Writhing instabilities of twisted rods: from infinite to finite length

We use three different approaches to describe the static spatial configurations of a twisted rod as well as its stability during rigid loading experiments. The first approach considers the rod as infinite in length and predicts an instability causing a jump to self-contact at a certain point of the experiment. Semi-finite corrections, taken into account as a second approach, reveal some possible experiments in which the configuration of a very long rod will be stable through out. Finally, in a third approach, we consider a rod of real finite length and we show that another type of instability may occur, leading to possible hysteresis behavior. As we go from infinite to finite length, we compare the different information given by the three approaches on the possible equilibrium configurations of the rod and their stability. These finite size effects studied here in a 1D elasticity problem could help us guess what are the stability features of other more complicated (2D elastic shells for example) problems for which only the infinite length approach is understood.     

Laser printing of nanocomposite solid-state electrolyte membranes for Li micro-batteries

The electrochemical and mechanical properties of nanocomposite solid-state electrolyte membranes deposited using a laser direct-write technique from a suspended solution comprised of an ionic liquid (1,2-dimethyl-3-n-butylimidazolium-bis-trifluoromethanesulfonylimide)-polymer (poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)) matrix with dispersed nano-particles (TiO₂) are reported and discussed. These laser printed nanocomposite solid-state membranes are shown to exhibit the proper electrochemical behavior for ionic liquids while maintaining the strength and flexibility of the polymer matrix. This combination of physical properties and deposition technique makes these deposited nanocomposite membranes ideally suited for use as an electrolyte/separator in Li micro-batteries. Sample Li micro-batteries using these laser printed nanocomposite membranes have been fabricated and their charge/discharge behavior tested, demonstrating the feasibility of using these nanocomposite membranes in Li micro-battery applications.     

掺铥氟磷玻璃的结构、热学性质和光谱性质

制备了不同Al(PO3)3含量的掺铥系列氟磷玻璃,研究了其结构、热稳定性和光谱性质。随着Al(PO3)3含量的增加,该系列玻璃的密度降低,折射率增加,差热分析表明,转变温度、析晶起始温度、析晶峰温度和熔化温度增加。Al(PO3)3摩尔浓度在7%~9%时析晶稳定性最佳。采用归一化的拉曼光谱分析了材料的结构和声子状况,对于该系列氟磷玻璃,Al(PO3)3含量的增加不会影响声子能量,但使声子密度增大。测试了样品的吸收光谱,Tm3 的3H6→3F4在第三通信窗口的L波段有明显吸收。与在其它玻璃基质中相比,Tm3 的3F4能级对应能量偏高,3H4能级对应能量偏低,使得3H4→3F4跃迁波长较大,接近于增益迁移光纤放大器的放大波长。扎得奥菲而特(Judd-Ofelt)理论分析表明随着Al(PO3)3含量增加,离子强度参量Ω2增大,Ω6保持相对稳定,Tm3 的能级寿命降低。     

Molecular dynamics simulations on the structures and properties of ε-CL-20-based PBXs ——Primary theoretical studies on HEDM formulation design

Five polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) with the base explosive ε-CL-20 (hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzi- tane), the most important high energy density compound (HEDC), and five polymer binders (Estane 5703, GAP, HTPB, PEG, and F2314) were constructed. Molecular dynamics (MD) method was employed to investigate their binding energies (Ebind), compatibility, safety, mechanical properties, and energetic properties. The information and rules were reported for choosing better binders and guiding formula- tion design of high energy density material (HEDM). According to the calculated binding energies, the ordering of compatibility and stability of the five PBXs was predicted as ε-CL-20/PEG > ε-CL-20/ Estane5703 ≈ε-CL-20/GAP > ε-CL-20/HTPB > ε-CL-20/F2314. By pair correlation function g(r) analyses, hydrogen bonds and vdw are found to be the main interactions between the two components. The elasticity and isotropy of PBXs based ε-CL-20 can be obviously improved more than pure ε-CL-20 crystal. It is not by changing the molecular structures of ε-CL-20 for each binder to affect the sensitivity. The safety and energetic properties of these PBXs are mainly influenced by the thermal capability (C°p) and density (ρ) of binders, respectively.     

Optimization of the locations of the loudspeaker and absorption material in a small room

The sound field both in the loudspeaker box and in the room is calculated by an analytical solution of three-dimensional wave equation. It is shown in theory that the amplitude response in small rooms is affected by the following positions: driver position on the front panel of the box, box position in the room, absorption material position in the box and absorption material position on the interior walls of the room. Both our computer prediction and experiments prove that the optimum positions are beneficial to the amplitude response.     

Li(AlxCo1-x)O2晶体中Co3+电子态的变化及对结构演化的影响

研究了应用于锂二次电池正极的新型高能量密度存贮材料Li(AlxCo1-x)O2 (x=01—05)的磁性.发现Al3+的掺杂可导致Co3+中d电子自旋态发生变化，即有部分d电子进入高自旋态.伴随Co3+中电子状态的改变，材料结构演化也发生了相应变化，表现为c/a比增大明显减缓，较好地解释了材料结构对Vegard定律的正偏离.这对材料的微观结构与性能设计具有重要意义. 关键词： 锂电池材料 Li（AlxCo1-x）O2 磁性 自旋态 结构演化     

Electrochemical characterization of poly(vinylidenefluoride)-zinc triflate gel polymer electrolyte and its application in solid-state zinc batteries

Gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) films comprising of poly(vinylidenefluoride), propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate and zinc trifluoromethane sulfonate are prepared and characterized. The composition of GPE is optimized to contain minimum liquid components with a maximum specific conductivity of 3.94×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at (25±1) °C. A detailed investigation on the properties such as ionic conductivity, transport number, electrochemical stability window, reversibility of Zn/Zn²⁺ couple and Zn/gel electrolyte interfacial stability have been carried out. The ionic conductivity follows a VTF behaviour with an activation energy of about 0.0014 eV. Cationic transport number varies from 0.51 at 25 °C to 0.18 at 70 °C. Several cells have been assembled with GPE as the electrolyte, zinc as the anode, γ-MnO₂ as the cathode and their charge–discharge behaviour followed. Capacity values of 105, 82, 64 and 37 mAh/g of MnO₂ have been achieved at 10, 50, 100 and 200 μA/cm² discharge current densities, respectively. The discharge capacity values are almost constant for about 55 cycles for all values of current densities. Cyclic voltammetric study of MnO₂ electrode in Zn/GPE/MnO₂ cell clearly shows intercalation/deintercalation of Zn²⁺.     

Standardization of Methods for Characterizing the Surface Geometry of Solids

Since a comprehensive survey published in 1999 [1] much work was done in standardizing measuring methods to characterize the surface geometry of dispersed and/or porous solids and to certify reference materials. The present paper is an extension of a short communication [2]. It gives a survey on existing standards and reports on new drafts and proposals.     

Convergence of Computational Methods and Stability of Self-Balanced Stresses under Shrinkage of Spherical Inclusions of a Damageable Material

Some iterative methods for calculating self-balanced stresses under shrinkage of a ball inclusion enclosed in a spherical matrix of a physically nonlinear damageable material. The stability of this system was studied using methods of catastrophe theory. It has been established that the beginning of divergence of the proposed iterative processes coincides with the moment of transition of the system to an unstable position of equilibrium.