(Table 1) Compressional- and share-wave velocieties at elevated confining pressure of ODP Holes 136-842C and 136-843A

Identification of a sediment/basement contact using seismic reflection recordings has proven to be extremely difficult in wide areas of the North Pacific Ocean owing to the presence of massive, highly reflective chert layers within the sediment column. Leg 136 of the Ocean Drilling Program recovered coherent pieces of chert of sufficient size for the first comprehensive laboratory measurements of the seismic properties of this material. Compressional-wave velocities of six samples at 40-MPa confining pressure averaged 5.33 km/s, whereas shear-wave velocities at the same pressure averaged 3.48 km/s. Velocities were independent of porosity, which ranged from 5% to 13%, suggesting that pores within the samples were mostly high aspect ratio vugs as opposed to low aspect ratio cracks. Back-scattered electron images made with a scanning electron microscope confirmed this observation. Acoustic impedances were calculated for the chert samples and from shipboard measurements of the red clay sediment overlying the chert layers. An extremely large compressional-wave reflection coefficient (0.73) characterized the interface between the two lithologies. A synthetic seismogram was calculated using chert and typical pelagic carbonate properties to illustrate the influence of chert layers on a marine seismic-reflection section. Compressional-wave to shear-wave velocity ratios of the chert samples (Vp/Vs =1.53) are close to that of single-crystal quartz in spite of variable porosity. Shear-wave reflection coefficients are estimated to be approximately 0.94. A compressional-wave reflection coefficient for a basement/sediment (carbonate) interface is estimated to be approximately 0.50, significantly less than that of sediment/chert.

In situ imaging of catalytic etching on silver during methanol oxidation conditions by environmental scanning electron microscopy

Polycrystalline silver is used to catalytically oxidise methanol to formaldehyde. This paper reports the results of extensive investigations involving the use of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) to monitor structural changes in silver during simulated industrial reaction conditions. The interaction of oxygen, nitrogen, and water, either singly or in combination, with a silver catalyst at temperatures up to 973 K resulted in the appearance of a reconstructed silver surface. More spectacular was the effect an oxygen/methanol mixture had on the silver morphology. At a temperature of ca. 713 K pinholes were created in the vicinity of defects as a consequence of subsurface explosions. These holes gradually increased in size and large platelet features were created. Elevation of the catalyst temperature to 843 K facilitated the wholescale oxygen induced restructuring of the entire silver surface. Methanol reacted with subsurface oxygen to produce subsurface hydroxyl species which ultimately formed water in the subsurface layers of silver. The resultant hydrostatic pressure forced the silver surface to adopt a "hill and valley" conformation in order to minimise the surface free energy. Upon approaching typical industrial operating conditions widespread explosions occurred on the catalyst and it was also apparent that the silver surface was extremely mobile under the applied conditions. The interaction of methanol alone with silver resulted in the initial formation of pinholes primarily in the vicinity of defects, due to reaction with oxygen species incorporated in the catalyst during electrochemical synthesis. However, dramatic reduction in the hole concentration with time occurred as all the available oxygen became consumed. A remarkable correlation between formaldehyde production and hole concentration was found.

Validating SMPS-measured size distribution of double-mode spherical Silica nanoparticles by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

A nanoparticles size is one of their key physical characteristics that can affect their fate in a human’s respiratory tract (in case of inhalation) and also in the environment. Hence, measuring the size distribution of nanoparticles is absolutely essential and contributes greatly to their characterization. For years, Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers (SMPS), which rely on measuring the electrical mobility diameter of particles, have been used as one of the most reliable real-time instruments for the size distribution measurement of nanoparticles. Despite its benefits, this instrument has some drawbacks, including equivalency problems for non-spherical particles (i.e. assuming a non-spherical particle is equal to a spherical particle of diameter d due to the same electrical mobility), as well as limitations in terms of its use in workplaces, because of its large size and the complexity of its operation...

Preliminary Investigations on Low-Pressure Laminar Plasma Spray Processing

The usual plasma spraying methods often involve entrainment of the surrounding air into the turbulent plasma core and result in coated materials having relatively high porosity and low adhesive strength. Therefore, exploration of new plasma spraying methods for fabricating high quality coatings to meet the requirement of special applications will be quite important. In this study, an alternative plasma spraying method, i.e. the low-pressure laminar plasma spraying process, is investigated and used in an attempt for spraying thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Investigations on the characteristics of the laminar plasma jets, feeding methods for the ceramic powder and the formation process of the individual quenched splats have been carried out. The properties of the TBCs sprayed by laminar plasma jet process, such as the adhesive strength at the interface of the ceramic coating/bond coat, the surface roughness and microstructure, are examined by tensile tests and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations.

