The fabrication of white light-emitting diodes using the n-ZnO/NiO/p-GaN heterojunction with enhanced luminescence

Cheap and efficient white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are of great interest due to the energy crisis all over the world. Herein, we have developed heterojunction LEDs based on the well-aligned ZnO nanorods and nanotubes on the p-type GaN with the insertion of the NiO buffer layer that showed enhancement in the light emission. Scanning electron microscopy have well demonstrated the arrays of the ZnO nanorods and the proper etching into the nanotubes. X-ray diffraction study describes the wurtzite crystal structure array of ZnO nanorods with the involvement of GaN at the (002) peak. The cathodoluminescence spectra represent strong and broad visible emission peaks compared to the UV emission and a weak peak at 425 nm which is originated from GaN. Electroluminescence study has shown highly improved luminescence response for the LEDs fabricated with NiO buffer layer compared to that without NiO layer. Introducing a sandwich-thin layer of NiO between the n-type ZnO and the p-type GaN will possibly block the injection of electrons from the ZnO to the GaN. Moreover, the presence of NiO buffer layer might create the confinement effect.     

CPW fed grid dielectric resonator antennas with enhanced gain and bandwidth

Metal embedded grid artificial dielectric resonator antennas (GDRAs) fed by different coplanar waveguide (CPW) feeding techniques at mm‐wave frequencies are investigated in detail. GDRAs involve embedding tall nickel metal inclusions in polymethyl‐methacrylate (PMMA) using deep X‐ray lithography and electroforming, which dramatically increases the effective permittivity of the polymer up to 5‐6 times and results in miniaturized antenna structures operating at millimeter‐wave frequencies. The options for different coplanar waveguide (CPW) feeding at 22.6‐26.6 GHz and 26.6‐29.3 GHz are studied by applying a thin 300 μm PMMA layer between the feed layer and metal inclusions of the GDRA to avoid short‐circuiting the underneath feed line structures. In addition, this results in a GDRA structure that improves the impedance bandwidth up to 16.26%, while providing a maximum realized gain of 7.2 dBi across the frequency band with excellent broadband patterns and ?18 dB cross‐polarization levels.     

Fluorine doped CNTs for efficient OER activity outperforming iridium supported carbon electrocatalyst

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - Herein, we report the low-temperature fluorine doping into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by solid-state fusion method using xenon fluoride (XeF2) as a precursor of...     

Effect of sintering temperature on properties of Al2O3 whisker reinforced 3 mol% Y2O3 stabilized tetragonal ZrO2 (TZ-3Y) nanocomposites

In present study, effect of sintering temperature on density and hardness of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (referred to as TZ-3Y) composite reinforced with alumina whiskers (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%) has been studied. Initially, Ammonium Aluminum Carbonate Hydroxide (AACH) whiskers were added in TZ-3Y composite and transformed into alumina during sintering performed at different temperatures i.e. 1400, 1500 and 1650 °C. Results revealed that for all sintering temperatures, with increase in whisker concentration, sintered density decreased and hardness increased conversely. Maximum hardness of 14.47 GPa was achieved with 10 wt.% whiskers addition when sintered at 1500 °C. However, with addition of CTAB (1 wt.%) as deflocculating agent the hardness was further improved to 15.11 GPa. While sintering at 1650 °C a decrease in hardness was observed. It was mainly due to high temperature morphological change of whiskers i.e. transformation of whiskers into alumina rich grains.     

Structural characterization and thermal behaviour of block copolymers of polydimethylsiloxane and polyamide having trichlorogermyl pendant groups

Block copolymers having a pendant trichlorogermyl group as a part of polyamide segment? (CO? R′? CO? NH? Ar? NH? )_xCO? R′? CO? and polydimethylsiloxane of general formula [(? CO? R′? CO? HN? Ar? NH)_x? CO? R′? CO? NH(CH₂)₃SiO(CH₃)₂ ((CH₃)₂SiO)_ySi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃ NH? ]_n (where R′ = CH₂CH(GeCl₃), CH(CH₃)CH(GeCl₃), CH(GeCl₃)CH(CH₃); Ar = C₆H₄, (? C₆H₃? CH₃)₂, (? C₆H₃? OCH₃)₂, 2,5‐(CH₃)₂? C₆H₂, C₆H₄? O? C₆H₄) were prepared by a polycondensation reaction and characterized using CHN and Ge analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and molecular weight determination. They have a lamellar structure with weight‐average molecular weight in the range 1.21 × 10⁵–4.79 × 10⁵ g mol^?1. These copolymers display two glass transition temperatures and have an average decomposition temperature of 489 °C. TGA, FTIR and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry studies indicate that degradation of these block copolymers results in carbon monoxide, oligomeric siloxanes and polyamide fragments. They are thermally stable due to the hydrogen bonded interlinked chains of polyamide, while they absorb water due to the presence of Ge? Cl bonding. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Green and eco-friendly synthesis of cobalt-oxide nanoparticle: Characterization and photo-catalytic activity

