Acceptance characterization of electron detector in SEM using stainless steel sphere.

Although modern scanning electron microscope (SEM) possess several electron detectors, it is not clear what kind of information is contained in a SEM image taken by a certain detector. Especially the detectors installed in the objective lens are difficult to know their characters. Thus, we propose a simple method to assess the acceptance of electron detector using a stainless-steel sphere.

Abnormal carnitine metabolism in hemodialysis patients on different anticoagulants.

Introduction: We aimed to determine whether unfractionated heparin (UH) and low molecular weight heparin (LH) contribute to aberrant carnitine metabolism in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods: The rate of increase in serum free fatty acids (FFAs) and the ratio of acylcarnitine to free carnitine (AC/FC) from before to after hemodialysis were determined in patients receiving UH and LH. Additionally, the effect of switching patients to UH from LH was examined.

Stable single atomic silver wires assembling into a circuitry-connectable nanoarray.

Atomic metal wires have great promise for practical applications in devices due to their unique electronic properties. Unfortunately, such atomic wires are extremely unstable. Here we fabricate stable atomic silver wires (ASWs) with appreciably unoccupied states inside the parallel tunnels of α-MnO nanorods.

Damage-less observation of polymers by electron dose control in scanning electron microscope.

Methodology for quantitative evaluation of electron radiation damage and calculation of tolerable electron dose was developed to achieve damage-less scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of beam-sensitive polymer film. The radiation damage is typically evaluated with visual impressions of SEM images; however, this method may be unreliable because observer's subjectivity may affect the results. Evaluation with quantitative value is crucial to improve reliability.

Improving the Open-Circuit Voltage of Sn-Based Perovskite Solar Cells by Band Alignment at the Electron Transport Layer/Perovskite Layer Interface.

Organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites are promising materials for realization of low-cost and high-efficiency solar cells. Because of the toxicity of lead, Sn-based perovskite materials have been developed as alternatives to enable fabrication of Pb-free perovskite solar cells. However, the solar cell performance of Sn-based perovskite solar cells (Sn-PSCs) remains poor because of their large open-circuit voltage () loss.

Compositional Engineering for Thermally Stable, Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells Exceeding 20% Power Conversion Efficiency with 85 °C/85% 1000 h Stability.

Perovskite solar cells have received great attention because of their rapid progress in efficiency, with a present certified highest efficiency of 23.3%. Achieving both high efficiency and high thermal stability is one of the biggest challenges currently limiting perovskite solar cells because devices displaying stability at high temperature frequently suffer from a marked decrease of efficiency.

Collection efficiency and acceptance maps of electron detectors for understanding signal detection on modern scanning electron microscopy.

Collection efficiency and acceptance maps of typical detectors in modern scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) were investigated. Secondary and backscattered electron trajectories from a specimen to through-the-lens and under-the-lens detectors placed on an electron optical axis and an Everhart-Thornley detector mounted on a specimen chamber were simulated three-dimensionally. The acceptance maps were drawn as the relationship between the energy and angle of collected electrons under different working distances.

Energy level diagram of HC(NH)PbI single crystal evaluated by electrical and optical analyses.

Recently, organic-inorganic halide perovskites have received attention for applications in solar cells. Measurements of high-quality single crystals reveal lower defect densities and longer carrier lifetimes than those of conventional thin films, which result in improved electrical and optical properties. However, single crystal surfaces are sensitive to exposure to ambient conditions, and degrade under long-term storage in air.

Transition of Emission Colours as a Consequence of Heat-Treatment of Carbon Coated Ce-Doped YAG Phosphors.

To modify the luminescence properties of Ce-doped Y₃Al₅O (YAG) phosphors, they have been coated with a carbon layer by chemical vapor deposition and subsequently heat-treated at high temperature under N₂ atmosphere. Luminescence of the carbon coated YAG:Ce phosphors has been investigated as a function of heat-treatment at 1500 and 1650 °C. The 540 nm emission intensity of C@YAG:Ce is the highest when heated at 1650 °C, while a blue emission at 400-420 nm is observed when heated at 1500 °C but not at 1650 °C.

