Influence of Hydrothermal Temperature on Structures and Photovoltaic Properties of SnO2 Nanoparticles

Two SnO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method at 170°C and 180°C, respectively. Transmission electron microscope observations reveal that the diameters of both the nanoparticles are around 6nm. At the same time, surface photovoltage spectroscopy measurements show that the nanoparticle synthesized at 180°C has more surface electronic states at 0.3eV below the conduction band than the one synthesized at 170°C. This means that the temperatures chosen in hydrothermal synthesis have significant influence on the surface electronic characteristics of resultant SnO² nanoparticles but the effect on their sizes is not obvious. However, after being calcined at 500°C for 2h, the diameter of the nanoparticle synthesized at 180°C increased to 23nm and that of the nanoparticle synthesized at 170°C increased to 32nm as calculated from X-ray diffraction pattern.     

Electroless deposition of Ag on Pd-activated TiN/p-Si(100) substrate

Nano-thick Ag films were electrolessly deposited on TiN/p-Si(100) substrates. The substrates were prepared by sputtering TiN on p-Si(100) wafers. An activation process of the substrates was performed by immersing the substrates in a solution of 0.0019 moLL^-1PdCl₂+0.45 moLL^-1HF+8.7 moLL^-1aceticacid+0.036 moLL^-1 HCl so as to obtain the Pd seed layer. The general composition of the electroless Ag bath was 0.0032 moLL^-1AgNO₃+2.24 moLL^-1NH₃+0.56 moLL^-1aceticacid+0.1 moLL^-1 NH₂NH₂ at pH 10.2. The morphologies of the Pd seed layer and the Ag films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effect of the Pd activation on electroless Ag deposition was tested by open circuit potential with time technology (OCP-t). For comparison, the morphology of the films deposited by electrochemical deposition on the substrates was also studied by AFM. PACS 82.45.Mp; 81.15.Pq; 81.10.Dn     

Generalized Transvectants-Rankin–Cohen Brackets

We introduce o(p+1q+1)-invariant bilinear differential operators on the space of tensor densities on Rⁿ generalizing the well-known bilinear sl₂-invariant differential operators in the one-dimensional case, called Transvectants or Rankin–Cohen brackets. We also consider already known linear o(p+1q+1)-invariant differential operators given by powers of the Laplacian.     

Randomizing Quantum States: Constructions and Applications

The construction of a perfectly secure private quantum channel in dimension d is known to require 2logd shared random key bits between the sender and receiver. We show that if only near-perfect security is required, the size of the key can be reduced by a factor of two. More specifically, we show that there exists a set of roughly dlogd unitary operators whose average effect on every input pure state is almost perfectly randomizing, as compared to the d² operators required to randomize perfectly. Aside from the private quantum channel, variations of this construction can be applied to many other tasks in quantum information processing. We show, for instance, that it can be used to construct LOCC data hiding schemes for bits and qubits that are much more efficient than any others known, allowing roughly logd qubits to be hidden in 2logd qubits. The method can also be used to exhibit the existence of quantum states with locked classical correlations, an arbitrarily large amplification of the correlation being accomplished by sending a negligibly small classical key. Our construction also provides the basic building block for a method of remotely preparing arbitrary d-dimensional pure quantum states using approximately logd bits of communication and logd ebits of entanglement.     

A sensitive non-destructive method for measuring the Nd doping concentration in Nd : YAG with high spatial resolution

This paper reports on an experimental method for measuring in Nd:YAG the Nd doping concentration (C) with high sensitivity (0.01 at.%Nd) and high spatial resolution (50 m). The method is based on the measurement of the fluorescence lifetime _f of the upper Nd laser level. Additional parameters required to determine C are the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime ₀ and the quenching parameter Q. The measured values of _f, ₀ (256.47±0.14 s) and Q (4.45±0.40×10²⁰ cm^-3) allow us to calculate the Nd concentration C with an absolute accuracy of 0.1 at.%Nd. By using this method C is measured at the outer surfaces of standard laser rods and at the faces of boule slices (with diameters of up to 50 mm). The obtained results demonstrate a detection sensitivity of 0.01 at.%Nd. PACS 42.70.Hj; 81.70.Fy     

