To help characterise the palaeogeographic and lacustrine environmental changes that resulted from the Holocene transgression and residual subsidence in the eastern Kanto Plain of central Japan, we analysed four drill cores and reviewed other core data from the southern part of the Lake Inba area. Fossil diatom assemblages yielded evidence of centennial-scale palaeogeographic and salinity responses to sea-level changes since the late Pleistocene. We determined that the seawater incursion into the Lake Inba area during the Holocene transgression occurred at approximately 9000 yr. We also recognised a late Holocene regression event corresponding to the Yayoi regression, considered to have occurred from ca. 3000 to ca. 2000 yr, and a subsequent transgression. Our data clarify some of the palaeogeographic changes that occurred in the Lake Inba area and document an overall trend toward lower salinity in the lake during the regression. In particular, the environment in Lake Inba changed from brackish to freshwater no later than 1000 yr. From the detailed palaeogeographic and palaeo-sea-level reconstruction, we recognised that residual subsidence occurred during the Holocene in this area. Thus, comparison of sea-level reconstructions based on modelling and fossil diatom assemblages is effective in interpreting Holocene long-term subsidence.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are promising candidates for use in alternative energy technologies. A full understanding of the reaction mechanisms in these dynamic material systems is required to optimize device performance and overcome present limitations. Here, we show that in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to study redox reactions and ionic conductivity in SOFCs in a gas environment at elevated temperature. We examine model ultrathin half and complete cells in two environmental TEMs using off-axis electron holography and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Our results from the model cells provide insight into the essential phenomena that are important for the operation of commercial devices. Changes in the activities of dopant cations in the solid electrolyte are detected during oxygen anion conduction, demonstrating the key role of dopants in electrolyte architecture in SOFCs.

Redox reactions were studied at a single yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)/Pt electrode interface, in parallel with pure YSZ with no catalyst electrode, by in situ analytical electron microscopy at elevated temperatures and in an oxygen atmosphere. In situ electron holography showed that the oxide underwent reduction at elevated temperatures in a vacuum and was consequently reoxidized upon exposure to an oxygen flux at the same temperature. In situ energy loss spectroscopy measurements were in agreement with in situ electron holography observations and indicated that the oxidation state of the host cation zirconium was altered in the reduced state of the YSZ to the metastable state Zr3+.

Nanostructural characterizations of liquid metal–organic precursors-derived cobalt-doped amorphous silica (Si–Co–O) membranes supported on a mesoporous anodic alumina capillary (MAAC) tube were performed to study their unique high-temperature hydrogen gas permeation properties. Cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy images and selected-area electron diffraction patterns indicated that the metal cobalt and the different oxidation states of cobalt oxides (CoO and Co3O4) nanocrystallites having a size range of 5–20 nm were in situ formed in the mesopore channels of the MAAC tube. In addition, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy micrographs and electron energy loss spectroscopy elemental mapping images indicated that the highly dense Co-doped amorphous Si–O formed within the mesopore channels of the MAAC tube. These nanostructural features could contribute to the hydrogen-selective permeation properties observed for the membranes.

This paper reports a transition in the fracture behavior of micron-sized single-crystal-silicon (SCS) film in an MEMS structure for various film thicknesses and ambient temperatures. The mean fracture toughness of 4-µm-thick SCS films was 1.28 MPa at room temperature (RT), and the value increased as the film thickness decreased, reaching 2.91 MPa for submicron-thick films. The fracture toughness of 4-µm-thick film did not change for ambient temperatures ranging from RT to 60ºC. However, it drastically increased at 70ºC and reached 2.60 MPa at 150ºC. Enhanced dislocation activity in the SCS crystal near the fracture surface was observed on 1-µm-thick film at RT and 4-µm-thick film at 80ºC by high-voltage electron microscopy. This change in dislocation activity seemed to correlated with the transition in fracture behavior.

An experimental high-resolution image of a solid–liquid interface of solid Si and liquid Al–Si alloy has been compared with theoretical images obtained by computer simulation. It has been concluded that the solid–liquid interface has a transition layer, the structure of which is compatible with the 1 × 1 Si-{111} surface.