61 research outputs found
Diagrammatic Approach for the High-Temperature Regime of Quantum Hall Transitions
We use a general diagrammatic formalism based on a local conductivity
approach to compute electronic transport in continuous media with long-range
disorder, in the absence of quantum interference effects. The method allows us
then to investigate the interplay of dissipative processes and random drifting
of electronic trajectories in the high-temperature regime of quantum Hall
transitions. We obtain that the longitudinal conductance \sigma_{xx} scales
with an exponent {\kappa}=0.767\pm0.002 in agreement with the value
{\kappa}=10/13 conjectured from analogies to classical percolation. We also
derive a microscopic expression for the temperature-dependent peak value of
\sigma_{xx}, useful to extract {\kappa} from experiments.Comment: 4+epsilon pages, 5 figures, attached with Supplementary Material. A
discussion and a plot of the temperature-dependent longitudinal conductance
was added in the final versio
Non-saturating magnetoresistance of inhomogeneous conductors: comparison of experiment and simulation
The silver chalcogenides provide a striking example of the benefits of
imperfection. Nanothreads of excess silver cause distortions in the current
flow that yield a linear and non-saturating transverse magnetoresistance (MR).
Associated with the large and positive MR is a negative longitudinal MR. The
longitudinal MR only occurs in the three-dimensional limit and thereby permits
the determination of a characteristic length scale set by the spatial
inhomogeneity. We find that this fundamental inhomogeneity length can be as
large as ten microns. Systematic measurements of the diagonal and off-diagonal
components of the resistivity tensor in various sample geometries show clear
evidence of the distorted current paths posited in theoretical simulations. We
use a random resistor network model to fit the linear MR, and expand it from
two to three dimensions to depict current distortions in the third (thickness)
dimension. When compared directly to experiments on AgSe and
AgTe, in magnetic fields up to 55 T, the model identifies
conductivity fluctuations due to macroscopic inhomogeneities as the underlying
physical mechanism. It also accounts reasonably quantitatively for the various
components of the resistivity tensor observed in the experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
Classical magnetotransport of inhomogeneous conductors
We present a model of magnetotransport of inhomogeneous conductors based on
an array of coupled four-terminal elements. We show that this model generically
yields non-saturating magnetoresistance at large fields. We also discuss how
this approach simplifies finite-element analysis of bulk inhomogeneous
semiconductors in complex geometries. We argue that this is an explanation of
the observed non-saturating magnetoresistance in silver chalcogenides and
potentially in other disordered conductors. Our method may be used to design
the magnetoresistive response of a microfabricated array.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures. Minor typos correcte
Extraordinary magnetoresistance in graphite: experimental evidence for the time-reversal symmetry breaking
The ordinary magnetoresistance (MR) of doped semiconductors is positive and
quadratic in a low magnetic field, B, as it should be in the framework of the
Boltzmann kinetic theory or in the conventional hopping regime. We observe an
unusual highly-anisotropic in-plane MR in graphite, which is neither quadratic
nor always positive. In a certain current direction MR is negative and linear
in B in fields below a few tens of mT with a crossover to a positive MR at
higher fields, while in a perpendicular current direction we observe a giant
super-linear and positive MR. These extraordinary MRs are respectively
explained by a hopping magneto-conductance via non-zero angular momentum
orbitals, and by the magneto-conductance of inhomogeneous media. The linear
orbital NMR is a unique signature of the broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in
graphite. While some local paramagnetic centers could be responsible for the
broken TRS, the observed large diamagnetism suggests a more intriguing
mechanism of this breaking, involving superconducting clusters with
unconventional (chiral) order parameters and spontaneously generated
normal-state current loops in graphite.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Three-dimensionally Ordered Macroporous Structure Enabled Nanothermite Membrane of Mn2O3/Al
Mn2O3 has been selected to realize nanothermite membrane for the first time in the literature. Mn2O3/Al nanothermite has been synthesized by magnetron sputtering a layer of Al film onto three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Mn2O3 skeleton. The energy release is significantly enhanced owing to the unusual 3DOM structure, which ensures Al and Mn2O3 to integrate compactly in nanoscale and greatly increase effective contact area. The morphology and DSC curve of the nanothermite membrane have been investigated at various aluminizing times. At the optimized aluminizing time of 30 min, energy release reaches a maximum of 2.09 kJ∙g−1, where the Al layer thickness plays a decisive role in the total energy release. This method possesses advantages of high compatibility with MEMS and can be applied to other nanothermite systems easily, which will make great contribution to little-known nanothermite research
Nonequilibrium phenomena in high Landau levels
Developments in the physics of 2D electron systems during the last decade
have revealed a new class of nonequilibrium phenomena in the presence of a
moderately strong magnetic field. The hallmark of these phenomena is
magnetoresistance oscillations generated by the external forces that drive the
electron system out of equilibrium. The rich set of dramatic phenomena of this
kind, discovered in high mobility semiconductor nanostructures, includes, in
