Titanium dioxide (TiO2) was doped with the combination of several metal ions including platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), vanadium (V), and nickel (Ni). The doped TiO2 materials were synthesized by standard sol-gel methods with doping levels of 0.1 to 0.5 at.%. The resulting materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface-area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The visible light photocatalytic activity of the codoped samples was quantified by measuring the rate of the oxidation of iodide, the rate of degradation of methylene blue (MB), and the rate of oxidation of phenol in aqueous solutions at λ > 400 nm. 0.3 at.% Pt-Cr-TiO2 and 0.3 at.% Cr-V-TiO2 showed the highest visible light photocatalytic activity with respect to MB degradation and iodide oxidation, respectively. However, none of the codoped TiO2 samples were found to have enhanced photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation when compared to their single-doped TiO2 counterparts.

A number of congruent LiNbO3 crystals homogeneously doped with 5 mol% Mg in growth melt were subjected to Li-rich vapor transport equilibration (VTE) treatments at 1100 °C for different durations. Secondary ion mass spectrometry study shows that the VTE induces the Mg diffusion within the crystal and an inhomogeneous Mg depth profile. The surface Mg concentration, determined from measured ordinary refractive index, shows a strong VTE duration dependence. Neutron activation analysis shows that the amount of MgO diffusing out of the crystal is ignorable, allowing to conclude that the Mg ions counter diffuse to the crystal surface at the early stage of VTE and then come back toward equilibrium as the Li concentration comes to equilibrium. The VTE-induced Li2O content increase in crystal was determined by the gravimetric method. The crystalline phase, crystal composition, and site occupation of Mg and Li are discussed.

Compressive stress–strain behaviors in a 〈110〉-oriented crystal Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.95 after magnetic annealing have been investigated under a series of quasi-static magnetic fields, attempting to add more insight into the corresponding domain-switching process. The magnetically annealed crystal outputs larger final strains than the untreated one, although it exhibits similar stress–strain behaviors. An obvious improvement also occurs in the initial Young's modulus E0 after magnetic annealing. The corresponding domain switching processes under compressive stress have been discussed. Non-180° domain processes are favored because of the specific initial domain states, which can be reflected by the shortening of the flat stage in magnetostriction–magnetic induction (λ–B) curve and the increase of the critical field where maximum forced magnetostriction constant d33 locates.

In situ microlevel spherical B2 CuZr phase reinforced Zr49.5Cu36.45Ni4.05Al9Nb1 bulk metallic glass matrix composite was prepared successfully by the copper mold casting method. It was found that mechanical properties of Zr50.5Cu36.45Ni4.05Al9 alloy were improved largely due to the Nb addition. The room-temperature compressive fracture strength and plastic strain for Zr49.5Cu36.45Ni4.05Al9Nb1 rod with a diameter of 5 mm reaches 2037 MPa and 8%, respectively. The improvements are attributed to the precipitation of the spherical B2 CuZr phase distributed uniformly in amorphous matrix, which effectively hampers the propagation of shear bands by deflecting them at the interface and by a multiplication mechanism.

CaF2:Yb3+,Er3+ upconversion (UC) luminescence nanoparticles have been synthesized using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as a hard template. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UC emission spectra, respectively. Highly crystalline cubic phase CaF2:Yb3+,Er3+ nanoparticles are uniformly distributed with an average diameter of about 40–50 nm, and the formation process is also demonstrated. The UC fluorescence has been realized in the as-prepared CaF2:Yb3+,Er3+ nanoparticles on 980-nm excitation. The UC emission transitions for 4F9/2–4I15/2 (red), 2H11/2–4I15/2 (green), 4S3/2–4I15/2 (green), and 2H9/2–4I15/2 (violet) in the Yb3+/Er3+ codoped CaF2 nanoparticles depending on pumping power and temperature have been discussed. The UC mechanism, especially the origin on the temperature-dependent UC emission intensities ratio between 2H11/2 and 4S3/2 levels, have been proposed.

