DOMAIN AVERAGE SCM AND CONSTITUTIVE MODELLING OF POLYCRYSTALLINE AGGREGATES

A theoretical framework for the approximate constitutive assembly of polycrystals,termed henceforth domain average self consistent method, is developed to extend to SCM ofHill to adhered or sliding aggregates of arbitrary grain shape. The legitimacy and usefulnessof the current theory are justified by the polycrystals composed of cubic grains and slidingspherical grains.     

Investigation of divergent beam X-ray reflex sections especially indication by computer simulation and assignment to the grains in polycrystalline samples

The divergent beam X-ray interference (DBI) method is commonly used to determine crystal systems, crystallographic orientation and lattice constants of single crystals and large individual grains and to get information on the real structure. Here back reflection divergent beam X-ray interference patterns (Pseudo-KOSSEL technique) were taken from polycrystalline specimens in the SEM and compared with corresponding lattice source interference (LSI) patterns (KOSSEL technique). A simulation program (for DBI) was developed allowing the calculation and indication of the complete reflex system as well as reflex sections. Reflex interruptions were obtained and could be explained by grain boundary effects. The influence of different important parameters such as the distance beween the target and the specimen, the target material, the orientation, the position, the shape and the size of the grains were discussed. Conclusions with respect to a local assignment of interruptions to grain boundaries are drawn so that now there is a possibility to localize the observed crystal defects. Received: 1 August 1997 / Revised: 5 March 1998 / Accepted: 5 March 1998     

Micro-thermal analysis of thermal conductance distribution in advanced silicon nitrides

A micro-thermal analysis technique was applied to investigate advanced silicon nitride materials, which exhibit high thermal conductivity. Local thermal properties in the microstructure were evaluated, and the grain boundaries were observed to have lower thermal conductance than the Si₃N₄ grains. It was found that thermal conductance both in the grains and boundaries was lowered by the addition of the sintering aid Al₂O₃, which is soluble in Si₃N₄ grains. This indicates that high thermal conductivity in silicon nitride ceramics is achieved both by grain growth, leading to a reduction in boundary density, and by eliminating soluble elements in silicon nitride grains. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

X-ray tomography: how to evaluate the reconstruction quality?

Different reconstruction techniques are used to reconstruct the distribution of the physical characteristics, describing a sample under investigation, from a set of tomographic projections. We present a technique for the evaluation of the reconstruction quality. The technique is based on the comparison of two images (phantom and reconstructed image) by means of the correlation coefficient and of the mean square error between them. In parallel, the correlation coefficient and mean square error are calculated for the wavelet transforms of the phantom and reconstructed images. The scales for the wavelet transform are chosen in agreement with the major geometric parameters of the phantom. Then the correlation coefficient of the wavelet transform with the chosen scale yields an evaluation of the quality of the phantom parameters reconstruction. The accuracy of the parameters reconstruction is determined by the mean square error for the selected scale. The phantom used for the analysis is a medium with randomly distributed grains. The distribution is characterized by two parameters: grain size and grain density (average number of grains per unit area). The parameters are used as the scales for the wavelet transform calculation. We make a comparison of the Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (ART) and the Filtered Back Projection Algorithm.     

Phase identification in Ti/TiN diffusion couples with the Kossel technique

A Ti/TiN diffusion couple, which had been prepared by isothermal annealing of a Ti sheet in nitrogen atmosphere at 1091 °C and quenched in water, was investigated by Kossel microdiffraction. Kossel patterns were obtained from all phases present in the diffusion couple (-Ti(N), -Ti₃N_2–x, -Ti₄N_3–x and -TiN_1-x)It could be shown that the Kossel technique has a superior lateral resolution (10 m) compared to commercially used X-ray microdiffraction methods, especially in the case of weak X-ray radiation.     

