Optimization of parameters of chemical spray pyrolysis technique to get n and p-type layers of SnS

SnS thin films were prepared using automated chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique. Single-phase, p-type, stoichiometric, SnS films with direct band gap of 1.33 eV and having very high absorption coefficient (N105/cm) were deposited at substrate temperature of 375 °C. The role of substrate temperature in determining the optoelectronic and structural properties of SnS films was established and concentration ratios of anionic and cationic precursor solutions were optimized. n-type SnS samples were also prepared using CSP technique at the same substrate temperature of 375 °C, which facilitates sequential deposition of SnS homojunction. A comprehensive analysis of both types of films was done using x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical absorption and electrical measurements. Deposition temperatures required for growth of other binary sulfide phases of tin such as SnS2, Sn2S3 were also determined

Optimization in the Technological Steps for the Fabrication of Large Area Micromirror Arrays

Micromirror arrays are a very strong candidate for future energy saving applications. Within this work, the fabrication process for these micromirror arrays has been optimized and some steps for the large area fabrication of micromirror modules were performed. At first the surface roughness of the insulation layer of silicon dioxide (SiO2) was investigated. This SiO2 thin layer was deposited on three different type of substrates i.e. silicon, glass and Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN) substrates. The deposition techniques which has been used are Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Ion Beam Sputter Deposition (IBSD). The thickness of the SiO2 thin layer was kept constant at 150nm for each deposition process. The surface roughness was measured by Stylus Profilometry and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). It was found that the layer which was deposited by IBSD has got the minimum surface roughness value and the layer which was deposited by PECVD process has the highest surface roughness value. During the same investigation, the substrate temperature of PECVD was varied from 80° C to 300° C with the step size of 40° C and it was found that the surface roughness keeps on increasing as the substrate holder temperature increases in the PECVD process. A new insulation layer system was proposed to minimize the dielectric breakdown effect in insulation layer for micromirror arrays. The conventional bilayer system was replaced by five layer system but the total thickness of insulation layer remains the same. It was found that during the actuation of micromirror arrays structure, the dielectric breakdown effect was reduced considerably as compared to the bilayer system. In the second step the fabrication process of the micromirror arrays was successfully adapted and transferred from glass substrates to the flexible PEN substrates by optimizing the conventional process recipe. In the last section, a large module of micromirror arrays was fabricated by electrically interconnecting four 10cm×10cm micromirror modules on a glass pane having dimensions of 21cm×21cm.

Alternatives to Sedum on green roofs: Can broad leaf perennial plants offer better ‘cooling service’?

Green roof plants alter the microclimate of building roofs and may improve roof insulation. They act by providing cooling by shading, but also through transpiration of water through their stomata. However, leaf surfaces can become warmer when plants close the stomata and decrease water loss in response to drying substrate (typically associated with green roofs during summers), also reducing transpirational cooling. By using a range of contrasting plant types (Sedum mix – an industry green roof ‘standard’, Stachys byzantina, Bergenia cordifolia and Hedera hibernica) we tested the hypothesis that plants differ in their ‘cooling potential’. We firstly examined how leaf morphology influenced leaf temperature and how drying substrate altered that response. Secondly, we investigated the relationship between leaf surface temperatures and the air temperatures immediately above the canopies (i.e. potential to provide aerial cooling). Finally we measured how the plant type influenced the substrate temperature below the canopy (i.e. potential for building cooling). In our experiments Stachys outperformed the other species in terms of leaf surface cooling (even in drying substrate, e.g. 5 oC cooler compared with Sedum), substrate cooling beneath its canopy (up to 12 oC) and even - during short intervals over hottest still periods - the air above the canopy (up to 1 oC, when soil moisture was not limited). We suggest that the choice of plant species on green roofs should not be entirely dictated by what survives on the shallow substrates of extensive systems, but consideration should be given to supporting those species providing the greatest eco-system service potential.

Habitat use by the South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) in south-eastern Brazil

Habitat use affects food intake, reproductive fitness and body temperature control in reptiles. Habitat use depends on both the characteristics of the animal and the environmental heterogeneity. In this study we investigated habitat use in a population of the South-American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus, in a cerrado (the Brazilian savanna) remnant, in south-eastern Brazil. In general, snakes appeared to be thermal generalists. However, they showed substrate temperature preferences in the rainy season, when they selected colder substrates during the day and warmer substrates at night. Individuals were predominantly active on the surface and more frequently found under bushes. Furthermore, in general, the principal component analysis results indicate that rattlesnakes are generalists regarding the microhabitat variables examined in this study. These habitat characteristics, associated with a low thermal selectivity, indicate that rattlesnakes are able to colonize deforested areas where shade occurrence and vegetation cover are similar to those in the cerrado.

