Synthesis of dysprosium/Mn–Cu ferrite binary nanocomposite: Analysis of structural,morphological, dielectric,and optomagnetic properties

Manganese–copper ferrite (MCFO) and dysprosium (Dy)-doped manganese–copper ferrite nanocomposites (Mn_0.5Cu_0.5Dy_xFe_2−xO₄) (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) were synthesized by sonochemical method. Crystal structure and the structural parameters of the MCFO were analyzed based on the doping concentration of Dy ion. It was observed that the average crystalline size of the synthesized nanocomposite decreases when the concentration of Dy increases. The existing spherical surface morphology of the MCFO and Dy-doped MCFO nanocomposites were obtained through scanning electron microscopy. In the UV spectrum, the pristine MCFO sample showed an absorbance peak at 743 nm whereas the absorbance values of Dy-doped ferrite nanocomposite considerably shifted (blue) toward a lower wavelength (231–222 nm). The dielectric parameters of all ferrite nanocomposites were studied in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 5 MHz. The dielectric spectrum revealed that dielectric constant and loss tangent decreased with increased doping concentration of Dy ion. The saturation magnetization also changed with Dy doping in MCFO. The impact of Dy on manganese–copper ferrite changed the optical, dielectric and magnetic properties of the prepared binary ferrite nanocomposite, which can be used for microwave-absorbing material applications.     

Residual strain in cadmium telluride/gallium arsenide (001) heterostructures as a function of temperature

Optical studies of residual strain in cadmium telluride (CdTe) films grown using molecular beam epitaxy on gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate have been performed using photoreflectance techniques. Measurements have been conducted to determine the fundamental transition energy, heavy-hole and light-hole transition energy critical-point parameters in a range of temperatures between 12 and 300 K. There are problems inherent in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices using high-quality CdTe films, due to strain effects resulting from both the lattice mismatch (CdTe: 14.6%) and the thermal expansion coefficient difference. The CdTe film exhibits compressive stress causing valence-band splitting for light and heavy holes. We have used different models to fit the obtained experimental data and, although the critical thickness for the CdTe has been surpassed, the strain due to the lattice mismatch is still significant. However, the strain due to the thermal expansion is dominant. We have found that the fundamental transition energy, E₀, is affected by the compressive strain and the characteristic values are smaller than those reported. In addition, the total strain is compressive for the full measured range, since the strain due to the lattice mismatch is one order of magnitude higher than that calculated from the thermal expansion.     

Impact behavior and fractographic study of carbon nanotubes grafted carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix multi-scale hybrid composites

Carbon nanotubes are the most promising reinforcement for high performance composites. Multiwall carbon nanotubes were directly grown onto the carbon fiber surface by catalytic thermal chemical vapor deposition technique. Multi-scale hybrid composites were fabricated using the carbon nanotubes grown fibers with epoxy matrix. Morphology of the grown carbon nanotubes was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The fabricated composites were subjected to impact tests which showed 48.7% and 42.2% higher energy absorption in Charpy and Izod impact tests respectively. Fractographic analysis of the impact tested specimens revealed the presence of carbon nanotubes both at the fiber surface and within the matrix which explained the reason for improved energy absorption capability of these composites. Carbon nanotubes presence at various cracks formed during loading provided a direct evidence of micro crack bridging. Thus the enhanced fracture strength of these composites is attributed to stronger fiber–matrix interfacial bonding and simultaneous matrix strengthening due to the grown carbon nanotubes.     

Highly transparent terbium gallium garnet crystal fabricated by the floating zone method for visible–infrared optical isolators

Highly transparent terbium gallium garnet (Tb₃Ga₅O₁₂; TGG) single crystal having a large Verdet constant based on the visible and near-infrared region (VIS–NIR) Faraday rotator was grown by Floating Zone (FZ) growth machine. We successfully grew TGG single-crystal rods of 8–10 mm in diameter, which was suitable for the use in optical devices. The crystal showed a full-width at half-maximum as little as 18 arcsec by the X-ray rocking curve measurement. The Faraday rotation (B = 0.55T) was investigated at wavelength of 532, 632.8, 1064 nm at room temperature. The lower weak absorption coefficient, higher Verdet constant, thermal conductivity and laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) compared to the commercial TGG gives the great potential of using this new method to meet the increasing demand of VIS–NIR Faraday rotators (FRs).     

Photoluminescence properties of novel white phosphor of Dy3+-doped LaBSiO5 glass

A single-phased white emitting phosphor LaBSiO₅:Dy³⁺ was successfully synthesized via a solid state reaction. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the doped Dy³⁺ ions did not change the lattice structure. Several strong excitation peaks of LaBSiO₅:Dy³⁺ were found around 300–450 nm. Under excitation of 350 nm, the LaBSiO₅:Dy³⁺ exhibited white emission by combining the two emission peaks at 478 and 574 nm corresponding to the typical ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 transitions. The optimal substitution proportions of Dy³⁺ for La³⁺ was determined to be 1 mol% and the critical distance of Dy³⁺ was 25.9628 Å. Moreover, the CIE chromaticity coordinates of LaBSiO₅:Dy³⁺ phosphor was (0.3116, 0.3474) which is close to the ideal white light coordinates (0.333, 0.333), indicating that the phosphor has a potential application as a single component ultraviolet-convertible white light emitting phosphor.     

