Field-induced structural ordering in electrorheological fluids

Structural relaxations of an electrorheological fluid (ERF) due to changes in the applied electrical field strength or shear rate are observed on time scales 1 s<t<40 000 s. Commercial ERFs consisting of mesoscopic polyurethane particles in a silicone oil matrix were studied by three different experimental techniques in order to obtain and compare the characteristic relaxation times. It is demonstrated that dielectric spectroscopy, viscosimetry and light transmission experiments represent the same results concerning the structural relaxation phenomena of ERFs when electrical fields are applied. The tendency of strong induced dipoles to align the particles in the direction of the field increases the effective dipole moment and therefore , the shear viscosity and the amount of light transmitted along the field direction in an ITO/glass sandwich cell. The optical experiment is capable of resolving fast processes within the first 1 ms if large electrical fields are applied. The effects of electrophoresis and shearing, which both counteract the field induced structures, are also addressed.     

Tailoring of Photoluminescence Properties in All-Vacuum Deposited Perovskite via Ruddlesden–Popper Faults

Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) faults are well known in oxide perovskites, and are also observed in promising metal halide perovskites. However, the effect of RP faults on optical properties of perovskite has not been systematically investigated. In this study, it is found that RP faults are common planar faults in all-vacuum deposited CsPbBr₃-based perovskite polycrystal thin films, and the density of RP planar faults can be greatly increased by non-stoichiometric composition (Cs-rich) as well as reduced dimensionality (quasi-2D) strategies. The photoluminescence (PL) measurement reveals monotonically increasing peak intensities with higher densities of RP planar faults from Cs-rich, quasi-2D to Cs-rich & quasi-2D samples. The corresponding atomic-scale differential phase contrast maps indicate strongly confined charges within the RP planar fault network, which explains well the relationship between PL enhancement and the density of RP planar faults, and offers an alternative pathway for tailoring the optoelectronic properties of perovskite.     

A Stable Polymer-based Solid-State Lithium Metal Battery and its Interfacial Characteristics Revealed by Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy

Solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) are a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage systems due to their intrinsic safety and high energy density. However, they still suffer from poor interfacial stability, which can incur high interfacial resistance and insufficient cycle lifespan. Herein, a novel poly(vinylidene fluoride‑hexafuoropropylene)-based polymer electrolyte (PPE) with LiBF₄ and propylene carbonate plasticizer is developed, which has a high room-temperature ionic conductivity up to 1.15 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ and excellent interfacial stability. Benefitting from the stable interphase, the PPE-based symmetric cell can operate for over 1000 h. By virtue of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM) characterization, the high interfacial compatibility between Li metal anode and PPE is revealed. The solid electrolyte interphase is made up of an amorphous outer layer that can keep intimate contact with PPE and an inner Li₂O-dominated layer that can protect Li from continuous side reactions during battery cycling. A LiF-rich transition layer is also discovered in the region of PPE close to Li metal anode. The feasibility of investigating interphases in polymer-based solid-state batteries via Cryo-TEM techniques is demonstrated, which can be widely employed in future to rationalize the correlation between solid-state electrolytes and battery performance from ultrafine interfacial structures.     

Direct Observation of Oxygen Ion Dynamics in a WO3-x based Second-Order Memristor with Dendritic Integration Functions

Direct observation of oxygen dynamics in an oxide-based second-order memristor can provide the valid evidence to clarify the memristive mechanism, however, which is still limited for now. In this study, the migration and diffusion of oxygen ions in the region of Pt/WO_3-x Schottky interface are observed in the WO_3-x second-order memristor by using the technique of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the electron energy loss spectroscopy. Interestingly, the coexistence of memristive and memcapacitive switching can be implemented in this memristor. Combined with the analysis of depth-profile X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), an interface-barrier-modulation second-order memristive model is proposed based on the above results. Notably, temporally correlative oxygen dynamics in the memristor offers the platform to integrate signals from multiple inputs, enabling the realization of the dendritic functions of synchronous and asynchronous integration for the application of logic operations with fault-tolerance capability and associative learning. These findings provide the experimental evidence to in-depth understanding of oxygen dynamics and switching mechanism in second-order memristor, which can support the optimization of memristive performance and the achievement of biorealistic synaptic functions.     

InPBi薄膜材料的结构性能和光学性能研究

室温下,InPBi表现出强而宽的光致发光光谱,其宽光谱特性来自于材料中的PIn反位深能级和与Bi相关的深能级。该特性使得InPBi有希望应用于制备光学相干层析扫描系统中的超辐射光源。文章利用透射电子显微镜和三维原子探针研究了InPBi薄膜材料的结构性能,发现Bi原子在InPBi薄膜中的分布极不均匀,在InPBi/InP界面出现了Bi的富集区,从该区域沿[001]方向出现了Bi的纳米面,此纳米面位于(110)平面上。这种Bi原子的富集分布阻碍了PIn反位参与的载流子复合过程,对InPBi的光学性能有显著的影响。研究结果可为制造光学相干层析扫描系统的超辐射发光二极管提供一定的理论基础。     

