Abstract: Synthetic and naturally occurring forms of tricopper orthotellurate, (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV (the mineral mcalpineite) have been investigated by 3D electron diffraction (3D ED), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopic measurements. As a result of the diffraction analyses, (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV is shown to occur in two polytypes. The higher-symmetric (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-1C polytype is cubic, space group 1a (3) over bar, with a = 9.537 (1) angstrom and V = 867.4 (3) angstrom(3) as reported in previous studies. The 1C polytype is a well characterized structure consisting of alternating layers of (CuO6)-O-II octahedra and both (CuO6)-O-II and (TeO6)-O-VI octahedra in a patchwork arrangement. The structure of the lower-symmetric orthorhombic (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-2O polytype was determined for the first time in this study by 3D ED and verified by Rietveld refinement. The 2O polytype crystallizes in space group Pcca, with a = 9.745 (3) angstrom, b = 9.749 (2) angstrom, c = 9.771 (2) angstrom and V = 928.3 (4) angstrom(3) . High-precision XRPD data were also collected on (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-2O to verify the lower-symmetric structure by performing a Rietveld refinement. The resultant structure is identical to that determined by 3D ED, with unit-cell parameters a = 9.56157 (19) angstrom, b = 9.55853 (11) angstrom, c = 9.62891 (15) angstrom and V = 880.03 (2) angstrom(3) . The lower symmetry of the 2O polytype is a consequence of a different cation ordering arrangement, which involves the movement of every second (CuO6)-O-II and (TeO6)-O-VI octahedral layer by (1/4, 1/4, 0), leading to an offset of (TeO6)-O-VI and (CuO6)-O-II octahedra in every second layer giving an ABAB* stacking arrangement. Syntheses of (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV showed that low-temperature (473 K) hydrothermal conditions generally produce the 2O polytype. XRPD measurements in combination with Raman spectroscopic analysis showed that most natural mcalpineite is the orthorhombic 2O polytype. Both XRPD and Raman spectroscopy measurements may be used to differentiate between the two polytypes of (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV. In Raman spectroscopy, (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-1C has a single strong band around 730 cm(-1), whereas (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-2O shows a broad double maximum with bands centred around 692 and 742 cm(-1).

Abstract: Electrons in graphene, in addition to their spin, have two pseudospin degrees of freedom: sublattice and valley pseudospin. Valleytronics uses the valley degree of freedom as a carrier of information similarly to the way spintronics uses electron spin. We show how a double-barrier structure consisting of electric and vector potentials can be used to filter massive Dirac electrons based on their valley index. We study the resonant transmission through a finite number of barriers and we obtain the energy spectrum of a superlattice consisting of electric and vector potentials. When a mass term is included, the energy bands and energy gaps at the K and K′ points are different and they can be tuned by changing the potential.

Abstract: <script type='text/javascript'>document.write(unpmarked('Quantum electrodynamics predicts that heavy atoms (Z \u003E Z(c) approximate to 170) will undergo the process of atomic collapse where electrons sink into the positron continuum and a new family of so-called collapsing states emerges. The relativistic electrons in graphene exhibit the same physics but at a much lower critical charge (Z(c) approximate to 1) which has made it possible to confirm this phenomenon experimentally. However, there exist conflicting predictions on the effect of a magnetic field on atomic collapse. These theoretical predictions are based on the continuum Dirac-Weyl equation, which does not have an exact analytical solution for the interplay of a supercritical Coulomb potential and the magnetic field. Approximative solutions have been proposed, but because the two effects compete on similar energy scales, the theoretical treatment varies depending on the regime which is being considered. These limitations are overcome here by starting from a tight-binding approach and computing exact numerical results. By avoiding special limit cases, we found a smooth evolution between the different regimes. We predict that the atomic collapse effect persists even after the magnetic field is activated and that the critical charge remains unchanged. We show that the atomic collapse regime is characterized: (1) by a series of Landau level anticrossings and (2) by the absence of root B scaling of the Landau levels with regard to magnetic field strength.'));

