Observation of mechanical fracture and corresponding domain structure changes of polycrystalline PbTiO3 nanotubes

PbTiO₃ (PTO) nanotubes (NTs) were synthesized at various temperatures by gas phase reaction between PbO gas and anatase TiO₂ NTs and characterized by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). PTO ferroelectric phase was synthesized at as low as 400 °C as evidenced by PFM domain images and piezoresponse hysteresis loop measurement. Furthermore, the PTO NTs fabricated at above 500 °C underwent mechanical fracture through development of nanocracks due to grain growth, leading to ferroelectric domains with larger size and lower aspect ratio. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Observation of two resonant structures in e+ e- -->pi+ pi- psi(2S) via initial-state radiation at Belle

The cross section for e+ e- --> pi+ pi- psi(2S) between threshold and sqrt[s]=5.5 GeV is measured using 673 fb(-1) of data on and off the Upsilon(4S) resonance collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. Two resonant structures are observed in the pi+ pi- psi(2S) invariant-mass distribution, one at 4361 +/- 9 +/- 9 MeV/c2 with a width of 74 +/- 15 +/- 10 MeV/c2, and another at 4664 +/- 11 +/- 5 MeV/c2 with a width of 48 +/- 15 +/- 3 MeV/c2, if the mass spectrum is parametrized with the coherent sum of two Breit-Wigner functions. These values do not match those of any of the known charmonium states.     

One-dimensional structures of Bi2O3 synthesized via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition process

We have demonstrated the synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) structures of bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) by a reaction of a trimethylbismuth (TMBi) and oxygen (O₂) mixture at 450 °C. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the product consisted of 1D materials with width or diameters less than 1 μm and lengths up to several tens of micrometers. The X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed that the materials contained elements of Bi and O. The results of X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction pattern indicated that the obtained Bi₂O₃ were crystalline with monoclinic structure.     

Micellar core-shell-type acrylic-polyurethane hybrid materials with self-polishing property

Abstract

Marine fouling can be a serious problem in the shipping industry, since it increases the surface roughness of the hull and hence its frictional resistance to its movement through water. Antifouling paint can be defined as preventing the attachment of marine organisms onto surfaces. However, the most commonly used antifouling coating which is the tributyltin-based self-polishing copolymer causes the severe pollution of marine environment. Ammonium salt-based paints include tertiary amines as biocides which have effective biocidal and biodegradable properties without accumulation in the sea environment. However, ammonium salt-based coatings were too sensitive to seawater and became swollen. In this study, polyurethane-acrylic copolymers were synthesized by radical polymerization. These hybrid materials were found to form core–shell structures in aqueous media. Synthesis and properties of copolymers were investigated by Fourier transform-infrared spectrometer, proton-nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The polishing rate of self-polishing copolymer was determined from the reduction in dry film thickness after artificial seawater immersion under a dynamic condition.     

Luminescence enhancement of Eu-doped calcium magnesium silicate blue phosphor for UV-LED application

(Ca_1−x,Eu_x)MgSi_2yO_6+δ blue phosphor was prepared by spray pyrolysis and the photoluminescence properties were optimized by controlling concentration of Si element and the activator content. At y=1.0, the concentration quenching in the luminescent intensity appeared when the Eu²⁺ content (x) was 0.01 (1 at%). Such quenching concentration was changed with the concentration of silicon (y), which was increased with an increase in the quantity of excess Si (y>1.0). The highest luminescent intensity was achieved when the Eu²⁺ content (x) and the Si concentration (y) were 0.04 and 1.3, respectively. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the tetragonal SiO₂ phase was formed as a minor phase when the y value was larger than 1.3. The formation of SiO₂ phase, however, did not reduce but increased the luminescent intensity when the Eu²⁺ content was optimized again. As a result, the luminescent intensity of the phosphor particles optimized in the content of both Si and Eu²⁺ was about 150% improved compared with that of the CaMgSi₂O₆:Eu sample (x=0.01, y=1.0).     

Luminescent characteristics of CaTiO3:Pr thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition method with various substrates

CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ films were deposited on different substrates such as Al₂O₃ (0 0 0 1), Si (1 0 0), MgO (1 0 0), and fused silica using pulsed laser deposition method. The crystallinity and surface morphology of these films were investigated by XRD and SEM measurements. The films grown on the different substrates have different crystallinity and morphology. The FWHM of (2 0 0) peak are 0.18, 0.25, 0.28, and 0.30 for Al₂O₃ (0 0 0 1), Si (1 0 0), MgO (1 0 0), and fused silica, respectively. The grain sizes of phosphors grown on different substrates were estimated by using Scherrer's formula and the maximum crystallite size observed for the thin film grown on Al₂O₃ (0 0 0 1). The room temperature PL spectra exhibit only the red emission peak at 613 nm radiated from the transition of (¹D₂ → ³H₄) and the maximum PL intensity for the films grown on the Al₂O₃ (0 0 0 1) is 1.1, 1.4, and 3.7 times higher than that of the CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ films grown on MgO (1 0 0), Si (1 0 0), and fused Sillica substrates, respectively. The crystallinity, surface morphology and luminescence spectra of thin-film phosphors were highly dependent on substrates.     

Precise measurement of the CP violation parameter sin2φ1 in B0→(cc¯)K0 decays

We present a precise measurement of the CP violation parameter sin2φ1 and the direct CP violation parameter A(f) using the final data sample of 772×10(6) BB[over ˉ] pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is reconstructed in a J/ψK(S)(0), ψ(2S)K(S)(0), χ(c1)K(S)(0), or J/ψK(L)(0) CP eigenstate and its flavor is identified from the decay products of the accompanying B meson. From the distribution of proper-time intervals between the two B decays, we obtain the following CP violation parameters: sin2φ1=0.667±0.023(stat)±0.012(syst) and A(f)=0.006±0.016(stat)±0.012(syst).     

Multi-stacked organic light-emitting diodes using zinc oxide nanoparticle interfacial layers

Stacked organic light-emitting diodes (SOLEDs) with 30-nm nanoparticle (NP) interfacial layers were investigated. Zinc oxide (ZnO) was used as an interfacial layer between two green polymer (GP) layers. SOLEDs with NP interfacial layers had higher device efficiency than did a single-unit device due to the high probability of exciton recombination that originated from the Auger electron-assisted energy up-conversion process. Although the current density and luminance of SOLEDs with ZnO NP interfacial layers were smaller than those of the reference device, the efficiency was doubled because of the big band alignment difference and the large band gap between GP and ZnO NP interfacial layers, which induced more radiative-exciton recombination.     

Control of device performances of phosphorescent white organic light-emitting diodes by managing charge transport properties of host materials

Interlayer-free phosphorescent white organic light-emitting diodes (PHWOLEDs) with a mixed-host emitting structure in red emitting layer were developed and device performances were investigated according to the host composition in the red emitting layer. Device performances could be effectively managed by a simple change of host materials in the red emitting layer. A high quantum efficiency was obtained in PHWOLEDs with electron transport-type host in the red emitting layer and red emission was strong in PHWOLEDs with mixed-host in the red emitting layer. In addition, stable color performances were obtained in electron transport-type host rich devices.