Synthesis and microwave dielectric properties of an electronic ceramic Y2WO6 for wireless communications

Y₂WO₆ ceramics were fabricated via a solid-state reaction method and investigated structure stability, densification, microstructure, and dielectric properties at microwave frequency range. Y₂WO₆ crystallized in a monoclinic structure and stabilized to 1500 ^∘C, beyond which the decomposition of Y₆WO₁₂ occurred. Y₂WO₆ ceramic could be sintered into a compact bulk at 1450 ^∘C, which was characterized by a high relative density ∼ 97.6% and a dense microstructure. The favorable dielectric performances were achieved at 1450 ^∘C with a relative permittivity ${\epsilon }_r\sim 11.4$, a quality factor $Q\times f\sim 42,380$ GHz ($f=8.6$ GHz), and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency ${\tau }_f\sim -49.0$ ppm/^∘C. The MW properties of Y₂WO₆ suggest that it could be useful candidate material for low-loss dielectric resonators.     

Theoretical study of the effect of the Coulomb blockade and Kondo resonance in the density of states using self-consistent field approximation

In a recent paper, we theoretically investigated the density of states of the composite channel–contact system in the Coulomb and Kondo regimes using the self-consistent field approximation. There are the main experimental observations of vibration features in the Coulomb blockade [H. Park et al., Nature (London) 407, 57 (2000)] and Kondo [L. H. Yu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 266802 (2004)] regimes. In the Kondo regime, our results show that one peak at $E=\mu$ can be observed in the density of states at low temperatures (0.0026 eV ≤ k_BT ≤ 0.0000026 eV). Also, the real part of ∑₃ has one minimum peak at $E=-\mu$ and the real par of ∑₂ has one maximum peak at $E=-\mu$ for 0.01 ≤ μ ≤ 0.07 in the Kondo regime at low temperatures.     

Effect of ultrasonic irradiation power on sonochemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles

In this work, optimized size distribution and optical properties in the colloidal synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were obtained using a proposed ultrasonic irradiation assisted Turkevich-Frens method. The effect of three nominal ultrasound (20 kHz) irradiation powers: 60, 150, and 210 W have been analyzed as size and shape control parameters. The GNPs colloidal solutions were obtained from chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄) and trisodium citrate (C₆H₅Na₃O₇·2H₂O) under continuous irradiation for 1 h without any additional heat or stirring. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was monitored in the UV–Vis spectra every 10 min to found the optimal time for localized SPR wavelength (${\lambda }_{\mathrm{L}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{R}}$), and the 210 sample procedure has reduced the ${\lambda }_{\mathrm{L}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{R}}$ localization at 20 min, while 150 and 60 samples have showed ${\lambda }_{\mathrm{L}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{R}}$ at 60 min. The nucleation and growth of GNPs showed changes in shape and size distribution associated with physical (cavitation, temperature) and chemical (radical generation, pH) conditions in the aqueous solution. The results showed quasi-spherical GNPs as pentakis dodecahedron (${\lambda }_{\mathrm{L}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{R}}$ = 560 nm), triakis icosahedron (${\lambda }_{\mathrm{L}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{R}}$ = 535 nm), and tetrakis hexahedron (${\lambda }_{\mathrm{L}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{R}}$ = 525 nm) in a size range from 12 to 16 nm. Chemical effects of ultrasound irradiation were suggested in the disproportionation process, electrons of AuCl₂⁻ are rapidly exchanged through the gold surface. After AuCl₄⁻ and Cl⁻ were desorbed, a tetrachloroaurate complex was recycled for the two-electron reduction by citrate, aurophilic interaction between complexes AuCl₂⁻, electrons exchange, and gold seeds, the deposition of new gold atoms on the surface promoting the growth of GNPs. These mechanisms are enhanced by the effects of ultrasound, such as cavitation and transmitted energy into the solution. These results show that the plasmonic response from the reported GNPs can be tuned using a simple methodology with minimum infrastructure requirements. Moreover, the production method could be easily scalable to meet industrial manufacturing needs.     

