Centrifuge coating for low-waste solution processing of transparent nanostructured electrodes

Centrifuge coating was implemented to fabricate nanostructured conductive layers through solution processing at room temperature. This coating procedure allows fast evaporation, thereby fixing the nanomaterials in their dispersed state onto a substrate by the centrifuge action. Material wastes were minimized by mitigating the effects of particle reaggregation. Using this method, we fabricate single-wall nanotube coatings on different substrates such as polyethylene terephthalate, polydimethylsiloxane, and an acrylic elastomer with no prior surface modification of the substrate. The effects of the choice of solvents on the morphology and subsequent performance of the coating network are studied. © 2002-2012 IEEE.

Degradation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol in aqueous solution by ozonation

This study investigates the ozonation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in aqueous solution. The affecting factors on the degradation of EE2 were studied and described in details, such as initial EE2 concentration, initial pH value and ozone concentration. In addition, some parameters such as pH. electrical conductivity, mineralization efficiency and degradation products were monitored during the process. The mineralization efficiency of EE2 could reach 53.9%. During the ozonation process the rapid decrease of pH and the sharp increase of electrical conductivity indicated the fort-nation of acidic by-products, small fragments and ions which were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GUMS) analysis. Results showed that there were intermediate products of smaller molecule with higher polarity produced during the course of EE2 degradation. Then a possible reaction pathway for EE2 degradation involving all intermediates detected is proposed. During the ozonation process EE2 was first oxidized into hydroxyl-semiquinone isomers which were subsequently degraded into low molecular weight compounds such as oxalic acid, malonate, glutarate, and so on. Furthermore. these organic acids are easily oxidized by ozone into carbon dioxide (CO2). This work shows that ozonation process is promising for the removal of EE2. The results can provide some useful information for the potential treatment of EE2 by ozonation in aqueous solution. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study on fluorescence emission and synchronous-scan fluorescence spectrea of Nitzschia hantzschiana solution with FE(III)

The characterization of the algal Nitzschia hantzschiana solution with (or without) Fe(III) was carried out using fluorescence emission and synchronous-scan spectroscopy. An emission peak (excited at 440 nm) was observed at 675 nm for Nitzschia hantzschiana solution. The effective characterization method used was synchronous-scan fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS). A wavelength difference (Delta lambda) of 90 nm was maintained between excitation and emission wavelengths. The peak was observed at about 236(ex) nm (326(em) nm) for synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. Fe(III) was an effective quencher. The relationship between I-0/I (quenching efficiency) and c (concentration of Fe (III) added) was a linear correlation for the algal solution with Fe(III). Effects of pH on synchronous-scan fluorescence intensity were evident.

Preliminary study on the photoproduction of hydroxyl radicals in aqueous solution with Aldrich humic acid, algae and Fe(III) under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation

Under a high-pressure mercury lamp (HPML) and using an exposure time of 4 h, the photoproduction of hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-.) could be induced in an aqueous solution containing humic acid (HA). Hydroxyl radicals were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using benzene as a probe. The results showed that (OH)-O-. photoproduction increased from 1.80 to 2.74 muM by increasing the HA concentration from 10 to 40 mg L-1 at an exposure time of 4 h (pH 6.5). Hydroxyl radical photoproduction in aqueous solutions of HA containing algae was greater than that in the aqueous solutions of HA without algae. The photoproduction of (OH)-O-. in the HA solution with Fe(111) was greater than that of the solution without Fe(III) at pH ranging from 4.0 to 8.0. The photoproduction of (OH)-O-. in HA solution with algae with or without Fe(111) under a 250 W HPML was greater than that under a 125 W HPML. The photoproduction of (OH)-O-. in irradiated samples was influenced by the pH. The results showed that HPML exposure for 4 h in the 4-8 pH range led to the highest (OH)-O-. photoproduction at pH 4.0.

Analytical model of spin filtering effect and its experimental verification in a forward-biased iron-metal-Al2O3-n-type GaAs tunneling structure under optical spin orientation

An analytical model for the spin filtering transport in a ferromagnetic-metal - Al2O3 - n-type semiconductor tunneling structure has been developed, and demonstrated that the ratio of the helicity-modulated photo-response to the chopped one is proportional to the sum of the relative asymmetry in conductance of two opposite spin-polarized tunneling channels and the MCD effect of the ferromagnetic metal film. The performed measurement in an iron-metal/Al2O3/n-type GaAs tunneling structure under the optical spin orientation has verified that all the aspects of the experimental results are very well in accordance with our model in the regime of the spin filtering. After the MCD effect of the iron film is calibrated by an independent measurement, the physical quantity of Delta G(t)/G(t) (Delta G(t) = G(t)(up arrow) - G(t)(down arrow) is the difference of the conductance between two opposite spin tunneling channels, G(t) =( G(t)(up arrow) + G(t)(down arrow))/2 the averaged tunneling conductance), which concerns us most, can be determined quantitatively with a high sensitivity in the framework of our analytical model. Copyright (c) EPLA, 2008.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoflowers grown on AIN films by solution deposition

ZnO nanoflowers are synthesized on AIN films by solution method. The synthesized nanoflowers are composed of nanorods, which are pyramidal and grow from a central point, thus forming structures that are flower-shaped as a whole. The nanoflowers have two typical morphologies: plate-like and bush-like. The XRD spectrum corresponds to the side planes of the ZnO nanorods made up of the nanoflowers. The micro-Raman spectrum of the ZnO nanoflowers exhibits the E-2 (high) mode and the second order multiple-phonon mode. The photoluminescence spectrum of the ZnO nanoflowers exhibits ultraviolet emission centred at 375 nm and a broad green emission centred at 526 nm.

