No abstract

Direct experimental observation of spontaneous electron enrichment of metal d orbitals in a new transition metal oxide heterostructure with nanoscale dimensionality is reported. Aqueous chemical synthesis and vapor phase deposition are combined to fabricate oriented arrays of high-interfacial-area hetero-nanostructures comprised of titanium oxide and iron oxide nanomaterials. Synchrotron-based soft X-ray spectroscopy techniques with high spectral resolution are utilized to directly probe the titanium and oxygen orbital character of the interfacial region's occupied and unoccupied densities of states. These data demonstrate the interface to possess electrons in Ti 3d bands and an emergent degree of orbital hybridization that is absent in parent oxide reference crystals. The carrier dynamics of the hetero-nanostructures are studied by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, which reveals the presence of a dense manifold of states, the relaxations from which exhibit multiple exponential decays whose magnitudes depend on their energetic positions within the electronic structure.

No abstract

The fabrication and morphological, optical, and photoelectrochemical characterization of doped iron oxide films is presented. The complex index of refraction and absorption coefficient of polycrystalline films are determined through measurement and modeling of spectral transmission and reflection data using appropriate dispersion relations. Photoelectrochemical characterization for water photo-oxidation reveals that the conversion efficiencies of electrodes are strongly influenced by substrate temperature during their oblique-angle physical vapor deposition. These results are discussed in terms of the films’ morphological features and the known optoelectronic limitations of iron oxide films for application in solar water splitting devices.

A new Kolsky tension bar has been re-designed and developed at Sandia National Laboratories, CA. The new design uses the concept that a solid striker is fired to impact an end cap attached to the open end of the gun barrel to generate dynamic tensile loading. The gun barrel here serves as part of the loading device. The incident bar that is connected to the gun barrel and the transmission bar follow the design similar to the Kolsky compression bar. The bar supporting and aligning systems are the same as those in the Kolsky compression bar design described by Song et al (2009 Meas. Sci. Technol. 20 115701). Due to the connection complication among the gun barrel, bars and specimen, stress-wave propagation in the new Kolsky tension bar system is comprehensively analyzed. Based on the stress-wave analysis, the strain gage location on the incident bar needs to be carefully determined. A highly precise laser-beam measurement system is recommended to directly measure the displacement of the incident bar end. Dynamic tensile characterization of a 4330-V steel using this new Kolsky tension bar is presented as an example.