Engineering topics
Li, Jia
Publications and source records attributed to Li, Jia.
Unraveling the dislocation–precipitate interactions in high-entropy alloys
The precipitates play a significant role in not only enhancing the strength, but also maintaining the high toughness in alloys. However, the interactions of the nanoscale precipitates with dislocations in the high entropy alloys (HEAs) are difficult to observe directly by in-situ TEM experiments due to the limits of the resolution and time. Here, using atomic simulations we report the synergistic strengthening of the coherent precipitate and atomic-scale lattice distortion in the HEAs at cryogenic/elevated temperatures. The effects of temperature, chemical disorder, precipitate spacing, precipitate size, elemental segregation, and dislocation-cutting number on the critical stress for the dislocation to overcome a row of precipitates are studied. A random stacking fault energy landscape along the slip plane, the lattice distortion at different temperatures, and the interface/surface energy at various crystallographic orientations are obtained. Compared with the traditional metals and alloys, HEAs have the severe atomic-scale lattice distortions to generate the local high tensile/compressive stress fields. This complex stress causes the dislocation line to bend, and thus improves the dislocation slip resistance, resulting in the strong solid-solution strengthening. The stacking fault strengthening induced by the obvious difference of the stacking fault energies between the HEA matrix and precipitate (within the inner of the HEA matrix), and the formation of the antiphase domain boundary contribute to the high strength. The precipitate embedded by the solute atoms produces the strong lattice distortion to enhance the dislocation slip resistance at high temperatures. Hence, the current results provide the mechanistic insight into the phenomenon that the coherent precipitate combined with the severe atomic-scale lattice distortion can enhance the strength at cryogenic/elevated temperatures to further broaden the scope of applications of advanced HEAs.
Engineering unsymmetrically coordinated Cu-S 1 N 3 single atom sites with enhanced oxygen reduction activity
Atomic interface regulation is thought to be an efficient method to adjust the performance of single atom catalysts. Herein, a practical strategy was reported to rationally design single copper atoms coordinated with both sulfur and nitrogen atoms in metal-organic framework derived hierarchically porous carbon (S-Cu-ISA/SNC). The atomic interface configuration of the copper site in S-Cu-ISA/SNC is detected to be an unsymmetrically arranged Cu-S 1 N 3 moiety. The catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity with a half-wave potential of 0.918 V vs. RHE. Additionally, through in situ X-ray absorption fine structure tests, we discover that the low-valent Cuprous-S 1 N 3 moiety acts as an active center during the oxygen reduction process. Our discovery provides a universal scheme for the controllable synthesis and performance regulation of single metal atom catalysts toward energy applications.
Low-cost and low-topography fabrication of multilayer interconnections for microfluidic devices
Not provided.
Element- and Time-Resolved Measurements of Spin Dynamics Using X-ray Detected Ferromagnetic Resonance
Although XFMR experiments have been carried out at a number of synchrotron radiation facilities since 2004, only a few facilities currently have XFMR setups available for user operation. Here in this review, we mainly focus on recent developments and work that has been carried out using time-resolved XFMR at beamline 4.0.2 of the Advanced Light Source and at beamline I10 of the Diamond Light Source. The experimental setup and the sample holder used at beamline I10 and beamline 4.0.2, respectively, are shown in Figure 1. We will first introduce the working principle of XFMR and then provide examples of the capabilities of this technique. Finally, we will briefly describe an outlook for the future development of and new opportunities for XFMR.
General synthesis of two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructure arrays
Not provided.
A General Method for Quantification and Discovery of Acyl Groups Attached to Acyl Carrier Proteins in Fatty Acid Metabolism Using LC-MS/MS
Not provided.
Spontaneous self-intercalation of copper atoms into transition metal dichalcogenides
Intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted substantial interest due to their exciting electronic properties. Here, we report a unique approach where copper (Cu) atoms from bulk Cu solid intercalate spontaneously into van der Waals (vdW) gaps of group IV and V layered TMDs at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. This distinctive phenomenon is used to develop a strategy to synthesize Cu species–intercalated layered TMD compounds. A series of Cu-intercalated 2H-NbS 2 compounds were obtained with homogeneous distribution of Cu intercalates in the form of monovalent Cu (I), occupying the tetrahedral sites coordinated by S atoms within the interlayer space of NbS 2 . The Fermi level of NbS 2 shifts up because of the intercalation of Cu, resulting in the improvement of electrical conductivity in the z-direction. On the other hand, intercalation of Cu into vdW gaps of NbS 2 systematically suppresses the superconducting transition temperature (T c ) and superconducting volume fraction.
Solubility-Dependent Protective Effects of Binary Alloys for Lithium Anode
Recently, alloys have been widely utilized as protection layers for homogenized Li growth. However, the protective mechanisms for different alloys are not clearly understood. In this work, guided by the binary phase diagrams, Mg, Au, Zn, Al, Fe, and Cu protective layers have been selected for study of their protective abilities and mechanisms. The selected metals can be classified into three categories according to the nature of their associated alloy protective layers: (1) metals with high solubility in Li while not forming any intermediate line compounds, e.g., Mg, which is good for fast Li stripping; (2) metals with limited solid solubility but forming stable line compounds with Li upon the lithiation, e.g., Au, Zn, and Al, where the formed stable line compounds Li x Au, Li x Zn, and Li x Al will hamper Li kinetics; (3) metals with negligible mutual solubility and no line compound formation with Li, e.g., Fe and Cu, which block the Li stripping path and therefore result in the highest polarization voltage.
Growth and Properties of Lattice Matched GaAsSbN Epilayer on GaAs for Solar Cell Applications
The growth and properties of GaAsSbN single quantum wells (SQWs) are investigated in this work. The heterostructures were grown on GaAs substrates in an elemental solid source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system assisted with a RF plasma nitrogen source. A systematic study has been carried out to determine the influence of various growth conditions, such as the growth temperature and the source shutter-opening sequence, on the quality of the grown layers and the incorporation of N and Sb. The effects of ex situ and in situ annealing under As overpressure on the optical properties of the layers have also been investigated. Substrate temperature in the range of 450-470 C was found to be optimum. Simultaneous opening of the source shutters was found to yield sharper QW interfaces. N and Sb incorporations were found to depend strongly upon substrate temperatures and source shutter opening sequences. A significant increase in PL intensity with a narrowing of PL line shape and blue shift in emission energy were observed on annealing the GaAsSbN/GaAs SQW, with in situ annealing under As overpressure providing better results, compared to ex situ annealing.
Influence of Growth Parameters and Annealing on Properties of MBE Grown GaAsSbN SQWs
In this paper we report the growth of GaAsSbN/GaAs single quantum well (SQW) heterostructures by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and their properties. A systematic study has been carried out to determine the effect of growth conditions, such as the source shutter opening sequence and substrate temperature, on the structural and optical properties of the layers. The substrate temperatures in the range of 450-470 C were found to be optimal. Simultaneous opening of the source shutters (SS) resulted in N incorporation almost independent of substrate temperature and Sb incorporation higher at lower substrate temperatures. The effects of ex-situ annealing in nitrogen ambient and in-situ annealing under As ovepressure on the optical properties of the layers have also been investigated. A significant increase in photoluminescence (PL) intensity with reduced full width at half maxima (FWHM) in conjunction with a blue shift in the emission energy was observed on 10 annealing the samples. In in-situ annealed samples, the PL line shapes were more symmetric and the temperature dependence of the PL peak energy indicated significant decrease in the exciton localization energy as exhibited by a less pronounced S-shaped curve. The inverted S-shaped curve observed in the temperature dependence of PL FWHM is also discussed. 1.61 micrometer emission with FWHM of 25 meV at 20K has been obtained in in-situ annealed GaAsSbN/GaAs SQW grown at 470 C by SS.