Surface defects generated by extrinsic origins on 4H-SiC epitaxial-wafers observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Surface defects on 4H-SiC wafers with an epitaxial layer grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Commercially available epitaxial-wafers with four or eight deg-off surface from the [0001] toward the [112¯0] directions were used for this experiment. 3C-SiC particles, triangular-defects, comets, obtuse-triangular-shaped-defects and micro-holes were identified in the SEM images.

Surface defects generated by intrinsic origins on 4H-SiC epitaxial wafers observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Surface defects with intrinsic origins in an epitaxial layer on 4H-SiC wafers were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Commercially available 4H-SiC epitaxial wafers with 4° or 8° off-axis angles from the [0001] direction toward the [112¯0] direction were used in this experiment. Various types of defects, including micropipes, pits, carrots, stacking faults and wide terrace and high step structures, were observed and clearly identified.

Low-energy Cathodoluminescence for (Oxy)Nitride Phosphors.

Nitride and oxynitride (Sialon) phosphors are good candidates for the ultraviolet and visible emission applications. High performance, good stability and flexibility of their emission properties can be achieved by controlling their composition and dopants. However, a lot of work is still required to improve their properties and to reduce the production cost.

A Quasi-Solid State DSSC with 10.1% Efficiency through Molecular Design of the Charge-Separation and -Transport.

Organic-based solar cells potentially offer a photovoltaic module with low production costs and low hazard risk of the components. We report organic dye-sensitized solar cells, fabricated with molecular designed indoline dyes in conjunction with highly reactive but robust nitroxide radical molecules as redox mediator in a quasi-solid gel form of the electrolyte. The cells achieve conversion efficiencies of 10.

Prevention of thermal- and moisture-induced degradation of the photoluminescence properties of the Sr2Si5N8:Eu(2+) red phosphor by thermal post-treatment in N2-H2.

A red phosphor of Sr2Si5N8:Eu(2+) powder was synthesized by a solid state reaction. The synthesized phosphor was thermally post-treated in an inert and reductive N2-H2 mixed-gas atmosphere at 300-1200 °C. The main phase of the resultant phosphor was identified as Sr2Si5N8.

Arbitrary cross-section SEM-cathodoluminescence imaging of growth sectors and local carrier concentrations within micro-sampled semiconductor nanorods.

Future one-dimensional electronics require single-crystalline semiconductor free-standing nanorods grown with uniform electrical properties. However, this is currently unrealistic as each crystallographic plane of a nanorod grows at unique incorporation rates of environmental dopants, which forms axial and lateral growth sectors with different carrier concentrations. Here we propose a series of techniques that micro-sample a free-standing nanorod of interest, fabricate its arbitrary cross-sections by controlling focused ion beam incidence orientation, and visualize its internal carrier concentration map.

Solubility and crystallographic facet tailoring of (GaN)(1-x)(ZnO)(x) pseudobinary solid-solution nanostructures as promising photocatalysts.

(GaN)1-x(ZnO)x solid-solution nanostructures with superior crystallinity, large surface areas and visible light absorption have been regarded as promising photocatalysts for overall water splitting to produce H2. In this work, we report the preparation of (GaN)1-x(ZnO)x solid-solution nanorods with a high ZnO solubility up to 95% via a two-step synthetic route, which starts from a sol-gel reaction and follows with a nitridation process. Moreover, we clearly demonstrated that the crystallographic facets of (GaN)1-x(ZnO)x solid-solution nanorods can be finely tailored from non-polar {10̄10} to semipolar {10̄11} and then finally to mixed {10̄1} and polar {000̄1} by carefully controlling the growth temperature and nitridation time.

Synthesis and crystal structures of BaLaSi2 with cis-trans Si chains and Ba5LaSi6 with pentagonal Si rings.

