Electronic parameters of high barrier Au/Rhodamine-101/n-Inp Schottky diode with organic ?nterlayer

In this work, we present that Rhodamine-101 (Rh-101) organic molecules can control the electrical characteristics of conventional Au/n-InP metal-semiconductor contacts. An Au/n-InP Schottky junction with Rh-101 interlayer has been formed by using a simple cast process. A potential barrier height as high as 0.88 eV has been achieved for Au/Rh-101/n-InP Schottky diodes, which have good current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. This good performance is attributed to the effect of formation of interfacial organic thin layer between Au and n-InP. By using capacitance-voltage measurement of the Au/Rh-101/n-InP Schottky diode the diffusion potential and the barrier height have been calculated as 0.78 V and 0.88 eV, respectively. From the I-V measurement of the diode under illumination, short circuit current and open circuit voltage have been extracted as 1.70 μA and 240 mV, respectively.     

Thermal annealing behaviour of Pd Schottky contacts on melt-grown single crystal ZnO studied by IV and CV measurements

Current-voltage (IV) and capacitance-voltage (CV) measurement techniques have successfully been employed to study the effects of annealing highly rectifying Pd/ZnO Schottky contacts. IV results reveal a decrease in the contact quality with increasing annealing temperature as confirmed by a decrease in the zero bias barrier height and an increase in the reverse current measured at −1.5 V. An average barrier height of (0.77 ± 0.02) eV has been calculated by assuming pure thermionic emission for the as-deposited material and as (0.56 ± 0.03) eV after annealing at 550 °C. The reverse current has been measured as (2.10 ± 0.01) × 10⁻¹⁰ A for the as-deposited and increases by 5 orders of magnitude after annealing at 550 °C to (1.56 ± 0.01) × 10⁻⁵ A. The depletion layer width measured at −2.0 V has shown a strong dependence on thermal annealing as it decreases from 1.09 μm after annealing at 200 °C to 0.24 μm after annealing at 500 °C, resulting in the modification of the dopant concentration within the depletion region and hence the current flowing through the interface from pure thermionic emission to thermionic field emission with the donor concentrations increasing from 6.90 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻³ at 200 °C to 6.06 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ after annealing at 550 °C. This increase in the volume concentration has been explained as an effect of a conductive channel that shifts closer to the surface after sample annealing. The series resistance has been observed to decrease with increase in annealing temperature. The Pd contacts have shown high stability up to an annealing temperature of 250 °C as revealed by the IV and CV characteristics after which the quality of the contacts deteriorates with increase in annealing temperature.     

Growth and properties of UV nonlinear optical crystal ZnCd(SCN)4

A second-order nonlinear optical coordination crystal, zinc cadmium thiocyanate, ZnCd(SCN)₄ (ZCTC) was grown as a frequency doubler, emitting UV light. A large typical single crystal with dimensions up to 15×7×7 mm³ has been obtained by slow solvent-evaporation method for the first time. The infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) of single crystals were performed at room temperature. The specific heat of the crystal has been measured to be 367.9 J/mol K at 300 K. The thermal expansion coefficients a- and c-oriented, have been measured to be −1.69×10⁻⁵ and 1.95×10⁻⁴ K⁻¹, respectively. The second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of ZCTC crystal is 51.6 times as high as that of urea reference, and the measured transmittance spectra from 190 to 3200 nm showed that the UV transparency cutoff occurs at 290 nm and the transmission is 73.22% at 380 nm. UV laser light of wavelength 380 nm has been achieved by the frequency doubling of a 760 nm laser diode at room temperature.     

Super-low turn-on and threshold electric fields of plasma-treated partly Fe-filled carbon nanotube films

Field emission properties of partly Fe-filled carbon nanotubes (FCNTs) treated with different plasmas have been studied. Super low turn-on (0.24 V/μm) and threshold (0.6 V/μm) electric fields are identified upon nitrogen plasma treatment for 60 min. The field-enhancement factor, as high as 4.8 × 10⁴, can be attributed to the plasma-induced structural defects and the unique characteristics of thin walled FCNTs with filled Fe nanowires. A model has been proposed to understand the effects of plasma on the CNTs.     

