High Peak Intensity Research Articles

Photo-physical mechanism of near-IR femtosecond laser-induced refractive-index change in PMMA

Micromodification in bulk undoped polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) by single focused (numerical aperture (NA) = 0.25), 1030-nm 250-fs laser pump pulses was explored by pump self-transmittance; optical, 3D-scanning confocal photoluminescence (PL); Raman micro-spectroscopy; and optical polarimetric and interferometric microscopy. Starting from the threshold pulse energy Eth = 0.4 ± 0.1 μJ (peak laser intensity Ith ≈ 8 TW/cm2), visible bright micro-voxels emerged inside PMMA at the 100 ÷ 300-μm depth, with their PL-acquired dimensions increasing versus pulse energy. Optical phase change was interferometrically measured in the voxels at the 532-nm wavelength, exhibiting versus the pulse energy the isotropic refractive index increase Δn = +(4 ÷ 10) × 10−4, and a new 1640-cm−1 peak of C=C vibrations emerged in the Raman spectra. Pump self-transmittance measurements demonstrated the predominating eight-photon absorption (excited energy level ≈ 9.7 eV, coefficient β8 ≈ 3 × 10−5 cm13/TW7) at the sub-threshold I < Ith, implying photoionization of the PMMA chains (the ionization potential of MMA molecule ≈ 9.7 eV). At higher peak intensities I > Ith, inverse brems-strahlung absorption (coefficient ∼103cm−1) of near-critical micro-plasma (density >5 × 1020 cm−3) predominates over the multi-photon PMMA absorption, providing the bulk energy density >6 × 102 J/cm3 and the temperature rise ΔT > 2.2 × 102 K, which are sufficient for PMMA (de)polymerization near the equilibrium bulk temperature TP ≈ 220°C. These results uncover the quantitative mechanism of fs-laser modification of PMMA, justifying the previous qualitative findings and enabling controllable energy deposition during fs-laser PMMA micromachining of diverse functional applications.

From laminar to chaotic flow via stochastic resonance in viscoelastic channel flow

Recent research indicates that low-inertia viscoelastic channel flow experiences supercritical nonnormal mode elastic instability from laminar to sustained chaotic flow due to finite-size perturbations. The challenge of this paper is to elucidate a realization of such a pathway when the intensity of the elastic wave is too low to amplify vortex fluctuations above the instability onset. The study identifies two subregions in the transition flow regime at Weissenberg number Wi>Wic, the instability onset. In the lower subregion at Wic≤Wi≤300, we discover periodic spikes in the streamwise velocity time series u(t) that appear in the chaotic power spectrum as low-frequency, high-intensity peaks resembling stochastic resonance (SR). In contrast, the spanwise velocity power spectrum, Ew, remains flat and with low-intensity, noisy, and broad elastic wave peaks. The spikes significantly distort the probability density function of u and initiate and amplify random streaks and wall-normal vorticity fluctuations. The condition for the SR emergence is similar to that of a dynamical system where the presence of a chaotic attractor, limit cycle, and external white noise are necessary. This similarity is confirmed by presenting a phase portrait in two subregions of the transition regime. In the upper subregion at Wi>400, the periodic spikes disappear and Ew becomes chaotic with a large intensity elastic wave sufficient to self-organize and synchronize the streaks into cycles and to amplify the wall normal vorticity, according to a recently proposed mechanism of vortex-wave interactions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Wear performance enhancement of interface layer in CMT-WAAM fabricated ER4043/ER5356 Bimetallic wall through Friction Stir Surface Treatment

