Synthesis of nanoscale antimony particles

For the search of new negative electrodes of Li-ion batteries, a low-temperature method has been developed for the preparation of nanoscale antimony particles which uses an alkoxide-activated sodium hydride as reducing agent of antimony pentachloride. X-ray diffraction and TEM studies confirm the obtaining of amorphous Sb nanoparticles dispersed in an organic matrix. ¹²¹Sb Mössbauer spectroscopy gives evidence for the occurrence of interactions between antimony and the matrix. These interactions are modified by the washing treatments.     

Magnetic enhancement in nanoscale CoRh particles

The influence of size reduction on the magnetism of CoRh has been studied on a system of isolated nanometric spherical bimetallic ultrafine particles embedded in a polymer matrix. Pulsed fields up to 30 T were used in order to approach the magnetic saturation ( M(S)). Particles with a mean diameter of 1.65 (+/-0.1) nm display a value of 2.38 micro(B) per CoRh unit strongly enhanced compared to values calculated or measured on a bulk alloy. These results were interpreted as the first evidence of the cooperative role of both alloying and size reduction to the enhancement of M(S) in this system associating a 3d FM metal with a 4d metal.     

Real-time TEM imaging of the formation of crystalline nanoscale gaps

We present real-time transmission electron microscopy of nanogap formation by feedback controlled electromigration that reveals a remarkable degree of crystalline order. Crystal facets appear during feedback controlled electromigration indicating a layer-by-layer, highly reproducible electromigration process avoiding thermal runaway and melting. These measurements provide insight into the electromigration induced failure mechanism in sub-20 nm size interconnects, indicating that the current density at failure increases as the width decreases to approximately 1 nm.     

Real-time optical imaging and tracking of micron-sized particles

We report real-time imaging and dynamics monitoring of micrometer predefined and random sized particles by time-space-wavelength mapping technology using a single-detector. Experimentally, we demonstrate real-time line imaging of a 5 μm polystyrene microsphere, glass powder particles and patterns such as fingerprints with up to 5 μm resolution at 1 line/50 ns capture rate. By using the same setup, real-time displacement tracking of micrometer-size glass particles with 50 ns temporal resolution and up to 5 μm spatial resolution is achieved. We also show that existing correlation spectroscopy algorithms can be adopted to extract dynamic information in a complex environment.     

Influence of thermal fluctuations on the interactions between nanoscale particles

We present a method to investigate the influences of the thermal fluctuations on the nanometer-sized particle in pickup manipulation by an atomic force microscope (AFM). We show that thermal fluctuations can play an important and even major role in the interaction between particles at room temperature. Moreover, thermal fluctuations always have an opposing effect on the particle interactions. The deterministic directional motion of a particle governed by the interfacial properties of the nanoparticles becomes non-deterministic, with a reduction of the adhesion probability up to 44% under different strength of the thermal fluctuations.     

Size dependence of the magnetic moments of exposed nanoscale iron particles

The magnetic moments in exposed, mass-selected, nanoscale Fe clusters in the size range 1.89–2.20 nm (300–475 atoms), deposited onto graphic in situ have been measured by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The smallest clusters possess moments that are enhanced by around 4% for m_spin and 80% for m_orb and decrease towards the bulk value with increasing size. The larger clusters show an in-plane anisotropy that is consistent with the anisotropy in the orbital moment. The smallest clusters are, within experimental error, magnetically isotropic. The anisotropy constant in the 475-atom clusters is significantly higher than the bulk value.     

