Synthesis of bis(indolyl) methanes using aluminiumoxide(acidic) in dry media

Heterogeneous catalyst aluminium oxide(acidic) is found to be an effective catalyst for the solvent-free condensation reaction of indole with aldehydes in microwave irradiation with shorter reaction time and higher yields.

Mechanical and Abrasive Wear Properties of Anodic Oxide Layers Formed on Aluminium

Aluminium oxide coatings were formed on aluminium substrates in oxalic acid-sulphuric acid bath. Abrasion tests of the obtained anodic layers were carried out on a pin-on-disc machine in accordance with the ISO/DP 825 specifications. The rickets microhardness, D （HV0.2）, and the abrasion weight loss, Wa （mg） were measured. Influence of oxalic acid concentration （Cox）, bath temperature （T） and anodic current density （J） on D and Wa has been examined, and the sulphuric acid concentration （Csul） was maintained at 100 g.L-1. It was found that high microhardness and abrasive wear resistance of oxide layers were produced under low temperatures and high current densities with the addition of oxalic acid. The morphology and the composition of the anodic oxide layer were examined by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, atomic force microscopy （AFM）, optical microscopy and glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy （GDOES）. It was found that the chemistry of the anodizing electrolyte, temperature, and current density are the controlling factors of the mechanical properties of the anodic oxide layer.

Deposition of Aluminium Oxide Films by Pulsed Reactive Sputtering

Pulsed reactive sputtering is a novel process used to deposit some compound films, which are not deposited by traditional D.C. reactive sputtering easily. In this paper some experimental results about the deposition of Al oxide films by pulsed reactive sputtering are presented. The hysteresis phenomenon of the sputtering voltage and deposition rate with the change of oxygen flow during sputtering process are discussed.

Electrochemical anodic oxidation assisted fabrication of memristors

Owing to the advantages of simple structure,low power consumption and high-density integration,memristors or memristive devices are attracting increasing attention in the fields such as next generation non-volatile memories,neuromorphic computation and data encryption.However,the deposition of memristive films often requires expensive equipment,strict vacuum conditions,high energy consumption,and extended processing times.In contrast,electrochemical anodizing can produce metal oxide films quickly(e.g.10 s) under ambient conditions.By means of the anodizing technique,oxide films,oxide nanotubes,nanowires and nanodots can be fabricated to prepare memristors.Oxide film thickness,nanostructures,defect concentrations,etc,can be varied to regulate device performances by adjusting oxidation parameters such as voltage,current and time.Thus memristors fabricated by the anodic oxidation technique can achieve high device consistency,low variation,and ultrahigh yield rate.This article provides a comprehensive review of the research progress in the field of anodic oxidation assisted fabrication of memristors.Firstly,the principle of anodic oxidation is introduced;then,different types of memristors produced by anodic oxidation and their applications are presented;finally,features and challenges of anodic oxidation for memristor production are elaborated.

Efficient concentration of trace analyte with ordered hotspot construction for a robust and sensitive SERS platform

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS)platform,which enables trace analyte detection,has important application prospects.By structuring/modifying the surface of the SERSsubstrate,analyte in highly diluted solutions can be concentrated into localized active areas for highly sensitive detection.However,subject to the difficulty of the fabrication process,itremains challenging to balance hot-spot construction and the concentration capacity of analyte simultaneously.Therefore,preparing SERS substrates with densely ordered hot spots andefficient concentration capacity is of great significance for highly sensitive detection.Herein,we propose an Ag and fluoroalkyl-modified hierarchical armour substrate(Ag/F-HA),which has a double-layer stacking design to combine analyte concentration with hotspot construction.The microarmour structure is fabricated by femtosecond-laser processing to serve as asuperhydrophobic and low-adhesive surface to concentrate analyte,while the anodic aluminium oxide(AAO)template creates a nanopillar array serving as dense and ordered hot spots.Under the synergistic action of hot spots and analyte concentration,Ag/F-HA achieves a detectionlimit down to 10^(-7)M doxorubicin(DOX)molecules with a RSD of 7.69%.Additionally,Ag/F-HA exhibits excellent robustness to resist external disturbances such as liquid splash or abrasion.Based on our strategy,SERS substrates with directional analyte concentrations are further explored by patterning microcone arrays with defects.This work opens a way to the realistic implementation of SERS in diverse scenarios.

