Template-free inorganic synthesis of silica-based nanotubes and their self-assembly to mesocrystals

A novel synthesis approach for silica-based nanotubes (NTs) was discovered in the purely inorganic system containing the molecular compounds OP(NH2)3, SP(NH2)3 and SiCl4 in evacuated and sealed silica glass ampoules. Without any solvent or structure directing template the amorphous NTs self-organise to form orthogonally ordered, 3D hyperbranched mesocrystals, exhibiting an interesting material for nanofluidic device applications

Influence of Yttrium on the Thermal Stability of Ti-Al-N Thin Films

Ti(1-x)Al(x)N coated tools are commonly used in high-speed machining, where the cutting edge of an end-mill or insert is exposed to temperatures up to 1100 degrees C. Here, we investigate the effect of Yttrium addition on the thermal stability of Ti(1-x)Al(x)N coatings. Reactive DC magnetron sputtering of powder metallurgically prepared Ti(0.50)Al(0.50), Ti(0.49)Al(0.49)Y(0.02), and Ti(0.46)Al(0.46)Y(0.08) targets result in the formation of single-phase cubic (c) Ti(0.45)Al(0.55)N, binary cubic/wurtzite c/w-Ti(0.41)Al(0.57)Y(0.02)N and singe-phase w-Ti(0.38)Al(0.54)Y(0.08)N coatings. Using pulsed DC reactive magnetron sputtering for the Ti(0.49)Al(0.49)Y(0.02) target allows preparing single-phase c-Ti(0.46)Al(0.52)Y(0.02)N coatings. By employing thermal analyses in combination with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy investigations of as deposited and annealed (in He atmosphere) samples, we revealed that Y effectively retards the decomposition of the Ti(1-x-y)Al(x)Y(y)N solid-solution to higher temperatures and promotes the precipitation of c-TiN, c-YN, and w-AlN. Due to their different microstructure and morphology already in the as deposited state, the hardness of the coatings decreases from similar to 35 to 22 GPa with increasing Y-content and increasing wurtzite phase fraction. Highest peak hardness of similar to 38 GPa is obtained for the Y-free c-Ti(0.45)Al(0.55)N coating after annealing at T(a) = 950 degrees C, due to spinodal decomposition. After annealing above 1000 degrees C the highest hardness is obtained for the 2 mol % YN containing c-Ti(0.46)Al(0.52)Y(0.02)N coating with similar to 29 and 28 GPa for T(a) = 1150 and 1200 degrees C, respectively

Direct observation of interface and nanoscale compositional modulation in ternary III-As heterostructure nanowires

Straight, axial InAs nanowire with multiple segments of GaInAs were grown. High resolution X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping reveal the distribution of group III atoms at the axial interfaces and at the sidewalls. Significant Ga enrichment, accompanied by a structural change is observed at the GaInAs/InAs interfaces and a higher Ga concentration for the early grown GaInAs segments. The elemental map and EDS line profile infer Ga enrichment at the facet junctions between the sidewalls. The relative chemical potentials of ternary alloys and the thermodynamic driving force for liquid to solid transition explains the growth mechanisms behind the enrichment.Comment: 12 Pages, 4 figure

Properties and influence of microstructure and crystal defects in Fe2_2VAl modified by laser surface remelting

Laser surface remelting can be used to manipulate the microstructure of cast material. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the microstructure of Fe$_2$VAl following laser surface remelting. Within the melt pool, elongated grains grow nearly epitaxially from the heat-affected zone. These grains are separated by low-angle grain boundaries with 1{\deg}-5{\deg} misorientations. Segregation of vanadium, carbon, and nitrogen at grain boundaries and dislocations is observed using atom probe tomography. The local electrical resistivity was measured by an in-situ four-point-probe technique. A smaller increase in electrical resistivity is observed at these low-angle grain boundaries compared to high-angle grain boundaries in a cast sample. This indicates that grain boundary engineering could potentially be used to manipulate thermoelectric properties

State of the Surface of Antibacterial Copper in Phosphate Buffered Saline

The state was investigated of the copper surface in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; 140 mM Cl-, 10 mM phosphate; pH 7) by a combination of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) with in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy. After polarization, samples were analyzed ex situ. In agreement with expectations on the basis of the Pourbaix diagram, Cu2O and Cu4O3 were observed when polarizing the system above approximate to-0.05 V vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl vertical bar 3M KCl. The formation of Cu2O did not lead to a passivation of the system. Rather, the system dissolved under formation of soluble square planar CuCl42-, identified by its strong Raman peak approximate to 300 cm(-1). During dissolution, spectroscopic ellipsometry showed a film with a stable steady state thickness. Energy electron loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis of a cross section of the oxide after removal from the electrolyte showed that the oxide was Cu2O. It is suggested that Cl-replaces oxygen vacancies in the oxide layer. As soon as oxidation to Cu-II becomes dominant, the dissolution proceeds to soluble CuII species. The outer surface of copper under these conditions is hence a Cu2O-like surface, with CuII complexes present in solution. (C) The Author(s) 2017. Published by ECS. All rights reserved