二苯酮在功能胶束中的光还原反应的研究

本文研究了一种具有分子自聚集作用的二苯酮(BP)衍生物p-C6H5COC6H4CH2^+N(CH3)2C12H25.Br^-(PKT)的光还原反应及其光物理性质。连接在PKT上BP的光还原反应活性在胶束形成前后有很大差别。 反应速率随着浓度增大在形成的胶束中比均相水溶液中快1.5倍。值得指出, 在PKT功能胶束中的BP还原速率与普通胶束相比, 增加10倍以上。动力学数据测定表明, PKT胶束大大加速了BP-三乙胺(TEA)光还反应中的电子转移, 在TEA高浓度时有利于质子转移, k~d/k~r值减少,k~n/k~e值增加, 对不同TEA浓度的光还原机理亦作了讨论。     

Grain Boundary Wetting in Polycrystals: 1. Probability of Wetting of Structural Elements

A model describing the wetting of structural elements in polycrystals such as grain boundaries (faces), triple lines (edges), and quaternary nodes (vertices) is proposed. It is assumed that the only driving force during wetting is the tendency of a system to the energy minimization due to the substitution of low-energy liquid–solid interfaces for high-energy grain boundaries. In this case, the anisotropy of grain boundary energy caused by the differences in misorientation of adjacent grains is taken into account, whereas the liquid–solid interface energy is assumed to be independent of the orientation. The well-known condition of grain boundary wetting (the Gibbs–Smith condition) is extended to the triple lines and quaternary nodes by introducing parameters determined as characteristic free energy of these elements.     

Influence of copper species on silver grain size in Ag–CuO–SiO2 ternary nanocomposites

The influence of Cu species on Ag grain size in Ag–CuO–SiO₂ ternary nanocomposites prepared by adsorbed-layer nanoreactor technique (ALRT)was investigated. Ag and CuO nanoparticles were synthesized on the silica surface one after the other, then the grain size of Ag was determined by X-ray diffraction. Ag grains became smaller with increase in amount of Cu, whether Cu species was fed before or after Ag species, implying that the grain growth of Ag was inhibited by the appearance of Cu(OH)₂ in both feeding sequences. Furthermore, after taken away the effect of alkaline concentration on Ag grain size, the inhibition effects of two feeding sequences become more similar.     

Influence of grain size on the oxygen permeation performance of perovskite-type (Ba0.5Sr0.5)(Fe0.8Zn0.2)O3−δ membranes

The effect of grain size distribution in perovskite-type (Ba_0.5Sr_0.5)(Fe_0.8Zn_0.2)O_3−δ (BSFZ) ceramics on their oxygen permeation behaviour has been investigated by variation of calcination temperature in powder production and sintering time for the ceramics. The membranes were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and oxygen permeation experiments. We found that the dwell time during sintering has an important influence on the microstructure of the ceramic. The longer the dwell time, the further proceeds the grain coarsening, which affects the oxygen permeation in a positive way and leads to an enhanced permeation. Supplementary, decreasing calcination temperature in perovskite powder synthesis delivers fine powders with grain sizes less than one micrometer and thus smaller grains in the ceramic. Unfortunately, the grain size distribution in sintered membranes is not constant through membrane cross-sections since grains in the bulk are smaller compared to those at the surface which is not favorable for the oxygen permeation of the ceramics. The activation energy was determined to be in the range of 51–53 kJ/mol and its variation does not exhibit a dependence of grain size changes. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy proved that grain boundaries are atomically thin without any interfacial phases. We come to the conclusion that the transport rate of the oxygen permeation is limited predominantly by bulk diffusion and due to the fact that grain boundaries in BSFZ act as barriers for bulk diffusion, this material is a high mobility material.     

助熔剂NaCl－CdCl2对CdS∶Cu, In结晶状态作用规律研究

发现在确定的热处理温度和时间下，随炉料中助熔剂ＮａＣｌ－ＣｄＣｌ２总含量的增加，ＣｄＳ：Ｃｕ，Ｉｎ多晶的粒度分布变窄，数均粒径具有最大值，晶粒外型趋于规整且表面平滑。进而证明，多晶的结晶状态对其光电性能具有显著的影响。     

Progress in the field of Kossel and pseudo-Kossel technique

A review of new methods and equipments of Kossel and pseudo-Kossel technique is given. The importance of line profiles for crystal and real structure analysis is stressed. The state of the art for determination of crystallographic parameters is described, and future trends (assessment of dislocation density, investigation of radiation defects) are discussed. A very important application is the optimization of the technology for transformer core sheets.Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION IN THE MICELLAR SYSTEMSⅡ THE CATALYSIS OF PKT FUNCTIONAL MICELLE*

