Effect of Tin Incorporation on Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Glassy Se80Te20 Alloy

We report an analysis on the hardness behavior of glassy Se80？xTe20Snx alloy. The crucial thermo-mechanical parameters （micro-hardness, volume and formation energy of micro-voids and the modulus of elasticity） are examined. The results indicate that the thermo-mechanical parameters are changed significantly after incorporation of Sn in glassy Se80Te20 alloy.     

Investigation of short‐range structural order in Zr69.5Cu12Ni11Al7.5 and Zr41.5Ti41.5Ni17 glasses,using X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

Short‐range order has been investigated in Zr_69.5Cu₁₂Ni₁₁Al_7.5 and Zr_41.5Ti_41.5Ni₁₇ metallic glasses using X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. While both of these alloys are good glass formers, there is a difference in their glass‐forming abilities (Zr_41.5Ti_41.5Ni₁₇ > Zr_69.5Cu₁₂Ni₁₁Al_7.5). This difference is explained by inciting the relative importance of strong chemical order, icosahedral content, cluster symmetry and configuration diversity.     

Ink‐Jet Printed Nanoparticle Alignment Layers: Easy Design and Fabrication of Patterned Alignment Layers for Nematic Liquid Crystals

Ink‐jet printing of monolayer‐capped gold nanoparticles is introduced as a versatile and highly efficient means to pattern the alignment of nematic liquid crystals. Any homeotropic alignment patterns can be created quickly ranging in size from 30 μm (850 dpi) to several square inches, with high accuracy that does not deteriorate with time. Depending on the alignment underlayer, intermediate configurations between homeotropic and homogeneous are also feasible. Nematic liquid crystals with both positive and negative dielectric anisotropy can be switched by applying a DC or AC electric field in the printed vertical domains with the substrate configuration determining the electro‐optic response.     

Effect of Y3+ substitution on the structural,dielectric, and electrical properties of nanosized ZnAl 2 O 4 spinel

In the present work, we have studied the structural, dielectric, and electrical properties of a series of nanosized $\mathrm{ZnAl}_{2-2x}\mathrm{Y}_{2x}\mathrm{O}_{4}$ ( $x = 0.00$ , 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.07, and 0.10) system prepared by chemical coprecipitation method. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) was carried out to study the influence of $\mathrm{Y}^{3+}$ substitution on the crystal structure of these samples. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) images reveal the nanocrystalline nature of the samples. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed the preference of $\mathrm{Y}^{3+}$ ions at the octahedral B site. The variation of dielectric constant and loss tangent (1 kHz to 1 MHz) at room temperature for all the samples show the normal behavior of spinel compounds. AC conductivity study reveals that the conduction is due to small polaron hopping. The electrical modulus analysis shows that nanocrystalline $\mathrm{ZnAl}_{2-2x}\mathrm{Y}_{2x}\mathrm{O}_{4}$ system exhibits non-Debye-type relaxation. The DC electrical resistivity measured in the temperature range 303–373 K was found to increase with temperature and yttrium content.     

Spectral and surface investigations of Ca2V2O7:Eu3+ nanophosphors prepared by citrate-gel combustion method: a potential red-emitting phosphor for near-UV light-emitting diodes

In the present work, red-emitting Ca₂V₂O₇:xEu³⁺ (x = 0.5–6.0 mol%) nanophosphors, in the form of powders, were synthesized by the citrate-gel combustion method using metal nitrates as precursors and citric acid as fuel. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy were used to study the structure, morphology and spectral properties of the samples. The chemical compositions and electronic states of the powders were analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The average crystallite sizes estimated using the XRD data were found to be in the range of 30–45 nm, and were cross verified by TEM. The lattice parameters determined by the POWD program were approximated as a = 7.242 Å, b = 6.674 Å, c = 6.932 Å and V = 291.24 Å³, respectively. Under UV (395 nm) (PL) and electron (CL) excitation, the nanophosphors show characteristic emission from the Eu³⁺ ion (⁵D₀ → ⁷F_j, j = 1–5) with the main peaks at 612 and 616 nm. The maximum emission intensity was recorded from the sample with an Eu³⁺ concentration of 4 mol% and a critical energy distance of 19.084 Å between the donor and the acceptor. Above this concentration, there was a reduction in the intensity due to dipole–dipole induced concentration quenching effects. The potential applications of this phosphor as a high color-purity phosphor in light-emitting diodes are evaluated.     

