Room Temperature In Range Research Articles

Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium Phosphate (Li3PO4) as a Solid Electrolyte

Due to its high thermal stability, environmental friendliness, and safety, lithium phosphate (Li3PO4) is used as a solid electrolyte in battery applications, but it is usually used with dopants due to its lower ionic conductivity, which is required for ion transport. However, due to its stability and environmentally friendly aspect, lithium phosphate is still a hot topic among suitable energy materials that need further research to improve its electrochemical properties. In the current work, a novel synthesis of lithium phosphate was proposed from the raw materials lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (Na3PO4*12H2O) under suitable stoichiometric conditions using the co-precipitation method. In the set of synthesized samples, a single-phase β-Li3PO4 (named LPO-4) with 99.7% purity and 93.49% yield was successfully prepared under appropriate stoichiometric conditions and pH 13 at 90 °C. The average particle size was 10 nm with a large surface area of 9.02 m2g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of LPO-4 revealed a conductivity of 7.1 × 10−6 S.cm−1 at room temperature and 2.7 × 10−5 S.cm−1 at 80 °C with a low activation energy of 0.38 eV. This performance is attributed to the morphology of the nanotubes and the smaller particle size, which enlarge the reaction interfaces and shorten the diffusion distance of lithium ions. The kinetic and thermodynamic key parameters showed that the β-Li3PO4 exhibits thermal stability in the room temperature range up to 208.8 °C. All these property values indicate a promising application of lithium phosphate as a solid electrolyte in solid-state batteries and a new route for further investigation.

High temperature properties of nichrome resistant heaters – A systematic comparison of APS, suspension and filament HVOF sprayed coatings

This study investigates the performance of Nichrome coatings, a nickel‑chromium alloy containing 20 wt.-% chromium, applied using three thermal spray techniques: powder plasma spray, suspension HVOF, and filament HVOF. Thin, homogeneous coatings approximately 35 μm thick were deposited onto steel substrates pre-coated with an insulating Al2O3 layer. The oxide content in the coatings varied based on the spraying technique and parameters, ranging from 57 to 64 vol.-% for plasma spraying, 42 to 54 vol.-% for filament HVOF, and 9 to 43 vol.-% for suspension HVOF. The coating's heating performance was evaluated over a temperature range of room temperature (RT) to 700 °C. Analytical techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) were employed to investigate the mechanisms affecting temperature-dependent resistivity in relation to the coating microstructure. The results indicate that increased oxidation leads to a decrease in specific resistivity at RT (ρ0). In example, plasma sprayed coatings exhibited lower specific resistivity ρ0 of 0.80 Ωmm2/m. In contrast, suspension HVOF reaches values up to 2.75 Ωmm2/m. At the same time coatings with higher oxidation levels demonstrate an elevated dependence of resistivity as compared to less oxidized coatings. Both can be attributed to changes in the phase composition of the conductive phase as the dominating factor, primarily driven by the preferential oxidation of chromium during the spraying process. Notably, the results provide valuable information for adjusting the coating properties to suit specific needs, such as self-regulating or high-temperature heating applications.

Predicting the Thermodynamic Solubility and Stability of Co-crystals and Eutectics of Febuxostat by using a Thermodynamic Model involving Flory Huggins Interaction Parameter.

A method is presented for determining the thermodynamic (equilibrium) solubility of a drug in coformer for the non-covalent derivative (NCD) systems i.e. eutectics/co-crystals. The method is based on a thermodynamic model to calculate the Gibbs energy change ∆GCC associated with forming a drug-coformer NCD system. This model includes contributions from heat capacity differences between the mixed and unmixed components, breaking up of the solid drug and coformer lattice structure, and drug ─ coformer mixing. Calculation of ∆GCC from thermal analysis data is demonstrated, and the equilibrium drug solubility in coformer is represented by minima of plots of ∆GCC versus the dissolved drug fraction(f1). Eight (8) coformer molecules, namely, 1-hydroxy 2-naphthoic acid (1H-2NPH), 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (4-HBA), salicylic acid (SLC), 4-amino salicylic acid (4-ASA), 5-nitro isophthalic acid (5N-IPH), pyrazinamide (PZD), isonicotinamide (ISNCT), and picolinamide (PICO) were used for the formation of NCDs of a highly water insoluble drug febuxostat (FXT). The importance of heat capacity and interaction parameter in determining the solubility behavior of drug-coformer in the formed NCDs was discussed. Further, ∆GCC for FXT in selected NCDs were plotted as a function of composition and temperature to determine the thermodynamic stability over the range of room temperature to formulation melting. It was concluded that the thermodynamic model can reasonably predict the maximum stable drug loading in a multi-crystalline system at a particular temperature, and serve as a complementary screening tool in determining the best stoichiometric ratio of the drug and coformer in terms of solubility and thermodynamic stability.

