Composite films of polymer and liquid crystal (LC) have been prepared by a simple solution casting technique. The films obtained exhibit a polymer dispersed liquid crystal structure where LC droplets are dispersed in the polymer matrix. Casting the mixture of polymer solution and LC on a tilted substrate results in a specific texture in which arrays of LC droplets align parallel to each other, i.e. a striped pattern can be formed. The size of the droplets and the spacing between the lines are dependent on the substrate tilt angle and the preparation temperature. By using a dip-coating technique, a similar striped texture appears at a fast dipping velocity. From in situ observation of the stripe development, it is seen that the translation of the phase-separating region, accompanying the flow, plays a more important role in the formation of the striped patterns than the flow of the solution itself.
Synthesis of n-type Fe 0:98 Co 0:02 Si 2 thermoelectric materials with dispersion of fine Ag particles was tried by mechanical milling of Fe-Si powder with AgO powder and subsequent hot pressing. The AgO phase was reduced by Si, resulting in precipitation of Ag particles, SiO 2 phase and "-FeSi phase. Most of the Ag particles were quite small; less than 100 nm in size. The precipitation of Ag and " phase significantly decreased both the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical resistivity of Fe 0:98 Co 0:02 Si 2 , in spite of the SiO 2 formation. On the other hand, the dispersion of fine Ag particles effectively enhanced phonon scattering, resulting in the reduction in the thermal conductivity in spite of the precipitation of metallic phases. However, the dimensionless figure of merit could not be improved by AgO addition because of the significant deterioration of the Seebeck coefficient. The Si powder addition with AgO powder was found to be effective on recovering the reduction in the Seebeck coefficient.
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