Glassy [(Fe0.8Co0.1Ni0.1)0.75B0.2Si0.05]96Nb4 alloy rods with glass transition temperature of 835 K, followed by a large supercooled liquid region of 55 K were produced in the diameter range up to 2 mm by copper mold casting. The glassy alloy rods exhibit super-high true fracture strength of 4225 MPa combined with elastic strain of 0.02 and true plastic strain of 0.005. The super-high strength alloy simultaneously exhibits high magnetization of 1.1 T, low coercivity of 3 A/m, and high permeability of 1.8 × 104 at 1 kHz. The success of synthesizing a super-high strength Fe-based bulk glassy alloy with some compressive plastic strain and good soft magnetic properties is encouraging for future development of Fe-based bulk glassy alloys as new engineering and functional materials.

A new series of rare earth-niobate, RE3NbO7 (RE=Y,Gd,Eu), buffer layers were developed for the growth of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) films on biaxially textured Ni–W (3 at.%) substrates. Using chemical solution deposition, smooth, crack-free, and epitaxial RE3NbO7 (RE = Y,Gd,Eu) films were grown on cube-textured Ni–W substrate. YBCO film with a critical current density of 1.1 × 106 A/cm2 in self-field at 77 K was grown directly on a single Gd3NbO7-buffered Ni–W substrate using pulsed laser deposition.

A method to observe the dispersion structure of carbon nanotubes buried inside a molding composite is described in this communication. The idea is that by utilizing the difference in ablation temperature between the tubes and the composite material, only the composite material, which has a lower ablation temperature, is ablated and buried tubes appear. This was applied to a rubber composite mixed with vapor-grown carbon fibers. A 150-fs pulse laser was prepared as an ablation source. In the ablation images observed with a field-emission secondary electron microscope, linear tubes, clusters, and connections of the tubes could be easily found in their original state.

An alumina-based ceramic codispersed with 15 vol% zirconia and 15 vol% mullite (AZM) was synthesized by reactive processing, and the creep behavior was compared to alumina with 30 vol% zirconia (AZ). Constant stress compressive creep behavior for AZM exhibited a stress exponent of 2 and an activation energy of 770 KJ/mol, while a similar stress exponent but lower activation energy of 660 KJ/mol was found for AZ. The strain rate of AZM, however, was more than twice that of the AZ under the same deformation conditions, indicating a better potential for superplastic shape forming.

The dielectric properties of goethite and, in particular, the changes during the topotactic conversion of goethite to hematite were studied from room temperature to about 800 °C in the frequency range of 400 to 3000 MHz using the cavity perturbation technique. The complex permittivity, that is, both the real and the imaginary or absorptive parts (έ and ἕ), were measured under various heating regimens. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to characterize the transformation of goethite to hematite. The Debye relaxation formalism was applied to the processes occurring both during and after the main dehydroxylation reaction to calculate the relaxation times. The Arrhenius equation for thermally activated relaxation times was used to determine the activation energies. Both the real and the absorptive parts of the permittivity exhibited a significant peak during the main part of the goethite to hematite decomposition reaction. Above the transformation, there was another, less dramatic, thermally activated increase in the permittivity values. The increase in the permittivities during the goethite to hematite transformation was attributed to the formation of quasi-free migrating radicals, for example, hydroxyl ions, oxygen ions, or hydrogen atoms, during the dehydroxylation of goethite. The derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTGA) curve was found to be directly related to the transient values of the real and the imaginary permittivities. Higher heating rates resulted in an accelerated rate of dehydroxylation and therefore higher values of the transient permittivities. In the temperature range of 400 °C to 500 °C (i.e., just above the dehydroxylation peak), the real permittivity exhibited a varying frequency dependence, which suggested that changes were occurring in the newly formed, highly defected hematite structure, which is referred to as hydrohematite. During the reaction there were multiple relaxation processes and thus the Debye relationship could not be applied. However, at temperatures above about 500 °C, the structure stabilized, the Debye relationship was more closely followed, and the relaxation times could be determined as a function of temperature. The activation energy for the relaxation process above 500 °C was determined to be 0.47 kJ/mol.

