AFM investigations on the influence of CO2 exposure on Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3–δ

In this work, fresh and CO₂-exposed specimens of Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3–δ (BSCF) are examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) using amplitude-modulated Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and also electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) to characterize the early stages of the formation of reaction products due to reaction with gaseous CO₂. A comparison is made with results from electron microscopy on the same samples. BSCF specimens exposed for 24 and 240 h to an atmosphere of 99.9 % CO₂ at 900 °C, respectively, were analyzed and compared with non-exposed specimens. The observation of interconnected carbonate islands on BSCF forming a continuous carbonate layer after some exposure to CO₂ indicates a Stranski–Krastanov or Volmer–Weber growth mechanism of the carbonate layer. Our results demonstrate that the measurement of surface potential variations by means of KPFM and EFM constitutes a very sensitive technique to detect the formation of reaction layers on gas permeation membranes such as BSCF. In contrast to electron microscopy techniques, scanning probe techniques permit the investigation of the topography and of electrochemical characteristics of the sample surface as received and without further preparation.     

Lagrangian coherent structures are associated with fluctuations in airborne microbial populations

Many microorganisms are advected in the lower atmosphere from one habitat to another with scales of motion being hundreds to thousands of kilometers. The concentration of these microbes in the lower atmosphere at a single geographic location can show rapid temporal changes. We used autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with microbe-sampling devices to collect fungi in the genus Fusarium 100 m above ground level at a single sampling location in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. Some Fusarium species are important plant and animal pathogens, others saprophytes, and still others are producers of dangerous toxins. We correlated punctuated changes in the concentration of Fusarium to the movement of atmospheric transport barriers identified as finite-time Lyapunov exponent-based Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs). An analysis of the finite-time Lyapunov exponent field for periods surrounding 73 individual flight collections of Fusarium showed a relationship between punctuated changes in concentrations of Fusarium and the passage times of LCSs, particularly repelling LCSs. This work has implications for understanding the atmospheric transport of invasive microbial species into previously unexposed regions and may contribute to information systems for pest management and disease control in the future.     

Effect of Pr-Ca substitution on the transport and magnetic behavior of LaMnO3 perovskite

The effect of simultaneous substitution of a fluctuating cation and a divalent cation in LaMnO₃ perovskite modifies the properties of the material to exhibit large valence colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. A good example of these properties is (La_1−2x Pr _x Ca _x )MnO₃ (LPCMO) type CMR material. In this communication it is reported that, with the increase in x (for x=0.1, 0.15, 0.2), the T _c varies between 100 and 120 K with improvisation in metal-insulator transition. Interestingly, resistance increases with x from few hundred ohms to few kilo ohms with corresponding decrease in the unit cell volume. The results of the studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance and ac susceptibility measurements on LPCMO samples for understanding the structural, transport and magnetic properties are discussed in detail.     

关于K个复相关矩阵相等的检验

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Effect of vapor thermolysis on microstructure development of sol–gel-derived lead zirconate–titanate (PZT) and PZT-Sr(K<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>)O<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

Ceramic granules of PZT (Pb(Zr₅₃,Ti₄₇)O₃) and fibers of SKN-doped PZT (1 Mol-% Sr(K_0.25Nb_0.75)O₃ substitution in PZT) were fabricated from sol–gel precursors. The transformation of the metal–organic gel to the oxide and its crystallization behavior was investigated by thermogravitmetry, and XRD. The formation of pyrochlore or perovskite phase was sensitive to the preceeding heat treatment conditions in moist atmosphere (termed vapor thermolysis). Lower thermolysis temperatures resulted in the preferred formation of metastable pyrochlore phase. Higher thermolysis temperatures favored the formation of perovskite. Investigation of sintered materials revealed a superior sintering activity for samples with pronounced intermediate pyrochlore content whereas low-pyrochlore samples remained highly porous after sintering. For constant chemical precursors the vapour thermolysis conditions (220–280 °C) siginificantly affected crystallization and sintering behavior of the PZT and SKN-PZT material.     

Structural studies and T c dependence in La2−x Dy x Ca y Ba2Cu4+y O z type mixed oxide superconductors

A new series of mixed oxide superconductors with the stoichiometric composition La_2−x Dy _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z (x=0.0 − 0.5, y=2x) has been studied for structural and superconductiong properties. Our earlier studies on La_2−x (Y/Er) _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z series, show a strong dependence of T _c on hole concentration (p _sh). In the present work, the results of the analysis of the neutron diffraction measurements at room temprerature on x=0.3 and 0.5 samples are reported. It is interesting to know that Ca substitutes for both La and Ba site with concomitant displacement of La onto Ba site. Superconductivity studies show that maximum T _c is obtained for x=0.5, y=1.0 sample (T _c ∼ 75 K), for La_1.5Dy_0.5Ca₁Ba₂Cu₅O _z (La-2125).