Spatially defined silver mirror reaction on a micropatterned aldehyde-terminated self-assembled monolayer

A simple microfabrication technique for silver (Ag) based on spatially defined silver mirror reaction using a photolithographically micropatterned aldehyde (CHO)-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is proposed. First, both a Si substrate covered with native oxide and a quartz glass plate were exposed to a vapor of triethoxysilylundecanal (TESUD) diluted with absolute toluene for 3 h at 403 K. This vapor phase treatment produced a 1.2-nm-thick TESUD-SAM with a flat, homogeneous surface. Several samples were then photolithographically micropatterned using an excimer lamp radiating 172 nm vacuum ultraviolet light, and subsequently employed as templates for area-selective electroless Ag plating. Optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that Ag metal was preferentially deposited on the CHO-terminated regions, resulting in the formation of well-ordered Ag microstructures composed of rectangular 5 μm × 25 μm features. The CHO terminal groups of the TESUD-SAM were found to be effective in reducing Ag ionic species at the solid/liquid interface.     

Light transmission and local field enhancement in arrays of silver nanocylinders

Vertical silver nanocylinders have been fabricated by two-photon microfabrication technique. The three-dimensional propagation of visible light along and between the nanocylinders has been characterized by wide-field transmission microscopy. Transmission spectra were collected with a fiber coupled spectrometer and optical images were taken with a camera using an inverted microscope. Intensity enhancements occur along the nanocylinders surfaces for wavelengths in the visible range. Finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulations are in good agreement with the experimental results. The electromagnetic field enhancement was evaluated, in order to analyze the suitability of the studied structures for sensing applications.     

Non-linear Doppler shift of the plasmon resonance in a grating-coupled drifting 2DEG

We report experimental measurements and computer calculations of the plasmon resonances of two dimensional electron gases in the far-infrared which show the effects of laterally drifting the 2DEG. Coupling to radiation is achieved using an overlaid metal grating of submicron period, and its periodic screening effect splits the plasmon into upper and lower energy modes. For a symmetric grating profile the higher energy mode is non-radiative for a stationary 2DEG and a splitting is not observable, but when the 2DEG is laterally drifted under the grating, coupling to both modes can occur, and their Doppler shifts produce an observable splitting which increases with drift velocity. These Doppler shifts are not linear with drift velocity for low velocities, but approach asymptotically the expected linear shift with increasing drift velocity. Experimental results on 2DEGs at GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunctions compare well with theoretical calculations.     

Layer homogenization of a 2D periodic array of scatterers

The homogenization of a metamaterial made of a collection of scatterers periodically disposed is studied from an asymptotic theory and an optimization algorithm. Detailed numerical results are given for resonant scatterers and the spatial dispersion is investigated.     

Disorder in a periodic Helmholtz resonators array

This paper considers the disorder in a periodic duct–resonator system. The transfer matrix method is used to investigate wave propagation in the duct. Two cases are investigated: the disorder in periodic distance and the disorder in the geometries of Helmholtz resonators. Different from the original attenuation characteristic brought about by pure periodic system, it is found that the disorder in the geometries of resonators with the periodic distance being kept unchanged provides a useful way for the design of such a system to achieve a relatively wide noise attenuation band and to track some narrow noise peaks within it.     

SERS investigation of interfacial water at a silver electrode in acetonitrile solutions

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from a silver electrode in solution of 0.1 M LiClO₄ in acetonitrile has been analyzed as a function of applied potential. Three ν(O-H) bands associated with the interfacial water and two ν(O-H) bands associated with the OH⁻ ion species were observed depending on the electrode potential. The band at 3487 cm⁻¹ is favored at relatively positive potentials and assigned to H₂O molecules interacting with the electrode surface via the oxygen atoms. Another band at 3586 cm⁻¹ appears in a wider potential region and is assigned to the H₂O molecules with one or both of the hydrogen atoms facing the electrode surface. Additionally, evidence for the possible surface ion pair, Li⁺OH⁻, which is closely associated with H₂O molecules and the quasi-crystalline form of LiOH are also presented in this paper.     

Defect enhancement in periodic masks using 1/2-Talbot effect

In this paper, we present a simple system for defect enhancement in periodic masks, enabling in this way their rapid localization. The system uses the fact that periodic structures under coherent illumination generate replicas of itself displaced half period at certain distances (1/2-Talbot’s length). Projecting back this displaced self-image onto the mask creates a suppression of the periodic structure. If the mask presents defects, the cancellation of the periodic structure allows their detection since the self-imaging phenomenon occurs only for the periodic structure. The technique may be applied to transmission masks like semiconductor wafers, photomasks for integrated circuits or LCD panels.     