The microstructure and properties of energetically deposited carbon nitride films

The intrinsic stress, film density and nitrogen content of carbon nitride (CNx) films deposited from a filtered cathodic vacuum arc were determined as a function of substrate bias, substrate temperature and nitrogen process pressure. Contour plots of the measurements show the deposition conditions required to produce the main structural forms of CNx including N-doped tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:N) and a variety of nitrogen containing graphitic carbons. The film with maximum nitrogen content (~ 30%) was deposited at room temperature with 1.0 mTorr N2 pressure and using an intermediate bias of - 400 V. Higher nitrogen pressure, higher bias and/or higher temperature promoted layering with substitutional nitrogen bonded into graphite-like sheets. As the deposition temperature exceeded 500 °C, the nitrogen content diminished regardless of nitrogen pressure, showing the meta-stability of the carbon-nitrogen bonding in the films. Hardness and ductility measurements revealed a diverse range of mechanical properties in the films, varying from hard ta-C:N (~ 50 GPa) to softer and highly ductile CN x which contained tangled graphite-like sheets. Through-film current-voltage characteristics showed that the conductance of the carbon nitride films increased with nitrogen content and substrate bias, consistent with the transition to more graphite-like films. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Temperatura e substrato para o teste de germinação de sementes de pinhão-manso

Official rules for seed analysis don't establish criteria to execute germination tests for all species. This way, the aim of this research was to determinate the substrate, temperature and counting time for the germination test of physic nut seeds. For the germination test, four replications of 20 seeds were used, evaluating daily the normal seedlings until the end of germination. Initially, the substrates with sowing in vermiculite, were evaluated in rolled paper towels, in sand and in soil using alternating temperature of 20-30 degrees C. The most favorable substrates for germination were evaluated with another stage, using constant temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 degrees C and alternating ones, of 15-35 degrees C, 20-35 degrees C and 20-30 degrees C. One concluded that the germination test of physic nut seeds must be performed with the alternating temperature of 20-30 degrees C in sand or paper towel and with final counting 10 days after sowing.

Germinação de sementes de Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth. em diferentes substratos e temperaturas

A Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth. é uma espécie nativa da região Nordeste, que vem sendo progressivamente cultivada do Maranhão ao Rio de Janeiro. A planta apresenta grande potencial para arborização, cerca viva e produção de madeira. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo definir o tipo de substrato, a temperatura, o tempo médio e a frequência relativa de germinação, para auxiliar a condução de testes de germinação e vigor em sementes de Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia. Para tanto, realizou-se um experimento no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes do CCA-UFPB, em Areia-PB, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com os tratamentos distribuídos em esquema fatorial 4x4, com os fatores temperaturas (20, 25, 30ºC constantes e 20-30ºC alternadas) e substratos (entre papel, sobre papel, entre areia e entre vermiculita), em quatro repetições de 25 sementes. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de germinação e de plântulas anormais, primeira contagem da germinação e velocidade de germinação, tempo médio e frequência relativa de germinação, massa fresca e massa seca de plântulas. A temperatura de 25ºC mostrou-se mais adequada para a condução dos testes de germinação e vigor em sementes de Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, independentemente do substrato utilizado. O substrato entre papel foi o mais apropriado para avaliação da qualidade fisiológica das sementes e a sincronização do processo germinativo foi maior no substrato entre papel, independentemente da temperatura empregada.

Properties of DLC films deposited by an oxyacetylene flame

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were obtained by spinning a tungsten carbide substrate at a high speed using an oxyacetylene flame. The films deposited at a typical experimental condition of substrate temperature of 810 degrees C, rotation of 600 rpm and 3 h deposition time, exhibited an uniform, very smooth, hard and glassy surface covering the entire exposed face of the substrate. These films were identified as DLC by their characteristic broad Raman spectra centered at 1554 cm(-1) and micro-Vicker's hardness > 3400 kg mm(-2). For substrate temperatures < 800 degrees C the film started losing the uniform glassy surface and the hardness deteriorated. For temperatures > 950 degrees C the film was still hard and shiny, but black in color. DLC films were also obtained in a wide range of speeds of rotation (300-750 rpm), as long as the temperature remained close to 850 degrees C. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. S.A. All rights reserved.

