Oxygen ion conductivity of Lao.sSro.2Gao.s3Mgo.17-xCoxO3-δ synthesized by laser rapid solidification

Materials Lao.8Sro.2Gao.83Mgo.17_xCox03_6 with x = 0, 0.05, 0.085, 0.10, and 0.15 are synthesized by laser rapid solidification. It is shown that the samples prepared by laser rapid solidification give rise to unique spear-like or leaf-like microstructures which are orderly arranged and densely packed. Their electrical properties each show a general depen dence of the Co content and the total conductivities of Lao.8Sro.2Gao.83Mgo.085Coo.08503_6 prepared by laser rapid solidification are measured to be 0.067, 0.124, and 0.202 S.cm-1 at 600, 700, and 800 ℃, respectively, which are much higher than by conventional solid state reactions. Moreover, the electrical conductivities each as a function of the oxy gen partial pressure are also measured. It is shown that the samples with the Co content values 〈 8.5 mol% each exhibit basically ionic conduction while those for Co content values 〉 10 mol % each show ionic mixed electronic conduction under oxygen partial pressures from 10-16 atm （1 atm = 1.01325 x 105 Pa） to 0.98 atm. The improved ionic conductivity of Lao.sSro.2Gao.83Mgo.085Coo.08503 prepared by laser rapid solidification compared with by solid state reactions is attributed to the unique microstructure of the sample generated during laser rapid solidification.     

Analyses of temperature-dependent interface states,series resistances,and AC electrical conductivities of Al/p Si and Al/Bi_4Ti_3O_(12)/p Si structures by using the admittance spectroscopy method

In this study, Al/p-Si and Al/Bi4Ti3O12/p-Si structures are fabricated and their interface states （Nss）, the values of series resistance （Rs）, and AC electrical conductivity （σac） are obtained each as a function of temperature using admit- tance spectroscopy method which includes capacitance-voltage （C-V） and conductance-voltage （G-V） measurements. In addition, the effect of interfacial Bi4Ti3012 （BTO） layer on the performance of the structure is investigated. The voltage- dependent profiles of Nss and Rs are obtained from the high-low frequency capacitance method and the Nicollian method, respectively. Experimental results show that Nss and Rs, as strong functions of temperature and applied bias voltage, each exhibit a peak, whose position shifts towards the reverse bias region, in the depletion region. Such a peak behavior is attributed to the particular distribution of Nss and the reordering and restructuring of Nss under the effect of temperature. The values of activation energy （Ea）, obtained from the slope of the Arrhenius plot, of both structures are obtained to be bias voltage-independent, and the Ea of the metal-ferroelectric-semiconductor （MFS） structure is found to be half that of the metal-semiconductor （MS） structure. Furthermore, other main electrical parameters, such as carrier concentration of acceptor atoms （NA）, built-in potential （Vbi）, Fermi energy （EF）, image force barrier lowering （△φb）, and barrier height （φb）, are extracted using reverse bias C 2-V characteristics as a function of temperature.     

A mathematical model of hotspot condensed phase ignition in the presence of a competitive endothermic reaction

We consider the propagation of a combustion front resulting from the gasless combustion of a condensed state fuel. The propagation of the front, essentially a premixed laminar flame, is supported by an exothermic reaction subject to possible heat loss through a competitive endothermic reaction. The dynamics of the endothermic process inducing the heat loss strongly depend on the temperature and the local fuel concentration. Through an analysis based on high activation energy, the steady-state values of the final burnt temperature as well as the burning velocity are obtained, and the control parameters are identified. Using a linear perturbation method, we assess the stability of the propagating front and obtain a condition for oscillatory behaviour. The critical parameter values for the transition from steady to oscillatory burning speeds are identified. The results represent a generalization of those obtained by Matkowsky and Sivashinsky to include the effects of heat loss induced by a competitive endothermic reaction.     

Intermediate temperature creep mechanisms in Ni 3 Al

The intermediate-temperature creep response of single-crystal Ni 3 Al(Ta) has been investigated along both [ ] and [001] axial orientations. The effect of the existing deformation structure (i.e. pre-straining) on the [ ] creep response was reported. The creep responses of virgin specimens and specimens prestrained at room temperature (RT) and 520°C are compared. In order to compare the dislocation structures prior to creep, the microstructure of specimens which had been deformed at a constant strain rate at RT and 520°C, but not subjected to creep, was also examined. Creep curves show that the temperature of pre-strain influences the subsequent creep properties. The primary creep response, like the yielding response, appears to be controlled by the kink size distribution, while the secondary creep response is thought to be controlled by the kink separation (or the length of the Kear-Wilsdorf locks). Specimens crept along [ ] display steady state creep properties and rectangularly oriented [ ](010) dislocations, while a virgin specimen crept along [001] displays an increasing secondary creep rate (inverse creep) and d110 ¢{100}-type dislocations. Inverse creep along [001] is thought to be the result of an increasing density of edge kink octahedral sources where there is little resolved shear stress on the cube planes.     

Pre-exponential factor for non-isothermal crystallization of glassy Se85− x Te15Sb x (0 ≤ x ≤ 10) alloys

We report observations of the Meyer–Neldel rule for the non-isothermal crystallization of glassy Se_{85? x} Te₁₅Sb _x (x =?0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) alloys. We found a strong co-relation between the pre-exponential factor K ₀ of the rate constant K(T) for crystallization and the activation energy of crystallization E _c. This indicates the presence of a compensation effect for the non-isothermal crystallization process in this glassy system. The composition dependence of the crystallization temperature T _c and the activation energy for crystallization E _c is discussed.     

