A method is introduced to determine the depth distribution of the residual stresses in (Ti,Al)N films. The films were gradually stripped by chemical corrosion, an optical system was designed to test the curvature change of the specimens, and the depth distribution of the residual stresses was calculated. The results show that the residual stresses increase gradually from the interface of film/substrate and reach a maximum value at the middle region, then decrease until the surface.

Manganese (Mn) grows in a metastable expanded (c/a > 1) face-centered-tetragonal (fct) phase on thin fct-Co(001) template films. A layer-by-layer growth mode is observed for small Mn thicknesses. Antiferromagnetism (AFM) of fct-Mn is evidenced by the observation of shifted magnetization loops antiparallel to the cooling field direction (negative bias) and enhanced coercive fields for Co/Mn bilayers. At low temperature, magnetic exchange interactions are detected at the Co/Mn interface for nominal Mn thicknesses as low as 1.4 monolayer (ML), indicating the onset of AFM in 2-ML-thick Mn islands. However, between 2- and 5-ML Mn, a positive bias of the magnetization loops is observed in a certain temperature range below the blocking temperature (TB) of the films. This peculiar behavior is explained by the dependence of TB on both the local Mn ML thickness and the Mn island size, leading to a unidirectional coercivity enhancement in a temperature range where both blocked and unblocked regions coexist in the Mn layers.

Novel slight yellow CeO2single/multiwall hollow microspheres were synthesized by the hydrothermal method without any surfactant and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and x-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The results showed that the products were CeO2single/multiwall hollow microspheres, the shells of which were composed of CeO2nanoparticles with a mean size of 70 nm. The effect of the preparation conditions, the reaction temperature, the reaction time, and the molar ratios of urea to Ce(NO3)3·6H2O on the morphology of the products, was investigated. The optimal preparation conditions are determined as follows: the reaction temperature of 230 °C, the reaction time of 6 to 10 h, and the molar ratios of urea to Ce(NO3)3·6H2O of 3:1 to 6:1. The formation mechanism of CeO2single/multiwall hollow microspheres was proposed. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) diffuse reflectance spectra of the samples were measured. The results showed that the absorption edges of the samples were red-shifted compared with that of bulk CeO2, and that the red-shift of the absorption edges and the yellow of the samples enhanced with increasing the yield of CeO2single/multiwall hollow microspheres. The catalytic activity and the recycling performance of the sample on CO oxidation were tested and the T100%(the temperature at which CO 100% conversion) was 230 °C in the first run and decreased by 270 and 205 °C compared with that of bulk CeO2and CeO2nanocrystal, respectively.

A combined structure/property investigation is performed to understand the catalytic effect of TiF3 additive on the absorption/desorption reactions of MgH2. It was found that both TiH2 and MgF2 phases identified by x-ray diffraction cannot explain the observed kinetic enhancement in the MgH2–TiF3 system, whether they are incorporated in a direct or an in situ manner. In combination with the comparative investigation on the catalytic activity of TiF3 and its analog TiCl3, as well as the samples milled under inert and reactive atmospheres, we propose that the catalytically active species is a multicomponent metastable phase composed of host Mg, transition metal Ti, and F anion, the catalytic activity of which is dependent on its interaction with the surrounding chemical environment.

The influence of different borazinic precursors on mesoporous boron nitride synthesis by using a nanocasting process of a mesoporous CMK-3 carbon is presented. Two borazinic precursors, the tri(methylamino)borazine (MAB) and the tri(chloro)borazine (TCB), have been converted to boron nitride (BN) inside the mesopores of a CMK-3 carbon mesoporous template by using thermal or chemical polycondensation processes. Ordered mesoporous boron nitride with a specific surface area around 800 m2/g, a mesoporous volume around 0.6 cm3/g, and a pore-size distribution located at 6 nm in diameter was synthesized by thermal condensation of a molecular MAB precursor. In addition, chemical condensation of TCB led to a disordered mesoporous boron nitride.

Coexistence of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic order parameters was observed at room temperature in Bi0.6Dy0.3La0.1FeO3 thin films grown on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates using a pulsed laser deposition technique similar to that for Bi0.6Tb0.3La0.1FeO3. The coexistence of ferroelectric and magnetic domains in specific spatial area of the thin film was also confirmed by scanning probe imaging. As expected, the magnetization values obtained for Bi0.6Dy0.3La0.1FeO3 bulk and thin films were higher than those of Bi0.6Tb0.3La0.1FeO3 bulk and polycrystalline thin films because the magnetic moment of Dy is higher than that of Tb. However, preferentially oriented thin films of Bi0.6Tb0.3La0.1FeO3 exhibit much higher magnetization values. It is speculated that structural alignment caused by stress developed during deposition of these films could be responsible for enhancement in magnetization.

