Unexpected formation of hydroxybiphenylmethane derivatives and some new observations on Labat test

An unexpected synthesis of symmetrical hydroxybiphenylmethanes involving the reaction of 2-hydroxyphenyl benzyl ketones with ethoxymethyl chloride has been observed. Some new interesting observations of Labat test on colorimetric detection of bichalconyloxy, bichalconyl and biflavonylmethanes having oxygenated ortho positions are presented.     

A chemostat model of resource competition and allelopathy

Presented is a chemostat model in which one microbial population excretes a poison that increases the mortality of another, with toxin production increasing as the growth rate of the toxic species decreases. The model is intended to explore the role of allelopathy in blooms of harmful algae, such as red tide (Karenia brevis) and golden algae (Prymnesium parvum). This study introduces the model and its biological basis, and proceeds to the analysis of its asymptotic states. All theoretical results are supported by a set of numerical simulations. A discussion of biological conclusions and similarities to other mathematical models is also presented.     

Ultrahigh speed graphene diode with reversible polarity

The ability to tune the carrier-type concentration ratio with applied field along with a mean-free path length approaching 1 μm in graphene enables a new diode in which the diode polarity can be reversed. The diode consists of a thin graphene film with a geometric asymmetry that determines a preferred direction for charge-carrier transport, independent of whether the carriers are electrons or holes. We fabricated submicron geometric diodes by patterning and etching exfoliated graphene. Applying field-effect voltages to the substrate, we reversed the carrier type and demonstrated reversal of the diode polarity. The graphene geometric diodes exhibited rectification at 28 THz, opening the way to ultrahigh speed applications for these versatile devices.     

Electroluminescence from hybrid organic–inorganic LEDs based on thermally evaporated CdS thin films

Hybrid organic–inorganic light emitting devices combine the color purity and durability of inorganic light emitting diodes (LEDs) with high efficiency, flexibility and low processing cost of organic LEDs (OLEDs). A significant challenge is to incorporate inorganic nanocrystals inside the OLED structure. In the present work, thin films of CdS were successfully incorporated inside standard OLED structure using vacuum thermal evaporation technique. For the characterization of these films, they were deposited on plain glass plates at room temperature and studied using structural (XRD and TEM), morphological (SEM and AFM) and optical (UV and PL) techniques. The films were found to be composed of nanocrystals of CdS in which the size of the crystals increased with the increase in film thickness. The hybrid organic–inorganic LEDs showed improved luminance and efficiency as compared to the organic LED without CdS layers.     

Controlling the properties of silver nanoparticles deposited on surfaces using supercritical carbon dioxide for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been deposited on silicon and glass surfaces via a supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO₂) synthesis route for application in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Arrhenius plots revealed that nucleation and growth processes in this system depend on both temperature and surface chemistry. Results also demonstrated that temperature and surface chemistry could be varied to control nanoparticle properties, such as the mean nanoparticle size, density, and surface coverage, providing two useful variables for manipulating the properties of AgNPs deposited on surfaces in this system. These data also provide scientific insight into the underlying mechanisms governing heterogeneous AgNP deposition on a substrate in a sc-CO₂ system in addition to engineering insight into the variables that can be used to manipulate AgNP characteristics. The mean particle size could be tuned over the range 20–200 nm, the interparticle distance could be tuned over the range 70 nm–1 μm, and the surface coverage could be tuned over the range 0.035–0.58. Products were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with image analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and SERS. The silver nanoparticle-coated substrates were successfully applied in SERS, detecting the model analyte Rhodamine 6G at a concentration of 1 μM, a three orders of magnitude improvement over SERS surfaces previously fabricated in sc-CO₂ systems. Such surfaces can find use in trace concentration analyte detection in biomedical, chemical, and environmental applications.     

From Schrödinger’s equation to the quantum search algorithm

The quantum search algorithm is a technique for searching N possibilities in only O(√N) steps. Although the algorithm itself is widely known, not so well known is the series of steps that first led to it, these are quite different from any of the generally known forms of the algorithm. This paper describes these steps, which start by discretizing Schrödinger’s equation. This paper also provides a self contained introduction to quantum computing algorithms from a new perspective.     

The single-mode rate equations for semiconductor lasers with thermal effects

A mathematical model describing the coupling of electrical,optical and thermal effects in semiconductor lasers is introduced.Numerical and asymptotic solutions are derived, including expressionsfor key physical quantities such as the initial time delay,the frequency of spike oscillation and the temperature rise,together with its influence on the photon density, the electronconcentration and the threshold current. The consequences ofthermal effects in reducing efficiency are thus quantified.