Hybrid Bridgman anvil design: an optical window for in situ spectroscopy in large volume presses

The absence of in situ optical probes for large volume presses (LVPs) often limits their application to high-pressure materials research. In this article, we present a unique anvil/optical window design for use in LVPs, which consists of an inverted diamond anvil seated in a Bridgman-type anvil. A small cylindrical aperture through the Bridgman anvil ending at the back of diamond anvil allows optical access to the sample chamber and permits direct optical spectroscopy measurements, such as ruby fluorescence (in situ pressure) or Raman spectroscopy. The performance of this anvil design has been demonstrated by loading KBr to a pressure of 14.5 GPa.     

Optical pressure sensors for high-pressure–high-temperature studies in a diamond anvil cell

We review the various optical pressure sensors that are suitable for high-pressure and high-temperature studies in a diamond anvil cell. Two different kinds of sensors are considered: those based on the pressure shift of a fluorescence line (ruby, SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺) and those based on the pressure shift of a Raman line (c-BN, diamond). The calibration of those sensors are presented in detail, and discussion is made on their useful pressure and temperature ranges.     

Study of partial melting at high-pressure using in situ X-ray diffraction

The high-pressure melting behavior of different iron alloys was investigated using the classical synchrotron-based in situ X-ray diffraction techniques. As they offer specific advantages and disadvantages, both energy-dispersive (EDX) and angle-dispersive (ADX) X-ray diffraction methods were performed at the BL04B1 beamline of SPring8 (Japan) and at the ID27-30 beamline of the ESRF (France), respectively. High-pressure vessels and pressure ranges investigated include the Paris–Edinburgh press from 2 to 17 GPa, the SPEED-1500 multi-anvil press from 10 to 27 GPa, and the laser-heated diamond anvil cell from 15 to 60 GPa. The onset of melting (at the solidus or eutectic temperature) can be easily detected using EDX because the grains start to rotate relative to the X-ray beam, which provokes rapid and drastic changes with time of the peak growth rate. Then, the degree of melting can be determined, using both EDX and ADX, from the intensity of diffuse X-ray scattering characteristic of the liquid phase. This diffuse contribution can be easily differentiated from the Compton diffusion of the pressure medium because they have different shapes in the diffraction patterns. Information about the composition and/or about the structure of the liquid phase can then be extracted from the shape of the diffuse X-ray scattering.     

Facile hydrothermal construction of Nb_2CT_x/Nb_2O_5 as a hybrid anode material for high-performance Li-ion batteries

Herein,a simple yet efficient hydrothermal strategy is developed to in-situ convert multi-layered niobium-based MXene(Nb₂ CT_x) to hierarchical Nb2 CTx/Nb₂O₅ composite.In the hybrid,the Nb₂O₅ nanorods are well dispersed in and/or on the Nb₂ CTx.Thanks to the synergetic contributions from the high capacity of Nb₂O₅ and superb electrical conductivity of the two-dimensional Nb₂ CT_x     

泵浦光激发下金刚石纳米柱内部光场的研究

金刚石纳米柱是实现色心单光子源增强的有效结构,而纳米柱结构尺寸决定泵浦光对色心的激发强度.本文为提高其激发效率,采用时域有限差分法(Finite Difference Time Domain, FDTD)研究金刚石纳米柱的光学性质.通过仿真分析了纳米柱直径和高度对内部电场强度的影响.结果表明,在泵浦光波长为532 nm时,纳米柱内部中轴线上场强受尺寸变化影响较大,当直径不变、改变高度时,场强最大值随高度周期性变化,周期约为150 nm;当高度不变、改变直径时,场强最大值也随直径周期性变化,周期约为150 nm.通过研究不同波长的泵浦光对金刚石纳米柱内部中轴线上电场分布的影响发现,不同波长的泵浦光对纳米柱内部中轴线上最强场强对应的纳米柱尺寸有较大影响,但对于纳米柱最大场强随纳米柱尺寸变化的趋势几乎没有影响.本文通过研究上述内容,较为全面地掌握了纳米柱尺寸及泵浦光对纳米柱内部电场强度的影响规律,找到了纳米柱内部中轴线上最强场强位置,确定了激发色心的效率最高值所在位置,为金刚石纳米柱单光子源的制备提供理论指导.     

添加氧影响下低压金刚石生长的条件

采用非平衡热力学耦合模型研究金刚石在CO-H₂、CO-O₂-H₂体系中的生长情况,计算不同氧含量下的金刚石生长相图,固定氧氢比考察压力变化对金刚石生长区的影响,讨论了不同氧氢含量对金刚石生长区的影响。与经典的平衡热力学理论计算所得的相图不同,本文的相图均有金刚石生长区,可以很好地解释低压下金刚石在气相中的生长,还可以用于指导低压金刚石生长的实验研究。     

Diamond surface modification following thermal etching of Si supported hydrogenated diamond films by DBr

In this work, we study the modification of hydrogenated diamond films deposited on silicon resulting from its exposure to DBr followed by an annealing above 600 K, using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). This procedure results in silicon carbide SiC formation within the diamond film, as evidenced by the observation of a loss peak at 117 meV and its first harmonic at 233 meV in HREEL spectra. This diamond surface modification is interpreted as resulting from the reaction of products of the silicon support thermally activated etching with hydrogenated diamond.     

Diamond like carbon coated films for enzyme electrodes; characterization of biocompatibility and substrate diffusion limiting properties

The biocompatibility and substrate diffusion limiting properties for a range of diamond like carbon (DLC) coated microporous polycarbonate and DLC coated dialysis (haemodialysis) membranes have been studied. This characterisation builds upon previous findings where DLC coated membranes imparted enhanced enzyme electrode performance. In this study electrode linear ranges have been extended from 10 mM glucose for a 0.01 μm pore size membrane to 160 mM. These findings correlated with the duration of DLC deposition and associated reductions in permeability for glucose. Permeability coefficient ratios for both microporous and dialysis membranes were also found to be important with low glucose/O₂ permeability ratios imparting extensions in glucose linear response range. DLC coated membranes employed within enzyme electrodes have also been shown to exhibit enhanced haemocompatibility as determined by both sensitivity change and surface deposition of blood components examined by scanning electron microscopy. Correlations are made between the reduced losses in sensor response to biofouling/ working electrode passivation processes, and extended linear ranges that DLC coated membranes may impart to enzyme electrode performance. Particular reference is made to the determination of glucose levels within whole blood.