Abstract: In order to increase the production rate during selective laser melting (SLM), a high power laser with a large beam diameter is used to build fully dense Hastelloy X parts. Compared to SLM with a low power and small diameter beam, the productivity was increased from 6 mm3/s to 16 mm3/s, i.e. 2.6 times faster. Besides the productivity benefit, the influence of the use of a high power laser on the rapid solidification microstructure and concomitant material properties is highlighted. The current paper compares the microstructure and tensile properties of Hastelloy X built with low and high power lasers. The use of a high power laser results in wider and shallower melt pools inducing an enhanced morphological and crystallographic texture along the building direction (BD). In addition, the increased heat input results in coarser sub-grains or high density dislocation walls for samples processed with a high power laser. Additionally, the influence of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) as a post-processing technique was evaluated. After HIP, the tensile fracture strain increased as compared to the strain in the as-built state and helped in obtaining competitive mechanical properties as compared to conventionally processed Hastelloy X parts.

Abstract: We investigate the diffusive electron-transport properties of charge-doped graphene ribbons and nanoribbons with imperfect edges. We consider different regimes of edge scattering, ranging from wide graphene ribbons with (partially) diffusive edge scattering to ribbons with large width variations and nanoribbons with atomistic edge roughness. For the latter, we introduce an approach based on pseudopotentials, allowing for an atomistic treatment of the band structure and the scattering potential, on the self-consistent solution of the Boltzmann transport equation within the relaxation-time approximation and taking into account the edge-roughness properties and statistics. The resulting resistivity depends strongly on the ribbon orientation, with zigzag (armchair) ribbons showing the smallest (largest) resistivity and intermediate ribbon orientations exhibiting intermediate resistivity values. The results also show clear resistivity peaks, corresponding to peaks in the density of states due to the confinement-induced subband quantization, except for armchair-edge ribbons that show a very strong width dependence because of their claromatic behavior. Furthermore, we identify a strong interplay between the relative position of the two valleys of graphene along the transport direction, the correlation profile of the atomistic edge roughness, and the chiral valley modes, leading to a peculiar strongly suppressed resistivity regime, most pronounced for the zigzag orientation.

Abstract: The creation and ordering of A-cation vacancies and the effect of cation substitutions in the scheelite-type framework are investigated as a factor for controlling the scheelite-type structure and luminescence properties. AgxEu3+(2−x)/3□(1−2x)/3WO4 and AgxGd(2−x)/3−0.3Eu3+0.3□(1−2x)/3WO4 (x = 0.5−0) scheelite-type phases were synthesized by a solid state method, and their structures were investigated using a combination of transmission electron microscopy techniques and powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy also revealed the (3 + 1)D incommensurately modulated character of AgxEu3+(2−x)/3□(1−2x)/3WO4 (x = 0.286, 0.2) phases. The crystal structures of the scheelite-based AgxEu3+(2−x)/3□(1−2x)/3WO4 (x = 0.5, 0.286, 0.2) red phosphors have been refined from high resolution synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data. The luminescence properties of all phases under near-ultraviolet (n-UV) light have been investigated. The excitation spectra of AgxEu3+(2−x)/3□(1−2x)/3WO4 (x = 0.5, 0.286,0.2) phosphors show the strongest absorption at 395 nm, which matches well with the commercially available n-UV-emitting GaN-based LED chip. The excitation spectra of the Eu2/3□1/3WO4 and Gd0.367Eu0.30□1/3WO4 phases exhibit the highest contribution of the charge transfer band at 250 nm and thus the most efficient energy transfer mechanism between the host and the luminescent ion as compared to direct excitation. The emission spectra of all samples indicate an intense red emission due to the 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+. Concentration dependence of the 5D0 → 7F2 emission for AgxEu(2−x)/3□(1−2x)/3WO4 samples differs from the same dependence for the earlier studied NaxEu3+(2−x)/3□(1−2x)/3MoO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) phases. The intensity of the 5D0 → 7F2 emission is reduced almost 7 times with decreasing x from 0.5 to 0, but it practically does not change in the range from x = 0.286 to x = 0.200. The emission spectra of Gd-containing samples show a completely different trend as compared to only Eu-containing samples. The Eu3+ emission under excitation of Eu3+(5L6) level (λex = 395 nm) increases more than 2.5 times with the increasing Gd3+ concentration from 0.2 (x = 0.5) to 0.3 (x = 0.2) in the AgxGd(2−x)/3−0.3Eu3+0.3□(1−2x)/3WO4, after which it remains almost constant for higher Gd3+ concentrations.