The 0.5 at.% Nd-doped gadolinium and yttrium orthovanadate, Nd:GdVO4 (NGV) and Nd:YVO4 (NYV), crystallize in the tetragonal space group I41/amd and are of a zircon-type structure with the lattice constants a = b = 0.7212(6) and c = 0.6348(3) nm for NGV and a = b = 0.7123(5) and c = 0.6292(5) nm for NYV. At high and room temperatures, the Raman spectra of NYV are much the same; however, the Raman spectra of NGV are different from those of NYV. The scattering intensity of NGV is largely stronger than that of NYV. Nonharmonic effect of the lattice thermal vibrations, including the thermal conductivity and expansion, is theoretically and experimentally discussed. The theoretical results roughly indicate that a crystal with the larger integrated intensities of the Raman-scattering peaks under the cutoff value of linear dependence of Debye frequency versus the temperature has the larger thermal conductivity. The experimental data of the thermal conductivity of the five samples show that the thermal conductivity of NGV is more outstanding than that of NYV in every direction. Compared the integrated intensity ratio IG/IY between the NGV and NYV Raman-scattering peaks under the cutoff wavenumber of Debye frequency with the ratio κG/κY of their crystal thermal conductivity, it may be seen that the Raman results are basically in agreement with the conductivity measurements within our experimental error. The experimental datum of the thermal conductivity of NYAG (Nd-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) with the cubic symmetry and stable laser properties and thermodynamics parameters, which is often considered as a comparable standard, approximately approaches to the average value of the NGV thermal conductivity in the a and c directions. The thermal-expansion data of NGV exhibit its small line-expansion coefficients, which imply that the large thermal conductivity is needed and existential and that NGV is more capable to bear a large temperature gradient, therefore, is also more suitable as a solid-state laser material than NYV crystals.

The effect of a Cu layer on the electronic structure and magnetic properties of Ni3Fe was studied by employing the discrete-variational method in the framework of density-functional theory. Three models were established for Ni3Fe(6), Ni3Fe(3)/Cu(3)/Ni3Fe(3), and Ni3Fe(3)/Cu(3). The charge transfer, magnetic moment, and spin exchange split at the Fermi level were obtained for Fe and Ni atoms in a Ni3Fe layer. The related characterizations of Ni3Fe were estimated from those of Fe and Ni atoms. It was discovered that the magnetic properties of the Ni3Fe layer improved when adjacent to Cu layer due to the improvement of the corresponding properties of the Fe atoms in the Ni3Fe. However, the magnetic moment and the spin exchange split of the Ni atoms in the Ni3Fe decreased when the Ni3Fe was adjacent to a Cu layer.

A novel structural mesoporous alumina (40 mol%)/yttrium doped zirconia nanocrystalline composite has been synthesized by a solvothermal process using ethanol and ethylene glycol as a co-solvent. X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption are used for the structural characterization. This novel mesoporous alumina/zirconia nanocomposite presents nanocrystalline zirconia particles with a uniform size less than 5 nm surrounded by alumina, forming a kind of core-shell structure after calcined at 800 °C. The mesostructural composite has high surface area (higher than 250 m2/g) and a narrow pore-size distribution of about 3.2 nm throughout the composite sample. The uniformly distributed nanocrystalline zirconia particles and the surrounding wormlike alumina framework act as the inorganic wall for the mesopores.

Time-resolved photo- and thermoelectric effects (TTE) were used to determine simultaneously trap levels and trap state density differences in amorphous (a-SiGe:H) samples. In particular, the trap state density differences are obtained from the decay of the ambipolar charge distribution (i.e., stage II of the TTE transients). This type of spectroscopy has been applied for the first time to a-SiGe:H samples, and indeed trap states that seem to relate to concentration fluctuations, that is, Si(Ge) and Ge(Si) clusters, are observed.

The hollow mesoporous spheres (HMS) with cubic pore network have been synthesized via a simple two-step method. Two drugs of different molecules size, Aspirin and Gentamicin, were tested by one simple adsorption process. Up to 336 mg Aspirin molecules can be stored in 1.0 g HMS, while Gentamicin molecules of much larger size are much more difficult to be introduced into the pore channels of HMS. The same results can be obtained by using MCM-48 and MCM-41 as comparative mesoporous carriers. The HMS shows significantly higher storage amount of Aspirin than conventional MCM-48 and MCM-41 due to its hollow core structure. The release process of HMS-Aspirin, MCM-48-Aspirin and MCM-41-Aspirin are found to have a sustained-release property and follow a Fickian diffusion mechanism. Moreover, the HMS is suitable for storage of drug molecules of much smaller size.