Ancient pigs reveal a near-complete genomic turnover following their introduction to Europe

Archaeological evidence indicates that pig domestication had begun by ∼10,500 y before the present (BP) in the Near East, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) suggests that pigs arrived in Europe alongside farmers ∼8,500 y BP. A few thousand years after the introduction of Near Eastern pigs into Europe, however, their characteristic mtDNA signature disappeared and was replaced by haplotypes associated with European wild boars. This turnover could be accounted for by substantial gene flow from local European wild boars, although it is also possible that European wild boars were domesticated independently without any genetic contribution from the Near East. To test these hypotheses, we obtained mtDNA sequences from 2,099 modern and ancient pig samples and 63 nuclear ancient genomes from Near Eastern and European pigs. Our analyses revealed that European domestic pigs dating from 7,100 to 6,000 y BP possessed both Near Eastern and European nuclear ancestry, while later pigs possessed no more than 4% Near Eastern ancestry, indicating that gene flow from European wild boars resulted in a near-complete disappearance of Near East ancestry. In addition, we demonstrate that a variant at a locus encoding black coat color likely originated in the Near East and persisted in European pigs. Altogether, our results indicate that while pigs were not independently domesticated in Europe, the vast majority of human-mediated selection over the past 5,000 y focused on the genomic fraction derived from the European wild boars, and not on the fraction that was selected by early Neolithic farmers over the first 2,500 y of the domestication process

Beeinflusst der Boden die N-Freisetzung aus pflanzlichen Düngern?

One consequence of the BSE-crisis is, that animal residue derived N-fertilisers used in organic horticulture are to be replaced. As an alternative plant derived N-fertilisers have been investigated. In an incubation experiment these fertilisers mineralised 40 to 60 % of the total N applied. Net N-mineralisation in the incubation experiment as well as plant N-utilisation in a pot experiment were closely related to the N-content of the fertilisers. Fertilisers increased the N-uptake of plants in any soil. Neither texture nor the content of Corg explained the observed differences in fertiliser use efficiency

State of the Surface of Antibacterial Copper in Phosphate Buffered Saline

The state was investigated of the copper surface in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; 140 mM Cl-, 10 mM phosphate; pH 7) by a combination of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) with in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy. After polarization, samples were analyzed ex situ. In agreement with expectations on the basis of the Pourbaix diagram, Cu2O and Cu4O3 were observed when polarizing the system above approximate to-0.05 V vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl vertical bar 3M KCl. The formation of Cu2O did not lead to a passivation of the system. Rather, the system dissolved under formation of soluble square planar CuCl42-, identified by its strong Raman peak approximate to 300 cm(-1). During dissolution, spectroscopic ellipsometry showed a film with a stable steady state thickness. Energy electron loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis of a cross section of the oxide after removal from the electrolyte showed that the oxide was Cu2O. It is suggested that Cl-replaces oxygen vacancies in the oxide layer. As soon as oxidation to Cu-II becomes dominant, the dissolution proceeds to soluble CuII species. The outer surface of copper under these conditions is hence a Cu2O-like surface, with CuII complexes present in solution. (C) The Author(s) 2017. Published by ECS. All rights reserved

In situ micromechanics during hydrogen charging: Effect of diffusible hydrogen on BBC Fe-based alloys and hydrogen protection through hydrogen barrier coatings

Hydrogen is a strong candidate to be the energy carrier of the future; however it also represents a challenge as it might cause material degradation through hydrogen embrittlement. To mitigate the negative effects of hydrogen and propose new strategies to protect structural materials it is necessary to understand which embrittlement mechanism is dominant and its specific causes. This can be reached by studying individual hydrogen-microstructure interactions, thereby targeting analyses at the nano-/microscale during hydrogen exposure. In this talk, we will present our novel electrochemical cell design developed for this purpose (Fig. 1a). In this “back-side” charging approach, the analyzed front surface is never in contact with the solution, avoiding unwanted corrosion, and the observed effects are only due to hydrogen [1]. Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full abstract