Controlling the infrared optical properties of rf-sputtered NiO films for applications of infrared window

In this paper, we will focus on an IR transmittance enhancement technique from the window material point of view by using metal oxides, especially nickel oxide (NiO). At first, anti-reflection (AR) coatings were modeled by using the optical properties of NiO films. The transmittance of the model was predicted using Swanepoel’s model and verified with NiO film prepared by rf magnetron sputtering. Also, post-deposition annealing was performed and was found to change the optical properties of the NiO film. Therefore, we analyzed the annealing effect on the IR optical properties of the NiO film. Furthermore, we confirmed the durability of the NiO film and verified the possibility of this material being used in infrared optics.     

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO2 particles via effect of anatase–rutile ratio

In the present work anatase–rutile transformation temperature and its effect on physical/chemical properties as well as photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ particles were investigated. The characterisation of the synthesised and annealed TiO₂ particles were determined by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis (BET). The refraction in the ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) range was assessed using a dual-beam spectrophotometer. The photocatalytic performance of the particles was tested on methylene blue solution. The XRD data indicated that the percentage of rutile increased with the annealing temperature and almost 100% of anatase transformed to rutile at 1000 °C. In addition, the phase transformation was a linear function of annealing temperature so phase composition of TiO₂ can be controlled by changing the annealing temperature. The SEM and BET results presented the increase of agglomerate size and the decrease of specific surface area with the increasing annealing temperature. This proved that anatase has smaller particle size and higher surface area than rutile. The photocatalytic activity of the annealed TiO₂ powders reduced with the increase of annealing temperature. The samples annealed at 900 °C and 925 °C with anatase: rutile ratio of 92:8 and 77:23, respectively, showed the best activity. These results suggested that the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ particles is a function of phase composition. Thus it can be enhanced by changing its phase composition which can be controlled by annealing temperature.     

Investigating the effect of interphase and surrounding resin on carbon nanotube free vibration behavior

The free vibration analysis of a carbon nanotube (CNT) embedded in a volume element is performed using 3D finite element (FE) and analytical models. Three approaches consist of molecular and continuum mechanics FE methods and continuum analytical method are employed to simulate the CNT, interphase region and surrounding matrix. The bonding between CNT and polymer is treated as non-perfect bonding using van der Waals and triple phase material interaction in first and second approaches. In analytical approach a perfect bonding is assumed between nanotube and matrix. First, natural frequencies of CNT under different boundary conditions and aspect ratios are obtained by three approaches and the results are compared with published data. The results show the frequency response variations of CNT in GHz to THz range. Subsequently, vibration behaviors of CNT/polymer are evaluated and the results revealed the importance of interphase region role in the performance of nanocomposites. The results also showed the convergence of the natural frequencies for 1–2.5% of CNT volume in high aspect ratios using three methods, so that the interphase effects is negligible. In addition, it is observed that the molecular method due to interphase role has proper performance in vibration behavior investigation of volume elements.     

Optical,electrical and magnetic properties of nanostructured Mn3O4 synthesized through a facile chemical route

Nanostructured Mn₃O₄ sample with an average crystallite size of ∼15 nm is synthesized via the reduction of potassium permanganate using hydrazine. The average particle size obtained from the Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis is in good agreement with the average crystallite size estimated from X-ray diffraction analysis. The presence of Mn⁴⁺ ions at the octahedral sites is inferred from the results of Raman, UV–visible absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyzes. DC electrical conductivity of the sample in the temperature range 313–423 K, is about five orders of magnitude larger than that reported for single crystalline Mn₃O₄ sample. The dominant conduction mechanism is identified to be of the polaronic hopping of holes between cations in the octahedral sites. The zero field cooled and field cooled magnetization of the sample is studied in the range 20–300 K. The Curie temperature for the sample is about 45 K, below which the sample is ferrimagnetic. A blocking temperature of 35 K is observed in the field cooled curve. It is observed that the sample shows hysteresis at temperatures below the Curie temperature with no saturation, even at an applied field (20 kOe). The presence of an ordered core and disordered surface of spin arrangements is observed from the magnetization studies. Above the Curie temperature, the sample shows linear dependence of magnetization on applied field with no hysteresis characteristic of paramagnetic phase.     

Ferrimagnetic behaviors in a double-wall cubic metal nanotube

A double-wall cubic metal nanotube consists of the ferromagnetic spin-1 inner shell and spin-3/2 surface shell. It is of the ferrimagnetic exchange coupling between two shells. Considering the single-ion anisotropy and transverse field exist together, the magnetization, the initial susceptibility, the internal energy and the specific heat have been investigated by using the effective-field theory with correlations. Some interesting phenomena have been found in the thermal variations of the system. Magnetization appears two or three compensation points in certain parameters. It is an unconventional ferrimagnetic behavior in the nanotube. The shapes of total magnetization and the initial susceptibility are great influenced by the surface exchange coupling, surface single-ion anisotropy and surface transverse field. Some results of nanotube may have potential applications in different research fields, such as electronics, optics, mechanics, and even biomedicine and molecular devices.     

