Photoluminescence spectra of laser-synthesized Si/C/N ultrafine powders

Ultrafine Si/C/N ceramic powders were synthesized by a CO₂-laser-induced reaction between silane (SiH₄), ammonia (NH₃) and acetylene (C₂H₂). The powders were characterized by infrared (IR) reflection and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. From the infrared reflection spectra of Si/C/N powders, we have identified the causes of the strong photoluminescence present in these powders. The photoluminescence spectra of Si/C/N powders originate from the presence of hydroxylated and amorphous silicon (a-SiO₂) formed at the porous surface of these powders. We have shown that different chemical bonding between Si, C and N atoms, the degree of crystallinity of ternary powders and their porosity strongly influence the processes at their surface, i.e. the formation of amorphous silicon and silanole. Received: 16 June 2000 / Accepted: 24 June 2000 / Published online: 9 November 2000     

A preliminary investigation upon the electrochemical behavior of CoO and NiO anodes — comparative study

Among the variety of alternate anode materials being studied, the research on the exploration of 3d-metal oxide anodes gains paramount importance in the recent time, as it is bestowed with an easy preparation method and a less complicated decomposition mechanism. Towards this direction, an attempt to synthesize the compound CoO and to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the same both individually and in comparison with NiO compounds was made with a view to understand the extent to which the chosen candidates, viz., CoO and NiO can be exploited as high capacity anodes. Between the two oxides, CoO exhibited a specific capacity of at least 550 mAh/g, against NiO with an average capacity of ∼330 mAh/g. Also, the magnitude of irreversible capacity loss and the extent of capacity fade upon cycling corresponding to CoO anode were found to be lesser than NiO anodes. The enhanced specific capacity values and the better cycleability properties of CoO anodes are believed to be due to the inherent electrochemical characteristics of the compound. The type and the nature of SEI formed over the electrode surface and the formation of possible progressive agglomeration of the products of decomposition are expected to be the factors responsible for the difference in the electrochemical behavior of CoO and NiO anodes. In short, electrochemical characterization of the individual oxides are studied and probable reasons for the observed difference in the charge-discharge behavior of CoO and NiO anodes are discussed in this communication.     

Application of modal wavelets to PIV measurements by selecting basis function

A modal wavelet transform, which overcomes the intrinsic data number limitation of power of two to conventional wavelet transform, has been applied to analysis of axial and eddy pseudo velocity fields, standard PIV velocity field and experimental PIV measurement. The modal wavelet transform is compared with the discrete wavelet transform in order to select the optimum basis function among Neumann, Dirichlet and Green function types basis functions. Consequently, it is verified that Neumann type function is the best basis because the correlation of Neumann type basis function is higher and the root mean square is lower than the other basis functions. Also, the decomposition vector patterns by Neumann type are similar to that by conventional Daubechies basis function of 4th order.     

Effects of nozzles array configuration on cross-talk in multi-nozzle electrohydrodynamic inkjet printing head

This paper presents the analysis of a triangular array of nozzles in a multi-nozzle electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing head. A methodology has been proposed to minimize the “end effect” by changing the traditional linear array of nozzles to triangular array of nozzles in multi-nozzle EHD printing head. Interaction (cross-talk) between the electrically charged neighboring jets is investigated and analyzed both numerically and experimentally using three glass nozzles with independent voltage connections and independent ink supply to each nozzle. In order to scrutinize the performance of triangular array multi-nozzle EHD inkjet printing head, comparative study of triangular array multi-nozzle EHD inkjet printing head to the linear array multi-nozzle EHD inkjet printing head has been made on the basis of electric field simulations and experiments. Experimental results illustrate that in triangular array multi-nozzle EHD inkjet printing head, the over potential requirement is low and individual capillaries are operating with more independence as compared to linear array multi-nozzle EHD inkjet printing head.     