Abstract: Tempering is widely applied to make carbon atoms beneficially rearrange in high strength steel microstructures after quenching; though the nano-scale interaction of carbon atoms with crystallographic defects is hard to experimentally observe. To improve, we investigate the redistribution of carbon atoms along martensite grain boundaries in a quenched and tempered low carbon steel. We observe the tempering-induced microstructural evolution by in-situ heating in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and by compositional analysis through atom probe tomography (APT). Probe volumes for APT originate from a single martensite packet but in different tempering conditions, which is achieved via a sequential lift-out with in-between tempering treatments. The complementary use of TEM and APT provides crystallographic as well as chemical information on carbon segregation and subsequent carbide precipitation at martensite grain boundaries. The results show that the amount of carbon segregation to martensite grain boundaries is influenced by the boundary type, e.g. low-angle lath or high-angle block boundaries. Also, the growth behavior of cementite precipitates from grain boundary nucleation sites into neighboring martensite grains differs at low- and high-angle grain boundaries. This is due to the crystallographic constraints arising from the semi-coherent orientation relationship between cementite and adjacent martensite. We also show that slower quenching stabilizes thin retained austenite films between martensite grains because of enhanced carbon segregation during cooling. Finally, we demonstrate the effect of carbon redistribution along martensite grain boundaries on the mechanical properties. Here, we compare micro-scale Vickers hardness results from boundary-containing probe volumes to nanoindentation results from pure bulk martensite (boundary-free) probe volumes.

Abstract: Nanocrystalline diamond films have generated much interested due to their diamond-like properties and low surface roughness. Several techniques have been used to obtain a high re-nucleation rate, such as hydrogen poor or high methane concentration plasmas. In this work, the properties of nano-diamond films grown on silicon substrates using a continuous DC bias voltage during the complete duration of growth are studied. Subsequently, the layers were characterised by several morphological, structural and optical techniques. Besides a thorough investigation of the surface structure, using SEM and AFM, special attention was paid to the bulk structure of the films. The application of FTIR, XRD, multi wavelength Raman spectroscopy, TEM and EELS yielded a detailed insight in important properties such as the amount of crystallinity, the hydrogen content and grain size. Although these films are smooth, they are under a considerable compressive stress. FTIR spectroscopy points to a high hydrogen content in the films, while Raman and EELS indicate a high concentration of sp2 carbon. TEM and EELS show that these films consist of diamond nano-grains mixed with an amorphous sp2 bonded carbon, these results are consistent with the XRD and UV Raman spectroscopy data.

Abstract: Samples of cretaceous limestone have been treated with three application methods (poultice, immersion and brushing) using different concentrations of ammonium oxalate solution (AmOx) and varying treatment time in order to test the efficiency of surface and in-depth formation of a protective layer of calcium oxalate (CaOx). Synchrotron-based microanalytical techniques (SR-mu XRD with 12.5 mu mx7.5 mu m (HxV) probe size, SR-mu FTIR with 10 mu mx10 mu m and 8 mu mx20 mu m probe sizes) and laboratory mu FTIR, XRD and SEM have been employed for analysis of the treated samples. Synchrotron-based techniques showed variations in the CaOx distribution along the surface on a micrometer scale. All treatments resulted in the development of a CaOx layer with a maximum thickness of approximately 40 mu m. Application by the brushing method with 10 1-min applications with 5-min breaks during one hour showed a development of the calcium oxalate layer equivalent to the poultice treatment taking 10 h. This treatment could be preferred for large marble or limestone surfaces where poultice usage is economically not feasible.