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Crystal Orientation (crystal + orientation)
Selected AbstractsControlled Deposition of Highly Ordered Soluble Acene Thin Films: Effect of Morphology and Crystal Orientation on Transistor PerformanceADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 48 2009Christoph W. Sele Controlling the morphology of soluble small molecule organic semiconductors is crucial for the application of such materials in electronic devices. Using a simple dip-coating process we systematically vary the film drying speed to produce a range of morphologies, including oriented needle-like crystals. Structural characterization as well as electrical transistor measurements show that intermediate drying velocities produce the most uniformly aligned films. [source] Control of Crystal Orientation and Piezoelectric Response of Lead Zirconate Titanate Thin Films Near the Morphotropic Phase BoundaryJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 4 2002Ken-ichi Kakimoto PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 (PZT) thin films with various preferred crystallographic orientations were synthesized on various substrates using pulsed laser deposition techniques. Larger piezoelectric displacement, which involved the bending vibration of the PZT film/substrate, was observed in randomly oriented PZT thin film than that in (100)- and (111)-preferred texture films. This result was discussed by correlation with the number of effective spontaneous polarization axes in the morphotropic phase boundary of the PZT system. Moreover, polarization fatigue was found to lower the electric-field-induced displacement significantly, indicating a large contribution of ferroelectric domain motion to the piezoelectric response of PZT thin films under bipolar drive. [source] Impact of Nanoscale Confinement on Crystal Orientation of Poly(ethylene oxide)MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 4 2010Haopeng Wang Abstract Using a layer-multiplying coextrusion process to fabricate films with thousands of alternating polymer nanolayers, we report here a new crystalline morphology in confined polymer nanolayers and an abrupt transition in the crystallization habit. At higher temperatures, poly(ethylene oxide) crystallizes as large, in-plane lamellae. A 5,°C change in the crystallization temperature produces an on-edge lamellar orientation. The results point to a transition from heterogeneous nucleation to substrate-assisted nucleation. This may be a general phenomenon that accounts for previously unexplained differences in the preferred chain alignment of confined polymer crystals. [source] ,Arching' effect in elastic polycrystals: implications for the variability of fatigue livesFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 4 2002S. Pommier ABSTRACT The paper deals with a study of heterogeneous stress and strain distribution in polycrystals in relation with elastic anisotropy of grains. A similitude with the arching effect widely studied in granular materials is proposed and this concept is extended to heterogeneous polycrystals in which the load transfer is not binary in the way it is in granular media but may vary significantly and suddenly from one grain to another according to the crystal orientation to the load direction. Experiments and 3D finite element analyses show that though the individual orientation of grains is random, the strain and stress distribution is not. A network is formed inside the polycrystal whose scale is larger than the grain size. The load percolation network consists in heavily loaded links whose direction is coincident with the direction of the principal stresses. So, the typical scale for the variability of the local stresses is not the grain size but the size of the load percolation network. Since this scale is found to be rather large in particular for iron, zinc and copper, this effect should contribute significantly to the variability of the fatigue lives of notched vs. smooth components. [source] Electronic Structure and Geminate Pair Energetics at Organic,Organic Interfaces: The Case of Pentacene/C60 HeterojunctionsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 23 2009Stijn Verlaak Abstract Organic semiconductors are characterized by localized states whose energies are predominantly determined by electrostatic interactions with their immediate molecular environment. As a result, the details of the energy landscape at heterojunctions between different organic semiconductors cannot simply be deduced from those of the individual semiconductors, and they have so far remained largely unexplored. Here, microelectrostatic computations are performed to clarify the nature of the electronic structure and geminate pair energetics at the pentacene/C60 interface, as archetype for an interface between a donor molecule and a fullerene electron acceptor. The size and orientation of the molecular quadrupole moments, determined by material choice, crystal orientation, and thermodynamic growth parameters of the semiconductors, dominate the interface energetics. Not only do quadrupoles produce direct electrostatic interactions with charge carriers, but, in addition, the discontinuity of the quadrupole field at the interface induces permanent interface dipoles. That discontinuity is particularly striking for an interface with C60 molecules, which by virtue of their symmetry possess no quadrupole. Consequently, at a pentacene/C60 interface, both the vacuum-level shift and geminate pair dissociation critically depend on the orientation of the pentacene ,-system relative to the adjacent C60. [source] Magnetic Field-Induced Phase Transformation in NiMnCoIn Magnetic Shape-Memory Alloys,A New Actuation Mechanism with Large Work OutputADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009Haluk E. Karaca Abstract Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) have recently been developed into a new class of functional materials that are capable of magnetic-field-induced actuation, mechanical sensing, magnetic refrigeration, and energy harvesting. In the present work, the magnetic &!hyphen;field-induced martensitic phase transformation (FIPT) in Ni45Mn36.5Co5In13.5 MSMA single crystals is characterized as a new actuation mechanism with potential to result in ultra-high actuation work outputs. The effects of the applied magnetic field on the transformation temperatures, magnetization, and superelastic response are investigated. The magnetic work output of NiMnCoIn alloys is determined to be more than 1,MJ m,3 per Tesla, which is one order of magnitude higher than that of the most well-known MSMAs, i.e., NiMnGa alloys. In addition, the work output of NiMnCoIn alloys is orientation independent, potentially surpassing the need for single crystals, and not limited by a saturation magnetic field, as opposed to NiMnGa MSMAs. Experimental and theoretical transformation strains and magnetostress levels are determined as a function of crystal orientation. It is found that [111]-oriented crystals can demonstrate a magnetostress level of 140,MPa T,1 with 1.2% axial strain under compression. These field-induced stress and strain levels are significantly higher than those from existing piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators. A thermodynamical framework is introduced to comprehend the magnetic energy contributions during FIPT. The present work reveals that the magnetic FIPT mechanism is promising for magnetic actuation applications and provides new opportunities for applications requiring high actuation work-outputs with relatively large actuation frequencies. One potential issue is the requirement for relatively high critical magnetic fields and field intervals (1.5,3,T) for the onset of FIPT and for reversible FIPT, respectively. [source] Multifaceted and Nanobored Particle Arrays Sculpted Using Colloidal Lithography,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 1 2006D.-G. Choi Abstract A novel method of fabricating multifaceted and nanobored particle arrays via colloidal lithography using colloidal-crystal layers as masks for anisotropic reactive-ion etching (RIE) is reported. The shape of the sculpted particles is dependent on the crystal orientation relative to the etchant flow, the number of colloidal layers, the RIE conditions, and the matrix (or mask) structure in colloidal lithography. Arrays of non-spherical particles with sculpted shapes, which to date could not otherwise be produced, are fabricated using a tilted anisotropic RIE process and the layer-by-layer growth of a colloidal mask. These non-spherical particles and their ordered arrays can be used for antireflection surfaces, biosensors, and nanopatterning masks, as well as non-spherical building blocks for novel colloidal crystals. In addition, polymeric particles with patterned holes of controlled depths obtained by the present method can be applied to the fabrication of functional composite particles. [source] Texture Analysis and Finite Element Modeling of Operational Stresses in Ceramic Injection Molding Components for High-Pressure PumpsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Martin Wenzelburger Texturization of microstructures in ceramic components during injection of thermoplastic feedstocks into the mold is a well-known problem in ceramic injection molding (CIM) technology. The influences of textures on the mechanical properties of components with anisotropic properties, which depend on crystallite structure and orientation, usually involve weakening of the structure by the formation of separation planes and accumulation of stresses, which can lead to crack initiation and subcritical failure. A light optical texture analysis technique was developed for the analysis of thin section preparations from optically anisotropic ceramic materials. An internal Al2O3 gear rim for high-pressure gear pumps that is manufactured by CIM was chosen for the evaluation of this technique. Components were produced from thermoplastic ceramic feedstocks with different rheological behavior. Thin sections were prepared from the sintered parts. The texture was analyzed by polarized transmission light microscopy of the thin sections and colorimetric analysis of the crystal orientation. For the evaluation of the component properties, function, and lifetime, operating tests on a test bench were carried out as well as finite element (FE) simulation of the stress distribution in the components under operational load with regard to the texturization. The results were used for the localization of stress gradients and their comparison and correlation to the texturization. The functionality of this texture analysis method was proved by the tests, and it is expected to be a convenient novel method for the analysis and optimization of the parameters in CIM processes and the design of injection gate and mold. [source] Tracking reflections through cryogenic cooling with topographyJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2006Jeffrey J. Lovelace The mosaic structure of a single protein crystal was analyzed by reflection profiling and topography using highly parallel and monochromatic synchrotron radiation. Fine-,-sliced diffraction images (0.002° stills) were collected using a conventional large-area CCD detector in order to calculate reflection profiles. Fine-,-sliced topographic data (0.002°) stills were collected with a digital topography system for three reflections in a region where the Lorentz effect was minimized. At room temperature, several different mosaic domains were clearly