Structure,ferroelectric,and enhanced fatigue properties of sol–gel-processed new Bi-based perovskite thin films of Bi(Cu_(1/2)Ti_(1/2))O_(3)–PbTiO_(3)

Bi-based perovskite ferroelectric thin films have wide applications in electronic devices due to their excellent ferroelectric properties.New Bi-based perovskite thin films Bi(Cu_(1/2)Ti_(1/2))O_(3)–PbTiO_(3)(BCT–PT) are deposited on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO_(2)/Si substrates in the present study by the traditional sol–gel method.Their structures and related ferroelectric and fatigue characteristics are studied in-depth.The BCT–PT thin films exhibit good crystallization within the phase-pure perovskite structure,besides,they have a predominant(100) orientation together with a dense and homogeneous microstructure.The remnant polarization(2P_(r)) values at 30 μC/cm^(2) and 16 μC/cm^(2) are observed in 0.1BCT–0.9PT and 0.2BCT–0.8PT thin films,respectively.More intriguingly,although the polarization values are not so high,0.2BCT–0.8PT thin films show outstanding polarization fatigue properties,with a high switchable polarization of 93.6% of the starting values after 10^(8) cycles,indicating promising applications in ferroelectric memories.

Modulated optical and ferroelectric properties in a lateral structured ferroelectric/semiconductor van der Waals heterojunction

Modulation between optical and ferroelectric properties was realized in a lateral structured ferroelectric CuInP_(2)S_(6)(CIPS)/semiconductor MoS_(2) van der Waals heterojunction.The ferroelectric hysteresis loop area was modulated by the optical field.Two types of photodetection properties can be realized in a device by changing the ON and OFF states of the ferroelectric layer.The device was used as a photodetector in the OFF state but not in the ON state.The higher tunnelling electroresistance(~1.4×10^(4))in a lateral structured ferroelectric tunnelling junction was crucial,and it was analyzed and modulated by the barrier height and width of the ferroelectric CIPS/semiconductor MoS_(2) Schottky junction.The new parameter of the ferroelectric hysteresis loop area as a function of light intensity was introduced to analyze the relationship between the ferroelectric and photodetection properties.The proposed device has potential application as an optoelectronic sensory cell in the biological nervous system or as a new type of photodetector.

Tensile stress regulated microstructures and ferroelectric properties of Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2) films

The discovery of ferroelectricity in HfO_(2) based materials reactivated the research on ferroelectric memory.However,the complete mechanism underlying its ferroelectricity remains to be fully elucidated.In this study,we conducted a systematic study on the microstructures and ferroelectric properties of Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2)(HZO)thin films with various annealing rates in the rapid thermal annealing.It was observed that the HZO thin films with higher annealing rates demonstrate smaller grain size,reduced surface roughness and a higher portion of orthorhombic phase.Moreover,these films exhibited enhanced polarization values and better fatigue cycles compared to those treated with lower annealing rates.The grazing incidence x-ray diffraction measurements revealed the existence of tension stress in the HZO thin films,which was weakened with decreasing annealing rate.Our findings revealed that this internal stress,along with the stress originating from the top/bottom electrode,plays a crucial role in modulating the microstructure and ferroelectric properties of the HZO thin films.By carefully controlling the annealing rate,we could effectively regulate the tension stress within HZO thin films,thus achieving precise control over their ferroelectric properties.This work established a valuable pathway for tailoring the performance of HZO thin films for various applications.

