Search Results (1,777)

Buried interfaces and interphases often govern performance loss in rechargeable batteries, although their functions are frequently inferred from spatially averaged composition, surface-sensitive measurements, or cell-level electrochemical response. In this Perspective, an interface denotes the geometrical boundary between adjacent phases, whereas an interphase denotes a finite-thickness region whose composition or structure differs from those of the adjoining bulk phases. Rather than organizing the discussion by focused ion beam (FIB) modality or battery chemistry alone, we adopt an architecture-first, evidence-bounded framework and compare three classes of buried-interface architecture: engineered particle coatings; electrochemically generated solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) regions together with lithium-metal deposits; and solid–solid contacts in all-solid-state batteries. For each class, the formation route and required function are related to spatial descriptors, including thickness distribution, lateral continuity, pore or gap topology, chemical gradients, contact area, and contact retention. FIB-enabled cross-sectioning, tomography, and correlative spectroscopy can register morphology, chemistry, and contact geometry within a common spatial frame, but they do not directly measure ionic conductivity, electronic leakage, adhesion energy, or local reaction rate. Such functional attribution therefore requires complementary electrochemistry, spectroscopy, modeling, temporal observation, and representative sampling. Across the three classes, durable interfacial function depends on chemically selective transport pathways that remain spatially continuous and mechanically viable during processing, cycling, and storage. Full article

Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) characterization is needed to interpret the performance, degradation, and lifetime of graphite and Si-containing carbon-based negative electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. However, SEI claims are often difficult to compare because measured signals, inferred assignments, sample history, and electrode architecture are not always clearly separated. This review presents a claim-bounded framework for SEI characterization that distinguishes direct observables from inferred chemical, molecular, structural, morphological, and functional information. Photoelectron spectroscopy methods provide chemical-state and relative-depth-sensitivity constraints; secondary-ion mass spectrometry methods provide fragment and isotope distributions; vibrational spectroscopies support functional-group and local vibrational evidence; nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular mass spectrometry provide molecular or product-level constraints; and microscopy, tomography, and atomic force microscopy provide morphology, architecture, local thickness, topography, and mechanical response. Across these methods, rinsing, drying, sputtering, beam exposure, extraction, and limited sampling can alter the observable and therefore the defensible claim. The review emphasizes the distinction between native electrode-associated SEI features and extracted, soluble, or electrolyte-phase products, and between morphology-only evidence and chemically assigned morphology. It concludes by proposing claim-driven correlative workflows and reporting guidance for reproducible interpretation on graphite, Si/graphite, Si/C, and carbon-coated Si architectures where directly studied or present. Full article

Since the thrust of a single-emitter Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) thruster is limited to 1–20 µN, a multi-emitter configuration is necessary to increase the thrust capacity. This study proposes a hybrid multi-emitter configuration designed to achieve uniform current distribution, enhanced thrust, and high efficiency. The design consists of linearly arrayed hybrid emitters, dummy emitters, and a slit extractor. Preliminary experiments investigated Taylor cone formation and ion emission characteristics. Capillary emitters exhibited pulse, oscillating, and continuous emission modes depending on the power supply method, whereas hybrid emitters exhibited only continuous emission with well-confined Taylor cone formation and consistent current–voltage characteristics. Key design requirements for the hybrid multi-emitter configuration include axially aligned electric field distribution and a large extractor hole diameter. The proposed configuration generates the required electric field distribution with the aid of dummy emitters, achieving uniform current emission across the emitter array. The calculated maximum thrust and emitter power-to-thrust ratio were 279.0 µN and 160.4 mW/µN, respectively, at an emitter current of 2.86 mA. These results demonstrate the potential of the proposed hybrid multi-emitter configuration as a scalable emitter architecture for FEEP thruster applications requiring uniform ion emission and increased thrust capacity. Full article

Optical through silicon vias (OTSVs) have been regarded as a promising alternative to conventional (electrical) through silicon vias (TSVs) for the next-generation electro-optic heterogeneous integration. This study systematically examines the influence of fabrication imperfections on the transmission performance in terms of incident light misalignment, via geometry variation, and sidewall roughness. The results demonstrate that over a finite range of beam widths, the insertion loss can be maintained at a relatively low level of less than −0.16 dBm, and this low-loss window broadens with increasing via diameter. Moreover, an increased diameter exhibits greater tolerance to the lateral offset, as for 10 μm, 20 μm, and 30 μm vias, the insertion loss rises to 3 dB at axis misalignments of 5 μm, 10 μm, and 15 μm, respectively. Additionally, smaller-diameter OTSVs are considerably more sensitive to sidewall slope angles than their larger-diameter counterparts. Additionally, minimizing the sidewall roughness is critical for maximizing the coupling efficiency, which suggests that the etch-passivation shift needs to be as quick as possible during the deep reactive ion etch (DRIE) process. With the proposed fabrication approach and comprehensive analysis of fabrication imperfection factors, this study provides essential insights for the development of high-performance OTSVs in advanced 3D optoelectronic integration. Full article

