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Size Scale (size + scale)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Polymers and Materials Science	54%
Chemistry	18%

Selected Abstracts

Size Independent Shape Memory Behavior of Nickel,Titanium,

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 8 2010
Blythe G. Clark
While shape memory alloys such as NiTi have strong potential as active materials in many small-scale applications, much is still unknown about their shape memory and deformation behavior as size scale is reduced. This paper reports on two sets of experiments which shed light onto an inconsistent body of research regarding the behavior of NiTi at the nano- to microscale. In situ SEM pillar bending experiments directly show that the shape memory behavior of NiTi is still present for pillar diameters as small as 200,nm. Uniaxial pillar compression experiments demonstrate that plasticity of the phase transformation in NiTi is size independent and, in contrast to bulk single crystal observations, is not influenced by heat treatment (i.e., precipitate structure). [source]

Aliovalent Substitutions in Olivine Lithium Iron Phosphate and Impact on Structure and Properties

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009
Nonglak Meethong
Abstract Lithium transition metal phosphate olivines are enabling a new generation of high power, thermally stable, long-life rechargeable lithium batteries that may prove instrumental in the worldwide effort to develop cleaner and more sustainable energy. Nanoscale (<100,nm) derivatives of the olivine family LiMPO4 (M,=,Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) are being adopted in applications ranging in size scale from hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to utilities-scale power regulation. Following the previous paradigm set with intercalation oxides, most studies have focused on the pure ordered compounds and isovalent substitutions. In contrast, even the possibility for, and role of, aliovalent doping has been widely debated. Here, critical tests of plausible defect compensation mechanisms using compositions designed to accommodate Mg2+, Al3+, Zr4+, Nb5+ ions on the M1,and/or M2 sites of LiFePO4 with appropriate charge-compensating defects are carried out, and conclusive crystallographic evidence for lattice doping, e.g., up to at least 12 atomic percent added Zr, is obtained. Structural and electrochemical analyses show that doping can reduce the lithium miscibility gap, increase phase transformation kinetics during cycling, and expand Li diffusion channels in the structure. Aliovalent modifications may be effective for introducing controlled atomic disorder into the ordered olivine structure to improve battery performance. [source]

Cover Picture: Hierarchically Organized Superstructure Emerging from the Exquisite Association of Inorganic Crystals, Organic Polymers, and Dyes: A Model Approach Towards Suprabiomineral Materials (Adv. Funct.

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2005
Mater.
Abstract Suprabiomineral materials possessing hierarchically organized superstructures are investigated by Imai and Oaki on p.,1407. Inorganic crystals, organic polymers, and functional dyes have assembled via a simple biomimetic route into a superstructure that contains six different tiers, from the macroscale to the nanoscale. The hierarchy originates from the strong interaction between crystals and polymers and the diffusion-controlled conditions. The versatile role of the polymer is found to be essential for the construction of a superstructure. This approach promises to generate novel types of functional materials with controllable structures and properties. We report a novel hierarchically organized superstructure emerging from an exquisite association of inorganic crystals, organic polymers, and dyes. The resultant K2SO4/poly(acrylic acid) composite includes five different tiers from the nanoscopic to the macroscopic. An additional new tier leading to functionality is formed by the incorporation of organic dyes that are organized in a nanospace. The emergent superstructure and properties are designed through changes in polymer concentration. The multiple roles of the polymer realize the generation of the architecture at each size scale. This model approach should be widely applicable to other systems, allowing for the preparation of innovative materials by an appropriate combination of crystals, polymers, and functional molecules. [source]

A fractal comminution approach to evaluate the drilling energy dissipation

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 5 2002
Alberto Carpinteri
The drilling comminution is theoretically and experimentally analysed by a fractal approach. An extension of the Third Comminution Theory is developed to evaluate the energy dissipation in the process: it occurs in a fractal domain intermediate between a surface and a volume. The theoretical assumption of a material ,quantum' is experimentally observed. The experimental fragment analysis evidences the characteristic size of separation between primary cutting and secondary milling. A global power balance for the drilling process is also presented and permits the prediction of drilling velocity. It shows also how the dissipation energy density (drilling strength) is not a constant parameter, but decreases considerably with the size scale. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

When Small Is Different: Some Recent Advances in Concepts and Applications of Nanoscale Phenomena,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 5 2007
G. Hodes
Abstract Reduction in size often does more than simply make things smaller. There are many properties of materials that undergo qualitative, often sudden, changes below a certain size scale. This Report first describes some of these size-dependent properties. Following this general description, recent developments in a number of selected topics in nanoscience are covered. These topics are: luminescence from Au nanoparticles; Si (and related) nanoparticle luminescence; modification of optical absorption by surface adsorption on nanoparticles; and transistors (and some other devices) based on nanotubes and nanowires. [source]

Multiscale observation of biological interactions of nanocarriers: From nano to macro

