Depletion Region Research Articles

Evaluation and associated mechanism of mitigating Cr depletion by vanadium in modified 9Cr-1Mo steel: Experiment and phase-field modelling

The 9Cr-1Mo steel is extensively utilized in nuclear heat exchangers due to its exceptional corrosion resistance properties. The Chromium (Cr) element plays a pivotal role in enhancing the corrosion resistance. The Cr accumulates at grain boundaries (GBs) where defects and mismatches are located during long-term usage, leading to the depletion of Cr within the grain interior. This results in the Cr-rich carbide precipitates form along GBs, with a corresponding the depletion zone residing in the adjacent regions. In this study, we employed aberration-corrected high-resolution electron microscopy in high-angle annular dark field microscopy (HAADF) mode, equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), to analyse carbides formation along GBs and obtain elemental distribution information. Our investigation reveals that the Cr-rich carbide promotes the formation of chromium-depletion zone (CDZ) by consuming the surrounding Cr in the matrix, and the presence of vanadium-rich carbide inhibits the formation of (CDZ) from atomic scale.A phase-field modelling approach is employed to investigate the diffusive formation process in a polycrystalline system. Our modelling results are consistent with experimental observations. Cr preferentially diffuses towards grain boundaries (GBs) and accumulates, facilitating the formation of Cr-rich phases by consuming adjacent Cr in the surrounding region. The bilateral region of GBs serves as a source for supplying Cr to these newly formed phases while depleting Cr content, ultimately leading to the development of CDZ.By employing experimental techniques and phase-field method, this research provides valuable insights into the role of Cr, carbide precipitates, influence of vanadium, and CDZ formation.

Research on the interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of glass/Mg joint prepared by anodic bonding and vacuum diffusion bonding

The joining of glass and Mg by a combination of anodic bonding and vacuum diffusion bonding with Al as the interlayer was achieved in one step. The microstructures of glass/Mg dissimilar joints were analyzed using optical microscopy, SEM, and EDS. The results show that the bonding interface was joined well without any voids and cracks. Na+ and Ca2+ depletion regions would be produced in the glass near the Al foil, where the width of the Na+ depletion region was larger than that of the Ca2+ depletion region. In addition, the content of Al element in the depletion regions increased, and the diffusion of Al into the depletion regions was responsible for the successful glass/Al bonding process. Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17 intermetallic compound (IMC) layers were formed between the Al and Mg. The anodic bonding process and the vacuum diffusion bonding process were independent of each other: and the thickness of the IMC layer increased with the increase of the diffusion bonding time, while the width of the Na+, Ca2+ depletion region remained constant; Meanwhile, the variation of the anodic bonding parameters only affected the width of the depletion layer and had no effect on the thickness of the Al3Mg2 and the Al12Mg17 IMC layer. The fracture position of the sample changed from the Al/Mg bonding interface to the glass/Al bonding interface as the thickness of the IMC layer increased. The maximum tensile strength of 14.6 MPa was obtained by vacuum diffusion bonding at 450 °C for 20 min and anodic bonding under 400 °C and 800 V.

β-Ga2O3 van der Waals p-n homojunction

The van der Waals (vdW) p-n junctions are crucial to develop multifunctional and high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. The asymmetric doping effect in wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors poses a fundamental obstacle for fabricating the vdW p-n homojunction and impedes the development of full WBG semiconductors-based bipolar devices. In this study, we demonstrate the β-Ga2O3 vdW p-n homojunctions with 2.0 nm-thick vdW gap, 2.6 eV built-in potential and 1.5 μm-wide depletion region, via combining quasi-two-dimensional n-type β-Ga2O3 nanosheets with p-type β-Ga2O3 films. Various tunneling transports including direct tunneling, Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, and exciton-assisted tunnelling are observed and explored in detail. The β-Ga2O3 vdW p-n homojunction diodes possess high forward current density (3.0 × 10−3 A/cm2), extremely-low reverse leakage current density (3.0 × 10−9 A/cm2), high rectification ratio (106 under dark and 107 under illumination), high photoresponsivity (13.4 A/W) and detectivity (9.38 × 1013 Jones) at 10 V bias under 250 nm illumination, and narrowband detection for the deep-ultraviolet solar-blind spectral region. This work lays the foundation for β-Ga2O3 homogeneous bipolar vdW devices and paves the way to advance the next-generation electronic and optoelectronic multifunctional devices based on the vdW integration.

