First-principles study of moderate phonon-mediated pairing in high-pressure monoclinic phase of BiS_(2)-based superconductors

Isotope effect on superconductive transition temperature(T_c)is an essential indicator to examine whether the mechanism of superconductors is conventional.Unconventional isotope effect of BiS_(2)-based superconductors has been previously reported in ambient-pressure tetragonal phase.However,to comprehensively ascertain the nature of superconductivity,the investigation of BiS_(2)-based system in high-pressure structure is highly desirable.In this work,we carried out the first-principles calculations of phonon spectra and superconductivity in high-pressure monoclinic phase of LaO_(0.5)F_(0.5)BiS_(2)with ^(32)S and ^(34)S,and observed that the corresponding isotope coefficient is 0.13≤α≤0.20.This value is much greater than that of BiS_(2)-based superconductors in ambient-pressure phase,but slightly smaller than that of conventional MgB_2.Taking into account the calculated T_(c) lower than experimental results,we finally conclude that the moderate phonon-mediated pairing plays a significant role in forming superconductivity of BiS_(2)-based system in high-pressure phase,moreover,the cooperative multiple paring interactions should also be considered.

Rational design of MoS_(2)-based catalysts toward lignin hydrodeoxygenation:Interplay of structure,catalysis,and stability

The MoS_(2)-based materials are a vital class of heterogeneous catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation of lignin and its model compounds to produce value-added chemicals especially because of their unique selectivity to aromatics.The rational design of MoS_(2)-based catalyst greatly depends on the comprehensive understanding of its structure-activity relationship.However,an intensive summary and critical analysis are still scarce to date.In this review,we attempt to provide an in-depth understanding of the interplay of structure,catalysis,and stability of MoS_(2)-based catalysts for lignin hydrodeoxygenation.The recognition of intrinsic active sites on MoS_(2) structure was firstly discussed,followed by the illustration of MoS_(2)-catalyzed hydrodeoxygenation structural models.Afterward,based on the studies on the MoS_(2)-catalyzed lignin model compounds hydrodeoxygenation,the current active site modification strategies including structural modification of monometallic MoS_(2) catalysts and collaborative modification were summarized and emphatically discussed,which aims to elucidate the structure-activity relationship at the atomic-level.The deactivation mechanism and stabilization strategies were also illustrated to provide instructive suggestion for the rational design of efficient and stable MoS_(2)-based catalysts.Finally,the real lignin depolymerization over MoS_(2)-based catalysts was summarized to point out the advantages and difficulties.This review attempts to highlight the remaining challenges and provide some perspectives for the future development of MoS_(2)-based catalysts for lignin hydrodeoxygenation.

Ferroelectricity of hafnium oxide-based materials:Current status and future prospects from physical mechanisms to device applications

The finding of the robust ferroelectricity in HfO_(2)-based thin films is fantastic from the view point of both the fundamentals and the applications.In this review article,the current research status of the future prospects for the ferroelectric HfO_(2)-based thin films and devices are presented from fundamentals to applications.The related issues are discussed,which include:1)The ferroelectric characteristics observed in HfO_(2)-based films and devices associated with the factors of dopant,strain,interface,thickness,defect,fabrication condition,and more;2)physical understanding on the observed ferroelectric behaviors by the density functional theory(DFT)-based theory calculations;3)the characterizations of microscopic and macroscopic features by transmission electron microscopes-based and electrical properties-based techniques;4)modeling and simulations,5)the performance optimizations,and 6)the applications of some ferroelectric-based devices such as ferroelectric random access memory,ferroelectric-based field effect transistors,and the ferroelectric tunnel junction for the novel information processing systems.