A kind of cationic compounds, having benzophenone end group and various length chain (PKT) (BP-CH_2N+R_2R'·X~-, R&R' different chain iength alkyl group) were used as photosensitizers. Various BP/TEA systems have been used for study, The efficiency of MMA photopolymerization initiated by them shows PKT>BP in homogeneous water solution and PKT> BP/CTAB in micellar water solution. The results obtained indicate that catalytic effects of PKT type functional micelles are far greater than that of common micelle with the enhancement of polymerization rate over 10 times compared with BP in water solution. The catalytic role, reaction character of PKT, effect of counter ions and retarding effect of oxygen have also been discussed.     

Vibrational spectrum of Li3 first‐excited electronic doublet state: Geometric‐phase effects and statistical analysis

We present J=0 calculations of all bound and pseudobound vibrational states of Li₃ in its first‐excited electronic doublet state by using a realistic double many‐body expansion potential‐energy surface and a minimum‐residual filter diagonalization technique. The action of the system Hamiltonian on the wave function was evaluated by the spectral transform method in hyperspherical coordinates. Calculations of the vibrational spectra were carried out both without consideration and with consideration of geometric‐phase effects. Dynamic Jahn–Teller and geometric‐phase effects are found to play a significant role, while the calculated fundamental symmetric stretching frequency is larger by 8.3% than its reported experimental value of 326 cm⁻¹. From the neighbor‐spacing distributions of the levels, it is observed that the title vibrational spectrum is quasiregular in the short range and quasi‐irregular in the long range. By the Δ₂ standard defined in this article, it is found that the spectra are more nonuniform than those of the “trough” states for the ground electronic state. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 75: 89–109, 1999     

Variational self-consistent estimates for viscoplastic polycrystals with highly anisotropic grains

A recently established variational procedure is used to compute self-consistent estimates for viscoplastic polycrystals with highly anisotropic ionic and HCP grains. For large values of the grain anisotropy M, the predictions for the macroscopic flow stress are found to scale as M^γ, where γ depends on the number (less than 5) of independent slip systems that are available for plastic flow, but not on the strain-rate sensitivity. The predictions of other nonlinear extensions of the self-consistent scheme are inconsistent with this scaling law, suggesting that they may be less accurate than the variational estimates proposed here.     

Limiting Perovskite Solar Cell Performance by Heterogeneous Carrier Extraction

Although the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells has improved rapidly, a rational path for further improvement remains unclear. The effect of large morphological heterogeneity of polycrystalline perovskite films on their device performance by photoluminescence (PL) microscopy has now been studied. Contrary to the common belief on the deleterious effect of morphological heterogeneity on carrier lifetimes and diffusivities, in neat CH₃NH₃PbI₃(Cl) polycrystalline perovskite films, the local (intra‐grain) carrier diffusivities in different grains are all surprisingly high (1.5 to 3.3 cm² s^?1; comparable to bulk single‐crystals), and the local carrier lifetimes are long (ca. 200 ns) and surprisingly homogenous among grains, and uniform across grain boundary and interior. However, there is a large heterogeneity of carrier extraction efficiency at the perovskite grain–electrode interface. Improving homogeneity at perovskite grain–electrode contacts is thus a promising direction for improving the performance of perovskite thin‐film solar cells.     

Effect of precursor calcination temperature on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Ca3Co4O9 ceramics

Ca₃Co₄O₉ (CCO) powder precursors were prepared by the chemical sol–gel route and calcined at various temperatures between 923?K (CCO-923?K) and 1,073?K (CCO-1,073?K). The calcination temperature was found to be a critical factor affecting the microstructure and thermoelectric properties of CCO ceramic bulk samples. The grain size increases with calcination temperature. The nano-crystals with size about 100?nm in the powders calcined at 923?K promote large crystal growth and texture development during sintering. Bulk pellets made from CCO-923?K powder have large crystal grains, uniform grain size distribution, and a high degree of crystal alignment. By contrast, pellets made from CCO powders at higher calcination temperatures have a bimodal distribution of large and small grains and a large amount of randomly oriented grains. Transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that each crystal grain (identified in SEM images) consists of bundles of CCO nano-lamellas. The nano-lamellas within one bundle share the same c-axis orientation and have fiber texture. The electrical resistivity of CCO-923?K is weakly dependent on operating temperature. Compared to the CCO-1,073?K sample, the CCO-923?K sample has the highest power factor, a lower thermal conductivity, and higher electrical conductivity.     

