Determination of the optical constants of HfO2–SiO2 composite thin films through reverse fitting of transmission spectra

Composite thin films of HfO₂:SiO₂ with wide range of relative composition from 100:0 (pure HfO₂) to 10:90 have been deposited on fused silica substrates by co-evaporation technique and the optical properties of the films have been studied by measuring the transmission spectra of the samples by spectrophotometer. Different important optical parameters viz., band gap, refractive index and absorption coefficients of the samples have been obtained by fitting the measured optical spectra with theoretically generated spectra and the variation of the optical constants as a function of SiO₂ content in the films have been obtained. Two different dispersion models viz., the single effective oscillator model and the Tauc–Lorentz model have been used to generate the theoretical spectra in the above fitting procedure. X-ray reflectivity (XRR) measurement technique has been used to find the densities of the films in order to explain the observed variation in optical properties of the films with increase in SiO₂ content.     

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) based field-effect transistors with gate SiO2 dielectric modified by multi-layers of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane

Top-contact organic field-effect transistors based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) active layer were fabricated using gate dielectric (SiO₂) modified with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) multilayers. It has been demonstrated that the treatment of dielectric with APTMS enhances the field-effect mobility as well as the on/off ratio of the devices by nearly two orders of magnitude. This is attributed to conformational changes as well as to an improved uniformity of the spin coat P3HT films on the APTMS-modified substrate as revealed by atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-Vis measurements.     

Impact of exogenous salicylic acid treatment on the cell wall metabolism and ripening process in postharvest tomato fruit stored at ambient temperature

Tomato is a climacteric fruit susceptible to rapid softening and ripening after harvest. In this study, the changes of physicochemical characters, cell wall-degrading enzymes, cell wall compositions and ethylene production of ‘Hisar Arun’ and ‘BSS-488’ tomato fruits were investigated under the influence of salicylic acid treatment. Salicylic acid treatment effectively delayed firmness decline and increase in PLW, TSS and lycopene content. The treated fruits maintained the integrity of cell wall composition by delay in increase in activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes (pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase and cellulose) and cell wall components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and pectin) decline. Moreover, salicylic acid treatments significantly suppress expression level of ethylene-producing genes (ACO1 and ACS2) and inhibited ethylene production during storage. Overall, the salicylic acid-induced delay in the ripening process occurs via the strong inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis, lowered cell wall-degrading enzyme activities and slowed cell wall degradation.     

Lycopene: A natural antioxidant for anhydrous buffalo milk fat

The potential of lycopene extract, to enhance the shelf life of anhydrous buffalo milk fat, at five levels, viz. 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 ppm, was evaluated. Lycopene was found significantly (P < 0.05) effective in preventing the development of oxidative rancidity. The overall preference score for samples containing 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 ppm of lycopene were 7.43, 7.60, 7.80, 7.96 and 7.90, respectively, and found to be significantly higher than the control (no lycopene, 6.79). The overall preference score with 200 ppm BHA was 7.94, which was not significantly different from ghee samples containing 120 and 150 ppm lycopene.     

Electrochemically controlled pitting corrosion in Ni film: A study of AFM and neutron reflectometry

Electrochemical behavior of pitting corrosion of a Ni film, grown on Si substrate by sputtering, prepassivated in a chloride-free sulfuric acid solution and subsequently exposed to chloride above the pitting potential is reported. Specular and off-specular unpolarized neutron reflectometry and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques have been used to determine the depth profile of scattering length density and morphology of as-deposited as well as corroded sample. Specular neutron reflectometry measurement of the film after corrosion shows density degradation along the thickness of film. The density profile as a function of depth, maps the growth of pitting and void networks due to corrosion. The AFM and off-specular neutron reflectivity measurements has suggested that the morphology of the film remains same after exposure of the film in chloride solution.     

The CVD coating of fibers for composite materials

Among the new composite materials, fiber-reinforced metal-matrix composites and ceramic-matrix composites have been given special attention for their potential uses in a variety of fields. A successful fabrication process for a fiber-reinforced composite requires that the fiber be protected, usually by a coating, during fabrication and service. The chemical vapor deposition process is a key technology for fiber coating. A survey of the current fiber coating programs seems to show that current process design in the industry is based on trial-and-error methods. New coating processes are, therefore, developed primarily by experimentation and prior experience. Ultimately, it is hoped that analytical and numerical process simulation will be used to reduce the need for costly trial-and-error process development.     

Electroless deposition,post annealing and characterization of nickel films on silicon

Electroless deposition of nickel (EN) films on n-type silicon has been investigated under different process conditions. The interface between the film and substrate has been characterized for electrical properties by probing the contact resistances. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy have been performed to obtain information about the structural and morphological details of the films. As a comparative study, nickel films have also been sputter deposited on silicon substrates. An as-deposited electroless film is observed to form non-ohmic contact while in a sputtered film prepared without the application of substrate heating, the formation of metal-insulating-semiconductor type junction is seen.     

Ascorbate–Glutathione Oxidant Scavengers,Metabolome Analysis and Adaptation Mechanisms of Ion Exclusion in Sorghum under Salt Stress

Salt stress is one of the major significant restrictions that hamper plant development and agriculture ecosystems worldwide. Novel climate-adapted cultivars and stress tolerance-enhancing molecules are increasingly appreciated to mitigate the detrimental impacts of adverse stressful conditions. Sorghum is a valuable source of food and a potential model for exploring and understanding salt stress dynamics in cereals and for gaining a better understanding of their physiological pathways. Herein, we evaluate the antioxidant scavengers, photosynthetic regulation, and molecular mechanism of ion exclusion transporters in sorghum genotypes under saline conditions. A pot experiment was conducted in two sorghum genotypes viz. SSG 59-3 and PC-5 in a climate-controlled greenhouse under different salt concentrations (60, 80, 100, and 120 mM NaCl). Salinity drastically affected the photosynthetic machinery by reducing the accumulation of chlorophyll pigments and carotenoids. SSG 59-3 alleviated the adverse effects of salinity by suppressing oxidative stress (H₂O₂) and stimulating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities (SOD, APX, CAT, POD, GR, GST, DHAR, MDHAR, GSH, ASC, proline, GB), as well as protecting cell membrane integrity (MDA, electrolyte leakage). Salinity also influenced Na⁺ ion efflux and maintained a lower cytosolic Na⁺/K⁺ ratio via the concomitant upregulation of SbSOS1, SbSOS2, and SbNHX-2 and SbV-Ppase-II ion transporter genes in sorghum genotypes. Overall, these results suggest that Na⁺ ions were retained and detoxified, and less stress impact was observed in mature and younger leaves. Based on the above, we deciphered that SSG 59-3 performed better by retaining higher plant water status, photosynthetic assimilates and antioxidant potential, and the upregulation of ion transporter genes and may be utilized in the development of resistant sorghum lines in saline regions.