Solute Carrier Family 13 Member 5 (SLC13A5) encodes the sodium-dependent citrate cotransporter NaCT, which mediates citrate transport across cell membranes. Pathogenic variants in SLC13A5 cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 25 with amelogenesis imperfecta, DEE25; OMIM #615905, a debilitating autosomal recessive disorder. To better define the role of NaCT in ameloblast function and enamel mineralization, we used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate Slc13a5^R337* knock-in mice that terminate NaCT translation at the Arg337 codon, which is homologous to the human SLC13A5^R333* variant associated with DEE25. We compared enamel phenotypes among wild-type, Slc13a5^+/+; heterozygous, Slc13a5^+/R337*; and homozygous, Slc13a5^R337*/R337* mice using light microscopy, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, backscattered scanning electron microscopy (bSEM); and focused ion beam–scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) with quantitative imaging of organelles and matrix. Citrate bioassays were performed on serum, long bones, such as the femur and tibia, and developing mouse first molars, including enamel organ epithelium, mineralized tooth matrix, and pulp mesenchyme, to assess citrate levels during the presecretory, secretory, and maturation stages of enamel formation. In addition, first molars collected at postnatal days 0, 3, 5, and 12 were analyzed to characterize glycolytic and TCA cycle-related metabolic signatures. Homozygous Slc13a5^R337*/R337* mice exhibited severe defects during the secretory and maturation stages of amelogenesis. Most notably, Slc13a5^R337*/R337* ameloblasts failed to develop a Tomes’ process, detached from the enamel matrix surface, and produced a thin, poorly mineralized crust on the dentin surface rather than organized enamel ribbons. Despite the absence of normal enamel deposition, ameloblasts initially appeared viable and did not become dysplastic until the late secretory stage. Cellular and subcellular analyses revealed increased secondary lysosomes and intracellular accumulation of enamel matrix proteins, consistent with impaired matrix processing or secretion. Citrate concentrations were elevated in serum and long bones at both 7 and 35 weeks of age. Citrate was elevated in secretory-stage Slc13a5^R337*/R337* molars at days 0 and 3, the enamel organ epithelium (including ameloblasts), the pulp mesenchyme (including odontoblasts), and mineralizing dentin and enamel matrices. These levels gradually declined at day 5 and into the enamel maturation stage (day 12). GC-MS-based analysis of central carbon metabolites revealed increased intracellular accumulation of citrate, malate, and pyruvate, suggesting altered energy metabolism and reduced metabolic efficiency in Slc13a5^R337*/R337* mice. Together, these findings indicate that loss of NaCT function in the ameloblasts causes citrate accumulation, which impairs hydroxyapatite formation. Consequently, only a thin, structurally defective mineral crust forms on the dentin surface, while mineral nodules develop ectopically within the maturation-stage enamel organ epithelium. We conclude that regulating citrate concentration is essential for proper appositional growth of enamel. Full article

High-fidelity two-qubit entangling gates are essential for the realization of useful quantum algorithms on quantum processors. The Mølmer–Sørensen (MS) gate has become a common choice for trapped-ion quantum computing due to its resilience to ion temperature and its demonstrated record fidelities. However, the spectral impurity of the driving laser field impacts gate performance, with phase noise influencing the qubit dynamics through mechanisms operating on different timescales. In this work, we present a comprehensive theoretical analysis of laser phase noise in the MS gate, identifying two spectral ranges that influence the gate fidelity the most: “fast” noise at frequencies near the motional mode spectrum, and “slow” noise at frequencies on the order of the inverse gate time. We derive the noise Hamiltonians for two common laser beam geometries and obtain analytical expressions for the average gate error in terms of the laser noise power spectral density and gate parameters. For slowly varying noise spectra, we provide simplified error estimates. In addition, we validate our findings against previously published numerical simulations. Full article