Titanium targets with a bias voltage ranging from −500 to +500 V were submitted to multipulse high repetition rate Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG; λ = 1.064 μm, τ ∼ 300 ns, ν = 30 kHz) laser irradiations in nitrogen at intensity values below the single-pulse melting threshold. The morphology of the TiN structures formed under the cumulative action of the laser pulses on the surface of the unbiased and biased targets was investigated by profilometry and scanning electron microscopy. Under these irradiation conditions, a specific columnar surface microrelief developed. The height of the microcolumns reached about 10–15 μm, and their diameter about 1–2 μm. The development of TiN microcolumns was enhanced by the applied bias voltage. The enhancement in the negative biased samples was stronger than that in the positive biased ones.

The influence of the microstructure of strontium-titanate-oxide (SrTiO3 or STO) thin films on their optical properties was investigated through an extensive characterization. The STO films have been deposited on silicon substrates by reactive pulsed laser deposition. The effect of the oxygen deposition pressure on the crystalline quality of the films was systematically studied by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and secondary ion mass spectrometry were used to determine the atomic density and depth concentration profiles of the various species forming the film. The refractive index and extinction coefficient were obtained using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. Based on this full characterization, it is demonstrated that the optical characteristics of the films are directly correlated to their microstructural properties. In particular, the refractive index increases with film density, while losses decrease. In addition, the interface between STO and Si is characterized by an interdiffusion layer. As the deposition pressure is enhanced, the width of this layer significantly increases, inducing localized inhomogeneity of the refractive index.

Nanocrystalline magnetite powders were synthesized by an electrocoagulation technique, in which an electric current was passed across two plate electrodes of carbon steel immersed in NaCl(aq) electrolyte, and the microstructure of the oxide powder was found to evolve in roughly three stages. The first stage involves formation and growth of severely defective colloidal crystallites. This is followed by agglomeration among the oxide crystallites to form mesoporous agglomerates containing predominantly inter-crystallite pores, and the average crystallite size was found to reach a plateau. Finally, coarsening of the crystallites within the agglomerates leads to another rapid increase in crystallite size and reduction in pore opening. The synthesized powders typically showed a saturation magnetization of ∼75 emu/g and a coercivity Hc of ∼118 Oe. A mechanism involving competition between nucleation and growth of free colloids and coarsening of the skeletal framework was proposed to explain the temporary level-off in crystallite size during the synthesis.

Ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) was used for cathode preparation in organic light-emitting diodes to fabricate dense electrode. Dark spot growth rate was decreased by employing the IBAD process due to a highly packed aluminum structure inhibiting the permeation of H2O and O2. However, undesirable leakage current was generated because energetic particles of Al assisted by Ar+ ion may damage the organic material resulting in reduction of contact resistance. The decrease of contact resistance in the IBAD device may be caused by large contact area, increase of density of states, and Li diffusion to phenyl-substituted poly-p-phenylene vinylene.

The fine-grain processing of ingot metallurgy (IM) Mg–Y–Zn alloy, WZ73, was investigated. The alloy was initially produced by casting into a copper mold at a cooling rate of ∼50 K/s. The rapidly quenched bulk material was processed by means of equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). The ECAE-processed material had equiaxed grains of 5.1 μm in size, and fine second-phase particles of Mg12YZn were dispersed in the grain boundaries. The Vickers hardness of the ECAE-processed material was 78. The dispersion of the second-phase particles, solid solution strengthening, and grain refinement contributed to the material’s hardness. The structure remained virtually unchanged, at least up to 673 K because the Mg12YZn phase served to pin the grain boundaries. The microstructure of IM WZ73 alloy, which is a suitable starting material for ECAE, was also considered.