Impact of annealing temperature on the ferroelectric properties of W/Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2)/W capacitor

Crystallization annealing is a crucial process for the formation of the ferroelectric phase in HfO_(2)-based ferroelectric thin films.Here,we systematically investigate the impact of the annealing process,with temperature varied from 350℃to 550℃,on the electricity,ferroelectricity and reliability of a Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2)(HZO;7.5 nm)film capacitor.It was found that HZO film annealed at a low temperature of 400℃can effectively suppress the formation of the monoclinic phase and reduce the leakage current.HZO film annealed at 400℃also exhibits better ferroelectric properties than those annealed at 350℃and 550℃.Specifically,the 400℃-annealed HZO film shows an outstanding 2Pr value of 54.6μC·cm^(-2)at±3.0 MV·cm^(-1),which is relatively high compared with previously reported values for HZO film under the same electric field and annealing temperature.When the applied electric field increases to±5.0 MV·cm^(-1),the 2Pr value can reach a maximum of 69.6μC·cm^(-2).In addition,the HZO films annealed at 400℃and 550℃can endure up to bout 2.3×10^(8)cycles under a cycling field of 2.0 MV·cm^(-1)before the occurrence of breakdown.In the 400℃-annealed HZO film,72.1%of the initial polarization is maintained while only 44.9%is maintained in the 550℃-annealed HZO film.Our work demonstrates that HZO film with a low crystallization temperature(400℃)has quite a high ferroelectric polarization,which is of significant importance in applications in ferroelectric memory and negative capacitance transistors.

Hole-Doped Nonvolatile and Electrically Controllable Magnetism in van der Waals Ferroelectric Heterostructures

Electrical control of magnetism in van der Waals semiconductors is a promising step towards development of two-dimensional spintronic devices with ultralow power consumption for processing and storing information.Here, we propose a design for two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures(vdWHs) that can host ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism simultaneously under hole doping. By contacting an In Se monolayer and forming an InSe/In_(2)Se_(3) vd WH, the switchable built-in electric field from the reversible out-of-plane polarization enables robust control of the band alignment. Furthermore, switching between the two ferroelectric states(P_↑ and P_↓)of hole-doped In_(2)Se_(3) with an external electric field can interchange the ON and OFF states of the nonvolatile magnetism. More interestingly, doping concentration and strain can effectively tune the magnetic moment and polarization energy. Therefore, this provides a platform for realizing multiferroics in ferroelectric heterostructures,showing great potential for use in nonvolatile memories and ferroelectric field-effect transistors.

Robust and Tunable Ferroelectricity in Ba/Co Codoped (K_(0.5)Na_(0.5))NbO_(3) Ceramics

The 0.98(K_(0.5)Na_(0.5))NbO_(3)-0.02Ba(Nb_(0.5)Co_(0.5))O_(3-δ) ceramics with doped Ba^(2+) and Co^(2+) ions are fabricated,and the impacts of the thermal process are studied.Compared with the rapidly cooled (RC) sample,the slowly cooled (SC) sample possesses superior dielectric and ferroelectric properties,and an 11 K higher ferroelectricparaelectric phase transition temperature,which can be attributed to the structural characteristics such as the grain size and the degree of anisotropy.Heat treatment can reversibly modulate the content of the oxygen vacancies,and in turn the ferroelectric hysteresis loops of the samples.Finally,robust and tunable ferroelectric property is achieved in SC samples with good structural integrity.

BaTiO_(3)/p-GaN/Au self-driven UV photodetector with bipolar photocurrent controlled by ferroelectric polarization

Ferroelectric materials are promising candidates for ultraviolet photodetectors due to their ferroelectric effect.In this work,a BaTiO_(3)/p-GaN/Au hybrid heterojunction-Schottky self-driven ultraviolet photodetector was fabricated with excellent bipolar photoresponse property.At 0 V bias,the direction of the photocurrent can be switched by flipping the depolarization field of BaTiO_(3),which allows the performance of photodetectors to be controlled by the ferroelectric effect.Meanwhile,a relatively large responsivity and a fast response speed can be also observed.In particular,when the depolarization field of BaTiO_(3) is in the same direction of the built-in electric field of the Au/p-GaN Schottky junction(up polarized state),the photodetector exhibits a high responsivity of 18 mA/W at 360 nm,and a fast response speed of<40 ms at 0 V.These findings pave a new way for the preparation of high-performance photodetectors with bipolar photocurrents.

