Development and Properties of Surfactant‐Free Water‐Dispersible Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystals: A Material for Low‐Cost Photovoltaics

A simple, yet novel hydrothermal method has been developed to synthesize surfactant‐free Cu₂ZnSnS₄ nanocrystal ink in water. The environmentally friendly, 2–4 nm ultrafine particles are stable in water for several weeks. Detailed X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of single‐crystalline‐kesterite‐phase Cu₂ZnSnS₄. Elemental mapping by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry corroborated the presence of all four elements in a stoichiometric ratio with minor sulfur deficiency. Finally, Raman spectroscopy ruled out the possible presence of impurities of ZnS, Cu₂SnS₃, SnS, SnS₂, Cu_2?xS, or Sn₂S₃, which often interfere with the XRD and optical spectra of Cu₂ZnSnS₄. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of the as‐synthesized samples confirmed that the oxidation states of the four elements match those of the bulk sample. Optical absorption analyses of thin film and solution samples showed high absorption efficiency (>10⁴ cm^?1) across the visible and near‐infrared spectral regions and a band gap E_g of 1.75 eV for the as‐synthesized sample. A non‐ohmic asymmetric rectifying response was observed in the I–V measurement at room temperature. The nonlinearity was more pronounced for this p‐type semiconductor when the resistance was measured against temperature in the range 180–400 K, which was detected in the hot‐point probe measurement.     

Anisotropic spheres with variable energy density in general relativity

Interior solutions of Einstein field equations for anisotropic spheres with variable energy density are obtained. The solutions for uniform energy density [10] and for radial pressure equal to zero [11] are particular cases of the present solution. With this solution we are also able to discuss an anisotropic gas sphere. Physically it explains larger red-shifts of different quasi-stellar objects. The results of the model have been used to explain the behaviour of a neutron stars and conclude that the maximum mass of a neutron star does not exceed two solar masses, which confirms the Chandrasekhar limit.     

Niels Bohr's discussions with Albert Einstein,Werner Heisenberg,and Erwin Schrödinger: The origins of the principles of uncertainty and complementarity

In this paper, the main outlines of the discussions between Niels Bohr with Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schrödinger during 1920–1927 are treated. From the formulation of quantum mechanics in 1925–1926 and wave mechanics in 1926, there emerged Born's statistical interpretation of the wave function in summer 1926, and on the basis of the quantum mechanical transformation theory—formulated in fall 1926 by Dirac, London, and Jordan—Heisenberg formulated the uncertainty principle in early 1927. At the Volta Conference in Como in September 1927 and at the fifth Solvay Conference in Brussels the following month, Bohr publicly enunciated his complementarity principle, which had been developing in his mind for several years. The Bohr-Einstein discussions about the consistency and completeness of qnautum mechanics and of physical theory as such—formally begun in October 1927 at the fifth Solvay Conference and carried on at the sixth Solvay Conference in October 1930—were continued during the next decades. All these aspects are briefly summarized.     

Influence of preparation techniques on the structure of amorphous metallic alloy (Mo0.6Ru0.4)82B18

We report X-ray diffraction studies and density measurements on liquid quenched foils and sputter deposited films of the amorphous metallic alloy, (Mo_0.6Ru_0.4)₈₂B₁₈. The crystallization temperature (T_x) for both the films and the foils is ～800 ± 10°C. The density of the as-sputtered films is ～4% less than that of the foils. The annealing of these films at $\text{～}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{2}$ increases the density to within ～1.7% of the value for the foils. The X-ray diffractionpatterns for both the foils and films are similar and show the amorphous nature of the samples. The reduced radial distribution functions suggest that as-sputtered films have noticably larger second and third nearest neighbor distances, probably due to excess residual stresses and voids in them.     

A solution for a charged sphere in general relativity

In the present paper the field equations of general relativity have been solved to obtain a solution for a static charged fluid sphere. This solution is free from singularity and satisfies the necessary physical conditions.     

Copper-Catalyzed One-Pot Arylation and Cyclization of Diaryliodonium Salts Derived from o-Iodoanilines for Indolo[2,3-b]indoles Syntheses

One-pot synthesis of various indolo[2,3-b]indoles has been accomplished from a copper-catalyzed transformation of easily accessible 2-(substituted-amino)aryl)(mesityl)iodonium salts and indole derivatives. Reaction offers great functional group toleration, providing a series of indolo[2,3-b]indole derivatives in good yields. Additionally, intramolecular cyclization of 2-(substituted-amino)aryl)(mesityl)iodonium salts in the presence of copper-catalyst provided direct access to benzoxazole derivatives.     

Photoluminescence studies in sol-gel derived Zno films

The photoluminescence (PL) properties of high quality ZnO thin films grown on Si (1 0 0) substrates using spin coating technique are investigated as a function of temperature in the range 10-300 K. The PL spectra shows dominant donor bound excitonic emission along with free exciton related emission in the UV region. The corresponding activation energy of thermal quenching is found to be . The parameters that describe the temperature dependent red shift of the band-edge transition energy are evaluated using different models. The broadening of the PL peak due to increase in temperature is mainly attributed to the exciton-LO phonon coupling.     

Effect of tackifier and crosslinkers on electron beam curable polyurethane pressure sensitive adhesive

Polyurethane based pressure sensitive adhesive using monofunctional urethane acrylate and difunctional urethane acrylate has been made using electron beam irradiation. The effect of varying electron beam doses on the adhesion properties viz., peel adhesion, shear adhesion and initial tack has been studied. Effect of tackifier and crosslinkers viz., polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocynate, carbodiimide modified methylene diphenyl diisocynate and triallyl cynurate on adhesion properties as well as on moisture vapor transmission rate and gel content of the polyurethane based pressure sensitive adhesive has also been studied. It was found that with increasing dose, tackifier and crosslinkers concentration, all the adhesion properties viz., peel adhesion, shear adhesion strength and initial tack were increased upto a certain dose, concentration of tackifier and crosslinkers, reached a plateau and then levelled off with further increasing the dose, tackifier and crosslinkers concentration. Similarly, moisture vapor transmission rate was decreased and the gel content increased with increasing dose of electron beam.