Abstract In the present work, mixed structure Zn(S,O) nanoparticles have been synthesized using solution based chemical coprecipitation technique. Two different zinc sources (Zn(CH 3 COO) 2 ·2H 2 O and ZnSO 4 ·7H 2 O) and one sulfur source (CSNH 2 NH 2 ) have been used as primary chemical precursors for the synthesis of the nanoparticles in the presence and absence of a capping agent (EDTA). The structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of the nanoparticles have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transmission infra-red (FT-IR) and UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. XRD revealed the formation of mixed phases of c-ZnS, h-ZnS and h-ZnO in the synthesized nanoparticles. The surface morphology was analyzed from SEM micrographs which showed noticeable changes due to the effect of EDTA. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of zinc, sulfur and oxygen in Zn(S,O) nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra identified the presence of characteristic absorption peaks of ZnS and ZnO along with other functional group elements. The optical band gap values were found to vary from 4.16 eV to 4.40 eV for Zn(S,O) nanoparticles which are higher in comparison to the band gap values of bulk ZnS and ZnO. These higher band gap values may be attributed to the mixed structure of Zn(S,O) nanoparticles.

Abstract A novel reddish-orange emitting phosphor Eu-activated KLaSiO 4 was synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction at 1200 °C. The luminescence properties of KLaSiO 4 :Eu phosphor were investigated, and the critical concentration of the activator ion (Eu 3+ ) was established as 0.02 mol per formula unit. Chromaticity coordinates of a typical KLa 0.98 SiO 4 :0.02Eu phosphor were x = 0.614 and y = 0.385. The phosphor exhibited reddish-orange luminescence with dominating emission at 612 nm, corresponding to 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 of Eu 3+ . Furthermore, the phosphor was characterized by excellent thermal stability, implying its potential use in white light emitting diodes.

Abstract Layered magnetic heterostructures are very promising candidates in spintronics in which the influences of interfaces, surfaces and defects play a crucial role. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study has been performed for studying in detail the chemical state and electronic structure of Co2FeAl (CFA) Heusler alloy interfaced with Si substrates. XPS survey scan spectra have clearly shown the presence of Fe, Co and Al signal along with the signal due to Si. The presence of Co, Fe and Al signal confirms the formation of CFA alloy phase. Our XPS results support our previous study [1] on CFA/Si structure in determining the magnetic and transport properties across the interface.

Abstract Nanocomposite silica thin films made using the sol-gel method were studied. The nano-silica films were prepared using a mixture of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), deionized water, ethanol, and ammonia solution. To control the growth of the particles inside the film, the nanocomposite silica film was prepared using a mixture of the nano-silica sol and the silica sol. The change in the particle size with the heat treatment temperature ranging from 450 °C to 1100 °C was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), NKD (refractive index-N, extinction coefficient-K, and thickness-D) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry were used for characterization purposes. The XRD studies showed that the nano-silica thin films were amorphous at all annealing temperatures except for 1100 °C. The_-cristobalite crystal structure formed at the annealing temperature of 1100 °C. Optical parameters, such as refractive indices and extinction coefficients, were obtained using the NKD analyzer with respect to the annealing temperature of the films. The activation energy and enthalpy of the nanocomposite silica film were evaluated as 22.3 kJ/mol and 14.7 kJ/mol, respectively. The cut-off wavelength values were calculated by means of extrapolation of the absorbance spectra estimated using the UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements. A red shift in the absorption threshold of the nanocomposite silica films indicated that the size of the silica nanoparticles increased with an increase of the annealing temperatures from 450 °C to 900 °C, and this confirms the quantum confinement effect in the nanoparticles.

Abstract Cadmium oxide (CdO) thin films were synthesized using chemical bath deposition (CBD) method from aqueous cadmium nitrate solution. The bath temperatures were maintained at room temperature (25 °C) and at higher temperature (80 °C). The structural studies revealed that the films showed mixed phases of CdO and Cd(OH)2 with hexagonal/monoclinic crystal structure. Annealing treatment removed the hydroxide phase and the films converted into pure CdO with cubic, face centered crystal structure. SEM micrographs of as-deposited films revealed nanowire-like morphology for room temperature deposited films while nanorod-like morphology for high temperature deposited films. However, cube-like morphology was observed after air annealing. Elemental composition was confirmed by EDAX analysis. Band gap energies of the as-deposited films varied over the range of 3 eV to 3.5 eV, whereas the annealed films showed band gap energy variation in the range of 2.2 eV to 2.4 eV. The annealed films were successfully investigated for NH3 sensing at different operating temperatures and at different gas concentrations. The room temperature synthesized film showed a response of 17.3 %, whereas high temperature synthesized film showed a response of 13.5 % at 623 K upon exposure to 24 ppm of NH3.

