Local strain and defects in silicon wafers due to nanoindentation revealed by full‐field X‐ray microdiffraction imaging

Quantitative characterization of local strain in silicon wafers is critical in view of issues such as wafer handling during manufacturing and strain engineering. In this work, full‐field X‐ray microdiffraction imaging using synchrotron radiation is employed to investigate the long‐range distribution of strain fields in silicon wafers induced by indents under different conditions in order to simulate wafer fabrication damage. The technique provides a detailed quantitative mapping of strain and defect characterization at the micrometer spatial resolution and holds some advantages over conventional methods.     

Stage-I fatigue crack studies in order to validate the dislocation-free zone model of fracture for bulk materials

Stage-I fatigue cracks are commonly described by the model of Bilby, Cottrell and Swinden (BCS model). However, since several experimental investigations have shown a dislocation-free zone (DFZ) in front of crack-tips, it is necessary to validate the new DFZ model and to examine the deviations to the BCS model. Therefore, the dislocation density distribution is derived from height profiles of slip lines in front of stage-I fatigue cracks in CMSX4® single crystals measured by contact-mode atomic force microscopy. This is possible, because the cracks are initiated at notches milled by focused ion beam technique directly on slip planes with a high Schmid factor. Consequently, the directions of the Burgers vectors are well known; it is possible to calculate the dislocation density distributions from the height profiles. The measured distributions are compared to the calculated distribution function of the DFZ model proposed by Chang et al. The additionally measured microscopic friction stress of the dislocations is then used to calculate the influence of grain boundaries on the dislocation density distribution in front of stage-I cracks. The calculation is done by the extended DFZ model of Shiue et al. and compared with the measured distribution function in polycrystalline specimens. Finally, the crack-tip sliding displacement as a measure for the crack propagation rate is compared for the DFZ model and the BCS model with the experimentally revealed values. The important result: the often used BCS model does not reflect the experimental measurements. On the contrary, the DFZ model reflects the measurements at stage-I cracks qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Morphology and mechanical behavior of isotactic polypropylene with different stereo‐defect distribution in injection molding

Large amount of work has been published on the isotacticity–properties relationship of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). However, the stereo‐defect distribution dependence of morphology and mechanical properties of iPP injection molding samples is still not clear. In this study, two different isotactic polypropylene (iPP) resins (PP‐A and PP‐B) with similar average isotacticity but different stereo‐defect distribution were selected to investigate the morphology evolution and mechanical properties (tensile and notching) of their injection molding samples using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), 2D wide angle X‐ray diffraction (2D‐WAXD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of DMA showed that the molecular movement ability of PP‐A (with less uniform distribution of stereo‐defect) was stronger than that of PP‐B, meanwhile the analysis of DSC and SEM suggested that after injection molding, smaller spherullites, and crystals with higher perfection had formed in the specimens of PP‐A. The resulting of tensile properties of PP‐A were found to be better than that of PP‐B. The results of morphology evolution by SEM observation and 2D‐WAXD showed that PP‐A is more likely to occur interspherulite deformation and can disperse the tensile stress more efficiently, and therefore, its crystal structure can withstand a greater force when tensile stress is applied. On the other hand, PP‐B has larger spherulites and boundaries, and low perfection of lamellaes, and the intraspherulte deformation tend to take place. It is easier for the crystal of PP‐B to be broken up and reoriented along the tensile direction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective etching of ZnTe in HF:H2O2:H2O solution: Interpretation of extended defect‐related etch figures

HF:H₂O₂:H₂O solution (40%wt.HF: 30wt.%H₂O₂: H₂O, 3:2:1 by volume) was used to reveal extended defects (line, face and volume defects) in bulk ZnTe crystals grown from Te solution. The etch patterns were analyzed based on their size, shape and distribution. The etch figures, both in the shape of pits and hillocks with high resolution, show forms controlled by the symmetries of the respective faces were produced. Two different sizes of pits were observed, the larger‐size pits correspond to dislocations penetrating the surface, however, the smaller‐size texture pits are produced on the defect‐free region, which serve as standard pits on respect faces. The face defects, such as grain boundaries, sub‐grain boundaries, dislocation walls, twins and stacking faults, can be all displayed clearly. Another essential feature of the etchant is that, it can effectively dissolve Te‐rich phase (Te inclusion/precipitates), which makes it promising to reveal the shape of this volume defect.     