Electrical conductivity optimization of the Na3AlF6–Al2O3–Sm2O3 molten salts system for Al–Sm intermediate binary alloy production

Metal Sm has been widely used in making Al–Sm magnet alloy materials. Conventional distillation technology to produce Sm has the disadvantages of low productivity, high costs, and pollution generation. The objective of this study was to develop a molten salt electrolyte system to produce Al–Sm alloy directly, with focus on the electrical conductivity and optimal operating conditions to minimize the energy consumption. The continuously varying cell constant(CVCC) technique was used to measure the conductivity for the Na3AlF6–AlF3–LiF–MgF2–Al2O3–Sm2O3electrolysis medium in the temperature range from 905 to 1055°C. The temperature(t) and the addition of Al2O3(W(Al2O3)), Sm2O3(W(Sm2O3)), and a combination of Al2O3and Sm2O3into the basic fluoride system were examined with respect to their effects on the conductivity(κ) and activation energy. The experimental results showed that the molten electrolyte conductivity increases with increasing temperature(t) and decreases with the addition of Al2O3or Sm2O3or both. We concluded that the optimal operation conditions for Al–Sm intermediate alloy production in the Na3AlF6–AlF3–LiF–MgF2–Al2O3–Sm2O3system are W(Al2O3) + W(Sm2O3) = 3wt%, W(Al2O3):W(Sm2O3) = 7:3, and a temperature of 965 to 995°C, which results in satisfactory conductivity, low fluoride evaporation losses, and low energy consumption.

Vapor deposition of aluminium oxide into N-rich mesoporous carbon framework as a reversible sulfur host for lithium-sulfur battery cathode

Restraining the shuttle effects of lithium polysulfides is the key to improve the cycling reversibility and stability of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries for which design of robust sulfur hosts has been regarded as the most effective strategy.In this work,we report a new type of hybrid sulfur host which is composed of Al_(2)O_(3) homogenously decorated in nitrogen-rich mesoporous carbon framework(NMC-Al_(2)O_(3)).The NMC-Al_(2)O_(3) hybrid host features a poly-dispersed spherical morphology and a mesoporous configuration with high surface area and large pore volume that can accommodate a high sulfur content up to 73.5 wt.%.As a result,the fabricated NMC-Al_(2)O_(3)-S cathode exhibits all-round improvements in electrochemical properties in term of capacities(1,212 mAh·g^(-1)at 0.2 C;755 mAh·g^(-1)at 2 C),cycling charge-discharge reversibility(sustainably 100%efficiencies)and stability(1,000 cycles with only 0.023%capacity decay per cycle at 0.5 C).By contrast,the Al_(2)O_(3)-free NMC-S cathode shows both decreased capacities and rapidly descending Coulombic efficiencies during cycling.Density functional theory(DFH")calculations further reveal that the implanted Al_(2)O_(3) can greatly enhance the chemical adsorption and catalytic conversion for various lithium polysulfides and thereby effectively prevent the polysulfide shuttling and significantly improve the utilizability,reversibility and stability of sulfur cathode.

Indirect mineral carbonation of titanium-bearing blast furnace slag coupled with recovery of TiO_2 and Al_2O_3

