Defect production in silicon carbide irradiated with Ne and Xe ions with energy of 2.3 MeV/amu

In the present work specimens of mono-crystalline silicon carbide (4H polytype) were irradiated to three successively increasing ion fluences ranging from 7.2 x 10(14) to 6.0 x 10(16) ions/cm(2) (corresponding to the peak displacement damage of 1, 4 and 13 dpa) with Ne and Xe ions respectively with the energy of 2.3 MeV/amu. The irradiated specimens were subsequently annealed at temperatures of 1173 and 1273 K. Defect structure was investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using a cross-sectional specimen preparation technique. The typical microstructures of the annealed specimens irradiated with Ne or Xe ions to high fluences are characterized by small gas bubbles in high concentration in the peak damage region and black dots and dislocation loops (located in the basal plane) in a shallower and broader depth region. Larger dislocation loops were observed in the Xe-ion irradiated specimen than in the Ne-ion irradiated specimen at the same peak damage level. The enhanced formation of dislocation loops in the case of Xe-ion irradiation is understandable by assuming stronger inclination of heavier inert-gas atoms to occupy substitute site in the peak damage region.

Fabrication of a miniature twin-fuel-cell on silicon wafer

The fabrication and performance evaluation of a miniature twin-fuel-cell on silicon wafers are presented in this paper. The miniature twin-fuel-cell was fabricated in series using two membrane-electrode-assemblies sandwiched between two silicon substrates in which electric current, reactant, and product flow. The novel structure of the miniature twin-fuel-cell is that the electricity interconnect from the cathode of one cell to the anode of another cell is made on the same plane. The interconnect was fabricated by sputtering a layer of copper over a layer of gold on the top of the silicon wafer. Silicon dioxide was deposited on the silicon wafer adjacent to the copper layer to prevent short-circuiting between the twin cells. The feed holes and channels in the silicon wafers were prepared by anisotropic silicon etching from the back and front of the wafer with silicon dioxide acting as intrinsic etch-stop layer. Operating on dry H-2/O-2 at 25 degreesC and atmospheric pressure, the measured peak power density was 190.4 mW/cm(2) at 270 mA/cm(2) for the miniature twin-fuel-cell using a Nafion 112 membrane. Based on the polarization curves of the twin-fuel-cell and the two single cells, the interconnect resistance between the twin cells was calculated to be in the range from 0.0113 Omega (at 10 mA/cm(2)) to 0.0150 Omega (at 300 mA/cm(2)), which is relatively low. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

a dynamic model to handle defect-oriented processes

Tongji Univ, Inst Dev Study, Syst Engn Soc China, Comm Syst Dynam, Syst Dynam Soc, China Chapter, Shanghai Inst Foreign Trade, Syst Dynam Soc, Chapters Asia Pacific Area

Defect evolution and hydrodynamic effects in lamellar ordering process of two-dimensional quenched block copolymers

The effects of hydrodynamic interactions on the lamellar ordering process for two-dimensional quenched block copolymers in the presence of extended defects and the topological defect evolutions in lamellar ordering process are numerically investigated by means of a model based on lattice Boltzmann method and self-consistent field theory. By observing the evolution of the average size of domains, it is found that the domain growth is faster with stronger hydrodynamic effects. The morphological patterns formed also appear different. To study the defect evolution, a defect density is defined and is used to explore the defect evolutions in lamellar ordering process. Our simulation results show that the hydrodynamics effects can reduce the density of defects. With our model, the relations between the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter chi, the length of the polymer chains N, and the defect evolutions are studied.

Defect formation induced by PAMAM dendrimers on Pt-supported bilayer lipid membranes investigated by electrochemistry

The interaction of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers (generations 1-7) with supported bilayer lipid membranes was studied by cyclic votammetry and ac impedance. It is shown that the dendrimers (generations 4-6) can induce defects in the Pt-electrode-supported bilayer lipid membrane. The ability of dendrimers to induce defects was dependent on their shapes and surface charge. The results are consistent with a change in the morphology of the dendrimers from an open, branched structure for generations 1-4 to a closed, increasingly compact surface for generations 5-7.

The application and a substitution defect model for Eu3+ -> Eu2+ reduction in non-reducing atmospheres in borates containing BO4 anion groups

The variations of emission intensities of SrB4O7:Eu2+ and Sr2B5O9Cl:Eu2+ prepared in different atmospheres are discussed in view of the structure of host compounds. A model of substitution defects is proposed to explain the abnormal reduction of Eu3+ --> Eu2+ in non-reducing atmospheres of N-2, air and O-2. Experiment results show that SrB4O7:Eu2+ phosphor sample prepared in N-2 atmosphere has an emission intensity of 94% as high as that of the sample prepared in H-2 gas. This implies that the reduction of Eu2+ --> Eu2+ in non-reducing atmospheres could be potentially used in preparing phosphors, such as SrB4O7:Eu2+. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

THE APPLICATION OF ULTRAMICROELECTRODE IN HOMOGENEOUS CATALYTIC REACTION .5. ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF MACRO-MICRO-MACRO TRIPLE AND MICRO-MICRO TWIN ELECTRODES AND THE QUASI-FIRST-ORDER HOMOGENEOUS CATALYTIC REACTION (EC') AT GENERATION/COLLECTION ELECT

A new type of macro-micro-macro triple electrode has been fabricated, the steady-state currents of solution redox species have been observed at an ultramicroband electrode by linear potential scan voltammetry, and generation/collection experiments have al

