Deep Gold Exploration with SQUID TEM in the Qingchengzi Orefield, Eastern Liaoning, Northeast China

The Qingchengzi orefield is an important polymetallic ore concentration zone in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). The region has significant metallogenic potential for deep mining. Many areas with gold mineralization have been found in the shallow area of Taoyuan–Xiaotongjiapuzi–Linjiasandaogou in the east of the Qingchengzi orefield. To assess the distribution of mineralization levels, we carried out deep exploration using the transient electromagnetic method (TEM). A superconductive quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer and a conventional induction coil were used for field data acquisition. The SQUID data inversion results reflect the bottom interface of the high-conductivity area, the fold state of the underlying dolomite marble stratum, and the deep structural characteristics of the syncline. Secondary crumples appear in the inversion results of the southern segment of TEM, which is inferred as a favorable area for deep gold mineralization. Negative values appear in the SQUID data of some stations, to varying degrees. This induced polarization phenomenon may be related to deep gold mineralization.

Evolution of the magnetic hyperfine field profiles in an ion-irradiated Fe60Al40 film measured by nuclear resonant reflectivity

Nuclear resonant reflectivity (NRR) from an Fe60Al40 film was measured using synchrotron radiation at several grazing angles near the critical angle of total external reflection. Using laterally resolved measurements after irradiation with 20 keV Ne+ ions of gradually varying fluence of 0–3.0 × 1014 ions cm−2, the progressive creation of the ferromagnetic A2 phase with increasing ion fluence was confirmed. The observed depth selectivity of the method has been explained by application of the standing wave approach. From the time spectra of the nuclear resonant scattering in several reflection directions the depth profiles for different hyperfine fields were extracted. The results show that the highest magnetic hyperfine fields (∼18–23 T) are initially created in the central part of the film and partially at the bottom interface with the SiO2 substrate. The evolution of the ferromagnetic onset, commencing at a fixed depth within the film and propagating towards the interfaces, has been directly observed. At higher fluence (3.0 × 1014 ions cm−2) the depth distribution of the ferromagnetic fractions became more homogeneous across the film depth, in accordance with previous results.

Optimized Carrier Extraction at Interfaces for 23.6% Efficient Tin–Lead Perovskite Solar Cells

Carrier extraction is a key issue which limits the efficiency of perovskite solar cells. In this work, carrier extraction is improved by modifying the perovskite layers with a combination of ethylenediammonium diiodide post-treatment and glycine hydrochloride additive. Ethylenediammonium dications primarily affect the top surface of the perovskite films, while glycinium cations preferentially accumulate at the bottom region. The top and bottom interface modifications improve the crystallinity of the perovskite films and lower the density of electrical traps via surface passivation effects, resulting in long charge carrier lifetimes. The orientated aggregation of the ethylenediammonium and glycinium cations at the charge collection interfaces result in the formation of surface dipoles, which facilitate charge extraction. The performance of the treated solar cell devices also increases. The fill factor rose to 0.82, and the power conversion efficiency reaches 23.6% (23.1% certified). The open circuit voltage reaches 0.91 V, just 0.06 V below the Shockley–Queisser limit. The unencapsulated devices also show improved stability under AM 1.5G, retaining over 80% of the initial efficiency after 200 h continuous operation in inert atmosphere. Our strategy is also successfully applied to centimeter-scale devices, with efficiencies up to 21.0%.

Effective Fatigue Evaluation on Rubber Mounts for Rail Vehicles

The accurate evaluation of fatigue damage is a key issue in designs for rubber antivibration mounts. To find the most cost-effective route for antivibration design, a fatigue criterion (effective stress) was fully (including both magnitude and orientation) applied to the suspension components of rail vehicles, i.e., a longitudinal buffer and sandwich products. Hyperelastic models, widely applicable to industry, were used for load-deflection calculations and validated with the experimental data. The fatigue cracks were located at the points where the effective stress reached its maximum. The orientation prediction correlated with the experimental observations. For the buffer, the predicted crack initiation was approximately 45 k cycles at the top interface and 80 k cycles at the bottom interface, whereas nearly complete debonding in the top interface and ring-shape debonding in the bottom interface were experimentally observed at 200 k cycles. For the sandwich mount, 150 k cycles for crack initiation were predicted against 380 k cycles with an observed crack length measuring approximately 150 mm from the fatigue test. Furthermore, an important aspect was that the orientation of the cracks was defined in analytical functions so that an expensive critical plane search could be evaded, which would save 99% of calculations (144 calculations are needed for three-dimension analysis if the rotation angle is 15°, whereas only 1 calculation is required using the proposed methodology). As limited cases were verified, more engineering cases would be needed to verify this approach further.