Large quantities of CO2 and blast furnace slag are discharged in the iron and steel industry. Mineral carbonation of blast furnace slag can offer substantial CO2 emission reduction and comprehensive utilization of the solid waste. This paper describes a novel route for indirect mineral carbonation of titanium-bearing blast furnace （TBBF） slag, in which the TBBF slag is roasted with recyclable （NH4）2SO4 （AS） at low temperatures and converted into the sulphates of various valuable metals, including calcium, magnesium, aluminium and titanium. High value added Ti-and Al-rich products can be obtained through stepwise precipitation of the leaching solution from the roasted slag. The NH3 produced during the roasting is used to capture CO2 from flue gases. The NH4HCO3 and （NH4）2CO3 thus obtained are used to carbonate the CaSO4-containing leaching residue and MgSO4-rich leaching solution, respectively. In this study, the process parameters and efficiency for the roasting, carbonation and Ti and Al recovery were investigated in detail. The results showed that the sulfation ratios of calcium, magnesium, titanium and aluminium reached 92.6%, 87% and 84.4%, respectively, after roasting at an AS-to-TBBF slag mass ratio of 2：1 and 350℃ for 2 h. The leaching solution was subjected to hydrolysis at 102℃ for 4 h with a Ti hydrolysis ratio of 95.7%and the purity of TiO2 in the calcined hydrolysate reached 98 wt%. 99.7% of aluminium in the Ti-depleted leaching solution was precipitated by using NH3. The carbonation products of Ca and Mg were CaCO3 and （NH4）2Mg（CO3）2·4H2O, respectively. The latter can be decomposed into MgCO3 at 100-200℃ with simultaneous recovery of the NH3 for reuse. In this process, approximately 82.1% of Ca and 84.2% of Mg in the TBBF slag were transformed into stable carbonates and the total CO2 sequestration capacity per ton of TBBF slag reached up to 239.7 kg. The TiO2 obtained can be used directly as an end product, while the Al-rich precipitate and the two carbonation products can act, respectively, as raw materials for electrolytic aluminium, cement and light magnesium carbonate production for the replacement of natural resources.

Effect of Al2O3 on the viscosity of CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-Cr2O3 slags

We investigated the effect of Al2O3 content on the viscosity of CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-8wt%MgO-1wt%Cr2O3(mass ratio of CaO/SiO2 is 1.0,and Al2O3 content is 17wt%-29wt%)slags.The results show that the viscosity of the slag increases gradually with increases in the Al2O3 content in the range of 17wt%to 29wt%due to the role of Al2O3 as a network former in the polymerization of the aluminosilicate structure of the slag.With increases in the Al2O3 content from 17wt%to 29wt%,the apparent activation energy of the slags also increases from 180.85 to 210.23 kJ/mol,which is consistent with the variation in the critical temperature.The Fourier-transform infrared spectra indicate that the degree of polymerization of this slag is increased by the addition of Al2O3.The application of Iida’s model for predicting the slag viscosity in the presence of Cr2O3 indicates that the calculated viscosity values fit well with the measured values when both the temperature and Al2O3 content are at relatively low levels,i.e.,the temperature range of 1673 to 1803 K and the Al2O3 content range of 17wt%-29wt%in CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-8wt%MgO-1wt%Cr2O3 slag.

Spectral Response of Different Eroded Soils in Subtropical China: A Case Study in Changting County, China

Hyper-spectral data is widely used to determine soil properties. However, few studies have explored the soil spectral characteristics as response to soil erosion. This study analysed the spectral response of different eroded soils in subtropical China, and then identify the spectral characteristics and soil properties that better discriminate softs with different erosion degrees. Two methods were compared： direct identification by inherent spectral characteristics and indirect identification by predictions of critical soft properties. Results showed that the spectral curves for different degrees of erosion were similar in morphology, while overall reflectance and characteristics of specific absorption peaks were different. When the first method is applied, some differences among different eroded groups were found by integration of associated indicators. However, the index of such indicators showed apparent mixing and crossover among different groups, which reduced the accuracy of identification. For the second method, the correlation between critical soil properties, such as soil organic matter （SOM）, iron and aluminium oxides and reflectance spectra, was analysed. The correlation coefficients for the moderate eroded group were primarily between -0.3 to -0.5, which were worse than the other twogroups. However, the maximum value of R2 was obtained as 0.86 and 0.94 for the non-apparent eroded and the severe group. Furthermore, these two groups also showed some differences in the spectral response of iron complex state （Fep）, Aluminium amorphous state （Alo） and the modelling results for soil organic matter （SOM）. The study proved that it is feasible to identify different degrees of soil erosion by hyperspectral data, and that indirect identification by modelling critical soil properties and reflectance spectra is much better than direct identification. These results indicate that hyper-spectral data may represent a promising tool in monitoring and modelling soil erosion.