Adequação da metodologia para o teste de germinação de sementes de pitaia vermelha

Hylocereus undatus (Haw.), popularmente conhecida como pitaia vermelha é uma cactácea para a qual se tem registrado um aumento de consumo nos últimos anos e, por ser ainda pouco explorada, vários aspectos referentes à sua propagação ainda são desconhecidos. Até o momento, não existem critérios para a execução de testes de germinação para sementes dessa espécie, publicados nas Regras para Análise de Sementes. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com este trabalho adequar a metodologia quanto ao substrato, temperatura e tempo de contagem inicial e final para o teste de germinação. Foram testados quatro substratos (rolo de papel, areia, vermiculita e solo) e quatro temperaturas (20, 25, 30 e 20-30°C). O efeito dos substratos no desempenho germinativo das sementes foi avaliado pelo teste de germinação e de primeira contagem instalado com quatro subamostras de 50 sementes. Foram feitas contagens diárias do número de plântulas emergidas até atingirem a estabilidade e, no final do experimento, foram avaliados a porcentagem de germinação das sementes, considerando as plântulas normais, anormais e sementes mortas. Concluiu-se que o teste de germinação de sementes de pitaia vermelha deve ser realizado à temperatura constante de 25°C em rolo de papel, com contagens inicial e final aos cinco e dez dias após a semeadura, respectivamente.

Thermal evaporation furnace with improved configuration for growing nanostructured inorganic materials

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Temperatura e substrato para o teste de germinação de sementes de barbatimão ((Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (Leguminosae))

As normas oficiais para análise de sementes não estabelecem critérios para a execução de testes de germinação da maioria das espécies florestais. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi a determinação do substrato, da temperatura e da necessidade de superação da dormência das sementes para o teste de germinação de Stryphnodendron adstringens. Foram avaliados o tratamento de escarificação com ácido sulfúrico por 60 min, os substratos vermiculita, rolo de papel, areia e solo e as temperaturas constantes de 20, 25, 30 e 35 ºC e alternadas de 15-35 ºC e 20-30 ºC, utilizando-se a primeira contagem de germinação (7 dias) e a porcentagem de plântulas normais, anormais, sementes mortas e dormentes (42º dia após a semeadura) com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. As sementes de S. adstringens devem ser submetidas ao teste de germinação, após superação da dormência, em substrato papel e nas temperaturas constantes de 25, 30 ou 35 ºC ou alternadas de 20-30 ºC.

Structural electrical and optical properties of undoped and indium doped ZnO thin films prepared by the pyrosol process at different temperatures

The influence of the substrate temperature on the structural features and opto-electrical properties of undoped and indium-doped ZnO thin films deposited by pyrosol process was investigated. The addition of indium induces a drastic decrease (by a factor approximate to 10(10) for samples deposited at 300 degreesC) in the electrical resistivity of films, the lowest electrical resistivity (6 mOmega-cm) being observed for the film deposited at 450 degreesC. Films are highly transparent (>80%) in the Vis-NIR ranges, and the optical band gap exhibits a blue shift (from 3.29 to 3.33 eV) for the In-doped films deposited at increasing temperature. Preferential orientation of the ZnO crystallites with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate surface and an anisotropic morphology of the nanoporous structure was observed for films growth at 300 and 350 degreesC. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Pyrosol preparation and structural characterization of SnO2 thin films

Polycrystalline tin oxide thin films were prepared from ethanol solution of SnCl2.H2O (concentrations: 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mol/dm(3)) at different substrate temperatures ranging from 300 to 450 degreesC. The kinetic deposition processes were studied in terms of various process parameters. The crystal phases, crystalline structure, grain size and surface morphology are revealed in accordance to X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Texture coefficients (TCs) for (110), (2 0 0), (2 11) and (3 0 1) reflections of the tetragonal SnO2 were calculated. Structural characteristics of deposited films with respect to varying precursor chemistry and substrate temperature are presented and discussed. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The valuable role of renucleation rate in ultrananocrystalline diamond growth

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aerosol Deposition of Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 Thin Films

In this work we optimized conditions for aerosol deposition of homogeneous, nano-grained, smooth Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 thin films. Investigation involved optimization of deposition parameters, namely deposition time and temperature for different substrates. Solutions were prepared from titanium isopropoxide, strontium acetate and barium acetate. Films were deposited on Si (1 0 0) or Si covered by platinum (Pt (1 1 1) /Ti/SiO2/Si). Investigation showed that the best films were obtained at substrate temperature of 85 degrees C. After deposition films were slowly heated up to 650 degrees C, annealed for 30 min, and slowly cooled. Grain size of BST films deposited on Si substrate were in the range 40-70 nm, depending on deposition conditions, while the same films deposited on Pt substrates showed mean grain size in the range 35-50 nm. Films deposited under optimal conditions were very homogeneous, crack-free, and smooth with rms roughness lower than 4 nm for both substrates.