visible within the crystal. Without altering the crystal orientation, the crystal was cryogenically frozen (cryocooled) and the experiment was repeated for the same three reflections. Topographs at cryogenic temperatures reveal a significantly increased mosaicity, while the original domain structure is maintained. A model for the observed changes during cryocooling is presented. [source] Effect of processing variables on texture development in a mica-based glass,ceramicJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003I. L. Denry Abstract The purpose of this study was primarily to determine the feasibility of heat-pressing a mica-based glass,ceramic with the use of commercially available dental equipment, and secondly to evaluate the effect of various processing variables on the degree of crystal alignment in the pressed glass,ceramic. The hypotheses were that the mica-based glass,ceramic could be successfully heat-pressed and that some degree of crystal orientation would be obtained, depending on the processing variables. The glass composition was melted at 1400 °C for 2 h and cast into 12 × 60-mm rods. Ingots (10 × 12 mm) were cut from the glass rods, heat treated, and heat-pressed under various conditions. The microstructure of the pressed specimens was investigated by SEM and compared to that of heat-treated controls. The length of Vickers-induced cracks was measured on heat-pressed specimens and heat-treated controls. The results showed that mica-based glass-ceramics could be successfully pressed with the use of commercially available dental equipment. The resulting degree of crystal alignment (texture) along the direction of pressing varied between 35 ± 6 and 79 ± 6. There was a linear relationship between the degree of texture and the apparent aspect ratio of the mica platelets. A significant decrease in the length of the Vickers-induced cracks in the direction perpendicular to pressing was observed, associated with an increase in length in the direction of pressing. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 64B: 70,77, 2002 [source] Use of a hexapod in diffraction measurements of substrate-supported crystals of organic semiconductorsJOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 6 2009Lin Yang Thin films of organic semiconductor prepared on substrates generally contain crystals that have one common crystal plane parallel to the substrate but random in-plane orientations. In diffraction measurements of these structures, it is often required to anchor the X-ray beam on a fixed spot on the sample, such as an optically visible crystallite or island. Here, a hexapod is used in place of a traditional multi-circle diffractometer to perform area-detector-based diffraction measurements on an actual device that contains 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilyethynyl)-pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) crystals. The hexapod allows for sample rotations about any user-defined rotation center. Two types of complex sample motions have been programmed to characterize the structure of the TIPS-pentacene crystal: an in-plane powder average has been performed at a fixed grazing-incident angle to determine the lattice parameters of the crystal; then the in-plane component of the scattering vector was continuously rotated in transmission geometry to determine the local crystal orientation. [source] Cover Picture: Laser Phys.LASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 7 2010Lett. It's known that single crystals of germanate melilites, such as Ba2ZnGe2O7 and Sr2MgGe2O7, show a congruent melting behavior at about 1450 °C. Crystals of Sr2MgGe2O7 were grown from melt of stoichiometric composition by the Czochralski technique using a seed crystal orientation (and pulling direction) along [001], a pulling velocity of 2,3 mm/h and crystal rotation of 40,60 rad/min. For single crystal growth of Ba2ZnGe2O7 a melt with a surplus of ,4 wt.% BaO and ,5 wt.% GeO2 proved to be useful. Grown crystals are of dimensions up to 25 mm in length and 18 mm in diameter for Sr2MgGe2O7 and of up to 15 mm in length and in diameter for Ba2ZnGe2O7. In Cover picture an example of a grown crystal of Sr2MgGe2O7 is presented. (Cover picture: A.A. Kaminskii, L. Bohatý, et al., pp. 528,543, in this issue) (© 2010 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Unique Orientation Textures Induced by Confined Crystal Growth of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) in Oriented Blends with Polyamide 6MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 5 2007Akira Kaito Abstract Unique orientation textures have been induced by the confined crystal growth of PVDF in drawn films of PVDF/PA6 blends. Oriented films of PVDF/PA6 blends were prepared by uniaxially drawing melt-mixed blends. The drawn films with fixed lengths were heat-treated at 180,°C for 3 minutes to melt the PVDF component, followed by non-isothermal crystallization of PVDF at a cooling rate of 0.5,°C,·,min,1. The crystal orientation was studied by WAXD. When PVDF was melted and recrystallized in the drawn films of the PVDF/PA6,=,50/50 blend at a slow cooling rate, the crystal b- axis of the , -crystalline form of PVDF was oriented in the drawing direction, forming orthogonal orientation textures. SEM showed that stretched domains of PVDF with diameters of 0.2,0.5 µm were dispersed in the PA6 phase in the drawn films of the PVDF/PA6,=,50/50 blend. Spatial confinement of the crystal growth resulted in the alignment of the crystal b- axis along the long axis of the domains, because PVDF is crystallized in thin cylindrical domains. The orientation behavior is different from the oriented crystallization of PVDF/PA11 (Y. Li, A. Kaito, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2003, 24, 255), in