SnO2 thin films doped indium prepared by the sol–gel method: structure, electrical and photoluminescence properties

This paper reports on the preparation, characterization, electrical and optical properties of tin oxide (SnO₂) thin films doped indium prepared by the sol–gel method and deposited on glass substrates with dip coating technique. X-ray diffraction patterns showed an increase in the crystallinity of the films with increase in annealing temperatures. Atomic force microscopy analyses revealed an increase of grain growth with raise in annealing temperature. The film surface revealed positive skewness and kurtosis values less than 3 which make them favorable for OLEDs applications. The lowest resistivity (about 10^?7) was obtained for the ITO films annealed at 500 °C. These films acquire n-type conductivity due to the non-stoichiometric in the films like (interstitial tin atoms) and also due to low indium doping concentration. The optical properties of the films have been studied from transmission spectra. An average transmittance of >80 % in ultraviolet–visible region was observed for all the films. Optical band gap energy (E _gap) of ITO films was found to vary in the range of 3.69–3.81 eV with the increase in annealing temperature. This slight shift of E _gap to higher photon energies could be related to the crystalline nature of the films associated with the decrease in the defect concentration caused by annealing. Photoluminescence spectra of the films exhibited an increase in the emission intensity with increase in annealing temperature. The high temperature annealing would be expected to decrease the density of defects, improve the crystal orientation and reduce the traps for non-radiative transition and also increase the oxidation processes.     

Numerical modelling of step–strain for stretched filaments

This article addresses the modelling of filament-stretching/step–strain deformation under viscoelastic capillary break-up configurations of the CaBER-type. Start-up, prior to step–strain, is conducted under constant stretch-rate synchronous plate retraction with impulsive sessation of plate motion. The study encompasses variation in material rheology, appealing to Oldroyd, Geisekus and Phan-Thien/Tanner-type models, which display differences in shear and extensional viscosity properties (shear thinning/extension hardening). Two different viscosity ratio settings are considered to reflect high- and low-solvent viscosity constituent components; the former representing typical Boger fluids, the latter high-polymer concentration fluids. We compare and contrast results for three alternative filament aspect ratios at the onset of step–strain. Throughout the step–strain period, we have been able to successfully capture such physical features as drainage to the filament feet, necking at the filament centre, and periods with travelling waves through the axial filament length. In addition, we have identified the suppressive influence that larger capillary forces have upon radial fluctuations, and the minor impact that gravitational forces have upon the ensuing deformation. From this study, estimates for rheometrical data have been derived in terms of characteristic material relaxation time and apparent extensional viscosity. The computational techniques employed include a compressed-mesh (CM) procedure, an Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian scheme (ALE) and a free-surface particle tracking technique. Spatial discretisation of the problem is accomplished through a hybrid finite element/finite volume algorithm implemented in the form of a time-stepping incremental pressure-correction formulation.     

Longitudinal dynamics of a tracked vehicle: Simulation and experiment

In recent years virtual dynamic system simulation has become very important in the design and development stage, as new strategies can be examined without expensive measurements and with reduced time. This paper describes the development of a simulation model for transient analysis of the longitudinal dynamics of a heavy tracked vehicle. The driving inputs for this simulation model are obtained from a powertrain model. The main elements of the powertrain include the engine, Torque Converter (TC), transmission and drivetrain. Here the engine is modeled based on the engine maps from steady-state experiments. The TC is modeled based on its characteristic map from experiments. A fairly simple transmission model is used which is based on static gear ratios assuming small shift times. The final drivetrain model however includes the rotational dynamics of the sprocket. The simulation model developed is validated by comparing the predicted values with the measured data from experiments. The results have demonstrated that the developed model is able to predict fairly accurately the acceleration and braking performance of the heavy tracked vehicle on both soft and hard terrain.     

Polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) promoted one-pot,five-component synthesis of (E)-ethyl2-(2-((E)-2-(1-(4-methyl-2-(phenylamino)thiazol-5yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)-4-oxothiazol-5(4H)-ylidene)acetates

Molecular Diversity - A facile, inexpensive and eco-friendly synthesis of functionalised...     

In silico identification and in vitro antiviral validation of potential inhibitors against Chikungunya virus

Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design - The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has become endemic in the Africa, Asia and Indian subcontinent, with its continuous re-emergence causing a significant...     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of novel 5-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methylene]thiazolidine-2,4-dione–[1,2,3]triazole hybrids

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - 5-[(1H-Indol-3-yl)methylene]thiazolidine-2,4-dione–[1,2,3]triazole hybrid derivatives were synthesized by click chemistry reaction and screened for...     

Preparation of nanoparticles of oxides by the citrate–nitrate process

This paper reports preparation of nanoparticles of oxides by the citrate–nitrate process and the effect of metal ions on the thermal decomposition characteristics of the corresponding citrate–nitrate gel precursors. In order to understand the effect of metal ions on the thermal decomposition characteristics of the precursors, we have prepared a series of single component oxides such as MO, where M = Zn, MO₂, where M = Sn, Ce, Zr, and M₂O₃ where M = Al, Fe, Bi. In all the cases the citrate to nitrate ratio was fixed at 0.3. In order to ascertain the decomposition characteristics of the gel samples, TG/DTA studies were performed on the dried gel samples. After complete physico-chemical characterization of the precursors and the calcined products, it could be concluded that the nature of decomposition of the precursors depends largely on the nature of the metal ions. Finally, the advantages of the citrate–nitrate process such as its high degree of reproducibility, its potential for large-scale production of nano-crystalline ceramic oxide powders and its lower cost could be established based on a series of experiments and examples.     

Computations in non-commutative Iwasawa theory

We study special values of L-functions of elliptic curves over twisted by Artin representations that factor through a falseTate curve extension .In this setting, we explain how to compute L-functions and thecorresponding Iwasawa-theoretic invariants of non-abelian twistsof elliptic curves. Our results provide both theoretical andcomputational evidence for the main conjecture of non-commutativeIwasawa theory.     

Progress toward multiplexed sample-to-result detection in low resource settings using microfluidic immunoassay cards

In many low resource settings multiple diseases are endemic. There is a need for appropriate multi-analyte diagnostics capable of differentiating between diseases that cause similar clinical symptoms. The work presented here was part of a larger effort to develop a microfluidic point-of-care system, the DxBox, for sample-to-result differential diagnosis of infections that present with high rapid-onset fever. Here we describe a platform that detects disease-specific antigens and IgM antibodies. The disposable microfluidic cards are based on a flow-through membrane immunoassay carried out on porous nitrocellulose, which provides rapid diffusion for short assay times and a high surface area for visual detection of colored assay spots. Fluid motion and on-card valves were driven by a pneumatic system and we present designs for using pneumatic control to carry out assay functions. Pneumatic actuation, while having the potential advantage of inexpensive and robust hardware, introduced bubbles that interfered with fluidic control and affected assay results. The cards performed all sample preparation steps including plasma filtration from whole blood, sample and reagent aliquoting for the two parallel assays, sample dilution, and IgG removal for the IgM assays. We demonstrated the system for detection of the malarial pfHRPII antigen (spiked) and IgM antibodies to Salmonella Typhi LPS (patient plasma samples). All reagents were stored on card in dry form; only the sample and buffer were required to run the tests. Here we detail the development of this platform and discuss its strengths and weaknesses.