- by Mengxuan Huang, Jiaorui He, Kaifeng Wang, Lin Wu, Pei He and Junliang YangReal-time monitoring in healthcare and environmental fields demands humidity sensors with high precision and fast response. Their development is constrained by challenges in scalable and controllable fabrication of patterned sensing films. This paper proposes a controlled fabrication method for patterned graphene oxide (GO) films by integrating substrate wettability regulation with a doctor-blading process, addressing the challenges in the scalable fabrication of high-precision humidity sensors. A wettability-confined strategy is employed to construct precise hydrophilicâhydrophobic interfaces on substrates, enabling the selective and […]
- by Yongsheng Wang, Jiahe Liang, Mingbin Peng, Dong Yang, Xinyu Zhang, Jialin Song and Yang MengLiquid electrode atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LE-APGD) can efficiently generate reactive species in solutions, showing strong potential for wastewater treatment. In this study, we investigate LE-APGD excited by AC power between a pin electrode and a liquid electrode, revealing two distinct discharge modes: unipolar and bipolar discharge. The electrical, optical, and physicochemical differences between the modes are investigated. Results show that discharge power directly controls the mode transition. Bipolar discharge exhibits polarity effect, with significant differences in dissipated energy and […]
- Mitigating cycle-to-cycle variation in memristor-based neural networksâbigger is not always betterby Harry Burton, Ayoub H Jaafar, Jean-Sebastien Bouillard and Neil T KempFuture advancements in A.I., particularly with new generations of natural language processing models based on transformer architectures (e.g. ChatGPT), will demand far more energy-efficient and faster methods for performing vectorâmatrix and matrixâmatrix multiplications. Memristor crossbar arrays hold significant potential in addressing these computational challenges; however, their intrinsic stochastic switching behaviour introduces significant cycle-to-cycle variability, which compromises computational accuracy. In this paper, we demonstrate that these limitations can be significantly mitigated by employing either deeper neural networks or increasing the number […]
- by Pramod D Mhase, Varsha C Pujari, Santosh S Jadhav, Akash V Fulari, Sher Singh Meena, Sagar E Shirsath and Sunil M PatangeDeveloping two-phase nanocomposites with tunable magnetoelectric and optical responses is critical for advanced electromagnetic applications. This study reports the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of a novel series of (1 â x)BaFe12O19 (BFO)âLa0.5Nd0.5FeO3 (LNFO) nanocomposites (x = 0.00â1.00) via the solâgel auto-combustion method. Structural analysis using x-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement confirmed the coexistence of the hexagonal P63/mmc (BFO) and orthorhombic Pbnm (LNFO) phases, with varying crystallite sizes dependent on the LNFO concentration. The optical band gap systematically increases with composition, […]
- by Rajkumar Patra, Sahitya V Vegesna, Abhik Chakraborty, Morris Lindner, Hartmut StĂścker and Heidemarie KrĂźgerWe report a quantitative determination of wavelength-dependent, KramersâKronig (KK) consistent magneto-optical (MO) coupling constants in doped iron garnet thin films using vector MO generalized ellipsometry combined with a full MĂźller-matrix optical model for back-scattered light. Two few micrometer thick, liquid-phase-epitaxy grown garnet films, (Dy1.97Lu0.64Bi0.39)3(Fe3.80Ga1.20)5O12 (sample S1) and (Dy2.47Lu0.47Bi0.06)3(Fe3.98Ga1.02)5O12 (sample S2), were investigated over the 400â1000ânm spectral range. The complex MO coupling constant was extracted from differential MĂźller-matrix elements under magnetic saturation, yielding both real and imaginary components that satisfy KK […]
- by Chengqi Zhang, Xiaoying Wan, Jiahui Li, Zhaofu Zhang, Qingbo Wang, Hai Wang, Jun Liu and Hongxia ZhongOwing to the pronounced contrast between crystalline and amorphous phases, serves as a key phase change memory material. However, existing studies predominantly focuses on bulk or fixed-thickness thin film structures, with limited investigation into the electronic, optical, and transport properties of low-dimensional systems. Using first-principles calculations, we systematically study the evolution of these properties as a function of layer thickness. We find that as the number of layers increases, the band edge shifts toward the Fermi level, leading to the […]
