High-energy x-ray diffraction study on phase transition asymmetry of plastic crystal neopentylglycol

As a prototype material of colossal barocaloric effects, neopentylglycol is investigated by combining high-precision differential scanning calorimetric measurement and high-energy x-ray diffraction measurement. The diffraction data at constant temperatures indicate a first-order phase transition with thermal hysteresis as well as the phase transition asymmetry, specifically, the phase transition is completed faster at cooling than at heating. The analysis of resulting pair distribution function confirms the intermolecular disorder in the high-temperature phase. The phase transition asymmetry is quantitatively characterized by time-resolved x-ray diffraction, which is in agreement with the thermal measurement. Also, such an asymmetry is observed to be suppressed at high pressures.     

稀土永磁薄膜材料

简要地介绍在纳米复合稀土永磁薄膜材料、各向异性稀土永磁薄膜材料方面的进展。在纳米复合稀土永磁薄膜材料中实现磁性交换耦合和剩磁增强效应，系统地研究了其结构与磁性的关系。制备成功高磁能积的各向异性稀土永磁薄膜材料，比较了Ti或Mo缓冲层对Nd-Fe-B薄膜的表面形貌、磁畴结构和磁性能的影响。发现薄膜的表面形貌强烈地依赖于缓冲层的厚度。由于它极大地影响薄膜的成分，溅射速率被证明是控制薄膜的显微结构、表面形貌和磁性能的一个重要因素。在微磁学模型的基础上，通过分析从5到300K的矫顽力温度依赖关系。研究了各向异性Pr-Fe-B薄膜的矫顽力机制。在晶粒表面，由于磁各向异性的降低和局域退磁场的提高导致的反转畴的形核被确定为控制各向异性Pr-Fe—B薄膜的磁化反转过程的首要机制。     

Molecular field theory for nematic liquid crystal film with finite layers

The nematic liquid crystal film composed of n molecular layers is studied based upon a spatially anisotropic pair potential, which reproduces approximately the elastic free energy density. On condition that the system has perfect nematic order, as in the Lebwohl—Lasher model, the director in the film is isotropic. The effect of the temperature is investigated by means of molecular field theory. Some new results are obtained. Firstly, symmetry breaking takes place when taking account of the temperature, and the state with the director along the normal of the film has the lowest free energy. Secondly, the N—I phase transition temperature increases as an effect of finite sizes instead of decreasing as in the Lebwohl—Lasher model. Thirdly, the nematic order is induced in the layers near the surface in the isotropic phase.     

液晶全漏导模的实验研究

夹在2块玻璃基板之间的液晶可以形成波导层,光在其间传播形成导模.通过全漏波导技术,分别对扭曲向列相液晶盒施加不同电压进行测试,得到了依赖于角度变化的反射率(包括偏振保存和偏振转换)实验曲线.液晶指向矢的变化将直接影响反射率变化,验证了液晶全漏波导技术在探索液晶盒内部细微变化方面是有效手段.     

Comprehensive performance of a ball-milled La0.5Pr0.5Fe11.4Si1.6B0.2Hy/Al magnetocaloric composite

Due to the hydrogen embrittlement effect, La(Fe,Si)₁₃-based hydrides can only exist in powder form, which limits their practical application. In this work, ductile and thermally conductive Al metal was homogeneously mixed with La_0.5Pr_0.5Fe_11.4Si_1.6B_0.2 using the ball milling method. Then hydrogenation and compactness shaping of the magnetocaloric composites were performed in one step via a sintering process under high hydrogen pressure. As the Al content reached 9 wt.%, the La_0.5Pr_0.5Fe_11.4Si_1.6B_0.2H_y/Al composite showed the mechanical behavior of a ductile material with a yield strength of ~44 MPa and an ultimate strength of 269 MPa accompanied by a pronounced improvement in thermal conductivity. Due to the ease of formation of Fe-Al-Si phases and the several micron and submicron sizes of the composite particles caused by ball milling process, the magnetic entropy change of the composites was substantially reduced to ~1.2 J/kg· K-1.5 J/kg· K at 0 T-1.5 T.     

Azimuthal anchoring of a nematic liquid crystal on a grooved interface with anisotropic polar anchoring

Zhang Y J et al.[Zhang Y J,Zhang Z D,Zhu L Z and Xuan L 2011 Liquid Cryst.38 355] investigated the effects of finite polar anchoring on the azimuthal anchoring energy at a grooved interface,in which polar anchoring was isotropic in the local tangent plane of the surface.In this paper,we investigate the effects of both isotropic and anisotropic polar anchoring on the surface anchoring energy in the frame of Fukuda et al.’s theory.The results show that anisotropic polar anchoring strengthens the azimuthal anchoring of grooved surfaces.In the one-elastic-constant approximation(K11 = K22 = K33 = K),the surface-groove-induced azimuthal anchoring energy is entirely consistent with the result of Faetti,and it reduces to the original result of Berreman with an increase in polar anchoring.Moreover,the contribution of the surface-like elastic term to the Rapini-Papoular anchoring energy is zero.     

Large coercivity and unconventional exchange coupling in manganese-oxide-coated manganese gallium nanoparticles

The microstructures and magnetic properties of nanoparticles, each composed of an antiferromagnetic （AFM） manganese-oxide shell and a ferromagnetic-like core of manganese-gallium （MnGa） compounds, are studied. The coreshell structure is confirmed by transmission electron microscope （TEM）. The ferromagnetic-like core contains three kinds of MnGa binary compounds, i.e., ferrimagnetic （FI） DO22-type MnaGa, ferromagnetic （FM） Mn8Gas, and AFM DO19-type Mn3Ga, of which the first two correspond respectively to a hard magnetic phase and to a soft one. Decoupling effect between these two phases is found at low temperature, which weakens gradually with increasing temperature and disappears above 200 K. The exchange bias （EB） effect is observed simultaneously, which is caused by the exchange coupling between the AFM shell and FM-like core. A large coercivity of 6.96 kOe （1Oe = 79.5775 A·m^-1） and a maximum EB value of 0.45 kOe are achieved at 300 K and 200 K respectively.     

应变液晶的负压光效应和反式压光效应

介绍聚合物分散液晶和应变液晶概念,给出聚合物分散液晶调光玻璃的"正压光效应"、"负压光效应"和"反式压光效应"三种效应定义.实验制备出负压光效应和反式压光效应新型应变调光玻璃样品,测试样品散射态雾度90%以上,半透明态透光率接近30%.用偏光显微术研究压光效应原理,表明对样品施加垂面按压或拉伸的应力诱导作用会引起液晶微滴中液晶分子具有某些特殊排列方式,导致样品光学性质发生显著变化.建立垂面拉伸液晶微滴模型,计算模拟所绘出的图形与偏光显微镜照片独特花样十分相似,进而合理解释了实验现象.应变液晶压光效应研究具有聚合物分散液晶基础研究意义和开发非电控调光玻璃的实际应用价值.