A spawning particle filter for defocused moving target detection in GNSS-based passive radar

Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)-based passive radar(GBPR)has been widely used in remote sensing applications.However,for moving target detection(MTD),the quadratic phase error(QPE)introduced by the non-cooperative target motion is usually difficult to be compensated,as the low power level of the GBPR echo signal renders the estimation of the Doppler rate less effective.Consequently,the moving target in GBPR image is usually defocused,which aggravates the difficulty of target detection even further.In this paper,a spawning particle filter(SPF)is proposed for defocused MTD.Firstly,the measurement model and the likelihood ratio function(LRF)of the defocused point-like target image are deduced.Then,a spawning particle set is generated for subsequent target detection,with reference to traditional particles in particle filter(PF)as their parent.After that,based on the PF estimator,the SPF algorithm and its sequential Monte Carlo(SMC)implementation are proposed with a novel amplitude estimation method to decrease the target state dimension.Finally,the effectiveness of the proposed SPF is demonstrated by numerical simulations and pre-liminary experimental results,showing that the target range and Doppler can be estimated accurately.

Effect of VC/Cr_3C_2 on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti(C,N)-based cermets

Effects of VC/Cr3C2 on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti（C,N）-based cermets were studied. The microstructure was investigated by means of optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry as well as scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive spectrometry. Mechanical properties, such as transverse rupture strength, hardness and fracture toughness, were measured. The results show that there are black core-grey rim structure and white core-grey rim structure in the microstructure. The grains become fine due to the VC/Cr3C2, and the grains of cermet added with 0.75VC/0.25Cr3C2 are refined most remarkably. The black core becomes finer with the increase of VC addition and rim phase becomes thicker with the decrease of Cr3C2 addition. The porosity increases with the increase of VC addition in VC/Cr3C2. Compared with the cermet free of VC/Cr3C2, the transverse rupture strength and hardness of cermets with VC/Cr3C2 are both improved, and the maximum values are both found for the cermet with 0.25VC/0.75Cr3C2. The fracture toughness can be effectively promoted by adding VC/Cr3C2 with an appropriate ratio of VC to Cr3C2, and the maximum value is found for the cermet with 0.5VC/0.5Cr3C2.

Research progress of Ag_3PO_4-based photocatalyst: Fundamentals and performance enhancement

Ag3PO4 is found to be a highly efficient photocatalyst and receives great attention. The high activity of the photocatalyst is credited to the intrinsic electronic structure. The morphology control and nano-composite fabrication are used to improve the performance and practicability. This paper reviews the structure, properties and some theoretical aspects of Ag3PO4 single crystal. Also, the major strategies, namely the morphology control and hetero-nanostructure construction, as ways to improve the performance of Ag3PO4-based photocatalysts, are summarized with the aid of some typical instances.

Design of high strength Fe-(P,C)-based bulk metallic glasses with Nb addition

Bulk metallic glass（BMG） rods Fe71Mo5-xNbxP12C10B2（x=1,2,3,4 and 5） with diameter of 1 or 2 mm were synthesized by copper mold casting.The effects of Nb substitution for Mo on the structure,thermal and mechanical properties of Fe71Mo5-xNbxP12C10B2 alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction,differential scanning calorimetry and compressive testing.The results show that the substitution of Nb for Mo leads to a decreased glass forming ability,but with plasticity of 1.0%,the fracture strength of Fe71Mo2Nb3P12C10B2 alloy increases up to 4.0 GPa.The improvement of the fracture strength is discussed in terms of the enhancement of atomic bonding nature and the favorite formation of a network-like structure due to the substitution of Nb for Mo.

SnO_2-based gas(hydrogen) anodes for aluminum electrolysis

A novel SnO2-based gas anode was developed for aluminum electrolysis in molten cryolite at 850 ＆#176;C to reduce energy consumption and decrease CO2 emissions. Hydrogen was introduced into the anode, participating in the anode reaction. Carbon and aluminum were used as the cathode and reference electrodes, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry was applied in the cell to investigate the electrochemical behavior of oxygen ion on platinum and SnO2-based materials. The potential for oxygen evolution on these electrode materials was determined. Then, galvanostatic electrolysis was performed on the gas anode, showing a significant depolarization effect （a decrease of ~0.8 V of the anode potential） after the introduction of hydrogen, compared with no gas introduction or the introduction of argon. The results indicate the involvement of hydrogen in the anode reaction （three-phase-boundary reaction including gas, electrolyte and electrode） and give the possibility for the utilization of reducing gas anodes for aluminum electrolysis.