相位调制微波光传输链路特性分析（特邀）

常规的微波光子系统采用强度调制方式实现微波信号的电光转换,由于调制器采用马赫-曾德尔干涉结构(MZI),系统性能不仅受到自身正弦响应特性的制约,而且需要进行偏置点控制,因此存在动态范围受限、系统控制复杂以及3 dB固有损耗带来的效率不足的问题,而采用相位调制可避免该问题。围绕相位调制光传输链路,为了完成相位调制信号的光电解调,文章提出采用薄膜滤波器通过边带抑制与边带选通两种方式实现相位调制到强度调制的转换,并分析了链路射频性能与器件参数之间的映射关系。实测对比了相位调制与常规强度调制链路之间的传输特性,通过分析可知,在相同链路配置条件下,相位调制链路具有更高的传输效率,而且光滤波带来的均衡作用,使得相位调制链路的3 dB带宽比强度调制链路大两倍。     

Help from space: grant-free massive access for satellite-based IoT in the 6G era

The Sixth-Generation (6G) standard for wireless communications is expected to realize ubiquitous coverage for massive Internet of Things (IoT) networks by 2030. Satellite-based communications are recognized as a highly promising technical enabler to satisfy IoT service requirements in the 6G era. This study analyzes multiple access technologies, which are essential for the effective deployment of satellite-based IoT. First, we thoroughly investigate the existing research related to massive access, including information-theory considerations as well as Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) and Random Access (RA) technologies.Then, we explore the influence of the satellite transmission environment on multiple access technologies. Based on this study, a Non-orthogonal Massive Grant-Free Access (NoMaGFA) scheme, which reaps the joint benefits of RA and NOMA, is proposed for asynchronous transmissions in satellite-based IoT to achieve improved system throughput and enhance the system robustness under varying traffics. Finally, we identify some important and interesting future developments for satellite-based IoT, including waveform design, transceiver design, resource allocation, and artificial intelligence-enhanced design.     

宽阻带小型化双频带通滤波器

文中提出了一种具有宽阻带的紧凑型双频带通滤波器,它采用了折叠短路枝节负载谐振器、紧凑型微 带单元谐振器(CMRC)和阶跃阻抗谐振器结构。由于多个谐振器产生了五个可控传输零点(TZ),该滤波器实现了两个 通带之间的良好隔离度以及宽阻带特性。制作并测试了尺寸紧凑的双频带通滤波器实验样品,测试结果显示,第一通 带和第二通带的中心频率/ 插入损耗分别为0. 66 GHz/0. 8 dB 和1. 73 GHz/0. 7 dB,阻带频率高达10. 5 GHz,抑制水平 超过15 dB。     

Electron and light microscopical investigation of defect structures in mesophases of pharmaceutical substances

 Transmission electron microscopy of freeze fractured and replicated samples (TEM) and polarizing light microscopy (PLM) are used to investigate the defect structures of the thermotropic and lyotropic mesophases of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug fenoprofen sodium and of the thermotropic mesophase of the nonionic surfactant sucrose oleate (O1570). All mesophases have a layered, smectic structure. The thermotropic liquid crystal of feno-profen sodium is an interdigitated smectic A phase (smectic Ad) having the highest viscosity of the investigated samples. The thermotropic mesophase of the sugar ester is also of the type smectic A, likely to be of subtype smectic A2 (bilayered smectic structure). The lyotropic mesophase is of lamellar liquid crystalline nature and has a much lower viscosity than the thermotropic mesophases. In the PLM the lyotropic fenoprofen mesophase has a strong tendency to form a pseudoisotropic texture, indicating a strong tendency to form undisturbed layered structures. Other textures exhibited in the PLM are fan-shaped texture and maltese-cross texture. Confocal domains, cylinders, pits and peaks as well as screw dislocations are found in great number in the TEM. However, no greater regions of undisturbed lamellar arrangement in the lyotropic mesophase could be detected. The only texture of the thermotropic fenoprofen mesophase visible in the PLM is the fan-shaped texture, indicating confocal domains as predominant structural elements. However, no confocal domains (tori or Dupin cyclides) are found in the TEM. In the PLM the sugar–ester mesophase exhibited a fan-shaped texture, maltese crosses and oily streaks as dominant textures. In the TEM only a few +π and −π disclinations and imperfect confocal domains could be detected. The discrepancies in the appearance of defect structures and textures between the mesophases as well as the discrepancies in the findings in the PLM and in the TEM investigations are caused by the different sample preparation and the different viscosities of the mesophases. Received: 28 May 1997 Accepted: 2 September 1997     

DFT study of the conductance of molecular wire:The effect of coupling geometry and intermolecular interaction on the transport properties

The density functional theory (DFT) combining with the non-equilibrium Green functions (NEGF) method is applied to the study of the electronic transport properties for a Di-thiol-benzene (DTB) molecule coupled to two Au(111) surfaces. The dependence of the transport properties on the bias, the coupling geometry of the molecule-electrode interface, and the intermolecular interaction are examined in detail. The results show that the existence of the hydrogen atom at the end of the DTB molecule would significantly decrease the transmission coefficients, and then the differential conductance (dI/dV). By changing the position of the DTB molecule located between two electrodes a maximum value of calculated current is observed. It is also found that the intermolecular interaction will strongly influence the transport properties of the system studied.