New noncovalent bonding polymer/clay hybrids were prepared, including the polymer poly(tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine) (poly-TMPD). Polymerization occurred in the interlayer space of clay mineral successively after intercalation of monomers. Two types of clay minerals with different surface properties—a hydrophilic lithium fluorotaeniolite (TN) and four kinds of organophilic fluorotaeniolites (org-TNs)—were used as the hosts. Powder x-ray diffraction results showed an increase of 0.7–1.0 nm in the basal spacings, indicating the formation of poly–TMPD in the interlayer space of the hosts. Intercalative polymerization was also supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The orientation of the poly-TMPD and thermal behavior were also discussed.

The effect of hydrogen dilution during plasma deposition on hydrogen incorporation and the optical and electrical properties of a-SiHx films were studied. The films were grown in capacitive low-frequency (f = 10 and 110 kHz) discharge in SiH4 diluted with H2, varying the ratio RH of the gases H2/SiH4 from RH = 0 to 40. The optical absorption coefficient and optical bandgap were changed with RH. Si–H bonding, studied by infrared spectroscopy, depended on RH. Hydrogen concentration in the films estimated from infrared spectra was in the range 20–30%. We observed the significant effect of RH on the temperature dependence of conductivity σ(T) and on the subgap absorption spectra measured by the constant photocurrent method. The reduction of subgap absorption up to 1.5 order of magnitude was observed with increasing RH.

The dielectric properties of high-k dielectric BaTiO3 and Ba0.68Sr0.32TiO3 thick films deposited on alumina substrates using a plasma-spray process were investigated. The as-deposited films were predominantly crystalline but contained an amorphous second phase, the amount of which depended on spray conditions. The effect of the spray conditions on crystallinity was studied and related to the dielectric properties of the films. The presence of a low dielectric constant interfacial layer in plasma-spray-deposited films was determined from the dependence of the dielectric constant on film thickness. After annealing at 500 °C for 20 h in air, the crystallinity and dielectric constant increased. Annealing was also found to affect the interfacial layer properties.

This paper presents the results of a nanoindentation study of the effects of strain gradient plasticity on the elastic–plastic deformation of lithographie, galvanoformung, abformung (LIGA) Ni microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures plated from sulfamate baths. Both Berkovich and North Star/cube corner indenter tips were used in the study to investigate possible effects of residual indentation depth on the hardness of LIGA Ni MEMS structures between the micro- and nanoscales. A microstructural length scale parameter, , was determined for LIGA nickel films. This is shown to be consistent with a stretch gradient length-scale parameter, ls, of approximately 0.9 μm.

Single crystals of KBeBO3F (KBBF) up to 2 mm in thickness were grown by using a spontaneous nucleation method. The flux was composed of KF and B2O3, and the optimal ratio for growing KBBF single crystal thicker than 1 mm is suggested to be (1.0–1.5):(5.0):(0.7–1.2) (KBBF:KF:B2O3) in molar ratio. The ideal morphology of.KBBF is two sets of tabular facets and a set of rhombic facets. Surface morphology.was characterized both by optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Transmission spectra showed that high transmission was maintained up to 170 nm. Based on refractive index measurements, phase matching curves for types I and II were determined. Using a prism coupling method, the effective fourth harmonic generation for an Nd:YAB laser was realized in an 0.6-mm-thick KBBF sample. The output energy of the 266-nm beam was 0.282 mJ, and the conversion efficiency was 11.8%. A 183.6-nm laser over 1 mW was obtained from a Ti:sapphire second harmonic generation beam in an 0.8-mm KBBF sample. The conversion efficiency reached 2.3%. A 179.4-nm laser was also observed from a 358.7-nm laser by directly frequency doubling. This is the shortest wavelength obtained through nonlinear optical processes in a solid-state laser.

The high-temperature combustion mechanism of the BaO2–TiO2–organic compound system [urea, CO(NH2)2; hexamethylenetetramine, C6H12N4] was investigated by the microthermocouple technique. The adiabatic combustion temperatures (Tad) and equilibrium compositions of the final products were calculated by the computer program THERMO. The distribution of the temperature T(x), rate of heat generation Φ(x), and degree of conversion η(x) in the combustion wave were determined. The relative sizes of the combustion zones, the leading stage of the reaction, the kinetic law of components interaction, and parameters (activation energy, pre-exponential factor, braking parameter) were then calculated. Through this method, the optimal conditions for tetragonal BaTiO3 powder synthesis with spherical form and particles size of 2–5 μm were found.