Reliable ferroelectricity down to cryogenic temperature in wakeup free Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2)thin films by thermal atomic layer deposition

The performance and reliability of ferroelectric thin films at temperatures around a few Kelvin are critical for their application in cryo-electronics.In this work,TiN/Hf_(0.5)Zr_(0.5)O_(2)/TiN capacitors that are free from the wake-up effect are investigated systematically from room temperature(300 K)to cryogenic temperature(30 K).We observe a consistent decrease in permittivity(εr)and a progressive increase in coercive electric field(Ec)as temperatures decrease.Our investigation reveals exceptional stability in the double remnant polarization(2P_(r))of our ferroelectric thin films across a wide temperature range.Specifically,at 30 K,a 2P_(r)of 36μC/cm^(2)under an applied electric field of 3.0 MV/cm is achieved.Moreover,we observed a reduced fatigue effect at 30 K in comparison to 300 K.The stable ferroelectric properties and endurance characteristics demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing HfO_(2)based ferroelectric thin films for cryo-electronics applications.

Hydration Behavior and Cementitious Properties of Calcium Carbonate-aluminate Minerals Composite

The purpose of this research is to investigate the hydration behavior and cementitious properties of the mixture of calcium carbonate and aluminate, and to explore whether it can be adopted as a new low-carbon cementitious material. The composite system of calcium carbonate and aluminate minerals is studied by measuring the component of hydration products, the hydration heat, setting time and compressive strength.The results prove that the composite system has certain cementitious properties and is feasible to prepare new low-carbon cement.

Influences of divalent ion substitution on the magnetic and dielectric properties of W-type barium ferrite

Saturation magnetization,magneto-crystalline anisotropy field,and dielectric properties are closely related to microwave devices applied at different frequencies.For regulating the magnetic and dielectric properties of W-type barium ferrites,single-phase BaMe_(2)Fe_(16)O_(27)(Me=Fe,Mn,Zn,Ni,Co) with different Me ions were synthesized by the high-temperature solid-state method.The saturation magnetization(Ms) range from 47.77 emu/g to 95.34 emu/g and the magnetic anisotropy field(H_a) range from 10700.60 Oe(1 Oe=79.5775 A·m^(-1)) to 13739.57 Oe,depending on the type of cation substitution in the hexagonal lattice.The dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss decrease with increasing frequency of the AC electric field in the low-frequency region,while they almost remain constant in the high-frequency region.The charac teristics of easy regulation and preparation make it a potential candidate for use in microwave device applications.

Enhancing BiVO_(4)photoanode performance by insertion of an epitaxial BiFeO_(3)ferroelectric layer

BiVO_(4)(BVO)is a promising material as the photoanode for use in photoelectrochemical applications.However,the high charge recombination and slow charge transfer of the BVO have been obstacles to achieving satisfactory photoelectrochemical performance.To address this,various modifications have been attempted,including the use of ferroelectric materials.Ferroelectric materials can form a permanent polarization within the layer,enhancing the separation and transport of photo-excited electron-hole pairs.In this study,we propose a novel approach by depositing an epitaxial BiFeO_(3)(BFO)thin film underneath the BVO thin film(BVO/BFO)to harness the ferroelectric property of BFO.The self-polarization of the inserted BFO thin film simultaneously functions as a buffer layer to enhance charge transport and a hole-blocking layer to reduce charge recombination.As a result,the BVO/BFO photoanodes showed more than 3.5 times higher photocurrent density(0.65 mA cm^(-2))at 1.23 V_(RHE)under the illumination compared to the bare BVO photoanodes(0.18 m A cm^(-2)),which is consistent with the increase of the applied bias photon-to-current conversion efficiencies(ABPE)and the result of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)analysis.These results can be attributed to the self-polarization exhibited by the inserted BFO thin film,which promoted the charge separation and transfer efficiency of the BVO photoanodes.