Influence of growth pressure of a GaN buffer layer on the properties of MOCVD GaN

The influence of growth pressure of GaN buffer layer on the properties of MOCVD GaN on alpha-Al2O3 has been investigated with the aid of a home-made in situ laser reflectometry measurement system. The results obtained with in situ measurements and scanning electron microscope show that with the increase in deposition pressure of buffer layer, the nuclei increase in size, which roughens the surface, and delays the coalescence of GaN nuclei. The optical and crystalline quality of GaN epilayer was improved when buffer layer was deposited at high pressure.

Influences of reactor pressure of GaN buffer layers on morphological evolution of GaN grown by MOCVD

The morphological evolution of GaN thin films grown on sapphire by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition was demonstrated to depend strongly on the growth pressure of GaN nucleation layer (NL). For the commonly used two-step growth process, a change in deposition pressure of NL greatly influences the growth mode and morphological evolution of the following GaN epitaxy. By means of atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscope, it is shown that the initial density and the spacing of nucleation sites on the NL and subsequently the growth mode of FIT GaN epilayer may be directly controlled by tailoring the initial low temperature NL growth pressure. A mode is proposed to explain the TD reduction for NL grown at relatively high reactor pressure. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of reactor pressure on GaN nucleation layers and subsequent GaN epilayers grown on sapphire substrate

The influence of reactor pressure on GaN nucleation layer (NL) and the quality of subsequent GaN on sapphire is studied. The layers were grown by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on c-plane sapphire substrates and investigated by in situ laser reflectometry, atomic force microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence. With the increase of reactor pressure prior to high-temperature GaN growth, the size of GaN nuclei formed after annealing decreases, the spacing between nucleation sites increases and the coalescence of GaN nuclei is deferred. The optical and crystalline qualities of GaN epilayer were improved when NLs were deposited at high pressure. The elongated lateral overgrowth of GaN islands is responsible for the quality improvement. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The photon scanning tunneling microscope and its applications

A simple photon scanning tunneling microscope (PSTM) is described. Its lateral resolution (similar to 10nm with a maximal scanning range of 10 mu m x 10 mu m ) is much better than that of a conventional optical microscope. Its principle, the fiber optic tip fabrication and PSTM images of different samples such as mica, HDPE and LiNbO3 are presented.

