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Detecting violent behavior in videos to ensure public safety and security poses a significant challenge. Precisely identifying and categorizing instances of violence in real-life closed-circuit television, which vary across specifications and locations, requires comprehensive understanding and processing of the sequential information embedded in these videos. This study aims to introduce a model that adeptly grasps the spatiotemporal context of videos within diverse settings and specifications of violent scenarios. We propose a method to accurately capture spatiotemporal features linked to violent behaviors using optical flow and RGB data. The approach leverages a Conv3D-based ResNet-3D model as the foundational network, capable of handling high-dimensional video data. The efficiency and accuracy of violence detection are enhanced by integrating an attention mechanism, which assigns greater weight to the most crucial frames within the RGB and optical-flow sequences during instances of violence. Our model was evaluated on the UBI-Fight, Hockey, Crowd, and Movie-Fights datasets; the proposed method outperformed existing state-of-the-art techniques, achieving area under the curve scores of 95.4, 98.1, 94.5, and 100.0 on the respective datasets. Moreover, this research not only has the potential to be applied in real-time surveillance systems but also promises to contribute to a broader spectrum of research in video analysis and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar has been shown to improve soil properties and plant productivity in soils with inherently low fertility. However, little has been reported for upland corns under dry and wet precipitation regimes. This study investigates the effect of biochar addition on a range of soil physicochemical, biological, and hydrological properties, and corn growth and productivity under agrometeorological drought and wet conditions. Here, experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at two sites during 2017 and 2018 in South Korea. Treatments included (i) CN: control (ii) IF: inorganic fertilizer (N–P–K) at 145–30–60 kg ha−1; (iii) BS: barley straw at 5 t ha−1; (iv) CWBC: corn waste biochar at 5 t ha−1; (v) CWBC + IF: corn waste biochar + inorganic fertilizer; (vi) CWBC + BS: corn waste biochar + barley straw. The year 2017 was relatively dry, whereas the year 2018 was wet. Despite drought conditions in the year 2017, biochar facilitated soil water conservation. However, higher precipitation in 2018 increased the quantity and distribution of soil water and nutrients in the top 15 cm. Biochar reduced soil bulk density, and increased porosity, cation exchange capacity and total organic carbon in both years but increased total bacterial counts during the dry year only. Bacterial population was generally higher under wet conditions. Similarly, more soil CO2 was emitted in the wet year than in the dry year. Results further indicated that biochar can enhance corn biomass and grain yield regardless of precipitation conditions. The grain index was, however, affected by rainfall and was significantly different across treatments in the year 2018 only. All biomass, grain yield, and grain index were highest in CWBC + IF treatment and lowest under CN treatment. Indeed, biochar addition appeared to improve soil quality and soil conditioning effects in the drought and wet years, ameliorating soil and plant properties. Overall, biochar can improve water and nutrients storage, availability, and uptake, and therefore corn productivity during hydrological extremes. Highlights: Biochar application consistently increased soil water content. Biochar improved soil physicochemical characteristics in the drought and wet year. Biochar increased bacterial population during the drought year. Grain yield was higher in the wet year than in the drought year. Grain yield and grain index was highest under CWBC + IF and lowest under CN treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developments in vehicle technology and accompanying improvements in NVH performance have led to increased consumer demand for high sound quality, such as a "sporty" engine sound. As sporty sound is subjective, this study sought to express its meaning quantitatively and to develop a model that accommodates the differences in individuals' tastes. Engine sounds of four vehicles at wide-open throttle were recorded and the signal was modulated via filtering. Acoustic and psychoacoustic parameters of the samples produced were calculated, and the preferences for sportiness were identified through jury testing. Using K-means clustering, factor analysis, and multiple linear regression, a sound quality index and a model reflecting differences in evaluators' tastes were developed. The index was retested using new evaluators and new samples, demonstrating its reliability by high correlation. This sound quality evaluation index is useful for producing highly accurate results and reflecting the opinions of groups expressing a variety of commonalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For those who enjoy driving, the "sportiness" the engine sound is an important point to consider. However, owing to its abstractness, there is no absolute definition of what sportiness sounds like. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a sound quality index capable of objectively evaluating the sportiness of engine sound based on sound quality research. Objective measurements included the process of recording the sound in the car interior under wide-open-throttle acceleration conditions for 4 vehicles, producing 13 evaluation samples by using various filters based on the recorded data, and calculating the sound metrics of each sample. Subjective evaluation was jointly carried out by 23 evaluators and a semantic differential method was used to find adjectives that could explain the concept and preference for sportiness. The developed index was validated by examining the correlation coefficient through a new sample group. Furthermore, the necessity of factor analysis was also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We magneto-optically investigate the switching properties of the grooved pixels. The switching field of the 70%-grooved pixel achieves a factor of over two reductions more than that of the 100%-grooved pixel. The switching properties of the geometric pixel arrays for the magneto-optic spatial light modulators are very sensitive to the depth of the pixel groove, and also depend on the state of individual pixel, in additions to the state of the neighbors in two-dimensional pixel arrays. Optimally grooved pixels can allow high amounts of bismuth in the iron garnet film, and actually reduce the driving current of the magneto-optic spatial light modulator due to a low switching threshold field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magneto-optic spatial light modulator driven by an electric field is fabricated by using the electrostrictive effect of [Pb(Zr[SUB0.52]Ti[SUB0.48])O[SUB3]] (PZT) thin film. As the stress field induced by the PZT thin film reduces the anisotropy energy of the structured garnet film, we find that the pixels can be easily switched in accordance with or without the small external bias field. When peak-to-peak 8 V at the X and Y conductors is applied with the external bias field of 40 Oe at the fabricated device, the selected pixel is switched independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the superiority of WO3 thin films prepared by successive dip coating in electrochromic devices. Dip coatings were done on transparent conducting oxide substrates in the WO3 precursor solution a number of times without drying in between the coating steps. This process enabled the fabrication of WO3 films with optimum thickness and large roughness, which led to enhanced performance when they were employed as the electrode in electrochromic devices. We made a further observation by applying these electrodes in photoelectrochromic devices and verified the excellent properties of the successively dip-coated WO3 films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High-speed metal-based optical microscanning devices were successfully fabricated in combination with piezoelectric thick films directly deposited by the aerosol deposition method (ADM) and specially designed stainless steel frame. A large optical scanning angle (41°) was achieved at a high resonance frequency (28.24kHz) in ambient air without vacuum packaging. The well-polished metal-based mirror has good flatness of less than 105nm, which is lower than λ/4. The metal-based microscanners enable faster scanning, higher scanning angles, lower production cost, and simpler fabrication processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We demonstrate a magnetooptic spatial light modulator with one-step pattern formation of iron-garnet films on ion-milled substrates by liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE). The one-step pixel growth is acquired by the combination of a single-crystal epitaxial film growth by LPE and an impeded film growth on a substrate whose surface has been locally damaged and milled by ion bombardment before film deposition. The interface between pixel (single-crystal expitaxial area) and pixel gap (perturbed epitaxial area) guides magnetic walls just like a groove. The fabricated prototype magnetooptic spatial light modulator (MOSLM) is switched by applying driving currents of 40 mA for the bottom conductor line and 80 mA for the top conductor line under external bias field of 20 Oe, which is over two times smaller than that of the conventional MOSLM. The novel MOSLM can provide higher resolution, simpler fabrication process, more compact systems, and lower driving current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SbSI and SbSeI materials, which are one-dimensional materials based on van der Waals bonds, have the same crystal structure and physical property changes because of their differences in lattice constants. Therefore, controlling the band structure of these materials in accordance with the mixing ratio of S and Se is