Polarization Band Effect and MEMS-Based Plasma Generation

We find that effects resulting from micro/nano scale structures can regulate space charges which excite and lead to the special electric field distribution featuring the flux convergence band structure. It is here referred to as the polarization band effect, which stems from the specific field-induced interactions among atoms and molecules. The micro/nanoelectrode array structures were designed and fabricated using the non-silicon micro/nano processing technology, forming micro/nano electrode arrays-based plasma microelectromechanical systems(NPMEMS). The integrated NPMEMS device can be used to regulate the inner energy states of matters and generate plasma based on the polarization band effect, all within a single chip-size limited local area or extending into a large volume space with the deployment of a distributed array of multiple devices. Its special physical and chemical properties can be utilized to greatly improve the efficiency of potential application systems or solve mechanism-level challenges in plasma-related applications of multiple fields.

Effect of Valence Band Tail Width on the Open Circuit Voltage of P3HT:PCBM Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cell:AMPS-1D Simulation Study

The effect of the valence band tail width on the open circuit voltage of P3HT：PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cell is investigated by using the AMPS-1D computer program. An effective medium model with exponential valence and conduction band tail states is used to simulate the photovoltaic cell. The simulation result shows that the open circuit voltage depends Iinearly on the logarithm of the generation rate and the slope depends on the width of the valence band tail. The open circuit voltage decreases with the increasing width of the band tail. The dark and light ideality factors increase with the width of the valence band tail.

Effects of the band-filling and Fe/Mo disorder on physical properties of Ca_2FeMoO_6

Both the band filling effect and Fe/Mo disorder have a close correlation with the physical properties of the double perovskite Ca2FeMoO6. Two series of Ca2FeMoO6and Nd0.3Ca1.7FeMoO6ceramics sintered at(1050℃, 1200℃, and 1300℃) were specially designed to comparatively investigate the band-filling effect and Fe/Mo disorder on the physical properties of Ca2FeMoO6. The x-ray diffraction indicates that Fe/Mo disorder is sensitive to the sintering temperature. The magnetization behavior is mainly controlled by the Fe/Mo disorder not by the band filling effect, manifested by a close correlation of saturated magnetization(Ms) with the Fe/Mo disorder. Interestingly, magnetoresistance(MR) property of the same composition is dominantly contributed by the grain boundary strength, which can be expressed by the macroscopic resistivity values. However, the band filling effect caused by the Nd-substitution can decrease the spin polarization, and thus suppress the MR performance fundamentally. Contrary to the MR response, the Curie temperature(TC) shows an obvious optimization due to the band filling effect, which increases the carrier density near the Fermi level responsible for the ferromagnetic coupling interaction strengthen. Maybe, our work can provoke further research interests into the correlation of the band-filling effects and Fe/Mo disorder with the physical properties of other Fe/Mo-based double perovskites.

Fano Effect and Anti-Resonance Band in a Parallel-Coupled Double Quantum Dot System with Two Multi-Quantum Dot Chains

A parallel-coupled double quantum dot （PCDQD） system with two multi-quantum dot chains is designed. Conductance versus Fermi energy level is investigated utilizing the non-equilibrium Green＇s function approach. If two quantum dots are added on each side of the PCDQD system, additional Breit Wigner and Fano resonances occur in the conductance spectra. If quantum dots are added on one side of the system, small Fano resonances can be observed in the conductance spectra. Adjusting the number of side-coupled quantum dots, the anti-resonance bands emerge at different positions, which makes the system applicable as a quantum switching device. Moreover, the I-V characteristic curve presents the step characteristic and the width of the step decreases with increasing the number of side-coupled quantum dots.

Tunable Band Gap in Piezoelectric Composite Rod Based on the Inter-Coupling Effect

The longitudinal wave propagating in one-dimensional periodic piezoelectric composite rod with inter-coupling between different piezoelectric segments is investigated. The analytical formulae for such a structure are shown and the dispersion relation is calculated. The results show that, by introducing the inter-coupling between the different piezoelectric segments, which is accomplished by serially connecting every n piezoelectric segment into supercells, some tunable Bragg band gaps can accordingly be opened in the low frequency region. The investigation could provide a new guideline for the tunable phononic crystal under passive control.

PROPAGATION BEHAVIORS OF SHEAR HORIZONTAL WAVES IN PIEZOELECTRIC-PIEZOMAGNETIC PERIODICALLY LAYERED STRUCTURES

This paper investigates shear horizontal （SH） waves propagating in a periodically layered structure that consists of piezoelectric （PE） layers perfectly bonded with piezomagnetic （PM） layers alternately. The explicit dispersion relations are derived for the two cases when the propagation directions of SH waves are normal to the interface and parallel to the interface, respectively. The asymptotic expressions for dispersion relations are also given when the wave number is extremely small. Numerical results for stop band effect and phase velocity are presented for a periodic system of alternating BaTiO3 and Terfenol-D layers. The influence of volume fraction on stop band effect and dispersion behaviors is discussed and revealed.

