Exfoliated 2D layered and nonlayered metal phosphorous trichalcogenides nanosheets as promising electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. - In: Angewandte Chemie, ISSN 1521-3773, Bd. 62 (2023), 17, e202217253, S. 1-8
Two-dimensional (2D) materials catalysts provide an atomic-scale view on a fascinating arena for understanding the mechanism of electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2 ECR). Here, we successfully exfoliated both layered and nonlayered ultra-thin metal phosphorous trichalcogenides (MPCh3) nanosheets via wet grinding exfoliation (WGE), and systematically investigated the mechanism of MPCh3 as catalysts for CO2 ECR. Unlike the layered CoPS3 and NiPS3 nanosheets, the active Sn atoms tend to be exposed on the surfaces of nonlayered SnPS3 nanosheets. Correspondingly, the nonlayered SnPS3 nanosheets exhibit clearly improved catalytic activity, showing formic acid selectivity up to 31.6 % with -7.51 mA cm^-2 at -0.65 V vs. RHE. The enhanced catalytic performance can be attributed to the formation of HCOO* via the first proton-electron pair addition on the SnPS3 surface. These results provide a new avenue to understand the novel CO2 ECR mechanism of Sn-based and MPCh3-based catalysts.
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202217253
Correlation of the vector gradient of a magnetic field with the kinetic energy of hard magnetic milling beads in electromechanical mills. - In: Chemie - Ingenieur - Technik, ISSN 1522-2640, Bd. 95 (2023), 10, S. 1615-1622
This paper describes the experimental investigation and numerical simulation of a novel electromechanical milling principle: the direct transformation of energy into the movement of milling beads with special magnetic properties. The experimental results show that this principle is ideally suited for the finest grinding of organic agents. Anthraquinone particles with a median size of 25.5 µm were electromechanically ground to 1 µm and the magnetic field strength in the process chamber has the greatest influence on milling results. The developed model reveals that the distribution of the time- and location-dependent vector gradient of the magnetic field in the process chamber determines the energy transfer from the exciter systems to the milling beads and hence the grinding results. With a suitable characterization of the vector gradient distribution, it is possible to establish a correlation between the vector gradient and specific milling beads power. This correlation is fundamental for the design of electromechanical milling machines.
https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.202200183
Tapered cross section photoelectron spectroscopy provides insights into the buried interfaces of III-V semiconductor devices. - In: Advanced materials interfaces, ISSN 2196-7350, Bd. 10 (2023), 3, 2201648, S. 1-9
Interfaces are key elements that define electronic properties of the final device. Inevitably, most of the active interfaces of III-V semiconductor devices are buried and it is therefore not straightforward to characterize them. The Tapered Cross Section Photoelectron Spectroscopy (TCS-PES) approach is promising to address such a challenge. That the TCS-PES can be used to study the relevant heterojunction in epitaxial III-V architectures prepared by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition is demonstrated here. A MULTIPREP polishing system that enables controlling the angle between the sample holder and the polishing plate has been employed to improve the reproducibility of the polishing procedure. With this procedure, that preparing the TCS of III-V semiconductor devices with tapering angles lower than 0.02˚ is possible is demonstrated. The PES provides then information about the buried interfaces of Ge|GaInP and GaAs|GaInP layer stacks. Both, chemical and electronic properties have been measured by PES. It evidences that the preparation of the TCSs under an uncontrolled atmosphere modifies the pristine properties of the critical buried heterointerfaces. Surface states and reaction layers are created on the TCS surface, which restrict unambiguous conclusions on buried interface energetics.
