A fast automatic calibration system for a sound level meter in an anechoic room

A fast automatic calibration system for a sound level meter in an anechoic environment has been developed. The precise and fast generation of the constant frequency-independent acoustic pressure field and reduction of digital voltmeter readout to sound pressure level were achieved by a newly designed software algorithm, assuming the system linearity. The performance test justified the assumed linearity, and showed that the searching speed was sufficiently fast within the small error limit.     

Preparation and Characterization of Electroactive Anion‐Exchange Acrylic Polymer–Gold Composites

The characteristics and performance of an ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC), prepared with an anion‐exchange acrylic copolymer, was examined. The acrylic copolymer was synthesized by the radical copolymerization of fluoroalkyl methacrylate and 2‐(dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate(AMA). Effects of the AMA repeating unit's content in the copolymer and effects of the anion type present on the actuation of the IPMC were observed. The optimal content of 19.4 wt% AMA in the IPMC copolymer yielded the best actuation. The actuation also improved according to the type of anion present in the composite, in the following order: Br^???4 ^?.     

EPR and photoluminescence properties of green light emitting LaAl11O18:Mn phosphors

The LaAl₁₁O₁₈:Mn²⁺ powder phosphor has been prepared using a self-propagating synthesis. Formation and homogeneity of the LaAl₁₁O₁₈:Mn²⁺ phosphor has been verified by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analysis respectively. The EPR spectra of Mn²⁺ ions exhibit resonance signals with effective g values at g≈4.8 and g≈1.978. The signal at g≈1.978 exhibits six-line hyperfine structure and is due to Mn²⁺ ions in an environment close to tetrahedral symmetry, whereas the resonance at g≈4.8 is attributed to the rhombic surroundings of the Mn²⁺ ions. It is observed that the number of spins participating in resonance for g≈1.978 increases with decreasing temperature obeying the Boltzmann law. Upon 451 nm excitation, the photoluminescence spectrum exhibits a green emission peak at 514 nm due to ⁴T₁ (G)→⁶A₁ (S) transition of Mn²⁺ ions. The crystal field parameter Dq and Racah inter-electronic repulsion parameters B and C have been evaluated from the excitation spectrum.     

Synthesis,characterisation, luminescence and defect centres in solution combustion synthesised CaZrO3:Tb3+ phosphor

Tb³⁺ doped CaZrO₃ has been prepared by an easy solution combustion synthesis method. The combustion derived powder was investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy techniques. A room temperature photoluminescence study showed that the phosphors can be efficiently excited by 251 nm light with a weak emission in the blue and orange region and a strong emission in green light region. CaZrO₃:Tb³⁺ exhibits three thermoluminescence (TL) glow peaks at 126 °C, 200 °C and 480 °C. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) studies were carried out to study the defect centres induced in the phosphor by gamma irradiation and also to identify the centres responsible for the TL peaks. The room temperature ESR spectrum of irradiated phosphor appears to be a superposition of two distinct centres. One of the centres (centre I) with principal g-value 2.0233 is identified as an O^? ion. Centre II with an axial symmetric g-tensor with principal values g_=1.9986 and g_?=2.0023 is assigned to an F⁺ centre (singly ionised oxygen vacancy). An additional defect centre is observed during thermal annealing experiments and this centre (assigned to F⁺ centre) seems to originate from an F centre (oxygen vacancy with two electrons). The F centre and also the F⁺ centre appear to correlate with the observed high temperature TL peak in CaZrO₃:Tb³⁺ phosphor.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles from gold(I)-alkanethiolate complexes with supramolecular structures through electron beam irradiation in TEM

Monodisperse gold nanoparticles were prepared via electron beam irradiation of Au(I)-SR (R = -CnH2n+1) polymers with highly ordered supramolecular structures in transmission electron microscopy. The Au(I)-SR polymers were synthesized simply by mixing LiAuCl4 and an excess amount of alkanethiol in tetrahydrofuran. The sizes of the gold nanoparticles were controlled by changing the length of the alkyl group or by adjusting the energy of the electron beam.     

Ionic Polymer‐Metal Composite Actuators Employing Radiation‐Grafted Fluoropolymers as Ion‐Exchange Membranes

Summary: To develop ionic polymer‐metal composites (IPMC) with improved performance, three new ion‐exchange membranes were prepared and employed in IPMC construction. The membranes were prepared by radiation‐grafting of polystyrene sulfonic acid onto three fluoropolymers; poly(vinylidenefluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene), poly(ethylene‐co‐tetrafluoroethylene), and poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐hexafluoropropylene). The bending displacements of the IPMCs constructed with these membranes were at least several times larger than that of Nafion IPMC of similar thickness without straightening‐back. The larger displacement was considered to be due to the higher concentration of ionic groups and consequent larger ion‐exchange capacity.

Actuation of (a) Nafion IPMC and (b) IPMC prepared in this study.     

Preparation of Stable Anisotropic Films with Columnar Order from Polymerizable Star-shaped Supramolecular Liquid Crystals

We have fabricated new stable anisotropic films with columnar order using star-shaped supramolecular liquid crystals as photoreactive monomers. The polymerizable supramolecular liquid crystal exhibiting a hexagonal columnar mesophase has been prepared simply through hydrogen bonding between a phloroglucinol core and pyridine derivatives containing acrylate groups in the alkyl chain. Photopolymerization of the supramolecular monomer in the liquid crystalline state yielded cross-linked anisotropic polymer networks with columnar order. The controlled approach in the present study opens a new way to design and prepare stable anisotropic materials for potential electronic and optical applications.     

Preparation and Photoluminescent Properties of Hydrogen-bonded Discotic Liquid Crystals

Photoluminescent discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) have been prepared through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between core and peripheral units. 1,3,5-Trihydroxybenzene was employed as core molecule and peripheral stilbazole derivatives containing linearly conjugated moieties were complexed to form hydrogen-bonded DLCs. Their structures, mesophases, and optical properties were investigated. The complexation of core and peripherals made some discotic complexes form photoluminescent DLCs. The prepared luminescent DLCs exhibited columnar mesophases with strong blue or sea green photoluminescence. These findings may contribute to the development of luminescent supramolecular liquid crystals for emitting materials in light emitting devices.     

Effect of charge inhomogeneity and mobility on colloid aggregation

The aggregation of inhomogeneously charged colloids with the same average charge is analyzed using Monte Carlo simulations. We find aggregation of colloids for sizes in the range 10-200 nm, which is similar to the range in which aggregation is observed in several experiments. The attraction arises from the strongly correlated electrostatic interactions associated with the increase in the counterion density in the region between the particles; this effect is enhanced by the discreteness and mobility of the surface charges. Larger colloids attract more strongly when their surface charges are discrete. We study the aggregation as functions of the surface charge density, counterion valence, and volume fraction.     

Relationship between phase and generation mechanisms of THz waves in InAs

We investigated the thickness-dependent characteristics of THz waves from InAs epilayers whose thickness ranges from 0.01 to 1.74 μm. The amplitude showed monotonic increments up to 0.9 μm, followed by a saturation at 1.74 μm. Interestingly, the phase of THz waves was reversed around absorption depth and used to identify the transient dipole direction based on simulated band diagram. We could further distinguish dominant THz wave generation mechanisms, associated with the phase information.