The size effect on the ice nucleating behaviour of PbI2 thin films

A relationship exists between the size of the particle and nucleation temperature. There exists an optimum particle size below which nucleation is inhibited. The behaviour of lead iodide thin films as a substrate for ice nucleation is reported in this study. It is found that the supercooling increases with increase in the thickness of the film. But the change in nucleation temperature above 1250 Å is negligible.     

基于双金属高核钛氧簇基电极的高性能超级电容器的制备

制备了一系列专为超级电容器设计的新型钛氧簇(TOCs,包括Zn-Ti₁₁和Cd-Ti₁₁),扩大了TOCs材料的潜在应用范围。此类材料具有的优异赝电容性能充分展示了钛基材料的优点。所制备的TOCs基超级电容器的最大功率密度为9.5 W·kg^-1,能量密度为463 Wh·kg^-1。     

Large scale highly organized single-walled carbon nanotube networks for electrical devices

Large-scale room-temperature liquid-phase directed assembly of highly organized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) over large areas is demonstrated. The presented process utilizes lithographically patterned template to guide the fluidic self-assembly of SWNTs on a silicon-dioxide substrate. The width of these highly organized SWNT structures are in the micron range while their heights are in orders of nanometers. Room temperature electrical I–V characterization of these fabricated high coverage SWNT wires show linear ohmic behavior. The resistivity of these assembled SWNT network is in the order of 10⁻⁶ Ω m demonstrating their metallic characteristics during conductance. Scaling of the assembly processes on a wafer level with high yield is demonstrated. Our developed assembly process is compatible with complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes and provides a simple and flexible way of building SWNT nanotube-based electronics in a large scale.     

Interaction of rac-[Ru(5,6-dmp)3]2+ with DNA: enantiospecific DNA binding and ligand-promoted exciton coupling

The X-ray crystal structure of the complex rac-[Ru(5,6-dmp)(3)]Cl(2) (5,6-dmp = 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) reveals a distorted octahedral coordination geometry with the Ru-N bond distances shorter than in its phen analogue. Absorption spectral titrations with CT DNA reveal that rac-[Ru(5,6-dmp)(3)](2+) interacts (K(b), (8.0 +/- 0.2) x 10(4) M(-1)) much more strongly than its phen analogue. The emission intensity of the 5,6-dmp complex is dramatically enhanced on binding to DNA, which is higher than that of the phen analogue. Also, interestingly, time-resolved emission measurements on the DNA-bound complex shows biexponential decay of the excited states with the lifetimes of short- and long-lived components being higher than those for the phen analogue. The CD spectral studies of rac-[Ru(5,6-dmp)(3)](2+) bound to CT DNA provide a definite and elegant evidence for the enantiospecific interaction of the complex with B-form DNA. Competitive DNA binding studies using rac-[Ru(phen)(3)](2+) provide support for the strong binding of the complex with DNA. The Delta-enantiomer of rac-[Ru(5,6-dmp)(3)](2+) binds specifically to the right-handed B-form of poly d(GC)(12) at lower ionic strength (0.05 M NaCl), and the Lambda-enantiomer binds specifically to the left-handed Z-form of poly d(GC)(12) generated by treating the B-form with 5 M NaCl. The strong electronic coupling of the DNA-bound complex with the unbound complex facilitates the change in its enantiospecificity upon changing the conformation of DNA. The (1)H NMR spectra of rac-[Ru(5,6-dmp)(3)](2+) bound to poly d(GC)(12) reveal that the complex closely interacts most possibly in the major grooves of DNA. Electrochemical studies using ITO electrode show that the 5,6-dmp complex stabilizes CT DNA from electrocatalytic oxidation of its guanine base more than the phen analogue does.     

Electrical and optical properties of pulse plated CdS<Subscript><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> films

Thin films of CdS_xTe_1-x were deposited by the pulse electrodeposition technique using cadmium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, and tellurium dioxide on titanium and conducting glass substrates. Structural studies indicated the formation of polycrystalline films possessing hexagonal structure. The resistivity varies from 53 Ω cm to 8 Ω cm as the stochiometric coefficient “x” value decreases from 1 to 0. The carrier concentration increases with CdTe concentration. It is observed that as the post-heat treatment temperature increases, the photosensitivity also increases. It is observed that a post-heat treatment temperature of 550 °C results in high photosensitivity as well as low light resistance. The optical constants, refractive index (n) and extinction coefficient (k) were evaluated from the transmission spectra of the films of different composition.     