We report on the selective area heteroepitaxy and facet evolution of AlGaN nanostructures on GaN/sapphire substrate using various mask materials. We also report on the challenges associated with selection of an appropriate mask material for selective area heteroepitaxy of AlGaN with varying Al composition. The shape and the growth rate of the nanostructures are observed to be greatly affected by the mask material. The evolution of the AlGaN nanostructures and Al incorporation were studied exhaustively as a function of growth parameters including temperature, pressure, NH3 flow, total alkyl flow, and TMAl/(TMAl+TMGa) ratio. The growth rate of nanostructures was reduced drastically when higher Al percentage AlGaN nanostructures were grown. The growth rates were increased for higher Al percentage AlGaN using a surfactant, which resulted in a high-quality pyramidal structure. As indicated by high-resolution x-ray diffraction and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, the composition of Al in the AlGaN nanostructure is significantly different from that of a thin film grown under the same growth conditions.

The preparation of BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ (BAM) blue phosphor layer for a plasma display panel by the addition of a newly designed energetic dispersant (hereafter referred to as SAIT7) and its resulting photoluminescence (PL) efficiency is investigated. The addition of SAIT7 increases the maximum solids loading of BAM phosphor paste from 27.91 to 35.87 vol% and yields a highly packed microstructure of the phosphor layer. The PL intensity is increased by 7.57% compared to the BAM blue phosphor layer prepared without SAIT7. In conclusion, the addition of SAIT7 increased the packing density of the phosphor layer and resulted in improved luminescent properties of the phosphor layer.

In this work, we report on silver nanocubes with perfect shape prepared by a simple poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-directed polyol synthesis process. The effects of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/AgNO3ratio Rand reaction temperature Ton the morphology and size of the products were investigated. Ag nanocubes with an average edge length of 230 nm were obtained successfully with sharp edges and corners under a precise synthesis condition of R= 1 and T= 150 °C. The optical properties of Ag nanocubes show an attractive plasma resonance red-shift with size in a wide spectra region. The growth mechanism of the Ag nanocubes is proposed to be thermodynamically and kinetically controlled.

Synchrotron x-ray topography with a high-resolution setup using 1128 reflection was carried out on 4H-SiC epilayers. Four different shapes of threading-edge dislocation according to Burgers vector direction were observed. The four types of threading-edge dislocation images were calculated by computer simulation, and the experimental results correlated well with the simulation results. The detailed topographic features generated by plural screw dislocations and basal plane dislocations were also investigated.

Nanosized calcium hydroxyapatite particles were synthesized by the catalytic decomposition of urea with urease. The influence of the synthesis parameters, i.e., temperature and ratio of the reagents/urease concentrations, on the size and morphology of the hydroxyapatite particles were investigated. As reagents for the synthesis of hydroxyapatite, various amounts of CaCl2, NaH2PO4, urea, and urease were used. The urease-catalyzed decomposition of urea leads to the homogeneous precipitation of hydroxyapatite because of the release of OH− ions during the hydrolysis of urea. In the same process, CO32− ions are also released and incorporated into the crystal structure of the hydroxyapatite. In the temperature range from 30–40 °C, it was found that low crystalline carbonate hydroxyapatite was formed in all cases. It was found that decreasing the ratio of the concentrations of the reagents to the urease concentration leads to decrease in the particle size to below 100 nm and the morphology changes from leafy-like to spherical.

The evolution of the structural and magnetic properties of metal-ceramic, cermet, nanocomposite powders, consisting of Co and α–Al2O3 in different proportions, prepared by ball milling has been investigated. The overall microstructure of the system, after long-term milling, is found to be very sensitive to the amount of α–Al2O3, yielding a less refined and faulted hexagonal-close-packed (hcp)-Co structure for the sample with larger α–Al2O3 percentage. The increased presence of the ceramic counterpart also causes a delay of the face-centered-cubic (fcc) to hcp-Co stress-induced transformation during ball milling. The results seem to indicate an evolution of the role of α–Al2O3, from increasing locally the strain rate of the mechanical work for small amounts of ceramic to absorbing milling energy for large amounts of α–Al2O3. The magnetic properties correlate with the obtained microstructure, where the amount of hcp-Co and stacking faults and the isolation of the Co particles by the α–Al2O3 control the coercivity.

This study investigates interfacial reactions of (Sn–9Zn) + xCu/Ni systems. Ni5Zn21, Cu5Zn8, (Ni,Zn,Cu)3Sn4, (Cu,Ni,Zn)6Sn5, and Cu6Sn5 phases were formed on the Sn–9Zn/Ni interface at 240–270 °C, when 0–10 wt% Cu was added to the Sn–9Zn solder. Experimental results indicate that changing the concentration of Cu in the Sn–9Zn solder dramatically changes the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in the (Sn–9Zn) + xCu/Ni system. Different diffusion and segregation rates of elements are the main reasons for a change in the IMC evolution.