Atmospheric Tar Balls: Particles from Biomass and Biofuel Burning
Tar balls are amorphous, carbonaceous spherules that occur in the tropospheric aerosol as a result of biomass and biofuel burning. They form a distinct group of particles with diameters typically between 30 and 500 nm and readily identifiable with electron microscopy. Their lack of a turbostratic microstructure distinguishes them from soot, and their morphology and composition (approximately 90 mol% carbon) renders them distinct from other carbonaceous particles. Tar balls are particularly abundant in slightly aged (minutes to hours old) biomass smoke, indicating that they likely form by gas-to-particle conversion within smoke plumes. The material of tar balls is initially hygroscopic; however, the particles become largely insoluble as a result of free radical polymerization of their organic molecules. Consequently, tar balls are primarily externally mixed with other particle types, and they do not appreciably increase in size during aging. When tar balls coagulate with water-bearing particles, their material may partly dissolve and no longer be recognizable as distinct particles. Tar balls may contain organic compounds that absorb sunlight. They are an important, previously unrecognized type of carbonaceous (organic) atmospheric particle.
Individual Aerosol Particles from Biomass Burning in Southern Africa: Compositions and Size Distributions of Carbonaceous Particles - 1
Individual aerosol particles in smoke plumes from biomass fires and in regional hazes in southern Africa were studied using analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which allowed detailed characterization of carbonaceous particle types in smoke and determination of changes in particle properties and concentrations during smoke aging. Based on composition, morphology, and microstructure, three distinct types of carbonaceous particles were present in the smoke: organic particles with inorganic (K-salt) inclusions, tar ball particles, and soot. The relative number concentrations of organic particles were largest in young smoke, whereas tar balls were dominant in a slightly aged (1 hour) smoke from a smoldering fire. Flaming fires emitted relatively more soot particles than smoldering fires, but soot was a minor constituent of all studied plumes. Further aging caused the accumulation of sulfate on organic and soot particles, as indicated by the large number of internally mixed organic/sulfate and soot/sulfate particles in the regional haze. Externally mixed ammonium sulfate particles dominated in the boundary layer hazes, whereas organic/sulfate particles were the most abundant type in the upper hazes. Apparently, elevated haze layers were more strongly affected by biomass smoke than those within the boundary layer. Based on size distributions and the observed patterns of internal mixing, we hypothesize that organic and soot particles are the cloud-nucleating constituents of biomass smoke aerosols. Sea-salt particles dominated in the samples taken in stratus clouds over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Namibia, whereas a distinct haze layer above the clouds consisted of aged biomass smoke particles.
Individual Aerosol Particles from Biomass Burning in Southern Africa Compositions and Aging of Inorganic Particles: Compositions and Aging of Inorganic Particles - 2
Individual aerosol particles collected over southern Africa during the SAFARI 2000 field study were studied using transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The sizes, shapes, compositions, mixing states, surface coatings, and relative abundances of aerosol particles from biomass burning, in boundary layer hazes, and in the free troposphere were compared, with emphasis on aging and reactions of inorganic smoke particles. Potassium salts and organic particles were the predominant species in the smoke, and most were internally mixed. More KCl particles occur in young smoke, whereas more K2SO4 and KNO3 particles were present in aged smoke. This change indicates that with the aging of the smoke, KCl particles from the fires were converted to K2SO4 and KNO3 through reactions with sulfur- and nitrogen- bearing species from biomass burning as well as other sources. More soot was present in smoke from flaming grass fires than bush and wood fires, probably due to the predominance of flaming combustion in grass fires. The high abundance of organic particles and soluble salts can affect the hygroscopic properties of biomass-burning aerosols and therefore influence their role as cloud condensation nuclei. Particles from biomass burning were important constituents of the regional hazes.