Electric field assisted annealing effects on microstructure and ionic conductivity in ceria/YSZ oxide heterostructures

The effect of electric field assisted annealing on the microstructure, composition and ionic conductivity properties in CeO₂/YSZ oxide heterostructures have been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Amorphization–recrystallization steps were performed with and without external electric field of strength 10?MV/cm along three different orientations: in-plane (YZ), normal (X) and 45° resultant (XY) with respect to the oxide heterointerfaces. The microstructural and compositional differences at the interfaces and in the interior of the oxide heterolayers were evaluated and were found to show a clear correlation with the orientations of the applied field. In particular, the XY configuration displayed a compressive lattice strain of ～9% along with a reduced oxygen vacancy concentration when compared to the others. Ionic density profiles suggest pronounced segregation (～60% higher compared to the average value in the interior) of yttrium ions closer to the YSZ/CeO₂ interface for the XY configuration. Other configurations exhibit minimal to no such variations. These microstructural differences are found to affect the number of mobile charge carriers and the activation barriers associated with ionic migration through the oxide lattice and consequently, influence the ionic conductivity.     

Nanoscratch-induced deformation behaviour in B4C particle reinforced ultrafine grained Al alloy composites: a novel diagnostic approach

We report on the novel application of nanoscratch characterization to provide insight into the plasticity mechanisms responsible for the behaviour of composites. Accordingly, we conduct deformation characterization with nanoscratch testing (DCNT) to study the deformation behaviour of two B₄C reinforced ultrafine grained Al alloy tri-modal composites with average B₄C particle sizes of ~1–6?μm and ~500?nm, respectively. To highlight the type of mechanistic information revealed in a DCNT study of composites, we concentrate on the influence of B₄C particle size on deformation mechanisms.     

Which stresses affect the glide of screw dislocations in bcc metals?

By direct application of stress in molecular statics calculations we identify the stress components that affect the glide of 1/2?111? screw dislocations in bcc tungsten. These results prove that the hydrostatic stress and the normal stress parallel to the dislocation line do not play any role in the dislocation glide. Therefore, the Peierls stress of the dislocation cannot depend directly on the remaining two normal stresses that are perpendicular to the dislocation but, instead, on their combination that causes an equibiaxial tension-compression (and thus shear) in the plane perpendicular to the dislocation line. The Peierls stress of 1/2?111? screw dislocations then depends only on the orientation of the plane in which the shear stress parallel to the Burgers vector is applied and on the magnitude and orientation of the shear stress perpendicular to the slip direction.     

Long-range chemical interactions in solid-state reactions: effect of an inert Ag interlayer on the formation of L10-FePd in epitaxial Pd(0 0 1)/Ag(0 0 1)/Fe(0 0 1) and Fe(0 0 1)/Ag(0 0 1)/Pd(0 0 1) trilayers

The effect of 0, 0.5, and 1?μm-thick Ag interlayers on the chemical interaction between Pd and Fe in epitaxial Pd(0?0?1)/Ag(0?0?1)/Fe(0?0?1)/MgO(0?0?1) and Fe(0?0?1)/Ag(0?0?1)/Pd(0?0?1)/MgO(0?0?1) trilayers has been studied using X-ray diffraction, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and magnetic structural measurements. No mixing of Pd and Fe occurs via the chemically inert Ag layer at annealing temperatures up to 400?°C. As the annealing temperature is increased above 400?°C, a solid-state synthesis of an ordered L1₀-FePd phase begins in the Pd(0?0?1)/Ag(0?0?1)/Fe(0?0?1) and Fe(0?0?1)/Ag(0?0?1)/Pd(0?0?1) film trilayers regardless of the thickness of the buffer Ag layer. In all samples, annealing above 500?°C leads to the formation of a disordered Fe_xPd_1?x(0?0?1) phase; however, in samples lacking the Ag layer, the synthesis of Fe_xPd_1?x is preceded by the formation of an ordered L1₂-FePd₃ phase. An analysis of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results shows that Pd is the dominant moving species in the reaction between Pd and Fe. According to the preliminary results, the 2.2?μm-thick Ag film does not prevent the synthesis of the L1₀-FePd phase and only slightly increases the phase’s initiation temperature. Data showing the ultra-fast transport of Pd atoms via thick inert Ag layers are interpreted as direct evidence of the long-range character of the chemical interaction between Pd and Fe. Thus, in the reaction state, Pd and Fe interact chemically even though the distance between them is about 10⁴ times greater than an ordinary chemical bond length.     

