Binary Phase Research Articles

Modulation format conversion between BPSK and 8QAM signals using coherent interference and four-wave mixing

Optical fiber networks need to transmit various types of client data with different requirements of bandwidth, reach, latency, and capacity by interconnecting backbone, metro, and local access networks. Since the optimal modulation format usually differs, it should be efficiently converted at the intermediate node connecting different networks. Among the multilevel modulation format, 8-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (8QAM) is a candidate for terrestrial networks thanks to the good balance between spectral efficiency and transmission distance. In this paper, we propose modulation format conversion systems from binary phase shift keying (BPSK) to 8QAM using coherent interference in delay interferometer and its reverse conversion system using four-wave mixing in a single highly nonlinear fiber. Conversion performances are numerically evaluated based on bit error rate, constellation diagrams, 8QAM and BPSK propagation lengths, and parameters in electrical signal regeneration. As a result, error-free format conversion is achieved for both conversion systems.

On the U-Fe-C Isothermal Section at 1100 °C

The energy crisis and climate change have promoted a growing interest in non-fossil sources, such as nuclear, with uranium carbides being seen as potential fuel candidates for Generation IV nuclear reactors. However, the need of accurate thermophysical data for the fuel and its compatibility with core materials during the extreme fission conditions is still an issue. Here a study of the ternary uranium-iron-carbon system performed at 1100 °C using powder x-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry is presented. The U-Fe-C isothermal section is characterized by two ternary compounds, thirteen 3-phase regions and five 2-phase regions. UFeC2 and ~ U11Fe12C18 were confirmed to be present at 1100 °C and crystallize in structures related to the binary uranium carbides. UFeC2 crystallizes in an original structure type, a distorted variant of the UCoC2 structure, with space group P4/n and a = 3.503(5) Å and c = 7.405(5) Å lattice parameters. ~ U11Fe12C18, has a crystal structure related to the Th11Ru12C18 structure-type (space group I4¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\overline{4 }$$\\end{document}3m) with the lattice parameter a ≈ 10 Å. Furthermore, an island of a α-UC2-based phase with 32U:4Fe:64C composition was found in the 1100 °C isothermal section, indicating the inclusion of Fe in the α-UC2 binary compound.

Multi-spectral compatible metasurface with low infrared emissivity, independent microwave complex-amplitude control, and high visible transparency.

With the rapid development of communication technology and detection technology, it is difficult for devices operating in a single spectrum to meet the application requirements of device integration and miniaturization, resulting in the exploration of multi-spectrum compatible devices. However, the functional design of different spectra is often contradictory and difficult to be compatible. In this work, a transparent slit circular metasurface with a high filling ratio is proposed to achieve the compatibility of microwave, infrared and visible light. In the microwave, based on the Pancharatnam-Berry phase theory, the continuous amplitude and binary phase can be customized only by rotating the slit angle to achieve an Airy beam function at 8-12 GHz. In the infrared, the mean infrared emissivity is reduced to 0.3 at 3-14 µm by maintaining high conductive filling ratio, and in visible light, based on the transparency of materials, the mean transmittance can achieve 50% at 400-800 nm. All the results can verify the multi-spectral compatibility performance, which can also verify the validity of our design method. Importantly, the multi-spectral compatible metasurface contributes an option for multifunctional integration, which can be further applied in communication, camouflage, and other fields.

Applicability of the Zintl Concept to Understanding the Crystal Chemistry of Lithium-Rich Germanides and Stannides.

