Type-II InAs/GaSb photodiodes and focal plane arrays aimed at high operating temperatures

Recent efforts to improve the performance of type II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodiodes and focal plane arrays (FPA) have been reviewed. The theoretical bandstructure models have been discussed first. A review of recent developments in growth and characterization techniques is given. The efforts to improve the performance of MWIR photodiodes and focal plane arrays (FPAs) have been reviewed and the latest results have been reported. It is shown that these improvements has resulted in background limited performance (BLIP) of single element photodiodes up to 180 K. FPA shows a constant noise equivalent temperature difference (NEDT) of 11 mK up to 120 K and it shows human body imaging up to 170 K.     

Structural analysis of electrolyte solutions for rechargeable Mg batteries by stereoscopic means and DFT calculations

We present a rigorous analysis of unique, wide electrochemical window solutions for rechargeable magnesium batteries, based on aromatic ligands containing organometallic complexes. These solutions are comprised of the transmetalation reaction products of Ph(x)MgCl(2-x) and Ph(y)AlCl(3-y) in different proportions, in THF. In principle, these reactions involve the exchange of ligands between the magnesium and the aluminum based compounds, forming ionic species and neutral molecules, such as Mg(2)Cl(3)(+)·6THF, MgCl(2)·4THF, and Ph(y)AlCl(4-y)(-) (y = 0-4). The identification of the equilibrium species in the solutions is carried out by a combination of Raman spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR, and single-crystal XRD analyses. The association of the spectroscopic results with explicit identifiable species is supported by spectral analyses of specially synthesized reference compounds and DFT quantum-mechanical calculations. The correlation between the identified solution equilibrium species and the electrochemical anodic stability window is investigated. This study advances both development of new nonaqueous solution chemistry and possible development of high-energy density rechargeable Mg batteries.     

Analysis of femtosecond optical pulse propagation in one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystals using finite-difference time-domain method

In this paper, we have used the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to analyze the optical pulse propagation in a nonlinear, one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC). Hyperbolic secant pulses with various carrier wavelengths are utilized in this study. In a nonlinear regime, a 1DPC introduces a photonic band-gap whose central wavelength and width depend on the input pulse intensity. In the present work, three different cases are considered. These correspond to the carrier wavelengths of the incident pulses being out of, near to, and partially in the band-gap. For each case, the effect of nonlinearity on pulse propagation is investigated. Also, we have analyzed the two-frequency regime, in which each of the two pulses has a different carrier frequency (wavelength). This kind of study can be done directly with FDTD without any further computational burden but it is somewhat complicated using nonlinear coupled-mode equations (NLCME) and nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE), which require separate treatments for each carrier wavelength.     

Entropy-driven complex formation of malvidin-3-O-glucoside with common polyphenols in ethanol-water binary solutions

The complex formation of malvidin-3-O-glucoside with several polyphenols, the so-called "copigmentation" phenomenon, was studied in aqueous solutions. To simulate the copigmentation process during fermentation, the stability of the formed complexes was examined in dependence of the ethanol content of the aqueous solution. Results indicate that stronger and larger complexes are formed, when the ethanol content exceeds a critical margin of 8vol.% However, the size of complexes of malvidin/procyanidin and malvidin/epicatechin is drastically reduced above this critical concentration. Fluorescence lifetime and solvent relaxation measurements give insight into the particular processes at molecular level and will help us comprehend the first important steps during winemaking in order to recommend an optimized winemaking technology to ensure extraordinary colour stability in red wines.     

Design and synthesis of new 2-substituted-5-[2-(2-halobenzyloxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles as anticonvulsant agents

A new series of 2-substituted-5-[2-(2-halobenzyloxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles was designed and synthesized as anticonvulsant agents. Electroshock and pentylenetetrazole-induced lethal convulsion tests showed that the introduction of an amino group at position 2 of 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring and a fluoro substituent at ortho position of benzyloxy moiety had the best anticonvulsant activity. Our results showed that this effect is mediated through benzodiazepine receptors mechanism.     

Assessment of operating parameters for photocatalytic degradation of a textile dye by Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/clinoptilolite nanocatalyst using Taguchi experimental design

In the current study, a nanophotocatalyst doped with of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles supported on Iranian clinoptilolite was synthesized and characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM, and EDX analyses. The results suggested the successful loading of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles onto the surface of clinoptilolite. The SEM images confirmed the average size of nanoparticles deposited on zeolite, which was about 20–40 nm. Furthermore, application of the synthesized photocatalyst in photocatalytic degradation of Acid Black 172 dye was studied using the Taguchi method and the chosen parameters were as follows: pH (2–7), dye concentration (50–200 mg/l), irradiation time (30–120 min), and catalyst dosage (0.5–1.5 g/l). The results indicate that dye concentration, pH, and irradiation time are respectively the most effective factors in these experiments while with the minimum dosage of the catalyst (0.5 g/l), up to 90 % removal efficiency could be achieved. The optimum value for each parameter was pH = 2, dye concentration = 50 mg/l, catalyst dosage = 1 g/l and irradiation time = 60 min, and the dye removal efficiency reached up to 100 % at these optimal conditions. Furthermore, after five-times recycling and reusing the catalyst, the efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation was reduced from 91.5 to 65.9 %, which is still an acceptable value.     