Acoustic field and power matching mechanism in looped heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigerators

Heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigerators (HDTRs) offer great potential for the sustainable energy development due to their environmental friendliness, high reliability, and promising efficiency. However, there remains a gap in the comprehensive study and understanding of their acoustic matching and energy conversion mechanisms, the resolution of which would facilitate the development of more efficient HDTRs. This work employs Sage to model fundamental thermoacoustic engines and coolers, aiming to explore the effects of temperature and acoustic fields on their performance. It highlights the acoustic and temperature-matching patterns of looped HDTRs operating at room temperature range. The optimal impedance phase for the thermoacoustic engine and cooler is located on the negative and positive sides, respectively, of the pure traveling wave zero-phase point. The thermal buffer tube provides better phase matching between the engine outlet and cooler inlet compared to the resonator tube. Focusing on a single-unit HDTR system, the present study evaluates the steady-state performance and acoustic distribution analysis for systems different connections and couplings. Additionally, it compares looped HDTRs with various coupling configurations from the literature, further confirming the superior refrigeration performance of directly coupled systems. These findings provide valuable insights for developing more efficient thermoacoustic refrigerators, contributing to sustainable energy advancement.

Superior Piezoelectric Performance in Textured CaBi2Nb2O9 Ferroelectric Ceramics through Rare-Earth Gadolinium Doping and Spark Plasma Sintering.

High-performance piezoelectric ceramics with excellent thermal stability are crucial for high-temperature piezoelectric sensor applications. However, conventional fabrication processes offer limited enhancements in piezoelectric performance. In this study, we achieved a significant breakthrough in the piezoelectric performance of highly textured CaBi2Nb2O9 (CBN) ceramics by incorporating rare-earth gadolinium doping and utilizing spark plasma sintering. The resulting Ca0.97Gd0.03Bi2Nb2O9 (CBN-3Gd) ceramics exhibited superior piezoelectric properties, with a high piezoelectric constant d33 of 26 pC/N and a high Curie temperature TC of 946 °C. We employed piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) to observe the morphology and dimensions of the ferroelectric domains, revealing a rod-shaped 3D domain configuration. This configuration facilitated polarization rotation in the textured ceramics, as analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops. Furthermore, the textured CBN-3Gd ceramics demonstrated exceptional thermal stability and reliability. The piezoelectric constant d33 decreased by only 11.8% over a temperature range of room temperature to 500 °C, and the DC electrical resistivity remained at 6.7 × 105 Ω cm at 600 °C. This work not only highlights the great potential of textured CBN-based ceramics for high-temperature piezoelectric sensors but also provides a viable strategy for enhancing the performance of piezoelectric materials with large aspect ratio micromorphology.

Enhanced energy storage properties of BaTiO3 ceramics: Effect of doping Bi(Mg0.25Zn0.25Ti0.5)O3 on microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties

(1-x) BaTiO3 – x Bi(Mg0.25Zn0.25Ti0.5)O3 (x = 0.00, 0.06, 0.12, 0.20,molar ratio) ceramics were prepared by solid sintering method. The effects of Bi(Mg0.25Zn0.25Ti0.5)O3 (BMZT) doping on microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and energy storage properties of BaTiO3 (BTO) were studied. With BMZT addition, the sintering temperature gradually decreases, the grain size reaches a minimum at x = 0.12 and the phase structure changes from tetragonal to cubic. And dielectric properties changed from temperature-dependent to temperature-insensitive. Additionally, higher cubic phase content induced slim polarization and electric field (P-E) loop and low remnant polarization (Pr). Therefore, 0.88 BaTiO3 - 0.12 Bi(Mg0.25Zn0.25Ti0.5)O3 ceramics achieved recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) of 702.7 mJ/cm3 and high energy efficiency of 87.3 % under electric field of 93 kV/cm. It exhibited optimum properties, including a minimum grain size (0.620 μm), superior dielectric properties (εr = 1811.3, tanδ = 0.0552 at 1150 °C), a high maximum polarization strength (14.3 μC/cm2), and the maximum dielectric breakdown strength (93 kV/cm), as identified in the present study. It simultaneously maintains high energy storage density and efficiency over a wide electric field range and large temperature range (room temperature - 90 °C). Thus (1-x) BaTiO3 – x Bi(Mg0.25Zn0.25Ti0.5)O3 ceramics are a promising material for energy storage applications.

Microstructure evolution and tribological properties over a wide temperature range of Ni-based composite coatings with Ti3AlC2 addition

Ni60A alloy powders doped with varying concentrations (0, 10 wt% and 20 wt%) of Ti3AlC2 MAX phase were coated on S31008 NiCr stainless steel substrate using atmosphere plasma spraying technique in this work. Comparative investigation was conducted to examine the effects of Ti3AlC2 additions on the microstructure evolution, microhardness, and wide temperature range (room temperature to 800 oC) tribological performance of the composite coatings. The findings demonstrated that the composite coatings were composed of γ-Ni, intermetallic hard metal borides, Ti3AlC2 and TiC phases, without any noticeable oxide phases. The 20 wt% Ti3AlC2 additions to the Ni60A alloy coating exhibited minimum imperfections in microstructure with a porosity drop of 65.8 %, and the highest microhardness which was enhanced by 64 % to 924 HV0.515. After introducing of Ti3AlC2, the coefficient of friction decreased and appeared to distinguish itself by remaining minimal and stable at low-medium temperatures compared with an increase of more than 70 % at high temperatures. Ni60A-10 wt% Ti3AlC2 coating resulted in the lowest friction coefficient of approximately 0.45 from room temperature to 400 oC and it peaked to 0.78 at 800 oC, reducing by 19.6 % and 6 % compared to non-composite coating, respectively. The wear resistance of the composite coating was considerably improved with the increment of Ti3AlC2, and the coating with 20 wt% Ti3AlC2 showed the most significant reduction in wear rate: 18.5 % at room temperature, 45.2 % at 200 oC, 37.2 % at 400 oC, 60 % at 600 oC, 90.8 % at 800 oC. The lubricate layered Ti3AlC2 phases and the tribo-oxide film predominate composed of derivative NiO, Cr2O3 Al2O3 and TiO2 played a critical role in antifriction and wear resistance. The wear mechanisms were accordingly conducted as abrasion and adhesion wear at low-medium temperature and transferred into tribo-oxidation wear at elevated temperature.

Damage mechanisms of 2195-O aluminum alloy sheet induced by microstructural evolution during tensile deformation at different temperatures

The 2195 aluminum alloy is limited in aerospace structural components due to its poor formability at room temperature (RT) and narrow range of working parameters at hot deformation, which prompted considerable interest in understanding the microscopic damage mechanisms at different temperatures. This work focuses on the interaction between the second-phase particles and the matrix, as well as their evolving relationship to investigate the damage mechanisms of the 2195-O alloy. Particular attention was given to the nucleation mechanisms that trigger damage. SEM, BSE, and EBSD methods were employed to characterize the evolution of the microstructure during tensile tests ranging from RT to 450 °C. The results indicate that nucleation mechanisms exhibit temperature-dependent variations: At RT, a high area fraction of particles and inadequate coordination with matrix deformation lead to stress concentration on the particles, and particle fracture is the primary nucleation mechanism. Meanwhile, voids nucleate at the particle-matrix interface at 300–450 °C, where localized strain concentration is induced by differential deformation between particles and the matrix. Moreover, matrix cracking occurs at 450 °C due to a reduction in the quantity of particles and grain coarsening. Matrix-cracks tend to expand and aggregate, leading to decreased elongation at 450 °C.