With this contribution, we take a new, critical look at the structures of the binary phases Li5Ge2 and Li5Sn2. Both are isostructural (centrosymmetric space group R3̅m, no. 166), and in their structures, all germanium (tin) atoms are dimerized. Application of the valence rules will require the allocation of six additional valence electrons per [Ge2] or [Sn2] unit considering single covalent bonds, akin to those in the dihalogen molecules. Alternatively, four additional valence electrons per [Ge2] or [Sn2] anion will be needed if homoatomic double bonds exist, in an analogy with dioxygen. Therefore, five lithium atoms in one formula unit cannot provide the exact number of electrons, leaving open questions as to what is the nature of the chemical bonding within these moieties. Additionally, by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction, and neutron powder diffraction, we established that the Li and Sn atoms in Li5Sn2 are partially disordered, i.e., the actual chemical formula of this compound is Li5-xSn2+x (0 < x < 0.1). The convoluted atomic bonding in the case where tin atoms partially displace lithium atoms results in the formation of larger covalently bonded fragments. Our first-principle calculations suggest that such disorder leads to electron doping. Contrary to that, both experimental and computational findings indicate that in the Li5Ge2 structure, the [Ge2] dimers are slightly oxidized, i.e., hole-doped, as a result of approximately 30% vacancies on a Li site, i.e., the actual chemical formula of this compound is Li5-xGe2 (x ≈ 0.3).

Phase relations in the Gd2O3-Sm2O3-ZrO2 system: Experimental studies and thermodynamic modeling

Sm2Zr2O7 and Gd2Zr2O7 are two promising transparent ceramic materials with high density and effective atomic number. However, the phase diagram of Gd2O3-Sm2O3-ZrO2 system has not been systematically studied. To determine the phase relationship of the ternary system Gd2O3-Sm2O3-ZrO2 at 1600°C and 1400°C, a serious of ceramic samples were prepared and studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and electron probe microanalysis. In the range of 66.6 mol.% ZrO2, the solubility of Gd2O3 is 20–22.5 mol.% at 1600°C, and the binary intermediate phases Sm2Zr2O7 and Gd2Zr2O7 form a continuous solid solution at 1400°C. Using the experimental data as a foundation, thermodynamic modeling was performed using the approach. Based on the experimental data, the mixing parameters of fluorite, B and C phases were optimized, and thermodynamic modeling was performed using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram) method. For the first time, a self-consistent database for Gd2O3-Sm2O3-ZrO2 ternary system was established.

Discovering melting temperature prediction models of inorganic solids by combining supervised and unsupervised learning.

The melting temperature is important for materials design because of its relationship with thermal stability, synthesis, and processing conditions. Current empirical and computational melting point estimation techniques are limited in scope, computational feasibility, or interpretability. We report the development of a machine learning methodology for predicting melting temperatures of binary ionic solid materials. We evaluated different machine-learning models trained on a dataset of the melting points of 476 non-metallic crystalline binary compounds using materials embeddings constructed from elemental properties and density-functional theory calculations as model inputs. A direct supervised-learning approach yields a mean absolute error of around 180K but suffers from low interpretability. We find that the fidelity of predictions can further be improved by introducing an additional unsupervised-learning step that first classifies the materials before the melting-point regression. Not only does this two-step model exhibit improved accuracy, but the approach also provides a level of interpretability with insights into feature importance and different types of melting that depend on the specific atomic bonding inside a material. Motivated by this finding, we used a symbolic learning approach to find interpretable physical models for the melting temperature, which recovered the best-performing features from both prior models and provided additional interpretability.

Comparative Analysis of Channel Coding in Communication Technology

The performance analysis of Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) and Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) employing error-correcting code is highlighted in this work. Several error-correcting code types were employed via an Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel to determine the bit error rate. Two techniques were utilized as encoders and decoders: hamming code and cyclic code. Source coding used Huffman coding. Essentially, signal energy to noise power density ratio (Eb/No) and the bit rate error (BER) were used to measure performance. Comparisons were also made between BPSK and QPSK in terms of symbol error capability. MATLAB R2022b was the program used for all the simulations. The conclusion is that different coding methods have a certain error correction range, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can only reduce the BER in the error correction range, and if it is not within the error correction range, it will increase the bit error rate.

