Effect of Cr-doping on the physicochemical properties of blue TiO2 and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells via low-temperature fabrication process

Cr-doped blue TiO₂ (Cr-BTiO₂) nanoparticles were fabricated at room temperature using lithium-ethylenediamine (Li-EDA) as reducing agent. The addition of Li-EDA promotes the selective reduction of the rutile phase of TiO₂ into the amorphous phase keeping anatase phase unaltered. Hence, the phase-selective reduction of TiO₂ leads to the formation of blue TiO₂ nanoparticles. Synthesized samples were characterized by equipment fitted with modern technology. The shifting of (101) peak to a lower angle (2θ) in Cr-BTiO₂ in X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern suggests the successful doping of chromium into TiO₂ lattices. In Raman spectra, the shifting of the active Eg peak of Cr-BTiO₂ nanoparticles to higher wavenumber also suggests the successful substitution of Ti by Cr. The blue TiO₂ and Cr-BTiO₂ show increased absorption of light in the visible region compared to TiO₂ (P25). The modified TiO₂ samples have improved electron-hole separation tendency as predicted by the photoluminescence spectra (PL). Also, doping of Cr- into TiO₂ lattice results the formation of oxygen vacancy as detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Among all samples, Cr-BTiO₂ demonstrated improvement in J_sc and overall incident photon to current conversion efficiency. Therefore, the synthetic effect is thus responsible for the enhancement in efficiency of Cr-BTiO₂ towards the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by 2.5 and 1.5 times higher than the P25 and blue TiO₂, respectively.     

Novel photoluminescent mesogenic Schiff-base ligands bearing [N4O4] donors and their bimetallic Zn(II) complexes

Novel photoluminescent salicylaldimine ligands condensed from 3^/, 3^/, 4^/, 4^/-tetraminobiphenyl and 4-substituted long alkoxy salicylaldehyde possessing two sets of tetradentate [N₂O₂] donor site and their binuclear zinc(II) complexes have been synthesized. The mesogenic and photophysical properties were investigated. The compounds were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV–vis, elemental analyses, solution electrical conductivity measurements and FAB mass spectrometry. The mesomorphic behavior of these compounds was probed by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. The ligand with six carbon chain length showed monotropic nematic mesomorphism at 128° C. However, the ligand with alkoxy tail of carbon length 12 showed enantiotropic SmC phase. The complexes are devoid of any mesomorphism. The low molar conductance values in CH₂Cl₂ indicate that the complexes are non-electrolytes. At 330 nm excitation, the ligand emits green light at ~ 516 nm (Φ = 30%) and ~ 549 nm (Φ = 16%) in solution and solid state, respectively. At similar excitation wavelength, the complexes exhibit blue light in solution at ~ 452 nm (Φ = 20%) and green light in solid state ~ 555 nm (Φ = 11%). The DFT calculations were performed using DMol3 program at BLYP/DNP level to ascertain the stable electronic structure of the complex.     

Electroretinographic responses to photoreceptor specific sine wave modulation

Electroretinographic responses to cone and rod isolating stimuli and to simultaneous L- and M-cone modulation were measured at different temporal frequencies between 2 and 60 Hz and at two mean luminances using a four primary stimulator. The responses driven by each photoreceptor type had distinct characteristics. The responses to stimuli containing L- and/or M-cone stimulation indicated the presence of two underlying mechanisms that were active in distinct frequency regions. Between 2 and 12 Hz, the responses displayed properties that were reminiscent of the L-M-cone opponent system. At higher temporal frequencies, the electroretinograms were more determined by the luminance content in the stimuli.     

Lack of biologically active estrogens in commercial cow milk

Recently, many studies have investigated potential estrogenic compounds in the human diet. Several of these investigations have studied cow milk, a mainstay of the diets of both young and old. In vitro studies have determined that estrogens can be found in milk, and that the concentration of estrogen may be correlated to the fat content in the milk. Regardless, the majority of these studies have concluded that the levels of estrogens in milk are too low to have a physiological effect. However, a recent study found that commercial 1% cow milk was uterotrophic in rats, suggesting that it contained biologically significant levels of estrogen. Using the rat model, we tested milk samples from commercial sources and with varying fat content for estrogenic activity. Ovariectomized female rats were given milk ad libitum for a period of 2 wk. After 12 d of treatment, rats were tested sequentially in an open field and an elevated plus maze to determine any effect of milk on anxiety levels. Upon completion of the behavior testing, uterine weights were examined. Regardless of milk type, no difference was observed in daily volume of milk consumed. Contrary to previous publications, no differences existed in either the behavior or the uterine weights between animals that consumed any milk type and the negative controls. These results demonstrated that none of the commercial milk types that we tested contained biologically significant estrogenic activity.     

