Traveling-wave solution of non-linear coupled reaction diffusion equation arising in mathematical chemistry

A simple analytical approach to find the traveling-wave solution for a set of two coupled non-linear reaction diffusion equations is reported. An exact analytical solution for traveling-waves of the Fisher equations with a general non-linearity is found. The boundary value, the boundedness and the stability of the solution are discussed. This technique is straight forward to use involving minimal algebra. Use of the method for selected case is demonstrated.     

Dual mineralization of dicalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite formation on both sides of porous membrane: Alternating current induces pH-modulated crystal deposition

Dual mineralization on a porous membrane was carried out using an electrochemical approach. The porous membrane was interposed between a pair of glass cells, and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and sodium hydrogenphosphate (Na₂HPO₄) solutions were separately injected into the cells. After inserting platinum electrodes into the cells, an alternating current with a sine waveform was applied for a given period of time. The resulting membrane was removed from the glass cells and rinsed with ultrapure water. The minerals formed on the membrane were analyzed by using spectroscopic methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and identified to be dicalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite. It was noted that dicalcium phosphate formed on one side of the membrane, while hydroxyapatite was formed on the other side. Thus, dual mineralization could be successfully achieved on both sides of the porous membrane under an alternating current. This process of dual mineralization is very useful for the formation of versatile organic–inorganic hybrids and also for the regulation of the polymorphs on either side of a membrane.     

Synthesis, growth, thermal, optical, dielectric and mechanical properties of semi-organic NLO crystal: Potassium hydrogen malate monohydrate

Potassium hydrogen malate monohydrate (PHMM), a semi-organic nonlinear optical material, has been synthesized and single crystals were grown from aqueous solution. Single crystals of PHMM have been grown by slow evaporation of solvent at room temperature up to dimensions of 22 mm×16 mm×14 mm. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study on grown crystals shows that they belong to monoclinic system and non-centrosymmetry spacegroup Cc. The structural perfection of the grown crystals has been analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) rocking curve measurements. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic study was performed for the identification of different modes of functional groups present in the compound. The UV–Vis transmission spectrum has been recorded in the range 200–1100 nm. The thermal stability of the compound has been determined by TG-DTA curves. The dielectric studies were performed. From the microhardness measurements, Vicker's hardness number (H_v), Stiffness constant (C₁₁), fracture toughness (k_c), Brittle index (B_i) and yield strength (σ_y) have been calculated. The Young's modulus was calculated using the Knoop hardness measurement. The SHG relative efficiency of PHMM crystal was found to be 1.2 times higher than that of KDP.     

Fabrication of novel urchin-like architecture and snowflake-like pattern CuS

The interesting biomimetic morphologenesis of CuS, containing urchin-like architecture and snowflake-like pattern can be separately obtained via heating different solutions. In our case, ethanol or the mixed solvent of ethanol/H₂O containing CuCl₂ and CS₂ as raw materials in the presence of the surfactant additive cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) have been used. The products were characterized by various techniques of XRD, SEM and ED. In the process, the solvent medium and the surfactant additive CTAB played very important roles in the formation of different biomimetic morphologies and the formation mechanisms were primarily discussed, respectively.     

Sonochemical synthesis of taper shaped HgSe nanorods in polyol solvent

A new shape nanosized HgSe was synthesized in the presence of ethylene glycol, which was found to act as both reducing agent and be favorable to the formation of tapered HgSe nanorods. It was also observed that the ultrasonic power played an important role for the shape of the final products. X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to characterize the HgSe nanorods. Other polyol solvents, such as diethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol 200, were also used to the preparation of HgSe nanoparticles. The possible mechanism of the formation of taper shaped HgSe nanorods was discussed.     

Microwave-assisted self-assembled ZnS nanoballs

Self-assembled zinc sulfide nanoballs were prepared in saturated aqueous solutions via a microwave-assisted route. Zinc acetate and thioacetamide were selected as zinc source and sulfur source, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, Fourier transform infrared and Thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the as-prepared products and the optical properties was studied by diffuse reflection spectra and photoluminescence spectra. Zinc sulfate and zinc nitrite can also used to prepare ZnS nanoparticles instead of nanoballs. The mechanism for the assembly of ZnS nanoballs was also discussed.     

The influences of supersaturation on LPE growth of GaN single crystals using the Na flux method

The dependency of LPE growth rate and dislocation density on supersaturation in the growth of GaN single crystals in the Na flux was investigated. When the growth rate was low during the growth of GaN at a small value of supersaturation, the dislocation density was much lower compared with that of a substrate grown by the Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition method (MOCVD). In contrast, when the growth rate of GaN was high at a large value of supersaturation, the crystal was hopper including a large number of dislocations. The relationship between the growth conditions and the crystal color in GaN single crystals grown in Na flux was also investigated. When at 800 °C the nitrogen concentration in Na–Ga melt was low, the grown crystals were always tinted black. When the nitrogen concentration at 850 °C was high, transparent crystals could be grown.     

ZnO hexagonal prisms grown onto p-Si (1 1 1) substrate from poly (vinylpyrrolidone) assisted electrochemical assembly

Nonionic polymer poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was firstly mixed into oxygenated zinc chloride electrolyte to modulate the crystal growth and morphology of ZnO from electrodeposition. Arrays of ZnO hexagonal prisms with well-defined (0 0 0 1) end facets and side facets were grown perpendicularly onto p-type Si substrates using the simple and economic route. It was observed that the concentration of PVP played an important role in the final morphology and size of ZnO crystals. The optical studies indicated that the addition of PVT not only influenced crystal growth habit but also improved the optical properties of ZnO.     

Compositional plane of a wide-gap semiconductor CaCdSeS lattice-matched to InP and GaAs

We have investigated compositional plane of a wide band gap solid solution semiconductor Ca_1−xCd_xSe_1−yS_y (x0.32) using powder synthesis under thermal equilibrium condition. The solubility limit at 1273 K varies with respect to the Se concentration y, taking a minimum Cd solubility limit of 0.12 at y=0.8 and a maximum limit of 0.32 at y=1.0. It is found that the system can be lattice-matched to GaAs and InP under covering the energy band gap of ultraviolet–visible region. These results allow to design optoelectronic devices adopting the Ca_1−xCd_xSe_1−yS_y system.     

Investigation of the Homologous Series of 4-Acetyl-4′-n-Alkanoyloxyazobenzenes by X-ray Diffraction

This paper reports an investigation by X-ray diffraction of the homologous series of liquid crystalline 4-acetyl-4′-n-alkanoyloxyazobenzenes. By using two independent parameters, namely the temperature and the paraffinic chain length, it was possible to obtain some structural information on two solid phases for comparison with a previously reported model for the S_A phase of the same series. In particular, the molecular layer thickness and, by using previously reported dilatometric data, the aromatic sublayer thickness, the methylene group thickness, the molecular area and the aromatic stem inclination angle were obtained for the different phases.