Abstract The cold metal transfer (CMT) based wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technique has limited wear applications compared to other manufacturing methods due to its lower wear resistance. However, integrating friction stir processing (FSP) with WAAM can enhance mechanical or wear performance, making it a promising and reliable manufacturing process for aerospace, automotive, and marine applications. In this work, CMT-WAAM technique has been used to fabricate a bimetallic wall of aluminium alloys (ER4043/ER5356), employing a bidirectional depositional strategy. The impact of FSP on the interface layer of the WAAM wall, serving as a post-processing treatment on the wall's surface, is studied in terms of microstructure and microhardness. Additionally, a pin-on-disk wear test is performed on the interface layer of both WAAM and FSP-treated WAAM walls under loads of 20N, 30N, and 40N. Results from optical and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) microstructures revealed the grain refinement in the stirred zone, with a higher wt. % of Mg through Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) identifies various intermetallic compounds, including Al12Mg17, Al3.21Si0.47, and Mg2Si, with higher peak intensities in the FSP-treated wall. Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) analysis indicates a decrease in the average grain size of stirred area, which is ~72.40 µm in unstirred area and ~5.57 µm in stirred area due to the local strain concentration effect during FSP. Grain refinement during FSP leads to an increase in average hardness by 35.9%. The wear rate and coefficient of friction (COF) get reduced, credited to high-temperature dynamic recrystallization and continuous grain recovery in FSP. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of worn surfaces highlights abrasion, delamination, and adhesion as significant wear mechanisms.

Ionic Conductivity of Anisotropically Sintered Apatite-Type Lanthanum Silicon Oxide

Apatite-type lanthanum silicon oxide (LSO) has attracted keen attention as one of the new solid electrolytes for its high oxygen ionic conductivity. LSO has a hexagonal apatite structure with oxygen sites coordinated along the c-axis direction and exhibits higher ionic conductivity in the c-axis direction than that of yttria stabilized zirconia, which has been put to practical use as a solid electrolyte. However, to fabricate a dense sintered body with LSO single phase, high sintering temperature of around 1700 ℃ is required due to its very small diffusivity of La and Si. From a practical standpoint, it is necessary to develop a process to lower the sintering temperatures and foster orientation along the c-axis direction to realize practice use of LSO as solid electrolytes.In this study, a powder coated with silicon oxide (SiO2) on the surface of lanthanum oxide (La2O3) powder was prepared for the purpose of completing the diffusion of La and Si at an early stage in sintering. This coated powder is noted as additive-free LSO. Further, a powder doped with tetrafluoroboric acid was also prepared for the purpose of lowering the sintering temperature by enhancing the diffusion of La and Si. This doped powder is noted as added LSO. Sintering behaviors of each powder, crystal phases and ionic conductivities of the obtained sintered bodies were measured.The experimental procedure is as follows. La2O3 powder and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were weighed to be La9.33Si6.00O26 and mixed in ethanol followed by dripping 10% ammonia water up to the pH of 10 in the mixed solution. Additive-free LSO was obtained by drying the mixed solution in an oven at 120 °C and then calcining at 400 °C. For the added LSO, the additive-free LSO was stirred in pure water in which a 42% tetrafluoroboric acid aqueous solution was added 10 wt.% to the additive-free LSO powder, and dried in an oven at 90 °C. Two types of prepared powders weighing 0.3 g were pelletized to a size of about 1 mm thick with a diameter of 10 mm by a uniaxial press of 10 MPa and an isostatic pressure of 100 MPa and sintered in a furnace. For the sintered bodies, sintered densities were measured, crystal phases were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface structures were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the ionic conductivities were measured by an impedance analyzer.As a result, dense sintered bodies with a relative density exceeding 90 % were achieved by holding the pellet of additive-free LSO at 1700 °C and the added LSO at 1450 °C for 10 hours. From the XRD, it was confirmed that each sintered body consisted of LSO single-phase. The sintered body of the additive-free LSO exhibited high peak intensities associated with (100), which means the c-axis of LSO is oriented in the in-plane direction. SEM observation revealed that the sintered body of additive-free LSO is composed of many columnar grains grown in the in-plane direction. On the other hand, the sintered body of added LSO exhibited an equiaxed-grained structure. Further, by measuring the ionic conductivity of each sintered body in the in-plane and out-of-plane directions, it is revealed that the ionic conductivity of the additive-free LSO showed a higher ionic conductivity in the in-plane direction than in the out-of-plane direction, while the added LSO showed lower ionic conductivity regardless of along in-plane / out-of-plane directions.These results indicate that the difficult-to-sinter properties of LSOs is not only due to the low diffusivity of La and Si, as previously reported, but also preferential grain growth in the c-axis direction impinging on and blocking each other to lower shrinkage speed. Although the sintering temperature could be lowered by enhancing equiaxial grain growth by adding tetrafluoroboric acid, the ionic conductivity became lower, which is probably due to too many grains with a, b-axis orientation of poor ionic conductivity and grain boundaries between them. It could have better prospect to support high ionic conductivity and low sintering temperature at the same time that exploiting the preferential grain growth characteristics of LSO in the c-axis direction. Figure 1

