Ferroelectric Materials: Probing Local and Global Ferroelectric Phase Stability and Polarization Switching in Ordered Macroporous PZT (Adv. Funct. Mater. 5/2011)

We describe the characterization, ferroelectric phase stability and polarization switching in strain‐free assemblies of PbZr_0.3Ti_0.7O₃ (PZT) nanostructures. The 3‐dimensionally ordered macroporous structures present uniquely large areas and volumes of PZT where the microstructure is spatially modulated and the composition is homogeneous. Variable temperature powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that the global structure is crystalline and tetragonal at room temperature and undergoes a reversible tetragonal to cubic phase transition on heating/cooling. The measured phase‐transition temperature is 50–60 °C lower than bulk PZT of the same composition. The local ferroelectric properties were assessed using piezoresponse force spectroscopy that reveal an enhanced piezoresponse from the nanostructured films and demonstrate that the switching polarization can be spatially mapped across these structures. An enhanced piezoresponse is observed in the nanostructured films which we attribute to the formation of strain free films, thus for the first time we are able to assess the effects of crystallite‐size independently of internal stress. Corresponding polarization distributions have been calculated for the bulk and nanostructured materials using a direct variational method and Landau‐Ginzburg‐Devonshire (LGD) theory. By correlating local and global characterization techniques we have for the first time unambiguously demonstrated the formation of tetragonal and ferroelectric PZT in large volume nanostructured architectures. With the wide range of materials available that can be formed into such controlled architectures we conclude that this study opens a pathway for the effective studies of nanoscale ferroelectrics in uniquely large volumes.     

Efficient spectrofluorimetric analysis of single-walled carbon nanotube samples

A new method and instrumentation are described for rapid compositional analysis of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) samples. The customized optical system uses multiple fixed-wavelength lasers to excite NIR fluorescence from SWCNTs individualized in aqueous suspensions. The emission spectra are efficiently captured by a NIR spectrometer with InGaAs multichannel detector and then analyzed by a computer program that consults a database of SWCNT spectral parameters. The identities and relative abundances of semiconducting SWCNTs species are quickly deduced and displayed in graphs and tables. Results are found to be consistent with those based on manual interpretation of full excitation-emission scans from a conventional spectrofluorometer. The new instrument also measures absorption spectra using a broadband lamp and multichannel spectrometers, allowing samples to be automatically characterized by their emission efficiencies. The system provides rapid data acquisition and is sensitive enough to detect the fluorescence of a few picograms of SWCNTs in ~50 μL sample volumes.     

Optical modeling in Testbed Environment for Space Situational Awareness (TESSA)

We describe optical systems modeling in the Testbed Environment for Space Situational Awareness (TESSA) simulator. We begin by presenting a brief outline of the overall TESSA architecture and focus on components for modeling optical sensors. Both image generation and image processing stages are described in detail, highlighting the differences in modeling ground- and space-based sensors. We conclude by outlining the applicability domains for the TESSA simulator, including potential real-life scenarios.     

Raman and fluorescent scattering matrix of spherical microparticles

In this paper, we have investigated the main properties of the Raman and fluorescent matrix of scattering by microspheres using the matrix scattering formalism. The coherent and incoherent inelastic scattering of incident light by a microsphere is described by the Stokes parameters. We demonstrate the main symmetry properties of the coherent and incoherent Raman and fluorescent scattering matrices. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the Raman scattering efficiency, cross-phase coefficient, and some other parameters of scattering by microspheres.     

A new dithienosilole-based oligothiophene with methyldicyanovinyl groups for high performance solution-processed organic solar cells

A new linear dithienosilole-based oligothiophene end-capped with methyl and electron-withdrawing dicyanovinyl groups, DTS(Oct)₂-(2T-DCV-Me)₂, was prepared in good yield. This oligomer exhibited broad absorption spectra in bulk down to the near-IR region with the optical edge at 900 nm, resulting in an initially high power conversion efficiency of 5.44% in solution-processed organic solar cells using PC₇₁BM as an acceptor.     

Effects of stochasticity on the length and behaviour of ecological transients

There is a growing recognition that ecological systems can spend extended periods of time far away from an asymptotic state, and that ecological understanding will therefore require a deeper appreciation for how long ecological transients arise. Recent work has defined classes of deterministic mechanisms that can lead to long transients. Given the ubiquity of stochasticity in ecological systems, a similar systematic treatment of transients that includes the influence of stochasticity is important. Stochasticity can of course promote the appearance of transient dynamics by preventing systems from settling permanently near their asymptotic state, but stochasticity also interacts with deterministic features to create qualitatively new dynamics. As such, stochasticity may shorten, extend or fundamentally change a system’s transient dynamics. Here, we describe a general framework that is developing for understanding the range of possible outcomes when random processes impact the dynamics of ecological systems over realistic time scales. We emphasize that we can understand the ways in which stochasticity can either extend or reduce the lifetime of transients by studying the interactions between the stochastic and deterministic processes present, and we summarize both the current state of knowledge and avenues for future advances.     

Studies on diacetylenic vinyl compounds

Summary Three alka-3,5-diynylmethacrylate and 1,8-Bis(methacryloxy)octa-3-5-dyine were synthesized and their polymerization in the molten state was studied. 3,5-Octadiynylene-1,8-dimethacrylate, which was the only one that was solid at room temperature, was not light sensitive in the solid state. All the monomers underwent rapid polymerization at 140 °C. The DSC and IR-spectra indicated that the polymerization of the vinyl and diacetylenic groups takes place simultaneously. An optically highly transparent, yellow-orange glass was obtained.     

Variety of nonlinear wave-breaking

We discuss the formation of typical (structurally stable) singularities in nonlinear wave breaking in stable and unstable media. The wake wave-break due to the inhomogeneity of the Langmuir frequency is accompanied by electron injection into the acceleration phase. In a wake wave excited behind a finite width laser pulse, the wave-breaking mechanism involves the increase, with the distance behind the pulse, of the curvature of the wake front, followed by the self-intersection of the electron trajectories. In the long wavelength limit, the Weibel instability which leads to the generation of a strong magnetic field, the relativistic self focusing and the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a thin plasma slab provide examples of a common behavior with the rarefaction wave-breaking in unstable media. We present a solution of the Cauchy problem that describes the evolution of nonlinear perturbations of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in terms of analytical functions of a complex variable.     

Investigation of the TiCl4 reaction order in quasiliving styrene polymerization with 1-phenylethyl chloride/TiCl4/Bu2O

Summary The reaction order with respect to TiCl₄ was investigated in the quasiliving polymerization of styrene using a 1-phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Bu₂O initiating system in mixture of 1,2-dichloroethane and n-hexane (55:45 v/v) at -15 °C. It was found out that the reactions order with respect to TiCl₄ was closer to 1. A mechanistic scheme to explain the kinetic behavior of quasiliving styrene polymerization in 1-phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Bu₂O is proposed.     

Formation of silicon nitride films by remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition

In this paper we describe the growth of silicon nitride from nitrogen and silane for the first time by capacitively coupled remote PECVD. We report on the effect of process parameters on the composition and properties of the deposited films and we show that by adjustment of these parameters it is possible to produce high-quality material which could be of interest for electronic applications. Of particular note is that the growth rate is about one order of magnitude higher than any previously reported for nitride growth with remote PECVD using molecular nitrogen as the nitrogen source. We also discuss the mechanism of growth and propose that electron excitation of nitrogen and silane occurs in the gas phase, producing SiH_x species which are adsorbed on the growing surface. The nitrogen is then incorporated into the layer by heterogeneous reaction.