Phase diagram of the eutectic type LiCl-PrCl3-KCl system with wedging liquidus of binary compound

Based on the published experimental data (phase diagrams of three binary systems, four isothermal sections and DTA curves of 33 alloys), a spatial (three-dimensional – 3D) computer model of the LiCl-PrCl3-KCl phase diagram has been constructed. It is shown that, in the general case, the diagram is formed by 66 surfaces and 27 phase regions; however, due to the negligible solubility of the initial chlorides and the stoichiometry of the two binary compounds in reality, it consists of 31 surfaces and 14 phase regions. The evaluation of the quality of the obtained 3D model is a comparison of model and initial isothermal sections and calculation of response functions for 33 alloys with temperature values at the boundaries of the primary crystallization regions shown on DTA traces. The geometric structure of the LiCl-PrCl3-KCl phase diagram is also considered as an illustration of the features of ternary systems of the eutectic type, depending on the nature of the formed in them binary compounds.

Superconductivity and Pronounced Electron‐Phonon Coupling in Rock‐Salt Al1−xO1−x and Ti1−xO1−x

AbstractThe highest ambient‐pressure Tc among binary compounds is 40 K (MgB2). Higher Tc is achieved in high‐pressure hydrides or multielement cuprates. Alternatively, are explored superconducting properties of binary, metastable sub‐oxides, that may emerge under extremely low oxygen partial pressure. The emphasis is on the rock‐salt structure, which is known to promote superconductivity, and exploring AlO, ScO, TiO, and NbO. Dynamic lattice stability is achieved by introducing metal and oxygen vacancies in the fashion of Nb1−xO1−x‐type structure (x = ¼). The electron‐phonon (e‐ph) coupling is remarkably large in Al1−xO1−x and Ti1−xO1−x (λ ≈ 2 at x = ¼), with Tc ≈ 35 K according to the Allen–Dynes equation. Significantly, the coupling strength is comparable to that in high‐pressure hydrides, yet, in contrast to hydrides and MgB2, the coupling is largely driven by low frequency phonons. Sc1−xO1−x and Nb1−xO1−x show significantly smaller λ and Tc. Further, hydrogen intercalation to boost λ and Tc is investigated. Only Ti1−x(O1−xHx) and Nb1−x(O1−xHx) are dynamically stable upon intercalation, where H, respectively, decreases and increases Tc. The effect of H doping on electronic structure and Tc is discussed. Altogether, the study suggests that metal sub‐oxides are promising compounds to achieve strong e‐ph coupling at ambient pressure.

Zr/Ni metal oxide nanostructures: Electrochemical exploration and urea oxidation catalysts

Metal-organic framework (MOF) derived metal oxide nanostructures hold immense promise as electrodes for energy storage/conversion applications, notably in supercapacitors and urea oxidation. This study explores into optimizing such nanostructures, specifically focusing on a Zr/Ni ratio of 1:1, which has exhibited favorable electrochemical and catalytic performance. Employing thorough characterization methods, including PXRD analysis, we verified the successful synthesis of a ZrO2/NiO binary phase (i.e. Zr/Ni) nanostructure via the MOF-derived approach, showcasing its versatility as a catalyst across diverse energy conversion domains. The Zr/Ni nanostructure electrode displayed noteworthy characteristics, boasting a capacity of 432 C/g alongside exceptional cycling stability of 99%, reflecting battery-like electrochemical behavior. Furthermore, in an asymmetric device setup (Zr/Ni//AC), it achieved a notable potential of up to 1.4 V with an impressive power density of 1044.56 W/kg. Additionally, the Zr/Ni nanostructure demonstrated efficient electrocatalytic activity in urea oxidation, evidenced by a maximum current density of 60 mA/cm2. This underscores its viability as a preferred catalyst in energy conversion applications, signaling opportunities for further exploration and advancement in this dynamic field.

Double Helix of Icosahedra Structure and Spin Glass Magnetism of the δ-Co2.5Zn17.5-xMnx (x = 0.4-3.5) Pseudo-Binary Alloys.

