Alloying noble metals with non-noble metals enables high activity while reducing the cost of electrocatalysts in fuel cells. However, under fuel cell operating conditions, state-of-the-art oxygen reduction reaction alloy catalysts either feature high atomic percentages of noble metals (>70%) with limited durability or show poor durability when lower percentages of noble metals (<50%) are used. Here, we demonstrate a highly-durable alloy catalyst derived by alloying PtPd (<50%) with 3d-transition metals (Cu, Ni or Co) in ternary compositions. The origin of the high durability is probed by in-situ/operando high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction coupled with pair distribution function analysis of atomic phase structures and strains, revealing an important role of realloying in the compressively-strained single-phase alloy state despite the occurrence of dealloying. The implication of the finding, a striking departure from previous perceptions of phase-segregated noble metal skin or complete dealloying of non-noble metals, is the fulfilling of the promise of alloy catalysts for mass commercialization of fuel cells.

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The ability to tune the atomic-level structure of alloy nanoparticles (NPs) is essential for the design and preparation of active and stable catalysts for fuel cell reactions such as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is highly sensitive to the structure of the catalysts. We report here structurally tunable PdCu nanoparticle catalysts for the ORR obtained by varying the thermochemical treatment conditions. The phase type and the atomic structure of the nanoalloy catalysts strongly depend on the thermochemical treatment temperature and atmosphere, especially at low temperatures. While PdCu nanoalloys feature both body-centered cubic (bcc) and face-centered cubic (fcc) phase structures, a pure fcc structure, prepared at an unusually low thermochemical treatment temperature, showed the highest catalytic activity for the ORR. This was evidenced by a mass activity 8 times higher than that of commercial Pd catalyst. This activity enhancement was shown to be linked to the nanostructural tuning between fcc and bcc structures, as supported by systematic characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. The impact of phase structure on the catalytic properties of the nanocatalyst is further substantiated by computational modeling based on density functional theory (DFT). These findings provide a fresh insight into the nanostructure–activity correlation at the atomic scale, which has significant implications for the design, synthesis, and processing of highly active nanoalloy catalysts.

Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers are extensively researched as reinforcing agents in nanocomposites for their multifunctionality, light weight and high strength. However, it is the interface between the nanofiber and the matrix that dictates the overall properties of the nanocomposite. The current trend is to measure elastic properties of the bulk nanocomposite and then compare them with theoretical models to extract the information on the interfacial strength. The ideal experiment is single fiber pullout from the matrix because it directly measures the interfacial strength. However, the technique is difficult to apply to nanocomposites because of the small size of the fibers and the requirement for high resolution force and displacement sensing. We present an experimental technique for measuring the interfacial strength of nanofiber-reinforced composites using the single fiber pullout technique and demonstrate the technique for a carbon nanofiber-reinforced epoxy composite. The experiment is performed in situ in a scanning electron microscope and the interfacial strength for the epoxy composite was measured to be 170 MPa.

Fabrication of 3d metal-based core@shell nanocatalysts with engineered Pt-surfaces provides an effective approach for improving the catalytic performance. The challenges in such preparation include shape control of the 3d metallic cores and thickness control of the Pt-based shells. Herein, we report a colloidal seed-mediated method to prepare octahedral CuNi@Pt-Cu core@shell nanocrystals using CuNi octahedral cores as the template. By precisely controlling the synthesis conditions including the deposition rate and diffusion rate of the shell-formation through tuning the capping ligand, reaction temperature, and heating rate, uniform Pt-based shells can be achieved with a thickness of < 1 nm. The resultant carbon-supported CuNi@Pt-Cu core@shell nano-octahedra showed superior activity in electrochemical methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) compared with the commercial Pt/C catalysts and carbon-supported CuNi@Pt-Cu nano-polyhedron counterparts.

Long ago appeared a discussion in quantum mechanics of the problem of opening a completely absorbing shutter on which were impinging a stream of particles of definite velocity. The solution of the problem was obtained in a form entirely analogous to the optical one of diffraction by a straight edge. The argument of the Fresnel integrals was though time dependent and thus the first part in the title of this article. In section 1 we briefly review the original formulation of the problem of diffraction in time. In section 2 and 3 we reformulate respectively this problem in Wigner distributions and tomographical probabilities. In the former case the probability in phase space is very simple but, as it takes positive and negative values, the interpretation is ambiguous, but it gives a classical limit that agrees entirely with our intuition. In the latter case we can start with our initial conditions in a given reference frame but obtain our final solution in an arbitrary frame of reference.2

Aluminum nitride films have been deposited on Si͑111͒ substrates at different substrate temperatures using two techniques; pulsed laser deposition or reactive magnetron sputtering. The films deposited by either of the techniques have been characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy to determine the crystalline quality, grain size, and epitaxial growth relation with respect to the substrate. The bonding characteristics and the residual stresses present in the films have been evaluated using Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Secondary ion mass spectrometry has been performed to determine the nitrogen stoichiometry and the presence of impurities such as oxygen and silicon. The adhesion strength of the AlN films to the silicon substrate and the wear resistance have been determined by scratch test and a specially designed microscopic wear test. A comparison of the different characteristic features associated with the AlN films deposited by pulsed laser deposition or magnetron sputtering is presented with particular emphasis to electronic and tribological applications.