东海榴辉岩向斜长角闪岩的转化过程

The Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphic (UHPM) eclogite, which was resulted from deep subduction of crustal continent, is very significant due to its continental dynamic implications. Further more, this kind of rocks experienced great P-T, fluid and stresses changes during its forming and exhumation, causing mineral reactions occur intensively, which resulted in a lot of fantastic micro-texture. The micro-texture was preserved duo to a rapid exhumation of the eclogite. This PhD dissertation takes such micro-textures in 10 Donghai eclogite samples South Sulu UHPM terrene, as research object to reveal the transformation of the eclogite to amphibolite. Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope were employed to observe the micro-texture. Basing on microprobe analysis of minerals, the ACF projections and iso-con analysis were used to uncover the mineral reactions during the transformation. Micro-texture observation (both of Microcopy and Electron Scanning Microscope), demonstrated: l.The peak mineral assemblage of the researched Donghai eclogites is garnet + omphacite + rutile (+ kyanite + aptite +coesite). 2.The transformation of the Donghai eclogite to amphibolite can be divided into two stages: The earlier one is Symplectization, resulting in the forming of diopside + albite (+magnetite) symplectite that occurred only along the boundary between two adjacent omphacite grains. Other minerals were not involved in such reaction. The latter stage is Fluid-Infiltration of the eclogite, which was caused by fluid-intrusion. The infiltration is demonstrated by amphibolization of the symplectite, decomposition of garnet and the forming of some hydrous minerals such as phengite and epidote, and resulted in an amphibole + plagioclase + phengite + epidote or ziosite assemblage. Basing on microprobe analysis of the minerals, ACF projections indicated: In the ACF diagrams, the two joint lines of peak Grt + Omp and Dio + Ab crossed at Omp projection-point, indicating that the garnet had not taken part in the forming reaction of the Dio + Ab symplectite, just like that had been pointed out by micro-texture observation. In the ACF diagrams, the hornblende + plagioclase + epidote + phengite quadrilateral intersected with Dio + Ab + Grt triangle, demonstrating that the hydrous mineral assemblage was formed by fluid infiltration through garnet, diopside and albite. Iso-con (mass-balance) analysis of the symplectization and infiltration reveals: 1.The symplectization of the omphacite has a very complex mass exchange: Some symplectite gained only silicon from its surroundings; and some one requires Ca, but provides Na to its surroundings; while other symplectite provides Ca, Mg and Fe to its surroundings. 2.The infiltration cause variable mass exchanges occurring among the garnet, diopside and albite: In some eclogite sample, no mass, except H2O, exchange occurred during the infiltration. Meanwhile, there was not any hydrous mineral except hornblende formed in the sample accordingly. In some samples, the mass exchange among the three minerals is complex: amphibolization of the diopside in a symplectite gained Al from garnet, and provided Si and Ca to its surrounding, resulting in a Si, Ca and Al-rich fluid. Correspondingly, there was a lot of phengite and ziosite occurred in the sample. In other samples, the amphibolization of a symplectite provided Fe and Mg besides Si and Ca to its surrounding while gained Al. In such kind of sample, epidote occurred within the hydrous mineral assemblage. Synthesizing the micro-texture observation, ACF analysis and iso-con analysis, we deduced the transformation procedure as following: 1. A symplectite after an omphacite was resulted by one, or two, or all of following mineral reactions together: Jd (Ca-Tsch) +SiO2=Ab (An) (1) 4NaA IS i.A+CaO=2NaAlS i308+Na20+CaAl2S 1208 (2) 2NaAlSi2OB (Jd in Omp)+CaMgSi;,0B(Dio in Omp)-2NaAlSi:,O"(Ab)+Ca0+Mg0 (3) 2(CaAl2Si0fi) (Ca-tsch in Omp)+CaFeSi2O6(Hed in 0mp)-H>2CaAl2Si208(An)+Ca0 + FeO (4) A CO2-rich fluid is suggested as cataclysm for the above reactions, which largely increased the mobility of Ca, Mg and Na resulted from reaction (2), (3) and (4). The immobile product Fe2* combined with rutile to form ilmenite, resulting in rutile + ilmenite symplectite. Or, the Fe was precipitated as hematite locally. A procedure of the fluid infiltration as following is suggested: I .A hydrous fluid intruded into the eclogite, and reacted first with garnet to form hornblende and extra Al, resulting in a hornblende film around the garnet grain and an Al-rich fluid. 2.The Al-rich fluid infiltrated through the symplectite, OH" and part of the Al in the fluid combined with Dio while some Si and Ca in the Dio were dissolved made the Dio transferred to amphibole. Meanwhile, plagioclase-type cation exchange occurred between the fluid and plagioclase in the symplectite, making the plagioclase have a higher An-content. 3.Above infiltration and cation exchange resulted in an Al, Si, Ca (and K, providing the primary hydrous fluid contain K)-rich fluid. 4.Under suitable conditions, the solute in the fluid precipitated to form phengite firstly. After the K element in the fluid was consumed up, ziosite or epidote was formed. If the fluid did not contain any K. element, only ziosite or epidote was precipitated. For those eclogites, where all omphacite had been replaced by symplectite before infiltration, neither element exchange occurred, nor did phengite or epidote form during the infiltration. At the last stage, the garnet was oxidized and breakdown: garnet + H2O = epidote + hornblende + hematite, due to more and more fluid intruding into the eclogite. At this time, all the peak minerals were replaced by amphibolite-phase ones, and the eclogite transformed to an amphibolite completely. Tentative pressure calculation indicates that the infiltration occurred at 3-6kbar (about 10-20km depth), where the deformation mechanics transformed from brittle to ductile yield. At such depth, the surface water can permeate the rocks through fault system, causing a rapid cooling.

Light emission from scanning tunnelling microscope on polycrystalline Au films - what is happening at the single-grain level?