Stream and aquifer water exchange in Mississippi Embayment under intensive pumping and extreme climate: A century‐long assessment

AbstractThe Mississippi Embayment (ME) is one of the fastest groundwater depletion zones in the world. This study investigated stream‐aquifer water exchange in the ME over a 115‐year period (1900 to 2014) under normal and extreme climates (i.e., precipitation increased and decreased by 20%) with and without agricultural pumping for crop irrigation. The average daily water flow from the aquifer to the streams was always greater than vice versa under all climate scenarios. Under normal climate, the average daily water flow from the aquifer to the streams was 2.52 times larger without pumping than with pumping. While the extreme climate had discernable impacts, the groundwater pumping, but not extreme climate, was the major factor for low flows and drying streams in the ME. These findings are essential to groundwater resource management in the region and provide a critical reference for other parts of the world with similar conditions.

Migration of confined micro-swimmers subject to anisotropic diffusion

Shear-induced migration of elongated micro-swimmers exhibiting anisotropic Brownian diffusion at a population scale is investigated analytically in this work. We analyse the steady motion of confined ellipsoidal micro-swimmers subject to coupled diffusion in a general setting within a continuum homogenisation framework, as an extension of existing studies on macro-transport processes, by allowing for the direct coupling of convection and diffusion in local and global spaces. The analytical solutions are validated successfully by comparison with numerical results from Monte Carlo simulations. Subsequently, we demonstrate from the probability perspective that symmetric actuation does not yield net vertical polarisation in a horizontal flow, unless non-spherical shapes, external fields or direct coupling effects are harnessed to generate steady locomotion. Coupled diffusivities modify remarkably the drift velocity and vertical migration of motile micro-swimmers exposed to fluid shear. The interplay between stochastic swimming and preferential alignment could explain the diverse concentration and orientation distributions, including rheological formations of depletion layers, centreline focusing and surface accumulation. Results of the analytical study shed light on unravelling peculiar self-propulsion strategies and dispersion dynamics in active-matter systems, with implications for various transport problems arising from the fluctuating shape, size and other external or inter-particle interactions of swimmers in confined environments.

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells with over 10% power conversion efficiency enabled by dual passivation strategy

Interfaces quality have always been considered the key factors in the fabrication of efficient Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells, and harmful defects at the interface can significantly reduce the performance of the device. Here, we propose a dual passivation strategy by adding Na to the surface of the absorber layer (CZTSSe) to passivate the CZTSSe/CdS interface and treating the buffer layer (CdS) using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to passivate the CdS/ZnO interface. Due to the Na doping passivation, the absorber surface conductivity increases while the roughness decreases and detrimental defects that can lead to nonradiative recombination are reduced. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the cell is improved by about 1 percentage point by Na passivation. The contributions of open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), and fill factor (FF) to the improvement of PCE have been quantified as 50.64%, −5.58%, and 54.94%, indicating that Na doping can significantly boost Voc and FF. UV-ozone passivation reduces residual carbon organics in the CdS buffer layer, weakens carrier recombination, allows for more light absorption, and widens the depletion region, which favors efficient carrier collection. The estimated contribution of Voc, Jsc, and FF to the PCE of the device is 8.78%, 119.59%, and −28.37%, respectively, demonstrating that UV-ozone passivation can significantly improve the Jsc of the device. The two passivation strategies complement each other's advantages and achieve a synergistic effect. Our prepared champion device exhibits a PCE of 10.69% and remarkable long-term stability.

Corrosion of Ni-based alloy coatings prepared by laser cladding in high-temperature chloride environment

Due to the complex incineration environment of waste incineration power generation boilers generates large amounts of acidic gases (such as Cl2 and HCl) and alkali metal chlorides (such as NaCl and KCl), leading to boiler corrosion failure. Herein, a new type of NiCrAlTi alloy coatings was deposited on 304 stainless steel surfaces by laser cladding technology. High-temperature corrosion experiments were then carried out at 650 °C for 64 h and the results were compared with those of traditional Inconel625 alloy coating. The high-temperature chloride corrosion mechanism and the corrosion resistance of alloy coatings were examined. The results revealed the decomposition of chlorides, such as HCl, NaCl, and KCl into Cl2 at high temperatures as the source of corrosion of high-temperature chlorides. The released C12 reacted with the metals present in the coating to form nonprotective metal chlorides. The low melting point and high vapor pressure of metal chlorides allowed their transition into a gaseous state to diffuse outward and oxidize into Cl2. In turn, the released Cl2 reacted with the metal to induce corrosion. During the corrosion process of NiCrAlTi alloy coating, a Cr depletion zone was induced, and a continuous Al2O3/TiO2/Cr2O3 three-layer protective film was formed on the coating surface, conducive to better alleviating the corrosion caused by the reaction between Cl2 passing through the film and the metal substrate. Under the conditions of this experiment, the corrosion resistance of NiCrAlTi alloy coating is 1.8 times that of the common material 304 stainless steel, and about 1.2 times that of Incon625 alloy coating. With the extension of the experiment, its corrosion resistance will be better. Overall, rich experimental data and theoretical guidance were provided for further research and development on high-temperature chloride corrosion-resistant alloys or coating materials for high-efficiency cost-effectiveness boilers.