Thermospin effects in a T-shaped spin valves with spin-flip scattering

With the help of the nonequilibrium Green's function technique, we theoretically analyze the thermospin property through a typical T-shaped spin valve with spin-flip scattering in the linear regime. The influences of spin-flip coefficient of interdot λ, spin-flip coefficient of intradot η and interdot hopping coefficient $t+{\delta }_{\sigma }\mathrm{\Delta }t$ on thermospin property are discussed. As interdot hopping coefficient t is equal to energy level ε, the spectrum of $G_s$ shows Fano-like effect with ε variation. Antiresonance position of $G_s$ is almost unchanged and its width becomes narrower with ε increasing. Spin thermopower $S_s$ is close to the maximum of the peak and charge thermopower $S_c$ is equal to zero for $t=\epsilon$. As a result, the pure spin thermopower $S_s$ can be obtained, which means that a pure spin current may be produced by a temperature gradient in our system. It is found that spin figure of merit $Z{T}_s$ can reach a considerable value by adjusting key parameters of the system, such as Δt, β, α, ?. The typical T-shaped spin valve can be treated as a stable thermospin battery which allows to convert the heat energy to spin voltage, thus produces the pure spin current in the device.     

Experimental study on downward/opposed flame spread and extinction over electric wires in partial gravity environments

Downward/opposed flame spread over laboratory wire samples under varied gravity conditions were investigated in the range from 0 G to 1 G. Reduced gravity experiments are conducted by parabolic flights of an airplane. Limiting oxygen concentrations (LOCs) and flame spread rates ($V_{\mathrm{f}}$) are obtained as a function of gravity level, with oxygen concentration, forced flow velocity, and wire characteristics such as insulation thickness and core material as experimental variables. The samples used in this study consist of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) insulation over metallic cores. Copper (Cu) and nickel-chrome (NiCr) were selected as core materials. It is found that the effect of gravity on the insulation flammability varies with the thermal conductivity of the wire core; the LOCs of the Cu sample are less affected by gravity, while those of the NiCr sample decrease with decreasing gravity level. On the other hand, $V_{\mathrm{f}}$ increase monotonically with increasing gravity level in the Cu sample, while $V_{\mathrm{f}}$ of the NiCr sample show a peak value under the low gravity conditions. It is suggested that these differences in the response of LOCs and $V_{\mathrm{f}}$ to the gravity level due to the difference in core materials are controlled by the fuel concentration in the reaction zone, which is a function of $V_{\mathrm{f}}$. It is also found that the molten LDPE produced during the flame spread process shows unique behaviors depending on the gravity levels and wire characteristics. Some characteristics of the dynamic motion of the molten LDPE during the flame spread process, such as deformation and dripping, are also summarized in this paper. The experimental data obtained in this study provide useful information on the flammability of materials in a partial gravity environment and will serve as a database for fire safety design in future space exploration.     

Dynamics of FREI with/without cool flame interaction

The interactions between cool flames and flames with repetitive extinction and ignition (FREI) of stoichiometric n-heptane/air mixture were studied using a micro flow reactor with a controlled temperature profile from 373 to 1300 K. Two different flame dynamics with and without cool flames were observed in reactors with inner diameters $d_{\text{inner}}$ of 1 and 2 mm. Cool flames and FREI are spatially separated at $d_{\text{inner}}=$ 1 mm, whereas interactions between cool flames and FREI are observed at $d_{\text{inner}}=$ 2 mm. At $d_{\text{inner}}=$ 1 mm, the brightness intensity from cool flames depends on the inlet velocity ($u_{\text{inlet}}$). Approximately above $u_{\text{inlet}}=$ 10 cm/s, the brightness intensity from cool flames decreases with increasing inlet velocity, despite a large amount of mixture input. This is because before low temperature ignition occurs under higher inlet velocity conditions, the mixture archives temperature where negative temperature coefficient is dominant. Reaction front propagation speed of FREI decreases monotonically due to heat loss because the extinction points of FREI are located in higher temperatures than the cool flame region. At $d_{\text{inner}}=$ 2 mm, the acceleration of the reaction front in the cool flame region is confirmed experimentally, as predicted in our previous two-dimensional numerical simulations. Additionally, the instantaneous reaction front speed after autoignition is analyzed at $d_{\text{inner}}=$ 1 mm. The instantaneous reaction front speed decreases as the time from extinction to ignition $t_{\text{ex}\_\text{ig}}$ becomes longer because a moderate mixing zone of reactants and products is formed.     