Counting of Oxygen Defects versus Metal Surface Sites in Methanol Synthesis Catalysts by Different Probe Molecules

Different surface sites of solid catalysts are usually quantified by dedicated chemisorption techniques from the adsorption capacity of probe molecules, assuming they specifically react with unique sites. In case of methanol synthesis catalysts, the Cu surface area is one of the crucial parameters in catalyst design and was for over 25 years commonly determined using diluted N₂O. To disentangle the influence of the catalyst components, different model catalysts were prepared and characterized using N₂O, temperature programmed desorption of H₂, and kinetic experiments. The presence of ZnO dramatically influences the N₂O measurements. This effect can be explained by the presence of oxygen defect sites that are generated at the Cu‐ZnO interface and can be used to easily quantify the intensity of Cu‐Zn interaction. N₂O in fact probes the Cu surface plus the oxygen vacancies, whereas the exposed Cu surface area can be accurately determined by H₂.     

Biodegradable thermogel as culture matrix of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for potential cartilage tissue engineering

Poly（lactide-co-glycolide）-poly（ethylene glycol）-poly（lactide-co-glycolide）（PLGA-PEG-PLGA） triblock copolymer was synthesized through the ring-opening polymerization of LA and GA with PEG as macroinitiator and stannous octoate as catalyst. The amphiphilic copolymer self-assembled into micelles in aqueous solutions, and formed hydrogels as the increase of temperature at relatively high concentrations（〉 15 wt%）. The favorable degradability of the hydrogel was confirmed by in vitro and in vivo degradation experiments. The good cellular and tissular compatibilities of the thermogel were demonstrated. The excellent adhesion and proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells endowed PLGA-PEGPLGA thermogelling hydrogel with fascinating prospect for cartilage tissue engineering.     

Engineering the Atomic Interface with Single Platinum Atoms for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

It is highly desirable but challenging to optimize the structure of photocatalysts at the atomic scale to facilitate the separation of electron–hole pairs for enhanced performance. Now, a highly efficient photocatalyst is formed by assembling single Pt atoms on a defective TiO₂ support (Pt₁/def‐TiO₂). Apart from being proton reduction sites, single Pt atoms promote the neighboring TiO₂ units to generate surface oxygen vacancies and form a Pt‐O‐Ti³⁺ atomic interface. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the Pt‐O‐Ti³⁺ atomic interface effectively facilitates photogenerated electrons to transfer from Ti³⁺ defective sites to single Pt atoms, thereby enhancing the separation of electron–hole pairs. This unique structure makes Pt₁/def‐TiO₂ exhibit a record‐level photocatalytic hydrogen production performance with an unexpectedly high turnover frequency of 51423 h^?1, exceeding the Pt nanoparticle supported TiO₂ catalyst by a factor of 591.     

含中心裂纹梯度纳晶金属的数值模拟

梯度纳晶金属由于其微观组织的梯度分布,力学属性也呈现梯度变化,这使得其表现出不同于传统均匀材料的断裂行为．利用材料力学参数的梯度分布来表征梯度纳晶金属中晶粒尺寸的梯度变化,并编写ABAQUS和MATLAB脚本程序建立分层有限元模型．通过数值模拟计算了含有初始中心裂纹的梯度纳晶金属在受远端均匀拉应力作用下的裂尖J积分,分别研究了屈服应力梯度、裂纹角度和裂纹长度对金属材料断裂韧性的影响,并与传统粗晶进行了对比．结果表明梯度纳米结构的存在导致梯度纳晶金属内部的中心裂纹两端表现出不同的断裂韧性,小晶粒一侧裂尖的抗裂韧性优于大晶粒一侧裂尖,且屈服应力梯度绝对值越大,两者差距越大．梯度纳晶金属的断裂韧性受中心裂纹角度和长度变化的影响与传统粗晶金属基本一致,同时在晶粒尺寸梯度的作用下梯度纳晶的裂尖J积分略低于粗晶,即整体上拥有更好的抗裂韧性．     

高韧性合金钢断裂韧性及疲劳裂纹扩展门槛值的联合试验方法

在柴油机曲轴、连杆等关键零部件的可靠性设计和失效评估中,断裂韧性及疲劳裂纹扩展门槛值分别是衡量材料抵抗裂纹失稳扩展和裂纹开始扩展的重要指标．但是,对于高韧性合金材料,难以通过常规试验所推荐的厚度确定平面应变断裂韧性,而门槛值的测定通常不但非常耗时,且难以直接应用于不同循环特性的实际结构．本文针对高韧性合金钢34CrNi3MoA,提出一种将断裂韧性和疲劳裂纹扩展门槛值试验合二为一的试验方法,即用同一个试件可以同时测定门槛值和断裂韧性．利用断裂韧性关于试件厚度的渐近特性,以几种较薄试件的试验,确定平面应变状态下的断裂韧性．试验结果还表明,裂纹扩展门槛值的试件厚度依存性可以忽略,并给出了任意循环特性（应力比）下的门槛值计算公式．