Measurements of inverse magnetoelectric (ME) effects in lead zirconate titanate (PZT)–Ni–PZT trilayers are reported. Traditional ME measurements involve the electrical response of a composite subjected to an alternating current (ac) magnetic field. In the case of an “inverse ME effect,” one measures the variation in the magnetic induction due to an external ac electric field applied to PZT. A pickup coil wound around the sample is used to measure the ME voltage due to the change in the magnetic induction in Ni. The measured static magnetic-field dependence of ME voltage has been attributed to the variation in the piezomagnetic coefficient for Ni. The frequency dependence of the ME voltage shows a resonance character due to radial acoustic modes in PZT. Theoretical estimates of ME susceptibility are in excellent agreement with values determined from data on induced voltage.

A novel poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposite containing dispersed inorganic nanoribbons [ZnO–0.15Zn(CH3COO)2–0.85H2O] was prepared by free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the acetone solution. Experimental results showed that inorganic nanoribbons were uniformly distributed in and bonded to the PMMA host matrix without macroscopic organic–inorganic phase separation. It was found that the thermal stability and glass-transition temperature of the nanocomposite films increased effectively with increasing inorganic content at low content and remained above 1 wt% inorganic content. These results suggest the network formation because of the strong interaction between the inorganic nanoribbons and the polymer matrix, which induces the mobility restriction of polymer chains. The characteristics of the one-dimensional inorganic nanoribbons we used here may play a key role in the formation of the “cross-link” networks and in the decision to lower the content of the inorganic nanoribbon additive.

We report that bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with large plasticity can be obtained in conventional brittle BMGs by a shrink-fit metal sleeve. The mechanical performance especially the plasticity in the Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 BMG with a shrink-fit copper sleeve is much enhanced. The approach results in the formation of the highly dense and frequent interacting and arresting events of shear bands and is the origin of the observed large global plasticity. The results present another simple step toward toughening the inherently brittle BMGs.

Luminescence properties of a series of samples of Y2O3:Eu+3 red phosphor of particle sizes ranging from 50 to 300 nm were investigated as a function of time to decipher the long-standing mystery of the effect of reduction of particle size on the luminescence efficiency of the phosphor. The samples were found to lose luminescence efficiency and suffer a change in the excitation profile with time. Infrared studies showed that although the samples at their freshly prepared stage were almost free from contaminated water, on aging in air at room temperature, they absorbed the latter. The phenomenon of hydration-induced coupling of the excitonic state of Y2O3 with one of its Fu modes was detected in the case of the aged sample, which was shown to be instrumental in introducing newer nonradiative channels in the system. Because of larger surface-to-volume ratio, the effect was most pronounced in the case of nanocrystalline samples.

The development of bulk metallic glasses and composites for improving the mechanical properties has occurred with the discovery of many ductile metallic glasses and glass matrix composites with second phase dispersions with different length scales. This article reviews the processing, microstructure development, and resulting mechanical properties of Zr-, Ti-, Cu-, Mg-, Fe-, and Ni-based glassy alloys and also considers the superiority of composite materials containing different phases for enhancing the strength, ductility, and toughness, even leading to a “work-hardening-like” behavior. The morphology, shape, and length scale of the second phase dispersions are crucial for the delocalization of shear bands. The article concludes with some comments regarding future directions of the investigations of spatially inhomogeneous metallic glasses.

The Sm-based Sm–Al–Ni glass-forming system was investigated using our e/a- and cluster-related criteria. Three bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) Sm54Al23Ni23, Sm56Al22Ni22, and Sm58Al21Ni21 were obtained by suction casting into rods with a diameter of 3 mm. All of them shared a constant e/a = 1.5 and fell along the e/a-constant composition line in the ternary composition chart. The Sm54Al23Ni23 BMG exhibiting the largest Trg was located at the intersection point of the e/a-constant line and the Sm7Ni3-Al cluster line, with thermodynamic parameters of Tg = 548 K at a heating rate of 20 K/min, Tg/Tm = 0.634, and Tg/Tl = 0.615. The Sm7Ni3 cluster was a capped trigonal prism derived from the SmNi phase.

Mixed metal oxide catalysts with nominal compositions of In2Ti1–xFexO5–δ, In2Ti1–xCrxO5–δ, where 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2, have been synthesized by the ceramic route and characterized using the powder x-ray diffraction technique. The In2Ti1–xFexO5–δ samples were single-phase compositions, isomorphic with In2TiO5 phase. The particle size of the In2Ti1–xFexO5–δ samples was lower compared to the parent In2TiO5 oxide. Thermal stability (by thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis) in varying atmospheres, and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR)/temperature-programmed oxidation cycles have been recorded to investigate their redox behavior as a function of the value of x in this study. The amount of H2 consumed under TPR curves was correlated with the nonstoichiometry generated in the In2Ti1–xFexO5–δ samples. Fe substitution induced ease in the reducibility (i.e., maximum temperature) of the substituted oxides compared to that in In2TiO5. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to confirm the oxidation states of indium and other metal ions in fresh and reduced samples.