Surface science studies of Cu containing back contacts for CdTe solar cells

The electronic interface properties of Cu_2 − xTe with CdTe have been investigated using in-situ photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, UPS) in comparison to CdTe/Cu and CdTe/Te interfaces. A band bending towards the Fermi level as a result of the p-doping can be seen in the CdTe by depositing Cu_2 − xTe. Different Cu_2 − xTe films were prepared by varying the deposition parameters such as substrate temperature and deposition rate of the Cu and Te sources. For all Cu_2 − xTe/CdTe interfaces a valence band offset of 0.8 ± 0.05 eV has been found.     

The magnetoelectric perovskite Sr2CoMoO6: An insight from neutron powder diffraction

A study of the crystallographic and magnetic structure of the double perovskite Sr₂CoMoO₆ (SCMO) has been carried out on a polycrystalline sample using neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data between 10 and 700 K. An analysis of the NPD patterns at room temperature has shown that this compound crystallises in the tetragonal space group I4/m with a = 5.5616(1) Å and c = 7.9470(2) Å and has a 1:1 ordered arrangement of Co and Mo at the B-sites. This compound undergoes a I4/m → Fm3m improper ferroelectric phase transition near 560 K. A low-temperature antiferromagnetic ordering (below T_N = 36 K) has been followed from sequential NPD data analysis. The antiferromagnetic structure is defined by the propagation vector k = (1/2, 0, 1/2). In addition to the obtained experimental results on magnetic and electric properties some aspects of magnetoelectricity in this perovskite are also discussed.     

Total-reflection active-mirror amplifier for high pulse energy and high average power by using a composite ceramic

A total-reflection active-mirror (TRAM) amplifier is functionally designed by using a composite ceramic for high pulse energy and high average power. A chirped-pulse regenerative amplifier with a cryogenic TRAM has been successfully demonstrated as a feasibility study. A 3.5 mJ pulse energy is obtained at a repetition rate of 100 Hz. The corresponding energy fluence on the TRAM is as high as 1.5 J/cm² for 0.46 ns short pulses. The M²-factor is below 1.1 and no significant beam distortion is observed.     

Microwave characterization of laser ablated Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x thin films

In the present study we report the measurements of microwave surface resistance (R_s) of YBCO thin films on LaAlO₃ substrate as a function of temperature, thickness and magnetic field by microstrip resonator technique. The T_c(R = 0) of the films is 90 K and J_c > 10⁶ A/cm² at 77 K. The microwave surface resistance has been measured for films of various thicknesses. The value of R_s has been found to be initially decreased with increasing film thickness due to increase in number of defects. A minimum microwave surface resistance has been obtained for film thickness of about 300 nm. The increase of R_s with film thickness above 300 nm is possibly due to degradation of the film microstructure as observed with Atomic Force Microscopy. Temperature dependence of surface resistance has been studied for best quality films. The field induced variations of surface resistance are also investigated by applying dc magnetic field perpendicular to stripline structure and surface of the film. A general linear and square field dependence of R_s at low and high value of fields has been observed with critical field value of 0.4 T which confirms the microwave dissipation induced by flux flow in these resonators at 10 GHz frequency. The hysteresis of R_s in dc field observed for field value above critical field shows the higher value of surface resistance in decreasing field than in increasing field which is in agreement with one state critical model and is a characteristic of homogeneous superconductors.     

A method for accurate thermal conductivity measurements of small samples at ultra-low temperatures

A specific experimental arrangement has been developed for low temperature measurements of thermal conductivity of small samples such as single crystals of magnetic insulators with a typical length of a few millimeters. A frame of low conductance, serving as a mechanical support for ruthenium thermometers recording the temperature gradient on a sample, has been tested in the temperature range from 150 mK to 5 K by using commercial 99.95% purity polycrystalline non-annealed molybdenum. The applicability of the setup is discussed for the samples with the thermal conductance in the range 10⁻⁵-10⁻³ W/K.     

