Desorption of surfactant and sintering of surface-modified PdxNi1 − x nanoparticles

A series of Pd_xNi_1 − x nanoparticles in a diameter of 6-7 nm were prepared by wet chemical reduction. They were then modified with two surfactants, stearic acid (SA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Desorption of the surfactant was studied using a temperature programmed desorption technique, and the sintering behavior of surface-modified Pd_xNi_1 − x nanoparticles was examined. Since surface energy of the nanoparticles depends on the alloy composition, it can be correlated with the desorption temperature of surfactant from the nanoparticle surface. Because Ni has a higher surface energy, the surfactant desorption temperature increases as the Ni content increases. With the same stoichiometry, the desorption temperature of SA is always higher than that of PEG. The SA-modified nanoparticles have higher thermal stability and are less sintered than PEG-modified nanoparticles. The sintering and growth behavior of the nanoparticles can be correlated with variation of surface energy due to different surface modification.     

Role of vitreous matrix on the optical activity of Ge-doped silica

We report an experimental study on the relationship between the optical activity of Ge-oxygen deficient centers and dynamic properties and conformational heterogeneity of vitreous matrix in silica. We focus our attention on the absorption band at ∼5.2 eV (B_2β) and on the two related emissions at ∼4.2 eV (α_E) and at ∼3.1 eV (β). From the temperature dependence of B_2β band we estimate a mean energy value of 26 meV for local vibrational modes coupled to the electronic transition, suggesting that the chromophore and its surrounding have access to low frequency dynamics. From the thermal behavior of the two emissions we distinguish the two competitive relaxation processes from the first singlet excited state S₁: the radiative one, giving rise the α_E band, and the thermally activated intersystem-crossing process between S₁ and the triplet state T₁, originating the β band. The intersystem-crossing rate increases on increasing the temperature, determining an opposite thermal behavior of the intensity of the two emissions. However, this temperature dependence cannot be rationalized by a simple Arrhenius law and the α_E decay kinetics at high temperatures do not follow a single exponential law, suggesting a complex landscape of configurational energies of the process.     

Synthesis and characteristics of NiO nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of nickel dimethylglyoximate rods

Arrays of NiO nanoparticles have been synthesized via thermal decomposition of nickel dimethylglyoximate precursor. The structure, morphology and properties of the products were characterized by XRD, TEM, SAED and UV-vis spectrophotometry. TEM reveals that one-dimensional arrays consist of NiO nanoparticles. XRD and SAED indicate that these NiO nanoparticles crystallize with a polycrystalline structure. The optical absorption band gap of NiO nanoparticles is 3.51 eV.     

LGP pattern design with single LED light source

We investigated optimize pattern design of a LGP for TFT-LCD with single LED. For the purpose, we introduced new concepts of pattern design most appropriate design for single light source, density adjustment design and radius adjustment design. And than compared the LGP output intensity distribution of the two cases with that of the uniform density pattern. As the result, above two types pattern design given a good result. Especially, the radius adjustment pattern design enhanced intensity uniformity definitely.     

Ionization effect to plasma expansion study during nanosecond pulsed laser deposition

The dynamic characteristic and effects of plasma play an important role in film growth process of pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Based on numerical hydrodynamic modeling, supposed the laser radiation and partial ionization of the plasma as a dynamic source, we deduce a set of new plasma expansion dynamics equations. Based on which, as an example of carbon target, using finite difference method, the plasma flow dynamics evolvement in vacuum is investigated. Our results show the dynamic partial ionization increases the expansion in all directions, which changes into a new dynamic source for plasma expansion. In the axial direction, because of the collisional interactions between particles, the plume density peak is in the vicinity of the target surface and the acceleration of plasma occurs mainly near the target surface too. In the transverse direction, the plume peak is not near the target, but at the surface. The space expansion distance is far less than the axial direction because there is no high initial velocity component in this direction. The predictions of the plasma expansion action based on the proposed dynamics source assumption are found to be in agreement with the experimental observation.     