important. In this study, SbSI, SbSeI, and alloys with intermediate compositions were synthesized, and their crystal and band structures were analyzed. Results showed a lattice strain proportional to the composition of the S–Se mixture, which was synthesized as a stable phase without phase separation. As S was substituted with Se, the band gap decreased. These results could be utilized in various fields of optoelectronic devices where Sb (S or Se) I series is primarily applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a Ga 2 O 3 -based UV-C photodetector using the aerosol deposition (AD) method. By optimizing the size and crystallinity of the Ga 2 O 3 powder, we were able to obtain a uniform thin film with high transmittance (70–80%) without the need for additional heat treatment or high vacuum environments. The resulting Ga 2 O 3 film exhibited a high and selective response to 254 nm wavelength light, even without any treatment, and remained stable when exposed to γ-radiation. The photodetector also performed well in extreme temperatures (−196 °C–150 °C), making it suitable for use in harsh environments, such as the space industry. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the AD method for the fabrication of high-quality Ga 2 O 3 thin films for photodetector applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aerosol deposition method was used to fabricate a solar-blind photodetector (for UV-C) using thin films of β-Ga 2 O 3 , which is a wide-bandgap oxide material. The Ga 2 O 3 films deposited at room temperature presented a polycrystalline structure and a thickness of approximately 4 µm and showed a high transmittance of approximately 70–80 % in the visible region; the transmittance was approximately 60–80 % even after heat treatment up to a 800 °C. The Ga 2 O 3 films that were post-annealed at a temperature of 800 °C showed an I photo /I dark ratio of approximately 40,000 in the solar-blind region with a light source of 254 nm, together with very good light detection characteristics (initial rising and decay times of 0.45 s and 0.13 s, respectively). Because of the good performances observed for the Ga 2 O 3 thin films even at extreme conditions, they exhibit a high potential for use as photodetectors in several applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV sensors possess high importance for modern electronics such as environmental monitoring, health diagnostics, and optoelectronic devices. Thus UV-sensing-materials with high stability has drawn significant interest for next generation UV sensors. Herein, a simple synthesis method of SbPS 4 has been proposed. Then the SbPS 4 crystals are effectively delaminated by micromechanical exfoliation into a few-nanometer-scale nanowires, which is the first demonstration of the material's possibility of exfoliation down to one-molecular-layer thickness. Weak van der Waals (vdW) interaction within the crystal lattice can be easily overcome. The exfoliated SbPS 4 nanowires showed one-dimensional tube structure, and the work function of SbPS 4 showed strong thickness dependence and was confirmed through Scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. The bandgap of 2.54 eV of SbPS 4 , showed great sensitivity to UV lights, depicting SbPS 4 as a promising future UV sensing material for future optoelectronic application. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of one-dimensional van der Waals material SbPS 4 with a tubular molecular structure • Single chain exfoliation of SbPS 4 and its thickness-dependency of work function • Optical property of SbPS 4 as UV-detecting material [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SnSe nanocrystals integrated with carbon nanotube were successfully obtained a facile colloidal synthetic method. • Downsized SnSe nanocomposites exhibit excellent electrochemical property in lithium ion battery. • The reaction mechanism of SnSe NC/CNT is elucidated by operando XRD and ex-situ XAS. [Display omitted] Tin selenide has been considered as one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion battery owing to its high theoretical capacity. In this work, a facile colloidal synthetic method was successfully used to obtain nanocomposites comprising ~7 nm SnSe nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes (SnSe NC/CNT). When applied as anode materials in lithium-ion battery, the SnSe NC/CNT nanocomposites exhibited excellent electrochemical performance with a reversible capacity of 706.5 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at a constant current density of 200 mA g−1. The SnSe NC/CNT nanocomposites also delivered the high reversible capacity of 532.0 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 1.0 A g−1. The SnSe nanocomposites are advantageous to the ion and electron transport. Interconnected by CNT after annealing at 200 °C, SnSe NC/CNT nanocomposites can accommodate the volume expansion even after 300 cycles. The complex conversion and alloying reaction are studied by X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption near edge structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the van der Waals bond-based one-dimensional two- (Nb2Se9 and V2Se9) and three-component group (Ta2Ni3Se8, Ta2Pt3Se8, and Nb2Pd3Se8) materials, alloy phases were synthesized according to the mixing ratio of transition metals, and basic analysis of phase stability and lattice structure was performed. The formation of alloy phases corresponding to Nb2-xVxSe9 and Ta2MxN3-xSe8 (M, N = Ni, Pd, and Pt) was confirmed, and lattice engineering was possible by changing the interplanar distance according to the transition metal mixing ratio. Through elemental analysis of the synthesized material, it was also confirmed that the composition is close to the mixing ratio used for actual synthesis. In the future, the basic physical properties of the alloys will be evaluated and applied to various application devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al 2 O 3 thin film was deposited on Gorilla glass using an aerosol deposition method to improve the mechanical property of cover glass for mobile electronic device. The deposited Al 2 O 3 film (approximately 1 μm thick) was a polycrystalline structure and showed a high light transmittance of approximately 90% in the visible light region. The CIE color space (L*a*b) measurement also showed a characteristic corresponding to the acceptable optical range of the cover glass. Further, it was confirmed that the bending strength improved by 10 %, as compared with bare Gorilla glass (from 6970 kgf/cm2 to 7704 kgf/cm2), and the Vickers hardness increased to approximately 1700–2000 HV, as compared with that of Gorilla glass (<700 HV). Owing to the improved mechanical properties, the Al 2 O 3 thin film exhibited good anti-scratch properties and is expected to be applied to the cover glass of various display products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to investigate crop productivity, nitrogen use efficiency (AE_N, agronomic efficiency of N; ARF_N, apparent recovery fraction of N), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission after biochar (BB, bamboo biochar) and nitrogen fertilizer (N) application in paddy and upland agricultural soils. The selected rice and Chinese cabbage were grown in the paddy soil and upland soil, respectively. Each treatment group, comprising N100% (N, 90 kg ha−1 for rice; 320 kg ha−1 for Chinese cabbage), BB + N35%, BB + N70%, and BB + N100%, was separated by a Control treatment. Overall, the increased nitrogen input and uptake resulted in improved crop growth. Under each experimental condition, soils treated with BB + N100% treatment had higher crop growth, nitrogen contents, and nitrogen uptake, as compared to other treatments. Nitrogen use efficiency was investigated independently of crop productivity results, and biochar played an important role in this assessment. In particular, both AE_N and ARF_N related to crop nutrient availability were significantly increased in the BB + N35% and BB + N70% treatments, as compared to the N100% treatment. In addition, N2O emission was reduced by decreasing the N input, and biochar contributed to N2O reduction in paddy and upland conditions. These results indicate that nitrogen use efficiency can be increased in agricultural soils supplemented with biochar application, such as paddy and upland field cultivations in South Korea. Additionally, it is considered good agricultural land management to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers, and practice sustainable and productive agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out to investigate crop productivity, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and soil quality of an upland field treated with compost and varying rates of biochar (BC) derived from soybean stalks during crop growing periods in a corn and Chinese cabbage rotation system. Compost was supplemented with BC derived from soybean stalks at varying rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha−1 (BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20, respectively); the control (BC0) area was untreated. Our results reveal that crop productivity and emissions of CO2 and N2O varied significantly with the biochar application rate. Moreover, irrespective of the biochar application rate, crop productivity was improved after BC application as compared to the control treatment area, by 11.2–29.3% (average 17.0 ± 8.3%) for corn cultivation and 10.3–39.7% (average 27.8 ± 12.7%) for Chinese cabbage cultivation. Peak emissions of CO2 and N2O were mainly observed in the early period of crop cultivation, whereas low CO2 and N2O emissions were determined during the fallow period. Compared to the control area, significant differences were obtained for CO2 emissions produced by the different biochar application rates for both crops. During the two cropping periods, the overall N2O emission was significantly decreased with BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20 applications as compared to the control, ranging from 11.1 to 13.6%, 8.7 to 15.4%, 23.1 to 26.0%, and 15.0 to 19.6%, respectively (average 