A modified plastic damage model that accounts for tensile damage and compressive plasticity as well as interactions among them is adopted to simulate the indentation-induced cracking of silicon under Berkovich, cube corner, and Vickers indenters. Simulations with this model capture not only the well-known cracking geometries in indented ceramics, such as radial, median, lateral, and half penny (Vickers indenter) cracks, but also the recent experimentally discovered quarter penny cracks under Berkovich and cube corner pyramidal indenters. The quarter penny cracks are found to be formed by the coalescence of radial and median cracks for the first time in the simulation. Loads at which radial and half penny cracks are initiated in silicon are generally close to the experimental values reported in the literature, and the crack lengths on the sample surface agree well with both the current experimental measurements and analytical results by fracture mechanics.

In this article, we investigated the defects introduced by surface mechanical attrition treatment by Doppler-broadening spectroscopy of positron annihilation radiation in surface-nanostructured 316L stainless steel. Through the measurement of different thinning layers in the samples treated for 15 min, the slope of line shape parameter S versus wing parameter W curves showed three different values with depth responding to the change of defect configuration. An unusual change of S and W parameters near the surface was mainly from the effect of quantum-dot-like state caused by the formation of nanoparticles. Based on the change of S ˜ W with depth, the martensite phase transformation induced by strain could be estimated to occur within a depth of 35 μm.

The anisotropy in the fatigue behavior of rolled Mg–3Al–1Zn alloy between the rolling direction and normal direction to the rolling plane was investigated. The {10-12} twinning–detwinning characteristics were found to play key roles in the anisotropic fatigue deformation behavior by inducing a change in the predominant plastic deformation mechanism, which controlled the flow stress and finally influenced the fatigue resistance by generating mean stress. Energy-based approach was successfully used to describe anisotropic fatigue life behavior.

Strong interest in energy generation and storage has yielded excellent progress on organic based solar cells, and there is also a strong desire for equivalent advancement in polymer-based charge storage devices such as batteries and super-capacitors. Despite extensive research on electronically conducting polymers including polypyrrole, polythiophene, and polyaniline, limitations to the maximum doping density and chemical stability had been considered a significant restriction on the development of polymer batteries. Recent work appears to show a meaningful increase in the upper bound of the maximum density from 0.5 to 1.0 electrons per monomer depending on the structure, processing, and ionic species used in charging and discharging of the polymers. Several recent examples have also implied that more stable, reversible charge-discharge cycling is being observed in n-doped polymers. These observations suggest that the performance metrics of this class of electronically conducting polymer may ultimately reach the levels required for practical battery applications. Further efforts are essential to perfect practical large-scale electrode fabrication to move toward greater compatibility in the methods used for solar cells and those used in producing batteries. A better understanding must also be developed to elucidate the effects of molecular structure and polymer architecture on these materials.

We present a detailed study of the morphology and composition of tungsten oxide (WO3) thin films, grown by radio frequency magnetron reactive sputtering at substrate temperatures varied from room temperature (RT) to 500 °C, using infrared (IR) absorption, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This work includes valuable new far-IR results about structural changes in microcrystalline WO3. Both IR absorption and Raman techniques reveal an amorphous sample grown at RT and initial crystallization into monoclinic structures for samples grown at temperatures between 100 and 300 °C. The Raman spectra of the samples grown at high temperatures indicate, apart from the monoclinic structure, a strain effect, with a distribution revealed by confocal Raman mapping. XPS indicates that the film surface maintains the stoichiometry WOx, with a value of x slightly greater than 3 at RT due to oxygen contamination, which decreases with increasing temperature.

We report on an approach for laser surface nitriding of Ti6Al4V alloy coupled with an applied stress field. A surprising finding was that, with increasing the applied stress levels, the decreased residual stress, the nitrogen concentration near the surface, and the surface microhardness of the nitrided layer were associated with the increased friction coefficient. Across the depth of the nitrided layer, the hardness, the elastic modulus, and the wear resistance (H/E) measured by nanoindentation decreased gradually and were ascribed to the gradient of nitrogen concentration in the melt zone.