Spectral and conductivity measurements insights on loading mechanisms of DMSO/water-kaolin complexes

Kaolin, a naturally occurring clay mineral renowned for its distinctive properties, holds significant importance across various industries. The integration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) into kaolin matrices, both in the presence and absence of water, has been extensively explored for its potential to enhance material characteristics. Addressing debates surrounding the proposed adsorption mechanism for the type I structure of DMSO, this study undertook a comprehensive physicochemical characterization of DMSO-kaolin complexes (DMSO-KCs) derived from untreated (UnK) and HCl-treated (HK) Egyptian ore, with a focus on elucidating the loading mechanism facilitated by water.Key insights gleaned from electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and Fine Testing Technology – Fourier-transform infrared (FTT-FTIR) measurements, shedding light on the bonding nature of DMSO-KCs. FTT-FTIR analysis revealed two stages of water departure at 180 °C, with the final stage coinciding with the release of pyrolysis gases, confirming the catalytic degradation of DMSO. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), two distinct bonding types of DMSO molecules with kaolinite were identified: amorphous adsorbed (type I) and lattice-oriented intercalated (type II).Electrical characteristic evaluations within the temperature range of room temperature (RT) to 260 °C and frequency range of 42 Hz–1 MHz revealed that DMSO intercalation enhances the electrical properties of kaolin. Hydrated DMSO-KCs exhibited higher values of σac and ɛʹ compared to non-hydrated samples. The activation energy (Ea) values for HCl-treated samples were smaller than those of untreated ones. Alternating current (AC) conductivity analysis indicated predominantly ionic behavior with frequency and temperature dependency in both HCl-treated and untreated kaolin. Our findings substantiate the adsorption mechanism of Type I DMSO, highlighting its amorphous nature, instability, and catalytic degradation over time, in contrast to the intercalated type II. This elucidation is pivotal for understanding the behavior of DMSO-KCs across diverse applications, including electronics, ceramics, and materialsscience.

Near-room-temperature magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of polycrystalline and nano-scale manganites Pr(0.65-x)NdxSr0.35MnO3 (x ≤ 0.35)

Here we report investigations of structural, electrical and magnetic properties of bulk and nano-sized Pr0.65-xNdxSr0.35MnO3 compounds (x ≤ 0.35). Polycrystalline compounds were produced by solid – state reaction and nanocrystalline samples were obtained by sol–gel method. Analysis of x-ray diffraction patterns revealed a change in lattice structure from ‘Pbnm’ to ‘R3c’ symmetry, with diminishing cell volume upon increasing Nd ions substitution for all samples. Optical microscopy was used for bulk surface morphology and transmission electron microscopy was implemented for nano-sized samples. Iodometric titration showed oxygen deficiency for bulk compounds and oxygen excess for nano-sized particles. Measurements of resistivity of bulk samples revealed a single peak at temperatures associated with grain boundary conditions and with ferromagnetic/paramagnetic transition and negative magnetoresistivity. Critical magnetic behavior analysis disclosed that the polycrystalline samples are governed by a tricritical mean field and by 3D Heisenberg models while nanocrystalline samples are governed by a mean field model. Curie temperature Tc values remain in near room temperature range for all bulk compounds; they lower with increasing Nd ions substitution from 295 K for the parent bulk compound to 268 K for x = 0.35. Tc is lowered from 255 K for the parent nano-sized compound in small temperature intervals. All compounds exhibit second-order magnetic phase transitions and relatively high magnetic entropy change, with the highest value of 5.74 J/kgK for x = 0.25 bulk sample in μ˳∆H = 4 T. Strong magnetocaloric effect, stability and the possibility of fine-tuning Tc by Nd ions substitution make the investigated bulk polycrystalline compounds promising for application in magnetic refrigeration. Nano-sized samples possess lower magnetic entropy changes of maximum 2.4 J/kgK in μ˳∆H = 4 T for x = 0.15, but wider effective entropy change temperature (δTfwhm) and relative cooling power on par with other manganites, bringing them into the conversation as a viable option in cooling materials.