The convex blazed grating is a key dispersive component in high-performance spectrometers, offering advantages such as a broad operating wavelength range, uniform dispersion, high diffraction efficiency, and the ability to achieve a large field of view. With the popularization of spectral detection technology and the ever-increasing demand for specialization, its design and fabrication technologies have drawn considerable attention in the field. This paper systematically reviews the development history of convex blazed grating design theory, from early scalar diffraction theory to the current mainstream rigorous vector methods, including rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA), the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, and commercial software such as Gsolver and PCGrate, and summarizes the applicable scenarios and limitations of each method. In terms of fabrication techniques, we comprehensively survey three typical technology routes—mechanical ruling, holographic ion beam etching, and electron beam lithography—covering their principles and progress, and analyze their respective merits and drawbacks in terms of precision, operating waveband, groove profile flexibility, and production capacity through comparative analysis. On this basis, we highlight recent breakthroughs achieved via electron beam lithography in blaze angle control and high-aspect-ratio etching for convex blazed gratings spanning from the ultraviolet to the very-long-wave infrared band; the diffraction efficiency has exceeded 80%, and such gratings have been successfully applied in aerospace engineering projects. Finally, this paper summarizes the current challenges facing convex blazed grating technology and provides an outlook on future development trends, including fabrication uniformity on curved substrates, large-area high-precision manufacturing, and design–process co-optimization, with the aim of offering a systematic reference for researchers and engineers in related fields. Full article

We demonstrate that dopant inhomogeneity strongly suppresses thermal conductivity in Cd/Eu co-doped, non-polar a-plane-oriented ZnO films grown on r-plane sapphire (Al₂O₃) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction confirms the a-plane-oriented ZnO without detectable secondary phases. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy shows continuous films with well-defined interfaces, and secondary-ion mass spectrometry depth profiling identifies Cd/Eu incorporation through the film thickness and a sharp Zn/O drop at the substrate interface. Cross-plane thermal transport was measured at room temperature using frequency-domain photothermal infrared radiometry (PTR) and analyzed by fitting the complex PTR amplitude and phase with a multilayer heat-diffusion model. The extracted thermal conductivity ($\kappa$) spans ~3.7–6.3 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹. The lowest $\kappa$ values correlate with increased Eu-distribution inhomogeneity, consistent with enhanced phonon scattering and reduced effective cross-plane heat transport. Full article

The formation of surface morphology under ion irradiation has been widely studied in various metals and metal surfaces. Nanoscale roughening or smoothing of the surface leads to changes in the thermal, electronic, and even antibacterial properties of metallic materials. In this study, first-principles calculations were used to gain insight into the modification of surface dipole moment due to changes in surface roughness for the case of tungsten (W). The physical nature of the change in work function (WF) due to surface roughness was found. For the W(100) surface, it was shown that the negative dipole layer formed on the surface prevents the outflow of electrons from the base metal, which leads to an increase in the WF from 3.92 eV to 4.17 eV with increasing surface roughness. The opposite was observed on the W(110) surface, where the decrease in the WF from 4.76 eV to 4.58 eV is due to a small dipole layer blocking electrons on the surface due to charge redistribution within the base metal. This study evaluates the changes in the electronic properties of W due to its surface modification under the ion beam irradiation, which can be applied in future experiments. Full article

Lasers operating in the 2 µm spectral region have significant application value and development potential in fields such as lidar, medical surgery, and mid-infrared nonlinear optics because they are located in the atmospheric absorption window and coincide with a strong absorption peak of water molecules. This article first briefly introduces the energy level characteristics and commonly used crystal matrices of Tm³⁺, Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺/Ho³⁺ codoped systems, and then reviews the research progress of 2 µm side-pumped solid-state lasers based on these ions and matrices. This review summarizes the research progress of 2 µm side-pumped solid-state lasers, categorized by operating mode and gain medium. Particular attention is given to the mature advantages of Tm-doped garnet lasers in high average power output and the potential of Tm/Ho-codoped fluoride lasers in high-energy, high-beam-quality pulse output. Finally, this paper further reviews the development of side-pumped laser structures and offers a prospective outlook on the future development of 2 µm region side-pumped lasers. Full article

The Lion Man sculpture (UNESCO World heritage), a left mammoth tusk and mammoth ivory fragments from the excavations in the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave, Lone valley, Swabian Alb, Germany, were non-invasively analysed by means of external ion beam analysis (IBA) at the microfocus beamline at the particle accelerator AGLAE. The Lion Man was reconstructed from about three hundred mammoth ivory fragments, while the tusk is a separate find, and the fragments are individual pieces that could not be placed in the Lion Man. A characteristic trace element fingerprint, based on zinc, bromine and strontium contents, was established according to previous IBA studies of Aurignacian-era mammoth ivory and allowed for a comparison of the mammoth ivory objects. The specific Hohlenstein-Stadel cave trace element fingerprint could be distinguished from that of other Aurignacian sites in Europe but closely resembles that of the contemporary ivories from the neighbouring Hohle Fels cave. Although this study highlights that the Lion Man sculpture is chemically inhomogeneous due to diagenetic alterations, the left tusk and individual ivory fragments are chemically very similar to the Lion Man. However, further analyses are required to relate them to the same animal. Secondary minerals such as black manganese oxide dendrites and iron-rich aluminosilicates could be identified on the Lion Man and the other ivory objects at the surface. While dendrites are a characteristic diagenetic feature of mammoth ivory, the origin of iron-rich aluminosilicates can be linked either to sediment traces or surface treatment and use wear of the sculpture. Iron-rich zones are identified on particular parts of the Lion Man, namely, at the snout and at the left forearm with decorative signs. The snout is also particularly enriched in carbon, whose origin still needs to be clarified. Full article

