New route for preparation of luminescent mercaptoethanoate capped cadmium selenide quantum dots

We report a synthesis of cadmium selenide quantum dots (Q-CdSe) by refluxing a mixture of cadmium acetate, selenium powder, sodium sulfite and 2-mercaptoethanol in N,N′-dimethyl formamide (DMF)/water solution. X-ray and electron diffractions suggest the formation of hexagonal phase of size quantized CdSe. Based on TEM analysis, the formation of nanoparticles with an average diameter of 3.5 ± 0.5 nm is inferred. Their sols in DMF and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) gave characteristic absorption peaks at 300 nm and 327 nm, which is attributed to the formation of high quality, size quantized CdSe particles. Extracted particles from the sol were readily redispersed in DMF and DMSO, which were diluted further with water without losing their optical and colloidal properties. FTIR spectroscopy suggested the formation of 2-mercaptoethanol thiolate on the particle surface, with free-OH groups available for linkage. Sols in DMSO and their solutions in water displayed an intense photoluminescence (PL).     

Polyvinylpyrrolidone modified barium zirconate titanate /polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposites as self-powered sensor

Highly flexible biocompatible nanocomposites comprising of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) modified Barium Calcium Zirconate Titanate (BCT-BZT) /Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were fabricated. The crystalline BCT-BZT powders were synthesized by a simple sol-gel method. Rietveld refinement analysis confirmed the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phase in the synthesized powders. The structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the composites were analysed. Addition of PVP modified BCT-BZT powders was observed to enhance the polar phase in PVDF matrix. The piezoelectric output response as a function of different weight percentage of ceramic powders in the PVDF matrix was investigated. The optimal device with 60?wt% PVP modified BCT-BZT powders exhibited maximum peak to peak voltage of 23?V when tested for harnessing waste biomechanical energy (human hand palm force). The nanogenerator was easily scaled up to 4?×?4?cm and the stored power was utilized for powering fifty five LEDs. The fabricated device is flexible, light- weight and eco-friendly. Therefore, it can be explored as a potential candidate for application as self powered sensor.