Synthesis and characterization of various phases of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using inorganic precursor

Controllable and uniform doping of nanowires (NWs) is the ultimate challenge prior to their effective application. Si NWs amorphize and bend toward the impinging ions under ion irradiation as a result of viscous flow. We demonstrate that thermal annealing induces a full recovery of the crystalline phase corresponding to the unbending of the NWs. The competition between Solid Phase Epitaxy and Random Nucleation and Growth at the nanoscale is the key parameter controlling the recovery.     

Synthesis of 1-p-Methoxyphenyl and 1-p-Methoxyphenyl-4-methylbicyclo-[2.2.1]heptan-7-one. The Oxidation of 7-Hydroxy-1-p-methoxyphenyl-4-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-carboxylic Acid with Lead Tetraacetate

A simple synthetic route to 1-p-methoxyphenyl and 1-p-methoxyphenyl-4-methylbicyclo [2.2.1]heptan-7-one 6b,a has been developed through benzilic acid rearrangement of the bicyclo[2.2.1]octandiones 2b,a. The oxidation of 7-hydroxy-1-p-methoxyphenyl-4-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-carboxylic acid 3a with lead tetraacetate gives the carbolactone 7a which is also formed by the reaction of the ketone 6a with m-chloroperbenzoic acid.     

Determination of calcium and iron in silicon and uranium silicide using ion chromatography

Two separate ion chromatography methods were developed for the determination of calcium and iron in silicon and uranium silicide. A cation exchange separation with conductivity detection was developed for Ca. A reversed phase column modified with 50 mM camphor-10-sulphonic acid was used for separating Fe. Iron was detected photometrically. Linear calibrations for Ca (0.1–10 ppm) and Fe (0.5–25 ppm) were performed. Limits of detections for Ca and Fe are 0.03 and 0.2 ppm, respectively. The precision of the methods are better than 2 % for Ca at 0.2 ppm and Fe at 2 ppm.     

Numerical Investigation of Graphene as a Back Surface Field Layer on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell

This paper numerically explores the possibility of ultrathin layering and high efficiency of graphene as a back surface field (BSF) based on a CdTe solar cell by Personal computer one-dimensional (PC1D) simulation. CdTe solar cells have been characterized and studied by varying the carrier lifetime, doping concentration, thickness, and bandgap of the graphene layer. With simulation results, the highest short-circuit current (I_sc = 2.09 A), power conversion efficiency (η = 15%), and quantum efficiency (QE~85%) were achieved at a carrier lifetime of 1 × 10³ μs and a doping concentration of 1 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ of graphene as a BSF layer-based CdTe solar cell. The thickness of the graphene BSF layer (1 μm) was proven the ultrathin, optimal, and obtainable for the fabrication of high-performance CdTe solar cells, confirming the suitability of graphene material as a BSF. This simulation confirmed that a CdTe solar cell with the proposed graphene as the BSF layer might be highly efficient with optimized parameters for fabrication.     

DIC Challenge 2.0: Developing Images and Guidelines for Evaluating Accuracy and Resolution of 2D Analyses

Experimental Mechanics - The DIC Challenge 2.0 follows on from the work accomplished in the first Digital Image Correlation (DIC) Challenge Reu et al. (Experimental Mechanics 58(7):1067, 1). The...     

Evaluation of elastic, elastic-plastic properties of thin Pt wire by?mechanical bending test

A testing methodology to determine the elastic-plastic properties of thin metallic wires is reported. A small-scaled bending test of Pt thin wire and the corresponding finite element analysis are performed. By fitting the load-displacement relationship obtained by finite element analysis to the experimental one, the elastic, elastic-plastic properties of Pt wire are successfully determined.     

Temporal contrast improvement in chirped pulse amplification systems by a four-grating compressor and by spectral modifications

The quest for higher peak focused intensities and better temporal contrast drives one to improve the design of all possible stages of the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) system. In this paper, we have analyzed the role of dispersion and spectral profile on the temporal shape and contrast ratio of the output pulse of a CPA system. The simulations indicate that an initial sech² or a Gaussian pulse in the CPA system is best for a good contrast ratio. Incorporating a four-grating based pulse compressor in the CPA system improves the contrast as well as provides the flexibility to compensate the dispersion upto the fourth order. The simulations also detail the effect of spectral profile tailoring on the contrast ratio and peak power.     

Numerical prediction of recirculation flows with free convection encountered in gas-agitated reactors

Flows in a gas-agitated reactor have been predicted by a finite difference procedure. The free-convection phenomena in the gas-liquid mixtures have been accounted for by the calculation of a void fraction determined from the gas flow rate. Computations have been performed for two different situations: first, with the allowance of slip between gas and liquid phases, and second, without any slip. Reasonable agreement has been achieved between the measurements.     

Internal stresses and chemical binding in the H molecule

Following an interpretive formalism presented earlier, chemical binding in the H molecule has been studied in terms of the variations, with respect to R, of electrostatic field and stress components at five selected points on the interuclear axis. At three points phenomena analogous to those recorded earlier for H₂ have been observed. In particular, the existence of extremal relationships for the difference density field and the total field, as well as for the corresponding stresses, at R ? R_eq for certain specific points on the internuclear axis has been confirmed. As in the case of H₂, chemical binding in H occurs due to local variations of electrostatic pressure from point to point in such a manner as to cause the vanishing of either the total electrostatic force density or the difference force density at certain points on the internuclear axis.     

Raman scattering study of LiKSO4—phases II and III

Detailed Raman scattering investigation of LiKSO₄ in phases II and III across the transition temperatureT _c ? 700 K is reported. Abrupt change in frequency and line width of the external and internal modes have been observed. Analysis of the results suggests lithium positional disorder and sulphate orientational disorder in the high temperature phase (II). The results also throw some light on the existence of twin domains in the crystal.