Mechanical properties of cast Fe-based bulk glassy alloy rods with compositions of (Fe0.75B0.15Si0.1)96Nb4 and Fe77Ga3P9.5C4B4Si2.5 were examined by compression and Vickers hardness tests. The Young's modulus (E), yield strength (σy), fracture strength (σf), elastic strain (εe), fracture strain (εf), and Vickers hardness (Hv) were 175 GPa, 3165 MPa, 3250 MPa, 1.8%, 2.2%, and 1060, respectively, for the former alloy and 182 GPa, 2980 MPa, 3160 MPa, 1.9%, 2.2%, and 870, respectively, for the latter alloy. The εf /E and Hv/3E were 0.019–0.017 and 0.020–0.016, respectively, for the alloys, in agreement with the previous data for a number of bulk glassy alloys. The agreement suggests that these Fe-based bulk glassy alloys have an elastic–plastic deformation mode. The syntheses of high-strength Fe-based bulk glassy alloys with distinct compressive plastic strain and elastic–plastic deformation mode are encouraging for future development of Fe-based bulk glassy alloys as structural and soft magnetic materials.

This paper gives results demonstrating the production of nanoporous platinum through the de-alloying of Cu0.75Pt0.25 alloy in 1 M H2SO4. Both field emission scanning electron microscopy and small angle neutron scattering confirm the presence of porosity with a diameter of approximately 3.4 nm. This is the smallest porosity quantitatively reported from a de-alloying process to date. The small size is attributed to the extremely small values of surface diffusivity expected for Pt at room temperature, effectively eliminating room-temperature coarsening processes. The results also show that larger length scales can be achieved through coarsening at elevated temperatures. The ease of production of porous platinum makes it attractive for possible applications, such as high surface area electrodes for biomedical devices or as catalyst materials.

Transmission electron microscopy-selected area electron diffraction studies were performed on as-pyrolyzed sol-gel-derived Pb(Zr1-x, Tix)O3 films deposited on Pt electrode layers to elucidate the structural cause behind the large effects of pyrolysis conditions on orientation selection [L. Fè, G.J. Norga, H.E. Maes, and G. Maes, J. Mater. Res. 16, 2499 (2001)]. The crystallinity of the intermediate pyrochlore phase, which forms during pyrolysis, was found to strongly depend on pyrolysis conditions. Specifically, pyrolysis for 10 s at 350 °C was seen to result in conversion of the film to a well-crystallized, oxygen-deficient pyrochlore phase with the fluorite crystal structure (disordered pyrochlore). We speculate that formation of the metastable fluorite phase is favored by the reduced oxygen partial pressure, caused by burnoff of residual acetates. Longer pyrolysis times and/or higher pyrolysis temperatures result in a quasi-amorphous intermediate phase. The presence of the well-crystallized fluorite phase in the pyrolyzed film is seen to result in (111)-oriented films after crystallization, while pyrolyzed films consisting of a quasi-amorphous intermediate phase turn out (100) or mixed (100)/(111) oriented after crystallization. An explanation for the observed orientation effects, on the basis of the different surface energetics of fluorite versus perovskite structure oxides, is proposed.

The photocatalytic properties of TiO2 rutile powder with acicular primary particles were characterized using the photocatalytic reaction in aqueous 4-chlorophenol (4CP) solution and compared to those of TiO2 anatase with almost the same surface area of approximately 200 m2g. The characteristics of commercial P-25 TiO2 powders with the surface area of approximately 55 m2/g were also compared to rutile and anatase powders. The rutile phase powders surpassed both anatase and P-25 ones in decomposition rate for 4CP. The excellent photo-oxidative ability of the powder was dependent on the specific powder-preparation method, which led to a direct crystallization in aqueous solution, regardless of the crystalline structures of the powders.