The effects of prestrain, strain rate, and temperature on the impact properties of 304L stainless steel are investigated using a compressive split-Hopkinson pressure bar. The impact tests are performed at strain rates ranging from 2000 to 6000 s−1 and temperatures of 300, 500, and 800 °C using 304L specimens with prestrains of 0.15 or 0.5. The results show that the flow stress, work-hardening rate, and strain rate sensitivity increase with increasing strain rate or decreasing temperature. As the prestrain increases, the flow stress and strain rate sensitivity increase, but the work-hardening rate decreases. The temperature sensitivity increases with an increasing strain rate, temperature, and prestrain. Overall, the effects of prestrain on the impact properties of the tested specimens dominate those of the strain rate or temperature, respectively. Finally, optical microscopy observations reveal that the specimens fracture primarily as the result of the formation of adiabatic shear bands.

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) systems containing 2%, 4%, and 8% of iron were prepared using a low temperature wet chemical method. Iron oxide nanoparticles were formed when the samples were heated in hydrogen at 250 °C for at least six hours. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and wet chemical analysis measurements. The nanoparticles of iron oxide were identified as γ-Fe2O3 with a particle size of ˜5 nm.

Using the microindentation test, the stress-assisted-electrochemical corrosion of Cu46.25Zr45.25Al7.5Er1 bulk metallic glass (BMG) was studied in a 10 wt% NaCl electrolyte. The microindentation was performed in an indentation load range of 500 to 4000 mN to create shear bands over the deformation zone. Electric current of various densities was passed through the indented BMGs to evaluate the effect of shear bands and localized deformation on the electrochemical corrosion of the BMGs. Surface pits always initiated from the shear-banding zone and the contact edges between the indenter and the BMGs, and the size of the corroded zone grew with the increase in the polarization time, the indentation load, and the current density. Wormlike amorphous whiskers were formed over the corroded zone, and the density of the wormlike whiskers increased with the current density and polarization time.

In this work, mechanochemical activation was found to be an effective method to improve nitrogen (N)-doping efficiency and the photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of InNbO4. The effects of mechanochemical treating time on phase formation, surface area, crystallite size, optical property, N-doping efficiency, and photocatalytic activity of InNbO4 were investigated experimentally. The results indicated the decreasing of crystallite size was an important factor for the improvement of N-doping efficiency and photocatalytic activity.

Systematic microstructural and mechanical investigations of the Fe84.3Cr4.3Mo4.6V2.2C4.6 alloy cast under special manufacturing conditions in the as-cast state and after specific heat treatment are presented to point out that the special manufacturing of the alloy led to high compression strength (up to 4680 MPa) combined with large fracture strain (about 20%) already in the as-cast state. One select chemical composition of the alloy, which was mentioned previously [Kühn et al., Appl. Phys. Lett.90, 261901 (2007)] enhanced mechanical properties already in the as-cast state. Furthermore, that composition is comparable to commercial high-speed steel. By the special manufacturing used, a high purity of elements and a high cooling rate, which led to a microstructure similar to a composite-like material, composed of dendritic area (martensite, bainite, and ferrite) and interdendritic area (e.g., complex carbides). The presented article demonstrates an alloy that exhibits already in the as-cast state high fracture strength and large ductility. Furthermore, these outstanding mechanical properties remain unchanged after heating up to 873 K.

Cu/Si composite may be a novel and high-performance material for electronic packaging if the advantages of copper and silicon components are preserved. Because of the severe diffusional reaction between copper and silicon at elevated temperature, efforts are impeded to achieve a bulk Cu/Si composite. Here, by coating a sol-gel-derived Al2O3 film on the Si particle surface, the bulk Cu/Si composites were obtained by the powder metallurgy method. In the prepared Cu/Si composite, Cu forms a continuous matrix while Si particles are homogeneously dispersed in Cu matrix. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observation indicates that only weak interfacial reaction occurs at the Cu/Al2O3/Si interface and forms a narrow interfacial reaction zone. The thermal diffusivity of the composite at 25 °C is about 30.6 mm2 s−1, over 10 times larger than that of Cu/Si material without Al2O3 film.

