Elastic scattering of electrons and positrons by cadmium atoms

ABSTRACT

The differential, integrated elastic, total and momentum transfer cross sections along with Sherman function for the elastic scattering of electrons and positrons by cadmium atoms have been evaluated from the partial wave solution of the Dirac relativistic scattering equations for a projectile-atom complex potential at the energy range 6.4 eV < E < 1.0 keV. For various scattering quantities, a comparison of our results exhibits better agreement with the experimental data than the other available theoretical values.     

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt chloride/poly(ethylene oxide) electrospun hybrid nanofibers

Cobalt chloride (CoCl₂)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hybrid nanofibers with diameters ranging from 500 to 700 nm were successfully synthesized by a simple and versatile approach of electrospinning. The CoCl₂/PEO hybrid nanofibers were studied by different techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). One dimensional (1-D) surface roughness average (Ra_1-D) along a typical nanofiber was analyzed to be 57 nm. The chemical interactions between the CoCl₂ and PEO molecules showed that polar environment provided by CoCl₂ for the PEO molecules aided the modification of CoCl₂ molecule configuration.     

Scattering of e± from N2 in the energy range 1 eV–10 keV

The differential, integrated elastic, inelastic, total, momentum transfer, viscosity, and ionisation cross sections for electron and positron scattering from the homonuclear diatomic nitrogen molecule over an incident energy range of 1?eV–10?keV are calculated using the additivity rule. Dirac partial wave analysis is employed to calculate the cross sections of the constituent atoms of molecules, using a complex optical model potential (OPM). Comparison of our results of the additivity rule with the available experimental data and other theoretical predictions is presented. Our findings produce reasonable results in intermediate and high energies.     

Synthesis and characterization of porphyrin nanotubes/rods for solar radiation harvesting and solar cells

Energy transfer and electron transfer events as they occur between well arranged light harvesting antenna molecules, the reaction center and other factors determine the function of natural photosynthesis. The overall small reorganization energy and the well-balanced electronic coupling between each component bear key characters for the unique efficiency of natural photosynthesis. Such aspects permit the design and assembly of artificial systems that efficiently process solar energy, replicating the natural processes. The rich and extensive transitions seen in porphyrin-based materials hold great expectation as light harvesting building blocks in the construction of molecular architectures, allowing an efficient use of the solar spectrum. Hence in this study porphyrin nanorods are synthesized and characterized for future application in the construction of the artificial light harvesting system. Understanding the sizes and growth mechanism of porphyrins nanorods by self-assembly and molecular recognition is essential for their successful implementation in nanodevices. Spectroscopic and microscopic studies were carried out to investigate the effect that time, concentration and solvents have on the fabrication of porphyrin nanorods by ionic self-assembly of two oppositely charged porphyrins. We investigate in details the heteroaggregate behavior formation of [H₄TPPS₄]²⁻ and [SnTPyP]²⁺ mixture by means of the UV–vis spectroscopy and aggregates structure and morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This study demonstrates the potential for using different concentrations and solvents to influence the physical and optical properties of porphyrin based nanorods.     

Effects of post-thermal treatments on morphological and optical properties of NiO/Ni(OH)2 thin films synthesized by solution growth

Room temperature deposition of PVP capped nanostructured NiO/Ni(OH)₂ thin film, the morphological and optical characterizations by solution growth technique are reported. The nanostructured thin films which were deposited on optical glass substrates were annealed at different temperatures and then subjected to structural, morphological and optical characterizations. X-ray diffraction measurements of the films revealed that higher temperatures during the thermal treatment enhanced the crystallinity of the thin films. The SEM surface micrographs show non-interconnected uniformly deposited fibre-like structures with approximate lengths between 400 and 1200 nm. The optical band gap energy roughly decreased from about 2.7 eV to about 2.2 eV with thermal treatment. The absorbance of the thin films annealed at 300 and 400 °C was as high as 90% in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These materials could be useful in solar thermal conversion processes.     

Recent progress in nickel oxide-based electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors

In recent years, interest in nanostructured electrode materials for use in supercapacitors has been on the rise. Nickel oxide has been reported as a good candidate for supercapacitor applications due to its high theoretical capacitance and low cost. However, its poor electrical conductivity has resulted in actual poor specific capacitance and cycling ability. Over the years, researchers have studied various techniques to modify the structure and composition of NiO with the aim of improving its electrochemical performance. In this review, we opine that NiO-based electrodes can be fabricated using different approaches and different composite forms in order to obtain cells of high efficiency and specific capacitances. We discuss the recent advances in NiO-based electrodes fabricated using different approaches.