which transcrystallization from the interface causes the a- axis orientation to be in the drawing direction. It is thought that the domain size influenced the mechanism of oriented crystallization and the resultant crystal orientation. [source] Fabrication of Aligned Poly(L -lactide) Fibers by Electrospinning and DrawingMACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 10 2009Amalina M. Afifi Abstract A new target collector was designed for taking up aligned nanofibers by electrospinning. The collector consists of a rotor around which several fins were attached for winding electrospun filaments continuously in large amounts. The alignment of the nanofibers wound on the collector was affected by the electrospinning conditions, such as the needle-to-collector distance and the applied voltage, but not by the rotation speed of the collector. At a voltage of 0.5,kV,·,cm,1, about 60% of the fibers were found to be aligned within an angle of,±,5° relative to the rotational direction of the collector. The fiber alignment was improved to 90% by drawing the fiber bundle 2,3 times at 110,°C. The drawing was also effective for crystal orientation of the fibers as revealed by WAXD. The drawn fibers show improved mechanical properties. [source] Crystallization of Poly(, -caprolactone)/Poly(vinyl chloride) Miscible Blends Under Strain: The Role of Molecular WeightMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 18 2006Yubao Zhang Abstract Summary: The effect of poly(, -caprolactone) (PCL) molecular weight on the orientation of crystalline PCL in miscible poly(, -caprolactone)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PCL/PVC) blends, melt crystallized under strain, has been studied by a combination of wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. An unusual crystal orientation with the b-axis parallel to the stretching direction was observed in miscible PCL/PVC blends with PCL of high molecular weight (>21,000). SAXS showed the presence of nanosize confined PCL in the PCL/PVC blends, which could be preserved at temperatures higher than the Tm of PCL but lower than the Tg of PVC. A mechanism based on the confinement of PCL crystal growth was proposed, which can explain the formation of b-axis orientation in PCL/PVC blends crystallized under strain. SAXS pattern of stretched PCL/PVC blend after annealing at 90,°C for 5 min. [source] Mechanistic Investigation into the Unique Orientation Textures of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) in Blends with Nylon 11MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 10 2003Yongjin Li Abstract Self-seeded crystallization experiments were carried out to detect the mechanism of the unique orientation behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in oriented PVDF/nylon 11 blends. It was found that primary nuclei have no effects on the final orientation textures adopted by PVDF. The results show that the PVDF crystal orientation in the oriented blends is determined in the early stage of crystal growth, thus a trans crystallization mechanism is preferred. Isothermal crystallization kinetics for the self-seeded and non-self-seeded crystallization at 145,°C. [source] In-plane polarization of GaN-based heterostructures with arbitrary crystal orientationPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 10 2010Q. Y. Wei Abstract The total polarization fields of pseudomorphic InxGa1,xN/GaN and AlxGa1,xN/GaN heterostructures with 0,,,x,,,0.4 have been calculated as a function of the crystal orientation. Especial attention is placed on the direction and magnitude of in-plane piezoelectric polarization, which is not negligible for the non-polar and semi-polar growth. For an arbitrary crystal orientation, the piezoelectric polarization prevails in the InGaN/GaN system while the spontaneous polarization prevails in the AlGaN/GaN system. The in-plane potential due to polarization fields in non-polar epilayers is found to depend on the degree of planarity of the heterojunctions, and on the respective lateral dimensions. [source] Raman tensor analysis of baddeleyite single-crystal and its application to define crystallographic domains in polycrystalline zirconiaPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 2 2010Kyoju Fukatsu Abstract The angular dependence of polarized Raman intensity for the Ag and Bg modes was investigated and the full set of Raman tensor elements defined for a baddeleyite single-crystal, namely the monoclinic polymorph of zirconia (ZrO2). Based on the quantitative knowledge of the tensor elements, a method has been proposed for the determination of unknown crystallographic textures in monoclinic zirconia. An application of this method is also shown, which consists of a Raman analysis of crystal orientation on the microscopic scale in polycrystalline ZrO2 after its tetragonal-to-monoclinic (t,m) polymorphic transformation (i.e., occurred under an externally applied stress field). This working example not only confirms the well-known phenomenon of stress-induced phase transformation in polycrystalline zirconia, but also proves the existence of textured domain patterns in the monoclinic phase on a scale larger than that of individual grains. This finding might suggest that the structural and functional properties of polycrystalline zirconia after partial phase transformation should be reinterpreted with taking into account a crystallographic reorientation effect. [source] The effect of talc on the crystal orientation in polypropylene/ethylene-propylene rubber/talc polymer blends in injection moldingPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 3 2001Yutaka Obata The effect of tale on the b -axis orientation of the polypropylene crystals in polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR)/talc blends