Characterization of deep acceptor level in as-grown ZnO thin film by molecular beam epitaxy

We report deep level transient spectroscopy results from ZnO layers grown on silicon by molecular beam epitaxy(MBE). The hot probe measurements reveal mixed conductivity in the as-grown ZnO layers, and the current–voltage(I–V)measurements demonstrate a good quality p-type Schottky device. A new deep acceptor level is observed in the ZnO layer having activation energy of 0.49±0.03 eV and capture cross-section of 8.57×10-18cm2. Based on the results from Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy(SIMS) of the ZnO layer, the observed acceptor trap level is tentatively attributed to a nitrogen–zinc vacancy complex in ZnO.     

Effect of Reynolds number on heat transfer and flow for multi-oxide nanofluids using numerical simulation

A numerical simulation model for laminar flow of nanofluids in a pipe with constant heat flux at the wall has been built to study the effect of Reynolds number on heat transfer and pressure loss. The investigation was performed for metallic oxide and multi-oxide nanoparticles suspended in water. The thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity were measured for a range of temperature (10–60 °C) and volume fraction of multi-oxide nanofluid. Comparison of the thermal conductivity for monocular oxide and multi-oxide nanofluids reveals a new way to control the enhancement in nanofluid conductivity. The numerical results obtained were compared with existing well-established correlations. The predictions of the Nusselt number for nanofluids are in agreement with the Shah correlation, and the deviation in the results is less than 1 %. It is found that the pressure loss increases with the Reynolds number, nanoparticle density, and volume fraction for multi-oxide nanoparticles. However, the flow demonstrates enhancement in heat transfer which improves with increasing Reynolds number of the flow.     

Conductometric studies of thermodynamics of complexation of Li+, Na+ and K+ ions with 4′,4″(5″)-di-tert-butyldibenzo-18-crown-6 in binary acetonitrile–nitromethane mixtures

The complexation reactions between 4′,4″(5″)-di-tert-butyldibenzo-18-crown-6 (DTBDB18C6) and Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ ions were studied conductometrically in different acetonitrile–nitromethane mixtures at various temperatures. The formation constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes were calculated from the computer fitting of the molar conductance-mole ratio data at different temperatures. At 20 °C and in nitromethane solvent, the stability of the resulting complexes varied in the order K⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺. The enthalpy and entropy changes of the complexation reactions were evaluated from the temperature dependence of formation constants. It was found that the stability of the resulting complexes increased with increasing nitromethane in the solvent mixture. The TΔS° versus ΔH° plot of thermodynamic data obtained shows a fairly good linear correlation indicating the existence of enthalpy–entropy compensation in the complexation reactions. The ab initio studies calculated at B3LYP/6-31G level of theory, indicate the binding energy of complexes decreases with increasing cation size in the gas phase. In the solution phase, DTBDB18C6 preferentially forms complexes with the larger ions rather than the smaller ions because the solvation energies of the smaller ions are large enough to overcome and reverse the trends in gas phase complexation. The findings of this study suggest that the current understanding of the factors influencing the selectivity of metal ion complexation by crown ethers may be in need of revision.     

Assessment of 210Po deposition in moss species and soil around coal-fired power plant

In the present study, the depositions of ²¹⁰Po were assessed in the surface soil and some mosses species found in the area around coal fired power plant using radiochemical deposition and alpha spectrometry counting system. The purposes of the study were to determine activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po in mosses and surface soil collected around coal-fired power plant in relation to trace the potential source of ²¹⁰Po and to identify most suitable moss species as a bio-indicator for ²¹⁰Po deposition. In this study, different species of mosses, Orthodontium imfractum, Campylopus serratus and Leucobryum aduncum were collected in May 2011 at the area around 15 km radius from Tanjung Bin coal-fired power plant located in Pontian, Johor. The ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations in mosses and soil varied in the range 102 ± 4 to 174 ± 8 Bq/kg dry wt. and 37 ± 2 to 184 ± 8 Bq/kg dry wt., respectively. Corresponding highest activity concentration of ²¹⁰Po observed in L. aduncum, therefore, this finding can be concluded this species was the most suitable as a bio-indicator for ²¹⁰Po deposition. On the other hand, it is clear the accumulation of ²¹⁰Po in mosses might be supplied from various sources of atmospheric deposition such as coal-fired power plant operation, industrial, plantation, agriculture and fertilizer activities, burned fuel fossil and forest; and other potential sources. Meanwhile, the main source of ²¹⁰Po in surface soil is supplied from the in situ deposition of radon decay and its daughters in the soil itself.     

Smectogenic properties of N,N′‐bis[(2‐hydroxy‐4‐alkoxyphenyl)methylene]benzene‐1,4‐diamine liquid crystals with double lateral H‐bonds

A series of eight liquid crystalline compounds, N,N′‐bis[(2‐hydroxy‐4‐alkoxyphenyl)methylene]benzene‐1,4‐diamines, has been synthesized and characterized. These homologous compounds differ in the length of terminal alkyl group C _n H_2n+1 wherein n is an even number ranging from 4 to 18. The spectroscopic techniques, FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR, were employed to characterize the molecular structure. The transition temperatures of all the title compounds and their mesophases were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy. All the compounds were smectogenic, exhibiting both tilted and non‐tilted molecular orientation in their smectic phases. Further investigation to ascertain the anisotropic nature of subphases within the smectogenic region was carried out using X‐ray diffraction.     

SYNTHESIS AND CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS OF 16H-DINAPHTHO AND 12 H-DIBENZO [D,G][1,3,2]DIOXASILOCINE

Abstract

The conformation of the heterocyclic eight-membered ring in 16H-dinaphtho and 12H-dibenzo [d,g][1,3,2]dioxasilocine was investigated in solution by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The barrier to ring inversion in the 16H-dinaphtho compound 3a was found to be 8.6±0.2 Kcal/mol and for the 12 H-dibenzo compound 4a, 8±0.2 Kcal/mol. Molecular mechanics calculations show three energy minima conformations for both compounds, boat chair(BC), twist boat(TB) and twist boat boat(TBB). Twist boat form is estimated to be the global minimum for the dibenzo compounds while TBB is the global conformation of the dinaphtho compounds. The result of molecular mechanics calculations are supported by analysis of the ¹H-NMR spectra.     

Efficient and Selective Oxidative Deprotection of Trimethylsilyl Ethers Using Supported Potassium Ferrate Under Microwave Irradiation

Primary and secondary trimethylsilyl ethers are efficiently and rapidly converted to their corresponding carbonyl compounds with supported potassium ferrate under microwave irradiation in solventless system.     

Regeneration of Carbonyl Compounds from Phenylhydrazones Under Microwave Irradiation

An environmentally benign, efficient, and mild methodology for the cleavage of phenylhydrazones using potassium ferrate under microwave irradiation in solvent-free conditions is described.     

Silica‐Supported bis (Trimethylsilyl) Chromate: Oxidation of Thiols to Their Corresponding Disulfides

An efficient and convenient method for the oxidation of thiols mediated by silica‐supported bis (trimethylsilyl) chromate (BTSC) in acetonitrile is reported.