Enhancement of optical and electrical properties of SILAR deposited ZnO thin films through fluorine doping and vacuum annealing for photovoltaic applications

Undoped and fluorine doped ZnO thin films were deposited onto glass substrates using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique and then annealed at 350 °C in vacuum ambience. The F doping level was varied from 0 to 15 at% in steps of 5 at%. The XRD analysis showed that all the films are polycrystalline with hexagonal wurtzite structure and preferentially oriented along the (002) plane. Crystallite sizes were found to increase when 5 at% of F is doped and then decreased with further doping. It was seen from the SEM images that the doping causes remarkable changes in the surface morphology and the annealing treatment results in well-defined grains with an improvement in the grain size irrespective of doping level. All the films exhibit good transparency (>70%) after vacuum annealing. Electrical resistivity of the film was found to be minimum (1.32×10⁻³ Ω cm) when the fluorine doping level was 5 at%.     

Co-existing of dressed non-linear gain and electromagnetically induced absorption

The dressed parametric four-wave mixing (FWM) process has been investigated in hot atomic rubidium vapor. We use a strong pumping field to generate entangled photon pairs of spontaneous parametric FWM (SP-FWM) which can be enhanced by an external dressing effect. Seeding probe beam into the Stokes or anti-Stokes (SP-FWM) channel will form the parametric amplified FWM (PA-FWM) process, then the non-linear gain and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) are observed, caused by the internal dressing effect. However, with scanning of pumping field the absorbing background will vanish, which will result in drastic increase in PA-FWM signal gain.     

Mishik A. Kazaryan (1948–2020) – One of the pioneers of Russian hydrogen energetics

In 2018, Mishik Airazatovich Kazaryan received the highest award of the International Association for Alternative Energy and Ecology - Order of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry “For Improving the Quality of Life on the Planet of People” (IAAEE) on nominating the Award Committee of the Editorial Board of the International Scientific Journal for Alternative Energy and Ecology (ISJAEE). The award was given for his outstanding contribution to development of alternative energetics and ecology. M.A. Kazaryan's prominent contribution to the development of alternative energetics and ecology is based on his pioneering works in the field of development of methods for producing hydrogen as environmentally friendly safe fuel, as well as works in the field of processing organic compounds by various physical methods. As a part of joint research with colleagues from Lebedev Physical Institute of RAS (LPI), M.A. Kazaryan participated in creation of new methods for producing hydrogen from various chemical compounds. The method of conversion of liquid-phase compounds in plasma discharges under the influence of intensive ultrasonic cavitation occupies a special place. In the course of these works, it is shown that low-temperature plasma initiated in liquid-phase media in discharge between electrodes is able to effectively decompose hydrogen-containing molecules of organic compounds and form gaseous products where the part of hydrogen is more than 90%. Estimations of energy efficiency calculated taking into account hydrogen combustion heat and initial substances, as well as electricity costs, showed an efficiency level of about 60–70% in depending on the composition of the starting mixture. Another notable contribution of M.A. Kazaryan to the development of alternative energetics was the work on the optimization and justification of technological and structural parameters of energy discharge devices based on high-voltage pulse-periodic discharge for creating a reactor for plasmachemical processing of polymer wastes into hydrogen and other valuable compounds.     

Ga-doped IZO films obtained by magnetron sputtering as transparent conductors for visible and solar applications

C-axis textured thin films of gallium-doped indium zinc oxide (GIZO) with a 2% ratio of Ga/Zn, were obtained via RF-magnetron sputtering with high transparency and electrical conductivity. A Box-Behnken response surface design was used to evaluate the effects of the deposition parameters (In₂O₃ target power, deposition time, and substrate temperature) on the chemical composition, optical, electrical, and structural properties of the GIZO films. The optical constants and the electrical properties were obtained using optical models. The GIZO stoichiometry, and therefore the In/Zn atomic ratio, affected the crystallinity, crystalline parameters, band gap, and charge carrier mobility of the GIZO films. The charge carrier density was related to the change in the crystalline parameters of the hexagonal structure and the In/Zn atomic ratio. The best electrical conductivity values (1.75?×?10³ Ω^?1 cm^?1) were obtained for GIZO films with In/Zn ratio ≥?1. Several figures of merit (FOM) defined for the visible and solar regions were comparatively used to select the optimal In/Zn atomic ratio that provided the best balance between the conductivity and the transparency. The optimal In/Zn ratio was in a range of 0.85–0.90 for the GIZO films.     

Diversity of Biogas Plant Realizations

A techno‐economic analysis for four different types of biogas plant realizations was performed, including one biogas biorefinery concept. For each concept detail, a process flow diagram was created. Mass and energy balances were estimated. The net present value and payback were calculated for each concept for a better feasibility understanding. The results showed that with the used expensive substrate, namely, wheat straw, the obtained paybacks appeared to be more than 100 years. Sensitivity analysis was done for the price range of a substrate. Critical factors were defined to improve feasibility.