has been shown that the postmortem area measurement is useful to take into account the pileup effect. Indentation experiments performed with a conical tip were associated with parametric two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element modeling using a pressure-sensitive yield criterion. A two-parameter reverse analysis algorithm was used to probe both yield stress and pressure angle. Results showed that the amorphous alloy exhibits a yield stress and pressure angle in good agreement with literature and compressive tests, and that crystallization affects the pressure angle.

An iron-based amorphous metal, Fe49.7Cr17.7Mn1.9Mo7.4W1.6B15.2C3.8Si2.4 (SAM2X5), with very good corrosion resistance has been developed. This material was prepared as a melt-spun ribbon, as well as gas atomized powder and a thermal-spray coating. During electrochemical testing in several environments, including seawater at 90 °C, the passive film stability was found to be comparable to that of high-performance nickel-based alloys and superior to that of stainless steels, based on electrochemical measurements of the passive film breakdown potential and general corrosion rates. This material also performed very well in standard salt fog tests. Chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), and tungsten (W) provided corrosion resistance, and boron (B) enabled glass formation. The high boron content of this particular amorphous metal made it an effective neutron absorber and suitable for criticality control applications. This material and its parent alloy maintained corrosion resistance up to the glass transition temperature and remained in the amorphous state during exposure to relatively high neutron doses.