Recent Developments in Flow Injection/Sequential Injection Liquid-Liquid Extraction for Atomic Spectrometric Determination of Metals and Metalloids

Abstract

This review aims to provide a critical overview of automated flow injection and sequential injection liquid-liquid extraction for preconcentration and/or separation of ultra-trace metal and metalloid species hyphenated with atomic spectrometric detection systems, including some new trends and applications in the subbranches of cloud point extraction (CPE), wetting film extraction (WFE), supported liquid membrane extraction (SLME), extraction chromatography (EChr), and liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) techniques. The analytical performance of flow-injection/sequential injection liquid-liquid extraction methods is markedly affected by the components of the flow network such as segmentor, extraction coil, and phase separator. Thus, an overall presentation of system components along with some novel strategies for interface with atomic spectrometers is discussed and exemplified with selected applications.     

Using a pseudo-functionally graded interlayer in order to improve the static and dynamic behavior of wind turbine blade T-bolt root joints

The large wind turbines blades with multi-ton composite structures are mostly connected to the peach-bearings flanges using T-bolt joints which induce shear and bearing stress fields around the cross bolts. The significant differences between the modulus of elasticity of metallic bolts and composite surrounding materials cause stress concentration around interfaced zones and, also, limit the load capacity of the joints. In the present research, a pseudo functionally graded material (PFGM) as an interlayer is used around the cross bolts to examine the reduction of the stress concentration. Some radial variation of the mechanical properties would be considered for this interlayer. The finite element method is used to analyze the structures. Loadings are applied to the center of the cross bolts analogous to the real cases. Both the static and dynamic loadings are studied. For the finite element of the functionally graded material interlayer, a multilayer alternative material with constant properties in each layer is used. The results show that using an isotropic single layer with an average modulus of elasticity and specific thickness decreases the stress concentration of the composite part up to 47%. The various property models for the interlayer also show that an appropriated model can decrease the stress concentration up to 55%. Dynamic transient analyses would be implemented over the joint structure and improved considering to the practical cases. Using the PFGM interlayer decreases the constant and variable parts of the stresses up to 55% and also causes significant increasing of the joint fatigue life.     

Ultrasonic evidence for short-range charge-ordering state in the low-doping regime of La1– x Sr x FeO3 (1/3 ≤ x ≤ 0.45)

The longitudinal ultrasonic velocity (V) and attenuation at a frequency of 10?MHz, as well as magnetization and resistivity, have been measured in the single-phase polycrystalline La_{1– x} Sr _x FeO₃ (x?=?1/3, 0.4, 0.45). Upon cooling down from high temperature, a slight softening in V and dramatic stiffening are observed in all samples, and this stiffening is coincided with a big attenuation peak. The relative increase of V is proportional to the Sr concentration, which implies that this anomaly is strongly correlated with Fe⁴⁺. However, no obvious changes in magnetic and electric properties are found at this temperature range. The analysis suggests that this feature may be caused by the Jahn–Teller effect of Fe⁴⁺ and correspond to the formation of short-range charge-ordering state.     

On the formation of a phase with tenfold symmetry in amorphous Ni–Zr alloys

The magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of 3d transition-metal wires, stripes, and films is calculated self-consistently as a function of stripe width and film thickness. The magnetization-reorientation transitions in stripes are determined along the crossover from the mono-atomic one-dimensional chain to the two-dimensional monolayer. It is shown that the MAE oscillates as a function of stripe width and depends strongly on the considered transition metal. The reorientation transitions in Co films deposited on a highly polarizable substrate such as Pd are discussed. A local analysis of the layer-resolved MAEs provides new insights into the off-plane magnetization observed in Pd-capped Co films on Pd(111). The interfaces responsible for the stability of the off-plane easy axis are characterized microscopically. An unexpected internal magnetic structure of the Co–Pd interfaces is revealed in which the magnetic moments and spin–orbit interactions at Pd atoms play a crucial role. The nature of the reorientation transition from perpendicular to in-plane magnetization with increasing film thickness is studied by means of full-vectorial calculations. The existence of a spin-canted phase at intermediate film thickness is demonstrated.     

Mixed alkali metal selenate proton conductors: Phase transitions and crystal structure of [Rb0.54(Nh4)0.46]3H(SeO4)2

Optical birefringence, calorimetric, thermal expansion, powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction investigations of mixed proton conductors [Rb_1-x(NH₄)_x]₃H(SeO₄)₂ were performed with the aim of studying the influence of partial substitution of cations on the superprotonic phase transition, on the atomic structure and on other characteristic features of this type of crystals.