Enhanced energy storage performance in Bi4Ti3O12 thin films with oxygen depletion layers

The imprint effect in ferroelectric materials can significantly enhance the performance of energy storage devices. Bi4Ti3O12 (BTO) and oxygen-deficient Bi4Ti3O11.2 (DBTO) thin films were deposited on single-crystal Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrates using pulsed laser deposition. In stark contrast, multilayer DBTO/BTO thin films incorporating an oxygen-deficient layer were also fabricated, with the DBTO layers having thicknesses of 5 nm and 10 nm, respectively. Both BTO and DBTO thin films exhibited epitaxial growth and c-axis-oriented crystallinity. Regarding ferroelectric properties, DBTO/BTO capacitors with an oxygen-deficient layer demonstrated a pronounced imprint effect in their ferroelectric hysteresis loops, compared to the BTO and DBTO capacitors. This effect was particularly noticeable in the DBTO/BTO capacitor with a 10 nm oxygen-deficient layer, as opposed to the thin film with a 5 nm oxygen-deficient layer. We suggest that the imprint effect can be attributed to localized electric field variations and imbalances in charge transport at the interface between the oxygen-depleted layer and the remaining thin film. Consequently, the imprint effect observed in the DBTO/BTO capacitors contributed to an enhancement in energy storage density and efficiency, compared to BTO and DBTO capacitors. This study demonstrates the potential of multilayer DBTO/BTO thin films in advancing capacitive energy storage systems.

Environmental controls on the generation of submarine landslides in Arctic fjords: Insight from Pangnirtung Fjord, Baffin Island, Nunavut

High-latitude fjords are susceptible to hazardous subaerial and submarine mass movements such as rock avalanches and landslides. Geophysical surveys in the fjords of Baffin Island (Nunavut) have shown widespread evidence of submarine landslides, but their timing and triggers remain relatively unconstrained, limiting our ability to understand the environmental controls on the wide range of landslides occurring in high latitude fjords. Using bathymetric, sub-bottom, and sediment core data, this study seeks to generate a comprehensive understanding of the distribution, morphology, lithology, and timing of submarine landslides in Pangnirtung Fjord (SE Baffin Island, Nunavut). These results are used to evaluate the influence of different environmental controls on the generation of submarine landslides in Arctic fjords. We identified 180 near-surface submarine landslides, most of which are relatively small (∼ 0.13 km2), with elongated depletion zones and wide deposits dispersed along the basin floor of the fjord. Landslide ages, calculated from radiocarbon dating and 210Pb/137Cs activities, indicate that 8 of the 11 dated landslides occurred in the last 200 years. Four types of environmental controls were identified, which are believed to have preconditioned or triggered the observed landslides: 1) 51% of landslides, by area, are associated with subaerial sources and extend offshore of debris flow channels and fans; 2) 23% are initiated in shallow-water (< 40 m), are non-subaerially influenced, and may have been triggered by nearshore processes and sea-ice loading; 3) 13% are located in deeper waters (>40 m) and associated with sills and moraines, suggesting they are older deposits associated with the retreat of the ice sheet in the fjord; and 4) 13% are offshore of river deltas, likely associated with delta progradation; they form the largest landslide deposits in the fjord. This research suggests that the main triggers for submarine landslides in high-latitude fjords are climatically influenced (rainfall, floods, subaerial debris flows, and sea ice loading). Consequently, the predicted increase in the frequency of subaerial debris flows and river floods due to anthropogenic climate change will likely result in an increase in the recurrence of these types of submarine landslides. Additional monitoring efforts will be then needed to fully evaluate how future climate will impact the submarine landslide hazard across the Arctic.