Lentinan prolonged survival in patients with gastric cancer receiving S-1-based chemotherapy

AIM:To examine whether administration of lentinan,purifiedβ-1,3-glucan,can prolong survival in advanced gastric cancer patients receiving S-1-based chemotherapy.METHODS:Since 2004,78 patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer have received S-1-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment.Survival,side effects,and the ratio of granulocytes/lymphocytes(G/L ratio)were compared between 2 groups of patients who received chemo-immunotherapy using lentinan and chemotherapy alone.RESULTS:Median overall survival was significantly longer in the former group than in the latter group[689 d(95%CI:431-2339 d)vs 565 d(95%CI:323-662 d),P=0.0406].In addition,the G/L ratio in patients who received lentinan was maintained around or below 2,which was significantly lower than that in patients who received chemotherapy alone(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Chemo-immunotherapy with lentinan offers a significant advantage over S-1-based chemotherapy alone in terms of survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Effects of molybdenum on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti(C,N)-based cermets with low Ni

The effects of Mo on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti（C,N）-based cermets with low Ni have been studied systematically. Different contents of Mo （4-12 wt.%） were added into Tl（C,N）-based cermets. Specimens were fabricated by conventional powder metallurgy and vacuum sintered at temperatures of 1440, 1450, and 1460℃ individually. The microstructure and fracture morphology were investigated by scanning electron microscope, and the mechanical properties such as transverse strength and hardness were measured. The results show that the microstructure is uniform and the thickness of rim phase is moderate when the content of Mo is 8 wt.%; the mechanical properties of the specimens sintered at 1450℃ are better than those sintered at 1440 and 1460℃. The integrated properties of transverse strength and hardness are the best when the content of Mo is 8 wt.% and the sintering temperature is 1450℃.

SnO_2-based solid solutions for CH_4 deep oxidation: Quantifying the lattice capacity of SnO_2 using an X-ray diffraction extrapolation method

A series of SnO2‐based catalysts modified by Mn, Zr, Ti and Pb oxides with a Sn/M （M=Mn, Zr, Ti and Pb） molar ratio of 9/1 were prepared by a co‐precipitation method and used for CH4 and CO oxidation. The Mn3＋, Zr4＋, Ti4＋and Pb4＋cations are incorporated into the lattice of tetragonal rutile SnO2 to form a solid solution structure. As a consequence, the surface area and thermal stability of the catalysts are improved. Moreover, the oxygen species of the modified catalysts become easier to be reduced. Therefore, the oxidation activity over the catalysts was improved, except for the one modified by Pb oxide. Manganese oxide demonstrates the best promotional effects for SnO2. Using an X‐ray diffraction extrapolation method, the lattice capacity of SnO2 for Mn2O3 was 0.135 g Mn2O3/g SnO2, which indicates that to form stable solid solution, only 21%Sn4＋cations in the lattice can be maximally replaced by Mn3＋. If the amount of Mn3＋cations is over the capacity, Mn2O3 will be formed, which is not favorable for the activity of the catalysts. The Sn rich samples with only Sn‐Mn solid solution phase show higher activity than the ones with excess Mn2O3 species.

