Fabrication and characterization of CdS-sensitized TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotube photoelectrode

CdS quantum dot (Qd)-sensitized TiO₂ nanotube array photoelectrode is synthesised via a two-step method on tin-doped In₂O₃-coated (ITO) glass substrate. TiO₂ nanotube arrays are prepared in the ethylene glycol electrolyte solution by anodizing titanium films which are deposited on ITO glass substrate by radio frequency sputtering. Then, the CdS Qds are deposited on the nanotubes by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction technique. The resulting nanotube arrays are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. The length of the obtained nanotubes reaches 1.60 μm and their inner diameter and wall thickness are around 90 and 20 nm, respectively. The XRD results show that the as-prepared TiO₂ nanotubes array is amorphous, which are converted to anatase TiO₂ after annealed at 450 °C for 2 h. The CdS Qds deposited on the TiO₂ nanotubes shift the absorption edge of TiO₂ from 388 to 494 nm. The results show that the CdS-sensitized TiO₂ nanotubes array film can be used as the photoelectrode for solar cells.     

Heterostructural coaxial nanotubes of CNT@Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> via atomic layer deposition: effects of surface functionalization and nitrogen-doping

This study attempted to synthesize one-dimensional (1D) coaxial nanotubes of Fe₂O₃ based on carbon nanotubes (CNT@Fe₂O₃) via atomic layer deposition (ALD) using ferrocene and oxygen as precursors. Results disclosed that undoped CNTs were suitable for the ALD of Fe₂O₃ (ALD-Fe₂O₃) only if they were chemically functionalized, due to their inert surface nature. It was further demonstrated that the effects of both covalent and non-covalent methodologies were limited in functionalizing undoped CNTs, leading to random and non-uniform deposition of Fe₂O₃. In sharp contrast, it was found that, as an alternative, nitrogen-doped CNTs (N-CNTs) contributed uniform and tunable ALD-Fe₂O₃, due to their active surface nature induced by incorporated N atoms. Consequently, various 1D heterostructural coaxial nanotubes were obtained with well-controlled growth of Fe₂O₃ on N-CNTs. For a better understanding, the underlying mechanisms were explored based on different N-doping configurations. In addition, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction jointly demonstrated that as-deposited Fe₂O₃ is single-phase crystalline α-Fe₂O₃ (hematite). The as-synthesized heterostructural coaxial nanotubes of CNT@Fe₂O₃ may find great potential applications in photocatalysis, gas-sensing, and magnetic fields.     

Self-assembling process of flash nanoprecipitation in a multi-inlet vortex mixer to produce drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles

We present an experimental study of self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles in the process of flash nanoprecipitation using a multi-inlet vortex mixer (MIVM). β-Carotene and polyethyleneimine (PEI) are used as a model drug and a macromolecule, respectively, and encapsulated in diblock copolymers. Flow patterns in the MIVM are microscopically visualized by mixing iron nitrate (Fe(NO₃)₃) and potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) to precipitate Fe(SCN) _x ^(3−x)+. Effects of physical parameters, including Reynolds number, supersaturation rate, interaction force, and drug-loading rate, on size distribution of the nanoparticle suspensions are investigated. It is critical for the nanoprecipitation process to have a short mixing time, so that the solvent replacement starts homogeneously in the reactor. The properties of the nanoparticles depend on the competitive kinetics of polymer aggregation and organic solute nucleation and growth. We report the existence of a threshold Reynolds number over which nanoparticle sizes become independent of mixing. A similar value of the threshold Reynolds number is confirmed by independent measurements of particle size, flow-pattern visualization, and our previous numerical simulation along with experimental study of competitive reactions in the MIVM.     

Theoretical study on the Rocksalt structured positron annihilation in magnesium oxide

Based on the atomic superposition approximation （ATSUP） and first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave methods, the bulk and Mg mono-vacancy positron lifetime of magnesium oxide were calculated using Arponen-Pajamme and Borofiski-Nieminen positron-annihilation-rate interpolation formula respectively. The calculated values are in good agreement with experimental values and the first-principles method gives more convincing results. The positron annihilation density spectra analysis reveals that positrons mainly annihilate with valence electrons of oxygen atoms when the magnesium-vacancy appears within magnesium oxide.     

New construction of hybrid and aperiodic ordered PBG cavity

The band gap of a photonic crystal (PhC) cavity intrinsically avoids HOM problems. In this paper, we present a new PBG structure based on the possible advantage of using hybrid structures and aperiodic lattices. This novel hybrid and aperiodically ordered cavity was designed for apparently higher Q-factor (more than 10300) and achieving large accelerating field gradient. The HOMs in the cavity are able to be absorbed efficiently.     

Growth and magnetic properties of single crystalline Ni nanowire arrays prepared by pulse DC electrodeposition

Highly textured Ni nanowire arrays were fabricated into anodic aluminum oxide(AAO) templates by pulse DC electrodeposition.The applied voltage and pH value of electrolytes were found strongly affecting the microstructure and magnetic properties of Ni nanowire arrays.Low applied potential and pH value both prefer to form polycrystalline fcc Ni nanowires.Increasing the applied potential or pH value favors the Ni [220] texture and even eventually forms the [220] oriented single crystal Ni wires,while exorbitan...     

Bandwidth evaluation of dispersive transformation electromagnetics based devices

In this paper, the transient responses of some devices which are based on transformation electromagnetics are studied, such as invisible cloaks and concentrators, by using the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) numerical technique. In particular, effects of the inherent losses as well as the coating size of the ideal cylindrical cloak on its bandwidth and cloaking performance are examined. In addition, it is demonstrated that the performance of transformation electromagnetics based devices is affected by the material parameters in the design, although they may behave nicely under monochromatic plane wave illuminations. The obtained results are of interest for the future practical implementation of these structures.     

Compton散射对斜入射激光脉冲在等离子体中传输的影响

应用多光子非线性Compton散射模型和等效折射指数模型,研究了Compton散射对斜入射激光脉冲在等离子体中传输特性的影响,提出了将入射光和Compton散射光形成的耦合光脉冲作为在等离子体中传输的新机制,用等效耦合折射指数和折射定律分别计算和数值模拟了等离子体中耦合光的反射和折射,结果表明,散射使等离子体中法拉第效应增强,产生了一个与折射界面平行的、较小等幅度附加折射波平面;使等效耦合折射指数的实部和虚部的实参数、折射角和等效折射指数之间的差异明显减小;使用等效耦合折射指数和折射定所得到的反射系数几乎均表现出相同的先增大后迅速减小的规律;使等离子体的反射系数随碰撞频率的增大而迅速减小,透射增强,透射增强的频率位置向高频明显移动。     

Room-temperature ferromagnetism of diamagnetically-doped ZnO aligned nanorods fabricated by vapor reaction

Large-scale monocrystalline oxide-diluted magnetic semiconductor (ODMS) Zn_1−x Bi _x O nanorods arrays (NAs) were prepared within a large doping concentration range from 5% to 20% by a simple chemical vapor deposition. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveal the monotonous expansion of the lattice constants with increasing Bi content, due to the effective Bi doping. In particular, room-temperature ferromagnetic (RTFM) behavior with Curie temperature over 363.7 K has been observed based on Bi-doped ZnO nanoarrays, whereas undoped ZnO NAs disappear. The RTFM origin is suggested, in which vacancies can be controlled to tune the FM. The as-formed RTFM NAs would have potential applications in many areas of advanced nanotechnology, such as new spintronic devices and magneto-optic components.