We have synthesized δ-Co2.5Zn17.5-xMnx (x = 0.4-3.5) pseudo-binary alloys of 10 different compositions by a high-temperature solid-state synthetic route, determined their crystal structures and the Mn substitution pattern, and estimated the existence range of the δ-phase. The alloys crystallize in two chiral enantiomorphic space groups P62 and P64, where the basic atomic polyhedron of the chiral structure is an icosahedron and the neighboring icosahedra share vertices to form an infinitely long double helix along the hexagonal axis (like in the δ-Co2.5Zn17.5 parent binary phase). The alloys are pure δ-phase up to the Mn content x ≈ 3.5. The Mn atoms partially substitute Zn atoms at particular crystallographic sites located on the icosahedra. The study of magnetism was performed on the Co2.5Zn17.1Mn0.4 alloy with the lowest Mn content. Contrary to the expectation that structural chirality may induce the formation of a nontrivial magnetic state, a spin glass state with no relation to the structural chirality was found. The magnetic sublattice contains all of the necessary ingredients (randomness and frustration) for the formation of a spin glass state. Typical out-of-equilibrium dynamic phenomena of a spin system with broken ergodicity were detected below the spin freezing temperature Tf ≈ 8 K.

Orbital Angular Momentum Multiplexing Architecture for OAM/SDM Passive Optical Networks

Optical Angular Momentum multiplexing (OAM) is a technology of communication systems that enables high-capacity optical communication networks. One of the most important determinants of this technology is the channel capacity, loss of power, and BER that accompany the transmission. This article proposed an OAM/SDM G-PON architecture for a MIMO-type communication system that supports (OAM/SDM G-PON)Technology. The proposed architecture is used to multiplex the downstream OAM channels and the upstream SDM channels, and an OAM multiplexer/demultiplexer (OAM-MUX/DEMUX) is used to multiplex and demultiplex the OAM channels. In the OAM/SDM G-PON system, the signal will propagate through three different mediums, each one having its own nature in influencing the power of the signal that passes through that medium. The experimental study has bidirectional transmissions with the DS/US data rate of 2.4 Gbps and Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) downstream and 1.2 Gbps upstream. The observed results showed that the bit-error rate (BER) is a function of coupling angles and increases with the increasing in the OAM ring size

Remarkable Optoelectronic Characteristics of Synthesizable Square‐Octagon Haeckelite Structures: Machine Learning Materials Discovery

AbstractThe research explores new compounds with structures similar to square‐octagonal beryllium oxide, commonly known as Haeckelites. The goal is to identify semiconducting variations compounds that can be synthesized and show promising potential in optoelectronic devices. Start with 1083 binary Haeckelite structures, and to test the synthesis potential of these materials quickly, develop new descriptors and use machine learning techniques. As a result, it identifies a subset of 350 materials with suitable properties in terms of phase stability and electronic perspective. These materials are further investigated to analyze their electronic structure and phase stability, which are determined through density functional theory calculations. The phase stabilities of the predicted semiconducting Haeckelites are also compared to other binary compounds using an evolutionary structure search algorithm. The comprehensive methodology also includes examining the dynamic stabilities through phonon calculations and mechanical properties through elastic constant calculations. Eventually, 13 new Haeckelite compounds are discovered, demonstrating exceptional stability and performance in electronic tests. Among these compounds, eight have shown remarkable absorption coefficients and are considered promising candidates with high reflectivity. Additionally, they have exhibited high electron mobility. These findings strongly suggest the potential of these compounds for synthesis and their application in optoelectronic devices.

Characterization of GaAs and GaAs/Cr/GaAs interfacial layers fabricated via magnetron sputtering on silicon (100)

The obtaining and study of semiconductor materials have been topics of interest for decades. However, alternatives that allow greater versatility at the time of their application have yet to be explored, such as the inclusion of some transition metals. In this work, we report the obtaining of GaAs and GaAs/Cr/GaAs layers, which were prepared by r.f. magnetron sputtering on a Si (100) substrate by varying the deposition time of the intermediate Cr layer for t = 5 min and 10 min, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy in cross-section was carried out to determine the growth mode of the GaAs and GaAs/Cr/GaAs films. The percentage of the elements in the GaAs/Cr/GaAs thin films was determined through energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in cross-sections along the entire layer thickness. X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy at room temperature were measured to analyze the formation of CrAs and GaCr binary phases by diffusion across interlayers. Finally, we conclude on the possible use of this technique to obtain semiconductor alloys with Cr inclusion.

