Quickest ever single-step mechanosynthesis of Cd0.5Zn0.5S quantum dots: Nanostructure and optical characterizations

Multiphase Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S quantum dots (QDs) are prepared for the first time in a record minimum time of 30 min by mechanical alloying the stoichiometric mixture of elemental Cd, Zn and S powders at room temperature under Ar. Initially, the hexagonal phase is formed as major one and then gradually transforms to the cubic phase which is formed coherently on the hexagonal lattice with (0 0 2)_hexagonal||(1 1 1)_cubic mechanism. In the course of milling up to 15 h, the molar ratio of cubic to hexagonal phase becomes ～0.7:0.3. Both high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray microstructure analyses reveal that these QDs are isotropic in nature, their size reduces to ～5 nm after 15 h of milling with a very narrow size distribution and they contain a significant amount of stacking and twin faults. These QDs show very distinct quantum confinement effect and their optical band gaps are higher than that of the bulk CdZnS.     

Low temperature stabilized rutile phase TiO2 films grown by sputtering

The deposition of rutile phase TiO₂ films on unheated substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering is elaborated. The effect of total pressure and O₂/Ar flow ratio on the growth of rutile film on different substrates has been studied thoroughly. The development of crystalline phase along with film deposition rate, surface morphology, optical transmission and band gap were also investigated for various growth conditions. It was found that the rutile phase crystallinity increased with decrease in total pressure and increase in O₂ flow. In addition, the grown rutile films have interesting optical characteristics such as high transmittance (~ 85%) and high refractive index (~ 2.7) with a band gap about 3.2 eV.     

Effects of surface potential on growth of ZnO nanorod arrays investigated by electric force microscopy

The electric and Kelvin force probe microscopy were used to investigate the surface potentials on the ZnO seed layer, which shows a remarkable dependence on the annealing temperature. The optimum temperature for the growth of nanorod arrays normal to the surface was found to be at 600 degrees C, which is in the range of right surface potentials and energy measured between 500 degrees C and 700 degrees C. We demonstrated from both electric and Kelvin force probe microscopy studies that surface potential controls the growth of ZnO nanorods, illustrating the fact that this is a promising technique to visualize the control of ZnO nanorod arrays by studying their surface potentials. This study will provide important understanding of growth of other nanostructures.     

A Cumulative Sum-Based Fault Detector for Power System Relaying Application

In this paper, a cumulative-sum-based fault detection algorithm is proposed for the power system relaying application. Literature suggests the successful application of this method to process control systems where the deviation of parameters is tracked to indicate any abnormal conditions. The effectiveness of the algorithm is found to be better than the traditional methods in the presence of noise, system frequency deviation, and other uncertainties. It is also not affected by load change in a system. Above all, it provides relatively higher index values without compromising detection speed.     

Synergistic effect of three‐dimensional multi‐walled carbon nanotube–graphene nanofiller in enhancing the mechanical and thermal properties of high‐performance silicone rubber

The homogeneous dispersion of nanofillers and filler–matrix interfacial interactions are important factors in the development of high‐performance polymer materials for various applications. In the present work, a simple solution‐mixing method was used to prepare multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–graphene (G) (3:1, 1:1, 1:3) hybrids followed by their characterization through wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. Subsequently, MWCNT–G (1:1) hybrid was used as reinforcing filler in the formation of silicone rubber (VMQ) nanocomposites by solution intercalation, and their morphology and properties were investigated. Our findings showed that MWCNT–G (0.75 wt%)/VMQ composite exhibited significant improvements in tensile strength (110%) and Young's modulus (137%) compared to neat VMQ. The thermal stability of MWCNT–G (1 wt%)/VMQ was maximally improved by 154 °C compared to neat VMQ. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated the maximum improvement of glass transition temperature (4 °C), crystallization temperature (8 °C) and melting temperature (5 °C) for MWCNT–G (1 wt%)/VMQ nanocomposite with respect to neat VMQ. Swelling measurements confirmed that the crosslink density and solvent resistance were a maximum for hybrid nanocomposites. Such improvements in the properties of MWCNT–G/VMQ nanocomposites could be attributed to a synergistic effect of the hybrid filler. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Solid-State Thin-Film Broadband Short-Wave Infrared Light Emitters

