Effect of oxygen on regulation of properties of moderately boron-doped diamond films

Regulation of oxygen on properties of moderately boron-doped diamond films is fully investigated. Results show that, with adding a small amount of oxygen (oxygen-to-carbon ratio < 5.0%), the crystal quality of diamond is improved, and a suppression effect of residual nitrogen is observed. With increasing ratio of O/C from 2.5% to 20.0%, the hole concentration is firstly increased then reduced. This change of hole concentration is also explained. Moreover, the results of Hall effect measurement with temperatures from 300 K to 825 K show that, with adding a small amount of oxygen, boron and oxygen complex structures (especially B₃O and B₄O) are formed and exhibit as shallow donor in diamond, which results in increase of donor concentration. With further increase of ratio of O/C, the inhibitory behaviors of oxygen on boron leads to decrease of acceptor concentration (the optical emission spectroscopy has shown that it is decreased with ratio of O/C more than 10.0%). This work demonstrates that oxygen-doping induced increasement of the crystalline and surface quality could be restored by the co-doping with oxygen. The technique could achieve boron-doped diamond films with both high quality and acceptable hole concentration, which is applicable to electronic level of usage.     

Point interactions for 3D sub-Laplacians

In this paper we show that, for a sub-Laplacian Δ on a 3-dimensional manifold M, no point interaction centered at a point $q_0\in M$ exists. When M is complete w.r.t. the associated sub-Riemannian structure, this means that Δ acting on $C_0^{\infty }(M?\{q_0\})$ is essentially self-adjoint in $L^2(M)$. A particular example is the standard sub-Laplacian on the Heisenberg group. This is in stark contrast with what happens in a Riemannian manifold N, whose associated Laplace-Beltrami operator acting on $C_0^{\infty }(N?\{q_0\})$ is never essentially self-adjoint in $L^2(N)$, if $\dim ?N\le 3$. We then apply this result to the Schrödinger evolution of a thin molecule, i.e., with a vanishing moment of inertia, rotating around its center of mass.     

Two-dimensional topological semimetals

The field of two-dimensional topological semimetals, which emerged at the intersection of two-dimensional materials and topological materials, has been rapidly developing in recent years. In this article, we briefly review the progress in this field. Our focus is on the basic concepts and notions, in order to convey a coherent overview of the field. Some material examples are discussed to illustrate the concepts. We discuss the outstanding problems in the field that need to be addressed in future research.     

Linearization of Poisson groupoids

Motivated by a search for Lie group structures on groups of Poisson diffeomorphisms, we investigate linearizability of Poisson structures of Poisson groupoids around the unit section. After extending the Lagrangian neighbourhood theorem to the setting of cosymplectic Lie algebroids, we establish that dual integrations of triangular bialgebroids are always linearizable. Additionally, we show that the (non-dual) integration of a triangular Lie bialgebroid is linearizable whenever the $r$-matrix is of so-called cosymplectic type. The proof relies on the integration of a triangular Lie bialgebroid to a symplectic LA-groupoid, and in the process we define interesting new examples of double Lie algebroids and LA-groupoids. We also show that the product Poisson groupoid can only be linearizable when the Poisson structure on the unit space is regular.     

Photolithographically Patterned Hydrogels with Programmed Deformations

Programmed deformations are widespread in nature, providing elegant paradigms to design self‐morphing materials with promising applications in biomedical devices, flexible electronics, soft robotics, etc. In this emerging field, hydrogels are an ideal material to investigate the deformation principle and the structure‐deformation relationship. One crucial step is to construct heterogeneous structures in a facile yet effective way. Herein, we provide a focus review on different deformation modes and corresponding structural features of hydrogels. Photolithography is a versatile approach to control the outer shape of the hydrogel and spatial distribution of the component in the hydrogel, endowing the patterned hydrogels with programmed internal stress and thus controllable deformations. Specifically, cooperative deformations take place in periodically patterned hydrogels with in‐plane gradients, and multiple morphing structures are formed in one patterned hydrogel using selective preswelling to direct the buckling of each unit. The structural control strategy and deformation principles should be applicable to other materials with broad applications in diverse areas.