Application of the solid solution Cd(x)Hg(1-x)Ga(2)S(4) as a nonlinear optical crystal

We review the optical properties of the mixed crystal Cd(x)Hg(1-x)Ga(2)S(4) , propose three potential applications to which various physical properties can be tailored, and present experimental results of femtosecond optical parametric amplification in the mid IR from 5.5 to 8mum with 1.25-mum pumping by a 1-kHz Cr:forsterite regenerative amplifier.     

Dependence of pH and surfactant effect in the synthesis of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and its properties

Nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ were synthesized by co-precipitation in an aqueous solution containing ferrous and ferric salts (1:2) at varying pH with ammonia as a base. It was found that the value of pH influences the reaction mechanism for the formation of Fe₃O₄. Furthermore, the addition of mercaptoethanol significantly reduced the crystalline size of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles from 15.03 to 8.02 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles were ε-Fe₂O₃ or Fe₃O₄ phase. To further prove the composition of the product, as-prepared Fe₃O₄ were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Magnetic properties of the obtained particles were determined by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Further analysis of the X-ray studies shows that while maintaining a pH value of 6 and 9 in a solution containing iron salts II and III ions produces ε-Fe₂O₃. Whereas a pH value of 11 produces magnetite (Fe₃O₄) phase. All of these results show that the pH has a major role in the observed phase formation of (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles.     

TFTTP作为阴极缓冲层提高有机薄膜太阳能电池的内建电场和载流子收集效率

采用一种新型的电子传输材料TFTTP作为阴极缓冲层提高基于SubPc/C₆₀异质结的有机薄膜太阳能电池的性能. 通过在有机活性层和金属电极之间加入TFTTP界面层,器件的能量转换效率提高了约30%. 系统研究了器件的二极管特性、光电流特性以及内部的光场分布情况,结果表明,TFTTP阴极缓冲层的引入可以有效地提高器件的内建电场,进而增加电荷转移激子的分离效率. 通过使用TFTTP作为阴极缓冲层,在C₆₀/金属界面形成良好的欧姆接触,降低了界面接触电阻,有利于自由载流子的收集.     

Spectroscopic investigation on the effect of pairing anions in imidazolium-based ionic liquids on the J-aggregation of meso-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin in aqueous solution

The effect of pairing anions in imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) on the J-aggregation of meso-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) is investigated in aqueous solutions by the spectroscopic methods. The ILs used herein possess similar cations but different pairing anions, tetrafluoroborate (BF₄⁻) and p-toluenesulfonate (TS⁻). The results from absorption and fluorescence spectra indicate that the J-aggregation is mainly regulated by anionic species. The J-aggregation of TPPS is initially promoted with the increase of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF₄/EMIMBF₄) until 0.10/0.40 mol/L and subsequently weakened slightly with further increase of BMIMBF₄/EMIMBF₄ concentration. However, the J-aggregation of TPPS hardly occurs in the tested concentration range of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-tosylate/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium-tosylate (BMIMTS/EMIMTS). Furthermore, obvious redshifts in both absorption and fluorescence spectra of TPPS are observed with progressive addition of BMIMTS/EMIMTS. TPPS induces proton chemical shifts of BMIMBF₄/EMIMBF₄ and BMIMTS/EMIMTS to shift downfield and upfield, respectively. So it can be concluded that ILs with simple pairing anion BF₄⁻ promote the J-aggregation of TPPS by charge equilibrium, while ILs with pairing anion TS⁻ inhibit the J-aggregation of TPPS by the π-π and hydrophobic interaction.     

The effect of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) prepared by a RAFT method in the dispersion polymerization of styrene

The dispersion polymerization of styrene has been carried out using polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) copolymer [P(S-b-4VP)], prepared by a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) method, as a steric stabilizer in alcohol media. These block copolymer contains a long poly(4-vinylpyridine) block and a short polystyrene block. The stable spherical particles were obtained when the block copolymer concentrations increased from 2 to 20 wt.% relative to the monomer and the average particle sizes decreased from 340 to 200 nm with increasing concentration of the block copolymer. Alcoholic solvents, from methanol to n-hexanol, are responsible for the particle size. These results indicate that the poly(S-b-4VP) block copolymer is effective for providing polystyrene nano-sized particles with a low content of it working as a good stabilizer in any kind of alcoholic medium.     

The effect of composition,electron irradiation and quenching on ionic conductivity in a new solid polymer electrolyte: (PEG)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>I

We have prepared, characterized and investigated a new PEG-2000 based solid polymer electrolyte (PEG) _x NH₄I. Ionic conductivity measurements have been made as a function of salt concentration as well as temperature in the range 265–330 K. Selected compositions of the electrolyte were exposed to a beam of 8 MeV electrons to an accumulated dose of 10 kGy to study the effect on ionic conductivity. The electrolyte samples were also quenched at liquid nitrogen temperature and conductivity measurements were made. The ionic conductivity at room temperature exhibits a characteristic double peak for the composition x = 20 and 70. Both electron beam irradiation and quenching at low temperature have resulted in an increase in conductivity by 1–2 orders of magnitude. The enhancement of conductivity upon irradiation and quenching is interpreted as due to an increase in amorphous region and decrease in crystallinity of the electrolyte. DSC and proton NMR measurements also support this conclusion.      

Determinations of the transient thermal lensing effect in metal cluster Polymer {WS4Cu4I2(bpe)3}n solution by the use of the Z-scan

The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a novel cluster Polymer {WS₄Cu₄I₂(bpe)₃}_n solution are studied by using Z-scan technique with laser pulses of 4.5 ns pulse-width at a wavelength of 532 nm. The results show that the cluster solution possesses strong nonlinear absorption and refraction. Nonlinear refraction of the cluster is composed of third-order nonlinear refraction and transient thermal effect. The thermal effect is mainly due to the strong nonlinear absorption. Numerical simulations obtained by solving simultaneously photo-acoustic and electromagnetic wave equations, agrees basically with experimental results.