ABSTRACT
Growth of metal oxide layers on quantum dots (QDs) has been regarded as a good way to improve the photostability of QDs. However, direct growth of metal oxides on individual QD remains a great challenge. Here we report a novel approach to rapidly anchor metal oxides on QD surfaces through a sacrificial oxidation of a self-metal source strategy. As typical core/shell QDs, CdSe/CdS or aluminum doped CdSe/CdS (CdSe/CdS:Al) QDs were chosen and treated with peroxide (benzoyl peroxide). Self-metal sources (cadmium or/and aluminum) can be easily sacrificially oxidized, leading to the quick growth of cadmium oxide (CdO) or aluminum/cadmium hybrid oxides (Al2O3/CdO) on the surface of individual QD for improved photostability. Compared with CdO, Al2O3 possesses excellent barrier properties against moisture and oxygen. Therefore, CdSe/CdS QDs with the protection of an Al2O3/CdO hybrid layer show much superior photostability. Under strong illumination with blue light, the QDs coated with the Al2O3/CdO hybrid layer retained 100% of the original photoluminescence intensity after 70 h, while that of the untreated CdSe/CdS:Al, the treated CdSe/CdS and the CdSe/CdS QDs dropped to 65%, 45%, and 5%, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this method can be extended to other metal-doped QD systems, even including some inactive metals difficult to be oxidized spontaneously in an ambient atmosphere, which provides a new way to stabilize QDs for diverse optoelectronic applications.
ABSTRACT
Specimens of austenitic stainless steel 304H (SS304H) were shot peened and exposed to steam at 600, 650, and 700 °C for 10,000 h, 15,000, and 20,000 h. After steam exposure, un-peened SS304H has three oxide layers, Fe-O, Fe-Cr-O and Cr2O3, while shot peened specimens have an Fe-Cr-O layer, a Cr2O3 and an amorphous Fe-Si-O layer. The evolution of the oxide layers as a function of duration of steam exposure and temperature reveals that the growth of the Fe-O and the Fe-Cr-O layers is inhibited by shot peening. The oxide layers in shot peened specimens are much thinner, indicating that shot peening enhances the oxidation resistance of SS304H. Grain refinement during shot peening enhances the diffusion of Cr and Si to help form a protective, oxidation resistant surface.
ABSTRACT
Peening is mainly used as a method of surface treatment for microstructural modification in order to improve surface mechanical properties. The ultrasonic shot peening (USP) technique can cause severe plastic deformation with its high strain rate on the surface of metallic parts. However, systematic studies of microstructural refinement mechanism upon plastic deformation with consideration of alloy systems are rare. In this study, USP-treated Cu samples of 99.96% purity was examined using analytical techniques, Vickers microhardness test, electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results of EBSD and microhardness analyses indicated grain refinement with deformation structures and hardness increase down to 400 µm in depth upon treatment. Depth specific TEM analysis of the samples revealed the steps of the grain refinement process to the formation of randomly oriented fine grains.