KrF excimer laser processing of thick diamond-like carbon films

Ablation characteristics of a commercially available diamond-like carbon (DLC) film (the EVERSCAN^TM bar code scanner window; Diamonex Division of Morgan Advanced Ceramics Inc.) in the 0–7 Jcm^-2 fluence window are reported. Glass pieces covered with 6 m thick DLC coating are ablated by 22 ns pulses of a KrF excimer laser in medium vacuum (10^-1 Pa), and in Ar and O₂ atmospheres of 10⁵ Pa. The ablation depth increases strictly linearly with an increasing number of pulses, independently of the atmosphere and the applied fluence. The threshold lies at 0.13 Jcm^-2 and is independent of the atmosphere. While above 1 Jcm^-2 the ablation rate vs. fluence plots recorded in different atmospheres coincide within experimental error, processing under vacuum between 0.5 and 1 Jcm^-2 results in significantly higher ablation rate values. Ablation rates exceeding 100 nm/pulse above 1 Jcm^-2 ensure extremely efficient machining over extended areas even at relatively low fluences. Identical characteristics in Ar and O₂ atmospheres suggest that solely physical (ablative) processes contribute to material removal. PACS 42.62.-b; 61.80.Ba; 68.35.Rh; 81.05.Uw     

Mode-locking of neodymium lasers by glasses doped with PbS nanocrystals

Nonlinear optical absorption properties of silicate glasses doped by the PbS nanocrystals were investigated by means of the picosecond pump-probe absorption spectroscopy and absorption bleaching technique. The glass samples were used as saturable absorbers for passive mode-locking of Nd:YAG and Nd:glass lasers. Application of the PbS doped glass together with the active mode-locking and laser cavity quality control enabled the stable of generation of 28 ps and 5 ps duration pulses in Nd:YAG and Nd:glass lasers respectively. PACS 42.60.Fc; 42.70.Hj; 78.47.+p     

Nanoparticle Formation by Laser Ablation

The properties of nanoparticle aerosols of size ranging from 4.9nm to 13nm, generated by laser ablation of solid surfaces are described. The experimental system consisted of a pulsed excimer laser, which irradiated a rotating target mounted in a cylindrical chamber 4cm in diameter and 18-cm long. Aerosols of oxides of aluminum, titanium, iron, niobium, tungsten and silicon were generated in an oxygen carrier gas as a result of a reactive laser ablation process. Gold and carbon aerosols were generated in nitrogen by non-reactive laser ablation. The aerosols were produced in the form of aggregates of primary particles in the nanometer size range. The aggregates were characterized using a differential mobility analyzer and electron microscopy. Aggregate mass and number concentration, electrical mobility size distribution, primary particle size distribution and fractal dimension were measured. System operating parameters including laser power (100mJ/pulse) and frequency (2Hz), and carrier gas flow rate (1l/min) were held constant.A striking result was the similarity in the properties of the aerosols. Primary particle size ranged between 4.9 and 13nm for the eight substances studied. The previous studies with flame reactors produced a wider spread in primary particle size, but the order of increasing primary particle size follows the same trend. While the solid-state diffusion coefficient probably influences the size of the aerosol in flame reactors, its effect is reduced for aerosols generated by laser ablation. It is hypothesized that the reduced effect can be explained by the collision-coalescence mechanism and the very fast quenching of the laser generated aerosol.     

The early oxynitridation stages of hydrogen-terminated (100) silicon after exposure to N2:N2O. II. Silicon and oxygen bonding states

The early oxidation stages of hydrogen-terminated single-crystalline (100) silicon have been studied by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, following the evolution of the Si2p and O1s signals after exposure to N₂:N₂O ambient at 850 °C for different durations. Evidence is given that the usual analysis of the film in terms of the Si2p peak leads to inconsistencies, related to the presence in the film of non-siloxanic bridges, as oxygen-rich defects (like hydroxyl terminations or peroxo bridges) or oxygen-deficient defects (like amino bridges). Information on the film structure is obtained by combining the analysis of the Si2p peak with that of the O1s peak. PACS 82.65.+r; 68.35.Fx; 68.35.Dv; 79.60.Jv     

Diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd : YAG laser at 1123 nm

A diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser at 1123 nm is passively Q-switched by using a low doping concentration Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystal as a saturable absorber. When pumped by a 1.5-W laser diode, the laser produces pulses of 50-ns duration with a pulse energy of as much as 15 J and a peak power of 300 W at a pulse-repetition rate of 10 kHz. PACS 42.60.Gd; 42.55.Rz; 42.55.Xi     

Q-switching of a diode cladding-pumped Erbium Fibrelaser at 2.7 μm

Reliable Q-switched operation of a cladding-pumped 2.7m ZBLAN fibre laser in the range of the power limit of self-destruction is shown for the first time. The laser is pumped by a multimode diode. Q-switching is achieved by two different techniques: a rotating mirror and an acousto-optical modulator. Pulse widths of 500ns with the rotating mirror and 300ns (FWHM) with the acousto-optical modulator and pulse energies in the J range are achieved.     

Unusual Behavior of Nanocrystalline Strontium Oxide Toward Hydrogen Sulfide

The thermodynamically favored reaction of solid strontium oxide with gaseous hydrogen sulfide is kinetically enhanced to a large degree by the use of higher surface area nanocrystalline SrO in the form of brush-like collections of metal oxide fibers. An unusual feature is that the reaction SrO + H₂S SrS + H₂O proceeds stoichiometrically at room temperature, but at higher temperatures the reaction efficiency goes down, apparently due to rapid temperature induced crystal growth of the nanocrystalline SrO. The samples studied vary in crystallite size from 20 to 27nm, while average particle size (nanocrystal aggregates) varies in the following order; aerogel prepared SrO (100nm) 相似文献   

Optimizing non-resonant frequency conversion in periodically poled media

Non-resonant frequency conversion into the blue, green, orange, and red spectral regions is reported. Fundamental light sources were continuous-wave non-planar monolithic single-mode ring Nd:YAG lasers as well as a standing-wave multi-mode Nd:YAG laser. Periodically poled KTiOPO₄ was employed as the nonlinear medium, but the considerations could also be applied to other periodically poled materials. A multi-pass scheme resulted in a normalized conversion efficiency as high as 27.2 %W^-1 for frequency doubling in the small-signal regime at 1064 nm. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.79.Nv; 42.70.Mp     

Combined use of GDOES,SEM + EDS,XRD and OM for the microchemical study of the corrosion products on archaeological bronzes

By means of the combined use of glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES), scanning electron microscopy+energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM+EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy (OM), corrosion products, i.e., the patina, grown on archaeological leaded bronze artefacts used by Punics and Romans, have been studied. This innovative approach has been utilised in order to gain further insight into the microchemical structure of the corrosion products as well as for selecting the cleaning and restoration methods. For all of the archaeological artefacts, the results show that via the innovative use of GDOES, it is possible to obtain reliable and reproducible quantitative elemental composition depth profiles for the outermost corroded layers, which are briefly discussed in combination with the microchemical features obtained via SEM+EDS, XRD and optical microscopy. Finally, the results show that GDOES, with its ability to provide routine and rapid analysis of layers of thickness up to 120 m, seems to be a powerful technique in studies of the corrosion products on archaeological bronzes, with the aim of restoring and conserving ancient high tin or low tin leaded bronzes. PACS 68.55Jk; 68.35 Dv; 68.37Hk; 68.55 Nq; 81.05 Bx     

The Q-switched Nd : YAG and Yb : YAG microchip lasers optimization and comparative analysis

The microchip lasers based on the neodymium or the ytterbium doped yttrium-aluminium garnet crystal and Q-sw itched by the Cr⁴⁺:YAG film are considered. The optimal (maximizing of energy) values of the pumping beam radius, the absorber parameters (the thickness and tetravalent chromium ion concentration), and the output mirror reflectivity are determined. The possibility of higher values of energy in the Yb:YAG laser pulse, in comparison with a more traditional Nd:YAG laser, is also substantiated. PACS 42.60.Gd     

Publisher's Note

When the article 'Modification of the finite difference scheme for efficient analysis of thin lossy metal layers in optical devices' by O. Conradi, S. Helfert, and R. Pregla was first published in the Optical Waveguide special issue of Optical and Quantum Electronics (volume 30, nos. 5–6, pages 369–373) the authors' affiliation given was incorrect. The article is printed again in full with the original pagination and credit lines. A misprint in the Results section has been corrected as well: the refractive index of both silver layers is 0.14–j11.0 at a wavelength of = 1523 nm, and not 0.41–j11.0.     

