First-principles calculations of the stibnite at the level of modified Becke–Johnson exchange potential

The demand for cheaper, nontoxic and earth-abundant materials as absorbing layer for solar cell is immensely needed to replace scarce, toxic and expensive one. In this regard, chalcogenide materials have considerably attracted the attention of a lot of researchers because of showing a great potential for different applications. Stibnite (Sb₂S₃), a chalcogenide binary material is considerably investigated for exploiting its potential for different energy technologies being a less toxic, abundantly available, stable and efficient, which are the fundamentals for sustainability as well as to realize the dream of green energy. In this study, theoretical calculations of the structural, electronic and optical properties of stibnite (Sb₂S₃) crystal structure are presented using the full potential (FP) linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) framed within density functional theory (DFT). To incorporate the exchange-correlation part in the total energy functional, besides the local density approximation (LDA), Wu-Cohen parameterized generalized gradient approximation (WC-GGA), Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof parameterized generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA), and Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation for solids and surfaces (PBEsol-GGA) are used for the calculations of the structural parameters, where the Trans-Blaha approach of the modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential is used to get more reliable results for the fundamental band gap energy value. These calculations are performed by involving spin-orbit coupling (SOC) contribution. Additionally, optical properties, such as imaginary and real parts of the dielectric function, optical conductivity, absorption coefficient, refractive index, reflectivity, and electron energy loss function are analyzed. Our first-principles calculations show that Wu-Cohen GGA (WC-GGA) reproduces results for lattice parameters comparable to the experimental measurements. The obtained results of the band gap energy and optical properties with TB-mBJ potential are also closer to the experimental data and, endorse its potentiality for the photovoltaics applications.     

A robust method for the synthesis of colloidal PbS nanosheets

In the synthesis of colloidal PbS nanosheets, acetic acid – either injected externally or produced during the reaction – has a significant effect on the growth of the nanosheets. When the acetic acid to lead molar ratio is above 1:8, no nanosheets are observed in the product. By replacing lead acetate with lead oxide to prepare the lead precursor for the reaction, the effect of acetic acid is avoided, resulting in a robust synthesis with nearly 100% success rate. In the new synthesis, the purity of trioctylphosphine (the co‐solvent for sulfur precursor) has no significant effect on the formation of nanosheets. Thickness tunability is achieved in the acetate‐free synthesis by tuning the reaction temperature. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

几种含硫镍基高温自润滑合金的研究

作者用中频感应炉熔炼了5种Mo、S添加量相同的含S镍基合金,并在其自行设计制造的销-盘式高温摩擦试验机上考察了它们的摩擦系数和磨损率随温度的变化规律。物相分析结果表明,合金中生成的硫化物在不含Cr时主要是MoS_2,而在合金含5％(ωt)和10％(ωt)Cr时生成的硫化物分别为CrMo_2S_4和Cr_3S_4。因此,含Cr合金在较低温度下的摩擦系数明显比不含Cr合金的低,其在较高温度(600℃)时的摩擦系数也仍然能够保持与不含Cr合金相当的低值。在合金中加入Fe和Co仅起固溶强化作用而不影响生成的硫化物的类型。Co的加入及其添加量的增大,减小了合金在高温下的磨损。合金含C量的增大,使合金中生成的碳化物增多,也减小了合金的磨损。本文根据试验比较选择报道的Ni-Mo-10Fe-10Cr-10Co-S-0.8C合金在20—600℃温度范围内的摩擦系数低、磨损小,并且具有一定的机械强度,是一种实用性能比较好的高温自润滑合金。     

Effect of indium incorporation on properties of SnS thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Tin sulphide (SnS) thin films were deposited on glass substrate at different substrate temperature (T_s = 325 °C, 350 °C and 375 °C) by pyrolytic decomposition using stannous chloride and thiourea as precursor solutions. Also, indium-doped SnS thin films were prepared by using InCl₃ as dopant source. The dopant concentration [In/Sn] was varied from 2 at% to 6 at%. The XRD analysis revealed that the films were polycrystalline in nature having orthorhombic crystal structure with a preferred grain orientation along (1 1 1) plane. Due to In doping, the orientation of the grains in the (1 1 1) plane was found to be deteriorated. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements revealed that the surface roughness of the films decreased due to indium doping. The optical properties were investigated by measuring the transmittance characteristics which were used to find the optical band gap energy, refractive index and extinction coefficient. The energy band gap value was decreased from 1.60 to 1.43 eV with increasing In concentration. The photoluminescence (PL) measurements of thin films showed strong emission band centered at 760 nm. Using Hall Effect measurements electrical resistivity, carrier concentration and Hall mobility have been determined.     