Abnormalities in the chemical properties of tertiary coals of Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh

Certain abnormalities in the chemical properties of the oligocene coals of Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which could be attributed to the marine environment and peculiar depositional conditions are discussed. It has been observed that: marine depositional conditions were responsible for the perhydrous nature of the coals which increases with the intensity of marine environment; and graphs of carbon versus oxygen are useful for the identification of a seam and/or field. It has also been suggested that oxygen was replaced by organic sulphur thereby lowering the oxygen content of these coals. This aided the development of their agglutinating properties.     

Design of a compact triple band antenna with independent frequency tuning for MIMO applications

In this article, a planar, low profile microstrip line‐fed triple band multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna is presented for WiMax (2.5/3.5/5.5 GHz)/WLAN (2.4/3.6/5.8 GHz) applications simultaneously. The single element of the MIMO antenna consists of (i) a rectangular split ring resonator (SRR), (ii) a stepped impedance resonator (SIR) inside the SRR and (iii) a slot on the SIR. Each of the resonators generates its own individual band and each band is independently tunable. The antenna exhibits three operating bands at 2.35‐2.85 GHz, 3.25‐3.90 GHz and 5.45‐5.65 GHz. Four antenna elements are used to design the proposed MIMO antenna. The simulated results are observed and reported in terms of S‐parameters, gain, radiation patterns, envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), channel capacity loss (CCL) and total active reflection coefficient. ECC and CCL are within the acceptable range defined for 4G and 5G application standards. To validate the simulation results a prototype structure is fabricated and the measured results are compared with those obtained from the simulation.     

Deep Insight into the Noise Behavior of SiGe Source Based Epitaxial Layer Tunnel Field Effect Transistor

Silicon - A detailed simulation-based investigation on the noise behavior of SiGe source-based Epitaxial layer Tunnel field effect transistor (SiGe source ETLTFET) and Silicon Synthetic Electric...     

Improving grinding fluid delivery using pneumatic barrier and compound nozzle

Grinding fluid is commonly applied to control grinding defects caused by high grinding zone temperature. Delivery of fluid to the grinding zone is obstructed by the formation of a stiff air layer around the grinding wheel. This results in huge wastage of grinding fluid. In the present paper, results of using a pneumatic barrier and a compound nozzle are discussed with respect to delivering fluid deep into the grinding zone. Grinding fluid passing through the grinding wheel contact zone is measured under different modes of fluid delivery using a flood cooling, or a compound, nozzle, with or without the application of a pneumatic barrier. It is found that the system using a pneumatic barrier with flood cooling nozzle, and that employing a compound nozzle perform better than the flood cooling nozzle. A compound nozzle along with a pneumatic barrier renders substantially less wastage of grinding fluid even at a low flow rate of grinding fluid. Above a fluid discharge of 475 ml/min, the compound nozzle alone shows effective penetration of grinding fluid through the grinding zone. Reduction of grinding force, specific energy and roughness of ground surface are obtained after using compound nozzle fluid delivery system. Compound nozzle may be used instead of flood cooling nozzle as it improves grinding performance even using 52.5 % less discharge of grinding fluid.     

A study on the structural and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline CuS thin films grown by chemical bath deposition technique

We report a chemical route for the deposition of nanocrystalline thin films of CuS, using aqueous solutions of Cu(CH₃COO)₂, SC(NH₂)₂ and N(CH₂CH₂OH)₃ [triethanolamine, i.e. TEA] in proper concentrations and ratios. The films were structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and optical analysis [both photo luminescence (PL) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis)]. Optical studies showed a large blue shift in the band gap energy of the films due to quantum confinement effect exerted by the nanocrystals. From both XRD and FESEM analyses, formation of CuS nanocrystals with sizes within 10-15 nm was evident. A study on the mechanical properties was carried out using nanoindentation and nanoscratch techniques, which showed good mechanical stability and high adherence of the films with the bottom substrate. Such study on the mechanical properties of the CuS thin films is being reported here for the first time. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements were also carried out for the films, which showed p-type conductivity.