ZnCdO/ZnO – a new heterosystem for green‐wavelength semiconductor lasing

We report on our efforts to cultivate the ternary compound ZnCdO as a semiconductor laser material. Molecular beam epitaxy far from thermal equilibrium allows us to overcome the standard solubility limit and to fabricate alloys with band gaps ranging from 3.4 down to 2.1 eV. Optimized structures containing well‐defined quantum wells as active zones are capable of low‐threshold lasing under optical pumping up to room temperature. The longest lasing wavelength achieved so far is 510 nm.     

Review of the Theoretical Description of Time‐Resolved Angle‐Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy in Electron‐Phonon Mediated Superconductors

We review recent work on the theory for pump/probe photoemission spectroscopy of electron‐phonon mediated superconductors in both the normal and the superconducting states. We describe the formal developments that allow one to solve the Migdal‐Eliashberg theory in nonequilibrium for an ultrashort laser pumping field, and explore the solutions which illustrate the relaxation as energy is transferred from electrons to phonons. We focus on exact results emanating from sum rules and approximate numerical results which describe rules of thumb for relaxation processes. In addition, in the superconducting state, we describe how Anderson‐Higgs oscillations can be excited due to the nonlinear coupling with the electric field and describe mechanisms where pumping the system enhances superconductivity.     

Interface-charged impurity scattering in semiconductor MOSFETs and MODFETs: temperature-dependent resistivity and 2D ‘metallic‘ behavior

We present the results on the anomalous 2D transport behavior by employing Drude–Boltzmann transport theory and taking into account the realistic charge impurity scattering effects. Our results show quantitative agreement with the existing experimental data in several different systems and address the origin of the strong and nonmonotonic temperature-dependent resistivity.     

Tuning the phase transition of ZnO thin films through lithography: an integrated bottom‐up and top‐down processing

An innovative approach towards the physico‐chemical tailoring of zinc oxide thin films is reported. The films have been deposited by liquid phase using the sol–gel method and then exposed to hard X‐rays, provided by a synchrotron storage ring, for lithography. The use of surfactant and chelating agents in the sol allows easy‐to‐pattern films made by an organic–inorganic matrix to be deposited. The exposure to hard X‐rays strongly affects the nucleation and growth of crystalline ZnO, triggering the formation of two intermediate phases before obtaining a wurtzite‐like structure. At the same time, X‐ray lithography allows for a fast patterning of the coatings enabling microfabrication for sensing and arrays technology.     

Ultra‐low acoustic‐phonon‐limited mobility and giant phonon‐drag thermopower in MgZnO/ZnO heterostructures

We present numerical simulations of the acoustic‐phonon‐limited mobility, $ \mu _{\rm ac}, $ and phonon‐drag thermopower, S^{\rm g},$ in two‐dimensional electron gases confined in MgZnO/ZnO heterostructures. The calculations are based on the Boltzmann equation and are made for temperatures in the range 0.3–20 K and sheet densities 0.5–30 × 10¹⁵ m^–2. The theoretical estimations of \mu _{\rm ac} $ are in good agreement with the experiment without any adjustable parameters. We find that the magnitude of \mu _{\rm ac} $ is dramatically decreased in relation to GaAs‐based heterostructures. The phonon‐drag thermopower, S^{\rm g},$ which according to Herring's expression is inversely proportional to \mu _{\rm ac} is severely increased exceeding 200 mV/K at T = 5 K depending on sheet density. The giant values of S^{\rm g} $ lead to a strong improvement of the figure of merit ZT at low temperatures. Our findings suggest that MgZnO/ZnO heterostructures can be candidates for good thermoelectric materials at cryogenic temperatures. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

k//=0 filtering effects in ballistic electron transport through sub-surface GaAs–AlGaAs double barrier resonant tunneling structures

In ballistic electron emission microscopy on Au–GaAs double barrier resonant tunneling diodes, electrons are transferred across an interface between an area of high and low effective mass and subsequently through a low-dimensional state. Experimentally, the resonant level in the double barrier structure becomes evident as clear step in the ballistic current measured as a function of sample bias. To analyze the spectrum, an extended transfer matrix method, together with the commonly accepted Bell Kaiser model is used. In terms of this model we show that only electrons with zero wave vector parallel to the barriers can be transmitted resonantly.     