- by Pablo Tuero, CĂŠsar GonzĂĄlez-Ruano, Igor Ĺ˝utiÄ, Yuan Lu, Coriolan Tiusan and Farkhad G AlievOver recent years, the crossroads of magnetism and superconductivity have led to the emerging field of superconducting spintronics. A cornerstone of this venture is the generation of equal-spin triplet Cooper pairs in superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids, enabling long-range spin-polarized supercurrents and magnetic control over superconducting quantum states for the development of energy-efficient cryogenic devices. Until now, nearly all superconducting spintronic devices have relied on direct interfaces between superconductors and ferromagnets, since it was believed that an insulating barrier would decouple spin and […]
- by Peng Zhang, Xi Li and Xianxiu MeiThe microstructural evolution and irradiation-hardening behavior of a CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) were investigated under room-temperature H2-ion irradiation. After irradiation, a stable single-phase face-centered cubic structure was retained, and no evidence of phase decomposition was detected. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a nanoscale H-bubble layer in the damage-peak region, with a visible bubble-layer thickness of âź430 nm and an average bubble size of 1.6 Âą 0.3 nm. Irradiation-induced defects varied markedly with depth: in the front and damage tail regions, the […]
- by Ivan Tsukanov, Anastasia Lyubicheva and Alexander SvistkovThe influence of adhesion forces on the mode change from partial slip to complete sliding of an indenter is considered solving a quasi-static one-dimensional contact problem. Coulombâs law is employed for friction on a curved surface, and adhesion is described by the MaugisâDugdale model. Some major analytical expressions and restrictions for application of the model are obtained for a parabolic indenter. The size of the stick/slip zone, maximal horizontal force, and displacement before the start of pure sliding are analyzed. […]
- by Jinji Sun, Airu Ji, Zhangtao Shen, Daiyong Chen, Jing Ye, Ming Liu and Pengfei WangMagnetic shielding technology has been widely used in precision measurement of extremely-weak magnetic fields. For nearly static magnetic fields, the most effective shielding strategy is to divert the magnetic flux into the magnetic shields according to the Ohmâs law for magnetic circuits. These magnetic shields, particularly the large-scale ones, are typically assembled by overlapping soft magnetic materials, e.g. -metal. Previous research studies have shown that both mechanical stress and magnetic flux continuity at the joints of the shielding shells critically […]
- by Yong Hong, Zhihao Zhang, Jie Wang, Shaojun Wu and Di WuFast and accurate magnetic flux leakage (MFL) detection methods are essential for reconstructing and evaluating surface and near-surface defects in ferromagnetic materials. The existing magnetic dipole model (MDM) can simulate MFL signals of regular or limited types of irregular defects. Still, it cannot simulate trapezoidal defects with different edge angles (i.e. the angle between the defect boundary and the horizontal direction) of . Therefore, this paper proposes an improved MDM method, namely the asymmetric MDM (AMDM), to study the relationship […]
- by Tomohiro Kawashima, Kazuki Yamada, Tetsuhiro Obana, Yoshinobu Murakami, Masayuki Nagao and Naohiro HozumiSuperconducting technology enables the low-loss and highly efficient use of electrical energy; however, several technical challenges remain. In particular, maintaining the superconducting state requires sufficient cooling performance, whereas the dielectric and insulating properties of the refrigerant, depending on the cooling method, are also critical for equipment safety. Slush nitrogen, which is a mixture of liquid nitrogen (LNâ) and solid nitrogen particles, offers enhanced cooling performance by utilizing both the sensible heat of LNâ and the high latent heat associated with […]
- by Yongsen Han, Chenglong Ji, Tianyue Chen, Zhiyuan Deng and Tianze WangTraditional bisphenol a epoxy resins possess excellent molding and mechanical properties, but their inherently low thermal conductivity and limited insulation properties make it difficult to simultaneously meet the requirements of heat dissipation and electrical insulation in high-power-density electrical equipment. Liquid crystal epoxy resin (LCER) can be incorporated into epoxy matrices as a functional phase in epoxy-based composites. Electric-field-assisted fabrication offers an effective means to regulate the microstructure of polymer composites and improve the thermal and electrical properties. Nevertheless, for LCER-filled […]
