Abstract: Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13, a new n = 5 member of the oxygen-deficient perovskite-based A(n)B(n)O(3n-2) homologous series, was synthesized using a solid-state method. The crystal structure of Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 was investigated by a combination of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, electron diffraction, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and Mossbauer spectroscopy. At 900 K, it crystallizes in the Ammm space group with the unit cell parameters a = 5.8459(1) angstrom, b = 4.0426(1) angstrom, and c=27.3435(1) angstrom. In the Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 structure, quasi-two-dimensional perovskite blocks are periodically interleaved with 1/2[1 1 0] ((1) over bar 0 1)(p) crystallographic shear (CS) planes. At the CS planes, the corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra are transformed into chains of edge-sharing FeO5 distorted tetragonal pyramids. B-positions of the perovskite blocks between the CS planes are jointly occupied by Fe3+ and Sc3+. The chains of the FeO5 pyramids and (Fe,Sc)O-6 octahedra delimit six-sided tunnels that are occupied by double columns of cations with a lone electron pair (Pb2+). The remaining A-cations (Bi3+, Ba2+) occupy positions in the perovskite block. According to the magnetic susceptibility measurements, Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 is antiferromagnetically ordered below T-N approximate to 350 K. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Fluorine insertion into the oxygen defect superstructure manganite Sr2MnO3.5+x has been shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to result in two levels of fluorination. In the higher fluorine content sections, the fluorine anions displace oxygen anions from their apical positions into the equatorial vacancies, thus destroying the superstructure and reverting to a K2NiF4-type structure (a = 3.8210(1) angstrom and c = 12.686(1) angstrom). Conversely, lower fluorine content sections retain the Sr2MnO3.5+x defect superstructure, crystallising in the P2(1)/c space group. Fluorine intercalation into the reduced double-layer manganite Sr3Mn2O6 occurs in a step-wise fashion according to the general formula Sr3Mn2O6Fy with y = 1, 2, and 3. It is proposed that the y = 1 phase (a = 3.815(1)angstrom, c = 20.29(2) angstrom) is produced by the filling of all the equatorial oxygen vacancies by fluorine atoms whilst the y = 2 phase (a = 3.8222(2) angstrom, c = 21.2435(3)angstrom) has a random distribution of fluorine anions throughout both interstitial rocksalt and equatorial sites. Neutron powder diffraction data suggest that the fully fluorinated y = 3 phase (a = 3.8157(6) angstrom, c = 23.666(4) angstrom) corresponds to the complete occupation of all the equatorial oxygen vacancies and the interstitial sites by intercalated fluorine. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Highly thermally conductive graphite flakes (Gf)/Si/Al composites have been fabricated using Gf, Si powder and an AlSi7Mg0.3 alloy by an optimized pressure infiltration process for thermal management applications. In the composites, the layers of Gf were spaced apart by Si particles and oriented perpendicular to the pressing direction, which offered the opportunity to tailor the thermal conductivity (TC) and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the composites. Microstructural characterization revealed that the formation of a clean and tightly-adhered interface at the nanoscale between the side surface of the Gf and Al matrix, devoid of a detrimental Al4C3 phase and a reacted amorphous AlSiOC layer, contributed to excellent thermal performance along the alignment direction. With increasing volume fraction of Gf from 13.7 to 71.1 vol.%, the longitudinal (i.e. parallel to the graphite layers) TC of the composites increased from 179 to 526 W/m K, while the longitudinal CTE decreased from 12.1 to 7.3 ppm/K (matching the values of electronic components). Furthermore, the modified layers-in-parallel model better fitted the longitudinal TC data than the layers-in-parallel model and confirmed that the clean and tightly-adhered interface is favorable for the enhanced longitudinal TC.