Cobalt-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated using Punica granatum peel extract from cobalt nitrate hexahydrate at low temperature. The synthesized cobalt-oxide NPs were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, atomic force microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible techniques. The cobalt-oxide NPs were in highly uniform shape and size was in the size of 40–80 nm. Photo-catalytic activity (PCA) of the synthesized NPs was evaluated by degrading Remazol Brilliant Orange 3R (RBO 3R) dye and a degradation of 78.45% was achieved (dye conc. 150 mg/L) using 0.5 g cobalt-oxide NPs for 50 min irradiation time. In view of eco-benign and cost-effective nature, the present investigation revealed that P. granatum could be used for the synthesis of cobalt-oxide NPs for photo-catalytic applications.     

Synthesis and application of alumina supported nano zero valent zinc as adsorbent for the removal of arsenic and nitrate

Arsenic and nitrate are ill-famed environmental pollutants that are responsible for various lethal diseases. Their removal from drinking water is very essential. In present study, newly synthesized alumina supported nano zerovalent zinc (Alumina-nZvZ) has been tested to remove arsenic and nitrate. Quantitative analyses of arsenic have been performed spectrophotometrically and while that of nitrates ions colorimetrically. After optimization of time and amount of adsorbent, Langmuir, Freundlich and D-R isotherms were applied to determine different parameters for the assessment of adsorption. Synthesized samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate porosity and void size. Alumina coated with reduced ZnCl ₂ showed better efficiency for removal of arsenic and nitrate ions. Kinetics of adsorption was evaluated by using pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order rate equations.     

Understanding the soft side of software projects: An empirical study on the interactive effects of social skills and political skills on complexity – performance relationship

While prior research considers project complexity as a double-edged sword, researchers and practitioners still remain unclear whether project complexity serves as productive or counterproductive ingredient for project performance. Our research brings clarity on the dynamic nature of complexity-performance relationship by integrating social exchange theory with recent developments in project management research to develop and test a novel framework involving interactive roles of social skills and political skills in software-projects. Regardless of calls for further empirical studies, researchers have predominantly neglected the fundamental role of human efforts and human interaction in outlining performance particularly in complex projects. Drawing on a survey based sample of 242 project managers and use of variance based structural equation modeling, the findings illuminate theoretical and practical contributions in better understanding complexities in software-projects performance. In addition, prioritizing human-centric factors i.e. social skills and political skills in supporting complexity- performance relationship further enhances contributions of this research.     

Amorphous carbon films in direct current magnetron sputtering from regenerative sooting discharge

We present results of carbon coatings on metal substrates in cylindrical hollow cathode (CHC) direct current magnetron sputtering. This is a new technique for making amorphous carbon films by CHC magnetron sputtering from a regenerative sooting discharge. The carbon films are deposited on Cu and Al substrates in a Ne atmosphere and compared with the films of carbon soot on the same materials produced from a conventional 80A arc discharge between graphite electrodes in a He background gas. Raman spectroscopy reveals the existence of graphite and diamond-like structures from the arc discharge while in CHC magnetron sputtering, graphite-like structures are dominant. X-ray diffraction data of samples from the arc discharge show nano-size precipitates of Al₄C₃ of rhombohedral and hexagonal form for the aluminium sample and probable formation of diamond and hexagonal carbon in copper whilst in magnetron sputtering we obtain amorphous carbon films. Scanning electron microscope images of the surface show a collection of loose agglomerates of carbon particles in the arc discharge whereas, for magnetron sputtering, structures are regular with smooth edges and fine grains.     

Quantitative determination of dynamical properties using coherent spatial frequency domain imaging

Laser speckle imaging (LSI) is a fast, noninvasive method to obtain relative particle dynamics in highly light scattering media, such as biological tissue. To make quantitative measurements, we combine LSI with spatial frequency domain imaging, a technique where samples are illuminated with sinusoidal intensity patterns of light that control the characteristic path lengths of photons in the sample. We use both diffusion and radiative transport to predict the speckle contrast of coherent light remitted from turbid media. We validate our technique by measuring known Brownian diffusion coefficients (D(b)) of scattering liquid phantoms. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of radiative transport were found to provide the most accurate contrast predictions. For polystyrene microspheres of radius 800 nm in water, the expected and fit D(b) using radiative transport were 6.10E-07 and 7.10E-07 mm2/s, respectively. For polystyrene microspheres of radius 1026 nm in water, the expected and fit D(b) were 4.7E-07 and 5.35 mm2/s, respectively. For scattering particles in water-glycerin solutions, the fit fractional changes in D(b) with changes in viscosity were all found to be within 3% of the expected value.