Abstract: A hot dip aluminizing process to simulate the continuous galvanizing line (CGL) was carried out in three successive steps by a hot dip simulator: the pre-treatment for removing scales on the 200 x 250 mm(2) and 1mm in thickness cold rolled steel sheet, the dipping in 660 degrees C Al-Si melt for 3s and the cooling. In a pre-treatment, the steel specimen was partly coated by Au to confirm the mechanism of intermetallic compound (IMC) formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses were followed to observe the cross-section and the distribution of the elements. The specimen was analyzed in the boundary of the dipped-undipped part to see the formation mechanism of the aluminized steel. An intermetallic compound (IMC) is rapidly developed and grown in the steel-liquid interface. It has been usually reported that the IMC was formed by the dissolution of iron in the steel substrate toward the melt and the diffusion of aluminum in an opposite direction. The specimen is covered with aluminum-10 wt.% silicon, forms the IMC in the part that was not Au coated. However, IMC is not formed in the Au-coated part. The interface of the dipped-undipped is also analyzed by EDX. At the interface of the steel-IMC, it is clearly shown that the IMC is only formed in the dipped part and exists in the steel substrate as well, and contributes by iron, aluminum and silicon. The result clearly shows that only aluminum diffuses into the steel substrate without the dissolution of iron and forms the IMC between the steel substrate and the melt. Au coating and the short dipping time prevent the iron from dissolving into the aluminum melt. By TEM combined with focused ion beam (FIB) sample preparation, the IMC is confirmed as Fe2SiAl8, a hexagonal structure with space group P6(3)/mmc.

Abstract: Focused-electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID) is used as a direct-write approach to decorate ultrasmall Pt nanoclusters on carbon nanotubes at selected sites in a straightforward maskless manner. The as-deposited nanostructures are studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in 2D and 3D, demonstrating that the Pt nanoclusters are well-dispersed, covering the selected areas of the CNT surface completely. The ability of FEBID to graft nanoclusters on multiple sides, through an electron-transparent target within one step, is unique as a physical deposition method. Using high-resolution TEM we have shown that the CNT structure can be well preserved thanks to the low dose used in FEBID. By tuning the electron-beam parameters, the density and distribution of the nanoclusters can be controlled. The purity of as-deposited nanoclusters can be improved by low-energy electron irradiation at room temperature.

Abstract: The three-dimensional (3D) distribution of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown inside semiconductor contact holes is studied by electron tomography. The use of a specialized tomography holder results in an angular tilt range of ±90°, which means that the so-called missing wedge is absent. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) sample for this purpose consists of a micropillar that is prepared by a dedicated procedure using the focused ion beam (FIB) but keeping the CNTs intact. The 3D results are combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to study the relation between the CNTs and the catalyst particles used during their growth. The reconstruction, based on the full range of tilt angles, is compared with a reconstruction where a missing wedge is present. This clearly illustates that the missing wedge will lead to an unreliable interpretation and will limit quantitative studies

Abstract: The Fe-vacancy ordering patterns in the superconducting KxFe2ySe2 and nonsuperconducting Kx(Fe,Co)2ySe2 samples have been investigated by electron diffraction and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The Fe-vacancy ordering occurs in the ab plane of the parent ThCr2Si2-type structure, demonstrating two types of patterns. Superstructure I retains the tetragonal symmetry and can be described with the aI = bI = as√5 (as is the unit cell parameter of the parent ThCr2Si2-type structure) supercell and I4/m space group. Superstructure II reduces the symmetry to orthorhombic with the aII = as√2, bII = 2as√2 supercell and the Ibam space group. This type of superstructure is observed for the first time in KxFe2ySe2. The Fe-vacancy ordering is inhomogeneous: the disordered areas interleave with the superstructures I and II in the same crystallite. The observed superstructures represent the compositionally dependent uniform ordering patterns of two species (the Fe atoms and vacancies) on a square lattice. More complex uniform ordered configurations, including compositional stripes, can be predicted for different chemical compositions of the KxFe2ySe2 (0 < y < 0.5) solid solutions.

Abstract: N-Lewis base mediated room temperature synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) starting from a solution of building blocks instead of partially soluble building blocks was developed. This protocol shifts COF synthetic chemistry from sealed tubes to open beakers. Non-conventional inclusion compounds of COF-1 were obtained by vapor phase infiltration of ferrocene and azobenzene, and solvation like effects were established.