16.9% decrease in the corn crop period and 16.3% in the Chinese cabbage crop period). Soil quality results after the final crop harvest show that bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly improved by biochar application, as compared to the control. Taken together, our results indicate that compost application supplemented with biochar is potentially an appropriate strategy for achieving high crop productivity and improving soil quality in upland field conditions. In conclusion, appropriate application of biochar with compost has the concomitant advantages of enriching soil quality for long-term sustainable agriculture and reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H 2 sensors play a crucial role in the development of hydrogen (H 2) energy and safety monitoring. Therefore, efficiently and rapidly detecting low concentrations of H 2 is a fundamental challenge that needs to be addressed in the field of H 2 sensors. In this study, we present a highly sensitive H 2 gas sensor based on Pd-nanoparticles (NPs)-decorated transfer-free three-dimensional (3D) graphene. 3D graphene provides an increased surface area for enhanced gas adsorption and reaction kinetics. The integration of PdNPs improved the electron transport properties, resulting in a higher sensitivity. The PdNP-decorated 3D graphene sensor exhibited a remarkable gas response of 41.9% under 3% H 2 exposure. The transfer-free synthesis process ensures the excellent conductivity of 3D graphene to further enhance its overall sensing performance. These discoveries propel current gas-sensing technologies forward and introduce fresh opportunities for the development of dependable sensors that can effectively enhance industrial safety and public security. • Transfer-free synthesis of 3D graphene on SiO 2 /Si substrate. • Thermal evaporation of Pd nanoparticles onto 3D graphene for H 2 sensors. • High-responsivity H 2 sensing behavior of PdNPs/3D graphene H 2 sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Divalent ion oxides (RO, R: Mg, Sr, Ba, Zn) were added in CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glasses. • MgO and ZnO reduced glass transition temperatures and thermal expansion. • Etching rates with CF 4 /O 2 /Ar plasma gas were increased by mixing divalent ion oxides. When divalent oxides (RO, R: Mg, Sr, Ba, Zn) are mixed in two CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glasses, thermal expansion, glass transition temperature and corrosion (or etching) rate of CF 4 /O 2 /Ar mixed gas were confirmed. The decreases in the thermal expansion coefficient and glass transition temperature were most effective when MgO and ZnO were mixed. As a result of high-density plasma dry etching, all glasses were improved compared to quartz glass, alumina, and sapphire even though the etching rate increased when divalent oxide was mixed. Regardless of the glass composition, the plasma resistance was thought to be closely related to the boiling point of the mixed divalent fluoride. In particular, the surface microstructure after the etching of the glass maintained the original mirror surface, unlike quartz glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabricated mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) module is one of the off-site construction technologies that can significantly improve productivity. To successfully install MEP modules on-site, performing a geometric quality inspection in prefabrication factories is required to ensure all as-produced MEP elements have accurate positions and correct dimensions. However, the traditional manual inspection process is inaccurate and time-consuming. To address the problem, this study presents an automated geometric quality inspection technique to estimate the geometric properties of MEP modules using 3D laser scanning. The proposed technique firstly extracts the steel frame of the MEP module from the scanned data and registers the scanned data with the as-designed building information modeling (BIM) model of the module. Each MEP element in the module is then detected from the scanned data with the proposed shape fitting algorithm customized for different types of elements. Lastly, the checklist items for geometric quality inspection are computed based on the extracted as-built MEP elements. Experiments on two prefabricated MEP modules were conducted, which demonstrated the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. • A geometric quality inspection technique for prefabricated MEP modules • An enhanced algorithm to calculate the normal vectors for cylinder fitting • A plane detection and selection algorithm to detect cuboids in point cloud • Validation experiments on two MEP modules are conducted. • The proposed technique provides an accurate and efficient inspection result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A breakthrough utilizing an anionic redox reaction (O2−/On−) for charge compensation has led to the development of high‐energy cathode materials in sodium‐ion batteries. However, its reaction results in a large voltage hysteresis due to the