Lithium ion transport in PVC/PEG 2000 blend polymer electrolytes complexed with LiX (X=ClO 4? , BF 4? , and CF3SO 3? )

This paper describes preparation and characterization of polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene glycol 2000 blend polymer electrolytes with LiX (X=ClO₄⁻, BF₄⁻, and CF₃SO₃⁻) salt by solution casting technique. Ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate mixture was used as the plasticizers. LiClO₄-based electrolytes exhibited better ionic conduction behavior than other salts. The thermal profiles ascertain the stability of the membranes up to 120°C by differential scanning calorimetry. Complexation and crystallinity were studied through X-ray diffraction measurements. Phase morphological study reveals the porous nature of the polymer electrolyte membranes.     

Carboxyl-functionalized graphene oxide-modified electrode for the electrochemical determination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac

Ionics - A simple and sensitive electrochemical method was proposed for the quantitative determination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF). For the first time,...     

Removal of thorium from aqueous solution by adsorption using PAMAM dendron-functionalized styrene divinyl benzene

Third generation poly(amido)amine (PAMAM) dendron was grown on the surface of styrene divinylbenzene (SDB) by divergent polymerization method. This new chelating resin (PAMAMG3-SDB) has been investigated in liquid–solid extraction of thorium. The effects of analytical parameters such as pH, contact time, concentration of thorium, resin dose and temperature on adsorption were investigated. Kinetic and isotherm studies of the adsorption were also carried out to understand the nature of adsorption of thorium on the chelating resin. Kinetic data followed a pseudo-second-order model and equilibrium data were best fitted with Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of thorium ions was determined to be 36.2 mg g^?1 at 298 K. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard enthalpy, entropy, and free energy of adsorption of thorium on PAMAMG₃-SDB were calculated as ?10.498 kJ mol^?1, 0.0493 kJ mol^?1 K^?1 and ?25.208 kJ mol^?1 respectively at 298 K from temperature dependent equilibrium data.     

Enhanced photovoltaic characterization and charge transport of TIO2 nanoparticles/nanotubes composite photoanode based on indigo carmine dye-sensitized solar cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have established themselves as an alternative to conventional solar cells owing to their remarkably high power conversion efficiency, longtime stability and low-cost production. DSSCs composed of a dyed oxide semiconductor photoanode, a redox electrolyte and a counter electrode. In these devices, conversion efficiency is achieved by ultra-fast injection of an electron from a photo excited dye into the conduction band of metal oxide followed by subsequent dye regeneration and holes transportation to the counter electrode. The energy conversion efficiency of DSSC is to be dependent on the morphology and structure of the dye adsorbed metal oxide photoanode. Worldwide considerable efforts of DSSCs have been invested in morphology control of photoanode film, synthesis of stable optical sensitizers and improved ionic conductivity electrolytes. In the present investigation, a new composite nano structured photoanodes were prepared using TiO₂ nano tubes (TNTs) with TiO₂ nano particles (TNPs). TNPs were synthesized by sol–gel method and TNTs were prepared through an alkali hydrothermal transformation. Working photoanodes were prepared using five pastes of TNTs concentrations of 0, 10, 50, 90, and 100 % with TNPs. The DSSCs were fabricated using Indigo carmine dye as photo sensitizer and PMII (1-propyl-3-methylimmidazolium iodide) ionic liquid as electrolyte. The counter electrode was prepared using Copper sulfide. The structure and morphology of TNPs and TNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopes (TEM and SEM). The photocurrent efficiency is measured using a solar simulator (100 mW/cm²). The prepared composite TNTs/TNPs photoanode could significantly improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells owing to its synergic effects, i.e. effective dye adsorption mainly originated from TiO₂ nanoparticles and rapid electron transport in one-dimensional TiO₂ nanotubes. The results of the present investigation suggested that the DSSC based on 10 % TNTs/TNPs showed better photovoltaic performance than cell made pure TiO₂ nanoparticles. The highest energy-conversion efficiency of 2.80 % is achieved by composite TNTs (10 %)/TNPs film, which is 68 % higher than that pure TNPs film and far larger than that formed by bare TNTs film (94 %). The charge transport and charge recombination behaviors of DSSCs were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectra and the results showed that composite TNTs/TNPs film-based cell possessed the lowest transfer resistances and the longest electron lifetime. Hence, it could be concluded that the composite TNTs/TNPs photoanodes facilitate the charge transport and enhancing the efficiencies of DSSCs.