Crystallization behavior of amorphous GST films under an ultrafast laser irradiation

The crystallization behaviors of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 films induced by an ultrafast laser with a time-shaping Gaussian intensity distribution have been studied. The crystalline regions were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. It is found that the region ablated by a single pulse undergoes recrystallization, with a reflectivity higher than that of the non-ablated crystalline region. While preserving the integrity of the film, the diameter of the region with high and uniform reflectivity induced by burst mode is twice that of a single pulse, and the reflectivity is 3 % higher than the 31 % achieved with a single pulse. Additionally, the energy window for laser-induced crystallization expands with an increasing number of burst pulses; specifically, it increases by approximately 2.4 times when the number of sub-pulses is 4 or 5. The Raman results at low pulse energy show a high peak intensity at the 105 cm−1 in related to the vibrations of Te-rich tetrahedra, indicating that the degree of crystallinity in the burst mode region is superior to that achieved with single pulse irradiation. Furthermore, the blue shift of this Raman peak with increased pulse energy further supports that burst mode provides sufficient time for nucleation growth. This work offers insights into achieving more controllable crystallization, which can enhance its applications in phase change memory and other reconfigurable devices.

Synthesis, Structural Aspects, Magnetic, and Adsorption Properties of a Dinuclear Cu (II) Complex Derived From Mixed Ligand Approach

ABSTRACTA dinuclear copper complex, [Cu2(teaH)(pNBA)2(H2O)2]·MeOH·pNBH (1) (where teaH3 = triethanolamine, pNBH = 4‐nitro‐benzoic acid, and pNBA = 4‐nitro‐benzoate) has been prepared and structurally characterized. In 1, there is an interesting intermolecular structure that is shown as a tetramer copper connected in chain‐like motif. In the UV‐Vis spectrum, higher absorbance at 267 nm is referred to n → π* transition, coupled with a weak peak at 500 nm, indicating another transition, which is specified as metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer. The higher intensity peak in the photoluminescence spectrum is marked as the absorption of energy required for the excitation of electrons, whereas lower intensity peaks show the emission of energy, which describes d‐d transitions of Cu (II) electrons due to d9 configuration. Complex 1 was explored for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye, with the maximum adsorption as 101.07 mg/g, whereas the removal efficiency was estimated to be 81.05%. In conformity with the kinetic studies, the adsorption process proceeded via a Pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model. The incorporation of mixed ligands such as teaH3 and pNBH in 1 tends to increase the dimensionality that led to increased MB adsorption. The plausible mechanism behind the adsorption was favored by hydrogen‐bonding, electrostatic, π–π, and n–π* interactions, operating between the dye and complex 1. Further, the H‐bonding and these interactions provided stability to the complex, and an improved dye adsorption was observed even during the 2nd and 3rd recyclability experiments. Additionally, complex 1 corroborated remarkable stability after dye adsorption, allowing for up to four recycling turns. The magnetic study revealed antiferromagnetic coupling between the two magnetic centers with a singlet ground state (S = 0).

Effect of Particle Size on Raman Signal Strength of Silicate Minerals

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the effects of particle size is necessary for quantifying minerals in mixtures using Raman spectroscopy. Raman signal intensity is evaluated using six common silicate minerals (two olivines, two pyroxenes, and two feldspars) at 10 particle size ranges. For olivines and feldspars, the highest peak intensities are observed in samples with 38–63 and 63–106 μm particle sizes. There is no such consistent trend for the pyroxene samples, although the overall low signal strength complicates those measurements. Raman spectra of samples with varying particle sizes appear to be influenced by two competing effects: scattering from particle boundaries and effective sampling volume.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for rapid analysis of eight Gelsemium elegans Benth alkaloids in human plasma and urine

Gelsemium elegans Benth alkaloids are the main components of G. elegans and can cause acute toxicosis or even death. Although several studies have reported methods for detecting G. elegans alkaloids, a high-throughput and environmental-friendly strategy for detection of multiple G. elegans alkaloids has not been realized. In this work, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed for rapid detection of G. elegans alkaloids in human plasma and urine for diagnosis of poisoning. Multiple matrices and crystal spotting methods were evaluated to obtain stable and high peak intensities without “sweet spot”. We verified the methodology and obtained excellent results. The matrix effects with different dilutions were compared and good recoveries and a low relative standard deviation were obtained with a 40-fold dilution. This method could shorten the analysis time and greatly reduce the consumption of chemical solvents. Furthermore, it could be applied to quantitative assessment of G. elegans alkaloid poisoning incidents.

