clean interface
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With the demand for low contact resistance and a clean interface in high-performance field-effect transistors, two-dimensional (2D) hetero-phase homojunctions, which comprise a semiconducting phase of a material as the channel and a metallic phase of the material as electrodes, have attracted growing attention in recent years. In particular, MoTe2 exhibits intriguing properties and its phase is easily altered from semiconducting 2H to metallic 1T′ and vice versa, owing to the extremely small energy barrier between these two phases. MoTe2 thus finds potential applications in electronics as a representative 2D material with multiple phases. In this review, we briefly summarize recent progress in 2D MoTe2 hetero-phase homojunctions. We first introduce the properties of the diverse phases of MoTe2, demonstrate the approaches to the construction of 2D MoTe2 hetero-phase homojunctions, and then show the applications of the homojunctions. Lastly, we discuss the prospects and challenges in this research field.

AbstractAdditive manufacturing (AM), particularly laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (LPBF), enables the fabrication of complex and customized metallic parts. However, 20–40% of the total manufacturing costs are usually attributed to post-processing steps. To reduce the costs of extensive post-processing, the process chain for AM parts has to be automated. Accordingly, robotic gripping and handling processes, as well as an efficient clamping for subtractive machining of AM parts, are key challenges. This study introduces and validates integrated bolts acting as a handling and clamping interface of AM parts. The bolts are integrated into the part design and manufactured in the same LPBF process. The bolts can be easily removed after the machining process using a wrench. This feasibility study investigates different bolt elements. The experiments and simulations conducted in the study show that a force of 250 N resulted in a maximum displacement of 12.5 µm. The milling results of the LPBF parts reveal a maximum roughness value, Ra, of 1.42 µm, which is comparable to that of a standard clamping system. After the bolt removal, a maximum residual height of 0.067 mm remains. Two case studies are conducted to analyze the form deviation, the effect of bolts on build time, and material volume and to demonstrate the application of the bolts. Thus, the major contribution of this study is the design and the validation of standardized interfaces for robotic handling and clamping of complex AM parts. The novelties are a simple and clean interface removal, less material consumption, less support structure required, and finally an achievement of a five-side tool accessibility by combining the interfaces with a three-jaw chuck.

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM), particularly laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (LPBF), enables the fabrication of complex and customized metallic parts. However, 20–40% of the total manufacturing costs are usually attributed to post-processing steps. To reduce the costs of extensive post-processing, the process chain for AM parts has to be automated. Accordingly, robotic gripping and handling processes, as well as an efficient clamping for subtractive machining of AM parts, are key challenges. This study introduces and validates integrated bolts acting as a handling and clamping interface of AM parts. The bolts are integrated into the part design and manufactured in the same LPBF process. The bolts can be easily removed after the machining process using a wrench. This feasibility study investigates different bolt elements. The experiments and simulations conducted in the study show that a force of 250 N resulted in a maximum displacement of 12.5 µm. The milling results of the LPBF parts reveal a maximum roughness value, Ra, of 1.42 µm, which is comparable to that of a standard clamping system. After the bolt removal, a maximum residual height of 0.067 mm remains. Two case studies are conducted to analyze the form deviation, the effect of bolts on build time and material volume and to demonstrate the application of the bolts. Thus, the major contribution of this study is the design and the validation of standardized interfaces for robotic handling and clamping of complex AM parts. The novelties are a simple and clean interface removal, less material consumption, less support structure required and finally an achievement of a five-side tool accessibility by combining the interfaces with a three-jaw chuck.

Two-dimensional Van der Waals heterostructures provide an amazing platform to study the fundamental physics property and build optoelectrical devices because of their abundant band structures and the clean interface. In...

Aluminium matrix composites by way of in-situ reaction has arisen as a preference conducive to knock out imperfections and defects exiting within ex situ MMC. In the present work, Al-Cu-ZrB2 have been develop through in situ reaction which boost mechanical properties over dispersion strengthening together with grain refinement obtained by the existence of each particulates inside the melt all along solidification. Al-Cu reinforced among different proportion of ZrB2 (0, 3 and 6 wt. %) synthesized using in situ fabrication at 800 °C of molten aluminum-copper alloys by inorganic salts K2ZrF6 together with KBF4. The amalgam were specified using XRD, FESEM together with mechanical test on appropriately sectioned and metallographically prepared surface to examine and inspect phase distribution, hardness together with tensile properties. From result acquired, raised ZrB2 amount will increase rate of tensile and hardness characteristics of Al-Cu alloy. XRD patterns exposed development of ZrB2 particulates without existence of unspecified other compounds. Most of ZrB2 granular were located near grain boundaries of Al dendrites. Microstructural analysis exposed the homogeneous and consistent allocation of second phase particles, clean interface and favorable bonding. It is support that ZrB2 molecules are predominantly in nano size among hexagonal either tetragonal shape, yet minor molecules in micron size are also noticed. For that reason, composite synthesized using in situ techniques exhibit homogeneous distribution of reinforcing tend to be superlative associated within clean interface along the metallic matrix. In order to accomplish better mechanical features, it is necessary to regulate and control phase arrangement all along fabrication of Al-Cu with higher contents of ZrB2.  

The stabilization of nanoemulsions, nanosized oil droplets dispersed in water, is commonly achieved through the addition of surfactants and polymers. However, nanoemulsions in the absence of emulsifiers have been observed to acquire a significant negative charge at their surface, which ultimately contributes to their stability. While the source of this negative charge is disputed to this day, its presence is taken as an inherent property of the aqueous–hydrophobic interface. This report provides a look at the molecular structure and bonding characteristics of bare aqueous–hydrophobic nanoemulsion interfaces. We report the creation of bare nanoemulsions with near zero surface charge, which are marginally stable for several days. The process of creating these low-charge nanoemulsions (LCNEs) required rigorous cleaning procedures and proper solvent storage conditions. Using vibrational sum-frequency scattering spectroscopy, we measure the structure and bonding of the interfacial aqueous and hydrophobic phases. The surfaces of these LCNE samples possess a measurable free OH vibration, not found in previous studies and indicative of a clean interface. Tuning the nanoemulsion charge through addition of anionic surfactants, modeling potential surface-active contaminants, we observe the free OH to disappear and a reorientation of the interfacial hydrophobic molecules at micromolar surfactant concentrations. Notably, the free OH vibration provides evidence for stronger dispersion interactions between water molecules and the hydrophobic phase at the LCNE surface compared with similar planar water–alkane interfaces. We propose the stronger bonding interactions, in addition to an ordered interfacial aqueous layer, contribute to the delayed droplet coalescence and subsequent phase separation.