Studies of magnetic interactions in Ni-doped ZnO from first-principles calculations

The magnetic interactions in Ni-doped ZnO are calculated using GGA and GGA + U method of density functional theory. The following three cases: (i) Ni-doped ZnO, (ii) (Ni, Al)-codoped ZnO, and (iii) (Ni, Li)-codoped ZnO are studied. The ferromagnetic ordering is always favorable for the three cases within GGA method. However, the ferromagnetic state is sometimes favorable after treating within the method of GGA + U. The GGA underestimates the correlated interactions especially when the Ni ions align directly to each other. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genetic studies of human diversity in East Asia

East Asia is one of the most important regions for studying evolution and genetic diversity of human populations. Recognizing the relevance of characterizing the genetic diversity and structure of East Asian populations for understanding their genetic his

PHOTOLUMINESCENCE STUDIES OF CHEMICAL ADSORPTION OF GAAS/ALXGA1-XAS MULTIQUANTUM-WELL SEMICONDUCTOR

Adsorption of ferrocene and p-methylnitrobenzene on a GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs multiquantum well semiconductor is characterized by the changes in the photoluminescent response in terms of the interactions of adsorbed molecules with surface states.

PHOTOEMISSION-STUDIES OF K-PROMOTED NITRIDATION AND OXIDATION OF THE INP(100) SURFACE USING SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION

The effect of a potassium overlayer on nitridation and oxidation of the InP(100) surface is investigated by core-level and valence-band photoemission spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. In comparison with the K-promoted nitridation of the InP(110) surface obtained by cleavage in situ, we found that the promotive effect for the InP(100) surface cleaned by ions bombardment is much stronger and that the nitridation products consist of two kinds of complexes: InPNx and InPNx+y. The results confirmed that surface defects play an important part in the promotive effect. Furthermore, in contrast with K-promoted oxidation of InP(100) where bonding is observed between indium and oxygen, indium atoms did not react directly with nitrogen atoms during the K-promoted nitridation of InP(100). (C) 1995 American Vacuum Society.

Probe beam deflection combined with cyclic voltammetry studies of C-60-modified electrode film

C-60 films, prepared by solution casting, were studied by means of in situ probe beam deflection (PBD) combined with cyclic voltammetry (CV). PBD is a powerful technique for investigation of phenomena at the electrode/electrolyte interface in acetonitrile with quaternary ammonium and alkali metal salts as supporting electrolytes. In tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA(+)) salt solution, a stable CV can be obtained during the first two reduction/reoxidation waves. On reduction, injection of cations to maintain charge balance and dissolution of small amount of C-60(-) (TEA(+)) and/or C-60(2-) (TBA(+))(2) are detected. During the reoxidation process ejection of cations and injection of anions occur simultaneously, especially for the second reoxidation wave. In the case where TBABr is the supporting electrolyte, the accompanied behavior is more complicated than in TBABF(4), TBAClO(4), and TBAPF(6) solutions. A small pair of prewaves in CV are proposed due to oxidation/reduction of C-60 domains but not dissolution/redeposition of C-60 film. Extending the potential scan range to the third reduction wave, no apparent corresponding reoxidation wave is related to the third reduction wave, the electroactivity of the film disappears rapidly and dissolution of C-60 film is observed. In tetraethylammonium (TEA(+)) and NAClO(4) solutions, the electrochemistry of the C-60 films is unstable, and potential scans lead to dissolution of flaking of the film.

Preliminary Studies of Practicability of Laminar Plasma Surface Treatment Process

The basic remelting and cladding tests with laminar plasma technology on metals have been conducted in order to demonstrate the possibility of the technology applied in material surface modification. The experimental results show that the properties of the modified layers of the cast iron surface can be improved notably by the remelting treatment and those of the stainless steel by the cladding treatment. The related results are also verified by microscopic studies such as scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations, energy dispersive spectra (EDS) analysis and the Vickers hardness measurements of the surface modified layers.

Experimental Studies of the Material Properties of the Forewing of Cicada (Homoptera, Cicadidae)

Detailed investigations on the structural and mechanical properties of the forewing of the cicada were carried out. Measurement of the structures of the wings showed that the thickness of the membrane of each cell and the diameter of each vein were non-uniform in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, and their means were approximately 12.2 and 133.3 mum, respectively. However, the aspect ratios of the wings and the bodies were quite uniform and were approximately equal to 2.98 and 2.13, respectively. Based on the measured thickness, mass and area of the membranes of the cells, the mean density and the mean area density of the wing were approximately 2.3 g cm(-3) and 2.8 x 10(-3) g cm(-2), respectively. In addition, the diameters of the veins of the wings, including the diameters of the holes in the vein of the leading edge, were examined. The mechanical properties of the wing were investigated separately by nanoindentation and tensile testing. The results indicated that the mean Young's modulus, hardness and yield stress of the membranes of the wings were approximately 3.7 Gpa, 0.2 Gpa and 29 Mpa, respectively, and the mean Young's modulus and strength of the veins along the direction of the venation of wings were approximately 1.9 Gpa and 52 Mpa, respectively. Finally, the relevant results were briefly analyzed and discussed, providing a guideline to the biomimetic design of the aerofoil materials of micro air vehicles.

