Synthesis of strontium ferrite/iron oxide exchange coupled nano-powders with improved energy product for rare earth free permanent magnet applications

We present a simple, scalable synthesis route for producing exchange coupled soft/hard magnetic composite powder that outperforms pure soft and hard phase constituents. Importantly, the composites is iron oxide based (SrFe12O19 and Fe3O4) and contain no rare earth or precious metal. The two step synthesis process consists of first precipitating, an Iron oxide/hydroxide precursor directly on top of SrFe12O19 nano-flakes, ensuring a very fine degree of mixing between the hard and the soft magnetic phases. We then use a second step that serves to reduce the precursor to create the proper soft magnetic phase and create the intimate interface necessary for exchange coupling. We establish a clear processing window; at temperatures below this window the desired soft phase is not produced, while higher temperatures result in deleterious reaction at the soft/hard phase interfaces, causing an improper ratio of soft to hard phases. Improvements of Mr, Ms, and (BH)max are 42%, 29% and 37% respectively in the SrFe12O19/Fe3O4 composite compared to pure hard phase (SrFe12O19). We provide evidence of coupling (exchange spring behavior) with hysteresis curves, first order reversal curve (FORC) analysis and recoil measurements.Comment: in J. Mater. Chem. C, 201

Charge-noise-free Lateral Quantum Dot Devices with Undoped Si/SiGe Wafer

We develop quantum dots in a single layered MOS structure using an undoped Si/SiGe wafer. By applying a positive bias on the surface gates, electrons are accumulated in the Si channel. Clear Coulomb diamond and double dot charge stability diagrams are measured. The temporal fluctuation of the current is traced, to which we apply the Fourier transform analysis. The power spectrum of the noise signal is inversely proportional to the frequency, and is different from the inversely quadratic behavior known for quantum dots made in doped wafers. Our results indicate that the source of charge noise for the doped wafers is related to the 2DEG dopant.Comment: Proceedings of the 12th Asia Pacific Physics Conferenc

Design and fabrication of densely integrated silicon quantum dots using a VLSI compatible hydrogen silsesquioxane electron beam lithography process

Hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) is a high resolution negative-tone electron beam resist allowing for direct transfer of nanostructures into silicon-on-insulator. Using this resist for electron beam lithography, we fabricate high density lithographically defined Silicon double quantum dot (QD) transistors. We show that our approach is compatible with very large scale integration, allowing for parallel fabrication of up to 144 scalable devices. HSQ process optimisation allowed for realisation of reproducible QD dimensions of 50 nm and tunnel junction down to 25 nm. We observed that 80% of the fabricated devices had dimensional variations of less than 5 nm. These are the smallest high density double QD transistors achieved to date. Single electron simulations combined with preliminary electrical characterisations justify the reliability of our device and process

Atmospheric temperature responses to solar irradiance and geomagnetic activity

The relative effects of solar irradiance and geomagnetic activity on the atmospheric temperature anomalies (Ta) are examined from the monthly to interdecadal timescales. Geomagnetic Ap (Ap) signals are found primarily in the stratosphere, while the solar F10.7-cm radio flux (Fs) signals are found in both the stratosphere and troposphere. In the troposphere, 0.1–0.4 K increases in Ta are associated with Fs. Enhanced Fs signals are found when the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is westerly. In the extrapolar region of the stratosphere, 0.1–0.6 and 0.1–0.7 K increases in Ta are associated with solar irradiance and with geomagnetic activity, respectively. In this region, Fs signals are strengthened when either the QBO is easterly, or geomagnetic activity is high, while Ap signals are strengthened when either the QBO is westerly, or solar irradiance is high. High solar irradiance and geomagnetic activity tend to enhance each other's signatures either making the signals stronger and symmetric about the equator or extending the signals to broader areas, or both. Positive Ap signals dominate the middle Arctic stratosphere and are two to five times larger than those of Fs. When solar irradiance is low, the signature of Ap in Ta is asymmetric about the equator, with positive signals in the Arctic stratosphere and negative signals at midlatitudes of the NH stratosphere. Weaker stratospheric QBO signals are associated with high Ap and Fs, suggesting possible disturbances on the QBO. The signals of Ap and Fs are distinct from the positive temperature anomalies resulting from volcanic eruptions

Fundamental Kinetics of Supercritical Coal Liquefaction: Effect of Catalysts and Hydrogen-Donor Solvents

This is the quarterly report on our recent progress toward the overall objective to understand the supercritical fluid extraction of hydrocarbons from coal. Our strategy is to simulate coal as a high molecular-weight polymeric material by studying the degradation of polymers under various conditions. The hypothesis we are testing is that degradation of such macromolecules is applicable to the decomposition (depolymerization) of the coal network. Polymer degradation and coal liquefaction are influenced strongly by the solvent in the reaction. This motivated our investigation of the effect of hydrogen donor solvents on polymer degradation. In particular, we obtained new experimental data to show how a hydrogen donor, 6-hydroxy tetralin, influences the degradation rate of polystyrene. We also developed a detailed radical mechanism for hydrogen donation based on the Rice-Herzfeld chain reaction concept with the elementary steps of initiation, depropagation, hydrogen abstraction, and termination. Expressions for the degradation rate parameters were obtained by applying continuous distribution kinetics to the MWD of the reacting polymer. The theory explains the different influences of the hydrogen donor solvent on the degradation rate coefficients for different polymers. Though developed for the degradation of polymers, the mechanism and the theory are potentially applicable for chain scission and addition reactions among distributions of paraffins, olefins, and radicals of all chain lengths. The concepts can, in principle, be extended to examine the effect of hydrogen donors on coal liquefaction and on the complex mixture of liquefaction compounds. Based on this work, a research paper titled �Effect of Hydrogen Donors on Polymer Degradation,� has been submitted for publication. Our research paper entitled, �Molecular weight effect on the dynamics of polystyrene degradation,� has been accepted for publication by the journal, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research