Functionalization of Graphene Oxide and its Biomedical Applications

Graphene oxide (GO) offers interesting physicochemical and biological properties for biomedicine due to its versatility, biocompatibility, small size, large surface area, and its ability to interact with biological cells and tissues. GO is a two-dimensional material of exceptional strength, unique optical, physical, mechanical, and electronic properties. Ease of functionalization and high antibacterial activity are two major properties identified with GO. Due to its excellent aqueous processability, amphiphilicity, surface functionalization capability, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and fluorescence quenching ability, GO chemically exfoliated from oxidized graphite is considered a promising material for biological applications. In addition, due to π-π* transitions, a low energy is required for electron movement, a property important in Biosensor and Bioimaging applications of GO. In this article, we present an overview of current advances in GO applications in biomedicine and discuss future perspectives. We conclude that GO is going to play a vital role in Biomedical applications in the near future.     

Different charging behaviors between electrons and holes in Si nanocrystals embedded in SiN_x matrix by the influence of near-interface oxide traps

Si-rich silicon nitride films are prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method,followed by thermal annealing to form the Si nanocrystals(Si-NCs)embedded in Si Nx floating gate MOS structures.The capacitance–voltage(C–V),current–voltage(I–V),and admittance–voltage(G–V)measurements are used to investigate the charging characteristics.It is found that the maximum flat band voltage shift(△VFB)due to full charged holes(～6.2 V)is much larger than that due to full charged electrons(～1 V).The charging displacement current peaks of electrons and holes can be also observed by the I–V measurements,respectively.From the G–V measurements we find that the hole injection is influenced by the oxide hole traps which are located near the Si O2/Si-substrate interface.Combining the results of C–V and G–V measurements,we find that the hole charging of the Si-NCs occurs via a two-step tunneling mechanism.The evolution of G–V peak originated from oxide traps exhibits the process of hole injection into these defects and transferring to the Si-NCs.     

Potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrodeposition of manganese oxide for supercapacitor application: A comparison study

The structural and electrochemical properties of manganese oxide (MnO₂) electrodeposited by potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions are studied. X‒ray diffraction analyses confirm identical MnO₂ phase (ramsdellite) are deposited under potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions. Under comparable current density during electrodeposition, MnO₂ deposited by galvanostatic condition shows smaller crystallite size, less compact layered structure, higher surface area and wider band gap, in comparison to the potentiostatic deposition. The MnO₂ morphology difference under different electrodeposition conditions contributes to different capacitive behaviors. The lower compactness of MnO₂ deposited galvanostatically renders facile ions diffusion, leading to higher specific capacitance with low equivalent series resistance. The findings suggest galvanostatic electrodeposition is suitable to produce MnO₂ nanostructure for supercapacitor application.     

Investigation of laterally single-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LSMOS) field effect transistor

We propose a distinct approach to implement a laterally single diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LSMOS) FET with only one impurity doped p-n junction. In the LSMOS, a single p-n junction is first created using lateral dopant diffusion. The channel is formed in the p region of the p-n junction and the n region acts as the drift region. Two distinct metals of different work function are used to form the “n⁺” source/drain regions and “p⁺” body contact using the charge plasma concept. We demonstrate that the LSMOS is similar in performance to a laterally double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) although it has only one impurity doped p-n junction. The LSMOS exhibits a breakdown voltage of ∼50.0 V, an average ON-resistance of 48.7 mΩ-mm² and a peak transconductance of 53.6 μS/μm similar to that of a comparable LDMOS.     

A Non‐Enzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on Gold Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotube/Self‐Doped Polyaniline Hollow Spheres

In this study, a novel non‐enzymatic hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) sensor was fabricated based on gold nanoparticles/carbon nanotube/self‐doped polyaniline (AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN) hollow spheres modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). SPAN was in‐site polymerized on the surface of SiO₂ template, then AuNPs and CNTs were decorated by electrostatic absorption via poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride). After the SiO₂ cores were removed, hollow AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN spheres were obtained and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The electrochemical catalytic performance of the hollow AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN/GCE for H₂O₂ detection was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. Using chronoamperometric method at a constant potential of ?0.1 V (vs. SCE), the H₂O₂ sensor displays two linear ranges: one from 5 µM to 0.225 mM with a sensitivity of 499.82 µA mM^?1 cm^?2; another from 0.225 mM to 8.825 mM with a sensitivity of 152.29 µA mM^?1 cm^?2. The detection limit was estimated as 0.4 µM (signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3). The hollow AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN/GCE also demonstrated excellent stability and selectivity against interferences from other electroactive species. The sensor was further applied to determine H₂O₂ in disinfectant real samples.