Pure and Pt-doped ZnO nanophase particles were synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. The particles were obtained through the decomposition of zinc nitrate and with a newly developed Pt(IV) complex with 1,3-propylenediamine-N,N′-diacetate tetradentate class ligand (pdda). The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, electronic absorption and infrared spectroscopy. The form of the determined complex structure {trans-[Pt(pdda)Br2]·H2O} implies that Pt(IV) ion has a distorted octahedral coordination due to intramolecular N–H···Br interaction. The results of structural refinement (cell parameters, bond lengths, and ion occupancy) of ultrasonically derived pure and Pt-doped ZnO particles suggest either the formation of Zni interstitials or platinum ion incorporation into the ZnO lattice in octahedral interstitial positions, respectively. A well-crystallized hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO was pronounced in all investigated samples [JCPDS card 36-1415, Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards, defined by International Centre for Diffraction Data (www.icdd.com)]. Phase determination also indicated the presence of a nitrate hydroxide hydrate phase (JCPDS card 24-1460), as a result of incomplete precursor decomposition and a spinel Zn2PtO4 phase (below 1.0 wt%) located in the boundary region for a Pt-doped ZnO sample. Based on x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analyses, it was shown that the different particle growingmorphologies, which were either spheroidally or pyramidally shaped, were influenced by the precursor chemistry, processing parameters and the presence of platinum ions. The composite internal particle structure revealed by transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction analyses, implied that the secondary particles represent an assembly of primary particles sized under 60 nm aroused during the processes of nucleation, growth and aggregation. Both hexagonal and spheroidal shape of primary particles was evident. The particle morphology, primarily particle size and the mechanism of Pt4+ ion introduction into the ZnO cell was discussed based on the structural refinement and selected area electron diffraction analysis.

A meso-porous anodic alumina capillary tube (MAAC) having highly oriented radial meso-pore channels with a minimum diameter of 3 nm has been successfully synthesized using a novel pulse sequential anodic oxidation technique at 100 Hz of pulse frequency. A value resulting in a high channel-pore formation rate at 1 V of the pulse sequential voltage was determined to be the optimum pulse frequency for the anodization. Transmission electron microscopy observation and N2 sorption analysis revealed that controlling the minimum pore channel diameter at 3 nm was possible by the voltage of 1 V. The gas permeance according to Knudsen’s diffusion mechanism was demonstrated at 500 °C, by evaluating gas permeation properties through the meso-porous anodic alumina capillary tube with radial meso-pore channels with minimum diameter of 3 nm, achieving hydrogen permeance of 1.8 × 10−6 mol/m2 s Pa.

Multilayered titanium dioxide thin films with a spinodal phase separation structure were prepared by the sol-gel process from sols containing polyoxyethylene(20) nonylphenyl ether (NPE-20), and their photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties were investigated. The obtained films showed much higher anodic photocurrent and photocatalytic activity than the dense TiO2 thin film electrodes. We explained these phenomena by the large specific surface area inherent in the spinodal phase separation structure and the higher concentration of Ti3+ species, which were produced by the reducing action of the incorporated organic polymers at sintering temperatures. Ti3+ species in the bulk raise the donor density, and those at the surface provide a larger number of active sites available for photoelectrochemical reaction and photocatalytic reaction.

High-purity, mesoporous titania was prepared by reaction of dimethylaminotitanatrane, [NMe2–Ti(OCH2CH2)3N] in the presence of micellar aggregates as templating agents followed by thermal treatments in the temperature range 350–450 °C. The powders were characterized by nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. Analysis of the morphological characteristics of titanium oxide powders calcined at 350 °C for 120 h and at 450 °C for 6 h showed the presence of a mesoporous structure, with an average pore size of about 3.5 nm. Firing temperatures above 450 °C caused the collapse of the mesoporous structure. Composite Nafion-based membranes, containing 5 wt% mesoporous titania fired at 450 °C as a filler were successfully prepared. Preliminary tests in a prototype direct methanol fuel cell demonstrated that the composite membrane allowed cell operation up to 145 °C, thus showing a significant performance improvement over pure Nafion.

Anisotropic yield behavior of lotus-type porous iron fabricated using the continuous-zone-melting method in a pressurized nitrogen and hydrogen atmosphere has been investigated. The 0.2% offset strength (compressive yield stress) in the loading direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of pores decreases linearly with increasing porosity, while the perpendicular strength decreases steeply. The strength versus porosity curves can be expressed using a well-known power law formula. In addition, the 0.2% offset strength of lotus iron prepared in a nitrogen and hydrogen atmosphere is found to be larger than that of lotus iron prepared in a hydrogen and helium atmosphere, which is attributed to the solid solution hardening by the solute nitrogen. Furthermore, we compare the experimental results to calculations obtained by means of the extended Qiu-Weng’s mean-field method, and the comparison suggests that local stresses deviated from the average stress are dominant in the macroscopic yield behavior of lotus metals.