Generation and size classification of single-walled carbon nanotube aerosol using atmospheric pressure pulsed laser ablation (AP-PLA)

Gas suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with single tube diameter smaller than 2 nm and length of longer than 500 nm were generated by simple and continuous system using laser ablation technique under atmospheric conditions. Graphite target containing 0.5 wt%-nickel and 0.5 wt%-cobalt was ablated by Nd:YAG laser in an electrical furnace under atmospheric pressure of nitrogen flow that allowed one step and continuous synthesis of the SWCNTs. Size distribution of the gas suspended SWCNTs aerosol was measured using size-classification by a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) coupled with a condensation particle counter (CPC) used as a detector. Characteristics of SWCNT aerosol generated under the different temperature were also investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopes and Raman scattering. Mono-mobility SWCNT aerosol with mobility diameter of 100 and 200 nm was successfully prepared after the size separation using a DMA.     

Material properties controlling photocurrent on TiO2 aggregates with plane orientation for dye-sensitized solar cells

Effective design of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) requires a clear understanding of the reaction mechanisms of the constituent cell materials. The relationship between structural and photo-electrochemical properties of the photo-anodic materials is of the first priority for such investigations. Highly oriented aggregates of anatase phase TiO₂ nanoparticles were deposited on Indium Tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates; over which N719 dyes were adsorbed through electrophoretic deposition under a strong magnetic field. The properties were evaluated by electrochemical measurements, UV–VIS spectroscopy, and electrical resistance measurements. The results showed that the absorbed photon number in the TiO₂ aggregates with adsorbed dye and their resistivity showed different dependences on the orientation of the crystal plane in the TiO₂ particle. The dependence of the photocurrent on the plane orientation of aggregates of dye-sensitized TiO₂ nanoparticles has been determined from a combination of the electrical conductivity of TiO₂ aggregate and the amount of dye adsorbed on the surface of TiO₂.     

Metallic Contaminant Detection using a High-Temperature Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices Gradiometer

We develop magnetic metallic contaminant detectors using high-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices （HTS-SQUIDs） for industrial products. Finding ultra-small metallic contaminants is an important issue for manufacturers producing commercial products such as lithium ion batteries. If such contaminants cause damages, the manufacturer of the product suffers a big financial loss due to having to recall the faulty products. Previously, we described a system for finding such ultra-smafi particles in food. In this study, we describe further developments of the system, for the reduction of the effect of the remnant field of the products, and we test the parallel magnetization of the products to generate the remnant field only at both ends of the products. In addition, we use an SQUID gradiometer in place of the magnetometer to reduce the edge effect by measuring the magnetic field gradient. We test the performances of the system and find that tiny iron particles as small as 50 × 50 μm^2 on the electrode of a lithium ion battery could be clearly detected. This detection level is difficult to achieve when using other methods.     

Investigation of cadmium accumulation mechanism in hepatopancreas of Patinopecten yessoensis by synchrotron radiation X‐ray absorption fine structure and synchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence analyses

Chemical state of cadmium in a hepatopancreas of a scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) was studied by means of synchrotron radiation‐based X‐ray analytical techniques. X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging were used to identify the chemical state and the distribution of cadmium in the hepatopancreas, respectively. The results of in vivo Cd K‐edge XAFS suggested that the neighboring atoms of the cadmium in the hepatopancreas are of sulfur. Therefore, we propose that cadmium was accumulated by a metalloprotein with sulfur. Micro XRF imaging of thin sections of the hepatopancreas showed that cadmium is distributed on the surface of intestinal epithelia and concentrated in the internal tissue of the hepatopancreas. These results indicated that scallops accumulate cadmium inside the hepatopancreas through the intestinal epithelium.     

Growth and properties of semi-polar GaN on a patterned silicon substrate

Adopting anisotropy etching method, a (1 1 1) facet of Si is obtained on a Si substrate and selective area growth (SAG) of GaN is performed with metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy on the facet. The epitaxial lateral overgrowth of (1 1¯ 0 1), (1 1 2¯ 2) GaN is investigated on (0 0 1) and (1 1 3) Si substrate, respectively, and the incorporation properties of Si, C, and Mg elements are discussed in relation to the atomic configuration on the surface. Analyzing the optical and electrical properties of C-doped (1 1¯ 0 1) GaN layer, it is shown that carbon creates a shallow acceptor level. On the thus prepared (1 1¯ 0 1) GaN layer, a light emitting diode (LED) with a C-doped p-type layer is fabricated.     

Bulk electronic structure of the antiferromagnetic superconducting phase in ErNi2B2C

We have performed temperature- (T-)dependent laser-photoemission spectroscopy of the antiferromagnetic (AF) superconductor ErNi2B2C to study the electronic-structure evolution reflecting the interplay between antiferromagnetism and superconductivity. The spectra at the superconducting (SC) phase show a very broad spectral shape. A T-dependent SC gap shows a sudden deviation from the BCS prediction just below TN. This observation can be explained well by the theoretical model and thus represents the characteristic bulk electronic structure of the AF SC phase for the first time.     

NMR and NQR studies on superconducting Sr2RuO4

We review our nuclear-magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) studies in superconducting Sr₂RuO₄, which have been performed in order to investigate the gap structure and the pairing symmetry in the superconducting state and magnetic fluctuations in the normal state. The spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T₁) of a high-quality sample with shows a sharp decrease without a coherence peak just below T_c, followed by a T³ behavior down to 0.15 K. This result indicates that the superconducting gap in pure Sr₂RuO₄ is a highly anisotropic character with a line-node gap. The Knight shift, which is related to the spin susceptibility, is unchanged in the superconducting state irrespective of the direction of the applied fields and various magnitude of the field. This result strongly suggests that the superconducting pairs are in the spin-triplet state, and the spin direction of the triplet pairs is considered to be changed by small fields of several hundred Oe.     

Ordering and grain growth of FePt thin films by annealing

Microstructure variation of FePt thin film upon annealing at elevated temperatures was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A special shape aperture was employed to observe the ordered L1₀ phase in the dark-field TEM images. With increasing the annealing temperature, crystal grains formed clusters with gathering of neighboring grains, and crystal grain growth proceeded within the cluster. L1₀ ordered crystal grains were preferentially formed near the grain boundaries, and their sizes grew with increasing the annealing temperature.     

Intrauterine devices and uterine peristalsis: evaluation with MRI

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been viewed as an effective form of contraception. However, the mechanism by which IUDs disturb fertility remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of IUDs on uterine contractility using cine MR. Eleven healthy female volunteers of reproductive age bearing IUDs and 12 women not bearing IUDs were evaluated during the periovulatory phase. MR images were obtained with a 1.5-T magnet, acquiring 60 serial images every 3 s via half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo to be displayed on cine mode. Assessments were based on (a) the presence of peristaltic waves, (b) the frequency and direction of peristaltic waves and (c) the extent of peristaltic waves. Static images were evaluated for thickness of the junctional zone (JZ) and myometrium. A fundo-cervical (FC)-directed peristaltic wave was identified in 4 of 11 IUD-bearing subjects and in only 1 of 12 subjects from the control group. FC waves extended through more than half of the thickness of the myometrium. Peristaltic frequency in IUD users (5.0/3 min) was less than that of the control group (6.5/3 min). The JZ and myometrium were significantly thicker in IUD users. FC-directed waves were more often observed in IUD-bearing subjects, which might explain the inhibition of active sperm transport.