Tuning of Photonic band gap via combined effect of electric and optical fields in a blue phase liquid crystal composite

ABSTRACT

Blue phase liquid crystals are soft 3D photonic crystals in which the liquid crystal molecules self-assemble to form a cubic structure with lattice spacing of a few hundred nanometers resulting in selective reflection of colours in the visible spectrum. The corresponding wavelength or the ‘photonic band gap’ can be tuned using various external stimuli such as thermal, electric, magnetic and optical fields. Here, we report efficient tuning of photonic band gap by utilising the combination of electric and optical fields in a blue phase liquid crystalline system. The studies indicate that the chirality of the medium has a direct bearing on the direction of the wavelength shift and the extent of the photonic band gap tunability. More importantly, the synergistic effect of the two fields helps in reversible tuning of the band gap.     

Adaptive nematic liquid crystal lens array with resistive layer

ABSTRACT

We propose an adaptive nematic liquid crystal (LC) lens array using a dielectric layer with low dielectric constant as resistive layer. With the resistive layer and periodic-arranged iridium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, the vertical electric field across the LC layer varies linearly over the lens aperture is obtained in the voltage-on state. As a result, a centrosymmetric gradient refractive index profile within the LC layer is generated, which causes the focusing behaviour. As a result of the optimisation, a thin cell gap which greatly reduces the switching time of the LC lens array can be achieved in our design. The main advantages of the proposed LC lens array are in the comparatively low operating voltage, the flat substrate surface, the simple electrodes, and the uniform LC cell gap. The simulation results show that the focal length of the LC lens array can be tuned continuously from infinity to 3.99 mm by changing the applied voltage.     

Analysis of petroleum fractions by on-line micro HPLC-HRGC coupling,involving increased efficiency in using retention gaps by partially concurrent solvent evaporation

Two-dimensional chromatography of gasoline by on-line coupled HPLC-HRGC, as described in this paper, allows separate GC analysis of paraffins and aromatics. The GC system contains a retention gap of only 10 m length for introducing HPLC fractions of 100 μl volume. This becomes possible through evaporation of part of the solvent during introduction of the HPLC eluent. This “partially concurrent solvent evaporation” technique allows transfer of large volumes of HPLC eluent into relatively short retention gaps, maintaining the full efficiency of the solvent effects in reconcentrating the bands of the early eluted solutes.     

Two-dimensional like conjugated copolymers for high efficiency bulk-heterojunction solar cell application:Band gap and energy level engineering

Three two-dimensional like conjugated copolymers PFSDCN,PFSDTA and PFSDCNIO,which consist of alternating fluorene and triphenylamine main chain,and different pendant acceptor groups (malononitrile,1,3-diethtyl-2-thiobarbituric acid and 2-(1,2-dihydro-1-oxoinden-3-ylidene)malononitrile) with thiophene as π-bridge,have been designed,synthesized and characterized.The structure-property relationships of the two-dimensional like conjugated copolymers were systematically investigated.The absorption spectra,band g...     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Band Structure of Tb3Co4Sn（13）

A new intermetallic compound,Tb3Co4Sn13,has been synthesized by solid-state reaction of the corresponding pure elements in a welded tantalum tube at high temperature.Its crystal structure was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Tb3Co4Sn13 crystallizes in cubic,space group Pm3n(No.223) with a = 9.5072(2) ,V = 859.33(3) 3,Z = 2,Mr = 2255.45,Dc = 8.717 g/cm3,μ = 34.369 mm-1,F(000) = 1906,and the final R = 0.0140 and wR = 0.0312 for 199 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I).The structure of Tb3Co4Sn13 belongs to the Yb3Rh4Sn13 type.It is isostructural with RE3Co4Sn13(RE = La,Ce),featuring a 3D [Co4Sn12] framework based on [CoSn6] trigonal prisms.The [CoSn6] trigonal prisms are interconnected via corner-sharing and Sn-Sn bonds to form a 3D [Co4Sn12] framework.The other Sn and Tb atoms are located in the spacers of the 3D framework.Band structure calculations indicate that Tb3Co4Sn13 is metallic.     