Synergistic Effect of Thermo‐Radiotherapy Using Au@FeS Core–Shell Nanoparticles as Multifunctional Therapeutic Nanoagents

Imaging guided combined therapy has attracted great attention in recent years. This study develops core–shell Au@FeS nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating as multifunctional nanotheranostic agent for tumor imaging and combined photothermal therapy (PTT) and radiotherapy (RT). In this Au@FeS nanostructure, the gold core can act as a radiosensitizer for enhanced RT, while FeS shell offers contrast for T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging and endows the nanoparticles with strong high near‐infrared (NIR) for photoacoustic imaging and PTT. As demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo experiments, Au@FeS‐PEG can act as excellent therapeutic agent for cancer synergistic treatment. More importantly, mild PTT boosts the blood flow into tumor and increases oxygenation to overcome the tumor hypoxia microenvironment, further enhancing the efficacy of RT. Moreover, Au@FeS‐PEG induces on obvious toxicity at a high dose (20 mg kg^?1) to the treated mice as evidenced by blood biochemistry. Therefore, this study brings an excellent strategy for cancer enhanced RT through NIR‐triggered mild PTT to overcome hypoxia‐associated radioresistance.     

Adamantyl‐endcapped polyynes

Polyynes spanning from a diyne to a dodecayne with adamantyl endgroups have been synthesized using the Fritsch–Buttenberg–Wiechell rearrangement as a key step to construct the acetylenic framework. Molecular properties as a function of polyyne length have been analyzed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray crystallography. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile fabrication of forest‐like ZnO hierarchical structures on conductive fabric substrate

Forest‐like ZnO hierarchical structures were synthesized on the conductive fabric substrate via a simple one‐step electrochemical deposition process. By applying externally a high cathodic voltage to the samples, ZnO microrods were aligned on the seed coated layer and then ZnO branches were formed on the pillars of ZnO microrods, which was caused by the strong deposition potential between the pillars of ZnO microrods and the Zn²⁺ dissolved in growth solution. At the external cathodic voltage of –3 V, the optimized forest‐like ZnO hierarchical structures exhibited high density, high porosity, and good crystallinity. These fabricated forest‐like ZnO hierarchical structures are potentially useful for electronic and chemical sensing applications. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Wintersweet Branch‐Like C/C@SnO2/MoS2 Nanofibers as High‐Performance Li and Na‐Ion Battery Anodes

Structure and morphology of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) play an important role in improving its reversible lithium storage and sodium storage as anodes. In this study, a facile method is developed to prepare C/C@SnO₂/MoS₂ nanofibers with MoS₂ nanoflakes anchoring on the core–shell C/C@SnO₂ nanofibers through hydrothermal reaction. By adjusting the concentration of MoS₂ precursors, the synthesized MoS₂ with different slabs dimensions, size, and morphologies are obtained, constituting budding and blooming wintersweet branch‐like composite structure, respectively. Owing to scattered MoS₂ nanoparticles and sporadic MoS₂ nanoflakes, the budding wintersweet branch‐like composite nanofibers processes less slabs of staking in number and large specific surface area. Benefiting from the exposed C@SnO₂ shell layer, the synergistic effect among SnO₂, carbon, and MoS₂ is strengthened, which maximizes the advantage of each material to exhibit stable specific capacities of 650 and 230 mAh g^?1 for Li‐ion batteries and Na‐ion batteries after 200 cycles.     

Dissipative ion acoustic solitary waves in collisional,magneto‐rotating,non‐thermal electron–positron–ion plasma

The linear and non‐linear dynamics of ion acoustic waves are investigated in three‐component magnetized plasma consisting of cold inertial ions and non‐thermal electrons and positrons. The non‐thermal components are modelled by the hybrid distribution, representing the combination of two (kappa and Cairn's) non‐thermal distributions. The relevant processes, including the slow rotation of plasma along the magnetic field axis and collision between ions and neutrals, are taken into consideration. It is shown that the non‐linear dynamics of the considered system are governed by the Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation in modified form. In the general dissipation regime, the effects of the two non‐thermal distributions on the solitary waves are compared. The effects of other plasma parameters, such as collisional and rotational frequency, are also discussed in detail.