Long-term deterioration of lubricant-infused nanoporous anodic aluminium oxide surface immersed in NaCl solution

This study investigated the deterioration of a lubricant-infused anodic aluminium oxide surface in a 1M NaCl solution for~200 days.Direct observation by cryo-SEM and quantitative analyses by UV spectroscopy and EIS revealed that the long-term deterioration of the lubricant-infused surface was divided into two stages:the surface-adhered lubricant layer gradually dissolved at a constant rate until the substrate was exposed;afterwards the lubricant infused in the nanochannels began to diffuse and was depleted after~200 days.The EIS results also revealed that the defects reduced the corrosion resistance of the lubricant-infused surface considerably.

A study of GaN MOSFETs with atomic-layer-deposited Al_2O_3 as the gate dielectric

Accumulation-type GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors （MOSFETs） with atomic-layer- deposited A1203 gate dielectrics are fabricated. The device, with atomic-layer-deposited A1203 as the gate dielectric, presents a drain current of 260 mA/mm and a broad maximum transconductance of 34 mS/mm, which are better than those reported previously with Al203 as the gate dielectric. Furthermore, the device shows negligible current collapse in a wide range of bias voltages, owing to the effective passivation of the GaN surface by the A1203 film. The gate drain breakdown voltage is found to be about 59.5 V, and in addition the channel mobility of the n-GaN layer is about 380 cm^2/Vs, which is consistent with the Hall result, and it is not degraded by atomic-layer-deposition A1203 growth and device fabrication.

Organic molecules modified palladium nanowires arrays prepared by high temperature liquid phase reduction

This paper reports high temperature liquid phase synthesis of Pd nanowires using chemically modified porous anodic aluminium oxide as template. In this synthesis process, oleic acid is used to modify the inner wall of the pores and Pd^2＋ complex with oleylamine is filled into the channel of the template. The complex is then reduced to give oleylamine-capped Pd nanowires. This paper suggests that oleic acid can improve the environment of inner wall of the pores, leading to the formation of uniform Pd nanowires. The synthetic process can be extended to make other types of nanowires.

Structure and properties of brazed joints on dispersion-strengthened copper

Development of the technological process for brazing of heat-resistant copper alloy strengthened with Al2O3 oxide particles is an important task of fabrication of high-temperature application structures. As mechanical properties of the brazed joints directly depend on the structural factor and morphological peculiarities of the brazed seams, the latter are of technological interest in terms of making of permanent joints. This study gives results of X-ray spectral microanalysis of the brazed joints on dispersion-strengthened copper alloy （ Gridcop Al-25 ） produced by using the Ti-Cu system adhesion-active brazing filler alloy, different heat sources and temperature-time parameters of the brazing process. Shown are differences in formation of structure of the seams made by vacuum brazing using radiation and high-frequency heating. Vacuum brazing with radiation heating provides the homogeneous seams with crystallisation of the phases based on the CuTi and CuTi2 compounds in the form of discrete faceted particles 2 - 9μm in size against the background of the copper matrix. Based on investigation of structural peculiarities of the brazed seams, the temperature-time conditions of vacuum brazing with radiation heating were selected for manufacture of specimens for mechanical tests. Analysis of the results of strength tests of the butt brazed specimens proved the expediency of preliminary heat treatment of the base material, providing strength of the joints at a level of about 92% of that of the base material.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BIOCERAMICS(Ⅱ)

The article describes the performance, properties and application of bioceramics in the medical clinic and reviews and discusses the advance in the research into several typical bioceramics, such as aluminium oxide bioceramics, carbons, bioactive glassceramics, calcium phosphate bioceramics, bioceramic composite materials etc, and comes to that bioceramics is the most promising bioactive material in the modern medical clinic application.