Enhanced reactivity of nanoscale iron particles through a vacuum annealing process

A reactivity study was undertaken to compare and assess the rate of dechlorination of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) by annealed and non-annealed nanoscale iron particles. The current study aims to resolve the uncertainties in recently published work studying the effect of the annealing process on the reduction capability of nanoscale Fe particles. Comparison of the normalized rate constants (m²/h/L) obtained for dechlorination reactions of trichloroethene (TCE) and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE) indicated that annealing nanoscale Fe particles increases their reactivity ~30-fold. An electron transfer reaction mechanism for both types of nanoscale particles was found to be responsible for CAH dechlorination, rather than a reduction reaction by activated H₂ on the particle surface (i.e., hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis). Surface analysis of the particulate material using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) together with surface area measurement by Brunauer, Emmett, Teller (BET) indicate that the vacuum annealing process decreases the surface area and increases crystallinity. BET surface area analysis recorded a decrease in nanoscale Fe particle surface area from 19.0 to 4.8 m²/g and crystallite dimensions inside the particle increased from 8.7 to 18.2 nm as a result of annealing.     

Treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater by ultrasound-dispersed nanoscale zero-valent iron particles

Petroleum refineries release wastewater, which is rich in organic pollutants and cannot be treated easily. This study presents the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater using nanoscale zero valent iron (NZVI) in the presence of ultrasonication. NZVI characteristics were analyzed using SEM and XRD. The influence of NZVI dosage and initial pH on % chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction was studied. From the results, it can be inferred that a dosage of 0.15 g/l and an initial pH are optimum for the effective degradation of effluents. The degradation data were found to follow first order kinetics. The results indicate that using NZVI in combination with ultrasonication is an efficient method for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater.     

Photonic generation of background-free millimeter-wave ultra-wideband signals

We review the recent progress of photonic generation of millimeter wave(MMW)-ultra-wideband(UWB) signals. To fully satisfy the standard defined by the Federal Communications Commission(FCC), the baseband signal(background signal) and the residual local oscillator(LO) signal should be well controlled. We discuss several schemes in this work for generating background-free MMW-UWB signals that are fully compliant with the FCC requirement.     

Real-time three-dimensional optical micromanipulation of multiple particles and living cells

Counterpropagating light fields provide a stationary optical potential well for a Brownian particle. Introducing variability in the relative strengths of the counterpropagating beams allows us to create a more general configuration-the optical elevator. An optical elevator dynamically controls the axial location of the potential minimum where the particle finds a stable equilibrium position. We describe the implementation of multiple real-time reconfigurable optical elevators with the generalized phase contrast method for dynamic manipulation of polystyrene spheres and yeast cells S. cerevisiae in three dimensions.     

Thermoelectric detection of ferromagnetic resonance of a nanoscale ferromagnet

We present thermoelectric measurements of the heat dissipated due to ferromagnetic resonance of a Permalloy strip. A microwave magnetic field, produced by an on-chip coplanar strip waveguide, is used to drive the magnetization precession. The generated heat is detected via Seebeck measurements on a thermocouple connected to the ferromagnet. The observed resonance peak shape is in agreement with the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation and is compared with thermoelectric finite-element modeling. Unlike other methods, this technique is not restricted to electrically conductive media and is therefore also applicable to for instance ferromagnetic insulators.     

气溶胶单粒子粒径的实时测量方法研究

介绍了近期研制的一台实时测量大气气溶胶单粒子粒径和化学成分的仪器在如何测量气溶胶单粒子粒径方面的测量原理及特点，并结合激光解吸附电离飞行时间质谱技术，利用该仪器对木屑燃烧产生的烟气气溶胶粒子的实时测量结果. 关键词： 气溶胶粒子 空气动力学粒径测量方法 激光解吸附电离 飞行时间质谱     

阵列细丝直径实时快速检测系统设计

为实现并行化、非接触、实时的细丝直径测量,设计了一种基于复杂可编程逻辑器件（complex programmable logic device,CPLD）的阵列细丝直径实时快速检测系统。阵列化传感系统,使用CPLD解算直径,并行测量多条细丝。显著降低了系统的数据传输量,缩短了直径解算时间,提高直径检测频率至5 kHz,实现了对24根细丝阵列并行测量。在0.1 mm～0.3 mm及0.3 mm～1.0 mm的直径范围内动态测量重复精度分别为3.5 μm和8.3 μm,动态重复性误差百分比绝对值分别低于1.21%与1.43%,满足了实时快速检测阵列细丝直径的需求。     