Intrinsic and extrinsic dielectric response of Sr0.95Nd0.05Fe12O19 nanoceramics doped with Sc3+ and Al3+ ions

ABSTRACT The dielectric response of M-hexaferrite nanoceramics is complex since it is determined by crystal structure and microstructure. We studied the dielectric behavior of Nd3+ modified Sr2 + Fe12O19 nanoceramics with ferric ions, responsible for magnetic properties, substituted by Sc3+ and Al3+. To compare the effect of different ionic radii we discussed the dielectric response of Sr0.95Nd0.05Fe12-xScxO19 and Sr0.95Nd0.05Fe12-xAlxO19 at the doping level of x = 1.08. The dielectric response was found to consist of four contributions: (i) Low-temperature dispersion of dielectric polarization created by doping-induced spin-canting. The polarization, described by the inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya model, is in nanoceramics limited by the shape and size of the crystallites. (ii) Changes in relaxation modes of polar vacancies due to interaction with electric dipole moments modified by deformation of oxygen octahedra. (iii) Dielectric dispersion in room temperature range related to space charge relaxation in grain boundaries. (iv) High-temperature electric conductivity of the grain interiors.

Flexible Positive Temperature Coefficient Composites (PVAc/EVA/GP-CNF) with Room Temperature Curie Point.

Polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PTC) materials with low switching temperature points are crucial for numerous electronic devices, which typically function within the room temperature range (0-40 °C). Ideal polymeric PTC materials for flexible electronic thermal control should possess a room-temperature switching temperature, low room-temperature resistivity, exceptional mechanical flexibility, and adaptive thermal control properties. In this study, a novel PTC material with a room-temperature switching temperature and superb mechanical properties has been designed. A blend of a semi-crystalline polymer EVA with a low melting temperature (Tm) and an amorphous polymer (PVAc) with a low glass transition temperature (Tg) was prepared. Low-cost graphite was chosen as the conductive filler, while CNF was incorporated as a hybrid filler to enhance the material's heating stability. PVAc0.4/EVA0.6/GP-3wt.% CNF exhibited the lowest room temperature resistivity, and its PTC strength (1.1) was comparable to that without CNF addition, with a Curie temperature of 29.4 °C. Room temperature Joule heating tests revealed that PVAc0.4/EVA0.6/GP-3wt.% CNF achieved an equilibrium temperature of approximately 42 °C at 25 V, with a heating power of 3.04 W and a power density of 3.04 W/cm2. The Young's modulus of PVAc0.4/EVA0.6/GP-3wt.% CNF was 9.24 MPa, and the toughness value was 1.68 MJ/m3, indicating that the elasticity and toughness of the composites were enhanced after mixing the fillers, and the mechanical properties of the composites were improved by blending graphite with CNF.

Microstructural Investigation of Discarded NdFeB Magnets After Low-Temperature Hydrogenation

Due to continuously increasing demand and limited resources of rare-earth elements (REEs), new solutions are being sought to overcome the supply risk of REEs. To mitigate the supply risk of REEs, much attention has recently been paid to recycling. Despite the more common recycling methods, including hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, hydrogen processing of magnetic scrap (HPMS) is still in the development stage. Magnet-to-magnet recycling via hydrogenation of discarded NdFeB magnets provides a fine powder suitable for the production of new magnets from secondary sources. One of the crucial aspects of HPMS is the degree of recovery of the magnetic properties, as the yield efficiency can easily reach over 95%. The amount, morphology, and distribution of the Nd-rich phase are the key parameters to achieve the excellent performance of the magnet by isolating the matrix grain. Therefore, a better insight into the microstructure of the matrix grains and the Nd-rich phase before and after hydrogenation is essential. In this study, a low-temperature hydrogenation process in the range of room temperature to 400 °C was conducted as the first step to recycle NdFeB magnets from discarded hard disk drives (HDDs), and the hydrogenated powder was characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that there are three different morphologies of the Nd-rich phase, which undergo two different transformations through oxidation and hydride formation. While at lower temperatures (below 250 °C) the degree of pulverization is higher and the experimental evidence of hydride formation is less clear, at higher temperatures the degree of pulverization decreases. The formation of neodymium hydride at higher temperatures prevents further oxidation of the Nd-rich phase due to its high stability.Graphical

Novel bio-based polyurethane elastomers for adjustable room-temperature damping property