A review on the multi-scaled structures and mechanical/thermal properties of tool steels fabricated by laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

The laser powder bed fusion(LPBF) process can integrally form geometrically complex and high-performance metallic parts that have attracted much interest,especially in the molds industry.The appearance of the LPBF makes it possible to design and produce complex conformal cooling channel systems in molds.Thus,LPBF-processed tool steels have attracted more and more attention.The complex thermal history in the LPBF process makes the microstructural characteristics and properties different from those of conventional manufactured tool steels.This paper provides an overview of LPBF-processed tool steels by describing the physical phenomena,the microstructural characteristics,and the mechanical/thermal properties,including tensile properties,wear resistance,and thermal properties.The microstructural characteristics are presented through a multiscale perspective,ranging from densification,meso-structure,microstructure,substructure in grains,to nanoprecipitates.Finally,a summary of tool steels and their challenges and outlooks are introduced.

Impact of scandium and terbium on the mechanical properties,corrosion behavior,and biocompatibility of biodegradable Mg-Zn-Zr-Mn alloys

Magnesium(Mg)-based bone implants degrade rapidly in the physiological environment of the human body which affects their structural integrity and biocompatibility before adequate bone repair.Rare earth elements(REEs)have demonstrated their effectiveness in tailoring the corrosion and mechanical behavior of Mg alloys.This study methodically investigated the impacts of scandium(Sc)and terbium(Tb)in tailoring the corrosion resistance,mechanical properties,and biocompatibility of Mg–0.5Zn–0.35Zr–0.15Mn(MZZM)alloys fabricated via casting and hot extrusion.Results indicate that addition of Sc and Tb improved the strength of MZZM alloys via grain size reduction and solid solution strengthening mechanisms.The extruded MZZM–(1–2)Sc–(1–2)Tb(wt.%)alloys exhibit compressive strengths within the range of 336–405 MPa,surpassing the minimum required strength of 200 MPa for bone implants by a significant margin.Potentiodynamic polarization tests revealed low corrosion rates of as–cast MZZM(0.25 mm/y),MZZM–2Tb(0.45 mm/y),MZZM–1Sc–1Tb(0.18 mm/y),and MZZM–1Sc–2Tb(0.64 mm/y),and extruded MZZM(0.17 mm/y),MZZM–1Sc(0.15 mm/y),MZZM-2Sc(0.45 mm/y),MZZM-1Tb(0.17 mm/y),MZZM-2Tb(0.10 mm/y),MZZM–1Sc-1Tb(0.14 mm/y),MZZM-1Sc-2Tb(0.40 mm/y),and MZZM–2Sc–2Tb(0.51 mm/y)alloys,which were found lower compared to corrosion rate of high-purity Mg(~1.0 mm/y)reported in the literature.Furthermore,addition of Sc,or Tb,or Sc and Tb to MZZM alloys did not adversely affect the viability of SaOS2 cells,but enhanced their initial cell attachment,proliferation,and spreading shown via polygonal shapes and filipodia.This study emphasizes the benefits of incorporating Sc and Tb elements in MZZM alloys,as they effectively enhance corrosion resistance,mechanical properties,and biocompatibility simultaneously.

Physico-Chemical and Nutritional Properties of a Food Broth Based on Nere (Parkia biglobosa)

Purpose: Diet and eating habits are major risk factors for the health and the development of disease, such as, for example, metabolic disorder leading to cardiovascular pathology and cancer, decreased immunity exposing to infections. This study of the physico-chemical and nutritional properties of a soumara-based food broth was carried out with the aim of promoting the consumption of organic broth made from nere seeds (soumara). That is to alleviate certain metabolic diseases, which is a matter of food safety, and also to limit the risk for the health about the consumption of some cooking stocks on the market. Methods: Several natural ingredients such as nere seeds (soumara), ginger, black pepper, parsley and garlic were used to create a nere-based stock. All these ingredients were freeze-dried and the powder obtained was used to make the broth, regarding their physical and chemical properties. Results: The broth had a good protein content of 17.41 ± 0.367 g/100g, a lipid content of 16.80 ± 0.08 g/100g and a fiber content of 8.66 ± 0.04 g/100g. In terms of nutritional values, the broth showed good levels of calcium 184.21 ± 0.09 mg/100g, potassium 50.04 ± 1.45 mg/100g and iron and zinc. In terms of antioxidant activity, the broth also showed good antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Regarding the properties of our food broth, whose composition is based on natural ingredients, could be recommended for consumption and, its properties, could play an important role in preventing and combating certain metabolic diseases.

Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Different Altitudes Affect Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Abundance and Colonization in Cacao Plantations of Cameroon

This study aims to investigate the abundance of AMF according to soil properties and altitudes in different cacao plantations of Cameroon. Physico-chemical analyses were made on soil samples collected from three agro-ecological zones. Soil samples were also used to evaluate directly the AMF abundance following the various altitudes and after trapping by sorghum plant. The results showed that soil properties, AMF spore abundances and colonization fluctuated significantly at different altitudes. The most represented texture was sandy loam. The bimodal zone presented a homogeneous texture (sandy loam) in all its localities. Cacao soil chemical characteristics showed that, the highest nitrogen rate (0.47%;p 0.05, Scott-Knott test) was recorded at Melong in a monomodal zone while Tonga in the Western highlands displayed the lowest rate (0.13%). Soil P concentration was significantly high in monomodal zones (Mbanga and Melong). Soil pH level indicated that the soil from Tonga in the Western highlands was neutral (pH = 6.67), and soils of other localities under study were acidic with the lowest (4.75) pH level recorded at Melong in a monomodal zone. In soil samples, the highest spore density (1.03 spores/g soil) was observed at Ntui in Bimodal zone, while the lowest spore density (0.26 spores/g soil) was observed at Bafang in the Western highlands. Root colonization showed that the sample from Bokito in a bimodal zone displayed the best frequency of mycorrhization (86.11%) while the sample from Bafang in the Western highlands recorded the lowest (27.11%). The PCA analysis highlighted that available phosphorus, pH and altitude all strongly correlated with AMF root colonization ability and can be used as a predictor of AMF colonization ability in cacao rhizosphere.

Synergistic enhancement on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of biodegradable Mg-Zn-Y alloy via V-microalloying

For the sake of improving the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of biodegradable Mg alloy synergistically,various content of element V(0,0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20 wt.%)are introduced into an Mg-Zn-Y alloy with long-period stacking ordered(LPSO)structure,and the effects of V on its microstructure,mechanical properties and corrosion resistance are investigated systematically.The results indicate that the grains are effectively refined by V addition,and the primaryα-Mg in Mg-Zn-Y-V0.1 alloy is most significantly refined,with grain size being decreased by 62%.The amount of 18R LPSO structure is increased owing to the V addition.The growth mode of the second phase(W-phase and 18R LPSO structure)is transformed to divorced growth pattern,which ascribes to the thermodynamic drive force of V to promote the nucleation of LPSO phase.Thus,18R LPSO structure presents a continuous distribution.Due to grains refinement and modification of second phase,the tensile strength and strain of alloys are both enhanced effectively.Especially,the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation of V0.1 alloy are 254 MPa and 15.26%,which are 41%and 61%higher than those of V-free alloy,respectively.Owing to the continuously distributed 18R LPSO structure with refined grains and stable product film,the weight loss and hydrogen evolution corrosion rates of V0.1 alloy are 7.1 and 6.2 mmy^(-1),respectively,which are 42.6%and 45.4%lower than those of V-free alloy.

A novel high-Cr CoNi-based superalloy with superior high-temperature microstructural stability, oxidation resistance and mechanical properties

