Vertical structure of Sb-intercalated quasi-freestanding graphene on SiC(0001)

Using the normal incidence x-ray standing wave technique as well as low energy electron microscopy we have investigated the structure of quasi-freestanding monolayer graphene (QFMLG) obtained by intercalation of antimony under the $(6\sqrt{3}\times6\sqrt{3})R30^\circ$ reconstructed graphitized 6H-SiC(0001) surface, also known as zeroth-layer graphene. We found that Sb intercalation decouples the QFMLG very well from the substrate. The distance from the QFMLG to the Sb layer almost equals the expected van der Waals bonding distance of C and Sb. The Sb intercalation layer itself is mono-atomic, very flat, and located much closer to the substrate, at almost the distance of a covalent Sb-Si bond length. All data is consistent with Sb located on top of the uppermost Si atoms of the SiC bulk

Adaptive servoventilation improves cardiac function and respiratory stability

Cheyne–Stokes respiration (CSR) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is of major prognostic impact and expresses respiratory instability. Other parameters are daytime pCO2, VE/VCO2-slope during exercise, exertional oscillatory ventilation (EOV), and increased sensitivity of central CO2 receptors. Adaptive servoventilation (ASV) was introduced to specifically treat CSR in CHF. Aim of this study was to investigate ASV effects on CSR, cardiac function, and respiratory stability. A total of 105 patients with CHF (NYHA ≥ II, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40%) and CSR (apnoea–hypopnoea index ≥ 15/h) met inclusion criteria. According to adherence to ASV treatment (follow-up of 6.7 ± 3.2 months) this group was divided into controls (rejection of ASV treatment or usage <50% of nights possible and/or <4 h/night; n = 59) and ASV (n = 56) adhered patients. In the ASV group, ventilator therapy was able to effectively treat CSR. In contrast to controls, NYHA class, EF, oxygen uptake, 6-min walking distance, and NT-proBNP improved significantly. Moreover, exclusively in these patients pCO2, VE/VCO2-slope during exercise, EOV, and central CO2 receptor sensitivity improved. In CHF patients with CSR, ASV might be able to improve parameters of SDB, cardiac function, and respiratory stability

Fabrication of nanoparticle-containing films and nano layers for alloying and joining

Nanoparticles (NPs) can improve mechanical properties of construction elements. However, the integration is not trivial due to the nanoscopic nature of the particles and the different material properties of particle and device: new processing routes have to be found for homogeneous incorporation. Therefore, a wet chemical synthesis is established to incorporate various ceramic NPs such as TiO2, TiC, SiC, and WC in copper films in desired concentrations. Depending on the kind and concentration of NPs, hardness and wear resistance of copper are enhanced. The resulting metal matrix composite films are thus of high interest for various applications such as reinforced electrical contacts and in aerospace and automotive technology. The energy released in an exothermic reaction of a reactive multilayer system (RMS) can be used as a precise and well-defined local heat source for joining the surface of polymers. In this case, a RMS consisting of alternating layers of nickel and aluminum is used. The design of the RMS is adjusted in a way that despite the intensive but very short reaction no damaging of the polymers occurs. The joining process takes only milliseconds and does not require any pre- or post-treatment of the polymers. With the optimal joining parameters, e.g., the joining load, for fiber non-reinforced polymers tensile strengths can be achieved, which lead to a material failure by tensile attempts. Preliminary tests of fiber reinforced polymers result in a tensile strength that is characteristic for adhesive polymer bonding. Model simulations show that only the first few micrometers of the materials surface are in a liquid state for a very short period of time. In addition to the applied joining load, the materials composition and specifically the resulting solidification process of the liquid polymer phase result in a strong bond between polymer samples that have to be joined. Materials with different thermal expansion coefficients are difficult to join thermally. Among them is the joining of solar cells. It is conventionally carried out by heating the whole assembly. Due to the thermal differences between tabbing wire and silicon, deformations as well as changes in the microstructure can occur. In the worst case, damage of the whole assembly is possible. Upon inspection of the joining process, the high energy consumption of the process itself is also critical

Direct observation of grain boundaries in graphene through vapor hydrofluoric acid (VHF) exposure

