Extremely low density InAs quantum dots realized in situ on (100) GaAs

Extremely low density self-assembled InAs quantum dots are grown by a combination technique of in situ annealing for 2 min and pause of substrate rotation during molecular beam epitaxy. The surface morphology and structural characteristics of the quantum dots are scrutinized by atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence spectra. It is found that the quantum dot size and density increase as the InAs deposition amount rises. Quantum dots with a density between 2.5 x 10(7) cm(-2) and 2.2 x 10(8) cm(-2) are 2-5 nm in height and 18-39 nm in diameter. It is believed that as-grown InAs nanodots may be of important value for future single quantum dot research.

Fabrication of ultra-low density and long-wavelength emission InAs quantum dots

By optimizing the molecular beam epitaxy growth conditions of self-organized InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs), we obtained an ultra-low density system of InAs QDs (4 x 10(6)cm(-2)). Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy reveals the emission wavelength at room temperature to be longer than 1300 nm with a GaAs capping layer. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Extremely low density InAs quantum dots with no wetting layer

Extremely low density InAs quantum dots (QDs) are grown by molecular beam droplet epitaxy, The gallium deposition amount is optimized to saturate exactly the excess arsenic atoms present on the GaAs substrate surface during growth, and low density InAs/GaAs QDs (4x10(6) cm(-2)) are formed by depositing 0.65 monolayers (ML) of indium. This is much less than the critical deposition thickness (1.7 ML), which is necessary to form InAs/GaAs QDs with the conventional Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. The narrow photoluminescence line-width of about 24 meV is insensitive to cryostat temperatures from 10 K to 250 K. All measurements indicate that there is no wetting layer connecting the QDs.

Growth of low-density InAs/GaAs quantum dots on a substrate with an intentional temperature gradient by molecular beam epitaxy

InAs was deposited by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on a GaAs substrate with an intentional temperature gradient from centre to edge. Two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D) morphology evolution was found along the direction in which the substrate temperature was decreasing. Quantum dots (QDs) with density as low as similar to 8 x 10(6) cm(-2) were formed in some regions. We attribute the morphological evolution to the temperature-dependent desorption of deposited indium and the intermixing between deposited indium and gallium from the buffer.

Desorption and Ripening of Low Density InAs Quantum Dots

In this paper, combining low deposition rate with proper growth temperature, we have developed a way to prepare very low-density quantum dots (QDs) suited for the study of single OD properties without resorting to submicron lithography. Experiment results demonstrate that InAs desorption is significant during growing the low density QDs. Ripening of InAs QDs is clearly observed during the post-growth annealing. Photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals that the emission wavelength of low density InAs QDs arrives at 1332.4 nm with a GaAs capping layer.

Combination of Carbon Nanotubes with Ni2O3 for Simultaneously Improving the Flame Retardancy and Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene

Effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Ni2O3 on the flame retardancy of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) have been studied. A combination of MWCNTs and Ni2O3 showed a synergistic effect in improving the flame retardancy of LLDPE compared with LLDPE composites containing MWCNTs or Ni2O3 alone. As a result, the peak value of heat release rate measured by cone calorimeter was obviously decreased in the LLDPE/MWCNTs/Ni2O3 Composites. According to the results from rheological tests, carbonization experiments, and structural characterization of residual char, the improved flame retardancy was partially attributed to the formation of a networklike structure due to the good dispersion of MWCNTs in LLDPE matrix, and partially to the carbonization of degradation products of LLDPE catalyzed by Ni catalyst originated from Ni2O3, More importantly, both viscoelastic characteristics and catalytic carbonization behavior of LLDPE/MWCNTs/Ni2O3 composites acted in concert to result in a synergistic effect in improving the flame retardancy.

Structural evolution of tensile deformed high-density polyethylene at elevated temperatures: Scanning synchrotron small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering studies

The structural evolution of an ice-quenched high-density polyethylene (HDPE) subjected to uniaxial tensile deformation at elevated temperatures was examined as a function of the imposed strains by means of combined synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) techniques. The data show that when stretching an isotropic sample with the spherulitic structure, intralamellar slipping of crystalline blocks was activated at small deformations, followed by a stress-induced fragmentation and recrystallization process yielding lamellar crystallites with their normal parallel to the stretching direction. Stretching of an isothermally crystallized HDPE sample at 120 degrees C exhibited changes of the SAXS diagram with strain similar to that observed for quenched HDPE elongated at room temperature, implying that the thermal stability of the crystal blocks composing the lamellae is only dependent on the crystallization temperature.

Structural evolution of tensile-deformed high-density polyethylene during annealing: Scanning synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering study

The structural evolution of high-density polyethylene subjected to uniaxial tensile deformation was investigated as a function of strain and after annealing at different temperatures using a scanning synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. The results confirm that in the course of tensile deformation intralamellar block slips were activated at small deformations followed by a stress-induced fragmentation and recrystallization process yielding thinner lamellae with their normal parallel to the stretching direction. The original sheared lamellae underwent severe internal deformation so that they were even less stable than the newly developed thinner lamellae. Accordingly, annealing results in a melting of the original crystallites even at moderate strains where the stress-induced fragmentation and recrystallization just sets in and generates a distinctly different form of lamellar stacks aligned along the drawing direction. It was found that the lamellae newly formed during stretching at moderate strains remain stable at lower temperature. Only at a very high annealing temperature of 120 degrees C can they be melted, leading to an isotropic distribution of the lamellar structure.