Analysis on the capacitance-voltage characteristics of metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitors based on thermally evaporated WOx on n- and p- type crystalline silicon

Tungsten oxide (WOx) thin films were deposited on n- and p-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers by thermal evaporation technique at room temperature. The electrical characterization of Ag/WOx/n-Si and Ag/WOx/p-Si metal–insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitors were examined by the capacitance- and conductance-voltage measurements as a function of applied frequency in the 10 kHz 10 MHz range. The admittance properties of both MIS devices have been evaluated by analyzing the interfacial nature and bulk c-Si in accumulation, depletion, and inversion regimes. The capacitance responses of interface traps, bulk c-Si, depletion, and shallow states at the WOx/c-Si interface indicated the appearance of the capacitance peaks in depletion and inversion regimes for Ag/WOx/n-Si and Ag/WOx/p-Si devices. From C-V characterization, various parameters such as the depletion layer width, depletion capacitance, flat-band voltage, total charge density, and net ionized state density were calculated as a function of applied frequency. For Ag/WOx/n-Si device, the total charge density and barrier height values of 7.642 × 10−9 C and 1.119 eV at 1 MHz, respectively, were obtained. The same parameters were calculated to be 5.887 × 10−8 C and 1.107 eV for Ag/WOx/p-Si. The results demonstrated that interfacial nature of WOx film significantly governs the electronic characteristics of the c-Si based MIS devices.

Wireless Gas Sensor Based on the Mesoporous ZnO-SnO2 Heterostructure Enables Ultrasensitive and Rapid Detection of 3-Methylbutyraldehyde.

Achieving ultrasensitive and rapid detection of 3-methylbutyraldehyde is crucial for monitoring chemical intermediate leakage in pharmaceutical and chemical industries as well as diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia by monitoring exhaled gas. However, developing a sensitive and rapid method for detecting 3-methylbutyraldehyde poses challenges. Herein, a wireless chemiresistive gas sensor based on a mesoporous ZnO-SnO2 heterostructure is fabricated to enable the ultrasensitive and rapid detection of 3-methylbutyraldehyde for the first time. The mesoporous ZnO-SnO2 heterostructure exhibits a uniform spherical shape (∼79 nm in diameter), a high specific surface area (54.8 m2 g-1), a small crystal size (∼4 nm), and a large pore size (6.7 nm). The gas sensor demonstrates high response (18.98@20 ppm), short response/recovery times (13/13 s), and a low detection limit (0.48 ppm) toward 3-methylbutyraldehyde. Furthermore, a real-time monitoring system is developed utilizing microelectromechanical systems gas sensors. The modification of amorphous ZnO on the mesoporous SnO2 pore wall can effectively increase the chemisorbed oxygen content and the thickness of the electron depletion layer at the gas-solid interface, which facilitates the interface redox reaction and enhances the sensing performance. This work presents an initial example of semiconductor metal oxide gas sensors for efficient detection of 3-methylbutyraldehyde that holds great potential for ensuring safety during chemical production and disease diagnosis.

Internal circulation in carrier phase slugs and its influence on the local hydrodynamics in reactive liquid–liquid segmented flow: Visualisation and PIV studies

Local velocity profiles and fluid circulation in liquid–liquid segmented flow significantly influence interphase mass transfer and associated chemical reactions in reduced dimensions. The present study considers a mass transfer-controlled pseudo first order reaction between iodine dissolved in toluene plugs (dispersed phase) and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (carrier phase). The circulation patterns in the aqueous slugs observed during PIV experiments are correlated with the overall reaction rate. The extent of reaction is identified by decolourisation of the toluene plugs which is a result of iodine depletion. The experiments reveal that an increase in dispersed phase flow rate increases the circulation rate and local velocity within the carrier phase slugs. This is accompanied by propagation of reactant depletion zone from top to bottom within the organic plug and flattening of plug bottom. Nevertheless, the circulation remains axisymmetric with the stagnation region unchanged at r0 ∼ 0.74R.