The distinctive viscoelastic behavior of elastomeres can be exploited for reducing vibrations and noise. However, the utility of conventional rubber-based elastomers is limited by low glass transition temperature (Tg) and narrow adjustable damping range, which constrain the room-temperature damping property. Moreover, the majority of rubber-based elastomers are sourced from unsustainable petroleum-based resources. Therefore, designing bio-based materials with room-temperature high-damping property to replace conventional rubber-based elastomers is crucial. Herein, a novel bio-based polyurethane (bio-PU) elastomer with an adjustable damping-temperature range and room-temperature high-damping property is successfully synthesized from bio-based poly (trimethylene ether) glycol. The effects of molecular chain structure on the thermal properties, mechanical properties, and adjustable damping-temperature range of the bio-PU elastomers, along with the mechanisms underlying these effects, are elucidated in detail. As the content of hard segment increasing, the Tg of bio-PU elastomers significantly increases from −13.0 to 29.9 °C, effectively encompassing the damping temperature range within the room-temperature working range. This promising strategy for formulating bio-based elastomers with adjustable damping-temperature range can advance the sustainable growth of PU industry and broaden the scope of PU damping applications.

In situ observation of the multistep process of cold sintering

AbstractA compact cold sintering stage was constructed to densify ceramic samples in capillary tubes for the purpose of conducting in situ experiments designed to elucidate fundamental cold sintering mechanisms. The stage was used to successfully densify samples composed of ZnO/CH₃COOH mixtures under a range of pressures (25–175 MPa) over a modest temperature range (room to 150°C) in capillary tubes (0.75 mm inner diameter). The progression of the cold sintering process of ZnO was monitored by both piston displacement and a camera. These measurements allowed the strain rate and fluid extraction during densification to be recorded. The results of these measurements are compared to existing models of cold sintering and pressure solution creep, and direct correlations are observed between abrupt changes to the densification rate during constant heating rate experiments and the observation of solvent extraction from the powder compact.

Investigation of the Elevated Temperature Tribological Property and Wear Mechanism of Fe–15Cu–0.8C Materials Containing Mo‐Coated MoS2Powders

Herein, MoS2solid lubricant is introduced in the form of Mo‐coated MoS2powder, to enhance the antifriction properties of sintered ferrous antifriction materials (FAMs). The microstructure, phase composition, and tribological properties of Fe–15Cu–0.8C–3.75 (Mo‐coated MoS2) (MC1) are investigated and compared with Fe–15Cu–0.8C (M0) samples, with a discussion on the wear mechanism at a wide temperature range of room temperature to 600 °C. The study reveals that the addition of Mo‐coated MoS2powders effectively prevents the decomposition of MoS2during sintering, enhances the bonding strength between MoS2and the substrate, and significantly improves the hardness of the sintered Fe–15Cu–0.8C samples. In comparison with the sintered Fe–15Cu–0.8C samples, the sintered Fe–15Cu–0.8C–3.75 (Mo‐coated MoS2) samples exhibit good antifriction properties with a frictional coefficient of 0.23 at 600 °C and a wear rate of 6.3 × 10−7mm3N m−1at 300 °C. Introducing Mo‐coated MoS2significantly reduces the average friction coefficient and wear rate of the sintered FAMs at elevated temperatures, attributed to the formation of FeMoO4. The antifriction performance of MC1 samples notably decreases with increasing test temperatures. The main wear mechanism is oxidative wear above 300 °C.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of Direct and Indirect Band Gaps of WSe2.

Low-dimension materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have received extensive research interest and investigation for electronic and optoelectronic applications. Due to their unique widely tunable band structures, they are good candidates for next-generation optoelectronic devices. Particularly, their photoluminescence properties, which are fundamental for optoelectronic applications, are highly sensitive to the nature of the band gap. Monolayer TMDCs in the room temperature range have presented a direct band gap behavior and bright photoluminescence. In this work, we investigate a popular TMDC material WSe2's photoluminescence performance using a Raman spectroscopy laser with temperature dependence. With temperature variation, the lattice constant and the band gap change dramatically, and thus the photoluminescence spectra are changed. By checking the photoluminescence spectra at different temperatures, we are able to reveal the nature of direct-to-indirect band gap in monolayer WSe2. We also implemented density function theory (DFT) simulations to computationally investigate the band gap of WSe2 to provide comprehensive evidence and confirm the experimental results. Our study suggests that monolayer WSe2 is at the transition boundary between the indirect and direct band gap at room temperature. This result provides insights into temperature-dependent optical transition in monolayer WSe2 for quantum control, and is important for cultivating the potential of monolayer WSe2 in thermally tunable optoelectronic devices operating at room temperature.