Abstract: We have prepared tungsten oxide films decorated with gold particles on Si substrates by aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) and characterized them using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM shows that the films are composed of needle-like structures and TEM shows that both the needles and the gold particles are crystalline. XPS indicates the presence of oxygen vacancies, i.e. the films are WO3−x, and hence the deposited material is composed of semiconducting nanostructures and that the interaction between the gold particles and the WO3 needles surface is weak. The synthesis of semiconducting tungsten oxide nanostructures decorated with metal particles represents an important step towards the development of sensing devices with optimal properties.

Abstract: Carbon nitride nanospheres have been synthesized into copper by simultaneous high fluence (10(18) at. cm(-2)) implantations of C-12 and N-15 ions. The composition of the implanted region has been measured using C-12(d,p(0))C-13 and N-15(d,alpha(0))C-13 nuclear reactions induced by a 1.05 MeV deuteron beam. The C-12 and N-15 depth profiles are very close and the retained doses into copper are relatively high, which indicates that carbon and nitrogen diffusion processes are likely limited during implantation. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations and electron diffraction (ED) analyses have been carried out to determine the structure of the nanospheres formed during implantation. Some consist in small hollow amorphous nanocapsules with sizes ranging from 30 to 100 nm. Large gas bubbles with diameters up to 300 mn have also been observed in the copper matrix. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements performed on the small nanocapsules indicate that their shells are composed of carbon and nitrogen. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: A novel triple ion beam cutting technique was employed to prepare high-quality surfaces of diamond/Al composites for interfacial characterization, which has been unachievable so far. Near-perfect and artifact-free surfaces were obtained without mechanical pre-polishing. Hence, the as-prepared surfaces are readily available for further study and also, ready to be employed in a focus ion beam system for preferential selection of transmission electron microscopy samples. Dramatically different diamond/Al interface configurations – sub-micrometer Al2O3 particles and clean interfaces were unambiguously revealed.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide a thorough study on the occurrence and importance of deformation twinning in simple shear deformed pure α-Ti. A statistically relevant inspection of the morphology of the deformation twins in relation to the applied strain/deformation is performed. The investigated microstructural aspects are the twin volume fraction, the twin thickness distribution and the resolved shear stress distribution on the twin plane. All these aspects are examined as a function of the twin types and two initial textures. Monotonic simple shear experiments are carried out for three different loading directions with respect to a direction linked to the initial crystallographic texture. EBSD and TEM observations reveal the presence of View the MathML source and View the MathML source twins. The statistical analysis reveals that View the MathML source and View the MathML source twins have a similar average thickness around 1.9 nm, but the View the MathML source twins show a far larger spread on their thickness and can grow to almost the size of the original parent grain. Correlation of the twin fractions with the RSS analysis shows that RSS is an acceptable method explaining the difference in twin fractions for different textures and orientations. A detailed analysis shows that View the MathML source twins occur in average with a smaller volume fraction but with a higher RSS, indicating they are more difficult to nucleate or grow compared to View the MathML source twinning. In general a higher RSS value on the twin plane is not connected to a higher twin thickness; only in the case of View the MathML source twins the highest RSS values show clearly thicker twins.

Abstract: One of the most relevant problems in ship construction and maintenance nowadays concerns the corrosion in the double hull space ballast tanks of modern merchant vessels. On the one hand, there is a general consensus that the economic life span of such a vessel depends primarily upon the corrosion state of its ballast tanks, while on the other hand, the position of these tanks, squeezed between the outer hull and the loading tanks, makes routine inspection and maintenance almost impossible. Today, ship's ballast tanks are usually constructed in grade A steel and protected with a standard epoxy coating, backed up with sacrificial zinc anodes. Such a construction has been applied without significant alterations for many years. However, the objective of this economic study is to compare this construction method with some feasible alternatives. The considered alternatives are: (1) an increase of the scantlings, eliminating the necessity to replace corroded steel but diminishing the cargo carrying capacity of the ship, (2) application of the novel and more durable TSCF25 coating (3), the use of corrosion resistant steel in ship construction or (4) a standard PSPC15 coating combined with lifetime lasting aluminum sacrificial anodes. After running each alternative through a cost model including an extensive sensitivity analysis, it is concluded that the durable coating and the use of lifetime lasting aluminum anodes are bound to improve the actual basic tank concept. Corrosion resistant steel becomes attractive depending upon the evolution of the international steel market.