SOLID DEFECT STRUCTURE AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF PEROVSKITE-TYPE CATALYSTS LA1-XSRXNIO3-LAMBDA AND LA1-1.333XTHXNIO3-LAMBDA

Two series of La1-xSrxNiO3-lambda and La1-1.333xThxNiO3-lambda catalysts have been prepared, and the relationships between the solid defect structure and catalytic activity for NH3 oxidation were measured. The results showed that in the range of x < 0.3, the samples possessed single perovskite-type structure, and as the content of Sr2+ decreased and that of Th4+ increased the catalytic activity increased which was paralleled with the Ni3+ concentration within the catalysts. The active oxygen species (O- or O2(2-)) were present not only on the surface but also in the bulk of the samples. The synergistic effect of transition metal ions with higher oxidation states and randomly distributed oxygen vacancies was the key factor determining catalytic activity of perovskite-type oxides. A redox mechanism for NH3 oxidation over ABO3 is proposed.

THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG OXYGEN-CONTENT, DEFECT DISTRIBUTION AND SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN BISRCACUO SYSTEMS

The effect of oxygen content on superconductivity of the 2212 and 2223 phase has been studied. By comparing the excess oxygen, the modulation vector, the XRD patterns, and the electric resistivity of 2212 and 2223 phase samples obtained with different post-annealing conditions, i.e., annealing at 600-degrees-C or quenching from 860-degrees-C, it was found that the superconductivity is markedly influenced by both the defect distribution in non-Bi layers and the interstitial oxygens incorporated in the Bi-O layers. A tentative explanation for this is given.

STUDIES ON DEFECT STRUCTURE AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF SN-MO OXIDES

The present work is devoted to the studies on relationship of structure and activity of Sn-Mo oxides by using XRD, ESR, IR, XPS, TEM and SEM. Eight samples with Mo/(Mo + Sn) rations: 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0 were prepared. On the basis of structure characterization, Sn-Mo oxides can be divided into three groups: Catalysts I with Mo/(Mo + So) less-than-or-equal-to 0.2, Catalysts II with 0.2 < Mo/(Mo + Sn) < 0.8, and catalysts III with Mo/(Mo + Sn) greater-than-or-equal-to 0.8. The solid solution of Mo5+ in tin oxide was formed and the cation vacancy was formed in catalysts I. The solid solution of Sn4+ in molybdenum oxide was formed in catalysts III. The lattice oxygen in catalysts III has higher mobility and reactivity than that in catalysts I. The catalysts III showed higher activity but lower selectivity than that of catalysts I.

Oxalate decarboxylase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 is translocated by a twin arginine translocation system

Oxalate decarboxylases (OXDCs) (E.C. 4.1.1.2) are enzymes catalyzing the conversion of oxalate to formate and CO2. The OXDCs found in fungi and bacteria belong to a functionally diverse protein superfamily known as the cupins. Fungi-originated OXDCs are secretory enzymes. However, most bacterial OXDCs are localized in the cytosol, and may be involved in energy metabolism. In Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58, a locus for a putative oxalate decarboxylase is present. In the study reported here, an enzyme was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and showed oxalate decarboxylase activity. Computational analysis revealed the A. tumefaciens C58 OXDC contains a signal peptide mediating translocation of the enzyme into the periplasm that was supported by expression of signal-peptideless and full-length versions of the enzyme in A. tumefaciens C58. Further site-directed mutagenesis experiment demonstrated that the A. tumefaciens C58 OXDC is most likely translocated by a twin-arginine translocation (TAT) system.

Synchrotron-laser pump-probe luminescence spectroscopy: Correlation of electronic defect states with x-ray absorption in wide-gap solids

Poolton, Nigel; Hamilton, B.; Evans, D.A., (2005) 'Synchrotron-laser pump-probe luminescence spectroscopy: Correlation of electronic defect states with x-ray absorption in wide-gap solids', Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 38 pp.1478-1484 RAE2008

Among the Sioux : a story of the Twin Cities and the two Dakotas / by R.J. Creswell ; introduction by David R. Breed.

http://www.archive.org/details/amongsiouxstoryo00cresiala

Selective defect of anti-pneumococcal IgG in a patient with persistent polyclonal B cell lymphocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Persistent polyclonal B cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) is a rare condition characterized by increased IgM and large excess of B cells with an IgD(+) CD27(+) phenotype. In normal individuals, these cells play a central role in the defense against pneumococcal infection. So far, few studies have characterized humoral immune responses in PPBL patients. We therefore measured IgG directed against S. pneumoniae antigens in a 51 yr-old woman with PPBL before and after vaccination with a pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. METHODS: Antibodies against pneumococcal antigens were measured first with an overall immunoassay using microplates coated with the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine. A serotype-specific test was also performed according to the WHO consensus protocol. RESULTS: Despite a large number of IgD(+) CD27(+) cells, our patient had low baseline titers of IgG directed against pneumococcal antigens and did not significantly respond to a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine against S. pneumoniae. On the contrary, she had good titers of IgG directed against tetanus toxoid. CONCLUSION: IgM(+) IgD(+) CD27(+) cells which accumulate in this patient with typical PPBL patient failed to perform IgG isotype switch after a polysaccharide vaccine. The potential mechanisms and relationships with the main features of PPBL are discussed. Further studies on a larger number of similar patients are needed.