Thickness induced transversal percolation in Pt-Al2O3 nano-composites

Investigations of thickness induced percolation process in Pt_ξ-Al₂O₃ nano-composites were carried out using grazing angle X-ray scattering. It is shown that the morphological characteristics of the nano-scaled Pt particles change significantly within the growth transversal direction. The initially non percolated two phases Pt_ξ-Al₂O₃ nano-composites show a noteworthy tendency to a percolated morphology with a gradual transversal increase of Pt nano-particles' average diameter in addition to the increase of the Pt nano-particles' poly-dispersity. This transversal morphological evolution is followed by a percolation phenomenon of the Pt nano-particles for a thickness of about ∼119.5 nm. This transversal morphological evolution seems to corroborate far too much with a columnar growth process.     

Chemical spray pyrolysis deposition of zinc sulphide thin films using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt complexant

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Zinc sulphide thin films were deposited by chemical spray pyrolysis technique. The films were deposited at substrate temperatures of 300, 350 and...     

Simple chemical route for nanorod-like cobalt oxide films for electrochemical energy storage applications

We used a simple chemical synthesis route to deposit nanorod-like cobalt oxide thin films on different substrates such as stainless steel (ss), indium tin oxide (ITO), and microscopic glass slides. The morphology of the films show that the films were uniformly spread having a nanorod-like structure with the length of the nanorods shortened on ss substrates. The electrochemical properties of the films deposited at different time intervals were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The film deposited after 20 cycles on ss gave the highest specific capacity of 67.6 mAh g^?1 and volumetric capacity of 123 mAh cm^?3 at a scan rate 5 mV s^?1 in comparison to 62.0 mAh g^?1 and 113 mAh cm^?3 obtained, respectively, for its counterpart on ITO. The film electrode deposited after 20 cycles on ITO gave the best rate capability and excellent cyclability with no depreciation after 2000 charge–discharge cycles.     

Structural and optical properties of nano-structured tungsten-doped ZnO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

Novel highly c-oriented tungsten-doped zinc oxide (WZO) thin films with 1 wt% were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique on corning 1737F glass substrate. The effects of laser energy on the structural, morphological as well as optical transmission properties of the films were studied. The films were highly transparent with average transmittance exceeding 87% in the wavelength region lying between 400 and 2500 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) results indicated that the WZO films had c-axis preferred orientation with wurtzite structure. Film thickness and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the (0 0 2) peaks of the films were found to be dependent on laser fluence. The composition determined through Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) appeared to be independent of the laser fluence. By assuming a direct band gap transition, the band gap values of 3.36, 3.34 and 3.31 eV were obtained for corresponding laser fluence of 1, 1.7 and 2.7 J cm⁻², respectively. Compared with the reported undoped ZnO band gap value of 3.37 eV, it is conjectured that the observed low band gap values obtained in this study may be attributable to tungsten incorporation in the films as well as the increase in laser fluence. The high transparency makes the films useful as optical windows while the high band gap values support the idea that the films could be good candidates for optoelectronic applications.     

Large scale silver nanowires network fabricated by MeV hydrogen(H~+) ion beam irradiation

A random two-dimensional large scale nano-network of silver nanowires(Ag-NWs) is fabricated by MeV hydrogen(H~+) ion beam irradiation. Ag-NWs are irradiated under H~+ion beam at different ion fluences at room temperature. The Ag-NW network is fabricated by H~+ion beam-induced welding of Ag-NWs at intersecting positions. H~+ion beam induced welding is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Moreover, the structure of Ag NWs remains stable under H~+ion beam, and networks are optically transparent. Morphology also remains stable under H~+ion beam irradiation. No slicings or cuttings of Ag-NWs are observed under MeV H~+ion beam irradiation.The results exhibit that the formation of Ag-NW network proceeds through three steps: ion beam induced thermal spikes lead to the local heating of Ag-NWs, the formation of simple junctions on small scale, and the formation of a large scale network. This observation is useful for using Ag-NWs based devices in upper space where protons are abandoned in an energy range from MeV to GeV. This high-quality Ag-NW network can also be used as a transparent electrode for optoelectronics devices.     

Nano-structured Fabry–Pérot resonators in neutron optics & tunneling of neutron wave-particles

Correlated to the quantum mechanics wave-particle duality, the optical analogy between electromagnetic waves and cold neutrons manifests itself through several interference phenomena particularly the so called Frustrated Total Reflection i.e., the tunneling process in Fabry–Pérot nano-structured cavities. Prominent resonant situations offered by this configuration allow the attainment of numerous fundamental investigations and surface-interface studies as well as to devise new kinds of neutron optics devices. This review contribution reports such possibilities in addition to the recently observed peculiar Goos–Hänchen longitudinal shift of neutron wave-particles which was predicted by Sir Isaac Newton as early as 1730.     

Pt–Al2O3 nanocoatings for high temperature concentrated solar thermal power applications

Nano-phased structures based on metal–dielectric composites, also called cermets (ceramic–metal), are considered among the most effective spectral selective solar absorbers. For high temperature applications (stable up to 650 °C) noble metal nanoparticles and refractory oxide host matrices are ideal as per their high temperature chemical inertness and stability: Pt/Al₂O₃ cermet nano-composites are a representative family. This contribution reports on the optical properties of Pt/Al₂O₃ cermet nano-composites deposited in a multilayered tandem structure. The radio-frequency sputtering optimized Pt/Al₂O₃ solar absorbers consist of stainless steel substrate/ Mo coating layer/ Pt–Al₂O₃/ protective Al₂O₃ layer and stainless steel substrate/ Mo coating layer /Pt–Al₂O₃ for different composition and thickness of the Pt–Al₂O₃ cermet coatings. The microstructure, morphology, theoretical modeling and optical properties of the coatings were analyzed by the x-ray diffraction, atomic force, microscopy, effective medium approximation and UV–vis specular and diffuse reflectance.     

A proposed new experimental setup for determination of refractive indices of liquids by mode line measurements

A new experimental method is proposed for measuring the refractive indices of liquids based on mode line measurements. The experimental setup consists of a dielectric substrate in which a rectangular hollow is formed containing the concerned liquid. This is covered by a trapezium-shaped prism. The liquid, confined between both basin walls and the prism, forms a wavegude. Thus, the refractive index of the liquid can be determined by measuring the propagating modes in the structure. Using this technique, the refractive indices of liquids can be measured to an accuracy of the order of 1×10^-4.     

Temperature-dependent growth mode of W-doped ZnO nanostructures

We report on the effects of glass substrate temperature on the crystal structure and morphology of tungsten (W)-doped ZnO nanostructures synthesized by pulsed-laser deposition. X-ray diffraction analysis data shows that the W-doped ZnO thin films exhibit a strongly preferred orientation along a c-axis (0 0 0 L) plane, while scanning electron and atomic force microscopes reveal that well-aligned W-doped ZnO nanorods with unique shape were directly and successfully synthesized at substrate temperature of 550 °C and 600 °C without any underlying catalyst or template. Possible growth mechanism of these nanorods is suggested and discussed.     

Contrast of optical activity and rogue wave propagation in chiral materials

Nonlinear Dynamics - We report the contrast of optical activity and properties of nonparaxial optical rogue waves for the higher-order nonparaxial chiral nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation....