An improved loop test for experimentally approaching the intrinsic strength of alumina nanoscale whiskers.

An improved loop test, which consists of twisting a loop in a nanoscale whisker adhered to a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid or other flat substrate and pulling the ends until the loop breaks, was developed for experimentally approaching the intrinsic strength of the whisker material. Alumina whiskers with diameters in the 82-320 nm range, as test targets, exhibited an average fracture strength of 39.1 GPa with a maximum of 48.

Microanalysis of a grain boundary's blocking effect in lanthanum silicate electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.

In order to study the grain boundary's (GB's) blocking effect in lanthanum silicate electrolyte, high density Al-doped apatite-type lanthanum silicate was synthesized and characterized by impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Microstructural characterization indicated that the GB's blocking effect was an intrinsic effect. Further microanalysis shows that the GB region is rich in La and poor in Si in comparing with the grain interior (GI).

Phase separation induced by Au catalysts in ternary InGaAs nanowires.

We report a novel phase separation phenomenon observed in the growth of ternary In(x)Ga(1-x)As nanowires by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. A spontaneous formation of core-shell nanowires is investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, revealing the compositional complexity within the ternary nanowires. It has been found that for In(x)Ga(1-x)As nanowires high precursor flow rates generate ternary In(x)Ga(1-x)As cores with In-rich shells, while low precursor flow rates produce binary GaAs cores with ternary In(x)Ga(1-x)As shells.

Microstructural and chemical characterization of ordered structure in yttrium doped ceria.

The ordered structures in different doping levels (x = 0.1, 0.15, 0.

Mutual diffusion occurring at the interface between La₀.₆Sr₀.₄Co₀.₈Fe₀.₂O₃ cathode and Gd-doped ceria electrolyte during IT-SOFC cell preparation.

The microstructure and local chemistry of the interface between the screen-printed La(0.6)Sr(0.4)Co(0.

Superstructure formation and variation in Ni-GDC cermet anodes in SOFC.

The microstructures and spatial distributions of constituent elements at the anode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been characterized by analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM). High resolution TEM observations demonstrate two different types of superstructure formation in grain interiors and at grain boundaries. Energy-filtered TEM elemental imaging qualitatively reveals that mixture zones exist at metal-ceramic grain boundaries, which is also quantitatively verified by STEM energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Solving hierarchical helical mesostructures by electron tomography.

A direct method to determine the pitch and chirality of complicated hierarchical helical mesostructures is presented by using the state-of-the-art electron tomography technique.

Evolution of helical mesostructures.

An intriguing evolution from a simple internal helix to a hierarchical helical (HH) mesostructure with both internal and external helices or a complicated screwlike and concentric circular (CC) mesostructure is successfully observed. The complicated helical structures are determined by TEM studies and 3D electron tomography. We demonstrate a topological helix-coil transition between the internal and external helices to reveal the origin of the HH mesostructure and the relationship between the straight helical and HH rods.

Characterisation of lead precipitate following uptake by roots of Brassica juncea.

Seedlings of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. were grown in solution culture for 14 d prior to exposure to Pb₂+ at an activity of 31 microM for 72 h.

Electron-tomography determination of the packing structure of macroporous ordered siliceous foams assembled from vesicles.

The packing structures of macroporous ordered siliceous foams (MOSFs) are systematically investigated by using a 3D electron tomography technique and the nanostructural characteristics for layered MOSFs are resolved. MOSF materials adopt an ordered 2D hexagonal arrangement in single-layered areas, regular honeycomb patterns in double-layered samples, and polyhedric cells similar to a Weaire-Phelan structure in multilayered areas, all following the principle of minimizing surface area, which is well understood in soap foams at the macroscopic scale. In surfactant-templated materials, liquid-crystal templating is generally applied, but here it is revealed that the surface-area-minimization principle can also be applied, which facilitates the design and synthesis of novel macroporous materials using surfactant molecules as templates.

Localization and chemical speciation of Pb in roots of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana).

Lead (Pb) contamination of soils is of global importance but little is known regarding Pb uptake, localization, or the chemical forms in which Pb is found within plants, or indeed how some plants tolerate elevated Pb in the environment. Two grasses, signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) (Pb-resistant) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth)(Pb-sensitive), were grown for 14 d in dilute nutrient solutions before examination of roots using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the distribution and speciation of Pb in situ. In both grasses, Pb was initially present primarily in the cytoplasm of rhizodermal and cortical cells before being sequestered within vacuoles as the highly insoluble (and presumably nontoxic) chloropyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl).

Facile synthesis and characterization of potassium-doped MnO2 nanowires.

A new type of potassium doped manganese oxide nanowires were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal route. The reduction of MnO4- in the presence of acetate species led to the formation of the Multi-filamentous nanowire structure. Detailed TEM and chemical characterizations indicated that potassium ions were homogeneously distributed in the nanowires.

Uptake and localisation of lead in the root system of Brassica juncea.

The uptake and distribution of Pb sequestered by hydroponically grown (14days growth) Brassica juncea (3days exposure; Pb activities 3.2, 32 and 217microM) was investigated. Lead uptake was restricted largely to root tissue.