particular, microwave radiation-induced resistance oscillations and
zero-resistance states, as well as Hall field-induced resistance oscillations
and associated zero-differential resistance states. We review the experimental
manifestations of these phenomena and the unified theoretical framework for
describing them in terms of a quantum kinetic equation. The survey contains
also a thorough discussion of the magnetotransport properties of 2D electrons
in the linear response regime, as well as an outlook on future directions,
including related nonequilibrium phenomena in other 2D electron systems.Comment: 60 pages, 41 figure
Thermal-Chemical Characteristics of Al-Cu Alloy Nanoparticles
This work investigated the oxidation, ignition, and thermal reactivity of alloy nanoparticles of aluminum and copper (nAlCu) using simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) method. The microstructure of the particles was characterized with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the elemental composition of the particles before and after the oxidation was investigated with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The particles were heated from room temperature to 1200 °C under different heating rates from 2 to 30 K/min in the presence of air. The complete oxidation process of the nAlCu was characterized by two exothermic and two endothermic reactions, and the reaction paths up to 1200 °C were proposed. An early ignition of nAlCu, in the temperature around 565 °C, was found at heating rates ≥ 8 K/min. The eutectic melting temperature of nAlCu was identified at ∼546 °C, which played a critical role in the early ignition. The comparison of the reactivity with that of pure Al nanoparticles showed that the nAlCu was more reactive through alloying
Tuning the Reactivity of Nanoenergetic Gas Generators Based on Bismuth and Iodine oxidizers
There is a growing interest on novel energetic materials called Nanoenergetic Gas- Generators (NGGs) which are potential alternatives to traditional energetic materials including pyrotechnics, propellants, primers and solid rocket fuels. NGGs are formulations that utilize metal powders as a fuel and oxides or hydroxides as oxidizers that can rapidly release large amount of heat and gaseous products to generate shock waves. The heat and pressure discharge, impact sensitivity, long term stability and other critical properties depend on the particle size and shape, as well as assembling procedure and intermixing degree between the components. The extremely high energy density and the ability to tune the dynamic properties of the energetic system makes NGGs ideal candidates to dilute or replace traditional energetic materials for emerging applications. In terms of energy density, performance and controllability of dynamic properties, the energetic materials based on bismuth and iodine compounds are exceptional among the NGGs. The thermodynamic calculations and experimental study confirm that NGGs based on iodine and bismuth compounds mixed with aluminum nanoparticles are the most powerful formulations to date and can be used potentially in microthrusters technology with high thrust-to-weight ratio with controlled combustion and exhaust velocity for space applications. The resulting nano thermites generated significant value of pressure discharge up to 14.8 kPa m3/g. They can also be integrated with carbon nanotubes to form laminar composite yarns with high power actuation of up to 4700 W/kg, or be used in other emerging applications such as biocidal agents to effectively destroy harmful bacteria in seconds, with 22 mg/m2 minimal content over infected area
Interfacial Chemistry in Al/CuO Reactive Nanomaterial and Its Role in Exothermic Reaction.
Interface layers between reactive and energetic materials in nanolaminates or nanoenergetic materials are believed to play a crucial role in the properties of nanoenergetic systems. Typically, in the case of Metastable Interstitial Composite nanolaminates, the interface layer between the metal and oxide controls the onset reaction temperature, reaction kinetics, and stability at low temperature. So far, the formation of these interfacial layers is not well understood for lack of in situ characterization, leading to a poor control of important properties. We have combined in situ infrared spectroscopy and ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy, in conjunction with firstprinciples calculations to identify the stable configurations that can occur at the interface and determine the kinetic barriers for their formation. We find that (i) an interface layer formed during physical deposition of aluminum is composed of a mixture of Cu, O, and Al through Al penetration into CuO and constitutes a poor diffusion barrier (i.e., with spurious exothermic reactions at lower temperature), and in contrast, (ii) atomic layer deposition (ALD) of alumina layers using trimethylaluminum (TMA)produces a conformal coating that effectively prevents Al diffusion even for ultrathin layer thicknesses (∼0.5 nm), resulting in better stability at low temperature and reduced reactivity. Importantly, the initial reaction of TMA with CuO leads to the extraction of oxygen from CuO to form an amorphous interfacial layer that is an important component for superior protection properties of the interface and is responsible for the high system stability. Thus, while Al e-beam evaporation and ALD growth of an alumina layer on CuO both lead to CuO reduction, the mechanism for oxygen removal is different, directly affecting the resistance to Al diffusion. This work reveals that it is the nature of the monolayer interface between CuO and alumina/Al rather than the thickness of the alumina layer that controls the kinetics of Al diffusion, underscoring the importance of the chemical bonding at the interface in these energetic materials
Electron microscope investigations of activated chalcopyrite particles via the FLSmidth® ROL process
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