Using computer simulations we explore how grain boundaries can be removed from three-dimensional colloidal crystals by doping with a small fraction of active colloids. We show that for sufficient self-propulsion, the system is driven into a crystal-fluid coexistence. In this phase separated regime, the active dopants become mobile and spontaneously gather at the grain boundaries. The resulting ...

Severe plastic deformation is a technical method to produce functional material with special properties such as high strength and specific physical properties. Selection of an efficient severe plastic deformation for grain refinement is a challenging field of study and using a modeling technique to predict the refinement efficiency has gained a lot of attentions. A comparative study was carried...

Grain boundaries have a major effect on the physical properties of two-dimensional layered materials. Therefore, it is important to develop simple, fast and sensitive characterization methods to visualize grain boundaries. Conventional Raman and photoluminescence methods have been used for detecting grain boundaries; however, these techniques are better suited for detection of grain boundaries ...

Single crystals of Al2O3 were reproducibly grown from an MgO-doped polycrystalline precursor. The single crystals were grown through controlled abnormal grain growth at temperatures between 16701 and 19451C. It was observed that CaO impurities segregated to the boundary between the single crystal and the polycrystalline region, and formed a wetting intergranular film. This type of film is requi...

To obtain the optimal 1:1 composition of FePt alloy nanomaterials by polyol synthesis, the iron precursor (iron pentacarbonyl, Fe(CO)5) must be used in excess, because the Fe(CO)5 exists in the vapor phase at the typical temperatures used for FePt synthesis and cannot be consumed completely. Fabrication of Fe3O4 nanoparticles by consuming the excess iron precursor was an effective strategy to m...

Through changing the argon pressure, CaB6 films with different crystallographic orientation and morphology on glass substrates were prepared by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering method. The film textures, crystallite sizes, composition and morphology were investigated by a spectrum of characterizing techniques in terms of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microsco...

Diffraction peak profile analysis (or Line Profile Analysis, LPA) has recently been developed to such an extent that it can be applied as a powerful method for the characterization of microstructures of crystalline materials in terms of crystallite size-distribution and dislocation structures. Physically based theoretical functions and their Fourier coefficients are available for both, the size...

New insights into the architecture and formation mechanisms of calcific lesions down to the nanoscale open a better understanding of atherosclerosis and its pathogenesis. Scanning electron - and atomic force microscope based nano-analytical characterization techniques were adapted to the assessment of an ex-vivo calcified coronary artery. Human atherosclerotic tissue and bone tissue reside a ty...

pure anatase titania (tio2), mixed 1.0 wt.% cerium-anatase titania (1.0 wt.%ceo2-tio2), and mixed 1.0 wt.% zirconia-anatase titania (1.0 wt.%zro2-tio2) nano powders were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized using x-ray diffraction (xrd), brunauer-emmett-teller (bet) surface area analysis, uv-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (drs), and transmission electron microscope (te...