Electrical Properties of Compositional Al2O3 Supplemented HfO2 Thin Films by Atomic Layer Deposition

With advanced research for dielectrics including capacitors in DRAMs, decoupling filters in microcircuits and insulating gates in transistors, a lot of demand for the new challenging of high-k materials in semiconductor industries has been emerged. This study explores and addresses the experimental approach for composite materials with one of the major concerns of high capacitance, and low leakage, as well as ease of integration technology. The characteristics of Al2O3 supported HfO2 (AHO) thin films for a series of different Hf ratios with Al2O3 dielectrics by atomic layer deposition demonstrated as a candidate material. A composite AHO films with the homogeneous compositions of Al and Hf atoms into the Al-Hf-O mixed oxide system could stabilize the polycrystalline structure with increasing of dielectric constant (k) and decreasing of leakage current density, as well as a higher breakdown voltage than HfO2 film on its own. 70 nm thick AHO thin films with different composition of Al and Hf contents were prepared by atomic layer deposition technique on titanium nitride (TiN) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) coated Si substrates. Photolithography and metal lift-off technique were used for the device fabrication of the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structures. AHO films on TiN/SiO2/Si were measured by semiconductor analyzer and source/ measure system with probe station in the voltage range from -5 to 5 V with a frequency range from 10 kHz to 1 MHz were used to conduct capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements with low/medium frequency range and current-voltage (I-V) measurements. It was found that Au/AHO/TiN/SiO2/Si MIM capacitors demonstrate a capacitance density of 1.5 - 4.5 fF/μm2 at 10 kHz, a loss tangent of 0.02 - 0.04 at 10 kHz, dielectric constant of 11.7 - 35.5 depending on the composition and a low leakage current of 1.7 × 10-9 A/cm2 at 0.5 MV/cm at room temperature. The acquired experimental results could show the possibility of compositional alloy thin films that could potentially replace or open new market for high-k challenges in semiconductor technology.

Integrated CO_(2)capture and reduction catalysis:Role ofγ-Al_(2)O_(3)support,unique state of potassium and synergy with copper

Carbon dioxide capture and reduction(CCR)process emerges as an efficient catalytic strategy for CO_(2)capture and conversion to valuable chemicals.K-promoted Cu/Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts exhibited promising CO_(2)capture efficiency and highly selective conversion to syngas(CO+H_(2)).The dynamic nature of the Cu-K system at reaction conditions complicates the identification of the catalytically active phase and surface sites.The present work aims at more precise understanding of the roles of the potassium and copper and the contribution of the metal oxide support.Whileγ-Al_(2)O_(3)guarantees high dispersion and destabilisation of the potassium phase,potassium and copper act synergistically to remove CO_(2)from diluted streams and promote fast regeneration of the active phase for CO_(2)capture releasing CO while passing H_(2).A temperature of 350℃is found necessary to activate H_(2)dissociation and generate the active sites for CO_(2)capture.The effects of synthesis parameters on the CCR activity are also described by combination of ex-situ characterisation of the materials and catalytic testing.

Effect of aluminium dust on secondary organic aerosol formation in m-xylene/NO_x photo-oxidation

As an important anthropogenic volatile organic compound(VOC), m-xylene has attracted numerous attentions due to its potential in secondary organic aerosol(SOA) formation. In this study, effects of aluminium dust seeds(boehmite and alumina) on SOA yield and aerosol size in m-xylene/NOx photo-oxidation were investigated in a 2 m3 smog chamber at 30°C and 50% relative humidity. Compared to the seed-free system, the presence of aluminium seeds resulted in an increase in the SOA yield, and also enhanced the O3 concentration in the chamber. The photolysis of O3 is a major source of OH radical, which is the most important oxidant of m-xylene. The increase in O3 concentration could result in the generation of more OH radicals, and finally contribute to the SOA formation. Seed particles influence the SOA size mainly by acting as condensation nuclei. Semi-volatile organic compounds(SVOCs) were condensed onto these nuclei, resulting in the increase in SOA size. However, when aluminium seeds with high concentrations were introduced into the system, SVOCs that had been condensed onto each particle were dispersed by these seeds, leading to the reduction in aerosol size.

