Accurate method for measuring the thermal coefficient of group birefringence of polarization-maintaining fibers

We present a method to accurately measure the group birefringence variation with temperature in high-birefringence polarization-maintaining (PM) fibers using a distributed polarization analyzer. By analyzing polarization cross-talk peaks purposely induced at both ends of a PM fiber, the temperature coefficient of group birefringence can be accurately obtained. We confirm the theoretical prediction that the group birefringence of PANDA and TIGER PM fibers decrease linearly with temperature from -40 °C to 80 °C, and find that the temperature coefficients are -5.93 × 10(-7) °C(-1) and -5.29 × 10(-7) °C(-1) for two types of PANDA fibers, and -5.36 × 10(-7) °C(-1) for a TIGER fiber.     

Terahertz generation based on parametric conversion: from saturation of conversion efficiency to back conversion

By stacking alternatively rotated gallium phosphide (GaP) plates, the maximum photon conversion efficiency of 40% for the terahertz (THz) generation based on difference-frequency generation has been achieved. The corresponding peak power generated inside the four GaP plates approaches 4 kW. As the number of plates is increased from four to five, the THz output power is significantly decreased, due to back parametric conversion.     

Fabrication of concave microlens arrays using controllable dielectrophoretic force in template holes

This Letter presents a method for fabricating concave microlens arrays of UV-curable polymer by using the dielectrophoresis (DEP) force. The DEP force, generated by a voltage between the patterned conductive template and substrate, acting on the polymer-air interface, can drive the dielectric liquid polymer into the template holes and change the shape of the polymer-air interface. The upper polymer surface of fabricated microlens is super smooth, which can reduce optical noise. The upper surface geometry is measured approximately as parabolic in general, which can lead to a negligible spherical aberration, compared to spherical surfaces.     

A first-principles study of C + O reaction on NiCo(1 1 1) surface

A density-functional theory method has been conducted to investigate the association of C + O on (1 1 1) facets of ordered NiCo alloy and the results have been compared with those obtained on pure Ni(1 1 1) surface. In reaction of C + O, the favorable reaction path is that C adsorbed on HCP-1 site moves to the nearest Ni-Co bridge site, and associates with O migrating from FCC-1 site to result in CO adsorbed on the bridge site of Ni-Co. However, the reaction barrier is higher by 0.35 eV than that on pure Ni(1 1 1), which indicates that the incorporation of Co into the Ni crystal is not in favor of the reaction of carbon delimination.     

Influence of substrate temperature on surface textured ZnO:Al films etched with NaOH solution

Transparent conducting Al-doped ZnO (ZnO:Al, AZO) thin films with good optical and electrical characteristics were prepared by direct current pulse magnetron sputtering. Textured surfaces of AZO films were obtained by etching with NaOH solution successfully and the effect of substrate temperature on the surface texture was investigated. The surface is covered with craters after etching with 5% NaOH solution, and the crater diameter decreases gradually as substrate temperature increases. For AZO film deposited at 270, the crater diameters is 0.5-1 μm, which is an effective surface texture for light trapping.     

Ultrasound-assisted anodization of aluminum in oxalic acid

Porous anodic alumina is an important nanoscale template for fabrication of various nanostructures. We report a new ultrasound-assisted anodization process in oxalic acid. Under the continuous irradiation of ultrasound, the one-step-anodized sample has a smooth and clean surface, and two-step-anodization brings ordered porous anodic alumina with higher growth rate of 52 μm/h. The ultrasound applied during the anodization can clean the surface and enhance the nanopore growth since it can accelerate the oxide dissolving on the electrolyte/oxide interface. The ultrasound-assisted anodization may be utilized for other anodizations.     

A facile synthesis of monodisperse CoFe2O4/SiO2 nanoparticles

Aminated-CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared from primary silica particles using modified StÖber method. By optimizing the preparation conditions, monodisperse CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ NPs with high amino groups’ density were obtained, which is necessary for enzyme immobilization. TEM confirm that the sample is a core/shell structure. These aminated-CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ NPs have narrow size distributions with a mean size of about 60 nm. Moreover, the aminated-CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ NPs can be easily dispersed in aqueous medium. The experimental results also show that the NPs have superparamagnetism, indicating that the aminated-CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ NPs can be used as an effective carrier for the enzyme immobilization.     

Surface adhesion properties of graphene and graphene oxide studied by colloid-probe atomic force microscopy

Surface adhesion properties are important to various applications of graphene-based materials. Atomic force microscopy is powerful to study the adhesion properties of samples by measuring the forces on the colloidal sphere tip as it approaches and retracts from the surface. In this paper we have measured the adhesion force between the colloid probe and the surface of graphene (graphene oxide) nanosheet. The results revealed that the adhesion force on graphene and graphene oxide surface were 66.3 and 170.6 nN, respectively. It was found the adhesion force was mainly determined by the water meniscus, which was related to the surface contact angle of samples.     

Sol-gel preparation and characterization of nanoporous ZnO/SiO2 coatings with broadband antireflection properties

Nanoporous ZnO/SiO₂ bilayer coatings were prepared on the surface of glass substrates via sol-gel dip-coating process. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the coatings were characterized. The refractive indices of ZnO layer and SiO₂ layer are 1.34 and 1.21 at 550 nm, respectively. The transmittance and reflectance spectra of the coatings were investigated and the broadband antireflection performance of the bilayer structure was determined over the solar spectrum. The solar transmittances in the range of 300-1200 nm and 1200-2500 nm are increased by 6.5% and 6.2%, respectively. The improvement of transmittance is attributed to the destructive interference of light reflected from interfaces between the different refractive-index layers with an optimized thickness. Such antireflection coatings of ZnO/SiO₂ provide a promising route for solar energy applications.