Cryo-electron tomography (Cryo-ET) has emerged as a transformative tool for visualizing viral components within their native cellular environment, enabling structural interrogation of viral life cycle events at nanometer resolution without chemical fixation or heavy metal staining. However, a persistent challenge in applying Cryo-ET to virus research is the unambiguous identification of specific viral components within densely crowded tomographic volumes. Electron density encodes mass and shape but not molecular identity, and as the cellular environment grows more complex, the assumption that a given density has no plausible alternative assignment becomes increasingly difficult to defend. This review surveys labeling and localization strategies for in situ Cryo-ET of viral components, encompassing label-free exploitation of native electron density, Cryo-immunogold labeling, genetically encoded and synthetic molecular tags, and correlative Cryo-light/electron microscopy (Cryo-CLEM) combined with Cryo-focused ion beam (Cryo-FIB) milling. We first summarize the landmark structural discoveries that in situ Cryo-ET has delivered across virus families, and then evaluate each labeling strategy against the structural and functional constraints that viral proteins impose, providing a practical framework for matching a labeling approach to a specific viral component and life-cycle stage. Full article

In this work, we implement the finite-field (FF) method for isotope shift (IS) calculations within the relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac–Hartree–Fock (MCDHF) framework of the GRASPG program package. The implementation is benchmarked using the ten lowest-lying fine-structure levels of B II by comparing FF results for the IS parameters with first-order perturbation theory (PT) results obtained using the RIS4 program. The relative deviations for the IS parameters are within 0.03%, and the computed transition isotope shifts agree with previous theoretical predictions and experimental measurements within the reported experimental uncertainties. Additional calculations for Ar XV further confirm the consistency between the FF and PT methods for heavier ions, and the resulting isotope shifts are consistent with the experimental values. This implementation therefore provides GRASPG with two equivalent and reliable approaches for isotope shift calculations. Full article

This study presents a phase-characterised optical set-up for shaped-beam femtosecond laser processing of double-sided lithium-ion battery anodes. The phase response was found to be power-independent, with consistent phase scaling across applied powers and a $2\pi$ phase shift completed at approximately 220–225 grey levels (GL). The measured modulation visibility stayed high. The generated beam profiles were in good agreement with MATLAB simulations, confirming reliable wavefront control. Under identical processing conditions, wavefronts carrying different orbital angular momentum (OAM) produced distinct kerf morphologies: at 30 overscans, $m=0$ gave a deeper cut with a taper angle of $16.5\pm 1.1°$, while $m=1$ gave a shallower groove with a less steep angle of $26.3\pm 1.9°$, indicating different Cu-layer interaction and ejecta behaviour. When the overscan number was increased to 45 at the same average power, both $m=0$ and $m=1$ achieved through-cuts. However, the $m=1$ condition produced a cleaner cut edge, a more vertical kerf wall, and reduced graphite delamination and heat-affected damage compared with the Gaussian beam. These results demonstrate the potential of wavefront engineering for laser processing of layered battery anodes, where improved cut confinement and edge quality can be achieved through beam shaping under relatively low-energy, moderate-overscan, and tight-focusing conditions. Full article

Phosphogypsum (PG) is the main by-product of the wet processing of phosphate rock for phosphoric acid production and is generated worldwide in hundreds of millions of tons per year. With an increasing demand for gypsum-based materials for industrial and agricultural applications and the predictable gypsum shortage in the coming years, PG can be considered a valuable replacement. However, the presence of fluorine in PG can limit its use, given the negative effects it can have on human health and the environment. In this work, it is presented a new methodology which determines with high sensitivity the fluorine concentrations in PG by a combination of Ion Beam Analytical (IBA) techniques, with a focus on PIGE (Particle Induced $\gamma$-ray Emission). Seventeen PG samples were analyzed, fifteen of which originated from processing experiments. Fluorine was detected in concentrations ranging from 0.003 to 0.691 wt.%. The upper end of this range is comparable to or higher than typical values reported for PG and may require treatment depending on the intended end use and environmental compliance criteria. Full article