Exposure to nanoscale particles and fibers during machining of hybrid advanced composites containing carbon nanotubes

This study investigated airborne exposures to nanoscale particles and fibers generated during dry and wet abrasive machining of two three-phase advanced composite systems containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs), micron-diameter continuous fibers (carbon or alumina), and thermoset polymer matrices. Exposures were evaluated with a suite of complementary instruments, including real-time particle number concentration and size distribution (0.005–20 μm), electron microscopy, and integrated sampling for fibers and respirable particulate at the source and breathing zone of the operator. Wet cutting, the usual procedure for such composites, did not produce exposures significantly different than background whereas dry cutting, without any emissions controls, provided a worst-case exposure and this article focuses here. Overall particle release levels, peaks in the size distribution of the particles, and surface area of released particles (including size distribution) were not significantly different for composites with and without CNTs. The majority of released particle surface area originated from the respirable (1–10 μm) fraction, whereas the nano fraction contributed ~10% of the surface area. CNTs, either individual or in bundles, were not observed in extensive electron microscopy of collected samples. The mean number concentration of peaks for dry cutting was composite dependent and varied over an order of magnitude with highest values for thicker laminates at the source being >1 × 10⁶ particles cm⁻³. Concentration of respirable fibers for dry cutting at the source ranged from 2 to 4 fibers cm⁻³ depending on the composite type. Further investigation is required and underway to determine the effects of various exposure determinants, such as specimen and tool geometry, on particle release and effectiveness of controls.

纳米颗粒的表面效应和电极颗粒间挤压作用对锂离子电池电压迟滞的影响

硅作为锂离子电池电极材料之一,其应力效应尤为突出,进而将影响电池性能.本文建立了电化学反应-扩散-应力全耦合模型,并研究了恒压充放电条件下扩散诱导应力、表面效应和颗粒间挤压作用对电压迟滞的影响.结果发现,应力及其导致的电压迟滞程度与颗粒尺寸相关.在大颗粒(颗粒半径r 100 nm)中,扩散诱导应力是导致电势迟滞效应的主要因素,这将导致电池能量耗散.对于纳米级小颗粒(r 100 nm)而言,表面效应占据主导,表面效应虽然能缓解电压迟滞,同时却会使驱动电化学反应部分的过电势回线下移,造成锂化容量衰减.本文综合考虑了扩散诱导应力和表面效应,得出:半径为10 nm的颗粒将会使电极具备较好的综合性能.此外,对于硅电极而言,颗粒间挤压作用会使应力回线向压应力状态演化,进而导致锂化容量的衰减.计算结果表明,在电极设计中,对孔隙率设定下限值有助于提升电极性能.     

Real-time phase-shift detection of the surface plasmon resonance

We have investigated a method to directly measure the phase of a laser beam reflected from a metallic film after excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. This method permits real-time access to the phase information, it increases the possible speed of data acquisition, and it may thus prove useful for increasing the sensitivity of surface plasmon based sensors.     

Influence of yttrium on EPR characteristics of chromium ions in nanoscale particles of zirconium dioxide

The EPR and proton magnetic resonance methods were applied to study zirconium hydroxide samples which transformed to nanoscale ZrO₂ powders upon annealing. The samples were obtained from solutions with mixture compositions (ZrO₂ + 0.5 mol % Cr₂O₃) and (ZrO₂ + 3 mol % Y₂O₃ + 0.5 mol % Cr₂O₃). The influence of yttrium on the recharging of the chromium ion upon annealing of samples was studied in the temperature range 100–950°C. A significant influence of yttrium on internal stresses caused by heating and cooling in the lattice of nanoscale ZrO₂ particles was detected using the EPR method. It was shown that the typical features of the influence of yttrium on total (over the entire crystallite) and local (near chromium ions) lattice distortions depend on the sample heating temperature and are different for various annealing temperatures.     

Laser optogalvanic detection of airborne uranium particles

Received: 30 May 1996/Revised version: 5 February 1997