Focused ion beam preparation of samples for X‐ray nanotomography

The preparation of hard material samples with the necessary size and shape is critical to successful material analysis. X‐ray nanotomography requires that samples are sufficiently thin for X‐rays to pass through the sample during rotation for tomography. One method for producing samples that fit the criteria for X‐ray nanotomography is focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) which uses a focused beam of ions to selectively mill around a region of interest and then utilizes a micromanipulator to remove the milled‐out sample from the bulk material and mount it on a sample holder. In this article the process for preparing X‐ray nanotomography samples in multiple shapes and sizes is discussed. Additionally, solid‐oxide fuel cell anode samples prepared through the FIB/SEM technique underwent volume‐independence studies for multiple properties such as volume fraction, average particle size, tortuosity and contiguity to observe the characteristics of FIB/SEM samples in X‐ray nanotomography.     

On some eigenvalue inequalities for Schatten–von Neumann operators

Michael Gil' recently obtained some bounds for eigenvalues in [J. Funct. Anal. 267 (2014) 3500–3506] and [Commun. Contemp. Math. 18 (2016) 1550022], which improve some classical results related to this aspect. We revisit these results by providing genuinely different arguments (e.g., using Aluthge transform, majorization). New results are derived along our discussions.     

磨料形貌及分散介质对4H碳化硅晶片研磨质量的影响研究

研磨作为4H碳化硅(4H-SiC)晶片加工的重要工序之一，对4H-SiC衬底晶圆的质量具有重要影响。本文研究了金刚石磨料形貌和分散介质对4H-SiC晶片研磨过程中材料去除速率和面型参数的影响，基于研磨过程中金刚石磨料与4H-SiC晶片表面的接触情况，推导出简易的晶片材料去除速率模型。研究结果表明，磨料形貌显著影响4H-SiC晶片的材料去除速率，材料去除速率越高，晶片的总厚度变化(TTV)越小。由于4H-SiC中C面和Si面的各向异性，4H-SiC晶片研磨过程中C面的材料去除速率高于Si面。在分散介质的影响方面：水基体系研磨液的Zeta电位绝对值较高，磨料分散均匀，水的高导热系数有利于控制研磨过程中的盘面温度；乙二醇体系研磨液的Zeta电位绝对值小，磨料易发生团聚，增大研磨过程的磨料切入深度，晶片的材料去除速率提高，晶片最大划痕深度随之增大。     

Polyhydrido Copper Nanoclusters with a Hollow Icosahedral Core: [Cu30H18{E2P(OR)2}12] (E=S or Se; R=nPr,iPr or iBu)

Although atomically precise polyhydrido copper nanoclusters are of prime interest for a variety of applications, they have so far remained scarce. Herein, this work describes the synthesis of a dithiophosphate-protected copper(I) hydride-rich nanocluster (NC), [Cu₃₀H₁₈{S₂P(OnPr)₂}₁₂] ( 1_H ), fully characterized by various spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray structure of 1_H reveals an unprecedented central Cu₁₂ hollow icosahedron. Six faces of this icosahedron are capped by Cu₃ triangles, the whole Cu₃₀ core being wrapped by twelve dithiophosphate ligands and the whole cluster has ideal S₆ symmetry. The locations of the 18 hydrides in 1_H were ascertained by a single-crystal neutron diffraction study. They are composed of three types: capping μ₃-H, interstitial μ₄-H (seesaw) and μ₅-H ligands (square pyramidal), in good agreement with the DFT simulations. The numbers of hydrides and ligand resonances in the ¹H NMR spectrum of 1_H are in line with their coordination environment in the solid state, retaining the S₆ symmetry in solution. Furthermore, two new Se-protected polyhydrido copper nanoclusters, [Cu₃₀H₁₈{Se₂P(OR)₂}₁₂] ( 2_H : R=iPr 3_H : R=iBu) were synthesized from their sulfur relative 1_H via ligand displacement reaction and their X-ray structures feature the exceptional case where both the NC shape and size are fully conserved during the course of ligand exchange. DFT and TD-DFT calculations allow understanding the bonding and optical properties of clusters 1_H – 3_H . In addition, the reaction of 1_H with [Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] in the presence of terminal alkynes led to the formation of new bimetallic Cu−Pd alloy clusters [PdCu₁₄H₂{S₂P(OnPr)₂}₆(C≡CR)₆] ( 4 : R=Ph; 5 : R = C₆H₄F).     

Luminescence Switching of Organogold(I) Complexes between Aggregation-induced Phosphorescence Enhancement and Aggregation-caused Quenching by Balancing Auxiliary Ligands around the AuI Center

Attaching AIE-active L1 ([1,1′:2′,1′′:4′′,1′′′-quaterphenyl]-2-yldiphenylphosphane) to AuCl, shortened the distances of P−C bonds to promote electron cloud overlap between Au^I and L1 , affords 1 ( L1 AuCl) with aggregation-induced phosphorescence enhancement (AIPE) activity by ³LMCT transitions. Then substituting the coplanar L2 (9-ethynylanthracene) for the Cl⁻ in 1 providing 2 , switches the luminescence to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) activity. Furthermore, we restore the performance from ACQ to AIPE by metathesis reactions to transfer 2 into 1 . It is versatile synthetic strategy of reversible transformation between 1 and 2 that switches the luminescence of organogold(I) between AIPE and ACQ through balancing auxiliary ligands around the given metal.