Experimental investigation of a latent heat thermal energy storage unit encapsulated with molten salt/metal foam composite seeded with nanoparticles

Molten salt has been widely used in latent heat thermal energy storage(LHTES)system,which can be incorporated into hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar system to accommodate the built environment.Solar salt(60 wt.%NaNO 3 and 40 wt.%KNO 3)was employed as the phase change materials(PCMs)in this study,and both aluminum oxide(Al_(2)O_(3))nanopowder and metal foam were used to improve the properties of pure solar salt.The synthesis of the salt/metal foam composites seeded with Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder were performed with the two-step and impregnation methods,and the composite PCMs were characterized morphologically and thermally.Then pure solar salt,the salt/2 wt.%Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder and salt/copper foam composite seeded with 2 wt.%Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder were encapsulated in a pilot test rig,respectively,where a heater of 380.0 W was located in the center of the LHTES unit.The charging and discharging processes of the LHTES unit were conducted extensively,whereas the heating temperatures were controlled at 240℃,260℃and 280℃respectively.Temperature evolutions at radial,angular and axial positions were recorded,and the time-durations and volumetric mean powers during the charging and discharging processes were obtained and calculated subsequently.The results show that physical bonding between Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder and nitrate molecule has been formed from the morphological pictures together with XRD and FTIR curves.Slight changes are found between the melting/freezing phase change temperatures of the salt/metal foam composites seeded with Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder and those of pure solar salt,and the specific heats of the salt/Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder composite slightly increase with the addition of Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder.The time-duration of the charging process for the salt/copper foam composite seeded with Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder at the heating temperature of 240℃can be reduced by about 74.0%,compared to that of pure solar salt,indicating that the heat transfer characteristics of the LHTES unit encapsulated with the salt/copper foam composite seeded with Al_(2)O_(3)nanopowder can be enhanced significantly.Consequently,the mean volumetric powers of the charging process were distinctly enhanced,e.g.,the volumetric mean power of heat storage can reach 110.76 kW/m 3,compared to 31.94 kW/m 3 of pure solar salt.However,the additive has little effect on the volumetric mean power of heat retrieval because of the domination of natural air cooling.

High-temperature dielectric and microwave absorption performances of TiB2/Al2O3 ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering

TiB_(2)/Al2O3 ceramics reinforced with Mg O are prepared by spark plasma sintering(SPS).The dielectric and microwave(MW)absorption properties are discussed.The results indicate that both the commercial TiB_(2)(C-TiB_(2))content and preparing temperature play important roles in the dielectric properties.Simultaneously,TiB_(2)/Al2O3 composite shows the best MW absorption property when the C-TiB_(2)content and preparing temperature are 9 wt%and 1400°C.To further improve the MW absorption properties,the composite containing 9 wt%synthesized TiB_(2)(S-TiB_(2))has been sintered at 1400°C.Its high-temperature complex permittivity is greater than that of TiB_(2)/Al2O3 composite with 9 wt%C-TiB_(2)sintered at 1400°C and is directly proportional to the temperature.Besides,TiB_(2)/Al2O3 composite with 9 wt%S-TiB_(2)possesses a better MW absorption at 25–500°C,its effective absorption bandwidth(RL<-5 dB)can reach 4.2 GHz at 25–500°C.And the minimum reflection loss(RLmin)value reaches-43.41 dB at the temperature of 800°C with a thickness of 1.45 mm for TiB_(2)/Al2O3 composite with 9 wt%C-TiB_(2).Consequently,the satisfying absorbing layer(d<1.75 mm),flexural strength,heat stability and considerable high-temperature MW absorption ability grant TiB_(2)/Al2O3 ceramics practical applications as high-temperature microwave absorption materials(MAMs).