Influence of silicon on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Zr-Si-N composite films

A series of Zr-Si-N composite films with different Si contents were synthesized in an Ar and N₂ mixture atmosphere by the bi-target reactive magnetron sputtering method. These films’ composition, microstructure and mechanical properties were characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation. Experimental results revealed that after the addition of silicon, Si₃N₄ interfacial phase formed on the surface of ZrN grains and prevented them from growing up. Zr-Si-N composite films were strengthened at low Si content with the hardness and elastic modulus reaching their maximum values of 29.8 and 352 GPa at 6.2 at% Si, respectively. With a further increase of Si content, the crystalline Zr-Si-N films gradually transformed into amorphous, accompanied with a remarkable fall of films’ mechanical properties. This limited enhancement of mechanical properties in the Zr-Si-N films may be due to the low wettability of Si₃N₄ on the surface of ZrN grains.     

On existence of solutions for some hyperbolic-parabolic-type chemotaxis systems

In this paper, we discuss the local and global existence ofweak solutions for some hyperbolic–parabolic systems modellingchemotaxis.     

Extension of Isometries Between the Unit Spheres of Normed Space E and C（Ω）

In this paper, we study the extension of isometries between the unit spheres of normed space E and C（Ω）. We obtain that any surjective isometry between the unit spheres of normed space E and C（Ω） can be extended to be a linear isometry on the whole space E and give an affirmative answer to the corresponding Tingley＇s problem （where Ω be a compact metric space）.     

On the Bounded Complex of an Affine Oriented Matroid

We prove that the bounded complex of an affine oriented matroid is pure and collapsible. We also generalize Zaslavsky's central decomposition theorem for hyperplane arrangements to affine oriented matroids.     

On a micro‐macro model for polymeric fluids near equilibrium

In this paper, we study a micro‐macro model for polymeric fluid. The system involves coupling between the macroscopic momentum equation and a microscopic evolution equation describing the combined effects of the microscopic potential and thermofluctuation. We employ an energetic variation procedure to explore the relation between the macroscopic transport of the particles and the induced elastic stress due to the microscopic structure. For the initial data not far from the equilibrium, we prove the global existence and uniqueness of classical solutions to the system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Novel Analytical Approach for Multi-Layer Diaphragm-Based Optical Microelectromechanical-System Pressure Sensors

An optical microelectromechanical-system （MEMS） pressure sensor based on multi-layer circular diaphragm is described and analysed by using the proposed novel analytical approach and the traditional transfer matrix method. The analytical expressions of the deflection of multi-layer diaphragm and absolute optical reflectance are derived respectively. The influence of residual stress on the deflection of diaphragm is also analysed. Simulation results given by the finite element method are consistent with the ones which are analysed by using the analytical approach. The analytical approach will be helpful to design and fabricate the optical MEMS pressure sensors with multi-layer diaphragm based on Fabry-Perot interferometry.     

Some explicit examples of Hamiltonian minimal Lagrangian submanifolds in complex space forms

In this paper, we find some new explicit examples of Hamiltonian minimal Lagrangian submanifolds among the Lagrangian isometric immersions of a real space form in a complex space form.     

Integrability of det▽u and Evolutionary Wente''s Problem Associated to Heat Operator

In this note, the authors resolve an evolutionary Wente's problem associated to heat equation, where the special integrability of det▽u for u ∈ H1(R2,R2) is used.     

Electronic structure of CeAl2 thin films studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

We report X-ray absorption near edge structures (XANES) study of CeAl₂ thin films of various thicknesses, 40-120 nm, at Al K- and Ce L₃-edges. The threshold of the absorption features at the Al K-edge shifts to the higher photon energy side as film thickness decreases, implying a decreased in Al p-orbital charges. On the other hand, from Ce L₃-edge spectra, we observed a decrease in the 5d4f occupancy as the surface-to-bulk ratio increases. The valence of Ce in these thin films, as revealed by the Ce L₃-edge spectral results, is mainly trivalent. From a more detailed analysis we found a small amount of Ce⁴⁺ contribution, which increases with decreasing film thickness. Our results indicate that the surface-to-bulk ratio is the key factor which affects the electronic structure of CeAl₂ thin films. The above observations also suggest that charge transfer from Al to Ce is associated with the decrease of the film thickness.     

Microstructure array on Si and SiOx generated by micro-contact printing, wet chemical etching and reactive ion etching

A method, combining micro-contact printing (μCP), wet chemical etching and reactive ion etching (RIE), is reported to fabricate microstructures on Si and SiOx. Positive and negative structures were generated based on different stamps used for μCP. The reproducibility of the obtained microstructures shows the methodology reported herein could be useful in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), optical and biological sensing applications.