Antibody immobilized cysteamine functionalized-gold nanoparticles for aflatoxin detection

Aflatoxin B₁ antibody (aAFB₁) covalently attached to cysteamine functionalized-gold nanoparticles (C-AuNP) has been immobilized onto 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) based self assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold electrode (MBA/Au), for the fabrication of BSA/aAFB₁-C-AuNP/MBA/Au immunoelectrode. This immunoelectrode has been characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical characterization techniques. The electrochemical response studies reveal that the BSA/aAFB₁-C-AuNP/MBA/Au immunoelectrode can be used to detect AFB₁ in the range of 10-100 ng dL^− 1 and has sensitivity as 0.45 μA ng^− 1 dL, limit of detection as 17.90 ng dL^− 1 and a response time of 60 s.     

YAG(Ce) crystal characterization with proton beams

A YAG(Ce) crystal has been characterized with a proton beam up to 100 MeV. Tests were performed to investigate the possibility of using this detector as a proton calorimeter. A crystal size has been chosen that is able to stop up to 200 MeV. Energy resolution and light response have been measured at Laboratori Nazionali del Sud with a proton beam up to 60 MeV and a spatial homogeneity study of the crystal has been performed at Loma Linda University Medical Center with a 100 MeV proton beam. The YAG(Ce) crystal showed a good energy resolution equal to 3.7% at 60 MeV and measurements, performed in the 30-60 MeV proton energy range, were fitted by Birks' equation. Using a silicon tracker to determine the particle entry point in the crystal, a spatial homogeneity value of 1.7% in the light response has been measured.     

Characterization of microcantilever spring and force sensor using nanomanipulators

In this paper the authors present the development of a characterization process for microcantilever based spring and force sensor wherein fusion of real-time vision and force feedback is used. The process applies a very small force in micronewtons using MM3A nanomanipulators and senses the corresponding deflection using vision feedback, which produces direct characterization of microcantilever for evaluating its effective spring constant. The same process has been applied to find sensitivity of a microcantilever based force sensor. In the process force feedback values are viewed on a digital storage oscilloscope and once calibrated it is directly proportional to the applied force. By having known deflections (x) on images and known values of force (F) sensed by a force feedback sensor, the spring constant of microcantilever has been found as K = 8.75 μN/μm. Using the same procedure a microcantilever based force sensor has been characterized, the resulting sensitivity of force sensor has been found as 34.35 mV/μN.     

Sensitivity enhancement of laser absorption spectroscopy for atomic oxygen measurement in microwave air plasma

A high sensitive laser absorption spectroscopy system has been developed for the detection of atomic oxygen in a microwave plasma. Firstly, the sensitivity of this system was evaluated by ring-down time measurement. The effective absorbing pass length was extended up to 640 times as long as that of the conventional laser absorption spectroscopy. Then, the system was applied to the air plasma diagnostics. As a result, the absorption signal from the meta-stable atomic oxygen at 777.19 nm could be observed at the input enthalpy range from 0.93 MJ/kg to 467 MJ/kg. The detected minimum number density was 1.6 × 10¹¹ m⁻³ with temperature of 388 K, which correspond to the center fractional absorption of 1.4 × 10⁻²% in the LAS.     

Phenol oxidation by a sequential CWPO–CWAO treatment with a Fe/AC catalyst

Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of phenol with a homemade Fe/activated carbon (Fe/AC) catalyst has been studied in a stainless steel fixed-bed reactor at different operating conditions (T = 23–100 °C, P_T = 1–8 atm, W = 0–2.5 g, and τ = 20–320 g_CAT h/g_Phenol). The results show that, thanks to the incorporation of Fe on the activated carbon, phenol conversion improved dramatically, reaching a 90% at 65 °C, 2 atm, and 40 g_CAT h/g_Phenol. However, TOC conversion values remain fairly low, (around 5% at 40 g_CAT h/g_Phenol), and no improvement was obtained with the inclusion of Fe. The presence of Fe seems to promote the nondesirable coupling reactions that take place in CWPO of phenol due to the condensation of the ring intermediates (the primary phenol oxidation products). These condensation products are quite refractory to CWPO at the conditions employed. Taking advantage of the high phenol conversions in CWPO and the high phenol mineralization in CWAO, along with the good stability of the Fe/AC catalyst, a CWPO–CWAO sequential treatment has been successfully performed by using a fixed-bed and trickle-bed reactor in series. A CWPO treatment at ambient conditions followed by a CWAO treatment at mild conditions (100 °C and 8 atm) is presented as high efficiency process for the decontamination of phenolic wastewaters.     