Solid-state broadband light emitters in the visible have revolutionized today's lighting technology achieving compact footprints, flexible form factors, long lifetimes, and high energy saving, although their counterparts in the infrared are still in the development phase. To date, broadband emitters in the infrared have relied on phosphor-downconverted light emitters based on atomic optical transitions in transition metal or rare earth elements in the phosphor layer resulting in limited spectral bandwidths in the near-infrared and preventing their integration into electrically driven light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Herein, phosphor-converted LEDs based on engineered stacks of multi-bandgap colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are reported as a novel class of broadband emitters covering a broad short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectrum from 1050–1650 nm with a full-width-half-maximum of 400 nm, delivering 14 mW of optical power with a quantum efficiency of 5.4% and power conversion efficiency of 13%. Leveraging the electrical conductivity of the CQD stacks, further, the first broadband SWIR-active LED is demonstrated, paving the way toward complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor integrated broadband emitters for on-chip spectrometers and low-cost volume manufacturing. SWIR spectroscopy is employed to illustrate the practical relevance of the emitters in food and material identification case studies.     

Mutual injection locking: a new architecture for high-power solid-state laser arrays

In this paper, bidirectional (mutual) injection locking is demonstrated with solid-state lasers, producing significant improvements over traditional single-direction injection locking. Each laser element shares part of its output with other elements in bidirectional locking, distinct from single-direction (traditional) injection locking where one master laser provides the locking signal for a number of slaves. In a phase-locked array, the individual laser outputs add coherently, and the brightness of the entire array scales with the square of the number of elements, as if the active material diameter were increasing. Benefits of bidirectional locking, when compared to traditional injection locking, include reduced laser threshold, better output beam quality, and improved scaling capability. Experiments using two Nd:YVO/sub 4/ lasers confirmed that mutual injection locking reduced lasing threshold by a factor of at least two and increased the output beam quality significantly. The injection-locking effects began with 0.03% coupling between lasers and full-phase locking for coupling exceeding 0.5%. The 0.5% requirement for full-phase locking is significantly lower than the requirement for traditional injection locking. The large coupling requirement limits traditional injection-locked arrays to fewer than 20 elements, whereas mutually injection-locked arrays have no such limit. Mutual injection locking of an array of lasers can lead to a new architecture for high-power laser systems.     

Effect of heating rate on the responses of CaF2:Cu,CaF2:Tm,CaF2:Dy and CaF2:Mn

Recent development of CaF2:Cu (the most sensitive material for radiation dosimetry) exhibiting a TL glow peak around 270 degrees C similar to that of CaF2:Mn has made it attractive to study the influence of heating rate on the response of CaF2 based TLDs. Influence of heating rate on CaF2:Mn (known to reduce the response with increasing heating rate) was confirmed in view of the reported controversy about other TLDs. Responses of TL glow peaks around 270 degrees C in CaF2:Cu, CaF2:Tm, CaF2:Dy and CaF2:Mn were studied. Except CaF2:Mn, no other CaF2 based TLD exhibited a reduction in response with increasing heating rate. On the contrary, in some cases a small increase (10-15%) was noted with increasing heating rate from 1 degrees Cs(-1) to 50 degrees Cs(-1). The shape and the position of the glow peak and the parameters derived from the shape of the glow curve appear to have no relation to reduction of TL efficiency at higher heating rates. Apart from the increased probability of non-radiative transitions at higher temperatures, the observed effects have been assigned to the effect of heating rate on the migration of charge carriers released during the TL readout.     

Influence of various metal powder mixed dielectric on micro-EDM characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V

Ti-6Al-4V, an advanced engineering material is difficult-to-machine using conventional machining process due to its high strength. It has properties like low weight ratio, outstanding corrosion resistance along with high level of reliable performance in micro components. Micro-electro-discharge machining (Micro-EDM), a popular nontraditional machining process has been identified as the most appropriate machining process for such material. In this paper, the effect of various conducting powders such as copper, nickel and cobalt with different concentrations are mixed with deionized water dielectric, on various responses such as material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), overcut (OC) and taper has been presented. Also, principal component analysis (PCA) has been applied to select the optimal parametric combination of micro-EDM process to achieve optimal values of MRR, TWR, OC and taper during micro-through hole machining. The optimal process parametric setting obtained from the proposed approach is peak current (I_p) of 1.5 A and cobalt (Co) powder concentration of 4 g/L so as to obtain the desired responses. It is also observed from the SEM image that the machined profile and surface topography obtained through the multi-objective optimal parametric combination based on PCA is quite satisfactory and can be applied to achieve geometrically more accurate micro-through holes on Ti-6Al-4V.