Abstract The effect of MgB2 addition on the Eu1Ba2Cu3O7 (EBCO) ceramics was systematically studied. Series of Eu1Ba2Cu3O7 + x(MgB2) samples (x = 0 wt.%, 0.05 wt.%, 0.1 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 3 wt.%) were prepared using traditional solid state method. X-ray powder diffraction measurements were used for phase identification. The lattice parameters and orthorombicity decreased with MgB2 addition. A standard four point measurement method was used to determine transition temperatures Tc of superconducting samples. Tc values of the samples were decreasing with MgB2 concentration. TGA results indicate thermal stability of doped samples.

Abstract Dye sensitized solar cells are photoelectrochemical cells mimicking photosynthesis. They represent a new generation of solar cells which is intensively studied nowadays. This cell was fabricated using TiO2 nanoparticles coated on FTO glass, organic dyes as photosensitizer, PEDOT:PSS as counter electrode and iodide-triiodide as electrolyte. The present work aims at the use of low cost new organic dyes viz. biebrich scarlet, alizarine cyanine green and evans blue for DSSC as an alternative to metallic dyes. In the present work, I-V characteristics, energy or power conversion efficiencies of the dyes have been studied in different solvents. The photoelectrochemical properties of the dyes were observed under 1.5 AM condition.

Abstract The influence of magnesium sulfate as an additive in the nucleation of α and γ-polymorphs of glycine crystallized from aqueous solutions has been explored for the first time. Based on crystallization experiments, it was concluded that lower concentration of magnesium sulfate, say less than 2 g/mL, favors α-nucleation sites, whereas the optimized concentration of magnesium sulfate impurity to yield -nucleation sites is 2 g/mL and above. The nucleation time span (in days), solubility and pH were measured for α- and γ-nucleation sites in the aqueous solutions doped with magnesium sulfate. The glycine polymorphs α- and γ-single crystals were grown by slow solvent evaporation technique at ambient temperature. Crystal habit of glycine polymorphs was investigated and analyzed using goniometry. The unit cell dimensions and space group of the as-grown crystal were identified by single crystal XRD analysis. Both α- and γ-polymorphs of glycine were characterized structurally by powder XRD studies. The percentage of magnesium present in the grown glycine crystals was estimated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry elemental analysis (ICP-OES). The nonlinear optical properties of the γ-glycine crystals were examined by Q-switched high energy Nd:YAG laser. The second harmonic generation output efficiency of the as-grown gamma glycine single crystals was computed to be 1.31 times superior than that of the reference material potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP).

Abstract A new hydrated rare earth borate K2O·CaO·4B2O3·12H2O:Eu was prepared by water solution method. The crystal structure, morphology, luminescence properties were investigated via XRD, IR, TG-DSC and SEM, respectively, and it was shown that one single crystal was obtained via spontaneous crystallization. The luminescent properties were also investigated by F-4600 spectrophotometer.

Abstract We have studied magnetic properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) composite doped with Co ions. The samples were obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. Electron magnetic resonance (EMR) measurements were carried out and temperature dependence of EMR spectra was obtained. Analysis of temperature dependence of the integral intensity of EMR spectra was carried out using Curie-Weiss law. Reciprocal of susceptibility of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material shows a discontinuity at the Néel temperature and extrapolation of the linear portion to negative Curie temperature. The results of temperature dependence of EMR spectra for the ZnO:Co sample and linear extrapolation to the Curie-Weiss law indicated the AFM interaction between Co ions characterized by the Néel temperatures TN = 50 K and TN = 160 K for various samples. The obtained g-factor is similar to g-factors of nanocrystals presented in literature, and the results confirm that in the core of these nanocrystals Co was incorporated as Co2+, occupying Zn2+ sites in wurtzite structure of ZnO.