Abstract: This study investigates farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for cropland attributes in Bahir Dar, north-west Ethiopia. A choice experiment is used to elicit farmers' preferences between different land use attributes, including a monetary attribute. The study was conducted in the croplands that are threatened by land expro-priation for urban expansion. A survey was undertaken with 144 farmers in four rural kebeles surrounding the city (Addis Alem, Weramit, Wereb and Zenzelima). In the survey, respondents were provided with hypothetical land purchasing decisions, with three alternatives (i.e., two hypothetical parcels and an opt-out option). A choice experiment was undertaken to measure farmers' interest in different types of croplands, which varies with respect to irrigability, number of trees per ha, soil erosion resistance and water holding capacity of the cropland. Estimation of two mixed logit models was carried out. The estimation results show that, although the farmers did not show strong preferences for each attribute of the cropland, many farmers in the area showed interest in the proposed alternative croplands. Farmers show more interest for the land that is irrigable, gentle slope and with medium water holding capacity. The results also indicate that farmers assign highest marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) (79.01 ETB per square meter) for irrigated land, followed by medium water holding capacity with MWTP of 52.13 ETB per square meter. We believe that the results of this study would help land use policy and decision makers in the study area to consider the various attributes of cropland in land use planning, including land expropriation programs, which assures the sustainability of ecosystem services.

Abstract: This paper reports on the findings from discrete choice experiments designed to estimate farmers perceived costs of land use restrictions, i.e. crop restrictions, additional fertilizing restrictions, and usage restrictions, as opposed to having no such restrictions. To this end, hypothetical land purchasing decisions were simulated based on the information about productivity, lot size, distance to other land, driving time to home, land use restrictions, and price. Farmers from the Campine area (Belgium) were invited to participate in the survey as the agricultural land in this region still faces the effects of historical heavy metal contamination resulting in crop restrictions. For identical pieces of land, we estimate the perceived cost, calculated as a change in the consumer surplus due to having a land use restriction, to be about 46,000 /ha for the crop restriction, 50,000 /ha for the usage restriction, and 70,000 /ha for the fertilizing restrictions. Assuming this cost to represent a perpetuity, then with a discount rate of 5% the yearly fixed costs respectively equal about 2300 /ha, 2500 /ha, and 3500 /ha.

Abstract: Energy-lean nitrogen removal technologies, such as partial nitritation/anammox, often encounter effluent issues due to elevated nitrate and ammonium levels. This study proposed a novel autotrophic polishing strategy coupling sulfur-driven denitratation with anammox. To explore the denitratation potential in obtaining stable and sufficient nitrite accumulation, the effects of pH, residual nitrate level, and biomass-specific nitrate loading rate (BSNLR) were investigated in an S0-packed bed reactor at low hydraulic retention time (i.e., 0.2 h). Implementing pH and residual nitrate control strategies would be easier in practice than BSNLR control to polish secondary effluent. Alkaline pH values could realize successful nitrite accumulation without residual nitrate, and further intensify the accumulation under increased residual nitrate levels. The nitrate level was positively correlated with the nitrite accumulation efficiency. At pH 8.5 and nitrate concentration of 1.0 ± 0.8 mg N L−1, sulfur-driven denitratation could successfully maintain nitrite accumulation of 6.4 ± 1.0 mg NO2−-N L−1, ideally for the downstream anammox in case of residual ammonium levels of around 5 mg N L−1. Since Thiobacillus members play a key role in managing nitrite accumulation, their abundance should be guaranteed in the practical application.