Dielectric Properties of Ultrathin CaF2 Ionic Crystals

Mechanically exfoliated 2D hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is currently the preferred dielectric material to interact with graphene and 2D transition metal dichalcogenides in nanoelectronic devices, as they form a clean van der Waals interface. However, h-BN has a low dielectric constant (≈3.9), which in ultrascaled devices results in high leakage current and premature dielectric breakdown. Furthermore, the synthesis of h-BN using scalable methods, such as chemical vapor deposition, requires very high temperatures (>900 °C) , and the resulting h-BN stacks contain abundant few-atoms-wide amorphous regions that decrease its homogeneity and dielectric strength. Here it is shown that ultrathin calcium fluoride (CaF₂) ionic crystals could be an excellent solution to mitigate these problems. By applying >3000 ramped voltage stresses and several current maps at different locations of the samples via conductive atomic force microscopy, it is statistically demonstrated that ultrathin CaF₂ shows much better dielectric performance (i.e., homogeneity, leakage current, and dielectric strength) than SiO₂, TiO₂, and h-BN. The main reason behind this behavior is that the cubic crystalline structure of CaF₂ is continuous and free of defects over large regions, which prevents the formation of electrically weak spots.     

Statistical testing for sufficient control chart performances during monitoring of grouped processes

With ISO 7870-8, a standardized application of charting techniques for short runs and small mixed batches was presented in 2017. Similar to various scientific approaches, it requires that sample values from grouped processes follow nearly identical distributions. In practice, however, there tend to be differences between distribution parameters. Moreover, equal parameters do not ensure that distributions are properly aligned to the center line and control limits of the chart. These facts can lead to undesired control chart performances which can be expressed by average run lengths (ARL) during in-control and out-of-control conditions. In this work, a statistical test for sufficient control chart performances during monitoring of grouped processes based on preliminary samples is proposed. Control chart performances are defined as sufficient when they deviate within acceptable ranges from usual performances during single process monitoring in mass production. The ARL resulting from estimated distributions and planned production sequences is used as test statistic and calculated via the Markov chain approach. Exemplary tests are executed for scenarios with individuals and cumulated sum (CUSUM) charts. A simulative determination of error rates resulting from the ARL-based testing demonstrates its effectiveness in testing for sufficient control chart performances compared to an indirect testing with Levene's test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).     

Optimal cost design of flow lines with reconfigurable machines for batch production

Modular reconfigurable machines offer the possibility to efficiently produce a family of different parts. This paper formalises a cost optimisation problem for flow lines equipped with reconfigurable machines which carry turrets, machining modules and single spindles. The proposed models take into account constraints related to: (i) design of machining modules, turrets, and machines, (ii) part locations, and (iii) precedence relations among operations. The goal is to minimise equipment cost while reaching a given output and satisfying all the constraints. A mixed integer programming model is developed for the considered optimisation problem. The approach is validated through an industrial case study and extensive numerical experiments.     

Effect of Post-weld Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser Beam Welded TiAl-based Alloy

Post-weld heat treatment is carried out on the laser beam welded γ-TiAl-based alloy Ti-48Al-1Cr-1.5Nb-1Mn-0.2Si-0.5B (at. pct). The macro/microstructure and mechanical properties of both as-welded and heat-treated specimens are investigated by radiography, SEM, and tensile tests. Moreover, high energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction is performed to measure the residual stresses and evaluate the microstructure evolution. It is found that the residual stresses are distributed in a three-peak shape in the region of the weld zone and heat-affected zone of the as-welded specimen due to the microstructural transformation and heat softening. The residual stresses are largely relieved after the heat treatment. The heat-treated specimens have a near fully lamellar microstructure and show balanced mechanical properties of strength and ductility. The diffraction shows that the phase transformation from α ₂ to γ takes place under tensile load at 1023 K (750 °C), and the grain size and lamellar spacing are refined in the weld zone. Finally, the fracture mechanisms are found to be controlled by the local stress concentration-induced strain misfit between α ₂ and γ phases in the near γ grains and delamination and debonding in the lamellae. Boride ribbons of 5 μm in the near fully lamellar microstructure are found not to be detrimental to the tensile properties.     