Fundamental and progress of Bi_2Te_3-based thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric materials,enabling the directing conversion between heat and electricity,are one of the promising candidates for overcoming environmental pollution and the upcoming energy shortage caused by the over-consumption of fossil fuels.Bi2Te3-based alloys are the classical thermoelectric materials working near room temperature.Due to the intensive theoretical investigations and experimental demonstrations,significant progress has been achieved to enhance the thermoelectric performance of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric materials.In this review,we first explored the fundamentals of thermoelectric effect and derived the equations for thermoelectric properties.On this basis,we studied the effect of material parameters on thermoelectric properties.Then,we analyzed the features of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric materials,including the lattice defects,anisotropic behavior and the strong bipolar conduction at relatively high temperature.Then we accordingly summarized the strategies for enhancing the thermoelectric performance,including point defect engineering,texture alignment,and band gap enlargement.Moreover,we highlighted the progress in decreasing thermal conductivity using nanostructures fabricated by solution grown method,ball milling,and melt spinning.Lastly,we employed modeling analysis to uncover the principles of anisotropy behavior and the achieved enhancement in Bi2Te3,which will enlighten the enhancement of thermoelectric performance in broader materials

Effect of Powder Particle Size on the Properties and Microstructure of Ti(C,N)-Based Cermet

The influence of raw powder particle size on the properties and microstructures of Ti (C, N)-based cermets has been studied. The conclusions are as follows: The microstructures of cermets were composed of two kinds of grains, the one with black cores surrounded by obvious rim structures, and the other whose cores were white with unconspicuous rim structures and adhesive phase. In the cermet made from fine powders, the amount of grains with white cores was much more than that in cermet made from coarse powders. In addition, their properties were also much better.

Microstructure and shear strength of the brazed joint of Ti(C,N)-based cermet to steel

Firm joins were obtained between Ti（C,N）-based cermet and steel with Ag-Cu-Zn-Ni filler metal by vacuum brazing. The effects of technological parameters such as brazing temperature, holding time, and filler thickness on the shear strength of the joints were investigated. The microstructure of welded area and the reaction products of the filler metal were examined by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, metallographic microscope （OM）, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis （EDS）, and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The brazing temperature of 870℃, holding time of 15 min, and filler thickness of 0.4 mm are a set of optimum technological parameters, under which the maximum shear strength of the joints, 176.5 MPa, is achieved. The results of microstructure show that the wettability of the filler metal on Ti（C,N）-based cermet and steel is well. A mutual solution layer and a diffusion layer exist between the welding base materials and the filler metal.

GIS-Based (W^+-W^-) Weight of Evidence Model and Its Application to Gold Resources Assessment in Abitibi ,Canada

The weight of evidence （WofE） model has been widely used for mineral potential mapping. During the conversion of a multiclass map into a binary map a lot of mineralization information is artificially added or lost because the generalization of the class within the cumulative distance interval to a linear feature is based on a maximum contrast, which matches a cumulative distance interval. Additionally, some categorical data evidence cannot be generated by this method because a maximum contrast does not exist. In this article, an alternative （W^＋ -W^- ）-based WofE model is proposed. In this model, the ＂（W^＋ -W^- ） greater than zero or not＂ is used as a criterion to reclassify the corresponding categorical class into a presence or absence class to convert a multielass map into a binary map. This model can be applied to both categorical data and successive data. The latter can be operated as categorical data. The Wt and W^- of the generated binary maps can be recalculated, and several binary maps can be integrated on the condition that the reclassified binary evidences are conditionally independent of each other. This method effectively reduces artificial data and both nominal and categorical data can be operated. A ease study of gold potential mapping in the Abitibi area, Ontario, Canada, shows that the gold potential map by the （W^＋ -W^- ） model displays a smaller potential area but a higher posterior probability （POP）, whereas the potential map by the traditional （W^＋ - W^- ） model exhibits a larger potential area but a lower POP.

Effect of VC addition on the microstructure and properties of Ti(C,N)-based nano cermets

In this paper, Ti（C,N）-based nano cermets were prepared by nano particles, and the effect of VC addition on the micmstructure and properties of Ti（C,N）-based nano cermets was investigated. The results showed that there existed black-core grayish-rim strucmre as well as gray-core grayish-rim structure in VC-doped Ti（C,N）-based nano cermets. With the increase of VC addition, the number of gray cores in- creased, the lattice parameter of Ti（C,N） phase increased, the grain size decreased, the hardness and fracture toughness of Ti（C,N）-based nano cermets were enhanced, and nearly full densification could be achieved. However, excessive addition of VC to 1 wt% resulted in slight decrease in hardness and fracture toughness. Some deep dimples were found in the fracture surface of cermets with VC addition, which corresponded to ductile fracture.