of injection moulding was examined using the X-ray diffraction method. The b -axes of the PP crystals were most strongly oriented in the thickness direction for the injection molded PP/EPR/talc blends. The b -axis orientation in the thickness direction of injection moldings was promoted by increasing the concentration of talc, by reducing the particle size, or by purifying the tale. The dependence of the specimens' rigidity on talc content, particle size, and purity was also investigated. The rigidity depended on the degree of b -axis orientation. The result of our investigated suggest that increasing the orientation of the PP crystals that are near talc particles may improve the rigidity. [source] Using X-ray absorption spectra to monitor specific radiation damage to anomalously scattering atoms in macromolecular crystallographyACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 7 2007V. Oliéric Radiation damage in macromolecular crystals is not suppressed even at 90,K. This is particularly true for covalent bonds involving an anomalous scatterer (such as bromine) at the `peak wavelength'. It is shown that a series of absorption spectra recorded on a brominated RNA faithfully monitor the extent of cleavage. The continuous spectral changes during irradiation preserve an `isosbestic point', each spectrum being a linear combination of `zero' and `infinite' dose spectra. This easily yields a good estimate of the partial occupancy of bromine at any intermediate dose. The considerable effect on the near-edge features in the spectra of the crystal orientation versus the beam polarization has also been examined and found to be in good agreement with a previous study. Any significant influence of the (C,Br bond/beam polarization) angle on the cleavage kinetics of bromine was also searched for, but was not detected. These results will be useful for standard SAD/MAD experiments and for the emerging `radiation-damage-induced phasing' method exploiting both the anomalous signal of an anomalous scatterer and the `isomorphous' signal resulting from its cleavage. [source] Two stage growth of microdiamond in UHP dolomite marble from Kokchetav Massif, KazakhstanJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 6 2003H. Ishida Abstract The abundance and morphology of microdiamond in dolomite marble from Kumdy-kol in the Kokchetav Massif, are unusual; a previous study estimated the maximum content of diamonds in dolomite marble to be about 2700 carat ton,1. Microdiamond is included primarily in garnet, and occasionally in diopside and phlogopite pseudomorphs after garnet. They are classified into three types on the basis of their morphology: (1) S-type: star-shaped diamond consisting of translucent cores and transparent subhedral to euhedral very fine-grained outer parts; (2) R-type: translucent crystals with rugged surfaces; and (3) T-type: transparent, very fine-grained crystals. The S-type is the most abundant. Micro-Laue diffraction using a 1.6-µm X-ray beam-size demonstrated that the cores of the star-shaped microdiamond represent single crystals. In contrast, the most fine-grained outer parts usually have different orientations compared to the core. Laser,Raman studies indicate that the FWHM (Full Width at Half Maximum) of the Raman band of the core of the S-type diamond is slightly larger than that for the outer parts. Differences in morphology, crystal orientations, and in the FWHM of the Raman band between the core and the fine-grained outer-parts of S-type microdiamond suggest that the star-shaped microdiamond was formed discontinuously in two distinct stages. [source] Coherence control of electron spin currents in semiconductorsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 10 2006Henry M. van Driel Abstract We provide an overview of some of our recent work on the use of one color and two color optical techniques to generate and control electronic spin currents in semiconductors for which a spin,orbit interaction exists. The generation process relies on the quantum interference between different absorption pathways, such as that between single and two photon absorption or those involving different polarization states of a monochromatic beam. For different crystal orientations and/or beam polarizations it is possible to generate a spin current with or without an electric current, and an electrical current with or without a spin current. In our experiments, which are conducted either at 80 K or 295 K, we typically employ nominally 100 fs pulses centered near 1500 and 750 nm. The currents generated are quasi-ballistic and the carriers typically move distances of ,1,10 nm, determined by the momentum relaxation time, which is of the order of 100 fs. The transient characteristics of spin-polarized electrical currents generated in strained GaAs at room temperature by ,100 fs pulses is detected by the emitted THz radiation. Pure spin currents can be detected by taking advantage of the accumulation of up and down spins on opposite sides of tightly focused pump beams. The spin states are detected through differential transmission measurements of tightly focused right and left circularly polarized, near-band-edge probe pulses, delayed by several picoseconds from the pump pulses to allow carrier thermalization to occur. By spatial scanning across the differential spin profiles and determining the amplitude of the response we are able to translate this into nm spatial resolution of spin displacement. Finally, the ability to generate ballistic currents using purely optical techniques allows us to generate transverse Hall-like currents, with transverse charge currents generated from pure spin currents and transverse spin currents generated from pure charge currents. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] |