Effect of nano‐modified SiO2/Al2O3 mixed‐matrix micro‐composite fillers on thermal,mechanical, and tribological properties of epoxy polymers

Thermo‐mechanically durable industrial polymer nanocomposites have great demand as structural components. In this work, highly competent filler design is processed via nano‐modified of micronic SiO₂/Al₂O₃ particulate ceramics and studied its influence on the rheology, glass transition temperature, composite microstructure, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, micro hardness, and tribology properties. Composites were fabricated with different proportions of nano‐modified micro‐composite fillers in epoxy matrix at as much possible filler loadings. Results revealed that nano‐modified SiO₂/Al₂O₃ micro‐composite fillers enhanced inter‐particle network and offer benefits like homogeneous microstructures and increased thermal conductivity. Epoxy composites attained thermal conductivity of 0.8 W/mK at 46% filler loading. Mechanical strength and bulk hardness were reached to higher values on the incorporation of nano‐modified fillers. Tribology study revealed an increased specific wear rate and decreased friction coefficient in such fillers. The study is significant in a way that the design of nano‐modified mixed‐matrix micro‐composite fillers are effective where a high loading is much easier, which is critical for achieving desired thermal and mechanical properties for any engineering applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal Energy Storage and Heat Transfer of Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Material (NePCM) in a Shell and Tube Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Unit with a Partial Layer of Eccentric Copper Foam

Thermal energy storage units conventionally have the drawback of slow charging response. Thus, heat transfer enhancement techniques are required to reduce charging time. Using nanoadditives is a promising approach to enhance the heat transfer and energy storage response time of materials that store heat by undergoing a reversible phase change, so-called phase change materials. In the present study, a combination of such materials enhanced with the addition of nanometer-scale graphene oxide particles (called nano-enhanced phase change materials) and a layer of a copper foam is proposed to improve the thermal performance of a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit filled with capric acid. Both graphene oxide and copper nanoparticles were tested as the nanometer-scale additives. A geometrically nonuniform layer of copper foam was placed over the hot tube inside the unit. The metal foam layer can improve heat transfer with an increase of the composite thermal conductivity. However, it suppressed the natural convection flows and could reduce heat transfer in the molten regions. Thus, a metal foam layer with a nonuniform shape can maximize thermal conductivity in conduction-dominant regions and minimize its adverse impacts on natural convection flows. The heat transfer was modeled using partial differential equations for conservations of momentum and heat. The finite element method was used to solve the partial differential equations. A backward differential formula was used to control the accuracy and convergence of the solution automatically. Mesh adaptation was applied to increase the mesh resolution at the interface between phases and improve the quality and stability of the solution. The impact of the eccentricity and porosity of the metal foam layer and the volume fraction of nanoparticles on the energy storage and the thermal performance of the LHTES unit was addressed. The layer of the metal foam notably improves the response time of the LHTES unit, and a 10% eccentricity of the porous layer toward the bottom improved the response time of the LHTES unit by 50%. The presence of nanoadditives could reduce the response time (melting time) of the LHTES unit by 12%, and copper nanoparticles were slightly better than graphene oxide particles in terms of heat transfer enhancement. The design parameters of the eccentricity, porosity, and volume fraction of nanoparticles had minimal impact on the thermal energy storage capacity of the LHTES unit, while their impact on the melting time (response time) was significant. Thus, a combination of the enhancement method could practically reduce the thermal charging time of an LHTES unit without a significant increase in its size.     

Structure Elucidation and Cholinesterase Inhibition Activity of Two New Minor Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids

Two new minor Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were isolated from Hippeastrum × hybridum cv. Ferrari and Narcissus pseudonarcissus cv. Carlton. The chemical structures were identified by various spectroscopic (one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) NMR, circular dichroism (CD), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and by comparison with literature data of similar compounds. Both isolated alkaloids were screened for their human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (hBuChE) inhibition activity. One of the new compounds, a heterodimer alkaloid of narcikachnine-type, named narciabduliine (2), showed balanced inhibition potency for both studied enzymes, with IC₅₀ values of 3.29 ± 0.73 µM for hAChE and 3.44 ± 0.02 µM for hBuChE. The accommodation of 2 into the active sites of respective enzymes was predicted using molecular modeling simulation.