Quantification of Unsupported Thin-Film X-ray Spectra Using Bulk Standards.

A quantification model which uses standard X-ray spectra collected from bulk materials to determine the composition and mass thickness of single-layer and multilayer unsupported thin films is presented. The multivariate model can be iteratively solved for single layers in which each element produces at least one visible characteristic X-ray line. The model can be extended to multilayer thin films in which each element is associated with only one layer.

Emergent Moiré Phonons Due to Zone Folding in WSe-WS Van der Waals Heterostructures.

Bilayers of 2D materials offer opportunities for creating devices with tunable electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. In van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) where the constituent monolayers have different lattice constants, a moiré superlattice forms with a length scale larger than the lattice constant of either constituent material regardless of twist angle. Here, we report the appearance of moiré Raman modes from nearly aligned WSe-WS vdWHs in the range of 240-260 cm, which are absent in both monolayers and homobilayers of WSe and WS and in largely misaligned WSe-WS vdWHs.

Investigation of the excitations of plasmons and surface exciton polaritons in monoclinic gadolinium sesquioxide by electron energy-loss spectroscopy and plasmon spectroscopic imaging.

The monoclinic gadolinium sesquioxide (denoted as m-GdO) with its lower crystal symmetry exhibits larger dielectric permittivity () than the cubic GdO (denoted as c-GdO). Recently, a few nanometers thick m-GdO thin film has been successfully epitaxially grown on a GaN substrate as a promising candidate gate oxide in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). Thus, it is important to understand the electronic excitations in m-GdO and investigate them by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) performed with aloof electron beams and electron diffraction to gain the spatial and momentum resolutions.

Carbon-Nanotube-Encapsulated-Sulfur Cathodes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Integrated Computational Design and Experimental Validation.

To mitigate lithium-polysulfides (Li-PSs) shuttle in lithium-sulfur batteries (LiSBs), a unique carbon-nanotube-encapsulated-sulfur (S@CNT) cathode material with optimum open-ring sizes (ORSs) on the CNT walls were designed using an integrated computational approach followed by experimental validation. By calculating the transport barrier of Li ion through ORSs on the CNT walls and comparing the molecular size of solvents and Li-PSs with ORSs, optimum open-rings with 16-30 surrounding carbon atoms were predicted to selectively allow transportation of Li ion and evaporated sulfur while blocking both Li-PS and solvent molecules. A CNT oxidation process was proposed and simulated to generate these ORSs, and the results indicated that the optimum ORSs can be achieved by narrowly controlling the oxidation parameters.

Fennel () seed powder increases Delta-Like Non-Canonical Notch Ligand 1 gene expression in testis, liver, and humeral muscle tissues of growing lambs.

Delta-Like Non-Canonical Notch Ligand 1 (DLK1) is one of the key genes involved in the development of muscle, liver, pancreas, and lung cells; adipocytes production; and the improvement of digestion, growth performance, and meat quality. It has been documented that fennel is effective on increasing the DLK1 gene () expression in the testis, liver, and muscle tissues, which may consequently have important implications for sheep production. Hence, the aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the fennel seed powder's effect on expression in testis, liver, and humeral muscle tissues in growing lambs.