二维光栅与周期性缝隙阵列组合薄膜结构的杂散光抑制

传统方格型二维光栅与周期性缝隙阵列的组合薄膜结构具有雷达和光学波段双带通的电磁特性. 但由于其杂散光能量集中分布而严重制约它在高精度探测以及成像领域中的应用. 本文提出了一种全新的组合薄膜结构, 即由满足一定约束条件的圆孔型二维光栅和十字缝隙阵列构成. 基于Fraunhofer衍射理论建立组合薄膜结构标量衍射模型, 通过对比两种组合薄膜结构的衍射光分布, 理论分析与实验测试均表明: 圆孔型光栅与十字缝隙阵列组合薄膜结构不仅能够提高其光学透过率, 而且还使其杂散光分布均匀, 降低了其杂散光总比率, 从而有效抑制杂散光, 进一步增强了二维光栅与周期性缝隙阵列组合薄膜结构在实际光学系统中的可靠性. 关键词： 二维光栅 组合薄膜结构 衍射光强 杂散光     

Nanostructured solar cell based on solution processed Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles and vertically aligned ZnO nanorod array

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) has attracted intensive interest for application in photovoltaic technology due to its excellent semiconductor properties. We report a nanostructured CZTS solar cell which was fabricated by infiltrating of CZTS nanoparticles into CdS coated ZnO nanorod arrays. The well aligned ZnO nanorods facilitate the efficient infiltration of CZTS nanoparticles. A hole transport layer was deposited to facilitate the transport of holes. The nanostructured CZTS solar cell demonstrated a remarkably high short‐circuit current density (11.0 mA/cm²). As a result, a power conversion efficiency of 2.8% was obtained. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Stability of silver clusters in mordenites with different SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio

The stability and decay of silver clusters characterized by absorption bands 320 and 285 nm incorporated in mordenites with different SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratios were studied under ambient conditions. Significantly different rates of disappearance of these two bands were the basis for assigning them to different silver species. Oxidation converts the clusters peaking at 320 and 285 nm into other silver clusters characterized by absorption bands at 310 and 240 nm, respectively. The oxidation of silver clusters peaking at 285 nm is significantly faster than that at 320 nm. The stability of both original clusters decreases with acid site strength that, in its turn, depends on Si0₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio. The minimum lifetime of clusters peaking at 320 and 285 nm equal to ca. 40 and 20 days, respectively, was observed for mordenite characterized by the strongest acid sites. For mordenites possessing weaker acid sites, the lifetime of these clusters is found to be more than 50 months. The oxidation of silver clusters is reversible, and re-reduced silver clusters were revealed to possess the same electron structure as original ones.     

High yield preparation of silver nanowires by CuCl2-mediated polyol method and application in semitransparent conduction electrode

High yield preparation of silver nanowires (AgNWs) was prepared by polyol method. In this developed polyol process, uniform AgNWs have been successfully synthesized at higher yield by introducing CuCl₂·2H2O, when ethylene glycol is used as the solvent and reductant while poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is used as the capper agent. Then Ag thin films were made by screen printing using silver nanowires and nanoparticles as semitransparent conduction electrodes. The test results indicated that the electrical resistivity could be as low as 0.091 Ω/□, when the transparence rate can reach 45–46%, which shows great promise in the improvement of conductive antireflection coating.     

Nonlinear optical behaviours in a silver nanoparticle array at different wavelengths

The optical nonlinearities of an Ag nanoparticle array are investigated by performing the Z-scan measurements at the selected wavelengths (400, 600, 650, and 800 nm). The nonlinear refraction index in the resonant region (around 400 nm) exhibits a significant enhancement by two orders compared with that in the off-resonant region (around 800 nm)), and exhibits an sign alternation of the resonant nonlinear absorption, which results in a negligible nonlinear absorption at a certain excitation intensity. Moreover, a low degree of nonlinear absorption was measured at the edges of the resonant region (600 and 650 nm), which is attributed to the competition of the saturated absorption and the two-photon absorption processes.     

Nonlinear optical behaviors in a silver nanoparticle array at different wavelengths

The optical nonlinearities of an Ag nanoparticle array are investigated by performing Z-scan measurements at the selected wavelengths (400, 600, 650, and 800 nm). The nonlinear refraction index in the resonant region (around 400 nm) exhibits a significant enhancement by two orders compared with that in the off-resonant region (around 800 nm)), and exhibits an sign alternation of the resonant nonlinear absorption, which results in a negligible nonlinear absorption at a certain excitation intensity. Moreover, a low degree of nonlinear absorption was measured at the edges of the resonant region (600 and 650 nm), which is attributed to the competition of the saturated absorption and the two-photon absorption processes.     

用于飞秒激光纳米加工的TiO_2粒子阵列诱导多种基底表面近场增强

利用纳米粒子辅助对飞秒激光能量进行空间局域化,使其在基底表面诱导产生纳米尺度的近场增强,这对超衍射极限微结构加工具有重要意义.目前对于粒子阵列诱导飞秒激光纳米孔加工的研究仅限于金属Au粒子及低折射率聚苯乙烯介电粒子等,本文提出并开展了应用高折射率TiO_2介电粒子阵列作为辅助诱导激光近场增强从而进行飞秒激光超衍射纳米孔加工的研究.对TiO_2介电粒子阵列在Si,Pt及SiO_2表面的近场强度分布进行了数值模拟,研究其基底表面近场增强的规律及物理过程.研究结果发现,使用硅基底时,阵列与单一TiO_2球形粒子相比其近场增强仅下降约30%;相对于入射激光强度而言,在直径约为100nm的空间范围内获得140倍的近场增强,这一现象可用于百纳米孔的激光加工.同时在其他典型基底的理论计算结果中也表明,几乎在所有金属及介电材料表面均可以实现良好的百纳米空间范围内的近场增强,并且具有近场随着基底折射率变大而增强的规律.这些现象的产生归因于TiO_2粒子中磁四极振荡产生的激光前向场增强及粒子与基底的耦合作用.进一步引入镜像电荷模型对基底光学参数对其表面近场增强的影响规律进行了分析和解释.本文的模拟结果对飞秒激光近场超衍射极限纳米加工的应用有着重要的意义.     

Photocatalytic performance of silver TiO2: Role of electronic energy levels

Nano-sized silver deposits on the surface of Degussa P25 TiO₂ (Ag-DP25) particles act as sites of electron accumulation where the reduction of adsorbed species takes place. Electrons can be transferred from Degussa P25 TiO₂ (DP25) to Ag particles because of the difference in the work functions of the two materials. The efficiency of the electron transfer depends on the size and the distribution of metal deposits. A significant photocatalytic oxidation enhancement by metal deposit will only be observed if the metal deposits play a more dominant role than just increasing the life time of charge carriers. The properties of metal deposits like, loaded amount, oxidation state of the deposit and its size will influence the performance. Further, a decrease in band-gap in DP25 and Ag-DP25 was observed due to the carbide ion substitution for the oxide ion in TiO₂. Such unintentional carbon incorporation is expected mostly in combustion synthesized materials. Silver metal deposits and unintentional incorporation of the carbon shows the beneficial effect by specific mechanism in the photocatalytic degradation of Congo Red (CR).     

The giant enhancement of Fano-type resonance in a gain-assisted silicon slab array

Giant resonance enhancement is demonstrated to be due to the Fano interference in a grating waveguide composed of gain-assisted silicon slabs. The Fano mode is characterized by its ultra-narrow asymmetric spectrum, different from that of a pure electric or magnetic dipole. The simulation indicates that a sharp Fano-interfered lineshape is responsible for the giant resonance enhancement featuring the small-gain requirements.     

Model of tunnelling through periodic array of quantum dots in a magnetic field

A two-dimensional periodic array of quantum dots with two laterally coupled leads in a magnetic field is considered.The model of electron transport through the system based on the theory of self-adjoint extensions of symmetric operators is suggested.We obtain the formula for the transmission coefficient and investigate its dependence on the magnetic field.     

Flexural vibration band gaps in a thin plate containing a periodic array of hemmed discs

Using a periodic expansion by means of the Bloch theorem, the flexural vibration band gaps are studied in a thin plate with two-dimensional ternary locally resonant structures, i.e. a thin epoxy plate containing a periodic square array of lead discs hemmed around by rubber. The full band gaps of flexural vibration in the thin plate are obtained within which sound and vibration will be forbidden. The numerical results are used to show how the width of the first full band gap depends on the radius ratio of lead disc to hemmed disc, filling fraction, lattice constant (distance between the centers of the nearest lead discs) and thickness of the thin plate. It is observed that the gap width can be changed a lot by modulating these physical parameters.     

2-Amino-5-(4-pyridinyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole film at the silver surface: Observation by Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical methods

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum of the 2-amino-5-(4-pyridinyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (4-APTD) on the silver surface was recorded and assigned with the help of B3LYP/6-311G** method. SERS result explored that 4-APTD molecule with a tilted orientation anchored at the silver surface via N¹², S¹ and C² atoms. In situ SERS spectroelectrochemical experiment indicated 4-APTD molecule experienced an intermediate adsorption process of its thiadiazole ring moiety with the vertical orientation at the surface before the 4-APTD molecule detached completely from the surface as the potential applied at −1.3 V vs. SCE. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization experiments exhibited the sound anticorrosive effect of the 4-APTD film on silver surface with an efficiency of 89.5%.     

银纳米微粒荧光猝灭法测定水中痕量ClO2

在pH 9.1的NH4Cl-NH3·H2O缓冲溶液中,银纳米微粒在470 nm处产生一个荧光峰;它能被ClO2氧化导致体系的荧光发生猝灭.ClO2浓度在0.001 1～0.185μg·mL-1范围内与荧光猝灭强度成良好的线性关系,检测限为0.004 7μg·mL-1 ClO2.据此建立了测定ClO2的荧光分析新方法,用于饮用水中ClO2的测定,结果满意.