Design and fabrication of tetradymites-based vertically oriented single and multilayer thin-film thermoelectric generators

Tetradymites-based thermoelectric materials and devices have received renewed attention due to their engineering and design flexibility, large scalability, and commercial viability in producing electricity from waste heat for niche applications in small power generation and micro refrigeration. In fact, most commercially available bulk thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are made from tetradymites. In contrast to their bulk counterparts, thin-film vertical TEGs have not been widely adopted. This can be attributable to complexities in design and fabrication methodologies, device measurement challenges, and the hurdle of maintaining a large enough temperature gradient for optimal device performance. In this study, we utilize a facile approach for the design, fabrication, and characterization of tetradymite-based n-type Bi2Te3 and p-type Sb2Te3 single-layer thermoelectric generators, as well as n-type Bi2Te3/Bi2Te2.83Se0.17 and p-type Sb2Te3/Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 alternating multilayer superlattice TEGs. State-of-the-art characterization techniques were employed to investigate the structural, chemical, and thermoelectric properties of the materials. XRD analysis showed a preferential orientation along the (100) plane with a high intensity peak at 2θ = 25.5°, and XPS spectra exhibited a high-resolution peak at 531.5 eV corresponding to the Bi 4f7/2 core level. The structural data analysis confirmed the dominant metallic phase of the materials as well as their high crystalline nature. Device characterization showed that the multilayer device performed better than the single-layer devices with a recorded voltage, power, and power density of 11 mV, 12 pW, and 15.87 mW/m3 at ΔT = 18 °C, respectively, in comparison to 9.4 mV, 7.8 pW, and 10.31 mW/m3 for the most performing single-layer devices.

A comparative study for organophosphate triesters and diesters in mice via oral gavage exposure: Tissue distribution, excreta elimination, metabolites and toxicity

Organophosphate triesters (tri-OPEs) and diesters (di-OPEs) may threaten human health through dietary intake, whereas little information is available about their fate in mammals. Herein, mice exposure experiments were carried out through gavage with six tri-OPEs and six di-OPEs, respectively. The residual levels of di-OPEs in mice were generally higher than those of tri-OPEs. The residual di-OPEs mainly distributed in the liver and blood while the most tri-OPEs remained in stomach, indicating easier transfer and lower metabolism levels of di-OPEs. The accumulation of tri- and di-OPEs with large octanol–water partition coefficients and long carbon chain were observed in tissues and feces, implying that the elimination of these OPEs through fecal excretion is an important elimination pathway. A total of 86 OPE metabolites were found in murine urine and feces, 57 of which were identified for the first time. For tri-OPEs, carboxylated OPEs had higher peak intensities and fewer interference factors among the metabolites, which could serve as ideal biomarkers. The predicted oral median lethal doses of OPEs and corresponding metabolites showed an increased toxicity of some hydroxylated OPEs and di-OPEs, needing further attention. These results provided new insights and evidence on the fates and biomarkers of OPEs exposure for mammals.

Structural and optical evolution in CeO2 films induced by aluminum doping: A comprehensive study