Localized-Surface-Plasmon Enhanced the 357 nm Forward Emission from ZnMgO Films Capped by Pt Nanoparticles

The Pt nanoparticles (NPs), which posses the wider tunable localized-surface-plasmon (LSP) energy varying from deep ultraviolet to visible region depending on their morphology, were prepared by annealing Pt thin films with different initial mass-thicknesses. A sixfold enhancement of the 357 nm forward emission of ZnMgO was observed after capping with Pt NPs, which is due to the resonance coupling between the LSP of Pt NPs and the band-gap emission of ZnMgO. The other factors affecting the ultraviolet emission of ZnMgO, such as emission from Pt itself and light multi-scattering at the interface, were also discussed. These results indicate that Pt NPs can be used to enhance the ultraviolet emission through the LSP coupling for various wide band-gap semiconductors.

The junction temperature and forward voltage relationship of GaN-based laser diode

In GaAs-based light-emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD), the forward voltage (V) will decrease linearly with the increasing junction temperature (T). This can be used as a convenient method to measure the junction temperature. In GaN-based LED, the relationship is linear too. But in GaN-based LD, the acceptor M (g) in p-GaN material can not ionize completely at-room temperature, and the carrier density will change with temperature. But we find finally that, this change won't lead to a nonlinear relationship of V-T. Our experiments show that it is Linear too.

An improvement on Si-etching tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide solution

An optimal concentration of the etching solution for deep etching of silicon, including 3% tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide and 0.3% (NH4)(2)S2O8, was achieved in this paper. For this etching solution, the etching rates of silicon and silicon dioxide were about 1.1 mu m(.)min(-1) and 0.5 nm(.)min(-1), respectively. The etching ratio between (100) and (111) planes was about 34:1, and the etched surface was very smooth.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanorods and nanoflowers grown on GaN-based LED epiwafer using a solution deposition method

We report the growth of hexagonal ZnO nanorods and nanoflowers on GaN-based LED epiwafer using a solution deposition method. We also discuss the mechanisms of epitaxial nucleation and of the growth of ZnO nanorods and nanoflowers. A GaN-based LED epiwafer was first deposited on a sapphire substrate by MOCVD with no electrode being fabricated on it. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods with an average height of similar to 2.4 mu m were then grown on the LED epiwafer, and nanoflowers were synthesized on the nanorods. The growth orientation of the nanorods was perpendicular to the surface, and the synthesized nanoflowers were composed of nanorods. The micro-Raman spectra of the ZnO nanorods and nanoflowers are similar and both exhibit the E-2 (high) mode and the second-order multiple-phonon mode. The photoluminescence spectrum of ZnO nanostructures exhibits ultraviolet emission centred at about 380 nm and a broad and enhanced green emission centred at about 526 nm. The green emission of the ZnO nanostructures combined with the emission of InGaN quantum wells provides a valuable method to improve the colour rendering index (CRI) of LEDs.

Photoluminescence properties of Eu3+-doped ZnS nanocrystals prepared in a water/methanol solution

Monodispersed ZnS and Eu3+-doped ZnS nanocrystals have been prepared through the co-precipitation reaction of inorganic precursors ZnCl2, EuCl3, and Na2S in a water/methanol binary solution. The mean particle sizes are about 3-5 nm. The structures of the as-prepared ZnS nanoparticles are cubic (zinc blende) as demonstrated by an x-ray powder diffraction. Photoluminescence studies showed a stable room temperature emission in the visible spectrum region for all the samples, with a broadening in the emission band and, in particular, a partially overlapped twin peak in the Eu3+-doped ZnS nanocrystals. The experimental results also indicated that Eu3+-doped ZnS nanocrystals, prepared by controlling synthetic conditions, were stable. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Characterization of CdSe and CdSe/CdS core/shell nanoclusters synthesized in aqueous solution

CdSe nanoclusters overcoated with CdS shell were prepared with macapoacetic acid as stabilizer. The optical properties of CdSe nanoclusters and the influence of CdS shell on the electronic structures of CdSe cores were studied by optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopies. Based on PL and PLE results and the theoretical calculation on fine structure of bandedge exciton, a model of formation of excimer within the small clusters was proposed to explain the large Stokes shift of luminescence from absorption edge observed in PL results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.