Effect of Ni-coated MoS2 on microstructure and tribological properties of(Cu−10Sn)-based composites

The(Cu−10Sn)−Ni−MoS2 composites,prepared by powder metallurgy,were studied for the effects of Ni-coated MoS2 on the microstructure,mechanical properties and lubricating properties.The mechanism of effects of Ni and MoS2 on the properties of composites was analyzed through a comparative experiment by adding Ni and MoS2 separately.The results show that the nickel wrapping around the MoS2 particles decreases the reaction rate of MoS2 with the copper matrix,and greatly improves the bonding of the matrix.The composites with 12 wt.%Ni-coated MoS2(C12)show the optimum performance including the mechanical properties and tribological behaviors.Under oil lubrication conditions,the friction coefficient is 0.0075 with a pressure of 8 MPa and a linear velocity of 0.25 m/s.The average dry friction coefficient,sliding against 40Cr steel disc,is measured to be 0.1769 when the linear velocity and pressure are 0.25 m/s and 4 MPa,respectively.

Catalytic graphitization of Mo-B-doped polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based carbon fibers

A novel carbon fiber pretreatment was proposed.Polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based carbon fibers were first anodized in H3PO4 electrolyte to achieve an active surface,and then coated with Mo-B catalysts by immersed the carbon fibers in a uniformly dispersed Mo-B sol.The as-treated carbon fibers were then graphitized at 2 400 ℃ for 2 h.The structural changes were characterized by X-ray diffractometry(XRD),Raman spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and high-resolution transmission electronic microscopy(HRTEM).The results show that much better graphitization can be achieved in the presence of Mo-B,with an interlayer spacing(d002) of 0.335 8 nm and a crystalline size(Lc) of 28 nm.

Microstructure and cutting performance of Ti(C, N)-based cermets heat-treated in nitrogen

Ti（C, N）-based cermets were treated using hot isostatic pressing （HIP） at 1423 K in nitrogen. The microstructures compared with the as-sintered cermets were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and electron microprobe analysis. It was found that high nitrogen activity in the surface zone resulted in the formation of gradient structure. Approximately 20-1am-deep, nitrogen-rich and titanium-rich hard surface zone was introduced by the heat treatment. The nitrogen activity was the driving force that caused the transportation of the atoms through the binder, titanium towards the surface, and tungsten and molybdenum inwards. In the surface zone, the particle size became fine, the inner rim disappeared, and the volume fraction of the outer rim and the binder phase considerably reduced. Small grains of TiN, WC, Mo2C, and nitrogen-rich carbonitlide phases formed in the surface zone during the heat treatment, improving the tlibological property of the heat-treated cermet.

Influence of soaking time on semi-conductivity and nonlinear electrical properties of TiO_2-based varistor ceramics

We investigated the influence of soaking time on the semi-conductivity and nonlinear electrical properties of TiO2- based varistor ceramic samples. We used a single sintering process and fabricated six disk samples of （Sr, Bi, Si, Ta）-doped TiO2- based varistor ceramics sintered at 1 250℃ for 0.5 h, 1.0 h, 2.0 h, 3.0 h, 4.0 h, and 5.0 h, respectively. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, breakdown voltage, and complex impedance. The results show that as the soaking time increases from 0.5 h to 5.0 h, the breakdown voltage drops before rising while the nonlinear coefficient increases and then decreases. We suggest that, considering both grain semi-conductivity and nonlinear electrical properties of the TiO2-based varistor ceramics, the optimal soaking time is between 2.0 h and 3.0 h.