Application of a self-sensing conductive probe for Si device imaging

For the evaluation of two-dimensional carrier profiles in semiconductor devices, we have developed a novel form of probe–sensor combined unit that uses an etched tungsten wire as a conductive probe, and commercially available quartz tuning fork as the force sensor. This unit has a self-sensing capability due to the piezoelectric effect of quartz tuning fork, thus obviating optical setup, and its conductivity is higher and more stable than that of conventional metal-coated Si cantilever. In addition, this probe–sensor combined unit is inexpensive and easy to use, when compared to the well-known optical methods of Si-based cantilever vibration detection system. Our scanning probe microscope using this probe–sensor combined unit is able to mapping the capacitive gradient signal (dC/dZ image) and internal damping of quartz tuning fork oscillation (dissipation image) while scanning the sample surface. In this letter, we show the results of visualization of the p–n junction locus of a Si metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistor in both dC/dZ and dissipation images.     

Modelling of functionally graded materials by numerical homogenization

Summary  In this contribution, the mechanical behaviour of different ZrO₂/NiCr 80 20 compositions is analysed and compared with experimental findings. The microwave-sintered material is found to possess a slightly dominant ceramic matrix for intermediate volume fractions. Its thermal expansion coefficient deviates from the rule of mixture. The modulus and the stress strain behaviour can be simulated by a numerical homogenization procedure, and the influence of residual stresses is found to be negligible. A newly introduced parameter (matricity) describes the mutual circumvention of the phases and is found to strongly control the stress level of the composite, globally as well as locally. Finally, a graded component and a metal/ceramic bi-material are compared for thermal as well as mechanical loading. Received 23 November 1999; accepted for publication 26 May 2000     

Fabrication of urchin‐like Ag/ZnO hierarchical nano/microstructures based on galvanic replacement mechanism and their enhanced photocatalytic properties

Urchin‐like Ag/ZnO hierarchical nano/microstructures have been synthesized through a facile low‐temperature hydrothermal growth method based on galvanic replacement mechanism. The experimental results show that the urchin‐like Ag/ZnO heterostructures are formed through the epitaxial growth of ZnO nanorods on the {111} facets of Ag nanoparticles along their own c‐axis. The photocatalytic properties of the products were evaluated by the degradation of RhB dye solution under ultraviolet irradiation, and the results show that the products exhibit significantly enhanced photocatalytic properties comparing with pure ZnO nanorods. The products with a Ag content of 35.64 atom % prepared with a Ag⁺ concentration in solution of 5 mM exhibit surprisingly high degradation rate (99.5%) for RhB dye solution (4 mg/L) after photocatalytic reaction for only 14 min under ultraviolet irradiation. The Schottky barrier formed at the metal‐semiconductor interfaces improves the segregation of charges and prevents the charge recombination, and thus significantly enhances the photocatalytic activities of the products. On the other hand, the high stability of the urchin‐like Ag/ZnO hierarchical nano/microstructures can effectively prevent the aggregation of nanostructures with simultaneously preserving high photocatalytic properties due to the existence of nanosized unites. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ferric Phosphate Hydroxide Microstructures Affect Their Magnetic Properties

Uniformly sized and shape-controlled nanoparticles are important due to their applications in catalysis, electrochemistry, ion exchange, molecular adsorption, and electronics. Several ferric phosphate hydroxide (Fe₄(OH)₃(PO₄)₃) microstructures were successfully prepared under hydrothermal conditions. Using controlled variations in the reaction conditions, such as reaction time, temperature, and amount of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the crystals can be grown as almost perfect hyperbranched microcrystals at 180 °C (without CTAB) or relatively monodisperse particles at 220 °C (with CTAB). The large hyperbranched structure of Fe₄(OH)₃(PO₄)₃ with a size of ∼19 μm forms with the “fractal growth rule” and shows many branches. More importantly, the magnetic properties of these materials are directly correlated to their size and micro/nanostructure morphology. Interestingly, the blocking temperature (T_B) shows a dependence on size and shape, and a smaller size resulted in a lower T_B. These crystals are good examples that prove that physical and chemical properties of nano/microstructured materials are related to their structures, and the precise control of the morphology of such functional materials could allow for the control of their performance.     

碳纳米管含量对炭炭复合材料组织及力学性能的影响

炭纤维上原位合成了均匀生长且具有伸张形貌的碳纳米管,借助化学气相渗透制备了碳纳米管增强的炭炭复合材料,研究了不同含量的碳纳米管对炭炭复合材料组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明：炭纤维上生长碳纳米管改变了热解炭的沉积行为,诱导了各向同性热解炭的生成,且随着碳纳米管含量的增加,各向同性热解炭的厚度增加,但是复合材料的d002值却明显降低。微量的碳纳米管即可显著提高复合材料的力学强度,随着其含量的增加,复合材料的力学强度和模量迅速提高,但材料的断裂行为却急剧恶化,断裂模式由最初的假塑性断裂转变为脆性断裂。     

Virtual improvement of ice cream properties by computational homogenization of microstructures

Optimal shape design of microstructured materials has recently attracted a great deal of attention in materials science. The shape and the topology of the microstructure have a significant impact on the macroscopic properties. This paper presents different computational models of random microstructures, to virtually improve the physical properties of ice cream. Several sensory properties of this heterogeneous material issued from food industry are directly controlled by the elastic and thermal conducting ones. The material effective elastic and thermal conducting properties are obtained through direct large scale numerical simulations. The different formulations address the problem of finding the shape of the representative microstructural element for random heterogeneous media that increase the elastic moduli and thermal conductivity compared to existing products. The computational models are established using finite element method and images of virtual microstructures. In this paper we propose a new model of microstructures. This model is constructed with hexagonal prismatic rods and plates with volume fractions around 0.7 for the hard phase represented by hexagons of ice. A comparison between three two-phase elastic heterogeneous microstructures models is drawn. This illustrates the concept of design of microstructures using computational homogenization tools.     

高速冲击表面处理对金属材料力学性能和组织结构的影响

高速冲击表面处理过程中的应变率对金属材料的宏观力学性能和微观组织结构都具有重要影响。根据当前应变率效应的研究成果,从宏观与微观相结合的角度出发,综述了高速冲击表面处理过程中应变率对金属材料强度和塑性的影响规律,并重点阐述了不同应变率下金属材料内部微观组织结构的演变规律,主要包括晶粒结构、绝热剪切带、相变、位错组态和析出相以及变形孪晶等。此外,还分析了组织结构随应变率的演化和微观变形机制的转变对材料力学性能的强化和弱化机理。最后,对高速冲击表面处理梯度组织的变形特点进行了总结。提出了不同组织结构对材料性能影响的综合效应模型,以期为应变率效应的深入研究奠定基础。