https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202201648
The effect of glass structure on the luminescence spectra of Sm3+-doped aluminosilicate glasses. - In: Materials, ISSN 1996-1944, Bd. 16 (2023), 2, 564, S. 1-12
Peralkaline Sm3+-doped aluminosilicate glasses with different network modifier ions (Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Zn2+) were investigated to clarify the effect of glass composition and glass structure on the optical properties of the doped Sm3+ ions. For this purpose, the Sm3+ luminescence emission spectra were correlated with the molecular structure of the glasses derived by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The different network modifier ions have a clear and systematic effect on the peak area ratio of the Sm3+ emission peaks which correlates with the average rare earth site symmetry in the glasses. The highest site symmetry is found for the calcium aluminosilicate glass. Glasses with network modifier ions of lower and higher ionic radii show a notably lower average site symmetry. The symmetry could be correlated to the rare earth coordination number with oxygen atoms derived by MD simulations. A coordination number of 6 seems to offer the highest average site symmetry. Higher rare earth coordination probabilities with non-bridging oxygen result in an increased splitting of the emission peaks and a notable broadening of the peaks. The zinc containing glass seems to play a special role. The Zn2+ ions notably modify the glass structure and especially the rare earth coordination in comparison to the other network modifier ions in the other investigated glasses. The knowledge on how glass structure affects the optical properties of doped rare earth ions can be used to tailor the rare earth absorption and emission spectra for specific applications.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020564
Formation of nanocrystalline γ-ZrH in Zr-Nb alloy: crystal structure and twinning. - In: Micron, ISSN 1878-4291, Bd. 167 (2023), 103414
In the present work, the lattice parameter and the twins of γ-ZrH hydride in Zr-2.5Nb-1Si were characterized using high resolution electron microscopy. The lattice parameters of γ-ZrH (P42/mmc, Zr2H2 unit cell) is determined to be a= 0.336nm, c=0.508nm. Twinning γ-ZrH hydride ({011}<0̅11> type) is for the first time reported in zirconium alloys, whose orientation relationship with α-Zr is [100]γ-twins // [1̅210]α and (011)γ-twins // (0002)α. The formation process of γ-ZrH twins is also discussed based on a ‘grow-in’ mechanism during the transformation from α-Zr to γ-ZrH hydride.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2023.103414
Effect of poly-crystallinity on the magnetoelectric behavior of TiN/AlN/Ni MEMS cantilevers investigated by finite element methods. - In: Physica status solidi, ISSN 1862-6319, Bd. 220 (2023), 16, 2200839, S. 1-6
Herein, magnetoelectric microelectromechanical system (MEMS) cantilevers are investigated on basis of a TiN/AlN/Ni laminate derived from experimental sensors using finite-element simulations. With the anisotropic ΔE effect as an implication of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, the lateral sensitivity of the sensor is studied for different nickel layer thicknesses and boundary conditions. It is found that above 60% of the cantilever length, the nickel is effectively not contributing to the sensor sensitivity anymore which is supported by the investigation of sensors with partial nickel coverage. The boundary condition of the magnetostrictive layer is found to affect the sensitivity of thick layers while it is negligible for thinning layers. Further investigations on basis of polycrystalline untextured nickel with slightly preferred orientations reveal a stronger effect on thin layers than on thicker ones. It is found to arise from relatively large crystals in the high-sensitivity region near the clamping of the sensor. For thicker polycrystalline layers, the ΔE effect reproduces a characteristic based mainly on the (110) and (111) orientations while the (100) orientation appears to be underrepresented.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.202200839
Atomic scale network structure of a barium aluminosilicate glass doped with different concentrations of rare-earth ions explored by molecular dynamics simulations. - In: Computational materials science, Bd. 218 (2023), 111965
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is employed for exploring the coordination of atoms in peralkaline BaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses of variable Gd3+ doping concentrations between 1 and 3.8 mol% Gd2O3. For this the MD simulation procedure of inherent structure sampling was used which provides statistically robust information on the local atomic surrounding of the doped rare earth ions. Distributions of Si/Al/Ba/Gd cations in the first, second and third coordination spheres are investigated. Special focus is laid on the effect of Gd3+ doping concentration on the local surrounding of the Gd3+ ions, i. e. rare earth clustering, and general glass structure. The simulations show that SiOAl bonds are preferred in comparison to SiOSi and AlOAl connections with respect to the random model predictions. Deviations from a statistical Si/Al distribution around the BaOp and GdOq polyhedra are observed. The network modifier ions are preferably surrounded by other network modifier ions, rather than by network formers. It is shown that the incorporation of Gd does not affect radial distribution functions, cumulative radial distribution function curves and the coordination sphere of Gd for Gd2O3 doping concentrations of up to 3.8 mol%, i.e. no rare earth clustering is observed. However, increasing Gd2O3 concentrations decrease the number of bridging oxygen and increase the number of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) species in the glass structure. Charge compensation of the additional non-bridging oxygen species is achieved by increasing NBO coordination numbers with Ba2+.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2022.111965
Hybrid thermoplastic-metal joining based on Al/Ni multilayer foils - analysis of the joining zone. - In: Materials and design, ISSN 1873-4197, Bd. 226 (2023), 111561, insges. 16 S.