The Role of Electric Pressure/Stress Suppressing Pinhole Defect on Coalescence Dynamics of Electrified Droplet

The dimple occurs by sudden pressure inversion at the droplet’s bottom interface when a droplet collides with the same liquid-phase or different solid-phase. The air film entrapped inside the dimple is a critical factor affecting the sequential dynamics after coalescence and causing defects like the pinhole. Meanwhile, in the coalescence dynamics of an electrified droplet, the droplet’s bottom interfaces change to a conical shape, and droplet contact the substrate directly without dimple formation. In this work, the mechanism for the dimple’s suppression (interfacial change to conical shape) was studied investigating the effect of electric pressure. The electric stress acting on a droplet interface shows the nonlinear electric pressure adding to the uniform droplet pressure. This electric stress locally deforms the droplet’s bottom interface to a conical shape and consequentially enables it to overcome the air pressure beneath the droplet. The electric pressure, calculated from numerical tracking for interface and electrostatic simulation, was at least 108 times bigger than the air pressure at the center of the coalescence. This work helps toward understanding the effect of electric stress on droplet coalescence and in the optimization of conditions in solution-based techniques like printing and coating.

Study on the Strength Similarity Theory-Based Blasting Compaction Parameters Optimization

The current blasting compaction faces technical difficulties brought by mud depth increment. The strength similarity theory provides theoretic support for deep mud blasting compaction, offering a large room for blasting parameters optimization. The author applied the strength similarity theory to engineering practice and introduced the deep mud soft foundation blasting compaction, blasting parameters selection, blasting safety and processing effect. According to detection results, the riprap settlement elevation and width can meet design requirements. The riprap bottom interface and bearing layer are well connected. Obvious mud layer is not found in the embankment core. It shows that the application of strength similarity theory achieves the satisfactory effect in the engineering practice.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 6061 Al/AZ31 Mg Joints Friction Stir Lap Welded by a Tool with Variable-Pitch Thread Pin

Sheets of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy (thickness = 3 mm) and AZ31 magnesium alloy were friction stir lap welded by a tool with a variable-pitch thread pin (coarse-threaded in the upper part and fine-threaded in the lower part). For the same rotation speed and welding speed, the heat input was higher in joints with an upper Al alloy (Configuration Al-Mg) than in those with an upper Mg alloy (Configuration Mg-Al). In Configuration Al-Mg, these two dissimilar metals were poorly mixed and Al dominated the stirred zone (SZ). Many intermetallic compounds (IMCs) of Al3Mg2 formed inside the SZ. In Configuration Mg-Al, Mg alloy bands, flocculent Al12Mg17 bands, and minor Al alloy bands intersected in the SZ, forming a complex onion-ring structure. Moreover, a complex mechanical interlocking structure developed at the bottom interface of the SZ. The maximum tensile shear strengths of the Al-Mg and Mg-Al lap configurations were 160.3 and 217 N/mm, respectively, at 700 rpm. The higher tensile shear strength of the Mg-Al configuration primarily represented less IMCs and complex mechanical interlocking structures in the SZ.

Interface and surface stabilization of the polarization in ferroelectric thin films

Ferroelectric perovskites present a switchable spontaneous polarization and are promising energy-efficient device components for digital information storage. Full control of the ferroelectric polarization in ultrathin films of ferroelectric perovskites needs to be achieved in order to apply this class of materials in modern devices. However, ferroelectricity itself is not well understood in this nanoscale form, where interface and surface effects become particularly relevant and where loss of net polarization is often observed. In this work, we show that the precise control of the structure of the top surface and bottom interface of the thin film is crucial toward this aim. We explore the properties of thin films of the prototypical ferroelectric lead titanate (PbTiO3) on a metallic strontium ruthenate (SrRuO3) buffer using a combination of computational (density functional theory) and experimental (optical second harmonic generation) methods. We find that the polarization direction and strength are influenced by chemical and electronic processes occurring at the epitaxial interface and at the surface. The polarization is particularly sensitive to adsorbates and to surface and interface defects. These results point to the possibility of controlling the polarization direction and magnitude by engineering specific interface and surface chemistries.