The shape and density of grain boundary defects in graphene strongly influence its electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties. However, it is difficult and elaborate to gain information about the large-area distribution of grain boundary defects in graphene. An approach is presented that allows fast visualization of the large-area distribution of grain boundary–based line defects in chemical vapor deposition graphene after transferring graphene from the original copper substrate to a silicon dioxide surface. The approach is based on exposing graphene to vapor hydrofluoric acid (VHF), causing partial etching of the silicon dioxide underneath the graphene as VHF diffuses through graphene defects. The defects can then be identified using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, or Raman spectroscopy. The methodology enables simple evaluation of the grain sizes in polycrystalline graphene and can therefore be a valuable procedure for optimizing graphene synthesis processes.QC 20180604European Research Council through the Starting Grants M&M’s (277879)Swedish Research Council (GEMS, 2015-05112)European Research Council through the Starting Grants InteGraDe (307311)China Scholarship CouncilGerman Federal Ministry for Education and Research (NanoGraM, BMBF, 03XP0006C)German Research Foundation (DFG; LE 2440/1-2)German Research Council (DFG) through the Priority Program SPP 1459 Graphen

Silicon Carbide Stacking-Order-Induced Doping Variation in Epitaxial Graphene

Generally, it is supposed that the Fermi level in epitaxial graphene is controlled by two effects: p-type polarization doping induced by the bulk of the hexagonal silicon carbide (SiC)(0001) substrate and overcompensation by donor-like states related to the buffer layer. The presented work is evidence that this effect is also related to the specific underlying SiC terrace. Here a periodic sequence of non-identical SiC terraces is fabricated, which are unambiguously attributed to specific SiC surface terminations. A clear correlation between the SiC termination and the electronic graphene properties is experimentally observed and confirmed by various complementary surface-sensitive methods. This correlation is attributed to a proximity effect of the SiC termination-dependent polarization doping on the overlying graphene layer. These findings open a new approach for a nano-scale doping-engineering by the self-patterning of epitaxial graphene and other 2D layers on dielectric polar substrates

High Area Capacity Lithium-Sulfur Full-cell Battery with Prelitiathed Silicon Nanowire-Carbon Anodes for Long Cycling Stability

We show full Li/S cells with the use of balanced and high capacity electrodes to address high powerelectro-mobile applications. The anode is made of an assembly comprising of silicon nanowires asactive material densely and conformally grown on a 3D carbon mesh as a light-weight current collector,offering extremely high areal capacity for reversible Li storage of up to 9 mAh/cm2. The dense growthis guaranteed by a versatile Au precursor developed for homogenous Au layer deposition on 3Dsubstrates. In contrast to metallic Li, the presented system exhibits superior characteristics as an anodein Li/S batteries such as safe operation, long cycle life and easy handling. These anodes are combinedwith high area density S/C composite cathodes into a Li/S full-cell with an ether- and lithium triflatebasedelectrolyte for high ionic conductivity. The result is a highly cyclable full-cell with an areal capacityof 2.3 mAh/cm2, a cyclability surpassing 450 cycles and capacity retention of 80% after 150 cycles(capacity loss <0.4% per cycle). A detailed physical and electrochemical investigation of the SiNWLi/S full-cell including in-operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements reveals that the lowerdegradation is due to a lower self-reduction of polysulfides after continuous charging/discharging

High Area Capacity Lithium-Sulfur Full-cell Battery with Prelitiathed Silicon Nanowire-Carbon Anodes for Long Cycling Stability

We show full Li/S cells with the use of balanced and high capacity electrodes to address high power electro-mobile applications. The anode is made of an assembly comprising of silicon nanowires as active material densely and conformally grown on a 3D carbon mesh as a light-weight current collector, offering extremely high areal capacity for reversible Li storage of up to 9 mAh/cm(2). The dense growth is guaranteed by a versatile Au precursor developed for homogenous Au layer deposition on 3D substrates. In contrast to metallic Li, the presented system exhibits superior characteristics as an anode in Li/S batteries such as safe operation, long cycle life and easy handling. These anodes are combined with high area density S/C composite cathodes into a Li/S full-cell with an ether- and lithium triflate-based electrolyte for high ionic conductivity. The result is a highly cyclable full-cell with an areal capacity of 2.3 mAh/cm(2), a cyclability surpassing 450 cycles and capacity retention of 80% after 150 cycles (capacity loss <0.4% per cycle). A detailed physical and electrochemical investigation of the SiNW Li/S full-cell including in-operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements reveals that the lower degradation is due to a lower self-reduction of polysulfides after continuous charging/discharging