2D thermo-fluidynamic rotary model of an elastocaloric cooling device: The energy performances

Elastocaloric cooling has been considered a promising solid-state technology for cooling and heat pumping among the alternatives to vapor compression, at room temperature range. The technology is based on elastocaloric effect that is a thermophysical phenomenon occurring in materials like Shape Memory Alloys (SMA). The effect is detectable as a temperature change in the material if adiabatically subjected to a forcing field of mechanical nature. The latter provokes to the materials a stress that can derive from tension, compression, bending, torsion solicitations. As a result, the SMA experiments a structural phase change from austenite to martensite (coupled with heat addition) and temperature rise. Dually when the stress is removed, the SMA releases heat with a temperature decrease. In this paper the SUSSTAIN-EL rotary elastocaloric heat pump has been deeply investigated to test the energy performances while it works on open loop and closed loop, through a 2D numerical model based on the finite element method, for cooling and heating operation modes. The device employs a binary NiTi SMA as elastocaloric refrigerant and air as heat transfer medium. A wide set of working conditions has been considered like variable inlet mass flow rate, rotation frequency and thermal loads. The acquired results demonstrate that, both in open and closed loop, the prototype’s energy performances are promising and highly favourable for the intended macroscale collocation of the device.

Specificity of electrophysical and gas-sensitive properties of nanocomposite ZnO–TiO2 films formed by solid-phase pyrolysis

ZnO–TiO2 thin films containing 0.5 mol%, 1.0 mol%, and 5.0 mol% ZnO were synthesized by oxidative solid-phase pyrolysis. The materials contained anatase and rutile phases with particle size of 6–13 nm, as confirmed using X-ray phase analysis and scanning electron microscopy. When a certain number of ZnO crystallites appeared in the TiO2 film structure in the temperature range of room temperature to 220 °C, a two-level response of the film resistance was observed, differing by approximately 10%, as obtained by electrophysical measurements. The two-level response correlates with the formation of two donor energy levels of 0.28 and 0.33 eV in the band structure of the ZnO–TiO2 films. The donor level with a higher activation energy corresponded to the Ti vacancy (V−Ti), and that with a lower activation energy corresponded to the Zn vacancy (V−Zn). Two levels of gas-sensitive properties were noted for 0.5ZnO–TiO2, 1ZnO–TiO2, and 5ZnO–TiO2 under the influence of 50 ppm NO2 at 250 °C. Such two-level responses can be ascribed to the pinning of the Fermi level on ZnO and TiO2 nanocrystallites. The mechanism of the beak-shaped and two-level responses of sensors based on composite nanomaterials when exposed to various gases was elucidated.

A ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal vitrified at room temperature

ABSTRACT Most of the current highly polar rod-shaped molecules that form ferroelectric nematic (NF) phase do so only at elevated temperatures and multicomponent mixtures are generally needed to obtain a broad and room temperature range NF phase. In this work, we describe the synthesis, phase characterisation and measurement of various physical properties of a new ferroelectric nematic compound 4-[(4-nitrophenoxy)carbonyl]phenyl 2-isopropoxy-4-methoxybenzoate (RT11165). The molecular structure of RT11165 with a 2-isopropoxy group differs only by a substitution of the 2-methoxy group found in the prototype ferroelectric nematic material 4-[(4-nitrophenoxy)carbonyl]phenyl 2,4-dimethoxybenzoate (RM734). This small structure change produces a rather dramatic change in phase behaviour leading to an NF phase from 63°C down to room temperature. Below about 45°C the rotational viscosity of RT11165 increases critically and the temperature dependence indicates a glass transition at ~19°C. The transparent and polar glassy state of RT11165, which should be also piezoelectric, is a good candidate for energy storage, piezoecatalysis, data storage and other applications.