A New Approach for Sensitive Characterization of Semiconductor Laser Beams Using Metal-Semiconductor Thermocouples.

This paper presents the results of beam investigations on semiconductor IR lasers using novel detectors based on thermocouples. The work covers the design, the fabrication of detectors, and the experimental validation of their sensitivity to IR radiation. The principle of operation of the manufactured detectors is based on the Seebeck effect (the temperature difference between hot and cold junctions induced voltage appearance).

Review on Biocompatibility and Prospect Biomedical Applications of Novel Functional Metallic Glasses.

The continuous development of novel materials for biomedical applications is resulting in an increasingly better prognosis for patients. The application of more advanced materials relates to fewer complications and a desirable higher percentage of successful treatments. New, innovative materials being considered for biomedical applications are metallic alloys with an amorphous internal structure called metallic glasses.

Sensitive Metal-Semiconductor Nanothermocouple Fabricated by FIB to Investigate Laser Beams with Nanometer Spatial Resolution.

The focused ion beam (FIB) technique was used to fabricate a nanothermocouple (with a 90 nm wide nanojunction) based on a metal-semiconductor (Pt-Si) structure, which showed a sensitivity up to 10 times larger (with Seebeck coefficient up to 140 µV/K) than typical metal-metal nanothermocouples. In contrast to the fabrication of nanothermocouples which requires a high-tech semiconductor manufacturing line with sophisticated fabrication techniques, environment, and advanced equipment, FIB systems are available in many research laboratories without the need for a high-tech environment, and the described processing is performed relatively quickly by a single operator. The linear response of the manufactured nanothermocouple enabled sensitive measurements even with small changes of temperature when heated with a stream of hot air.

Production, Mechanical Properties and Biomedical Characterization of ZrTi-Based Bulk Metallic Glasses in Comparison with 316L Stainless Steel and Ti6Al4V Alloy.

Microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility were studied for rapidly cooled 3 mm rods of ZrTiCuNiBe, ZrTiCuNiBe, and ZrTiCuNiSiBe (at.%) alloys, as well as for the reference 316L stainless steel and Ti-based Ti6Al4V alloy. Microstructure investigations confirm that Zr-based bulk metallic samples exhibit a glassy structure with minor fractions of crystalline phases.

Influence of the Nb and V Addition on the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of the Fe-B-Co-Si Alloy.

The paper presents a comparison of the results of the corrosion resistance for three Fe-B-Co-Si-based newly developed alloys with the addition of Nb and V. The corrosion performance differences and microstructure variations were systematically studied using scanning electron microscope, electric corrosion equipment, X-ray diffractometer, and differential calorimeter. It has been shown that each alloying addition increased the corrosion resistance.