This study investigates the impact of aluminum (Al) doping and oxygen vacancies on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of Cerium Oxide (CeO₂) films. The films were fabricated on glass substrates using the sol-gel spin coating method for both undoped and Al doped CeO₂. Theoretical insights from the DFT + U + V method further explore how Al doping and oxygen vacancies influence the electronic structure and optical behavior of ceria. Experimentally, Al doping was found to increase the lattice parameters and reduce the crystallite size without forming secondary phases. Raman spectroscopy revealed a shift to lower wavenumbers in Al-doped samples, while XPS analysis confirmed the presence of both Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ oxidation states, along with Al³⁺ and O2⁻ ions. Optical measurements showed a decrease in the optical band gap from 3.14 eV to 2.93 eV as the Al concentration increased to 5 %. Additionally, the optical dielectric constant slightly decreased, whereas optical conductivity improved with the incorporation of aluminum. Theoretical calculations show that oxygen vacancies were shown to reduce the band gap by introducing localized Ce³⁺ mid-gap states, while Al doping led to a gradual narrowing of the band gap without creating new states within it. The combination of Al doping and oxygen vacancies resulted in both further band gap narrowing and the appearance of mid-gap states. Optical property calculations revealed that both oxygen vacancies and Al doping reduced the intensity of the dielectric functions at 310 nm. Moreover, these two factors had opposing effects on the electron energy loss spectrum (EELS) at low energies: Al doping induced high-intensity peaks, while oxygen vacancies diminished these peaks.

Structural, optical absorption and electrical characteristics of sol-gel synthesized chromium-doped bismuth ferrites

Multiferroic materials have remarkable and several technical uses such as random-access multi-state memories, solar cell devices, data storage recording technologies, etc. An attempt has been made here to synthesize chromium-doped Bi(Fe1-xCrx)O3 (x = 0–0.10) oxides via citrate based sol-gel route and characterized with regards to structural, optical absorption and electrical properties. It depicts a rhombohedral structure with space group R3c for BiFeO3 and Bi(Fe0.98Cr0.02)O3 compositions. The lattice parameters for BiFeO3 on rhombohedral axes are aR ∼5.796 Å, α ∼59.34° which decreases linearly with chromium (x). Similarly, the parameters on hexagonal axes also decrease as aH ∼5.739–5.730 Å, and cH ∼14.269–14.262 Å. However, chromium doping causes a drop in crystallite size and rise in dislocation density. The absorption spectra show a broad peak at λ = 392 nm (for x = 0) and a broader as well as high intense peak for x = 0.02 (λ∼ 393 nm) which is attributed to charge transfer transitions from O2− (2p) valence band to Fe -3d (eg and t2g split levels) conduction band. Band at λ ∼310 nm is associated to the band gap (Eg) of material. Composition Bi(Fe0.98Cr0.02)O3 (x = 0.02) exhibits the highest values of the dielectric constant (εr ∼ 1102), loss (tan δ ∼ 1.1), and least value of impedance. The Cole-Cole plot depicts a depressed semi-circle and indicates presence of loss due to grains only. The room temperature P–E hysteresis loop with remanent polarization (Pr = 0.11439 μC/cm2) and leakage current density (J = 1.1 μA/cm2) are found maximum for Bi(Fe0.98Cr0.02)O3 (x = 0.02). The I-E loop and frequency-dependent P-E loops depict ferroelectric nature of all compositions. The analysis of leakage current density and slope values infer the presence of space charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanism. These findings suggest materials applications in recent technologies.

Structural, morphological and photoluminescence studies of Ca7Mg2P6O24:RE3+(RE3+= Tb3+, Dy3+) nanophosphor for solid state illumination

The Ca7Mg2P6O24:RE3+ (RE3+= Tb3+, Dy3+) nanophosphor material was synthesized by traditional wet chemical method. The XRD are used to determine phase and crystallinity of the synthesized sample; further FTIR, SEM, TEM, and PL properties were studied. The XRD pattern of prepared sample match well with standard JCPDS card no 00–020–0348, and it exhibits the rhombohedral structure along with space group R3c (161). The phosphate (PO4)3-group absorption band was observed at 990–1100 cm-1 in FTIR. Surface morphology (TEM analysis) reveals particle sizes in the range of 55–110 nm. The luminescence emission spectra of Ca7Mg2P6O24 phosphor activated by Tb3+ were studied at three different excitations: 352 nm, 370 nm, and 379 nm. The spectra show two emission peaks at 470 nm (blue) and 545 nm (green). These are due to the 5D4 → 7F6 and 5D4 → 7F5 transitions of Tb3+ ions. The highest intensity peak is located at 545 nm. The Ca7Mg2P6O24:Tb3+ phosphor's CIE chromaticity coordinates are (0.040, 0.316) at 491 nm and (0.265, 0.724) at 543 nm. These are in the blue and green areas on the edges of the CIE diagram, respectively. The photoluminescence emission spectra of Dy3+-doped Ca7Mg2P6O24 phosphor show two significant emission peaks located at 482 nm and 574 nm. These are caused by the 4F9/2 → 5H15/2 and 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 transitions of Dy3+ ions, which produce blue and yellow light, respectively, with an excitation wavelength of 350 nm. The sharp peak position at 482 nm produces the strongest emission. The effect of concentration quenching in between the Dy3+-Dy3+ions and Tb3+-Tb3+ ions is due to dipole-dipole interaction. The CIE color coordinate is found to be (0.082, 0.156) at 482 nm and (0.471, 0.527) at 574 nm which lies in blue and yellow border of CIE diagram. The lifespan of Tb3+, Dy3+activated Ca7Mg2P6O24 nanophosphor of highest concentration is found to be 1.917 ms and 0.9985 ms respectively. On investigation, the synthesized Tb3+, Dy3+activated Ca7Mg2P6O24 nanophosphor can be potential for solid lightning devices & other display application.

