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Quasicrystals exhibit long-range order but lack translational symmetry. When grown as single crystals, they possess distinctive and unusual properties owing to the absence of grain boundaries. Unfortunately, conventional methods such as bulk crystal growth or thin film deposition only allow us to synthesize either polycrystalline quasicrystals or quasicrystals that are at most a few centimeters in size. Here, we reveal through real-time and 3D imaging the formation of a single decagonal quasicrystal arising from a hard collision between multiple growing quasicrystals in an Al-Co-Ni liquid. Through corresponding molecular dynamics simulations, we examine the underlying kinetics of quasicrystal coalescence and investigate the effects of initial misorientation between the growing quasicrystalline grains on the formation of grain boundaries. At small misorientation, coalescence occurs following rigid rotation that is facilitated by phasons. Our joint experimental-computational discovery paves the way toward fabrication of single, large-scale quasicrystals for novel applications., Quasicrystals exhibit long-range order without periodicity. The authors report an approach for quasicrystal fabrication and show through in situ imaging and corresponding simulations the formation of a single decagonal quasicrystal arising from coalescence of multiple quasicrystals in a liquid.

Hot tears are detrimental defects forming during the final stage of solidification when the remaining liquid loses the capacity to compensate for liquid to solid volume shrinkage. Although a mature semi-quantitative description of hot tearing has been developed, little is known about the dynamic evolution of hot tears as experimental studies have been conducted mostly post-solidification or in semi-static in-situ conditions. Here, we present a methodology to investigate the evolution of hot tears with high spatial and temporal resolution using synchrotron-based X-ray radiography. We develop a novel hot tear detection and tracking algorithm for quantification of hot tear density, area fraction and merging from the analysis of radiographic sequences of the solidification of thin metal samples. The methodology is demonstrated for an Al-5wt%Cu alloy and examples of the results and new insights that can be achieved are described.

The nucleation and growth dynamics of a decagonal quasicrystal and its approximant ‘X’ phase are considered. Various similarities and differences are elucidated., Quasicrystals and their approximants have triggered widespread interest due to the challenge of solving their complex crystal structures as well as their possibly exceptional properties. The structural motifs of approximants are similar to those of the corresponding quasicrystals, but to what extent are their crystallization pathways the same? Unfortunately, there have been very few in situ experimental investigations to answer this question. Here, by leveraging the high penetrating power of hard X-rays, synchrotron-based X-ray tomography was conducted in order to capture the nucleation and growth of a decagonal quasicrystal and its related approximant. The combination of data-driven computational analysis with new thermodynamic databases allowed the characterization, with high precision, of the constitutional and kinetic driving forces for crystallization. The experimental results prove that the growth of both crystals from a liquid is dominated by first-order kinetics. Nevertheless, and somewhat surprisingly, significant differences were observed in their rates of nucleation and growth. The reasons for such divergent behaviours are discussed in light of contemporary theories of intermetallic crystallization.

We report the laser-induced solid-state transformation between a periodic ``approximant'' and quasicrystal in the Al-Cr system during rapid quenching. Dynamic transmission electron microscopy allows us to capture in situ the dendritic growth of the metastable quasicrystals. The formation of dendrites during solid-state transformation is a rare phenomenon, which we attribute to the structural similarity between the two intermetallics. Through ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we identify the dominant structural motif to be a 13-atom icosahedral cluster transcending the phases of matter.

A versatile, compact heater designed at National Synchrotron Light Source-II forin situX-ray nano-imaging in a full-field transmission X-ray microscope is presented. Heater design for nano-imaging is challenging, combining tight spatial constraints with stringent design requirements for the temperature range and stability. Finite-element modeling and analytical calculations were used to determine the heater design parameters. Performance tests demonstrated reliable and stable performance, including maintaining the exterior casing close to room temperature while the heater is operating at above 1100°C, a homogenous heating zone and small temperature fluctuations. Two scientific experiments are presented to demonstrate the heater capabilities: (i)in situ3D nano-tomography including a study of metal dealloying in a liquid molten salt extreme environment, and (ii) a study of pore formation in icosahedral quasicrystals. The progression of structural changes in both studies were clearly resolved in 3D, showing that the new heater enables powerful capabilities to directly visualize and quantify 3D morphological evolution of materials under real conditions by X-ray nano-imaging at elevated temperature during synthesis, fabrication and operation processes. This heater design concept can be applied to other applications where a precise, compact heater design is required.