A DFT Investigation on the Co-adsorption of H_2 and Ions inside the Carbon Nanotube

We studied the co-adsorption of hydrogen molecule and ions (Li,K,Mg,Ca) inside the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by using density-functional theory (DFT).The band structures (BS),density of states (DOS),charge transfer and difference charge density are presented.We discussed the interaction between the ions (Li,K,Mg,Ca) and H 2.Meanwhile,the binding energy indicates that ionization can increase the adsorption energy of H 2 in CNT.     

Synthesis and photovoltaic behaviors of narrow‐band‐gap π‐conjugated polymers composed of dialkoxybenzodithiophene‐ and thiophene‐based fused aromatic rings

π‐Conjugated polymers, PBDT‐CNETT and PBDT‐CNECPDT , were prepared by the Stille cross‐coupling polymerization. Optical and thermal properties of the obtained polymers were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. PBDT‐CNETT and PBDT‐CNECPDT exhibited very narrow band gaps of 1.39 and 1.13 eV, respectively. Highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels estimated by surface analyzer were ?5.17 and ?5.11 eV for PBDT‐CNETT and PBDT‐CNECPDT , respectively. The solar cells based on these polymers were evaluated with the cell configuration of ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/polymer:PC₆₁BH/LiF/Al. The power conversion efficiencies of the solar cells were estimated to be 1.57 and 0.16% for PBDT‐CNETT and PBDT‐CNECPDT , respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Diagnosis of lubricating oil by evaluating cyanide and carbon molecular emission lines in laser induced breakdown spectra

To prevent engine failure it is essential to change lubricating oil regularly before it loses its protective properties. It is also necessary to monitor the physical and chemical conditions of the oil to reliably determine the optimum oil-change intervals. The present work focuses on studying evolution of the cyanide (CN) and carbon (C₂) molecular spectral emission lines in the laser induced breakdown spectra of lubricating oil as a function of its consumption. The intensities of these molecular bands have been taken as indicator of engine oil degradation at certain mileage. Furthermore, the percentage of decay of CN and C₂ integral intensity values at the corresponding mileage was calculated in order to relate it to the degree of consumption of the motor oil. Such percentage decay of the CN and C₂ integral intensities have been found to increase gradually with increasing mileage which is accompanied with increasing depletion of engine oil. The results of using LIBS technique in the present measurements proved that it is possible to have a direct, straightforward and easy method for prediction of lubricating oil degree of consumption. This may facilitate scheduling the proper time and/or mileage intervals for changing the oil to avoid any possibility of engine failure.     

Characterization and photocatalytic activity of Fe- and N-co-deposited TiO2 and first-principles study for electronic structure

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), co-deposited with Fe and N, is first implanted with Fe by a metal plasma ion implantation (MPII) process and then annealed in N₂ atmosphere at a temperature regime of 400-600 °C. First-principle calculations show that the (Fe, N) co-deposited TiO₂ films produced additional band gap levels at the bottom of the conduction band (CB) and on the top of the valence band (VB). The (Fe, N) co-deposited TiO₂ films were effective in both prohibiting electron-hole recombination and generating additional Fe-O and N-Ti-O impurity levels for the TiO₂ band gap. The (Fe, N) co-deposited TiO₂ has a narrower band gap of 1.97 eV than Fe-implanted TiO₂ (3.14 eV) and N-doped TiO₂ (2.16 eV). A significant reduction of TiO₂ band gap energy from 3.22 to 1.97 eV was achieved, which resulted in the extension of photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ from UV to Vis regime. The photocatalytic activity and removal rate were approximately two-fold higher than that of the Fe-implanted TiO₂ under visible light irradiation.