Development of Automotive and Marine Appliable Aluminium Composite by Utilizing Agro-Waste Material as Performance Enhancement Particles

Aluminium-based materials are lightweight materials used for producing automotive and aircraft components. However, aluminium materials diminish in performance on exposure to degrading environments, which limits their areas of usage and applications. The degrading effect results in poor resistance to wear and corrosion, reduced properties and defective microstructure. In this work, 6063 aluminium alloy was reinforced with particles of agricultural waste (walnut shell) to produce six samples with five samples of reinforced and a control (unreinforced) sample. Each of the samples of the reinforced alloy was moulded into a 25 mm diameter by 130 mm height using the stir casting method using an industrial pit furnace. The samples were thereafter machined to a diameter of 20 mm and cut into a thickness of 10 mm for characterizations. The potentiodynamic polarization method was used to test for the samples’ corrosion resistance properties following the ASTM G102 standard in 3.65% NaCl test medium. The hardness property was investigated using the Brinell hardness machine following the ASTM A-370 standard, while the microstructure and crystallographic phase studies were carried out using SEM/EDS and XRD profiles, respectively. The unreinforced 6063 Al alloy sample exhibited the highest corrosion rate (Cr) of 0.7321 mm/year and the lowest hardness of 104.94 kgf/mm2. The 10% wt. walnut shell particles (WSP) reinforced 6063 Al alloy sample exhibited the lowest corrosion rate (Cr) of 0.1336 mm/year and the highest hardness of 109.24 kgf/mm2. This indicated that the walnut shell particles enhanced the corrosion and indentation resistance of the alloy. In addition, the SEM images indicated that the agricultural waste (walnut shell particles) reinforced samples exhibited more refined microstructure, lower porosity and smoother morphology compared to the unreinforced (control) sample. Also, the XRD profile of samples revealed some high peak intensity crystallites such as Al(ZnS), Al2O3 and (FeMn)SiO2. These high peak intensity crystallites indicated that these reinforced samples possessed chemical and microstructural homogeneity, high stability and good surface texture.

Effect of various processing parameters on the properties of ZnO thin films

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films are essential in opto-/piezo-electronics due to their transparency, high electron mobility, wide bandgap (∼3.37 eV), and high excitonic binding energy (60 meV). Effects of processing parameters on ZnO thin films, such as the molarity, ageing, thickness, and calcination temperature, on the microstructural and optical properties deposited by sol-gel spin-coating are investigated under one roof. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the polycrystalline nature of all films, along with a dominant orientation (002) plane, indicating the formation of a c-axis oriented hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO regardless of the processing parameters. Peak intensities varied for all samples and exhibited the highest peak intensity annealed at 500 °C, which correlates with the increase in crystallite size from 15.93 to 16.41 nm due to a decrease in defect density via the thermal expansion. 0.4 M aged solution over 70 h showed the variation in the crystallite size and dislocation density, indicating the improvements in the thin film quality. Thickness-dependent ZnO thin films also improved the crystallinity, which was confirmed by high peak intensities. Decreasing the Urbach energy (Eu) of 0.4 M solution indicates reduced lattice imperfections/defects and high electronic quality of thin-film materials. Deposited ZnO films with an ageing time of 70 h and thickness of 109 nm exhibit the highest refractive index of 3.9 and 2.6, indicating light interaction and optimal density. The optimized conditions of sol-gel derived ZnO thin films augment the ease of development of economic devices for practical implications in opto-/piezo-electronics.