Multi material pairings like metal-plastic hybrid compounds are becoming increasingly important across all industrial sectors. However, the substitution of metals by plastics leads to a multitude of challenges based on the combination of dissimilar materials. The variations in the chemical and physical properties of the used materials require innovative joining processes. The application of reactive multilayers represents an advanced joining method for flexible and low-distortion joining of dissimilar joining partners by means of a short-term and localized application of thermal energy. In the context of this publication, the joining process between semi-crystalline polyamide 6 and austenitic stainless steel X5CrNi18-10(EN 1.4301 / AlSI304) based on reactive Al/Ni multilayers is investigated. In addition to evaluation of resulting joint strength, the focus of the work is in particular the characterization of the resulting failure behavior at the fracture interface under tensile load and the deriving binding mechanisms in the joint. From the results obtained, it is estimated that a direct bond can be generated between plastic and metal despite the presence of a residual reacted foil in the joining area. The structures present in the metal surface have a particularly positive influence on crack initiation and the resulting increased bond strength.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2022.111561
Reactive magnetron sputtering of large-scale 3D aluminum-based plasmonic nanostructure for both light-induced thermal imaging and photo-thermoelectric conversion. - In: Advanced optical materials, ISSN 2195-1071, Bd. 11 (2023), 6, 2202664, S. 1-7
Plasmonic nanostructures have attracted tremendous interest due to their special capability to trap light, which is of great significance for many applications such as solar steam generation and desalination, electric power generation, photodetection, sensing, catalysis, cancer therapy, and photoacoustic imaging. However, the noble metal-based (Au, Ag, Pd) plasmonic nanostructures with expensive costs and limitations to large-scale fabrication restrict their practical applications. Here, a novel and noble-metal-free Al/AlN plasmonic nanostructure fabricated by a reactive magnetron sputtering at the elevated temperature of 200 ˚C is presented. The unique 3D Al/AlN plasmonic nanostructures show a highly efficient (96.8%) and broadband (full solar spectrum) absorption and a strong photothermal conversion effect on its surface, demonstrating the potential in applications in light-induced thermal imaging and photo-thermoelectric power generation. This simple fabrication method and the developed Al/AlN plasmonic nanostructure combine excellent light trapping performance, abundant and low-cost Al and N elements, good heat localization effect, and scalable fabrication method, suggesting a promising alternative to noble-metal plasmonic nanostructures for photonic applications.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202202664
Application of capacitive sensors and controlled injection pressure to minimize void formation in resin transfer molding. - In: Polymer composites, ISSN 1548-0569, Bd. 44 (2023), 3, S. 1658-1671
Void formation as a result of irregular resin flow at the flow front is discussed and a practical method for reducing void formation during resin transfer molding (RTM) is introduced. In this study, a sensor system is developed for in situ measurement of resin velocity inside a closed cavity. Assisted by the acquired data, a resin injection system is augmented to automatically adjust the injection pressure and achieve a uniform flow front velocity. It is proven, that the developed system is suited to monitor the resin flow front and is able to sufficiently control flow velocity of a linear flow front. Test specimen produced by this method show significantly reduced void contents in comparison to a common resin transfer molding process.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.27195