Operating Limits for Stable Growth of Silicon Fibers with Diameter Less Than 150 μm by Modified μ-PD Method

The μ-PD method originally developed for oxide crystals has been modified and applied for filamentary silicon crystal growth. Our main modification of μ-PD method is concerned with an arrangement of melt permeable feeder which is inserted into the nozzle. The feeder finishes by a sharp tip the diameter of which (is almost the same as that of the desired semiconductor fiber, i.e., less than 150 μm. Silicon fibers were grown from the small liquid pool at the end of the feeder. Three types of crucible-die arrangement were designed and tested. The best results were obtained with the help of inclined insert made of graphite fibers because of its ability to quench oscillations and longer operation life. Fiber crystals, 100 μm in diameter and 70 mm in length, have been grown successfully. Small meniscus stability, operating limits of μ-PD method and silicon carbide formation during the growth process are discussed.     

NMR studies on the ligand exchange reactions between diaryl tellurides and phenyllithium: Detection of hypervalent triaryl tellurium ate complexes

Diaryl tellurides undergo rapid ligand exchange and disproportionation reactions on treatment with phenyllithium at −78°C. Triarylteliuranes [10-Te-3(C₃)]⁻ Li⁺ were identified as discrete intermediates during the reactions by ¹²⁵Te, ¹H, ¹³C, and CH-COSY NMR studies.     

A novel liquid plasma AOP device integrating microwaves and ultrasounds and its evaluation in defluorinating perfluorooctanoic acid in aqueous media

A simplified and energy-saving integrated device consisting of a microwave applicator and an ultrasonic homogenizer has been fabricated to generate liquid plasma in a medium possessing high dielectric factors, for example water. The microwave waveguide and the ultrasonic transducer were interconnected through a tungsten/titanium alloy stick acting both as the microwave antenna and as the horn of the ultrasonic homogenizer. Both microwaves and ultrasonic waves are simultaneously transmitted to the aqueous media through the tungsten tip of the antenna. The microwave discharge liquid plasma was easily generated in solution during ultrasonic cavitation. The simple device was evaluated by carrying out the degradation of the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a system highly recalcitrant to degradation by conventional advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). PFOA is 59% degraded in an aqueous medium after only 90 s of irradiation by the plasma. Intermediates were identified by electrospray mass spectral techniques in the negative ion mode.     

Rapid breakdown mechanisms of open air nanosecond dielectric barrier discharges

The discharge initiation mechanism of nanosecond dielectric barrier discharges in open air has been clarified with time-dependent measurement of the discharge electric field by electric-field-induced coherent Raman scattering and optical emission. Our experimental observations have revealed that, in the prebreakdown phase of a nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge, the externally applied fast-rising electric field is strongly enhanced near the cathode due to large accumulation of space charge, which then strongly enhances ionization near the cathode. Once a sufficiently large number of ionizations take place, the location of peak ionization forms a front and propagates toward the cathode with strong optical emission, which establishes the discharge. This process is essentially different from the well-known Townsend mechanism for slower discharges.     

Family of symplectic implicit Runge-Kutta formulae

A family of formulae for the sympletic IRK method is investigated. Specifically, focus is given to general solutions for formula parameters of IRK under the symplectic and the order conditions. Examples of such formulae are constructed for up to three stages.     

Water vapor adsorption onto activated carbons prepared from cattle manure compost (CMC)

Activated carbons were prepared from cattle manure compost (CMC) using zinc chloride activation. The structural and surface chemical characteristics of CMC-based activated carbons were determined by N₂ adsorption-desorption and Boehm titration, respectively. The water vapor adsorption properties of the prepared activated carbons with various pore structure and surface nature were examined, and the mechanism of water adsorbed onto activated carbon was also discussed. The results show that the adsorption of water vapor on carbons begins at specific active sites at low relative humidity (RH), followed by micropore filling at medium RH through the formation of pentamer cluster of water molecules in the narrow micropores. The water vapor adsorption capacity of activated carbon is predominantly dependent on its pore volume and surface area. Although capillary condensation is not the mechanism for water adsorption onto activated carbon, water can adsorb on narrow mesopore to some extent.