Grain-growth kinetics of a nanocrystalline 2 yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals ceramic containing a silica-based glassy phase was determined at 1200 to 1600 °C. At short durations below 1300 °C, the slow grain growth was associated with zirconia dissolution for composition equilibration. The significant increase in the grain size started only after 10 h at 1400 °C or at shorter durations at higher temperatures. Clusters of the cubic grains formed at the two-phase field confirm the inhibited tetragonal grain growth to be independent of the cubic grains. The microstructure evolution during the tetragonal grain growth was interpreted in terms of grain coalescence. Grain growth was initiated by contact flattening and followed by grain-boundary diffusion through the grain-boundary glassy phase. Some aspects of cation diffusion within the viscous glass were also discussed.

A Au colloid was prepared in a 5 mM HAuCl4 solution through irradiation with a focused infrared femtosecond laser at 800 nm. The Au colloid was characterized by absorption spectra, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. The appearance of absorption peak around 526 nm in the absorption spectra and the wine-red color of sample solution HAuCl4 under focused laser irradiation verified the formation of Au colloid. The solution color changed in the order of yellow → orange → wine-red due to the local formation of Au nanoparticles near the focus. The pulse energy, focus position of laser beam, and solvent composite play important roles in formation, grain size, and stability of the Au colloid. A mechanism for the precipitate of Au nanoparticles was proposed, and a multiphoton process of femtosecond laser was involved.

Three-dimensional photonic crystals with a diamond structure, which are composed of the TiO2-based ceramic particles dispersed in an epoxy lattice, were fabricated by stereolithography. The diamond structure showed a photonic band gap in the 14.3–17.0 GHz range along the Γ-K 〈110〉 direction, which is close to the band calculation using the plain wave expansion method. Two types of lattice defects—air cavity and dielectric cavity—were introduced into the diamond structure by removing a unit cell of diamond structure or inserting a block of the lattice medium into the air cavity. The transmission of millimeter waves affected by multiple reflections at the defects was measured in the photonic band gap. Resonant frequencies in the defects were calculated and compared with the measurement results.

In this paper, we report the preparation by the sol-gel technique of organic–inorganic hybrid composites containing the biopolymer chitosan incorporated in a siloxane-based inorganic network. The hybrid xerogels were transformed into porous silica particles by elimination of the organic phase. Surface characteristics of the silica samples can be easily tailored. In this way Brunauer–Emmett–Teller areas, pore volume, and pore diameter of the prepared silica can be predetermined within a wide range. Morphology of the particles at longer length scales can be designed to obtain either irregularly shaped particles with layered morphology or spherical particles. The results are explained on the basis of the cationic polyelectrolytic properties of chitosan, which allows easy association with siloxane oligomers, the precursors of silica in forming hybrid nanocomposites.

This paper describes two spatially resolved analytical techniques for chlorine distribution analysis in high-purity quartz glass. The first, prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA), to which most of this paper is devoted, is emphasized because a new neutron focusing technique has made this study feasible. Despite the low concentration of chlorine, the neutron absorption cross section for Cl is about 200 times greater than for Si, making Cl in Si an ideal system for PGAA. The second technique described is micro-x-ray fluorescence using a laboratory-based spectrometer. The results from each technique and their ability to quantify low levels of chlorine (400–1800 μg Cl/g SiO2) are described.

Microstructural and magnetic characterization were undertaken on high-rate, high-temperature grown YBa2Cu3O7–δ (YBCO) films. The films were of approximately 1 μm thickness and were grown by pulsed laser deposition on (100) SrTiO3 using a high-power industrial laser at growth temperatures between 750 °C and 870 °C and at growth rates of up to 4 μm/min. Two YBCO layers with different c-lattice parameters were observed in the films, the higher c value occurring near the substrate interface and arising from cation disorder and oxygen nonstoichiometry, and the lower one near the film surface arising from cation disorder alone. BaCuO2 precipitates were present near the surface of the films, indicative of partial melting during growth. The amount of BaCuO2 increased with growth temperature. Epitaxial Y2O3 also formed in increasing amounts suggestive of a different partial melting reaction in the films compared to bulk YBCO, where Y2BaCuO5 coexists with liquid. Around 1 MA/cm2 values of high critical current density (Jc) were observed in the films, and the in-field Jc improved with growth temperature despite the fact that the superconducting transition width increased significantly.