When operated with a metallic tip and sample the scanning tunnelling microscope constitutes a nanoscale, plasmonic light source yielding broadband emission up to a photon energy determined by the applied bias. The emission is due to tunnelling electron excitation and subsequent radiative decay of localized plasmon modes, which can be on the lateral scale of a single metal grain (similar to 25 nm) or less. For a Au-tip/Au-polycrystalline sample under ambient conditions it is found that the intensity and spectral content of the emitted light are not dependent on the lateral grain dimension, but are predominantly determined by the tip geometry. However, the intensity increases strongly with increasing film thickness (grain depth) up to 20-25 nm or approximately the skin depth of the Au film. Photon maps can show less emissive grains and two classes of this occurrence are distinguished. The first is geometrical in origin - a double-tip structure in this case - while the second is due to a contamination-induced lowering of the local work function that causes the tunnel gap to increase. It is suggested that differences in work-function lowering between grains presenting different crystalline facets, combined with an exponential decay in emitted light intensity with tip - sample distance, leads to grain contrast. These results are relevant to tip-enhanced Raman scattering and the fabrication of micro/nano-scale planar, light-emitting tunnel devices.

Young’s modulus of silicon nitride used in scanning force microscope cantilevers

The Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of high-quality silicon nitride films with 800 nm thickness, grown on silicon substrates by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition, were determined by measuring the dispersion of laser-induced surface acoustic waves. The Young’s modulus was also measured by mechanical tuning of commercially available silicon nitride cantilevers, manufactured from the same material, using the tapping mode of a scanning force microscope. For this experiment, an expression for the oscillation frequencies of two-media beam systems is derived. Both methods yield a Young’s modulus of 280–290 GPa for amorphous silicon nitride, which is substantially higher than previously reported (E5146 GPa). For Poisson’s ratio, a value of n 50.20 was obtained. These values are relevant for the determination of the spring constant of the cantilever and the effective tip–sample stiffness

The impact of blanching and high-pressure pretreatments on oil uptake of fried potato slices

The effect of high-pressure (HP) pretreatment on oil uptake of potato slices is examined in this paper. Potato slices were treated either by HP or thermal blanching, or a combination of thermal blanching followed by HP prior to frying. The effect of HP on starch gelatinization and potato microstructure was assessed by differential scanning calorimeter and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), respectively. After treatments, the slices were fried in sunflower oil at 185 °C for a predetermined time. Frying time was either kept constant (4 min) or varied according to the time needed to reach a desired moisture content of ≈2%. The high pressure applied in this study was found not to be sufficient to cause a significant degree of starch gelatinization. Analysis of the ESEM images showed that blanching had a limited effect on cell wall integrity. HP pretreatment was found to increase the oil uptake marginally. When frying for a fixed time, the highest total oil content was found in slices treated at 200 MPa for 5 min. The oil content was found to increase significantly (p<0.05) to 41.23±1.82 compared to 29.03±0.21 in the control slices. The same effect of pressure on oil content was found when the time of frying varied. On the other hand, HP pretreatment was found to decrease the frying time required to achieve a given moisture content. Thus, high-pressure pretreatment may be used to reduce the frying time, but not oil uptake.

High pressure intensification of cassava resistant starch (RS3) yields

Cassava starch, typically, has resistant starch type 3 (RS3) content of 2.4%. This paper shows that the RS3 yields can be substantially enhanced by debranching cassava starch using pullulanase followed by high pressure or cyclic high-pressure annealing. RS3 yield of 41.3% was obtained when annealing was carried out at 400 MPa/60°C for 15 min, whereas it took nearly 8 h to obtain the same yield under conventional atmospheric annealing at 60°C. The yield of RS3 could be further significantly increased by annealing under 400MPa/60°C pressure for 15 min followed by resting at atmospheric pressure for 3 h 45 min, and repeating this cycle for up to six times. Microstructural surface analysis of the product under a scanning electron microscope showed an increasingly rigid density of the crystalline structure formed, confirming higher RS3 content.

Scanning electron microscopy study of the choroid plexus in the monkey (Cebus apella apella)

The cells of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles of the monkey Cebus apella apella were examined through scanning electron microscopy at contributing to the description of such structures in primates. The animals were anesthetized previously with 3% hypnol intraperitoneally and after perfusion with 2.5% glutaraldehyde, samples of the choroid plexus were collected after exhibition of the central portion and inferior horn of the lateral ventricles. The ventricular surface of those cells presents globose form as well as fine interlaced protrusions named microvilli. Among those, it is observed the presence of some cilia. Resting on the choroid epithelial cells there is a variable number of free cells, with fine prolongations which extend from them. They are probably macrophages and have been compared to Kolmer cells or epiplexus cells, located on choroid epithelium. The choroid plexus of the encephalic lateral ventricles of the monkey Cebus apella apella at scanning electron microscopy is similar to that of other primates, as well as to that of other species of mammals mainly cats and rats, and also humans.