Influence of atomic-scale irregularities in fractal analysis of electrode surfaces

To clarify the vague points appeared in the literature, it was discussed that fractal analysis of electrode surfaces based on the concept of ‘diffusion toward electrode surfaces’ is only able to monitor surface roughness in scales larger than 10 nm. When inspecting fractality in atomic scale (and even up to 10 nm), electrochemical measurements are not reliable due to the presence of surface defects, which affect the electrochemical reaction. In other words, for fractal analysis of electrode surfaces, the diffusion layer width which acts as yardstick length, should be sufficiently large, incomparable to the scale of atomic inhomogeneities. To this aim, the experiment time should be sufficiently long or the diffusion coefficient should be sufficiently large.     

Damage and fracture prediction of plastic-bonded explosive by digital image correlation processing

By digital correlation processing of Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) images, the paper presents the deformation and damage analysis of an energetic material—the plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) on mesoscopic scale. The analysis is made by observing the deformation field resulted from the digital image correlation (DIC) processing of the images corresponding to the loading steps and comparing with the surface profiles of the composite material so as to visualize the matter damage near a preset crack. The results show that the local deformation disturbance can reveal the material damage even happened underneath the specimen surface. The strain distribution in the front of the preset crack, can be used to predict the propagating route of the microcrack initiated from the tip of the pre-crack, which is related to the splitting fracture of the granular-based composite under compressive loading.     

Preparation and characterization of alkyl sulfate and alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants/TiO2 hybrid thin films by the liquid phase deposition (LPD) method

Hybrid titanium oxide thin films containing surfactants, sodium dodecyl benzylsulfonate and sodium dodecyl sulfate, have been prepared by a novel liquid-phase deposition method. It is a new attempt to prepare organic–inorganic hybrid thin film by this method which usually be applied in preparing metal oxide thin film before. The two kinds of surfactants/TiO₂ hybrid thin films were characterized by means of FT-IR, SEM, XRD, fluorescence X-ray, ICP–AES and Raman spectroscopy, and showed noticeable differences in surface top view and particle diameter, cross-section image and thickness, deposited amount of Ti, XRD patterns and Raman shift. The reasons giving rise to above differences of the two kinds composite thin films has been discussed. The deposition mechanism of organic–inorganic hybrid thin film has been also presumed. The use of this processing parameter may open up a new way to the preparing of the organic–inorganic hybrid thin film.     

基于单通道反射型电光调制器实现不同路光同时调制的方法

提出了一种利用单通道反射型聚合物电光调制器同时调制不同路光的方法。衰减全反射结构的电光调制器,其每一个衰减全反射(ATR)峰的位置分别对应于一个导波共振模式。实验系统中利用衰减全反射导膜峰作为调制通道,使其每一路光路的入射角分别对应于不同导波共振模式的工作角,就可以实现利用单通道的电光调制器同时调制不同路光。提出了三种实现两路光同时调制的模式,并给出了三种模式的调制结果。结果表明,作为调制通道的导模阶数越低,调制效率越高。在832 nm光波波长下,采用最低阶导模进行调制时可以获得42.9%的调制效率。     

Irradiation crosslinking and halogen-free flame retardation of EVA using hydrotalcite and red phosphorus

Halogen-free flame retarded ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) composites using Mg-Al-CO₃ hydrotalcite (MALDH) and microcapsulated red phosphorus (MRP) have been prepared in a melt process. The flame retardation of the composites has been studied by the limited oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 methods, and the thermal decomposition by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The changes of their properties of the composites before and after the Gamma irradiation are compared. The synergistic effect in the flame retardation between MALDH and MRP in EVA has been found. The EVA/MALDH/MRP composites after the irradiation crosslinking result in a great increase in the Vicat softening point. The LOI value, the mechanical properties and thermal stability are also improved for the composites irradiated by a suitable irradiation dose.     

Protonic conductivity and lithium intercalation in a new iron hydroxyphosphate hydrate: (H3O)[Fe(H2O)]3[H8(PO4)6]·3H2O

A new hydroxonium iron phosphate, (H₃O)[Fe(H₂O)]₃[H₈(PO₄)₆]·3H₂O, was synthesized through a precipitation route by means of acidic media. The crystal structure was solved by X-ray powder diffraction. Electrochemical characterizations, performed on this compound, show reversible intercalation of lithium and substantial lithium diffusion. Protonic conductivity is observed in agreement with the simultaneous presence of H₂O, hydrated protons and OH groups in the large intersecting tunnels of this intersecting tunnel structure.     

Unified Solution of the Expected Maximum of a Discrete Time Random Walk and the Discrete Flux to a Spherical Trap

Two random-walk related problems which have been studied independently in the past, the expected maximum of a random walker in one dimension and the flux to a spherical trap of particles undergoing discrete jumps in three dimensions, are shown to be closely related to each other and are studied using a unified approach as a solution to a Wiener-Hopf problem. For the flux problem, this work shows that a constant c = 0.29795219 which appeared in the context of the boundary extrapolation length, and was previously found only numerically, can be derived analytically. The same constant enters in higher-order corrections to the expected-maximum asymptotics. As a byproduct, we also prove a new universal result in the context of the flux problem which is an analogue of the Sparre Andersen theorem proved in the context of the random walker's maximum.     

A co-doping approach towards enhanced ionic conductivity in fluorite-based electrolytes

A co-dopant strategy is used to investigate the effect that the elastic strain in the lattice has on the grain ionic conductivity of doped ceria electrolytes. Based on critical dopant ionic radius (r_c), different compositions in the Lu_xNd_yCe_1−x−yO_2−δ (x + y = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20) system are studied. Dopants are added such that the weighted average dopant ionic radius matches r_c for all the compositions. Dense ceramic discs are prepared using conventional solid oxide route and sintering methods. Precise lattice parameter measurements are used to calculate the lattice strain. The ionic conductivity of the samples is measured in the temperature range of 250 °C to 700 °C using two-probe electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique. The elastic strain present in Lu_xNd_yCe_1−x−yO_2−δ system is found to be negligible when compared to Lu_xCe_1−xO_2−δ (negative) and Nd_xCe_1−xO_2−δ (positive) systems. Grain ionic conductivity of Lu_xNd_yCe_1−x−yO_2−δ (where x + y = 0.05) at 500 °C is observed to be 1.9 × 10^− 3 S/cm which is twice as high as that of Lu_0.05Ce_0.95O_2−δ. These results extend the validity of the r_c concept as a strategy for co-doping ceria electrolytes and open new designing avenues for solid oxide electrolytes with enhanced ionic conductivity.