structural degradation arising from an oxygen loss. Herein, an interesting P2‐type Mn‐based compound exhibits a distinct two‐phase behavior preserving a high‐potential anionic redox (≈4.2 V vs Na+/Na) even during the subsequent cycling. Through a systematic series of experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations, the anionic redox reaction originating from O 2p‐electron and the reversible unmixing of Na‐rich and Na‐poor phases are confirmed in detail. In light of the combined study, a critical role of the anion‐redox‐induced two‐phase reaction in the positive‐negative point of view is demonstrated, suggesting a rational design principle considering the phase separation and lattice mismatch. Furthermore, these results provide an exciting approach for utilizing the high‐voltage feature in Mn‐based layered cathode materials that are charge‐compensated by an anionic redox reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intercalation of lithium ions into graphite electrode is the key underlying mechanism of modern lithium-ion batteries. However, co-intercalation of lithium-ions and solvent into graphite is considered undesirable because it can trigger the exfoliation of graphene layers and destroy the graphite crystal, resulting in poor cycle life. Here, it is demonstrated that the [lithium-solvent]+ intercalation does not necessarily cause exfoliation of the graphite electrode and can be remarkably reversible with appropriate solvent selection. First-principles calculations suggest that the chemical compatibility of the graphite host and [lithium-solvent]+ complex ion strongly affects the reversibility of the co-intercalation, and comparative experiments confirm this phenomenon. Moreover, it is revealed that [lithium-ether]+ co-intercalation of natural graphite electrode enables much higher power capability than normal lithium intercalation, without the risk of lithium metal plating, with retention of ≈87% of the theoretical capacity at current density of 1 A g−1. This unusual high rate capability of the co-intercalation is attributed to the (i) absence of the desolvation step, (ii) negligible formation of the solid-electrolyte interphase on graphite surface, and (iii) fast charge-transfer kinetics. This work constitutes the first step toward the utilization of fast and reversible [lithium-solvent]+ complex ion intercalation chemistry in graphite for rechargeable battery technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent days, many studies have focused on fluorine-saturated yttrium-based coatings for better material performance in semiconductor processing chambers. In this investigation, yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3) and yttrium oxyfluoride (YOF) powders were synthesized using a simple solid-state wet chemical process. Then, the Y 2 O 3 and YOF powder feedstocks were coated on an aluminum (Al) substrate using the atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) technique at different plasma powers of 25.6, and 25.2, 33.2 kW, respectively. Microstructure, macroscopic property, and chemical stability of dense Y 2 O 3 and YOF-coated samples were analyzed. The Vickers hardness values of Y 2 O 3 and YOF coated samples were 369.2 ± 32, and 267.1 ± 25, 241.9 ± 31 at plasma powers of 25.6, and 25.2, 33.2 kW, respectively. Y 2 O 3 sample was showed higher hardness value due to less porosity. The etching behavior of the Y 2 O 3 and YOF coatings was analyzed using PECVD- NF 3 plasma. X-ray photoelectron spectrum analysis (XPS) has confirmed the fluorination on the etched surfaces. The relative intensity ratios of the Y F to Y O peaks on the Y 2 O 3 and YOF coatings after exposure to NF 3 plasma were 1.30 and 1.48, respectively. This indicated that the YOF coating showed a strong fluorination layer and superior resistance for fluorine-plasma exposure compared to Y 2 O 3 , which is more appropriate for use as a protective material for the inner wall reactors. Therefore, YOF coated samples have good stability with high erosion resistance, which is highly suggested for applications in the semiconductor industry. [Display omitted] • Etching behavior and chemical stability of yttrium-based coating using NF 3 plasma • In NF 3 plasma, Y 2 O 3 reacted with fluorine and generated Y x O y F z as contamination • YOF revealed no alterations due to it contains fluorine as a constituent element • YOF coating exhibits superior plasma resistance and appropriate protective material [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Identified polymorphic phase of Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8 , a three-component one-dimensional chalcogenide material. • New tetragonal phase of the compound (T-Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8) was proven to have different crystal structure. • Electrical resistance of the new T-Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8 exhibited a metallic nature. In this study, the polymorphism of Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8 , a three-component one-dimensional chalcogenide material, was