A novel multicomponent high-Cr CoNi-based superalloy with superior comprehensive performance was prepared,and the evaluation of its high-temperature microstructural stability,oxidation resistance,and mechanical properties was conducted mainly using its cast polycrystalline alloy.The results disclosed that the morphology of theγ′phase remained stable,and the coarsening rate was slow during the long-term aging at 900–1000℃.The activation energy forγ′precipitate coarsening of alloy 9CoNi-Cr was(402±51)kJ/mol,which is higher compared with those of CMSX-4 and some other Ni-based and Co-based superalloys.Importantly,there was no indica-tion of the formation of topologically close-packed phases during this process.All these factors demonstrated the superior microstructural stability of the alloy.The mass gain of alloy 9CoNi-Cr was 0.6 mg/cm^(2) after oxidation at 1000℃ for 100 h,and the oxidation resistance was comparable to advanced Ni-based superalloys CMSX-4,which can be attributed to the formation of a continuous Al_(2)O_(3) protective layer.Moreover,the compressive yield strength of this cast polycrystalline alloy at high temperatures is clearly higher than that of the conventional Ni-based cast superalloy and the compressive minimum creep rate at 950℃ is comparable to that of the conventional Ni-based cast superalloy,demonstrating the alloy’s good mechanical properties at high temperature.This is partially because high Cr is bene-ficial in improving theγandγ′phase strengths of alloy 9CoNi-Cr.

Microstructures,corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-6Zn-2X(Fe/Cu/Ni)alloys for plugging tool applications

Mg-6Zn-2X(Fe/Cu/Ni)alloys were prepared through semi-continuous casting,with the aim of identifying a degradable magnesium(Mg)alloy suitable for use in fracturing balls.A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the impacts of adding Cu and Ni,which result in finer grains and the formation of galvanic corrosion sites.Scanner electronic microscopy examination revealed that precipitated phases concentrated at grain boundaries,forming a semi-continuous network structure that facilitated corrosion penetration in Mg-6Zn-2Cu and Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloys.Pitting corrosion was observed in Mg-6Zn-2Fe,while galvanic corrosion was identified as the primary mechanism in Mg-6Zn-2Cu and Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloys.Among the tests,the Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloy exhibited the highest corrosion rate(approximately 932.9 mm/a)due to its significant potential difference.Mechanical testing showed that Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloy possessed suitable ultimate compressive strength,making it a potential candidate material for degradable fracturing balls,effectively addressing the challenges of balancing strength and degradation rate in fracturing applications.

Effect of In doping on the evolution of microstructure,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of NdFeB magnets

The grain boundary phase affects the magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of sintered NdFeB magnets.In this work,a small amount of In was added to NdFeB magnets by induction melting to systematically investigate its effect on the evolution of the microstructure,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of NdFeB magnets.Microstructural analysis illustrated that minor In addition generated more grain boundary phases and an abundant amorphous phase at the triple-junction grain boundary.While the addition of In failed to enhance the magnetic isolation effect between adjacent matrix grains,its incorporation fortuitously elevated the electrochemical potential of the In-containing magnets.Besides,during corrosion,an In-rich precipitate phase formed,hindering the ingress of the corrosive medium into the magnet.Consequently,this significantly bolstered the corrosion resistance of the sintered NdFeB magnets.The phase formation,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of In-doped NdFeB magnets are detailed in this work,which provides new prospects for the preparation of high-performance sintered NdFeB magnets.

Microstructures and Properties of Biomedical Mg-Zn-Sn-Zr Rolled Alloys

The as-cast Mg-2.0Zn-1.5Sn-xZr(x=0,0.4,0.6,0.8,1.0 wt%)alloy was rolled with the pressure less than 5%each time.The microstructure,mechanical properties,corrosion properties and biocompatibility of the alloy were investigated.The microstructure of the alloy was observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscope,and the tensile test was carried out by universal tensile machine.The corrosion resistance of the alloy in Hank's solution was studied by hydrogen evolution experiment and electrochemical test,and the biocompatibility of the alloy was tested by L929 cells.The results show that Mg-2Zn-1.5Sn-xZr alloy has excellent mechanical properties.The elongation of Mg-2Zn-1.5Sn-xZr alloy decreases with the increase of Zr content,but the tensile strength first increases and then decreases with the increase of Zr concentration.When the Zr content is 0.8 wt%,the maximum tensile strength of the alloy is 235 MPa.The results of hydrogen evolution experiment and electrochemical analysis show that the corrosion resistance of the alloy is the best when the Zr content is 0.8 wt%,and all the five alloys have high biocompatibility.In conclusion,the rolled alloy has good properties and has broad application prospects in the field of biomaterials.