Dielectric and magnetic properties of multiferroic BiFeO3 ceramics sintered with the powders prepared by hydrothermal method

BiFeO₃ ceramics were sintered in the temperature range of 700–900 °C by using the pure BiFeO₃ powders hydrothermally synthesized at 250 °C. The low reaction temperature and low sintering temperature prevent the element volatilization and phase decomposition. The ceramics sintered at 800 and 850 °C exhibit much dense microstructure with clear grains and grain boundaries. They also show high dielectric constant, dielectric dispersion and low loss tangent. At room temperature, the dielectric behaviors of BiFeO₃ ceramics are mainly attributed to the transition of localized charge carriers and the microstructure of grains and grain boundaries. The temperature dependence of dielectric constant and loss tangent confirms that the localized charge carriers are a main contribution to the dielectric permittivity. Activation energy E_α of relaxation process for the BiFeO₃ ceramic sintered at 850 °C is 0.397 eV. The obtained BiFeO₃ ceramics show magnetic responses, which are relative to the grain size.     

Twinning and growth kinetics of lamellar grains in a diblock copolymer solution

The initial stages of growth of the lamellar phase in a block copolymer solution were observed with polarizing optical microscopy (POM). Measurements were made on a poly(styrene‐b‐isoprene) diblock copolymer with block molecular weights of 15 and 13 kg/mol, respectively, dissolved in dioctyl phthalate with 70% polymer by volume. Upon cooling from above the order–disorder transition temperature, 89.5 °C, to temperatures from 87.5 to 88.5 °C, four distinct types of grain were observed: ellipsoidal single grains, twinned ellipsoidal grains, 2‐fold twinned grains, and spherulites. The relative populations were distributed as 50% single ellipsoids, 25% twinned ellipsoids, 10% 2‐fold twinned grains, and 15% spherulites. These grain types cover a range of lamellae orientation. For example, the surface of a 2‐fold twinned grain is composed of lamellar edges, whereas the spherulite surface is composed of lamellar planes. The specific grain types that arise give insight into the thermodynamic and kinetic forces governing lamellae ordering. Furthermore, growth front velocities of individual grains were measured after rapid quenches from above T_ODT. These results were compared to the predictions of Goveas and Milner. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 405–412, 2005     

Investigation of the three-dimensional microstructure of Cu-Sn(Pb) diffusion zones by means of ion beam sputtering, scanning electron microscopy and lattice source interferences

On model substances of Cu-Sn(Pb) solders it is shown by the combined use of several physical analytical methods that the intermetallic compounds formed during the annealing process have a crystalline structure, which can be observed also three-dimensionally by ion etching. Moreover, grain boundaries as well as phases become visible, and it is possible to determine the crystallographic orientation of the individual crystals in the Cu starting material and in the diffusion zones by means of the Kossel technique. As a result of the investigations, conclusions can be drawn with respect to the diffusion process, especially also to the crystallographic structure of the diffusion zones and the dendritic growth.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Theoretical estimates of equilibrium chain lengths in magnetic colloids

Jordan's theory of chaining in a magnetic colloid has been carried through for a range of grain densities and coupling constants, /gl = /gm²k_BTd³). The theory assumes all grains are of the same size. The nonlinear equations involving infinite sums have been rearranged to improve convergence, and the average number of grains per agglomerate has been calculated. The range of validity of the approximate expression for (n) is established. The results of this theory are compared to five different experimental observations of agglomeration. There is agreement in some cases, but estimates of grain sizes are critical. The distribution of sizes of grains is essential to making reasonable estimates of λ. Very large agglomerates are needle-like with a width much greater than a grain diameter indicating that simple chains are inadequate.