discovered. It was confirmed through X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses that the newly identified tetragonal phase of the compound (T-Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8) had a different crystal structure from the previously reported orthorhombic phase (O-Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8). Conventional O-Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8 is a semiconductor material with ambipolar characteristics, whereas T-Ta 2 Ni 3 Se 8 showed a metallic characteristic in which the electrical resistance slightly increased as the temperature increased. The change in electrical properties due to the variation in lattice isotropy according to the transformation of the crystal system (orthorhombic to tetragonal) is expected to be an important starting point for polymorphism studies of multi-component low-dimensional materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lead zirconate titanate (PZT)/Au composite film was prepared using aerosol deposition (AD) to modulate the dielectric properties of PZT. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirmed that the crystallinity of the PZT/Au (Au wt %: 0–0.2) composite polycrystalline film deposited at room temperature was controlled throughout the heat treatment process. The degree of dispersion of Au nanoparticles was confirmed through analysis of the plasmonic absorption wavelength (∼620 nm) of nanoparticles occurring in the refractive index 2.4–2.5 region of PZT matrix. The dielectric constant of the film increased to more than three times that of pure PZT as the wt % of Au nanoparticles increased. In addition, because the Au nanoparticles were well dispersed throughout the PZT matrix, the dielectric loss was very low. We expect AD to be widely used for the future development of dielectric complexes because this method enabled the straightforward fabrication of a thin composite film. • A lead zirconate titanate (PZT)/Au composite film was prepared using aerosol deposition. • Plasmonic absorption (~ 620 nm) of Au nanoparticles occurring in the refractive index 2.4~2.5 region of PZT matrix. • The dielectric constant of the film increased to more than three times as the wt % of Au nanoparticles increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion reaction-based transition metal oxides have shown high reversible capacity compared to conventional intercalation reaction-based materials. However, their practical applications have been impeded by a poor cycle life resulted from their low electrical conductivity and huge volume changes. During the past decade, remarkable advances have been achieved in the preparation of nanostructured transition metal oxides for conversion reaction anodes. Among the various shaped nanomaterials, core-shell structure with a carbon shell showed excellent electrochemical performance. Herein, we prepared peapod-like MnO@C nanowires as one special type of core-shell structure, and we elucidated the structure-properties relationship in peapod-like MnO@C nanowires for Li-ion batteries. The morphology of the manganese oxide particles inside the carbon layer could be simply controlled by adjusting the parameters in the carbonization process. The optimized composites exhibited excellent cycling performance without decreasing the capacity, and outstanding rate properties. The optimized structure can maximize the advantages such as structural durability against the stress involving huge volume changes, as well as minimize the side reaction at the surface. • We elucidated the structure-properties relationship in peapod-like MnO@C nanowires for Li-ion batteries. • The morphology of the particles inside the carbon layer could be controlled by adjusting the parameters for carbonization. • The optimized composites exhibited excellent cycling performance and rate properties. • The optimized structure can maximize the advantages such as structural durability against the stress involving huge volume changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to unparalleled theoretical capacity and operation voltage, metallic Li is considered as the most attractive candidate for lithium‐ion battery anodes. However, Li metal electrodes suffer from uncontrolled dendrite growth and consequent interfacial instability, which result in an unacceptable level of performance in cycling stability and safety. Herein, it is reported that a marginal amount (1.5 at%) of magnesium (Mg) doping alters the surface properties of Li metal foil drastically in such a way that upon Li plating, a highly dense Li whisker layer is induced, instead of sharp dendrites, with enhanced interfacial stability and cycling performance. The effect of Mg doping is explained in terms of increased surface energy, which facilitates plating of Li onto the main surface over the existing whiskers. The present study offers a useful guideline for Li metal batteries, as it largely resolves the longstanding shortcoming of Li metal electrodes without significantly sacrificing their main advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]