Mechanical and thermal properties of high-density polyethylene toughened with glass beads

Glass beads were used to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE/glass-bead blends were prepared in a Brabender-like apparatus, and this was followed by press molding. Static tensile measurements showed that the modulus of the HDPE/glass-bead blends increased considerably with increasing glass-bead content, whereas the yield stress remained roughly unchanged at first and then decreased slowly with increasing glass-bead content. Izod impact tests at room temperature revealed that the impact strength changed very slowly with increasing glass-bead content up to a critical value; thereafter, it increased sharply with increasing glass-bead content. That is, the lzod impact strength of the blends underwent a sharp transition with increasing glass-bead content. It was calculated that the critical interparticle distance for the HDPE/glass-bead blends at room temperature (25degreesC) was 2.5 mum. Scanning electron microscopy observations indicated that the high impact strength of the HDPE/glass-bead blends resulted from the deformation of the HDPE matrix. Dynamic mechanical analyses and thermogravimetric measurements implied that the heat resistance and heat stability of the blends tended to increase considerably with increasing glass-bead content.

Compatibilization effects of block copolymers in high density polyethylene/syndiotactic polystyrene blends

Three triblock copolymers of poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] (SEBS) of different molecular weights and one diblock copolymer of poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)] (SEB) were used to compatibilize high density polyethylene/syndiotactic polystyrene (HDPE/sPS, 80/20) blend. Morphology observation showed that phase size of the dispersed sPS particles was significantly reduced on addition of all the four copolymers and the interfacial adhesion between the two phases was dramatically enhanced. Tensile strength of the blends increased at lower copolymer content but decreased with increasing copolymer content. The elongation at break of the blends improved and sharply increased with increments of the copolymers. Drop in modulus of the blend was observed on addition of the rubbery copolymers. The mechanical performance of the modified blends is strikingly dependent not only on the interfacial activity of the copolymers but also on the mechanical properties of the copolymers, particularly at the high copolymer concentration. Addition of compatibilizers to HDPE/sPS blend resulted in a significant reduction in crystallinity of both HDPE and sPS. Measurements of Vicat softening temperature of the HDPE/sPS blends show that heat resistance of HDPE is greatly improved upon incorporation of 20 wt% sPS.

Effect of cross-linking of high-density polyethylene. I. On spherulitic structures

Crystallization behavior and spherulitic structure of linear high-density polyethylene (HDPE), after being irradiated in its molten state by gamma -rays, was investigated by small-angle laser scattering (SALS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Significant changes in the crystallization of HDPE during cooling in air before and after being irradiated in the melt were observed. A critical minimum average molar mass between cross-links (200 carbon-carbon bonds) for spherulite formation in such an irradiated HDPE network was obtained.

Brittle-ductile transition in high-density polyethylene/glass-bead blends: Effects of interparticle distance and temperature

The toughness of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/glass-bead blends containing various glass-bead contents as a function of temperature was studied. The toughness of the blends was determined from the notch Izod impact test. A sharp brittle-ductile transition was observed in impact strength-interparticle distance (ID) curves at various temperatures. The brittle-ductile transition of HDPE/glass-bead blends occurred either with reduced ID or with increased temperature. The results indicated that the brittle-ductile-transition temperature dropped markedly with increasing glass-bead content. Moreover, the correlation between the critical interparticle distance (ID.) and temperature was obtained. Similar to the ID, of polymer blends with elastomers, the ID, nonlinearly increased with increasing temperature. However, this was the first observation of the variation of the ID, with temperature for polymer blends with rigid particles. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym. Sci Part B: Polym. Phys 39: 1855-1859, 2001.

Efforts to decrease crosslinking extent of polyethylene in a reactive extrusion grafting process

Grafting of acrylic acid and glycidyl methacrylate onto low density polyethylene (LDPE) was performed by using a corotating twin-screw extruder. The effects of residence time and concentration of initiator and monomers on degree of grafting and gel content of grafting LDPE were studied systematically. Paraffin, styrene, p-benzoquinone, triphenyl phosphite, tetrachloromethane, and oleic acid were added to try to decrease the extent of crosslinking of LDPE. 4-hydroxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (4-hydroxyl-TEMPO) and dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide were also tried to inhibit crosslinking reaction of LDPE during its extruding grafting process. It was found that p-benzoquinone, triphenyl phosphite and tetrachloromethane were good inhibitors for crosslinking of LDPE. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

On morphology and the competition between crystallization and phase separation in polypropylene-polyethylene blends

Blends of polypropylene (PP) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) have been examined for a series of compositions using differential scanning calorimetry and permanganic etching followed by transmission electron microscopy. Thermal analysis of their melting and recrystallization behaviour suggests two possibilities, either that below 15 wt % PP the blends are fully miscible and that PP only crystallizes after LDPE because of compositional changes in the remaining melt, or else that the PP is separated, but in the form of droplets too small to crystallize at normal temperatures. Microscopic examination of the morphology shows that the latter is the case, but that a fraction of the PP is nevertheless dissolved in the LDPE. (C) 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers.