Triangular CdS nanostructure: effect of Mn doping on photoluminescence,electron spin resonance,and magneto-optical properties

In this paper, we report synthesis and study of magneto-optic Faraday effect for dilute magnetic semiconductor nanostructure. The colloidal CdS nanocrystals were prepared via hot injection method and successfully doped with Mn²⁺ cations. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by using UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Systematic studies on effect of Mn²⁺ doping on photoluminescence, electron spin resonance, and magneto-optical properties are carried out. UV–Vis spectral analysis confirms blue shift in bandgap of CdS nanoparticles due to quantum confinement effect. The X-ray diffraction study confirms hexagonal wurtzite phase formation of CdS nanoparticles without any impurity phases. TEM analysis confirms uniform particle size, having particle size distribution around 5 nm. As-synthesized undoped CdS shows triangular-shaped nanocrystals with hexagonal structure; however, triangular shape of CdS nanoparticles is not conserved after Mn²⁺ doping. The photoluminescence characteristic spectra of Mn²⁺-doped CdS nanocrystals showed emission band at 660 nm and its intensity was found to increase with increasing Mn²⁺ concentration. Electron spin resonance signal, with six-line hyperfine structure splitting, confirmed doping of Mn²⁺ ions in CdS lattice. Magneto-optic measurements showed linear variation of Faraday rotation with respect to applied magnetic field, indicating paramagnetic behavior of Mn-doped CdS. The highest Verdet constant 24.81 deg/T cm was observed for 2% Mn-doped CdS nanocrystals, which further decreases with increasing Mn²⁺ concentration.

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Graphical abstract Illustration of Magneto-optic Faraday effect using dilute magnetic semiconductors (TEM image of triangular CdS nanoparticles)

     

1H-1,2,3-triazole,a promising precursor for chemical vapor deposition of hydrogenated carbon nitride

Well-crystallized hydrogenated carbon nitride thin films have been prepared by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MWPECVD). 1H-1,2,3-triazole+N₂ and Si (1 0 0) were used as precursor and substrate, respectively. Substrate temperature during the deposition was recorded to be 850 °C. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The plasma compositions were checked by optical emission spectroscopy (OES). XRD observation strongly suggests that the films contain polycrystalline carbon nitride with graphitic structure of (1 0 0), (0 0 2), (2 0 0) and (0 0 4). XPS peak quantification reveals that the atomic ratio of the materials C:N:O:Si is 32:41:18:9. X-ray photo-electron peak deconvolution shows that the most dominant peak of C (1s) and N (1s) narrow scans correspond to sp² hybrid structure of C₃N₄. These observations indicate that 1H-1,2,3-triazole favors the formation of hydrogenated carbon nitride with graphitic phase by CVD method and thus is in good agreement with XRD results. SEM of surface and OES of plasma also support the formation of polycrystalline carbon nitride films from 1H-1,2,3-triazole+N₂ by CVD.     

Effect of Andrographis paniculata leaf extract on wound healing in rats

This work was carried out to study the effect of topical application of Andrographis paniculata on the rate of wound enclosure and its histological features. A wound was created in four groups of rat in posterior neck region. Blank placebo was applied topically to the wounds of Group 1. Groups 2 and 3 were dressed with placebo containing 5% and 10% extracts of A. paniculata, respectively. Intrasite gel was applied topically to the wounds of Group 4. Macroscopical examination revealed that the rate of wound healing was significantly accelerated in the wound dressed with A. paniculata extract compared to the blank placebo. The wounds dressed with 10% extract or Intrasite gel healed earlier compared to the wounds dressed with placebo containing 5% A. paniculata extract. Histologically, wounds dressed with A. paniculata extracts showed markedly less scar width and contained large amounts of fibroblast proliferation. More collagen and less angiogenesis with absence of inflammatory cells were seen for wounds dressed with 10% A. paniculata compared to the blank placebo. Conclusion, A. paniculata extracts significantly enhanced rate of wound healing in rats.     

Multiple-beam interference fringes applied to investigate the index profile of the optical fiber dip

A numerical-based phase shift method is presented to study optical fibers having a dip in the refractive index profile at the center of the core. Mathematical expressions for the shape of multiple-beam Fizeau fringes crossing a graded-index optical fiber (GRIN) comprising a central graded-index dip or GRIN fiber with a constant refractive index dip, immersed in a silvered liquid wedge, are derived. The index profile parameters of the central dip are determined by comparing the theoretical fringe shape across the fiber cross-section and the experimental fringe shape obtained from micro-interferograms of the wedge interferometer.     

Satisfactory solution concepts and their relations for Stochastic Multiobjective Programming problems

This work deals with the concept of satisfactory solution for Stochastic Multiobjective Programming (SMP) problems. Based on previous literature, we will introduce different concepts of satisfactory solutions for SMP problems, define a new concept of solution (where the decision maker (DM) sets his/her preferences in terms of two aspiration levels for the stochastic objective and two probabilities to reach those levels), and establish some relationship between these concepts. The results will aim at featuring these concepts and determine the differences between them. Moreover, the paper proposes a new step by step procedure to exchange information between the analyst and DM prior to solving the problem. Thus, the DM will be able to choose the transformation criterion for each stochastic objective and the aspiration level.     

Improvement of photoluminescence and electrical properties of porous silicon layer treated with lanthanum

The influence of surface treatment of porous silicon (PS) in lanthanum (La) containing solution during different times on its photoluminescence and electrical properties has been investigated. For this purpose, chemical composition, structural, vibrational, photoluminescence and electrical characteristics of the porous silicon layer with and without lanthanum were examined using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and current–voltage (I–V) measurements. The results indicate that porous silicon layers treated with lanthanum exhibit an enhancement of photoluminescence intensity and show an improvement current intensity compared to untreated porous silicon layer.     

Effects of temperature-dependent material properties and shielding gas on molten pool formation during continuous laser welding of AZ91 magnesium alloy

Laser welding processes are widely used for fabrications in many engineering applications such as aerospace and automotives. In this paper, a moving distributed heat source model based on Goldak's method [1] has been implemented into finite volume thermal simulations in order to predict temperature distributions during the welding process of a magnesium alloy and to study the effects of variations in thermal properties, absorption coefficient and gas shielding on the computed temperature distributions and weld pool dimensions. The main conclusion is the significant effects of varying the thermal conductivity and absorption coefficient of magnesium. Also, it has been seen that the shielding gas, besides its main role of protection against oxidation, has a significant effect on the width of the weld pool. Finally, the obtained results have been compared to the experimental ones and a satisfactory correlation has been observed, indicating the reliability of the model developed in this study.     

Formation of Cr(II) Species in the H2/CrO3 System. Parameter control

The thermal behaviour of CrO₃ on heating up to 600°C in dynamic atmospheres of air, N₂ and H₂ was examined by thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), IR spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results revealed three major thermal events, depending to different extents on the surrounding atmosphere: (i) melting of CrO₃ near 215°C (independent of the atmosphere), (ii) decomposition into Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ at 340–360°C (insignificantly dependent), and (iii) decomposition of the chromate into Cr₂O₃ at 415–490°C (significantly dependent). The decomposition CrO₃ → Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ is largely thermal and involves exothermic deoxygenation and polymerization reactions, whereas the decomposition Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ → Cr₂O₃ involves endothermic reductive deoxygenation reactions in air (or N₂) which are greatly accelerated and rendered exothermic in the presence of H₂. TG measurements as a function of heating rate (2–50°C min⁻¹) demonstrated the acceleratory role of H₂, which extended to the formation of Cr(II) species. This could sustain a mechanism whereby H₂ molecules are considered to chemisorb dissociatively, and then spillover to induce the reduction. DTA measurements as a function of the heating rate (2–50°C min⁻¹) helped in the derivation of non-isothermal kinetic parameters strongly supportive of the mechanism envisaged. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Achieving the Reforms Vision: The Effectiveness of a Specialists‐Led Elementary Science Program

This report describes an evaluation project that aimed to assess the potential of two elementary science specialists, as compared to elementary classroom teachers, to realize the reforms vision for science instruction in elementary classrooms. Participant science specialist background, views of elementary science teaching, and planning and assessment practices were compared to those of regular elementary classroom teachers in the specialist district, as well as in a comparable district not employing specialists. Specialists' views and practices were better aligned with those envisioned by current national reform documents in science education. Despite the constraints imposed by the nature of a program evaluation, the present report provides evidence to suggest that students taught by the science specialists (a) were engaged in open‐ended, inquiry‐oriented, science‐based activities of the kind often advocated, but mostly absent, in elementary school, and (b) demonstrated problem solving and higher order and critical thinking skills. This report is the first to provide empirical support for the advocated “effectiveness” of elementary science specialists in achieving the visions espoused by current reform efforts.     

Mathematical Model for Surface‐Initiated Photopolymerization of Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate

Summary: A general mathematical model has been developed to describe the surface initiated photopolymerization of PEG‐DA forming crosslinked hydrogel membranes upon the surface of a substrate. Such membranes are formed by photopolymerizing a PEG‐DA prepolymer solution by initiation with eosin‐Y‐functionalized surfaces and TEA using VP as accelerator. Experimental measurements of the thickness of hydrogel membranes compare well with the model. The model is developed by using the pseudo‐kinetic approach and the method of moments, and is capable of predicting the crosslink density and thickness of the hydrogel membrane. Parametric sensitivity of the effects of PEG‐DA, VP and coinitiator TEA concentration towards the crosslink density and the thickness of the hydrogel is also investigated. The results obtained for different PEG‐DA and VP concentrations suggest that the concentration ratio of these two monomers is a key parameter in controlling the gel thickness and permeability. This model can also be applied to systems where drugs, proteins or cells are encapsulated through surface initiated photopolymerization to predict the growth and crosslink density profiles of the encapsulating membrane. In a previous study we have experimentally demonstrated that these membranes could be made to attach covalently to the surface of the underlying substrate.

Comparison of experimental measurements and model simulation of PEG‐DA hydrogel membrane thickness versus laser duration at high PEG‐DA concentrations.