Natural Silk Film for Magnesium Protection: Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Interaction and Self‐Healing Effect

Biodegradable implants are required in order to provide successful treatment of injuries. Temporary magnesium‐based implants with particular properties are needed in cases when it is desirable not only to maintain vital activity, but also to initiate the self‐healing process of damaged bones or tissues as well. Unfortunately, the use of magnesium alloys is limited due to the fast biodegradability of the applied material. The aim of this research is to improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys by sonochemical treatment in silk solution followed by additional layer‐by‐layer deposition of natural silk on the magnesium surface. The sonication process is carried out at a frequency of 20 kHz during 5–10 min, while the duration of the silk layer deposition is 15 min. The corrosion behavior of magnesium substrates modified by natural silk layer‐by‐layer assembly is studied. Magnesium substrates sonochemically treated in silk solution demonstrate three times better corrosion resistance compared to control samples sonochemically treated in water. Additional deposition of a silk layer enhances obtained corrosion resistance by 18 times, resulting in a 54‐fold increase overall.     

Synthesis of Calcium Hexaboride by Electrolysis of Molten Salt

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - Formation of calcium hexaboride by means of electrodeposition of boron oxide in molten CaCl2 with additives of CaO and B2O3 was analyzed. It was shown...     

Tetrazoles: Unique Capping Ligands and Precursors for Nanostructured Materials

Capping agents play an important role in the colloidal synthesis of nanomaterials because they control the nucleation and growth of particles, as well as their chemical and colloidal stability. During recent years tetrazole derivatives have proven to be advanced capping ligands for the stabilization of semiconductor and metal nanoparticles. Tetrazole‐capped nanoparticles can be prepared by solution‐phase or solventless single precursor approaches using metal derivatives of tetrazoles. The solventless thermolysis of metal tetrazolates can produce both individual semiconductor nanocrystals and nanostructured metal monolithic foams displaying low densities and high surface areas. Alternatively, highly porous nanoparticle 3D assemblies are achieved through the controllable aggregation of tetrazole‐capped particles in solutions. This approach allows for the preparation of non‐ordered hybrid structures consisting of different building blocks, such as mixed semiconductor and metal nanoparticle‐based (aero)gels with tunable compositions. Another unique property of tetrazoles is their complete thermal decomposition, forming only gaseous products, which is employed in the fabrication of organic‐free semiconductor films from tetrazole‐capped nanoparticles. After deposition and subsequent thermal treatment these films exhibit significantly improved electrical transport. The synthetic availability and advances in the functionalization of tetrazoles necessitate further design and study of tetrazole‐capped nanoparticles for various applications.     

Liquid–Liquid Diffusion‐Assisted Crystallization: A Fast and Versatile Approach Toward High Quality Mixed Quantum Dot‐Salt Crystals

Here, a new, fast, and versatile method for the incorporation of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) into ionic matrices enabled by liquid–liquid diffusion is demonstrated. QDs bear a huge potential for numerous applications thanks to their unique chemical and physical properties. However, stability and processability are essential for their successful use in these applications. Incorporating QDs into a tight and chemically robust ionic matrix is one possible approach to increase both their stability and processability. With the proposed liquid–liquid diffusion‐assisted crystallization (LLDC), substantially accelerated ionic crystallization of the QDs is shown, reducing the crystallization time needed by one order of magnitude. This fast process allows to incorporate even the less stable colloids including initially oil‐based ligand‐exchanged QDs into salt matrices. Furthermore, in a modified two‐step approach, the seed‐mediated LLDC provides the ability to incorporate oil‐based QDs directly into ionic matrices without a prior phase transfer. Finally, making use of their processability, a proof‐of‐concept white light emitting diode with LLDC‐based mixed QD‐salt films as an excellent color‐conversion layer is demonstrated. These findings suggest that the LLDC offers a robust, adaptable, and rapid technique for obtaining high quality QD‐salts.