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 9 2010
Su-Eon Jin
Abstract Microscopic observations have played a key role in recent advancements in nanotechnology-based biomedical sciences. In particular, multiscale observation is necessary to fully understand the nano-bio interfaces where a large amount of unprecedented phenomena have been reported. This review describes how to address the physicochemical and biological interactions of nanocarriers within the biological environments using microscopic tools. The imaging techniques are categorized based on the size scale of detection. For observation of the nanoscale biological interactions of nanocarriers, we discuss atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For the micro to macro-scale (in vitro and in vivo) observation, we focus on confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as well as in vivo imaging systems such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), superconducting quantum interference devices, and IVIS®. Additionally, recently developed combined techniques such as AFM-CLSM, correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), and SEM spectroscopy are also discussed. In this review, we describe how each technique helps elucidate certain physicochemical and biological activities of nanocarriers such as dendrimers, polymers, liposomes, and polymeric/inorganic nanoparticles, thus providing a toolbox for bioengineers, pharmaceutical scientists, biologists, and research clinicians. Microsc. Res. Tech. 73:813,823, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Integrated inductors on porous silicon

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007
H. Contopanagos
The cover picture illustrates the effective use of a thick porous silicon layer as an integrated micro-plate for RF isolation on a silicon substrate, proposed by Harry Contopanagos and Androula Nassiopoulou in their Original Paper [1] in the current issue. What is plotted is the magnitude of the current distribution (colour coded from blue (low) to high (red) values) on the metallization and on a screen 50 µm underneath the bottom oxide layer of a 2-metal integrated CMOS-compatible inductor on bulk silicon (lower right) and on a 50 µm thick porous silicon layer (upper left) for a frequency of 2.5 GHz. Inductors were designed in a standard 0.13 µm CMOS technology. Efficient RF isolation is produced by the porous Si layer, as evidenced by the virtual elimination of surface currents relative to the case of standard CMOS, indicating virtually complete substrate shielding by a 50 µm thick porous Si layer for the relevant size scale. The quality factor of the inductor with the use of the porous Si layer is increased by 100%, reaching a maximum value of 33 for the design shown. The first author of the article is a visiting senior researcher at the Institute of Microelectronics (IMEL), National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" (Athens, Greece). His research focuses on electromagnetics and microwave engineering, artificial materials and photonic crystals, wireless front ends, antennas and high-frequency analog integrated circuits. [source]

Evolution of structure in the softening/melting regime of miscible polymer mixing

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 6 2001
Heidi E. Burch
Structure development in the softening/melting processing regime is investigated using the model miscible blend poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Feed materials of four different particle sizes are compounded to study their effects upon structure development. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy is used to help determine the normalized sample variance, a quantitative measure of mixing. The normalized sample variance is determined both as a function of sample size and as a function of feed particle size in an effort to assess the characteristic size scale(s) present in the blend at short mixing times. Results of these experiments indicate that the distribution of size scales in the softening regime is at least bimodal. Optical examination of pigmented mixtures reveals that this multimodality is due to the operation of the Scott/Macosko sheeting mechanism of morphology development, which was previously shown to be active in immiscible blends. This is contrary to the currently accepted laminar mixing model, which postulates the formation of a striated mixture while ignoring the softening/melting regime. [source]

Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Materials 85: Cryogels of Nanoscale Hydrazinium Diperchlorate in Resorcinol-Formaldehyde

PROPELLANTS, EXPLOSIVES, PYROTECHNICS, Issue 2 2003
Bryce
Abstract The objective of this work was to try to desensitize an energetic material by using sol-gel processing and freeze drying to incorporate the energetic material into the fuel matrix on the nano (or at least submicron) particle size scale. Hydrazinium diperchlorate ([N2H6][ClO4]2 or HP2) and resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) were chosen as the oxidizer and fuel, respectively. Solid loading up to 88% HP2 was achieved by using the sol gel-to-cryogel method. Various weight percentages of HP2 in RF were characterized by elemental analysis, scanning electron (SEM) and optical microscopy, T-jump/FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, and drop-weight impact. SEM indicated that 20,50,nm diameter HP2 plates aggregated into porous 400,800,nm size clusters. Below 80% HP2 the cryogels are less sensitive to impact than physical mixtures having the same ratios of HP2 and RF. The decomposition temperatures of the cryogels are higher than that of pure HP2, which is consistent with their lower impact sensitivity. The heat of decomposition as measured at a low heating rate increases with increasing percentage of HP2. The cryogels and physical mixtures release similar amounts of energy, but the cryogels exhibit mainly a single exotherm by DSC whereas the physical mixtures showed a two-step energy release. Flash pyrolysis revealed gaseous product ratios suggestive of more energy being released from the cryogels than the physical mixtures. Cryogels also burn faster by visual observation. [source]

Phase behavior of ionic clusters down to nanoscale.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2010
A review of recent work
Abstract As finding an exact and manageable partition function for nanoclusters is a desirable but, so far, unattainable task, approximated treatments are proposed to explain and predict phase changes and phase coexistence at these size scales. In this article, a review of those approaches is presented, mainly focusing the authors work on the subject. The foundations and limitations of the proposed models are discussed and perspectives for extended treatments are given. The discussions are illustrated with new molecular dynamics simulations of unconstrained NaI and NaCl clusters. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010 [source]