Development of a single-phase 30 m HTS power cable

HTS power transmission cables appear to be the replacement and retrofitting of underground cables in urban areas and HTS power transmission cable offers a number of technical and economic merits compared to the normal conductor cable system. A 30 m long, single-phase 22.9 kV class HTS power transmission cable system has been developed by Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), LS Cable Ltd., and Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), which is one of the 21st century frontier project in Korea since 2001. The HTS power cable has been developed, cooled down and tested to obtain realistic thermal and electrical data on HTS power cable system. The evaluation results clarified such good performance of HTS cable that DC critical current of the HTS cable was 3.6 kA and AC loss was 0.98 W/m at 1260 Arms and shield current was 1000 Arms. These results proved the basic properties for 22.9 kV HTS power cable. As a next step, we have been developing a 30 m, three-phase 22.9 kV, 50 MV A HTS power cable system and long term evaluation is in progress now.     

Hydrophilic plasticized biopolymers: Morphological influence on physical properties

Biopolymers such as amylose, when mixed with plasticizers have excellent potential in forming thin films for various food and packaging applications. In this study, the influences of moisture content, plasticizer type and content have been investigated on the physical tensile elongation and crystalline morphology of starch biopolymeric material. Biopolymeric samples prepared with starch and two types of plasticizer with different molecular weights, namely glycerol (M_wt = 92) and xylitol (M_wt = 152), were employed, which also have different numbers of hydroxyl (OH) groups (3 for glycerol and 5 for xylitol). A statistical design of experiments (DoE) was performed on the sample responses (i.e. tensile elongation and crystalline morphology) by varying the moisture content, plasticizer type as well as plasticizer content. Plasticizer type and degree of crystallinity have been found to be insignificantly related. However, the plasticizer content has shown a significant effect on both elongation and crystallinity. A clear B-type pattern (peak at 2θ = ∼ 20°) has been observed in most X-ray diffraction (XRD) results.     

Performance test of Si PIN photodiode line scanner for thermal neutron detection

Thermal neutron imaging using Si PIN photodiode line scanner and Eu-doped LiCaAlF₆ crystal scintillator has been developed. The pixel dimensions of photodiode are 1.18 mm (width)×3.8 mm (length) with 0.4 mm gap and the module has 192 channels in linear array. The emission peaks of Eu-doped LiCaAlF₆ after thermal neutron excitation are placed at 370 and 590 nm, and the corresponding photon sensitivities of photodiode are 0.04 and 0.34 A/W, respectively. Polished scintillator blocks with a size of 1.18 mm (width)×3.8 mm (length)×5.0 mm (thickness) were wrapped by several layers of Teflon tapes as a reflector and optically coupled to the photodiodes by silicone grease. JRR-3 MUSASI beam line emitting 13.5 meV thermal neutrons with the flux of 8×10⁵ n/cm² s was used for the imaging test. As a subject for imaging, a Cd plate was moved at the speed of 50 mm/s perpendicular to the thermal neutron beam. Analog integration time was set to be 416.6 μs, then signals were converted by a delta-sigma A/D converter. After the image processing, we successfully obtained moving Cd plate image under thermal neutron irradiation using PIN photodiode line scanner coupled with Eu-doped LiCaAlF₆ scintillator.     

Monitoring the structure-phase changes in graphites using temperature regularities of ion-induced electron emission

The correlation between the temperature dependences of ion-induced electron emission yield, modified surface crystalline structure and morphology of isotropic graphite MPG-8 and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) UPV-1T under high-fluence (F = 10¹⁸-10¹⁹ ion/cm²) 6-30 keV Ar⁺ ion irradiation has been studied and discussed. The target temperature has been varied during continuous irradiation from room temperature to 400 °C. Surface analysis has been performed by the RHEED and SEM techniques. A strong influence of electron transport anisotropy for HOPG has been observed.