Prismatic single crystals of novel compounds BaLaSi2 and Ba5LaSi6 were synthesized from the elements with or without a Na flux. The crystal structures of the compounds were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. BaLaSi2, containing cis–trans ∞1[Si] chains, crystallizes in an orthorhombic cell (a = 4.

Strong Energy-Transfer-Induced Enhancement of Luminescence Efficiency of Eu(2+)- and Mn(2+)-Codoped Gamma-AlON for Near-UV-LED-Pumped Solid State Lighting.

A series of Eu(2+)- and Mn(2+)-codoped γ-AlON (Al1.7O2.1N0.

Helical growth of aluminum nitride: new insights into its growth habit from nanostructures to single crystals.

By understanding the growth mechanism of nanomaterials, the morphological features of nanostructures can be rationally controlled, thereby achieving the desired physical properties for specific applications. Herein, the growth habits of aluminum nitride (AlN) nanostructures and single crystals synthesized by an ultrahigh-temperature, catalyst-free, physical vapor transport process were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The detailed structural characterizations strongly suggested that the growth of AlN nanostructures including AlN nanowires and nanohelixes follow a sequential and periodic rotation in the growth direction, which is independent of the size and shape of the material.

Band-gap deformation potential and elasticity limit of semiconductor free-standing nanorods characterized in situ by scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence nanospectroscopy.

Modern field-effect transistors or laser diodes take advantages of band-edge structures engineered by large uniaxial strain εzz, available up to an elasticity limit at a rate of band-gap deformation potential azz (= dEg/dεzz). However, contrary to aP values under hydrostatic pressure, there is no quantitative consensus on azz values under uniaxial tensile, compressive, and bending stress. This makes band-edge engineering inefficient.

Cathodoluminescence and photoconductive characteristics of single-crystal ternary CdS/CdSe/CdS biaxial nanobelts.

The cathodoluminescence and optoelectronic properties based on an individual CdS/CdSe/CdS biaxial nanobelt are revealed in the present study. Both typical CdS and CdSe emissions are detected from as-grown CdS/CdSe/CdS nanobelts. The photodetector based on this nanobelt exhibits high sensitivity and excellent cycle stability.

Origin of yellow-band emission in epitaxially grown GaN nanowire arrays.

Here, we report the origin of the yellow-band emission in epitaxial GaN nanowire arrays grown under carbon-free conditions. GaN nanowires directly grown on [0001]-oriented sapphire substrate exhibit an obvious and broad yellow-band in the visible range 400-800 nm, whereas the insertion of Al/Au layers in GaN-sapphire interface significantly depresses the visible emission, and only a sharp peak in the UV range (369 nm) can be observed. The persuasive differences in cathodoluminescence provide direct evidence for demonstrating that the origin of the yellow-band emission in GaN nanowire arrays arises from dislocation threading.

Cheap, gram-scale fabrication of BN nanosheets via substitution reaction of graphite powders and their use for mechanical reinforcement of polymers.

As one of the most important two-dimensional (2D) materials, BN nanosheets attracted intensive interest in the past decade. Although there are many methods suitable for the preparation of BN sheets, finding a cheap and nontoxic way for their mass and high-quality production is still a challenge. Here we provide a highly effective and cheap way to synthesize gram-scale-level well-structured BN nanosheets from many common graphite products as source materials.

Active vitamin D analogs, maxacalcitol and alfacalcidol, as maintenance therapy for mild secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients - a randomized study.

Background: The present randomized study was designed to compare the efficacy between two active vitamin D analogs, alfacalcidol (ACD) and maxacalcitol (OCT), for the management of mild secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in dialysis patients.

Methods: SHPT in all 32 patients analyzed in the study was initially treated with OCT. Once patients' intact PTH levels decreased to the target range of 150 - 180 pg/mL, they were randomized either to switch to ACD at 0.