Crystal structure, optical, photoluminescence, Raman, and magnetic properties for Sm-doped Cr-Mg-Bi ferrites

The current work,A series of rare earth Sm3+ ion substituted Cr-Mg-Bi ferrites Cr0.7Mg0.2Bi0.1SmxFe2-xO4 (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06) have beensynthesized by thesol-gel auto-combustion method. The XRD, FESEM, HRTEM,UV–Vis, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, Photo Luminesce and Magnetic Properties analysis have been used to investigate structural, morphological, optical, Raman spectroscopy, Photo Luminesce and Magnetic Properties. Every sample contains a single-phase spinel structure, as confirmed by XRD.The substitution of Sm3+ ions is found to increase the lattice parameter from 8.258 to 8.248 Å.A monotone diffraction peak (311) is visible near small angles of degrees (35.33–35.13). The Debye-Scherrer equation, the nanoparticles' crystallite size ranges from 35.357 to 54.778 nm.FE-SEMs reveal a spherical grain that groups and has a porous form, with particles 38.13–53.28 nmin size.HR-TEM micrographs illustrate spherical morphology and their average particle size decreases from 55.32 to 65.42 nm. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern confirms the crystal planes which were revealed from XRD calculations.The spinel structure was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, which found 414 cm−1 and 516 cm−1 vibrational band at the octahedral and tetrahedral sites.As the concentration of Sm3+ rises, the direct and indirect band gap energy values determined from UV–Vis show an increase and decrease.The generated NPs' semiconducting nature is confirmed by the strong correlation between the g-value and particle size change.Photoluminescence (PL) investigation shows that all processed samples have four bands.(i) peak centered at 412 nm, which is near-band edge emission and corresponds to the ultraviolet (UV) band,(ii) The violet band has a high-intensity peak at 434 nm,(iii) The blue band is related to a low-intensity, sharp peak located at 466 nm, and (iv) A broad peak at 502 nm with a very low intensity distinguishes the green band.The Raman spectroscopy investigation revealed that the CMBSF nanoparticles had a mixed spinel structure. The magnetic investigation shows that when the Sm content of ferrites increases, saturation magnetization drops from 39.86 to 33.16 emu/g.The sample's coercivity (Hc) increases from 16.06 to 21.90 KOe with Sm substitution.

Boosting deep-ultraviolet photodetector performance via ferroelectric effect based on HfAlOx@PEI composite

In this study, hafnium-aluminum oxide (HfAlOx) was used as an effective active layer in a self-powered deep-ultraviolet (UV) photodetector. For the first time, we exploited the ferroelectric properties of crystalline HfAlOx to enhance device performance. The HfAlOx powder obtained at an annealing temperature of 850 °C exhibited the highest-intensity peak for the orthorhombic phase (o-phase), representing the ferroelectric property of the material. The HfAlOx particles were reduced to a small size using mechanical treatment to facilitate the preparation of a composite thin film with a polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymer matrix. First, the HfAlOx@PEI composite film-based photodetector demonstrated a remarkable on/off ratio of more than 103 and a rapid response (trise/tfall of 0.127/2.7 s) at zero bias under 254-nm UV illumination. Second, the photocurrent of the device was dramatically boosted under an external bias owing to the injection of carriers, supported by the ferroelectric effect of the o-phase HfAlOx. As a result, the external quantum efficiency and responsivity approached 2628 % and 5.37 A/W at −1 V bias, respectively. Furthermore, the device exhibited excellent photostability, demonstrating almost no change in the photocurrent after 1000 s of UVC irradiation. Our findings provide guidance for the preparation of optoelectronic devices, particularly self-powered high-performance UV photodetectors.