Revisiting thermodynamics in (LiF, NaF, KF, CrF2)–CrF3 by first-principles calculations and CALPHAD modeling

The thermodynamic description of the (LiF, NaF, KF, CrF2)–CrF3 systems has been revisited, aiming for a better understanding of the effects of Cr on the FLiNaK molten salt. First-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) were performed to determine the electronic and structural properties of each compound, including the formation enthalpy, volume, and bulk modulus. DFT-based phonon calculations were carried out to determine the thermodynamic properties of compounds, for example, enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity as functions of temperature. Phonon-based thermodynamic properties show a good agreement with experimental data of binary compounds LiF, NaF, KF, CrF3, and CrF2, establishing a solid foundation to determine thermodynamic properties of ternary compounds as well as to verify results estimated by the Neumann-Kopp rule. Additionally, DFT-based ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations were employed to predict the mixing enthalpies of liquid salts. Using DFT-based results and experimental data in the literature, the (LiF, NaF, KF, CrF2)–CrF3 system has been remodeled in terms of the CALculation of PHAse Diagrams (CALPHAD) approach using the modified quasichemical model with quadruplet approximation (MQMQA) for liquid. Calculated phase stability in the present work shows an excellent agreement with experiments, indicating the effectiveness of combining DFT-based total energy, phonon, and AIMD calculations, and CALPHAD modeling to provide the thermodynamic description in complex molten salt systems.

Growth mechanism and the properties of CIGS thin films for zero bias photodetector devices

CuInGaSe2 quaternary thin films have been deposited using a single-source, single-step thermal evaporation technique using hydrothermally fabricated CIGS powder. Highly crystalline, homogeneous, and stoichiometric CIGS powder source was prepared by a hydrothermal method and then evaporated at substrate temperatures of room temperature, 150°C, and 300°C. The bulk and surface structural, morphological, and optical properties of the samples were analyzed. The sample deposited at room temperature did not show any phase formation; however, increasing the substrate temperature resulted in the formation of binary and quaternary phases due to interdiffusion of the species. XPS and Raman spectra analysis revealed nanocrystalline Cu2Se phase formation at the interface, while the bulk of the sample remained single-phase CIGS. A higher deposition temperature also facilitated larger grain size and a more compact surface morphology. Increasing the substrate temperature increased the likelihood of interdiffusion of the species from the evaporation flux and controlled the bulk and surface properties of the samples. CIGS/CdS active photodetectors were fabricated by deposition of a CdS buffer layer, with the sample deposited at 150°C showing the highest photocurrent along with low response and recovery times at 0 V bias.

Surface properties, aggregation behavior and wettability of the mixed system of fluorocarbon cationic surfactant and hydrocarbon anionic surfactant in dilute solutions

Traditional perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) fluorocarbon surfactants endangered human health and environment. Therefore, an environmentally friendly quaternary ammonium cationic fluorocarbon surfactant (PFAS-IEt) was synthesized, and surface activities, aggregation behavior, adsorption properties and wettability of PFAS-IEt/sodium n-octyl sulfate (SOS) mixtures in dilute solutions were systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that PFAS-IEt possessed excellent surface activity in aqueous solution. Surprisingly, its surface tension was only 15.33 mN/m and critical micelle concentration (CMC) was 0.002 mol/L. It could be used as a potential substitute for PFOS. In addition, PFAS-IEt had the good synergistic effect with SOS. The PTFE plate with low surface energy could be completely wetted by the binary compound solution at low concentration (0.04 mol/L) (contact angle was 0°), which was superior to the reported long chain quaternary ammonium non-ionic fluorocarbon surfactants (MN-2C9F19 and EN-2C9F19).

Biofiltration of toluene in the presence of ethyl acetate or n-hexane: Performance and microbial community.