Formation of intermediate coupling optical polarons and bipolarons in two-dimensional systems

The formation of the optical polaron and bipolaron in two-dimensional (2D) systems is studied in the intermediate electron–phonon coupling regime. The total energies of the 2D polaron and bipolaron are calculated by using the Buimistrov–Pekar method of canonical transformations. The obtained results are compared with other existing results obtained by using the Feynman path integral method and the modified Lee–Low–Pines unitary transformation method. It is shown that the electron–phonon correlation significantly reduces the total energy of the 2D polaron in comparison with the energy of the strong coupling (adiabatic) polaron. It is found that the polaron formation in 2D systems is possible when the electron–phonon coupling constant α is greater than the critical value ${\alpha }_c?2.94$, which is much lower than a critical value of the electron–phonon coupling constant α in three-dimensional (3D) systems. The critical values of the Fröhlich coupling constant α and the ratio $\eta ={\epsilon }_{\infty }/{\epsilon }_0$ (where ${\epsilon }_{\infty }$ and ${\epsilon }_0$ are the high frequency and static dielectric constants, respectively), which determine the bipolaron stability region in 2D systems, are calculated numerically. It is interesting for application to the layered cuprate superconductors that the (bi)polarons are formed more easily in quasi-2D regions than in the bulk. It is argued that the high-$T_c$ cuprate superconductivity can exist above the bulk superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ as the persisting superfluidity of polaronic (bosonic) Cooper pairs and large bipolarons at quasi-2D grain boundaries or in the CuO₂ layers above $T_c$.     

Electrochemical behavior of Al2O3/Al composite coated Al electrodes through surface mechanical alloying in alkaline media

The behavior of $A{l}_2{O}_3/Al$ composite coated Al electrodes fabricated by surface mechanical alloying ‘SMA’ was studied. The work was accomplished using Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques in alkaline media $2MKOH$ were done at room temperature. Results show hydroxyl ions accumulate on the surface due to Al deformation micro cavities filling with $A{l}_2{O}_3$ until full charge blockage reached. A barrier cover layer development causing an increase of both resistance and capacitance as it becomes more stable and thinner with exposure time increase. Migrating hydroxyl ion inside micro cavity changed its composition from Al₂O₃ to stable tetrahedral $Al{\left(OH\right)}_4^{?}$ aluminate ions. Therefore future benefits could be reached by developing such surfaces having charge accumulation that enables environmental interaction.     

Ignition by moving hot spheres in H2-O2-N2 environments

A combined experimental and numerical study was carried out to investigate thermal ignition by millimeter size ($d=6$ mm) moving hot spheres in H₂-O₂-N₂ environments over a range of equivalence ratios. The mixtures investigated were diluted with N₂ to keep their laminar flame speed constant and comparable to the sphere fall velocity (2.4 m/s) at time of contact with the reactive mixture. The ignition thresholds (and confidence intervals) were found by applying a logistic regression to the data and were observed to increase from lean ($\Phi =0.39$; T_sphere = 963 K) to rich ($\Phi =1.35$; T_sphere = 1007 K) conditions. Experimental temperature fields of the gas surrounding the hot sphere during an ignition event were, for the first time, extracted using interferometry and compared against simulated fields. Numerical predictions of the ignition thresholds were within 2% of the experimental values and captured the experimentally observed increasing trend between lean and rich conditions. The effect of stoichiometry and dilution on the observed variation in ignition threshold was explained using 0-D constant pressure delay time computations.