Effect of solvated ionic liquids on the ion conducting property of composite membranes for lithium ion batteries

We prepared the polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based composite membrane electrolytes which contained the specialized ionic liquids and the inorganic filler of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO). Mixtures of ionic liquids and tetragonal inorganic fillers were used as additives to prepare composite electrolytes for an application of all solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASLBs). In order to improve the ionic conductivity of composite membranes, we studied the structural change and the electrochemical behaviors as a function of the amounts of solvated ionic liquids (ILs). The addition effect of solvated ILs showed the higher ionic conductivity such as 10^?4 S/cm at 55 °C by reducing the crystalline character of polymer based composite, resulting in the enhanced ion conducting property. The hybrid composite membranes were successfully made in flexible form, and have an excellent thermal and electrochemical stability. Finally, the electrochemical performance of the half-cell was evaluated, and it was confirmed that the ion-conducting characteristics were influenced and controlled by the effect of ILs.     

Visualizations of fluid flows in the TIG welding region for different shapes of the shield gas nozzle

Abstract  

The tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding enables to produce high welding qualities. However, it has some problems such as a large distortion and a shallow penetration into the welding parts. To overcome those problems, there have been many studies on A-TIG welding in which active flux and a shield gas are used. The shield gas pressure, velocity, and distribution area are dominant factors in producing better welding condition which can be evaluated by the gas penetration, the gap between the nozzle tip and welding plate and the nozzle shape of the shield gas. In this study, the influences of the shield gas distribution onto the melting efficiency and penetration shape in TIG welding were investigated using a numerical simulation. The gap distances between the nozzle tip and the welding plate were changed 3, 4, 5 mm and two nozzle shapes, convergent parallel (CP) and CDP, were tested. 100% Ar gas was used as the shield gas. CDP type nozzle showed deeper penetrations and higher melting efficiency compared to those of CD type and CP type nozzles.     

Development of Genetic Algorithm based 3D-PTV technique

A new 3D-PTV technique has been developed using GA (Genetic Algorithm). The measurement system consists of three CCD cameras, Ar-ion laser, an image grabber and a host computer. One-to-one correspondences are made by taking advantage of the combinatorial optimization of the genetic algorithm for the whole particles of the two images during the time interval of image frames. Two fitness functions are introduced in order to enhance the correspondences of the particles. One is based on the concept of continuum theory and the other one is based on the minimum error of threedimensional distance. Performance of the developed algorithm is tested using a set of virtual images constructed by the use of LES data set on an impinging jet. The developed 3D-PTV system is successfully applied to the measurement of flow characteristics of the wake of a circular cylinder.     

Large eddy simulation on the unsteady aerodynamic response of a road vehicle in transient crosswinds

A large eddy simulation method based on a fully unstructured finite volume method was developed, and the unsteady aerodynamic response of a road vehicle subjected to transient crosswinds was investigated. First, the method was validated for a 1/20-scale wind-tunnel model in a static aerodynamic condition; this showed that the surface pressure distributions as well as the aerodynamic forces and moments were in good agreement with wind-tunnel data. Second, the method was applied to two transient crosswind situations: a sinusoidal perturbation representing the typical length scale of atmospheric turbulence and a stepwise crosswind velocity corresponding to wind gusts. Typical transient responses of the aerodynamic forces and moments such as phase shifting and undershooting or overshooting were observed, and their dependence on the frequency and amplitude of the input perturbation is discussed. Thus, the utility and validity of the large eddy simulation was demonstrated in the context that such transient aerodynamic forces are difficult to measure using a conventional wind tunnel.     

Raman study of the variation in anatase structure of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanopowders due to the changes of sol–gel synthesis conditions

TiO₂ nanopowders were produced by sol–gel technique under different synthesis conditions. XRD results have shown that obtained nanopowders are in anatase phase, with the presence of a small amount of highly disordered brookite phase, whereas nanocrystallite size and amount of brookite slightly depend on sol–gel synthesis conditions. Raman measurements confirm these results. The analyses of the shift and width of the most intensive anatase E _g Raman mode by phonon confinement model suggest that anatase crystallite size should be in the range between 11 and 15 nm, what is in excellent correlation with XRD results. Obtained results have shown that Raman spectroscopy is a highly sensitive method for the estimation of anatase crystallite size as well as brookite content in TiO₂ nanopowders synthesized by variable sol–gel synthesis conditions.