The characteristics for H<Subscript> 2</Subscript><Superscript> +</Superscript>-like impurities confined by spherical quantum dots

The energy spectra of H₂ ⁺-like impurities confined in finite spherical quantum dots have been calculated as a function of the distance between nuclear with different sizes on the basis of effective-mass approximation by linear variational method. B-splines have been used as basis functions, which can easily construct the trial wavefunctions with appropriate boundary and cusp conditions. The quantitative analyses of the partial wave weights for ground state and some low lying states have been done.     

Advances in bonding and properties of inorganic systems from relativistic calculations in Latin America

The inclusion of relativistic effects to understand chemical structures and related properties brings to the scientific community challenging study cases, showing the rich diversity of chemical behavior of the different elements along the periodic table. The results highlighted here represent applications of relativistic methodologies to study the nature of bonding and a prediction of optical and magnetic properties of meaningful chemical entities containing heavy atoms, all made in Latin America. The good agreement between calculated and experimental observables in many molecular and cluster-like systems ratifies that relativistic methods are appropriate to describe these entities realistically. We expect to enhance our knowledge in these methodologies, currently included in doctoral programs in our region.     

Simultaneous effects of pressure and temperature on donors in a GaAlAs/GaAs quantum well

The ground state and a few excited state energies of a hydrogenic donor in a quantum well are computed in the presence of pressure and temperature. The binding energies are worked out for GaAs/ Ga_1−xAl_xAs structures as a function of well size when the pressure and temperature are applied simultaneously. A variational approach within the effective mass approximation is considered. The results show that for a constant applied pressure, an increase in temperature results in a decrease in donor impurity binding energy while an increase in the pressure for the same temperature enhances the binding energy. When the pressure and temperature are applied simultaneously the binding energy decreases as the well width increases. In all the cases, it is observed that there is an increase in the binding energy due to the decrease in the quantum well size and in the dielectric constant whereas the effects of temperature on the effective mass are minimal.     

Finite-difference calculation of donor energy levels in a spherical quantum dot subject to a magnetic field

The ground and excited states of a donor impurity at the center of a spherical quantum dot subject to a magnetic field are calculated within the effective-mass approximation. The barriers are infinitely high and the differential equation is solved by combining the finite-difference method with the Richardson extrapolation. The binding and transition energies are more accurate than the available variational values, and excellent agreement is found with the hydrogen atom. The transition energies for a medium-size quantum dot are given.     

Naming elements after scientists: an account of a controversy

Over the last two hundred years, there have been many occasions where the name of a newly-discovered element has provoked controversy and dissent but in modern times, the naming of elements after scientists has proved to be particularly contentious. Here we recount the threads of this story, predominantly through discourses in the popular scientific journals, the first major discussion on naming an element after a scientist (Moseley); the first definitive naming after a scientist (Curie); and the first naming after a living scientist (Seaborg).     

Perfectly Encoding π-Conjugated Anions in the RE5(C3N3O3)(OH)12 (RE=Y,Yb, Lu) Family with Strong Second Harmonic Generation Response and Balanced Birefringence

Nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal, which simultaneously exhibits strong second-harmonic-generation (SHG) response and desired optical anisotropy, is a core optical material accessible to the modern optoelectronics. Accompanied by strong SHG effect in a NLO crystal, a contradictory problem of overlarge birefringence is ignored, leading to low frequency doubling efficiency and poor beam quality. Herein, a series of rare earth cyanurates RE₅(C₃N₃O₃)(OH)₁₂ (RE=Y, Yb, Lu) were successfully characterized by 3D electron diffraction technique. Based on a “three birds with one stone” strategy, they enable the simultaneous fulfillment of strong SHG responses (2.5–4.2× KH₂PO₄), short UV cutoff (ca. 220 nm) and applicable birefringence (ca. 0.15 at 800 nm) by the introduction of rare earth coordination control of π-conjugated (C₃N₃O₃)³⁻ anions. These findings provide high-performance short-wavelength NLO materials and highlight the exploration of cyanurates as a new research area.     

Efficient Near-Infrared Electroluminescence from Lanthanide-Doped Perovskite Quantum Cutters

Perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs) deliver size- and composition-tunable luminescence of high efficiency and color purity in the visible range. However, attaining efficient electroluminescence (EL) in the near-infrared (NIR) region from PeNCs is challenging, limiting their potential applications. Here we demonstrate a highly efficient NIR light-emitting diode (LED) by doping ytterbium ions into a PeNCs host (Yb³⁺ : PeNCs), extending the EL wavelengths toward 1000 nm, which is achieved through a direct sensitization of Yb³⁺ ions by the PeNC host. Efficient quantum-cutting processes enable high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) of up to 126 % from the Yb³⁺ : PeNCs. Through halide-composition engineering and surface passivation to improve both PLQY and charge-transport balance, we demonstrate an efficient NIR LED with a peak external quantum efficiency of 7.7 % at a central wavelength of 990 nm, representing the most efficient perovskite-based LEDs with emission wavelengths beyond 850 nm.     

Rapid chiral separation and impurity determination of levofloxacin by ligand-exchange chromatography

A sensitive, simple, and accurate method for determination of levofloxacin and its (R)-enantiomer was developed to determine the chiral impurity of levofloxacin in Cravit Tablets material by ligand-exchange high performance liquid chromatography. The effects of different kinds of ligands, concentration of ligands in mobile phase, organic modifier, pH of mobile phase, and temperature on enantioseparation were investigated and evaluated. Chiral separation was performed on a conventional C₁₈ column, where the mobile phase consisted of a methanol-water solution (containing10 mmol L⁻¹l-leucine and 5 mmol L⁻¹ copper sulfate) (88:12, v/v) and its flow-rate was set at 1.0 mL min⁻¹. The conventional C₁₈ column offers baseline separation of two enantiomers with a resolution of 2.4 in less than 20 min. Thermodynamic data (ΔΔH and ΔΔS) obtained by Van’t Hoff plots revealed the chiral separation is an enthalpy-controlled process. The standard curves showed excellent linearity over the concentration range from 0.5 to 400 mg L⁻¹ for levofloxacin and its (R)-enantiomer. The linear correlation equations are: y = 1.33 × 10⁵x + 6297 (r = 0.9991) and y = 1.34 × 10⁵x + 3565 (r = 0.9997), respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the method was below 2.3% (n = 3).     

Oscillatory zoning caused by oscillating surface relaxations

Oscillatory zoning is a spatial variation in the composition of minerals. It has been observed in many different minerals and a variety of mechanisms have been proposed to explain it. We propose an equilibrium model of oscillatory zoning in which the variations in composition stabilise a ferroelastic phase. This results in a sinusoidal variation in composition. We expect that this mechanism could account for oscillatory zoning found in minerals with oscillatory surface relaxations. Received 9 March 1999