Comparison of the effect of anti-hyperlipidemic drugs from different groups on the phase profile of liposomal membrane–a fluorescence anisotropy study

The study compares the effect of incorporation of three different groups of anti-hyperlipidemic drugs, namely niacin, simvastatin, and fenofibrate on the phase profile of liposomal membranes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The fluorescence anisotropy studies, using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as fluorescent probe, have shown that the lipophilic molecule fenofibrate changes phase behavior of DPPC liposomal membrane to a greater extent compared to the changes produced by amphiphilic simvastatin and hydrophilic niacin. This variation in effect can be attributed to the nature of the drug molecules and hence their location in different parts of the liposomal membrane. We have also calculated the changes in van’t Hoff enthalpy values in all these three cases and observed that these values decreased with increase in drug concentrations in the case of simvastatin but for fenofibrate and niacin the effect is completely the reverse. In order to get a better insight, the fraction of motionally restricted lipid molecules has been calculated.     

Optical shuttering action in nematic phase of SMHBLC: observation of a ribbon-like texture

In this study, complexes belonging to supramolecular hydrogen-bonded liquid crystal homologous series are synthesized and characterized. Hydrogen bond is formed between p-n-alkyloxy benzoic acids (nBAO, where n?=?5–11) and chlorobenzoic acid (ClBAO), respectively. The isolated homologues are characterized by various techniques such as polarizing optical microscopic (POM) studies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy. Based on the POM and DSC studies, the phase diagram has been constructed and discussed. A new smectic ordering, labeled as smectic R, has been characterized, which exhibits a ribbon-like texture. This phase is observed in the complexes pertaining to the higher homologous series. Tilt angle in this phase has been experimentally deduced and the results are fitted to the power law which concurs with the mean-field theory predicted value. Optical shuttering action in the homologue has been detected in the nematic phase and the results are also discussed.     

Thermal and Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Biodegradable Poly(Ester Urethane) Containing Poly(L-Lactic Acid) and Poly(Butylene Succinate) Blocks

A novel biodegradable poly(ester urethane; PEU) was synthesized by chain extension reaction of dihydroxylated poly(L-lactic acid; PLLA) and poly(butylene succinate; PBS) using diisocyanate as a chain extender. The kinetics of thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of PEU containing PLLA and PBS blocks were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA results indicated that PEU was more stable in air than in nitrogen and went through a two-stage degradation process irrespective of the experimental atmosphere. Activation energy of each stage was calculated by means of Kissinger, Kim-Park, Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose methods. For the first stage, the activation energy value obtained in air was slightly higher than the corresponding value obtained in nitrogen; and for the second stage, the activation energy showed a much higher value in air than in nitrogen. The Coats-Redfern method was employed to study the degradation mechanism of each stage. The results indicated that the degradation of the first stage follows the P3/4 mechanism irrespective of the experimental atmosphere; the degradation of the second stage of PEU obeys the P1 mechanism in nitrogen while P3/2 in air.     

Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics and Melting Behavior of a Luminescent Conjugated Polymer,Poly(9,9-Dihexylfluorene-Alt-2,5-Didodecyloxybenzene)

A study of the isothermal crystallization behaviors of poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene-alt-2,5-didodecyloxybenzene) (PF6OC12) was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization kinetics under isothermal conditions could be described by the Avrami equation. The Avrami exponent n ranges from 3.43 to 3.71 for PF6OC12 at crystallization temperatures between 100.0°C and 90.0°C, indicating a three-dimensional spherical crystal growth with homogeneous nucleation in the primary crystallization stage for the isothermal melt crystallization process. In the DSC scan, after the isothermal crystallization, multiple melting behavior was found. The multiple endotherms could be attributed to melting of recrystallized materials produced originally during different crystallization processes. According to the Arrhenius equation, the activation energy was determined to be 211.29 kJmol^?1 for the isothermal melt crystallization of PF6OC12.     

A theoretical investigation on the structures of (NH3)·(H2SO4)·(H2O)0-14 clusters

Ternary clusters (NH₃)·(H₂SO₄)·(H₂O)_n have been widely studied. However, the structures and binding energies of relatively larger cluster (n > 6) remain unclear, which hinders the study of other interesting properties. Ternary clusters of (NH₃)·(H₂SO₄)·(H₂O)_n, n = 0-14, were investigated using MD simulations and quantum chemical calculations. For n = 1, a proton was transferred from H₂SO₄ to NH₃. For n = 10, both protons of H₂SO₄ were transferred to NH₃ and H₂O, respectively. The NH₄⁺ and HSO₄⁻ formed a contact ion-pair [NH₄⁺-HSO₄⁻] for n = 1-6 and a solvent separated ion-pair [NH₄⁺-H₂O-HSO₄⁻] for n = 7-9. Therefore, we observed two obvious transitions from neutral to single protonation (from H₂SO₄ to NH₃) to double protonation (from H₂SO₄ to NH₃ and H₂O) with increasing n. In general, the structures with single protonation and solvated ion-pair were higher in entropy than those with double protonation and contact ion-pair of single protonation and were thus preferred at higher temperature. As a result, the inversion between single and double protonated clusters was postponed until n = 12 according to the average binding Gibbs free energy at the normal condition. These results can serve as a good start point for studies of the other properties of these clusters and as a model for the solvation of the [H₂SO₄-NH₃] complex in bulk water.