The Formation of Porous Membranes by Filtration of Aerosol Nanoparticles

Flame-generated aerosol particles of Al₂O₃ were deposited by gas filtration on two types of porous and ceramic tubes of -Al₂O₃ with mean pore diameters of 450 and 2700nm, respectively. The particles were aggregates with average mobility diameters in the range of 30–100nm and primary particle diameters of 4–8nm. The particles are characterized by differential mobility analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and by their specific surface area. The deposited membranes are characterized by gas permeability measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and by their pore size distribution from nitrogen capillary condensation. The particles form a distinct, homogeneous membrane layer with a porosity of 90% on top of the substrate surface and only penetrate slightly into the substrate structure. The mean pore sizes of the deposited membranes determined by nitrogen condensation agree approximately with those determined by gas permeation and the specific surface area. The mean pore diameter varies in the range of 30–70nm. The gas permeability of the deposited membranes is related to the specific surface area but influenced by the high porosity. The mean pore size and the permeability of the membranes are almost independent of the substrate structure.The development of a membrane with uniform properties is preceded by a short initial period in which the deposited particles, with an equivalent membrane thickness of roughly 2m, have a significantly lower permeability than the ultimately developed uniform membrane layer. This effect is particularly significant for the aerosol particles with the lowest mean size, probably due to particles deposited in the pore mouths of the substrate.The particles and the deposited membranes are X-ray amorphous but retain their specific surface area on heating to even high temperatures. When the membranes are heated to 1473K for 10h, X-ray diffraction shows a mixture of - and -alumina, accompanied by a partial disintegration of the membrane and a considerable loss of surface area.     

Microstructure and Chemical States of Hydroxyapatite/silk Fibroin Nanocomposites Synthesized via A Wet-mechanochemical Route

Hydroxyapaptite (HAp)/silk fibroin (SF) nanocomposites were prepared via a wet-mechanochemical route at room temperature. The results reveal that the inorganic phase in the composites is carbonate-substituted HAp containing 2.9–3.1 wt% of carbonate ions. The primary HAp crystals are rod-like in shape with a typical size of 20–30nm in length and 8–10nm in width, and lattice parameters a = 9.423, c = 6.888. The self-assembled HAp crystals along their c-axes aggregate into bundles, which are connected with SF fibrils. Consequently, a three-dimensional porous network is formed in the composite, which is beneficial to inducing new bone formation in practical implantation.     

Iron Nanoparticles in Severe-plastic-deformed Copper

Superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles with a size of a few nanometers were produced in copper by severe plastic deformation. In a isochronal annealing experiment near a temperature of 450K, which corresponds to the temperature of structural relaxation and the first step of grain growth (from 128 to 150nm) of submicrocrystalline copper, an abrupt increase in the magnetic susceptibility is detected. This increase is shown to be due to iron nanoparticles increasing in size from 2.8 to 3.3nm. The vanishing of the ferromagnetic contribution by iron nanoparticles observed at 850K, well below the Curie temperature of iron, is due to the dissolution of nanoparticles in plastically deformed copper.     

Luminescent CdS Nanoparticles Embedded in Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 300) Matrix Thin Film

A simple method for synthesis of well dispersed cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles embedded in a polyethylene glycol matrix (PEG 300) in thin film form is presented. The molar ratio of PEG and CdS was varied within the range 70:30 to as high as 50:50. Films with controllable sizes (r 3 –8nm) of nanocrystals could be obtained by adjusting post-deposition annealing temperature (T) and time (t). The obtained films showed systematic variation in optical properties with decreasing crystal size due to quantum confinement. Transmission electron micrographs (TEM) indicated well resolved nanoparticles for films annealed at lower temperature (T = 373K) and time (t < 45 min). Photoluminescence (PL) studies indicated blue shift with decreasing particle size. The films did not degrade with aging in a humid atmosphere (relative humidity 40%) for several weeks.