From the surface to the bulk: A comparison of methods for the microanalysis of an immiscible polymer blend.

In this study, the morphology of an immiscible polymer blend system at various regions of interests was analyzed using different microanalytical methods with varying surface sensitivities. As a model immiscible polymer blend, a HDPE/PP (80/20 wt%) polymer film was used. The blend film was subjected to polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).

Sr[LiAlON]:Eu-A high performance red phosphor to brighten the future.

Innovative materials for phosphor converted white light-emitting diodes are in high demand owing to the huge potential of the light-emitting diode technology to reduce energy consumption worldwide. As the primary blue diode is already highly optimized, the conversion phosphors are of crucial importance for any further improvements. We report on the discovery of the high performance red phosphor Sr[LiAlON]:Eu meeting all requirements for a phosphor's optical properties.

Thermal string excitations in artificial spin-ice square dipolar array.

We report on a theoretical investigation of artificial spin-ice dipolar arrays using a nanoisland shape adopted from recent experiments (Farhan et al 2013 Nature Phys. 9 375). The number of thermal magnetic string excitations in the square lattice is drastically increased by a vertical displacement of rows and columns.