This study describes the operation of two independent parallel laboratory-scale biotrickling filters (BTFs) to degrade different types of binary volatile organic compound (VOC) mixtures. Comparison experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of two typical VOCs, i.e., ethyl acetate (a hydrophilic VOC) and n-hexane (a hydrophobic VOC) on the removal performance of toluene (a moderately hydrophobic VOC) in BTFs ''A" and ''B", respectively. Experiments were carried out by stabilizing the toluene concentration at 1.64 g m-3 and varying the concentrations of gas-phase ethyl acetate (0.85-2.8 g m-3) and n-hexane (0.85-2.8 g m-3) at an empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 30 s. In the presence of ethyl acetate (850 ± 55 mg m-3), toluene exhibited the highest removal efficiency (95.4 ± 2.2%) in BTF "A". However, the removal rate of toluene varied from 48.1 ± 6.9% to 70.1 ± 6.8% when 850 ± 123 mg m-3 to 2800 ± 136 mg m-3 of n-hexane was introduced into BTF "B". The high-throughput sequencing data revealed that the genera Pseudomonas and Comamonadaceae_unclassified are the core microorganisms responsible for the degradation of toluene. The intensity of the inhibitory or synergistic effects on toluene removal was influenced by the type and concentration of the introduced VOC, as well as the number and activity of the genera Pseudomonas and Comamonadaceae_unclassified. It provides insights into the interaction between binary VOCs during biofiltration from a microscopic perspective.

Phase stability and physical behaviour of Fe3Pd, FePd and FePd3 binary intermetallic compounds

The FP-LAPW method is used to examine the physical properties of Fe–Pd binary intermetallic compounds. The calculated formation enthalpies indicate that FePd and FePd3 compounds are thermodynamically stable in L10 and L12 phases, respectively, and the ferromagnetic Fe3Pd can be formed in a tetragonal Z1 structure with a small negative formation enthalpy. The elastic coefficients and their related parameters show that all compounds are mechanically stable and ductile in nature. The FePd-L10 is the harder compound and Fe3Pd-Z1 exhibits the highest anisotropy. The band structure, the TDOS profile and the charge density distribution show that these compounds are ferromagnetic with a metallic character and covalent-metallic bonds. The PDOS shows that the Pd-4d and Fe-3d states are dominant, and the asymmetry of Fe-3d states is behind the system strong spin polarization. The calculated magnetic moments agree well with previous theoretical results. The thermodynamic parameters are determined using the quasi-harmonic Debye model.

First-principles study of binary and ternary phases in Mg-Gd-Ni alloys

Given the high demand for magnesium alloys across industries, it's crucial to enhance their performance by developing alloys with superior characteristics. The performance of magnesium alloys is closely related to the properties of the precipitated phase. However, there has been insufficient exploration of the mechanical properties of precipitated phases in Mg-Gd-Ni alloys. Hence, this paper calculates the formation energy, electronic structure, elastic modulus, and elastic anisotropy of the precipitated phase in Mg-Gd-Ni alloys using first principles. Calculations of formation energies and elastic constants demonstrate that MgGdNi4, Mg2Ni, 18R-LPSO, Mg2Gd, and 14H-LPSO possess commendable thermodynamic and mechanical stability. Elastic modulus calculations reveal a significant increase in the elastic modulus of magnesium, especially the bulk modulus, upon the addition of Gd and Ni elements, increasing from 34.5 GPa to a peak of 84.9 GPa. Furthermore, the strength increments of the corresponding precipitated alloys, calculated based on the elastic modulus, underscore MgGdNi4 as exhibiting the most significant strength increment. The elastic anisotropy of each second phase is evaluated using the elastic anisotropy factor, the three-dimensional surface, and the projection onto each two-dimensional plane. The order of elastic modulus anisotropy for shear and Young's modulus is MgGdNi4 > Mg2Ni > 18R-LPSO > Mg2Gd > 14H-LPSO. This study provides valuable data for regulating properties in magnesium alloys.