- by Guiqin Yin, Sheng Tuo, Qianghua Yuan, Zilong Sun, Zhanhui Gao and Lulu MaThe effect of different discharge pressure with an inhomogeneous transverse magnetic field of 50 G on the dual-frequency (13.56 MHz/27.12 MHz) capacitively coupled plasma (DF-CCP) is investigated using one-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision (PIC/MCC) simulation. Both the low-frequency power and high frequency power are 60 W, and electrode spacing is 3.2 cm. The discharge gas pressure changes from 5â40 mTorr. The results indicate that when the gas pressure exceeds 30 mTorr, the asymmetry in the electron density basically disappeared and increase […]
- by Mathieu Schopfer, Amandine Kofane, Inès Barmaz, Warwick Ellis, David Martinet and Christoph EllertPlastic waste causes major problems for the environment worldwide. Chemical recycling via thermal or plasma catalytic pyrolysis has not been adopted as major strategy due to the complexity of the process, high costs, or low economic revenue from energetic valorisation via products like H2 or syngas. Herein, a plasma pyrolytic recycling process is presented which allows for the direct conversion of common plastic waste into valuable chemical feedstock gas. The capacitively coupled RF plasma at 13.56 MHz and a power […]
- by M Magureanu, C Chireceanu and B MituInsect pests represent a major challenge to the agricultural sector, causing substantial yield losses and degrading crop quality, with significant economic and food security implications. Conventional pest management strategies are largely based on chemical insecticides, which pose a threat to the environment, present toxicity to non-target organisms, are affected by regulatory restrictions, and show limited efficiency due to the widespread development of resistance. Besides detailing these drawbacks, this review paper briefly discusses several emerging pest control alternatives, and then focuses […]
- by Jianfei Guo, Yuchuan Wang, Nan Zhou, Xiangyang Lin, Juer Liu, Yuting Li, Kirk Cobb and Roger RuanA bubble discharge reactor, termed CHIEF (concentrated high-intensity electric field), was investigated to elucidate how reactor configuration, liquid conductivity, and bubble properties (size, deformation, polarization, and water vapor content) govern electric field distribution, streamer dynamics, and plasma chemistry. Experiments revealed that increasing liquid conductivity enhances conduction current and Joule heating within the orifice, leading to thermal instability at the bubble boundary, a decrease in neutral gas density, and an increase in the reduced electric field. Collectively, these effects lower the […]
- by Xiaochi Ma, Luying Bai, Yifei Zhu and Yun WuA spark is a discharge phenomenon that occurs when streamers contact each other to form discharge channels and is characterized by rapidly increasing plasma densities and amounts of energy deposited. Highâdensity plasma generally exists throughout the discharge channel, making numerical simulations challenging, especially under conditions requiring rapid evaluation. The conventional explicit plasmaâfluid model exhibits extremely low computational speeds when modeling spark discharges, whereas the widely used linear field and ambipolar diffusion models require algorithm switching. Systematic evaluations and comparative analyses […]
- by Akram Alomainy, Stephen Henthorn, Qammer H Abbasi, Fraser Burton, Aaron Walker, Yangyishi Zhang, Jalil Ur Rehman Kazim, Farooq A Tahir, Muhammad Ali Imran, Milo Baraclough, Euan Humphreys, Miguel Navarro-CĂa, Mustafa K Taher Al-Nuaimi, William G Whittow, Rupam Das, AnikĂł NĂŠmet, Syeda Fizzah Jilani, Muhammad Aslam and Alex PowellMicrowave and wireless metasurfaces are transitioning from specialist electromagnetic structures to enabling technologies with growing impact across telecommunications, sensing, healthcare, and defence. This roadmap provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on microwave and wireless metasurfaces in the UK, highlighting recent advances and the key challenges that must be addressed to enable widespread deployment. Contributions from academia, industry, and government laboratories are organised around three cross-cutting themes: application-driven developments, emerging fundamental science, and practical considerations related to […]
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