Optimizing the depletion width to enhance the performance of CH3NH3PbI3 flexible photodetector based on the piezo-phototronic effect

The research on organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskites in the field of optoelectronics has greatly advanced the field of photodetection. However, the reported heterojunction structure of perovskite results in complex preparation processes. A simple method was designed to enhance the performance of CH3NH3PbI3 flexible photodetector (PD) by optimizing the depletion width based on the piezo-phototronic effect. Under 5 V bias conditions, when the electrode width of PD is 3, 5, and 8 μm, where the response peaks at 760 nm are 0.06, 0.02, and 0.01 A/W, respectively. This depends on the decrease of electrode width and the increase of depletion width. As the strain increases, the PD response of the interdigital electrode at 3 μm increases from 0.020 to 0.0482 A/W. When the strain is 0.3, the responsiveness increases by 240 %. As the strain increases, the PD response of the interdigital electrode at 5 μm increases from 0.010 to 0.0255 A/W and the PD response of the interdigital electrode at 8 μm increases from 0.006 to 0.0137 A/W. Therefore, devices with a wide depletion width have significant performance advantages. This work improves the responsivity of perovskite flexible PD based on the piezo-phototronic effect by optimizing the depletion width, providing a simple and effective method for manufacturing perovskite thin film devices on high-performance flexible substrates.

Grain boundary segregation in iron doped strontium titanate: From dilute to concentrated solid solutions

Strontium titanate, a perovskite oxide, is a frequently studied material for a large variety of applications. When acceptor-doped (with Fe, for example), the material is useful for its mixed oxygen and electronic conductivity, with potential use in oxygen transport membranes or as a cathode for solid oxide fuel cells. A barrier to conductivity in perovskites is the presence of space charge regions at the grain boundaries, which form due to the segregation of charged point defects. Typically, space charge theory assumes bulk dopant concentrations beneath the dilute limit, however concentrated solid-solutions are often utilized in applications. The current work aims to address this disparity: grain boundary segregation in strontium ferrite-strontium titanate solid-solutions is analyzed at three compositions, with Fe contents ranging from near the dilute limit to well above the dilute limit (Fe contents of 2 %, 5 %, and 25 % on the B-site of the perovskite). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows an increase in material conductivity as Fe is added. High-resolution STEM imaging and spectral mapping is utilized, showing that Fe segregates to the grain boundary core, contrary to what is expected from space charge theory. As the Fe content is increased, the amount of Fe segregated to the boundary increases significantly, but the segregation width of Fe at the boundary remains consistent.

The correlation of the drain-source capacitance variation and the P-pillar structures in a 4H-SiC quasi super junction MOSFET

In order to improve the trade-off between the 4H-SiC planar Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and super junction MOSFET (SJ-MOSFET), particularly on the drain to source capacitance (Cds) which affects the switching performance, this study investigates the Cds of the quasi SJ-MOSFETs with various P-pillar widths, depths, and concentrations. The measured results show (1) when the N-type region between the P-pillars (Epi-1 region) is fully depleted, the Cds value abruptly drops, (2) when the N-type drift region beneath the P-pillar (Epi-2 region) is fully depleted, the slope of the Cds-Vds curve slowly changes because of the small extension of the depletion region in the P-type region. This is because the wider P-pillar width will increase the magnitude of the abrupt drop of the Cds and make the drop occur earlier; the abrupt drop of the Cds will occur later and the magnitude increases when the P-pillar depth is deeper due to the larger P-type region; Moreover, increasing the P-pillar concentration not only initiates the abrupt drop earlier and increases the magnitude, but also increases the minimum saturation value of the Cds at a higher reverse bias. This study also reveals that the mechanism of the Cds formation in a quasi SJ-MOSFET is different from the planar MOSFET and SJ-MOSFET. Finally, the simulated results are used to validate the influence of the P-pillar structures on the Cds – Vds curves in a quasi SJ-MOSFET.

Advanced triethylamine sensor utilizing 3D microspheres of La-doped MoO3: Performance enhancement and mechanism insights

Triethylamine (TEA) as an excellent solvent, polymer inhibitor and preservative often appears in various places in industrial production, but its harm can not be underestimated. For the detection of TEA, molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) is a great gas-sensitive material, but its response and recovery time are long. In addressing improvements to MoO3, the paper introduced a method involving the introduction of the rare earth metal La and further pinpointed an optimal doping concentration strategy. In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) microspheres of La-doped MoO3 with different doping concentrations were synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method. Among these, the sensor based on 1 wt% La-doped MoO3 exhibits the highest gas-sensing response to TEA, with a response value of approximately 30–20 ppm TEA when the temperature is 240 ℃, accompanied by shortened response and recovery times of 10 and 29 s, respectively. Moreover, this doping level demonstrates excellent selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability. The enhancement of gas-sensing performance is elucidated through the electron depletion layer theory and the increase in oxygen vacancies. Additionally, first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculation was employed to deeply analyze the adsorption behavior of the MoO3 towards TEA before and after doping. This study provides valuable insights into the development of high-performance TEA sensors.