Semiconducting binary sulfides are often produced with controlled size and shape by solvothermal synthesis using amine solvents. The versatility of this method, however, has not been extended to dense ternary sulfides that include alkali and transition metal ions, which are renowned for their complex magnetic and electronic properties. We report the solvothermal synthesis of the alkali–transition metal sulfides KFeS2 and KFe2S3. The latter compound is not accessible by direct solid-state synthesis. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate antiferromagnetic ordering of KFeS2 and KFe2S3, which contain single and double chains of FeS4 tetrahedra, respectively. Given the ability to access KFe2S3 here, further development of this method may lead to isolation of new functional compounds.

The dynamics of growth and relaxation of icosahedral single quasicrystals in a liquid phase were investigated using in situ synchrotron-based X-ray tomography. Our 4D studies (i.e., space- and time-resolved) provide direct evidence that indicates the growth process of an Al71Pd19Mn10 quasicrystal is governed predominantly by bulk transport rather than attachment kinetics. This work is in agreement with theoretical predictions, which show that the pentagonal dodecahedron is not the minimum energy structure in Al-Pd-Mn icosahedral quasicrystals, but merely a growth shape characterized by non-zero anisotropic velocity. This transient shape transforms into a truncated dodecahedral Archimedian polyhedron once equilibrium has been attained.

How does a quasicrystal grow? Despite the decades of research that have been dedicated to this area of study, it remains one of the fundamental puzzles in the field of crystal growth. Although there has been no lack of theoretical studies on quasicrystal growth, there have been very few experimental investigations with which to test their various hypotheses. In particular, evidence of the in situ and three-dimensional (3D) growth of a quasicrystal from a parent liquid phase is lacking. To fill-in-the-gaps in our understanding of the solidification and melting pathways of quasicrystals, we performed synchrotron-based X-ray imaging experiments on a decagonal phase with composition of Al-15at%Ni-15at%Co. High-flux X-ray tomography enabled us to observe both growth and melting morphologies of the 3D quasicrystal at temperature. We determined that there is no time-reversal symmetry upon growth and melting of the decagonal quasicrystal. While quasicrystal growth is predominantly dominated by the attachment kinetics of atomic clusters in the liquid phase, melting is instead barrier-less and limited by buoyancy-driven convection. These experimental results provide the much-needed benchmark data that can be used to validate simulations of phase transformations involving this unique phase of matter.

In this study, we prepared Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals (QCs) via thermal spray coating after optimizing the process parameters. Both in-situ XRD and in-situ TEM were used to investigate the thermal stability of QC phase. These dynamic techniques uniquely allow for a direct observation of QC growth upon heating and cooling. We show that the cubic s-Al-Cu-Fe is the dominant phase at room temperature (initial stage), but with an increase in temperature, the QC takes over at 650°C, consistent with thermodynamic calculations. Further increasing the temperature to 800°C, the QC phase transforms into cubic s-Al-Cu-Fe such that the s-Al-Cu-Fe phase is the only phase in existence at 870°C. Based on this result, we annealed the sample after thermal spray deposition for one hour at 650°C, which yielded an almost pure QC coating. The contact angle (against water) before annealing was 50°±4° but improved dramatically to 130°±5° after annealing at 650°C for one hour. This study provides a better understanding of QC formation during heat treatment as well as that of other secondary phases. Furthermore, these results can be used to manufacture QC coatings with enhanced interfacial properties that are central to technological applications.

In this study, we prepared Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals (QCs) via thermal spray coating after optimizing the process parameters. Both in-situ XRD and in-situ TEM were used to investigate the thermal stability of QC phase. These dynamic techniques uniquely allow for a direct observation of QC growth upon heating and cooling. We show that the cubic β-Al-Cu-Fe is the dominant phase at room temperature (initial stage), but with an increase in temperature, the QC takes over at 650 °C, consistent with thermodynamic calculations. Further increasing the temperature to 800 °C, the QC phase transforms into cubic β-Al-Cu-Fe such that the β-Al-Cu-Fe phase is the only phase in existence at 870 °C. Based on this result, we annealed the sample after thermal spray deposition for one hour at 650 °C, which yielded an almost pure QC coating. The contact angle (against water) before annealing was 50°±4° but improved dramatically to 130°±5° after annealing at 650 °C for 1 h. This study provides a better understanding of QC formation during heat treatment as well as that of other secondary phases. Furthermore, these results can be used to manufacture QC coatings with enhanced interfacial properties that are central to technological applications.