Abstract: We report an atomic layer epitaxial growth of Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) thin films of SrO(SrTiO3)(n) (n = infinity, 2, 3, 4) by means of metalorganic aerosol deposition (MAD). The films are grown on SrTiO3(001) substrates by means of a sequential deposition of Sr-O/Ti-O-2 atomic monolayers, monitored in-situ by optical ellipsometry. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal the RP structure with n = 2-4 in accordance with the growth recipe. RP defects, observed by TEM in a good correlation with the in-situ ellipsometry, mainly result from the excess of SrO. Being maximal at the film/substrate interface, the SrO excess rapidly decreases and saturates after 5-6 repetitions of the SrO(SrTiO3)(4) block at the level of 2.4%. This identifies the SrTiO3 substrate surface as a source of RP defects under oxidizing conditions within MAD. Advantages and limitations of MAD as a solution-based and vacuum-free chemical deposition route were discussed in comparison with molecular beam epitaxy. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Abstract: 2D homojunctions have stimulated extensive attention because of their perfect thermal and lattice matches, as well as their tunable band structures in 2D morphology, which provide fascinating opportunities for novel electronics and optoelectronics. Recently, 2D nonlayered materials have attracted the attention of researchers owing to their superior functional applications and diverse portfolio of the 2D family. Therefore, 2D nonlayered homojunctions would open the door to a rich spectrum of exotic 2D materials. However, they are not investigated due to their extremely difficult synthesis methods. Herein, nonlayered CdSe flakes homojunctions are obtained via self-limited growth with InCl3 as a passivation agent. Interestingly, two pieces of vertical wurtzite-zinc blende (WZ-ZB) homojunctions epitaxially integrate into WZ/ZB lateral junctions. These homojunctions show a divergent second-harmonic generation intensity, strongly correlated to the multiple twinned ZB phase, as identified by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and theoretical calculations. Impressively, the photodetector based on this WZ/ZB CdSe homojunction shows excellent performances, integrating a high photoswitching ratio (3.4 x 10(5)) and photoresponsivity (3.7 x 10(3) A W-1), suggesting promising potential for applications in electronics and optoelectronics.

Abstract: The compositional influence of Cr and Y on the microstructure of Mg―Cr―O, and Mg―Y―O films synthesized by reactive magnetron sputtering has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations. A decrease in crystallinity is observed in these films as the M (Cr or Y) content is increased. It is found that M forms a solid solution with MgO for metal ratios up to ~ 70% and ~ 50% for Cr and Y respectively. Above ~ 70% Cr metal ratio the Mg―Cr―O films are found to be completely amorphous. The Mg―Y―O films are composed of Mg(Y)O and Y2O3 nano crystallites, up to ~ 50% Y metal ratio. Above this ratio, only Y2O3 nano crystallites are found. The preferential < 111> MgO grain alignment is strongly affected by the increase in M content. For M metal ratios up to ~ 50%, there is a selective promotion of the < 100> MgO grain alignments and a decline in the < 111> grain alignments.

Abstract: Nano-sized gold has become an important material in various fields of science and technology, where control over the size and crystallography is desired to tailor the functionality. Gold crystallizes in the face-centered cubic (fcc) phase, and its hexagonal closed packed (hcp) structure is a very unusual and rare phase. Stable Au hcp phase has been reported to form in nanoparticles at the tips of some Ge nanowires. It has also recently been synthesized in the form of thin graphene-supported sheets which are unstable under electron beam irradiation. Here, we show that stable hcp Au 3D nanostructures with well-defined crystallographic orientation and size can be systematically created in a process of thermally induced self-assembly of thin Au layer on Ge(001) monocrystal. The Au hcp crystallite is present in each Au nanostructure and has been characterized by different electron microscopy techniques. We report that a careful heat treatment above the eutectic melting temperature and a controlled cooling is required to form the hcp phase of Au on a Ge single crystal. This new method gives scientific prospects to obtain stable Au hcp phase for future applications in a rather simple manner as well as redefine the phase diagram of Gold with Germanium.

Abstract: The Ni3-xGaTe2 series of compounds (0 x 0.65) was synthesized by a high-temperature ceramic technique at 750 °C. Crystal structures of three compounds in the series were determined by X-ray powder diffraction: Ni2.98(1)GaTe2 (RI = 0.042, Rp = 0.023, Rwp = 0.035), Ni2.79(1)GaTe2 (RI = 0.053, Rp = 0.028, Rwp = 0.039), Ni2.58(1)GaTe2 (RI = 0.081, Rp = 0.037, Rwp = 0.056); the structures were verified by electron diffraction and, for the former compound, high-resolution electron microscopy. The compounds crystallize in a hexagonal lattice with P63/mmc, and the structures can be regarded as a hexagonal close-packed array with a -Ga-Te-Te- stacking sequence. The octahedral and trigonal bipyramidal voids in the hcp structure are selectively filled with Ni atoms to form one entirely occupied and two partially occupied sites, thus allowing variations in the nickel content in the series of compounds Ni3-xGaTe2 (0 x 0.65). A superstructure with asup = 2asub (P63/mmc) has been identified for Ni3-xGaTe2 (0.5 x 0.65) by electron diffraction. Real-space, high-resolution images confirm an ordering of Ni atoms and vacancies inthe ab plane. Quantum-chemical calculations performed forNi3-xGaTe2 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.75, 1) suggest anisotropic metallic conductivity and Pauli paramagnetic behavior that are experimentally confirmed for Ni3GaTe2.