Thermochemical process in preparation of ZnO film by TFA-MOD method

The excess weight loss due to the evaporation of zinc compound is observed in the growth of ZnO film by trifluoroacetate metalorganic deposition (TFA-MOD) method. Higher temperature (>90 °C) aging and/or addition of monoethanolamine (MEA) are effective to prevent the evaporation of zinc compound and increase the yield of ZnO. The mechanism of preventing evaporation is that zinc trifluoroacetate is hydrolyzed into Zn₄O(CF₃COO)₆. A three-dimensional structure of Zn₄O(CF₃COO)₆ is proposed. It is shown that higher temperature aging does harm to the surface morphology of ZnO films. The addition of MEA reduces the required aging temperature thus improves the surface morphology.     

Modeling the mean interaction forces between powder particles. Application to silica gel-magnesium stearate mixtures

Dry coating experiments were performed by using the Hybridizer (Nara). Large host silica gel (SG) particles (d₅₀ = 55 μm) were coated with fine invited particles of magnesium stearate (MS, d₅₀ = 4.6 μm) for different contents of MS in the mixture. The real MS mass fraction wI obtained after mechanical treatment has been determined thanks to calibration from TGA measurements. The surface structure and morphology of MS coatings were observed using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) [Y. Ouabbas, A. Chamayou, L. Galet, M. Baron, J. Dodds, A.M. Danna, G. Thomas, B. Guilhot, P. Grosseau, Modification of powders properties by dry coating: some examples of process and products characteristics, Proceedings of CHISA2008, Prague, August 2008, submitted for publication; L. Galet, Y. Ouabbas, A.M. Danna, G. Thomas, P. Grosseau, M. Baron, A. Chamayou, Surface morphology analysis and AFM study of silica gel particles after mechanical dry coating with magnesium stearate, Proceedings of PSA2008, UK, September 2008, submitted for publication].AFM has been also used to measure the adhesion forces between particles. Interaction forces between the material attached to the cantilever (magnesium stearate MS) and the surface of the composite material (silica gel SG or magnesium stearate MS) have been determined at different surface locations. For different compositions wI of the mixture MS-SG, the numeric distribution and the mean value f of the forces f_H obtained for MS-SG interactions or f_I for MS-MS interactions have been established and the experimental curve showing the evolution of f versus wI has been derived.Models of ordered structures have been developed, implying morphological hypotheses concerning large spherical or cylindrical host particles H and small invited spherical I. Different types of distribution of I materials onto the surface of H have been considered: for examples a discrete monolayer - or multilayers - of monosized particles I on the H surface. The coordinence of MS particles around SG particles has been estimated to calculate the free SG surface fraction through different modelling and to obtain the mean force f versus composition wI. The theoretical force values have been compared to experimental ones. The deviations have been discussed in terms of guest particle distributions on the surface of the large host particles and morphological hypotheses.     

Effects of ZnS:Mn/AlN multilayer structure on luminescent properties of nanostructured thin-film EL device

Effects of ZnS:Mn/AlN multilayer structure on luminescent properties of nanostructured (NS) thin-film electroluminescent (TFEL) device of which emission layer is a multilayer composed with ZnS:Mn layers and 0.7-nm-thick AlN interlayers were studied. The bandgap widening and the increased PL efficiency of Mn²⁺ 3d-3d transitions with a decrease in the ZnS:Mn single-layer thickness down to 5 nm were observed, which is ascribed to quantum confinement effects. Meanwhile, the multilayer with 2-nm-thick ZnS:Mn single-layers shows a drop of PL efficiency, indicating the presence of defective region just on AlN. The tendency of the luminous efficiency of the NS-TFEL device against the ZnS:Mn single-layer thickness is similar to the tendency found in the PL efficiency, indicating the importance of the ZnS:Mn/AlN interface for the device performance.     

Pion mass dependence of the nucleon mass in the chiral quark soliton model

The dependence of the nucleon mass on the mass of the pion is studied in the framework of the chiral quark-soliton model. A remarkable agreement is observed with lattice data from recent full dynamical simulations. The possibility and limitations to use the results from the chiral quark soliton model as a guideline for the chiral extrapolation of lattice data are discussed.     

Application of a laser heterodyne detector in submillimeter wave spectroscopy with a harmonic generator

Spatial sensitometry variations in a liquid crystal light valve are studied as well as signal induced noise and differences in global and local contrast ratio. The device's off state is investigated and spatial variations in the thickness of the LC layer are used to quantify the results obtained. Operation with low frequency applied ac voltages appears preferable from noise considerations, whereas operation at high frequency appears preferable for improved uniformity.