Over a decade, intelligent and persistent forms of cyber threats have been damaging to the organizations’ cyber assets and missions. In this paper, we analyze current cyber kill chain models that explain the adversarial behavior to perform advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks, and propose a cyber kill chain model that can be used in view of cyber situation awareness. Based on the proposed cyber kill chain model, we propose a threat taxonomy that classifies attack tactics and techniques for each attack phase using CAPEC, ATT&CK that classify the attack tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) proposed by MITRE. We also implement a cyber common operational picture (CyCOP) to recognize the situation of cyberspace. The threat situation can be represented on the CyCOP by applying cyber kill chain based threat taxonomy.

The polyol synthesis of silver (Ag) nanostructures typically involves the rapid injection of Ag precursor to a preheated, ethylene glycol solution containing polymeric stabilizers and other additives. Here we report that Ag nanowires can be synthesized in high yields by applying a heat-up process in the polyol synthesis. Electron microscopy studies revealed that multiple-twinned Ag seeds were generated preferentially during the heat-up procedure, and then grew into nanowires. We also demonstrate that these Ag nanowires can be applied as electrode materials for the fabrication of flexible and transparent organic field-effect transistors with a reasonably high hole-mobility.

This Letter describes a simple, aqueous-phase route to synthesize Ag nanoplates with enhanced lateral sizes via a heat-up method. By slowly heating an aqueous solution containing both AgNO 3 and PVP, we were able to produce Ag nanoplates with an average lateral size larger than 1 μm. Electron microscopy analyses revealed that in the heat-up synthesis, Ag nanoplates could grow into large sizes due to continued generation and deposition of Ag atoms during the heat-up procedure. Our results suggest that it is possible to enhance anisotropic growth of metal nanostructures by using a simple heat-up process.

Recently with base apply MANET with the application for the service discovery and delivery which are various techniques are being proposed the result of such MANET base research techniques from actual inside. This dissertation proposes T-Chord(Trustworthy-based Chord) Ring system for MANET to guarantees from such requirements. T-Chord Ring system in order to manage Efficiently the services which the mobile nodes provide is the service discovery system which uses P2P overlay network Technique in mobile environment. The system which is proposed MANET communications in order to accomplish a service discovery operation with physical network class and logical network class will be able to minimize problems from about MANET service discoveries, and uses the dispersive hash table technique for a service discovery and effectiveness of service discovery improves and will be able to guarantee the expandability of network size. The mobile nodes(mobile device) have a mobility from MANET and operate with service request node, service provide node and service transmit node. The mobile nodes will be able to elect cluster header using Trustworthy that was evaluated service request, provision and delivery in each other. The system which is proposed a service discovery and a delivery efficiently will compose the cluster head which will grow of P2P overlay networks and will be able to accomplish. The system which proposes from dissertation is composed of Trustworthy evaluations of MANET mobile nodes, service information collection which is dispersed and P2P overlay networks that composed of Chord algorithm modules which provide O(Log N) efficiencies. The system comparison evaluation analyzes an efficiency from the expandability side of effectiveness and the network of service discovery technique and the service discovery message over head, service discovery and delivery of former times and service discovery and delivery is excellent gives proof from MANET.

Service discovery mechanism is a core technique for getting a desired service in MANET (Mobile Ad-Hoc NETwork) environment. However, As feature of MANET, existing mechanisms have some problem that service requester search for trustable service. Also it can not support scalability, in this paper, how to reliably support applications such as service discovery on top of MANET. We are firstly finding a trustable service provider and configure DHT (Distributed Hash Table). P2P (Peer-to-Peer)'s DHT can be adopted to service discovery mechanism because P2P and MANET share certain similarities, primarily the fact that both are instances of self-organizing decentralized systems. Especially, Proposed DHT systems used for P2P overlay network can be effective in reducing the communication overhead in service discovery. So proposed mechanism can support for reliably searching required service and scalability. Simulation results show that our mechanism is scalable and outperforms existing service discovery mechanism.