Contribution of Metastable Oxygen Spectra to Fluctuated Waveform Tails after Breakdown Time in Air under Positive and Negative Impulse Voltages

In this study, we explored the correlation between fluctuated waveform tails under both positive and negative impulse voltages and their corresponding spectral lines during millisecond observations of arc discharge. We examined impulse voltages in ±100, ±125, and ±150 kV across 3, 3.5, and 4 cm gaps using spectroscopic analysis focused on oxygen excitations. Six selected spectra in ±100, ±125, and ±150 kV at 3.5 cm and two negative spectra of −100 kV at 3 and 4 cm were analyzed by identifying spectral lines in the wavelength range of 200–900 nm. The results revealed a correlation between the fluctuated waveform tails and spectral lines in positive voltage discharges, which were almost similar, while in negative voltage discharges, this correlation was found only in −100 kV at 3 and 4 cm. We concluded that during the spark phase for both positive and negative voltage discharges, symmetrical fluctuation in the waveform tails was observed after breakdown time, especially above the voltage level of the recombination phase. This suggested the presence of energetic oxygen excited states in the 200–400 nm range, with higher peak intensity than the O I line at 777.417 nm, observed in most positive impulse voltage discharges and at −100 kV with 3 and 4 cm gaps, contributing to rapid breakdown.

Electrochemical and photoluminescence properties of Ce3+ doped copper aluminate nanoparticles

In this communication, for the first of its kind, CuAl2O4 doped with Ce3+ (1-9 mol %) are syn- thesized by solution combustion method using Aloe Vera gel as a reducing agent. The as-formed sample was calcined at 500° C for 3 hours, followed by characterization. The addition of dopants to the copper aluminate matrix didn't alter the crystal structure of the host matrix. Bragg reflec- tions confirm the formation of the cubic phase and also absence of other impurities. The surface morphology consists of nanorods arranged one above the other. The estimated crystallite size was found to decrease from 12 to 9 nm whereas, the direct energy band gap increases from 2.84 to 3.02 eV with an increase in dopant concentration. Under λex = 305 nm excitation, photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra have a high intense peak at 553 nm along with a less intense peak at 472 nm. The peak at 553 nm can be attributed to the existence of oxygen vacancies which arise due to the transition of an electron from the 2D3/2→2F7/2 of Ce3+, however, the peak observed at 472 nm results from the transition of ionized oxygen vacancies (VO) to the valence band caused by the 2D3/2→2F5/2 transition. The CIE coordinates lie well within the green region with 5758 K aver- age CCT. Further, Cyclic voltammetry analysis was conducted to investigate oxidation and redox peaks, while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy provided insights into ion transport kinetics. Specific capacitance values ranging from 29 to 59 F/g were obtained for CuAl2O4:Ce(1-9 mol %) NPs. These findings suggest potential applications for the synthesized material in areas such as display technology as a green nano phosphor and energy storage materials.

Enhancement of Q-Switched Erbium-Doped Fibre Laser Performance using Graphene Oxide-Calcium Oxide Thin Film Saturable Absorbers

This paper presents an experiment utilizing calcium oxide (CaO) from the cuttlefish bone combined with graphene oxide (GO) to create a graphene oxide-calcium oxide (GO-CaO) based saturable absorber (SA) for Q-switched erbium-doped fibre lasers. The experiment aims to investigate the impact of calcium oxide when added to graphene oxide to form the SA thin film. The laser performance of both types of SA was compared, considering their input pump power, repetition rate, pulse width, and output power. The results indicated that the graphene oxide – calcium oxide SA thin film provided the best output power and the lowest threshold input pump power at 10.76 µW and 53.12 mW, respectively. In the characterization, UV-Vis spectroscopy was utilized to determine the number of discrete wavelengths in UV or visible light that the materials absorbed or transmitted. The UV-Vis results indicated that the graphene oxide thin film exhibited an absorbance value of 0.049 AU and a transmittance value of 89.25 % at a wavelength of 1565 nm. In comparison, the GO-CaO SA thin film displayed an absorbance value of 0.037 AU and a transmittance value of 91.89 % at the same wavelength. Raman spectroscopy was also conducted to provide details about the chemical structure and crystallinity of the thin film samples. The results showed high-intensity peaks for the GO thin film at wavenumbers of 1353.74 cm-1 and 1609.85 cm-1, and for GO – CaO thin film at wavenumbers of 1358.56 cm-1 and 1612.18 cm-1. Additionally, SEM was utilized to study the morphology of the thin film samples. Based on the characterization and laser performance results, it was concluded that the addition of calcium oxide to graphene oxide enhances the properties of the SA thin film, leading to improved laser performance due to its higher thermal conductivity.