In situ formation of p–n junction: A novel principle for photoelectrochemical sensor and its application for mercury(II) ion detection

The discovery and development of photoelectrochemical sensors with novel principles are of great significance to realize sensitive and low-cost detection. In this paper, a new photoelectrochemial sensor based on the in situ formation of p–n junction was designed and used for the accurate determination of mercury(II) ions. Cysteine-capped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) was assembled on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode based on the electrostatic interaction between Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and Cys-capped ZnS QDs. The in situ formation of HgS, a p-type semiconductor, on the surface of ZnS facilitated the charge carrier transport and promoted electron-hole separation, triggered an obviously enhanced anodic photocurrent of Cys-capped ZnS QDs. The formation of p–n junction was confirmed by P–N conductive type discriminator measurements and current–voltage (I–V) curves. The photoelectrochemical method was used for the sensing of trace mercuric (II) ions with a linear concentration of 0.01 to 10.0 µM and a detection limit of 4.6 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L. It is expected that the present study can serve as a foundation to the application of p–n heterojunction to photoelectrochemical sensors and it might be easily extended to more exciting sensing systems by photoelectrochemistry.     

硫化物纳米级粒子化膜的形成与气相性质的影响

采有偏振光反光度，紫外及可见光谱，电子显微镜形貌观察，粒子大小测定及电子衍射等方法以加系统研究硫化锌钠米级粒子化膜的制备与气相性质的影响。     

Hydrometallurgical Extraction of Zinc and Copper – A 57Fe-Mössbauer and XRD Approach

The most commonly used route in the hydrometallurgical extraction of zinc and copper from a sulphide ore is the concentrate–roast–leach–electro winning process. In the present investigation a zinc–copper ore from the Maranda mine, located in the Murchison Greenstone Belt, South Africa, containing sphalerite (ZnS) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂), was studied. The ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectrum of the concentrate yielded pyrite, chalcopyrite and clinochlore, consistent with XRD data. Optimal roasting conditions were found to be 900°C for 3 h and the calcine produced contained according to X-ray diffractometry equal amounts of franklinite (ZnFe₂O₄) and zinc oxide (ZnO) and half the amount of willemite (Zn₂SiO₄). The Mössbauer spectrum showed predominantly franklinite (59%), hematite (6%) and other Zn- or Cu-depleted ferrites (35%). The latter could not be detected by XRD analyses as peak overlapping with other species occurred. Leaching was done with HCl, H₂SO₄ and HNO₃, to determine which process would result in maximum recovery of Zn and Cu. More than 80% of both were recovered by using either one of the three techniques. From the residue of the leaching, the Fe-compounds were precipitated and <1% of the Zn and Cu was not recovered.     

以锑电极作参比电极测定废水中硫化物

提出了以锑电极作为参比电极与Ag2 S电极组成无液接测量电池测定废水中硫化物的新方法。并研究了电极的性能 ,测定条件及干扰物质的影响。方法的线性范围 1 .0× 1 0 - 2 mol/L～ 5 .0× 1 0 - 7mol/L[S2 - ],回收率为 99%～1 0 3%     

Fourier transform spectroscopy of NbS

Emission bands attributed to the NbS radical have been observed in the near infrared and visible regions with FTS techniques using an electrodeless 2450 MHz discharge as a source. Transitions within the doublet and quartet manifolds were recorded at high resolution. The present paper gives the first rotational analysis of this molecule. Numerous bands within the doublet and quartet manifolds have been analyzed, resulting in the characterization of seven different electronic states, three in the doublet and four in the quartet manifold. The states have been labeled in analogy with NbO. The analyzed electronic states are: X⁴Σ⁻, C⁴Σ⁻, A′⁴Φ, D⁴Δ, a²Δ, c²Π, and e²Φ. Four additional substates in the doublet manifold have also been analyzed. In all, 27 vibrational sublevels have been included in the analysis, the total number of rotational lines being about 18 000. The positions of the analyzed transitions are: C⁴Σ⁻ → X⁴Σ⁻ near 15 670 cm⁻¹, D⁴Δ → A′⁴Φ near 7740 cm⁻¹, c²Π → a²Δ near 5850 cm⁻¹ and e²Φ → a²Δ near 8500 cm⁻¹. The overall picture is consistent with the corresponding analysis of NbO. However, three energy separations could not be derived from the experimental data in the case of NbS, i.e., the a²Δ− X⁴Σ⁻, A′⁴Φ− X⁴Σ⁻ and a²Δ_5/2-a²Δ_3/2 splittings. These were set to 4992, 5490, and 992 cm⁻¹, respectively, from preliminary ab initio calculations. In this way, a tentative energy level scheme could be drawn. The first order spin-orbit parameter of the A′⁴Φ state was indeterminable from the experimental data and was set to the value 170 cm⁻¹, derived from the same calculations.