Comparative studies of AOT and NaDEHP by fluorescence technique and z-potential (ζ) measurements

The aggregation behaviors of two surfactants with the same hydrophobic tail, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (NaDEHP), have been investigated by the fluorescence technique and z-potential (ζ) measurements. Five fine peaks of the pyrene molecule fluorescence spectroscopy appear in the surfactant solution, and the micropolarity at which pyrene locates is monitored from the intensity ratio of the first (I1) and the third peak (I3). A wide peak around 475 nm, the emission spectra of the excimer of pyrene molecules, is observed in the NaDEHP solution, while this is not found for the AOT system. The value of I1/I3 decreases in a more limited concentration range for the AOT system than for NaDEHP, indicating that small aggregates can be more easily formed by NaDEHP molecules. The z-potential results for the aggregates formed by the two surfactants show that the interaction between AOT and PVP is stronger than that between NaDEHP and PVP.

Preparation And Tribology Studies of Alkyl Carboxylic Acid Monolayer Films on Pei-Coated Glass Substrate

首次在涂敷PEI的玻璃表面上制备了癸酸及全氟癸酸的单分子层膜。研究了成膜机理及摩擦特性。结果表明。脱水剂DCCD促进了癸酸或全氟癸酸与PEI酞胺化的反应。导致两种羧酸在PEI表面产生了靠化学键（酞胺键）连接的稳定的单分子层膜,摩擦、磨损实验表明。单分子层有机膜的摩擦特性受膜的组成、表面能及有序性和堆积密度的重要影响。表面能越低,有序性和堆积密度越高。摩擦系数越低。与碳氢化合物相比。碳氟化合物形成的有序膜具有更高的强度和抗磨性能。

Friction and Wear Studies of Octadecyltrichlorosilane SAM on Silicon

A self-assembled monolayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) was prepared on a single-crystal silicon wafer (111) and its tribological properties were examined with a one-way reciprocating tribometer. The worn surfaces and transfer film on the counterface were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that, due to the wear of the OTS monolayer and the formation of the transfer film on the counterpart ball, the friction coefficient gradually increases from 0.06 to 0.13 with increasing sliding cycles and then keeps stable at a normal load of 0.5N. The transfer film is characterized by deposition, accumulation, and spalling at extended test duration. Though low friction coefficients of the monolayer in sliding against steel or ceramic counterfaces are recorded, poor load-carrying capacity and antiwear ability are also shown. Moreover, the monolayer itself or the corresponding transfer film on the counterface fails to lubricate even at a normal load of 1.0 N. Thus, the self-assembled monolayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane can be a potential boundary lubricant only at very low loads.

Preparation and Tribological Studies of Stearic Acid Self-Assembled Monolayers on Polymer-Coated Silicon Surface

We present a good alternative method to improve the tribological properties of polymer films by chemisorbing a long-chain monolayer on the functional polymer surface. Thus, a novel self-assembled monolayer is successfully prepared on a silicon substrate coated with amino-group-containing polyethyleneimine (PEI) by the chemical adsorption of stearic acid (STA) molecules. The formation and structure of the STA-PEI film are characterized by means of contact-angle measurement and ellipsometric thickness measurement, and of Fourier transformation infrared spectrometric and atomic force microscopic analyses. The micro- and macro-tribological properties of the STA-PEI film are investigated on an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a unidirectional tribometer, respectively. It has been found that the STA monolayer about 2.1-nm thick is produced on the PEI coating by the chemical reaction between the amino groups in the PEI and the carboxyl group in the STA molecules to form a covalent amide bond in the presence of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) as a dehydrating regent. By introducing the STA monolayer, the hydrophilic PEI polymer surface becomes hydrophobic with a water contact angle to be about 105degrees. Study of the time dependence of the film formation shows that the adsorption of PEI is fast, whereas at least 24 h is needed to generate the saturated STA monolayer. Whereas the PEI coating has relatively high adhesion, friction, and poor anti-wear ability, the STA-PEI film possesses good adhesive resistance and high load-carrying capacity and anti-wear ability, which could be attributed to the chemical structure of the STA-PEI thin film. It is assumed that the hydrogen bonds between the molecules of the STA-PEI film act to stabilize the film and can be restored after breaking during sliding. Thus, the self-assembled STA-PEI thin film might find promising application in the lubrication of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).

Wear Studies of Hydroxyapatite Composite Coating Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been successfully introduced into hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings using laser surface alloying. It is evident from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations that the CNTs present in the matrix still keep their multi-walled cylinder graphic structure, although they undergo the laser irradiation. Scratching test results indicated that the as-alloyed HA composite coatings exhibit improved wear resistance and lower friction coefficient with increasing the amount of CNTs in the precursor material powders. These composites have potential applications in the field of coating materials for metal implants under high-load-bearing conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Studies of the Effect of a Coal Concentrator on NO Formation in Swirling Coal Combustion

To develop low-pollution burners, the effect of a coal concentrator on NO formation in swirling coal combustion is studied using both numerical simulation and experiments. The isothermal gas-particle two-phase velocities and particle concentration in a cold model of swirl burners with and without coal concentrators were measured using the phase Doppler particle anemometer (PDPA). A full two-fluid model of reacting gas-particle flows and coal combustion with an algebraic unified second-order moment (AUSM) turbulence-chemistry model for the turbulent reaction rate of NO formation are used to simulate swirling coal combustion and NO formation with different coal concentrators. The results give the turbulent kinetic energy, particle concentration, temperature and NO concentration in cases of with and without coal concentrators. The predicted results for cold two-phase flows are in good agreement with the PDPA measurement results, showing that the coal concentrator increases the turbulence and particle concentration in the recirculation zone. The combustion modeling results indicate that although the coal concentrator increases the turbulence and combustion temperature, but still can remarkably reduce the NO formation due to creating high coal concentration in the recirculation zone.