Enhancing photovoltaic cell efficiency: A comprehensive study on BN-Si3N4 blend antireflective coatings and their impact on power conversion

Antireflective surface coatings were one of the most important factors that contributed to the improvement of the functionality of photovoltaic cells. The coatings were performed by different methods such as RF sputtering, spin coating, dip coating, electro spraying etc. The coating materials such as BN, Si3N4 and BN-Si3N4 blends were applied to solar cells using the RF sputtering technique in this study. Several distinct characterization methods were adopted to assess the productivity of Si3N4 coated cells. The BN-Si3N4 blend coated cell has a low light reflection of 8 % and exhibits uniform layer deposition, which shows a significant improvement over conventional solar cell. The BN-Si3N4 solar cell was able to obtain the highest possible power conversion efficiency of 19.70 % when exposed to direct sunlight and 21.28 % when exposed to neodymium light. It possess the narrow scope of visible spectrum and acts as green/yellow filter in visible spectrum. This light is capable of delivering light similar to sunlight with consistent radiation. This was accomplished by increasing the transmission of photons that reached the depletion region. The four-probe experiment was employed to measure the electrical resistivity of BN-Si3N4 solar cell, which was found to be 0.00298 Ω-cm. This value was lower than the electrical resistivity of other solar cell samples. Based on the results, BN-Si3N4combination outperformed both coated and bare cells. It was found that BN-Si3N4blendwas a remarkable antireflective coating to maximize the performance.

The Study on Single-Event Effects and Hardening Analysis of Frequency Divider Circuits Based on InP HBT Process.

The single-event effects (SEEs) of frequency divider circuits and the radiation tolerance of the hardened circuit are studied in this paper. Based on the experimental results of SEEs in InP HBTs, a transient current model for sensitive transistors is established, taking into account the influence of factors such as laser energy, base-collector junction voltage, and radiation position. Moreover, the SEEs of the (2:1) static frequency divider circuit with the InP DHBT process are simulated under different laser energies by adding the transient current model at sensitive nodes. The effect of the time relationship between the pulsed laser and clock signal are discussed. Changes in differential output voltage and the degradation mechanism of unhardened circuits are analyzed, which are mainly attributed to the cross-coupling effect between the transistors in the differential pair. Furthermore, the inverted output is directly connected to the input, leading to a feedback loop and causing significant logic upsets. Finally, an effective hardened method is proposed to provide redundancy and mitigate the impacts of SEEs on the divider. The simulation results demonstrate a notable improvement in the radiation tolerance of the divider.

Origin of Anomalously Large Depletion Zones in Like-Charged Colloid-Polyelectrolyte Mixtures.

Depletion zones in polyelectrolyte solutions in contact with like-charged flat surfaces are investigated. Using a coupled self-consistent field and Debye-Hückel approach, an explicit expression for the thickness δ of the depletion layer is derived. It is found that δ∼δ_{n}+cκ^{-1}, where δ_{n} is the depletion thickness at a neutral surface, c is a function of the electrostatic characteristics of the system, and κ^{-1} is the Debye length. It is argued that the theory still holds beyond the mean-field approximation, which is confirmed by quantitative agreement between our theoretical results and experiments.

Depletion-Induced Self-Assembly of Colloidal Particles on a Solid Substrate.

We investigate the depletion contributions to the self-assembly of microcolloids on solid substrates. The assembly is driven by the exclusion of nanoparticles and nonadsorbing polymers from the depletion zone between the microcolloids in the liquid and the underlying substrate. The model system consists of 1 μm polystyrene particles that we deposit on a flat glass slab in an electrolyte solution. Using polystyrene nanoparticles and poly(acrylic acid) polymers as depleting agents, we demonstrate in our experiments that nanoparticle concentrations of 0.5% (w/v) support well-ordered packing of microcolloids on glass, while the presence of polymers leads to irregular aggregate deposition structures. A mixture of nanoparticles and polymers enhances the formation of colloidal aggregate and particulate surface coverage compared to using the polymers alone as a depletion agent. Moreover, tuning the polymer ionization state from pH 4 to 9 modifies the polymer conformational state and radius of gyration, which in turn alters the microcolloid deposition from compact multilayers to flocculated structures. Our study provides entropic strategies for manipulating particulate assembly on substrates from dispersed to continuous coatings.