Quasicrystals have been identified as alloys possessing unusually low surface energy. This results in poor adhesion properties of quasicrystalline coatings when deposited on metallic substrates, hindering the development of these new materials for technological applications. Here we investigate the possible use of complex Al-Cu metallic phases as interface layers to accommodate the structural and electronic mismatch between a quasicrystalline coating and a metallic substrate and improve adhesion. First, we show that all stable low-temperature phases of the Al-Cu system can be grown as thin films using DC magnetron sputtering. Among the various possible phases, we select the γ-brass γ-Al4Cu9 as a promising candidate for the interface layer. Then the γ-Al4Cu9 phase is grown on the fivefold surface of an icosahedral (i-) Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal. The interface is investigated by transmission electron microscopy and shows a clear texturing of the film. The grains exhibit rotational epitaxy with the substrate. We find that the interface is mainly composed of a β-phase of unknown chemical composition and sometimes exhibits γ grains in direct contact with the quasicrystalline substrate. Occasionally, we observe a fourth phase at the β/γ interface, identified as β1, possessing a lattice parameter aβ1 equal to 2aβ and 2/3aγ.

Secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was used to study the profile characteristics and diffusion properties of Mg, Ti, and Er ions in photorefractive-damage-resistant locally Er/Mg-diffused near-stoichiometric (NS) Ti:Mg:Er:LiNbO3 strip waveguides fabricated on two Z-cut initially congruent, undoped LiNbO3 substrates in sequence by local Er doping at 1100 °C or 1130 °C in air, Mg/Ti pre-diffusion at 1100 °C in wet O2, and post Li-rich vapor transport equilibration (VTE) treatment at 1100 °C. For comparison, a SIMS study was also carried out on the waveguides fabricated without the post-VTE treatment. In order to compensate for the refractive index decrease arising from both the Mg doping and the post-VTE treatment, and hence to get a positive net index increment profile in the Ti-diffused layer, a thicker Ti-film of around 170 nm was coated. Nevertheless, SIMS results show that the Ti diffusion reservoir, as well as the Er and Mg reservoirs, was exhausted. From the SIMS profiles, characteristic diffusion parameters such as the 1/e diffusion width (for Ti only) and depth, diffusivity, and surface concentration of the Mg, Ti, and Er ions are obtained. It is interesting that the Mg distribution in the NS waveguide layer is desirably homogeneous with a concentration [(1.7–2.0) ± 0.3 mol%] higher than the optical damage concentration threshold. The Ti profile follows a sum of two error functions along the lateral direction of NS waveguides with a diffusion width of (12–13) ± 0.5 μm, and a Gaussian function in the depth direction with a 1/e depth of (5.1–6.0) ± 0.2 μm. The Er profile follows also a Gaussian function with a 1/e depth of (3.7–4.4) ± 0.3 μm. In the NS waveguide layer, the mean diffusivity is (7.1 ± 2.2) to (8.3 ± 2.8) μm2/h for Mg, (3.5 ± 0.3) to (4.5 ± 0.4) μm2/h in the lateral direction and (0.54 ± 0.04) to (1.13 ± 0.08) μm2/h in the depth direction for Ti, and (4.1 ± 0.4) to (5.5 ± 0.5) × 10−2 μm2/h for Er. The effects of Li outward diffusion in the initial Er doping procedure, and the Mg codiffusion and post-VTE treatment on the mean Mg, Ti, and Er diffusivities are discussed in comparison with the previously reported results on single Mg, Ti, or Er diffusion and Mg/Ti codiffusion in a pure or homogeneously MgO-doped congruent LiNbO3 crystal. Finally, the keys to the success of the fabrication procedure adopted are discussed.

Despite many investigations on the corrosion behavior of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) in various simulated physiological solutions by electrochemical measurements, few have reported detailed information on the corrosion products. In the present study, the structure and composition of the corrosion products on NiTi SMAs immersed in a 0.9% NaCl physiological solution are systematically investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that attack by Cl− results in nickel being released into the solution and decrease in the local nickel concentration at the pitting sites. The remaining Ti reacts with dissolved oxygen from the solution to form titanium oxides. After long-term immersion, the corrosion product layer expands over the entire surface and XPS reveals that the layer is composed of TiO2, Ti2O3, and TiO with relatively depleted Ni. The growth rate of the corrosion product layer decreases with immersion time, and the corrosion product layer is believed to impede further corrosion and improve the biocompatibility of NiTi alloy in a physiological environment. It is found that the release rate of nickel is related to the surface structure of the corrosion product layer and immersion time. A corrosion mechanism is proposed to explain the observed results.