Realizing high thermoelectric properties in p-type polycrystalline SnSe by inducing DOS distortion

SnSe crystals have been discovered as one of the most efficient thermoelectric materials due to their remarkable thermal and electrical transports. But the polycrystalline SnSe possesses much lower performance especially for the low carrier mobility and electrical conductivity. We firstly attempted to explain and verify the difference in the electrical conductivity as a function of temperature between p-type crystalline and polycrystalline SnSe by considering the grain boundary effects in the polycrystalline samples. On the basis of 2% Na doping to optimize the carrier concentration, the carrier mobility is improved by further introducing In, leading to enhanced carrier mobility from 3 to 9 cm2·V^(-1)·s^(-1) in polycrystalline SnSe. Moreover, In doping introduces extra resonant levels in SnSe, which increases the density of states near Fermi level and leads to an enhanced band effective mass. Large Seebeck coefficient of ~205 l V·K^(-1) at 300 K and maximum power factor of ~7.5 l W·cm^(-1)·K^(-2) at 773 K can be obtained in the Sn_(0.975)Na_(0.02)In_(0.005) Se sample,leading to a competitively high dimensionless figure of merit(ZT) value exceeding 1.1 at 773 K.

Temperature dependence of Lüders strain and its correlation with martensitic transformation in a medium Mn transformation-induced plasticity steel

The Luders deformation behavior in a medium Mn transformation induced plasticity （TRIP） steel is investigated at different temperatures ranging from 25 to 300 ℃. It demonstrates that the Ltiders band appears at all testing temperatures but with varied Luders strains which do not change monoton ically with temperature. The martensitic transformation is simultaneously observed within the Ltiders band in varying degrees depending on the testing temperature. It is well verified that the martensitic transformation is not responsible for the formation of Luders band, and a reasonable explanation is given for the non-monotonic variation of Luders strain with increasing temperature.

Dynamics of local extreme rainfall of super Typhoon Soudelor (2015) in East China

The characteristics and dynamics associated with the distribution, intensity, and triggering factors of local severe precipitation in Zhejiang Province induced by Super Typhoon Soudelor(2015) were investigated using mesoscale surface observations, radar reflectivity, satellite nephograms, and the final(FNL) analyses of the Global Forecasting System(GFS) of the National Center for Environmental Prediction(NCEP). The rainfall processes during Soudelor's landfall and translation over East China could be separated into four stages based on rainfall characteristics such as distribution, intensity, and corresponding dynamics. The relatively less precipitation in the first stage resulted from interaction between the easterly wind to the north flank of this tropical cyclone(TC) and the coastal topography along the southeast of Zhejiang Province, China. With landfall of the TC in East China during the second stage, precipitation maxima occurred because of interaction between the TC's principal rainbands and the local topography from northeastern Fujian Province to southwestern Zhejiang Province. The distribution of precipitation presented significant asymmetric features in the third stage with maximal rainfall bands in the northeast quadrant of the TC when Soudelor's track turned from westward to northward as the TC decayed rapidly. Finally, during the northward to northeastward translation of the TC in the fourth stage, the interaction between a mid-latitude weather system and the northern part of the TC resulted in transfer of the maximum rainfall from the north of Zhejiang Province to the north of Jiangsu Province,which represented the end of rainfall in Zhejiang Province. Further quantitative calculations of the rainfall rate induced by the interaction between local topography and TC circulation(defined as "orographic effects") in the context of a one-dimensional simplified model showed that orographic effects were the primary factor determining the intensity of precipitation in this case,and accounted for over 50% of the total precipitation. The asymmetric distribution of the TC's rainbands was closely related to the asymmetric distribution of moisture resulted from changes of the TC's structure, and led to asymmetric distribution of local intense precipitation induced by Soudelor. Based on analysis of this TC, it could be concluded that local severe rainfall in the coastal regions of East China is closely related to changes of TC structure and intensity, as well as the outer rainbands. In addition, precipitation intensity and duration will increase correspondingly because of the complex interactions between the TC and local topography, and the particular TC track along large-scale steering flow. The results of this study may be useful for the understanding, prediction, and warning of disasters induced by local extreme rainfall caused by TCs, especially for facilitating forecasting and warning of flooding and mudslides associated with torrential rain caused by interactions between landfalling TCs and coastal topography.