Effect of substrate temperature on the growth of pulsed-laser deposited ZnO nanostructures

We report on the growth of highly c-axis-oriented ZnO nanostructures by pulsed laser deposition technique without using any catalyst. The full-width-at-half-maximum of (002) peak decreased with an increase in substrate temperature. However, a dip at 150 °C is attributed to the contribution from both the small- and large-size particles. FE-SEM images show that the increase in substrate temperature results in the formation of larger particles. Photoluminescence emission is observed both from near band edge as well as defect-related states for all the nanostructures. The presence of E ₂(low) and E ₂(high) Raman mode intensity and respective increase in the intensity with substrate temperature indicates better crystallinity. Both PL and Raman spectra indicate that A ₁(LO) mode may arise due to the defect related to interstitial zinc.     

Nanoscale flexoelectric energy harvesting

One of the most tantalizing applications of piezoelectricity is to harvest energy from ambient mechanical vibrations for powering micro and nano devices. However, piezoelectricity is restricted only to certain materials and is severely compromised at high temperatures. In this article, we examine in detail, the possibility of using the phenomenon of flexoelectricity for energy harvesting. The flexoelectric effect is universally present in all dielectrics and exhibits a strong scaling with size. Using a simple beam-based paradigmatical design, we theoretically and computationally examine flexoelectric energy harvesting under harmonic mechanical excitation. We find that the output power density and conversion efficiency increase significantly when the beam thickness reduces from micro to nanoscale and flexoelectricity-based energy harvesting can be a viable alternative to piezoelectrics. Specifically, the conversion efficiency in flexoelectric transduction at sub-micron thickness levels is observed to increase by two orders of magnitude as the thickness is reduced by an order of magnitude. The flexoelectric energy harvester works even for a single layer beam with a symmetric cross section which is not possible in piezoelectric energy harvesting. Our results also pave the way for exploration of high temperature energy harvesting since unlike piezoelectricity, flexoelectricity persists well beyond the Curie temperatures of the high electromechanical coupling ferroelectrics that are often used.     

Mössbauer and electronic spectral studies of iron(III) complexes of oximes

The hydroxo-bridge complexes of the type [Fe(2)(ligand-H)(4)(OH)(2)] with bidentate nitrogen-oxygen donor ligands, viz. 2-hydroxynaphthaldehydeoxime [hnoH(2)], 2-hydroxyacetphenoneoxime [haoH(2)], salicylaldooxime [SalH(2)], 2-hydroxypropiophenoneoxime [hnoH(2)] have been prepared. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic moments, electronic and M?ssbauer spectral studies. M?ssbauer parameters of the complexes clearly suggest high spin configuration of Fe(III) showing lower magnetic moment to that of the spin only value, i.e. 5.92 BM. It may be due to the antiferromagnetic interaction between Fe(III) centers.     

Stand-off Raman spectroscopic detection of minerals on planetary surfaces

We have designed and developed two breadboard versions of stand-off Raman spectroscopic systems for landers based on a 5-in. Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope and a small (4-in. diameter) Newtonian telescope receiver. These systems are capable of measuring the Raman spectra of minerals located at a distance of 4.5-66 m from the telescope. Both continuous wave (CW) Ar-ion and frequency doubled Nd:YAG (532 nm) pulsed (20 Hz) lasers are used as excitation sources for measuring remote Raman spectra of rocks and minerals. We have also made complementary measurements on the same rock samples with a micro-Raman system in 180 and 135 degrees geometry for evaluating the system performance and for estimating effect of grain size and laser-induced heating on the spectra of minerals using alpha-quartz as a model mineral. A field portable remote pulsed Raman spectroscopic system based on the 5-in. telescope and an f/2.2 spectrograph has been developed and tested. We have also demonstrated a prototype of a combined Raman and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system, capable of providing major element composition and mineralogical information on both biogenic and inorganic minerals at a distance of 10 m from the receiver.     

Optimal harvesting of a two species competition model with imprecise biological parameters

In this paper a two competing species harvesting model with imprecise biological parameters has been developed. We have developed a method to handle these imprecise parameters and discuss the dynamical behaviour of the model. We have discussed the existence of various equilibrium points and stability of the system at these equilibrium points. Also the bionomic equilibrium of the harvesting model has been analysed. Next the equilibrium solution of the control problem has been derived, and then dynamical optimization of the harvest policy is carried out taking combined harvesting effort as a dynamic variable by invoking Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. Our important analytical findings are illustrated through computer simulation using MATLAB followed by discussions and conclusions.