In this study, crystals of Y2SiO5 were examined by high-temperature powder x-ray diffractometry to determine the changes in unit-cell dimensions with temperatures up to 1273 K for the X1 phase (the low-temperature phase, space group P121/c1) and 1473 K for the X2 phase (the high-temperature phase, space group I12/a1). The lattice deformations of both phases induced by thermal expansion were investigated by matrix algebra analysis to determine the directions and magnitudes of the principal distortions (λi, i = 1, 2, and 3). For the X1 phase, λ1 and λ2 invariably showed a positive thermal expansion. On the other hand, λ3 showed a negative thermal expansion below 1173 K; the maximum contraction of 0.10(4)% occurred at 685 K. The λ2 axis invariably coincides with the crystallographic b axis. The directions of λ1 and λ3, defined by the acute angle λ3 ^ c changed between 53(3)° (T = 394 K) and 45(1)° (T = 788 K). For the X2 phase, all of the principal distortions steadily increased with increasing temperature. The angle λ3 ^ c steadily decreased from 71(2)° to 62.1(1)° with increasing temperature. The mean linear thermal expansion coefficients were, when compared at the same temperatures, necessarily higher for the X1 phase than for the X2 phase. The lattice change of X1–RE2SiO5 (RE = Y and Yb–La), which was induced by the substitution of rare-earth (RE) ions, showed a striking resemblance with the lattice deformation of X1-Y2SiO5, which was caused by the thermal expansion. Because the lattice change of the former must be caused by the isotropic expansion of the RE sites, the anisotropic thermal expansion of the latter would be essentially attributable to the isotropic thermal expansion of the YO9 and YO7 polyhedron.

B2–2xO3–2xH2x glasses were prepared by quenching the melt contained in sealed tubes. The glass-forming range extends from x = 0 to 0.50 (equal to the stoichiometry of metaboric acid, HBO2). The glasses were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray scattering. With increasing water content, the glass-transition temperature, Tg, decreases from 553 to 333 K. The specific heat of water-rich samples shows an unusual peak just above Tg. The origin of this peak, which is seen upon heating and cooling, has not been identified. Unlike the composition dependence of Tg, the x-ray structure factors depend for the most part linearly on the composition. In analogy with the crystalline layer compounds α-HBO2 and B(OH)3, the x-ray scattering data show evidence for layering in the medium-range order of water-rich glasses.

A carbonate coprecipitation method was used for the facile synthesis of highly reactive 10 mol%-Y2O3-doped CeO2 (20YDC) nanopowders, employing nitrates as the starting salts and ammonium hydrogen carbonate (AHC) as the precipitant. The AHC/RE3+ (RE = Ce + Y) molar ratio (R) and the reaction temperature (T) significantly affect the final yield and precursor properties, including chemical composition and particle morphology. Suitable processing conditions are T = 60 °C and R = 2.5 to 10, under which precipitation is complete, and the resultant precursors show ultrafine particle size, spherical particle shape, and good dispersion. The thus-processed precursors are basic carbonates with an approximate formula of Ce0.8Y0.2(OH)CO3 · 2H2O, which directly yield oxide solid solutions upon thermal decomposition at a very low temperature of approximately 400 °C. The 20YDC solid-solution powders calcined at 700 °C show excellent reactivity and were densified to >99% of theoretical via pressureless sintering at a very low temperature of 950 °C for 6 h.

We report the fabrication and characterization of a Mg-based metal matrix composite reinforced by MgO ceramic and Mg–Mg2Cu eutectic. The composite was fabricated by sintering and quenching of a Mg–20 wt.% CuO sample. We performed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on the sample and found that the reaction between Mg and CuO took place at about 420 °C. When the sample was sintered to 550 °C and cooled down, the two-phase Mg–Mg2 Cu eutectic formed. The final composite product contained MgO particles and Mg–Mg2Cu eutectic, which were embedded in the Mg matrix. Based on the results from DSC and scanning and transmission electron microscopies, a model is proposed to describe the competitive growth of Mg and the eutectic during solidification. We also found that the microstructure of the Mg–Mg2 Cu eutectic strongly depended on the rate of cooling. The lamellar thickness of the eutectic could be reduced to 120 nm by oil-quenching the sintered sample.